Brilliant! Capetown Noir is difficult to oppose in Saturday’s Gr3 Byerley Turk at Scottsville
Dean Kannemeyer’s dual classic winner Capetown Noir opens his Champions Season campaign at Scottsville on Saturday. His presence appears to have scared off the majority of the prospective opposition as only five of his contemporaries oppose him in the R200 000 Gr3 Byerley Turk run over 1400m.
The presence of a champion will always attract interest and the crowds to the track, but the sponsors and the racing operator must be sitting with mixed feelings. Only six horses go to post for The Independent On Saturday Byerley Turk, and frankly five of them look to be out for a gallop or simply racing for a second cheque.
Impressed
Place Prospect. Garth Puller’s Corredor is a smart sort but looks outclassed here.
Capetown Noir has impressed many people and attracted an inordinate amount of attention since shedding his maiden tag at this very track in July last year. The intriguingly named subject of a soon to be screened celebrity television programme and the winner of 5 of his 7 starts, the son of Western Winter is regarded as a leader of his generation.
Having achieved the rare Cape Guineas and Investec Derby double, the Lammerskraal product has hardly put a foot wrong for his owner Lady Christine Laidlaw and will probably not be put under too much pressure with his eye on the bigger prizes to come. That said, he could spit this eat this lot for breakfast, with his eyes closed. And we expect him to deliver the goods.
Big Guns
Danger. Black Toga presents the only danger to the favourite in the Gr3 Byerley Turk
Vaughan Marshall’s Black Minnaloushe gelding Black Toga won 4 of his 7 starts, before taking on the big guns in the Cape Guineas. He had no chance with Capetown Noir, when going down a 4,50 length third there after making the pace. And his style of running is what makes him a nominal danger.
Jumping from the 2 gate with Anton Marcus up, he will doubtless try and steal it out front, but Karl Neisius is unlikely to let him get too far out of range. Black Toga also returns from a close to four month rest, and could be found wanting on this front.
Heart Attack
Tony Rivalland and Sean Cormack team up with Living With Heart. The son of Spectrum won 2 of his first 4 starts, before being considered good enough to have a dip at The Dingaans. He came unstuck there, finishing some six lengths behind The Hangman, but has won since and stormed through late when backed last time. He found Bwana Macube in galloping mood there, and may be more comfortable over Sunday’s 1400m.
Garth Puller rode countless Group race winners for the Kannemeyer yard last century, and the accomplished horseman sends out the Cataloochee gelding, Cor-redor with Kevin Shea in the saddle. He faces a mountain to climb at the weights, but is an improving sort who could snatch minor place money.And Puller will no doubt be strategizing a plan to train his first group feature winner.
Confident
The remaining two runners, Oh So Var and recent maiden winner Pierneef, look to be making up the numbers. Capetown Noir is a confident best bet of the day. He should win at the expense of Black Toga, with Corredor a trifecta kicker in third.
