Trainer Justin Snaith and breeders Normandy Stud completed a long-priced Cape Nursery double at a sun drenched Kenilworth on Saturday when the smart Captain Al gelding Sergeant Hardy drew clear for a good win in the scratching decimated R200 000 Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery.
Sergeant Hardy (Fransie Herholdt) is all power as he holds off challengers (Pic – Wayne Marks)
There was a sense of déjà vu after a rocky first leg of the Saturday juvenile feature double and the second leg once again produced a lesser fancied coupling win and a reversal of the form of a previous start.
After being trounced in the Listed Somerset 1200 three weeks earlier, Sergeant Hardy was easy to back at 11-1 with his conqueror there Attenborough and lightly raced stablemate Bishop’s Bounty grabbing the attention.
With the favourite Attenborough slow away, Gauteng based visiting jockey Fransie Herholdt had his mount striding freely in front.
Justin Snaith – nice feature double on home turf
At the 300m Our Mate Art looked set to challenge as Cream Soda Green went out the backdoor and Sergeant Hardy continued to gallop powerfully.
Into the 200m Attenborough chased hard but Sergeant Hardy was not stopping and he ran on strongly to win by 1,50 lengths in a time of 72,25 secs.
In a classic blanket place tussle, a hair breadth separated the next three with Attenborough hanging tough to hold second ahead of Our Mate Art and Bishop’s Bounty.
The top four were lengths clear of the maiden Cream Soda Green, who was outclassed and ran a poor last.
The winner is raced by his breeder Veronica Foulkes.
A ‘roarer’ – he apparently failed the Vet at sale – but seems to be a very decent sort.
A R450 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 buy and bred by Normandy Stud, he is by champion sire Captain Al out of the four-time winner Hard Lady (by Hard Up), who also raced in the Foulkes silks.
Sergeant Hardy was registering his second stakes win to take his tally to 3 wins with 1 place from 4 starts. He has now grossed R265 625.
Given his breathing issues, Sergeant Hardy can obviously not be followed with too much confidence.
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Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery (SAf-Gr3)
Kenilworth, South Africa, May 28, R200k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.12.25
1 – SERGEANT HARDY (SAF), 60.0, b g 2, Captain Al (SAF) – Hard Lady (SAF) by Hard Up (ARG). Owner Mrs V A Foulkes; Breeder Normandy Stud; trainer J Snaith; jockey F Herholdt
2 – Attenborough (SAF), 60.0, b c 2, Western Winter (USA) – In Camera (SAF) by Caesour (USA)
3 – Our Mate Art (AUS), 60.0, b c 2, Artie Schiller (USA) – Laureldean Dream (USA) by Stravinsky (USA)
Margins: 1.50, 0.05, 0.10
