Joey Ramsden looks to have a very exciting prospect on his hands in the Markus and Ingrid Jooste owned colt Attenborough. The son of Western Winter could make it a May feature double when he contests the R200 000 Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery at Kenilworth today.
Attenborough – progressive sort
A small field lines up for the 1200m feature and Attenborough is the standout after his facile win in the Listed Somerset 1200m three weeks ago.
That was coincidentally Ramsden’s fourth consecutive win in the Cape feature and shows his shared dominance of the juvenile ranks with his cross Peninsula neighbour, Justin Snaith.
A R2 million Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, Attenborough has won two of his three outings and in the absence of Somerset 1200 runner up Elevated, he looks a good thing.
Snaith has two in the race and his previously undefeated Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes winner Sergeant Hardy proved most disappointing in the Somerset 1200 –after making the early running, the Captain Al colt compounded tamely to finish with just one behind him in the five horse field, and five lengths behind Attenborough.
Sergeant Hardy – could bounce back
Sergeant Hardy won his first two races on the trot and may be worth another chance.
His stablemate Bishop’s Bounty returns after a break of ten weeks and was backed on debut to win the Summer Juvenile Stakes on Met day.
He took off late to be beaten under a length by Sergeant Hardy and then won his next two on the trot.
There won’t be a lot between him and Attenborough on a line through Elevated and if near fit, he warrants inclusion.
Mike Bass’s Our Mate Art was an eyecatching debut winner over the course and distance early in May.
The Australian-bred son of Artie Schiller is the only other winner in the race and thus must harbour pretensions of earning.
While bred for a little further, he is bound to have come on with the experience of the run under the belt and could surprise.
The rest are still maidens.
Cream Soda Green ran Attenborough to a half length on his course and distance debut but then failed to follow up at his next start when a no show 3,60 lengths unplaced behind Moonrise Sensation.
The son of Gimmethegreenlight will need to improve dramatically on that second try.
Mike Stewart – saddles Icon King
Mike Stewart’s Icon King was unfancied on debut when a length off smart winner Newlands over 1400m.
The son of Rebel King ran on steadily there and the top-class Richard Fourie retains the ride.
It stands to reason that this may be on the short side for Icon King.
Brett Crawford’s Nation Glow started at 25-1 on debut when running a well beaten third but finishing ahead of his more fancied stablemate Varonella.
He hails from a fair speed family but will need to be above average to beat the top three.
Andrew Fortune rides the unraced Royal Air Force gelding Copper Force for Eric Sands.
A R70 000 CPYS Book 2 graduate, there is nothing on paper to suggest that he could be a market springer from a breeding angle but the betting will be the best guide.
We are going with the classy Attenborough to beat Bishop’s Bounty and Our Mate Art.
It’s a lucky dip beyond those three.
