Milnerton conditioner Joey Ramsden goes for a historic ninth victory in the R200 000 Gr3 Langerman at Kenilworth today. He starts his 2016 assault in some style – saddling four of the eight runners, including a R2 million local buy and a pair of beautifully bred Australians.
Classy Attenborough can stamp his superiority
While his neighbour Vaughan Marshall sailed off into the KZN sunset and grabbed a cool 2yo Gr1 double feature on Scottsville’s speed festival raceday, Ramsden and his youthful cross Peninsula arch rival Justin Snaith have dominated the juvenile scene on the local front.
They saddle six of the eight runners on Saturday, and with Mike Bass’ smart looking Our Mate Art playing the ham on the sandwich, we could be in for a fascinating little contest.
With rain forecast again, the underfoot conditions look likely to play a role in the outcome.
Pippa Mickleburgh – shouting her boy home
Pippa Mickleburgh will be on course supporting the Avontuur-bred star Attenborough, who won the Listed Somerset 1200 and was then beaten for speed by Sergeant Hardy in the Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery.
The son of Western Winter is out of a speed mare but looks a classic prospect in the making and even off topweight is our first choice to lift the honours.
The progressive Redoute’s Choice colt Table Bay scored a facile post maiden win at his last start and looks the main danger to his stablemate. He is drawn against the paint and looks to be going about things the right way.
Newlands beat Hernando’s Promise a neck last time when shedding his maiden. He has to give the Marshall runner 2kgs but the son of High Chaparral looks classy and has only his third start.
Joey Ramsden -master of the Langerman
The fourth of the Ramsden quartet is Dancer, who ran a poor race in the Nursery but showed improved pace over the course and distance last time when third, beaten 4,30 lengths by Table Bay. He looks held on that.
Mike Bass’ surprise debut winner Our Mate Art ran on powerfully for third in the Nursery at his second outing when beaten a head by Attenborough.
In receipt of 3kgs from the topweight, there will be many supporting the son of Artie Schiller to turn the tables here.
Justin Snaith’s pair will be looking to give their master a double in the race after he won it last year with the Australian-bred Ready To Attack.
Another Australian-bred, Turbulent Air will be ridden by Lyle Hewitson and improved lengths on his debut to win his second start over Saturday’s course and distance rather comfortably.
That was a good effort considering he ran in open company and jumped awkwardly and lost a few lengths at the start.
The nicely bred son of So You Think looks very likely to relish the step up in trip.
Stablemate Cock-A-Hoop has his first run around the turn after three very decent maiden efforts up the Kenilworth 1200m straight.
Justin Snaith – aiming for the double
That formline includes a 3,25 length second to the very hightly thought of Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Always In Charge at his second start.
On breeding, Cock-A-Hoop is another who will enjoy the extra and his twice winning dam is a half –sister to a French Gr3 winner.
Hernando’s Promise is the second of the maidens in the eight horse field.
The son of Gitano Hernando should enjoy the extra 100m and has been placed twice in his only four starts – all over 1400m.
While he has been beaten by three of the four Ramsden runners, he receives as much as 4kgs from Table Bay and this could give him a squeak for place money.
The Ramsden pair of Attenborough and Table Bay look set to fight this one out with Our Mate Art the natural danger on the swing of the Nursery weights.
Don’t exclude the Snaith pair if the budget permits.
