Hat Trick? The Judpot gelding Juddering Angel hails from the powerful Ramsden yard and looks to make it three Langermans in a row
It is virtually impossible escaping the reality that Cape champion trainer Joey Ramsden has perfected the art of winning the R150 000 Gr3 Langerman. With an unparalleled record of seven wins in the past twelve runnings of this first pointer to the 3yo stars of tomorrow, his Judpot gelding Juddering Angel looks a good choice in Saturday’s 1500m Kenilworth feature.
Joey and his lovely wife Fiona were seen taking in the sights at last Saturday’s spectacular Epsom Derby day in the land of their birth. That won’t be any cause for concern though as the Goodhope Racing management structure is a substantial and experienced one and the string will be ticking over smoothly in ‘the Captain’s’ absence.
Ramsden
Juddering Angel has some big boots to fill after the record of the likes of his recent stablemate Langerman winners, Variety Club (2011) and Selangor Cup winner King Of Pain, last year. The son of Judpot races in the Nice-based Hudson’s familiar white and green silks. The Varsfontein clients raced Juddering Angel’s dam, Where Angels Walk.
He won first time out over the Kenilworth 1200m but then disappointed when never quite getting into the race when finishing unplaced in the Listed Somerset 1200. His first run around the turn was more promising though.
Juddering Angel ran handily in a Juvenile Plate over 1400m and stayed on well for third and just over a half length behind Captain Magpie. He meets Captain Magpie on 3kgs better terms here. But the race does not end with the Ramsden runner and is wide open. A case can be made for every one of the other seven runners.
Kotzen
Glen Kotzen saddles the Antonius Pius colt Antonius Du Bois for his longstanding clients, Warren Laird and Hugo Hattingh. This half brother to the well performed Sean Tarry galloper Always Al looks a bargain buy at just R50 000. He won easily at his third outing when storming clear to beat Vice Admiral by over 3 lengths at Durbanville.
He is technically held by Sunday Sun on his penultimate run and it is also worth noting his cracking debut effort when third and 2,70 lengths behind the boom colt Red Ray.
Crawford
Brett Crawford’s Captain Magpie showed smart progressive form to click his maiden win at his fourth outing over the Kenilworth 1400m. He ran handily and just held on, but is worse off with Lastbutnotleast. If Captain Magpie stays the Langerman trip, he is bound to be a place contender.
Snaith
Justin Snaith has a coupling going to post, headed by the Second Empire colt, Lastbutnotleast. He won over the Kenilworth 1400m at his third outing and then followed up when going down a half length over the same course and distance next time out. He was beaten there by Captain Magpie, who was receiving 3kgs from him. They meet at level weights on Saturday, which gives Lastbutnotleast the edge.
The second of the Snaith runners is the Casey Tibbs colt Paolo, who made a fair debut at Durbanville a fortnight ago. Well drawn and with little betting support behind him, he ran handily and stayed on to finish 2,30 lengths off On The Nod. He is drawn7 out of 8 here, and will need luck in overcoming that, although the field size will mean that is a minor hurdle.
Ennion
Greg Ennion’s Spectrum gelding Sunday Sun has been a consistent earner at all of his five starts. He won well at third time of asking when beating Antonius Du Bois 0,40 lengths over the Kenilworth 1400m, and his subsequent two feature efforts have been credible runs. Sunday Sun stayed on well for third and three lengths behind Red Ray in the Listed Somerset 1200.
He then changed tactics when staying on for third and 2,25 lengths behind impressive winner Flash Drive in the Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery. Sunday Sun looks the sort that will enjoy the extra ground of this test and his breeding certainly confirms that. His dam won up to a mile.
Kannemeyer
Dean Kannemeyer and Karl Neisius team up with the promising Tiger Ridge colt Tiger Island, who with six runs on the board is the most experienced campaigner in the field. Tiger Island marginally holds Sunday Sun on their Cape Nursery clash and with his style of racing, should not be overly troubled by the outside draw.
His dam won up to 1700m and he should relish the extra ground of this event. Vaughan Marshall’s maiden, Jungle Skyline, ran a fair third to Lastbutnotleast on debut and is now 2kgs better off with the Snaith runner for a 3,25 length beating there. The son of Lion Tamer would not have found it easy as a 2yo around the turn first time out, and should improve a few lengths on that performance.
Improvement
With the natural improvement likely from most individuals and the going also possibly a factor after the Cape has been overwhelmed by winter storms in recent days, the race is wide open. We would suggest that Juddering Angel is strong enough to hold Antonius Du Bois and Sunday Sun. But there won’t be much in it either way.
