The Joey Ramsden-trained Aussie-bred The Conglomerate will now be ridden by Piere Strydom
A traditional Derby Trial, the R250 000 Gr3 Politician Stakes has enjoyed a low-key upgrade from its former status as a listed event. The cat has been thrown amongst the pigeons with the withdrawal of the Ramsden star Act Of War and the race has been thrown wide open.
It seems the Graded Races Stakes Committee don’t believe in issuing press releases to announce these changes in feature race status. Instead the customer is expected to go manually comparing one year on the next to keep pace.
But communication, or the lack of it, is an old bugbear in this game.
War Games
Joey Ramsden’s star colt Act Of War was an acceptor and looked only to have to pitch up to win.
Piere Strydom, who was engaged to partner Act Of War, now jumps aboard The Conglomerate for the same yard.
Opposition
Sean Tarry rates Imperial Gold
Sean Tarry’s Imperial Gold won on debut but then did not quite live up to his trainer’s expectations.
He did, however, run a much better race when running on well in the Cape Guineas, when beaten 5,45 lengths by Act Of War. He should relish the extra 200m.
Mljet has been beaten often enough by Act Of War to suggest that he has no chance of turning the tables on the Ramsden flyer.
He ran his the first sub-standard race of his career when a no show 7,85 lengths back in the Cape Guineas. He tries 1800m for the first time but is held by quite a few here.
Derby Prospect
Dean Kannemeyer – balancing the books with his Derby horse
One of those is Dean Kannemeyer’s Derby prospect Balance Sheet who ran on steadily to finish a short head in front of Mljet in the Cape Guineas.
He is another who should love the extra ground and Kannemeyer will be looking to him finding place money to confirm his Derby aspirations.
Justin Snaith has a quartet of runners, three of whom are Dynasty progeny and who all look to have place chances at best.
Wide
Arniston has drawn wide at 14 and gets 3kgs from Act Of War after a 6,50 lengths unplaced Guineas effort.
He was bumped in the classic and could run into the back end of quartets in the hands of Sean Cormack.
The Australian-bred Parachute Man was outgunned in the Cape Guineas but should be more comfortable with a weight discount over the extra 200m here.
Stable Rider
Richard Fourie – top rider for the Snaith team
Snaith stable jockey Richard Fourie rides the lightly-raced Seize The Throne, who is unexposed in feature company against his own generation.
He ran on steadily for a MR 78 Handicap fourth behind the quality Independence last time and is looking for ground – how well we recall the exploits of his hardknocking dam!
Muzi Yeni rides the untested at this level two-time winner Bianzino, who was also staying on over a mile last time.
He has plenty of staying pretensions on his dam side and could improve over ground.
Ramsden Duo
Joey Ramsden – saddles Liquid Mercury and The Conglomerate
The Conglomerate is now the elect of the two Ramsden representatives.
The Australian-bred son of Lonhro has always enjoyed a massive reputation and won a cracker over Saturday’s course and distance at his first try at ground last time.
He has won three of his six starts and represents some serious place value at his first outing in feature company.
The second of the Ramsden runners is the handsome Trippi grey Liquid Mercury, who has done little wrong since winning his maiden on Guy Fawkes day 2014.
He steps up in class after winning a hard-fought race over 1800m on Wednesday, but has an interesting jockey engagement in the internationally experienced Weichong Marwing.
Looks Like Trouble
Mike Bass saddles the Silvano gelding Sheer Trouble who will enjoy the ground, but was well beaten close on ten lengths in the Guineas and has plenty of leeway to make up – even in receipt of 4,5kgs from Act Of War.
The Paddy Kruyer-trained Be At Peace (who is still a maiden) looks an optimistic inclusion and the 6kgs he receives from Act Of War should not be enough to bring him into the reckoning.
