The high class Act Of War should win
Joey Ramsden’s star 3yo Act Of War will be a major drawcard at Kenilworth today as the Cape Winter Season is launched with the running of the R250 000 Tekkie Town Gr3 Winter Guineas. It is not surprising to see two dominant trainers in the past decade of the Cape Winter Series saddling seven of the nine runners.
Mike Bass’ Jet Master gelding Pocket Power is the only previous holder of the winter triple crown and few modern day racing enthusiasts will forget the exploits of the multiple Met and Queen’s Plate winner who cut his teeth in this series.
Joey Ramsden also has a story –albeit a slightly sad one – to tell after champion Winter Solstice won the first two legs, only to be beaten a head by his own stablemate Set To Music (in the same silks) with Gerrit Schlechter up in the Derby.
Major Role
But that is history and with Ramsden and Bass saddling 7 of the 9 runners on Sunday, it is difficult seeing them not playing a major role again in 2015.
Anton Marcus – rides Act Of War
Anton Marcus travels to Cape Town to ride the topweighted Act Of War, who heads the Ramsden trio.
The 117 merit-rated son of Dynasty gets a 3kg penalty courtesy of his Gr1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas victory, when he accounted for the highly vaunted champion Harry’s Son.
Act Of War has not raced since going down 13 weeks ago to Ertijaal in the Investec Cape Derby, where he failed to see out the 2000m. The De Kock trained Ertijaal has failed to frank the form, but thankfully Act Of War has an impressive enough CV .
That includes five straight feature wins prior to the Derby blow, to suggest he will win this if 70% fit – not that Joey wouldn’t have used his treadmill, when load shedding permitted it.
Overweight
Bernard Fayd’herbe – rides Liquid Mercury
Bernard Fayd’herbe has declared himself to ride Liquid Mercury at 1kg over and this capable grey son on Trippi has enjoyed more of a low profile rise to prominence than his illustrious neighbour.
Liquid Mercury finished just behind Act Of War in the Derby and while a hardknocking progressive sort looks to have plenty of lengths to make up on these weight terms.
The recently revitalised top heavyweight rider Brandon Morgenrood rides the Horse Chestnut gelding Catkin, who finished behind the aforementioned in the Derby and must be regarded as the outsider of the trio.
Stable Elect
It is difficult to unravel the preferred runner of the Bass quartet based on riding arrangements.
But the Trippi gelding Tomba La Bomba (Karl Neisius) has won 3 of 7 starts and boasts the ample scalp of Brutal Force at his last start.
Besides providing Joey with some collateral against his own lot, that was a promising effort and he steps up 200m and looks likely to easily get the trip. Interestingly his dam Mink Coat (London News) was trained by Joey Ramsden during her racing career.
Both Seven Oceans and Sail For Gold from the Bass yard look held by Tomba La Bomba on their last run, although the latter has been prominent and has won two good races.
The Rebel King gelding Royal Dreamer has won twice in seven outings but looks better suited to the second and third legs of this series.
Good Prep
Justin Snaith – Alpha Pegasi has a place chance
The Snaith’s Alpha Pegasi ran a cracking prep run behind Night In Seattle on Freedom Day over 1400m and steps up to a mile for the first time.
The son of Captain Al looks a quality sort and has an earlier handicap win over the decent Gulf Storm, who beat Moofeed in the Listed In Full Flight Handicap on Sunday at Scottsville.
The Darryl Hodgson-trained Winter Trade has been consistent since winning his maiden and now goes around the turn for the first time.
The son of Western Winter should relish the test but has plenty to do to beat Act Of War – and that applies to the field.
