Family Affair. Leading owner Hassen Adams and his son.
A booming day for Darryl Hodgson and Hassen Adams at Kenilworth on 2 November.Coming in from the cold after a quiet spell, they celebrated with three impressive winners. And then Dean Kannemeyer treated us to an early Guineas preview, courtesy of a very smart Australian bred colt who is fast making a name for himself.
Hassen Adams chose a good day to reward his staff with a lunch and afternoon out at a sunny Kenilworth. One wouldn’t blame them either for believing that this is a simple game as they took turns to lead in their boss’ various winners.
The distinctive J&B Met winning blue and silver silks opened and closed the day and it was their last two winners that were really very impressive. Being so bold as to suggest that his Gallileo filly, Rain Gal, is ‘our Igugu’, Adams was visibly and obviously thrilled by the turn of the tide.
His trainer, Darryl Hodgson, has endured an uncharacteristic dry patch in recent weeks. Without a solitary win in the month of October, their last winner was on 10 September. In all fairness, and to put the matter into perspective, it is accurate to observe that they have not had a lot of runners and are, no doubt, coming off a rest period. That all changed in a matter of a few hours though, with three smart winners.
Another Galileo. Rain Gal storms home to win the last.
The manner of Rain Gal’s win in the MR78 Handicap over 1200m was impressive indeed. Boxed in and with the Berlin Wall in front of her 300m out, she took off in the manner of something very special late to win going away. The pacemaking Therese Of Lisieux was five lengths in front at the 200m marker, but amazingly fell away to finish out of the money. This was only Rain Gal’s third run and while the opposition was not strong, she showed a measure of character and maturity, together with a turn of foot, that is shouting, more-plenty more! Adams put himself and his trainer under pressure by mentioning the name Igugu in the post-race interview. Time will certainly tell whether Galileo has produced another diamond.
Ossie Noach rode the opener on the programme for Adams and Hodgson when he got the Var filly, Lydia Lopokovo home in the Maiden Plate over 1200m. The Highlands bred has been very consistent and often looked like she would win a race – but appears to be maturing and could well do it again. This was only her eighth outing.
The Graham Beck Dispersal Sale graduate Uncle Tommy was super impressive in winning the penultimate race, an MR90 Handicap over 1200m. Originally bought for R2,4 million at the Nationals, the gelded son of Kahal had lost form of late after a sparkling post-maiden stretch. But settled in last place by Gerrit Schlechter with 400m to run, he produced a burst of acceleration that booked his berth for a tilt at the Merchants. While he only really beat the battling, but nevertheless consistent Cap Alright, he looks like a very smart sprinter in the making. In the post-race formalities, Schlechter was quick to point out that he would not likely be riding Uncle Tommy in the sprint feature – making a reference to the ‘big horse.’ By that he no doubt means Met victor Past Master – who he interestingly inferred appeared to be just cantering while all the others were well on their way with their big-race programmes. That is very interesting and bears watching!
Looks Special! Liancourt Rock is headed for the Classics.
We probably saw a Guineas winner today too. Liancourt Rock runs in the famous Fieldspring Racing silks and is a handsome Fastnet Rock colt who was recording his third win from three starts when cantering home in the MR78 Handicap over 1600m. Trying the mile for the first time, he was well supported into the red but with two other fairly rated three year olds in the race, there had to be a slight shadow of doubt. Even a shrewd and experienced equine assessor in Tellytrack presenter Stan Elley tipped the Bass horse to lower the favourite’s colours. But Mike Bass and Glen Kotzen will be the first to concede that both Laurie’s Gold(whose jockey was rather unfairly criticised for his ride) and Stone Pine(maybe a Derby sort?) are not exactly in the same league as the Kannemeyer horse – certainly not over a mile anyway.
After the older Entrador had cut out a fair gallop early, Sean Cormack went for home on Stone Pine at the top of the straight as Aldo Domeyer pushed Laurie’s Gold around the outside. Cool calm and collected Karl Neisius, pressed the Liancourt Rock button at the 300m and it was no contest. This was a good effort seeing that he was sweating up in the preliminaries and will undoubtedly prefer the longer run-in of the summer course.
Inspired a name. Liancourt Rocks in the Japan Sea.
Named by Karen Sellars’ daughter Sam after a group of tiny islands in the Sea Of Japan, the name, rather appropriately, means ‘solitary island’. By Coolmore Danehill stallion sensation Fastnet Rock, who only won from 1000m to 1200m, Liancourt Rock looked decidedly more comfortable over the further ground after seemingly having lost some of his early speed. Fastnet Rock, already a multiple Gr1 producing sire, stands at a fee of Aus 132 000. His son now looks set for a tilt at the Green Point Stakes or Selangor Cup, which are only a week apart, and Dean Kannemeyer must be licking his lips in anticipation. We have said it before – but we would enjoy seeing his personal seeding of his classic prospects, as we can only guess where Liancourt Rock fits amongst Divine Jet, Kingslayer, Alula Borealis, Depardieu and even the dark horse, Taipan.
