Justin Snaith revealed a potential SA Champions Season ace up his sleeve when the lightly exposed Silver Host demonstrated smart resolve when charging to victory in the R200 000 City Of Cape Town Gr3 Politician Stakes at Kenilworth on Sun Met day.
The traditional Derby Trial hosted a class-packed field of mostly underexposed potential classic material.
Silver Host coasts to victory under Richard Fourie (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Snaith, who ended the day with two feature winners (three in total), had three runners in the eleven horse field and even with Richard Fourie opting to ride him, he paid a healthy R8 tote win dividend.
Trainer Justin Snaith conceded that he had kept Silver Host under wraps and off the handicapper’s radar. The son of Silvano was having only his sixth career start but kicked away late like a professional.
Inside the final 200m, it was clear Silver Host (9-2)was going best of all and drew away to beat the consistent Super Silvano (15-2) by 2,25 lengths in a time of 109, 72 secs.
The runner-up’s stablemate Parterre (27-4) ran on powerfully to nose Sir Michael (9-2) out of third place.
The favourite Bag Of Tricks (9-2) fell away to run 7,60 lengths downfield.
The experiment to take former PE stakes winner Viking Moon over further ground flopped, with the son of Vercingetorix fading out to run over 18 lengths off the winner.
Day of mixed fortunes for top jock Richard Fourie (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Silver Host is a son of champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the French Deputy mare Hosta – a US-bred half sister to Gr1 winner Colstar (Opening Verse). He is thus a half -brother the 2015 Gr2 Diadem Stakes winner Lanner Falcon (Trippi), who raced out of the Bass yard.
Bred by Drakenstein, and raced in partnership by the top breeders, with Nic Johnsson and the Estate of the late Jack Mitchell, Silver Host was a R2,6 million National Yearling Sale graduate.
He has earned R217 700 with 3 wins from 6 starts.
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Gr3 Politician Stakes (SAf-Gr3)
Kenilworth, South Africa, February 1, R200k, 1800m, turf, good, 1.49.72
1 – SILVER HOST (SAF), 55.5, b g 3, Silvano (GER) – Hosta (USA) by French Deputy (USA). Owner Drakenstein Stud (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) & Messrs N Jonsson & Estate Late W J C Mitchell; Breeder Drakenstein Stud; trainer J Snaith; jockey R Fourie
2 – Super Silvano (SAF), 57.0, b c 3, Bold Silvano (SAF) – Respectable Lady (SAF) by Kabool (GB)
3 – Parterre (SAF), 58.5, b c 3, Flower Alley (USA) – Square Dance (GB) by Oasis Dream (GB)
Margins: 2.25, 2.25, 0.10
