Top Credentials. Captain America has plenty in his favour in the Investec Gr1 Cape Derby – Photo: Hamish Niven Photography
It takes a top class 3yo to win the strongest Derby in South Africa. History stands true to that fact and the reality is further endorsed by the result of the recent Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, where the 2013 Derby winner beat the 2012 champion. There is no reason to believe that the proud tradition will not be celebrated again this year when the R1 million Investec Gr1 Cape Derby is run over the Kenilworth 2000m.
It sounds quite bizarre that past Derby winners fought over the spoils recently of South Africa’s premier mile weight for age contest, but good horses often have the class to carry the moment no matter the distance. Saturday’s race sees a field of ten lining up and it is quite disappointing that a race of this stature has not attracted a single visiting entry. It is difficult to imagine that they were scared away by the top rated Captain America, who looks a big runner, but definitely no racing certainty. Interesting too that none of the ten have gone the 2000m before.
One To Beat
Brett Crawford’s Captain Al colt must be the horse to beat on his official rating and his excellent form which indicates that he will hold his opposition, if everything goes to plan. And Crawford prepped the 2012 winner Jackson and will know exactly what is required. Captain America has made giant strides since his inauspicious third at 18 to 1 on debut over the Kenilworth 1200m in June.
He has won 4 of his 5 starts since, which includes a terrifically impressive victory over the promising Red Ray in the inaugural R2 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes run over 1400m at the end of November last year. His colours were lowered in the Grand Parade Cape Guineas at his last start by his stablemate Elusive Gold, who is headed for distant shores and an international career, and will thus not line up here.
Easy Game
With the Guineas winner not running here, Captain America holds six of the ten runners on either or both of his efforts in the Lanzerac or the Guineas. The biggest question mark, if we look hard enough for one, is the poser whether he will go the 2000m, that he tries for the first time. His racing style and breeding suggest he will handle it with ease.
His dam Requista (by Fort Wood) won 5 races from 1200m to 2000m and Captain America has shown a good turn of foot and the ability to be placed and run on from anywhere.
Royal Challenge
The closest horse to him on the ratings is Dean Kannemeyer’s Power King, who ran on well for a R1,75 length fifth in the Cape Guineas. The son of Silvano has won 2 of his 5 starts and his formline includes two very fair fifths in the Gr2 Selangor Cup (2 lengths behind De Kock) and the Guineas, as already observed.
Power King was running on strongly in the Guineas and is rumoured to be a fellow who will relish the 2000m of this trip. He fails from a classic winning yard and the combination is still on a high after their terrific Queen’s Plate success.
Tough Guy
Glen Puller’s Strongman won his first three races on the trot but then lost form in a brace of features before putting his best foot forward in the Gr3 Politician Stakes last time out.
He looked a winner there down the inside over the final 100m and was only run out of it late by a vigorous Richard Fourie on the Snaith trained Blaze Of Noon. If improving over the further 200m he could challenge for the places and it is worth noting that his dam was a stakes winner right up to 2400m.
Snaith Trio
Justin Snaith’s trio will naturally have to be considered, although none of the three appear to have done enough to be fancied strongly. The exception could be Richard Fourie’s mount Legislate. The son of Dynasty is just a one time winner from seven starts, but has two good seconds in the Gr3 Cape Classic and Gr2 Selangor Cup to his credit.
He ran no kind of race in the Guineas last time but may be looking for this trip, despite the fact that his dam was a pure sprinter. Sean Cormack rides Snaith’s Silvano colt Arion. This fellow won two races before being beaten in a shocker in a lowly rated handicap at Durbanville in October. Two fair feature runs followed that and a change of riding tactics may well be the answer to seeing an improved effort from him.
Short Cut
The well bred Cape Cutter ran on well when finishing ahead of Arion last time in the Politician Stakes but now has to find 1,5 kgs. He was under a length behind in the Politician Stakes in a race where the form has already been questioned, but has certainly warranted his place in this field.
Glen Kotzen’s Counts Rocket won the Listed Winter Juvenile Stakes last season and showed an appreciation for the increased stamina test when staying on well behind Blaze Of Noon in the Politician Stakes. He has to find 3kgs on Strongman on that run though and looks to have hopes of a place cheque at best.
Mountain Men
Mike Bass sends out a pair of Jet Master colts that cost R5,2 million between them and amount to the largely ‘unknown quantities’ in a field of this nature. Helderberg Blue is probably the more high profile of the two courtesy of his antics before the Gr3 Politician Stakes three weeks ago. Starting a well fancied 12 to 10 favourite there, he performed in the pre race parade with coltish stunts that put paid to any chance he may have had. He failed to kick on and was beaten into eighth and 2,5 lengths behind in a race where the form may well be questionable.
Special
Helderberg Blue had looked very special when winning 2 of his first 3 outings and could yet redeem his reputation. Bernard Fayd’herbe gets behind the controls as Grant Van Niekerk rides Mountain Master. The latter beat Nebra to win his maiden on New Year’s Day over the Kenilworth 1800m. Nebra did not confirm any fireworks when finishing 4 lengths off another Bass runner in Celtic Jet last Saturday. Mountain Master has done little wrong and probably deserves a chance to prove himself.
Tycoon’s Touch
Darryl Hodgson’s Marmalade Tycoon was the whispering horse in the Politician Stakes. He had just come off his maiden victory there and was hampered before catching the eye with a late burst to finish one length behind Blaze Of Noon in sixth position. How good he really is yet to be answered, but Hassen Adams is a competitive owner who only takes his chances when his winning prospects are realistic.
Dominant
The Varsfontein Stud bred Captain America stands out head and shoulders and while there may be chinks in his armour, we are siding with him to beat Power King and the dark horse Legislate. If Mike Bass had been counselling Helderberg Blue, we could see a reformed character at racing on Saturday. That would give him a chance of pushing Captain America all the way. It should be one helluva race.
