Flashback to Act Of War – Kenilworth 22 November – The Strdyom 5000 milestone
Act Of War has the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate on January 9 as his main target for the Cape Town season. Victory for the four-year-old would give Joey Ramsden his fourth win in the mile showpiece in 12 years, writes Michael Clower.
Racing manager Derek Brugman said: “He went to Durban for the winter because we wanted him to have the sun on his back. He was kept in full work but, although we nominated him for a couple of races, he was drawn in the bush each time.
“We said beforehand that we were not going to run our good horses from bad draws and we stuck to that policy. Now he will be aimed at the Queen’s Plate.”
Act Of War was hailed in much the same exalted breath as Ramsden’s previous Queen’s Plate winners, Winter Solstice and Variety Club, after impressively following up his Cape Classic and Selangor wins in the Grand Parade Cape Guineas.
Defeat at a prohibitive 1-3 in the Investec Cape Derby took some of the gloss off his reputation although he was afterwards found to be suffering from a throat infection. He bounced back to give weight all round in the Winter Guineas but he missed out in the Equus Awards and so has a point to prove.
Cold As Ice – settled in UK
Cold As Ice has recovered well from her marathon safari via Mauritius to Newmarket in England but she will not be asked to race again this year.
Ridgemont Stud manager Craig Carey said: “She travelled well and settled well, and she has now been with William Haggas for the past seven weeks. He is happy with her but she will wait for next season. Hopefully exciting days lie ahead.”
The four-year-old won five of her seven starts for Ramsden including the Choice Carriers, Laissezfaire and Sceptre Stakes. She was beaten a head by Inara in the Klawervlei Majorca and was second favourite for the Avontuur Cape Fillies Guineas only to burst through the pens, gallop riderless for the distance of the race and be withdrawn.
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