Great Debut! King Of Pain streaks away to win the first. The riderless Here I Am can be seen in the background.
The Cape juvenile feature form is about reliable as the Department of Home Affairs. That was shown in no uncertain terms in dramatic about-turns in the first two races at Kenilworth today.
We know juveniles improve and mature. And fair enough, the going was yielding on the 9 April when the Betting World Somerset and the Perfect Promise Sprint were run. But between Half Moon Hotel, Countess Of Rhynie and The Black Rose, punters’ worlds were turned upside down. Thank heavens for a star called Variety Club, who added much needed respectability and sparkle to the afternoon
The day started on a shaky note for punters when Glen Hatt produced the unfancied Greys Inn first-timer King Of Pain to win the Juvenile Plate over 1100m going away. After the scratching of Dean Kannemeyer’s exceptionally fast Cape Royal, the Marshall-trained Half Moon Hotel was backed to 11-20 favourite. The Alado colt had run a smart second to his stablemate The West Is Wide in the Listed Betting World Somerset and looked too strong on paper.
The form didn’t quite work out as expected though. Joey Ramsden trained the winner of an incident-filled race. The ironically named Jump Jet, jumped like a snail.Then Here I Am ducked out and unceremoniously unseated jockey Morne Winnaar. He appeared none the worse for the tumble. Half Moon Hotel was reported coughing post-race. But that’s too late for punters.
The winner was bred by Arc En Ciel out of the Defensive Play mare Viva La Belle. He is named after the Sting song of 1983. One would think he is looking for ground and he looks like a nice sort. Although we know better than to jump the gun with the juvenile form.
The unbeaten The Black Rose, who had won the East Cape Fillies Nursery by 6,25 lengths at her third unbeaten start, went out deep into the red and bolted like a scalded cat from the start of the Fillies Juvenile Plate over 1100m. Rchard Fourie looked to have plenty in hand still at the 300m marker but the daughter of Black Minnaloushe shortened her stride dramatically and was passed by the Marshall Count Dubois runner, Countess Of Rhynie.
The Black Rose landed up running a shocker and being passed by the 50-1 debutante Ginoclock who ran on well for second position after losing lengths at the start.
Countess Of Rhynie was bred by Alec Foster out of the Badger Land mare Countess Of Rhynie. She has won two of four starts and looks a progressive sort after having run a diabolical race in the Listed Perfect Promise Fillies Sprint behind the promising Hammie’s Hooker last time.
The long battling Brett Crawford maiden Cash Counter finally found the winning recipe in the Pick Six opener, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m. The grey Misty Day made the pace but faded close to home as another battler in First Favour moved up looking a likely winner. Karis Teetan had been winding Cash Counter up nicely down the inside and he let the Counter Action filly find her stride before punching her out to win quite well.
First Favour stayed on for second, while the favourite Kiss And Tell earned again by running her fifth place in five starts. Dolfie Maeder’s Air Dancer ran her first poor race in five starts and may prefer the assistance of regular rider Keanan Steyn. Cash Counter was bred by Waterford Stud out of the Jallad mare, Private Fantasy.She may battle to find the winner’s enclosure again.
Fast Filly! Enrani draws away under Karl Neisius to win the fourth race.
The very fast Var filly Varushka went off low flying to lead a tricky looking jackpot opener. The Fillies and Mares Conditions Plate over 1000m. There was plenty of speed in the race and Varushka still led at the 300m marker as the challenges came from all sides. It was left to the Australian-bred Enrani to fly late at 8-1 under Karl Neisius to record her fifth win from nine starts. She is by Danzero out of the Ahoonoora mare Random Chance.
Ocean’s Swift led the supporting feature, the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes run over 1400m. Justin Snaith’s big Captain Al filly was brought across from her wide draw and was still bowling along with 200m to go. There were many in with chances at this stage, including the Yogas Govender trained Dance For Gold, who briefly looked dangerous.
Karis Teetan was watching proceedings from a few lengths off and he extricated the Goldmark filly Golden Dawn from a tight looking spot and she swept forward to win very well. Ocean’s Swift stayed on without fireworks for second place. Rivatorio ran a good race to finish with a sustained burst for third.
Glen Kotzen trains the Nutfield Stud-bred winner for the Jaffees and Peter De Beyer. She is out of the Elliodor mare Pearl Hostess. This was a good second win for a filly who looked like she may need more ground to show her best.
He couldn’t get beaten at level weights and Joey Ramsden’s Variety Club proved the handicapper spot-on when he drew clear to win the feature event, the Tekkietown Winter Guineas run over 1600m. Doubts about his match fitness were swept aside in under two minutes as Anton Marcus rode a confident race from the worst draw. Plans for his immediate future include a possible tilt at the Gold Challenge in Durban. Alternatively, he is a big contender for the Winter Triple Crown if he should stay in the Cape.
Good Sort. The grey Born To Be Wild (Chris Puller) gets the better of Grafton Street.
The oldest horse racing on the Kenilworth afternoon was the ten year old Jallad gelding Grafton Street. He loves to stride freely out front and he did this in the MR100 Handicap over 2000m. Bernard Fayd’herbe looked to have judged the ride perfectly as they turned for home, but the fit as a fiddle Born To Be Wild was breathing down his neck, and the flashy grey went past him 300m from home to win convincingly.
The Bill Prestage-trained winner was bred by Bernard Kantor and is by Australian sire Ferocity out of the Timber Country mare, Almasiga. He has won four times for Chris Puller from his nine starts for stakes of R201 000.
Joey Ramsden closed a rewarding day at the office when Glen Hatt brought the improving Crown Of Gold down the middle with a sustained run to record his third win in the MR79 Handicap over 2000m. The half-brother by Silvano to the well-preformed Silver Mist has improved dramatically from his maiden win, as was correctly predicted by his trainer. He overcame the 12 draw to ward off the improved Leo Rapax with Peregrine Power staying on for third.
Crown Of Gold was bred by Midlands Thoroughbreds and he looks a likely Winter Derby candidate at this point.
