A terrific feat of training to win the KZN Derby, the Gold Vase and the Gold Cup with the same horse in the space of five weeks put the cherry on the top of the SA Champions Season for trainer Dean Kannemeyer, when Fred Crabbia’s It’s My Turn won the R1,25 million Elan Gold Cup at Greyville on Saturday.
Anton Marcus and It’s My Turn cruise to victory (Pic – Candiese Marnewick/Gold Circle)
Kannemeyer saddled the filly Colonial Girl in 2000 and the Australian-bred In Writing for Fieldspring Racing in 2012 to make it a hat-trick of victories in South Africa’s premier marathon on Saturday with the revitalised Dynasty 5yo, who looks sure to win the Equus SA Champion Stayer title on 14 August.
One of the newsmakers of the SA Champions Season for reasons that he was surprisingly ommitted from the final field for the Vodacom Durban July, the big race panel’s dismissive finger of fate has given rise to a revival of note for the classy gelding.
In a scrappy race, Anton Marcus had It’s My Turn relaxed in midfield as Let It Rain led them at a reasonable gallop.
In the run for home, the bang in-form Anton Marcus angled It’s My Turn to the outside as the challenges started coming from all sides.
At the 250m it was race over as It’s My Turn powered up the outside strip – as he had done in the Gold Vase three weeks earlier – to win well by 2,25 lengths in a time of 205,20 secs.
Dean Kannemeyer – third Gold Cup success
The well supported 2017 Gold Cup champion Hermoso Mundo had no answers, but stayed on for second ahead of Wild Wicket and Strathdon – who was only 2,55 lengths off the winner.
Lonsdale winner and July runner-up Made To Conquer was last turning for home and made up plenty of ground to finish fifth (the tote paid top five for places) and under 3 lengths behind the winner.
It was a further two lengths back to Dark Moon Rising, who now looks a lucky inclusion in the July after all. This was his test and he got the pace required to show his staying prowess.
The winner’s stablemate One Man Show was next, 1,75 lengths back and a little one-paced late.
PE visitor Desert Wisdom appeared to go wrong late in the race and finished tailed off. Gauteng visitor Kitty’s Destiny was pulled out of the race on the first turn.
Dean Kannemeyer and his winning jockey Anton Marcus were thrilled. Kannemeyer paid tribute to owner Fred Crabbia’s patience and thanked Far End Farm’s Jane Thomas for her help in the post-op recovery process.
Neither Fred Crabbia nor his Racing Manager Emma Rorke were on track.
Fred Crabbia – happy owner – wasn’t on track
A R400 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, It’s My Turn has won 5 races with 9 places from 18 starts for stakes of R2 801 275.
He was bred by Willempie Engelbrecht Jnr and is one of eight individual Derby winning sons of classic producer Dynasty (Fort Wood). He is out of the one-time winner Jallad’s Queen (Jallad), who won at a mile.
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Gr3 eLan Gold Cup (SAf-Gr3)
Greyville, South Africa, July 28, R1.25 million, 3200m, turf, good, 3.25.02
1 – IT’S MY TURN (SAF), 59.5, b g 5, Dynasty (SAF) – Jallad’s Queen (SAF) by Jallad (USA). Owner Mr A L A Crabbia; Breeder WJ Engelbrecht Jnr; trainer D Kannemeyer; jockey A Marcus
2 – Hermoso Mundo (SAF), 59.0, b g 5, Ideal World (USA) – Escoleta Fitz (ARG) by Fitzcarraldo (ANY)
3 – Wild Wicket (SAF), 56.5, b g 4, Dynasty (SAF) – Firstnightbliss (SAF) by Jallad (USA)
Margins: 2.25, 0.25, 0.05
