The Ridgemont Highlands-bred Cape Winter Series Champion Katak crowned a Super Saturday for the champion Robertson nursery.
The team also bred the winner of the Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery at Kenilworth, and shouted home another Australian stakes winner for their proven international sire and five-time Gr1 winner, Canford Cliffs.
With their Gr1 winning young stallion Rafeef registering five local winners in just three days, it’s been a time to remember for the Kieswetter family operation, who only recently celebrated the arrival of the exciting SA Triple Crown Champion Malmoos (Captain Al) who joined the farm’s stallion roster just under a fortnight ago.
Katak wins well under Danny Beasley (Pic – STC)
Leading Owner Marsh Shirtliff, a partner in the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby winner Pomp And Power, was over the moon after his champion Katak registered his second win at Kranji on Saturday with an emphatic showing in the SG$100,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1600m.
The five-year-old entire by Ridgemont Highlands’Gr1-winning stallion Potala Palace landed in Singapore unbeaten in five runs, and with the Cape Winter Series Triple Crown to his name.
But after a quiet start that included a second to Hard Too Think in the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the globetrotting Katak was under the spotlight to find his form.
Trainer Ricardo Le Grange, who is on top of the local trainer’\s log with a 215 win strike-rate, ignored the doubters and has been rewarded for staying in Katak’s corner. He described the untapped potential that Saturday’s win may unleash as ‘scary.
“His mannerisms are more those of a real racehorse now, he has improved so much,” said Le Grange.
“Danny (Beasley) jumped off saying he is looking for a mile and a quarter and even a mile and a half. He’s so much easier to train now, and to see him win like that and still cry for more ground, it’s pretty scary. It’s always a pleasure to have Danny on, he rode the horse beautifully, and it’s exciting times for Marsh and Guy (Shirtliff) and Bryn.”
Beasley, who was handed the reins at only the first win, for one was delighted about being in the right place at the right time.
“This is the South African horse back to the fore,” said the Australian rider.
“As Ricky said before, his first prep was too quick. He needed more time to settle in. He has improved a lot from his first win just from the way he travels underneath you. There is no doubt he needs further, up to 2400m, but unfortunately, we don’t have such races here. He wouldn’t be out of place in New Zealand and would also be competitive over a mile and a half in pretty good company in Australia. He will only get better with more racing. There’s still more improvement to come out of him,”added the top rider.
In six starts, Katak has now taken his local record to two wins and one second for stakes earnings that have just tipped over the SG$200,000 mark for the Vasco Stable.
There was more celebration earlier on Saturday at Ridgemont Highlands when Canford Cliffs registered his 20th international stakes winner following Canford (ex Sorenstam by Encosta De Lago) winning the A$ 62 500 Gr3 Lord Reims Stakes at Morphettville.
He now boasts seven wins and 12 placings from 44 starts and over A$300,000 in prizemoney and will head straight to next month’s Gr2 Adelaide Cup.
Ridgemont Higlands-bred We’re Jamming wins the Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The Ridgemont Highlands-bred Duke Of Marmalade colt We’re Jamming opened the Cape Derby Day feature programme at Kenilworth on Saturday when winning the Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery.
What a day!
