Karl Neisius drives Anglet up the outside to hold off the attentions of Sean Cormack and Nordic Wind (Pic: Bay Media)
The veteran combination of trainer Paddy Kruyer and jockey Karl Neisius teamed up at Kenilworth on Saturday to give Rosedene stallion Biarritz his first stakes winner. The smart looking James Armitage-bred filly Anglet showed great courage to beat the pacemaking Nordic Wind in a thrilling finish to the 1500m R125 000 Listed Irridescence Stakes.
Anglet is her sire’s first ever runner and she has proven a model of consistency as she has stepped up and handled every test thrown at her to date. The no-fuss workmanlike nature of her hat-trick of victories has obviously also impressed the astute Karl Neisius, who has stuck with her from day one.
Going off a rather generous 5-1 in the eight horse field, that included Kenilworth Nursery runner-up Sublime Lady, the topweighted Anglet had to bear the burden of lumping 2kgs more than her opposition, but produced a professional performance that suggested she is amongst the best we’ve seen in her age group in the Cape this season.
She was in touch for much of the race as Sean Cormack took Nordic Wind up to lead Harlem Shake.
At the 350m marker, Anglet challenged Nordic Wind on the outside, and for a moment looked to draw off. But Nordic Wind wasn’t going down without a fight and came right back at her.
Karl Neisius – peach of a ride
The ice-cool Neisius wasn’t flustered though and kept Anglet balanced to win by a short head in a time of 93,90 secs.
The Snaith’s recent maiden winner Star Express got going too late and ran a respectable third.
Nursery runner-up Sublime Lady started an 18-10 favourite but failed to quicken and ran fourth.
Anglet has been a model of consistency having won her last 3 races, after a second on debut.
She took her stakes earnings to R175 500 with her first stakes victory and looks likely to train on into a decent 3yo.
Winning trainer Paddy Kruyer paid R180 000 for her on the 2014 CTS Ready To Run Sale.
She was bred by James Armitage and is from the very small first crop of Biarritz. The winner is the second foal of the twice-winning Kitalpha mare, Fenelia.
The multiple stakes winning Biarritz was a top class racehorse, who raced from two to seven in South Africa and Dubai, and registered his 7 wins from 1400m to 1800m.
