Top Class! Paddy O’ Reilly powers home to win the Listed Kenilworth Cup (Equine Edge)
Class inevitably prevails and Paddy O’Reilly proved that maxim of the turf and life when he outstayed his opponents to win the R125 000 Listed Kenilworth Cup run over 3200m on Saturday. The marathon event proved a spectacle with the festive on course crowd warming to the show, although favourite backers were left sulking in the shadows.
The failure of the 5 to 2 favourite Wavin’ Flag, and the well supported recent Algoa Cup winner Disco Al, had shellshocked punters reeling. It was a tough day at the tote windows, by all accounts, to that point.
Wavin’ Flag bucked the successful Crawford and Hatt roll of the day, and the son of Silvano proved to be something of a brass yet again. He is a candidate for equine debt counselling, based on the amount of times he has failed when fancied. He is probably just overrated.
The promising and previously consistent Disco Al had every chance, but may not have stayed the trip. He should not be written off.
But in the end, a great display of jockeyship by Bernard Fayd’herbe made all the difference on the topweight.
Nysean Bolt led Master Chi and Posh Boy at an amble early on as they cruised into the country.
Paddy O’Reilly was settled in sixth position and about seven lengths off the leader.
After brief efforts by Dubai Gina and Barossa Valley to expedite the pace down the back stretch, the order remain largely unchanged and Nysean Bolt was still in command as they came for home.
With the Van Reenen runners Posh Boy and Barossa Valley sweeping forward and looking all set to fight it out, Bernard Fayd’herbe was shopping for a gap about four lengths behind a wall of runners and he calmly drifted his mount to the outside.
When seeing daylight Paddy O’Reilly kicked and Fayd’herbe drove the son of Dynasty up to catch and beat Posh Boy by 1,25 lengths in a time of 212,59 secs. He started at 15 to 2.
Fayd’herbe’s frustration on the day (he was literally the King Of Pain in the Green Point Stakes!) was mirrored in a rare show of emotion at the post as he obviously relished a hard earned victory.
Another son of Dynasty to win on the big day, Paddy O’ Reilly is out of the two time winning West Man mare, West Donegal.
Paddy O’Reilly was formerly trained by Glen Kotzen, who rated him highly. He did a tendon and had knee chips removed, before landing up at Mike Stewart, the patience and seawater therapy specialist out at Noordhoek.
Stewart rides Paddy in work most days.
Paddy O’Reilly was bred by Jack Ward and his son Peter, a Dubai based Vet, and Judy Dempsey, and is out of the two time winning West Man mare, West Donegal, who was trained by Dean Kannemeyer.
Paddy O’Reilly was recording his fifth win from 30 starts for 10 places and took his career earnings to R533 675
He ran fourth in the Gr1 Investec Cape Derby of his year behind Bravura and is also Gr2 placed at 1800m. He won the Listed Glenlair Trophy run over 3200m at Arlington in May this year and ran a cracking fifth in the Gold Cup.
Paddy O’Reilly is not as healthy and sound as he is talented. So beware and watch him for consistency into the summer season.
