Captain’s Flame stamped herself as one of the undiscovered gems of the Cape’s 3yo filly contingent this season, when she produced the goods to register an easy win in the R150 000 Listed Stormsvlei Mile at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Aldo Domeyer pushes Captain’s Flame out to an impressive win (Pic – Wayne Marks)
The Cheveley Stud bred daughter of Captain Al shot to prominence with a nice win in the Sabine Plattner silks in the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes in April and won the second leg of the R600 000 Winter Series for 3yo fillies on Saturday with an air of authority.
The bad news for local racing followers is that. like Marinaresco in the colts and geldings series, Captain’s Flame will not line up on 26 June to contest the 2200m Winter Oaks and go for the R150 000 series bonus.
Owner Sabine Plattner – enjoying a decent run
Trainer Andre Nel confirmed on Saturday that his charge is likely to be shipped to Durban to take her chances in the Gr1 Garden Province Stakes.
“That’s how good we feel she is and we don’t see the cash carrot as enough incentive to stretch a filly of this class to go the 2200m,” he confirmed.
And it certainly makes sense given the manner in which she has stepped up to a mile.
On Saturday Aldo Domeyer had her out keenly from her 9 draw and she tracked Jane S Piddy for 100m before being confidently taken up to lead.
At the 300m marker Captain’s Flame looked under a measure of pressure as Goodtime Gal went past her, but Domeyer knew what he had under him and Captain’s Flame simply changed legs and kicked away to register a fluent 1,25 length win in a time of 98,93 secs.
As in the Sweet Chestnut Stakes, Goodtime Gal chased her home.
Miss Marker ran on late into third.
The disappointment of the race was Anglet, who ran a flat race in her second run after a rest, to finish well downfield.
Trainer Andre Nel is enjoying a solid run of winners and paid tribute to his jockey.
“He had to commit from the draw and Aldo won it for her with a polished ride,” he said.
Domeyer said that his mount had broken the gates nicely and found a good position.
“She is a filly one can follow. Richard (Fourie – Goodtime Gal) went past us but Captain’s Flame has an extra gear and she won easily.”
Bred by Cheveley Stud, the winner is a daughter of Captain Al out of the one-time winning Fort Wood mare, Kindling.
She cost R1,2 million on the National Yearling Sale.
Captain’s Flame has won 4 of her 6 starts with 2 places and took her stakes to R290 475. She also benefitted from the BSA Added Value Stakes Bonus of R77 500.
