The Dynasty colt Act Of War is impossible to oppose
The apparent apathy and lack of interest by the Cape trainers towards the 2yo feature programme continues at Kenilworth on Saturday when the R125 000 Listed Winter Juvenile Stakes is run over a mile with just six runners carded. Milnerton-based Joey Ramsden saddles five of the six runners, and he deservedly is likely to win the race.
Ramsden has been vocal in the criticism of the authorities in rescheduling races and pandering to the whims of his colleagues.
While this race, along with a few other baby features, has been shuffled, the Milnerton trainer comes to the party with five of the six runners and has basically saved the race, with Eric Sands the only man willing to oppose him.
“I do think that our feature race dates and settings, weather permitting, are sacrosanct and just moving them because there are not enough runners is not good enough at all. Sadly, we are in the situation where some trainers have the bulk of horses and can ultimately decide whether the race is run or not. If guys do not want to accept because they think the race might be cancelled or moved to better suit them, they have the power to manipulate the system,” he said recently.
His 1 to 4 favourite Act Of War, looks the proverbial penalty kick and it will be the quickest and easiest R78 125 that his connections have ever earned.
The R550 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate has looked very promising in three starts.
Joey could ride Act Of War himself on Saturday
Narrowly beaten on debut, he followed up by winning his Kenilworth 1200m maiden and then impressed when beating stablemate Catkin to give Joey his eighth Langerman victory on 8 June.
The Horse Chestnut colt Catkin should run second again.
The Wickensburg Stud-bred is a son of that top-class Badger Land mare Catalina, who was trained by Joey and won seven races for his loyal patrons Martin Wickens and Gisela Burg.
Catkin was the only horse running on in the Langerman and he looks a progressive sort over a bit of ground.
Eric Sands’ Antonius Pius filly Shimmering Leaves has won 2 of her 5 starts and beat the older Kind Lady (a subsequent winner at her 102nd start recently) in a gutsy performance when trying the turn for the first time.
She should struggle against a forward and talented colt like Act Of War.
While the failure of the smart Kingvoldt (from the Ramsden string) in the Langerman may still be a niggle in the back of many punter’s minds, we suggest Act Of War will make good here.
Banker him in all the exotics.
