The Justin Snaith Racing Team are set to kick some serious sand in the face of their opposition this Cape Summer of Champions Season.
The powerhouse operation sent out an ominous warning at Kenilworth on Saturday with five winners – including an exacta in the R150 000 Listed Woolavington Handicap.
Aldo Domeyer guides Ovidio to a gutsy win under top weight (Pic -Wayne Marks)
The Snaiths do nothing in small measure and the classy Ovidio’s feature success came just nine months after the Australian-bred son of Danehill Dancer had won the Gr2 J&B Urban Honey Stayers – on a memorable Met afternoon when the leading team were credited with what is thought to be a world record of 8 winners, including the first six winners.
Aldo Domeyer – confident ride on the winner (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Kenilworth was a lot less populated in terms of a crowd on Saturday, but it was Ovidio again who featured on the Snaith honour roll – powering home in the 2400m feature, in the process showing scant respect for his 62kg burden to register his second consecutive success in this race.
The class horse in a small field of seven, Aldo Domeyer had Ovidio relaxed as former Gr2 winner Kingston Mines took them along at a healthy gallop.
Justin Snaith – five fabulous winners
Into the winter straight, Kingston Mines appeared to lose his sense of direction, heading off in the direction of Harfield Road station as My World towed the strong-running Ovidio into the dash for home.
With 250m to go Ovidio stormed into the lead down the centre pursued by his gallant stablemate Francia.
But Domeyer had things under control and the gelding stayed on at 9-2 to beat the super consistent filly by a half length in a time of 151,24 secs.
My World galloped on best of the balance, a further length back, with the 5-2 Three Balloons disappointing with a modest one-paced fourth.
The Australian product Ovidio has earned R756 975 and has won 7 races with 10 places from his 21 starts.
He was tipped as a potential Gold Cup winner by Snaith, and ended up running a courageous fourth in South Africa’s premier marathon at the end of last season.
He originally raced in the Hassen Adams silver and blue silks, but the former Met winning owner’s name is no longer reflected. Ovidio now races in the Jane and Ken Truter partnership.
He was purchased by James Bester Bloodstock for A$ 30897 at the Inglis Bloodstock 2012 Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Danehill Dancer – sire of the winner
Once described as ‘one of the cheaper horses we bought in Australia’ by former co-owner Hassen Adams, he is a son of Danehill Dancer out of the Red Ransom mare, Pre Nup – who was out of De Beauvoir, and won once and ran two places from 12 starts.
Snaith’s winning spree started in the first when Daring Dave’s full-brother Glorious Goodwood finally shed his maiden – in good style at his fifth start. He looks likely to train on.
The flying Jo’s Bond then showed good pace to make it six wins from fourteen starts in the third.
African Night Sky (another Dynasty) made it two from two in the sixth, before Trip The Willow followed up in an impressive post-maiden success in the seventh race, an MR 76 Handicap.
