Glen Kotzen labelled his progressive Oratorio filly Snapscan the best of his Sun Met day attack and the 4yo duly delivered, winning the New Turf Carriers Gr2 Cape Stayers in emphatic fashion and she looks to have a bright future in the staying ranks.
The 2800m feature is a crowd pleaser and for those that listened to the Paarl trainer’s bullish comments on the midweek Met panel discussion show, it put the cherry on top of the afternoon’s feature menu.
Morne Winnaar and Snapscan show the opposition a clean pair of heels (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
In a tactical move the winner’s stablemate Coral Bay ensured a solid gallop from the break and going into the final 250 any one of four were in with a shout.
Morne Winnaar knew what he had under him and timed his run perfectly down the centre of the track.
Snapscan (17-4) hit the front full of running and went on powerfully to resist the late bid by the well-backed Tap O’Noth (7-1) to win by 0,30 lengths in a time of 184,96 secs.
A half length separated the quartet with Kampala Campari (13-1) a head away in third, with stablemate Crome Yellow (14-1) upping his game and running the race of his life to finish fourth.
The Snaith’s favourite Doublemint ran an ordinary race to finish out of the money and 3,75 lengths off the winner.
Bred by Drakenstein Stud, Snapscan is the third foal of the four-time winning Casey Tibbs mare, Cash Register – an own sister to the Kotzen’s much loved Vodacom Durban July winner, Big City Life.
Hugs all round – Hugo Hattingh hugs Morne Winnaar as Glen Kozten and Andrew Bon share the joy in the background (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Snapscan’s sire Oratorio, a dual champion in Italy, has produced offspring with international stakes earnings in excess of $65 000 000. The son of Danehill recently celebrated his century of stakes performers and has eight individual Gr1 winners to date.
The 4yo, who races in a partnership of the Hattingh family’s Chrigor Stud, Drakenstein Stud and the Georgiou’s, went through the National Yearling Sale ring at R400 000 and has banked stakes of R563 250 with 4 wins and 7 places from her 15 starts.
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Gr2 Cape Stayers (SAf-Gr2)
Kenilworth, South Africa, February 1, R350k, 2800m, turf, good, 3.04.96
1 – SNAPSCAN (SAF), 55.0, b f 4, Oratorio (IRE) – Cash Register (SAF) by Casey Tibbs (IRE). Owner Chrigor Stud (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs S Hattingh), Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) & Mr & Mrs A Georgiou; Breeder Drakenstein Stud; trainer GS Kotzen; jockey M Winnaar
2 – Tap O’ Noth (SAF), 59.0, b g 5, Captain Al (SAF) – Wintersweet (SAF) by Western Winter (USA)
3 – Kampala Campari (SAF), 59.0, b g 6, Querari (GER) – Kwitizina (SAF) by Captain Al (SAF)
Margins: 0.30, 0.10, 0.10
