It may well take a local lady to break the overwhelming iron-fisted Cape dominance of the R350 000 Gr3 East Cape Derby. Renate du Plessis only trained her first winner on Valentine’s Day in 2014 but the accomplished horsewoman from Stilbaai has established herself quickly in a relatively male dominated world.
Fly Like The Wind is overdue a big win
She saddles a smart Windrush gelding at Fairview on Sunday. But PE is perhaps a bad example of suggesting that there is any supremacy amongst the sexes.
Renate’s colleagues Dorrie Sham and Yvette Bremner can hold their own against the best, and with Corinne Bestel in KZN, could train any potential Gr1 prospect – given the horse, that is.
But we digress…
The final leg of the R900 000 Eastern Cape Sophomore Challenge heads the mid-month programme on the turf at Fairview and heralds a fitting climax to a hotly contested series, where Dorrie Sham and Justin Snaith are tied at 1-1.
While traditional big-hitters Joey Ramsden and Vaughan Marshall are not making the trip from Milnerton this year, their competitive colleague Justin Snaith has a trio of runners and West Coast-based Andre Nel throws a curved ball of a talented filly into the mix.
But manners and common sense dictate that we start with Renate du Plessis’ Fly Like The Wind.
The Favour Stud product never runs a poor race and returns from a trip to Cape Town when he ran a highly creditable fourth to Marinaresco in the Gr3 Winter Guineas.
If over the rigours of that journey and assuming he gets the 2400m, he should make his present felt after showing he is right there with the best of the locals this term.
Justin Snaith – last won this race in 2013
Justin Snaith last won this race in 2013 with True Master and he saddles a three pronged attack.
Elusive Silva won beaten a neck by Fly Like The Wind in the Winter Guineas but won his two starts like an improving horse.
The Australian bred More Than Grand is held by Welsh Emperor on his last run and has been a touch disappointing.
Stablemate Captain Splendid is relatively unexposed looks progressive enough to challenge.
Captain Splendid (red cap) could be a value lurker
He is not well drawn but the Fred Crabbia gelding is beautifully bred and his dam won up to 2600m. He costs all of R800 000 as a yearling.
Alan Greeff saddles a major candidate for top honours in the Go Deputy colt Welsh Emperor.
The Ascot Stud product is versatility personified having won from 1200m to 2000m, and there is little to choose between him and Fly Like The Wind.
He tends to run at them late and if there is one criticism, it is that he has been one-paced at times. That said, he enjoyed the 2000m last time and may be even more effective over the 2400m on Sunday.
He certainly has a touch of class and looks to be better than his 88 rating, if putting his top toe forward.
Rhumba Magic has poor recent form, while Greeff also saddles two fillies. Love Everlasting and recent maiden winner Badger Creek look to have lots to do to take on the boys.
Rondeberg based Andre Nel saddles the third member of the fairer sex in the Querari daughter, Solana.
Solana – bids for a fairer sex win – but not easy
The Plattner home-bred has won 3 of her 6 starts and was an emphatic winner of the Listed East Cape Oaks, when trying 2000m for the first time on her East Cape debut last time.
Aldo Domeyer stays loyal to her and her racing style suggests her 11 draw will hardly be an inhibition.
Be with her as a likely party spoiler for the locals.
Dorrie Sham and Triple Crown jockey Karl Zechner have formed a formidable combination and the yard has two runners in the race.
Karl Zechner – King Of Chaos
Zechner rides stable elect King Of Chaos, who looks eminently suited on breeding to go the 2400m. The son of A P Arrow tries the ground for the first time, and even though held by Welsh Emperor, may be worth including as a dark horse for bigger permutations.
Benji’s Dynasty won his maiden on the poly at his penultimate start and was then beaten over 7 lengths by Welsh Emperor last time.
Owner Fred Crabbia went to R550 000 to buy him, so he must have positives – one of whi9ch jumps out is that he is a full-brother to the very well performed Gr1 Canon Gold Cup winner, Ancestral Fore.
Gavin Smith saddles Seattle Swing, who looks nicely bred to go the distance here and is a winner over 2200m on the poly – which shows he has the lung capacity to go the extra yards.
On straight form he is well held by Welsh Emperor though and will need to get a bit lucky to challenge the higher rated gallopers.
The son of Judpot looks well held by the top few and earlier beat Fly Like The Wind a short head – but in receipt of 11kgs!
Grant Paddock saddles the only course and distance winner in the race in the form of the Elusive Fort gelding, Man Of The Cloth.
The lightly raced fellow won over 2400m here at his third start, but there is some difficulty analysing the merits of the win. He beat professional maiden Messageinabottle by 0,75 lengths, which isn’t exactly a feather of any sorts. But he obviously stays, and that makes him a runner.
The extra ground makes for an intriguing race and will separate the men from the boys.
Fly Like The Wind, Welsh Emperor and Captain Splendid are our top three pick.
