Fabulous Dancer! Disco Al (Robbie Fradd) gets the better of Storm Dancer to win the Algoa Cup (Coastal Photos)
A masterful training and riding performance saw the lightly raced Captain Al gelding Disco Al grab the top honours in Sunday’s R350 000 Gr3 Betting World Algoa Cup. The Cape raider crowned a wonderful weekend for trainer Joey Ramsden, who saddled winners in three different provinces.
There is just no stopping the Joey Ramsden yard when they step up a gear and the Milnerton conditioner enjoyed a terrific weekend at the office, with Red Rake winning the Gr3 Cape Classic, and Disco Al putting the cherry on top with victory in the first feature at the very first meeting staged on the new Fairview Polytrack.
And as if to prove his point, Ramsden’s lone KZN runner Happy Forever won a Pinnacle Stakes at a gloomy Clairwood in Mauritius based jockey Andrew Fortune’s ‘springbok’ silks just ten minutes after Disco Al’s win.
In fact Fortune celebrated a great day on the Indian Ocean Island, to make it a memorable weekend amongst colleagues and good friends. He rode two winners, including the local Gold Cup on former Cape horse Tales Of Bravery.
With the inclement PE weather forcing Phumelela to switch the meeting from the turf to poly, the 2000m feature, known as the ‘PE July’, was thrown even wider open.
Sixteen runners were despatched and Disco Al was relaxed in midfield under Robbie Fradd as True Master led Brown Penny and A Boy Named Sue.
Gareth Wright was keen to up the ante and took Brown Penny past True Master at the mile post as the pace quickened. They maintained the order around the turn.
In the short run for home Brown Penny came under pressure from Way Clear, as True Master slipped through down the inside rail, looking dangerously full of running.
Richard Fourie looked to have timed True Master’s run to perfection, but the Snaith hopes went up in smoke as Storm Dancer burst clear under the revitalised Francois Herholdt at the 300m, as Disco Al appeared a beaten horse.
But Fradd wasn’t taking defeat lying down and he gathered Disco Al for a final effort as True Master failed to produce a fight in the final 200m.
Disco Al responded and powered on under a beautifully balanced driving ride to hold the determined Storm Dancer by a head in a time of 120,47 secs.
Disco Al went off at a handy 7 to 2, and somehow always appeared to have matters in hand once he found his stride late in the race.
The Mike Bass trained Abercrombie, who started a lukewarm 33 to 10 favourite, ran on for third, a neck in front of another Cape visitor in Cask.
Mitch Wiese’s Silent Partner caught the eye with a gallant effort in fifth and he should not be long in winning, when dropping in class.
Disco Al has now won 4 races with 8 places from 15 starts, and more than doubled his earnings in the process to a total of R399 680.
Disco Al was bred by Drakenstein Stud and is a 4yo son of Captain Al out of the brilliant six time winning Badger Land mare, Studio Fifty Four.
He is thus a half brother to 2013 Gr1 Gold Cup winner Jeppe’s Reef (Jallad).
Disco Al cost R800 000 on the National Yearling Sale and races in the famous SA flag of Vanashree and Anant Singh, in partnership with Ingrid and Markus Jooste.
Ramsden previously won this race with the British bred Hawk’s Eye, who scored under Karis Teetan in 2010.
Full marks to Phumelela for taking the plunge and saving the meeting. The bottom line is that they can’t please all of the people all of the time. At least they have Joey Ramsden on their side in this particular debate!
Just a word on the camera work. That vital aspect of the show requires urgent attention. It is just not up to scratch.
Hopefully they will resolve that glaring defect before we race on the Polytrack again.
