Unbeaten Liancourt Rock - could be anything
Gr2 Selangor Cup over 1600m at Kenilworth on Sunday
The highlight of Sunday’s action at Kenilworth is undoubtedly the Gr2 Selangor Cup. Won by the likes of Dynasty and last season’s J&B Met winner Past Master in recent years, the race is usually won by a top sort and amongst the eleven this time around there are a few with real potential, writes Steve Furnish.
Highest rated by the official handicapper is the Var colt Variety Club. After winning his first two starts over sprint distances with ease, Joey Ramsden’s charge progressed quickly last season and showed his appreciation for the extra when landing the Gr3 Langerman over 1500m at this circuit in June. He only lost out by the narrowest of margins in Port Elizabeth’s Gr3 Champion Juvenile Stakes in his final start of last season and did then show his well being in no uncertain terms in his only start thus far in this campaign when beating last season’s J&B Met third placed runner Run For It in the Gr3 Matchem Stakes. Variety Club had Depardieu behind him on the same terms as they meet here in that latest outing and with Depardieu having come out and won the Gr3 Cape Classic next time out, he has to be a serious runner here.
Master Mascus
As well as Variety Club, trainer Joey Ramsden is also represented by the improving runners Master Mascus and Silver Haven. After finishing third to Depardieu in the Cape Nursery in just his second career start, Master Mascus went on to run Variety Club to just a neck in the Langerman and in his final start of last season he won the listed Winter Juvenile Stakes over today’s course and distance. This son of Western Winter won well over 1200m on his seasonal debut last month and now back over a mile further improvement can be expected.
Silver Haven
The Silvano colt Silver Haven has shown good improvement with each outing and was particularly impressive when cruising in by three with a ton in hand in novice company last time out. Strictly by the book, he is held by Liancourt Rock having been beaten by that one fair square on the same terms in his penultimate start, but 3yo’s can improve in mammoth proportions at this stage of the season and there was only a length between them.
Depardieu - Cape Classic winner still improving
Depardieu
After flying up late when only beaten by the shortest of short heads by the then unbeaten Gimmethegreenlight in the listed Somerset Plate over 1200m, Depardieu went on to win the Cape Nursery in good style in his final start last season and at that stage of his career he looked to be a top sort in the making. In comparison he was a little disappointing when backed as if unbeatable in the Sophomore Sprint on his seasonal debut, but he did then begin to find his feet again when running on strongly behind Variety Club in the Matchem. Then having his third run after the rest, he was clearly back to best when flying up late to collar the free striding Gimmethegreenlight in the Gr3 Cape Classic last time out. He goes a mile for the first time here and could still improve stacks.
Liancourt Rock
Is Depardieu the stable elect from the Dean Kannemeyer yard though? Named after a group of small islets in the Sea of Japan that almost wrecked a French whaling ship called Le Liancourt back in 1849, Liancourt Rock has done absolutely nothing wrong. Indeed, he’s won all three starts in good style going away. Liancourt Rock could be anything and with regular partner Karl Neisius staying with him rather than riding Depardieu whom he has also partnered in most of his outings, it would suggest that he is the right one from the stable.
Lord Paramount
Making up the trio of runners form the stable of Dean Kannemeyer is the Mieque’s Approval gelding Lord Paramount. He impressed when cruising in by three on debut and interestingly, he did find support when sixth beaten six lengths in the Cape Nursery next time out. Lord Paramount got his tongue over the bit in that event though and in his only subsequent outing after a three month break, he broke a bloodvessel. He returns from another three month break here and although he could arguably also be anything, he is perhaps best just watched for now.
In A Rush
Gavin Smith’s charge won four in a row after making a promising debut and wound up an excellent first season with a narrow victory over the subsequent Gr3 Matchem Stakes winner Variety Club. He’s been beaten after holding every chance in each of his two outings this season and that has to be a concern. He does now have his third run of the new campaign here though and if able to reproduce that earlier form, he would be thereabouts.
Agarkar
Glen Kotzen’s charge has been ultra consistent since shedding his maiden tag at just the second attempt and he has performed with credit in several features. He does look held by others in this race on those efforts though and once again a place is perhaps his best hope.
Shahruhk
Based in Natal with brother Garth for his first four starts, Glen Puller’s charge progressed very nicely and won well over 1000m on two occasions. Having taken a bump at the start, and also reported as coughing, when stepped up in distance to 1400m on his first outing in the Western Cape, he put in a fair effort taking everything into account when only beaten 3,65 lengths by Depardieu in the Cape Classic. He also had excuses when trying a mile for the first time last time out as he was virtually brought to a standstill when moving through to challenge. This is clearly a big ask for the son of King Of Kings, but he can only improve.
Barossa Valley
Riaan Van Reenen’s charge has been making steady progression in recent months and he did gain his only success over today’s distance. He has been comfortably beaten in both starts in handicap company since though and now taking on stronger he looks to be out of his depth.
About The Pace
Although candidates for the role of front runner are few, there are two very powerful couplings in the race and one feels sure that provisions will have been made. There are a few here with an enormous amount of scope for improvement and it is by no means clear cut. The unbeaten Fastnet Rock colt Liancourt Rock has been impressive in winning all three of his outings though and seemingly the stable elect from what is clearly a very powerful coupling, he gets the vote.
