Leading Cape breeders Ridgemont celebrated a red-letter Listed Port Elizabeth Gold Cup at the final Eastern Cape racemeeting of the season at Fairview on Friday when they delivered a 1-2-3 in the historic local marathon.
Reduced from 3600m to 3200m some years ago, the race was also a triumph for the Justin Snaith team, who delivered the goods for KZN owner Nic Jonsson, courtesy of the Dynasty 4yo Top Quality, who started a well-backed 8-10 favourite and delivered in the fashion of a stayer to be with next term.
Grant van Niekerk has Top Quality in complete control (Pic – Pauline Herman)
Grant van Niekerk produced Top Quality, a horse he described as his best of the day, about 300m out and the gelding scooted clear to hold Canford Cliffs 3yo, and chief local hope, Heathcliff (9-4) to 3,50 lengths in a time of 208,8 secs.
The Dynasty filly Wildest Dreams (75-1), a stablemate to the runner-up, was 2,75 lengths away in third.
The victory gave Grant van Niekerk and Justin Snaith a double on the day.
Regrettably both American Landing and Understated appeared to go wrong in running and failed to complete the race. No details are available at time of writing.
Bred by Ridgemont, as were all of the top trio, the good-looking Top Quality was purchased for R550 000 off the Cape Premier Yearling Sale and was registering his maiden stakes success.
The winner is a son of late icon Dynasty (Fort Wood) out of the two-time winning Elliodor mare Red Kaschka. He has won 5 races with 7 places from 16 starts for stakes of R402 650.
- Hollywoodbets trainer Gavin Smith and Smanga Khumalo picked up a treble on the day, as did Kelly Mitchley and Muzi Yeni.
- Gavin Smith was crowned East Cape Champion trainer, five wins ahead of Alan Greeff.
- Kelly Mitchley celebrated her maiden treble and also commendably cracked the 40 winner milestone.
- Regrettably Richard Fourie had a blank day and thus failed in his quest to equal Greg Cheyne’s century mark.
Watch the replay here:
The next Fairview racemeeting is on Friday 4 August.
