Justin Snaith enjoyed a decent day at the office at Kenilworth on Saturday. Besides winning 50% of the feature races on the card, he gave Bernard Fayd’herbe all of the credit for an innovative ride on their ‘surprise’ Crown Towers thrilling win in the R150 000 Selangor Listed Jet Master Stakes.
The outsider of the Snaith trio, Crown Towers was used as the pace insurance in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate last month, where he ran close on 16 lengths off Vardy.
Bernard Fayd’herbe (pink cap) drives Crown Towers ahead to beat Greg Cheyne and Capoeira (Pic -Chase Liebenberg)
But down the ladder here, and having only his third run as a 4yo, he showed courage after having been prominent for a large part of the 1600m journey.
Fayd’herbe grabbed the initiative early in the home run and despite the urgings of Greg Cheyne, Capoiera (28-1) just couldn’t find the legs to pass him.
At the line, a head separated the pair in a time of 98,81 secs.
Sovereign Spirit (27-4) came out of the pack to run third a further 2,50 lengths back, with Vikram (10-1) rounding off a partly carried over quartet in fourth.
Originally knocked down to Mayfair Speculators for A$280 000 at the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Mill Park Stud, 80% shares in Crown Towers were later re-sold for R1,7 million to the current owners at the 2018 Central Route Trading Sale Durbanville Mixed and Horses In Training Sale in July 2018.
A winner of 3 races with 4 places from 11 starts for stakes of R264 125 and a son of Montjeu stallion Camelot, Crown Towers was produced by the smart Galileo mare Miss With Attitude – a five time winner up to 1600m and placed in the Gr2 Bill Stutt Stakes.
Crown Towers should be a lot better than his form suggests.
He hails from a high-class classic family with his relatives including Irish Oaks winner Shawanda and her ill-fated St Leger winning son Encke, and Shawanda’s three-quarter sister and Gr1 Yorkshire Oaks winner Shareta.
The winner looks likely to make another appearance in the SA Champions Season this term.
Stipes report excerpt:
Jockey M Winnaar, the rider of PACK LEADER, reported that this gelding changed strides continually in The veterinary surgeon was requested to examine.
Jockey A Domeyer, the rider of SACRED ARROW, reported that he felt something amiss with this gelding. The veterinary surgeon was requested to examine.
Jockey R Fourie, the rider of NEXUS, reported that this colt made an abnormal respiratory noise. The veterinary surgeon was requested to examine.
In view of the performance of DUC D’ORANGE (D Dillon), the veterinary surgeon was requested to examine this gelding.
Shortly after the start, PACK LEADER (M Winnaar) was squeezed out.
At the 250m, NEXUS (R Fourie) was carried out marginally by PACK LEADER (M Winnaar) which had shifted out to continue its run.
At the 100m, KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (S Khumalo), which was ridden in, had to ease when awkwardly placed on the outside of SOVEREIGN SPIRIT (C Zackey), which rolled out.
