The top-class former Equus Sprint Champion Kasimir made a winning start to his 6yo season when he benefitted from a top-notch ride by Richard Fourie to win the R125 000 Gr3 Matchem Stakes and round off a Justin Snaith-Captain Al feature double at Durbanville on Saturday.
An overreach at the start, where his nose came within inches of the country course turf, had the Kasimir fan club hearts in their throats for a few seconds.
But the 12-10 favourite, who was declared the banker of the day by his trainer early on, benefitted from a cucumber cool ride from regular pilot Richard Fourie, who had him in an attacking position halfway down the home straight.
Showing great courage and class under one of the top jockeys in the country, Kasimir (12-10) powered home to beat the decent More Magic (10-1) by 0,30 lengths in a time of 83,54 secs.
One can’t help think that it’s a race many jockeys in Fourie’s boots may have landed up in the second box.
Richard Fourie shoots for goal as Kasimir soars past Grant van Niekerk and More Magic (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Michelle Rix’s Ready Steady Go (25-1) ran the race of his life, when charging up the outside late for third, just 0,20 lengths behind – a terrific effort!
The Matchem Stakes is strangely not a regular cherry for the Snaith team – their last winner dating all the way back to Changingoftheguard, who was ridden by Felix Coetzee to victory in 2012.
The Brothers Snaith lead their winner in (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Having his first run as a gelding, the smart Twist Of Fate showed plenty of interest but without a gallop under the belt, he tired in the run for home – a slipped saddle not doing his cause any good as he fell away.
Bred by Drakenstein Stud, Kasimir is a son of deceased champion sire Captain Al (Al Mufti) out of the top-class Gr1 producing three-time winner Aquatint (Peintre Celebre).
A R1,2 million Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, he took his earnings to R3 727 625 with nine wins and eleven places from 23 starts.
