Boy from the suburbs. Soweto Slew is on fire.
A shockingly poor performance by the heavily backed Depardieu in the Listed Sophomore Sprint at Kenilworth on 17 September, once again underlined the folly of reading too much into juvenile form. The highly vaunted son of Dupont ran a one-paced fifth in a race where he had every chance. But the astute few would have grabbed the generous 8-1 about the Snaith-trained Soweto Slew.
During the preceeding week, the print media had trumped up the classic pretentions of the Kannemeyer-trained Depardieu to a point where his name was apparently already engraved on the trophy. But it was not to be and he proved an expensive flop for exotic punters on an otherwise beautiful afternoon.
Depardieu had not run since May when he had won the Cape Nursery in a common canter. The word around the course though was that he had been on the grass twice and had put up satisfactory work. That was enough to see the money down but the fairytale was not to be. In contrast, Justin Snaith’s Soweto Slew put the disappointment of his KZN campaign behind him when sweeping forward to win going away. The son of Oratorio has now won three of his ten starts and is a well put together specimen with plenty of scope for further improvement.
The first race, a Workriders Maiden Plate run over 1000m, produced an upset result with the 20-1 shot Striking Force staying on best to win under Ngozi. The Stephen Page trained Added Value was sent out a 15-10 favourite in what was a weak field, but he had no answer for the Steyn horses’ finish. The winner is a R10 000 Vintage cheapie and looks bred to go 2400m. This form should be watched for credibility.
Good as gold. Laurie's Gold was too talented for his opponents in the second.
The second race, a Maiden Plate run over 1400m, saw veteran jockey Karl Neisius get PA punters off to a smooth start. He had the 4-10 favourite Laurie’s Gold within three lengths of the pacemaking The Balladeer throughout and he came forward smoothly down the rail at the 200m marker, to win easily. The winner is trained by Mike Bass and the Cheveley Stud-bred colt is a handsome and classy sort who looks like he may have a future.
The third race, a Maiden Plate run over 2000m, turned into a triumph of tactics for the Vaughan Marshall yard. Punters may have been bowled a curved ball with the jockey booking. Marshall stable jockey MJ Byleveld riding what appeared to be the lesser of the coupling in Our Folly – but after making the pace, it was Ossie Noach who brought Sovereign Empire with a sustained burst to win going away. King Lizard ran on best of the rest to pip Our Folly for second position.
The fourth race, an MR89 Handicap(F&M) run over 1000m, produced a thrilling exhibition of fairer sex speed with the lightning fast Var flyer Varushka making the pace for 900m of the race, before capitulating to the late run of the Brett Crawford-trained Super Model. The Klawervlei Stud-owned and bred winner is very lightly raced but can run when sound.
The fifth race, a Pinnacle Stakes run over 1000m, saw yet another exhibition of speed with the dazzlingly fast Isidingo going his usual hell-for-leather clip up front. Richard Fourie tracked the pacemaker on the Rabah entire Rabattache, and showed the benefit of the perfect lead when he hit the front at the right time to record a welcome return to best form. The Glen Puller inmate has won seven of twenty-two starts and tallied his career earnings at over R400 000. Not bad for a R20 000 buy and he really is a top sprinter on his day.
Adams and his apple. Gold Circle's Tom Fowler congratulates Hassen and son.
The sixth race was the feature of the day,the Listed Sophomore Sprint run over 1200m won by Soweto Slew. The race was yet another feature triumph for Hassen Adams’ Silver Blue Racing team and the Justin Snaith yard.
The seventh race, an Allowance Plate run over 1400m, saw a superb display of intelligent riding by young Grant Van Niekerk who stole a match winning lead at the 300m marker on the Bass’ Lancelin. Sabatino ran an eyecatching second coming from well back, while the favourite Castlethorpe, after a slow start, again ran below par to run a one-paced moderate third.
The eighth and final race, a Maiden Plate run over 1400m, heralded the biggest upset of the day and a second winner for Justin Snaith as well as apprentice Grant Van Niekerk. Paddy Power jumped smartly from his wide draw and was ridden with great confidence from the front, before resisting all challenges in the final stages, to win very easily. The gelded son of Captain Al showed great improvement at his fourth start here and is a R170 000 National Sale graduate bred by Paul and Lindy Garlicki. The run of the race was produced by the well supported Silvano first-timer, Slip ‘N Slide, who ran on well late under Glen Hatt. He replaced Andrew Fortune, who missed yet another riding engagement.
