Brett Crawford and Corne Orffer repeated their CTS 1600 victory of 2018 with Met hopeful Undercover Agent when the obviously smart Jackson colt Count Jack overcame an awful draw to register a big payday for the Big Five Syndicate.
With the field reduced to 14 runners, the old Cape hoodoo of replacing shoes at the start was repeated with the eventual winner Count Jack and Gold Medal delaying matters and receiving attention from the farrier.
A triumphant winning rider Corne Orffer (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The non black-type feature was restricted to eligible graduates of the 2018 Cape Premier Yearling Sale held on 20 and 21 January 2018 and the 2018 CTS April Yearling Sale held on 12 and 13 April 2018.
Count Jack cost R250 000 on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale and is improving fast – his earnings now R2 652 511 from his 6 starts, comprising 4 wins and a place.
Corne Orffer got him across from the wide draw and had him relaxed two lengths off the gallop set by Prince Of Persia and the maiden Turn It Up Harvey, with the field spread out quite some way back.
Count Jack took over at the 350m from the tiring pacesetter and with Sachdev breathing down his neck, Orffer maintained his cool disposition to keep his mount balanced as he went on to hold off the Snaith runner by three quarters in a time of 98,35 secs.
Count Jack (Corne Orffer) holds off Richard Fourie and Sachdev (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The Snaith’s game Dynasty filly Sovereign Secret (55-1) came through late to grab third ahead of Ryan Moore on Invisible (12-1).
Snow Report under Aldo Domeyer was the last horse to bank a cheque – R200 000 for running fifth.
The fancied runners Got The Greenlight, Wild Coast and Cane Lime N Soda followed next in a disappointing showing.
Bred by Ridgemont Highlands, Count Jack is a son of Jackson (Dynasty) out of the twice winning Dylan Thomas mare, For The Count.
A winner of the Gr1 Cape Derby, Gr1 Daily News 2000 and Gr1 Champions Cup, and from the same family as multiple champion sire Smart Strike and ill-fated South African champion Soft Falling Rain, Jackson looks to have a really smart sort on his hands.
