A Champion! What A Winter goes for the Gr2 Diadem Stakes double and looks just about unstoppable
South Africa’s champion sprinter and our highest rated turf horse, looks to be the best bet at the final Cape meeting of 2012. As the party spirit gathers momentum and we reflect back on yet another tough year, What A Winter looks the proverbial good thing to win the R300 000 Gr2 Diadem Stakes for the second year running.
While we are mindful of the fact that the race will be run on the lush Kenilworth turf straight track, and not on paper, the weight-for-age terms of this event make the Bass champion virtually unstoppable. The Gr1 winner is by far and away the very best horse in the eight strong field.
Adding to the confidence is the fact that there is no prodigious emerging talent amongst the opposition and other than the 4yo Depardieu, the rest look well and truly in their place.
And we are not suggesting that Depardieu can beat What A Winter! But surely nothing else can stop the speed king.
Champion
The 5yo entire What A Winter has been a leading light of the South African sprinting ranks over the past three seasons and boasts an impressive record of 10 wins and 3 places from his 19 starts.
He has been lightly raced and comes out fresh here after a two month break following a narrow but very comfortable win in a Pinnacle Stakes over the Kenilworth 1100m.
What A Winter has drawn in midfield and this will give his regular rider Bernard Fayd’Herbe plenty of cover options, depending on the prevailing wind strength and direction.
What A Winter’s stablemate Castlethorpe ran a poor race in the Premier Trophy and is a horse that is yet to show categorically what distance he is most comfortable over.
Specialist
He did run on rather tamely for fourth behind Cap Alright in the Merchants at his penultimate start over the course and distance. It may bear worth considering that Castlethorpe’s only three wins this season have been over 1200m, and while he cannot finish ahead of What A Winter, he has definite place prospects .
Enigmatic.The capable 4yo Depardieu is threatening to reproduce his best form and should chase the champion home
Future Star
The one horse that looks likely of rattling the What A Winter cage is Dean Kannemeyer’s multiple Gr3 winning 4yo Depardieu, a winner of 6 of his 18 starts.
The son of Dupont has been a frustrating fellow to follow, and often runs on without winning.
He is held by What A Winter on their recent Pinnacle Stakes clash, but one has the inkling that we have yet to see the best of Depardieu and it is common knowledge that he is held in the highest regard by his trainer who doesn’t overrate his horses.
Depardieu is drawn 1 and may find himself in the teeth of the Southeaster. But his veteran rider knows how to take cover, when it is required.
Justin Snaith’s faithful servant Cap Alright has enjoyed the season of his life, culminating in a smooth win in the Gr2 Merchants at his penultimate start.
Level Weights
Cap Alright beat Depardieu (by 1,25 lengths and gave him a half kilo) and Magico (by 2 lengths and gave him 1,5kgs) in the Merchants and now meets them at level weights.
Cap Alright found the going tough in the Listed Southeaster Sprint when lumping 63kgs and giving weight all round, before tiring to finish eighth and 3,55 lengths behind The West Is Wide. He looks a natural born pacemaker and a great place bet here.
The former Gauteng-based Paul Peter-trained Magico has placed in his two Cape starts since relocating to Eric Sands at Milnerton.
Magico showed some good pace before tiring late at his last start to run third in the Merchants and two lengths off Cap Alright when giving the Snaith horse a kilo.
Visitor. KZN visitor Jinzo has a place chance at best
Minimum Trip
Garth Puller’s Qui Danzig gelding Jinzo has registered only one of his eight career wins over 1200m, and is probably best at 1000m.
He ran a cracker in the Listed South Easter Sprint when dashing through late after a slow start to finish 1,15 lengths behind The West Is Wide. It is interesting to note that Jinzo was giving 9 kgs to the Marshall youngster.
No Rush
Joey Ramsden sends out a coupling of the lightly-raced In A Rush and the 7yo Shades Of Indigo.
In A Rush was crowned Eastern Cape Champion Juvenile colt of his year and is yet to achieve that level of performance since leaving his home base over a year ago.
He was scratched from last Saturday’s Gr2 Calulo Services Premier Trophy on the grounds of Pharyngitis. This is an inflammation of the throat and is likely to have impacted on his preparation and readiness for this event.
This may well be illustrated by the fact that his trainer has opted to switch him back to the sprints after being aimed at that 1800m feature.
He ran a fair third in the Matchem Stakes in October and then ran fifth and 5,80 lengths behind Variety Club in the Green Point Stakes a month ago.
Stablemate Shades Of Indigo last won when shocking us to clinch the 2011 Gr2 Merchants over Saturday’s course and distance over a year ago.
This is his optimum trip and he always gives of his very best, but it is difficult to envisage him beating What A Winter.
Happy New Year
What A Winter presents punters with a gift-wrapped opportunity on a silver plate to end a tough year on a winning note.
It is not rocket science that we suggest that he is the banker bet in all exotics and a confident first choice to beat Depardieu and Cap Alright.
