Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

J&B Met day supporting races

Impressive Bloodstock SA Cape Guineas winner, Noordhoek Flyer, who lowered the colours of the much vaunted Galileo’s Galaxy, aims for a Classic double when he lines up for the R600 000 Investec Cape Derby (Gr 1) to be run over 2000 m at Kenilworth on Saturday, January 30.
The Investec Cape Derby is one of three cracking Graded features on the supporting card for the R2,5 million J & B Met (Gr 1) in what promises to be a bumper day’s racing to round off the Cape Sizzling Summer Season.
Galileo’s Galaxy is missing from the Derby line-up but the race has still drawn a full field of 16 so trainer Dean Kannemeyer’s runner will not be short of opposition.
Cape Classic winner Captain’s Secret was beaten less than two lengths by Noordhoek Flyer in the Guineas where he drew towards the outside of the field. The draw has not been kind again but the extra 400 m should make things a little easier for jockey Bernard Fayde’ Herbe.
Veteran trainer Alan Higgins saddles fourth placed Guineas runner Ancestral Fore with the pride of Port Elizabeth, Bold Silvano, a close-up sixth in the Guineas, also in the line-up.
The second Grade 1 supporting feature on the day is the Klawervlei Majorca Stakes to be run over 1600 m. One of the most important races for fillies and mares on the racing calendar, the Justin Snaith-trained Sparkling Gem will be looking to put the record straight after finishing a gallant second to Mother Russia in last year’s event.
Mother Russia has dodged the return clash this year and instead will take on the colts in the J & B Met.
Rated the equal of Sparkling Gem is last season’s champion sophomore filly, Lady Windermere. Trainer Glen Kotzen’s runner has been a touch off colour in two sprints this term but reeled off back-to-back Grade 1 victories towards the end of last season, the SA Fillies Sprint and the Garden Province Stakes respectively. She should strip at her peak for this event.
Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas (Gr 1) winner, Field Flower, is also in the line-up along with other smart three-year-olds, Croc Valley and Gluwein.
The J & B Reserve Stayers (Gr 2) is most always the last event on the J & B Met card and once again has attracted a top class field headed by last year’s winner, Mokaro.
Since then, trainer Stephen Page’s runner has won the Canon Gold Cup (Gr 1) and more recently the Cape Summer Stayers Handicap.
Mokaro will be giving weight all round here including accomplished stayers Bill of Rights, Arctic Fleece, stable companion Noble Wood and Tan Can.

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