Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Noordhoek ready to fly

David Thiselton
This year’s Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby will be one of the highlights of J&B Met day for the racing purist as one of the strongest line-ups of three-year-olds seen in the country in recent times faces the starter.
The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Noordhoek Flyer, who won the Grade 1 Bloodstock Cape Guineas in his last start, is currently the 15-10 favourite, while his stablemate Irish Flame, who has won his last three starts, is the 7-1 third favourite.
Sandwiched in between them on the betting board is the very exciting unbeaten gelding from the Joey Ramsden yard, Bravura, who, despite his wide draw of 18, has been priced up as 7-2 second favourite, while Mike Bass’s top class Captain Al gelding, Captain’s Secret, is joint fourth-favourite at 8-1 with Basil Marcus’s Chindit.
Kannemeyer had a similar situation last year when sending Guineas winner Le Drakkar out as favourite for the Derby. Le Drakkar was beaten into third-place by Big City Life and Bluemambo.
“I don’t think Le Drakkar was a 10 furlong horse,” said Kannemeyer. “Noordhoek Flyer is by Pivotal. Pivotal was a sprinter but as a sire he’s throwing horses that stay. One of his progeny won the Oaks last year.”
Kannemeyer was referring to the brilliant filly, Sariska, who won the Epsom Oaks on a course where a horse must have everything, including stamina.
Noordhoek Flyer galloped last week Thursday at Kenilworth and will be kept to the sand this week.
The Milnerton whispers also have it that his very much in-form jockey, Karl Neisius, thinks he will be hard to beat.
Bravura, a gelding by the country’s current log-leading sire Silvano, is unbeaten in four starts and his facile maiden win on debut has provided possibly the strongest formline in the country with winner after winner coming out of it.
He is visually an extremely exciting horse too.
Ramsden said, “He seems special but we haven’t even really begun to get to the bottom of him yet, so don’t know quite how good he is. He is quite hard to gauge as he is quiet at home and we haven’t asked him for his best effort at work. His form is very good and he has had a very good preparation. He will stay too, so the only concern is his draw. Jumping from the widest draw even over the 2000m at Kenilworth is a distinct disadvantage. You are totally reliant on what the horses inside of you do. He does have one of the top three jockeys in the country in Anton Marcus aboard though.”
Kannemeyer recalled Irish Flame’s debut when beaten into fifth, 4,85 lengths behind Bravura, “He was left at the start and then looked completely lost running at the back. But he then suddenly caught on and flew in the closing stages. He is unbeaten since and is getting better and better.”
Kannemeyer also mentioned the Alan Higgins-trained Ancestral Fore as a danger in the race.
Mike Bass’ Captain’s Secret, who ran in the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship over 1000m on Saturday, was said by the yard to have been beaten by his wide draw when fancied in the Guineas and finishing fifth.
He has been very impressive up to 1400m, but has a stamina doubt over the Derby distance of 2000m.
Bass said, “I don’t know whether he will stay. At one stage I thought he’d be limited to sprints, but I’ve been encouraged by his performances over further. The 1000m on Saturday was too quick for him. I’d be happy with him over a mile, but there is a question mark over 2000m. He has stamina in his female line so we are hopeful.”

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