Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Ancestral Fore lands Gold Cup

David Thiselton
The Mike de Kock-trained Ancestral Fore ridden by Kevin Shea ensured that class won the day in yesterday’s Grade 1 Canon Gold Cup at Greyville over 3200m and by a quirk of fate he became the first three-year-old for 22 years to win the country’s premier staying event.
The race was run at a cracking pace set by the Paul Lafferty-trained Sports Factor and Ancestral Fore was able to sit in about seventh place in the running where he travelled comfortably on the bit throughout.
De Kock, looking down, was confident as he saw the rest of the field beginning to struggle for oxygen from the 1000m mark on while Shea still had a double-handful on his mount.
Ancestral Fore moved around the horse in front of him, Predestination, as if he was standing still at about the 600m mark and was travelling so well coming into the straight that Shea felt it was pointless hanging around.
He set Ancestral Fore alight at the top of the straight.
The well-balanced grey quickened immediately and had the race in the bag a long way out.
It was noticeable that such was the test of stamina that the race turned into with the cracking gallop that the next seven behind him at the finish, Vertical Takeoff, Predestination, Thanks John, Sangria Girl, Hospitality, Santa and Refined In Fire were all staying types.
Vertical Takeoff coming from some way off the pace chased Ancestral Fore towards the outside and stayed on well for a two length third while Predestination also stayed on resolutely for third a further 2,25 lengths back.
Thanks John, coming from way back, finished very strongly for fourth.
Ancestral Fore is by Dynasty and was bred by Hyjo Stud.
This was the second Gold Cup that de Kock had won, the first being on Thundering Star in 2007.
The Grade 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m was an intriguing race with the J&B Met winner and Vodacom Durban July fifth favourite, River Jetez, lining up with a few other July entries including her stablemate Love Is In The Air, winner of the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes, and the Glen Kotzen Imperious Star, winner of the Grade 1 Woolavington.
River Jetez, who went off at 13-20, nearly came down shortly after the start.
Jockey Bernard Fayd’herbe said, “I decided to give her a chance and drop her out and I’m not sure if she clipped heels or stumbled but her nose just about touched the ground. She picked herself up after that and within three strides was cruising again.”
River Jetez coming from near the back stormed through to win comfortably and impressively, just as she had in her last start.
The Paul Matchett-trained Precedent flew up from last place to snatch second away from the Alec Laird-trained Jet Trail.
Imperious Star led early in the race and stayed on for fourth.
River Jetez, a full-brother to the great Pocket Power, was bred by Out Of Africa Stud.
Marsh Shirtliff, part-owner with Cedric Amm, was present and said, ‘I’m not sure whether Bernard is on the right one for the July.”
Fayd’herbe will ride Pocket Power in the July, but River Jetez will have a great chance going in with what could be a handy weight.
The Listed Thukela Handicap over 1600m saw a thrilling blanket finish with the first 12 horses within 1,65 lengths of the surprise 40-1 winner, the Dominic Zaki-trained bottom weight Fort Petersburg, a three-year-old Fort Wood gelding, who burst through late.
Fort Petersburg, who is entered in the July, is owned by V Haipersad and was bred by Ascot Stud.

\| All information on these pages are (©) Copyright Gold Circle Pty (Ltd) 2002 \| site map
(This site is best viewed at 1024 X 768)