Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Noordhoek Flyer heads KRA Guineas field

23 APRIL 2010

It was touch and go as to whether Noordhoek Flyer would catch the early float for Champions Season earlier this month, but after some lengthy deliberation, trainer Dean Kannemeyer made a last minute decision to send his charge north for the winter.

The Bloodstock SA Cape Guineas (Gr 1) winner and Investec Cape Derby (Gr 1) runner-up makes his Champions Season debut at Greyville next Sunday where he heads up the field for the R500 000 KRA Guineas (Grade 2)to be run over 1600 m.

15 runners stood their ground for the opening race of the Champions Season last Thursday including last season’s Premier’s Champion Stakes winner Exhilaration and three runners from the all powerful Mike de Kock yard. These include Havasha, the only horse to have finished in front of Pierre Jourdan prior to his SASCOC Derby date, recent winner Meltaway and Top Mark, an unraced Brazilian-bred colt by Mark Of Esteem.

Also in the line-up is the recent Sunday Tribune Byerley Turk (Gr 3) winner Nocturnal Affair out of the Greg Ennion yard and the Herman Brown-trained Absolute Heretic, a winner of his last four starts, and will face the acid test.

The R250 000 KRA Fillies Guineas (Gr 2) has drawn a maximum field of 16 runners including the recent runaway winners Gibraltar Blue and Imperious Star. Gibraltar Blue, a maiden winner in Ireland for trainer Tommy Stack before showing up well in two stakes races, made a big impression when hacking up in her South African debut at Turffontein last Saturday. Trainer Mike de Kock had already nominated her for the Vodacom Durban July so obviously holds the daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar in high regard.

Imperious Star, a daughter of former J & B Met winner Imperious Sue, has only once tasted defeat and ran out a very easy winner of the Sunday Tribune Umzimkulu Stakes (Gr 3) at Scottsville recently and was described by her jockey that day, Derryl Daniels, as a “natural”. Gibraltar Blue has drawn very wide at 15 but trainer Glen Kotzen will have been more than happy with draw 2 for Imperious Star. Felix Coetzee replaces Daniels in the irons with Daniels getting the mount on the other Kotzen runner, Captain’s Call. This year’s field is particularly strong with Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas (Gr 1) winner, Field Flower, Klawervlei Majorca Stakes (Gr 1) winner Gluwein and Gauteng Fillies Guineas (Gr 2) winner Fisani also pencilled in.

ends

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