David Thiselton
In form Grant van Niekerk has been given the spare ride in the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby on the Justin Snaith-trained Note To Self, who is the fancy of more than a few to win the race.
Richard Fourie was originally on Note To Self, but when Andrew Fortune became unavailable after his fall on Friday Fourie jumped off Note To Self to get on to Fortune’s intended mount, Wish List.
Gavin Lerena is aboard the third Snaith-trained runner Happy Verse.
On paper Wish List is the one to beat. She is the highest rated runner on 115 and also gets a 2,5kg gender allowance which makes her officially 3kg well in with the second best-weighted runner, Star Major, who is rated 114.
Happy Verse is rated 113 and Note To Self a lowly 96.
However, Note To Self created an enormous impression when winning a C Stakes event over 2000m on WSB Met day in effortless fashion by three lengths.
He is a highly progressive gelding by Futura and has a gigantic stride.
He is being nurtured along slowly but surely by Snaith.
Wish List will be out to become the ninth filly in history to win the Cape Derby, but the first filly this millennium.
However, one bit of history will repeat itself if she does win, because her sire Legislate won this race in 2014 and he was also trained by Snaith and ridden by Fourie.
Wish List has a smart turn of foot and a resolute finish, as she proved in the Paddock Stakes.
She should relish the extra 200m trip, as Legislate went on to win the July and her dam Wind Chill is not only by stamina influence Silvano, but she also won the Gr 2 SA Oaks over 2450m.
In 1925 a filly called Desert Born won the inaugural running of the race today known as the Lucky Fish Cape Derby.
Since then the following fillies have won the race:
Decoration (1929), Windlass (1930), Anthea (1935), Fringilla (1936), Green Lass (1951), Taim Bluff (Arg) (1980), Dog Wood (1999).
Happy Verse is by Vercingetorix out of a Giant’s Causeway mare, so he should also have no problem with the trip.
He is known for his fine turn of foot and if it turns into a crawl, he will have a big chance.
In fact the betting has Wish List and Happy Verse as joint favourites at 5/2 with Note To Self third favourite at 28/10.
Star Major relished the 1800m trip of the traditional Cape Derby trial race, the Gr 3 Politician Stakes, and ran on strongly to beat Happy Verse by 0,40 lengths. He looks to be a highly progressive sort and will not be a surprise winner. He is a 9/2 shot at present.
Better Man received 1,5kgs from the first two in the Politician and was beaten 3,15 lengths, but he always struck as a Derby type and Vaughan Marshall has won this race twice before, including with an unfancied horse, Top Seller (2011).
Viva’s Liberte will be a fascinating runner as he was being touted by some race watchers as one who would blossom into a proper classic horse. He won his first two starts and after a disappointing fourth next time out he was given a three month lay off. He came back with a fair effort and now faces his first acid test. He is by Vercingetorix out of the Jet Master mare Viva Maria, who won the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000, so he should have no problem with the trip.
Pay The Palace has 4,15 lengths to make up on Star Major from the Politician Stakes, so is up against it, although he did finish a fine third in the Gr 2 Punters Cup earlier so is capable.
Ignite The Fire is only rated 88, but runs in the same Greg and Gina Bortz colours that Oriental Charm carried in this race two years ago when rated 87 and starting at 100/1 odds. Oriental Charm finished third before going on to win the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
