Paterfamilias looks the obvious answer to the Premier Trophy at Kenilworth tomorrow but favourites have a poor record in this race and Dennis Drier is expecting Durban July second Punta Arenas to prove a major threat.
There was over four lengths between them over a furlong less in the Green Point three weeks ago but that was Punta Arenas’s first run for 16 weeks. “He will improve the three or four lengths that he needs so it could be interesting,” remarked Dennis Drier who is bidding for his third Premier in four years.
Aldo Domeyer rode Paterfamilias last time and now Grant van Niekerk takes the ride. “Grant is stable jockey and he wanted to ride the horse,” Candice Robinson explained. “Paterfamilias is well and in good form.”
The favourite has won this race only once in the last ten years and four times finished nowhere so don’t be surprised if there is an upset. Royal Dreamer and last year’s second Helderberg Blue look the most likely contenders.
Sublime Lady may beat the older horses in a wide-open Victress Stakes although stable companion Come Fly With Me makes a lot of appeal. However she has never raced as far as this before and Mrs Robinson has reservations. “I could be wrong but I’m not sure about Come Fly With Me staying the 1 800m,” she said.
Sean Cormack has won the last two runnings and has a big chance on Gathering Flame. “She needed her first run, she is doing well and she will run a nice race,” said Drier.
The first hurdle that punters have to overcome is the Western Cape Bookmakers Association Maiden Juvenile, the opening two-year-old race of the Cape season.
Most of the eight runners are cheaply bought and R400 000 purchase Var Ahead (a daughter of SA Fillies Nursery winner and Allan Robertson second Waywest Goddess) cost more than the rest put together. Several rival trainers said they had heard that the colt is fast.
But how fast? “I don’t know,” answered Justin Snaith. “He is a tank of a horse but I don’t rev up my two-year-olds anymore.”
The twinkle in Vaughan Marshall’s eye suggested he is keen on taking him on with R25 000 buy Desert Dreamer – “She is tiny but she is quick and she has beaten everything I’ve worked her with.”
Glen Kotzen, in double form on Wednesday, runs the Zimbabwe-bred Mount Keith who is also small. He said: “The horse has a big action but it might be a bit short for him. He will be doing his best work at the end.”
Paul Reeves has similar reservations about R25 000 buy Miss Stake, saying: “I don’t know that she is an 800m horse. She would be better over 1 000m.”
Elevated cost R100 000 and is by SA Derby winner Elusive Fort out of a sprinter. “He is more of a classy sport than a speedy sort,” said Riaan van Reenen.
Rebel Force cost only R15 000 despite being out of a half-sister to a Breeders’ Cup juvenile winner. “He has come to hand quickly but he is not a speedy horse,” cautioned Mike Stewart.
Carl Burger said he couldn’t split Los Ninos (R70 000) and On The Right Path (R30 000) and added: “They are nice horses and I expect them both to go well.”
So it would appear to be a question of whether Marshall’s little filly can topple the Snaith powerhouse. Maybe she can.
By Michael Clower
Picture (Liesl King): Paterfamilias
