Joey Ramsden is debating whether to add Miranda Frost to his Durban armada after the 5-2 shot comfortably outpointed four previous winners in the Ian Balfour Plate at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Joey Ramsden (Kenilworth Racing)
Ramsden, whose previous KZN juvenile scorers include Copper Parade (Golden Horseshoe) and Nania (Thekwini), said: “I don’t normally take two-year-olds to Durban but I’ve done quite well with those I have taken and I think Miranda Frost is pretty special.
“I have no doubt that she will get seven furlongs and maybe even a mile. I will have a chat with Jessica Slack and see what she would like to do.”
Donovan Dillon, who led just over a furlong out and employed no more than hands and heels, added: “She does phenomenal work at home and I didn’t ask her much here. She will go from strength to strength.”
In fact she came close to missing the race with Ramsden reporting: “She had a snotty nose two weeks ago and missed five days’ work. It was touch and go whether she ran.”
Indeed the filly returned with a nasal discharge according to the racecourse vet but there were also problems with odds-on Le Harve who managed only third. “He was hanging so we will get him checked out,” said Jonathan Snaith. “That wasn’t his form at all. He was a bit heavy and he went too hard early on.”
However Snaith is keen on first-timer Nordic Breeze who, despite losing a good two lengths at the break, responded well to Robert Khathi’s urgings to become the first two-year-old to beat the older horses in Cape Town this season in the Carnavon Lodge Maiden. “She is going to run in the fillies features and she is one to watch,” advised Jonathan.
Sharp Peg, the 3-1 favourite, managed only sixth and was found to be not striding out on both front legs while State Ballet (fourth) was coughing afterwards.
Donovan Dillon (Nkosi Hlophe)
MJ Byleveld, in double form, has been trying to persuade Billy Prestage to send Milton to Durban and, after making all on the 11-2 chance in the Goindustry Dovebid Handicap, he explained: “With the righthand bend and low weights, he would be very competitive there.”
Prestage, remarkably good value for his 81 years, quipped: “I thought about it but I’m too old to go anywhere!”
Fareed Anthony was taken to hospital with a suspected broken wrist when the Glen Puller-trained Larimar gave him his first winner of the season in the Gotha Health Maiden. The outside rail ended soon after the winning post and the 20-1 shot immediately ducked right, unseating his rider.
Anthony said yesterday: “It’s dislocated, not broken – I put out a hand to try and save myself when the horse ducked. But I have to have an operation to repair some ligament damage and the doctors say I will be out for between three and six weeks.”
Anthony wasn’t the only casualty. Hidden Dragon’s bridle came off as he left the pens and Corne Orffer followed suit. Despite lying still for an ominously long time, he pronounced himself unhurt. His mount, despite suffering cuts on both front legs, not only continued in the race but then went round again!
Vaughan Marshall reckons the Cape Derby trip was too far for Paladin despite the horse finishing sixth and Ken Truter’s gelding proved his point in the mile Boland Market Agency Handicap. “Everybody felt he would get the 2 000m but he doesn’t quite stay that far,” said the Milnerton trainer, sending out his fifth Kenilworth winner of the week.
By Michael Clower
