“They say horses can make fools of you and this one was a complete surprise,” declared Mike Robinson. “I told the owners she would need the run. She hadn’t shown much at home, she wasn’t tuned up at all and she is bred to get 2 000m.”
The Philippi trainer was speaking after the aptly-named Secret Depths had finished faster than anything under Brandon May to pay R107.10 (75-1 with the bookmakers) on debut in the TAB Telebet Maiden at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Greg Cheyne (Liesl King)
The Elusive Fort filly is one of several that breeder Peter de Beyer has put into partnerships rather than through the yearling sales whereas runner-up Water Spirit was the focus of much attention, having emerged from last year’s Cape Premier with a R2 million price tag on her head.
The Ridgemont filly may yet be worth it. She drifted from 15-10 to 61-20 and Anton Marcus was scrubbing away with over half the race still to run. But once she cottoned on what was required of her – reaching the furlong pole – she fairly flew and she was beaten only a neck.
“I was pleased – to get that close on debut was good,” said Brett Crawford. “Anton said she got lost early on. She needs to go round the turn but he wants to give her another run up the straight first so we will do that.”
Hot favourite Vomandla was a little disappointing in fifth but Andre Nel and Greg Cheyne had much more reason for satisfaction with Pleasedtomeetyou who won easily at the first time of asking in the opening maiden.
“He was carrying a bit of condition and I thought he was a gallop short,” admitted the trainer. “But he is a lovely colt and hopefully he will go on from here.”
Cheyne, who now goes overseas on holiday until the final Fairview meeting of the month, added: “He came out of the gates like lightning and that’s half the battle when there is a tailwind here.”
Justin Snaith was singing home town praises after he and Richard Fourie initiated a treble with hotpot Bunker Hunt to take their tally to nine from the three meetings this term.
“I’ve been around everywhere and there is no doubt that this is by far the best place in the country to raise and race a young horse. It has always been the breeding ground of champions,” declared the champion trainer.
But what about the height of summer when many complain that the ground is too firm? “Yes, it used to be like that but that’s not the case these days,” Snaith answered.
The surprise of the treble was 8-1 shot Angel’s Trumpet, the only filly in the Play Soccer 6 Pinnacle – “She really enjoys the soft but, when I told my brother I wanted to run her in this race, he said ‘You must be mad!’ I knew it was a risk but sometimes in life if you have to take risks if you want to gain.”
By Michael Clower
