Grade 1-winning Sand And Sea made a fine comeback from a wind operation on Saturday but kicked the float on the way home and is now a doubtful starter for Saturday’s Grade 2 Cape Merchants.
KZN Trainer Dennis Drier, a perennial thorn in the flesh of the big Cape yards, looks likely to put his last couple of disappointing Summer Seasons behind him as all of Sand And Sea, Lady In Black, Mastagambit and Anime have won in the first fortnight of his current campaign.
Twice Over gelding Sand And Sea won the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion in his second career start as a two-year-old but after four successive disappointing starts as a three-year-old, by which stage he had “completely gone in the wind”, a tie back operation became necessary.
The operation was obviously a success as he waltzed in by 2,25 lengths in a competitive Progress Plate over 1200m on Saturday under his loyal pilot Anton Marcus, despite it being his first appearance for seven months.
Lady In Black (Candiese Marnewick)
“The joys of training racehorses,” lamented Drier after revealing the setback.
The gelding will require stitches but it is hoped he will not be out for long. His main summer target is the Grade 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship.
Drier had defended his crown in the Listed Laisserfaire Stakes the previous Saturday. He won it last year with subsequent Grade 1-winner Sommerlied but does not believe this year’s winner Anime is as good. He said, “It was the right race for her at the weights and she was as well as could be. She has never been far off them and is hard knocking but I don’t know how competitive she will be at level weights against the best.”
He does not have the same doubts about Lady In Black. She is by Dynasty so pundits will always be comparing her to the great Drier-trained Beach Beauty. He said, “Like Beach Beauty she has improved tremendously as a four-year-old, she is a different filly, and keeps on improving. She is very good and is carrying between 20 to 40kg more than she was so I have a little bit to work on.”
Last Thursday Lady In Black downed the reigning Equus Horse Of The Year Oh Susanna by three-quarters of a length at level weights over 1600m at Kenilworth. Drier said she would not run often and her chief target would be the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m in which she was runner up last year to Oh Susanna.
Mastagambit, a three-year-old gelding by Master Of My Fate, won from pillar to post in impressive style on the same day over 1200m. Drier thinks highly of him and the US$500,000 CTS 1200 on Sun Met day is his main aim.
Drier brings out the promising three-year-old Captain Al filly Outlandos D’Amour tomorrow in a MR80 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m at Kenilworth. After a good debut win she disappointed in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson but at the time many of the Drier horses had been plagued by a blood disorder.
“I have her back where I want her and expect a decent run,” he said.
Earlier he runs the promising Go Deputy colt Northern Route. He said, “He is interesting going over 1800m, I think that is what he is looking for.”
He describes Hard Core as a nice little horse and runs him in a MR 80 Handicap over 1200m. He said, “He may just need it but could get away with it.”
He runs Driven Force in the same race and said it would be a pipe opener and he would need it.
Anton Marcus rides Hard Core and the other three will be ridden by stable jockey Sean Veale.
By David Thiselton
