Bernard Fayd’Herbe has landed the plum ride on last year’s winner Oh Susanna in the Sun Met on Saturday fortnight.
Fayd’Herbe is bidding for his fourth win in the Kenilworth highlight following success on Pocket Power in 2008 and 2009, and on Futura four years ago. As Jono Snaith pointed out yesterday, Oh Susanna was partnered by Fayd’Herbe when she won her maiden as a two-year-old by five and a half lengths in April 2017. He has not ridden her in public since.
The four-year-old has been left on an unchanged merit rating of 121 for last Saturday’s second Cartier Paddock Stakes win and most major bookmakers now have her third favourite at 7-1 .
Stable companion Do It Again, though, has been raised five points to 125 for his Queen’s Plate victory. He shortened significantly in the market yesterday and Betting World now has him at even money. Justin Snaith has already accepted with 18-1 shot Made To Conquer as well as his big two.
There are 22 left in the R5 million Kenilworth Grade 1, run this year at weight-for-age with no penalties. There were no additions at yesterday’s final supplementary stage but Mike De Kock has scratched Buffalo Bill Cody, Tony Ruffel winner Hawwaam, Paddock Stakes third Cascapedia, Takingthepeace and Like A Panther leaving him with just 40-1 shot Noble Secret.Candice Bass- Robinson has taken out Rocket Countdown and Andre Nel has scratched 200-1 outsider Love To Boogie.
The handicappers were busy yesterday with new NHA boss Vee Moodley also on the panel. They upped Queen’s Plate third Rainbow Bridge(second favourite for the Met at around 4-1) from 110 to 119 and dropped Legal Eagle (fourth) two points to 121. Legal Eagle, twice second in the Met and fourth 12 months ago, is as big as 20-1 this time. Queen’s Plate runner-up Soqrat (not entered for the Met) has been raised six points to 124.
Last Friday’s Cartier Sceptre winner Clouds Unfold is to revert to a mile in the Klawervlei Majorca despite Mrs Bass-Robinson expressing doubts about the distance after Aldo Domeyer’s mount managed only third when starting favourite for the Cape Fillies Guineas.
The Milnerton trainer explained: “I was disappointed with her run in the Fillies Guineas but she was pulling quite hard early on, she never really settled and she didn’t quite finish it off so I would like to try the mile again.”
BMW Politician winner Twist Of Fate has been installed 3-1 favourite for the Cape Derby by World Sports Betting even though he is not going to run. His target is the CTS 1600 which is worth five times as much. One of those who will be promoted up the market is 10-1 shot Bunker Hunt who left Justin Snaith feeling like a James Bond martini – shaken not stirred – in the immediate aftermath of the Politician.
Not content with ejecting Richard Fourie at the start – the horse went down on his knees as he left the pens – he treated his trainer like a battering ram after passing the post riderless.
Snaith reported: “I went to grab him but as I did so I tripped and he galloped straight into me, bowling me over.” Fortunately only his L’Ormarins-blue suit was injured.
By Michael Clower
