Vaughan Marshall believes his impressive Grade 3 Cape Classic 1400m winner Tap O’ Noth will “certainly be better over a mile” and is looking forward to the Grade 1 Cape Guineas on December 16, which will likely be his next run.

Marshall has a fine record in the Cape Guineas having won it four times, including with Tap O’ Noth’s father Captain Al. He won it last year with a Captain Al colt, William Longsword.

Marshall felt with the Guineas being just seven weeks away Tap O’ Noth had done enough racing and would rather just have a grass gallop going into it.

Vaughan Marshall

Tap O’ Noth had a grass gallop at Durbanville a week before Saturday’s Cape Classic and the yard had gone in “very confident.”

On pedigree he will relish the step up to a mile and will also enjoy the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby distance of 2000m.

His dam by Western Winter, Wintersweet, won over 1000m on debut, but has produced the Listed Woolavington Handicap (2400m) winner, Strathdon (Silvano), and a Marshall-trained winner over 1950m, Tonya (Dynasty).

Tap O’ Noth’s only defeat in four starts from 1400-1500m has been at the hands of the classy four-year-old Our Mate Art, who beat him by 0,95 lengths in a Graduation Plate over 1400m in September. Tap O’ Noth faced Our Mate Art on terms 7,5kg worse than weight-for-age that day and the latter then won the Grade 3 Matchem Stakes over 1400m next time out to frank the form in  no uncertain terms. Tap O’ Noth was also beaten narrowly by Cot Campbell in the aforementioned Graduation Plate, but was giving him 3kg. On Saturday he reversed the form by over three lengths despite still having to give Cot Campbell 2kg.

History is with Tap O’ Noth, considering he has repeated Act Of War’s feat of winning the Langerman over 1500m in June and the Cape Classic in October. Act Of War went on to win the Cape Guineas. However, Act Of War did have another run after the Classic in the Selangor Cup and won that too.

The great Variety Club was another Langerman winner this decade who went on to win the Cape Guineas.

Tap O’ Noth is going to have it tougher in the Cape Guineas with Grade 1 winners Sand And Sea and Eyes Wide Open entering the fray, as well the like of classy Highveld horses Captain And Master, Like A Panther and possibly Wonderwall and others. The rangy Cape Classic 0,75 length runner up, Undercover Agent, will also relish the step up to a mile in the Guineas.

By David Thiselton