Craven stormed into the Cape Guineas picture with a most convincing return to form in the Place Your Bets Handicap at Kenilworth yesterday despite drifting right in the closing stages.
Richard Fourie rode the 18-10 shot differently this time, saving him for a strong run in the straight to hit the front a furlong out and beat Dancer by two and a half lengths.
Fourie, although noncommittal about riding the colt in the Guineas, said: “He is still a bit green – that’s why he went right with me after we passed horses – but he is really starting to mature. He would love to go further and the Derby trip would be right up his alley.”
Richard Fourie (Nkosi Hlope)
Brett Crawford, watching from Randjiesfontein, added: ”That was a good run and I just hope he has done enough to get into the Guineas – I think he will now go up to a 91 – because I don’t really want to run him again before then.”
Horizon, surprisingly preferred in the market, covered himself in future promise by running on to take third in a manner that shouted out that he needs more ground and could be really in his element over the Derby trip.
Candice Bass-Robinson said: “As he goes further he will improve all the time and in the meantime we have just got to be a little patient.”
Orion Quest warmed up for Saturday week’s Cape Merchants in encouraging style. He lost ground at the start in the All To Come Graduation Plate but ran on well to take a length and a half-second to the useful Attenborough. He will be one of the bottom weights in the R400 000 handicap.
Attenborough, who has run so many good races in defeat but often appeared to run out of steam close home, showed the benefit of waiting tactics with Donovan Dillon keeping him covered up until well inside the 400m mark and not hitting the front till 100m out.
Dillon said: “He is a classy animal and I rate him very highly. The aim was to give him cover – last time we found it but unfortunately it opened up quite early.”
Joey Ramsden confirmed that the colt will stick to sprinting, saying: “He is best ridden patiently.”
The Milnerton trainer added that Table Bay “is absolutely fine” after his Selangor third and said he is still convinced that the reason for the horse’s rather disappointing performance was because many in the field, him included, went too fast.
Sihle Cele, who won the first for Crawford on Stopthinkingofme, has been suspended for a week for causing interference to 15-10 favourite Always In Charge in last Saturday’s Lanzerac Ready To Run. The NHA Inquiry Board ruled that he was not sufficiently clear when shifting inwards on Purple Tractor after a furlong.
Justin Snaith has booked Piere Strydom for Canon Guineas winner Black Arthur in the Green Point Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday week. Snaith won the race with Legislate two years ago.
By Michael Clower
