The Investec Day Of Dreams meeting held at Kenilworth yesterday could not have been better named as the young claiming apprentice Heavalon van der Hoven grabbed a chance opportunity with both hands by winning the inaugural running of the CTS Million Dollar aboard outsider Illuminator, who is trained by the relatively small yard Cape Town conditioner Glen Puller.

Owners Francois Carruthers and Ian Robinson splashed out just R180,000 for the Klawervlei Stud-bred son of Trippi, who earned a cheque of over R8 million for yesterday’s race, or US$500,000 to be exact.

Weichong Marwing was originally declared to ride Illuminator but didn’t make the journey to Cape Town and Van der Hoven was declared as replacement.

The youngster was not allowed to claim his current 2,5kg apprentice allowance, but did not need it as he brought his mount to the outside from some way back in the running, thereby getting cover from the cross wind.

The 17/10 favourite from the Mike Bass yard, Silver Mountain, was handy behind a predictable furious pace and stayed on well, but she had no answer to Illuminator’s late surge. She still earned a cheque of US$200,000.

The Vaughan Marshall-trained Victorious Jay was in contention right until the end but had to settle for 3rd, 0,85 lengths behind the winner. She earned US$150,000.

The KZN-trained horses the Dennis Drier-trained Seventh Plain and the Charles Laird-trained Exit Here were beaten 2,85 lengths and 3,05 lengths in fourth and fifth, but the effort was still worthwhile as they earned cheques of $US100,000 and US$40,000 respectively.

Klawervlei earned a cheque of US$10,000 as vendors of the winner.

The big crowd were enthralled by the proceedings and the on course atmosphere was electric. With such dream beginnings this meeting looks set to become an institution in a  Cape Town January racing schedule which now matches any month of racing in the world.

Earlier, Justin Snaith and Dynasty did it in the Gr 1 R1 million Investec Cape Derby for the second time in three runnings and it was once again with an outsider. Two years ago Legislate was an unconsidered 28/1 when pouncing in the Derby and going on to be name Equus Horse Of The Year. This year the gelding It’s My Turn was brought home by Piere Strydom at odds of 16/1, although it was in a weaker field.

Snaith sent out the favourite for the Derby too, Black Arthur, whom Strydom had ridden to an impressive victory in the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m, when coming from last. However, stable jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe was given the ride on Black Arthur for this Gr 1 event so the end result had a touch of irony to it. Black Arthur was surprisingly handy early as the front-running type Kemal Kavur set moderate fractions in front. Strydom was caught wide but admitted later the cross wind in the straight helped him as the horse he followed in the straight drifted to the outside and offered him valuable cover.

The strongly fancied Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas runner up Brazuca had to be pushed along at the back of the field most the way, but scythed through the field  in the straight. However, it was too late and he was beaten two lengths. Politician Stakes runner up Marinaresco reversed form with Black Arthur to claim third place. Black Arthur just got up for fourth at the expense of Kemal Kavur, who looked a possible winner until late in the race.

It’s My Turn was bred by Willem Engelbrecht and is owned by Fred Crabbia.

The Mike Bass-trained Inara retained her Gr 1 R1 million Klawervlei Majorca Stakes crown, having finished second last time out in her defence of the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes title. Same Jurisdiction was all the rage, landing a good draw for a change over a suitable trip, and was backed in to 11/20, while Inara drifted out to 13/2.

Anton Marcus had Same Jurisdiction perfectly poised in a handy position. Inara was about eight lengths off the lead in midfield in a stretched out field. Same Jurisdiction was sent for home at the 400m and lengthened into the lead but Inara looked threatening on the outside and duly cut her down late to win by 0,75 lengths. Inara’s stablemate Lanner Falcon flew for third, although 3,25 lengths behind the winner, and the pacemaker Bichette stayed on for fourth ahead of Fear Not.

It was a notable trifecta for  Drakenstein Stud, because Inara by Trippi was bred and is owned by them, Same Jurisdiction is owned by them and Lanner Falcon was owned and bred by them.

By David Thiselton
Picture: Liesl King