The Million Dollar pot of gold is now only 19 days away and this morning three stables are convinced they are that much closer to the end of the rainbow after what happened in the Fairview Wine Sophomore Sprint at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Ernie won the race and, despite being by the SA Derby winner Elusive Fort (Peter de Beyer would say because of it!), he had the speed to win with authority.
Mike Bass also has probable CTS favourite Silver Mountain and Candice Robinson said: “I was using the Sophomore as Ernie’s prep for the race but it’s nice to now have two runners in it with a chance.”
So how will this one fare over the extra 200m? Grant van Niekerk who, like his boss, was in treble form, seemed to have slight doubts. “I don’t know – Ernie just loves it up the straight,” he explained. “But the way he is feeling at the moment I don’t see why he shouldn’t be alright.”
Mrs Robinson, though, has already worked this one out – “Ernie likes to be dropped out and given a chance. Ridden like that, he will get the extra no problem. In the Cape Classic we rode him too close to the pace and he didn’t like it.”
Illuminator finished only three-quarters of a length behind -admittedly receiving 2kg that he won’t get in the big one – but Glen Puller reckons his charge will fare better in the CTS despite his blood problems.
He said: “On Saturday they were going slow and then sprinting. You want to be up there when the pace is like that and mine came from behind. The pace is normally good over 1 400m. The haemo-concentrating has more effect the further you travel but normally only after 1 400m.”
Seventh Plain, run out of second close home, might have looked a bit disappointing if you had your money on. But he will be 4kg better with Ernie and 6kg better with Illuminator on January 23 and over seven furlongs that translates into nearly four lengths and over five.
“I am over the moon,” said Derek Brugman who had already done the calculations. “This was many lengths better than his Ready To Run race performance and I though it a brilliant prep for the Million Dollar.”
Joe Ramsden also has his eyes on at least a minor part of the pot– you get over R600 000 even for finishing fifth – with Prince Of Thieves who completed a Marcus-ridden treble for the Milnerton trainer in the Itsarush Handicap.
Justin Snaith’s record for the fastest 100 in a season was established on Met day last year and the prolific-scoring team reckon they have already smashed it, following up a New Year’s Day double with two Fayd’Herbe-ridden winners on Saturday.
The NHA website statistics, prudently marked “not audited,” suggest they are still on 99 but the Sporting Post figures indicate that the list on the Snaith Racing office wall is correct.
By Michael Clower
Picture: Ernie winning the Sophomore Sprint (Liesl King)
