David Thiselton

Richard Fourie’s decision to jump off Note To Self and get on to Wish List upon the injury to the latter’s original jockey Andrew Fortune, proved to be spot on as she became the ninth filly in history to win the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday and the first filly for 27 years to do it.

However, Note To Self is also a horse to take out of the race as he impressed again with his acceleration from the back and his enormous stride and his second place finish gave owners Nancy Hossack and Jonathan Bloch, as well as trainer Justin Snaith, the exacta. Jonathan Snaith has a share in Note To Self.

Note To Self was also arguably a touch unlucky! Grant van Niekerk, who picked up the chance ride, said he would have just about won it if Fourie had not “cut him off” at around the 400m mark, although the overall evidence would point to the incident as unlikely to have affected the result.

Wish List’s antics at the start did not affect her performance and she is now a two-time Gr 1 winner after winning the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m in her last start under Fortune.

The stipendiary steward report read, “WISH LIST (R Fourie) was stubborn loading and had to be hooded.”

It said later, “In view of the report from the Starter regarding WISH LIST (R Fourie), Trainer SJ Snaith will be advised to have this filly re-schooled prior to her next engagement in terms of Rule 61.6.10.”

Viva’s Liberte took the lead after jumping well from draw seven, although the stipendiary report indicated he had pulled hard early. Better Man came from the widest draw of the eight horse field to slot into second place.

Happy Verse was in third place on the rail as the field began to stretch out on the back of the strong pace. Star Major also pulled hard early and was eventually switched out to sit on the quarters of Happy Verse.

Wish List had the perfect position on the rail in fifth place behind the strong pace. Pay The Palace was sitting one wide with cover from Star Major.

Note To Self was inconvenienced slightly early on when the pulling Star Major was switched outward to get alongside Happy Verse, but thereafter he settled nicely behind Wish List.

Ignite The Fire was unruly from the off and  eventually ran around the field when JP van der Merwe could no longer hold him and he finished tailed off.

In the straight the talented Viva’s Liberte continued to stretch out towards the middle.

However, Wish List surged forward still under a strong hold and had joined him by the 300m mark.

At the 400m mark Wish List appeared to take up the running of Note To Self who was chasing under a drive from Van Niekerk, who also gave him a back hander to try and get into the gap.

However, the stipendiary report just said, “At the 300m NOTE TO SELF (G van Niekerk) was directed outward when unable to secure a clear run between the inside running rail and WISH LIST (R Fourie).”

However, they have not opened an inquiry into the incident.

Furthermore, Wish List was still under the hands then and was being eased at the line, so it is unlikely the incident would have altered the result.

Fourie drove Wish List with the hands from the 300m mark and did not draw the stick once.

She drifted off the rail and this saw Note To Self chasing with his long stride along the rail, but he was making no inroads until Wish List was eased before the line.

The official margin was 0,75 lengths.

Viva’s Liberte stayed on gamely to be beaten three lengths with Star Major a neck behind him and Happy Verse a further 0,40 lengths back.

Star Major off a 114 looks to be the obvious line horse as he ran exactly to the form of the Politician Stakes with Happy Verse, beating him by 0,40 lengths.

That means Note To Self could go up to 119 and be the highest rated three-year-old in the land, which is also a fair fit as he beat Happy Verse by 2,85 lengths whereas the 118-rated Jan van Goyen beat Happy Verse by 2,75 lengths in the Gr 1 Hollywood bets Cape Guineas.

The 115-rated Wish List was receiving 2,5kg from the males, so might just get a point or two due to the ease of the victory.

Wish List is by former Cape Derby winner Legislate out of the SA Oaks-winning Silvano mare Wind Chill and she was bred by Maine Chance Farms.

The Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes saw the versatile Vaughan Marshall-trained Questioning, a five-year-old Querari gelding, continuing his fine season and running out a 2,5 length winner under Fourie from O’Tenikwa, Outlaw King, I Am Giant and Asiye Phambili.

The Dean Kennemeyer-trained Princess Of Gaul (Vercingetorix) scored a third career Graded stakes win when landing the Gr 3 Splashout Prix du Cap over 1400m under Craig Zackey.

The Gr 3 Ridgemont Cape Of Good Hope Nursery over 1200m was won by the Piet and Elbert Steyn-trained Red Spice (Erik The Red) under Keagan de Melo, the Listed Kenilworth Cup over 2500m was won by the Paddy Kruyer-trained Tenpenny (What A Winter) under JP van der Merwe and the Listed Play ‘N Go Jet Master Stakes over 1600m was won by the Des Machlachlan-trained Jet Force (Master Of My Fate) under Grant van Niekerk.