Firstly the win followed a journey through the early morning hours from Summerveld and secondly he clearly relished the galloping nature of the Turffontein Standside track, which was his reappearance run after winning the Gr 1 Premiers Champion Stakes at the end of last season over 1600m on the tight Greyville course. In giving weight to the rest of a high class field and a two length beating, Harry’s Son laid claim to being the best three-year-old male in the land.
The Cape horse Act Of War pulled off a similar feat the previous weekend in the Gr 3 Cape Classic over the same distance on the Kenilworth Old Course, but the margin of victory, albeit on a tighter course, was not as convincing. However, a possible clash between the pair in the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas is now more eagerly awaited than ever.
Harry’s Son had been due to make his reappearance in the Cape Classic, but those plans were scuppered due to a case of African Horse Sickness at Summerveld, meaning all travel from the latter vicinity into the Western Cape’s AHS controlled area was banned for a period of 40 days. This might have been a blessing in disguise, as the journey to the Cape is an arduous one and the Kenilworth Old Course is a tricky one to handle for a horse making its first appearance on a left handed track.
It is not surprising that the Australian-bred colt by Haradasun is a good traveller as he has a superb racing temperament. Last Wednesday night at the annual Lafferty stable “braai” he was seen accepting kisses from one of his doting owners and then returning them. A horse could hardly have a more relaxed demeanour than the one he possesses. It is wonder of the thoroughbred that a horse sitting so contentedly in his box that he could be petted by a child could be the same one three days later that answered the call of a jockey to bravely burst through a tight gap at high speed.
Even Strydom, who is now only six winners away from an incredible record-breaking career mark of 5000, was becoming a bit anxious as the pocket Harry’s Son was caught in on the inside rail while reefing in behind refused to open. However, at the first inkling of a gap, Strydom switched him off the heels, which caused Harry’s Son one high kneed stride, and in an instant they were clear. This horse really lets himself down, a sign of his soundness, and he was still going strongly at the line. Jayyed finished a neck behind him at level weights in the Premier’s, but on Saturday Harry’s Son gave him 4,5kg and a two length beating, suggesting the latter is more at home on a course with a long straight. He should be ideally suited to the course and distance of the Cape Guineas on December 20 and it will be interesting to see whether he also takes in the Gr 2 Dingaans over 1600m on Turffontein Standside on November 29.
Harry’s Son is out of the Anabaa mare Dash On Ruby and his half-sister Rock Of Arts by Rock Of Gibraltar won the R2,5 million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup at Saturday’s corresponding meeting two years ago over the same course and distance as the Graham Beck. Harry’s Son, a bay who is of the powerfully built sort rather than the tall rangy type, was bred by Cranton Bloodstock in Australia and was signed for by one of his current owners Phil Georgiou for a now bargain looking price of Aus$60,000 off the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sales. He has already earned just short of three quarters of a million rand.
Picture: Harry’s Son winning the Gr Graham Beck Stakes at Turffontein yesterday (JC Photos)
