“Disappointed?  Yes. But bothered?  No.” This is Joey Ramsden’s reaction to Saturday’s seismic Selangor shock when odds-on Table Bay’s third to 28-1 chance Gold Standard measured at least eight on racing’s Richter scale.

“Pace is important but you have got to be in the right place,” Ramsden reasoned, pointing out that the first two were stone last turning for home. “The others just went too fast.”

His rivals will point out that it was he who provided the pacemaker but punters and pundits alike were left stunned. However rider Anton Marcus seemed to be singing from much the same hymn sheet as Ramsden, saying: “I think he was too prominent in running – I can’t think of anything else. Table Bay is a smart horse but going through the 900m mark he was under pressure and I knew I was in trouble.”

Maybe – just maybe – the Cape Classic flattered Table Bay. The time that day was more than two seconds outside the course record but Saturday’s race was fast, less than a second outside the 2014 Green Point when Legislate smashed the mile record.

The Cape Guineas on December 17 will provide the answer but for those, like the writer, burning to find out now that is both stating the obvious and far too late. Certainly the majestic manner in which Table Bay strode home under 60kg remains a well-nigh unshakeable memory.

Glen Kotzen, though, can hardly wait for his chance to do it again. The Hattinghs’ Trippi colt had won his last two and Richard Fourie, completing a treble of his own, said: “He was travelling like a winner all the way and, when I saw Table Bay not pulling it through, I knew he could do it. He fought all the way to the line.”

Kotzen added: “This was no surprise to me because Gold Standard is getting better and better. He is more of a Derby sort and I thought the short run-in might find him out so I changed his work to doing short, sharp bits.”

Runner-up Edict Of Nantes looked like winning a furlong out and Brett Crawford is, somewhat understandably, also dreaming of Guineas glory – “I’m praying for a draw and then we will have a real chance.”

The much fancied Al Fahad, though, ran even worse than the favourite. There was more money for him than Table Bay in the two hours before the race – he shortened from 7-2 to 5-2 while the favourite drifted from 5-10 to 7-10– but he was in trouble coming out of the final turn and a beaten horse soon afterwards.

Safe Harbour is to stay in Cape Town for Saturday week’s WSB Fillies Guineas after finishing faster than anything to shoot through a rapidly-closing gap in the Lanzerac Ready To Run. The Elusive Fort filly, bred by Jim Antrobus, earned R1.25 million for CTS chairman Chris van Niekerk and the big-spending Wehann Smith who for this one forked out a mere R180 000.

Sean Tarry said: “She is drawn two and, if she pulls up well, we will take our chance. After that we will regroup.”

But it wasn’t all plain sailing in the irons with Weichong Marwing reporting: “There was some scrimmaging in the back straight. Anton on Always In Charge had to check in front of something and I had to pull off his heels, putting my filly off her stride.”

Marcus had what looked a dangerously difficult ride on the 15-10 favourite. He was badly hampered early on by Purple Tractor (“I went right down”) and was hindered by the same horse a furlong out. With a clear run he would have been in the shake-up at the very least.

But it was a case of close-home heartbreak for Anthony Delpech on the front-running Sergeant Hardy whose wind-restricted stamina exceeded all expectations. “I thought I was going to hold on,” he reported ruefully. “But at the end my horse dived to the left and, had I let him go over, I would have lost it (in the boardroom) anyway.”

The gelding’s trainer Justin Snaith, who also sent out fourth-placed Bishop’s Bounty, said that Zodiac Ruler will run in the Cape Guineas despite managing only ninth – “The course is riding very fast and he couldn’t get into it on the short run-in.”

Quick Brown Fox earned a crack at the Fillies Guineas after comfortably following up her debut win under Greg Cheyne in the 1 200m fillies handicap with Crawford pointing out: “It is a big plus that she is drawn one.”

Matthew de Kock has already earmarked the Summer Stayers (Dec 17) and the Chairmans Cup (Jan 7) for the Callan Murray-ridden Smart Mart who got up close home in the Kenilworth Cup.

Michael Clower

 

 

 

Rain conspired to cut short the final meeting of the Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge but those in attendance at Turffontein Racecourse were treated to the famous Frankie Dettori flying dismount, not once but twice.

And those in attendance didn’t have to wait long either as the captain of the international team delivered with his first ride of the day, aboard the Joe Soma trained Turn Back Time, as his side tried to peg back the deficit.

“The race was easy for me. It’s great for the public and for me that the fight is back on and were catching up,” Dettori said after his win in the opener.

“Shot!” he added, using one of South African racing’s more popular expressions.

Heading into the meeting each of the respective captains were rooted to the bottom of the rider’s standings but that changed very quickly in Johannesburg as S’manga Khumalo delivered aboard Duzi Moon in the sixth race.

The double was completed for Dettori after the seventh as he got Seattle Lady home for an easy victory and in turn sealed up the Victor Ludorum prize, not only for the day, but for the overall competition.

For that particular winning interview, Dettori recalled how a bird had provided some lucky inspiration earlier on that morning.

“I was standing under the tree and a bird pooped on my suit. The boys said it was lucky and it turned out that way,” the legendary Italian said.

But any hopes that Dettori had of his team catching the South African team were dashed in spite of his personal heroics given that the local riders consistently found the placings and ended up taking the honours once again. It is the seventh time the South African side have come out tops in this annual event. The internationals have managed to claim two victories.

His personal haul on the day of 72,5, each jockey was awarded 8.5 points for the abandoned race, was enough to push his persona tally up to 87,5 for the two-legged series and ensured he edged out Gavin Lerena by a slim two point margin.

Muzi Yeni had earned the Victor Ludorum prize in Fairview but he couldn’t sustain the effort at Turffontein with his best finish being a fourth in the sixth race although he did add consistently add to the team cause.

“It’s been brilliant. From the minute we set foot in this country everybody’s been so great and hospitable. We really enjoyed ourselves, we had a great team, good craic,” Dettori said after receiving his respective awards.

The awards ceremony was also used as an opportunity to raise money for Freddie Tylicki, paralysed in a recent fall, with Dettori’s silks from the day autographed by both teams and auctioned off.

Racing. It’s A Rush!

Picture: JC Photos

The picture around the Gr1 Cape Guineas should become a lot clearer over the next week with two important build-up races. Today at Kenilworth the much-touted Table Bay will in most likelihood start a short priced favourite for the Gr 2 Selangor Cup and next Saturday, the Gr2 Dingaans on Sansui Summer Cup day is the Highveld equivalent.

Mike de Kock has left Heavenly Blue to take his chances in the Dingaans but will be looking to pop the Table Bay bubble this afternoon.

On rating’s Joey Ramsden’s runner has his field stone-cold. According to the handicappers, Table Bay is seven lengths better than anything else in the field as he garnered a 10-point penalty for his four-length romp in the Cape Classic.

On that showing is likely to start at cramped odds but an unbeaten De Kock runner always sews doubt in the minds of the opposition.

Al Fahad got the better of the much touted Doosra on debut and Johan Janse van Vuuren’s charge has since beaten the De Kock-trained Heavenly Blue, albeit by a short head.

Al Fahad followed up in more convincing fashion when beating Act of Loyalty and the fact that the colt has been shipped to Cape Town suggests that he is a Cape Guineas contender. Just how much of a contender should be revealed this afternoon.

William Longsword, most impressive a fortnight ago, has won his last four but Vaughan Marshall is cautious and also looking for a feeler for the Guineas. “It’s very competitive and hard to give him a chance but we want to see if he would be competitive in the Cape Guineas.”

Piere Strydom’s mount African Night Sky is two from two with much talk about what he could be capable of but he takes a steep rise in class so should be fully exposed after this race.

The Lanzerac Ready To Run eclipses the Selangor in stakes value and Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion winner Always In Charge looks the obvious choice. Mayfair Speculators boast nearly half the field so Marcus’s booking is significant even in light of the fact that Marshall’s runner is rated a couple of lengths superior to the balance of the field.

Sergeant Hardy get his fifth different rider in just six starts and is almost certain to set the pace as the only time he has been headed in a race he has lost. The extra furlong from a wide draw will test Anthony Delpech’s skills but a strong pace will play into the hands of stable companion Zodiac Ruler.

The Champion Season form of the three-year-old males has proven to be suspect but the G2 Golden Horseshoe winner made a cracking return to the track, beaten under two lengths in a Pinnacle Stakes sprint, and a head behind Marinaresco.

Zodiac Ruler is a magnificent specimen of a racehorse who will much prefer today’s longer trip and could prove a serious threat to the favourite.

The second leg of the Mauritius Airlines International Jockeys’ Challenge takes centre stage at Turffontein tomorrow, the first leg took place in Port Elizabeth yesterday.

A modest MR62 handicap gets the ball rolling as could Frankie Dettori who partners Joey Soma’s runner Turn Back Time. Lightly raced, she was doing her best work late in a competitive handicap over 1450m last time out. The rise in trip should hold no fears and under Dettori’s expertise she should be a big runner.

Hayley Turner could make it a one-two for the visitors as she gets a leg up on the Chris Erasmus-trained Cranberry Crush. She has shown consistent pace over further and the slightly shorter trip could be in her favour.

In the second leg Let’s Go West made a cracking start to his Highveld career when failing narrowly behind Roaring Tiger over the Vaal 1400m. He had consistently good form in KZN and could finally have his consistency rewarded and give Grant van Niekerk a winner for the locals.

Dettori won’t make is easy aboard Lisnoble for Erico Verdonese. The six-year-old has hardly been out of the money since being fitted with blinkers and was a cracking good third over course and distance last time out.

Aurelian Lemaitre can score for the visitors in the third leg where he partners Samarra. She doesn’t have an easy draw of seven but has some good form and was a close-up second last time out.

Seattle Lady looks another plum ride for Dettori. The mare took on a fair field last time out and should enjoy the drop in class. Inyanga under Robert Havlin could make it a clean sweep for the Internationals.

French Legend can pull on back for the locals in the final leg under Aldo Domeyer. Sean Tarry’s runner won her maiden at second time of asking and followed up with a good fourth in tough Graduation company against males. She has a fair weight to shoulder but does look promising.

By Andrew Harrison

The second and final leg of the Air Mauritius International Jockeys Challenge will take place at Turffontein on Sunday and as ever the four races involved are not easy to assess.

The first of the races is a MR 62 handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m and Frankie Dettori looks to be the man to side with. On pedigree his mount Turn Back Time, should enjoy the step up in trip. She is by Trippi out of a Jet Master mare who won four times from 1000-1600m. She did not settle perfectly last time over 1450m, so from that point of view the step up in trip might be a concern. Furthermore, she has a tricky draw of seven in the 12 horse field. However, Dettori is a master of settling a horse. Turn Back Time’s ability is thus tipped to pull her through. She showed plenty ability when staying on well in her last start, a MR 91 handicap for three-year-old fillies over 1450m race, where she bumped some promising sorts including the winner Dame Eleanor. Barcelona Babe hasn’t been disgraced in her first two starts on the Highveld and might show some improvement here, so is the choice for second under S’Manga Khumalo. Flying Dream with Anthony Delpech up, Cool Fantasy with Pat Cosgrave up and Tales Of Mambo with Fergus Sweeney aboard are the most fancied of the rest.

The second leg is a MR 66 Handicap over 1600m. Fangia, who will be ridden by Aurelian Lemaitre, has at last landed a decent draw. He jumps from pole position. He won his only previous start over course and distance off a three point lower merit rating, but that was from a wide draw. Captain Chips ran well over this trip last time in his comeback from a four month rest and he is well drawn again. Fergus Sweeney rides. Let’s Go West ran a cracker on his Highveld debut when having to overcome an unfavourable high draw on the Vaal Inside track over 1400m and just failing. He now has a fair draw and Grant van Niekerk is up. Lisnoble has been going close to a third career win lately and has Dettori up from a tricky draw. Roaring Tiger is 1,5kg worse off with Let’s Go West for a head beating but is well drawn over what should be a suitable trip. Aldo Domeyer rides.

The third leg is a MR87 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m and Samarra under Aurelian Lemaitre is the selection to win. She doesn’t have an easy draw of seven but has some good form and proved last time when stepped down to 1160m she enjoys this sort of trip. Paree has struck this season as one with some class and if dropped out by Aldo Domeyer over a suitable trip and settling well, she could go close by running on strongly. Monarch Air is drawn in pole over a suitable trip and S’Manga Khumalo has gone close on her before, so they could earn some points for the South African team.

The fourth leg is a MR 73 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m and the promising French Legend could be the one, having won her maiden in facile fashion and then running a decent fourth on Thursday to the top class Brazuca. Aldo Domeyer is aboard from a good draw and the Cape jockey should have a good day on his international debut. Dettori has an interesting mount in Open Road, who has been highly tried so must be held in some regard. She has dropped in the merit ratings and might enjoy the drop in trip too, although the high draw makes it tough. Queen’s Jet beat Samarra last time, so the latter’s performance must be monitored in the previous race. Fergus Sweeney rides, albeit from a tricky draw. Chartwell has always struck as one with ability and has been doing well for a new yard, so she could be thereabouts from a fair draw under Robert Havlin. Honolua Bay under Grant van Niekerk should do well from a good draw too.

The outsider choice to win the official race 10 on the card, in which punters can bet on who will be leading jockey on the day, is Aurelian Lemaitre followed by Aldo Domeyer and Frankie Dettori.

The best bet on the card could be in race 4 in the form of Devadip. He caught the eye running on strongly over 1400m last time and should relish the step up to 1800m, although he might have a bit to do under Gavin Lerena as he will probably be dropped out from a wide draw.

The first race sees an intriguing clash between two eye catchers, Military Award and Pilou, but the former has been given the nod as one with experience around the turn and a slightly better draw.

Bondiblu could be worth a look at in race three too, as she is drawn in pole and her recent form has been good from 1800-2000m.

By David Thiselton

Only Mike de Kock stands between Table Bay and a fifth Selangor in six years for Joey Ramsden at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Anton Marcus’s mount has the proverbial stone in hand. Indeed, according to the handicappers, he is seven lengths better than anything else in the field and in truth on the way he won the Cape Classic he should be as short as 1-3.

But the spectre of an unbeaten De Kock runner, coming from Joburg especially for the race, is enough to give any Cape Town trainer the heebie jeebies and Al Fahad could be anything. The Hamdan Al Maktoum Australian homebred went to the front two furlongs out in a Turffontein three-year-old handicap last time and came home ears pricked. He wouldn’t have troubled Table Bay on that run but it’s the amount of improvement he obviously has in him that makes him a threat.

“Mike’s record down here is exemplary,” says Joey Ramsden, all too aware of the danger. “I’ve also got to be impressed with the way William Longsword won last time but all is good with Table Bay and he breezed a mile on the course last Saturday.”

William Longsword, most impressive a fortnight ago, is on a four-timer but Vaughan Marshall is cautious – “It’s very competitive and hard to give him a chance but we want to see if he would be competitive in the Cape Guineas.”

Edict Of Nantes did not get a clear run when over five lengths-third in the Cape Classic but he is now a kilo worse and is drawn wide. “He has come on since then and he worked well over 1 300m when I brought him to the course last Thursday,” says Brett Crawford who is in unstoppable form. “We will definitely get closer and I think we will be in the money.”

Things didn’t go well for Our Mate Art when starting favourite in the Classic – he was never really able to switch off – and he is a whopping 5kg worse with Table Bay but the extra 200m is what he wants. Candice Bass-Robinson cautions that he is “going through a growing stage at the moment.”

Longshot A New Dawn impressed Ramsden in his Kenilworth gallop last Saturday while Piere Strydom’s mount African Night Sky is two from two with much talk about what he could be capabale of. “This is quite a jump and he has it all to do,” says Justin Snaith. “But he is a nice horse and we don’t know how good he is.”

For those betting against the favourite, three of the last five have been beaten and Cape Classic winners have a poor record in tomorrow’s race. Since Jay Peg ten years ago only one of them has won this. But, even with the  Al Fahad threat, Table Bay looks a racing certainty.

The Lanzerac Ready To Run eclipses the Selangor in stakes value even if not in class but Grade 1 winner Always In Charge is rated 2k clear, is in form, has a good draw and gives Marcus an outstanding chance of initiating a notable double.  “He is very well and we are very hopeful,” says Marshall for whom victory would be some compensation for Thursday’s dreadful setback.

But watch out for Zodiac Ruler. “I thought his comeback run, only a head behind Marinaresco, was one of the best of any of the three-year-olds,” says Justin Snaith who adds that Sergeant Hardy despite a 12 draw, will set the pace – “He only knows how to run from the front.”

By Michael Clower