Sean Tarry introduced an exceptional two-year-old in Cloth Of Gold at Kenilworth on Saturday and she now returns to Johannesburg to compete for some of the top juvenile prizes there.

The R2.2 million Captain Al half-sister to Silver Mountain may have beaten unknown quantities – four of the other five were also unraced – but she won with devastating ease, coming right away to score by six lengths.

S’Manga Khumalo said: “I think she is very special and there is more to come.”

Tarry (pictured) added: “I was a little anxious because she is no easy baby but, if we can just keep a lid on her temperament, I think she is the real deal. She is top class but she is a challenge because of that temperament.”

The winner is owned by a mixture of some of the biggest names in South Africa and Ireland with Messrs Jooste, Kantor and Van Niekerk being joined by classic-winning breeder Diane Nagle and Linda Shanahan whose husband Paul has long been one of the key men in Coolmore.

Joey Ramsden ,who trained the filly’s dam Our Table Mountain, did not have a winner but he still went home a happy man. He is to train Silver Coin, the R6 million colt who smashed the South African yearling record at the Convention Centre on Thursday evening. He was bought by Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier and Markus Jooste.

By Michael Clower

Durban – probably including a crack at the Daily News – is next on the agenda for Fred Crabbia’s It’s My Turn following his surprise win in Saturday’s Investec Cape Derby when hot favourite Black Arthur was beaten into fourth.

Justin Snaith, who also won the Derby with Russian Sage and Legislate, said: “He is definitely going to Durban  – he has improved so much – but I think Black Arthur’s win in the Politician took too much out of him. Two weeks between the two races is too close.”

The favourite’s rider Bernard Fayd’Herbe echoed similar sentiments, saying: “He was very green, jumping shadows down the back straight, but I thought I had him in a winning position. However the Politician took a bit too much out of him. It was too close.”

With Investec seemingly locked in with CTS, the chances of its race being moved back to Met day are about on a par with the rand recovering its old levels. The answer, surely, is to run the Politician a week earlier and find another race on Queen’s Plate day for Cartier to sponsor.

It’s My Turn started at 16-1 and apparently Piere Strydom felt even that was overstating it. He said: “I thought I’d got the ride on Black Arthur only to be told I hadn’t and I was riding Prince Of Wales who was then scratched. It’s My Turn’s merit rating is not even near the top horses but at the 200m mark I thought ‘I can’t believe this – I’m going to win.’”

Brazuca, a fast-finishing two length-second, would have been even closer had he had a clear run but his writing was on the wall from the moment he dawdled out of the pens. “I was off the bit the whole way,” reported JP van der Merwe.

Rabada, who on the book would have won, stayed in his box nursing 28 stitches in his near hind. Mike Azzie explained: “He went for a spin at Milnerton on Thursday, got loose, cracked into the tyres at the end of the gallop and cut his leg open”

Inara could also go to Durban after wearing down Same Jurisdiction to take the Klawervlei Majorca for the second successive year and despite Grant van Niekerk re-iterating: “She never felt the same filly in Durban.”

But Candice Robinson said: “She might go – it depends on what stables we get. Those we had last year were very dusty.”

Mike Bass, winning the race for the fifth time in 11 seasons and given a great reception, paid tribute to his daughter, saying: “Candice has done a great job getting Inara ready for this and today the filly was probably at her best.”

The first three ran in Gaynor Rupert’s colours and, although the starter reported that Same Jurisdiction stumbled shortly after leaving the pens, Anton Marcus said: “She had every conceivable chance.”

By Michael Clower
Picture: It’s My Turn (Liesl King)

Heavelon van der Hoven earned almost R630 000 for winning Saturday’s CTS Million Dollar on Illuminator but it will be the end of the year before the 23-year-old from Namibia can get his hands on it – and even then he won’t get it all.

Apprentices are credited with 7.5% of winning stakes but the Jockey Academy takes a cut (it is reluctant to say how much) and the rest goes into a trust account until the end of the apprenticeship. They can draw on it in the meantime but only for specific purposes and these require JA approval.

Van der Hoven completed his five years last month but, as he hadn’t ridden 50 winners (Saturday’s success was only his 23^rd), he signed on for a further year so that he can continue to claim and riding master Terrance Welch is now arranging for him to go countrywide to increase his opportunities.

Welch said yesterday: “This couldn’t have happened to a better kid. He works his butt off and keeps his weight down so that he can ride at 50kg.”

Van der Hoven asked Glen Puller for the ride at exercise on Saturday morning when he heard that Weichong Marwing had what proved to be the most expensive sore back in the country.

Puller said: “Illuminator is a difficult boy and Heavelon rides him all the time at home. He also rode him to win his first two starts.”

Ex-jockey Puller,54, has been training since 1989 and has 38 horses at Milnerton. His immediate problem, apart from on what to spend his percentage of the near R8.4 million winning stake, is whether to geld the winner who has been haemo-concentrating.

Puller said: “Gelding is what he needs and what he ought to have. It has always been on the cards but he might just be too good for that now. We won’t rush the decision.”

Francis Carruthers, backed by Puller’s advice, bought the Klawervlei-bred Trippi colt for R180 000 at the less fashionable March sale. Carruthers, boss of a company in the nuclear power industry, parted with 20% to Ian Robinson who had his own air-conditioning business before deciding to retire. He could have made a fortune in the present climate but he still collected over R1.3 million after deductions.

Contrary to expectation there were no reports of rough-riding – or fines or suspensions – and Aldo Domeyer, beaten only three-quarters of a length on 17-10 favourite Silver Mountain, reported: “She had every chance.”

However the stipes’ report suggests that Victorious Jay, a head away third, might have finished in front of her had he not been blocked and forced to switch just under two furlongs out.

By Michael Clower
Picture: Apprentice Heavelon van der Hoven

 

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

The Glen Puller-trained Illuminator downed favorite Silver Mountain to win the inaugural CTS Million Dollar at Kenilworth racecourse yesterday.

The result was a dream for apprentice Heavelon Van Der Hoven, who picked up the winning ride on the colt after scheduled rider Weichong Marwing was stood down. Van Der Hoven, while still an apprentice, looked a likely choice to replace Marwing as he knows the colt (described by his trainer as difficult) well, and had ridden Illuminator to victory in his first two starts. The pair are now unbeaten in three starts.

Illuminator, coming off a second in the Listed Sophomore Sprint, was allowed to start a 16-1 chance, with World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas (SAF-I) favorite Silver Mountain being dispatched a 17-10 favorite for what was the richest horse race ever run on African soil.

The field spread out across the track with 400 meters to go, with early front runners dropping out of contention. Silver Mountain produced what looked a strong run down the center of the track, but further out, Illuminator was producing a fast late finish and got up to prevail by three parts of a length, with Silver Mountain just edging Victorious Jay for second prize of $200 000.

Fourth home was Seventh Plain, with last year’s champion now yet to win in three appearances as a 3-year-old.

Illuminator’s success was a memorable triumph for veteran Cape trainer Glen Puller, as well as his loyal and longstanding owners. Puller said of his choice to ride an apprentice, “He (Illuminator) is a difficult boy but Heavelon knows him well. I knew he would do his best work late on.”

For Heavelon Van Der Hoven it was truly a dream come true, with the young rider overcome after his win.

“After I found out about Weichong (being stood down), I quickly asked for the ride. I get on well with the horse and know him well,” Van Der Hoven said. “He was a bit sluggish out the gates, but I tracked Aldo (Domeyer on Silver Mountain) and felt confident coming for home. He is an amazing horse.”

Bred by last season’s champion breeders Klawervlei Stud, Illuminator will take his place in the record books as one of the great buys in South African history. He cost owners Francis Carruthers and Ian Robinson just R180 000 ($10,929) at the 2014 March Yearling Sale. Following Saturday’s win, he has earned more than R8,000,000 ($485,730).

A son of Trippi, Illuminator is out of the five-time winning Al Mufti mare Pacific Lights, a stakes-placed half sister to Allan Robertson Fillies Championship (SAF-I) winner Silver Arc.

The Million Dollar, which will be run in two $500,000 contests next year, formed part of three major features on Saturday’s Investec Day Of Dreams race card. The Day of Dreams, held for the first time this year, came about as a result of Cape Thoroughbred Sales and Investec Bank joining forces to put together the richest horse race event in African history.

The first of the two other features saw 16-1 shot It’s My Turn cause an upset when the unheralded gelding won the Investec Cape Derby (SAF-I). Rated by the handicapper more than 20 pounds inferior to fancied runner Brazuca and eight pounds below stablemate Black Arthur, It’s My Turn appeared to have it all to do at the weights, but proved himself as a horse with a future over ground.

It’s My Turn, who was giving trainer Justin Snaith a third win in the Derby, was given a fine ride by former champion jockey Piere Strydom, who bought his mount with a late run up the outside while the majority of the field followed front runner Kemal Kavur down the inside.

Fred Crabbia’s It’s My Turn defeated recent group I winner Brazuca, who finished second, with Marinaresco third after being tricky in the parade. It’s My Turn’s stablemate, and favorite, Black Arthur, could only finish back in fourth. The winning jockey had ridden Black Arthur to victory in the Cartier Politician Stakes (SAF-III) only to subsequently to lose the ride.

Bred by Willem Engelbrecht Jr, It’s My Turn has now won twice in just five outings and earned more than R700 000 ($42,500) in stakes. His sire Dynasty, who won the Cape Derby back in 2003, has certainly left his mark on the Kenilworth classic, with It’s My Turn being his third son to win the race.

The third major race on the day, the Klawervlei Majorca Stakes (SAF-I), proved a triumph for Drakenstein Stud, who owned the first three past the post.

The farm, whose resident sire Trippi dominated the feature race proceedings Saturday, bred and owns both the winner Inara and third-place Lanner Falcon. Drakenstein is part owner of runner-up and favorite Same Jurisdiction.

Inara, who was winning the Majorca Stakes for a second year in a row, provided the Bass yard with some consolation after Million favorite Silver Mountain could only manage second in the day’s rich feature.

Jockey Grant Van Niekerk, who picked up his first group I success aboard Inara when the pair landed the 2015 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes, adores his winner, and said after partnering Inara to a late running, three parts of a length win on Saturday, “I love this filly, she always tries so hard. She has a big heart and is really special to me.”

Saturday’s win was a third group I victory for Inara, who stopped the clock in 1:39.68. She has now won six of 16 outings with the 4-year-old having banked over R2.6 million ($157,862).
By Sarah Whitelaw for Bloodhorse.com
Pictures: Liesl King