Alistair Gordon has been training for 45 years but said there would have to be something wrong with you if you still not get excited about winning horse races and he experienced one of the most adrenalin-rushing moments of his career when his charge Monks Hood toyed with the Grade 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas field at Turffontein Standside on Saturday and drew away to win by an effortless 5,5 lengths under Anthony Delpech.

Summerveld-based Gordon stood alone and watched the race having been caught halfway between an interview and owner Mary Slack’s box and said, “I couldn’t believe how well he was travelling going through the 300m mark against such a high caliber field, it was almost surreal.”

Moments earlier Gordon had wondered whether the good looking bay had gone too soon, a factor he and Delpech had discussed. However, Delpech had little choice because at the top of the straight he was travelling so much better than the horse in front of him, Greek Fire, that he had to switch outward for a run.

Gordon continued, “When he put his foot on the pedal nobody was going with him.”

Delpech pressed the button just before the 400m mark and the response was instantaneous. By the 300m mark he had hit the front and had done it effortlessly.

“Monks Hood is toying with them in the Gauteng Guineas!” boomed commentator Alistair Cohen’s voice.

The Querari gelding sauntered clear and crossed the line easing up with ears pricked having been given no more than a couple of backhanders.

Gordon was surprised by the manner of the win, but had been expecting him to run “a good race”.

He said, “I had told the media he had improved a lot since his Dingaans win.”

He then said something quite frightening for the opposition, “We will see the best of him when he runs on good ground, you could see that at Scottsville last time the way he quickened. He is maturing and getting better all the time.”

Officially the penetrometer reading was 21 yesterday, which is on the quick side of good ground, while at Scottsville the reading had been 24.

Gordon said Monks Hood had looked fine after the race. “He was chilled and eating grass at the back … he was totally relaxed.”

The horse left Turffontein at 7 o’clock yesterday morning (Sunday).

Gordon heaped praise on his staff and said, “It is like any business, you can’t achieve without the right team.”

He mentioned Monks Hood’s regular workrider Carrie Radford and all of the yard’s grooms.

Delpech gave the horse a fine ride and quickly had the horses settled with cover from a draw of seven and Gordon said, “He switches off very easily now that he has matured mentally. That is why he can show such a good turn of foot.”

Gordon will now discuss the next step with Delpech and Mary Slack of owners Wilgerbosdrift Stud, but warned, “I have done it often enough to know it is very difficult to travel up to Highveld twice in a month, it is not easy, it only gets harder, and if he were to run a bad race in the SA Classic it could wipe him out for the SA Champions Season.”

Gordon, asked about the Vodacom Durban July, said, “I don’t think he will get the July trip, definitely not, but it is just my opinion.”

The runner up Surcharge put in a fine performance considering he lacks gatespeed and was caught two wide in the running from a wide draw. He looks likely to relish the step up in trip to 1800m in the Grade 1 SA Classic.

Royal Crusade stayed on doggedly from the front, while Noble Secret and Vacquero both ran on well from well back in the running. All three should enjoy the SA Classic distance too.

The disappointment of the race was the favourite Majestic Mambo, who seemed to have his head in the air when asked to quicken from well back in the running and might not have enjoyed the quick going, although the penetrometer reading was officially the same as in his impressive Sea Cottage Stakes win. He is unbeaten in three starts over the SA Classic distance.

By David Thiselton