Nous Voila could be Allan Robertson-bound after putting up a hugely impressive performance to beat the much-vaunted and superbly bred Canukeepitsecret on debut in the TAB Telebet Maiden Juvenile at Kenilworth yesterday.
The Judpot filly, owner-bred by the Niarchos family’s Jagessar, went for home two furlongs out and she found another gear when the favourite came out of the pack to give chase. A length and a quarter was as close as she could get – and seemingly that was without the winner being asked for everything – while the third horse was another four lengths away.
Aldo Domeyer
Aldo Domeyer said: “This filly has shown us a great deal at home and to win in this fashion was impressive. I am really excited about what the future holds.”
Candice Bass-Robinson added: “I think she is a special filly and I might take her to Scottsville for the Allan Robertson. Aldo is keen for her to go for that.”
In the Itsarush.co.za Maiden Juvenile half an hour earlier it was R3.25 million buy Frank Lloyd Wright who stole the thunder even though he was beaten a head by the comparative bargain buy (R100 000) Sailor Sam.
The runner-up looked sure to score inside the final furlong but, fatally for those who backed him at 71-20, the billboards on the inside of the course caught his eye at quite the wrong time.
Justin Snaith said: “Every time he has come here he has looked at those boards. If he had challenged the winner on the other side it would have been a different result. But I was very happy with the run and, while we will have to see how he pulls up, we may earmark him for Durban.”
But back to the Greg Ennion-trained winner. He was the most experienced horse in the field but Corne Orffer said the colt would have won last time had he known him better while Braam van Huyysteen put his money on at 16-1. It must have been a fair bit because the horse was returned at less than half that at 27-40!
The well-supported Deepston put up a performance full of promise in fifth but 17-10 favourite Quick Star was a little disappointing in sixth considering his previous experience..
There was considerable speculation when it was announced shortly before the off that newcomer All Aboard had been scratched because of a “passport discrepancy.” Dean Kannemeyer promptly dismissed suggestions that this could be the wrong horse, pointing out that the correct chip number had been shown when the colt was scanned on arrival from the sales and again when he passed his stalls test.
It was senior stipe Ernie Rodrigues who ordered the scratching and he explained: “The chip scanning shows it is the right horse but the markings are very different from those in the passport and I am mystified why this wasn’t picked up by our people.”
By Michael Clower
