Cape classic form stood up at the SA Champions Season curtain raiser meeting on the Greyville turf yesterday in what turned out be an encouraging day for KZN horses.
Brett Crawford
In the Grade 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m the Brett Crawford-trained CTS Mile winner and Cape Classic runner up, Undercover Agent, found the box seat from a good draw of three under Corne Orffer. Meanwhile, the Paul Lafferty-trained Judpot gelding Sniper Shot had run five wide around horses from the widest draw of all to race on Undercover Agent’s flank. When they turned for home Undercover Agent, who returned odds of 26/10, went down the inside and hit the front at the 300m mark, but 12/1 shot Sniper Shot, despite his earlier exertions, was going with him. Undercover Agent, a Captain Al colt bred by Moutonshoek, pulled away in the closing stages to win by two lengths from Sniper Shot. The winner’s stablemate White River ran on strongly from near the back for a 3,25 length third, a head clear of the Wendy Whitehead-trained Hard To Play, who ran on well after being positioned on the rail near the back from a pole position draw. The favourite, CTS 1200 runner up Kasimir, was well positioned in midfield but found little extra in the straight and finished fifth.
Peter Muscatt, assistant to Crawford, described Undercover Agent as “still a big baby” but believed once he furnished he would go further. He added, “The Daily News 2000 is probably a bit beyond him now, but something like the Champions Cup might be an option. But first we will see how he goes in the next leg (Daisy Guineas).
Lafferty’s assistant Roy Waugh said, “Sniper Shot has been a different horse since gelding. Let’s hope he gets a draw in the Guineas.”
In the Grade 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m the Dennis Drier-trained Paddock Stakes runner up Lady In Black looked a picture in the parade ring and turned it on well in the straight to overtake the Prix du Cap winner Elusive Heart. However, the Wendy Whitehead-trained 20/1 shot Twice As Smart was going with her. Lady In Black, a Grade 1-winning Dynasty filly who was giving Twice As Smart 6kg, found extra to beat the latter by head under Sean Veale. Elusive Heart ran a 2,6 length third receiving 4,5kg from the winner. Sorceress and Fish River were next best.
The Drier and Veale combination had a good day as the once much touted Hack Green bounced back to his best to beat a good field in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1100m.
By David Thiselton
