A crack at Futura, Act Of War and Captain America could be on the cards for Noah From Goa after the gutsy way he won the Grand Parade Cape Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday
The 5-1 Tiger Ridge gelding, part-owned by breeder Mary Slack, gave Mike de Kock his first win in this race since Domino Man 12 years ago and his fourth in all.
Noah From Goa (Liesl King)
Son and assistant Matthew said: “Noah has had a hard season and we will see how he pulls up but the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate would be one of the options. We’ve got to expose these three-year-olds to the older horses and see how good they are.”
A Kenilworth Grade 1 could also be on the agenda for Brazuca (8-1) who was only beaten three-quarters of a length. “If Weichong thinks he will stay 2 000m we will leave him here for the Investec Cape Derby,” said a clearly pleased Johan Janse van Vuuren.
But Nassa, backed from 20-1 to 11-1 and only a short head further back, goes to Hong Kong and Tony Millard, who will train him, said: “We already have a very nice horse for the Cape Derby with Brett Crawford in Nebula.”
Silver Mountain, who briefly looked a furlong out as if she might justify all the money that poured on her – she started at 8-10, was less than a length behind the winner. She came back with a cut on her right hind but nobody was offering that as an excuse.
“She had a bit much to make up on them,” said Mike Bass who was wheel-chaired through a sea of well-wishers by son Mark to get into the parade ring. “But Aldo gave her a good ride and she had every chance. I thought she ran a good race.”
Daughter Candice pointed out that the filly has five weeks – compared with only two this time- before the lucrative chips are down in the CTS Million Dollar. Victorius Jay, 40-1 but beaten only 1.2 lengths into fifth, also goes for the big money.
Sean Tarry reported that Liege (14th) was coughing and the disappointing Budapest (last) was blowing hard after the race.
What the jockeys said:
Anthony Delpech (Noah From Goa): “He struggled the whole way round the turn as he was on the wrong leg but he is a small horse with a big heart and he doesn’t know how to lie down.”
Weichong Marwing (Brazuca, 2nd): “He ran very well and he loomed up. I thought it was a great run.”
Corne Orffer (Nassa, 3rd): “It was always going to be difficult from that 16 draw and I didn’t want to be three wide. I made up ten lengths in the straight – if only I’d had a decent draw.”
Aldo Domeyer (Silver Mountain, 4th): “I would have preferred a harder pace but I was happy with the way she was making up ground and I thought she might do it. I got to the winner’s hindquarters but then he went on again. Had she had another week it might have been different. She will beat these horses in time.”
Anton Marcus (Hard Day’s Night, 10th): “He got to the front easier than he had done in the Selangor but there was no kick – he just faded very quickly. It was a flat run.”
By Michael Clower
Picture: Noah From Goa (Liesl King)
