The Cape Guineas looks the most open for years after the Selangor threw up more hard luck stories than a soup kitchen.

This mile test is traditionally the key to the Grand Parade-sponsored classic – it has produced five winners and four seconds in the last ten years – but last Saturday the first seven were covered by little more than a length.

Hard Day’s Night, a 6-1 chance here, would be entitled to start favourite. Markus Jooste’s Monarch-bred son of Warm White Night won on merit, doing it the hard way out in front after overcoming a bad draw, to give Joey Ramsden his third Selangor in four years.

Anton Marcus said: “He had every opportunity to spit the dummy – and the second horse went past him – but instead he dug down deep. He’s got heart and he is not short of ability either.”

Ramsden, who will also train Friday’s R1.5 million Ready To Run sale-topper for Jooste, was just as impressed and added: “I eased him up before his last run and he wasn’t ready for it but today I fancied him to kill.”

Victorious Jay went under by less than a neck to boost his classic credentials (Vaughan Marshall: “He ran very well. I think we’ll go for the Guineas”) while the less experienced Nassa and Illuminator both finished like trains.

Andrew Fortune, confirming that the latter would have been even closer had he had more experience, said: “I would love to ride him in the Guineas and I have already asked for the mount.”

Eighth Wonder faded to finish where his name suggested. However Greg Ennion said: “He got the trip but he was taken out by the winner and the jock said he was never travelling after that.”

Anthony Delpech’s initial reaction was to blame the winter course for the eclipse of Muwaary (tenth) but the 12-10 favourite was found to be coughing, in respiratory distress and suffering from a nasal discharge.

Budapest looks like joining the party on December 19 after making every metre under Delpech in the Lanzerac Ready To Run. The 33-1 shock really stretched in the final furlong to score by more than four lengths.

Gavin van Zyl insisted that no decision will be made until after discussions with son Gareth, who apparently does most of the work, and owner Brian Burnard.  But the Ballito businessman, who collected a whopping R1.25 million for his R160 000 outlay, is already booking his pre-Christmas flights.

Malan du Toit is also on standby. The famed horse whisperer went to Durban to try to get the gelding over his pens’ anxieties and was again on hand on Saturday when the horse was so troublesome that his stalls cert was cancelled.

Seventh Plain, who made light of his 16 draw, weakened into fourth in the closing stages in a manner that cast doubts about his stamina.

Marcus said: “He overcame the draw economically, he had every chance and I have no excuses. It was just a disappointing run.”

Anglet bounced back into the Fillies Guineas picture by running on into second after turning for home plum last. “They take her off the bridle in a fast run race. She wants at least a mile,” summed up Paddy Kruyer.
– Michael Clower
– Pictures (Liesl King): Hard Day’s Night (Anton Marcus up) and Budapest (Anthony Delpech)