All The Way! Antonius Du Bois (Grant Van Niekerk) holds off Jungle Skyline to win the Langerman (Equine Edge)
Paarl based trainer Glen Kotzen celebrated a welcome return to feature race action when his smart Antonius Pius colt Antonius Du Bois led practically all the way to win the R150 000 Gr3 Langerman run in heavy conditions at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Highlands Danzig stallion Antonius Pius has made a cracking start to his stud career here in South Africa and his goodlooking son Antonius Du Bois kept finding all the way to the line to hold a flying Jungle Skyline in an exciting finish.
Recent maiden winner Captain Magpie held a brief lead before being cast aside by Antonius Du Bois who boldly set the standard under Grant Van Niekerk.
Juddering Angel looked to be going very well in third, while Paolo, Jungle Skyline, Lastbutnotleast and Tiger Island were further back. Sunday Sun trudged along in last.
Into the straight Antonius Du Bois continued to lead with Captain Magpie and Paolo going up and down, while Juddering Angel encountered traffic problems.
Into the final 200m Van Niekerk, who hasrecently returned from a suspension, got Antonius Du Bois to kick again and that surge is what won him the race.
Antonius Du Bois went on strongly to win by a head in a time of 97,14 secs.
Vaughan Marshall’s maiden Jungle Skyline ran on strongly into second, with the fancied Lastbutnotleast staying on for third, with Juddering Angel disappointing in fourth.
Antonius Du Bois was bred by Highlands Stud and is by Antonius Pius out of the Theatrical mare, Balabos. The winner showed some of the fighting character of his half brother, by Al Mufti, Always Al.
Antonius Du Bois cost R200 000 on the Cape Ready To Run Sale.
He has now earned at all of his four starts, with two wins and two places registered.
He took his earnings to R147 400.
Antonius Du Bois looks very promising indeed and staunch owners Warren Laird and Hugo Hattingh look to have plenty to look forward to.
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Langerman Hcp (SAf-G3) (6/8) Kenilworth, South Africa, June 8, R150.000, 1500m, turf, heavy, 1.37.14 1-ANTONIUS DU BOIS (SAF), 58.0, b c 2, Antonius Pius (USA) – Balabos (USA) by Theatrical (USA). Owner WJ Laird & Tripple H Trust; breeder Highlands; trainer GS Kotzen; jockey G v Niekerk (R93.750) 2-Jungle Skyline (SAF), 56.0, b c 2, Lion Tamer (SAF) – Silver Skies (SAF) by Captain Al (SAF) 3-Lastbutnotleast (SAF), 58.0, b c 2, Second Empire (IRE) – Nella Fantasia (IRE) by Giant’s Causeway (USA) Margins: hd, 1, ¾
