Captain's Lover Triumphant in French Debut at Longchamp
Captain’s Lover swept to the fore with half a furlong remaining and pulled out a three-quarter length victory in the Gr3 Prix du Pin at Longchamp on Sunday in her first start outside of SA. She was sent off a tepid 9 to 2 favorite in the field of 10 runners in the 7-furlong trial for the Gr1 Prix de la Foret, which will be renewed on October 4 over the same distance and course.
Andre Fabre sent out the 4yo daughter of Captain Al and Sunshine Lover, by Badger Land to win the 80k-euro ($115k) fixture and said “Captain’s Lover has been with me 6 months and, like all horses from the Southern Hemisphere, she took some time to adapt. I'm very happy with the way she won and she will now go for the Foret.”
Rain fell overnight and during morning on the Parisian race course hard by the Bois de Boulogne, but the ground did not receive a soaking, with the ground listed as good to soft. Fabre had expressed some concern earlier in the week about how the filly would handle some cut in the ground, but he never had a worry as the contest was run.
Captain’s Lover broke out to her left at the start, but Stephane Pasquier quickly righted her and knew he was on a live wire shortly after the start, with the filly being keen. The jockey had not trouble settling her in second, as Garnica set what appeared to be an honest enough pace. The field was stretched out and Captain’s Lover raced about 3 lengths behind the leader and a couple of lengths ahead of the nearest pursuer.
With about 150m left in the race, the pacesetter started to look vulnerable, Captain’s Lover had a challenger lapped halfway up her body and Spirito del Vento was building up a full head of stream on the outside.
Barry Irwin (left), who had bought Captain’s Lover for $27k at the National Yearling Sale in SA, said “She looked like she was going to be either swallowed up or put in a box, but the jockey had a lot in hand. When he switched her off the rails and allowed her to quicken, she gave him a sharp response to go clear inside the final 16th of a mile.”
Captain’s Lover always looked in control in the run to the wire and she prevailed by three-quarters of a length, running the distance on softish sod in 1:20.30. Spirito del Vento, who owns a TRF 122, came up to get second, HH The Aga Khan’s 3yo filly Alnadana third in a close photo.
The win improved Captain’s Lover’s career record to 6 wins and 2 seconds from 8 outings, among which is the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas. She had legitimate excuses for both of her losses, one coming when she was denied a run until it was too late in a sprint and the other coming when her saddled slipped and nearly came off.
Captain’s Lover carried the hunter green and white personal colors of Team Valor International’s owner Barry Irwin, who revealed that Sunshine Lover is due this week to foal a full sibling to the winner at Klipdrif Stud in the Western Cape. A Team Valor partnership acquired her last season in South Africa and plans to breed her back to Captain Al, who stands at Klawervlei Stud.
“All credit goes to Andre Fabre,” said Irwin. “The filly took a bit of time to come around and as late as a month ago, she was not looking or training well enough to warrant a run this season. I told Andre that if she didn’t come around well enough to make a start this season that he should not fret over it. I gave him every opportunity to wait until next year.
“But he told me not to panic and to be patient, because she still had time to come around. Sure enough, about 10 days before the Prix du Pin she worked a good three-quarters of a mile and we were on. If I said I was not worried about this race, I would be fibbing.
“We have a ton of confidence in the filly and reckon she may be the best South African horse we have exported outside of Ipi Tombe. When I said after the Guineas that I thought she was better than Irridescence, a few eyebrows were raised and a few winces noticed. I think those facial tics may be a bit more relaxed following this race.”
Captain’s Lover was voted the Champion Filly at 3 in SA for the 2007-2008 season, despite missing the 2nd half of the campaign, as Team Valor sent her to France to be trained by Fabre (right).
“She's probably best over 7 or 8 furlongs,” noted Irwin. “She handles the soft, she runs well on a short curve of a straightway. And has a turn of foot. I thought she had the right profile to fit French racing.”
Following the Gr1 Prix de la Foret, Team Valor will reassess its plans with Captain’s Lover, as trainer Andre Fabre has sold his yard and will become more or less a private trainer for Sheik Mohammed of the United Arab Emirates.
“In the best of all possible worlds,” said Irwin, “Andre Fabre might be able to squeeze her into his yard. But if not we have other trainers in France we can use. A trip to the United States is not out of the question either.”

Captain Al in Canada
Black Minnaloushe, Captain Al 2-3 in Canadian Gr3 CANADIAN TURF H. (G3) Gulfstream Park, January 4, $100,000, 4yo up, 8.5fT, firm, 1:39.95.
1-HOST (CHI), 116, Ch. h. 8, Hussonet—Colonna Traiana (Chi), by Roy. Owner, Melnyk Racing Stables Inc.; breeder, Haras De Pirque (Chi); trainer, Thomas Albertrani; jockey, John R. Velazquez. $60,000. Lifetime: 27-10-4-5, $1,136,408.
2- Yate’s Black Cat 115, Dk b. or br. h. 5, Black Minnaloushe—Dazzle, by Slewacide. Owner, Crawford, Wachtel, Brous, and Robinette; breeder, James P. Gallagher (Ky.); trainer, Dale L. Romans. $20,000.
3- National Captain (SAf) 114, B. h. 6, Captain Al (SAf)—National Secret (SAf), by Secret Prospector. Owner, Zabeel Racing International; breeder, Klawervlei Stud (SAf); trainer, Kiaran P. McLaughlin. $10,000.
Margins: 1/2, neck, 1 1/4; Odds: 5.90, 11.90, 5.10.
Also ran: Kiss the Kid 116 ($5,000), Thorn Song 117 ($3,000), French Vintage 114 ($2,000), Big Prairie 114, Baron Von Tap 116, Jet Propulsion 114, Imawildandcrazyguy 115, Delosvientos 112, Dreadnaught 116.

National Captain goes close in graded race

Leading young sire Captain Al came close to enjoying graded success in two different continents on Saturday.
Following Captain’s Lover’s game win in the Gr1 Avontuur Cape Fillies Guineas, the late flying National Captain was beaten a neck in the Gr3 Tropical Turf Handicap. The winner, Ballast, had triumphed in this race a year ago and was giving the runner up two pounds.
Run over nine furlongs the Tropical Turf attracted a smart field, including Gr1 winner Host (a last out fifth in the Breeders Cup Mile), the multiple graded winner Go Between (Gr2 Virginia Derby) and the smart performer Giant Wrecker (Gr3Canadian Turf Handicap).
Out of Secret Prospector mare National Secret, National Captain has now won in all of South Africa, Dubai and the US. In Dubai, he accounted for former Guineas winner Express Way when successful in the Wassel Stakes. He has now won twice in four US starts and looks more than capable of winning a stakes race somewhere down the line.
National Captain, sent off at 8-1 for the Tropical Turf, is trained by the red-hot Kieran McLaughlin, whose Daaher upset Midnight Lute in last week’s Cigar Mile.

Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas (SAf-G1) (12/1)

Kenilworth, SA, December 1, R500.000, 1600m, turf, good,  1.43.20  (CR 1.35.80).
CAPTAIN'S LOVER (SAF), 57.0, b f 3, Captain Al (SAF) - Sunshine Lover (SAF) by Badger Land. Owner Vanashree & Anant Singh and Team Valor; breeder WJ Engelbrecht (SAF); trainer J Snaith; jockey R Fourie (R312.500)
Gilded Minaret (SAF), 57.0, b f 3, Al Mufti - Chasing Gold (SAF) by Dancing Champ
Joshua's Mistress (SAF), 57.0, b f 3, Joshua Dancer - Modelia (SAF) by Model Man (SAF)
Margins: nose, ¾, 2 1/2
Also ran: Ladonna (SAF) 57.0, Rei Rei (SAF) 57.0, State Factor (SAF) 57.0, Nania (SAF) 57.0, Burmese (SAF) 57.0, Joshlin (SAF) 57.0, Aquatint (AUS) 57. Read More

US Gr3 Second for Captain Al
TROPICAL TURF H. (G3)
Calder Race Course, December 1, $100,000, 3yo up, 9fT, firm, 1:48.54.
BALLAST (IRE), 116, Ch. g. 6, Desert Prince (Ire)—=Suedoise (GB),
by =Kris (GB). Owner, Richard C. Thompson; breeder, M3 Elevage
and Haras d’Etreham (Ire); trainer, H. Graham Motion; jockey, Kent
J. Desormeaux. $58,900. Lifetime: 27-7-7-2, $403,687. $98,370
2002 DEAAUG. Half to =Blue Spinnaker (Ire) ($231,221).
National Captain (SAf) 114, B. h. 5, =Captain Al (SAf)—=National Secret
(SAf), by Secret Prospector. Owner, Zabeel Racing International;
breeder, Klawervlei Stud (SAf); trainer, Kiaran P. McLaughlin. $19,000.
Minister’s Joy 116, B. h. 5, Deputy Minister—Meghan’s Joy, by A.P.
Indy. Owner, Stuart S. Janney III; breeder, Stuart S. Janney (Ky.);
trainer, Claude R. McGaughey III. $9,500.
Margins: neck, 3/4, 1; Odds: 3.50, 11.40, 8.30.
Also ran: Salinja 114 ($4,750), Magic Mecke 116 ($2,850), Go Between
122 ($1,000), Presious Passion 117 ($1,000), Host (Chi) 118
($1,000), Baron Von Tap 116 ($1,000), Giant Wrecker 117 ($1,000).

Captain Courageous Defies 62kgs
Captain Al’s first crop have proven significantly that they are able to train on at the highest level and with maximum handicap Captain Corageous defied the 62kgs alloted to him in the Emerald Diamond Handicap at the Vaal on Sunday under a great ride by the talented Gavin Lerena. He beat highly rated Mr Brock by a length conceding 5 kgs with the rest of the field trailing 10-15 lengths behind. What is significant about this win is that Mr Brock has contested three Gr1 races in his past four starts in which he picked up a cheque for minor money three times. Trainer Lance Wiid has handled Captain Corageous very well - he won the Jubilee Stakes three runs back and turned the tables on Dollarmation who beat him in his penultimate start.
This win is significant for Captain Al in as much as the freshman crop that saw Captain Al bread the SA record for individual juvenile winners including Sunday’s winner who made a contribution to his sire’s record.
The long weekend’s racing included a string of successes for the stallions in our portfolio. Badger’s Drift’s son Badger Gold won the 2nd race at Scottsville by 2.5 lengths. He has had a win and 5 places in 7 starts - including 3 seconds and 3 thirds. Grey Eminence’s son Platinum took minor money in the same event.
Count Dubois delivered the winner of the 6th at Arlington on Monday as African Rhythmn recorded her 5th win.
Goldkeeper produced two winners over the weekend. Gold Man won the 2nd at Kenilworth, Sun Warrior won the 3rd by 3.5 lengths (Badger’ Drift’s son Sky Captain over came a series of interferances to finish 4th).
London News produced two winners; News of London won the 5th at Scottsville and Magnetic Storm won the 3rd at the Vaal by 3 lengths with the 3rd horse 10 lengths behind.
Jallad scored a double by winning the 8th at Arlington on Friday (Torn Jeans) and has the material sire of the Gr3 Matchem Stakes winner Joshusa’s Dream.
Qui Danzig’s daughter Trade Enquiry continues to churn out winners and added another Inwhatsgoingon in the 3rd at Scottsville.

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