The Gilbert Rousset-trained Disa Leader crowned himself Horse Of The Year with a facile win in the Duke Of York Cup on Saturday. That was his sixth win from six starts this season, which includes two classics and an amazing three consecutive course records. The son of Parade Leader now holds all of the 1500m, 1600m and 1650m Champ de Mars course records and may well be destined to race abroad.
THE CHAMP
Disa Leader’s trainer Gilbert Rousset had futher good reason to open the champagne on Saturday evening: the win secured his second consecutive champion trainer title! The race itself was little more than an exercise gallop and a one-horse affair if we’ve ever seen one. The Cardinal showed good early toe to hit the front but he was soon overtaken by Hold My Jacket who went around him to take up the role of the hare. The pace was a good one and Johnny Geroudis made an early move at around the 600m marker to hit the front on Disa Leader. At this stage The Cardinal, Seattle Ice and Senor Versace were making ground whereas Gliding High looked a beaten horse. Entering the final straight, Disa Leader cruised away and was almost four lengths clear at the line. His opponents were left to battle for the scraps and The Cardinal ran on well to secure the second place. Seattle Ice who shifted in to make his run from the outside finished well to take the third place.
SURPRISED
Trainer Gilbert Rousset was lavish in his praise afterwards: “ I was always confident and I knew that Disa Leader would be hard to beat. He was so impressive at track work that I had the feeling he may smash another record. Disa Leader and Mr Brock are the two best horses I have ever trained,” he said. An elated Johnny Geroudis said: “ Disa Leader is a champion and I am surprised that his South African owner sold him. Had he stayed in South Africa, he could have won many big races. Everything went to plan. I knew that the pace would be fast and I made an early move to make double sure. I believe Disa Leader is set to continue his career abroad and I think that is the best decision his owners could make,” he said. Geroudis did win with another hot favourite on the day when Captain’s Cheer won the third race. It was yet another tactical win as despite the fact that he was drawn wide, he managed to hit the front in the back straight and from there it was race over.
French jockey, Cédric Ségéon had a good but confusing day – he failed on the favourite Just Banter in the seventh race but managed to win on two outsiders. His first win came on Mighty Fine in the second race when he came from behind to beat Volte Face and Betrayed over the 1000 metres. He completed his double with Golden Seal in the fourth race. Here he benefited from the hot pace set by Gaetan Faucon on Monsieur Dane who battled with Key Of Gold and Russian Glen to hit the front in the back straight. Monsieur Dance kept going well until 50 metres from home where he was nabbed by Golden Seal. Following the race, the Stewards questioned trainer Ramapatee Gujadhur and jockey Faucon in relation to the handling of Monsieur Dane.
GATE SPEED
Trainer Gujadhur explained that they were confident of the geldings’ chances, but had some concerns about Key Of Gold who was drawn on his inside. They felt that this horse would attempt to go up early. He thus instructed jockey Faucon to endeavour to jump well, put pressure on his mount and secure the lead as quickly as possible. Jockey Faucon confirmed these instructions and explained that the two horses drawn on his inside showed speed from the barrier and considering the pace of the race, he was of the opinion that it was in the best interest of his mount to gradually improve without over extending him. As such he was only able to secure the rails at the 900 metres after which his mount travelled well and accelerated in the early part of the home straight. He was caught approaching the winning post to finish second.
After viewing the films trainer Gujadhur was of the opinion that jockey Faucon had made insufficient effort to follow his instructions and as such obliged his mount to cover unnecessary ground before securing the lead. Jockey Faucon was found guilty of contravening MTC Rule 160 A (c) in that he did not follow his trainer’s instructions in the early stages by putting insufficient pressure on his mount to secure the lead. He was subsequently suspended from riding in races for one Mauritian race meeting and fined Rs.25, 000. Following the running of the fourth race Gaëtan Faucon approached the Stewards stating that he was not in the correct mental state to ride Solar Symbol in the sixth race. After consultation with trainer Ramapatee Gujadhur, the Stewards approved his replacement on Solar Symbol.
ORFFER DOUBLE
Corne Orffer rode a nice double on the day, the first of which was Constellation in the fifth race. Constellation travelled at the rear of his field throughout and commenced a forward move fom the 600 metres. Entering the final straight, he produced a nice turn of foot to hold off a luckless Glen Hatt on African Dancer. Orffer then popped up again in the final event when winning from pillar to post on the outsider, Zip It. The latter was an unlucky loser in his last run and made amends in no uncertain fashion on Saturday. Richard Fourie benefited from a pick-up ride to win the seventh race on Saubestre. The course doctor had stood down Indian jockey Imran Chisty after he was injured when riding Hatton in the second race. Richard Fourie produced an inspired ride on Saubestre to win from the hot favourite, Just Banter. Apprentice Meetoo won his sixth race of the season with Dynastar in the first race. He travelled in an ideal position throughout and in the final straight, showed guts to hold off Destination and Hopes And Desires.
PEOPLE
Newly married jockey Johnny Geroudis has agreed to return to Mauritius to ride for a full season next year for the Gilbert Rousset stable. Another jockey that should be back for his third consecutive year is the Frenchman, Cédric Ségéon. He will ride for trainer Ricky Maingard.
Trainer Ramapatee Gujadhur fired jockey Gaëtan Faucon shortly after the fourth race on Saturday. Gujadhur was not happy with the way the Frenchman rode Monsieur Dane (see above). Faucon has apparently already secured a contract in Macau.
Corne Orffer may have been smiling after his great double on Saturday but his day was spoilt by a fine of Rs 20 000. He pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding in the sixth race where he rode Seattle Ice.
The Top jockeys invited for the International Jockeys’ Weekend to be held on the 4th and 5th December are: Irishman Tom Quealy; Australian Michael Rodd; Indian Imran Chisty; Aussie Robbie Burke; Italian Lanfranco Dettori and Frenchman Stéphane Pasquier. Two other jockeys may be invited from South Africa and New Zealand. In the category ‘Up Coming Stars’, the invitees are : Mauritians Rye Joorawon and Nooresh Juglall; Frenchman Pierre Charles Boudot and Flavien Pratt; (France), Martin Lane (England), Cathy O’Hara (Australia), Suraj Narredu (India). A rising star from South Africa should complete the lot.
The women jockey to participate in the last leg of the Fegentri Championship at the Champ de mars on Saturday the 4th of December are: Ruth Jefferson (England), Pauline Boisgoitier (France), Tina Henriksson (Sweden), Nina Wagner (Germany), Catherine Engebretsen (Norway), Jadey Petrasiewicz (Netherlands), Jessica Marcialis (Italy) and Catherine Buri (Swiss).
THIS WEEKEND IN MAURITIUS
UP THE IRISH
The Sir Claude Noël Cup to be run over 1365m heads the card this weekend and only six nominations had been received at time of going to press. The potential winner looks likely to come from Gamekeeper, Irish Coffee and Always A Pleasure. Silent Screen and Juanfra have good outside chances.
Gamekeeper has been very consistent this season. He has already won three races and with a bit of luck, it could so easily have been five. He was withdrawn a month ago as he was lame. He looked fit and was very impressive at track work this past week though, and as a course and distance winner, his chances of securing a fourth win look very healthy indeed.
The former Dennis Drier-trained Always A Pleasure is holding his form very nicely. This strong front-runner finished a close second in his last two starts and Saturday’s race could well provide him with his best opportunity to date to open his account on the island. Against him is the fact that he pulls very hard but if his rider can exert control early on, then he could have too much energy left in the final stages.
Dean Kannemeyer always thought a lot of Irish Coffee, and this son of Fort Wood has been very unlucky in all of his last three starts. Each time he was drawn wide and thus had difficult races. He has a powerful finish and has shown good improvement at track work. His jockey Glen Hatt would be thrilled to ride a winner after a very uncharacteristic three blank meetings.
The Gujadhur charge Juanfra has been a model of consistency and has done little wrong this season. While he would have to run to his best form to win a race of this nature, he is fit and well and could be the dark horse of the race. It would be dangerous for his opponents to allow him to set his own pace. Silent Screen was withdrawn in his last start as he was found to be lame. The Maigrot charge is yet to win a race this season but looks fairly fit and generally gives the best of himself when allowed to set his own pace. The presence of fast horses in the field should make his task a difficult one though. The well performed Cape Gold returns after a long absence due to health problems. He has changed stables and is now in the care of trainer Vincent Allet. He looks to have something of an uphill battle here at his level of match readiness and he will definitely need a run to bring him on..
Nominations: Juanfra, Gamekeeper, Always A Pleasure, Irish Coffee, Cape Gold, Silent Screen.
