The Mouseketeer is unbeaten on sand.
A full field of fourteen went to post for Africa’s richest race on sand, the Gr2 Emerald Cup on Saturday, and in a race never to be forgotten for young up and coming apprentice jockey Nooresh Juglall, the 4yo The Mouseketeer kept his unbeaten record on the surface intact, writes Steve Furnish.
A winner of his only previous start on sand when winning the Gr3 August Stakes just four weeks ago, The Mouseketeer was very quickly installed as the favourite after being allotted an advantageous draw. Last year’s third placed runner Storm Crossing (10/1 into 5/1) found good betting support throughout the week though, and with the improving Art Wish (9/2 into 28/10 favourite) finding heavy support at the track, The Mouseketeer was allowed to ease right out to 13/2 from 7/2.
One of four winners on the card for trainer Sean Tarry, The Mouseketeer broke well when the gates opened and was soon nicely positioned in third. Outsider Comedy Caravan, the lone raider from the Northern Cape, elected to make the running whilst close up in second raced the former Gauteng Derby winner Bouquet-Garni. Sean Tarry’s other runner in the event Across The Ice sat fourth whilst others well placed included Eastern Cobbler, Mina Salaam and the strongly fancied Art Wish. The order changed little during the first half of the race, but with Comedy Caravan having set off at a fair clip the field was well strung out. Indeed, top weighted Sayadaw racing in rear, already looked to have an impossible task. A winner of five races on the sand at Flamingo Park, Comedy Caravan kept on surprisingly well in the straight and soon had Bouquet-Garni under pressure. Confidently ridden by his Mauritian apprentice though, The Mouseketeer steadily began to reel him in and with both Eastern Cobbler and Across The Ice also beginning to make headway as they approached the 400m pole, it looked as if we would be in for a classic finish. Eastern Cobbler was only two lengths off The Mouseketeer when he struck the front shortly after passing the 300m marker and at that stage of the race looked a real threat. The Mouseketeer ran on stoutly after taking up the running though and never surrendered an inch of his advantage on the run to the line.
The Mouseketeer looked to have a little in hand as his rider saluted his success and he clearly has a very bright future ahead of him on this surface. Eastern Cobbler ran a good race in finishing second and a credit to Flamingo Park trainer Sean Miller, Comedy Caravan kept on for third. The low flying Sayadaw produced his usual late burst of speed, and given his position at the top of the straight, did well to get up for fourth whilst staying on for fifth was The Mouseketeer’s stable companion Across The Ice.
Co-owned by Francois Diedrechsen and former Tellytrack presenter Neil Andrews, The Mouseketeer was bred at Bush Hill Stud. A son of Kahal out of the Northern Guest mare Look Sharp, The Mouseketeer has now won both of his starts on sand in good style. Purchased for R200000 at the National Sale, The Mouseketeer has now won six of his thirteen starts in total and has amassed stake earnings of over R832000.
