Despite things not going according to plan, Eric Sands’ dual Gr1 winner Golden Ducat ran a dream Cape Met prep when he rallied in a thriller to grab top honours in the R200 000 Glorious Goodwood Gr2 Premier Trophy at Kenilworth on Saturday.
With the Pick 6 falling short of target at R9 249 000, the result of the first feature proved a popular one for many exotic players with Winning Form jockey Warren Kennedy riding a pearler at his first appearance at the festival.
Golden Ducat comes back powerfully on the rail to beat a determined Richard Fourie and Sachdev (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Kennedy steered the even money favourite Golden Ducat, who came again to head the determined 8-1 shot Sachdev, who boxed well above his division.
The KZN-based jockey didn’t hesitate to show the way early on Golden Ducat, with nobody seemingly prepared to go out and do the donkey work.
The 4yo gelding was stalked all the way by Richard Fourie and Sachdev, and after being passed at around the 250m looked a beaten horse.
But Kennedy had a plan up his sleeve and he got Golden Ducat to come right back to secure a popular victory by 0,20 lengths in a time of 112,16 secs.
Longshot African Night Sky stayed on well a further three quarters of a length back, and was the subject of a race review after appearing to be hemmed in in on the rail momentarily. The Stipes took no further action.
Golden Ducat and Warren Kennedy (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The race was a bitter-sweet one for the Snaiths, who had Sachdev run so well. His stablemate Nexus was never in it off a cleverly judged pace and his customary kick was lacking when called for. He might well have been better placed closer by Grant van Niekerk.
The handsome Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein-bred winner injured his hock as a youngster and thus wasn’t considered for sale.
He stands at 17,2 hh and is a son of Drakenstein’s well performed Kris S sire Philanthropist.
The winner’s champion dam Halfway To Heaven – a daughter of Jet Master – is out of the Rambo Dancer mare Pas De Basque and is inbred 3×3 to Northern Dancer.
Golden Ducat has won 4 races with 7 places from 11 starts for stakes of R1 241 875.
While Sachdev gave Golden Ducat a fright, trainer Eric Sands confirmed that his charge was off his peak still and will strip much stronger on 30 January.
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