While there is no Frankie Dettori to set the world on fire, the 2018 R1 Million Investec Gr1 Cape Derby has attracted a high quality field and a terrific contest is in the offing.
Recent Gr2 Peninsula Handicap winner Eyes Wide Open gets a chance to confirm his excellent 2yo form and looks the one to beat.
Eyes Wide Open – great effot to beat his elders last time
The Highlands-bred son of Dynasty stepped back into the limelight when set the task of taking on his elders in the Peninsula Handicap at his last start. It is now history that he won a good race and was expected to have played himself into Met contention. With a surplus of class horses, the Chrigor Stud Team have opted rather to take on Cape Guineas winner Tap O’Noth here rather.
Vaughan Marshall had to take precautions against a virus threat at his yard recently and it would be a pity were this to impact on the high class Tap O’Noth, who looks to be the leading 3yo colt in the Cape this season. After his emphatic win in the Cape Guineas, he is now asked to go a further 400m and all indicators are that he will cope. Both his half sister and half brother have shown that they stay well, and Tap O’Noth looks a sensible sort who can go all the way.
Tap O’Noth – won the Guineas well
Joey Ramsden throws a fairer sex curved ball into the mix in the form of the Western Winter filly, Fresnaye. The Drakenstein owned and bred galloper has run two notable Gr1 thirds in her last two starts and now takes on the boys. Piere Strydom will give her every chance to overcome her 12 draw.
Brett Crawford has somehow managed to keep a fairly low profile with the Trippi colt, White River, after consecutive runner-up finishes in the Selangor and the Cape Guineas. On the face of it, he has close to winning form and if Tap O’Noth does not get the trip, White River will be there to pick up the pieces.
Pack Leader is the second of the Glen Kotzen trio and the son of Philanthropist gets the services of top jockey Anthony Delpech from a good draw. He ran on steadily without banking a cheque in the Cape Guineas and is sure to enjoy the 2000m.
Pack Leader – likely to enjoy the extra
Anton Marcus and Mike De Kock team up with the Captain Al colt, Like A Panther. Earmarked early as a classic prospect, he ran a very smart third behind Tap O’Noth in the Cape Guineas and looks set to improve further over this trip. The dark horse of the race!
The Twice Over gelding Do It Again flew late after being baulked in the Selangor, but failed to follow up when a no show in the Cape Guineas last time out. His six-time winning dam was a trojan up to 2400m and he could be crying out for this ground.
The Oratorio colt, Opera Royal, finished a half length behind Steel Rose in the Politician Stakes and was not disgraced at his penultimate start when ridden with too little restraint and failing to finish his race strongly – ending up under 4 lengths behind Milton. He should enjoy the extra.
Glen Puller’s Steel Rose ran a nice race in the Politician Stakes when staying on for 3rd behind Double Mint. He was unsighted in the Selangor and may lack the class in a field of this nature.
PE raider Kimberley Star – tough task
P E visitor Kimberley Star is an interesting runner and has his third run as a 3yo. He was exposed with some away form at Scottsville where he was beaten 7.25 lengths by the quality galloper Broadway Trip. That may not have been a fair reflection of his true worth as he clipped heels late in the race. He is bred to go this trip and his inclusion makes for an interesting angle on the contest.
Sean Tarry’s Visionaire colt, Visigoth, has been disappointing since winning his maiden early in October last year. He tries 2000m for the first time but needs to show more commitment if he is to challenge the big guns.
A 15 draw will do no benefit for the prospects of the Trippi gelding The Sun Also Rises, who has continued to improve since winning his maiden in November. He was liberally used in the Politician Stakes when coming again to stay on behind Double Mint and has won over the Derby trip.
The Marchfield colt Spring Man followed up on his maiden win with an impressive course and distance effort last time in mixed age company. That win suggested he may be better than originally thought and he thus gets his chance to prove his worth in this classic. He has drawn wide though and must be the lesser fancied of the Crawford duo.
Joey Ramsden – nice coupling
The second of the Joey Ramsden duo, the record-breaking yearling Silver Coin showed an encouraging return to form last time when winning over 1400m at Durbanville. Gelding and blinkers appeared to do the trick and he should relish the step up in trip and has the advantage of a 1 draw.
The Candice Bass- Robinson trained What A Joker won at the third time of asking over 1400m and ran on in a low key mile handicap for third behind the hard-knocking In The Jungle last time out. He is unexposed in the higher league and this will be his first time at 2000m. He is out of a Parade Leader mare and that may be an indicator that he could find the ground.
So a fascinating race where Eyes Wide Open and Tap O’Noth look the obvious two – with White River and Like A Panther the dangers.
