Milnerton trainer Joey Ramsden pulled a Gr1 rabbit out of the hat at Turffontein on Champions Day with his long-overdue class act Attenborough showing some of his true ability after a quiet spell.
Attenborough is in full cry under Richard Fourie (Pic – JC Photos)
Despite a 50% win strike-rate for visitors over the past 8 years, Ramsden and Justin Snaith were the only away trainers prepared to take their chances in the prestigious Gr1 sprint and Snaith looked to be the more likely to get lucky, with the fancied Sergeant Hardy a popular choice.
But on a tough day for punters and the form book, that was not to be as Richard Fourie settled Attenborough four lengths off the rush led by Down To Zero, Pinnacle Peak and Wrecking Ball.
In a race won by top horses over the years, Attenborough made it look so easy as he took off under a left-handed ride and charged up the outside to score a deserved win by a length in a nice time of 56,32 secs.
Joey Ramsden – succesful day
The former PE-based Man O’War Sprint winner Pinnacle Peak showed plenty of pace and hung on for second, ahead of the winner’s stablemate Speedpoint, who also showed the benefit of a second run in Gauteng.
While it was a first Computaform Sprint winner for Joey Ramsden, one of his former charges in the soldier Copper Parade won it for Yvette Bremner in 2014.
This was the top-class Richard Fourie’s Gr1 sprint success. That seems quite extraordinary given his long association with the Snaith yard.
Top sprinters Sergeant Hardy and Trip To Heaven both finished well downfield.
A R2 million purchase by Mayfair Speculators off the Cape Premier Yearling Sale, Attenborough has now won 5 races with 9 places from 21 starts and stakes of R2 025 025.
Richard Fourie – first sprint Gr1 (Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Attenborough was purchased out of the Mayfair Speculators unbundling and was having his second run for his new owners on Saturday.
The handsome 4yo was bred by Pippa Mickleburgh and is a son of the late champion Western Winter (Gone West) out of the four-time winning Caesour mare, In Camera.
Trainer Joey Ramsden is on record that a breakdown in communication at the sales meant he had to choose between two horses – “I am glad I stuck with Attenborough,” he told us when Attenborough won the Listed Somerset 1200 as a 2yo. No doubt he still is!
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Gr1 Computaform Sprint (SAf-Gr1)
Turffontein, South Africa, May 5, R1 million, 1000m, turf, good, 56.32
1 – ATTENBOROUGH (SAF), 60.0, b g 4, Western Winter (USA) – In Camera (SAF) by Caesour (USA). Owner Messrs R Breitenbach, R D P Caboche-Adam, E G Hart De Keating, P O’Doherty, Miss Pippa Mickleburgh, Mr J & Mrs C Brooks & Mr & Mrs D Naik; Breeder PLV Mickleburgh; trainer J Ramsden; jockey R Fourie
2 – Pinnacle Peak (SAF), 58.5, b g 3, Querari (GER) – Pinnaquin (SAF) by Count Dubois (GB)
3 – Speedpoint (SAF), 58.5, b c 3, Var (USA) – Cash Register (SAF) by Casey Tibbs (IRE)
Margins: 1.00, 1.20, 0.90
