St John Gray’s battle hardened 8yo Captain Aldo mocked the reality that his better days are behind him when he went from gun to tape to hold off two class 3yo’s and win the R400 000 Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge at Turffontein on Saturday at his 48th career outing.
It’s tight but Warren Kennedy keeps Captain Aldo at it to hold Alyaasaat (Pic – JC Photos)
Despite the endless negative publicity, horseracing has some fairytale moments and none less so than at Turffontein on Saturday. The tough as teak 8yo Captain Aldo led all the way at any price under KZN-based jockey Warren Kennedy to upstage two Mike de Kock trained Aussie-bred 3yo’s, who look set to go on and make their mark.
In a tricky looking race at weight-for-age plus penalties, the contest was compounded and tricky with fitness concerns overshadowing the form and the obvious form calculations.
Returning from a break of 10 weeks since his Premier Champion Stakes victory on Super Saturday. Mike de Kock’s Epaulette colt Soqrat was considered good enough off the 52 kg mark and went off a 5-4 favourite.
With Charity Mile winner Hat Puntano slow away, Warren Kennedy took Captain Aldo out to lead Full Mast and Champagne Haze – and the race was won in the early stages.
Riding a superbly judged tactical race, Kennedy gave his mount a breather at the top of the home run and the old man kept finding to withstand a late surge from the De Kock duo – a neck separating him and Alyaasaat at the line – with the winner clocking 87.2 secs.
Soqraat was just under a length back in third, with Full Mast not disgraced in fourth.
The winning gelding races in the interests of St John Gray and well-known former Cape restauranteur, Aldo Girolo.
A winner of 10 races with 19 places from 47 starts, Captain Aldo has amassed stakes of 1 471 450.
He was bred by Boland Stud and was a second feature race winning son of Captain Al (Al Mufti) on the day. Captain Aldo is out of the three-time winning Cuddle Me (Elliodor).
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Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge (SAf-Gr2)
Turffontein, South Africa, October 6, R400k, 1450m, turf, good, 1.27.02
1 – CAPTAIN ALDO (SAF), 58.0, b g 8, Captain Al (SAF) – Cuddle Me (SAF) by Elliodor (FR). Owner Messrs A Girolo & St John D Gray; Breeder Boland Stud; trainer SD Gray; jockey W Kennedy
2 – Alyaasaat (AUS), 50.0, b c 3, Dawn Approach (IRE) – Yaasah (IRE) by Distant View (USA)
3 – Soqrat (AUS), 52.0, b c 3, Epaulette (AUS) – Elzeeza (AUS) by Hussonet (USA)
Margins: 0.10, 0.90, 0.80
