The impressive Listed Somerset 1200 winner Kingvoldt looks very hard to oppose
Trainer Joey Ramsden is no shrinking violet. He was vocal in the criticism of his colleagues after the abandonment of the R200 000 Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery last weekend and it is pleasing to see some justice in the offing. His smart Western Winter colt Kingvoldt looking likely to give him something of a figurative walkover on Saturday.
Ramsden was livid after a lack of interest led to the cancellation of the Nursery and the reopening of entries. A quotation from his thoughts are published below for those that missed them.
A Pointer
The race is now finally run at Kenilworth this Saturday and Ramsden’s Listed Somerset 1200 winner Kingvoldt looks a pointer. The Lammerskraal Stud bred Kingvoldt is ridden again by Bernard Fayd’herbe and looks the best bet of the month.
A smart winner of two of his three outings to date, he simply toyed with his rivals to win his first stakes race a month ago over Saturday’s course and distance and looks impossible to oppose.
While he only beat three raced opponents and three unraced runners there, the son of the ill fated triple champion sire Western Winter simply toyed with his prey and won hard held. He has come on lengths since beaten by Prince Of Magic on debut.
Ramsden also saddles the once raced maiden Eternal Love for the same ownership and the son of Antonius Pius looks well held by Darryl Hodgson’s Prince Of Magic.
Snaith’s Duo
Justin Snaith is very competitive and will be out to stop Ramsden
Phillipi based Justin Snaith would no doubt love to reassert his all conquering domination of the Cape juvenile races and send Joey back to Milnerton with his tail between his legs. Snaith saddles recent maiden winner Door Of Deception and Master’s Eye.
Door Of Deception won at his third time of asking but is way inferior to both Kingvoldt and Prince Of Magic on his first two runs and needs to get a start to have any chance of winning here. Richard Fourie rides Master’s Eye who is obviously highly rated and was thrown into the deep end when making his debut in the Somerset 1200.
The goodlooking son of Jet Master lacked early pace but finished with an eyecatching rattle to run third and 4,75 lengths behind Kingvoldt.
The downside for Master’s Eye is that he has to meet his conqueror on 1,50 kgs worse terms. That is a tough ask, even allowing for natural improvement.
Adams’ Aces
Darryl Hodgson saddles a coupling. Prince Of Magic was baulked and ran on well for second in the Somerset 1200. On that score he is held by the Ramsden runner but holds Master’s Eye. But it is interesting to note that, as mentioned earlier, he is the only horse to have beaten Kingvoldt (on debut) to date. So hypothetically, he could well do it again.
His well bred stablemate Winter Trade was slow away and well beaten by Door Of Deception on debut and while he is likely to improve, he could need further to show his true ability.
High Rider
Vaughan Marshall has an outside shout with his charge
Vaughan Marshall will be riding high after his terrific East Cape Derby win last weekend and he saddles the Boland Stud bred colt Al Capitano.
He was a narrow winner of his maiden at his third start and needs to show much more to get to te like of Kingvoldt. Ronnie Sheehan’s Miesque’s Approval colt Do Be Snappy has run two fair places and is obviously improving.
He came from some way back last time when running third in a blanket finish behind King’s World and is obviously a place prospect.
No Hesitation
Carl Burger’s Lateral colt Commanderincharge.has poor form and appears to be making up numbers. The stable hit form as it usually does in winter, and the colt could be more effective when going round the turn over much further. Don’t hesitate. Go with Kingvoldt.
What Joey Said
‘I do think that our feature race dates and settings, weather permitting, are sacrosanct and just moving them because there are not enough runners is not good enough at all. Sadly, we are in the situation where some trainers have the bulk of horses and can ultimately decide whether the race is run or not. If guys do not want to accept because they think the race might be cancelled or moved to better suit them, they have the power to manipulate the system.
It is disappointing to see our hierarchy being so easily manipulated. I am a firm believer that if trainers don’t want to accept and there are only one or two left in the race and there is a walkover, then it should happen.
Believe me, there won’t be many walkovers once they see people earning easy money for nothing. Also, owners will give their trainers a kick up the backside and get them to start racing their horses instead of letting them stand in the boxes. Enough is enough and trainers make far too many excuses for not running their horses.”
