The Good Son! Jay Peg is well represented in the Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery with smart recent winner, Flash Drive
Only six Cape trainers have come to the party for the R150 000 Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery to be run over 1200m at Kenilworth on Saturday. Against this background it is quite ironic that when the Cape programme skipped meetings recently, just about every man and his dog was whinging and crying foul.
While it makes little sense in running a horse for the sake of it, and while this event traditionally attracts a small field, and we have the star attraction of Champions Season on the East Coast, there is surely something wrong somewhere in the system?
There are, after all, probably at least 25 other yards in the province and must we assume that they don’t have a competitive 2yo to have a tilt at the R93 750 on offer for first place, or even a worst case R3 750 for a fifth placed finish?
Quality
Family Values. The Captain Al colt Secret Command was an impressive recent debut winner
Whatever the drag on potential betting turnover and crowd spectacles, the six horse field makes up for what it lacks in pure numbers, with some quality and interest. Just no Red Ray, sadly.
Justin Snaith’s R275 000 Jay Peg gelding Flash Drive improved out of his skin at his second outing over Saturday’s course and distance, when easily beating Zambezi Torrent two weeks back. Bred by Yellow Star Stud, the gelding had finished over eight lengths behind Red Ray on debut, but showed some of his sire’s character traits at that winning second outing, when converting speed into a grinding finish that had the much vaunted Zambezi Torrent floundering in his wake.
Paddy Kruyer’s R1 250 000 Captain Al colt Secret Command is a full brother to the brilliant All Is Secret, and shed his maiden on the same afternoon as Flash Drive.
Bred by the BBP Syndicate, the smart grey showed speed and maturity when winning, but won his race in considerably slower time than Flash Drive. The comparison is enforced by the reality that they both won readily and unpressured.
On The Road
Vaughan Marshall’s R50 000 Kabool colt Silk Road is the only two time winner in the field, and ran a recent cracking second to Red Ray at level weights in the Somerset 1200.
Bred by David Allan, who also races him, Silk Road was strongly fancied to go in next time, but was beaten for speed by the Kannemeyer’s Kremlin Captain. Silk Road won over 800m and 1000m, and the reality may well be that he battles to handle the 1200m. He also appears to be quite a quirky character and shirks at the business end. Seasoned veteran Gerrit Schlechter takes over from young apprentice Stallone Naidoo, who has been bossed around by the son of Kabool at his last two starts.
Greg Ennion’s R65 000 Spectrum gelding Sunday Sun appeared to enjoy the 1400m when winning at Kenilworth in mid March, and then ran a strong finishing third to Red Ray in the Somerset 1200.
Bred by Aldora Stud out of a four time winning Russian Fox mare who won up toa mile, Sunday Sun could well be held by Silk Road who beat him by 1,50 lengths and meets him on a half kilo worse terms. It is worrying that Sunday Sun made respiratory noises at his last start and besides being bumped, could be more effective in the Langerman than in this speed test.
Island Style
Dean Kannemeyer’s R425 000 Tiger Ridge gelding Tiger Island has had five starts, and improved steadily to win over 1200m at Durbanville last time out. Bred by the Alchemy, he was ridden there by Karl Neisius, who jumps ship to the Bass maiden Zambezi Torrent. Tiger Island has shown a nice turn of speed late in his races, and on breeding may need a mile to be at his best.
Mike Bass’ R1 150 000 Captain Al colt Zambezi Torrent is the only maiden in the field and the bay colt comes racing with two seconds to his credit. Bred by Highlands Stud, Zambezi Torrent made his debut when well backed into 22 to 10 and only just failing to catch Red Tractor.
He went 200m further at his next start, but was comprehensively beaten by Flash Drive, whom he meets at level weights again. Zambezi Torrent gives the impression of a horse who may need slightly further to show his best ability.
Decisions
There is very little to choose between the six runners that will face the starter. Jay Peg’s son Flash Drive was extremely impressive when winning last time. There is no reason that Zambezi Torrent should beat him. He also won in good time.
Secret Command hails from a Group performing family.He only needs to be half as good as his full sister to win this. Silk Road is fast and consistent, but has his emotional issues. Sunday Sun and Tiger Island may enjoy further. By a process of elimination, that sends us all the way back in the direction of Flash Drive to win it and hold Secret Command.
