Vaughan Marshall’s star Captain Al colt One World – beaten only once in seven starts – and then by subsequent Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Soqrat in the Cape Guineas – steps out for his first run since his big win in the richly endowed CTS 1600 on Sun Met day.
One World – top class (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Saturday’s mile contest is the first leg of the R1 million Cape Winter Series and with Vaughan Marshall not travelling to KZN for the big season, the high-class Concorde Cup winner One World adds some genuine sparkle to the ever bleaker Cape winter months.
Anton Marcus takes the ride again on the smart colt who swept all before him, before being halted in his tracks by Soqrat in the Cape Guineas.
Given Soqrat’s smart performances in the Queen’s Plate and the Horse Chestnut Stakes, it was no mean feat to play second fiddle to the Aussie galloper and only the progressive Vardy looks capable of stopping him.
Progressive Vardy (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
A winner of 3 of his 5 starts, Vardy was well and truly slammed 3,75 lengths by One World on Met day – but superior fitness may balance the tables. He won his return start on 3 April and has the edge on race exercise.
Majestic Mozart was beaten just under 2 lengths by Vardy last time and now takes the Marcus galloper on at 4kgs worse terms. He looks likely to be more competitive in the second and third legs.
Richard Fourie (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Clouded Hill gets the blinkers removed and looks a rare -Snaith-Fourie runner likely to start at double figure odds. The son of Horse Chestnut comes off a thirteen week break and appears to have lost form noticeably at his three starts.
Herodotus has not run for thirteen weeks since a commendable third placed finish in the Cape Derby. The son of Trippi was not disgraced through the Cape Summer Season, but realistically would prefer further and looks well held over the mile by One World.
Russet Air looks well held by Vardy on their last meeting when, in receipt of 4kgs, he failed to stop the Marcus flyer.
Fabian is the third member of the Bass-Robinson trio. The son of What A Winter, another who tries the mile for the first time, caught the eye when travelling to Fairview for the Listed Ibhayi Stakes at his penultimate start. He looks outgunned on these weight terms.
The duel between the proven One World and the progressive Vardy should be a highlight of the opening leg of the Winter Series.
