Dean Kannemeyer and his owner Fred Crabbia may have missed their Vodacom Durban July opportunity with the classy It’s My Turn.
But things work in strange ways and they now find themselves on the brink of a possible Equus Champion Stayer award.
It’s My Turn – bang in form
Winless in two years since his storming Gr1 Investec Cape Derby score, It’s My Turn has come up trumps this term with wins at his last two starts in the Track & Ball Derby and the Gold Vase. He now bids for what for long was an unlikely hat-trick when he lines up under Anton Marcus in the R1,25 million Gr3 Elan Gold Cup on Saturday.
Piere Strydom takes the reins from Jeff Lloyd on Vodacom Durban July runner-up Made To Conquer who carries top weight after a meteoric rise through the ranks this season. A maiden just ten months ago, Made To Conquer won the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup beating stablemate Strathdon, before going on to chase another stablemate in Guineas winner Do It Again home in the July. That was a great effort off a muddling pace and with Piere Strydom in the irons, he rates a massive runner.
Made To Conquer beats Strathdon in the Lonsdale – they meet again
Strathdon was miles off the gallop in a modestly run Consolation July earlier this month and the son of Silvano is much better than that. He rattled off four wins on the trot in the Cape summer and enjoys a 3,5kg swing with his stablemate Made To Conquer on the Lonsdale neck margin. Fair enough, Strathdon did interfere with his opponent there but looks cherry ripe under Richard Fourie – who won the race in 2009 on Mokara for Stephen Page.
Third of the Snaith trio is One Direction who is a kilo better off with It’s My Turn on his 1,55 length fourth in the Gold Vase. Lightly weighted from the 1 draw, the son of Silvano stays all day and can run into the money.
Royal Utopia is one of two members of the fairer sex in the line-up. She led for a long way when beaten 4,50 lengths into the Track & Ball Oaks. This looks tough for her – but she is as much as 6 kgs better off with Witchcraft!
Joey Soma’s Kitty’s Destiny has been thereabouts but has been battling for ages for his fourth win. He could be held by Let It Rain on his Gold Bowl run.
Dean Kannemeyer – nice back up runner
Dean Kannemeyer’s One Man Show is all heart and loomed up menacingly in the Gold Vase before being beaten under two length by his stablemate It’s My Turn. He is a half kilo better off and could enjoy a change of luck – he certainly stays very well.
Sheet Weaver stayed on well in the Gold Vase for a 1,30 length third but is 2,5kgs worse off with It’s My Turn here.
Desert Wisdom and Frikkie travel from Port Elizabeth. Both are hard knocking longhaulers who have won ten races between them.
Strydom’s Desert Wisdom – drawn wide
Last year’s winner and reigning SA Champion Stayer Hermoso Mundo has improved steadily in his two prep runs. He carries 3kgs more this year and his prep last year was just that little bit more inspiring.
Betting World 1900 runner-up Dark Moon Rising failed to find any finish in the July off a slow pace. He will be tested here and if he stays the 3200m must have a place chance.
Wild Wicket appears better than his current form and ranged up in the Consolation July before stopping late to run fifth and only 4,15 lengths off the winner. He was on the fringes in the Cup Trial at his penultimate start. He could be better than he looks on paper.
Let It Rain – likely pacesetter
Gold Bowl winner Let It Rain was well beaten in the Gold Vase and looks likely to go out to set the fractions again.
The much improved Ballymaine continues to deliver game staying performances and now faces his biggest career test. The son of Main Aim ran a 3,25 length fourth behind It’s My Turn in the Track & Ball Derby and now meets the Kannemeyer star on 4,5kgs better terms.
So a thrilling race and a spectacle that will unfold twice past the grandstand. It’s My Turn has found a second lease on life. He is the choice to beat Strathdon and Wild Wicket – but it’s tricky!
