Joey Ramsden and his young rider Donovan Dillon proved something of a nemesis combination for their shell-shocked neighbouring pair of Mike Bass and Grant van Niekerk when they grabbed honours in the R200 000 Gr3 Langerman to score an early feature double at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Donovan Dillon drives Table Bay through down the inside to catch and beat Our Mate Art (Grant van Niekerk) and Newlands. (Pic – Wayne Marks)
A half hour after a thrilling duel had seen Ramsden and Dillon knocking the wind out of the Bass-Van Niekerk team in the Listed Irridescence Stakes, they were back in the winner’s enclosure when the Australian-bred Table Bay stormed home down the inside rail to catch and beat his countryman Our Mate Art on the line.
The victory by the promising and handsome son of Redoute’s Choice was Ramsden’s ninth in the Langerman and underscored his reputation as one of the finest conditioners of juveniles (and stayers, when he has them!), in the country.
Table Bay, who was ‘loved from the moment I first laid eyes on him’ by the astute Brit, was purchased by Mayfair Speculators for A$120 000 at the 2015 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale – but it almost didn’t happen after Joey overslept and had to be assisted by a helpful taxi driver from Afghanistan to get to the sales ring in the nick of time!
Quite a story – but he looks quite a horse!
Joey Ramsden- Langerman kingpin
The race didn’t pan out well for all of the eight runners, with the Mike Bass-trained 13-10 favourite Our Mate Art being forced to make the running after nobody was keen to go.
Despite running freely out front, Our Mate Art tried his heart out and was still going strongly at the 100m marker as Table Bay took off down the rail.
In a thriller, Table Bay was beautifully ridden by Donovan Dillon and he nabbed Our Mate Art on the line to win by a nose in a time of 95,88 secs – quite a lot slower than the girl’s equivalent.
Ramsden runners filled the minor placings with another Australian in Newlands holding off the classy Attenborough.
The latter never had any cover and looks a potential classic prospect next season – that is, if he stays the mile.
Table Bay was bred by Raffles Dancers NZ (Pty) Ltd and is by Danehill’s multiple Gr1 winning son Redoute’s Choice, a champion sire.
He is out of the well-related unraced Cape Cross mare, Gabriella – a half sister to an Aussie Gr1 winner.
Table Bay was registering a hat-trick of wins and took his win tally to 3 from 4 starts for stakes of R222 500.
Joey’s eldest daughter Holly accepted the winning trophies which were presented by Kenilworth Racing Director, Robert Bloomberg.
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Gr3 Langerman (SAf-Gr3)
Kenilworth, South Africa, June 25, R200k, 1500m, turf, soft, 1.35.88
1 – TABLE BAY (AUS), 59.0, b c 2, Redoute’s Choice (AUS) – Gabriella (GB) by Cape Cross (IRE). Owner Mrs I Jooste & Mr M J Jooste; Breeder bred in Australia; trainer J Ramsden; jockey D Dillon
2 – Our Mate Art (AUS), 57.0, b c 2, Artie Schiller (USA) – Laureldean Dream (USA) by Stravinsky (USA)
3 – Newlands (AUS), 57.0, b c 2, High Chaparral (IRE) – Delphi Lodge (AUS) by Fusaichi Pegasus (USA)
Margins: 0.10, 1.25, 0.75
