The trend of tight feature finishes continued at a cloudy Kenilworth on Saturday with the lesser fancied Candice Bass-Robinson runner Snow Report shading the favourite Silver Operator in a thriller to win the Gr3 Langerman.
The race, a traditional test of local juvenile strength, saw the money come for Vaughan Marshall’s impressive recent debut winner Silver Operator – the confidence obviously buoyed by the Milnerton veteran’s impressive record in the 2yo feature.
Bernard Fayd’herbe rides a powerful finish to get Snow Report home to beat MJ Byleveld on the favourite Silver Operator (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Interestingly, the top two turned for home alongside each other about three lengths off the leader.
Bernard Fayd’herbe took Snow Report down the more direct rail route and this proved the match winner, as Silver Operator appeared very green down the centre of the track and may have caused interference (but was there a gap?) to Joey Ramsden’s Double Alliance, who was obliged to check severely when making his run.
Through it all, Snow Report had slipped down the inside and under a hard ride by Bernard Fayd’herbe managed to stave off the enthusiastic attentions of the 2-1 favourite Silver Operator to win by a head in a time of 95,92 secs – over a second slower than the fairer sex equivalent on the published times.
Finding Camelot made the pace but had no answers late – he ran third, ahead of his stablemate King Of Gems.
Double Alliance was the unlucky horse of the race and did well to only run 2,55 lengths off the winner.
Mark Bass welcomes Bernard Fayd’herbe and Snow Report to the number 1 box (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Bred by the Limestone Thoroughbred Trust, Snow Report was purchased for R400 000 off the 2018 CTS April Yearling Sale and took his earnings to R196 000 with his second win and a place from 4 starts.
The winner is a son of prolific 2yo winner producer and triple Equus Champion What A Winter (Western Winter) out of the one-time winner, Snug As A Bug (Qui Danzig).
What A Winter has ten lots on the KZN Yearling Sale.
Stipes Report excerpt:
Shortly after the start DJOCKOVIC (O Noach) had to ease when awkwardly placed on the heels of FINDING CAMELOT (C Orffer), which shifted in. Jockey C Orffer (FINDING CAMELOT) appeared before the Board and was advised to give more room to runners on his inside in future.
Leaving the 350m DOUBLE ALLIANCE (S Khumalo) was forced to ease for a number of strides when attempting a run between KING OF GEMS (G Cheyne) and SILVER OPERATOR (M J Byleveld), when SILVER OPERATOR (M J Byleveld) shifted in slightly and was immediately straightened and KING OF GEMS (G Cheyne), which rolled out slightly. This resulted in DOUBLE ALLIANCE (S Khumalo) being awkwardly placed on the heels of KING OF GEMS (G Cheyne) for a number of strides. A Member of the Stipendiary called for a race review and after reviewing the patrol films over the final 300m took no further action. Jockey S Khumalo (DOUBLE ALLIANCE) reviewed the patrol films over the final 300m and took no further action.
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Gr3 Langerman (SAf-Gr3)
Kenilworth, South Africa, June 29, R200k, 1500m, turf, soft, 1.35.92
1 – SNOW REPORT (SAF), 60.0, c 2, What A Winter (SAF) – Snug As A Bug (SAF) by Qui Danzig (USA). Owner Miss G Burg & Messrs N M Shirtliff & M J T Wickens; Breeder Limestone Thoroughbred Trust; trainer C Bass-Robinson; jockey B Fayd’herbe
2 – Silver Operator (SAF), 60.0, b c 2, Silvano (GER) – Sting Operation (SAF) by Captain Al (SAF)
3 – Finding Camelot (SAF), 60.0, b c 2, Camelot (SAF) – Saldanha Bay (IRE) by Nayef (USA)
Margins: 0.05, 0.75, 1.00
