Power King to step into Pocket Power’s shoes as Winter Triple Crown winner
With Dean Kannemeyer’s impressive Silvano colt Power King on the brink of being crowned the Cape Winter Series Triple Crown winner, Saturday’s R250 000 Gr3 Winter Derby at Kenilworth could develop into a green season highlight.
The legendary champion Pocket Power is the only horse to have previously overcome the obstacles in what is one of South Africa’s supreme tests of ability and versatility.
There is little question that it takes a helluva good horse to beat a range of hardknocking contemporaries from a mile to 2400m on ground varying from possibly good, to probable mud and slush.
Noted Nursery
The Cape Winter Series has proven a nursery for some of the country’s best horses and while the locals are still some years behind the likes of the #WhoisLouis twitter campaigns and the Joburg glitz and big bank numbers, the likely thrills and spills for racing fans still abound.
And Power King now stands on the edge of glory, with all the signs pointing to a memorable victory.
Joey Ramsden’s brilliant former SA Horse Of The Year Winter Solstice was probably the most famous faller at the final hurdle of the Cape Winter Triple Crown.
The year was 2004 and he was extraordinarily beaten a short head by his stablemate Set To Music, with the 2005 Durban July winner Dunford back in fourth.
But Winter Solstice atoned for the disappointment going on to win, amongst other great races, the next two runnings of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate
Two Hurdles
Power King has done little wrong and it comes down to two relatively simple posers on Saturday: the underfoot conditions and whether he maintains his level of performance up to 2400m.
Both trainer Dean Kannemeyer and champion veteran jockey Karl Neisius are confident he will stay the 2400m but have confirmed that a ‘mudbath’ could derail plans.
“He is a long-striding horse, so we don’t need mud. There is plenty of stamina in his dam-line. I just don’t want too much rain,’ said Kannemeyer on Tuesday as we went to print.
Regular pilot Karl Neisius confirmed that Power King relaxed well in his races and that he was happy that he would stay.
He beat Reim in the Gr3 Tekkie Town Winter Guineas on 4 May and then followed up with a facile victory over Dynastic Power in the Gr3 Winter Classic over 1800m on 31 May.
Trainer Dean Kannemeyer feels that the classy 3yo colt has all the credentials to develop into a top horse and to win what he labels an ‘acid test of character and ability.’
Owner Marsh Shirtliff enjoyed the Pocket Power days and is a part-owner of Helderberg Blue
Out Of The Blue
His main opponent could prove to be Marsh Shirtliff’s Helderberg Blue.
There are appropriate shades of a Pocket Power association in Mike Bass’ Jet Master gelding, who runs in the same silks as the equine legend.
A R2,8 million Cape Premier Yearling Sale purchase, he appears to have refocused on his racing commitments following an overdue gelding.
He showed good promise earlier with a 4,75 length fourth behind current July favourite Legislate in the Cape Derby.
Helderberg Blue ran on well from midfield for a 1,70 length third to Power King in the Winter Classic and while his dam only won up to a mile, there is every chance that he will handle the 2400m.
Desert Swirl has no stamina doubts
Desert Sands
One horse who will have no stamina doubts is the Second Empire gelding Desert Swirl, who was an impressive recent winner of the Gr3 East Cape Derby.
He beat the Snaith challenger Glenton easily in what was frankly a rather sub-standard field of 3yo’s.
MJ Byleveld rode a particularly aggressive and calculating race to overcome a tardy pace and he may find himself in a similar boat on Saturday on the shorter winter course straight in a racing centre renowned for crawling.
Power Player
The promising Dynastic Power has been placed in both legs of the Winter Series and is another who tries the trip for the first time.
He has excellent and solid peripheral classic form and was only 0,75 lengths behind De Kock in the now famous Dynasty quartet in the 2013 Selangor Cup.
As a half-brother to the very well performed Red Badge (from the same yard and a winner up to 2800m), Stan Elley’s gelding should relish the extra 600m on Saturday.
He settles well and runs on steadily. Aldo Domeyer has also gotten to know him well
Friend In Need
Piet Steyn’s Friendly Tibbs ran on well for fourth and 2,95 lengths behind Power King in the Winter Classic. He is in good form and won his two previous starts in lower ranked company.
He appears to be maturing nicely and has won 3 of his last 6 starts. Being out of a Saumarez mare who won up to 2000m, he may be worth including in quartets.
Richard Fourie is back and rides Paolo
Top Team
Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie team up with the Casey Tibbs gelding Paolo who ran unplaced in the first leg of this series.
He was withdrawn as he was lame prior to the second leg. While he has won 3 races, there is nothing to suggest that he will raise his game to the level required over the ground on Saturday.
Hot Chocolate
The grey Judpot gelding Itstartedwithakiss was a smooth winner of his last outing in a lower rated handicap over the Kenilworth 1800m.
At his penultimate start, he was 8,25 lengths behind Desert Swirl in the East Cape Derby and appears held by the Marshall horse on that effort.
Ramsden Duo
Joey Ramsden sends out a coupling of Manx Missile and Silver Image and this noted trainer of stayers always needs to be considered for inclusion.
Ramsden operates a fleet of treadmills and his runners are always fit.
Jockey arrangements and recent form indicates that Manx Missile is the stable elect. The son of Judpot stays really well and has won 2 of his 9 starts.
He was beaten 2 lengths by the older Private Doowaley in a handicap over 2400m last time and may just hold Silver Image on their penultimate clash, although the latter is a half kilo better off for a 0,40 length beating.
