Joey Ramsden
Well, what a weekend. I couldn’t have asked for more. It all started off with a supreme effort from Red Ray. I think it was a great achievement from the Ramsden team all round, both in Durban and Cape Town.
Both Red Ray and Happy Forever were coming back from lengthy lay-off’s and putting in such star performances was fantastic. There are lots of smart 3 yr olds in Cape Town and I know not all were involved in Saturday’s race. But, just out of interest, Red Ray ran the Cape Classic 2,5 seconds faster than Beach Beauty’s time when she won an hour later. That must surely say something. I am very much looking forward to the future with him. A particular thank you to Peter de Beyer and his team for putting on such a wonderful day with Elusive Fort.
There are big days and then there are Big Days; I tell you, he certainly made a difference on a day when Western Province were holding the Currie Cup event. There was a lovely atmosphere on course and full marks to him. Incidentally, the Currie Cup proved to be an outstanding day for me as
I am a complete and utter Jack White devotee. I have no idea as to how much say he has in running the Sharks at the moment but whatever he lays his hands on turns to gold. I find it totally incredulous that the best coach in the world, by miles, is not snapped up by someone to do an extremely large job. It is a bit like being able to lay your hands on the goose that lays the golden egg without having to kill yourself for it yet no one seems to be taking advantage of this. I am totally and utterly stunned. Anyway, well done to the Sharks.
Sunday was a lovely day. I decided not to go to PE and spent it with the kids instead. It is the first nice summer’s day we have had in the Cape and it was great to be able to spend time with them at the poolside.
At Fairview, Fly Like An Eagle put in a great effort for her first run on a synthetic surface – and from a wide draw – and just got run out of it the last bit. We have left her behind in PE and I am sure she will give her new trainer, Yvette Bremner, a win soon.
While everyone was worrying about first runs on the polytrack, Disco Al put his best hoof forward under an inspired ride from Robbie Fradd and won a lovely race. It is not often one sits back and feels smug where one knows one has done a good job.
However, with Disco Al, it might just be one of those cases where, as they said in the A-team “It is great when a plan comes together”. This really was a great plan and was well executed. I am not sure where we will go with Disco Al from here but I will sit down with the team and discuss it. Well done to Drakenstein, the breeders and to Klawervlei for the great Captain Al.
The day was rounded off by another great training performance by the team in Durban with a win by Happy Forever. He has been off for a long time with a 2nd knee chip.
Alson has really done an outstanding job and it was an impressive training achievement to win with him after such a long lay-off – and this in soft ground. Hats off to Alson. He is a young man with a bright future if he is ever given the opportunity.
Well after singing my own praises, it is back to the usual drudgery of a Monday and the pile of bad news. No matter how hard one tries to stop it, it keeps piling up on my desk. So this is your Captain signing off and back to facing the real world.
