Justin Snaith’s Equus champion sprinter Kasimir defended his Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes title at Kenilworth on Saturday in style – using his ‘secret weapon’, his heart, in the words of his regular pilot, Richard Fourie.
With the 1200m race not exactly run to suit him, Fourie bravely improvised with confidence and when it came down to the test in the final 200m, his gallant mount dug deep.
Chimichuri Run (Gavin Lerena) and Russet Air (Aldo Domeyer) chase hard as Kasimir keeps his head in front (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
“He wasn’t quite ready last time. He is a top 1200m horse and he has never disappointed me,” said Fourie of the 5yo son of Captain Al, who looked a cut above the rest and duly delivered to win his first race this term.
With the field reduced to nine runners following the withdrawal of Run Fox Run and the Mauritius-bound Undercover Agent, Kasimir started a 5-4 favourite in a very competitive field.
After hitting the front very late with his deceptively awkward high head carriage, Kasimir looked to be under serious pressure from Chimichuri Run (13-2) down his outside. But in the final few strides he never really looked like getting beaten and he held on powerfully to score by 0,30 lengths in a time of 71 secs flat.
Chimichuri Run was given every chance by Gavin Lerena but couldn’t go past, while Cape Flying Championship winner Russet Air was not disgraced in third a further neck back.
Kasimir is a son of deceased champion sire Captain Al (Al Mufti) and is out of the top-class Gr1 producing three-time winner Aquatint (Peintre Celebre).
A R1,2 million Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, he took his earnings to R3 575 125 with his eighth win and nine places from 19 starts.
Justin Snaith indicated that Kasimir could well be aimed at the 1400m Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 1 May.
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Gr2 Diadem Stakes (SAf-Gr2)
Kenilworth, South Africa, February 22, R350k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.11.11
1 – KASIMIR (SAF), 60.0, b g 5, Captain Al (SAF) – Aquatint (AUS) by Peintre Celebre (USA). Owner Messrs W P Drew & B Kantor, Mesdames A M Doyle, D Nagle & Paul Shanahan; Breeder Drakenstein Stud; trainer J Snaith; jockey R Fourie
2 – Chimichuri Run (SAF), 60.0, ch c 4, Trippi (USA) – Spiced Gold (SAF) by Kahal (GB)
3 – Russet Air (SAF), 60.0, b g 4, What A Winter (SAF) – Icy Air (SAF) by Jallad (USA)
Margins: 0.30, 0.20, 0.75
