Ibhayi In The Bag! Albert Mooney won the feature at Arlington
The smart Cape 3yo Albert Mooney grabbed the first leg of the Eastern Cape Sophomore Challenge at Arlington on Friday under a terrific ride by Piere Strydom. Justin Snaith trained the first two home in the R130 000 Listed Ibhayi Stakes, with Ottimo running on powerfully for second after traffic problems on the way home.
The new power pairing of Snaith and Strydom looks likely to induce panic amongst the PE locals. The combination finished with three winners on a profitable afternoon, with Strydom ending personally on four victories after he won the fourth race on an arrogantly relaxed brilliant ride on Iceonic for Yvette Bremner.
Despite drifting to 13 to 10 after touching the red in the betting, Albert Mooney was an emphatic winner of the feature, despite benefitting from traffic problems encountered by his stablemate, Ottimo.
Blushing Peter dashed off the lead as he usually does, and he showed the way from Way Clear and Albert Mooney, with Lord Jonathan and Cavalar further back.
The order remained much the same as they came into the home run, with Cavalar moving up dangerously as Strydom went for his run a few horse widths off the inside rail.
At the 300m marker Albert Mooney swept into the lead as the ominous grey shadow of Ottimo ducked and switched as he battled for running room three lengths off.
Big Four. Piere Strydom rode four winners on the day
Inside the final 200m Strydom rode the favourite with confidence and while Ottimo made up some ground, we always had the impression that it was no real race.
In the end Albert Mooney charged clear to win by a half length in a time of 84, 54 secs.
The grey Oratorio gelding Ottimo had no chance, but was not disgraced giving his stablemate 2kgs.
The Racing Association Stakes winner Way Clear ran on well for a non threatening third.
Bred by Moutonshoek, Albert Mooney is by Captain Al out of the former Joey Ramsden trained Qui Danzig mare, Winning Eyes.
She won five races from 1000m to 1300m.
Albert Mooney cost R300 000 on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1.
This was his third win and with 5 places recorded from his ten starts. In winning, he took his earnings to R205 700.
The challenge facing the Snaiths will now be the decision whether to leave Albert Mooney in PE to bid for the Listed East Cape Guineas over 1600m on 5 April, or go up to KZN for Champions Season?
The former seems more logical. He looks unlikely to see out the 2400m of the third leg of the series, the Gr3 East Cape Derby run on 12 May. But the Guineas could be his game.
The PE Triple Crown carries a challenge bonus of R250 000 for the winner of all three legs.
