Troop The Colour – big runner
Once South Africa’s longest race at 3600m, the new look 3200m Listed Port Elizabeth Gold Cup shares double feature status with the Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes at Fairview today.
Phumelela’s East Cape General Manager Luciano Passerini told the Sporting Post that the decision to reduce the distance of the region’s premier staying contest was made in an effort to fall in line with the rest of the country.
“There was nothing complicated in the decision. It made sense since the other regions all race to a maximum of 3200m,” he said.
An interesting runner is Troop The Colour, who races under the Peter Wrensch banner out of Milnerton.
Siphenkosi Tshaka and Troop The Colour check their Mossel Bay digs out
Peter spoke to the Sporting Post this morning as his two-berth approached Fairview.
He explained that he had left Cape Town early on Thursday morning, overnighting in Mossel Bay.
“In view of the stringent horse movement protocols – a traveller needs three consecutive years of innoculations – we were unable to secure a travelling partner for Troop The Colour. But he is such an experienced and relaxed guy, he has taken everything in his stride. He actually seemed to enjoy his new surroundings in Mossel Bay last evening!”
Peter added a punt for the accomodation which he made use of in Mossel Bay.
“Value, comfort and they even packed a breakfast for us. I can recommend the Train B&B on Santos Beach!”
Wrensch roadshow hits Riviersonderend for a Kit Kat
For Peter, the trip is an emotional one and win, lose or draw, completes something of a circle.
The Eastern Cape was where he first teamed up with his mentor Ronnie Sheehan, when he rode in the Firestone Amateur Race on the Easter Saturday in those days.
Peter eventually became Assistant to Mr Sheehan, who passed away in October 2018.
The former talented amateur jockey took over the veteran’s string at the time.
He has plenty of respect for the opposition today, including local star Meryl and fellow Cape raider Celestial Prince, from the yard of his Milnerton neighbour, Candice Bass-Robinson.
“Ossie Noach was unable to make the trip in view of the jockey travel restrictions but he came to ride Troop The Colour in work last week, and his input has been invaluable. On form and ability, we have an undoubted shout and we are just hoping for a bit of luck in running!”
By the time Troop The Colour gets home on Saturday afternoon, it would have been three days on the road.
Troop The Colour in Mossel Bay – hoping that is one of his opponents today, maybe?
“The costs of raiding are prohibitive, but this is a trial run and if the format works well, we will certainly give it a try again in the future,” said Peter.
Local trainer Jacques Strydom has enjoyed the mantle of PE Gold Cup king since he took out his trainer’s license back in 2001.
With his first success dating back to Me Tarzan in 2002, Piere Strydom’s heavier brother looks to follow up with Onesie, who defends her 2019 title.
Defending champion Onesie (Pic – Pauline Herman Photography)
The former Brian Burnard-owned daughter of Ideal World stays all day and will be ridden by veteran, Shannon Devoy, for his brother who co-owns the game galloper with the trainer.
She is one of a trio of runners from the Strydom yard that includes 2019 third-placer, 8yo Frikkie, who is always there or thereabouts.
Onesie only carries a kilo more than she did last year when she beat Evolver by a half length. But the latter is back on Friday and carries 1,5kgs less than he did then.
The supremely consistent Madame Speaker looks to maintain her impeccably consistent form profile when she contests the Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes, a fairer sex contest over a mile at weight for age, plus penalties, a half hour later.
The daughter of the exceptionally versatile Pathfork – what a season he is enjoying – just doesn’t know how to run a bad race on either surface and will be bidding for an eleventh win from 23 starts.
Top-class Pathfork filly Madame Speaker (Pic – Pauline Herman Photography)
She gets a kilo from Sharon Kotzen’s year older Elusive Heart, and the race looks likely to be dominated by the pair.
Michael Roberts’ Dynasty mare Statute has some really smart KZN form and she could be best of the rest if she has adjusted to her new surroundings.
Fairview Update:
Weather – Partly cloudy, 23 degrees, 18 km/h Northerly Cross Wind
Rainfall – Last 24 Hours: Nil Last 7 Days: 33mm
Irrigation – Last 24 Hours: Nil Last 7 Days: 6mm
Penetrometer Reading – 24
Track Condition – Good To Soft
False Rail – 2.5m of zero to 1200m increasing to 5m to the 800m mark with a 5m spur.
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