A long overdue maiden stakes win for the Var colt Speedpoint saw Joey Ramsden and Lyle Hewitson team up to open the Cape Guineas day feature billing at a sunny Kenilworth on Saturday.
Lyle Hewitson and Speedpoint charge clear to beat Pacific Trader (Corne Orffer) to win the Southeaster Sprint (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Placed in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint seven months ago behind his crack stablemate Attenborough, the well-related Speedpoint has often flattered only to deceive – but has plenty of ability.
Looking a million dollars on Saturday, he put it all together under SA champion Lyle Hewitson in an eyecatching performance in the R150 000 Listed Southeaster Sprint.
Settled back of midfield in the 1100m feature as stablemates Search Party and Pacific Trader led the way, Speedpoint made ground from the 400m and caught the free-striding Pacific Trader inside the 200m to win going away under the hands.
The Brian and Kathy Finch owned colt went clear to win by 0,40 lengths in a time of 64,87 secs.
Troy Finch leads Lyle Hewitson in on Speedpoint, on behalf of his parents (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
It was Hewitson’s third ride and first winner for the Goodhope Racing Team this season.
Pacific Trader maintained his improved form to hold second ahead of joint topweight Dutch Philip who arrived too late a further 2,25 lengths back and edged Valbonne out of third spot.
Joey Ramsden – happy to get the feature win!
Bred by Drakenstein Stud, the winner is a son of Var (Forest Wildcat) out of the ill-fated Durban July winner Big City Life’s full-sister, Cash Register (Casey Tibbs). The latter, a dual stakes winner, won the Gr3 Final Fling Stakes at her peak when trained by Glen Kotzen.
A R700 000 buy from the 2016 Emperors Palace Select Yearling Sale, Speedpoint races for Brian and Kathy Finch and has won 3 races with 8 places from 16 starts for stakes of R653 950.
In a betting turnover positive, the Pick 6 pool surpassed expectations of R2,3 million , reaching a nett R2 563 270.
