Tight Finish. Richard Fourie drives Blaze Of Noon up to win the Gr3 Politician Stakes (Equine Edge)
With the gamble on the boom 12 to 10 favourite Helderberg Blue failing miserably, the door was opened for Justin Snaith’s Dynasty gelding Blaze Of Noon to score an unlikely victory in the R250 000 Julius Baer Gr3 Politician Stakes run over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
The R2,8 million purchase Helderberg Blue went into this traditional Derby Trial a winner of a two of his three starts and the Jet Master colt was expected to score a career first stakes victory. He was once again full of himself in the preliminaries though with coltish antics that had the seasoned Tellytrack previewer Stan Elley suggesting that caution be exercised.
Elley was spot on and Helderberg Blue’s supporters quickly discovered that delinquent behaviour is something that he may have been fortunate enough to be able to get away with at lowly rated handicap level.
Cape Cutter jumped well and led his stablemates Arion and Blaze Of Noon, with Counts Rocket further back. Helderberg Blue was languishing at the rear in the early stages.
Cape Cutter led the field for home and stayed on strongly as the challengers came from all round.
Blaze Of Noon made his run down the inside with Strongman and Roman Manner in pursuit, as Marmalade and Tycoon and the omnipresent Counts Rocket also finishing well.
In a drive to the line Strongman looked to have done enough, but Richard Fourie rode his usual powerful driving finish and gained the ascendancy in the last stride.
Blaze Of Noon stayed on well to beat the revitalised Strongman by a short head in a time of 113,46 secs.
Under a length separated the top five finishers, with Counts Rocket shading Cape Cutter and Arion.
The fancied Roman Manner moved up menacingly down the inside rail, but had nothing to come and appears best up to a mile.
Blaze Of Noon was bred by Geoff Armitage and is by Dynasty out of the four time winning Goldkeeper mare Secure.
A R200 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 purchase, he has won 2 of his 7 starts with 3 places. He took his earnings to R213 350.
The Cape Derby picture looks wide open and this race would have done little to clear the puzzle.
