The powerful Snaith Racing machine raised the bar a notch again for the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Racing Festival when their flagbearer Captain’s Ransom made short work of a power-packed Pinnacle Stakes line-up on her season debut at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday.
The six-time Gr1 winning SA Horse Of The Year went off at around 9-10, which now looks a tad generous in hindsight.
Champion Captain’s Ransom charges to victory in the hands of Richard Fourie (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
But with bigger fish to fry in the months ahead, and 15 weeks since her last start, there were some doubts whether she would summararily put them to bed.
There were no doubts, however, as Richard Fourie unleashed the Moutonshoek-bred mare at the 300m and she unwound to hit the line full of running to beat Firealley by 2,25 lengths in a time of 83,87 secs.
Winning Form-sponsored Richard Fourie said he had his favourite mare third one off the rail.
“When she tightens up you know it’s game on. Well done to Justin he really does a great job ticking her over like he does. And to Suzette and Basie Viljoen – I know they were watching! And as for her getting the Horse Of The Year title – I’m sort of glad she did,” he laughed.
Justin Snaith described the winner as an amazing filly.
“I thought that was very impressive. It was so quiet at races today – I’m used to her on the big days! She’s incredible and to do what she did to males in a prep race. Who knows where that engine is? She is a one-in-a-million horse! It’s really sad that we never got to take her overseas,” he lamented.
Watch the replay here:
Snaith told the Sporting Post that Captain’s Ransom’s main mission would be the Gr1 Majorca.
“The owners will decide at a later date whether she will take her place in the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate or the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes,” he added.
This was Captain’s Ransom’s 13th win from 16 starts with 3 places. It was a well paid gallop with the R83 125 first cheque boosting her career bank to over R3,1 million.
The Pick 6 pool of R519 217 and the PA total of R266 329 were no great shakes, given the quality of the card on the day. But it is mid-month, and between petrol prices and loadshedding, we are all under pressure and baulked for a run, as it were.
Saturday promises plenty as the Gr2 Cape Punters Cup heads a bumper programme.
