Aldo Domeyer steers Dynastic Power to victory in the Winter Derby (Bay Media)
One man’s meat is another man’s poison! While Dean Kannemeyer watched his Triple Crown dreams go up in smoke at Kenilworth on Saturday, Phillipi trainer Stan Elley celebrated a glorious victory in the R250 000 Gr3 Winter Derby and pocketed what could be a telling omen for his Vodacom Durban July hopes this Saturday.
Stan Elley has his aspirations of a first Vodacom Durban July win riding on the back of the Silvano gelding Punta Arenas and it may prove significant that Punta Arenas won the very same Winter Derby two years ago.
For Elley, Saturday’s slow run tactical race proved a major highlight and a magical mission accomplished on a day to remember.
But the pre-race hype was all about the Khaya Stables-owned Power King who won the first two legs of the Winter Series in style and looked to be on track to collect the cash bonus of R250 000 and become only the second horse since Pocket Power to win the Triple Crown.
With Paolo carting them along at a snail’s pace, MJ Byleveld took the East Cape Derby winner Desert Swirl around his field to speed matters up at the 1300m.
Desert Swirl led Paolo and Manx Missile into the home straight with Power King about eight lengths back and it was hardly surprising that Neisius ran into traffic problems before finding an opening.
Desert Swirl faded quickly as Paolo and Dynastic Power came forward strongly with Power King weaving through.
At the 200m marker Dynastic Power had bolted and it was race over as Aldo Domeyer turned to glance over his shoulder as he hit the line 1,25 lengths in front of the gallant Kannemeyer runner, who was caught-flatfooted at a crucial stage. He was not disgraced though but may be at his best over 2000m.
Dynastic Power won in a time of 157, 48 secs, with the standard time being 154,32 secs.
Stan Elley on track for the July after his Derby win at Kenilworth on Saturday
With the Kannemeyer-trained Power King backed into odds on to emulate the feat of the legendary Pocket Power, Dynastic Power was allowed to start at what was to prove a rather generous 11 to 2 for his supporters and the rest of the world who listened to Elley.
Paolo stayed on well for third, while Desert Swirl needs more of a stamina test that what he got today and plodded into fourth after being backed from 8’s into 9 to 2.
Helderberg Blue ran fifth and was a terrible disappointment again. He must surely have run out of excuses.
Dynastic Power has now won from 1200m to 2400m and was registering his third win from 9 starts with 4 places.
He was placed in both previous legs of the Winter Series with a fourth in the Guineas and a second-placing in the Classic. He has the distinction of having won from 1200m to 2400m.
Dynastic Power was bred by Highlands and is by Dynasty out the one-time winning Royal Prerogative mare, Crimson Lily. She is a prolific producer of winners. Dynasty also sired the winner of the Winter Oaks which was run a half hour earlier.
Dynastic Power was purchased for R500 000 on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1.
In an interview with the Sporting Post on Thursday, Elley proved to be spot-on with his assessment of the Derby:
“Because of Red Badge, I’ve looked at all of Crimson Lily’s progeny since and Dynastic Power was the first one I’ve liked. I saw him and knew I just had to have him. It was a bit of a struggle to put him together, but we got there in the end. Both Red Badge and his other half-brother, Ravishing excelled over the Derby trip, so we’ve kind of been waiting for this race, because we think he’ll be at his best over this distance. We are very, very pleased with how he’s going. Aldo’s been down and he’s been delighted with his work. We’re drawn 4 which is just about ideal, I just hope we don’t have too much more rain as I don’t think anybody wants a mud bath – we just want a level playing field. It will obviously be great to see Power King trying to equal Pocket Power’s record, but we’ll be out there doing our best!”
Red Badge (by Badger Land) actually ran third twice in the Vodacom Durban July. That was in 2003, behind Dynasty and in 2004 behind Grey’s Inn. He retired in 2006.
Well done Stan. Hard luck Dean. We will see plenty of both these 3yo’s next season.
