The cheek pieces will be fitted to Captain America – back to the heroics on Saturday?
Brett Crawford’s frustrating ‘Superhero’ Captain America dons his cloak at Kenilworth today and looks to have a great opportunity to bury the excuses and end his year- long win drought. The son of Captain Al faces nine rivals in the R400 000 Vasco Gr2 Premier Trophy and, on paper at least, looks to have a decent winning chance.
Popular local owner Bryn Ressell has come to the party again for Kenilworth Racing in a slightly different form.
Sponsor
The Gr 2 Premier Trophy undergoes a brand change from the traditional Calulo label and the race now carries the name of the long-suffering and passionate racing man’s popular Green Point restaurant and pub, the Vasco da Gama Tavern, a longstanding landmark on the Cape Town social scene.
Ressell has hedged his sponsorship bet somewhat and part –owns two serious contenders in Helderberg Blue and Paterfamilias. But more about those two later.
There will be plenty of interest in this race as all of the ten horse field are Met entries.
Hero
Brett Crawford – can he put the Captain back on the winner’s board?
Now a 4yo, the talented Captain America won the inaugural Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes in November last year when downing the smart Red Ray with a sizzling exhibition of galloping.
That was sadly to be his last win, although his interim performances have not been half bad.
He subsequently was runner-up in both the Cape Guineas and Cape Derby, grabbed a third in the KRA Guineas and a fourth in the Daily News. His only unplaced effort was 5,70 lengths back in the July.
Interesting all of his last five runs have been won by Legislate, so the fellow keeps good company!
He came back from a post July four moth break when showing plenty of interest before fading and tiring to run a five length fourth to Legislate.
The run would have brought him on and he will enjoy this trip more at this stage.
Hardknocker
Stan Elley’s Silvano gelding Punta Arenas could be the value horse
Stan Elley’s Punta Arenas is a good hardknocking sort who dropped right out when finishing 12 lengths behind Legislate in the Gr2 Green Point Stakes.
Technically, he is held by the Captain on that run, but has produced enough quality performances to suggest that as a fitter horse, he is much better than that.
Dean Kannemeyer saddles the Silvano gelding Power King, who was a Winter Triple Crown candidate until Stan Elley’s Dynastic Power emerged from nowhere to beat him in the Winter Derby.
Power King has had two decent return runs and is a half kilo better off with Helderberg Blue, who has proven his nemesis twice recently.
There is no secret that Power King represents Dean Kannemeyer’s chief Met hope and he is a lightly raced 4yo who would have benefitted with an ‘easier’ 3yo season than many of his contemproraries.
Regular pilot Karl Neisius rides him from a 2 draw and while not well in with some of the others, he can be expected to put in a decent showing off a nice pace.
Snaith Quartet
Justin Snaith – a strong hand
Justin Snaith has a very strong hand in pure numbers saddling four of the ten runners..
Jockey choice suggests that True Master may be the best of the quartet.
The 5yo son of Jet Master has recaptured his earlier promise, winning two of his last three starts, but ran unplaced in this race behind the brilliant Master Of My Fate last year.
He still needs to show he is up to banging about at these terms at this level.
But the lightly raced Dynamic has done little wrong, winning his opening two starts after a very long rest.
Narrow Win
His supporters suffered minor heart failure last time when he managed to beat Solar Star by a diminishing short head.
We can probably attribute that less than impressive effort to a second run after a rest slump and he could make it a hat-trick here.
His brilliant storming effort behind the now retired Capetown Noir in the 2013 Cape Derby is still fresh in the memory.
Bernard Fayd’Herbe rides the Silvano 4yo Arion, who comes off a marginally disappointing run when fifth behind Disco Al in the Algoa Cup.
His 2,75 lengths third behind legislate in the Cape Derby showed his potential and he jumps from a favourable 1 draw.
The fourth of the Snaith runners is Johnny Rockets, a fairly consistent sort who could struggle at this level.
Bass Duo
Mike Bass – has two here and looking for a big effort from Helderberg Blue
Mike Bass saddles the recently improved Helderberg Blue and Paterfamilias, who returns from a 52 week break and a win for either would be a major boon for the race sponsor.
Helderberg Blue has won his last two on the trot and he finished with a flourish last time to beat Grey’s Inn and Power King last time.
He goes up a half a kilo with the latter and appears to be maturing after gelding and putting his behavioural issues behind him.
Paterfamilias ran third behind Master Of My Fate in this race last year, but has not run since.
Tarry Attacks
Gold Onyx – arrives in Cape Town as a 7yo
Sean Tarry saddles the hardknocking Gold Onyx, who is a versatile 7yo and makes his first appearance in the fairest Cape.
The son of Black Minnaloushe is generally known as a Greyville specialist and had commendable Champions Season form as a late 6yo.
He ran third behind Master Sabina in the Gr3 tabgold 2200 and then flew late to be beaten just over a half a length behind Wavin’ Flag in the Gold Cup.
He looks handicapped to run a decent race and Sean Tarry knows how to win away from home.
Set For Met
So it looks a tough little race. There is plenty to play for with the majority of them looking at booking a Met berth.
Captain America looks set for a change of luck, but he will have to be at his best to hold the likes of Punta Arenas and the exciting lightly raced Dynamic.
Then Power King is held in high esteem by his connections as is the costly Jet Master gelding Helderberg Blue.
