Dynamic stays on powerfully to beat Helderberg Blue (Bay Media)
Three popular Cape horseracing men found themselves celebrating an unlikely bond of brotherhood at Kenilworth on Saturday – one that only genuine horseracing folk could possibly relate to.Their Dynasty gelding Dynamic had just written yet another chapter in an enthralling fairytale of recovery from injury as he led all the way to win the R400 000 Vasco Gr2 Premier Trophy under a genius of a ride by Sean Cormack.
Anybody with only a passing knowledge of the game will recognise Dynamic’s owner partnership comprising Hassen Adams, Chris Snaith and Ashraf Mohamed.
Between them they probably have a combined century plus of committed ‘service’ to the industry and the collective belief and expertise is what makes the partnership so powerful.
Beginnings
Hassen Adams originally purchased Dynamic as a 2yo.
After an outstanding second to Capetown Noir in the 2013 Gr1 Investec Cape Derby, he was in the Snaith KZN Champions string as a serious Champions Season 3yo, when fate struck and he did a tendon.
Chris and Justin Snaith – top team
As happens in most happy endings to stories with bad beginnings, the partners recounted in the post-race celebrations on Saturday how Chris Snaith flew up to Durban and gave Dynamic his personal attention.
Snaith, who is a genuine low-profile backroom man said that horses who could stand up for two years after a tendon injury, would not see a recurrence.
“We now only have four months to go,” he enthused
Unbelievable
His son Justin Snaith, who had a great afternoon with a hat-trick of winners, that included the feature double, said the win was ‘unbelievable.’
“He did a severe tendon. I made it public that I was devastated as we had very high hopes for him. We gave Hassen the confidence of our belief in his recovery by taking a share and said there would be no bills. Ashraf also got involved. Dynamic went to Mike Stewart at Noordhoek through his recovery and he has come back strongly. We have been working him hard to get him fit and I just checked the leg after the race to make double sure,” he said happily.
Snaith added that the whole idea this season was to ‘ save’ Dynamic and hide him from the handicappers.
“We saw him this year as our 2015 Durban July horse, particularly if Legislate goes overseas. But that may change now,” he said with a smile in an obvious reference to the J&B Met.
Hassen Adams – elated
Fairytale
Long suffering owner, breeder and racing administrator Hassen Adams said the win was ‘like a fairytale’ and paid tribute to the horsemanship of Chris Snaith.
“Ashraf and Chris are like my brothers – we are always arguing and punting.And Chris got this race wrong – he thought it was too soon for Dynamic!”
Adams added that the July is one race he really wanted to win. He said victory would be even sweeter given the story of Dynamic’s recovery,
In the high of the moment, Adams also added that he felt that Western Cape racing was getting ‘better and better.’
The unassuming Ashraf Mohamed, who said he had come into the winner ‘through the back door’ expressed his sincere appreciation to ‘Hassen and his heart of gold’.
With Punta Arenas bolting in the preliminaries, the field was reduced to nine runners and still on the high of his superb ride to win the Victress Stakes a half hour earlier, Sean Cormack took Dynamic out front to lead the charge, in a bold move, over the 1800m trip.
On the other end of the scale, Corne Orffer dropped the favourite Captain America out to near last.
Gallop To Glory
Into the straight, Dynamic continued to gallop strongly as Power King moved up on his inside looking dangerous.
Inside the final 200m a victory looked on the cards for Dynamic, but Mike Bass’ improved Helderberg Blue had other ideas as he kicked into gear and chipped away at Dynamic’s lead.
But the leader kept going and, try as he might, Helderberg Blue could just not get to him, failing by a head – a disappointment for race sponsor Bryn Ressell, who owns a share in the son of Jet Master.
Dynamic, who started at 12 to 1 (did the brothers not back him?) clocked 114,70 secs for the 1800m. (the time, given Cormack’s tactical ride, was considerably slower than the Victress)
Sean Cormack – another top ride
Winning jockey Sean Cormack controlled the pace beautifully. He said that he settled to lead early and was surprised to see Captain America ‘not anywhere near me.’
He indicated that Dynamic was a versatile horse with a good temperament and that it was a pity that he had injured himself, as he would have had ‘a big season.’
“I let him slide from the 650m and just inside the 400m when I asked him, he really quickened well. I honestly thought he would be hard to beat at that stage. By the time Helderberg Blue got to me I don’t know how much he actually had left himself,” he said.
Surprise
Dean Kannemeyer’s talented Silvano gelding Power King showed that he is no one-off winter wonder, with a cracking effort in third 1,45 lengths behind under top weight. The 4yo underlined the benefit of his recent gelding and can only improve with this effort under his belt. He will line up in the Met.
The surprise of the race was the storming late run of Ken Truter’s favourite son, Johnny Rockets, who finished with a rattle to grab the R20 000 cheque for fourth place under 2 lengths behind.
Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes winner Captain America went off at 12 to 10 but was never in it and finished second last, and 4,45 lengths behind.
The son of Captain Al was fitted with cheek pieces, but that appeared to make little difference. He probably deserves another chance, but could soon find himself demoted to the rank of Private by the punting public at the rate he is battling to win again.
Professional
Punta Arenas was withdrawn before the start after he dumped jockey MJ Byleveld in the pre-race parade and ran loose.
Stan Elley – professional and an example to some of his colleagues
Spare a thought for his trainer Stan Elley. How this seasoned horseman managed to put on a smile and maintain his professionalism in front of the cameras both before and after the race with the disappointment of seeing one of his major Met prospects doing himself no favours is remarkable.
Elley is an example to some of his colleagues – who often seem to think that personal jokes and giggles come across professionally on national television.
Top Horse
The winner Dynamic has run 9 times for 4 victories and 4 places – he has easily surpassed his purchase price and took his stake earnings to R531 685.
The Highlands bred gelding is a very lightly raced 5yo son of Dynasty and is a first foal of the six-time winning Theatrical mare, Lanquid Lady, who was a capable staying sort out of a Gr2 winner in the USA.
Dynamic was signed for by Hassen Adams Racing for R325 000 on the 2011 Emperors Palace National 2yo Sale.
He looks a really exciting horse – and the J&B Met now looks a serious possibility.
And then on to the Vodacom Durban July.
Imagine that after-party!
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Gr2 Vasco Premier Trophy (SAf-Gr2)
Kenilworth, South Africa, December 13, R400k, 1800m, turf, good, 1.54.07
1 – DYNAMIC (SAF), 59.5, b g 5, Dynasty (SAF) – Lanquid Lady (USA) by Theatrical (IRE). Owner Messrs H Adams, A A Mohamed & Chris Snaith; Breeder Highlands; trainer J Snaith; jockey S Cormack
2 – Helderberg Blue (SAF), 59.0, b g 4, Jet Master (SAF) – Our Table Mountain (USA) by Fusaichi Pegasus (USA)
3 – Power King (SAF), 60.0, b g 4, Silvano (GER) – Northern Gale (SAF) by Northern Guest (USA)
Margins: 0.20, 1.25, 0.20
