The Count Dubois filly Cuvee Brut confirmed her bright promise with a resounding victory in the R250 000 Vasco Gr3 Prix Du Cap at Kenilworth on Saturday to bring the curtain down on the Cape Summer Of Champions season.
Anton Marcus keeps Cuvee Brut focussed as she draws clear to win the Gr3 Prix Du Cap (Pic – Wayne Marks)
Kenilworth was humming with a happy summer’s day crowd, some out for the racing, most there for the prawns – and a good vibe prevailed on track, without the music – as so aptly summed up by trainer Andre Nel, after he had saddled Hoist The Sail to win the fourth.
The Brett Crawford trained Cuvee Brut added to the festivities, proving a popular winner in the hands of visiting jockey Anton Marcus.
Brett Crawford – feature double
Thirteen runners lined up in the very competitive 1400m race, with Cuvee Brut hogging the limelight, after two excellent Gr2 sprint placings – and her first stakes win looked overdue.
Marcus endured a fairly frustrating afternoon, with his five relatively fancied rides producing just the one winner – but he was at his clinical best on the Brett Crawford charge, who jumped from a two draw and looked relaxed in midfield.
We were to learn after the race that Cuvee Brut was not keen to corner and was trying to run out in the straight, but Marcus really made it all look so easy.
After Acaciawood had led them for home, Grant Van Niekerk sent Come Fly With Me forward, with Cuvee Brut perfectly placed from her midfield position and starting her run down the centre.
The Count Dubois filly came forward powerfully inside the 250m marker as the improved Petty Officer made a bold bid, with Flying Ice staying on powerfully late.
At the post the 18-10 Cuvee Brut was full of running to score an easy win by 1,25 lengths in a time of 85,71 secs.
KZN stakes winner Flying Ice flew late to grab second and deny the aspirations of Petty Officer, who earned herself some small black-type with a gutsy effort.
The winner’s stablemate Alexis was also one of the few that got going too late, but managed to secure fourth and was only 2,40 lengths behind.
Anton Marcus – made it look so easy
According to Marcus, Cuvee Brut should stay 1600m and that gives the Crawford team some nice options in advance of the KZN Champions Season.
The 4yo, who races for her trainer’s wife Jill, and Mark Wright, will spend a few weeks on the farm before travelling up the coast to Summerveld in March.
The Gary Player Stud-bred Cuvee Brut is by Count Dubois out of the two-time winning Aristis mare, Lemonzest.
She was acquired for a bargain R65 000 on the 2013 Emperors Palace National 2yo Sale and took her earning, with a paddock value boosting stakes victory, to R477 925.
She has won 5 races with 4 places from 12 starts and looks to have plenty to come.
This was the first leg of a winning feature double for Crawford, with Big Cat proving slightly less popular with the punting public when romping home two races later to win the Cape Mile.
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Gr3 Prix Du Cap (SAf-Gr3)
Kenilworth, South Africa, February 20, R250k, 1400m, turf, good, 1.25.71
1 – CUVEE BRUT (SAF), 57.0, b f 4, Count Dubois (GB) – Lemonzest (SAF) by Aristis (USA). Owner Mrs J Crawford & Mr M C Wright; Breeder Gary Player Stud; trainer BJ Crawford; jockey A Marcus
2 – Flying Ice (SAF), 53.5, b f 3, Go Deputy (USA) – Strawberry Ice (SAF) by Western Winter (USA)
3 – Petty Officer (SAF), 57.0, b m 5, Royal Air Force (SAF) – Petria (SAF) by Fort Wood (USA)
Margins: 1.25, 0.75, 0.40
