What A Winter – Unbeaten over 1200m at Kenilworth
Gr2 Diadem Stakes over 1200m at Kenilworth on Saturday
A race for the connoisseur of the sport of kings, the weight for age Gr2 Diadem Stakes always attracts a top class field, and adding spice to this year’s event is last season’s Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Ebony Flyer, writes Steve Furnish.
One of just two horses to have beaten the all conquering Igugu (Hollywood Boulevard was the other), the only filly in the race Ebony Flyer has tasted defeat just once in seven starts, and that was prior to a nine month layoff in the Gr1 Queen’s Plate. She’s been going from strength to strength since her return in October and although she did have the weights in her favour on both occasions, she did nonetheless win well. On the negative side, she has been reported as making a respiratory noise in each outing since her return in October and having only previously raced over a distance shorter 1400m once when winning over 1000m on debut, she could find today’s trip a bit sharp. Justin Snaith’s charge is usually found racing close to the speed though, and as with her sire Jet Master, some top class horses do perform well when reverting to sprinting. Ebony Flyer has her third run after the rest here and although bigger targets are clearly in mind, she should now be close to her peak. In our book she ran up to her best rating last time out and she could still improve plenty.
What A Winter
The highest rated runner in the field, and indeed best in at the weights is the Western Winter colt What A Winter. One of three runners from the stable of Mike Bass, What A Winter has only been beaten twice in seven starts over sprint distances and one of those defeats was when a runner up to the flying filly Val De Ra in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein in April. What A Winter ran on best of all in that event and after quickly finding himself six lengths adrift, he did very well indeed to get within a length and a quarter of Dennis Drier’s charge at the wire. He couldn’t have been more impressive when winning a pinnacle event with a ton in hand on his seasonal debut last time out and he is yet to be beaten over today’s course and distance. He can still improve plenty and should at least fight it out.
Captain’s Secret
Next highest rated of Mike’s three runners is the 5yo Captain’s Secret. This son of Captain Al showed real potential earlier in his career and he has won three of his seven starts over today’s trip. After picking up a conditions event on his return from a nine month layoff in Oct ’10 though, he’s been unable to find the winner’s enclosure in fourteen starts and interestingly, four of his five career wins have been achieved in soft going. He has nonetheless run some very good recent races in defeat though, most notably when third over today’s distance in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint.
Ebony Flyer has only been beaten once in seven starts.
Delago Deluxe
Making up the trio from the stable of Mike Bass is one of just two 3yo’s in the race Delago Deluxe. The winner of last season’s Gr1 Gold Medallion, Delago Deluxe was unbeaten prior to his third placing to Depardieu in the Gr3 Cape Classic on his return from a five month break in October. He did run very close to his best rating in his first outing for his new stable though and he was all the rage in the ring (4/1 into 22/10) when sent off favorite in the Gr2 Merchants over today’s course and distance last time out. This son of Encosta De Lago has his third run after the rest here and already having a pull at the weights with most, any further improvement is sure to make him a very serious runner.
Splash Gold
Representing the powerful stable of Dean Kannemeyer are both Splash Gold and The Shark.
In command of a fair turn of foot on his day, the Goldkeeper gelding Splash Gold progressed quickly after shedding his maiden tag early last season and amongst his seven successes was victory in the Gr2 Natal Merchants over today’s distance at Greyville. He was reported as not striding out when a five lengths twelfth to August Rush in his final start last season in the Mercury Sprint and was then not seen out until finishing sixth over 1400m in the Matchem. He looked to be coming to hand when running on strongly behind Royal Bounty over 1000m in his penultimate start, but after finishing well down field in the Merchants over today’s trip last time out, one is not quite sure what to expect here.
The Shark
Stable companion The Shark showed flashes of real ability last season and caught the eye in particular when flying up late to beat the duel guineas winner Solo Traveller in a pinnacle event over today’s distance in July. As with Splash Gold though, two of his three outings this season have clearly been below par, and out at the weights with most here, he is not easy to fancy.
Copper Parade
The highest rated of Joey Ramsden’s two runners is the 4yo Copper Parade. A winner of the prestigious Juvenile Stakes (L) over 1000m here back in Jan ’10, this son of Lecture was up there with the best of his generation as a youngster. Since being awarded victory in the Gr1 Golden Horseshoe over 1450m at Clairwood in the steward’s room in that year though, Copper Parade has only managed to find the winner’s enclosure once in fourteen outings. His record over today’s distance doesn’t fair much better having just won one from eight and although he has run some very good races in defeat, a victory here does look unlikely.
Shades Of Indigo
A winner of six of his fourteen starts over today’s course and distance, the grey Shades Of Indigo caused a major upset when winning the Gr2 Merchants over today’s trip in his penultimate start, and he did have a number of today’s runners behind him in that event. Whereas he had to shoulder just 52kg and was fairly treated at the weights there on best form though, Shades Of Indigo is out at the weights with the better runners here and he is well held on his running behind What A Winter on the same terms as they meet here last time out.
Captain Harry
A winner of three of his five outings at this circuit, the lightly raced Captain Harry had been unbeaten over today’s trip prior to finishing a runner up when stepping up in class to contest the Gr2 Merchants last time out and he was only run out of it by the aforementioned Shades Of Indigo in the very last stride. As with the winner of that event though, Captain Harry has a much stiffer task at the weights here and although further improvement could well be forthcoming, a place is perhaps his best hope here.
Posh Josh
The 6yo Posh Josh sprinted well earlier in his career and he has gained three of his seven career victories over 1200m. He is more often than not seen out over further these days though and his latest two successes have both been gained over 1400m. He steps up considerably in class here and out at the weights with most to boot, others are preferred.
Wild Shot
The stable of Stephen Page has been coming to hand nicely in recently meetings and he is represented here by the 6yo Wild Shot. This son of Strike Smartly showed good improvement during the course of last season and he was running on well when only beaten 1,9 lengths by Shades Of Indigo in the Merchants last time out. Wild Shot should now be at his peak having his third run after the rest and further improvement could well be forthcoming. He does face a stiffer task than he did in the Merchants though and once again he will not find it easy to make the frame.
Royal Tribe
Formerly trained by Alan Greeff in Port Elizabeth, Royal Tribe was only beaten 4,5 lengths when third to the very talented Princess Victoria in the listed Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1000m at this circuit last season. He’s proven to be equally effective over today’s distance and he did again catch the eye when easily winning his first start for Ivan Moore over 1200m at Clairwood in August. Royal Tribe has been a little below best in his three subsequent starts though, and having been reported as not striding out in the latest of those, one has to have concerns.
About The Pace
With no out and out front runners in the field there has to be concerns about the pace. Captain Harry does go particularly well from the front though and with a fair number of the runners preferring to race handy, as well as three very important couplings in the race, at least a fair pace should be had. What A Winter has plenty of scope for improvement and with the weights in his favour is an obvious first choice. One has to ask the questions though, just how good is Ebony Flyer? And will she prove equally effective over today’s trip.
