The Drakenstein Stud owned and bred Clouds Unfold became the first filly to win the R200 000 Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery in a decade when she produced a double for her sire as she trounced the boys at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Aldo Domeyer and Clouds Unfold are well ahead of the pack (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Drakenstein based What A Winter also produced both winners of last year’s Cape Nurseries, with Magical Wonderland and Dutch Philip coming out on top.
And it was Candice Bass-Robinson who was the trainer on Saturday again – even though her duo of Nous Voila and Santa Clara had no answers for the Kotzen’s Coral Bay in the fillies event a half hour earlier.
Clouds Unfold, a winner of 2 of her 3 starts, was trying the 1200m for the first time and made no mistakes, dealing her six male opponents a galloping lesson.
Allowed to relax at the rear early on by Aldo Domeyer, the 2-1 Clouds Unfold was brought into the lead at the 200m and went on powerfully to hold off a late dash from recent Snaith maiden winner Seventh Sea by 3 lengths in a time of 75.05 secs.
Clouds Unfold is led in by Kevin Sommerville, Gaynor Rupert and Candice Bass-Robinson (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Although well beaten, the runner-up ran on well in the hands of Ryan Munger and has continued to improve nicely.
Mr Crumford stopped late top run a 4,25 length third, with recent winner Watch Me Dad game in fourth.
The 17-10 favourite Arabian Air ran an inexplicably poor race to finish last. The Stipes report will tell us more.
Clouds Unfold’s pedigree is an interesting mixture of speed and stamina.
A daughter of Equus champion sprinter What A Winter (Western Winter), she is out of Montelissima, a Montjeu half-sister to Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes winner Arria and Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes third Pivotal Pursuit.
The winning team (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Clouds Unfold’s second dam Issa is a full-sister to unbeaten Yorkshire Oaks winner Catchascatchcan, dam of Breeders’ Cup Mile winner and former Highlands Stud sire Antonius Pius.
She has won 3 races from 4 starts for stakes of R233 125.
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Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery (SAf-Gr3)
Kenilworth, South Africa, June 9, R200k, 1200m, turf, soft, 1.15.05
1 – CLOUDS UNFOLD (SAF), 57.5, ch f 2, What A Winter (SAF) – Montelissima (IRE) by Montjeu (IRE). Owner Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert); Breeder Drakenstein Stud; trainer C Bass-Robinson; jockey A Domeyer
2 – Seventh Sea (SAF), 60.0, b g 2, Seventh Rock (AUS) – Schism (SAF) by Count Dubois (GB)
3 – Mr Crumford (SAF), 60.0, b c 2, Jackson (SAF) – Sovereign Flo (SAF) by Captain Al (SAF)
Margins: 3.00, 1.25, 1.75
