The Ridgemont Highlands long-term investment in high-quality international and local bloodlines is paying speedy dividends.
The Robertson-based team celebrated a prestigious Gr2 exacta at Kenilworth on Saturday when the lightning fast Aussie-bred Kitty Kat Chat held on to beat her year older local stablemate Capitana in a thrilling finish to the WSB Live Casino Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes.
With the instantly recognisable dark green, blue and white silks being carried in a three-pronged attack in the 1000m feature, it was Brett Crawford stable rider Luyolo Mxothwa who found himself riding Press Statement’s daughter Kitty Kat Chat, ahead of Ridgemont jockeys Anton Marcus (Capitana) and Greg Cheyne (Iris).
Luyolo Mxothwa has Kitty Cat Chat in front as Anton Marcus drives Capitana up the outside in a thriller (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Jumping smartly and opting to let them come and fetch him into the teeth of a headwind, Mxothwa did some astutely calculated tactical low-flying on the speed queen, whose last run, after three impressive wins from her first three starts, was clearly not her effort.
Trainer Brett Crawford confirmed that, saying that Kitty Cat Chat had excuses there, with her prep and nothing going right.
While Capitana was a deserving favourite, Kitty Cat Chat clearly held the speed edge over the minimum trip and she was on her a-game on Saturday to register an early black type strike.
Despite Capitana (4-1) and Santa Maria (8-1) launching threatening late challenges, Kitty Cat Chat (16-1) was equal to the challenge and she held on to win by 0,20 lengths in a time of 58,73 secs.
Santa Maria (8-1) flew late to grab third a further 0,20 lengths back in third, with the visiting Azzie team celebrating their campaign with Sweet Future (16-1) running fourth, and under a length off the winner.
Craig, Ross & Mum Belinda Kieswetter enjoy the Gr2 success (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Bred by Ridgemont in Australia, the winner is by Vinery Stud’s dual Gr1 winner Press Statement (Hinchinbrook) out of the eight-time winning Fast N Famous mare Whats New Pussycat, a half-sister to Winter Challenge winner Seaway
Kitty Cat Chat has won 4 of her 5 starts for stakes of R214 975.
With Craig, Ross and Belinda Kieswetter on course, Saturday proved a good day at the races, with another Ridgemont Australian-bred in Snitzel son Real Gone Kid beating SA’s highest-rated sprinter Rio Querari to win the Pinnacle Stakes eighth race.
While fitness may have counted in his favour, Real Gone Kid probably gets the blinkers back on as he heads towards the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship on Cape Met day, 29 January 2022. His presence certainly adds to the interest.
OFFICIAL RESULT
| TRAINER | JOCKEY | DISTANCE | BETTING | |||
| 1ST | 8 KITTY CAT CHAT (AUS) | B Crawford | L Mxothwa | 16/1 | ||
| 2ND | 3 CAPITANA | B Crawford | A Marcus | 0.20 | 0.20 | 4/1 |
| 3RD | 11 SANTA MARIA | C Bass-Robinson | K de Melo | 0.20 | 0.40 | 8/1 |
| 4TH | 2 SWEET FUTURE | M Azzie/A Azzie | B Fayd’Herbe | 0.40 | 0.80 | 14/1 |
| 5TH | 7 FAVORITA | SJ Snaith | R Khathi | 0.40 | 1.20 | 33/1 |
| TIME OF RACE: 58.73 sec | ||||||
| Tote
Fav |
3 CAPITANA | B Crawford | A Marcus | 0.20 | 4/1 | |
