Masterful trainer Dennis Drier and leading owner Markus Jooste were once again to the fore at the country’s biggest sprint meeting at Scottsville on Saturday and combined for two more Gr 1s.

Klawervlei Stud, part-owned by Jooste, bred two of the day’s Gr 1 winners while their leading stallion Captain Al was sire of two Gr 1 winners and their new kid on the block Seventh Rock produced a second successive winner of the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion. Seventh Rock in 2007 became the first of six wins Jooste has had in this race and the first of five for his retained jockey Anton Marcus.

Drier has also won six Gold Medallions and has won five of the last six Renewals, including the last four in succession. The last three of those, Captain Of All, Guiness and Saturday’s winner Seventh Plain all ran in the Jooste silks and the last two were ridden by Marcus.

On Saturday Captain Of All, a strapping four-year-old Riverton Stud-bred colt by Captain Al, joined greats like J J The Jet Plane to have won the Gr 1 Tsogo Sprint over 1200m with top weight. It was Drier’s first win of this race, but Jooste was winning it for the fourth year in succession.

Jockey Cormack described Captain Of All as a clever racehorse and even when Barbosa had come alongside 800m out he had not overreacted, so he was still able to power up the hill with 60kg on his back and win comfortably at odds of 7/2.

Gulf Storm did well to finish second having been punished nine points for winning the Listed In Full Flight Stakes. Sheik’s Brashee was the unlucky horse in the In Full Flight Stakes, but consequently received no merit rated raise and duly finished a fine third at odds of 33/1. Three-year-old Bichette was the only filly in the race and ran a cracker off a 108 merit rating to clinch fourth ahead of second favourite Willow Magic.

The race was marred by a delayed start after Brutal Force had kicked the gate and been vet-checked for as a consequence many horses had to stand in their gates for a long time. Furthermore, Chekilli had to be euthanized after breaking down in the running.

The merit of Captain Of All’s victory was enhanced by him having to come from a tricky draw of nine, while the other earners were drawn favourably in the four lowest numbered barriers. Captain Of All came back bigger and better after missing most of his three-year-old season and Cormack rates him the best sprinter in the country, especially over 1200m. Over the tough Kenilworth 1000m he failed by a whisker to catch three-year-old filly Alboran and was defeated comfortably by the latter in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint over the quick Turffontein 1000m.

Jooste’s racing manager Derek Brugman said Captain Of All would likely become Captain Al’s first son at stud next season, so his swansong could be in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m at Greyville, depending on the draw he lands.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Captain Of All (Liesl King)