Gulf Storm, second in last season’s Tsogo Sun Sprint, is set to have his first race of the campaign in the 1 200m Pinnacle Stakes when racing returns to Kenilworth on Saturday.
But stable companion Captain America, the highest-rated horse in the race, will wait a bit longer despite not having raced since winning the H.F. Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein over six months ago.
Brett Crawford, in double form with the Corne Orffer-partnered Winter Prince and One Away at Durbanville on Saturday, said: “There is another Pinnacle over 1 400m at Kenilworth on October 31 and it’s possible that Captain America could run in that. His mission is the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.”
Ready To Attack’s mission is the Selangor Cup on November 21 after the Langerman winner put his credentials on the table in Saturday’s mile handicap. Bernard Fayd’ Herbe had to get serious with him when his path was blocked but the Australian-bred fairly turned on the tap and came home ears pricked.
Justin Snaith said: “He is going the right way and indeed I would have waited for the Magnum Cape Classic on Saturday but he had a bad draw in that.”
Snaith reckons to run Aspara and possibly the four-time seeking Baritone in the Classic while Krambambuli and Masterly will be his representatives in the Betting World Algoa Cup at Fairview on Sunday.
He said: “I normally take a lot of horses to this Port Elizabeth meeting but I am sending just one load this time. Even so, I think I will have a good weekend.”
Mike Bass, who has won five of the last 13 Cape Classics, will run Ernie and Rodney.
Candice Robinson, after seeing Laurie’s Gold justify favouritism under a determined Grant van Niekerk, said: “We also have Marinaresco in the Cape Classic but he is drawn 45 so he may run instead in the mile handicap where he is well drawn. We run Mountain Master in the Algoa Cup.”
Aldo Domeyer is convinced that Bass would also have won the mile novice plate with Sublime Lady had Darryl Hodgson’s all-the-way neck winner kept straight instead of drifting right and carrying Domeyer’s mount with her.
He promptly lodged an objection for “intimidation by crop and by being carried out.” However this was over-ruled by the stipes who pointed out that under the rules they have to be certain that the second horse would have won had there been no interference and, unlike Domeyer, they were not convinced. The outcome was a change of luck for Chris Puller who has been beset by niggling injuries and was riding only his second winner of the season.
Sean Cormack, on the other hand, is on a Durbanville roll and took his tally to five from the last two meetings by scoring on Make The Magnet for Eric Sands and the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Captain Alfredo.
Six years ago Glen Kotzen won two Grade 1s with Lady Windermere and the mare’s daughter Fantastic Trip filled him with hopes of future glory when running on into third on her debut in the opener, particularly as he also has high hopes for Our Destiny who won the race for his old mentor Ralph Rixon.
– Michael Clower
– Pictured: Captain America (Liesl King)
