If Anthony Delpech had not become a jockey he could have found employment as an assassin – figuratively that is. He may have been aboard the 7-10 favourite for the Greyville opener but his plotting the demise of the opposition was as skilled and ruthless as any professional on a roof with a silenced rifle and given yesterday’s strike rate he would have earned a ‘silver baltjie’ had he been a guest of former president PW Botha.

All at sea on debut, Miss Minver had learnt little from the experience and in less capable hands would have blown the odds. But Delpech kept his mount together, trapped market rival Lil Gambler on the rail, got first run and coaxed his mount home.

“She needs more ground,” opined Dean Kannemeyer, a view shared by Delpech. “This was way, way too short. She wants a mile.”

The combination was wide of the mark in the second although it was not tactics but sheer ability on the day that saw Lee’s Star home for Dennis Drier and Sean Veale. Delpech had Rand Hedge challenging hard with a furlong to run but Lee’s Star, in the familiar Braam van Huyssteen silks and here shared by Greg Bortz, kept grinding to pull clear when it mattered.

Justin Snaith, sans the spikey hair of last season, opened his winter account with a double both courtesy of Delpech. Surprisingly Brooklyn Brawler’s name was not among nominations for the Gr2 Canon Guineas but that may change come the supplementary date. “A nice surprise … but where to now I don’t know,” smiled Snaith after the gelded son of Dynasty made things difficult for himself. He always looked to have his race won, a view confirmed by Delpech. “I was going a common half-pace with the favourite in front of me,” he confided but Brooklyn Brawler took exception to the infield TV screen and a fancy to the Greyville Braai Zone.  Fortunately he was well clear of Guineas entries Celtic Captain and Ole Gunnar.

Secret Seven, this time favourite, completed the Snaith stable double in the seventh but not quite according to plan as Delpech found himself in front. “You ride a race according to pace. I didn’t want to be in front but I didn’t want to fight her. If I had fought her we would have got beat.”

None of the field were entries for the Gr2 Daisy Fillies Guineas but again Snaith may be tempted given that Secret Seven finished second to the top rated Nightingale in what Delpech had earlier described as a false run race.

For the past few winters Alyson Wright has hosted a few Cape raiders and she was quick off the mark with Abound West who romped home in the third for owners Lammerskraal.

Ashburton-based Belinda Impey is never one for the spotlight but given the opportunity and the horses and she can get them home like the best of them. It was a close run thing for You Bolt and Sean Veale in the fourth but they got up in the last stride to touch off Roy’s Folly.

 

 

South Paw looked the safest bet on the card and after a scare at the top of the straight when the meat in a closing sandwich, Delpech punched him through to win comfortably for Chris Erasmus and Yellow Star Stud.

Apprentice Lyle Hewitson is likely to ride out his 4kg claim before month end as he rounded off the meeting for Paul Lafferty aboard Auction King. Two months as a professional and 18 winners will see him in a Mercedes sooner rather than later!

 

By Andrew Harrison