Run Fox Run stole the Winter Classic’s thunder, and had Greg Cheyne dreaming of big race glory, when extending her unbeaten run to four with a display of almost blinding speed in the Olympic Duel Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Run Fox Run stole the Winter Classic’s thunder, and had Greg Cheyne dreaming of big race glory, when extending her unbeaten run to four with a display of almost blinding speed in the Olympic Duel Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday.
The 17-20 shot came out of the pens like a greyhound after a hare and, while she appeared to be doing little more than saunter, nothing was able to get near her as she scorched home five lengths clear.
“Going through the 600, Sceptre Stakes was going through my mind and passing the post I was I thinking ‘I will be at Scottsville next year,’ ” said a thrilled Cheyne. “When the gates opened I had two lengths for nothing, the fractions I set were pretty decent and it’s been a long time since I’ve ridden a horse that can cruise at this speed.”
The Kieswetter family were away at a wedding – how they would have loved this – while for Brett Crawford it was some compensation for a largely frustrating Scottsville. “There is a possibility that she may run in the Champagne on July 27 and after that she will obviously have a break,” he said practically.
Most trainers are equine psychologists to a certain extent but Adam Marcus dedicates as much time to the minds of his charges as a top psychiatrist in the Panorama and he was privately convinced that Vardy’s defeats by One World were due to something other than inferior ability. The Winter Classic proved his point.
“Vardy has a severe parrot mouth and a very soft palate – anything with a link presses on that and is uncomfortable for him so he doesn’t settle,” Marcus explained. “I was convinced he would have beaten One World in the Winter Guineas had he done so.
“I felt the dressage world was the place to look and I found a flexible plastic bit in Italy. I then had to get it passed by the NHA. They only gave me the go-ahead three days before the race.”
Rather than look a fool if it didn’t work, he kept quiet until after the win but he then declared, “It has made the world of difference to the horse.”
“I knew I had One World just before the straight – it was as early as that,” said a delighted Craig Zackey who had to contend with heckling from punters (“mind you keep straight this time”) as he went out on to the course.
One World, who to be fair was conceding 2kg, was beaten two and a quarter lengths. “Beaten by a better horse on the day,” M.J. Byleveld sportingly conceded while Vaughan Marshall will now give the CTS 1600 winner a rest – “He has had a tough season.” The Winter Derby on June 29 beckons for Vardy and his Italian mouthpiece.
That day Helen’s Ideal will bid to complete the fillies Winter Series in the Winter Oaks after adding a hard-fought Stormsvlei Mile to last month’s Sweet Chestnut. “I thought we were in a bit of trouble when I saw her tail swishing,” admitted Paul Reeves who paid tribute to Donovan Dillon for promptly putting his stick down and riding her out with hands and heels.
Breeder Peter de Beyer, who shares ownership with Paul Barrett, believes she will stay the extra 600m “even though she shows so much speed that you always ask yourself.”
The rest of the day belonged to Robert Khathi who landed a treble and Harold Crawford who is battling his way back from his stroke with the help and encouragement of his daughter Michelle Rix. They had an emotional win with Alfred’s Girl (the last horse bred by Gwen Heyns’ late husband Alfred) and followed up with Ready Steady Go –“A rebellious child who gives us all grey hairs.”
By Michael Clower
