Klawervlei Stud’s leading sire Captain Al inched ahead in the intriguing race for National Champion sire when his son and daughter, Captain Of All and Carry On Alice respectively, ran one-two in the R750,000 Gr 1 Mercury Sprint at Greyville on Saturday.
The race earned Captain Al R618,750 in total and enabled him to replace Dynasty on top, although the latter stayed in touch on the National log when his son Legislate ran third to earn R75,000.
According to Racegoer’s calculations Captain Al’s earnings for the season after Saturday were R15,769,025 and Dynasty was R357,075 off the pace on R15,411,950. The 2012/2013 season champion sire Silvano was just over R1 million behind the leader on R14,718,512 and Trippi’s expensive purchase into this country is now proving worthwhile as he was next best on R14,098,800.
The seven-times champion sire Jet Master is in fifth place, despite his youngest crop now being three-year-olds, but he is likely too far back on earnings of R11,783,212.
The title is likely to hinge on Super Saturday at Greyville next weekend and Dynasty has a couple of strongly fancied big race runners who could carry him to his first championship.
Captain Al’s chances of winning his first championship could well rest on the shoulders of Disco Al, who is second favourite for the most expensive race of the day, the Gr 1 R1,25 million eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m. Dynasty will be represented in the Gold Cup by Solid Speed, who will likely be a popular pundit’s selection. Silvano has a strong hand in the marathon event too as he will be represented by the reigning Equus Champion stayer Hot Ticket, the ever improving Vino Veritas and the talented three-year-old Balance Sheet. Jet Master has one Gold Cup runner, the Highveld raider Storm Warning.
Justin Snaith said after Saturday’s racing that Legislate would be unlikely to take his place in the Gr 1 R1 million Champions Cup over 1800m, but Dynasty will still have the likely favourite in the race, Futura. Silvano will have a strong hand in this race too with Punta Arenas and Ice Machine. Trippi and Jet Master each have one runner, Afrikaburn and Helderberg Blue respectively. Captain Al on the other hand will be empty-handed.
The Gr 1 R600,000 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m will give Captain Al a chance to bolster his earnings as he will be represented by Captain’s Causeway, who won easily on debut over 1200m but now has a wide draw to overcome. His Trippi stablemate Escape Route is drawn in pole position, but looks quite exposed. Dynasty, Silvano and Jet Master are empty-handed in this race.
Trippi has a fair chance in the Gr 1 R600,000 Thekwini Stakes with Old Em, who has struck as a sort with some ability and who could enjoy this step up in trip despite being out of quite a speedy mare. Silvan Jazz represents Silvano, but looks to have a mountain to climb on the bare form. Dynasty, Captain Al and Jet Master are not represented in this race.
The Gr 2 R350,000 Gold Bracelet sees the classy Jet Master mare Jet Belle defending her crown and he also has Gathering Fame in the race. Silvano is represented by a typically progressive sort, Gallica Rose, and the other three contenders for the National Sires title are all empty-handed.
The topweight for the Listed R150,000 Darley Arabian to be run on the polytrack is the talented Trippi gelding Night Trip, Jet Master has two runner MLJet and Mountain Master, and It Is Written will give Dynasty a good chance of increasing his earnings.
The joint-topweight for the Listed Umgeni Handicap over 1000m on the poly is the Captain Al gelding Barbosa. Trippi will have a fair chance with Tiger Territory, who won over course and distance last time out.
The title looks likely to be fought out by Captain Al and Dynasty, but Silvano also has a shout if his Gold Cup and Champions Cup runners dominate the finish. It could yet go right down to the wire.
By David Thiselton
Picture of Captain Al supplied by Freemanstallions
