Drier said that the four-year-old Captain Al gelding had “not put a foot wrong” in his preparation and he expected him to be cherry ripe on the day.
Regarding his draw of nine in the thirteen horse field Drier said, “The jockeys decide which is the best draw as they follow each other like sheep but he is drawn down the middle which is perfect.”
Captain Of All and jockey Sean Cormack (Nkosi Hlophe)
Captain Of All won the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Medallion over 1200m at Scottsville as a two-year-old when showing high cruising speed out in front before kicking away from the field at the business end and staying on well. He only just failed in the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Greyville in his next start, when leading throughout until being caught on the line.
In his first start as a three-year-old over the Kenilworth 1200m he once again showed tremendous cruising speed as well as the ability to find extra off a strong pace when leading from start to finish against some good sorts that included Golden Horseshoe winner Forest Indigo. However, he then had an injury enforced layoff for about 13 months, which included a rest on the farm. He had no major issues and the problem was described as a “little stifle injury and a small joint problem.”
Captain Of All proved in need of his comeback run on December 6 over 1100m at Kenilworth in the Listed Val De Ra Southeaster Sprint as he showed his usual good pace but then faded late.
However, he won the Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over the Kenilworth 1200m next time out on December 27. In the latter race he benefitted from slow fractions set out in front by Happy Forever and was able to steal a march on his main rivals from a handy position. He held on by 0,4 lengths from a flying Copper Parade.
He will be even fitter on Saturday and should be at his best. He hasn’t raced over 1000m since touched off on career debut by the subsequent Gr 1 winner Kochka, but considering his exceptional pace and extra gears he will be a leading contender.
Gathering Fame (Nkosi Hlophe)
The sponsor have priced him up as 5/1 third favourite and his regular pilot Sean Cormack will be aboard from draw nine in the 13 horse field.
Drier has taken home at least one Gr 1 trophy since his regular campaigns to Cape Town began in the 2011/2012 season. One of those trophies was the Cape Flying Championships which he won in 2012 with the brilliant Var filly Val De Ra, who kept the high class What A Winter at bay in a thriller.
This season’s campaign has not gone as well for Drier as usual due to many of his string suffering from travel sickness after arriving.
One of the worst hit was the talented four-year-old Jet Master filly Gathering Fame. However, she finally made her first Cape Town appearance last Saturday and showed a fine burst of speed in the straight to win the Listed Jamaica Handicap over 1700m under MJ Byleveld. This proved that the string were now well and truly over the illness and Captain Of All could be the one to land the Cape Town Gr 1 trophy for Drier this season.
Meanwhile, Drier believes Gathering Fame is “going places” and will map out “a Durban plan” for her.
