Silver Coin will be the subject of considerable attention in the first at Kenilworth today as this Silvano colt is the highest–priced yearling to race in South Africa.
The half-brother to Halve The Deficit attracted some ferocious bidding at last year’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale before the hammer came down at R6 million. The owners are Mayfair Speculators, Sue Magnier, Diane Nagle and D.M. Graham.
Halve The Deficit (Nkosi Hlophe)
But what matters to punters today is whether he will be ready enough to go close first time out. “Yes, I think he will – and I like him a lot,” says Joey Ramsden.
The colt opened 33-10 favourite with World Sports Betting and he has a lot more riding on him than he will have when the gates open at 12.40pm. The Coolmore involvement is of the utmost importance for this country’s racing and breeding industries and it is likely to mushroom if this one proves a star.
So is the trainer feeling under any pressure? “I would feel more pressure if I didn’t have the horse,” answers Ramsden, echoing the response given by Aidan O’Brien when he was asked the same question in his early tentative days at Ballydoyle.
Mind you, Ramsden has been in this position before with Brutal Force who at R4.5 million was the highest-priced of his day and he found one too good for him in his first two races.
Perhaps more significantly not one of Ramsden’s six Cape Town two-year-old winners this season has won first time so, while Silver Coin should go close, it might be prudent to look elsewhere for the winner.
The Barry Burn is Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s first ride since his return from Dubai but Justin Snaith is not optimistic about the 8-1 shot being a winning one. “He is a nice type but this will be a gallop for him,” he says. “I have no gallops at the moment.”
The Brett Crawford-trained Valbonne is a Var colt out of the Prix Du Cap and Final Fling winner Sunsational. He was entered for last year’s National Yearling Sale but was withdrawn. He is joint second favourite at 5-1.
The twice-raced Victorious Captain is also on 5-1. He started favourite last time but was returned shin sore and now wears blinkers. He could be the one.
Herodus, nibbled at from 8-1 to 6-1, is also expected to get into the shake-up despite disappointing when upped to 1 400m last time. “That was too far for him and this time we are going to give him a chance,” says Candice Bass-Robinson.
Whatever Ramsden’s fortunes with Silver Coin he should win the Itsarush.co.za Handicap with the vastly improved Professor Brian who has gone up ten kilos for three straight wins. He gave away a lot of ground at the start last time and didn’t get a clear run so his 2 ¼ length win looks value for more than the 3kg the handicappers put him up. He is favourite at 28-10 and probably has most to fear from Bobby Dazzler (7-2), Greenflashsunset (5-1) and the blinkered 10-1 chance Seven Wood.
By Michael Clower
