“A July horse in a maiden field,” is a big statement by any stretch of the imagination but if you are an owner who likes to rough up the ‘old enemy’ then it’s music to your ears. Popular owner Alesh Naidoo is no friend of the bookmakers and Duncan Howells gave him all the confidence in the opener at Greyville yesterday and the confidence was not misplaced.
Roman Emperor (Candies Marnewick)
Recently signed up stable rider Keagan de Melo had favourite Roman Emperor in the box seat throughout and quickened up the inside rail to win comfortably in spite of racing green.
This may not have been the strongest of maiden fields but Roman Emperor won as the stable expected. “He has lots of scope to improve,” said Howells post-race. “He was still green on the turn and Keagan said he wasn’t travelling.”
De Melo has recently signed on as stable rider to Howells who is notoriously difficult to please. “Jockey’s don’t last long with me,” Howells quipped post-race. “Anton (Marcus) and Anthony (Delpech) have done well for me but both are contracted to top stables and I need a jockey who can give me a length or two advantage.”
With most trainers in Cape Town attending the CTS Yearling Sales where Saturday’s top price was R6million paid by Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier, it was left to the assistants to fill in. Vuzi Ndlovu has been with Paul Lafferty from his days in Ashburton and was on hand to saddle a treble for the yard, all ridden by apprentice Diego De Gouveia.
Tropical Blow was followed up in the very next by Roy’s Strike Force and the Lafferty-stable treble was completed with La Gitanila finishing with a wet sail to land the seventh.
It was not a day for backers of favourites as Hot Chilli (10-1) gave apprentice Sandile Mbhele the second winner of his career for Garth Puller. The former top jockey a mentor for many a young apprentice.
Duncan Howells was assistant to top trainer David Payne before the latter up-staked and moved to Australia and Gavin van Zyl, who had recently taken out his trainer’s license, was quick to snaffle up Opensea Mhlamvu, Payne’s long-time head groom who had a wealth of experience behind him.
With Van Zyl in Cape Town, Mhlamvu did the honours yesterday as Paint The Way saw off the fancied runners in the second.
By Andrew Harrison
