Brett Crawford, quizzed a week before yesterday’s Grade 1 World Sports Betting Champions Cup, had all the conversation centred around Captain America. At the conclusion of the interview, he piped up, “don’t forget about my other horse!”
Sail South (Candiese Marnewick)
It was information mostly ignored but Sail South made short work of the opposition, including Captain America, as he stormed to victory over Captain America and Matador Man with the filly Bela-Bela in her swansong kicking on late for fourth. Of last year’s winner Marinaresco, there was no sight.
Bela-Bela eventually started favourite with Captain America friendless in the market, all the money coming for Sail South. From an opening call of 33-1, he jumped at 16-1, and those that followed the money were smiling all the way to the pay-out que.
“I couldn’t understand the betting,” said Crawford. “He was flying in the Queen’s Plate (behind Legal Eagle and Captain America) and was only two lengths off Captain America in the Rising Sun. He was 2 kilos better off at the weights here.”
“I wanted to sit up second or third,” said winning rider Richard Fourie. “It didn’t quite work out as I wanted because Captain America does his fractions quite hard. But I was happy in second. Turning into the straight with three-and-a-half lengths to make up I knew he would get there.”
Captain America (Wayne Marks)
“He’s a strong horse but he’s never had a draw. He was a fit horse today and the stable is on fire.”
Sail South has been a soldier for Crawford, this his ninth win from 37 starts and a fitting win for a horse that has earned in 21 of his races.
Captain America, always suspect over the trip, plugged away in second after being caught wide in the early exchanges while Bela-Bela, backed in to a luke-warm favourite, never threatened. Disappointment was Vodacom Durban July winner Marinaresco. Last for most of the race, he just didn’t fire in the straight and finished with just one behind him.
With the season drawing to a close, Crawford has had the season of his life, this his sixth Grade 1.
Vaal-based trainer Paul Peter had a profitable afternoon, winning the Listed Avontuur Darley Arabian before saddling Fort Ember to an upset victory in the Grade 2 Prosport International Gold Bracelet although the betting told another story. Fort Ember, in from 20-1 to 10-1 before the off, saw Nightingale’s odds drift from an ante-post call of 7-10 to 12-10.
Persian Rug set blistering early fractions and was a spent force early in the straight as the pack closed. Nightingale appeared to be going well enough but once the chips were down she battled to quicken. Fort Ember, on the other hand, found another gear and sped clear to win as she liked with Nightingale edging home ahead of Witchcraft.
By Andrew Harrison
