There was some top-class racing at Greyville yesterday with at least three winners giving notice that they are top drawer, but they were all over-shadowed in a lowly MR Handicap over 3000m as Run Rhino Run turned in a stunning performance.
Seemingly out of control as the small field hit the first turn, Kom Naidoo’s runner cornered wide and if not for the outside fence would probably have been racing up Florida Road.
The balance of the riders seemed unconcerned as they kept in a tight bunch on the inside rail while Run Rhino Run continued to increase his lead no matter that he was running twice the distance.
Nearly a furlong-and-a-half clear turning for home, there was very little chance of Run Rhino Run being caught and he went to the line with an official 19 lengths to spare.
Run Rhino Run (Candiese Marnewick)
It was hardly the stuff of Secretariat in his famed Belmont Stakes romp, the official time being way outside the course record, but it was still something of a bizarre race.
Given Run Rhino Run’s antics, the other riders can possibly be forgiven for thinking that he would compound. On the other hand their pace was little more than a steady canter so there should be some questions asked.
The Sean Tarry machine is starting to kick into gear and the champion trainer will have been well satisfied with the performance of Captain And Master in the Progress Plate. Unlucky behind stable companion Purple Diamond in the Gr.2 Golden Horseshoe on July day and a beaten favourite in the Gr.1 Premier’s Champion Stakes, he put his marker down in his seasonal debut scooting home comfortably ahead of the highly rated Red Chestnut Road and the luckless filly Dawn Calling.
Dean Kannemeyer has had a quiet couple of seasons by his standards but the wheel appears to be turning. Last Winter gave notice that he could be a force to be reckoned with this Cape season when keeping his clean sheet at Durbanville on Saturday and Hastagyolo also sent out a strong message in the KZN Fillies Guineas Trial. Anthony Delpech had no hesitation in taking his mount to the front and there she stayed, holding on comfortably from Fiorella who tired her heart out in second ahead of Roy’s Riviera.
Paul Gadsby has a smart filly in Vision To Kill as the home-bred daughter of Kildonan was given a smart ride by apprentice Ashton Arries, scything though the middle of the pack to win well. Neptune’s Rain found the 1000m trip a touch on the short side but was doing her best work late and is one for the notebook when she goes a furlong further.
It’s not often that a trainer puts a horse on diet, “but he gets fatter after every race,” said Louis Goosen of Doing It For Dan. “Just now he won’t be able to fit into the starting stalls,” he said. The gelding did it for Goosen yesterday, winning his tenth race from 44 starts from Redcarpet Captain and top weight London Call in the Pinnacle Stake sprint.
By Andrew Harrison
