Friday, 28 October 2011: Racing returns to Kenilworth in Cape Town on Saturday, signalling that the Cape Summer Season is now well and truly underway.
 | Delago Deluxe
Photo by Gold Circle | |
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The main race on the card is the R200 000 Grade 3 Cape Classic over 1400m, where a field of nine runners will face the starter.
At first glance it appears to be an easy race with the four top weights all being graded race winners. Three are however coming off layoffs and the fourth, Depardieu has yet to show a return to his two year old form.
The Cape Classic is also a conditions race, giving a weight advantage to horses with less wins under their belt. This could further throw a spanner in works, bringing some up and coming three year olds into the equation.
Unbeaten Australian import,
Delago Deluxe(AUS) has been allocated top weight of 60kg. The son of
Encosta De Lago spent his two year old career in the care of Charles Laird, where he ended the season with a victory in the prestigious Gr1 Gold Medallion over 1200m at Scottsville, in Pietermaritzburg.
Delago Deluxe has since been moved to the Cape stable of champion trainer, Mike Bass. The colt has however been off the track since May and may be in need of the run. Champion jockey Anton Marcus, who is the colt's regular rider, has flown down from Johannesburg, to take the ride.
Delago Deluxe likes to race up with the speed and the weight may start to tell after such a long layoff. His class however could carry him through and he should be there at the finish.
Candice Bass, assistant trainer, commented that while the colt is still an unknown entity, he is working well and a good run is expected.
Another Australian import, Gimmethegreenlight(AUS), will head the trio of entries from the in form Justin Snaith yard. Unbeaten in his first three starts, the son of More Than Ready, then got left in the gate in the Grade 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Greyville in Durban. After entering the home straight last, he managed to finish a creditable fourth, 1.4L off the winner.
In his subsequent and last start he encountered very soft going for the first time in the Grade 1 Premier's Champion Stakes at Greyville, where he finished third, running on strongly at the end. He has the services of stable jockey Richard Fourie and if fit, should be hard to beat.
Snaith also saddles Soweto Slew(AUS), a colt by
Oratorio out of Rose A Slew. The colt won his last start in the Sophomore Sprint when he was held back for the first time. After an initial struggle he settled nicely and showed a tremendous turn of foot in the heavy going to win by 1.25L.
It is the colt's third run after a rest. Sean Cormack takes the ride and if Soweto Slew gets the extra distance, he will be fighting out the finish.
Talented two year-old Depardieu, from the stable of Dean Kannemeyer, has failed to impress on his two starts this season. The son of Du Pont started favourite in the Listed Sophomore Sprint, but failed to run on, finishing fifth behind Soweto Slew.
His only subsequent start was in the Grade 3 Matchem Stakes, where he ran on strongly for third. Regular rider Karl Nesius is back in the saddle and if anything near his two year-old form, he could occupy the number one box.
Dark horse in the race is the third Snaith entrant Great Fox. The Victory Moon colt is well treated at the weights, carrying only 52kg. While it is a step up in class, the experienced Felix Coetzee takes the ride for the first time and the colt could cause an upset.
