3 minute read

Trainer Joey Ramsden wrote another personal chapter in South African racing history on Sunday when he won two Guineas races in 24 hours for the same owners and ridden by the same jockey.

His star Dynasty colt Act Of War returned from a break and made hacks of his opposition to win the R250 000 G3 Winter Guineas at Kenilworth on Sunday, a day after he had won the G2 KRA Guineas at Greyville with The Conglomerate.

Both horses were ridden o ridden by Anton Marcus and are owned by Ingrid and Marcus Jooste.

In 2012 Ramsden’s future international champion Variety Club won both Guineas, ridden by Marcus for the same owners. Variety Club was able to land the double as at that time the two races were run two weeks apart.

Act Of War was making his first appearance since his shock defeat by Ertijaal in the G1 Investec Cape Derby on J&B Met day.

Starting at long odds on, Act Of War bounced keenly from his wide draw in the field of nine and made all in workmanlike style to beat Sail For Gold and Royal Dreamer by 1,25 lengths.

He has now won seven of his nine starts with two placings.

“Job done and I’m happy,” declared Ramsden. “It was a pretty good effort and I wasn’t expecting any more.”

Ramsden and the Jooste’s racing manager Derek Brugman were cagey about future plans for Act Of War and indicated he was far from certain to be set for the Durban July.

“I have learned over the years that it is not fair on a good horse to run from a bad draw if you can help it. If he doesn’t draw well in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge on June 6 he will stay in Cape Town and wait for next season,” Brugman said.

Stable companion The Conglomerate is set to return to Greyville at the end of the month for the Daily News 2000.

“He is a live contender for the Vodacom Durban July and that is his target,”Ramsden said.

“The idea is to get there with as low a penalty as possible.”

Despite reduced numbers in his stable Ramsden continues to hold his own in the top five on the national training premiership with 75 wins and a strike rate that ranks second only to Mike De Kock.

The riding premierships is delicately poised with S’Manga Khumalo leading on 137 wins, three clear of Gavin Lerena with Anthony Delpech and Greg Cheyne on 128 and Piere Strydom on 124.