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The Justin Snaith-trained It’s My Turn carried the familiar black and red maltese cross silks of prominent owner Fred Crabbia to an upset victory in the R1 million Investec Cape Derby (2000m) at Kenilworth on Saturday.
It’s My Turn’s boom stablemate Black Arthur started the race favourite but could finish only fourth.
The race was controlled in the early stages by the Kemal Kavur who went to a 3L lead taking the field down the back straight and around the wide turn for the 700m run home. Star Chestnut was second with Liege third.
It's My Turn and jockey Pierre Strydom were in the rear half of the field racing three wide with Strydom having to work to keep the Dynasty colt on the pace.
From the 500m Strydom allowed It’s My Turn to drift wide and eventually they were racing on the outside rail.
With 300m to run Kemal Kavur still had a 3L lead but the early pace started to tell and It’s My Turn surged to the lead with 200m to run. The rest of the field were feeling the distance while in front It’s My Turn went away have a clear 2L margin at the line.
Brazuca (AUS) (Teofilo) was second with Marinaesco (Silvano) third with margin 2 1/2L. The time was 2.04.03 on the Good rated track. It’s My Turn was 16/1.
“There was a head cross wind and the only horse giving me cover started moving out and so I thought so often on the outside they win and I just let him drift across and he went well,” said Strydom.
“I am very happy because I thought I was going to ride Black Arthur and he went really good race last time so this is a nice cheery on the top.“It was a nice clip but he was travelling quite hard. I kept on trying to settle him but he was giving me a hard time. As I said there was a bit of a head cross wind and it seemed to be in his favour,” he said.
Strydom explained that after he was take off the ride of Black Arthur he was going to ride another stablemate Prince Of Wales and then when that horse was scratched he had the ride on It’s My Turn.
Crabbia, who raced the champion Singapore sprinter Rocket Man, told the story of the name for the colt came from his grandchildren with one always calling out that ‘it is my turn’.
With the South African traditional of naming yearlings bloodstock agent John Freeman contacted Crabbia to tell him of the yearling named It’s My Turn and Crabbia gave the instructions to buy the horse.
“It certainly helps when you have Pierre and you could say he was on the second choice in the race but it does not mean that and you have a very good chance with him,” said Snaath.
“I just want to say thank you to Investec on an amazing day, also to Markus (Jooste) and Bernard Kantor and all the people from Investec from all around the world and here in Cape Town. It is a big effort thy have put into this here and obviously in the UK so just really proud to win their race.
“There is no one who deserves this race more than Fred, he puts so much into this industry and he is always there every year. So really well one to him, to Jane who pre-trained him, to John who purchased him at the sales, well done to all of you,” he said.
It’ My Turn, a gelding by Dynasty out of the Jallard mare Jallad’s Queen, was winning for the second time from just five starts. The win earned a stake of R625,000.
