Class vs stamina key for Cape Derby

THE Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby over 2 000m at Kenilworth on Saturday could have class versus stamina as its chief protagonists.

Table Bay, an Australian-bred by Redoute’s Choice, is merit rated seven points higher than any other runner on 107. He has class, a beautiful action and a fine turn of foot.

He does have a speedy pedigree, but milers are able to win this race if they have the class, with Capetown Noir being a good example. They would be ridden cold to do so and this is an unlikely scenario with this horse as his good gate speed and big action has taken him to the front over shorter.

Winter Is Coming

From a draw of two he could end up sitting behind the frontrunning sort Winter Is Coming, drawn wide. Anton Marcus will have to be at his best to keep enough in reserve for this highly regarded horse.

Edict Of Nantes stayed on from well back in the Grand Parade Cape Guineas to be beaten 0,6 lengths by pace setter Table Bay. He beat Table Bay when running on strongly from near last in the Selangor Cup, also over 1 600m. There is speed in his female line and his sire Count Dubois was a miler, but the latter has produced an SA Oaks winner and a Daily News 2 000 winner in French Navy.

On running style Edict Of Nantes looks likely to stay the trip on this course and should be involved in the finish.

Elevated is out of sprinter by Spaceship but is by SA Derby winner Elusive Fort and on his Cape Guineas run, when widely drawn and staying on well from a handy position he should enjoy this trip. This nice type should be right there from a good draw.

Horizon

Horizon impressed in the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1 800m when relaxing in the running, quickening and staying on to the line. He should improve being a Candice Bass-Robinson-trained son of Dynasty. He is out of a sister to Silvano, so should relish the trip and is drawn in pole.

Australian-bred Zodiac Ruler was caught wide in the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas. He had earlier plugged on in the Lanzerac Ready To Run over 1 400m to finish midfield. He was a winner of the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe at Greyville over 1 400m and also quickened when second in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1 600m.

His sire Zoffany has sired a Prix d’le Arc de Triomphe winner, Rail Link, but his damline is speedy and his dam is a half-sister to the champion sprinter Laisserfaire. There must be a slight stamina doubt for this good looking, robust sort.

Australian-bred Newlands looked unlucky last time out over 1 800m in the Gr 3 Cartier Politician Stakes as he took a while to find a split and by the time he had done so Horizon had taken a few lengths. He closed in late to be beaten at level weights by 1,25 lengths. He is by Epsom Derby winner High Chapparal and his dam, who over 1 600m, is a half-sister to a Champion Twoyear-old colt in Australia, Vancouver, who won the Gr 1 Golden Slipper. Therefore, his pedigree looks to be ideal for this course and distance. He draw of six should be favourable for his slow starting, hold up style.

KZN raider Winter Is Coming kept on finding extra in a Progress Plate over 1 400m on the Greyville poly last time to repel the much touted 104 merit rated Red Chesnut Road, although he was receiving 4kg and the latter was returning from an eight month layoff. He will relish the step up in trip. He is by Western Winter and is out of a half-sister to Sansui Summer Cup runner up Deo Juvente, while his champion grandam Circle Of Life is a half-sister to J&B Met winner Zebra Crossing. He is a laid back type, who likes to run from the front and a tongue tie helped him last time.

Ollivander is a rangy, longstriding sort who will be improving all the time. This is especially as he is a Bass-Robinson-trained son of Silvano. He stayed on to be beaten two lengths by stablemate Horizon in the Politician Stakes.

He is now 3kg worse off with the latter and is drawn ten out of ten, so has it all to do. Omaha Tribe is a staying type and off quite an exposed merit rating of 75 looks to be an optimistic entry.

Captain Gambler

Captain Gambler is a longstriding sort by Captain Al and is a half-sister to Liquid Mercury, who finished a 4,8 length third in the 2015 Cape Derby behind Ertijaal. She stayed on from last in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas for a 4,35 length eighth. She then stayed on again for a 4,15 length seventh in the Listed Jamaica Handicap for fillies and mares over the Cape Derby 2 000m course and distance.

She will be getting 2,5kg from the boys, which is worth about two lengths in handicapping terms, and has scope. She was only running off a 91 merit rating in the Jamaica and will need to step up.