Linebacker takes the glory
LINEBACKER came home with a wet sail to score a resounding victory in the Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby (Grade 1) over 2 000m on Saturday. This was justice served after a series of tough beat second place finishes in four successive Stakes races. “I knew he had the race won in an instant, he just got there so easily and it’s scary how good he is,” extolled jockey Grant van Niekerk, after piloting the son of Captain Of All with aplomb.
Linebacker surged from near the back of the field with a smooth, well-timed run down the centre of the long Kenilworth straight to win this highly prized race for superior middle distance three year-olds. Leading market rivals, Rascallion and The Gatekeeper were engaged in a spirited duel and for a moment looked like they would battle for glory, but when the bay gelding was unleashed by Van Niekerk, it was all over.
Trainer Vaughan Marshall, who had the distinction of saddling this Grade 1 exacta as Rascallion held second, said that the more work he threw at Linebacker and further he stretched his limits in training, the more the horse thrived.
Any doubts about the Klawervlei Stud bred thoroughbred lasting home over this longer route were dispelled in his mind beforehand after some bullet work-outs, and the race itself showcased Marshall’s vastly experienced handling of quality Classic performers.
Rascallion was beaten with every chance as Anton Marcus comfortably stalked badly unsettled pace setter Russian Rock before making his move at the 400m.
The Gatekeeper made the anticipated improvement to challenge for the placings and is another that will be a real force with added physical maturity during the upcoming KZN Winter season.
The 1 200m Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes (G2) fell to heavily punted Rio Querari. This muscular ball of energy capped a stellar Cape Summer season quickening up smartly down the inner and remarkably, given the quality of opposition including multiple G1/G2 winners, just freewheeled in under hot-jock Van Niekerk’s hand ride.
Rio Querari possessed the desirable upwardly mobile profile of a primed sprinter producing career bests, unlike market rivals Kasimir and Russet Air who, whilst seriously accomplished older speedballs, are seemingly on a downward curve in their careers.
Neither could keep pace with Rio Querari when it counted, and it was left to long shots, Hello Winter Hello and Cartel Captain to pick up the pieces way back in second and third respectively.
Earlier, Zarina swooshed past very game front runner Icon Princess to take out the Vasco Prix du Cap (G3) under an inspired ride by Oswald Noach, who seized the light -weight engagement with relish. Zarina is quite a feisty filly yet she can certainly turn on the afterburners when in the mood and she bombed past in the final 200, to win with authority.