Bold prediction for Do It Again
“He will win the Met,” predicted Richard Fourie after so nearly winning the thriller that was the Green Point Stakes on Do It Again at Kenilworth on Saturday.
The July winner was racing for the first time since his triumph in the historic event five months earlier and Justin Snaith was similarly buoyed with optimism. “That was a good run, the first time he has had a real blowout this season,” the champion trainer enthused. “It’s Queen’s Plate and Met now and, if he makes that extra improvement, well ……”
If Do It Again is a big race hope machine then Rainbow Bridge is an enigma. So much talent but so much temperament still to be harnessed. Only Eric Sands knows how and, to this observer at least, the trainer’s task looks to be somewhere between downright difficult and damn near impossible.
Backed down to 14-10 favouritism, the gelding burned up valuable energy fighting for his head in the early stages and, when Bernard Fayd’Herbe pressed the button in the straight, he hung fire for a fatal few strides. Approaching the furlong marker he was in full flight but still with four lengths to make up. The fact that he closed the gap to within all but a few precious millimetres says everything about both his talent and his potential.
True, he was receiving 2kg which he won’t get on January 5 but his jockey enthused: “He is getting better with every run,” while his trainer reflected: “He was taking on the best at their trip. I now know the strength of my horse and I’m happy as well as impressed.”
Sands deliberately took him late into the parade ring where the horse’s usual jigjogging was much less evident than before. But apparently the four-year-old had got himself as stirred up as ever earlier in the afternoon. “I’ve got work to do,” said Sands feelingly.
Undercover Agent
In this memorable finish of three short heads Undercover Agent was second (Corne Orffer: “We knew it was only a prep but it was a great run and very exciting”) and Brett Crawford added: “It is very hard being the hare but he will come on from it in the Queen’s Plate and the Met”).
Legal Eagle, watched by proud Avontuur breeder Pippa Mickleburgh, was of course extending his unbeaten mile run to ten and somehow - only he knows how - Anton Marcus poached a big enough lead going to the front a furlong out to enable him to hold on when it must have seemed the hounds of hell were coming at him.
“Even when I got to the line I wasn’t sure,” he admitted. “Legal Eagle is a stronger horse this year than last despite the fact that he isn’t getting any better, and he is holding his form. You can set you clock by him. He is a special horse.”
Sean Tarry was as full of praise for the four-time champion as he was for the horse and confirmed that he has been aiming for the same amount of improvement still in the tank for the Queen’s Plate as he achieved a year ago.
But a word of congratulation to Ravaun Smit. The commentator stuck his neck out as bravely as any of the protagonists and declared Legal Eagle a short head winner while the judges were still reaching for their magnifying glasses.
Snowdance warmed up for her bid to become the first of her sex to win the Queen’s Plate since Mother Russia in 2011 by hardly breaking sweat in the pinnacle. She was almost unbackable at 1-3 with the bookies and 1-10 on the Tote. “She is in a good space which she wasn’t in the Durban season when she was always overracing,” said Snaith who confirmed that Oh Susanna runs next in the Paddock Stakes before attempting to win a second Sun Met. “I will have her spot on for the Paddock,” he insisted. “Last time I got caught out and I am not going to let that happen again.”
Hewitson
Lyle Hewitson, who played a part in Legal Eagle’s third Green Point by sitting on the horse as he was led round the parade ring, won both the Cape Summer Stayers on the Crawford-trained Gimme One Night and the Southern Cross on Princess Rebel for Yvette Bremner who is on holiday in Hong Kong. Hewitson’s father Carl stood in for her and plans bringing the filly back for the Cape Flying Championship. Magical Wonderland, the 2-1 favourite, was found to be coughing.