Pacific Trader to the fore
BRETT CRAWFORD put himself in pole position for a third Betting World Cape Flying Championship when sending out three of the first four in the Interbet.co.za Pinnacle at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Pacific Trader made most for an 8-1 hands and heels win under Greg Cheyne and the four-year-old’s trainer said: “Durban didn’t work out for him – he has such natural speed that he battled to corner and I don’t think he handled the poly at all. He is a five furlong horse and I ran him here to see if he can rub shoulders with Group 1 horses. Come the race on Met day he will be ready.”
Crawford, whose previous Cape Flying wins came with Laisserfaire in 2002 and Gulf Storm three seasons ago, was equally taken with his other two runners and said: “Bold Respect (third) will come on from this. He had a slow start to the season with a few setbacks and niggles while we are finding our way with Search Party (fourth).
Cape Merchants winner Kasimir, beaten two lengths in second, will renew rivalry in the Cape Flying and Justin Snaith said: “This was a good run. He is not quite a 1000m horse but we will make it work.”
Sand And Sea went off 7-2 favourite but finished with only one behind him. He looked as if he might win approaching the furlong marker and then went backwards. The stipes ordered a veterinary examination but nothing showed up.
Trip To Heaven
Trip To Heaven (fifth) got off reasonably on terms but stumbled shortly afterwards. However Speedpoint (eighth) was returned not striding out.
Anton Marcus was a big price for the championship early in the season but he is now 22-10 favourite and he drew level with Muzi Yeni (on 91 winners) for the first time this term when completing a treble. He scored on Wallis Simpson (called Duke’s Seducer when sold for R400 00 as a yearling and renamed by Ridgemont), All In Line and Red Rascal, the last-named owned by brother Basil and trained by nephew Adam.
Sabine Plattner breeds most of hers but at the 2017 Cape Premier she paid R1.8 million for Dream Baby Dream. The convincing way the filly initiated an Andre Nel double in the 1 400m maiden suggests there is plenty more to come.
Paul Reeves was in as good a form as his horses when landing a double with Photocopy and the first-time blinkered Helen’s Ideal. He told his interviewers: “Photocopy is courageous – he’s got heart and it’s coming out of his ears. Donovan Dillon loves Helen’s Ideal and his wife said he loves the filly more than he loves her!”
Dean Kannemeyer reckons that Graduation winner Silva’s Bullet may yet repay all the TLC he lavished on the gelding after he collapsed last time - “He had been off for seven months and he ran his heart out on a very hot day. We were worried and that night we dripped him and got his electrolytes right. But he could be my saviour if I box right with him.”