African Night Sky does it for Snaith
PASSIONATE racing man Sean Singleton made a big impact last season as the owner of historymaking stayer Hermoso Mundo and his colourful “Woer Woer Masjien” warcry has become so keenly anticipated he is now expected to deliver it whenever stepping up on to the winner’s podium.
Singleton now finds himself in dreamland once again as Hermoso Mundo has shot to the top of the Sansui Summer Cup boards and is quoted by Betting World at 8-1.
Ideal World
The five-year-old Ideal World gelding made his seasonal reappearance earlier this month in the Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile.
He appeared to run a bit of a flat race at first sight when finishing a 9,25 length 14th .
The run hardly seemed to justify him becoming Summer Cup favourite.
Singleton said he had also initially been disappointed with the run, but soon had a different view.
He said, “He was running over a distance short of his best and if you watch the replay he accelerated superbly at the 300m mark.
“Weichong (Marwing) was beaming from ear to ear when he returned to the parade ring.
“He will be cherry ripe for the Summer Cup and I am sure he will bring his ‘woerwoer’ when it counts at his home course over a more suitable trip (2 000m).
Hermoso Mundo became the first horse to win the “gold” triple crown, consisting of the Gold Bowl (3 200m), the Gold Vase (3 000m) and the Gold Cup (3 200m). JUSTIN SNAITH (pictured) was very happy with winter triple crown hero African Night Sky’s seasonal reappearance in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1 400m at Kenilworth on Saturday and Black Arthur’s poor run has been explained as he pulled up a bit sore on his off hind.
The yard are also looking forward to good runs in big races this Saturday with a trio of three-year-olds, the unbeaten Twice Over gelding Do It Again, the Choisir gelding Sir Frenchie and the wellbred Trippi filly Miss Katalin.
Snaith said about four-year-old Dynasty gelding African Night Sky’s 1,75 length fifth place on Saturday behind three Grade 1 winners, Edict Of Nantes, Sail South and Captain America, and the progressive Black Cat Back, “It was a very good come back run.
“He was still big in the parade ring and will strip fitter next time.”
He said the Green Point Stake would come too soon for African Night Sky and he was targeting another race instead.
Black Arthur finished a disappointing last in Saturday’s Pinnacle.
Snaith said the five-year-old Silvano gelding’s Black Arthur’s problem was not
Do It Again
He is obviously at his best over two miles, but another key is his turnaround in form since joining the Weiho Marwing yard.
Three victories
His record for the yard is three victories in four starts and he has gone from a 73 merit rating to 100.
He has a beautiful, longstriding action, so is perfectly suited to the galloping serious and it would just require a lot of hard work from the yard to have him ready for the Cape Summer Of Champions Season’s big races. He was not sure yet of the timeline for his return to form.
Do It Again runs in Saturday’s Grade 2 Selangor Cup over 1 600m.
The big galloper stayed on strongly to win over 1 200m on debut and followed up with a comfortable win over Saturday’s course and distance. Turffontein Standside track with its long straight.
Hermoso Mundo will carry a featherweight of 52kg in the Summer Cup as things stand, but that will depend on whether 115 merit rated Deo Juvente stands his ground.
The big bay is sure to be staying on strongly on November 25 and racing fans will be looking forward to that warcry if the bookmakers are proven to have it right.
Snaith said, “He is a nice horse who needs further. He is drawn wide and we will have to drop him in and see how he goes.”
Snaith was impressed by Sir Frenchie last race in the Grade 3 Cape Classic over 1 400m.
He stayed on strongly from way back in the running for a 3,55 length fourth to Tap O’ Noth.
Snaith said, “That was a prep run so there will be improvement and he could be in the money.
He is drawn alright so we will tuck him in and he should run on nicely, but the track is running very quick and it’s not easy for the horses coming from behind.”
The race will still be run on the Winter Course, with its short straight, and this makes it even tougher for horses coming from off the pace.
Miss Katalin
Miss Katalin, who is out of a Grade 1winning Jet Master mare Little Miss Magic, was a bit keen in her last run in the Grade 2 WCF Championship over 1 400m so was not disgraced in sixth place, 8,15 length behind runaway winner, her stablemate Snowdance.
Snaith said, “She has a soft mouth and does settle, she just needed that last run, it was a prep for this race. She will run okay and this race always produces upsets.”
Miss Katalin is drawn nine out of the 23 entries and Sir Frenchie is drawn 14.
Meanwhile, Snowdance is doing well and her next run will be in the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas on December 2. 1stt Leg PA