Gold Standard back in contention
GOLD STANDARD showed he is very much in contention for the two top Kenilworth races when finishing an honourable and unlucky fourth in the World Sports Betting Matchem Stakes at a packed Durbanville on Saturday.
Off for eight months, giving weight to most of the field and a gallop short, he was as friendless as if his Facebook page had been deleted and he drifted from 12-10 to 9-2.
Table Bay
Twice he was squeezed against the rails by second-placed Table Bay - and at one stage Richard Fourie had to stop riding - yet his mount was beaten less than two lengths into fourth.
The stipes were most unhappy about the second incident and announced that they intend holding an inquiry while Fourie said: “Gold Standard is not a 1 400m horse but I would just about have won if I’d had a clear run. We’re going to lock horns with Legal Eagle this season.”
Glen Kotzen added: “It was a lovely run considering everything and it will be the Green Point next.”
Our Mate Art, the 10-1 winner, will renew rivalry in the December 2 mile Gr2 on a kilo worse terms. He had the advantage of a recent run and Aldo Domeyer said afterwards he always felt he was going to win.
Candice Bass-Robinson added: “He has improved since last season when he fractured a splint bone early on and when the Winter Derby was miles too far for him.” Table Bay, started favourite, was beaten by half a length and Anton Marcus said: “I thought he ran a great race.”
So did the horse’s trainer but Joey Ramsden was less than happy about the training restrictions.
He said: “I was pleased with the horse and the way he settled – I am not convinced that a mile will be beyond him – but I feel let down and disappointed that I wasn’t allowed to give him a gallop.”
The jury is still out on whether La Favourari gets any further than sprint distances.
After he was loaded Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount reared right up and smashed his way through the gate leaving his rider hanging onto the uprights. The gelding had blood on his mouth when he galloped back into the parade ring and was promptly scratched.
Magical Wonderland will be tested over seven furlongs for the first time in the Choice Carriers on October 28 after stretching her unbeaten run to four with the performance of the day in the Fillies Progress Plate.
The 8-1 chance, giving away lumps of weight and running for the first time since May, looked too far back to count early in the straight but, when Domeyer switched her into gear, she accelerated as if she was fitted with a supercharger.
Magico
Mrs Robinson said: “She is not very big but she is an athlete. I don’t know if she will stay the 1 400m because she is a half-sister to Magico (second in the Computaform Sprint) and she is quick.” Domeyer explained: “What is in her favour is that she waits for you to tell her what to do, and you can pull her out without her losing momentum.”
Gimme Six, who also came from well back to take second in the Diana, will go for the top fillies races but she is the subject of a new training strategy.
Justin Snaith said: “I’m doing things differently this season in that I’m not revving the horses up for their early races. It means biting my lip but hopefully it will work.”
Goodtime Gal, backed down to 21 favouritism, benefited from a typically bull-by-the-horns Marcus ride, striking for home early in the straight and Mike Robinson again has both the Majorca and the Paddock on her schedule.
Snaith took the male Progress Plate with the Grant van Niekerkridden Kasimir who suffered from sore shins last term. “I’m not going to run him a lot this season either but I would like to have him primed for the summer”. But the Brett Crawford-trained Umkhomazi and KZN Million winner Al Mariachi could be a better prospect.
He was beaten less than three lengths into third despite conceding 6kg. Many of the huge crowd seemed more interested in the braais than the racing but it was the largest Durbanville attendance in my near-12 years in the country.
Some can remember the days when even a Wednesday meeting attracted 5 000 people but Snaith said: “It was the biggest I’ve seen here since I rode at the Cape Hunt amateur meeting 20 years ago.”