St Tropez for EP Derby
Trainer Joey Ramsden knows what it takes to win races in Port Elizabeth, especially the big ones.
So when he pulls St Tropez out of a race at Scottsville on Wednesday to run him in the R350,000 SW Security Solutions SA East Cape Derby at Fairview on Sunday, one can feel assured he has covered all the bases.
At this stage St Tropez has not raced beyond 1600m so the key question to be answered is whether he will see out the 2400m of this Grade 3 race. On breeding the answer has to be a resounding “yes”.
He is by Silvano who progeny do tend to have stamina and is a full brother to both Tan Can and Sunbed. Tan Can won up to 2000m and was beaten a neck by Russian Sage in the Cape Derby. He ran in the Vodacom Durban July and was only 4.60 lengths behind dead-heaters Pocket Power and Dancer’s Daughter, despite jumping from a wide draw.
He went off the boil later in his career but Dean Kannemeyer did race him over longer distance with mixed results.
Sunbed was also a three-time winner for Kannemeyer, winning her maiden over 2000m and then running a 1.25-length second behind We Three in the Winter Oaks over 2200m at Kenilworth in soft going.
On that basis St Tropez should see out the distance and as he is the best handicapped runner, should be hard to beat. He is not the easiest of rides and tends to hang out on a left-handed track but that did not seem to be a problem in his last start at Greyville, a course with a right-handed turn, as is Fairview.
He will have Anton Marcus in the irons and that is another plus.
On handicap the main threat looks to be Justin Snaith-trained Master’s Eye. He has also not raced beyond 1800m but his dam, Jettatura, won up to 2000m and was placed over 2400m. He is by Jet Master so he too should see out the trip.
My World will have no problem with the distance as Stan Elley’s charge has won over 2400m at Durbanville. They will no doubt be hoping for a good pace.
Local hope lies with Alan Greeff-trained Kalamain.
Overall today’s card on the Polytrack looks quite tricky but one should be safe in Race 7 if one considers just Al Lunam and O Jallad in all exotic bets.
With the race being run over 1000m, preference is for Gavin Lerena’s mount, Al Lunam, who has won twice over the distance. This four-year-old son of Captain Al has raced five times over the course and distance for three places and last time ran on well to finish a 0.50-length third behind Interface Ace.
O Jallad looks to be better over 1200m but he has won four of his nine starts at the track. However, he has only placed once in five outings over the distance.