Fortune favours Derby as Cash Time beckons
BOLD STEP. WIFE OF FORMER CHAMPION JOCKEY ANNOUNCES HERSELF Cape raiders tilt at Computaform Sprint.
New trainer on the block Ashley Fortune aims to start her career with a bang. The wife of former champion jockey Andrew Fortune has registered her first official race entry in no less an event than the Grade 1 SA Derby – to be run at Turffontein on Champions’ Day, May 5.
Fortune has nominated Cash Time, a three-time winner from six starts, for the R2-million 2450m marathon test for threeyear-olds – the third leg of the Triple Crown, which will not be won this year.
Cash Time, a Gimmethegreenlight gelding part-owned by husband Andrew, was previously trained by Gary Alexander and reeled off two impressive wins over 2000m before tackling the 1600m Gauteng Guineas, memorably won by Monks Hood. That distance might have been too sharp as, next up, over 2000m in the Derby Trial, he was involved in a three-way battle to the line with Gambado and For a few dollars more, finishing third a mere 0.20 lengths back.
Both horses that beat him there are also among the Derby “possibles”. He might have the staying ability to turn that around, but his draw of 13 out of 14 – as opposed to their 7 and 8 – might even things out again.
When entries for the SA Derby closed yesterday, big-race maestro Mike de Kock had put forward three names – Like A Panther, Noble Secret and Royal Crusade – all of whom have run promisingly in top company. The latter two have prime draws, but Like A Panther got the short straw at 14.
De Kock’s keen rival Sean Tarry also has three in: Silver God, For a few dollars more and Throng. They are drawn in midfield and with the champion trainer in such hot form of late no-one will be writing any of them off.
With a merit rating of 110, Surcharge, second in the first two legs of the Triple Crown – to Monks Hood and Lobo’s Legend – is the highest-rated potential runner. However, a draw of 10 might prompt trainer Stuart Pettigrew to give this one a miss.
Entries also closed yesterday for the Grade 1 R1-million Computaform Sprint, also to be run on Champions Day.
Topping the rankings for the 1000m dash up the straight is Justin Snaith’s speedball Sergeant Hardy, victor in the Cape Flying Championship in January. The top Cape trainer has also entered Bishop’s Bounty, giving him a formidable two-pronged attack.
Another potential Cape raider is Live Life from the Candice Bass Robinson yard.
Others catching the eye include Rocky Valley, Champagne Haze, Trip To Heaven and Attenborough, a foursome who made up the Quartet in their 1000m warm-up race at Turffontein on Tuesday night. Naafer, last in the same race and badly in need of the run, is De Kock’s sole entry for the Computaform Sprint.
Entries for SA Derby, Grade 1, 2450m, R2 million, 5 May:
13 Cash Time, Ashley Fortune 96; 7 For a few dollars more, Sean Tarry 84; 8 Gambado, Alec Laird 88; 11 Greenwood Drive (Aus), Robbie Sage 78; 1 Hero’s Honour, Gary Alexander 88; 14 Like A Panther, Mike de Kock 106; 5 Majestic Mambo, Paul Peter 104; 2 Noble Secret, Mike de Kock 106; 3 Royal Crusade, Mike de Kock 101; 9 Silver God, Sean Tarry 93; 10 Surcharge, Stuart Pettigrew 110; 6 The Rocketman (Aus), MG & AA Azzie 92; 12 Throng, Sean Tarry 82; 4 Walter Smoothie, Stuart Pettigrew 88.
Entries for the Computaform Sprint, Grade 1, 1000m, R1 million, May 5:
15 Attenborough, Joey Ramsden 110; 16 Bishop’s Bounty, Justin Snaith 117; 12 Champagne Haze, Gary Alexander 115; 1 Down To Zero, MG& AA Azzie 98; 5 Exquisite Touch, Sean Tarry 112; 2 Golden Man, Grant Maroun 88; 6 Graduation Day, Joe Soma 101; 13 Green Pepper, Johan Janse van Vuuren 107; 11 Live Life, Candice Bass Robinson 115; 20 Naafer (Aus), Mike de Kock 113; 7 Pinnacle Peak, Dorrie Sham 103; 18 Queen Laurie, Grant Maroun 96; 14 Rebel’s Champ, Paul Peter 99; 10 Rocky Valley, Candice Dawson 107; 4 Sergeant Hardy, Justin Snaith 123; 17 Seven Lives, Paul Peter 92; Speed point, Joey Ramsden 98; 8 Trip To Heaven, Sean Tarry 117; 19 Will Pays, MG & AA Azzie 114; 3 Wrecking Ball, Grant Maroun 105.