Splash out with Green
ZACKEY HAILS THE PERFORMANCE OF GREEN WITH ENVY IN CAPE DERBY Gutsy win for Thunderstruck in Diadem Stakes.
Green With Envy stamped his authority on the current threeyear-old scene with an emphatic victory in the Grade 1 SplashOut Cape Derby over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Trained by Dean Kannemeyer and ridden by Craig Zackey, the three-year-old son of Gimmethegreenlight finished 2.75 lengths ahead of Beach Bomb with Oriental Charm another 0.50 lengths back in third and Coastal Commander in fourth.
It comes as no surprise to see him now quoted at 8-1 in the antepost betting alongside fellow threeyear-old Sandringham Summit for the Hollywoodbets Durban July with last year’s runner-up See It Again and Mucho Dinero who are both at 6-1.
Only two runners found betting support for last Saturday’s race, the eventual winner and filly Beach Bomb, and they were sent off at 14-10 and 5-2 respectively. Justin Snaith-trained Hluhluwe was initially priced up 28-10 second favourite but drifted significantly to go off at 6-1 and finished fifth.
Zackey had Green With Envy in his usual position near the back of the field but as they came for home he switched his mount out wide and slowly revved up the engines. Beach Bomb under Aldo Domeyer, meanwhile, moved through well in the centre of the course to take the lead but once Green With Envy got going, he swept past the opposition to win easing up.
They actually had some rare summer rain in the Cape and Zackey said it certainly worked in his favour. “I love it when it rains in Cape
Town, especially on big days. I was actually smiling.
“This track has been so firm of late and if the wind’s not there it’s hard to peg back those front runners.
“I knew a boy like him with his action would just love it.
“We galloped here three weeks ago with Cosmic Highway and my first words after the gallop were ‘if I don’t win by three or more, I’m a bad judge’.”
Domeyer was equally delighted with the performance of Beach Bomb, stating that she gave her all but just found one better.
Candice Bass-Robinson’s charge did come into the race as the best weighted runner but this was the first time she took on the colts and there is little doubt that over this sort of distance at least, Green With Envy definitely has her measure.
Third-placed Oriental Charm ran an amazing race. He came into the event as the lowest rated runner and was 17.5kg out with Beach
Bomb. So, to finish just 0.50 lengths behind her, is quite a feat, especially as he set a decent pace from the off.
It will be interesting to see what the handicappers make of that performance and he is likely to pick up a mighty penalty for his efforts.
If there was an award for the gutsiest performance on the day that would undoubtedly go to Thunderstruck in the Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m. Sean Tarry’s charge was seen by many as the best banker on the card and was backed to go off at 8-10. However, with 200m to run he appeared in deep trouble as three runners looked to be travelling better.
But with log-leading jockey Richard Fourie riding at the top of his game, the four-year-old Rafeef colt fought off all the challengers to win by 0.30 lengths from Future Variety, Bereave and Cosmic Highway. Just 0.65 lengths covered the first four past the post.