Forward Drive revs it up
PAUL Reeves is targeting the CTS Million Dollar after the way Forward Drive blitzed the opposition in the Racing. It's A Rush Maiden Juvenile at Kenilworth on Sunday.
The grey colt, backed from 5-1 to 33-10, made every metre and stretched away from two furlongs out to beat Cavallino by more than three lengths.
Paul Reeves said: “I told Brandon May to get out there and make the others race. This horse is still very immature - his nickname at home is Floppy - and he hasn't filled out yet. He is to go over 1 400m but I will give him another run up the straight first.
“He is eligible for the Million Dollar but of course we have to qualify, and I reckon you are going to have to win two or three races to get a run.’’
The weakening Rand has increased the value of the Kenilworth January 23 spectacular to R12.16 million and the winner will get half. Forward Drive was bought by his trainer for just R100 000. Little wonder that the colt's owners are dreaming!
The Snaith stable is talking in terms of the Investec Cape Derby for More Than Grand who came good at the fourth attempt in the Winter Solstice Maiden Juvenile but only after Richard Fourie had scrubbed away for five of the seven furlongs.
“He is a lazy sod but when he finds his feet he will turn into a serious horse,” said Jonathan Snaith. “I didn’t think he would win 400m out but Richard Fourie is on fire at the moment and this horse is the kind we will see in next year’s Derby.’’
Cape Town two-year-olds are faring well against the older horses in maidens - even though they meet them on terms 4-6kg worse than weight-for-age - and the Vaughan Marshall-trained Victorius Jay became the fifth to beat them in four weeks in the 1 400m maiden.
MJ Byleveld said: “I thought I was in a bit of trouble 600m out because the cruising speed of the older horses is higher than that of the juveniles at the moment, but once into the straight I always thought I was going to win. Furthermore I am sure this horse is going to improve.’’
Glen Kotzen reached the 80-winner mark for the season with a two-year-old when newcomer Night In Tahiti justified support from 33-1 to 14-1 with a fine burst of acceleration close home in the opener. It was only Stuart Randolph's second Kenilworth visit this term.
Jam Tart, only third when 9-20 for the Kenilworth Maiden, was found to be coughing afterwards. Aldo Domeyer won this on Ronnie Sheehan's 25-1 shot Patrina and he reached his half century when completing a long-priced double on 14-1 shot Boston Celtic for Adam Marcus in the Susan Hudson Handicap.
Gavelhouse close shop in SA
Meanwhile, Gavelhouse, the international online horse sale agency, has surprisingly decided to close its South African operation at the end of the month.
The company’s Gary Moore said: “The decision to withdraw our facility is as a result of our future plans to introduce new technology and build on a solid platform.’’
The firm provided a useful selling medium for racehorses and was used by a number of South Africa’s top owners.