It’s Disco Al!
YESTERDAY’S Gr 2 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville saw the most thrilling finish of the Champions Season as five horses drove down to the line as one and it was the deserving Joey Ramsden-trained Disco Al who prevailed under Anton Marcus.
Earlier, Justin Snaith and his stable jockey Richard Fourie had capped a fine weekend by winning the Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks over 2400m at Scottsville with the three-year-old Black Minnaloushe filly Ash Cloud, having won the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m at Greyville on Friday night with the Dynasty gelding Daring Dave.
The five-year-old Captain Al gelding Disco Al had proven class, having won the Gr 3 Algoa Cup over 2000m at Fairview two years in succession and had also shown his ability to stay yesterday's trip when finishing second to the well handicapped Solid Speed in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup at Greyville three weeks ago.
Off a merit rating of 101, he was the second best weighted horse in yesterday’s race behind the odds-on favourite Hot Ticket, who ran off a 112, and he started joint-second favourite at 9/2 with the dual Gradedwinning stayer Kingston Mines.
Kingston Mines and Hot Ticket both carried 1kg penalties as winners of Gr 2 races.
Kingston Mines took up his favourite front-running role in the small eight horse field and was followed by Master James and Savage Wind, while Hot Ticket sat about six lengths off the pace in sixth place, just ahead of Disco Al.
There was a cavalry charge in the straight and Hot Ticket, running down the centre, was battling to catch Kingston Mines and Master James, while Savage Wind, who was 14,5kg under sufferance on official merit ratings, was running a blinder down the inside.
However, just as Hot Ticket got his nose in front, Marcus swooped on Disco Al on his outside to snatch the verdict by a short-head.
Kingston Mines and Savage Wind dead-heated for third, a neck behind the winner, and Master James was a head behind them fifth. Double Clutch and Krambambuli were next best ahead of the detached French Revolution. Hot Ticket, Kingston Mines and Double Clutch are still in the running for a Vodacom Durban July berth, but might have had to win yesterday's race to make sure of their places.
Disco Al was bred by Drakenstein Stud and is owned by Vanashree and Anant Singh in partnership with Markus and Ingrid Jooste.
Ash Cloud was the only horse in the Gold Circle Oaks carrying a penalty, a 2kg one for her win in last season's Gr 1 SA Oaks when trained by Wieho Marwing, so this was a commendable victory and she will be an interesting contender in the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m at Greyville on Super Saturday.
The Carl and Amanda de Vos-bred filly was bought by Drakenstein Stud earlier this season. Snaith had named her his best runner of the weekend and she duly bounced back to her best. She broke well and going through the 1000m mark was relaxed three lengths back in third behind Saint Sophia and Gathering Fame.
The Ramsden-trained favourite Gallica Rose was poised behind her on the rail, while the fancied Vino Veritas was also in a perfect position to strike.
Ash Cloud burst through to the hit front half-way down the straight with Vino Veritas also challenging strong- ly, but Gallica Rose then went past them, having produced a resolute finish down the inside. However, just as the latter looked to have it won, Ash Cloud fought back and got up in the last stride to win by a long-head. Vino Veritas was half-a-length further back in third and Patchit Up Baby and Gathering Fame were next best.
Lezeanne Forbes had a double on the card, both of them winning at double figure odds.
Mike de Kock and Anthony Delpech combined for a double.
Gavin Lerena rode one winner to stretch his lead over S’Manga Khunalo in the race for the National Jockey's Championships to 12.