Miss Katalin gets a second chance
JUSTIN SNAITH and Drakenstein will take advantage of Wednesday’s second supplementary entry stage to run Miss Katalin in Saturday week’s World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas following the 191 shot’s fast-finishing short head win in the R2.5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run on Saturday.
But Snaith deflected all the credit to the Trippi filly’s racing manager Kevin Sommerville, saying: “Miss Katalin is very mouthy and throws her head around. Kevin rang me about this during the week and as a result we changed the equipment to make her more comfortable.”
But the filly had a rough passage early on and Grant van Niekerk found himself even more effectively hemmed in than Robert Mugabe. His mount was then bounced from one warring faction into another. But her rider quickly found his way into an on-the-rails comfort zone and he made up almost three lengths in the final furlong.
Power Grid
Van Niekerk is riding out of his skin at the moment – he rode an equally fine race on 28-1 shot Power Grid in the Progress Plate – but he is now focussed on getting the interference demons off his back – “I will get this right,” he insisted. “I need to - it’s costing me.”
Indeed it is. He is in demand countrywide yet this season he has ended up with more holidays than a schoolteacher and he was given another 14 days on Friday for an incident at Turffontein on the day he won the Charity Mile.
But spare a thought for Corne Orffer. On Bold Respect he rode one of the best races in defeat that he, or any other jockey for that matter, has ever ridden.
He overcame his coffin-box draw by getting his mount to leave the gates faster than Usain Bolt and he was on the rails going the shortest way round in less time than it takes to read this.
Phelan Lucky
When free-running stable companion Phelan Lucky came at him, Orffer wisely let him go past until taking it up again over a furlong out.
Had he not had the misfortune to come up against a jockey riding like a man inspired the short head verdict – and the big prize - would have been his.
Rocket Countdown, at 36-1 the longest-priced Selangor Cup winner this century, also earned a Guineas ticket as well as some surprise from his trainer.
Candice Bass-Robinson said: “We always rated him and his work at home has been outstanding but I didn’t think he was that class over a mile.”
Second-placed White River wore ear muffs but perhaps he should also have been fitted with a muzzle.
He tried to bite the winner’s backside 50m out and Greg Cheyne had to straighten him to stop the teeth sinking in.
But he was still only beaten half a length and will renew rivalry in the Guineas.
Undercover Agent
More fancied stable companion Undercover Agent was beaten a length and half into fifth.
“He was hanging and I’ve got to find out what that was about,” said Brett Crawford.
Broadway Trip started 33-10 favourite but weakened into fourth after looking the winner over a furlong out and Randall Simons said: “He got the trip but he pulled a bit – lack of cover.”
Alec Laird added: “I’m disappointed he didn’t win but he is good enough to take his chance in the Guineas. It was his first time over a mile and he needed to relax more.”
Top weight Eyes Wide Open managed only ninth and Glen Kotzen commented: “He was never travelling well. It was a flat run but it wasn’t the end of the world. I will freshen him up for the Guineas.”
Kinaan, a second successive Kenilworth Cup win for Mike de Kock and Callan Murray, will stay in Cape Town for the Cape Summer Stayers on 16 December.