KZN charge gets the greenlight for the CTS
THE fields for the two richest races in South Africa, the US$500,000 CTS 1200 and the US$500,000 CTS 1600, were announced yesterday and the good news for KZN racing fans was that the impressive winner from the weekend, Mr Greenlight, was included in the 1600 field.
Trainer Duncan Howells will now have three lively runners on Sun Met day, Fiorella in the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes over 1 600m, Thanksgiving in the Grade 1 Cape Derby and Mr Greenlight, all owned by Dave McLean.
There were only 13 acceptors for the CTS 1600, but is has attracted a few Grade 1 class horses.
Mr Greenlight will have a tough task, especially as he has to jump from the widest draw of all.
However, he will provide the unknown factor as he has always been held in high regard and Sunday’s race was the first time the penny had dropped.
He ricocheted away from a handy position, displaying an electric turn of foot, and won as he liked.
He cost R600,000 at the CTS Emperor’s Palace Select Yearling Sale and is one of the most exciting prospects in KZN racing.
The Master Of My Fate colt Twist Of Fate has a draw of nine to contend with but wide draws did not stop him finishing second in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas or winning the Grade 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m. He gave lumps of weight away in the Politician Stakes and did not settle well in the running but still won comfortably, proving just how good he is and how strong the Cape Guineas line up was.
Twist Of Fate was bought for a mere R20,000 at the CTS March Yearling Sale of 2017 by Joey Ramsden and now races for the Mauritius-based River Palace Racing Syndicate. The horse did not reach his reserve of R20,000 in the ring. Ramsden approached breeders Favour Stud later at the sale and secured him for that reserve price.
Favour Stud is located a few kilometres inland of Still Bay, which is 85km west of Mossel Bay.
Twist Of Fate
Owner Ernst Du Preez recalled Twist Of Fate had a lot of the unknown about him. He said, “He was by a freshman sire and the mare had never produced a major winner before.”
His dam Crescent Lily by Counter Action won the Listed Fairview Breeders Guineas and Jet Master sire Master Of My Fate, who oozed class as a racehorse, was the leading first crop sire by winners last season.
Twist Of Fate is certainly not an imposing individual but Ramsden showed why he is held in high esteem as horseman and trainer by seeing something in him.
Crescent Lily could not get into foal again after Twist Of Fate’s birth and has been retired, so that is unfortunately the end of her family from Favour Stud’s point of view.
Cape Guineas third-placed One World will likely vie for favouritism. He won the Grade 2 Concorde Cup over this trip and went into the Cape Guineas unbeaten in five. This imposing Vaughan Marshalltrained Captain Al colt cost R425,000 at the Cape Premier yearling Sale and is drawn eleven.
One World’s stable companion Provocateur, a 91 merit rated Var gelding, has been knocking hard over 1400m in ordinary races but could earn some valuable place money if he gets the trip, which is not a given as he is a full-brother to the speedy Schiffer and the useful Mastermind, who won a 1400m event in Dubai.
Sherwood Forest
Marshall also runs Philanthropist gelding Sherwood Forest, who is going to battle being an exposed 73 merit rated horse.
The Concorde Stakes runner up Chimichuri Run, who cost R1,1 million at the Cape Premier Yearling Sales, is drawn in pole position. Trainer Sean Tarry would have preferred to have run him in the CTS 1200 and Cirillo in the CTS 1600 but had to reverse their plans due to the draws. Chimichuri Run has won two Grade 3s over 1200m and could only manage sixth place in the Cape Guineas, beaten 6,25 lengths.
Tarry also runs Russian Beat in the 1600. This Elusive Fort gelding won a Maiden Juvenile Plate in June in his third start but is up against it in this field.
The Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas runner up Silvano’s Pride will give the boys something to think about. This Justin Snaith-trained filly has plenty of substance and like most Silvano’s is improving all the time. She is drawn in six.
Candice Bass-Robinson has a fine record in the CTS events and runs the progressive Dynsty colt Majestic Mozart, who was not disgraced in fifth place in the Cape Guineas, having earlier run on well for third in the R2,5 million Lanzerac Rady To Run Stakes over 1400m. He is an immature sort who is improving all the time and can’t be written off.
She also runs the Silvano gelding Nao Faz Mal, who is up against it off an 82 merit rating.
Adam Marcus runs an exciting Var gelding called Vardy. He is only rated 88 but is a rangy sort and only just failed to catch Charles in a 1600m event at the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate festival. That was no disgrace as it was only his third start and his first defeat and Charles is held in high regard. Vardy is drawn well in four and is a dark horse.
Dan Katz runs the other of the two fillies in the race, Skye Lane, who is a daughter of Pathfork.
She has won twice including a race over this trip, but last time off an 81 merit rating she was well beaten off a 81 merit rating so is up against it here.