The betting market proved an accurate guide to the outcome of the Cape Town Met on Saturday. The four horses that had dominated the betting duly fought out the finish with eventual favourite, Kommetdieding (speed score 115) prevailing over Jet Dark (s/s 114), Linebacker (s/s 114) and Double Superlative (s/s 113).

Gavin Lerena rode a superb race on the Elusive Fort gelding who was perfectly prepared by Michelle Rix and her veteran father, Harold Crawford. Kommetdieding won the Durban July last year and this follow up win in the Met confirms his status as a high-class middle-distance performer. Even the placed horses emerged with great credit, earning big figures for their runs.

Captain’s Ransom won the G1 Majorca Stakes thanks to her amazing turn of foot. They just hacked along in the early part with Richard Fourie switching her off at the back of the field. Just when it looked like Chansonette had won the race with a decisive early move, Captain’s Ransom launched a withering stand side run to bound past for the victory. She is trained by Justin Snaith.

Bohica (s/s 101 + has run 107) upset the G1 Cape Flying Championship in a tight finish from Mr Cobbs (who belied his relatively low merit rating of 101) and three-year-old, African Rain, who ran a tremendous race in defeat. Favourite, Rio Querari was not at his best, finishing a close fourth without flashing his usual powerful finish. His saddle slipped at the start which meant jockey van Niekerk could not assist him. With three outsiders filling the first three slots this difficult-to-catch trifecta returned over R13 000.

Bohica, much the best son sired by Cape Town Noir, started at 20/1. Adam Azzie was rewarded for his initiative in raiding from the Highveld – S’manga Khumalo giving his mount an excellent ride. Bohica has now won 7 of 24 starts.

Khumalo was also seen to good effect when he bought Sparkling Water from the back with a rush to nail Holy Warrior on the line in the Western Cape Stayers, a Grade 2 over 2800m. Bayberry was well positioned throughout and kept on for third without being able to match the come home surge of Mike de Kock’s Silvano filly, Sparkling Water.

Warrior earned a big fig in the Cape Mile then duffed it completely in the Queens Plate. He struck back in a true run Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m on Saturday’s undercard with a fine speed score of 109. All of Look for Hounds (s/s 107) Good Traveller (s/s 107) Speed Machine (s/s 107) and Russian Rock (s/s 106) did well in defeat and can be followed in similar races.

Universal (s/s 95 ++) gained a measure of compensation for his dreadful misfortune in the Cape Guineas when taking the G3 Politician Stakes over 1800m.  Adam Marcus’s entry dashed through in the centre of the track to beat off Master Redoute and Zapatillas with Senso Unico plugging away gamely in fourth.

Full credit to trainer Alan Greeff for bringing PE juvenile Cliff Top (s/s 87) down the coast to win the Juvenile Stakes. We’re Jamming ran on nicely from off the pace, but Greeff’s entry had speed to spare and kept on for the victory.

Andre Nel – so narrowly denied in the Majorca with Chansonette landed a double earlier on the program. Heavily supported, Gentleman Joe (s/s 84) did the job in a Maiden at the second time of asking and Double Charge (s/s 98) produced his career best to win the following race, a MR 85 handicap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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