In action on the Highveld, Electric Gold (s/s 90) got a nice figure for a two-year-old when winning a MR 72 handicap over 1600m. He was three quarters of a length ahead of Humble Tune (s/s 88) at the wire and the son of Flying the Flag is worth watching as he develops physically.
Crimson Princess ran right back to her best Cape figure of 97 when scoring over 1400m. A winner of two races when trained by Candice Bass Robinson, she has now switched to Ashley Fortune’s stables where she came good at her second try in Johannesburg. This daughter of Silvano was followed in by consistently capable mare, Anne Boleyn (s/s 96) who yet again hit a number in the mid 90’s.
Casa Inverno is another ex-Cape horse seeking her fortune in Jozi. The zippy What A Winter filly won a couple of sprints when trained by Glen Kotzen, before managing a career best of 99 on Saturday under the care of Paul Peter. Still another Cape refugee, stablemate It’s About Time (s/s 97) was only a neck away in second, the third time in his most recent four starts where he has been narrowly edged out. He sure is overdue a win.
Plaudits to Casa Inverno and Crimson Princess for hitting the highest numbers, on a weekend devoid of feature races after the 2nd of July fiesta. Top speed score on Scottsville’s Sunday card went to Vivid Jet – the sprinter attaining 92 over the five-furlong scurry.
In closing, below are some quotes which capture the shifting working dynamics between under-pressure trainers running big operations, and jockeys with strong personalities. The characters in this case were John Gosden – a highly articulate and intelligent gentleman, and the brilliant-yet- difficult- to- manage, Frankie Dettori who fell out after a series of Royal Ascot setbacks. They have since reconciled.
“I need a jockey who focuses. It can’t be a part-time job. As was pointed out at Wimbledon, Rafa Nadal practices the most and the hardest in the mornings, which is what it’s all about.”
John Gosden justifies reasons behind giving Frankie Dettori the “yellow card.”
“I’d be the first to say I had the worst Royal Ascot in my 35-year career. Maybe John was right, I needed a sabbatical. We’re not kids anymore, so we sorted things out and now it’s about going forward. It would have been a shame to end it like that as he’s been a friend to me for 30 years. I’m forever grateful to him and I don’t like holding grudges.”
Genius jock, Frankie Dettori reflects on mending a brief, rocky spell in his relationship with internationally renowned trainer, John Gosden.