Winning trainer Greg Ennion adamantly conveyed a clear message after Eighth Wonder produced an excellent performance to win the Grade 3 Magnum Cape Classic over 1400m at Kenilworth on Saturday, saying, “Don’t write the small guys off!”
The economies of scale in the modern training scene make it hard for smaller trainers to prosper, in what has become a “numbers game”. Finding owners is tough and costs keep on escalating. With fewer horses to train, income from training fees is so limited that trainers become dependent on earning commission from stakes to keep the wolf from the door. Lacking patrons with the buying power to purchase the best bred and well- conformed thoroughbreds, they have to compete for prize money with cheaper, inferior stock often beset by physical problems. It can be a vicious downward spiral, so, when they luck into a rare good one, the pressure is on for these unfashionable yards to maximise potential returns.
As a R500 000 National Yearling Sales buy, Eight Wonder is no cheapie. But it was fortuitous how the son of Captain Al ended up in Ennion’s barn. The Milnerton- based conditioner gratefully inherited the colt only when Stan Elley decided to ride off into the sunset at the end of July, and all the veteran Phillipi trainers horses were disbursed to colleagues.
Ennion immediately set about planning his new charge’s career “I got him on the Thursday and gelded him on Monday – then gave him six weeks off. When he came back he was only 60% fit yet still ran nicely just a length off Baritone. At his next start he just went down to Victorious Jay, still needing it a bit. Sean Cormack (who rode him that occasion) could see that today Eighth Wonder was spot on, and gave him a winning chance when we chatted in the parade ring.”
Punters were considerably less bullish. Put off by Eighth Wonder’s problematic 13 draw, bettors allowed him to start as a 20 – 1 long-shot. Horses with gate speed can overcome such hindrances though, and the bay was able to get over quickly enough, slotting in third as Forward Drive and Hard Day’s Night cut out a strong early gallop. Jockey MJ Byleveld was full of praise, “His best asset is his high cruising speed.” Eighth Wonder stalked the pace then duelled gamely, before asserting himself in deep stretch. Rodney ran on nicely from far back to sneak second over Hard Day’s Night, 2.25 lengths behind Ennion’s runner.
“Given the right horse and the opportunity, us smaller guys can also produce the goods,” proclaimed the proud horseman. “Eighth Wonder is big, robust and muscled. He really is beautifully bred with a very strong dam side, and the potential to go even further. He might turn out to be a Derby horse.” This was a second win from six starts and a career peak performance by Eighth Wonder. A deeply satisfied Ennion graciously contacted Elley immediately afterwards to show his appreciation, and is looking forward to taking on the big guns again during the Summer season with his gifted recruit.