Drakenstein Stud’s stellar Cape Summer season shows no sign of abating.
Gaynor Rupert’s Franschhoek-based operation won both the Grade 1 Cape Guineas and Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas with homebreds Snow Pilot (colt) and Beach Bomb (filly), respectively.
South Africa’s Equus Champion Owner added to its growing list of Grade 1 successes last weekend, as exciting Lancaster Bomber filly Beach Bomb completed a second successive top-level victory to her résumé in the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes – running down reigning Horse-Of -The-Year Princess Calla to do so – before the sensational Charles Dickens, a homebred Trippi colt, stole the show with a rousing performance to win the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate.
Justin Snaith-trained Grade 2 Premier Trophy winner Mucho Dinero and stablemate Future Swing, winner of the Grade 3 Chairman’s Cup, were other winners on the day bred at Drakenstein, whose familiar blue and white silks should be seen to the fore again on the nine-race card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 13 January.
The Grade 3 Summer Fling Stakes over 2000m (Race 7) is the main event on the card and is another Graded feature likely to go the way of SA’s leading owner-breeder, with Gold Standard filly Hold My Hand expected to capitalise on the favourable conditions of the race by scoring an overdue second career win.
Glen Kotzen’s charge registered her only victory in her second start as a two-year-old during a promising juvenile campaign that also included a Grade 1 fourth in the Thekwini Stakes behind Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Canadian Summer.
She went her entire three-year-old season without success, though did acquit herself competitively at a very high level, finishing third in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas, fourth in the Grade 1 Woolavington Stakes, third in the Grade 2 KZN Guineas and fourth in the Grade 2 Track And Ball Oaks.
While many may point to the fact that Kotzen’s charge has been costly to follow and/or usually finds something to beat her, one can’t help but be encouraged by her belated seasonal reappearance last month.
Hold My Hand returned from a 20-week absence to finish an eye-catching third in the 1800m Grade 3 Victress Stakes four weeks ago. She lost two lengths out the gates and was beaten just 1.55 lengths by winner Saartjie, so could well have won if jumping on terms.
Happy Chance, who finished second at level weights, subsequently franked that form with a close-up third in the Paddock Stakes behind Beach Bomb, to whom she was conceding 5.5kg.
On the strength of that form and with improved fitness on her side after a cracking comeback run, Hold My Hand ought to reward her followers by delivering further success to Drakenstein. And Kotzen is taking no chances either, booking Richard Fourie for the ride!
Brett Crawford-trained Futura filly Charlene is another homebred on the card with a winning chance in Race 2, although the prospect of another Drakenstein winner is much greater in Race 8 over 1400m.
Snaith-trained Gimmethatpearl, a daughter of Champion Sire Gimmethegreenlight, and Fire Away filly Andi’s Girl, from the stable of Mike and Adam Azzie, are promising three-year-old fillies with a good each-way chance from good inside barriers. However, fellow sophomore Trip To Maputo looks a cut above those and it should pay to follow her progress.
Candice Bass-Robinson’s charge attracted spirited betting support, despite a wide draw, when finishing a staying-on third over the course and distance. She was edged out by Senhora Victoria (0.5kg better off) for second but is unlikely to be beaten by that rival again, with the latter drawn out wide in stall No 15.
Trip To Maputo, a daughter of Drakenstein’s flagship sire Trippi, is highly regarded by her connections and even under 61kg, can be confidently backed to give weight and a beating to her rivals with regular rider Aldo Domeyer in the irons.
Clive Robinson
