|
|
|
Run in a good time of 200,4 secs which was the fastest Gold Cup since Space Walk won in 199,3 secs back in 1993, the runners were forced to carry their weights and the Badger Land gelding, winner Highland Night, bred at Highlands Farms Stud, did it with distinction. So also did second-placed Badger's Coast, also a son of Badger Land and half-brother to Surfing Home who ran second to Stateway in 1994, who put up probably the most impressive performance of all the runners in the gruelling event. Since 1970, he is only the fifth horse to fill one of the 99 first three placings carrying 58kg and he did it with a blistering finish coming from the back of the field. With the rain holding off leaving racing conditions perfect, the crowd was treated to some thrilling racing with favourites Lighthouse Girl and Cape Wood winning the first two races. The third race saw favourite Legal Wise beaten into second place by the Northern Guest mare, Arctic Rosette, ridden for "gentleman" trainer Pat Antelme by Sean Cormack. The American-bred filly, Kahzima, was all the rage to win the fourth race, the Air Mauritius Novice Plate over 1 000 metres. She is owned by Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai and carried his world famous blue and white colours to make their first appearance on a track in this province. Breeder Mick Goss played a major role in getting the filly to South Africa where she is now trained by Charles Laird and Anthony Delpech was entrusted with giving the filly her first race in this country. In the parade ring she looked an absolute picture and worthy of her 1-3 odds. She duly won the race in class record time but raced a little on the green side and was forced to work for her victory beating Barada by just a neck. The R150 000 Golden Slipper saw one of the country's most colourful racing characters, Mike Azzie, in the winner's enclosure after his Rambo Dancer filly, Dignify, had won in just outside the race record held by Hoeberg. It was some consolation after his colt National Currency had been beaten on Vodacom Durban July Day and he beamed as brother John Azzie led the filly in. Secret Heart had started 9-10 favourite in that race but had to settle for joint second place with T-Model. In her previous race Secret Heart had dead-heated with Dignify for third place and maybe next time she can go one better than Saturday and dead-heat with something for first. Dean Kannemeyer's Fort Wood colt, Dynasty, was sent out 7-10 favourite for the R200 000 Golden Horseshoe and word was out that it would be "race over" once the starter pulled the lever. But when he did the colt failed to break on terms and, as they raced from the 1 600 metres, he was near the back. Goyougoodthinggo was cracking along at a good gallop and when they turned for home Dynasty had quite a few lengths to make up. Bianconi turned up the heat in the closing stages to pass Goyougoodthinggo and although Dynasty made up a lot of ground, he went down by a length to Charles Laird's colt who made it two out of two for stallion Rambo Dancer in the three-year-old features. The pattern of favourites being beaten continued into the Gold Bracelet where 5-10 chance Dancal failed to find extra in the finish and had to settle for second place behind Kiss Me Quick trained by Charles Laird. In the ninth race it was the turn of Alec Laird to lead in the winner, the Caesour gelding, Hail Caesour. He won a very good race beating Charles Laird's Princely Heir. Pat Riley scored a one-two in the 10th race when stable companions Green To Gold and Kevin's Rule fought out the finish with Green To Gold gaining the upper hand in the closing stages. It was a very special day for apprentice Vikki Badenhorst when she took the National Assembly filly, Enchantress, to the start of the 11th race. Her plan was to get the filly out of the pens and take her to the front then set her alight when they reached the home straight. She executed the plan perfectly and when they came off the false rail she had the filly about seven lengths clear of stable mate Casino Queen and nothing was going to catch her from there. Trainer Mike Bass, who saddled both fillies, said afterwards that Vikki had been riding work for him for some time and he had put her up on Enchantress as he believed it was the best chance he had of giving the young girl her first winning ride. A great team effort as Vikki said Bernard Fayd'Herbe had advised her how to ride the filly. Jockey Kevin Shea had toiled long and hard throughout the day without success but he finally got his reward when he booted the All Fired Up gelding, Tamarino Bay, home for trainer Duncan Howells in the closing race of the meeting. In spite of the weather the day produced some top-class racing and a fitting finale to the Winter Season where Gold Circle showed their appreciation for the public support throughout the year by giving away "thank you" prizes worth hundreds of thousands of rands. |