WEEKEND WRAP (Media Release) 15 March 2004 |
|
But the battle never materialised as Geoff Woodruff’s classy Western Winter gelding, undoubtedly the best looking horse in the field in the parade and on the way to the start, ran out an easy winner. Western Winter was never in danger of being challenged once Rhys van Wyk took him to the front in the home straight. It was a let down as far as Dynasty was concerned. The beautiful son of Fort Wood never looked dangerous and he battled to secure third place. Wolf Whistle ran a sensational race with a powerful finish to take second place over a distance far short of his best which is a warning to his opposition that the R1,5-million J&B met is well within his grasp. Before the start there was some concern when Dynasty failed to join the parade and the balance of the field was already on their way out of the parade ring when Dean Kannemeyer’s charge was brought into the ring to be saddled up. There were anxious moments when it was thought he may be withdrawn but he eventually emerged in full regalia for the race. Dynasty has had plenty of work in the run-up to the race and he was strongly fancied to win under the weight-for-age conditions. Strong support saw him starting at the prohibitive odds of 1-3 with Yard-Arm at 4-1. Former horse-of-the-year, Celtic Grove, one of the 50-1 contenders and stable companion to Yard-Arm, was quickest into stride and set the early gallop ahead of Glamour Boy, Domino Man and Badger’s Delight with Yard-Arm and Dynasty back in the pack. As they swept into the straight Kevin Shea sent Domino Man out to challenge the leading trio and Van Wyk slipped Yard-Arm to the inside. Dynasty looked to be travelling well enough in the centre of the field as Karl Neisius moved him to the outside to make a forward move. But while Yard-Arm was accelerating up the inside rail taking the lead and running strongly, Dynasty failed to find any extra and began to hang out. It was soon evident that Yard-Arm would run out an easy winner and, with Dynasty battling and looking like he might even miss the placings, it was Wolf Whistle who stormed up with a strong finish to take second place a full four lengths behind Yard-Arm. Domino Man battled gamely to the line in search of the final Place Accumulator position, but was beaten there by Dynasty with Free My Heart running on for fifth place. After the race it was discovered that Dynasty had got his tongue over the bit which had affected his chances but nothing could be taken away from Yard-Arm who looked superb and ran accordingly. South Africa now awaits round three of the Yard-Arm-Dynasty battle – the J&B Met - which now appears to have another major contender in Wolf Whistle who beat Yard-Arm in the Summer Cup. While Mike de Kock had to settle for second with Wolf Whistle in the Queen’s Plate, he had his reward in the R250 000, Grade 1 Cape Breeders’ Cup Paddock Stakes where his two runners, favourite Escoleta Fitz and 6-1 chance Angelina, fought out the finish with the three-year-old daughter of Rakeen getting the better of the older mare by half a length but giving the stable the first two places. Earlier in the day, the Kannemeyer yard had some consolation for the disappointment of Dynasty when the five-year-old Al Mufti gelding, Roman Charger, strode out beautifully to with the R150 000, Grade 3 WPOTA Peninsula Handicap for the second year running. The gelding’s form since the race last year had been uninspiring but he got it all together on Saturday to win by more than two lengths from Red Badge and Sports Warrior. Gill Simpkins |