DYNASTY AND THE DECAGON
THE LONG-AWAITED CLASH

THE clash over ground between the Cape's Dynasty and Gauteng's The Decagon is the clash that most of South Africa's racing enthusiasts have been waiting for.

Both three-year-olds are rated well above average and the connections of each will be hoping their candidate can be rated the top three-year-old in the country.

The answer to which is the better of the two will be decided over 2 000 metres at Kenilworth Racecourse in a week's time when they meet for the first time in the R400 000, Grade 1, Graham Beck Wines Cape Derby on Saturday, February 15.

Both have impressive records and the handicapper has not been able to separate them on what he estimates their ability to be, rating them even at 109 on merit.

In the final event of the Western Cape Summer Season, Dynasty and The Decagon go head-to-head to determine - provided they both have a trouble-free run - which is the top young horse in the country.

Dynasty was humbled when a very short-priced 1-6 favourite for the Cape Argus Guineas by Mike de Kock's Domino Man and De Kock said later that over further Dynasty would, in his opinion, turn the tables on his runner.

Dynasty certainly has looked like he was in need of more ground and he will be strongly fancied to redeem his reputation in this classic event.

The Decagon too has an impressive record with five wins and six places from 12 starts. He has been led into the winner's enclosure in four of his last five starts but he has the disadvantage of having had to travel down to Kenilworth from Gauteng.

Coming from the yard of David Ferraris, however, he is still likely to go to post in the peak of condition and ready to give of his very best.

The 14 final acceptors include some very smart young horses, virtually all with potentially exciting futures ahead of them. Geoff Woodruff has three runners - the Argentinean-bred Tirano, the winner of six of his 11 starts, his countryman Etro who is just a two-time winner and one-time winner, Glitter Bug.

Mike de Kock fields the Fort Wood colt, Hilti, who has three wins and two fourths from five starts and Justin Snaith has two runners in four-time winner, Le Champ, and the Badger Land gelding, King's Lodge.

While Dynasty and The Decagon could be disputing which of them is top-dog in the country, Tirano and Hilti will be making their presence felt in no uncertain terms.

It promises to be another superb race and a fitting finale to the Summer Season, which once again has provided a feast of outstanding thoroughbred racing.

Issued by:  Gill Simpkins

Communications Officer
Gold Circle (Pty) Ltd