For the second week running a replacement rider for Weichong Marwing won a big race and the fortunate substitute this time was young JP Van der Merwe, who rode an ice cool race.
Smart Call, who was bred and is also owned by Mauritzfontein Stud, won the Grade 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes just three weeks ago, and on Saturday was her third career Grade 1 victory.
Van der Merwe always knew he would be substitute but after a nail-biting week he eventually only received the call confirming Marwing would be stood down on the morning of the race.
Smart Call was always handy in about fifth place behind surprise pacemaker Legislate. The favourite, the Sean Tarry-trained Legal Eagle, turned for home in second place and had every chance. However, he had no answer to the filly, who swept to a commanding 3,5 length victory. She had been backed confidently by some and eventually converted odds of 8/1.
Legal Eagle, who started at odds of 16/10, held on for second and was a length clear of the Brett Crawford-trained 8/1 chance Captain America. The Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap winner, the Glen Kotzen-trained Light The Lights, showed just how much he had improved since gelding by finishing fourth at odds of 40/1.
The Mike Bass-trained Grade 2 Premier Trophy winner Paterfamilias also confirmed the improved form he has shown this season by finishing fifth ahead of the disappointing Legislate. The biggest disappointment was last year’s winner Futura, who could only beat three horses home in the 14
horse field despite looking a picture in the preliminaries.
The other Grade 1 race on the day, the Betting World Cape Flying Championship over 1 000m, was a thriller and the Brett Crawford-trained Gulf Storm just got there in a four-way dive for the line.
The favourite Carry On Alice was out in front from quite early on in the race and as usual found another gear. However, she began to feel the effort in the final stages and three horses charged at her, Gulf Storm, Brutal Force and Tevez.
Gulf Storm was running in first time blinkers and just got his nose down on the line to deny the giant Brutal Force. Carry On Alice was only 0,3 lengths further back and a short-head separated her and Tevez.
Source: African News Agency (ANA)
