Cousin Casey Sets Up Epic Clash With Charles Dickens
There have been mixed reactions to Cousin Casey’s magnificent comeback win in the Grade 2 Cape Punters Cup over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday with some convinced he will be too good for Charles Dickens in the Grade 1 R2 million Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas on December 17 and others taking the opposite view.
That is not to say those two will have it all their own way … Saturday’s runner up At My Command, for example, also caught the eye.
Everybody did agree it was a fine training feat by Glen Kotzen to bring the Vercingetorix colt Cousin Casey back in such fine shape.
The most relieved man in the country was jockey Grant van Niekerk, who admitted afterwards he was in the middle of the worst form patch of his career.
The disappointing run of Chansonette earlier on in the meeting had not helped his nerves.
Hopefully this win will provide a confidence boost and see the talented rider raining in the winners again.
It did provide a fillip to owner Ravi Naidoo, who was unable to be on course due to a family bereavement.
The day turned out to be another cracking success in Cape Racing’s strategy to turn the region’s racing around.
The “Festival” strategy worked a treat and saw a lot of people on course and there was a good atmosphere.
Mark Vandeventer analysed the big races on the day on his website sagehorseracing.com:
As the betting market expected, heavily backed 5/4 favorite Cousin Casey (speed score 105 +) went five on the bounce when winning the Punters Cup (formerly named the Selangor/Concorde) – a traditional 1600m pointer to the Cape Guineas.
The astutely bought Vercingetorix colt trained by Glen Kotzen came from midfield to take control when the speed horses collapsed, and freewheeled in by a length from At My Command (s/s 103 +) with Le Morne (s/s 100) and Port Louis (s/s 100) following at a respectful distance.
Kotzen says that Cousin Casey “a magnificent colt but a very late foal, still has quite some growing to do…” and is firmly on track for a tilt at the Guineas in a month’s time.
As good as Cousin Casey undoubtedly is – whether he is up to defeating Charles Dickens (or invaders from the North) is open to debate. Measured on these speed figs Charles Dickens (s/s 110) has an edge. And, though beaten on Saturday, the run of At My Command from draw 15 and held up far off the pace, can be marked up significantly. He could hit a number as high as 107 with a smoother transit so is not out of the Guineas picture either.
We’re Jamming (s/s 99 +) could be a sprinter after all, despite his pedigree suggesting the opposite. That’s the verdict of trainer Justin Snaith after the sturdy son of Duke of Marmalade took out the Sophomore Sprint.
The Cape Nursery winner is training on well after being purchased out of Piet Steyn’s yard and would be an intriguing proposition if pitched into the 1200m Merchants against older, exposed speedballs.
Make it Snappy coming in at only her third start straight off a Maiden win, was cleverly placed in the Summer Bowl as she took advantage of a light mass to defeat Grade 1 heavy weights Marina and Chansonette.
Brett Crawford’s runner went start to finish, earning a speed figure of 100 +, and the rapidly developing Dynasty filly now looks of interest in the Fillies Guineas in early December.
Three trainers Dominate Summer Cup Field Of 19
4Racing Press Release
Johannesburg, 21 November 2022
Trainer Sean Tarry, winner of four of the last five Summer Cups, has the best and the worst of the draws for Saturday’s Grade1 Betway Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein.
In a remarkable sequence of events, two of Tarry’s five runners were the first and last to be allocated a starting gate when the draw for the Betway Summer Cup was done at a Melrose Arch in Johannesburg on Monday evening – and they drew gates 1 and 19 respectively.
Tarry pulled the first number after it was determined that the draw would start with Shango, and duly pulled the number one gate for this six-year-old son of Captain Of All.
Stable companion Pyromaniac was the last to be allocated a starting gate and with all the numbers already drawn except 19, there was no reason for anybody to gasp when it was revealed that this four-year-old Silvano gelding would jump from Commissioner Street.
Tarry, together with trainers Mike de Kock and Johan Janse van Vuuren, dominate the Betway Summer Cup, saddling 13 of the carded 19 runners, with De Kock and Janse van Vuuren on four each and Tarry with five.
“What can you do? It’s all part of the game,” said Tarry about drawing both the inside and outside gates.
“We’ve had good winners from good and bad draws. Who knows, it’s just a matter of how they go on the day, how the pace is, and that the jockeys don’t lose their minds. It’s all important and plays a part.
“We’ve got some good draws, but some of the horses can’t use the draw because they might not have the early speed.
“But the draws do cement a few plans we may have had tactics wise.”
Tarry is also adamant that the draw is not that important, especially over the course and distance.
“Listen, you can overcome any draw over 2000m at Turffontein, I have no doubt about that.
“If the horse is right, it can win from anywhere over this course and distance.
“We’re just happy to be part of the event.”
De Kock is equally pleased with the outcome of the draw.
“I’m happy,” said De Kock, “especially for Aragosta to be on the outside. I think he’s a better horse on the outside, especially in a big field.
“For the rest of my runners, the draws are absolutely perfect.
“Look, it always helps to have a good draw so that you don’t have to rethink things, but in terms of their style of racing and the planning, I’m happy with where they all drew.”
Janse van Vuuren was also more than pleased with the outcome of the draw.
“My main horse, Puerto Manzano, got the best draw at seven and I’m very happy with that.
“We can probably get him four or five lengths off the pace from there and that’s exactly where we want him.
“Astrix drawn 11 is not the end of the world.
“Divine Odyssey is an old man. Drawn nine is ideal for him.
“Second Base doesn’t have much gate speed. He has the worst draw of all my horses, but if I had to pick one for a bad draw, it would have been Second Base.
“All things considered, I’m happy. It could have been better, but it could have been a lot worse.”
Final field for the R2.25-million Betway Summer Cup (Grade 1) over 2000m on the Standside track at Turffontein on Saturday (in order number, draw, horse, trainer, jockey, and weight).
1 – 3 WILLIAM ROBERTSON (C Spies) M V’Rensburg 60.0
2 – 11 ASTRIX (J J van Vuuren) J P v’d Merwe 60.0
3 – 6 MK’S PRIDE (M F De Kock) R Simons 59.0
4 – 5 SPARKLING WATER (M F De Kock) S Khumalo 59.0
5 – 10 SAFE PASSAGE (M F De Kock) M Yeni 58.5
6 – 7 PUERTO MANZANO (J J van Vuuren) K de Melo 58.0
7 – 12 NEBRAAS (S G Tarry) P Strydom 57.0
8 – 15 ARAGOSTA (M F De Kock) R Fourie 55.5
9 – 17 RED SAXON (J A Soma) J Mariba 55.5
10 – 18 SECOND BASE (J J van Vuuren) G Lerena 55.5
11 – 4 ZILLZAAL (S G Tarry) L Mxothwa 55.0
12 – 9 DIVINE ODYSSEY (J J van Vuuren) C Maujean 54.0
13 – 13 LIGHT OF THE MOON (B/Y Botes / Vosloo) D De Gouveia 54.0
14 – 19 PYROMANIAC (S G Tarry) C Habib 54.0
15 – 1 SHANGO (S G Tarry) R A Venniker 54.0
16 – 8 SUPER SILVANO (B Crawford) K Matsunyane 54.0
17 – 2 LITIGATION (S G Tarry) P Mxoli 54.0
18 – 14 JAIMALA (A B Fortune) R Munger 54.0
19 – 16 RAISEAHALLELUJAH (C Dawson) R Danielson 54.0
Same Trainer: (2,6,10,12) (3,4,5,8) (7,11,14,15,17)
Ends
Celestial City, Record R7m Colt, Makes Debut At Turffontein Inside
8th Race: (3) Bonnaroo (6) Tulip Tree (7) Just Be Nice (4) Asiye Phambili
Top Class Entries For CFG, Green Point And Southern Cross
‘Blessed’ Karis Misses Ride On Romantic Warrior, Hopes To Be Back December
Karis Teetan’s regular mount Romantic Warrior, on whom he won the Group 1 QE II Cup, won a Group 2 on Sunday with the leading Australian jockey James McDonald flying in to take the ride. The sidelined rider spoke to Michael Cox about his comeback.
Michael Cox (AsianRacingReport.com)
Popular rider Karis Teetan has spent a frustrating few months away from Hong Kong racing but has been blessed with quality time with family and is ‘hungry’ ahead of possible return in time for International Day
The 32-year-old hasn’t ridden since the third meeting of the season, when he rode three winners at Sha Tin, and has spent nearly three months on the sidelines since as doctors attempted to get to the bottom of a worrying thyroid complaint that caused an elevated heart rate.
Encouraging weekly blood test results on Monday had Teetan hopeful he would receive clearance to begin cardio training soon and be able to get back on a horse for the first time since his condition was first discovered.
“I am just waiting for that all-clear from the Jockey Club doctor to ride trackwork,” Teetan said. “We need to keep monitoring those blood tests, I won’t be rushing and I want to get back step by step and do it properly.
“I have started feeling like myself again, I have started doing some pilates, doing some weights over the last three weeks, but I can now start picking up a little bit more with the fitness.
“I want to ride trackwork, no racing or barrier trials yet, just to meet with some people and sit on a horse again.”
Teetan will miss the return of his 2022 Hong Kong Derby and QEII Cup winner Romantic Warrior this Sunday, with champion Australian-based jockey James McDonald flying in to ride Danny Shum’s four-year-old in the G2 Jockey Club Cup.
Shum has yet to confirm who will ride the four-year-old on International Day but Teetan is taking each day as it comes.
“I spoke to Danny about it and I understand why they want to book him, it’s an important horse and they want to book a top jockey,” Teetan said. “I do not know what is happening in December, and I haven’t looked at taking rides yet.
“I want to be 100 percent fit before I go back to racing.”
When he does return, Teetan said he will be out to make up for lost time.
“I just want to get back on a horse first, but inside I am like a hungry lion wanting to be back,” he said. “I am strong, full of energy and nearly ready to go.”
Emirate Gina Was A Good Value Winner
De Melo’s Ton Up, Roberts/Venniker Double, Mgudlwa Double
National log leading jockey Keagan de Melo reached 100 winners for the season today at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
His wins have come at a strike rate of 21.41%.
Rachel Venniker and Ant Mgudlwa also rode doubles.
Venniker is on 46 wins for the season at 13.49%.
Mgudlwa is on 18 wins at 10.65%.
Both of Venniker’s wins were for Michael Roberts, who is on 19 wins at 13.38%.
Today’s Question
It is said a horse with an uninspiring name can never become a great horse but perhaps Grundy bucked that trend.
This Peter Walwyn-trained colt was a British champion two-year-old colt and later Timeform Horse Of The Year and British Horse Of The Year, and he also won “the race of the century” when downing Bustino is a thrilling duel in the King George at Ascot.
How did Grundy get his name?
(Answer at bottom of newsletter).
Turffontein Inside Fields
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Today’s Question Answer
Grundy acquired his name through his owner Carlo Vittadini’s habitual conflation of the names of sire and dam; Grundy was by Great Nephew out of Word by Lundy.
