One Stripe remains the most exciting three-year-old prospect in the country at present. (Picture: Wayne Marks)
At this time last year the male three-year-old strength appeared to be on the Highveld, but it was only really through two horses, Main Defender and Sandringham Summit, and in the end they didn’t achieve as much as they were expected to and ultimately it was the Cape horse Green With Envy who was named Equus Champion three-year-old male.
The Jonsson Wokwear Dingaans has attracted a big entry and there could be a lot of potential stars. However, the two who have impressed the most are both trained by Mike de Kock and are still unexposed, meaning they are only rated 105 and 96 respectively.
Greaterix was spoken about last season when winning second time out over 1200m by 5,20 lengths. This season he avenged his debut defeat by beating Pistol Pete over 1100m by two lengths, although he was receiving 9kg. He was then stepped up to 1600m and led from start to finish to win a Graduation Plate by 3,50 lengths, beating only three other opponents, but two of them were merit rated above 100. He could still be anything. The grey Vercingetorix colt is out of the Jet Master mare Semra, whose three wins were from 1600m to 2000m. Greaterix could well be a triple crown prospect.
Heather’s Boy is more imposing and this rangy type has a big stride. He is by Rafeef out of the classy Tiger Ridge mare Folk Dance. Heather’s Boy carried 60kg against older horses second time out off a 90 merit rating and fought off a persisent challenger impressively.
The Betway Graham Beck Stakes winner Moonlight Trader (Erupt), ran on well that day and is a progressive sort trained by Paul Matchett. Paul is capable of bringing them on slowly but surely and this horse has begun to blossom.
The Sean Tarry-trained Lancaster Bomber colt Legend Of Arthur is out of a Galileo mare and having run on to be beaten just 0,65 lengths in the Graham Beck, he could shape into a triple crown candidate.
SA Nursery winner Fire Attack from the Alec Laird yard had to give the whole field 2kg in the Graham Beck and in his first run for seven months was beaten by just 1,50 lengths.
Musical Score was beaten just 1,35 lengths in the Graham Beck and this Lucky Houdalakis-trained Oratorio colt is well regarded.
Winds Of Change has not been seen out this season yet, but is one of the highest rated maidens in recent times and has proven ability against top class opposition.
Proceed, last season’s Equus Champion two-year-old male, and his Sean Tarry-trained stablemate Cosmic Speed have also not been sighted yet this season.
Meanwhile, in KZN the Frank Robinson-trained Cat’s Pajamas (Rafeef) and the Mike de Kock-trained Artist’s Model (Buffalo Bill Cody) are both Dingaan’s entries and have plenty of promise, although the former might be more comfortable over shorter than a mile.
When comparing the above to the best in the Cape, it becomes apparent that this season’s Cape three-year-olds look to have a lot of class and depth.
They are headed by the Vaughan Marshall-trained One Stripe (One World), who showed how good he was on October 12 when giving 1kg to last season’s Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot in a 1400m contest and only losing by a length.
The Justin Snaith-trained Vercingetorix colt Sail The Seas (Vercingetorix) impressed on Saturday and is one for the classic notebook.
The Snaith-trained Great Plains (Danon Platina) used his big stride to finish well in the Cape Classic for a second career stakes success.
The horse he beat, the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Vercingetorix colt Boundless Energy, has had the dogs barking for a while and is one to keep an eye on.
All Out For Six (One World) is One Stripe’s stable companion and was only 0,75 lengths behind Boundless Energy in the Cape Classic.
The Snaith-trained Lancaster Bomber colt Eight On Eighteen won the Langerman and this long-striding sort is another who will have to go into the equation.
There are sure to be more emerging and the pecking order should have started to have taken some shape by the end of this month.
