Lucky Fish Cape Derby Attracts Classy Entry Of Nine

Star Choice and Happy Verse, one-two in the Gr 3 HKJC World Pool Politician Stakes, will renew their rivalry in the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby to be run over 200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on February 28 has attracted a class entry of nine and if they all stand their ground it will be a humdinger of a race.

At the head of the list is a filly, the Justin Snaith-trained Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes winner Wish List, who is merit rated 115.

The Maine Chance Farms-bred Legislate filly will get a 2,5kg gender allowance so will effectively be 3kg well-in considering the second highest rated horse in the race is the Gr 3 HKJC World Pool Politician Stakes winner, the James Crawford-trained 114-rated Querari colt Star Major.

Wish List is bred to go this trip and further being by Cape Derby and July winner Legislate out of SA Oaks winner Wind Chill, who is by stamina influence Silvano, and the Snaith’s number one rider at present, Andrew Fortune, will be aboard.

Wish List has drawn well in barrier position two so should settle well behind cover before using her fine turn of foot in the straight.

Star Major is also out of a Silvano mare, the one-time winner over 1900m Star In The Sky, and the latter is in turn out of a Galileo mare. It was little wonder he relished the step up to 1800m in the Politician Stakes and this progressive type should relish a further 200m too.

Star Major has drawn in pole position.

The third highest rated entry is the Snaith-trained 113-rated Happy Verse, who is by Vercingetorix out of a Giant’s Causeway mare. He was a 0,40 length runner up in the Politician Stakes carrying joint topweight together with Star Major and three others. He should enjoy the trip and has a fine turn of foot, so has a chance under Gavin Lerena.

The Vaughan Marshall-trained 105-rated Better Man was a 3,15 length third in the Politician Stakes, but was receiving 1,kg from the first two. However, this One World gelding is out of a Horse Chestnut mare and has always given the impression he would get better as he got older and went over further. He is drawn nine but should be staying on strongly and his trainer will be out to land a third Cape Derby.

The 105-rated Piet and Elbert Steyn-trained Potala Palace gelding Pay The Palace was one of the joint-topweights in the Politician Stakes and finished a 4,15 length fourth. He is yet another entry who is out of a Silvano mare. His dam Northern Ballet’s five wins included two over staying trips and one of them was a Non-Black event over 2500m.

Possibly the most exciting entry is the Snaith-trained Note To Self, as this rangy Futura gelding won effortlessly over 2000m on WSB Met day and looks to have a lot of scope for further improvement. He is out of a mare by stamina influence Judpot and Richard Fourie will be aboard.

The Candice Bass-trained Viva’s Liberte is by Vercingetorix out of the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000-winning Jet Master mare Viva Maria and he has always struck as one who would develop with time into a classic horse. He will be a big runner over a step up in trip he should relish, although he will have to overcome a tricky draw of eight.

The Paddy Kruyer-trained Ignite The Fire is a big rangy type who can do better than last time when setting a fast pace over 1800m. He is by Fire Away out of a speedy Trippi one-time winner and still has to prove he stays this trip. He is up against it off an 88 merit rating.

The Marshall-trained United Front stayed on well behind the promising Foudre over 1600m last time, but being 83-rated and being by One World out of a National Emblem mare whose seven wins were from 1200m to 1400m there are questions.

The Lucky Fish Cape Derby entries are shown below: