Justin Snaith was said to be having a worrying quiet patch in the build up to the weekend’s racing, but he then showed this had little to do with the well-being of his string by bagging a five-timer at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
The meeting might also have signaled the beginning of Richard Fourie’s title chase, as he rode four of Snaith’s winners, although he does have a mountain to climb, being on 46 winners after today’s racing compared to log leader Keagan de Melo’s 90.
The highlight on Saturday was Jet Dark’s effortless victory in the Grade 3 Cape Mile.
Fourie divulged that the yard had not given Jet Dark as much of a break after his Champions Cup win as they had given him last season. Therefore, he is more forward now than he was this time last year.
Jet Dark was doing his best work late on Saturday, just as he had done in his world class performance in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate back in January.
His performance on Saturday might encourage the yard to run Captain’s Ransom in the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes, where she will defend her crown, rather than take him on in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, although the public would prefer to see the pair clashing.
IOS Drill Hall Stakes winner Silver Operator stayed on well for a 1,75 length second in the Cape Mile, although at present it would still appear he is best suited to 1400m.
His stablemate Rascallion has never quite lived up to the lofty reputation he had as a young three-year-old, but he would likely have finished third, instead of a 2,95 length fourth, had he not been squeezed out between Jet Dark and Golden Ducat. The incident was caused by Silver Operator hanging outward from the 250m mark and carrying Golden Ducat outward. An inquiry will be held into this incident.
So, it was an encouraging comeback from an injury enforced layoff by Rascallion.
It was also a fine comeback for Golden Ducat from an injury enforced layoff of 18 months.
He finished a 2,75 length third.
Hopefully, this Eric Sands-trained twice Grade 1 winner will line up for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, where he has unfinished business.
Snaith and Fourie also landed the other feature on the day, the Listed Laisserfaire Stakes over 1100m, with Gimmethegreenlight filly Kwinta’s Light. Fourie extracted a sweeping run from off the pace from her and she won by 0,75 lengths carrying 59kg off a 102 merit rating.
Earlier Rockpool (Futura) had stayed on strongly to win fourth time out. He relished the step up to 1600m and got the Snaith/Fourie ball rolling.
The Snaith-trained Pacific Green (Gimmethegreenlight) won a handicap over 1100m under Fourie in a quicker time than Kwinta’s Light recorded, although she was only carrying 55kg.
Furthermore, her time was 0,41 seconds slower than the unbeaten Vaughan Marshall-trained Love In Winter’s time. The latter carried 56kg in a Middle Stakes event and has now won all three of her races.
Snaith’s other win on the day came in the last when Grant van Niekerk led on topweight Running Rifles (Vercingetorix) and cleverly took him to the outside rail in he straight.
The other feature on the day, the Listed Woolavington Stakes over 2400m, saw an enterprising ride from Jabu Jacobs on the Piet Botha-trained lightweight Baratheon, a Millstream Stud-bred Jackson gelding.
