Picture: Jet Dark strides to an easy victory (Wayne Marks)
Justin Snaith scores a five-timer, four of them ridden by Richard Fourie, and the highlight was Jet Dark winning the Grade 3 Cape Mile in relatively effortless fashion.
Cape Racing
Jet Dark’s huge class edge proved decisive in the Grade 3 Cape Mile as Justin Snaith’s Trippi entire smoked rivals with an emphatic win as 9/10 odds on favourite. Silver Operator tried hard 1.75 lengths back in second but was outrun by the multiple Grade 1 victor who has twice won the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Champions Cup. Golden Ducat and Rascallion, both resuming after lengthy injury enforced layoffs, completed the order of finish around three lengths off the high-class winner.
“He’s a fantastic horse and I was confident he would win this off a lovely grass gallop. In the race it’s as if he’s labouring then suddenly, he takes off.’” enthused Jet Dark’s jockey, Richard Fourie.
Snaith said, “He is an impressive individual and I will be training him more aggressively this season, really getting him fit. He will target the Green Point Stakes, L’Ormarins King’s Plate then the WSB Cape Met.”
The same trainer/jockey duo were successful when Kwinta’s Light, conserved off the pace this time rather than using forcing tactics, made a race-winning rally in the centre of the course. She overhauled prominently placed Stiptelik and late dashing Santa Maria in the Laisserfaire Stakes – a Listed sprint handicap over 1100m for fillies and mares three years and up.
Snaith described Gimmethegreenlight’s daughter as “a beautifully bred, game, Stakes filly. “In turn, rider Richard Fourie paid a compliment to the conditioner, “She was so relaxed and well prepared – everything was right today.” The consistent Kwinta’s Light was well overdue this third victory win as she has placed nine times from 15 starts in tough company. Her SP was 7/1.
Baratheon went start to finish under a mosquito weight to take out the Woolavington Stakes L over 2400m. Salvator Mundi was game in chasing through for second, but he could not pass the determined Jackson gelding who made the most of a pull at the weights.
Trainer, Piet Botha felt from the outset that Baratheon had a feature win in him and under favourably fast track conditions his front runner vindicated that confidence. This was only a second win for Baratheon, but that bald fact understates his true ability as he had placed in stronger races during the Winter series behind Gem King and Winchester Mansion.
Bookies took a hit as Baratheon was punted from 4’s into 3/1, the betting market reflecting the trainer’s firm conviction. Botha is keeping options open with his charge – targeting either middle distance races such as the Peninsula or Met, or perhaps stretching Baratheon out over longer routes to take advantage of his proven endurance.
