There could be a truckload of value about Gareth van Zyl’s runner Salani Kahle in the Grade 2 SA Derby over 2450 at Turffontein. If you’re quick on the button, you can get deep double-figures about him before the start of Race 9 at 16:15 on Saturday.
At this writing, there was 19-1 available on World Sports Betting, with 20-1 on the Lucky Fish and Hollywoodbets websites, and as much as 22-1 with bookmaker Lance Michael. WSB’s betting chart shows that Salani Kahle opened at 14-1 and drifted through 16-1 and 17-1 in the last few days. One has to wonder why, but it is possible that the strong ante-post sentiment for the filly, Curious Girl, has something to do with it.
Are we barking up the wrong tree? Well, only the race will show, but Salani Kahle is the fourth-highest rated runner in the race – rated higher than Curious Girl, the second-favourite Diogenes and the third-favourite, Texas Missile. He has a beautiful, flowing action, has won two of only four starts in emphatic fashion and there was an excuse for his defeat when he attempted a hat-trick of wins last time.
One also has to consider that Curious Girl, despite the formidable De Kock factor, has history firmly against her. The available research material shows that the last filly to win the Derby was Noble Lady, in 1917, just after the start of World War I! It is true that female runners have been rare in the Derby since – most have raced in the Oaks – but still, on paper Curious Girl needs to break through a 109-year barrier.
On top of all that, Salani Kahle looks to have the right pedigree to win this prestigious stayer’s contest. His sire, Master Of My Fate, has produced many decent marathon runners including stakes winners Barak, African Adventure, Master Supreme and Love Is A Rose. His dam , Insignis, won the Listed Jacaranda Handicap over 2000m and his damsire, Go Deputy, produced Abashiri, who completed his Triple Crown success by winning the Derby in 2016.
The Van Zyl family – Gavin and Chesney – won the Derby with Seal, who beat English Garden in 2011, and Gareth has shown time and again that he is more than capable around top horses.
Gareth said: “Salani Kahle is an out and out stayer. He’s had a very good prep and we’ve targeted this race for him. He won two good races over 1800m and then got beaten over 1750m when he was incorrectly ridden and they sprinted away from him. He needs time to build up his run, and he should be well suited to 2450m and the long straight at Turffontein. He’s a decent horse, so we’re hoping for the best. It’s all systems go!”
