The Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby is long established as a race that throws up champions and that certainly looks to be the case after Saturday's running of this 2000m classic.  Bravura (SAF) was the talk of the town leading up to the race and he lived up to the hype with a hard-fought win over Noordhoek Flyer (SNL) to ensure his unbeaten record remained intact. Robert The Bruce (SAF) and Paddy O'Reilly (SAF) filled the minor placings.

Bravura was drawn widest of the 16 runners and immediately went in search of the lead as he tried to get across. He soon gave way to Aim High with Quickshot and Robert The Bruce also prominent. Bold Silvano was just behind these with Captain's Secret in midfield ahead of Irish Flame and Noordhoek Flyer.

Quickshot eventually went out to make the running and brought them in for home, where Bravura took it up again. Captain's Secret an early challenger but was unable to go on with it while Noordhoek Flyer was travelling well, moving up ominously halfway down the straight with the rest struggling to really make an impression.

Noordhoek Flyer and Bravura went hammer and tongs over the last furlong and Noordhoek Flyer looked as if he might have the measure of his opponent but Bravura fought back gamely to register a narrow victory and give notice that he is destined for even bigger things.

Bravura's has oozed class from day one and while his victory here would not have surprised those who have been closely following his progress through the ranks, he still needed to prove he could handle the step up to this company. This he did in no uncertain terms and given normal improvement, the sky appears the limit for the exciting son of Silvano.

Noordhoek Flyer came into the race with slight stamina doubts but he seemed to get the trip well enough and had the rest of the field well beaten. He bumped a good one here and remains a top 3-year-old in his right, with plenty of options open to him for the rest of the season.

Robert The Bruce is not in the same league as the two that beat him but he hadn't run too badly in either the Selangor Cup or Cape Guineas and the step up in trip seems to have done him good.

Paddy O'Reilly hadn't shown in either of those races and this was a much-improved effort as he made up a fair bit of ground in the straight for a creditable fourth.

Bravura (SAF) is a 3-y-o gelding by Silvano (GER) out of Musing (SAF) by Centenary (USA). He is owned by Mesdames I Jooste and V A Foulkes and Mr M J Jooste and was bred by Normandy Stud.

Winning trainer: Joey Ramsden