The Gr 3 Cape Classic is one of the important early pointers to the Cape Guineas and Derby and Saturday's running of this 1400m event at Kenilworth threw up a brilliant weight-carrying performance from Joey Ramsden's Act Of War (SAF) who produced a sustained late effort to collar hot favourite MLJet (SAF). This pair finished well clear of third-placed Heartland (SAF) as Sheer Trouble (SAF) completed the quartet.
Both Act Of War and MLJet were returning from layoffs, neither having raced since July, but the latter was understandably sent off at short odds, as he was receiving 4.5kg from his main rival, despite being rated 13 points higher. Once the field had settled into some sort of order, it was Zingaro who led from Heartland and Moonlight Runner. MLJet was next best, giving about three lengths' start, while Anton Marcus gave Act Of War a confident ride, sitting near the rear, a couple of lengths behind the favourite.
Heartland took up the running soon after entering the straight but was tackled by MLJet who soon had his measure. The latter forged ahead and looked on course to notch up his first graded victory but Act Of War got going late down the outside and produced a really eye-catching finishing effort to grab the honours in the final strides.
Act of War has now won four in a row since finishing second on debut and this was a top class effort at the weights. As a son of Dynasty, he looks set to go even further and he must be an early fancy for the bigger Gr 1 prizes for 3-year-olds this summer.
MLJet went down narrowly and, strictly on paper, will struggle to reverse the form if, as expected, they meet again at level weights in the major classics. However, there's no telling just how much he would have needed the run and he should improve considerably with this effort under his belt.
Heartland had no chance with the two big guns in the race but he ran a respectable race for a horse having only his second career run, especially as he seemed to expend a fair amount of energy to get into position early on. The full brother to Jackson will be well worth keeping an eye on.
Sheer Trouble was up in class here and didn't disgrace himself against this quality of opposition.
3 b c Dynasty - Si Senorita by Cordoba (USA)
Owners: Mrs I Jooste & Mr M J Jooste
Bred by Arc-En-Ciel Stud
Winning trainer: Joey Ramsden
Race 7 - R250K - CAPE CLASSIC (Grade 3)
For 3 year-olds - 1400m |
| No |
Horse |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Al/Bl |
Kg |
Dr |
Fin |
Dist |
Time |
OP |
SP |
| 1 |
ACT OF WAR |
Anton Marcus |
J Ramsden |
A |
58.5 |
6 |
1 |
0.00 |
87.18 |
2/1 |
4/1 |
| 2 |
MLJET |
M J Byleveld |
V H Marshall |
A |
54.0 |
3 |
2 |
0.30 |
87.24 |
8/10 |
11/20 |
| 4 |
HEARTLAND |
Muzi Yeni |
S J Snaith |
A |
52.0 |
7 |
3 |
3.80 |
87.91 |
9/2 |
6/1 |
| 8 |
SHEER TROUBLE |
Grant Van Niekerk |
M W Bass |
A |
52.0 |
4 |
4 |
3.90 |
87.93 |
16/1 |
28/1 |
| 6 |
PRINCE OF EDEN |
Corne Orffer |
J Ramsden |
A |
52.0 |
1 |
5 |
5.90 |
88.31 |
14/1 |
33/1 |
| 9 |
SAINT DONAN |
Devin Ashby |
A G Maeder |
A |
52.0 |
2 |
6 |
6.30 |
88.39 |
50/1 |
110/1 |
| 7 |
MOONLIGHT RUNNER |
Gerrit Schlechter |
P D Reeves |
A |
52.0 |
5 |
7 |
6.50 |
88.43 |
33/1 |
50/1 |
| 5 |
ZINGARO |
Greg Cheyne |
G S Kotzen |
A |
52.0 |
8 |
8 |
7.00 |
88.53 |
20/1 |
20/1 |
| 3 |
AL CAPITANO |
Scratched |
|
