The Gr 2 Selangor Cup, run over 1600m at Kenilworth on Saturday, promised to be a cracking race but it was rendered even more memorable as master jockey Piere Strydom notched up the 5,000th win of his career aboard favourite Act Of War (SAF). Kingvoldt (SAF) returned to form with a creditable second ahead of MLJet (SAF) and Balance Sheet (SAF).
Cotton Hill and Generalissimo traded blows up front for the lead as Act Of War tracked them ahead of MLJet, Kingvoldt, Balance Sheet and Catkin.
Cotton Hill eventually led them into the home straight where he once again gave way to Generalissimo but the stage was being set for Act Of War, who cruised into the lead once asked the questtion. The result was never in doubt and with the expected challenge from second-favourite MLJet not materialising, it was left to Kingvoldt to chase home the winner and ensure the first two places went to the Joey Ramsden yard.
A visibly emotional Strydom was provided with a special presentation afterwards and master of ceremonies Neil Andrews made the observation that it was apt that win number 5,000 had been achieved aboard a horse who looks something special and of whom we should should hearing a lot more. The Cape Guineas now beckons for the son of Dynasty, who also sired another Gr 2 winner on the day when Legislate coasted home in the Green Point Stakes.
Kingvoldt had actually looked the rising star in the Ramsden yard last season before things went awry for him and he was eclipsed by Act Of War. He needed to put in a good effort here to restore the faith and duly did so. He seemed to enjoy the step up to a mile and he may yet deliver on the potential he showed as a juvenile.
MLJet has now been beaten twice by Act Of War without any apparent excuses and will have his work cut out to reverse the form if they clash in the Cape Guineas as he will meet his rival on worse terms there. He showed too much promise as a juvenile to be written off, and he may come into his own as the season progresses, but he does have a few questions to answer at present.
Balance Sheet faced his acid test here and ran reasonably well, given the quality of the trio that beat him home.
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 6 - R400K - SELANGOR CUP (Grade 2)
For 3 year-olds at Condition Weights - 1600m |
| No |
Horse |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Al/Bl |
Kg |
Dr |
Fin |
Dist |
Time |
OP |
SP |
| 1 |
ACT OF WAR |
Piere Strydom |
J Ramsden |
A |
58.0 |
6 |
1 |
0.00 |
97.05 |
7/10 |
6/10 |
| 2 |
KINGVOLDT |
Bernard Fayd'Herbe |
J Ramsden |
A |
58.0 |
2 |
2 |
2.25 |
97.47 |
10/1 |
22/1 |
| 3 |
MLJET |
M J Byleveld |
V H Marshall |
A |
56.5 |
5 |
3 |
4.50 |
97.89 |
5/2 |
33/10 |
| 6 |
BALANCE SHEET |
Karl Neisius |
D Kannemeyer |
A |
56.5 |
3 |
4 |
5.50 |
98.08 |
8/1 |
18/1 |
| 7 |
COTTON HILL |
Anthony Andrews |
J Ramsden |
A |
56.5 |
4 |
5 |
6.75 |
98.31 |
33/1 |
100/1 |
| 4 |
GENERALISSIMO |
Sean Cormack |
D R Drier |
A |
56.5 |
1 |
6 |
8.25 |
98.60 |
7/2 |
8/1 |
| 5 |
CATKIN |
Greg Cheyne |
J Ramsden |
A |
56.5 |
7 |
7 |
10.50 |
99.03 |
14/1 |
25/1 |
|
