Captain Of All produced a brilliant front-running performance to win the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Medallion over 1200m at Scottsville on Saturday, finding extra to deny the late challenge of favourite Willow Magic (AUS). Captain's Reserve (SAF) ran on late to snatch third place from Kochka (SAF).
Sean Cormack had no hesitation in taking Captain Of All to the front, with Kochka and Tommy Gun also showing good pace. The fancied Normanz tracked this trio with Willow Magic in touch wider out and Captain's Reserve further back.
Captain Of All was sent for home 300m out as Willow Magic came out of the pack to give chase. These two drew clear of the rest and although Willow Magic, who eventually switched inwards for a run, chased hard, the early leader always seemed to just have something in reserve and he responded well to Cormack's urgings to win by a length.
Sent off at 9/1, Captain Of All has always been well-regarded, having been sent off favourite on debut, only to be edged out by Kochka, before going on to post a facile maiden victory . He has clearly improved at a rate of knots, given that he reversed the form with Kochka to the tune of six lengths here. He looks a genuinely top-class sort, as Willow Magic is a formidable rival, and the rest of what looked to be a very competitive field was well beaten. Trainer Dennis Drier is master at planning his charges' programmes and he can look forward to some exciting times with his new juvenile star.
Willow Magic couldn't summon up the extra to get past the winner when the heat was on, but he was far from disgraced. He had five lengths to spare over the third horse, so he remains a very smart performer in his own right.
Captain's Reserve came from off the pace and, although well beaten, was doing his best work late. We should be hearing a lot more from him, especially over a touch more ground, and he is one to follow.
Kochka, as mentioned, found the form of his debut win over Captain Of All emphatically reversed, but, although outgunned on this occasion, plugged away gamely after being up with the pace throughout. He'll find easier opportunities than this to get another win on the board.
The race proved to be a triumph for home-bred stallion Captain Al, who sired the first and third home.
2 b c Captain Al - Serious Side by Fard (IRE)
Owners: Mrs I Jooste & Mr M J Jooste
Bred by Riverton Stud
Winning trainer: Dennis Drier
Race 6 - R600K - TSOGO SUN MEDALLION (Grade 1)
For 2 year-olds - 1200m |
| No |
Horse |
Jockey |
Al/Bl |
Kg |
Dr |
Fin |
Dist |
Time |
OP |
SP |
| 3 |
CAPTAIN OF ALL |
Sean Cormack |
A |
58.0 |
10 |
1 |
0.00 |
68.10 |
25/2 |
9/1 |
| 13 |
WILLOW MAGIC (AUS) |
Piere Strydom |
A |
58.0 |
11 |
2 |
1.00 |
68.27 |
22/10 |
9/10 |
| 4 |
CAPTAIN'S RESERVE |
Bernard Fayd'Herbe |
A |
58.0 |
12 |
3 |
6.00 |
69.15 |
9/2 |
10/1 |
| 8 |
KOCHKA |
Glen Hatt |
A |
58.0 |
1 |
4 |
6.05 |
69.16 |
18/1 |
10/1 |
| 11 |
TOMMY GUN |
Fanie Chambers |
A |
58.0 |
3 |
5 |
7.80 |
69.48 |
22/1 |
22/1 |
| 12 |
VELVET VERONA |
Juan Paul V'D Merwe |
A |
58.0 |
13 |
6 |
13.55 |
70.53 |
36/1 |
29/1 |
| 2 |
BAH |
Deon Sampson |
a |
58.0 |
6 |
7 |
14.05 |
70.62 |
45/1 |
55/1 |
| 6 |
FOYLE |
Anthony Delpech |
A |
58.0 |
7 |
8 |
14.80 |
70.76 |
10/1 |
22/1 |
| 1 |
ACE ANTONIUS |
Karl Neisius |
A |
58.0 |
4 |
9 |
15.05 |
70.81 |
18/1 |
29/1 |
| 9 |
NORMANZ |
Anton Marcus |
A B |
58.0 |
2 |
10 |
17.55 |
71.28 |
14/10 |
3/1 |
| 7 |
HILLBROW |
Francois Herholdt |
A |
58.0 |
5 |
11 |
19.05 |
71.56 |
36/1 |
55/1 |
| 5 |
CHEKILLI |
Scratched |
| 10 |
PETER CULTURE |
Scratched |
|
