Eight on Eighteen reigns supreme at World Sports Betting Cape Town MET
The sole 3YO in the field, EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN made a slashing move down the inner rail, swooping in the final furlong to win the World Sports Betting Cape Town MET Grade 1 over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
The winner is by Lancaster Bomber out of the Captain Al mare, Sempre Libre and is trained by Justin Snaith. Drakenstein Stud are the breeders.
Jockey Richard Fourie was bullish going into the race, feeling that only immaturity could beat his seriously talented, rapidly-developing mount who carried 54kg.
As it happened, EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN had additional gears that proved decisive; his older rivals could not match the turn of foot he flashed when it counted as he came from ten lengths back.
Second place was filled by doughty pace-setter, ORIENTAL CHARM who showed resolution on the standside rail, just half a length in arrears. Always thereabouts MONTIEN, SEE IT AGAIN and RASCALLION completed the order of an exciting finish.
The top nine home were under three lengths off the winner in a hotly contested showdown. The final time of this iconic and historic race was 123.68.
EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN was having just his seventh career start and his first over middle distances. He handled the new circumstances without a miss-step and duly saw off accomplished older rivals just as the betting market anticipated. EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN started a popular favourite at 18/10.
In the HKJC (Hong Kong Jockey Club) World Pool Cape Flying Championships (WFA) Gr 1 race, a dash over 1000m, GIMME A PRINCE pulverised the field. He is an awesome performer when all parts are in working order, and it is a huge credit to trainer Dean Kannemeyer that the 6YO son of Gimmethegreenlight, bred by Khaya Stables, is adding to his stellar resume, despite fragile knees.
He had sufficient speed to stay close enough to the early pace before launching a devastating burst (21.9 seconds for the final 400m) that propelled him 5.75 lengths clear of SURJAY.
LUCKY LAD closed ground to sneak third ahead of last year’s winner, DYCE, who showed his usual pace but could not muster a riposte when challenged.
GIMME A PRINCE started at 9/2 and was ridden stylishly by an exuberant Craig Zackey. This is the brilliant but fickle gelding’s 7th win from 16 starts.
RASCOVA eked out a wafer-thin margin victory over odds on favourite DOUBLE GRAND SLAM in the Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes (WFA) (Gr 1) over 1600m. The winner is a daughter of Lancaster Bomber out of the Western Winter mare, Netsuke and was bred at Cheveley Stud.
The diminutive filly may be somewhat non-descript physically but in trainer Glen Kotzen’s words, has “the heart of a lion”.
Indeed, the sterling RASCOVA has competed at the highest level throughout her career, and this was a deserved success in a prestigious Gr 1 which carries significant value for breeding.
High percentage jock, Gavin Lerena, did everything just right: getting into the trail behind FATAL FLAW, then making a late surge in the final stages down the rail.
DOUBLE GRAND SLAM, slow out, unsettled down the backside and wide, made an early dash for glory but missed out on the bob in a photo finish, having run five meters further according to Gallop track data.
3YO filly, ROCCAPINA, ran well to secure third stretching out to a mile with KINDA WONDERFUL in fourth. Early leader, FATAL FLAW, ran below par after blowing like a gale in the betting (15/10 out to 5’s). She led at a moderate pace, before weakening uncharacteristically out the money.