By Mark van Deventer
Princess of Gaul suffered a tough trip in the Diana Stakes Gr 3 when held tight on the rail and finished unplaced, but did not encounter a straw in her path when pouncing from a stalking position behind pacemaker She’s My World to score fluently in the Western Cape Fillies Championships at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
Princess of Gaul (by Vercingetorix) was a couple of lengths clear at the wire as 100/1 rank outsider Lowveld Lily (2nd) and Keukenhof contested the places in the 1400m contest.
“She quickened well and was gone” was trainer Dean Kannemeyer’s succinct post-race summary of his charge who had won the Gr 3 Debutante Stakes at her penultimate start in KZN.
Jockey Craig Zackey reckons that 1200/1400m is her ideal distance – and given Princess Of Gaul’s handy positioning in the early sections, it all panned out perfectly when she kicked clear midway down the short straight. Her starting price was 10/1, the race completed in 87 seconds.
Keukenhof was the eye-catcher running on with zest from off the pace. Kannemeyer suspects this long striding closer is a live World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas Gr 1 contender over an
extra panel and with a more suitable 600m straight.
Favoured at 13/10, Eastern Cape raider, Anotherdanceforme came under pressure in the run to the line and was not a factor at the finish, five lengths back.
Legal Counsel dictated from go-to-whoah in the Cape Mile Gr 3 under a cagey ride by Callan Murray. The son of Legislate has now won five of ten starts and this hefty 560kg unit is proving a very hard horse to pass when in a galloping mood.
In a TKO result for punters, the 25/1 longshot was chased in by another 25/1 outsider, Kamchatka (who tracked him all the way in second) and 12/1 mare, Red Palace who was returning from a 287 day pause.
Heavily punted even money favourite, Zeitz did not go through with it – only managing fourth.
Craig Zackey was at his brilliant best on Disting in the Laisserfaire Stakes Listed over 1100m. She was squeezed at the start, dropping out to dead last in a sprint on a quick track, but Zackey, riding with confidence, did not panic. In a perfectly timed late surge, he lifted the Glen Kotzen trained Global View 4YO filly to mug Tanneron one jump before the wire.
Pink Pigeon, always thereabouts and Wild Applause rounded out the Quartet in a tight finish.
Disting had a low winning strike rate going into the Laisserfaire – just one win from 14 starts, hence initial quotes of 16/1. Buried in her past performances was a neat race in defeat down the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth straight, witness a second behind I’m So Pritti in the Olympic Duel in January 2025. As it turned out, Kotzen’s only runner on the day ran back to that peak form to clinch an exciting victory.
Ahead of the Facts marked himself as a stayer of note when romping in the Woolavington Stakes Listed over 2500m. The lightly weighted son of Futura came from second last and took off as if he’d been dropped in the race at the 300m to win as he liked under Yuzae Ramzan.
Ramzan had performed a similar feat on light weight Mucho Dinero in the Woolavington a couple of years ago. Indeed, Ahead of the Facts was not missed in the market as punters latched on in early trade at 12/1, smashing the cleverly placed/well handicapped runner into 33/10 for his targeted assignment.
“He’s a lovely horse – such a kind natured individual.” said trainer Justin Snaith of the well- bought 100K purchase. He also saddled second placed finisher, Master of Paris in a gratifying outcome for Snaith Racing.
