15/10 favourite, LION RAMPART romped in the Somerset 1200 for two- year-olds, demolishing the opposition by a wide margin. The One World ex Saltire colt took command of the six furlong race and went through the gears after shifting to the inside rail under Richard Fourie to leave MISS WORLD toiling in his wake by 3.75 lengths. A one-paced, TALK TO THE MASTER was far back (seven lengths) in the lower trifecta slot.
Trainer Vaughan Marshall said of the blinkered colt who has now won three of seven starts, “He was still green those first few runs and is learning as he gets stronger. LION RAMPART is a wonderful little horse.”
The unstoppable Fourie was yet again on a roll during Sunday’s meeting, riding winner after a winner (LION RAMPART was his 327th) as he closes in rapidly on Anthony Delpech’s annual record of 334 wins, with nearly two months of the racing season remaining.
The phenomenal Fourie was at it again on Piet Steyn’, Captain of All gelding, MEU CAPITANO who handled the step up in class with aplomb, winning the 1200m Winter Sprint after making an early dash for glory going through the 400m mark.
In so doing, Fourie’s mount landed a market plunge having shortened from 5/1 into 2’s. Bookies took a hammering on Sunday’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth card as a procession of market steamers got the business done for punters fervently following the trend- is- your- friend, “Fourie Factor”.
Seizing the initiative proved the correct strategy in this 1200m contest. All around the world, the top jocks just make it look easy, instinctively making the optimal move. Fourie confirmed, ‘They went slow so I decided to go early.”
Trainer Steyn explained that his charge was a real handful when he came into training, and it was a struggle to even put the bridal on. Steyn is a fine horseman with loads of experience working with unruly horses. In Sunday’s preliminaries, MEU CAPITANO was a tiny bit edgy, but he settled down come race time and rationed his energy till just the right moment in the race itself.
QUESTIONING, who was conceding 7.5kg’s to his three-year old contemporary, gamely secured second ahead of pace-presser, JERUSALEMA RAIN with leader, BEREAVE weakening into fourth place.
