Crawford Racing’s Grade 1 runners for SunMet day
Brett Crawford is intensely motivated in pursuit of more Grade 1 victories. Obviously, even winning a minor race, especially with a difficult or moderate horse, brings genuine satisfaction to any diligent trainer, but the Grade 1’s are the real status symbols for an upper echelon conditioner.
Last year, Crawford Racing landed the Met with Whisky Baron, and Edict of Nantes scored in the Derby. Both are now seeking their fortunes overseas: Whisky Baron has been globetrotting and is currently in Dubai being prepped for upcoming big races, whilst Edict of Nantes was recently sold to Hong Kong interests as part of the Mayfair Speculators stock dispersal.
That leaves Crawford Racing with three representatives in the 2018 SunMet – Captain America, Sail South and Nebula. On Interbet they are priced up at 16/1, 28/1 and 60/1 respectively. Let’s assess their chances in the weight for age showdown with a gross stake of R5 million.
Captain America (Captain Al) has placed second and third in this race before, in 2017 finishing upsides of ruling favourite Legal Eagle. Based on that effort, and high class form throughout an admirable 32 run career, this imposing pace- pressing galloper must have a legit each way shake. Stable jock Corne Orffer mounts up.
Sail South (Sail from Seattle), like his stable mate a seven year old gelding and sporting virtually the same merit rating, has also been a paragon of dependability producing nine wins from 40 starts. He won the Champions Cup in July 2017 when stretching out over 1800m, but tries an extra furlong here for the first time in his life. He has a potent burst of finishing speed, and if coping with the longer route and a wide draw, can launch a late rally under Greg Cheyne.
Nebula (Silvano) has twice won the Algoa Cup over this 2000m distance. Strictly under the terms of this race he has an onerous task off a merit rating of only 105 – hence the long shot odds. Nebula is a nimble sort, so reins-man Sean Veale will try weave through the traffic jams to sneak into the money.
“That’s what you live for as a sportman. You have to put up a fight”- Jurgen Klopp
R1-SOUTH AFRICAN HALL OF FAME FM 84 HANDICAP (F & M) Powered by Samsung (1400m) QUICK BROWN FOX
R2- TATTERSALLS SUMMER JUVENILE STAKES (Listed) (1000m) TRACES
R4- THE CTS 1200 (Non-Black Type) (1200m) DOLLAR TRACTOR
R5-THE CTS 1600 (Non-Black Type) (1600m) UNDERCOVER AGENT TSITSIKAMMA DANCE (RESERVE)
R6-BETTING WORLD CAPE FLYING CHAMPIONSHIP (WFA) (Grade 1) SEACH PARTY BOLD RESPECT
R7-INVESTEC CAPE DERBY (Grade 1) (2000m) WHITE RIVER SPRING MAN
R8-KLAWERVLEI MAJORCA STAKES (WFA) (Grade 1) (1600m) LOUISIANA SEATTLE GOLD
R9-SUN MET CELEBRATED WITH G.H. MUMM (Grade 1) (2000m) CAPTAIN AMERICA SAIL SOUTH NEBULA
R11-CELL C MR 80 HANDICAP (1400M) PARA HANDY
R12-MUMM BOLT MR 86 HANDICAP (1200m)
CLIFTON SUNSET
NASTY HARRY
VALBONNE
R12-TAB FM 80 HANDICAP (F & M) (1200m) MAKE IT RAINE
Crawford Racing’s Grade 1 runners for SunMet day
Crawford has six other shots at Grade 1 glory on the 13 race Kenilworth program. White River (Trippi) and Spring Man (Marchfield) have a dip in the prestigious Cape Derby. White River renews rivalry with Guineas victor Tap O Noth who beat him half a length on that occasion. Being out of a Giants Causeway mare, the extra ground should suit his stretch running style, so he’s quoted at 4/1 on the Interbet exchange.
Spring Man followed a Maiden win with a gutsy fight back over older horse, Mister Colin in a low level handicap. On paper that may not appear nearly good enough to menace classy opponents with triple digit merit ratings, yet the determined Spring Man is making rapid progress from one run to the next and has plenty of upside.
Louisiana (Ideal World) and Seattle Gold (Sail from Seattle) are entered in the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes, a race where it seems that 1/4 odds on favourite Snowdance is so toweringly superior she will just about have to fall down to lose. The objective for Brett’s runners is to sneak some Black Type – Seattle Gold has done well racing on or near the lead and is favourably drawn at 3 on a fast track for such tactics, whilst Louisiana is all heart and will be passing tired fillies in the final stages of this 1600m event.
The Cape Flying Championships gives the speedballs their chance to bomb away with Search Party (Captain Al) and Bold Respect (Bold Silvano) carrying the yard’s aspirations. Search Party’sbest performance last term was a start to finish romp in the Merchants at Greyville. Blinkers now go on after a few dull efforts during Summer – given that he was just two lengths back in the 2017 vintage of this contest, he is not a forlorn case with Richard Fourie riding.
Bold Respect won the lucrative Kuda Sprint at this meeting a year ago. He has been tried over further since, but may just have sufficient natural speed to harass older, proven sprinters. He was mugged on the post two weeks ago in the Sophomore Sprint over 1200m, and now turns back to 1000m with Corne Orffer doing the steering.
It’s time for the Sun Met and in celebration of the biggest racing day in the Western Cape, Interbet will be giving away DOUBLE LOYALTY POINTS on all horse racing bets placed between Friday and Saturday, 26 – 27 January 2018
Points can be redeemed for betting credits that can be used to increase your bankroll!
Log in now to find out what loyalty tier you are on and how many points you have.
The Interbet leaderboard is of Captain America. Their betting is up for the 13 races carded on the day. All of Captain America, Sail South and Nebula have decent odds and could represent good bets. To be noted that exotic bets placed from the Interbet site intermingles directly through to the tote, this is a win for horse ownership as this feeds into Stakes.
You can Register with Interbet on their website, and look out on our twitter with our video preview of the Sun Met.
L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate finish is a very close one. Having lead for most of the race Captain America finishes 3rd, behind winner Legal Eagle and Copper Force in 2nd, and a fast finish from Sail South in 4th. The race serves as a great prequel of the Sun Met and the 2000m of thundering hooves.
