It has been a fantastic season to date for the string of VE purchased juveniles. Success in the Cape has been particularly rewarding due to the strength of the juvenile features and the calibre of buying operations racing in the region. One does not merely have to “fall over the line” against three rivals to win a “group” race.
There have been six feature races run under the Cape juvenile programme to date. We have managed to win five of them. Notably also finishing 1-2-3 in the Charles Dickens Stakes on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day. The only race that eluded the team was the Winter Nursery won by Greg Ennion’s Tag And Release.
A special mention to our trainers who have been exceptional in keeping these precocious horses on the boil. Firstly, the Snaith team had Champagne Castle in fine fettle during the peak of the Cape Summer. The Steyn partnership helped furnish Red Spice impeccably to become the top juvenile of the Cape Summer season. Glen Kotzen and his Woodhill team guided Catwalk King into the Winter very well and has become the “first feather in the cap” of their new Milnerton base.
Once again, the support of the Wernars Family, Mukund Gujadhur and Rikesh Sewgoolam has been nothing short of emphatic and every bit of success enjoyed with this partnership is thoroughly enjoyed. With the stock on the track and waiting in the wings they are set to enjoy many more seasons fo high level victories.
The final feature of the season will be The Langerman, a race steeped in history and always a fantastic pointer to the Cape Guineas in December.
