Silvano produced a Gr2 and Gr1 on Cape Guineas day at Kenilworth – both horses interestingly out of Jet Master mares and owned by prominent international owners.
Mike de Kock’s Australia-bound superstar Hawwaam is set to shorten dramatically in the betting for the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met after a facile first victory in the Cape at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Defying an unwanted delay at the start and a less than ideal pace, the 4yo colt ridiculed the second run-after-a-rest bogey to win the R350 000 Gr2 Premier Trophy in style.
Anton Marcus points Hawwaam home as Bunker Hunt (Bernard Fayd’herbe) chases in vain (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
While his SA career is far from over, with two Gr1 commitments in the next six weeks, it was mission accomplished for the victorious De Kock team after their original Cape programme had to be aborted thanks to an AHS outbreak and the Gauteng weather.
A lamb in the parade ring and going down to the start early, the Hawwaam dream looked to have possibilities of unravelling after the start was delayed for some time with Bunker Hunt having lengthy equipment adjustments.
Cool as a cucumber, on the surface anyway, Anton Marcus jumped off the champion and allowed the handler to ring him behind the gates as the Cape starting team crowded around Bunker Hunt.
Having his first run on a left-handed track and only his second after a five month break, with a forgettable Vodacom Durban July bid sandwiched in between, Hawwaam was always in touch with the top trio as Twist Of Fate led Tap O’Noth and Capoeira into the run for home.
At the 350m he ranged up and went on under a hands ride and drew clear to beat the late finishing Bunker Hunt by 2,25 lengths in a time of 110,59 secs.
Twist Of Fate was 5 lengths off the winner in third, marginally ahead of the newly gelded Doublemint.
Ridgemont Highlands jockey Anton Marcus said he felt more relief than jubilation at the line.
“It’s comes with a bit of extra responsibility when you ride horses like this. I have so many people to thank. What a team effort. Malan du Toit, the starters, the stipes,” he added.
Mathew de Kock looked after Hawwaam at Milnerton.
“Everybody has gone out of their way. One gets the feeling that Hawwaam has something of a following. We are very fortunate to be able to train horses like this. It’s now on to the Queen’s Plate,” he said.
A R1 million National Yearling Sale graduate, the half-brother to Sun Met winner Rainbow Bridge was bred by Mauritzfontein & Wilgerbosdrift, and is a son of multiple champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the seven-time winning SA Broodmare Of The Year, Halfway To Heaven (Jet Master).
Hawwaam has won 8 of his 9 starts with 1 place for stakes of R5 922 275.
Trainer Brett Crawford saddled his second Hong Kong-connected Cape Guineas winner when the Varsfontein-bred Kilindini stormed to an impressive victory in the R1 million Gr1 classic at a sunny Kenilworth on Saturday.
Crawford’s previous Guineas victory came in 2013 when Bernard Fayd’herbe piloted Elusive Gold to victory in the Grand Parade Investments sponsored feature for owner Mr C W Hui.
Sail From Seattle’s maiden Gr1 winner, Elusive Gold was subsequently exported to Hong Kong – a likely path for Kilindini after Saturday’s success.
Corne Orffer steers Kilindini to an eyecatching victory (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Bred on the Silvano-Jet Master cross that produced earlier winner Hawwaam, the Edmond Siu owned Kilindini tentatively placed another piece into the current classic puzzle when he soared to an almost effortless victory off an enterprising ride by Corne Orffer.
The Crawford Racing rider caught the opposition napping when bouncing Kilindini clear of his field down the inside at the top of the straight.
Unexposed at feature level previously, Kilindini came in off a 99 rating and easily beat a collection of Gr1, Gr2 and Gr3 feature winners rated anywhere from 115 down.
Galloping on powerfully and virtually unchallenged, Kilindini held his stride all the way to the wire to beat the staying on and supremely consistent Viva Rio – who was best of the Concorde Cup top four – by 1,75 lengths in a time of 99,83 secs.
Crawford thanked Hong Kong-based Tony Millard for his assistance.
A R2,8 million 2018 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale graduate, Kilindini is out of the stakes placed Jet Master three-time winner Kiss And Fly.
He has won 3 races with 3 places from his 6 starts for stakes of R761 525. The winner also banked the R150 000 BSA Added Value Stakes Bonus.
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