Al Muthana thwarts Charles Dickens

Al Muthana caused a massive 80-1 upset when dashing along the outside rail to shatter the hopes of 1-4 favourite Charles Dickens on the line and take out the R2-million L’Ormarins King’s Plate (Grade 1) over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

This was a great personal triumph for trainer Ricky Maingard who won this race decades ago with champion Wolf Power. Big-race rider Bernard Fayd’Herbe, so famously associated with Queen’s Plate legend Pocket Power, cleverly commandeered the outside rail, handling the victor with aplomb.

Defending champion Jet Dark closed ground to get third ahead of Kommetdieding as the top three in the betting filled 2nd, 3rd and 4th slots, but few in the sun-soaked crowd anticipated Al Muthana’s stunning wake up.

The son of Australian stallion Deep Field had won seven of 17 starts going into the King’s Plate, including a smashing victory over the distance in the Gold Challenge at Hollywoodbets Greyville before a couple of lesser efforts.

The experienced and canny Maingard, who has recently relocated from Mauritius with a small string, must be commended on priming Al Muthana at his second start since a rest and switch of stables.

Charles Dickens was backed to the exclusion of the field to go off at 1-4 with Jet Dark available at 9-1. Aldo Domeyer, who got down to ride at 55kg, 3kg less than his usual riding weight, positioned his mount on the fence from his wide draw, with only two behind him.

However, when he attempted to pull off the inside rail as he did in the Cape Guineas and move towards the outside and the ostensibly better going, he made his move down the inside but couldn’t get to Al Muthana.

The R1-million Cartier Paddock Stakes (Grade 1) over 1800m for fillies and mares fell to Make It Snappy, who was well supported from opening odds of 11-2 to go off at 3-1. She is a high-class daughter of Dynasty, who followed up a fluent gun-to-tape victory in the World Sports Betting Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas to again go pretty much start to finish and keep favourite Captain’s Ransom at bay by 0.30 lengths.

Silver Darling finished third, a further 1.25-lengths back.

Trainer Brett Crawford paid tribute to jockey Louie Mxothwa’s judgement of pace. “Now, that was a top-class ride! The filly has improved since the Fillies Guineas and really liked the 1800m. It’s quite remarkable that she has now won two Grade 1s from just five starts. She is very good indeed, and the WSB Cape Town Met is now a possibility.”

The Anthonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy (Grade 2) over 1800m was won by extremely brave Vercingetorix gelding Rascallion in a time a second slower than the Paddock Stakes.

Warrior caught the eye running on from far back to sneak third place but horses positioned handily came to the fore in a tight finish as 11-2 chance, Rascallion held out a resurgent Nexus by 0.30 lengths with front-runner Universal only 0.50-lengths adrift in fourth.

Rascallion’s victory was laudable. He did a suspensory a year ago when beating Do it Again at level weights over this course and distance and it took considerable patience and skill by trainer Vaughan Marshall to restore the long striding gelding to full health. Corne Orffer, alert to the soft early fractions, rode a astute race.

Princess Calla is a real win machine. She proved best in the Cartier Sceptre Stakes (Grade 2) for fillies and mares at WFA over 1200m, sustaining a vibrant gallop throughout to beat off Stiptelik.

Desert Miracle blew the start and weaved through from dead last to be close in third.

Princess Calla is a Flower Alley mare that has won 7 of 17 starts over a range of distances but seems adept over the short cuts since Highveld based conditioner, Sean Tarry has taken over. It’s great to have trainers raiding the Cape from around the country as it adds to the strength and competitiveness of racing - and obviously also helps to boost field sizes. Jockey Gavin Lerena judged the steady pace perfectly, saying afterwards: “She’s loving her racing and still has the will to do it.”

In the finale, eight-year-old, Crome Yellow took out the Merchants On Long Chairman’s Cup (Grade 3) over 2500m. This hardy stayer has come back from tendon issues a couple of times and was winning his 10th race from 37 starts for justifiably proud trainer Andre Nel.

The 33-1 outsider was smoothly handled by Grant van Niekerk. Another bomb, Senso Unico, held second at 50-1 on an engrossing day which mixed fine thoroughbred performances, startling upsets and a few notable comebacks from injury. – Cape Racing