Clouds Unfold proves 1600m is within her ambit

There were three other Grade 1 races at Kenilworth on Saturday and all of them produced a worthy winner.

Perhaps the most thrilling was the R1-million Bidvest Majorca Stakes over 1600m in which Drakenstein Stud- bred and owned filly Clouds Unfold gave her sire, What A Winter, a first Grade 1 victory when she handed a first defeat to fellow three-year-old Front And Centre.

Candice Bass-Robinson’s father, Mike Bass, trained the father and now Mike’s daughter the What A Winter filly.

Most people believed she was suspect over 1600m following her well-beaten third behind Front And Centre on the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas but Aldo Domeyer’s mount proved her fl at run was not her true form.

Snowdance had won for the same owners last year and got across from her wide draw to lead, followed by Goodtime Gal, Fiorel-la and Front And Centre.

Lady In Black travelled in mid-field, while Clouds Unfold turned for home with only two behind her, and a good eight lengths off the gallop.

With 300m to go Front And Centre started to look extremely threatening, but hard against the outside rail Domeyer was visibly sitting on plenty of horse, and he swiftly moved on by entering the final 200m.

After that there was only one winner, and she went on to score very comfortably by 1.50 lengths over Lady In Black, who just got the better of Front And Centre late on.

The disappointing performance of Lady In Black must have immediately have worried sup-porters of Oh Susanna in the Sun Met as there was little to choose between the two on recent form.

Once again it showed form does not lie. Newly qualified jockey Diego de Gouveia scored his first Grade 1 win with a thrilling victory on Atyaab in the G-Bets Cape Derby over 2000m.

Atyaab was Mike de Kock’s only runner on the day, and as we all know he doesn’t come to Cape Town for the scenery.

And as usual the outspoken master wasn’t shy to speak his mind.

“When I watched the preview this morning I had to check that my horse hadn’t been scratched as it wasn’t mentioned. I thought this was a B-division field, my horse stays well, and we had to take our chances,” he said.

The filly, Helen’s Ideal, set a reasonable gallop, with Senatla, Sailing Lizard and Herodotus all handily placed.

As they turned for home Atyaab was about five lengths off the gallop, while eventual runner-up Charles languished near the rear.

Helen’s Ideal still held a handy lead halfway up the straight, but the staying types were starting to gather momentum.

Atyaab made a late surge wide out, but on his outside Charles unleashed a powerful finish, and virtually got alongside with 100m to go.

De Gouveia coaxed a little more out of his mount though, and he prevailed by a hard-fought neck.

Herodotus stayed on for third a couple of lengths back, followed by a never-dangerous weak 9-2 favourite Bunker Hunt.

Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie won the first Grade 1 at Kenilworth, as Kasimir got the better of Bold Respect late. Pleasedtomeetyou, Bold Respect, Rocky Valley, and Pacific Trader cut out the early fractions, with Kasimir a few lengths off the speed.

Bold Respect looked a likely winner with 200m to go, but Kasimir gradually got the upper hand, and went on to win by 1.75 lengths.

Search Party got going late to take third from Pacific Trader on the post.

Trip To Heaven also made late headway but by then the bird had flown. Magnificent Seven stayed on strongly to win the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Stayers over 2800m in the final feature at Kenilworth.

He kept on strongly to get every inch of the trip and fought off a late challenge from Dynasty’s Blossom to win by 0.40 lengths.

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