Champion trainer Mike de Kock captured his fourth G1 Cape Guineas at Kenilworth Saturday, after Noah From Goa delivered by a measured three-quarter lengths for breeder Wilgerbosdrift Stud and partners. Hard sent from the stalls, the 5-1 shot secured a ground-saving position against the rails in third, as Hard Day's Night (SAf) (Warm White Night {SAf}) showed the way while closely shadowed by Budapest (SAf) (Lithuanian {Aus}) just off his right flank. Positions remained largely unchanged down the backstretch and Anthony Delpech had Noah From Goa poised for his bid turning into the straight. The chestnut gelding burst to the head of affairs, and, steered towards the center of the course, held firm under vigorous handling to win. A host of challengers launched their rallies too late, with G1 Durban Golden Horseshoe runner-up Brazuca out-finishing G2 Selangor Cup third Nassa, who was also bred by Wilgerbosdrift Stud. One-paced G1 Cape Fillies Guineas heroine and 4-5 favorite Silver Mountain (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}), looking to become only the second filly to complete the G1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Guineas double, ran fourth and was found to have suffered a cut on her right hind leg during the running.
“Noah From Goa struggled to go round the turn and was on the wrong leg all the way round–even in the straight he was running out,” Delpech told the Sporting Post. “But he is a top horse and proved it here.”
Matthew de Kock, on hand for his father, who is currently in Dubai, added, “There was a lot of talk about the Cape horses, but our boy showed his mettle today. He just seems to get bigger after every start.”
A debut winner at Vaal Sept. 17, Noah From Goa suffered his only loss when third going 1000 meters there Sept. 26. He handled two 1450-meter handicaps at Turffontein Oct. 24 and Nov. 12, respectively, and added the 1600-meter G2 Investec Dingaans last out Nov. 28. By the well-related and ill-fated Tiger Ridge, a half-brother to Classic-winning sires A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew), and Summer Squall (Storm Bird) out of South African stakes winner Limerick, who also took third in the G2 South African Oaks, Noah From Goa is a half to the stakes-placed Dunraven (SAf) (Right Approach {GB}). He also has a year-younger unraced full-sister Limerick Ridge (SAf) and is a half to yearling colt What a Summer (SAf) (Western Winter). His third dam is Australian G1 VRC Oaks heroine Taj Eclipse (Aus) (Taj Rossi).
Saturday, Kenilworth, South Africa
GRAND PARADE CAPE GUINEAS-G1, R1,000,000 (US$66,266), KEN, 12-19, 3yo, 8fT, time: n/a, gd.
1–&NOAH FROM GOA (SAF), 132, g, 3, by Tiger Ridge
1st Dam: Limerick (SAf) (SW & GSP-SAf), by Fort Wood
2nd Dam: Kenmare Belle (Aus), by Kenmare (Fr)
3rd Dam: Taj Eclipse (Aus), by Taj Rossi (Aus)
(R325,000 2yo '14 BSAAUG). O-Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd (Nom:
Mrs M Slack), M F de Kock, G M Grant, C S Haynes, G J
Westwater, Mrs N P Malherbe, Dr J McVeigh & Mrs A J
McVeigh; B-Wilgerbosdrift (SAF); T-Mike de Kock; J-Anthony
Delpech. R625,000. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-1, R1,115,625.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*.
2–Brazuca (Aus), 132, c, 3, Teofilo (Ire)–Base Paradise (Aus), by
Choisir (Aus). (A$80,000 Ylg '14 INGMAR). O-J F & L M F
Wernars; B-Wall Street Thoroughbreds (Pty) Ltd (AUS);
T-Johan Janse van Vuuren. R200,000.
http://www.irt.com/
3–Nassa (SAf), 132, c, 3, Dynasty (SAf)–Cosima Liszt (Chi), by
Rich Man's Gold. (R800,000 Ylg '14 SADAPR). O-Edmond Siu;
B-Wilgerbosdrift; T-Brett Crawford. R100,000.
Margins: 3/4, NO, SHD. Odds: 5.00, 8.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Silver Mountain (SAf), Victorious Jay (SAf), Baritone (SAf), Jet Air (SAf), Illuminator (SAf), Star Chestnut (SAf), Hard Day's Night (SAf), Purple Mountains (SAf), Ready to Attack (Aus), Rodney (SAf), Liege (SAf), Eighth Wonder (SAf), Budapest (SAf). Scratched: Rabada (Saf).
Click for the Racing Post result, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video.
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