By Alan Carasso
A debut third going 1400m over this surface last March, William Longsword (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}) won his next three at short odds, but was no better than sixth to Gold Standard (SAf) (Trippi) in the course-and-distance G2 Selangor Cup S. Nov. 19. He atoned with a smooth win in a MR88 handicap 11 days prior, but was dismissed in this first go at Grade 1 level, for which he was supplemented.
Showing good gate speed from stall 13, William Longsword found himself in the one-out, one-back spot as his favored fellow Jooste colorbearer Table Bay (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) set a pressured pace. The latter still held the call, albeit narrowly, as they reached the top of the lane, but William Longsword was pulled out to launch his challenge at the quarter-pole, wrested command with 225 metres to travel and held sway as Gold Standard found his best stride too late.
Pedigree Notes:
William Longsword becomes the 14th Grade 1 winner for his sire, who won this very race in 2000. An R2.2 million (about US$191,180), William Longsword is a half-brother to Real Princess (Saf) (Trippi), herself an R2.7 million (about US$298,080) Cape Premier yearling purchase and winner of this year's G1 Fillies' Sprint at Scottsville. The winner's dam, also raced by Markus and Ingrid Jooste, is a half-sister not only to champion stayer Kelly (SAf) (Ethique {Arg}), but also to Victory Moon (SAf) (Al Mufti), a four-time group winner in Dubai and third to Pleasantly Perfect (Pleasant Colony) in the 2004 G1 Dubai World Cup. Captain Al, champion sire of 2-year-olds in South Africa for eight straight seasons, stands at Klawervlei Stud, who bred and sold William Longsword.
Saturday, Kenilworth, South Africa
GRAND PARADE CAPE GUINEAS-G1, R1,000,000, KEN, 12-17, 3yo, 8fT, 1:39.34, gd.
1–#@&WILLIAM LONGSWORD (SAF), 132, c, 3, by Captain Al (SAf)
1st Dam: Pagan Princess (SAf), by Fort Wood
2nd Dam: Dancing Flower (SAf), by Dancing Champ
3rd Dam: Wild Hyacinth (SAf), by Royal Prerogative (GB)
(R2,200,000 Ylg '15 CAPPRE). O-Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd (Nom: D L Brugman); B-Klawervlei Stud (SAF); T-Vaughan Marshall; J-M Byleveld. R625,000. Lifetime Record: 7-5-0-1, R817,500. *1/2 to Real Princess (SAf) (Trippi), G1SW-SAf. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Gold Standard (SAf), 132, c, 3, Trippi–Olympic Dam (SAf), by Model Man (SAf). (R725,000 Ylg '15 BSAFEB). O-Chrigor Stud (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs S Hattingh); B-Mr & Mrs C F de Vos (SAF); T-Glen Kotzen. R200,000.
3–Table Bay (Aus), 132, c, 3, Redoute's Choice (Aus)–Gabriella (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire). (A$120,000 Ylg '15 INGMEL). O-Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd (Nom: D L Brugman); B-Raffles Dancers (NZ) Pty Ltd (NSW); T-Joey Ramsden. R100,000.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]Margins: HF, 2 1/4, HF. Odds: 22.00, 5.50, 3.00.
Also Ran: Elevated (SAf), Edict of Nantes (SAf), Africa Rising (SAf), Singapore Sling (SAf), Elusive Path (SAf), Heavenly Blue (Aus), Hack Green (SAf), I Travel Light (SAf), Bishop's Bounty (SAf), Zodiac Ruler (Aus), Pacific Spirit (SAf), Craven (SAf), Gunner (SAf). Scratched: A New Dawn (Aus), Boldly Respectable (SAf).
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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