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Depardieu, who has failed to inspire since turning three, finally displayed his two-year-old brilliance by winning the Grade 3 Cape Classic at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Photo by Gold Circle
As a two-year-old, Depardieu won the Grade 3 Nursery (1200m) by 2.5 lengths and then finished a half length second behind the talented Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) in his subsequent start.
When resuming his career at three the son of Du Pont started favourite in the Listed Sophomore Stakes, but failed to run on and could only finish third in his next start in the Grade 3 Matchem Stakes.
On Saturday, however, the colt displayed his two-year-old turn of foot, flying up in the closing stages to win by a neck from long time leader, Gimmethegreenlight.
Great Fox jumped best and briefly led, before his stable companion Gimmethegreenlight, took over the running and lead the field into the first turn. Delago Deluxe(AUS) was back in third with Depardieu settling midfield, five lengths off the leader, while Shahrukh was the back marker.
On entering the home straight, Gimmethegreenlight extended his lead by two over Great Fox and Delago Deluxe and it appeared as if the classy son of More Than Ready had the race at his mercy.
Depardieu, under a driving ride from jockey Karl Neisius, however, had other ideas, and the colt came flying up the middle of the track to pass Gimmethegreenlight in the final strides.
The winning distance was a 0.3L, with Delago Deluxe a further two lengths back in third.
Depardieu, by Du Pont out of Diva, recorded his third victory from six starts for owners Bernard Kantor and Markus Jooste.
Final results:
4 DEPARDIEU Karl Neisius A 55.5 0.00 86.83 5/2
2 GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT (AUS) Richard Fourie A 59.0 0.30 86.89 5/21 DELAGO DELUXE (AUS) Anton Marcus A 60.0 2.30 87.27 19/10
6 GREAT FOX Felix Coetzee A 52.0 2.60 87.32 15/2