Act Of War Top Of The Class

3 minute read

Trainer Joey Ramsden’s outstanding colt Act Of War reaffirmed his position as the champion three-year-old in South Africa with an impressive winning performance in the R1 million Cape Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The colt’s victory capped a memorable day for Ramsden as he saddled five winners including a feature double with Coltrane in the G2 Summer Stayers Handicap.

Ramsdens superb day was bettered by Act Of War’s owners Markus and Ingrid Jooste, who had their horses win six of the 10 races on the Guineas program.

Act Of War has now notched wins G1, G2, two G3 and a Listed race in his first eight months of racing and looks destined to follow the globetrotting path taken by his former champion stablemate Variety Club.

Gliding to the lead at the 350m Act Of War easily held the highly rated KZN challenger Harry’s Son by 1,75 lengths.

Act Of War’s stablemate Kingvoldt ran on well for third while the previously unbeaten Ready To Run Stakes winner Zambezi River was fifth.

Winning jockey Bernard Fayd’herbe was Act Of War’s sixth different rider in his seven career starts, gaining the mount when Piere Strydom stuck with Harry’s Son.

“My mount landed up missing the break but he was relaxed in running. I squeezed him and just got there so quickly.

“Everybody must get on the bandwagon and enjoy this horse now because he is something special.

“He is a true champion – one of the better horses I have ever sat on,” Fayd’herbe reported.

Ramsden was relieved after a week of serious pressure.

“A great win. I had him as well as I felt I could get him,”Ramsden said.

Options for Act Of War include the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, the J & B Met or the SA Derby ahead of overseas plans.

Act Of War was a R550 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale buy and has now won 6 of his 7 starts with 1 place for stakes of R1 288 000

Trainer Paul Lafferty’s gamble to have Harry’s Son flown to Cape Town from Durban on the morning of the race almost paid off with a highly courageous performance.

• Ramsden’s reputation as a master trainer of stayers came to the fore again when Giant’s Causeway gelding Coltrane won the R250 000 G2 Cape Summer Stayers Handicap.

However Ramsden admitted the win at odds of 25/1 had come as a surprise after his last shocking run in the Kenilworth Cup.

Coltrane turned for home last before he stormed through under Anthony Delpech to upset from Gothic, Current Event and Dynastic Power with favourite Wavin’ Flag fifth.

The Argentinian-bred Coltrane has now won four races with 13 places from 23 starts for stakes of R463 630.

• THE Dennis Drier-trained mare Jet Aglow won the Listed Cape Premier Jet Master Stakes over 1600m under Sean Cormack to top R1 million in earnings.

She came from a handy position and stayed on resolutely from Jet Explorer, who closed quickly in an eyecatching preparation for the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate.

Both first and second are by Jet Master, the ill-fated multiple champion sire after whom the race was named.

A Gr3 winner and multiple G1 placed performer, Jet Aglow completed a double for Drier and Cormack after the first starter Seventh Plain won the first race.

Jet Aglow has five wins and 10 places from 18 starts for R1 042 570.