3 minute read

It was a day of doubles and upsets at the country racecourse of Durbanville, when the oldest runner in the race, the seven-year old Sun City, trained by Riaan van Reenen, captured his second Settlers Trophy. In doing so he also delivered a quick double for his sire Kahal, with The Mouseketeer having taken the Emerald Cup minutes earlier.

Hospitality jumped best and grabbed the lead early on. The front running Badger's Drift gelding led the field past the winning post for the first time and by the time he entered the back straight he had extended his lead to almost eight lengths. Mystic Moon and Blake were racing midfield with Sun City at the tail of the field.

Entering the home straight, Hospitality's lead started diminishing. With 400m left to go, Blake finally wrestled the lead from Hospitality and it looked as if the Dynasty gelding would be an easy winner for trainer Dean Kannemeyer.

Sun City had however changed gears near the rear of the field and the Kahal gelding under MJ Byleveld came flying up the outside with In Writing(ARG) in hot pursuit. In the final 150m, Sun City snatched the lead and the Trophy from a tiring Blake, who had to settle for third behind stable companion In Writing.

Ironically when Sun City won the Settlers Trophy in 2009, his trainer was none other than Dean Kannemeyer. But Sun City had subsequently moved to the yard of Riaan van Reenen, denying Kannemeyer a perfect trifecta.

Van Reenen explained that the horse was not the soundest and that he had to take his time with him. “He has had lots of problems and he doesn't handle hard ground, but he always runs on nicely. Hospitality made a decent pace so that gave us a chance to come from second last” said Van Reenen.

“I won on him 2 years back. He likes to come from the back. I sat second last and when I asked he quickened nicely” commented Byleveld.

It was the 7th win from 45 starts for Sun City, who is owned by Two Oceans Racing and Mr R M Perel.

In the next race, Liancourt Rock(AUS), Kannemeyer's Classic prospect made up for the disappointment of the Settlers Trophy, by winning in style. The lanky son of Fastnet Rock, who won his first start two weeks ago, raced green but quickened up nicely when asked and again won comfortably under a hands and heels ride.

Kannemeyer confirmed that they think very highly of the colt and that he will be given a rest now, before starting his preparation for the Summer season.

Final result:

No Horse Jockey Kg Dist Time SP

8 SUN CITY M J Byleveld 57.0 0.00 153.16 10/1

3 IN WRITING (ARG) Morne Winnaar 60.0 1.00 153.35 15/2

7 BLAKE Karl Neisius 57.5 1.20 153.39 4/1

10 POSH BOY Grant Van Niekerk *0.0 56.5 2.20 153.59 20/1

9 GOLDEN PARACHUTE (NZ) Jassurick Jordaan *0.0 56.5 2.60 153.67 25/1

14 RIGHT AND READY (GB) Glen Hatt 53.5 4.60 154.06 16/1