Canon Gold Cup 2010
Ancestral Fore wins in Flag Frenzy
With
the Champions Season programme having to be re-arranged due to the dictates
of the 2010 Soccer World Cup organisers, FIFA, the Grade 1 Canon Gold Cup
was brought forward from its usual position at the end of the season to June
26, but the change did little to diminish the status of the 3 200m marathon
event at Greyville.
Ancestral Fore with Kevin Shea in the saddle came up trumps as fashionistas
and punters alike took full advantage of the ideal Durban weather for the
R1,2 million horseracing marathon.
A strong field of the country’s best stayers lined up in front of the
grandstand and enjoyed the traditional cheers of the crowd as they thundered
past the winning post for the first time.
With
Sports Factor dictating the pace, the
three-year-old Dynasty gelding
Ancestral Fore was positioned handily by jockey Kevin Shea waiting for the
right moment to press the button on the
Mike de Kock-trained youngster. The
gelding had come into the race off a good win in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup
and was strongly fancied to lift the premier staying prize in the country.
Bought by De Kock for his leading patron Sheik Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al
Maktoum after he had run unplaced in the Investec Cape Derby, the gelding
had blossomed in the hands of the country’s leading trainer and when asked
for his effort by Kevin Shea, he responded brilliantly to draw clear and win
unchallenged.
The win was his first Grade 1 success and booked his ticket with the De Kock
team for Dubai.
Gallant stayer Vertical Takeoff led the rest of the pack home ahead of
Predestination.Bred by the Hyjo Stud Close Corporation, by the sensational
Vodacom Durban July winner and leading young sire Dynasty, the grey gelding
is out of the Pole Position mare Forefront and was originally sold on the
Grand West Yearling Sale for a paltry R27 500. His Canon Gold Cup victory
boosted his earnings to R1 149 750.
This
year’s raceday theme ”Flag Frenzy” had both established designers and
self-proclaimed fashionistas put their best foot forward as they tackled the
task of creating a raceday ensemble with immense passion.
The overall prize went to Brenda Quinn of Diva who drew her inspiration from
the 32 countries competing in the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
For the first time the elegant raceday included an Invited Designer
Showcase, featuring the work of ten top Durban designers, each of who was
allocated a national flag to use as inspiration for their design.
On the infield of the course the packed marquee village provided a festive
atmosphere as sixteen different KwaZulu-Natal fundraising organisations took
full advantage of Gold Circle’s sponsored marquees to entertain clients and
guests and in the process raise funds to support their various causes.
