World Sports Betting Cape

Fillies Guineas (Group 1)

THE Lancaster Bomber-sired Beach Bomb, ridden with almost unbelievable confidence by Aldo Domeyer, got up almost on the line in the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth last Saturday to spring a 14/1 surprise and give the sire his first South African classic success.

Domeyer was content to sit with only one behind him in a well-strung out field and he only pressed the button in earnest a furlong out. He got there in the final two strides to pip the Mike de Kock-trained Silver Sanctuary by a neck.

The winning rider, who had also won this for the Bass stable on Silver Mountain eight years ago, said: “This filly is improving, she had all the gears and she was very impressive.”

Candice Bass-Robinson added: “Beach Bomb is a small filly but she is bred in the purple, has a lovely constitution and has the most wonderful turn of foot.”

She is out of the amazing Beach Beauty who won 17 races including five Group 1s but Lancaster Bomber sadly died after suffering a heart attack in July 2021.

The first two are both owned and bred by Gaynor Rupert’s Drakenstein Stud where he stood.

But Charles Dickens, also Drakenstein owner-bred and arguably the best horse in South Africa, proved an expensive 1/2 favourite in the World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes.

The Trippi four-year-old had already had a run, justifying odds of 1/5 in the Matchem, and Domeyer rode him with what is fast-becoming trademark coolness.

It certainly seemed justified after he made up pretty well all the leeway after he swung wide in search of faster ground turning into the straight. But suddenly he was in trouble and the favourite had no answer when See It Again surged clear.

The Michael Roberts-trained Durban July runner-up is a Twice Over four-year-old and yet another Drakenstein-bred. He was superbly handled by 57-year-old veteran Piere Strydom.

The six-time champion said: “Everyone knows that it is because of this horse that I am still riding. The mile here was a little bit short for him but he jumped out beautifully and I had a lovely position. When I saw Charles Dickens make his move, I thought I would probably run second but mine quickened up the better.”

For the Met

Roberts added: “The King’s Plate on January 6th is what owner Nic Jonsson is after and then we go for the Met.”

Domeyer, though, reported: “This was a stepping stone for Charles Dickens and I rode him accordingly. He came there easily enough but he then started emptying.”

Mrs Bass-Robinson is hoping Charles Dickens will reverse the placings in the King’s Plate but said that she was undecided about the Met because of the extra two furlongs.

Flying return

Greg Cheyne, 47, who left South Africa over a year ago to join William Haggas, made a flying return at the weekend to ride winners at Kenilworth and at Port Elizabeth.

He said: “I moved to England to work for William but not as a jockey. However, I managed seven winners from 50 rides and I have now bought a house in Newmarket.”