When you look at the names of the winners and runners-up in the East Cape Derby and Dahlia Plate, there are no doubt that these races in Port Elizabeth are the breeding place of superstars.
The winner of the Derby in 2009, Lizard’s Desire, and the runner-up in 2008, Paris Perfect, went on to become international stars. A runner-up in the Dahlia Plate, Bold Silvano (2009), won the 2010 Vodacom Durban July.
Mitchell Wiese was the last PE trainer to saddle a winner in the Derby. That was with Lizard’s Desire in 2009.
After that the winners all came out of Cape Town.
The Capetonians look very strong again, especially True Master (Justin Snaith) and Coltrane (Joey Ramsden).
Who can do it for the locals?
We have to look towards trainers Yvette Bremner and Alan Greeff. Burlaine Forest (Bremner) and Way Clear (Greeff) look like the PE horses with the best winning chances.
Champion EC trainer Gavin Smith will be looking for his third win in a row in the Dahlia Plate. He won it last year with Le Var and in 2010 with In A Rush.
The Dahlia Plate (Listed) for two-year-olds will be run over 1 200m on Friday, May 10, and the Recall Derby (Grade 3) for three-year-olds over 2 400m is the highlight at Sunday’s meeting at Fairview.
RECENT WINNERS
DERBY
2012: Tribal Dance
2011: Vengence
2010: Robert the Bruce
2009: Lizard’s Desire
2008: Just Like Al
2007: Key Castle
2006: Captain Cook
2005: Vettriano
2004: Central Pacific
DAHLIA PLATE
2012: Le Var
2011: In A Rush
2010: Bob ‘n Weave
2009: Youth Club
Now read Henk Steenkamp’s latest tips.
