3 minute read
Major Bluff (SAF) ended his racing days in fairytale fashion with a stirring victory in the listed Chairman's Cup over 3200m at Kenilworth today. Joey Ramsden's 8-year-old produced his trademark late effort to overwhelm favourite Desert Links (SAF) - half his age - close to home and winning away with Omega Code (SAF) and Mokaro (SAF) completing the frame.
Myst was the first to show alongside Show A Profit but they were both passed by Omega Code who once again decided to steal the race from the front, as he had done last year. The Traveller was next best with Mokaro behind him alongside Dunford. Major Bluff settled about ten lengths off the leader with Master Of Note and Dover Street further back. Desert Links, possibly ridden conservatively to get the trip, trailed the field at one stage giving about 15 lengths' start.
The order remained much the same through the middle stages of the race, with Omega Code gradually trying to get further away from them and the only significant change being Master Of Note dropping out to the rear by the time they turned for home.
Omega Code was still galloping on at the top of the straight and once again laid down the challenge to his rivals to come and get him. Show A Profit was still in the picture at this stage with Myst coming under pressure and Desert Links starting to make some progress towards the inside.
Omega Code was still rolling approaching the last furlong with Desert Links trying desperately to cut him down but the race was about to change complexion in dramatic fashion. Major Bluff, not for the first time in his career, started to unwind a late charge. For once, however, he had a clear run ahead of him and plenty of time before the line arrived. He stormed past the youngsters to win with some authority and Glen Hatt actually appeared to ease him just before the line.
This was a hugely emotional affair as very few horses get to finish off their racing days on a winning note. Major Bluff has been dogged by bad luck throughout his career and this bravest of horses was long overdue for another win. His form over the last couple of seasons has been understandably patchy as age and injury took their toll and while he has turned in some great efforts in defeat, he has also run some very poor races by his own high standards. The way he won today, trainer Ramsden would surely have been tempted to keep him going as he still looks to have a few good performances in him, but the decision to retire him looks spot on, as it will be great to remember him ending his career on such a high.
Desert Links appeared to have every chance and there is a suspicion that he does not really get this trip. He is knocking at the door, though, and will probably get his best chance over shorter.
Omega Code is impossible to predict and while this was a respectable effort, it's anybody's guess when he will next show this type of form.
Mokaro never looked like winning but he stayed on well enough and he is another whose best chance of victory will lie over a few furlongs less.
Major Bluff is an 8-year-old gelding by Jallad (USA) out of Bluffit (SAF) by Dancing Champ (USA). He was bred by Arc-En-Ciel Stud and is owned by Messrs M J T Wickens, K Von Garnier, B D Walbrugh, Mrs L E Ramsden, Mr P J & Mrs P K Carr.
Winning trainer: Joey Ramsden
Race 7 - R125K - CHAIRMAN'S CUP (Listed)
Open - 3200mNo Horse Jockey Al/Bl Kg Dr Fin Dist Time
4 MAJOR BLUFF Glen Hatt A B 56.0 4 1 0.00 210.748 DESERT LINKS Karl Neisius A B 55.0 11 2 1.25 210.99
3 OMEGA CODE Craig Arnold A - 57.0 5 3 2.75 211.299 MOKARO M J Byleveld A B 55.0 1 4 4.50 211.65
10 SHOW A PROFIT Richard Fourie A B 55.0 6 5 4.75 211.7011 MYST Tyron Langdon A - 52.5 3 6 5.50 211.85
2 MASTER OF NOTE Raymond Danielson A B 57.0 8 7 6.25 212.006 THE TRAVELLER (ZIM) Grant Behr A - 56.0 10 8 7.00 212.15
5 DOVER STREET Oswald Noach A P 56.0 7 9 9.25 212.611 DUNFORD Andrew Fortune A B 58.0 9 10 10.50 212.87
7 SUN DIAL Christopher Puller A - 56.0 2 11 10.50 212.87
