May 22, 2007

CAPTAIN’S LOVER REMAINS UNBEATEN IN 2 RACES IN SOUTH AFRICA,
JUVENILE FILLY DROPS FROM 6 TO 5 FURLONGS FOR WIN TODAY,
NATIONAL YEARLING SALE BUY GOES NEXT IN GRADE 3 DIANA S.

Undefeated filly Captain’s Lover, an Irwin yearling purchase, cruised in by four open lengths this morning at Kenilworth.

Two weeks ago, Captain’s Lover won by more than 4 lengths, racing on the lead throughout and drawing clear in the final furlong going three-quarters of a mile.

This afternoon, she raced a furlong shorter down the straight at Kenilworth, raced fourth among five early, then stormed through between horses late to win drawing away. Once again, the winning margin was 4 lengths.

Racing on soft turf for a second consecutive time, Captain’s Lover was sent off the odds-on favorite over 4 winners. The second, third and fourth horses all finished within a half-length of each other, but apparently were not match for the winner.

Peter Gibson, a racing official and head of the South African export council, sent an e-mail this morning, saying “Very impressive win by your Captain Al as I am sure you have already heard – on a line through the third-placed horse she is clear of the best juvenile filly in Cape Town, Diana’s Choice.”

Raced by Anant and Vanashree Singh and Team Valor, Captain’s Lover was bought at last year’s National Yearling Sale by Barry Irwin on a bid of $27,000. The daughter of Captain Al was among 5 yearlings bought at the 2006 vendue.

From last season’s quintet of yearling fillies, two have raced so far. They have made 5 starts for 4 wins and a second. “I apologize for the loss and take full responsibility for it,” Barry Irwin said with a wide grin on his face.

The other yearling filly to start is Stately, winner of the Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes last time out, after having broken her maiden the time before and finished second in her debut.

Irwin is only recently back from South Africa where he bought a dozen yearlings, which have been put into 4 packages that are currently being syndicated by Team Valor. These partnerships are open to anybody and this year more residents of South Africa than ever have decided to take part. To read about the yearling partnerships go to www.teamvalor.com/offerings/SAFyearlings2007/

In a carbon copy of her debut, Captain’s Lover has only her mirror image for company at the wire.

When Irwin found out Captain’s Lover had been entered to run back in 2 weeks and was dropping back a furlong, he could not understand the game plan of The Snaith Brothers, Jonathan and Justin. An e-mail correspondence ensued, as follows:

Snaith: Captain’s Lover could not have pulled up any better last time out and she is a 100% going into this event. Her work has been decent and she will take a power of beating in this line up. She will be given a slight break after this race before being prepped for a feature event.

Irwin: Educate me. What is the point of bringing back this filly in 2 weeks and dropping her from 1200m to 1000m? She looks like a filly that wants to run farther not shorter and why the rush back in 2 weeks? Please explain.



Justin Snaith leads undefeated Captain’s Lover to the winner’s enclosure.

Snaith: Captains Lover is doing unbelievably well at present and she took her last race exceptionally well. There is nothing in the program for quite sometime after this event and we need to get another win under the belt in order to qualify for the feature events. We are aiming her at the Diana Stakes (GR. 3) over 1400m in August and there is nothing in the program before then. After this race she will be given a rest and be prepped for this feature event. The race on Tuesday is rather average and Karl Neisius has no doubt that she will be effective over the 1000m trip. He is extremely confident for this race. While we have her so well and before we give her a break we would like her to gain some more racing experience before the feature.. If you at all feel against this route please advise. Hope you agree with this reasoning. The vet is also a 100% confident with her soundness. She has put on weight since her last run and she looks outstanding.

Irwin: My only thought about 1000m is that she ran like a horse that wanted farther. Let's see what happens. Why did they cancel racing today at Kenilworth?

Snaith: They have not cancelled yet but postponed until tomorrow due to bad weather conditions, it has been raining all weekend and it is raining right now. We would have preferred a 1200m too but there was not one unless we took on older horses in a handicap race which would be far more competitive and with the track condition in winter the draw is so vital. She has plenty of speed and pace, she will cruise through 5 furlongs.