May 29, 2005
CARNADORE WINS GRADE 1 GOLD MEDALLION IN SOUTH AFRICA
Carnadore now the leader of his 2yo division
with this easy win in the G1 Gold Medallion. |
Carnadore needed to run a strong race Sunday in the Gold Medallion Stakes to resuscitate any chance he had to reclaim leadership among the 2-year-old males in South Africa.
The Team Valor, Larry Nestadt-owned gelding had been third previously as the heavy favorite in the Grade 2 SA Nursery Stakes at Turffontein. He had a legitimate pair of excuses, but the convincing victory by Tiza left many onlookers with the impression that Carnadore was just an early sparkler and his peers had caught up with him in terms of maturity.
Bettors nonetheless wagered that the small but powerful chestnut son of National Emblem would bounce back, making him the 2 to 1 favorite over 9 to What a Question (Grade 3 winner of 2 in a row from 3 races) and 5 to 1 Ndabeni (who had beaten Carnadore last time). This mutuel confidence came in spite of the widest and poorest draw of the 14 runners entered for the Grade 1 dash down the straightaway at Scottsville race course.
Barry Irwin said “This race cleared up a lot of murkiness in the South African juvenile scene.
“First of all, the effort by Carnadore reversed the impression he gave at Turffontein, when his late-race resistance to the winning move made by Tiza was considered to be ‘feeble.’
“Secondly, the seventh-place finish of Ndabeni in the Medallion served to dramatically illustrate how wrong the SA Nursery result was, when Ndabeni easily passed him late in the stretch for second.
“Mike (de Kock) and I will discuss the immediate plans and the future of Carnadore later in the week."
Race reports that follow detail the race:
From SAhorseracing.com
CARNADORE TOP CLASS SORT
The Team Valor and Larry Nestadt owned son of National Emblem, Carnadore proved to his critics that his last run was all wrong with a powerful display of speed and staying prowess to easily capture the R500 000 Gold Medallion. He was allowed to be loaded right at the end after his theatrics in his latest outing and that proved to be decisive. He was supported into 22/10 favourite after an opening call of 5/2 whilst the horse that attracted the steady market support was the Alistair Gordon trained, What A Question who shortened into 9/2 after an opening call of 7/1.
Let's Rock 'N Roll showed speed and led from Monsieur Dominque and Pegasus Emblem. Ndabeni and National Captain were further back whilst What A Question traveled comfortably on the outside as Carnadore raced all by himself and showed speed up the center. Carnadore was going the quickest at the 400m with Monsieur Dominique moving into second and Pegasus Emblem further back with What A Question. But Carnadore traveled sweetly at the 200m and went on to hold off a late challenge from Monsieur Dominique to win comfortably at the wire. Monsieur Dominque proved himself a classy sort with a running on second whilst Pegasus Emblem stayed on for third after racing handy throughout. Ndabeni failed to put his best foot forward today and weakened out of it.
Carnadore completed a double for the De Kock team at Scottsville today with his third win from just five career attempts that took his career earnings to just over the half a million rand mark. He was bred by Summerhill Stud and as mentioned above is owned by Team Valor and Larry Nestadt.
From Mikedekockracing.com
Carnadore wins Grade 1 Gold Medallion at Scottsville
by Charl Pretorius
Carnadore, the small horse with the big heart, the beautiful temperament and the blistering pace, won Sunday’s R500 000 Gold Medallion.
Carnadore and Mike De Kock
on their way to the winner's enclosure. |
Carnadore, owned in partnership by Team Valor and Larry Nestadt, took up the running halfway down the straight and kept going to win from Monsieur Dominique and Pegasus Emblem.
Jockey Weichong Marwing said: "I must commend the starter for allowing Carnadore to go into the pens later than scheduled. He wanted us to go in almost immediately, but that’s what we did before the SA Nursery, which caused Carnadore to be slow off the mark. I asked the starter if we could go in with the last few runners, and he allowed it."
Mike de Kock commented: "Yes, the starter deserves a compliment, and I am very happy with this win. Carnadore is a top horse who may end up in the USA later in his career, depending on what the owners decide. Barry Irwin from Team Valor and Larry Nestadt were both in the US this weekend and unable to attend, but I am sure they are delighted. Team Valor have invested big in SA racing, but they are reaping the rewards."
Carnadore’s success was testament to De Kock’s horsemanship. He was watching a replay of Carnadore’s win for trainer Charles Laird in the Storm Bird Stakes on 10 March at the Vaal. He phoned his South African office immediately and said: "I liked the way this youngster won. He has a great action and he quickened well. Let Barry Irwin from Team Valor know we’ve spotted a nice horse and if he would be interested in making the owners an offer."
The rest is history. Irwin did his homework, got Larry Nestadt involved and the purchase was secured. The deal almost fell through when Irwin realized that Carnadore was already a gelding (Team Valor haven’t had much luck with geldings), but Irwin stuck to his guns and put his faith in the de Kock’s judgment.
"Thank you very much to everyone involved," wrote Irwin in an e-mail this morning.
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THE TEAM