Rainbow Bridges Gap To Win The Met

[Wandering Eyes]

A thrilling finish to the G1 Sun Met at Kenilworth on Saturday saw Rainbow Bridge (SAf) (Ideal World) reverse recent form with race favourite Do It Again (SAf) (Twice Over {GB}) to claim a popular victory for trainer Eric Sands. The winner had finished third to Do It Again in the G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate at Kenilworth three weeks ago but found the requisite improvement on Saturday to bridge that three-length deficit and land his first success at the top level by a length. The gallant Head Honcho (SAf) (Querari {Ger}), who had slipped the field and still looked likely to win 200 metres from home, finished third with last year’s fourth Legal Eagle (SAf) (Greys Inn) finishing strongly to occupy the same position this year under different tactics.

Beforehand it looked like Rainbow Bridge may have left his race in the preliminaries as he sweated up profusely, so it is testament to the horse’s ability to overcome that habit. He was patiently ridden by Anton Marcus, who bided his time as the aforementioned Head Honcho made the best of his way home. That runner began to get weary in the last furlong as the winner and Do It Again challenged on either side, but it was the gelded 4-year-old who prevailed to bring his tally to six wins from eight starts.

There was a poignant postscript to the race as Rainbow Bridge ran in the colours of the late Chris Gerber, who died tragically from malaria some months ago. Marcus had earlier landed both of the valuable Cape Thoroughbred Sales Races and he commented, “It’s a great feeling and just to win it for Eric [Sands] is great and I’m sure Chris is looking down on us so it is a special day.”

Sands acknowledged Rainbow Bridge is not an easy horse to handle and was quick to credit his backroom team. “He can be a difficult horse but I’ve had a lot of help with him and have too many people to thank. Obviously it’s so sad that Chris isn’t here to enjoy this,” he said.

Pedigree Notes

Rainbow Bridge is out of the ‘other’ Halfway To Heaven (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}), who was a stakes winner in South Africa. She has also produced the G2 Dingaans S. winner Hawwaam (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}) from only two runners to date. The victory also represented the second Met win in the last four years for the regally bred Mauitzfontein Stud stallion Ideal World (by Kingmambo ex Banks Hill), following Smart Call (SAf)’s win in 2016. Rainbow Bridge was a bargain R300,000 ($22,026/£16,685/€19,320) yearling purchase at the Bloodstock South Africa Sale in 2016.

Saturday, Kenilworth, South Africa
SUN MET CELEBRATED WITH G.H. MUMM-G1, R5,000,000, Kenilworth, 1-26, 3yo/up, 10fT, 2:02.96, gd.
1–RAINBOW BRIDGE (SAF), 131, g, 4, by Ideal World
1st Dam: Halfway To Heaven (SAf) (GSW-SAf),
by Jet Master (SAf)
2nd Dam: Pas de Basque (SAf), by Rambo Dancer
3rd Dam: Our Elegant Girl (SAf), by Our Casey’s Boy
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (R300,000 yrl ’16 BSAAPR) O-Late Mr M C
Gerber; B-Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein (SAF); T-Eric Sands;
J-Anton Marcus. R2,850,000. Lifetime Record: 7 starts, 5 wins,
2 places, R1,407,500. *1/2 to Hawwaam (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}),
MGSW-SAf. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A.
2–Do It Again (SAf), 131, g, 4, Twice Over (GB)–Sweet Virginia
(SAf), by Casey Tibbs (Ire). (R1,100,000 yrl ’16 BSAAPR) O-
Messrs N Jonsson, B Kantor & W J C Mitchell; B-Northfields
Stud (SAF); T-Justin Snaith. R1,000,000.
3–Head Honcho (SAf), 132, g, 5, Querari (Ger)–School Captain
(SAf), by Captain Al (SAf). O-Mrs S Plattner; B-La Plaisance Stud
(SAF); T-Andre Nel. R500,000.
Margins: 3/4, HD, 1 1/4. Odds: 5.25, 3.55, 1.70.
Also Ran: Undercover Agent (SAf), Legal Eagle (SAf), Doublemint (SAf), Oh Susanna (Aus), Kampala Campari (SAf), Eyes Wide Open (SAf), Tap O’ Noth (SAf), Made To Conquer (SAf), Hat Puntano (Arg), Milton (Saf).
Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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