THE EAGLE SOARS

Some horses just grow on us. The handsome and very progressive Cape Eagle is one. The Plattner home-bred boasts a potent mix of speed and stamina and made it four on the trot with an all-theway display to win the R150 000 Listed Kings Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

The topliner on the eightrace Durban city track turf programme rounded off a maiden raceday double for the hardworking Robert Khathi and the Andre Nel yard, and now Cape Eagle looks set for slightly bigger and better things – even as a low mileage 5yo.

Making it 4 wins on the trot, the last being the Listed Michael Roberts Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, and all in the hands of Robert Khathi, Cape Eagle (5-2) was never headed to beat the classy Captain Fontane (9-4) by 1,30 lengths in a time of 96,59 secs.

Captain Fontane was quite some way off the pace, and was caught flat-footed when Khathi geared Cape Eagle up at the 250m marker. A clever ride!

The 3yo Lord William (33-10) was a neck back in third.

The ebullient Robert Khathi, who had his whole family on course, has forged a winning partnership with the smart gelding.

“When my kids heard Cape Eagle was running, they said we are there!” laughed the man who is definitely a lot more talented than his raw career statistics would suggest. He earlier rode a pearler on Captain Corrupt in the Plattner silks, to cause a bit of a disruption in the Pick 6 opener.

Cape Eagle was saddled by Assistant trainers Byron Foster and Colin Storey. They explained that the 5yo had undergone colic surgery earlier on but has certainly found his form.

Bred by La Plaisance Stud, he is a son of the Maine Chancebased Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the Plattner raced twotime winner Joie’s Winter (Western Winter).

A winner of 6 races with 6 places from 14 starts, Cape Eagle has banked stakes of R437 250.

Colin Storey tells that there is ‘a plan’ for Cape Eagle. We watch with interest – and suggest back him till he’s beaten!