Soprani Cup lives up to its billing in horse racing classic
The Soprani Cup, the Kenya Derby trial, rollicked life into an otherwise leisurely Sunday on the back of a festive St Patrick’s Day weekend.
After the tumultuous trembles of cyclone Freddy, and with a falsely promised public holiday on Monday, patrons and punters filled the revered Ngong Racecourse to witness some of the most exciting racing of 2023.
Almost every contest in the full eight-card race had a closely fought battle, whether for the honors or second, or third, with trainers and jockeys keen to understand the worthiness of their mounts ahead of the Kenya Derby and what is or isn’t and what must be done and what must be kept.
The main race of the day, the highly anticipated “unofficial Kenya Derby trial”, the 2060m Soprani Cup, run at 4:30 pm under a picturesque afternoon light, was an easy win for the undefeated Saint Moritz who kept his imperial crown, ridden by Lesley Sercombe.
The champion, owned by Lady Spencer, strode to a comfortable victory ahead of Mary of Burgundy, ridden by C Kimani by 8 1/2 lengths. Honeybell Orange, the other favourite for this race, was withdrawn, and so retains her unbeaten record and royal crown, setting up an gripping confrontation at the Kenya Derby in a little under two weeks.
The race had the smallest field of the day with a mix of superstition and strategy keeping the other contenders in the stables, brooding and contemplating how to dethrone and usurp the kind of racing in Kenya.
The other races of the day were an enthusiastic affair of propitious screams and buoyed shouts and whoops and cheers as punters scurried to collect their winnings.
The 1200m Baobab Maiden was an easy territory for favourite, Beeston, winning by seven lengths from Marlow.
The second 1200m dash of the day, the Morningstar Handicap looked like a close affair coming down the final straight with Ripon, Camberley, and Twyford running shoulder-to-shoulder, but Ripon, ridden by P Kiarie, had more legs and want than his two compatriots winning by 5 1/4 lengths.
The highly prized Air Force Cup, a 1200m sprint run at 1:30 pm was indicative of current financial world affairs with the bankable Jack Sparrow, running with a heavier weight, unable to carry the new burden to gold and falling victim to Pat-See who narrowly outpaced the almost-Bullet for honours by a length.
The 2:05 pm 1400m Kiri Te Handicap was the closest and most controversial race of the day with Bling, upsetting the promised destiny of Empress of Fate on the finish line, only to have the stewards reverse the decision and grant Empress of Fate her providence, penalising Bling for interference.
The 1600m Lord McMillan Trophy was another electrifying race with Deodoro, ridden by C Kimani, claiming the laurel wreath. The 3:15 pm, Spanish Cup was another nose-to-nose gallop that saw Cranleigh, ridden by H Muya, bringing home the win for a very thrilled and proud J.A. Muya.
The exhilaration of back-to-back neck-to-neck racing was equally well expressed between flying races with airborne acrobats, DJ’s blending “chill” afternoon melodies into the sunset and twilight, and some of Kenya’s top models flaunting the latest international and vogue styles, making horse racing the fashion capital of Sunday’s.
RACE RESULTS
The Baobab Maiden (1200m); Beeston, Marlow, Eccleton
The Morningstar Handicap (1200m); Ripon, Camberley, Twyford
The Air Force Cup (1200m); Pat-See, Bullet, Frankie
The Kiri Te Handicap (1400m); Empress of Fate, Bling, Liphook
The Lord McMillan Trophy (1600m); Deodoro, All Over Again, Westwind
The Spanish Cup (1800m); Cranleigh, Satyan, Rosie
The Arkle Trophy (1800m); Daytime Girl, Rahal, Easterly
The Soprani Trophy (2060m); Saint Moritz, Mary of Burgundy, Scott
