Despite some pre-race jitters from the punters and a drifting price, the heavily backed EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN lived up to expectations in the SplashOut Cape Derby (Gr1), overcoming a small but competitive field dominated by the Snaith stable.
At one point, it looked like EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN was flattening out inside the final 200m, but he found another gear when it mattered.
Stablemate NATIVE RULER dictated the pace early on, with GARRIX and EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN settling at the back of the field. As the race unfolded, GARRIX took the inside route while EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN launched his run down the middle of the track, hitting the front with 400m to go. GARRIX tried to rally but couldn’t match the turn of foot, and it was SAIL THE SEAS who emerged as the biggest threat.
Jockey Richard Fourie had to dig deep and called on every ounce of EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN. The response was there — perhaps later than expected — but the Cape Town Met champion finished strongly to seal the win in style.