Tap O'Noth comfortably justifies favouritism in Cape Guineas

Report: South Africa
Kenilworth: Forus Cape Guineas (Grade 1), 1m, turf, 3-y-o

Towcester-based owner-breeders Alec and Gillian Foster had one of their biggest successes when Tap O’Noth (Vaughan Marshall/ M.J. Byleveld) convincingly justified 4-1 favouritism in the Cape Guineas at Kenilworth in Cape Town on Saturday.

Byleveld made light of his coffin-box outside draw, and slotted into midfield before making his move in the straight. He led over a furlong out to beat White River by half a length with the Mike de Kock-trained Like A Panther a length and a quarter back in third.

Byleveld, winning the race for the third time, said: "I would like to have sat a bit closer but I got into a nice spot and in the straight it opened up. When I asked him, though, he turned it on a bit too quickly and I might have been in front a little too early but he stayed on like a good horse."

Cape Derby dream

This was Guineas winner number five for 66-year-old Marshall, who said: “This horse is good and he has done everything we asked of him. He is up there with my other Guineas winners and he will now go for the Investec Cape Derby on Met day [27 January]."

Foster, who with his wife spends most winters in Cape Town, said: "We began breeding horses here in 1985 and this is our third Group 1 winner."

Cape Guineas result