Platinum Prince looks like becoming the latest star to carry the famous Devine colours after sauntering home for his fourth successive handicap win at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The Justin Snaith-trained three-year-old was raised 16 points (8kg) for his previous three victories and the handicappers – not a breed that likes being repeatedly defied – may well test the eight-point rule limit at today’s conference call.

All four wins have come in the hands of Aldo Domeyer who finishes the season only one short of his century despite the time off that back problems have cost him. Those problems seem to be largely solved because they came through an uncomfortable test put to them by the antics of the unruly Merysagos on the way to the start of the Racing Association Juvenile Plate. She even threw him off at one point.

“She is not great at home either but she has never behaved like that,” said Chris Snaith. “She is a decent filly, though, believe me.” She certainly won like a good ’un whereas runner-up and main market rival Midnight Moonlight, eased to the back soon after the start, ran in snatches – sometimes pulling, sometimes being pushed. Upset trainer Riaan van Reenen vowed: “The winner will never beat my horse again.”

Snaith Racing completed a quick-fire treble in the Champagne when 25-1 shot Nordic Breeze found more close home to shade stable companion A Time To Dream and give Brandon May,20, his first taste of Graded glory. Ken Truter and owner-breeder Veronica Foulkes promptly confirmed that their filly will race on next season.

The race was delayed ten minutes by a false start, and then by Ahoy Me Matey bursting through her gate. Karl Zechner reported that the fancied South Side (who faded to finish last but one) was hindered by this and then failed to stay. But that was before he heard that the veterinary examination ordered by the stipes revealed that the filly was not striding out on her left fore.

Race three was delayed nearly a quarter of an hour. Nothing to do with the horses this time. The gate onto the course was mysteriously locked and the vet, the farrier and some of the starting staff found themselves unable to get to the pens!

Greg Cheyne, given the choice of 19-10 favourite Bendy Bullet and second favourite Rush Hour Girl in race three, correctly picked the Paddy Kruyer filly, reasoning: “Things didn’t go right for her last time – they backed her up and she couldn’t use her stride.”

This was his 150^th winner of the season (he later scored on Spending Spree for Brett Crawford) and he is the Western Cape-based jockey with the biggest total whereas Richard Fourie is the rider with the highest number of winners (95) in the province.

But Cheyne will be sidelined from Wednesday for a week as a result of an interference offence at last Tuesday’s meeting. Jason Smitsdorff was also in trouble that day, in his case for taking his cellphone into the jockeys’ room.

However there were mitigating circumstances – he has been requested to return there as a replacement rider – and so his R2 500 fine has been suspended for six months.

Smitsdorff got his name in print for the right reasons when leading throughout the Fillies Maiden Juvenile on Over Again. The winner started at 25-1 but Ronnie Sheehan, asked if this was a surprise, was indignant.

“Surprise?” he exclaimed. “This horse has had two bloody god runs. I told the jockey he couldn’t lose.”

By Michael Clower