RACE 1

Open race. (11) Dancing In Winter made a decent enough debut and has plenty scope to go well. (1) War Sword ran well in the last start and will be a huge runner. (12) Extraction is capable of winning on best form but can be unreliable. (9) Ponte Vecchio is always there in the mix and can get it right. ( Devonne Govender 11-1-12-9)

RACE 2

(11) Lady Luck is holding form well and will have a huge winning chance, she is very gutsy and will be right there. (7) Arturo won easily in his last and can win again, he has ability and must be respected. (3) Anatolian Silver ran a much improved race at big odds and can build on that. (2) Single File can get into the quartets. ( Devonne Govender 11-7-3-2)

RACE 3

(1) My Best Shot is a very smart horse and will take a power of beating. (4) Family Law has run behind some smart sorts and will be there in the mix. (6) Play Act is always in the mix and can fill in the placings. (2) Walt Whitman won a top race in the last start and can finish in the money once again, he does drop in distance to 1400m now. ( Devonne Govender 1-4-6-2)

RACE 4

(7) Union Rose is on the up, he ran well in the last start and will have a huge winning chance. (6) Arabian Red is in good form and will be the main danger to the top selection so include in all bets. (3) Gold Gunner placed at big odds, that run was encouraging so has to be factored in. (2) Nothingelsematters is very capable on his day so include. ( Devonne Govender 7-6-3-2)

RACE 5

(2) Splicethemainbrace is extremely talented and will be a banker in everything as she is expected to remain unbeaten. (3) Forest Spy is holding form well and will be in the placings. (4) Siberian Steel is capable of a big finish and will be running on strongly. (8) Anuschka’s World ran a cracker in the last start at big odds and can make the frame. ( Devonne Govender 2-3-4-8).

RACE 6

(4) Fairy Knight is holding excellent form and will me a massive runner in this extremely competitive contest. (2) Cherry Ano is very classy and will be right there in the mix, he will have a huge winning chance. (1) Pacaya needs no introduction, he packs plenty of class and on best form he can blow this field away. (3) Zatara Magic has been holding top form and is a very honest type, he will be right there in the finish. ( Devonne Govender 4-2-1-3)

RACE 7

(1) Three Rocks is very smart and will be the firm first choice despite the top weight and slight break which he returns from. He is a classy type and will be there. (3) Gocekwithlove is holding form and wont be far. (8) Symbol Of Love won well in the last start and can make the frame. (6) Mythical Dream was gutsy in the last start and can fill in the placings so respect. ( Devonne Govender 1-3-8-6)

RACE 8

(6) Cold Truth ran extremely well in the last start and needs to repeat that performance here. (8) Bytheliteofthemoon is very capable on his day and can get involved on best form. (11) Komesans Passion is always there in the mix and will be there again. (7) Free World is never far back and can get much closer. ( Devonne Govender 6-8-11-7)

Andrew Harrison

One of my lasting memories, fresh in my mind, was watching Frikkie Greyling leading Horse Chestnut around on the Turffontein track after Mike de Kock’s champion had demolished the field in the Gr1 SA Derby to land the Triple Crown.

The poly track on a Wednesday is a long way from those heady days but Greyling has always been held in high esteem as a horseman. He has taken the roundabout route to end up with Tinus Gericke and Bruce Le Roux at Blue Sky Thoroughbreds with his own trainer’s brief and yesterday’s win was the first for his current supporters. It has also been something of a wait for Greyling to get the monkey off his back but he will remember Hurricane Cat as his first winner off the farm.

Not the biggest filly, nicknamed ‘Peanut’ according to rider Deryl Daniels, and with and action that is almost a blur, she finally got her act together as she looked well suited to the quick synthetic surface.

Sun In My Pocket was the well-supported favourite but again proved difficult at the gate and blew the start, trailing the field for much of the race as Hurricane Cat set the pace.

Daniels, a more than accomplished rider who is more appreciated in Zimbabwe than on home turf, kept his mount solid to the task to hold off Blowin In The Wind and a very green One Path, with Sun In My Pocket making up a lot of ground for fourth.

Paul Gadsby and owner Roy Moodley have taken flack from know-it-all keyboard warriors for putting five and six-year-old mares into training but to each their own. It is difficult to teach horses to race that have spent the majority of their lives bouncing around a paddock Gadsby managed it to get Roy Taking Off home in the second. It was a desperately close call with S’Manga Khumalo earning his keep to get the blinkered mare up by a nostril ahead of the well-supported Lemon Scent with Nicholas Patel deputizing for Mauritian champion Lannish Taka.

The Greyville poly track is not always easy to asses but that is possibly due to the type of horses racing on the day. It is a quick surface that can change with the weather but runners with some speed and a little stamina can make it look easy from the front. But more often than not, those that hit for the line too early run out of gas when looking home-and-hosed. 

Tristan Godden has matured into a top rider and he has found his place as first call in the Mike Miller yard and displaying his talent aboard the stable’s filly Skytrix who was having her first outing on the poly. Sitting relatively handy as Juniper Green set a cracking pace, he delivered his filly with a well-timed finish to win rather cozily with Poursomesugaronme, coming from last in the straight off a hot pace to snatch second.

Punters, alert to the Blue Horizon/Skytrix form, will have been confident of the chances of Kisshoten in the next and it held solid as Gareth van Zyl’s filly ran on stoutly to give Highveld-based Marco van Rensburg, who recently signed up with Van Zyl, his first winner for the stable. Kisshoten and Green Valkyrie pulled clear of the opposition but as Van Rensburg intimated post-race, he was happy that his filly had company which prompted a little extra from his mount.  

Godden rode a copybook race on Peter Muscutt’s charge Shoefella to score a well-deserved double in the fifth. Tracking the pace set by Dynalley, he kept the favourite interested on the turn but waited until the 300m mark before asking for maximum. The response was almost instant and Shoefella was a winner a long way out with the veteran warrior Rodriguez running another honest race for second.

It was a quick double for Muscutt as Craig Zackey made all the running on Neitherherenorthere who held off a strong challenge from Fish Eagle with the balance well beaten. Lightly raced, Muscutt revealed that the five-year-old had overcome a series of physical issues – colic and fetlock surgery – but had always shown that he has what it takes to win a few races. 

Wendy Whitehead saddled a one-two in the seventh as Giambattista and Joshua Hotsnake fought out a tight finish.  Giambattista has been a soldier for the stable as this was his ninth win, and Joshua Hotsnake was hunting his sixth, a tribute to Whiteheads ability to place her runners in this day of merit ratings.

It was three up for Godden as he rounded off the meeting on the Stuart Ferrie-trained Hippocrates making light weight of the 61kgs. Out in a flash, Godden played them all on the break and was sitting with a double handful crossing the subway. He allowed Hippocrates to build up in his hands and when asked, the six-year-old responded willingly to comfortably hold off Stevie Gee and Lou Lou The Legend.

David Thiselton

There is an eight race meeting at the Vaal Classic track today and punters can get off to a good start with Red Legend.

The Lucky Houdalakis-trained Red Ray gelding is no great shakes but last time out over this 1600m trip down the straight at the Vaal he had an unfavourable low draw but still managed to stay on well all the way to the line and failed by a head. The form of that race has worked out quite well in the context of this race and he now has a plum draw of two. Hat Trick Or Treat was staying on well for second down the straight over 1400m last time so will be a lively threat. He has tried 1600m before and although finishing downfield was not disgraced in a stronger field than this. Pike Place is a limited but solid sort and could well run a place from a good draw.

In the second race 2 Future Date put up a gallant effort last Saturday when taken to the front from a wide draw at Turffontein Inside and she stayed on well to lose by 0,75 lengths with the rest of the field beaten 6,25 lengths and more. She looks to have some scope and St. John Gray and Muzi Yeni are both in form plus she now has a middle draw of five out of nine, although that last race was only five days ago so this race does come soon. Ambitious Lady has shown some ability and could be the main threat, although she has to overcome the widest draw of all. Bella’s Charm, Pass The Baton and Tik Tok Addiction can be considered for quartets.

In the third race over 1600m AnnwithanE is no great shakes but has dropped to a competitive mark, as she proved last time, and she gets a good opportunity here against an uninspiring field. Perini Palace has improved lately but was well beaten over 1400m last time. However, interestingly, the blinkers in which she has done well over sprint trips, have now been put on over this longer trip, although the draw of six makes it tricky.  Count Your Chances has 2,25 lengths to make up on AnnewithanE but is only half-a-kilogram better off. She could earn if breaking on terms. Free In Seattle has 2,75 lengths to find on AnnewithanE and is only half-a-kilogram better off. Gimme The Flame has a very wide draw but has the form to place.

In the next over 1800m Flag Bearer has been knocking on the door and went well for this 4kg claimer last time so he can finally do it over a suitable trip from a middle draw. Manz Knight went well for Strydom last time over 2000m and he now has a plum draw. Callaburn, Guy Alexander and Full Go also have chances.

In the fifth over 2000m Silky Jet won easily when first stepped up to middle distances and can follow up off a reasonable merit rating of 67. Ideal Future has been busy but has the ability to go close from a good draw.  Angel’s Wish has ability over this trip and could be in the shake up from a fair draw. Play With Fire and Summerland are in with a chance in this line up too. 

In the sixth over 1450m Guerilla Warfare has mixed it with much better horses and was not at all disgraced when beaten six lengths by Mount Pinatubo in his penultimate start over this distance category. Mount Pinatubo went on to beat the Gr 1 runner up The Specialist over 1200m. Guerilla Warfare also represents an in form trainer and jockey and has a good draw but he does have to bounce back from a lacklustre performance over 1800m, although he might have found that race too far. Captain Jim is in good form and from a middle draw could be in the shake up over a suitable trip off a reasonable opening handicap mark and how Red Legend fares in the first will give a clue to his chances too. . Written In Stone has always had ability and won well with this same rider up last time so is interesting here. Southern Style is always thereabouts and is distance suited but does have a tricky draw. Kittyboys Girl could be involved too having taken well to blinkers recently.

In the seventh over 1000m Dontshootthebarman won well last time and can overcome a four point raise with Strydom staying aboard. Nkandla Gold has pace and is 2,5kg better off with Dontshootthebarman for a 1,75 length beating. On Cue has proved competitive off his current mark and should place again. Axel Collins ran well last time and has his third run after a layoff. John Wick won easily last time but does have a six point raise to overcome. 

In the last over 1200m Twice As Wild ran a cracker last time over 1100m when leading and caught late and should be in the shake up. Dark Tide was a touch unlucky in that same race as he didn’t get a good start and was only beaten three lengths so he could go close from a good draw. Dancing Dora is consistent and should be thereabouts. Commander Of All has the form to earn here. Inafix should be ready to step up to 1200m now from a fair draw under S’Manga Khumalo. 

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David Thiselton

Two horses and their connections a thousand odd miles apart benefited from the patience of their trainers over the weekend, Dyce at Turffontein and Economics at Leopardstown in Ireland.

The Lucky Houdalakis-trained six-year-old William Longsword gelding Dyce came from off the pace in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1000m after showing the good cruising speed he is known for under Piere Strydom and he then produced the strong finish he is also known for to win by a comfortable 0,75 lengths despite carrying 62kg.

Dyce was in line to be the Equus Champion Sprinter after winning the Gr 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship.

However, after two below par runs back on the Highveld and another below par run in the Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint, Houdalakis decided to back off him and put him away instead of having a tilt at the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint.

He said last week, “He is a sound horse, there is nothing wrong with him, I just think he was run down. When he came back from Cape Town he began to haemoconcentrate, so he was under pressure already. Then we gelded him and he didn’t have time to get over it before going into the Computaform and Scottsville. I sat down with David (Shawe – the owner and breeder) and said he’s had three unplaced runs and there’s no way this horse can run unplaced – it’s impossible – he’s telling us he’s not happy, there’s something wrong, so we just have to back off him. Enough is enough.”

Dyce demonstrated on Saturday he has his zest for racing back, so it was a wise move by the connections to back off him and let him fight for the big prizes this season instead.

He is still lightly raced and in fact his eight career wins, including a Gr 1, a Gr 2, a Gr 3 and a Listed race, have come from only 18 starts.

He should still be able to produce his best, despite being a six-year-old, and an interesting season lies in store.

In the UK the Willam Haggas-trained Economics might well have produced the world’s best performance of the year in winning the Gr 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes. When a horse is caught wide without cover it usually spells doom for his of her chances, but in Economics case he was not only able to overcome such a disadvantage but he also got the better of a great horse like Auguste Rodin in a duel for the line. Economics beat the six-time Group 1 winner by a neck to make it four wins in a row, including two Group 2s and Saturday’s Group 1.

When Economics won one of the Epsom Derby traditional pointer races, the Dante, in highly impressive fashion at York most expected him to appear in the Derby. However, Haggas had withdrawn him from the Derby before that win at York and said, “I didn’t think it was the right track and the right race for him at this stage of his career.” When calls came to supplement him into the Derby for £75,000 he stuck to his guns, saying, “”We want to give him more time, he’s a big lovely, scopey horse. It’s a shame these races come up so quickly and he just needs some more time, that’s my view.”

He was vindicated when Economics won the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano over a mile and two furlongs last month, but the bigger vindication came on Saturday.

Economics looks to now have the world at his feet. 

However, Haggas has ruled out a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and is instead set to round off his season in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot. 

Meanwhile in England on Saturday the great Galileo had his last chance to land a British Classic and did so through his Aidan O’Brien-trained son Jan Brueghel, who started 11/4 joint favourite and became Galilo’s 21^st British classic winner. Galileo and O’Brien got the exacta as the other joint favourite Illinois finished a neck second.  Sean Levey rode the winner to give O’Brien his 8^th St. Leger and Galilo his 101^st individual Group 1 winner.