Africa Rising and Copper Force gave early notice for South Africa’s Champion Season after finishing first and second respectively in the Gr 3 Byerley Turk at Greyville yesterday. The race – once called the Rupert Ellis Brown and run at Clairwood and a happy hunting ground for former champion trainer Terrance Millard – is the natural stepping stone into the Gr2 Daisy Guineas.

Africa Rising (Nkosi Hlophe)

Sean Tarry is so far ahead on the current national trainers’ log that he could turn in his licence today and still be crowned champion but he is far from done and added another feature to his already impressive record this term as Africa Rising cruised home under hands and heels from apprentice Lyle Hewitson from Copper Force and Buffalo Soldier with Kenny Trix staying on resolutely for fourth.

From his inside draw, Hewitson tracked the early pace on the heels of Copper Force who was the first to tackle the leaders in the home stretch. However, Anthony Delpech left an inviting opening up the inside fence and Hewitson took full advantage, punching Africa Rising through the gap to win going away.

Justin Snaith was on record as saying Copper Force was not fully primed for this event and Delpech geared him down once his chances had gone. Both Africa Rising and Copper Force look likely to come on from this showing and the Daisy Guineas should provide for a tighter contest between these two.

If Snaith was cautious about the chances of Copper Force he was bullish about Gimme Six in the Gr2 Umzimkhulu Stakes. “This is Gimme Six’s main target and she is properly ready,” he said earlier last week and it was bull’s eye. Delpech had her in the box seat throughout and brought the daughter of Gimmethegreenlight through smoothly to justify Snaith’s confidence.

Final Judgement was game in second but Richard Fourie had his hands full keeping her on a straight course while Sail had every chance. Dawn Calling had a tricky outside draw to overcome but was doing her best work late.

Apprentice Ashton Arries is four shy of losing his 4kg claim and is doing it in a hurry as he booted home a brace of winner for Paul Lafferty to take his total to 16. Sniper Shot benefitted from Arries’s claim to get the better of the first timer Procal Harem with favourite Sit Frenchie in third and Arries followed up on the Lafferty first timer Dark Moon Rising to relegate the luckless Indian Tractor to another runner-up berth.

Tiger Hill gave notice that he is a lively candidate for the big staying races over the next three months and even a crack at the Vodacom Durban July with an impressive performance in the KVN Shipping Handicap. In a race run at a cracking pace, Glen Kotzen’s runner kept plugging home under top weight with lightly weighted favourite Mr O’Neill caught way out of his ground and under the pump coming up the hill into the final bend.

By Andrew Harrison