Mike Miller’s decision to let Call Me Winter take her chances in the Morris Vee Handicap at Greyville on Friday has been to the benefit of most of the opposition.

Many will argue that being a handicap, Call Me Winter’s burden of 65kg is deserved but the fact remains that it is unusual for a trainer to accept given her weight.

Call Me Winter (Nkosi Hlophe)

That said, Call Me Winter is back over what is seemingly her preferred surface and the fact that Miller has not even taken advantage of a claiming apprentice one would assume that he has the race sussed.

In opposition to Call Me Winter are two smart older horses in Icy Spirit and Cosmic Burst while the visiting Miss Malbec will also have her supported.

Icy Spirit has come into her own over the past few weeks as Alyson’s Wrights filly has notched a couple of wins over Friday’s course and distance and a close-up second when stretched to seven furlongs from the worst of the draw last time out.

She is obviously progressive and the fact that Anthony Delpech has stuck with the mount adds to her appeal.

Cosmic Burst is seldom too far off the pace and Dennis Drier’s yard is slowly turning the corner after a relatively quiet season so far.

Last time out in the KZN Stakes you could have written your own ticket about her chances but those bookies taking your bet will have sweated a little as Cosmic Burst ran up a close fourth behind the speedy Jo’s Bond and the smart Elusivenchantment.

Both those outings were on the turf which is of some concern as Cosmic Burst’s poly form is nothing to write home about, but that does not take away from her ability and from a gate next door to Icy Spirit she should be a contender.

Call Me Winter has it tough as a three-year-old with 65kg to shoulder, 10kg more than her older rivals, but she has cracking form on the poly. She was three lengths behind Cosmic Burst in the race won by Jo’s Bond at Scottsville and prior to that was a close-up second to Elusivenchantment, also on the turf.

The stable is showing signs of coming to hand and it wold be unwise to write her off lightly.

Although Glen Kotzen has a satellite yard in KZN, his Cape raiders have come good early and Miss Malbec will have her supporters come Friday evening.

She made a smart local debut on the poly under 62kg from the worst of the draw and although she takes on stronger here, she should have benefited from the outing and the experience on the poly and she is draw in pole position with Icy Spirit and Cosmic Burst directly on her outside.

Mogostar and Royal Kaitrina have outstanding chances in the Jayces Projects Handicap but Sean Tarry’s charge De Nimes made a smart poly debut under Anthony Delpech and although taking a significant rise in class, the lightly raced five-year-old could well show further improvement on the synthetic surface.

Joshua’s Answer and Just Cruised In can do much better than their latest efforts in the Laboratory Supply Handicap although veteran Jamal has plummeted down the handicap and Frank Robinson has kept the gelding on the go for six seasons and 63 outings for three wins, a current rating of 40 and bottom weight.

He could prove to be the surprise package.

The balance of the card consists of Maidens and lowly handicaps and past experience suggests that market moves often prove more significant than form.

Friday also marks the end of the regular Friday night racemeetings at Greyville as the South African Champions Season moves into full swing on the following weekend with the running of the Gr2 Daisy Guineas and the Gr2 Daisy Fillies Guineas.

By Andrew Harrison

Emerald Gal goes for a quick follow-up in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow and at 5-1 she makes a lot of appeal.

Grant Van Niekerk (Nkosi Hlophe)

First time out of the maidens is normally a no-no for punters but Stan Elley made the point recently that horses who have taken some time to win a maiden, but have run consistently close, tend to go on doing so when pitched into handicaps.

Indeed Elley’s pre-race previews are an essential tool for the serious punter. The former trainer does a tremendous amount of homework and he invariably informs his listeners of the strength of the form in often-tricky maidens by pointing out how many, or how few, winners and placed horses have come out of the various races.

But back to Emerald Gal. She looked one of those expensively frustrating horses who keep on running well but without finding enough at the end of a race to actually win. However all that changed last Tuesday when Grant van Niekerk took her down quietly on her own, several minutes before the others, and then bounced her out of the pens straight into the lead – and there she stayed.

True, it wasn’t a strong maiden – the third and fourth were both newcomers – but the handicappers have left her on an unchanged mark of 62. The one negative is that Van Niekerk has switched horses and is now on Elusive Empress for his old ally Ronnie Sheehan.

That filly opened 3-1 favourite with World Sports Betting yesterday with top weight Frosted Honey next on 7-2. Darryl Hodgson has booked Donovan Dillon for Emerald Gal and at 5-1 in a field of eight you can take out insurance by backing her each way. Sun At Midnight and Varifast are both 4-1 chances.

The three Joey Ramsden two-year-olds failed to collect on Saturday but 5-2 joint favourite Apollo Star can resume normal service in the first. Dillon’s mount was second against older horses when he suffered slight interference over 1 400m last time but the stable reckons that he is just as effective over this shorter trip. Indeed he was fourth in the Kuda Sprint on Met day.

Supreme Orator (5-2) and What A Summer (28-10) both made the frame first time and are obvious dangers.

Oh Susanna, ponied to the start when second favourite on debut, lost significant ground coming out of the pens but recovered to beat all except surprise fellow newcomer Raya Baya and could prove hard to beat at 17-10 in race two.

Donovan Dillon (Nkosi Hlophe)

She should confirm the placings with 5-1 chance Evie’s Light (1 ¼ lengths back third) as well as with Daring Jayne, Easy Virtue and Dubai Queen who were all long shots and ran accordingly. Mainland’s debut fourth has been franked by the subsequent win of second-placed Lily Theresa and Aldo Domeyer’s mount is second favourite at 9-2.

And in other news.

Anton Marcus, bidding for his fourth Winter Guineas win in six seasons, has been snapped up by Snaith Racing for Turbulent Air in the Highlands Stud-sponsored Winter Series opening leg at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe rides the stable’s other runner African Night Sky and Jonathan Snaith said: “Both horses are in a good space and have the right jockeys on them.”

Turbulent Air is part-owned by Mayfair Speculators who retain Marcus and are also represented by Joey Ramsden’s Investec Cape Derby fourth Newlands (Donovan Dillon) and stable companion I Travel Light. Piere Strydom flies in to partner the last-named.

The connections of last year’s winner Marinaresco – he beat subsequent Met winner Whisky Baron by less than half a length – have a fancied candidate in Our Mate Art, one of four runners for Candice Bass-Robinson. Mike Stewart has opted out with the badly drawn Icon King who instead carries top weight in the last-race 1 400m handicap.

By Michael Clower

There is a tricky nine race meeting tomorrow on the Vaal Inside track where low draws are favourable by trends in all races.

A MR 86 Handicap over 1700m is the highest rated race on the card and there are question marks about all of the leading contenders, so it is not easy to pick a winner. Hamaan from the yard of champion trainer Sean Tarry could be the one to beat. This horse is capable of running on well from off the pace and proved unsuited to handy tactics last time.

Lyle Hewitson

Lyle Hewitson takes over from S’Manga Khumalo and if he can tuck this horse in off the pace he will stand a good chance, but he has a tricky draw. Hamaan proved his ability when finishing a decent third in the Listed Derby Trial over 2000m and being by Silvano he should be improving all the time. The trip is a bit of a concern, as he would likely prefer further, although his only win has been over 1800m on the tight Turffontein Inside course.

The horse selected to be the main danger, Yer-Maan, would also prefer further. However, this former winner of the Gr 1 Castle Tankard seldom has any luck with the draw and now has a plum draw, so should be staying on resolutely. Hieronymus has been given two points relief from the handicapper after staying on for a fair fifth over this course and distance last time and he is well drawn again. However, he is yet another horse in this race who would likely prefer further.

Smart Mart would also prefer further but does have a touch of class and can make his presence felt. Dan The Lad stayed on well to win his maiden over 1400m in his penultimate start but then over raced in a 1600m race next time out. He is better than that effort and if settling could be a player.

Urgent Fury’s last win was over this course and distance, but he was drawn in pole that day as opposed to eight here and he is also three points higher in the merit ratings. He does get on well with Gavin Lerena though, so has a chance.

Econium Love made a respiratory noise in a 1450m Graduation Plate last time when finding little extra and that does not augur well for the step up in trip. However, Khumalo is an interesting booking and he has a fair draw.

Lava Flow will have to improve on his first two outings back in South Africa, although if he recaptures his best SA form he will be a threat and it is also his third run after a layoff. Neuf De Pape is drawn well over a suitable trip and although he is off a four point higher merit rating he has a chance if reproducing his going away win over 1600m in his penultimate start.

Lion’s Emblem is the only horse who can be ignored as he has poor recent form and his best form is over staying trips.

S’Manga Khumalo (Liesl King)

The previous race is an interesting MR 80 Handicap over 1800m and here the promising Captain Al colt Crowd Pleaser has an ideal draw for his handy racing style. He was thought good enough run in the Gr 1 SA Classic over this trip last time and although not featuring his previous run in handicap company saw a comfortable win over 1900m, albeit on the Greyville poly where the competition is generally weaker than on the Highveld. However, he has always been well regarded and is the one to beat with Gavin Lerena up.

Cockade, being drawn two outside of Crowd Pleaser, is a handy type who will have the chance of getting a good tow. Scotland is a nice type who rose rapidly through the ranks after finding his feet and he was consistently close up after reaching the 70s in the merit ratings. His last run was all wrong and he would likely have benefitted from a layoff. Dawn Assault just got up to beat the handy type Cockade 1700m last time and is only 0,5kg worse off, so can go close again from a similarly tough draw. Kanonkop has breathing issues, but can never be ignored as he has plenty of ability.

Boiling Point had poor form until winning a 1450m workrider’s maiden like an odds on shot with first time blinkers on. He wasn’t disgraced behind a promising sort last time and is an interesting runner r with Strydom up over a step up in trip which should suit.

The best bet of the day could be My Angelface in race two over 1700m as she should relish the step up in trip and is drawn well. Furthermore, being a Northern Hemisphere-bred who is six months younger than her contemporaries she should be improving all the time.

By David Thiselton

Mike Stewart will study the weather forecast this morning before deciding whether to declare the improving Icon King – winner of his last three starts – for the Highlands-sponsored Winter Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The Noordhoek trainer said: “He is drawn 18 out of 19 and he is also in the 1 400m handicap so I may go for that instead. But there could be a gale force Northerly and, if so, I would be sorely tempted to run in the Winter Guineas as the wind would be coming from behind in the straight.”

Mike Stewart

For once there was hardly any wind at the Cape Town course last Saturday but that was little compensation for all those punters who saw defeat snatched from the jaws of victory when La Favourari floored Tevez in the 1,200m Pinnacle.

It looked just a question of pressing the button when Aldo Domeyer loomed up alongside the pace-setting La Favourari but the favourite suddenly emptied like a pricked balloon. Seemingly his 12-week absence was taking its toll and he weakened into third at the line where La Favourari was still happily bowling along.

“I was going a little bit fast but I didn’t want to restrain him,” related Grant van Niekerk. “I knew something was coming, I thought it was probably Aldo Domeyer and I felt I was going to get beaten. Then mine seemed to find another gear.”

Andre Nel, left scratching his head for the second race running, added: “We were racing fit and the others were probably not but he has improved. It’s tricky finding races for him but we will keep boxing on with him.”

Watch out for Forest Prince next time. That was the message from Jonathan Snaith after the Var colt, allowed to drift from 9-2, came from a long way back to take third to fellow 14-1 newcomer Virtue in the first. “He is a very smart horse – one to note,” said Snaith.

Blow In The Box should also collect next time after ruining his chance at the start in the Moksh Authentic Indian Cuisine Maiden and failing to peg back Corne Orffer on the Brett Crawford-trained Phelan Lucky by only a diminishing half length.

“He blew it in the box,” quipped rider Bernard Fayd’Herbe. “”In fact he came out alright but he was very green and didn’t want to go. He could have done with a horse in his inside.”

MJ Byleveld

The Eric Sands-trained Commander Bond (Greg Cheyne) in the mile maiden bridged a 20-year gap for nuclear physicist Steph Steyn who seemed as delighted as if he personally had thwarted Blofeld from splitting the atom.

“My last winner here was Motocross in April 1997. She went on to win races in Port Elizabeth but we gave up racing soon afterwards because it was so expensive,” he related. “My son Ruan was a small boy then but he has become very keen so we are now back in the game.”

Domeyer, successful on Virtue, sprang a 20-1 shock on the Glen Kotzen-trained Lindleys Lane, thwarting MJ Byleveld’s all-the-way bid on Amazingly in the Racing Association Maiden in the final two strides.

He said: “MJ is normally a lot easier to get past. He has obviously improved!”  Byleveld was not amused, as he made clear after winning the last on Keep The Faith for Vaughan Marshall.

Van Niekerk was given a R2 000 fine for hitting Twilight Trip more than three times in consecutive strides when coming with a devastating late run in the mile handicap. But he was more concerned with the way his mount suddenly hung in three strides from the post, causing the rider to pull his whip through in an effort to avoid interference. “I wasn’t sure I’d get the verdict,” he related. “But luckily the horse put his head down at the right time and I did get it. Thank God.”

Marsh Shirtliff, part-owner of the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained winner, echoed similar heartfelt sentiments after revealing that his money was on.

The in-form Craig Bantam had his claim cut to 2.5kg after making most to reach the 20-winner mark on State Ballet in the TAB Handicap.

By Michael Clower

It’s still early days but Justin Snaith will have been well pleased with what he saw in the Listed Sledgehammer Handicap at Greyville yesterday as two of his Vodacom Durban July entries put up their hands. But Snaith will not have been the only one with his head resting easy on his pillow last night; fellow Cape Town colleagues Candice-Bass Robinson and Brett Crawford will have been equally comfortable come bedtime.

Snaith’s gelding Elusive Silva under Anthony Delpech came home lonely in the Sledgehammer and was eased up before the line while stable companion Prince Of Wales came from well off the pace to snatch second.

Anthony Delpech (Liesl King)

It was a race tailor made for the pair and a good blow-out for things to come.

Both have been relatively lightly raced but Winter Derby winner Elusive Silva will have his July odds slashed by the time you read this, this morning. This was his first outing since the Derby back in June last year and a ‘tweaked’ muscle at the pull-up was responsible for the interim break and also missing the Cape Summer Season. But this was an excellent return to the track and there will be a few punters looking to nail the early worm this morning but it may already be too late.

Prince Of Wales was also returning from a break and made up plenty of ground in the stretch to get up for second and he too will be a lot shorter in the market come opening time.

Also smiling yesterday will have been Candice Bass-Robinson and Brett Crawford. Bass-Robinson was handed a stable full of talent that also included a ladle full of pressure when her father handed over his license to his daughter as along with the package came the R5 million yearling buy, Horizon.

As most racing sceptics will attest, yearling price seldom equals a return on the track, but Horizon has given himself and his owners a chance. By super sire Dynasty out of a full sister to another champion sire, Silvano, few pedigrees boast more blue-blood. A winner of the Gr3 Politician Stakes, the Gr 2 Daisy Guineas in a fort night’s time will add lustre to Horizon’s track record but the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July would cement his place as he is a horse that appears to be looking for further than eight furlongs.

The scratching of Epona will have left a gap in the betting for the Listed The Scarlet Lady, but Corne Offer made the most of her absence as he drove Crawford’s runner to a comfortable victory. The daughter of Ideal World had the race won a long way out but the back-up pf traffic behind her will give fuel to some thought.

The start of racing was delayed for half-an-hour as there was an issue with the placement of the starting stalls on a narrowed tack.

By Andrew Harrison

Those looking for ante-post Vodacom Durban July value should think about getting on the Justin Snaith-trained Prince Of Wales and Elusive Silva before the running of Sunday’s Listed Sledgehammer Handicap over 1800m at Greyville on Sunday.

Elusive Silva (Liesl King)

Prince Of Wales, a four-year-old gelding by the top stallion Dynasty, will relish the 2200m of the July on pedigree. He appeared to take a while to reach top gear in his hard knocking Summer campaign in three 1800m races at Kenilworth. However, Snaith pointed out that horses are given a lot more speed work when being trained at Summerveld for the SA Champions Season. Going back in time to 2013, the Snaith-trained Jet Explorer arrived in Durban with a similar profile to Prince Of Wales and a similar racing style, yet he suddenly showed a blistering turn of foot when easily winning the Gr 2 Betting World 1900. Prince Of Wales is currently a best price 80/1 for the July and Snaith said, “His biggest asset is his soundness, he has never had an issue and is as hard as nails.”

Snaith appeared even more bullish about the four-year-old Silvano gelding Elusive Silva, who was an ultra-impressive winner of last season’s Gr 3 Winter Derby over 2400m. He turned it on effortlessly that day.  Unfortunately, the tall, athletic horse “tweeked a leg”, while the jockey was celebrating on the line. This will be his first run since, but there has never been a reoccurrence of the injury and “all is good” for his comeback run. The booking of Anthony Delpech says it all and he has pole position draw. He is a best price 28/1 for the July.

Zodiac Ruler (Nkosi Hlophe)

Earlier, Zodiac Ruler has his first run as a gelding in an Allowance Plate for three-year-olds over 1400m. Snaith said, “He is doing very well, I couldn’t be happier, he is back to the form of last season (in which he won the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe over this course and distance).”

Snaith runs Captain Al filly Esteemal in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m and said, “She is a very nice filly, although she probably needs further and is up against some promising horses like the Vaughan Marshall-trained, Believethisbeauty. I will be disappointed if she doesn’t finish in the first three.”

He runs Ovidio and Krambambuli in the Highland Night Cup and admitted off their “Gr 1-like merit ratings” they are going to have it tough in the SA Champions Season staying races.

He has three runners in the Listed Scarlet Lady over 1800m and said, “They are all doing well, Nimo has a good draw, I have earmarked Francia as my Gold Cup filly and Qing is my each-way roughie for the day, she’s loving Durban and is flying.”

By David Thiselton

The Gr 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes over 1600m heads the Turffontein Standside meeting on Saturday and the talented Fort Ember looks hard to beat.

Fort Ember (Nkosi Hlophe)

Fort Ember’s run in the Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m did not pan out well for her after she was caught wide early, yet she still did excellent work late to finish only a short-head behind the classy Rafeef. She was 7,15 lengths behind the Equus Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle and that was not at all a disgrace. This big Elusive Fort filly is full of class and she is getting better and better too, so from pole position under Anton Marcus she is made the best bet of the day. The main danger could be Safe Harbour, who finished runner up in all of the Gr 1 Cape Fillies Guineas, the Gr 1 Paddock Stakes and the Gr 1 SA Classic. The latter pair of races are both over 1800m, but she will probably be even better suited to this tough 1600m course and distance. She has a plum draw of six and the risk averse should include her in the exotics, as she should be cherry ripe having her third run since returning from Cape Town. Furthermore, she comes from the unstoppable yard of champion trainer Sean Tarry. Nother Russia doesn’t have an easy task on paper, especially in comparison to Bella Sonata with whom she is 4kg worse off for a mere 0,2 length beating. However, this horse looks to be a chip off the old block, her mother being the brilliant and courageous Mother Russia. She has a lovely long-striding action, despite like her mother not being the biggest, and from a good draw she could now make the step up to the top bracket. Star Express is very well regarded by the Justin Snaith yard and is raiding from Summerveld, which is at a third of the altitude of Johannesburg which makes it a better base to train for a Highveld race than Cape Town. She finished second in the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes from this identical draw and can make her presence felt under Anthony Delpech. Bella Sonata has to be considered on form, but has a tough draw to overcome. Juxtapose has proven class as the winner of the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic and Gr 2 SA Oaks last year, but she would prefer further. Tahini seems to take advantage of races, which others are using as preparations. However, she won well last time and this race will prove whether she can do it on the big stage. Anna Pavlova was left with too much to do in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, However, she has another wide draw to overcome. Heaps Of Fun won the Gauteng Fillies Guineas last year, so is a dark horse from a good draw. Negroamara was runner up in that race, but has not won a race for about a year-and-a-half. Intergalactic was only 1,4 lengths back in a weaker renewal of this race last year. Trophy Wife was further back, but was one of the best performers in a vintage crop so can’t be ignored. Piere Strydom has stuck with the talented Polyphonic and if she settles she could do well.

The value bet of the day is Count Tassilo, who doesn’t quite get 1600m and is now back to her ideal 1400m.

The Listed Spook Express Handicap over 2450m should be fought out by the trio at the top of the weights, but the big horse Zafira is the selection as she is ideally suited to this galloping course. Silver Stripe is the dark horse here as she is 3,5kg better off with Patchit Up Baby for a 1,5 length beating over 2200m, but that was on the Inside track, which does not suit Patchit Up Baby’s style.

By David Thiselton

Visiting Western Cape trainers have already started to make their presence felt and while this has not been good news for the locals, the improved quality of the fields has led to an upturn in tote turnovers which is good news for all.

Brett Crawford (Nkosi Hlophe)

Brett Crawford is already off the mark in KZN this winter and his filly Clifton Sunset looks to have a bright chance in the Racing.it’s A Rush Middle Stakes that makes up a well filled card on the Greyville poly this evening.

It is also a late start but with just 20 minutes between races punters will need to do their homework early and be on their toes in the two-and-a-half hours or so that it takes to run the nine races.

Clifton Sunset takes on males and makes her poly debut but she comes off some smart Cape form including a close-up second last time out and as Anton Marcus is a master on the poly, Clifton Sunset looks set to open her KZN account.

Joint top weight Zloty Potok is back in blinkers after trying seven furlongs on the turf. Although well beaten he was taking on much stronger than what he meets this evening. He also goes very well on the poly so looks the obvious danger. Lil Red Rooster and Sister Cosmos are others to consider.

In the card opener, He’s A Keeper could become the first juvenile to win in open company. Alyson Wright’s gelding was a close-up second to subsequent winner Sniper Shot last time out and that form looks good enough in a field that is no great shakes.

A-Rod and Light Indigo are the two obvious choices in the second with the former possibly the pick of the pair having done well over course and distance and having her third start after a break while Light Indigo steps out for her new stable for the first time and although arriving with some useful Highveld form behind her name, it has been over a touch further.

Charles Laird holds the whip-hand in the Kidzone Handicap with Rockefeller and Team Guys with the former the likely ante-post favourite. But Byron Forster, KZN assistant to Andre Nel, could put one over them in the form of Keep On Chooglin. The lightly raced son of Trippi steps up to ten furlongs for the first time and the rise in trip could bring out the best in him. All of his recent form has been over 1400m where he has been caught for finishing speed come the final furlong but the gelding has been in good form over the shorter trip. There is no reason why he should not stay the extra and he will be a major contender.

Anton Marcus has kept faith with the three-year-old Rockefeller but Team Guys appeals more as he was finishing strongly to win his last race and could also enjoy the step up in trip although Marcus’s choice must be respected.

By Andrew Harrison