Joey Ramsden is to give Brutal Force his final race before the Computaform Sprint in the 1 000m Pinnacle at Turffontein on Saturday.

Brutal Force (Liesl King)

He said: “Brutal Force is doing very well. I saw him when I was up there last weekend and he looked fantastic. Both he and Pillar Of Hercules are likely to run.”

Brutal Force, beaten a head by Gulf Storm in last year’s Cape Flying Championship, would have gone on to the Computaform but for suffering an attack of colic so serious that he had to have an emergency operation. He returned to winning form in the Vasco Food Trucks Pinnacle at Kenilworth in February.

Vaughan Marshall confirms last year’s Gold Medallion winner Always In Charge on course and in good shape for the 1 100m Pinnacle at Scottsville on Sunday. This is a prep for the Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville on May 27, but stable companions Exelero and Elusive Path will miss next Sunday’s race.

Search Party will represent Brett Crawford in the Scottsville Pinnacle. The Philippi trainer recently returned from the big Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney where he bought fillies by So You Think and Foxwedge for the Ridgemont Stud operation.

Jonathan Snaith reports that the now world-famous two-year-old Fake News will not make his debut until June or July.

By Michael Clower

Cot Campbell seemingly remains the real deal despite managing only sixth of nine when odds-on for his debut at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Greg Cheyne (Liesl King)

Chris Snaith warned this paper that the R3.3 million colt would need the run and he ambled out of the pens with about as much urgency as a pensioner going to the post office. In no time he was six lengths last and, although he made up the leeway, he was a spent force by the time he met with interference almost on the line. Even so he was less than three lengths off Pen-Chan, trained by Eric Sands for one-time Sporting Post columnist Rose Leheup.

“You can put a line through that,” said Jonathan Snaith. “This is a horse to follow and you can expect major improvement next time.”

Kingston Passage, on whom Greg Cheyne completed a double, was already in many punters’ notebooks even before making all in the Kieswetter brothers’ Whisky Baron colours in the 1 000m handicap.

“He is a sprinter with a hell of a lot of gate speed and he has his races won at halfway,” said Brett Crawford. “He will stay in Cape Town as the Durban programme doesn’t really suit sprinting three-year-olds.”

The recent Ramsden two-year-old dominance continues with Lily Theresa benefitting from Donovan Dillon’s subtle change of tactics (“I decided to put her behind something and it made all the difference”) to take the stable’s tally to 50% of the last 14 Cape Town juvenile races.

The stipes have instructed Riaan van Reenen to ensure that he continues to race Mistico’s Secret with blinkers after the almost formless filly served up a 16-1 shock under Grant van Niekerk in the Racing Association Maiden.

Van Reenan explained: “She developed a low-grade airwave disease and couldn’t finish her races. I managed to fix this problem but it was still in her mind so I put blinkers on her here and that worked.”

The Warm White Night filly is a half-sister to Gold Medallion winner Seventh Plain but, related the trainer, she is so small that he was able to buy her for Mike Wall for only R100 000.

Craig Bantam and his 4kg claim (worth four lengths over a mile) are becoming an increasingly valuable commodity and his all-the-way success on Benjan for Candice Bass-Robinson in the finale means that he has now had a winner at six of the last seven Kenilworth meetings.

There were some unusual starting prices returned on Saturday, notably on the Aldo Domeyer double – 72-10 for Call Me Darling and 61-10 for Step Out. Nobody seemed to know why.

‘Now wait for the rain’ was the message from Vaughan Marshall after MJ Byleveld led over 100m out for a convincing win on the Truters’ Tiger Warrior in the mile handicap. “He will be much better when there is a cut in the ground – and I’m sure he will win again,” said the Milnerton trainer.

By Michael Clower

Although a model of consistency since joining the Laird yard, Monte Christo still gives the impression of being something of an under achiever but the poly could see the best in him the Hollywood Bets Handicap that heads the Greyville card tonight.

After a relatively quiet spell with stable runners few and far between in recent months, Charles Laird has returned with a vengeance and his runners dominate the race – in numbers at least.

Charles Laird (Nkosi Hlophe)

Laird saddles three runners, all at the bottom of the handicap, the best of the trio possibly Monte Christo. The Trippi gelding has been a beaten favourite at his last two outings but the switch to poly over his optimum trip could make him the horse to beat.

Further in his favour is a pole position draw and Serino Moodley’s claim sees him jump with only 51kg on his back.

But he does face a competitive field and the likes of Celtic Captain, Sea Fever and Never Settle will be lively threats.

Never Settle showed some promise when in KZN last winter and although winless in two starts during the Cape summer, he was a close-up second in a handicap sprint where he carried 61.5kg. However, the Kannemeyer yard suffered from a low grade virus all through the summer so it may prove prudent to ignore that form.

Kannemeyer runners generally go well on the synthetic surface and Never Settle could be a major threat to the chances on Monte Christo.

So too Celtic Captain and Sea Fever. Celtic Captain’s best recent form has been over ground but he has been effective over Friday’s trip but Sea Fever is in cracking form and has gone well on the poly. He also finished ahead of Monte Christo when last they met but is 3.5kg worse off in the weights which will make his task difficult.

Monte Christo (Nkosi Hlophe)

Just Ask Me, Mr Roy and Rikitikitana are also not without hope but Monte Christo has a lot in his favour.

The World Sports Betting Middle Stakes has attracted a competitive field of sophomore fillies and with the Cape raiders already having made their presence felt one may need to tread cautiously.

However, Duncan Howells saddles Accidental Tourist who made good improvement in blinkers last time out and she has run some cracking races in stronger company. She has the benefit of pole position draw which is always a bonus over this course and distance.

Silver Willow has been in good form for Glen Kotzen and has yet to run a bad race. She was a beaten favourite over the Kenilworth ‘mile’ last time out and can make amends even though this will be her poly debut. She has also drawn alongside Accidental Tourist so Anthony Delpech and Keagan de Melo will be watching each other’s every move.

By Andrew Harrison

Alistair Gordon believes there is not much between the classy 96 merit rated Captain Al gelding My Pal Al and the recently gelded son of Fort Wood, Marshall That, both of whom are running in the Gr 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m at Greyville on Sunday.

My Pal Al (Nkosi Hlophe)

He also has another runner in the race, the consistent Tiger Ridge gelding Scarrabeast.

Gordon said, “My Pal Al has got a bad draw but you have to take your chances and he is fit and well and I hope he will be competitive. There are horses which bring good Johannesburg and Cape Town form while he has just been running on the Greyville poly, so this is a big step up, it’s a different kettle of fish. Marshall That (also drawn wide) has come on a lot since gelding and there is not a lot between him and My Pal Al.  It will be tough for Scarrabeast and I expect the other two to beat him, but there aren’t many 1400m features and he has the draw in his favour. I think a mile would be the maximum for both My Pal Al and Marshall That, so we will see how they go on Sunday and take it from there.”

The tall and rangy My Pal Al is certainly an eye catching horse with plenty of speed, class and scope and on paper Marshall That will have a tough task getting close to him.

Gordon said a line could be drawn through My Pal Al’s unplaced run in the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans over 1600m last November as he was still too immature and the ground had been very soft that day. He benefitted from the break he was given after that race and has won both of his starts since.

By David Thiselton

The Dennis Drier yard are expecting a big run from Sail in the Gr 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m at Greyville on Sunday.

However, the noises from the Paul Gadsby yard are not as bullish for their Gr 1 winner Gunner, who runs in the Gr 3 Byerley Turk Stakes over the same course and distance.

Sail (Nkosi Hlophe)

Stuart Ferrie, assistant to Drier reckoned the 1400m trip was just about Sail’s optimum and said, “There are just limited opportunities over this trip. She is fit and well and will be ready.”

Drier also runs the classy The High Life.

However, Ferrie said, “It is a bit sharp for her, but we have to get her going somewhere.”

Ferrie concluded, “Sail is the right one.”

The last time Sail went this trip she beat the Gr 1 winner The Secret Is Out by two lengths at Kenilworth, although she was receiving 3kg. The classy Philanthropist filly subsequently finished a fine fourth from a wide draw in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and she was far from disgraced in both the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes and Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1800m and 1600m respectively. On Sunday she jumps from a plum draw of two and should go close.

The High Life has won her last two starts over 1800m and 2000m respectively at Kenilworth.and shouldn’t be ignored on Sunday running fresh as she has a fine turn of foot.

Paul Gadsby said the Gimmethegrenlight gelding Gunner had had a “few little problems” which the yard were now on top of. However, he added he would not be “100% wound up”. He said the going had been a bit hard for Gunner down in Cape Town. He also pointed out his form had not stood up too well. Furthermore, from his wide draw he would have to be ridden “from off them” on Sunday.

However, Gadsby concluded, “He is not the biggest, but he is a genuine horse with a big heart and we have always thought a lot of him. Sunday’s run will show us where we are at with him.”

Gunner showed a terrific turn of foot when winning the Gr 1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m last season.

Gadsby expected a big run from On Your Life in the third race on Sunday and said his last run had been “all wrong”.

By David Thiselton

Former national champion trainer Charles Laird has been in top form at present and fittingly his four-year-old Kahal gelding Top Form emphasised the point at Greyville last Friday night.

Top Form is one of a few horses who gives the Laird yard SA Champions Season hopes.

Charles Laird (Nkosi Hlophe)

The speedster dominated a strong 1200m Pinnacle Stakes race, overcoming a draw of eight and leading from start to finish under Anton Marcus to complete a course and distance hattrick. Once in front Top Form stretched out nicely and was enjoying himself, but he still had a lot in hand and quickened away to win by two lengths. He had some useful types like Rodney, Captain Chaos, Angel’s Power, Cutting Edge, Captain Swarovski and Highway Explorer well beaten. Among those the favourite and topweight Captain Swarovski deserves a special mention as he broke well but began fighting for his head and will come on from the run, while Rodney ran on well from behind and Angel’s Power was doing some eyecatching late work.

Laird said he was unlikely to enter Top Form in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville, which could be tempting as he would come in with a low weight off his current 101 merit rating. He will instead be aiming him at the Post Merchants over his favourite Greyville 1200m. This event is on the turf, but Top Form did win last season’s KZN Winter Challenge 1200 on the Greyville grass.

Laird’s best chance of landing a Champions Season Gr 1 must be with the Var colt Varallo, who is unbeaten in two starts over 1000m and 1200m respectively, both at Scottsville. In the latter start he was very green, but still won comfortably. He is superbly bred, being out of the Western Winter mare Covenant, who was bred in the purple and won a Gr 1 over a mile and three Gr 2s over sprints. On the combination of pedigree and style of racing Varallo should comfortably stay further than sprints. However, his first big Champions Season target will likely be the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion on May 27 at Scottsville.

Top Form (Nkosi Hlophe)

Laird will run the Warm White Night gelding Buffalo Soldier in the Gr 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m at Greyville this Sunday. He has no doubt this horse will stay even as far as a mile. In last season’s Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe, Buffalo Soldier set the pace and stayed on well for a 3,75 length fourth to the subsequent Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby runner up Zodiac Ruler. From draw three and with the blinkers on it would be no surprise to see Marcus taking him to the front again in the Byerley Turk. However, Laird had not yet looked at the field and said this would not necessarily be the tactic.

Laird recently sent out the three-year-old Dynasty filly Hot Toddy to win on debut by 6,5 lengths over 1600m at Scottsville. However, she was restless in the stalls that day and had to be removed and reloaded and she also needs ground. Therefore, he is taking it slowly with her and she is not entered in Sunday’s Gr 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m.

The yard’s Listed winner over 1400m Palladium has been gelded and is one to watch during the Champions Season.

Laird will continue to take “baby steps” with Captain Of Rock. This Seventh Rock three-year-old colt is out of a five-times winning Captain Al mare. He took five runs to win his maiden, but followed up with a nice win on the Greyville poly when stepped down to 1000m for the first time and looks to have potential.

Four-year-old Trippi gelding Monte Christo is another speedster who could do well for the Summerveld-based yard up to 1400m.

Friday night’s Gr 3 King’s Cup third-placed Secret Warning is a consistent miler and will also held his own in handicaps during the winter.

Meanwhile, Laird’s useful older horse Stormy Eclipse had been sent to Tara Laing’s Port Elizabeth yard in order to take part in races like the Algoa Cup.

By David Thiselton

A remarkable set of circumstances will bring evergreen jockey Jeff Lloyd to the Sunshine Coast track in Caloundra tomorrow, as he aims to break Chris Munce’s Brisbane jockeys’ premiership record of 103 winners in a season.

Jeff Lloyd salute (Nicola Lloyd Twitter)

Lloyd, 55, will take five rides on the eight-race metropolitan program at the same track where he suffered a life-threatening stroke in 2013.

It will also be on the same track where he rode seven winners in one day on November 29, last year.

In another incredible twist, it was also at Caloundra in 2012 when Munce became the first Brisbane-based hoop to ride 100 metropolitan winners in a season, after he guided Belltone to win the listed Glasshouse Hcp.

Sunshine Coast Turf Club (SCTC) chief Mick Sullivan remembers the day well, and never thought the record would be broken so soon. “And (Lloyd’s) still got four months to go. To break the record in eight months is unbelievable,” he said.

Lloyd drew level with Munce’s record on March 25, and after a stint on the sidelines through suspension, will start the meeting aboard the Desleigh Forster-trained Sun Deck in Race 2 (1.10pm).

One of his best chances looks to be aboard the Jeffrey Chan-trained Fast Choice (Race 7), a lightly- raced 6yo stallion by Redoute’s Choice, which saluted as an odds-on favourite at Corbould Park on March 12.

He’ll also ride She Goes Pop (Race 3) and Prontezza (Race 8) for the trainer he’s become synonymous with in recent seasons, Toby Edmonds.

Asked why Lloyd was so popular among trainers in Queensland, Sullivan said it was simple. “His record speaks for itself,” he said, referring to Lloyd’s hoards of premierships in Mauritius and South Africa and stints in Hong Kong.

“He has ridden winners all over the world.”

–        https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/

Catch live coverage this morning of the Sunshine Coast racemeeting on Tellytrack [DSTV 239]

The first of four legs in the inaugural KZN Breeders “Level The Playing Fields” Series saw 21 horses line up at Scottsville on Sunday over two pools. The Yellow Star-bred Putchini took the first pool of the day for owner Ashley De Klerk together with a boosted stake of R100 000.

Ashley De Klerk and Putchini (Candiese Marnewick)

The innovative competition saw jockeys drawn out of a hat for the rides in each of the pools and accumulating points according to their finishing order. Billy Jacobson drew Putchini and did well to steer the chestnut Bezrin gelding home over 1200m by a nose from Bankable gelding, Reactive. Cipher (Overlord) and Poivre (Silvano) placed third and fourth respectively.

The second pool of the day saw Glen Kotzen’s Mogok filly Royal Agree, bred by Scott Bros, scoring a convincing win under Athandiwe Mgudlwa. Owned by Mr PG De Beyer, the filly out of Royal Promise by Royal Academy secured her second career win under the care of Lunga Gila, who is managing the Kotzen yard in KZN. Royal Agree finished a length clear of multiple winners Brave And Bold and Fire The Rocket over the 1200m-turf trip.

The “Level The Playing Fields” Series takes place on turf with trainers only able to enter one horse for all four legs. The jockey for each race is drawn out of a hat. The horse must have the ability to win from 1200m – 1600m in distance.

The final round, for a stake of R200 000, will run on the Greyville turf over 1400m on 25 June, with the winning jockey, owner, breeder and trainer each taking home R50 000.

The second leg of the series takes place on 30 April over 1400m at Scottsville. Keep an eye out for the log updates of horses and jockeys participating in this exciting new series.

By Candiese Marnewick for KZN Breeders