A “beneficial meeting conducted in good spirit” took place at Greyville on Friday between Gold Circle and KZN’s Independent Owner’s Association (IOA).

The latter organisation was recently founded by prolific and passionate KZN owner Brian “Buffalo Bill” Burnard.

The current IOA Board consists of three Directors, namely, Brian, Daryll Marescia and Mayesh Chetty, with the latter pair contributing “immensely and passionately”, from the inception of the Association.

The well-being of the industry and all involved in it was the focus of both parties at the meeting and a few important issues were raised with that in mind.

Brian Burnard (Nkosi Hlophe)

The possibility of introducing a “central billing system” was discussed. The aim of this initiative would be to eradicate the non-payment of training fees by rogue owners and to ensure that Trainers accounts would be up to date. The former occurrence has had a negative effect on a few KZN training yards and repercussions have been felt further afield.

The introduction of a “Training Contract” between Trainer and Owner that would ensure the “eradication of the current ambiguities that exist”, was also discussed.

Stakes increases and how they would be implemented was brought to the table. The IOA highlighted the fact that the percentage figure of average stakes money earned per horse compared to the cost of keeping a horse in training had been dropping.

The possible implementation of a minimum training fee was also discussed with the well-being of Trainers in mind. A few KZN yards have been feeling the pinch in the current economic climate. The IOA calculated a fee which incorporated the minimum amount required to cover all costs of keeping a horse in training as well as enabling a Trainer to make a living. The IOA are in the process of asking their members to pay at least this minimum fee.

The IOA Board reiterated that prior to any agreements being made on any matters, it would first consult with its Members for their approval, or disapproval. Upon the IOA receiving the official position of Gold Circle pertaining to any issue or issues, it would convene a Members meeting.

Both Gold Circle and the IOA said they wished to quash a rumour doing the rounds in the racing industry that the IOA were intent on a “take over” of Gold Circle.

In fact the IOA have been granted office space at Greyville from which to operate, signalling the intent from both parties to induce industry progress transparently and in harmony.

In light of the above, both parties wish to appeal to the public at large, and the Racing Fraternity in particular, to take no notice of statements made, unless officially made by the IOA or Gold Circle.

By David Thiselton

The Charles Laird-trained Var colt Varallo showed his class at Scottsville on Sunday and is one of a few promising youngsters who run in the colours of prolific KZN owner Alesh Naidoo.

Naidoo believes his two-year-olds will give him a SA Champions Season to remember.

Alesh Naidoo (Supplied)

Varallo had to be pushed along by Anton Marcus for much of the Juvenile Plate event over 1200m in order to stay in touch with the Crusade colt Caladdi, who has plenty of natural speed. Varallo ducked away from the whip when Marcus hit him with his right hand at the business end and this initially looked likely to cost him the race. However, Marcus gathered the horse and in the end the latter just required a couple of reminders to surge forward effortlessly and beat a tiring Caladdi by 2,75 lengths. Varallo is out of the brilliant sprint-miler Covenant, who won a Gr 1 over 1600m as well as three Gr 2s from 1000-1200m. Varallo’s grandam is the outstanding broodmare Secret Pact, who is an own sister to Horse of The Year London News. Other notables in this family are Secret Heart, Promisefrommyheart, Pluck, Three Hearts and Masterofmyfate. Naidoo spotted Varallo at the National Yearling Sales, waited patiently for him to come into the ring and then went to R2 million to land him. Laird described the horse on Sunday as “special” and added “when he realises what racing is all about …”. On the combination of pedigree and style of racing Varallo should stay further than sprints. However, his first Champions Season target will likely be the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion on May 27 at Scottsville.

Naidoo has a Gimmethegreenlight filly called Light On her Toes, who is out of the Gr 1 Allan Robertson winner On Her Toes. She is trained by Lezeanne Forbes and finished a flying third on debut over 1200m at Scottsville. Naidoo believes she can follow in her mother’s footsteps. Forbes purchased her for just R70,000 at the National Yearling Sales before selling her on to Naidoo.

Gimmethegreenlight (Nkosi Hlophe)

Naidoo has hopes for his Alyson Wright-trained Go Deputy filly Flichity By Farr, who is a three-parts sister to Triple Crown hero Abashiri. She was slow away on debut and stayed on nicely for sixth in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m at Scottsville.

He also has a promising unraced two-year-old filly with Wright.

Naidoo has both a Trippi and an Oratorio two-year-old with Dennis Bosch. The latter is a colt out of a full-sister to the Listed winning Var filly Schiffer and was originally purchased by the under investigation owner Adriaan van Vuuren for R3,2 million. Naidoo landed the colt for R500,000 at a Mixed Sale last November.

Naidoo also has a nice Querari filly with Duncan Howells, whom he said was unraced but “smart” and possibly Allan Robertson material.

Of his older horses he mentioned the Charles Laird-trained Palladium, winner of the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m, as a horse who had improved with gelding. His last run as a colt was in January when finishing a 2,9 length third behind Winter Is Coming and the much vaunted Red Chesnut Road in a 1400m Progress Plate on the Greyville polytrack.

By David Thiselton

President Trump is now fake news according to the National Horseracing Authority.

Three days after The Racegoer page broke the story that the equine President Trump had been gelded ( http://www.goldcircle.co.za/trump-speechless-gelding/ ) South African racing’s ruling body decided it should act and demand the name be changed –by which time the news, together with Justin Snaith’s “vocal, unruly, unmanageable, a nightmare to work with” comments, had gone viral on social media and been taken up by newspapers all over the world.

The NHA’s foal registration expert Samantha Dames emailed Snaith Racing to say: “Unfortunately, with Donald Trump being President, the opinion of the NHA is that the name has now become problematic.”

Seemingly there had been no such concerns when the NHA originally registered the name and nor when the passport was issued. “Maybe they had a complaint from the White House,” observed Jonathan Snaith drily before requesting that the name be changed to Potus.

By this time, though, Ms Dames’ mind was tuned into the Snaith wavelength and she quickly spotted what they were up to. “We unfortunately cannot allow Potus as management feels that name is too controversial,” she emailed. As she pointed out, it is an acronym for President of the United States!

Snaith then applied for the name Fake News for the horse who has had more publicity than any other who has yet to see a racecourse – and apparently this name is going to be approved.

By Michael Clower

Joey Ramsden is beginning to mop up the Cape Town two-year-old races like a sponge and two more at Kenilworth on Saturday mean that he has now won five of the last seven plus the only Listed event so far.

Joey Ramsden

Ossie Noach, who went on to win the last on the Glen Puller-trained Best Nut Ever, was able to make the most of a chance ride on 11-1 shot Speedpoint while Keagan de Melo made all on Favola to follow up Friday evening’s Greyville double.

Favola, Italian for fairy tale according to part-owner Gisela Burg, was backed from 8-1 to 9-2 and had odds-on stable companion Dynasty’s Blossom nearly two lengths back third. Ramsden sees a future for both fillies.

He said: “We will keep going for a bit with Favola. When Sihle Cele rode her first time his saddle was the size of my hand and it dug into her back while the next time she got into all sorts of trouble. Dynasty’s Blossom is a very nice filly but she needs to strengthen up so I may put here away. She reminds me a lot of Just Sensual.”

The Cape Fillies Guineas winner was put aside to develop after only one juvenile run and did not reappear until eight weeks before her classic triumph. Professor Brian, though, is belatedly making hay and the extraordinary way he completed a hat-trick in the 1 200m handicap suggests there is plenty of improvement still in the tank.

The 15-10 favourite, who carries Bernard Kantor’s colours but is part-owned by Brian and Kathy Finch, lost three lengths at the start and was soon six lengths off the pace. Grant van Niekerk had to switch left then right to get a run – “the jockey in front of me lugged in” – yet his mount was able to come away to win comfortably.

“He went in the wind even before his first start,” recalled Ramsden who put this year’s sustained improvement down to gelding as well as the wind op.

Richard Fourie (Nkosi Hlophe)

Apparently, though, it was nothing like so straightforward with the similarly-transformed Shall Be Free who made it four wins and a second from his last five starts under Richard Fourie in the mile handicap.

“It has taken me some time to figure him out and find his little quirks,” said Mike Robinson, the pained expression on his face reflecting weeks of mental torture as he sought to find the solution. Breeder and part-owner, Peter de Beyer, though, seemed to suggest it was all too obvious. “Simple really,” he said. “He doesn’t like going between other horses. He has to come either inside them, or outside.”

Fourie is only six short of his century after following up on top weight Big Ed in the Tab Handicap. Unfortunately the six-year-old entire pulled up sore and his rider had to dismount before the winner’s box. “He has done this before,” pointed out a hopeful-sounding Shane Humby.

Dean Kannemeyer decided to ease off with Weston when his Milnerton stable was hit by that well-publicised virus two months ago and he felt understandably vindicated when Grant Behr’s mount defied an 11-week absence in the Racing Association Maiden.

It was only in the last gasp that Aldo Domeyer got up on warm favourite Twilight Trip in the mile maiden but both he and Candice Bass-Robinson reckon there is more to come with the trainer explaining: “He is a big angular horse who has ability – it’s just a matter of putting it all together. We trained his mother, Love Is In The Air, who won the 2010 Majorca and he will improve.”

By Michael Clower

Jockey Mike Smith had so much confidence in Arrogate in the Dubai World Cup on Saturday night that he rode him the same way he used to ride the great mare Zenyatta, but he would not be drawn into saying which of the pair was better.

Arrogate’s earnings are now over US$17 million, which makes him the highest stakes earner in thoroughbred history.

Arrogate wins the 2017 Dubai World Cup [Liesl King]

After Arrogate had missed the break and been squeezed, Smith found himself in last position but remained calm having often been in that same position with the huge striding Zenyatta, whose only defeat was in her 20^th and final start.

However, Smith did make his move earlier on Arrogate than he used to on Zenyatta and steadily made up ground around the first turn and in the back straight.

However, at one stage his confidence was so high he geared him back a little bit, fearing he would hit the front too soon.

Around the final turn Arrogate moved from third last to third. Upon entering the straight an incident served to prove how strong the big horse is and how within himself he was moving. At that stage he received a hefty bump from the Mike de Kock-trained Mubtaahij, who was attempting to angle outward. However, he held the exact same line and didn’t seem to even notice the presence of the latter. He then cruised past the handy pair Gun Runner and Neolithic to win the US$10 million race as he liked by 2,25 lengths.

Up in the stands trainer Bob Baffert had a completely different take on the race. When he saw the sluggish start, doubt raced through his mind. “I was thinking maybe I shouldn’t have brought him, maybe he’s getting tired.” He talked about the “long ship” over  of a week, although added the horse had trained well in the last couple of days, so believed he would come into the race “fresh”. He saw the jockey sitting on the outside on Arrogate and thought, “Maybe Mike will look after him.” He admitted to then virtually writing Arrogate’s chances off and began concentrating more on his other runner, Hopportunity. However, when Arrogate made “a little move on the far turn”, Baffert said to himself “Wait a minute” and began having “a little hope”. He turned to his wife Jill as they turned for home and told her, “If he wins this race he is the most incredible horse I have ever seen”. Arrogate now had a target and Baffert knew all about his long stride. He admitted to becoming emotional at being involved with a horse who was producing a “Hollywood type finish”, such as was seen in movies like Sea Biscuit. He concluded by praising Smith for allowing Arrogate, whom he said was still a “big kid”, to gather himself after the unplanned start to the race.

Smith said Arrogate was a horse who “can do anything”, i.e. he can lead, come from last and they can go fast or slow, it doesn’t matter to him.

He added, “Look at him, he looks like he hasn’t taken a breath.”

Mubtaahij (Liesl King)

Mubtaahij had a perfect trip until the bump at the top of the straight, but he still managed to fight on bravely for fourth and claim another placed finish for De Kock in the lucrative event. Mubtaahij earned a cheque of US$500,000 to end a disappointing Dubai Carnival for De Kock, at least by his high standards, on a high note.

In the latest Longines world rankings Arrogate was in joint first place on 127 with the phenomenal Australian mare Winx. This performance should take him to the top.

The now four-year-old lost on debut over six furlongs on April 17 last year, but has won his next seven starts, including four Gr 1s in succession over a mile and two furlongs (2000m).

He has twice beaten the previous darling of the American dirt, the seven-times Gr 1-winner California Chrome, first in the Breeders Cup Classic and then in the world’s richest thoroughbred horse race, the US$12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational.

Smith had previously said Arrogate was very much like his father Unbridled’s Song, on whom he won two Gr 1’s in the mid-nineties.

The grey colt’s laid back style of running means he looks to have plenty of racing still in him and the good news is Juddmonte Farms have said he will defend his Breeders Cup Classic crown next November.

By David Thiselton

Turffontein Standside hosts a classy nine race meeting tomorrow, which includes three stakes event features.

In the Gr 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m, Bull Valley is right up with Trip To Heaven on paper and the latter has proved himself the best sprinter in the country. However, Bull Valley’s number one draw might be unfavourable. Dollar Dazzler can never be ignored over this course and distance. The lightly raced Graduation Day is full of ability. Gr 1 runner up African Ruler is in good form. The lightning fast fillies Wrecking Ball and Queen Laurie will likely attempt to steal it, but would prefer 1000m.

Trip to Heaven (JC Photographics)

The Gr 2 Colorado Stakes over 2000m is a nightmare to assess and punters might be best advised to include the top six in all of their exotics. The race is likely being used by most runners as a preparation for the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge. Furthermore, all of them bar Deo Juvente will incur a 1kg Gr 2 penalty if they win. Deo Juvente’s Gr 2 win was less than 18 months ago, so he has already incurred it. Twice Gr 1 winner French Navy has not won a race for 497 days. He was similarly well weighted in last year’s race and only managed third place. He beat Brazuca by a head in the Premier’s Champions Challenge last year and, if the standard weight for age scale is taken into account, is now 2kg better off. He is 6,5kg better off with Deo Juvente for a 0,4 length beating in the 2015 Summer Cup. Deo Juvente likely needed his last run when going close over 1800m and on paper holds Samurai Blade from that outing, as he beat him by 1,25 lengths and is now 1kg better off. On the other hand Samurai Blade only has 0,75 lengths to find on Brazuca from their meeting in last year’s Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m. Brazuca should have benefitted from his recent win over 1600m and although held by French Navy on Sun Met form, there is a reversal in draw fortunes here. Kings Archer is officially 9kg under sufferance with French Navy, but can’t be ignored in this muddling type of race as he is by stamina influence A P Arrow and tries the trip for the first time. He is out of sprinter by Fasileyev, but has been seen to run on resolutely over 1600m before. Front runner Stonehenge finished second in this race last year, but has been off form recently.

In the Gr 3 Sycamore Sprint over 1160m, She’s A Dragon was unlucky in the Bauhinia Sprint over 1000m, will appreciate the step up in trip and is taken to upset Joan Ranger.

The Listed Derby Trial has attracted a below par field and the class of Alaadel is sided with, although the up and coming Whosethebossnow will be a big threat and the promising Last Outlaw is an interesting blinkers strike.

The Listed Oaks Trial could also fall to a top weight, Belle Rose, at the expense of Balalaika, End Game, Emily Jay, Street Gaze and Trellis.

By David Thiselton

Anton Marcus and Anthony Delpech ride many a false favourite as their mere presence in the saddle trims much of the fat off returns, be it the tote or bookmakers. Piere Strydom is outspoken in this regard and has been vilified in some quarters as being a poor sport and just making excuses.

Anton Marcus (Nkosi Hlophe)

The simple fact is that riders of the ilk of Delpech, Marcus and Strydom are at the top of the pile because of sheer ability and as a consequence can cherry-pick rides. However, they may not necessary be on the best rides, but only on the best mounts they could secure as many stables also having preferred riders. Often in their defence a horse whose form suggests that it is say a 5-1 chance can start as short as 16-10 simply because of who’s been pencilled in to ride.

That said, Delpech and Marcus look set to fight out the first leg of the Greyville PA this evening where Delpech will be aboard likely ante-post favourite Georgina for Alyson Wright with Marcus in the saddle on Saint Karli for Jeff Freeman. The two fillies met last time out with Georgina shading Saint Karli so with two top riders in action and the balance of the field nothing to write home about we should be in for a tactical battle between two of the best.

Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

Beaten favourite Modesty can get the Jackpot rolling and make amends for her disappointing last effort when starting at a short-price. She was all at sea on the soft Scottsville track and a switch to the firmer poly could bring out the best in Duncan Howells’s filly.

Dean Kannemeyer’s runner Figaro makes his local debut in the Track & Ball Gaming Plate after showing some promise in the Cape and is the likely favourite. The Silvano gelding is rated far superior to anything else in the field and although this will be his first outing since gelding, if the ratings are correct he should be difficult to beat even if not at his peak. Of the opposition, Kali’s King improved with gelding and back over a more suitable trip could pose a threat.

Mr Hallo can round off the evening’s proceedings for Gavin van Zyl and stable rider Warren Kennedy. Since being relocated from Van Zyl’s Gauteng satellite yard, the Kahal gelding has put up two smart showings on the Greyville poly track and although he has picked up three pounds for his recent placings, his rating has dropped from a career high of 84 to tonight’s 67.

By Andrew Harrison

Jo’s Bond, who beat Carry On Alice in the CTS Southern Cross before finishing just over a length fourth to the star mare in the Betting World Cape Flying Championship, will be one of the first of Justin Snaith’s big KZN team out of the blocks.

Jo’s Bond (Liesl King)

Snaith said: “She runs in the KwaZulu-Natal Stakes at Scottsville on Sunday week. However there is not a lot for her in Durban as she is limited to five furlongs and I would be surprised if she goes back to Scottsville for the City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint.”

Copper Force, who had subsequent Gauteng Guineas winner Janoobi behind when coming from a long way back to beat all except William Longsword in the CTS Mile, will also be making an early start.

“Copper Force had a shocking draw that day,” Snaith recalled. “But he will run in the Byerley Turk (at Greyville on  April 7) before going for the Canon Guineas.”

The former champion trainer has long had a particularly high opinion of Star Express who went close in the Klawervlei Majorca despite missing most of last year.

“She rapped a tendon. It was nothing that serious but it was a warning sign and so we had to back off with her,” Snaith explained. “We will see how she goes in a couple of races and then make a call. Her best distance is 2 000m.”

On the local front the stable has found an explanation for Kasimir’s shock Kenilworth defeat at 2-10 earlier in the month. The colt was found to be shin-sore afterwards.

Greg Cheyne has been suspended for ten days (March 25-April 3) for interference when winning on La Favourari last Saturday.

By Michael Clower

Andre Nel, preparing for his first assault on a Gauteng Grade 1, took the progressive Kampala Campari to Kenilworth for a work-out last Saturday.

“Grant van Niekerk rode him in a gallop over 1 400m and he went well,” said Nel who reckons Saturday week’s SA Classic is a better option than Cape Town’s Winter Series for the colt who has won two of his three starts. “The Classic is no stronger than a Winter Series race and it is worth eight times the money.”

Andre Nel (Supplied)

Nel is fully aware that he has the altitude to contend with but he believes that the results of a recent recce put him in good stead, saying: “I sent five horses up there by float and, while two didn’t handle the going, the other three were placed.”

Philae, who has also won two out of three, runs in the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic but SA Classic entry Loadshedder goes for the presumably easier pickings of the East Cape Guineas at Fairview tomorrow week.

Ngaga, the forgotten member of the Plattner Racing three-year-old line-up, has not been seen since making it three out of three at Kenilworth on New Year’s Eve but Igugu’s half-sister is on the way back.

Nel said: “She strained a suspensory in that last race and, while it wasn’t career-threatening, I had to back off and rest her. I had been planning to run her in the Investec Cape Derby – and I think she would have run very well. She came back into work last Friday and she will run in the Winter Series assuming it doesn’t come too soon for her.”

Riaan van Reenen will run Cape Guineas fourth Elevated, also runner-up in the Cape Classic, in a 1 400m Pinnacle at Kenilworth on Saturday week.

He said: “I put him in the 1 200m handicap this Saturday but it would only have been a grass gallop and it makes more sense to run him over 1 400m as he is going to run in the Winter Guineas on April 22.”

By Michael Clower

After taking a hammering country-wide over the weekend most punters will be hoping for a change of fortune at Greyville today although they again face another tricky card.

In Other Words (Nkosi Hlophe)

With the South African Champions Season on the horizon, trainers will be warming up their feature race contenders but as the Drum Star Handicap showed at Turffontein last Saturday, most of the big guns will be short of peak fitness going into their warm-up races so caution needs to be in the back of the mind when looking at these contests.

In Other Words and A Womens Way are two that fit that category when they line up in the Racing.Its A Rush Pinnacle Stakes on the poly this afternoon but in spite of the cautionary, look likely to fight this one out.

In Other Words is well weighted and although she is returning from a break she has an excellent record over course and distance. Couple that with Sean Tarry’s blistering form and you have a likely winner.

A Womens Way was eligible for the CTS $500 000 1200 last time out and Duncan Howells had little option but to send her on the long trip to Cape Town to take her chances. It proved a trip in vain and A Womens Way was never going well, finished down-field. Her form before that was promising and she should appreciate the step up in trip. Just how she features here will be watched with interest.

The handicapper appears to have caught up with Pearl Emblem but she loves this course and distance and as this is a set weights race she cannot be written off. Littleblacknumber is never far off and was out-paced throughout behind stable companion Elusivenchantment at Scottsville last Wednesday and will prefer this trip. Stable companion Wind Singer loves this course and distance and with a light weight gives Howells a trio of options.

Littleblacknumber (Nkosi Hlophe)

Howells could get the meeting off to a winning start where he saddles Victory Cross, a beaten favourite last run. She makes her poly debut but has shown promise on the turf and can make amends if she handles the surface.

The Durban View Restaurant Handicap could rest between Variscite and Winder Darling in an open affair. Gavin van Zyl’s filly Variscite has improved in a tongue-tie and although only shedding her maiden last run she does not take on much of note and after only four outings still has room for improvement. Veteran Winter Darling on the other hand came in for some market support last run and has been thereabouts at recent starts. Anthony Delpech will be aboard for Dennis Bosch who hit form at Greyville on Sunday and the stable, that has been quiet for some time, could be turning the corner.

In the sixth, Noodle can make amends for her no-show on the turf at Scottsville last time out compounded by the soft ground and goes much better on the poly. She has a bright chance of coming good in this field with Anton Marcus booked for the ride. Danger could be See The Sea who surprised recently but only got a two-point raise in the handicap and can go in again.

In the last, Liquid Rainbow has run two fair races since taking to the track and with the experience looks to have a bright chance in this field comprising mostly of professional maidens. The obvious dangers are Gold Chalice who was disappointing last run after showing improvement but he now sports blinkers and may be worth another chance while Mojo King disappointed when sent out favourite on debut but possibly didn’t handle the soft ground and may also be worth another visit.

By Andrew Harrison