There seemed more reason to think that the remarkable winning sequence of multiple Gr1 winner Winks (Street Cry) might come to an end at a saturated Rosehill Gardens on Saturday offering the heaviest racing conditions witnessed in Sydney for a very long day.

Winx (sahracing.com)

But if anything, the $1m, Gr1 ATC China Horse Club George Ryder (1500m) will be remembered for one of the champion racemare’s greatest ever performances.

Shooting for her 16th straight victory and second consecutive success in one of the outstanding events on the domestic racing calendar, the amazing Winx treated the Australian racing public to a galloping exhibition, careering away from her opposition to score by no less than seven and a quarter lengths.

In truth, not one of her rivals ever seemed to be traveling well enough at any stage of the race to provide the remarkable racemare with some resistance, and the event as a contest was as good as over by the top of the home straight.

Seemingly in complete control with her biggest rivals making heavy weather of the conditions, Winx travelled sweetly throughout and went on to score without her opponents landing a single blow.

Even trainer Chris Waller appeared surprised at the authority of her victory, admitting immediately afterwards.

“I didn’t expect her to win like that. She is just an amazing horse. It is amazing to have a horse that you’re associated with who is so well received,” he said.

Regular pilot Hugh Bowman was equally in awe of Winx after the win.

“It is just so special. I am really lost for words as she receives a round of applause here,” he said.

Winx, by Street Cry out of the Al Akar mare Vegas Showgirl, took her career earnings past the $10 million barrier after 26 mostly unforgettable starts for her owners Peter Tighe, Richard Treweeke and Debbie Kepitis. – Thoroughbrednews.com.au

Sun Met hero Whisky Baron jets out to Mauritius this morning. He will race in England later in the year but his principal target is the richest race in Hong Kong in December.

The four-year-old will complete his initial three-month quarantine in the second half of June and he then has to do a further month in Britain before he is allowed to race or go overseas.

Whisky Baron (Liesl King)

Brett Crawford said: “It’s a long road to travel and so much has to go right. But, if it does, the plan is to prep him in England for the 2 000m race in Hong Kong.”

The Longines Hong Kong Cup on December 10 carries a total stake of HK$ 25 million, or R41 million, making it the richest race in the territory.

Ridgemont manager Craig Carey said: “It’s an invitation race and what happens is that you first enter your horse for it and then, if they are satisfied, you receive an invitation to run.”

Carey added: “Dubai next year is up in the air but he could well run there too if he is well, the races are suitable and Brett is happy with him.”

The Australian-bred Whisky Baron, owned by Craig and Ross Kieswetter and named after their father Wayne, is unbeaten in five starts since being gelded in the middle of last year.

By Michael Clower

The nine race meeting at Turffontein on Saturday will not be an easy one for punters as it is back on the Inside track which can throw an upset or two.

Samurai Blade (Nkosi Hlophe)

The main race is the Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m and Samurai Blade could exact revenge on Romany Prince. He is 2,5kg better off for a 1,75 length beating by Romany Prince over this trip, so there is not much in it on paper. However, Samurai Blade has a plum draw of three with Strydom up, while Romany Prince has to overcome a wide draw.

On the other hand Romany Prince has a better turn of foot than Samurai Blade, who produces a sustained finishing effort, and that could be telling on this tighter track, so Samurai Blade is not a confident selection. Master Switch has come into his own as a five-year-old this season and also has the class to go close here, but this will be his first outing since his third place finish in the SANSUI Sumer Cup. He beat Samurai Blade by 29 lengths in the Summer Cup, but it was obviously not the latter’s race. Samurai Blade  bounced back after the Summer Cup to win his next two races.

Top Shot also has a shout as he has turned the corner recently. He is 10,5kg better off with Samurai Blade for a mere 2,8 length beating over this trip at the Vaal in December. However, it must be taken into account how easily Samurai Blade won. Arctica is an improving sort who is course and distance suited. He likes to run from the front, so his pole position draw is ideal and he has S’Manga Khumalo up too. Stonehenge should ensure a good gallop in this race.

Earlier there is an interesting Pinnacle Stakes race which features last year’s Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic and Gr 2 SA Oaks winner Juxtapose over 1600m. She could reverse 1450m form with Intergalactic, being 4kg better off at the weights from their last meeting in September, especially as she is drawn in pole. It is likely to be a preparation outing for bigger events, but her class should pull her through.

Brazuca (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the next race, a MR 84 Handicap over 1600m, Racethegreenlight is chosen to beat Tilbury Fort, who could be using this race as a preparation for the SA Classic. Racethegreenlight finished just 0,25 lengths behind Gr 1 performer Brazuca in a Progress Plate over this trip in his penultimate start, so looks capable of rising above his 78 merit rating, He will prefer this trip to the 1400m of last time when staying on for a close third in a three-year-old handicap and he looks to have plenty of scope for improvement. Tilbury Fort has been far from disgraced in his last two starts in the CTS Mile and the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas and, as usual, he will give of his best all the way to the line. However, he does have to give 3kg to the progressive Racethegreenlight.

The first race over 1000m sees an interesting clash between Laurent Du Var and Mr Fire Eyes. The former was unlucky on debut over 800m when backed and he caught the eye too. However, he reared and injured himself in the starting stalls next time at the races and had to be scratched, so is not a straight forward horse. Mr Fire Eyes has not been disgraced in two good fields, including in a Listed race last time, so this will be easier. However, he was not as eye catching as Laurent Du Var. So Var could follow these two home, or even split them, having made a decent debut in a moderate event.

In the second race Spring Breeze appeared to idle when hitting the front last time, so should benefit from blinkers. From a good draw with Strydom up she could be one of the better bets on the card.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is one of the trickiest heats on the card, being a fillies and mares handicap over 1800m. However, Dalley looks to be the one to side with coming from the always in form Lucky Houdalakis yard and being drawn well in barrier two over a suitable trip. She is by Ideal World, so should be coming into her own and she has dropped to a competitive merit rating. She was a touch unlucky the last time she ran over this course and distance in January and she is also 2kg better off with Cool Fantasy for a 1,1 length beating from that run. Cool Fantasy has a nice turn of foot and is selected to finish second.

By David Thiselton

After a promising start to his career where he reeled off three wins from just four starts, Natal – the horse not the province, although some may argue a case for both – has been in the doldrums. But a drop in the handicap ratings and a gentle build-up to tomorrow evening’s race could herald a return to form.

Natal (Nkosi Hlophe)

If the forecast betting in Computaform is any guide (33-1), Natal has little or no chance in the Morris Vee MR 86 Handicap that heads the Greyville card, but if one delves back into the gelding’s form he is more than capable in this company should he find his best form that came at about this time last season.

Racing off a rating high of 101, garnered after three victories in his first four starts and at the top of most handicap races that he contested, Natal subsequently showed that the handicappers may have over-rated Michael Roberts’s charge as he showed good pace before folding late when stepped up into stronger company.

His rating has dropped rapidly since his unplaced effort in the Gr3 Umgeni Handicap and he now runs off a mark of 88.

Taking his early form into account, his drop in the ratings and a much improved last run, Natal could prove good value.

Georgina is likely to be a firm favourite in the card opener after three runner-up berths in just four starts and Alyson Wright has declared blinkers on her charge that suggests that the filly is still not giving her all.

But there are a couple of potential hurdles to overcome. The oddly-named Show Me Your Rosie made marked improvement in blinkers and a repeat could pose a threat as could Cats Baloo and Dream De Ra. Cats Baloo was backed at long odds in her poly debut and can surprise while Dream De Ra was friendless in the market on debut and ran accordingly. However, she has a tongue-tie here and she can show good improvement for a stable that is bang in form.

Kept Secret (Nkosi Hlophe)

If Georgina obliges in the first, Honest Prince could provide the stable with a quick double come the Cupboard King Maiden Plate. The gelding made significant improvement on his debut when close-up next time out. The opposition is mostly well exposed with the exception of Grey Ice. Sean Tarry’s runner made a modest Turffontein debut but it always pays to take note of runners from this stable making their poly debut and any market support could prove significant although he has been pencilled in again for next Wednesday.

Ashburton-based Belinda Impey can provide a possible exotic bet banker in the form of Kept Secret in the SAFA Chatsworth 66 Handicap although she too holds an entry next Wednesday.

Kept Secret ran well below her best last outing after running up a string of places. Tonight she is back in female company and rates a strong chance given her previous showings.

For the rest the card looks more than just a little tricky. The Hotel Savera Maiden Plate is just one of the stumbling blocks for those trying to cut down on their exotic bet spend. Enticer, having her third run after a break and catching the eye at her last start, will have her supporters but so too will the likes of Rae’s Dyna Jet, Roy’s Kaitrina, Lungi, Stola and Justajewel.

The DPG Logistics FM 62 Handicap is equally tricky with Roy Is Second living up to her name, finishing runner-up at her last two. However, she has a good draw and can finally go one better.

The Pavilion Hotel MR 62 Handicap is another wide open affair but Selvan’s Jet tried further last run but prior to that had fair form to stronger and Delpech has jumped ship from Heptagon to ride here.

By Andrew Harrison

Muzi Yeni was the face of South African racing at Markopoulo Racecourse in Athens on Sunday and did not let his supporters down.

The meeting in Greece was sponsored by Phumelela and it appears to have been an extremely successful day. Even early rain failed to put a dampener on an outstanding event.

The party representing Phumelela was headed up by International Executive Director John Stuart.

Since January Greek punters have already had the opportunity to bet into South African pools in the over 1,000 OPAP (who run betting in Greece) agencies that offer horseracing betting.

Yeni has become a favourite with Greek bettors and the likeable South African jockey did not let his supporters down. He was hailed as a “grand ambassador for South African racing”. There were six races on the card and Yeni rode in five of them, fittingly winning the main race of the day which was named The South African Races Cup.

The organisers at Markopoulo Racecourse are in the process of setting up a winners’ lounge adjacent to the foyer area and the framed Phumelela saddle cloth and photos will be the first “winners’ photo” to be hung up in that lounge.

TABNews

The entry cut off time for the R2 million Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m to be run on April 1 at Turffontein was extended to 9am on Tuesday after only eight horses had initially been entered by 11am on Monday.

However, Western Cape-based Andre Nel was the only trainer to take advantage of the situation and entered two horses, Loadshedder and Kampala Campari, to increase the entry list to ten.

Andre Nel (Supplied)

The initial eight entries were from only four yards. Mike de Kock entered Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas winner Janoobi alongside Heavenly Blue and Alaadel.

National Champion trainer Sean Tarry had three entries, Al Sahem, Furiosa and Tilbury Fort. Johan Janse van Vuuren entered Crowd Please and Gary Alexander entered Unagi.

Nel has reportedly said Loadshedder would be unlikely to make the journey due to preferred targets in either Cape Town or Port Elizabeth.

He added about Querari colt Kampala Campari, who has only raced three times for two wins from 1200-1600m, ““He is a very nice horse. We’ve been planning this raid for a while and have brought horses up to Joburg twice in preparation for this trip north. Both were successful, with three of the five horses we floated up placing and two of the fillies just not acting in the soft going. I’m not scared, but it is daunting.”

Al Sahem and Heavenly Blue could be the pair to beat in the Classic.

Heavenly Blue finished third in the Gauteng Guineas, but will have come on from the run and will relish the step up in trip.

He has 1,5 lengths to make up on Janoobi, but the latter was at his peak for the Guineas and the 1800m trip will likely be at the upper end of his stamina range.

Al Sahem was unbeaten in two runs before finishing a 0,2 length second in the Gauteng Guineas. He is by Silvano out of Gr 2 winner Alderry, who won up to 1800m, so will enjoy the step up trip. Furthermore, he had an interrupted preparation into the Guineas due to the weather and is likely to have benefited from the run.

By David Thiselton

The Turffontein card tomorrow looks to be quite a tricky one, but the Pick 6 race in which punters can go thin looks to be the eighth, a MR 80 Handicap over 1160m.

Piere Strydom

Fieldmarshal Fenix and Refuge should dominate this race, although Spring Steel can’t be ignored either. Fieldmarshall Fenix, a four-year-old gelding by Brave Tin Soldier, wore blinkers last time out and he ran well below par. The blinkers are duly off again. Before that he finished second twice in succession to the progressive Just As I Said. The latter followed up with a fine run in a strong Pinnacle Stakes event before winning yet again. Fieldmarshal Fenix is in fact 3kg better off with the talented Spring Steel, despite having beaten the latter by 1,5 lengths the last time they met, which was in a race over tomorrow’s course and distance. He and Spring Steel were well clear of the rest in that aforementioned race, which is always the sign of good form.

The pair should be right up there in the finish again, but at the weights Fieldmarshal Fenix gets the vote. However, he can’t be confidently backed to win due to the presence of Refuge. Refuge met Fieldmarshal Fenix last July on the same terms as tomorrow, if apprentice claims are included, and lost by only a length. However, he was only a two-year-old then, so if weight for age is taken into account he is now effectively 5kg better off. On paper he should romp home, according to that piece of form. However, on the downside he is returning from a layoff of just over three months. Piere Strydom has duly taken the ride. Fieldmarshall Fenix and Refuge should be enough to get punters through the Pick 6, although Spring Steel could perhaps be included in lower cost Jackpots. Fieldmarshall Fenix appeals as a PA banker.

The best bet of the day comes in the first race, a Juvenile Maiden over 1400m for fillies. The R1,9 million purchase Rumbavar has caught the eye in two starts over 1000m at Kenilworth. She is a long-striding daughter of Var who will relish the step up in distance and she looks to possess considerable class, so is going to be hard to oppose. There are a few first-timers here and Aurelia Cotta and Think Twice make most appeal of them, but they would have to be smart to trouble Rumbavar, who looks likely to go off at cramped odds.

Hot Curry, who runs in the third race, is a Mike de Kock-trained stablemate of Rumbavar’s and has been chosen as the value bet on the day. It is seldom a horse who finished last in her previous start can be fancied next time out, but he ran in a strong maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m at Kenilworth and was not at all disgraced. He will relish the step up in trip here and should be involved in the finish of a race where there are no stand out horses.

By David Thiselton

It was no surprise to see the Geoff Woodruff-trained Bi Pot entered in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic after her impressive win on Saturday in a MR 82 Handicap for three-year-old fillies over 1600m at Turffontein. The Judpot filly will be coming in under the radar so might offer some fair value in the race which is to be run on April 1.

Geoff Woodruff (Nkosi Hlophe)

Woodruff had two runners in last year’s SA Fillies Classic, including Bi Pot’s half-sister Alexa, and they  both finished unplaced. However, Bi Pot, looks to have more scope than Alexa did. Furthermore her relatively young sire Judpot has an outstanding record at the Classic meeting.

Last year Judpot’s daughter Juxtapose won the SA Fillies Classic and two years earlier his daughter Along Came Polly was runner up in this lucrative race. In 2014 the Judpot colt Mister Cricket finished second in the SA Classic to triple crown hero Louis The King. A year later another Judpot colt, Deputy Jud, finished third in the SA Classic. Bi Pot is a long-striding bay and has won two of her four starts to date. Woodruff is sure to have her tuned up as a trainer whose string always peak for the Autumn classics and she has a plum draw of five.

There were 16 entries in the SA Fillies Classic and the favourite will undoubtedly be the Sean Tarry-trained Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Smiling Blue Eyes. This grey Dynasty filly also won the Gr 3 Fillies Mile. However, she is out of a Badger Land mare and has won over 2000m before, so will have no problem with the 1800m trip, especially from a good draw of 7. She looks to be a genuine Triple Tiara candidate.

Bela-Bela (Nkosi Hlophe)

Her stablemate Safe Harbour went close in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes over this trip, losing narrowly to the champion filly Bela-Bela, so has a chance in the SA Fillies Classic. She needed her last run in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, so her unplaced effort there can’t be taken literally. However, she did have a tough campaign in Cape Town and Smiling Blue Eyes will be fresher.

Al Hawraa was running on well when runner up in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and on that evidence looks likely to stay the SA Fillies Classic trip. She has drawn in pole position. The third fourth and fifth placed horses in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, Orchid Island, Babbling Brooke and Belle Rose, will all appreciate the step up in trip.

An interesting raider is the Joey Ramsden-trained Captain Gambler, who was third against the boys in the Gr 1 Investec cape Derby. Those look to be the main players, although the enigmatic Judpot filly Maleficent has the ability to be a player too and on pedigree should stay the trip being a full-sister to the SA Derby runner up Rocketball.

By David Thiselton

Captain America is to be campaigned in Durban this term after going to Johannesburg in the last two years and giving the KZN season a miss.

Brett Crawford said: “Captain America didn’t enjoy Durban as a three-year-old but he is a different horse now. Mind you, for a horse who didn’t enjoy it he didn’t do badly – he was third in the KRA Guineas, fourth in the Daily News and beaten less than six lengths in the July despite getting squeezed coming out of the gates.

“He may run in the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall (May 6) and the Rising Sun Gold Challenge (June 10) and then the Vodacom Durban July. If he doesn’t run in the July he could go for the Champions Cup instead.”

The six-year-old won the 2015 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut and beat all except Legal Eagle in last year’s race. More recently he was second in the Queen’s Plate and third in the Met for the second year running.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Callie-Jo Bouman and Chante Holloway, two semifinalists in this year’s Miss SA, pose with Captain America on the beach. (Liesl King)

Featured Image: Captain America (Liesl King)

Former National Champion Trainer Justin Snaith will be arriving at Summerveld in about a week’s time with an SA Champions Season string of 22, which he said would be one of the strongest teams he had ever sent to KZN.

Snaith said a decision had been taken halfway through the Cape Summer to rest some of the yard’s top horses and save them for the Champions Season, because little had been going right for the yard at the time. There is nowhere to gallop horses on the grass in Cape Town at present, so the string will arrive in KZN earlier than usual in order to make use of the Summerveld grass. Snaith will have a strong hand in the Vodacom Durban July.

Justin Snaith(Left) Bela-Bela(Right) – Tracy Robertson

The like of It’s My Turn, Black Arthur, Elusive Silva, Zodiac Ruler, Prince Of Wales and Star Express will likely be among the yard’s entries. It’s My Turn, a Dynasty gelding who won last season’s Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby and finished fourth in the July, had a fair Cape Summer Of Champions Season. He finished a 2,4 length third to subsequent Sun Met winner Whisky Baron in the Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m, despite giving the latter 1kg. He then finished a 5,6 length eighth in the Met, where he carried a 2kg Gr 1 penalty. He had few excuses in the Met, although could have got closer if not having to be switched inward. His connections will be glad to hear Whisky Baron is off overseas and that Met fourth-placed Gold Standard is unlikely to make it to KZN in time for the July.

Snaith said the Silvano four-year-old Black Arthur, who came from last to win the Gr 2 Canon Guineas last year before finishing seventh in the July, had done “very well” with a recent rest and gelding. It’s My Turn and Black Arthur are merit rated 106 and 104 respectively, a nice base from which to work.

Elusive Silva, a Silvano colt who has been rested since winning the Gr 3 Winter Derby over 2400m at Kenilworth last June, is merit rated only 93. However, he is described as a “very nice horse” by Snaith. He certainly showed a fantastic turn of foot in his Winter Derby win, coming from near last in a slow run race. He beat none other than Whisky Baron by 3,15 lengths, although that was the latter’s final run before career-transforming gelding.

Zodiac Ruler is an Australian-bred by Zoffany who showed his liking for Greyville last year by winning the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m. He finished runner up in this year’s Cape Derby. He set the pace and fought back after being overtaken in the straight, so will get the July trip.

Prince Of Wales is a four-year-old gelding by Dynasty who has been rested since running an eye-catching one length fourth in the Gr 2 Premier Trophy over 1800m. He looks to be a horse to follow.

Zodiac Ruler (Nkosi Hlophe)

Star Express, a four-year-old Silvano mare, finished strongly for a narrow second in the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m on Met day. She has won easily over 2000m before, so can go for either the July or the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes.

Meanwhile, the yard’s champion filly Bela-Bela’s inclusion in the string is still to be finalised. It is likely she will be going to KZN and it will be no surprise to see her avoiding the July this year in favour of the Garden Province. The yard will be well represented in the sprint division by Sergeant Hardy and Bishop’s Bounty, as well as the filly Jo’s Bond. The admirable pair Krambambuli and Ovidio, first and third in the Gr 2 Cape Stayers over 2800m on Met day, head the staying team along with Listed Settler’s Trophy-winning filly Francia.

Copper Force, a Royal Air Force gelding who finished second in the US$500,000 CTS Mile, is described by Snaith as a “very nice horse and one to watch.” He will take part in the three-year-old classics. Gimmethegreenlight filly Gimme Six, third in the Prix du Cap, will go for the Fillies classics. Dynasty filly Qing disappointed the yard during the summer, but will be tried in fillies staying features during the Champions Season.

Snaith only brings two two-year-olds. Sir Frenchie is an Australian-bred speedster by Choisir, who has won two out of three starts. Captain Al filly Esteemal is described by Snaith as “the right type of horse for Durban.” The Snaiths will be using their facebook to provide the public with information per runner before every meeting.

By David Thiselton