The Mike de Kock stable are keeping their options open with Janoobi, with both the SA Classic and HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes on Saturday 1 April pencilled in as possibilities, according to assistant trainer Mathew de Kock.

Janoobi won the first leg of this year’s SA Triple Crown, R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) over 1600m at Turffontein last Saturday, with the 1800m SA Classic forming the middle leg and the 2450m SA Derby on 6 May the third.

Janoobi (JC Photographics)

A R2-million bonus is offered to a horse who wins all three legs but De Kock does not believe the Triple Crown bonus will be paid out this year. “In my opinion Heavenly Blue will be the one to beat in the SA Classic, plus I’m not convinced Janoobi will go more than 1800m.”

Janoobi, he said, “took the race very well and is taking it easy this week because he was at a peak and really well on Saturday. We’ll keep him ticking over until next month.”

Heavenly Blue, on the other hand, was “not as well or as ready” as Janoobi for the Gauteng Guineas because his main mission is the SA Classic. “I can’t afford to be too soft on him because I’ve got to help him come on a little bit,” said De Kock. “I’m over the moon with his third placing. He’s going to make a lot of improvement. We’ll finally see the best of him in the Classic over a distance he’s always wanted, 1800m and more.”

Janoobi gave Mike de Kock his 3,000th career winner after wins earlier in the meeting by Rafeef and Nother Russia.

De Kock said: “The obvious next stepping stone for Rafeef is the Horse Chestnut Stakes. The 1600m is his maximum, I think. He also took his race well and is very fresh.”

In terms of Acacia Handicap winner Nother Russia, De Kock said: “I think the older she’s got the better she’s got. A big thanks to Jess Slack (of owner Mauritzfontein Stud) for giving her that time. She was very well going into Saturday’s race and if she’d drawn in single figures I would have been much more confident.

“You can see by that performance she’s definitely better than her rating. It’s gone up the maximum eight points (4kg), but I’m happy to take what the handicappers give her after a win like that.”

Her stable companion Shaama was a weak favourite but finished seventh and De Kock said her performance confirmed she’s best at 1200m and 1400m.

“I think a true-run 1600m would find her out,” he said. “She took the race well and we’ll be bringing her back to 1160m.”

Fillies he saddled finished second, third, fifth and sixth behind easy winner Smiling Blue Eyes in the R500,000 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.

Mike de Kock

The race is the first leg of the Triple Tiara, which offers a R1-million bonus and also comprises the SA Fillies Classic on 1 April and the SA Oaks on 6 May.

He had given second-placed Al Hawraa a “money chance” in the preliminaries because “she’d improved in her work”, but even he was impressed with the run.

“She only got going late and will be better in the 1800m Fillies Classic next month. She’s a straightforward filly, easy to work with.”

Was he a bit disappointed with favourite Orchid Island’s third placing? “Not at all. I think 1600m is too short for her, plus she had six weeks between runs and missed work. She’s a small filly, so the going last Saturday was not her best – she prefers it a little bit on top. She’ll also be going for the Fillies Classic.

“I think Belle Rose ran a cracker in fifth. She was stone last at the 400m mark and ran fifth, so made up a lot of ground. On pedigree, she is crying out for more ground so will definitely go for the next leg of the Triple Tiara.”

As for sixth-placed Ektifaa, who came in off a four-run winning sequence which included beating the boys in the Tony Ruffel Stakes, he said: “She wasn’t disgraced. The stamina doubts were there and she just didn’t see out the ‘mile’. We’ll re-programme her to see if she’s good enough for a top-class 1200m race.”

He believes his three Classic fillies are even in the ability stakes, but said when pressed: “If I had to put my head on a block this far ahead of the Fillies Classic, I’d still side with Orchid Island – providing she gets better going – because she’s got more class than the others.”

TABNews

Grant van Niekerk, sidelined by accumulated suspensions since Met day, resumes at Fairview tomorrow when he rides Primrose Lane in the Breeders’ Guineas for Darryl Hodgson as well as Track-King (Justin Snaith) and Ntoma (Alan Greeff).

Grant Van Niekerk (Nkosi Hlophe)

Just one short of his half century for the season, he rides in all eight races at Kenilworth on Saturday including Sister Soozie for his new boss Andre Nel in the Place Your Bets Maiden. The filly is expected to start favourite and probably represents his best chance on the day.

He has two mounts for his old boss Candice Bass-Robinson – Come On Sonny and Oh Behave – as well as rides for Geoff Woodruff, Hodgson, Piet Steyn, Ronnie Sheehan and Joey Ramsden. The last-named has put him up on newcomer Dynasty’s Blossom in the opening maiden juvenile.

This Dynasty filly is out of the seven-time winner Crimson Blossom and at R4.5 million was the third-highest price horse at last year’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale. She was bought by Mayfair Speculators, Maine Chance and MV Magnier and will carry the world famous all dark blue colours of Magnier’s mother Sue.

By Michael Clower

Duncan Howells’ pair of Vodacom Durban July contenders from last year, Saratoga Dancer and Ten Gun Salute, have returned from a holiday on the farm and will be two of KZN’s chief flagbearers during the SA Champions Season.

Howells also spoke about his other Champions Season hopefuls.   Saratoga Dancer, who made critics eat their words by finishing fifth in the July, is said by Howells to be “very well, evergreen and sound”.He will follow much the same route as last year, namely the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m,  the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m, The July and The Champions Cup.

Saratoga Dancer (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ten Gun Salute, ninth in the July, might be a good horse to follow. He was gelded during his layoff and Howells said, “He had become very headstrong and difficult to hold in work, but he is now a completely different horse.”

Three-year-old Captain Al colt Secret Captain, a half-brother to the champion filly Bela-Bela, has also returned from the farm. He has always looked likely to improve as he matures. However, Howells is still not sure what his correct distance is. To date, he has disappointed every time he has been stepped up beyond 1200m. Howells will start him off over 1200m and make a decision from there.

Dawn Calling, runner up in both the Gr 2 Golden Slipper and Gr 1 Thekwini, was unlucky in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas. She then finished a decent third in the Gr 3 Flamboyant Stakes, in which she was the only three-year-old. Howells said, “She is a very good filly, not as good as Same Jurisdiction, but the latter came from an exceptional crop. She will go for the Daisy Fillies Guineas and the Woolavington 2000.”

Ten Gun Salute (Nkosi Hlophe)

The sprinter Elusivenchantment, an Elusive Fort half-sister to Via Africa, has won five of her nine starts. She will be out in a Pinnacle Stakes event next week in preparation for the Champions Season fillies sprint features.  Howells said, “She is not as good as Via Africa and there are some very good fillies from Cape Town and Jo’burg, so she will up against it.”

Howells also trains another half-sister to Via Africa, two-year-old Swift Dancer (Oratorio), who finished second on debut over 1000m. He said, “She is a nice filly with plenty of scope to improve, she will train on. She is not very big, but will definitely win races. I don’t know how good she is yet.”

He said about two-year-old debut winner, Neptune’s Rain (Antonius Pius), “She is very promising and will be aimed at the Allan Robertson, although I’m still cautious because I don’t know how much she beat.”

Howells said Lunar Rush was a similar type to Elusivenchantment and will likely follow a similar route.

He rates the three-year-old Dynasty gelding Wild Wicket and said, “He is decent and progressive and the Guineas and Daily News will be on his agenda if he shows us he’s that quality as he has been difficult to place with his high merit rating.”

Lunar Rush (Nkosi Hlophe)

He said of the 92 merit-rated Kahal gelding Amazon King, “He steps up every time I run him. We will see if he stays a mile on Sunday and if he does he will go for the Daisy Guineas. Whatever happens he will go for the Byerley Turk (1400m).”

Howells said Sylvester The Cat’s problem was only his temperament. He had not completely written off his chances of becoming a top class horse, but said his likely aims would be races like the Listed Thukela Handicap on July day.

The Gimmethegreenlight gelding Legend will unfortunately miss the rest of his three-year-old season, but will be back as a four-year-old. His temperament suggested there had been something wrong and the problem was duly isolated. He has been sent to the farm to recuperate.

Howells said he had the best two-year-old crop on pedigree he had ever had and expected to be contesting plenty of two-year-old features.

By David Thiselton

Fawree’s participation in the Gr2 UAE Derby on Dubai World Cup night hangs in the balance after he burst from the pens in Saturday’s Listed Al Bastakiya at Meydan, dislodged his jockey Bernard Fayd’herbe, continued riderless and was declared a runner by stewards of the ERA (Emirates Racing Authority).

Fawree (www.erikarphotography.com)

Fawree has been noted as a horse with problems at the start, but they had been addressed in as far as possible by Mike de Kock, his team and the team of ERA starters  – so much so that he had managed to start and complete two previous races for a second and a runaway win.

This time, in his third start and an important race ahead of the UAE Derby, he jumped from the gates a moment before the starter had pushed his button.  He stumbled at that, dislodging Fayd’Herbe and then continued to complete the race, riderless.

De Kock said: “This was nobody’s fault. Fawree walked into the pens twice before with a hood fitted. It has come down to perfect timing. The moment the hood is removed he jumps, and that has worked twice.  This time the hood was removed a split second before the starter pushed his button. Fawree lunged forward just that split second too soon.”

De Kock said that Fawree’s attitude will have to addressed again and that South Africa’s leading equine therapist Malan du Toit will be flown to Dubai to help. “We have to call on the horse whisperer now, we have a lot to do and only two weeks to do it. We will have to prove to the stewards that Fawree is tractable so that he can be considered for the Derby. He’s a very talented horse, it’s a pity he’s such a complicated talent but we’ll do our best.”

Du Toit commented: “This will be a challenge, but I believe I can help with Fawree.  There are a few administrative matters to attend to, including permission to work in Dubai as a licensed official of the NHA. I’d like to meet with the starter and his team, everyone involved to get the full picture. But the sooner the better.  I want to get to work with him so we can cool him down a bit. He looks quite full of himself!” – mikedekockracing.com

Adam Marcus will send a team to Durban this year for the first time since his first season in 2012/13.

He said: “At that time I was training a few for Mrs Oppenheimer. This time I have been allotted ten boxes and I will take between five and ten horses, depending on some whose merit rating still needs to go up.

Adam Marcus

“It may be a small string but it’s an exciting one and the main hope is the Cape Summer Stayers winner Royal Badge who has the Gold Cup as his objective.”

Zodiac Jack, 8-10 favourite when collared by Sir Frenchie inside the last half furlong of the Kenilworth Juvenile Plate a week ago, has been found to be suffering from pharyngitis.

Greg Ennion said: “Richard Fourie told me that the colt was going along at his normal speed but, when he asked him to quicken, he choked up. I found that most of my babies have got the same thing. I scoped five of them and four had the infection.”

Gerrit Schlechter, previously reluctant to say that he was retiring – partly because of insurance company requirements – has now done so.

He made a rare visit to Kenilworth on Saturday and said: “I am now officially retired – the doctors said there was no chance of riding again – but I don’t yet know what I will do. I will have to see what happens but I am still young (52).”

Schlechter’s big race victories include the 2006 Durban July on Eyeofthetiger and the 2011 Met on Past Master. He has not ridden since September 2015 when he was diagnosed with a prolapsed disc compounded by osteoporosis and arthritis.

Plattner Racing is advertising for an assistant to trainer Andre Nel but applicants need to act quickly. The deadline for submission of CVs is on Friday.

By Michael Clower

The opening races at the Turffontein Inside track today probably provide punters with their best opportunities, although the exotics will provide more attractive pools and are certainly worth a crack.

In the first race, a Workrider’s Maiden over 1450m, Light Indigo’s pole position draw will suit her front-running style. She will be getting 3kg from the boys and has very little to beat. She has a good rider up too. The main danger will be the gelding Play Misty For Me, who should enjoy the further step up in trip, but Light Indigo’s form looks a touch stronger.

Negroamaro (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the second race the classy Negroamara could be vulnerable despite it being an ideal 1800m trip, as this is likely to be a preparation after a close to three month layoff. The chief threat is Pagoda, who is a progressive son of Mogok and is drawn in pole over a trip he should enjoy. Amsterdam might have benefitted from his decent effort last week over the too sharp 1400m and can also be considered.

In the third, Unchained Melody showed early pace and hit the front over 1160m last time before finding no extra, so should enjoy the step down to 1000m from a plum draw of two. Seattle Seahawk over raced over 1200m last time and will relish this step down in trip too.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a tricky maiden for fillies and mares over 1600m. Trumpets Calling will enjoy the step up in trip, but her slow starting habits are a bit of a concern. Sheema could attempt to gallop them into the ground from her nice low draw over a suitable trip, so Trumpets Calling will need to get after her early in the straight.

In the next, a Maiden over 2000m, the hard knocking Aristocrat should enjoy the trip on the evidence of his last start and so will the unexposed Student Grant. They could get punters through the exotics.

In the sixth, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 2200m, Prada Princess stayed on over 1800m last time so should stay. However, it’s an open race and Just A Jet, Hot Talent, Island Bliss and Eversilver have to be considered.

In the seventh over 1600m, Bold Viking could fulfill the regard he is held in over this step up in trip. Top Shot and High Drama have performed well against decent sorts. Life Is Good looks to have ability and Fareeq ran a cracker last time.

In the eighth over 1600m, Patric should be improving being by Silvano and his only win was over this course and distance from a similar low draw.

William Nichol is back to his last winning mark and could win the last leg of the Pick 6 over 1200m.

By David Thiselton

Sun Met winner Whisky Baron is in the quarantine station at Kenilworth racecourse as a preliminary to a major international campaign under Brett Crawford.

Craig Carey, manager for the Kieswetter family’s Ridgemont Stud operation, said yesterday: “We felt that the weights would be all wrong if we went for the Vodacom Durban July so our hands were tied to a certain extent.

Whisky Baron (Liesl King)

“Whisky Baron will go to Mauritius and join up with Mike de Kock’s horses going over and from there he will go to Mary Slack’s Abington Place stables in Newmarket where he will stay for four or five months before going to Dubai.

“However Dubai will not be his main mission. That will be Hong Kong for whatever we can get an invite. Brett will have control of the horse which will be nice for him as it will be his first big international campaign.”

Glen Kotzen has also abandoned plans to go for this year’s July with Gold Standard, fourth when the only three-year-old in the Met after winning the Selangor and finishing second in the Cape Guineas.

Kotzen said: “He has had a month off but he will now miss the Natal season – or at least, if he does go, he will travel at the end of it for the Champions Cup. In the meantime the Winter Series in Cape Town is more than likely.

“He is still a young horse and his main missions are next season’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Sun Met.”

By Michael Clower

On the face of it, the addition of blinkers would account for My Pal Al’s current good form but Alistair Gordon was not so sure. My Pal Al was a most impressive winner of the Kas Govender Memorial Handicap at Greyville yesterday leading stable companion Marshall That and Roy’s Strike Force a merry dance as Anton Marcus took the race by the scruff of the neck from the jump.

“He’s finally learning what racing’s all about,” said Gordon. “The blinkers may have helped but you can see in the morning’s that he wants to race and he’s starting to enjoy his racing.”

My Pal Al (Nkosi Hlophe)

“It’s still too soon but we may even take the blinkers off at a later stage. Anton says he’s still a big baby but I haven’t had time to have a good chat to him so I’ll see what he says before we decide. For now we will keep him to weaker opposition and take it from there,” Gordon concluded.

There was certainly a lot to like about the victory as My Pal Al hammered away from the break and showed no signs of stopping come the line. My Pal Al is owned and was bred by father and son combination of Dr Nic and Kim Labuschagne.

There is a fine line between being fit and at peak fitness as Anthony Delpech alluded to at Greyville yesterday. Quizzed about his ride Al Sahem in the G2 Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein on Saturday he said his mount had missed some vital work because of the rain and that was the difference between winning and losing.

Al Sahem went down a short head to pacemaker Janoobi and Delpech added, “He’s a very smart horse and will have a big chance in the other two legs of the Triple Crown.”

Delpech opened the batting yesterday on the filly Osprey for Dennis Drier where the sister to Met winner Martial Eagle and Algoa Cup winner Nebula opened her account. The opposition was nothing to write home about but Delpech rated her “a bit better than the other horses in this race. She’s decent.”

Delpech took his tally to three for the afternoon as Napoli rattled home for Alyson Wright in the fifth.

Anthony Delpech (Liesl King)

It was David vs Goliath in the second but Goliath winning this round as Good Grace scored a narrow victory over Mark My Card. Good Grace comes from the all-powerful Candice Bass-Robinson yard while Wayne Bardenhorst trains a small string out of a private establishment that borders Doug Campbell’s yard near Richmond.

Robert Fayde’Herbe does an excellent job with the Bass-Robinson satellite string and the switch to poly may have been the secret. “She didn’t travel in Cape Town,” referring to her action, “but she’s travelling now.”

Part owner Eric Buhr concurred. “It was a good move to bring her up from Cape Town for the poly,” as Good Grace recorded her fourth victory.

“I don’t come down here for nothing,” warned Gauteng-based Brian Wiid after he picked up his second winner of the weekend. Racing Socks did the honours on Friday night and Lee’s Pick rounded off a profitable weekend with the gelding proving far too strong for some modest opposition.

Former jockey turned trainer Jeff Freeman has been through a quiet spell of late but What A Scorcher was given a peach of a front-running ride in the fourth by apprentice Lyle Hewitson who was recording the 154th success of his short career.

By Andrew Harrison

Former Zimbabwean and South African-based trainer Neil Bruss won Saturday’s Gr 1 SR250,000 King Abdulaziz Racetrack Champion Cup over 2000m on sand with the six-year-old Oratorio colt Gods Speed, who was ridden by Luis Morales.

Jumping from gate 7 in a ten horse field, the Abdulelah Abdul Aziz Almousa-owned horse had cover throughout and travelled well.

Neil Bruss (Nkosi Hlophe)

Morales made his move around the final turn and entering the 400m straight just had to overtake the pacemaker on his inside.

The good looking bay then surged into the lead and managed to held on from the charging pair Smoking Sun (Smart Strike) and Ibn Alnafees (Premium Tap).

Bruss’ latest stint in Saudi Arabia began last September and in 100 runs he has had 14 winners.

The veteran trainer is an outstanding horseman and has successfully raided Dubai with his Saudi Arabian-trained horses before.

In 2009 he sent out former Port Elizabeth horse Paris Perfect and the Argentinian-bred Muller to run third and fourth respectively in the Dubai World Cup.

Oratorio currently stands at Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm in Stellenbosch.

By David Thiselton