The ambitious plan to fly Legal Eagle, The Conglomerate, Marinaresco and Silver Mountain to race in America – and so pave the way for the South African bloodstock industry to be opened up to the world – looks to have fallen through.

David Thiselton reported in this paper last Thursday that the flight was in the balance because of lack of support but yesterday Derek Brugman, the man behind it all, said: “It now looks highly unlikely and the feedback I am getting from the other guys involved is that it is a no-go for the money involved.”

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

The original target was 15 horses sharing the $600 000 flight cost but, with only six (possibly seven) horses confirmed, the cost per ticket has risen from $40 000 to $100 000.

Brugman said: “It’s a great shame but I gave Markus Jooste an undertaking from the beginning that we would only do this if it made economic sense and I can’t justify spending that kind of money. It’s too big a risk.

“Similarly the other guys who committed from the start are not prepared to spend an extra $60 000 a horse. The exercise doesn’t make sense at that price.”

The intention was that, once the big-name horses came through their 60-day lockdown in New York with a treadmill for exercise, they would add to their reputations on the racetracks of the States and so advertise South African bloodstock to such an extent that American owners and trainers would buy yearlings here and take them home via the same New York 60-day quarantine.

When the market developed sufficiently breeders here could benefit further by breeding some of their mares to Northern Hemisphere time.

Brugman, who has been working on all this for two years, regards the setback as temporary and said: “I can assure you that I haven’t thrown in the towel in terms of trying this again in the future, possibly even later this year.”

He is looking forward to the day when So

uth Africa is regarded by the Americans as Contagious Equine Metritis-free. At the moment it is not and so they insist that any colts or entire horses coming from this country must do a third month of lockdown during which they have to cover two mares. It is a requirement that would play mental and physical havoc with any plans to keep them racing.

Brugman said: “But for this requirement we might have been able to send a couple of our good three-year-olds with the shipment.”

By Michael Clower

Mike De Kock will wait until the end of the month to give Mubtaahij a prep run before the most valuable night in racing (Dubai World Cup, March 25).

Mubtaahij was being lined up for his seasonal debut in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes on February 11, but the leading international trainer wants to give last year’s World Cup runner-up more time.

The five-year-old son of Dubawi, who was a brilliant winner of the 2015 UAE Derby, has not raced since he was fourth behind Bob Baffert’s Hoppertunity in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at Belmont Park in America in October.

Mubtaahij (Liesl King)

“He’s training well but I am not convinced that he is ready for it,” De Kock said. “The Listed Curlin Handicap is the plan.”

As the name of the February 23 contest suggests, the 2000-metre Listed handicap was won by Curlin en route to his stunning World Cup win in 2008. The race was also used last season by California Chrome as a stepping stone to his impressive victory in the $10 million race.

Mubtaahij was moved to Kiaran McLaughlin’s stables in America after chasing California Chrome home in the World Cup in March and ran there three times.

“He had a rest in America and a bit of a break here as he was on the go a lot in America — he needed it,” De Kock said.

“He only needs one run before the Dubai World Cup.”

The participation of Breeders’ Cup and Pegasus World Cup winner Arrogate at Meydan still hangs in the balance.

Arrogate returned to Santa Anita from his Gulfstream Park heroics last week on Sunday and was out training on Thursday.

When asked where the Juddmonte-owned colt might race next the trainer said: “We have no plans yet. We have a lot of options but we are going to see. We’ve got a lot of options but we are going to give him a couple of weeks to see how he’s doing before we decide.

“I haven’t really mapped out a schedule for him, although it looks like the race didn’t take a lot out of him. He looks good.”

TheNational.ae

Turffontein Inside track stages a nine race card tomorrow where the racing is generally competitive and finding winners will be rewarding.

Alec Laird

The sixth is a Conditions Plate over 1450m for fillies and mares and the progressive Alec Laird-trained Polyphonic looks the one to beat. She has always been well regarded and looks to have come into her own lately. She is the best in at the weights and has to carry a mere 52,5kg. In her last start in the Gr 2 Ipi Tombe over 1600m her jockey lost the rein late yet she still went down by just 0,4 lengths.

On the downside Polyphonic has a tricky draw and would prefer a touch further, so can’t be regarded as a banker. Bella Sonata on the other hand is perfectly course and distance suited and being by Silvano this always well regarded filly will also be coming into her own. She is capable of a strong finish, so the wide draw might not be too much of a concern and she should go close.

Crystal Glamour will be dangerous in this race over a suitable trip as she is an improving front-runner and has a plum draw. Shaama is considerably out at the weights, but can’t be ignored. She started favourite for the Gr 1 Allan Robertson two seasons ago, but disappointed and then continued to disappoint.

However, after being given nearly a year off, she came back with a fluent win over 1200m where she produced a sustained finish. She could well be better than her merit rating of 88 suggests and she is likely looking for this sort of trip.

Sensible Lover is unbeaten in two starts over this course and distance.  She disappointed last time and now has the blinkers on, which is most interesting because in her day she mixed it with some of the best of a vintage crop.

The seventh is an intriguing MR 90 Handicap for three-year-olds over 1600m and the topweight Unagi could be the one to beat.  He is unbeaten in two starts over course and distance and has shown glimpses of real class. He has had excuses for a couple of his disappointing runs and the blinkers didn’t work last time. However, he is now back to a merit rating of 90 and has a plum draw over his probable optimum trip.

S’manga Khumalo (Nkosi Hlophe)

Shukamisa should be involved in the finish too. He is by Silvano and from the yard of Ormond Ferraris, so should start stepping up to the plate now on the eve of the Johannesburg Autumn season. He has certainly shown signs of being of feature class. He does have a tricky draw of eight.

Military Award has plenty of ability and should be distance suited. He only carries 53,5kg and has a good draw, but on the downside he makes respiratory noises. However, with a first time tongue tie on last time he was running on late over 1400m, so that augurs well for his future. He has the ability to win this off his mere 77 merit rating.

Arlington disappointed last time after catching the eye in his maiden over this trip. However, that latter race was over 1800m and he over raced, so he is interesting back at this trip and cannot be ignored. Qeyaadah is another one who has to be considered as he has ability and now has his second run after gelding and second run with blinkers. Pagoda is another one who has shown signs of ability and could earn from a plum draw.

The second race will be the first leg of the Bipot and the interesting horse here is Tharoos. He is by More Than Ready out of a Danehill mare who won from 1000m to 1700m and he is a full brother to a Gr 2 winner in Australia over 1200m. He has done well in two decent fields over 1160m and does strike as more of a sprinting type, so from a good draw here he should give a good account of himself in his first start around the turn.

Racing Free and Mess look the chief dangers. The former has good form in two races over sprints and was backed in both starts. However, he finished lame in his last start and hasn’t raced for about 18 months. Mess has been thereabouts in three starts from 1160m to 1400m and should be improving coming from the yard of astute trainer Candice Dawson. S’Manga Khumalo is an eye catching booking and from pole position he should make an impact.

By David Thiselton

A five-time winner, Pure Valor lines up for Lowan Denneyschen in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap over 2000m that heads a seven-race card on the Greyville poly this evening where he looks to have an excellent chance of confirming the form with recent Michael Roberts Handicap winner Mr Winsome.

Mr Winsome (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mr Winsome was narrowly denied when last the two met but the handicappers may have caught up with him as Dean Kannemeyer’s runner meets Pure Valor on 1.5kg worse terms for a short-head over this evening’s course and distance.

Although Mr Winsome rattled home from a long way back to win the Michael Roberts Handicap at Scottsville, he has 62kg to shoulder this evening giving Pure Valor 9kg, and given luck in running Pure Valor should have his measure.

But they are not the only two in the mix. Persian Rug, unlucky last season when pecking at a crucial stage of the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes, has found it tough going since. The form of last year’s sophomore fillies crop has proven suspect but the strapping daughter of Ideal World may well take a new lease on life on the polytrack. Mike de Kock’s runner made her debut on the surface in a strong field over a distance palpably short of her best, but stepped up in trip for her next outing, she romped home ahead of New Zealand-bred Killer Woman.

She does take a steep rise in class here with a big weight to shoulder but she has the frame to cope with both and although taking on males must be in with a chance. Top weight Kitty’s Destiny ran below form last time out but in spite of a big weight he seems best on the poly and cannot be written off lightly.

Kannemeyer looks to have a lively contender in the Soccer 6 Handicap where he saddles the promising Night Circus. Much improved when tried in blinkers last time out, easily beating stable companion Tanjiro, he meets little of note here and should be good enough to follow up.

Tony Nassif makes a habit of raiding from the Highveld with horses with seemingly modest form only to put the locals to the sword. The veteran trainer did not come down with the last shower of rain – whenever that was – and Icy Avalanche could prove a threat to the likely favourite. His last win was over course and distance starting at odds of 55-1 which is more than enough evidence.

Pure Valor (Nkosi Hlophe)

Kali’s King was given a break after shedding his maiden and has improved in blinkers while For Ever is better than his last two and goes well this course and distance.

If the weather gurus are to be believed Scottsville should have some relief from the blistering recent weather over the weekend with the meeting on Sunday. With possible thunder storms predicted for tomorrow night and Sunday evening the lightning fast going could revert to normal and bathing costumes can dry out ready for next week’s predicted heatwave.

An interesting Pinnacle Stakes event heads the card with some veterans looking to pay their way and a pair of sophomores, notably Legend and Roy’s Magic, looking to make their mark.

Night Trip has shown up well in two recent sprints but goes well this trip and can defy top weight with the wily Anton Marcus aboard. Alistair Gordon has had the world of trouble with Royal Life but the gelding is useful on his day and although the form of his last run has been a little suspect he will go close on his best effort.

Legend is a smart horse and just how he fares could give some indication of whether he is Champions Season material. However, he has been rested and gelded since his last win and is likely to need this outing while stable companion Roy’s Magic is far better than his last two. He has a light weight and a plum draw and if ‘putting it in’ will also be a strong contender.

By Andrew Harrison

Four runners from Blue Stables will go to post at Thursday night’s Meydan Carnival meeting, andwww.mikedekockracing.com reports that four-year-old colt Lindo Amor (ARG) could be best of them if he can secure a good early position in Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge (Gr2) over 1900m on dirt.

Mike de Kock

Lindo Amor made an eye-catching debut on dirt when he came from midfield to take third behind Le Bernardin in the first leg of the Challenge over 1600m – only a neck kept him out of second.

Lindo Amor was doing his best work late that day and, knowing that he is Gr1 placed over 2000m in his native Argentine, Mike de Kock is confident that tonight’s trip will suit him. Christophe Soumillon retains the ride.

He said, however: “Lindo Amor is very well. He has improved after his January run, but tonight’s result depends on whether he can get into a handy position early.  Lindo Amor will face a stiff task if he’s out of his ground, runners not up with the pace on this track have a mountain to climb, as we’ve seen.”

About the others:

Race 2: Muwaary (Turf Handicap, 1600m, Jim Crowley)

“He ran a bad race last week, but has only been here for a  month and we have to race him to form. He will improve tonight, but we’re not expecting much yet.

Race 6: Sanshaawes (Soumillon) and Saltarin Dubai (Bernard Fayd’Herbe) in a Handicap on turf over 2000m:

“Sanshaawes is very well, this is his third start after a rest and he should be competitive, he has a chance. Saltarin Dubai drops in rating and comes to turf, the change of surface and a change in tactics will help.”

Selections Meydan Thursday February 2

Race 1 [4.30pm]: (4) WINSLOW (7) Ormindo (1) Grand Argentier (9) Vivernus

Race 2 [5.05pm]: (4) AMERICAN HOPE (2) Elite Excalibur (1) Dark Emerald (3) Fanciful Angel

Race 3 [5.40pm]: (4) MUARRAB (5) Cool Cowboy (2) Wild Dude (1) Movesta

Race 4 [6.15pm]: (2) RED GALILEO (4) Blue Rambler (5) Rio Tigre (6) Warrior Of Light

Race 5 [6.50pm]: (7) LINDO AMOR (3) Second Summer (9) Le Bernardin (5) Long River

Race 6 [7.25pm]: (3) SANSHAAWES (9) Belgian Bill (4) Master The World (1) Dylan Mouth

Race 7 [8.00pm]: (11) HARRY HURRICANE (6) Sir Maximilian (1) Medicean Man (5) Magnus Maximus

Prolific owner Roy Moodley has many winners from the “Roy” brigade and two more were added to the tally at a scorching hot Scottsville yesterday.

Roy’s Donkey (Nkosi Hlophe)

Yogas Govender provided the first when Roy’s Folly converted a string of recent places into victory under Tristan Godden ahead of outsider River Ayre with Alistair Gordon’s runner much improved since being fitted with blinkers while Roy’s Donkey made a nonsense of his nonsensical name winning the Blinkers Bar Handicap for Kom Naidoo.

Apprentice Sandile Mbhele has had his share of trials and tribulations this past week. He picked up a seven-day suspension when winning on Hot Chilli at Greyville last week and he had a bit of a ‘mare’ yesterday.

Riding Kingsview for Therese Mitchley, his mount took a right turn when under pressure and Mbhele – and indeed the rest of the field – were fortunate that he was clear as the mare was allowed to shift alarmingly across the entire field before cannoning into the inside fence allowing Roy’s Folly in for the win.

Earlier Mbhele arguably cost himself victory aboard the Gareth van Zyl-trained Poster Girl when dropping his near-side rein, letting Just Vogue hang on for the win for Gavin van Zyl.

No doubt he will learn but it is coming at a cost.

Blistering heat and a dearth of rain has not made things easy for the course managers and Scottsville was running quick which did not suit many of the runners including favourite Isingamoya who was in contention for much of the trip but did not go on with it under pressure.

Keagan de Melo, recently signed up for the Duncan Howells yard, paid his way when scoring on favourite Mambo in the eighth. De Melo blasted his way through a narrow inside gap to take up the cudgels with Fully Charged, going through to win comfortably.

By Andrew Harrison

It is touch and go whether the pending shipment of Legal Eagle and a few others to the USA will get off the ground due to a lack of numbers.

The flight, which is due to leave at roundabout the end of February, was the initiative of Mayfair Speculators racing manager Derek Brugman. However, the cost of the flight is US$600,000 and the export task team, under the stewardship of Chris van Niekerk, had therefore hoped to have a plane filled with 15 horses.

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

Before Saturday’s Sun Met there were only eight horses on the flight list. They were Legal Eagle, Marinaresco, The Conglomerate, Silver Mountain, Flying Ice, a couple of broodmares and a sport horse.

Brugman is not yet aware of any new bookings or cancellations which might have taken place after the Met. He said the flight was only ever going to take place if it was economically viable. This was with a view to the future as it could then become a regular exporting option.

The horses will be subjected to a 60 day lockdown upon landing in the USA. This makes it a quicker export route than the Mauritius one, which South African thoroughbreds have been using.

However, horses who wish to move on to other countries are then required, by most countries, to spend additional residency time in the USA.

Another of the biggest stumbling blocks to the USA route had been the lack of exercise opportunity for horses during the lockdown. However, thanks to the efforts of Brugman and CTS MD Adrian Todd, the US Department Of Agriculture had agreed to the installation of a treadmill.

By David Thiselton

Triple Crown hero Abashiri has a new owner and is to be given a lengthy break before making an assault on the Sansui Summer Cup.

Mike Azzie said: “I scratched him from The Sun Met straight after his run in the Queen’s Plate. He will now have a good rest and then I will start him off from scratch once more and aim him at the Summer Cup.  He is a good horse and, while he might have lost his form, he won’t lose his ability.”

Abashiri (Nkosi Hlophe)

The four-year-old finished last in the Queen’s Plate and was returned not striding out. He was a well beaten fifth in the Green Point on his previous start, after a tough journey from Johannesburg which put him off his food for two days. However Azzie traces the horse’s loss of form to his running in the Vodacom Durban July.

He said: “Abashiri had a hard time winning the Triple Crown and I begged the owner (Adriaan van Vuuren) to put him away but he wanted to go for the July. The horse should never have run. He has recently changed hands and will race in the name of Corner Stone Trust for an owner I used to train for some years ago.”

Trainer-of-the-moment Brett Crawford is to be sent the Trippi colt out of a half-sister to Jeppe’s Reef and Disco Al who equalled the South African yearling record when knocked down to Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier for R6 million at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale. Markus Jooste is a part-owner in the Drakenstein-consigned colt who is named Mark The Doorman.

Candice Bass-Robinson will train the sales’ second highest-priced lot, Sovereign Sway, a Dynasty colt out of the Woolavington winner Viva Maria and bought by Kuda Holdings for R5.75 million.

Captain Of Tortuga, the R4.5 million Captain Al colt bought by Bernard Marais, is to go to Justin Snaith who won the Cape Fillies Guineas and the Majorca with the colt’s dam Ebony Flyer. Sean Tarry will train the Captain Al colt out of Orator’s Daughter purchased by David Redvers on behalf of Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, also for R4.5 million.

By Michael Clower

The Glen Kotzen-trained Trippi colt Gold Standard, now the highest merit rated three-year-old in the country, will be campaigned in the SA Champions Season in KZN.

Gold Standard (Liesl King)

Meanwhile, the route which Investec Cape Derby winner Edict Of Nantes takes is still up in the air.

Gold Standard has been accorded a merit rating of 115 by the handicappers after finishing fourth in Saturday’s Gr 1 R5 million The Sun Met and Kotzen said this would likely rule him out of the running in the Vodacom Durban July.

Kotzen’s concern is the merit ratings of the other three-year-olds in the country. He pointed out the horse which had beaten Gold Standard fair and square in the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas, William Longsword, was only merit rated 109, although he did recognise The Met itself had likely been correctly assessed.

Gold Standard’s chief targets will be the R600,000 Gr 2 Daisy Guineas and the R2 million Gr 1 Daily News 2000.

Kotzen was “very happy” with Gold Standard’s Met run and believed he could well have finished third had he not been interfered with by third-placed Captain America. He pointed out he was carried out eight horse widths and then had to be eased when squeezed between Captain America and the faster finishing Legal Eagle. The official margin between Captain America and Gold Standard was a length but Kotzen said it would have been impossible for a big horse like him to recover in time when having his stride broken at the most crucial stage. “But it’s history,” he added, as he looked forward to the future for the classy colt.

Glen Kotzen

Kotzen will be targeting the Gr 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas with Judpot filly Final Judgement, who was the first three-year-old home in the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m.

The yard’s promising two-year-old Horse Chestnut filly Gold Image will also be going to KZN. Kotzen said, “She was beaten by two big, strapping colts (when third in Saturday’s R1 million Kuda Sprint) and I liked the way she finished her race. She will be a nice filly in a couple of months’ time and will be aimed at the Allan Robertson.”

Mayfair Speculators’ racing manager Derek Brugman said it had not yet been finalised whether the Brett Crawford-trained Edict Of Nantes would be kept back in Cape Town for the Winter Series or be campaigned in the SA Champions Season. It had also not yet been decided, if staying in Cape Town, whether he would raid for The July. The Count Du Bois colt has been accorded a merit rating of 102.

By David Thiselton

Last year’s Met winner Smart Call has been sent to Sir Michael Stoute who was an interested spectator at the Sun Met on Saturday.

SmartCall (Nkosi Hlophe)

The five-year-old, who also won the Maine Chance Paddock Stakes, was sent to Newmarket via Mauritius and was based at Mary Slack’s Abington Place stables when still trained by Alec Laird. He intended running her in the Sun Chariot Stakes before sending her to America for the Breeders’ Cup meeting but she met with a late setback and had to be scratched from the Newmarket Grade 1. It was then decided not to go for the Breeders’ Cup.

Mrs Slack said: “We are still not sure exactly what she did but it can’t have been much because nobody could find anything wrong. But we will have to see how she is when she starts training with Michael.”

By Michael Clower