Carry On Alice is hard to oppose in the CTS Southern Cross Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow even though this is the star mare’s first race for six months.

S’Manga Khumalo’s mount was race fit when she won 12 months ago – admittedly she only got home by a short head – but she is 3kg (more than two lengths) better than the next best on ratings and she has three lengths-plus in hand over all the others.

Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)

“There is quite a bit to work with so she will need it,” cautions Sean Tarry who has his eyes on the Cape Flying Championship on Sun Met day. “But we are hoping that we can get away with it.”

Real Princess is the obvious danger as she is nearest on ratings and ran a cracker on her reappearance in a Pinnacle over this trip four weeks ago. She finished a length and a half second to Search Party who franked the form in no uncertain manner when so heavily backed in last Saturday’s Merchants.

Dean Kannemeyer’s charge missed that race because of an urticaria that now looks a blessing in disguise. “It was like a rash and she picked it up on the Friday evening,” explains the trainer. “She couldn’t run because I had to give her a shot of cortisone but she worked on Sunday. Ideally I would love to have another 100m or 200m for her here.”

Real Princess was beaten less than a length when third 12 months ago but she will be 2kg worse with the favourite this time.

Victoria Lavelle would be a major threat – she receives 2kg from the top two – but for the fact that this is her first race of the season. “She can still run a good race – she is a high class sprinter – but she might just need it,” says Justin Snaith whose Jo’s Bond is only rated a kilo below Aldo Domeyer’s mount. “We are just hoping for a place with her because at this level it could be a bit hard.”

Real Princess (Nkosi Hlophe)

Beach Goddess was a convincing winner of a competitive Laisserfaire over 100m further but still has something to find. “This is a bit on the short side for Beach Goddess but she is doing well,” reports Brett Crawford who feels that Carry On Alice is going to be very hard to beat and that her lack of a run may not make a significant difference over the minimum trip.

Scandal is on a hat-trick and has been raised 5.5kg for her last two Fairview wins. Theoretically that puts her into the shake-up but there is always a suspicion that Port Elizabeth ratings are suspect in Cape Town.

Rock On Baby beat only one home 12 months ago and, if Dennis Drier is going to cause an upset, it is more likely to be with Anime who won an FM 76 handicap over this trip in a manner that suggested she is capable of better.

BLOB Marinaresco has been installed favourite for the Sun Met ahead of his Green Point conqueror Legal Eagle. Betting World has him at 17-10 and Legal Eagle at 22-10 while World Sports Betting goes 2-1 and 22-10.

By Michael Clower

Gingerbread Man, unbeaten over course and distance, will be looking to keep that record in tact when he runs in the KZN Breeders Club Handicap over 1400m on the Greyville poly this evening.

Dean Kannemeyer (Nkosi Hlophe)

Gingerbread Man has taken to the poly and can go in again for his hat-trick even though he takes a rise in class as confirmed by Duncan Howells. “He’s a nice horse and is very well,” said Howells. “He does step up in class but should be right there.” However, the Ashburton trainer added a word of caution. “He’s no good thing!”

Newyorkstateofmind seems to be continually on the upgrade and is likely to be in the scrum again come the line. Sean Tarry’s runner came from well back to win again last time out and although he too takes on stronger he does have a claiming apprentice up. Charles Laird’s runner Dance On Air was a beaten favourite last start but did take on much stronger. He has also won over course and distance and is in with a definite chance. Bizjet most recent win was over course and distance beating Newyorkstateofmind and was narrowly beaten next time out so is another for the shortlist.

Howells has a second string to his bow and should Gingerbread Man disappoint, Roman Carnival could pick up the pieces. “He is well and very fit,” said Howells. “He has a decent draw and is over his best trip.”

In all the race looks wide open, as does the Synergy Marketing Partners Apprentice Handicap that precedes.

Des Egdes, with a winner on Wednesday in Dynamite Lady, saddles Just Rap under Julius Mphanya. “The draw is a bit of a concern especially in a race like this with all the apprentices. You never know what kamikazes will be out there. But she’s well and I think she has a decent chance,” he concluded.

Just Rap faced a good field last time out and prior to that was a close-up second over course and distance. Given some luck in running she should be right there. Stockade has consistent form over course and distance and from a good draw should also be there as Egdes intimated. A question mark hangs over Laird’s runner African Sunbird. She was given a stiff task first run out of the maidens and meets weaker here. She is back on the poly on which she shed her maiden. She may be worth another chance. Icy Spirit has been in good form since her maiden win and with a smart four-claimer in Denis Schwarz up she can go in again.

Gingerbread Man (Nkosi Hlophe)

Anton Marcus teams up with the Dennis Drier gelding Smart World in the CMH Kempster Ford Handicap that looks to be another tricky race. Smart World has shown his best form on the poly and a drop in class should at least make him competitive. Top weight Selvan’s Jet has taken to the poly and was up against stronger at his last two. He has a fair weight but will have a host of supporters. Tony Nassif arrives in town with Triple Beat who has improved since the blinkers were removed.

Nassif is one of the game’s eternal optimists but when he makes the journey from the Highveld it is worth taking note. Sambora let the side down in his six-week stint on the Highveld and has left Howells frustrated. “He doesn’t put in a lot of effort but has the ability. It’s a case of which Sambora arrives on the day.”

Place Accumulator punters can hopefully get through the opening leg with the Laird-trained Matresse. She was sent out an odds-on favourite on debut for her new stable debut but lacked extra late. The blinkers are back on over a shorter trip and she may be the one to beat although Gusheshe is much improved on the poly and was close-up from a wide draw last time out. The Kannemeyer yard has been on mustard form of late and the Australian import should prove the biggest threat. Arctic Swift has improved with each outing and found good market support last start. Marcus is off and rides Matresse but the blinkers are on.

By Andrew Harrison

Apprentice Callan Murray is off to Melbourne to spend the next seven weeks riding for Australian Hall-Of-Fame trainer David Hayes.

Murray secured this opportunity through former jockey and current riding master at the Australia Jockey Academy Matt Pumpa.

“I first met him two years ago when he came to South Africa with the Australian apprentices riding in the Asian Young Guns event. Then he came over to South Africa a couple of months ago, we spoke about it and he managed to organise the whole venture for me,” said Murray.

Callan Murray

“Of course, I’m very excited. I have only ridden in South Africa and Zimbabwe so the whole experience will be amazing.”

This is not the first time a South African apprentice will be riding for Hayes as Chad Schofield was also aligned to his stable.

“Obviously, I’m looking for riding experience and international exposure,” said Murray. I will try to pick up new things which I can use to my advantage.

“It will be interesting to be riding at tracks with different conditions, different horses and against other jockeys. They also have no false rail at their courses. “I know their stipes are very strict so I’m will need to be on my best behaviour.

“The last thing I want to do is get a suspension at my first meeting.”

In 2008, Hayes was the youngest trainer to be inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame, following in the footsteps of his late father Colin, who was an inaugural inductee seven years earlier.

Hayes made an immediate impact in 1991, taking out the Cox Plate and Japan Cup with Better Loosen Up and training a world-record six Group winners on Derby Day. Five years later Hayes accepted an invitation to train in Hong Kong which is still regarded as the most competitive racing jurisdiction in the world.

He again had immediate success, winning two trainers’ titles and finishing top four in each of his nine seasons. He trained more than 450 winners and multiple Group 1 winners before returning to Australia in 2005 to resume training there.

He has won all “Big Four” races in Australia, the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup (twice), Cox Plate (twice) and Golden Slipper.

Piere Strydom had some dealings with Hayes and was very complimentary about the Australian.

“I rode quite a bit for him when I was in Hong Kong. He’s a top-class guy to work for.

“This is a great opportunity for Callan and I’m sure he will learn a lot from the experience.”

-TABnews

Western Cape champion trainer Justin Snaith runs the pacey Victoria Lavelle in the Gr 2 Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m at Kenilworth on Saturday.

In the meantime tests are being done on Black Arthur and the yard are “under pressure” to have him ready in time for the Sun Met.

The Southern Cross Stakes looks to be a two horse race on paper and will see the Sean Tarry-trained Carry On Alice attempting to exact revenge on the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Real Princess, who beat the former when they last met in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint over 1200m back in June.

Black Arthur (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, Carry On Alice looks to be the proverbial penalty kick as she has natural speed and has proven in the past to be as suited to 1000m as she is to 1200m, while Real Princess looks much better suited to 1200m. Carry On Alice was beaten in her comeback run last season over 1000m at Turffontein, but her rider might have been caught napping a touch as she had quickened and joined the lightning fast Little Genie in front and nobody, including the rider, would have expected the latter to then find another gear as she did.

Victoria Lavelle, who returns from a layoff since running fifth in the Gr 3 Champagne Stakes over 1200m at Kenilworth on July 30, is the “blitz” horse in the Southern Cross field who could potentially pull off a similar surprise. The 1000m is the Captain Al filly’s best trip, as she has speed to burn, but she hasn’t raced over this distance since winning a Novice Plate by 3,25 lengths in September last year. However, Snaith said although she had been doing well at home, he believed “something would need to go wrong” with both Carry On Alice and Real Princess for any of the other runners to win this race.

Black Arthur was eased out of the Green Point Stakes by Piere Strydom last weekend in order to protect him, as he felt something was amiss.

Snaith said he believed it might be a case of excessive haemo-concentrating.

A decision will be made within a week whether to geld the talented son of Silvano or not. Snaith added the yard in any event would be “under pressure” to have him ready for the Met.

However, Snaith is gearing up to have a big day at the Cape Guineas meeting on December 17, which will coincide with both the yard’s form return and a strong team of runners.

By David Thiselton

The Greyville turf is looking in magnificent shape at present and there are innovations afoot which aim to have it in as good condition during the winter months from now onward.

The city course’s turf track copped plenty of criticism during the last SA Champions Season, which takes place in the depth of winter in May, June and July.

Raf Sheik (Nkosi Hlophe)

Gold Circle’s new Racing Executive Raf Sheik revealed the full “spring treatment” given to Greyville every year would from next season onward take place in January and February. He pointed out currently the treatment takes place nine months ahead of KZN’s main season, meaning the track is already worn by the time this world class three month festival of racing begins. Furthermore, there are changing seasonal patterns all over the globe, including in Durban. January and February are now probably Durban’s two best months of the year for growth, as the climate during this period combines warmth with moisture.

In future there will also be plenty of turf racing at Greyville after the SA Champions Season. Depending on the condition of the track, it will either be rested in August for up to five weeks, or turf racing will continue unabated at Greyville right through until the end of the year.

Meanwhile, there is a plan from next season onward to have two separate “spring treatments” for Scottsville. The aim is to have either the Inside or the Outside track open at any given time. This will ensure there is turf racing in KZN throughout the year.

When the Scottsville Ïnside track is being treated, there will only be racing down the straight at Scottsville on the Outside track.

In order to achieve the two separate Scottsville Spring Treatments, their pull-up areas will have to be separated. Plans are in motion to achieve this.

The Scottsville Spring Treatments will take place in and around the month of October every year.

Sheik said the secret to the current top class condition of the Greyville turf track included bringing in expert advice during the Spring Treatment. Furthermore, torrential rain caused the cancellation of the earliest intended turf meeting, and this allowed the track an extra month of unhindered growth.

Early next year there will be full turf meetings at Greyville on January 1, January 22 and February 19.

Thereafter the track will be closed for six weeks in order to give it a “light treatment.” This should ensure it is in good shape for the 2017 SA Champions Season.

By David Thiselton

The Western Cape Equine Trust is to be given a second charity raceday in February to raise much-needed funds for retraining and rehousing ex-racehorses.

Ken Truter

Ken Truter, who took over as chairman earlier in the season, said: “I found I had inherited a fantastic committee of really dedicated people and it was amazing to see the work that Newton Phillips puts in at the Philippi centre where the horses are reschooled for their second life.

“But I was concerned about the financial situation. In the past the Trust benefitted from Rodney Dunn’s pre-Met cocktail party to the tune of a considerable amount of money. When that was discontinued the Trust suffered a huge loss of income, was not generating sufficient funds to cover expenses and was having to dip into reserves.”

Truter’s solution is to link up with the Horses For Causes day at Kenilworth on February 11 and expand it into a money-making operation that will benefit both the charity and the Trust.

He explained: “I’m going to create an elite stallion auction that day. I still have to take my plans to the breeders but I want them all to attend the racemeeting and have nominations to top stallions for them to bid for.”

Owners now have – or soon will have – a responsibility under NHA rules to ensure their horses are properly looked after when they finish racing. Nobody is more aware of this than the man who bred Jay Peg. He calculates that he now has 50 horses including his mares and their foals.

The Trust’s normal fund-raising raceday is this Saturday when it will benefit from the sponsorships of all ten races plus lunch tickets, raffles etc while Grade 1 winner Real Princess will try to thwart star sprinter Carry On Alice in the latter’s bid to win the CTS Southern Cross Stakes for the second successive year.

By Michael Clower

Punters are faced with a few posers at Greyville today where the racing is mostly of the bread-and-butter variety and the card headed by a MR 80 Handicap. It’s a 1000m dash on the poly and Garth Puller’s runner Mr Mcsteamy could prove too hot.

The gelding is on the hunt for his second win and has been much improved since being tried in blinkers. He took on a useful field in a Pinnacle Stakes last time out where he was ridden by an inexperienced apprentice who lacked a little ‘oomph’ in the finish.

Prior to that Mr Mcsteamy had finished close-up in two starts over course and distance and with a stronger rider aboard today and only 48,5 kg on his back he should be right there.

Ho’oponopono (Nkosi Hlophe)

Top weight Swakopmund goes well over the distance and even with a big weight should feature with Anton Marcus aboard. Ho’oponopono is seldom far back and is distance suited. However, both these runners finished behind Mr Mcsteamy in the race won by Big King and meet on the same weight terms so turning the tables could be difficult. A bigger threat could be Aramouse, who has only twice finished out of the money in 12 starts. He drops in trip but the blinkers go on which could do the trick.

The Duncan Howells-trained Lunar Rush shed her maiden against winners in the KZN Breeders Million on July Day and has since been lightly raced. She looked just in need of her last outing when touched off by the useful Victory Takeover and poly specialist Marcus is back on board. One hopes that she can come on from that run as she is up against two runners who were at her girth come the line. School Run and Red Moon At Night meet on the same terms as they did behind Victory Takeover where there was a neck separating all three of the placed runners. The latter could turn the tables but there is unlikely to be much between the three again. We’re Are watching You was given a hefty rating after running out an easy maiden winner at her second attempt. She looks above average but has her work cut out.

It has been many moons since we had a 3000m marathon and Olympic Power goes this far for the first time. He was behind both Newtons Spark and Born To Rule when last they met but that was a false-run race. He has since won on the poly and could prove a cut above the opposition given a decent gallop.

Born To Rule stays well over shorter but this trip should hold no fears. With a four-claimer up he has a bright chance. When Tony Nassif arrives in town it often pays to take note and he saddles Taegan’s Jet. The gelding comes with some useful Highveld form over ground and with a light weight is one to include in all bets. Musuchelalomissus is another that has not been over the trip but goes well enough over 2400m and is showing signs of coming to hand. Newtons Spark makes his poly debut. He is always dangerous if allowed to get away but his best form has been at Scottsville.

In the opening leg of the Pick 6, Variety Romp has been persevered with by Charles Laird in spite of his problems and won well enough last start to suggest that he can go in again off a two-point higher rating. Ice Ridge shed his maiden first up on the poly track. He had consistent Cape form before that and is still improving for Alyson Wright. Assistant Amy McMullen will saddle San Julian Bay for Weiho Marwing and the gelding was less than a length behind Variety Romp when last they met and is 1kg better off. However, he does have a difficult draw. Roy’s Dollar takes on males but goes well over the course and distance and the form of her last run has worked out well so needs to be considered.

By Andrew Harrison

National Champion trainer Sean Tarry’s Graded race ammunition was bolstered on Saturday when his Toreador gelding Matador Man ran out an impressive winner of the Listed Secretariat Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein under apprentice Lyle Hewitson.

Tarry has top horses being prepared in both Johannesburg and Cape Town for big race targets and Equus Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle led the way over the weekend by beating a quality field in the WSB Gr 2 Green Point Stakes over 1600m, despite needing the run.

Sean Tarry (Liesl King)

Matador Man’s habitual slow start worked in his favour in the Secretariat Stakes as he was able to slot in behind the field on the rail. He has a lovely action and was beautifully relaxed in the running. Hewitson kept him covered for the first part of the straight, after they had come off the wide false rail. He had to get him going at the 450m mark as the long striding second favourite Romi’s Boy was out in front and threatening to gallop them into the ground.

However, Hewitson was forced to switch inward which was probably the unfavourable side on the day. However, it did not stop Matador Man and after showing a fine turn of foot he ran resolutely to the line to win by 1,75 lengths from his stablemate Tilbury Fort. The rest of the field were spread out like the washing, which is always the sign of good form. Furthermore, Matador Man, who started at odds of 11/2, did it pretty effortlessly and required no more than a back hander to keep his mind on the task. He was giving 4kg to stablemate Tilbury Fort, who was a 15/1 shot, and 2,5kg to the five-length third-placed Misty Roller, who was a 40/1 chance. Another of Matador Man’s stablemates Copper Pot finished fourth.

The 9/2 third favourite Act Of Loyalty made little impression in the straight from a midfield position and finished an eight-length sixth, while Romi’s Boy faded to finish a disappointing 8,5 lengths back in seventh. The favourite was the Mike Azzie-trained Captain Von Trapp, who was backed in to 3/1, but unfortunately he got stuck behind a fading Romi’s Boy just as he was unwinding into his giant stride. He is a lot better than his eleven length ninth suggests. A line can probably be drawn through the run, although he is unlikely to have threatened the winner on the day.

Trip to Heaven (JC Photographics)

Tarry said about the classy Matador Man, “He is definitely a horse we have always rated, he just fluffed his lines at the start in his first two runs, so he will improve as he goes around the turn and we will see how far he goes. It is difficult to work out the yard’s three-year-old pecking order, because they are all improving at different rates.”

Matador Man has dwelt in all of his starts to date and then virtually walks out the gates, but it didn’t cost him significant ground on Saturday.

He will not be going down to Cape Town for the Cape Guineas. Tarry said the Gauteng Guineas would likely be on his program and added, “I think the Canon Guineas at Greyville will be the right race for him.”

Meanwhile, Tarry’s Cape Guineas contender Africa Rising is doing well in Cape Town, having finished a 3,6 length sixth to stable companion Safe Harbour  in the R2,5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m. Safe Harbour, a rangy filly by Elusive Fort, franked the form on Saturday when going down by 0,3 lengths to Just Sensual in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas. She will likely be a big runner in the US$500,000 CTS 1600 on Sun Met day.

French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)

Another Tarry star being aimed at one of the two CTS half-a-million dollar races in Cape Town is last year’s Equus Champion two-year-old filly Cloth Of Cloud, although she will likely run in the 1200m event. Tarry said she had been doing well in Cape Town, although they have to work with her temperament issues. She is likely to have one run before the CTS 1200.

Africa Rising, a 96 merit-rated colt by Visionaire, has landed a plum of draw of two in the Cape Guineas, having had to jump from a very high draw in the Lanzerac. The Cape Guineas has attracted a 26-strong entry list and Tarry said, “He has always showed us to be a very good horse and if he can just give his best on the day will be very competitive.”

Meanwhile, five-year-old Trippi gelding Trip To Heaven’s main targets for the season are likely the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge and the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, both run at Greyville. He is travelling down to Cape Town to run in the Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m on January 14. Tarry said 1400m was probably the optimum trip for this horse, so he might avoid the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championships as 1000m might be a touch sharp for him.

Tarry also said 1000m was likely too sharp for the other stable sprinting star Bull Valley, who will be campaigned at home in Johannesburg. Trip To Heaven has won both of his Turffontein 1160m starts impressively this season, including the Gr 2 Citizen Merchants, where he gave Bull Valley 3,5kg and a 0,3 length beating. He received 2,5kg from reigning Equus Champion Sprinter Talktothestars in the Merchants and beat him by 2,4 lengths. On paper this makes him just about the best sprinter in the country at present.

French Navy has been doing well in Johannesburg and runs next Tuesday night at Turffontein in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1160m. He and Legal Eagle carry the stable’s Sun Met hopes.

By David Thiselton

Christmas came early for the Van Zyl clan over the weekend with father Gavin saddling a three-timer and son Gareth chipping in with a double at Scottsville yesterday.

Path To Glory was a popular winner to get the ball rolling for Van Zyl senior at Greyville, who followed up with Princess Analia in the eighth under replacement rider Brandon Lerena deputising for Warren Kennedy who took a horrendous fall in the previous race.

Gavin Van Zyl

Out My Way clipped heels and came down heavily rolling over Kennedy who already has a metal plate in his face, the aftermath of a crashing fall in Port Elizabeth some years back.

According to Van Zyl, Kennedy was out of hospital yesterday and cuts and bruises apart, he was in good spirits although he will be side-lined for a few weeks.

Van Zyl rounded off his weekend treble as the three-year-old Just Vogue continues to show improvement and put a useful field to the sword in an Allowance Plate with the luckless Miss Varlicious back in second.

Van Zyl Jnr-trained Budapest, without a win since his surprise end-to-end victory in the Lanzerac Ready to Run two seasons’ back, finally got his act together in yesterday’s Pinnacle Stakes, showing a commanding turn of foot to put his race to bed in a matter of strides.

A horse with plenty of talent, he aversion to the stating stalls have been a headache for his connections but the fitting of pacifiers for his races appear to have calmed him down and his last three races have been without major incident.

“He’s always been a horse with talent but his own worst enemy,” Van Zyl said. “He can turn it on when he wants to. Going through the 400 it was a case of would he turn it on or not.” He did and replacement rider Alec Forbes did the rest.

Duncan Howells endured a weekend of mixed fortunes. Night At The Proms finally put his maiden behind him on Friday night and Madam Excess in spite of being “three-quarters done” had enough in hand to come back strongly to edge out Florrick in yesterday’s card opener.

Disappointment of the weekend was Dawn Calling in the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas. Piere Strydom, battling a slipped saddle on Final Judgement, was all over the track and Dawn Calling never got to finish her race. “It was a long way to go to have it end like that,” concluded a frustrated Howells.

By Andrew Harrison

First blood to the defending champion. But the challenger and his entourage can hardly wait for the rematch on January 7, let alone the big money title fight three weeks later.

“Marinaresco had a dirty trach wash the previous week, we had to treat him and go a bit easy. Obviously that wasn’t ideal and they went quite hard which didn’t help either,” said Candice Bass-Robinson after her charge had run Legal Eagle to less than half a length in the WSB Green Point Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday. Significantly she added, Queen’s Plate already in mind: “This is a horse who wants to win and that’s half the battle.”

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

Anton Marcus on the winner felt the game was up when Grant van Niekerk came off his tail and threw down the gauntlet in earnest – “I was a bit concerned when I had to go for my horse quite early and in the last half furlong I thought Grant was going to go past me. It’s a testament to my horse’s courage that he stuck his head out but this race proves there is very little between the two of them.”

Sean Tarry, though, made it clear that there will also be more to come from Markus Jooste’s Greys Inn gelding on Queen’s Plate day, saying: “I was a bit cheeky going into it with less work than I would normally do for a race of this stature.”

The third, Captain America, was over four lengths away with his pace-setting stable companion Sail South another three lengths further back but there were valid excuses for some of those down the field. Although the course vet could find nothing wrong Piere Strydom reported that he felt something amiss with Black Arthur (seventh) and Aldo Domeyer said the same about Helderberg Blue (last).

But perhaps the most telling explanation came from Mike Azzie for Triple Crown winner Abashiri who ran on into fifth after trailing the field much of the way. “I nearly took him out after the way he travelled – he didn’t eat for two and a half days. He now goes to Eric Sands’ yard and one of my assistants will come down to prepare him for the Queen’s Plate and the Met.”

Just Sensual (Liesl King)

The Majorca on January 28 looks like being the aim for Just Sensual who got up almost on the line to complete a notable double for Jooste and his retained jockey in the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas, landing some notable punts in the process. She was 16-1 on Thursday and was backed from 10-1 to 11-2 on the day. The Dynasty filly was bred by Majorca sponsors Klawervlei.

“We will probably go for the Majorca rather than the 1 800m of the Paddock Stakes but it’s not cast in stone. I have to discuss plans with Joey Ramsden,” said Derek Brugman who paid tribute to the trainer, saying: “He is something special and we are privileged having him train for us.”

Ramsden, who also won this race with Shadow Dancing 12 years ago, may be the effective first choice of the biggest spender in South African racing but he is certainly delivering the goods and, seemingly, he couldn’t understand why the pundits didn’t share his belief in the winner who has not been beaten since her debut in February – “She is very smart, I thought she was a big runner and I was surprised nobody else really liked her.”

She beat Safe Harbour a neck and, although there was more than three lengths back to third-placed favourite Querari Falcon, the next six were covered by less than a length in what proved to be a very rough race with the stipes spending almost as much time working out who was guilty of what as the Public Protector.

Search Party (Liesl King)

Final Judgement (eighth) was forced to ease and Piere Strydom had to contend with a slipping saddle almost from the start, Dawn Calling (12^th) was hampered three times, Whose That Girl (tenth) was knocked off balance and gamble of the race Quick Brown Fox suffered more than any of them  (Greg Cheyne: “She got her legs taken out from under her”).

World Sports Betting realised they had got it horribly wrong almost as soon as they priced up Search Party at 25-1 last weekend. Punters showed them no mercy all week and the money continued on the day with Delma Sherrell’s gelding going off 7-2 joint favourite. Corne Orffer promptly made all to give Brett Crawford his first Cape Merchants.

Glen Kotzen is targeting the R1 million Kuda Sprint on Met day for Gold Image who led throughout under Richard Fourie in the first two-year-old race of the Cape season. “We pre-trained her for the CTS Ready To Run and I couldn’t see her getting beat,” he related.

By Michael Clower