Some apprentices never ride out their claim in the five years of their apprenticeship but trainers are quick to cotton on to those that are full value for their allowance.

Lyle Hewitson is an example, riding out his claim in record time, but he was more the exception than the rule given his background in the work rider series. Denis Schwarz has a more conventional grounding but in the space of a couple of months has notched 13 winners and is full value for his 4kg claim as his almost full card of rides at Greyville this afternoon bares testimony.

He partners the Doug Campbell-trained Lala in the fourth and although the four-year-old daughter of Visionaire faces a tough task, Schwarz’s claim coupled with a pole position draw could be enough to see her score her fifth career victory.

Schwarz was aboard when Lala made her seasonal debut over the Scottsville mile and racing handy, she kept on gamely to finish third behind Fantasy Lady giving the winner 3kg.

There is the spectre of the second run after a lay-off hanging over her for those that believe but she has a lot going for her this afternoon.

Duncan Howells is at Turffontein overseeing the preparation of Saratoga Dancer and Ten Gun Salute, both runners in the Charity Mile on Saturday, so assistant James Rich will be saddling Crackpot who looks a likely threat to Lala. She has a fair bit of pudding to shoulder but she is in cracking form, winning her last start comfortable over the Scottsville 1950m. She is ideally suited to today’s trip and can go in again under Brandon Lerena.

But this is far from a two-horse race. Mamasita was only run out of it late by Crackpot at her penultimate outing and although she didn’t feature in the Michaelmas Handicap last Friday, this will be her third run after a break so she should strip super fit.

Playboy Buddy won over course and distance last time out but could be held by Crackpot while Anton Marcus take a rare mount for Belinda Impey. Music World doesn’t know how to run a bad race and loves the poly on which surface Marcus is a master.

Punters generally face another difficult card but Newyorkstateofmind could get them through the opening leg of the Pick 6. Sean Tarry’s runner took an age to shed his maiden but he continues to improve and is hunting his third success. He got a small penalty for his last win and has not finished further back than third in five starts on the poly. He has another good draw and can go in again.

Victory Team has shown some promise and caught the eye last time when returning from a break. He has a tricky draw but should be in the shake-up. Aramouse has yet to run a bad race since arriving in KZN and has won over course and distance. He has a difficult draw but must be a runner while Fire The Rocket has a big weight but loves this course.

It often pays to follow the combination of Anthony Delpech and Dean Kannemeyer and Tanjiro will be many pundit’s idea of a Pick 6 banker when he lines up in the Track & Ball Gaming Handicap over 2000m. He was a beaten favourite over course and distance last time out, taking a bump at a crucial stage of the race, and going down a nod-of-the-heads behind Jama. With Born To Rule and possibly Classe Mondiale likely to set a brisk early pace, expect Delpech to pounce over the final furlong.

Andrew Harrison

KENILWORTH TUESDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2016 COMMENTS BY WARREN LENFERNA:

1

Preview: MISS STAKE is seldom far off the action and Sean Veale gets the ride today. She is the firm first choice. GOLD FORCE ran second last time and has an undeniable winning chance here. STOPTHINKINGOFME ran okay on debut and has tons of scope to improve – include in the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 5-2-17)

2

Preview: DANCER has solid form and was narrowly beaten last time. He has the ability and all the credentials to suggest that he can now go one better. CAPE LADDIE has shone since winning his maiden and in this small but competitive race, he has strong each way claims. CANDID won well at only the second time of asking – he must have ability and can improve to run another very good race – big runner. (Warren Lenferna 2-1-3)

3

Preview: CROMPTON COURT showed good improvement last time when tried over the mile – he gets the best draw today and with expected more improvement to come should take a power of beating here. MTOROSHANGA also improved last time but tries the mile for the first time today – if he stays (he should) he will be very competitive. GIMME ONE NIGHT has a place chance. (Warren Lenferna 7-11-1)

4

Preview: PRANCING nearly won last time. She gets the best draw and the mile this afternoon and rates the one they all have to beat. SILVER WILLOW is getting closer with each and every run and has a huge chance here but will have to first overcome a dreadful draw. POSSIBLY ME is the stable mate and is a must for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 12-1-2)

5

Preview: INANNA is well related and surely has to be better than her recent form shows – her last run was good and I am going with her to record her third career win. EVOKE EMOTION is ultra consistent she has either won on run fourth recently and she is one that has to be given serious consideration for the win position. ELUSIVE WAVE has been knocking hard at the door in her last two and maybe the door will open now – I don’t think it can be today but I do expect another bold run from her – include in the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 1-4-6)

6

Preview: MIRANDA FROST is returning from a rest but showed before that, that she was a serious racehorse. She was a beaten favourite last time but can certainly be forgiven for that run – the only thing that we don’t know is the level of her fitness however I am still of the opinion that even not fully fit she should be able to make a winning come back. She is the best bet on the card and I believe will take a ton of beating. ANIME and MISS EINSTEIN have chances for the minor positions. (Warren Lenferna 1-3-6)

7

Preview: ALWAYS IN CHARGE!!!!! What can we say? Won his last two in champion style and his last win was a Group One! He has not run for a while but is still rated as the horse they all have to beat – even if he is not fully fit he should still be able to beat this field. ATTENBOROUGH and ORION QUEST have consistent and solid form and look set to fight out the minor money but they will all have to run some to beat Always In Charge! (Warren Lenferna 2-3-1)

8

Preview: JUST SENSUAL won her maiden at only the second time of asking and she was rather impressive to say the least. She is well bred, looks progressive and with Anton Marcus in the saddle for Mayfair Speculators – a lot points to this horse winning again! REIN TONNERRE has a strong place chance and MIDTOWN MANHATTAN won well last time and could end up being absolutely anything! (Warren Lenferna 3-2-6)

Prized Icon and Glyn Schofield won the $1.5m, Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday to create history for trainer James Cummings in a race won by his grandfather Bart five times and his great-grandfather Jim once back in 1948.

The win was dominant with Schofield presenting Prized Icon, already a Group 1 winner of the ATC Champagne Stakes over 1600m, at the top of the main straight after racing in mid-field down the back straight.

Morvada had led to the 600m at a good clip but he faded as the pressure went on as the field started the long sweep of the turn for the main straight again. Swear and Tommy Berry took over with Sacred Elixir (NZ) and Zac Purton outside. Hollywood Mo and Stephen Baster were next and then Schofield and Prized Icon the widest of all.

They were line abreast until the 300m when Schofield sent Prized Icon forward again. Swear, Sacred Elixer and Hollywood Mo tried to counter, but Prized Icon was gone and off to the line with the margin opening with each stride.

Schofield was able to celebrate at the line on Prized Icon well clear with a margin of 2 1/2L over the $2.80 favourite Sacred Elixir (Pour Moi) and Inference (So You Think) and Dwayne Dunn coming through for third, the margin 1 1/4L.

So Si Bon was fourth with Swear fifth. The time was 2.36.16 on the Good 3 track and the final 600m in 35.66. Prize Icon paid $18.00 on fixed odds and $17.20 on the tote.

“I just had a lovely run throughout the race, but prior to getting into the race we had a few anxious moments to see if we were going to take our spot or not. James and the team made the right decision ultimately and he was pretty dominant today,” said Schofield.

“It all works out brilliantly unless you win. This is a very sweet victory and credit to James and his team for producing the horse in peak performance.

“He caught me a little bit by surprise last week when he did not show any turn of speed around those tight corners. I just said to James to not worry when he gets to the big open track he will show that turn of speed.

“When I go onto the back to Sacred Elixir through the 600/700m and he was starting to make his move I was not really travelling all that well. Until I showed him the outside of the horses and I probably got there a tad too soon as he idled a little when he got in front. But he had a little in the tank.

“With Chad here it has made it extra special,” he said.

“I get a lot of confidence from the fact that my great-grandfather was training horses in 1911, so there is over 100 years of horse racing excellence in the family and that knowledge gives us confidence,” said Cummings.

“Then it wanes and there are times like at Moonee Valley but this man right here (Schofield) gave me confidence to back this horse up. He convinced me that the horse never got enough peace. There were times when we doubted running him, but the thing about these horses is that when you concentrate on your horse and run your own race as they say, it can be rewarding.

“It is no fluke that he is here. It has been out plan for a long time and everyone at Gooree who breed these tough horses that can pull off this sort of race can be very proud of days like today and so they should be,” he said.

Thoroughbrednews.com.au

Picture: Dailytelegraph.com.au

Guide to Tuesday’s Emirates Melbourne Cup 6.20am SAf Time

> Advance wagering opens on Monday October 31.

> Commingled bets: Win, Place, Exacta and Double pools. No Local Pools.

> Telephone betting and online betting will be available from 05:30 Tuesday November 1.

Horse number, horse, trainer, jockey, barrier, weight, comment:

1 BIG ORANGE (GB) Michael Bell Jamie Spencer 7 57.0kg – Fifth last year with 55.5kg he must carry the additional weight this year and improve four places. The distance is not a problem as he comes off a victory of the 3219m of the Group 2 Goodwood Cup on July 28^th. $16 in the market is fair.

2 OUR IVANHOWE (GER) Lee and Anthony Freedman Dwayne Dunn 6 57.0kg – Not disgraced in 2015 Melbourne Cup after a good third in the Caulfield Cup. Not going as well this time around and does not look to be one of the main chances here.

3 CURREN MIROTIC (JPN) Osamu Hirata 18 56.5kg – Second on the Group 1 Tenno Sho Spring over 3200m at Kyoto in May but two uninspiring runs over 2200 since. Has not won in three years.

4 BONDI BEACH (IRE) Aidan O’Brien Ryan Moore 5 56.0kg – Disappointed in last year’s Melbourne Cup after some strong runs in Europe. Returns with equally good form again. Is well in the market, so there is confidence around that he can improve at his second crack at the big one.

5 EXOSPHERIC (GB) Lee and Anthony Freedman Damien Oliver 13 56.0kg – Third in the Caulfield Cup over 2400m, 3 3/4L from Jameka. Oliver and the Freedman’s have won eight Melbourne Cups between them but Exospheric has not run the distance which just may prevent a ninth win.

6 HARTNELL (GB) John O’Shea James McDonald 12 56.0kg – Many believed he was equal or superior to Winx leading into the Cox Plate. That may seem fanciful now but it is impossible to ignore his form this preparation. He was dominant against Jameka in the Turnbull Stakes before Jameka went on to easily win the Caulfield Cup. A deserved favourite who is a big chance of giving Godolphin their first Melbourne Cup.

7 WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) Chris Waller Hugh Bowman 20 56.0kg – Leading trainer and jockey combination and second to stablemate Grand Marshall (GB) in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup over 2500m. That is the problem now that he is finding it hard to win.

8 WICKLOW BRAVE (GB) Willie Mullins Frankie Dettori 24 56.0kg – European form has been solid for most of this year before impressive Irish St Leger win. That form should stack up well here. Will be no surprise to see him in the thick of things on Tuesday afternoon if he can get a decent run from the draw.

9 ALMOONQITH (USA) David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig Michael Walker 19 54.5kg – Trained specifically for this race and his fourth in the Caulfield Cup had the fastest closing sectionals of the race. He was 13^th at the 400m and was 4 1/4L from the winner at the line still closing very quickly. The current odds of $26 and $7.25 need close examination.

10 GALLANTE (IRE) Robert Hickmott Blake Shinn 2 54.5kg – Sydney Cup winner who disappointed in the Moonee Valley Cup last time out. Can obviously stay but recent form doesn’t stack up.

11 GRAND MARSHALL (GB) Chris Waller Ben Melham 9 54.5kg – Finally returned to form with the Moonee Valley Gold Cup win. Has won over the distance, drops in weight for this but he would need to maintain that Valley form and then lift again.

12 JAMEKA (AUS) Ciaron Maher 3 54.5kg – Last year’s Crown Oaks winner who is relishing spring racing once again. Was dominant in the Caulfield Cup after a strong second to Hartnell in the Turnbull Stakes. Has been near the top of the market for a while now and there are no reasons for punters to shy away from her at this point.

13 HEARTBREAK CITY (FR) Tony Martin Joao Moreira 23 54kg – Irish hurdler who won the Ebor Handicap over 2816m at York on August 20^th. Will run the distance but is there a turn of foot for Flemington. The market is keeping safe but while he will not be stopping there might be others in front.

14 SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD (IRE) John Thompson Blake Spriggs 14 54.0kg – Impressive winner of The Metropolitan in Sydney before offering little in the Caulfield Cup last time out. Not sure if the Sydney staying form stacks up here. Others look more likely here.

15 EXCESS KNOWLEDGE (GB) Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Vlad Duric 21 54.5kg – Finished fourth in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup over 4L from the winner and does not look likely to improve on that.

16 BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE (GB) Saeed bin Suroor Damien Lane 1 52.5kg – Handy Godolphin mare who has done little wrong in 10 starts in Europe. Distance is a query but looks to have ability and may be worth considering for multiples.

17 ALMANDIN (GER) Robert Hickmott Kerrin McEvoy17 52.0kg – Coming off very good form including winning the Group 3 Bart Cummings over 2500m back on October 2^nd , which seems an age away, with 55kg. Drops 3kg, add the Carnival’s in-form jockey Kerrin McEvoy and this might be another William owned winner

18 ASSIGN (IRE) Robert Hickmott Katelyn Mallyon 22 52.0kg – Won the Group 2 Herbert Power a month ago. Hard to see that form stacking up. Barrier 22 could be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

19 GREY LION (IRE) Matt Cumani Glen Boss 16 52.0kg – Had the length of the Geelong straight to pass Qewy and could not manage it and the market says $31.00 as a result.

20 OCEANOGRAPHER (GB) Charlie Appleby Chad Schofield 11 51.0kg – Godolphin runner who was unlucky in the Group 2 Geelong Cup before a barnstorming come-from-behind win in the Lexus Stakes on Derby Day that confirmed his spot in the field. That win saw him move into second favourite. If he backs up well he will be in the thick of things.

21 SECRET NUMBER (GB) Saeed bin Suroor Stephen Baster 10 52kg – Last year he was second in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2600m at Flemington and has raced just once since to win the listed Doonside Cup over 2012m at Ayr.

22 PENTATHLON (NZ) John Wheeler Mark Du Plessis 4 51.5kg – Placed in the Moonee Valley Cup and has placed over 3200m before in New Zealand but disappointed in the Lexus and looks unlikely to threaten.

23 QEWY (IRE) Charlie Appleby Craig Williams 15 51.5kg – Stamina is not the issue here and the hurdler/galloper will keep on rolling for the entire distance. If he is allowed to do just that the field should not allow him to establish a break as he will not stop and he will not notice the weight. Keep in multiples.

24 ROSE OF VIRGINIA (NZ) Lee and Shannon Hope Ben Thompson 8 51.0kg – Could not go with them when things got going in the Lexus on Saturday. Was second in the 3200m Auckland Cup in March and will need to find that form again to be any chance here.

Selections from the ThoroughbredNEWS News team:

Wow! What a racehorse. And after Saturday’s demolition job Table Bay could attempt to become the first three-year-old to win the Met since Horse Chestnut and Badger’s Coast 17 years ago.

“It’s the Guineas next and then we will play around with a few ideas – whether we go for the Derby or the Met,” said Markus Jooste’s racing manager Derek Brugman. “At this point in time we will probably lean towards the side of caution but it’s not inconceivable that we will lean towards the Met.”

For a Grand Parade Cape Guineas winner, and that’s what Table Bay now looks like, the Investec Cape Derby is just an  ordinary Grade 1 whereas the Met has huge stallion value-enhancing potential – not to mention a R5 million stake thanks to Sun International’s sponsorship.

In truth, Table Bay’s Drakenstein Vet Clinic performance was that of a champion. Giving weight all round – including a staggering 5kg to half the field – the 3-1 chance went clear two furlongs out to draw further and further away. He won easing up by four lengths.

“I knew he was good but I’m shocked by the way he won this. It was mind-blowing,” said Brugman while Joey Ramsden (“a lovely laid-back horse and a smashing sort”) will surely have nightmares about how close he came to missing the colt in Melbourne. It will be a long time before he travels without an alarm clock.

“Of course I was impressed,” said Anton Marcus answering the obvious before disclosing that he would have had little hesitation in leading from the start. “It was always my intention to move him up [the field] a bit and it wouldn’t have been a train smash if he had led.”

This was the third time in four years that the Cape Classic has gone to the same owner-trainer-jockey combination but Riaan van Reenen is already planning to resume rivalry on December 17 with 18-1 runner-up Elevated.

He said: “Every time Elevated runs it looks as if the distance is too short for him but we will miss the Selangor and go straight to the Guineas. He was a late foal (December 9) and I don’t want to over-race him.”

But Edict Of Nantes will run in the Selangor a fortnight on Saturday with Brett Crawford hoping for more of a trouble-free run – “He had to check twice yet he still got up to come third.”

The mile race is also next for 18-10 favourite Our Mate Art who took fourth. “He should have finished better but he was constantly off the bridle,” said Candice Bass-Robinson. “He missed the break, got a bump and Grant had to keep chasing him up.”

Stable companion Marinaresco, though, was a different story in the Drakenstein Stud Pinnacle just over an hour later. It was almost as if the Champions Cup winner had been watching Table Bay and set out to show the younger horse just what he will be up against should he have the audacity to throw down the gauntlet on January 28.

Six furlongs was far too short and for five of them he was stone last. When Van Niekerk finally switched on the turbocharger (“I gave him just one backhander, and a soft one at that”) his mount accelerated like a Ferrari and at the line he was a rapidly-diminishing third to Silicone Valley.

“That was a nice come-on run,” said his trainer with the sort of masterly understatement you expect from her father. “Marinaresco now goes for the Green Point on December 3 and then it’s the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Met.”

Ektifaa, Australian-bred and out of a mare by Table Bay’s sire Redoute’s Choice, gave Mike de Kock his first Choice Carriers Championship since Phillipa Johnson 13 years ago and seems sure to take her chance in the WSB Fillies Guineas on December 3. “Most probably – we came down on Tuesday and we are here for three months,” said long-time assistant Natie Kotzen.

It was the biggest Cape Town win so far for Callan Murray who reported: “She made a bit of a hash-up of the start, rearing shortly before the gates opened. Fortunately she broke well, got into a beautiful position and dug down to the line.”

But 5-2 favourite Sail is likely to be backed to reverse the placings on December 3. She was desperately unlucky and finished like the proverbial train to go under by three parts of a length.

“One of the Bass runners carried me out after being pushed wide by Red Light Girl jumping a shadow,” reported Sean Veale. “I will take on the winner again in the Fillies Guineas and over the longer run-in you will see a different result.”

The Secret Is Out lost her unbeaten record, managing only seventh, but Vaughan Marshall was far from disheartened, reasoning: “I thought it was a good run considering she got baulked leaving the gates. She was bumped by a horse on her inside coming out.”

Gavin Lerena was suspended for a week for interference when winning the Highlands Stud Handicap on Captain Courteous while the latter’s stable companion Le Harve lost his stalls cert for rearing in the pens, breaking through and delaying the Cape Classic.

Michael Clower

Gareth van Zyl, son of former top jockey and now successful trainer Gavin, made a dream start to his career as a licensed trainer at Greyville on Friday night when sending out a winner with his first  runner. He later capped it by winning the first feature he had contested, the Listed Jonsson Workwear Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m, with the four-year-old Captain Al gelding Celtic Captain.

Both of the winners were for popular KZN owner Brian “Buffalo Bill” Burnard, who has thrown his support behind Gareth’s venture.

Celtic Captain was allowed to go off at generous odds of 10/1, considering he had finished just 2,3 lengths back in the Gr 2 Canon Guineas and was now running off just a 98 merit rating. He had always looked likely to enjoy this trip.  Furthermore, he jumped from a plum draw of three.

Stable jockey Warren Kennedy had him perfectly positioned on the rail within striking distance. The tall bay made up the ground easily and then quickened well. He held on to win by 0,5 lengths from the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Ashton Park.

Earlier, Gareth’s licensed career had started on a high note when the three-year-old Noordhoek Flyer filly Northern Storm had finished strongly to win a qualified maiden over 1000m under Anton Marcus.

Gareth is deeply grateful to both his father and prolific owner Brian Burnard for the opportunity he has been given.

Gavin decided to consolidate his training operation last year. He suggested Gareth dedicate himself to training the powerful Burnard string. At the same time Gavin would focus exclusively on the other horses in the yard.

Brian was agreeable and he and Gareth had immediate success together. They combined to win the R2,5 million Lanzerac ready To Run Stakes with the Lithuanian gelding Budapest at Kenilworth in November last year.

Later, Burnard’s stalwart Kahal gelding No Worries reclaimed the KZN Breeders Million Mile crown which he had won two years earlier.

Gavin initially encouraged Gareth to pursue a career outside of racing. However, the lure of the sport eventually proved too strong.    “I was obsessed with racing right from the beginning,” he admitted.

As kids he and his younger brother Chesney supported their father at both the track and the races as often as possible. They also became famous for racing each other through the sugar cane fields and on the Summerveld tracks on the ex-racehorses the family kept on their small holding. The youngsters cared for these horses themselves.

After completing matric, Gareth worked in the Tony Rivalland stable for about six months. Chesney was already in the game by then. He had proven to be a gifted farrier and later became caretaker trainer of the Van Zyl satellite yard in Johannesburg, a role he still fills with aplomb. Chesney  does all the farriery work for this yard too.

Meanwhile, Gareth had left to do missionary work in Uganda. He is, like his father, a devout man of God. Upon returning, he completed the first year of a B-Comm degree, and later worked as a sales representative and insurance broker.

It was to no avail and in 2009 Gavin succumbed to his son’s wishes and appointed him Summerveld assistant trainer. Gareth said, “In this game you never stop learning. Working with my Dad was a good learning experience and in due time everything came together.”

He had also absorbed some vital principles of training during a short learning stint in 2009 with Mike Azzie, a man he still regards as a friend and mentor.

Two or three years ago Gareth was hosted in the USA for a short period by James Bond, who has trained seven individual Gr 1 winners to date. On the same trip he spent time with veterinarian and consummate horseman Dr. Pug Hart. Both visits were organised by Kip Elser of Kirkwood Stables in the USA, a regular buyer at South African sales.

Gareth plans to travels overseas again. He said, “The science of training and horse care is constantly advancing and the first world countries are the leaders. It is important to keep up to date.”

He will continue to train exclusively for Burnard, although the latter has brought one or two of his friends and relatives in to the yard as well.

Gavin and Brian’s joint buying strategy will likely continue unabated, considering the success they have enjoyed at the sales. Gavin is only too happy to see his son reap the dividends.

Gareth named No Worries and Redcarpert Captain as the kingpins of his string last week and Celtic Captain has likely now joined them.

He also has a potentially powerful team of two-year-olds, which include four Australian-bred colts as well as SA-bred progeny of the like of Captain Al, Oratorio, Pathfork and Querari.

He still has hope for a few of his three-year-olds too, including Onesie, Captain At Sea and Venice In May.

Gareth enjoys “a very good” relationship with Chesney. Consequently, No Worries will travel up to the Highveld for the Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile next week and will then stay at Chesney’s Turffontein yard until the Sansui Summer Cup.

Jessica von Niebel has been with the Van Zyls at Summerveld for six years and now becomes Gareth’s official assistant trainer. “She is the backbone of the yard,” said Gareth.

Gavin will continue to train under his own license, but will remain Gareth’s biggest mentor.

It remains to be seen how the race day publications will separate the pair as they both have the same initials, “”GH”.

Gareth reflected on the moment he attained his own license, “It was exciting but also intimidating as I don’t know what future racing holds. But when seeing my name among the other trainers I felt honoured.”

He concluded, “My number one goal is to take horses overseas to run and I hope there will soon be changes in the export protocols to allow for such a possibility.”

David Thiselton

Mauritius Pronostic previews Champ De Mars Saturday Oct 29:

R1           [3] Vigilante [2] Joe’s Legacy [1] EkTha Tiger

R2           [3] Valerin [4] Beluga [1] Burg

R3           [1] Adi Star [3] Lord Al [9] Count Emmanuale

R4           [5] Elite Class [2] Moothadee [4] Sir Earl Grey

R5           [3] Scotsnog [6] Lucky Valentine [4] Door of Deception

R6           [3] Kremlin Captain [1] Charles Lytton [2] One Coold dude

R7           [2] In your dreams [1] Rebel’s Game [11] Chester Wish

R8           [5] Triad of Fortune [1] Melson [8] Var’s Dream

Anton Marcus, Joey Ramsden and Markus Jooste bid to win the Drakenstein Vet Clinic Cape Classic for the third time in four years at Kenilworth tomorrow and Table Bay is a class act.

He has still to prove that he is in the same league as Red Ray and Act Of War but he is officially the best horse in the race. True, he has a huge task at the weights but the just-as-relevant question is whether he is fit enough.

He wasn’t at Durbanville four weeks ago and that has been the story with many of the stable’s other runners this term.

“We didn’t bustle them after their injections but now I have got the horses where I want them,” says Ramsden who was also hindered by one of his treadmills going wrong (it has since been repaired at considerable cost).

“Table Bay has a hell of a tough task but he has come on an awful lot since that Durbanville run.”

Just how tough a task can be gauged from Our Mate Art who was only a head behind in the Langerman and is now 3kg better. But he too ran below expectations on his return, admittedly over a distance too short for him. He has 2.5kg in hand on adjusted merit ratings but all his running so far has suggested that even this 1 400m could be on the short side.

“Possibly,” says Candice Bass-Robinson.

“But he needed that first run back, he will be better over this trip and he has come on.”

Our Mate Art (left)Table Bay (right) Liesl King

Elevated will be a big price for a horse who comes out second best on adjusted ratings. “He wasn’t quite ready in his last two runs but now he is fit,” enthuses Riaan van Reenen.  “We will give them a go.”

Donovan Dillon’s mount has been declared to run without shoes. Zola Budd got away with it but this is a racehorse up against class opposition and it’s hardly a plus.

Le Harve has to prove he can get this trip and Edict Of Nantes, despite winning his last three, still has something to find. Table Bay should be able to give him a kilo.

The Secret Is Out puts her unbeaten record on the line in the Choice Carriers Championship, a race her trainer won with the filly’s full sister All Is Secret four years ago, but she has to give weight to everything. Vaughan Marshall , reporting that her prep has gone well, adds: “I’m not worried about the weight – it’s just the draw.”

MJ Byleveld could have his work cut out from pen 12 although his mount is the forecast favourite and favourites have won five of the last six runnings.

Final Judgement, rated the equal of The Secret Is Out, significantly receives a kilo and has a much better draw.

However it is Sail who gets a tentative vote. She was beaten barely a length when third in both the two top Greyville two-year-old fillies races and Dennis Drier says that she is in good shape, has had a gallop on the course and will not be in need of the run.

But the biggest name of the lot runs without any black type or potential stud value in the Drakenstein Pinnacle. This is the first outing of the season for Marinaresco, winner of the Champions Cup and second in the July. “This is a gallop,” says his trainer.

“We have decided to go 1 200m, a mile and a mile rather than 1 400m and then a mile. The sprint will bring him on.”

Michael Clower

The Vaal Inside track stages a low key ten race meeting tomorrow and low draws will be favourable in all races.

The highest rated race on the card is a MR 80 Handicap over 1 000m. Roquebrune was disappointing in a Novice Plate over 1 200m last time, but has plenty of early pace so will appreciate the step down in trip.

Considering he finished just one length behind the top class Rivarine in a Graduation Plate the last time he tried 1 000m, he looks well handicapped here off just a 75 merit rating. He is drawn towards the favourable inside so should go close.

However, he is unlikely to find the rail as the speedy Just Africa is drawn one inside of him. This horse is a 1 000m specialist. The draw will help but against him will be the little bit of rain which is about. He seems to prefer the ground to be as fast as possible. Furthermore, he is seven points higher than his last win.

All Night Flight beat Just Africa by 3,7 lengths last time and as he is only 3kg worse off, so he should confirm the form.

Magic is returning from a layoff which followed a run in June where he went lame and was eased out of the race. On ability he will be a big factor. Furthermore, he has the plum draw of one. Considering the speed among the low draws, the race should set up well for him too. Kapitan has dropped to a mark eleven points lower than his last win.

His early pace can help him overcome a high draw and he might appreciate the step down in trip. He was found to have been not striding out in his last two starts, so should be inspected closely on the way down, because if he is sound he could be a runner here.

Roquebrune is selected to beat All Night Flight, Just Africa, Magic and Kapitan in that order.

The banker on the card is Charming Charlie in the first leg of the Pick 6. He set the pace over 1 800m last time and went a decent clip without over racing. He was outrun in the straight by Okavango Delta, but was not stopping at the line, so should enjoy the step up in trip. Furthermore, he is a full-brother to Duchess Kate, whose two career wins have both been over 2 000m.

A further plus is that Star Of Caesour, whom he beat by six lengths in that last race, has since come out and won by 4,8 lengths over 2 000m.

Charming Charlie has a fair draw of seven and Muzi Yeni is an able substitute for Anton Marcus. On the downside, he faces a weak field and is likely to be short in the betting.

The one who makes most appeal for the exacta is Stool Pigeon. He stayed on over 1 600m last time to finish eleven lengths behind a promising sort and on both visual and pedigree evidence he should relish the step up to 2 000m. He is by Call To Combat, who won over 1 950m, out of a Scuffleberg mare who won over 2 000m.

Punters should get off to a good start with Ebony Knight in race one, a Maiden over 1 200m. He showed good speed over 1 200m last time and just failed. He now has a fair draw of five.

As a four-year-old he has a 4,5kg weight for age advantage over the biggest threat Plum British. The latter is speedy and has been backed in both of his starts. He started slowly on debut, but jumped well in his second start over 1 000m. He then stayed on well for second, suggesting he would handle the step up to 1 200m. Furthermore, he has a plum draw of two.

An interesting runner here is Kings Landing, who could represent good place value. In his penultimate start over 1 200m, he stayed on in eye catching style from a hopeless position.

In his next start over 1 450m he moved up in eye catching style, but was then run out of the places late, suggesting he would appreciate a return to 1 200m. He now has a plum draw, so should be within striking distance when starting his finishing effort.

The selection for race three, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 2 000m, is Fish River Canyon. She faced a promising sort last time over 1 600m and was beaten 6,75 lengths into second. She should enjoy the step up in trip and is preferred to the other form horse in the race, Hallucination. The latter probably has more ability but over raced in a 1600m race last time and duly found little extra. Therefore, a step up in trip does not augur well.

An interesting runner on the day is Consequentially, who runs in the fifth race, a MR 73 Handicap for fillies and mares over 2 000m. She had caught the eye last season in the strong centre of Cape Town. Being a well bred filly by Silvano, significant progress could have been expected this season as a four-year-old.

She duly won her maiden, but ran moderately in her next two starts. However, the disappointment was put to bed last time out when blinkers were applied in a 2 000m fillies and mares handicap. She swept past the opposition and won full of running by six lengths. She was given the maximum raise of eight points.

She is likely running off a capped merit rating and can win again over the same trip from a fair draw with the blinkers staying on.

David Thiselton