The Vaal Inside track has an eight race meeting on Tuesday where the exotic dividends should be handsome as the racing is competitive.

The low draws tend to be favourable on this track.

The highest merit rated race on the card is a MR 104 Handicap over 1800m. It is difficult to assess as a lot of the contestants are returning from layoffs and are probably using this race as a preparation for bigger events. On Saturday at Turffontein an event which was probably similarly being used as a preparation, by some big gun females, saw a 25/1 winner who was hopelessly out at the weights on official merit ratings. So to be safe in this race, exotic punters would likely have to include the entire field.

The class horse in the race is last year’s Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup winner Master Sabina. However, last year he had a preparation comeback race at roundabout the same time as this over this same distance and could only manage fifth. He is better drawn this time and the field looks weaker. He has also dropped back to the merit rating of his Summer Cup win.

However, he could need it again and is tipped to finish second behind Bankable Teddy. The latter has a plum draw over a suitable trip and is off a competitive merit rating. He is the most race fit of all the runners and the Bankables appear to improve with age. Of the rest, the best has likely not been seen yet of Master Switch and he could prove to be one to follow for the season. He returns from a layoff over a suitable trip, but has a wide draw. However, his class could pull him through into the trifecta.

The best bet on the card could be The Stone Thrower, who runs in the fifth race, a Novice Plate over 1200m. Weichong Marwing rides. The four-year-old Seventh Rock gelding is 6kg out at the weights with Samurai Blade on official merit ratings. However, he is the second best weighted horse and unlike Samurai Blade, who needs considerably further, is distance suited.

In his penultimate start The Stone Thrower moved up well over this distance before appearing to run out of steam, suggesting he needed it. He did not have the best of draws that day either. Last time out on Grand Heritage day he had a tough draw again, so did well to finish fifth in a competitive handicap over this trip. He is now having his third run on the Highveld and has a plum draw. Danza, who was often seen to be headstrong over trips further than sprints, duly enjoyed the 1200m trip last time and has good credentials. However, he is officially 2,5kg under sufferance with The Stone Thrower and has a tough draw by trends.

The Australian-bred Aussie Austin hasn’t run since February and is officially 2,5kg under sufferance with The Stone Thrower. However, he is still an unknown quantity having been touched off by the classy Rivarine over 1000m on debut and then coasting in by three lengths in his next start over 1000m. He jumps from a tricky draw of five but could spoil the party. Sporting Monarch is another talented three-year-old making his seasonal reappearance. He would not be a shock winner, despite also being 2,5kg under sufferance with The Stone Thrower. He has plenty of speed and jumps from pole position draw over a trip he won his maiden over comfortably.

Another runner who makes appeal on the day is the three-year-old Alpine Glacier in the last race over 1000m, a MR 68 Handicap. This horse is a full-brother to the talented Valberg and has a lot of natural speed. He jumps from a good draw and is likely to progress beyond his 77 merit rating, so could hold too many guns.

In race two, a MR 86 Handicap over 1400m, Nephrite could prove to be good value. He has not had draws, weights or distance in his favour this season. However, he has now come down the merit ratings, is ideally distance suited and has a plum draw.

In race three, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1400m, Rouge Allure looks a solid form choice, but does have a tricky draw to overcome.

David Thiselton

Kumaran Naidoo brings out the former Aiden O’Brien and Paul Lafferty-trained Royal Navy Ship for his South African debut at Scottsville tomorrow.

However, this is a run he will need ahead of his intended engagement in the Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile on November 5. He arrived in Naidoo’s yard at the beginning of August and was “quite big” at the time and was also carrying a winter coat.

Tomorrow he contests a MR 95 handicap over 1200m with 1,5kg claimer Erico Saziso Ngwane aboard. He is currently “doing well”, but is still “on the big side”, so the run over too short a distance is intended to bring him on.

Naidoo has given him one grass gallop at Summerveld to date and said he had done “quite well.” He described him as having a “lovely action” and a “nice temperament for a colt.” However, he added he would ideally need 2000 metres.

Royal Navy Ship was born on February 8 2012, so is in reality a four-year-old, but in South Africa he has been registered as a five-year-old due to the official August 1 birthday for all horses.

The USA-bred War Front colt was bought out of the Aiden O’Brien yard by leading KZN owner Roy Moodley last year and was campaigned by Paul Lafferty in Dubai. He did not appear to enjoy it out there and ran unplaced in one start on the dirt over a mile and unplaced in two starts on the turf over nine furlongs and ten furlongs respectively.

However, he did earn a cheque for fifth place in the ten furlong handicap event and was only 1,5 lengths behind the Gr 1-winning former South African horse, Slumdogmillionaire, from whom he was receiving only three pounds.

His only career win came on debut in October 2014 where he beat 21 other two-year-olds over seven furlongs at the Curragh in yielding conditions. He completed his two-year-old season by finishing second in a four-runner Gr 3 event over seven furlongs at Leopardstown at odds of 1/6.

When bought out of O’Brien’s yard, after four runs as a three-year-old, he had an official rating of 102. However, he has now slipped down to 94, so will likely need a bit of luck to get into the Charity Mile where he has a plum draw of five out of 38 entries.

Naidoo and Moodley combined to win the Charity Mile in 2013 with Royal Zulu Warrior.

David Thiselton

The brilliant staying hurdler Thistlecrack will make his much anticipated chase debut at Chepstow today.

The Colin Tizzard-trained eight-year-old possesses a phenomenal engine and few before him have been as impressive in staying hurdles events.

If everything goes according to plan this season, he will attempt in March to become the second novice in three years to win the world’s most prestigious chase, the Gr 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

A novice had not won the Gold Cup for 40 years before Coneygree did it in 2015.

Unsuitably quick ground forced Tizzard to scrap his original plan to launch the reigning World Hurdle champ over fences early this month.

His participation today was also in question.

Tizzard said midway through last week, “If the ground is right we are going to go. He schooled again today and he is ready to go, but who knows what the ground is going to be like? If that doesn’t work out, he will have an entry at Wetherby.”

Thistlecrack has duly been declared with his regular pilot Tom Scudamore aboard. The rain which fell in Chepstow recently would have helped, although the ground remains good. Thistlecrack won all five races last season, including three in Gr 1 company.

The race, a Novices’ Chase over 2 miles-7 furlongs-and-131 yards, takes place at 4.35pm South African time today and will be aired on Tellytrack.

David Thiselton

Alec Laird’s Facebook page confirmed today (Oct 24) that 2016 Met winner Smart Call will not feature at the 2016 Breeders’ Cup (Nov 4-5).

“We regret to update that Smart Call will no longer be taking part in the Breeders’ Cup.  Unfortunately she has not had enough time to heal properly. The original injury has shown signs of flaring up again and it’s apparent she hasn’t had enough time for the muscle/ligaments to heal. The California dream is therefore on hold. She will recuperate through the winter with the plan to target some races next year. If all goes well next year, then we will once again consider the Breeders’ Cup.”

Richard Fourie returns at Kenilworth on Wednesday, a fortnight after that crashing fall on the ill-fated Rock Stewart at Durbanville, but he is no longer first-choice jockey for Justin Snaith.

The all-powerful Snaith Racing team has provided the 30-year-old with 27 of the 32 winners he has ridden this season but he is down to ride only one of the 43 horses it has either declared or provisionally declared from Wednesday to Sunday.

Fourie has made no secret of his wish to pick and choose his rides ever since he cut short his Hong Kong contract earlier in the year while the huge Snaith operation obviously needs to have first call on a top jockey. Its blistering form has been the glue that has kept the two together this term but apparently Fourie’s decision to ride the Mike Robinson-trained Smokey Affair in Saturday’s Choice Carriers Championship instead of any of the Snaith three has broken the bond.

Richard Fourie (Liesl King)

Justin Snaith said on Saturday: “We will be using jockeys from up-country on certain days,” before adding: “If we have a horse that we think will suit Richard then he will ride it.”

Fourie added yesterday: “Yes, it’s very much like that. I am making a comeback slowly and at this stage I am [riding freelance].”

S’Manga Khumalo gets the call on Wednesday and Gavin Lerena on Saturday while at Kenilworth on Saturday last Raymond Danielson came down to partner two of Snaith’s five winners.

In the Choice Carriers, incidentally, the unbeaten The Secret Is Out (MJ Byleveld) heads the 15 declared despite concerns about her 12 draw and Vaughan Marshall said: “At this stage she is running.” Anton Marcus flies down to partner Table Bay in the Drakenstein Vet Clinic Cape Classic in a bid to win the race for Joey Ramsden for the third time in four years.

Jockeys, though, are not Snaith’s only problem at the moment. “There are no races for some of my horses,” he complained after Jo’s Bond’s all-the-way-romp under Craig Bantam in the 1 000m Conditions Plate. “She has been ready for the past two months but there was nothing for her and nor is there a race for the likes of Bela-Bela at the moment.”

Justin Snaith

But there are for Ovidio who won the Woolavington Handicap for the second successive year, despite drifting from 5-2 to 9-2. The top weight looked like being worn down by stable companion Francia just inside the final furlong but Jane and Ken Truter’s six-year-old answered Aldo Domeyer’s every call to hold on by half a length.

Snaith said: “Ovidio is such a game and genuine horse that he deserves everything he gets and, you never know, he might end up in the Sun Met.”

Seemingly another crack at what was the J & B Stayers makes less appeal – “That’s what did for him in the Gold Cup. Going into the Stayers he was on 93 and winning it made him 105.”

Fred Crabbia’s African Night Sky is on the list for one of the two CTS $500,000 races after making it two out of two with a most convincing win in the Racing Association Handicap with Craig du Plooy declaring: “This horse is something special. He has a phenomenal action and he turns it on like you can’t believe.”

The stable also supplied five favourites but Harakiri in the last was found to be coughing after only managing third to MJ Byleveld and Adam Marcus’s Boomtown Belter in the last. The winner drifted from 13-1 to 28-1 and, by curious coincidence, so did the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Star Of Joseph (Grant Behr) in race two.

Sean Veale got on the score sheet when leading throughout on the Brett Crawford-trained Winter Prince in the 1 400m handicap and staving off Danielson on Star Chestnut by the minimum margin.

Darryl Hodgson, so long kept at base with leg problems, was moving with all his old fluency thanks to new shoe implants and he had even more of a spring in his step after Grant van Niekerk kept Hassen Adams’ Royal Ginger going to land the 2 000m maiden.

Michael Clower

Scottsville Sunday Oct 22 Race Previews by Andrew Harrison

1

Preview: RAW COURAGE failed narrowly at his second outing. The form has been franked and a repeat showing will see him go close.  You could write your own ticket about SEATTLE SKYLINE on debut but he finished a close-up third. He should have benefitted from that outing and rates a strong chance. RAND HEDGE has disappointed too many times to be relied on but he has always been close-up and will crack it soon. GUNPOWDER PLOT raced very green on debut and looks set to improve. ROY’S STORMER made a promising debut and with a four-claimer up can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 14-16-4-11).

2

Preview: Tricky. STARWIN improved nicely at her second outing when tried in cheek pieces. Delpech rides and she can go one better. BEAU VAR has shown consistent form and has some ability. Marcus rides for the first time and can get her home. HALLOWED SPRING was a distant third on debut but should come on strongly from that effort and any market support could be significant. AMADORA caught the eye on debut. She has a tricky outside draw but is another who can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 15-3-11-7).

3

Preview: OLE GUNNAR has some good form in useful company. He takes a big drop in class and a claiming apprentice will ease his weight problems. He rates the one to beat. RIKITIKITANA has his third run after a break. He had a tough task from a wide draw on the poly last start and can do better here. FANTASY ART has had two good warm-up runs since returning from a break and his form has been consistent. UNBELIEVABLE CHAD has been a touch disappointing but this is his third run after being gelded and on his best form can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-6-3).

4

Preview: ROY’S PAST has been up against stronger maiden fields than this and will never get a better chance to win. COURAGEOUS KING is much better than his last two on the poly and at best rates a strong chance in this company. PORTMAN SQUARE is struggling but has done well over this trip. He has a wide draw to contend with. ROY’S EAGLE steps up in trip. He did show some improvement last run after returning from a break and could surprise. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-3 -14).

5

Preview: ENIGHTENMENT was left with too much to do when sent out favourite last time out. She had smart form before that and rates a strong chance. INGA shed her maiden at third time of asking and looks to have some scope. She races in blinkers for the first time. DANCE CITY QUEEN needed her last run, her first in blinkers. She will prefer the extra. CHARISMA has had one sprint on the poly since arriving from the Cape. She will much prefer this trip and is one to watch in the betting. (Andrew Harrison: 2-6-1-3).

6

Preview: Difficult. ALL TRUE MAN has improved in blinkers and is in good form.  ROY’S MARCIANO has his third run after a break. He improved nicely last start and meets a weak field. SKYFIRE is taking on males but has taken a big drop in the ratings. With Tajesh Juglall taking four kgs off her back she should be competitive. CAPTAIN ELLIO has some fair Highveld form. He is lightly raced but is likely to feature strongly here. RISKY ROSCO has not been far back at recent outings and can surprise on his best effort. (Andrew Harrison: 6-5-4-2).

7

Preview: EXECUTIVE POWER seldom runs a bad race and was not disgraced in a useful field last time out and that form has since been franked. BUDAPEST showed up well first up from a lengthy break. At best he will go very close. HIGHWAY EXPLORER has been knocking at the door for some time now. He has a handy weight and with Delpech up is a likely winner. PIANO MAN loves this course and is especially effective if the ground comes up soft. JUST ASK ME has put up two smart recent efforts on the poly and now switches to the turf. (Andrew Harrison: 5-9-8-4).

8

Preview: A WOMANS WAY won a Gr2 at second time of asking. She was arguably desperately unlucky at her last start against much stronger than she meets today and should take a power of beating. ISINGAMOYA has a big weight but also a touch of class. She shed her maiden ove course and distance and is a big runner.  RESPECT AT BAY is never far back and has useful form over course and distance. She looks the most likely danger. DEEP DOWN REBEL has come good in blinkers but takes a rise in class here but can still place. (Andrew Harrison: 6-1-8-7).

9

Preview: Difficult in a poor field. MILLRACE has been consistent and with Marcus replacing a four-claiming apprentice he must have a decent chance in this company. WESKUS KLONG was not too far back in his local debut and can improve on that effort. BLUNDERBUSS took on stronger last start and appears to have found some form. The blinkers are back on. CHILL is never far back and has a big chance in a race of this nature. SEMONKONG did not feature against stronger last outing even with a light weight but can do better here. (Andrew Harrison: 6-4-5-2).

First timer comments: Turffontein and Kenilworth Saturday

Turffontein

DAVID NIEUWENHUIZEN:

Race 1 – HWAY THE LADS (8): I was hoping for this horse to debut over shorter but the race programme did not suit – I hope that 2000m is not going to be too far but in saying all of that, I am expecting this horse to be very green today.

MATTHEW DE KOCK ON BEHALF OF MIKE DE KOCK:

Race 4 – UNREHEARSED (10): He is showing me nice work at home but my small concern is horses sometimes tend to be greener when going this distance at this track on debut – however, if he is not too green, I am expecting a big run!

GRANT MAROUN:

Race 4 – GOLDEN BABE (13) Is a reserve runner at this point but if she gets in I expect her to be green – she is a nice filly.

Kenilworth 

CANDICE BASS – ROBINSON:

Race 1 – AGENCYFRANCEPRESSE (4): Will be a nice horse but not too sure what to expect on debut – will be green.

DAN KATZ FOR DARRYL HODGSON:

Race 1 – COUNT DU CAP (6): Will need the run.

VAUGHAN MARSHALL:

Race 1 – FORT DIVA (7): Will need a lot further and is expected to be very green.

JUSTIN SNAITH:

Race 1 – JABU (8): Very well bred but meets a very strong field – small quartet chance.

DENNIS DRIER:

Race 1 – LLOYD’S LEGACY (9): He is a hellava nice horse but might just need it – a nice colt – I am taking time with him.

HAROLD CRAWFORD:

Race 2 – DAISEY’S DOCK (8): Unable to contact the trainer therefore no comment received.

DEAN KANNEMEYER:

Race 2 – THE FAMOUS HAMMER (11): Was a December foal and will need more ground.

Disclaimer: A Gold Circle information initiative. The views and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the quoted author and stable represented. None of Gold Circle, the author, trainer or trainer representative, accept liability for any damages that may arise from any reliance placed on the views expressed therein.

The much-improved Francia can take the Woolavington Handicap – despite a stiff 3kg penalty for her Settlers Trophy win – when racing returns to Kenilworth tomorrow.

The Dynasty four-year-old had already been raised 4kg for her Winter Oaks victory but, although stamina is her forte, she may be more effective over this mile and a half than the two class acts above her.

“It will make things harder for her but she is very well,” says Justin Snaith referring to the 3kg. He is bidding for his third win in this race and also runs forecast favourite Ovidio who triumphed 12 months ago when winning his fourth race off the reel. Favourites have won three of the last five runnings.

Ovidio also triumphed in the J & B Stayers on Met day but he hasn’t raced since finishing fourth in the Gold Cup nearly three months ago. With Richard Fourie still on the sidelines, the in-form Aldo Dromeyer comes in for the mount on the top weight but will the six-year-old need the race?

“Probably, he has only had one gallop and he has a hell of a weight (62kg), ” answers his trainer. ”But with a rating of 105 there is nowhere else to go with him. He will run a good race.”

Kingston Mines has also been off since the Gold Cup but he has changed stables in the interim, leaving Mike de Kock to join Brett Crawford, and seemingly he won’t be in need of the outing. “I have had him since August and he has done his work well since he has been down here,” says Brett Crawford.

Donovan Dillon’s mount won last year’s J & B Stayers and, although his form suggests he is more effective over further than this trip, he should go close. Surprisingly the sahorseracing computer has him finishing last – with victory going to Francia from My World.

The last-named is 3kg better with Francia for 3.4 lengths in the Settlers but that was his first run of the season. “I think he will be slightly fitter this time but whether he is up to the class of horses like Ovidio I am not sure,” says Candice Bass Robinson.

A little surprisingly, Grant van Niekerk has preferred to ride stable companion Three Balloons who was second in the Chairman’s Cup in February but was last in a sprint in his first race of the season 12 days ago.   “It has been a bit of a rush and I think he will probably need his second run back,” is his trainer’s opinion.

Cigar Boy is effective over this trip but not in this class – he is 6kg under sufferance – while Hilaria is more than twice as badly off.

Michael Clower

There is a quality ten race meeting at Turffontein Inside track on Saturday and a number of big guns are stepping out.

Juxtapose is one of them and could get punters off to a good start in race 2, a conditions plate for fillies and mares over 1600m. This four-year-old by Judpot is drawn widest of all, but it should be no problem as she likes to come from off the pace. She is full of class and could mow them down in the straight, the only slight concern being this is her second run after a five month layoff. The dangers are the three-year-old Querari Falcon and the four-year-old Negroamara. Small field races like this one, in which there are only seven runners, tend to favour front runners. Querari Falcon used this to her advantage on 27 September over course and distance, dicating and then stealing a march on Negroamara to win comfortably by 2,75 lengths.

However, Negroamara is now 3kg better off and the highly professional Anton Marcus, who replaces the equally astute Gavin Lerena, will have a reference point from which to work. The wily Marcus is likely to do all in his power to prevent a repeat. However, if the end result is a faster paced race, it will play into the hands of Juxtapose. It is sure to be an intriguing race, one for the purist, and it looks to lie between those three runners. On paper Negroamara is the one to beat, being 3,5kg better off with Juxtapose on official merit ratings. She is also 4kg better off with latter for a mere 0,4 length beating in last season’s Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m. Querari Falcon is the highest merit rated horse in the field, but taking the weight for age scale into account she is a whopping 7kg under sufferance with Negroamara. However, Juxtapose is the choice as it the race could pan out in her favour and she looks to be the one who could ultimately be the best of the three this season.

There are some good sorts turning out in race 5, a MR 90 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m. The Great Britain three-year-old filly Wrecking Ball looks to have plenty of class and is interesting with a first-time tongue tie on. She is the selection to beat the pole position-drawn top weight Easy Game, who has dropped to a competitive merit rating and has Anthony Delpech up. There is very little between Easy Game and her Mike Azzie-trained stablemate Announcing Rain on their last meeting over 1000m down the straight at Turffontein. The latter was undone by a tough draw on Grand Heritage day and could make amends here from a plum draw. The in-form Johan Janse van Vuuren is represented by Seattle Lady, who won comfortably over 1200m on rand Heritage day from a plum draw. Her merit rating was not effected as she was well weighted in that race. She is held by Easy Game and Announcing Rain on a 1000m event down the straight, but her draw could well have been against her that day and is now drawn five, which is better but still tricky. Bonnie Dawn won her first two races over this trip and the form looks strong, but she disappointed on Grand Heritage day over this same trip and has a tough draw to overcome here.

In race 6, a MR 91 Handicap over 1450m for three-year-old fillies, the Mike de Kock-trained Australian-bred New Approach filly Dame Eleanor has her second start after winning in eye-catching style on debut from a tough draw over 1200m at Scottsville. She will relish the step up in trip and can follow up from a good draw under Anthony Delpech.

In race 7, a MR 96 Handicap for three-year-olds over 1450m, De Kock runs a classy Australian-bred colt by Redoute’s Choice called Al Fahad. His maiden win is probably the form race of the season to date. He beat Doosra by 0,2 lengths, with the promising Matador Man 2,45 lengths back, and there was then more than ten lengths back to the rest. Doosra has since won impressively and had the field spread out like the washing. Mexican Sun, who was beaten 12,25 lengths by Al Fahad, has also won. Al Fahad should be up to his 89 merit rating and is drawn well over a step up in trip he should relish with Delpech aboard.

In race 8, a MR 100 Handicap over 1450m, Lunar Approach looks to be back to himself and is well drawn off what could prove to be an attractive merit rating.

David Thiselton