First Timer comments Scottsville Sunday Oct 16 by Warren Lenferna

DUNCAN HOWELLS:

Race 1 – ARABIAN EMPEROR (8): Quite a speedy horse but could be green – could run into the back end of the quartet if not too green.

MARK DIXON:

Race 1 – ASIAN STAR (9): Very quick but will need the experience.

Race 3 – DIAMANTE (8): Nice filly but will need the experience.

LLOYD LUNN FOR PAT LUNN:

Race 1 – KILDONAN GOLD (10): Is speedy but will be very green.

CORRINE BESTEL:

Race 1 – KINGS CUP (11): Is looking for much further but I need to start racing with him. He will need the experience.

GARTH PULLER:

Race 1 – SHANTYTOWN (14): A nice big horse with a big action. He will need a few runs and a bit further.

MICHAEL ROBERTS:

Race 1 – LEAGUE OF SHADOWS (12): A nice type but is bred for further.

Race 2 – HURRY HOME (13): Speedy but will benefit from this outing.

Race 2 – SUMMER FASHION (15): Speedy but will benefit from this outing.

DENNIS BOSCH:

Race 1 – OLIVER QUEEN (13): A very nice horse, I would have preferred the poly – Anton Marcus likes him but I am of the opinion that he might just need it.

PAUL GADSBY:

Race 2 – VISION TO KILL (16): Will need one run and will be better over 1200m.

IVAN MOORE:

Race 3 – DAZZLING TOKEN (7): I really think she will need the run and be green – she will need a trip hence her making her debut over 1400m. I am just hoping she runs a decent race.

WEIHO MARWING:

Race 3 – FLOWEROFEDINBURGH (10): Will need the run.

DES EGDES:

Race 3 – REMEMBERING RUTH (13): Is a nice staying type of filly but will be in need of the run and it will be very tough from the draw. She should be finishing well.

A New Dawn, the forgotten member of Joey Ramsden’s powerful three-year-old line-up, takes on Lord Balmoral when he reappears in the All To Come Graduation Plate at Durbanville today – and it won’t be easy.

Donovan Dillon’s mount has to overcome a near six-month absence and, although the handicappers rated him 4kg behind Vaughan Marshall’s hope, he has to give his rival half a kilo.

Looking at what the R2 million Australian-bred beat over the Kenilworth 1 400m that day in April you might not rate him even as high as the official assessors but trainer and jockey left no-one in any doubt about the colt’s potential.

“He is a smashing horse, looking for this trip and more,” said Ramsden while Dillon added: “There is a lot of improvement to come. After every race he will get better and better.”

But the lesson of recent weeks is that the Ramsden class acts are vulnerable on their first runs back, particularly when they are conceding weight. Attenborough looked a certainty a furlong out only to falter and Table Bay could only manage third. Both started favourite and this time it could be the turn of Lord Balmoral to inflict the defeat

Also Australian-bred, but a fair bit cheaper at A$53,000, this colt justified odds of 1-3 on his second start in the manner of a future star, coming right away in the final 300m to win by four lengths easing up.

True, he was a big disappointment when he reappeared seven weeks ago, starting at even money and finishing a well-beaten sixth to a 25-1 shot. But he should be a different proposition this time.

In terms of sheer class these two dominate the race but Edict Of Nantes has done everything right in his last two starts, his stable is on song and if he were to complete the hat-trick it wouldn’t exactly be a shock of earthquake proportions.

Stable jockey Corne Orffer again has the mount but, a little surprisingly, he partners Varonella in the first while Greg Cheyne comes in for the mount on Brett Crawford’s other runner Varsity Cup whose form reads much better and is the selection.

Richard Fourie is on the sidelines after that horrific fall here on Wednesday when his mount Rock Stewart suffered a fatal cranial trauma. He had a number of fancied rides and Aldo Domeyer may benefit on Midtown Manhattan in race four. This one has the Crawford-trained Lady Diddeo to beat.

Michael Clower

Durbanville Saturday Oct 15 Race Previews by Warren Lenferna

1

Preview: MIGHTY HASH has consistent form but is taking time to win. His last run suggests that his winning turn could be today. VARSITY CUP returns from a rest but has run two good races thus far – if he is not in too much need of this run he should go very close – stable in form. VARONELLA returns from an even longer break but was seldom far off the action in his runs before. He could run into a quartet position. (Warren Lenferna 1-9-4)

2

Preview: LORD BALMORAL disappointed last time but I am most certainly not writing him off based on that – his maiden win was oh so impressive and he clearly has tons of ability and should be better suited to the extended trip he gets today – hard to beat. EDICT OF NANTES has won his last two in fine style and should once again be a big runner. A NEW DAWN returns from a rest but won at only the second time of asking. He should be included despite coming back from a rest. (Warren Lenferna 5-2-3)

3

Preview: GLENNIE is improving with each start and her last run she nearly won. Jockey Lucian Africa should know her well now and she rates the one to beat. Her biggest danger is QUIPPI whom made an eye catching debut when outrun very late in the race to finish second – with natural improvement she should supply plenty of cheek all the way to the wire but because Glennie has a bit more racing experience she will still be the one to beat. TIME TO THINK has a definite quartet chance. (Warren Lenferna 4-3-5)

4

Preview: MIDTOWN MANHATTAN made a cracking good debut and seems to have a bright future – to keep it short, sweet and simple, I will be disappointed if she does not go one better and win. LADY DIDDEO and THE WIDOW’S CLUB could fight out the minor money. (Warren Lenferna 7-1-10)

5

Preview: CROMPTON COURT is beautifully bred and made a fair debut. He gets extra distance today but sadly a wide draw to deal with. He should improve a lot from his debut effort and comes into this race with very strong each way claims. BRAAISTIN is taking time to win but the signs are there in a big way – he should win very soon. PURE LOGIC is improving with racing and it would be silly to ignore his chances for a bet like the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 9-1-2)

6

Preview: HAMMIE’S GAME is holding his form and went very close last time – a similar if not better run can be expected today and I have made him my first choice. SOLAR NIGHT is ultra consistent and his chances also look very bright here. MAJOR JAY, if not in too much need could finish in the first four. (Warren Lenferna 6-1-8)

7

Preview: A tough race with some exciting youngsters lining up here. All of: GIMME SIX (good form), DON’T STOP DANCING (returns from a rest but won so well on debut) and PARTY CRASHER (made an impressive winning debut) all have chances. Include as many as your budget will allow but if I were forced to choose a first selection I would go with GIMME SIX but I do have healthy respect for DON’T STOP DANCING. (Warren Lenferna 2-4-8)

8

Preview: SEATTLE GOLD ran on well last time to finish seconds and she looks cherry ripe to go one better. QUENA improved last time and based on that, has to be given a bright chance. TREASURE TOOL could do even better over the mile she gets today and is a must in the quartet – bad draw to overcome. (Warren Lenferna 5-4-16)

Two sprint races are the highlights of a nine race Turffontein meeting today, which falls three weeks before the real fireworks of the Highveld Spring season begin.

British Royale won a fine race over 1200m on the Vaal Classic course last time, especially considering he had to race wide on the turn from draw 6 out of 7. He has plenty of speed and in tomorrow’s third race, a MR 98 Handicap over 1000m, he jumps from pole position. He has scraped into the handicap with the minimum weight. He is on the up and is selected to make it three on the trot. Trip Tease has run a bit below par in his last two. However, he has now dropped to an attractive merit rating and the Louis Goosen yard have shown signs of a form return in the last couple of Highveld meetings. He should make a bold bid from a good draw over a course and distance he has one win from one run. However, it won’t be easy having to carry 64,5kg and give British Royale 12,5kg. Furthermore, Isphan is 4kg better off with Trip Tease for a 0,2 length beating in the race on Grand Heritage day. Isphan had to jump from the worst draw of all that day too. He is off an attractive merit rating and is tipped to run second with Trip Tease third.

The sixth is a Progress Plate over 1200m and the topweight Buckland looks to have it at his mercy. He is officially 5,5kg better off with any other horse according to the official merit ratings. He likely needed it in the Spring Spree Stakes over course and distance last time as it was his first outing since June and also his first after gelding. He was far from disgraced in finishing three lengths behind the top class Kangaroo Jack. His low draw of three will be particularly advantageous due to his speed and Piere Strydom up is another bonus. He is well regarded and should be capable of carrying 61kg to victory. His younger stablemate Penultimate did not have his last race pan out well for him and is a lot better than the bare form suggests. It will only be his third career start and he has to race off an 86 merit rating, so it will not be easy. However, his debut was impressive and he should be given a chance to redeem himself here from a fair draw. Duke Nukem is a consistent sort who is should be capable of running on from behind, which he might have to do from a wide draw. He is the second best in at the weights but the drawback is the breathing noises he makes. Front Rank ran on strongly from the back in the Grand Heritage, having had to track over from the inside to the standside, and finished second. He should be running on again, but this is a touch on the sharp side and he is 9kg under sufferance with Buckland on official merit ratings. Call Kelly is a capable sort and is well drawn over a suitable trip. However it is his second run after a five month layoff.

Buckland has to be considered a banker.

At first sight there could be another fair bet in the seventh, despite it being a MR 82 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m. Fortissima is held in high regard and proved her class when finishing second in the Gr 2 SA Oaks. She needed her seasonal reappearance, when finishing second. She was confidently expected to win that MR 76 2000m race, despite carrying 62kg, and the slow pace did her no favours. However, she now faces stronger opposition. For example Inaninstant also looks capable of rising above her current merit rating of 84. Proof of that is she beat Intergalactic in the Listed Oaks Trial over 2000m in April. She was receiving 4kg that day, but if they faced each other today she would receive 9kg, so that was a good performance and she certainly looks the part too. On the downside she is returning from a five-and-a-half month layoff. However, coming from the Sean Tarry yard, she should be fit enough. Angelic Appeal, Gain Ground and Bajan Fantasy make most appeal of the rest.

Another horse who initially struck as a possible Pick 6 banker was Bold Coast in the last race over 1600m. After winning his maiden in commanding style over 1200m, he stayed on well in a strong Graduation Plate over 1450m and on paper ran a little bit above his 77 merit rating. He was a touch outpaced in that race and this son of Bold Silvano should relish the step up in trip. However, his maiden win over 1200m has not worked out at all well and there must then be a few question marks. The solid sort Hawaiian Sun thus becomes the selection, despite having to carry top weight, and the four-year-old Rownak, who was green on debut before running on strongly to win over 1600m, is tipped for second with Bold Coast third. Street Flyer and Nawra make some appeal too and can also be included in the Pick 6.

A race which at first sight appeared to be a Pick 6 stumbling block was the eighth, a MR 68 fillies and mares handicap over 1800m. However, a closer look reveals Tambalang to be a reasonable  banker prospect on a difficult card. She starts handicapping off a reasonable looking merit rating, considering she won her maiden easing up by 4,3 lengths over course and distance. Tricia Dupont was done no favours by a slow pace over 2000m last time and can also be included in the exotics.

David Thiselton

On course punters will need to put their running shoes on and those off course their smart phones and computers handy as the first of the season’s Quickfire 20/20 meetings takes place at Greyville tonight. Nine races 20 minutes apart does not leave much time for thought so it’s best to work out your bets well before hand so as not to be left at the start.

With races alternating between jockeys’ and apprentices’ things are evened out somewhat but that does not make things any easier on what looks to be another tricky off-season card.

A five-furlong dash for the jocks heads proceedings and Anton Marcus appears to have picked another plum ride in Tony Rivalland’s charge Al Ciberano in the fifth on the card. The gelding hardly ever runs a bad race and only just failed when tried in blinkers last time out. Marcus has been in outstanding form of late and is a master of the poly track. Out My Way surprised last run and his two recent outings on the poly have been good. He can go close with this weight. Fire The Rocket is over his best course and distance and found good market support at his last start while Panza didn’t show in the soft ground at Scottsville but has consistent form before. He will be super fit.

The Lucas Lee & Associates Handicap is one for the apprentices in what looks to be a decidedly tricky affair. Master Of Mischief is long overdue and was narrowly beaten when taking on stronger at his last start. He also had the worst of the draw that day. He has a lot in his favour this time around and Wendy Whitehead’s runner looks the pick of the field. However, Dean Kannemeyer is starting to send out more runners from his satellite yard after a break from AHS vaccinations and a honeymoon and Soldier’s Code is sure to improve on his latest start where he looked in need of the outing. He has useful poly form and with a run under his girth should feature. Big Si had his consistency rewarded when a narrow winner last start and with a light weight and four-claimer Dennis Schwarz in mustard form he must be a threat.

Nothing on the card stands out as a solid exotic bet banker but Duncan Howells can round off the meeting when he saddles Wild Wicket. The Dynasty colt made a very tardy start when backed in to even money favourite last time out and was also green in the running. He will have benefitted from the experience around the turn and the extra will suit. Howells says he’s a nice horse and should be right there if not too green in his first start on the poly.

Mr O’Neill made a smart debut before running Gr2 winner Zodiac Ruler to half-a-length at his second start. He started favourite for his next two outings but disappointed on both occasions. Kannemeyer has declared blinkers this time around and if he doesn’t feature again he could be in for the unkindest cut of all. Principate has come to hand of late. He was a close-up second to stable companion For Ever last run for Lowan Denysschen and was the more fancied of the two stable runners. Roy’s Past. has come good on the poly and stays the trip and can feature in the shake-up while Air Salute will much prefer this trip and looks set to improve.

Andrew Harrison

Greyville (poly) Friday Oct 14 Race Previews by Andrew Harrison

1

Preview: Weak field but AFRICAN SUNBIRD is a smartly bred first timer and doesn’t have to be too good to win here. BABY IN BLACK has shown up well in recent starts over a touch further. She meets little of note here and should be thereabouts. NIGHT AT THE PROMS was backed in to even money favourite last start when tried in blinkers. Her two best efforts have been over course and distance. The blinkers come off and she can make amends. SWISS NOTE has been knocking at the door for some time now and is super fit. She does have a tricky draw to overcome. SHOW ME YOUR ROSIE raced green in a fair debut and is sure to come on with the experience. (Andrew Harrison: 8-2-7-3)

2

Preview: Another weak field. MASTER RUNNER was a distant fourth last start but the winner won by eight lengths. He should come on from that effort. ZINZARA has improved with a tongue-tie and was not far behind the promising Accidental Tourist last outing. She makes her poly debut. ROY’S MONEKY ran well below par at her last start. She had some useful form over further before that and at best will go close. MASTEROFMYDREAMS has improved in blinkers and the extra should suit. (Andrew Harrison: 1-11-12-2)

3

Preview: Wide open. MISS MINVER may just have needed her last outing when sent out favourite. Her two best efforts have been on the poly and she jumps from an inside gate. DANCE CITY QUEEN is down in class and tried further last time out. She has blinkers here and an ace pilot aboard. SOUL OF SPAIN was mush improved first up on the poly and although she has a tricky draw she must have a chance.  ICY SPIRIT showed up well first run out of the maidens and drops in class. She should have a chance in this line-up. (Andrew Harrison: 6-1-9-3).

4

Preview: NEWYORKSTATEOFMIND comes out of a smart formline. He takes on weaker here and a repeat of his latest effort should see him home.  ALDRIC has been in good form on the turf but does go well on the poly. He ran an excellent race at the Vaal last time out and rates a big chance on that showing.  KEPT SECRET has caught the eye at her last two and goes well over course and distance. WINTER DARLING seldom runs a bad race and is at home over course and distance. She should feature in the finish. JASON ARGO has a big weight but smart form over course and distance. (Andrew Harrison:  10-3-7-2).

5

Preview: AL CIBERANO hardly ever runs a bad race and only just failed when tried in blinkers last time out. Anton Marcus gets the ride. OUT MY WAY surprised last run but his two recent outings on the poly have been good. He can go close with this weight. FIRE THE ROCKET is over his best course and distance and found good market support at his last start. PANZA didn’t show in the soft ground at Scottsville but has consistent form before. He will be super fit. FLYING ROCK showed up well first run pout of the maidens but she does take on males. (Andrew Harrison: 4-11-7-8).

6

Preview: Wide open. MASTER OF MISCHIEF is long overdue and was narrowly beaten when taking on stronger at his last start. He also had the worst of the draw that day. He has a lot in his favour here. SOLDIER’S CODE needed his last run. He has useful poly form and with a run under his girth should feature. BIG SI had his consistency rewarded when a narrow winner last start. He has a light weight and can follow up. SELVAN’S JET has a tough draw but has been trying further and the drop in trip could suit. (Andrew Harrison: 2-3-7-8)

7

Preview: DESERT SUNSET has run two crackers on the poly and looks the horse to beat. KINGS LADY has consistent form over course and distance. She takes on males here with a big weight but should be right there. GREATFIVEEIGHT made a promising poly debut and can build on that run. ROY’S ROLLS ROYCE has shown up well in two starts over shorter. Delpech rides. Go close if he stays. (Andrew Harrison: 1-4-7-6)

8

Preview: ZILLA came from well back from a wide draw last time out. She has a handy weight and should be running at them late. MODERNISTA has been touched off at her last two on the poly. With a useful claimer aboard she can go one better. LA VIDA BANCO won well in the soft last time out and prior to that took on males. She has a fair weight but can follow up. MAYBE was a game winner of her last start and with a four-claimer up she must have a good chance on a repeat showing. (Andrew Harrison: 6-4-1-3).

9

Preview: WILD WICKET  made a very tardy start when favourite last time out. Extra will suit and he can make amends. MR O’NEILL has been disappointing after showing early promise. He tries blinkers and may be worth another chance. PRINCIPATE has come to hand of late. He was a close-up second to stable companion Forever last run. ROY’S PAST has come good on the poly and stays the trip. He should feature in the shake-up. AIR SALUTE will much prefer this trip and looks set to improve. (Andrew Harrison: 12-6-7-8)

Mac de Lago is back in training and is being aimed at the Gr1 Charity Mile to be run at Turffontein at the end of the month. Weiho Marwing said the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner had been given a month off on the farm after finishing third in the Vodacom Durban July where according to Marwing he had pulled up “with a bit of a joint.”

“He had a month of on Hassen’s (Adams) farm and he’s back in training at Turffontein,” said Marwing. But he won’t have a race before the Charity Mile. “There isn’t enough time to give him a race before the Mile so he will go straight into it.”

Two season’s back Marwing sent Wylie Hall into the Vodacom Durban July without a preparation race and the colt was arguably unlucky to be demoted to second in the boardroom.

Current plans are to miss the Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup and head to Cape Town for the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Gr1 Sun Met which now boasts a stake of R5 million.

Gr1 Premier’s Champions Stakes winner Gunner makes his seasonal debut in the second of the KZN 3YO Series races over 1400m at Scottsville on Sunday. Paul Gadsby is aiming him at the $500 000 CTS Mile to be run at Kenilworth in January.

“He’s got to start somewhere and I don’t want to send him down to Cape Town a fat little butterball. I’m just hoping for a good race on Sunday,” he said yesterday.

After this race he will be sent to Cape Town where he will be under the care of Daryl Hodgson.

Sunday’s series race has attracted a smart field that contains a number of unknowns outside of Gunner and Palladium who are both relatively exposed. Scent Of The Tiger, Roy’s Magic, Marshall That, Great Value and Sarah’s Secret are recent maiden winners but all on the up and get a hefty 6kg from Gunner and 2kg from Palladium which should make for an interesting contest.

Andrew Harrison

Woodhill Racing Estate-based Glen Kotzen expects this filly, Party Crasher, to go close in a Novice Plate over 1200m at Durbanville on Saturday.

This classy Philanthropist filly is the latest racing progeny of the outstanding mare First Arrival. Her full-brother is lot 95 on the CTS Ready To Run Sale, which takes place at Durbanville on Saturday evening.

Party Crasher is one of Kotzen’s hopefuls for the Cape Summer Of Champions Season. He said, “She is a proper filly. We would have preferred it to be over 1400m on Saturday, but if she wins she will go for the Choice Carriers.”

Party Crasher was green on debut over the Durbanville 1200m. She ran around in the straight after turning for home near the back and clearly did not know what it was all about. Greg Cheyne eventually switched her outward well away from the pack. When he asked the question she displayed an instant turn of foot and cantered past the leaders in nonchalant style. She won going away by 1,25 lengths with ears pricked. Her odds of 6/1 were generous in retrospect. It was not the strongest of fields, but there is clearly a lot more to come.

Kotzen was the underbidder for the Hallmark Thoroughbreds-bred Party Crasher at the National Yearling Sales last year. She went for R650,000, snapped up by the outstanding breeders, Varsfontein Stud, who obviously recognised her ready-made paddock value. Party Crasher is a half-sister to the like of Gr 1 winners Let’s Rock’n Roll, In The Fast Lane and Rock The Country, and to Gr 2 winner Light The Lights.

Kotzen asked the Kalmansons of Varsfontein if he could train her. As trainer of Light The Lights, he was the natural choice. Light The Lights, by Western Winter, was a late maturing sort and also needed the gelding which was only done after he had turned four-years of age. He finally fulfilled his potential when sauntering home in the Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m at Kenilworth on L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate day this year. He followed that with an excellent 4,8 length fourth in this year’s J&B Met, despite being the joint worst weighted horse in the field on official merit ratings.

The quality of that performance was stamped in no uncertain terms when he was bought into the Mike de Kock yard and put on the next overseas float. He is currently being prepared out of Abington Place in Newmarket for next year’s Dubai Carnival. Light The Lights’ magnificent turn of foot and sustained finish had been seen early in his career, particularly in a Listed race at Fairview, which he won comfortably. His coltish issues plagued the rest of his three-year-old career, although he did manage a decent 2,5 length third to The Conglomerate in the Gr 2 KRA Guineas at Greyville last year.

Party Crasher looks a similar type. The Gr 2 Choice Carriers Championships for three-year-old fillies takes place on October 29 over 1400m on the Kenilworth winter course and it will be no surprise to see her being a leading contender.

Another promising filly in the Kotzen yard is the four-year-old Silvano filly Silvan Star. She was eye-catching as a three-year-old, but a bad draw on Met day followed by travel sickness and “foot abscess after foot abscess” in KZN saw her season severely curtailed. However, she showed her class in her seasonal reappearance on September 24 when cruising to a 2,25 length win over 1600m at Durbanville in a Novice Plate. Unfortunately, her merit rating of only 83 will make it difficult for her to get into the feature races, but she is certainly one to follow in handicaps.

Kotzen has high hopes for the four-year-old Var filly Our Destiny. She finished second at odds of 100/1 in last season’s Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas. However, he is going to keep her to sprints this season. There are certainly a lot of opportunities for sprinting fillies during the Cape Summer.

He also rates the Trippi colt Gold Standard, whose grand dam is the great Olympic Duel. In his third start on October 5, he jumped from a wide draw over 1600m at Durbanville in a Maiden Plate and ran on strongly to win by 3,25 lengths.

Kotzen said, “Everybody was raving about Craven (who won by two lengths over the same course and distance in the next race), but Gold Standard’s time was better and he won by further.” Kotzen concluded about Gold Standard, “He is more of a Derby horse.”

David Thiselton