The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) confirmed that an inquiry was held into the circumstances surrounding an objection which was lodged immediately after the running of the first race at Turffontein on Saturday, September 3.  The race was won by the favourite Querari Viking from Nordic Storm. The grounds of the objection were two-fold: firstly, an allegation of interference by the winner immediately after the start which resulted in the second horse clipping the heels of the winner; secondly, an interference which took place at the 300m mark which also resulted in the second horse clipping the heels of the winner.

The objection board consisting of T Khanyile (the race day Chairman) and G Timm and G Foxcroft viewed the various films of the race and heard comments from the respective trainers and jockeys.  The board came to a decision (by a majority of 2 to 1 with Foxcroft dissenting) that the objection be upheld.

When this decision was announced a number of angry punters gathered outside the stipes boardroom and voiced their displeasure with the decision. Khanyile was later interviewed by Tellytrack to explain the reasons for the decision.  His explanation did not satisfy the punters and further criticism was voiced.  Arnold Hyde, the Racing Control Executive, then announced that an Inquiry would be conducted into the entire incident.

At the inquiry, the various films of the race were viewed by the board.  This took place in the presence of Deanthan Moodley, the NHA’s legal counsel (who gave his reading of the race) and the three stipes who had sat on the objection board.  In the course of the discussions it transpired that there was no dispute about the decision to uphold the objection.  It was a wrong decision.  In brief, the first complaint was without merit.  The second horse had lost 2 – 3 lengths at the start (as confirmed by the starter) and no interference or clipping of heels occurred.  As for the second complaint, again, no interference or clipping of heels took place.  During this part of the inquiry Khanyile candidly admitted that, having gone through the films after the date of the incident, he conceded that he had been wrong.  He admitted that he had made a mistake.  Timm expressed similar views.  As for the inquiry board itself, it was satisfied that the objection was wholly groundless and was in fact frivolous.  The board noted that Moodley confirmed there was no evidence whatsoever to suggest that the two stipes who had upheld the decision, had in any way done so out of improper or sinister motives.

The inquiry board pointed out that it had no power to interfere with, or alter the decision.  Further, that it also had no power to conduct a disciplinary hearing into the conduct of the stipes arising out of their duties as employees of the NHA.

In the light of the above findings, the NHA has initiated internal disciplinary hearings.

Wrecking Ball can live up to her name and provide for a solid exotic bet banker when she lines up for the fifth at The Vaal tomorrow, a Graduation Plate over 1000m. Grant Maroun’s filly has plenty of scope and took an unbeaten record into the Gr2 Umkomazi Stakes against the colts on Gold Cup day only to find one better in Hack Green.

Dennis Drier’s colt franked that form and is still undefeated in three starts as he followed up his Umkomazi win with a narrow victory in the Bloodstock South Africa Million Sprint at Scottsville.

Wrecking Ball is rated three lengths better than any of her rivals, closest in the weights being Mike Azzie’s filly Spring Wonder. The year-older daughter of Querari has dropped to an 85 rating from a career high of 91 but a more likely challenger is Macadamia out of the Roy Magner yard.

The field, including Macadamia, was caught napping by Speedy Gonvarlez over course and distance last time out as the winner lived up to her name and kept rolling after setting a blistering gallop.

Significantly, Gavin Lerena has jumped ship to ride Wrecking Ball with Raymond Danielson taking over aboard Macadamia.

Isca (Nkosi Hlophe)

Another likely to start at short odds tomorrow is the grey Isca from the Gavin van Zyl yard who lines up in the sixth. After a spell in Durban where he won a top division sprint before following up with a second in the Gr3 Umgeni Handicap, he is back on the Highveld with assistant Chesney van Zyl to warm up for the spring season.

A drop in class sees him shouldering a steadier of 60,5kg but he has improved in blinkers and should put in another good showing.

Although 28 runners will be lining up for The Grand Heritage to be run at The Vaal on Saturday, October 1, the competition for places is stiff and only those with strong current form will be considered entries. Donny G, given his current run of form, is unlikely to miss out on a place in the Heritage field but Sean Tarry will be looking to his charge to cement a place. The 1000m trip under top weight could find him out and given that this is a likely warm-up sprint for the Heritage, Isca looks the better proposition.

Anthony Delpech seldom makes the trip to the Highveld unless there are feature race pickings to be had but having recently signed Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein as sponsors he is now obliged to travel.

His presence at the Vaal is more likely due to his contractual obligations as he partners Nikki in a 1400m Handicap, seventh race on the card, that races in the silks of Wilgerbosdrift where he will be teaming with his old boss, Mike de Kock. Nikki looks to have a fair chance in a competitive race where Jin-Go-Lo-Ba and Movie Award also look capable.

De Kock has taken advantage of Delpech’s presence and his name is penciled in behind the regally bred Australian import Al Fahad that makes his debut in the third. By Aussie super-sire Redoute’s Choice out of a Zabeel mare, just how he fares will be of more than just passing interest.

Tarry saddles Matador Man in the race who was well backed on debut but failed to land the gamble. He has since been rested but could rate the horse to beat as he was unlucky not to win. He was left standing at the gate and was making up ground quickly at the death. That experience could prove invaluable.

Andrew Harrison

Dennis Drier, KZN leading trainer by number of winners last term, has come out of the blocks like Olympic Champion Usain Bolt, and with the season little more than a month old he is already second on the National log with 16 winners, four of which came at Greyville yesterday.

Justin Snaith, with a satellite yard in Port Elizabeth, heads the National log with 26 wins for the season and Alan Greeff has saddled 19 but Drier has lined them up in KZN.

Most satisfactory of his four yesterday was probably Apres Ski in the opening leg of the Place Accumulator. Blinkers are not always a magic bullet, some horses no matter what equipment is tried, are just not capable of going any faster than their legs will carry them.

There are others that need a little more prompting and if a set of blinkers was all it took to bring out the best in Apres Ski then he could be destine for more than just a maiden win.

According to Drier and Anthony Delpech, the gelding had shown tremendous ability at home but his three stabs on the racecourse had Drier and his team scratching their heads. “I worked this horse on Thursday and couldn’t believe he was still a maiden,” said Delpech, deputising for stable rider Sean Veale.

Drier concurred. “He’s shown us so much at home but just didn’t bring it to the racecourse so we decided to try blinkers.”

They obviously worked a treat and Apres Ski came with a telling run up the middle of the track to beat the well-backed favourite Royal Regatta with rank outsider Black Samurai staying on gamely for third and paying R15 a place.

Drier got the meeting off to a difficult start for punters as See The Sea caused a 33-1 upset winning from Arabian Party and 8-10 favourite and Highveld raider Lebanese Tractor with raiding trainer Paul Peter headed home with little to show for his three-horse raid.

Taku Wind looked the right one in the fourth even though going an extra furlong for the first time and he won as expected under Kegan de Melo who had earlier booted home See The Sea.

Joy To Joy had been disappointing in her poly debut after a string of promising efforts on the turf but she found hefty market support and came home lonely in the fifth giving Delpech a double for the meeting.

Andrew Harrison

Tony Millard’s dirt specialist Super Jockey put in a dominant display to land the US$700,000 Gr1 Korea Sprint in Seoul on Sunday.

Millard’s trailblazer was the first Hong Kong runner to race on South Korean soil and was superbly steered by jockey Karis Teetan.

In the lead-up to the race there were concerns over Super Jockey’s ability to handle the tricky Seoul sand, but they proved unfounded. Teetan settled the 8-yr-old gelding in second, before pushing the button at the top of the straight and stretching clear to justify favouritism on the Hong Kong tote.

It’s another feather in the cap of South African-born trainer Tony Millard, collecting a major international sprint with Super Jockey following a strong second to American speedster Secret Circle in the 2015 Gr1 Golden Shaheen in Dubai. Super Jockey is being considered for another visit to Dubai for.

South China Morning Post

Turffontein has a nine race meeting on the Inside track and punters will have their work cut out on a competitive card.

One of the most interesting races is the second, a Graduation Plate over 1450m. Mogok Master is the best in at the weights and returns from a layoff of over a year having run 2,55 lengths behind Rabada in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m. He has been with the Joe Soma yard for three months now and has been given two hard gallops, among other work.

Soma said on what he has shown he looks to be a horse who could compete with the best, although he added tomorrow’s race would tell him more. He also said he would need further and would come on from the run. However, he was nevertheless expecting a good performance from a horse who was as fit as he could possibly be under the circumstances.

Nephrite is officially 7kg under sufferance with Mogok Master but on Premier’s Champions Stake form is 3kg better off for a mere 0,5 length beating. Furthermore, he bounced back to form in his penultimate start over 1400m when a 1,25 length second to the useful Jubilee Line in a Novice Plate. The form of that race was confirmed next time out over 1600m, although the pair were way behind two classy sorts in Unagi and Samurai Blade. Nephrite should enjoy the course and distance and has a fair draw so is the tip to win.

He could beat home Enbharr, who is also officially 7kg under sufferance with Mogok Master but looks to be on the up being by the outstanding Australian sire Fastnet Rock. He won commandingly over 1800m last time so this might be a touch sharp. However, he does make respiratory noises on occasion so the third time tongue tie might have done the trick last time and it might have been the secret behind that win rather than just the trip, considering he doddled in over 1600m in the maidens in January. Mogok Master is tipped to finish third. Africa Rising is the second best in at the weights officially and is only 3,5kg under sufferance with Mogok Master.

However, the form of his 1,3 length fourth in this year’s Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes is questionable. His stablemate Rightful King could be anything, having impressed with a facile win on debut before making a respiratory noise when well beaten behind Cloth Of Cloud in the Gr 1 SA Nursery. He hasn’t run since that race in April but on pedigree, being by Right Aproach, he should enjoy this trip. Dreamuponadream has shown ability over this trip before but he returns from a three-and-a-half month layoff having been off for about a year-and-a-half before that. Le Clos enjoys this course and distance so can’t be ignored.

The value bet of the day could also be from a newcomer to the Soma yard, Cambridge Choir, who runs in the seventh over 1600m. She has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight in this uninspiring fillies and mares event and the yard report her to be working well. Fort Ember is interesting as she won a Novice Plate returning from a year’s layoff after finishing a 2,75 length sixth in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes. However, she was officially weighted to win the Novice Plate easily and it will be tougher back in a handicap. Secondly, the form of the Thekwini has not worked out well so she still has something to prove. However, she is well regarded and it would be no surprise to see her win. She’s A Looker could also run a good race here from a good draw over a course and distance she has a good record over.

The last race is quite tough, it being a MR 72 Handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m. However, Consequentially, being by Silvano, should be coming into her own and off a merit rating of only 59 she could follow up on her maiden win over an ideal course and distance. The progressive Laurel Cherry could be the chief danger. She might have been sent for home too soon last time, but Anthony Delpech is back aboard and will know a bit more about her, although he does now have a tricky draw to overcome. Tobesuretobesure gets a good draw for a change over an ideal course and distance so could also be in the shake up, despite being seven points higher in the merit ratings since a comfortable win over 2200m on this course in her penultimate start.

David Thiselton

Extradite looks a fair bet when she lines up in the Soccer 6 Handicap at Durbanville today. With the Western Cape season a little over two months away stables will be warming up their prospective runners for the big features and Extradite can stake her claim.

Yet to finish out of the first three, Extradite makes her seasonal debut for Candice Bass-Robinson after being sent to Port Elizabeth to contest a small feature. Starting favourite, she was kicking on from behind after finding traffic and losing position early in the race. That proved more than she could handle and she was still two lengths adrift of winner O Tamara at the line.

She is back over a sprint today and with a good draw she should handle the Durbanville turn.

Turnpike has the benefit of having shed her maiden over course and distance and Lucy Woodruff, saddling for her father Geoff, will have hopes of scuppering the likely favourite.

Donovan Dillon. Former head boy of the SA Jockey’s Academy, has established himself as one of the leading riders in the Western Cape and Joey Ramsden was quick to realise his talents. Dillon partners Aviemore for Ramsden in the Place Your Bets Maiden where he should come on nicely from his first two outings and have a strong chance in what looks to be a modest line-up.

The lightly raced Quduiari has run second in his last two starts and the blinkers appear to have sharpened him up. He has also improved since being sent over ground and rates the horse they all have to beat. Soaring Past is on the up and showed tons of improvement at his second start and he could give plenty of cheek.

Figure Of Grey has let the side down on a few occasions but is seldom far off the action. She has been doing okay over the mile and should be competitive in the Racing Association Maiden Plate. Under Milkwood did not quicken last time but was reported to have been coughing. Her earlier form suggests that she is way better that that run and she is one for the shortlist.

The Itsarush.co.za Handicap looks decidedly tricky but Edict Of Nantes put in a strong finish when shedding his maiden. He has a difficult draw to overcome but looks progressive and can go in again.

Cream Soda won his maiden in his penultimate start most impressively and can be forgiven for his recent failure when he lines up in the Racing. It’s A Rush Handicap. Harold Crawford’s runner broke through the front of the stalls last time out and it clearly affected him as he finished way down field He does look better than that and is worth another chance with a handy draw and fair weight.

Andrew Harrison

Greyville (polytrack) Sunday Sep 11 Previews by Andrew Harrison

Race 1

4 LEBANESE TRACTOR   5 ARABIAN PARTY   2 POWER HORSE   1 ICHKERIA

Preview: LEBANESE TRACTOR has been a beaten favourite in her last three. She was beaten a neck last start and from a good draw should make a bold bid. ARABIAN PARTY found good market support at her second start and showed good improvement. She has a wide draw and makes her poly debut but can show further improvement. POWER HORSE showed up will first time on the poly and in blinkers and also boasts consistent form. ICHKERIA has some fair recent form over course and distance but is struggling to improve. (Andrew Harrison: 4-5-2-1).

Race 2

10 LEDIMARINCESS   8 IBTIHAJ   3 FIRES OF CALAIS   4 MANDOLIN

Preview: LEDIMAPRINCESS made a smart debut at long odds. Delpech gets the ride and they meet a weak field. IBTIHAJ found strong market support at her second start and made good improvement. She is sure to come on from that and looks the likely danger. FIRES OF CALAIS looks best on the poly and has a chance while MANDOLIN has shown some ability on the Highveld and could surprise on her poly debut. (Andrew Harrison: 10-8-3-4)

Race 3

3 ROCK HARD   9 PRINCE OF SAVOY   4 LATERAL DANCER   10 GOLD DASH

Preview: ROCK HARD has been disappointing but consistent. He could do better on the poly and tries blinkers for the first time. PRINCE OF SAVOY has some Highveld form to recommend it and should feature in this company. LATERAL DANCER made a fair poly debut and can do better over this shorter trip. GOLD DASH made sudden improvement on the poly after showing nothing on the turf. He has a chance if he can build on his last effort. (Andrew Harrison: 3-9-4-10)

Race 4

1 TAKU WIND   11 VIKING RED   3 ROY’S PAST   10 SEA-PATH

Preview: TAKU WIND goes well on the poly and is rated much higher than the balance of the field. This will be his first trip over ground but he should be hard to beat. VIKING RED improved at his second outing and will much prefer this trip from a good draw. ROY’S PAST was a close-up second over course and distance and has a good chance on a repeat showing. SEA-PATH made no show on debut but will prefer this trip and can improve. (Andrew Harrison: 1-11-3-10)

Race 5

10 FILM STAR   3 WILLOWGRANGE   7 JOY TO JOY   1 ALESNADO

Preview: FILM STAR raced green in a fair debut and from a good draw should improve. WILLOWGRANGE has consistent form over course and distance and should be thereabouts again. JOY TO JOY made a disappointing poly debut after a string of promising efforts on the turf. She may do better at her second run on the poly. ALESNADO ran below her best from a tough draw and can feature is she shows some of her previous form. (Andrew Harrison: 10-3-7-1)

Race 6

2 KOLINSKY   3 PYRENEES IN SPAIN   4 MAGICAL BET   9 SAN JULIAN BAY

Preview: KOLINSKY takes a big drop in class and he has also dropped in the ratings. He looks a big runner. PYRENEES IN SPAIN is long overdue and can have his consistency rewarded. MAGICAL BET has some fair Cape and PE form to back him up and a switch to the poly from a good draw could bring out the best in him. SAN JULIAN BAY made a smart poly debut but does not have the best of the draw. (Andrew Harrison: 2-3-4-9)

Race 7

4 SELVAN’S JET   5 SMART WORLD   6 SAMORA   3 BORN TO RULE

Preview: SELVAN’S JET went down narrowly in a competitive field last time out and has been showing fair form to stronger. SMART WORLD ran well below best on his handicap debut and would appear to be better on the poly. SAMBORA is much better than his last effort. He does look held by Smart World but there should not be much between them. BORN TO RULE was close-up to the well fancied Wealthy last timeout and a repeat can see him go close again. (Andrew Harrison: 4-5-6-3)

Race 8

3 FLYING ROCK   11 DELICIOUS DAMOWIN   5 SHAP SHAP   7 SEA URCHIN

Preview: FLYING ROCK landed the odds on debut over course and distance. He looks to have some scope and can follow up on that win. DELICIOUS DAMOWIN has been knocking at the door for some time now but goes very well over course and distance. With a light weight he should be in the shake-up again. SHAP SHAP was not far back to strong at his last start. He came off a short break and can do better here. SEA URCHIN took on stronger at his last two on the poly. He rates a good chance at best. (Andrew Harrison: 3-11-5-7)

Race 9

7 WIND SINGER   9 RESPECT AT BAY   1 TIMEOUS   10 SAVE THE DAY

Preview: WIND SINGER is possibly better over further but won very well last time out and can follow up. RESPECT AT BAY has been in good form on the turf. She is drawn well here and can feature. TIMEOUS is at home on the poly and was a close-up fifth last run. He has a good draw and a four-claiming apprentice. SAVE THE DAY has some fair Highveld form and can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 7-9-1-10)

Ryan Moore will partner Star South African filly Same Jurisdiction when she makes her British debut at Doncaster today [Race 1 @ 2.55pm].

The winner of seven of her 14 starts in South Africa, Same Jurisdiction is carded to line up with seven fillies or mares in the Group 3 Japan Racing Association Sceptre Stakes over 1400m on the third day of the prestigious St Leger meeting.

It will be her first outing since finishing second to Inara in the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes in January, after which she was shipped to England and placed in the care of trainer Ed Dunlop.

Bred by Klawervlei Stud, Same Jurisdiction was purchased by Howells Racing for R270,000 at the 2013 KZN Yearling Sale.

Trained by Duncan Howells, her victories included the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes and the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes. She also won the KZN Yearling Sale Million in 2014 and has earned over R2.2-million in stakes.

Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

At the announcement of the decision to run her at Doncaster, Drakenstein Stud Farm’s racing manager Kevin Sommerville told the media it was farm owner Gaynor Rupert’s idea to send her overseas as “she wanted to expose a really good filly to the European scene and see where they were with her”.

He said Same Jurisdiction was a very sound filly and very sound-minded and it was thought she was the right type to be tried overseas.

He said the Sceptre Stakes had been deemed the perfect race for her, but the competition had turned out to be a lot tougher than had been hoped for. “It’s her first start in England and she has it all to do in a tough field, but jockey Ryan Moore is very good and will give her every chance.

“We have no definite plans as yet and will be very happy if she runs a good race,” said Sommerville.

The Press Association tipping team has given Nemoralia the nod in what it described as “a cracking renewal” of the Sceptre Stakes.

“The Jeremy Noseda-trained filly was placed twice at the highest level in America last autumn, most notably finishing a close third at the Breeders’ Cup.

“She has come up a little short twice in Group 1 events this term, but ran perfectly well in both the Coronation Stakes and the Prix Jean Prat when the ground was softer than ideal.

“Those efforts were sandwiched by two terrific victories at York, with her latest performance in rain-softened terrain proving she is not totally ground dependant,” the PA reported, adding: “Lumiere represents a formidable rival if bouncing back to her best, while high-class South African filly Same Jurisdiction is a fascinating contender on her British debut, but both will have to go some to stop Nemoralia recording her second Pattern-race success”.

Latest betting quoted Same Jurisdiction as 15-2 third favourite, behind Nemoralia (4-5) and Lumiere (11-2).

TABnews

The Gary Alexander-trained Querari gelding Kangaroo Jack has been awarded a 113 merit rating by the handicappers after his cosy win of the Gr 3 Spring Spree Stakes over 1200m on the Turffontein Inside track on Saturday, but despite the speed he has shown in his last two starts the yard will not be limiting his program to sprints.

The Alexander yard also have much to look forward to with their three-year-old Admire Main colt Unagi.

Alexander said he had always been of the belief a horse with as much speed as Kangaroo Jack would not stay a true mile, but he revealed stable jockey Andrew Fortune was convinced he would get a mile and he said he had to respect the opinion of such an experienced rider.

The big sprints like the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint would likely be on his program and possibly the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships too.

However, his next race is likely to be the Gr 2 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside Track on October 8.

Mile races like the Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile would be considered, although Alexander would prefer to aim him at the Gr 1 weight for age miles like the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes where he would not have to give lumps of weight away.

He said, “Most sprinters just want to jump and go but he drops the bit immediately.”

The ease with which he settles and his relaxed style of running are the chief reasons Fortune believes he will get the mile.

Alexander said Kangaroo Jack was quite small but was supple, well put together and had a nice quarter and was quite muscular, so was more of a “sprinting type” conformation-wise.

Unagi was receiving only 0,5kg from the twice Gr 1-placed Samurai Blade on Saturday in a Graduation Plate over 1600m and yet beat him by 0,2 lengths. Unagi sat in midfield on the rail under Fortune and showed an effortless turn of foot to pass Samurai Blade. He then showed fine resolve when fending off the latter’s rally. Unagi’s merit rating was 90 compared to Samurai Blade’s 104 so he was officially a whopping 15kg under sufferance. The trip was likely too sharp for Samurai Blade, but the rest of the field were 9,3 lengths back, which is another pointer to the merit of the performance.

Alexander said Unagi had never settled after jumping patches when strongly fancied in the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Greyville on Vodacom Durban July day. He had then run below par in his reappearance  over 1800m on August 18, but proved on Saturday he is a lot better than that.

The Alexander yard have a fine record in the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup, including winning it with “the people’s horse” Pierre Jourdan, a Summerhill Stud-bred who cost just R60,000.

Unagi, a Summerhill-bred who cost R80,000, will be aimed at this year’s R2,5 million renewal, which is to be run at Turffontein over the traditional 1400m trip on November 5.

He is likely to be a big runner there and will then be targeted at next February’s first leg of the SA Triple Crown, the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas.

David Thiselton

Marshall That, racing in the familiar red and white silks of Mike and Norma Rattray, gave notice that he is a colt to be reckoned with during the coming season with a smart showing in the Download The SA Racing App Maiden at Scottsville yesterday.

Alistair Gordon’s runner was all over the course when under pressure but put a fair maiden field to bed in good fashion under apprentice Eric Ngwane, coming home five lengths clear of the opposition.

The Rattray silks have long been a familiar sight on the country’s racecourses and although the pinnacle of Rattray’s racing ambitions has eluded him, namely a winner of the Vodacom Durban July, he has more than done his bit for racing, not only being a prolific owner but also a breeder of standing. Through his Lammerskraal Stud, where he gathered a formidable band of broodmares supplemented by top class stallions Western Winter and Go Deputy, he has contributed richly to the local gene pool.

Lammerskraal has been sold but there are many Rattray homebreds still racing under that banner with Marshall That being one of the last. By former champion stallion Fort Wood out of a daughter of Lammerskraal champion sire, Western Winter, Marshall That has the pedigree, and on yesterday’s evidence, the scope to be a contender in stakes races this season.

Weiho Marwing’s home yard at Ashburton has been quiet for a while with his Turffontein satellite yard more active but he was back with a bang yesterday with a smart double. Beaute Noire, having his first start for the yard for Green Street Bloodstock, landed the Blinkers Bar Maiden Plate comfortably under Marco van Rensburg. The second leg was a lot closer with The Rock prevailing by a piece of paper to edge out Kali’s King in the Itsarush.co.za Maiden Plate denying Ashburton colleague Duncan Howells a winner on his birthday.

As effective as a Mohammed Ali left-right combination to the chin, most exotic bet punters were on the canvas by the seventh. Dressed For Success, 5-1 in the official results but 10-1 with Betting World, triumphed under apprentice Dennis Schwarz for Paul Lafferty in the White Horse Function Room Handicap, the winner carrying a mere 48kg.

That was followed by favourite Humidor playing up in gate the before the Bartab No 56 @ Overport Handicap and being withdrawn by the course vet with Anthony Delpech helped off the back of the gate in severe pain.  Finally under way, the result was a stampede for the wire with the Gavin van Zyl-trained Bagger Vance (12-1) heading home a trio of outsiders.

Delpech made a quick recovery and was back in the saddle for Wild Irish in the last, the Track And Ball Gaming Handicap, but to no avail. Midanswer, the subject of some late market support, landed the knock-out blow with the Pick 6 paying upwards of R198 000.

Andrew Harrison