Author Archives: Brendan Pather

cape speed

Speed stamped with stamina

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Trainer Dean Kannemeyer, jockey Anthony Delpech and owner Lady Christine Laidlaw of Khaya Stables added a fourth Graded success to their tally this SA Champions Season when the progressive Mauritzfontein Stud-bred Cape Speed won the Gr 3 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville yesterday in cosy fashion.

Delpech,

Cape Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

Cape Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

who has now had an amazing seven Graded winners this Champions Season, rode an enterprising race from a tricky draw, taking his mount around runners to be handy. However, the progressive Ideal World three-year-old was still easily able to repel the challenge of runner up Deputy Jud and win by 0,25 lengths.  Three Balloons, Kitty’s Destiny and Storm Warning were next best.

This was Cape Speed’s third win in three outings since gelding.

Earlier, the Sean Tarry-trained Summerhill-bred Kahal filly Witchcraft had proved a point when winning the Gr 3 Track And Ball Oaks over 2400m by 1,5 lengths under S’Manga Khumalo from the Neil Bruss pair Flying Ice and Deputy Ryder. Witchcraft dictated in front and the odds-on favourite Nightingale was too far back but managed to finish fourth. Patchit Up Baby claimed the fifth place cheque.

The Vodacom Durban July supplementary entry The Centenary finished unplaced and her chances of making the final field look to be gone. Tarry had always regarded Witchcraft as an Oaks filly but in her chief target for the season, the Gr 1 SA Oaks, the race just did not pan out well and she finished unplaced.

David Thiselton

kangaroo jack

Kangaroo Jack still on the up

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The Gary Alexander-trained three-year-old Querari gelding Kangaroo Jack defied his 14/1 odds at Greyville on Friday night to win the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m in effortless fashion under Craig Zackey and out of the blue has become a serious Gr 1 Mercury Sprint possibility.

The Alexander team received a phone call one day from owner Joyce Wallace asking whether they would like to train this horse, who was bred by her late husband RB Wallace. It came as a nice surprise as they had never trained a horse for the Wallace family before. Kangaroo Jack duly arrived at the Alexander’s Turffontein yard as a young two-year-old having been pre-trained by Sharon Patterson.

Kangaroo Jack travelled down to Greyville on Friday morning. Assistant trainer Dean Alexander saddled him. The bay gelding glided down to the post as if he was on air and was the stand out.

He was dropped out from a wide draw and behind a strong pace showed an exceptional turn of foot in the straight. Coming from near the back he had hit the front under the hands by the 200m mark. He just required a few back handers from then onward to keep his mind on the job.

Kangaroo Jack (Nkosi Hlophe)

Kangaroo Jack (Nkosi Hlophe)

He passed the line 3,75 lengths clear of the Mike Bass-trained 10/1 shot Fly By Night, who pipped the Garth Puller-trained 25/1 shot Asstar for second. The Dennis Drier-trained second favourite, three-year-old Ferrie, completed the quartet.

Dean later described Kangaroo Jack as one who had been progressive from day one. The bay still looks to have scope for further improvement.

Kangaroo Jack was officially 2kg under sufferance with the Gr 1-winning mare Fly By Night, who was coming off a second place finish in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint just two weeks earlier. Therefore it will be no surprise to see him being given the maximum ten point merit rating raise to 110. The yard might now consider running him in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint Over the same course and distance in mid-July.

The favourite for Friday night’s race was Red Ray, who went down to post in eye-catching style. However, the long-strider’s momentum was affected by interference early in the straight and he was not persevered with after his chances of placing were gone.
The other runner coming out of the Tsogo Sun Sprint two weeks ago, Captain Alfredo, also failed to place.

David Thiselton

London Call (Nkosi Hlophe)

London Call has plenty in his favour

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The Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200, which will be run at Greyville tonight, is always one of the most exciting races of the SA Champions Season and is not a meeting to miss.

Sunday’s Track And Ball Derby and Oaks meeting will also appeal to the purist.

Watching the horses hare around the turn  in the Post Merchants, followed by the cavalry charge for home, is an exhilarating sight. However, it is never an easy race to analyse.

This year it is even more so, as it falls just two weeks after the Festival Of Speed, so a question is whether those that ran in the latter meeting have had sufficient time to recover.

London Call has only had one run over the Post Merchants course and distance and won with a bit in hand, despite carrying 61kg and giving decent types like Mr Roy and Executive Power lumps of weight. He has drawn perfectly in two, considering his natural pace coupled with his ability to find more gears, and Keagan de Melo knows him well. He will be fresher than most of the other runners and the only downside is his 101 mark falling near the bottom of one of the merit-rating bands, meaning he is officially 2,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted runner Fly By Night.

Sean Tarry would have made Buckland his first choice in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint field, but the horse was eliminated by the selection panel. Tarry would have preferred this race to be down the straight. However, Buckland will be fresher than those who did run in the Tsogo Sprint and is an up and coming three-year-old who is going places.

Ferrie is proving to be useful and the form of his last 1000m win on the poly is working out well. However, like Buckland he is 2,5kg under sufferance with Fly By Night.

Fly By Night has become enigmatic, but showed her well-being in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint, where she showed pace throughout and stayed on well for second. She is drawn well in five and high-flying MJ Byleveld keeps the ride.

Red Ray was said to be only 80% fit for the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, so did well to finish fourth. He has always been held in very high regard and Anton Marcus can help him overcome a tricky draw over his probable optimum trip, provided the race doesn’t come too soon.

The best weighted three-year-old is Kangaroo Jack, although even then he is 2kg under sufferance with the best in. He is a promising sort and immature looking, so still has plenty of scope for improvement.

Topweight Trip To Heaven will be a big runner if taking his place as he has speed, class and a fine turn of foot. Captain Alfredo has won on the Greyville poly and has a better chance at the weights than he did in the Tsogo Sun, where he showed his usual pace but could not find the necessary extra.

Consistent Aurum Pot was a close fourth in this race last year and although carrying 2kg more he is only 1kg under sufferance with Fly By Night. However, his wide draw makes it tough. Moofeed would be course and distance suited at best, but is still an entire and is coming off two poor runs. Belong To Me has a good record at Greyville, but has to bounce back and is not well weighted.

Amazing Strike has always been well regarded, but has a tough task at the weights and jumps from a wide draw. Asstar is the dark horse having beaten a good field last time despite the race not panning out well and likely needing it too. Old Em has good pace and a good draw, but is 1kg out with Fly By Night and this race is tough for a three-year-old filly.

The selection is London Call to beat Buckland and Ferrie with Fly By Night and Red Ray next best.

On Sunday Cape Speed makes appeal in the Gr 3 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m. He thrives in KZN and has won both of his starts since gelding. Now, for the first time, he tries the trip he has always looked likely to relish. He is officially a bit out at the weights, but is on the up. In form Anthony Delpech can help him negotiate a tricky draw of nine.

Kitty’s Destiny is out of a half-sister by Sportsworld to Cape Derby winner Floatyourboat, and his grandam is a half-sister to Champion Stayer Surfing Home, so he should also relish the trip and can prove himself better than his merit rating suggests. Disco Al will be defending his crown and jumps from pole position, although this is his second run after a rest.

In the Gr 3 Track And Ball Oaks, Gathering Fame flew up for second last time out in the Listed KRA East Coast Cup and will much prefer the Scottsville course, so is selected to beat the consistent Ma Choix and the classy staying type Gallica Rose, who was just touched off in this race last year.

David Thiselton

Follow Fayd’Herbe

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This week’s rain threatens to make the form book worth no more than a sodden mass of pulp at Kenilworth tomorrow where the ground has turned soft.

Ability to handle testing conditions will be crucial and poses a major question mark over Search Party, the forecast favourite for the Racing. It’s A Rush Pinnacle Stakes. The Brett Crawford runner went up eight points for his runaway win last time and that looked conservative considering how much he appeared to have in hand.

He hasn’t raced in the soft but his dam did and she didn’t like it. A horse’s action is generally considered to be the determining factor in ability to handle soft or heavy ground but heredity plays a significant part and it could pay to bet against this one.

Rodney, who won his maiden in the soft, is suggested as an alternative even though he has not raced since Met day. “He was a little bit lame behind and he had a break,” says Candice Robinson. “He is doing very well although he just might need it after all the rain.”

Grant van Niekerk rides him rather than Line Break who has superior form (he was beaten little more than two lengths in the Cape Flying) but apparently not too much should be read into this. Mrs Robinson made the riding arrangements rather giving the stable’s number one the choice.

Ground preferences apart, the race is wide open – at least in theory. If you ignore Winter Trade there is only 3kg between the best and worst on adjusted merit ratings. However Kingvoldt has won twice on soft or yielding going so the ground might encourage him to return to form while Tiger Tiger and Albarakah also have two soft-going successes.

Oceans Trip in the first has the benefit of experience – which can count even more than usual in the soft – and Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount may just be good enough. However two of the newcomers are worthy of note. Pillar Of Hercules is bred in the purple, being by Captain Al out of the 2010 KZN Fillies Guineas and Tibouchina winner Gibraltar Blue, and Elusive Path is a R675 000 Pathfork gelding out of a three-parts sister to Elusive Fort.

Fayd’Herbe can also win the next on Arctic Green who has stable companion Epona and Greg Ennion’s Sign Your Name to beat.

Omaha Tribe looked a certain future winner on debut, coming from last to run on well into fourth against some useful older maidens like Mega Secret. Not even a bad draw may stop MJ Byleveld’s mount in race three.

 

Michael Clower

 

Abashiri (Liesl King)

Zechner back on Abashiri

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Karl Zechner is back aboard his SA Triple Crown-winning partner Abashiri after Hong Kong-based superstar Dougie Whyte had originally been declared for the ride.

Meanwhile, Abashiri has been allotted the heaviest weight a three-year-old has ever been asked to carry in the big race, 59kg, after the weights were dragged up 2,5kg across the board due to the scratching of Legal Eagle.

Trainer Mike Azzie said, “Dougie said initially he would be able to fly in on the Monday before the race, but the Hong Kong Jockey Club would not release him and he was then going to be able to fly out on the Thursday. However, due to some jockey suspensions he was then required to ride in Hong Kong on the Friday, meaning he would fly out that evening and then catch a connecting flight to Durban on the morning of the July. He has done this sort of thing before and when he told me the jet lag would not affect him I believed him. However, a flight delay anywhere along the line would mean we could end up without a jockey. We have enough pressure on us already to have to add more by running that risk. I am sorry for Dougie, but Karl will be based in Durban for the next two-and-a-half weeks, so will be with the horse every day until the race.”

Abashiri (Liesl King)

Abashiri (Liesl King)

Zechner has partnered Abashiri five times for five victories, including all three legs of the coveted SA Triple Crown. He copped criticism from some quarters for his ride in the last leg, the SA Derby, despite getting the job done and in some people’s opinions riding a fine race.

Abashiri’s relative weight will not be affected by the dragging up of the weights as all horses’ weights will be going up by 2,5kg and the bottom weight will now be 54,5kg.

He will in fact be the only three-year-old in the field who is not under sufferance.

However, Azzie was still concerned about him having to carry the welter burden of 59kg and pointed to horses like Jackson, whom he said was not the same horse after carrying 56kg in the race, while the great Horse Chestnut was scratched when asked to carry too much weight.

Azzie admitted “If I owned Abashiri I would not be running him. I am not saying he can’t win the race, we are going to have him fit and well enough, but he has his whole career ahead of him and personally I would have waited for him to strengthen and furnish and bring him back here as a four-year-old.”

However, he added it was owner Adriaan Van Vuuren’s life-long dream to win the July.

Van Vuuren, who dotes on all of his horses, has shown himself to be one of South African racing’s most passionate owners and it is understandable he doesn’t want to miss the opportunity of experiencing his beloved Abashiri  running in the country’s premier horseracing event.

David Thiselton

St Tropez (Nkosi Hlophe)

Relief after Eagle is withdrawn

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Many jockeys will have breathed a sigh of relief when the worst kept secret in racing was confirmed early yesterday morning with the news that Legal Eagle was scratched from the Vodacom Durban July. His scratching means that all the weights will be increased by 2,5kg.

Sean Tarry had indicated as early as April, after Legal Eagle had won the Premier’s Champions Challenge, that the July was not on the gelding’s agenda. But Tarry played a smart tactical game by leaving Legal Eagle in the mix until after the weights had been published on Tuesday and it was only a matter of when he played his trump card.

If Tarry had scratched Legal Eagle before publication of the weights his other runner, French Navy, would have been allotted top weight of 60kg but all the three-year-olds, barring Abashiri would have been set to carry 53kg.

By leaving Legal Eagle in until after publication of the weights, French Navy still goes up to 60kg but the three-year-olds copped another 2,5kg and this means that all of the three-year-old males with the exception of Abashiri will carry 55,5kg including ruling favourite Black Arthur giving those runners who match their handicap rating a big advantage over their younger rivals.

The bottom weight horses will carry 54,5kg and this includes three-year-old filly Bela-Bela.

However, even though the weights have been bumped up, of the three-year-olds only Abashiri is not under sufferance.

What the increase in weights does do is open the field for the jockeys as most of the senior riders were unlikely to make 53kg.

St Tropez (Nkosi Hlophe)

St Tropez (Nkosi Hlophe)

One jockey who will be particularly relieved is Anton Marcus although he was likely privy to what was on the cards. With Legal Eagle out and the weights increased, he now has the option on six Markus and Ingrid Jooste owned horses in Rabada, Deo Juvente, The Conglomerate, Disco Al, St Tropez and Rainy Day Blues, not all certain to get a run however, but St Tropez his most likely choice.

Also scratched yesterday were the Tarry-trained Prospect Strike and Jubilee Line, leaving Mike de Kock in the unfamiliar position of having only a single entry, namely the filly The Centenary, whose chances of making the July will hang on her winning the G3 Gold Circle Oaks at Scottsville on Sunday and even that may not be enough.

With bookmakers probably already having already factored in the likely withdrawal of Legal Eagle, there were only marginal changes to the betting with Black Arthur shortening half-a-point to 7-2 and French Navy steady at 7-1.

Latest ante-post betting for the R4.5million Gr1 Vodacom Durban July to be run at Greyville on Saturday, July 2:

7-2 Black Arthur, 6-1 Marinaresco, 7-1 French Navy, 15-2 Bela-Bela, 11-1 Abashiri, It’s My Turn, 13-1 Solid Speed, St Tropez, 14-1 Mambo Mime, Rabada, 25-1 Deo Juvente, Dynamic, 28-1 Rocketball, Master Sabina, 30-1 Ten Gun Salute, The Conglomerate, Trophy Wife, 35-1 Negroamaro, 50-1 Samurai Blade, 66-1 Balance Sheet, Saratoga Dancer, Judicial, 80-1 New Predator, 100-1 and upwards others.

Andrew Harrison

Silver Mountain (Liesl King)

Silver Mountain stays in KZN

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Mike Bass’s Cape Fillies Guineas winner Silver Mountain is to stay on in Durban for the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province on Vodacom July day following her return to form in last Saturday’s Tibouchina Stakes.

Candice Robinson said yesterday: “Silver Mountain was unlucky not to win the Tibouchina. She was badly squeezed shortly after the start and nearly fell. She ended up at the back and chasing wide before the turn.”

Silver Mountain, who would have returned to Cape Town had she not run well, was beaten little more than a head by Alexis. Mrs Robinson confirmed that fourth-placed Inara will also be in the Garden Province line-up.

The stable’s July second favourite Marinaresco joined the rest of the Bass KZN string on Sunday after a 24-hour journey from Cape Town.

Michael Clower

RIP George Scott

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“Uncle George” Scott died on Tuesday night after a short illness.

The 84-year-old was still training at the time of his death having first sent out runners 43 years ago.

The Highveld-based trainer was admired not only as a fine horseman, but also as a colourful individual.

His winner’s enclosure interviews not only gave a clue to his determination and professionalism, but were also laced with humorous innuendo.

He passed his love of the game on to others including his nephews Colin, who trains successfully out of Summerveld, and Rob, current CEO of TellyTrack.

The last winner he trained was the Bosworth Stud-bred Global One filly Samarra who won a maiden over 1160m at Turffontein on Christmas Eve under S’Manga Khumalo.

His best horse in recent times was the sprinter Fair Brutus, a gelding who won eight races and did the Gr 2 Senor Santa Sprint and Listed Man O’ War Sprint double within two weeks at Newmarket in 2007.

Scott began his training career in Bloemfontein and became the competitive centre’s leading trainer. At the time of his death he was based at Turffontein where he had 25 boxes.

His daughter is overseas at present so funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Legal Eagle out, weights move up

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Topweight Legal Eagle has been scratched from the Vodacom Durban July the day after the publishing of the weights.

French Navy, who was originally set to carry 57,5kg, will become the new topweight carrying 60kg and all of the other weights will be dragged up accordingly by 2,5kg.

SA Triple Crown hero Abashiri will now carry 59kg.

However, his weight relative to other horses will not have changed and he will in fact still be the only three-year-old in the race who is not under sufferance.

The bottom weight horses will carry 54,5kg and this includes the fancied three-year-old filly Bela-Bela.

All of the three-year-old males with the exception of Abashiri will carry 55,5kg and this includes the ruling favourite Black Arthur.

David Thiselton

nicklaus brz

Nicklaus captures Winter Challenge mile

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Ashburton trainer Duncan Howells captured the R200,000 KZN Winter Challenge 1600 on Saturday with the Brazilian-bred five-year-old gelding Nicklaus, but the chances of his classy but luckless Mambo In Seattle gelding Saratoga Dancer making the final Vodacom Durban July field were dealt a blow as he endured more bad luck in the Gr 3 Cup Trial.

Glen Kotzen and Charles Laird won the other two Winter Challenge finals, while Dean Kannemeyer walked away with a handsome cheque for winning the series.

In the Cup Trial, a handicap over 1800m, Saratoga Dancer had to jump from the widest draw of all, but Muzi Yeni was able to find cover quickly near the back of the field after dropping him out. However, the slow fractions set by eventual winner Exit Here did him no favours as he was unable to use his sizeable stride. Then just as he was winding up into that stride in the straight towards the outside, The Conglomerate switched outward around a horse and leaned on Saratoga Dancer for much of the remainder of the straight, thereby affecting his momentum at a crucial stage.

Saratoga Dancer crossed the line fourth, beaten a head by The Conglomerate and 1,35 lengths by Exit Here. It is unlikely to be enough to warrant a July berth considering he ran off a relatively low 95 merit rating. However, the stipendiaries duly awarded him third place after Howells had objected.

Nicklaus (Nkosi Hlophe)

Nicklaus (Nkosi Hlophe)

Howells said he would still keep Saratoga Dancer in the July mix with the slim hope of being given the nod by the panel. He otherwise might go for the consolation race, the Gr 3 Delta airlines 2200, where the horse has once again drawn wide in 40 out of 48 nominations. Howells said all things considered Saratoga Dancer had run “an absolute cracker” on Saturday. He remains an eye catching horse and is definitely still one to follow.

Howells gained consolation when the Steven Chetty-owned 78 merit-rated Nicklaus won the Winter Challenge 1600 from a pole position draw. The 12/1 shot ran on well under Yeni to beat Royal Life by a whisker. He thereby spoilt a party as the latter had been backed in to 22/10 favouritism. Cat In Command was a further short-head back in a thrilling finish.

The KZN Winter Challenge 2000 was next up and also produced an exciting finish. Kotzen had been confident of success as his three-year-old Go Deputy gelding Rap Attack had run a good third to Royal Life over 1600m in his previous start after being dropped five points to a competitive merit rating of 80.

Rap Attack (Nkosi Hlophe)

Rap Attack (Nkosi Hlophe)

This was his first attempt at 2000m and he built up a big lead in the straight after quickening from a handy position. He held on from a flying Live On The Moon to win by 0,25 lengths, converting odds of 6/1. Kotzen felt it to be an encouraging run by the Brian “Buffalo Bill” Burnard-owned horse, because jockey Keagan De Melo, who rode a double on the day, had not expected him to quicken so well at the top of the straight and could only have learnt from the ride.

The Charles Laird-trained and Markus and Ingrid Jooste-owned three-year-old Kahal gelding Top Form led from the off in the Winter Challenge 1200. Challengers appeared from all quarters in the straight but he was kept going in master class style by Anton Marcus, who only used the stick after passing the 200m mark and chiefly in order to keep the horse on a straight course.

Top Form, winning for only the second time despite his lofty 86 merit rating, was a former rig, and felt it. Therefore, he could now progress further and Laird believes he will be even better on the poly.

Kannemeyer earned a cheque of R28,000 as his consistent Western Winter colt Canigao accumulated the most points, 33, during the series. Greg and Karen Anthony earned the second place cheque thanks to Poivre and Fantasy Art secured the third place cheque for trainer Tony Rivalland.

Kannemeyer also had a lot to be happy about earlier in the meeting. The CTS Premier Yearling Sale R3,7 million graduate Last Winter, chosen by Kannemeyer and his trusted bloodstock agent Jehan Malherbe, overcame a wide draw to win a 1200m Maiden Juvenile Plate by two lengths under Anthony Delpech on debut. Kannemeyer described the Western Winter colt as a beautifully balanced horse with a good temperament and a lot of class.

“He is starting to fill out nicely, but I might sit on him until the spring as he will make a nice three-year-old,” he said.

David Thiselton