Author Archives: Devonne Govender

All eyes on Belgarion

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David Thiselton

Record-seeking trainer Justin Snaith scratched L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate winner Jet Dark from the Vodacom Durban July yesterday and other significant scratchings were the reigning Equus Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding and the promising Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Puerto Manzano. 

Meanwhile, Snaith said he would be doing everything he could to preserve Do It Again’s current merit rating in the build up to the Vodacom Durban July, so the six-year-old is thus avoiding the World Sports Betting 1900 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, the race where reigning July champion Belgarion will be making his first SA Champions Season appearance.

Snaith said last week Jet Dark’s 130 merit rating was the  chief off-putting factor for the July and he duly decided over the weekend to scratch.

Jet Dark is the highest rated three-year-old in the country at present and as things stand would have had to carry 56kg in the July and give the like of Linebacker (124) and Kommetdieding (120) 3kg apiece.

Snaith said it would not be in the horse’s interests to carry that high a weight in the tough Grade 1 handicap but did not hide his opinion of the Trippi colt by saying, “He is too good to run in the July.”

Snaith believes the 2021/2022 Cape Summer Season is going to be one of the best ever as he predicts the Covid-19 vaccine roll outs worldwide will enable travel once again. He thus plans to race all of his main contenders for that season not more than twice in the SA Champions Season.” 

Jet Dark put up an outstanding recent racecourse gallop at Hollywoodbets Greyville which put him on track for his chief SA Champions Season mission, the Grade 1 weight for age Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge on June 12.

Snaith believes Do It Again, who will make a second attempt to become the first horse to win the July three times, will likely run this Saturday. However, it will be in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m where he will be the best weighted runner and will thus be unlikely to incur any merit rating raise even if he wins. 

Snaith told Racing News Social TV over the weekend he had not been bullish last year when Do It Again had to carry 59.5kg and give the like of Belgarion and Got The Greenlight 6.5kg apiece. However, he said he was “quietly bullish” at present with him carrying 57.5kg as things stand. He described Do It Again as the “purest athlete” among the country’s thoroughbreds, one who “glides” down to the start and added that if he brought his best form then “Rainbow Bridge and everybody else is in trouble.” 

He continued, “We just have to get him 100% right inside, which I think we have done.”

Snaith said the six-year-old had had niggles but added the “beautiful grass paddocks” he had built around his Summerveld yard, where he was able to relax and graze, were “very important for his ulcers.”

Snaith concluded, “He is doing really, really well, I think he is a massive runner.”

Belgarion is also in fine shape at present but Snaith said he would only be at about 80%  for the WSB 1900. He said it would be a springboard into the July. He said a lot of his horses were still behind “the 8-ball” but that was exactly where he wanted them to be.

He concluded, “You see a lot of horses walking around at the moment like superstars but our aim is to have them looking like superstars on the day of the July.”

July entries due next week

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First entries for this year’s Vodacom Durban July were initially due in by 11am yesterday morning. However, because of the National Yearling Sales, Gold Circle made a late decision to reschedule first entries to Tuesday, April 20 with names being announced on Tellytrack after the first race at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday, April 21.

Belle Of Belize the one to beat

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David Thiselton

The Vaal has a meeting today where there look to be some fair opportunities for punters.  The first race is a Juvenile Plate over 1000m and the only winner in the line up, Arctic Skyline, looks the one to beat of those to have run as she showed good gatespeed and pace last time over this trip and  stayed on at the end. She does have to give 3kg to all of the other fillies in the race including On Cue who also has the advantage of a 4kg claimer aboard which in real terms gives her a 7kg weight advantage.Therefore On Cue will be a threat as she was up with the pace and stayed on last time for a 3,25 length third over this trip although her time was not great. Of the first timers Voltron has been backed into favourite. She is by the Listed-winning Jet Master stallion Lance out of a one-time winning Jay Peg mare over 1200m.  In the second race over 1800m Tree Tumbo is a typically improving four-year-old gelding by Silvano who should produce his usual resolute finish. Nartje has substance and plenty of scope for improvement so has been selected to run second having caught the eye last time running second over this trip to the smart Second Base. Ballet Shoes is easily the best weighted horse officially. However, she was beaten three lengths by Tree Tumbo when they last met over 2000m and faces him on the same terms. On the other hand she will prefer this shorter trip.In the first third over 1600m Mauby was doing her best work late last time when a one length third over this trip in first-time binkers. She has scope and can now start coming into her own so is the one to beat. Aryaam does not have as much scope as Mauby but on pedigree, being by Dynasty out of an Asiatic Boy mare who won five races from 1600m to 2000m, she should relsh the step up in trip and should be included. Both of these horses have low draws so the risk averse might want to include others in their exotics in case low numbers are a disadvantage on the day. Electric Boots can earn if reproducing his second over 1700m in early November.  Winston’s Nanny is improving and can also be considered for all exotics after moving up over 1800m last time in the soft not finding exra and now dropping back to 1600m. Gypsy Magic has shown glimpses of ability too.In the first leg of the Jackpot Belle Of Belize is made the best of the day. She is a typically rangy daughter of Ideal World and was caught wide throughout last time around the turn over 1400m which blunted her finish. She now has a high draw down the straight, which is sometimes favourable, and this big filly should relish the step up in trip. Rosaprima stayed on well in her penultimate start over 1400m so was a touch disappointing when going over 1600m last time and finishing a five length fourth. However, she did have a low draw that day and perhaps her higher draw this time might see her involved in the finish as her pedigree suggests she should relish the step up from 1400m. She looks the only real threat.    In the fifth race over 2400m Sophia’s First stayed on late over 1800m last time and might enjoy this trip. She is by Noble Tune. who imparts stamina, but her dam by Doowaly was a sprinter and her only previous runner, Merengo by Flying The Flag, is also a sprinter so there are some doubts. Masaaken has always struck as a staying type and was too handy last time when  fiishing behind Sophia’s First. Attentive finished second in the soft over this trip last time but he would have been vulnerale to any horse with a finish that day as he looked to have had enough by the end. Ball Rolling and Wishionaire are worth including in the sort of race which could produce an upset. In the sixth over 1400m Rio’s Winter has class and will enjoy the step up in trip from 1200 and would also prefer being ridden more conservatively than she was last time as she packs a strong finish. Querari Ferrari is a scopey sort who could still improve. Christmas Flower does not look a straight forward horse but has some class so can’t be ignored. In the seventh over 1400m Bold Jazz drops back down to 1400m and his 2,25 length fourth to the still unbeaten Paisley Park in the Listed Secretariat Stakes reads well , especially as he was giving the latter 2kg. He was also only 1,75 lengths behind the smart Copper Mountain, from whom he received only 2,5kg.The eighth is a competitive sprint and Golden Belle is the selection as she is capable of top class performances but is none too reliable. Sarah, Risk Taker, Before The Dawn, Double “O” Eight and Pool Party are also capable of winning.      

RAINBOW BRIDGE WAS WAY SUPERIOR

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David Thiselton

The Eric Sands-trained Rainbow Bridge confirmed the form of last year’s Sun Met at Kenilworth yesterday when easily winning this year’s big 2000m Grade 1 weight for age event, which is now called the Cape Town Met, under Luke Ferraris.

Ferraris had thus won one of South Africa’s big three races in the same month he completed his apprenticeship, a rare feat indeed.  

Without last year’s winner One World in the contest Rainbow Bridge could afford to be eased and switched in the straight and still win by 1,50 lengths.

The Vodacom Durban July winner Belgarion proved no match for him at level weights.

Turning for home second last a dream gap opened for Belgarion in the straight and after hitting the front 150m from home Richard Fourie must have believed he was about to break his Met duck.

However, his heart must have sunk when he glanced across at the 80m mark and seen the low-flying Rainbow Bridge.

In fact, the six-year-old Ideal World gelding was treating the rest of the field like B division handicappers. He came into the straight in last place and then got stuck behind Golden Ducat and African Night Sky, who were not making any inroads. Ferraris faced a crisis because Do It Again was outside of this pair and still behind them. However, the youngster, as cool as a cucumber, eased Rainbow Bridge slightly before switching him outward. Do It Again helped his cause by moving forward to pass Golden Ducat.

However, by the time Rainbow Bridge had reached the outside he was already at the 300m mark and Belgarion was at this stage well clear of him and accelerating.

Had the bird already flown, because, after all, this was a weight for age Grade 1 and not a Wednesday afternoon B division handicap?  

Well, it was difficuIt to tell because the TV producer had decided to zoom in on Belgarion and the inside horses.

The countrywide supporters of Rainbow Bridge would not have known how he was faring from the 350m mark until appearing again in the picture at the 50m mark moving like an express train. He appeared to be doing it effortlessly too.

It is always easy to find the key to the win after the race.

In Rainbow Bridge’s previous two attempts at the course and distance he had won the 2019 Met and finished a narrow second in last year’s Met, beaten only by the top class One World and finishing 3,50 lengths clear of the rest of a field which had been  jam-packed with Grade 1 winners and champions.

Then in the Vodacom Durban July over 2200m he had completed the first 2000m in a time that was slightly faster than the legendary London News’ course record for 2000m set way back in 1996.

The only question mark really had been the trend of him coming out second in dogfights for the line. However, this is likely just a true form statistic as it would be hyper-critical to ever question this consistent horse’s courage or attitude.

Ferraris said afterwards he had dropped Rainbow Bridge out because of his tendency to over-race. He was anxious for a few moments after he had broken well but said once he had reined him in he had settled “like a lamb”. He spoke of the tremendous acceleration the powerfully built bay had displayed after being given his head.

Sands had once again delivered a top horse in peak condition for a big race and his reputation as a master conditioner was confirmed.

Owner Mike Rattray will have real hope of an elusive Vodacom Durban July victory now as it is likely that it was just the too handy tactics in a blisteringly fast run race that had cost Rainbow Bridge last year.    

The dam of the Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-bred gelding, Halfway To Heaven, is on track for an unprecedented third successive Equus champion broodmare award.  

Sovereign Spirit, who started 100-1, had shown before his capability of running on strongly when held up near the back. However, the pace of lesser races was usually against him. Running against top horses in a small field suited him down to the ground and he ran on into a meritorious four length third despite 100/1 odds. He finished amidst three horses rated 130 or more so his merit rating of 106 is going to take a knock.

Do It Again stayed on for a five length fourth, as opposed to his seven length ninth last year. He is clearly not the same horse he was in his 2018/2019 Equus Horse Of The Year season.

The only three-year-old in the race Princess Calla stayed on for a 5,40 length fifth.

Golden Ducat was a disappointing 5,80 length sixth. In retrospect he would have been better going forward from his draw of two instead of being held up because in a race run in a time 1.03 seconds slower than last year he began over-racing a touch early and he was unable to accelerate effectively in the straight.

The other disappointment was Queen Supreme, who had traveled all the way back to Johannesburg after her impressive Cartier Paddock Stakes victory. She had to be used to a certain extent to overcome her wide draw and get into a handy position. However, she was never traveling well and finished second last, beaten 11,30 lengths.

Eden Roc packed with class

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David Thiselton

The Vaal stages a competitive meeting today and this is illustrated by how tough most legs of the Pick 6 are.

In the first leg over 1400m, Wisteria Walk is the best weighted and runs over an ideal trip. In this small field down the straight she will be closer to the pace than she was when dropped out and running unplaced last time out in the Grade 2 Joburg Fillies and Mares Spring Challenge over 1450m.

She has not run since that event on October 3 so is unlikely to be at her peak, but her class could pull her through. Sidonie likely went a touch too fast early last time out over 1600m but she still stayed on for a fair fourth in a good field. She could appreciate the drop in trip and will be dangerous if able to dictate.

Querari Ferrari’s run on Saturday over this trip heralded a form return and she is second best in it the weights so will be a threat. Empress Josephine ran on well last time out over this course and distance and is right up with Querari Ferrari at the weights. Invisible was beaten 1,75 lengths when receiving 1kg from Wisteria Walk over 1450m last September but now has to face her at level weights. Those five make most appeal.

In the next race over 1100m, Persica has a shout if able to find a nice position with cover as she has a good turn of foot. The Fifth Wave’s chances were compromised by a low draw last time over 1160m and she has a shout here. May Queen disappointed last time over 1200m but on her best form there is nothing between her and Persica at the weights and she will enjoy this trip. Those three make most appeal but it is a wide open race and more can be included.

In the seventh race Eden Roc has a fine chance on the form of his Merchants runner-up finish last time. He would probably prefer 1200m but has never actually tried this trip before and is versatile and classy so should go close. Bold Ransom is a progressive sprinter who was beaten a head by Eden Roc in the Merchants and is now 1.5kg worse off so he looks held but is nevertheless the chief threat.

In the eighth Dubawi Princess has always had promise and was not disgraced last time from an unfavourable draw. Bella Black, who is much improved, was just behind her from an equally disadvantageous draw. Desert Pride is better than her last run and must also be included. Brooklyn Bridge is knocking hard and is 3kg better off with Desert Pride for a 2,75 length beating. Laetitia’s Angel drops down to the trip of her last win. 

The last race is a competitive fillies and mares handicap over 1200m. Olivia S has run well in both of her Gauteng starts since moving from Kimberley and now has her third run after an eight-month layoff. The well bed Frankel filly Lagertha is still a maiden but comes off two good 1000m runs against the boys and she should appreciate the step up in trip. Royal Lily has fallen to an attractive merit rating and although she has become disappointing the yard are in form and an up turn in her form here should see her go close. Hear The Trumpet is none to consistent but if reproducing her penultimate run over course and distance she can be involved. The Villa Grand is also an interesting runner stepped back up to this trip. Her previous two runs over this distance were against much stronger opposition. Samoa and Emerald Crest have to be considered too.

Eagle Alley to soar once again

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Andrew Harrison

Sean Tarry seems to have unearthed another potentially top class galloper in the regally named Eagle Alley. Racing in the familiar Chris van Niekerk silks in partnership with Bernard Kantor, Eagle Alley has a pedigree out of the top draw being by champion stallion Silvano out of a Sadlers Wells mare.

Given his pedigree and his first two trips to the race course, Eagle Alley appears to be above average winning well first time out of the maidens to keep his clean sheet. He faces some tough older campaigners when he lines up over the straight mile at The Vaal this afternoon but will be a popular exotic bet banker on a card littered with potential landmines.

After the untimely death of popular trainer Romeo Francis, a few of his small string ended up in St John Gray’s yard, including Romeo’s Magic and Soul Of Wit.

Romeo’s Magic made major improvement first time out for his new stable and although Craig Zackey puts up 0.5kg over weight the gelding has a light weight that could see him give Eagle Alley a fright.

Gray has a number of outstanding chances on the card and saddles Soul Of Wit in the last. The mare has had a single outing for her new stable and improved nicely. She looks primed for this event, however, it will not be easy. Alec Laird sends out Contrail who has had three outings since returning from a long lay-off. He made smart improvement last time out and appears to have come to hand but he obviously has issues so it may not be wise to rely too heavily on him. The Dorrie Sham-trained Back To Black hardly ever runs a bad race and goes well over this trip. He stayed on well in the soft last run while the former KZN galloper Heart Of A Legend is always game and has done well over course and distance.

Mike Azzie’s runner White Fang faces a seasoned maiden field in the card opener but the gelding made a smart improvement when trying to make all the running at only his second start. He goes and extra 400m here but looks capable of further improvement with Hewitson keeping the ride. Ball Rolling has had a number of chances but does stay the trip and was possibly a little unlucky with his rider losing his stick when second to Passing Storm.

Paul Peter saddles Western Fort in a tricky first leg of the PA but a further drop in trip could play in his favour. West Fort has been trying further since being gelded but was run out of it late when sent out favourite for his last start over 2000m and the drop to 1800m could be what the doctor ordered. Seattle Force and Duke Of Spin both return from lengthy breaks. Seattle Force is back on the Highveld and is way better than his last two over much further and can do better this trip. Duke Of Spin has been a touch disappointing but is useful on his day and goes straight over ground suggesting that he’s racing fit.

St John Gray could get the Pick 6 off to a good start as Nabeela has made big improvement with blinkers and a tongue-tie and was a touch unlucky last run with a slipped saddle. Her last win was over course and distance with Hewitson up and she has a strong chance in what is a competitive race. Fsquadron, Palace Green and Littlewood are others that warrant serious consideration.

Gray sends out Liverpool Legend in the fourth who has been close-up at recent starts and was only outpaced late when trying a little further last time out.  S’Manga Khumalo takes over from an apprentice and with a light weight should be right there again. Dice The Bullet has yet to run a bad race and stayed on well when runner-up last time out. She was raced handy that day and similar tactics over today’s trip should suit. Rocky Path adds to Gray’s chances and she likes to race handy. With master judge of pace Piere Strydom aboard she should at least be competitive. Rabia The Rebel is obviously as sound as a bell and should also be superbly fit as she raced six times in the last two months. She took on stronger last start and only weakened late.

The fifth is a wide open handicap sprint. Chief Of State was reported not striding out last run but only tired late. With a top 2.5kg claimer aboard he rates a strong chance. Epic Dream was touched off by Singfonico when last they met and is now 1kg better off. Singfonico has since run well in top company and Corne Spies is never shy to back them up quickly. Visiway has excellent form in blinkers but may just prefer it a furlong further even though he shows good early toe.

Any Highveld meeting is seldom complete without Muzi Yeni visiting the winner’s enclosure and he gets a chance on Touch Of Fate for Clinton Binda. The gelding has early toe and goes well for Muzi Yeni. Binda has a chance of a 1-2 with King’s Road. He has patchy form but can put it together on his day helped by the ever-competitive Jason Gates.

Rainbow Bridge in a good space.

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David Thiselton

Eric Sands will give Rainbow Bridge his final sprint up ahead of Saturday’s Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate this morning (Thursday).

Rainbow Bridge’s equally high-profile stablemate and half-brother Golden Ducat had his final sprint up yesterday morning (Wednesday) ahead of the Grade 2 Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy over 1800m.

The ride on Rainbow Bridge is retained by Luke Ferraris, who finished a narrow second in his first ride on him in the Grade 2 WSB Green Point Stakes over 1600m. 

National champion jockey Warren Kennedy takes over the ride on Golden Ducat from Donovan Dillon.

Kennedy opted to be located in Cape Town for the month of January according to the lockdown restrictions and this was chiefly in order to maintain his partnership with Equus Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding.

Dillon had a hard decision to make as he adores Golden Ducat but he informed Sands timeously of his decision to remain in KZN, where he gets plenty of rides. Dillon still travelled to Cape Town to gallop Golden Ducat last week.

On the same day Rainbow Bridge galloped with a sprinter.

Sands said, “He never quite got to the sprinter but finished full of running.”

He added, “Golden Ducat galloped on his own and in retrospect I should have maybe galloped him with a companion as he loafed a little.”

Sands continued, “After his sprint up today Golden Ducat’s recovery showed him to be not quite at his peak but he has come on in leaps and bounds since his comeback run (December 2 1600m).”

He added, “It is pretty much the same with Rainbow Bridge but we are wary of his second run back in the past tending to be a bit flat.”

The Queen’s Plate has eight runners and Justin Snaith has half of them which some might view as giving him a tactical edge.

However, Sands said, “He has four runners but he can’t have four winners, only one horse can win.”

Sands said he would keep his tactics under his hat but elaborated, “I will look at the field and assess what will go to the front and what will go handy and then make a decision.”

He will do the same for the Premier Trophy. 

Golden Ducat was beaten in his comeback run and Sands disagreed that he should have been taken to the front.

He said, “He would have tired in his first run back over a mile carrying a lot of weight. He looked a blinder but they must enjoy their first run back, you cannot be too hard on them.”

Golden Ducat is odds-on to land the Premier Trophy, which is over the same trip as the Grade 1 Champions Cup, where he beat a number of big guns at the end of last season.

Sands said, “He does have to give weight away but is very capable and will give a good account of himself.”

He concluded about the Queen’s Plate, “It is a very tough field with the like of Belgarion and Do It Again running and Cirillo is not out of it either.”

Rainbow Bridge, whom Sands believes is at his best over 2000m, has finished third in both of his attempts at the prestigious weight for age mile.

Sands also has a runner in the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, Driving Miss Daisy.

He said, “She finished runner up last year but the defending champion Queen Supreme is Northern Hemisphere-bred so is effectively six months more mature this year. Driving Miss Daisy wasn’t given the best of rides in my opinion in her last two starts in KZN although it is easy to be a grandstand jockey. She is hard to assess as she doesn’t give away a lot at home, she is a lazy cow, but she does have the ability.”

Both Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat jump from draw five.

Driving Miss Daisy jumps from draw eight and Morne Winnaar rides.   

NEW LOCKDOWN LEVEL 3 – RACING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

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The National Horseracing Authority confirms that it has given careful and urgent consideration to the contents of the President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address last night, which effectively placed South Africa under NEW adjusted Level 3 Lockdown effective today, 29 December 2020.

In keeping with its mandate to safeguard the wellbeing of its stake holders and interested parties, the NHA shall continue to align its racing behind closed doors protocols in a responsible and robust manner so  as  to ensure consistency and that Horseracing can continue at minimal risk to all of its participants. Consequently, the regulations and protocols that were instituted before the re-commencement of Racing on 1 June 2020 will be adopted with immediate effect. These include, but are not limited to:-

  1. Only persons in possession of an Essential Service Permit will be allowed entrance onto Racecourse property.  This return to “Racing Behind Closed Doors” is necessary to limit the gathering of people and to minimise risk to the Essential Service Providers that will sustain the Industry during this period. The Permits that were previously issued by the NHA are timeless and thus are still active.
  • Riders are to be domiciled in one region of their choice for the month of January 2021 and are to relocate to this Province if so required, prior to 4 January 2021. Once a Rider has ridden in a Centre from 4 January 2021, he will be limited to ride in the Centre for the remainder of the month.
  • Field sizes will be restricted to 14 runners, with 16 runners being permitted for Listed and Graded Races.
  • Sweat Box facilities remain strictly off limits.
  • The minimum riding weight remains at 52 kg in Handicap races.
  • The final event on any day will be scheduled to start by 19:00.
  • Any persons with comorbidities shall not be able to attend.
  • The proven non-pharmaceutical measures of wearing of masks, hand sanitizing/washing for at least 20 seconds and social distancing of at least 1,5m apart, is critical and the Chief Compliance Officer, Mr Arnold Hyde, together with his team shall ensure same is done throughout a race meeting.  Under the new regulations, the wearing of masks in public is now mandatory.  If a person is caught not wearing a mask, on conviction they are liable for a fine and/or be imprisoned for up to six months.  

With this second wave, the new variant of this virus is more potent and spreads faster with infections climbing at alarming an rate and people becoming more sick than previously.

Quote from the President last night:

“Unless we act now and unless we act decisively, the number of new infections will far exceed what we experienced during the first wave and thousands more people will lose their lives.”

The two month period that our Industry was shut down between 27 March until 31 May 2020 is still fresh in our memories and this should remind us of the NEED of individual responsibility which shall go a long way in ensuring the growth and sustainability of the horseracing Industry.

The NHA will provide an update around 18 January 2021, based on the President’s address to the nation prior to 15 January 2021.

Vee Moodley

Chief Executive NHA

KANNEMEYER YARD ROCKS – NINTH CAPE GUINEAS WIN

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David Thiselton

Dean Kannemeyer’s fine horsemanship and loyalty to the underrated jockey Grant Behr were behind the shock win of Russian Rock in Saturday’s Grade 1 Cape Guineas. It was Dean’s sixth win of the prestigious race and the yard’s ninth as his father Peter also won it three times.

Kannemeyer said about the Klawervlei Stud-bred grey colt by Pomodoro, “He is claustrophobic and had begun box walking, so when spring came around I built him a new box in the paddock which allowed him to go out and eat when he wanted to. He became a completely different horse.”

However, the other problem which needed solving was his soft mouth, which had caused him to throw his head up and get the tongue over the bit in a 1400m race at Durbanville on October 17 and he then threw his head up again over 1200m on December 2.

Kannemeyer fitted a softer bit piece and his instructions to Behr were to get the horse’s head down and settled.

Russian Rock only threw his head up for a stride or two down the back straight and he was otherwise settled although he did take a strong hold.

Kannemeyer described the pace as steady and consistent, which aided his cause.

Russian Rock has stamina in his pedigree and had proved his speed in his previous start, so when he reached the top of the straight on the back of a perfect passage in a slow run race he was suddenly an interesting proposition. His in-running odds would have been a lot shorter than his 100/1 starting odds.

It was no surprise to see the Vaughan Marshall-trained Linebacker emerge as the likely winner half way down the straight as his form should have seen him in the top three in the betting rather than the 33/1 offered by some bookmakers. He is a big rangy type who was always going to appreciate the long straight of the New Course and Donovan Dillon had managed to relax him despite being caught wide from a wide draw.

However, it would have been a surprise for most to see Russian Rock appearing on the scene full of running.

He was even able to afford to be snatched back and switched when sandwiched at the 250m mark.

The latter occurrence was due to the hanging outward antics of the pacemaker Seeking The Stars.

Malmoos was also hampered, but was not looking like a winner,  and Rascallion, who eventually rallied back for third, was also affected.

Russian Rock rallied back gamely but was tending to hang inward.

Dillon, with the benefit of hindsight, possibly cost himself the race by continuing to whip Linebacker instead of straightening him. Linebacker consequently drifted inward meaning Behr did not have to worry about straightening his hanging mount.

Russian Rock got up on the line after a late surge and was without doubt the deserved winner on the day.

Kannemeyer said, “I was thrilled for Grant Behr who has had to play second fiddle in the Kannemeyer yard for about 100 years. If he had not won it would have been a tragedy. But he did not panic and pulled him out and got up. He was very cool and I take my hat off to him. I have always said that pound for pound Grant is as strong in a finish as any other jockey in the country. He always comes and rides work and has ridden a lot of winners for us, there is no doubting his ability.”

Luyolo Mxothwa had taken a while to get to the front on the expected pacemaker Seeking The Stars but once there had restrained him rather than let him stride freely as he had done in his last two impressive wins over 1400m. The explanation would likely be the stamina doubt about the Vercingetorix colt. Nevertheless, it led to the slowest Cape Guineas since 2005.

Time will tell whether the slow pace led to a false result.

Kannemeyer admitted he had fancied his other charge Silvano’s Timer but added, “Russian Rock’s previous race had been very good. His work had been so good too and he was absolutely popping out of his skin. I had heard so many times this season about horses who were going to win the Guineas but you’ve only won the Guineas when the trophy is on the wall. Bad horses do not win the Guineas. But the result is going to have the handicapper scratching his head.”  

Kannemeyer was especially thrilled to have won a classic for one of Cape Town’s most popular and prolific owners Marsh Shirtliff, who had requested he win one for him many years ago. At the beginning of the season Kannemeyer thought he might do it for Shirtliff with Lion’s Head, but it was fitting he did it instead with a horse Shirtliff had chosen himself at the Sales. Shirtliff had asked Kannemeyer what he had thought of Russian Rock shortly before he had been due to enter the ring. Marsh had liked the colt on both conformation and pedigree and Dean had assessed him as a “nice, balanced horse”. They agreed to bid and got him for R200,000.

Kannemeyer said, “Marsh was kind to bring in his partners Ian Longmore and Bryn Ressell.”

The Cape Guineas is known as a stallion producing race and Russian Rock is still an entire.

However, Kannemeyer always looks at racing first and usually gelds when it becomes necessary. He said, “What percentage of horses are good enough to make it as sires and what percentage of those make it?”

Kannemeyer said Russian Rock’s next race would likely be the Grade 1 Cape Derby over 2000m.

SA Derby and Vodacom Durban July-winner Pomodoro will give him some stamina and Russian Rock’s half-brother Deposition (Rock Of Gibraltar) has won two races over 2200m and 1950m respectively.

Russian Rock,s dam Elisium (Procolomation) is in fact a half-sister to Hoity Toity, the grandam of European Horse Of The Year, Minding.

The Algoa Cup set for polytrack

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The Algoa Cup race meeting at Fairview this Friday 27 November will be run on the Polytrack circuit following an inspection of the turf track by racing and track management and several trainers.

It had been hoped to resume racing on the turf surface this Friday after unseasonal cold weather retarded grass growth and delayed the scheduled resumption of turf racing last month following the track’s annual spring treatment.

The turf surface has come on in leaps and bounds since and is generally in excellent condition, but problem areas remain in spite of track staff’s best efforts to stimulate growth in these sections.

The inspection team unanimously agreed that because of these affected areas the track is not yet safe race for racing and it has been decided to only resume racing on the turf surface from 1 January next year.

Declarations for Friday’s big meeting will go ahead as scheduled this Monday 23 November with distances of all races remaining unchanged. – Phumelela