The Vaal straight course eight race meeting could start off with a victory for the back in action jockey Muzi Yeni aboard the Weiho Marwing-trained The Contractor.

This Time Thief colt was unlucky in his second career start over 1450m when showing a fine turn of foot and then staying on resolutely. Close to home he was carried out by the shifting Magic Blaze and the jockey also lost his crop. He still managed to narrowly beat Magic Blaze but the interference allowed Master Of Disguise to sneak down the inside and steal the race by a short-head. The Contractor should improve here in his third start and is the one to beat.

Champingatthebit was outpaced over 1160m on debut so should enjoy this step up in trip and should have improved for the experience. PRORZHEIM (9) also came from way back in that 1160m race and beat Champingatthebit by 0,25 lengths and he now gets blinkers on just his third career start. Of the first-timers Expression Session is by Duke Of Marmalade and is a half-brother to the well-performed Whiteline Fever. Blue Moon City is by Marchfield out of a twice winner in Cape Town from 1600m to 1800m. Lear Jet is by Marchfield out of a Port Elizabeth-based Jet Master mare who won four times.

In the second race over 1400m Mynage went close on debut when staying on over this trip and although she doesn’t look to be a superstar she should improve and go close. Swiss Bank didn’t have the smoothest of passages on debut over 1160m but stayed on in a stronger field than this and she should relish the step up in trip. Java House was slow away on debut when beaten 1,90 length by Mynage but has a nice action and looks to have scope too. Powder Puff narrowly beat her stablemate Java House in that race and now gets blinkers on, but the former could improve past her. Anything Goes is the most interesting of the first-timers being out of a maiden by Parade leader who was a half-sister to Capetown Noir.

In the third race over 1200m Incognito wore alumites all around for the first time last time and after a great break she led the whole way and was only caught late. With a similarly good break she is the one to beat. Birdwatcher was beaten three lengths by Incognito in that race but was reported to have suffered a head injury somewhere along the line and she looks to have scope for improvement. Ethel Rose has been kept to 1000m for all seven starts but she stayed on strongly on February 22 so is interesting over this step up in trip. She was also due to run on Tuesday.

In the first leg of the Jackpot Shadow Creek has a nice action and plenty of scope for improvement as he is still immature. He let the leader get too far ahead last time over 1450m and failed by a quarter-of-a-length to catch him and is now, interestingly, stepped down to 1200m with blinkers on. He doesn’t look to have much to beat of the raced runners. Intothemystic finished placed on Tuesday over 1000m and has placed over this trip before, so could earn again. However, the biggest danger might be Shadow Creek’s stablemate Barak, who is a R350,000 Master Of My Fate gelding out of a Captain Al mare who as merit rated 100.

In the next race over 1400m Riverstown has the race at his mercy according to official merit ratings. However, Expressfromtheus, who has a lovely big action, looked useful when winning his maiden third time out easily when stepped up to this distance category and he could pose a threat receiving 3kg. It should be fought out by those two.

In the sixth race over 1400m Lady Of Liberty is going from strength to strength and can claim a hattrick off a four point raised merit rating. Cut Loose won well third time out when stepped up to this trip and looks the chief danger. Miss Khalifa has been consistent from 1200m to 1400m recently and is also in with a shout.

In the seventh race over 1600m The Rising Legend has a string sustained finish and has his third run after a layoff over a suitable trip. Nordic Rebel won going way last time over this trip and will make a bold bid for hattrick off despite a five point higher mark. Bien Venue has a 2,5kg swing with Nordic Rebel for a 1,75 length beating and should also be in with a shout. Royal Italian is better than his last start and now gets a 4kg claimer aboard and is off a lowered merit rating. Greenwood Drive has won twice over the course and distance and Johnny Hero has won his only start over this trip, although he was also due to run on Tuesday.

In the last race Norland is admirably consistent and his formline reads well. Ice Lord is an up and coming sort who should be ideally distance suited. Gentleman’s Wager stays a lot further but in the maidens she turned it on impressively over this trip and has always been a horse with plenty of scope, so can improve more despite being five-years-old.

By David Thiselton

Seasoned horseman and trainer Joey Soma is a firm believer in the use of a tongue-tie for races. “I believe in tongue ties, 99% of my horses wear them,” he told colleague David Thiselton after Got The Greenlight’s win in the Grade 1 SA Classic last Saturday.

Not only does a tongue-tie prevent a horse from getting its tongue over the bit, it also keeps the air passages open and something that may help Horoscope Harry to find his best form on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.

A string of promising performances culminated in a disappointing last effort when seemingly running out of gas over the final furlong after being up with the pace for much of the race.

It was later reported that he had ‘choked up’ in the running which will have accounted for his below par performance.

Gareth van Zyl has declared a tongue-tie for the first time and if it has the desired effect, Horoscope Harry can find himself back on the winning trail.

Matchless Captain and Treading Water are two that can make a race of it. Matchless Captain making all the running under apprentice Jabu Jacobs to shed his maiden while Treading Water is lightly raced but does appear to have potential and any market support could be prophetic.

Of the older runners, Cuvara steps out onto the poly for the first time and the synthetic surface can often see older horses finding their better form.

Anton Marcus has been conspicuous by his absence as he serves out a suspension but he has a chance of making a winning comeback on Garth Puller’s filly Astute Vision in the card opener. She has shown improved form at her last two starts and was ridden by Marcus last time out. The blinkers go on for the first time, probably under instruction from Marcus, and Astute Vision could get the better of Chanel Allure and Noble Freedom.

If Marcus doesn’t make it on Astute Vision, Perspicuous looks to be one of the better bets on the card. Johan Janse van Vuuren’s filly made marked improvement when making her poly debut, going down narrowly to favourite Retail Therapy. She does have a history off shoe troubles that may have accounted for her modest previous showings and her improved effort on the poly track. Also back in action after his enforced six-month lay-off is Muzi Yeni who rides Wild Earth for Nathan Kotzen.

Al Jazeera could be good news for punters in the opening leg of the PA. Gavin van Zyl’s gelding has been knocking at the door and although he was well beaten by the smart-looking African Sunrise last time out, he did have a tough draw to contend with. He had good form over this course and distance before that. Ulterior Motive and The Westerner look pick of the balance.

The fourth may turn into a match race between Guadeloupe and To The Max in a small field. The former made a promising poly debut in her first run in KZN. Craig Zackey stays with the mount and the blinkers go on. To The Max is coming along the right way and should go well over this trip.

Apprentice Handicaps are always tricky but Joshwin Solomons has been booked for two good rides, the first Lasata for Dennis Bosch. The gelding makes his debut for the stable but his recent Cape form was up against stronger opposition than what he meets here.  However, this is not a race to go light in, in the exotics with any number of horses in with chances. The betting could prove your best guide.

Solomons partners Paper Ballerina for Mark Dixon in the last – another difficult race. Paper Ballerina has put in two good efforts since her maiden win and meets some modest opposition this time around. Class Of Eight finished ahead of Paper Ballerina when last they met but is now 4.5kg worse off while Starlight, Ms Rosa Parks and Mythical Magic are all live runners.

The seventh is also wide open affair. Linear is not the easiest but is smart on her day as she showed when a good third behind the promising Mr Fitz last Wednesday. She takes on her own sex here. Made In Hollywood is struggling for her second win but is never far off. She has also dropped in the handicap and should be competitive off her new mark.

By Andrew Harrison

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

It only really sank in for me when dual Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again stepped off the float at Summerveld yesterday. Interviewing Justin Snaith’s assistant trainer Janene Newlands at their Summerveld yard, it occurred to me that South Africa’s Champions Season for 2020 is nigh.

Snaith sent up the first batch of 11 horses from the Cape to settle in to the KZN yard. They walked off the Choice Carriers float looking like they had enjoyed their long journey and were happy to be in the province that is treated to such kind winters near the coast.

We spent some time at the stables before the horses had arrived and there is really a lot that goes on to prepare for the horse’s arrival. The bedding is laid out, the water buckets filled and food prepared. Once they had arrived, they were thoroughly checked by Newlands and Dr Ralph Katzwinkel from the Summerveld Equine Hospital. The report was that they all looked as if they had travelled well. Newlands said that they were drinking which was a good sign and they looked bright.

Dual Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again walked off the float like he owned the place and if he was able to speak I’m sure he would have said “I’m back to defend my crown. I’m not done for yet!” He looked a million dollars and came straight from Drakenstein Stud where he was rested.

There will be more horses coming to KZN from the Snaith yard later in the month and Vaughan Marshall’s string arrives today. Other trainers will arrive over the next few weeks. The Gold Circle media team go out of their way to welcome the visitors and ensure the coverage on social media is great for all to enjoy.   

Bunker Hunt, Winter Is Over, Wild Coast, Crown Towers, Rattle Mouse and Captain Tatters to mention a few accompanied the big boy Do it Again and are here for the big season. Team Snaith are sure to provide us all with some fantastic performances over the next few months.

By Warren Lenferna

Paul Peter described the feeling of landing his first Grade 1 on Saturday as “unbelievable, especially to have done it with a filly like that.”

His star Silvano filly Summer Pudding remained unbeaten and took one step closer to the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara when cruising to victory in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic.

The win catapulted Peter into second place in the National Trainers Championships and his R8,673,625 in stakes is just under R3 million behind leader Sean Tarry.

Summer Pudding relished the step up in trip and won cosily by a length, having had to go all out to win the first leg of the Triple Tiara, the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.

She will take a power of beating in the final leg, the Grade 2 SA Oaks over 2450m.

Peter referred to her as “the people’s horse” in the after race interviews.

He explained to the Racegoer, “She is a big, striking, black filly and the crowds just go crazy for her. She brings such a nice atmosphere to the course. She has such a nice temperament too, she loves people and loves to be spoilt and patted.”

Peter has had about seven or eight runner up finishes in Grade 1s and did go into Saturday’s race with one or two concerns.

He said, “The draw (10) was against her and was always going to be her biggest hurdle. But when they are that class they can overcome it. Warren (Kennedy) rode a great race and gets on well with her.”

Peter was thrilled to have won the race for the breeders Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Studs and the owners Mauritzfontein.

He has a number of horses from this stud operation in his yard and said, “They are tough and sound and have good appetites. One of the main things about a horse is appetite, the more they eat the more you can work on them.”

He described Mary Slack of Wilgerbosdrift and Jessica and Stephen Jell of Mauritzfontein as “very nice people.”

The big meeting was a triumph for the Turffontein community as not only do Paul Peter and Joey Soma, who won the Grade 1 SA Classic with Got The Greenlight, train out of Turffontein but they also grew up in the area.

Peter and Soma’s respective fathers were friends and were regular racegoers.

Peter’s brother-in-law is in fact a cousin of Soma’s.

Turffontein trainers won eight of the 12 races on the card including a four-timer for Peter, who also won both of the Listed two-year-old features, the Ruffian Stakes with Springs Of Carmel and the Storm Bird Stakes with War Room. He later won a sprint handicap with Chief Of State.

Turffontein trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren won the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap with Lady Of Steel and other trainers from the centre, Weiho Marwing and David Nieuwenhuizen also won one race apiece.

By David Thiselton

Former Racing Editor of The Mercury and Racegoer correspondent, Richard McMillan (81) died in a Pietermaritzburg hospice yesterday (Monday).

Richard was well respected in South African horseracing circles for many years as Racing Editor if The Mercury before retiring.  He started his journalism career at the then Natal Mercury and for many years was their shipping editor but his life-long passion for horse racing saw him move to the racing department as deputy racing editor under Jack Ramsay. He took over as Racing Editor on Ramsay’s retirement.

On his retirement from The Mercury after four decades of reporting on the sport, he worked freelance for The Racegoer and Gold Circle. McMillan’s Time Ratings, a unique formula he developed over the years, had an avid following.

An old school journalist, Richard was always willing to go the extra mile to get a story and never missed a deadline – even when hard-pressed by a poor wi-fi signal or a dodgy computer.

He is survived by his wife Yvonne, son Justin, daughter Hailie and grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

 By Andrew Harrison

Cape Derby winner Golden Ducat has been given the go-ahead to travel to Durban for the KZN season and so the intriguing possibility of his coming up against elder half-brother Rainbow Bridge in the Vodacom Durban July could be on the cards.  And indeed Hawwaam, the third Grade 1-winning half-brother, may be there too.

Eric Sands had serious reservations about sending Golden Ducat, explaining: “He had an issue with his hock as a baby and I was a little concerned about him on the hill at Summerveld. I thought I might be aggravating the situation but on the other hand I felt that I couldn’t leave him in his box and protect him for ever.

“So we had a discussion with all concerned (including the owners and Jehan Malherbe), and we decided he should go. The programme as of now is the Daisy Guineas (May 1), the Daily News (June 6) and maybe the July.”

The Cape Derby winner has gone on to take that season’s Durban July three times in the last 17 years with Dynasty (2003), Big City Life in 2009 and Legislate six years ago. Golden Ducat is a best-priced 33-1 in the pre-nomination July betting. Rainbow Bridge is second favourite at 11-2 and Hawwaam heads the market at 4-1.

Rainbow Bridge, beaten less than half a length in last season’s race, returned to Milnerton from his holiday home near Paarl last week and, according to his trainer, “is looking really well.”

He and Golden Ducat will travel to Summerveld at the beginning of next month as will WSB Cape Fillies Guineas runner-up Driving Miss Daisy. Sands  has still to make a decision about Larentina who was fourth in that classic.

Rainbow Bridge will follow the same route as last year – the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall (May 1), the Rising Sun Gold Challenge on June 13 and then the July – but his trainer is concerned about the different timetable, largely caused by the way the calendar falls.

He explained: “Last year there were five weeks between the Drill Hall and the Gold Challenge with a further four weeks before the July. But this time the respective gaps are six weeks and three weeks. If something goes wrong in the Gold Challenge – a bruised foot or a bang on a joint for example – you have that much less time to get the horse right for the July.

“Furthermore you are expected to take the horse to the course for the gallops in those last three weeks, and I don’t see the point in going there just to give him a canter.”

Viva Rio

Ex-jockey Jimmy Ting will train Viva Rio when the Cape Derby ante-post favourite reaches Hong Kong. Ting, a relative newcomer to the training ranks, is currently tenth on the log with 24 winners.

Those who backed the horse would have preferred him to have run in the February 22 classic – and so, apparently, would have Glen Kotzen but under the terms of the deal (brokered by Green Street Bloodstock) the horse was sold without the engagement.

“It would have been lovely to get the money and win the Derby – and I tried to get a deal with the engagement – but the purchasers didn’t want that,” Kotzen explained. “In fact I thought we were going to run which was why I didn’t scratch him until the Friday afternoon. I had to wait for the money to come through.”

The exact sum has not been revealed but Kotzen says that, even if Viva Rio won the Derby, the July and a whole lot more, he would not have earned what the new owners were prepared to pay.

Marcus

Anton Marcus is back at Durbanville on Saturday when he has four Ridgemont rides – Flame Tree, Yorktown and Private General for Brett Crawford and Still Tappin for Sands. His only other mount is Savea on whom he won at Kenilworth ten days ago for his old boss Paddy Kruyer.

By Michael Clower

Johan Janse van Vuuren has two of the most exciting fillies in the country in True To Life and Lady Of Steel and they will both be nominated for the same race, the Grade 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m at Greyville on April 5, an event which is often used as a springboard to the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas on the first night of the SA Champions Season.

Both fillies won good races over the weekend.

Lady Of Steel is unbeaten in four starts from 1200m to 1600m and looks full of class.

On Saturday she finished as strongly as usual to win the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m at Turffontein Standside by 2,25 lengths under Chase Maujean.

She ran off a merit rating of 98 and carried only 52,5kg but she did have to overcome a tough draw of 13.

She will continue to be trained out of Turffontein and her participation in the Umzimkhulu might depend on the draw she lands.

Janse van Vuuren is also considering a tilt at the Grade 1 HSH Prince Charlene Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein on April 18.

True To Life has exceptional natural speed and she displayed this again on Sunday when easily winning a 1400m Pinnacle Stakes event on the Greyville turf.

She sat in second behind a slow pace and had soon quickened away from them and beat some useful KZN-based females, including Grade 1 winner Camphoratus, by 3,50 lengths without coming off the bit.

True To Life’s only defeat in five races over sprint distances was in the SA Fillies Nursery when a four length third to the outstanding Basadi Faith.

However, she has failed in both of her attempts at a mile, although both were at Grade 1 level.

Therefore, Janse van Vuuren will run her in the Umzimkhulu and decide from there whether she has another attempt at a mile in a race like the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas or whether she comes back down in trip for races like the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint.

True To Life was bred by the outstanding breeder Robin Bruss and is looking to have a bit in common with the Bruss-bred Equus Champion Sprinter Will Pays, who defied his breeding as his sire Imperial Stride won a Group 2 over a-mile-and-two-furlongs and a Group 3 over a mile-and-a-half and his dam Rattlebag won a Grade 3 over a mile and finished third in the Grade 2 Natal Oaks over 2400m.

Bruss always breeds a horse with the Vodacom Durban July and the Sun Met in mind. He said thus there had to be a combination of stamina and speed, with the latter required in order for the horse to have the necessary acceleration.

He added, “But in thoroughbred breeding, being what it is, you can end up with the opposite to what you intended.”

True To Life’s sire Duke Of Marmalade was a European champion, whose five consecutive Group 1 wins as a four-year-old were from a-mile-and-two-furlongs to a-mile-and-a-half.

Her dam Mina Salaam won a Zimbabwean Grade 3 over 2000m and a Listed race in South Africa over a mile and she has plenty of stamina in her pedigree.

Bruss believes there are two reasons why True To Life is doing so well over shorter trips.

Firstly, Duke Of Marmalade is by Danehill, whose only Group 1 win was over six furlongs and as one of the all-time great thoroughbred stallions he became a particularly exceptional speed influence.

Bruss knows True To Life well as he bought her back at the sales when not realising a good enough price and owned her for her first couple of runs before she was bought out of the Roy Magner yard by Janse van Vuuren’s chief owner Laurence Wernars.

He reckoned the second reason for her doing well over shorter trips to date is she weighs in at 550kg and as with humans it is difficult to carry heavy muscle over long trips.

However, he said with age she might indeed be able to stay the mile.

Sunday’s run was encouraging from that point of view as she had failed in her only previous attempt at that 1400m course and distance in the Grade 2 Golden Slipper.

Whichever route these two fillies go they should make headlines in the SA Champions Season as they both possess true class.

By David Thiselton

One World, one of only two entire horses to win the Sun Met in the last 16 years, is to stand alongside the other one (Futura) at Drakenstein Stud. He will not race again.

No stud fee has yet been announced but John Freeman reports that the syndication is almost complete. The four-year-old, winner of ten of his 14 starts, is one of the last top sons of Captain Al trained by Vaughan Marshall who won the Cape Guineas with the subsequent champion sire in 2000 and with his sons William Longsword and Tap O’Noth.

One World, bred by Klawervlei and bought for R425 000 at the 2017 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, won over R5.6 million for owners Etienne Braun, Braam van Huyssteen, Ken and Jane Truter. His Met time was the fastest since Pocket Power won the great race for the first time in 2007.

He has the pedigree to make it as a stallion. His dam is by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Storm Cat European Horse of the Year Giant’s Causeway (known as The Iron Horse for his tough constitution and battling qualities) while One World’s grandam was placed in the Prix Vermeille and is a full sister to a French Oaks winner.

By Michael Clower

Horses are generally understood to be able to cope with extreme heat provided there is a breeze. The problem at Durbanville on Saturday was that there was hardly a breath of air to alleviate the sweltering temperatures.

“We were concerned,” admitted senior stipe Ernie Rodrigues. “We decided we had to put the welfare of the horses first and so we had a meeting with the trainers and the vets (John Batt and Kate Meiring) before racing.”

The upshot was that horses were taken straight off to be hosed down when they returned to unsaddle – they didn’t have to wait to be inspected first – and extra pipes were laid on. Batt led by example, hosing down horses himself.

Justin Snaith was among those impressed – “We thought it could be bad today and we were worried but priority was given to the horses’ wellbeing.”

Some idea of the temperature can be gauged from the fact that at 4.00pm, when the heat should have abated, it was still 35 in the shade. By that stage punters were also hot under the collar – all eight favourites were beaten.

But it was an appropriate day for Meraki to strut his stuff because few horses have survived as much hardship as he has. “We bought him in Australia and he got travel sickness going from the sales to Blue Gum Farm,” related part-owner James Drew. “He then got laminitis and he got it again here. The other horses we’ve had with laminitis haven’t survived.”

The five-year-old was one of four winners to set new class records and his 1 min 22.38 sec in the Tabonline Handicap was only a tenth of a second outside the 1 400m course record set by One World in the Matchem last October. What is more he did it without Greg Cheyne even picking up his stick. “I didn’t need to and I didn’t pick it up last time I rode him either. He gives you all he’s got.”

Cheyne was also on the mark on the Hassen Adams hat-trick achieving Freedom Seeker in the TAB Telebet Handicap and, as Paddy Kruyer pointed out, Adams is part-owner of Got The Greenlight who won the SA Classic 20 minutes earlier.

Glen Kotzen’s instructions to Sandile Mbheli in the last were to ride Silver Tiara just as he had ridden Mercurana in the Kenilworth Cup. Fortunately he did not follow them with quite the same death-defying verve but he got both the message and the filly up to lead 50m out.

Mbhele was also on the mark in the first, making every metre on Blue Gangsta for Meraki’s trainer Candice Bass-Robinson who completed a treble with the well-backed Holy Warrior (Liam Tarentaal) in the 2 000m handicap.

First time blinkers appeared to transform Dark Mistress who comfortably landed the Racing Association Maiden under Anthony Andrews but Kotzen felt the weaker opposition played at least as big a part.

He said: “She is beautifully bred and cost a lot of money (R600 000) but her work has been a hell of a lot better than her form and I thought she would have won two races back.”

Greg Ennion paid tribute to his assistant Roderick Fredericks after On Captain’s Side led over a furlong out under Louis Mxothwa in the 1 250m handicap. “She is a nice filly but she is a bit of a head case and as mad as a hatter – and Roderick has worked all hours with her.”

Finally Snaith revealed what could be one of the secrets of his training skills after Peaceful Day answered Richard Fourie’s repeated calls to hold off Doppio Oro in the Betting World Handicap. “He has been a little bit disappointing – I thought he might have done something in one of the features,” said the former champion trainer. “But when they are disappointing like that I freshen them up and bring them back in distance.”

By Michael Clower