David Thiselton

TURFFONTEIN INSIDE stages a nine race meeting today and there is some good class racing to look forward to.

A MR 104 Handicap over 1450m is the highest rated race on the card and forms the last leg of the Pick 6.

The classy Riverstown has two wins and two seconds in five starts over this course and distance and he showed himself to be in fine fettle a month ago when winning over the too sharp 1160m. He was well weighted in that race but beat a promising sort in Full Velocity with ease and the latter followed up with her fourth win in seven starts. Riverstown is drawn wide but is capable of running on and has Gavin Lerena up so has a shout despite having to carry 61kg. Full Mast has won over this course and distance before and is drawn in pole. He showed signs of a form return last time over 1600m and is just as effective over this trip so has a shout off a merit rating which has dropped another two points to 98, two points lower than his last winning mark. Trend Master has come into his own lately albeit over middle distances. However, as a horse who is on the up he is interesting stepped down to a trip he was effective over in the past and he has a fair draw. Cornish Pomodoro will also find this too sharp but his best run was when returning from a four month layoff over 1600m in October last year so he could have benefited from another four month layoff here. Approach Control has a win and a second in two starts over this course and distance and is off a competitive mark but does have to overcome the widest draw of all, although he does have Warren Kennedy aboard and the latter is way out in front in the early season national jockeys log. Captain And Master has class but has been disappointing in his career and his last three runs have been poor. He is distance suited and a three month layoff might have been of benefit. Seven Patriots has front-running capabilities so in the current fast conditions is hard to ignore, although he would prefer further. Snow Palace was Grade 1-placed as a juvenile but has not won since December 2019, but she has dropped to a competitive mark now and comes off a third place finish over 1400m, although that was in a Progress Plate where she was well weighted.  They are selected in the order mentioned although going wide in the exotics is the suggestion.

The second race is an intriguing Graduation Plate over 1200m as there are three promising sprinters lining up and some useful horses who need further. Ultra Quick was a shock loser last time after an impressive maiden win and Gavin Lerena is now aboard the equally promising stablemate Tuscan Winter, who only just failed from a tough low draw over 1160m on the Standside last time. He is drawn five around the turn here compared to Ultra Quick’s six and they will have to fend off the speedy younger horse Super Excited, who was touched off by the progressive Super Agra last time and now has a plum draw of two. Leopold is 5kg better off than any other horse in this race according to official merit ratings and although suited to further he won his maiden over this course and distance so is interesting from pole position. Eagle Alley, bred to stay, is promising and returns from a wind operation. 

The seventh is also an interesting race over 1200m and the scopey Big Eyed Girl is taken to beat the progressive Warship and the promising Paityn’s Pride. 

In the eighth over 1450m topweight Captain’s Pride is interesting having always been well regarded and having proved last time he stays this trip. He is only two points higher but it is a competitive race.    

In the fifth over 1450m Wave Warrior looks to have potential and scope for further improvement so from a good draw is taken to beat Successful Ruler and the well bred Slings and Arrows.

In the third over 1200m Meteoric can make amends for her loss on objection last time although About To Storm looks to have ability and should improve on his debut in which he ran on well after a slow start.  

Andrew Harrison

With Covid playing havoc at Fairview and jockeys from other centres not permitted to travel, there were not enough riders available to hold the meeting scheduled for Fairview today.

However, Gold Circle stepped into the break and at short notice, KZN trainers have co-operated and have put together a decent card for the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.

It will be a busy weekend for local trainers with meetings scheduled for Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and again on the poly at Greyville on Monday.

Newly crowned national champion Justin Snaith can get the meeting off to a profitable start with Allaroundtheworld. He makes her local debut and has her first run on the poly but could prove to be a cut above the opposition. He improved nicely at his second outing in the soft at Kenilworth and the firmer going can bring out the best in him.

Mama’s Boy and Guy Fox look pick of the balance.

 In the second, Rodriguez takes a big drop in class after taking on feature company from a coffin draw last start. Gimme A Rainbow goes well on the poly and was runner-up at his last two. He has the best of the draw and should feature prominently.

In the third, Austen is lightly raced but needed her last run badly. However, the stable showing signs of returning to form. Unconditional Love, Venturous and Lady Yusra are others to consider.

There should not be much between Purple Operator and Silver Stardust with little separating them when last they met. They look to be the principal runners in the fourth. Purple Operator has come on with each run while Silver Stardust had the worst of the draw last run and was finishing strongly when less than a length behind Purple Operator.

The fifth looks open by In Auro has been in consistent form of late in stronger company. He’s down in class here and should be thereabouts in an open race. The Appeal could be the danger as he has been doing well on the poly and with a claiming apprentice up should be competitive.

The sixth looks tricky but Smart William has good form to weaker on the poly and his last run on the turf is best ignored. Straight Up did well from a wide draw last start. He stays the trip well and should have a big say in the finish. Twice The Flight found his best form in blinkers and goes very well on the poly. Can Lime ´N Soda improved when stepped down in trip. Takes on stronger again.

Heaven Sent found good market support on debut and won well. She meets little of note in the seventh and can follow up. Opening Shower has contested two strong features at recent outings and takes a big drop in class.

The Dennis Drier stable, after a spell in the doldrums, seems to have turned the corner and Master Of Destiny can round off the meeting. He was a close-up second in a strong field last start and a repeat should see him close again. Greenlighttoheaven has found some form in blinkers and although he looks held by Master Of Destiny his turn will come and he could turn the tables.

David Thiselton

JUSTIN SNAITH was crowned National Champion Trainer for the third time at the end of last season, scoring a personal best 208 winners in the process, and this week he spoke about two issues which he believed were having a negative effect on racing, firstly the date on which the weights are set for the Vodacom Durban July and secondly the African Horse Sickness control measures instituted by national veterinarians which are having a severe impact on the Western Cape equine fraternity.

Snaith said, “The Grade 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge is losing a little of its glitz because a lot of horses are just using it as a preparation and other horses are not running in order to protect their merit rating for the Vodacom Durban July. In the past the Gold Challenge result had no effect on the July weights. An example was Flaming Rock, who won the Challenge (he won the Schweppes Challenge on June 15, three weeks before the July) and was still able to get into the July carrying 52.5kg. I realise this point is debateable because it could make a certain horse a shoe-in at the weights in the July. However, being a racing purist I regard the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate as by far the superior Grade 1 weight for age mile in the country because everybody goes for it, they don’t go in using it as a prep, and the winner is usually fancied to go on and win the Met. On the other hand I don’t run my well weighted July runners in the Gold Challenge, or at least I have to choose which of the two races to target.”

The July weights used to be set before the Gold Challenge and Gold Circle should consider re-instituting that regulation.

When it was in place the Gold Challenge was attracting exceptional fields, which were in fact generally better than the Queen’s Plate fields for the simple reason that three-year-olds are mature enough by the June of any racing season to be lively contenders. 

In 2007, for example, the season’s champion three-year-old Jay Peg ran in the Gold Challenge alongside contemporaries Kildonan, Biarritz and Dynamite Mike and they took on the like of Pocket Power, Succesful Bidder (the winner), Hunting Tower, Jagged Ice, National Spirit and other top older horses. There was not a single three-year-old in the Queen’s Plate that season, although it was run that year on December 30, a week before the Cape Guineas.

A three-year-old did win the Queen’s Plate this year, Jet Dark, but he was only the second sophomore to have won it since Yataghan in 1973, the other one being Gimmethegreenlight in 2012.   

Horses who avoided this year’s Gold Challenge to protect their July weight included Do It Again, Belgarion and Got The Greenlight.

The three-year-olds Kommetdieding, Linebacker and Rascallion, might also have been considered as Gold Challenge entries as an alternative to the Daily News 2000 but it would have been madness to take on Rainbow Bridge and risk a big merit rating raise. 

The Daily News 2000 took place a fortnight before the Gold Challenge, so the three-year-olds could feasibly have run in both races, although this would have been unlikely due to the closeness in time and the drop in trip before stepping up again for the July. 

Snaith went on to speak about the immense obstacles created by the movement restrictions imposed on horses in and out of the Western Cape by state veterinarians due to African Horse Sickness control.

He said the irony was the only region that did not have AHS i.e the Western Cape had become the “whipping boys”.

He spoke on behalf of all members of the Western Cape equine fraternity, including showjumpers, polo players, warmblood breeders and endurance racers.

He said, “I would love to see the export protocols being changed and hope they do, but it is coming at a huge cost for us in the Western Cape while the rest of the country is not effected at all. After ten years it had become costly and after 15 years we are now asking when is the end? If it is going to be ongoing they must come up with a better solution so equine practice can resume as normal. Otherwise I can see there being an uprising in the Western Cape. It is killing equine sports down here. I think it is one of the major influences on the drop in horse population in the Western Cape and they have got to give us some leeway.”

He reiterated, “It not that we don’t want exports. We are just starting to question the practicality of some of the measures being taken when we are not getting any further in export. There are a lot of excuses, some I am sure are valid, I just hope there is some light at the end of the tunnel because it is costing the industry millions.”

Snaith’s purchases from the National Two-year-old sale are currently sitting in quarantine “in the middle of nowhere” waiting to come home to the Western Cape.

He provided another example, pointing out he was unable to move horses from May through July into the Western Cape. Furthermore, once his KZN string was decided upon he was unable to run any of them in any Eastern Cape feature unless he was prepared to quarantine the horse somewhere “in  the middle of nowhere”.

Snaith acknowledged the racing operators had enough of their own concerns but said he was nevertheless disappointed by the lack of support from them in looking for ways to circumvent the restrictions placed on racehorse movement.      

Andrew Harrison

A national championship behind your name opens many doors when it comes to race riding in other jurisdictions. It is not a passport to fame or fortune but given the opportunity it widening one’s horizons is an invaluable lesson in the university of life.

Muzi Yeni was involved in an acrimonious race to the line three season’s back where he blew his chances, giving Lyle Hewitson his first championship and copping a lengthy suspension in a pique of frustration.

Down the lane, newly champion Hewitson suffered the tribulations of the cut throat Hong Kong circuit but also the subsequent highs of Japan.

Hewitson returned home a more accomplished rider and with the pick of some of this country’s top trainer’s strings he cemented a second national championship last season, a further rubber-stamp on his CV.

He was due a return to Japan later this month but the dreaded Covid appears to have put those plans on hold.

A second championship gave further credence to Hewitson’s abilities and it’s all on the line this season for Warren Kennedy.

Kennedy landed the Championship following Hewitson’s overseas stint and was also planning a tilt at an international career, but that is also on hold given the global Covid mess. Kennedy has ‘pinged’ the gate in the first month and boasts a substantial lead but with 11 months of the season to run nothing is guaranteed.

Yeni was successful in the first three races at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday, the first two for Kom Naidoo and another polished ride on Var Aglow for visiting Candice Dawson to land the first three on the card.

The amiable Naidoo has the largest string in Ashburton and is never shy to take on the big guns. The late scratching of the favourite Ancient Epic in the first will have made things a tad easier for Future Princess although the 20-length defeat at her previous start in a feature will have put many off, hence the generous starting odds.

Naidoo’s filly Aunty Lizzy had similar credentials after a fair showing in The Debutante on July day and the drop in class was all that she needed as she quickened away from her field to win as she liked.

Crimson Causeway looked to have a lot in her favour when taking on males in the fourth but all went awry at the start as blew the gate and then had to check. She finished a game third as Irontail ran her out of it while Different Face showed pace before being swamped as Herecomestherain, ridden to perfection by Keagan de Melo, quickened out of the pack to win comfortably.

Shane Humby is patient, his owners more patient than Job, but patience paid dividends as the seven-year-old gelding Double Gemini took them on from the jump and kept the opposition all gasping for air as Donovan Dillon kept him hard to his task in the seventh.

David Thiselton

THE VAAL CLASSIC track stages an eight race meeting today where there should be some opportunities for punters. 

The meeting starts with an uninspiring maiden over 1200m in which Ashley Fortune fields five of the seven runners. However, she might not win it because Johan Janse van Vuuren introduces the Querari filly Insatiable who is by Querari out of the Listed Oaks Trial winner Inaninstant, who was by the late great Silvano. Fortune’s best hope could lie with Runaway Princess who showed a lot of pace on debut over this trip, although she was beaten 7,75 lengths. Second time out she was caught wide over 1200m from a wide draw on the Turffontein Inside course. Thai Treat has scope for improvement after being beaten ten lengths over 1200m on debut. He has a nice pedigree being by Duke Of Marmalade out of the dual Grade 1-winning sprinter Rat Burana but he started 50/1 on debut. Merlins Boy by Willow Magic finished a length behind Thai Treat on debut but showed pace and has scope for improvement. The first-timer Edward Longshanks is by William Longsword out of a Var maiden who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Paterfamilias.

In the second race over 1000m Abalus has pace and will appreciate the step down from 1200m but might well have to settle for a sixth successive second place finish because Alula’s Star was eyecatching on debut and looks the likely winner. This Red Ray filly has substance and coming from the Stuart Pettigrew yard should be progressive. Alula’s Star’s first-timer stablemate Miss United States is by the promising new sire The United States out of the Grey Eminence mare Madrisa, who was precocious and won five of her first six starts including a juvenile Listed sprint and a juvenile Grade 3 sprint. However, at time of writing Miss United  was quoted at 25/1, which does not augur well. Another first-timer Meadow Beauty is by Flower Alley and is a half-sister to the like of Grade 3 winner Mount Laurel and to three-time winner Foreign Field. First-timer Iphiko is by Trippi out of a Listed-winning Western Winter mare.

In the third race over 1600m Lilliana had blinkers fitted second time out over 1400m and led  before being run out of it to lose by just 0,30 lengths. She is a full-sister to the fair sort Nartjie who has won over 1600m and 1800m so she should relish the step up in trip. Code Zero goes from sprints up to 1600m but this Master Of My Fate filly should enjoy it on pedigree. Gilda Gray has 2,20 lengths to find on Lilliana. Covermeinsunshine is an interesting outsider having not been disgraced over 1450m in her penultimate start before being tried in the BSA Sales Cup where she was beaten 15 lengths. Inexperienced pair Cap Estel and Monoshada are not out of it either on their best runs.

In the fourth race over 1450m Rapid Charge, a full-sister to Surcharge, looks likely to enjoy the step down in trip having moved up last time over 1700m and not finding enough in the closing stages. The cheekpieces are replaced by blinkers and this could be her day from a fair draw of three out of six. Time Request was only 1,75 lengths behind Rapid Charge in that last race over 1700m and is also improving. Kissed By Fire has improved this winter and is also a contender.

In the fifth over 1800m Splash Of Green won her penultimate start over 1600m well and although it was just a maiden she was subsequently not disgraced in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes. She should enjoy the 1800m trip and although running off a 90 merit rating she only has to carry 52.5kg and the flying Muzi Yeni is aboard. Ideal Jet is distance suited and is improving being by Ideal World so will be a threat. Last Cheer is a bit in and out but is capable and can’t be ignored. In form Opera Glass is also hard to ignore and Rock You and Consol Queen are not out of it so it could be a race in which to include the field.

In the sixth race Wedding Bliss has been disappointing but drops down to a 64 merit rating and this trip from a good draw should suit. However, it is another race in which to go wide with Fasinada, Lady Of The Flame, Rabia The Rebel, Tinder Dry and Senescence all having chances.

A chance is taken with two bankers in the last two races, Funky Music and Elusive Swann.

Funky Music is honest and highly consistent and with champion jockey Lyle Hewitson up over an ideal 1600mm trip can get it right despite a tough draw.

In the last race Elusive Swann has caught the eye in his last two starts over 1400m and 2000m and now runs over his optimum 1600m trip from pole position so he should be finishing strongly and can get up under Jeffery Syster, who was aboard in his last race.               

RACE 1: Preview: INSATIABLE(6) is by Querari out of Listed Oak Trial winner Inaninstant (Silvano). RUNAWAY PRINCESS (7) has found some support in both starts and showed good pace on debut over this trip so can go close in this uninspiring field. THAI TREAT (4), who is by Duke Of Marmalade out of dual Grade 1-winning sprinter Rat Burana,  has scope and should improve on her debut in which she was beaten ten lengths. MERLINS BOY (3), who was a length further back in that race, can also improve. EDWARD LONGSHANKS (2) is by William Longsword out of a Var maiden who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Paterfamilias. (David Thiselton 6-7-4-3-2)

RACE 2: Preview: ALULA’S STAR (3) caught the eye on debut when running second despite starting 20/1 and she should improve so is the one to beat. ABALUS (1) has had five successive seconds and should enjoy dropping back to the minimum trip. MISS UNITED STATES (4) is by promising new sire The United States out of a Grade 3 and Listed-winning Grey Eminence mare Madrisa. MEADOW BEAUTY (6) is by Flower Ally and is a half-sister to the like of Grade 3 winner Mount Laurel and three-time winner Foreign Field. IPHIKO (9) is by Trippi out of a isted-winning Western Winter are. (David Thiselton 3-1-4-6-9)      

RACE 3: Preview: LILIANA (4) went close second time out and can get it right here over a step up in rip which should suit. CODE ZERO (1) is capable of improvement and is the chief danger. GILDA GRAY (3) is knocking on the door and should be thereabouts again. (David Thiselton 4-1-3)

RACE 4: Preview: RAPID CHARGE (4) , a half-sister to Surcharge (who is a Grade 1 winner in SA and Australia), is improving and the cheekpieces are replaced with blinkers.  TIME REQUEST (5) only has 1,75 lengths to make up on Rapid Charge from there last meeting. KISSED BY FIRE (2) should be involved despite a wide draw. (David Thiselton 4-5-2) 

RACE 5: Preview: SPLASH OF GREEN (6) was not disgraced in the Grade 1 Thekwini and starts handicapping off a reasonable 90 merit rating considering her form which means she oly ha to carry 52.5kg and Yeni rides. IDEAL JET (1) just failed last time over 200m in her first start since the SA Oaks and as a daughter of Ideal World she should continue to progress. OPERA GLASS (3) won well last time over 2000m but was under sufferance so received a ten point raise and it will be tougher here but she is on the up. LAST CHEER (5) is not too consistent but is capable on her day and distance suited. ROCK YOU (2) and CONSOL QUEEN (7) can earn if reproducing their best form although the latter is 1kg under sufferance. (David Thiselton 6-1-3-5-2-7) 

RACE 6: Preview: WEDDING BLISS (2) is well drawn and might enjoy the step down in trip so has a shout off a reduced merit rating. FASINADA (5) is 1.5kg better off with Rabia The Rebel for a 1,25 length beating over this trip last time and now has a good draw. LADY OF THE FLAME (1) ran well first time out the maidens and could be a contender again here over a step up in trip she should handle. RABIA THE REBEL (3) enjoyed being out front last time and has an opportunity to do the same from pole position albeit off a three point higher mark and bearing she is an in and out type. TINDER DRY has room for improvement and is 1.5kg better off with Rabia The Rebel for a 1.50 length beating but she does have a tough draw. SENESCENCE is well draw and can never be ignored. (David Thiselton 2-5-1-3-7-4) 

RACE 7: Preview: FUNKY MUSIC (2) has been ultra consistent recently from 1450m to 1600m with one win, four seconds and a third and he is the one to beat of able to overcome a wide draw. QUNETRA (4) just failed from the front last time over this trip and beat Funky Music by 0,4 lengths on just half-a-kilogram better terms than here. WAQAAS (7) was forced to do too much too early last time from a wide draw and duly faded but has a shout here from a good draw off a reduced merit rating over a course and distance he has won twice over. SUITED CONNECTOR (1) has a nice draw and should enjoy this trip so is interesting as a lightly raced horse who could still improve. PSYCHO KING (6) is drawn in pole over an ideal trip and can be a contender.  (David Thiselton 2-4-7-1-6)  

RACE 8: Preview: ELUSIVE SWANN (2) moved up well over 2000m on Saturday but found no extra and finished a 0,80 length third so from pole position over his probable optimum trip of 1600m he has a good chance. LIGHT WARRIOR (5) is a consistent sort and over a suitable trip starts handicapping off a reasonable merit rating after an easy maiden win in his 21st start. EL ROMIACHI (1) is not the most consistent but can never be ignored. THEROSEOFBECHARRE (8) was left with too much to do last time over 1400m but if able to find cover from a wide draw should enjoy this step up in trip. MY KINGDOM (6) disappointed last time but can do better although he has a tricky draw. (David Thiselton 2-5-1-8-6) 

Andrew Harrison

GAVIN VAN ZYL has picked a stern test for Crimson Causeway’s seasonal debut when she lines up in a Conditional Novice against males on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville this afternoon.

She is a recently turned three-year-old against older males but given the conditions of the race Van Zyl appears to have picked the right race for her seasonal opener.

She has only had one race on the synthetic surface and that was when shedding her maiden by an impressive six lengths.

The showing prompted Van Zyl to have her take her chances in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship where she was in contention until the final furlong, eventually tiring late to finish fourth behind Under Your Spell.

The going was a little on the soft side that day and her next outing was in the Gr2 The Debutante where she finished two lengths back to Maryah.

That form has been franked and Crimson Causeway is back over when at this stage looks to be a more suitable trip on a surface where she has already excelled.

Rated jointly with Crimson Causeway is the British import Different Face. Bred to northern hemisphere time, she is in theory 6 months older than Crimson Causeway and six months behind her other rivals.

She boasted some creditable UK form before arriving on these shores and with two runs under her girth she looks primed for a big effort.

She tired late first run at Scottsville and showed improvement from that when making most of the running only to go down narrowly to Impressive Duchess.

She makes her poly debut here but shows plenty of speedy and the poly surface should suit.

Of the males, Shampompo Shampizi has the best of the draw and is back over what looks to be a more suitable trip. It’s been a long time between drinks for Canadian Bolt but he was a touch unlucky last start and can surprise.

Ancient Epic is likely to start a hot favourite in the first as Gareth van Zyl’s filly has put in three smart efforts to date and should put in another decent showing. has shown up well in all three starts and rates the one to beat. Future Princess could be the surprise package as she took on strong feature company last run but faded badly the last bit. The blinkers come off.

The second looks more open. Varvacious won her maiden well first time out for her new stable. She does look to be a little difficult but has ability. Aunty Lizzie was in at the deep end first up for her new stable but only fading late. She can do much better in this company while Perspicuous returns from a break but has been improving again and was only caught late last run.

The Pick 6 opener is a tough handicap. Palace Assembly is an old campaigner and they often improve on the poly. He had shown some useful Highveld form but his best recent showing was his debut on the poly. Di Mazzio has been a soldier for the Goosen stable and does his best over course and distance. His last run was on the turf. Sir Pom came good when tried in blinkers last run and finished with a rattle. A repeat will see him in the firing line again.

In the fifth is wide open with a number with claims. Forgetful Girl made major improvement at her second local outing. She had some useful Cape form and must have a strong chance here. Purple Nkanyezi has drawn wide but goes very well over course and distance. Purple Merchant has shown some of her best form on the poly. She goes this trip for the first time but should see it out comfortably.

Straight Up has the worst of the draw in the sixth but was a touch unlucky last run when finding traffic and coming from a long way back last start. Land Of Mystery showed up well first run for his new yard. He has been trying further but may no prefer this shorter trip.

Duncan Howells will be hoping for a quick double as he sends out Fat Cigar in the seventh. He caused a major upset when winning his maiden but has shown ability and has his first outing for a new stable. Double Gemini has a wide draw but his best form has been on this synthetic surface and could prove the biggest threat to the selection.

The last could rested between Whispers Of War and The Green Gallant. The former has come on with each outing and looks ready now while The Green Gallant improved nicely in blinkers and enjoys the surface and should go close.

Andrew Harrison

IT was hard going for most punters at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday and although the results were not always in favour of the majority, there was still some memorable performances. With many of the trainers away hoping to top up their strings at the BSA Two-Year-Old Sale in Gauteng, Gareth van Zyl was on hand to saddle his two winners with After The Rain and Anton Marcus getting his season off to a belated start on Alittlebitnaughty in the last and also giving the International Racing Club and Mike de Haast their third winner of the afternoon.

Gary Rich has a small string and it is something of a mystery that he is not better supported by owners. Daughter and assistant, Tessa saddled Kitten’s Adventure on Saturday and the stable were quietly bullish in spite of a flood of money for Mike Miller’s filly October Song.

Jarred Samuel had his mount out and running from the jump and with 100m to the line was afforded the luxury of glance at October Song bobbing in his wake.

In the final analysis, Kitten’s Adventure was never in danger of defeat and October Song well beaten. However, the dangers of backing first timers with no racing experience was there to see as the benefit of a run was clearly obvious. The winner kept straight as an arrow while Serino Moodley had to cope with a mount that wasn’t sure what it was all about.

October Song will sing a better tune next time out.

The stallion Admiral Kitten stands in the relative backwaters of the Great Karoo outside of Colesberg – once the heart of the thoroughbred breeding industry – and as such gets limited access to the better performed and bred mares. But David Southey and partners appear to have unearthed a gem as Admiral Kitten was backed up by Family Favourite in the next. 

Owned by Southey, Dennis Bosch’s filly was not high on the list of possible winners, paying over R64 on the tote, but she did give young apprentice Donald Geerthsen his second winner of his short career. While all were looking for favourites One Bite At A Time and Poppy Of Bayeux, Geerthsen snuck up the inside to hold off a late challenge from Gareth Van Zyl’s Drive By ridden by Mandla Ntuli. After a three-year stint as a work rider in China and Hong Kong, Ntuli had his holiday at home extended after the outbreak of Covid and a Chinese lockdown.

David Thiselton

SUMMERVELD trainer Mike Miller’s top horse from last year, Honokalani, has been sold to Mauritius trainer Ricky Maingard but his Rafeef filly October Song and his Vercingetorix colt Party Time will still provide him with plenty of three-year-old ammunition this season.

October Song, whose pedigree has a fascinating history behind it, has had the dogs barking at Summerveld and she was duly backed in to 23/15 favourite for her debut over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday.

She managed a strong-finishing second but had excuses and Miller said, “There has only been about 2mm of rain recently in Pietermaritzburg and there was consequently a lot of kick back so when she was slowly away she was getting it in her face and not quite enjoying it, that is why Serino (Moodley) pulled her outward towards the middle. She only got the hang of it near the end and that is when she got going.”

October Song has plenty of size and substance and was eyecatching in the last furlong.  

She is undoubtedly one of the horses to follow for the season.

Miller continued, “Her work at home has been phenomenal. She has been beating one and two timers with ease. I looked at this field and felt it was so bad she would surely be able to win it, but I did not expect her to be so green.”

The bay filly is a half-sister to the Grade 1-winning sprinter August Rush and Grade 3-winning sprinter Miss October, who were both  by Var.

However, Miller continued, “I have always had the impression she would be better over 1400m to 1600m. We will give her one more run over 1200m as we don’t want to rush her into a 1400m race.”

October Song’s story starts with the purchase of the huge English mare Devon Air by Robin and Des Scott into the yard of Terrance Millard. The maestro trainer turned around her dismal UK form despite her legs having what Millard described as “joints like footballs”. Devon Air arrived in Durban in the winter of 1984 with three wins in Cape Town behind her and a third place finish in the J&B Met. She then scored a famous Greyville hattrick, winning the Grade 2 Republic Day Handicap over 1900m, the Grade 1 Rothmans July handicap, carrying 52.5kg, and the Grade 1 Gold Cup carrying 56kg.

She made a good start at stud, her first two foals, the filly Cream Of The Crop (Concertina) and Plymouth Rock (Concertina) won Grade 3 and Listed staying races respectively. However, she had only produced one more winner by the time she was bought at a 1996 auction at Summerhill Stud by Zimbabwean breeder Christopher Peech. 

Her first Zimbabwean foal was by Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes winner Huntingdale and was called Bushgirl, who had to be delivered by caesarian section. She barely survived and was too weak and unsound to be raced. 

Zimbabwe was beginning to fall on hard times and Peech’s breeding operation was one of the victims. 

Bushgirl was thus put on an auction and one of Southern Africa’s finest thoroughbred breeders Robin Bruss pounced.

Bruss has many pedigree theories based on decades of experience and one of them is simply to match the best to the best, so he was not going to miss the opportunity to buy a filly whose parents were respectively a British Group 1 winner and a July winner.

It proved to be a shrewd purchase as she produced Grade 1 Mercury Sprint winner August Rush and Grade 3-winning sprinter Miss October, who went on to produce Grade 1 Gold Medallion winner Tempting Fate.

Bruss always sells if the price is right and sold Bushgirl to owner-breeder Tinus Gericke about ten years or so ago.

October Song was Bushgirl’s last foal and so Gericke has kept her. 

Rafeef, who won the wfa Grade 1 Computaform Sprint, was last season’s champion freshman sire and his sire Redoute’s Choice was a multiple Group 1 winner and a celebrated champion sire of Australia.   

October Song thus looks to have all the credentials to continue Devon Air’s legacy.

Gericke sent a horse in training called Stormborne Thunder down from Johannesburg to the Miller yard halfway through the 2018/2019 season and she went on to win two races. Thus, upon moving down to Durban himself, he sent October Song to the Miller yard.   

Miller has also always sold when the price was right and hence the sale of Honokalani. He has a high regard for his sire Vercingetorix and believes Honokalani will give his new owners plenty to cheer about. 

Party Time is also by Vercingetorix and has a win and three seconds to his name in four starts, including a long-head second in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes, where he beat the subsequent Grade 2 winner Waterberry Lane by 3,40 lengths. He unfortunately attained a bad abscess on his foot after that run so was sidelined. However. he looks to have a bright future.