Devonne Govender

Yesterday’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville card never looked easy with majority of the 10 race card looking very open on paper  together with huge fields making it tricky for punters to narrow it down. Playing wide was the first thought that came to mind however there were a number of fancied runners arriving together with a few outsiders in the mix. Punters would have been more than happy as a total of 4 favourites won and 9 of them finished in the frame.

The Peter Muscutt trained 2 year old Quasiforsure landed the first at odds of 16-1. Cauldron set a ridiculous pace opening up to lead by more than 10 lengths and the swoopers started to come thick and fast. Muscutt said “This was an education for him and the draw was a concern however he is a very talented horse”. Donovan Dillon was extremely pleased with his performance.

Sonjador won the opening leg of the pick six in fine style under a brilliant ride from apprentice Rachel Venniker as she continues to boot home winners. Trainer Michael Roberts South Africa’s only hall of fame jockey commended her riding skills and specifically made mention of her not using the whip which contributed to Sonjdor’s win.

Warren Kennedy aboard Secret Giver tried to steal the race at the top of the straight however Victory Twist got up to win under a driving ride from Donovan Dillon scoring him a second win on the card.

Papillion justified favouritism winning the sixth and courageously fended off the nagging Duquesne Whistle all the way to the line. Noble Nova finished third followed by Supper At Six who rounded off the quartet.

It wasn’t long before Dillon notched up another win on the 16-1 shot Paul Lafferty trained The Bayou flying up the inside running rail to claim victory in the eighth. It almost looked impossible for him to win at the 500m mark as he was second last however Dillon got the best out him timing it to perfection beating Fireonthetrack who ran second followed by Toltec (3^rd) and Straight Up who ran 4^th. The quartet returned a healthy R 8951.30.

Flying The Star rounded off the pick six for trainer Corinne Bestel with Athandiwe Mgudlwa aboard. The ninth race turned out to be eventful at the start with the late scratching of Sofia Erin when proving intractable and Lhasa Star refusing to jump. The pick six returned R14401.00. Alfonse Baby rounded off the day in the lucky last winning by an absolute whisker to deny Trattoria who ran a close up second.

David Thiselton

SEAN TARRY is swinging towards running former Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint winner Warrior’s Rest in the Grade 1 HKJC World Pools Champions Cup on Marshalls World Of Sports Gold Cup day on July 31 and he also took time to lament the Vodacom Durban July selection process which saw a horse he gave a chance to, Shango, being eliminated. 

Tarry said he and the connections had always felt Warrior’s Rest would see out 1800m, so, as he had drawn wide in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint, the HKJC World Pools Champions Cup provided a good opportunity to test this theory.

The now six-year-old What A Winter gelding ran third in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville as a two-year-old. He has subsequently run eight times over a mile for one win, a second and two thirds and he finished second in his only attempt at the Champions Cup distance of 1800m. He finished a 5,75 length seventh in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000, which was the furthest trip he has been tried over.

His 1800m runner up finish was in an Assessment Plate so the Champions Cup represents a massive step up in class.

However, he would hardly have been expected to become a Grade 1 winner back then and not only did he achieve the latter when carrying 52.5kg to victory off a 113 merit rating in the Golden Horse last year but he followed that up with a runner up finish in the Grade 1 weight for age Mercury Sprint.

Warrior’s Rest is currently merit rated 115, which puts him 7.5kg under sufferance with Jet Dark, who looks likely to be the highest rated horse in the Champions Cup, considering Rainbow Bridge is reportedly on his way home.

Warrior’s Rest gained a reputation before being campaigned in sprints of leading at a good pace and then having the ability to continually crank that pace up another notch. He used to run all the way to the line and the end result was a trail of vanquished horses in his wake. He used to literally gallop them into the ground on his best days.

He will come in relatively fresh and this year’s Champions Cup is thus likely to be run in a good time. 

Warrior’s Rest will be one of the dark horses. 

The declarations for the race are tomorrow.  

Tarry’s perennial Grade 1 bridesmaid Cirillo ran a fine 0,25 length third in the Champions Cup last year. Cirillo will not run in this year’s renewal as Tarry  felt he deserved a rest after a tough season. However, he pointed out he might have pulled him out of the July had he been certain  Shango would have got in as Cirillo would have had better prospects in the Champions Cup over a trip he had proven he enjoyed. As it happened Shango was only made second reserve in the July although both of his stablemates Cirillo and Shah Akbar were  included in  the final field. 

Shango then won the July consolation race, the Grade 3 Hollywoodbets 2200, beating the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup winner Black Knap by a neck, despite giving him 5.5kg. The Lonsdale runner up Matterhorn, who gave Black Knap only 1kg when beaten a shorthead, was included in the July final field so Shango had proven a point.   

Tarry admitted he had stopped fretting about the July selection process about six years ago and these days just accepted his fate.

However, he said the process sometimes made it difficult for a trainer to plan a horse’s assault on the race.

He said in the case of Shango he had won the Grade 2 Dingaans last season and beaten this year’s July favourite Got The Greenlight in the Grade 1 SA Derby. He had subsequently finished fourth in the Grade 1 Daily News and just 4,70 lengths back in the July. He had then gone immediately for surgery and only made his reappearance in April this year. Tarry was very pleased with his comeback 3,75 length fifth to Puerto Manzano over 1600m and said he came out of the race fine and all was on track. However, he then ran well below par in his second run after a layoff and reckoned this might have been the reason for his ultimate elimination from the July field. Shango subsequently ran a 0,75 length second to Johnny Hero in the Grade 3 Jubilee but was giving the latter 4kg and that was the completion of a perfect preparation. 

Tarry acknowledged the July as a great race and respected the tradition of giving preferential consideration for final field inclusion to the winners of certain races. However, he said the process had flaws that made it frustrating for trainers when it need not be. The chief habits he questioned were putting in winners of races like the Grade 3 Jubilee, Grade 3 Cup Trial and Grade 3 Track And Ball Derby when they had either beaten weak fields or had narrowly beaten other July entries who had been carrying a lot more weight. He pointed out that in the latter case the beaten horses who was eliminated would come into the July better weighted than the winner.  

Andrew Harrison

SOUTH AFRICA’S obsession with sprinter/milers has been to the detriment of horses with stout pedigrees and this has resulted in races further than 2000m being few and far between especially in KZN. This dearth of staying races makes sorting through the form that much more difficult as there is often little collateral form over the trip.

Ironically, Australia’s similar obsession has led to their most famous race, the 3200m Melbourne Cup, regularly falling to foreign raiders ever since the Irish-trained Vintage Crop opened the door in 1993.

So, it is with little conviction that Blue Planet is taken to win the seventh over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today.   Carl Hewitson’s runner has been in good form since shedding his maiden but goes this trip for the first time. However, he boasts a stout pedigree that suggests that he should see this out with ease. In his first two post maiden efforts he was close up over a mile in spite of unfavourable draws but better drawn over the same trip last time out he finished with a rattle to get within a length of the winner.

Leading owner Chris van Niekerk is hunting another champion owner title and Sean Tarry saddles Black Thorn who makes his local debut. Like Blue Planet, he has shown good form over shorter but may also now be looking for this trip. Mambo Symphony is another trying this trip for the first time but should also see it out comfortably as his last win was over 2000m on the poly. Space News, stable companion to Blue Planet, was successful over course and distance last time out and will have his supporters with four-claiming apprentice Kayden Brewer, who is being mentored by Hewitson, keeping the ride.

It’s a ten-race card with an early 11.25am start. The bi-pot kicks off in the second where Don’t Touch Me should be good enough to get you through the first leg. He made a smart debut for his new stable and has come on physically over the past month. He is drawn a touch wide but should have more to come.

Louis Goosen holds a useful hand in the first leg of the PA with Beckoning Beauty and Lavu Lavu. Beckoning Beauty has made good improvement since being fitted with blinkers although she switches to the turf. Kom Naidoo sends out Magicallee who showed up well against males last start. She is also back on turf but goes well this distance. Lavu Lavu is over her best trip but another that switches to turf.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is an open affair where Sonjador gets another chance to shed his maiden but although he has been consistent, he has been costly to follow. Willy The Wizard finished a neck behind Sonjador when last they met but was much improved when trying ground for the first time. He has only had three starts and should have improvement to come and can turn the tables even though he has the worst of the draw. Executive Decision is showing signs of coming to hand and enjoyed the trip last run.

The fifth could rest between Secret Giver and Victory Twist. Both started short-pried favourites at their last visits to a racecourse. Secret Giver was narrowly beaten and he has been placed in four of his five starts. The form has been franked and he can make amends. Victory Twist stacks up as the biggest threat as he was also narrowly beaten at his last outing over course and distance. Giant’s Castle made sudden improvement last run behind Parallax who franked that form with a game second on Monday.

Papillion looks the pick of the field in the sixth as she has been knocking on the door for some time now. She meets a weak field here and should make the frame at least. Others to consider are Dunquesne Whistle, Red Hot Chili Girl and Noble Nova.

The eighth is a tricky affair but Straight Up has been trying further of late but is effective over this shorter trip and is in good form. Fireonthetrack is hardly ever out of the money and was finishing strongly when upstaged by rank outsider Rocky Coast last time out while Banzai Pipeline has been trying further of late but seems more effective over this shorter trip and should be included in all calculations.

Sofia Erin can round off the Pick 6 after making a cracking debut for her new stable. Biggest danger could be Silver Dazzle who is long overdue another win, and goes well this course and distance.

Andrew Harrison

ERIC SANDS has made the tough decision to withdraw Rainbow Bridge from the Gr1 HKJC World Pools Champions Cup.

The season-ending race will be run over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, July 31.

After scratching his head over the past two weeks, Sands decided on Friday that it was to Rainbow Bridge’s benefit that he miss the race.

“It’s a million rand race, and I would love to go for a million rand race, but why do I want to get blood out of a stone,” he said.

 “Two years ago, he won the race and he should have beaten Soqrat by five lengths. Last year he got beaten by his brother (Golden Ducat) but he should have beaten Cirillo (third) by five lengths.

“He’s had a tough season and he’s given everything. His run in the July was probably his worst. I could get him back but if he gets beaten people will say I should not have let him run.”

“He’s not just a horse, he’s my friend and I would never do that to a friend,” Sands concluded.

This season Rainbow Bridge won the Gr1 Cape Town Met, the Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes and the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge. He was also second in the Gr2 Green Point Stakes, beaten a short head by Belgarion, and second in the Gr1 Queen’s Plate.

His last run in the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July was his worse showing this season, finishing eighth, beaten five lengths by Kommetdieding, the run that prompted Sands’ decision.

Andrew Harrison

Although the rampant looting appears to have subsided, there are still fears that the unrest may flare up again over the weekend. As a precaution and because of other logistical difficulties Gold Circle have made contingency plans and moved tomorrow’s scheduled meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville to Hollywoodbets Greyville turf.

The change of venue will see many scratchings so punters are advised to keep up to date with the changes before placing their bets.

Hopefully sanity prevails and racing takes place tomorrow where Sir Michael and Shavout can bring some cheer to beleaguered punters.

Dean Kannemeyer pitted Sir Michael against Do It Again in a Pinnacle Stakes were all was in favour of Justin Snaith’s gelding.

Admittedly it was a warm-up for the subsequent Vodacom Durban July fourth-placed finisher but for a horse that had won and finished close-up in Gr1 contests over the distance he looked to be something of a shoo-in.

As it turned out, Richard Fourie had to pull out all the stops on the odds-on favourite to collar Sir Michael on the line and save a myriad of exotic bet tickets.

However, even taking into account that Do It Again was probably in need of a serious blow-out, it was still a top performance by Sir Michael who faces nothing of that calibre in the seventh, a handicap over a mile.

One always needs to take note of runners from the Sean Tarry yard, whether they have current form or no, but Rock The Globe has been in good form on the Highveld and not far behind useful stable companion Putontheredlight last time out.

It’s been a long time between drinks for Rock The Globe but his merit rating has dropped from a career high of 106 to his current mark of 89 and he has hardly been out of the money since his last success.

Ralph The Rascal has been a little costly to follow but is seldom far back. He was narrowly beaten last run, goes well this trip and makes his Scottsville debut which could bring out the best in him.

Judging by jockey bookings, Tonightsfightnight looks the pick of Dennis Drier’s pair. He won well last run over 1200m and steps up in trip. His recent form has been on the poly but he has a light weight and will be a factor.

MJ Odendaal has always had high hopes for Shavout and took him up to Turffontein for the Dingaans. It did not work out for Shavout who ran no sort of race, finishing tailed off behind Catch Twentytwo. He hasn’t made it back to the winner’s enclosure since but he has been racing in the top echelons finishing third behind Crown Towers in The Sledgehammer and in a similar position behind star filly She’s A Keeper in the WSB 1900.

If he holds form, he should prove way too good for is rivals in the sixth with his light weight. Karoo Lark has finally found form and was narrowly beaten by Look For Hounds last start. However, he is now 2.5kg better off with his rival this time around and should be able to turn the tables although it should still be a close rivalry as Look For Hounds found his best form and steps up in trip.

News Stream has been a little off form of late but has the benefit of a good draw and will go close on his best effort.

Dark horse could be Donald McDonald. Gavin van Zyl’s gelding is no slouch but has not been out since December last year and would probably prefer it a touch further but if anywhere close to his best he will make them all gallop.

In the opening leg of the Pick 6 Sea Of Tranquillity found strong market support last run and could have finished a little closer after finding traffic close home. She is back over a sprint but appears to have come to hand and the stable is in mustard form of late. Baby Africa found form when starting at long odds and returning to a sprint. Sting Ray raced in feature company at her second start. She finished well beaten but had the worst of the draw. There was a lot to like about her debut effort and one can expect some improvement.  Ride The Lightning and the battling Fateful Mistress are others to consider.

In the fifth, Diamond Girl is entered to run on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly on Monday so it will be interesting to see which engagement Dennis Drier chooses. She enjoyed the extra last run when finishing stoutly and she looks capable in this field. The two obvious dangers are Indomavel and Cordobesa.

Indomavel has drawn wide but goes well this trip and was only run out of it late last start while Cordobesa was in with a shout until the final 50m last start when the short-priced favourite prevailed. She has also drawn wide but must have a decent chance.

Tarry saddles Dubawi Princess in the eighth. She goes well this trip and has been in good form of late. Irish Belle is quick although her best recent form has been on the poly but she goes well this trip. Hilarity is an English import making her local debut but has not been out since October last year. The betting should tell a story. Flashy Kaitrina was out-classed in the Garden Province but is better over this trip and should not be written off lightly.

In the last, a difficult handicap, Naval Secret has his first run for a new stable. He had some useful Cape form before being tried in blinkers and they come off. Blaze Of Silk is a course specialist and way better than his last run.  Bernie’s Dream may just have been short of a run last time out while Greenlighttoheaven has been disappointing but is back over what may prove a more suitable trip.

David Thiselton
THE VAAL straight course today stages an interesting eight race meeting which should see punters coming out on top.

The meeting starts with a workriders’ maiden over 1400m and Mr Livingston will be hard to beat. He finished a 6,75 length fourth last time out over 1200m but the three in front of him, William Robertson, Dyce and Angel Of War are all talented. He has plenty of scope and should relish the step up in trip on pedigree being by Global View, whose two Graded wins were over 1600m and 1700m, out of a Labeeb mare who placed over 2600m. He is only a two-year-old but looks to have plenty of scope and likely has a bright future ahead of him. Phenesile Mongqawa is aboard and is an ultra consistent rider. The Sean Tarry-trained first-timer Willtowin is a three-year-old gelding by Willow Magic and is a half-brother to the seven-time winning Listed runner up Euphoria, a Kahal filly who won from 1200m up to 1600m. Champion workrider Joe Gwingwizha is aboard. Fort Commander’s best form has been over 1200m so the step up to this trip could be a concern but Tshepiso Matsoele is aboard and he has won five of his last six races.

The second is a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m and Sicilian Tiger is the one to beat after making a good debut over 1200m where he showed pace and hung on for third although he did not receive any betting support so the even money quoted at present might be a touch skinny. An interesting first-timer appears called Ice And Fire. He is a gelding by What A Winter and is a half-brother to the Dingaans winner Shango. He is also a half-brother to Captain And Master who looked like he would go to the top after running on for third in the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horsehoe for two-year-olds over 1400m but was ultimately a disappointment although he has won a few races. Chief Rafeef has run some fair races and might enjoy the step back down in trip so is not out of it either.

The third race is a Miaden Juvenile Plate over 1200m in which only three of the 13 runners have raced before. Quest From Afar was only 1.15 lengths behind the smart Desert Miracle over 1160m in her penultimate start so is the one to beat. Meteoric has shown some ability and could still improve. First-timer Code Zero is by Master Of My Fate and is a half-sister to twice Listed winner in PE Sammy Jo whose six career wins ranged from 1000m to 2000m. First-timer Perfect Witness is by Flower Alley and is a half-sister to four-time winner in KZN from 1200m to 2000m Diamonds And Pearls (Jackson). Alabama Anna is by the exciting new sire The United States out of an unraced Hawk Wing mare and this first-timer is a half-sister to three-time winner Radiant Love.  

In the fourth race over 1000m Brief Crusade strikes as being a scopey sort who can improve and his run last time out, a 4,75 length third to the promising Alesian Chief, looks to be the best form. Maraca Ginger and Night King look to be moderate but could be the main dangers.

In the fifth race over 1000m What A Miracle jumped outward last time over 1000m and was run out of it late so can make amends here in a moderate field. She is by What A Winter and is a full sister to four-time winner Tripod. Two first-timers could be the chief dangers. Vuitton is by Vercingetorix and is a full-sister to the one-time winner over 1750m Parallax. Moonshiningthrough is by Rafeef and is a half-sister to the twice winner in KZN Purple Moon’s Up (What A Winter).

In the sixth race, a MR 80 Handicap over 1000m, Alesian Chief won comfortably last time out over this trip and off a reasonable opening merit rating of 88 this two-year-old could be the one to side with. Successful Secret is 3.5 kg better off with Country Squire for a 3.05 length beating so might be the chief threat in this relatively open race. Country Squire is in fine form and won going away last time so it would not be a great surprise to see him overcome a seven point raise. Godswood was disappointing in that race and is better than that and he is also now 4kg better off with Country Squire for a 6,25 length beating. Look To The Sky speedy can never be ignored as he has plummeted down the merit ratings and might one day blitz a field over the minimum trip, although he is officially 1kg under sufferance here. 

In the seventh race, a Graduation Plate over 1100m Captain Morisco is the choice as he holds Portico on a line through Vaseem. However, the two-year-old Dockofthebay could well be a big danger despite not having run since his winning debut in early January. He is a big, long-striding sort and might well have benefited from the layoff. Portico did compete with the best as a two-year-old and finished a narrow second in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m. He showed signs of returning to his best last time and is also a contender to win.

In the last race, a Maiden over 1400m, McKenna Sky is by Act Of War and is a half-sister to MK’s Pride so she should improve on her fifth place effort on debut over 1200m. She did show quite a lot of speed there but on pedigree will enjoy this step up in trip and can reverse a 1,65 length beating by the hard-knocking maiden Lady Of The Flame, who is having her twelfth start.

The KZN based bookmaker has signed a four-year naming rights sponsorship deal for the Gold Cup and the Festival of Racing. Representing Marshalls World of Sport, Taffy Mukeredzi, said that this was a way for MWOS to contribute to the horseracing industry especially during these difficult times. The four-year sponsorship will also cover the 60th year celebration for Marshalls World of Sport after the late John Marshall opened his first betting operation in 1963.

This year the Marshalls World of Sport Festival of Racing will take place on Saturday, 31 July, and fittingly will bring the 2020/2021 South African Racing Season to a close, featuring the MWOS Gold Cup and four Grade 1 races, all of which will have a significant effect on the outcome of the Equus Awards for this season.

David Thiselton

VODACOM DURBAN JULY hero Kommetdieding heads back to Cape Town today and trainer Michelle Rix said reality might finally sink in when she got home.  

She said, “It is surreal,” 

She described her father and training partner Harold Crawford’s reaction, “He was very emotional, he never thought he would even have a July runner and I loved it that I could share this win with him.”

The Crawford/Rix yard became the first small yard to win the big race since Mauritian-born KZN trainer Pat Antelme’s win with Gondolier in 1985.

To underline how massive an achievement it is, only five trainers who could be considered to be “small yard” had previously gained a place in the July this century, St. John Gray, Colin Lee, Stan Elley, Tyrone Zackey and Weiho Marwing. 

Michelle said jockey Gavin Lerena had planned as long as eight days before the race to slot in behind Do It Again from their draw of 18 out of 18.

He duly found cover behind him in the back straight.

However, he was then shuffled outward rounding the Drill Hall and found himself without cover.

Michelle said, “You would think I would have then have been worried but I wasn’t because Gavin had taken a lot of time to know the horse and we had also made sure the horse had gone into the race fit enough to handle it.”

Lerena travelled down to KZN four times to ride Kommetdieding including in the official July gallops.

Michelle continued, “Billy Jacobson was riding him work regularly too and when you have confidence coming from two jockeys it is definitely an asset.”

She continued, “Kommetdieding has an incredible turn of foot and it is instantaneous and Gavin knew he had to use it at exactly the right time. This horse also loves to be around horses too because he loves a challenge so I knew he was better than his runs in the WSB Guineas and Daily News 2000 where he ran on his own on the outside and then on the inside.”

Kommetdieding was allowed to make up the ground steadily while racing wide from the Drill Hall onward.

Lerena’s astutely drew alongside Do It Again as they approached the straight and this led to this dangerous contestant being stuck in a pocket for much of the straight. 

Lerena then got onto the back of Sovereign Spirit and got the sling shot effect as he spun off the latter’s heels.

He only produced the whip at the 200m mark, by which stage his twice conqueror Linebacker had ranged alongside him on the inside and the favourite Got The Greenlight was moving up on his outside.

As Rix had foreseen the response was instantaneous and he stole a narrow but important advantage on Linebacker. With two challengers on either side of him he was never going to be beaten from then onward due to the size of his heart and having been produced to his absolute peak. Lerena also produced a text book, lightning quick change of whip hand at the 100m mark to prompt a change of leg thus ensuring there would be no fatigue effecting his mount. The three-year-old Elusive Fort colt won full of running.

Harold Crawford took out his license in 1976 and this was his yard’s first ever Grade 1 winner.

Michelle worked for four years with trainer Andre Heyns before becoming an assistant to her father and they became an official partnership in August 2019.

They were both at the Klawervlei farm sale of 2019 but it was Harold who spotted Kommetdieding.

Michelle said, “He saw something he liked.”

Harold is also a fan of Elusive Fort having had success before with the like of three-time winner Fort Agopian. 

Kommetdieding’s Captain Al dam Adorable was a Listed runner up and although she had not produced much to date she is out of Russian Fox mare who was a half-sister to the dam of the Captain Al three-time Grade 1 winner Captain America.

Michelle in fact advised John Koster of Klawervlei not to sell Adorable after Kommetdieding had begun displaying promise but he unfortunately did not heed the advice. Koster must be rueing this decision especially as Kommetdieding’s Querari half-brother won easily second time out at Turffontein Inside yesterday, fittingly under Lerena.

Kommetdieding was not a flashy purchase coming off a farm sale but is soon became quickly apparent he was something special. 

Owner Ashwin Reynolds took an immediate liking to “Oom Harold” when first meeting him and has thus thrown a lot of support into the yard.

Crawford and Rix’s hard work paid off this SA Champions Season and they are likely to gain further support after converting a nice story into a rags-to-riches fairytale.