David Thiselton

THE lack of a KZN Vodacom Durban July contender was lamented when the betting first came out but that all changed at Hollywoodbets Greyville today when the Gareth van Zyl-trained She’s A Keeper powered home in the Grade 2 World Sports Betting 1900 under Warren Kennedy.

The four-year-old Gimmethegreenlight filly was admittedly carrying only 50kg and beat two rank outsiders in Matterhorn and Shavout but the conditions of the Vodacom Durban July state that the winner of the WSB 1900 is given “preferential consideration for inclusion in the final field”.

Under the conditions of the WSB 1900 the winner can only be raised six points, which means she will go up to a 96 and as things stand will be a whopping 11kg under sufferance in the big race.

However, the handicappers have had their hands tied by conditions and guidelines for just about everyone of her five wins and she proved today she is a lot better than her rating.

She was officially 4kg under sufferance with the two best weighted horses in today’s race, Trip To Africa and Doublemint, and beat them by 5,50 and 9,15 lengths respectively, and she was 2,5kg under sufferance with her chief market rival, fourth-placed Crown Towers, and beat him by 4,60 lengths.

Kennedy dropped She’s A Keeper out from a wide draw and took her to the rail.

Crown Towers enjoys striding out either in front or behind a strong pacemaker but his chances of doing either were scuppered by Shareholder on his inside rushing to the front and then slowing it up.

Crown Towers eventually ended up in behind Blackball, who had come around to sit on the flank of Shareholder, but he had not been able to use his big stride to stretch the field so could only plug on for fourth.

Meanwhile, She’s A Keeper, who was second last of the horses on the rail, used her terrific turn of foot at the top of the straight and burst through the centre to strike the front at the 300m mark.

She appears to have two similarities to her paternal half-brother Got The Greenlight, that terrific turn of foot being the first of them, and, like him, she seems to take her foot off the pedal once she has hit the front. She won more easily than the 0,90 length margin suggests as she was running around a bit in the closing stages, which was what she had also done when winning the Listed WSB Scarlet Lady over 1750m in her previous start.

Nevertheless, Matterhorn, who ran on from last down the inside, and Shavout, who ran on from off the pace down the outside, will be warm orders in their next respective handicap starts, having given the winner 4kg and 2kg respectively and being beaten just 0,90 and 1,70 lengths.

She’s A Keeper was bred and is owned by the Missing U Syndicate, whose nominee is the pedigree guru Rob Knuppe, and his partner in the syndicate is Jonathan Connellan.

Gareth van Zyl, whose young career already includes a win in Durban’s second most famous race, The WSB Gold Cup, can now look forward to his first runner in the Vodacom Durban July. This is some feat considering She’s A Keeper only made her debut in mid-December this season.

Earlier, She’s A Keeper’s Scarlet Lady form was franked when the third and second horses, the Wendy Whitehead-trained Keep On Dancing and the Vaughan Marshall-trained Scented Mistress, finished first and second respectively in the Listed KRA East Coast Cup over 2000m. Kennedy also rode the winner in that race.

Vodacom Durban July champion Do It Again had put in a good pipe-opening run in the previous race when just getting up to win a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m under Richard Fourie.

David Thiselton

The racing world especially in the Southern African juridictions is reeling in shock after the tragic passing of twice South African champion apprentice Nooresh Juglall after a horrific racing accident on Saturday in his home country of Mauritius and any news of racing success on that day is tinged with sadness.

However, it must be recorded that Paul Peter and Warren Kennedy combined to win the Listed Syringa Handicap over 1600m at Turffontein Inside with the ever improving Var filly Way Of The World while earlier the promising Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Puerto Manzano marched on with another eyecatching victory.

Way Of The World led in her previous start over 1450m and fought off the challengers to win cosily in the end so it seemed she would have a chance of staying the 1600m trip but her wide draw was a concern.

However, in the end none of the inside drawn horses wanted the lead so Kennedy was able to get to the front without using up any extra fuel.

She then dictated although the favourite Wylie Wench was sitting behind her ready to pounce.

However, Way Of The World kept on rolling gallantly in the straight and always had the measure of Wylie Wench.

The latter did make late inroads to be beaten just a length in her first run since breaking the Vaal Classic track course record when winning the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap on February 27.

She received a seven point raise for that win but that was not enough to explain the close proximity of the Syringa Handicap’s third-placed Querari Ferrari, whom she had beaten by eight lengths in the Acacia. So Wylie Wench should come on a lot from Saturday’s run.

Way Of The World started this season a one-time winner merit rated 71 and is now a seven-time winner and due another raise from the 93 rating she ran off yesterday.

Earlier Puerto Manzano showed off his big stride in the straight after coming from a handy position to win a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1800m under Gavin Lerena. Johan Janse van Vuuren said post-race that he was in two minds whether to run the gelding in the Daily News 2000, but it was unlikely. The Argentinian-bred by the Group 1 Hollywood Derby-winning sire Seek Again (Speightstown) has raced seven times for five wins and two seconds and strikes as one who will stay further although the Hollywood Derby is only over nine furlongs and he is a half-brother to a Grade 1 winner over a mile.   

THE jockeys formed a guard of honour and rode with black arm bands at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday in memory of their colleague Nooresh Juglall who passed away in hospital after a fall at Champs De Mars racecourse in Mauritius on Saturday. He was 29.

The accident happened as the runners crossed a road over the track in the 990m Gr3 Noble Salute Cup.

Jockey Benny Woodworth, riding Golden Tractor, was also involved in the accident, but thankfully escaped with just a serious elbow injury.

A Mauritius Turf Club report stated that Golden Tractor was new to the Champ de Mars track, and as virtually all first-timers at the course do, he skipped the crossing which is just before the entrance to the final straight.

Juglall’s mount Rule The Night which was following Golden Tract could not avoid Golden Tractor and both came down.

Nooresh was a product of the South African Jockey Academy and was Champion Apprentice for two years in 2012 and 2013.

 He was a talented rider and one of his many South African successes was winning the Triple Tiara on Cherry On The Top for Ormond Ferraris and the Gold Cup on Dynasty’s Blossom for Brett Crawford.

He rode successfully in Singapore for a few years before returning to his native country Mauritius.

Nooresh is survived by his wife Chaaya and young family, as well as his father Satanand, his mother Kavita, his sister Sweta and younger brother Tajesh, also a product of the SA Jockey Academy and rides in Mauritius.

Andrew Harrison

IF Warren Kennedy has any say, She’s A Keeper will be his mount in the Vodacom Durban July come July 3. Beaten only once in her career, the Gareth van Zyl-trained filly turned it on in style to win the Gr2 WSB 1900 at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

Ironically, it was the race that got Belgarion into the July last year and his defection yesterday when favourably weighted cleared the way for She’s A Keeper.

Whether Belgarion would have won or not is a moot point but the fact that two rank outsiders, Matterhorn and Shavout, chased her home will be food for thought. But they were also at the bottom of the weights and no slouches in their own right.

Lightly raced Matterhorn will also surely have done enough to garner an invite into the VDJ starting line-up.

Justin Snaith was all doom and gloom about his stable’s chances in this year’s VDJ given the handicapping even though Do It Again could not have had a better prep race in his build-up to the big race. Given the conditions of the Pinnacle Stakes, Do It Again seemed assured of a comfortable victory but Sir Michael gave him an unexpectedly tough race that should have done a lot to blow away any cobwebs.

It was a courageous effort from the dual July winner who had not found the winner’s enclosure for nearly two years, but also a powerful ride from Richard Fourie who got his mount’s head down when is counted.

Sir Michael was possibly a touch unlucky as he was caught in traffic at the top of the straight and Do It Again was given a chance to wind up, but he did go past Do It Again and looked a winner 100m out.

But the champion dug deep and it was a win full of merit.

A quirky filly, Keep On Dancing has not been the easiest but Wendy Whitehead has done marvels to get her to settle down and her patience paid off with a black type victory in the KRA East Coast Cup (Listed). Warren Kennedy produced her with a perfectly time run. As he intimated post-race, she has a tremendous turn of foot but it has to be timed as she tends to ‘empty out’ if sent for home too soon.

Mark Dixon’s yard has been going through a lean spell with viruses and dodgy blood pictures so it will have been with relief that Prince Tyrion broke the ice with an end-to-end win in the second. Athandiwe Mgudlwa had his mount out quickly and with the stiff tailwind helping him home, Prince Tyrion kept on all the way to the line.

It’s been something of a slow start for apprentice Kaidan Brewer and he had only one winner behind his name before he rode a cracking race aboard Burning Wings for Glen Kotzen. Sitting in off the pace, he got Burning Wings to quicken through a gap to win in fine style.

Andrew Harrison

THERE was a few dashed dreams and many reasons for hope after yesterday’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting. Perceived or just a flock of sheep, the jockeys plundered the going up the inside rail down the straight course to such an extent that the ‘keep straight for a furlong rule’ was just on paper.

There were plenty of excuses across the board as riders hunted the inside rail and a close watch on race-replays may well prove profitable come Golden Horse Sprint day.

Sean Tarry and Dean Kannemeyer were bemoaning their misfortune in the Listed In Full Flight Handicap as Mombela and Seventh Gear found themselves caught in traffic but there was not taking away from course specialist Ishnana, responsible for the first boil-over over the afternoon, an 18-1 chance and paying R27 on the tote.

Garth Puller was lavish in his praise of rider Ant Mgudlwa. “He was ridden properly, the way he likes it. He needs a horse in front of him and that’s what he got,” said Puller as Ishnana powered home out of the pack with Good Rhythm, managing to out-strip a few from his inside draw, getting up for second.

Owner and breeder Robert Smith has been a long-time breeder and supporter and this win would have been just rewards for him and co-owner Thabo Mhlongo.

Tarry and Lyle Hewitson had taken their medicine with Mombela and although only eight horses lined up for the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes, Hewitson refrained from tracking to the inside rail and Sound Of Warning gave notice that she will be a force to be reckoned with in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship.

Hewitson hunted the speed and produce Sound Of Warning with a perfectly timed run as she sped clear of her rivals with Corne Spies’s filly Captain’s Run a well beaten second.

Favourite High Hosanna ran her race a long way out and it was debutant Sky Glitter who caught the eye as she came from a seemingly hopeless position to fill fourth.

Cosmic Highway was a popular choice in the Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes but he too was a victim of the inside rail although nothing can be taken away from the winner Good Traveller. His form had been franked early in the day as Party Time, a short head behind Good Traveller in the maidens, had roared home to a comfortable maiden win.

Gelded after his last run, a ‘handful’ according to Glen Kotzen, Good Traveller, who was ridden from off the pace, now looks primed for the Gr1 Gold Medallion. Grant van Niekerk, who admitted to an up-and-down day negotiating the traffic, confirmed that his mount was still aggressive but with a bit of schooling would be a contender for more black-type honours. Good Traveller races in the colours of Howard Schwegmann, who raced many a horse with his late father Bernie.

Cosmic Highway may well be looking for further at this stage of his career but Keagan de Melo had to wait patiently for a rails run to open and the colt should benefit from the outing if nothing else.

Van Niekerk was again on the receiving end of traffic as he was unable to negotiate the well-fancied Favorita through the roadblocks in the Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes.

Stuck in behind runners as the field again concertinaed up towards the inside rail, he only managed a split late – too late to catch Vihaan’s Pie as Warren Kennedy took full toll of his rival’s misfortune.

It was an inspired decision by Ashburton-based Kom Naidoo to drop his charge back to a sprint. “We tried her over 1400m and a mile but as she looked to be going on to win, she ran out of steam.”

Vihaan’s Pie had run some promising races in good company, so this win, although a little unexpected, was not out of turn.

Andrew Harrison

COSMIC HIGHWAY has garnered something of a reputation early in his career after two impressive victories at Kenilworth.

Winning narrowly on debut, Dean Kannemeyer’s colt revelled in the step up in trip second time out and could take a power of beating when he lines up in the Gr 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

The race is no doubt a warm-up for the Gr1 Gold Medallion for many in the field and Vaughan Marshall has made a cracking start to Champions Season. He saddles Safe Return, a son of the Marshall-trained William Longsword.

After making a smart debut, Safe Return made all the running in a facile maiden win. The opposition is a little stronger this time around but he does look progressive and Marshall will not have brought him up for a look at the scenery.

John Buckler runs a tight satellite yard for Glen Kotzen – they saddled a four-timer at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Wednesday – and they send out the unbeaten Good Traveller. Gelded since his last run, he has the benefit of a race over course and distance when shedding his maiden in fine style. He made all the running when holding on narrowly at his next Greyville start but the visit by the vet probably tells a story.

Corne Spies and Sean Tarry have both opted to take on males with Eastern Belle and Social Image respectively instead of the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes, the filly’s equivalent. Eastern Belle is still a maiden but does have a light weight while Social Image is tremendously fast but ‘stopped’ last time out.

Mike Miller has some smart fillies in his yard and Civil Rights can build on her Scottsville form with victory in the Strelitzia Stakes, but it will not be easy with visitors rampant in the early Champion Season features.

Miss Putin didn’t do the form of Civil Rights any favours when finishing last at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday, but outside of that her form is promising.

Likely favourite is High Hosanna who started a short-priced favourite in a strong Juvenile feature on Cape Town Met day. She blew her chances with a tardy start but was making up ground in the finish. She should make good progress from that showing. Casa Inverno shed her maiden in good time on the tricky Durbanville course and if ready she can also make a bold showing.

Justin Snaith saddles Foverita in the Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes and his filly should be ideally suited to this course and distance. At her penultimate she ran star filly Celtic Sea to within two lengths in the Sceptre Stakes and on that showing she could be hard to beat. Stable companion Keep The Lights On was not disgraced behind Princess Calla last outing with the latter running a cracker in the WSB Fillies Guineas next time out. With that run under her girth Keep The Lights On can fight it out. Singforafa is never easy to catch right but when she’s good, she’s very good. She disappointed badly last run at this course when weighted to win but is capable of a top flight performance. Overlook her at your peril. Frank Robinson has gone carefully with Gr2 Golden Slipper winner Love Bomb in the lead up to the season and she needed her last run. She should prefer further but has a touch of class and can feature.

In Full Flight, involved in what was possibly the Cape Guineas race of the century when dead-heating with perennial rival Sentinel, was classy enough to win 1000m sprints but he also won the Durban July in 1972.

So, the In Full Flight Handicap (Listed) a 1100m dash, like the Scarlet Lady named after one of the top sprinting fillies ever but run over 1800m, is something of an anomaly. It may be a pedantic view but we sort of do those champions of the past a disservice.

Dennis Drier was a young man in 1972 and will have remembered In Full Flight well but will be looking to Tempting Fate to find the form that saw his colt win the Gr1 Gold Medallion last season. He has been disappointing since that win but a horse’s form often works in cycles and Tempting Fate is due to be coming to hand.

He was always prominent in the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championship before weakening late and does not face that quality on Sunday.

Drier took a calculated risk by running Princess Anastasia in a race where she was a long way under sufferance. She did not win but her runner-up place was punished with a 13-point hammering in the handicap. But she does appear to be progressive and can defy the handicappers. Of the others, Admire Me goes for her fourth win on the bounce which is not easy and she too took a knock in the handicap. Star Vega has been rested and may just need it but is smart and can feature prominently.

David Thiselton
ON Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville the Nathan Kotzen-trained Walton Hall’s victory in the ninth race did not cause much of a stir, being in a MR 78 Handicap and following hard on the heels of big race wins by Rainbow Bridge, Captain’s Ransom and Linebacker, but it was a significant moment for the Armstrong family, who have raced in KZN for three generations.
Former Gold Circle director Bruce Armstrong led in the Wylie Hall gelding with Muzi Yeni aboard and Yeni was wearing the same colours the legendary Lester Piggott wore 50 years ago when Bruce’s grandmother Vi led in a Syd Laird-trained colt called Hang Fire at Scottsville on 20 November 1971.
The colours, black, white stars, red sleeves and cap, were first registered by Bruce’s uncle Graeme Armstrong 58 years ago in May 1963.
Graeme’s close relatives became joint holders of the colours at various stages in ensuing years including Bruce’s father Robert and his grandparents Ross and Vi.   Graeme eventually relinquished the colours and they were in fact held for two months from December 2000 by PJ “Blackie” Swart.
However, Bruce’s eagle-eyed uncle, the well known owner and racing administrator Bill Lambert, spotted the colours with dismay in the parade ring one day and asked Blackie if he could bring them back into his family. Bruce seems to recall Bill presenting Blackie with a case of whisky after the kind relinquishment!
Bill’s son Iain then became the registered colour holder.
Bruce took over the colours in April 2004 and they have been seen in the winner’s enclosure many times since.
Walton Hall has an interesting pedigree which can be loosely tied to Hang Fire and to the history of the Armstrong family.
Walton Hall’s dam Magical Cove is closely related to the great Mike Azzie-trained sprinter National Currency, as she was by the same sire, National Assembly, and their respective dams were half-sisters.
Their respective grand-dam was the top Varsfontein Stud broodmare Enchanting, who was out of Lucky Libra, a mare bought by Varsfontein Stud founder Tony Kalmanson in the UK in the early 1970s.
Lucky Libra was remembered by Tony’s daughter Susan Rowett, who is the current Varsfontein owner, as being extremely tall and leggy and her three victories included a hurdles race over two-and-a-half miles.
Tony also liked the 3×4 in-breeding to Fair Trial (Fairway) that Lucky Libra brought as he believed Fair Trial made for a good cross with Varsfontein’s first stallion Mexico II.
Therefore, it is interesting to note that by coincidence Hang Fire was also in-bred 3×4 to Fair Trial.
Another interesting tie is that Walton Hall fended off Midnight Badger with Warren Kennedy aboard on Sunday and among the vanquished jockeys in Hang Fire’s win with Piggott up was Warren’s father Terrance.  
Piggott’s win on Hang Fire happened on possibly the greatest day in Scottsville history.
In the very next race, The Bull Brand International over 1600m, the great David Payne-trained In Full Flight, with Chilean-born jockey Fernando Toro aboard, put in one of his career best performances, destroying subsequent three-times Summer Cup winner Elevation, with Michael Roberts up, by 5,5 lengths in course record time. In Full Flight’s arch rival Sentinel, ridden by the father of Frankie Dettori, Gianfranco Dettori, was beaten eight lengths into third.
Piggot, who at the time, incidentally, was married to an Armstrong, Susan, although of no relation to the Durban Armstrongs, finished fifth on Jest.
In Full Flight, Elevation and Sentinel were all just young three-year-olds in that race and In Full Flight went on to win the Swazi Spa Holiday Inn Stakes at Kenilworth, the Cape Guineas, the Queen’s Plate, the Concord Stakes, the Newbury Stakes, the Durban July and the Woolavington Cup that same season over distances raging from 1000m to 2200m, truly one of the greatest thoroughbreds in SA history.
The Kalmanson connection to Walton Hall also ties in well with the story.  
Tony Kalmanson was living in KZN at the time of that famous 1971 meeting and might well have done business with the sugar farming Armstrongs being a member of a packaging-business family who provided bags for the sugar industry.
Tony’s older brother John went to Michaelhouse in the 1940s as did Bruce’s father Robert.
Walton Hall was bought by Andy Williams of World Wide Bloodstock at the BSA National Two-year-old Sale of 2018 for R30,000.
Williams was initially a partner in the horse with Bruce Armstrong and Thomy du Charmoy. The trio were members of a crowd who used to gather regularly at the Hollywoodbets Greyville-based Totalisator/Bookmaker facility popularly know as “Club Tab” and are all passionate about the Sport Of Kings. However, Kotzen has latterly taken over Williams’ and Du Charmoy’s shares.
Walton Hall has now had eleven runs for two wins and four places for earnings of R139,750.
Nathan Kotzen is known for bringing horses on slowly but surely and Walton Hall impressed on Sunday.
Yeni tucked the handsome bay in from a wide draw of eleven out of 12 and after turning for home nearer the back than the front he ran on through the centre of the field to win by 1.05 lengths. The handicappers have raised his merit rating five points to 70, but he looks capable of winning more races.
Kotzen said Walton Hall was over the one or two small hiccups he suffered after winning his maiden second time out and believes “there is more in the tank.”
It is a pity Walton Hall is not a filly as he is closely related to the Mike Azzie-trained Wylie Wench, who recently smashed the Vaal Classic track course record when winning the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m, and that would have given her some value in the breeding shed.
However, for Bruce and family and friends racing has always been chiefly about fun as anybody who has attended Hollywoodbets Greyville box 19 will attest to.
It is fitting the picture of grandmother Vi and Lester Piggott hangs in that box and Walton Hall’s lead in 50 years on might soon join it.

JUSTIN SNAITH has picked the perfect race for former Vodacom Durban July winners, Do It Again and Belgarion, to make their Champions Season debut’s in the Gr2 World Sports Betting 1900.

Given the conditions of the race, both runners are well weighted and in with big chances should they take their place on May 16 at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Snaith also has Double Mint and Crown Towers to back his assault in a race that looks tailormade for his runners.

Gareth van Zyl, who has entered his smart filly She’s A Keeper in the Vodacom Durban July will be in a quandary. He entered his filly in both races but has drawn wide in both the WSB 1900 and the KRA East Coast Cup (Listed).

She’s A Keeper is set to carry 49.5kg in the WSB 1900 and 57kg in the Cup with Glen Kotzen’s filly Catchafallingstar and Alyson Wright’s charge Preferential rated ahead of her in the Cup.

Van Zyl has boxed clever placing She’s A Keeper in races where she cannot be properly handicapped for her wins due to the conditions on the races.

Hollywoodbets Greyville 16 May 2021 – Features

R 100,000    2000m  

KRA EAST COAST CUP (Listed)

For Fillies and Mares

15 CATCHAFALLINGSTAR        (4F) 58.5  97 B Glen Kotzen       

18 PREFERENTIAL                     (4F) 58.5  97 B Alyson Wright     

11 RATTLE MOUSE                     (4F) 57.0  94   Justin Snaith     

14 SHE’S A KEEPER                  (4F) 57.0  90   Gareth van Zyl    

10 SCENTED MISTRESS           (3F) 55.5  91   Vaughan Marshall  

13 SILVA MAGIC                      (4F) 55.5  86   Dean Kannemeyer   

 6 FLOWER OF SAIGON           (3F) 54.0  86   Glen Kotzen       

 2 KAY TEE PERRY (ARG          (4F) 54.0  84 B J A Janse van Vuur

 7 GLORY DAYS                       (4F) 54.0  83   Lezeanne Forbes   

 5 JACQUELINE                        (5M) 54.0  83 C Dennis Drier      

12 ELECTRIC SURGE                (4F) 52.5  78   R A Hill/S R Hill 

 1 KEEP ON DANCING             (4F) 52.5  78 C Wendy Whitehead   

3 OCEAN FOREST                     (4F) 52.5  78   Alec Laird        

17 FIRE FAERIE                        (4F) 52.5  76 B Nathan Kotzen     

16 SILVER MARIA                    (4F) 52.5  76   Dean Kannemeyer   

9 ABBEY WOOD                       (3F) 50.0  77   Lezeanne Forbes   

 8 PINCH ME                            (3F) 50.0  74   Nathan Kotzen     

 4 IZHIESTIA                             (4F) 50.0  72   M J Odendaal      

   (18)

R 300,000    1900m   

WORLD SPORTS BETTING 1900 (Gr 2)

For all Horses

WFA: 2yrs-12.5kgs 3yrs-2.5kgs

12 BELGARION                        (5G) 62.0 130   Justin Snaith     

 1 DO IT AGAIN                       (6G) 62.0 129 C Justin Snaith     

 9 DOUBLEMINT                      (6G) 60.0 118   Justin Snaith     

 5 ZILLZAAL                             (5G) 60.0 116 B Sean Tarry        

11 CROWN TOWERS (AUS)     (5G) 60.0 115   Justin Snaith     

 4 TRIP TO AFRICA                  (4G) 58.0 114 B Duncan Howells    

17 BLACKBALL                         (6G) 58.0 110   Gavin van Zyl     

15 SILVER HOST                      (4G) 58.0 110   Justin Snaith     

13 CROME YELLOW                (6G) 56.0 108   Andre Nel         

 2 MARCHINGONTOGETHER (5G) 56.0 106   Gavin van Zyl     

 3 SUPER SILVANO                              (4G) 54.0 104   Brett Crawford    

18 MATTERHORN                   (4G) 54.0 100   Alyson Wright     

 6 WILLOW EXPRESS               (3G) 52.0 103   Sean Tarry        

 8 MOUNT ANDERSON            (4G) 52.0  98 B Dean Kannemeyer   

10 SHARE HOLDER (AUS)        (4G) 52.0  98   Paul Lafferty     

14 SIR MICHAEL                      (4G) 52.0  94   Dean Kannemeyer   

 7 SHAVOUT                            (3G) 52.0  87   M J Odendaal      

16 SHE’S A KEEPER                  (4F) 49.5  90   Gareth van Zyl    

   (18)

Please Note:

Supp Entries close @ 11:00

Friday 7 May 2021.

Declarations Close @ 11:00 Tuesday 11 May 2021.

MIKE DE KOCK will not have a runner in this year’s Vodacom Durban July after he withdrew both of his entries, Malmoos and Barahin, on Monday.

This following the pair’s lacklustre runs in last Saturday’s Gr1 4Racing Champion’s Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein.

Malmoos, without his usual zip, weakened over the last 250m to cross the line 6.5-lengths behind Got The Greenlight and De Kock assessed on his website: “Malmoos’ prep for the race was perfect, but in the race itself he was a little leg weary.

“He’s travelled to the Cape and back this season. And then we had the Triple Crown – so perhaps this was just one run too many and he showed us that he needs a break. On a line of form through the second horse, Second Base, Malmoos ran about eight lengths below his best.

“All that said, well done to Joe Soma and his connections for their big win. A good bunch of enthusiastic racing people and they deserve their success. Also well done to the other feature winners on the day.”

 “We’ll give him the rest he deserves and bring him back for the Gauteng summer season.”

The stable’s Aragosta, an eighth individual winner from just 17 runners for freshman stallion Rafeef, is also likely to be ‘put away’ for a few months following his first win.

De Kock said: “We are delighted with Rafeef’s good start and I’m not surprised. He’s by a world champion sire from the most wonderful of mares and he was a top-class horse himself. It looks like Rafeef will be a versatile stallion too.”

Also out of the first entry list is Justin Snaith’s star filly Captain’s Ransom, Baby Shooz and Youcanthurrylove.

David Thiselton

STUART PETTIGREW’S star Grade 1-winning filly Anything Goes will be rested for the remainder of this season before being aimed at races like the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes and Cape Town Met or Majorca next season.

He said, “She has slight bruising on her fetlock which could have been patched up, it is not serious, but when a small yard has a top filly like this you have to look after her so she is resting on a spelling farm and being kept for her four-year-old season. She was not 100% for her last start and she will come back next season bigger and stronger.”

However, Pettigrew will still be seen at the SA Champions Season as he is eyeing the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Festival Of Speed meeting on June 5 for Vars Vicky and Follow Me and the Vodacom Durban July with ExpressFromTheUS.

He said, “It was with the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint in mind that I ran Vars Vicky at Scottsville recently (over 1400m where he finished second to the classy Vaughan Marshall-trained colt Seeking The Stars).”

Three-year-old Vars Vicky has won his last three sprints, including the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m, where he received 6kg from the subsequent Grade 1 4Racing Computaform Sprint runner up Bohica and beat him by a head.

If Computaform Sprint winner Rio Querari lines up off his 130 merit rating the long-striding Vars Vicky, currently rated 115, will be 1kg under sufferance carrying 52kg in the Golden Horse. 

However, Justin Snaith said Rio Querari’s participation was still undecided. He pointed out that this horse had been eliminated from the Grade 2 Post Merchants during the SA Champions last year. Rio Querari has certainly cocked a snoot at the final field selection committee since with among other successes a Grade 1 weight for age win, a Grade 1 wfa runner up finish and a Grade 2 win.   

Pettigrew’s two-year-old Gimmethegreenlight filly Follow Me won by two lengths on debut over 1000m at The Vaal recently and two horses she beat by two lengths and 4,50 lengths respectively, Eternity Ring and Franca, have come out and won since so she is now being targeted at the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship at the Festival Of Speed meeting.

Pettigrew said ExpressFromTheUs’s run of below par form towards the end of last year had had him stumped as he knew he was able to quicken better than he had been doing.

He said, “The physio then found a point (spasm) in his buttock and since regular physiotherapy has been done on that he has been a completely different horse.”

The four-year-old What A Winter gelding has since rattled off three more wins and run a Grade 3 and a Grade 2 place. In his latest victory on Saturday he beat the promising Battle Force comfortably over 1400m.

His merit rating has risen to 122 and his chief target is now the Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m at Turffontein Standside on June 6, a traditional qualifier for the July.