RACE 1: Preview: NIPPY WINTER (7) made good improvement when a close-up second at Durbanville last time out. HOMELY GIRL (4) was well fancied in a Cape feature last run and was not disgraced in fourth. She meets weaker here. REVERENT LASS (9) was all at sea on debut and is sure to make good improvement. (Andrew Harrison: 7-4-9-10).

RACE 2: Preview: PERSISTANCE (7) has shown up well in both starts but faces a field of unknows. Keep an eye on the betting here. ROD THE MOD (8) made no show in feature company last start but was close-up before that over course and distance. OVATION (6) was not too far back on debut and experience will count in his favour. There are a few first timers with quick pedigrees. (Andrew Harrison: 7-8-6-1).

RACE 3: Preview: VIDA FUTURA (7) made a smart debut at lengthy odds. He should much prefer this trip and rates the one to beat. FOREVER BILL (2) found good market support on debut but failed to show. He is obviously better than that showing and may be worth another chance. POMP AND POWER (5) found some long-shot market support on debut and was not far back. He could upstage them all. (Andrew Harrison: 7-2-5).

RACE 4: Preview: PHEDRA (9) made a promising debut at long odds. She should enjoy the extra furlong and the experience should count in her favour. TEMPLE BAR (10) made good improvement at her second start when taking on males. She must have a decent chance on that showing. MARIA QUEROL (7) has put in two good sprints to date. She steps up to further and should go close. (Andrew Harrison: 9-10-7-6).

RACE 5: Preview: ADDERBURY LAKE (1) has run three crackers over shorter. The Extra should suit and from a plum draw rates a strong chance. WHATSINADREAM (2) goes well over the trip and has been a close-up second in her last two. Can go one better. LOVE NOTE (3) was much improved last run over the Durbanville 1800m. She also found market support that day so must come into all calculations. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-3-4).

RACE 6: Preview: LORD MARMITE (1) started at very long odds went sent over ground for the first time and nearly surprised. He obviously enjoyed the extra and is primed to go one better. SON OF SILK (2) is holding form and was close-up over course and distance last start. His time over the trip was 3.5 seconds slower than Lord Marmite. ALINGALONGA (4) is coming along the right way and can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-4).

RACE 7: Preview: LIFE ON MARS (3) has shown some promise and should go very close in a field of this quality. ROYAL FLUSH (1) was well beaten second last run but that was a work rider’s event. He had shown some promise before that and this looks tailor-made. WORDSWORTH (2) battling maiden but ignore last run. Has a chance in this line-up. (Andrew Harrison: 3-1-2-4).

RACE 8: Preview: AFTER THE STORM (2) has put in two smart recent efforts over this trip. She must have a strong chance in this company.  ALLOWAY GROVE (4) is holding form and seems best over this trip. Weak field. ARCTIC ICE (3) tried further after retuning from a lengthy break. He best form is over this trip. (Andrew Harrison: 2-4-3)

Andrew Harrison

THE speculation begins today with the first entries for this year’s Vodacom Durban July due in by 11am.

The July is the catalyst for interest in South Africa’s Champions Season and with a number of outstanding performers this season the 125^th running of South Africa’s most famous race is set to be a cracker.

With nearly four months still to go before the big race, successes and failures of horses with potential July credentials will be followed closely and debated country-wide.

Justin Snaith has campaigned last year’s winner Belgarion sparingly. Snaith did a brilliant job in plotting Belgarion into last year’s race on favourable weight terms and the gelding has only had three outings since his big success.

He beat Rainbow Bridge with a telling finish in the Green Point Stakes and finished third behind Jet Dark and Rainbow Bridge in the Queen’s Plate and second to Rainbow Bridge in the Cape Met.

The July will no doubt be on the gelding’s radar again but will face a stiffer task this year as he has jumped in the merit ratings and will carry close to the top weight.

Eric Sands will be hoping for better luck with both Rainbow Bridge, likely top weight, and Golden Ducat, both certain entries, assuming they are fit and well. Rainbow Bridge has hardly put a foot wrong in his career and victory would finally realise the dream of prolific owner Mike Rattray.

Joey Soma has taken the slow route with last year’s runner-up Got The Greenlight and his preparation has gone well so far with the colt winning the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes in only his second start this term after warming up in the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes when touched off by MK’s Pride.

Johan Janse van Vuuren appears to have a possible contender in the progressive Argentinian-bred gelding Puerto Manzano. He has yet to be tested beyond a mile but finished off his recent race in fine style for back-to-back wins and could possibly go the 2200m of the July. Time will tell.

The name of last season’s Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara winner and Equus Horse of the Year Summer Pudding is sure to be among the first entries. The only blip on her CV to date was a below par run in the Gr1 Paddock Stakes where she was reported coughing post-race. She has since put the record straight with a facile win in the Gr2 Colorado King Stakes over the Turffontein 2000m.

She has also won at Greyville, winning the Gr1 Woolavington 2000, which cemented her place in the minds of most Equus voters.

But this year’s crop of three-year-olds appears to be of vintage quality and the new blood is set to test the proven older campaigners to the full.

The form of the Cape Guineas has worked out in spite of the race being run at a muddling pace.

Second-placed Linebacker went one better in the Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby and fourth-placed Jet Dark went on to upstage Rainbow Bridge in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

The one question mark is the weak showing of the winner, Russian Rock in the Derby and subsequently in a Graduation Plate at Greyville.

Recent Triple Crown winner Malmoos disappointing in the Guineas but comfortably beat Linebacker in the Concorde Cup over the Kenilworth mile.

Mike de Kock has indicated that Malmoos may miss the July after a hard season but one hopes that another July trophy in the cabinet will prove too much of a temptation.

The Daily News 2000, the most important July warm-up for three-year-olds, should provide a telling pointer.

The big unknown is the unbeaten Kommetdieding. He was a short-priced favourite for the Cape Derby before injury scuppered his race but he was hardly tested in the Gr3 Politician Stakes where third-placed Rascallion, second to Linebacker in the Cape Derby, was three lengths adrift.

The Daily News 2000 will more than likely be on his radar.

Other sophomore male’s that have claims are Catch Twentytwo, Rascallion, The Gate Keeper and Copper Mountain who pushed Got The Greenlight to the limit in the Horse Chestnut.

Recent facile Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara winner War Of Athena is head and shoulders above her female rivals on the Highveld and Paul Matchett must surely have July intentions. The Gr1 Woolavington 2000 would be an ideal prep race.

Justin Snaith has another cracker in Captain’s Ransom, beaten only once and a facile winner of the Gr1 Majorca Stakes beating Clouds Unfold. She has not raced beyond a mile at this stage of her career and the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes may be her main Champions Season target but her name may still appear on the list of first entries.

Running Brave, second to Summer Pudding in the Gauteng Summer Cup last season, is sure to be among the first entries while confirmed stayers African Adventure and former Cape Derby winner Atyaab are also possible.

Two jockeys who may be forced into a choice of rides come Monday, 21 June, the date of final acceptances, are Muzi Yeni and Luke Ferraris. Yeni could be caught between Got The Greenlight and War Of Athena while Ferraris could be faced with a choice between Rainbow Bridge and Malmoos.

Entries will be announced live on Tellytrack on April 21 after race 1.

Andrew Harrison

SHARE HOLDER has been something of an under achiever – always threatening but never producing what was expected. Paul Lafferty explained that one of his problems was that he had a serious hoof injury that had only recently allowed them to fit a proper shoe.

With all four hooves in working order it was a change of tactics that finally produced the effort that most knew he was capable off in the third at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

Most pundits pegged the race as a two-horse contest between Seventh Gear and last season’s WSB Guineas winner Wild Coast, but they were both out-pointed by Muzi Yeni who rode a perfect front-running race.

To quote a Lafferty euphemism, ‘Share Holder pulls like a dentist’ and the instructions to Yeni were to let Share Holder roll. In hindsight, the instructions were superfluous as Yeni wasn’t left with an option as the big chestnut pulled him clear.

Given a breather up the hill, Share Holder was going great guns at the top of the straight with Wild Coast already under the pump but there were ominous signs from Seventh Gear as Keagan de Melo stalked his rival. With two furlongs to run, De Melo released the handbrake and for a few strides it looked as if Yeni was smelling cooked goose.

But Seventh Gear probably needed to gear down to fifth for a bit of grunt as he only got to Share Holders’ tail and no further.

It was a win full of merit and long overdue while Seventh Gear will improve a few lengths. As for Wild Coast, his Champions Season may have already hit the rocks – time will tell.

No one was going to get rich on Kailene in the card opener but those who did have a plunge on the odds-on shot had little to worry about. Making her local debut after a creditable showing in a Cape feature, she always looked to have the wood on her opposition and so it proved.

Lyle Hewitson rode a copybook race, one wide with cover as Global Secret cut modest early fractions under Warren Kennedy.

Taking a traffic-free passage for home, Kailene was never asked a serious question as she cruised to the line under hands and heels with Global Secret staying on for a well beaten second.

The history of sport is littered with precocious talents that have made their names before hitting their 20’s. 19 year-old Luke Ferraris, just recently out of his time as an apprentice, has had a leg up with his Grand Father and father being top trainers, but no matter the pedigree, if you don’t have the talent you are never going to make it.

Young Ferraris is a man of few words, ask him a question and he cuts to the point in a few syllables, a television interviewer’s nightmare but a journalist’s pleasure.

The second was not the Cape Met on Rainbow Bridge or the Triple Crown on Malmoos, but Ferraris was clinical aboard the well fancied Final Destiny for Garth Puller in his maiden win. “He was a right horse in the race,” commented Puller and Ferraris executed it with the precision of a veteran.

The 14-length margin of defeat at her last start will have put many off Laurel Lane but Duncan Howells was quick to admit that his filly was beaten by a better horse. “Sorry Mister Howells, there was nothing I could do,” was the succinct observation from Ferraris who was in the saddle that day.

He was back aboard yesterday, took the race by the scruff of the neck, and kept rolling to the line.

Yeni has had a memorable week with War Of Athena rounding off the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara and winning the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes aboard Joey Soma’s charge Got The Green Light, second in last year’s Vodacom Durban July.

He may have a few tough choices to make come July time – the first nominations out on Wednesday.

When races go punter’s way in the early exchanges, there is generally a bomb on the way and Yeni was the provider as he produced Nathan Kotzen’s filly with a telling late run to win the sixth at the ‘skinny’ odds of 40-1.

Andrew Harrison

NOW’S the time for punters to keep their eyes open and their notebooks at the ready. With the official start of Champions Season just a month away the better class horses will start to make their appearance as they warm up for the features.

The Hollywoodbets Greyville turf hosts an eight-race meeting with two races worthy of special mention. The opening leg of the Pick 6 is a Conditional Progress Plate where most interest will be centred on Seventh Gear and Wild Coast with Share Holder also in the mix.

Wild Coast surprised last season in the WSB Guineas and was never in the hunt in three subsequent races. Justin Snaith’s colt obviously has some ability but in truth that Guineas form has not worked out and it remains to be seen if Wild Coast can up his game.

He gets a chance here where he is favourably weighted but takes on a hard-knocker in Seventh Gear. Dean Kannemeyer stretched his charge to 2500m last time out but he was never in the race with a chance and is back over what should be a more suitable distance.

Both Seventh Gear and Wild Coast come off lengthy breaks which may see them short of a gallop and this race is probably a warm-up which may leave the door open for Paul Lafferty’s runner Share Holder who is racing fit. He has been a touch disappointing but is consistent and if the top two are caught short, Share Holder can pick up the pieces.

The seventh is a Graduation Handicap that falls into a similar category of horses prepping for the season. Gr2 Golden Slipper winner Love Bomb is the class filly in the line-up but Frank Robinson was quite open, commenting that his charge would need the run. That coupled with a steadier of 62.5kg on her back from a wide draw, she is up against it but class always comes to the fore and victory would not be unexpected.

Glen Kotzen has slipped into town with little fanfare and he saddles Point Of Sale who makes her local debut but comes with some fair form in strong Cape features. She also has loads of class and a big weight but she goes well this trip and should not be in need of the outing. Purple Persuasion also goes well over this trip and with a claiming apprentice up she can be competitive. Princess Anastasia was disappointing last run and is way out at these weights. However, she does appear to be better than her form suggests and she can surprise while Fiftyshadesdarker is another to consider as a likely winner off her light weight.

Kailene could fit as a bi-pot banker in the card opener. She contested a Cape feature last run and her rider lost his crop in the finish. Prior to that had shown ability and the extra will suit. Of the balance, Bay Of Dreams started at long odds when a close-up fifth over the trip. A repeat will see her go close again and she gets first time blinkers.

The second is an open race where Final Destiny found one too good for him over course and distance last time out. He shows some promise and should be competitive here. Cleto was much improved last run starting at long odds and he appears to have come to hand. Montana Sky was desperately unlucky last run but has another difficult draw to contend with. He switches to the turf but is always game.

Rain Wear and Diamonds And Toads could be the principal runners in the fourth. Rain Wear has been narrowly beaten at her last two and is in top form and rates the one to beat. Diamonds And Toads played second fiddle to the well-fancied winner last run and also switches to the turf but is consistent. Laurel Lane was well fancied last run but was ‘ambushed’ as Emerald Palace strode to a 14-length win. That’s unlikely to happen again.

In the fifth, Hello Tomorrow was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out. She has been consistent and from a plum draw with a claiming apprentice up she should go close again. Lhasa Star finished ahead of Serena Slam when last they met and has her third run for her new stable. The cheek-pieces go on and she must be in with a big shout although Serena improved nicely second time at the races. She has the worst of the draw but has a top rider aboard and can turn the tables.

In the sixth, Winter Time should strip a lot fitter after showing improved form when sent over ground with cheek-pieces on. That was her first run back from a lengthy break Sacred Ibis has come to hand of late and goes well this trip while Twice As Special didn’t feature on the poly last start but her Highveld turf form was not too bad. She has a chance in this company and comes from a stable that often wins with long-priced runners.

The last is a wide open handicap where the betting could be your best guide. Gold Season has his first run for Dean Kannemeyer. He was taking on strong Highveld fields and his rating has dropped from a high of 93 to 74. With a change of scenery, he can do much better. Canadian Bolt has his third run after a break. He was close-up last start and should be cherry-ripe. Movie Magic showed up well first run back from a break with the blinkers back on while Palace Wind was a touch unlucky in a bunched field last run. He has come good of late and has the best of the draw. The Snow War and Master Of Destiny are others to include in bigger exotic perms in a difficult race.

David Thiselton

THE Turffontein Standside nine-race card today is headed by the  Listed Spook Express Handicap over 2400m and it could be won by the lightweight Illuminate.

This annual fixture is held in honour of the Henneman Disaster victims.  

This six-year-old Brave Tin Soldier mare is out of a mare by stamina influence Jallad and just over a year ago she finished a 4,25 length third over this course and distance behind Chitengo and Pomander. The latter have both franked that form since and Illuminate also went on to place third a further three times over this trip.

The last time she did so she ran off a 74 and she is now down to a 71. More importantly she has now joined the yard of Weiho Marwing, who is known for his expertise in preparing horses for stamina contests. So carrying just 52.5kg she could upset the applecart with Marco van Rensburg aboard from a good draw. She will have to defy odds at time of writing of 19-1 quoted by the earliest bookmaker to price the race up, WSB. Ocean Forest just pipped She’s A Cracker over this trip last time.

Both fillies gave their all in the finish and can develop into decent stayers. Ocean Forest is only half-a-kilogram worse off for the short-head victory but being by Duke Of Marmalade she should be improving nicely and there is a reversal in draw fortunes. 

Aryaam was a comfortable winner of the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial over 2000m last time and struck as one who would enjoy a further step up in trip. She jumps from pole position too. However, she was only a maiden when winning that race and the form has not worked out terribly well so running off a nine point higher mark this is going to be tougher, so she is selected to only finish third, one ahead of She’s A Cracker, despite being the favourite with WSB. 

The topweight Smoking Hot has to carry 60kg but does have staying class and would not be  surprise winner. If she is included then The Sash also has to be considered as she beat Smoking hot by 1,75 lengths in the WSB Allez FRance Stakes over this trip and she is now better off at the weights by 2kg if apprentice claims are ignored.

Kay Tee Perry has some class and also has to be considered, despite never having gone this trip before, as she enjoyed the step up to 1800m last time.

In the eighth race, a Progress Plate over 1600m, the progressive long-striding Puerto Manzano can take another step towards feature class. The chief danger looks to be Eliud who can have a line drawn through his last run as it just did not pan out well and he is better than that.

The sixth race is a Pinnacle event over 1800m and it all points to Lily Blue who ran a cracker last time in the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m, which was run in Vaal Classic course record time. She is now 1,5kg better off with Destiny’s Game who beat her in the Acacia by 0,35 lengths plus she is drawn in pole and will appreciate the step up in trip.    

David Thiselton

THE eight race meeting on The Vaal straight course tomorrow is a tricky one but those who do their homework should be rewarded with handsome dividends.

May Queen, who runs in the seventh race over 1000m, is made the best of the day and the meeting banker. This progressive filly finished just a length behind the even more progressive Mind Reader over this trip last time. Mind Reader went on to comfortably win another handicap next time out despite having been raised four points for the win against May Queen.

Herstel is 4,5kg better off with May Queen for a 0,4 length beating over 1200m last November so has a shout on paper, but May Queen has come into her own since then and probably prefers 1000m. Ulla is 2.5kg better off with May Queen for a 1,75 length beating over this trip but was thumped 9,75 lengths by Mind Reader next time out.

The meeting starts with a Juvenile Plate over 1200m and it all points to the maiden Mitch Got His Wish. On debut over 1160m this Admiral Kitten colt was bumped at the start and slow away yet he only just failed and finished 19 lengths clear of Franca. The latter had previously finished three lengths behind Retallick over 1000m although she was receiving 6.5kg if apprentice claims are included. Retallick is selected for second although he might prefer the minimum trip as he did run a bit keenly in the latter race and as a winner he has to give Mitch Got His Wish 3kg. Fisher King drops down in trip after running on over 1450m to win last time and will be staying on from a nice outside draw.

The second is also a Juvenile Plate over 1200m and Alec Laird and S’Manga Khumalo can make it a quick double with Kwazzi’s Lady, who was heavily backed on debut and stayed on late for a 6,25 length fourth after being slow away and green over 1160m. The winners in this race don’t strike as being great shakes. Bella Chica ran three lengths back in a Listed race last time over 1000m so looks the main threat. Marigold Hotel beat an uninspiring field easily on debut over 1450m but would probably prefer the latter trip. 

The third is a weak maiden over 1600m for fillies and mares and a chance is taken with Nitro Girl. This Master Of My Fate filly finished 14 lengths back on debut over 1200m in February but was in fact only a head behind one of the leading contenders here, Bedouin Bride. Nitro Girl is out an unraced Var maiden but the latter is a half-sister to a Listed Winter Oaks winner so she should relish the step up in trip. Bedouin Bride lost to Amberglo Star when they last met but comes out better than Amberglo Star on a more recent line through a horse called Ocean’s Pride. Bedouin Bride also has a higher draw which might work in her favour. 

In the fourth race over 1800m Sell High is drawn in pole over an ideal trip and is 3kg better off with Nimcha for a 2,90 length beating over 2000m. Nimcha was hard ridden to win that day and has to overcome a six point raise. Don’t Look Back loves the long straights of the Highveld courses and is interesting stepped down to this trip having won four-in-a-row from 2000m to 2400m upon arrival here and finishing a decent third in a Listed race over 2400m last time. He can be involved and Cornish Pomodoro is distance suited and can still progress. However, including all six of the field in the Pick 6 could be the way to go if Sell High is not bankered.

In the fifth over 2400m Ushuaia has a chance of staying this trip on pedigree and his staying on neck third to subsequent WSB SA Derby runner up Pamushana’s Pride last time over 2000m when receiving just 5,5kg reads well. Fred, by Ideal World, can also possibly improve over this trip. Cash Time, Master And Man and Kings Cup also have to be considered though.    

In the next race over 1000m the improved Samoa enjoys the Vaal straight and goes well for Gavin Lerena so is taken to beat  Caerphilly. The latter beat Samoa the last time they met and yet is now 1,5kg better off but on the downside she hasn’t raced since December 10.  Lagertha is quick and overdue so could also be a threat, although the draw bias must be monitored on the day as both Samoa and Lagertha are drawn low. 

In the last over 1400m Quentra makes a lot of appeal having beaten Southern Song over this trip in the maidens  and the latter went on to beat an uninspiring field by nearly ten lengths over 1600m next time out. However, beyond her it is wide open and being a Classified Stakes event the females generally have a weight advantage. 

David Thiselton

WSB TRIPLE CROWN hero Malmoos has been given a significant five point merit rating raise by the handicappers for his emphatic win in Saturday’s Grade 1 WSB SA Derby.

This means he goes to 125, which is one point higher than the critical 124 rating that was always going to be the key mark for three-year-old male Vodacom Durban July contenders.

The weight for age allowance for a three-year-old at the time of the July is 2kg, which mean that with the likely topweight Rainbow Bridge currently being a 134 merit rating, any three-year-old male who is rated above 124 will carry more than the minimum weight of 53kg for a male runner. So as it stands Malmoos will carry 53.5kg if he runs in the July.

The critical mark for three-year-old females is 122 as the minimum weight for a female in the July is 52kg.

So the good news for fans of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Tripe Tiara heroine War Of Athena is that her merit rating has remained unchanged on that exact mark of 122 after her easy Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks victory, meaning that as it stands she will carry 52kg if she runs in the Vodacom.

In the SA Derby Second Base was used as the line horse so remains unchanged on 116. The horse that pipped the latter for second place, Pamushana’s Pride, has been raised from 91 to 116. Fourth-placed Shah Akbar has been raised six points and joins the horse he pipped for fifth place, Bingwa, on a 108.

From the SA Oaks the two length runner up Sparkling Water has been raised to 109.

David Thiselton

JET DARK is one of the key horses in the SA Champions Season as he is the highest rated three-year-old in the land and the good news for the Vodacom Durban July hopefuls of his crop is that trainer Justin Snaith is not planning a full campaign for him until next season’s Cape Summer. 

Snaith said, “He is 50/50 for the WSB Guineas and he might run in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and the  Champions Cup. But we will be going light with him and saving him for the Cape Summer Season.”

Jet Dark’s rating of 130, earned by beating some of the best older horses in the land in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, might have an impact on those three-year-olds who run close to him. Therefore, it is good news for the three-year-old Vodacom July hopefuls that he won’t be running in the main springboard into the July, the Grade 1 Daily News 2000. His rating was earned over a mile so they will also be hoping he doesn’t make it for the WSB Guineas, which is often used as a pipe-opener for three-year-old Vodacom Durban July candidates.

Of course one of the chief Vodacom three-year-old protagonists at this stage is the Snaith-trained The Gatekeeper and he will obviously be avoiding a  clash with Jet Dark. 

Meanwhile, Rio Querari, runner up in the Grade 1 weight-for-age Cape Flying Championship and winner of the Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes has been doing well in his preparation for the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein on May 1.

Snaith will be galloping a number of his SA Champions Season big guns at Hollywoodbets Greyville on April 21. 

He emphasised the depth of his Champions Season string and besides those already mentioned and obvious others like Captain’s Ransom, Do It Again and Belgarion, he mentioned African Night Sky, Doublemint and Silver Host. 

He said he also might bring the odd two-year-old and a candidate was Listed Summer Juvenile third-placed High Hosanna, who is by Trippi out of a half-sister to Oh Susanna.   

Andrew Harrison

VAUGHAN MARSHALL had a relatively quiet Champions Season last year, probably lacking in ammunition, but he has reloaded and arrived with some big guns ready to fire over the next four months. He fired his first salvo at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday as Seeking The Stars got his Champion Season’s campaign off to a winning start, scoring comfortably in the Gr3 Byerley Turk.

After setting the pace and weakening late in the Gr1 Cape Guineas, he was given the perfect lead on Sunday as Storm Chaser set a brisk pace, allowing Anton Marcus to slot in comfortably.

At the top of the straight Vars Vicky tried to make a race of it but Seeking The Stars shook off his attentions a furlong out and came home a comfortable winner. On that showing, the WSB Guineas should be within his compass.

Earlier, Marshall’s striking grey Mirage opened her account with a tremendously game win in the Kwazulu-Natal Stakes (Listed). Favourite Singforafa, sporting blinkers for the first time, was never in the race as Vernichey came out of the pack and looked a likely winner with a furlong to run. However, she was hanging badly towards the inside rail with Richard Fourie aboard Mirage tracking the leader and hot on her heels.

Fourie may have been expecting Vernichey to straighten up at some stage as he followed her but the leader kept lugging in. Quickly running out of runway, Fourie was forced to ease slightly and swing outside of Vernichey but once clear, Mirage cut into the deficit to get up in the shadow of the post.

Princess Calla, only about 80 percent fit according to Adam Marcus, proved far too classy for the opposition in the Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes. Always in contention, it did not take any serious urgings from Anton Marcus to get her into gear and she strode clear to win as she liked.

An exercise gallop and a good blow-out for the forthcoming features.

It may be clutching at straws a little but with local horses mostly taking a back seat to the raiders, anything that looks capable of giving them a go gets a boost.

She’s A Keeper only won a MR74 Handicap at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday but she arrived with the expectations of most Pick 6 punters on her shoulders, not to mention those of her connections.

Neither needed to have worried, as She’s A Keeper responded as soon as Warren Kennedy released the handbrake to win as she liked with the opposition strung out like the washing.

This was her third win from four starts and if Gareth Van Zyl can keep her all in one piece, she must have prospects in some of the Champion Season features.

But as Van Zyl explained post-race her late start to her racing career was firstly due to a tendon injury and then a hairline fracture to her pelvis. He has obviously done a superb job in getting the filly as far down the track as she has come but there will always be nagging doubts.

If she pulls up in a good space after yesterday’s run, then Van Zyl has the Scarlet Lady (listed) at Scottsville pencilled in for her next start in a couple of weeks’ time.

David Thiselton
South African racing history was made at Turffontein Standside on Saturday when the WSB SA Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara were landed on the same day and the pair that did it, the Mike de Kock-trained Malmoos and the Paul Matchett-trained War Of Athena, both won their respective 2450m events so comfortably they look capable of going on to even greater things.
Earlier, the Joe Soma-trained Equus Champion three-year-old from last year Got The Greenlight won the Grade 1 weight-for-age HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m and the runner up, the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Copper Mountain, was further proof of just how strong this year’s three-year-old male crop are.
The day might also have put Muzi Yeni and Luke Ferraris on top of the pile for sort after big race riders in South Africa as their respective partnerships with War Of Athena and Malmoos have highlighted their cool, calm and collected professionalism. Between them they have won five Grade 1s this season. Ferraris has now won the Sun Met and become part of WSB SA Triple Crown folklore in the same year he completed his apprenticeship.
Malmoos showed his usual good gatespeed and was caught two wide as they approached the first turn. He began tugging a bit but Ferraris did not panic and rounding the turn he was fortuitously able to slot in thanks to Second Base moving inward to take a gap that had opened on the rail. Malmoos was now in the perfect position one wide and three back and relaxed beautifully behind no more than a steady pace set by Validus.
Second Base burst through the centre in the straight, as he had done in the SA Classic. However, Malmoos, with a R2 million WSB SA Triple Crown bonus at stake, did not allow Second Base any glimmer of hope this time. After he had moved up with authority, Ferraris got to work on him at the 400m mark and the margin between himself and the rest was 5,25 lengths by the time he had hit the finishing line.
The progressive Listed Derby Trial winner Pamushana’s Pride, whose is rated only 91, pipped Second Base for second. Shah Akbar enjoyed hold up tactics as opposed to his usual front-running style and finished fourth ahead of Bingwa.
Malmoos, a Captain Al colt bred by Varsfontein, is the fourth WSB SA Triple Crown winner following the De Kock-trained Horse Chestnut in 1999, the Geoff Woodruff-trained Louis The King in 2014 and the Mike Azzie-trained Abashiri in 2016.
Malmoos is the only one of the quartet to have run in both of the joint-first legs of this series, finishing unplaced in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas before later winning the Grade 2 WSB Gauteng Guineas.
Malmoos also recorded the slowest time of the quartet, 4.27 seconds slower than the immortal Horse Chestnut’s time, although it was no fault of his own.
Hollywoodbets are of the view that Malmoos’ defeat in the Cape Guineas was all wrong or that he has improved since and promoted him to joint-Vodacom Durban July favourite together with Got The Greenlight at 5/1. This is at at least half the odds of any of the six horses who beat him in the Cape Guineas and they have him 7.5 points clear of the Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby winner Linebacker.
Malmoos’ connections paid tribute to owner Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum whose recent passing was a big blow to an industry he has supported prolifically for decades throughout the world.
War Of Athena was caught wide for a while in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks behind a furious pace set by the Paul Peter pair Lotus and Sacred Lotus. However, Astral Plane on her inside was able to slot in on to the rail towards the end of the back straight and this enabled War Of Athena to slot in to a one wide position with cover.
In the straight the small Summerhill Stud-bred Act Of War filly cantered through the pack and had no problem finding extra when challenged by Sparkling Water. Yeni did not use the stick once and after looking over his shoulders for dangers he began shaking his fist with triumph more than 50 metres from home. She had toyed with them and still won by two lengths to become the fourth SA Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara winner.
Hollywoodbets make her a 10/1 shot for the VDJ.
Owners Roy Wentzel and his wife Dr Rose Waterman-Wentzel stated before Saturday’s race she is not for sale despite selecting and purchasing her for a paltry R30,000 at BSA Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Sale. She earned a R1 million bonus for landing the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara.      
Got The Greenlight sat near the back of the HF Oppenheimer field but sliced through them under the hands to hit the front a full 500m mark. He was able to find extra under the whip when Copper Mountain moved up to challenge in the closing stages and the Nadeson Park Stud-bred Gimmethegreenlight colt prevailed by half-a-length. Tierra Del Fuego was the same distance of three lengths behind the winner as he was last year, but this time in third and not fourth, and Cirillo made it respective second, third and fourth place finishes in this race. Ikigai was fifth.
Got The Greenlight’s devastating turn of foot makes him ieally suited to tight tracks and he is a worthy VDJ joint-favourite. However, Hollywoodbets are going against history as only Cape horses have won the July in the seven runnings to date on the narrowed track.          
Soma and S’Manga Khumalo later combined to easily win the Grade 3 Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m with African Adventure. The further the better for this Master Of My Fate gelding.
The Grade 3 Man O’ War Sprint over 1000m was won equally easily by the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained What A Winter filly Celestial Love under Chase Maujean.