The racing programme more often than not dictates as to where a trainer runs a horse and there are times when two horses from the same yard are forced to take each other on or stay in their boxes because another suitable race could be weeks or even months away.

The Govender’s Garage Novice Plate at Scottsville on Sunday is a case in point where Dennis Bosch has to smart colts entered who look likely to dispute favouritism, and possibly the finish.

Billy Silver and Chantyman were both facile maiden winners with pedigrees out of the top drawer but choosing between the two could be tricky.

Chantyman fluffed his lines on debut, when sent out favourite but made amends in no uncertain terms second up when bolting home by seven lengths over Sunday’s course and distance. “He’s a lovely horse and was a bit unlucky,” said Bosch of the colt’s debut effort. “He got left but it was not Alec’s (Forbes) fault.”

Anthony Delpech concurred with Bosch’s assessment after winning on the colt but when asked on which was the better after Billy Silver’s win, Chantyman or Billy Silver, after the latter had hacked up on debut, he refused to be drawn. Opting out he said “They are both smart horses. I don’t want to upset any owners.”

The fact that Delpech has stuck with Billy Silver may be an indication as to which is the better over Sunday’s trip but with Anton Marcus on Chantyman, this could develop into a stable dog-fight.

Bosch took a chance on entering Chantyman for the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Challenge after his maiden win, a jump from 1200m to a mile. The colt was far from disgraced, finishing five lengths back to the winner, Eyes Wide Open, but also telling is that Tom Collins was among Chantyman’s victims in his maiden win and Dennis Drier’s charge subsequently shed his maiden over a mile and lines up in the eighth race on Sunday, a MR 66 Handicap over 7500m.

“A very, very smart horse,” was Delpech’s assessment of Billy Silver after his maiden romp and that may prove to be the salient point. Billy Silver was down to race at Scottsville last Sunday but because this Novice event was an add-on to the programme, Bosch was given permission by the stipendiary stewards to scratch in order to contest this Sunday’s event.

This pair appear to have scared off any serious opposition with only five other runners carded including the filly Lady Val, an Australian-bred daughter of High Chaparral. James Goodman describes her as a filly that “shows class”. She has a postage stamp on her back but will need to be really smart to beat winners of the ilk of Billy Silver and Chantyman on debut.

Duncan Howells was officially crown KZN Champion Trainer at an awards ceremony last Tuesday evening and behind much of his success is prolific owner Dave Maclean who has invested heavily in some top bloodstock. One of these is the Dynasty gelding Wild Wicket who steps up to bat in the PAFTA Service Centre Handicap and looking to snap a run of seconds. After a narrow win over the Greyville 1600m, he has subsequently been undone by stable companions Chicago Beat and latterly Nicklaus, neither of which are slouches.

There is nothing else from the Howells stable in this line-up that could pose a threat and Wild Wicket this time around and he does look a cut above most of the field.

Likely dangers are the Garth Puller-trained pair of Main Player and Saint Marco. Both have been consistent in lower divisions but as this is a handicap and with both in receipt of around 9.5kg, Wild Wicket could be felled by a bouncer if stable rider Keagan de Melo is not wide awake.

With a run of seconds, Louis Goosen has been banging on the door for his first winner since moving to Ashburton and his first win could come courtesy of the giant gelding Haddington. The son of Ideal World had been confined to extended sprints on the Highveld but the decision to send him over 1950m last Sunday almost paid dividends. Apprentice Eric Ngwane dictated from the start and was in front everywhere except the line where the heavily supported favourite Brigheyebushytail got up in the last few jumps.

With another light weight to shoulder he could notch the second win of his career although he faces two progressive three-year-olds in Tom Collins and Cool At Heart while Fangia has the word ‘passop’ written all over him.

By Andrew Harrison