Category Archives: 1900

dynamic sean cormack lk

Dynamic the one, but has to beat the draw

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National Champion trainer Justin Snaith faces an important weekend at Greyville as he has two runners, Dynamic and Jet Explorer, in the Betting World 1900 on Friday night and his ruling Vodacom Durban July favourite Futura then has his Champions Season pipe opener on Sunday.Snaith believes he has now done “the groundwork” with most of his Champions Season string as they largely needed their first outings having been given breaks after the Cape Summer Of Champions Season.

He said about his two 1900 contenders, “They are both in the best form they can be and have come on plenty from their last runs. I just wish Dynamic had a better draw because I would otherwise be thinking he would win it. I think he should be in the July but this could cost him his place as this is a tight track and the draw plays a big part.”

He said Futura had been doing very well, but added, “This will be a prep run and his record shows that he always seems to need his first run.”Snaith mentioned two other weekend runners, Bianzino (Friday) and Ash Cloud (Sunday), that he thought would “run well.” His other Friday night runner, Seize The Throne, was looking a picture of health in his box and this well regarded sort should be a big runner in race 3, a MR 80 Handicap over 1600m, as he is capable of rising above his current 86 merit rating.

By Dave Thiselton

Picture: Dynamic (Liesl King)

Double Clutch

Laff happy with “the miracle horse”

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The Paul Lafferty-trained Equus Champion colt Harry’s Son is healthy and sound but has had his last run in South Africa.

Meanwhile, the yard are happy with the preparation of their Gr 2 Betting World 1900 candidate, “the miracle horse” Double Clutch.

Harry’s son jarred his knee in the week of his intended run in the Gr 2 KRA Guineas. The heat in the knee had disappeared by the time of the race, but the yard had already scratched him knowing that he would have had to miss the finishing touches to his preparation.He will be entering quarantine at the end of the first week of July and faces an arduous five month journey via Mauritius and Europe to the UAE, where he will be a member of Lafferty’s first Dubai string.

Another candidate for the Dubai string will be Vodacom Durban July entry Run Rhino Run, whom the yard believe has as good a chance as any of winning the Gr 1 Daily News 2000.Lafferty said about this talented Silvano gelding, “He has only been running over his minimum trip (1400-1600m) and all he wants is a bit of ground. Wait until he gets that because he is a really good horse.”

Double Clutch has won his last three races, all of them over 2000m at Greyville, and has been able to quicken from the front on all three occasions. However, he was only taken to the front because there was no pace in any of those races. He had shown in his maiden win that he is capable of coming from last too. Friday night’s Betting World 1900 looks to lack pace and the yard would like to see him going handy from his wide draw.

Double Clutch was knocked sideways at one stage when winning the Listed Easter Handicap on April 10 and consequently pulled a muscle. He had to have a bout of physio, but was soon back in full work. He worked very well on the Summerveld grass on Monday and left his moderate companion way behind.The Stronghold gelding is a big, strong horse and the yard hope he can defy the handicapper yet again.Double Clutch was diagnosed with West Nile disease in the first half of last season. This is the same disease that was believed to have killed the mighty Jet Master.

Double Clutch weighed 100kg less than he does now and was close to being euthanized. The veterinarian had also advised that even if he did recover he would never race again. On one occasion the yard were unable to help him walk from his stable across a strip of concrete onto a grass patch. He was simply too weak. He eventually managed to achieve this short trip after being fitted with special foam shoes. It is quite incredible that he has won five races since making a full recovery from his illness and is an entry in the country’s premier race the Vodacom Durban July.

By Dave Thiselton

Picture: Double Clutch (Nkosi Holphe)

power kingnh

Power King heads Kannemeyer challenge

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In form Cape trainer Dean Kannemeyer has a strong hand in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville on Friday night where he runs Vodacom Durban July entries Power King, Solar Star and It Is Written.

He said there had been a lot of horses with upper respiratory problems and others that had bled during the Cape Summer Of Champions Season and he was unable to quite pinpoint why his own string had been performing below par, so he had backed off a lot of them and saved them for the  Champions Season. His excellent results since arriving in KZN in March reflect this.

He duly felt that Power King had run below par in the J&B Met when a 4,6 length seventh. However, the Silvano gelding bounced back with a 0,4 length second to Ze Kaiser in the Cape Mile, despite giving the latter 3kg. He then proved he was thriving at Summerveld by winning very well over the too sharp 1400m at Scottsville in his Champions Season pipe opener, beating the subsequent IOS Drill Hall Stakes winner Ice Machine by a comfortable 2,25 lengths at level weights. Power King worked well over 800m on the grass on Monday and Kannemeyer said he had been doing exceptionally well. Officially he is not one of the better weighted horses under the grouped merit rating conditions of the race, but is only 1,5kg out with the two best weighted horses Jet Explorer and Killua Castle. Anthony Delpech wouldn’t have been able to maintain his partnership with Power King, as his guv’nor Mike de Kock has Jayyed engaged, so a former Kannemeyer stable jockey MJ Byleveld is the replacement. They have to overcome a tricky draw of eleven.

Kannemeyer said that he had thought that Solar Star might have needed his first KZN outing over 1600m on the Greyville polytrack, but instead he won “exceptionally well”. He followed up by winning the Listed Sledgehammer over 1750m at Scottsville “very well.” Kannemeyer said this would be the Kahal gelding’s first test but added, “He is on the up and has everything in his favour (good draw),so we will see how good he is.” He is also 1,5kg out with the best in but is drawn well in two with Stuart Randolph up.

Kannemeyer said that he had always felt that It Is Written would be “a miler plus”. This Dynasty gelding has also benefitted from his stay at Summerveld, for after going a bit off form during the Cape summer he bounced back with a facile 4,25 length win in a MR 94 Handicap over 1400m at Scottsville. This prompted Kannemeyer to supplement him for the July.

He is officially 2,5kg worse off than the best weighted horses on Friday night, but is drawn well in five with Warren Kennedy up. He looks to be another one on the up.

Kannemeyer said that Power King, as the proven horse, would probably be his pick if he had to choose one.

Kannemeyer’s champion stayer Hot Ticket worked yesterday under Leon Govender, who has just returned from a spell in Kuwait where he rode 21 winners, including two in big races, The Derby and the King’s Cup. Hot Ticket took a while to get going in typical stayer fashion, but the yard were happy with him and Kannemeyer said that the initial target of this July entry and strong eLan Property Group Gold Cup candidate would be a defence of his crown in the Gr 2 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m at Greyville on June 21. He runs in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1600m at Greyville on Sunday and among his opponents will be the ruling July favourite Futura.

Kannemeyer said that Sunday’s comfortable Highway Aged Highland Night Cup winner Solid Speed could also be a Gold Cup horse and said that he was a prime example of a horse that had not been ‘right’ during the Cape summer. He was given a three month suspension for bleeding in a race in late November. However, he added that this might have been a “blessing in disguise.”

By David Thiselton

Picture: Power King (Nkosi Hlophe)

helderberg blue lk

Handicappers give Helderberg the blues

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Mike Bass’s assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe was not too bullish about the chances of the yard’s Gr 2 Betting World 1900 contender Helderberg Blue, although he said his Champions Season pipe opener in Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes had brought him on a lot.

Fayd’Herbe said, “He needed that last run very badly. The handicapper punished him too much for his J&B Met third place and at the weights he’s got no chance in the 1900. He’s not really a Greyville type, he’s a grinder but he did quicken well from a handy position in the Met.”

The Jet Master gelding is a nervous sort, but his “new friend”, the recently retired Epc Tale, accompanies him to the track in the mornings to keep him calm and he was looking in fine shape yesterday (Tuesday).

Another of the yard’s Jet Master geldings, Mountain Master, is the reserve runner for the 1900. He is difficult to place and Fayd’Herbe was not sure he would stay the 3200m of the eLan Property Group Gold Cup, so races like the Campanajo 2200 on July day could be possible targets.

Fayd’Herbe was happy with dual Gr 1-winning filly Inara’s second place finish in the KRA Fillies Guineas and said, “She was always going to need it a bit and will come on from it. She will now go for the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 and then either the July or Garden Province.”

He said that their crack sprinter Fly By Night had travelled up to Johannesburg well for the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint, but had then gone down very short and had taken no interest in the race. They had trotted her out afterwards and nothing had been found wrong. The problem was unrelated to her poor run in the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships, for on that occasion she had “bumped a sesamoid” and had been a bit sore going into the race. She has been fine at Summerveld and is on track for the Scottsville Festival of Speed meeting on May 23, where she holds entries in her likely target, the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint, as well as in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint.

The yard’s classy mare Hammie’s Hooker thrives in KZN as she loves working on the lighter tracks. She has been doing just as well as she did last year, so will be a big runner in races like the Tibouchina and Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes.

Their two-year-old Visionnaire colt Jet Air has a bright future according to Fayd’Herbe, so they would avoid the tough Scottsville Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m on May 23 in favour of the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m and the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes.

He said that Ashton Park, who ran on well for third in the Drill Hall, might line up in the Tsogo Sun Sprint before running in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m on June 6.

The like of Shingwedzi, Saint Sophia and Counting Angels will likely take on staying races like the Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks on June 21.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Helderberg Blue (Liesl King)

Charles Laird (Nkosi Hlophe)

Laird looking for inspiration

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Charles Laird has always viewed Friday night’s Betting World 1900 at Greyville as his Horse Chestnut gelding Bold Inspiration’s best chance of getting into the July and planned a long time ago to have him “spot on” for this race.

He has removed the blinkers as jockey Anton Marcus had found him difficult to restrain last time when finishing a two-length fifth in the Listed Sledgehammer over 1750m at Scottsville, although he said that part of the reason for that was that he was so sound and well at the moment that he had “just wanted to go.”

He added that his preparation had gone very well and he believed that he possessed the necessary turn of foot for the tight Greyville track, although he was hoping that a good gallop would be set.

Bold Inspiration’s disappointing Sansui Summer Cup run can be ignored as he was asked to do it from the front, which according to Laird is an impossible task for a KZN horse over that 2000m trip having traveled from near the coast to high altitude.

Bold Inspiration has the advantage of pole position on Friday night and Marcus is up.

Laird said that his first-timer by Kahal in the first race, Harvest Queen, was a strong filly who had ability. However, having flipped over in the stalls before her intended debut after waiting for an age, one of the aims of Friday night’s outing would be to just get her through the starting stall phase of the race.

His charge Queen Of Thrones ran a bit disappointingly over 1600m on the turf last time, but Laird confirmed she was better on the polytrack, so she should have a chance in the eighth over 1400m especially considering she had worked well this week.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Charles Laird

De Kock on song for 1900

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Brett Crawford has made a fine start to his Champions Season campaign and has more chance of success with former Selangor Cup winner De Kock in the Betting World 1900 on Friday night at Greyville.

Crawford’s assistant Barry Donnelly is taking care of the string at Summerveld and the horses have been delivered for their early Champions Season targets in fine condition.

Donnelly said, “As was the case with two of our other recent winners (Alexis and Maybe Yes), De Kock was short of match practice for his first KZN race and has come on plenty for the run.”

The 98-merit rated Dynasty gelding was a little bit keen early over 1600m at Scottsville last week, before settling into rhythm and staying on well for a 1,75 length fourth, despite carrying topweight in the competitive MR 98 Handicap.

He showed his class as a three-year-old last season when beating the subsequent Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate by 0,4 lengths in the Selangor Cup over 1600m. He displayed a tremendous turn of foot in that race and that asset is an essential weapon at Greyville.

However, he subsequently fractured his near fore knee in the Grand Parade Cape Guineas.

He made a successful comeback from the injury last September by winning easily over 1000m. However, some felt that there was cause for alarm when he ran below par in three subsequent sprints, which included two Gr 2 events.

However, Donnelly explained, “Most top horses can win over sprint trips when coming back fresh. He won so well in that first sprint that we decided to try him again but his next two runs simply proved that he wants at least a mile. So we gelded him and brought him back (the third of the below par sprint runs in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes happened subsequently to the gelding).”

Donnelly confirmed that De Kock was over the injury and was sound.

He could not see the bay four-year-old gelding having a problem with the 1900m trip on Friday night and rated him as having a winning chance. On pedigree his female line is full of speed but the influence of his Vodacom Durban July-winning sire Dynasty will help him see out the trip.

He is drawn fairly well in seven in the 16 horse field and will have his final breeze up tomorrow morning (Wednesday).

By David Thiselton

Picture: De Kock (Liesl King)

Media Release: Betting World 1900 Final Field

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A smart, competitive field of 16 will face the starter for the R350 000, Grade 2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville Racecourse on May 15 with all but two of the 17 runners carded being nominees for the Vodacom Durban July.

Trainer Mike Azzie’s gallant galloper Brooks-Club and the four-year-old Dynasty gelding It Is Written from the Dean Kannemeyer yard are the two that at this stage have no July aspirations but Kannemeyer has two other contenders in Power King and Solar Star that command the utmost respect for  the May 15 1 900m encounter.

The field for the Betting World 1900 is headed by the Mike Bass-trained Jet Master gelding Helderberg Blue that has drawn well at three and boasts places in the Peninsula Handicap and the J&B Met. He has long been highly rated by the stable and will be one of the shorter-priced runners in the field.

Justin Snaith’s Jet Master gelding Jet Explorer has recovered well from his horrific accident at Clairwood last season and showed that when running fourth to Futura in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. He has had one outing, in a pinnacle stakes race over 1 600m, since arriving in KwaZulu-Natal and is sure to have come on from that outing.

Snaith’s other runner, the Dynasty gelding Dynamic, beat Helderberg Blue at level weights in the Cape and impressed in his local debut when a close second to Polar Star in the Sledgehammer. He is drawn wide which will not improve his chances but he looks a big runner.

With a good draw at six, the Geoff Woodruff-trained Killua Castle has had moderate form since winning the London News and running second to Louis The King in the Summer Cup but he is a classy individual at his best and could run well here.

Power King was second to Arion in the Peninsula Handicap and a close second in a Cape feature before coming to the East Coast where he ran out a very easy winner of a pinnacle stakes event over 1 400m. He and stable companion Solar Star that has won both his starts in the region since arriving will be strongly fancied to feature in the result.

As a two-year-old the Mike De Kock entry Jayyed showed tremendous potential when second in the Premier’s Champion Stakes and in the Godolphin Barb Stakes before failing in the Dingaans. He bounced back to win a sprint at the Vaal and most recently was never a factor in the KRA Guineas.

Yet another son of Dynasty is from the Brett Crawford yard in the form of four-year-old De Kock. He has finished in the money in seven of his 11 starts with three wins to his credit but his full potential, as envisaged by the stable, is yet to be revealed.

Stan Elley fields Punta Arenas and yet another son of Dynasty, Dynastic Power. The former is a gallant six-year-old battler that can certainly run into the money at his best while Dynastic Power has shown a fair degree of ability with placings in his last four starts over distances from 1 400m to 2 800m.

The “miracle” horse from the Paul Lafferty stable, Double Clutch (Pictured), once at death’s door, has won four of his last five starts, the most recent in the East Coast Handicap. This is his favourite distance and although drawn wide could add another good run to his portfolio.

The six-time winner Bold Inspiration from the Charles Laird stable is the ride of Anton Marcus and his win in the Michaelmas Handicap over the course and distance and his pinnacle stakes win before that on the poly make him a big player when factoring in the inside draw and the Marcus talent.

Whiteline Fever for Sean Tarry can never be ignored and the Paul Gadsby trained Candy Moon make up the balance of the field and the latter, with placings in feature races in his last four starts, mark him as a runner not to be treated lightly.

Mountain Master is the reserve runner with a fourth in the London News his only recent high point. This trip is right up his street and he could make his presence felt if getting a run.

By Richard McMillan – Gold Circle

 

king of pain nh new

Huge entry for 1900

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Stables from Gauteng and the Cape are responsible for nearly two-thirds of the 40 entries with more than half of the horses nominated carrying merit ratings of 100 and more.

King Of Pain (pictured) from the Joey Ramsden stable, that ran second to Futura in the Beach Beauty Champions Cup at Greyville last season, is the highest-rated entry on 114 with the stable also entering Disco Al and The Conglomerate that each carry a rating of 100.

Dean Kannemeyer’s five entries are headed by the four-year-old Power King and Champion Trainer Justin Snaith has also nominated five horses headed by Jet Explorer that has recovered fully from the serious injury he received to his jaw last season.

Ertijaal, winner of the Investec Cape Derby, heads the three-horse entry from the Mike de Kock yard with Halve The Deficit topping the trio from the stable of Sean Tarry.

Harry’s Son, Run Rhino Run and Double Clutch have been entered by Paul Lafferty with Gavin van Zyl nominating No Worries and MLjet.

Supplementary entries and weights will be declared on Thursday, April 30 with final acceptances a week later on May 7.

NO HORSE               A/S WGT  M/R   TRAINER

34 KING OF PAIN       (5G) 60.0 114 B Joey Ramsden

25 HOT TICKET         (5G) 60.0 112 B Dean Kannemeyer

36 HALVE THE DEFICIT  (6G) 60.0 111   Sean Tarry

40 NO WORRIES         (5G) 60.0 111 B Gavin van Zyl

3 HELDERBERG BLUE    (4G) 60.0 110   Mike Bass

33 HARRY’S SON (AUS)  (3C) 58.0 113   Paul Lafferty

10 JET EXPLORER       (6G) 58.0 109   Justin Snaith

8 KILLUA CASTLE (AUS (5G) 58.0 109 B Geoff Woodruff

12 WHITELINE FEVER    (6G) 58.0 107   Sean Tarry

17 POWER KING         (4G) 58.0 106 B Dean Kannemeyer

32 PUNTA ARENAS       (6G) 58.0 106   Stan Elley

30 ERTIJAAL (AUS)     (3C) 56.0 107   Mike de Kock

1 BOLD INSPIRATION   (4G) 56.0 104 B Charles Laird

20 CAGIVA             (5G) 56.0 103   Sean Tarry

11 SKABADELL           (5G) 56.0 103   Kumaran Naidoo

4 ARION              (4C) 56.0 101   Justin Snaith

35 THE HANGMAN        (5G) 56.0 101   Sean Tarry

28 CANDY MOON         (5G) 56.0 100   Paul Gadsby

31 DISCO AL           (5G) 56.0 100   Joey Ramsden

27 DYNAMIC            (5G) 56.0 100   Justin Snaith

18 ATHINA             (4F) 55.5 106   Joe Soma

21 MLJET              (3G) 54.0 102   Gavin van Zyl

13 JAYYED             (3C) 54.0 101   Mike de Kock

14 THE CONGLOMERATE ( (3C) 54.0 100   Joey Ramsden

5 BROOKS-CLUB        (6G) 54.0  99 B Mike Azzie

24 DOUBLE CLUTCH      (4G) 54.0  99   Paul Lafferty

9 DE KOCK            (4G) 54.0  98   Brett Crawford

19 DYNASTIC POWER     (4G) 54.0  98   Stan Elley

23 YER-MAAN           (6G) 54.0  98   St John Gray

7 IT IS WRITTEN      (4G) 54.0  96   Dean Kannemeyer

22 MOUNTAIN MASTER    (4G) 54.0  96 B Mike Bass

15 BALANCE SHEET      (3G) 52.0  94 B Dean Kannemeyer

29 KRAMBAMBULI        (3C) 52.0  94   Justin Snaith

2 SOLAR STAR         (4G) 52.0  94   Dean Kannemeyer

16 FRENCH REVOLUTION  (4C) 52.0  92   Justin Snaith

37 ASSEGAI            (4G) 52.0  91   Alistair Gordon

38 FORM UP            (4G) 52.0  91 B St John Gray

26 RUN RHINO RUN      (3G) 52.0  90   Paul Lafferty

39 RAKE’S CHESTNUT    (4G) 52.0  88 B Geoff Woodruff

6 SCOTSNOG           (3C) 52.0  87   Mike de Kock

(40)

Please Note:

  • Supplementary Entries & Weights closes @ 11:00 on Thursday, 30 April 2015
  • Declarations closes @ 11:00 on Thursday, 7 May 2015

 

All about the race

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DATE: Friday, 15 May 2015, Night Racing

AGE/ CONDITION: Open Conditions Race over 1900m

ENTRIES: 11:00am Friday, 24 April 2015 – Fee: R 798

SUPP ENTRIES: 11:00am Thursday, 30 April 2015 – Fee R 3192

WEIGHTS: Friday, 24 May 2015
Benchmark at 62,0kg = 115 or more
Benchmark at 60,0kg = 110 to 114
Benchmark at 58,0kg = 105 to 109
Benchmark at 56,0kg = 100 to 104
Benchmark at 54,0kg = 95 to 99
Benchmark at 52,0kg = 94 and less

The winner of this race will not incur a penalty of more than 6 rating points, unless requested.
There will be no rating increase for placed horses, unless requested.
Weight for age allowance will be applied where applicable to a minimum weight of 50,0kg.
Sex Allowance of 2,5kg for Fillies and Mares, subject to a minimum weight of 50kg

DECLARATIONS: 11:00am Thursday, 7 May 2015 – Fee R 3192

2014 Betting World 1900    

Horse: Espumanti

Jockey: Anthony Delpech

Trainer: M F De Kock

Owners: Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs M Slack)

Breeder: New England Stud, Myriad and N. Wright

About the Betting World 1900:

The Betting World 1900 is a Grade 2 merit rated handicap run for a stake of R350 000 over 1 900m and this year it will take place on Friday, May 16.

The Betting World 1900 itself is one of the more important races on the Champions Season calendar. It is one of the stepping stones for older horses to secure a place in the final Vodacom Durban July field.

Each year horses from around the country converge on Durban for Champions Season and in many cases they need to show their ability and well-being if they are to be considered as potential big race contenders. Over the years many horses that have won or featured strongly in the result of this race have gone on to win Africa’s greatest race.

ROLL OF HONOUR:

2014

Espumanti claims Betting World 1900 at a canter. The four-year-old British-bred filly Espumanti booked her place in the field for the R3.5-million, Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July when she thrashed a competitive field of colts and geldings to win the R350 000, Grade 2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville on Friday night.

At the same meeting, the three-year-old Dynasty colt Futura threw down a challenge to the July selection panel to dare leave him out of the country’s premier event when he pulverised his opposition in the Betting World Fixed Odds Exotics 1900 Consolation, a race specially carded for runners that did not make the Betting World 1900 field.

2013

This long-standing pointer to the Vodacom Durban July once again drew a competitive field and front-runner Viva Maria set off with gusto to lead the pack from the start and into the home straight.

But moving smoothly and full of running, Jet Explorer was unleashed coming off the false rail and extending his stride moved through smartly to take the lead and race to an easy 2.75 lengths victory from Rock Cocktail, Gold Onyx and Straw Market.

2012

It was the four-year-old Dynasty filly Beach Beauty, trained by Dennis Drier for the Shanks Syndicate that was all the rage to win the race after her great win in the KRA Fillies Guineas. Only two other fillies in recent times, Faralmond and River Jetez, had managed to win this race and Beach Beauty had it all to do.

But she proved that she was something special and after settling as Lion In Winter opened up a large lead, she was set alight in the home straight and accelerated through to win as she liked. Master Plan ran a gallant race to hold off top-weight Chesalon for second place

2011

In a thrilling climax to the R300 000, Grade 2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville on Friday night (May 20), the judges were unable to separate pacemaker Golden Chariot and the Australian-bred gelding Safwan and declared a dead-heat.

The Mike de Kock-trained Safwan, under a powerful ride by Anthony Delpech, stuck his nose down on the line to deny Golden Chariot the outright victory for the Sean Tarry stable after the Caesour gelding had led from the break and looked a certain winner with metres to go.

Young Muzi Yeni had ridden a tactically perfect race on the six-year-old gelding, getting away smartly from his inside draw and dictating the pace ahead of favourite Hammie’s Boy, Fisani, We Three and another fancied runner, In Writing. He drove Golden Chariot clear at the top of the straight with the rest of the field in hot pursuit.

Delpech had settled Safwan midfield and slipped to the inside rail for his challenge as Karl Neisius brought the Dean Kannemeyer-trained In Writing down the middle of the course with a sustained finishing burst.

Golden Chariot looked set to hold on for the win with Yeni driving him as hard as he could but Safwan was closing fast and the pair went to the line almost as one horse with Safwan extending in the final stride to share the winner’s spoils.

2010

There has always been a major buzz about the Betting World 1900 as one of the crucial pointers to the Vodacom Durban July and this year was no different with some top-class contenders among the field including Aslan, winner of the Summer Cup and looking in great condition.

The Sean Tarry-trained Silvano four-year-old opened in the betting at 9-2 along with the three-year-old Bold Silvano from the Mike de Kock stable, also a son of Silvano. But it was Aslan who drew the support and shortened into 75-20 at the off with Bold Silvano easing out to 15-2.

The three-year-old had previously been trained by Gavin Smith in Port Elizabeth and campaigned in the Sizzling Summer Season in the Western Cape where he had finished two lengths behind Noordhoek Flyer in the Bloodstock SA Guineas and five lengths behind Bravura in the Investec Cape Derby.

Mike de Kock had obviously seen his potential and bought Bold Silvano for his leading patron Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum with a campaign in Dubai in mind.

In the race, jockey Anthony Delpech allowed Bold Silvano to settle mid-field while Aslan raced up handier and with 400m to go Aslan looked on course for victory with Bold Silvano still mid-field and some two lengths behind him.

But then the three-year-old exploded into action and ripped through the field to get up and beat Aslan by about a head. He had covered the final 400m in 22.5 secs and gave notice right then that he was a special individual and a force to be reckoned with in future races.

With the magic touch of Mike de Kock, Bold Silvano began his Vodacom Durban July preparation in earnest and finished second to Irish Flame in the Daily News 2000, fourth to Orbison in the Champions Cup at Clairwood before running a sensational race in the Vodacom Durban July to beat his stable companion Irish Flame.

2009

Punters eagerly eyeing the Vodacom Durban July were abuzz with the solid two length victory from Tropical Empire in the R350 000 Betting World 1900 at Greyville racecourse on Friday night.

Ridden by Brandon Lerena and trained by Duncan Howells, Tropical Night proved that his second in the Drill Hall Stakes was no flash-in-the-pan, and the Australian bred bay dived down the inside to race away from Cape Town, Air Combat and Crown of Power.