Category Archives: Y-Champions Season

july c

Huge entry for July day

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With 180 entries received for the six feature races supporting the R4.25-million, Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July at Greyville Racecourse on July 2, one might believe there is not a single top horse from anywhere in the country that is not aimed at Africa’s Greatest Horseracing extravaganza.

With the announcement of the final field for the 2 200m blue ribbon event not due for nearly two weeks, the plans for some of the hopefuls are still in limbo resulting in the largest entry for the meeting being for the R500 000, Grade 3 Delta Airlines 2200 – the race normally targeted by horses that do not make the final cut for the premier event – and this year there are 48 of them.

The R1-million, Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1 600m has attracted 21 entries including super filly Bela-Bela as well as the likes of Inara, Silver Mountain, Entisaar and Negroamaro.

The two R600 000, Grade 2 juvenile races, the Durban Golden Horseshoe and the Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper, have both drawn large nominations with 37 entered for the colts race and 28 for the fillies.

The R500 000, Grade 3 SABC Gold Vase over 3 000m has drawn the 29 best stayers in South Africa.

It all points to another bumper Vodacom Durban July meeting where about 50 000 will cram into the Greyville course and together with punters from around the country, wager hundreds of millions of rands on the meeting.

 

Mac De Lago (Nkosi Hlophe)

‘Big Mac’ delivers

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Speaking prophetically on Friday, Weiho Marwing said “Big Mac” was in good order after arriving from his Turffontein satellite yard the day before. “Those Jo’burg races, especially at Turffontein, may have been too far. He always looked dangerous but didn’t finish of his race. I think the 1600 might be his game. We’ll see.”

Well it was close! “Big Mac” didn’t get home first in the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville yesterday, but it took an objection from Marwing to get him there.

Trip To Heaven came from well back in the field to hit the front two furlongs out but Mac De Lago stuck to him like a burr. Under pressure, replacement rider Grant van Niekerk allowed Trip To Heaven to shift ground onto Mac De Lago and with the winning margin a piece-of-paper most agreed that the stewards made the correct decision to reverse the result.

Not a great way to win a Gr1 but it was some consolation for Marwing who two years back was on the wrong end of a steward’ protest in the Vodacom Durban July with Wylie Hall relegated to second behind Legislate.

Mac De Lago (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mac De Lago (Nkosi Hlophe)

In spite of being suspect over the distance, Mac De Lago will take his chances in the July.

“I thought the objection was clear-cut,” said Marwing. “I don’t know why the stipes didn’t object. You will have to ask them.”

“It was a great prep for the July. I think he will spark from here.”

French Navy, having his final race before the July, was doing his best work late finishing third and Sean Tarry will be more than happy with his showing in his lead-up to the country’s big one.

The notorious ‘Cape Crawl’ has taken hold in KZN this winter and there appears to be no antidote as both the G3 Cup Trial and the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes caught the virus and the recent Gr1 Daily News 2000 was also not immune.

That said, there is no substitute for experience and internationally experienced Weichong Marwing played the field on the brake in the Cup Trial. Controlling the pace on rank outsider Exit Here he spoilt the chances of a few Vodacom Durban July hopefuls and cemented the chances of his mount making the final field as he kept Exit Here finding extra to hold Dynamic, the heavily supported The Conglomerate and Saratoga Dancer with a blanket covering the rest of the finishers.

Setting a sedate gallop Exit Here, beaten out of sight by current July anti-post favourite Black Arthur in the G2 Canon Guineas, responded to Marwing’s urgings to hold off the attentions of Dynamic who battled to quicken past his rival after being in close attendance throughout.

Chares Laird, not complimentary of his previous jockey bookings for Exit Here, confirmed that pace was the key and was critical of the

Exit Here (Nkosi Hlophe)

Exit Here (Nkosi Hlophe)

colt’s last two rides. “He’s a very gutsy horse and went the right pace. Weichong was able to ease him up a little bit. At the top of the straight he gave him a kick and it’s actually nice to know that it’s not his fault that he had two bad runs.”

Behind the first two, Anton Marcus aboard favourite The Conglomerate and Muzi Yeni on Saratoga Dancer had a barging match resulting in a successful objection by trainer Duncan Howells against The Conglomerate on the grounds of interference and intimidation over the final 350m resulting in the placings being reversed.

With both runners in the running for a place in the final July field this could prove a costly dust-up for both runners who could be relegated to contesting the July consolation.

Last year’s KRA Fillies Guineas winner Alexis has a shine for Greyville and she added a third victory at the track from just four starts. Putting in a telling finish in the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes, Brett Crawford’s filly got up close home under stable rider Corne Orffer to edge out Silver Mountain and a fast-finishing Sensible Lover, defying odds of 20-1.

Favourite Inara, caught wide early in a race run at a dismally slow early pace, loomed dangerous for a few strides but was caught for finishing speed and plodded into fourth.

Crawford said, “For me this was a race that we pin-pointed so it’s mission accomplished”. Next up will be the Gr1 Garden Province Stakes on July day.

It was also mission accomplished for Charles Laird and owner Alesh Naidoo when Palladium finished with a rattle to catch favourite Daffiq in the Gatecrasher Stakes. The race was marred by a false start but did not faze the R1,7 million yearling buy who came from last under Keagan De Melo.

“We have a plan for July day,” said Laird. “We’re three-quarters of the way there.”

Later, the Alec Laird-trained Maleficent booked her place in the Golden Slipper on July day in similar fashion in the Devon Air Stakes. Weichong Marwing was hard at work from the top of the straight and the filly only got rolling inside the final furlong to catch Querari Falcon to win going away with the balance well beaten.

Andrew Harrison

Ice Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

Machine to crank it up

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The Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge heads a top class card for one of KZN’s most enjoyable and well attended annual meetings and there is sure to be a festive on course atmosphere at Greyville today as well as plentiful entertainment, thanks to the usual joint efforts of Gold Circle and Rising Sun CEO Vijay Maharaj.

In the R1 million weight for age 1600m event, Ice Machine could finally land a deserved Gr 1. He ran on smartly in the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes to finish third to New Predator who had been allowed an easy lead. He now has the man who knows him best, Anton Marcus, back aboard. Ice Machine will want a good pace and it could well be quicker than the Drill Hall with Trip To Heaven in the field. However, this will depend on the latter breaking well, which is unlikely statistically as he has been slow away in his last five starts.

Triptique ran on fluently in the Drill Hall Stakes for second, dispelling fears he might only be a sprinter, and on both that effort and pedigree he should get the mile so has a chance from pole position.

New Predator has proved himself possibly the best three-year-old miler still in the country and if allowed to dictate as he did in the Drill Hall he has a big shout.

However, jockey Weichong Marwing has jumped ship to French Navy. This trip will likely be a touch sharp for French Navy and is also likely a preparation for the Vodacom Durban July, but he appears to enjoy Greyville and will be running on strongly.

Bezanova loves Greyville and finished a 0,9 length third last year despite being drawn wide. He now has a good draw and is the dark horse.

Mac De Lago would likely prefer further but has a strong finish and Piere Strydom is up. He’s likely to have been freshened up since the tough President’s Champions Challenge, where he finished a decent fourth, and the Weiho Marwing yard often do well with horses running fresh.

Prospect Strike is a another dark horse as he was caught wide in the Gr 2 Canon Guineas, yet still finished only 2,4 lengths behind July favourite Black Arthur.

Captain Aldo’s best career performance was when winning the slowly run Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m and he had the like of Ice Machine and Trip To Heaven behind him. However, he has a tough task at the weights.

Trip To Heaven is a similar type to former stablemate Willow magic who finished second in this race last year, as he has plenty of speed but stays a mile. If breaking better than normal he could be a threat from the front in a race run as slowly as last year’s.

The selection is Ice Machine to beat Triptique with New Predator, French Navy and Bezanova next best.

Dynamic (Liesl King)

Dynamic (Liesl King)

The Gr 3 Cup Trial is a traditional July qualifier for borderline horses and is always a highly competitive affair.

However, Dynamic is off an attractive merit rating and is now drawn in pole as opposed to 14 when finishing third in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900. Big Cat should be cherry ripe having his third run in KZN and is likely the best value in the race as it is easy to imagine him making good late progress with his big stride, after having settled in the running from a good draw. It Is Written does tend to take a keen hold, but settled well from a good draw in the Betting World 1900 before staying on for fifth. He will appreciate the slight step down and now has the bang in form Anthony Delpech up from a fair draw of seven.

The Conglomerate has been disappointing but has been seen to stay on steadily in his last two races off moderate paces, so he can feature if getting the strong pace which saw him winning last season’s KRA Guineas. Master’s Eye is quirky and tends to look around, but over raced when the blinkers were tried last time. If he is able to concentrate he will be a big runner from a good draw under Piere Strydom. The classy Saratoga Dancer will be coming into his own and Greek Legend, Exit Here, Gold Onyx and Halve The Deficit are others who can’t be ignored if producing their best, while Deputy Jud could do well if finding a good position near the front.

They are selected in the order mentioned.

Silver Mountain (Liesl King)

Silver Mountain (Liesl King)

The Gr 2 Tibouchina over 1400m could be dominated by top class stablemates Inara and Silver Mountain.  Alexis, who love Greyville, could be the biggest danger. Olma is the dark horse as she is doing extremely well at Summerveld and loves this track, but her wide draw makes it tough. Cuvee Brut is a classy, distance suited sort who could upset.

In the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes, high-flying Vaughan Marshall has a chance with the classy Step Up, despite a wide draw. The maiden Side Show and impressive Aussie Austin could be the biggest dangers.

In the Devon Air Stakes, Querari Falcon impressed with the ease of her win over 1200m on debut. She should love this trip on pedigree. The penny dropped for Oriental Oak last time and her late burst caught the eye.  Call Me Winter is well bred and looks to be full of class, so it will be no surprise to see her defy topweight, although being a handy type means her wide draw is a distinct disadvantage.

David Thiselton

Weiho Marwing

Mac ready for action

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Trainer Weiho Marwing said his Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge contender Mac De Lago was fit and well ahead of Saturday’s big race at Greyville, while St. John Gray also confirmed Captain Aldo to be in good shape.

Marwing said it had been a long hard season for Mac De Lago, so the yard had given him a relatively easy time in the aftermath of his decent fourth-place finish in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein on April 30. However, he added the Australian-bred four-year-old Encosta De Lago gelding was now fit and well and Saturday’s race would offer the opportunity for him to have a good preparation race into  the Vodacom Durban July.

He pointed out Mac De Lago’s liking for Greyville and felt he had a good draw too (six in a field of nine), so was hoping for a “big run.” A further bonus is Piere Strydom aboard. The great jockey has already won a Grade 1 since returning from a protracted layoff for a broken collar bone.

At the Vaal on Thursday Strydom clinched his 5000th winner as a fully-fledged jockey. His 5000th winner as a rider was reached when winning the Gr 2 Selangor Cup aboard Act Of War in November 2014, but those wins included the ones he had achieved as an apprentice.

Mac De Lago won his opening two career races and has only competed in Graded company since. He has achieved seven cheques in ten runs at Graded level, which underlines his consistency, but he is yet to earn Bold Black type by winning one of them. The closest he has come was when finishing second over the Gold Challenge course and distance in the Gr 2 KRA Guineas, running on strongly from the back to finish two lengths behind The Conglomerate.

These days he might prefer middle distances, but is interesting running fresh tomorrow. On 107 he is the fifth highest merit rated horse in the race.

Captain Aldo, a five-year-old gelding by Captain Al, is merit rated 109 thanks to his Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes victory, where he beat the like of Ice Machine and Trip To Heaven over 1400m on the Turffontein Standside track. That was a slow run race and he converted odds of 16/1. However, he subsequently finished downfield in both the Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and when carrying topweight in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1450m on May 21. He is drawn eight with Bernard Fayd’Herbe up and Betting World have priced him up joint-biggest outsider on 25/1.

Gray won this race with crack mare Dancewiththedevil in 2011. However, he was not as confident this time and kept his comments short and sweet, “He is well but it’s going to be tough.”

David Thiselton

new predator aus

New Predator purring

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Drill Hall Stakes winner New Predator impressed Weichong Marwing at Ashburton this week ahead of the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge to be run at Greyville on Saturday, although the top jockey has jumped ship to French Navy.

Meanwhile, Triptique, has been doing well at Summerveld.

The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained New Predator over raced behind a crawl in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and did not find the necessary extra in the straight. However, before that he was dictating the pace himself in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m and, after kicking well at the top of the straight, the field was unable to catch him. As a horse with plenty of speed, he will likely prefer dropping back to the mile.

New Predator (Nkosi Hlophe)

New Predator (Nkosi Hlophe)

Marwing rode him in both those races. He also rode him in work at Ashburton earlier this week and described the workout as “exceptional”. Randall Simons will be aboard the 110 merit rated New Predator on Saturday from a plum draw of three, which will enable him to go to the front again. However, Sean Tarry has said Trip To Heaven will go to the front if he is able to jump well enough, so New Predator might not have the same easy lead he enjoyed in the Drill Hall Stakes.

Marwing was high in his praise of New Predator after his Drill Hall Stakes win. The Australian-bred New Approach colt’s record proves him to be possibly the best three-year-old miler in the country as he ran the subsequent Cape Guineas winner Noah From Goa to a head in the Dingaans and had subsequent Triple Crown hero Abashiri beaten by 3,1 lengths in that race, although that was Abashiri’s first run of the season and he hasn’t been beaten since.

Trainer Dennis Drier said Triptique was as well as the yard could possibly have him. He is a most interesting contender. The Drill Hall Stakes was his first attempt beyond sprints and he stayed on strongly from midfield to finish a 0,5 length second. He gave the impression the 1600m would be within his range and his pedigree also suggests it to be. He gets on well with stable jockey Sean Veale and jumps from pole position. He is the dark horse in the race and if he passes this acid test will have some exciting career prospects ahead of him. He could also lift the Drier yard out of a below par big race season by their high standards.

David Thiselton

dynamic lk site

Chasing a July spot

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The Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m offers a last gasp opportunity for borderline horses to qualify for the Vodacom Durban July and fans are likely to witness a fast and furious finish to the race which is one of the highlights of the always well attended Rising Sun Gold Challenge race day at Greyville on Saturday.

Saratoga Dancer was unfortunately only made a reserve for the Gr 2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile, where the yard fancied his chances. He subsequently ran third in the Gr 3 Christmas Handicap over 1600m at Greyville from a wide draw, as opposed to the winner It Is Written’s pole position draw. He will be 3kg better off with It Is Written for a 1,75 length beating, but he unfortunately has another wide draw of 12 to overcome.

Saratoga-Dancer-site

Saratoga Dancer (Nkosi Hlophe)

Saratoga Dancer made a comeback in the too sharp IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m and stayed on well for fourth. He will much prefer this trip and has a chance with Muzi Yeni up as he was still green and immature last season and, as a stronger and more mature horse, he can rise above his 95 merit rating.

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained It Is Written ran a good 2,45 length fifth in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 and will appreciate the slight step down in trip. His jockey Anthony Delpech will be going for an incredible seventh Graded victory in this SA Champions Season and three of them to date have been for Kannemeyer. The five-year-old Dynasty gelding jumps from draw seven.

Master’s Eye looked at the stands the whole way down the straight when close up in the Sledgehammer over 1750m at Scottsville, but then over raced with blinkers on in the Betting World 1900. The blinkers are now off. This classy sort has the ability to win if his quirkiness is suppressed and Piere Strydom is up from a draw of three, so he has to be seriously considered.

His stablemate Dynamic is off an attractive merit rating and is drawn in pole over a suitable trip so should give another honest account, although he hasn’t won for a year-and-a-half.

Dynamic (Liesl King)

Dynamic (Liesl King)

The Joey Ramsden-trained The Conglomerate will be cherry ripe having his third run after a rest and Anton Marcus is up from draw 8. He has dropped down to a 101 merit rating from a high of 108 but needs a strong pace to be affective as he otherwise seems to just stay on steadily.

The race does not look to have a lot of pace in it. Exit Here is a possible pacemaker, but won’t go the ridiculous pace he set in the Canon Guineas. The experienced Weichong Marwing is a master of pace and this could see Exit Here bouncing back to form, although he might be a touch high in the merit ratings.

Deputy Jud is usually handy so from a wide draw is another possible pace setter. He is off a more competitive mark and can feature if reproducing his Daily News run of last year, when unlucky not to place.

Stablemate Greek Legend was too handy in the Betting World 1900 and his good turn of foot could be effective if ridden more conservatively from a wide draw.

Punta Arenas hasn’t reproduced his best form this season and has a tough task with top weight.

The evergreen Gold Onyx should be cherry ripe and with his short run in has to always be considered at his favourite course.

Halve The Deficit was too far back in the Betting World 1900 and will be handier from a good draw, so he has to be given a good chance off a three point reduced merit rating, especially if reproducing the form of his unlucky July run last year.

Way Of Light faces It Is Written on the same terms despite beating him a neck in the Sledgehammer and he is the dark horse despite a four point merit rated raise.

Big Cat ran on well late in the Sledgehammer and runs off the same merit rating. He beat a good field in the Calulo Cape Mile and has been doing well at Summerveld so has a chance from draw four.

The selection is Dynamic to beat Big Cat with It Is Written, The Conglomerate and Master’s Eye next best.

David Thiselton

 

Olma (David Thiselton)

Olma in a good place

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The Frank Robinson-trained Dynasty filly Olma will be using Saturday’s Gr 2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m at Greyville as a stepping stone into either the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July or the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes and has been thriving at Summerveld, as can be seen in the picture of her taken yesterday morning (Tuesday).

Olma (David Thiselton)

Olma (David Thiselton)

However, she faces a tough field and there was also bullishness from the Mike Bass and Brett Crawford yards.

Frank Robinson said, “She is doing exceptionally well, I couldn’t hope to have her in a better place. She has a wide draw but Piere Strydom is up, so he could take care of it.”

Olma is drawn 12 out of 12. The four-year-old filly acts equally well on turf as she does on polytrack and in a total of nine starts at Greyville, from 1400m up to 2000m, has won six of them.

She has been in the winner’s enclosure in her last three starts at the city track and this included comfortably beating the boys in the Gr 3 King’s Cup over 1600m on the poly.

Her exceptional turn of foot is one of the reasons she loves the tight track and the fashion of her wins over 1600m this season suggests she should be equally suited to the 1400m trip.

Olma’s last run in the Gr 1 Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein was disappointing. However, this is a part of a trend because of the five below par runs she has had in her career, she needed one of them and the other four have been on the Highveld. The classy filly has otherwise been a model of consistency.

However, the favourite for Saturday’s race is likely to be the Mike Bass-trained four-year-old Trippi filly Inara.

Inara (Liesl King)

Inara (Liesl King)

After winning the Empress Club Stakes, Inara was back at Turffontein two weeks later for the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m and ran well below her best.

She was given a deserved “little break” and assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe said she had come back from it well. He added she does not take much work, so should be fit enough.

Three-year-old Silvano filly Silver Mountain is also in the Tibouchina, her first start since disappointing in the Gr 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas.

Fayd’Herbe said the yard had got the better of Silver Mountain’s feet issues and, although she was not wintering very well, she was doing a lot better than she had been.

However, In his opinion Inara is at this stage a “much better filly” than Silver Mountain.

Inara’s class is proven by her status as a four-time Gr 1-winner and she started this season with two good wins over 1400m at the tight Durbanville course, so the course and distance on Saturday should not pose a problem.

Silver Mountain, as a horse with plenty of speed and a fine turn of foot, should be ideally suited to the Greyville 1400m if bouncing back to the form which saw her winning the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas by five lengths.

Alexis (John Lewis)

Alexis (John Lewis)

Inara is the highest merit rated horse in Saturday’s race on 111, while Silver Mountain and Olma are joint-second highest on 107.

Inara is drawn wide in nine with Grant van Niekerk up, while Silver Mountain is drawn two with Bernard Fayd’Herbe up.

Brett Crawford could not separate his pair of four-year-olds, Alexis (Dynasty) and Cuvee Brut (Count Dubois), and felt they both had good chances.

Crawford’s runners have needed their first starts in KZN this season.

However, Alexis won well second time out over the Greyville 1400m. She loves Greyville and 1400m is her optimum trip, so she should have every chance from a draw of six under stable jockey Corne Orffer. She will likely be cherry ripe, although on paper off a merit rating of 100 she has a bit to do at the weights in the weight for ager plus penalties event.

Cuvee Brut has come out of her race at Scottsville on Saturday well. She was far from disgraced in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, in which she was one of only two fillies, and finished a 3,4 length fifth to the brilliant Talktothestars.

She has proved to be equally good at 1400m and back in February won the Gr 3 Prix Du Cap over that trip at Kenilworth in fine style. She beat Alexis by 2,4 lengths that day, but was receiving 3kg and on Saturday she will only be receiving 1kg. She has a tricky draw of nine to overcome. However, she has the bonus of Anton Marcus up and this will be her third run of the SA Champions Season.

By David Thiselton

Ice-Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ice Machine eyes first Grade 1

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The Charles Laird-trained Ice Machine can make up for last season’s hugely disappointing on course scratching by winning Saturday’s Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge and there would hardly be a soul in the house who would begrudge this gallant seven-year-old Silvano gelding the victory.

Despite his brilliance, Ice Machine is yet to win a Gr 1.

Ice Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ice Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

Last year, after a scintillating victory in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes, connections were optimistic of him upsetting the like of Legislate and Futura in the Gold Challenge. He had never been better in the build up, but alas, upon arriving at the course he stepped on a stone and had to be scratched.

There are no Legislates or Futuras in this year’s field and furthermore, with the scratching of Legal Eagle, the man who knows him best, Anton Marcus, is available to ride him. On the downside he is one year older than last year and has yet another wide draw to contend with.

However, Laird said Ice Machine was “very, very well” and his preparation had gone “exceptionally well”. He just hoped there would be a decent pace and not the same crawl which had played into the hands of pacemaker New Predator in the Drill Hall Stakes. Ice Machine was dropped out from a tricky draw of seven in the latter race and ran on strongly for a two length third.

Exit Here (Nkosi Hlophe)

Exit Here (Nkosi Hlophe)

Laird has Exit Here in the Gr 2 Cup Trial over 1800m. He scratched him from the Vodacom Durban July after his disappointing run in the Gr 2 Canon Guineas. However, this will likely be in his favour as the Cup Trial is now his chief target and the yard have been able to train him up to his peak.

Laird said a line could be drawn through the Canon Guineas run as Exit Here had been asked to set ridiculously fast fractions out in front under an inexperienced rider and had not surprisingly faded in the straight.

The Jay Peg colt will appreciate the step up in trip. However, Laird felt his 103 merit rating was still harsh, despite him having been dropped two points for that last run (The Cup Trial is a handicap). He also has a wide draw of ten to contend with, but Weichong Marwing is aboard and should give him every chance.

Laird has two horses in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes for two-year-olds over 1400m.

He said Anton Marcus rated Warm White Night colt Buffalo Soldier and had always regarded him as one who would be better from 1400m up to 1600m. He jumps from a tricky draw of nine.

He finished 3,25 lengths behind Horse Guards over 1200m at Scottsville last time out in his second start, after having run on well to win over 1000m at Scottsville on debut. Horse Guards went on to disappoint in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion, but his saddle slipped, so it was not his race.

The other Laird runner in the Gatecrasher Stakes is the well-bred Silvano colt Palladium, who is a half-brother to the like of Val De Ra and Tevez. He jumped from a tricky draw over 1200m on the Greyville turf on debut and made up a lot of ground to just get up and beat the hard-knocking Rand Hedge. On that showing he should also appreciate 1400m. Laird described him as “decent”. Keagan de Melo sticks with him and they jump from a good draw of five.

David Thiselton

 

Fly BY Night (Liesl King)

Intriguing POST Merchants lineup

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The five-year-old Jet Master mare Fly By Night, winner of the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint two years ago, will take on the boys in the R400 000, Grade 2 Post Merchants at the Greyville Night Racemeeting on Friday, June 17.

The Mike Bass-trained sprinter had shown little to get excited about earlier this year but bounced back to something like her best when running second to Real Princess in the Grade 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint at Scottsville last weekend. She is one of the 14 runners that will face the starter in the 1 200m clash at Greyville and will undoubtedly be one of the more fancied runners in the race.

Fly BY Night (Liesl King)

Fly By Night (Liesl King)

Also among the acceptors for the race that has a history going back decades, is the Western Winter entire Red Ray from the Joey Ramsden stable that made an encouraging return to racing in this country after an overseas stint when taking fourth place behind Talktothestars in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville. One could expect an improved run in the Post Merchants where he will also meet the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Captain Al gelding Captain Alfredo that was strongly fancied to win the top Scottsville race but ran disappointingly.

Captain Alfredo had previously won the In Full Flight Handicap at the venue and that last run was definitely not a true indication of his ability.

Dennis Drier might have been disappointed with his runners in the Tsogo Sun Sprint but will be feeling that the stable could do better in the Post Merchants where it fields the three-year-old Trippi gelding Ferrie. The gelding is making a considerable step up in class but he has won his three races to date in impressive fashion and with 52kg on his back from draw one he could be a lively contender for top honours.

By Richard McMillan

Bezanova (Nkosi Hlophe)

Bezanova loves Greyville

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Highveld-based trainer Alec Laird is having another crack at the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge with Bezanova, who finished third in this race last year.

Bezanova has been at Summerveld since May 27 and has been “doing well” ahead of the big weight for age 1600m event, which is to be run at Greyville on Saturday.

Laird pointed out the big five-year-old Bezrin gelding always did well at this time of the year and appeared to love Greyville.

Bezanova (Nkosi Hlophe)

Bezanova (Nkosi Hlophe)

The biggest win of his career came when winning the Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile in November 2014 as a four-year-old. However, in his seven starts in KZN he has only failed to earn a cheque once and that was when just 3,6 lengths behind Futura in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m two years ago as a three-year-old.

He won his debut at Clairwood over 1200m as a young three-year-old, then returned from the Highveld to finish third in the Gr 2 KRA Guineas and a narrow fifth in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000. Both races were won by the subsequently-named Equus Horse Of The Year Legilsate. He ended that Champions Season with a disappointing third in the KZN Breeders Million Mile at Clairwood, followed by his unplaced run in the Champions Cup.

Last season he only had two runs in KZN. He finished a fine third in the Gold Challenge. He raced wide for quite a while after jumping from draw ten in the eleven horse field, although he did have cover most the way, and he then found himself in a handy position off a slow pace and stayed on strongly to finish just 0,9 lengths behind Legislate at odds of 66/1. He proved it to be no fluke when winning the KZN Breeders Million Mile with 59kg on his back next time out.

This year Laird had an option to run him in a Pinnacle event over either 1450m or 1800m before transporting him to Summrveld and opted for the latter as he believed building him up from 1450m to a mile in three weeks would have not have been an easy task. He confirmed he had needed that last run on May 21 when unplaced over 1800m.

Bezanova has landed a plum draw of four in a ten horse field on Saturday. It is weaker than last year’s race. He will be ridden by Stuart Randolph for the first time.

Laird has two runners in the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m, Arissa, who is drawn ten, and Maleficent, who is drawn three. Maleficent by Judpot is a full-sister to Gr 1 SA Derby runner up Rocketball and will be ridden by Weichong Marwing. Laird said she seemed better than Arissa based on their homework and she proved her promise last time out when winning a maiden over this trip at the Vaal by 5,5 lengths.

By David Thiselton