Category Archives: Y-Champions Season

Dawn Calling (Nkosi Hlophe)

So the sun also rises

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A race report of second best, third best and second best, does little to inspire confidence in punters when looking to have a dip. The comments conjure up an impression of a horse of modest ability or, more damning, a horse lacking in intestinal fortitude so one tends to be cautious when placing a bet.

Those comments were pencilled in behind Dawn Calling for the second at Greyville yesterday but those that took to ignore the advisories came off best. Placed in all three starts, the comments were hardly flattering but she put the record straight in a smashing victory with Muzi Yeni looking around a furlong from home for the opposition. Five-and-a-bit lengths was the official winning margin but it could well have been double that for Duncan Howells and owner David Maclean.

Dawn Calling (Nkosi Hlophe)

Dawn Calling (Nkosi Hlophe)

It was not a strong field but the manner of victory suggests that Dawn Calling may have further calling in the Allan Robertson Fillies Championship come the first Saturday of June.

Dean Kannemeyer has made spectacular use of his satellite yard in KZN mostly due to the backing of Lady Christine Laidlaw racing under the brand of Khaya Stables. Kannemeyer is in contention for Champion KZN trainer after just one season and he added two winners to his fast growing list with the Khaya Stables-owned Paperback Writer in the Greyville opener and Last Tiger in the seventh.

The dogs were barking when Paperback Writer made his debut at Scottsville but he disappointed finishing down the field. The money was on again yesterday and any losses were recouped as Anthony Delpech sent him up the inside fence to a comfortable victory over the one-eyed favourite Qeyaadah who made a beeline to the outside fence that was on his good side.

Delpech was back in the winner’s enclosure with another clinical display of riding on the Dennis Bosch-trained Dynamic Force. The race never looked more than a match between Dynamic Force and the consistent but money-draining Nuntius, both trying blinkers for the first time. Nuntius had the call coming into the straight but Dynamic Force always had his measure and got home with something to spare.

Roy’s Marciano got the better of a protracted stretch battle with Lancat in the fifth with Kom Naidoo’s runner finishing just the better. Shortly after the line Lancat broke down unshipping rider Muzi Yeni.

Brown Sugar, after showing early promise and never far back, finally snapped her run of places with a well-deserved win under Warren Kennedy for Brian Burnard in the seventh.

Delpech and Kannemeyer have formed a lethal combination since Delpech split as stable rider to the Mike de Kock yard and they were to the fore again as Last Tiger out-duelled Mike Bass’s runner Mountain Master in the seventh with Mackdesi coming from way back for a smart third.

The boot was on the other foot in the closer where Secret Waring under Anton Marcus for Charles Laird was driven home to deny favourite Tanjiro, Delpech and Kannemeyer another winner.

By Andrew Harrison

Ice Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ice Machine in a good place

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The Charles Laird-trained Ice Machine is a “happy horse” ahead of the defense of his Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes crown, which is to be run over 1400m at Greyville tomorrow night.

Ice Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ice Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

He will have to defeat the like of former Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate, but Laird’s assistant trainer Lorenzo Kariem said the brilliant Silvano gelding was in just as good a space as last year, when winning in impressive style by three lengths.

Kariem said, “In the Horse Chestnut he missed the break and they then cantered – he needs a good pace. He’s doing well but you do need luck in this race.”

Justin Snaith said about Legislate, “It is his first run back and he might need it a little, but he is doing well and is a good horse.”

Robert Fayd’Herbe said Night Trip seemed to love a right hand turn and if repeating his KZN form of last season could be in the money.

Sean Tarry said the evergreen Gold Onyx would be using the race as a preparation event.

Dennis Drier said, “Triptique is very, very well. It will be interesting to see whether he goes the 1400m trip and if he does he could be in the money. Punta Arenas has had a lovely little break on the farm and will need the run.”

The balance of the field is made up of classy horses like The Conglomerate, Saratoga Dancer and New Predator, as well as the two likely outsiders Diamond King and Mister Matchett.

By David Thiselton

Legislate (Liesl King)

Legislate tops the boards

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Legislate has been installed 14-10 favourite for tomorrow night’s Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes despite this being his first run since finishing sixth in the J & B Met.

World Sports Betting makes Horse Chestnut third New Predator second favourite at 2-1 with last year’s winner Ice Machine next on 11-2.

Silver Mountain will be ridden by Bernard Fayd’Herbe for the first time in the Daisy Fillies Guineas (Aldo Domeyer was on her in all her previous seven starts) and is 12-10 favourite. The Cape Fillies Guineas winner’s stable companion Nightingale, who is on a four-timer, is a 12-1 chance.

Paddock Stakes third Bela-Bela is second favourite at 4-1, half a point ahead of the SA Fillies Classic runner-up Negroamaro.

In the Canon Guineas it’s the Mike Azzie-trained Rabada who heads the market at 22-10 with Justin Snaith’s Politician scorer Black Arthur 9-2 second favourite and Prospect Strike next at 11-2. Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn is a 7-1 chance.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Legislate (Liesl King)

Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

Rabada draw only concern

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SA Triple Crown-winning trainer Mike Azzie felt Rabada would have been the horse to beat in tomorrow night’s Gr 2 Canon Guineas if it were not for his tough draw.

Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

The ball now may be in the court of Justin Snaith, who has a powerful team of three, although they also face tricky draws.

Rabada travelled down to Summerveld yesterday and Azzie said, “Rabada had a great comeback win after being hurt in Cape Town and has come on in leaps and bounds.”

Snaith runs Baritone, Black Arthur and It’s My Turn, and said, “Baritone could have won last time (narrow second Byerley Turk with topweight) but for the draw, and is widely drawn again. Black Arthur is a horse everybody has to keep an eye on. Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn needs further and hasn’t got the pace to get up there from a wide draw, so will be dropped out and we will see how he runs on.”

Dean Kannemeyer runs the Byerley winner Mambo Mime, although he is now 4kg worse off with Baritone, and said, “He had a few issues last year and is learning and improving. He has a lot of potential and lost by half-a-length to Black Arthur over this trip in Cape Town when giving away 5kg and they fancy Black Arthur. It’s a strong race but he’s doing well.”

Exit Here (Nkosi Hlophe)

Exit Here (Nkosi Hlophe)

Charles Laird runs Exit Here and assistant trainer Lorenzo Kariem said his last run in  sloppy conditions on the poly can be ignored. He added, “He is doing very well, but it’s always a competitive race and you need luck.”

Sean Tarry has two runners and said, “Prospect Strike is the sort of horse who would have had a chance, but from the draw I can have no confidence. He is definitely looking for a mile. We probably stretched Malak El Moolook in his last two over 1800m, he will appreciate the step back to a mile, but he also has a tough draw.”

Gareth Van Zyl said the yard are having success addressing Redcarpet Captain’s haemo-concentration issues and added, “He had excuses for his last couple with bad draws and over racing and now from a good draw and with the blinkers off I make him a big runner.”

Other eye catching entries in the race are the Duncan Howells pair Sylvester The Cat and Ten Gun Salute and the Mike de Kock-trained Muwaary and the Vaughan Marshall-trained Victorious Jay, while the Lezeanne Forbes-trained Royal Armour will be attempting to reproduce some of his good polytrack form.

By David Thiselton

Silver Mountain (Kenilworth Racing)

Thumbs up Silver Mountain

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The Mike Bass-trained superstar filly Silver Mountain was given the thumbs up by jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe after a workout on the sand at Summerveld yesterday and her big rival Bela-Bela has also been pleasing trainer Justin Snaith at Summerveld ahead of tomorrow night’s Gr 2 Daisy Guineas at Greyville.

However, another Cape horse, Flying Ice, “has as much chance as anything else” in the race and is at her peak according to trainer Neil Bruss.

Silver Mountain (Kenilworth Racing)

Silver Mountain (Kenilworth Racing)

Assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe said about Silver Mountain “She is doing very well at home. She won’t be quite at her peak but is fit enough to run a good race first time back.”

He said about his other two participants in the race, “Nightingale in this type of company might find the trip just a touch too sharp, but is doing very well at home. Tafferty Tart has a bad draw but if she can overcome it and get a nice position within striking distance she can put in a good effort. She has finished third to Silver Mountain twice and is up to it.”

Bela-Bela was scratched on course before the Umzimkhulu after a float incident but Snaith said, in retrospect, this had been a blessing. “That run would have come too soon. She is high quality and the Paddock Stakes, where she finished third, has turned out to be the best form race of the entire Cape season. If she can overcome the draw she will be in the money.” However, Snaith said it would be difficult to predict how well any of his three-year-olds on the night would do as they were running under lights for the first time on a course which is new to them.

Bruss said Flying Ice would definitely appreciate the step up to 1600m and gave her a big shout. He said, “She is doing really well and all we got to hope for is a clear run up the straight.”

The Geoff Woodruff-trained Alexa arrived at Summerveld on Tuesday and he said, “She is bright and fit. She ran well in both the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and SA Fillies Classic from hopeless positions.  She can make up four lengths, but she can’t make up twenty-four, and she now has a decent draw in a feature for the first time.”

Glen Kotzen runs WSB Cape Fillies Guineas runner up Our Destiny and said, “She is the type of filly who looks around a lot so I don’t blame the jockeys for wanting blinkers on, but she over raced with them on for the first time in her KZN debut and fell in a hole, so they are now off. She is a lovely filly and is fit and well but has a tough draw.”

Intergalactic (Nkosi Hlophe)

Intergalactic (Nkosi Hlophe)

Dean Kannemeyer runs shock Umzimkhulu winner Fromafar and she put in eye catching work with her normal low head carriage on the beach sand with a companion yesterday. Kannemeyer said, “She was caught wide the whole way last time, so won a very good race. She is fit and well and we will take our chances from a wide draw, but it’s a strong field and we will be thrilled to run a place.”

The Mike Azzie-trained Shahtoosh left Johannesburg for Durban yesterday morning. She looks is a long-striding horse with a nice turn of foot and he said she was unlucky to not still be unbeaten. He added, “She has done very well in the last ten days.”

Sean Tarry said about Intergalactic, “Her run in the Empress Club was good enough for her to have a chance here (1,4 length third to Inara), but Silver Mountain looks impossible to beat from that draw.”

Doug Campbell said about Lala, “The 14 was too short, she’s looking for a mile to 1800m and is doing well, so I’m hoping for a big run. The draw is a worry, but she will be dropped out. We had to look for a jockey replacement, so Sean Veale rides her for the first time.”

Gareth Van Zyl spoke on behalf Bella Sonata’s team, “She is better than her form suggests, because things didn’t go well for her in Jo’burg. It is the strongest fillies Guineas at Greyville for many years, but a big run can be expected on the back of her Umzimkhulu run as she was running on strongly. She will appreciate this step up in trip and is doing well.”

By David Thiselton

Ice Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

Media Release: Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes Night Racemeeting

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A high class field headed by former Equus Champion Legislate and defending champion Ice Machine will line up in the Grade 2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes to be run at Greyville Racecourse this coming Friday evening.

Legislate, a former Vodacom Durban July winner, makes his Champions Season debut since finishing sixth in the J&B Met at Kenilworth back in January. Prior to that he was a close-up second to Legal Eagle in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. Legal Eagle scored a good victory in the R4-million Premier’s Champion Challenge run at Turffontein this past Saturday.BEERFEST

Just how Legislate fares in the Drill Hall will likely determine whether Justin Snaith supplements his charge for the Vodacom Durban July as his name was significantly absent from the initial list of 65 entries unveiled at the launch of South Africa’s Champions Season a fortnight ago.

The gallant seven-year-old Ice Machine returns to his favourite course and distance to defend his crown. It has been up and down to the Highveld this season for him but there is little doubt that Charles Laird’s runner is a different proposition over the Greyville 1400m.

Whilst Anton Marcus has been Ice Machine’s regular pilot, the former champion will forgo the ride to partner The Conglomerate for leading owners Ingrid and Markus Jooste. It will be a year to the day of The Conglomerate’s last victory that came in the Grade 2 Canon Guineas, one of two supporting features on this Friday’s card, where Marcus will ride likely favourite Rabada for the Jooste’s and trainer Michael Azzie.

Also in the Canon Guineas field are Investec Derby winner It’s My Turn and Baritone both from the Justin Snaith stable and the exciting pair of Sylvester The Cat and Ten Gun Salute from the Duncan Howells yard.

Top class filly Silver Mountain will bid for a Fillies Guineas double when she lines up in the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas, the second supporting feature on the evening. Winner of the World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas, she was a close-up fourth in the colts equivalent and most recently second in South Africa’s first million dollar race.

The meeting kicks off the three months of South Africa’s Champion Season and Greyville patrons will be treated to some high class racing come Friday night.

ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY

Apart from the thrilling horseracing there is lot’s on offer at the course with the Galloping Gourmet Beer Festival and happy hour from 6 to 7:30 pm in the Lightning Shot Bar.  It is also a great chance to catch an early evening bite at the adjacent Braai Zone, where the thrill and excitement of the night can be enjoyed right alongside the racetrack – a great meeting place for friends who gather and relish the evening’s atmosphere on the lawns.

Live entertainment this Friday evening will be provided by The Gee Jays and the popular KidZone with full supervision, fun and entertainment will be in operation throughout the racing so be sure to bring the kids along.

Lots of parking available and entrance to Greyville Racecourse is FREE.

By Andrew Harrison

Zaakhira books Durban ticket

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The Mike de Kock-trained Australian-bred Zaakhira stamped herself as a SA Champions Season horse to be reckoned with when slamming a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies in impressive style over 1200m at the Vaal yesterday on her debut.

The Redoute’s Choice filly is out of a Royal Academy mare and after showed high cruising speed pulled clear to win by 7,5 lengths under Callan Murray, despite racing green and changing legs.

Matthew de Kock said, “I’m sure she will be taking her place at some point in Durban.”

She joins the like of Cloth Of Cloud, Exquisite Touch and her stable mate Fursa as Highveld fillies who could make a big impact on the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m at Scottsville’s Festival Of Speed meeting on June 4.

They will be up against the like of the Cape filly The Secret Is Out and KZN fillies like Mygirldownunder.

Interestingly, De Kock’s debut winner of the first race, the Australian-bred More Than Ready colt Act Of Loyalty, won his race under Weichong Marwing in a time 0,3 seconds quicker than Zaakhira and Marwing looked to still have some fuel reserves at the line.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Callan Murray

sean tarry

Legal Eagle not certain for July

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National Champion Trainer Sean Tarry has warned that in his opinion Legal Eagle was unlikely to line up for the Vodacom Durban July.

However, the final decision on whether he participates is yet to be discussed with the connections.

Owner Markus Jooste’s racing manager Derek Brugman said in initial discussion with Tarry he had agree the July would probably not be the ideal race for the horse, as he would have to carry 60kg. However, he added there was still two months to go so it was still not known which of Jooste’s horses would line up and which wouldn’t. He said it was too early to start officially declaring horses as “doubtful.”

Sean Tarry

Tarry had another halcyon day at Turffontein’s Champions Day on Saturday, landing three Gr 1s and a Gr 2 as well as a Gr 1 second, a Gr 1 third and a Gr 2 second.

Among the Gr 1 victories was a brilliant performance by Legal Eagle to win the R4 million Premier’s Champions Challenge under Anton Marcus.

The four-year-old Greys Inn gelding has put himself in line to be named Equus Horse Of The Year as that was his third Gr 1 victory of the year. Two of those Gr 1s were weight for age miles and Saturday’s victory over 2000m was a weight for age with Gr 1 and Gr 2 penalties. The other of Legal Eagle’s four career Gr 1 wins was in the SA Derby last season over 2450m.

Not surprisingly Tarry now regards him as among the best he has ever trained.

He said, “National Colour and Mythical Flight were freaks, but Legal Eagle is probably the best classic horse I have ever trained.”

Legal Eagle’s stable companion French Navy bounced back to form in the Premier’s on Saturday. He found his usual strong finish to only just deny Brazuca second place and might move into second place on the July betting boards behind SA Triple Crown hero Abashiri if the bookmakers do list Legal Eagle as doubtful. At present Legal Eagle is favourite at 5/2 with Betting World, Abashiri is 7/2 and French Navy is 14/1.

French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)

French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)

Tarry’s Captain Al filly Carry On Alice cruised to her third career Gr 1 in the WSB Computaform Sprint on Saturday under S’Manga Khumalo and will likely start a short-priced favourite in the defence of her Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint crown on June 4. She will also race in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, depending on the draw she is allotted. She will be sent to her breeders and part-owners Klawervlei Stud after her racing career is over. It has not yet been decided whether she will race as a five-year-old next season.

Tarry’s unbeaten Captain Al two-year-old filly Cloth Of Cloud is following in the footsteps of Carry On Alice as she landed the Gr 1 SA Nursery against the boys on Saturday after producing a devastating late finishing burst under Khumalo. Tarry is not yet sure whether she will campaign in the SA Champions Season, but said if she did the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championships over 1200m at Scottsville on June 4 would be her only race.

Tarry said about her quirkiness, “Fortunately talent also comes with the package and the temperament can be worked with.”

Tarry’s ultra consistent four-year-old Tiger Ridge filly Trophy Wife finally landed the bold black type she so richly deserved when winning Saturday’s Gr 2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over 2000m under Khumalo. Tarry was not sure yet whether the July would be a target of hers, although a race like the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m on Gold Cup day would likely be on her program.

 

By David Thiselton

Captain Alfredo (Nkosi Hlophe)

Planning for speed

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If you think racehorse trainers are a bunch of clowns, forget it! The successful ones, like five-star generals, know the strength of their troops and plan a campaign accordingly – no blood is shed but a few rands may be!

For most of the year races are spread like globs of butter, marge if you don’t fancy Prof Tim Noakes’s recommendations, with ‘feature days’ the flavour, but South Africa’s Champion’s Season is unique in that it crams some of the country’s most important races into a three-month frenzy and with those races in mind trainers plot for months.

Captain Alfredo (Nkosi Hlophe)

Captain Alfredo (Nkosi Hlophe)

Scottsville’s Festival of Speed is the pinnacle of the sprint racing calendar and with four Gr1 events settled on one afternoon and likely make-or-break for the year-end Equus Awards, the first Saturday in June is cut-throat.

The Gr1 Tsogo Sun, being handicap, has its detractors but given that past winners who retire with their crown jewels intact have a good record at stud it is a race that amounts to more than just a winner’s cheque.

With the new handicap conditions in place one needs to be a boring mathematician to work out the mechanics of the weights – and most punters couldn’t give a damn anyway. But while numbers may take you to a point in handicapping they do not transcend the perceived ability of an individual. As legendary race-caller Trevor Denman commented after American Pharoah wrapped up the Triple Crown in America, handicappers were so busy with the numbers that they forgot just how good the horse was and went against him.

Captain Alfredo stamped himself a strong contender for the Gr1 Tsogo Sun as did runner-up Captain Causeway in the Listed In Full Flight Stakes at Scottsville on Sunday but as alluded to, good generals plan their attack and Captain Alfredo, as strong as his formline suggests, will find the Tsogo Sun a much tougher assignment.

Possibly of more interest are the Gr1 Alan Robertson Championship and the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Medallion.

Exquisite Touch ran well below her earlier form in the SA Fillies Nursery at Turffontein on Saturday and barring anything untoward she must be given the benefit of the doubt if indeed she takes her place in the Alan Robertson.

Red Chesnut Road (Nkosi Hlophe)

Red Chesnut Road (Nkosi Hlophe)

After her SA Nursery win, Sean Tarry set last Saturday’s Computaform Sprint winner Carry On Alice the task of the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Medallion where she came up just short. Given that Carry On Alice came from possibly the best three-year-old crop of fillies ever, Cloth Of Cloud could find the males a touch stronger – also given that she runs in the Medallion.

Moreover, her antics approaching the finish are of concern and given the tricky Scottsville track any hesitation before the line will cost her.

The Gold Medallion form is up in the air after Cloth Of Cloud put one over the speedy Riverine in the Nursery and some exciting KZN runners have emerged.

Robbie Hill’s charge Red Chesnut Road has simply destroyed the opposition in his two starts but given the strength of the Godolphin Barbs Stakes field the form needs to be taken with a pinch of salt even though Rob’s Jewel, close-up in a Highveld feature and a subsequent winner, was soundly beaten fourth.

Gio Ponti’s Legacy, in the Godolphin pack, did Secret Captain’s form no favours but Duncan’s Howell’s charge won so well that one can possibly add four or five lengths onto that showing.

In all it does well to sum up what’s on the horizon for a bit of an edge.

By Andrew Harrison

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

Legal Eagle tops July boards

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Legal Eagle has been promoted to 5-2 favouritism for the Vodacom Durban July even though Sean Tarry hinted after Saturday’s Premiers Champions Challenge win that the four-year-old was unlikely to run.

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

Tarry, asked about future plans at the presentation ceremony, said: “I don’t think we are over-keen about the July but Derek (Brugman) and I will talk through the weeks to come -possibly the Champions Cup at the end of the season, maybe just a rest.”

Legal Eagle was previously second favourite – 33-10 with Betting World and 7-2 with World Sports Betting – but Triple Crown hero Abashiri has been marked out from 28-10 to 7-2 with Betting World and remains on 33-10 with WSB.

Samurai Blade, beaten less than a length when third in the SA Derby, is the big mover. Tarry’s colt has been slashed from 40-1 to half that price with WSB and to 25-1 with BW. Inara, who finished with only one behind her in the Premier’s Champion, has gone out from 25-1 to as big as 50-1.

Betting World: 5-2 Legal Eagle, 7-2 Abashiri, 14-1 French Navy, 20-1 Silver Mountain, Rabada, Deo Juvente,Brazuca, New Predator, Black Arthur, 25-1 and upwards others.

World Sports Betting: 5-2 Legal Eagle, 33-10 Abashiri, 14-1 French Navy, 16-1 Silver Mountain, Rabada,Brazuca, 18-1 Black Arthur, 20-1 Deo Juvente, New Predator, Mac De Lago, Samurai Blade, 25-1 and upwards others.

By Michael Clower