Category Archives: Post Merchants

Sheik's Brashee (Nkosi Hlophe)

Sheik’s Brashee against the odds

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Sheik’s Brashee was touted for a place by trainer Mike Miller before the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m at the end of May and didn’t disappoint, finishing third despite opening at odds of 50/1, although he was backed into 33/1 on the day.

Miller said the four-year-old gelding by The Sheik was as well as ever before his engagement in Friday night’s Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m at Greyville, but he was not as bullish this time. He cited his extreme outside barrier position of 15 and his preference for the Scottsville straight as two negatives. However, he has decided to run him from the draw as he comes up for auction in the Michael Holmes Bloodstock Super Sale in the Greyville parade ring on June 25, where he will be lot 30, so he has nothing to lose.

The middle draws between barrier positions 5 to 8 appear to be the most favourable in this race by trends and the widest drawn horse to have won it in recent times has been Splash Gold who won it from draw eleven in 2011.

On the plus side for Sheik’s Brashee is that the handicapper didn’t alter his 103 merit rating after the Tsogo Sun, in which he received 6,5kg and a 1,75 length beating from topweight Captain Of All.

The Post Merchants weights are decided on merit rating bands and Sheik’s Brashee will only be 0,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horses.

Apprentice Mathew Thackeray keeps the ride.

By David Thiselton

Sheik’s Brashee (Nkosi Hlophe)

snaith site

Cloud ready to burst

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Champion trainer Justin Snaith will have runners in all three of the Champions Season features this weekend and rates his Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks contender Ash Cloud the best of them.

He said about the four-year-old daughter of Black Minnaloushe, who will jump from a plum draw of two and be ridden by stable jockey Richard Fourie in the 2400m event at Scottsville on Sunday: “Months and months of effort have gone into her run, this is the one we have been waiting for.”

The former Gr 1 SA Oaks winner is only merit rated 95 and has to carry a 2kg Gr 1 penalty, meaning she is officially a whopping 5,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse Vino Veritas, but Snaith feels she is up to it.

Snaith also runs the Kahal filly Bountiful Harvest. She finished third in the East Cape Oaks over 2000m and has landed a nice draw with Donovan Dillon aboard, but Snaith said, “It will be very hard for her at the weights as a three-year-old.”

Snaith runs French Revolution and Krambambuli in the Gr 2 Track and Ball Derby, also over 2400m at Scottsville on Sunday.

He sounded more bullish about the chances of Krambambuli and said, “He stays all day but it is a pity they have opened this race to older horses because it is not easy for three-year-olds and I will be impressed if he can do it. But he is very well.” This Black Minnaloushe colt has been working up a storm at Summerveld and Fourie rides from the widest draw of all in the eight horse field.

At the beginning of the Champions Season Snaith was touting French Revolution as a strong Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup contender, but this attractive New Zealand-bred four-year-old grey colt is currently merit rated only 92 and has his work cut out to still qualify for the big race. Snaith said, “This will be his prep to see if he stays, although I’ve always viewed him as a staying type. He has put on a bit of condition, like we all do in Durban, and has gone a little bit heavy on me although I hope I am wrong.” Sean Cormack rides from a good draw of three.

On Friday night the yard will defend their crown in the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m at Greyville, having won the race with Varikate last year.

Snaith said about their contender Daring Dave, who jumps from a plum draw of four under Fourie, “You will see a big improvement and I think this will be his best run in Durban. In the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint last time he had to stand for four-and-a-half minutes in the pens, which affected his gate speed, and then his eyes were closed for two days afterwards because he was hit by clods. He actually had to be treated as it caused him to have a temperature.” Snaith had also not been too happy with the four-year-old Dynasty gelding’s preparation leading into the Tsogo Sun Sprint, but said that this time “he has had a proper prep.”

By David Thiselton

Picture: Justin Snaith

Willow Magic (JC Photos)

Willow has the magic

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The Gr 2 Post Merchants will be run over 1200m on Friday night at Greyville and the Sean Tarry-trained Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge runner up Willow Magic could be the one to beat.

The four-year-old has lost some of his speed since winning the Gr1 SA Nursery over 1160m, but is still effective over sprints and is the best weighted runner according to official merit ratings. He has a fair draw of seven.

The Charles Laird-trained Gr 1 winner Normanz has landed a plum draw of five. He is officially not well treated at the weights weighted, but his early speed coupled with his resolute finish will make him a huge runner.

Aurum Pot’s defeat of Sheik’s Brashee over 1160m in his penultimate start now reads well, as the latter went on to finish third in the Tsogo Sun Sprint, and he will be able to make full use of his considerable early speed from draw three.

In form Mike Azzie runs Isphan, who ran the prolific winner Trip Tease to 0,3 lengths over 1000m in his penultimate start and then ran a decent fifth in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m, beating the like of Willow Magic and Tevez. He is drawn fairly well in eight.

Daring Dave didn’t enjoy the best preparation going into the Tsogo Sun Sprint and could do better here from a good draw over a suitable trip.

Brutal Force is drawn wide but is a big, strong horse with plenty of early pace. Nothing went right for him in the Tsogo Sun Sprint but otherwise he would likely have confirmed that he had improved with gelding.

Tevez is known for his exceptional turn of foot from off the pace and is well drawn, although at the weights he has a tougher task than last year when finishing a 1,85 length fourth from a wide draw.

The consistent Moofeed has a wide draw but is capable of a strong late run.

Kingston Boy has a fine turn of foot and ran second in this race last year from pole position, but is now four points higher in the merit ratings and drawn 15.

Sheik’s Brashee remains on a 103 merit rating despite his Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint third, but Scottsville is his best track and he is drawn 16 here.

Royal Zulu Warrior won over course and distance in March but this is tougher and he is getting a bit long in the tooth.

Showmetheway is ten points higher in the merit ratings than when running sixth in this race last season, but a change of tactics since then has benefitted him so he can’t be ignored.

Diamond King faces a tough task at the weights but is yet to fulfil his considerable potential so could surprise.

Equity Kicker is progressive and could also be a dark horse. Royalsecuritypower is largely kept to 1000m these days and has never faced a field this strong.

By David Thiselton

Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

Azzie in fine form

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Mike Azzie looks to have two fine prospects in his hands in the two-year-old colts Rabada and Abashiri, but will avoid running them against each other on Vodacom Durban July day. He could also have a big runner in the July itself with Deputy Jud and will be hoping to prove a point with Isphan in next Friday night’s Post Merchants.

Azzie said about his pair of  unbeaten two-year-olds, “Rabada is a special horse. He will be entered in the Golden Horseshoe on July day but will have to draw well to run. We are going to keep Abashiri back for the mile on Gold Cup day.”

Azzie said both horses had come out of their last runs well.

Go Deputy colt Abashiri came from a long way back on debut over 1600m at Greyville and impressed with his long stride in the straight, which saw him sweeping past the bulk of the field. He then found an extra gear late to overtake the more experienced Grey’s A Rockin. Jockey Corné Orffer got off and described him as the best two-year-old he had sat on so far this season and he certainly looks to have plenty of scope for improvement.

The Brave Tin Soldier colt Rabada looked to be full of class when winning the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m at Greyville on Saturday by 3,25 lengths, having won on debut over the same trip at Turffontein by 4,75 lengths. Anton Marcus said he had displayed plenty of signs of inexperience in that last win and predicted he would be even better as a three-year-old.

Azzie’s big Judpot colt Deputy Jud produced a sustained finishing effort in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 from a handy position and appeared to be finding top gear when he was taken out by MLJet, who suddenly shifted to the left. Deputy Jud could easily have run in the first three, but instead was eased right out of it, so his ten length eighth is not a true reflection at all. Azzie said the yard were taking it “day by day” in preparing the big chestnut for the July and said, “He has things we have to work around, but he is doing well and looking good.”

Meanwhile a new acquisition to the yard, Amsterdam, will be given a break until next season after running downfield in both the SA Derby and Daily News 2000. Azzie said, “We will aim him at races like the Summer Cup and J&B Met. He needs time to mature and furnish before he develops into the horse we expect him to be.”

The three-year-old Tiger Ridge gelding Isphan was left out of the recent Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, despite being merit rated higher than some of the other contestants, and Azzie will be hoping that his run in next Friday’s Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m at Greyville will prove that he should have been given a chance. He ran the prolific winner Trip Tease to 0,3 lengths over 1000m in his penultimate start and then ran a decent fifth in the Gr 1 Computaformm Sprint over 1000m, beating the like of Post Merchants contenders Willow Magic, Tevez and Normanz. He has won over 1450m before, so should relish stepping up from 1000 to 1200m.

Azzie concluded by saying that his entire Champions Season string were doing well at Summerveld.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

Willow Magic (Nkosi Hlophe)

Quality lineup for POST Merchants

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The Sean Tarry-trained Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge runner up Willow Magic is one of the best weighted runners in the Gr 2 Post Merchants, which will be run over 1200m at Greyville next Friday night.

The former Gr 1 SA Nursery (1160m) and Gr 2 Investec Dingaans (1600m) winner has lost some of his speed and is probably better over extended distances these days, but he did record an excellent time over 1000m in his comeback from a 14 month layoff in January and in his penultimate start he finished a decent fifth in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m. He will be freshened up for this race and his class could carry him close from a fair draw of seven under Piere Strydom.

The weights for the race were set before the Gold Challenge, for which he received a four point raise, so he carries 56kg instead of the 58kg he should be carrying off his 107 merit rating.

His three-year-old stablemate Bichette was favourably drawn when running fourth in the Tsogo Sun Sprint and has landed another good draw here of six. The weight conditions favour fillies, as they receive a 2,5kg allowance, and she will be ridden by champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo.

The Charles Laird-trained Normanz has landed a plum draw of five and his early speed coupled with his resolute finish will make him a huge runner under Anton Marcus. He is officially not very well treated at the weights, but won the Gr 1 Golden Horse Casino (Tsogo Sun) Sprint last season and this can’t be considered as tough a task.

Aurum Pot’s defeat of Sheik’s Brashee over 1160m in his penultimate start now reads well as the latter went on to finish third in the Tsogo Sun Sprint. Aurum Pot is drawn well in three and this speedy sort has to be considered from draw three for the in form Alec Laird yard.

In form Mike Azzie will be out to prove a point with Isphan, who was left out of the Tsogo Sun Sprint despite his 104 merit rating having been higher than one or two that were included. He ran the prolific winner Trip Tease to 0,3 lengths over 1000m in his penultimate start and then ran a decent fifth in the Gr 1 Computaformm Sprint over 1000m, beating the like of Willow Magic and Tevez. He is drawn fairly well in eight and championship chasing Gavin Lerena is aboard.

Daring Dave didn’t enjoy the best preparation going into the Tsogo Sun Sprint but ran a fair race. His trainer Justin Snaith won this race last year and he is drawn well over a suitable trip.

Brutal Force is drawn 13 but the early pace and resolute finish of this strong horse could see him in the shake up. Nothing went right for him in the Tsogo Sun Sprint but otherwise he would likely have confirmed that he had improved with gelding.

Tevez is known for his exceptional turn of foot from off the pace, which makes him ideally suited to Greyville. He finished a 1,85 length fourth in this race last year with joint topweight, but this year is sole topweight and faces a better field, although he is drawn two as opposed to nine last year.

Moofeed is an ultra consistent type and this is an ideal trip. He has a tough draw of 14 but is capable of a strong late run.

Kingston Boy has a fine turn of foot and ran second in this race last year from pole position, but he is now four points higher in the merit ratings and drawn wide in 15.

Sheik’s Brashee remained on a 103 merit rating despite his Tsogo Sun run, but Scottsville is his best track and he has to contend with the widest draw of 16.

Royal Zulu Warrior won over course and distance in March in a Pinnacle Stakes event but has a harder task here in a handicap and he is getting a bit long in the tooth.

Showmetheway benefitted from a change to hold up tactics last season and ran third in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, so having run a two length sixth in this race last season he can’t be discounted despite being ten points higher in the merit ratings and drawn a tough 12.

Diamond King faces a tough task at the weights on official merit ratings but has never fulfilled his considerable potential and could surprise.

Equity Kicker is another who might prove better than his current merit rating suggests and he could also be a dark horse.

Royalsecuritypower is largely kept to 1000m these days but has won over course and distance before. He is drawn in pole but has never faced a field as strong as this before.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Willow Magic (Nkosi Hlophe)

Willow Magic (JC Photos)

Post Merchants Final Field

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The four-year-old Australian-bred colt Willow Magic, second on Saturday to Legislate in the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1 600m, will be back at Greyville in two weeks’ time to contest the R350 000, Grade 2 Post Merchants over 1 200m.

The Sean tarry-trained chestnut, that finished a close third to Moofeed in the Tommy Hotspur over 1 000m at Turffontein in February and three-and-a-half lengths fifth to Captain Of All in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1 200m last month, ran a fantastic race in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge, racing handy and staying on for second to the Cape champion at level weights.

Piere Strydom retains the ride on this seemingly versatile individual and will again meet Sheik’s Braashee and Bichette that finishes just ahead of him in the Scottsville race. Sheik’s Braashee has a bad draw at 16 but Bichette is drawn alongside Willow Magic at six which sets it up for a good clash between them.

But there a few runners that are in with chances and one would have to ignore the run of the Mike de Kock-trained colt Moofeeed in the Tsogo Sun Sprint and look more to his narrow defeat by Gulf Storm in the In Full Flight Handicap. He had finished in the first two in his six races before that and his last effort was definitely out of character.

The Cape runners Tevez and Daring Dave are proven top sprinters in their home town with Tevez having won the Merchants at Kenilworth from Daring Dave.

Varikate

All about the race

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DATE: Friday, 19 June 2015, Night Racing

AGE/ CONDITION: Open Condition Race over 1200m

ENTRIES: 11:00am Friday, 29 May 2015 – Fee: R 798

SUPP ENTRIES: 11:00am Friday, 5 June 2015 – Fee R 3192

WEIGHTS: Friday, 29 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 Monday, 8 June 2015 – Fee R 3192

2014 Post Merchants

Horse: VARIKATE

Jockey: Grant Van Niekerk

Trainer: S J Snaith

Owners: Mr J Mahony

Breeder: Mr C W Nelson

ABOUT: The Post Merchants Racemeeting

Initially run as the Durban Merchants and with a history going back decades, the R350 000, Grade 2 Post Merchants over 1 200m at Greyville on Friday June 13 is a merit-rated handicap drawing most of the top speed horses in the country.

In the early days of racing the business people of a town, the merchants, put up the stake money for races and this was a tradition carried on for many years. These races became known as The Merchants and it is quite likely that at the first meeting held in Durban on January 14 and 15 in 1852 the main event was funded by the merchants in the city.

That first meeting was held on track cut from the bush between the Umgeni River and the current location of Greyville 45 years before the now Vodacom Durban July was run at the present venue in 1897.

So the Post Merchants has a long history and could well have been established way back in those early years.

Today it carries a stake of R350 000 put up by Gold Circle Racing and is the premier annual speed event run at Greyville.

ROLL OF HONOUR:

2014

Under a confident ride by young jockey Grand van Niekerk, the Var filly Varikate gave her opponents a galloping lesson when she led throughout to win the Grade 2 Post Merchants over 1 200m at Greyville.

Van Niekerk, regular stable jockey for the Mike Bass yard, was engaged by fellow Cape trainer Justin Snaith to partner the four-year-old after his stable rider Richard Fourie had been injured in a fall the previous weekend and the young man produced another polished ride.

Snaith heads the race for the champion trainer title and the win will have consolidated his position and shortened the odds on his winning the title particularly with the ammunition, which includes the top three-year-old Legislate, that he has in his stable.

Easy to back at 8-1 with the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint winner All Is Secret a weak favourite at 5-1, Varikate went into the race as a four-time winner with moderate credentials at feature race level apart from a fourth place in The City of Pietermaritzburg SA Fillies Sprint at Scottsville. That race under 60kg was a fair effort and with 53.5kg to shoulder in the Post Merchants she had to be considered a candidate for a share of the Post Merchants stake.

Van Niekerk bounced the filly out from her eight draw and used her early speed to nip across to take the lead with Happy Forever and All Is Secret showing up early. Happy Forever suffered a problem and jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe began to ease him out of the race causing a number of runners to take avoiding action and affecting their chances to varying degrees.

All the while Varikate was bowling along at the head of the field followed by All Is Secret and Showmetheway but when they hit the straight Van Niekerk gave the filly her head and it was clear that she was never going to be beaten. All Is Secret failed to find an extra kick and it was Eddie Sweat and Kingston Boy that ran on the best with Kingston Boy finishing the better for second place ahead of Eddie Sweat and Tevez.

In the post-race interview, Snaith described Varikate as the nicest natured filly in his yard and he foresaw her having a great season as a five-year-old

2013

Mike’s Choice, winner in 2012, was looking for the Merchants double for trainer Michael Roberts but faced a strong field of opponents including the gutsy Mike de Kock-trained British-bred mare Welwitschia. But it was the lesser fancied colt from the powerful stable, the Australian-bred son of Elusive Quality, Merhee, that stole her thunder, surging clear in the finish to beat his stable companion by more than a length.

As so often happens in these top sprinting races it became a cavalry charge after coming off the false rail with Welwitschia holding a narrow lead before Sean Veale switched Merhee into top gear and the four-year-old exploded through to win as he liked with the Joey Ramsden-trained Copper Parade finishing the best of the others for third place.

Merhee had earlier shown a touch of brilliance when winning on debut by 10 lengths and followed that up winning the Gr2 Senor Santa at Turffontein and running third behind Contador in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint at Scottsville.

2012

In a thrilling finish where it was anyone’s race with 200m to run, the five-year-old Tamburlaine gelding Mike’s Choice put in a late challenge to head the field then hold off the determined attention of the more fancied Rebel Knight and Sports Coach. Pacemaker Bielorruso threw in the towel at the top of the straight with the field spreading to form a cavalry charge down the home straight. In the end, Mike’s Choice prevailed by a mere neck from Rebel Knight with Sports Coach a length further back.

2011

A competitive field lined up for the Grade 2 Post Merchants at Greyville with the Captain Al gelding Captain’s Secret topping the bookmaker boards and trainer Dean Kannemeyer a little apprehensive about the chances of his runner, the three-year-old Splash Gold, that had drawn on the outside in stall 12. He had said before the race that had Splash Gold been drawn better, he would have made him a certainty.

But he need not have worried as the young horse proved too good for his opposition under Karl Neisius who managed to get him into a reasonable position after the start with Gaultier making the pace ahead of Jet Command and Winking Jack. Gaultier made a break for it in the straight with Winking Jack going out to challenge and Rebel Knight beginning to look dangerous.

Then Neisius let the three-year-old Splash Gold loose and he tore through the field to win as he liked. Neisius said after the race that when Splash Gold pulled him through coming off the false rail he knew he was on the winner. The placings were filled by Rebel Knight, Winking Jack and Gaultier.

2010

The Dennis Drier yard landed the Grade 2 Post Merchants over 1200m at Greyville on Friday night when the classy three-year-old Sharks Bay ran out an impressive winner under stable jockey Sean Cormack.

After a fair break from draw five, Cormack dropped Sharks Bay out to the rear of the field, where he secured the rail.

The field was compact as they turned for home and Sharks Bay was no more than five lengths off the lead.

Cormack dived for the inside as they came off the false rail, but found his way blocked so had to switch his mount outward. Here another horse began drifting in and Cormack was forced to switch outward again. Neither of these manouvres cost Sharks Bay much momentum owing to the jockey’s fine anticipation and he had also carried out Drier’s instructions not to panic if experiencing traffic problems.

Once Sharks Bay saw daylight he accelerated impressively and swept past the Glen Kotzen-trained favourite, Thunder Key, who had kicked on well from a handy position.

Thunder Key only just held on for second ahead of his stablemate, Lord Of The Sea, who was flying at the finish after turning home in last place.

The Colin Scott-trained Extinct just got up for fourth in a blanket finish. Only two lengths covered the first 10 horses.