It was mission accomplished for Justin Snaith’s Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate at Greyville today as he took the bull by the horns in his Champions Season target, the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m, and powered home under Richard Fourie after being taken to the front from a high draw.

Later, Stan Elley, who announced he would retire at the end of the season, landed a second Champions Season Graded race at Greyville when his reliable six-year-old Punta Arenas won the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m under Ian Sturgeon.

The Cheveley Stud-bred Dynasty colt Legislate is now a four-time Gr 1 winner and his unplaced run in his previous outing five months ago in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate, after which he was found to have a serious lung infection, remains the only blip since he announced his arrival by winning last season’s Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby.

Snaith said the connections would decide early next week whether the star colt would defend his Vodacom Durban July crown.

The Gold Challenge result will likely affect the July betting, but will probably not have much impact on the choosing of the final big race field. The ruling July favourite Futura ran a good preparation, running on from last for a 1,15 length fourth.

The Sean Tarry-trained Willow Magic, a former Investec Dingaans winner, ran a cracker, staying on for a 0,75 length second, but he is not a July entry. Neither is the Alec Laird-trained Bezanova, who ran on strongly for a 0,9 length third, and neither is fifth-placed Night Trip.

Halve The Deficit did his chances of making the final field no harm, by finishing 2,15 lengths back in sixth. However, King Of Pain was once again below his best and his 4,9 length seventh was unlikely enough to force his way into the July field.

No Worries faded into a 5,4 length ninth. He was 11th on the second July log and his final field position appeared on the one hand to be under threat, as borderline cases Dynamic and Helderberg Blue later put their hands up by running third and fourth in the Cup Trial. But on the other hand a couple of other July log incumbents, Gold Onyx and Dynastic Power, were beaten over ten lengths in the Cup Trial.

Legislate’s part-owners Jack Mitchell and Dennis Evans were on course to accept the trophy.

The disappointment of the day was the scratching of Ice Machine, who was strongly fancied by many to win the Gold Challenge. He was found to be striding short upon arrival at the course.

Maine Chance Farms-bred Silvano gelding Punta Arenas had to overcome a wide draw in the Cup Trial and ran on strongly from near the back of the field to book his place in the July, winning by 1,25 lengths.

Wild One ran for the first time since his Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup second place at the end of last season and ran a cracker to finish second. Dynamic and Helderberg Blue ran well to be just 1,75 and 2,5 lengths back.  The favourite Kochka’s stride shortened in the final stages, having moved up well, and his three-length fifth might not be enough to climb into the July field.

The Mike Bass-trained Zanvliet Stud-bred Trippi mare Hammie’s Hooker defended her crown in a strong Gr 2 Tibouchina  field over 1400m. Her terrific turn of foot was enough to hold off the classy but luckless Same Jurisdiction, who ran on strongly from the back, to be beaten 0,5 lengths. Maybe Yes, Red Flame and Whatalady were next best.

Hammie’s Hooker doesn’t usually go down well to the start, but clearly thrives in KZN and appears to love Greyville.

In The Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m the Mike Azzie-trained Brave Tin Soldier colt Rabada showed a few signs of inexperience but still streaked clear to win impressively by 3,25 lengths under Anton Marcus. The long-striding Summerhill Stud-bred bay will appreciate further and is an exciting prospect for the future.

In the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m the Neil Bruss-trained Go Deputy filly Flying Ice improved from her debut win over the same distance at Scottsville two weeks earlier to remain unbeaten under Weichong Marwing. The Lammerskraal-bred bay fended off the favourite Almashooqa bravely to win by a head.

The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Antonius Pius colt Belong To Me looked lean and mean before the running of the Non-Black Type Durban Dash over 1100m on the polytrack for three-year-olds and duly won well under Donavan Mansour after showing pace throughout.

The meeting once again attracted a huge, festive crowd to Greyville thanks to the marketing genius of Rising Sun’s CEO Vijay Maharaj.

In the UK today Frankie Dettori won the world’s most famous flat horserace, the Epsom Derby, on the unbeaten John Gosden-trained favourite Golden Horn.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Legislate winning the Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville today (Nkosi Hlophe)

Cape trainers Dean Kannemeyer and Neil Bruss have chances of feature race success at the Rising Sun meeting at Greyville on Saturday, while Justin Snaith reiterated the well-being of his star quality competitors.

Kannemeyer runs the improving Dynasty gelding It Is Written in the Gr 3 Cup Trial and said, “It’s a tough race but he’s exceptionally well. The Betting World 1900 was a rough race and there was a lot of bumping and checking near the fence but he still ran a fair race. The 1800m is fine for him but he will have to win to prove he deserves a place in the July.”

Kannemeyer regards his Listed Gatecrasher contender Whiskey Joe as a horse who is on the up and one that will make a nice three-year-old. He wasn’t sure how good the field he beat on debut was but added that he had come on in leaps and bounds since, although he felt the Greyville 1400m might be on the sharp side for him.

He brings Gr 1 winner Afrikaburn back in the Non-Black Type Durban Dash over 1100m on the polytrack after a lengthy break. He has had two grass gallops and Kannemeyer felt this was a good starting point, although he added it would be on the sharp side for him.

Bruss runs the talented Red Flame in the Gr 2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m and said she was “fine”. He added it was a tough field but she was drawn well and was effective from 1200-1800m so should run a good race from a plum draw. Her good turn of foot makes her suited to the tight Greyville circuit.

He described Go Deputy filly Flying Ice, a winner on debut over 1400m at Scottsville two week ago, as a “nice horse”. She is entered in the Listed Devon Air Stakes and took her debut win well. She should be running on strongly, judging from the telling late kick she found on debut.

Snaith said “everything is fine” with Futura and Legislate ahead of the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge as well as with Dynamic ahead of the Cup Trial. His impressive two-year-old Australian-bred colt Lineker should be a big runner in the Gatecrasher and Bianzino is an interesting runner in the tenth over a suitable 1800m trip on the polytrack.

By David Thiselton

Picture: It Is Written (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mike Bass had a fine feature day down in Cape Town last Sunday and will be hoping to repeat the dose at Greyville on Saturday where he has plenty of big race runners at the Rising Sun meeting.

In the weight for age Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m he runs Ashton Park, Night Trip and Ze Kaiser, none of whom are entered in the Vodacom Durban July so they will be at their peaks and, unlike a few others, will not be viewing this as a preparation outing.

Assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe said, “They are all doing well. It’s tough to split them, but if I had to choose one it would probably be Night Trip.”

Ashton Park had little hope from a high draw in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m last time out but before that ran on well from the back over his probable favourite trip of 1400m in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes. His decent efforts in both the Gr 2 Lanzerac Le General Green Point Stakes and the Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate showed that he is also effective over 1600m. He is drawn five with astute jockey Greg Cheyne aboard.

Night Trip flew up last time out over course and distance to finish just 0,25 lengths behind Futura. The latter still needed it and will be 1,5kg better off here, but Night Trip is now having his third run after a rest. He has the advantage of Anthony Delpech up as well as a fine draw of two.

Ze Kaiser is the lowest rated horse in the race, but has come into his own since the yard farrier solved his foot problems. He flew last time out to be only 0,5 lengths behind Futura, but is now 3kg worse off.

Bass runs the J&B Met third-placed Helderberg Blue in the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m and he will need a big run to get into the July. A line can be drawn through his unplaced run in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 as he was shuffled back in a slow run race and then couldn’t get a run down the outside rail. Anton Marcus is now aboard from pole position, so he could find the handy position he likes. He was lowered  one point for his last run but still has to lug second topweight of 59,5kg. Fayd’Herbe said, “He was well before that last run.  He is just as well now and is obviously a fitter horse.”

The yard run the top mare Hammie’s Hooker in the Gr 2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m, which she won comfortably over 1450m at Clairwood last year, having thrived during her KZN stint. This will be her fist run since finishing a respectable fourth to Majmu in the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein on April 11. She is the highest rated horse in the race and has always given the impression that 1400m is her optimum trip.

She put up a career best performance in her only start at Greyville to date, when running the brilliant Beach Beauty to 0,75 lengths in last season’s Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m. Jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe thinks highly of her and is aboard from a plum draw of three. Robert Fayd’Herbe said, “She put up a good gallop and her work is good, she is doing well and is ready, so can win the race again.”

Bass runs the Visionaire colt Jet Air in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m He was well beaten in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m at Scottsville two weeks ago, but before that won his maiden over 1400m at Kenilworth in good style and will likely appreciate the step back to that trip. Fayd’Herbe said, “It’s tough for a young horse from that draw as he will have to make up a lot of ground.”

The yard’s sprinting  type Equity Kicker runs in an earlier race and it will be a preparation outing for the Gr 2 Post Merchants.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Night Trip (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mike de Kock had a frustrating day by his standards at Greyville last weekend, running second in two Gr 1s after the disappointing scratching of Majmu from the Woolavington, but he has a couple of chances to make amends in feature races at the Rising Sun meeting on Saturday.

The yard run Ataab and One Fine Day in the Gr 2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m. They finished third and fourth respectively in the Gr 2 KRA Fillies Guineas last time out but it would be no surprise to see the roles reversed because Ataab  dictated in that race at a slow gallop while One Fine Day was dropped out after dwelling at the start and had too much ground to make up in the straight.

On Saturday One Fine Day, who has a fantastic turn of foot, is drawn in pole over the course and distance of her career best performance, a one length second against the boys in last season’s Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe. The Australian-bred Flying Spur filly Ataab is drawn seven and over this shorter trip might battle to get to the front and dictate as she did last time, but she is still effective over this distance and can’t be ignored.

De Kock’s Summerveld assistant Nathan Kotzen revealed that the pair had put up good work together on the Summerveld grass this week. He added, “One Fine Day often misses the break, but when she jumps well she wins.”

The yard run the Australian-bred Bernadini filly Almashooqa in the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m. She won her debut by four lengths over 1200m at Scottsville, but was green when starting favourite first time around the turn over 1400m at Scottsville. However, she was doing good work late in that last race and has scope for improvement so is one to consider from draw three with Antony Delpech up. Kotzen confirmed, “She was still dum last time, she is a nice filly who will get better as she gets older and will also go further.”

Wild One makes his seasonal reappearance for the yard in the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m, his first run since his excellent 0,5 length second in the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m last July. Kotzen said, “It is too short and is a preparation run.”

Meanwhile, Majmu is fine but was still only trotting yesterday (Wednesday) and will start normal work again today (Thursday). Ertijaal and Pine Princess have come out of their respective seconds in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 well.

By David Thiselton

Picture: One Fine Day (Nkosi Hlophe)

Sean Tarry’s yard can do little wrong in their first championship winning season, so it would be no surprise to see him walk away with more trophies at Saturday’s important Rising Sun meeting at Greyville.

He runs Halve The Deficit and Willow Magic in the weight for age Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m.

He said about the four-year-old Australian-bred Dubawi colt Willow Magic, “He is well and I’ve been waiting to go this type of distance. He recorded a good time when winning his comeback over 1000m and the Horse Chestnut was coming a bit soon so we elected to keep him to sprints to see if he could pick up one or two features. But I think he is clearly looking for this ground. I think Greyville could be his best course from the good draw he has. He is way out at the weights with the top two but over his right distance he may not only be a 104 (merit rating).”

Willow Magic won the Investec Dingaans over the tough Turffontein 1600m in commanding fashion as a young three-year-old and will be at his peak on Saturday, unlike a few other runners who are having preparations for the July. Furthermore, there will be no concerns about his merit rating being raised, because as a sprint-miler his future largely lies in weight for age races. Piere Strydom aboard from draw three is a further plus.

Tarry said about the six-year-old Right Approach gelding Halve The Deficit, “He is very well, I’m very happy with him.”

Halve The Deficit was overlooked in the first Vodacom Durban July log, despite finishing a decent fourth in the Gr 1 President’s Champions Challenge over 2000m, but was promoted to 14^th place on the second log due to a decent win in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m on the Turffontein Inside track. He quickened well from a handy position in that race and not only displayed his liking for tight courses like Greyville but also beat another top 18 July log incumbent, Tellina, by 1,15 lengths at level weights. He is drawn well in four on Saturday and will be ridden by Raymond Danielson, who is fresh from his Gr 1 Daily News 2000 victory on the Tarry-trained French Navy.

Tarry runs Gold Onyx, Whiteline Fever and The Hangman in in the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m.

He said, “Gold Onyx is a small horse who doesn’t take a lot of work, so I was reluctant to get him ready for this race, because we will need something to work with going into the July. He will only be 80% fit and if he finishes five or six lengths back I will be satisfied, anything better I will be upbeat. I could have avoided this race to ensure his place in the July, but the right thing to do in order to get him spot on for the July is to run him here.”

The seven-year-old Black Minnaloushe gelding has enjoyed a new lease of life since being partnered by Grant Behr and earned his lofty position of tenth on the July log through his excellent L’Ormarins’s Queen’s Plate and J&B Met runs.

Tarry said that the six-year-old Right Approach gelding Whiteline Fever could be excused for running out of steam in the last 100m of the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 as he had run wide throughout and then made up a lot of ground in the straight.

He said, “He is doing well and has a nice weight and good jockey (Strydom). From this better draw he will be able to follow them in and pounce in the last 300m, that’s the way that suits him best. It’s very open but he has a chance.”

Whiteline Fever will need a big run to get into the July and could well do so having been lowered two merit rated points after that last run.

The five-year-old Jallad gelding The Hangman was also a Dingaans winner, but subsequently fractured a cannon bone and had to be laid off for over a year.

Tarry said, “His prep has gone well and his last run in the Pinnacle Plate (1600m at Greyville) was very good. I don’t think the distance will be a problem provided he gets the right positon early on.” Danielson, rides The Hangman from a tricky draw of nine.

Halve The Deficit was due to travel from Randjesfontein to Summerveld today (Thursday). The rest of the runners have all been prepared out of Summerveld.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Halve The Deficit (Nkosi Hlophe)