Category Archives: Gold Challenge

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Legislate’s last two races

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Anthony Delpech has landed the plum ride on Legislate in the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville on May 6.

The former champion will also be on the five-year-old when the 2014 Vodacom Durban July winner runs in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge on the same course five weeks later. These two races are the only chances that racegoers will have to see the horse before he is retired to stud.

Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

Jonathan Snaith said yesterday: “He is having only two runs in Durban and he won’t even be nominated for the July. His preparation for the Drill Hall has gone smoothly but it will be his first race since the J & B Met and we are not expecting fireworks. The Gold Challenge is his main mission.”

Only four jockeys have ridden Legislate in public. Girish Goomany had the mount first time and  Muzi Yeni also rode him just once before Richard Fourie took over for 14 consecutive races, winning the Cape Derby, KRA Guineas, Daily News, July, Green Point and Gold Challenge. Piere Strydom rode him in the Queen’s Plate (second) and Met (sixth).

Michael Clower

Legislate – Liesl King

justin snaith with legislate

Legislate out the July

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Saturday’s Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner and reigning Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate will not defend his Vodacom Durban July crown, but might well still take part in one or two Champions Season Gr1s. The brilliant Justin Snaith-trained four-year-old Dynasty colt will be nominated for both the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint and the Gr 1 Champions Cup, which are both to be run at Greyville, on July 17 and July 25 respectively.

Meanwhile, the Snaith’s ruling July favourite Futura is “very much” on track for the big race and so is Saturday’s Gr 3 Cup Trial third-placed Dynamic.

The yard have pulled Legislate out of the July in his “best interests.” They had ruled him a doubtful starter at the beginning of May, as he expended a lot of energy after his scratching at the start of the Drill Hall Stakes on May 2, and the feeling at the time was that a tilt at both the Gold Challenge and the July would be too much to ask of him, especially as he would be asked to carry a big weight in the July. The yard have stuck to their guns despite Legislate having won Saturday’s Gold Challenge, which was always his chief Champions Season target.

Futura, winner of both the Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and J&B Met, flew from last place in the Gold Challenge over 1600m on Saturday to finish 1,15 lengths back in fourth, while Dynamic likely boked his place in the July by staying on strongly for a 1,75 length third in Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m.

Jonathon Snaith said, “Futura has pulled up like a lion and Dynamic also pulled up well. I think Dynamic is a massive runner in the July with around 53kg on his back with Richard Fourie riding. He has run very well in three feature races in KZN, all from wide draws. After his Met run he was found to be sick with the same virus that affected Legislate. Bar that run his form has been unbelievable. He is a huge runner.”

By David Thiselton 

Picture: Justin Snaith and Legislate (Snaith Racing)

legislate rising sun

Media Release: Legislate rises again

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The four-year-old Dynasty colt Legislate held on tenaciously to win the R1-million, Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday but there is still doubt whether last year’s Vodacom Durban July winner will line up to defend his crown in Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event in a few weeks’ time.

For the Justin Snaith stable it was a plan that came together but not, one might think, without some tense moments when the Sean Tarry-trained Australian colt, Willow Magic, challenged strongly in the final dash to the line after tracking the champion for most of the race. There might even have been a few anxious seconds when stable mate and race favourite Futura unleashed his run down the outside of the field and was gaining with every stride.

Snaith had stated publicly before the race that the Rising Sun Gold Challenge was Legislate’s “mission” for Champions Season and warned after the event that his charge must still be considered a doubtful starter for the R3.5-million Vodacom Durban July which he won on an objection last year. He stated in his pre-race interview that the top horses had to be carefully managed because they were extremely valuable for stud and later said the decision to run Legislate in the July would be discussed early this week and a decision made and publicised possibly by midweek.

Jockey Richard Fourie deserved the credit for Legislate’s win, getting him out like lightning from the widest draw and sending him to the front to dictate the pace ahead of No Worries and Willow Magic with Futura rather sedately getting under way and settling in at the back of the field. In spite of the going being very much on top, the pace was not anything to write home about as the winning time of 96.11 secs was only .20 secs better than the average and well below the 92.99 secs course record. It was also considerably below the time of 94.14 secs the colt set when winning the KRA Guineas last year.

So Fourie confidently set the pace he wanted possibly bearing in mind that his mount was a little short of fitness which seemed to show in the final 200m of the race where only the colt’s guts kept him ahead of Willow Magic to win by three-quarters of a length.

Willow Magic under Piere Strydom ran a fantastic race being some 7kg on straight handicap out at the weights with the champion, and the Alec Laird-trained Bezrin gelding Bezanova produced one of his best efforts to take third place less than a length behind Legislate.

Then there was the run by Futura. Travelling at the back of the field some 10 lengths off the pace, Sean Cormack took him to the outside rail for his run when they hit the home straight giving Legislate eight or 10 lengths start. He produced the powerful finish he is known for and at the line was a mere 1.15 lengths behind his stable mate.

The only remaining question from this race is how the handicappers will deal with Willow Magic and Bezanova? Neither is a July candidate.

The training accolades for the meeting could go to Stan Elley who has declared that he would not renew his licence at the end of the season. His six-year-old Silvano gelding Punta Arenas, that ran a top race for third place behind stable companion Dynastic Power in the Betting World 1900, powered home with a strong finish to win the Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1 800m and in so doing leaving the July selection panel no choice but to confirm him as a runner in the big one on the fourth of July.

He did it from a wide draw and from near the back of the field to beat the Mogok gelding Wild One across the line by 1.25 lengths. The Mike de Kock-trained five-year-old was having his first race since running second to Wavin’ Flag in the Grade 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup at the end of July last year.

He is not a Vodacom Durban July entry but both Dynamic and Helderberg Blue, that took third and fourth places, are. They were settled just outside the top 20 on the July Log and might have done enough to make the big race field.

The Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes was won for the second year in success by the Mike Bass-trained Trippi mare Hammie’s Hooker. She is a top mare but could find a formidable opponent in the Jonssons Workwear Garden Province at Greyville on Vodacom Durban July in the Duncan Howells-trained Mambo In Seattle filly Same Jurisdiction.

The three-year-old was ridden from the back of the field by Anton Marcus who swept her to the outside rail for her home run and she produced a superb finishing run to fail by half a length. Maybe Yes from the Brett Crawford stable made the running and stayed on for third place ahead of Red Flame from the Neil Bruss stable that had earlier won the Listed Devon Air Stakes with the filly Flying Ice.

One of the most impressive performances on the day was that of the Brave Tin Soldier colt Rabada in the Gatecrasher Stakes which he won by 3.25 lengths. The two-year-old had won his first race in fine style for trainer Mike Azzie and in spite of looking quite green on Saturday, put the race to bed a long way from the finish.

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Legislate back with a bang

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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)

Futura (Nkosi Hlophe)

Futura to stamp his class

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It is tough to look past the brilliant Futura for the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville on Saturday, but the Gr 3 Cup Trial, which provides a last gasp opportunity for horses to qualify for the Vodacom Durban July, is conversely a very open affair.

Sean Cormack rode Futura for the first time last month and interestingly he also first rode the brilliant Beach Beauty in the May of her four-year-old season. Futura and Beach Beauty are both by Dynasty and have many similarities, including fantastic temperament and tremendous acceleration, so it is easy to envision another great partnership developing.

Legislate at his best will be a serious threat. He is another progeny of Dynasty that has class and acceleration and he loves Greyville. Only the race will tell whether the serious lung infection that blighted his L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate chances has had any long term affect, but otherwise the layoff should not be a disadvantage as he has run well fresh before.

Willow Magic runs over 1600m for the first time since his commanding victory in the Investec Dingaans 19 months ago. He has class, will be suited to Greyville due to his speed and turn of foot, and has a plum draw of three.

Ice Machine beat the best when winning the Green Point over 1600m last season and he was equally brilliant when winning the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m at Greyville last time out. He is not the soundest but is said to be moving well at present and at best will be finishing like a train.

King Of Pain also has the ability to put in a winning performance on his day, although he is none to reliable. He defends his crown here and the yard are hopeful that he has turned the corner as he has been doing well at Summerveld.

Bouclette Top has been given a new lease on life with blinkers and will have come on from his Drill Hall second. He could be the most dangerous outsider over a suitable trip especially if he settles better than he did in the Drill Hall. Trainer Alec Laird and jockey Weichong Marwing will be looking for a second Gr 1 surprise at Greyville in the space of a week.

The rest of the field , No Worries, Night Trip, Ze Kaiser, Ashton Park, Halve The Deficit and Bezanova, will not be disgraced in what should be a humdinger.

Futura is tipped to beat Legislate, Willow Magic, Ice Machine and Bouclette Top.

Kochka is the class act in the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m and looks well weighted, so from a good draw over a suitable trip he can use his powerful finish to mow them down and book his place in the Vodacom.

Whiteline Fever only ran out of steam late in the Gr 2 Betting Word 1900 and is now better drawn over a slightly shorter trip and has come down two points in the merit ratings.

Dynamic ran a cracker in the Betting World 1900 and can do the same here in his third run after a rest.

Punta Arenas is a resolute galloper and is used to wide draws over this sort of trip.

Dynastic Power showed his class when winning the 1900 and it would be no surprise to see him follow up as that was his first run after a layoff.

Helderberg Blue can be a contender here if able to find a handy position, although he does look a touch high in the merit ratings.

Athina is a talented Gr 1 winner over this distance but has not had an ideal preparation.

Bold Inspiration can do better than he did in the 1900 if able to stride out at a decent gallop.

The Hangman’s has shown that he can be effective over middle distances, but finding necessary cover from draw nine will be tricky.

It Is Written could surprise if enjoying a more trouble free run than he did in the 1900.

Gold Onyx, Beewithme and Wild One are likely to need their runs.

They are selected in the order mentioned.

Same Jurisdicton sauntered home when running fresh in the Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m at Greyville and could do the same in the Gr 2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m. This is a lot tougher field, but she oozes class and can put the bad luck of her Highveld campaign behind her. One Fine Day is drawn in pole and if she jumps well her blistering turn of foot could carry her close. Hammie’s Hooker put up a career best performance in last season’s Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m at Greyvillle and should run a cracker in preparation for the defence of her crown, although she hasn’t enjoyed as good a preparation as last year. Jet Aglow has been livened up by blinkers and it would be no surprise to see her winning. Maybe Yes loves to get on with it and won’t be easy to catch over her probable favourite trip. Red Flame has the class to feature and Ataab and Banbury can’t be written off either.

Lineker looks the one to beat in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m after his impressive display on debut over 1200 and he has drawn well in three.

Ninefold could get the better of Flying Fiona and Flying Ice in the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m.

Afrikaburn has had two grass gallops so should be fit enough to win the Non-Black Type Durban Dash over 1100 on the polytrack.

The third race over 1200m on the poly could be won by Grey Light, who appears to love this surface and would have come on from her eyecatching last start.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Futura (Nkosi Hlophe)

It Is Written (Nkosi Hlophe)

It Is Written needs to win

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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)

Bass looks to continue the run

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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)

king of pain nh new

Ramsden bullish with King

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Cape trainer Joey Ramsden’s star grey gelding King Of Pain defends his Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge crown at Greyville on Saturday and will need to run a big race to book his place in the Vodacom Durban July.

King Of Pain is the highest rated July entry not in the top 25 on the log, but this can only be a reflection of his last two runs, because on top of his Gold Challenge win last season he also ran second to Futura on final weekend of last season in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville

He lacked zest in his first KZN run this season in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hal Stakes over 1400m and then didn’t enjoy the sprint for home next time out in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m at Greyville.

However, Ramsden is bullish about him bouncing back.

He is away in the UK for the Epsom Derby but said on his blog, “Hopefully he has turned the corner. He looks magnificent and is loving his work, his ears are pricked and he looks to be having a good time. I hope he translates that into a really good and competitive run, I am sure he will.”

He is drawn well in six with regular pilot Bernard Fayd’Herbe up.

By David Thiselton

Picture: King Of Pain (Nkosi Hlophe)

one fine day nh

De Kock can bounce back

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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)

Halve The Deficit (Nkosi Hlophe)

Tarry’s magic show continues

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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 14th 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)