Category Archives: Scotts Sprint

Red Ray aimed at Sprint

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Red Ray may make his long-awaited return in the Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville on Saturday after visiting Mauritius, England and Dubai on what proved to be an unproductive overseas campaign.

Racing manager Derek Brugman said: “He works on Monday (today) and depending on how he goes we will make a decision. He is not 100% fit after his 16-month lay-off and we hope to have him around 80% ready.”

The six-year-old has been supplemented for the Tsogo Sun Sprint, a race in which he finished second to Normanz two years ago. He has not raced since finishing seventh of ten in a Group 2 at Meydan in January last year.

Michael Clower

r horse guards

Horse Guards could be the one

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It has been a long wait to single out Dennis Drier’s chief Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion contender this season. But, yesterday’s first race winner at Scottsville, Horse Guards, could be the one.

Drier has won five of the last six runnings of the Medallion and the Horse Chestnut colt looked the real deal when powering home to win yesterday’s Juvenile Plate by 2,25 lengths under stable jockey Sean Veale despite carrying a 3kg penalty for his debut win.

The second race over 1200m was won in fine start-to finish style by the Duncan Howells-trained Muzi Yeni-ridden Toreador filly Blaze Of Mystery, who also carried a 3kg penalty for a win, and Howells said she was “underdone”, so should do even better in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship, although she will face a strong field there.

However, the most eyecatching winner on the card was possibly the Alistair Gordon-trained Royal Life. The talented gelding fought most of the way on the quarters of the leader Mountain Master in the fifth over 1600m, but still bounded away to win easily under apprentice Eric Saziso Ngwane and is now one to follow.

The Garth Puller-trained Asstar later downed Guiness and Tar Heel in a 1000m Pinnacle event and it will be interesting to see whether he is supplemented for the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Horse Guards (Nkosi Hlophe)

Born To Rule (Nkosi Hlophe)

Moving in the right direction

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In a concerted effort to eliminate any possible “crowding” on the inside rail, and to ensure a fair winning opportunity for all,  Gold Circle has taken the decision to limit the fields of the four Grade 1 Sprints at the Tsogo Sun Sprint Carnival Raceday to 14 runners and to bring in the far side rail by 4 metres. The famous Jackpot of Grade 1 sprints is set to take place at Scottsville Racecourse on Saturday, 4 June and entries are due this coming Friday, 20 May 2016.

Born To Rule (Nkosi Hlophe)

Born To Rule (Nkosi Hlophe)

“There is no doubt that moving the inside rail has resulted in much fairer racing,” said Gold Circle Racing Executive Raf Sheik. “We want to do everything we can on this day to ensure the integrity of our Grade 1 races and eliminating the perceived better going on the inside goes a long way to achieving this,” he added.

While the decision to limit the fields to fourteen runners may be met with dissatisfaction in some quarters, there is no doubt that the move will be welcomed by the majority of riders. Anthony Delpech was quoted recently as saying, “with the rail moved in by four or five metres, racing down the straight is a pleasure much fairer for all concerned. Draws are no longer a major factor and interference has been minimised.”

Seventh Plain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Seventh Plain ‘doing well’

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Dennis Drier might still have three runners in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville’s Festival Of Speed meeting on June 4, despite Triptique proving with his excellent running on third in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes on Friday he is more than just a sprinter.

Dual Gr 1 winner Seventh Plain was struck down by a “nasty virus” recently, but has recovered and is “doing well”. He might be back in time for the Tsogo Sun. He won the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Medallion over the same course and distance last year and the track and distance perfectly suits his style, in which he has good cruising speed and a powerful kick.

Triptique might go for both the Tsogo Sun Sprint and the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge. Jockey Sean Veale describes him as a honest horse and added, “He will easily stay a mile, he has been running like a horse who needs the mile.”

Meanwhile, Barbosa has come out of his excellent third in the Gr 1 WSB Computaform Sprint very well and should be a big runner in the Tsogo Sun, having escaped any raise to his existing 108 merit rating.

Triptique earned the maximum five point raise for his Drill Hall run, in accordance with the new handicapping guidelines for a second-placed horse in a Gr 2. He is now merit rated 106.

Seventh Plain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Seventh Plain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Seventh Plain could be well weighted in the Tsogo Sun off a 107 merit rating, having been dropped from a high of 110 due to three slightly disappointing runs in Cape Town. However, that campaign was geared around the CTS Million Dollar over 1400m and he is likely more comfortable over 1200m.

Furthermore, the last horse to do the Medallion/Tsogo Sun Sprint double was Delago Deluxe and he won the latter race off a 108 merit rating.

Both Drier and Veale confirmed Punta Arenas had needed the run in the Drill Hall, where he finished a 7,15 length eighth.

Drier will run him in the Gr 3 Cup Trial and then into the July, in which he was an unlucky runner up last year. However, his 18th position on the first July log makes him a borderline case for qualification.

Drier’s Gr 1-winning filly Chestnuts ‘N Pearls has had chips removed from her joints and reappears on 20th May in a Conditions Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m on the Greyville turf.

The useful middle distance filly Gathering Fame, who defended her Listed Jamaica Handicap crown at Kenilworth in January, also reappears on the 20th in the Listed KRA East Coast Cup over 2000m on the turf.

David Thiselton

rock on baby nh

Rock On Baby has talent

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Trainer and jockey comments for Scottsville today

Dennis Drier is expecting a good run from Rock On Baby (4th race), a talented sprinter who was found to be coughing after her disappointing last start in the Gr 2 WSB Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m at Kenilworth five months ago.

Drier has won five of the last six runnings of the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion and the public are still waiting for his contender for this year’s renewal, so all eyes will be on Seventh Rock colt Rocky Valley in the first over 1000m. Drier said, “He should run a nice race.” He is out of the fair sprinter by Mogok, Valley Of Rubies, who finished runner up in the Gr 3 Sycamore Sprint. He is owned by Markus Jooste, whose retained rider Anton Marcus will however be aboard the Charles Laird-trained Buffalo Soldier, who is by Warm White Night out of a USA-bred dam who hasn’t produced much to date. However, Laird has a fine record with first-timers so the betting should be watched closely.

Drier said the first-timer Anime in the second race would probably need the run. However, she is well bred being by Count Dubois out of Gr 2 KZN Guineas winner Rei Rei, so can’t be discounted.

Drier said it is about time Lighting The Fire, who runs in the fifth race over 1400m, “lit his fire” and he at least seems to be back down to a competitive merit rating and is over a suitable trip so can’t be ignored.

Warren Kennedy spoke on behalf of the Gavin Van Zyl yard and said, “Qatar Springs (7th over 2400m) is doing very well and has beaten all of these horses before. He stays well and should win.

Bagger Vance (5th) is one of my better rides on the day, he has the weight turnaround with Never Settle and should be there.

Northern Storm ran a cracker on debut. There was a lot of talk about Rebel Rose on debut (the Wendy Whitehead-trained filly duly finished second to an odds on shot) and she could be the one to beat, but if you go on times Northern Storm is ahead of her. It’s a difficult race and there are a lot of first-timers too but Northern Storm should be in the first three.

Cronological (3rd race) made a decent comeback but what you see is what you get, she is a struggler. Hello Mah also runs here but the 1000m is too short for her.

Lil Red a Rooster (1st race) has to improve.

Captain At Sea (8th) is a smart colt, but is drawn high on debut. It’s a weak field though and he has a quartet chance.”

Dennis Bosch was bullish about Lavender Bank and gave all his other runners chances too.

He said, “Lavender Bank will run a good race (3rd race – Anton Marcus retains the ride after she was backed to 9/20 on debut but ran green around the turn on the poly, although she still ran an eyecatching race to finish a staying on 1,3 length fourth).”

Bosch continued, “Regardstobroadway (4th) has always been talented but wasn’t being ridden correctly and is now being ridden the right way.”

He said Your Worship (7th) was also not given a good ride last time. However, the blinkers are back on and Delpech is aboard so he expected a decent run.

Bosch also expected a decent run from the sprinter Shezaleader (4th) too and this filly certainly loves the Scottsville straight.

By David Thiselton

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

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

Wavin' Flag (Nkosi Hlophe)

Crawford camp confident

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Barry Donnelly, assistant to stalwart Cape trainer Brett Crawford, makes Black Tractor a big runner at Scottsville on Wednesday, where he faces a decent field in a MR 80 handicap over 1200m.

A couple of Crawford’s SA Champions Season charges might also be appearing at Scottsville on Sunday and among them is Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship winner Gulf Storm. Donnelly said about three-year-old Captain Al gelding Black Tractor, “He ran fourth at Scottsville in his pipe opener but was very green. He has been putting in exceptional work and has Anton Marcus up.”

Wavin' Flag (Nkosi Hlophe)

Wavin’ Flag (Nkosi Hlophe)

Gulf Storm will be defending his Listed In Full Flight Handicap crown, which he won in his KZN pipe opener last season. However, if he does take his place he will have to lug 65kg off his 113 merit rating, as opposed to the 57kg he carried off a 100 merit rating last year. Donnelly said the five-year-old Sail From Seattle gelding, who has consistently defied the handicapper, had been doing very well. His chief mission is the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, in which he was runner up last year.

The yard’s Gr 3 Prix du Cap winner and Gr 2 Southern Cross Stakes runner up Cuvee Brut will be facing a strong field in the Gr 3 Poinsettia Stakes on Sunday with Marcus up. She enjoys Summerveld and is doing “very well.”

Wavin’ Flag is back from a tendon injury, which saw him box rested for a long time, and will bid to repeat his win of the 2014 Gold Cup.

Alexis “blossoms” in Durban and this KRA Fillies Guineas winner should give a good account of herself again this Champions Season.

The expensively purchased Nebula has been gelded after his disappointing run in the Investec Cape Derby, but disappointed in his KZN debut over 1600m at Greyville last week where he had been expected to win, so now might not make it into the Gr 2 Canon Guineas field.

Sail South, Big Cat, Winter Prince, Red Moon At Night and Speedy Chestnut are the others in the Summerveld string at present.

By David Thiselton