Category Archives: Scotts Sprint

Seventh Plain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Drier’s medallion

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Dennis Drier and owners Markus and Ingrid Jooste have gained something of a stranglehold on the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion. Owners and trainer teamed up for the third year in succession as the son of Seventh Rock, himself a winner of this race back in 2007 for the Joostes, Anton Marcus and Charles Laird, scored  comfortably leaving Redcarpet Captain, Prospect Strike and Muwaary fighting over the scraps.

Drier always had the race tagged. “Don’t worry Ant, the hill will get them,” were his only instructions to Marcus who also boasts an exemplary record in the race. The words proved prophetic.

Marcus tracked the early pace set by Just Africa and was never in trouble. As the race got towards the sweaty end, Muwaary and Seventh Plain moved in together for the kill but Muwaary’s challenge was short lived as Seventh Plain, with Marcus just flapping the reins and flashing the whip in encouragement to keep the colt honest, quickened away to win comfortably. Redcarpet Captain stuck doggedly to his guns up the inside and stayed on gamely to hold off Prospect Strike with Muwaary emptying out but still a close-up fourth.

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: Seventh Plain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)

Alice gets it right

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This year’s crop of sophomore fillies has proved exceptional and Carry On Alice and Alboran Sea drove home the point in the Gr 1 City of Pietermaritzburg Sprint at Scottsville yesterday. Alboran Sea has had the wood on Carry On Alice in recent meetings but the stretch to 1200m on the testing Scottsville track saw Sean Tarry’s filly turn the tables in no uncertain manner.

Jet Aglow and Varikate cut the early gallop with Alboran Sea and Carry On Alice head-to-head stalking the pace. Through the dip and up the hill both jockeys went for broke but it was Carry On Alice who was able to pick up best. The two locked horns for a few strides but Carry On Alice eventually ground her way to the front and extended to win by nearly two lengths with Alboran Sea just holding a fast-finishing Fly By Night at bay.

Tarry was in two minds as to Carry On Alice’s next mission. “I think the Mercury is an option or the Garden Province. It could all depend on where she draws in the Garden Province because an outside draw at Greyville is never easy.”

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)

Captain Of All (Nkosi Hlophe)

King Drier does it again

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Dennis Drier was the king of Scottsville yesterday. The master Summerveld trainer saddled the winners of both the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint and the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Medallion for owners Ingrid and Markus Jooste.

Captain Of All, a magnificent son of Captain Al, was an absolute picture in the paddock and showed his superiority on the track as he lumped top weight to victory in a devastating display of galloping. The 4-1 chance put over a length between himself and second placed Gulf Storm with rank outsider Sheiks Brashee a head back in third.

Captain Of All, a winner of the Gold Medallion two season’s back, has been patiently handled by Drier who has always had faith in the colt. “I picked him at the sale but he had such an off-set knee that I said to Derek (Brugman) that I can’t ask Markus to buy him. But Markus did and handed me the release papers.”

“He had a couple of niggly problems (after his juvenile season) and I said to Derek that he needed a break, a long break. He was good enough to have faith and thank God it has worked out.”

“This was always his race and now that he has a Group 1 behind his name I think he will be the first son of Captain Al to go to stud. If all goes well I think the Mercury will be his next race.”

In spite of top weight, Captain Of All was always up with the pace along with Normanz, Gulf Storm and Willow Magic. But when the pressure was on Captain Of All kept up a relentless gallop that had the opposition floundering. Gulf Storm, given a hefty penalty for his last win, was game in second while rank outsider Sheik’s Brashee ran a cracker in third with the filly Bichette the best of the Sean Tarry-trained trio.

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: Captain Of All (Nkosi Hlophe)

generalissimo lk site dec

Generalissimo to take charge

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The Scottsville Festival Of Speed meeting will be as exciting and intriguing as usual and picking winners in the Jackpot of Gr 1 races will have kept form studiers busy during the build up.

The R1 million Tsogo Sun Sprint is the headliner and as it is a handicap it is always the toughest of the four races to assess.

Generalissimo will attempt to make it three years in succession that a three-year-old son of Var has won this race. This Kenilworth 1200m course record holder looks to be more classy than the previous two winners Contador and Normanz and is only a couple of points higher in the merit ratings than they were. He has a fair draw of nine.

His stablemate Captain Of All possesses class in abundance and could join greats like J J The Jet Plane as a victor in this race with top weight. He loves this track and his draw of nine on a straight which usually favours low draws shouldn’t be a significant disadvantage considering he posseses both pace as well as the ability to kick late.

Willow Magic is a Gr 1 winner carrying only 54 kg and is drawn on the right side. He is 6kg better off with Captain Of All for a one length beating in the Gold Medallion two years ago and also 6kg better off with the same horse for a 2,65 length beating in last month’s Computaform Sprint. However, he didn’t get a good start in the latter race and will prefer the 1200m.

Sheik’s Brashee was unlucky last time out in the Listed In Full Flight Handicap over 1100m at Scottsville, but consequently avoided a merit rating raise and is drawn perfectly over a course and distance he loves.

Gulf Storm proved he enjoyed this tough course when impressing in the Listed In Full Flight Stakes over 1100m, but he was given a harsh nine point raise.

Barbosa won well over course and distance after a long layoff and is a game sort running from a good draw with a good jockey aboard. Brutal Force has quite a tough draw of 12 but won well last time over 1000m in his second run after gelding and will prefer this 1200m trip.

Zambezi River is a good looking horse who is suited to this trip and although officially 1kg under sufferance the best has probably not been seen of him. Bichette won by an impressive six lengths in a Gr 2 last time, showing speed throughout, but has a tough task at the weights for a three-year-old filly.

Normanz has enjoyed a good preparation and his pace could help him overcome a wide draw. He is only three points higher in the merit ratings than last year. Kingvoldt is full of class and effective over this trip but has the toughest draw to overcome.

Ashton Park was very unlucky in the Diadem over this trip and will likely be running on strongly after possibly being dropped out from a high draw. The speedy Flyfirstclass has won three times over course and distance and jumps from the same draw that the last two winners of this race have come from.

Moofeed was given a harsh eight points or his head second in the In Full Flight Stakes, when proving he is capable of overcoming this same high draw. Chekilli has early pace but couldn’t have landed a worse draw for his style of running. Daring Dave did not enjoy his first visit to Scottsville and has it all to do.

The Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship will be a cracker. Australian-breds have had a fine record in South Africa this season and although by jockey bookings Entisaar looks the second string from the De Kock yard, she impressed from an unfavourable draw when winning the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery and should enjoy the tough Scottsville track from a fair draw of eight.

Classy Princess Royal is a half-sister to a previous winner of this race Princess Victoria and was unlucky last time out. She has come on from that run and doesn’t have too bad a draw in nine.

Unbeaten Royal Pleasure has landed a perfect low draw for her style of racing in which she likes to dominate from the off and on pedigree she should run all the way to the line.

Shaama is another Australian-bred from the De Kock yard and finished a gallant second against the boys in the SA Nursery but faces a tougher draw here. Swift Sarah impressed on debut and could be anything but also has a tricky draw.

The Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion could be won for the fifth time in six years by Dennis Drier. He runs Seventh Rock colt Seventh Plain, who has both early pace and the class to stay all the way to the line. Muwaary won easily on debut in a good time and is a classy Australian-bred who will have a big say. Redcarpet Captain has enjoyed a much better preparation than for the SA Nursery and could bounce back. Mr Roy has also enjoyed a better preparation this time than last and could be the dark horse.

Beat The Retreat was only 1,5 lengths off Seventh Plain last time and comes from a yard that has a good record in KZN Gr 1 sprints.

Prospect Strike beat a weak field by over 12 lengths on debut and could be anything. Donny G should improve on his debut win and is well drawn. Jet Air has some pace and will stay all the way to the line from a good draw. Just Africa has fair Jo’burg form and can’t be ignored.

The Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint could see Carry On Alice getting the better of her nemesis Alboran Sea from a superior draw and over a trip she will prefer. The latter will use her early pace to overcome her tricky draw and it is likely going to be a thriller.

Jet Belle is full of class and proved last time that she relishes this tough course, so could feasibly upset the applecart. Garibondy could be next best ahead of last year’s respective second and third Fly By Night and Jet Aglow.

The horses are selected for every race in the order mentioned.

By David Thiselton 

Picture: Generalissimo (Liesl King)

 

alboran sea nh

De Kock troops ready to fire

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Mike de Kock’s leading troops for the Festival Of Speed meeting at Scottsville on Saturday have all eaten up well and are in fine fettle after traveling from Johannesburg to Summerveld on Wednesday.

His Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint contender Moofeed was prepared out of Summerveld and the rest, Alboran Sea, Muwaary, Entisaar and Shaama, were all prepared out of Randjesfontein.

De Kock’s Summerveld assistant Nathan Kotzen said about Moofeed, who was punished five points for a narrow second in the Listed In Full Flight Stakes over 1100m at Scottsville last time out, “He has had two recent gallops in company and did well, but it’s a strong field.”

Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint contender Alboran Sea is on her way to being named Equus Champion Sprinter, having won both the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships and Gr 1 Computaform Sprint, both over 1000m. She is just as effective over 1200m as she won the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship at Scottsville as a two-year-old last year. She recorded a blistering time despite the slightly soft going in the Computaform Sprint and can use her early pace to overcome her tricky draw of nine under Anthony Delpech.

The Australian-bred Muwaary was not very well away on debut but still sauntered to a hand and heels nine length victory in an excellent time over 1200m at The Vaal. The only downside is that the form has not been franked. He has a plum draw of five in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion and Delpech rides.

Australian-bred Entisaar didn’t beat a vintage field when winning the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery over 1160m at Turffontein, but the impressive point was that she jumped from an unfavourable draw and went through the worst going yet still won emphatically in the slightly soft going. She hasn’t raced on fast ground before, but her only defeat was in very soft going so she will probably appreciate a firmer surface. She jumps from a draw of eight, but interestingly Johnny Geroudis replaces chief stable jockey Anthony Delpech, who will be aboard Shaama.

Shaama is also an Australian-bred and showed good cruising speed from a favourable draw in the Gr 1 SA Nursery over 1160m, before fighting on doggedly to go down by a length. Her time was just over a second quicker than Entisaar’s, although she did carry 2,5kg less. She jumps from a tricky draw of 12.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Alboran Sea (Nkosi Hlophe)

Sheik's Brashee (Nkosi Hlophe)

Don’t ignore Sheik’s Brashee

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Mike Miller believes that his 50/1 shot Sheik’s Brashee can “run a place at least” in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville on Saturday.

He said about the four-year-old gelding by The Sheik, who has improved from a merit rating of 91 to 103 this season, “He loves that track and has been doing very well and working well, he has really come into himself and has not put a foot wrong. He was very unlucky to not finish second or third last time (in the Listed In Full Flight Stakes over 1100 at Scottsville) as he was cleaned up just as he was doing his best work. He is drawn next to Flyfirstclass who has given us a lead before and I think he will run in the first four.”

An interesting point about the his unlucky In Full Flight Stakes run was that the winner Gulf Storm as given a nine point raise, while Sheik’s Brashee avoided any raise at all back in fifth.

Sheik’s Brashee has landed a plum draw of four. The winner of this race has come from draw five in the last two runnings and from draw three the year before that.

He will be ridden by accomplished apprentice Mathew Thackeray, who will obviously not be able to take his 2,5kg claim, but he has ridden this horse before.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Sheik’s Brashee (Nkosi Hlophe)

Sean Tarry

Tarry troops primed

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National champion trainer elect Sean Tarry said yesterday that he was happy with all of his charges for Saturday’s big Festival Of Speed meeting and they were shortly due to travel down to KZN.

His Gr 1 Allan Robertson contender Swift Sarah started at even money on debut and, although she didn’t beat much, the race was against older fillies and the manner of her six length victory suggests she has a bright future. The Dynasty filly showed good gate speed as well as cruising speed and produced a telling kick at the business end to draw away and win easing up. She jumps from draw 11 and Raymond Danielson keeps the ride.

Gold Medallion contender Donny G, a colt by the previous winner of this race Seventh Rock, showed excellent gate speed on debut over 1200m at the Vaal and then stayed on well to beat a weak field comfortably after being prominent throughout. His time was slightly slower on the same day than the Gr 1 Allan Robertson contender Pacifica and more than a second slower than the Gold Medallion contender Muwaary. However, he does look to have plenty of scope and on Saturday he jumps from a plum draw of two. Danielson has replaced Piere Strydom, who has now been left without a ride by the scratching of the Gavin van Zyl-trained Isca.

Tarry will have an excellent chance of Gr 1 glory in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint over 1200m with his top class Captain Al filly Carry On Alice. She faces her nemesis Alboran Sea, who beat her in the Allan Robertson last year as well as in the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championships over 1000 and the Gr 1 Computafor Sprint this year. However, she is drawn three compared to Alboran Sea’s nine so this should play in her favour, especially as she has excellent gate speed and early pace. Regular pilot S’Manga Khumalo is aboard.

His former Gr 1 SA Nursery and Gr 2 Dingaans winner Willow Magic will also have an outstanding chance of success in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sprint over 1200m. He was a runner up as a two-year-old in the Gold Medallion, beaten a length by Captain Of All. He was beaten 2,65 lengths by Captain Of All last time out in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein, but will now be receiving 6kg from the latter. He has a good draw of four with Piere Strydom up, although considering that the field tends to track over to that side these days he will need to jump quicker than he did in his last two starts. He has jumped well on occasion, but does prefer to be loaded late.

Tarry’s two other Gr 1 Tsogo Sun contenders, Zambezi River and Bichette, will also have plenty of supporters. Zambezi River, a good looking colt by Trippi, has a touch of class and his best form has been from 1000m to 1400m. The tough Scottsville track should be ideal and the draw of ten is not too bad. He is officially 1kg under sufferance but has only had seven career outings to date and has given the impression that the best has not yet been seen of him. Tarry has wisely avoided the City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint with Bichette, as Carry On Alice and Alboran Sea look difficult to oppose. This three-year-old Western Winter filly was, by the trends on the day, drawn on the wrong side last time out in the Gr 2 Camellia Stakes over 1160m at Turffontein, but that didn’t stop her winning by six lengths. She only carried 54,5kg on that occasion but was given a massive 16 point raise and now has to lug the same weight in Gr 1 company, despite being the only filly in the field. As a horse with a lot of pace, her draw of three is ideal, and she should be right up there. She has won over 1400m before so should stay all the way to the line, although her high merit rating of 108 makes it tough for her in this handicap event against the boys.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Sean Tarry

Fly BY Night (Liesl King)

Tough task for Fly By Night

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Multiple-times Cape champion trainer Mike Bass sends out last year’s Gr 1 Mercury Sprint winner Fly by Night in Saturday’s star-studded Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville and even if she bounces back from her last place finish in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint she will have her work cut out to repeat last year’s close second.

The yard also run Ashton Park in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint and Jet Air in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion.

The five-year-old Jet Master mare Fly By Night travelled well to Johannesburg for the Computaform Sprint, but then went down to the start striding short and took no interest in the race. The yard trotted her up afterwards and found nothing wrong. However, Bass’s assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe said about her from Summerveld this week, “One or two hiccups have been ironed out and she galloped well on Saturday. She always does well in KZN and I think she will be back to her best, although she is drawn near the outside.” She jumps from draw ten, but that shouldn’t be too much of a disadvantage in an eleven horse field.

Fayd’Herbe said that the five-year-old Battersea Park gelding Ashton Park had been doing very well. On paper this sprint-miler is 4kg better off with Captain Of All for a 3,6 length beating in the Gr 2 Diadem Stakes over 1200m at Kenilworth. However, that doesn’t tell the story of him being completely taken out by runner up Copper Parade when making a forward move on the outside rail, although on the other hand that was Captain Of All’s second run after a yearlong rest and he likely still needed it. Ashton Park unfortunately has a wide draw of 13 to contend with but should be running on strongly late.

Fayd’herbe described the Visionaire colt Jet Air as a “nice little horse” and felt the yard had done enough with him “to run a nice race”, but he added that his main aim would be the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day. In his second start in the maidens in March over 1400m at Kenilworth, he showed fair pace to overcome a wide draw, before sitting in second and winning cosily. He should enjoy the tough 1200m and is a dark horse from draw three.

Stable jockey Grant van Niekerk rides all three of the yard’s Gr 1 contenders.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Fly By Night (Liesl King)

royal pleasure copy

Kotzen holding trump in fillies sprints

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Glen Kotzen has a strong hand in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m at Scottsville on Saturday and he might well have the dark horse in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint over the same trip.

Kotzen’s Captain Al filly Princess Royal is a half-sister to a previous Allan Robertson winner Princess Victoria and is held in high regard. Kotzen took her to Scottsville to show her the course for her Champions Season pipe opener in the Gr 3 Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m and she put up a decent effort without having any kind of luck. She played up a bit in the preliminaries and was a bit unsettled very early in the race.

She then became hopelessly boxed in near the rail when looking to have plenty of running in her and finished two lengths behind her stable companion Royal Pleasure at level weights. Her only previous defeat was against the boys in the Listed The Sun International Juvenile Stakes over 1000m, where she was far from disgraced when finishing 4,25 lengths back in fourth to the speedy Buckinghampshire, whom she had to give 0,5kg. Her two victories include the Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery over 1200m. Stable jockey Greg Cheyne has always ridden her and believes she is top class. Kotzen said she hadn’t put a foot wrong in her work. She jumps from a tricky draw of nine, considering the low draws are usually favourable.

The Visionairre filly Royal Pleasure was purchased for just R30,000 and has realised a dream for her part-owners, the popular 3A Racing syndicate, who have done a lot to promote racing to KZN’s youth. She is full of precocious speed and Kotzen described her as a beautifully balanced and strong filly. She tends to put it in when working, so the yard have just kept her ticking over since the Strelitzia by working her alone. She has landed a plum draw of four and Anton Marcus has retained the ride. She will likely be the filly they are all going to be chasing late in the race. Her second dam Taineberry won over 2400m and produced Jalberry, a stakes-winning sprinter who finished third in the Gr 1 Golden Slipper over 1400m, so Royal Pleasure should see out the trip.

The yard have kept their Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint contender Jet Belle fresh since her four length romp in the Gr 3 Poinsettia Stakes over the course and distance, her second successive victory in this race. This versatile five-year-old Jet Master mare has also won a Gr 2 over 2000m, which emphasises her class. In November last year she beat Saturday’s likely favourite Alboran Sea by 2,75 lengths over 1160m at Turffontein. However, she was facing the three-year-old on 3,5kg better terms than weight for age that day and Alboran Sea subsequently performed to a much higher level in three sprints over 1000m, which included wins in the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championships and Gr 1 Computaform Sprint. Jet Belle has landed a plum draw of two and her regular pilot Cheyne is aboard.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Royal Pleasure (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mike Azzie (Nkosi Hlophe)

Azzie and Peter prepping from Summerveld

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Highveld trainers Mike Azzie and Paul Peter both have a couple of Gr 1 contenders at Saturday’s Festival of Speed meeting and all of them are being prepared out of Summerveld.

Azzie said he had withdrawn one of his best juveniles Frosted Honey as he didn’t want to risk her from a bad draw ahead of her chief target, the Gr 1 Golden Slipper over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day, although he admitted he now ran the risk of her being drawn badly in the latter race too.

His Allan Robertson contenders Mella Maria and La Strada have both “worked nicely” in the build up, but he revealed that the former was the better of the pair and had improved a lot from her 4,9 length fifth in the SA Fillies Nursery over 1160m. She was drawn on the wrong side that day and also in her previous start when getting within 0,5 lengths of subsequent Fillies Nursery winner Entisaar in the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m. The Australian-bred filly is by Star Witness, whose Justin Snaith-trained son Lineker was one of the most impressive two-year-old debut winners seen out this season, running on strongly to win over 1200m at Scottsville. Mella Maria will run in first time blinkers but she has unfortunately drawn unfavourably high in barrier 15. The underrated Ian Sturgeon rides. La Strada got off the mark at the third time of asking in a Workriders Maiden Juvenile Plate, so will need a lot of improvement but she is at least drawn on the right side in barrier one and has champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo aboard.

Paul Peter is hoping for a place with Miracle Rising in the Allan Robertson. This Judpot filly was a touch unlucky last time out in the Gr 3 Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m at Scottsville as she was slow away by about two lengths and was then boxed in on the rail so had to be switched to the centre. The jockey then dropped the whip five strides from home and she only went down by 0,75 lengths. However, she will now be 4kg worse off with the winner Royal Pleasure. She beat Royal Princess by 1,75 lengths that day, but the latter was unable to find a clear run and was the unluckiest horse of the race. Miracle Rising will also be 4kg worse off with Royal Princess. Miracle Rising is drawn on the right side in barrier two and Muzi Yeni will be aboard. Peter admitted she would be up against a very strong field and rated the Mike de Kock-trained Entisaar as a top horse.

Peter was also hoping for a place at best with his Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion contender Just Africa. This Just As Well colt finished four lengths behind subsequent Gr 1 SA Nursery winner Arabian Beat on debut over 1000m and then won his maiden next time out by four lengths also over 1000m. Peter said, “He has a lot of gate speed but it is his first time beyond 1000m.” His sire was a middle distance horse and his damsire Stratum won Australia’s most prestigious two-year-old race, the Gr 1 Golden Slipper over 1200m, so there might be a mixture of stamina and precocious speed. Just Africa is drawn eight in the ten horse field with Keagan de Melo aboard. Peter said both horses had been doing well.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Mike Azzie