Category Archives: Horseshoe

Redcarpet Captain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Van Zyl team upbeat

Posted on by

Gavin van Zyl has a string of seven and one reserve for Vodacom Durban July day on Saturday, including the Gr 1 contender Redcarpet Captain.

Captain Al colt Redcarpet Captain was still below his best when finishing a 2,5 length second to Seventh Plain in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m at Scottsville last time and now jumps from a tough draw of 17 under regular rider S’Manga Khumalo in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m. Van Zyl said, “He had a setback before his run in the SA Nursery and didn’t have a lot of time to recover from that, so in the Gold Medallion he wasn’t in the space that he is now. We expect him to be better on Saturday than he has been in any of his runs so far. He has a bad draw, so we need a bit of luck in running, but as far as his physical well-being goes we couldn’t ask for better, we are really upbeat about him.”

Redcarpet Captain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Redcarpet Captain (Nkosi Hlophe)

The yard runs the talented Jet Master gelding MLJet in the Listed Canon centre Handicap over 1600m from draw eight under Warren Kennedy. He was looking a picture at Summerveld yesterday and Van Zyl said, “In the Daily News he moved right up into contention, but didn’t go through with it. It was a good run in the blinkers and the 1600m will be right down his alley. He’s got a decent draw and on his best form he will be one of the horses to beat. We’re very happy with his preparation.”

Heart Of A Lion runs in the Gr 2 SABC Gold Vase over 3000m and Van Zyl said, “He’s run third in his last three stakes races and they were good thirds particularly in his last run in the Lonsdale (2400m) where he flew up from last and was not beaten far. He’s got eleven draw to overcome but Muzi (Yeni) does know him quite well and we expect him to be in the hunt. He is very well in himself and he stays all day.”

MLJet (Nkosi Hlophe)

MLJet (Nkosi Hlophe)

Sun On Africa runs in the Gr 3 tabGold 2200 from draw four under Kennedy and Van Zyl said, “He beat St. Tropez last time and on that form, and on his second to Bezanova, he has the ability. When he picks up his game he can run with the best. He only ran seven lengths back in the Lonsdale (2400m) but went far too fast and Warren Kennedy learnt a lot about him that day. He beat St Tropez next time based on a better pace. If he rides him well he definitely has a chance with a good draw and a light weight.”

In race one over 1400m on the poly the yard run the progressive Fort Wood gelding Down Under as well as Just Ask Me. Van Zyl said, “Down Under is very consistent and has been working very well. He went to Greyville and galloped next to Redcarpet Captain and did very, very nicely. On his best form from draw one he comes into the race with a very good chance. He’s getting better and better. Just Ask me is always thereabouts, we also targeted this race. He had had a break before his last start at Scottsville and seemed to tire. He is better on the poly at Greyville and on his best form he certainly has a quartet chance.”

Se Agabor runs in the second over 1400m on the poly and has also landed a pole position draw. Van Zyl said, “She has been running n some tough company in Johannesburg and has run in two Listed races, one in PE and one on the sand. Then against the colts last time she didn’t appreciate the going, it’s getting a bit firm for her. So it’s a tough field but she’s won on the poly and back on the poly we can expect an improved run.”

By David Thiselton

VDJ betting now open: Jackpot ONE Leg 1 starts in race 5 – estimated pool R2,1million.

miracle rising nh

Miracle Rising on the up

Posted on by

Paul Peter’s comments are always worth listening carefully to as he is one of the most transparent trainers in the country and of his team of five runners on Vodacom Durban July day he regards Miracle Rising as his best.

Judpot filly Miracle Rising ran in a few features while still a maiden, including the Gr 1 Alan Robertson over 1200m, and when stepped up to the 1400m last time at Scottsville she beat a well regarded sort in the Mike de Kock-trained Gain Ground. The latter then franked the form. She is now drawn five in the Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m. Ian Sturgeon rides. Peter said, “She’s come on so much in work. She had a small niggle when she ran in the Allan Robertson, but she’s improved a lot since she won her maiden and I think at that price she’s definitely worth including in all exotics.”

Mogok Master (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mogok Master (Nkosi Hlophe)

Peter’s Mogok colt Mogok Master was most unlucky in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m last time out when his running was taken up when travelling well at the top of the straight, so he is better than his six length fifth suggests. He runs in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m from draw 18 with Sturgeon up and Peter said, “He’s a very nice horse. He is looking for a bit further. He’s come on a lot from that last run and is working exceptionally well, but with that bad draw he can end up in the back end of quartets.”

He runs Mod Barley in the tenth, a Compendium Insurance Brokers MR 104 Handicap over 1000m on the polytrack, and said, “He loves the poly even at work. He’s up in class but he’s a nice horse, he’s quite honest and I think he will run in the placings. Keagan de Melo knows him, he’s worked him, and he’s confident he will be right there.” He is drawn well and Peter confirmed that not only does he have plenty of early speed, but he should stay all the way to the line too as the Vaal 1200m course record holder.

He runs the talented three-year-old Dupont gelding Forest Fox in the Non-Black Type eThekwini Sprint over 1200m on the poly from a nice draw and said, “I just feel he doesn’t stay,  he just doesn’t finish his races, over a mile he moves up like a winner and then starts plodding. If he can produce his homework that field will never beat him, but he comes to the races and is a bit of a thief, he tries to get out of it. He was squeezed on the fence last time, but being Forest Fox he looks for any excuse and that was one of them.”

He runs the Just As Well gelding Just Africa in the KZN Yearling Sale Million over 1300m from draw eight and said, “He’s been working exceptionally well since we gelded him, he needed gelding, so put a line through his last run. If he gets the 1300m he will be a big runner, but it’s a 50/50 call whether he will. If it was a 1000m you could have your maximum on him, but I’m worried about 1300. He eats well and we have been able to put the work into him after his gelding. He’s fit.”

By David Thiselton

Lead Picture: Miracle Rising (Nkosi Hlophe)

VDJ betting now open: Jackpot ONE Leg 1 starts in race 5 – estimated pool R2,1million.

 

Glen Kotzen

Princess Royal the best of the bunch

Posted on by

Glen Kotzen has a team of seven for Vodacom Durban July day, including three Gr 1 contenders, and he regards the yard’s Captain Al filly Princess Royal as their best runner.

Princess Royal, who is a half-sister to the Kotzen-trained four-time Gr 1-winning Equus Champion Princess Victoria, finished an unlucky one length second last time out in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m at Scottsville when having to come around the field for a run. She is drawn six under stable jockey Greg Cheyne in Saturday’s Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m and Kotzen said, “She was unlucky in the Allan Robertson, she had to check twice. But she is definitely better over further. She’s drawn six and with luck in running I think they are going to battle to beat her.”

Kotzen’s classy and versatile five-year-old Jet Master mare Jet Belle was badly hampered when finishing a 2,6 length sixth in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint but she has a chance to make amends from draw 6 in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m, which has attracted a star studded field. Kotzen said, “If it wasn’t for bad luck she would have had no luck at all in that last race and we had thought the race was there for the taking. But she’s doing well, she’s drawn well and she can turn it on. She is beautiful over a mile and I think the horse we have to beat is Carry On Alice.”

The yard run the Trippi colt Hip Hop Dancer in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m, and he is coming off a one length third to Star Chestnut over 1400m at Scottsville, where he over raced early. Kotzen said, “The jockey reported he was making a respiratory noise, so we scoped him, he had muck in his trachea and we put him onto a course of anti-biotics and backed off him. He’s definitely up to the task but it’s going to be tough because he’s had an interruption to his program and is drawn wide.”

They run Gone Baby Gone in the Gr 2 SABC Gold Vase over 3000m and Kotzen said, “He was touched off over 3200m in the Chairman’s at Kenlworth, but they went a crawl and sprinted for home. We’re not quite sure if he actually stays in this class off a decent pace. We are having another crack at it, he’s exceptionally well and we might change tactics and hold him back a bit to give him more chance.”

Kotzen runs “the dream filly” Royal Pleasure in the Non-Black Type KZN Yearling Sale Million over 1300m, where she is drawn 13, and he said, “She saw the course on Friday over 1300m, working with a Gr 1 horse, we thought he put up a tremendous gallop and saw out the distance.  We changed tactics in the Allan Robertson and held her up and they proved to be the wrong tactics, but she wasn’t disgraced in running fifth. She’s handicapped to win the race, she won’t have a problem with the draw because she’s quick out the gates and we think she will see out the trip.”

They run the progressive three-year-old Royal Air Force filly Cathy Specific in the second race, a MR 84 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m on the polytrack, and Kotzen said, “It’s a big weight for a three-year-old but she’s very classy, she’s a lovely filly, she’s working incredibly well.”

The yard’s talented three-year-old Jet Master colt Light The Lights runs in the Gr 3 tabGold 2200 from draw six under Piere Strydom. Kotzen has always believed he is looking for this trip and said, “His biggest problem is that he’s a colt, he would be a better horse if we gelded him, but with blinkers on his work has been spot on and maybe he is now concentrating instead of trying to get out of it. We are going to hopefully see a different horse at the track.”

By David Thiselton

Picture: Glen Kotzen

VDJ betting now open: Pick 6 starts in Race 4 – estimated pool R12million.

Dennis Drier (Nkosi Hlophe)

Drier sending out his big guns

Posted on by

Dennis Drier has a Vodacom Durban July day string of ten horses and two reserves and the master trainer is likely to turn them out in tip top condition.

His Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes contender Jet Aglow put is some decent work on the beach sand on Tuesday under stable jockey Sean Cormack and if repeating her best runs could be in the shake up, despite the race being packed with class. The yard were caught off guard by the blinkers sharpening her up so much in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermartzburg Sprint that she led them over a too sharp 1200m, before finishing a respectable fifth.

However, she then duly over raced in the Gr 2 Tibouchina over 1400m last time out and the blinkers have now been removed. She was an unlucky two length third in the Gr 1 Laurie Jaffe Empress Club Stakes over 1600m last season, when forced to go for home too early, and if repeating that sort of form could be a contender, although she does not have an easy draw of ten.

The jury are out on whether Drier’s  ultra impressive Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion winner Seventh Plain will stay the 1400m trip in the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe, but they believe he will due to his very relaxed manner of running. He certainly wasn’t stopping at the line in the Medallion and from a plum draw of four he will be the horse to beat.

The yard are expecting their Horse Chestnut filly Chestnuts and Pearls to appreciate the step up in trip from 1200m to 1400m in the Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper. She was disadvantaged by a high draw in the Gr 1 Allan Roberston over 1200m at Scottsville last time, but will still have to show plenty of improvement to feature here, although there is always that possibility for two-year-olds. She is drawn well in seven.

The yard run Firewood in the first race on the poly over a suitable 1400m. They describe him as a “nice little horse who has to be competitive here.”  The form of his last race when a one length third to the promising Master James over 1600m on turf has worked out well and he could appreciate a return to the course and distance of his last win from a plum draw.

Their newly acquired stayer J’s Outsider had to come around horses from last in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m last time and didn’t go through with, but the yard said he had needed that run and had definitely improved since then. He won the Gr 2 Gold Bowl over 3200m at Turffontein before that so will appreciate the 3000m trip of the Gr 2 SABC Gold Vase on July day and is well drawn in three. However, he is 4,5kg worse off for a 2,5 length beating of Heart Of A Lion from the Gold Bowl, so will have a tougher task and the latter also proved his liking for Greyville last time when running on well for third in the Lonsdale.

Drier runs Barbosa and Balkan in the tenth race, a MR 104 handicap over 1000m on the polytrack and the yard are bullish about the chances of Barbosa, despite him having to carry topweight. Assistant trainer Stuart Ferrie said, “He ran a cracker last time (sixth in the Tsogo Sun Sprint) and has a big shout. He likes to race handy and should enjoy the poly.”

Balkan doesn’t have it easy up against the boys in her second run after a layoff. However, she was raised only two points for her win over 1000m on J&B Met day and the form of that race has worked out well.

Drier runs Generalissimo, Triptique and Beckedorf in the Non-Black Type Ethekwini Sprint over 1200m on the poly. Generalissimo put in some eyecatching work on the beach sand on Tuesday and should be spot on for this race.

He had to stand for an age in the stalls before the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, which blunted his normally excellent gate speed, and before that he won in facile fashion over this course and distance. He is now six points higher in the merit ratings, but is the yard elect and Cormack rides from a fair draw.

Triptique is an imposing and impressive individual and was a touch unlucky last time out over 1000m on the poly, which was his first outing since winning three Kenilworth 1200m events in succession.

Ian Sturgeon rides from a tricky draw, but despite being six points higher since his last win he is not fully exposed and has a definite chance. Beckedorf is ten points lower in the merit ratings after two below par runs in Cape Town, so is quite an interesting contender. This is his first outing since, but the yard describe him as a “nice horse who is fit and well.”

By David Thiselton

Picture: Dennis Drier (Nkosi Hlophe)

beat the retreat nkosi hlophe

Retreat can step up

Posted on by

Horses flying under the radar often do well on Vodacom Durban July day, especially in the two-year-old events,  and one such individual is the Alistair Gordon-trained Argonaut colt Beat The Retreat, who has landed a plum draw of seven in the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.

Gordon said, “Alec (Forbes) thought he had a big chance in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion, but he pulled up shin sore and that must have affected him.”

Shin soreness is a common condition for young horses and Beat The Retreat did some swimming in Gordon’s pool at Summerveld after that last run and is now “fine”. He put up a good gallop on the Summerveld grass on Monday.

Argonaut has proved to be disappointing as a stallion and some will claim that his progeny tend to be temperamental. However, Beat The Retreat not only has “a magic temperament”, but he also comes from a fantastic family. His dam Spring Lilac by Joshua Dancer won the Gr 3 Fillies Nursery over 1200m at Kenilworth by four lengths and she is a half-sister to the like of Rabiya (Equus champion three-year-old male), Secret Of Victoria (dual Gr 2-winning sprinter and dam of Equus champion two-year-old filly All Is Secret), Touch The Sky (dual Listed winner) and Rafiya (Listed winner).

Argonaut won both the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe and the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes and in the latter he went start to finish and won by five lengths, so on pedigree Beat The Retreat should get a mile.

Gordon described him as a “useful horse” and pointed at his formline. Before the Medallion he had finished just 1,5 lengths behind Seventh Plain in the Gr 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1100m at level weights and on that occasion had pulled up well. No horse got within 2,5 lengths of Seventh Plain in the Medallion and Beat The Retreat was 8,9 lengths back, so it was clearly not his run.

Forbes will be back aboard on July day and although up against a strong field Beat The Retreat should not be ignored.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Beat The Retreat (Nkosi Hlophe)

Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)

Media Release: Vodacom Durban July Feature Races

Posted on by

Sensational racing is on the cards for Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event, Vodacom Durban July Day at Greyville on July 4, with a supporting cast of Grade 1 races like nothing that has ever been seen in this country.

The final fields for the Grade R750 000, Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes and the R600 000, Grade 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe have been announced but that for the R600 000, Grade 1 Golden Slipper has been delayed until today (Tuesday).

It is almost unbelievable that such an auspicious group of fillies and mares from around the country could be squeezed into one race, but that is what is in store for racegoers when the field for the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes takes to the turf on the big day.

There is Hammie’s Hooker and Same Jurisdiction, first and second in the Tibouchina Stakes with Same Jurisdiction having also won the Thekwini Stakes and the Flamboyant Stakes and run second to Siren’s Call in the SA Fillies Classic. Then there is Jet Belle that won the Poinsettia Stakes and placed third in each of the Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes and the Klawervlei Majorca Stakes.

And speaking of those two great Grade 1 races in the Cape, you have the winner of them both, Inara. She was beaten into second place in the KRA Fillies Guineas by Alexis that is also in this classic event and you can add to that the super winner of the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000, Smart Call.

When you throw in the speedy filly Carry On Alice, winner of the City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint that also finished third in the Cape Flying Championship and second in the Computaform Sprint, then you know the pace is going to be on.

Just for good measure you add Maybe Yes and Red Flame, third and fourth in the Tibouchina Stakes that are capable of upping their games from decent draws and you have a race to dream of.

The R600 000, Grade 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe will pit the winner of the SA Nursery Arabian Beat against the winner of both the Godolphin Barb Stakes and the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion, Seventh Plain with the Medallion runner-up Redcarpet Captain in the mix to muddy the waters. Muwaary was fourth in the Medallion just ahead of Mr Roy that was third in the Godolphin Barb and Lineker was third in the Gatecrasher Stakes.

This is a fabulous mix of young, improving colts and geldings and over the 1 400m of this tricky course, anything can happen and a fantastic finish could be in store for the 50 000 racegoers on the day.

Ends

Picture: Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)

Entries are in for July Day

Posted on by

A tsunami of entries have been received by Gold Circle for the eight feature races on the supporting programme to Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event, the R3.5-million Vodacom Durban July, promising to make the meeting a spectacular 4th of July occasion.

Attracting an incredible galaxy of racing talent from around the country, many of the races are heavily oversubscribed with a total of 253 horses nominated for the eight events.

The three Grade 1 races, the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes, the Golden Horseshoe and Golden Slipper have drawn 21, 35 and 32 nominations respectively with a massive 44 entries for the Grade 3 Campanajo 2200 and 60 for the Listed Thukela Handicap.

Heading the entries for the R750 000 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes is the Mike de Kock-trained super filly Majmu who is also strongly fancied in the betting for the Vodacom Durban July.  De Kock has the unenviable task of deciding which of the races she will contest on the day as she is well drawn at three for this fillies event and will have to take her chances in the draw for the July.

Also among the entries is the Alec Laird-trained winner of the Woolavington 2000, Smart Call, along with the winner of the KRA Fillies Guineas from the Brett Crawford stable, Alexis. Her stable companion Maybe Yes, third to Hammie’s Hooker in the Tibouchina Stakes is also among the entries and Mike Bass is looking for the feature double with “the Hooker.”

Bass has also entered his dual Grade 1 winner Inara in the race. After winning the Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes and the Klawervlei Majorca Stakes, she finished second in the KRA Fillies Guineas but ran below expectations when fifth in the Woolavington 2000.

The classy filly Same Jurisdiction from the Duncan Howells stable, second in both the SA Fillies Classic and the Tibouchina Stakes, will be looking to go one better here.

The Durban Golden Horseshoe and the Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper are the juvenile events over 1 400m with both races carrying a stake of R600 000. They have both been strongly supported with 35 entries for the colt’s race and 32 for the filly’s race.

Some very smart juveniles are in these races including the Dennis Drier-trained Seventh Rock colt Seventh Plain and the Captain Al colt Redcarpet Captain from the Gavin van Zyl stable that filled the first two places in the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion at Scottsville. They are joined by the SA Nursery winner Arabian Beat, the unbeaten Gatecrasher Stakes winner Rabada and the Godolphin Barb Stakes runner-up Beat The Retreat.

The runner-up to Entisaar in the Allan Robertson Fillies Championship, Princess Royal from the Glen Kotzen stable is one of the leading entries for the Golden Slipper along with her stable companion and winner of the Strelitzia Stakes, Royal Pleasure.

Also among the entries is the Mike Azzie-trained runner-up in the SA Nursery Frosted Honey and the Count Dubois filly Madame Dubois from the Robbie Sage yard that ran a good third in the Allan Robertson.

Among the 25 entries for the Grade 2 SABC Gold Vase are last year’s eLan Group Gold Cup runner-up and a recent second in the Cup Trial, Wild One, and the Dynasty gelding Solid Speed from the Dean Kannemeyer stable that has won his last three starts including the Highland Night Cup and the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup.

The 44 entries for the Grade 3 Campanajo 2200, the “consolation” race for horses that do not make the Vodacom Durban July cut, is laden with talent including many that are still hoping for a place in the premier event.

Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

Azzie in fine form

Posted on by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By David Thiselton

Picture: Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

No Worries (Nkosi Hlophe)

No Worries eyes another Million

Posted on by

The Gavin van Zyl-trained five-year-old Kahal gelding No Worries was scratched from the Vodacom Durban July on Tuesday after a below par run in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge, but could still be on track to defend his KZN Breeders Million Mile crown at Greyville on June 28.

However, Van Zyl will still have a strong line up for July day, which includes Redcarpet Captain in the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe, Banbury in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes, Heart Of A Lion in the Gr 2 Gold Vase, MLJet in the Listed Thukela Handicap and possibly Vino Veritas in the Gr 3 Campanajo.

Van Zyl said, “No Worries’ blood reading has indicated he is incubating a low grade virus and we didn’t feel his last run warranted him taking his chances in the July. However, if he recovers in time we will run him in the KZN Breeders Million Mile and depending on how he does there he will take his chances in the Gr 1 Champions Cup (Greyville July 25 over 2000m).”

No Worries went into last year’s Million Mile very well weighted carrying 54kg, as he was only a two-time winner at that stage, and he duly won by a comfortable 3,25 lengths. However, this year he will have a much harder task as he is now a four-time winner and will also accrue a 2kg penalty for a Gr 2 win in the last 18 months, having won the Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m last October.

Redcarpet Captain ran a fine second to the top class sort Seventh Plain in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m on May 23. The classy Captain Al colt showed the ability to both relax in the running and accelerate smartly in his victorious debut over 1000m at Turffontein and followed up by winning the Gr 3 Englezakis Protea Stakes over 1100m at the same course. His well-being was below par when fourth in the Gr 1 SA Nursery and that report was substantiated by his excellent Medallion run. Van Zyl believes Redcarpet Captain will love the step up to 1400m. He will have to make up 2,75 lengths on Seventh Plain, which will be no easy task considering the latter didn’t look to be stopping at the end of the Medallion, and there are also other horses like Rabada that have put up their hands since then. However, he should make a bold bid.

The four-year-old Seul Amour gelding Heart Of A Lion has run one of the most eyecatching Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup trials to date. He weaved his way through from the back of the field to finish a 1,75 length third in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m. He was only merit rated 95 for that race but was giving 1kg to the winner Solid Speed, who is being touted as a top Gold Cup candidate. The handicapper has kept him on 95, meaning he will need to run a big race in the Gold Vase to book his Gold Cup place. Van Zyl said he had come out of that last race well.

The yard have identified and sorted out a problem with Banbury so believe she will be a lot better in the Garden Province than she was in the Gr 2 Tibouchina over 1400m last time out, when finishing 7,5 lengths behind Hammie’s Hooker. Van Zyl has no illusions about the strength of the field she will face in the Garden Province, but believed that at her best she would be up to it.

Van Zyl was very pleased with MLJet’s first outing for the yard in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and said, “It was a pleasing race with first time blinkers. He didn’t quite stay the trip and 1600m will be much more down his alley so the Thukela will be the perfect race for him. The Daily News would have brought him spot on for that race.”

Vino Veritas is an ever improving four-year-old filly by Silvano, who has won five times including three of her last five starts. The yard will see how she goes in the Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks over 2400m on June 21 before possibly running her in the Campanajo over 2200m. Two of her wins have been over the tough Turffontein 2200m and on pedigree she should enjoy the Oaks trip.

By David Thiselton

Picture: No Worries (Nkosi Hlophe)

Afrikaburn

All about the race

Posted on by

DATE: Saturday, 4 July 2015, Day and Night

AGE/ CONDITION: 2 Year Olds at Level Weights over 1400m

ENTRIES: 11:00am Friday, 12 June 2015 – Fee: R 1368

SUPP ENTRIES: 11:00am Friday, 19 June 2015 – Fee R 5472

WEIGHTS: Friday, 12 June 2015 Colts and Geldings: 60,0kg, Fillies: 57,5kg

DECLARATIONS: 11:00am Monday, 22 June 2015 – Fee R 5472

2014 Golden Horseshoe

Horse: Afrikaburn

Jockey: Karl Neisius

Trainer: Dean Kannemeyer

Owner: Mr A L A Crabbia

Breeder: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

ABOUT THE RACE

Content required

ROLL OF HONOUR

2014

Afrikaburn an impressive winner of his first two starts in the 2014 Champions Seaseon, was quick out the gates and showed early speed to find a mid-field position around the turn. In the straight Karl Niesius slipped him up the inside rail and he ran on strongly to comfortably hold the filly One Fine Day and Harry’s Son who found traffic in the straight.