Summerveld trainer Mark Dixon will be targeting his useful filly Silent Crusade at the Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on April 26 and depending on how well she does there she might have a crack at the Grade 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg (SA Fillies) Sprint over the same course and distance six weeks later.

The Crusade filly won two of her three starts over 1200m early in her career.

She is out of the talented six-time winning Silvano mare Silver Fantasy, who won from 1400m to 1800m, including the Listed Scarlet Lady.

Dixon said Silent Crusade had just come back into work after being given a holiday after her good third behind Roy’s Riviera and Vistula in the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m on Boxing day.

The five-time winner’s chief target for the SA Champions Season will either be the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes or the KZN Breeders Million Mile. She won’t be able to run in both as they are just a week apart.

By David Thiselton

The Robbie and Shannon Hill-trained Camphoratus could well defend her crown in the weight for age Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein on April 18 but it will depend on her draw.

The Byword mare went on last year to finish a fine 2,60 length sixth in the Vodacom Durban July and that race might once again be on her program too, although the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes on the same day is another possibility.

The Hills will give her one more run, or a gallop, before the Empress Club.

That run might be in the Listed Kings Cup over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on March 22, depending on the draw.

Robbie did not feel the athletic five-year-old’s performance had declined this season.

He said in her chief target for the first half of the season, the Grade 1 Gauteng Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein, she had been left “way out of her ground” from a wide draw and had only finished 3,10 lengths back.

He said she is a filly who needs to be left alone and added, “If you use her she doesn’t finish off.”

Camphoratus ran pleasingly at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Sunday.

In the 1400m Pinnacle event she ran on well from last to finish second to the exciting prospect True To Life.

Gareth Wright rode her in both the Empress Club and July last year and was back aboard on Sunday. 

Robbie said Wright would stay aboard as he clearly gets on well with her.   

The Hills also train the talented Moon In June. 

However, Robbie said this four-year-old by Twice Over was her own worst enemy due to her headstrong antics.

He said he would have to find somebody who gets on well with her to partner her regularly.

By David Thiselton

Frank Robinson is targeting his classy mare Roy’s Riviera at the Vodacom Durban July and is also looking forward to a feature campaign with his impressive debut winner Love Bomb.

Meanwhile, his versatile entire Roy Had Enough, who looked to be an Gold Cup contender this year, is likely out for the rest of the season due to a tendon injury he suffered down in Cape Town.

Robinson gave the Australian-bred All To Hard mare Roy’s Riviera a month’s break after her win in the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Boxing day, where she showed her usual fine turn of foot to mow down some good fillies like Vistula and Silent Crusade.

He is now building her up for the SA Champions Season.  

Last year she put up some notable performances in the KZN winter, including a narrow third in the Kings Cup, winning the Listed East Coast Handicap over 2000m and fifth place finishes in both the Grade 3 Lonsdale and the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet.

In the last mentioned of those races she was caught three wide the whole way and yet was still only 1,20 lengths back at the line.

Robinson pointed out she had beaten Miyabi Gold in the East Coast Handicap (by 0,65 lengths when receiving 1,5kg) and the latter had gone on to finish fifth in the July.

He said, “She will come into the July with a light weight and I think she will be a massive runner as she stays well.”

Robinson was confident of two-year-old Love Bomb’s chances before her debut last Wednesday at Hollywoodbets Greyville. 

He pointed out she had jumped left in her barrier trial but had then made up a huge amount of ground in the straight. 

Her finishing position, a 6,45 length fourth to the useful three-year-old Dancing Feather, was no disgrace.

Nevertheless the bookmakers opened her at a generous 18/1, partly due to the presence of the Robbie Hill-trained Winter Whistle, who had done well in a barrier trial. 

In the race, over 1000m, on the poly, Love Bomb relaxed superbly at the back of the field and then took off at the top of the straight. It was soon race over and the strongly built filly crossed the line 4,30 lengths clear.

Robinson will either go the Grade 1 Allan Robertson route, which he is a bit reluctant to do as he said it was a very tough race, or he will aim her at the Grade 1 Golden Slipper over 1400m on July day and the Grade 1 Thekwini over 1600m on Gold Cup day.

Her dam Boloval, who is by Captain Al out of the Grade 3 Debutante Stakes winner Rambo’s Love, was bought for R500,000 at the National Yearling Sales in 2011 into the Herman Brown and Frank Robinson joint training operation. Robinson was left on his own in 2013 when Brown retired and after Boloval’s first three runs for a fourth, second and fifth he was able to purchase her from the original owner for R30,000 on behalf of Greg Whittaker and Gavin Wiggill.

In her first start for Greg and Gavin she won a maiden easily by 2,25 lengths over 1200m at Clairwood. 

Robinson recalled, “She won nicely and I thought she could go all the way. She was from quite a good family and was a monster, big and strong.” 

However, after one more run, she unfortunately rolled in her stable one day and fractured a hock.

Retired to stud, she was then sent to Mogok but dropped the foal mid-term. 

She was subsequently sent to Ideal World, where she once again dropped the foal.

However, she then finally had a full term pregnancy and gave birth to a filly by Oratorio.

The foal impressed Robinson from day one. 

He said, “From day one she was an absolute tank, a ball of muscle. I commented she looked like a ‘bomb’ and so we decided to call her Love Bomb.” 

In conformation she reminds Robinson of the Grade 1-winner he  helped train, Chocolicious, but her win last week reminded him of his good filly Olma, who had four wins and two seconds in six starts on the Greyville poly and was just as good on turf.

Greg Whitaker’s wife owns Love Bomb and her next start is being keenly anticipated. 

Meanwhile, Roy Had Enough will be given three months off. 

Robinson said tendon injuries were usually difficult to come back from but he pointed out on pedigree the Australian-bred by Pierro would make a good stallion as his grandam is a twice Group 1 winner, which included the Australian Oaks.  

By David Thiselton

They don’t come along often – especially in this day and age of fragile, butterball ‘pets’ bred for the sales ring. Putchini, with a no-brand pedigree soldiered through to win his 10^th race from 108 starts at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

The eight-year-old is no Graded Stakes performer but a soldier who has been kept on the boil by unsung trainer Ivan van Wyk. He has had Putchini line up nearly once a month for the past four years, a feat on its own for some would say a miserly R700k considering his record.

According to apprentice Jabu Jacobs who is currently riding the crest, “He went down like a young horse, head tucked in.”

“He’s an old man now and has his niggles so we go slow with him,” reveal Van Wyk who added, “It’s been a long drought.”

“The weather” was the heartfelt comment from one of a party of UK visitors that led in Al Jeezera who finally landed his maiden for Gavin van Zyl, the locals cursing the spell of scorching temperatures over the past few weeks.

At the door for some time, was ‘gifted’ to him according to both trainer and jockey.

“I don’t give Warren instructions. He’s the champion jockey!” said Van Zyl.

“They went hard, slowed it down and I took them at the top of the straight. They gifted him the race,” confirmed Kennedy.

Dennis Bosch is having good success for owner Mario Ferreira who has set up an operation outside of Summerveld. “It’s only been going for three months,” said Bosch, “but we need to pay the bills,” that after Noble Freedom got off the mark in the first, holding on gamely to deny a chasing horde. “He got ‘done’ out of the pens last run but this was a superb ride by Craig (Zackey).”

Perspicuous was hot favourite in the opening leg of the Pick 6 but was given every chance by Anton Marcus.  In contention halfway up the straight, Hamsa Grove motored past to win as she liked.

“We have had quite a few problems with her,” admitted Tony Rivalland who was in the stipes boardroom demanding that she be checked at the start after not being happy with her canter past. “We have had quite a few problems with her. She was cast in the box twice.”

Sean Veale was more pragmatic. “I don’t know what his problem was. She has a workmanlike action,” he said grinning.

“She cost 15 grand – that’s the way to buy them,” concluded Rivalland.

A tongue-tie did the trick for Horoscope Harry after he had reported to have ‘choked up’ at his previous outing when fading out late.

“It had never been an issue,” said Gareth van Zyl. “But thanks to Donovan (Dillon) it worked.”

Always up with the pace, Horoscope Harry won well enough to suggest that he has a future as does White Cedar that arrived on the scene late.

The memorial service for former Mercury Racing Editor Richard McMillan who died on Monday, will take place at the Hilton Christian Fellowship Church HFC (behind Hilton Life Hospital on road to Hilton College) on Wednesday 18^th March at 10.30 am.

By Andrew Harrison

Corrie Lensley ran 18 horses at Flamingo Park on Monday but at next week’s Kimberley fixture he will have only one runner –“and then that’s me finished up there. I am closing the yard completely and concentrating on Cape Town.”

It was originally expected that he would keep the Kimberley operation going. But he has had second thoughts – “If you are not there all the time you will get mistakes.”

His decision to open a yard at Milnerton – even given the uncertainty about the future of Flamingo Park – caused some surprise among the locals, not least because the standard of horses running in Cape Town is as high – some would say higher – as anywhere in the country and that in Kimberley is the lowest.

But Lensley, 56 and christened Cornelius, is under no illusions. “It’s top yards here and you have to have the stock to race against them. I have 22 horses at the moment but only 13 of them came with me. The others were already here – babies on the farms and two that we bought ready-made. I am fortunate in that I have a very good owner, Suzette Viljoen, who has bought some really nice horses.”

But why did he come? Kimberley is to stay open, is it not? Lensley, a big man with glasses, doesn’t hesitate. “You see, when it was announced last year that Kimberley was to close the guys from Kenilworth Racing were good enough to offer me stables. That decided me and, when things changed (Kimberley to stay open), I felt I couldn’t kick them in the teeth by turning round and saying I wasn’t coming.”

And his aims and ambitions? “The first thing is to train a winner in Cape Town, and after that to get as many as I can.”

It might be a mistake to underestimate his abilities. After all he has amassed a lifetime’s experience, has been champion Northern Cape trainer twice in the last four seasons and he went into last Monday’s meeting heading the log. He also sent out a big race winner at Turffontein from there – King’s Temptress who won the 2012 SA Fillies Nursery at 150-1 on debut.

By Michael Clower

The Vaal straight course eight race meeting could start off with a victory for the back in action jockey Muzi Yeni aboard the Weiho Marwing-trained The Contractor.

This Time Thief colt was unlucky in his second career start over 1450m when showing a fine turn of foot and then staying on resolutely. Close to home he was carried out by the shifting Magic Blaze and the jockey also lost his crop. He still managed to narrowly beat Magic Blaze but the interference allowed Master Of Disguise to sneak down the inside and steal the race by a short-head. The Contractor should improve here in his third start and is the one to beat.

Champingatthebit was outpaced over 1160m on debut so should enjoy this step up in trip and should have improved for the experience. PRORZHEIM (9) also came from way back in that 1160m race and beat Champingatthebit by 0,25 lengths and he now gets blinkers on just his third career start. Of the first-timers Expression Session is by Duke Of Marmalade and is a half-brother to the well-performed Whiteline Fever. Blue Moon City is by Marchfield out of a twice winner in Cape Town from 1600m to 1800m. Lear Jet is by Marchfield out of a Port Elizabeth-based Jet Master mare who won four times.

In the second race over 1400m Mynage went close on debut when staying on over this trip and although she doesn’t look to be a superstar she should improve and go close. Swiss Bank didn’t have the smoothest of passages on debut over 1160m but stayed on in a stronger field than this and she should relish the step up in trip. Java House was slow away on debut when beaten 1,90 length by Mynage but has a nice action and looks to have scope too. Powder Puff narrowly beat her stablemate Java House in that race and now gets blinkers on, but the former could improve past her. Anything Goes is the most interesting of the first-timers being out of a maiden by Parade leader who was a half-sister to Capetown Noir.

In the third race over 1200m Incognito wore alumites all around for the first time last time and after a great break she led the whole way and was only caught late. With a similarly good break she is the one to beat. Birdwatcher was beaten three lengths by Incognito in that race but was reported to have suffered a head injury somewhere along the line and she looks to have scope for improvement. Ethel Rose has been kept to 1000m for all seven starts but she stayed on strongly on February 22 so is interesting over this step up in trip. She was also due to run on Tuesday.

In the first leg of the Jackpot Shadow Creek has a nice action and plenty of scope for improvement as he is still immature. He let the leader get too far ahead last time over 1450m and failed by a quarter-of-a-length to catch him and is now, interestingly, stepped down to 1200m with blinkers on. He doesn’t look to have much to beat of the raced runners. Intothemystic finished placed on Tuesday over 1000m and has placed over this trip before, so could earn again. However, the biggest danger might be Shadow Creek’s stablemate Barak, who is a R350,000 Master Of My Fate gelding out of a Captain Al mare who as merit rated 100.

In the next race over 1400m Riverstown has the race at his mercy according to official merit ratings. However, Expressfromtheus, who has a lovely big action, looked useful when winning his maiden third time out easily when stepped up to this distance category and he could pose a threat receiving 3kg. It should be fought out by those two.

In the sixth race over 1400m Lady Of Liberty is going from strength to strength and can claim a hattrick off a four point raised merit rating. Cut Loose won well third time out when stepped up to this trip and looks the chief danger. Miss Khalifa has been consistent from 1200m to 1400m recently and is also in with a shout.

In the seventh race over 1600m The Rising Legend has a string sustained finish and has his third run after a layoff over a suitable trip. Nordic Rebel won going way last time over this trip and will make a bold bid for hattrick off despite a five point higher mark. Bien Venue has a 2,5kg swing with Nordic Rebel for a 1,75 length beating and should also be in with a shout. Royal Italian is better than his last start and now gets a 4kg claimer aboard and is off a lowered merit rating. Greenwood Drive has won twice over the course and distance and Johnny Hero has won his only start over this trip, although he was also due to run on Tuesday.

In the last race Norland is admirably consistent and his formline reads well. Ice Lord is an up and coming sort who should be ideally distance suited. Gentleman’s Wager stays a lot further but in the maidens she turned it on impressively over this trip and has always been a horse with plenty of scope, so can improve more despite being five-years-old.

By David Thiselton

Seasoned horseman and trainer Joey Soma is a firm believer in the use of a tongue-tie for races. “I believe in tongue ties, 99% of my horses wear them,” he told colleague David Thiselton after Got The Greenlight’s win in the Grade 1 SA Classic last Saturday.

Not only does a tongue-tie prevent a horse from getting its tongue over the bit, it also keeps the air passages open and something that may help Horoscope Harry to find his best form on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.

A string of promising performances culminated in a disappointing last effort when seemingly running out of gas over the final furlong after being up with the pace for much of the race.

It was later reported that he had ‘choked up’ in the running which will have accounted for his below par performance.

Gareth van Zyl has declared a tongue-tie for the first time and if it has the desired effect, Horoscope Harry can find himself back on the winning trail.

Matchless Captain and Treading Water are two that can make a race of it. Matchless Captain making all the running under apprentice Jabu Jacobs to shed his maiden while Treading Water is lightly raced but does appear to have potential and any market support could be prophetic.

Of the older runners, Cuvara steps out onto the poly for the first time and the synthetic surface can often see older horses finding their better form.

Anton Marcus has been conspicuous by his absence as he serves out a suspension but he has a chance of making a winning comeback on Garth Puller’s filly Astute Vision in the card opener. She has shown improved form at her last two starts and was ridden by Marcus last time out. The blinkers go on for the first time, probably under instruction from Marcus, and Astute Vision could get the better of Chanel Allure and Noble Freedom.

If Marcus doesn’t make it on Astute Vision, Perspicuous looks to be one of the better bets on the card. Johan Janse van Vuuren’s filly made marked improvement when making her poly debut, going down narrowly to favourite Retail Therapy. She does have a history off shoe troubles that may have accounted for her modest previous showings and her improved effort on the poly track. Also back in action after his enforced six-month lay-off is Muzi Yeni who rides Wild Earth for Nathan Kotzen.

Al Jazeera could be good news for punters in the opening leg of the PA. Gavin van Zyl’s gelding has been knocking at the door and although he was well beaten by the smart-looking African Sunrise last time out, he did have a tough draw to contend with. He had good form over this course and distance before that. Ulterior Motive and The Westerner look pick of the balance.

The fourth may turn into a match race between Guadeloupe and To The Max in a small field. The former made a promising poly debut in her first run in KZN. Craig Zackey stays with the mount and the blinkers go on. To The Max is coming along the right way and should go well over this trip.

Apprentice Handicaps are always tricky but Joshwin Solomons has been booked for two good rides, the first Lasata for Dennis Bosch. The gelding makes his debut for the stable but his recent Cape form was up against stronger opposition than what he meets here.  However, this is not a race to go light in, in the exotics with any number of horses in with chances. The betting could prove your best guide.

Solomons partners Paper Ballerina for Mark Dixon in the last – another difficult race. Paper Ballerina has put in two good efforts since her maiden win and meets some modest opposition this time around. Class Of Eight finished ahead of Paper Ballerina when last they met but is now 4.5kg worse off while Starlight, Ms Rosa Parks and Mythical Magic are all live runners.

The seventh is also wide open affair. Linear is not the easiest but is smart on her day as she showed when a good third behind the promising Mr Fitz last Wednesday. She takes on her own sex here. Made In Hollywood is struggling for her second win but is never far off. She has also dropped in the handicap and should be competitive off her new mark.

By Andrew Harrison

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

It only really sank in for me when dual Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again stepped off the float at Summerveld yesterday. Interviewing Justin Snaith’s assistant trainer Janene Newlands at their Summerveld yard, it occurred to me that South Africa’s Champions Season for 2020 is nigh.

Snaith sent up the first batch of 11 horses from the Cape to settle in to the KZN yard. They walked off the Choice Carriers float looking like they had enjoyed their long journey and were happy to be in the province that is treated to such kind winters near the coast.

We spent some time at the stables before the horses had arrived and there is really a lot that goes on to prepare for the horse’s arrival. The bedding is laid out, the water buckets filled and food prepared. Once they had arrived, they were thoroughly checked by Newlands and Dr Ralph Katzwinkel from the Summerveld Equine Hospital. The report was that they all looked as if they had travelled well. Newlands said that they were drinking which was a good sign and they looked bright.

Dual Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again walked off the float like he owned the place and if he was able to speak I’m sure he would have said “I’m back to defend my crown. I’m not done for yet!” He looked a million dollars and came straight from Drakenstein Stud where he was rested.

There will be more horses coming to KZN from the Snaith yard later in the month and Vaughan Marshall’s string arrives today. Other trainers will arrive over the next few weeks. The Gold Circle media team go out of their way to welcome the visitors and ensure the coverage on social media is great for all to enjoy.   

Bunker Hunt, Winter Is Over, Wild Coast, Crown Towers, Rattle Mouse and Captain Tatters to mention a few accompanied the big boy Do it Again and are here for the big season. Team Snaith are sure to provide us all with some fantastic performances over the next few months.

By Warren Lenferna

Paul Peter described the feeling of landing his first Grade 1 on Saturday as “unbelievable, especially to have done it with a filly like that.”

His star Silvano filly Summer Pudding remained unbeaten and took one step closer to the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara when cruising to victory in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic.

The win catapulted Peter into second place in the National Trainers Championships and his R8,673,625 in stakes is just under R3 million behind leader Sean Tarry.

Summer Pudding relished the step up in trip and won cosily by a length, having had to go all out to win the first leg of the Triple Tiara, the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.

She will take a power of beating in the final leg, the Grade 2 SA Oaks over 2450m.

Peter referred to her as “the people’s horse” in the after race interviews.

He explained to the Racegoer, “She is a big, striking, black filly and the crowds just go crazy for her. She brings such a nice atmosphere to the course. She has such a nice temperament too, she loves people and loves to be spoilt and patted.”

Peter has had about seven or eight runner up finishes in Grade 1s and did go into Saturday’s race with one or two concerns.

He said, “The draw (10) was against her and was always going to be her biggest hurdle. But when they are that class they can overcome it. Warren (Kennedy) rode a great race and gets on well with her.”

Peter was thrilled to have won the race for the breeders Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Studs and the owners Mauritzfontein.

He has a number of horses from this stud operation in his yard and said, “They are tough and sound and have good appetites. One of the main things about a horse is appetite, the more they eat the more you can work on them.”

He described Mary Slack of Wilgerbosdrift and Jessica and Stephen Jell of Mauritzfontein as “very nice people.”

The big meeting was a triumph for the Turffontein community as not only do Paul Peter and Joey Soma, who won the Grade 1 SA Classic with Got The Greenlight, train out of Turffontein but they also grew up in the area.

Peter and Soma’s respective fathers were friends and were regular racegoers.

Peter’s brother-in-law is in fact a cousin of Soma’s.

Turffontein trainers won eight of the 12 races on the card including a four-timer for Peter, who also won both of the Listed two-year-old features, the Ruffian Stakes with Springs Of Carmel and the Storm Bird Stakes with War Room. He later won a sprint handicap with Chief Of State.

Turffontein trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren won the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap with Lady Of Steel and other trainers from the centre, Weiho Marwing and David Nieuwenhuizen also won one race apiece.

By David Thiselton

Former Racing Editor of The Mercury and Racegoer correspondent, Richard McMillan (81) died in a Pietermaritzburg hospice yesterday (Monday).

Richard was well respected in South African horseracing circles for many years as Racing Editor if The Mercury before retiring.  He started his journalism career at the then Natal Mercury and for many years was their shipping editor but his life-long passion for horse racing saw him move to the racing department as deputy racing editor under Jack Ramsay. He took over as Racing Editor on Ramsay’s retirement.

On his retirement from The Mercury after four decades of reporting on the sport, he worked freelance for The Racegoer and Gold Circle. McMillan’s Time Ratings, a unique formula he developed over the years, had an avid following.

An old school journalist, Richard was always willing to go the extra mile to get a story and never missed a deadline – even when hard-pressed by a poor wi-fi signal or a dodgy computer.

He is survived by his wife Yvonne, son Justin, daughter Hailie and grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

 By Andrew Harrison