Cape Derby winner Golden Ducat has been given the go-ahead to travel to Durban for the KZN season and so the intriguing possibility of his coming up against elder half-brother Rainbow Bridge in the Vodacom Durban July could be on the cards.  And indeed Hawwaam, the third Grade 1-winning half-brother, may be there too.

Eric Sands had serious reservations about sending Golden Ducat, explaining: “He had an issue with his hock as a baby and I was a little concerned about him on the hill at Summerveld. I thought I might be aggravating the situation but on the other hand I felt that I couldn’t leave him in his box and protect him for ever.

“So we had a discussion with all concerned (including the owners and Jehan Malherbe), and we decided he should go. The programme as of now is the Daisy Guineas (May 1), the Daily News (June 6) and maybe the July.”

The Cape Derby winner has gone on to take that season’s Durban July three times in the last 17 years with Dynasty (2003), Big City Life in 2009 and Legislate six years ago. Golden Ducat is a best-priced 33-1 in the pre-nomination July betting. Rainbow Bridge is second favourite at 11-2 and Hawwaam heads the market at 4-1.

Rainbow Bridge, beaten less than half a length in last season’s race, returned to Milnerton from his holiday home near Paarl last week and, according to his trainer, “is looking really well.”

He and Golden Ducat will travel to Summerveld at the beginning of next month as will WSB Cape Fillies Guineas runner-up Driving Miss Daisy. Sands  has still to make a decision about Larentina who was fourth in that classic.

Rainbow Bridge will follow the same route as last year – the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall (May 1), the Rising Sun Gold Challenge on June 13 and then the July – but his trainer is concerned about the different timetable, largely caused by the way the calendar falls.

He explained: “Last year there were five weeks between the Drill Hall and the Gold Challenge with a further four weeks before the July. But this time the respective gaps are six weeks and three weeks. If something goes wrong in the Gold Challenge – a bruised foot or a bang on a joint for example – you have that much less time to get the horse right for the July.

“Furthermore you are expected to take the horse to the course for the gallops in those last three weeks, and I don’t see the point in going there just to give him a canter.”

Viva Rio

Ex-jockey Jimmy Ting will train Viva Rio when the Cape Derby ante-post favourite reaches Hong Kong. Ting, a relative newcomer to the training ranks, is currently tenth on the log with 24 winners.

Those who backed the horse would have preferred him to have run in the February 22 classic – and so, apparently, would have Glen Kotzen but under the terms of the deal (brokered by Green Street Bloodstock) the horse was sold without the engagement.

“It would have been lovely to get the money and win the Derby – and I tried to get a deal with the engagement – but the purchasers didn’t want that,” Kotzen explained. “In fact I thought we were going to run which was why I didn’t scratch him until the Friday afternoon. I had to wait for the money to come through.”

The exact sum has not been revealed but Kotzen says that, even if Viva Rio won the Derby, the July and a whole lot more, he would not have earned what the new owners were prepared to pay.

Marcus

Anton Marcus is back at Durbanville on Saturday when he has four Ridgemont rides – Flame Tree, Yorktown and Private General for Brett Crawford and Still Tappin for Sands. His only other mount is Savea on whom he won at Kenilworth ten days ago for his old boss Paddy Kruyer.

By Michael Clower

Johan Janse van Vuuren has two of the most exciting fillies in the country in True To Life and Lady Of Steel and they will both be nominated for the same race, the Grade 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m at Greyville on April 5, an event which is often used as a springboard to the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas on the first night of the SA Champions Season.

Both fillies won good races over the weekend.

Lady Of Steel is unbeaten in four starts from 1200m to 1600m and looks full of class.

On Saturday she finished as strongly as usual to win the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m at Turffontein Standside by 2,25 lengths under Chase Maujean.

She ran off a merit rating of 98 and carried only 52,5kg but she did have to overcome a tough draw of 13.

She will continue to be trained out of Turffontein and her participation in the Umzimkhulu might depend on the draw she lands.

Janse van Vuuren is also considering a tilt at the Grade 1 HSH Prince Charlene Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein on April 18.

True To Life has exceptional natural speed and she displayed this again on Sunday when easily winning a 1400m Pinnacle Stakes event on the Greyville turf.

She sat in second behind a slow pace and had soon quickened away from them and beat some useful KZN-based females, including Grade 1 winner Camphoratus, by 3,50 lengths without coming off the bit.

True To Life’s only defeat in five races over sprint distances was in the SA Fillies Nursery when a four length third to the outstanding Basadi Faith.

However, she has failed in both of her attempts at a mile, although both were at Grade 1 level.

Therefore, Janse van Vuuren will run her in the Umzimkhulu and decide from there whether she has another attempt at a mile in a race like the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas or whether she comes back down in trip for races like the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint.

True To Life was bred by the outstanding breeder Robin Bruss and is looking to have a bit in common with the Bruss-bred Equus Champion Sprinter Will Pays, who defied his breeding as his sire Imperial Stride won a Group 2 over a-mile-and-two-furlongs and a Group 3 over a mile-and-a-half and his dam Rattlebag won a Grade 3 over a mile and finished third in the Grade 2 Natal Oaks over 2400m.

Bruss always breeds a horse with the Vodacom Durban July and the Sun Met in mind. He said thus there had to be a combination of stamina and speed, with the latter required in order for the horse to have the necessary acceleration.

He added, “But in thoroughbred breeding, being what it is, you can end up with the opposite to what you intended.”

True To Life’s sire Duke Of Marmalade was a European champion, whose five consecutive Group 1 wins as a four-year-old were from a-mile-and-two-furlongs to a-mile-and-a-half.

Her dam Mina Salaam won a Zimbabwean Grade 3 over 2000m and a Listed race in South Africa over a mile and she has plenty of stamina in her pedigree.

Bruss believes there are two reasons why True To Life is doing so well over shorter trips.

Firstly, Duke Of Marmalade is by Danehill, whose only Group 1 win was over six furlongs and as one of the all-time great thoroughbred stallions he became a particularly exceptional speed influence.

Bruss knows True To Life well as he bought her back at the sales when not realising a good enough price and owned her for her first couple of runs before she was bought out of the Roy Magner yard by Janse van Vuuren’s chief owner Laurence Wernars.

He reckoned the second reason for her doing well over shorter trips to date is she weighs in at 550kg and as with humans it is difficult to carry heavy muscle over long trips.

However, he said with age she might indeed be able to stay the mile.

Sunday’s run was encouraging from that point of view as she had failed in her only previous attempt at that 1400m course and distance in the Grade 2 Golden Slipper.

Whichever route these two fillies go they should make headlines in the SA Champions Season as they both possess true class.

By David Thiselton

One World, one of only two entire horses to win the Sun Met in the last 16 years, is to stand alongside the other one (Futura) at Drakenstein Stud. He will not race again.

No stud fee has yet been announced but John Freeman reports that the syndication is almost complete. The four-year-old, winner of ten of his 14 starts, is one of the last top sons of Captain Al trained by Vaughan Marshall who won the Cape Guineas with the subsequent champion sire in 2000 and with his sons William Longsword and Tap O’Noth.

One World, bred by Klawervlei and bought for R425 000 at the 2017 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, won over R5.6 million for owners Etienne Braun, Braam van Huyssteen, Ken and Jane Truter. His Met time was the fastest since Pocket Power won the great race for the first time in 2007.

He has the pedigree to make it as a stallion. His dam is by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Storm Cat European Horse of the Year Giant’s Causeway (known as The Iron Horse for his tough constitution and battling qualities) while One World’s grandam was placed in the Prix Vermeille and is a full sister to a French Oaks winner.

By Michael Clower

Horses are generally understood to be able to cope with extreme heat provided there is a breeze. The problem at Durbanville on Saturday was that there was hardly a breath of air to alleviate the sweltering temperatures.

“We were concerned,” admitted senior stipe Ernie Rodrigues. “We decided we had to put the welfare of the horses first and so we had a meeting with the trainers and the vets (John Batt and Kate Meiring) before racing.”

The upshot was that horses were taken straight off to be hosed down when they returned to unsaddle – they didn’t have to wait to be inspected first – and extra pipes were laid on. Batt led by example, hosing down horses himself.

Justin Snaith was among those impressed – “We thought it could be bad today and we were worried but priority was given to the horses’ wellbeing.”

Some idea of the temperature can be gauged from the fact that at 4.00pm, when the heat should have abated, it was still 35 in the shade. By that stage punters were also hot under the collar – all eight favourites were beaten.

But it was an appropriate day for Meraki to strut his stuff because few horses have survived as much hardship as he has. “We bought him in Australia and he got travel sickness going from the sales to Blue Gum Farm,” related part-owner James Drew. “He then got laminitis and he got it again here. The other horses we’ve had with laminitis haven’t survived.”

The five-year-old was one of four winners to set new class records and his 1 min 22.38 sec in the Tabonline Handicap was only a tenth of a second outside the 1 400m course record set by One World in the Matchem last October. What is more he did it without Greg Cheyne even picking up his stick. “I didn’t need to and I didn’t pick it up last time I rode him either. He gives you all he’s got.”

Cheyne was also on the mark on the Hassen Adams hat-trick achieving Freedom Seeker in the TAB Telebet Handicap and, as Paddy Kruyer pointed out, Adams is part-owner of Got The Greenlight who won the SA Classic 20 minutes earlier.

Glen Kotzen’s instructions to Sandile Mbheli in the last were to ride Silver Tiara just as he had ridden Mercurana in the Kenilworth Cup. Fortunately he did not follow them with quite the same death-defying verve but he got both the message and the filly up to lead 50m out.

Mbhele was also on the mark in the first, making every metre on Blue Gangsta for Meraki’s trainer Candice Bass-Robinson who completed a treble with the well-backed Holy Warrior (Liam Tarentaal) in the 2 000m handicap.

First time blinkers appeared to transform Dark Mistress who comfortably landed the Racing Association Maiden under Anthony Andrews but Kotzen felt the weaker opposition played at least as big a part.

He said: “She is beautifully bred and cost a lot of money (R600 000) but her work has been a hell of a lot better than her form and I thought she would have won two races back.”

Greg Ennion paid tribute to his assistant Roderick Fredericks after On Captain’s Side led over a furlong out under Louis Mxothwa in the 1 250m handicap. “She is a nice filly but she is a bit of a head case and as mad as a hatter – and Roderick has worked all hours with her.”

Finally Snaith revealed what could be one of the secrets of his training skills after Peaceful Day answered Richard Fourie’s repeated calls to hold off Doppio Oro in the Betting World Handicap. “He has been a little bit disappointing – I thought he might have done something in one of the features,” said the former champion trainer. “But when they are disappointing like that I freshen them up and bring them back in distance.”

By Michael Clower

Blackball had plenty in his favour in the Intelligent Solutions Pinnacle Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday and he scored a bloodless victory, the eighth of his career, in spite of having to endure the tribulations of a false start.

Given that the field was almost a carbon copy of the recent UmThombothi Handicap at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and this being a set weights race, Blackball looked very much the live wire and Gavin van Zyl’s soldier did it in style.

Warren Kennedy, fresh from a successful ride on Summer Pudding in the Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks on Saturday and over a nasty bout of flu, rode the race as if he knew the result. Sitting off the pace, Kennedy threaded Blackball through a gap in the middle of the pack and drove past Silver Rose to win comfortably.

“The false start didn’t worry him,” said Kennedy. “He’s a placid horse but I think it upset our other runner. Marchingtontogether is a bit highly strung.”

“He’s really found his best form,” according to Gavin van Zyl who has a few racing during the season in mind.

True To Life, a touch disappointing in the Cape Fillies Guineas back in December where she finished mid-field behind Missisippi Burning, put the record straight with an easy win in the Conditions Plate.

Tracking the pace for much of the early exchanges, Calvin Habib released the handbrake at the top of the straight and she strode to a commanding victory with Camphoratus chasing in vain and still some four lengths adrift at the line.

With South Africa’s Champion Season on the horizon, the Gr 2 KZN Fillies Guineas and the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 must be on the cards for Johan Janse van Vuuren’s filly although assistant Pat Lunn feels that 1 400m is her game.

Time will tell!

Walls Of Dubrovnik, a son of first season sire Fencing Master, record his second straight win in the card opener. Mike Miller has not been afraid to send his juveniles early and Walls Of Dubrovnik was having his third start in a little more than two months but was delighted to see his charge win well. “I thought he was a bit out of his ground, but he just ate up the ground. He seems to be really a nice horse.” Eric Ngwane, who has been a little quiet since returning from a spell in Mauritius, scoring his first win back on the colt and hopefully this second win will see him get some better opportunities. He rode a confident race and the colt responded. “He jumped a little slow but he was comfortable where he was. I knew I had the race at the top of the straight. I didn’t panic and when I squeezed him, he took off.”

Drier

Dennis Drier is back on his shooting stick at Summerveld after an extended stay in the Western Cape and Master Of Destiny gave him a welcoming return. Master Of Destiny had let the side down on a couple of occasions but the addition of cheek piece to yesterday’s bridle did wonders.

Always up with the pace, Sean Veale sent him about his business at the top of the straight and at first he appeared to be struggling to shed his challengers. However, they soon began treading water and Master Of Destiny strode away to win as he liked with the long-time maiden Master George in vain pursuit.

By Andrew Harrison

Joey Soma is favouring the Vodacom Durban July as the chief target for Saturday’s Grade 1 SA Classic winner Got The Greenlight with the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 as the springboard, although he has not given the future of the now twice Grade 1-winning colt much thought yet and said there were many options.

He said Bernard Fayd’Herbe had got off on Saturday and said he was a top horse who had given him a really good feel and would definitely get the ground of the July.

Soma had stated last year, after Got The Greenlight had stormed home from off the pace to win the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville, that he felt he could be a July horse.

The Gimmethegreenlight colt was subsequently named Equus Champion two-year-old male.  In the excitement of landing the SA Classic for the second time in three years, Soma is yet to watch the replays and analyse the race.

However, he does already have a few questions in mind for Fayd’Herbe. Got The Greenlight had not given Soma any reason to fit a first-time tongue tie and a first-time sheepskin noseband for Saturday’s race, as he has no breathing issues and has a lovely action, but he did go in with those two new pieces of equipment.

Soma said, “He had never really settled in either of his two previous races as a three-year-old so I thought I would put the tongue tie and the sheepskin noseband on. I believe in tongue ties, 99% of my horses wear them. The sheepskin noseband helps them keep their head dropped and balanced and as horses like to see their hooves it can help them extend their stride too. But he did still throw his head around a bit. They seemed to go quickly initially and it was then slowed down. I thought it was a very good ride from Marco van Rensburg in the front on Green Laser. So before I start panicking about him getting the July trip I will be asking Bernard whether he threw his head around because the pace had slowed or was he fighting.”

Durban-born Dayalan Chinsammy is a shareholder in Got The Greenlight and would likely want to see his horse in the July.

Soma added, “Dayalan is passionate about racing, he just loves the game and makes it fun, He has bought a lot of friends and family into horseracing too, which is what the game needs. He has put a lot of money in so deserves his success but at the same time he really loves every one of his horses from the maidens to the Group 1 winners, he is a very good man.”

Chinsammy is no stranger to big race success having also owned the like of Grade 1 SA Oaks winner Ash Cloud and Grade 2 Post Merchants winner Daring Dave.

The other two partners are Soma himself and the prolific Grade 1-winning owner Hassan Adams.

Soma pulled off a fine training feat as he had just four weeks to get his star colt ready after the latter had endured a difficult preparation for the CTS 1600 at Kenilworth.

Soma said, “He had a tough two-year-old campaign and had needed to fill out, so I always had it in mind not to go hard with him as an early three-year-old. He duly didn’t look like a whole horse throughout the second half of last year, but the carrot of the R5 million CTS 1600 was dangled in front of us. He gave Ikigai 7kg and was returning from a seven month rest when beaten 6,25 lengths in the Tony Ruffel. He then had to endure 14 to 16 days of vector protected quarantine where he was only allowed out at 10 a.m. to go and work, and then after a walk in the afternoon he had to be back in his stable by 3 p.m. He hated it. After the journey to Cape Town he still looked a bit ribby, but he still stayed on well in the CTS 1600 for sixth. So those were his first two runs as a three-year-old. After the journey back we gave him a week’s break and back in his own stable he began to thrive. He responded to whatever we gave him and his work was sparkling. In the parade ring on Saturday a number of people commented on how well he looked and said they couldn’t believe how much he had matured and filled out.”

Got The Greenlight stayed on resolutely from a covered up position just ahead of midfield to beat Green Laser by three-quarters of a length with Youcanthurrylove a head further back.

The first three past the post are all by Gimmethegreenlight.

Got The Greenlight’s classiest opposition on the day had stamina and fitness question marks hanging over their heads beforehand, so it would be easy for detractors to punch holes in the form, but in fact his time for the tough 1800m contest was quicker than the winning time of Summer Pudding in the SA Fillies Classic and she is being hailed a superstar.

The HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and Premier’s Champions Challenge are two other options open to Got The Greenlight, but if he does go the Daisy Guineas, Daily News, VDJ route Soma might stable him at Summerveld.

Soma concluded, “My concern is he is at his happiest when in his own stable but on the other hand if he is at Summerveld for three months he might start thinking of it as home.”

By David Thiselton

In spite of his respiratory problems, Blackball has been an honest servant for Gavin van Zyl and his many owners and he looks set for his eighth visit to the winner’s circle when he lines up in the Intelligent Solutions Pinnacle Stakes on the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

The race is almost a re-run of the recent Umthomboti Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville where Blackball ran out a convincing winner in spite of stable companion Marchingontogether starting favourite.

Raymond Danielson, who rode Blackball, said he was puzzled at first why Warren Kennedy had chosen Marchingontogether ahead of Blackball. “I was scratching my head a bit why Warren picked the other one then I saw the weight difference and he was probably on the right one.”

The boot is on the other foot come Sunday with a four length and 4.5kg turn around in favour of Blackball so all things being equal, Marchingontogether will have to start tomorrow to beat his stable companion.

Wealthy has nearly five lengths to make up on Blackball after finishing fourth but he is 4kg better off this time around which brings him well into the picture.

The filly Moon In June steps up in class but Robbie Hill’s charge was a comfortable winner last time out. She is in receipt of 9kg from Blackball which must also put her in the frame.

True To Life made a strong start to her sophomore campaign, beating Ikigai in her seasonal debut and following up in the Magnolia Handicap where she had three lengths to spare over Dancing Queen. She is up against some smart older fillies including former Gr1 Empress Club winner Camphoratus in the Silverline Panel Beating & Spray Painting Conditions Plate.

True To Life’s Highveld form was deemed good enough for her to make the trip to Kenilworth for the Cape Fillies Guineas but it was all in vain as she finished midfield behind Mississippi Burning.

That was not the strongest Guineas field on record but if the merit ratings are anything to go on, she should be right up there.

If Camphoratus, who is rated one-pound better than True To Life under Sunday’s conditions, is anywhere near her best she will give the younger filly a tough race.

She is back on home soil with Robbie Hill after a warm-up over the Turffontein Inner track mile.

Her best recent form has been over ground but she is fully effective over this trip and if not short of a gallop, will be a serious contender.

Also in opposition is Master Keys. She ran a creditable race in the Flamboyant Stakes on Boxing Day from a wide draw and had solid form leading into the race. She is over what looks to be her optimum trip and although the opposing line-up is strong, she is definitely a big runner.

The third is a difficult Fillies and Mares Handicap and it may prove prudent to load up in this the opening leg of the Pick 6. There was a piece of paper separating Mai Tai and Extravargant when last they met and the former went on to frank that form with a win next time out. Extravargant is 1kg better off this time around but the younger filly is still on the up.

Song Of The Forest held on just long enough to hold all at bay last Sunday over the Hollywoodbets Scottsville 1400m and she should appreciate this shorter trip. Love Theme, Someone Exciting and At Your Request are all live runners.

The balance of the card is made up of rats and mice maidens where any form could prove suspect.

By Andrew Harrison

Our Prized Jewel may well have the potential to beat the first-time-out-of-the-maidens bogey in the Hospitality & Venue Booking Handicap at Durbanville tomorrow.

This Brett Crawford-trained Ridgemont filly is bred to be a star – by five-time Group 1 winner Duke Of Marmalade, she is a half-sister to Cape Fillies Guineas scorer Silver Mountain and to the brilliantly fast but temperamental Cloth Of Cloud who won the SA Nursery – and her home reputation preceded her on debut. She started at odds-on, raced prominently and led two furlongs out to score by a length and three-quarters in what looked a reasonable maiden – the three immediately behind her had all been placed on their most recent starts.

“She has got ability and I like her,” enthused Anton Marcus. “She hadn’t been tuned up at home.” However he did add that she might take another run to learn what racing is all about.”

That last point could make her vulnerable against this much more experienced opposition but she has been given a chance by the handicappers. They put her in on a mark of 79 which is more or less what she ran to and makes no allowance for the amount by which she can be expected to have come on.

Greg Cheyne, also retained by Ridgemont, takes over from Marcus and his mount looks reasonably priced at 2-1. This favourite could have most to fear from the other runner in the dark green, blue sleeves, white cap colours –  Proclaimer, trained by the in-form Candice Bass-Robinson and ridden by the under-rated Anthony Andrews.

This one has put up two really good efforts in her last two starts, is well drawn and looks a big price at 7-1.

The betting, although arguably not the form book, suggests that Mon Cherie and Windsor Beat are bigger threats. Both are 9-2 chances. The former has to give weight all round and was hanging throughout the final furlong last time when Windsor Beat was three-quarters of a length behind and is now half a kilo better. Queen’s Club (6-1) was well beaten on her last three starts and there were no obvious excuses for her two most recent efforts.

But one worthy of consideration is the Andre Nel runner Academic Gold who is also first time out of the maidens. She gets in off 78 but her negative is her kiss-of-death draw.

Nippy Sweetie flopped when hot favourite on Cape Derby day and it is significant that Crawford turns her out again so soon. The hint should not be ignored in race one while Tostada looks another for Cheyne in the next.

By Michael Clower

The Classic meeting tomorrow sees Summer Pudding attempting to remain unbeaten and take one step closer to the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara but the second leg of the SA Triple Crown is not nearly as clear cut.

Ikigai won the first leg of the SA Triple Crown, the Gauteng Guineas, and is tipped here to win this leg too but only due to the lack of depth in the field as he has a stamina doubt. The athletic chestnut is full of class and has a fine turn of foot so in expected fast conditions and from a good draw he could be ridden cold and with enough extra down the long straight.

His stablemate Shango would look a good bet here in normal circumstances but has had an interrupted preparation. He can be dropped out from a wide draw as he can come from off the pace, like he did in the Dingaans, but if proving to need it he will have a tough task making up the ground. Green Laser is proven over this trip and was staying on strongly for third in the Gauteng Guineas so he will be a big runner from draw two as he looks to be a progressive sort too. Frosted Gold has finished second to Shango and Ikigai in the Dingaans and Gauteng Guineas respectively but has a stamina doubt. However, he is full of courage and is well drawn, so he could still be in the shake up. Master Supreme is the dark horse despite an official merit rating of a paltry 85 as he is a rangy sort who is improving as he strengthens and he won easily over 2000m last time.

Got The Greenlight can’t be ignored as he won the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m as a two-year-old with a strong late run, which suggested he should enjoy this trip. However, he has only had two runs this season and the last of those was in the CTS 1600 in Cape Town, so the journey might have taken something out of him. Before that he was well beaten by Ikigai in the Tony Ruffel over 1400m, although he was entitled to need that run. Marshall is another one who can’t be left out. He shows exceptional homework but has not quite brought it to the course yet. He has shown glimpses of class though and this good looking horse should stay the trip. Of the rest Western Fort has won well over 2000m and is tough to leave out, although he does have a wide draw to overcome. His stablemate Astrix just failed to hold on for third in the Guineas but might be stretched by this trip. Leopold was a four length fifth in the Guineas and should enjoy the step up in trip so could earn. It is wide open and others like Rock The Globe and Imperial Ruby could also make their presence felt.

In the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic Summer Pudding will relish the step up in trip from the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, which was on the sharp side of her stamina range. This her fifth career start so she will be starting to know what to do and she has relaxed well in the running before anyway so a tricky draw of eleven shouldn’t be too much bother. She is by Silvano, so will be improving, and is out of a half-sister to the Triple Tiara heroine Cherry On The Top, so she has everything in her favour. Rio’s Winter ran on strongly for second in the Gauteng Fillies Guiness but had no answer to Summer Pudding’s late rally. She looks a type who will also enjoy this trip, although her mother Winter Ade also finished second in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and then failed in this race. Her pole position draw will help he cause. Gaian Glory could be the dark horse as she has a fine turn of foot and made her run way too soon in the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup. If ridden patiently here she could produce a late surge. She is a half-sister to Chijmes, who stays this trip. Kayla’s Champ looks likely to relish the course and distance and could surprise. Virtuosa hot the front too soon in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and could earn if ridden patiently. Magic School has the blinkers off and could earn as she made up the ground from a long way back too quickly in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas.  Mill Queen has the class but the trip might stretch her. The KZN raider Dancing Feather will enjoy the course and distance and could earn.

In the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes Mike de Kock’s Buffalo Bill Cody has plenty of class but comes back from a rest and takes on the distance specialist Tierra Del Fuego, who is race fit bit not quite as classy. Barahin, Cirillo and Matador man should make their presence felt too.

The two-year-old features will be interesting and in the first of them, the Listed Ruffian Stakes, Ecstatic Green might represent good value as he caught the eye running on strongly on debut over this trip after a slow start and the form has since been franked.

In the Listed Storm Bird Stakes War Room looks full of class and can remain unbeaten.

In the Acacia Saragon is coming into her own but will have her work cut out keeping the unbeaten and lightweighted Lady of Steel at bay.

The Listed Drum Star could be fought out by Hero’s Honour and Divine Odyssey, although D’Arrivee, Green Haze and Silver God warrant inclusion. 

By David Thiselton

Sean Tarry sends a strong team to Turffontein on Saturday, including star colts Ikigai and Shango who top the boards for the Grade 1 SA Classic, although both of them have question marks hanging over their heads.

Vercingetorix colt Ikigai won both the Tony Ruffel over 1400m and the Gauteng Guineas in impressive style but there is a slight stamina question mark about him.

Tarry said, “He has shown what you would expect considering Vercingetorix is out of a National Assembly mare and there is speed close up in the female line too. However, we have adjusted his work program, he has settled into it nicely and I am a bit more upbeat about him staying the 1800m than I initially was.”

Shango is by the sprinter Captain Of All out of a Jet Master mare who won from 1200m to 1400m but he won the TAB/Betting World Dingaans going away and Tarry has no doubt whatsoever about him staying this 1800m trip.

However, he had to be scratched from the Gauteng Guineas after a minor setback which put him out of work for a three or four days.

Tarry said, “The interrupted preparation has cost him. That doesn’t mean he can’t win as he is classy, but he might prove to need it, the race will tell.”

Tarry would not want to swap this pair’s draws around. Ikigai tends to race handy and has landed a good draw of four, whereas the rangy Shango tends to come from off the pace and can be dropped out from a high draw of 12.

Tarry also runs outsider Rock The Globe and he said, “He flopped in the Cape Guineas but his mile form before that was good (third in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes as a two-year-old) so we have given him the benefit of the doubt and will see how he goes.”

In the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic Tarry said it had been “a tough pill to swallow” to have to scratch Victoria Paige as he had given her a big chance. Keep Smiling is now his only runner and he said, “She finished close in the Fillies Mile but when we stepped her up to 2000m she didn’t see it out, so we have taken the blinkers off to see whether that helps her settle better and then she can hopefully finish better.”

Tarry should have an early chance of landing a feature with Ecstatic Queen in the Listed The Citizen Ruffian Stakes over 1000m. This Gimmethegreenlight filly has some speed and a nice big action and was finishing strongly on debut when beaten just three-quarters of a length into third by Springs Of Carmel. She gets 3kg from the latter and 7kg from the unbeaten Miracle Flight. She has landed the plum Standside draw and has been working well.

In the Listed TAB Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m he also has a good chance with Querari filly Slalom Queen whom he rates as “very decent.” She showed good cruising speed on debut over 1000m, then quickened exceptionally well and also found extra when challenged. She won easing up by 2,25 lengths, but is now up against a seemingly exceptional colt in War Room, although she does receive 4,5kg.

Tarry also runs Willow Express in this race and didn’t want to believe his first start, where beaten 12,50 lengths, so has drawn a line through it and is giving him another chance. He said, “His work is good enough so we will find out.”

In the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m he has four runners and said he felt Cordillera had the best profile considering her weight, draw and form. He pointed out Rockin Russian had bounced back to win well over 1400m last time and the form of that race had worked out exceptionally well. Aurelia Cotta and Saints Alive are also well. Tarry has been impressed with Johan Janse van Vuuren’s unbeaten filly Lady Of Steel and felt she was the one to beat.

In the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes Tierro Del Fuego is course and distance suited and has won five of his last six runs but is up against some highly rated horses like Barahin and Buffalo Bill Cody, who, on the other hand, are returning from layoffs. This will be Tierro Del Fuego’s acid test.

Tarry’s Cirillo also has a high merit rating and he felt he would bounce back to form in the Hawaii. He said, “He has been haemoconcentrating and has had muscular problems but we are on top of it and I am much more upbeat about his chances this time.”

He also runs Matador Man in the Hawaii and said, “His comeback run was poor but he then showed good improvement in his second run. At his best he has a chance although he does unfortunately seem to reserve his best for Greyville.”

In the Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m he has two runners and said, “Silver God is in a good place and the distance should be no problem. His form is decent and he must have a shout. Lord Silverio has his first run after gelding and we hope he can get back to his potential. He might just need this first run after gelding but we expect a good showing.”

In the Listed Aquanaut Handicap Shenanigans also has his first run after gelding.

Tarry said, “He has a good pedigree so we held off but he wasn’t able to use himself properly behind. The gelding has had the desired effect and he is moving well. I would have preferred to bring him back over 1800m or 2000m but he is a nice stayer and should still make his presence felt.”

Tarry hoped to see his other runner here Wonderous Climber bouncing back after being off form but then showing “slight improvement” in his last start over 2000m.

By David Thiselton