Golden Ducat put himself into the Vodacom Durban July betting at 25-1, and his remarkable dam into the record books, when realising his long-held potential after being backed from 16-1 to 10-1 in the ARF Commemorative Cape Derby at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Halfway To Heaven’s first three foals have now all won Grade 1 races – Rainbow Bridge and Hawwaam are the other two – and there is going to be some interest in the next one when the Silvano colt comes into the ring at the National Yearling Sale in April!

The Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein breeding operations are already entitled to take a bow but Saturday’s 10-1 win was also a triumph for Eric Sands who learned an invaluable amount about the complex mental make-up of the family when he trained Halfway to Heaven and won the 2013 Prix Du Cap with her.

It was his decision to geld Golden Ducat in November and to bring him back almost under the radar. “We had to geld him because he was getting impossible and I have won the Derby before by avoiding features with an immature horse,” he explained after greeting his third winner of the race following Jungle Warrior back in 1988 and Grande Jete in 2001.

It was the third Cape Town Grade 1 of the season for Craig Zackey – “Golden Ducat pulled me through the field without me pressing the button and he has a turn of foot as well,” Zackey enthused. “He still looks around but the day he puts his head down and puts it all in you are going to see a really good horse.”

An improving three-year-old, almost certainly still ahead of the handicapper, is what July punters dream about but, before you start comparing the pre-nomination prices, it would be prudent to wait until he is confirmed an intended runner – and that is not the case at the moment.

“I am going to discuss things with Mary Slack, Steven and Jessica Jell as well as with Jehan Malherbe,” said Sands, “and only then will we decide what we should do.”

The stipes provided an interesting footnote to Saturday’s race with their report that Anton Marcus had accepted the mount on Golden Ducat as well as on Cane Lime ‘N Soda who finished only seventh. Seemingly Marcus decided he should remain loyal to Robert Bloomberg and Ron Chetty but he was fined R1 000 by the stipes plus the same amount for exceeding the whip limit. Bernard Fayd’Herbe, fourth on Parterre, was fined R2 500 for the latter offence.

Kasimir has a busy Durban campaign ahead of him after confirming his champion sprinter status by repeating last year’s win in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes – but by God he had to fight for it.

Chimichuri Run threw down the gauntlet on his outer (Gavin Lerena: “He quickened when I asked him to and he fought all the way to the line”) while Aldo Domeyer drove Russet Air up the rails with all the intent and determination of a man possessed. “You always think you are going to get there and I had a great run”).

But Richard Fourie kept asking even when defeat was staring him in the face like a black-framed mirror, and his mount unhesitatingly answered every call. “l know he looked beaten but this horse has a secret weapon – he’s got heart. Also he is game, a true champion and an exceptional 1 200m horse.”

Justin Snaith, winning the race for the third successive season, added: “Kasimir has had a light season – just three races – so I will try and make up for it in Durban and have him a little busier than I might otherwise have done.”

Snaith also brought off a 40-1 shock with the Fayd’Herbe-ridden Crown Towers in the Selangor Jet Master but the puzzle of the day was Front And Centre’s running in the Vasco Da Gama Prix Du Cap. The favourite showed little interest leaving the pens – even when niggled at and pushed along – and for much of the seven furlongs she showed every sign that racing no longer held much appeal. Yet in the closing stages she ran on to finish an encouraging second.

“She didn’t muster any gate speed,” said Marcus. “But it was a better run than last time so I have got to be happy.”

Ridgemont and Brett Crawford still won the race with second string Pretty Young Thing (the first Group winner for Jackson) under an enterprising ride from Greg Cheyne.

BLOB The Asian Racing Conference delegates seemed most impressed with South African racing in general, and Kenilworth in particular, as they returned to their hotels in a fleet of chauffeur-driven Mercedes. An afternoon in the prestigious Peninsula Room undoubtedly helped but they appeared to be much taken with the racing, the crowds and all the attractions laid on for the public.

And it wasn’t only the ARC who were impressed. David Nagle, after leading in Kasimir with wife Diane, enthused: “Well done Kenilworth for the show they have put on.”

By Michael Clower 

KZN has been slow to produce a potential Classic contender but that may have changed in just over a minute at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

Mount Anderson still has a lot of learning to do but Keagan de Melo was a good teacher, not giving his mount time to think as he rushed him home in the Sea Cottage Handicap over 1400m.

Even with the two veterans Collabro and Oloye wrestling for the early lead, the gallop was pedestrian. “They went slow early on and then quickened up at the thousand,” commented De Melo. “He got caught a little flat-footed.” From there it was hard at work and De Melo never let up all the way to the line with Mount Anderson eventually put two lengths over the opposition.

Nicolet Roscoe, who saddled three winners for Dean Kannemeyer said, “He’s a nice horse but still has a lot to learn. This was a bit short for him.”

Whether he is able to match it with the visiting big guns, only time will tell, but on yesterday’s evidence, he’s in with a shout.

There are still five months to go before the end of the current season but Warren Kennedy, barring accidents, looks home-and-hosed. Chasing his first national title, Kennedy has not been tempted to tour the country, plying his trade between KZN and the Highveld, and with the support from some strong stables in both centres and able to ride close to bottom weight, he will be a hard man to catch as he went 52 winners clear of his nearest rival, Greg Cheyne.

The first yesterday was very much a mirror image of the title race as Kennedy bounced clear on the odds-on favourite Jozi Hustle and helped by a stiff tailwind he was not for the catching.

Kennedy gave his supporters plenty of confidence for his second win as he steered Paul Gadsby’s charge Rain Dance to what eventually turned into a rather comfortable victory over the luckless King Julian.

Kennedy had King Julian covered on his inside for much of the early exchanges but on the final turn Donovan Dillon angled out and appeared to have made a winning move as King Julian hit the front travelling smoothly.

Rain Dance appeared to be caught a little flat-footed, but once Kennedy straightened him up and balanced, he reeled in King Julian, the two with the race to themselves.

Explosive Beauty lived up to her name as she ‘exploded’ out of the pack for Kennedy’s third win of the afternoon for Paul Lafferty. Connect Me never looked settled as she carted the field along at a good pace and was a spent force early in the straight. Favourite Jackson Wells looked to have the wood on the field as she moved up on the outside rail before Kennedy produced Explosive Beauty with a telling finish to win comfortably. “I always thought she was a good filly,” said Lafferty. “Thought she was good enough to run in a feature but she refused to jump and had us stumped. We took the ear muffs off and she showed what she can do. She won with a lot in hand.”

By Andrew Harrison

The mare Connect Me has been a solid earner for Ashburton-based Gary Rich and can add to her already impressive tally of five wins when she lines up on the poly track at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Wednesday’s scheduled meeting on the track was abandoned due to torrential overnight rain that flooded the course and even Noah would have been rounding them up two-by-two as a precaution.

Connect Me has yet to win on the synthetic surface but has finished second twice in three starts and was staying on well behind On The Double in soft ground at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last time out.

That said, she takes on a seriously competitive field and one can make out a case for many of the runners.

Jackson Wells finished close-up in her first two starts after ‘winning’ a barrier trial and when Mark Dixon stretched her to a mile at her third start on the poly, she cruised to a five-length win.

The opposition on Sunday is far stronger but she is an improving filly with a good draw and a handy galloping weight.

Arizona Sunset is seldom far off the pace and kept on well for a deserved win on the poly last time out. That form has worked out well with two subsequent winners behind her so she must be in with a strong chance.

Philae was much improved last run behind On The Double and Connect Me but does appear to be better on the turf which is a concern for her supporters.

Collabro may not have achieved the heights of his half-brother and champion Legal Eagle but he has still managed five visits to the winner’s enclosure and can make that six for Dennis Bosch come Sunday. He had a difficult draw last run in the soft at Scottsville and came from a long way back to finish two lengths off the winner. He switches to the poly with a good draw and he does appear to have found his best with the addition of blinkers.

The mare Oloye has been kept to the poly track by Brett Crawford since arriving in KZN from Eric Sands and obviously has some issues. She was given two barrier trials before making a smart return to proper racing in a useful field of fillies and mares and she has the benefit of a light weight.

Ralph The Rascal was a recent maiden winner but won well enough to suggest that he will be competitive off his light weight while Karoo Lark and Mount Anderson also appear to have scope.

In the last, Rocket Fire was sent out favourite last run but was slow to begin and cast a shoe in the running. He can make amends. Mokoko has been trying further but the blinkers go on and his form is consistent while Bravo Zulu is always game and has been consistent of late and can do better than his last run when sent out a luke-warm favourite.

By Andrew Harrison

Long-time favourite Viva Rio rates no more than a tentative selection for the ARF Commemorative Cape Derby at Kenilworth’s Prawn Festival meeting tomorrow. The form of the 18-10 chance is much the best – his Cape Guineas second sees him rated a minimum of 4.5kg clear of the rest – but this is a bad race for favourites.

Every one of them has been beaten in the last six runnings when the winners have included a 28-1 shock as well as others starting at 16-1 and 13-1 – and the gelding’s stamina could well have a hole in it. True, he is by Oratorio who won the Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes over this trip, but most of the wins chalked up in the first three generations on the dam’s side have been over 1 200m.

This could open the race right up. King Of Gems (9-1) won the Concorde Cup and can be excused his disappointing effort in the Guineas as things didn’t go his way that day. Sachdev (9-2) also has strong form claims while Politician-winning stable companion Silver Host is preferred by both Richard Fourie and punters who backed him from 11-2 to 15-4 during the week.

The best outsider could well be Golden Ducat at 16-1. This is a half-brother to both Hawwaam and Rainbow Bridge and last time’s Pinnacle fourth was his first run since being gelded. He is almost certainly a lot better than that.

Kasimir is a confident choice to repeat his victory in last year’s Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes when he became the first successful outright favourite in six seasons. In the Cape Flying Championship he was a race short, and not fully tightened up, but he was still less than a length third to Russet Air and his main threat – at least so far as the betting was concerned – was removed when Run Fox Run was scratched yesterday with an abnormal blood count.

Of course Russet Air could do it again, particularly with Aldo Domeyer once more in the irons, as could Bold Respect who was only beaten on the nod while Chimichuri Run just might be a little bit better than last time’s fifth would suggest.

The favourite in the Vasco Da Gama Prix Du Cap has been successful in three of the last four years but this looks a hotter renewal. The 2-1 favourite Front And Centre is under something of a cloud after failing to fire for no apparent reason in the Majorca and the same applies with Santa Clara. Golden Chance has claims on her Sceptre third but she was beaten more than five lengths.

I prefer to take a chance with 15-2 shot Larentina who was fourth in the Cape Fillies Guineas and who ran as if this could be her trip when finishing like a train under top weight in a 1 200m handicap four weeks ago.

It seems pointless looking beyond Erik The Red in the Kepu Cape Of Good Hope Nursery. The price (6-10) may look prohibitive but the way he won the Met day Listed race – making most and seemingly not all out at the finish – was particularly impressive.

Delta Queen is favourite for the Capetown Noir Kenilworth Fillies Nursery after toying with the opposition on debut but Stuck On You (third to Erik The Red in a good field) is the one with the form in the book and accordingly she gets the vote.

By Michael Clower

Turffontein Standside’s nine race meeting tomorrow includes a Pinnacle Stakes event and two Graduation Plates which have attracted class horses. The Pinnacle Stakes event over 1 100m is very difficult to read as many of the horses will not be at their peaks and, furthermore, the ones who make most appeal have landed disadvantageous low draws. 

Double O’ Eight is in fine form and has not only landed a good draw of eight but has 4kg claimer Philasande Mxoli aboard. Rebel’s Champ has landed the unwanted number one draw. However, he has won here from a similar draw before. As a younger horse he did not enjoy racing among other horses but preferred to be on his own.

He can thus take the shortest way home tomorrow and should not be concerned about racing in isolation. His class could do the rest.

Mardi Gras is a top class sprinter who has always struck as one who would get better and better with age. He duly won with ease in November over 1160m here despite returning from a six month layoff.

He did have a high draw that day so could afford to take a sit and run on. Tomorrow it will be tricky from draw two and apprentice Luke Ferraris is going to have his work cut out. Mighty High is the best weighted horse and would have benefited from her last outing, which was her first of the season.

She has a reasonable draw of six. Basadi Faith won her first four starts as a juvenile including the SA Fillies Nursery and would have needed her recent comeback from a suspension for the epistaxis she suffered in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson last May. She jumps from draw five and has 2,5kg claimer Jeffrey Syster aboard.

Mombela can’t be ignored as he proved last time he enjoys a bit of cut in the ground when finishing second to the top sprinter Mr Flood in the Grade 3 Tommy Hotspur.  His low draw might not be that much of a disadvantageous as he hung in badly in that race.

In the first of the Graduation Plates, for fillies and mares over 1400m, Gaian Glory has a tough draw of eight out of eight but this Visionaire filly relaxes well in the running and has a fine turn of foot. Piere Strydom will be aware that in the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup over this course and distance she made up a lot of ground far too quickly and consequently hit the front too soon.

He will be able to afford to sit on her for a while in the long straight.

Kay Tee Perry beat the promising Cornish Pomodoro cosily second time out over 1160m after showing good cruising speed and a fine turn of foot. This Argentinian-bred is by Orpen, who was top class over six furlongs as a two-year-old and later became a useful miler. Kay Tee Perry thus should enjoy the step up in trip and from draw two is the dark horse. Stage Dance has good form, is drawn in pole over a suitable trip and wears a first time tongue tie.

Gallic Princess charged late to win last time over 1160m with first time blinkers on. Considering she settled well with the headgear on and stays this trip she can be dropped out from draw six of eight and then run on. Frosted Steel is officially the best weighted horse. She still has to prove she enjoys this trip and now gets blinkers on from a tricky draw of five. In the second Graduation Plate over 1800m Heart Stwings has caught the eye from day one and this distance suited horse is now coming into her own.

Secret Dream lands a good draw over a suitable trip and as she is 3,5kg better off with Wild Date for a half-a-length beating over 1600m, so she should reverse the form on paper.

However, the concern is she has choked up a couple of times in her races, including once with her now regular tongue tie on.

By David Thiselton

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

Front And Centre is on a recovery mission in the Vasco Da Gama Prix Du Cap at Kenilworth on Saturday after inexplicably flopping in the Bidvest Majorca.

Last season’s WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner started third favourite for the Met day Grade 1 but finished with only three behind her. The course vet reported that Anton Marcus’s mount came back with abrasions on her left hind, suggesting that she had a bit of a rough passage, but Brett Crawford is not so sure.

He said yesterday: “We didn’t find much wrong. She just seemed to have no gate speed, she was never really travelling well and she produced no finishing effort.”

It was the first time that the four-year-old had raced with blinkers and, although she has been declared to wear them again, Crawford is in two minds about fitting them a second time.

The bookmakers seem to think that Front And Centre will run considerably better this time and most have her favourite at 2-1 with Santa Clara (two and a half lengths in front of Front And Centre when ninth in the Majorca) vying for second favouritism – at around 6-1 – with Cartier Sceptre third Golden Chance.

Crawford runs three in the ARF Commemorative Cape Derby in a bid to win the race for the third time following Jackson (2012) and Edict Of Nantes three years ago. Aldo Domeyer’s mount King Of Gems is the highest rated, and the shortest priced, of the trio and he wears a tongue tie for the second successive race.

“He makes a bit of a noise and we thought the tongue tie would assist him,” explained the Philippi trainer. “He has been doing well, he looks well and his work has been good.”

The Concorde Cup winner is a 17-2 chance with Viva Rio hot favourite at 17-10 ahead of the Justin Snaith pair Sachdev (5-1) and Silver Host (11-2).

By Michael Clower

It would appear from media reports that one of the triggers that precipitated the violent conduct by a small group of irate punters at Hollywoodbets Greyville last week, was primarily aimed at jockey Anton Marcus.

However, his favourite in the first race fractured a leg and the Marcus-ridden favourite in the second, Fergie’s Rock, pulled up lame and unplaced which appeared to spark the protest.

Among other grievances that have subsequently emerged was that Hollywoodbets, the racecourse sponsors and leading bookmakers, also sponsor trainers and jockeys that these punters contended could lead to races being ‘fixed’.

Hollywoodbets have vehemently denied all allegations and there is no evidence to suggest otherwise.

Marcus, who is not sponsored by Hollywoodbets and rides freelance for the most, is one of the sought-after jockeys for his proven expertise in the saddle and consequently rides many more fancied horses than his weighing room counterparts.

He does not always get his pick of rides, “I’m often turned down,” he says, but it stands to reason that his judgement, or that of the trainers who often request his services, may not always be on the mark. In other cases, his mounts may be having an off day or develop some other physical niggle during a race, a fate that can befall any other horse or rider.

Marcus, like all other jockeys, earns his basic salary through riding fees so out of necessity of putting bread on the table, will take rides even if their chances of winning are remote.

The list of possibilities is endless but the simple fact is that his mere presence in the saddle trims the odds on his mounts, whether they have the form to win or not, and are often ‘false favourites’.

The ‘educated’ punter is well aware of this and does not fall into this betting trap easily.

Marcus currently has a national winning strike rate of 30.4% for the season so far, a trend that goes back a decade, while log-leading jockey Warren Kennedy has an 18% winning strike rate. Those percentages increase on their home courses with Marcus on 32.2% and Kennedy 19.4%.

While you can read whatever you like into statistics, Kennedy is riding for his first National Jockey’s Title and the more rides he gets the better his chances. The fact that he still boasts a winning strike rate of close to 20% is testimony to his ability. Marcus, a three-time National Champion and not chasing the title, is more judicious and has 69 winners from just 227 rides. Kennedy has 165 winners from 898 rides.

The national average of winning favourites at all of the country’s courses, Zimbabwe and Mauritius included, for the past three years is constant at around 30% that equates to close to one in every three favourites winning.

By Andrew Harrison

See tables below:

Summer Pudding has come out of her win in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas very well and the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara dream is still alive.

Trainer Paul Peter also has three horses aimed at the second leg of the SA Triple Crown, Astrix, Western Fort and Battle Of Alesia.

Peter believed before last Wednesday evening’s meeting the Fillies Guineas would be the hardest leg of the SA Triple Tiara for Summer Pudding to win as the mile is on the sharp end of her stamina range.

She displayed both her courage and stamina reserves in testing conditions when fighting back after the strong-finishing Rio’s Winter had ranged up to her with 100m to go.

The Silvano filly is out of Cherry On The Cake, who is a half-sister to SA Triple Tiara heroine Cherry On The Top.  

Peter said yesterday, “All is on song for the SA Fillies Classic (a R1 million Grade 1 event run on March 7, also sponsored by Wilgerbosdrift).”

Astrix only just failed to hold on for third in the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas. He was beaten a short-head by Green Laser and was 3,80 lengths behind the winner Ikigai.

Peter said he had needed it and jockey Callan Murray was adamant he would stay the 1800m trip of the SA Classic.

Peter said the tactic to take Astrix handy to try and overcome his wide draw had also probably been a mistake and is now of the opinion he is a horse who needs to “take a sit”. This strategy will likely be used in the SA Classic.

Western Fort, a colt by Elusive Fort, was unplaced on his debut over 1600m last October but followed up with two impressive victories over 1900m and 2000m respectively. He started odds-on for his last start, a Graduation Plate over 2000m, but was beaten narrowly into second by the filly Diorama, to whom he gave 7kg.

However, Peter believed he had a valid excuse and said, “A line can be drawn through that run. He got a bad bump and then had no option but to go to the front. He is not a horse who wants to lead.”

Battle Of Alesia finished a 4,75 length fourth in the TAB/Betting World Dingaans.

He subsequently disappointed when a 1,75 length fourth in a strong Graduation Plate.

However, Peter said, “Warren said he wasn’t trying in that last race. He needed gelding and is better than that run. He has come on a lot since gelding.”

Battle Of Alesia is out of a Fort Wood maiden who placed over 2200m, so he should love the 1800m trip.

Both Astrix and Battle Of Alesia are by the new stallion sensation Vercingetorix, who is a son of the champion sire Silvano.

Peter said, “I don’t have enough Vercingetorix’s, I only have three!”

Peter was hoping he had a shout of winning the SA Classic.

He pointed out there might be a stamina doubt with Gauteng Guineas winner Ikigai and said that although Shango won the Dingaans in commanding style he was by Captain Of All, which also created a bit of doubt.

In other Peter yard news he said the classy sprinter Fly Away had hated the soft ground in the Grade 3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap, where she finished unplaced, and they hoped the going would be on top for her next engagement.

Peter has a four runners at the Vaal today and made Benji, who runs in the seventh, a Progress Plate over 1100m, a “massive runner”.

He said, “It didn’t pan out well for him last time but he still won and he will be better down the straight.”

By David Thiselton

Gary Alexander landed the eleventh four-timer of his career last Saturday at Turffontein and is now eyeing the Vodacom Durban July with two of his stalwarts, Chijmes and Hero’s Honour.

He has other feature race dates in mind for the like of Saragon, Magic School, Just Kidding and Gaian Glory and believes General Jackson can also make the step up to feature class.

Alexander believes both Chijmes and Hero’s Honour will be ideally suited to Greyville as they both have the ability to quicken from handy positions.

Hero’s Honour, who is a five-year-old gelding by Await The Dawn out of a Galileo mare, won the SA Derby two seasons ago but did not winter well that season so did not run in the July.

However, the race he won recently is a good starting point from which to have another tilt.

Chijmes is by the sprint-miler Ato out of a Russian Revival miler called Sophie’s Choice.

However, he has a nice big stride and found extra on Saturday over 1800m when challenged in the final 150m by the decent performers Divine Odyssey and Al Mutawakel.

On that evidence he could get the Greyville 2200m trip.

Alexander said there were plenty of other options for this pair in the SA Champions Season, including the Grade 1 Champions Cup.

Alexander has always thought a lot of the Ideal World mare Saragon, who has now won four of her 14 states. He is considering two Grade 1 events for her, the HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes and the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes, both over a mile. This mare has a fine turn of foot.

The three-year-old Visionaire filly Just Kidding took on the boys on Tuesday in the Egoli Mile at the Vaal and finished second carrying 54,5kg.

She had earlier finished third in the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup.

She could have a couple of SA Champions Season targets and so could the three-year-old Philanthropist filly Magic School.

The latter finished second to Frosted Gold in the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m and finished a narrow third against her own gender in the Grade 3 Three Troikas Stakes over that same Turffontein Standside course and distance.

She was unplaced in last Wednesday night’s Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas but nothing went right for her. She was drawn wide and then missed the break. She moved up well in the straight but the effect of the slow start told. However, she was still only 5,25 lengths back at the line.

She will take her place in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and Alexander believed she would have no problem getting the 1800m trip as she “settles so well”.

Three-year-old Gaian Glory is by Visionaire and is a half-sister to Chijmes. She finished second in the Ready To Run Cup and followed that with a far from disgraced sixth place finish to the top class Ikigai in the Grade 2 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1400m.

Alexander’s run on Saturday began with an easy five length win for General Jackson in a maiden over 1600m and he believed this three-year-old Jackson gelding could improve enough to be aimed at a minor feature soon.

He won the next three races on the card with Fierce Fighter (maiden plate over 2600m), Chijmes and Saragon.

However, this feat does not constitute a yard best. Had two six-timers in the mid-1990s, including once on an eight race card.

He has 70 horses in his yard and concluded, “We have a well balanced string. Chijmes, Hero’s Honour and Saragon are relatively lightly raced so are still fresh horses and we have some above average younger horses.” 

By David Thiselton

Carl Burger has finally lost his long-running battle with ill-health and he was buried yesterday at the age of 60.

The former Philippi trainer had his biggest success when Richard Fourie rode Grey Cossack to victory in the Gold Vase on Durban July day in 2011 – and the win meant rather more to him than it would have done to most trainers in similar circumstances.

“Greyville was my home town, I was born in a hospital nearby and I went to school down the road from the course,” he was to recall. He often played truant to attend the mid-week meetings – “the teachers would go there to look for me on Wednesdays and even as a schoolboy my dream was to have a winner there.”

It was a long time coming. He worked as a farrier from 1980 to 1984 and then joined Metrorail as an electrical fitter “although I was still always going to the races.”

He went on to work as a commodity dealer and was also involved in boxing promotion. But the call of racing was never far away and he worked for Herman Brown snr, Weiho Marwing and Selvan Moodley before setting up on his own account in 2009. Grey Cossack’s win at 13-1 in the following year’s Durbanville Cup was his first feature.

He was one of the first in Cape Town to train for Braam van Huyssteen who was part-owner of Grey Cossack. However his string remained relatively small and, while he shrugged off his increasing health problems, they struck with horrifying vengeance in July 2016. A fortnight after having a quadruple heart bypass operation he had to have his left leg amputated below the knee.

Riaan van Reenen came to the rescue by offering a training partnership (“What are friends for if you are not there for them when they need you?”). It seemed an unlikely combination – two outspoken men each with their own firm views about most things, including how horses should be trained. But for two seasons it worked well before Burger decided he could not continue. Thereafter he was seldom seen on the racecourse.

Van Reenen, who probably knew him better than anyone, said on the way to yesterday’s funeral: “Carl wore his heart on his sleeve and he spoke without thinking of the repercussions but he had a kind heart.

”He also had a great passion for German Shepherd dogs (he had six of them) as well as for horses and indeed for all animals – he couldn’t bear to see any of them suffer. He will be sorely missed.”

By Michael Clower