Seasoned trainer Pat Lunn knows his way around a thoroughbred but competitive horses were hard to come by in the latter part of his career forcing him to hand in his trainer’s brief. Leading Highveld trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren was quick to recognise a good horse when he saw one and Lunn is now his KZN assistant.

Model Man and Northern Princess – who could ever forget the match race between Northern Princess and Senor Santa that attracted a massive crowd – were two of Lunn’s best horses but he also had a way with sprinters and his expertise was to the fore when Robberg Express won at Scottsville back in December last year.

A bleeder with dodgy engineering up front, Lunn did a superb job in getting the gelding to the races. “He’s a bad bleeder and does not have the best of legs,” Lunn confided after that win. “I did not do a lot with him before this race, hoping that he would run fresh. He’s a good horse.”

Rider Keagan de Melo echoed those sentiments and said his mount had strengthened up and was good enough to win a few more races.

Robberg Express gets his chance at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday where he takes on a useful field of sprinters in the sixth. That last win came in yielding going and with some precipitation predicted for the weekend, give in the ground and a light weight can see Robberg Express home.

Clinton Binda is becoming something of a regular to KZN and on a tricky card he could get Pick 6 punters off to a winning start in the third with the lightly raced filly Afriel. She does not face the strongest of maiden fields and was narrowly beaten in her second start at the Vaal. Anton Marcus gets the leg up. Of the balance Chanel allure started at long odds last outing but made marked improvement in blinkers and a repeat could see her finish in front of Noble Freedom again who has shown recent improvement. Upset material could come in the form of True Jewel who found strong market support at her last start on the Highveld and although finishing down the field may be worth including in the exotics.

The balance of the card looks decidedly tricky.

In the fourth, Popova has been showing signs of returning to form for her new stable and with a light weight and a good draw must have a big chance. Bint El Malak regained her position at the top of the log for the Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge when finishing third on Wednesday after gaining entry via the reserve bench at Scottsville yesterday. Paul Lafferty has every intention of letting her line up again on Sunday, “depending on how she pulls up,” he said. She has been doing well from poor draws.

Itsapleasure is lightly raced but has shown promise while Suzie Woo has a tough draw to overcome but her form has been franked and she has been showing good work at home.

Louise Goosen saddles Gravitation in the fifth and the signs point to a good run.  He has only had three outings for Goosen, the first a disaster when dislodging his work rider, but he has since put up two good sprints. The son of Rock Of Gibraltar is bred for this trip and with a light weight and a good draw he makes plenty of appeal and Goosen is hopeful of a big effort.

Marcus has stuck with the luckless but always consistent Roy’s Physco but it has been a long wait between drinks. He looks the biggest threat to Gravitation as he is never far back and a second win is long overdue.

By Andrew Harrison

Eric Sands, who had to wait until the last before gaining Rainbow Bridge compensation on Sun Met day, has his horses in fine form and Still Tappin looks good for the Tabonline.co.za Maiden at Kenilworth tomorrow.

The Ridgemont filly with the North American pedigree has been placed on all four starts and, despite being drawn widest of all, she was only caught inside the last 100m when beaten by the smart-looking Voice Of Reason over this trip last time.

Admittedly she again has a poor draw but Anton Marcus can be almost guaranteed to make light of that. The selection is going to be a warm favourite – she was priced up at even money yesterday – but she has the best form and is rated 3.5kg better than the other six who have been given a mark.

Marcus may also win the Cape Town Prawn Festival Maiden on Al’s My Daddy for nephew Adam 40 minutes later. All the colt’s three runs have been good and he is 1.5kg top-rated. The main danger is probably Half And Half. The Justin Snaith runner was two and a half lengths further back sixth last time but Richard Fourie had to ease when suffering interference in the closing stages.

Water Spirit, 7-2 favourite for the Racing Association Handicap, is Marcus’s only other ride and comes here after running in the Pinnacle won by stable companion Front And Centre. This is obviously a considerable drop in class but she has been done no favours by the draw and it could pay to look elsewhere. The Greg Cheyne-ridden Gimme Gimme Gimme is a tentative selection and is attractively priced at 11-2.

Musical Glitch is the most experienced horse in the opening two-year-old race and, possibly significantly, the Glen Kotzen filly has been backed from 6-1 to 7-2.

Delta Queen, on the other hand, opened 5-2 favourite and has eased to 3-1 but it still might be worth taking a chance with the Dean Kannemeyer newcomer. By Var, Keagan de Melo’s mount is out of River Jetez who won the Met and a Group 2 in Dubai, and was a sister to Pocket Power. She cost R2 million and Dean Kannemeyer would not be running her so early in the season unless she was good enough to at least go close. Of those that have run Trickster makes most appeal.

Purple Cloud opened favourite for the other two-year-old race and the Candice Bass-Robinson newcomer has been firm in the market. The R800 000 purchase is by Soft Falling Rain out of a mare who won eight sprints. Aldo Domeyer’s mount gets the vote but watch out for fellow first-timer Soft Day.

By Michael Clower

The Highveld classic season begins tomorrow and the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas and the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas form the respective first legs of the SA Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara. 

The field lining up in the Gauteng Guineas shows just how strong the current crop of three-year-old males are around the country. Ikigai had shown touches of class before his last start in the Tony Ruffel Stakes and he then showed true class when destroying the field by 4,50 lengths. On pedigree he will enjoy the step up in trip and he has a fair draw. Shango looked immature in his races before the Dingaans where he then won impressively, so he has a fine chance too as he should have improved again since then. Green Laser is the dark horse having improved to win the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m where he showed a good turn of foot. He has a good draw here.

Riverstown is another progressive and classy type and he should enjoy the step up to this trip, although he does have a tricky draw. Frosted Gold is a classy and courageous type but he looks held by Shango on the Dingaans form. This mile looks to be the top of his stamina range, but he does have a plum draw. Youcanthurrylove is a progressive sort who has won his last two handicap starts over 1800m with ease. His 1600m form doesn’t read as well but he has likely improved since last running over this trip and he will enjoy the standside track with its long straight. Eden Roc was a top class two-year-old who possessed a terrific turn of foot. However, he lacked scoped and has duly disappointed this term to date. However, he is drawn in pole over an ideal trip and can’t be written off just yet, particularly as he has “super sub” Raymond Danielson aboard. Leopold is well regarded and could earn a cheque.

In the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas Summer Pudding is unbeaten and although her form has not worked out particularly well she is by Silvano so can up her game here again. Furthermore, she is drawn in pole over this ideal course and distance. Magic School has always struck as a classy sort and has proved it with a one length second to the classy Frosted Gold in the Graham Beck takes over 1400m and a close third last time in the Three Troikas Stakes over 1400m. She should relish this course and distance as one who can turn it on before staying on resolutely. On pedigree, being by Philanthropist out of a Right Approach mare who won over a mile, she should also love the trip, but on the downside she has a tough draw and the blinkers are on for the first time.

Mill Queen only just failed in the Grade 1 Thekwini over this trip ate the end of last season and in her only start this season she won the Starling Stakes over 1400m. She needed that run and showed how big her heart is by fighting off a challenger. She has not had an ideal preparation but her class coupled with her courage could pull her through from a good draw. Snow Palace has fine form if her last start is ignored. That was over 1800m in soft ground and she led, so can perhaps be forgiven, although there is some rain forecast. She is an effective front-runner at her best and her draw of two is ideal for her style.

Keep Smiling faces Summer Pudding on the same terms as when losing to her by 0,30 lengths in the Fillies Mile over course and distance so can’t be written off. Risk Taker packs a strong finish and is interesting stepped up in trip. Spiritofthegroove is well drawn and was only narrowly beaten in the Three Troikas, although she was well beaten in the Fillies Mile. Victoria Paige is progressive but has a very wide draw. 

By David Thiselton

Vaughan Marshall and the owners of Sun Met hero One World will meet next week to decide whether the four-year-old should race on or be retired to stud.

Ken Truter, who owns the colt in partnership with his wife Jane, Etienne Braun and Braam van Huyssteen, said yesterday: “We have already received offers but we have said that we just want to enjoy the moment for now and let the emotion die down before we decide anything.

“We will meet with Vaughan probably next week and have a chat about what’s best for the horse, whether he goes to Durban or goes to stud.”

Marshall did not send horses to Durban last year but he is going to this time. Obvious targets for One World would include the Rising Sun Gold Challenge on June 13 and the WSB Champions Cup on July 25.

But the financially prudent course of action would be to retire the horse while his reputation is sky high. If bookmakers were betting on next week’s decision that option would be odds-on as would Klawervlei as the choice of stud.  John Koster’s big Bonnievale operation bred One World and stood his sire Captain Al. It already stands two stallions by Captain Al – William Longsword, the Marshall-trained winner of the 2016 Cape Guineas, and Captain Of All who won  three Grade 1s for Dennis Drier – but seemingly this is a sire line that you can’t have too much of.

Domeyer

Aldo Domeyer has been given a ten-day suspension for causing interference to Hudoo Magic when winning the last on 4-1 favourite Fabian at Kenilworth last Saturday week. Hudoo Magic was knocked off balance, Corne Orffer was forced to check and his mount finished last.

No date has been set for the suspension. Domeyer will obviously want to be free to ride at the big Prawn Festival Cape Derby meeting on February 22 but he will also want to have the ban out of the way before he returns to Hong Kong.

Two pars to add on the betting for Kenilworth Saturday (around 3.30pm)

He was in devastating form on Sun Met day and he rides in six of the eight races at Kenilworth on Saturday. The early betting would suggest that his best chance is on the Candice Bass-Robinson newcomer Purple Cloud in the second of the two juvenile races. The grey colt heads the market at 33-10.

Met winner M.J. Byleveld has seven rides, notably Fynbos who has opened 2-1 favourite to take the Betting World Handicap for Marshall. But, as so often this season, it is Anton Marcus who punters can be expected to concentrate on. The four-time champion flies down for just three rides and all head the market. Still Tappin (Eric Sands) and Water Spirit (Brett Crawford) carry the Ridgemont colours while Al’s My Daddy is for his nephew Adam.

By Michael Clower

The future of the Klawervlei Stud-bred Sun Met winner One World will be decided after the connections have sat down and discussed it next week.

Trainer Vaughan Marshall described the win on Saturday as “very special”.

The Milnerton-based trainer’s third Met victory fell 21 years after he had won a Juvenile Plate race at this same meeting with a two-year-old colt called Captain Al and it fell 34 years to the day after his first big career win with Sea Warrior in the Grade 1 Richelieu (Cape) Guineas.

His success with Sea Warrior inadvertently helped him acquire Captain Al, who ultimately had a massive impact on his career.

Marshall has now trained two Met winners by Captain Al, Hill Fifty Four in 2014 and One World this year. (His first Met victory was in 1996 with the Lustra gelding La Fabulous).

Captain Al, born in 1996, was the result of a chance mating.

John Koster had become firm friends with “Uncle Mannie” Dos Santos, who stood his mares on the Koster Brothers’ Klawervlei farm near Bonnievale. The mares were registered in Dos Santos’s name for their first two breeding seasons and thereafter became the official property of the stud.

Hence, Koster Brothers officially owned the former Dos Dantos mare Off To War when she was sent to the sought after sire Al Mufti in 1995.

John Koster recalled, “It was impossible to get a booking to Al Mufti in those days but we made an agreement with Wayne Veitch, a syndicate shareholder in Al Mufti, whereby if the foal was a filly he would get a third of her.”

However, the resulting foal, Captain Al, was a colt so was fully owned by the Kosters and Dos Santos in partnership.

Sadly Uncle Mannie passed away before Captain Al was born.

His son Gary took over the management of his bloodstock.

On John Koster’s advice Gary decided to race Captain Al together with his late brother Anthony.

Gary consequently bought Koster brothers out of the partnership.

Gary sought a new trainer and John Koster recommended the relatively young trainer Vaughan Marshall.

Koster recalled, “Vaughan was the first trainer I became close friends with. My father had imported the stallion Complete Warrior and Vaughan trained Sea Warrior, who was from Complete Warrior’s first crop, to win the Richelieu Guineas.”

Captain Al’s dam, Off To War, was also by Complete Warrior, so, all in all, it made sense to send Captain Al to Vaughan Marshall.

Marshall was a Natal trainer at the time Sea Warrior won the Guineas at Milnerton on February 1, 1986, but later set up a satellite yard at Milnerton before moving there permanently.

Koster said about Captain Al, “He was quite dumpy as a weanling but then suddenly grew and gained a bit of scope.”

Captain Al made his debut on January 23, 1999, over 1000m at Kenilworth and Marshall was confident. He was backed into 15/10 favourite and won by 4,50 lengths under Jeff Lloyd despite jumping a patch at the 850m mark.

He consequently went off as 4/10 favourite on Met day February 6 and won by two lengths under Robbie Fradd.

Captain Al went on to win the Grade 3 Matchem Stakes over 1400m, the Grade 1 Cape Guineas, the Grade 2 Merchants over 1200m and the Grade 2 Diadem over 1200m.

Koster recalled Jeff Lloyd not being at all worried by Captain Al’s wide draw in the Cape Guineas.

“He said that draw allows you to stay out of trouble. Likewise, Hill Fifty Four won the Met from a wide draw, One World won it from a wide draw too and William Longsword won the Cape Guineas from a wide draw.”

He continued, “I thought it was a very brave ride by MJ, especially considering some believed there was a slight stamina doubt.”

He added, “The influence of Giant’s Causeway can be seen in One World. Giant’s Causeway was called the iron horse and used to love to eyeball his opposition. One World also loves a dog fight.”

One World’s British-bred dam Aquilonia is by Giant’s Causeway.

Koster said, “Anthony Stroud bought Aquilonia for Bernard Kantor to send to Count Dubois. Later when Bernard joined Klawervlei she became part of our broodmare band. Aquilonia had earlier produced a filly by Galileo who won the Krasnador Oaks and the Krasnador Derby in Russia as well as the Russian 1000 Guineas, so I believed One World would get the Met trip on pedigree.”

Early on Met day Erik The Red gave Captain Al his 99th stakes win when winning the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes.

One World’s Sun Met victory hence, most fittingly, gave the late great stallion his 100th stakes victory.

Captain Al, who was champion sire of two-year-olds many times, was SA Champion Sire in the 2014/2015 season.

Many of Marshall’s Grade 1 victories have been with progeny of Captain Al.

The great stallion’s influence will live on and Marshall has already bought two of William Longsword’s progeny at the Sales.

William Longsword is the first of Captain Al’s classic-winning sons to stand at stud and he averaged more than R400,000 at the CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale last month with his first sales draft.

Koster referred to the statue of Captain Al which stands at Klawervlei Stud to sum up his greatness.

He said, “If you look at that statue it is his incredible balance which stands out.”

He continued, “One World looks just like his father.”

He added, “Both One World and William Longsword have heads which are almost exact replicas of Captain Al’s. All three of them have massive jowels, the sign of a man, and they are nice and broad between the eyes. They have good, strong, bold heads.”

He concluded, “One World has a particularly magnificent eye.”

Racegoers will be hoping to see One World in KZN for the SA Champions Season this winter, while breeders might be planning covers for their mares.

However, they will have to wait until next week to find out the route his career will be taking. 

By David Thiselton

If ever there was a case to be made for horses-for-courses one need look no further than Blaze Of Silk.

Before yesterday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, three of his four wins had come on the Pietermartizburg track and he added a fifth yesterday as he out-gunned the filly La Bella and Hampton Court.

That said, Corinne Bestel is not a fan of the poly track and Blaze Of Silk has been kept to the turf whether it be Hollywoodbets  Scottsville or Hollywoodbets Greyville and he has hardly ever let his connections down.

Sherman Brown, deputising for and injured Gareth Wright, sat in off the early pace set by the filly La Bella but when asked he quickened away to win as he liked.

Favourite Hardfallingrain was in the pack early but fell away to finish with daylight behind him.

Gareth van Zyl has been in racing all of his life, his father Gavin a top jockey and now trainer, and the young Van Zyl has learnt well.

He was the toast of the track yesterday as he saddled a quick double, both ridden by log-leading jockey Warren Kennedy.

Kennedy rode a particularly cool race on Daidala, sitting well of the pace turning for home but threading his way through the traffic for the filly to win well.

“The race worked out perfectly for me. This filly can turn it on.” said Kennedy. “The pace was on, I was very comfortable where I was, I pulled her towards the outside and it opened up like the red sea.”

The combination was back in the winner’s circle 30 minutes later carrying the same silks of Allen Peters. Stepping up in trip, Slievanorra kept rolling to win rather comfortably in the end. Stable companion Queen’s Plain gave some cheek but Kennedy, who knows the stable runners, was confident that once off the bit, Queen’s Plain would not find any extra and it was Green Ice who denied a stable one-two.

Bint El Malak was edged off the top of the table for the Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge log by the long-time maiden Jayden’s Shreya before yesterday but Paul Lafferty’s filly was back in front after finishing third behind Daidala. Getting a run via the back door as a reserve runner. Bint Al Malak is also scheduled to line up at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday where she is destined to take her place according to Paul Lafferty. “That all depends on how she pulls up today, I don’t see any reason why she should not run on Sunday given that she is fit and well.”

Master Of My Fate was not the easiest when in training by Dennis Drier was a big supporter of his first crop and it has paid dividends. But that temperament quite often manifests itself in the offspring and Tarocco is not the easiest at home according to Stuart Ferrie, long-time assistant to Drier. “She had it all her own way today,” he said and the filly rolled home unchallenged under apprentice Luke Ferraris, 36-1 on the books and paying R22 on the ‘nanny’.

The word was out early on course that Sofia Erin was the business in the card opener and those that followed the money were not disappointed as she cruised home unextended.

“We knew that she was going to win,” confirmed Serino Moodley who was recently voted Gold Circle Jockey of the month for January.

“She’s a very classy filly and we knew that she would win,” according to Lezeanne Forbes who is predicting a future for the filly. Relatively new owners Suzette and Basie Viljoen have ploughed plenty into the sport and this was their first winning juvenile.

By Andrew Harrison

The Vaal Classic track hosts an eight race meeting tomorrow and there look to be a few opportunities for punters.

There is some slight rain forecast on the day.

In the first, a workrider’s event over 1 000m, Sexy Cinderella has improved with blinkers and never really had a clear run last time.

She now has Chamu Mabaya up and can go close.

Exultant improved last time when beating Sexy Cinderella narrowly and has Sam Mosia aboard.

Single Red Rose has plenty of pace and benefited from the removal of the blinkers last time, beating both of the first two selections, and she will attempt to give Kelly Fisher her first win in her 21st ride. Cappadocia is improving and is interesting with blinkers now on.

If starting better than last time she should be thereabouts.

Samoa has shown some early pace over 1 200m and finished second in her only start over this trip so is a contender.

In the second over 1 000m Blow Me Down has been catching the eye running on well over this trip and looks the one to beat. However, Soul Connection has been close up in his last two including finishing just two lengths behind the promising Captain Hindsight over this trip in his penultimate start so it would be no surprise to see him delivering.

Var Aglow ran a fair race on debut over this trip and after being a touch unlucky over 1 400m with Gavin Lerena up is back to this trip with Lerena staying aboard.

In the third over 1 450m Creation strikes as one with a touch of class and he now looks cherry ripe to deliver having had three runs after a layoff and gelding.

It is an uninspiring field so he has a fine chance if S’Manga Khumalo is able to overcome a wide draw.  Untamed Tiger has improved with blinkers and is now knocking on the door so can go close from a fair draw of eight. Eppagilia is capable of running on and might need to from a wide draw.

In the fourth race over 1 450m Cotopaxi is knocking in the door and is ideally distance suited.  She is drawn wide but is capable of a strong finish.

Daphne Du Maurier can also be a threat as she is a scopey sort who will relish the step up in trip after plugging on over 1200m on debut.

 In the next race, a MR 88 Handicap over 1 450m, Rooi Tom has faced some of the best of his crop without being disgraced. After winning a handicap in his penultimate start he was raised four points to a 93 and then went close to the promising Dual At Dawn over 1 600m.

He has a fair draw of six with the leading apprentice Dennis Schwarz up so should go close.

Rivonia Boulevard had shown promise as a young three-year-old but then had to have a layoff of over a year for injury.

He made a satisfactory comeback recently over the too sharp 1200m and is now drawn in pole over a much more suitable trip.

Hertog is by Duke Of Marmalade so should be improving all the time and is 2kg better off with Rooi Tom for a 2,25 length beating over 1 400m.

He should not be far off on that bit of form and he has a plum draw of two. Lazarus Tree is a talented individual but needs things to go his way.

He was beaten just a long-head by Rooi Tom last time and is 1,5kg better off, which gives him a fine chance on paper.

However, he had a plum draw last time and now has a tricky draw.

Palace Assembly won well last time over 1 160m when coming from off the pace so is interesting tried over further. In the sixth over 1 000m Captain Hindsight did well first time out the maidens over this trip, producing a late surge to lose by a head. He is the one to beat.

Touch Of Fate was most disappointing in the aforementioned race and was beaten 7,40 lengths by Captain Hindsight. However, that was not his race and he proved it next time when showing place and being caught late over 1 200m. Pillaroftheearth has been knocking on the door and has Gavin Lerena up. Sullenberger can’t be ignored as he has won over this course and distance and has Warren Kennedy up. Pearl Of Siberia, Gemcutter and Anatolio could also earn.

In the seventh over 2 000m Last Of The Legend has been disappointing as he had struck as one with some class but he should enjoy the step back up in trip and he is well weighted and well drawn. Western Fort is an up and coming three-year-old who can continue to progress and he would not be a surprise winner at all from a fair draw with Kennedy up.

He won easily over this trip last time in just his third career start.

At Hand, Christopher Robin and Diorama could all earn in this race over a suitable trip.

In the last race, an uninspiring maiden over 1 800m, Rock You is knocking on the door and being by Judpot should enjoy the step up to 1 800m.

Ocean Forest is by Duke Of Marmalade so should be improving and should enjoy the step up in trip after two fair efforts over 1 600m.

Dance Class ran a fair race over 1 400m last time and is interesting with Gavin Lerena up over this step up in trip, although she does have a wide draw to overcome.

By David Thiselton

The MR system of handicapping pays no attention to number of wins but rather to a horse’s inherent ability. That said, it is still difficult to get around the fact that a five-time winner taking on a one-time winner is not really fair given that the one-time winner has to give weight to a horse that has earned more than three times the stake.

The sixth at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today is a case in point where Moshav, a five-time winner, lines up against a lot of one-time winners with little separating them at the weights.

That doesn’t make Moshav a ‘good thing’ but the six-year-old’s current form suggest that he could be in line for the sixth win of his career.

He made a winning debut for Nathan Kotzen after being re-located from Stuart Pettigrew’s Highveld yard, before losing form and was given a break. He has since come back showing signs of his old self, improving nicely to finish strongly behind Wolfgang last time out and has his third run after a break today that should see him strip at his peak. The blinkers are also back on which all points to a big effort.

One always needs to take note of runners up from the Western Cape having their first local outing and Hardfallingrain is one to take note of especially as Anton Marcus will be aboard Glen Kotzen’s runner.

Three years younger than Moshav, Hardfallingrain has taken on stronger company at recent starts and not finished too far back and the Cape form is often a touch stronger than local. Apprentice Joshwin Solomons took 4kg off his back when four lengths back in a MR90 handicap last time out and he drops a division this afternoon and must be included in all bets.

In August last year, Moshav got the better of Blaze Of Silk, running him down inside the last furlong. Corrine Bestel’s gelding franked that form by winning next time out. Blaze Of Silk is something of a course specialist and in his latest showing when returning from a break, stayed on gamely only to be touched off by Robberg Express, a talented sprinter with a myriad for problems.

Blaze Of Silk does have to give Moshav 3kg which could be the difference between these two.

Le Bella is the only filly in the race and her last three outings have been in yielding going in useful company where she has turned in some useful performances. She showed good pace when tried over 1400m last time out before weakening over the last bit and reported lame after the race.

Back in more suitable company and shrewd judge Garth Puller booking apprentice Jabu Jacobs to give her 4kg relief from the saddle, she could prove a handful for the lads.

Corne Spies has done more travelling than a long-distance lorry driver but wherever his horses pitch, it’s worth taking note.

Baby Let’s Mambo is under a cloud after making seemingly amazing improvement when torpedoing a field at 66-1 two runs back and the gelding’s couple of subsequent efforts have reverted to back-of-the-bus efforts. But he does take a drop in class and his 18-length no-show last time out could count for nothing although punters and the stipes may have a few things to say should he pop up.

A better Spies proposition looks to be Windy Flight, a narrow winner at Kimberley early last month, five days after winning over today’s course and distance. Stuart Randolph puts up 0.5kg over-weight and a four-time winner carrying 54.5kg must carry come water.

Solid Pick 6 bankers are in short supply but the lightly raced King Julian may fit the bill. Shane Humby does not run them often but when he does his charges are usually competitive and King Julian should at the very least be competitive in the seventh.

Not out of the first three in four starts, the blinkers go on and he should go close in what is a competitive maiden.

By Andrew Harrison

Ashley Fortune has some ambitious plans for Invidia who made amends for last time’s disappointing run to storm home in the R5 million CTS 1200 last Saturday and give owner Mario Ferreira a R2.5 million payday.

“I am going to take him back to Johannesburg and go for some of the big sprints, perhaps the Computaform (May 2),” she said before reflecting on the horse’s third to Pure State in the CTS Ready To Run. “It may have been a bit far for him – the whole family are five and six furlong horses – but also I don’t think he was as well then as he is now. But this was my first winner in Cape Town and what a way to break the ice.”

She and her husband were intent on celebrating. She used her teeth to speed up the removal of the gold foil from the proffered bottle of champagne before Andrew grabbed hold of it, shook it powerfully and sprayed everyone within reach like Lewis Hamilton.

Fortune proved a powerful draw on the victory rostrum and when he moved to join Deez Daganand at the microphone the crowd surged forward in expectation of entertainment. They weren’t disappointed because the somewhat one-sided interview proved to be pure theatre. Fortune didn’t need questions, he already knew what he was going to say and the words poured forth as readily as the champagne. His choice of words might have broken many of the conventions of political correctness (and doubtless horrified some people) but Fortune spoke from the heart, leaving no-one in any doubt about just what victory in such a valuable race meant to him and the crowd roared their appreciation.

Sadly the television cameras had already switched to events elsewhere. Fortune’s excitement and enthusiasm would have provided a wonderful advertisement and certainly a far more powerful one than all the normal material that the operators use to try to attract custom.

Domeyer

Aldo Domeyer, who rode Invidia and made it a day to remember by winning the Bidvest Majorca and the Cape Flying as well, summed up his take on all the success by saying: “Have a bit of faith and these things can happen.”

Domeyer is a deeply religious man and in the days leading up to his win on Silver Mountain in the 2015 Cape Fillies Guineas he prayed for the Good Lord to calm his nerves which were threatening to get the better of him. Even today he crosses himself every time he rides into the winner’s box and he revealed some of the background to this after Russett Air’s victory, saying: “I would like to dedicate this win to my Gran who died recently. She said ‘Keep making the sign of the cross.’”

Count Jack

Plans for Count Jack, the Jackson colt who won the R5 million CTS 1600, are dependent on what the handicapper does to him. Brett Crawford is under no illusions -“He has now won four out of six so he is going to get a pounding.”

The Big Five Syndicate has made a handsome profit on the horse’s R250 000 purchase price and includes Irish bloodstock agents Ross Doyle and Mick Flanagan who used to work for Mike de Kock.

Varsfontein homebred Erik The Red, who made much of the running to give Justin Snaith his first success in the Met day two-year-old race for four years (he had won it five times on the trot before that), is to be entered for the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion at Scottsville on May 30.

Snaith said: “I had done as little as possible with him, and there were no grass gallops, because I believe that horses of his size should not be going that fast so early in their careers.

“I am going to consider the Scottsville race but, if I have any doubts, I will pull him out as the race has proved to be the end for many horses.”

Silver Host got into the City Of Cape Town Politician with second bottom weight and so he is going to find it much tougher in the Cape Derby on Saturday fortnight. Indeed CTS 1600 runner-up Sachdev looks a more likely candidate to give the stable its fourth success in the Grade 1 ten furlong.

But the trainer said: “Silver Host is a horse with a lot of potential and I kept him away from several races because I knew the handicappers were itching to get at him. He will be one of the big runners in the Derby.”

By Michael Clower

Aldo Domeyer had the finest day of his racing career at Kenilworth on Saturday and it proved his standard of professionalism and horsemanship has sharpened to a genuinely world class level.

Domeyer’s three big wins comprised two Grade 1s as well as the joint richest race in South Africa and he came from off the pace with perfectly timed runs in all three of them.

His successful stint in Hong Kong played a part in raising his game and he said, “When I got to Hong Kong there were things I thought I knew but soon learnt there were points I needed to sharpen up on. You don’t really think about it or notice the improvement, you make adjustments, certain points click and without really realising it you’ve taken the next step.”

With the skills upgrade also came composure.

He said, “My father said to me on Friday evening, ‘Are you nervous?'” and I replied ‘No, I don’t get nervous anymore’. I used to get anxious about what might work out and what might not, but not anymore. I think it is just down to life experience and constantly being on the big stage. In Hong Kong everything happens at a high tempo and I have consequently calmed down and become a lot more composed. The composure helps you to slow things down a lot. To have more time makes a huge difference in any sport.”

Domeyer’s win in the CTS 1200 was a particularly emotional moment as the winner Invidia is trained by Ashley Fortune, the wife of his father Andrew Fortune. It happened in sad circumstances too as Andrew lost his beloved mother just two weeks ago.

Aldo and Andrew had agreed on a plan for the race in the build up. He said, “We agreed this horse needs to be ridden with confidence.” However, it was only Aldo’s professional composure which kept this plan intact.

He explained, “The horses were winning from the front and when I got to the parade ring my father suggested we should maybe change the plan. I just smiled at him. He then said, ‘Listen to me, the course is running quickly!’ The more he said it the more I just smiled at him. I didn’t want to have my judgement clouded and change the initial plan we had both agreed on.”

Domeyer had been given a tremendous feel by Invidia when riding him work earlier in the week and had made an instant decision to not sit on him again before race day.

He said, “I wanted that last feeling he gave me in my memory.”

He continued, “He was on his toes in the parade ring, which worried me, but my father just told me to give him some love. I patted him and stroked him as I got up and, it was amazing, he eased down instantly.”

Domeyer gave him a good warm up at the start and the horse then “told him” he was ready when he stopped trotting and relaxed.

Domeyer stuck to the original plan. A few of the other jockeys were aware of the conditions, so went up handy, and this worked in his favour.

He said, “In races like this it is best to ride for a place and if the horse is good enough he can go through and win.”

Invidia was switched to the outside for a run and passed the other four still in contention to win by 0,75 lengths from Cartel Captain.

Later, Domeyer went into the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship believing he had a chance on the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained What A Winter gelding Russet Air.

He said, “He had a solid record and had built up into a nice, big horse and was improving.”

Russet Air’s previous start had given Domeyer confidence he would be cherry ripe for Met day.

He made a split second decision in the race on Saturday to stick to the rail having noticed Morne Winnaar was alone on the rail ahead of him.

He said, “Morne is always able to keep horses going for a long time so I knew he would give me a tow to where I needed. I knew I wasn’t on the best horse so I waited for the big horses in the pack to challenge each other and hoped they would falter.”

The jockeys of the big guns had a lot of respect for each other, so engaged quite early and the effort soon told. It was the moment Domeyer had waited for and he pounced. Russet Air flew up on the inside rail from near last and got up to beat Bold Respect by a shorthead. Domeyer was particularly confident ahead of the Grade 1 Bidvest Majorca over 1600m as he knew the defending champion, the Bass-Robinson-trained What A Winter filly Clouds Unfold, had been given the perfect preparation. Furthermore, she was now “boxing over her own territory” i.e. a mile.

Domeyer’s confidence soared when he felt Clouds Unfold “gliding” in the running. He said, “Not many horse can do that. It is a feeling of a flowing stride, movement of authority. I knew then I would be able to wait as long as I wanted. I think I even sat behind a horse at the 200m mark. Then I saw Celtic Sea going and I went and knew I would get her as Clouds Unfold has a big heart.”

The classy filly powered through to beat the champion Celtic Sea by 0,30 lengths. Domeyer later got the best out of Twist Of Fate in the big one, the Sun Met, finishing fourth. Domeyer has come a long way since winning the Sun Met in 2013 as an unheralded rider on the rank outsider Martial Eagle. That might well have been the pivotal moment of his career so it was fitting his greatest day to date happened at the same meeting.

By David Thiselton