Andrew Harrison

Hot on the heels of War Of Athena’s win in the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 last Saturday, Paul Matchett and owners Roy Wentzel and Dr Rose Waterman-Wentzel were back in the Grade 1 spotlight as Battle Force recorded his sixth win in just a dozen starts when landing the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday.

 The Golden Horse is always a competitive handicap sprint but Matchett, many times champion trainer in Zimbabwe, knows how to play the handicap game. Battle Force was 2.5kg under sufferance in the official ratings in spite of carrying joint bottom weight but the gelding was still under the radar as far as the handicap was concerned. He had received the maximum of 8 points for each of his last two wins but it could have been more.

Matchett also persuaded Craig Zackey that it would be to his benefit if he lost a few kilos to make the weight. “I haven’t ridden 52 for at least four years,” panted Zackey. “I had to lose 5kg in a week.”

There were many anxious moments for the connections as Battle Force first cast a front shoe on the way to the start and while being re-shod, cast a hind shoe. “He was a handful,” admitted Zackey. It was finally decided to remove both hind shoes. “We thought he may be scratched at one point,” conceded Wentzel. “But Paul to his credit knows the horse well and suggested that he run without the shoes.”

“To go through all that frustration and win shows that he’s a good horse,” concluded Zackey.

Sean Tarry saddled Eden Roc to win the Gold Medallion two season’s back and he came up just short as he finished runner-up ahead of a wall of horses headed by MK’s Pride in third.

It was also a second Gr1 win in a week for freshman stallion Act Of War.

Singforafa, third behind Celtic Sea and Run Fox Run last year, put the record straight as she galloped her opposition into the ground in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint Brought to you by The Witness. Singforafa is well travelled as Corne Spies is never one to sit back home with a fit horse.

However, Singforafa had something of a patchy record in two recent visits to Scottsville. On both occasions she looked a blinder at the weights in lesser company but failed to deliver.

That was not the case yesterday as she found her best form. Ryan Munger had her out with the pace early and she just kept rolling.

Favourite True To Life was in trouble early as Gavin Lerena hunted daylight but she was never travelling well enough to take any gaps and she finished a well beaten fourth with Vernichey, last year’s Allan Robertson winner, just getting the better of Gallic Princess.

Vaughan Marshall has an eye for a yearling, one only needs to go back in his record, starting way back when with Cape Guineas winners Sea Warrior and Captain Al.

He looks to have picked another plum in Ambiorix who added to an already phenomenal Champions Season for Marshall with victory in the Gr1 Gold Medallion.

An end to end winner on debut, Luke Ferraris admitted to making a mistake when beaten in the Cape Nursery. “I may have made a mistake. I had him in behind horses and it didn’t look like his run.

“I asked Mr Marshall if I could ride him like in his first race. He has a very relaxed running style. He pinged the gate and just kept rolling.”

Calvin Habib is slowly building a reputation as a reliable rider on a big occasion and he cemented that opinion with his first Gr1 winner when steering Under Your Spell to a convincing win in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship, giving Sean Tarry a one-two with Sound Of Warning edging out hot favourite Sheela.

Given that Lyle Hewitson is the Tarry first-call rider, Sound Of Warning appeared to be the stable elect after Under Your Spell took a seven-length drubbing at her last start in the Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery.

It was obviously a below par performance as she had twice previously had the better of Nursey winner Heavens Girl.

Racing handy for much of the race, Under Your Spell went clear 300m out and was not for the catching. Short-priced favourite Sheela was in trouble a long way out but was game enough to make Sound Of Warning work hard for her second place.

Andrew Harrison

SOME unseasonal rain during the week has forced Gold Circle to postpone today’s scheduled meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville to today in order to give the track extra time to dry out.

Scottsville hosts its biggest meeting of the year with a jackpot of Gr1 Sprints, the Golden Horse backed up by the Gr1 Gold Medallion, Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship and the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint brought to you by The Witness.

A soft track adds an extra dimension to the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint, the toughest handicap sprint in the country, and always an intriguing contest with all 16 runners fairly evenly matched in spite of some smart sprinters being under sufferance.

Out to defend his crown in the Golden Horse is Sean Tarry’s runner Warrior’s Rest. He fought a thrilling duel with Ultra Magnus last year, scraping home by the shortest of short heads but he has only had two further outings, the last in November last year when down the field behind stable companion Eden Roc.

Tarry has a knack of earmarking big races for his charges and getting them there with as much in their favour as possible and although Warrior’s Rest has not seen a racecourse in seven months, you can bet that he will be ready to deliver tomorrow and some give in the ground is likely to suit.

Whether he is good enough, only the race will tell as the list of possible winners is a long one.

 Paul Matchett, successful with War Of Athena last Saturday, saddles Battle Force who is one of four three-year-old’s in the field. He is 2.5kg under sufferance in spite of carrying joint bottom weight but he may still be under the radar as far as the handicap is concerned. He has received the maximum of 8 points for each of his last two wins but it could have been more. Most of the recent winners have come from the bottom of the handicap and Battle Force has been in excellent form of late. Paul Peter’s colt MK’s Pride is a smart three-year-old and has the distinction of having beaten War Of Athena and Got The Greenlight. He was far from disgraced in the recent WSB Guineas but could be better suited to this tough 1200m. Mike Azzie is a bit of a Wizz when it comes to sprinters and he saddles Bohica who finished second best to top sprinter Rio Querari in the Computaform Sprint last time out wearing first-time blinkers. He is overdue although he does carry the steadier of 60kg.

Var’s Vicky is no slouch and has had a look at the course and Captain Tatters, although under sufferance, was given a poor ride in a workriders race and off 52kg he could easily make the frame.

True To Life is the highest rated runner in the SA Fillies Sprint brought to you by The Witness and strictly on paper should prove difficult to beat. She finished fourth last year behind multiple Grade 1 winner Celtic Sea and subsequent Gr1 Cape Flying Championship winner Run Fox Run and if she brings that form into the race, it will take a good one to beat Johan Janse van Vuuren’s filly.

It will be a scrap for the minor places. Paul Peter saddles Sarah who showed improved form in blinkers last run although she has always been consistent while although Gallic Princess ran below par last time out with three of today’s opposition having finished in front of her, her form before that was solid and she should be ideally suited to this course. Frank Robinson fitted Love Bomb with blinkers for her last start and last year’s Golden Slipper winner roared back to form. She has always been held in high regard by the stable.

Azzie has made no bones about his unbeaten filly Sheela labelling her as one of the best, if not the best filly that he has trained. The form suggests that he’s not far wrong after she put one over the colts in the Gr1 SA Nursery winner. She looks to be something special.

Possibly standing in her way is the unbeaten Sounds Of Warning who has drawn in the gate alongside. She has had the benefit of a look at the Scottsville track, winning last time out and Tarry has a smart record at this meeting.

The Gr1 Gold Medallion looks more competitive with a number of unbeaten runners testing their mettle. Good Traveller has the best record in that he is unbeaten in three and boast two wins on this course which could just give him an edge over the Tarry-trained Pyromaniac who has won both of his starts on the Highveld. However, he comes from a strong stable that had three other runners entered. Isivunguvungu shed his maiden at first time of asking in open company. The opposition is stronger this time around but he should have come on with the experience and Gimme The Prince is also a winner of his only start.

David Thiselton

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE’S FESTIVAL OF SPEED meeting is the only one in the country to stage a Jackpot of Grade 1s and this TAB exotic is always well supported.

The first leg is the Allan Robertson Championship for two-year-old fillies and Sheela, one of two possible meeting bankers, runs here. Mike Azzie called her the best filly he had trained since Harry’s Charm, who won seven of her first eight starts in the 1990s including two Grade 1s. Sheela, by new sire The United States (Galileo), has proved it by winning easily on debut despite being squeezed out at the start and then winning the Grade 2 SA Nursery against the boys, beating the talented Smorgasbord with the rest of a well performed field in a different race. In form twice SA champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo takes the ride. The chief danger could be another filly unbeaten in two starts, Sound Of Warning, who is trained by Sean Tarry, who has won a total of twelve Grade 1s at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. This filly recorded a faster time than Good Traveller, second favourite for the Gold Medallion, when winning the Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m here last time out. Stablemate Under Your Spell disappointed in the SA Fillies Nursery but had a tough draw and she had looked all class before that so can bounce back. SA Fillies Nursery winner Heaven’s Girl had been defeated twice by Under Your Spell before that but is improving and can be in the shake up. Super Siri has to be respected coming from Cape Town form. Crimson Causeway and Opening Shower are dark horses to consider. 

In the Gold Medallion Gimme A Prince, whose mother Real Princess won a Grade 1 at this meeting, hardly came off the bit when winning over course and distance on debut and won with ears pricked so he will be hard to beat and is the other possible banker. The Tarry-trained Pyromaniac makes appeal too having won both of his starts well and as one with stout breeding he should relish the testing nature of this course. It’s About Time won well second time out at Kenilworth and is the dark horse. Ambiorix, Gallic Chief and Irfaan’s Boy make most appeal of the rest.

In the SA Fillies Sprint True To Life is in devastating form and can produce her strong on the back of her high cruising speed to win. Vernichey was unlucky in the Computaform Sprint when just a length behind True To Life and she won the Allan Robertson last year so knows her way around this course. Winter Smoke finished a fine third against the boys in the Listed In Full Flight Stakes last time over 1100m here and should be right there.  Ecstatic Green bounced back to form last time and was a narrow runner up in the Allan Robertson last year. Sarah finished second to the smart Celestial Love last time and that puts her in with a shout here. Sweet Future was third in that race and has scope for improvement. Mind Reader is the dark horse as one who has blossomed into a powerhouse sprinter and although all her wins have been over 1000m she has often won going away. Vihaan’s Pie comes off a good win here. Singforafa, Gallic Princess and Tropic Sun are hard to ignore.

In the Golden Horse Sprint Battle Force is officially 2.5kg under sufferance but his merit rating is likely capped as he has been given maximum eight point raises for his last two wins. He is all power and is the one to beat. Vars Vicky has been targeted at this race and makes most appeal as the danger. However, it is as open as usual. Cartel Captain, MK’S Pride, No Laying Up, Chimichuri Run, Ultra Magnus, Bohica, Kasimir and Captain Tatters all warrant consideration.   

David Thiselton

The Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap, run over 1800m at Turffontein today, is a traditional Vodacom Durban July pointer and this year it could fall to a horse who has already booked his place, the Stuart Pettigrew-trained ExpressfromtheUS.  

He has to carry topweight but regular physiotherapy has helped bring the best out of this horse and his class could carry him to victory with topweight of 61.5kg.

Chijmes produced a late charge over 1400m in his first start for the Johan Janse van Vuuren yard so will be interesting here if the same hold up tactics are employed from a wide draw as he is more suited to this trip. 

Bingwa is drawn well over a suitable trip. He is capable of winning this, having won two of his last three starts and having finished third in the Dingaans and fifth to top three-year-olds four times this season.

Running Brave has Greg Cheyne aboard, a hint that he will ride her in the July. Her last run was all wrong as she did not break well and then took hold of the bit and over-raced. When she settles in front of smallish fields like this, she proves difficult to overtake, so she has a fine chance if bouncing back to her best.

Johnny Hero has a fair draw over a suitable trip and has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight so he also has to be included.

Green Haze lost by a quarter of a length to Johnny Hero last time over this trip on the Inside track and is half-a-kilogram worse off if apprentice claims are ignored and 3kg worse off is they are considered. However, there is a reversal in draw fortunes as he is now drawn in pole. He has won over this course and distance before.

Jet Start is an in and out horse but if it pans out well for her she can beat fields like this. However, a wide draw does not augur well for her.

Pack Leader has become as disappointing on the Highveld as he was in the Cape and KZN but he does have the ability so is another who can’t be ignored.

Shango is a former Dingaans winner who has been beset by problems since then. However, he has his third start after a long rest and gelding so is another who is difficult to ignore. Christopher Robin has not been seen since February but is course and distance suited. He enjoys rain softened ground but is unlikely to get it according to the sunny weather forecast. Oyster King has improved but is way out at the weights and will have to improve again.

David Thiselton

THERE were doubles for  riders Lyle Hewitson, Richard Fourie and S’Manga Khumalo and for the yards of Wayne Badenhorst/Barbara Kennedy and Robbie and Shannon Hill at the eight race Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack meeting yesterday.

The first race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1500m, saw a jockey strike with Hewitson extracting extra out of the Glen Kotzen-trained Elusive Fort gelding Bush Tracker to beat the odds-on favourite Hasta Manana. Both had performed well against promising horses before but on a line through Chollima it had pointed to Hasta Manana, who now has three seconds from three starts.

In the second the Badenhorst/Kennedy-trained 20/1 shot Capetown Beauty ran without cover in second place but she must have been relaxed in the good hands of champion apprentice elect Kyle Strydom as she found extra late to win by 0,60 lengths from the running on outsider Ballygood with 91/20 first-timer Alittlebitnaughty next best.

Badenhorst/Kennedy then made it a quick double when Owlette came from the box seat to win the 1400m fillies and mares Maiden comfortably in her third start at odds of 25/4, beating the 2/1 fabourite Bella Siccome by 1,10 lengths, under Ryan Munger.

In the next, a fillies and mares maiden plate over 1000m, the often placed Paul Gadsby-trained Airbuzz found a strong finish to win comfortably at the 12th time of asking at 25/4 odds under Fourie.

S’Manga Khumalo gave the Tienie Prinsloo-trained Miss Generosity a finely judged front-running ride in the next over 1000m to win by 0,40 lengths at odds of 91/20.

Hewitson claimed his double in the next over 2000m when extracting extra from the Hill-trained Deorsa in an exciting duel in the closing stages to win by 0,40 lengths at odds of 5/3.

The Hills scored a quick double in the next over 1700m when Fourie rode a superb front-running race on Sea Master to win easily. The once much touted Lion’s Head’s win last time proved to be a false dawn as he was back to his disappointing ways and finished unplaced.

Khumalo was at his best in the last over 1200m on the Nathan Kotzen-trained Loving The Victory as he eased her around the field from a wide draw and her wide run did not stop her winning by 3,10 lengths at the tenth time of asking at odds of 20/11.

David Thiselton

THE Vaal straight course has an interesting eight race meeting today.

Raising A Storm ran on well when stepped up to this trip last time and her high draw might be favourable so she looks the one to beat under the good workrider Joe Gwingwizha. PIck A Lily is by speed influence Willow Magic out of a Kahal half-sister to the Grade 1 Champions Challenge winner Pick Six, so she has a chance of enjoying the step up in trip having landed a few moderate places over sprint trips. Zulu Warcry has become consistent at this level and stays the trip so could also be in the shake up. 

In the second race Bella Chica has plenty of speed and will relish the step down in trip. She has a 4kg claimer up and could land her second career win. Team Gold kicked on well from the front to win second time out and can reverse form with the horse who beat him narrowly on debut, Bronco Blitz. Aunty Lizzy was green when beating an uninspiring field on debut and looks capable of improvement. 

In the third over 1000m Cold Fact, a winner of her first two starts, can bounce back to winning ways as this is her easiest task since then despite having to carry topweight. Social Image also has her easiest task for some time and is capable of blitzing a field over this trip so will be a big threat, although Cold Fact did beat her at these same weights by 3,75 lengths over 1100m. On Cue should enjoy the step down in trip and is another in with a winning chance. 

In the fourth race over 1400m the in form Mike de Kock yard can claim another victory through Power Ranger, who is by Silvano out of the SA Oaks winner Pine Princess. He is a full brother to the unbeaten two-year-old Pyromaniac and has a nice middle to high draw over a step up in trip he will relish. Grimaldi is talented but has issues and this trip is probably his optimum so he is also one to include from a high draw. Light Warrior has the ability to run on well over this trip, especially if finding cover and with Khumalo up should be right there too.

In the fifth race over 2800m Zeal And Zest won well in his first start for Barend Botes over 2400m and although carrying topweight he is officially the best weighted horse in this Middle Stakes event so can follow up. However, beyond him it is wide open although one to note is the front-running Brand New Cadillac who will have an opportunity to dictate from pole position. 

In the sixth over 1000m Ace Of Spades is a progressive sort who looks capable of rising above his current mark of 83. Retallick is a two-year-old but is a big horse who can mix it with the three-year-olds here having done well against his own age group. Lagertha is ultra consistent and should be right there again for an in form yard with Khumalo, who has won twice on her, aboard. Country Squire is also capable of being in the shake up as the form of his win over this course and distance in March has worked out well. Touch Of Fate should have benefited from his last start and Yeni is an eyecatching booking, so he can feature over his optimum trip. 

In the seventh over 1000m Bold Ransom is the joint second best weighted and was not disgraced in the Computaform Sprint so he can make it three wins in three starts over this course and distance. Epic Dream is another one who has to be considered with a 2.5kg claimer aboard over a course and distance he has won over as he is only 1kg under sufferance with Bold Ransom if the claim is ignored. Double “O” Eight has plenty of pace and a good kick so is also going to be dangerous as one of the joint second best weighted runners. Rivarine is the best weighted runner and although he finished last in the defence of his Computaform Sprint title he can feature back at this level where his good cruising sped followed by his devastating turn of foot will be more impactful. Valyrian King is pacey and can never be ignored at this fast track. Mombela is capable of running on  strongly and is another to consider. 

In the last race over 1400m Now You See Me has proven herself competitive off her current sort of mark and she looks the one to beat, although her draw of five in a 16 horse field could be tricky. Little Rain is distance suited and should be in the shake up too.  Dubawi Princes has always struck as one who would enjoy this trip so now that she is in a good vein of form she is interesting stepped up to it again. Me Time could be a runner too if low draws are not disadvantageous. Bebop is another with a low draw who has a form chance. Big City Girl, Laetitia’s Angel and Milan’s Princess warrant consideration too.    

David Thiselton

JOINT VODACOM DURBAN JULY favourite Got The Greenlight will not have another run before the big race and will thus have to defy 87 years of July history as the 1934 winner Sun Tor was the last horse to have come back from a longer break to win the big race.

However this bit of trivia does not overly concern trainer Joe Soma.

Got The Greenlight will have been off the track for 63 days (9 weeks) by the time of the race on July 3, having not been seen since winning the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge on May 1.

Sun Tor’s previous race before winning the July on July 7 1934 was on January 27 1934, when finishing eleventh in a one mile handicap at the Auckland Park race track, meaning a break of 161 days (23 weeks).

Sun Tor was trained by Jackie Angles and ridden to July glory by fourteen-year-old Albert Rugg, who is the late Uncle of current Port Elizabeth trainer Duncan McKenzie and the grandfather of another PE-based trainer Jarett Rugg.

Soma was quick to point out Wylie Hall, first across the line on July 5 2014 before losing the race on a controversial upheld objection, had gone into the race straight from his fourth place finish in the Champions Challenge on April 26, a break of 70 days (10 weeks).

Got The Greenlight put in a good gallop on Sunday and Soma added he was very well.

He would have liked to have got another run into him but there was no suitable race.

He said, “There is a 1400m Pinnacle Plate, but that would not make sense to run in, it would just be putting him at risk. Then there is a 2400m Pinnacle which would obviously not be an option. There is The Jubilee but he would have had to carry 64kg. Perhaps The Jubilee should be made into a conditions race because as a handicap it is just catering for lowly rated horses to try and get into the July. There is also of course the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge but winning that almost automatically makes you the July topweight. After winning the appeal against his merit rating I could not put him in the Gold Challenge. I might be mad but I’m not stupid!”

Soma said his aim until the July gallops on June 24 was too just keep the horse sound and happy and not do anything out of the ordinary.

He said whether he was going in off a one month break or a two month break he would be confident of having him at this best on the day.

He added, “The forced layoff might be a blessing in disguise. I don’t think the July on the new narrower track with 18 horses is as hard a race as it used to be.”

The bay has only had three runs the whole season so is going to come in fresher than a most of the opposition.

Furthermore, Soma confirmed Got The Greenlight continues to improve both in performance and as a specimen.

He said, “He is filling out into his frame and has improved especially through the middle and in the quarter.”

Soma is also proud of another accolade that can be bestowed on Got The Greenlight and that is being the first horse for many years to win Grade 1s as an entire at the ages of two, three and four. The last to have done this was probably Quarrytown between 1979 and 1981 and greats to have achieved or surpassed that feat include Sea Cottage (every year from two to five), Elevation (every year from two to six) and Archangel (every year from two to five).

Got The Greenlight has stayed on a 124 merit rating despite winning two Grade 1s in his last two races so looks to be well handicapped. He is effectively carrying only half-a-kilogram more than he did last year as he carries 55kg this year as opposed to 53kg last year and the official weight for age improvement expected from August last year until now is 1.5kg.

Got The Greenlight has a turn of foot that few can match so is ideally suited to the tight Hollywoodbets Greyville track. He tends to take his foot off the pedal when he hits the front which presents a workable problem for regular rider Muzi Yeni but on the other hand has likely helped keep his merit rating down as he never wins by far.

Soma was impressed by the first three in the Daily News 2000, Linebacker, Rascallion and Kommetdieding, and mentioned Rainbow Bridge, Do It Again and Belgarion as the others he most respected.

However, the horse he most fears is the likely topweight Rainbow Bridge, whom he said had seemed to have improved since being ridden by Luke Ferraris.

David Thiselton

THE Grade 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint is always the most open Grade 1 event of the season and as usual just about every one of the 16 runners has a winning chance.

The three-year-old Battle Force is officially 2.5kg under sufferance but his 106 rating is likely capped as he has cruised to victory in this last two sprint starts, both handicaps, and was raised a maximum of eight points on both occasions. He has a fine chance carrying just 52kg.

Three-year-old Vars Vicky, winner of the Grade 2 Senior Santa, has been aimed at this race and this talented long-strider is 6kg better off with Battle Force for a recent 3.50 length beating over 1200m at The Veal so there is not much in it.

MK’s Pride prefers a touch further but this tough 1200m will suit and he packs a strong finish so should be right there.

Cartel Captain is trained by Dennis Drier who has won eleven Grade 1s at Scottsville and this horse comes off a third in the Grade 2 Diadem over this trip at Kenilworth followed by a win over this course and distance and an unplaced run in the Drill Hall over 1400m. He should be cherry ripe.

Chimichuri Run won this race two years ago and is effectively only three points higher in the merit ratings now and one point lower than last year when finishing a close fourth. He comes off a 3,25 length fourth over the too sharp 1000m of the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint, his third successive place in that race.

His stablemate Warrior’s Rest is the defending champion. This big horse went on to finish second in the Grade 1 weight for age WSB Mercury Sprint last year but is five points higher in the ratings since last year and hasn’t had a run for six months.

Another Sean Tarry-trained stablemate is Eden Roc, a former Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion winner over this course and distance. He finished eighth in this race last year and is now three points higher in the merit ratings following two wins this season, but he has a telling burst when it pans out well and can’t be ignored.

Tarry also runs the Grade 2 winner over a mile Ikigai. He has dropped to a competitive merit rating but continually disappoints.

No Laying Up finished third in the Grade 1 Golden Medallion last year and probably needed his latest outing when a close 0.95 length  fourth over 1100m here to Ishnana. He is 1kg better off with the latter but is officially 2kg under sufferance.

Ultra Magnus was a narrow runner up in this race last year and is in fine form so can go close again despite being seven points higher in the merit ratings.

Ishnana loves this course and distance but is officially 2.5kg under sufferance.

Kasimir is a former Equus champion sprinter. He finished a narrow third last year and is three points lower in the merit ratings so will be a big runner if bouncing back to his best.

Speedpoint was a Diadem runner up last year but disappointed in two recent runs over this course and distance and will need to bounce back.

Bohica has come off second place finishes in the Senior Santa and Computaform Sprint but was raised seven points for the latter performance and it won’t be easy. 

Pearl Of Asia has a good record over course and distance but this is his toughest task to date and he is half-a-kilogram under sufferance.

Captain Tatters is ultra consistent but he has only won once and is 2kg under sufferance.

Andrew Harrison

A ‘morning glory’, the name given to horses that work bombs on the training track in the morning but don’t reproduce on the race track, are mostly a trainer’s nightmare.

No matter the excuses – valid or not – many owners don’t have the patience and the horse is shipped off to another trainer. Owners that have faith in their trainers generally get a payback when the time is right, but those loyal patrons can be few and far between.

As Anne Upton, one of the doyens of South African racing, once commented; “A trainer’s worst enemy it an owner’s best friend”. They don’t bear the costs but always have an opinion!

Trainer’s with owners who understand the sport and who have faith in their trainer’s ability and opinions are a pleasure to have in the yard.

Dean Kannemeyer is fortunate enough to have Gaynor Rupert and her Drakenstein Stud, Karen Newsome of Field Spring Racing and Marsh Shirtliff, all pre-eminent owners based in the Western Cape, in partnership with Lion’s Head who is due to step out in the seventh on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville this afternoon.

Nothing really seems to fluster Kannemeyer, outwardly at least, but he expressed his relief after Lions Head turned on the gas to win his last start in smart fashion.

Gelded and trying the trip for the first time, Lion’s Head accelerated smartly off what was a rather pedestrian pace to put his opposition to bed in a few strides after being nearer last that first turning for home.

An expensive yearly purchase – not necessary the hallmark of a good horse but rather a specimen – Lion’s Head may have taken time to get his act together, but ‘two stones’ lighter and a trip may have finally brought out the best in him.

Lion’s Head faces a more testing task today, that should shed some light on where he is headed, with Gentleman’s Wager, Magical Midlands and the seemingly under-performing African Sunrise in opposition.

You won’t get rich backing Hasta Manana in the card opener as she is deep in the red in the ante-post market but he should be able to boost your bank balance for the rest of the card.

He has put in two smart sprints but should enjoy this trip and has drawn well. Bush Tracker and Arumugam look the main threats.

Top Honours and Neverending Love should see you through the opening leg of the PA but it may pay to keep an eye on the nicely bred first time from the Gareth van Zyl yard, Alittlebitnaughty.

In the third, Quenanza showed good improvement with first time blinkers and she should much prefer this long trip. She makes her poly debut along with Capriana who is seldom far off the pace. The cheek-pieces go on which could see her into the money. Odds-on ante-post favourite is Paul Lafferty’s runner Bella Siccome who made a smart poly debut over course and distance, only run out of it late after making most of the running.

The fourth is something of an open contest but Red Rising made a smart debut on the poly and should come on lengths from that showing.

But there are a number of others that warrant consideration including Airbuzz, Intombi and Namaqua Dove.

The next is a wide-open handicap and it should pay to load up in the exotics. It Must Be Love tops the boards but it is 4-1 the field. Retail Therapy, Beat It and Miss Generosity could prove the pick.

Although the sixth is a maiden, Master Of The North obviously impressed the handicappers as he got a massive increase in the ratings after finishing second over course and distance last time out. He made most of the running that day when stepped up in trip and a repeat could see him go one better. Deorsa has been knocking at the door for some time now but goes this trip for the first time and could finally crack it while Command Council stays the trip and Fourie has stuck by him in this weak field.

In the last, Loving The Victory has the widest draw but has gone close at her last two over course and distance. She could be the one to beat although there are plenty in with chances. Golden Trip did not show first up for her new stable but had shown some promise in the Cape. This is her poly debut and one to watch in the betting.

David Thiselton

THE PAUL MATCHETT-TRAINED WAR OF ATHENA landed her sixth Graded race in succession and second Grade 1 when pulling away from five classy rivals at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 and she has in no uncertain terms vindicated the high marks owner Dr Rose Waterman-Wentzel gave her when first meeting her.
Dr Waterman-Wentzel has been around horses from the age of six and said, “I was at the Sale and I particularly looked at the Act Of War progeny. He was a brand-new stallion and I had just bought a lovely young Act Of War colt for my daughter and he will go overseas to the U.K. as her next ‘forever’ horse.
‘When selecting a horse, after the conformation inspection, for me, it is all in the eye and finally, and most importantly, if the horse ‘speaks’ to me.  If that happens, that horse is coming home with me. War Of Athena was coming home with me and that was the end of that.”
Rose and her husband Roy Wentzel had watched her breeze up gallop earlier and had liked that too, “her action was beautiful”.
However, Rose’s buying method for dressage and eventing competition has always been to view the horse and then wait and see whether there is any communication between herself and the horse. In War Of Athena’s case their was.
The racing industry is in fact “brand new” to Rose but she has been involved in dressage and eventing her whole life and her daughter Major Waterman, was short-listed to be a a member of the British dressage team at the Olympics but sadly her horse developed a problem with his foot and had to be withdrawn.
Roy has been a racing fan for decades and was a prominent owner in Zimbabwe for some 30 years where his horses were trained in Harare by Paul Matchett.
He had been out of the game for about 15 years when receiving a phone call from his son suggesting it was time his colours were seen in the winner’s enclosure again. He met Rose during this period in the racing wilderness.
Roy’s son duly bought him a horse called Senor Lizard for Roy’s birthday. Senor Lizard, selected by Paul Matchett, went on to win three races.
Rose recalled, “It was as I became involved in the racing world I decided to become a colour holder and owner, and so it began. We now have twenty horses, including 4 broodmares!”
One of the first horses Roy and Rose bought together was Twilight Moon. They bought this Wylie Hall colt for R20,000 at the BSA KZN Yearling Sale and after a Listed win, a Grade 3 win and a Grade 2 second for Matchett he was sold to Hong Kong for R2 million.
Rose’s eye for and affinity with horses must be one of the keys to the couple’s eyecatching pink and black colours  becoming such a familiar sight in the winner’s enclosure.
Another current Act Of War three-year-old who must have spoken to her at the Sales is the Matchett-trained Battle Force. He has won five of his last six starts and is one of the favourites for Saturday’s Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint. He was purchased by the Wentzels at the KZN Yearling  Sale for R130,000.
War Of Athena faced her sternest test on Saturday as she was up against a strong representative of Cape three-year-old form, Princess Calla. She beat the latter as a two-year-old in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes but Princess Calla was having only her second start in that race and has since won a Grade 2 and a Grade 3, placed second in the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, third in the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes and fifth in the Cape Town Met.
Princess Calla had plenty of supporters and they had a moment of hope when she moved up strongly in the straight after War Of Athena’s trusty stablemate Only The Brave, also owned by Roy and Rose, had set no more than a steady pace. However, War Of Athena still had plenty in the tank. She treated Princess Calla’s challenge with contempt and drew away from her in effortless fashion to win by 2,10 lengths.
The small filly will now be attempting to emulate the great Igugu by winning the Triple Tiara, the Woolavington and the Vodacom Durban July in one season. To add to the parallel between these two horses, both of them were bought at the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Sale and to date War Of Athena’s only defeat in her official sophomore season has been in the race attached to that Sale, the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup, and that race was where Igugu suffered the only defeat of her career in South Africa.
The stark difference between the pair is purchase price, Igugu, a daughter of Galileo, fetching R1 million and War Of Athena going for a paltry R30,000, testament to Rose’s equine instinct and Roy’s racing knowledge, a lethal combination. 
Muzi Yeni faces a Vodacom Durban July riding choice that will make him the envy of every jockey in the country. He is attached to both the 7/2 joint-favourite Got The Greenlight and to the now roundabout 7-1 shot War Of Athena.
The Wentzels will be hoping he stays aboard their filly as they will have a headache trying to find a jockey of Yeni’s calibre who is able to ride at 52kg.