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.

David Thiselton

THE Vaal Classic track today looks to have some fair opportunities for punters.

In the first race over 1450m Fashionigma was dropped out from a tricky draw over 1400m last time and stayed on well for second. This Master Of My Fate filly has some substance and from pole position is given the narrow vote to beat Pink Legacy and Lollapalooza. Pink Legacy is a rangy and immature daughter of Querari out of the Summer Cup winner Flirtation. She stayed on well for second on debut over this trip and will be a threat from another fair draw. On the downside Flirtation has only produced one winner from four runners to date. Lollapalooza is a similar type to Pink Legacy and should come on from her fair debut when handy over 1200m and finding no extra late. She is by Soft Falling Rain out of Listed Oaks Trial runner up Withbatedbreath (Fort Wood) so will appreciate the step up in trip but she does have a tricky draw of five in the seven horse field.

In the second race over 1600m Motown Magic looks to have a nice action and stayed on well for third from a tough low draw over 1160m at Turffontein Standside last time. This Uncle Mo colt will relish the step up in trip and is drawn well in three. Iron Will quickened well on debut over 1450m and charged into second place and last time over 1600m had to be used up early to get to the front and found no extra. He is now drawn well in two and will be a big threat as he has some scope. Litigation stayed on well on debut over 1200m for third and being by Greys Inn out of a Jet Master mare who has produced the four-time winner from 1400m to 1600m Caesura he will relish the step up in trip and also has a chance from a fair draw. 

In the third over 1600m it didn’t pan out well from a wide draw last time for Last Song but she made up an enormous amount of ground in the straight to run second and she can make amends here in this uninspiring field from a fair draw. Princess Thiana can place in the first three from a good draw. Ocean’s Pride has blossomed as a six-year-old and can place again.    

In the fourth over 2000m Understated is a scopey sort who should be improving and although she would likely prefer further she does not have a lot to beat here and can go one better than her second over 2600m last time. Waltzing Al lands a good draw over a suitable trip and should be in the shake up. Arizona Lady has been knocking on the door and should be right there. 

In the fifth over 2000m Black Thorn has plenty of scope and came from some way back to get up over this trip in the maidens, so he should be able to run on after being dropped out from a wide draw and is the one to beat receiving 6.5kg from Countfonic Legacy. Countfonic Legacy ran on well from near the back last time over 1800m and was just run out of it late by a more experienced horse and it will be no surprise if he make amends here from another good draw although with topweight it won’t be easy. Into The Future will be dangerous from the front from a pole position draw. She led and stayed on gamely over 1450m last time and strikes as one who will stay further on looks and pedigree.

In the sixth race the progressive Al Sakeet is capable of rising above his current 96 merit rating and can make it four wins from five starts. He will be hard to beat and his stablemate Battleoftrafalgar looks the chief threat.

In the seventh over 1200m Toto looks well handicapped and might enjoy the step down in trip. Upcloseandpersonal has good form but has a wide draw. Bella Black, Samoa and Twelve Oaks make most appeal of the rest although punters should go as wide as possible in this race.

In the eighth over 1450m Un Deux Trois has pole position and should be staying on. Khumalo is an eyecatching booking and although she would probably prefer a touch further she could be too good for this Classified Stakes field at the weights. Encore, who is the joint best-weighted horse together with Un Deux Trois, and Rodger The Dodger could be the chief threats. In the ninth over 1450m Funky Music is 2,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horses but has improved and can go close again over a suitable trip. Evening Rise is officially the second best weighted horse in this Classified Stakes event and reverts to the sort of trip of her last two wins.  Louvain, 1.5kg under sufferance with the best weighted, is distance suited and well drawn. Florida Keys is officially the best weighted but has a wide draw and needs to bounce back to form. Brooklyn Bridge and El Romiachi are unreliable but can never be ignored

David Thiselton

Turffontein stages an eight race stand alone meeting on tomorrow and there look to be some fair opportunities for punters.

The highest rated race on the card is the seventh, a MR 96 handicap over 1600m, and The Contractor could claim a hat-trick. This Time Thief gelding got the run of the race last time over 1450m and made no mistake, staying on strongly from a one out and one back position with cover. He beat a fair sort in Bowie, so could overcome the four point raise he was given and he has already proved he stays the mile. Dark Tide packs a strong finish so can afford to be dropped out from a wide draw. He is ultra consistent but does have a three point raise to contend with for his close second last time. Category Four has shown glimpses of class in the past but is yet to recapture his best form since returning from a five-and-a-half month layoff in March. He should be cherry ripe and is 3.5kg better off with The Contractor for a 1,60 length beating which gives him a winning chance on paper, although he has a tough draw of ten. Nordic Rebel can not be ignored in this line up. Dan The Lad is capable and is interesting stepped up in trip off a competitive merit rating. 

In the last race over 1800m Lyrical Dance makes plenty of appeal despite a wide draw. She finished strongly for second last time over 1600m and although her sire Vercingetorix seems to be a speed influence her dam is by stamina influence Jallad and she herself is a half-brother to Summer Cup winner Liege so she should handle the step up in trip. The improving Queen Bomi looks to be the chief danger but Jive Express, Pun Up, Fire Flower and Veld Flower are not out of it either.

The first leg of the Pick 6 over 1200m should be won by Specially Selected who caught the eye on debut when running on strongly late over this trip after being bumped and losing two lengths at the start. This Duke Of Marmalade colt is out of Grade 3 Prix du Cap winner Cuvee Brut and jumps from a plum draw this time.     

The second leg of the Pick 6 over 1200m is tricky as the three horses with the most form to go on, Voltron, La Fille and Lil Wahoo are no great shakes. It could be fought out by two well-bred first-timers, Toto’s Dream, who is by Duke Of Marmalade out of a full-sister to Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 placed One Fine Day, and Night Lily, who is by Byword and is a half-sister to three-times Grade 1 placed Tierra Del Fuego. 

In the fifth race Quantum King is an interesting debutant as he is a half-brother to the Daily News 2000 contender Kommetdieding. He does not have much to beat on debut as the best of those to have run are the like of South Boy, Right Choice and Gimmethepurplelight. Global Vision can also improve and the other first-timer, Samuel L, is by Jackson out of a Listed placed horse in Zimbabwe so can’t be ignored from draw five.

In the sixth race over 1600m the hard-knocking Indlamu should enjoy the step up in trip and is drawn in pole, but does have to carry topweight. The well-bred Archer’s Girl, by Dynasty out of twice Grade 1-winning Dubawi mare Happy Archer, can progress off a lowly mark of 74 awarded for her workmanlike victory over this trip second time out. Oyster King has turned the corner and goes for a hat-trick so can’t be ignored.    

David Thiselton

The Paul Matchett-trained Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara heroine War Of Athena faces the strongest field of her career in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 today but she should pass the test.

She is drawn in pole and has her reliable stablemate Only The Brave in the race again to help ensure a suitable pace. 

War Of Athena has a superb turn of foot that she has displayed at the tight Hollywoodbets Greyville turf track when just failing to fetch the classy Anything Goes in the Grade 1 Thekwini over 1600m last year. This time she is not only drawn better but on pedigree this could well be her best trip. This small filly can march on to her sixth win in succession and eighth win of the season.

She does have an acid test however as she has only ever bumped the cream of Johannesburg’s three-year-olds and has not met the best from Cape Town.

Captain’s Ransom might not be in the field but she will still have to see off Princess Calla and Chat Ching. Princess Calla ws runner up to Captain’s Ransom in both the Grade 1 WSB Cape Gillies Guineas but also the Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas at Hollywoodbets Greyville recently.

Furthermore, she finished a 2,30 length third in the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes behind the two stalwarts Queen Supreme and Clouds Unfold and then followed that with a fine fifth place finish in the Cape Town Met.

That was no mean feat for a three-year-old filly especially when considering that three of the horses who beat her have won three Vodacom Durban Julys and two Mets between them. Princess Calla is a progressive sort by Flower Alley so can continue to improve and the only downside is having a tricky draw of five which could be made trickier by the fact that War Of Athena’s pacemaker is drawn two.

The latter could claim the rail early and keep others wide if they try and go to the front or she could slow it down if they drop out, so it has to be said her and her boss, as it were, have landed perfect draws from a tactical point of view. 

Chat Ching was just a length behind Princess Calla in the Paddock Stakes and is better than her last start over 1600m. She is by Duke Of Marmalade, so will be improving, and is a half-sister to the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers (2800m) winner Snapscan (Oratorio) so should relish this step up in trip. 

Netta is also a very interesting runner. She has been beaten comfortably twice by War Of Athena, in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m and the Grade 2 SA Oaks over 2450m. However, she bolted in by six lengths last time in the Grade 2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over the 2000m, so the Woolavington trip looks to be her optimum.

She beat Sparkling Water in the Gerald Rosenberg and the latter was only beaten 4,50 lengths by War Of Athena in the SA Fillies Classic and two lengths in the SA Oaks. On paper that points to Netta being highly progressive.

However, it has to be said War Of Athena was never under any real pressure to win any of the Triple Tiara legs. 

Scented Mistress is the other runner and although consistent she will need a big step up on form to be a threat.

David Thiselton

THE Vaal Classic track holds an eight-race meeting today and the headliner is the seventh, a Progress Plate over 1600m.

Tree Tumbo finished placed in both the Grade 2 Charity Mile and Grade 1 Summer Cup so could hold too many guns here despite carrying top weight. He can be dropped out from a tricky draw before mowing them down.

Bold Jazz, who is a lot better than his last start, is also capable of turning it on over this trip and can take advantage of a good draw. Willow Express has a good draw and could also go close in his bid for a hattrick.

In the first race, a Workriders’ event over 1000m, the first-timer by Elusive Fort, Aurora’s Light, has been priced up as favourite. Elusive Fort was also sire of two of her dam’s siblings and one win in Kimberley was the best return, so on pedigree evidence Aurora Light is up against it. However, Paul Peter-trained first-timers in workrider’s events always have to be respected.

Nevertheless, Abalus ran well second time out over this trip, staying on for second and looks the one to beat. Smelting has enough ability to earn here too. The most interesting runner is Talladega, who is priced up as biggest outsider. She has a lot of pace but tends to fade late. She looked booked for a place on Saturday at Turffontein over 1160m but faded late as usual, so she will relish the step down to this trip. The problem however, is that she tends to jump hesitantly, so it all depends on how much ground she loses at the start. 

The second race over 1000m should see Imitation Game being hard to beat. The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained first-timers Connection (by Greys Inn out of multiple stakes-race runner up Crystal Glamour (Seventh Rock)) and Constitutional (by Querari and a full-brother to three-times Listed placed Champery) look to be the chief dangers.

In the third race over 1450m, the Irish-bred Sybaris has a fine pedigree, being by Fastnet Rock out of a Galileo mare who is a half-sister to Group 1 winning sire Dutch Art. She only has to beat Ocean’s Pride, still a maiden at the age of six but one who has blossomed this season.

Stormy Weathers looks the one most likely to pick up the pieces if those two fail.

In the fourth over 1450m blinkers should help Grace From Above get to the front and as one who looks the part he could get off the mark. Castle Corner has finished second multiple times and can do so again over a suitable trip in his first run after a layoff. Laird Of Breedon could be in the shake up too.

In the fifth over 2000m, Siren Of Greece is getting the hang of it and could get off the mark at the expense of another hard knocker who has to overcome a wide draw, Sophia’s First.

In the sixth over 1600m Enigma Code has the chance to prove his last few runs were all wrong as he now has a plum draw of two and blinkers could help. He is attractively weighted in this maiden handicap.

However, Passing Shot and Nussply also look to have good chances. Mister Blue Sky should be staying on and Curfew is not out of it either.

In the last race over 1000m, Belle Of Belize flew through late over this trip after a slow start last time and can go one better. Look To The Sky has plenty of pace and over this optimum trip could hold on despite officially being 2.5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horses. Alex The Great, Magic Choice and Love Lies make most appeal of the rest.