Andrew Harrison

THERE was a few dashed dreams and many reasons for hope after yesterday’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting. Perceived or just a flock of sheep, the jockeys plundered the going up the inside rail down the straight course to such an extent that the ‘keep straight for a furlong rule’ was just on paper.

There were plenty of excuses across the board as riders hunted the inside rail and a close watch on race-replays may well prove profitable come Golden Horse Sprint day.

Sean Tarry and Dean Kannemeyer were bemoaning their misfortune in the Listed In Full Flight Handicap as Mombela and Seventh Gear found themselves caught in traffic but there was not taking away from course specialist Ishnana, responsible for the first boil-over over the afternoon, an 18-1 chance and paying R27 on the tote.

Garth Puller was lavish in his praise of rider Ant Mgudlwa. “He was ridden properly, the way he likes it. He needs a horse in front of him and that’s what he got,” said Puller as Ishnana powered home out of the pack with Good Rhythm, managing to out-strip a few from his inside draw, getting up for second.

Owner and breeder Robert Smith has been a long-time breeder and supporter and this win would have been just rewards for him and co-owner Thabo Mhlongo.

Tarry and Lyle Hewitson had taken their medicine with Mombela and although only eight horses lined up for the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes, Hewitson refrained from tracking to the inside rail and Sound Of Warning gave notice that she will be a force to be reckoned with in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship.

Hewitson hunted the speed and produce Sound Of Warning with a perfectly timed run as she sped clear of her rivals with Corne Spies’s filly Captain’s Run a well beaten second.

Favourite High Hosanna ran her race a long way out and it was debutant Sky Glitter who caught the eye as she came from a seemingly hopeless position to fill fourth.

Cosmic Highway was a popular choice in the Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes but he too was a victim of the inside rail although nothing can be taken away from the winner Good Traveller. His form had been franked early in the day as Party Time, a short head behind Good Traveller in the maidens, had roared home to a comfortable maiden win.

Gelded after his last run, a ‘handful’ according to Glen Kotzen, Good Traveller, who was ridden from off the pace, now looks primed for the Gr1 Gold Medallion. Grant van Niekerk, who admitted to an up-and-down day negotiating the traffic, confirmed that his mount was still aggressive but with a bit of schooling would be a contender for more black-type honours. Good Traveller races in the colours of Howard Schwegmann, who raced many a horse with his late father Bernie.

Cosmic Highway may well be looking for further at this stage of his career but Keagan de Melo had to wait patiently for a rails run to open and the colt should benefit from the outing if nothing else.

Van Niekerk was again on the receiving end of traffic as he was unable to negotiate the well-fancied Favorita through the roadblocks in the Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes.

Stuck in behind runners as the field again concertinaed up towards the inside rail, he only managed a split late – too late to catch Vihaan’s Pie as Warren Kennedy took full toll of his rival’s misfortune.

It was an inspired decision by Ashburton-based Kom Naidoo to drop his charge back to a sprint. “We tried her over 1400m and a mile but as she looked to be going on to win, she ran out of steam.”

Vihaan’s Pie had run some promising races in good company, so this win, although a little unexpected, was not out of turn.

Andrew Harrison

COSMIC HIGHWAY has garnered something of a reputation early in his career after two impressive victories at Kenilworth.

Winning narrowly on debut, Dean Kannemeyer’s colt revelled in the step up in trip second time out and could take a power of beating when he lines up in the Gr 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

The race is no doubt a warm-up for the Gr1 Gold Medallion for many in the field and Vaughan Marshall has made a cracking start to Champions Season. He saddles Safe Return, a son of the Marshall-trained William Longsword.

After making a smart debut, Safe Return made all the running in a facile maiden win. The opposition is a little stronger this time around but he does look progressive and Marshall will not have brought him up for a look at the scenery.

John Buckler runs a tight satellite yard for Glen Kotzen – they saddled a four-timer at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Wednesday – and they send out the unbeaten Good Traveller. Gelded since his last run, he has the benefit of a race over course and distance when shedding his maiden in fine style. He made all the running when holding on narrowly at his next Greyville start but the visit by the vet probably tells a story.

Corne Spies and Sean Tarry have both opted to take on males with Eastern Belle and Social Image respectively instead of the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes, the filly’s equivalent. Eastern Belle is still a maiden but does have a light weight while Social Image is tremendously fast but ‘stopped’ last time out.

Mike Miller has some smart fillies in his yard and Civil Rights can build on her Scottsville form with victory in the Strelitzia Stakes, but it will not be easy with visitors rampant in the early Champion Season features.

Miss Putin didn’t do the form of Civil Rights any favours when finishing last at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday, but outside of that her form is promising.

Likely favourite is High Hosanna who started a short-priced favourite in a strong Juvenile feature on Cape Town Met day. She blew her chances with a tardy start but was making up ground in the finish. She should make good progress from that showing. Casa Inverno shed her maiden in good time on the tricky Durbanville course and if ready she can also make a bold showing.

Justin Snaith saddles Foverita in the Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes and his filly should be ideally suited to this course and distance. At her penultimate she ran star filly Celtic Sea to within two lengths in the Sceptre Stakes and on that showing she could be hard to beat. Stable companion Keep The Lights On was not disgraced behind Princess Calla last outing with the latter running a cracker in the WSB Fillies Guineas next time out. With that run under her girth Keep The Lights On can fight it out. Singforafa is never easy to catch right but when she’s good, she’s very good. She disappointed badly last run at this course when weighted to win but is capable of a top flight performance. Overlook her at your peril. Frank Robinson has gone carefully with Gr2 Golden Slipper winner Love Bomb in the lead up to the season and she needed her last run. She should prefer further but has a touch of class and can feature.

In Full Flight, involved in what was possibly the Cape Guineas race of the century when dead-heating with perennial rival Sentinel, was classy enough to win 1000m sprints but he also won the Durban July in 1972.

So, the In Full Flight Handicap (Listed) a 1100m dash, like the Scarlet Lady named after one of the top sprinting fillies ever but run over 1800m, is something of an anomaly. It may be a pedantic view but we sort of do those champions of the past a disservice.

Dennis Drier was a young man in 1972 and will have remembered In Full Flight well but will be looking to Tempting Fate to find the form that saw his colt win the Gr1 Gold Medallion last season. He has been disappointing since that win but a horse’s form often works in cycles and Tempting Fate is due to be coming to hand.

He was always prominent in the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championship before weakening late and does not face that quality on Sunday.

Drier took a calculated risk by running Princess Anastasia in a race where she was a long way under sufferance. She did not win but her runner-up place was punished with a 13-point hammering in the handicap. But she does appear to be progressive and can defy the handicappers. Of the others, Admire Me goes for her fourth win on the bounce which is not easy and she too took a knock in the handicap. Star Vega has been rested and may just need it but is smart and can feature prominently.

David Thiselton
ON Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville the Nathan Kotzen-trained Walton Hall’s victory in the ninth race did not cause much of a stir, being in a MR 78 Handicap and following hard on the heels of big race wins by Rainbow Bridge, Captain’s Ransom and Linebacker, but it was a significant moment for the Armstrong family, who have raced in KZN for three generations.
Former Gold Circle director Bruce Armstrong led in the Wylie Hall gelding with Muzi Yeni aboard and Yeni was wearing the same colours the legendary Lester Piggott wore 50 years ago when Bruce’s grandmother Vi led in a Syd Laird-trained colt called Hang Fire at Scottsville on 20 November 1971.
The colours, black, white stars, red sleeves and cap, were first registered by Bruce’s uncle Graeme Armstrong 58 years ago in May 1963.
Graeme’s close relatives became joint holders of the colours at various stages in ensuing years including Bruce’s father Robert and his grandparents Ross and Vi.   Graeme eventually relinquished the colours and they were in fact held for two months from December 2000 by PJ “Blackie” Swart.
However, Bruce’s eagle-eyed uncle, the well known owner and racing administrator Bill Lambert, spotted the colours with dismay in the parade ring one day and asked Blackie if he could bring them back into his family. Bruce seems to recall Bill presenting Blackie with a case of whisky after the kind relinquishment!
Bill’s son Iain then became the registered colour holder.
Bruce took over the colours in April 2004 and they have been seen in the winner’s enclosure many times since.
Walton Hall has an interesting pedigree which can be loosely tied to Hang Fire and to the history of the Armstrong family.
Walton Hall’s dam Magical Cove is closely related to the great Mike Azzie-trained sprinter National Currency, as she was by the same sire, National Assembly, and their respective dams were half-sisters.
Their respective grand-dam was the top Varsfontein Stud broodmare Enchanting, who was out of Lucky Libra, a mare bought by Varsfontein Stud founder Tony Kalmanson in the UK in the early 1970s.
Lucky Libra was remembered by Tony’s daughter Susan Rowett, who is the current Varsfontein owner, as being extremely tall and leggy and her three victories included a hurdles race over two-and-a-half miles.
Tony also liked the 3×4 in-breeding to Fair Trial (Fairway) that Lucky Libra brought as he believed Fair Trial made for a good cross with Varsfontein’s first stallion Mexico II.
Therefore, it is interesting to note that by coincidence Hang Fire was also in-bred 3×4 to Fair Trial.
Another interesting tie is that Walton Hall fended off Midnight Badger with Warren Kennedy aboard on Sunday and among the vanquished jockeys in Hang Fire’s win with Piggott up was Warren’s father Terrance.  
Piggott’s win on Hang Fire happened on possibly the greatest day in Scottsville history.
In the very next race, The Bull Brand International over 1600m, the great David Payne-trained In Full Flight, with Chilean-born jockey Fernando Toro aboard, put in one of his career best performances, destroying subsequent three-times Summer Cup winner Elevation, with Michael Roberts up, by 5,5 lengths in course record time. In Full Flight’s arch rival Sentinel, ridden by the father of Frankie Dettori, Gianfranco Dettori, was beaten eight lengths into third.
Piggot, who at the time, incidentally, was married to an Armstrong, Susan, although of no relation to the Durban Armstrongs, finished fifth on Jest.
In Full Flight, Elevation and Sentinel were all just young three-year-olds in that race and In Full Flight went on to win the Swazi Spa Holiday Inn Stakes at Kenilworth, the Cape Guineas, the Queen’s Plate, the Concord Stakes, the Newbury Stakes, the Durban July and the Woolavington Cup that same season over distances raging from 1000m to 2200m, truly one of the greatest thoroughbreds in SA history.
The Kalmanson connection to Walton Hall also ties in well with the story.  
Tony Kalmanson was living in KZN at the time of that famous 1971 meeting and might well have done business with the sugar farming Armstrongs being a member of a packaging-business family who provided bags for the sugar industry.
Tony’s older brother John went to Michaelhouse in the 1940s as did Bruce’s father Robert.
Walton Hall was bought by Andy Williams of World Wide Bloodstock at the BSA National Two-year-old Sale of 2018 for R30,000.
Williams was initially a partner in the horse with Bruce Armstrong and Thomy du Charmoy. The trio were members of a crowd who used to gather regularly at the Hollywoodbets Greyville-based Totalisator/Bookmaker facility popularly know as “Club Tab” and are all passionate about the Sport Of Kings. However, Kotzen has latterly taken over Williams’ and Du Charmoy’s shares.
Walton Hall has now had eleven runs for two wins and four places for earnings of R139,750.
Nathan Kotzen is known for bringing horses on slowly but surely and Walton Hall impressed on Sunday.
Yeni tucked the handsome bay in from a wide draw of eleven out of 12 and after turning for home nearer the back than the front he ran on through the centre of the field to win by 1.05 lengths. The handicappers have raised his merit rating five points to 70, but he looks capable of winning more races.
Kotzen said Walton Hall was over the one or two small hiccups he suffered after winning his maiden second time out and believes “there is more in the tank.”
It is a pity Walton Hall is not a filly as he is closely related to the Mike Azzie-trained Wylie Wench, who recently smashed the Vaal Classic track course record when winning the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m, and that would have given her some value in the breeding shed.
However, for Bruce and family and friends racing has always been chiefly about fun as anybody who has attended Hollywoodbets Greyville box 19 will attest to.
It is fitting the picture of grandmother Vi and Lester Piggott hangs in that box and Walton Hall’s lead in 50 years on might soon join it.

JUSTIN SNAITH has picked the perfect race for former Vodacom Durban July winners, Do It Again and Belgarion, to make their Champions Season debut’s in the Gr2 World Sports Betting 1900.

Given the conditions of the race, both runners are well weighted and in with big chances should they take their place on May 16 at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Snaith also has Double Mint and Crown Towers to back his assault in a race that looks tailormade for his runners.

Gareth van Zyl, who has entered his smart filly She’s A Keeper in the Vodacom Durban July will be in a quandary. He entered his filly in both races but has drawn wide in both the WSB 1900 and the KRA East Coast Cup (Listed).

She’s A Keeper is set to carry 49.5kg in the WSB 1900 and 57kg in the Cup with Glen Kotzen’s filly Catchafallingstar and Alyson Wright’s charge Preferential rated ahead of her in the Cup.

Van Zyl has boxed clever placing She’s A Keeper in races where she cannot be properly handicapped for her wins due to the conditions on the races.

Hollywoodbets Greyville 16 May 2021 – Features

R 100,000    2000m  

KRA EAST COAST CUP (Listed)

For Fillies and Mares

15 CATCHAFALLINGSTAR        (4F) 58.5  97 B Glen Kotzen       

18 PREFERENTIAL                     (4F) 58.5  97 B Alyson Wright     

11 RATTLE MOUSE                     (4F) 57.0  94   Justin Snaith     

14 SHE’S A KEEPER                  (4F) 57.0  90   Gareth van Zyl    

10 SCENTED MISTRESS           (3F) 55.5  91   Vaughan Marshall  

13 SILVA MAGIC                      (4F) 55.5  86   Dean Kannemeyer   

 6 FLOWER OF SAIGON           (3F) 54.0  86   Glen Kotzen       

 2 KAY TEE PERRY (ARG          (4F) 54.0  84 B J A Janse van Vuur

 7 GLORY DAYS                       (4F) 54.0  83   Lezeanne Forbes   

 5 JACQUELINE                        (5M) 54.0  83 C Dennis Drier      

12 ELECTRIC SURGE                (4F) 52.5  78   R A Hill/S R Hill 

 1 KEEP ON DANCING             (4F) 52.5  78 C Wendy Whitehead   

3 OCEAN FOREST                     (4F) 52.5  78   Alec Laird        

17 FIRE FAERIE                        (4F) 52.5  76 B Nathan Kotzen     

16 SILVER MARIA                    (4F) 52.5  76   Dean Kannemeyer   

9 ABBEY WOOD                       (3F) 50.0  77   Lezeanne Forbes   

 8 PINCH ME                            (3F) 50.0  74   Nathan Kotzen     

 4 IZHIESTIA                             (4F) 50.0  72   M J Odendaal      

   (18)

R 300,000    1900m   

WORLD SPORTS BETTING 1900 (Gr 2)

For all Horses

WFA: 2yrs-12.5kgs 3yrs-2.5kgs

12 BELGARION                        (5G) 62.0 130   Justin Snaith     

 1 DO IT AGAIN                       (6G) 62.0 129 C Justin Snaith     

 9 DOUBLEMINT                      (6G) 60.0 118   Justin Snaith     

 5 ZILLZAAL                             (5G) 60.0 116 B Sean Tarry        

11 CROWN TOWERS (AUS)     (5G) 60.0 115   Justin Snaith     

 4 TRIP TO AFRICA                  (4G) 58.0 114 B Duncan Howells    

17 BLACKBALL                         (6G) 58.0 110   Gavin van Zyl     

15 SILVER HOST                      (4G) 58.0 110   Justin Snaith     

13 CROME YELLOW                (6G) 56.0 108   Andre Nel         

 2 MARCHINGONTOGETHER (5G) 56.0 106   Gavin van Zyl     

 3 SUPER SILVANO                              (4G) 54.0 104   Brett Crawford    

18 MATTERHORN                   (4G) 54.0 100   Alyson Wright     

 6 WILLOW EXPRESS               (3G) 52.0 103   Sean Tarry        

 8 MOUNT ANDERSON            (4G) 52.0  98 B Dean Kannemeyer   

10 SHARE HOLDER (AUS)        (4G) 52.0  98   Paul Lafferty     

14 SIR MICHAEL                      (4G) 52.0  94   Dean Kannemeyer   

 7 SHAVOUT                            (3G) 52.0  87   M J Odendaal      

16 SHE’S A KEEPER                  (4F) 49.5  90   Gareth van Zyl    

   (18)

Please Note:

Supp Entries close @ 11:00

Friday 7 May 2021.

Declarations Close @ 11:00 Tuesday 11 May 2021.

MIKE DE KOCK will not have a runner in this year’s Vodacom Durban July after he withdrew both of his entries, Malmoos and Barahin, on Monday.

This following the pair’s lacklustre runs in last Saturday’s Gr1 4Racing Champion’s Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein.

Malmoos, without his usual zip, weakened over the last 250m to cross the line 6.5-lengths behind Got The Greenlight and De Kock assessed on his website: “Malmoos’ prep for the race was perfect, but in the race itself he was a little leg weary.

“He’s travelled to the Cape and back this season. And then we had the Triple Crown – so perhaps this was just one run too many and he showed us that he needs a break. On a line of form through the second horse, Second Base, Malmoos ran about eight lengths below his best.

“All that said, well done to Joe Soma and his connections for their big win. A good bunch of enthusiastic racing people and they deserve their success. Also well done to the other feature winners on the day.”

 “We’ll give him the rest he deserves and bring him back for the Gauteng summer season.”

The stable’s Aragosta, an eighth individual winner from just 17 runners for freshman stallion Rafeef, is also likely to be ‘put away’ for a few months following his first win.

De Kock said: “We are delighted with Rafeef’s good start and I’m not surprised. He’s by a world champion sire from the most wonderful of mares and he was a top-class horse himself. It looks like Rafeef will be a versatile stallion too.”

Also out of the first entry list is Justin Snaith’s star filly Captain’s Ransom, Baby Shooz and Youcanthurrylove.

David Thiselton

STUART PETTIGREW’S star Grade 1-winning filly Anything Goes will be rested for the remainder of this season before being aimed at races like the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes and Cape Town Met or Majorca next season.

He said, “She has slight bruising on her fetlock which could have been patched up, it is not serious, but when a small yard has a top filly like this you have to look after her so she is resting on a spelling farm and being kept for her four-year-old season. She was not 100% for her last start and she will come back next season bigger and stronger.”

However, Pettigrew will still be seen at the SA Champions Season as he is eyeing the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Festival Of Speed meeting on June 5 for Vars Vicky and Follow Me and the Vodacom Durban July with ExpressFromTheUS.

He said, “It was with the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint in mind that I ran Vars Vicky at Scottsville recently (over 1400m where he finished second to the classy Vaughan Marshall-trained colt Seeking The Stars).”

Three-year-old Vars Vicky has won his last three sprints, including the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m, where he received 6kg from the subsequent Grade 1 4Racing Computaform Sprint runner up Bohica and beat him by a head.

If Computaform Sprint winner Rio Querari lines up off his 130 merit rating the long-striding Vars Vicky, currently rated 115, will be 1kg under sufferance carrying 52kg in the Golden Horse. 

However, Justin Snaith said Rio Querari’s participation was still undecided. He pointed out that this horse had been eliminated from the Grade 2 Post Merchants during the SA Champions last year. Rio Querari has certainly cocked a snoot at the final field selection committee since with among other successes a Grade 1 weight for age win, a Grade 1 wfa runner up finish and a Grade 2 win.   

Pettigrew’s two-year-old Gimmethegreenlight filly Follow Me won by two lengths on debut over 1000m at The Vaal recently and two horses she beat by two lengths and 4,50 lengths respectively, Eternity Ring and Franca, have come out and won since so she is now being targeted at the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship at the Festival Of Speed meeting.

Pettigrew said ExpressFromTheUs’s run of below par form towards the end of last year had had him stumped as he knew he was able to quicken better than he had been doing.

He said, “The physio then found a point (spasm) in his buttock and since regular physiotherapy has been done on that he has been a completely different horse.”

The four-year-old What A Winter gelding has since rattled off three more wins and run a Grade 3 and a Grade 2 place. In his latest victory on Saturday he beat the promising Battle Force comfortably over 1400m.

His merit rating has risen to 122 and his chief target is now the Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m at Turffontein Standside on June 6, a traditional qualifier for the July.     

Andrew Harrison

CAPE GUINEAS winner Russian Rock may have been a little disappointing in his local debut when runner-up in a Graduation Plate behind the year-older Captain Of Stealth. However, that outing was probably a sharpener for the Gr1 WSB Guineas. Russian Rock did not enjoy the best of passages in that race on Sunday and was not far off the leading pack at the line. Given that this year’s Cape Guineas form is strong, it was a fine win by Captain Of Stealth and Vaughan Marshall’s KZN string is in mustard form.

Today’s race at Hollywoodbets Greyville is a handicap and Captain Of Stealth’s first outing on the poly but he appears to have come good at the right time and has a plum draw.

Louis Goosen has a small string at Summerveld but he turns his horses out in good form and Good Rhythm is a stable stalwart. The gelding has drawn on the other side of the gates to Captain Of Stealth but he is holding form well and should be right there again. Duc D’Orange is re-united with Jason Gates who has a good record on the gelding and he can surprise as he has done well in useful company and is a poly specialist.

In the sixth, Sav’s Star showed enough early for Nathan Kotzen to let his charge take her chances in the Gr2 Golden Slipper last season. She didn’t feature from a difficult draw but was not far off them. She has had two runs back since a break and although well beaten last run, she had the worst of the draw and the winner, Hugs Accepted, is no slouch.

Purple Nkanyezi has won both starts since being fitted with blinkers and she is also something of a poly specialist. She could prove the biggest threat to Sav’s Star.

Karoo Lark has finally got his act together and can follow up on his last win when he lines up in the seventh. He has always shown ability and has never been far off them at recent outings. The stable has been a little quiet recently but there are signs that the wheel is turning.

The word was out that Mach Four was the horse to beat when making his KZN debut where he started favourite but was never in the hunt. He boasts some smart Cape form and the switch to the poly and a run under his girth could bring out the best in him.

Juan Carlos makes his debut for Gareth van Zyl and showed some early promise before meeting the big guns at his last two. He is lightly raced and one to watch.

Majorca Palace can open the Pick 6 for Carl Hewitson and apprentice Kayden Brewer with the gelding switching back to the synthetic surface where he recorded back-to-back successes. However, apprentice races can be tricky.

 Gabriel Pieterse rode a cracker on Saint Phillip on Sunday and should be full value for his 4kg claim aboard the veteran galloper Di Mazzio.  The gelding is over his best course and distance and was a game second last run. Magic Sailor won his last two on the Fairview poly and although he has the worst draw his apprentice rider has improved lengths in recent months. The filly Voice Notes and Ashford Castle are others to consider in a tricky contest.

The eighth is another difficult affair. Isla Morada has been improving nicely of late and was a close-up second last run. She takes a further drop in class and should have a bright chance in a competitive handicap. Sacred Ibis is coming to hand and took a three-point drop in the ratings after her last start which should make her more competitive here. Twice As Special made good improvement with a tongue-tie last start and she comes from a shrewd stable while Abbey Wood is lightly raced and shows some promise. The form of her last run has been franked.

In the last, Brigade has a wide draw but has come on nicely at recent starts and word from the stable is that he is spot on. Lightening Spirit steps up in trip and has been taking on stronger since his maiden win. He had a tough draw last start and can do better over this longer trip. Star Crusade took time to shed his maiden but has not been far back against stronger in his two starts since.

David Thiselton

GOT THE GREENLIGHT was given a significant four point raise for his cosy 4Racing Premier’s Champions Challenge win on Saturday and runner up Second Base shot up nine points to 125.

As things stood before Saturday Got The Greenlight would have had to carry 55kg in the Vodacom Durban July and Second Base the minimum weight for a three-year-old male of 53kg. Got The Greenlight now carries a significant 2kg more, 57kg, on the basis that Rainbow Bridge on 134 will be the highest merit rated runner, and Second Base 53.5kg.

The handicappers decided to use Cirillo as the line horse.

Cirillo ran off a 120 rating compared to Got The Greenlight’s 124 and the margin was 1.75 lengths.

However, the handicappers were of the opinion that Cirillo in a slow run race could not have run any worse than his L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate effort where he finished fifth and ran to a 123 rating.

Got The Greenlight was thus raised to 128 and Second Base, who beat Cirillo by a length, was given 125.

Summer Pudding was beaten 4,50 lengths into fourth and was lowered a couple of points to 127, meaning as things stand she will carry 56.5kg in the July.

Meanwhile, crack sprinter Rio Querari was raised to 130 following his comfortable win in the Grade 1 4Racing Computaform Sprint.

David Thiselton

RACING fans were treated to three top drawer performances at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday by Rainbow Bridge, Captain’s Ransom and Linebacker and it would not be remiss of anybody to call all three of them the best of their respective age group and gender in the country.

The weather forecast for the opening meeting of the SA Champions Season had at one stage looked bleak but in the end the combination of heavy rain at the end of last week and sunshine over the weekend led to perfect conditions and once again kudos must be given to track manager Kurt Grunewald, his assistant Kevin Searle and their team.

Rainbow Bridge proved himself every inch the highest merit rated horse in the land in the Grade 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m under a fine ride by Luke Ferraris.

Trainer Eric Sands’ decision to offer the youngster the ride on this superstar while he was still officially an apprentice has proved to be a master stroke and the trio now make a fine team.

Under Ferraris Rainbow Bridge has reverted to his original style of being held up and relying on his devastating turn of foot. This helped him win the Met and it was equally effective in the Drill Hall.

He broke well yesterday from draw seven and was just off the leaders early. The inward movement of Cartel Captain then allowed him to slot in one wide of the rail. He relaxed well and Ferraris was not at all concerned about him being shuffled back. Eden Roc set a decent pace and Rainbow Bridge turned for home with about six or seven lengths to make up. The field dived for the inside coming off the three metre spur into the straight meaning Rainbow Bridge just had to switch slightly outward for a clear run on the outside of horses. He quickened superbly the moment he saw daylight and was soon powering past the field, hitting the front at the 100m mark and going on to win by 1,90 lengths from the Paul Peter- trained Johannesburg raider Catch Twentytwo. The Paul Muscutt-trained speedster Ultra Magnus ran a cracker to take third place ahead of fellow KZN horse Trip To Africa and next best was Silver Operator.

This year will mark six-year-old Rainbow Bridge’s third attempt to land the Vodacom Durban July for doyen of owners and breeders Mike Rattray and this was the first time he had won his intended pipe opener. In 2019 he finished a narrow second in the Drill Hall and last year missed the race due to a respiratory infection before opening in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge which he won. However, his second run after a layoff is usually a touch flat so it will be important for his third run this SA Champions Season to be in the July and he is on track for that to happen.

Catch Twentytwo ran a fine trial too especially considering Paul Peter had sent him in underdone and with plenty of improvement to come.

In the Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas the Justin Snaith-trained Captain’s Ransom made it four out of four as a three-year-old under Richard Fourie. The twice Grade 1 winner sat in a handy position and in the straight she soon put daylight between herself and the opposition to win by 1,60 lengths from her arch rival, the Adam Marcus-trained Princess Calla. The latter produced an eyecatching finish  from last. The  Dennis Drier-trained Freestate Star flew the KZN flag with a 2,10 third and Zarina and Only The Brave were next best.

In the Grade 2 WSB Guineas The Vaughan Marshall-trained Linebacker once again proved his class. His stablemate Seeking The Stars set a good pace and Linebacker had plenty of work to do to fetch him in the straight from a midfield. position. However, he did so with consummate ease to the extent that jockey Grant van Niekerk looked over his shoulder before he had even reached Seeking The Stars. He then pressed the button and it was race over. Linebacker has a lovely fluid stride and quickened effortlessly to pass his stable companion and win by 0,60 lengths.

Kommetdieding, who might well be the most popular horse in the country, ran on well from last for third, a good pipe opener. Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock once again proved difficult to restrain in the early running but did manage fourth ahead of MK’s Pride.

It was good weekend results-wise for Van Niekerk but he is likely to be in hot water with the stipes as he appeared to clean out two horses, Anna Capri and Vernichey, when winning the 4Racing Computaform Sprint on Saturday and in yesterday’s WSB Guineas appeared to clean out Russian Rock.