David Thiselton

THE Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas and the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Flies Guineas form the respective first legs of the SA Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara and both races are full of class and intrigue.

War Of Athena looks the one to beat in the fillies race where she faces arch rival Anything Goes. War Of Athena has more stamina in her pedigree than Anything Goes and takes a while to wind up in the straight so will want a fast pace. This is particularly in view of Anything Goes’ terrific turn of foot. War Of Athena has two stable companions in the race and all three of this coupling have the same ownership. Therefore, it could be that the lowly rated Only The Brave is in to ensure a decent pace. War Of Athena has only beaten Anything Goes once in three outings and that was last time out in the Three Troikas over 1400m where she won by a cosy 1,75 lengths. However, she was giving the latter 1kg and Anything Goes probably needed it too as she was returning from a layoff. However, another clue to this race can be taken from the Grade 1 Thekwini where War Of Athena had a bad draw compared to Anything Goes’s good draw. War Of Athena simply ran out of straight that day in her bid to catch Anything Goes. This time War Of Athena has the better draw and the long straight will give her more time to make up the deficit. Miss Elegance is improving and has the form to fill the trifecta. Castle Durrow is a long-striding sort who is improving and she could also be in the shake up. Caralluma has some class but still has to prove she stays this trip. Gee For Go won the Grade 3 Fillies Mile over this course and distance but was beaten six lengths by Mis Elegance over this trip last time at these same weights. Only The Brave ensured a good pace in the Three Troikas by challenging Caralluma in front but as far as winning chances go she has a double figure number of lengths to find. 

In the Gauteng Guineas Catch Twentytwo will enjoy the step back to the Dingaans distance and he has landed a plum draw. He proved his Dingaans win was no fluke by following up in the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1400m. He is blossoming and is the one to beat. Copper Mountain should relish the step up in trip on pedigree and running style. He was staying on in the Tony Ruffel and finished a two length third at level weights with Catchtwentytwo. He is by Noble Tune out of a Fort Wood mare whose only win was over 2000m. He is drawn three and could be the surprise package. Second Base is a long-strider who showed a fine turn of foot when winning the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m, so this shorter trip should not bother him. That race was just two weeks ago which is one slight concern and he also has a tricky draw of seven out of nine. Interestingly his only defeat was when beaten 5,5 lengths into fourth by Copper Mountain over 1200m. Malmoos has won all three of his starts at Turffontein impressively and followed up by winning the Grade 3 Concorde Cup over this trip at Kenilworth. He was then unlucky when unplaced in the Cape Guineas although he did not look likely to win. That race was seven weeks ago so he should have recovered and he has pole position in his first start back at altitude. Mount Pleasant is easily the highest rated horse in the race but the jury is out because he flopped in his first try at this trip having beaten older horses of the like of Cirillo over 1450m before that.  It might have just been an off day and he must be included in all exotics. Eliud has shown glimpses of class and could earn and Bingwa was a 2,50 length third in the Dingaans but only fifth in the Tony Ruffel. Kingsley’s Heart looks held by Copper Mountain and this is a big step up in class for Namib Desert.              

David Thiselton

THE Vaal stages a low key meeting today before the Highveld’s Autumn feature season begins on Saturday at Turffontein with the always awaited Guineas meeting.

A MR 94 handicap over 1000m and a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1500m are the two highest rated events today.

In the former the Paul Peter-trained Willow Magic gelding Godswood makes most appeal. This horse has clearly been rated since day one as he attracted betting support in all of his maiden starts including on debut. Nothing much went his way in those early races and he was also becoming a bit heavy due to haemoconcentrating. He had the necessary gelding and since then has not looked back. In his first run as a gelding he finished unplaced in a strong 1160m event won by the promising Bartholdi. He has since run twice over 1000m and won by 2,50 lengths and 2,75 lengths respectively. In his last start he strode out well just off the pace and quickened well and won with a bit in hand. He looks to be on the up so could overhaul the speedy Valyrian King close to home. The latter has blitzed them in his last two starts and is four points higher in the ratings. Godswood, on the other hand has to overcome a six point raise, but is given the nod on the basis that he has not had as much time to establish himself as Valyrian King so could still be ahead of the handicapper. The pair might be vulnerable late in the race to Spanish Boy, who proved he had a touch of class last time out when a meritorious third in the Grand Heritage. This trip will be on the sharp side but he will be running at the leaders late in the day. 

In the Pinnacle event Wisteria Walk proved she is in fine fettle last time when waltzing clear to won a Graduation Plate over 1400m by four lengths. She ran on from a handy position in a small field that day and can do the same in this field of five. Rouge Allure has proved lately she is good over further than this, but through most of her career this 1500m trip would have seemed ideal. She has pole position too and could be a threat. Gallic Princess has turned out to be a useful sprinter but is effective over this trip too so as the officially best weighted horse she could be dangerous in this small field, especially if the pace turns out to be slow. Saragon has some class and is effective from 1400m to 1800m so also has a shout. However, this is in fact the first time she has travelled away from her home course of Turffontein so this might be a learning experience. Prince Nicole is not out of it at the weights being just 2,5kg under sufferance with Gallic Princess and being ridden by a 1.5kg claimer. However, this will be the first time she has run over this far. She is by miler Soft Falling Rain out of Captain Al mare Reason To Believe, who was a KRA Fillies Guineas runner up. 

The value play of the day comes in the last race. Tulip Way did not stay 2000m last time and finished last and now reverts to a trip which should suit perfectly. She is drawn well and has Muzi Yeni up and she has dropped significantly in the merit ratings. She was off for a year from November 2019 to December 2019 but it was not for a serious injury and if recapturing her earlier form between 1400m and 1600m she should go close. In fact she could even go close on her first two comeback efforts where she ran fourth and fifth respectively over 1400m and was not at all disgraced. Bella Rosa will likely be favourite for this event, as she is knocking on the door and is distance suited. She is capable of a strong finish if it pans out well so she will need to be dropped out from a wide draw to find cover. Bitter Wind is also a fascinating runner here as she won her maiden from start to finish over 1600m and has raced a bit keenly in her last two down the straight over 1400m and 1500m respectively when held up off the pace. She now has the ideal pole position draw to lead again and should be involved. Keepingthepeace won her maiden over 1600m easily and has been given a reasonable opening merit rating of 79 so she could also be involved. Rock You is capable of winning this but a concern is that the first time cheekpieces last time are now replaced with blinkers. She has a wide draw so will need to be restrained early tin order to drop out or slot in and the blinkers might make this tougher to achieve for Craig Zackey.            

David Thiselton

MUZI YENI is bracing himself for the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas on Saturday where he will be riding the rising star, the Paul Matchett-trained War Of Athena.

Yeni said the recent heavy rains had interrupted her preparation slightly but it will be the same for her arch rival Anything Goes as both fillies are residents of Randjesfontein.

Yeni said, “She is doing well and as far as I am concerned she is flying. I have always got to respect Anything Goes and keep an eye on her as she has a tremendous turn of foot whereas War Of Athena is one who unwinds. The long Turffontein straight will be in our favour but a slow pace will favour Anything Goes.”

There are only seven runners and a small field usually leads to a slow pace.

However, War Of Athena has two stable companions, Gee For Go and Only The Brave, in the race and all three stablemates have the same ownership of RS Wentzel and RE Waterman-Wentzel.

A plan might be concocted to ensure a good pace and this looks particularly possible due to the low rating of Only The Brave. She might be the one who can afford to be sacrificed.

The tally between the star fillies stands at Anything Goes two War Of Athena one.

However, if the saying “you are only as good as your last race” is anything to go by War Of Athena has the edge as she downed Anything Goes by 1,75 lengths in the Grade 3 Three Troikas last time over 1400m. However, she was receiving 1kg from her that day and the latter likely needed it as she was returning from a layoff.

Possibly in War Of Athena’s favour is her pedigree which contains more stamina than Anythings Goes’ as the Turffontein Standside 1600m is a tough test, especially if the ground is rain affected.

Andrew Harrison

SOME horses love it, some horses hate it, most are not fazed by it. That question will be foremost in many punter’s minds when trying to sort the form for the fifth at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.

Caliente, Guru’s Pride and Duc D’Orange have scored all their success on the synthetic surface. Trip To Africa’s last two wins have been on the poly while Mount Anderson boast a three from four wins on the surface.

Dean Kannemeyer has never been one to shy away from running his horses on the poly and leading up to his recent Christmas Handicap victory, all three of Mount Anderson’s wins were on the poly.

He has only once finished out of the money in seven outings on the inner track and although he takes on a few seemingly confirmed poly specialists he can more than hold his own jumping from his inside gate on a surface that clearly does not faze him.

Early in his career Mount Anderson looked to have a three-year-old feature somewhere in his locker but it took the Christmas Handicap win for him to earn some long-expected black type. He was at the bottom of the weights for that race but put in a sustained finish to get the better of another light-weight Mr Fitz who has since gone on to frank that form.

Mount Anderson currently stacks up as a solid handicapper and he will be fully tested this afternoon.

Regular pilot Keagan de Melo is back from his month-long stint in Cape lockdown and is back riding on home ‘poly’.

Caliente claimed the scalp of Mount Anderson when last they met, up with the pace throughout and holding Mount Anderson’s challenge. Mount Anderson is marginally better off at the weights this time around but there should not be much between the two.

Caliente has since twice been undone by Trip To Africa who he meets again today. Duncan Howells has always had a high opinion of Trip To Africa but it has not all been smooth sailing with the gelding. However, he now appears to be fulfilling his promise and front-running tactics and the poly seems to be his preference.

He only faded late in the recent Michael Roberts Handicap over 1750m, but his previous two successes were over today’s course and distance.

Apprentice Thabiso Gumede appears to get on well with the gelding and the pair are again expected to call the tune.

All four of Guru’s Pride’s win have been on the poly and recent showings suggest that he if finding his better form. The blinkers come off and he is 3.5kg better off with Trip To Africa on their last meeting.

The blinkers go on Kapen Pride, another poly specialist, but riding arrangements point to Mount Anderson as the stable elect although Stuart Randolph is riding with a lot of confidence of late.

 Al’s My Daddy lost the fight to stave off the attentions of the vet and has his first run as a gelding for a new stable. He had shown some potential when in the care of Adam Marcus at Milnerton and came off a long break after winning first up out of the maidens. In his final start for Marcus he was sent to the front over 1950m and faded late.

He has not been out since November but jumps straight into a ten-furlong contest on a quick surface so the indications are that Gareth van Zyl has his charge firing.

However, he is not one to bank on and the consistent Run To Denmark, Jack Of Hearts, Teichman and Arrow’s Mark are all worth closer scrutiny.

Pick 6 bankers on today’s card are like hen’s teeth but a quick double with Alwaysonmymind and Irish Belle in the first two races could help boost the wallet.

Alwaysonmymind was narrowly beaten in two starts since being fitted with blinkers and Donovan Dillion seems to have chosen her ahead of what looks to be her most likely danger, Good Girl.

Irish Belle ran up a string of seconds before shedding her maiden against males last time out. She is quick and if she holds form in her poly debut, she could prove difficult to catch.

Andrew Harrison

TOMORROW’S meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville is not for the faint-hearted punter with some seriously competitive racing on the nine-race card. To further complicate matters, there is a prediction of some rain. Let’s hope that the Norwegian weather gurus have it wrong.

A Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares heads up the card where the two most obvious protagonists are Mary O and Silent Crusade. Lezeanne Forbes saddles WSB Fillies Guineas runner-up Mary O who took on a strong field of males from the worst of the draw at her last outing in the Michael Roberts Handicap. Prior to that she was close-up in the Flamboyant Stakes and the winner of that race, Indi Anna was deemed good enough by Peter Muscutt to send her to Cape Town where she lines up in the Gr1 Majorca Stakes.

There should be little between Mary O and Mark Dixon’s mare Silent Crusade. The latter ran a cracker in her comeback sprint when second to Hawker Typhoon giving the winner 10.5kg. She will much prefer this trip and with a good draw she should make a bold bid.

The Alyson Wright-trained Preferential is in a rich vein of form in weaker company since being tried in blinkers and although she takes on a useful field, she can finish in the money again. Petra had a tough draw in the Flamboyant but won well at her previous start. She should maybe be judged on that effort.

Another to consider is Drama Queen who has her third start for her new stable and although badly in at the weights she could come along enough to finish in the money.

Two smart sophomores Sav’s Star and Stella Act look the principal contenders in the seventh but again the list of likely winners does not stop with them.

Sav’s Star needed her last run. Although lightly raced Nathan Kotzen’s filly shows plenty of potential and should come on nicely from her first run back from a lay-off. It was a useful field and Vivid Jet is no slouch. John Buckler will saddle Stella Act for Glen Kotzen and the filly returns from a fairly lengthy break, not having been out since November last year. However, she takes a three-point drop in the ratings and at best will go close.

Tienie Prinsloo’s winners have generally been ignored in the betting in spite of having obvious chances. He saddles the Silvano mare Hareer who put up a good piece of work at Ashburton on Tuesday.

Andrew Harrison

THE CAPE TOWN MET has panned out into a re-run of last season’s Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July with four of the first six past the post in the VDJ in the line-up. In fact, all of the country’s main actors will face the starter, the only one missing being VDJ runner-up Got The Greenlight.

With a projected R15 million Pick 6 pool in the offing, there will be no shortage of interest in today’s 12-race meeting.

Last year’s VDJ winner Belgarion is currently at the top of bookmaker’s boards for the race, where he faces the usual suspects Rainbow Bridge, Do It Again and Golden Ducat. Added to this year’s main cast is recent Grade 1 Paddock Stakes winner Queen Supreme, Grade 1 Summer Cup runner-up Running Brave, African Night Sky on the comeback trail, and the only three-year-old in the race, Princess Calla.

Queen Supreme posted back-to-back victories in the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes, cruising to a most impressive win. Mike de Kock then shipped her back to his base at Randjesfontein and most surmised that the Met was off her agenda so it came as a surprise that De Kock opted for the filly to make the arduous 1600km road trip back to Cape Town in just over three weeks, surely an indication of what the multiple times champion trainer thinks of her chances.

She is reported to have travelled well so the boys will need to pick up their feet.

Belgarion was weighted to win the VDJ but has since met Rainbow Bridge on level terms in his last two. Justin Snaith’s charge was a facile winner of the Green Point Stakes but didn’t quite get to a fitter Rainbow Bridge in the Queen’s Plate, the latter fighting on when seemingly beaten. That may be the case again tomorrow.

Do It Again, a dual winner of the VDJ, finished a creditable third last year in his bid for his third success VDJ victory, just ahead of Golden Ducat with Rainbow Bridge putting in a below par performance, finishing in sixth place.

Rainbow Bridge showed his true worth when going on to be involved in possibly the race of the season, edged out on the line by stable companion Golden Ducat in the Grade 1 Champion Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

The Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate is one of the country’s big three Grade 1 WFA 1600m races, the other two being the Gold Challenge, run at Hollywoodbets Greyville and the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes run at Turffontein, and is most often used as a stepping stone into the Met.

This year was no different although the big three of Belgarion, Rainbow Bridge and Do It Again were upstaged by Jet Dark.

However, the three filled the minor placings led by Rainbow Bridge and their respective trainers will have left a little meat on the bone for the Met, all three horses more at home over the extra 400m.

Golden Ducat, a winner of the Champions Cup and fourth in the VDJ last season, ducked the Queen’s Plate, the 1600m way too sharp for the former Grade 1 Cape Derby winner, the race run over the same course and distance of the Met. He turned in an exceptional effort to win the Grade 3 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m run on the same day as the Queens Plate. In a race run at a pedestrian gallop, not suited to Golden Ducat, Eric Sands’s charge fought on gamely to win a race in which he looked dead-and-buried 400m out.

African Night Sky, highly touted early in his career, returns from serious injury and was a tad unlucky behind Golden Ducat in the Peninsula after almost being stopped in his tracks when making his run. A 20-1 shot, he may be worth an each-way nibble.

Fanie Bronkhorst has had his trainer’s brief for less than a month but he saddles Summer Cup runner-up Running Brave who sports his colours. For the Summer Cup, Paul Matchett was at the helm but Bronkhorst steered her to her recent win in the Grade 2 London News Stakes.

The ‘big four’ are all fancied in the betting market but the ‘Queen’ can reign supreme head of Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat with Belgarion and African Night Sky in the mix.

David Thiselton

TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE hosts the Listed WSB Wolf Power 1600 today, a tricky handicap event on what is a tricky meeting overall.

Youcanthurrylove finished third in the Grade 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile over course and distance and is only two points higher in the merit ratings so looks to be the one to beat from a fair draw of six. Last time out the Summer Cup trip might have stretched him so he could well appreciate dropping back to this distance.  

Pack Leader has impressed in both of his Highveld starts over this trip. He has a wide draw but S’Manga Khumalo will know him well by now and always gets the best out of him. 

Cornish Pomodoro was beaten 2,80 lengths by Youcanthurrylove in the Charity Mile but nothing panned out well for him that day and he is now 3.5kg better off. He improved immediately after gelding and has likely not shown his full potential yet, so should be a big runner from a good draw under national log leading jockey Lyle Hewitson.

Green Haze is one point lower than his last winning mark which came in the Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m in March last year. He comes off a good third in the Grade 3 London News Handicap over 1800m where he beat Divine Odyssey by five lengths. He enjoys this trip too and has a plum draw of two so would not be a surprise winner.     

Golden Pheasant is a big good-looking horse who is in a rich vein of form. He has won his last two attempts at this trip but does have to overcome a five-point raise for his last win over 1400m. He does have a plum draw of three though and Muzi Yeni gets on well with him. 

Whorly Whorly has been a revelation since stepping up in trip to between 1400m and 1475m. He now tries a further step up in trip and if he takes to it he should be right there. However, he does have a tricky draw of nine.  

Divine Odyssey is back to the 114 mark of his last win which was in the Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m. He would prefer the latter trip but is effective over this trip and has a fair draw.

Approach Control has proved capable of running off a 108 mark which remained static for over a year but he has now been dropped two points at last and this could see him involved in the shake up, although he has a tricky draw.

Full Mast proved he stays further than a mile last time when winning over 1800m. This is a stronger field though and he has to overcome a two-point raise. He finished more than ten lengths behind Whorly Whorly in the Grande heritage over 1475m and was more than nine lengths behind Golden Pheasant.

Captain Of Tortuga sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight He looks held by Full Mast and Whorly Whorly on 1800m and 1400m form. He enjoys this course and distance but has a tough draw.

D’Arrivee is 2,5kg under sufferance but has struck as one who has not lived up to his potential and he is drawn in pole, so he can’t be written off in this open contest.

In the other feature on the day, the Non-Black Type WSB Allez France Stakes the Zimbabwean Derby winner Lily Blue goes over the 2400m distance of the latter race for the first time since arriving in South Africa. She has class and on a difficult day is made a banker in the Pick 6 but only because there has to be a banker somewhere on such a competitive card. In the Jackpot it is advised that Smoking Hot and Pomander are also included.       

David Thiselton

BRETT CRAWFORD, whose single Grade 1 win last season ended a sequence of seven multiple Grade 1-winning seasons, has a full card of runners on Cape Town Met day including a trio of runners in both the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship over 1000m and the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes over 1600m.

Crawford said Run Fox Run was undoubtedly his stable elect in the Cape Flying.

He said about the Australian-bred Foxwedge filly who has won seven of her ten career starts, “She is in great form and I am expecting a good run.” Last year she finished a 1,20 length fourth having won the Grade 2 Southern Cross Stakes over the same 1000m course and distance in the build-up. This year she comes in off a one length second to Celtic Sea in the Southern Cross. She received 1kg from the latter so is going to have a tough task reversing form in this weight for age event. Celtic Sea is the favourite with Track & Ball at 2.65/1 while Run Fox Run is at 13/2 and has regular pilot Anton Marcus up from draw three out of 14.

Crawford also runs Bold Respect and Pacific Trader and said, “These two older horses need to come back to their best form. I have put a pair of blinkers on Pacific Trader and hope that helps. Bold Respect finished second in this race last year so obviously has the ability. It will just depend on his well-being on the day. They have both had good preps.”

Crawford runs Pretty Young Thing, Sing Out Loud and Kelpie in the Majorca.

He said, “They are all doing well and are all capable although Pretty Young Thing has a tough draw to overcome. Clouds Unfold and Captain’s Ransom are the horses to beat but after that it is an open race and all three have the potential to run into the money.”

Crawford’s day begins in the third race over 1600m with Global View colt Grand Escape, who was doing his best work late when green on debut and finishing a 0,90 length third.

He said, “He obviously has a poor draw but is fit and well.”

To date the form of his debut has worked out quite well with two horses he beat by about three lengths placing in the first three in their respective next starts.”

In the fourth race over 1400m Grade 2 Charity Mile winner Hudoo Magic is prominent in the betting.

Crawford said, “He is in good form and this being a Pinnacle he is pretty well weighted. He always appreciates a long straight like this one.”

King Of Gems is a fascinating runner as he is a former Grade 2 Concorde Cup winner over 1600m. He had to be given a nine-month break for a wind operation this year and he has had three runs since.

Crawford said, “His last run was better and I hope he can continue to improve. He finished four lengths behind Kasimir in that start over 1200m and we know he has the ability so if he feels right on the day, he has a definite outside chance.”

Hudoo Magic jumps from a tough draw of nine under Marcus and King Of Gems has draw five under Warren Kennedy.

In the Grade 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m Crawford runs the progressive Captain Al colt Kaptein who carries only 54kg and jumps from draw seven under Greg Cheyne.

He said, “He is doing well and comes off a very good run (a Progress Plate over this trip where he ran above his 83 rating). This will be good test for him and I am expecting him to run a competitive race and be in the first four I hope.”

Crawford runs Grade 1 Cape Derby third-placed Super Silvano in the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m and he said, “He is in good form. There is a question mark whether he gets the trip but if he does, he will be competitive.”

Oddly enough Super Silvano, who is by Vodacom Durban July winner Bold Silvano, is a full-brother to stablemate Bold Respect, a Grade 1-winning sprinter. However, their mother Respectable Lady won over 1800m and their third dam was the top class Respectable, who finished third in the July and won three Grade 2 staying races.

Crawford runs Social Butterfly, Qaaraat and Variety Breeze in the eleventh over 1000m.

He said, “Social Butterfly is in great form. She has a big weight but has been doing very well at home. Qaaraat’s form has been very good since the blinkers were put on and she must be respected as an each-way chance. Variety Breeze has not run over 1000m for a while and I think this is her best trip so she should improve on her current form.”

In the last over 1200m Crawford runs Real Gone Kid, who made it two wins in five starts last time out over this trip.

He said, “There is a bit of a weight turnaround with Tarantino but he has been working well and I see no reason why he can’t run another good race.”

This Australian-bred colt is well related being by top sire Schnitzel out of the former Justin Snaith-trained dual Grade 1 winner In The Fast Lane.