Andrew Harrison

RACING in KZN is taking flak from some quarters, mainly due of the large number of recent Pick 6 carryovers and other big dividends. Accusations range from race fixing to crooked jockeys and trainers and other unsavoury practices.

Anyone familiar with the intricacies of the sport knows that these accusations are mostly hogwash. Racing in KZN is highly competitive at the best of times but the modest quality of horses racing in this province at this time of the season is probably the root cause of the many shock results.

These horses are mostly not competitive during the high season, some due to a plain case of the slows, others with recurring niggles that in some cases lead to inconsistent performances.

Some advice to exasperated exotic bet punters is to structure your bets. Be wary of false favourites. Dissect the form of the so-call ‘good things’ and if it doesn’t stand up to close scrutiny and is also ‘light’ in the betting, pasop.

A banker or two always helps ease the financial outlay but also the occasional ‘field’ option in what is perceived as a difficult race, guarantees survival in that leg – and 10% of a million-rand pot is not a bad return.

In short, give it some thought.

Racing at Hollywoodbets Greyville today is another that will test punter’s skills.

It may be a case of take the plunge and know your fate early or load up in the opening leg of the Pick 6 where Policy Target will never get an easier chance to shed his maiden. Andre Nel’s runner has finished runner-up in all three of his local outings and should get it right this time around. Dangers! Zero Rated was not far back at his penultimate start, finishing a length behind Policy Target, and the experiment with blinkers failed next time out. Blinkers come off.  Golden Duck switches to the poly but has been consistent and stays the trip well. He is a possible threat along with Liaoluo Bay who was a distant third last run but can feature in this line-up.

Shastina has put in two promising efforts since her maiden success for Gavin van Zyl and although she does not have the best of draws, she should be competitive in the opening leg of the first jackpot. The draw is a concern but she does have a 4kg claimer up and two who look to be among her biggest rivals are drawn just inside. Sacred Ibis appears to be regaining her best form while Fire Faerie was two lengths behind Shastina at their last meeting. However, Shastina is 3.5kg better off at the weights given the apprentice allowance and both were drawn wide in that race.

Another open affair faces punters in the fifth. Justfortheepenny has come to hand again and was close-up in a useful field last outing. With a claiming apprentice aboard should make another bold showing. Purple Powahouse will have his supporters as he has been in mustard form of late. He got a six-point rise in the handicap for his last win but steps up in trip and could go in again.

Lowly fillies and mare’s handicaps are always tricky and the seventh is no different. Lady Legend made major improvement when fitted with a tongue-tie and did well to go all the way to hold off the well thought of Vihaan’s Pie. A 2.5kg claimer up sees her face this field on similar weight terms and from a good draw she can go in again. Marsanne has the worst of the draw but does come from off the pace so this should not trouble her. She was only a length off Lady Legend last start and can turn the tables. Maiden’s Prayer has been a little disappointing but was only three lengths back to Lady Legend. She now tries blinkers which could see her fight this one out.

Clinton Binda makes the trip from the Highveld with King’s Road whose last two wins have been on this track, the last on the turf, the previous on the poly. He has patchy form but nearly made all in his last Vaal start and has a 4kg claimer up to help. Valiente, Bernie’s Dream and Hampton Court are others to consider but that may be a ‘field’ option for the Pick 6.

Gary Rich does wonder with his small string and Arctic Princess can round off the meeting. She has come good for her new stable and is unbeaten back in blinkers. She was a comfortable winner last start and can go in again. Casadoro was a recent easy maiden winner from the worst of the draw while Foxy Lady has another poor draw to contend with but was running on nicely behind Arctic Princess at her last outing and can feature again.

David Thiselton

SUMMERVELD trainer Peter Muscutt has taken two horses down for the big Cape Town Met meeting to compete in Grade 1s, Ultra Magnus and Indi Anna, and neither of them should be written off because their last respective races showed them to be potentially better than their form suggests.

They have been in Cape Town for three weeks and Muscutt said, “They galloped at Kenilworth last Wednesday and I was more than happy with both of them. They will have to put up career best performances to be competitive but they are both in good order.”

Ultra Magnus, who runs in the Cape Flying Championship over 1000m, won the Grade 3 New Turf Carriers Merchants over 1160m at Turffontein last time out. He had been up against it from draw 12 out of 15 because, although high draws are usually advantageous down the Turffontein straight, on that particular day, Summer Cup day, it was noticeable that the high drawn horses were not going through with their runs. 

Yet the five-year-old Oratorio gelding stuck to his outside station and still managed to win by two lengths. The second horse home, Eden Roc, adds merit to the win as he had previously won a Grade 1 and a Grade 2 over 1200m. Ultra Magnus did receive 1,5kg from Eden Roc but beat him comfortably. The third horse home, Bold Ransom, also adds merit to the win. This up and coming four-year-old sprinter was carrying just 52kg and jumped from a favourable draw of two but was beaten 2,10 lengths. He has subsequently finished a narrow second in the Grade 3 Lebelo Sprint over 1000m and he then won a strong Pinnacle event over 1000m in which he received 6kg from Eden Roc and gave him a 1,40 length beating. 

Muscutt said about Ultra Magnus, “He comes in under the radar. Five furlongs is not ideal but the Kenilworth five is more testing than anywhere else in the country and that will suit him.” 

Ultra Magnus is lightly raced with only 12 starts under the belt, He has won six times and been placed four time, including a short-head runner up finish in the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint over 1200m. In the latter race he received 7.5kg from Kasimir and beat him by 1,10 lengths so has a tough task on Saturday but he could well have improved and looks to be the dark horse of the race.

Indi Anna, a five-year-old Master Of My Fate mare, won the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville in her last start. The impressive part of the victory was that she had over-raced throughout in a handy position and yet went on to win comfortably by 1.50 lengths. 

Muscutt said, “She was not entitled to kick the way she did after over-racing. I have removed all extra equipment, including the tongue tie, and have declared her in a compression mask but am probably going to take that off too. So, if she settles this time she should run well.”

Ultra Magnus is drawn nine out of 14 and Keagan de Melo replaces Donovan Dillon and Indi Anna is drawn six out of eleven and Gavin Lerena replaces Raymond Danielson.  

David Thiselton

SATURDAY’S Grade 1 Cape Town Met over 2000m at Kenilworth has attracted a small field of eleven but it is full of quality. 

Golden Ducat should be coming into his own half way through his four-year-old year. This high quality twice Grade 1-winner is distance suited and has a plum draw under the reigning national champion jockey Warren Kennedy. He is versatile, as he is able to lead and find extra, or come from off the pace and use his good turn of foot. 

Belgarion has improved into a genuine Grade 1 weight-for-age horse this season and it easy to imagine him being dropped out from a wide draw and then making a bold bid to mow the field down in the straight. He will relish the step up in trip from the mile of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate where he ran on well for third in a race that was run too slowly for his liking.   

The twice Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again has never won the Met but was possibly an unlucky loser in 2019 when ending up too far back and arriving just too late to catch Rainbow Bridge. In the Queen’s Plate he looked his old self for the first time in a while and was unlucky as he was cramped for room when running on strongly from last. He was entitled to need that reappearance run and if arriving in the same fettle, he is a big runner.  

Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat went too quickly in the July so did well to stay on for sixth and fourth respectively. An interesting point was that Rainbow Bridge ran the first 2000m of that race in a time that was slightly better than the 2000m course record set by London News in the Daily News 2000 in 1996. That shows just how good he is over this 2000m trip and he did in fact win the Met two years ago.

The one possible concern is that he has come out second best in a number of races that saw him involved in a dog fight, including last year’s Met. He is at his best in his third run after a layoff, which he has here, and draw six gives him options. 

Queen Supreme is a fascinating runner as she comes off a second successive Paddock Stakes win and has been impressive in her last two starts. She gets a 2,5kg female allowance but does have a tricky draw of eight. In her only previous attempt at a Grade 1 against the boys this five-year-old mare ran fourth in the Summer Cup in her four-year-old season carrying just 52kg. That form would not be good enough to win here on the face of it but it should be remembered that she is Northern Hemisphere-bred so was still a three-year-old in real terms in that race. She has blossomed lately as she is now fully grown and this race will show just how good she really is.  

The other female in the race, Princess Calla, has to carry 51.5kg and is drawn in pole. She has 2,30 lengths to find on Queen Supreme from the Paddock Stakes. However, that was only her fifth career start and has always struck as one who would get better and better as she got older and as she went further. However, it has to be said, Queen Supreme did win with a bit in hand.

African Night Sky was an unlucky loser last time in the Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy over 1800m when squeezed out on the rail and having to switch. However, he is now 2kg worse off and in his only previous attempt at the Met in 2018 he was beaten two lengths into sixth.

Silver Operator was a 3,65 length sixth in the Queen’s Plate and tries this trip for the first time. His dam by Captain Al was a Listed-winning sprinter, but he is by Silvano which give him hope of getting 2000m, but he will need a big step up on form. 

Cirillo is a perennial placed horse in Grade 1s and should be handy turning for home but this trip might stretch him and his old foes might be too good again.

Running Brave is well-named as she is courageous, particularly from the front, and she has two wins in Grade 2 company over this trip. She finished second in the Grade 1 Summer Cup. However, this is a big step up from that handicap event and she is officially 4kg under sufferance with the highest rated horse, Rainbow Bridge.

Sovereign Spirit might not yet have shown his best and is capable of a strong finish but he looks held on form.

Andrew Harrison

THE Marula Sprint (Non-Black Type) was always going to be a tricky affair given the quality of the field but it was a race that was always going to pan out for winner Pearl Of Asia.

Robbie Hill’s gelding possesses a smart turn of foot but for him to be most effective he needs a solid early pace from the front runners and that’s just what he got at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday.

Ziva La Winter and Celebration Rock set the desired pace and Donovan Dillon was content to sit off the early gallop before moving into contention up the inside fence. It was soon clear that it was going to take a good one to blunt his challenge and Pearl Of Asia scored comfortably from an ever game Good Rhythm to give Dillon his third success of the afternoon.

The was some serious scrimmaging as riders hunted gaps coming through the two-furlong mark, chief victim being Solid Gold who was the meat in the sandwich and squeezed out to last.

Mike Miller is having a tremendous trot with his two-year-olds and Edgartown was another to oblige in the card opener. However, Edgartown may have been a tad lucky to survive an objection lodged by Donovan Dillon aboard second-placed Crested Eagle.

Edgartown had been re-schooled after missing his first engagement due to unruly behaviour at the start, but it was all good yesterday as Ashton Arries had his mount out and galloping in a matter of strides, never to be headed.

About 150m from the line, Crested Eagle was looming large on his outside when Edgartown, racing green, shifted across Crested Eagle forcing Dillon to snatch up and track to the inside.

 Arries, cleverly, pushed his mount out to the line under hands the last bit with Dillon hard at work on Crested Eagle. There is no doubt that Crested Eagle was closing on the winner but not fast enough to force the issue according to the stipendiary board.

Ashburton-based Shane Humby has a reputation for not being hard on his horses and as a result many of them don’t see the racetrack too often. His general philosophy being, if the horse is not happy within itself, it doesn’t run – that’s not to say that they are all good enough to win!

Humby and first call stable rider Donovan Dillon banged home a quick double with Star Act obliging in the second and Purple And Green doing the honours in the next. Star Act, nicknamed ‘Pumpkin’ at home, put in a sustained finish to run down Flying The Star while Purple And Green fell off the early pace but picked it up when it mattered to get the better of Final Destiny.

There was drama in the seventh with Solar Flare being declared a non-runner. Solar Flare appeared to be hampered as the gates were sprung and others, most notably Sofia Erin and Wildly In Love were slow to go, Sofia Erin being restrained by her rider and fighting for her head before settling.

The race went to recent maiden winner Calulo who went back-to-back with Michael Roberts keeping faith with light-weight apprentice Mfanelo Zuma.

Many Pick 6 hopes rested on East Coast Star going into the last but after hitting the front early in the home straight, she was swamped close home as Jarred Samuel threaded Tinnie Prinsloo’s filly Love Of London through the pack.

Ashburton-based Prinsloo has been holding his own since arriving from Kimberley while Samuel seldom gets opportunities on horses with chances.

Once Covid restrictions are eased, he will take up a work riders’ position in Hong Kong.

David Thiselton

THE general view of the three-year-old male crop this season has been like a rollercoaster but on Saturday the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Second Base kept it on its current bull run when winning the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein Inside in impressive style under Chase Maujean.

The Gold Star Stud-bred gelding is yet another horse to prove the worth of the sire Gimmethegreenlight.

Janse van Vuuren-trained Second Base’s half-sister by Captain Al, Xplosive Kiss, and she won on debut over 1000m by five lengths so it is not surprising he and owner Laurence Wernars went back to the well. 

Wernars owns Second Base in partnership with A Devachander.

The scopey, long-striding bay has now won five races from six starts.

His win in his penultimate start in a handicap over 1800m was eyecatching as he did not have much cover but still relaxed well and displayed an impressive range of gears in the straight despite running off a 98 merit rating and carrying 58kg against older horses.

Punters must have missed that as he drifted out to 8/1 on Saturday. 

They must have believed giving 2kg to some decent sorts and having to jump from a wide draw would be too much.

Furthermore, he was 4.5kg under sufferance, according to official merit ratings, with the Dingaans fourth-placed Al Muthana.

However, there was always going to be a question mark about the latter’s suitability to the tight Inside track as he appeared to need every inch of the long Standside straight in the Dingaans.

Maujean was content to drop Second Base out to last in the running on Saturday. He displayed a fine turn of foot in the straight and won easing up by 1,75 lengths from Nartje, to whom he gave 4kg. Gimmethegoahead made it a first and third for Gimmethegreenlight, finishing 4,85 lengths back. The pacemaker Shah Akbar ran below his previous start by finishing a 5,60 length fourth. Al Muthana was a touch flat-footed at the top of the straight and did not find much extra either after traveling well enough in a good position from which to strike. His 8,75 length sixth was most disappointing.

The three-year-old male crop did not shine in its two-year-old season but were receiving high accolades after a number of classy sorts like Mount Pleasant, Malmoos, Forever Mine, Seeking The Stars Rascallion, Linebacker, Gatekeeper, MK’s Pride etc were introduced this term.

Their reputation took two successive blows, first when Mount Pleasant ran unplaced in the Dingaans, a race which was won by 9/1 shot Catch Twentytwo, and then when the 100/1 shot Russian Rock won the Grade 1 WSB Cape Guineas, defeating Malmoos and all of the previously heralded Cape Town stars. 

However, the crop’s reputation has been on the up ever since. 

Catch Twentytwo showed his Dingaans win was no fluke by winning the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes against a decent field. 

Cape Guineas fourth-placed Jet Dark then came out and won South Africa’s probable most prestigious weight for age mile, the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

On Saturday Bartholdi, only sixth in the Tony Ruffel, won a handicap easily over 1500m. 

Second Base then impressed and Janse van Vuuren looks to have an exciting Triple Crown horse in his hands.       

Andrew Harrison

PEARL OF ASIA faces some useful sprinters when he lines up in the Marula Sprint (Non-Back Type) at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today. It is a competitive handicap where one can make out a solid case for a number of runners but this looks tailor-made for Robbie Hill’s gelding.

Hill has been trying Pearl Of Asia over a little further of late and he rocketed home to comfortably beat Williams Land over 1400m on the Greyville poly at his penultimate start. He subsequently finished three lengths back in the Christmas Handicap over a mile but the race was not run to suit.

Some of his best form has been over course and distance and this race should pan out in his favour. Pearl Of Asia possesses a smart turn of foot but needs a strong early gallop for him to be most effective. With the likes of Solid Gold and Celebration Rock expected to stretch the field he should be running at them over the final two furlongs.

Two of Pearl Of Asia’s four victories have come over course and distance, the last time beating Good Rhythm comfortably giving him 1kg. He meets Louis Goosen’s charge at level weights here.

Good Rhythm has been in mustard form since, beating another of Sunday’s rivals, Hard To Play on the poly and one can bank on another forward showing.

Hard To Play has also shown consistent form since Wendy Whitehead tried him in blinkers and he is well in at the weights with Good Rhythm, being 6.5kg better off from their last meeting.

Michael Roberts has always held Solid Gold in high regard but the gelding is a tricky customer and not always in a galloping mood. He certainly was last time out as he galloped his field into the ground and it is worth noting that all of his six wins have come on this course in just eight starts here.

Ishnana and Celebration Rock are also course specialists and Winter Chill and Sniper Shot can earn minor money.

East Coast Star let her supporters down badly with a dismal performance last time out after her form suggested that she should at least contest the finish. However, she was in trouble early in the straight and Donovan Dillon eased up on her a long way out.

She did rush the gate at the start and was taken out and re-loaded after a veterinary inspection which may have accounted for her below par performance.

She gets another chance in the last where she meets another modest field. However, if she does fluff her lines again, Tostada can pick up the pieces. Andre Nel’s filly was not far off in her first local effort on the poly and judged on her pedigree should come into her own over ground. Another threat could come in the form of the lightly raced Sihamba Sonke who show some improvement last outing and the blinkers go on.

There is little doubt that Mike Miller has been king of the early juvenile races and he can add another with debutante Edgartown in the card opener. Miller rates the son of Soft Falling Rain as “a very nice horse” and stable rider Ashton Arries is sure to have had the pick of rides with Miller having four runners in the race. Of those that have run, Crested Eagle made major improvement at long odds at his second outing and on exposed form rates the one to beat.

The Pick 6 has not been and easy bet to catch of late and punters face another tricky puzzle.

 Sean Veale is paying dearly out of his pocket for his over-zealous use of the stick and the money was obviously down on Cupid’s Song when beaten by Mexican Catdance last time out. Veale gets another chance on Tony Rivalland’s gelding in the opening leg of the exotic bet. But he faces plenty of opposition with Purple And Gold making a promising debut and although there were a couple in this race, The Kingdom and Final Destiny, that finished in front of him, he does appear to have plenty of improvement to come. Seventh Song has not missed a cheque in his last five starts and should be right there again.

The fourth is another difficult affair even though it is a maiden event. Mystery Boy has only had a couple of starts and showed up well in both. He had a wide gate at last run with a plum draw could make the required improvement. Italian Dynasty was a beaten favourite last run but has improved at recent outings and although the draw is a concern, he gets 2.5kg relief from the saddle.

African Sunrise continues to frustrate but he will get it right at some stage and Sunday could be the day. He does not have the best of draws but he should be competitive in this line-up. Given that he has let the side down on numerous occasions one must respect the chances of Peaceful Day who showed up nicely in his local debut and had consistent Cape form before that. Fight Song had the worst of the draw last run and ran his worst race. Both wins came on the poly but he has done well on the turf while Karoo Lark has shown recent improvement and is not out of it.

Finally, Solar Flare has come good of late and goes well this trip. She went close in stronger company last time out and should make a bold bid in the seventh. Wildly In Love ran a little below her better recent form last time out but the blinkers go on and with a 4kg claimer up she could prove difficult to catch.

Of the balance, Calulo was a comfortable maiden winner at second time of asking and that form was firmly franked with second-placed Mind Set trouncing her field next time out. Deep Thought was a beaten favourite last run but appears better than that.

David Thiselton

THE Turffontein Inside meeting today features the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m and the up and coming Second Base can make it five wins in six starts.

This rangy Gimmethegreenlight gelding was caught one wide without cover in his first attempt at this trip last time but still managed to relax well and he displayed an impressive range of gears in the straight. Jumping from the widest draw tomorrow’s ten horse field should not bother him  and he looks to have the class to give 2kg and more to the rest of the field. Chase Maujean is a capable replacement for regular pilot Gavin Lerena.

Shah Akbar won impressively from the front over this trip last time. He received 6.5kg from Sell High and beat him by ten lengths and the latter had earlier given Second Base 1kg and lost by only 2,50 lengths. That puts Shah Akbar ahead of Second Base on paper as he will receive 2kg from the latter tomorrow. Furthermore, he ran a time 1,59 seconds quicker than Second Base over the same Standside 1800m trip, although he was carrying 5kg less. However, Second Base look to have plenty of scope for further improvement and on merit ratings he is 1,5kg better off with Shah Akbar.

Dr Doolittle also throws a spanner in the works as he beat Shah Akbar by 3,75 lengths in his last run over this trip despite having to give him 3kg. However, Shah Akbar ran way below the form of his next run in that outing and that is proven by the form of Fsquadron who finished runner up to Dr Doolittle when receiving 6,5kg and has failed to win in two subsequent events. However, that should not detract from Dr Doolittle, who is  on the up and could be a threat receiving 2kg from Second Base, although officially he is 1,5kg under sufferance.

Nartje is another decent type and he is 5kg better off with Second Base for a four length beating so should get closer.

Bold Jazz finished just 2,25 lengths behind the unbeaten Paisley Park in the Listed Secretariat Stakes over 1400m despite having to give him 2kg so he is an interesting runner here because on pedigree he should appreciate this trip.  

Gimmethegoahead looks held by Bold Jazz on 1400m form but won well when stepped up to this trip last time and now has a good draw. However, he will have to defy the handicappers who have him on a merit rating of 90 which puts him 5kg under sufferance with Second Base.

The best weighted runner is Al Muthana, who is rated one point higher than Second Base on 105 and yet receives 4kg from him, which makes him 4.5kg well in. He achieved this rating with a 5,25 length fourth place finish in the WSB Dingaans. He has a good draw and will relish the step up in trip. However, he needed the whole length of the straight to get going in the Dingaans and there is a question mark about his suitability to the tighter Inside track. The risk averse should include him in their exotics though.

The remainder of the field are Foreign Field, Baymax and Fsquadron who are way out at the weights and will need to step up.

There is some classy racing throughout the day and there are in fact no maiden plates on the card.

In the second race, a MR 92 Handicap over 1500m, Bartholdi will give a clue to Al Muthana’s chances. Last time out in the Listed Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1400m he finished just half-a-length behind Bingwa, who beat Al Muthana by 2,75 lengths in the Dingaans. Bartholdi is the one to beat in this field but might be given a hard time by the topweight The Eighth Lord, who cruised to an impressive win over 1600m at this course back in November, although he is now rated ten points higher.

Against the Grain in the third over 1500m is made the best of the day as he should be cherry ripe having now had three runs since his ten month layoff. He should start displaying the class he has always possessed.  

David Thiselton 

TODAY’S Vaal straight course hosts a leg of the Workrider’s Challenge and there look to be some good opportunities for punters.

In the first race over 1000m Sonny Quinn is knocking on the door and gets a good opportunity to get off the mark in an uninspiring field. He has finished in the first three in five of seven starts and the Dorrie Sham yard are in good form at present. However, he always seems to find one or two better so can’t be regarded as a strong choice.

Grappler has substance and might have benefited from a seven month layoff after a fair debut over 1160m in a strong maiden. Of the first-timers Cephas is by Querari and is a full brother to Psychedelic who won third time out over 1000m at Kenilworth. Scottish Flower is by Rebel King and is a half-brother to the speedy two-time winner South East and Chamu Mabaya is an eyecatching booking. Wisden is by Willow Magic out of a three-time winning Var mare who is a half-sister to the useful Copper Mountain.

In the second race over 1000m Ruby Woo stayed on nicely on debut over this trip in September and has scope for improvement. Furthermore, seven winners have come out of that race. Princess Sabrina has run some fair sprints and after failing over 1400m last time can be a contender over the minimum trip. Jam Fancy improved when just failing to lead from start to finish over this trip third time out and is a contender too. Rollawaytackler, who is by Captain Al out of a Trippi mare whose only win was a runaway one by over six lengths at Scottsville over 1000m, makes most appeal of the first-timers. Sudden Break by Sudden Storm is also interesting being by Sudden Storm out of a Brazilian mare who won three times from 1000m to 1600m.

The best of the day, Golden Spoon, runs in the third over 1200m. She caught the eye running on strongly on debut over 1000m and being by the current boom sire Vercingetorix out of the Listed Scarlet Lady winner Captain’s Daughter she should not only improve but she should relish the extra 200m. Aberdare is a full-sister to Grade 1 Golden Horseshoe (1400m) winner Forest Indigo but despite having a miler-to-middle distance looking pedigree, she might enjoy the step down in trip as she showed a good turn of foot from off the pace over 1400m last time before finding no extra. Sheltering Sky could earn and the two first-timers Lee Express (Vercingetorix) and Moobheera (Var) have eyecatching rider bookings, Sam Mosia and Joe Gwingwizha.

In the fourth over 1200m Differentiate packs a strong finish over this trip and doesn’t face inspiring opposition. Inherit The Rain should also be involved and the first-timer Flying Bull is interesting being by Soft Falling Rain out of a Judpot mare who won on debut in a workrider’s maiden over 1400m.    

In the fifth over 1700m Ushuaia found himself in front last time and could only plug on for a 3,10 length fifth. However, that was only his second start and he does come out better than the rest on formlines. So with improvement and perhaps a more conservative ride he is the one to beat. Irish Rain and Major Winter are still capable of further improvement. Parallax can also be considered and Extravert must also be considering his good form in 2019 before being sidelined for a long time. 

In the sixth race over 1700m the hard-knocking Lotus is the obvious choice and she has a good draw too. Senescence looks ideally distance suited so could bounce back. Princess Thiana plugged on over 1400m in a fair field on debut and being a full-sister to Legal Eagle she can improve and should also enjoy the step up in trip. Lyrical Dance has not caught the eye in two runs to date but was staying on over 1160m second time out and being by Vercingetorix and a half-sister to the like of Summer Cup winner Liege she can still improve. Bold Leah, who is out of a four time winning Right Approach mare, was plugging on over 1400m last time and could possibly appreciate the step up in trip being by Pomodoro.

Chenopod is the one to beat on form in the seventh over 2000m. The only danger looks to be Bend Not Break, who doesn’t come out as well as the former on formlines, but is capable of improvement especially if she settles better than she did last time.

In the last race over 2000m, Leading Lad over-raced with first-time blinkers on last time and now reverts to cheekpieces so can recapture his hard-knocking form. He should stay this trip. Masaaken strikes as one who is looking for this trip so will be a big threat if able to overcome a tricky draw. Track Commander looks capable of improvement and has a shout if staying this trip on pedigree. Ball Rolling is consistent and also has a chance. Captain Cupid beat Ball Rolling over this trip last month but will have to bounce back from two subsequent below par efforts.   

David Thiselton

JUSTIN SNAITH has decided to target the Cape Town Met with his three highest rated middle distance horses only, Belgarion, Do It Again and African Night Sky, mindful that an unplaced run for lesser horses could still see them raised in the merit ratings.

Sachdev and Nexus have thus come out and he avoided the race completely for a three-year-old he views as his “July horse”,  Gatekeeper.

His said about his Met runners, “They put in their last big workouts and I am very happy with all of them. I will be very surprised if Belgarion and Do It Again don’t both finish in the first four. Belgarion’s performance in the Green Point was brilliant but he was running fresh and before that I had never believed him to be a Queen’s Plate horse as it is over a mile and he is by Silvano. We were hoping, make no mistake, but the pace in the Queen’s Plate turned out to be on the slow side and he was shown to not be a miler. There were a number of three-year-olds I could have run in the Queen’s Plate but opted for Jet Dark for just one reason and that is he is very strong over a mile. He had been very unlucky in the Cape Guineas in which he had a shocking draw and in a slow run race he flew from last in the running.”

The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate pace thus suited Jet Dark whereas Belgarion could only run on in vain for a strong-finishing third.

Do It Again ran a sterling fourth and looks-wise struck as being back to his imposing best.

Snaith said, “It was a massive run. He was unlucky. It was a slow run race and he came from last and couldn’t get a clear run, the gap closed and he had to be switched. He is in a good space. He has come on a lot from that run and so has Belgarion.”

African Night Sky was also unlucky in the Grade 2 Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy when squeezed out on the rail by Golden Ducat and Sachdev and then running on for a 0,95 length third after being switched.

Snaith said, “He should have won, no doubt. He has come on from the run but he has a very hard ask at level weights so we are just hoping for a positive run.”

In other yard news stable jockey Richard Fourie has opted to ride Erik The Red in the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship and this has left Snaith with a predicament as no out of province jockeys will be allowed to travel to ride Kasimir.

Snaith said, “Richard just feels that 1000m is a bit short for Kasimir, although on the other had Kasimir doesn’t know how to run a bad race.”

Meanwhile, the yard’s Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner Captain’s Ransom put up a good gallop at Kenilworth on Saturday ahead of her engagement in the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes, where she has been priced up as favourite by bookmakers despite the presence of Queen Supreme, Clouds Unfold and Celtic Sea.

Snaith said, “Everything has gone to plan. She is very easy to train and is spot on.”

Snaith felt his easy Grade 3 Chairman’s Cup winner, Silver Host, would be hard to beat in the Grade 2 Western Cape Stayers over 2800m.

He is also looking forward to High Hosanna’s run in the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes. This Drakenstein Stud-bred Trippi filly is out of a half-sister to Oh Susanna and she won comfortably on debut. 

Snaith is also expecting good runs from Mach Four and Hoedspruit in the Grade 3 Politician Stakes. Mach Four is an up-and-coming sort who has won his last two and Fourie has opted for him. Snaith felt Hoedspruit was unlucky in the Cape Guineas when left near the back after a slow start and Gavin Lerena rides. 

DAVID THISELTON

THE Vaal stages a competitive meeting today and this is illustrated ho how tough most legs of the Pick 6 are.

In the first leg over 1400m Dawn Of A New Era has a nice big action and can get off the mark in his fifth start. He is a possible banker in and uninspiring field in which the chief danger looks to be Blue Spark.

In the second leg over 1400m Wisteria Walk is the best weighted and runs over an ideal trip. In this small field down the straight she will be closer to the pace than she was when dropped out and running unplaced last time out in the Grade 2 Joburg Fillies and Mares Spring Challenge over 1450m. She has not run since that event on October 3 so is unlikely to be at her peak, but her class could pull her through. Sidonie likely went a touch too fast early last time out over 1600m but she still stayed on for a fair fourth in a good field. She could appreciate the drop in trip and will be dangerous if able to dictate. Querari Ferrari’s run on Saturday over this trip heralded a form return and she is second best in it the weights so will be a threat. Empress Josephine ran on well last time out over this course and distance and is right up with Querari Ferrari at the weights. Invisible was beaten 1,75 lengths when receiving 1kg from Wisteria Walk over 1450m last September but now has to face her at level weights. Those five make most appeal.

In the next race over 1100m Persica has a shout if able to find a nice position with cover as she has a good turn of foot. The Fifth Waves chances were compromised by a low draw last time over 1160m and she has a shout here. May Queen disappointed last time over 1200m but on her best form there is nothing between her and Persica at the weights and she will enjoy this trip. Those three make most appeal but it is a wide open race and more can be included.

In the seventh race Eden Roc has a fine chance on the form of his Merchants runner up finish last time. He would probably prefer 1200m but has never actually tried this trip before and is versatile and classy so should go close. Bold Ransom  is a progressive sprinters who was beaten a head by Eden Roc in the Merchants and is now 1.5kg worse off so he looks held but is nevertheless the chief threat.

In the eighth Dubawi Princess has always had promise and was not disgraced last time from an unfavourable draw. Bella Black, who is much improved, was just behind her from an equally disadvantageous draw. Desert Pride is better than her last run and must also be included. Brooklyn Bridge is knocking hard and is 3kg better off with Desert Pride for a 2,75 length beating. Laetitia’s Angel drops down to the trip of her last win. 

The last race is a competitive fillies and mares handicap over 1200m. Olivia S has run well in both of her Gauteng starts since moving from Kimberley and 

now has he third run after an eight month layoff. The well bed Frankel filly Lagertha is still a maiden but comes off two good 1000m runs against the boys and she should appreciate the step up in trip. Royal Lily has fallen to an attractive merit rating and although she has become disappointing the yard are in form and an up turn in her form here should see her go close. Hear The Trumpet is none to consistent but if reproducing her penultimate run over course and distance she can be involved. The Villa Grand is also an interesting runner stepped back up to this trip. Her previous two runs over this distance were against much stronger opposition. Samoa and Emerald Crest have to be considered too.