David Thiselton

THE Peter Muscutt-trained Indi Anna, paying R30.70 a Tote win and R7.00 a place, romped to a comfortable win in Saturday’s Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville under Raymond Danielson.

There was also an upset in the Listed Christmas Handicap over the same 1600m course and distance as Keagan de Melo extracted a strong finish from the Dean Kannemeyer-trained bottom weight Mount Anderson, who paid R11.00 a win.

The latter win was possible to find as Mount Anderson had snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight of 52kg, although he did have half-a-kilogram overweight to contend with, and he had run a close second off his current mark the last time he ran in good ground at Hollywoodbets, although that was over 1400m.

However, Indi Anna would not have been given much chance by mathematicians as she had finished fourth, fifth and fifth in her last three handicap starts over distances from 1400m to 1600m and she was now 9kg under sufferance with the best weighted runner in this conditions event. However, a closer scrutiny of the form showed that she had won four races in the top centre of Cape Town to reach her current merit rating and her first run in KZN followed national lockdown and she was then given another five month layoff before two more runs, so this was going to be her peak run. Furthermore, Cape Town-based horses of this calibre usually arrive in other centres with suppressed merit ratings due to the class of horse down there and it was proved again in this race.  

Indi Anna broke well from draw eight but found herself without cover behind the leader Electric Surge and was threatening to over race. However, Petra was taken around runners to join the leader and thus provided Indi Anna with cover.

Anybody who happened to tune in as they left the narrow false rail could easily have mistaken Indi Anna for an odds on favourite as she is a big and impressive specimen with a big stride and she quickened well. The Master Of MY Fate filly had the race in safekeeping halfway down the straight as she was clearly not stopping.

The Grade 2-winning three-year-old Love Bomb started Tote favourite and had the run of the race in the box seat behind the leader. However, she could not match Indi Anna’s finishing speed.

Instead, it was another outsider, Mary O, who was 6kg under sufferance with the best weighted runner, who ran on from off the pace to finish a clear second, 1,50 lengths behind the winner and 2,1 lengths ahead of Love Bomb, who just held on for third from the best weighted runner Gallic Princess.

Mary O finished second in last season’s Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas over this course and distance so yesterday’s performance was no fluke. 

Gallic Princess is a top class sprinter so was a bit stretched by the trip, but stayed on steadily.

The fancied Silent Crusade sat behind Love Bomb in the running and stayed on for fifth.

The only other horse in single figure odds was Magic School who is a big galloping type who was going to be dangerous if managing to get to the front or in to a handy position. However, when she missed the break and ended up last in the running the writing was on the wall. She could only stay on forlornly for seventh.

In a similar scenario to the Flamboyant Stakes, Mount Anderson broke well and found himself one out and one back without cover. However, on this occasion jockey Ant Mgudlwa was not keen to keep his mount Farland in the box seat after the pacemaker Priceless Ruler had begun applying the brakes, so he moved alongside and this provided perfect cover for Mount Anderson.

The favourite Baby Shooz now had the box seat and, carrying just 53.5kg, had the opportunity to prove that his entry in The Met is not a pipe dream.

Priceless Ruler had soon cried enough and Baby Shooz moved up well to take the lead. However, he needs further and Mr Fitz, who had sat behind him, was clearly finishing stronger. However, Mount Anderson, who is well bred being by Vercingetorix out of the Grade 1 Golden Slipper (1400m) and Grade 2 Gold Bracelet (2000m) winner Gilded Minaret, then found a burst and in the end won cosily by half-a-length from Mr Fitz, who pipped Baby Shoes by a short-head for second. Sniper Shot finished next best ahead of Shareholder. 

Danielson rode a double on the day as the Gavin Van Zyl-trained Blackball was at his impressive best when carrying joint topweight of 61.5kg to a 3,50 length win in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 2200m. 

Serino Moodley scored a double on the Lezeanne Forbes-trained Underthemistletoe and the Michael Roberts-trained Alado’s Pride.

Wendy Whitehead scored a double with Teichman, ridden by 2.5kg claimer Jabu Jacobs, and Macara, who converted favouritism in the last race under Donovan Dillon.

The meeting had also begun well for punters as the Tony Rivalland-trained Guitar King converted favouritism in the first under Lyle Hewitson. 

David Thiselton

Dean Kannemeyer’s fine horsemanship and loyalty to the underrated jockey Grant Behr were behind the shock win of Russian Rock in Saturday’s Grade 1 Cape Guineas. It was Dean’s sixth win of the prestigious race and the yard’s ninth as his father Peter also won it three times.

Kannemeyer said about the Klawervlei Stud-bred grey colt by Pomodoro, “He is claustrophobic and had begun box walking, so when spring came around I built him a new box in the paddock which allowed him to go out and eat when he wanted to. He became a completely different horse.”

However, the other problem which needed solving was his soft mouth, which had caused him to throw his head up and get the tongue over the bit in a 1400m race at Durbanville on October 17 and he then threw his head up again over 1200m on December 2.

Kannemeyer fitted a softer bit piece and his instructions to Behr were to get the horse’s head down and settled.

Russian Rock only threw his head up for a stride or two down the back straight and he was otherwise settled although he did take a strong hold.

Kannemeyer described the pace as steady and consistent, which aided his cause.

Russian Rock has stamina in his pedigree and had proved his speed in his previous start, so when he reached the top of the straight on the back of a perfect passage in a slow run race he was suddenly an interesting proposition. His in-running odds would have been a lot shorter than his 100/1 starting odds.

It was no surprise to see the Vaughan Marshall-trained Linebacker emerge as the likely winner half way down the straight as his form should have seen him in the top three in the betting rather than the 33/1 offered by some bookmakers. He is a big rangy type who was always going to appreciate the long straight of the New Course and Donovan Dillon had managed to relax him despite being caught wide from a wide draw.

However, it would have been a surprise for most to see Russian Rock appearing on the scene full of running.

He was even able to afford to be snatched back and switched when sandwiched at the 250m mark.

The latter occurrence was due to the hanging outward antics of the pacemaker Seeking The Stars.

Malmoos was also hampered, but was not looking like a winner,  and Rascallion, who eventually rallied back for third, was also affected.

Russian Rock rallied back gamely but was tending to hang inward.

Dillon, with the benefit of hindsight, possibly cost himself the race by continuing to whip Linebacker instead of straightening him. Linebacker consequently drifted inward meaning Behr did not have to worry about straightening his hanging mount.

Russian Rock got up on the line after a late surge and was without doubt the deserved winner on the day.

Kannemeyer said, “I was thrilled for Grant Behr who has had to play second fiddle in the Kannemeyer yard for about 100 years. If he had not won it would have been a tragedy. But he did not panic and pulled him out and got up. He was very cool and I take my hat off to him. I have always said that pound for pound Grant is as strong in a finish as any other jockey in the country. He always comes and rides work and has ridden a lot of winners for us, there is no doubting his ability.”

Luyolo Mxothwa had taken a while to get to the front on the expected pacemaker Seeking The Stars but once there had restrained him rather than let him stride freely as he had done in his last two impressive wins over 1400m. The explanation would likely be the stamina doubt about the Vercingetorix colt. Nevertheless, it led to the slowest Cape Guineas since 2005.

Time will tell whether the slow pace led to a false result.

Kannemeyer admitted he had fancied his other charge Silvano’s Timer but added, “Russian Rock’s previous race had been very good. His work had been so good too and he was absolutely popping out of his skin. I had heard so many times this season about horses who were going to win the Guineas but you’ve only won the Guineas when the trophy is on the wall. Bad horses do not win the Guineas. But the result is going to have the handicapper scratching his head.”  

Kannemeyer was especially thrilled to have won a classic for one of Cape Town’s most popular and prolific owners Marsh Shirtliff, who had requested he win one for him many years ago. At the beginning of the season Kannemeyer thought he might do it for Shirtliff with Lion’s Head, but it was fitting he did it instead with a horse Shirtliff had chosen himself at the Sales. Shirtliff had asked Kannemeyer what he had thought of Russian Rock shortly before he had been due to enter the ring. Marsh had liked the colt on both conformation and pedigree and Dean had assessed him as a “nice, balanced horse”. They agreed to bid and got him for R200,000.

Kannemeyer said, “Marsh was kind to bring in his partners Ian Longmore and Bryn Ressell.”

The Cape Guineas is known as a stallion producing race and Russian Rock is still an entire.

However, Kannemeyer always looks at racing first and usually gelds when it becomes necessary. He said, “What percentage of horses are good enough to make it as sires and what percentage of those make it?”

Kannemeyer said Russian Rock’s next race would likely be the Grade 1 Cape Derby over 2000m.

SA Derby and Vodacom Durban July-winner Pomodoro will give him some stamina and Russian Rock’s half-brother Deposition (Rock Of Gibraltar) has won two races over 2200m and 1950m respectively.

Russian Rock’s dam Elisium (Procolomation) is in fact a half-sister to Hoity Toity, the grandam of European Horse Of The Year, Minding.

David Thiselton

THE highlight of Hollywoodbets Scottsville’s meeting yesterday, which contained six maiden plates in eight races, was a Graduation Plate over 1 750m and it turned into a thrilling dual between the two market leaders Native Tongue and Shareholder.

 Shareholder was officially the best weighted horse in the small eight horse field but on their last meeting the Justin Snaith-trained Native Tongue had the edge at the weights and was also drawn in pole under Anton Marcus.

Power To Command set a strong pace and built up a big lead and Shareholder looked the winner when running on strongly from midfield. However, Native Tongue had moved up well from further back and found more than Shareholder to score by a length and convert 14-10 odds. Banzai Pipeline was a further four lengths back in third.

The first race was a Conditional Graduation Plate for work-riders over 1200m and the Dennis Bosch-trained Master Of My Fate gelding Knight Warrior recorded his second career win in his 16th start when being kept in touch by Mzwandile Mjokwa and staying on to cross the line 0,90 lengths of Charlie Fox.

The first two returned odds of 18-1 and 25-1 respectively and were followed home by 23/4 chance Kings Crusade with the market leaders Drama Queen (17-10) and Father’s Frost (33-10) only managing fourth and fifth in the eight horse field.

 However, punters could have made amends in the second over 800m when the Kumaran Naidoo-trained Visionaire filly Aisling, who was sent off at 6/10 odds under Donovan Dillon, kept up a strong gallop from the off to lead from pillar to post and win by 1.05 lengths from the Rafeef first-timer Civil Rights.

In the third race over 1000m the Louis Goosen-trained What A Winter three-year-old filly Beckoning Beauty was in touch from the off from draw one and stayed on strongly to deny the favourite Alwaysonmymind by 0,70 lengths.

This win gave Ashton Arries his sixth win in the space of eight days.

Arries was denied by a shorthead in the fourth race over 1200m on the 50-1 shot Trumpet Voluntary when the handy-running Toothless, a Garth Puller-trained Coup De Grace three-year-old gelding, was kept going by Lyle Hewitson to win his second career start. The 13-20 favourite Camora was handy throughout but ran out of steam and was beaten 0,35 lengths.

The fifth race over 1200m was ultra competitive and KZN Champion trainer Puller made it a quick double when Luke Ferraris brought home the Elusive Fort gelding High Velocity, who was also having his second career start and converted odds of 13-2. He won fluently by 1,50 lengths from the 11-10 favourite Winter Waves.

In the sixth race over 1500m the improved Michael Roberts-trained Byword gelding Tree Of Knowledge found the trip ideal and won cosily by 0,75 lengths under a good front-running ride by Gareth Wright, converting 17-2 odds. Kinskey’s Tune at 25-1 and the 21-4 first-timer Galabier were next best. The 14-10 favourite Cafe Pacifica let down PA punters by only managing sixth.

 Nathan Kotzen scored a one-two in the last race over 2000m when two horses he had brought on slowly but surely, Great Affair and Ellis Island, ran on strongly from way back in a fast-paced race. Muzi Yeni was aboard the 47-20 winner who is by Gimmethegreenlight. The 5-2 favourite Italian Dynasty finished third. 

Mark van Deventer

RUSSIAN Rock bravely overcame a troubled trip to score a massive 100/1 upset in the Cape Guineas (G1) over 1600m at Kenilworth, providing Dean Kannemeyer with yet another win in this historic Classic and a first Grade 1 for jockey Grant Behr. The flashy grey was sired by former Durban July victor, Pomodoro and bred at Klawervlei Stud.

Linebacker was a valiant second, caught in the last jump, after racing wide around the turn before going on strongly and looking all over a winner – except on the post. Rascallion, heavily backed in the market down to 33/10, encountered some trouble in the straight before staying on gamely to secure the trifecta slot. Jet Dark completed an exceedingly difficult quartet sequence, whilst badly drawn The Gatekeeper caught the eye with a torrid late rally just out of the places.

Russian Rock has now won twice from five starts, on both occasions starting as an unconsidered long shot. He won on debut at 50/1 over an inadequate 1250m and provided an even bigger stunner in the Cape Guineas. Trainer Kannemeyer was happy with the exceptional morning workouts the grey was producing – yet this was the first time he was meeting rivals of such a high calibre – hence the dim view the market took of his chances.

Journeyman jockey, Grant Behr seldom gets the opportunity to mix it on genuinely live runners in the big races. He is, however, an experienced level-headed professional and his loyal boss, Kannemeyer has always assessed Behr as an underrated, forceful rider. It was a remarkable effort from both the diminutive Russian Rock and Behr to rebreak after getting hampered at a crucial stage, before lunging to a famous short head victory.

In the Cape Racing Victress Stakes (G3) over 1800m, apart from having the highest merit rating in the field, Silvano’s Pride looked tactically dangerous as the lone speed. She was duly given a finely judged front riding ride by Richard Fourie, though he modestly commented afterwards that, “she does it all herself.” The Justin Snaith trained daughter of Silvano courageously went all the way to notch her sixth victory from 18 starts and will next have a dip at the Paddock Stakes.

Paul Peter’s Gauteng raider, Heart Stwings chased her around the wind-swept track to stay on for second in a career best performance. Favourite, Missisippi Burning was never a factor, jogging tamely in last place then failing to produce any sort of kick at her first attempt beyond a mile. Jockey Craig Zackey lamented that “she was off the bit soon after the start.”

The complexion of the Peninsula Handicap (G3) over 1800m changed completely in the final 200m. Captain Flinders had shaken loose on the lead halfway down the stretch but could not withstand a horde of challengers in deep stretch. Best finisher of all was Nexus, under inspired veteran, Pierre Strydom who rushed past in the centre of the course, marginally ahead of Super Silvano and Love Happens.

The winner was also saddled by furnace-hot, Snaith Racing, who have extracted 7 wins from this talented Dynasty gelding. It was a sterling effort carrying 59kg’s from a wide barrier then passing 11 horses in the final furlong to get up for the win. Super Silvano, 2^nd to Winter Series hero Katak in July, regained form to get closest to Nexus.

Andrew Harrison

Early in the season, Justin Snaith indicated that Native Tongue was headed for the Highveld spring season with the Dingaans a possible target. Things didn’t quite work out as he ran into a couple of road-blocks before then and he stayed home at Summerveld. However, his penultimate start was a cracker when finishing under a length back to Share Holder giving the winner 1kg. It was a stout effort at the weights but he then followed up with a modest fourth when trying the poly for the first time.

He faces Share Holder again in a Pinnacle Stakes over the Hollywoodbets Scottsville mile today but this time is in receipt of 4.5kh which should see Native Tongue turn the tables on his rival.

A bigger threat to his chances could come from Gavin van Zyl’s gelding Greenlighttoheaven who has improved with each outing since being given a break after a no-show in the Gr1 Gold Medallion. He was doing his best work late when runner-up to Ralph The Rascal last time out and the extra furlong will suit.

Share Holder has been a touch disappointing but is nicely weighted here and if he does puts in his best, he can go close while Banzai Pipeline did it the hard way when shedding his maiden but he shows some scope and could be better than his rating.

Bankers always come in handy when it comes to the exotic bets and Tony Rivalland could provide when he saddles Camora in the fourth. Camora was close-up in all three starts and is rated way better than all the exposed runners. He should be hard to beat unless there is a springer in the pack. Of the balance, Toothless caught the eye on debut and is sure to improve with the experience while Cardboard Cowboy has had plenty of chances but has been close-up of late with the sting out of the ground.

Café Pacifica will be in warm order in the sixth but she will faced some stiff opposition. She goes this trip for the first time but has smart form over sprints. From a good draw he rates a strong chance. Assistant Stuart Ferrie is in charge of the Drier stable while the boss enjoys the Cape summer and Ferrie saddles Parallel Universe who make good improvement at his second start. He will much prefer this trip and is likely to give Café Pacifica a hard race. Marcus rides first-timer Galabier for Gareth van Zyl and makes his debut over 1500m. He is bred to get a trip so one to watch in the market.

The first juvenile race of the current KZN season produced a cracking finish with Sheldon and Aisling separated by a nostril at the line and the balance of the field strung out behind like the washing. Both showed exceptional pace and because the race was moved from Scottsville to Greyville the distance was extended to 1000m.

It’s back to 800m tomorrow where the filly takes on males, but they will need to be on their toes if they are to catch her. Mike Miller, who saddled Sheldon, has five runners entered and will know exactly what he is up against.

The card kicks off with a work-riders maiden where Aaron Xabendlini may have the answer in Garth Puller’s runner Drama Queen. She has her first run for the stable but comes with some solid Cape form in strong company and although down a furlong in trip, she does rate the horse to beat. Father’s Frost was unlucky not to win the last work rider’s race after finding plenty of traffic. Winning rider Callum Dixon takes over from Tristan Mustard who has moved to the UK to work for top jumps trainer Nicky Henderson but if Father’s Frost can repeat his last effort, Drama Queen will have to pick up her feet.

David Thiselton

THE three-year-old male crop was at one stage looking to be  vintage but a star or two will need to emerge from tomorrow’s Grade 1 Cape Guineas as the fizz is starting to go a bit flat.

The unbeaten Malmoos is from the yard of four-times Cape Guineas-winning trainer Mike de Kock and is by Captain Al who won this race from draw 16 of 16 and who has produced two winners of the prestigious classic. Jockey Luke Ferraris said Malmoos was still green last time when winning the Grade 2 Avontuur Estate Concorde Cup over this trip so he has the potential to be a champion. He has a tough draw of ten so it won’t be easy for Ferraris to find cover. However, Malmoos strikes as one of those horses who would throw himself over the line if he had to so he is sure to make a bold bid even if he doesn’t get a good passage. The race does look more wide open than the betting suggests and Malmoos is likely to drift out from his current Track And Ball odds of 17-10.

Seeking The Stars is one of five runners from the yard of five-times Cape Guineas-winning trainer Vaughan Marshall and he also has the potential to be something special. This Vercingetorix colt did not get the best of breaks in the De Grendel CTS Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m but once he had reached the front he imposed himself and never looked like letting up his relentless gallop. He won by 5,50 lengths to prove his front-running Grade 3 Cape Classic victory over the same trip was no fluke. The detractor is that second-placed Lemon Delight was well beaten in the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and four other horses who have come out of the race have also run unplaced. However, he did win easily and the Cape Classic form puts him on a par with Malmoos at least, if not ahead. Vercingetorix is throwing them more speedy than his sire Silvano, so the question is whether Seeking The Stars will be able to keep going from the front in a Grade 1 mile. He could well do as his dam, who is by Count Du Bois, won a Listed race over 2200m. Seeking The Stars’ speed will enable him to get to the front, but his draw of nine means he won’t be able to afford a tardy start this time. Luyulo Mxothwa has given him two fine rides in his last two starts and he stays aboard.

Stablemate Linebacker was beaten into second by Seeking The Stars in the Cape Classic and followed up with another second to Malmoos in the Concorde. The impressive part of the latter run was he had to overcome a wide draw of nine and then ran without cover one out and one back yet still found plenty in the straight to be beaten just half-a-length. He is a big, scopey horse so will still be improving and his big action will carry him close, especially if he manages to find cover under Donavan Dillon, who rides him for the first time.  

The third Marshall runner Rascallion is 5-1 compared to Linebacker’s odds of 18/1. Rascallion gave Linebacker 2kg in the Cape Classic and finished 2,25 lengths behind him and in the Concorde at level weights he was 1,25 lengths behind. However, Rascallion ended up near the back in both races before running on well. He now has a plum draw of two and will appreciate the longer straight of the new course. However, Linebacker is a rangy type who should also enjoy tomorrow’s course and distance so the price disparity can only be justified by the draw and should not be as big.

Marshall’s Contact Zone couldn’t win a handicap over this trip off a 92 rating last time and looks held by The Gatekeeper too.

Marshall’s other runner Look For Hounds has to reverse a 8,75 length defeat by Seeking The Stars from the Cape Classic and could subsequently only manage forurth in the Listed RA Stakes over this trip on the Fairview poly.

Justin Snaith has three runners in his attempt to win the Cape Guineas for a second time ten years after succeeding with Solo Traveller.

Piere Strydom will be wanting to go out with a bang in his last full season of riding and could do it for Snaith with the 16-1 shot Hoedspruit. This Legislate gelding could give owners Suzette and Basie Viljoen a Guineas double, just a week after landing their first Grade 1 with Captain’s Ransom in the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas. He is a big gelding with a big action and has still looked immature in his last two starts. In his penultimate start he had to come around them from last to win over this trip at Durbanville. Last time out in the Concorde he was dropped out to the back from a wide draw and did not get a clear run. However, he still managed to stay on well for a three length fifth. He now gets a good draw of five in the 16 horse field and with improvement and the advantage of Piere Strydom up it would not be a major surprise if he reversed form with Malmoos, Linebacker, Rascallion and Silvano’s Timer.

However, stable jockey Richard Fourie is aboard Gatekeeper, who has shortened into 14/1 with Track and Ball, while Hoedspruit remains at 16/1. This Dynasty colt is a full brother to the course record holder over a mile, Legislate, and he has a fluent action so it is little surprise that Fourie has chosen him. In his penultimate start he ran on the wrong leg around the turn and was beaten 0,30 lengths by Guineas candidate Contact Zone. However, he is now 4kg better off and he also showed more maturity next time out when beating the top class Golden Ducat over this trip when receiving 7kg. However, that race was a canter-sprint affair so not much can be read into it. Nevertheless, The Gatekeeper is one of the horses who could prove himself a leader of the crop.

Snaith’s other runner is Jet Dark who understandably faded in the Cape Classic after being used up early to overcome a wide draw. He won going away next time out in a handicap over 1500m but was running off a 94 so will need a lot of improvement to be a threat.  

Dean Kannemeyer has won the Cape Guineas five times and his charge Silvano’s Timer comes in under the radar at 18/1 odds. He stayed on for fourth in the Concorde, a good preparation, and it is well known that the Silvano’s improve continuously. Furthermore, he is out of a Captain Al mare, Tick Tock, who finished a narrow second in the Cape Fillies Guineas and who has proved her worth at stud already by producing the SA Nursery winner William The Silent (Var) and Listed-placed over 1400m Stopalltheclocks (Trippi). Silvano’s Timer has a tricky draw of eight but will be staying on if dropped out.  

Kanemeyer’s other runner Russian Rock has overraced in his last two starts over 1400m and 1200m respectively so the step up in trip does not augur well and he is also rated only 95.

Querari colt Invincabelle easily beat Jet Dark over 1200m as a juvenile and is one of the dark horses as he has never been further than 1200m but has good cruising speed and a good turn of foot. His trainer-jockey combination Brett Crawford and Anton Marcus  have both won the Cape Guineas twice respectively. On the downside Invincabelle’s full brother Immortelle has never won beyond 1200m. However, his dam Varsity Belle, who is by Var out of a Sadler’s Wells mare, did win over 1600m so he might stay the trip. He is well drawn and has the speed to lead so might spoil the likely race plan of Seeking The Stars.

Last season’s champion two-year-old male Tempting Fate from the Dennis Drier yard ran well below par over 1200m in his seasonal reappearance. In his only attempt at this trip in the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes he went to the front from a wide draw in a slow run race and could only manage a two length sixth. The form of that race has overall not worked out too well, although Tempting Fate did finish ahead of subsequent Dingaans winner Catch Twentytwo.  

The Sean Tarry-trained Willow Express is drawn in pole but has to reverse five length and 6,25 length defeats by Malmoos and Seeking The Stars respectively over 1400m and he was well beaten in last season’s Premiers Champion Stakes too.

The Glen Kotzen-trained Fast Love was beaten nearly 20 lengths in the Ready To Run Stakes after being caught wide and overracing and earlier he could only manage eighth from pole position in the Premiers Champion Stakes. He is the lowest rated runner too.

Most of the leading contenders are drawn wide on a course which favours low draws, so it is a difficult race to assess.

However, Seeking The Stars, of those, has the best chance of overcoming a wide draw as he is a natural front runner and he is taken to beat Malmoos with Linebacker next best ahead of The Gatekeeper, Hoedspruit and Rascallion.  

David Thiselton

THE Grade 2 Green Point Stakes was run at a good pace over 1600m at Kenilworth on Saturday and Vodacom Durban July winner Belgarion proved himself the real deal.

In the July he was carrying the minimum possible weight for a male and came from way back in a furiously fast run race to get up, but he was still going to have much to prove when stepping up to weight for age events this season.

On Saturday he showed he was up to it when coming from last to mow down Rainbow Bridge at level weights, beating him by 0,40 lengths with Cirillo a shorthead further back in third.

Rainbow Bridge won the weight for age Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m earlier this year and Cirillo has been a wfa Grade 1 runner up over this trip twice.

Belgarion and Rainbow Bridge were both giving Cirillo 1kg.

The worth of the form was also backed up by the champion mare Clouds Unfold, who was beaten 2,90 lengths in the Gold Challenge and 2,70 lengths on Saturday.

The Grade 1 Cape Guineas will now take on special significance as the crack three-year-old Malmoos, if he wins, might take his place in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate if it is concluded that a horse better suited to middle distances won the Green Point. However, Do It Again was also considered a specialist middle distance horse before winning the Queen’s Plate and so was Legal Eagle before the first of his three Queen’s Plate victories, so Belgarion might be following in their footsteps. 

The sectional times of Saturday’s Green Point also proved the win was no flash in the pan.

Statistician Jay August timed pacemaker Cirillo reaching the turn in 26.45 seconds compared to the 25.88 by La Favourari in the decently paced race last year won by Vardy and the 27.04 of 2018, a tactical affair in which Undercover Agent was a reluctant leader but was then able to dictate.   

The respective times at the 1000m pole were 37.16 seconds in 2018, 35.44 seconds last year and 36.85 seconds this year.

At the 800 metre mark the times were 51.30 seconds in 2018, 48.92 seconds last year and 48.30 this year.

They went through the 600m pole in 63.90 in 2018, 60.93 last year and 60.16 this year.

The times through the 400m mark were 75.23 in 2018, 73.80 last year and 72.37 this year.

The 200m mark times were 86.86 in 2018, 85.48 last year and 84.18 this year.

The respective final times were 98.92 in 2018, 97.60 last year and 96.89 this year, although these times differed from the official times which were 98.92 seconds, 97.46 seconds and 96.72 seconds respectively.       

This was the third fastest Green Point in the last 18 years behind the 95.84 seconds of Legislate in 2014 and the 96.70 seconds of Dynasty in 2003.

August concluded that the fast fractions set the race up for closers but Belgarion was the only one with the ability to close.

Other conclusions were that Cirillo, even with the aid of blinkers and an attempt to use a tactic which has been employed with success by pacemakers in Cape Town this season i.e accelerating the pace on the turn, proved yet gain to be just behind the best.

It was also noted that Rainbow Bridge was edged out in a close finish yet again.

Belgarion has subsequently shortened from 5/1 to joint 28/10 favourite for the Sun Met together with Summer Pudding. 

David Thiselton

GARY ALEXANDER will be setting up a joint-training partnership with brother Dean later this year in the village of Gifford Hill 75km from Adelaide in South Australia.

It will be business as usual for the brothers for although Gary’s name is on the trainer’s license for their Turffontein-based operation it has always been a family affair.

Duncan Alexander, a legendary lightweight jockey who was born in Scotland and immigrated to South Africa shortly after the War, took out his trainer’s license in 1975 after hanging up his riding boots but when he became ill in 1978 his son Gary took over.

Gary and Dean quickly took the business to great heights.

Gary recalled, “The stepping stones, first from jockey to trainer and then me taking over at a very young age, were a lot different from somebody who was succeeding an established trainer. The first couple of years we picked up the pieces but from then onward we did exceptionally well. By the year 2000 we had 160 horses in training.”

The brothers have trained 15 Grade 1 winners.

They are a close- knit family and sister Julie, popular as an outstanding Tellytrack presenter, has been involved in the administrative side of the yard. However, she will not be immigrating with her brothers.

Gary and Dean have made many friends and contacts over the years in Australasia as regular buyers at the Australian and New Zealand Sales.

Gary said, “We are known and greeted out there as the Alexander brothers.”

Among the New Zealand-bred horses they have trained are Clifton King, who won both the Grade 1 SA Guineas and Grade 1 Germiston November Handicap, Timber Trader, who won the Grade 1 SA Derby, Ruby Clipper, who won the Grade 1 Allan Robertson among other stakes races, Lady Of The Turf, who beat Young Rake when winning the Grade 2 Gold Bowl, and Brutal Force, who won the Grade 2 Skeaping Trophy. Their current five-time winner Ration My Passion is also New Zealand-bred. The Alexanders’ first Gold Bowl winner Mosszao was Australian-bred and the race was a Grade 1 back then in 1996.

South African and Australasian friends of the brothers will be supporting their venture.

They might inherit a few horses from other yards in the beginning but will be attending the Sales to build up their string.

The presence of two South African ex-pat jockeys, Barend Vorster and Karl Zechner, will help them feel at home.

Vorster rides for South Australia’s leading yard, Tony and Calvin McEvoy, and is lying third on this season’s South Australia Jockeys Premiership table with 38 winners.  

Zechner is lying in 14th place with 16 winners.

South Australia has one established Metropolitan racecourse, Morphettville in Adelaide.

However, the new racecourse development, Murray Bridge, which is in Gifford Hill, will compliment Morphettville. This season Murray Bridge has been allocated two Saturday Metropolitan meetings among the 21 meetings in total.

The Alexanders will be based at Murray Bridge, which reportedly has world class, state of the art facilities.

The racecourses in Australia do not have false rails.

Gary said, “In all racecourses without false rails the pace is generally faster. The racing is also situated at the coast. But we are working with animals so we will just have to adjust to those changes and also to the tracks and to different riding styles.”

The control of racing is also very strict.

Gary and Dean will both be taking their families over.

Gary’s family consists of wife Danica and children Sasha and Johnmarc, who are aged 12 and nine respectively.

The children love being around animals and spend a lot of time at the yard.

Gary said, “I will support whatever my kids want to do when they get older but I would not have encouraged them to pursue a career in racing here in South Africa as much as I would overseas. It has been a struggle for the last twenty years over here and during the Covid period we have lost a number of horses and owners. Things are expensive in Australia but the stakes compared to costs are very good. Overseas if you get the breaks and are good at what you do I think you can do really well. I think trainers also get a lot more recognition overseas and are better respected in their countries than we are out here. It has not always been like that, in the old days the George Azzies and Syd Lairds were legends.”

Gary has previously applied to train in Hong Kong and Singapore but nothing materialised.

He said, “I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity especially at my age and I am very excited and looking forward to the challenge. It is God’s will and we will do it.”

Gary estimated they would depart for Australia in April.

Andrew Harrison

JUST how good is Belgarion was the question that came to mind after bowling home from last to nail Rainbow Bridge and Cirillo in the WSB Green Point Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday?

The Gr2 Green Point is widely regarded as a pipe-opener for the L’Ormarins Queens Plate and the Cape Town Met next month but punters will have been left with a few points to ponder.

Belgarion is not a ‘miler’, but nor is Rainbow Bridge in spite of his successes in the Gold Challenge at Hollywoodbets Greyville, the final leg of the unofficial Gr1 WFA mile series that encompasses the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and the L’Omarins Queen’s Plate.

The Green Point field was given a good lead by the ever-game Cirillo, arguably at his best over seven furlongs, but he stayed on in a sweaty finish, beaten less than a length by the two big guns.

With the two aforementioned races in the offing where Cirillo, a Queen’s Plate maybe and the Met unlikely, is it possible to unpick the form with any certainty.

Both Belgarion and Rainbow Bridge would hardly have been at their peak given their programme leading into the Western Cape’s two biggest races, but just who put in the better showing?

Nothing splits them except the neck at the line on Saturday.

Belgarion may have been the more impressive, coming from off the pace to snaffle Rainbow Bridge and Cirillo without seemingly working up a sweat as Richard Fourie gave his mount a clear passage to the line and pulled off what was basically a hands-and-heels victory.

The run by Rainbow Bridge was more difficult to work out. From his inside draw he jumped into the race early and although not particularly aggressive, Luke Ferraris, aboard for the first time, had to keep him hard into the bit before Cirillo made his play out front at a decent gallop.

Two furlongs out, Rainbow Bridge looked to have run his race and in danger of finishing out of the money, but he then kept plugging away to come back at Cirillo and edge into second.

Cirillo, a little suspect over the mile, may have run out of gas over the last 50m but Rainbow Bridge came back stoutly and although Belgarion made up many lengths on him to win the race, there was only a neck separating them at the line, Rainbow Bridge ever game in defeat.

Justin Snaith was not to be drawn on whether Belgarion would contest the Queen’s Plate with the Met the obvious target but I suspect both winner and runner-up will be in the line-up.

With Golden Duct definitely in the mix for the Met, we are in for a big one.

It was another red-letter day for Snaith as Captain’s Ransom added to his growing feature race list and gave Suzette and Bassie Viljoen their first Grade 1 success as the daughter of Captain Al made hacks of the Gr1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas.

Viljoen and her husband, unheard of two seasons back, have burst onto the scene and have horses in training throughout the country so it was more than fitting that they should finally have Grade 1 success with a filly that certainly looks to be going places.

The 1800m Paddock Stakes on Queen’s Plate day is an obvious target and a race that has been a happy hunting ground for sophomore fillies in recent seasons. Both Snaith and pilot Richard Fourie were cautious with their summation but the Paddock Stakes is an obvious target as is the Gr1 Majorca Stakes on Met day should they choose to by-pass the Paddock Stakes.