ANDREW HARRISON

A top stable, a top jockey, an international owner, a blue-blood pedigree and a R2 million price tag do not necessarily make for a racing certainty but Blue School Baby ticks all those boxes and the gentlemen of the crossbar – named when they stood out in the weather under an umbrella – have taken no chances and 14-10 was about the best price on offer ante-post yesterday.

The opposition in the second at Hollywoodbets Greyville today does not look particularly strong although Lucy Lu has the benefit of a run and the experience. Slow out but finishing strongly, Lezeanne Forbes’s filly is sure to have made some improvement from that outing and should give Blue School Baby a run for her money.

Most punters took a pounding a Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and they could be in for further punishment on what looks to be a decidedly difficult card where obvious bankers are in short supply.

There should not be much between Ticket To Cairo and Precious Love in the opening leg of the PA with just over a length separating the pair when last they met. The former is a short-priced joint favourite while Precious Love, who was making her local debut and having her first run in five months, is 14-1.

However, Johan Janse van Vuuren saddles two debutants in On A High Note and Wildeye, both short in the market.

Celtic Voyager, a smart winner on VDJ Day can back up that win in the first leg of the jackpot. With apprentice Jabu Jacobs claiming 2.5kg, his handicap penalty has been nullified. He is a possible banker but once you look past him, the field in this Pick 6 leg becomes an option.

Punters face a similar dilemma in the fifth although this time around there does not appear to be an obvious standout. The books are offering 5-1 the field which just about sums the race up.

Whizz Of Odds is slowly coming down in the handicap and gets 4kg off her back. Extravagant was narrowly beaten by Dice Captain last time out but the latter has a tougher draw while Clock Stopper took to the poly last run and can go one better.

Donald McDonald is unbeaten since being put over ground and will be a popular banker in the sixth but Pollard will be a threat after being touched off by the useful Christopher Robin in the KZN Breeders 1900 and the Rivalland stable is coming good.

Santa Vittoria is a tentative choice in the seventh but she is a little too short in the ante-post market at 2-1 as there are plenty among the opposition that will make her gallop, including Super Fluke and Pina Colada although both are hamstrung by a wide gate.

Corvette Captain is a weak favourite for the seventh, another open race, but he is lightly raced and may be looking for the extra furlong now that he is older.

Cliffie Miller has led the way for his fellow former Kimberley-based colleagues with three successes so far but it could be the turn of Sarel Von Willingh Smit in the last where he saddles Rock To The Music with Miller’s Mambo Lyric a likely threat.

Warren Kennedy is one of many jockeys that are able to travel interprovincially to ride.

FOLLOWING the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday evening (15 August 2020) that the Covid-19 restrictions in South Africa being relaxed to Lockdown level 2 regulations effective 18 August 2020, which in essence indicates a moderate Covid-19 spread with a high health system readiness. Our racing districts are no longer classified as “hot spots”.   The NHA is pleased to announce further amendments to its current protocols.

• Riders travel restrictions will be lifted. (Interprovincial travel allowed).

• The Racing Operators can determine the time of the last race, but the carded time of the final event should NOT be later than 21h30.

• The field sizes can revert back to normal as per the Racing Operator conditions.

The status quo as per the following rules remain effective:

• Owners are permitted to enter the racecourse subject to the strict protocols as issued by the Racing Operators and the Racing Association.
• Any persons with comorbidities shall NOT be able to attend a race meeting.

Further relaxations may be implemented in conjunction with the status of the Coronavirus pandemic, together with any positive changes to the Government’s adjusted risk strategy.

The NHA is again pleading to all participants to continue to self-regulate regarding prevention and hygiene practices.  Although the Covid-19 pandemic has now reached its peak in South Africa, the scientific and worldwide statistics, have also shown a resurgence of the virus after same has been achieved in other countries. Therefore, we cannot become complacent or abandon any of our health precautions that we know are necessary to prevent the spread of the virus.  Individual responsibility will go a long way in assisting the South African Horseracing Industry to be in the position to be able to continue racing and to create value and the ultimate sustainability of the sport.

ANDREW HARRISON

BY their high standards, the Dennis Drier stable has been quiet since racing resumed after lockdown but it was business as usual at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday with three winners lifting the gloom.

Most impressive was maiden winner Hail Columbia and given Drier’s high praise for the Irish import, the gelding is definitely a horse for the notebook.

Although bred to northern hemisphere time which puts him six months behind others of his generation, he has been a late starter mainly due to his aversion to the starting stalls.

“He has been a bit of a nightmare at the pens,” revealed stable rider Sean Veale. “Many thanks to (horse  behaviouralist) Mike Shaw.” The starters assistants were given some work to do before taking up his gate but there were no serious issues.

Hail Columbia was hard into the bit for the first few furlongs but still had plenty to come when Veale eventually released the handbrake.

Well fancied on debut, he came up against the highly rated Captain Fontane, but both Drier and Veale were disappointed that they got beaten. “I thought he would win,” said Drier, “but he bumped a bloody good horse and Garth’s horse is going somewhere.”

“If people were watching closely, my horse slipped coming out of the pens. We could have finished a lot closer,” said Veal.

“I think (mine) is a progressive little horse,” concluded Drier.

Earlier the stable sent out Spring High who also let the side down on debut. “He was so green,” said Veale. “The boss was clever and put on the blinkers.”

“We though he would win and were disappointed but we put on a little pair of blinkers,” confirmed Drier.

Three runs later Dieci completed the Drier treble as the mare backed up her last win with a stout effort to get the better of favourite Georgina Rose.

Solid Gold has always had potential but has never been the easiest to catch ‘right’. He was in a galloping mood yesterday and in spite of stretching Serino Moodley’s arms in the early exchanges, he quickened smartly in the straight to hold a fast-finishing Brass Bell and give Michael Roberts a double with Rachel Venniker doing the honours on Enjoy The View in the Workriders Conditional Plate.

A seasoned punter once opined that when the weather changes suddenly before a racemeeting one needs to be wary of upset results. His prophecy rang true yesterday, with berg wind to freezing overnight. Solid Gold (10-1) started the Pick 6 rot and after the last leg was run the pay-out was to 0.05 tickets with R1093554.50 carried over to another day.

Andrew Harrison

The Dennis Drier-trained Golden Chance can put her last run behind her and record the third success of her career when she lines up in the sixth at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

She pulled up last of the 13 runners in the Pointsetia Stakes but was going along sweetly before shortening her stride and Sean Veale easing her out of the race, looking both sides for the problem.

A post-race vet check reported not striding out off-fore which accounted for the disappointing showing.

Prior to that she had matched strides with the best including a third behind Celtic Sea in the Sceptre Stakes and beaten less than two lengths by Front And Centre in her warm-up to that race. That form sees her rated way higher than her opposition, hence the steadier of 63.5 kg on her back but that has been countered by the presence of 4kg claimer Kyle Strydom in the saddle. Strydom is way more accomplished than most four-claimers and Golden Chance should get a solid ride.

Sorting out the balance is a little tricky. Georgina Rose has been trying further but her last win was over this trip and that form did hold up. A further plus is that Anton Marcus stays aboard. Jack’s Bird and Queen Of Alamo are two others to consider.

In the opening leg of the Pick 6, Stoptheclocks was well beaten by Via Salaria last time the two met but is now 2 kg better off. They are both having their second run after a break and are drawn alongside each other which could make for a match race. But there are a couple that could put a spoke in the works. One is Mark Dixon’s runner Admiral’s Guest. The gelding is under sufferance but has done well when stepped up in this company before and has a light weight. Solid Gold is smart on his day but is not always reliable while Duc D’Orange found his best form last start and is one to keep an eye on in the betting.

What A Thrill will be a popular banker for many exotic bet punters in the opening leg o the jackpot even though she has done most of her recent racing over further than the 1400m of the fifth race. However, she has hit top form since returning from a break and meets modest opposition. 

Joyful Winter had the worst of the draw last start and her form before that was consistent. From a better gate she should improve on her last effort and along with Ms Rosa Parks could provide the sternest test for What A Thrill.

Lezeanne Forbes is never afraid to toss her charges in at the deep end and after her maiden win on debut, Sofia Erin was tested in two features including the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship where she finished last but ran below the form of her previous start in the Strelitzia Stakes.

She meets a lot weaker here and given that Forbes thought enough of her to take on feature company speaks volumes. Of the balance, 

Bella Bellarina has been consistent of late and goes well this course and distance. Royal View was a close-up second over course and distance last time out and is at her peak while somewhere In Time has had one outing since a break and is likely to improve. She may be worth following in the betting.

The last two races are difficult low-rated handicaps and it could pay handsomely to load up in these two legs of the exotics.

Rite Of Passage and Hail Columbia look to dominate the opening leg of the PA. The younger Rite Of Passage made good improvement at his second start finishing a close-up third at relatively long odds for a Justin Snaith-trained charge but should strip cherry-ripe. The imported Hail Columbia is a late starter but made a smart debut and is sure to come on from that effort and looks the biggest threat to Rite Of Passage.

The card opener is a work rider’s race where at best, Drunken Sailor should be hard to beat. However, he has lost some form of late which is a concern. The filly Bindi will have her supporters as she has gone close at her last two and has an accomplished rider aboard. 

TELLYTRACK, South African horseracing’s exclusive channel on DStv, will be moving from channel 239 to channel 249 from Monday 24 August.

DStv will be streamlining their channels to sports themed channels on SuperSport as of 1 September.

Tellytrack is currently positioned after the Máximo channel and these two channels will move by several slots to allow for additional SuperSport channels.

DAVID THISELTON

PHUMELELA have conducted an inquiry into the incident in race seven at Turffontein on Sunday in which the jockeys were confused by the ambulance siren being activated shortly after the horses had jumped.

In the NHA enquiry it was discovered that seven of the eight jockeys had heard the siren and some of them had consequently stopped riding.

The race was declared null and void.

However, the ambulance company does not fall under the NHA’s jurisdiction so a further inquiry into the matter had to be done by the operator.

Medi Response consequently sent the following report to Phumelela:

1. You requested an investigation into an incident whereby the racing

ambulance’s siren was allegedly activated immediately after the starter

released the gates for Race 7 [of 10 August 2020] held at the Turffontein

Racecourse.

2. This report serves to record the findings of our investigation into the

abovementioned incident.

3. We can confirm that the siren of the racing ambulance was activated after the

gates were released during Race 7 on 10 August 2020.

4. We are further able to report the following findings to you for consideration in

the matter:

4.1 The personnel involved reported the incident to Medi Response

management on the same day as the issue arising. To this extent, a

statement was received from the driver, while the crew was also interviewed

by the undersigned writer.

4.2 Our conclusion is that the siren was activated accidentally while the

ambulance was manoeuvring around a stationary vehicle (now identified as

the veterinary vehicle) in order to follow the string of horses in-running.

4.2.1 TAKE NOTE: emergency vehicle sirens are often wired (via the

vehicle’s steering column) to the hooter on the steering wheel for

ease of activation when needing to respond to an emergency. The

vehicle deployed at Turffontein on 10 August 2020 has such a

configuration (i.e. the siren is activated through the steering wheel).

4.3 In addition to the above-mentioned stationary vehicle, there were some

pedestrians standing (and seated) on the inside track that is generally used

by the ambulance during races.

David Thiselton

THE promising Stuart Pettigrew-trained three-year-old Var filly Anything Goes has been entered for both the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes and Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes on WSB Gold Cup day August 29 and has drawn well in both.

The unbeaten Varsfontein Stud-bred filly is out of unplaced Parade Leader mare Dance Domain, who is a half-sister to Equus Champion Miler Capetown Noir, and she herself is a half-sister to the Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 SA Classic runner up Green Laser.

Anything Goes started her career over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track where she was drawn six out of 13 and jumped at odds of 11-1 after opening at 14-1. She came from a long way back and displaying a nice big action won in workmanlike style by 1,50 lengths under Diego De Gouveia. 

In her next start in a Juvenile Plate over 1400m on the Turffontein Standside track she opened at 3-1 and was backed into 19-10 favourite. This time from a draw of five De Gouveia had her more handy and after moving up under the hands he got to work at the 300m mark and she responded in fine style to fetch the decent Elusive Woman, who had a 4kg claimer aboard, and won by 1,50 lengths. The form has been franked as the 2,25 length third placed War Of Athena has since finished third in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson over 1200 with a flying finish and later won a Graduation Plate over 1400m by 5,50 lengths.

In Anything Goes’ last start she faced a decent field again, this time over 1600m on Turffontein Standside, and started at 8-10. She relaxed well near the back and after creeping up under a double handful she turned it on impressively at the 400m mark to win by a length from Shezaglo, who runs tomorrow at the Vaal. The rest were well beaten.  

Anything Goes has been priced up by Track and Ball as 33-20 favourite for the Thekwini and 8-1 for the Premier’s. 

A jockey has not been booked yet. De Gouveia has ridden on the Highveld this month so his chances of retaining the ride will be dependent on a change to the current protocols which allow jockeys one move at the beginning of the month.  

The second favourite in the Thekwini is the Sean Tarry-trained Caralluma, who was regarded as the meeting banker on Vodacom Durban July day but could only manage second in the Grade 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m, having impressed with an easy win in the Listed Devon Air Stakes over that same course and distance. This classy filly is by Pomodoro out of a Kahal mare whose two wins were over 1600m and 2000m, so she will relish the step up in trip. However, she has drawn wide in 14 out of 17 entries. 

The Golden Slipper winner, the Frank Robinson-trained Love Bomb, is third favourite for the Thekwini together with the Paul Matchett-trained War Of Athena. Jockey Sean Veale has no doubt whatsoever that Love Bomb, who is by Oratorio out of a Captain Al mare, will enjoy a mile. She certainly stayed on strongly from well back in the Golden Slipper and was not stopping at the line. She has drawn well in six.

War Of Athena is by Act Of War and has plenty of stamina in her female side, so she should have no problem with the trip. She is going to be dangerous as she hardly came off the bit last time over 1400m on Turffontein Standside when thumping Elusive Woman by 5,50 lengths. On the occasion she was beaten 2,25 lengths by Anything Goes she was finishing strongly and likely needed it because in comparison to Elusive Woman she has improved 6.25 lengths from that run.

Next in the betting is Princess Calla, who has been moved to the Adam Marcus yard.  This Flower Alley filly has plenty of substance and won going away by 3,20 lengths on debut over 1200m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly. She is out of the Grade 2-winning Captain Al filly Princess Royal, who is a half-sister to the champion filly Princess Victoria, and she certainly looks classy so has to go into the equation.  

The Glen Kotzen-trained Jasmine stayed on strongly for third in the Golden Slipper and this Futura filly, being a three-quarters sister to the decent stayer Alexander, will relish the step up in trip. However, she has landed a tough draw of 16. 

Trickster raced without cover in the Golden Slipper one out and back and stayed on well for fourth but she will have her work cut out reversing a beating of over two lengths by both Love Bomb and Caralluma.

Maledimo and Sentbydestiny, fifth and sixth in the Golden Slipper, could improve on those performances if their races pan out better but they have tricky draws of 11 and 12 respectively.

The Paul Peter-trained Cloth Of Ice could improve if ridden more handy than last time, when beaten six lengths by Anything Goes over 1600m despite receiving 2kg.   

The rest don’t make as much appeal as those mentioned. 

The field will be limited to 14 runners. The final supplementary entry stage ends at 11h00 on August 17 and declarations are due by 11h00 on August 20.  

The only declaration so far is Richard Fourie to ride Trickster. 

Pictured: The Sean Tarry-trained Caralluma.

Photo: Candiese Lenferna

Andrew Harrison

THE racing season officially ended on the last day of July but thanks to the now notorious virus lock-down, the running of the Vodacom Durban July was delayed by a month and there has been a further four-week hiatus between the July and the World Sports Betting Gold Cup meeting to be held on Saturday, August 29.

It will again be a close-shop affair with only essential staff on course and more is the pity with three Gr1 races, the Gold Cup and a host of other features making up the programme.

With the majority of the top horses already warmed up and ticking over for the big meeting, the quality of racing in the interim has tailed off but that’s not to say it does not remain interesting.

A race in point is the Soccer Any15 Handicap that heads the card at Hollywoodbets Greyville tomorrow.

It is a high merit rated handicap that has attracted some smart fillies who could well make their presence felt come the last Saturday of the month.

Diamondsandpearls takes a further step up in class and victory here and could set her up for a crack at some black type in the months to come.

She has won three of her last four starts, all on the poly, but the switch to the turf should not trouble her. At her penultimate start she was touched off by Cherry Road over seven furlongs when jumping from a wide gate but showed her true worth when trying 2000m for the first time last time out. She made most of the running under stable rider Donovan Dillon and although only getting home by a neck, she was never in danger of defeat.

She got a four-pound rise in the ratings for that effort but that may not be enough to stop her as she gets weight from many of her biggest dangers, notably stable companions Perfect Air and Escape Club.

Perfect Air in particular has a smart recent record, playing second fiddle to VDJ runner Mayabi Gold last time out and prior to that just getting the better of the useful Connect Me.

On a line through Connect Me and Rille, Perfect Air would appear to have the wood on Diamondsandpearls but the latter has a handy galloping weight and, even though a five-year-old, is lightly raced and only now hitting her straps.

Connect Me finished four lengths back to Diamondsandpearls when last they met and is 2.5kg better off. This is her third run after a break and should strip close to her peak.

Escape Club, On The Double, Rille and Star Vega are others to consider in an open but exciting contest.

Sean Tarry is in town until after Gold Cup and he saddles Magical Flight in the opening leg of the Pick 6. She showed plenty of speed when second best behind the smart Winter Smoke when taking on winners. That was a big effort and she should make a bold bid even though she goes this trip for the first time. Biggest threat could be My Lady who has been knocking at the door. She jumps from a good draw and should be thereabouts again

Dean Kannemeyer broke his season’s ice with Fade To Black at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last Wednesday and he saddles the regally bred Lion’s Head in the fourth.  The son of Dynasty has put up two smart sprints and should much prefer the extra. From a good draw he should go very close. Of the balance, Chapter And Verse was a close-up fourth from the worst of the draw last run. He has put up two smart efforts and must have a big chance along with Ibutho that came in for strong market support on debut and was not far back. He is likely to make improvement on that first effort. 

Dutch Alley and News Stream look set to fight out the fifth. Dutch Alley has cracking form over the trip but a cautionary is that most of his recent starts have been on the poly. News Stream tried further last start but has good form over this trip. He has drawn well and should at least go close. Arizona bolted in last start when taking on stronger but got a hefty shunt up the handicap for his efforts which could have put paid to his winning chances while a lurker could be Karoo Lark who is back from a break and lightly raced.

The last two legs of the Pick 6 look a lot more difficult. Divine Hugh is lightly raced back and came back strongly after a break. He looks the part in this field. Storm Ruler has a tricky draw but has shown up well in two starts for his new stable. Everdene takes on males but has been running consistently. She gets first time blinkers which could make all the difference.

It may be prudent to load up in the last leg with plenty in with winning chances. Kenneth Macarthur is lightly raced and was narrowly beaten over course and distance last start after finding strong market support. He can go one better. All Time High, Sonjador and Flying Pekan may be others to consider.

DIAMONDSANDPEARLS image by Candiese Lenferna