The Turffontein Standside meeting today (Thursday) consists purely of plate races, including seven Maidens, but there is still some good class racing to look forward to in the four Juvenile events. 

Mike De Kock has two first-timers by the promising Australian sire Deep Field in the first two events and both have been installed as favourite. 

In the third Stuart Pettigrew has an exciting prospect in the Var filly Anything Goes, who is a half-sister to the Grade 1 SA Classic runner up Green Laser. She has plenty of substance and came from way back to win on debut over 1450m after dwelling at the start. She faces some well performed types here 

Place Accumulator: (R216)
Leg 1: 1,2,4
Leg 2: 4,2,3
Leg 3: 10,6,7
Leg 4: 2,10
Leg 5: 2
Leg 6: 12,1
Leg 7: 10,1

Pick 6: (R1080)
Leg 1: 4,2,3,9
Leg 2: 10,6,7,11,3
Leg 3: 2,10,6
Leg 4: 2,1,3
Leg 5: 12,1
Leg 6: 10,1,11

Jackpot: (R90)
Leg 1: 10,6,7,11,3
Leg 2: 2,10,6
Leg 3: 2,1,3
Leg 4: 12,1

Best Bet:
Race 7: 2

Value Bet:
Race 3: 1

By David Thiselton

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

Rainbow Bridge put up an impressive looking gallop on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack this morning under national champion jockey elect Warren Kennedy.

Trainer Eric Sands said Kennedy would be given the pick of his two big guns, the half-brothers Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat, for the Vodacom Durban July.

Sands felt Rainbow Bridge’s companion today, the Brett Crawford-trained CTS 1600 winner Count Jack, had eased himself out of it when challenged by Rainbow Bridge at the top of the straight and added, “So we still have a bit of work to do.”

Visually Rainbow Bridge’s gallop looked outstanding as he pulled away from Count Jack effortlessly to win by many lengths.

The five-year-old Ideal World gelding had suffered a respiratory infection upon arrival at Summerveld this season but looked alert and happy in the parade ring today both before and after the gallop. 

The Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge is to be run on June 28 and Rainbow Bridge will be looking to better his third place finish last season. 

Some would wonder how a gallop on the polytrack would help him in his preparation as his big races will be on turf, but the intensity of a gallop on a racecourse coupled with the excitement of being on the float to the course and in the parade ring is able to bring a horse on a lot more than a gallop at home.  

Sands’ Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 hopeful Driving Miss Daisy had worked earlier with the Crawford-trained Kelpie.

Sands said he had hoped they would have gone a bit harder than they did as Driving Miss Daisy had needed “trimming up.”

He will therefore have to give her two or three more fast workouts before that big race date, also on June 28.

Driving Miss Daisy was runner up in both the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes and looked to need it when finishing ninth in the Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas at Hollywoodbets Greyville recently. 

Meanwhile, Grade 1 Cape Derby winner Golden Ducat is doing well ahead of the Grade 1 Daily News 2000, which will also be run on June 28. 

By David Thiselton

WORLD SPORTS BETTING 1900

The Covid-19 virus has turned the world upside down including the schedule of feature races for South Africa’s Champion Season. However, Gold Circle have managed to schedule an innovative new programme that allows structured build-up for horses into the major features.

The World Sports Betting 1900 has always been an important stepping stone into the Vodacom Durban July and as such has attracted a high-class field for the race to be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, June 20.

Although not the last chance saloon for VDJ hopefuls, victory in the WSB 1900 on Saturday will almost certainly ensure automatic entry into the country’s biggest race as a dozen of the 13 runners  hold entries for the VDJ so there is a lot at stake.

Justin Snaith has kept the wraps on his charge Belgarion, who is the likely favourite come Saturday. Snaith has hopes of qualifying him for the VDJ with minimum possible weight and a win on Saturday will probably see the gelding on ice until the big race.

Other notable entries are the mare Camphoratus, sixth in last year’s VDJ, the highly rated Duke Of Spin, Born To Perform, a son of former VDJ winner Dancer’s Daughter, Crown Towers and Eyes Wide Open who races as a gelding this season.

Stephen Marshall, Gold Circle Marketing Executive was appreciative of the World Sports Betting sponsorship. “World Sports Betting have become a significant sponsorship partner of Gold Circle. With their presence as an on-course bookmaker pre Covid-19 and with their sponsorship of the WSB Guineas, WSB Fillies Guineas and the prestigious WSB 1900, they have shown their commitment to the sport of horseracing in KwaZulu-Natal. Gold Circle appreciates their support, especially during these trying times,” he said.

Journalist: Andrew Harrison.

Kommetdieding could prove to be one of the biggest bargains in last year’s Klawervlei Farm Sale after running out a convincing winner of the R225 000 Graduate Race  on debut at Kenilworth on Tuesday.

The Elusive Fort colt cost Ashwin Reynolds a mere R55 000 and he started at 16-1 but Sihle Cele’s mount proved two lengths too strong for hot favourite Tanzanite Queen with 30-1 shot Captain Dizzy all of four and a half lengths back third.

Michelle Rix, asked if the win came as a surprise, replied: “Definitely not. He opened at 25-1 and there was money for him. We have always known that he was special and we have thought highly of him from day one – although we were worried that he might jump a little slowly, not having been to the track before.”

Glen Kotzen might have been out of luck with Tanzanite Queen but he could do little wrong early on, winning three of the first four races even though victory didn’t always come from the one he expected.

Fairy Warrior was the one he – and most punters  – thought would win the Kuda Maiden Juvenile but the 5-2 favourite managed only fifth behind 33-1 newcomer My Bestie. “Mr Kotzen told me to school My Bestie and give him a good experience,” said Sandile Mbhele. “But he was travelling comfortably and picked up nicely.”

“I have always loved this colt but I was a bit disappointed with the favourite Fairy Warrior,” admitted Kotzen. “Last time he came from off them, and I don’t know why Morne Winnaar took him to the front today. He said the horse was very green up front – and I’m not surprised.”

Winnaar, though, was soon back in the Woodhill trainer’s good books  with first reserve Caya Coco leading a furlong out to spring a 16-1 surprise in the www.proboost.co.za Maiden Juvenile. “This is a smart filly and we have rated her from day one,” said the trainer. “But first time they walked out of the pens and her run was too bad to be true.”

Kotzen’s stable jockey promptly doubled up with Flower Of Saigon who led just under a furlong out for owner-breeders Martin Wickens and Gisela Burg in the Coup De Grace/Snaith Racing Maiden Juvenile.

Justin Snaith reached his 16^th successive century with Parktown (Richard Fourie’s 86^th winner of the season) and Spirit Festival who was ridden by Winnaar’s son Joshwin Solomons in the last.

Robert Khathi rode a fine waiting race in front on the Michael Robinson-trained Sudden Star in the New Turf Maiden, keeping more than enough in reserve for the final furlong.

Horses of tremendous potential seldom make their debuts in work rider races but Look To appears something special, leading over a furlong out in the Cornerstone Vet & Vetscape Maiden to score by a staggering nine and a half lengths under Lungisani Geledu.

Adele Allsop, Vaughan Marshall’s assistant, said: “We thought highly of her as a two-year-old but she got injured and had to have an operation. She is a lovely filly.”

When Peter Wrench ran Troop The Colour under a huge amount of sufferance in the Kenilworth Cup the handicappers raised the five-year-old a staggering 13 points and some knowledgeable critics said the horse would never win again. But it only took him two runs, and a five-point drop, to spring a 10-1 surprise under Ossie Noach in the Vaughan Marshall Racing Handicap.

By Michael Clower

Glen Kotzen holds at least two of the aces in the valuable Klawervlei Farm Sale Graduate Race at Kenilworth’s Youth Day holiday fixture and Aldo Domeyer can win the race for the second successive year.

He scored a convincing success on the Sean Tarry-trained favourite Rock The Globe last season and this time he is also on the market leader, Tanzanite Queen. His mount has, at least arguably, the best form and she came in for significant support in the early betting (33-20 to 11-10).

She raced prominently when a little-considered 14-1 on debut and, despite losing a front shoe, she only went under by a neck to the much more experienced Fiftyshadesdarker who had some good form.

“I‘ve no idea where in the race she lost the shoe so I can’t say whether it made a difference but she was a little unlucky because she was green,” says the Woodhill trainer. “She was hanging in to the stick and, if the jockey had changed it to his other hand, she just might have put her head down and won.

“But it was a brilliant prep for this. I’m just hoping, though, that it is not too close to her first run.”

However there is a doubt about her ability to handle the changed going. It was good to soft on Monday morning after 14mm of rain the previous day and a total of 86mm in the last week. “She is a big filly but very light on her feet so maybe she won’t go in deep,” says Kotzen. “But I don’t really know.”

Second favourite, after being backed from 7-1 to 4-1, is stable companion Musical Glitch who ran well in the Fillies Nursery. “She has had three months since then to strengthen up and she is a big runner.”

While Kotzen admits that Tanzanite Queen is his first choice of the quartet he points out that Morne Winnaar believes Musical Glitch is better and she was his choice.

Greg Cheyne rides 8-1 shot Magical Midlands (at R200 000 the second highest-priced horse in the field) who had to be withdrawn on debut when Anthony Andrews was injured in the pens. “The horse was fine – I galloped him the next day. It would have been nice if he’d had the experience of a race but he is a proper horse and he will be doing his best work at the finish.”

Ruby Rhythm (25-1) is the outsider of the Kotzen quartet. “She has shown huge improvement from her first two outings and she needed the run last time.”

Brett Crawford’s first-timer Maison Merci is perhaps the most likely of the newcomers, but there was no early money for him and  he has been eased from 9-2 to 15-2.

If it is still good to soft punters will be going into the maidens like an explorer without a compass because few of the runners have raced on this sort of surface and their ability to handle it – or otherwise – is largely a matter of guesswork.

Soft Day is marginally favourite for the www.proboost.co.za Maiden Juvenile (race three) and, in a field mainly made up of newcomers, the Glen Puller filly may just be good enough.

Her performance will be a pointer to the chance of Flower Of Saigon in the next, the Coup De Grace/Snaith Racing Maiden Juvenile, as Winnaar’s mount was just over a length and a half further back on debut despite racing green. She has already been nibbled at and could be good enough.

There is precious little to choose between the top four in the Soetendal Estate Maiden – Soetendal is where Rainbow Bridge goes for his holidays – but Fort Agopian ran well on Cape Derby day, has been backed from 7-1 to 4-1 and gets the vote.

Lastly, particularly if you are winning at this point, you might like to consider having a few rand each way on Ikebana in the last. The Brett Crawford five-year-old has raced six times when the going has been softer than good, winning on three occasions and being placed on two of the other three.

SELECTIONS:

Race 3: Soft Day
Race 4: Flower Of Saigon
Race 5: Fort Agopian
Race 7: Tanzanite Queen
Race 8: Ikebana (ew)

Not many 60 year old jockeys are still giving it a full go in the saddle but Port Elizabeth based Shannon Devoy isn’t thinking of retirement just yet.

He said he is still enjoying riding in races and doesn’t shy away from early morning work riding.

Devoy is very much involved with the stable of Fairview trainer Jacques Strydom.

“I have been with Jacques’s stable for a number of years now. We have a good understanding which helps to manage my workload.

“I don’t ride a full card of races at a meeting, about four races is fine for me. That way I still enjoy my racing and I know the horses that I am riding,” he explained.

“When the lock down due to Covid-19 started I sat out with the work riding for a while. My fitness suffered, so I resumed work riding again.”

Devoy says a good system is in place at Fairview to continue with racing behind closed doors according to the Covid-19 regulations.

“It is different and a learning curve for all of us. We will progress as we continue.”

One of the East Cape’s feature races that fell away this season when racing was suspended for a while due to Covid-19, is the Glenair Trophy stayers race, denying Devoy a chance on the 6yo mare Onesie.

“I am now looking forward to riding her in the PE Gold Cup (on 17th July). I lost some rides last season when I had a hip operation.

“Onesie was one of the horses I missed out on. I would love to win the PE Gold Cup for my brother David (that owns the horse in partnership with the trainer) who is a successful businessman in Perth, Australia.

“Jacques has a knack with stayers. He is a stayers specialist and gets the best out of the horses,” Devoy said.

Devoy won the PE Gold Cup in 2012 with the Corne Spies trained Campo De Santana.

“I am disappointed that the distance of the race has been cut back from 3600m to 3200m. It was a tradition that this was the longest race in the country.”

When asked what has been the highlight of his career, Devoy declares Fighting Beat (East Cape horse of the year 1997) as the best PE horse he has ridden.

“I was Hekkie Strydom’s stable jockey in those years and rode many winners for Hekkie. The highlight was winning three in a row with Fighting Beat.”

To still be going strong at 60 years of age the injuries must have stayed away and Devoy agrees that he has been blessed in this regard.

“I have always had trouble with my lower back and had a successful shoulder operation, but yes, blessed with not many injuries.”

So no retirement plans as yet?

“No, as long as I ride the right horses and still enjoy it I will continue.

“It is wonderful to still be involved and be part of the strong bond and camaraderie that exists in the jockey room.”

By Henk Steenkamp

Rising star Katak is only third highest-rated in the Legal Eagle Stakes – the new name for the Winter Classic – at Kenilworth on Saturday week.

The handicappers raised the unbeaten Piet Steyn-trained colt 7.5kg for his impressive performance in last week’s Kuda Variety Club Mile (formerly the Winter Guineas) but that still puts him 1.5kg behind Silver Host and Super Silvano who were beaten nearly six lengths and nine lengths in the Kuda.

The Justin Snaith-trained Politician winner Silver Host has already been declared for the Legal Eagle and will again be ridden by Richard Fourie while Robert Khathi will be on stable companion Bayberry.  Snaith has won four of the last 12 runnings of the Winter Classic while Fourie will be bidding for his fourth win in the race following Alvaro in 2008, Why Worry (2012) and Rainbow Bridge two years ago.

Snaith has also declared four for the Ladies Mile on the same card – Esteemal (Fourie), Duchess Of Bourbon (Khathi), Dynamic Diana and Fortune Flies – as well as three for the Stormsvlei Stakes, the second leg of the fillies winter series – Flatware (Fourie), Honey Pie (Khathi) and Double Reward – and three for the Olympic Duel: Queen Of Quiet (Fourie), Casino Queen (Khathi) and Fleeced.

By Michael Clower

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

Mike de Kock looks set to have a fine day at Turffontein and has been tipped to win the first four races and finish second in the eighth.

De Kock kicks off with the first-timer Regent in a 1450m maiden. He is a full-brother to Grade 1 winner Eyes Wide Open and would not have to be a superstar to win this race. The hard-knocking Dark Tide and the progressive Dogliotti, who both went close in their first runs after lockdown over 1200m and 1450m respectively, look to be the chief dangers.

In the second race over 1450m De Kock’s charge Integrity has a tricky draw but will relish the step up in trip being by Flower Alley and having finished strongly for a close second over 1200m. 

In the third over 1450m Peaceontherocks has four seconds and one third in her last five starts and should finally get it right here in this uninspiring field, although the improving Nu Bell will make a bold bid to keep her in the second box. 

In the fourth race over 2000m Barak is drawn in pole and on pedigree this promising sort should relish the step up in trip being by Master Of My Fate out of a Captain Al mare who won over this trip. 

De Kock should also go close in the eighth with Flaming Duchess who is by Duke Of Marmalade so should be improving all the time. She is going for a hattrick in 1600m event.  

By David Thiselton

Eden Roc, in contention for Champion Two-year-old last season, had been winless this term but that all changed today (Saturday) when Stuart Randolph produced him with a telling late effort to land the Grade 2 Post Merchants. It was a triumphant return to Hollywoodbets Scottsville, the scene of his Grade 1 Gold Medallion victory.

With Sean Tarry’s first-choice riders, Lyle Hewitson, successful on Eden Roc last year, and Luke Ferraris still holed up in Gauteng, locally based Randolph picked up the mount and delivered a copybook ride.

Sitting mid-field for the early exchanges he asked Eden Roc to start picking it up with about 400 m to run. At this stage Invidia appeared to be travelling best of all and a likely winner 200m out, but the red light was flashing empty when Eden Roc swept past to score comfortably with Cartel Captain third and Warrior’s Rest making it a memorable afternoon for winning owner Chris van Niekerk.

The Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint on July 4 is an obvious next target.

Vernichey, who zipped home in a 900m scurry on debut, took a steep rise in class in her stride when she out-gunned the more fancied pair of Slalom Queen and hot favourite Delta Queen in the Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes.

Showing signs of ring-rust after a nearly six-month break since her debut win, Warren Kenney had the devil’s own task of keeping his mount straight and hard to her task when he asked for an effort. Fortunately, he managed to clear the runners on his inside before allowing his mount to shift in towards Slalom Queen and Delta Queen who were battling it out on the inside rail. Slalom Queen kept Delta Queen at bay all the way to the line but was not able to hold off the late effort from Vernichey.

Trained by Gareth van Zyl for Kestorm Investments with Kenneth Pillay as nominee, Vernichey is now two-from-two and primed for a crack at the Grade 1 Allan Robertson to be run at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday, July 4.

Dennis Drier is a master at preparing his two-year-olds for the Grade 1 Gold Medallion, a race that he has won eight times, and he served notice that his runners will again be a force to be reckoned with on the fourth of July, saddling the first two past the post in the Grade 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes. Tempting Fate came in for some strong market support and it proved to be money on the button as Sean Veale put in a typically powerful ride to get Tempting Fate home ahead of stable companion Pray For Rain who gave the starter a few grey hairs as he played up in the gate before being re-loaded and jumping on terms.

Ante-post favourite Joseph Barry, proved friendless in the market which proved prophetic. Although handy for much of the race, he was just not able to go on with his effort when it counted. Obviously a little short of peak fitness, he is likely to come on lengths from this race.

Pretty Young thing gave her older rivals a galloping lesson in the Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes and was the easiest feature race winner on the afternoon. Anton Marcus had Brett Crawford’s filly on the bridle for much of the race and when given her head, the daughter of Jackson accelerated away from her rivals, leaving them like corks bobbing in her wake with Master Keys, mostly ignored up the inside fence rattling him for second and edge out pacemaker Captain’s Girl. Owned by Ridgemont, nominee Wayne Kieswetter and bred at the Kieswetter-owner Highlands Farm Stud, Pretty Young Thing was recording her fifth win from ten outings and could well have the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint on her agenda.

By Andrew Harrison

Anthony Andrews expects to be out action for the best part of three months as a result of the injuries he suffered in the pens when Cape Town racing resumed at Kenilworth last week.

His mount in race three, the Glen Kotzen newcomer Magical Midlands, somehow got his leg stuck over the foot barrier and Andrews’ right leg was painfully crushed between the horse and the framework. He also dislocated his left thumb.

Finding out exactly what was damaged proved a long process – “Because of Covid-19 everything has to be sterilised and so they only do a certain amount of MRI scans at the Mediclinic,” he reports.

The scans revealed a partial tear of a ligament in his right knee and a Grade 1 sprain of the main ligament. “They put me into a knee brace as any side movement could tear the ligament. That would mean an operation and eight months off.

“I have been doing physiotherapy and the specialist said that in 12 weeks I will be able to be back on a horse but I am hoping to be race-riding then. It’s extremely tough as I had some nice horses that I was looking forward to but at least I don’t have to have an op this time so there is that little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.”

Andrews, 31, was referring to his previous bad pens accident in April 2018 when his right foot was similarly squeezed and ligaments damaged while his right shoulder required an operation. He was out for months.

Magical Midlands, scratched by the starter, will now make his debut in the valuable Klawervlei Farm Sale Graduate Race at Kenilworth on Tuesday but the runner Andrews will be watching even more closely is stable companion Tanzanite Queen. He rode her on debut last week, she finished a highly encouraging second and will be one of the favourites on Tuesday.e

Bernard Fayd’Herbe hopes to be back in action by the end of the month. He has been undergoing rehab as a result of the freak lower back spasm he suffered when going down to the start at Kenilworth in February. He recovered sufficiently to win the SA Classic on Got The Greenlight in early March but then heeded his specialist’s advice to take a break.

By Michael Clower