Cirillo (JC Photographics)

Tarry hoping for a big day

Sean Tarry has a strong hand in the big meeting at Turffontein tomorrow and his big guns have generally landed good draws too.

In the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m his Grade 2 TAB/Betting World Dingaans winner Shango has drawn pole and his other two runners, Cornish Pomodoro and Nebraas, are drawn seven and ten respectively.

Tarry said about Shango “He seems to be a staying type. He has never showed much in work but he is doing well and is moving well and the draw will help. I am pleased with everything.”

Sean Tarry (Nkosi Hlophe)
Sean Tarry

He admitted only the race would tell whether he stayed the trip.

Shango is by the sprinter Captain Of All out of a Jet Master mare who won from 1200m to 1400m but he won the Dingaans going away and Tarry had no doubt whatsoever he would stay the 1800m trip of the Grade 1 SA Classic.

His below par run there could have been explained by him having to be scratched from the Gauteng Guineas after a minor setback and missing three or four days of work as a result and the yard had also suffered a bout of temperatures at the time of the Classic too.

Cornish Pomodoro also ran well below par in the Derby Trial around the time of the bout of temperatures and Tarry said that outing was best ignored.

He pointed out, “I had always expected him to turn into a classic horse. That last run knocked the wind out of our sails but before that he ran second to Green Laser at level weights in the Secretariat and was doing his best work late so based on that he is not a long way off these horses.  He has been doing well.

Tarry said about Nebraas, “He is out of an Archipenko mare and his sire Vercingetorix did have a lot of pace over a mile but is by Silvano (who imparts stamina), so he should get the trip. He is a nice horse and is progressive. He is under pressure based on his merit rating but is coming off a second place finish in the Derby Trial where he had a few here behind him.”

Asked which was the stable elect, Tarry said, “Shango would be the choice on form no doubt but he is lazy at home and on work I would say Nebraas, although it’s tricky as the horses to beat are also stepping up in trip.”

In the Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m Tarry runs last year’s runner up Cirillo (drawn three), the progressive Tierra Del Fuego (drawn two) and the former Summer Cup winner Tilbury Fort (drawn 12).  

Cirillo bounced back to his best last time to win the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m by 3,50 lengths.

Tarry said, “He was impressive and is doing well. He had a deep draw last year and only just failed. He has 2kg to find on the top horses but is now drawn well and hopefully will have a very good run.”

“Tierra Del Fuego was soundly beaten by Cirillo in the Hawaii but he is on the up and a mile might even be better. He has got it all to do but he is fit and well.”

Cirillo (JC Photographics)
Cirillo (JC Photographics)

“This is a pipe opener for Tilbury Fort. It is nice to have Lyle back, he hasn’t ridden Tilbury since winning the 2018 Summer Cup and a 1400m race next time out. I hope to see him running on and we can map out a program from there.”

Tarry runs Victoria Paige and Keep On Smiling in the Grade 2 SA Oaks.

He had been highly confident of Victoria Paige’s chance in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic but had to scratch her with a temperature. The long-striding daughter of Captain Al has drawn pole and he said, “She hasn’t had the ideal preparation and I can’t have the same confidence over 2400m. I’m hoping she will stay but she is not certain too and it is exactly the same with Keep Smiling, who also has ability.”

Tarry said he had been able to get enough work into his charges during lockdown. However, one concern was whether he had kept them on the boil for too long due to the extended lockdown and the continual stretching out of the dates of the races. 

Of his other charges on the day he felt Dubawi Princess was a runner, he gave Slalom Queen a chance, he rates Immeasurable but was disappointed by his last run and is hoping he is not a “brass”, he believes first-timer Sun Ray would probably need the experience but added he would be progressive, he thought Take The World had a chance having come from last on debut to finish fourth, although he is now widely drawn, and he said Return Flight always thrived at this time of the year.

He has Matador Man running at Greyville in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes on Sunday and said, “He has a tough task taking on those horses but loves Greyville and on his day is useful. He has been doing well.”

Tarry said the weekend was also going to be an important yardstick to sort out his SA Champions Season team. Horses are only allowed one move during the lockdown so he won’t be able to travel up and down. 

He envisages entering about ten horses into the Vodacom Durban July on Monday. 

By David Thiselton

Summer Pudding (JC Photographics)

Derby Day carryover

It’s SA Derby Day at Turffontein tomorrow and TAB has added carryovers to four pools at the meeting.

The principal carryover to the meeting is a R250,000 add-in to the Pick 6, which starts on Race 4 at 12:55. The carryover should generate a total net pool of some R1 million.

There are also R75,000 carryovers to each of the two Jackpot pools, as well as a R100,000 carryover to the Quartet on Race 7, the Wilgerbosfdrift SA Oaks which is the final leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara for three-year-old fillies.

Trainer Paul Peter’s charge Summer Pudding, winner of all five starts to date including the first two legs of the Triple Tiara, is hot favourite.

Carryover details:

Pick 6 = R250,000 (estimated pool R1,000,000)

Jackpot 1 = R75,000 (estimated pool R500,000)

Jackpot 2 = R75,000 (estimated pool R300,000)

Quartet Race 7 = R100,000 (R750,000)

1800x1200_coronavirus_1

COVID-19 Challenges For All of Us

The current pandemic has turned our world upside down.  SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a “novel” virus, which means that it is new and nobody on the planet has been exposed to it before.  This also means that nobody has immunity to it.

Only one of two scenarios will end this nightmare:  a reliable vaccine, or achieving a “herd immunity” of about 70% of the population.

Herd immunity is a form of indirect protection from infectious disease that occurs when a large percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, whether through vaccination or previous infections, thereby providing a measure of protection for individuals who are not immune.

Therefore, the timeline to return to “complete” normal will be about 18 months from now, because it is unlikely that the vaccine would be available in South Africa sooner (albeit, multiple agencies are fast tracking the process, so we might all be surprised).  The SARS outbreak, from 2002 till 2004, which was also a Corona Virus and also started in China, took 2 years to “burn out”.

What does this mean at a very practical level?  Well, until the vaccine arrives, most of us will become exposed and develop immunity.  Obviously, people at high risk must avoid exposure at all costs.  People at high risk will only be “safer” from infection when herd immunity is established.

Life must go on and we cannot exist in a Level 5 lockdown indefinitely.  The sooner we have herd immunity, the better.

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 amongst passengers on two ships, the Diamond Princess cruise liner and the USS Theodore Roosevelt warship, has led to several, interesting studies being conducted.

These studies have helped us to learn and understand that more than 50% of positive cases will be asymptomatic.  In other words, people who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 will still remain completely healthy and not experience any symptoms despite “fighting” off the virus and developing immunity.  In the case of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the “healthy”, infected group was around 60% of the crew, which is completely understandable because the average age on board was younger relative to the age of passengers on the Diamond Princess.

The Jockeys are young (less than 60 years old) and healthy.  All of the Jockeys in Johannesburg were tested for SARS-CoV-2.  Almost all tested negative.  The small number that tested positive were completely asymptomatic and remain healthy.  There is no doubt that they contracted the virus outside of racing venues, because these were closed during the lockdown.  The Jockeys live far apart from each other, in different municipalities and rode work somewhat occasionally, at different venues.

It must be expected that if you were to randomly test any group of people in South Africa right now, you would find positive tests.  It is not currently known what percentage of the population has developed herd immunity.  Estimates from some Virologists range between 3% to maybe 20% in Cape Town, a “hotspot” area.  In 18 months, herd immunity should be at around 70% of the population.

Until then, based on the timing to achieve heard immunity and/or have access to a vaccination, the current practice of social distancing and sanitisation is recommended.  We expect the number of new cases to increase and, unfortunately, we also anticipate an increase in the death rate.

That being said, people under 60 years of age with no co-morbidities (chronic diseases), have more chance of dying in a car accident than succumbing to SARS-CoV-2.

We know that some are more at risk than others.  The risk factors for contracting SARS-CoV-2 and experiencing severe symptoms include the following:  People older than 60 years of age (the risks for people older than 80 is predictably much more significant), moderate to severe chronic lung diseases, poorly controlled diabetes, poorly controlled hypertension, serious heart conditions, chronic renal disease on dialysis, chronic liver disease, severe obesity (Body Mass Index over 40), immunocompromised patients, (chemotherapy patients, patients with uncontrolled HIV, bone marrow or organ transplants), advanced pregnancy (>28 weeks).

The current racing structure (behind closed doors) is well-suited to be safer than any other industry right now.  Only the Jockeys that tested negative are racing, for a limited number of hours over a few days a week.  The chance of contracting COVID-19 is much greater outside of the racetrack venues; at any shop for that matter.

There is no need to panic!  Drive carefully on the roads.  For most of us, that is far more dangerous.  If you have any of the above risk factors, isolate yourself from society completely, if you can.  As for the rest of us, we should continue to follow the recommended public health practices of social distancing and sanitisation.  It must be said that the sooner we become immune, the better for everyone, including the very old and those at high risk.

Ends

Kenilworth Aerial

Extra race added in Western Cape to accommodate juveniles

The large number of horses needing to race after the lockdown with only 12 currently permitted to run, has created a huge demand for places in fields across the country.

The Western Cape have a huge number of two-year-olds which are ready to run, but many of them are unfortunately being eliminated at final declaration stage.

There have been requests, particularly from smaller trainers who are at a disadvantage from a numbers’ perspective, to assist in this regard and after numerous options were considered, Kenilworth Racing Board Director, Jonathan Snaith, came up with a solution.

“There are five race meetings still scheduled for the Western Cape this month and Jonathan has managed to get a group of companies and individuals to sponsor four of these race meetings, with Kenilworth Racing Co-chairman and Director, Robert Bloomberg, having already put his hand up in sponsoring a meeting in his personal capacity, thereby facilitating an extra race at each meeting,” explained Racing Executive Patrick Davis. 

“Eight races have been programmed per meeting, but we will now be able to add an extra Maiden Juvenile Plate to each meeting. This will effectively provide an additional 60 runs for the juveniles this month.”

Kuda Holdings will sponsor the race meeting on 9 June, Klawervlei Stud and Justin Snaith on 16 June, Jonsson Workwear on 21 June, Robert Bloomberg on 27 June and EasyEquities the meeting on 29 June. 

“These are very testing times for most businesses in South Africa and racing is no exception. The generosity from all these sponsors to assist racing’s stakeholders under the circumstances is a wonderful gesture,” said Davis. 

If there are any other individuals or organisations who might also be interested in supporting this initiative into July, please contact Faeeza Heuwel, Chief Operating Officer for Kenilworth Racing, at 021 700 1614 or email faeezah@kenilworthracing.com

Ends

Press Release – Chief National Covid-19 Compliance Officer

The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) confirms that in line with its commitment to ensuring the safety of all the participants, it has established extensive Covid-19 Protocols and Procedures, for the Resumption of Racing behind closed doors.

This document has been carefully considered using international best practice, in addition to considering our own requirements according to Government Protocols.

The NHA has appointed Mr Arnold Hyde, Racing Control Executive, as the Chief National Covid-19 Compliance Officer, to facilitate that these Protocols and Procedures are strictly adhered to, ensuring that Racing is conducted behind closed doors in a responsible and safe environment for all Stakeholders. All enforcement officers report directly to the Chief National Covid-19 Compliance Officer.

The NHA has assembled a panel of dedicated and appropriately qualified people to its Covid-19 Surveillance in Racing Panel, which includes Miss Hazel Kayiya (NHA Racing Administration Executive), the NHA Investigating Officer, Mr Riaan Janse van Rensburg, the Chief Stipendiary Stewards in the respective regions, Messrs Lyle Anderson (Highveld), Ernie Rodrigues (Western Cape) and Deanthan Moodley (KwaZulu-Natal), the Racing Operators’ Health and Safety Personnel, Messrs George Shirinda (Highveld), Preston Chetty (KwaZulu-Natal) and Mrs Faeeza Heuvel (Western Cape) and Medical Experts, which include Dr Schalk de Kock (NHA Laboratory Director), Dr Richard Albrecht and Professor Ian Sanne (Highveld), Dr Poobalan Pillay (KwaZulu-Natal), Dr Jan Lapere (Eastern Cape) and Mr Adrian Todd (Western Cape – Managing Director, South African Equine Health Protocols).

The National Horseracing Authority will carefully monitor this Protocols model and may make amendments if and when necessary.

ENDS.

Run Fox Run (Liesl King)

A VDJ treble for Do It Again?

Do It Again, a huge price at 11-1 for his history-making bid to win a third Vodacom Durban July, may gallop with Peninsula Handicap winner Belgarion at Summerveld on Monday as plans for Sunday’s racecourse gallop have had to be scrapped.

Justin Snaith said yesterday: “Belgarion has never been to (Hollywoodbets) Greyville and a gallop against Do It Again there would also have told punters where the latter is for the July.

Run Fox Run (Liesl King)
Run Fox Run (Liesl King)

“But I have been informed today that all course gallops have been cancelled. Obviously the authorities have their reasons, and I respect them, but I am hoping they will change their minds. If not, I will have to gallop the pair of them at Summerveld on Monday.”

Belgarion is 15-2 third favourite in the pre-nomination July betting with Hawwaam and Rainbow Bridge jointly heading the market at 5-1

Rainbow Bridge, beaten only four-tenths of a length in last year’s July and just half that when second to One World in the Sun Met, was entered but not declared for Sunday’s   Independent on Saturday Drill Hall Stakes.

Eric Sands said yesterday: “He galloped very well last week and I could have run him but he’d had a respiratory problem and I didn’t want to risk setting him back. He will gallop again on Monday and go for the Rising Sun Gold Challenge (June 28) and then the July.”

The five-year-old will be ridden in his KZN races by Warren Kennedy, running away with his first jockeys’ championship. Kennedy partners Rainbow Bridge’s Cape Derby winning half-brother Golden Ducat and Driving Miss Daisy for Sands in Sunday’s two Guineas races. “The distance will be a bit sharp for both horses but they have come on a lot,” said the Milnerton trainer.

The Adam Marcus-trained Vardy, winner of the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate but badly hampered in the Met, is 11-10 favourite for the Drill Hall with last year’s Cape Flying Championship winner Kasimir next on 2-1.

Missisippi Burning, stable companion of Vardy and winner of the Cape Fillies Guineas, is 2-1 favourite with the sponsors for the World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas and the Snaith-trained Sachdev is 3-1 favourite for the colts’ equivalent.

Do It Again (Candiese Lenferna)
Do It Again (Candiese Lenferna)

Run Fox Run booked her ticket for the SA Fillies Sprint at Scottsville by proving much too good for the opposition in the Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth yesterday and coming away in the final furlong to beat 20-1 shot Fabian rather more easily than the half-length verdict might suggest.

Greg Cheyne, who rode her out with nothing more forceful than hands and heels, said: “She is special and absolute class. She knows what to do and when to do it. It’s a privilege to ride a horse like her.”

The Ridgemont filly’s only defeat came in the Cape Flying Championship on Met day when she was just over a length fourth to Russet Air (third yesterday)- and apparently there were excuses for that.

Brett Crawford explained: “She pulled up after the race with a snotty nose and that had to have had some type of effect on her performance. Certainly she couldn’t have been at her best.”

Cheyne won three of the eight races and the training honours went to Candice Bass-Robinson (also three) but the ride of the day was surely that of Morne Winnaar on the Glen Kotzen-trained Sockeroo in the 1 400m handicap.

He loomed up a furlong out but found his path blocked by the equine equivalent of the Berlin Wall. He switched right, right again and then a third time. On each occasion the gaps were closed as tightly as the jockeys’ face masks. With 100m to go he was still only fifth. Suddenly his prayers were answered and Winnaar grasped his opportunity as gratefully as Moses crossing the Red Sea. Even those who had backed the winner from 14-1 to 7-1 could hardly believe it.

BLOB Michael Clower’s followers celebrated Cape Town’s racing return to action with two winners from just four selections, showing a profit of R21.10 to a R10 level stake.

By Michael Clower

Bold Respect (Candiese Marnewick)

Run Fox Run ready to pounce

Run Fox Run, beaten only once in six starts, can celebrate the return of racing to the Western Cape by taking the TAB Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth today.

Greg Cheyne’s mount met her Waterloo when starting favourite for the Cape Flying Championship on Sun Met day and finishing just over a length fourth to Russet Air who she meets on the same terms.

Bold Respect (Candiese Marnewick)
Bold Respect (Candiese Marnewick)

There is no logical reason why she should reverse the placings except for a suspicion that she might be still on the upgrade. “I think she is looking for a little bit further but coming out fresh could be in her favour,” says Brett Crawford who had two of the first three winners when racing resumed in Durban on Monday. “She hasn’t had a grass gallop but that’s the same for everybody. I have done as much as I can with her at home, she has done very well and she looks great.”

The Philippi trainer is also expecting good runs from Pacific Trader (5-1) and Bold Respect (6-1). “They have quite a bit in their favour and they like to run fresh, especially Pacific Trader.”

But the bookmakers reckon that Candice Bass-Robinson’s Milnerton yard houses the main dangers to the selection who was favourite at 5-2 yesterday morning. Russet Air (28-10) and the Bidvest Majorca winner Clouds Unfold (33-10) are the two highest rated horses in the race. Apparently not too much notice need be taken about Aldo Domeyer opting for the latter because he is now retained by Drakenstein and this is the filly’s prep for KZN – she will run in either the Tibouchina or the Rising Sun Gold Challenge before going for the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province.

“I think Russet Air has probably got the better chance over this 1 000m,” says their trainer while adjusted merit ratings suggest that the race lies between the top five.

The Crawford-trained Winter Flight opened odds-on for the opening Social Distancing Maiden Juvenile but he started coughing and has been scratched. The vote goes to newcomer Jet Dark. At one time you could get 9-2 but he is now 16-10 favourite and is held in high regard.

“Every time we put him on the grass before the lockdown he surprised us and every time we worked him with a horse we think highly of he beat him,” Justin Snaith said yesterday, adding: “I think our horses are quite ready – follow the yard.”

The selection is by Trippi, cost R200 000 and is closely related to the Mercury Sprint runner-up Night Trip. Another that Snaith mentioned is Hyde Park (5-1) who takes on older horses in the Stay Safe With A Mask Maiden (race three). Hello Tomorrow is favourite but I prefer to take a chance with Domeyer’s mount Anmer Hall (7-2) who ran green on debut.

Glen Kotzen, in double KZN form on Monday, may take the Juvenile Fillies (race two) with I’m A Lady who has most to fear from Stuck On You, Fiftyshadesdarker and French Fling.

By Michael Clower

Do It Again in training (Candiese Lenferna)

Champions Season returns

The SA Champions Season commenced yesterday and although it will be unrecognisable in some facets due to the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic the crowded program brings with it plenty of exciting racing for online and telephone betting punters to look forward to.

The downside will be reduced stakes and only absolutely essential personnel will be allowed on course so there will be no crowds to create atmosphere. 

Do It Again in training (Candiese Lenferna)
Do It Again in training (Candiese Lenferna)

In the first eight weeks of the SA Champions Season all of these races will be run: 

June 7: The Grade 2 WSB Guineas (R175,000), the Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas (R150,000), the Grade 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes (R175,000).

June 13: The Grade 2 Post Merchants (R175,000), Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes (R100,000), Grade 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes (R100,000), the Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes (R100,000).

June 20: The Grade 2 WSB 1900 (R175,000), the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (R125,000), the Listed East Coast Cup (R85,000).

June 28: The Grade 1 Daily News 2000 (R500,000), the Grade 1 Gold Challenge (R425,000), the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 (R325,000), the Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes (R150,000), the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes (R85,000), the Listed Devon Air Stakes (R85,000), the Non-Black Type Durban Dash (R75,000.).

July 4:  The Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint (R425,000), the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint (R325,000), the Grade 1 Golden Horse Medallion (R325,000), the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship (R325,000), the Grade 3 Cup Trial (R125,000).

July 11: The Grade 2 Track And Ball Derby (R150,000), the Grade 3 TRack and Ball Oaks (R125,000), The KZN Winter Challenge races (1200m, 1600m, 2000m all for a stake of R75,000)./

July 18: The KZN Breeders Million Mile and seven other KZN Breeders races (all for stakes which are yet to be announced).

July 25: The Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July (R1,5 million), the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes (R325,000), the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe (R150,000), the Grade 2 Golden Slipper (R150,000), the Grade 3 Campanajo 2200 (R125,000), the Grade 3 DSTV Gold Vase (R125,000), the Listed Thukela Handicap (R85,000), the Non-Black Type eTHekwini Sprint  (R75,000) and the Non Black Type KZN Yearling Sale Million (R650,000). 

There will be a five week breathing space between the Vodacom Durban July meeting on July 25 and the Gold Cup meeting on August 29. 

At the latter meeting the following feature races will be staged, Grade 3 Gold Cup (R400,000), the Grade 1 Champions Cup (R425,000), the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint (R425,000), the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes (R325,000), the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes (R325,000), the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet (R150,000), the Grade 2 Umkhomazi Stakes (R150,000), the Grade 2 The Debutante (R150,000), the Listed Umngeni Handicap (R85,000) and the Listed Darley Arabian (R85,000).

The following rules shall be applicable from racing’s effective restart date, June 1.

The field sizes will be restricted to 12 runners per race with the exception of ALL Pattern races in which 14 runners will be allowed. However, it is hoped that by the time of the July the protocols will allow more than 14 runners. 

Jockeys will be restricted to ride in the region of their choice and cannot move in between provinces.  They will be allowed to make ONE move prior to the commencement of racing.

The adjusted minimum riding weight in Handicap races shall remain at 54kg.

Horses moving between regions shall NOT be allowed unless a horse is moving to another province on a permanent basis as per the regulations of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

All Horse Transport Companies must have the necessary Permits to move horses between the training centres and race courses.

The last race must be run not later than 16h45.

Only essential staff members will be permitted on to the racecourse through a single entrance point. 

1. Licensed Jockeys/Apprentices engaged to ride at the race meeting

2. Licensed Trainers with engaged runners

3. Licensed Assistant Trainers/Stable Employees (recommended one per stable)

4. Grooms (one per horse)

5. Official Photographers/Technical Staff

6. Racing Operator Staff

7. Licensed Officials

8. A maximum of two Racing Journalists at the sole discretion of the Racing Operator.

All public betting outlets will be closed but online betting and telephone betting will go ahead as normal.

To open an online TAB account: Visit www.tabgold.co.za and under FAQs there will be detailed instructions on how to open an account for online betting and telebetting. Downloading the Tabgold Betting App also allows one to bet on sport online.

Visit www.trackandball.co.za to open a fixed odds online betting account.    

By David Thiselton

Bass-Robinson Horses (Liesl King)

Bass-Robinson charges remain in CT

Most of Cape Town’s top racehorses had departed for KwaZulu-Natal for the Durban season at the beginning of March, where the Vodacom Durban July, South Africa’s premier race was due to be run on the first Saturday in July. 

But with COVID-19 rearing its ugly head, Candice Bass Robinson, the first female trainer to win the prestigious Vodacom Durban July, found her string of stars stuck in Cape Town.

Bass-Robinson Horses (Liesl King)
Bass-Robinson Horses (Liesl King)

“My horses were only actually going to be going up in stages.  I wasn’t going to send the whole string up at the beginning of the season. And then the day they were supposed to leave, we were going into lockdown, so I decided to keep them here”, Bass Robinson explains.  “I’m glad I kept them here, as it means we are all in one place and I don’t have to worry about horses stuck up in Durban, without me being there.  So it worked out quite well.”

Bass Racing normally has a full complement of around 50 staff working at the racing yard. With lockdown looming the racehorses still had to be fed and exercised, while stables needed to be cleaned.  Bass Robinson admits that in the beginning it was tough going, but says her staff were absolute stars. 

“I had 23 guys that decided they would be happy to stay, and they stayed on the property here.  So for the first five weeks of lockdown we worked with half the staff.  Initially it was hard, but we changed a couple of things and we got into a nice groove.  I had 23 really good guys here.  No complaints, no moaning, they were fantastic, they were unbelievably accommodating.  They just got stuck into it.  

“This is what we have to do, and this is what we do. The only down side was that those guys never had a day off and it was a bit tough on them because it is hard work.”

Bass-Robinson was forced to look at new ways of doing things, with a reduced staff. “It has certainly opened my eyes to a couple of things that I need to change in my yard going forward.  Procedures and structures that I would like to change, because it actually worked really well.

As soon as the country moved to Level 4, the initial group of staff were given time off, while the second group of staff took over.  The racing stable is now back up and running.  “We are back to a full complement of staff”, said Bass Robinson.

“In full lockdown we obviously didn’t have any movement in and out of the yard, but with lockdown easing we are now going to have a lot more movement and that opens us up to a bit more risk. Hence, we have taken the necessary precautions.  We take temperatures every morning on arrival. There are hand sanitisers all around the yard and they have got to sanitise their hands in between work and when they come in and leave. Masks are worn at all times, even when riding.  We try to keep social distancing. It isn’t easy in a yard, but we all try and do our best.  These are uncertain times all over the world and we just need to make the best we can of a bad situation.”

With the movement of horses finally being allowed now, Bass Robinson will be sending her string up to contest the Durban season.  “I have pretty much kept the horses in work, they will have a prep run here and then they depart for Durban on the 11th of June.” For only the second time in its history, the Vodacom Durban July has been moved and the race will now be run on the 25th of July.

By Liesl King

Lyle Hewitson (Candiese Lenferna)

Hewitson returns

Raymond Danielson has a good card of rides at the Highveld’s first meeting after lockdown at the Vaal (Tuesday 02 June) and has been tipped to score a hattrick.

The meeting marks the return of reigning national champion jockey Lyle Hewitson.

Lyle Hewitson (Candiese Marnewick))
Lyle Hewitson (Candiese Marnewick))

Luke Ferraris, Sean Tarry and David Nieuwenhuizen have all been tipped to score doubles.

The highlight of the meeting will be races 6 and 7 in which some classy horses are turning out.

The unbeaten Lady Of Steel faces the boys in race 6, an Allowance Plate over 1450m and this classy three-year-old is sure to make a bold bid but she does have a tough task at the weights with the talented Riverstown, who is ideally distance suited. The topweight Warrior’s Rest is always a tough nut to crack as he is able to maintain a strong gallop all the way to the line. Astrix is unbeaten over this trip and is well regarded by trainer Paul so can’t be discounted either and Promiseofamaster is a scopey sort who should have benefited from the break.

In the seventh the talented filly Wylie Wench comes in as reserve from a plum draw of two and is the one to beat provided she runs. Trainer Mike Azzie said he was waiting to find out whether she had made it into the field for the Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas to be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday and if she had she would be scratched from the Vaal race.

To open an online TAB account: Visit www.tabgold.co.za and under FAQs there will be detailed instructions on how to open an account for online betting and telebetting. Downloading the Tabgold Betting App also allows one to bet on sport online.

Visit www.trackandball.co.za to open a fixed odds online betting account.    

By David Thiselton