The switch from the Scottsville turf to the Greyville poly track yesterday resulted in a plethora of scratchings but the move will have been music to Dennis Bosch who saddled Sir Bernadini in the Blinkers Bar Handicap.

Well fancied over a mile on debut, the Australian-bred gelding with a touch of an American dirt pedigree, revelled on the synthetic surface and landed the odds in good fashion.

Sir Bernadini was given a hefty rating by the handicappers but their assessment proved fully justified as the favourite kept a clean sheet, this time under Anthony Delpech, keeping a charging Verdier and the fancied Archilles at bay. The former was having his first outing for Mark Dixon after showing some useful form in the Cape behind the much-touted African Night Sky in the Winter Series and he is definitely one for the notebook or the ‘Follow Me’ app available on TABgold.

Sir Bernardini (Candiese Marnewick)

Louis Goosen had Archilles lined-up for a crack on the Scottsville turf but the switch of surface dampened his confidence as he expressed candidly in his post-race interview in the winner’s box after Gratuity continued her good form in the Rockafellas Restaurant Handicap.

Not always easy to handle, Gratuity was given a copybook ride by Gunter Wrogemann who had piloted her to her most recent victory over course and distance beating smart stable companion Captain’s Girl.

Shifting Gears is another Goosen runner that has taken to the poly but this time around she found one too good in the form of Pearl Glow. Dean Kannemeyer’s filly made amends for her penultimate disappointment when a beaten odds-on favourite by shedding her maiden next time out. That form looked compromised by second-placed Holy Flame running a dismal race next time out but Duncan Howells reported to the stipendiary stewards that she had returned with a swollen eye from a clod in the face which would have accounted for that below par performance. However, Pearl Glow did start at the top of the boards.

Anton Marcus looked to have timed his run to perfection on Miziara in the sixth, making his move at the top of the straight, but in spite of giving his mount a breather after the subway, it was not enough as Keagan de Melo steamed home aboard the Yogas Govender-trained Komeshans Flight, nailing Miziara on the line.

Dixon may have had to settle for second with Verdier but there were no mistakes in the Racing. It’s A Rush Handicap as the run of winning favourites continued. De Melo had no hesitation in taking top weight Fantasy Lady to the head of affairs and she was never in danger as all challengers wilted around her.

By Andrew Harrison

Glen Kotzen, who is bullish about the chances of Gold Standard in Saturday’s Sun Met, looks to have a big runner in the R1 million Kuda Sprint in Gold Image. However, this race looks to be a minefield and Place Accumulator punters will be happy to get through it still running.

Glen Kotzen

Gold Image, a Horse Chestnut filly out of a Tamburlaine maiden, broke the course record for 800m at Kenilworth on debut. She beat the Mike de Kock-trained Captain Al colt Captain My Captain. However, she is certainly not just a tearaway. She had a recent gallop at Kenilworth, which was “very, very impressive”. Based on the gallop Kotzen believes she will see out the 1200m trip of Saturday’s race. He makes her a “huge runner.”

However, on the downside, she is one of only two fillies in the race. She is also one of only five horses, along with Barrack Street, Bold Respect, Puget Sound and Sir Frenchie, who will carry a 2kg penalty for a win. Therefore, by no means can she be regarded as a banker.

It is a 20 horse field, but the draw might not be a big factor if the wind prediction on Windguru is correct. The wind is predicted to be only between seven and twelve knots and will swing from north westerly at 11h00 to south westerly by 14h00. A South Westerly wind comes over the main stand and in those circumstances the front-running horses do not provide as much of a shield to horses behind them as they do when the infamous south easterly is blowing. The earlier north westerly should not have any impact on a race.

Captain My Captain, who is drawn 20, has enjoyed a good preparation. He followed his debut with a good third over 1000m and he wasn’t stopping at the line. He looks likely to come on further from that run.

Wonderwall, who is one of five runners from the Sean Tarry yard in this race, was making his debut when finishing second over 1000m, beating Captain My Captain by 0,2 lengths. He should come on from the run.

Sean Tarry (Nkosi Hlophe)

Warrior’s Rest is a big What A Winter colt with plenty of scope. On debut he caught the eye staying on over 1000m despite being green. He should appreciate the step up in trip being a three-quarters brother to the useful sprint-miler Bichette and a half-sister to Gr 1 Woolavington winner Viva Maria. The winner Warrior’s Rest’s last start was Sir Frenchie, an Australian-bred by Choisir. It was his debut and he dropped back to last before running on to win in good style. Bernie finished second to Sir Frenchie, showing good speed before tiring late. It was his debut and coming from the Candice Bass-Robinson yard, he should improve.

Vortex Star ran on well for third in that race on his debut and Frankie Dettori now takes the ride.

Varside was a staying on fifth, beaten 1,3 by fourth-placed Warrior’s Rest, and next time out he stayed on again, but was nearly five lengths behind Wonderwall and Captain My Captain.

Bold Respect won well over 1000m second time out and this long-strider will enjoy the step up to 1200m. Two horses were running on in eye-catching fashion behind Bold Respect, namely Volcanic Sunset and Apollo Star. They should both appreciate the step up to 1200m. Bold Respect was beaten 1,25 length by the speedy Dynasty colt Barrack Street on debut over 800m, but was staying on well.

Barrack Street is not an imposing sort, but has a big action and plenty of speed. On pedigree he should stay the trip as he is a half-brother to Jay Peg, a four-time Gr 1 winner from 1600m-2000m. Barrack Street is part-owned by Mayfair Speculators, who retain Anton Marcus. However, interestingly, Marcus will be aboard the other Mayfair Speculators-owned runner Big Mistake. The latter ran a 2,5 length third to Barack Street in his only run to date. He showed speed, but was green and tired late. He should come on significantly for the run, being a Bass-Robinson horse.

Anton Marcus (Liesl King)

The third of the Bass-Robinson runners is Wall Street Trader, who was well beaten on debut, and the blinkers are now on.

Puget Sound showed pace throughout on debut over 1000m at Turffontein and surged late to get up. Gavin Lerena keeps the ride.

Henry Tudor was staying on over 800m on debut and this Var colt should enjoy the 1200m trip.

Snow Boarding ran on well over 1000m on debut at Turffontein, but the form is questionable.

Lacerta showed pace second time out over 1000m to be beaten only 3,3 lengths by the promising Namibia and how the latter goes in race two on the card could be a pointer to her chances.

The only first-timer is Australian-bred Riker’s Island by Delago Deluxe, who won two Gr 1s at Scottsville.

It is an ultra tough first leg of the PA, but the big horse Warrior’s Rest makes most appeal and  fancied to follow him at this stage, in order of preference, are Wonderwall, Big Mistake Captain My Captain, Barrack Street, Gold Image, Bold Respect, Sir Frenchie, Volcanic Sunset and Vortex Star.

By David Thiselton