Andrew Harrison

It takes faith in your ability to keep fighting when the odds are seemingly stacked against you, but Yadav Singh, with only three horses in his string reaped the rewards in the first at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday as the cleverly named Chakpori obliged with Kabelo Matsunyane taking over in the saddle from a suspended Cole Dicken.

The Greyville poly is running quick these days and with a strong tailwind to help them home, Matsunyane always had Chakpori in contention as Head Girl took up her customary roll. The two came together a long way out with Chakpori gradually eating into Head Girl’s lead and getting up close home.

Hot favourite Princess Goldie did not appear to be enjoying the afternoon and Craig Zackey commented later in the day that the filly just didn’t come to the races. He was at her from the jump and eventually had ‘to take my medicine’.  “She shows good work on the sand back home so this was a disappointing effort,” he said. “She will be back!”

With everything in her favour, barring top weight, War Empress enjoyed the wind at her back and Louis Goosen’s mare won well in a small field. She was always handy under Chase Maujean and kicked on nicely in the run for home to win rather comfortably from Happy Analia and Jane’s Vision.

The scratching of Star Of The Future from the first leg of the Pick 6 saw Gimmethegoodlife top the bookmakers boards and he landed the odds for Gareth van Zyl although it was a close call as Richardthefearless lived up to his name and was not giving in as he pressed Gimmethegoodlife all the way to the line. It was Gimmethegoodlife’s first attempt at a mile and he took Marco van Rensburg on from the start, refusing to settle, so it was a win full of merit.

Every horse has its peculiarities and Lucretius seemingly inherited his ornery temperament from his sire Eightfold Path whose progeny were notorious difficult. Carl Hewitson has done wonders with the gelding who, at one stage had him wondering if he could win a maiden. At times he just refuses to work in the mornings but he was in a galloping mood yesterday as Zackey, his now regular rider, got him to respond up the inside rail to gradually wear down rivals Porfirio and Wave Warrior with favourite Mr Hotstepper making the pace before emptying out in the straight.

Zackey is a little under the radar when it comes to the national title chase but he is hot on the heels of log leaders Muzi Yeni and Gavin Lerena. Princess Goldie was an obvious disappointment but he had two in the bag by the running of the sixth to take his tally for the season to 61 behind Yeni, six behind Lerena and four ahead of Richard Fourie. He posted his second win of the afternoon as he scraped home aboard Garth Puller’s charge Way To Burn  in the fifth, with the judges having to consult the photo finish to separate his filly and Mark Dixon’s Doctor’s Orders. Zackey made all the running on Way To Burn and punched for home crossing the subway and seemingly having the race the won. However, Calvin Habib had all the while been hunting him down. Making up ground from last coming up the hill, Doctor’s Orders delivered the slow poison up the outside and it was a piece of paper that separated the two at the line.

A frustrated Habib has made the second box his home so far this season, with 51 seconds to add to his winning tally of 26.

Dennis Bosch, an exceptional rider in his day before the dreaded scale got the better of him, does not have the fire power that he used to have when starting his training career but there are few better. He has kept Knight Warrior sound and competitive in all of his racing career that now stretches into his seventh season. 

Serino Moodley had the veteran galloper out and racing from his inside draw and was not for the catching. It was a smart ride from Moodley who was in jocular mood post-race. “The way the track’s running you have to ride like you don’t know what you doing. That’s what I did. I rode like an apprentice,” he quipped.

It’s never easy for a horse to win three-on-the-bounce let alone four as the handicappers come a-hunting but gelding appears to have kept Connery’s mind from wandering and it was four up yesterday. Glen Kotzen’s charge made all the running and was not for the catching under Mauritian apprentice Nirvan Nastili. Kotzen’s assistant at Summerveld, John Buckler, has turned to apprentices in his three local runs with a suspended 4kg claimer Jaycee Botes being replaced by Nastili’s 2.5kg claim that could be a ploy to keep the handicappers in check but Connery has jumped 13 points in the ratings for his last two wins and is sure to get another hike after this success.

Stevie Gee finally got Habib out of the second box as the Geof Perkins home-bred, named after one of his sons, pulled out all the stops. For Wendy Whitehead it was a deserved win after a string of placed starts as he kicked on strongly to put daylight between himself and the late-charging Mac Hardy who just got his nose in front of the chasing scrum.

David Thiselton

There are some good opportunities for punters in the Turffontein Inside eight race meeting today. 

In the first race over 1500m Mist In Ireland made a good debut and will relish the further trip on pedigree. She has a good draw of four and represents an in form yard and has one of the best workriders up. Spy Story has good enough form to be a contender in this line up and rates the chief danger. 

In the second over 1600m Honorable Member was thought highly enough of to take her place in the Gr 1 Thekwini and looks to have a reasonable merit rating of 81. Gavin Lerena is an eye catching booking but she does have a tricky draw. Guerilla Warfare has shown ability and from a middle draw over an ideal trip looks to be the chief danger. 

In the third race over 1200m Vibe SA has been costly to follow but looks to have found a good race for his comeback and Lerena is aboard from a middle draw. He was always beaten by fair sorts and there does not look to be any other horse in the race who can match him. Lloyd Wright ran well second time out over 1160m and must have a shout but he has a tough draw to overcome. 

In the fourth over 1200m Milo’s Millionaire is capable of better than last time and from pole position with Lerena up is the one to beat. She should have come on from that last run and had shown some signs of ability last season. Montana Lights did well in her reappearance against lesser opposition than she had previously faced. However, she does have a tricky draw. Intro has shown enough to be able to have a shout in this race. 

In the fifth over 2600m Clear The Path has shown fair form up to 2000m in a handful of starts and should handle the step up in trip against an uninspiring field. The Merciful did well over 2000m last time and is out of a Silvano mare so should also manage the long trip. There is not much between her and Splashlanding. Those three look set to fight it out although Clear The Path is preferred. 

In the sixth over 1800m Dimako’s Jet is the only filly in the race but has some eye catching form and has Lerena up from a good draw over an ideal trip. The last time she went over this trip she was just 3,50 lengths behind Olivia’s Way, who is now rated 110. The danger could be Circle Of Grace but he does have a tough draw. The Octagon starts off handicapping  on a reasonable merit rating of 71 and has looked to have ability and he might enjoy the step up in trip so can do well from draw six with a 2.5kg claimer up. 

In the seventh race over 1200m Valieva has faced better without being disgraced and has a good opportunity from draw four out of seven. Lady Of Memphis made a good winning debut and from pole position and a reasonable 81 merit rating she could follow up. Ride On has a tricky draw but has a chance under Lerena for an in form yard. 

In the last race over 1200m Written In Stone goes well for Louis Nhlapo and can do it from pole position. Commander Of All and His Lordship should go close too. 

RACE 1

(9) MIST IN IRELAND ran well enough on debut and will improve over this extended trip of 1500m. (4) KHICHDI mage big improvement in the last start and will build on that performance so must go in. (2) SPY STORY ran well in the last start and won’t be far. (10) PRAIRIE SPRING is a very interesting runner going over this distance first time out, any market support must be respected. ( Devonne Govender 9-4-2-10)

RACE 2

(1) Safe Space ran extremely well and was beaten by a smart horse in the making which makes him a massive runner. (4) Play With Fire wasn’t far in the last start and will be a huge runner here. (6) Honorable Member can get much closer so needs to be respected. (5) Whispers Of War is very capable on his day and can win this on best form. ( Devonne Govender 1-4-6-5)

RACE 3

(1) VIBE SA is holding consistent form and should get it right here. (7) LLOYD WRIGHT is making good progress and will continue to get closer, winning chance. (4) CASUS BELLI wasn’t far on debut and will be there in the mix with expected improvement to come. (6) LETONA is another who will improve after a decent enough debut when finishing 7th. ( Devonne Govender 1-7-4-6)

RACE 4

(2) MONTANA LIGHTS ran well in the last start and the 1200m trip could do the trick, she has a massive winning chance. (1) KALIKAA placed in the last start and can get involved here on best form. (4) MILO’S MILLIONAIRE has been fancied in the last start and must go in again. (7) IZANAMI has scope to improve and must be respected. ( Devonne Govender 2-1-4-7)

RACE 5

(2) CLEAR THE PATH is improving with every start and will take some beating. (3) THE MERCIFUL has been placing in recent starts and will be right there in the mix. (7) SPLASHLANDING is making steady progress and will get involved. (5) CARRY THE COLOURS has plenty scope to go well and must be respected. ( Devonne Govender 2-3-7-5)

RACE 6

(3) CIRCLE OF GRACE has been racing really well, Marco V’Rensburg has been in top form and he will have a huge chance. (2) LEAO ALADO ran well at huge odds and will be factor if confirming that run here. (4) DIMAKO’S JET has been consistent and another honest run is expected. (1) MOUNT ETNA ran well at big odds and can make the frame. (Devonne Govender 3-2-4-1)

RACE 7

(5) LADY OF MEMPHIS won her debut extremely well, she could be anything so must be taken very seriously. (4) SAIGON SUZIE ran well in the last start and will be there again. (2) RIDE ON is capable and can win this contest so will have to be thrown into everything. (3) THERE SHE GOES is never far back and can get into the frame. (7) HEIRLOOM is another who is capable and can get much closer. ( Devonne Govender 5-4-3-7)

RACE 8

(6) COMMANDER OF ALL is definitely better than his form suggests on paper. He needs things to go his way, and if the rider can produce him at the right time he will be dangerous. (8) WRITTEN IN STONE is a game 9 year old, he is holding form and will be a big runner. (4) LAVA FIRE won impressively in the last start and must be respected. (9) TWICE AS WILD is holding consistent form and won’t be far. (7) JUST VAR ran a much improved race in the last start and can build on that. ( Devonne Govender 6-8-4-9-7)

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David Thiselton

The Betway Summer Cup’s final pointer race, the Gr 3 Betway Victory Moon Stakes, has been run and the next step in the R6 million saga is to see whether there are any supplementaries on or before the final entry stage of November 18.

The final field announcement will be on Wednesday November 20. 

The most obvious horse for a late supplementary entry is the Victory Moon winner Greeting My Master.

However, that is unlikely to happen as he will face an impossible task with the Victory Moon  runner up Main Defender and also with the fifth-placed Purple Pitcher.

Greeting My Master beat Main Defender by half-a-length, but would face him on 6kg worse terms in the Summer Cup.

Greeting My Master beat Purple Pitcher by four lengths, but would face him on 11kg worse terms in the Summer Cup.

Purple Pitcher was used as the line horse in the Victory Moon and that allowed Main Defender to escape with a one point merit rated raise, which takes the latter to 130.

Purple Pitcher was 3kg under sufferance with Main Defender and was only 3,50 lengths behind him.

Greeting My Master was raised three points to 110, so as things stand would be 5kg under sufferance if entered in the Summer Cup.

Nothing has happened over the weekend to cause a major shake up of the final log.

However, Thunee Playa, who was one of the outside looking in horses on the log, did run fourth in the Victory Moon, which might warrant him for consideration despite his lowly merit rating of 93, which went up four points to 97.

Rule By Force also won a MR 106 Handicap over 1800m in good style on Monday.

Future Pearl finished last in the Victory Moon and Pure Predator was third last so their positions in the final field might be questioned, despite them both having been in the top 20 on the final log.

Furthermore, the number one on the final log, Dave The King, was said by Mike de Kock to not be running in the Summer Cup. He had him running in a Pinnacle event in December in preparation for the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

So the certainties in the final field could be See It Again, Royal Victory, Winchester Mansion, Main Defender, Purple Pitcher, Barbaresco, Frances Ethel, Silver Sanctuary, Beating Wings, Hotarubi, Atticus Finch, Puerto Manzano, My Soul Mate, Madison Valley and Safe Passage and also Greeting My Master if he is supplemented.

Those fighting for the last four or five places will be , Pure Predator, Future Pearl, Rule By Force, Thunee Player, Zeus, Litigation, Son Of Raj, Meridius, Aragosta, Shoemaker, Cape Eagle, Red Maple, Nebraas, Indian Ocean, The Futurist, East Coast, Marauding Horde, River Romeo, Atarime and Pomodoro’s Jet.