Andrew Harrison

Thoroughbred horse racing in South Africa dates back to over a century and in that time there have been a myriad of stories that have touched the heart, from tales of good fortune to heart-rendering disappointments, such is the nature of the sport.

It was a tale of fortune at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday. From waiting tables in the Durban View Restaurant to the winner’s enclosure for apprentice Sifiso Bungane, his mother, a chef at the popular Durban venue, there to lead him in for his first win.

Not always the easiest according to Glen Kotzen’s KZN assistant John Buckler, Wings Of Josephine behaved herself with the addition of a compression mask but as former champion jockey MJ Odendaal once commented, ‘no jockey ever forgets the name of his first winner’, and Wings Of Josephine will be forever etched  in Bungane’s memory.

Wings Of Josephine made all the running and Bungane was looking around for dangers a long way out. Well-backed favourite Are You Sure tried to keep pace but through the final furlong it was clearly a forlorn chase.

Mike Miller and his long-time assistant Craig Eudey are wizards at preparing young horses for the first juvenile races of the season and it was a one-two-three in the card opener as Comic Relief made short work of stable companions Bel Of Angelus and Water Hyacinth, the stable and first-call rider Tristan Godden racking up a quick double as Holds The Key finally unlocked the door for his maiden win.

These are mostly not ‘cheap’ buys in hope that they can earn their keep early before other stables take the traditional route of giving their young horses time, but it is a strategy that clearly works for the stable and to each their own.

Willie Pieters was a household name in his heyday as a trainer – who does not remember champion Senor Santa – before turning his attention to building game lodges. But he is back to his first love and in conjunction with bloodstock agent Andy William, they have got Classic Racing Syndicate off the ground with trainer’s Paul Gadsby and Darryl Moore their principal trainers. “We are looking to support some ‘smaller’ trainers,” Pieters recounted in a recent interview.

According to Pieters, the syndicate currently has eight horses in training and Sonata Samaritan, a R80k buy by the under rated sire Skitt Skizzle, gave the syndicate their second win as the Gadsby-trained filly shot clear of her rivals in the fifth to win like a horse with a future.

Mike Salter is one of racing’s eternal optimists and has shares in a host of mostly moderate runners. Uncle Lucky was having his 39^th bite at the cherry for Salter and Doug Campbell but Deryl Daniels made the most of his pole position draw in the fourth to get Uncle Lucky home by the shortest of short heads as Black Platina closed him down to a piece of paper at the line.

Graeme Hawkins

Honours were evenly spread at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday with all of Justin Snaith, Lucinda Woodruff and Candice Bass-Robinson registering “doubles” over the 9-race programme. Snaith got the ball rolling when birthday boy JP van der Merwe steered the newcomer Absolutely Yes (33/10) to a comfortable debut victory over his more fancied stable companion Music Of The Night in the opening event, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m.

Absolutely Yes, a son of Danon Platina, took command of the race approaching the final 200m and drew clear of Music Of The Night (15/10) to score impressively by more than two lengths.

Snaith was denied a quick race to race double as the Lucinda Woodruff-trained Omikami (7/2) rallied strongly under Josh Solomons to beat Song To The Moon (9/10) by a nose in the second race, a Cape B Stakes over 1800m. Omikami made all the running at an easy gallop but was momentarily headed by Song To The Moon as the pair locked horns with 200m to race. Fourie threw the kitchen sink at Song To The Moon but in receipt of 7kgs, Omikami dug down deep to gain a narrow verdict in a thrilling finish, with the balance of the field four lengths further back.

The third race, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, produced the race meeting’s only shock result when the 66/1 chance Girl Magic showed huge improvement on her previous two outings to beat her stable companion Blind Ambition by a length. It has been a long time between drinks for Shane Humby and a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure for the affable Milnerton-based trainer who gets the best out of his small string.

My Archangel looked the part in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, and he duly delivered under Richard Fourie although not without a late scare as Crescent closed rapidly over the final 200m. My Archangel, the second of Woodruff’s two winners, went to the front shortly after the start and was never headed, but his advantage at the line was whittled down to just a neck as Crescent, who turned for home at the rear of the field, began to reel in the leader.

Gimmethatpearl has matured into a very nice filly and the daughter of Gimmethegreenlight was a dominant winner of the fifth race, a Class 3 Handicap (F&M) over 1600m. On a day when front-runners were hard to peg back, Fourie took Snaith’s charge to the head of affairs, and thereafter she travelled strongly and was never in danger of defeat. Fatal Gem and Callmegetrix headed the chasing pack, but Gimmethatpearl had more than a length to spare at the line.

Craig Zackey rode his 100^th winner of the Season when driving Tsunami Warning to an exciting victory over Trippi’s Silk in the sixth race, a Class 5 Handicap over 1400m. Tsunami Warning and Trippi’s Silk joined issue with 300m to race and the result was in the balance all the way to the line.

The seventh race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1400m, also produced a tight finish with the heavily supported Major Master (8/10) getting up in the shadow of the post to deny Iconic Destination and Carriacou. Major Master, trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, was a pickup ride for Sean Veale and, after being denied so narrowly in the prior event, Veale will have been well pleased with his perfectly timed finish.

Bass-Robinson followed up in the eighth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1200m, won readily by the consistent Babelicious (9/2) with regular pilot Aldo Domeyer in the irons. Sporting blinkers for the first time, Babelicious forged clear inside the last 300m and had more than enough in hand to ward off the challenge of Back At The George.

The only surprise in the last race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1100m, was that Bluff On Bluff was allowed to ease in the market from 5/1 to 12/1. Fortunately for his supporters, the betting drift did not affect the outcome as Bluff On Bluff breezed through with authority from just off the pace to register his sixth career victory. The 6yo son of Oratorio has been a wonderful servant for the Piet Steyn stable and was ridden to victory by under-utilised and under-appreciated Ashton Arries.

RACE 1

(4) BRIGHT FUTURE ran a cracker in the last start and will go close here. (7) HOUSE OF SUSSEX is holding solid form and is a lively challenger with Zackey up in the saddle. (3) DECREE ran a much-improved race in the last start and will be there in the placings. (6) AMERICAN PITBULL is never far back and will pop up very soon, respect his chances. Keep a close eye on (10) LANCIAFIAMME for any market support ( Devonne Govender 4-7-3-6)

RACE 2

(6) GRAND OASIS ran a much-improved race in the last start and will be a big runner in a very open looking race where form is limited. (5) OLIVER TWIST is much better than his last run so that’s best ignored, big chance. (1) ORANJEMUND is never far back and will be in the frame, must go in. (2) MAYOR OF MERRIVALE is unreliable but can make it into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 6-5-1-2)

RACE 3

(5) JAMBO SANA is holding excellent form and will be the banker in all bets, the form has been standing up strong so she will be tough to beat. (7) SEPTEMBER FLOWER ran extremely well in the last start and will be in the firing line. (8) WHITE HILLS and (1) STRANGE MAGIC are both runners that can get into the placings. (Devonne Govender 5-7-8-1)

RACE 4

(5) KABON KAPI is in top form and another massive performance is expected. (8) YOU WIN AGAIN has been consistent, from a good draw with a light weight she will be a factor. (2) GOLDEN PACIFIC is never far back and will be in the placings. ( Devonne Govender 5-8-1-2)

RACE 5

(3) FIRST WISH was a gutsy winner in the last start from a wide draw, with a much better draw this time she could be tough to beat. (4) GOLD FOR AFRICA is a very honest type, she ran well at huge odds and another bold showing is expected. (5) QUERANDI is a horse who can never be discounted, she has ability and will make her presence felt. (1) LADY ZULTANITE is never far back, if she brings her ‘A’ game she will win. ( Devonne Govender 3-4-5-1)

RACE 6

(2) MR MOLONY is knocking on the door for that next career win, he has a reasonable draw with an inform rider aboard and will be a big runner. (9) MILLENNIUM DANCER ran a huge race at big odds in the last start, she can be unreliable at times but could provide value if arriving. (3) FLASH LIGHTNING wasn’t far in the last start and can get closer. (8) REACH FORTHE STARS is very capable on his day so warrants respect. (Devonne Govender 2-9-3-8)

RACE 7

(1) CRUISE CONTROL packs plenty of class and will be tough to beat, although he has bigger fish to fry as he is entered in the Cape Flying Championship (Grade 1) he should beat this field respectfully. (2) FAIRY KNIGHT is another with tons of ability, he was very impressive in his last win and is the main danger to the top selection. (3) CLIFF TOP is always in the mix and will be in the placings. (9) GOLDEN LINK is holding form and can pop up. ( Devonne Govender 1-2-3-9)

RACE 8

(2) SHARAPOVA is knocking on the door and will go very close after running two good races in the province. (1) BELOW DECK ran well in the last start and will be the main danger. (3) CRUZADOR is speedy and will be a challenger if allowed to dictate. (9) ABSOLU NOIR is capable of running into the quartets. ( Devonne Govender 2-1-3-9)

Devonne Govender

Michael Miller saddles Bell Of Angelus in the opener at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today and she looks a to be a strong contender for victory.

Her debut effort was decent and with natural improvement to come she will be bang in the firing line. 

Respect must be given to the Robbie Hill charge Hollywood Heiress. She is another who will progress from having a run under the belt and is expected to get much closer with Calvin Habib aboard. Punters are urged to keep a close eye on the market as there are a few unraced runners that line up, any market support must be respected.

Holds The Key looks a stand out on form in the second race and could give trainer Michael Miller a quick double on the card if things go to plan. He looked all out a winner in the last start before being beaten narrowly on the line.

Sonata Samaritan in Race 5 ran an absolute cracker in her last start when narrowly being beaten by Amafort. She goes over the extended 1600m trip which could suit her well so a huge performance is expected. 

This race is a highly competitive contest and a case can be made for many. Greenlight Queen is a very interesting runner. She didn’t get away on terms in her last start however was running on. She did receive some betting support on that occasion and she will be a factor here. 

Masterbling from the Garth Puller yard looks hard to oppose on current form. His recent runs have been outstanding so will be a massive contender especially with a light mass on his back. Although he takes on stronger in this contest, he will make his presence felt in a big way.

Jet Legacy is another who has been in top form recently. The Alyson Wright trained son of Divine Jet ran a cracker in the last start when narrowly being beaten by Connery. He gets regular rider Athandiwe Mgudlwa aboard and will be involved in the finish. 

Other challengers could come in the form of Hope Is Power and License To Thrill. They both seem to be holding form and are certainly not out of this contest. 

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