RACE 1 

15 QUASIKAT      5 ANTONIO GAUDI      11 PENNSYLVANIA       6 SPY STORY 

Preview: QUASIKAT (15) ran a huge race on debut albeit back in July. She can be expected to have benefited from the rest and is selected to come back winning. ANTONIO GAUDI (5) is banging at the door and running well – should win soon – strong each way chance. PENNSYLVANIA (11) has scope to build on debut and can earn a cheque. SPY STORY (6) is a quartet must. (Warren Lenferna 15-5-11-16) 

RACE 2

4 CARS BIG AS BARS      6 CYBER SPIRIT      7 INTRO      12 ZALTA STAR 

Preview: CARS BIG AS BARS (4) caught the eye on debut and can go one more this time. She could be anything. CYBER SPIRIT (6) is improving and improving quickly – big runner. INTRO (7) is taking time but should get it all right soon. She has a bright place chance and ZALTA STAR (12) will more than likely have more to offer. Big chance. (Warren Lenferna 4-6-7-12) 

RACE 3

4 JOHN WICK       3 CHIEFTAIN        2 NKANDLA GOLD      1 LONGSWORD 

Preview: JOHN WICK (4) brings solid form into the race, and caught the eye last time behind Dontshootthebarman. Can win. CHIEFTAIN (3) seems very talented and could be way above this field. Should be in the first three. NKANDLA GOLD (2) and LONGSWORD (1) are never far off the action and must be respected for the trifecta and quartet. (Warren Lenferna 4-3-2-1) 

RACE 4

2 TRIDENT KING      10 ODE TO THE OCEAN      1 CHAMPION WARRIOR      3 FOSTINOVO 

Preview: TRIDENT KING (2) nearly won his last start showing that he is back to better form. He knows how to win races, gets Gavin Lerena and can go one more. ODE TO THE OCEAN (10), the filly, nearly ran down a very progressive sort last time and has to be taken seriously on that alone. Respect and include. CHAMPION WARRIOR (1) is holding form and his next career victory seems near – bright chance. FOSTINOVO (3) has a quartet chance. (Warren Lenferna 2-10-1-3) 

RACE 5

1 AMERICAN REBEL      2 FIFTH OF JULY      6 PANNING GOLD      9 GUY ALEXANDER 

Preview: AMERICAN REBEL (1) has never been far off the action since winning his maiden and from a cozy gate, can go very close to winning. Strong each way claims. FIFTH OF JULY (2) can do way better than he did last time and Jockey Jason Gates has partnered him before – strong place claims. PANNING GOLD (6) is making us wait for the win, might find it tough to win this, but can certainly earn again. GUY ALEXANDER (9) Can go one better. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-6-9) 

RACE 6

8 SECOND BREATH      1 CALLMEWHENUNEEDME      7 LOVEGRASS      10 SIGRID SWING 

Preview: SECOND BREATH (8) is taking time for the next win but showed last time that things are about to get serious. She is the one to fear the most. CALLMEWHENUNEEDME (1) gets valuable weight off her back from an in-form rider and is one for the shortlist. LOVEGRASS (7) can be expected to serve up way more than she did last time and SIGRID SWING (10) is the value suggestion for the quartet perms. (Warren Lenferna 8-1-7-10) 

RACE 7

8 ARGO ALLEY      15 ROCK OF BISMANTOVA      11 PASSAGE OF POWER      9 JURY’S OUT 

Preview: ARGO ALLEY (8) has won two out of his last three and is selected to win again. ROCK OF BISMANTOVA (15) is clearly loving life having won three of his last four and is a huge contender again, for top position. PASSAGE OF POWER (11) and JURY’S OUT (9) must be respected and include for the quartet permutations. (Warren Lenferna 8-15-11-9) 

RACE 8

6 GIMME THE FLAME      7 MIX THE MAGIC      1 FRANCILIEN      3 PALACE DANCER 

Preview: GIMME THE FLAME (6) ran an absolute cracker last time when early beating Smelting. She always has a chance and is the first choice today. MIX THE MAGIC (7) is never far adrift the winners and has each way claims. FRANCILIEN (1) and PALACE DANCER (3) could be way better than this field and must be taken seriously but they are facing tougher, hardened opposition in this. (Warren Lenferna 6-7-1-3) 

SCORE10: GC2 – SPORT 9 & POOL 1 Match 1 (M1) – Bristol Rovers vs Blackpool on Saturday, 12 October has been postponed due to international call-ups.

SCORE10: GC2 – SPORT 9 & POOL 1Match 2 (M2) – Stevenage vs Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, 12th October has been postponed due to international call-ups.

All results (the field) will qualify for the above match. In terms of TAB rules, all choices (the field) will apply in determining results and pay-outs.

David Thiselton

Mike de Kock said Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King’s chief aim would be the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, although he is not sure of the route he will take, whilst another of his Gr 1 winners from last season, Silver Sanctuary, comes out in a Pinnacle event on Saturday on her way to the Gr 1 R6 million Betway Summer Cup.

De Kock said, “Dave The King will be entered in the Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile and the Betway Summer Cup, but his main mission is the King’s Plate. I would like to give him two prep runs before the King’s Plate . He’s not garunteed to run in the Summer Cup, because as I have said before he has always been a bit suspect over 2000m in my opinion. The Charity Mile might be an option but with the benchmark clause of 52kg for a 106 merit rating he will be carrying a lot of weight off a 128 merit rating (63kg), so we might by pass that. But the main mission is the King’s Plate and anything else is a bonus.”

De Kock would love to send Dave The King to Dubai and Hong Kong, but he said the problem was he did not think he would get there timeously. There is not only the consideration of equine export flights being put together but also the consideration of “no work at all for 16 days”.

He elaborated, “You are in a lockdown situation which will stick you back completely. You can’t just get off a plane and run. You have to give yourself time to regroup on the work you’ve lost out on, so its just not straight forward.”

He said about Silver Sanctuary, who won the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 last season after a host of close up finishes in Graded races, including two Gr 1 runner up finishes, “She runs in a Pinnacle Stakes race on Saturday, which she is going to need, and she will then need another one before the Summer Cup.”

Silver Sanctuary is one of a “good few” De Kock horses who might travel to Cape Town. She was a narrow runner up in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas last season and might run in the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes this season.

De Kock’s other two Gr 1 winners from last season were Gimme A Nother and Humdinger.

Gimme A Nother is still doing her two months quarantine in Europe before being flown out to America.

Humdinger was retired and was purchased by Drakenstein Stud. 

Andrew Harrison

Owner Sid Moodley has placed his faith in trainer Frank Robinson and they are having some success. Their smart gelding Cats Pajamas looks to have a bright future ahead of him and the Moodley, Robinson combination can have a lucrative afternoon on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.

Robinson has another progressive colt in Field Marshal who took to the poly first time on the surface and romped to an easy victory. He was punished six-points for that win but given the manner of victory he looks capable of following up in the first leg of the Pick 6.

A danger could be the Mike de Kock runner Jaham the superbly-bred son of Kingman was a comfortable winner over the Turffontein inner track at just his third start. He only has 53kg to shoulder and if he runs up to his pedigree he should make his presence felt. Riccardo is an old warrior hunting his ninth win. He won comfortably on the turf last run and is holding form well but meets two progressive younger rivals. Robinson has a second string to his bow in The Mikado who has not been far back since shedding his maiden and with a light weight and first time blinkers he is not without a chance. 

Robinson has a chance of a quick double with Amor Fati in a Maiden Handicap with very little depth in form. Amor Fati is lightly raced and although going this trip for the first time, his two best efforts have come on the poly. He should stay the trip comfortably and meets a modest field. Michael Roberts sends out the lightly raced Chill In The Air who has shown some ability. This trip should suit and he can challenge the likely favourite. Brave Bomber is showing signs of coming to hand and is one to watch in the betting. 

One of the better bets on the card should be Head Girl in the first. She has been costly to follow but she is rarely out of the money and will not get a better chance of breaking her maiden. She has been runner-up at her last two over course and distance and the opposition does not stack up too much. Biggest threat could come from Paul Lafferty’s charge Glamorz who was a smart second to the consistent Future Flo when Michael Roberts dropped the winner back to a sprint. The was Glamorz first run back from a lengthy break and she should strip a lot fitter. Queen Of Ice was much improved with blinkers and a tongue-tie last run and can feature in this line-up. 

The second is a competitive handicap but Masterbling has been in good form for Garth Puller since being fitted with blinkers. His last two wins came over course and distance and although he does take a rise in class he only got a two-point raise in the handicap for his last effort and comes in off a handy weight. Love In Winter has been holding form and goes well over course and distance. Happy Analia takes on males but showed up well first time out for Tienie Prinsloo. This will be her first try on the poly but she does look capable. Trafalgar Square is seldom far off them and a win would not be out of turn for Dennis Boch’s gelding. 

It doesn’t get any easier from here on. Edge Of Tomorrow made a promising handicap debut for Nathan Kotzen when making her poly debut. The blinkers are back on and this trip should suit when she lines up in the fifth. Drive By is seldom far behind over course and distance and does not meet a strong field here. She is hunting her sixth win for Louis Goosen and can get it right. Blush Of Dawn was not too far back when back to a sprint. Garth Puller is never shy to race his charges over varying distances and he gives 4kg claimer Damyan Pillay a chance. Tony Rivalland sends out Swiss Parade who is better than her last run and regular pilot Mathew Thackeray is back aboard. 

The sixth is another tricky handicap. Mike Miller’s filly Skytrix finished ahead of many in this race and there should not be much between them again. One of these was Fort J’Adore who was beaten less than a length. Wendy Whitehead’s mare is now 3.5kg better off and should be able to turn the tables. Poursomesugaronme seldom runs a bad race and was the ham in the sandwich between Skytrix and Fort J’Adore. However, she is 1.5kg worse off with the latter which could herald a turnaround in the result. Littleblackvelvet took on much stronger last run and was not disgraced. She is back in more suitable company but 4kg claiming apprentice Mxolisi Mbuto will have to navigate from the widest draw. Another to take note of is Dean Kannemeyer’s filly Lucrative who has won two of her three starts. She certainly looks progressive and should be included in all calculations. 

Nicolette Roscoe operates Dean Kannemeyer’s Summerveld satellite yard and she saddles French Flame in the seventh, a Conditional Graduation, who has only been out of the money once in his last five starts. He was running on well behind the well fancied Forgiveness last time out and takes on slightly weaker. Heaven’s Will is drawn alongside and was a close-up third last run after being friendless in the market. He only has 53kg to shoulder and his last win was over course and distance. Salt ‘N Peppa showed up well when returning from a short break, also starting at long odds. He shed his maiden on the poly and the extra furlong should not be an issue. Savantrix has the widest draw to contend with but does give Kannemeyer a strong second string to his bow. 

Alyson Wright is two handed in the last and there should not be much between King Bavarian and Wave Warrior.  Wave Warrior was a beaten favourite when last they met and goes well over this course and distance. However, King Bavarian is 1.5kg better off in the handicap and has the better draw with Wave Warrior drawn widest of the 10 runners. Connoisseur is down in class and was a beaten favourite last time out. He stays the trip and should be competitive while Querari’s Dream is lightly raced and may just have been in need of his last outing. His maiden win was over this trip. 

David Thiselton

South Africans just cannot stay out of world racing news at present and Muzi Yeni is the latest hero to fly the national flag on the international stage.

However, besides his win in the last ever race at Kranji Singapore,  Zac Lloyd, son of the legendary former Durban-based Jeff Lloyd, had a Gr 1 and a Gr 2 win at Randwick in Australia, Chad Schofield, son of top former Durban-based jockey Glynn Schofield, had a Gr 1 and a Gr 3 win at the same meeting, Jason Gates had a double at his Mauritius debut meeting and followed up with another double on Sunday and big Jo’Burg-based owner Larry Nestadt won a Gr 3 in Australia with Sea The Stars gelding Just Fine, who booked his spot in the Melbourne Cup.

Yeni was recommended to trainer David Kok by Michael Lee, the Deputy Racing Editor of The Straits Times, and he was given a number of second string rides for the Kok yard as well as one or two other rides on the day.

He had run unplaced in all five of his previous rides before the main race of the day, the S$1380,000 (R18,436,800) Grand Singapore Gold Cup over 2000m, which was to sadly bring the curtain down on 180 years of racing in Singapore.

Muzi broke well from barrier 8 of 16 on the outsider Smart Star and the fast pace suited the rangy galloper. He had cover around the first turn, although nearer the back than the front. He was caught three wide down the back straight but the horse was nice and relaxed and was relishing the good pace, set by a horse who opened up a ten length lead. 

Smart Star was only about three lengths off them as he made up ground on the final turn, whilst the pacemaker folded tamely. His big stride began eating up the ground under a strong but rhythmical drive by Yeni and he surged in the final 20 metres and got up by 0,3 lengths from the second favourite Lim’s Saltoro.

It was a shock victory as the 71-rated Smart Star was way under sufferance carrying 50kg, just 8kg less than the 122-rated favourite Lims Kosciuszko, who ran a 3,10 length fifth.

Yeni stood up in the saddle and celebrated after the line.

Yeni rode at two meetings in Singapore six years ago and said in the winning interview on Saturday, “Getting my first win in Singapore felt awesome. The racing (atmosphere) in this country is crazy, even if I also felt a bit sad knowing that’s the last race.” 

“He was very fresh, but I tried my best to get a clean break. I didn’t expect that fast pace. We sat outside and he put himself well in touch.

“I pounced at the top of the straight and at the 150m he rolled in but I straightened him and he got to the front.

“I’m flying out on Monday at 3am and I now want to try to win the South African jockeys’ premiership.”

Muzi is currently quoted at 3-1 with Hollywoodbets to win the SA championship. It would be his first national title.

Smart Star’s fifth win in 25 starts has taken his earnings to close to SG$910,000 for the Smart Bet Stable, who also won this race in 2002 with Smart Bet, although this was trainer Kok’s first win in the big race.

Though a fairytale ending was not meant to be for trainer Daniel Meagher, whose pair Lim’s Kosciuszko and Lim’s Saltoro were first and second favourite, the Australian handler showed great sportsmanship by being one of the first to congratulate Kok at the post-race interview. 

Unlike most of the racegoers, both old and new, who were surprised by the win from the 50kgs lightweight chance, Kok was positive Smart Star had place claims.

“I know my horse has ability and he can stay,” said Kok, who had won three other Group 1 races before.

“I always wanted to win (the Singapore Gold Cup), and finally, I won the last one.

“I knew my horse is in very good condition and he could be a top three finish. I was also hoping for a bit of rain and when it didn’t, I was a bit worried.

“I told him (Yeni) to ride him where he’s comfortable and to start sprinting just before coming into the straight.

“I was very confident he (Smart Star) could run well in the straight, but at the 200m, I thought he could catch the leader (Lim’s Saltoro). He did it!”

“He (Smart Star) will go to Kuala Lumpur with me and I will get my stable (at Selangor Turf Club) up and running in November.”

Members of the racing community were spotted embracing each other and wiping tears from their eyes after the race.

Down at the parade ring, Singaporean trainer Jason Ong – who has spent 14 years training at Kranji – said Saturday’s turnout was a glimpse of what could have been.

“All of us trainers and jockeys knew that there was so much potential for Singapore racing. People love coming here, but it’s just that the potential wasn’t tapped,” said Ong. 

Ong, who has 50 horses in his stable, plans to train in Malaysia and will commute from Singapore. He noted that prize money is about a third lower than in the city state.

“They have quite a good vision there to improve the racing and increase the prize money from next year. In Asia its really only Hong Kong and Malaysia left, so hopefully it’ll take off in Malaysia,” said Ong.