The Vaal Classic track has an eight-race meeting today, which should offer punters a chance to accumulate  funds for the big weekend approaching. 

In the first race over 1200 meters, Tana Maree has a tricky draw of six out of nine, but is knocking on the door and has finished second in her last two starts over a 1000m and 1200m respectively. She was beaten three lengths last time, but she was three-and-a-half lengths clear of the rest of the field and the winner of that race looks promising. Ryan Munger is proving himself one of the best riders in the country at present and he stays aboard which is a bonus. Like A Prayer is well drawn and she ran her best race over this course and distance in January, when a 2.8 length third in a similar contest. She travelled to Hollywoodbets Scottsville after that and didn’t shape and then ran a bit below par on her return, so the travel might not have agreed with her, but if back to her best she should be in the shake-up. Empress Wu normally finishes in the back end of quartets or thereabouts and could do so again. Potato Salad has shown enough ability to earn in this contest. Genovefa was not disgraced on debut and could earn.

In the second race, Trip To States went close over 1160 meters last time, so will be suited to this 1200m trip, but does have a tricky draw to deal with. Mizzen Sword only just failed last time, but also has a tough draw. Curtiss Condor is by Lancaster Bomber out of a Gimmethegreenlight mare and S’Manga Khumalo rides from a tricky draw of six. Gimme A Storm is drawn in pole and has Andrew Fortune aboard and has the form to be in the shake up. Red Sea Hills is by Master Of My Fate out of the decent racehorse Sahara.

In the third race over 1600 meters, Munger could make it a double as he is aboard Royal Miracle, who should be right there if repeating his best efforts from a good draw. That’s Magical is by Last Winter out of a Lundy’s Liability mare and has pole position under Muzi Yeni. War Reporter wasn’t disgraced last time when having an improved run and could earn. 

In the fourth over 2000m, Instant Attraction could give Munger a treble. This horse has finished in the top three in all four starts between 1800 meters and 2000 meters, but on the down side she does have a wide draw and is up against the boys, which is never easy, although it didn’t stop her from coming second last time. Battle Of The Bulge has run two races and improved when stepped up to 2000m last time, although he still has a bit to prove to be competitive. Chieftain’s Shield has shown the ability to stay on quite well and he has a good draw, so in this lineup should be in the shake-up. Manz Knight is a half-brother to Malmoos and is by Gimmethegreenlight so does have a form chance of being in the shake-up in this race. Gold de Grace has shown some signs of improvement and if repeating his penultimate start could earn and although he did run way downfield after that he was only one-and- a-half lengths behind Chieftain’s Shield. 

In the fifth race over 1600m, Sail The Sky has been knocking on the door from 1200 meters up to 1450 meters. She is by Lancaster Bomber out of a Philanthropist mare who won from 1200 meters up to 1400m, but she has failed in two previous attempts at 1600m. Roaming Spirit has some good form and is by Buffalo Bill Cody out of a mare whose three wins were from 1200m up to 1600m, so she should enjoy the step-up in  trip, but she does have a tricky draw. Princess Ilaria won well last time and looks likely to enjoy the step-up in trip and has pole position, but she does have to overcome a three-point raise. Oh My Gucci Girl was not disgraced last time when running off a two-point higher mark for a win and she has won over 1500m  before, so she should be able to handle this trip. Coppola represents the in-form Mark Khan yard and can do better than last time.  

In the sixth race over 1500 meters Silky Jet represents an in-form yard, although the step-down in trip might not be what she is looking for as she has done well over 2000m. Perini Palace has good form and over this suitable trip has a wide draw to overcome. Time For Charity steps up in trip from a fair draw with Muzi Yeni up and she should see it out being by Time Thief out of a Cape Cross mare who won over this trip. Southern Style has the ability to earn here from draw 6 out of 12 over an ideal trip. Bob Lee Swagger has Munger aboard and might be good enough to earn a cheque here. 

In the seventh race, Palace Dancer is well drawn over this suitable 1500 meter trip and Gavin Lerena knows her well. Deception Pass has been racing in much stronger company and should enjoy the slight step down in trip and is drawn well. Moola Man is ideally distance suited and has the form to earn. Claw is a promising sort but returns from a layoff of six months. Willow Express is always dangerous especially with Piere Strydom up. 

In the eighth race over 1200 meters Paul Revere has shown plenty of ability and has Munger up so can go close if ridden more conservatively than last time.  Alone Time is capable of blitzing a field and Oriental Bouquet has dropped to a competitive mark.

RACE 1  

1 TANA MAREE 3 LIKE A PRAYER 4 EMPRESS WU 6 POTATO SALAD   

Preview: 1 TANA MAREE is knocking on the door and should be hard to beat. 3 LIKE A PRAYER is well drawn and ran her best race over this course and distance, so could be a threat with a repeat of that run. 4 EMPRESS WU has shown some ability and could earn from a good draw. 6 POTATO SALAD has put in some fair efforts and could earn her, although she does have a tricky draw. (David Thiselton 1-3-4-6)

RACE 2     

3 TRIP TO STATES 2 MIZZEN SWORD 6 CURTISS CONDOR 1 OBSIDIAN

Preview: 3 TRIP TO STATES went close over 1160 metres last time, but does have a tough draw here. 2 MIZZEN SWORD only just failed last time, but now has a tough draw. 6 CURTISS CONDOR is by Lancaster Bomber out of Gimme the Green Light mare and S’Manga Khumalo rides from a tricky draw of six.1 OBSIDIAN has good form but appears to need further than this. (David Thiselton 3-2-6-1)

RACE 3     

2 DYLAN’S CHAMP 1 PIONEER SQUARE 3 ROYAL MIRACLE 7 THAT’S MAGICAL

Preview: 2 DYLAN’S CHAMP is knocking on the door and is distance suited and well drawn.1 PIONEER SQUARE is also knocking on the door and is distance suited with Gavin Lerena up, but does have a tricky draw of six out of eight. 3 ROYAL MIRACLE could earn if repeating his best efforts and he has in form Ryan Munger up from a good draw. 7 THAT’S MAGICAL s by last (5:59) winter out of Lundy’s Liability Mare and has pole position under Muzi Yeni. (David Thiselton 2-1-3-7)

RACE 4     

10 INSTANT ATTRACTION 9 BATTLE OFTHE BULGE 2 CHIEFTAIN’S SHIELD 3 MANZ KNIGHT

Preview: 10 INSTANT ATTRACTION has a tough draw to overcome but Ryan Munger is up and on the form of her last run she will be hard to beat here. 9 BATTLE OFTHE BULGE  ran quite a good race when stepped up to 2,000 meters second time out.2 CHIEFTAIN’S SHIELD is capable of better than last time and has a plum draw over a suitable trip.3 MANZ KNIGHT is a long time maiden but this well bred sort has the ability to earn here from a fair draw. (David Thiselton 10-9-2-3) 

RACE 5     

7 SAIL THE SKY 3 ROAMING SPIRIT 6 PRINCESS ILARIA 8 OH MY GUCCI GIRL

Preview: 7 SAIL THE SKY  is knocking on the door and should be able to handle the step up and trip and has Gavin Lerena up. 3 ROAMING SPIRIT has a tough draw to overcome, but should enjoy this trip and has some ability.6 PRINCESS ILARIA won well last time and looks likely to enjoy the step up and trip and has pole position. 8 OH MY GUCCI GIRL has Munger up from a good draw over a suitable trip. (David Thiselton 7,3,6,8)

RACE 6     

3 SILKY JET 6 PERINI PALACE 4 TIME FOR CHARITY 10 SOUTHERN STYLE

Preview: 3 SILKY JET has an opportunity here from a good draw although the step down and trip might not suit. 6 PERINI PALACE has good form over a suitable trip but has a wide draw to overcome. 4 TIME FOR CHARITY Steps up in trip from a fair draw Yeni up. 10 SOUTHERN STYLE has the ability to earn here from draw 6 out of 12 over an ideal trip. (David Thiselton 3-6-4-10)

RACE 7     

4 PALACE DANCER 5 DECEPTION PASS 3 MOOLA MAN 1 CLAW

Preview: 4 PALACE DANCER  is well drawn over a suitable trip and should go close with Gavin Lerena up. 5 DECEPTION PASS has an easier task than last time and could go close from a good draw under Muzi Yeni. 3 MOOLA MAN was probably ideally suited and has the form to earn here. 1 CLAW is a promising sort but has returned from a layoff of six months. (David Thiselton 4-5-3-1)

RACE 8     

1 PAUL REVERE 4 ALONE TIME 8 ORIENTAL BOUQUET 2 BEAMONESQUE

Preview: 1 PAUL REVERE has ability but does have to overcome a tricky draw. 4 ALONE TIME is capable of blitzing them and has Khumalo up from a fair draw. 8 ORIENTAL BOUQUET is coming back to hand off a reduced merit rating and with a further two point drop could earn from a good draw.2 BEAMONESQUE has ability but has been disappointing although from a good draw here he could bounce back. (David Thiselton 1-4-8-2) 

Andrew Harrison

One-eyed horses are barred from racing in Australia but they often hold their own in this country as the one-eyed Winter Games made good use of his light weight and stayed on gamely to hold off a late-charging favourite Gladatorian to land the Listed Kings Cup, the race the harbinger of South Africa’s Champions Season.

Jumping from his inside gate, Mathew Thackeray had no hesitation in taking Mike Miller’s runner to the front and given the right-handed nature of KZN courses, Winter Games had his good eye on the rail.

But Thackeray was not taking any prisoners and went lengths clear going up the hill with his opposition seeming confident that he had pressed the accelerator a little too early.

However, it was only in the final furlong, with Winter Games slowing down and Gladatorian and Diani chasing, that the race became a contest. 

Favourite Gladatorian was game in defeat as he made up many lengths in the straight only to go down by the narrowest of margins but he was giving the winner 10.5kg which was probably the difference between winning and defeat. Never the less it was a tremendous pipe-opener given that he was returning from a three-month break.

Possibly the most impressive winner on the day was the Miller-trained Vikings Revenge who turned in a sparkling debut as he spreadeagled the field in the card opener. It is seldom that you get 16-1 about a Miller-trained juvenile but the son of promising sire Eric The Red was allowed to run ‘loose’.

Stable rider Tristan Godden, and confirmed by Miller, said that they had not done much with the colt on the home gallops but he caught the eye of paddock watchers and turned in a performance that has G1 Gold Medallion written all over it in spite of this being a 1400m contest.

Godden had no hesitation in taking Vikings Revenge to the lead and there he stayed. Short-priced favourite Gotta Go Eddie tracked the winner all the way but came up empty in the run for home with the filly Hollywood Heiress running him out of second but many lengths behind Vikings Revenge.

It was a rocky start to the card for punters as another well supported runner took a back seat with Kaygee’s Delight getting the better of the recently gelded Shoot The Rapids in the second. Frank Robinson’s runner  was the class horse in the race and by all handicap ratings was head-and-shoulders above the rest of the field. Against him was the 1800m trip as his best form is over a mile-and-a-half and further. After runaway leader Capsaicin threw in the towel, Shoot The Rapids moved in for the kill under Gavin Lerena but Kaygee’s Delight was making steady progress under Siphesihle Hlengwa and Garth Puller’s charge reeled in the favourite to win comfortably.

It was a smart return to the track by Shoot The Rapids and Robinson will be well pleased as he eyes the big staying races come Champions Season.

David Thiselton
Luke Ferraris failed by a hair’s breadth to win Hong Kong’s most prestigious local race, the HK26 million Hong Kong Derby over 2000m at Sha Tin yesterday.
Ferraris had to jump from the widest draw of all in the 14-horse field. He was riding the Mark Newnham-trained My Wish, who had won the Hong Kong Classic Mile and finished second in the Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800m, which we both raced for a cheque of HK$13 million and Ferraris was aboard in both races. The Hong Kong Derby has a stake of over 60 million when converted to South African rands, meaning the winning rider scoops a cheque of about R6 million, so Ferraris was a hair’s breadth away from a massive payday aboard the small but courageous four-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, who is by the stallion Shocking.
Ferraris dropped My Wish out to last place from the wide draw and the writing seemed on the wall for him when they went a crawl up front with the pace being set by Hugh Bowman on the Casper Fownes-trained Lo Rider, who was paying HK$19 rand on the Tote.The eventual winner, Cap Ferrat, who paid HK$26 on the Tote, had the box seat in third place on the rail. 
Ferraris never panicked despite being in last place behind the slow pace and he made sure he had cover all the way around the final turn before being slung shot to the outside. 
Cap Ferrat had stolen a march down the inside and My Wish looked to have a hopeless task upon straightening. 
However, he then began low flying on the outside and from 100m out it was touch and go whether he was going to reach Cap Ferrat. 
As they flashed past the line with Ferraris extracting every bit of extra he could out of his mount it seemed as though he had done it, but this was just the illusion created by his faster finishing mount.
The slow motion replays showed that Cap Ferrat had held on by a centimetre or so.
My Wish was comfortably the best performer over the classic series though with a win and two seconds.
Ferraris would have become the ninth graduate of the South African Jockey Academy to have won the iconic race.
Douglas White won it three times, Felix Coetzee won it twice and all of Bartie Leisher, Basil Marcus, Robbie Fradd, Weichong Marwing, Anthony Delpech and Karis Teetan each won it once. 
The South African-bred Flower Alley guilding Mondial was a touch unlucky to not make it into the Derby Field as he was higher rated than a couple of horses who did get in. It was adjudged that his Hong Kong debut, when unplaced  in the Hong Kong Classic Cup, was not quite good enough to make it into the final field.This decision was vindicated, because he did run on the day and finished downfield in a race over 1800 metres. This horse is not going to have it his own way in Hong Kong as he looks to be one who needs a proper stamina test and there are no two mile races on the island. 
Meanwhile in Australia, prominent South African owner Larry Nestadt is becoming familiar with the winner’s enclosure out there.
On March 8 he had a Gr 1 and Listed win back to back with Royal Patronage and Alalcance over 1300m and 2000m respectively, both horses trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
On Saturday Alalcance stepped to 2400m in a Gr 3 and this British-bred Mastercraftsman mare looks to have Melbourne Cup credentials as she led from start to finish and waltzed in by 4,40 length.
The Drakenstein colours were also successful in Australia on Saturday with a three-year-old filly called Heat Missile. She won one from two starts when with Robbie Griffiths and Matt de Kock and won her debut on Saturday for the Waterhouse-Bott yard in a 1200m race at Kembla Grange under claimer Molly Bourke, despite being green.
This filly is by Too Darn Hot out of the Australian-bred More Than Ready mare Entisaar, who won both the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery and Gr 1 Allan Robertson when trained by Mike de Kock.
Heat Missile is owned by Mike de Kock in partnership with Drakenstein, Nestadt and Gary Barber and looks to have a lot of promise.

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