David Thiselton

The Vaal has an eight race meeting and as the outside rail it at zero the high draws, by trends, should be favourable in the races of 1600m and under. Races longer than that are around the turn and low draws are then favourable.

The meeting starts with a 1000m workrider’s maiden and My One And Only gets a 1,5kg advantage because she is being ridden by lady workrider Savanna Valjalo. She is drawn towards the right side and has run two fair races so should be in the shake up. The Tony Peter yard send out first-timer Blazing Beauty, who is by Erupt out of an unraced Var mare, and from a favourable draw under good rider Phenisile Mongqawa she would not have to be a superstar to win. The one who makes the most appeal of the rest is Bilingual. She has some fair form and the champion workrider Anathi Feni is up from the favourable standside draw.

The second race is over 1000m and should be won by  Bourbon Reserve from a nice high draw of six out of seven with Habib up. This What A Winter Drakenstein Stud-bred ran well first time as a gelding last time and the form has been franked.  Tiger Storm does only have a length to make up on Bourbon Reserve and Piere Strydom keeps the ride from draw five out of seven. Green Cherry is a first-timer by Gimmethegreenlight out of an unraced Tiger Ridge mare who is a daughter of the useful Gr 2 winner Carolina Cherry (Fort Wood), so he is interesting from the plum standside draw.

In the third race over 2000m the Futura gelding Santiago’s Pride finished close up when stepped up to 1700m and should enjoy the further step up in trip, so he is the one to beat from a pole position draw. Mo Ment looks to be moderate, but ran an improved race last time from a good draw over 1800m under Jason Gates and the latter keeps the ride from another good draw. Splashlanding has shown some hints of ability, although the currently off form Snow Moon did beat him the only time they met and now has Strydom up, while Lightinthestorm has not been completely disgraced against some useful sorts so could also be involved.

The fourth race over 2000m could go to Gloria Mundi as she has run two quite good races over 1700m in her last two. She is by Met winner One World out of a Tiger Dance mare whose only win was over 1400m, so she will have to prove she stays the trip and she has a tricky draw of seven under Jarryd Penny. She did beat City Lights by 1,25 lengths last time but the latter is proven over this trip. City Lights is drawn well in four and  and this consistent sort should be in the shake up. Instant Attraction improved when stepped up to 1700m last time and finished ahead of Santago’s Pride, so how the latter does in race 3 should be taken note of. However, Instant Attraction does have a wide draw to overcome.

The fifth race over 1400m has some useful sorts running as it is a Graduation Plate event. Jordan is a useful horse on his day but on the downside the trip is a touch on the sharp side and he is not drawn on the right side. He is 3,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted That’s My Baby, according to official merit ratings. Fire Attack is the second best weighted runner and is only 1kg out with That’s My Baby and he is drawn towards the right side. This Gr 2 SA Nursery winner was not disgraced in his first try at this trip last time and he should have come on from that run as it was his first for about seven months. Biofarmer is third best in at the weights, 3kg out with That’s My Baby, but a low draw over this suitable trip is a concern. Don’t Cry For Me has shown ability before but needs to bounce back. Choisaanada won by over 12 lengths second time out and could be anything and Musical Score looks promising, although officially both of them have tough tasks at the weights.

Race 6 over 2400m could be fought out by Royal Mazarin, who has ability as a stayer and a fair draw, To The Rescue, who is starting to get the hang of it and stays the trip, although he has a wide draw, and Nuclear Force who is consistently right there over this course and distance.

Race 7 over 1800m could go to the in form Guy Alexander, who wasn’t disgraced last time off a new merit rating having won his two previous starts. The form of that last tun has worked out well, but he does have a tough draw and defying the handicapper again won’t be easy. Flag Bearer doesn’t have an easy task either after a recent win, but did finish just three lengths behind the exciting prospect Heather’s Boy in his penultimate start over 1600m and he enjoys this trip and has a fair draw. Callaburn has a chance as he is usually thereabouts. Rainy Season can earn over a suitable trip. Perini Palace is not out of it either but does carry 1kg overweight and has to prove she stays the trip. Ambitious Lady ran a shocker first time out the maidens but can do better.

The last race over 1600m could be won by Bacchus, who went down narrowly to a potentially top class sort in Heather’s Boy last time and can deliver under Piere Strydom from a draw towards the right side. Hammies Hero, Hat Trick Or Treat and Vava Vegas could earn too. Eiffel Tower is capable of being involved too if reproducing his best.

RACE 1 

    
10 MY ONE AND ONLY 8 BLAZING BEAUTY 1 BILINGUAL 2 CHILLI MARMALADE
Preview: 10 MY ONE AND ONLY has run two good races and is drawn on the right side with a 1,5kg claimer up. 8 BLAZING BEAUTY is by Erupt out of a Var mare and has a good rider aboard. 1 BILINGUAL has a plum high draw and a top workrider up and has good form too. 2 CHILLI MARMALADE has a form chance but has a tricky low draw. (10-8-1-2)

RACE 2  

   

5 BOURBON RESERVE 3 TIGER STORM 7 GREEN CHERRY
Preview: 5 BOURBON RESERVE improved after a layoff and is the one to beat from a draw on the right side. 3 TIGER STORM is knocking hard and is drawn on the right side. 7 GREEN CHERRY is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a well-bred but unraced Tiger Ridge mare. (5-4-3-7) 

RACE 3 

    
7 SANTIAGO’S PRIDE 1 MO MENT 11 SPLASHLANDING
Preview: 7 SANTIAGO’S PRIDE improved last time over 1700m and is now drawn in pole over a further step up in trip that he should enjoy. 1 MO MENT showed improvement last time and can start becoming a consistent earner. 11 SPLASHLANDING has shown hints of abilitry before. (7-3-1-11)

RACE 4    

 
7 GLORIA MUNDI 1 CITY LIGHTS 6 INSTANT ATTRACTION 5 QUELLO CHE
Preview: 7 GLORIA MUNDI has some fair form in the context of this race although she still has to prove she stays the trip. 1 CITY LIGHTS has hardknocking form and stays the trip. 6 INSTANT ATTRACTION enjoyed the step up to 1700m last time and might enjoy a further step up. 5 QUELLO CHE is better than her last start. (7-1-6-5) 

RACE 5 

    
2 JORDAN 5 FIRE ATTACK 1 BIOFARMER 7 DON’T CRY FOR ME
Preview: 2 JORDAN has some class and will enjoy running in an ordinarty handicap again. 5 FIRE ATTACK is classy too and has scope for further improvement and is drawn towards the right side. 1 BIOFARMER has plenty of ability and can be in the shake up although the low draw is a concern. 7 DON’T CRY FOR ME has shown a lot of ability before and can bounce back. (2-5-1-7)

RACE 6  

   
3 ROYAL MAZARIN 2 TO THE RESCUE 5 NUCLEAR FORCE
Preview: 3 ROYAL MAZARIN has ability as a stayer and from a fair draw over a suitable trip should be in the shake up. 2 TO THE RESCUE has been a touch disappointing but still has scope for improvement. 5 NUCLEAR FORCE is an honest stayere who should be right there again. (3-1-2-5)

RACE 7

     
2 GUY ALEXANDER 6 FLAG BEARER 4 CALLABURN 8 RAINY SEASON
Preview: 2 GUY ALEXANDER has come into his own and can go close again but does have a tricky draw. 6 FLAG BEARER is well drawn and this galloping type is always a contender. 4 CALLABURN is always thereabouts and should be again. 8 RAINY SEASON could earn here over a suitable trip. (2-6-4-8)

RACE 8 

    
2 BACCHUS 8 HAMMIES HERO 7 HAT TRICK OR TREAT 12 VAVA VEGAS
Preview: 2 BACCHUS showed class last time when going down narrowly to a potentially top class sort in Heather’s Boy and can deliver under Piere Strydom from a draw towards the right side. 8 HAMMIES HERO made a good Highveld debut and has a chance of getting the trip although the low draw is a concern. 7 HAT TRICK OR TREAT ran well first time out the maidens and is drawn on the right side. 12 VAVA VEGAS is capable of earning here. (2-8-7-12)

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Graeme Hawkins

The buoyant team of Adam Marcus and Grant Van Niekerk continued their healthy strike rate as Hampstead Heath ran out a comfortable and popular winner of the fifth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1600m, at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday. Kamchatka (3/1) retained her position at the top of the betting boards, but Hampstead Heath shortened from 5/1 to 33/10 and proved far too good for the favourite, forging ahead over the last 200m to win with more than a length to spare.

Enchanting Choice finished the race off well from some way back turning for home and only just failed to snare Kamchatka for the runner-up berth. Omikami rounded off the Quartet and is certainly one for the notebook. The daughter of Global View was hampered leaving the starting gates and was a lot further back than Richard Fourie would have wanted, but she was gaining quickly at the line and with only three runs under the belt, there is plenty more to come with added racing experience.

Andre Nel and Corne Orffer may have been a trifle disappointed that Kamchatka came up second best, but the combination were on the mark in the previous race when Lavender Bay ran out a pillar-to-post winner of the fourth race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1600m. Orffer took no prisoners leaving the gates and Lavender Bay (7/2) was four lengths clear turning into the home stretch. The 4yo daughter of Twice Over kept on resolutely into a strong Southeasterly headwind and try as she might, Diamond Bomber (9/4f) was unable to bridge the gap.

Orffer was also seen to good advantage in the second race, a Cape D Stakes over 1000m, when sitting quietly and holding Casino Ace (33/10) together in the closing stages to thwart the late effort from Mrs Shackleton by half-a-length.

What A Fortune (3/1) looked one of the better bets on the card and he duly delivered in the sixth race, a Class 5 Handicap over 1400m, to win readily under Aldo Domeyer for trainer Candice Bass-Robinson. The favourite Unsolved Riddle had every chance but faded tamely over the final 200m and it was left to Solartrip (7/1) and Naushon (12/1) to chase What A Fortune home.

Senhora Victoria (11/10) ended a 616-day absence from the winner’s circle, scoring a workmanlike victory over Tres Chic (11/2) in the seventh race, a Class 5 Handicap (F&M) over 1400m, under a driving ride from Richard Fourie. Although shifting about in the closing stages, the Eric Sands-trained 6yo daughter of Master Of My Fate dug down deep to land the odds.

Dawn Till Dusk (9/2) scored a thrilling last-to-first victory for owners Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith in the eighth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1400m. Ridden by JP van der Merwe for trainer Justin Snaith, the fast-improving 3yo son of Trippi relished the strong pace set by Firingonallengines and showed an impressive turn of foot to gun down Air Raid (11/2) who looked the likely winner approaching the last 200m.

David Thiselton

The Hong Kong international race day in December is fast approaching, as is the Longines International Jockeys Championship, and race fans got a foretaste of the former with two scintillating performances by Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Romantic Warrior is surprisingly only rated joint eleventh best racehorse in the world on a rating of 122, but perhaps that is because the ranking period happens to a northern hemisphere time scale and runs from January until December. This great Danny Shum-trained Acclamation gelding ended last season with five successive Gr 1 wins, starting with Australia’s most prestigious weight for age race, the Cox Plate and then including three prestigious Hong Kong races, the Longines Hong Kong Cup, the Hong Kong Gold Cup and the QE II Cup, and although all four of those races were over a mile and two furlongs (2000m) he then ended the season by winning the Gr 1 Yashuda Kinen in Japan over a mile.

On Sunday he was over his favourite 2000m trip in the Gr 2 Jockey Club Cup and despite giving the whole field five pounds he cruised in by 4,25 lengths under regular rider James McDonald.

This season he is likely to defend his titles in all of the Kong King Gr 1s mentioned above.

In one of them, the QE II Cup, he will be going for his fourth successive victory. He is the only horse to have won this prestigious international weight for age race three times.

Romantic Warrior could soon become the highest earning racehorse in history.

On Sunday he took his overall record to 16 wins and three seconds from 21 starts and boosted his prize money earnings to HK$154.92 million. He is now not far behind retired Golden Sixty’s world record haul of HK$167.17 million in earnings.

Earlier on Sunday the progressive David Hayes-trained New Zealand-bred Shamexpress gelding Ka Ying Rising smashed the Sha Tin course record set by Sacred Kingdom 17 years ago. Sacred King’s record was 68.35 seconds and Ka Ying Rising lowered it to an incredible 67.43 seconds.

Ka Ying Rising jumped from draw ten under Zac Purton and was being eased down at the line, which makes the record even more special.

When J J The Jet Plane won the Gr 1 Hong Kong Sprint over the course and distance in 2010, his time was 68.84 seconds.

Ka Ying Rising will be the one to beat in the latter race next month.

He has never won a Gr 1 before, but is unexposed as he only began his career in December last year, winning on debut before running two narrow seconds and since then he has won seven times on the trot. Ka Ying Rising’s record was the second notable course record lowered in the Far East recently.

Via Sistina lowered the Moonee Valley course record over 2000m in the Cox Plate a few weeks ago to 2:01.07, beating the previous mark of 2:02.07 set by the legendary four-times Cox Plate-winning mare Winx.

Meanwhile a top class line up has been announced for the Longines IJC, which is one of the world’s most prestigious Jockeys Challenges. Unfortunately, there are no South African riders, at least yet.

The two spots still to be determined for Hong Kong-based jockeys will go to Hugh Bowman and either Karis Teetan or Matthew Poon as things stand. The latter pair are both on 14 wins of the season, three ahead of Luke Ferraris and Matthew Chadwick and there is only Wednesday’s Happy Valley meeting remaining.

The Longines IJC is the most lucrative in the world for the winning rider. The four races are worth a combined HK$7.5 million in prize money. Furthermore, a total prize fund of HK$1 million in bonus money for the most successful riders will be split three ways, with the winner set to receive HK$600,000 with HK$250,000 for second and HK$150,000 for third, respectively.

The line up for the 2024 Longines IJC is: Vincent Ho (reigning IJC champion), Zac Purton (Hong Kong champion), Rachel King (Australia), Ryan Moore (Great Britain), Hollie Doyle (Great Britain), William Buick (Great Britain), Mickael Barzalona (France), Colin Keane (Ireland), Yuga Kawada (Japan), James McDonald (NZ), TBD (Hong Kong), TBD (Hong Kong).