David Thiselton

The Drakenstein homebred Lancaster Bomber filly Beach Bomb won the 37th running of the 1 3/8-mile Gr 3 The Very One for fillies and mares on the Gulfstream Park turf on Saturday under Luis Saez. It was a fine training feat by Graham Motion as it was not only her first start since the Breeders Cup in early November, but a front-running tactic was adopted to counteract the fast going. Despite this tactic being opposite to her normal hold up style she kicked well at the top of the straight and held on.
In Hong Kong in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic over 1800m Luke Ferraris’s mount My Wish looked likely to add this race to his win in the HK$13 Million Classic Mile as he produced a strong late run to go clear. However, the David Hayes-trained Rubylot burst out of the pack to nab him late and win by three-quarters of a length.

David Thiselton

It was a great day for passionate owners Dylan Chinsammy and Trevelen Pillay, who not only had a Gr 1 double on Saturday but also a Listed winner, while E Naicker and all of G, K and MM Nassif were all shareholders in both of the Gr 1 winners.

The Gr 1 SA Classic saw a fine victory for the Fabian Habib-trained Fire Away gelding Confederate and for jockey Craig Zackey and owner Trevelen Pillay it was something of a chance win.

Zackey did not have a ride in this race by the 11 o’ clock deadline for declarations on Monday 17 February. The trainer is given two hours after that deadline to find a jockey. For a jockey not to be declared by the deadline time in a Gr 1 would probably mean the connections did not have one of the favourites and were waiting to see which top jockeys would be available after all the other horses had been declared. It would be unusual for the country’s leading jockey  to still be available after the deadline. However, between Craig’s agent, his father Simon, and Fabian Habib they ensured the leading jockey was not sitting in the stands. If there is such a thing as a perfect ride then Craig Zackey went close in this race. It is an old racing adage that if a horse is able to run a race in a certain time then he or she will be hard to beat. In the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic there was a decent pace and an impressive 4,75 length win for the Joe Soma-trained Fiery Pegasus in a time of 114,71 seconds. Any jockey wishing to apply the aforementioned adage would then have used Fiery Pegasus’s time in the soft conditions as the time to aim for. Zackey led from start to finish on Confederate and the time recorded was 114,70 seconds, an almost identical time, and indeed the favourite Fire Attack was not able to catch him with his late charge.

Zackey said going down to the start had given him a lot of confidence.

He described Confederate as a huge horse, “nice and strong”, with “the most amazing action ever”, so felt he just had to be fit and ready enough to have a huge chance.

He had planned to get cover, but the horse had been overdoing it a bit down the back straight and he took the initiative to stay in front and allow him to stride out.

It will be a race in which the sectional times would be interesting to see, as the result proved he had gone at exactly the right tempo with a charging Fire Attack getting within 0,70 lengths of him at the line.

The race was fittingly a triumph for Wilgerbosdrift’s stallion Fire Away, because both Confederate and Fire Attack are by him, a Gr 1 exacta.

Trevelen Pillay was not an owner of Confederate in his previous start and was brought in to replace owners who had departed. paid out f for the u

The Chinsammy red colours with black epaulettes had triumphed in the SA Classic five years ago with the top class Joe Soma-trained Got The Greenlight, so it was fitting that the two successive Gr 1s they won on Saturday began with a Soma-trained horse, Fiery Pegasus, in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic.

This filly is by Captain Of All and came from midfield with a devastating burst of speed and after hitting the front at the 300m mark he stayed on well under Richard Fourie to win easily.

Fiery Pegasus cost R330,000 at the BSA National Yearling Sale, while Confederate cost R280,000 at the BSA August Sale.

Both are looking to be bargains now and are prominent in the Hollywoodbets Durban July ante-post betting, which has just come out. Fiery Pegasus is third favourite at 10/1 and Confederate is 20/1.

Confederate is a first Gr 1 winner for Fire Away and a seventh stakes winner in all.

Fiery Pegasus is a second Gr 1 winner for Captain Of All and a seventh stakes winner overall.

Captain Of All was an Equus Champion Sprinter, so it is interesting that both of his Gr 1 winners are middle distance stalwarts, the other one being the Vaughan Marshall-trained Linebacker.

In the second race of the day on Saturday, the Listed TAB Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m, the Chinsammy colours were also to the fore with the Robyn Klaasen-trained New Predator colt Charming Cheetah, who produced a strong late run under Rachel Venniker to win at odds of 66/1 and give Venniker a quick Listed double.

This is a most interesting filly as she is from one of the best families in the South African stud book, which started with the import by Anthony Kalmaonson of Varsfontein Stud of the British-bred Lucky Libra, a tall and leggy mare whose three wins included one in a hurdles race over two-and-a-half miles but who became the forerunner of a family full of speed. Her Jungle Cove daughter Enchanting became a matriarch of speed, who produced the brilliant sprinter Harry’s Charm and whose descendants included the legendary National Currency.

Charming Cheetah cost R500,000 at the BSA KZN Yearling Sale. 

RACE 1

(1) ARABIAN BLUE was fancied on debut and ran well, she will be a big factor here with natural improvement to come. (5) PRICELESS TREASURE ran well at big odds on debut and must be respected. She will be a big danger to the top selection. (4) MIND FREEZE wasn’t far when finishing fourth on debut and will get much closer. (3) IVY comes from a top yard who generally know how to get them ready, any market support must be respected. (Devonne Govender 1-5-4-3)

RACE 2

(3) ONO NO KOMACHI has run exceptionally well in the province and will take some beating here. (5) A MONTH OF SUNDAYS ran a much-improved race in the last and can build on that. (7) CHEAP THRILLS is unreliable but can run into the placings. (6) ACCUMULATE can get into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 3-5-7-6)

RACE 3

(1) MISS PRIOR ran a cracker in the last start and will be a huge contender for top honours. (3) DUCHESS OF SEVILLE is never far back and can get much closer, Highveld form on paper which generally stands up strong here in the province. (5) OH YOKO ran well in her last start and will be a big runner so respect. (6) TIME IN PARIS is another who made big improvement in the province and must be included in all bets. (Devonne Govender 1-3-5-6)

RACE 4

(9) SHARAPOVA is knocking on the door and should be tough to beat here from a good draw. (8) SEE YOU IN A BIT is capable of much better and must be respected. (1) HAVANA GREY ran a cracker in the last start and repeat showing will see her going close. (3) PROJECT RUNWAY is never far back and is another who can win this on best form. (Devonne Govender 9-8-1-3)

RACE 5

Open race, play wide. (1) ABOUND was narrowly beaten in the last start and will be a massive contender. (3) DONNY TEE has a much better draw now and will be in the firing line, that last run is best ignored. (7) DUBAI HILLS is very capable on his day and can pop up, must include. (2) EL ROMIACHI is holding solid form and will be a huge contender however has a tough draw. (Devonne Govender 1-3-7-2)

RACE 6

(3) HAT HOT HAT has been racing well enough to win a race of this nature so will be the top selection in a field which lacks form respectively. (4) OH MANDY has a light mass and can feature based on that. (1) ALWAYS SHINING is unreliable but can win on best form. (5) SMART VIEW is capable of running into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 3-4-1-5)

RACE 7

(3) LADY SILVANO was fancied in the last start and wasn’t disgraced, she drops to 1600m now and will be tough to beat. (8) HEART PEAKS ran well at big odds and will there if repeating that. (2) RED SASH is capable on her day, she has some smart form and must be respected, huge chance. (7) ESSENTIAL ran well at huge odds in the last start, she will have to be considered here. (Devonne Govender 3-8-2-7)

RACE 8

Open race. (11) ARIVIDICIO has run well on the poly, despite the wide draw he will have a massive winning chance. (2) MEETATTHEWINDSOR is holding consistent form and will make his presence felt in a big way. (3) CORAL CREEK has the ability to feature and can get involved on best form so cannot be ignored. (4) NO GREATER LOVE is capable of much better and can make the frame. (Devonne Govender 11-2-3-4)

David Thiselton

The Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting yesterday was run in soft conditions with a penetrometer reading of 28.

In the first race over 1200m the Tienie Prinsloo-trained Quickstepgal (Vercingetorix) had not been disgraced on debut considering she was only just behind Belle Of Angelus, who was not far off Mystic Dancer and Berrington Blew on debut and the latter pair were priced up at 4/10 and 5/1 in yesterday’s race. Mystic Dancer found nothing from an inside draw and could only manage an 11,30 length fourth, as Quickstepgal, jumping from high draw of eight at odds of 25/2 under Kabelo Matsunyane, sped past the prominent Berrington Blew and beat her by 5,90 lengths. Limitless Sky was third and first-timer Willow Gem was fifth.

In the second over 1200m the odds-on favourite Greenlight Queen also enjoyed a relatively high draw of seven out of eleven and swept through from off the pace under Craig Zackey to beat the second gavourite Lucienne by 1,90 lengths, with outsiders Your Ladyship and Austrian Beauty next best ahead of KMV Retrofit.

In the third over 1400m Corne Spies’ fine raiding record of Hollywoodbets Scottsville was further bolstered when the odds-on favourite Messalina led from the off and won by 4,80 length to give Matsunyane a double. The market rival was the Dean Kannemeyer-trained first timer Dancing On A Cloud (Lancaster Bomber), but she was extremely green and ran off the course in the early stages to be tailed off by 20 lengths. She ran on in fine style in the straight to be beaten just 5,50 lengths into third so bears following. Apache Ag finished in second place.

In the next over 1600m, the Paul Lafferty-trained Beach Palace was dropped out to last from the widest draw of all in the seven horse field, but Muzi Yeni, after hitting a flat spot, extracted a strong late from this Tinus Gericke homebred Potala Palace gelding to win by 0,30 lengths at 9/2 odds from market rivals Whispers Of War and Future Saint.

In the fifth race over 1600m the Trippi gelding Terminator brought some fine Cape form to KZN, so had been most disappointing in his first two starts here, both over 1400m, well beaten into third first time out and beaten out of sight next time. However, the Andre Nel-trained four-year-old showed what he was made of yesterday. He was taken to the front by Serino Moodley and relished being allowed to stride out. He kept going well in the straight to convert 9/2 odds by 1,40 lengths from three big outsiders, Papa C, Mister Nibbles and Pongola, with the 10/1 shot Global Movement next best.

In the sixth race over 1400m The Wendy Whitehead-trained The Queen Bee stayed on well from a handy position to convert 7/2 odds by 1,70 lengths from outsider My True Love, with the favourite Princess Palace next best and the rest of the field in a different race.

In the seventh over 1200m Kabelo Matsunyane managed to shuffle One Smart Cookie (Lancaster Bomber) from draw 3 to the outside and she ran out an easy winner by 1,20 lengths at 2/1 odds to give Matsunyane a treble and Tienie Prinsloo a double. Happy Alania gave Prinsloo the exacta and Vision To Achieve was third.

In the last race over 1000m Kalahari Roller and Donquerari were drawn two and one and with the stalls placed off the inside rail they were competitive throughout down the inside-middle section and they got involved in a thrilling duel. Kalahari Roller prevailed under 2,5kg claimer Bevan Plaaitjies by half-a-length from Donquerari, who had Blaine Marx-Hamilton aboard. The fancied pair Luhamba Phambili and Captain’s Christy were next best with Ibhele fifth. The fancied Smorgasbord jumped awkwardly, took no interest and was not persevered with.

David Thiselton

The big Turffontein Standside meeting on Saturday was held in good to soft conditions which made the tough course testing and this led to some upset results.

In the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic over 1800m the classy Fabian Habib-trained Moutonshoek-bred Confederate is a long-striding gelding out of a British-bred mare by the speedy Danehill Dancer and he was trying 1800m for the first time. Craig Zackey found himself in front after jumping well from pole position with nothing coming from wide to take it up. He held him together but that did not stop Confederate opening up a lead of about four lengths on the rest of the field by the time they had turned for home. He rolled on and then kicked when changing legs at the 400m mark, by which stage it was clear nothing was going to catch him. He ran out a winner by 0,70 lengths. The favourite Fire Attack looked to be in a good position on the rail in midfield, but that was with the expectation that the pacemaker would feel it late in the race and begin to tire. In fact the winner had gone a sensible pace as the race time was virtually identical to that of the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and was more than four seconds slower than last year’s time  by Purple Pitcher, which was in good going. Fire Attack ran on superbly under Gavin Lerena but had to settle for his third successive Graded runner up finish. Legend Of Arthur dwelt at the jump and had to come from last. He did well to stay on for a 4,10 length third, 0,40 lengths ahead of Grey Jet, who stayed on well from midfield. The Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas winner Parisian Walkway was in second place in the running and chased gallantly in the straight, but became one paced late and was overtaken for third spot late in the race, finishing a five length fifth.

The small yard of Joe Soma has an incredible Gr 1 record and they added yet another when the filly Fiery Pegasus became the latest Captain Of All progeny to defy the stallion’s Equus Champion Sprinter title and prove good at middle distances. She won the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m, which was run in driving rain. Jumping from a tough draw of ten Richard Fourie dropped her in behind a clump of seven who had not wasted time getting on with it, led by Sensoria. The hotpot favourite, the unbeaten Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Spumante Dolce, was at the back of this aforementioned clump, but did not settle too well in the early stages. Fiery Pegasus cut through the field like a hot knife through butter in the first part of the straight and overtook Willy Meet Again, who had sat in the box seat, at the 300m mark and galloped clear. Olivia’s Way and World Of Alice stayed on well, but were beaten 4,75 lengths and seven lengths respectively for second and third. The Gauteng Fillies Guineas runner up Vijay’s Angel turned for home together with Fiery Pegasus, but could not match her finishing speed and had to settle for a 7,50 length fourth, 3,75 lengths ahead of fifth-placed Gerbera. Fiery Pegasus was bred by Greenacres Trust (Nom: Mr N M Shirtliff) & Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud.

Dylan Chinsammy and E Naicker have shares in both Confederate and Fiery Pegasus, so it was a fine day for them.

In the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, the hot favourite Main Defender finished unplaced but to the relief of his backers was declared a non-runner.

The stipendiary steward report stated:”… as the start was effected, and this gelding launched itself from the starting stalls, its muzzle was caught in the grill of the left front gate as it opened, and its head was turned as a result. The Handler was slow to release the head of MAIN DEFENDER because of this …”

Frontrunner Texas Red set the fractions with the Sean Tarry-trained Cosmic Speed lying one out and one back alongside Barbaresco, who was in the box seat. It was clear at the top of the straight that Maine Chance Farms-bred Querari gelding Cosmic Speed had plenty in the tank and he shook off Greaterix, who had made good initial inroads, before passing Texas Red at the 300m mark. He ran out a 1,75 length winner from Texas Red with the KZN raider Imilenziyokududuma relishing the long Turffontein straight and staying in for a 2,50 length third at 50/1 odds, a head in front of Greaterix, with Barbaresco in fifth place.

The Gr 3 TAB JJ The Jet Plane Stakes over 1100m saw an easy victory for the magnificent Corne Spies-trained William Robertson (Rafeef), who for some reason was allowed to drift out to 10/1, despite being well weighted under Ryan Munger.

Rachel Venniker started the meeting with two Listed wins of the TAB Ruffian Stakes and TAB Storm Bird Stakes, both over 1000m, with the Paul Matchett-trained Glastonbury (Rafeef) and the Robyn Klaasen-trained Charming Cheetah (New Predator). Dylan Chinsammy also has a share in Charming Cheetah.

The Listed Wilgerbosdrift Acacia Stakes over 1600m was won by the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Gimmefabulous (Gimmethegreenlight) under Kabelo Matsunyane.