David Thiselton

The Vaal Classic track has an interesting eight race meeting today and those who do their homework could reap the rewards.

In the first race the big Master Of My Fate filly Scottadito has shown herself to have plenty of natural speed in her first two starts over 1400m and 1600m respectively and she might well relish the step down to 1000m. She will be ridden by the accomplished Erin-Lee Watkinson, who has ridden two winners in just seven workrider race rides. Pick A Lily is always thereabouts and should earn her eleventh successive cheque. Puff Of Smoke is an interesting runner as she has shown some pace and is still immature so should enjoy the step down to 1000m and looks to have scope for improvement.

In the second race also over 1000m Frontline Fighter showed good pace last time and was run out of it to be beaten just 0,70 lengths over this trip last time out so he can make amends here. He is the one to beat but there are a couple of interesting first-timers who would not have to be great shakes to go close here. Last Clouds is by Soft Falling Rain out of the useful five-time-winning Listed-winning Var sprinter Easy Game so should be packed with speed. She is out at 16/1 in the betting but this might be due to there not being a top echelon jockey aboard. However, Brian Nyawo is one of the most underrated jockeys on the Highveld and brings the good ones home when he is given the opportunity. Averni Warrior is by the boom sire Vercingetorix out of a twice-winning sprinter by Captain Al who also ran for the Houdalakis yard. Vercingetorix regularly imparts precocious speed into his progeny unlike his celebrated sire Silvano. Eastern Cape raider Emerald Flame has a chance if repeating his staying on second from the front over 1000m at the Vaal in his penultimate start. Thai Treat showed pace last time out to and could also earn.

The third race over 1450m is wide open but as the experienced runners all have question marks it might fall to the first timer from the Paul Peter yard Indus Knight, who is by Flower Alley out of a five-time winning Model Man mare and he is a half-brother to two Listed placed horses. Lulu’s Boy is the obvious choice from pole position and his pace in the current fast going will make him particularly dangerous. However, on runing style he has a slight stamina doubt although on pedigree he should get it being by Byword out of a National Emblem mare who won from 1000m to 1400m. Twosidestoastory looks to have ability and scope but will need to settle from a wide draw as he showed a tendency to overrace returning from a layoff last time. On The Warpath and Leshawes look to be improving sorts who will be staying on. Master Of Law and Freezing Fast can’t be ignored either.

In the fourth over 1450m the first-timer Kiawah has Lyle Hewitson up. He is by Silvano out of a twice-winning Kahal mare and she is a half-sister to recent winner over this trip Katzenthal (Coup De Grace). Red Hot will go close if he jumps better than last time as she should be handy although she will need some luck from draw eight. The Bomb Dotcom, Ocean’s Pride and Sky View also need to be included though in this uninspiring field.

In the fifth over 1000m Kwite A Trip is progressive and can make it a fourth win in his last six starts as he looks capable of handling a five point raise. Marengo will be a threat as a quick horse who is loving the fast conditions although he needs to overcome a six point raise. Warrior Captain is 3.5kg under sufferance but should rise above his current merit rating and could prove dangerous with a light weight. Singfonico is 1kg better off with Kwite A Trip for a length beating. Irfaans Boy sneaks in to the handicap with the minimum weight but ws thrashed as a juvenile by Warrior’s Captain back in March. 

In the sixth over 2400m Manterio was a hard knocker in the maidens and having gained confidence with an easy win last time over this trip could follow up off a reasonable merit rating with Yeni up. However, under the Classified conditions he will have his work cut out beating Smiley River, who is going for a hattrick and on official merit ratings is 2kg better off with second-best weighted horses which include Manterio. 

In the seventh over 2200m the progressive Opera Glass can make it a middle distance hattrick running off a four point higher mark for his last win over 1800m. A ten point raise did not stop him last time and Khumalo stays aboard. Southern Song and Un Deux Trois look to be the dangers although including the whole field cold be a consideration here for the Jackpot and Pick 6.

In the last race over 2200m pole position drawn Mariposa is a lot better than her last start and can beat home Sophia’s First and Crusade To Royalty. Western Dance and Olympic Silk also warrant consideration.   

Andrew Harrison

NEW owners are a rare breed in South African racing, especially young ones, but you will not find a more enthusiastic bunch than the partners in Rainbow Spirit, the winner of the first at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

The meeting was switched to the poly after heavy rain on Monday and Tuesday put paid to the turf but that did not deter a late plunge on the Yogas Govender-trained gelding.

Showing plenty of pace, Rainbow Spirit kept rolling under Ashton Arries to run out a comfortable winner with stable companion Ndaka, in the same ownership barring Naidoo, filling fourth.

The four friends, Brandon Gaillard, Chad Britz, Jarrod Eady and UK-based Kyle Storkey have been racing together since the Clairwood days where pie, chips and gravy was their staple and a more passionate quartet you will be hard-pressed to find. They have horses with Govender and Shane Humby at Ashburton and this was their first winner with Gaillard, for once, lost for words.

S’Manga Khumalo is making an early run on the national championship and is currently in second place with 28 winners behind Warren Kennedy who has already opened up a considerable lead and on 47 after making all the running on the Doug Campbell-trained Siya Vuma in the third.

Khumalo is one of the strongest riders around but he needs to refrain from striking his mounts in the flank. Quizz Master, second in the fourth, will not forget yesterday’s race in a hurry.

Khumalo went forward on Quizz Master but was not able to hold the challenge from Airways Law, Andre Nel’s runner coming on lengths from his debut. It was also the first winner back for Gareth Wright who was laid off with a smashed ankle for many months.

It will have been a tough ask for Carl Hewitson to pull his grub stake in PE after the groom’s riot that prompted Yvette Bremner to throw in the towel. Hewitson was the stable assistant and with some owners staying loyal he moved to Summerveld. Understandably it took a little time for him to settle and find out where his horses fitted in but he is making inroads as Lord Minver showed as he came home lonely. Gelded, he showed improved form when sent a mile for the first time, only fading late, and that run brought him on lengths as Sean Veale put the race to bed at the top of the straight.

Giacomo Puccini looked to be one of the better bets on the card but Marcus did not have the easiest of rides trying to keep his mount straight which eventually was the difference between winning and losing as Prince Of Taranto out-gunned him. Tony Rivalland has always thought well of his charge and he did him proud under Serino Moodley.

Don’t Touch me has blossomed in his new environment and scored back-to-back wins in the last for Duncan Howells. Apprentice Thabiso Gumede bounced the gelding out of the gate, and in spite of some unwanted attention from Callmemrgreenlight who was all over the course, sat patiently until two furlongs out before making his move to hold off a charging Caesura comfortably.

Turf switched to poly

Andrew Harrison

PUNTERS will be put to the test on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today. Two days of steady rain forced a switch from the turf so there will be some re-calculations on a tricky eight-race programme where Giacomo Puccini stands out as a possible exotic bet banker.

In line with leading KZN owner Nick Jonsson moving many of his runners to his home province, Giacomo Puccini made his local debut on the poly early last month and stayed on stoutly to finish just over two lengths back to stable companion Captain Tatters who boasts a proven track record in much stronger company than what Justin Snaith’s runner meets today.

The form behind that has also proved solid and with experience on the poly he has all the credentials.

For the doubters, Hooves Of Troy, Ramchandani Road, Spring High and Sea Sponge as a rank outsider, could spoil the party.

There is an inquiry pending as to the first race debacle at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday where the tote betting on the race closed only after the race was run. Human error or computer glitch, it was an unfortunate incident but unlikely to happen again any time soon.

Many years ago, there was a group of punters collectively known as ‘The Bag Boys’. They were reported to have made money by keeping an eye on the so-called ‘gin-strike’, horses fitted with alumites for the first time.

Times have moved on and few trainers send out their runners in steels shoes or ‘shoeless’ although Craig Ramsay, with his string of horses with limited ability, were often successful.

 A bit like former track star Zola Budd, who competed internationally running barefoot, Clinton Binda has been bucking the norm by running his horses ‘barefoot’ with two winners last Friday. “I only race my horses with shoes if they need them,” he said in a post-race interview.

Given that assurance, Soweto Rose could get backers off to a winning start in the first after being run out of it late behind fateful day. A switch of surface could also be to his benefit.

Yogas Govender trains for an enthusiastic group of youngsters, including regular Computaform tipster Brendan Galliard, and they go into the race two-handed with Ndaka and Rainbow Spirit. They have yet to have a winner but there is no doubt that they will be bellowing their runners home – Ndaka possibly the pick of the two.

Gareth van Zyl saddles Another Love in the second who has come really well at recent outings. She has won three of her last four, all from poor draws, and with a better gate here she can make light of the 62kg that she has been set to shoulder.

 Of the balance, Alfonse Baby has come good at recent outings while Eager Duchess has shown good recent form on the poly and has been ridden apprentices and now gets Marcus.

The third is a tricky first leg of the Pick 6 and it may pay keeping an eye on the betting. Siya Vuma made a smart debut at long odds on the poly and should have come on lengths from his first run. Red Sole looks the biggest threat as the stable continues with their good form. Gelding appears to have been responsible for him making marked improvement in his local debut over course and distance and he has the best of the draw.

The advice for the balance of the card is fill in as many squares on your betting slip as you can afford. In the fourth, Arumugam did well from a tough draw last start. The blinkers come off and although he has another wide draw, he looks capable of better. Whispers Of War was disappointing from a tough draw on his poly debut. That may be a concern but he is capable of better. Galabier has the worst of the draw and has not been out since December last year. But he made a smart debut and is one to watch in the market. Airways Law and the recently gelded Head Gardener are others to consider.

The fifth is a weak maiden. Coral Copy is lightly raced but has not been far back at recent starts and the stable is showing signs of life. Prince Vihaan and Grey Linngari could help see you through this leg.

The sixth is another difficult handicap. The field or a smaller percentage could be your best option but A Whole New World and Victory Twist could head the list of possible.

Michael Roberts could have got it right in the last with Hey Bill taking a big drop in class and a 4kg claimer will enhance his chances. Callmemrgreenlight looks the biggest threat although he shed his maiden in a weak field. But he is lightly raced and finished with a rattle and the extra should be even more to his liking. Living Waters has a wide draw to contend with but goes well on this surface and Don’t Touch Me was a comfortable winner of his maiden. He has improved with his new stable and the poly suits.

David Thiselton

History repeated itself when the Mark Dixon-trained Shell Seeker won on debut over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday in impressive style.

The Master Of My Fate filly was backed in from 25/4 to 10/3 second favourite in the Maiden Plate for fillies and mares.

Some of her supporters might have groaned when she lost a length or two at the start. However, this allowed jockey Keagan de Melo to choose a position where she could run on her own with daylight in front of her. He thus took her towards the inside. It is invariably best to have cover in any race, but when the connections are ultra confident with a potentially green first-timer, allowing her ample room is a sound strategy. So that move might have given an indication of just how confident they were. She was soon contesting the lead. The fancied Leopard Lady moved up threateningly at the 400m mark and hanging inward she came together with Shell Seeker, who had hung outward, at the 250m mark. However, Shell Seeker, despite having to make up the lost ground at the start, proved to still be cruising. She galloped clear effortlessly to win easing up by 4,30 lengths.

Dixon found the good looking filly at the BSA National Two-year-old Sale last year.

Breeder James Armitage of Sandown Stud liked her going into the sale and said, “It’s a commercial world we live in so although she had a very nice pedigree further down the page (she is related to the like of Hernando, the joint highest rated older horse in Europe in 1994), owners and breeders want to see a lot of black type close up.”

He elaborated by saying sales patrons would not have taken heed of any excuses, even the valid one which pertained to Shell Seeker’s now retired dam Witsand, who had a lot of bad luck in her career. For example her previous foal Tiger In The Sun (Where’s That Tiger) had finished third in two Listed races and was showing a lot of promise before “doing a tendon”.

Armitage concluded, “Shell Seeker looks to be a very exciting prospect and I would love to have still had her dam on the farm!”

Dixon’s first impressions of Shell Seeker were positive and he said, “She was beautifully good looking and was very well balanced. She had a beautiful head with a massive eye and was by a proven stallion.”

She went through the ring late in the sale as lot 389 out of 394. Dixon had tried to buy a few before her without success and upon leaving for the airport left instructions with former trainer and now BSA staff member Alistair Gordon to bid for Shell Seeker on his behalf.

Dixon was at the airport when he received a phonecall from Gordon informing him he had secured the filly for R130,000.

This was a little bit of deja vu.

In 2012 one of Dixon’s most loyal clients Clint Larsson had earmarked a Kahal colt in the catalogue of the National Yearling Sales. However, Dixon, with a limited amount left in his budget, felt he had zero chance of securing him. After all, he was a half-brother to Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas-winner Indiscreet Fantasy and to Listed-winner Silver Fantasy. So he left for the airport but upon landing in Durban he received a phonecall from Larsson, who was in London at the time. The latter had noticed on the internet the colt had gone through the ring unsold. Dixon immediately phoned vendor Bruce le Roux and made an offer. He managed to secure him for R120,000. The connections were everlastingly  grateful to Le Roux for standing by his word as another offer was apparently made five minutes later.

The connections fittingly decided to name the colt London Call and he not only won on debut by 5,50 lengths at odds of 33/1 but went on to win eleven races in total, including the Non-Black Type Marula Sprint twice, and he also finished second in the KZN Breeders Million Mile and fourth in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint.

Dixon said Shell Seeker’s “magnificent, big action” was evident from day one. He took his time with her as Master Of My Fate’s can have slightly hot tempers and she was telling him she was not yet ready. He said she was lightly framed so still had plenty of filling out to do. She thus has plenty of scope for improvement and he believed she would stay further too.

Dixon is particularly pleased she has such “great owners”, who include Larsson as well as another of his most loyal patrons, Bruce Lin, and also Mike Liontarides.

Time will tell whether she has classic potential but the connections have plenty to look forward to with this promising filly.

Dixon might think about stationing himself at the airport for future sales.

David Thiselton

VETERAN TRAINER ROY MAGNER won the Spring Spree Stakes two years ago with the five-year-old gelding Prince Of Kahal and repeated the feat at Turffontein Inside on Saturday with another five-year-old gelding Vaseem.

The race was a Grade 3 in 2019 but has been downgraded to a Listed event.

However, Magner is hoping the Klawervlei Stud-bred Vaseem can follow in the footsteps of the Clifton Stud-bred Prince Of Kahal as the latter went on to record a feature race hattrick in 2019 by winning the Grade 2 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m and the Listed Golden Loom Handicap over 1000m in his next two starts.

Both Prince Of Kahal and Vaseem are testimony to Magner’s training skills as it is not easy to get progression out of a five-year-old. 

Vaseem in fact recorded a hattrick of victories on Saturday having finished second and third in his first two starts for the Magner yard.

Magner spotted Vaseem on a BSA Online auction and told Durban owner Andre van Bassen they “had to get him.”

Vaseem was secured for R90,000 and Andre and his attorney daughter Teegan are now the joint-owners.

Magner was first attracted to Vaseem because he is by the boom sire Vercingetorix.

Magner was trainer of the Robert Chung-owned Vercingetorix colt One Way Or Another who annihilated the useful Flying Carpet by 5,75 lengths on debut over 1200m on October 1 last year with the rest of the field beaten 10,25 lengths and more. One Way Or Another is currently in England, one of the legs of his long and laborious journey to race for Chung in his home country of Hong Kong.

Magner continued, “Vaseem had some very good early form but obviously had a few niggles, so I thought we could take him on as a challenge to get him back on the winning trail. The thinking was he was from the yard of a very good trainer, but in such a big yard a horse can occasionally fall through the cracks. It has turned out well.”

Vaseem’s last three runs before the sale saw him beaten a combined total of 24.5 lengths but Magner got to work on the few “little niggles” he found and the horse has turned the corner in no uncertain terms. 

Magner is eyeing more features and said, “As long as his merit rating does not go too high there are some nice races for him.”

Muzi Yeni was aboard Vaseem on Saturday and his regard for former Zimbabwean champion trainers must have gone up yet another notch.

Yeni had a memorable partnership last season with War Of Athena, trained by three-times Zimbabwe champion trainer Paul Matchett.

Magner was also a three-time Zimbabwe champion trainer.

Yeni rousted Vaseem out of the stalls from a draw of eight out of eight in Saturday’s 1200m event around the turn on the tight track. A gap fortuitously opened behind the two early leaders Mr Flood and Chief Of State and he found himself on the rail just past the 1000m mark. Yeni got to work coming off the false rail at the 500m mark and Vaseem responded superbly to overtake Mr Flood by the 300m mark. The leader at that stage was Visiway, who began to fade, and Vaseem then just needed to keep Mr Flood at bay, which he did gallantly to win by 0,70 lengths. It was a good run by the runner up who off a 119 merit rating had to give 100 rated Vaseem 9.5kg.

Vaseem’s merit rating has gone up five points as he beat the line horse Visiway by 2,10 lengths.