The popular Bipot starts in race 2, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m. The best of the experienced runners, Ashkenazi, was far from disgraced second time out over 1000m at Turffontein when finishing just 3,25 lengths behind one of the most exciting two-year-olds of the season to date, Mogok Master. He looks to be a possible banker. Of the first-timers the eye catchers on pedigree are Sweet Turn, Slinky Jack and Trip To Paradise, while Kemul Kavur and Richiethelionheart are also interesting. Tearaway was only 2,1 lengths behind Ashkenazi last time so is also a consideration.

In the first leg of the PA, a maiden over 1600m, the Geoff Woodruff-trained Odd Rob is a powerful looking horse and has plenty of scope for improvement. He lost two lengths on debut and without being given a hard time ran on in eyecatching fashion late, so could be a PA and Bipot banker and is also worth a win bet. The St. John Gray-trained Lacroix ran on well on debut over 1200m and should relish the step up in trip, but doesn’t come from a very strong formline.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a Graduation Plate over 1200m in which the top three on the card, Dollar Dazzler, Burg and Captain Clipper stand out, although Punk Rocker has plenty of ability and will enjoy the step back in trip so can also be included. Burg ran the classy Belong To Me to just 0,5 lengths over 1160m in his penultimate when giving the latter 0,5kg and makes the most appeal for those looking for a banker.

In the first leg of the Jackpot, Iwannabe came from way back last Thursday to win over this 1200m course and distance. At time of going to press her merit rating had not yet been adjusted and her chances here could depend on the handicapper’s assessment of that race. Antonia Major, Lizzie’s Legs and Silent Rush make most appeal of the rest. However, Second Bite should be included as one with plenty of ability, because Sean Tarry always has them fit even after a year-long break like this one’s.

In the next Epic Tale lost two lengths the last time he tried this course and distance but kept on well for third and is now one point lower in the merit ratings. Rushing John only just lost to the useful Prince Of Orange over course and distance last time when caught late and has a chance despite a four point raise. Tom Fool enjoys the course and distance and is knocking on the door off his current mark.

In the seventh over 1400m Half Moon Hotel, Morpheus and Form Up make most appeal on recent form, but on ability The Hangman, Flag Of France, Victory Cruise, Move Like Jagger and Rocco’s Luck have to be considered.

Samogan has won two races switched from the sand to the turf over the 1400m course and distance of the eighth, so could prove to be well handicapped here. Sacred Ground and Gambol make most appeal of the rest. Our Jet, Max The Man and Antonius Charm could also be considered.

In the last race Unconditional lost ground at the start over 1160m on debut last November and was outpaced before staying on well and he doesn’t have much to beat over this more suitable trip. Tempest stayed on late over 1160m last time and will also enjoy the step up in trip and C’Est Chique is knocking hard over this distance.

It was Unparalleled who came out on top on the Dingaans as the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained runner sped away to win by 4.25 lengths. On that occasion he had the benefit of No 3 draw in a field of 16 runners but this time jockey Gavin Lerena will need to overcome a wide draw as he is likely to jump from barrier No 15.

The Grade 2 Guineas is the first leg of the SA Triple Crown and one of these 16 runners will be looking to emulate the feat of Louis The King last year and collect the R2-million bonus. To do that they will also have to win the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m and the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m.

As far as the fillies are concerned, other than the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, they will be looking to win the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks to claim the R1-million bonus offered for winning the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara.

Unparalleled was rested after his Dingaans victory but has come out to win a Graduation Plate over 1160m at Turffontein and then looked desperately unlucky to finish a 0.50-length third in the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1450m on the inside track.

Following his run in the Dingaans, Harry’s Son went to Cape Town and put up a great effort to finish a 1.75-length second behind Act Of War in the Grade 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas at Kenilworth in December.

Piere Strydom has stayed loyal to trainer Paul Lafferty and the rest of the connections and will once again ride the Australian-bred colt, jumping from barrier No 8.

However, the race does not end with those two. Vaughan Marshall has Mljet in the race though, sadly, he also has a very wide draw. Marshall has warned that his charge has recently been gelded and could be in need of a run.

Sean Tarry has three runners – Zambezi River, French Navy and Imperial Gold – all of whom are very capable on their day. They have all landed good draws and, over this 1600m, Zambezi River could be the pick.

Mike de Kock saddles Anjaal and Mutamakkin and, perhaps with stable jockey Anthony Delpech in the irons, the latter could be the pick of the pair.

The Fillies Guineas is headed up by Same Jurisdiction from the Duncan Howells stable, This KwaZulu-Natal-based runner has won her last four starts, including the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m at Greyville.

However, jockey Stuart Randolph will have to contend with No 12 draw.

Same Jurisdiction will face a strong challenge from the Tarry yard. They send out Siren’s Call with Piere Strydom up, Tamaanee, to ridden by S’manga Khumalo, Bichette, Sean Cormack up, and Trophy Wife, the mount of Raymond Danielson.

 

– Phumelela

Phumelela’s National Marketing Manager Michael Varney confirmed this, saying: “This day has become Western Cape racing’s second-biggest event in terms of attendance and the way the car park overflowed into the centre of the course spoke volumes.

“Our whole drive has been about creating value. The prawns were sold at cost and the Racing.It’s A Rush budget paid for the R70 000 worth of household appliances that we gave away.”

Clyde Basel, for whom nothing is seemingly impossible, now intends to persuade the government to support next year’s festival “with both infrastructure and inventory.”

* Phumelela announced earlier today that the Jo’burg Prawn Festival will once again kick-start the first leg of the much loved SA Triple Crown at Turffontein on Saturday (Feb 28).

Tons of king prawns will be sold for just R150/kg with chips or rice. Live entertainment in the beer garden will offer adults hours of fun whilst the younger generation will have free access to the kiddies entertainment area available on-course.

There are five feature races carded for the first leg of the Triple Crown, including the R1 million(Grade 2) Betting World Gauteng Guineas and the R500 000 (Grade 2) Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara.

Gates open at 11h00 and entrance is FREE. For more information, contact 011 681 1702.

The Fever Tree Handicap over 1400m was won by the enigmatic Colin Scott-trained Stolen Destiny under Sean Veale and the pacemaker Royal Zulu Guard held on for second. The seven-year-old grey gelding by Grey Eminence has always been best suited to 1400m and has had the class to be competitive in features, but he does need things to go his way and everything went perfectly yesterday after he had jumped well.

The Paul Lafferty-trained Double Clutch ran out an easy winner of the umThombothi Stakes over 2000m, despite being 4,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse, Candy Moon. Keagan de Melo cleverly took him to the front in a slow run race. The courageous Stronghold gelding has always been well regarded and is improving all the time since recovering from serious illness.

In the last race, a Conditions Plate over 1200m, the classy Mark Dixon-trained Mogok filly African Dream proved too good and under her regular rider De Melo was able to hold off Lady Carter cosily for her fifth career win in eleven starts.

The first race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m, was won by the Gavin van Zyl-trained first-timer filly by Warm White Night Miss Nightingale under Billy Jacobson. Van Zyl has a powerful string of carefully selected two-year-olds and they should be followed.

In the second race, a Maiden Plate over 1000m, the Doug Campbell-trained King Jay was swinging on the bridle behind the two market leaders Corresolve and High Maintenance rounding the turn and duly found the necessary extra under Ian Sturgeon. This was a deserved winner for passionate racing man Malcolm Draper.

This five-year-old gelding by King Of Kings has quite a story behind him as he was originally given to Draper as a two-year-old for polo purposes and became a much loved family pet on his smallholding. King Jay was backed by Draper and a decision was made to try him in racing after he began showing speed on the polo field.  Draper gathered a syndicate of first-time owners together and they are now “having a ball” as newcomers to the sport of kings.

In the third over 1000m the speedy Charles Laird-trained Var filly Varlotone jumped much better than she did last time and that was the key to her easy victory at generous odds of 7/1 as she proved hard to catch under an enterprising ride by 2,5kg claimer Callan Murray.

Punters are pleased to have the peerless Anton Marcus back in the saddle and he was the toast after the next race, a maiden over 1400m when finding a handy position on the rail aboard the Dennis Drier-trained favourite Hassen’s Bid and then getting the Greys Inn gelding up in an exciting tussle with the 25/1 outsider Mystery Leader.

Marcus did it again in the next when the well backed Frank Robinson-trained Imperial Stride gelding Eddie Sweat got his nose down on the line to deny pacemaker Al Ciberano by the narrowest of margins in a 1200m MR 86 Handicap.

The Mauritfontein Stud-bred liver chestnut is regarded by many as the greatest racehorse to ever set foot on the South African turf and his importance is also contained in that he put his trainer Mike de Kock well and truly on the map, as the latter used the opportunity to pave a path to overseas pastures, where he has been a fantastic ambassador for South African racing.

However, there is always a tinge of sadness attached to discussions of Horse Chestnut’s career as injury prevented him from fulfilling a plan to take on the world’s best.

When he put almost ten lengths between himself and the opposition in his final South African start in the Gr 1 SA Derby over 2450m, he gave the impression that he had not come out of a canter.

Nine months late in his first and only start overseas in the Gr 3 Broward Handicap over 1700m on the dirt at Gulfstream Park in the USA, the good natured scoffing about the “zebra” from South Africa with the unusual name ended abruptly when he crossed the line 5,5 lengths clear with the commentator admitting, “He is everything  they said he was!”.

One of the American clockers subsequently commented on the phenomenal times Horse Chestnut recorded while appearing to be cantering.

Tragically, the Browyard proved to be his final start of a ten race career (nine victories) as he fractured a lateral splint bone and damaged a ligament in his left foreleg during a training gallop in preparation for the US$500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream.

De Kock, upon first seeing Horse Chestnut at Mauritzfontein, described him as a “mug’s horse”, because “any mug could like him”. One of De Kock’s tests when analysing a young horse was to put his first between the jowels to measure the potential breathing capacity, and he was amazed to find he could fit almost two fists in Horse Chestnut’s throat area.

The match Of Fort Wood (Sadler’s Wells) to the Col Pickering mare London Wall was made by Mauritzfontein stud manager Gavin Schafer, who said in retrospect that the mare was perhaps slightly weak in her first dam.  He added, “But when you get excellence in the form of Fort Wood coupled with the looks of Horse Chestnut you know you are in for a good time. He was certainly the most balanced horse we had that year.”

De Kock said that in his early work Horse Chestnut seemed almost “too good” and remembered thinking that if he were able to reproduce it he “would be the most sensational thing I have ever seen in my life.” Therefore there was tremendous tension before his first start on December 20 1997, but he duly stretched clear to win the Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m at Turffontein by 5,75 lengths under Johnny Geroudis.

Horse Chestnut wasn’t himself when suffering his only defeat in his next start in the Gr3 Morris Lipschitz Juvenile Plate over 1000m, beaten 1,6 lengths into third by the subsequent Gr 1 South African Guineas winner Clifton King.

De Kock then sent him KZN as he felt the change of environment would be “an important part of his maturing process”. He came out of a comfortable win in the Listed Natal Free Handicap over 1200m at Clairwood “like a lion” and his first two starts as a three-year-old saw emphatic seven and 4,25 lengths wins respectively in the Listed Graham Beck Three-Year-Old Handicap over 1400m and the Gr 2 Dingaans over 1600m, both at Turffontein. The runner up on both occasions was Pablo Zeta, who became infamous as the horse whose heart was broken by Horse Chestnut.

In his next start in the Gr 1 Argus Cape Guineas at Kenilworth he beat the unfortunate Pablo Zeta by 7,15 lengths and the latter was 5,6 lengths clear of the rest.

Horse Chestnut then attempted to become the first three-year-old in nearly 50 years to win the prestigious Gr 1 J&B Met over 2000m and put an amazing eight lengths between himself and the opposition, which was headed by Horse Of The Year Classic Flag.

Horses often improve while in Cape Town and Horse Chestnut showed exactly that as he then became the first horse to complete the Triple Crown (the alternate first leg was the Cape Guineas) by winning the Gr 1 SA Classic by 3,8 lengths and the SA Derby by 9,45 lengths.

Horse Chestnut was by this stage a national hero and Weichong Marwing, who rode him in all of those seven successive victories, stood up in the saddle and blew a kiss to the roaring crowd as he crossed the line in the Derby, a signature moment in the great horse’s career.

He was retired to stud after his injury in the USA and produced a Gr 1 winner, Lucifer’s Stone, in his first crop. However, being a grass horse he was never going to be fashionable in North America and the Horse Chestnut Syndicate took the opportunity to bring him home. He stood six seasons in South Africa at Drakenstein Stud and through the like of Chestnut’s Rocket, Rake’s Chestnut, Silent Force, Banbury and Catkin, was becoming increasingly popular.

Another key to Horse Chestnut’s racing success was his laid back temperament, which allowed his jockey to take him up handy or to the front knowing that he would never over race and waste any of his incredible engine capacity. At stud he formed an unusual friendship with his colleague Trippi. Stallions usually have to be kept apart with iron bars but this pair used to muzzle each other and neigh for one another when taken outside.

Mike de Kock always lets out a deep sigh at some stage during a conversation about Horse Chestnut as nobody will ever know exactly how good he was. Could he have become a worldwide legend?