Mrs Plattner informed Govender early in the season that she intends cutting down on her previous near 100-horse string but the split came as a surprise when Govender announced it at Kenilworth on Saturday.

He said: “It was a mutual decision and I feel this is the right time for me to go on my own. My wife Ronelle and I want to move back to Durban and I have applied for boxes at Summerveld.

“I realise this may not be easy with the Durban season about to start but I may be able to get some private boxes outside the training centre.

“I have already had a lot of people ringing me to inquire so things are looking positive. I am proud of my achievements with Plattner Racing and my good strike rate with the horses. I’ve had around 315 winners including several Graded races, notably the 2013 J & B Met with Martial Eagle.”

Govender, 41, took over when Brett Crawford quit the post in August 2009. He had been assistant trainer there for four years and previously worked for Glen Kotzen and the legendary American-based Michael Dickinson.

Mrs Plattner was unavailable for comment yesterday.

There looks to be some fair Pick 6 banker prospects tonight.

In the first leg over 1600m Roy’s Selvan has run some fair races on turf and is drawn well over a step up in trip he should relish.Temple Rock finished just seven lengths behind the classy Forries Waltz over 1400m before going close over 2000m on the poly. Charles Laird always has them fit so this trip running fresh from pole position with Anton Marcus up should be ideal for Temple Rock. Those two make most appeal. Putchini had some fair Cape form and has not been disgraced in two better fields than this in two KZN runs over 1600m. All For The Money, who also hails from the Cape, looks to have some ability having placed in maidens against some useful sorts. However, he returns from an epistaxis (bleeding) suspension and this is his first try beyond 1000m, so he can be included but can hardly be backed with confidence. Spirit Of Dover will relish the step up in trip, but Dennis Drier’s stable jockey Sean Cormack is aboard Slewsgate, so both could be considered.

Art Deco (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the second leg, a MR 70 Handicap over 1600m for fillies and mares, the Drier-trained Art Deco looks to have some class and has a reasonable 77 merit rating considering her easy and impressive maiden win over course and distance. She is a possible banker. It Wasn’t Me will be good place value if jumping ok as she is drawn well under an in form 4kg claimer and could enjoy the step down in trip. Dancing Arrow could feature if jumping on terms, despite being under sufferance. Karelia has some fair polytrack maiden form and can be considered. Danish Zealot, Nanojet and Artistically Done can ‘t be ignored.

In the next leg, a MR 74 Handicap over 1000m, Prince Of Magic finished close to some fair sorts in Cape Town over 1200m and showed pace on his poly debut over 1200m when finishing third despite rearing and being hampered. He now has a good draw. Burrwood can be included from a good draw with Marcus up over his ideal trip and Risky Rosco could possibly threaten with a late run.

Victory Emblem makes appeal in the next leg, a MR 70 Apprentice Handicap over 1900m, as he has always been well regarded and has a good record over course and distance. His 4kg claimer is in good form. Merits Conceded ran a fine race when front running tactics were employed last time and that might be the key to him, so he could have another chance despite a seven point raise. Caprivi Strip, on a dispersal sale on Wednesday, will offer good place value as he is a fair sort on his day and better than his form suggests. Pilgovan Star took ages to win his maiden but is distance suited and clearly enjoys the poly. Lebeoana, Born To Rule and Hamelin Bay also have to be considered.

Risky Rosco (Nkosi Hlophe)

D’Vash has been a frustrating sort to follow but could finally get it right in the fifth leg of the Pick 6, a maiden over 1900m, a trip he will enjoy. Count Zafonic and Nishac can be included if wishing to go wider.

In the last, a fillies and mares maiden over 1900m, Likeness was close up to three promising sorts last time and had the rest of the field well beaten, so should get it right here and is a banker consideration. Imperial Star is improving and will relish the step up in trip. Mullins Model also looks likely to enjoy the trip. Seventh Joy’s best run was over course and distance so she can be included in the quartet along with Dellavera, Smart Mamba Chalcedony and Amoyi.

Duncan Howells could win the first race with Pena Palace, who will likely relish the step back to 1400m.

The second race could see Regal Ransom follow up on his KZN debut victory over this 1400m course and distance as he had some fair Cape form against far better, but his wide draw is a concern. Vavasour and Buffalo Bill make most appeal of the rest and Melson can be considered while Storm Surf can never be ignored over course and distance.

On Sunday the Non-Black Type Fever Tree Handicap over 1400m on turf could be won by Lake Arthur who loves this course and distance. He is well drawn in two and has come down the merit ratings. He returns from a layoff but has run well fresh before. Kingston Boy and Goldie Coast are classy sorts and make appeal as the dangers.

The Non-Black Type unThombothi Stakes over 2000m could be won by the best weighted horse Candy Moon over a suitable course and distance. He has a fine turn of foot so the wide draw should be manageable. The Howells-trained Zestful is only 0,5kg under sufferance and in his only previous attempt beyond a mile he finished just 4,3 lengths behind Futura here over 1900m, although the latter was still inexperienced at the time.

Horse Chestnut made his debut over 1000m at Turffontein on 20 December 1997 in the famous yellow and black Oppenheimer silks. And he did not disappoint, changing legs at around the 200m mark to leave the field floundering in his wake. He romped home, nearly 6 lengths clear of his nearest rival.

In 1999, Horse Chestnut started his onslaught on the Triple Crown with an emphatic 7 length victory in the first leg in the Cape Argus Guineas (while stable mate Fort Defiance took the Johannesburg leg in the Newmarket Guineas, making it a double for the De Kock yard).

Horse Chestnut (Summerhill.co.za)

There is a saying that your horse can only be as brave as you are and they don’t come braver than trainer Mike de Kock, who decided to run his 3yo prodigy at the J&B Metropolitan Stakes over 2000m. It was the first time Horse Chestnut had been asked to go such a distance and it is a big ask for any 3yo – so much so that the Met had not been won by a 3yo in over 50 years. However, horses don’t read the record books, they write them. Horse Chestnut quite literally annihilated the competition. As second placed Classic Flag struggled an almost comical 8 lengths in his wake, race caller Jehan Malherbe’s voice rang out across the course: “This is true greatness! Horse Chestnut is killing them in the J&B Met!”

The second leg of the Triple Crown, the SA Classic over 1800m, was run on 27 March 1999. Horse Chestnut again showed his superiority by beating Fort Defiance home by nearly 4 lengths.

The SA Derby, his last start in South Africa, is perhaps remembered as his most impressive. It was the longest race of his career at 2450m, but Horse Chestnut simply used the trip to put even more daylight between himself and his rivals, winning by an almost ridiculous 9.5 lengths. In doing so, he became the first horse in history to win the South African Triple Crown.

He closed out his 3yo campaign by being named 1999 Equus Champion 3yo Colt, Equus Champion Male Stayer as well as being honoured as the Horse of the Year.

Greatness beckoned and Horse Chestnut left our shores for the United States. Despite the new country and a different surface, he took it all in his large stride. His made his American debut on dirt in the Broward Handicap in January 2000. Again he showed his incredible turn of foot, carrying Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith across the line to thunderous applause, 5.5 lengths clear of Isaypete.

An unfortunate injury shortly afterward signaled a disappointingly early end to his American campaign, but Horse Chestnut had shown himself to be a true champion. Not only had he won over different courses, different distances, different surfaces, and different continents, he had also shown that he had the big match temperament to match. In a fitting end to an illustrious career, he joined a long line of racing luminaries, by retiring to stud at Claiborne Farm.

Horse Chestnut’s American progeny enjoyed their fair share of success, producing 61% winners, and 13% stakes horses, including a group 1 winner out of his first crop, Lucifer’s Stone. He has also left an American legacy as a broodmare sire and is the maternal grandsire of 2015 Triple Crown candidate, Ocho Ocho Ocho. However, being primarily a ‘grass horse’, his appeal to the American market was limited. But every cloud comes with a silver lining and in this case, it presented an opportunity for the big chestnut to come home.

Purchased by the Horse Chestnut Syndicate, he returned to South African shores in 2009 to take up residence at the magnificent Drakenstein Stud Farm. He stood 6 seasons at stud locally and of his runners to date, has produced a number of promising-looking progeny, including debut winner Chestnut’s Rocket, the ill-fated Zobens and Rake’s Chestnut. With several generations still to hit the track, the best may yet be to come.

There is a notion that you only get one great horse in a lifetime, but as Mike de Kock said, Horse Chestnut is the sort of horse that comes along once in every 10 lifetimes.

When Horse Chestnut’s sire Fort Wood passed away just a few short weeks ago, Jessica Slack posted on Facebook that she could imagine her grandparents feeding him carrots up in heaven. It seems their stable is expanding.

RIP Horse Chestnut, a true South African racing legend.

–          Sportingpost.co.za

“She ran well from a wide draw in the Klawervlei Majorca and she is much better drawn here,” says Bruss who won the J & B Met with Zebra Crossing in 2006 and three years later sent out the third and fourth in the Dubai World Cup.

Red Flame (Nkosi Hlophe)

Richard Fourie’s mount and Lanner Falcon come out 2kg better than the next highest rated (Hammie’s Hooker) on adjusted merit ratings and, while there was only a short head between them in the Majorca, Lanner Falcon is badly drawn here.

Hammie’s Hooker opened 3-1 joint favourite with the other two with Betting World yesterday but her last three runs have been below par. Incidentally this has been a bad race for favourites in recent years and the last five have all been beaten.

One to note is 7-1 chance Maybe Yes. “She has a good draw and we are going to ride her a bit more forward,” says Brett Crawford. “Last time she was drawn wide and she got a little bit far back.”

Coltrane is evens favourite to give Joey Ramsden his seventh CTS Chairman’s Cup this century and the handicappers have gone gently with him – only a kilo extra for winning the Cape Summer Stayers and nothing at all for his next win or his good run on Met day.

Coltrane (Liesl King)

But no favourite has won this since Major Bluff nine years ago and, while Shingwedzi (2-1) is best on adjusted ratings, Putney Flyer could be a snip at 4-1. He won the Kenilworth Cup over this course and distance in November and is 7,5kg better with Coltrane for last time’s two and a half lengths.

This is the Prawn Festival meeting with Breco’s best on sale at bargain prices and free draws for a multitude of household products. But punters also want winners and Power King appeals at 3-1 in the Cape Mile, particularly as he is dropping in trip after finishing seventh in the Met.

“He moved up nicely on the inside and I thought he was going to finish in the first four,” recalls Dean Kannemeyer. “He then went a little bit up and own in the last half furlong but he has come out of the race exceptionally well.”

Natatela’s run last Saturday may not have been Andrew Fortune’s finest hour but the former champion certainly didn’t deserve all the flak that came his way. His is still an outstanding talent and he should put the record straight in the Nima Consulting Maiden even though the 200m shorter trip is not in his mount’s favour.

Majmu has already won the new alternate first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara, the Gr 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas. It would obviously be easier for her to accomplish the Tiara by entering the fray on March 28 in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m, also at Turffontein, and that is the plan. The last leg of the Triple Tiara, the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks over 2450m, is on April 25 at Turffontein.

Majmu (Liesl King)

The Duncan Howells-trained KZN contender, the Gr 1 Thekwini winner Same Jurisdiction, will almost certainly start favourite for the Fillies Guineas, despite being drawn wide in 17 among the 24 entries. She will raid for the Guineas and then stay in Johannesburg, probably in the Joey Soma yard at Turffontein, until the Classic.

Weiho Marwing is now a colleague of Howells at Ashburton and runs his Gr 1 Golden Slipper (1400m) winner Bilateral out of his now satellite yard in Johannesburg. She reared and hit her head on the pens before her last start, which was out of character, and as she was going nowhere in the race and felt amiss the jockey decided to pull her up at the 1200m mark. However, she was subsequently found to be fine. Marwing will give her a gallop close to the race and said she would be at her peak. She is drawn wide in 19, but came from last in the Golden Slipper after being dropped out from a similarly wide draw. Marwing also runs the promising Australian-bred Sensible Lover, who ended the unbeaten run of the Ormond Ferraris-trained Lazer Star over 1450m last time, although she was receiving 7,5kg and only just got up by 0,2 lengths after rallying back. She has only had three starts so will still have more improvement and she looks likely to relish the course and distance. She is drawn wide in 20.

Another KZN entrant is the Frank Robinson-trained Olma, who has become known for her brilliance on the Greyville polytrack. However, in her last raid to Johannesburg on Sansui Summer Cup day for the Gr 3 Fillies Mile, she was affected by an incident in the float in which she hurt herself. Furthermore, she impressed in her maiden win at Clairwood on turf, so she could well be just as good on this surface. She has landed a favourable draw of eight.

Robinson’s Summerveld colleague Gavin van Zyl runs Kileigh, who disappointed in the Fillies Mile, but was set a tough task by being handy, which is not her normal style. She has been based at Van Zyl’s Johannesburg satellite yard since the Spring and ran a good recent preparation over 1400m. She is drawn 10.

Bilateral (Nkosi Hlophe)

International trainer De Kock’s four entries are headed by Gr 2 Ipi Tombe Challenge runner up and Cape Fillies Guineas fourth-placed Pine Princess.

Two notable Gauteng-based entries are the Gr 1 SA Nursery winner and narrow Thekwini runner up, the Sean Tarry-trained Carry On Alice, and her stable mate Siren’s Call, who comes off a win in the R2,5 million Cape Thoroughbred Sales Book 2 Graduates Race over 1400m. The former will have a slight stamina doubt, whilst the latter will relish the step up in trip.

The Alec Laird-trained Smart Call won her last start in a competitive Graduation Plate  over 1600m on the Turffontein Inside track by 9,25 lengths and is a definite contender.

Siren’s Call is also entered and the race will tell whether it was the distance or the weight that saw her being caught late last time out over 1450m.

Last year’s winning trainer Geoff Woodruff has two entries, Big Bucks and Zrinski, but both would need dramatic improvement to feature.

The other features on this top day of racing are the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas, the Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes, the Gr 3 Acacia Handicap and the Listed Aquanaut Handicap.

The leading contenders in the Gauteng Guineas will be last season’s Equus Champion two-year-old colt, the Paul Lafferty-trained KZN colt Harry’s Son, and the horse that beat him in the Investec Dingaans over course and distance, the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Unparalleled.