Erik The Red could be Durban bound after making it four off the reel with a devastating turn of foot in the Kuda Somerset 1200 at Kenilworth on Tuesday.

Varsfontein’s homebred Captain Al colt was giving away more weight than a sumo wrestler yet he started almost unbackable at 3-7 and, when Richard Fourie pressed the button, he accelerated like a Ferrari to storm home four and a half lengths clear of the smart Matthew The King.

“He could end up in the Cape Guineas at the end of the year but the question now is whether we go to KZN for the Group I races,” said Jono Snaith, adding diplomatically: ”That will be up to Susan Rowett and John Kalmanson.” Seemingly, though, the owners are not going to be left in any doubt about what the Snaiths feel because Jono said, almost in the same breath: “The way he won, it will be hard not to – and I think he is good enough.”

Fourie shares much the same view, saying: “He’s a racehorse and I wake up in the mornings to ride horses like him. He is definitely capable of winning a Group 1.”

Of course, unless the regulations change, Fourie won’t be able to ride him or any of the other Snaith-trained KZN stars. How does he view this, Fee Ramsden asked him. “I’ve put a line through the Durban season,” he admitted. “I am just focussing on earning a living and what racing needs to do is to keep focussing on keeping the show going.”

Amazingly this was the first Somerset success for Justin Snaith since Gimmethegreenlight nine years ago. The dual champion trainer also won the Kudex Pinnacle with last year’s Winter Derby second Nexus and the Kudex Perfect Promise with Captain’s Ransom who fairly flew up the rails in Suzette Viljoen’s colours to lead just over 50m out.

Fourie was on both these and Jono Snaith sees Captain’s Ransom as a classic filly – “She is a very exciting prospect and she will end up in the Cape Fillies Guineas. She should stay every inch of the mile too.”

Piet Steyn has had to wait a long time for a horse good enough to take him back to the glory days of his early training career but in Katak he appears to have found it. So have the punters who backed the colt from 5-1 to 23-10 favourite in the Kuda Variety Club Mile – and Aldo Domeyer made sure they never had a moment’s anxiety. Indeed when he pressed the button it was race over.

The jockey was mightily impressed, saying:” Mr Steyn told me that he thinks he has one of the best horses in the country and I don’t feel that sentiment is out of place. Indeed I can’t wait for the summer season because that is when you are going to see the best of him – and he has everything he needs to go to the top.”

The Winter Series looks like being on the agenda and Steyn, who owns the colt 50:50 with Marsh Shirtliff, said: “I am thankful to Marsh (for coming in with me). He is a great man and it’s nice to be in partnership with him.”

Hassen Adams’ What A Flirt goes for the second and third legs of the fillies winter series after delighting Paddy Kruyer and Greg Cheyne in the Kuda Fillies Maiden while Anecdote showed the benefit of first time blinkers for Geoff Woodruff and Mj Byleveld in the mile maiden. Woodruff, to move to Cape Town later in the year, also won the last for Mike Fullard and James Drew with Worlds Your Oyster (Corne Orffer).

Brett Crawford and  Orffer doubled up with impressive newcomer Invincabelle in the opener and Sing Out Loud in the Kuda Sweet Chestnut. This Ridgemont filly was plumb last for much of the way after fly-jumping as the gates opened but, as her jockey related, “When I gave her the bit she just took off.”

By Michael Clower

Image: Candiese Lenferna

All the top guns were among the first entries for this year’s R1.5 million Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July when nominations closed today.

The 52 horses nominated for the showpiece at Hollywoodbets Greyville, included two-time winner of the race Do It Again, who, if he triumphs on Saturday, July 25, will become the first horse in the 123-year history of South African’s most famous race to achieve the treble.

But Justin Snaith’s champion will not be short of opposition should all pan out with Hawwaam, Rainbow Bridge and Vardy also amongst the nominations.

Do It Again has not been out since a disappointing effort in the Sun Met at Kenilworth but put in a pleasing gallop at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Sunday and looks on track for a tilt at his third victory in the race.

A somewhat surprising omission was Sunday’s Grade 2 Wold Sport’s Betting Guineas winner, Wild Coast, but with two further entry dates, Snaith still has opportunity.

Hawwaam, the disappointment last year when scratched at the start, was back in business at Turffontein last Saturday with a convincing win in the Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. There are export issues to navigate before the race and his participation is not assured. If the European Union protocols are approved, Hawwaam will take his place but if the colt is to be exported via Mauritius he will need to be in quarantine before the race.

Rainbow Bridge, second last year, and second in the Sun Met, has not been seen out since the Met but will be out for revenge and give stalwart owner Mike Rattray the victory in a race he so desperately wants to win.

Stable companion to Rainbow Bridge and Grade 1 Cape Derby winner Golden Ducat, was an eye-catching third in last Sunday’s World Sport’s Betting Guineas and has also been nominated by trainer Eric Sands.

Vardy, a touch disappointing when third in the Grade 2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes last Sunday, was a cracking winner of the Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and will surely come on from that race after a four-month break from the track.

Marcus has also entered Twist Of Fate, third last year for Joey Ramsden who has since moved to Australia.

An interesting nomination by Dean Kannemeyer who has won this race twice, is KZN Derby winner It’s My Turn, off the track with injury for over a year.

Other notable entries are impressive Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes winner Bunker Hunt and Soqrat.

By Andrew Harrison

Featured Image: Last years Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again (Candiese Lenferna)

Super Silvano could be the answer to the Kuda Variety Club Mile at today’s quadruple-feature fixture at Kenilworth.

There is precious little to choose between the pair on their running in February and on adjusted ratings they have a bit in hand over Cane Lime ‘N Soda, and a minimum of 4-5kg over everything else.

Silver Host showed much improved form to beat Super Silvano two and a quarter lengths in the Politician but proved a disappointing favourite in the Cape Derby and, although the stipes ordered a veterinary examination, nothing showed up. “The Politician was a hard race and it flattened Silver Host for the Derby which was only three weeks later,” explains Justin Snaith. “He is much better now and I think he will run well although he may find it a bit on the short side. He is a nice horse and this race will decide whether he comes up to Durban.”

Super Silvano, third in the Cape Derby, could also find the mile on the short side but he receives a kilo and is 2.5kg better with his rival on Politician form. At 33-10 this Brett Crawford runner is a decent price and he gets the vote.

But watch out for 5-1 shot Katak who has won both his starts, has the advantage of Aldo Domeyer and is almost certainly still on the upgrade. “It’s still early days but I rate him and he is very well at the moment,” says Piet Steyn. “He is stepping up in class and this will show how good he is.”

Erik The Red, winner of his last three, should be the answer to the Kuda Somerset but his 1-3 price hardly makes him a betting proposition. Many of the most successful punters over the years have made it a golden rule never to bet at odds-on and personally I believe that life is too short to back horses at 1-3. You need to have four consecutive winners to show a profit betting on horses at that price.

No reason why the Snaith horse shouldn’t win – indeed, it will be a shock if he doesn’t – but Matthew The King at 15-2 is a much more appealing bet. He impressed when winning first time out at Durbanville in March, receives 4kg and has been working nicely. “I see they don’t give him a hope in hell but he is a very nice horse, albeit an unknown quantity,” says Greg Ennion. “He is doing well and he went well when I galloped him last week.”

The stats point to an upset – Armando 12 months ago was the first favourite to win this race in five years. His stable is represented by 14-1 outsider Futura’s Hope. Vaughan Marshall often has his two-year-olds ready to win first time so, if you fancy Freedom Park at 10-1, don’t be put off. He and Futura’s Hope receive 2kg from the selection and a whopping 6kg from the favourite.

The in-form Candice Bass-Robinson has won two of the last three runnings of the Kudex Perfect Promise Sprint and she can collect again, this time with Lemon Delight whose debut win was far more impressive than the half-length verdict might suggest.

The danger to the 33-10 shot could well be Captain’s Ransom who showed phenomenal finishing speed on debut at Durbanville and her stable has won this race twice in the last four seasons.

Selections:

Race 5: Matthew The King
Race 6: Lemon Delight
Race 8: Super Silvano

By Michael Clower

Featured Image: Aldo Domeyer rides Katak at Kenilworth racecourse today

Turffontein trainer Paul Peter said a decision would be made at the end of the week on Summer Pudding’s participation in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 but he added she would definitely not be running in the Vodacom Durban July.

The Silvano filly has now won six out of six and doubling that number will earn her a new South African record unbeaten streak.

The mark of eleven wins unbeaten was set by Home Guard in the late 1960s.

If the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara heroine does travel down for the Woolavington she will travel shortly before the race and will then “winter” at Summerveld for the rest of the season. 

Peter watched her bid to become the third horse to win the Triple Tiara on one of the only two working TV’s at a deserted Turffontein, near the jockey’s room, and said although normally quiet during races he could not on this occasion contain his emotions.

He did have one moment of real concern, explaining, “She hit a flat spot at the top of the straight.”

Some fans feared the worst when Gavin Lerena’s attempt to slot her in was thwarted by Diego De Gouveia’s determined race riding on the eventual third-placed Ballet Shoes.

Lerena was thus forced to stay out wide down the entire back straight. However, this did not concern Peter, who said, 

“She was comfortable and if you are on the best horse it is ok to be a little wide, you are going to then be sure of getting a run.”

Lerena did find cover around the final turn but had to become urgent 500m out to extract her from her flat spot.

She found her gears at the 400m mark.

She then ranged alongside her chief market rival Marygold and then in resolute style her big stride carried her clear.

She was bred by Mauritzfontein and Wilgerbosdrift Stud and is owned by the former. 

Mauritzfontein stud owners Stephen and Jessica Jell were soon conveying how proud they were of the unbeaten filly on a social media video.

Peter said the Jells and Mary Slack of Wilgerbosdrift Stud were “really nice” people to train for and elaborated, “They really love their horses and are ecstatic when they win and happy if they just return home safe.”

The win was richly deserved as the Jells and Slack had recently kindly stepped in as financiers of a Phumelela business Rescue plan. Accolades duly poured in for the much respected family.

Meanwhile, Ormond Ferraris, who never misses a day at the tracks as a valued advisor to Peter, had an extra spring in his step this morning (Monday). 

The Peter yard had three other impressive winners on the day. 

In the first, a workriders maiden over 1600m, the two-year-old Marchfield filly Cloth Of Ice galloped clear to win by 2,25 lengths under Tshepiso Matsoele. She has plenty of scope for improvement and Peter is eyeing the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m at Greyville on Gold Cup day, August 29.

Later, four-year-old Ideal World filly Vistula bounced  back to her best in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m, winning by 2,50 lengths under Lerena.

She will now go for the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Stakes over the same course and distance on Champions day June 27. After that she might take her place in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m on July day, where she ran fifth last year.

Jet Start then displayed her finishing speed when winning the last, a Pinnacle Stakes event over 2000m, in comfortable style under Calvin Habib, and she will likely also be seen in a forthcoming feature.

By David Thiselton 

The Vaal Monday meeting features a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1000m sponsored by Betting World which has attracted many top sprinters, most of whom will be preparing for the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint to be run on Champions Day, March 27.

The three-year-old filly True To Life has exceptional natural speed and could upset the two best males in the race, Mr Flood and Chimichuri Run. However, she does have a low draw, which is sometime disadvantageous on the Vaal straight course. Calvin Habib was aboard her last time when she won easily at Hollywoodbets Greyville over 1400m and retains the ride.

Mr Flood has looked to be a star in the making from day one and since returning from a layoff of more than a year has won three and placed second once in four starts. It was likely only the low draw which beat him last time too in the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes. His strength is his ability to find extra when challenged.

Chimichuri Run is the reigning Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint winner and carries topweight. He is better at 1200m but is fitted with blinkers whenever he runs over 1000m and finished third in the Computaform Sprint last year.

The filly Mighty High is also a Grade 1 winner and beat Mr Flood narrowly when last meeting in the Senor Santa.

Two others to consider are Winter Storm and Singforafa.

PA (R216)
Leg 1: 10,2
Leg 2: 1,3,4
Leg 3: 3,2
Leg 4: 6
Leg 5: 4,5,2
Leg 6: 5,2
Leg 7: 3,6,10

Pick 6 (R3600)
Leg 1: 1,3,4,2,10
Leg 2: 3,2
Leg 3: 6,3
Leg 4: 4,5,2,1,3,14,11,8,12
Leg 5: 5,2,1,10
Leg 6: 3,6,10,8,1

JACKPOT (270)
Leg 2: 3,2,1
Leg 3: 6,3
Leg 4: 4,5,2,1,3,14,11,8,12
Leg 5: 5,2,1,10,9

BEST BET Race 6: No. 6 OUR MAN IN HAVANA

VALUE BET Race 5: No. 3 BELLAGIO KING

By David Thiselton