Pine Princess is due to travel down today together with Alboran Sea, who will be running in the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championships on January 24.

Attorney Robert Bloomberg, a well known figure in horseracing, has been representing De Kock and Sean Tarry in regard to the  moratorium that was imposed on the movement of a number of horses from Randjesfontein to the Western Cape due to a recent outbreak of AHS within a 30km radius of the training centre.

The horses involved included the like of Majmu, Ertijaal, Pine Princess, Alboran Sea, Trip To Heaven and Carry On Alice, although it no longer affects Majmu as De Kock announced on Monday that she would be scratched from the J&B Met for other reasons.

Pine Princess (Nkosi Hlophe)

Bloomberg stressed that the moratorium had not prevented the Randjesfontein horses from moving either to Turffontein, The Vaal or Port Elizabeth for a fourteen day quarantine period prior to transport to the Western Cape.

In other words, movement from an “infected” area to any area outside of the AHS Controlled Area in the Western Cape is allowed, but  travelling from an “infected” area to the AHS Controlled Area is not allowed. This is in order to protect the AHS Controlled Area in line with the export protocol negotiated with the European Union (EU) in 1997.

Bloomberg pointed out a further anomaly in that the Randjesfontein horse Trip To Heaven was able to travel to Turffontein to race against Trip Tease last Saturday, but whilst the former was in “isolation”, the latter was able to leave the next day for the Western Cape, because the Vaal training centre from where he comes does not fall within a 30km radius of any recent outbreak.

De Kock had also pointed out that the 14 day quarantine requirement at another training centre would have meant a change in both environment and training tracks, which is not ideal for a horse and would also increase the chance of injury. He might not have deemed it worthwhile even if that route had been the final option.

Furthermore, in the case of Pine Princess, she had tested negative to two recent AHS RT-PCR tests and would have been travelling directly into a quarantine facility at Kenilworth. Therefore, she would have been subject to the same risk control precedents which were set in the cases of both Igugu and Pomodoro in the 2011/2012 season, but which DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) now sought to oppose. Bloomberg and his clients addressed a formal letter to DAFF on 24 December stating their grievances and to date this has not been acknowledged let alone responded to.

Bloomberg also had to deal with a threat from the NHA to either scratch Pine Princess in terms of Rule 39 or suspend her in terms of Rule 93. However, no action was taken in this regard as the NHA agreed, after obtaining an opinion, that they had no legal basis to do either in terms of their own rules.

Bloomberg and his clients spent a lot of time and effort in acquiring confirmation of the exact date of the last outbreak as this would have had had a massive bearing on whether horses racing in the Cape in the latter part of January remained at Randjesfontein or moved to Turffontein. They were relieved when the date they had been led to believe was the correct one, November 28, was confirmed on Monday after a conference call between state veterinarians.

Prior to movement, individual state veterinarian (SV) movement permits will need to be applied for in respect of each horse. Further outbreaks may obviously still occur and with this in mind, it is hoped that other horses earmarked for the Western Cape will be moved earlier than scheduled.

Meanwhile, Mathew De Kock said that the yard had been very pleased with Pine Princess’s preparation for Saturday’s big race.

The classy four-year-old Dynasty colt missed his preparation race, the Diadem on December 27, and as his bout of coughing was prolonged he also had to forego a racecourse gallop on Saturday.

Crawford said, “He is now fine and back in work, but we didn’t want to force him, so he hasn’t had a grass gallop. He is doing well and will run a good race, but won’t be at his peak.”

Futura won the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville last season.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe rides him from the widest draw of all in the nine horse field that will contest Saturday’s prestigious 1600m race.

Futura (Liesl King)

Crawford runs the Tiger Ridge filly Maybe Yes in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m, where she will be ridden by Corne Orffer from a draw of four. She displayed a fine turn of foot when winning last season’s Gr 2 KRA Guineas, but there was a question mark over her stamina range back then and she consequently avoided the Gr 1 Woolavington over 2000m.

Crawford said, “It’s her first time over the trip, but she is very well and has been working very well at home. I think she will get the trip.”

The yard run the former Gr 2 Selangor Cup winner De Kock in the Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m. He was sidelined for a long time after fracturing a knee in last year’s Gr 1 Grand parade Cape Guineas, so did well to win his comeback run over 1000m in comfortable fashion in September.

Since then he has been well beaten in three sprints, including two Gr 2s.

However, he was gelded before his last run and Crawford said, “This is his first run around the turn since his injury and gelding and he is definitely looking for this sort of trip. He has been doing well.”

He jumps from draw ten with Orffer up.

Crawford runs the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup winner Wavin’ Flag in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 2800m. He finished a fine fourth in the Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup, before finishing fifth as favourite over 2500m last time out back at Kenilworth. He didn’t have to be freshened up before that last race, but did have to get back into the routine of the Phillippi training centre, so was likely not quite at his best. Crawford said, “He’s not a sand horse (he has been working on sand), but is definitely fit and well.”

Orffer rides from draw two.

The yard have two runners in the last race over 1400m, Prescient and Heliane, but Crawford was not bullish and said, “It is the first time this trip for Prescient, so it won’t be easy from a wide draw, and Heliane ran well last time over 1800m but is also drawn wide.”

The Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner, second in the Empress Club and third in the Garden Province, should not beat Supreme Sunset on adjusted merit ratings but there are grounds for believing that she may be good enough. Gavin Lerena flies in for the mount and the filly opened at evens with Betting World.

“This is more of a run to acquaint her with the track – the Klawervlei Majorca is a target – but I think she will be fit enough to do herself justice,” says the five times champion trainer.

Arcetri Pink (JC Photo)

Officially Supreme Sunset has 1.5kg in hand at the weights. She was raised 3.5kg for her 25-1 shock win in the Joburg Spring Challenge (when Arcetri Pink was over two lengths away fifth at levels and when Majmu suffered her only defeat) but she has run nowhere near the revised rating in her two subsequent races. You would have to wonder whether the handicappers over-reacted.

That said, Mike Bass rates her and says: ”I don’t know what happened in those two races but she is quite decent. I gave her a break after her return, I have freshened her up since and she is doing very well. She is in with a shout.”

She is certainly a big price at 6-1. Bass also runs Play Of Light (33-1) and the useful Princess Ofthe Sky (7-1) who was reported to be making an abnormal respiratory noise last time. “She is a bit restricted because of her wind,” says her trainer. “But she can manage this 1 400m comfortably.”

Neil Bruss has booked champion S’Manga Khumalo for 33-10 chance Red Flame who has won three of her last five and her trainer reckons she is still improving. “Her last race was over 1 800m and it was too far for her,” he says. “This is a prep for the Majorca.”

Antonia’s Fortress (who, not surprisingly, has drifted from 4-1 to 7-1) faces a well-nigh impossible task with top weight but she has won her last two and Yogas Govender reckons there is more to come. Petty Officer is a 16-1 shot but, according to Greg Ennion, Karl Neisius says she won’t be disgraced. Neisius can’t do the weight and so in-form Richard Fourie takes over.

Malan du Toit has been working on Captain’s Dove who refused to load last time and this filly has the form to beat 5-2 favourite In The Know in the first. “The last time she actually ran was over 1 400m and it was too far,” says Mike Robinson. “She doesn’t show much at home but she is a very talented filly.”

Ovar keeps running well and may get the better of Winter Trade in race three although the once-raced Mayoral Decree and newcomer Royal Union Jet may not be far away.

Blinkers failed to work with the well bred Imibala (he refused to settle and over-raced) on Christmas Eve so he runs without them in race four but Sail For Gold is preferred. Unfortunately the price has gone and he has already been backed from 5-2 to 13-10.

In Tribute is far from the most obvious choice in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap but Govender is keen on him so he could be worth a few rand each way. He has already been supported from 10-1 to 7-1.

Louis The King prepping at Milnerton earlier today (Liesl King)

“They galloped over a mile and put up a very fast 400m. They are fit and very well and have now seen the course, but there is still a way to go to the Met.”

The Black Minnaloushe colt Louis The King won the SASCOC Triple Crown last year, becoming the first since the great Horse Chestnut to do so, and in his last start he added a third career Gr 1 by getting up late to win the Sansui Summer Cup over 2000m, despite carrying second topweight of 59kg.

Woodruff felt that he was better over further and said, “He is an effective miler, but 2000m is more his game, although I’m not discounting him.”

Indeed, two of his most impressive performances have come over the Queen’s Plate 1600m distance, firstly when demolishing a strong field in the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas, where he showed a phenomenal turn of foot, and then when running on from near the back when just failing in the Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile, despite carrying a big weight.

He is drawn well in four and Piere Strydom remains aboard, an added bonus.

Tellina has been gelded since his disappointing last run in the Charity Mile and Woodruff said that he was “much improved” since the operation. An indication of his ability over 1600m is that he is also a Gauteng Guineas winner and finished just 0,75 lengths behind the high class Yorker and the champion miler Capetown Noir in last season’s Gr 1 weight for age HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.

Tellina, a five-year-old by Silvano, is drawn seven and Gavin Lerena rides.

Ashton Park was nearly brought down in the Diadem Stakes last time out on December 27 and returned with a swollen joint, meaning he was only able to start working again this week.

However Bass said, “He’s not quite comfortable and although the vets will still try and sort it out, there are only a few days left so it looks dicey.”

Ashton Park’s cracking second in the Gr 2 Green Point Stakes didn’t really surprise the Bass yard as they had always felt he was a bit underrated and Bass also pointed out that he can always be relied on to earn a cheque. If he does run he jumps from draw 6 in the nine horse field and Aldo Domeyer will be reunited with him.

Helderberg Blue (left) and (right) Paterfamilias – Liesl King

Bass also runs Paterfamilias, a five-year-old gelding by Trippi, who will be ridden by stable jockey Grant van Niekerk from draw 8 and he has the blinkers back on. His last run over 1800m in the Gr 2 Premier Trophy was his first run for a year due to a tendon injury and Bass said, “He’s doing well and will be running on, I wouldn’t be surprised if he placed, although it’s probably not an ideal race, it’s not one you would think he can win, and the Met will be more up his alley.”

Hammie’s Hooker, a five-year-old mare by Trippi, was rated by jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe as the horse he was most looking forward to this season and now that her nemesis Beach Beauty has retired she will have a good chance of landing a Gr 1 this season.

There has always been a question mark about her staying the 1800m trip, but she was close up to her perennial rival Jet Aglow in both the Victress Stakes and the Paddock Stakes over this trip last season and is now obviously a year older. Like last year, Jet Aglow once again has a draw advantage over her in the Paddock Stakes. However, Bernard Fayd’Herbe is reunited with Hammie’s Hooker so her draw of eight shouldn’t be a major problem.

Hammie’s Hooker has only had two 1200m sprints this season and after finishing a cracking 0,85 length third in the Gr 2 Cape Merchants when carrying 59kg, she ran a bit disappointingly in the Gr 2 weight for age Diadem Stakes.

However, Bass said, “She was too advanced for the Diadem, so was not fresh enough. She is doing well and will run well on Saturday, I have no doubt about that. I think she will make the trip and if things go her way she has a good winning chance.”

Bass also runs the Gr 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas runner up Inara as well as Shingwedzi in the Paddock Stakes.

The three-year-old Trippi filly Inara ran on very well for a 2,5 length second to the mighty Majmu in the Cape Fillies Guineas at odds of 25/1 and Van Niekerk keeps the ride. Bass said, “She has loads of ability and I think she will run a big race again. I think she might well surprise them again and is good value for the frame.”

Bass would only be concerned about Inara’s wide draw of 13 if there was a lack of pace. He felt Shingwedzi would need to run above her form to feature.

Bass’s four-year-old Jet Master gelding Helderberg Blue has a fine chance in the Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m, in which the yard also run Night Trip and River Crossing. Helderberg Blue is a temperamental sort, but after a lot of work with him Bass said that he was now “almost normal”. This is illustrated by his two wins followed by a second in the Gr 2 Premier Trophy over 1800m last time out.

Bass said, “Helderberg Blue is very well, I don’t know how much he has improved but he is steadily getting better and I think he is quite nicely weighted. The crowds, tents and noise on the big day is a bit of a concern as he can get himself hyped up, but I’m hoping it’s not a problem and if so he has a good shout.”

Helderberg Blue jumps from a fine draw of four with Van Niekerk up.

River Crossing stays further and will likely run in the Gr 2 J&B Jet Stayers over 2800m on J&B Met day, but Bass said, “He can do any trip and always runs well.” He said about Night Trip, “I just wish he would run as well as he works.”

Bass said about his other runners on the day, “Diamond (2^nd race) will need it. Hypervarlocity (3^rd race) is very temperamental, but we hope for a better run. Evening Storm (4^th race) has an each-way chance at the weights. Castlethorpe (5^th race), there are just no races for him and this 1000m trip is too sharp.

Equity Kicker (5^th race) will be competitive, this is a step up in class but he is a decent sort. Winter Reserve (11^th race) has not been quite at her best and needs another sprint to get her in form but this 1000m is a bit quick. Carousel Swing (12^th race), if she had dawn well I would have fancied her, but this 1400m is a difficult distance from a bad draw.”