Joey Ramsden’s star has won his last five including fine weight-defying performances in the Cape Classic and the Selangor with his trainer describing him as “a very special horse.”

Piere Strydom, who has given up the ride to stay loyal to Harry’s Son, admits that he could be on the wrong one and Christmas certainly came early for punters when Betting World offered evens earlier in the week. The bargain was snapped up within hours and yesterday 65-100 was the best available.

Harry’s Son has drifted out to 6-1 but Paul Lafferty’s belief in the horse he plans to take overseas is unshaken: “Things have gone very well and we’ve got to be hopeful. Last Friday I took him to Scottsville to gallop him left-handed and he loved it.

“Please don’t use the Dingaans as a yardstick because the rain came down and it was like a bog. But he still tried all the way to the line. This is a very good horse.”

The handicappers rate him half a length better than Act Of War. But if the favourite is to be beaten – and only two outright favourites have won in the last ten years – Zambezi River could be the most likely candidate.

He is the one unbeaten horse in the field and Sean Tarry purposely left him in Cape Town – in Eric Sands’ yard and under the care of the legendary Felix Coetzee – after his Lanzerac Ready To Run win four weeks ago.

“We don’t know just how good he is,” Tarry admits. “But in each of his three wins he has only really got going at the end and each time there has been more in the tank.”

At 8-1 S’Manga Khumalo’s mount could be worth a few rand each way, particularly with Tarry taking precautions to ensure there will be no Cape crawl. Several of the local hopes want a poor gallop to give them a chance and Justin Snaith, asked if any of his four would lead, was adamant – “Definitely not.”

However Tarry says: “Imperial Gold may do just that to keep them all honest. He needed the run quite badly (when sixth in the Lanzerac). He got caught wide but ran on nicely and he should improve on that.”

Interestingly the one horse who has been backed, other than Act Of War, is his own stable companion Brutal Force who was second to Zambezi River in the Lanzerac. He worked well with the favourite at Kenilworth last Saturday and runs without blinkers. His price has shortened from 16-1 to 12-1.

Kingvoldt, second to the favourite in the Selangor, has also pleased Ramsden but 14-1 is a fair assessment of his chance given the haemo-concentrating shadow that hangs over him.

Vaughan Marshall, who is bidding for his fourth Cape Guineas, has maintained all along that Mljet (also 14-1) will come into his own over this longer run-in and MJ Byleveld takes the same view, saying: “He will appreciate it and he will be much better on Saturday.”

Dean Kannemeyer, who has won half the last ten runnings, does not expect to add to his remarkable record with 25-1 shot Balance Sheet despite the colt wearing blinkers for the first time to ensure he doesn’t dally at the start.

“He is going to be best at 2 000m and I am preparing him for the Derby,” says the Milnerton trainer. “But the longer run-in will suit him and he will be running on at the end.”

It will also suit Light The Lights even though the 16-1 shot is another for whom the Derby distance could prove his forte. “He got bumped early in the Green Point last time and that unsettled him,” says Greg Cheyne who is somewhat understandably looking forward to the ride.

Upsets do happen but not often in this race – Elusive Gold at 28-1 a year ago was the only winner to start at a bigger price than 5-1 in the last 12 years – and pretty well everything points to Act Of War.

The Joey Ramsden-trained Western Winter colt Brutal Force is officially the most expensive horse ever bought at public auction in South Africa and after putting up a tremendous gallop at Kenilworth on Saturday in preparation for this weekend’s Gr1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas he is shaping up to be worth his price tag.

Brutal Force was bred by Lammerskraal’s long standing stud manager Sally Jourdan and it will be particularly special if he can win Saturday’s big race as she is tying the knot on the same day with her fiancé, the well known trainer Neil Bruss.

Markus and Ingrid Jooste own Brutal Force and their racing manager Derek Brugman watched the big horse’s gallop on Saturday, in which he and his more fancied Guineas stablemates Act Of War and Kingvoldt were led by a strong pacemaker.

The Joostes also own Act Of War, who is the hot favourite for Saturday’s big race and does not need to prove a lot as his dominant record on the racecourse speaks for itself.

Consequently, it was Brutal Force’s gallop that was the most eyecatching in Brugman’s opinion.

He said that it appeared that the big chestnut had improved significantly from his last run, in which he finished a commendable 0,75 length second to the unbeaten Zambezi River in the R2 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m on the Kenilworth Old Course.

Brugman added that it was always difficult to tell how meritorious a gallop had been, because it would not be exactly clear how much weight each horse was carrying. However, in this case Brutal Force had Andrew Fortune aboard, so it could be assumed that he was carrying more weight than the other pair, who were ridden by Bernard Fayd’Herbe and Anthony Andrews respectively.

Jourdan said Brutal Force had always had a special aura about him.

She said, “He was a beautiful foal with the most incredible temperament as he was never a naughty foal who rushed around, but instead was like a serious old man. He was big and hairy and very muscled and visitors to the farm were always in awe of him.”

Jourdan had felt before sending him to the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 of 2013, where he was the first horse to go through the ring, that he would be a R3 million colt, so was a touch disappointed with the R1,5 million that he fetched.

She said, “When I asked certain buyers why they had not bid for him, they replied that in the opinion of the sales experts he was too big and heavy and would never make a racehorse.”

The Joostes then entered Brutal Force in the 2013 Ready To Run Sale at Durbanville with the obvious aim of qualifying him for the R2 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes of 2014.

Jourdan recalled, “By that stage he was looking more like a racehorse.”

Furthermore his full-brother, Red Ray, had become a sensation on the race track, having won four out of his five starts, including an impressive 2,5 length thrashing of none other than the subsequent Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate in the Gr 3 cape Classic over 1400m.

Red Ray was also the hot-pot favourite for the following day’s Ready To Run Stakes.

It was expected that Jooste would have to bid high to keep Brutal Force, but nobody had envisaged that he would need to go to R4,5 million. One of the country’s biggest buyers, Adriaan van Vuuren, had taken a shine to the horse and the bidding war that ensued was accompanied by a murmuring from fascinated onlookers that kept on increasing in volume.

Brutal Force is the latest racing progeny of the amazing mare Nacarat, who was by the brilliant J&B Met winner Pas De Quoi.

He has turned out to be a completely different sort to Red Ray, who is bay in colour and full of speed.

His full sister Nania was similar in distance range to Red Ray in that she won a Gr 1 as two-year-old over 1600m, but was also very effective over 1400m.

Another full-brother, Target Acquired, was also packed with speed and four of his five victories were over 1200m.

Despite all this speed in the family, Nacarat has also produced the useful middle distance to staying type Adobe Pink (Go Deputy), who won a Listed race over 2400m.

Brutal Force himself looks likely to relish the step up to 1600m on Saturday and should also appreciate the longer straight. He has quite a difficult draw of eleven, but his jockey Sean Cormack has become renowned for his ability to place horses well in the running and is full of confidence at present having ridden a feature race double last weekend. It would be no surprise to see Brutal Force running on strongly all the way to the line.

Meanwhile, Nacarat’s influence looks set to continue for some time.

She and her daughter Adobe Pink are both in foal to Western Winter’s probable most exciting son at stud, the brilliant sprinter What A Winter.

Furthermore, a full-brother to Brutal Force will be on next year’s Bloodstock South Africa National yearling Sale.

Another chapter in the career of the remarkable mare Nacarat could be written on Saturday afternoon at Kenilworth, although Brutal Force is really up against it as he lines up against an exceptionally talented field.

Coetzee said, “We are very excited about Zambezi River’s run on Saturday as he is a heck of a horse. He is such an imposing individual and you can’t help but like him when you see him. He is a heck of a strong horse, and very strong in character too, and is a great mover. I have a lot of respect for him and if he is right on the day I think he is going to take a lot of beating. I bumped into S’Manga Khumalo at the airport and told him how I thought, so he knows now how much I think of his ride on Saturday. He was happy to hear it from my side and he also likes him a lot.”

Coetzee went to Mauritius at the request of the South African Jockey’s Academy in order to recruit apprentices. “I interviewed 16 youngsters and have shortlisted five of them.”

Mauritian riders have recently made a big impact on South African racing and have dominated the Apprentice Championships in the last three seasons. Nooresh Juglall won it for two years in succession, before Akash Aucharuz won it last season, and Karis Teetan was also highly unlucky not to have won it in his final year in 2008/2009.

Coetzee hopped from Mauritius to Johannesburg and then straight on to Hong Kong. His visit co-incided with the Chinese Island nation’s big International racemeeting last weekend.

Coetzee is a celebrity in Hong Kong and was the Guest Of Honour at Racing South Africa’s annual promotion last Friday at the city’s Foreign Correspondents Club. He talked at the presentation and was not only pleased by the interest shown in South African bloodstock, but also by the loyalty of some of Hong Kong’s regular buyers at South African Sales.

The results at the big race meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday then turned out to be a fine advertisement for South African breeding.

In the second race of the day, a handicap over 1800m, the Scott Brothers-bred Tony Millard-trained Mogok colt Monsieur Mogok, who cost a mere R30,000 at Bloodstock South Africa’s National Two-Year-Old Sale of 2012 and was having just his third career start, was dropped out by Joao “Magic” Moreira from a wide draw and then weaved his way through down the rail to get second place behind the Derby hopeful Got Fly. The result excited the South African contingent, especially considering the stake for this race was an amazing $HK1,060,000 (R1,603,033). Monsieur Mogok earned HK$233,200 (R352,689) for his effort, which puts into perspective the value buys that can be found at South Africa’s thoroughbred sales.

Later, Able Friend’s record-breaking 4,25 length victory in the HK$23 million Longine Hong Kong Mile was another indirect advertisement as this local hero was annihilated by  the South African-bred Variety Club in the Champions Mile over the same course and distance back in May. Furthermore, Moreira reportedly said after Sunday’s win that Able Friend was the best he had ever ridden.

The export situation is always the hurdle that has to be overcome when advertising the South African sales and potential overseas buyers are always notified of the tremendous efforts that are being exerted in order to persuade relevant countries to change their export protocols. The intended building of a new lockdown quarantine facility in KZN were among the developments towards this aim that were explained at Racing South Africa’s promotion at the Foreign Correspondents Club was.

Furthermore, professor Alan Guthrie, director of the Equine Research Centre, and Dr Bev Parker of the Equine Health fund, attended the International Federation Of Horseracing Authorities’ (IFHA) annual International Movement of horses committee meeting in Hong Kong on the same weekend, where they were also able to put internationals in the picture.

 

Kotzen said, “He will be suited by the longer run in of the New Course because he takes time to unwind and we’ve been waiting for this. He is well in himself and has had a good preparation.”

Light The Lights finished a meritorious 6,55 lengths behind Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate in the Gr 2 weight for age Green Point Stakes over 1600 last time out.

Legislate broke the course record that day and Kotzen also pointed out that Light The Lights finished only 2,3 lengths behind the Gr 1 winner Futura.  However, he did admit that Light The Lights would be better suited to the 2000m distance of the Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby on J&B Met day at the end of January.

He selected the bay colt, who will run in the colours of Tripple H Trust on Saturday, at Bloodstock South Africa’s National Yearling Sales. He said, “He was a bit narrow but had a lot of scope and is filling out nicely as he matures.”

Kotzen believes Light The Lights will get better and better and his long term aim has always been the Vodacom Durban July. He is following exactly the same route taken by the Kotzen-trained July winner of 2009, Big City Life, and will continue to do so. Big City Life ran disappointingly in the Cape Guineas, but was found later to have not been right on the day, and he made up for it in no uncertain terms by winning the Cape Derby before sweeping all before him in the Champions Season.

Light The Lights will be ridden by stable jockey Greg Cheyne on Saturday and jumps from a plum draw of three.

The classy Jet Belle has arrived back at Kotzen’s Woodhill racing estate from Robbie Sage’s yard in Johannesburg in “top top condition” and unlike last year has not suffered from any travel sickness. However, Kotzen views her run in the fourth race, a Conditions Plate over 1500m, as a race to “see where we are with her” and as a “preparation for the Paddock Stakes.”

The conditions for the Cape Premier Listed Jet Master Stakes over 1600m on Saturday favour females so the Kotzen-trained Omaticaya must have a chance over a suitable distance from draw six with apprentice Xavier Carstens up, although the latter will not be able to claim his normal 2,5kg, and the other female in the race Jet Aglow also looks to be a tough nut to crack. Cheyne can’t make the weight on Omaticaya so rides Gone Baby Gone and Kotzen believes this horse will be as effective over this trip as he is over further.

The other horse he mentioned for the day was Be Fabulous in the fifth race over 1800m as he said this Kahal filly had always been crying out for racing to be switched to the New Course with its longer straight.

Corne Orffer’s mount was impressive when winning her previous two but in the R2 million bonanza she lost ground at the start and ran so far below expectations that the stipes ordered a veterinary report. Now she drops in trip and has been installed 8-10 favourite with Betting World.

“I don’t have an excuse for last time but I don’t think the distance was the reason,” says Brett Crawford. “However I had three that ran below form that day and I think she just had an off-day. Certainly she has been working very well and I am expecting an improved run.”

Twentymanjones looks the pick on form and attractive at 33-10 in the preceding 1 200m handicap but caution is advised. “He took the skin off a hind joint coming off the float last time and I had to leave him in his box for a while so he may not be 100%,” explains Darryl Hodgson.

Greg Cheyne’s mount could still win but Door Of Deception (7-2) and Gulf Storm may be better value. Gulf Storm finished a neck in front of Richard Fourie’s mount last time and is a kilo better. He has already been backed from 18-10 to 12-10.

Fourie has a big chance on 3-1 shot Princess Chloe in the Tickets At R125 Handicap (race five). She started favourite on Selangor day after winning her previous two but failed to find a clear passage in the final furlong.

“It was a disappointing run and that is why I am bringing her back in trip,” says Justin Snaith. “I’m hoping she will be better over this 1 200m.”

The hat-trick seeking Goldandsilver is favourite at 2-1 and looks the danger but she has been hiked 3kg for her last win and that could make her vulnerable.

There are several with strong claims in the opening Welcome Maiden, including the badly drawn pair Sail For Gold and Master James, but Be At Peace has the draw in his favour and went close over the trip here a month ago. “I can’t say that he has come on because he doesn’t show a lot at home,” says Paddy Kruyer. “But the longer straight will suit him and he should go well.”

Jam Tart should be hard to beat in race two and Air Chief Marshal has the credentials to win the Soccer GG Maiden 35 minutes later. The Mike Bass colt really caught they eye on debut at Durbanville and would have finished closer last time but for losing ground at the start. The money yesterday was for Bono Vox (4-1 to 33-10) but Air Chief Marshal appeals at 9-2.

Evoke Emotion, runner-up in her last two, steps up in distance in race four and this favourite should confirm the placings with Ipsissima and Little Bear.