Seasoned horseman and trainer Joey Soma is a firm believer in the use of a tongue-tie for races. “I believe in tongue ties, 99% of my horses wear them,” he told colleague David Thiselton after Got The Greenlight’s win in the Grade 1 SA Classic last Saturday.

Not only does a tongue-tie prevent a horse from getting its tongue over the bit, it also keeps the air passages open and something that may help Horoscope Harry to find his best form on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.

A string of promising performances culminated in a disappointing last effort when seemingly running out of gas over the final furlong after being up with the pace for much of the race.

It was later reported that he had ‘choked up’ in the running which will have accounted for his below par performance.

Gareth van Zyl has declared a tongue-tie for the first time and if it has the desired effect, Horoscope Harry can find himself back on the winning trail.

Matchless Captain and Treading Water are two that can make a race of it. Matchless Captain making all the running under apprentice Jabu Jacobs to shed his maiden while Treading Water is lightly raced but does appear to have potential and any market support could be prophetic.

Of the older runners, Cuvara steps out onto the poly for the first time and the synthetic surface can often see older horses finding their better form.

Anton Marcus has been conspicuous by his absence as he serves out a suspension but he has a chance of making a winning comeback on Garth Puller’s filly Astute Vision in the card opener. She has shown improved form at her last two starts and was ridden by Marcus last time out. The blinkers go on for the first time, probably under instruction from Marcus, and Astute Vision could get the better of Chanel Allure and Noble Freedom.

If Marcus doesn’t make it on Astute Vision, Perspicuous looks to be one of the better bets on the card. Johan Janse van Vuuren’s filly made marked improvement when making her poly debut, going down narrowly to favourite Retail Therapy. She does have a history off shoe troubles that may have accounted for her modest previous showings and her improved effort on the poly track. Also back in action after his enforced six-month lay-off is Muzi Yeni who rides Wild Earth for Nathan Kotzen.

Al Jazeera could be good news for punters in the opening leg of the PA. Gavin van Zyl’s gelding has been knocking at the door and although he was well beaten by the smart-looking African Sunrise last time out, he did have a tough draw to contend with. He had good form over this course and distance before that. Ulterior Motive and The Westerner look pick of the balance.

The fourth may turn into a match race between Guadeloupe and To The Max in a small field. The former made a promising poly debut in her first run in KZN. Craig Zackey stays with the mount and the blinkers go on. To The Max is coming along the right way and should go well over this trip.

Apprentice Handicaps are always tricky but Joshwin Solomons has been booked for two good rides, the first Lasata for Dennis Bosch. The gelding makes his debut for the stable but his recent Cape form was up against stronger opposition than what he meets here.  However, this is not a race to go light in, in the exotics with any number of horses in with chances. The betting could prove your best guide.

Solomons partners Paper Ballerina for Mark Dixon in the last – another difficult race. Paper Ballerina has put in two good efforts since her maiden win and meets some modest opposition this time around. Class Of Eight finished ahead of Paper Ballerina when last they met but is now 4.5kg worse off while Starlight, Ms Rosa Parks and Mythical Magic are all live runners.

The seventh is also wide open affair. Linear is not the easiest but is smart on her day as she showed when a good third behind the promising Mr Fitz last Wednesday. She takes on her own sex here. Made In Hollywood is struggling for her second win but is never far off. She has also dropped in the handicap and should be competitive off her new mark.

By Andrew Harrison

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

It only really sank in for me when dual Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again stepped off the float at Summerveld yesterday. Interviewing Justin Snaith’s assistant trainer Janene Newlands at their Summerveld yard, it occurred to me that South Africa’s Champions Season for 2020 is nigh.

Snaith sent up the first batch of 11 horses from the Cape to settle in to the KZN yard. They walked off the Choice Carriers float looking like they had enjoyed their long journey and were happy to be in the province that is treated to such kind winters near the coast.

We spent some time at the stables before the horses had arrived and there is really a lot that goes on to prepare for the horse’s arrival. The bedding is laid out, the water buckets filled and food prepared. Once they had arrived, they were thoroughly checked by Newlands and Dr Ralph Katzwinkel from the Summerveld Equine Hospital. The report was that they all looked as if they had travelled well. Newlands said that they were drinking which was a good sign and they looked bright.

Dual Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again walked off the float like he owned the place and if he was able to speak I’m sure he would have said “I’m back to defend my crown. I’m not done for yet!” He looked a million dollars and came straight from Drakenstein Stud where he was rested.

There will be more horses coming to KZN from the Snaith yard later in the month and Vaughan Marshall’s string arrives today. Other trainers will arrive over the next few weeks. The Gold Circle media team go out of their way to welcome the visitors and ensure the coverage on social media is great for all to enjoy.   

Bunker Hunt, Winter Is Over, Wild Coast, Crown Towers, Rattle Mouse and Captain Tatters to mention a few accompanied the big boy Do it Again and are here for the big season. Team Snaith are sure to provide us all with some fantastic performances over the next few months.

By Warren Lenferna

Paul Peter described the feeling of landing his first Grade 1 on Saturday as “unbelievable, especially to have done it with a filly like that.”

His star Silvano filly Summer Pudding remained unbeaten and took one step closer to the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara when cruising to victory in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic.

The win catapulted Peter into second place in the National Trainers Championships and his R8,673,625 in stakes is just under R3 million behind leader Sean Tarry.

Summer Pudding relished the step up in trip and won cosily by a length, having had to go all out to win the first leg of the Triple Tiara, the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.

She will take a power of beating in the final leg, the Grade 2 SA Oaks over 2450m.

Peter referred to her as “the people’s horse” in the after race interviews.

He explained to the Racegoer, “She is a big, striking, black filly and the crowds just go crazy for her. She brings such a nice atmosphere to the course. She has such a nice temperament too, she loves people and loves to be spoilt and patted.”

Peter has had about seven or eight runner up finishes in Grade 1s and did go into Saturday’s race with one or two concerns.

He said, “The draw (10) was against her and was always going to be her biggest hurdle. But when they are that class they can overcome it. Warren (Kennedy) rode a great race and gets on well with her.”

Peter was thrilled to have won the race for the breeders Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Studs and the owners Mauritzfontein.

He has a number of horses from this stud operation in his yard and said, “They are tough and sound and have good appetites. One of the main things about a horse is appetite, the more they eat the more you can work on them.”

He described Mary Slack of Wilgerbosdrift and Jessica and Stephen Jell of Mauritzfontein as “very nice people.”

The big meeting was a triumph for the Turffontein community as not only do Paul Peter and Joey Soma, who won the Grade 1 SA Classic with Got The Greenlight, train out of Turffontein but they also grew up in the area.

Peter and Soma’s respective fathers were friends and were regular racegoers.

Peter’s brother-in-law is in fact a cousin of Soma’s.

Turffontein trainers won eight of the 12 races on the card including a four-timer for Peter, who also won both of the Listed two-year-old features, the Ruffian Stakes with Springs Of Carmel and the Storm Bird Stakes with War Room. He later won a sprint handicap with Chief Of State.

Turffontein trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren won the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap with Lady Of Steel and other trainers from the centre, Weiho Marwing and David Nieuwenhuizen also won one race apiece.

By David Thiselton

Former Racing Editor of The Mercury and Racegoer correspondent, Richard McMillan (81) died in a Pietermaritzburg hospice yesterday (Monday).

Richard was well respected in South African horseracing circles for many years as Racing Editor if The Mercury before retiring.  He started his journalism career at the then Natal Mercury and for many years was their shipping editor but his life-long passion for horse racing saw him move to the racing department as deputy racing editor under Jack Ramsay. He took over as Racing Editor on Ramsay’s retirement.

On his retirement from The Mercury after four decades of reporting on the sport, he worked freelance for The Racegoer and Gold Circle. McMillan’s Time Ratings, a unique formula he developed over the years, had an avid following.

An old school journalist, Richard was always willing to go the extra mile to get a story and never missed a deadline – even when hard-pressed by a poor wi-fi signal or a dodgy computer.

He is survived by his wife Yvonne, son Justin, daughter Hailie and grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

 By Andrew Harrison

Cape Derby winner Golden Ducat has been given the go-ahead to travel to Durban for the KZN season and so the intriguing possibility of his coming up against elder half-brother Rainbow Bridge in the Vodacom Durban July could be on the cards.  And indeed Hawwaam, the third Grade 1-winning half-brother, may be there too.

Eric Sands had serious reservations about sending Golden Ducat, explaining: “He had an issue with his hock as a baby and I was a little concerned about him on the hill at Summerveld. I thought I might be aggravating the situation but on the other hand I felt that I couldn’t leave him in his box and protect him for ever.

“So we had a discussion with all concerned (including the owners and Jehan Malherbe), and we decided he should go. The programme as of now is the Daisy Guineas (May 1), the Daily News (June 6) and maybe the July.”

The Cape Derby winner has gone on to take that season’s Durban July three times in the last 17 years with Dynasty (2003), Big City Life in 2009 and Legislate six years ago. Golden Ducat is a best-priced 33-1 in the pre-nomination July betting. Rainbow Bridge is second favourite at 11-2 and Hawwaam heads the market at 4-1.

Rainbow Bridge, beaten less than half a length in last season’s race, returned to Milnerton from his holiday home near Paarl last week and, according to his trainer, “is looking really well.”

He and Golden Ducat will travel to Summerveld at the beginning of next month as will WSB Cape Fillies Guineas runner-up Driving Miss Daisy. Sands  has still to make a decision about Larentina who was fourth in that classic.

Rainbow Bridge will follow the same route as last year – the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall (May 1), the Rising Sun Gold Challenge on June 13 and then the July – but his trainer is concerned about the different timetable, largely caused by the way the calendar falls.

He explained: “Last year there were five weeks between the Drill Hall and the Gold Challenge with a further four weeks before the July. But this time the respective gaps are six weeks and three weeks. If something goes wrong in the Gold Challenge – a bruised foot or a bang on a joint for example – you have that much less time to get the horse right for the July.

“Furthermore you are expected to take the horse to the course for the gallops in those last three weeks, and I don’t see the point in going there just to give him a canter.”

Viva Rio

Ex-jockey Jimmy Ting will train Viva Rio when the Cape Derby ante-post favourite reaches Hong Kong. Ting, a relative newcomer to the training ranks, is currently tenth on the log with 24 winners.

Those who backed the horse would have preferred him to have run in the February 22 classic – and so, apparently, would have Glen Kotzen but under the terms of the deal (brokered by Green Street Bloodstock) the horse was sold without the engagement.

“It would have been lovely to get the money and win the Derby – and I tried to get a deal with the engagement – but the purchasers didn’t want that,” Kotzen explained. “In fact I thought we were going to run which was why I didn’t scratch him until the Friday afternoon. I had to wait for the money to come through.”

The exact sum has not been revealed but Kotzen says that, even if Viva Rio won the Derby, the July and a whole lot more, he would not have earned what the new owners were prepared to pay.

Marcus

Anton Marcus is back at Durbanville on Saturday when he has four Ridgemont rides – Flame Tree, Yorktown and Private General for Brett Crawford and Still Tappin for Sands. His only other mount is Savea on whom he won at Kenilworth ten days ago for his old boss Paddy Kruyer.

By Michael Clower