Winning your first horse race, be it apprentice jockey or trainer, is a thrill never forgotten. As an owner it is even more special as it can be a long time between drinks.

The horse winning in the first-time owner’s colours gives even more of a kick and Wayne Maybery could hardly wipe the smile off his chops after Stella Act won the first at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday.

Apprentice Jabu Jacobs steered the filly home for trainer Glen Kotzen, Maybery and partners and giving Jacobs the first of his three winners.

Summerhill-bred Stella Act was the second winner for freshman sire Act Of War and was never in doubt from the jump as Jacobs let her roll chased home by favourite Nirvana Girl and Ziva De Grace.

Jacobs made it a quick double getting Matchless Captain home in the second for Brett Crawford, favourite Candy Man arriving on the scene too late to trouble the winner.

Brunilda was an armchair ride for Anton Marcus as the Garth Puller-trained filly put six lengths over the opposition in the third.

Behind every horse that steps onto the track there is a story.

Most are mundane but there is always a story.

Keep On Dancing boasts a pedigree, that with a win or two behind her name will make her a sought-after broodmare, but she nearly did not make it to the track.

“She degloved (badly skinned) a leg that she had to be rested for six months,” revealed Wendy Whitehead. “But Jane Thomas said we should send her to Summerveld and give her a try.”

“She was a box walker, or should I say she ran in the box.

“So, I built her a lean-too and she lives outside.

“She only comes in when it’s raining – a really a big storm.”

Having only her third start, Stuart Randolph played cat-and-mouse.

He let To The Max and Empress Ella pass him in the straight, but when he asked for an effort, Keep On Dancing took to the floor like the winner of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.

Jet Lignite finally proved brave enough to win a race as Tristan Godden coaxed him home.  “This horse has so much talent but he’s his own worst enemy,” confided Alyson Wright.

“He’s not a brave horse, he’s always got to have his friend with him, Kotchka, the lead pony.”

“They went so slow he should have led but we wanted him to settle.

“When he gets to the other horse you saw that he just wants to stay there.”

Wright and stable rider Tristan Godden were back for a further welcome into the winner’s circle with Deposition denying Jacobs and Puller their fourth winner of the afternoon.

Godden, talented enough to be selected to attend the British Racing School apprentice programme in his formative years has had a spell in the doldrums but has come good with valuable support from Wright and Paul Lafferty, was wary of stable companion and favourite Sea Sponge.

Apprentice Khanya Sakayi, after a solid start to his career, has been short of confidence and winners in recent months, but a winner does wonders for confidence as he picked up a chance ride in the last for Tony Rivalland and obliged on Clara for one of racing stalwart owners, Mary Liley.

By Andrew Harrison

Punters should get off to a good start at tomorrow’s Vaal meeting, which two races beyond a mile are around the turn and the rest are down the straight.

Weiho Marwing sends out Adorable Alley in the first, a Workrider’s Maiden over 2000m, and she will be ridden by the top workrider Sam Mosia. She is an impressive specimen by Flower Alley, a stamina influence, and was only caught late last time when stepped up to this trip by a promising sort in Smoking Hot. She was also beaten by Super Duper but was only 0,80 lengths off the winner. It was only her third career start and she has plenty of scope for further improvement. She jumped from draw 14 out of 14 last time so was probably forced to lead, but from draw seven out of 16 this time she can be ridden a touch more conservatively. Ever Fair has some fair form but was beaten nearly seven lengths by Adorable Alley last time. Miss Cap Mala ran on for a one length third over this trip last time and beat Ever Fair by 1,75 lengths, but she had a plum draw that time and now has to negotiate a tricky draw, as does Ever Fair.

In the second race over 1200m Candice Dawson and Warren Kennedy could continue their good form together with Little Rain. This Captain Al filly has caught the eye from day one but has bumped some decent sorts. This will be the least inspiring field she has faced and she should get off the mark over an ideal trip. St. Joseph’s Lily nearly caused a 20/1 shock last time and it is interesting to note that in early December she beat Little Rain by five lengths over this course and distance. It is thus going to be an interesting clash but Little Rain is given the nod as that defeat was her second run after a six month layoff and her performances have improved significantly since then. Birdwatcher made a fair debut over this trip and could earn with expected improvement.

In the third race over 1400m Bravo One went close in his penultimate start over this course and distance and Nooresh Juglall is on board again. He should be enough to get punters through the PA. Akwaan has been expensive to follow, failing three times as favourite in four starts. He hasn’t raced since November last year but the rest and gelding should have helped. He gets blinkers on for the first time. Eppagilia has 3,2 lengths to find on Bravo One from their last meeting over course and distance but could earn in this field.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Crank It Up is interesting stepped down from 2000m to 1400m. He went close over 2000m at Greyville but has also earned over as short as 1000m, so he should enjoy this trip. Curious has some fair form over this trip and Khumalo sticks with him. Opening Gambit comes off a fair second over 1600m on Saturday but he was beaten 2,5 lengths by Curious when they last met over this course and distance, which was in soft ground. Trend Master should go close if Bravo One wins the previous race as he was just half-a-length behind him over this course and distance in soft ground in early January. Bassam looks capable of improving and should relish the step up in trip.

In the first leg of the jackpot Curvation is capable of a strong finish and got there just too late over this 1600m trip this time after being dropped out from a wide draw. Going down the straight will make her task easier. The Flower Alley filly Fire Flower is interesting after making a decent debut over 1200m as she should relish the step up to a mile. Rock You also has decent form and should go close despite not having raced for 86 days. 

In the sixth over 2400m Before Noon just failed in his penultimate start when flying up over this trip after being dropped out from a wide draw.  The horse who beat him, Imperial Ruby, has come out and won since. Gold Griffin was well beaten by Imperial Ruby in a race won by Out Of Your League but last time out he beat Out Of Your League. Warren Kennedy stays aboard and he carries just 52kg. Odd Rob is always a must include in staying events as he has class on his day. Pilgrim’s Progress and Fife are the only two females in the race and are both well weighted. However, the former is out of form. The latter can be included. Major Return, Palace Green and Mr Greenlight are worth considering too.

The seventh over 1400m looks to be a match race between Rock The Globe, who finished third in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes last season, and the up and the progressive filly Isle De France. The former gets the vote but both can be included in the Pick 6.

In the next race the enigmatic Perfact is doing well with blinkers on and might well relish the slight step down in trip as she has been racing strongly over 1600m and placing. The enigmatic Lazarus Tree could have it go his way over a course and distance he has won over. Bockscar is unreliable but can turn it on his day and can’t be ignored. Liberado, Windy Flight and Pop Icon should also be considered.

In the last race over 1400m Encryption has been catching the eye over 1200m and should enjoy the step up in trip. Westwing Belter has shown signs of class and has her easiest task for some time over a suitable trip. 

By David Thiselton

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

Bernard Fayd’Herbe has been given a compliment by the handicappers who, in a press release explaining their adjustments to the merit ratings following last Saturday’s big Kenilworth meeting, said that they raised Selangor Jet Master winner Crown Towers from 103 to 109.

They added: “Crown Towers actually achieved a mark of 112 but we felt that he may well be flattered by this mark and we attributed the performance to an enterprising ride from Fayd’Herbe.”

Crown Towers’ trainer Justin Snaith is expecting what he calls “a monster day” on Saturday when he runs Strathdon (Richard Fourie) and Swift Surprise (Anthony Andrews) in the Kenilworth Cup.

He made this prediction after springing a 20-1 shock with August Leaves (Craig Zackey) in the first at Kenilworth yesterday and apparently the gelding came close to adding his name to those recent ‘sold without engagement’ scratchings.

Snaith said: “We had a few offers from Mauritius and it was 50:50 whether to sell but owner Michael de Broglio said it was not that lucrative a price and we had waited this long for the horse to go over ground.”

Devin Ashby was out of luck on his only ride yesterday but he has come in for praise from Eric Sands for his handling of Cape Derby winner Golden Ducat in his work at home. “Devin is a horseman who is much under-rated,” said Eric Sands. “He and Golden Ducat’s groom Lucky are probably the only ones to have sat on the horse and he has done a great job with him as well as with the reschooling of Rainbow Bridge.”

Ashby rides Lady Of The Lake for Sands I the 1 400m handicap on Saturday.

By Michael Clower

It’s beginning to look as if Halfway To Heaven’s achievement in producing a Group 1 winner – or equivalent big race winner in the days before the Pattern was introduced – from each of her first three foals could be a world record.

Charles Faull, widely regarded as the most knowledgeable pedigree expert in the country, says the Rainbow Bridge, Hawwaam, Golden Ducat feat is definitely a first in South Africa and so far his researches have not shown up anything to match it around the world.

Toussaud had four Group 1 winners from her first six foals and Hasili (dam of Dansili) had three from her first four and five in all, but Faull has yet to find one that has had three from her first three offspring.

It is perhaps appropriate that Halfway To Heaven’s three winners were bred by Mary Slack and her daughter Jessica Jell because they are as well bred as any of their horses. They are the daughter and granddaughter of Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer who bred and raced a string of July winners as well as the legendary Horse Chestnut.

For good measure Golden Ducat races in the famous black, scarlet cap colours that were carried to victory by Royal Palace in the Epsom Derby and by Maori Venture in the Grand National. They were bequeathed to Mrs Slack by Jim Joel, a De Beers director who had engraved on his tombstone this quote from the Psalms: ‘Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord!”

By Michael Clower

It has been a long time between drinks for the filly Railtrip, almost a year to the day since her last win, but that could change at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today where she lines up in the Track & Ball Gaming Handicap over 2400m.

However, the race is just a taste of what punters can expect with trainers having lined up in numbers with nine races on a packed programme. Seven runners are quoted between 4-1 and 8-1 in a 10-horse field which should give punters some indication of what they are up against.

Weak 4-1 favourite Twice Golden was a comfortable winner first up out of the maidens but hit a wall when stepping up in class, fading out to finish over 10 lengths back to Blackball in a competitive handicap. However, today he does have the benefit of a 4kg claimer aboard and is proven over the course and distance which adds to his appeal.

While Twice Golden’s handicap rating has been on the up, Railtrip’s has been on the decline and from a career high of 100, she steps out as a 90 today. That said, she will not have it easy as only stable companion Just Cruised In carries more pudding over a distance that the filly tries for the first time. Warren Kennedy has opted for Railtrip in preference to Just Cruised In, and that choice could prove significant.

Merlin From Berlin is in good form since being tried in blinkers and can go in again but there should be little between him and stable companion Paybackthemoney with a neck separating them the last time they met.

There are no obvious exotic bet bankers on the card but if Keep On Dancing takes to the turf she could get the Pick 6 off to a good start. Wendy Whitehead’s filly improved markedly on her debut and from a good draw should at least be competitive. Justadoreher showed up well last start and appears to have come to hand and the extra furlong should suit. Fateful Mistress and To The Max also make appeal.

Jet Lignite, runner up at his last two, most recently over course and distance, and Double Gemini could possibly prove the pick in the Greyville Convention Centre Maiden over 2400m. The form in maiden races over ground is generally weak and these two stand out in a modest field.

The seventh is the proverbial minefield. First Sighting was a narrowly beaten favourite last run and with a four-claiming apprentice up she has a light weight. Coyote Girl seldom runs a bad race and over her best trip she has a strong chance again. Bella Ballerina was much improved in blinkers last run and that form has held up while Miss Marmalade won well on debut. She is a half-sister to Halfway To Heaven, dam of Rainbow Bridge, Hawaam and Saturday’s Derby winner Golden Ducat, so may need a touch further.

It often pays to take note of horses on the drop as far as merit ratings go and Highveld raider Chipofftheoldblok could pay to follow in the eighth. He has been up against stronger on the Highveld but his rating has dropped ten points in his last four starts and he now looks competitive off his new mark.  Sea Sponge is consistent and goes well over this trip and he may be the horse to beat.

The ninth is another coin-toss but Master Tobe was a recent maiden winner but has made steady improvement. He meets a weak field here and the step up in trip could see further improvement. Storm Ruler is a five-time winner that has dropped to a more competitive mark and was much improved last run. He needs to repeat. Rasputin’s Remedy had his consistency rewarded with his maiden win last time out. He can feature prominently in this field.

By Andrew Harrison