Gary Alexander landed the eleventh four-timer of his career last Saturday at Turffontein and is now eyeing the Vodacom Durban July with two of his stalwarts, Chijmes and Hero’s Honour.

He has other feature race dates in mind for the like of Saragon, Magic School, Just Kidding and Gaian Glory and believes General Jackson can also make the step up to feature class.

Alexander believes both Chijmes and Hero’s Honour will be ideally suited to Greyville as they both have the ability to quicken from handy positions.

Hero’s Honour, who is a five-year-old gelding by Await The Dawn out of a Galileo mare, won the SA Derby two seasons ago but did not winter well that season so did not run in the July.

However, the race he won recently is a good starting point from which to have another tilt.

Chijmes is by the sprint-miler Ato out of a Russian Revival miler called Sophie’s Choice.

However, he has a nice big stride and found extra on Saturday over 1800m when challenged in the final 150m by the decent performers Divine Odyssey and Al Mutawakel.

On that evidence he could get the Greyville 2200m trip.

Alexander said there were plenty of other options for this pair in the SA Champions Season, including the Grade 1 Champions Cup.

Alexander has always thought a lot of the Ideal World mare Saragon, who has now won four of her 14 states. He is considering two Grade 1 events for her, the HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes and the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes, both over a mile. This mare has a fine turn of foot.

The three-year-old Visionaire filly Just Kidding took on the boys on Tuesday in the Egoli Mile at the Vaal and finished second carrying 54,5kg.

She had earlier finished third in the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup.

She could have a couple of SA Champions Season targets and so could the three-year-old Philanthropist filly Magic School.

The latter finished second to Frosted Gold in the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m and finished a narrow third against her own gender in the Grade 3 Three Troikas Stakes over that same Turffontein Standside course and distance.

She was unplaced in last Wednesday night’s Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas but nothing went right for her. She was drawn wide and then missed the break. She moved up well in the straight but the effect of the slow start told. However, she was still only 5,25 lengths back at the line.

She will take her place in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and Alexander believed she would have no problem getting the 1800m trip as she “settles so well”.

Three-year-old Gaian Glory is by Visionaire and is a half-sister to Chijmes. She finished second in the Ready To Run Cup and followed that with a far from disgraced sixth place finish to the top class Ikigai in the Grade 2 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1400m.

Alexander’s run on Saturday began with an easy five length win for General Jackson in a maiden over 1600m and he believed this three-year-old Jackson gelding could improve enough to be aimed at a minor feature soon.

He won the next three races on the card with Fierce Fighter (maiden plate over 2600m), Chijmes and Saragon.

However, this feat does not constitute a yard best. Had two six-timers in the mid-1990s, including once on an eight race card.

He has 70 horses in his yard and concluded, “We have a well balanced string. Chijmes, Hero’s Honour and Saragon are relatively lightly raced so are still fresh horses and we have some above average younger horses.” 

By David Thiselton

Carl Burger has finally lost his long-running battle with ill-health and he was buried yesterday at the age of 60.

The former Philippi trainer had his biggest success when Richard Fourie rode Grey Cossack to victory in the Gold Vase on Durban July day in 2011 – and the win meant rather more to him than it would have done to most trainers in similar circumstances.

“Greyville was my home town, I was born in a hospital nearby and I went to school down the road from the course,” he was to recall. He often played truant to attend the mid-week meetings – “the teachers would go there to look for me on Wednesdays and even as a schoolboy my dream was to have a winner there.”

It was a long time coming. He worked as a farrier from 1980 to 1984 and then joined Metrorail as an electrical fitter “although I was still always going to the races.”

He went on to work as a commodity dealer and was also involved in boxing promotion. But the call of racing was never far away and he worked for Herman Brown snr, Weiho Marwing and Selvan Moodley before setting up on his own account in 2009. Grey Cossack’s win at 13-1 in the following year’s Durbanville Cup was his first feature.

He was one of the first in Cape Town to train for Braam van Huyssteen who was part-owner of Grey Cossack. However his string remained relatively small and, while he shrugged off his increasing health problems, they struck with horrifying vengeance in July 2016. A fortnight after having a quadruple heart bypass operation he had to have his left leg amputated below the knee.

Riaan van Reenen came to the rescue by offering a training partnership (“What are friends for if you are not there for them when they need you?”). It seemed an unlikely combination – two outspoken men each with their own firm views about most things, including how horses should be trained. But for two seasons it worked well before Burger decided he could not continue. Thereafter he was seldom seen on the racecourse.

Van Reenen, who probably knew him better than anyone, said on the way to yesterday’s funeral: “Carl wore his heart on his sleeve and he spoke without thinking of the repercussions but he had a kind heart.

”He also had a great passion for German Shepherd dogs (he had six of them) as well as for horses and indeed for all animals – he couldn’t bear to see any of them suffer. He will be sorely missed.”

By Michael Clower

There is an eight race meeting on the Vaal straight track tomorrow and there are one or two opportunities for punters.  

In the first race over 1200m, Soul Connection ran on over 1000m last time for third and Piere Strydom staying aboard is a good sign. Fists Of Fire moved up well last time over this trip last time but appeared to tire late and if that was the case he will be one to look out for going over 1000m.

However, the experienced connections have read it that he idled in front as they are fitting him with blinkers and if they are right he could well be the one to beat. Zig Zag has shown signs of ability and could improve further to earn a cheque.  

In the second race over 2000m Imperial Ruby has not been disgraced in his last two over 2400m and 1800m respectively behind two useful sorts. That last effort was in the Listed Secretariat Sakes and he has copped a harsh eight point raise. He consequently has to carry 61kg so it won’t be easy but Warren Kennedy is aboard which is a bonus. Diorama is a progressive filly who won well over this trip last time. She might have the SA Oaks on her agenda if defying the handicapper again here, but it is never easy against the boys. Christopher Robin has gone close over this trip recently despite being out of a speedy mare.

In the third race Wylie Wench is by the promising sire Wylie Hall and she was very green when going close on debut over 1000m. She should know more about it this time and hopefully won’t be surveying the scenery as she was in that last start and she should also appreciate the step up to 1200m. Persica has speed and could be a threat if getting a better start than last time. Sexy Cinderella also has some pace and is capable of staying on in to the frame.

In the fourth race over 1000m Arikel has earned a cheque in four out of five starts over this course and distance, although none of those were wins. It could change tomorrow as she comes out well on formlines. Hear The Trumpet has come into her own and goes for a hattrick. She proved last time she is effective over this trip when producing a strong late run. Gavin Lerena stays aboard which is a good sign, but it will be tough off a five point higher merit rating. Towards The Sun won her maiden well over this course and distance. It was in her eighth start, but she had bumped some fair company before that without being disgraced and she starts handicapping off a lenient merit rating of 67. Wings Of Honour is half-a-kilogram better off with Hear The Trumpet for a quarter if a length beating, so there should be nothing in it. However, she did make a respiratory noise last time, although on the plus side Warren Kennedy now takes the ride. Scarlet Tiger looked promising when winning her maiden in the July of her two-year-old year by 4,50 lengths over this trip. She has been well beaten in a Grade 2 feature and an ordinary handicap since then. However, she was laid off for 159 days after the latter start and in her return she can’t be ignored off a mark which has come down eight points considering she also has a 4kg claimer aboard. 

The fifth is a Progress Plate over 1100m and Benji could follow up on his last win over 1200m. He has always been well regarded and looks to have benefited from the layoff he was given. He now has his peak run and although this is a lot tougher he should give a good account of himself. On the downside he only beat Smoke by 0,30 lengths in that last race and is now 1kg worse off with him, which might not augur well as Smoke is hopelessly out at the weights here. However, Smoke did have some decent earlier form before a long layoff so might be coming back into his own. Epic Dream is 3kg better off with Benji for a 0,30 length beating so this horse, who struck as a decent sort from day one, can continue his recent good run of form. Land Of The Brav has pace and the ability to stay on so will be a threat. Captain And Master has a been a disappointing sort overall but as one who has sometimes overraced over further he is interesting running fresh over this trip as he does have class. What You Are is the best weighted and this is an easier task than she faced in Cape Town but it would appear she would prefer further.

In the sixth over 1600m Rooi Tom disappointed over 1400m last time but if repeating his previous start over this he will go close, especially considering he has a 2,5kg claimer up. Ice Lord won his first two starts over this trip and wasn’t disgraced last time over 1800m considering the winner was the classy Youcanthurrylove. Waqaas can do better than last time when failing to overcome a wide draw over this trip.

In the seventh over 1600m Destiny’s Game has shown ability over this trip and this consistent sort looks the one to beat on form. Now You See Me goes very well for Piere Strydom and is distance suited so should go close. Wordyness won well last time over this trip and the form was franked when Littlewood came out and won yesterday. Circle Of Latitude can never be discounted. Soul Of Wit ran a good race over this trip last time and also has a shout. 

In the last race over 1600m Oh Mercy Me has an impressively strong finish and should relish this course and distance. Gavin Lerena stays aboard and she is made a PA banker. The risk averse can also consider Franklin for the Pick 6 as she won her maiden well over 1400m and should relish the step up in trip so could upset running off a reasonable looking merit rating. 

By David Thiselton

Sean Tarry has not yet decided upon a definite path for his Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas winner Ikigai.

Meanwhile, his Dingaans winner Shango had a minor setback which put him out of work for three or four days, causing him to be scratched from the Guineas. However, he is on track for the Grade 1 SA Classic. The promising Cornish Pomodoro had a similar setback and Tarry is also thinking of running him in the SA Classic.

Tarry will nominate Ikigai for the SA Classic, which constitutes the second leg of the SA Triple Crown. 

However, the exciting prospect is looking at this stage to be best suited to a mile, so he will be keeping his options open.

His sire Vercingetorix, who is by stamina influence Silvano, won the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 but Ikigai’s dam Al Shiba, by Al Mufti, was never tried beyond a mile and her siblings were generally sprinter-to-1400m or 1400m-to-miler types.

Ikigai is an athletic colt with a daisy cutting action.

Tarry’s Captain Al filly Victoria Paige was an unlucky third in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas. She ran wide from a draw of 16, although she did have fair cover, and was then baulked for a run from the 200m mark until about the 25m mark. She looked to still have plenty in the tank at the time and did surge in the final 25m when finally getting a clear run. Her mission has always been the SA Triple Tiara. She will be a big threat to Summer Pudding in the second leg, the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m, although the latter will also appreciate the step up in trip.

Tarry had a few interesting runners on Saturday too.

Al Mutawakel wore first time blinkers to try and get him to travel better in the race, but he then probably traveled too well. The blinkers might be tried again before a decision whether to persevere with them is made. Tarry said Al Mutawakel’s main target could well be the Premier’s Champions Challenge on May 2 and an option on the way there is the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes on March 28.

He was pleased with the filly Return Flight’s third place finish over the too sharp 1600m on Saturday. Defending her crown in the Grade Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over 2000m on May 2 is on her radar.

Tarry’s Skit Skizzle colt Tierra Del Fuego made it five wins from his last six starts, beating stable companion Warrior’s Rest in a 1450m event.

Tierra Del Fuego might be targeted at the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m on March 7 and might also take in the weight for age Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m on April 4.

Warrior’s Rest might be aimed at the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m on March 14.

Tilbury Fort ran fifth in a Pinnacle event over 1800m on Saturday and Tarry reckoned the former Summer Cup winner was now back in form. The Colorado King would be an obvious short term target for him.

Meanwhile, Celtic Sea is back in Johannesburg. The Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes, the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint and the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes is her probable big race route.

Chimichuri Run lines up in the Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m at Kenilworth on Saturday. Tarry felt the Cape Flying Championship had not panned out well for Chimichuri Run, but he had been trying his best in the finish. He might run him in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m on May 2 after giving him a Johannesburg pipe opener. The defense of his Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint crown as well as the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint were other probable engagements.

Tarry’s long-time stable star Legal Eagle was moved to the Port Elizabeth yard of Yvette Bremner late last year.

By David Thiselton

The Stephen Moffat yard’s confidence in the R70,000 purchase Rio’s Winter was nearly converted on Wednesday night in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas when she moved up looking the winner before being narrowly denied by the classy and courageous favourite Summer Pudding.

The Oratorio filly had thus repeated the feat of her mother Winter Ade (Western Winter), who finished second in this race for Geoff Woodruff in 2007.

Moffat said she had come out of the race very well and added, “Piere Strydom has no doubt she will stay 1800m, so we will definitely take our chances in the SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1 R1 million race at Turffontein Standside on March 7, also sponsored by Wilgerbosdrift), although I’m not sure about her getting the 2450m SA Oaks trip.”   

Considering her good breeding the price Rio’s Winter was acquired for at the National Yearling Sales in 2018 was a bargain.

Winter Ade was not only a Grade 2 runner up but is also a half-sister to two other stakes placed horses, Autumn Splendour and Count Tassilo.

Moffat recalled, “I liked her so thought I would take a chance.”  

He admitted R70,000 was still a lot to pay for his small yard but believed the reason for the relative lack of interest in her at the Sales was probably due to her size.

He said, “She was a bit on the small side, but I could see she would grow into a lovely big filly.”

Vaal-based Moffat put together a syndicate of friends, whom he confirmed are now “very happy friends.”

The syndicate consists of Clinton Lines, PJ Delport, N Delport, R Delport, S Delport and Stephen Moffat’s wife Julia.

Whereas Winter Ade started at odds of 40/1 in the 2007 Gauteng Fillies Guineas and was beaten 1,75 lengths by Dane Julia, Rio’s Winter was backed in from 18/1 into 9/1.

Moffat said, “I thought she would just about win and she did everything but win.”

The robust filly showed good gatespeed from draw six and Strydom was able to slot in front of Summer Pudding and secure the rail just as they reached the first turn.  

She relaxed well in the box seat.

Strydom kept her covered in the straight on the outside until the 400m mark and then switched inward for her run.

Her resolute finish had taken her level with Summer Pudding by the 100m mark and her momentum looked likely to carry her to victory. 

However, Summer Pudding is full of class and courage and fought back to win by a quarter of a length.

The distance was on the sharp side of Summer Pudding’s Range, so Rio’s Winter is going to have a tough task to reverse form. However, her performance was no fluke. She looks the part and will likely do better than her mother’s seven length tenth in the SA Fillies Classic.

Rio’s Winter showed Moffat how good she was from day one and won her debut in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m last April by three lengths. 

She took her chances in the Grade 2 SA Fillies Nursery and the Grade 1 Alan Robertson and finished unplaced in both.

However, the connections always knew she wanted further.

She won fourth time out this season when stepped up to 1450m in a Graduation Plate for fillies and mares and enjoyed the further step up to a mile last Wednesday.

Her half-sister by Mogok, First Winter, has won over 1800m.

Rio’s Winter has earned R251,900 in stakes so far.

By David Thiselton