Andrew Harrison

GARTH PULLER was on Monday officially crowned KZN’s Champion Trainer but he will be more concerned with the performance of Captain Fontane that lines up in the last on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.

Captain Fontane’s roundabout from Puller’s stable, to quarantine and possible export to Hong Kong, and back is well documented and the unbeaten gelding gets another chance to cement his burgeoning reputation.

Unbeaten in three starts, the first two before quarantine eliciting rave reviews, Captain Fontane made a workmanlike return to the track when holding off Hooves Of Troy in a 1200m sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in early July.

The winning margin was less than a length but Ashton Arries, in the saddle again this afternoon, made light work of the finish, giving just enough to get the job done.

It was a copybook workout for a horse that had not seen a racetrack in eleven months and there should be much more to come. He goes 1400m for the first time and on the poly for the first time, but asked post-race if his charge would go any further, Puller was emphatic. “He’ll go a mile on his coconut.”

Today’s race will provide a searching test and some indication of Captain Fontane’s true ability as he takes on some useful opposition.

The Robbie Hill-trained Petra is a five-time winning mare who may also have just needed her last outing when finishing strongly behind Light That Loose. She will also appreciate the step up in trip.

Shane Humby has battled a foot abscess with Mr Fitz but appears to have got on top of the problem and the stable is showing signs of an up-tick in form.  Quick Star is always dangerous and his light weight from a good draw will be an advantage while Hard To Play, Good Rhythm, Sniper Shot and Williams Land will be no push-overs.

Shavout and Sir Michael are the best weighted in the seventh and look set to fight this one out. MJ Odendaal has always had high regard for his charge and Shavout’s only poor run was in The Dingaans where nothing went to plan.

He has shown strong form in good company of late, third to Crown Towers in The Sledgehammer at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and a two-length third to the smart filly She’s A Keeper in the WSB 1900.

More recently he was a touch unlucky behind Gentleman’s Wager.

It may all depend on which Sir Michael pitches up on the day. Dean Kannemeyer’s charge has been costly to follow and the form behind Do It Again in a Pinnacle Stakes is beginning show a few leaks after Sir Michael took the knee to Ralph The Rascal when odds-on followed by a well below par effort behind Captain Tatters. However, he may well be looking for this extended trip. Either way he looks the biggest threat to Shavout.

Of the balance, African Sunrise is struggling to win again but gives the impression that he could pop up when least expected.

Jacob’s Ladder lost form after his narrow maiden win, but Louis Goosen appears to have got on top of whatever was the problem as the gelding tuned in a much-improved performance when runner-up at long odds last time out.  He may now be showing what he’s capable off and a repeat will see him close again.

Owner Rob Haswell will be hoping that Let Em Go will have put in a good showing for Pietermaritzburg’s Track and Ball ‘Three Musketeer’s’ in the second but Uplifted does appear to have a better chance in the sixth as the gelding has been close-up in both starts since his maiden win. The tongue-tie goes on and he should have a strong chance with this weight.

RACE  1: 8 SHIELD MAIDEN   2 PRINCESS SABRINA   3 WINTER JOURNEY   6 RIDE THE LIGHTNING

Preview: SHIELD MAIDEN (8) made the required improvement at her second start and should be ready for this. PRINCESS SABRINA (2) was narrowly beaten at her last two on the poly and now switches to the turf. She must still have a big chance. WINTER JOURNEY (3) has shown flashes of ability while RIDE THE LIGHTNING (6) improves with each outing. (Andrew Harrison: 8-2-6-3).

RACE  2: 1 BRISTOLBEAUFIGHTER   12 COIN SPINNER   5 PASHTUNWALI   2 MY LORD AND MASTER

Preview: BRISTOLBEAUFIGHTER (1) takes a major drop in trip but has shown some promise. He has the best of the draw here and can still improve. COIN SPINNER (12) made a smart debut but has not been out since April – that and a wide draw are a concern. PASHTUNWALI (5) raced green on debut and should come on from that. MY LORD AND MASTER (2) is struggling for his first win but his best recent effort has been over this distance and the stable appears to have turned a corner. (Andrew Harrison: 1-12-5-2).

RACE  3: 4 MASHARI   2 DESOLATE ROAD   8 GIMME A RAINBOW   9 PARKTOWN

Preview: A few were due to run at Scottsville last Sunday. MASHARI (4) has been knocking at the door of late. Goes well this course and distance. DESOLATE ROAD (2) found his best form last run although it was on the poly. He should be good enough in this field. GIMME A RAINBOW (8) sprints well and has been in good form on the poly. PARKTOWN (9) has his first run for a new stable. Not the easiest ride but can go close at best. (Andrew Harrison: 4-2-8-9).

RACE  4: 1 ROHA   3 UMKOMAZI   4 MARIA COROLINA   6 TIME TO ROLL

Preview: ROHA (1) took on much stronger last Highveld run. Down in class with corresponding rise in weight but should go close from a good draw. UMKOMAZI (3) has shown up well in both starts since shedding her maiden. Only win this course. MARIA COROLINA (4) has consistent form to weaker, all her recent form on the poly. TIME TO ROLL (6) showed some improvement from a wide draw racing in ear-muffs. One to watch. (Andrew Harrison: 1-3-4-6).

RACE  5:  7 ELECTRIC SURGE   3 SILVER MARIA   1 MAMA PYJAMA   5 GARDINIA

Preview: Open race. ELECTRIC SURGE (7) has shown good recent form in strong company. She will have a bright chance. SILVER MARIA (3) has been knocking on the door for her past few starts. She steps up in trip and has a handy weight. MAMA PYJAMA (1) ran well below form in a feature last start. But was close-up prior to that. She will be competitive on her best effort. GARDINIA (5) was due to run on Sunday. Step up in trip should suit if she runs. (Andrew Harrison: 7-3-1-5).

RACE  6: 6 JACOBS LADDER   4 UPLIFTED   5 QUERARI’S COWBOY   10 SPACE NEWS

Preview: JACOB’S LADDER (6) was much improved last run and may now be showing what he’s capable off. A repeat will see him close again. UPLIFTED (4) has been close-up in both starts since his maiden win. The tongue-tie goes on and he should have a strong chance with this weight. QUERARI’S COWBOY (5) has been taking on slightly stronger of late. His best recent form has been on the poly which is of concern. SPACE NEWS (10) can do better than his last run and has a money chance. (Andrew Harrison: 6-4-5-10).

RACE  7: 1 SHAVOUT   8 SIR MICHAEL   7 AFRICAN SUNRISE   9 SEA MASTER

Preview: SHAVOUT (1) is fairly well weighted in this line-up and has the form to go with it. He should be right there. SIR MICHAEL (8) has been costly to follow but may well be looking for this extended trip. He looks the biggest threat. AFRICAN SUNRISE (7) is struggling to win again but always threatens. He has it tough at these weights. SEA MASTER (9) came good back in blinkers. His consistency was rewarded last run. (Andrew Harrison: 1-8-7-9).

RACE  8: 6 CAPTAIN FONTANE   7 PETRA   3 QUICK STAR   5 HARD TO PLAY

Preview: CAPTAIN FONTANE (6) goes around the turn for the first time but appears to be way above average. He needed his last run but takes on much stronger here. PETRA (7) takes on males but is smart on her day and she may just have needed her last outing. QUICK STAR (3) is always dangerous and his light weight from a good draw will be an advantage. HARD TO PLAY (5) is coming down in the ratings but is never far back. (Andrew Harrison: 6-7-3-5).

David Thiselton

The Vaal Classic track stages an interesting meeting comprising of eight maiden races today.

The first over 1000m Lulu’s Boy showed fine gatespeed and early pace last time when having a tough low draw over 1160m at Turffontein. He then stayed on well to finish second, beaten one length by the hard-knocking Who’s That Star, with the rest of the field 3,50 lengths further back. He should enjoy the step down to 1000m and he has placed five times over this trip before. Kaptein Martiens was 1,55 lengths behind him the last time they met over this trip but has plenty of scope and could improve enough to be a threat. Frontline Fighter showed pace last time over 1000m but found no extra late so will be vulnerable in the closing stages, although the current fast conditions will make him dangerous. Maraca Ginger has only a quarter of a length to make up on Frontline Fighter. Stepintospring is by King Chapel and is a full-brother to the competitive four-time winning sprinter Pillaroftheearth but there has been no significant market support for him yet.

In the second over 1000m Abalus will be suited to this trip having shown pace over 1200m last time before being run out of it. She has finished second in her last five starts including twice over this trip. Mary Kate is an interesting first-timer and could chase Abalus home. She is by Global View and is a half-sister to the five-time-winning Eastern Cape sprinter Mary O’Reilly. Quick Run and Smelting have good enough form to be threats. Stolen Kiss beat Abalus when the latter made her debut but has not run since May 8 so might need this.

The first-timers might dominate the third race over 1200m. Cosmic Rush is by Wylie Hall out of Cape four-time-winning sprinter to 1400m mare Cosmic Flower (National Emblem). Magnum P I is by Elusive Fort and is a half-brother to seven-time winning handicapper Battle Creek. Rafanetti, a half-brother to the Grade 3-winning stayer Masai Warrior, is by Futura out of an unplaced Jallad maiden who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Natural Selection. The best of the raced runners are Coming In Hot and Samuel Salt and the former can be included in the PA alongside Cosmic Rush and Magnum P I, whilst the best way to play the Pick 6 could be just to include all four of the raced runners.  

Icy Night has some pace in the context of the next race over 1200m and jumps from a plum draw.  Namibsroos and Amazon Orchid have the potential to show more and can be included as raced horses in the Pick 6. The first-timers do not make a lot of appeal. Hydrangea is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a three-time-winning USA-bred Dixieland Band mare who has not produced a winner from two runners to date. Tripplethetigress is by Where’s That Tiger and is a half-sister to a What A Lover who won second time out over 1000m at Kenilworth having finished third behind Missisippi Burning on debut.

In the next race over 1700m Nice Move caught the eye on debut as a big, rangy sort with plenty of scope. He is by Visionaire out of the Grade 1-winning sprint-miler On Her Toes so he should enjoy this trip up on pedigree too. He looks to be a banker in all exotics. 

In the sixth race over 1700m Joe Harman has been knocking on the door over 1800m and gets a good opportunity to record a win. Secret Link is an interesting runner as he was not at all disgraced last time in a fair field over 1400m and he should enjoy this step up in trip on pedigree being by Galileo stallion Global View and a half-brother to 2000m winner Interstate. Bit Of Fun is also an interesting runner as he took a good hold in front over 2000m last time before finishing a well beaten third and he should enjoy the step down in trip. Those three should be enough to get through the exotics and for wider Mister Blue Sky and Passing Shot can be considered.

In the seventh over 1500m Lingamore looks to have plenty of scope and can build on her 1400m fifth where she had no cover throughout. She does have a tricky draw but if finding cover should mow them down in the closing stages.  There are two interesting first-timers. Dame Of Flames is by Futura out of a four-time winning Listed runner up by Jet Master and Hewitson is an interesting booking.  Miss Otis is by Judpot and is thus a three-parts sister to Grade 1 winner Along Came Polly (Judpot), who is a half-sister to Miss Otis’s one-time winning Gimmethegreenlight dam. Ontheverge is the early favourite but will have to improve on her moderate third over 1200m last time and the jury will be out on her stamina capacity as she is by miler Where’s That Tiger out of a Toreador sprinter. Eshraaq is interesting as he is big and rangy and was outpaced over 1200m on debut and will relish this step up on trip, so he can be included in wider exotics.

In the last race over 1500m the hard-knocking Flinders Range is proving moderate but has a shout in this uninspiring field. Leeson looks to have scope for improvement after staying on from a tough low draw over 1200m on debut. JP Two Thousand made a fair debut, although not a convincing one, and he will be suited to this step up in trip on pedigree being by Elusive Fort and a half-brother to a couple of winners over 1600m. First-timer Rosso Corsa is by Querari out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and is a half-brother to the like of winners Imperial Ruby and Ragoon. Twosidestoastory has shown enough to also be considered here.  

David Thiselton

THE 1984 Durban July winner Devon Air has been in the news lately as a typically tough and classy English-bred whose influence in South Africa continues to be felt and there is good story behind her purchase told by the man who found her, Durban Bloodstock Agent Andy Williams, who was also behind the great stallion Foveros’s import to SA.

Williams had attended the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with a number of SA industrymen in 1981 and on that same trip they attended a meeting at Ascot which featured the Group 3 Hoover Fillies Mile, a two-year-old event which is a Group 1 held at Newmarket these days.

The Queen’s huge filly Height Of Fashion won the race to remain unbeaten as a two-year-old and she went on to win the Group 2 Princess Of Wales Stakes in record-breaking fashion before producing the great Nashwan at stud as well as the like of Unfuwain and Nayef. 

However, the horse who caught Williams eye in the Fillies Mile was a big bay maiden called Devon Air who ran on strongly to be beaten about 2.5 lengths into fourth. This contradicts previous reports that Devon Air’s UK form had been “dismal”, although she did not build on that form and remained a maiden throughout the following season.

Williams attended a sale at Newmarket a year of so later and noticed Devon Air going through the ring unsold.

He recalled, “She was trained by a guy called Jack Cann, who was largely a jumps trainer and had not trained a winner on the flat for over a year.”

SA breeder Robin Scott of Scotts Brothers was at the Sale and Williams approached him advising him to buy the filly. 

Williams said, “In those days breeders Mick Goss and the Scott Brothers etc were attempting to improve the quality of SA-bred broodmare and had certain criteria. Females who did not have a black type dam or who were not black type themselves did not qualify and you couldn’t bring in a maiden.”

Robin was initially sceptical and Williams recalled him saying ‘But her timeform rating is only 69.'”

However, Williams knew this horse was better than her recent form suggested and persisted. 

Robin’s brother Des, who has always been more interested in racing than breeding, was ultimately contacted on the telephone from the Sales grounds. 

Williams continued, “Des asked me what her rating was and I replied 96. He said ok then buy her.”

Williams was questioned by colleagues about the white lie and he replied, “If he ever asks me I will just tell him I’m dyslexic!”

Des and Robin sent Devon Air to Cape trainer Terrance Millard.

Her first SA start was in a B Division event over 1900m at Milnerton on July 16, 1983, and carrying just 49kg she won by eleven lengths.

She arrived in Durban for the 1984 winter season with a further two wins under her belt, including a 13 length demolition job in a 2400m Listed event. She had followed the latter race with a third place finish in the Met, beaten just 1,75 length by the great Wolf Power with Spanish Pool second.

In Durban Devon Air recorded a famous Greyville hattrick, winning the Grade 2 Republic Day Handicap over 1900m by 3,25 lengths, the July by 1,25 lengths and the Gold Cup by 4,5 lengths. The Scott Brothers has previously  bred July winner Politician and Des made it three July wins in 1990 as part-owner of the great Millard-trained Illustrador.    

At stud Devon Air produced two stakes winners with her first two foals but then went off the boil and was sold to Zimbabwe in 1996. However, her daughter Bushgirl, born in 1999, has produced Grade 1 winner August Rush (Var) and stakes winner Miss October (Var) and the latter has produced Grade 1 winner Tempting Fate and the promising October Song, so Devon Air’s influence lives on.  

The Scott Brothers stood the great eight-times SA Champion Sire Foveros and Williams was also behind his import.

He recalled being at a sale at Newmarket and stumbling into the bar out of knee deep snow and ordering a brandy and coke to warm up. Next to him at the bar counter, watching this freezing person trying to adapt to his first experience of snow, was trainer Clive Brittain and after striking up a conversation he invited Williams to visit his yard the next day.

Brittain brought Foveros out during the visit and described him as “disappointing after running a Group 1 second and he was now for sale.”

Williams was impressed by the magnificent bay, who was owned by shipping magnate Captain Marcos Lemos, and with a purchase price of 120,000 pounds he had soon put a SA syndicate together. The majority share was held together by Brian Moore and the British-born Zimbabwean, Jim Redman, a famous motorcycle racer who won six world championships in all.

Herman Brown Snr trained Foveros and his SA racing career started colourfully. He won the Grade 2 Germiston November Handicap in his fourth start but was led in by an unknown lady. It turned out that the naive Redman had sold shares in Foveros to various friends “under the lap” and the stipendiary stewards consequently withheld the stakes money. Williams came to the rescue and told Redman to inform them he had sold them breeding shares, a story the stewards accepted and the stakes money was paid out.

Foveros, as an official six-year-old, won his next three starts, all Grade 1s, the Hawaai Stakes, the Queen’s Plate and The Met.

Foveros initially stood in the Cape before being moved to Scott Brothers in the KZN Midlands.

Williams was also behind Foveros’s father Averof being imported to stand at Broadlands stud where he produced four Grade 1 winners, Pedometer, who won the Sun International by an astonishing 14 lengths, Priceless Assett, Dynamite Lady and Milleverof.  

Andrew Harrison

The weather could play a leading role at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today if the predictions of some early spring rain materialise. However, the early forecast of 35mm plus for today has dwindled to 16mm – if only we could keep changing our selections!

Paul Peter hasn’t quite made it to the top of the tree as yet, finishing runner-up to Justin Snaith in the national championship and third the previous season, but over the past few years his stable has become a formidable force, boosted by the likes of Triple Tiara champion Summer Pudding.

He makes the trip to Scottsville tomorrow where Warrior Captain and Space Race can pay their way for the stable. Warrior Captain makes his seasonal debut in the sixth where he faces some useful older sprinters in what will be a searching test of his ability.

Warrior Captain was rested after a well below par run in the SA Nursery behind the filly Sheela. However, he did show smart early toe that day before hanging out under pressure, an indication that all was not well.

His form prior to that run was promising and Peter is sure to have him back and firing.

Should he not run up to expectations, then there are a host of runners there to take advantage. Winter Flight improved nicely second time out for his new stable and with a claimer up can make the necessary improvement. Blaze Of Silk loves this course and distance and there should not be much between Princekresh, who got a hefty four-point shunt up the ratings for his last win which could be enough to compromise his chances, and second-placed Fly The Coup cannot be written off lightly. Di Mazzio moved up like it was ‘race-over’ at his last run on the poly but was run out of it late while Sir Pom is another to consider.

In the seventh, Peter saddles Space Race who arrives with some consistent Highveld form over the trip and was a beaten favourite last run when in first-time blinkers but finding one better. She does tend to lack extra when it matters which could leave the way open for the likes of Arctic Princess.

Gary Rich’s mare was narrowly beaten over course and distance last start when back on the turf and was closing quickly on the winner. She is useful on her day and a repeat will see her go close again. My Saving Grace has been up against stronger since shedding her maiden and has done well on this course.

In the opening leg of the Pick 6, Path To Fortune improved nicely when going a bit of ground last start. She is well drawn and should make further improvement. Go Sandals is lightly raced but caught the eye last run over course and distance. This will her third run after a break and should strip at her peak.

The next is a minefield but Fort Wylie has run two smart recent races on this course and now has a 4kg claimer up which could make the difference. Duquesne Whistle is also holding form and is course suited and these two could be the ones to fight it out.

There are many in with chances in the fifth. Macara showed lots of promise for Wendy Whitehead , winning three of her first five starts, before a lengthy break. You could not read too much into her recent comeback sprint and she should much prefer this trip.  Twicethequality boasts some promising Cape form and has her first outing for a new stable. She has a handy weight and can feature while Gardinia had her last win over a sprint but showed up well when tried over a little ground last start and rates a strong chance.

The last could rest between Northern Warrior and Radames. Northern Warrior has been up against much stronger at recent outings and the extra should suit. With a 4kg claimer up he must have a strong chance. Radames took time to shed his maiden but that form has since been franked and he was consistent before that.