David Thiselton THE VAAL CLASSIC track stages an interesting eight race meeting today and there is a potential profit to be made.  The first race is a maiden handicap over 1800m and Joe Harman could be the one to beat. Last time out over this trip he was slow away, perhaps by design from a wide draw, and was last in the running before running on well for a 1,50 length second. His time was 1.02 seconds quicker than the winner of the next race, Crusade To Royalty, who then finished second in her first start out of the maidens.  Futhermore, he is drawn in pole and has the increasingly accomplished Kabelo Matsunyane aboard. Run As One’s pedigree creates a question mark over this trip as he is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Captain Al Grade 3-placed sprinter. However, he is from the family of Gold Cup runner up Noblewood. Furthermore, last time out over 1400m at Turffontein Standside he was outpaced in the early part of the straight but got going late to be beaten 1,70 lengths, suggesting he would enjoy a step up in trip, so he could be dropped out and run on from a wide draw. Parker Getrix is well drawn and if apprentice claims are included he is 4.5kg better off with Joe Harman for 4.5 lengths beating over this trip. If they are not included he is only 2kg better off but he does now have S’Manga Khumalo up. Brenner Pass beat Parker Getrix by three-quarters of a length the last time they met but is now 2kg worse off. However, on 1700m form he has a definite shout here, although he does have a tough draw. Heart Of Harlem ran second with this same 52kg weight last time in a maiden handicap over 1400m and although the jury will be out on his stamina capacity from a pedigree perspective, he is from the Weiho Marwing yard who excel with stayers.   In  the second race, a maiden handicap for fillies over 1800m, Olympic Silk will be hard to beat. She was stepped up to 1700m last time and relished the extra ground, staying on well for second with the rest of the field, which included Parker Getrix, a further 3,50 lengths back. Two winners have come out of that race and she has another plum draw of two with accomplished apprentice Gabriel Pieterse up. Stunning Kitten had the run of the race last time from pole position over 1450m and stayed on late for third after being swamped so looks likely to enjoy this step up on trip and her pedigree confirms that opinion, being by Elusive Fort and a half-sister to Black Minnaloushe gelding Tom ‘N Jerry whose two wins have been over 1600m and 2000m. Shakiru is also a contender as the form of her last race over 1600m has worked out well and she should stay the trip. In the next race over 1200m only five runners have stood their ground and all five can be included in the Pick 6. Topweight Chief Of State looked a picture in the preliminaries last time before an 1160m event and duly ran a good third. He has early pace and can take advantage of his pole position draw. There is not much between Epic Dream and Singfonico and they look the chief threats. However, the other pair Pure State and Theory Of Light are capable of upsetting, with the former dropping in trip after a layoff and the latter having his third run since being moved up from Cape Town. In the next race Super Agra has a lot of pace and is relishing the prevailing fast ground so can make it three on the trot despite being given a six point raise for his last win over 1160m. However, Dockofthebay looks to have some class so could be a threat in his third run after a five-and-a-half month layoff. In the fifth race Informative ran a fair race the last time he went over a sprint and it was in a stronger field than this so he could do well with Yeni up from a fair draw.  Allez Le Bleu is most interesting over 1200m here as she has been kept to 1000m lately despite staying up to 1400m. She ran third off her reduced merit rating last time but she does have a tricky draw. Life Goes On, Iron Mike and Touch Of Fate can also be considered.  In the sixth over 1000m  Seemyvision has everything in her favour, being 1kg better off than any other horse under the Classified Stakes conditions and distance suited.  Florence and Rozara make appeal as the chief dangers. In the seventh over 1450m Me Time will relish the step back up to 1450m and is drawn in pole with Yeni up, although she is three points higher than her last win. The progressive Now You See Me was given an eight point raise for her last 4,25 length doddle so is running off a potentially capped rating and could score the hattrick. Belle Of Belize is also progressive and distance suited. Rouge Allure can be considered for wider and so can Veld Flower, who will find this too sharp but she is a strong handy runner over further and returns from a layoff here.  In the last race over 1450m Florida Keys is in fine form and from pole position will be hard to beat.

David Thiselton

JUSTIN SNAITH was crowned National Champion Trainer for the third time at the end of last season, scoring a personal best 208 winners in the process, and this week he spoke about two issues which he believed were having a negative effect on racing, firstly the date on which the weights are set for the Vodacom Durban July and secondly the African Horse Sickness control measures instituted by national veterinarians which are having a severe impact on the Western Cape equine fraternity.

Snaith said, “The Grade 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge is losing a little of its glitz because a lot of horses are just using it as a preparation and other horses are not running in order to protect their merit rating for the Vodacom Durban July. In the past the Gold Challenge result had no effect on the July weights. An example was Flaming Rock, who won the Challenge (he won the Schweppes Challenge on June 15, three weeks before the July) and was still able to get into the July carrying 52.5kg. I realise this point is debateable because it could make a certain horse a shoe-in at the weights in the July. However, being a racing purist I regard the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate as by far the superior Grade 1 weight for age mile in the country because everybody goes for it, they don’t go in using it as a prep, and the winner is usually fancied to go on and win the Met. On the other hand I don’t run my well weighted July runners in the Gold Challenge, or at least I have to choose which of the two races to target.”

The July weights used to be set before the Gold Challenge and Gold Circle should consider re-instituting that regulation.

When it was in place the Gold Challenge was attracting exceptional fields, which were in fact generally better than the Queen’s Plate fields for the simple reason that three-year-olds are mature enough by the June of any racing season to be lively contenders. 

In 2007, for example, the season’s champion three-year-old Jay Peg ran in the Gold Challenge alongside contemporaries Kildonan, Biarritz and Dynamite Mike and they took on the like of Pocket Power, Succesful Bidder (the winner), Hunting Tower, Jagged Ice, National Spirit and other top older horses. There was not a single three-year-old in the Queen’s Plate that season, although it was run that year on December 30, a week before the Cape Guineas.

A three-year-old did win the Queen’s Plate this year, Jet Dark, but he was only the second sophomore to have won it since Yataghan in 1973, the other one being Gimmethegreenlight in 2012.   

Horses who avoided this year’s Gold Challenge to protect their July weight included Do It Again, Belgarion and Got The Greenlight.

The three-year-olds Kommetdieding, Linebacker and Rascallion, might also have been considered as Gold Challenge entries as an alternative to the Daily News 2000 but it would have been madness to take on Rainbow Bridge and risk a big merit rating raise. 

The Daily News 2000 took place a fortnight before the Gold Challenge, so the three-year-olds could feasibly have run in both races, although this would have been unlikely due to the closeness in time and the drop in trip before stepping up again for the July. 

Snaith went on to speak about the immense obstacles created by the movement restrictions imposed on horses in and out of the Western Cape by state veterinarians due to African Horse Sickness control.

He said the irony was the only region that did not have AHS i.e the Western Cape had become the “whipping boys”.

He spoke on behalf of all members of the Western Cape equine fraternity, including showjumpers, polo players, warmblood breeders and endurance racers.

He said, “I would love to see the export protocols being changed and hope they do, but it is coming at a huge cost for us in the Western Cape while the rest of the country is not effected at all. After ten years it had become costly and after 15 years we are now asking when is the end? If it is going to be ongoing they must come up with a better solution so equine practice can resume as normal. Otherwise I can see there being an uprising in the Western Cape. It is killing equine sports down here. I think it is one of the major influences on the drop in horse population in the Western Cape and they have got to give us some leeway.”

He reiterated, “It not that we don’t want exports. We are just starting to question the practicality of some of the measures being taken when we are not getting any further in export. There are a lot of excuses, some I am sure are valid, I just hope there is some light at the end of the tunnel because it is costing the industry millions.”

Snaith’s purchases from the National Two-year-old sale are currently sitting in quarantine “in the middle of nowhere” waiting to come home to the Western Cape.

He provided another example, pointing out he was unable to move horses from May through July into the Western Cape. Furthermore, once his KZN string was decided upon he was unable to run any of them in any Eastern Cape feature unless he was prepared to quarantine the horse somewhere “in  the middle of nowhere”.

Snaith acknowledged the racing operators had enough of their own concerns but said he was nevertheless disappointed by the lack of support from them in looking for ways to circumvent the restrictions placed on racehorse movement.      

Andrew Harrison

A national championship behind your name opens many doors when it comes to race riding in other jurisdictions. It is not a passport to fame or fortune but given the opportunity it widening one’s horizons is an invaluable lesson in the university of life.

Muzi Yeni was involved in an acrimonious race to the line three season’s back where he blew his chances, giving Lyle Hewitson his first championship and copping a lengthy suspension in a pique of frustration.

Down the lane, newly champion Hewitson suffered the tribulations of the cut throat Hong Kong circuit but also the subsequent highs of Japan.

Hewitson returned home a more accomplished rider and with the pick of some of this country’s top trainer’s strings he cemented a second national championship last season, a further rubber-stamp on his CV.

He was due a return to Japan later this month but the dreaded Covid appears to have put those plans on hold.

A second championship gave further credence to Hewitson’s abilities and it’s all on the line this season for Warren Kennedy.

Kennedy landed the Championship following Hewitson’s overseas stint and was also planning a tilt at an international career, but that is also on hold given the global Covid mess. Kennedy has ‘pinged’ the gate in the first month and boasts a substantial lead but with 11 months of the season to run nothing is guaranteed.

Yeni was successful in the first three races at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday, the first two for Kom Naidoo and another polished ride on Var Aglow for visiting Candice Dawson to land the first three on the card.

The amiable Naidoo has the largest string in Ashburton and is never shy to take on the big guns. The late scratching of the favourite Ancient Epic in the first will have made things a tad easier for Future Princess although the 20-length defeat at her previous start in a feature will have put many off, hence the generous starting odds.

Naidoo’s filly Aunty Lizzy had similar credentials after a fair showing in The Debutante on July day and the drop in class was all that she needed as she quickened away from her field to win as she liked.

Crimson Causeway looked to have a lot in her favour when taking on males in the fourth but all went awry at the start as blew the gate and then had to check. She finished a game third as Irontail ran her out of it while Different Face showed pace before being swamped as Herecomestherain, ridden to perfection by Keagan de Melo, quickened out of the pack to win comfortably.

Shane Humby is patient, his owners more patient than Job, but patience paid dividends as the seven-year-old gelding Double Gemini took them on from the jump and kept the opposition all gasping for air as Donovan Dillon kept him hard to his task in the seventh.

David Thiselton

THE VAAL CLASSIC track stages an eight race meeting today where there should be some opportunities for punters. 

The meeting starts with an uninspiring maiden over 1200m in which Ashley Fortune fields five of the seven runners. However, she might not win it because Johan Janse van Vuuren introduces the Querari filly Insatiable who is by Querari out of the Listed Oaks Trial winner Inaninstant, who was by the late great Silvano. Fortune’s best hope could lie with Runaway Princess who showed a lot of pace on debut over this trip, although she was beaten 7,75 lengths. Second time out she was caught wide over 1200m from a wide draw on the Turffontein Inside course. Thai Treat has scope for improvement after being beaten ten lengths over 1200m on debut. He has a nice pedigree being by Duke Of Marmalade out of the dual Grade 1-winning sprinter Rat Burana but he started 50/1 on debut. Merlins Boy by Willow Magic finished a length behind Thai Treat on debut but showed pace and has scope for improvement. The first-timer Edward Longshanks is by William Longsword out of a Var maiden who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Paterfamilias.

In the second race over 1000m Abalus has pace and will appreciate the step down from 1200m but might well have to settle for a sixth successive second place finish because Alula’s Star was eyecatching on debut and looks the likely winner. This Red Ray filly has substance and coming from the Stuart Pettigrew yard should be progressive. Alula’s Star’s first-timer stablemate Miss United States is by the promising new sire The United States out of the Grey Eminence mare Madrisa, who was precocious and won five of her first six starts including a juvenile Listed sprint and a juvenile Grade 3 sprint. However, at time of writing Miss United  was quoted at 25/1, which does not augur well. Another first-timer Meadow Beauty is by Flower Alley and is a half-sister to the like of Grade 3 winner Mount Laurel and to three-time winner Foreign Field. First-timer Iphiko is by Trippi out of a Listed-winning Western Winter mare.

In the third race over 1600m Lilliana had blinkers fitted second time out over 1400m and led  before being run out of it to lose by just 0,30 lengths. She is a full-sister to the fair sort Nartjie who has won over 1600m and 1800m so she should relish the step up in trip. Code Zero goes from sprints up to 1600m but this Master Of My Fate filly should enjoy it on pedigree. Gilda Gray has 2,20 lengths to find on Lilliana. Covermeinsunshine is an interesting outsider having not been disgraced over 1450m in her penultimate start before being tried in the BSA Sales Cup where she was beaten 15 lengths. Inexperienced pair Cap Estel and Monoshada are not out of it either on their best runs.

In the fourth race over 1450m Rapid Charge, a full-sister to Surcharge, looks likely to enjoy the step down in trip having moved up last time over 1700m and not finding enough in the closing stages. The cheekpieces are replaced by blinkers and this could be her day from a fair draw of three out of six. Time Request was only 1,75 lengths behind Rapid Charge in that last race over 1700m and is also improving. Kissed By Fire has improved this winter and is also a contender.

In the fifth over 1800m Splash Of Green won her penultimate start over 1600m well and although it was just a maiden she was subsequently not disgraced in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes. She should enjoy the 1800m trip and although running off a 90 merit rating she only has to carry 52.5kg and the flying Muzi Yeni is aboard. Ideal Jet is distance suited and is improving being by Ideal World so will be a threat. Last Cheer is a bit in and out but is capable and can’t be ignored. In form Opera Glass is also hard to ignore and Rock You and Consol Queen are not out of it so it could be a race in which to include the field.

In the sixth race Wedding Bliss has been disappointing but drops down to a 64 merit rating and this trip from a good draw should suit. However, it is another race in which to go wide with Fasinada, Lady Of The Flame, Rabia The Rebel, Tinder Dry and Senescence all having chances.

A chance is taken with two bankers in the last two races, Funky Music and Elusive Swann.

Funky Music is honest and highly consistent and with champion jockey Lyle Hewitson up over an ideal 1600mm trip can get it right despite a tough draw.

In the last race Elusive Swann has caught the eye in his last two starts over 1400m and 2000m and now runs over his optimum 1600m trip from pole position so he should be finishing strongly and can get up under Jeffery Syster, who was aboard in his last race.               

RACE 1: Preview: INSATIABLE(6) is by Querari out of Listed Oak Trial winner Inaninstant (Silvano). RUNAWAY PRINCESS (7) has found some support in both starts and showed good pace on debut over this trip so can go close in this uninspiring field. THAI TREAT (4), who is by Duke Of Marmalade out of dual Grade 1-winning sprinter Rat Burana,  has scope and should improve on her debut in which she was beaten ten lengths. MERLINS BOY (3), who was a length further back in that race, can also improve. EDWARD LONGSHANKS (2) is by William Longsword out of a Var maiden who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Paterfamilias. (David Thiselton 6-7-4-3-2)

RACE 2: Preview: ALULA’S STAR (3) caught the eye on debut when running second despite starting 20/1 and she should improve so is the one to beat. ABALUS (1) has had five successive seconds and should enjoy dropping back to the minimum trip. MISS UNITED STATES (4) is by promising new sire The United States out of a Grade 3 and Listed-winning Grey Eminence mare Madrisa. MEADOW BEAUTY (6) is by Flower Ally and is a half-sister to the like of Grade 3 winner Mount Laurel and three-time winner Foreign Field. IPHIKO (9) is by Trippi out of a isted-winning Western Winter are. (David Thiselton 3-1-4-6-9)      

RACE 3: Preview: LILIANA (4) went close second time out and can get it right here over a step up in rip which should suit. CODE ZERO (1) is capable of improvement and is the chief danger. GILDA GRAY (3) is knocking on the door and should be thereabouts again. (David Thiselton 4-1-3)

RACE 4: Preview: RAPID CHARGE (4) , a half-sister to Surcharge (who is a Grade 1 winner in SA and Australia), is improving and the cheekpieces are replaced with blinkers.  TIME REQUEST (5) only has 1,75 lengths to make up on Rapid Charge from there last meeting. KISSED BY FIRE (2) should be involved despite a wide draw. (David Thiselton 4-5-2) 

RACE 5: Preview: SPLASH OF GREEN (6) was not disgraced in the Grade 1 Thekwini and starts handicapping off a reasonable 90 merit rating considering her form which means she oly ha to carry 52.5kg and Yeni rides. IDEAL JET (1) just failed last time over 200m in her first start since the SA Oaks and as a daughter of Ideal World she should continue to progress. OPERA GLASS (3) won well last time over 2000m but was under sufferance so received a ten point raise and it will be tougher here but she is on the up. LAST CHEER (5) is not too consistent but is capable on her day and distance suited. ROCK YOU (2) and CONSOL QUEEN (7) can earn if reproducing their best form although the latter is 1kg under sufferance. (David Thiselton 6-1-3-5-2-7) 

RACE 6: Preview: WEDDING BLISS (2) is well drawn and might enjoy the step down in trip so has a shout off a reduced merit rating. FASINADA (5) is 1.5kg better off with Rabia The Rebel for a 1,25 length beating over this trip last time and now has a good draw. LADY OF THE FLAME (1) ran well first time out the maidens and could be a contender again here over a step up in trip she should handle. RABIA THE REBEL (3) enjoyed being out front last time and has an opportunity to do the same from pole position albeit off a three point higher mark and bearing she is an in and out type. TINDER DRY has room for improvement and is 1.5kg better off with Rabia The Rebel for a 1.50 length beating but she does have a tough draw. SENESCENCE is well draw and can never be ignored. (David Thiselton 2-5-1-3-7-4) 

RACE 7: Preview: FUNKY MUSIC (2) has been ultra consistent recently from 1450m to 1600m with one win, four seconds and a third and he is the one to beat of able to overcome a wide draw. QUNETRA (4) just failed from the front last time over this trip and beat Funky Music by 0,4 lengths on just half-a-kilogram better terms than here. WAQAAS (7) was forced to do too much too early last time from a wide draw and duly faded but has a shout here from a good draw off a reduced merit rating over a course and distance he has won twice over. SUITED CONNECTOR (1) has a nice draw and should enjoy this trip so is interesting as a lightly raced horse who could still improve. PSYCHO KING (6) is drawn in pole over an ideal trip and can be a contender.  (David Thiselton 2-4-7-1-6)  

RACE 8: Preview: ELUSIVE SWANN (2) moved up well over 2000m on Saturday but found no extra and finished a 0,80 length third so from pole position over his probable optimum trip of 1600m he has a good chance. LIGHT WARRIOR (5) is a consistent sort and over a suitable trip starts handicapping off a reasonable merit rating after an easy maiden win in his 21st start. EL ROMIACHI (1) is not the most consistent but can never be ignored. THEROSEOFBECHARRE (8) was left with too much to do last time over 1400m but if able to find cover from a wide draw should enjoy this step up in trip. MY KINGDOM (6) disappointed last time but can do better although he has a tricky draw. (David Thiselton 2-5-1-8-6)