The European Union (EU) has agreed to an audit of South Africa’s bloodstock export protocols and has committed to announce the date of the audit in the next few weeks.

This follows South Africa’s long-standing efforts to get the restrictions on bloodstock exports lifted by the EU.

The South African Equine Health & Protocols (SAEHP) stated recently that all SA’s disease control measures were in place, that they were of a world-class standard, and in fact exceeded all of the EU’s disease control requirements.

However, an impasse occurred because of a trade dispute between the EU and South Africa over poultry, and the EU for several months held firm that no audit regarding horses will be forthcoming while poultry exports to South Africa were closed after the 2017 Avian influenza outbreak.

In a message to Adrian Todd, CEO of SAEHP, the Chief Director of Trade Negotiations, International Trade and Economic Development Division (ITED), Niki Kruger, wrote: “We had a follow-up meeting with the EU yesterday (Monday). The EU confirmed that they will come to do an audit. They will confirm the date within the next few weeks but it will definitely happen. We requested that the audit happens as soon as possible.”

Todd commented: “This is great news, we are almost there. The way everybody in South Africa came together to address the African Horse Sickness case reported near Randjesfontein last week, our movement controls, and the moving of the Ready To Run race showed how effectively we can deal with these issues and this would’ve made an impression on the EU.

“This is an example of what can be achieved by working together. We are delighted, and credit is due to the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for having worked so hard to get us to this stage. Our thanks and appreciation also to the EU for separating the poultry and equine issues.”

– Turf Talk

“Exam passed; no further action required.” Insufficient recovery time was the explanation given for Hawwaam’s scratching from tomorrow’s Racing Association Pinnacle Stakes at the Vaal but his absence clears the way for Cirillo and Sean Tarry’s contingent in the 1400m event.

Cirillo was a member of the sophomore elite last season and although mostly finding one or two to finish in front of him, Tarry’s runner boasts an exceptional record and may well have given Hawwaam a searching test had the later stood his ground.

Third behind Rainbow Bridge and Soqrat in the Gr1 Champions Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the last Saturday of the season – two high-class performers – Tarry had kept his charge on the boil for much of the early part of this year and the colt will have welcomed the three-month break.

But with the Cape Summer season on the horizon and Champions Season in the offing, it is back to business.

With Hawwaam out of the picture, Cirillo faces a field of mostly well exposed older horses who would be hard-pressed to make it at the highest level. In truth, Cirillo will have to turn in a well-below par performance to get beaten.

The one possible improver is stable companion Tierra Del Fuego. Current form suggests that he is no where in the class of Cirillo but he is still a young horse and was a more than comfortable winner of his seasonal debut. He is in receipt of 8kg from Cirillo, but even that should not be enough.

Gelding can do wonders for a colt’s behaviour and more importantly his concentration in races and Leprechaun can weave a bit of Irish magic in the second. A 7-1 chance in early exchanges, Mike and Adam Azzie’s charge showed in two starts that he is not short of pace but was reported to be making a respiratory noise. The addition of a tongue-tie could sort that problem and now that he is ‘two stones’ lighter he looks a fair price to ante-post favourite Duke Of York who has been costly to follow.

 With nine races carded, the PA kicks off in the third where backers face a tricky race. If Duke Of York does not perform, Johan Janse van Vuuren backs up with four competitive runners, best of which could be Magnificus. Like his stable companion, he has been running on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly but is showing some improvement. Lady Scarletina and Supreme Win take on males but both have light weights and are a must inclusion in all exotics. A possible upset could come in the form of Grey Power with Tony Nassif engaging log-leading rider Warren Kennedy. Current ante-post favourite is the Sean Tarry debutant Nebraas.

Single Red Rose will be a popular choice in the opening leg of the Pick 6. She has yet to finish out of the money and must have a change of fortune sooner rather than later. Pun intended. Tartan Dancer, a close-up second last Saturday, could be a threat. The blinkers may go back on – keep an eye on the changes. 

Hawwaam may be a casualty on the day but the De Kock stable is firing on all cylinders and Masaaqaat should start a short-priced favourite in the fifth. She showed up well in her seasonal debut, finishing with a rattle, and the extra furlong should count in her favour. She should dominate along with Cosmic Ray, who has put in two smart efforts and was a touch unlucky last run.  She looks the biggest threat to the favourite.

The sixth is a difficult handicap and the advice is to load up as many as possible in the exotics. Tokyo Drift is a little long in the tooth but has put in two promising recent efforts and should go well in this company while Movie Magic, Lazarus Tree and Norland appeal as likely challengers.

The last two races are also tricky affairs. In the eighth, Golden Spiral is in cracking form and although taking on stronger here she must have a decent winning chance. Scent Of Evening took on a strong field last time out and takes on a lot weaker here. She has a big weight and should at least be competitive. Zulu Dawn and recent maiden winner Land Of Rubies can also feature prominently.

Hidden Agenda is another seasoned campaigner but has not been out of the money since his last win. He stays the trip and could finally have a change of luck. Nimcha has improved in blinkers and has only been run out of it late in his last two starts while At Hand was a comfortable winner under Hailey Turner last Saturday. He does not have the best of draws here. He will get a penalty but may also be scratched. Kurt’s Approval is another to consider as he has his first run for a new stable. Muzi Yeni stays with the ride and they can go close.

By Andrew Harrison

Golden Ducat is taken to defy the general rule that you shouldn’t back horses first time out of the maidens when he contests the Tellytrack.com Handicap at Kenilworth today.

The principle makes a lot of sense because so many horses struggle when they are pitted against seasoned handicappers for the first time. Their maiden wins were achieved against fellow novices, many of whom in all probability were slow to leave the pens or spent a lot of time looking around them. Now the opposition all know they are there to race.

But this mile event is slightly different and not just because Golden Ducat is a half-brother to Rainbow Bridge and Hawwaam. His two main dangers, at least according to the betting, also won a maiden on their most recent start.

Eric Sands, who said previously “I think Golden Ducat is going to be a top horse,” said: “I am confident about his ability” when asked how he thought his horse would fare in today’s race. Mind you, he did qualify that by expressing concerns about the horse’s mental approach, much as he had done when Golden Ducat won last month.

Possibly the colt’s 2-1 price does not fully take this into account but he gets the vote on the strength of the way he won and the fact that runner-up Turn It Up Harvey went close last Saturday.

Favourite at 17-10 is Pinkerton who comfortably justified a very short price to win at the fifth attempt at the beginning of the month. Richard Fourie rides him in preference to 11-2 stable companion Peaceful Day who receives a kilo and got up close home to score in his fourth and most recent race.

“They are both horses who will go through the divisions but I think Pinkerton is a bit more ready and that Peaceful Day may need another run out of the maidens,” says Justin Snaith. “Pinkerton is a big runner and he will go very close.”

Top weight Late At Night (13-2) has had two races out of the maidens and lost ground at the start last time. “I am expecting a good run here,” says the in-form Brett Crawford. “He is doing very well at home and I think he will love the mile.”

Six Degrees (8-1) is the only four-year-old in the field and Glen Kotzen says: “I ran him the other day over 1 400m and he needs further. He has a nice draw and I give him a good chance.”

Brandenburg (15-2) finished two lengths in front of Six Degrees last time and is only half a kilo worse so, in theory at least, he should confirm the placings. Jean’s Man is the outsider of the party at 12-1 but it could be significant that he is stepping up in trip.

Aldo Domeyer’s mount Congo Compaq, racing without blinkers this time, is marginally preferred to the improving August Leaves in the first and 35 minutes later Smart William may be able to reverse last time’s placings with Alpha Pappa.

By Michael Clower

The R2.5 million CTS Ready To Run Stakes at Kenilworth has been switched from this Saturday to 14 December as a result of the recent African Horse Sickness outbreak in Gauteng.

There were 18 declared by 11.00am yesterday but Sean Tarry’s quartet and the Mike de Kock-trained Dublin Quays would not have been able to make it because of the restrictions placed on horses travelling from Randjesfontein.

Ashley Fortune got Etched In Blue and Invidia out in time and they will now run on Saturday in the Graduation Plate put on as an extra race at the end of the card. The Joey Soma-trained Tiger’s Rock will also run in this 1 400m race. The Johannesburg-based declarations accounted for seven of the top ten merit-rated in the Ready To Run.

Cape Thoroughbred Sales boss Wehann Smith said in a statement that the overriding concern was to do everything possible to ensure that all buyers at last year’s CTS Ready To Run Sale had the very best chance of having a runner.

He added: “We consulted all trainers with entries in the race and the balance of opinion was overwhelmingly in favour of rescheduling. This was particularly the case for the Cape-based trainers who were as one in their support of the move. I believe this show of support is a genuine acknowledgement of their willingness to welcome the up-country trainers for the season – and that ultimately being in the best bigger picture benefit to racing in the Cape.”

The Graduation Plate has attracted eight others, notably leading Cape Guineas hope Captain Tatters who was beaten less than half a length by Silver Operator in last month’s Cape Classic.

In other news the unbeaten Captain Of Stealth, the forgotten man of last season’s two-year-olds, is about to start on the long road back after suffering a career-threatening leg injury when odds-on for the Langerman.

Part owner Pat Freestone said: “We have been given the all-clear but it will be six months before you see him.”

Last Winter is to stay in training with Sir Michael Stoute as a seven-year-old but he will not race again this year.  The 2018 Sun Met runner-up was beaten over ten lengths when fourth of six in the mile and a half Matchbook Floodlit Stakes at Kempton 15 days ago, his first experience of the all-weather.

By Michael Clower

Hawwaam continues his education through the starting stalls at the Vaal on Thursday where he lines up in a Pinnacles Stakes event over 1400m.

Similar to last week, this race is more about the starting stalls and the race day experience rather than a must win scenario.

Having his first run back after being scratched at the start of the Vodacom Durban July, Hawwaam behaved impeccably, loading quietly and breaking on terms. From there on it was a matter of ‘how far?’ as he showed his class by winning comfortably over a distance well short of optimum.

“To say I am relieved is an understatement,” Malan de Toit, one of the country’s best known equine behavioralists, wrote on his Facebook page after that win. “The last time this horse saw the race course was on July day in Durban. Absolute devastation!! The favourite scratched because of behavioral problems at the starting gate. Between then and now there was a lot of brain storming on what would work for him.

“Between then and today, lots and lots of work was done with him by the team comprising of Mathew de Kock, Vengi Masawi, one of team De Kock’s assistants, work riders, Anton Marcus, Ben, one of the best handlers (starter’s assistant) in Gauteng and myself.

“Today a plan came together.”

Thursday’s 1400m will be more to Hawwaam’s liking but if he behaves there should only be one result in spite of the opposition including the smart performers Cirillo and Zouaves.

A recent case of African Horse Sickness (AHS) reported in the Nietgedacht area of Gauteng early this month has put a question mark on horses moving from the Highveld to the Western Cape for their summer season but will hopefully not prevent Hawwaam lining up for the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Sun Met early next year.

Should the outbreak scupper travel plans to the Cape, the next obvious target will be Champions Season and the Vodacom Durban July.  

By Andrew Harrison

Image: A relieved Malan du Toit, Anton Marcus and Mike de Kock after Hawwaam’s victory at the Vaal last week.