Scratchings played a leading role at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday. Two defections left the way open for Blackball in a seven-horse field – reduced to five – in the second. The only surprise being Top Classman under his third trainer, Kom Naidoo, edging out The Dazzler, after being touted as the exacta for the century by television commentator Kevin Shea.

“But that’s racing,” a comment immortalised by racing writer Damon Runyon.

Olmeca Black made the expected improvement to land the opening leg of the Pick 6, holding off the attentions of Mount Anderson who showed a good turn of foot on his inside. On The Bayou continues to disappoint, with Anton Marcus riding a forward race, hitting the front in the straight but unable to hold on.

The scratching of Baby Shooz with a respiratory tract infection left the way clear for Greek Sword, narrowly beaten at his last start. Not the easiest to handle, he got himself into a muck sweat before the start, but did it all right when it counted for Dean Kannemeyer and stable rider Keagan de Melo.

Fancied runner American Princess blew her start to the fifth. Rearing just as the gates opened, the stipes deemed it a fair start but she was never in the hunt from there on as Cherry Road accelerated through to give Gavin van Zyl and Warren Kennedy their second winner of the afternoon. Arizona Sunset continues to be a soldier for her owners, running on gamely for second with Pina Colada staying on for third after hitting the front at the top of the straight.

If anyone needed the ‘office’, Blackball’s earlier win provided it. Paths Of Victory, second to Blackball in the Michaelmas Handicap, franked that form as apprentice Luke Ferraris obliged for Gareth van Zyl getting the better of White Lightning and top weight Silver Rose who plugged on for third and probably not suited to a slow early gallop.

The lightly weighted Sarabi looked to have it all sewn up approaching the final 100 m of the seventh but was swamped two jumps from the line as Queen Of Alamo and La Bella roared home on her outside to relegate her to third.

The De Melo / Kannemeyer combination rounded off a wet afternoon, as Gimme Peace steamed up the inside of the track to catch long-time leader Admiral’s Guest.

By Andrew Harrison

There is something much more appealing to races over ground than the helter-skelter of a five-furlong dash. Sprint races, and they are by far the majority, have their place and for punters where only the numbers count, the sooner the race is over the better.

Tactics and the nuances of the different tracks are more in play in staying races and if there were more races for horses blessed with stamina rather than precocious speed, racing would be the better for it.

The Track & Ball Pinnacle Stakes over 2400m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville Turf on Sunday is a chance for stayers to earn a decent cheque for their often, long-suffering owners.

Silver Rose has to give plenty of pudding to his seven rivals but the now seven-year-old has an exemplary staying record, having won seven races, and looks primed for this event.

Byron Forster, KZN assistant to Cape-based Andre Nel, has planned the gelding’s programme to peak in this event after finishing four lengths back to Roy Had Enough in the Track & Ball Derby at Hollywood Bets Scottsville back in June.

Two pipe openers over a mile and 1900m should have brought him close to a peak for this race over a distance that the gelding excels.

Obvious dangers are Jack Of Hearts and Paths Of Victory. The latter stays well and Gareth van Zyl will have been well pleased with his last effort behind Blackball in the Michaelmas Handicap where he finished two lengths ahead of Silver Rose behind his father’s runner.

However, this time around, Silver Rose is 4kg better off in the weights which could be the difference between the two.

Jack Of Hearts is a promising stayer who has only recently come into his own, having won three of his last five starts and placing in the other two for Garth Puller. Apprentice Jabu Jacobs rode an enterprising front-running race in his penultimate start and Thabiso Gumede took full advantage of his 4kg claim for King Of Hearts to score again at his next start. Jacobs is back aboard with his 4kg claim but will need to be as sharp this time around.

Likely to be at long odds is the nine-year-old Crime Victim. Never finishing too far back in his races, it has been a long time since Duncan Howells’s charge visited the winner’s box. Crime Victim may be hard-pressed to win here but cannot be written off lightly given the weights. He was beaten eight lengths at level weights by Jack Of Hearts last time out and is now 6 kg better off with his rival, taking apprentice allowances into account.

The Van Zyl’s, father and son, have a stranglehold on the second where between them they saddle five of the seven runners, four by Gavin and one by Gareth.

Blackball was a comfortable winner of the Michaelmas Handicap over course and distance after returning from a break. He is fairly well treated in the weights and probably rates the one to beat. However, his filly Railtrip is smart and has been tested with some distinction against the best of her generation. She has shown up well in two starts since returning from a break and with a handy weight could make things hot for her stable companion. The Dazzler is 1.5kg better off at the weights with Blackball in what was his third outing for his new stable and Gareth has engaged the wily Anton Marcus. Tactics could play a big part in the outcome.

By Andrew Harrison

One World, beaten only twice in ten starts, is the obvious choice for the Cape Mile at Kenilworth tomorrow.

The Vaughan Marshall four-year-old has a theoretical 2.5kg in hand on adjusted ratings and made a winning return in the Matchem five weeks ago. Little wonder that he is favourite at around 16-10. But what also points to his chance is that Anton Marcus, an astute judge of form and successful on all but one of his five rides on the horse, asked for the mount.

Marshall also saddles his 2017 Cape Guineas winner Tap O’Noth (15-2) who showed his wellbeing with a fine effort on his return at Durbanville. Marshall agrees with the handicappers’ assessments of the pair’s relative merits but adds: “Tap O’Noth is going to need further now.”

That last comment was echoed by trainers of others high up in the betting with Brett Crawford saying of 33-10 second favourite Charles: “I do think he needs more ground but I have always felt that he is a good horse and I am expecting a good run.”

Stable companion Search Party (10-1) is better known as a sprinter but his trainer points out: “He did win over a mile as a three-year-old and I think he is capable over it.”

Bunker Hunt, 9-1 and joint second best with Tap O’Noth on ratings, has been off since July day and Justin Snaith cautions: “He has only had one gallop and he would probably be better over a bit further.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who won this 12 months ago on favourite Rainbow Bridge, this time partners 14-1 shot Majestic Mozart but if you are optimistically looking for a big price 20-1 about Priceless Ruler is generous for a Dennis Drier horse who has won his last two.

The Laisserfaire Stakes, despite its name, is a handicap and the hat-trick seeking Boomps A Daisy is favourite at 9-2 but she has been off for nearly five months. The other Ridgemont runners, Nastergal and Mushi Sterek, are both 13-2 chances as is top weight Freedom Charter who was second 12 months ago and also runner-up more recently in the Diana.

She has big chance but in what looks an open race it could pay to go for the 12-1 Drier-trained In The Stars who is on a hat-trick.

The weights in the Woolavington Stakes are calculated on merit ratings, bracketed together in bands of five, and top weight Kampala Campari (17-2) comes out best, a kilo above Elusive Silva and Man About Town. But this is his first race of the season.

“He is not the type of horse that needs a run,” says Andre Nel. “It’s more a question of whether he will get the trip.”

And will he? Nel grins and shakes his head. “I dunno – but there is only one way to find out!”

Winter Derby winner Dharma (13-2) will like the distance and is probably still on the upgrade. Strathdon is favourite at 9-2 but this is his first appearance since the Gold Cup and the vote goes to 5-1 chance Herodotus.

By Michael Clower

The Grade 2 Victory Moon Stakes to be run at the Vaal over 1800m tomorrow is a good pointer to the Grade 1 Gauteng Summer Cup and although the weights have been set for the latter race a condition of that event states that the weights may change up to the time of declarations on 19 November. 

Soqrat carries topweight but is the ultimate professional, a horse who relaxes beautifully in the running and then runs on strongly in the straight. He has a plum draw and can make it another Graded success. AL Mutakawel is a full-brother to the SA Derby winner Al Sahem and although officially out at the weights the best has not yet been seen of him and he can rise above his current rating. He has a sustained finishing run and was not suited to the tight Turffontein Inside track last time. He will relish the step up in trip on this galloping course and has a fine chance.

Shenanigans was also not suited to the Turffontein Inside track last time and should be staying on strongly down the long straight if he is able to find cover. He proved when running on well in the Jubilee Handicap that he is effective over this trip. Roy Had Enough is capable of a strong finish too although he should come on for the run being an entire whose target is the Summer Cup. Green Haze won emphatically when tried over 1800m again last time and is interesting stepped up in trip again.

Divine Odyssey is capable of a strong, sustained finish and is well drawn over a suitable trip in his second run of the season. Noble Secret often disappoints but with the blinkers now on he might start showing the class he has always possessed. Seville Orange should come into her own this season being by Duke Of Marmalade and not only is she distance suited but she is the best weighted horse according to official merit ratings. 

In the Listed Gardenia Stakes over 1000m Dancing Queen could be the one to beat over a course and distance she has had two wins and a second on in three starts. Ulla is a decent, consistent sort and steps back up to the trip of her penultimate win. Singforafa is capable of blitzing a field and will be dangerous over this quick 1000m track. Green Plains deserves topweight and can never be ignored. Dalai’s Promise has speed and class and has won twice over the course and distance. Montreal Mist ended off last season well and makes her seasonal reappearance here. 

A difficult day’s racing starts with a workrider’s maiden over 1200m where the improving Malteza has a chance and Madame Patrice should also be right there.

The next over 1000m can be fought out by two promising sorts, Capitiana and Masaaqaat. 

The third over 1400m sees the debut of the French-bred five-year-old Tzaritza, who is a half-sister to Whisky Baron. She does not have a lot to beat and Flower Of Scotland and Emerald Crest are the two raced horses who make most appeal.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Tulip Way is an improving daughter of Captain Al and is selected to beat hard-knocking Virtuosa and first-timer Intimidate, a Pomodoro filly who is a half-sister to stakes-placed speedster Leta’s Bonnet. 

In the fifth race Illusion should be fit after his first two outings and looks likely to relish the step down in trip. True To Life has plenty of class but it is her seasonal reappearance. Ikigai also has promise although it will be a touch on the sharp side. 

The sixth race is a tricky sprint handicap but Old Man Thyme, Life Is Good and Chief Of State have looked the part lately.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is also tricky and as many as possible should be included. 

By David Thiselton

South African horseracing will bid farewell to one of its great characters and leading trainers at the end of this month.

Former Cape champion trainer Joey Ramsden has decided to close down his South African operation.

Whatever his personal reasons for making this sea change in lifestyle, there is little doubt that he will go down in history as some of the collateral damage, which includes many individuals and sectors of the racing and breeding industry here, of the Joostegate scandal.

While he was a top trainer long before Markus Jooste’s arrival, Joey was one of the men most exposed when the former Steinhoff boss hit a brick wall back in December 2017.

“We’re taking a sabbatical as both Steph and I feel that this is the right decision for ourselves and our family to take a step back for a while and reassess in the future. Goodhope Racing will be closing its doors on 30 November 2019.We thank you all for your understanding in what has been an extremely testing time and an extremely hard decision we’ve had to make,” writes Joey in an email that has done the rounds of racing’s unforgiving bush telegraph in the past few hours.

He goes on to say that they need to reiterate that this is not a knee jerk reaction to any ‘news’ that’s been released – ‘we simply needed to take the time to speak with our family, friends, staff and owners before we made anything public’, he writes.

He adds that naturally the horses in their care will be looked after as per their usual high standards until new homes are found.

“Having been lucky enough to have trained many Champion racehorses it has been the staff behind me that have made it all possible and it has been heartbreaking to tell them and I can’t thank them enough for their loyalty and their understanding. It’s been a privilege and an honour to train in this beautiful country and I’m going to miss Cape Town very much,” he says in closing.

Joey obtained his trainers licence in 1995 and has been Cape Champion Trainer four times. He has trained 20 Gr1 winners of 26 Gr1 races, including Variety Club, Attenborough, Just Sensual, Winter Solstice, The Conglomerate and Red Ray.

He has three young daughters, Holly, Zara and Ruby who he once said keep him busy and broke!  His partner Stephanie Grentell worked for Inglis in Australia before meeting Joey.

– Sporting Post