David Thiselton

THERE were doubles for  riders Lyle Hewitson, Richard Fourie and S’Manga Khumalo and for the yards of Wayne Badenhorst/Barbara Kennedy and Robbie and Shannon Hill at the eight race Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack meeting yesterday.

The first race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1500m, saw a jockey strike with Hewitson extracting extra out of the Glen Kotzen-trained Elusive Fort gelding Bush Tracker to beat the odds-on favourite Hasta Manana. Both had performed well against promising horses before but on a line through Chollima it had pointed to Hasta Manana, who now has three seconds from three starts.

In the second the Badenhorst/Kennedy-trained 20/1 shot Capetown Beauty ran without cover in second place but she must have been relaxed in the good hands of champion apprentice elect Kyle Strydom as she found extra late to win by 0,60 lengths from the running on outsider Ballygood with 91/20 first-timer Alittlebitnaughty next best.

Badenhorst/Kennedy then made it a quick double when Owlette came from the box seat to win the 1400m fillies and mares Maiden comfortably in her third start at odds of 25/4, beating the 2/1 fabourite Bella Siccome by 1,10 lengths, under Ryan Munger.

In the next, a fillies and mares maiden plate over 1000m, the often placed Paul Gadsby-trained Airbuzz found a strong finish to win comfortably at the 12th time of asking at 25/4 odds under Fourie.

S’Manga Khumalo gave the Tienie Prinsloo-trained Miss Generosity a finely judged front-running ride in the next over 1000m to win by 0,40 lengths at odds of 91/20.

Hewitson claimed his double in the next over 2000m when extracting extra from the Hill-trained Deorsa in an exciting duel in the closing stages to win by 0,40 lengths at odds of 5/3.

The Hills scored a quick double in the next over 1700m when Fourie rode a superb front-running race on Sea Master to win easily. The once much touted Lion’s Head’s win last time proved to be a false dawn as he was back to his disappointing ways and finished unplaced.

Khumalo was at his best in the last over 1200m on the Nathan Kotzen-trained Loving The Victory as he eased her around the field from a wide draw and her wide run did not stop her winning by 3,10 lengths at the tenth time of asking at odds of 20/11.

David Thiselton

THE Vaal straight course has an interesting eight race meeting today.

Raising A Storm ran on well when stepped up to this trip last time and her high draw might be favourable so she looks the one to beat under the good workrider Joe Gwingwizha. PIck A Lily is by speed influence Willow Magic out of a Kahal half-sister to the Grade 1 Champions Challenge winner Pick Six, so she has a chance of enjoying the step up in trip having landed a few moderate places over sprint trips. Zulu Warcry has become consistent at this level and stays the trip so could also be in the shake up. 

In the second race Bella Chica has plenty of speed and will relish the step down in trip. She has a 4kg claimer up and could land her second career win. Team Gold kicked on well from the front to win second time out and can reverse form with the horse who beat him narrowly on debut, Bronco Blitz. Aunty Lizzy was green when beating an uninspiring field on debut and looks capable of improvement. 

In the third over 1000m Cold Fact, a winner of her first two starts, can bounce back to winning ways as this is her easiest task since then despite having to carry topweight. Social Image also has her easiest task for some time and is capable of blitzing a field over this trip so will be a big threat, although Cold Fact did beat her at these same weights by 3,75 lengths over 1100m. On Cue should enjoy the step down in trip and is another in with a winning chance. 

In the fourth race over 1400m the in form Mike de Kock yard can claim another victory through Power Ranger, who is by Silvano out of the SA Oaks winner Pine Princess. He is a full brother to the unbeaten two-year-old Pyromaniac and has a nice middle to high draw over a step up in trip he will relish. Grimaldi is talented but has issues and this trip is probably his optimum so he is also one to include from a high draw. Light Warrior has the ability to run on well over this trip, especially if finding cover and with Khumalo up should be right there too.

In the fifth race over 2800m Zeal And Zest won well in his first start for Barend Botes over 2400m and although carrying topweight he is officially the best weighted horse in this Middle Stakes event so can follow up. However, beyond him it is wide open although one to note is the front-running Brand New Cadillac who will have an opportunity to dictate from pole position. 

In the sixth over 1000m Ace Of Spades is a progressive sort who looks capable of rising above his current mark of 83. Retallick is a two-year-old but is a big horse who can mix it with the three-year-olds here having done well against his own age group. Lagertha is ultra consistent and should be right there again for an in form yard with Khumalo, who has won twice on her, aboard. Country Squire is also capable of being in the shake up as the form of his win over this course and distance in March has worked out well. Touch Of Fate should have benefited from his last start and Yeni is an eyecatching booking, so he can feature over his optimum trip. 

In the seventh over 1000m Bold Ransom is the joint second best weighted and was not disgraced in the Computaform Sprint so he can make it three wins in three starts over this course and distance. Epic Dream is another one who has to be considered with a 2.5kg claimer aboard over a course and distance he has won over as he is only 1kg under sufferance with Bold Ransom if the claim is ignored. Double “O” Eight has plenty of pace and a good kick so is also going to be dangerous as one of the joint second best weighted runners. Rivarine is the best weighted runner and although he finished last in the defence of his Computaform Sprint title he can feature back at this level where his good cruising sped followed by his devastating turn of foot will be more impactful. Valyrian King is pacey and can never be ignored at this fast track. Mombela is capable of running on  strongly and is another to consider. 

In the last race over 1400m Now You See Me has proven herself competitive off her current sort of mark and she looks the one to beat, although her draw of five in a 16 horse field could be tricky. Little Rain is distance suited and should be in the shake up too.  Dubawi Princes has always struck as one who would enjoy this trip so now that she is in a good vein of form she is interesting stepped up to it again. Me Time could be a runner too if low draws are not disadvantageous. Bebop is another with a low draw who has a form chance. Big City Girl, Laetitia’s Angel and Milan’s Princess warrant consideration too.    

David Thiselton

JOINT VODACOM DURBAN JULY favourite Got The Greenlight will not have another run before the big race and will thus have to defy 87 years of July history as the 1934 winner Sun Tor was the last horse to have come back from a longer break to win the big race.

However this bit of trivia does not overly concern trainer Joe Soma.

Got The Greenlight will have been off the track for 63 days (9 weeks) by the time of the race on July 3, having not been seen since winning the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge on May 1.

Sun Tor’s previous race before winning the July on July 7 1934 was on January 27 1934, when finishing eleventh in a one mile handicap at the Auckland Park race track, meaning a break of 161 days (23 weeks).

Sun Tor was trained by Jackie Angles and ridden to July glory by fourteen-year-old Albert Rugg, who is the late Uncle of current Port Elizabeth trainer Duncan McKenzie and the grandfather of another PE-based trainer Jarett Rugg.

Soma was quick to point out Wylie Hall, first across the line on July 5 2014 before losing the race on a controversial upheld objection, had gone into the race straight from his fourth place finish in the Champions Challenge on April 26, a break of 70 days (10 weeks).

Got The Greenlight put in a good gallop on Sunday and Soma added he was very well.

He would have liked to have got another run into him but there was no suitable race.

He said, “There is a 1400m Pinnacle Plate, but that would not make sense to run in, it would just be putting him at risk. Then there is a 2400m Pinnacle which would obviously not be an option. There is The Jubilee but he would have had to carry 64kg. Perhaps The Jubilee should be made into a conditions race because as a handicap it is just catering for lowly rated horses to try and get into the July. There is also of course the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge but winning that almost automatically makes you the July topweight. After winning the appeal against his merit rating I could not put him in the Gold Challenge. I might be mad but I’m not stupid!”

Soma said his aim until the July gallops on June 24 was too just keep the horse sound and happy and not do anything out of the ordinary.

He said whether he was going in off a one month break or a two month break he would be confident of having him at this best on the day.

He added, “The forced layoff might be a blessing in disguise. I don’t think the July on the new narrower track with 18 horses is as hard a race as it used to be.”

The bay has only had three runs the whole season so is going to come in fresher than a most of the opposition.

Furthermore, Soma confirmed Got The Greenlight continues to improve both in performance and as a specimen.

He said, “He is filling out into his frame and has improved especially through the middle and in the quarter.”

Soma is also proud of another accolade that can be bestowed on Got The Greenlight and that is being the first horse for many years to win Grade 1s as an entire at the ages of two, three and four. The last to have done this was probably Quarrytown between 1979 and 1981 and greats to have achieved or surpassed that feat include Sea Cottage (every year from two to five), Elevation (every year from two to six) and Archangel (every year from two to five).

Got The Greenlight has stayed on a 124 merit rating despite winning two Grade 1s in his last two races so looks to be well handicapped. He is effectively carrying only half-a-kilogram more than he did last year as he carries 55kg this year as opposed to 53kg last year and the official weight for age improvement expected from August last year until now is 1.5kg.

Got The Greenlight has a turn of foot that few can match so is ideally suited to the tight Hollywoodbets Greyville track. He tends to take his foot off the pedal when he hits the front which presents a workable problem for regular rider Muzi Yeni but on the other hand has likely helped keep his merit rating down as he never wins by far.

Soma was impressed by the first three in the Daily News 2000, Linebacker, Rascallion and Kommetdieding, and mentioned Rainbow Bridge, Do It Again and Belgarion as the others he most respected.

However, the horse he most fears is the likely topweight Rainbow Bridge, whom he said had seemed to have improved since being ridden by Luke Ferraris.

David Thiselton

THE Grade 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint is always the most open Grade 1 event of the season and as usual just about every one of the 16 runners has a winning chance.

The three-year-old Battle Force is officially 2.5kg under sufferance but his 106 rating is likely capped as he has cruised to victory in this last two sprint starts, both handicaps, and was raised a maximum of eight points on both occasions. He has a fine chance carrying just 52kg.

Three-year-old Vars Vicky, winner of the Grade 2 Senior Santa, has been aimed at this race and this talented long-strider is 6kg better off with Battle Force for a recent 3.50 length beating over 1200m at The Veal so there is not much in it.

MK’s Pride prefers a touch further but this tough 1200m will suit and he packs a strong finish so should be right there.

Cartel Captain is trained by Dennis Drier who has won eleven Grade 1s at Scottsville and this horse comes off a third in the Grade 2 Diadem over this trip at Kenilworth followed by a win over this course and distance and an unplaced run in the Drill Hall over 1400m. He should be cherry ripe.

Chimichuri Run won this race two years ago and is effectively only three points higher in the merit ratings now and one point lower than last year when finishing a close fourth. He comes off a 3,25 length fourth over the too sharp 1000m of the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint, his third successive place in that race.

His stablemate Warrior’s Rest is the defending champion. This big horse went on to finish second in the Grade 1 weight for age WSB Mercury Sprint last year but is five points higher in the ratings since last year and hasn’t had a run for six months.

Another Sean Tarry-trained stablemate is Eden Roc, a former Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion winner over this course and distance. He finished eighth in this race last year and is now three points higher in the merit ratings following two wins this season, but he has a telling burst when it pans out well and can’t be ignored.

Tarry also runs the Grade 2 winner over a mile Ikigai. He has dropped to a competitive merit rating but continually disappoints.

No Laying Up finished third in the Grade 1 Golden Medallion last year and probably needed his latest outing when a close 0.95 length  fourth over 1100m here to Ishnana. He is 1kg better off with the latter but is officially 2kg under sufferance.

Ultra Magnus was a narrow runner up in this race last year and is in fine form so can go close again despite being seven points higher in the merit ratings.

Ishnana loves this course and distance but is officially 2.5kg under sufferance.

Kasimir is a former Equus champion sprinter. He finished a narrow third last year and is three points lower in the merit ratings so will be a big runner if bouncing back to his best.

Speedpoint was a Diadem runner up last year but disappointed in two recent runs over this course and distance and will need to bounce back.

Bohica has come off second place finishes in the Senior Santa and Computaform Sprint but was raised seven points for the latter performance and it won’t be easy. 

Pearl Of Asia has a good record over course and distance but this is his toughest task to date and he is half-a-kilogram under sufferance.

Captain Tatters is ultra consistent but he has only won once and is 2kg under sufferance.

Andrew Harrison

A ‘morning glory’, the name given to horses that work bombs on the training track in the morning but don’t reproduce on the race track, are mostly a trainer’s nightmare.

No matter the excuses – valid or not – many owners don’t have the patience and the horse is shipped off to another trainer. Owners that have faith in their trainers generally get a payback when the time is right, but those loyal patrons can be few and far between.

As Anne Upton, one of the doyens of South African racing, once commented; “A trainer’s worst enemy it an owner’s best friend”. They don’t bear the costs but always have an opinion!

Trainer’s with owners who understand the sport and who have faith in their trainer’s ability and opinions are a pleasure to have in the yard.

Dean Kannemeyer is fortunate enough to have Gaynor Rupert and her Drakenstein Stud, Karen Newsome of Field Spring Racing and Marsh Shirtliff, all pre-eminent owners based in the Western Cape, in partnership with Lion’s Head who is due to step out in the seventh on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville this afternoon.

Nothing really seems to fluster Kannemeyer, outwardly at least, but he expressed his relief after Lions Head turned on the gas to win his last start in smart fashion.

Gelded and trying the trip for the first time, Lion’s Head accelerated smartly off what was a rather pedestrian pace to put his opposition to bed in a few strides after being nearer last that first turning for home.

An expensive yearly purchase – not necessary the hallmark of a good horse but rather a specimen – Lion’s Head may have taken time to get his act together, but ‘two stones’ lighter and a trip may have finally brought out the best in him.

Lion’s Head faces a more testing task today, that should shed some light on where he is headed, with Gentleman’s Wager, Magical Midlands and the seemingly under-performing African Sunrise in opposition.

You won’t get rich backing Hasta Manana in the card opener as she is deep in the red in the ante-post market but he should be able to boost your bank balance for the rest of the card.

He has put in two smart sprints but should enjoy this trip and has drawn well. Bush Tracker and Arumugam look the main threats.

Top Honours and Neverending Love should see you through the opening leg of the PA but it may pay to keep an eye on the nicely bred first time from the Gareth van Zyl yard, Alittlebitnaughty.

In the third, Quenanza showed good improvement with first time blinkers and she should much prefer this long trip. She makes her poly debut along with Capriana who is seldom far off the pace. The cheek-pieces go on which could see her into the money. Odds-on ante-post favourite is Paul Lafferty’s runner Bella Siccome who made a smart poly debut over course and distance, only run out of it late after making most of the running.

The fourth is something of an open contest but Red Rising made a smart debut on the poly and should come on lengths from that showing.

But there are a number of others that warrant consideration including Airbuzz, Intombi and Namaqua Dove.

The next is a wide-open handicap and it should pay to load up in the exotics. It Must Be Love tops the boards but it is 4-1 the field. Retail Therapy, Beat It and Miss Generosity could prove the pick.

Although the sixth is a maiden, Master Of The North obviously impressed the handicappers as he got a massive increase in the ratings after finishing second over course and distance last time out. He made most of the running that day when stepped up in trip and a repeat could see him go one better. Deorsa has been knocking at the door for some time now but goes this trip for the first time and could finally crack it while Command Council stays the trip and Fourie has stuck by him in this weak field.

In the last, Loving The Victory has the widest draw but has gone close at her last two over course and distance. She could be the one to beat although there are plenty in with chances. Golden Trip did not show first up for her new stable but had shown some promise in the Cape. This is her poly debut and one to watch in the betting.