Andrew Harrison

THE Hollywoodbets Scottsville straight course will find out any horse that is short of race fitness and it is often labelled as a ‘horses for courses’ track.

Ishnana, recent winner of the (Listed) In Full Flight Stakes, a case in point.

 Top horses can get away with it through sheer class but the course, with its dip to the 500m and rise to the finish, has been the undoing of many a smart galloper.

A look at the track is always beneficial for aspirants to the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint, and the three other Gr1 features on the day, that have not raced there. Ever the professional, Justin Snaith has had Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Rio Querari stretch his legs there, but whether the gelding lines up on Saturday, June 5, is yet to be decided.

One horse with the Golden Horse on his agenda is Spydas Corner. Duncan Howells seldom runs a horse without a planned agenda but he will be looking for a big effort from his charge in the eighth on Sunday.

Spydas Corner, named by former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Brian Baloyi,  is no stranger to the course, having made three visits for a win and a second, and since being fitted with blinkers, the gelding has hardly put a foot wrong. His most recent victory came on this course where he got the better of the hard-knocker Good Rhythm.

He is down in class here so takes a corresponding rise in weight but he will need a forward showing to come into contention for a place in the Golden Horse line-up.

Blaze Of Silk is something of a course specialist, four of his five wins coming over course and distance and Corine Bestel has saddled him up at Scottsville 20 times out of his 28 starts.

He is slightly better off with Spydas Corner for when last they met but while the three-year-old has something to come, the six-year-old should have reached his peak.

An interesting runner is Hail Columbia. The Irish import has temperament issues but does give the impression that on his day, he could match it with the best. He made his debut over course and distance, going down to the highly rated Captain Fontane after a protracted duel to the line.

The form has been patchy since and the stable is quiet at present but Dennis Drier knows how to ready them up in Scottsville sprints so expect a big effort.

Dean Kannemeyer almost caused a major upset when Sir Michael pressed Do It Again to the line at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Sunday, and the stable is starting to fire.

He saddles Silver Maria in the seventh and she looks primed for this race, this being her third run after a lengthy break. She was run out of it late in her first two runs back over further, but this mile should suit down to the ground and she could prove difficult to beat.

Garth Puller’s stable is in a rich vein of form of late and Wishful Girl Linn could be the biggest threat to Silver Maria. Puller’s filly has the benefit of an inside draw and has not been far behind in useful company of late. However, her recent successes have been on the poly which may be a factor against her.

Work riders’ races in KZN are always tricky and never races to risk the house keeping on, but Captain Tatters should take some beating in the card opener. Snaith’s runner is rated a division better than the opposition and has smart form over the trip. Nathan Kotzen saddles the useful filly Stella Act who won her last race over course and distance and is smart on her day. She has bottom weight but also an inexperienced rider which could count against her.

Colinda Austin, assistant to Ashburton-based Shane Humby, is an accomplished work rider and partners Ziva La Winter for Kom Naidoo. The gelding is quick and has been up against stronger opposition than what he meets here and could be a threat to Captain Tatters.

David Thiselton

Turffontein Standside has a low key nine race meeting today in which the highest rated race is the seventh, a fillies and mares MR 92 Handicap.

The Paul Matchett-trained three-year-old Twice Over filly has always struck as promising and last time out she ran  above her rating with first-time blinkers on when finishing a two length second to the ever improving Thumbs Up. She is officially 2kg under sufferance tomorrow but if repeating that effort she can win this race from a nice high draw. The 4kg claimer Xola Jacobs keeps the ride, although he rides 1kg overweight, meaning Bella Black carries an actual weight of 49kg. All Of Me is always thereabouts and this is the easiest task she has had for a while so she should be right there from a high draw. Kayla’s Champ will enjoy stepping back down in trip on recent evidence and a 4kg claimer up alleviates some of the 61.5kg she was allotted after a six point raise for her last win. Ann Boleyn has plenty of pace but against her is the number one draw. May Queen can also win if able to bounce back to her best after two disappointing runs.

The previous race is a Graduation Plate event over 1160m which should be at the mercy of Caralluma. This filly has been disappointing considering the esteem she was held in early in her career. However, she does possess lengthy of speed and dropping to a sprint trip might be what she is looking for. The only threat looks to be Vaseem. who was not disgraced last time when it did not pan out to well over 1000m and yet he was staying on at the end for third, just 2,30 lengths behind the promising Al Sakeet. 

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m Bold Act, who is by Act Of War out of the Grade 1 Garden Province winner Bold Ellinore, ran on well on debut from a wide draw over 1200m and now has a fair draw of five over a step up in trip she will relish. Wokonda will be distance suited and should have improved after two decent third over 1160m and 1450m. Coral Dawn, a Global View half-sister to Grade 1 winner Coral Fever, can also be a threat after a good second run. Lollapalooza could improve, as she looked like she needed her debut and will enjoy the step up in trip. Tinder Dry and Northern Glow also warrant consideration.

Twice The Trip should be good enough to win the fifth race over 1160m from a nice high draw.

The three that make the most appeal in the last leg of the Pick 6 are Swingthewillow, Tuscan Winter and Power Ranger. The latter is a full-brother to Pyromaniac, who despite his stout breeding being by Silvano out of SA Oaks winner Pine Princess, is unbeaten in two starts over sprints. 

Andrew Harrison

A ‘morning glory’ is possibly one of the worst horses to have in a trainer’s yard – more frustrating than those that are just slow.
The ‘glories’ work up a storm in the mornings but let the side down when it comes to races.
There are a myriad of reasons for this, but it is the trainer’s job to work it out.
Impatient owners don’t help the issue especially if given early encouragement, but when things do eventually fall into place it is relief on both sides of the fence.
Dean Kannemeyer had ear-marker Lion’s Head as a candidate for the Classics on his work on the home gallops but he always flattered to deceive, running up close but never quite getting there.
Gelding and stretched to 1900 m at Hollywoodbets Greyville may have been the key that unlocked the potential.
It was a race run at a muddling pace and there must still be a few lingering doubts, but Lions Head roared home up the inside rail under stable rider Keagan de Melo to win as he liked.
If in deed Kannemeyer has finally found the Key to Lions Head, there must be plenty more to come.
Lezeanne Forbes was back in front of the post-race microphone after successive races with Origami and then Gavel Strike making it home.
The Anton Marcus ‘Golden Highway’ has been free of traffic since the champion jockey has been on an injury-forced sabbatical but Serino Moodley used it to good effect as he sent Gavel Strike wide off the turn into clear air and motored home ahead of Tiger Tank.
Sean Veale took the more conservative route on Origami and sent his mount through the middle of the traffic to a convincing win.
Doug Campbell’s Richmond yard has been quiet of late but Miss Missouri gave the yard a welcome boost with a smart display in the fourth.
Favourite Rain Wear was all the rage in the market but Collen Story got first run on the favourite and was never in danger of being beaten.
Visiting trainer Paul Peter got the meeting off to a fine start as Luke Ferraris steered Promise Of Hope to an end-to-end victory in the card opener.
There was plenty of market support for Perfect Appeal but she raced very green and finally roved no match for the Gauteng raider.
Grey Ocean was another comfortable winner for Warren Kennedy and Gavin van Zyl, also making most of the running in the second.
Kennedy teamed up with Peter for the opening leg of the Pick 6 where Wine Tasting was sent out favourite. However, Ashburton-based Kom Naidoo has been in good form of late and Flashy Kaitrina was given a peach of a ride by Lyle Hewitson, bursting through a gap and winning in smart fashion.

David Thiselton

WSB 1900 winner She’s A Keeper will almost certainly be included in the top 18 of the next Vodacom Durban July log, despite officially having a rating of just 96, and the progressive second and third-placed horses, the Alyson Wright-trained Matterhorn and the MJ Odendaal-trained Shavout, also warrant consideration.

The Grade 2 WSB 1900 is one of the four races alongside the Grade 1 WSB Summer Cup, the Grade 3 Cup Trial and the Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap, in which the winner enjoys preferential consideration for the final VDJ field.  

However, this year’s WSB 1900 dished up one of the strangest qualifying race results in July history because the trio that finished well clear of the rest were officially the three worst rated horses in the field.

She’s A Keeper’s merit rating has continually been capped by handicap guideline restrictions and race conditions.

However, the anomaly of Sunday’s race is that if only the the first three horses are considered she did not run any better than the capped 96 rating she has been given, but if the rest of the field is considered the first three home all ran way above their ratings.

The bare result shows four-year-old She’s A Keeper, carrying 50kg off a 90 merit rating, beating four-year-old Matterhorn, carrying 54kg off a 100 rating, by 0,90 lengths, with three-year-old Shavout, carrying 52kg off an 87 rating, a further 0,80 lengths behind.

However, She’s A Keeper was officially 4kg under sufferance with the best weighted Doublemint, who was in 19th place on the first VDJ log, and beat him by 9,15 lengths; Matterhorm was 3kg under sufferance with Doublemint and beat him by 8,25 lengths and three-year-old Shavout was a whopping 10kg under sufferance with Doublemint and beat him by 7,45 lengths. The trio were also well clear of 4,60 length fourth-placed Crown Towers, who was in 17th place on the first VDJ log, and  even further clear of 20th placed Tristful and a street clear of Zillaal, who was among the five horses just outside of the top 20.

The WSB race conditions state that the winner can not be raised more than six merit rated points and placed horses can not be raised at all.    

She’s A Keeper was duly raised six points to 96 and Matterhorn and Shavout remain on 100 and 87 respectively, so the inclusion of all three will give the log an unusual look.        

The result has certainly provided a headache for the VDJ log panellists.

The first VDJ log is shown below.

  Vodacom Durban July Log as at 13 May 2021  

1 RAINBOW BRIDGE              (6G)                 Eric Sands                               134

2 LINEBACKER                        (3G)                 Vaughan Marshall                 124

3 WAR OF ATHENA                (3F)                  Paul Matchett                         122

4 GOT THE GREENLIGHT        (4C)                 Joe Soma                                124

5 BELGARION                         (5G)                 Justin Snaith                         130

6 DO IT AGAIN                       (6G)                 Justin Snaith                         129

7 GOLDEN DUCAT                  (4G)                 Eric Sands                               128

8 SECOND BASE                     (3G)                 J A Janse van Vuur                122

9 KOMMETDIEDING               (3C)                 HWJ Crawford/M Rix 120

10 NETTA                                (3F)                  Paul Peter                                120

11 RUSSIAN ROCK                  (3C)                 Dean Kannemeyer                  119

12 SOVEREIGN SPIRIT            (5G)                 Candice Bass-Robin               124

13 PRINCESS CALLA               (3F)                  Adam Marcus                         118

14 RUNNING BRAVE              (5M)                Fanie Bronkhorst                     119

15 CIRILLO                              (5H)                 Sean Tarry                               120

16 RASCALLION                      (3G)                 Vaughan Marshall                 111

17 CROWN TOWERS             (5G)                 Justin Snaith                            115

18 EXPRESSFROMTHEUS       (4G)                 Stuart Pettigrew                      122

…………………..

19 DOUBLEMINT                    (6G)                 Justin Snaith                            118

20 TRISTFUL                            (5G)                 Tony Rivalland                        113

Next 5 in alphabetical order

ATYAAB (AUS)                        (5G)                 Zietsman Oosthuize               115

THE GATEKEEPER                   (3C)                 Justin Snaith                            110

TIERRA DEL FUEGO                (5H)                 Sean Tarry                               116

TRIP TO AFRICA                      (4G)                 Duncan Howells                     114

ZILLZAAL                                (5G)                 Sean Tarry                               116

David Thiselton

JUSTIN SNAITH, seeking a record equalling fourth Vodacom Durban July in succession, has mentioned the possibility of an overseas jockey being booked and he also has Piere Strydom, who is seeking a record equalling fifth July win, in mind.

His two confirmed July riders are stable jockey Richard Fourie and S’Manga Khumalo. Fourie has ridden three July winners and will be attempting to become the first jockey to win it three years in a row.

Khumalo has ridden one July winner.

However, Snaith said no specific jockey had been booked for any specific horse yet.

He did not mention the name of the overseas rider he had in mind.

He said about Strydom, “He is currently under-utilised but is world class, he is always be an option for us.”

Strydom is currently resting on doctor’s advice due to an eye problem which should not keep him out for long. 

Snaith believes he has a virtually impossible task this year taking on the well handicapped five-time Grade 1-winner Got The Greenlight.

He said he is also battling a bug in his Summerveld string.

He said, “I am not saying anybody is right or wrong all I am saying is I don’t understand how a horse like Sovereign Spirit can be merit rated the same as Got The Greenlight? What it seems is being said is Johannesburg horses are second rate. Malmoos and Summer Pudding were being talked about as world beaters but this, after just one below par run, no longer seems to be the case.”

Looking at the equation on paper, Belgarion beat Got The Greenlight in last year’s July at level weights and he now has to give the latter 3kg, meaning, taking weight for age into account, an effective swing of 4.5kg for a 0,80 length beating. 

The handicappers did actually make a valiant attempt to raise Got The Greenlight’s merit rating to a mark which is more in line with his ability after his Premier’s Champions Challenge win and managed to get him up to a 128. However, this was scuppered by an appeal board, who used the “line horse” theory to justify their decision of putting him back to his original 124. 

Meanwhile, Sovereign Spirit, who earned his only Grade 1 cheque when finishing a well beaten third in the Cape Town Met, will be 3kg better off  with Belgarion for a 2,25 lengths.

Snaith continued, “We have been handed an impossible task but it is what it is and we have overcome the impossible before.”

Snaith added, “There is a bit of a bug going around Summerveld, but nothing serious, and we are working on it. Each carded horse has to pass a few tests otherwise we scratch.” 

He said a number of his string had returned from their races sick or with their bloods a bit off and had to be put on medication. 

They included The Gatekeeper, High Hosanna, Speed Machine and Crown Towers, while Do It Again was not a hundred percent and Belgarion was scratched before the WSB 1900 because of an abnormal blood count.     

Snaith concluded by saying the July was going to be an “interesting race” and that the Daily News 2000 was going to be a big pointer.

Responding to the belief of many a pundit that he had overrated Daily News entry The Gatekeeper, whom he was speaking of as his July horse earlier this season, he said, “He is still maturing and my opinion should be judged at the end of my horses’ careers.”