Andrew Harrison

NOW’S the time for punters to keep their eyes open and their notebooks at the ready. With the official start of Champions Season just a month away the better class horses will start to make their appearance as they warm up for the features.

The Hollywoodbets Greyville turf hosts an eight-race meeting with two races worthy of special mention. The opening leg of the Pick 6 is a Conditional Progress Plate where most interest will be centred on Seventh Gear and Wild Coast with Share Holder also in the mix.

Wild Coast surprised last season in the WSB Guineas and was never in the hunt in three subsequent races. Justin Snaith’s colt obviously has some ability but in truth that Guineas form has not worked out and it remains to be seen if Wild Coast can up his game.

He gets a chance here where he is favourably weighted but takes on a hard-knocker in Seventh Gear. Dean Kannemeyer stretched his charge to 2500m last time out but he was never in the race with a chance and is back over what should be a more suitable distance.

Both Seventh Gear and Wild Coast come off lengthy breaks which may see them short of a gallop and this race is probably a warm-up which may leave the door open for Paul Lafferty’s runner Share Holder who is racing fit. He has been a touch disappointing but is consistent and if the top two are caught short, Share Holder can pick up the pieces.

The seventh is a Graduation Handicap that falls into a similar category of horses prepping for the season. Gr2 Golden Slipper winner Love Bomb is the class filly in the line-up but Frank Robinson was quite open, commenting that his charge would need the run. That coupled with a steadier of 62.5kg on her back from a wide draw, she is up against it but class always comes to the fore and victory would not be unexpected.

Glen Kotzen has slipped into town with little fanfare and he saddles Point Of Sale who makes her local debut but comes with some fair form in strong Cape features. She also has loads of class and a big weight but she goes well this trip and should not be in need of the outing. Purple Persuasion also goes well over this trip and with a claiming apprentice up she can be competitive. Princess Anastasia was disappointing last run and is way out at these weights. However, she does appear to be better than her form suggests and she can surprise while Fiftyshadesdarker is another to consider as a likely winner off her light weight.

Kailene could fit as a bi-pot banker in the card opener. She contested a Cape feature last run and her rider lost his crop in the finish. Prior to that had shown ability and the extra will suit. Of the balance, Bay Of Dreams started at long odds when a close-up fifth over the trip. A repeat will see her go close again and she gets first time blinkers.

The second is an open race where Final Destiny found one too good for him over course and distance last time out. He shows some promise and should be competitive here. Cleto was much improved last run starting at long odds and he appears to have come to hand. Montana Sky was desperately unlucky last run but has another difficult draw to contend with. He switches to the turf but is always game.

Rain Wear and Diamonds And Toads could be the principal runners in the fourth. Rain Wear has been narrowly beaten at her last two and is in top form and rates the one to beat. Diamonds And Toads played second fiddle to the well-fancied winner last run and also switches to the turf but is consistent. Laurel Lane was well fancied last run but was ‘ambushed’ as Emerald Palace strode to a 14-length win. That’s unlikely to happen again.

In the fifth, Hello Tomorrow was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out. She has been consistent and from a plum draw with a claiming apprentice up she should go close again. Lhasa Star finished ahead of Serena Slam when last they met and has her third run for her new stable. The cheek-pieces go on and she must be in with a big shout although Serena improved nicely second time at the races. She has the worst of the draw but has a top rider aboard and can turn the tables.

In the sixth, Winter Time should strip a lot fitter after showing improved form when sent over ground with cheek-pieces on. That was her first run back from a lengthy break Sacred Ibis has come to hand of late and goes well this trip while Twice As Special didn’t feature on the poly last start but her Highveld turf form was not too bad. She has a chance in this company and comes from a stable that often wins with long-priced runners.

The last is a wide open handicap where the betting could be your best guide. Gold Season has his first run for Dean Kannemeyer. He was taking on strong Highveld fields and his rating has dropped from a high of 93 to 74. With a change of scenery, he can do much better. Canadian Bolt has his third run after a break. He was close-up last start and should be cherry-ripe. Movie Magic showed up well first run back from a break with the blinkers back on while Palace Wind was a touch unlucky in a bunched field last run. He has come good of late and has the best of the draw. The Snow War and Master Of Destiny are others to include in bigger exotic perms in a difficult race.

David Thiselton

THE Turffontein Standside nine-race card today is headed by the  Listed Spook Express Handicap over 2400m and it could be won by the lightweight Illuminate.

This annual fixture is held in honour of the Henneman Disaster victims.  

This six-year-old Brave Tin Soldier mare is out of a mare by stamina influence Jallad and just over a year ago she finished a 4,25 length third over this course and distance behind Chitengo and Pomander. The latter have both franked that form since and Illuminate also went on to place third a further three times over this trip.

The last time she did so she ran off a 74 and she is now down to a 71. More importantly she has now joined the yard of Weiho Marwing, who is known for his expertise in preparing horses for stamina contests. So carrying just 52.5kg she could upset the applecart with Marco van Rensburg aboard from a good draw. She will have to defy odds at time of writing of 19-1 quoted by the earliest bookmaker to price the race up, WSB. Ocean Forest just pipped She’s A Cracker over this trip last time.

Both fillies gave their all in the finish and can develop into decent stayers. Ocean Forest is only half-a-kilogram worse off for the short-head victory but being by Duke Of Marmalade she should be improving nicely and there is a reversal in draw fortunes. 

Aryaam was a comfortable winner of the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial over 2000m last time and struck as one who would enjoy a further step up in trip. She jumps from pole position too. However, she was only a maiden when winning that race and the form has not worked out terribly well so running off a nine point higher mark this is going to be tougher, so she is selected to only finish third, one ahead of She’s A Cracker, despite being the favourite with WSB. 

The topweight Smoking Hot has to carry 60kg but does have staying class and would not be  surprise winner. If she is included then The Sash also has to be considered as she beat Smoking hot by 1,75 lengths in the WSB Allez FRance Stakes over this trip and she is now better off at the weights by 2kg if apprentice claims are ignored.

Kay Tee Perry has some class and also has to be considered, despite never having gone this trip before, as she enjoyed the step up to 1800m last time.

In the eighth race, a Progress Plate over 1600m, the progressive long-striding Puerto Manzano can take another step towards feature class. The chief danger looks to be Eliud who can have a line drawn through his last run as it just did not pan out well and he is better than that.

The sixth race is a Pinnacle event over 1800m and it all points to Lily Blue who ran a cracker last time in the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m, which was run in Vaal Classic course record time. She is now 1,5kg better off with Destiny’s Game who beat her in the Acacia by 0,35 lengths plus she is drawn in pole and will appreciate the step up in trip.    

David Thiselton

THE eight race meeting on The Vaal straight course tomorrow is a tricky one but those who do their homework should be rewarded with handsome dividends.

May Queen, who runs in the seventh race over 1000m, is made the best of the day and the meeting banker. This progressive filly finished just a length behind the even more progressive Mind Reader over this trip last time. Mind Reader went on to comfortably win another handicap next time out despite having been raised four points for the win against May Queen.

Herstel is 4,5kg better off with May Queen for a 0,4 length beating over 1200m last November so has a shout on paper, but May Queen has come into her own since then and probably prefers 1000m. Ulla is 2.5kg better off with May Queen for a 1,75 length beating over this trip but was thumped 9,75 lengths by Mind Reader next time out.

The meeting starts with a Juvenile Plate over 1200m and it all points to the maiden Mitch Got His Wish. On debut over 1160m this Admiral Kitten colt was bumped at the start and slow away yet he only just failed and finished 19 lengths clear of Franca. The latter had previously finished three lengths behind Retallick over 1000m although she was receiving 6.5kg if apprentice claims are included. Retallick is selected for second although he might prefer the minimum trip as he did run a bit keenly in the latter race and as a winner he has to give Mitch Got His Wish 3kg. Fisher King drops down in trip after running on over 1450m to win last time and will be staying on from a nice outside draw.

The second is also a Juvenile Plate over 1200m and Alec Laird and S’Manga Khumalo can make it a quick double with Kwazzi’s Lady, who was heavily backed on debut and stayed on late for a 6,25 length fourth after being slow away and green over 1160m. The winners in this race don’t strike as being great shakes. Bella Chica ran three lengths back in a Listed race last time over 1000m so looks the main threat. Marigold Hotel beat an uninspiring field easily on debut over 1450m but would probably prefer the latter trip. 

The third is a weak maiden over 1600m for fillies and mares and a chance is taken with Nitro Girl. This Master Of My Fate filly finished 14 lengths back on debut over 1200m in February but was in fact only a head behind one of the leading contenders here, Bedouin Bride. Nitro Girl is out an unraced Var maiden but the latter is a half-sister to a Listed Winter Oaks winner so she should relish the step up in trip. Bedouin Bride lost to Amberglo Star when they last met but comes out better than Amberglo Star on a more recent line through a horse called Ocean’s Pride. Bedouin Bride also has a higher draw which might work in her favour. 

In the fourth race over 1800m Sell High is drawn in pole over an ideal trip and is 3kg better off with Nimcha for a 2,90 length beating over 2000m. Nimcha was hard ridden to win that day and has to overcome a six point raise. Don’t Look Back loves the long straights of the Highveld courses and is interesting stepped down to this trip having won four-in-a-row from 2000m to 2400m upon arrival here and finishing a decent third in a Listed race over 2400m last time. He can be involved and Cornish Pomodoro is distance suited and can still progress. However, including all six of the field in the Pick 6 could be the way to go if Sell High is not bankered.

In the fifth over 2400m Ushuaia has a chance of staying this trip on pedigree and his staying on neck third to subsequent WSB SA Derby runner up Pamushana’s Pride last time over 2000m when receiving just 5,5kg reads well. Fred, by Ideal World, can also possibly improve over this trip. Cash Time, Master And Man and Kings Cup also have to be considered though.    

In the next race over 1000m the improved Samoa enjoys the Vaal straight and goes well for Gavin Lerena so is taken to beat  Caerphilly. The latter beat Samoa the last time they met and yet is now 1,5kg better off but on the downside she hasn’t raced since December 10.  Lagertha is quick and overdue so could also be a threat, although the draw bias must be monitored on the day as both Samoa and Lagertha are drawn low. 

In the last over 1400m Quentra makes a lot of appeal having beaten Southern Song over this trip in the maidens  and the latter went on to beat an uninspiring field by nearly ten lengths over 1600m next time out. However, beyond her it is wide open and being a Classified Stakes event the females generally have a weight advantage. 

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David Thiselton

WSB TRIPLE CROWN hero Malmoos has been given a significant five point merit rating raise by the handicappers for his emphatic win in Saturday’s Grade 1 WSB SA Derby.

This means he goes to 125, which is one point higher than the critical 124 rating that was always going to be the key mark for three-year-old male Vodacom Durban July contenders.

The weight for age allowance for a three-year-old at the time of the July is 2kg, which mean that with the likely topweight Rainbow Bridge currently being a 134 merit rating, any three-year-old male who is rated above 124 will carry more than the minimum weight of 53kg for a male runner. So as it stands Malmoos will carry 53.5kg if he runs in the July.

The critical mark for three-year-old females is 122 as the minimum weight for a female in the July is 52kg.

So the good news for fans of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Tripe Tiara heroine War Of Athena is that her merit rating has remained unchanged on that exact mark of 122 after her easy Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks victory, meaning that as it stands she will carry 52kg if she runs in the Vodacom.

In the SA Derby Second Base was used as the line horse so remains unchanged on 116. The horse that pipped the latter for second place, Pamushana’s Pride, has been raised from 91 to 116. Fourth-placed Shah Akbar has been raised six points and joins the horse he pipped for fifth place, Bingwa, on a 108.

From the SA Oaks the two length runner up Sparkling Water has been raised to 109.

David Thiselton

JET DARK is one of the key horses in the SA Champions Season as he is the highest rated three-year-old in the land and the good news for the Vodacom Durban July hopefuls of his crop is that trainer Justin Snaith is not planning a full campaign for him until next season’s Cape Summer. 

Snaith said, “He is 50/50 for the WSB Guineas and he might run in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and the  Champions Cup. But we will be going light with him and saving him for the Cape Summer Season.”

Jet Dark’s rating of 130, earned by beating some of the best older horses in the land in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, might have an impact on those three-year-olds who run close to him. Therefore, it is good news for the three-year-old Vodacom July hopefuls that he won’t be running in the main springboard into the July, the Grade 1 Daily News 2000. His rating was earned over a mile so they will also be hoping he doesn’t make it for the WSB Guineas, which is often used as a pipe-opener for three-year-old Vodacom Durban July candidates.

Of course one of the chief Vodacom three-year-old protagonists at this stage is the Snaith-trained The Gatekeeper and he will obviously be avoiding a  clash with Jet Dark. 

Meanwhile, Rio Querari, runner up in the Grade 1 weight-for-age Cape Flying Championship and winner of the Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes has been doing well in his preparation for the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein on May 1.

Snaith will be galloping a number of his SA Champions Season big guns at Hollywoodbets Greyville on April 21. 

He emphasised the depth of his Champions Season string and besides those already mentioned and obvious others like Captain’s Ransom, Do It Again and Belgarion, he mentioned African Night Sky, Doublemint and Silver Host. 

He said he also might bring the odd two-year-old and a candidate was Listed Summer Juvenile third-placed High Hosanna, who is by Trippi out of a half-sister to Oh Susanna.