David Thiselton

VAUGHAN MARSHALL’S long-striding gelding Linebacker became the second high performing son of the champion sprinter Captain Of All to defy his pedigree when winning Saturday’s Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby over 2000m under Grant van Niekerk.

Shango was the first, finishing second in the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m last year having earlier won the Dingaans, but Linebacker is better and might turn out to be something special.

Linebacker jumped from the widest draw of all but Grant van Niekerk was able to find cover in the back half of the field. 

The Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock had meanwhile ruined his chances by refusing to settle in front. 

Linebacker’s stablemate Rascallion was effectively dictating in second place about five lengths behind the wayward Russian Rock.

In the staight Rascallion moved up well to take the lead and was soon challenged by the much touted The Gatekeeper, a full-brother to previous Cape Derby winner Legislate. 

However, Linebacker could afford to switch in looking for a run and then switch outward again before moving past the two protagonists in front effortlessly.

Van Niekerk just had to give him a couple of backhanders to keep his mind on the task and in the final stages was able to glance over both shoulders before easing him up to win by 1,50 lengths. Rascallion was runner up, half-a-length ahead of The Gatekeeper. Hoedspruit was a length further back in fourth, 2,25 lengths ahead of fifth placed Crimson King with Russian Rock next best. 

Linebacker has now beaten Rascallion four times in succession but interestingly has started double the odds of the latter, or more, on every one of those occasions. 

The public should now be convinced who the better horse is.

It was Marshall’s second Cape Derby win, the first being ten years ago with the Al Mufti colt Top Seller. 

The Marshall yard is famously linked to Al Mufti’s legendary son Captain Al and they will be thrilled to see the influence now being passed on by another generation. Captain Of All is of course a son of Captain Al’s.    

The SA Champions Season beckons and Linebacker looks to be a Vodacom Durban July candidate with the WSB Guineas and Daily News 2000 his obvious route.

He should not be given a hefty raise from his current 112 merit rating. The highest rated horse in the race was Russian Rock, but he did not run to form. The consistent Rascallion went in with a 110 rating, while The Gatekeeper was a 109.

On paper Linebacker  should be raised one point, although he will likely be given an extra two or three for the ease and classy manner of the win.   

With Rainbow Bridge in the July Linebacker will have to be higher than a gross 124 rating to carry more than the minimum weight for a three-year-old male of 53kg. Even if he wins both the WSB Guineas and Daily News 2000 he is unlikely to rise above that mark.

Rascallion, who had finished third, one behind Linebacker, in all three of their previous meetings this season, started favourite at 47/20 on Saturday, while Linebacker started 13/2. The reasons could only have been Linebacker having yet another wide draw and his pedigree suggesting he had a stamina doubt, whereas Rascallion looked to have no stamina doubt and was once again well drawn. 

Not only was Linebacker’s sire Captain Of All a sprinter but his dam Thin Red Line, by the speed influence Redoute’s Choice, had two career wins both over 1000m, although she did race mainly over a mile and also had a third over 1800m and a second over 2000m.

The stamina question mark has been answered and Linebacker must now be favourite for the Equus Champion Three-Year-Old male Award as he has versatility on his side too.

His three previous starts this season, all for runner up finishes, had been in the Grade 3 Cape Classic over 1400m, the Grade 2 Concorde Cup over 1600m and the Grade 1 Cape Guineas. He had to overcome wide draws in the last two of those races and was particularly unlucky in the latter race as he was caught wide throughout and then when seemingly having the race won he drifted in, away from the stick, which arguably cost him victory.

Justin Snaith hinted before Saturday’s race that the still maturing The Gatekeeper would be at his best towards the end of the season so he could still be a challenger and Malmoos, winner of the Concorde Cup and WSB Gauteng Guineas, is also still in the running for champion three-year-old. 

Linebacker was bred by Klawervlei Stud and is owned by Cheryl Gabler and Ken and Jane Truter.

DAVID THISELTON

TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE hosts a meeting today which features four stakes races and this will whet the appetite ahead of the WSB SA Classic and Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic meeting next Saturday.

The first of the four features is the Listed Ruffian Stakes over 1000m and the topweight Naarah is the one to beat despite having to give 2kg to the one-time winners and 5kg to maiden Veneta. She has showed fine pace to win both of her starts. However, the list of precocious youngsters who win their first two starts well before failing at the first feature race hurdle is a long one as two-year-olds mature at different rates and the others can suddenly catch up. Bella Chica, for example, looks to have some scope and has Piere Strydom aboard so could be a threat. She is only 2kg better off with Naarah for a four length beating but last time the apprentice jockey might well have sat for too along as Bella Chica was doing good work late. Under Your Spell won easily on debut and also looks to have some scope. Heaven’s Girl improved third time out to win from start to finish over 1200m and is 2kg better off with Naarah for a 2,75 length beating over 800m. Supreme Quest stayed on well to win last time so is also not out of it. Veneta lost her race at the start on debut over 800m but seemed to have a fair stride and receiving weight from the rest can’t be ignored.

The next race, the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m, is just as open. Social Image improved second time out and quickened well off her strong pace so is the one to beat with her 2.5kg female allowance. Captain’s Run was just half-a-length off Naarah over 800m on debut and followed with a good win. He showed good pace in the latter race and quickened well to repel the challenger Heaven’s Girl. Hope Is Power did not record a great time on debut but won easing up and looks to have scope for improvement. Arctic Skyline was a bit green when finishing second last time out so could still improve. The first-timer Sheela is by the miler to middle distance Group 1 winner The United States (Galileo) out of the Listed-placed Trippi sprinter Trip To India. 

In the Listed Bauhinia Handicap Sweet Future is the selection. This long-striding daughter of Futura has plenty of scope and has good cruising speed. From a nice high draw she can mow down the field late. Tropic Sun broke through the stalls last week before a 1200m event and so not surprisingly faded late after showing her usual good pace. She is now over a fast 1000m so her pace will make her a dangerous contender. The small four-year-old Risk Taker might get a tow from the big horse Sweet Future towards the outside and she has a blistering turn of foot so she could be a danger too. Rapid Fire is 7.5kg better off with Anna Capri for a mere 0,75 length beating so is also in it. Anna Capri can’t be ignored as she is capable of blitzing any field. Last time she was tardily away so did not lead and yet still won. If she gets a good break this time she could follow up despite it now being a handicap which makes her task a lot tougher than last time. 

In the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap the lightweight Destinys Game is progressive and if she starts on terms can mow the field down in the straight. Wisteria Walk has blossomed and has been impressive in her two prep runs over 1400m and 1500m. Rio’s Winter has plenty of class and is distance suited and competitively merit rated. Magic School is classy and capable of carrying topweight from a good draw and will want to be more handy than last time. Mount Laurel is course and distance suited and well drawn. Wylie Wench and Seehaam are both officially under sufferance but look to have the ability to go close.           

Andrew Harrison

WHAT makes horse racing the sport that it is? Gavin van Zyl and stable rider Warren Kennedy put it all in a nutshell after Stanton Street landed his long overdue maiden win at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday, running all the way to the line to deny Gauteng raider Life Goes On.

Kennedy admitted that he had all but written off the gelding as a ‘professional maiden’ and Van Zyl said he was never quite sure over what distance his charge would be most effective – yesterday’s race over 1000m. “Being out of a Zabeel mare, a solid New Zealand staying pedigree, I thought he would go ground. But it seems that I got it all wrong and I had to change things around and start again.”

Van Zyl also pointed out one of the darker sides of the sport. An owner putting his hand up at a sale and then reneging on their commitment. “In the ocean without a paddle,” as he so succinctly put it, and it is a scourge and unpleasant and costly reality that all trainers have had to deal with some time in their career.

Being a trainer in South Africa, having to deal with exponential rising operating costs in a stagnant economy, a myriad of other complications, some petty rules and keeping an equine athlete in peak condition, it is more difficult operating a training yard than anything Cyril Ramaphosa faces in running the country.

Gauteng raiders drew first blood when Southern Cape and Gin And Tonic fought out the card opener. Both were quick out of the gate and duelled all the way to the line. Marcus had Southern Cape in the lead turning for home with Ryan Munger, having his first ride back in KZN for many a year after a spell in Singapore, looking to have Marcus in his sights and dead to rights.

However, when asked the question, Gin And Tonic challenged gamely but could not get past Southern Cape who kept finding to the line.

Munger got himself on the board as Bright Eyed Girl made all the running for Weiho Marwing as she left her opposition trailing in her wake. “She showed us good work on the sand,” confirmed Marwing’s son Warwick who was doing duty for his father.

Spare a thought for Lezeanne Forbes. She was on the end of some stinging criticism when Fat Cigar finished ahead of stable companion and favourite Legislate’s Dance at Hollywoodbets Scottsville recently and was faced with a similar scenario when Panna Cotta, the less fancied of her two runners finished with a rattle to win the fifth.

She explained post-race that both of her charges had hot temperaments, favourite Koopa Troopa displaying hers before being coaxed to load.

She explained that given that the race was run at a pedestrian pace, the sprint for home was never going to suit the favourite.

“She is a very big filly with a massive action and when she ran second, she had the beautiful long Scottsville straight.

“The race was run at an absolute canter and there was no way that she would be able to out-sprint them down the short straight.”

Panna Cotta is another difficult filly, “she tends to beat herself” according to Forbes but apprentice Kyle Strydom handled her beautifully and he will not be long in shedding his claim.

The colours of the International Racing Club with Joa de Matta at the helm along Mike de Haast are familiar silks on the local circuit and Truly Wicked did them proud with a comfortable win in the sixth.

Wayne Badenhorst, with sister Barbara and brother-in-law Warren Kennedy, are always a combination to keep an eye on when they team up. 

David Thiselton

THE Pick 6 is tricky at first sight on the Vaal Straight course today although it could be catchable for those who do their homework. 

In the opening leg Supreme Dance is a lot better than his last start and will be hard to beat if repeating his debut. Jet Cat goes well for claimer Jeffrey Syster and could pick up the pieces if he fluffs his lines again. Lazy Guy makes most appeal of the rest.  

In the second leg over 1200m Golden Spoon should be running on strongly dropped back to this trip and should fight it out with the hard-knocking Bat Out Of Hell.

In the fifth race over 2400m Don’t Look Back has relished the long straights of the Highveld so can make it four-in-a-row despite being 2kg under sufferance with best weighted horse Fife. He won extending over this trip last time and it is interesting to note he has a victory over Gold Cup winner Paths Of Victory to his name over this trip. Fife will be a big threat as she has likely benefited from her last start. The inside horses also stole a march o her that day and she could have otherwise got closer although she does have another tricky draw. Captain Chorus can never be ignored over this trip. Earth Shaker has been in fine form over shorter and is a half-brother to Gold Vase runner up Before Noon so might stay the trip although being by Capetown Noir is a detractor. Ocean Forest is an interesting runner over this trip being by Duke Of Marmalade out of  half-sister to Listed Winter Oaks winner Fresnaye.     

In the sixth race Dr Doolittle is a decent sort and the last time he ran in a handicap over this trip he defied topweight. He didn’t shape in the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes next time out. However, he is by Ideal World so should be improving all the time and can defy topweight again off a four point higher mark than his last win, especially as he jumps from a good draw of two. Our Coys beat the talented Nartje the last time he tried this trip and on formlines he comes out better than Prospector. Prospector is a scopey sort and is by Traffic Guard so should enjoy this trip and can do better than his last attempt at it. August Rain is an interesting runner as he is a rangy front-running type and being by Soft Falling Rain out of a Jet Master half-sister to the champion stayer Hermoso Mundo might enable him to stay this trip. War Jewel has good recent form over 1600m but has to prove he stays this trip and there must be some doubt on pedigree being by Vercingetorix out of a Captain Al sprinter. Bepop enjoys this trip and could give some cheek with a light weight.      

In the seventh race 1600m Dawn Of A New Era won comfortably over 1400m in the maidens last time when finishing strongly and starts off on a reasonable 78 merit rating. That puts him 2kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse in this Classified Stakes race but he should relish the step up in trip. Un Deux Trois was doing good late work last time over 1450m in a fillies and mares handicap and is now the best weighted horse over a step up in trip she should relish. Picadilly Square ran on strongly last time over 2000m for third and in the current slowish conditions this trip might not be too sharp. Sun Giant is a big horse with not much pace and does not have an electric turn of foot but he certainly stays on so could become a threat in the latter stages. There is not much between him and Manitoba on form.  

In the last race over 1600m Drummer Dude is dropped down in trip to a course and distance over which he has placed in all three starts. The last time he ran over this distance he made good late progress. He is officially only 1kg out with the best weighted pair but this is alleviated by the 1.5kg claim of Jeffrey Syster who knows him well. Pucker Up is 1.5kg under sufferance with the best weighted but finished strongly over 1800m last time behind a promising sort and she was 0,85 lengths ahead of Drummer Dude and is now half-a-kilogram better off. The trip will be on he sharp side but she should be charging late. Contrail is 1.5kg out at the weights with the best weighted pair Anatura and Land of Rubies but he has the same 4kg claimer aboard as he had last time when running on well for second. Land Of Rubies should have benefitted from her last start which followed a three month layoff and she should relish the step up in trip. Kapama was not disgraced last time out over 1500m in a stronger fillies and mares handicap field than this and after her two points lowered merit rating she is still only half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the best weighted. Anatura can’t be written off having run on from last for second place over this trip at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.