David Thiselton

David Thiselton 

NATIONAL CHAMPION trainer Sean Tarry is set to bounce back to form at Turffontein Standside on Saturday where he has good chances throughout the nine-race meeting.

Many fans have questioned the current form of the yard and Tarry responded, “I don’t think we have the horses this season but they would have a point. We have been a bit quiet. There has been mucous around for the last couple of months and the tracks with all the rain have not been ideal and I haven’t taken any chances. So we have faced our challenges. However, the mucous problem seems to be clearing and we are hoping we will get going now.”

Tarry starts with Social Image in the second race over 1000m and said, “I think she has a place chance.” It could be argued she is the best contestant of those to have raced as she showed pace on debut and has recorded the fastest time over this trip. However, There She Goes looks the one to beat.

Tarry has a fine chance in the third over 1400m with the long-striding Byword filly Diamonds N Dollars and he confirmed, “She made a fair debut and will improve over the extra.”

He could also win the fourth over 1800m with Maple Sugar.
He said, “Nothing went right for her last time and she will be competitive.”
The Ideal World filly has been expensive to follow but overraced over 1800m last time and should appreciate the step back to 1400m.
In the fifth over 1160m he runs his two Grade 1 sprinters Chimichuri Run and Eden Roc and also Captain And Master.
He said, “Eden Roc beat Chimichuri last time but is worse off now so it all points to Chimichuri.”
Chimichuri Run is 2kg better off with Eden Roc for a 0,40 length beating. However, he does have a low draw, which by trends makes his task tougher, whereas Eden Roc is drawn on the right side.
Tarry said Captain And Master would need the run and added he had healthy respect for the bottom weights in this Pinnacle sprint.
Tarry has a fine chance in the next over 1800m with the talented Flying Carpet. The judpot colt has a tough task on paper as he is officially 6.5kg under sufferance with the best weighted Barahin. However, Flying Carpet has class and has not had many opportunities yet to prove how good he is. With 2.5kg claimer Joshwin Solomons aboard he will be carrying just 47.5kg of actual weight. He should enjoy the step up in trip to 1800m and can fight it out with Barahin.

Tarry said, “If Flying Carpet equips himself well I will consider running him in the SA Classic.”

Tarry’s other runner in the 6th race, Cornish Pomodoro, also has a shout.

He said, “The soft going didn’t suit him last time.”

The 7th race is the Non-Black Type  Egoli Mile and Tarry is strong-handed again with Shah Akbar and Invincible Warrior.

He said, “Shah Akbar is better than his last run and I don’t think this will be too sharp. This is a stepping stone to the SA Classic. At the weights Invincible Warrior is not out of it either.”  
Tarry has a good chance in the eighth with Seehaam and said, “She is a nice filly and has that come on look so will be a decent runner. It is her second run after a rest but there has been a big gap from the comeback to this race so it won’t be an issue.”

In the last race Tarry has a chance with Senescence. He confirmed, “She beat a very weak field last time but could not have done more.”

Senescence in fact caught the eye with the manner of that easy win and off a lowly 62 merit rating carries just 53kg minus the 2.5kg claim of Solomons.

Tarry will be hoping for improvement from Encore in this race.

The meeting could mark the turning point for the Champion Trainer.

David Thiselton

PUNTERS can have a good time of it at the Vaal straight course today as there look to be some fair opportunities.

In the first race over 1200m, Ace Of Spade has shown pace in both starts before tiring late and should now be cherry-ripe to deliver. Deanagelo will be a big threat as an improving sort who is capable of finishing strongly from 1200m up to 1450m. Fasinada ran a fair third on debut and could also earn. Freezing Fast beat Ace Of Spades when the latter made his debut but is exposed and this will be his 20th start. Fluorescet is another who could be in the shake up.

In the second over 1200m, the first-timer Meeneera makes appeal in an uninspiring field. He is by Dynasty and is a half-brother to the five-time winning Vercingetorix gelding Marshall, who produced his best when dropped back to this trip. Future Lady has run three good races and should make a bold bid again. Bat Out Of Hell has run two fair places and should earn again.

The first leg of The Pick 6 is an uninspiring contest and Mirren makes appeal as she has run some fair races over a mile and should relish the step up in trip being by middle distance sort Mambo In Seattle out of a Fahal mare who won up to 2400m. Wishonaire is a long-time maiden but has placed the last three times she has run over this trip and she is drawn in pole. Wedding Bliss and Electric Boots should enjoy the step up in trip.  Irish Willow has finished second in her last two starts over 1400 and 1450m respectively. She tries further and being by Linngari, who won over this trip, and a half-sister to Silver Talewho has won over 1950m, she could get it although on the downside her tried and tested full sister Linnbara seems best at around a mile.

In the fourth race over 2000m, Fast Draw looks ideally distance suited and is well drawn. Soldier’s Song has placed in her last two over 1800m and the form has looked strong and the closest finish she has had to date was over this trip. Orus Apollo appears to be looking for this trip so can stay on into the money. Mister Blue Sky and Forest Phoenix have also shown enough ability to be threats.

In the fifth race over 1200m, Persica has a fine turn of foot and if it pans out well for her, i.e she finds cover, she can make a bold bid to mow them down. Brooklyn Bridge is knocking on the door and enjoyed the step down to this trip last time. Afternoon Tea is a fascinating runner because if she retains the sprinting ability that saw her finish just 2,85 lengths back in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson she will be hard to beat off just a 75 merit rating. She has not run over this trip since the Allan Robertson so could represent good value. It is wide open beyond those three, but Samoa, Flower Of Scotland and Twelve Oaks make most appeal.

In the sixth race over 1200m, Forever Mine has looked to be a sprinter in his last two over further as he has a lot of speed. He should appreciate the step down to this trip and receives 3kg weight from MK’S Pride. The latter also has speed and class and Tropic Sun has plenty of ability so will be dangerous getting weight from Forever Mine. 

In the seventh over 1200m, Spanish Boy should relish the step up to 1200m after a fine effort over the too sharp minimum trip last time. Sea Virescent looks to have speed and class and headline jockey S’Manga Khumalo is aboard. Those two make most appeal in a race where just about the whole field could pick up the pieces if they fluff their lines. 

In the last race over 1200m it is a similar story with Dogliotti and Louis The Seventh being the two form choices but plenty of others capable of picking up the pieces. Father Time is an interesting runner dropped to the distance of his only win and having showed pace since coming back from a long layoff. 

David Thiselton

JUSTIN SNAITH has made no secret of Gatekeeper being his Vodacom Durban July horse this season and thus one of his chief concerns ahead of Saturday week’s Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby is his merit rating.

He also sent out a message on behalf of Captain’s Ransom to the Highveld saying. “I am not in the slightest bit scared of War Of Athena.”

He said about the three-year-old colt Gatekeeper, who is a full brother to his first July winner Legislate and who is owned by the Cape Derby’s new sponsor Nick Jonsson, “He is a very special horse and I would not be doing all this planning if that was not the case. We will do everything to protect his rating even if it means having to appeal. The concern is the merit rating leaps a three-year-old can take, for example if he wins the Derby he goes to 120 then if he wins the Daily News he goes to a 125.”

Snaith said he would see what Gatekeeper’s rating was after the Cape Derby before deciding which further route he would take in to the July.

The highest rated horse July-bound horse in the country at present is Rainbow Bridge on 134, so The Gatekeeper would have to be rated higher than 124 to carry more than the minimum weight of 53kg for a three-year-old male. He is unlikely to get more than 120 for winning the Derby as the highest rated horse among the entries is Kommetdieding on 117. 

Snaith said The Gatekeeper, who ran a 2,05 length fifth in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas last time out, was “very well” and added, “He is immature and if they don’t beat him in the Derby they are not going to beat him in four months time in the Daily News.”

Snaith also runs Hoedspruit in the Cape Derby.

He said, “He is doing very well at home but is losing his races because he is always too far back. He is finishing three to five lengths back and needs to up his game so I am pushing the envelope with him to see if we can close that gap. The mile to 1800m might have been too short too so we’re hoping he will be a nice horse over 2000m and run into the money.”

Snaith believes Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby day is on its way to joining the Cape Town Met and L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Racing Festival as a high status Cape Town racing event. 

He said, “It is the fastest growing race day, there are new sponsors and a lot is being poured into it and it will also be great to be able to have the owners back on course for the day. Everything I am doing at present is with that day in mind so punters must follow our yard on the day.”

One of the innovations for the day is the R160,000 Khaya Stables Workriders vs Jockeys Championship Maiden over 1200m where for the first time in South African history workriders will race against jockeys. The seven jockeys and seven workriders on the top of the respective Cape Jockeys log and Cape Workriders log will each ride as a team. The team which gathers the most points will be presented with a trophy.

Meanwhile, Snaith’s three-year-old filly Dazzling Sun, who is owned by Michael De Broglio, is on her way to race in America.

She faces an arduous journey as the equine export protocols have not changed.

If it was not for those protocols Snaith would have liked to have seen his star filly Captain’s Ransom racing in either America or France.

Instead, she will be heading for the SA Champions Season where the WSB Fillies Guineas and Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes will be her obvious aims. Snaith said miler types like her are capable of winning the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 so that might be an option in between those two events.

Captain’s Ransom is rated 126 compared to the 122 of War Of Athena but Snaith said, “She is very good and I’m not in the slightest bit scared of War Of Athena. When I said this three-year-old Cape Town crop is very, very strong this year people said ‘agh there he is blah blah overrating his horses again’ but I meant it and it has shown. Malmoos proved it over the weekend and he was lucky to win a race here as a lot of the opposition were still maturing.”

Meanwhile Do It Again, who loves KZN, has already been transported here and is resting on a farm. He will come in to Summerveld to begin training in the next couple of weeks.

Snaith said, “His rating has come down which gives him a chance in the July. He loves light tracks and we were never able to get the tracks light enough for him here during the Summer.”

Snaith faces a problem with his top sprinter Kasimir every winter because the first of the Grade 1 SA Champions Season sprints, the Golden Horse Sprint, is a handicap and he has to carry a big weight and the second one, the Mercury Sprint, is around the turn at Hollywoodbets Greyville and he invariably draws wide.

  David Thiselton

S’Manga Khumalo was in devastating form at the Vaal Classic track yesterday riding six winners. He rode the first four on the card, then finished third in both the fifth and sixth races. He then won the seventh and eighth races which gave him and opportunity to equal the South African record of seven winners in a day in the last race. He was on the favourite Pecan Pie in the last but this horse failed to kick on from a handy position and finished fourth. The SA record of seven in a day is held by Jeff Lloyd ( three times in SA, once in Australia), Piere Strydom (twice), Harold “Tiger” Wright and Garth Puller. 

David Thiselton

PUNTERS face a tricky card at the Vaal Classic track today as there are seven handicaps but the dividends should be rewarding for those who do their homework.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a MR 86 Handicap over 2400m and Don’t Look Back will be going for a hattrick. This rangy gelding has not looked back since being purchased by St. John Gray as it was the long straights of the Highveld he was looking for.  He is by stamina influence Judpot out of a Model Man mare who won twice over 2000m so he might enjoy the further step up in trip. He has been raised four points for his last win in which he arrived late on the scene over 2000m in soft going. Port Key had a tough task at the weights in a Middle Stakes race last time and back in a handicap could go close if he repeats the form of his previous win over 2600m. Brand New Cadillac has been in good staying form and his low draw will suit his front-running style so he has a shout being 2.5kg better off with Port Key for a three length beating. 

The next race is a Classified Stakes race over 2400m. She’s A Cracker did not have cover down the back straight last time over 2000m in soft going but was still staying on well at the end for a one length fourth so is interesting stepped up to 2400m from a plum draw. Her sire Where’s That Tiger has produced a SA Derby third place although there is a not a lot of stamina in her female line.  Consol Queen was ridden from the front last time over 2000m but did better the previous time when coming from midfield. She now has a wide draw over the trip of her last win so should make a bold bid if dropped out or finding cover in midfield. Kool Baikal is by Byword, whose best trip was 2000m, out of a Fort Wood mare who won over 1800m so he has a chance of staying this trip and Gavin Lerena is the only one who has won on him so he could do well from a good draw. French Leave has placed in five of his last six attempts at this course and distance and has a fair draw. Plum Field was not disgraced in a minor feature over this trip last time and is the best weighted horse but does have a tricky draw. Liverpool Legend beat She’s A Cracker last time over 2000m by 0,30 lengths and is now 1kg better off. She tries this trip for the first time and although speedily bred does give the impression she could stay it. There are others who are hard to ignore including So Long Spring, Ideal Wolff, Chevron, Zernez and Zaberjad.

In the sixth race over 2000m The Sash comes off a minor feature win over 2400m but is still merit rated only 74 so could continue with her current good form. Good draws have always appeared to be the key for her and she has her second one in succession so should make a bold bid over a trip she enjoys. Curvation is in good form too and is distance suited and well drawn. Magical Flight looks to have plenty of scope for further improvement so it all depends on whether she stays this trip. Her sire Willow Magic was a sprint-miler but her Jet Master dam won over this trip. Fort Anne has Piere Strydom back aboard after enjoying the step up to 1800m last time and the form of that race was franked in no uncertain terms when Netta came out and defied her rating by beating a good Progress Plate field. Lady Amherst and Traveling Wilbury can’t be ignored either. 

In the seventh over 1800m Pamushana’s Pride was made the best of the day last time and delivered and off a six point higher mark over the same trip and from a much better draw she is made the best again as she looks to have plenty of scope. Have A Go Jo will enjoy the step up in trip and looks to be the main danger. 

In the eighth over 1450m Putins Promise has a good finish if things go his way and they could well do from a good draw of five. He has shown a liking for this trip at Turffontein and his only win has been at the Vaal over 1200m so he should enjoy this course and distance. Oscar Wild holds him on their last meeting over 1400m but the low draw down the straight might have played a part in Putins Promise’s below par run that day. Shortstop is well drawn and can never be ignored over this trip.

In the last race over 1450m the Dorrie Sham yard have been in good form lately and the widely drawn Royal Lily could produce a strong finish from off the pace to mow down an uninspiring field. Entente is capable of winning it too. Un Deux Trois jumps from pole and this is the course and distance of her only win, so she is the other one to consider.