Andrew Harrison

THE CAPE TOWN MET has panned out into a re-run of last season’s Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July with four of the first six past the post in the VDJ in the line-up. In fact, all of the country’s main actors will face the starter, the only one missing being VDJ runner-up Got The Greenlight.

With a projected R15 million Pick 6 pool in the offing, there will be no shortage of interest in today’s 12-race meeting.

Last year’s VDJ winner Belgarion is currently at the top of bookmaker’s boards for the race, where he faces the usual suspects Rainbow Bridge, Do It Again and Golden Ducat. Added to this year’s main cast is recent Grade 1 Paddock Stakes winner Queen Supreme, Grade 1 Summer Cup runner-up Running Brave, African Night Sky on the comeback trail, and the only three-year-old in the race, Princess Calla.

Queen Supreme posted back-to-back victories in the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes, cruising to a most impressive win. Mike de Kock then shipped her back to his base at Randjesfontein and most surmised that the Met was off her agenda so it came as a surprise that De Kock opted for the filly to make the arduous 1600km road trip back to Cape Town in just over three weeks, surely an indication of what the multiple times champion trainer thinks of her chances.

She is reported to have travelled well so the boys will need to pick up their feet.

Belgarion was weighted to win the VDJ but has since met Rainbow Bridge on level terms in his last two. Justin Snaith’s charge was a facile winner of the Green Point Stakes but didn’t quite get to a fitter Rainbow Bridge in the Queen’s Plate, the latter fighting on when seemingly beaten. That may be the case again tomorrow.

Do It Again, a dual winner of the VDJ, finished a creditable third last year in his bid for his third success VDJ victory, just ahead of Golden Ducat with Rainbow Bridge putting in a below par performance, finishing in sixth place.

Rainbow Bridge showed his true worth when going on to be involved in possibly the race of the season, edged out on the line by stable companion Golden Ducat in the Grade 1 Champion Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

The Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate is one of the country’s big three Grade 1 WFA 1600m races, the other two being the Gold Challenge, run at Hollywoodbets Greyville and the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes run at Turffontein, and is most often used as a stepping stone into the Met.

This year was no different although the big three of Belgarion, Rainbow Bridge and Do It Again were upstaged by Jet Dark.

However, the three filled the minor placings led by Rainbow Bridge and their respective trainers will have left a little meat on the bone for the Met, all three horses more at home over the extra 400m.

Golden Ducat, a winner of the Champions Cup and fourth in the VDJ last season, ducked the Queen’s Plate, the 1600m way too sharp for the former Grade 1 Cape Derby winner, the race run over the same course and distance of the Met. He turned in an exceptional effort to win the Grade 3 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m run on the same day as the Queens Plate. In a race run at a pedestrian gallop, not suited to Golden Ducat, Eric Sands’s charge fought on gamely to win a race in which he looked dead-and-buried 400m out.

African Night Sky, highly touted early in his career, returns from serious injury and was a tad unlucky behind Golden Ducat in the Peninsula after almost being stopped in his tracks when making his run. A 20-1 shot, he may be worth an each-way nibble.

Fanie Bronkhorst has had his trainer’s brief for less than a month but he saddles Summer Cup runner-up Running Brave who sports his colours. For the Summer Cup, Paul Matchett was at the helm but Bronkhorst steered her to her recent win in the Grade 2 London News Stakes.

The ‘big four’ are all fancied in the betting market but the ‘Queen’ can reign supreme head of Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat with Belgarion and African Night Sky in the mix.

David Thiselton

TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE hosts the Listed WSB Wolf Power 1600 today, a tricky handicap event on what is a tricky meeting overall.

Youcanthurrylove finished third in the Grade 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile over course and distance and is only two points higher in the merit ratings so looks to be the one to beat from a fair draw of six. Last time out the Summer Cup trip might have stretched him so he could well appreciate dropping back to this distance.  

Pack Leader has impressed in both of his Highveld starts over this trip. He has a wide draw but S’Manga Khumalo will know him well by now and always gets the best out of him. 

Cornish Pomodoro was beaten 2,80 lengths by Youcanthurrylove in the Charity Mile but nothing panned out well for him that day and he is now 3.5kg better off. He improved immediately after gelding and has likely not shown his full potential yet, so should be a big runner from a good draw under national log leading jockey Lyle Hewitson.

Green Haze is one point lower than his last winning mark which came in the Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m in March last year. He comes off a good third in the Grade 3 London News Handicap over 1800m where he beat Divine Odyssey by five lengths. He enjoys this trip too and has a plum draw of two so would not be a surprise winner.     

Golden Pheasant is a big good-looking horse who is in a rich vein of form. He has won his last two attempts at this trip but does have to overcome a five-point raise for his last win over 1400m. He does have a plum draw of three though and Muzi Yeni gets on well with him. 

Whorly Whorly has been a revelation since stepping up in trip to between 1400m and 1475m. He now tries a further step up in trip and if he takes to it he should be right there. However, he does have a tricky draw of nine.  

Divine Odyssey is back to the 114 mark of his last win which was in the Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m. He would prefer the latter trip but is effective over this trip and has a fair draw.

Approach Control has proved capable of running off a 108 mark which remained static for over a year but he has now been dropped two points at last and this could see him involved in the shake up, although he has a tricky draw.

Full Mast proved he stays further than a mile last time when winning over 1800m. This is a stronger field though and he has to overcome a two-point raise. He finished more than ten lengths behind Whorly Whorly in the Grande heritage over 1475m and was more than nine lengths behind Golden Pheasant.

Captain Of Tortuga sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight He looks held by Full Mast and Whorly Whorly on 1800m and 1400m form. He enjoys this course and distance but has a tough draw.

D’Arrivee is 2,5kg under sufferance but has struck as one who has not lived up to his potential and he is drawn in pole, so he can’t be written off in this open contest.

In the other feature on the day, the Non-Black Type WSB Allez France Stakes the Zimbabwean Derby winner Lily Blue goes over the 2400m distance of the latter race for the first time since arriving in South Africa. She has class and on a difficult day is made a banker in the Pick 6 but only because there has to be a banker somewhere on such a competitive card. In the Jackpot it is advised that Smoking Hot and Pomander are also included.       

David Thiselton

BRETT CRAWFORD, whose single Grade 1 win last season ended a sequence of seven multiple Grade 1-winning seasons, has a full card of runners on Cape Town Met day including a trio of runners in both the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship over 1000m and the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes over 1600m.

Crawford said Run Fox Run was undoubtedly his stable elect in the Cape Flying.

He said about the Australian-bred Foxwedge filly who has won seven of her ten career starts, “She is in great form and I am expecting a good run.” Last year she finished a 1,20 length fourth having won the Grade 2 Southern Cross Stakes over the same 1000m course and distance in the build-up. This year she comes in off a one length second to Celtic Sea in the Southern Cross. She received 1kg from the latter so is going to have a tough task reversing form in this weight for age event. Celtic Sea is the favourite with Track & Ball at 2.65/1 while Run Fox Run is at 13/2 and has regular pilot Anton Marcus up from draw three out of 14.

Crawford also runs Bold Respect and Pacific Trader and said, “These two older horses need to come back to their best form. I have put a pair of blinkers on Pacific Trader and hope that helps. Bold Respect finished second in this race last year so obviously has the ability. It will just depend on his well-being on the day. They have both had good preps.”

Crawford runs Pretty Young Thing, Sing Out Loud and Kelpie in the Majorca.

He said, “They are all doing well and are all capable although Pretty Young Thing has a tough draw to overcome. Clouds Unfold and Captain’s Ransom are the horses to beat but after that it is an open race and all three have the potential to run into the money.”

Crawford’s day begins in the third race over 1600m with Global View colt Grand Escape, who was doing his best work late when green on debut and finishing a 0,90 length third.

He said, “He obviously has a poor draw but is fit and well.”

To date the form of his debut has worked out quite well with two horses he beat by about three lengths placing in the first three in their respective next starts.”

In the fourth race over 1400m Grade 2 Charity Mile winner Hudoo Magic is prominent in the betting.

Crawford said, “He is in good form and this being a Pinnacle he is pretty well weighted. He always appreciates a long straight like this one.”

King Of Gems is a fascinating runner as he is a former Grade 2 Concorde Cup winner over 1600m. He had to be given a nine-month break for a wind operation this year and he has had three runs since.

Crawford said, “His last run was better and I hope he can continue to improve. He finished four lengths behind Kasimir in that start over 1200m and we know he has the ability so if he feels right on the day, he has a definite outside chance.”

Hudoo Magic jumps from a tough draw of nine under Marcus and King Of Gems has draw five under Warren Kennedy.

In the Grade 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m Crawford runs the progressive Captain Al colt Kaptein who carries only 54kg and jumps from draw seven under Greg Cheyne.

He said, “He is doing well and comes off a very good run (a Progress Plate over this trip where he ran above his 83 rating). This will be good test for him and I am expecting him to run a competitive race and be in the first four I hope.”

Crawford runs Grade 1 Cape Derby third-placed Super Silvano in the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m and he said, “He is in good form. There is a question mark whether he gets the trip but if he does, he will be competitive.”

Oddly enough Super Silvano, who is by Vodacom Durban July winner Bold Silvano, is a full-brother to stablemate Bold Respect, a Grade 1-winning sprinter. However, their mother Respectable Lady won over 1800m and their third dam was the top class Respectable, who finished third in the July and won three Grade 2 staying races.

Crawford runs Social Butterfly, Qaaraat and Variety Breeze in the eleventh over 1000m.

He said, “Social Butterfly is in great form. She has a big weight but has been doing very well at home. Qaaraat’s form has been very good since the blinkers were put on and she must be respected as an each-way chance. Variety Breeze has not run over 1000m for a while and I think this is her best trip so she should improve on her current form.”

In the last over 1200m Crawford runs Real Gone Kid, who made it two wins in five starts last time out over this trip.

He said, “There is a bit of a weight turnaround with Tarantino but he has been working well and I see no reason why he can’t run another good race.”

This Australian-bred colt is well related being by top sire Schnitzel out of the former Justin Snaith-trained dual Grade 1 winner In The Fast Lane.

Andrew Harrison

RACING in KZN is taking flak from some quarters, mainly due of the large number of recent Pick 6 carryovers and other big dividends. Accusations range from race fixing to crooked jockeys and trainers and other unsavoury practices.

Anyone familiar with the intricacies of the sport knows that these accusations are mostly hogwash. Racing in KZN is highly competitive at the best of times but the modest quality of horses racing in this province at this time of the season is probably the root cause of the many shock results.

These horses are mostly not competitive during the high season, some due to a plain case of the slows, others with recurring niggles that in some cases lead to inconsistent performances.

Some advice to exasperated exotic bet punters is to structure your bets. Be wary of false favourites. Dissect the form of the so-call ‘good things’ and if it doesn’t stand up to close scrutiny and is also ‘light’ in the betting, pasop.

A banker or two always helps ease the financial outlay but also the occasional ‘field’ option in what is perceived as a difficult race, guarantees survival in that leg – and 10% of a million-rand pot is not a bad return.

In short, give it some thought.

Racing at Hollywoodbets Greyville today is another that will test punter’s skills.

It may be a case of take the plunge and know your fate early or load up in the opening leg of the Pick 6 where Policy Target will never get an easier chance to shed his maiden. Andre Nel’s runner has finished runner-up in all three of his local outings and should get it right this time around. Dangers! Zero Rated was not far back at his penultimate start, finishing a length behind Policy Target, and the experiment with blinkers failed next time out. Blinkers come off.  Golden Duck switches to the poly but has been consistent and stays the trip well. He is a possible threat along with Liaoluo Bay who was a distant third last run but can feature in this line-up.

Shastina has put in two promising efforts since her maiden success for Gavin van Zyl and although she does not have the best of draws, she should be competitive in the opening leg of the first jackpot. The draw is a concern but she does have a 4kg claimer up and two who look to be among her biggest rivals are drawn just inside. Sacred Ibis appears to be regaining her best form while Fire Faerie was two lengths behind Shastina at their last meeting. However, Shastina is 3.5kg better off at the weights given the apprentice allowance and both were drawn wide in that race.

Another open affair faces punters in the fifth. Justfortheepenny has come to hand again and was close-up in a useful field last outing. With a claiming apprentice aboard should make another bold showing. Purple Powahouse will have his supporters as he has been in mustard form of late. He got a six-point rise in the handicap for his last win but steps up in trip and could go in again.

Lowly fillies and mare’s handicaps are always tricky and the seventh is no different. Lady Legend made major improvement when fitted with a tongue-tie and did well to go all the way to hold off the well thought of Vihaan’s Pie. A 2.5kg claimer up sees her face this field on similar weight terms and from a good draw she can go in again. Marsanne has the worst of the draw but does come from off the pace so this should not trouble her. She was only a length off Lady Legend last start and can turn the tables. Maiden’s Prayer has been a little disappointing but was only three lengths back to Lady Legend. She now tries blinkers which could see her fight this one out.

Clinton Binda makes the trip from the Highveld with King’s Road whose last two wins have been on this track, the last on the turf, the previous on the poly. He has patchy form but nearly made all in his last Vaal start and has a 4kg claimer up to help. Valiente, Bernie’s Dream and Hampton Court are others to consider but that may be a ‘field’ option for the Pick 6.

Gary Rich does wonder with his small string and Arctic Princess can round off the meeting. She has come good for her new stable and is unbeaten back in blinkers. She was a comfortable winner last start and can go in again. Casadoro was a recent easy maiden winner from the worst of the draw while Foxy Lady has another poor draw to contend with but was running on nicely behind Arctic Princess at her last outing and can feature again.

David Thiselton

SUMMERVELD trainer Peter Muscutt has taken two horses down for the big Cape Town Met meeting to compete in Grade 1s, Ultra Magnus and Indi Anna, and neither of them should be written off because their last respective races showed them to be potentially better than their form suggests.

They have been in Cape Town for three weeks and Muscutt said, “They galloped at Kenilworth last Wednesday and I was more than happy with both of them. They will have to put up career best performances to be competitive but they are both in good order.”

Ultra Magnus, who runs in the Cape Flying Championship over 1000m, won the Grade 3 New Turf Carriers Merchants over 1160m at Turffontein last time out. He had been up against it from draw 12 out of 15 because, although high draws are usually advantageous down the Turffontein straight, on that particular day, Summer Cup day, it was noticeable that the high drawn horses were not going through with their runs. 

Yet the five-year-old Oratorio gelding stuck to his outside station and still managed to win by two lengths. The second horse home, Eden Roc, adds merit to the win as he had previously won a Grade 1 and a Grade 2 over 1200m. Ultra Magnus did receive 1,5kg from Eden Roc but beat him comfortably. The third horse home, Bold Ransom, also adds merit to the win. This up and coming four-year-old sprinter was carrying just 52kg and jumped from a favourable draw of two but was beaten 2,10 lengths. He has subsequently finished a narrow second in the Grade 3 Lebelo Sprint over 1000m and he then won a strong Pinnacle event over 1000m in which he received 6kg from Eden Roc and gave him a 1,40 length beating. 

Muscutt said about Ultra Magnus, “He comes in under the radar. Five furlongs is not ideal but the Kenilworth five is more testing than anywhere else in the country and that will suit him.” 

Ultra Magnus is lightly raced with only 12 starts under the belt, He has won six times and been placed four time, including a short-head runner up finish in the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint over 1200m. In the latter race he received 7.5kg from Kasimir and beat him by 1,10 lengths so has a tough task on Saturday but he could well have improved and looks to be the dark horse of the race.

Indi Anna, a five-year-old Master Of My Fate mare, won the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville in her last start. The impressive part of the victory was that she had over-raced throughout in a handy position and yet went on to win comfortably by 1.50 lengths. 

Muscutt said, “She was not entitled to kick the way she did after over-racing. I have removed all extra equipment, including the tongue tie, and have declared her in a compression mask but am probably going to take that off too. So, if she settles this time she should run well.”

Ultra Magnus is drawn nine out of 14 and Keagan de Melo replaces Donovan Dillon and Indi Anna is drawn six out of eleven and Gavin Lerena replaces Raymond Danielson.