David Thiselton

SATURDAY’S Grade 1 Cape Town Met over 2000m at Kenilworth has attracted a small field of eleven but it is full of quality. 

Golden Ducat should be coming into his own half way through his four-year-old year. This high quality twice Grade 1-winner is distance suited and has a plum draw under the reigning national champion jockey Warren Kennedy. He is versatile, as he is able to lead and find extra, or come from off the pace and use his good turn of foot. 

Belgarion has improved into a genuine Grade 1 weight-for-age horse this season and it easy to imagine him being dropped out from a wide draw and then making a bold bid to mow the field down in the straight. He will relish the step up in trip from the mile of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate where he ran on well for third in a race that was run too slowly for his liking.   

The twice Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again has never won the Met but was possibly an unlucky loser in 2019 when ending up too far back and arriving just too late to catch Rainbow Bridge. In the Queen’s Plate he looked his old self for the first time in a while and was unlucky as he was cramped for room when running on strongly from last. He was entitled to need that reappearance run and if arriving in the same fettle, he is a big runner.  

Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat went too quickly in the July so did well to stay on for sixth and fourth respectively. An interesting point was that Rainbow Bridge ran the first 2000m of that race in a time that was slightly better than the 2000m course record set by London News in the Daily News 2000 in 1996. That shows just how good he is over this 2000m trip and he did in fact win the Met two years ago.

The one possible concern is that he has come out second best in a number of races that saw him involved in a dog fight, including last year’s Met. He is at his best in his third run after a layoff, which he has here, and draw six gives him options. 

Queen Supreme is a fascinating runner as she comes off a second successive Paddock Stakes win and has been impressive in her last two starts. She gets a 2,5kg female allowance but does have a tricky draw of eight. In her only previous attempt at a Grade 1 against the boys this five-year-old mare ran fourth in the Summer Cup in her four-year-old season carrying just 52kg. That form would not be good enough to win here on the face of it but it should be remembered that she is Northern Hemisphere-bred so was still a three-year-old in real terms in that race. She has blossomed lately as she is now fully grown and this race will show just how good she really is.  

The other female in the race, Princess Calla, has to carry 51.5kg and is drawn in pole. She has 2,30 lengths to find on Queen Supreme from the Paddock Stakes. However, that was only her fifth career start and has always struck as one who would get better and better as she got older and as she went further. However, it has to be said, Queen Supreme did win with a bit in hand.

African Night Sky was an unlucky loser last time in the Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy over 1800m when squeezed out on the rail and having to switch. However, he is now 2kg worse off and in his only previous attempt at the Met in 2018 he was beaten two lengths into sixth.

Silver Operator was a 3,65 length sixth in the Queen’s Plate and tries this trip for the first time. His dam by Captain Al was a Listed-winning sprinter, but he is by Silvano which give him hope of getting 2000m, but he will need a big step up on form. 

Cirillo is a perennial placed horse in Grade 1s and should be handy turning for home but this trip might stretch him and his old foes might be too good again.

Running Brave is well-named as she is courageous, particularly from the front, and she has two wins in Grade 2 company over this trip. She finished second in the Grade 1 Summer Cup. However, this is a big step up from that handicap event and she is officially 4kg under sufferance with the highest rated horse, Rainbow Bridge.

Sovereign Spirit might not yet have shown his best and is capable of a strong finish but he looks held on form.

Andrew Harrison

THE Marula Sprint (Non-Black Type) was always going to be a tricky affair given the quality of the field but it was a race that was always going to pan out for winner Pearl Of Asia.

Robbie Hill’s gelding possesses a smart turn of foot but for him to be most effective he needs a solid early pace from the front runners and that’s just what he got at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday.

Ziva La Winter and Celebration Rock set the desired pace and Donovan Dillon was content to sit off the early gallop before moving into contention up the inside fence. It was soon clear that it was going to take a good one to blunt his challenge and Pearl Of Asia scored comfortably from an ever game Good Rhythm to give Dillon his third success of the afternoon.

The was some serious scrimmaging as riders hunted gaps coming through the two-furlong mark, chief victim being Solid Gold who was the meat in the sandwich and squeezed out to last.

Mike Miller is having a tremendous trot with his two-year-olds and Edgartown was another to oblige in the card opener. However, Edgartown may have been a tad lucky to survive an objection lodged by Donovan Dillon aboard second-placed Crested Eagle.

Edgartown had been re-schooled after missing his first engagement due to unruly behaviour at the start, but it was all good yesterday as Ashton Arries had his mount out and galloping in a matter of strides, never to be headed.

About 150m from the line, Crested Eagle was looming large on his outside when Edgartown, racing green, shifted across Crested Eagle forcing Dillon to snatch up and track to the inside.

 Arries, cleverly, pushed his mount out to the line under hands the last bit with Dillon hard at work on Crested Eagle. There is no doubt that Crested Eagle was closing on the winner but not fast enough to force the issue according to the stipendiary board.

Ashburton-based Shane Humby has a reputation for not being hard on his horses and as a result many of them don’t see the racetrack too often. His general philosophy being, if the horse is not happy within itself, it doesn’t run – that’s not to say that they are all good enough to win!

Humby and first call stable rider Donovan Dillon banged home a quick double with Star Act obliging in the second and Purple And Green doing the honours in the next. Star Act, nicknamed ‘Pumpkin’ at home, put in a sustained finish to run down Flying The Star while Purple And Green fell off the early pace but picked it up when it mattered to get the better of Final Destiny.

There was drama in the seventh with Solar Flare being declared a non-runner. Solar Flare appeared to be hampered as the gates were sprung and others, most notably Sofia Erin and Wildly In Love were slow to go, Sofia Erin being restrained by her rider and fighting for her head before settling.

The race went to recent maiden winner Calulo who went back-to-back with Michael Roberts keeping faith with light-weight apprentice Mfanelo Zuma.

Many Pick 6 hopes rested on East Coast Star going into the last but after hitting the front early in the home straight, she was swamped close home as Jarred Samuel threaded Tinnie Prinsloo’s filly Love Of London through the pack.

Ashburton-based Prinsloo has been holding his own since arriving from Kimberley while Samuel seldom gets opportunities on horses with chances.

Once Covid restrictions are eased, he will take up a work riders’ position in Hong Kong.

David Thiselton

THE general view of the three-year-old male crop this season has been like a rollercoaster but on Saturday the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Second Base kept it on its current bull run when winning the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein Inside in impressive style under Chase Maujean.

The Gold Star Stud-bred gelding is yet another horse to prove the worth of the sire Gimmethegreenlight.

Janse van Vuuren-trained Second Base’s half-sister by Captain Al, Xplosive Kiss, and she won on debut over 1000m by five lengths so it is not surprising he and owner Laurence Wernars went back to the well. 

Wernars owns Second Base in partnership with A Devachander.

The scopey, long-striding bay has now won five races from six starts.

His win in his penultimate start in a handicap over 1800m was eyecatching as he did not have much cover but still relaxed well and displayed an impressive range of gears in the straight despite running off a 98 merit rating and carrying 58kg against older horses.

Punters must have missed that as he drifted out to 8/1 on Saturday. 

They must have believed giving 2kg to some decent sorts and having to jump from a wide draw would be too much.

Furthermore, he was 4.5kg under sufferance, according to official merit ratings, with the Dingaans fourth-placed Al Muthana.

However, there was always going to be a question mark about the latter’s suitability to the tight Inside track as he appeared to need every inch of the long Standside straight in the Dingaans.

Maujean was content to drop Second Base out to last in the running on Saturday. He displayed a fine turn of foot in the straight and won easing up by 1,75 lengths from Nartje, to whom he gave 4kg. Gimmethegoahead made it a first and third for Gimmethegreenlight, finishing 4,85 lengths back. The pacemaker Shah Akbar ran below his previous start by finishing a 5,60 length fourth. Al Muthana was a touch flat-footed at the top of the straight and did not find much extra either after traveling well enough in a good position from which to strike. His 8,75 length sixth was most disappointing.

The three-year-old male crop did not shine in its two-year-old season but were receiving high accolades after a number of classy sorts like Mount Pleasant, Malmoos, Forever Mine, Seeking The Stars Rascallion, Linebacker, Gatekeeper, MK’s Pride etc were introduced this term.

Their reputation took two successive blows, first when Mount Pleasant ran unplaced in the Dingaans, a race which was won by 9/1 shot Catch Twentytwo, and then when the 100/1 shot Russian Rock won the Grade 1 WSB Cape Guineas, defeating Malmoos and all of the previously heralded Cape Town stars. 

However, the crop’s reputation has been on the up ever since. 

Catch Twentytwo showed his Dingaans win was no fluke by winning the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes against a decent field. 

Cape Guineas fourth-placed Jet Dark then came out and won South Africa’s probable most prestigious weight for age mile, the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

On Saturday Bartholdi, only sixth in the Tony Ruffel, won a handicap easily over 1500m. 

Second Base then impressed and Janse van Vuuren looks to have an exciting Triple Crown horse in his hands.       

Andrew Harrison

PEARL OF ASIA faces some useful sprinters when he lines up in the Marula Sprint (Non-Back Type) at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today. It is a competitive handicap where one can make out a solid case for a number of runners but this looks tailor-made for Robbie Hill’s gelding.

Hill has been trying Pearl Of Asia over a little further of late and he rocketed home to comfortably beat Williams Land over 1400m on the Greyville poly at his penultimate start. He subsequently finished three lengths back in the Christmas Handicap over a mile but the race was not run to suit.

Some of his best form has been over course and distance and this race should pan out in his favour. Pearl Of Asia possesses a smart turn of foot but needs a strong early gallop for him to be most effective. With the likes of Solid Gold and Celebration Rock expected to stretch the field he should be running at them over the final two furlongs.

Two of Pearl Of Asia’s four victories have come over course and distance, the last time beating Good Rhythm comfortably giving him 1kg. He meets Louis Goosen’s charge at level weights here.

Good Rhythm has been in mustard form since, beating another of Sunday’s rivals, Hard To Play on the poly and one can bank on another forward showing.

Hard To Play has also shown consistent form since Wendy Whitehead tried him in blinkers and he is well in at the weights with Good Rhythm, being 6.5kg better off from their last meeting.

Michael Roberts has always held Solid Gold in high regard but the gelding is a tricky customer and not always in a galloping mood. He certainly was last time out as he galloped his field into the ground and it is worth noting that all of his six wins have come on this course in just eight starts here.

Ishnana and Celebration Rock are also course specialists and Winter Chill and Sniper Shot can earn minor money.

East Coast Star let her supporters down badly with a dismal performance last time out after her form suggested that she should at least contest the finish. However, she was in trouble early in the straight and Donovan Dillon eased up on her a long way out.

She did rush the gate at the start and was taken out and re-loaded after a veterinary inspection which may have accounted for her below par performance.

She gets another chance in the last where she meets another modest field. However, if she does fluff her lines again, Tostada can pick up the pieces. Andre Nel’s filly was not far off in her first local effort on the poly and judged on her pedigree should come into her own over ground. Another threat could come in the form of the lightly raced Sihamba Sonke who show some improvement last outing and the blinkers go on.

There is little doubt that Mike Miller has been king of the early juvenile races and he can add another with debutante Edgartown in the card opener. Miller rates the son of Soft Falling Rain as “a very nice horse” and stable rider Ashton Arries is sure to have had the pick of rides with Miller having four runners in the race. Of those that have run, Crested Eagle made major improvement at long odds at his second outing and on exposed form rates the one to beat.

The Pick 6 has not been and easy bet to catch of late and punters face another tricky puzzle.

 Sean Veale is paying dearly out of his pocket for his over-zealous use of the stick and the money was obviously down on Cupid’s Song when beaten by Mexican Catdance last time out. Veale gets another chance on Tony Rivalland’s gelding in the opening leg of the exotic bet. But he faces plenty of opposition with Purple And Gold making a promising debut and although there were a couple in this race, The Kingdom and Final Destiny, that finished in front of him, he does appear to have plenty of improvement to come. Seventh Song has not missed a cheque in his last five starts and should be right there again.

The fourth is another difficult affair even though it is a maiden event. Mystery Boy has only had a couple of starts and showed up well in both. He had a wide gate at last run with a plum draw could make the required improvement. Italian Dynasty was a beaten favourite last run but has improved at recent outings and although the draw is a concern, he gets 2.5kg relief from the saddle.

African Sunrise continues to frustrate but he will get it right at some stage and Sunday could be the day. He does not have the best of draws but he should be competitive in this line-up. Given that he has let the side down on numerous occasions one must respect the chances of Peaceful Day who showed up nicely in his local debut and had consistent Cape form before that. Fight Song had the worst of the draw last run and ran his worst race. Both wins came on the poly but he has done well on the turf while Karoo Lark has shown recent improvement and is not out of it.

Finally, Solar Flare has come good of late and goes well this trip. She went close in stronger company last time out and should make a bold bid in the seventh. Wildly In Love ran a little below her better recent form last time out but the blinkers go on and with a 4kg claimer up she could prove difficult to catch.

Of the balance, Calulo was a comfortable maiden winner at second time of asking and that form was firmly franked with second-placed Mind Set trouncing her field next time out. Deep Thought was a beaten favourite last run but appears better than that.

David Thiselton

THE Turffontein Inside meeting today features the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m and the up and coming Second Base can make it five wins in six starts.

This rangy Gimmethegreenlight gelding was caught one wide without cover in his first attempt at this trip last time but still managed to relax well and he displayed an impressive range of gears in the straight. Jumping from the widest draw tomorrow’s ten horse field should not bother him  and he looks to have the class to give 2kg and more to the rest of the field. Chase Maujean is a capable replacement for regular pilot Gavin Lerena.

Shah Akbar won impressively from the front over this trip last time. He received 6.5kg from Sell High and beat him by ten lengths and the latter had earlier given Second Base 1kg and lost by only 2,50 lengths. That puts Shah Akbar ahead of Second Base on paper as he will receive 2kg from the latter tomorrow. Furthermore, he ran a time 1,59 seconds quicker than Second Base over the same Standside 1800m trip, although he was carrying 5kg less. However, Second Base look to have plenty of scope for further improvement and on merit ratings he is 1,5kg better off with Shah Akbar.

Dr Doolittle also throws a spanner in the works as he beat Shah Akbar by 3,75 lengths in his last run over this trip despite having to give him 3kg. However, Shah Akbar ran way below the form of his next run in that outing and that is proven by the form of Fsquadron who finished runner up to Dr Doolittle when receiving 6,5kg and has failed to win in two subsequent events. However, that should not detract from Dr Doolittle, who is  on the up and could be a threat receiving 2kg from Second Base, although officially he is 1,5kg under sufferance.

Nartje is another decent type and he is 5kg better off with Second Base for a four length beating so should get closer.

Bold Jazz finished just 2,25 lengths behind the unbeaten Paisley Park in the Listed Secretariat Stakes over 1400m despite having to give him 2kg so he is an interesting runner here because on pedigree he should appreciate this trip.  

Gimmethegoahead looks held by Bold Jazz on 1400m form but won well when stepped up to this trip last time and now has a good draw. However, he will have to defy the handicappers who have him on a merit rating of 90 which puts him 5kg under sufferance with Second Base.

The best weighted runner is Al Muthana, who is rated one point higher than Second Base on 105 and yet receives 4kg from him, which makes him 4.5kg well in. He achieved this rating with a 5,25 length fourth place finish in the WSB Dingaans. He has a good draw and will relish the step up in trip. However, he needed the whole length of the straight to get going in the Dingaans and there is a question mark about his suitability to the tighter Inside track. The risk averse should include him in their exotics though.

The remainder of the field are Foreign Field, Baymax and Fsquadron who are way out at the weights and will need to step up.

There is some classy racing throughout the day and there are in fact no maiden plates on the card.

In the second race, a MR 92 Handicap over 1500m, Bartholdi will give a clue to Al Muthana’s chances. Last time out in the Listed Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1400m he finished just half-a-length behind Bingwa, who beat Al Muthana by 2,75 lengths in the Dingaans. Bartholdi is the one to beat in this field but might be given a hard time by the topweight The Eighth Lord, who cruised to an impressive win over 1600m at this course back in November, although he is now rated ten points higher.

Against the Grain in the third over 1500m is made the best of the day as he should be cherry ripe having now had three runs since his ten month layoff. He should start displaying the class he has always possessed.