THE race meeting scheduled for the Turffontein Inside track on Saturday 16 January has been moved to the Standside track.

Frequent rain and overcast weather conditions have retarded grass growth over the recently installed drainage systems at the pull-up area and the 1100m and 900m marks on the Inside track.

The surface should still be ready for racing on 16 January, but with more rain forecast over the next few days, it has been decided to move the race meeting to the Standside track as a precautionary measure.

The following distance changes apply: 1450m races now 1400m and 1500m races now 1600m.

The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) confirms that at an Inquiry held on 10 November 2020, adjourned and resumed on 11 January 2021, Stable Employee Mr Andrew Fortune was charged with a contravention of Rules 72.1.25, 72.1.26 and 72.1.43:

Rule 72.1.25 – in that Mr Fortune misbehaved himself or conducted himself in an improper manner by physically assaulting Jockey Gavin Lerena in the weighing room after the running of Race 7 at Turffontein Racecourse on Saturday, 24 October 2020.

Mr Fortune pleaded guilty to the charge.

The Inquiry Board found Mr Fortune guilty of the charge in terms of Rule 72.1.25 and after considering the mitigating factors presented, imposed a penalty of a fine of R20 000 (twenty thousand rand) of which R10 000 (ten thousand rand) is suspended for 24 months, provided that Mr Fortune is not found guilty of a similar offence during the 24-month period.

Mr Fortune has the Right of Appeal against the penalty imposed.

In terms of Rule 72.1.26, the Inquiry Board took no further action.

In terms of Rule 72.1.43 – in that Mr Fortune published, communicated or uttered words or statements or posted on any social media platform or channel material, content or comments, or conducted himself in a manner which could reasonably be construed to be either obscene, offensive, defamatory, racist, threatening, harassing, discriminating, sexist or abusive to any other person or entity involved in the racing industry, or bring the good name of any person or entity in the industry or the NHA into disrepute, after the running of Race 7, on 24 October 2020, at Turffontein Racecourse and during the occurrence of the physical assault on Jockey Gavin Lerena in the weighing room.

Mr Fortune pleaded not guilty to the charge and was found not guilty.

Furthermore, Mr Fortune’s suspension in respect of the attendance of race meetings, has been lifted.

NHA PRESS RELEASE

Andrew Harrison

Sean Tarry seems to have unearthed another potentially top class galloper in the regally named Eagle Alley. Racing in the familiar Chris van Niekerk silks in partnership with Bernard Kantor, Eagle Alley has a pedigree out of the top draw being by champion stallion Silvano out of a Sadlers Wells mare.

Given his pedigree and his first two trips to the race course, Eagle Alley appears to be above average winning well first time out of the maidens to keep his clean sheet. He faces some tough older campaigners when he lines up over the straight mile at The Vaal this afternoon but will be a popular exotic bet banker on a card littered with potential landmines.

After the untimely death of popular trainer Romeo Francis, a few of his small string ended up in St John Gray’s yard, including Romeo’s Magic and Soul Of Wit.

Romeo’s Magic made major improvement first time out for his new stable and although Craig Zackey puts up 0.5kg over weight the gelding has a light weight that could see him give Eagle Alley a fright.

Gray has a number of outstanding chances on the card and saddles Soul Of Wit in the last. The mare has had a single outing for her new stable and improved nicely. She looks primed for this event, however, it will not be easy. Alec Laird sends out Contrail who has had three outings since returning from a long lay-off. He made smart improvement last time out and appears to have come to hand but he obviously has issues so it may not be wise to rely too heavily on him. The Dorrie Sham-trained Back To Black hardly ever runs a bad race and goes well over this trip. He stayed on well in the soft last run while the former KZN galloper Heart Of A Legend is always game and has done well over course and distance.

Mike Azzie’s runner White Fang faces a seasoned maiden field in the card opener but the gelding made a smart improvement when trying to make all the running at only his second start. He goes and extra 400m here but looks capable of further improvement with Hewitson keeping the ride. Ball Rolling has had a number of chances but does stay the trip and was possibly a little unlucky with his rider losing his stick when second to Passing Storm.

Paul Peter saddles Western Fort in a tricky first leg of the PA but a further drop in trip could play in his favour. West Fort has been trying further since being gelded but was run out of it late when sent out favourite for his last start over 2000m and the drop to 1800m could be what the doctor ordered. Seattle Force and Duke Of Spin both return from lengthy breaks. Seattle Force is back on the Highveld and is way better than his last two over much further and can do better this trip. Duke Of Spin has been a touch disappointing but is useful on his day and goes straight over ground suggesting that he’s racing fit.

St John Gray could get the Pick 6 off to a good start as Nabeela has made big improvement with blinkers and a tongue-tie and was a touch unlucky last run with a slipped saddle. Her last win was over course and distance with Hewitson up and she has a strong chance in what is a competitive race. Fsquadron, Palace Green and Littlewood are others that warrant serious consideration.

Gray sends out Liverpool Legend in the fourth who has been close-up at recent starts and was only outpaced late when trying a little further last time out.  S’Manga Khumalo takes over from an apprentice and with a light weight should be right there again. Dice The Bullet has yet to run a bad race and stayed on well when runner-up last time out. She was raced handy that day and similar tactics over today’s trip should suit. Rocky Path adds to Gray’s chances and she likes to race handy. With master judge of pace Piere Strydom aboard she should at least be competitive. Rabia The Rebel is obviously as sound as a bell and should also be superbly fit as she raced six times in the last two months. She took on stronger last start and only weakened late.

The fifth is a wide open handicap sprint. Chief Of State was reported not striding out last run but only tired late. With a top 2.5kg claimer aboard he rates a strong chance. Epic Dream was touched off by Singfonico when last they met and is now 1kg better off. Singfonico has since run well in top company and Corne Spies is never shy to back them up quickly. Visiway has excellent form in blinkers but may just prefer it a furlong further even though he shows good early toe.

Any Highveld meeting is seldom complete without Muzi Yeni visiting the winner’s enclosure and he gets a chance on Touch Of Fate for Clinton Binda. The gelding has early toe and goes well for Muzi Yeni. Binda has a chance of a 1-2 with King’s Road. He has patchy form but can put it together on his day helped by the ever-competitive Jason Gates.

ANDREW HARRISON

THERE were more questions than answers after the second day of the L’Ormarins Racing Festival held at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Given the closing odds, Jet Dark’s victory in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queens Plate was not quite the surprise that many had expected.

Even though he was some 12.5kg under sufferance with runner-up Rainbow Bridge, his official starting price was given as 9-1 and the tote paid an eye-brow raising R4.90.

Post-race Mike de Kock was lavish in his praise of this year’s sophomore crop but in hindsight, was it a case of a young and accomplished ‘miler’ taking on older horses that have may have lost a little ‘toe’?

Saturday’s result, and indeed the Greenpoint Stakes, shows that there is little to choose between Rainbow Bridge, Belgarion and Do It Again at level weights over 1600m.

All three were out-sprinted by their younger rival in the Queen’s Plate but there is a school of thought that Rainbow Bridge and Do It Again are over the hill. However, both are sure to be more effective over the 2000m Met trip. Belgarion suffered his first defeat as a gelding but Justin Snaith commented post-race that his charge was not a ‘miler’.

The result of the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes is also gave food for thought. Summer Pudding was ideally placed but never quickened from midfield and she had to be content with seventh position, just under five lengths off the winner.

 It was unfortunate that Summer Pudding lost her unbeaten record but she was reported to be coughing with a nasal discharge after the race. That would explain her lack lustre performance and could possibly see her participation in the Met out of the window.

Queen Supreme on the other hand was most impressive in victory. She was cruising a long way out and it would have taken a stellar effort from any of the opposition to close her down.

De Kock, who said this was mission accomplished for Queen Supreme, expressed empathy with his colleague Paul Peter.

“It’s not easy to travel – sometimes we get lucky. Then first time from a wide gate on a new course in a field of this calibre. I’m sure Summer Pudding will be back,” he added.

Queen Supreme is definitely not over the hill and with the Met only a furlong further and a sex allowance in her favour, De Kock must have thoughts of having a tilt.

 While all the Met ante-post money prior to the running of the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate was for Belgarion, who had steadily shortened in, Saturday’s racing changed the complexion of the big race betting.

Hollywoodbets spokesman Patrick Bradley, writing in the Sporting Post, summed up matters. “After Saturday we shortened Paddock Stakes dual winner Queen Supreme in to 8-1, and the possibility is that she could still opt for the Majorca ahead of the Met.

“Also shortening were stablemates Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat, as well as Do It Again, who ran fourth in the Queen’s Plate. Paul Peter’s Summer Pudding was drifted out to 11-2, although I think a line can possibly be drawn through her run as a vet exam after her unplaced run showed she had mucous on her lungs and was coughing. 

“Belgarion should strip a far bigger threat over the 2000m of the Cape Met.

“The biggest shorteners were Premier Trophy placers African Night Sky and stablemate Sachdev into 25’s.”

With just under three weeks to go, this year’s Met on Saturday 30 January, is panning out into one of the most interesting in some years.

JET DARK, the only three-year-old in the 2021 G1 Queen’s Plate, delivered a knockout blow to accomplished older horses in a 1600m epic, just as Gimmethegreenlight had managed for the self-same training outfit, Snaith Racing, when also pitted against the big guns as a three-year old in 2012.

After Hurricane Harry had set a steady pace with Cirillo and Silver Operator stalking, it was Rainbow Bridge who made what seemed the decisive move in deep stretch down the centre of the Kenilworth Summer course. However, casting eyes towards the rail it was noticeable that Jet Dark was hurtling through best of all down the inner under Grant van Niekerk, and this momentum carried the Trippi colt past Rainbow Bridge just short of the wire. Short priced favourite, Belgarion stayed on from near the back to get third with Do It Again making progress into the quartet slot.

Wry cynics have given jockeys a dubious reputation for often- times being the worst judges – even American Hall of Fame rider, Eddie Arcaro quipped that when retired he wanted to be the bookie taking bets in the Jockey Room!

However, Justin Snaith paid fulsome tribute to Grant van Niekerk, revealing that he only supplemented Jet Dark for the Queen’s Plate on the advice of this emerging, world class jockey after a particularly impressive early morning workout.

“Grant has magic in his hands and can win on anything.” extolled Snaith who decided to enter the bargain 200K BSA 2019 National Yearling Sale graduate in a nick of time, a move fully supported by owners, Nick Jonsson and varsity mate, Tommy Crowe.

Described by Snaith as a “precocious miler who only got beat in the Cape Guineas after being drawn in the bush”, Jet Dark is out of the Jet Master mare, Night Jet and was bred at Drakenstein Stud. Peeking far into the future is tricky even for knowledgeable pedigree buffs – Snaith speculated that this outstanding three-year-old from what is shaping up as a potent crop may even end up back at his Franschoek home in the stallion shed!

It was mission fulfilled for Queen Supreme in the Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1) as she doubled up on last year’s romp in this prestigious WFA contest for fillies and mares. The Irish-bred, Exceed and Excel mare stamped her class in a true run 1800m after Heart Stwings had set a torrid pace. What A Winter mare, Clouds Unfold, herself a G1 winner snared three-year-old, Princess Calla in a head bobber for second. Another of the new generation fillies, Chat Ching ran an honourable fourth.

Winning horseman, Mike de Kock who is always a major force when bringing entries to G1’s in Cape Town, described Queen Supreme as a quirky customer and was full of praise for his charge who really raised her game when it counted. She sat a perfect rail-hugging trip with jockey Keagan de Melo following the tactical insights conveyed by his brother-in-law to-be, Johannesburg jockey, Callan Murray (who has previously partnered Queen Supreme to multiple victories) precisely.

Clouds Unfold tried her heart out but was out-finished. Still, trainer Candice Bass Robinson was more than satisfied with her brave effort. Third placed Princess Calla (by Flower Alley) also met with her trainer’, Adam Marcus’’ approval, “I was just excited to be part of things, so to be placed is great! She was still green, dropping the bit but this was an excellent effort at only her fifth start.”

17.2 hands giant, Golden Ducat rallied for a most courageous victory in the Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy (G2). The even money favourite found himself in front down the backstretch at a pedestrian tempo only to be passed by a resolute Sachdev when the race began in earnest and looked sunk with 200m to go as that one surged past. Golden Ducat is made of stern stuff however and used his bulk and big heart to eke out a slim verdict, thereby repeating a similarly narrow defeat he handed out to rival, Sachdev in the 2020 Cape Derby.

– kirsti@caperacing.co.za