David Thiselton

Eric Sands will give Rainbow Bridge his final sprint up ahead of Saturday’s Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate this morning (Thursday).

Rainbow Bridge’s equally high-profile stablemate and half-brother Golden Ducat had his final sprint up yesterday morning (Wednesday) ahead of the Grade 2 Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy over 1800m.

The ride on Rainbow Bridge is retained by Luke Ferraris, who finished a narrow second in his first ride on him in the Grade 2 WSB Green Point Stakes over 1600m. 

National champion jockey Warren Kennedy takes over the ride on Golden Ducat from Donovan Dillon.

Kennedy opted to be located in Cape Town for the month of January according to the lockdown restrictions and this was chiefly in order to maintain his partnership with Equus Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding.

Dillon had a hard decision to make as he adores Golden Ducat but he informed Sands timeously of his decision to remain in KZN, where he gets plenty of rides. Dillon still travelled to Cape Town to gallop Golden Ducat last week.

On the same day Rainbow Bridge galloped with a sprinter.

Sands said, “He never quite got to the sprinter but finished full of running.”

He added, “Golden Ducat galloped on his own and in retrospect I should have maybe galloped him with a companion as he loafed a little.”

Sands continued, “After his sprint up today Golden Ducat’s recovery showed him to be not quite at his peak but he has come on in leaps and bounds since his comeback run (December 2 1600m).”

He added, “It is pretty much the same with Rainbow Bridge but we are wary of his second run back in the past tending to be a bit flat.”

The Queen’s Plate has eight runners and Justin Snaith has half of them which some might view as giving him a tactical edge.

However, Sands said, “He has four runners but he can’t have four winners, only one horse can win.”

Sands said he would keep his tactics under his hat but elaborated, “I will look at the field and assess what will go to the front and what will go handy and then make a decision.”

He will do the same for the Premier Trophy. 

Golden Ducat was beaten in his comeback run and Sands disagreed that he should have been taken to the front.

He said, “He would have tired in his first run back over a mile carrying a lot of weight. He looked a blinder but they must enjoy their first run back, you cannot be too hard on them.”

Golden Ducat is odds-on to land the Premier Trophy, which is over the same trip as the Grade 1 Champions Cup, where he beat a number of big guns at the end of last season.

Sands said, “He does have to give weight away but is very capable and will give a good account of himself.”

He concluded about the Queen’s Plate, “It is a very tough field with the like of Belgarion and Do It Again running and Cirillo is not out of it either.”

Rainbow Bridge, whom Sands believes is at his best over 2000m, has finished third in both of his attempts at the prestigious weight for age mile.

Sands also has a runner in the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, Driving Miss Daisy.

He said, “She finished runner up last year but the defending champion Queen Supreme is Northern Hemisphere-bred so is effectively six months more mature this year. Driving Miss Daisy wasn’t given the best of rides in my opinion in her last two starts in KZN although it is easy to be a grandstand jockey. She is hard to assess as she doesn’t give away a lot at home, she is a lazy cow, but she does have the ability.”

Both Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat jump from draw five.

Driving Miss Daisy jumps from draw eight and Morne Winnaar rides.   

DAVID THISELTON

THE Darling of the South African turf, Summer Pudding, is doing well at Milnerton in preparation for the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday but trainer Paul Peter admitted the defending champion Queen Supreme was the horse to beat.

He said, “Summer Pudding is fresh and bright and eating well but this will most definitely be her toughest task to date. It is her first run in the Cape and her first time around a left hand turn but she does seem to be taking to the Cape.”

Peter continued, “I am scared of Queen Supreme. She has been very impressive in her last two starts and is perfectly course and distance suited. She is the horse to beat.”

Summer Pudding has a wide draw but this is the norm for her.

Peter said, “It might be a blessing. They have the Cape crawl here so better to be in the open where you can go as quickly as you want rather than boxed in.”

Warren Kennedy, in accordance with the lockdown restrictions, has chosen to ride in the Cape for the month of January especially for this ride.

Pater said, “Warren has sacrificed a lot to be here, he loves this filly. He rode her in a grass gallop last Wednesday. She galloped with Heart Stwings and they both went very well.”

Summer Pudding will be attempting to make it ten out of ten, which will put her just one short of the unbeaten record of eleven set by Homeguard in the late 1960s.

Queen Supreme runs in the same familiar black and yellow colours of the Oppenheimer family, which are officially owned by their Mauritzfontein  Stud farm these day.

Heart Stwings is also in the Paddock Stakes and Peter is hoping for a place.

He said, “She is thriving here in the Cape and ran way above her rating when a half-a-length second in the Victress Stakes last time (same course and distance as the Paddock Stakes). She is a natural handy or front-running type and if she had sat closer to Silvano’s Pride last time she might have even got closer. I am hoping she will run into the money.”    

ANDREW HARRISON

THERE is a low-key meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville today where punters will be thoroughly tested. Nothing stands out as a solid exotic bet banker but if one is looking to cut down on expenses, then Rock Flight in the fourth may fit the bill. Gavin van Zyl’s filly has is showing steady improvement over shorter but is bred to stay this trip.

The opposition is no great shakes but Duquesne Whistle looks to be coming along the right way and is another who should do well over this trip judged on pedigree. Magikos was a distant third last run over ground but gets first time blinkers which could see her improve further.

In the card opener, Dandolo has been rested and gelded but has shown promise. He may just have needed his last run where he showed good pace before fading late but Tony Rivalland’s charge is way better than that showing.

Thumbs Up is a filly taking on males but has useful Highveld form in good company. She is never far back and could give Dandolo most to do. Another threat could come from Ziva La Winter who has been close-up in both handicap starts. He goes well this trip and should contest the finish.

The second is a minefield with plenty in with chances.

Twice As Cold has run two disappointing races in the soft but in her first run on a solid surface she was only caught ate after leading for most of the journey. On exposed form she should take to the poly.  Storm Chaser has put in two promising efforts since being gelded but has been caught a little one-pace over the final furlong over a mile. He makes his poly debut and this trip should suit. has shown up nicely in his last two on the turf. The shorter trip on the poly should suit. What A Ryder showed promising improvement in his first local start and looks to be coming to hand while West Coast Lover is showing improvement with each outing and should enjoy the extra.

It may pay to load up this, the first leg, of the PA.

If Dandolo obliges then Tony Rivalland could make it a double with Let’s Go Fly in the opening leg of the Pick 6. The gelding has put in two decent efforts on the poly and meets a particularly weak field here and should make a bold bid.  August Red has had plenty of chances but probably needed his last run from a wide draw and can come on from that while Silver Celebrity showed some improvement in cheek pieces last run in weak maiden company.

The fifth is a tricky handicap with most in with chances. Gentleman’s Wager ran below par on the turf last run but his poly form before that was excellent. With a 2.5kg claimer up he should be up there when the whips are cracking. Galway is looking for a winning hat-trick but he did get a five-pound penalty for his last win. He should never the less be competitive again. Run To Denmark has found recent form and stays the trip well. The ‘lurker’ could be Born To Perform. The grey has let the side down lately but may now be looking for this trip and is more than capable on his day.

Herecomestherain only won a maiden last start but was a comfortable winner in spite of losing a shoe. He looks to have some scope and although he meets some hard-knocking handicappers he does appear capable. Running Freely has come on nicely since a rest. He has a good draw and the extra furlong could bring out the best. Lord Wylie is 1.5kg better off with Bedazzled Jocker and can turn the tables although Bedazzled Joker won his last two but is back up the handicap and a wide draw could further hamper his chances.

In the seventh Vihaan’s Pie shows promise and just needed her last run. She can go much closer here. Marsanne comes from a very much in form stable and is back over her best course and distance. She is better off at the weights with Elusive Current but there should not be much between them. Meet At The George was caught out by a wide draw last start so can do better in this small field.

The last is another wide-open affair but Bordeaux showed up well from a wide draw last start. He has run two good races in useful company and from a plum draw should at least contest the finish. Vunderbar has been close-up in fair company since his maiden win and looks capable in this field while Tromso didn’t feature when tried over further from a wide draw but can do better this trip as he was in fair form before his last effort.

David Thiselton

THE Vaal straight course has an eight race meeting today and there look to be a few opportunities for punters.

In the first race over 1200m Supreme Dance made a good debut when running on strongly for second behind the promising Sea Virescent who was entered in a Listed feature next time out. This Futura colt should come on from the run and on a line through Marrakech has the beating of chief market rival Eyes On Tiger by one-and-a-half lengths. Eyes On Tiger has improved and runs for an in-form combination of Paul Matchett and Muzi Yeni and he looks to be the only danger.  

In the second race over 1200m Right Choice was unlucky last time over 1100m at Turffontein Standside as she was slowly away and then had to be switched to the Inside before running on for a 0,30 length second to stablemate Dunyaa with the rest six lengths back. She should appreciate the extra 100 metres being by Global View who won a Grade 2 over 1700m out of a Lecture mare who won over 1200m. However, preference is for the well bred first-timer Ancestral Prayer, who is by Ideal World out of the Grade 2 KRA Fillies Guineas winner Maybe Yes who has to date produced the 91 rated Spero Optima. The Lucky Houdalakis yard usually bring them on slowly but surely but have had two first-timer winners this season and one of them, Castle Durrow, was ridden Craig Zackey, who is aboard Ancestral Prayer today. Furthermore, Ancestral Prayer would not need to be a superstar to win this race. Incognito can fill a trifecta position if reproducing her best. 

In the third race over 1600m Rosaprima is the choice. This Diane Stenger-trained Marchfield mare was handy over 1400m last time and then hit a flat spot halfway down the Turffontein Standside straight. However, she then suddenly got going again and was finishing strongly for a 2,50 length second. The winner, Perfect Angel, then ran a decent third first time out the maidens over the same trip off an 84 merit rating. Rosaprima should also relish the step up in trip being by Marchfield out of an Australian-bred mare who won up to 1800m. Mode has been in hard-knocking form and has a fine chance too. Last time she was a bit short of room late over 1700m but was doing good late work for third and two winners and a second have come out of that race from seven subsequent runners. Masaaken should also be in the shake up as she was making eyecatching progress over 1160m on debut and on pedigree she will relish the step up in trip being out of European Champion two-year-old Teofilio, whose two Group 1 wins were over seven furlongs, out of a Stratun mare who won up to 1800m.

The fourth is an interesting MR 93 Handicap over 1600m. Spice Market has raced quite strongly in front in her last two starts over this trip bit as entitled to as she had to be rushed to the front to overcome wide respective draws. She was still stretching clear at the line last time to win her maiden by 5,25 lengths with another 3,25 lengths back to the third placed horse. An interesting formline is that in a previous maiden over this trip she lost by a quarter of a length to Ululate and would have been receiving 3,5kg from the latter has she not been scratched. Chloris showed a fine turn of foot when winning her maiden over 1400m and being by Flower Alley will be a big runner too over a step up in trip she should enjoy. Her stablemate Sparkling Water has plenty of scope and came from last to run a good second in just her second career start last time over 1400m having won on debut over 1450m. This big filly will relish the step up in trip and makes appeal too. 

The rest of the races, consisting of two fillies and mares handicaps and two Classified Stakes races, are more difficult.

In the first of the handicaps over 1600m Un Deux Trois form is an enigma as she finished unplaced in a handicap over 1400m in her penultimate start but then ran a cracker over this in a Graduation Plate where she faced the classy 112 rated Marygold and was beaten just four lengths. She beat the 92 rated Elusive Woman and the 106 rated Gee For Go so if reproducing that run off a 77 rating she is the one to beat. The hard-knocking Tartan Dancer is chosen to fight it out. However, Kayla’s Dream. Fleur Du Cap and Phoenix must be considered too.

In the second of the handicaps over 2000m The Sash makes plenty of appeal despite being double figure odds. The Azzie yard are in fair form and this Brave Tin Soldier mare cracks her first good draw since jumping from pole and finishing a 2,25 length fourth to the decent sort Kokeshi over this course and distance. Furthermore, she is now two points lower in the merit ratings. Fire Flower relished the step up to 1800m last time and won well and a further step up to 2000m from pole position could see her able to overcome a six point raise for that win.

The Classified Stakes races are based on merit rated bands and females are given an allowance too, so some horses are at a weight advantage over others.

In the first of the Classified races over 1000m Alex The Great is distance suited and is the form choice. However, Touch Of fate has developed into a fair sort and over this ideal trip it would be no surprise to see him follow up on his win last time. He lost to Alex The Great on these same terms the last time they met but fly-jumped badly that day and was then rushed before fading. Florence, Capitiana and Lagertha make most appeal of the rest.

The last race, a Classified over 1400m, is wide open. Dogliotti is coming into his own and should enjoy this trip. Master Uletide has substance and should enjoy the step up in trip. Heart Of A Legend makes most appeal of the female runners.     

DAVID THISELTON

IF Supreme Dance pulls off a win in today’s first race at The Vaal it will be a meaningful win for trainer Brett Warren. 

Warren’s biggest ever sales purchase was when he bought the damsire of Futura, Badger’s Drift, for R500,000. 

Unfortunately Badger’s Drift, who went on to win three Grade 1 classics in succession, the SA Classic, SA Derby and Daily News 2000, was moved from his yard before he raced. 

However, Warren deliberately looked for a suitable progeny of his to buy at the sales and thus purchased Scribblin’ The Cat.

The latter won only won one race, although she only had four starts, and she went on to become dam of Equus Horse Of The Year Futura. 

Warren then went looking for progeny of Futura at the Sales.

Futura’s son Supreme Dance can thus finally bring Warren just reward for his good judgement.