Alec Laird has not ruled out the Breeders Cup for J&B Met winner Smart Call.

The brilliant Ideal World mare had to be scratched from her intended preparation race, the Gr 1 Sun Chariot Stakes, which was run over a mile at her current Newmarket U.K base on October 1.

The five-year-old is currently sound. However, the issue which prevented her from lining up in the Sun Chariot was not a bad or “obvious” one, and this makes it difficult for the connections to make a definite decision.

Laird said he would proceed cautiously with her, taking it “a little bit at a time.” If she comes through fine, a decision will then be made on her Breeder’s Cup engagement.

She is due to run in the Gr 1 Filly and Mare Turf over a mile-and-a-quarter at the Santa Anita showpiece on November 5.

KZN’s record-breaking jockey Anthony Delpech was among many who were bitterly disappointed by her late scratching from the Sun Chariot, which was due to her trotting up lame in the stable’s routine pre-race check at Abington Place on the morning of the race.

The race was to be Delpech’s race riding debut in England. The booking was also intended to give him a feel of the mare ahead of the Breeder’s Cup.

Delpech is currently retained by Mary Slack of Wilgerbosdrift Stud and the agreement also included him having first call on horses owned by Mauritzfontein Stud, which is run by Mary’s daughter Jessica.

Smart Call is owned and was bred by Mauritzfontein.

David Thiselton

The Conglomerate will have at least one more run before the Sansui Summer Cup after the Vodacom Durban July winner finished last on his reappearance in the Joburg Spring Challenge at Turffontein on Saturday.

Joey Ramsden said: “While I didn’t exactly walk away ecstatic I certainly wasn’t suicidal. He has always been a slow starter to the season, he got bumped leaving the pens and he was only beaten seven lengths.”

Stable companion St Tropez fared rather better, finishing fifth, and his trainer added: “The biggest thing is getting the horses over all the vaccines they have to have – it’s the hardest part of my job.”

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

Brett Crawford reports that Rabada, ruled out by an over-reach, now goes straight for the Emperors Palace Charity Mile on November 5.

Greg Ennion believes that there is a lot more to come from Roman Discent following the 7-1 chance’s win under second top weight in the Racing Association Handicap at Durbanville on Sunday.

The Milnerton trainer said: “Roman Discent was very unlucky when fifth in the Settlers Trophy on his previous start. The horse that went to the front dropped almost to a walk and stopped in front of him.

“He had a few niggles earlier in his career but he is sound again now. He is still immature and I honestly think that he has a future.”

The four-year-old only had a neck to spare over the strong-finishing Cuduiari at the line but he was value for quite a bit more as he slowed far more than Andrew Fortune expected when he dropped his hands before the line. Fortune was interviewed by the stipes and “strongly advised to ride his mount out to the end of a race in future engagements.”

The National Racing Bureau rang round the Cape Town trainers yesterday morning after only four were declared for Saturday’s Graduation Plate and it was rewarded with Ramsden adding Dancer  and Aviemore.  The highest-rated at 93 is Lord Balmoral trained by Vaughan Marshall. The fillies 1 200m maiden attracted 19 declarations and has been divided.

Michael Clower

Romi’s Boy made a cracking start to his racing career just over a week ago and can get punters off to a winning start in the first race at The Vaal classic track on Tuesday. Alec Laird’s colt made his debut at the Vaal two Saturday’s back where the centre rail was removed to accommodate the 28-runner field of the Grand Heritage.

Romi’s Boy was one of only 16 runners but was up against an odds-on favourite in Doosra who had already shown promise. As expected Doosra duly bowled the field over but Romi’s Boy was doing his best work late and if he can build on that effort it will take a good one to beat him.

The orange and black silks of Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren are a familiar sight on the Highveld and more often than not in the winner’s enclosure. They can pay a further visit when Mike Azzie saddles Pajama Party in the second. The four-year-old has been a late starter, only making his first appearance on a race course this season. He has finished runner-up in two starts around the tight Turffontein inside track and looks good enough to break his duck.

Tendre made a smart debut at long odds and can prove a threat as Joey Soma has booked Anton Marcus for the ride. This is Marcus’s only ride and if he makes the trip up from KZN then the inference is obvious. Air Force Legend has been placed in all three starts over further but returns from a lay-off which could find him out when it comes to the finish.

Fingers Crossed and Crown Court could suffice in the opening leg of the Pick 6. The has improved with each outing and looks primed for this race. Piere Strydom replaces Gavin Lerena on Fingers Crossed and gets the leg up on Crown Court. Mike de Kock’s charge was a beaten favourite when a distant third at her second outing after making a smart debut and is the obvious danger to the first choice.

From here on in things get difficult.

Polar Secret is in good form going into the fourth and stays the trip. She still has a lowly rating even after four wins but has drawn an outside gate which could prove her downfall in what is a weak handicap. Sim-Alley Bank was rested after finally shedding her maiden and was in need of her latest start. She should also enjoy the rise in trip and looks the main threat to the top weight.

The fifth sees the lightly raced Cashin in good form and he was only narrowly beaten last start after winning his first two. Chepardo has his third run after a break and has not been far back in two comeback runs. He should strip at his peak. Chili Con Carne can also heat this up after making a promising seasonal debut in a useful field.

Veteran galloper Capuche has come to hand of late and is a speculative choice in a tough race. He goes well this trip and should feature if holding for. Trip To Troy was a little disappointing when a beaten favourite last run but that said he was a luke-warm 4-1. He was narrowly beaten prior to that and can make amends while Trip To Paradise is seldom far back and is course and distance suited. He goes well for Strydom.  El Bombero, a close-up third under a light weight at his penultimate start and back over a more suitable trip is another to consider.

In the seventh, Comme-Ci-Comme-Ca was rested after her win on debut but made a smart return to the track in Graduation company. She has a fair weight but could prove a cut above her opposition. 8

The last is a minefield but Flag Of France is always game and has been in good form of late. He is looking for his ninth victory and is still off a handy merit rating. Spring Steel is lightly raced but is still being persevered with which suggests that there is still life. He has not been out since March last year but he comes from a very much in form stable.

Andrew Harrison

Tony Gollan is hoping the rivalry between jockeys Robbie Fradd and Jim Byrne will help him claw his way back to the lead in the Brisbane trainers’ premiership.

Gollan has won the past three Brisbane titles but has had a frustrating start to the season. He has had 21 seconds but a treble at Doomben on Saturday helped him lop two winners off Robert Heathcote’s lead.

Fradd rode two of Gollan’s winners: “It is good to have a bit of rivalry between Robbie and Jim for rides. It means they are both being kept on their toes and want to ride at their best,” Gollan said.

Fradd rode four winners on Saturday and moved to second place on the Brisbane jockeys premiership with 19 winners – six behind leader and fellow expat South African Jeff Lloyd.

“I have been riding trackwork at Eagle Farm and I am starting to get to know the horses I am riding. It’s hard work but it is paying off,” Fradd said.

Unfortunately, for Fradd he won’t be able to capitalise on his 10 metropolitan winners in the past fortnight after being suspended for nine days at Eagle farm last Monday.

In a day jokingly referred to as “Veterans Day” eight of the nine Doomben winners were ridden by five senior jockeys with a combined age of 245.

Apprentice Matt McGillivray was delighted when he got one for the younger brigade on Pepperano in the last race. “Finally one for the next generation,” he said .
– AAP

Mubtaahij ran several lengths below his best form in Saturday’s Gr1 Gold Cup over 2000m at Belmont, finishing fourth in a six horse field to Hoppertunity.

Mubtaahij was under pressure before the stretch and he faded out from the 400m mark while Bob Baffert’s five-year-old Hoppertunity forged to the lead late to secure a half-length victory in the $1 million contest. He was beaten 7,75-lengths.

“There wasn’t a whole lot of speed in the race other than Effinex. Everybody stayed sensible,” said Baffert assistant Jimmy Barnes. “The most important thing for ‘Hopper’ is that he was standing good and broke good and he was placed more forwardly in the race, especially on a slow pace, that’s probably why he was a little closer. We always thought in our minds that he would like these big turns here, and this big, deep track where he would have a chance to come from behind.”

Mubtaahij will return to Dubai following a US campaign that yielded a third in the Gr2 Suburban Handicap, a close second in the Gr1 Woodward and Saturday’s fourth place.

Meanwhile, More Than Ready filly Ektifaa (AUS) ran out a comfortable winner of a MR76 Handicap over 1450m at Turffontein on Saturday, two lengths clear under apprentice Callan Murray.

When the three-year-old won her Maiden two weeks ago, Mathew de Kock predicted that her confidence would make a difference going forward and Mike de Kock agreed on Sunday, saying: “She’s a progressive sort and she can step up from here.”

He added: “We’ll see what happens to her merit rating after this win, if it’s still within reason we’ll look for another handicap for her, but she looks good enough to compete at a higher level so there is also the Starling Stakes to consider on 5 November.”

Ektifaa was bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, NSW, and races for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai.

Mikedekockracing.com