As part of the build-up to The Grand Heritage next month, the Vaal will host two races with a field of 28-runners on Tuesday .

The much-anticipated R750,000 affair, sponsored by World Sports Betting, will be run over 1475m at the same venue on 1 October. Three further supporting features, which are also set to host big fields, will supplement the day’s programme.

The last two races on the 20 September, a FM 64 1400m Handicap and a Maiden Plate over 1400m for three-year-old fillies, will add to the build-up towards The Grand Heritage and will invoke memories of the Vaal straight course in its original configuration.

Supplementary entries for The Grand Heritage close on September 19 with the final field set to be announced on Tellytrack two days later.

As part of the initial testing phase, the Vaal’s outside track, straight course, was widened for Tuesday’s meeting (13 September) with the track widened from the 1600m to 500m mark and then further widened with a 12m false rail to allow the fields to fan out in the closing stages.

While the new track setup for that meeting was made known to trainers before the meeting and the information disseminated on a number of platforms including the Tabonline website as well as www.sahorseracing.co.za under the Track Information Report section, there were some punters who may not have had access to this information.

It is regretted that this information was not communicated to those customers and a profuse apology has been offered for not advising those patrons accordingly.

On the note of the ‘middle rail’ which separates the Inside and Outside tracks, the rail is not always fixed and therefore moveable and can be utilised to spread wear and tear and facilitate maintenance. As a result of this we will endeavour to inform patrons via various platforms of the positioning of the rails that will demarcate the racing strip on the day, and also announce the positioning of the starting stalls for the relevant meeting to make it easier for patrons when studying form.

– Phumelela

Justin Snaith, who currently heads the national trainers log with 29 winners, can add substantially to his tally with strong contenders in nearly all of the races on the Durbanville card this afternoon.

Where he will miss out is in the fourth, the card’s top-liner, as he does not have a runner and the consistent gelding Ovar can add to his winning tally. Andre Nel’s five-year-old is hardly ever out of the money and although he faces a third rematch with top weight Olympian who beat him last time out, there is a substantial turnover in weight which could swing the pendulum back in Ovar’s favour.

It’s one all between the two with Ovar beating Olympian back in July giving the second-placed Olympian 7kg.

When next that met there was only a kilo between the two with Olympian finishing the stronger to score by over three lengths. Tomorrow, Ovar is in receipt of 8kg and that should be more than enough to turn the tables.

But they are not the only two in with winning chances. Captain Bagg and Buckinghamshire both make some appeal as does Al Wahed.

Captain Bagg went walkabout in the betting at his last outing and accordingly never featured. However, he was reported to be coughing post-race. Before that he had beaten Buckinghamshire and it may be the turn of Darryl Hodgson’s runner given that he carries a postage stamp and has his fourth outing for the yard.

Al Wahed is quick but Richard Fourie puts up a kilo overweight on Mike Stewart’s runner and that could put paid to the gelding’s chances in a competitive handicap even given Fourie’s undoubted talent.

The selection is for Ovar to get home ahead of Buckinghamshire and Captain Bagg.

With only seven races carded the PA starts in the first where the Snaith-trained Konkola can improve on his modest debut effort as he should prefer this extended trip. Mike Robinson’s decision to fit Pin Pot with blinkers proved an inspired move as she made major improvement.  She also has a prime draw which adds to her appeal and she can be a threat.

Fort Ruby and Silver Laurel look the pair most likely to fight out the second. Snaith’s filly Fort Ruby improved nicely on her debut effort and is the pick of the pair.

Given that he wins the first two races Snaith can warm up for a hat-trick with the Var colt Over Drive.

Over Drive has only had a single outing and that was back in January so his fitness must be take on trust. However, he did start even money favourite on debut and only found one to beat him.

He looks a smart horse given time and he could prove a little too classy for the opposition.

Lucky Tuesday impressed when winning last time and can follow up in the fifth, a modest handicap. The biggest threat could come in the form of Anneline who won well on debut and then followed that up with a great run behind Moonblanched and deserves healthy respect.

Northern Ballet in the sixth is another Snaith runner in with a strong chance having won her last two.  She has not been unduly punished by the handicappers, possibly as a result of taking seven starts to shed her maiden and with Fourie back in the irons she again looks competitive.

In the final race of the afternoon, Black Parrot can round off a lucrative day for Snaith. The colt has improved with racing and looks ready to win as he steps up to a trip that should be more to his liking. Andrew Fortune, chasing hard for his second jockey’s title, will pin his hopes on Carbon Offset who along with Cardiff Castle make up a possible trifecta.

Andrew Harrison

The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) confirmed that an inquiry was held into the circumstances surrounding an objection which was lodged immediately after the running of the first race at Turffontein on Saturday, September 3.  The race was won by the favourite Querari Viking from Nordic Storm. The grounds of the objection were two-fold: firstly, an allegation of interference by the winner immediately after the start which resulted in the second horse clipping the heels of the winner; secondly, an interference which took place at the 300m mark which also resulted in the second horse clipping the heels of the winner.

The objection board consisting of T Khanyile (the race day Chairman) and G Timm and G Foxcroft viewed the various films of the race and heard comments from the respective trainers and jockeys.  The board came to a decision (by a majority of 2 to 1 with Foxcroft dissenting) that the objection be upheld.

When this decision was announced a number of angry punters gathered outside the stipes boardroom and voiced their displeasure with the decision. Khanyile was later interviewed by Tellytrack to explain the reasons for the decision.  His explanation did not satisfy the punters and further criticism was voiced.  Arnold Hyde, the Racing Control Executive, then announced that an Inquiry would be conducted into the entire incident.

At the inquiry, the various films of the race were viewed by the board.  This took place in the presence of Deanthan Moodley, the NHA’s legal counsel (who gave his reading of the race) and the three stipes who had sat on the objection board.  In the course of the discussions it transpired that there was no dispute about the decision to uphold the objection.  It was a wrong decision.  In brief, the first complaint was without merit.  The second horse had lost 2 – 3 lengths at the start (as confirmed by the starter) and no interference or clipping of heels occurred.  As for the second complaint, again, no interference or clipping of heels took place.  During this part of the inquiry Khanyile candidly admitted that, having gone through the films after the date of the incident, he conceded that he had been wrong.  He admitted that he had made a mistake.  Timm expressed similar views.  As for the inquiry board itself, it was satisfied that the objection was wholly groundless and was in fact frivolous.  The board noted that Moodley confirmed there was no evidence whatsoever to suggest that the two stipes who had upheld the decision, had in any way done so out of improper or sinister motives.

The inquiry board pointed out that it had no power to interfere with, or alter the decision.  Further, that it also had no power to conduct a disciplinary hearing into the conduct of the stipes arising out of their duties as employees of the NHA.

In the light of the above findings, the NHA has initiated internal disciplinary hearings.

Wrecking Ball can live up to her name and provide for a solid exotic bet banker when she lines up for the fifth at The Vaal tomorrow, a Graduation Plate over 1000m. Grant Maroun’s filly has plenty of scope and took an unbeaten record into the Gr2 Umkomazi Stakes against the colts on Gold Cup day only to find one better in Hack Green.

Dennis Drier’s colt franked that form and is still undefeated in three starts as he followed up his Umkomazi win with a narrow victory in the Bloodstock South Africa Million Sprint at Scottsville.

Wrecking Ball is rated three lengths better than any of her rivals, closest in the weights being Mike Azzie’s filly Spring Wonder. The year-older daughter of Querari has dropped to an 85 rating from a career high of 91 but a more likely challenger is Macadamia out of the Roy Magner yard.

The field, including Macadamia, was caught napping by Speedy Gonvarlez over course and distance last time out as the winner lived up to her name and kept rolling after setting a blistering gallop.

Significantly, Gavin Lerena has jumped ship to ride Wrecking Ball with Raymond Danielson taking over aboard Macadamia.

Isca (Nkosi Hlophe)

Another likely to start at short odds tomorrow is the grey Isca from the Gavin van Zyl yard who lines up in the sixth. After a spell in Durban where he won a top division sprint before following up with a second in the Gr3 Umgeni Handicap, he is back on the Highveld with assistant Chesney van Zyl to warm up for the spring season.

A drop in class sees him shouldering a steadier of 60,5kg but he has improved in blinkers and should put in another good showing.

Although 28 runners will be lining up for The Grand Heritage to be run at The Vaal on Saturday, October 1, the competition for places is stiff and only those with strong current form will be considered entries. Donny G, given his current run of form, is unlikely to miss out on a place in the Heritage field but Sean Tarry will be looking to his charge to cement a place. The 1000m trip under top weight could find him out and given that this is a likely warm-up sprint for the Heritage, Isca looks the better proposition.

Anthony Delpech seldom makes the trip to the Highveld unless there are feature race pickings to be had but having recently signed Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein as sponsors he is now obliged to travel.

His presence at the Vaal is more likely due to his contractual obligations as he partners Nikki in a 1400m Handicap, seventh race on the card, that races in the silks of Wilgerbosdrift where he will be teaming with his old boss, Mike de Kock. Nikki looks to have a fair chance in a competitive race where Jin-Go-Lo-Ba and Movie Award also look capable.

De Kock has taken advantage of Delpech’s presence and his name is penciled in behind the regally bred Australian import Al Fahad that makes his debut in the third. By Aussie super-sire Redoute’s Choice out of a Zabeel mare, just how he fares will be of more than just passing interest.

Tarry saddles Matador Man in the race who was well backed on debut but failed to land the gamble. He has since been rested but could rate the horse to beat as he was unlucky not to win. He was left standing at the gate and was making up ground quickly at the death. That experience could prove invaluable.

Andrew Harrison

Dennis Drier, KZN leading trainer by number of winners last term, has come out of the blocks like Olympic Champion Usain Bolt, and with the season little more than a month old he is already second on the National log with 16 winners, four of which came at Greyville yesterday.

Justin Snaith, with a satellite yard in Port Elizabeth, heads the National log with 26 wins for the season and Alan Greeff has saddled 19 but Drier has lined them up in KZN.

Most satisfactory of his four yesterday was probably Apres Ski in the opening leg of the Place Accumulator. Blinkers are not always a magic bullet, some horses no matter what equipment is tried, are just not capable of going any faster than their legs will carry them.

There are others that need a little more prompting and if a set of blinkers was all it took to bring out the best in Apres Ski then he could be destine for more than just a maiden win.

According to Drier and Anthony Delpech, the gelding had shown tremendous ability at home but his three stabs on the racecourse had Drier and his team scratching their heads. “I worked this horse on Thursday and couldn’t believe he was still a maiden,” said Delpech, deputising for stable rider Sean Veale.

Drier concurred. “He’s shown us so much at home but just didn’t bring it to the racecourse so we decided to try blinkers.”

They obviously worked a treat and Apres Ski came with a telling run up the middle of the track to beat the well-backed favourite Royal Regatta with rank outsider Black Samurai staying on gamely for third and paying R15 a place.

Drier got the meeting off to a difficult start for punters as See The Sea caused a 33-1 upset winning from Arabian Party and 8-10 favourite and Highveld raider Lebanese Tractor with raiding trainer Paul Peter headed home with little to show for his three-horse raid.

Taku Wind looked the right one in the fourth even though going an extra furlong for the first time and he won as expected under Kegan de Melo who had earlier booted home See The Sea.

Joy To Joy had been disappointing in her poly debut after a string of promising efforts on the turf but she found hefty market support and came home lonely in the fifth giving Delpech a double for the meeting.

Andrew Harrison