Greyville (polytrack) Sunday Sep 11 Previews by Andrew Harrison

Race 1

4 LEBANESE TRACTOR   5 ARABIAN PARTY   2 POWER HORSE   1 ICHKERIA

Preview: LEBANESE TRACTOR has been a beaten favourite in her last three. She was beaten a neck last start and from a good draw should make a bold bid. ARABIAN PARTY found good market support at her second start and showed good improvement. She has a wide draw and makes her poly debut but can show further improvement. POWER HORSE showed up will first time on the poly and in blinkers and also boasts consistent form. ICHKERIA has some fair recent form over course and distance but is struggling to improve. (Andrew Harrison: 4-5-2-1).

Race 2

10 LEDIMARINCESS   8 IBTIHAJ   3 FIRES OF CALAIS   4 MANDOLIN

Preview: LEDIMAPRINCESS made a smart debut at long odds. Delpech gets the ride and they meet a weak field. IBTIHAJ found strong market support at her second start and made good improvement. She is sure to come on from that and looks the likely danger. FIRES OF CALAIS looks best on the poly and has a chance while MANDOLIN has shown some ability on the Highveld and could surprise on her poly debut. (Andrew Harrison: 10-8-3-4)

Race 3

3 ROCK HARD   9 PRINCE OF SAVOY   4 LATERAL DANCER   10 GOLD DASH

Preview: ROCK HARD has been disappointing but consistent. He could do better on the poly and tries blinkers for the first time. PRINCE OF SAVOY has some Highveld form to recommend it and should feature in this company. LATERAL DANCER made a fair poly debut and can do better over this shorter trip. GOLD DASH made sudden improvement on the poly after showing nothing on the turf. He has a chance if he can build on his last effort. (Andrew Harrison: 3-9-4-10)

Race 4

1 TAKU WIND   11 VIKING RED   3 ROY’S PAST   10 SEA-PATH

Preview: TAKU WIND goes well on the poly and is rated much higher than the balance of the field. This will be his first trip over ground but he should be hard to beat. VIKING RED improved at his second outing and will much prefer this trip from a good draw. ROY’S PAST was a close-up second over course and distance and has a good chance on a repeat showing. SEA-PATH made no show on debut but will prefer this trip and can improve. (Andrew Harrison: 1-11-3-10)

Race 5

10 FILM STAR   3 WILLOWGRANGE   7 JOY TO JOY   1 ALESNADO

Preview: FILM STAR raced green in a fair debut and from a good draw should improve. WILLOWGRANGE has consistent form over course and distance and should be thereabouts again. JOY TO JOY made a disappointing poly debut after a string of promising efforts on the turf. She may do better at her second run on the poly. ALESNADO ran below her best from a tough draw and can feature is she shows some of her previous form. (Andrew Harrison: 10-3-7-1)

Race 6

2 KOLINSKY   3 PYRENEES IN SPAIN   4 MAGICAL BET   9 SAN JULIAN BAY

Preview: KOLINSKY takes a big drop in class and he has also dropped in the ratings. He looks a big runner. PYRENEES IN SPAIN is long overdue and can have his consistency rewarded. MAGICAL BET has some fair Cape and PE form to back him up and a switch to the poly from a good draw could bring out the best in him. SAN JULIAN BAY made a smart poly debut but does not have the best of the draw. (Andrew Harrison: 2-3-4-9)

Race 7

4 SELVAN’S JET   5 SMART WORLD   6 SAMORA   3 BORN TO RULE

Preview: SELVAN’S JET went down narrowly in a competitive field last time out and has been showing fair form to stronger. SMART WORLD ran well below best on his handicap debut and would appear to be better on the poly. SAMBORA is much better than his last effort. He does look held by Smart World but there should not be much between them. BORN TO RULE was close-up to the well fancied Wealthy last timeout and a repeat can see him go close again. (Andrew Harrison: 4-5-6-3)

Race 8

3 FLYING ROCK   11 DELICIOUS DAMOWIN   5 SHAP SHAP   7 SEA URCHIN

Preview: FLYING ROCK landed the odds on debut over course and distance. He looks to have some scope and can follow up on that win. DELICIOUS DAMOWIN has been knocking at the door for some time now but goes very well over course and distance. With a light weight he should be in the shake-up again. SHAP SHAP was not far back to strong at his last start. He came off a short break and can do better here. SEA URCHIN took on stronger at his last two on the poly. He rates a good chance at best. (Andrew Harrison: 3-11-5-7)

Race 9

7 WIND SINGER   9 RESPECT AT BAY   1 TIMEOUS   10 SAVE THE DAY

Preview: WIND SINGER is possibly better over further but won very well last time out and can follow up. RESPECT AT BAY has been in good form on the turf. She is drawn well here and can feature. TIMEOUS is at home on the poly and was a close-up fifth last run. He has a good draw and a four-claiming apprentice. SAVE THE DAY has some fair Highveld form and can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 7-9-1-10)

Ryan Moore will partner Star South African filly Same Jurisdiction when she makes her British debut at Doncaster today [Race 1 @ 2.55pm].

The winner of seven of her 14 starts in South Africa, Same Jurisdiction is carded to line up with seven fillies or mares in the Group 3 Japan Racing Association Sceptre Stakes over 1400m on the third day of the prestigious St Leger meeting.

It will be her first outing since finishing second to Inara in the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes in January, after which she was shipped to England and placed in the care of trainer Ed Dunlop.

Bred by Klawervlei Stud, Same Jurisdiction was purchased by Howells Racing for R270,000 at the 2013 KZN Yearling Sale.

Trained by Duncan Howells, her victories included the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes and the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes. She also won the KZN Yearling Sale Million in 2014 and has earned over R2.2-million in stakes.

At the announcement of the decision to run her at Doncaster, Drakenstein Stud Farm’s racing manager Kevin Sommerville told the media it was farm owner Gaynor Rupert’s idea to send her overseas as “she wanted to expose a really good filly to the European scene and see where they were with her”.

He said Same Jurisdiction was a very sound filly and very sound-minded and it was thought she was the right type to be tried overseas.

He said the Sceptre Stakes had been deemed the perfect race for her, but the competition had turned out to be a lot tougher than had been hoped for. “It’s her first start in England and she has it all to do in a tough field, but jockey Ryan Moore is very good and will give her every chance.

“We have no definite plans as yet and will be very happy if she runs a good race,” said Sommerville.

The Press Association tipping team has given Nemoralia the nod in what it described as “a cracking renewal” of the Sceptre Stakes.

“The Jeremy Noseda-trained filly was placed twice at the highest level in America last autumn, most notably finishing a close third at the Breeders’ Cup.

“She has come up a little short twice in Group 1 events this term, but ran perfectly well in both the Coronation Stakes and the Prix Jean Prat when the ground was softer than ideal.

“Those efforts were sandwiched by two terrific victories at York, with her latest performance in rain-softened terrain proving she is not totally ground dependant,” the PA reported, adding: “Lumiere represents a formidable rival if bouncing back to her best, while high-class South African filly Same Jurisdiction is a fascinating contender on her British debut, but both will have to go some to stop Nemoralia recording her second Pattern-race success”.

Latest betting quoted Same Jurisdiction as 15-2 third favourite, behind Nemoralia (4-5) and Lumiere (11-2).

TABnews

The Gary Alexander-trained Querari gelding Kangaroo Jack has been awarded a 113 merit rating by the handicappers after his cosy win of the Gr 3 Spring Spree Stakes over 1200m on the Turffontein Inside track on Saturday, but despite the speed he has shown in his last two starts the yard will not be limiting his program to sprints.

The Alexander yard also have much to look forward to with their three-year-old Admire Main colt Unagi.

Alexander said he had always been of the belief a horse with as much speed as Kangaroo Jack would not stay a true mile, but he revealed stable jockey Andrew Fortune was convinced he would get a mile and he said he had to respect the opinion of such an experienced rider.

The big sprints like the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint would likely be on his program and possibly the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships too.

However, his next race is likely to be the Gr 2 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside Track on October 8.

Mile races like the Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile would be considered, although Alexander would prefer to aim him at the Gr 1 weight for age miles like the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes where he would not have to give lumps of weight away.

He said, “Most sprinters just want to jump and go but he drops the bit immediately.”

The ease with which he settles and his relaxed style of running are the chief reasons Fortune believes he will get the mile.

Alexander said Kangaroo Jack was quite small but was supple, well put together and had a nice quarter and was quite muscular, so was more of a “sprinting type” conformation-wise.

Unagi was receiving only 0,5kg from the twice Gr 1-placed Samurai Blade on Saturday in a Graduation Plate over 1600m and yet beat him by 0,2 lengths. Unagi sat in midfield on the rail under Fortune and showed an effortless turn of foot to pass Samurai Blade. He then showed fine resolve when fending off the latter’s rally. Unagi’s merit rating was 90 compared to Samurai Blade’s 104 so he was officially a whopping 15kg under sufferance. The trip was likely too sharp for Samurai Blade, but the rest of the field were 9,3 lengths back, which is another pointer to the merit of the performance.

Alexander said Unagi had never settled after jumping patches when strongly fancied in the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Greyville on Vodacom Durban July day. He had then run below par in his reappearance  over 1800m on August 18, but proved on Saturday he is a lot better than that.

The Alexander yard have a fine record in the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup, including winning it with “the people’s horse” Pierre Jourdan, a Summerhill Stud-bred who cost just R60,000.

Unagi, a Summerhill-bred who cost R80,000, will be aimed at this year’s R2,5 million renewal, which is to be run at Turffontein over the traditional 1400m trip on November 5.

He is likely to be a big runner there and will then be targeted at next February’s first leg of the SA Triple Crown, the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas.

David Thiselton

Marshall That, racing in the familiar red and white silks of Mike and Norma Rattray, gave notice that he is a colt to be reckoned with during the coming season with a smart showing in the Download The SA Racing App Maiden at Scottsville yesterday.

Alistair Gordon’s runner was all over the course when under pressure but put a fair maiden field to bed in good fashion under apprentice Eric Ngwane, coming home five lengths clear of the opposition.

The Rattray silks have long been a familiar sight on the country’s racecourses and although the pinnacle of Rattray’s racing ambitions has eluded him, namely a winner of the Vodacom Durban July, he has more than done his bit for racing, not only being a prolific owner but also a breeder of standing. Through his Lammerskraal Stud, where he gathered a formidable band of broodmares supplemented by top class stallions Western Winter and Go Deputy, he has contributed richly to the local gene pool.

Lammerskraal has been sold but there are many Rattray homebreds still racing under that banner with Marshall That being one of the last. By former champion stallion Fort Wood out of a daughter of Lammerskraal champion sire, Western Winter, Marshall That has the pedigree, and on yesterday’s evidence, the scope to be a contender in stakes races this season.

Weiho Marwing’s home yard at Ashburton has been quiet for a while with his Turffontein satellite yard more active but he was back with a bang yesterday with a smart double. Beaute Noire, having his first start for the yard for Green Street Bloodstock, landed the Blinkers Bar Maiden Plate comfortably under Marco van Rensburg. The second leg was a lot closer with The Rock prevailing by a piece of paper to edge out Kali’s King in the Itsarush.co.za Maiden Plate denying Ashburton colleague Duncan Howells a winner on his birthday.

As effective as a Mohammed Ali left-right combination to the chin, most exotic bet punters were on the canvas by the seventh. Dressed For Success, 5-1 in the official results but 10-1 with Betting World, triumphed under apprentice Dennis Schwarz for Paul Lafferty in the White Horse Function Room Handicap, the winner carrying a mere 48kg.

That was followed by favourite Humidor playing up in gate the before the Bartab No 56 @ Overport Handicap and being withdrawn by the course vet with Anthony Delpech helped off the back of the gate in severe pain.  Finally under way, the result was a stampede for the wire with the Gavin van Zyl-trained Bagger Vance (12-1) heading home a trio of outsiders.

Delpech made a quick recovery and was back in the saddle for Wild Irish in the last, the Track And Ball Gaming Handicap, but to no avail. Midanswer, the subject of some late market support, landed the knock-out blow with the Pick 6 paying upwards of R198 000.

Andrew Harrison

The Vaal has an eight race meeting on the Classic track on Thursday where races of 1200m and upward are around the turn.

The highest rated race on the card is the sixth, a MR 80 Handicap over 1600m, and the selection here is Odd Rob. This relatively lightly raced five-year-old Mambo In Seattle gelding was tried with blinkers off last time but it didn’t work as he didn’t put it in up the straight having apparently travelled comfortably up until then. The blinkers are duly back on. He has won over 2400m before but the last time he tried this trip he won from a wide draw over the Turffontein Inside track. He is nine points higher in the merit ratings now but does have a plum draw. He has been lowered two points for his last two runs and he had an excuse in his penultimate start as he was cramped for running room close to home. Top Shot represents the in-form Gary Alexander yard. He is dropped back to the trip of his last win having been a bit disappointing in three runs from 1800-2000m.

Furthermore he has been dropped to a merit rating off which he is proven effective. He lost narrowly off this mark over this distance on the Turffontein Inside track in April and he has a similarly wide draw here. Man’s Inn is a capable and consistent sort who can never be ignored over his favourite one mile trip, although he does now have to overcome a four point raise for his last win. Arpad is knocking on the door off this merit rating and a similarly wide draw over this trip on the Turffontein Inside track didn’t bother him last time, so he should be running on again after being dropped out. Raise The Red won the last time he ran over this course and distance and the form has been franked, so he could be concerned in the finish despite being four points higher.

The best bet on the card could be Lakahal, who runs in the second race, a MR 64 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m. This horse has pace coupled with a kick and Andrew Fortune remains aboard having won on her over this trip last time. She was only given a three point raise despite the cosy nature of the win and this field is as uninspiring. The danger could be Linda Honey, who will love the current fast going conditions. She has pace and showed last time she can find extra at the finish too if necessary as she produced a late effort to upset her more fancied stablemate Captain’s Girl. Angie Bee stayed on to be just a length behind Lakahal when they last met and she is now 1,5kg better off. Her last run can have a line drawn through it as she was 2,5kg under sufferance in a stronger event.

The value bet could be the Flamingo Park raider Arctic Route in the last race, a MR 64 handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m. This six-year-old Solskjaer mare was never tried beyond a mile until July this year and she duly won on the Flamingo sand over 1800m. Last time out she was tried over 2200m and ran a decent third despite being 2kg under sufferance off her 52 merit rating. She now returns to the turf off a merit rating of 60, one point lower than her last turf win, which was over 1400m at the Vaal last June. She has a fair draw of six and Randall Simons is up. Bankable’s progeny seem to improve with age and Banking April is such a horse, so she is the selection to win this race from a plum draw over a suitable trip. She is 3kg better off with the pole position drawn Shankly gates for a 2,1 length beating over this trip in July, so there won’t be much in it. Others to consider besides the aforementioned trio are Blue Sage and Indzaba. Blue Sage stayed on to finish close over 2000m last time and was lowered one point by the handicapper so should be competitive with Gavin Lerena up.  Indzaba was further back in that race but went close over this trip before that so will likely appreciate the slight step down in distance. She is off the same merit rating as that 1800m race, but on the downside has a much tougher draw.

The most interesting clash of the day is between Captain’s Girl and Levi Lady in the third, a fillies and mares maiden over 1000m. Captain’s Girl is still quite unexposed so could well make sudden improvement over an ideal distance as she has plenty of pace. However, Levi Lady now gets the draw in her favour after going close in two starts when the draw was against her. She has shown blistering speed since blinkers were applied but in both those starts from high draws she hung inward right across the course in the closing stages and this probably cost her at least one victory. She now has a low draw and the rail will help her stay straight. It will be an intriguing contest and this pair look to have the race to themselves.

The fourth race, a MR 68 Handicap over 1000m, also sees an intriguing clash. Just Africa is ultra speedy and will relish the fast going conditions. Furthermore, he has dropped to a competitive merit rating. However, Flight Zone showed good cruising speed last time and won as he liked. The form of his last two runs in the maidens over this trip has worked out well and he could well rise above his current merit rating of 78, although it is never easy for a young three-year-old first up in a handicap against older horses. Movie Show could pick up the pieces if the first two choices fluff their lines.

In the fifth race, a MR 64 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m around the turn, Miss Argentina is competitive off her current merit rating, which is nearly 20 points lower than her highest career rating and from a plum draw of two, with the same 4kg claimer aboard who went close on her last time, she could defy topweight. However, it’s a competitive event and all of Ladies Club, Riverine Forest, Beckoning and Chartwell also need to be considered.

The Northern Cape Horse Of The Year Lebeoana runs in the seventh, a MR 72 handicap over 1800m. The key to him is a galloping track, as he proved when winning on the Turffontein Standside track last time over this trip. He is unbeaten in three starts with Ryan Munger up and can follow up off just a three point higher merit rating.

David Thiselton