Unseasonable and almost ‘monsoon’ rains have disrupted racing in KwaZulu-Natal this past fortnight resulting in a backlog of meetings. In an effort to accommodate runners and make up the leeway, Scottsville hosts an 11-race card on Sunday and there is an added meeting to the programme scheduled for Greyville next Wednesday.

The logjam has resulted in a Scottsville card with maximum fields in all but one race and punters will again have their work cut out finding winners let along exotic bet bankers with no outstanding runners in any of the races.

A possible PA banker comes in the opening leg where Duncan Howells saddles the Trippi filly Online in the third but her promising recent form has to some extent been compromised by a coffin draw in this 1400m maiden.

In a maiden where Howells-trained runners finished second, third and fourth, the most fancied of the trio fourth, Online finished with a rattle in second place behind the highly regarded Maple Story. Howells was of the opinion that Online would prove more effective over a trip so was more than happy with her showing.

If the reserve runners don’t make the line-up, Online will come in three gates to 12 but still a disadvantage over this sharp 1400m trip. That said, Online is likely to be dropped in by Brandon Lerena and should be doing her best work late.

Anton Marcus has kept faith with Gath Puller’s runner Intercept, a beaten 3-10 chance on the poly at her second start. Her smart debut over course and distance obviously contributed to her short price and with a plum draw on Sunday she looks the biggest threat to Online.

Dennis Bosch mostly put up the shutters during Champions Season but has since opened the stable doors and has eight runners on Sunday. The Summerveld-based trainer does well at Scottsville and Iced Up in the opening leg of the Pick 6 looks to have all the right credentials. The daughter of Western Winter has improved with each outing and was a close-up fifth over the Scottsville mile last time out starting from the widest draw. She jumps from four on Sunday and the extended trip should be to her liking.

Also likely to enjoy the trip is the Howells-trained Louella. She makes her seasonal debut with Anthony Delpech aboard and the Delpech / Howells combination has been deadly since Howells dispensed with a stable jockey, relying instead on freelance riders.

Louella was caught for finishing speed in her first race beyond 1200m in a race that unfolded into a canter and a sprint for home. With a maximum field of runners there will be one or two likely to get on with racing from the jump and Louella should fare better this time around.

Juddering Angel and Wealthy look the most likely contenders to fight out the finish of the fifth although the top weights could be pressed in the finish by a few at the bottom end of the handicap. Juddering Angel has a tricky draw to negotiate but when last these two met over course and distance Juddering Angel finished two lengths to the good. Wealthy has since franked that form and is now 5.5kg worse off with Joey Ramsden’s runner so the draw may not be a deciding factor.

The lightly weighted Newton Spark and the maiden Osuna are possible ‘hares’ but both will need plenty of luck in running if they are to upset.

Delpech is off the mark for his new sponsor, squeaking home aboard hot favourite Friend Request for Mauritzfontein Stud and Dennis Drier at Greyville on Wednesday and dons the same colours for Drier aboard New Hampshire in the sixth. The gelding has only missed the money once in nine starts and is hunting a hat-trick.

At his last two wins he has had the benefit of useful four-claiming apprentice Diego de Gouveia and it was probably the claim that was the difference between winning and losing when touching off Mountain Master in a tight finish.

New Hampshire takes a rise in class so still has a handy galloping weight but he also faces a mixed bag of talent. Catkin has been close-up at his last two and has been running on stoutly to the line. Marcus gets the leg up and they will be a threat to New Hampshire.

Ole Gunnar has always been well thought of by Paul Lafferty but after a string of average performances the vet was called in. The change was immediate and Ole Gunnar put in a much better performance behind the smart Sylvester The Cat over course and distance last time out.

Run Rhino Run took the scenic route home at his last start giving Billy Jacobson a horseback view of Woodhouse Road down the back stretch but although the gelding is a tadpole short of a swamp, if he gets him mind straight he can prove very dangerous.

Andrew Harrison

 

 

 

 

The Turffontein  Inside track is often a tricky one for punters but on Saturday there should be some opportunities as one or two fancied horses are well drawn.

The highest rated race on the day is the second, a MR 86 Handicap over 1200m, and the one who makes most appeal is Miracle Bureau. This horse has won his last two attempts at this course and distance and that saw him raised to an 82 merit rating. However, he proved up to that mark when ranging up over this same trip at the Vaal despite having jumped from an unfavourable draw. He did not have the necessary extra to put his head in front, failing by a 0,5 lengths, and his next run over 1400m proved he is likely limited to sprints. Tomorrow he has a better draw than the main danger Duke Nukem, who won well from a good draw over course and distance last time out.

Andrew Fortune is still aboard and will help Duke Nukem overcome a tricky draw. An interesting runner is Mister Matchett, who has dropped from a 100 merit rating down to 86 and is now also dropped back to his best trip, having run three below par races over 1400m in his last two. In a sprint race before that he was beaten nearly 20 lengths, but that was in the Gr 2 Senor Santa Stakes where the winner was Talktothestars, who was subseqeunty named Equus Champion Sprinter. Mister Matchett is well drawn and if bouncing back to his best has a big chance.

Another relatively highly rated race is the sixth, a MR 82 Handicap over 2600m, and the field could perhaps be included in the Pick 6 because it looks wide open. The selection here is Talbec as he has run well twice over this course and distance and that includes his only win. Furthermore, he now has a tongue tie on for the first time after making breathing noises in his last three races.

Punters could get off to a good start in race 1, a fillies Maiden over 2200m, provided Vul Indlela settles from the off. Anthony Delpech is now aboard so she will have every chance of doing so. Last time out over 2000m she over raced a bit in the early stages, yet was still staying on strongest of all, so she should relish this step up in trip and looks to have more scope than Flying Myth, who settled well from a plum pole position draw last time and stayed on to finish a couple of lengths ahead of the selection.

In race three, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1450m, Pearl Valley caught the eye last time over course and distance as she jumped from a wide draw and had to go around them into a handy position and yet stayed on well to be just over a length behind a promising sort in Public Protector. She now has a plum draw of two. However, Over Stated could be a big danger as she clearly did not enjoy being in front last time and drifted around looking for company. The blinkers might work their magic on her and she also jumps from a good draw.

In race four, a Maiden over 1450m, the tall and rangy Skynight is a most interesting runner from pole position. On debut over 1000m he clearly did not know what was going on but when the penny dropped he made some good late progress. He could represent fair value. Immortal Secret plugged on last time over 1400m on the Standside track but is now drawn wide. However, Delpech has stayed aboard and he should earn in this weak field. Zeal And Zest is a nice looking horse but the concern is he was a bit keen on debut over course and distance so will need to settle better. If he does he will be a big runner.

In race 5, Awesome Adam is going from strength to strength and won going away last time, giving the impression he could handle another four point raise. However, Belenos quickened well over 1600m last time before being run out of it late, so might enjoy the step down in trip here and he has a plum draw. Cashin goes for a hattrick and can’t be ignored, despite being five points higher.

In the seventh over 1800m, American Tiger is capable of a strong finish and is now well drawn over an ideal trip.

In the eighth over 1200m Riverine Forest ran on well last time over this trip and the Vaal and is well drawn here over a course and distance she should enjoy.

In the last over 1000m Ronin Warrior is an improving sort with plenty of speed and he looks likely to make it a hattrick.

David Thiselton

 

Horse-of-the-moment Power Grid goes for his third win in five weeks in the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow and he makes a lot of appeal at his forecast 5-1.

The colt is something of a freak physically. Daytona Stud considered his legs so bad that they didn’t even bother to send him to the sales, electing to lease him instead, and trainer Andries Steyns says: “He has surprised me because he has only got one front leg that works. I don’t know how he does it but he just swings the right one.”

However he has the pedigree to perform. By Queen’s Plate winner and first season success story Gimmethegreenlight, he is a half-brother to Six Blue Notes who was third in both the Golden Slipper and the Thekwini for Glen Kotzen in 2010.

He certainly impressed on his handicap debut over a furlong less than this a fortnight ago. Although one of the last away, having to be ridden early and then kept up to his work most of the way, he really surged in the final furlong when he finished much faster than anything else. Indeed Grant van Niekerk was able to ease him before the line.

Admittedly this is a much hotter contest but he receives weight from most of the others, the handicappers have been lenient – raising him just 2kg, and the way he won over 1 000m suggests he will relish the extra.

Saint Donan, beaten over three lengths, is unlikely to be able to bridge the gap on just 3kg better terms but the likes of Fire Master and Lord Balmoral (4-1 joint favourites in the TAB sheet forecast) look much bigger threats.

Fire Master made all in the Pinnacle over this trip two weeks ago and has been raised 2kg. He is 2.5kg worse with Northern Corner (6-1) for a length and a quarter so he will need to put his best foot forward if he is to confirm the placings.

Lord Balmoral looks a potential class act. The Australian-bred won his maiden by four lengths at 1-3, coming right away in the final 300m and winning easing up. True, he hasn’t raced for three months but that didn’t stop stable companion William Longsword last Saturday and Vaughan Marshall can be relied upon to have him at least pretty near right.

Joey Ramsden, 48 tomorrow, can celebrate with Arctic Green in race three. She doesn’t have the best of draws but likely dangers Fort Ruby, Lady Of The House and Possibly Me have fared far worse. Donovan Dillon’s mount is better than suggested by the bare  form of her last run when she was last until 300m out and then had to be switched.

 

Michael Clower

The Vaal Outside track has an eight race card today. Punters usually have to weigh up form against draw bias here as the standside is usually favourable and those caught on the inside of horses often struggle.

Very high draws ensure a standside rails run. However, from anywhere else it is difficult to predict where the horse will end up. Jockeys are aware of the superior going on the standside and even seemingly well drawn horses who like to run handy or in midfield can sometimes be continually shuffled inward.

A horse who has everything in his favour on the day is Lakahal, who runs in the sixth over 1000m. She has good pace plus a kick and from a perfect draw in the gentle hands of Andew Fortune she will likely stay all the way to the line, unlike last time when fading from 200m out over 1200m from an unfavourable draw.

Fortune should have a good day.  In race two he rides Mexican Sun, who was staying on steadily over 1200m on debut after being left a bit flat footed as the leaders went for home. He will relish the step up in trip here to 1400m and is drawn on the right side.

In the third Fortune is also drawn perfectly on the speedy Linda Honey. The form of her last race over this 1000m course and distance has worked out well and from a plum draw Fortune could steer her to a start to finish victory.

In the first race the likely outsider Oblivion has a plum draw of nine in a ten horse field and his best recent run was over this trip. He used to stay on well on the Vaal sand and has done the same recently from handy positions on the turf. He could be finishing strongest of all and this might be the key in this weak field.

Another interesting runner on the day is Tales Of Mambo who runs in the seventh. She impressed with her turn of foot back in March when winning a race on the Greyville poly over 2000m. Since then she has been one paced in the finish and her saddle also slipped once suggesting she was too strong in the running. A drop in trip to the 1600m of tomorrow from a good draw might be what she has been looking for as this will allow her to sit in behind and use her good turn of foot again.

Also interesting is the Australian-bred Choisir gelding Hard Ball in the fourth race over 1200m. He started 3/1 on debut but faded out and has been gelded since. He looks a nice type and has a good draw against a weak field so could make amends.

The fifth is a tricky race and Dragon’s Breath has been selected after being merit rated only 61 after beating a weak workrider’s maiden by six lengths. He didn’t start well that day so could make it a double if jumping on terms, although his draw of nine is tricky. Oculus has a plum draw here with Gavin Lerena up and he is dropping in class. His merit rating has dropped to an attractive mark. The course and distance is suitable too and everything points to him bouncing back to form.

Lerena could win the last race on the in form Analyse This. This five-year-old goes well for Lerena and is well drawn over a suitable distance. Shot has a plum draw and as a handy type who prefers further he could plug on into the places.

David Thiselton

 

Drakenstein Stud has a stallion band at present which would be the envy of many breeding operations in the world and includes their newly crowned National Champion Sire Trippi.

What better way could the latter have celebrated his new status than by the birth of a first foal to the former darling of the South African turf, Beach Beauty.

The diminutive Dynasty filly gave birth to a Trippi colt last week on Monday and stud manager Ross Fuller said, “He is a very nice size, has good legs and all is good.”

There would have been much relief from a few quarters.

Last year Beach Beauty’s foal by Duke Of Marmalade was still born, much to the sadness of the stud owners and staff as well as the broodmare’s former racing connections.

Beach Beauty of course provided one of the all time fairytales of the South African turf. The story is well documented but a new verse can now be added as her first foal was born on the birthday of Hannah Armitage, daughter of the late Mark Armitage in whose honour Beach Beauty raced.

The colt is likely to be blessed with exceptional speed as well as class.

Trippi won seven races, including five major stakes events, from 1200-1800m. His best trip appeared to be 1400m, the distance of his win in the Gr 1 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park. Interestingly, the horse he beat by half-a-length in that race was More Than Ready, who is the sire of South Africa’s newly crowned Champion Freshman Sire, Gimmethegreenlight.

Beach Beauty won five Gr 1s, three over a mile and two over 1800m, and had an exceptional turn of foot.

Trippi, who is by Mr Prospector-line sire End Sweep, made an immediate impact at stud in the USA. In 2005 he finished eighth on the North American first-crop sires list. The following season he was third on the North American second-crop sires list and in 2007 was third on the third-crop list. He was later as high as 20^th on the general North American Sires list.

He landed in South Africa in 2008 and remains the most expensive horse ever imported to this country.

He has been worth every penny as is proven by last season in which he produced eleven individual black type winners of 18 stakes races. Among these winners was Inara, who won a Gr 1 weight for age mile event in all of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. Real Princess was another Gr 1-winning daughter of Trippi during the season, landing the City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint over 1200m, before finishing third against the boys in the Gr 1 weight for age Mercury Sprint. Trippi also produced the winner of the most expensive race ever run in South Africa, the CTS Million Dollar, won by his son Illuminator in January.

Trippi has to date produced three individual Gr 1 winners in South Africa and one in the USA. Furthermore, his daughter Jealous Again won the Gr 2 Queen Mary Stakes over five furlongs at the Royal Ascot meeting from pillar to post by an impressive five lengths in 2009.

End Sweep’s pedigree includes the Northern Dancer-Mr Prospector nick and so does Beach Beauty’s.

Drakenstein’s stallions also include former European Champion Older Horse Duke Of Marmalade, who is the first sire to have an English classic winner while standing in South Africa; two Equus Horses Of The Year in Legislate and Futura, who like Beach Beauty are both by Dynasty; Equus Champion Sprinter What A Winter; Kingsbarns, the first Gr 1-winning son of the immortal Galileo to stand in South Africa; and middle distance racehorse Philanthropist, an outcross sire who won a Gr 3 in North America and produced a champion as well as a Gr 1 winner in his first crop over there.

Beach Beauty is certainly spoilt for choice will be covered by Duke Of Marmalade this season.

Inara has arrived at Drakenstein and an announcement will soon be made regarding who will cover her.

David Thiselton