Duncan Howells, again teaming up with Anthony Delpech, won their second million-rand race in just over a month when Legend ran out an impressive winner of the Bloodstock South Africa Million Mile at Scottsville yesterday – Howells’s decision to skip the G2 Golden Horseshoe on July day paying dividends.

“He has made massive improvement since his last win,” said the Ashburton-based trainer of his charge. “I could have run him on July day but he had a bad draw so we took a gamble and went for the bigger stake. I don’t say we could have won then but I’m pretty sure he would have finished in the first four.”

Legend (Nkosi Hlophe)

The manner of yesterday’s win suggests that Howells would not have been far off the mark.

“This is the first time that I’ve sat on the horse,” said Delpech. “But he gave me a good feel. I think he’s good enough to win a Group race. He’s got a real turn of foot.”

Sitting midfield for much of the race, Delpech was left hunting for a gap approaching the two furlong marker. However, the field opened up on que. “When I got the run I couldn’t believe it,” he said. Legend took the gap and was clear in a matter of strides.

Last Outlaw chased hard for second but was never a serious threat with Palladium and Orapa filling the minor placings.

Dennis Drier had a day to remember winning four races including the Bloodstock South Africa Million Sprint although it was a close-run thing. Hack Green was backed in to prohibitive odds and the unbeaten colt was expected to win as he liked after his stunning victory in the Gr2 Umkomazi Stakes at seasons end.

In the end it took a judge’s photo to separate Hack Green and Green Pepper, a piece of paper the margin, with the filly Seattle Singer in third.

“He’s a baby and still learning,” said relieved rider Sean Veale after facing a dilemma two furlongs out. “I didn’t know whether to barge through and take the seven days (suspension) or switch out.”

Luckily for Veale he made the correct decision, switching out for a run. “If he had stayed on the inside I don’t think he would have run a place,” said Drier.

To add to the tension, Johan Janse van Vuuren, trainer of Green Pepper called for race review. However, the stipendiary stewards were quick to dismiss it as in their view both runners moved independently of each other and it was Drier’s turn to be relieved. “This is a nerve-wracking game as it is. I don’t need the extra tension but it was also a bit stiff on the second horse.”

Hack Green lead-in (Nkosi Hlophe)

Recently crowned champion freshman sire Gimmethegreenlight was without a stakes winner in his first crop until the final days of the season when Hack Green won the Gr2 Umkomazi Stakes and Gunner capping it with victory in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes an hour later.

Although yesterday’s races were both non-black type, Gimmethegreenlight, the only horse to have twice beaten the mighty Variety Club, sired both Legend and Hack Green and just for good measure runner-up Green Pepper.

All three were bred at Varsfontein Stud who stand the Gr1 winning son of More Than Ready. Hack Green and Green Pepper under the stud’s banner wile Legend was bred by stud manager Carl and wife Amanda de Vos.

De Vos was on the verge of selling the Spectrum mare Colour Fast but was persuaded by Cathy Rymill, Howells’s partner, to hold onto her as the stable thought Legend was a smart horse. Good advice indeed.

Andrew Harrison

Scottsville hosts an interesting ten race meeting on Sunday and the main attraction will be two Bloodstock South Africa (BSA) sales races which both carry a stake of R1 million.

In the BSA Million Sprint the horse to beat is Hack Green who trotted up in  the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over this trip at Greyville by three lengths despite having jumped from a wide draw. The testing going on the day did admittedly favour horses which came from off the pace. He now has a plum draw of four by trends and is the highest merit rated horse in the race on 100. Bold Viking impressed when running on strongly from off the pace on debut over this trip at the Vaal and should enjoy the tough nature of this track, while Andrew Fortune is a plus aboard. Paperback Writer is highly regarded and it didn’t pan out too well for him in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Medallion so he could earn here from draw one with Delpech up, although he is the type who will probably only come into his own halfway through the season.

South Side is the lowest merit rated horse in the race, surprisingly because she won on debut in the country’s strongest centre, Cape Town, and five winners have come out of that race. She has not raced since March but has been doing well at Summerveld and has a plum draw. Lunar Rush won the KZN Yearling Sale Million race over 1300m at Greyville by 2,25 lengths when right up with the pace before kicking on well, so she could use the same tactics from a tricky draw. This race is of a better class, but she did win that race comfortably. Side Show won by more than five lengths when stepped down to this trip last time and can overcome her draw with her pace.

Felicity Flyer has hard knocking form against some of the best two-year-olds in Cape Town and has a fine chance if able to overcome her high draw and with Anton Marcus up she will be given every chance to do so. Seattle Singer finished second against the boys in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold medallion over course and distance and is the second highest rated horse here on 96, but she has had a hard campaign and has a tricky draw. The horses are selected in the order mentioned.

In the BSA Million Mile Orapa created a good impression when cantering home effortlessly second time out over 1400m at Turffontein. He has the widest draw of all but should go close after being dropped out and running on. Legend has shown continual improvement and the form of his eyecatching win over course and distance last time has worked out well. He has a good draw and Delpech is up. Last Outlaw has landed a plum draw and should run a big race having impressed over this trip at the Vaal second time out. The High Life impressed as one with plenty of scope for improvement when winning over this trip at Greyville last time out and is drawn well here.

Lotus Elan was not given a good ride in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over this trip at Greyville last time when coming way wide into the straight and he did well to be only be 3,3 lengths back at the line. He now has a good draw and should be involved. Gregorian Chant lived up to the regard he is held in when blinkers were fitted last time and he could earn. Costa Da Sol has the beating of The High Life on paper, but is more exposed and has a tough draw. Palladium has Marcus up from a tricky draw but could do well if reproducing his good win in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m. He ran on strongly from last that day and that tactic will likely be resorted to as he pulled in the front last time in the Premier’s Champions Stakes.

Royal Agree stayed on well last time when winning here over 1400m. Highwayeightyfive beat Legend the last time he tried the course and distance and has a good draw so must be considered. Eden Gardens Glitz won well over this trip on the poly second time out. Kahula and Old Oak Tree are two others who can’t be ignored in an ultra competitive event. They are selected in the order mentioned.

In race one over 1200m Genius Bar out of the decent Western Winter mare My Kazzie makes most appeal of the first-timers and Marcus might only be on the stable companion Mermaid Siren due to the Markus Jooste and Derek Brugman connection. Online and Maple Story should improve on their respective debuts but have tough draws to overcome.

In race two Sir Edmund caught the eye on debut and is drawn on the right side with Delpech now up.

In race three over 1200m Life Is Good and Structured Reply have both shown ability and are drawn well so are selected in that order.

In race four over 2400m For Ever will enjoy the trip and can beat Roy’s Yevhan, while Osuna is a long shot who could do well over a trip he will appreciate in his third run after a rest.

In race five over 1000m Piano Man has the class to win off his 87 merit rating over his favourite course and distance, while Monte Christo has some class and should do well over a trip too sharp running fresh. Panza has some good form and is drawn on the right side.

In the seventh over 1600m Pirogue has improved so can win again with Delpech up from pole position, although Hanji, Baltic Amber, Maachaan, What A Scorcher and Royal Zulu Guard have to be considered to.

In the ninth over 1600m Inga could beat Orelia and Nikki’s Greenlight.

The last over 1600m Delpch could complete a fine day by winning on Exclusively Trendy who was green on debut over 1000m but was staying on.

David Thiselton

Glen Kotzen has three chances of winning a R1 million race at Scottsville on Sunday and does not look to be without a hope of doing so.

In the Bloodstock South African (BSA) Million Sprint over 1200m he runs South Side and Shizam and in the BSA Million Mile he runs Royal Agree. South Side is a filly by Pathfork out of a Jallad twice-winning sprinter.

South Side won on debut over 1000m at Kenilworth back in March. However, she pulled up sore and wasn’t ready in time for the KZN Yearling Sales Million on Vodacom Durban July day.

However, she has been doing well at Summerveld and Kotzen said she had put up a good gallop at Summerveld this week.

Five winners have come out of South Side’s maiden victory and considering Cape Town is the strongest racing centre in the country she must have a shout with Stuart Randolph up from what is by trends a plum draw of five.

Kotzen fancied Shizam for the KZN Yearling Sale Million, but she had to be scratched after attaining a cut leaving the parade ring. It turned out to be superficial and she was then fancied again for the Gr 2 Gold Circle Debutante over 1200m on eLan Gold Cup day after running a fair fifth to older horses two weeks earlier over the same course and distance. However, she faded tamely in the Debutante after being sent to the front on a day when the going was testing and horses were coming from off the pace.

Kotzen said, “She pinged the gates and then she over raced. I didn’t expect her to grab hold of the bit like that. We won’t let her go to the front this time.”

Kotzen expected a better effort with her settling behind horses and also believed she would prefer going down the straight. She had excellent 1200m form in Cape Town and on a formline through China Pearl there is little between her and South Side. Derryl Daniels, who has a long association with the Kotzen yard and is one of the most underrated jockeys in the country, rides from a favourable draw of two.

Shizam has been accorded a merit rating of 82 by the handicapper, while South Side is the lowest rated horse in the race on 76. Officially they have a lot to do, but the crop has still got a long way to go before the true pecking order is established.

Royal Agree is a Scott Brothers-bred Mogok filly and one point in her favour is a clear liking for the track because second time out she found a strong finish from off the pace to win a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1400m. Kotzen said, “She is quite smart and improving but she has a terrible draw. She will have to be given a chance and will be running on.”

The Mile is not quite as strong as the Sprint on paper but off a 79 merit rating she does officially have a lot to do.

David Thiselton

Rodney and Grant van Niekerk look hard to oppose in the Racing.It’s A Rush Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow when race conditions are much in the four-year-old’s favour.

He has to give weight all round but on ratings he has a kilo in hand over the next best – his three-month absent stable companion Sail For Gold – and a minimum of 2kg over the rest. He has also won over the course and distance.

“A good winning chance,” is how Candice Bass-Robinson assesses him, adding: “Sail For Gold could also finish in the money. He didn’t really thrive this winter but he is doing a bit better now although his best trip is 1 400m.”

Rodney is sure to start favourite but there are one or two others capable of upsetting the applecart, notably the Justin Snaith pair Fire Master and Fifty Cents who Richard Fourie rides – despite a five-month absence – as this one is considered to have the more scope for improvement.

“He is a progressive horse, his sprint-up today was good and so I expect him to be in the money,” said Snaith yesterday. “Fire Master has done well and at the weights I think he has quite a good chance.”

But the really intriguing one is Albarakah, despite being the oldest horse in the field by some three years. He is a kilo better with Fire Master for last time’s length when he was unlucky. “The jockey (Devin Habib) said he had to sit on the horse for a couple of strides because he was going to take a gap when the others closed it,” explains Glen Kotzen. “He told me that cost him the race.”

Albarakah finished faster than anything although, to be fair, the rerun suggests he had trouble going the early pace. Kotzen stresses that the horse needs give in the ground but the rain forecast for today and tomorrow should be enough. The old-timer could be a good price even though it’s unlikely to be anywhere near as generous as the 10-1 in the TAB sheet forecast.

For what it’s worth, the sahorseracing computer has Rodney winning from Fifty Cents and Northern Corner with Fire Master and Albarakah both running below their best.

Moulina may beat Snaith’s Var newcomer Skye Girl and Gold Force in the first while Harakiri, who ran wide in the only race at Durbanville’s washed out meeting, has a clear chance 35 minutes later.

Sandy Bay is close with Under Milkwood in race three on country course form but the Joey Ramsden filly looks better at Kenilworth. Captainblackbeard and Omaha Tribe come out best on ratings in the 2 400m maiden but Andre Nel’s Jingle Belle is preferred.

Michael Clower

“Professional, professional, professional,” that’s how Dennis Drier summed up Anton Marcus after he had made all the running on the Drier-trained Flying Rock in the first at Greyville yesterday.

Touching 8-10 in the market, Marcus galloped the favourite to the start in an effort to shake this mount up and it didn’t go unnoticed. There was 15-10 available by the time the field jumped but Marcus had all under control as he bounced his mount out of the gate and led most of the way.

“Going down the chute and to the start I thought we would finish closer to last than first. He went down like he had never had a person on his back,” said Marcus.

“Professional,” reiterated Drier. “I’ve never seen a jockey go down to the start like that on one of my horses.”

Drier was back in the winner’s box two races later but was less complimentary of stable rider Sean Veale’s handling of the first timer Supreme Vision. “Mr Drier was not happy with the way I rode her but I had to use her up early. It was only greenness and the number is in the frame,” said Veale in defence.

“I was not that happy the way Sean rode her but she won a bloody good race,” said Drier. “No doubt the second filly was a bit stiff but she came back at her to win.”

Veale did not agree. “I know they thought the other filly was unlucky but even if she had got to me earlier my filly would have fought her off.”

Second-placed Baby In Black stumbled out of the gate losing valuable ground. She challenged strongly in the finish, briefly heading Supreme Vision, but the winner came back to take a short-head decision.

Drier was back in the winner’s enclosure for the third time with Roy’s Winter Patch landing the sixth and giving apprentice De Gouveia a memorable double. “The kid rode an excellent race,” complimented Drier.

The regally bred Cape Fling, making his debut as a four-year-old, proved more than a match for the field in the second. A wind op delayed the gelded son of Epson Derby winner High Chaparral’s first appearance and the win wasn’t entirely expected. “He hadn’t shown us much at home,” said Barbra Badenhorst, assistant to Dean Kannemeyer. “He really surprised us today.”

“The way he won he should go on and win more races,” said Delpech. “I didn’t hear him make any noises so the op must have worked.”

Perseverance paid off for Ashburton-based Des Egdes as the temperamental Speedjet came home strongly under apprentice Diego De Gouveia in the fourth. The lightly raced mare is not the easiest of horses to handle but was on her best behaviour yesterday. “She is usually a nightmare to saddle at the races,” said Egdes.  “But she was calm and behaved herself today.”

“She had knee chips and other niggles and problems but that’s the way racing goes. You are dictated to by the horse.”

“Niggles and problems” prompted Gavin van Zyl to urge the owners of Just Ask Me to retired the gelding six months ago but they called for one last try. It paid off with the chestnut making all under Billy Jacobson to win the fifth although punters were not so happy with the winner paying R35 and the well supported Catkin second and favourite Tripandie third, both runners having every chance.

Stable companion to Just Ask Me, Budapest, lived up to the last four letters of his name as he refused to load and was scratched at the start.

Trip To Rio is another that proved a handful at the gate, but eventually coaxed in for the seventh he got home narrowly to put another nail in the exotic bets coffin. Given an excellent ride from apprentice Lyle Hewitson, Trip To Rio was produced from the back of the field to get up close home to deny the grey French Revolution and Double Clutch in a tight finish.

Andrew Harrison