Can Marinaresco become the first since Pocket Power a decade ago to win all three legs of the Winter Series?

He certainly set about it the right way at Kenilworth on Saturday, outpointing the Winter Guineas field with a spectacular turn of foot and appropriately carrying the Marsh Shirtliff colours that his predecessor made famous. Furthermore, unlike most of those who have tried and failed in the intervening nine years, he almost certainly has the stamina for the final leg.

Mind you, he could yet be diverted to Durban. “I’m tossing a coin between the Series R250 000 bonus and the R2 million of the Daily News,” said Mike Bass, his tone of voice suggesting the money made it a no-brainer. But he added, almost in the same breath: “He will probably stay here – he will be a better horse next year that way.”

This was Bass’s eighth Winter Guineas and the first for Aldo Domeyer but many of those who plunged on the favourite from 9-2 to 2-1 thought he had blown it when he decided to cross over from his midfield draw and tuck in with only three behind him. It wasn’t just the punters either (Candice Robinson: “I thought ‘Oh gosh, it’s not going to be our day.’”) while a collective groan came from the stands when the commentator announced that Marinaresco was 15 lengths behind the leader.

Marinaresco winning the Winter Guineas (Liesl King)

Domeyer, though, partnering his 75^th winner of the season, kept his cool. “I was riding by instinct – there were a million instructions and even in the pens I wasn’t sure what I was going to do – but Grant van Niekerk had told me that he has a turn of foot.

“This is a good horse. I’ve never seen one with his acceleration. It was just a matter of choosing a gap and then he quickened instantly. After that he was only loafing in front. Since they gelded him he is showing himself to be the horse the stable thought he was going to become, and he is now one for the public to follow.”

However Brett Crawford, whose Grant Thornton Handicap winner Orion Quest is clearly going places, had no hesitation in naming the Winter Classic (May 21) as the next stop for Whisky Baron and Vilakazi who finished a close second and third. There will be another day too for Eighth Wonder who dropped out as if he had been shot. “I couldn’t understand why he didn’t go on in the straight but he returned with a severe nasal discharge,” reported Greg Ennion.

Always In Charge could be Durban bound after running out a hugely impressive winner of the Shopfit National Maiden under a confident MJ Byleveld. “Vaughan Marshall wanted to take him but I said that I don’t like horses going there that haven’t won,” Derek Brugman related. “Now we will sit down and discuss it.”

The Stormsvlei Mile on May 21 is next on the agenda for Captain’s Flame who belied her 10-1 price by romping away in the final furlong of the RTT Sweet Chestnut while third-placed Anglet will take her on again in that after failing to get a completely clear run. “We will then decide about Durban. This 1 400m was a little sharp for her and it got a bit tight,” said Paddy Kruyer.

The 14-10 favourite Qing finished with only one behind her. Anthony Delpech said he felt something was not right and, while the course vet could find nothing wrong, Chris Snaith was asked to report on the filly’s condition back home.

Andre Nel reckons a virus that affected his string earlier in the month was the reason for Dark Chocolate’s expensive flop when favourite three weeks earlier. She came good in the FNB Maiden to launch a stable double and Domeyer’s treble.

Glen Kotzen is now allowed to run horses from his Woodhill stables once more and, after celebrating with all-the-way Anthony Andrews-ridden Shizam in the Old Mutual Maiden, he said: “They asked us to do the responsible thing and we did it for the industry. Let’s just hope there are no more deaths.”

Eric Sands, who used to dominate the work rider races with Bizz Njokwa following orders to the letter, may have found another in the same mould. Storm Front was Siyamdumisa Tshaka’s first ride and the 23-year-old handled him in competent style.

Richard Fourie served notice that he intends to resume normal service after making most on Saint Roch for Adam Marcus in the last, saying: “I’ve not been taking many rides but I’m now getting back into things.”

By Michael Clower

Inara will on Saturday attempt to become only the second of her sex to win the Premier’s Champions Challenge since Ilha Da Vitoria ten years ago and, for the second time in a fortnight, she will make the six-hour journey from Summerveld on the day before the race.

Candice Robinson said: “We are taking a bit of a long shot but it was either the Turffontein race or go for the Tibouchina which is a Group 2 and Drakenstein were keen to run in the Premier’s.

“She will have come on from her Empress Club win although it’s not going to be easy taking on the colts and over the 2 000m at Turffontein.”

Europa Point in 2012 was the other mare to win but the bookies have a healthy respect for Grant van Niekerk’s mount and Betting World makes her 7-1 second favourite. Legal Eagle heads the market at 6-10 while Captain America and French Navy are both 15-2 chances. Brazuca is next on 10-1.

Captain America was beaten three and a half lengths by Legal Eagle in the Horse Chestnut and was a length adrift in the J& B Met but Brett Crawford has not given up hope.

He said: “What I liked was that each time we were the only one coming back at him at the end, and he is doing very well.”

Justin Snaith, successful with Solo Traveller in 2011 and Legislate three years later, is making a determined assault on the Canon Guineas at Greyville on May 6 with Politician scorer Black Arthur (Anthony Delpech), Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn (Grant van Niekerk) and Baritone (Bernard Fayd’Herbe).

Delpech has also been booked for the stable’s Paddock Stakes third Bela-Bela in the Daisy Fillies Guineas while Vaughan Marshall has supplemented CTS Million Dollar third Victorious Jay for the Canon Guineas.

By Michael Clower

Marinaresco is 33-10 favourite to give Mike Bass his sixth Winter Guineas this century in the Tekkie Town-sponsored feature at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Aldo Domeyer

The Milnerton stable thought earlier in the season that he would prove their best three-year-old but it wasn’t until the Politician, and the Cape Derby in particular, that he proved the point. He has since been gelded but he hasn’t raced and there is also a question as to whether he is as good over a mile.

“It could be a touch on the sharp side but I don’t think this will be too much of an issue for him,” answers Candice Robinson. “He doesn’t take a huge amount of work and I think he should be pretty much ready.”

Favourites have won four of the last five runnings but two of those were longs odds-on shots. That said, Aldo Domeyer’s mount comes out best at the weights on merit ratings and he looks the one to beat.

Hard Day’s Night opened 9-2 second favourite with World Sports Betting yesterday and Joey Ramsden is bidding for his third Winter Guineas in five seasons. Racecourse gallops and the stable’s treadmill should ensure that a nine-week absence does not hinder Donovan Dillon’s mount but the snag is that the Selangor winner has to give weight all round.

Snaith Racing is optimistic that today’s forecast rain will bring Langerman winner Ready To Attack (7-1) right into the picture. “He has had two gallops and he is pretty ready,” says Jonathan Snaith.

Hard Day’s Night (Liesl King)

Cape Classic scorer Eighth Wonder would be a big price at 14-1 were it not for last time’s below par Fairview run and his wide draw. “The draw is a problem but we are going to drop him in,” reports Greg Ennion who won with 12-1 shot Modern Mission in 2003. “He is doing very well and he should have a good chance.”

Only one horse is a bigger price than Elusive Silva but apparently the colt has a far better chance than odds of 22-1 would suggest. “I know he is badly in on ratings but he is a good horse and it was a tough call as to whether to put Anthony Delpech on him or Ready To Attack,” says Jonathan Snaith.

Brett Crawford has a quarter of the field and the betting would suggest that Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount Whisky Baron (15-2) has a better chance  than the 2.5kg higher rated Vilakazi (11-1) who disappointed last time.

Anglet is the class horse in the RTT Sweet Chestnut but she has been off since the Fillies Guineas in December and Qing, who has won her last four, is preferred. However Anglet’s trainer Paddy Kruyer can win the last with Mega Secret.

By Michael Clower

The weekend racing in KZN provides a few opportunities for punters to increase their bankrolls before the fireworks in the South African Champions Season begin.

Dennis Drier (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the first race at tonight’s 20/20 polytrack meeting at Greyville, the Dennis Drier-trained Giveuwings will be staying on over a step up in trip to 1400m she will appreciate and could win if starting faster than last time.

In the second race the Michael Roberts-trained filly La Carmelita is a typically big and long-striding daughter of Ideal World who was staying on strongly over 1200m at Scottsville on debut, so will relish this step up to 1400m.  The danger will be Roy’s Monkey, who pulled over 1600m last time out so will likely relish the step down to 1400m.

In the third Burnburry was disappointing on Wednesday with first time blinkers over 1200m, but if she takes her place and the headgear comes off she should be staying on strongly over the minimum trip here in an uninspiring field. Her stablemate Pop Star ran on in eyecatching style in the same 1200m race on Wednesday so will be a big runner here. Minnie The Minx finished close up over course and distance in February and top rider Muzi Yeni should give her every chance.

In the fourth the Highveld raider Alaca showed pace throughout over 1000m at the Vaal last time out in his first outing as a gelding and won by a comfortable 2,8 lengths. He was still full of running at the line so could possibly follow up, although is by no means a confident selection having to jump from draw ten over a step up in trip to 1200m. Royal Roy’s improved effort last time over this trip at Scottsville looks quite good on paper and he should be running on strongly again for an in form yard despite the wide draw. Out My Way could follow up on his 1000m win despite a wide draw as he has the considerable advantage of a sort after 4kg claimer aboard.

Ginger Biscuit (Nkosi Hlophe)

The fifth race is over 1000m and there is plenty of pace in the race so this should set it up well for the closer Ginger Biscuit, despite his topweight. Kept Secret is another closer who should be closing in late. Regardstobroadway has always struck as a decent sort and has stayed on from the front before so could also be in the frame.

In the sixth over 1000m, Thunderwood was not at all disgraced over 1400m last time when out at the weights in a Progress Plate.  He was staying on and from pole position with an astute apprentice up should be right there. The consistent Do Be Snappy will love the course and distance and the topweight Spanish Captain has some class. However, it is quite an open race and an upset result wouldn’t be a great surprise.

In the seventh over 1600m, the form of Vogue idea’s last run over course and distance has worked out very well and she is the one to beat. Lady Ming ran a cracker against a useful sort the last time she ran over course and distance and has a plum draw of three. Ruby Gem won her maiden over course and distance and returns to the poly for the first time since so should be competitive having run quite well last time out from a wide draw over 1400m on the Greyville turf.

The eighth over 1800m Koncealed looks to have plenty of ability, is well drawn over a step up in trip he will enjoy and the form of his only poly start to date over 1600m has worked out well.

Do Be Snappy (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the last race over 2000m the consistent and course and distance suited Live On The Moon could follow up on his last win off just a two point higher merit rating as the form of that win has worked out well and he jumps from another good draw. Highveld raider Triple Beat has gone close twice over course and distance and is a big runner too, while Impact Zone must also be considered.

Scottsville’s first race on Sunday is of interest as first-timer Apres Ski is a well-bred son of Western Winter and Dennis Drier, who has won five of the last six renewals of the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion, hasn’t delivered a true contender for the latter race yet. Apres Ski doesn’t have much to beat, although Gio Ponti’s Legacy caught the eye staying on from well back on debut and should make the frame.

The Listed Sledgehammer over 1750m could see Justin Snaith’s good start to the SA Champions Season continuing with the classy Master’s Eye. He has to carry topweight but should be staying on as he was in the Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m last time for fifth place.

The Listed Scarlet Lady could also be fought out by Cape Town horses with Zante and Ma Choix making most appeal.

The Highland Knight Cup over 2400m is also an interesting race and the progressive Solar Star is tipped to beat home useful local stayer Qatar Springs, while Crime Victim could earn over a suitable course and distance off a two point lowered merit rating.

The best bet on the card could be Flash Fire in the second over 1400m where she looks difficult to oppose having been unlucky on debut over the same trip at Kenilworth, despite not having settled well early.

By David Thiselton

Anthony Delpech has landed the plum ride on Legislate in the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville on May 6.

The former champion will also be on the five-year-old when the 2014 Vodacom Durban July winner runs in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge on the same course five weeks later. These two races are the only chances that racegoers will have to see the horse before he is retired to stud.

Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

Jonathan Snaith said yesterday: “He is having only two runs in Durban and he won’t even be nominated for the July. His preparation for the Drill Hall has gone smoothly but it will be his first race since the J & B Met and we are not expecting fireworks. The Gold Challenge is his main mission.”

Only four jockeys have ridden Legislate in public. Girish Goomany had the mount first time and  Muzi Yeni also rode him just once before Richard Fourie took over for 14 consecutive races, winning the Cape Derby, KRA Guineas, Daily News, July, Green Point and Gold Challenge. Piere Strydom rode him in the Queen’s Plate (second) and Met (sixth).

Michael Clower

Legislate – Liesl King