The highlight of the weekend is the GR 1 Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein On Saturday and it will see an intriguing clash between three leading lights of probably the best female crop in South African racing history.

There is also plenty of other highlights on both the Highveld and in KZN to look forward to.

The Mike Bass-trained Inara is a three-time Gr 1-winner who is ideally suited to the course and distance of the Empress Club Stakes and she is well drawn. She has never run to her best around a right hand turn but that probably had more to do with a lung infection she was incubating in the Champions Season in KZN last season. She has had to travel from Cape Town to Summerveld to prepare for the race and then travel up to Johannesburg this week. However, the Bass yard are already showing signs they are in for a fine season in KZN and she is undoubtedly the one to beat.

The Frank Robinson-trained Olma has not run well in three outing at Turffontein. However, she has matured and the use of a tongue tie has made a big difference. She is also proving to be best suited to the 1600m trip so as one who is getting better and better she is an interesting contender.

Trophy Wife will pick up the pieces if the top two go missing as she is an ultra consistent sort and as a Gr 1 bridesmaid deserves to one day be in the winner’s enclosure.

Later the Listed Spook Express Handicap over 2450m could see yet another marathon race win for the Weiho Marwing yard, who excel at these events and their up and coming stayer Zafira has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight.

The meeting also sees the return of top class sorts Carry On Alice and Rabada.

Carry On Alice should hold too many guns in the fifth race over 1100m. An interesting runner for a place here is Winter Al as she is way out at the weights, but is well regarded and one day when this difficult customer  finally gets through the preliminaries unscathed she could pop up at long odds.

Rabada has had to come back from a couple of setbacks so might be beaten by Prospect Strike in the 1400m event as the latter has class and has had a good preparation.

Another intriguing race is the fourth where three classy types, Rainy Day Blues, Smart Mart and Jubilee Line clash over 2000m and they are slected in that order although it should be a mammoth tussle.

In KZN the exciting sprinter Natal appears in a race over 1200m, but might be ousted by Captain Alfredo. The latter has to give Natal 2,5kg but will relish the 1200m trip of Scottsville and has Gr 1 Tsogo Sun contender written all over him.

By David Thiselton

Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event the Vodacom Durban July, traditionally run at Greyville on the first Saturday in July, is now worth R4,25 million, an increase of R750 000 over the prior year.  Further to the announcement of the increased stake, Gold Circle also confirmed that Vodacom Has extended its sponsorship of the Vodacom Durban July for an additional three years.

First entries closed on Wednesday, 13 April 2016, and the 65 nominations were unveiled at the launch of South Africa’s Champion Season 2016 held at Greyville Racecourse.

At the top of the list was the country’s highest rated horse, Legal Eagle. Sean Tarry’s champion won the Gr1 SA Derby last season and has already won two of the three legs of the unofficial WFA “mile” championship in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. He is current favourite for the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Challenge to be run at Turffontein on Derby Day at the end of this month.

Tarry, well on track for his second National Trainer’s Championship, has nominated nine other runners. French Navy, arguably unlucky last year, is likely to be back for another crack and is the third highest rated runner on the list. Victory would also make it a treble for Tarry and owner Chris van Niekerk, the pair having won successive Julys with Pomodoro and Heavy Metal in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Also nominated is the country leading three-year-old Abashiri who on Derby Day will be attempting to round off his bid for the Triple Crown with victory in the Gr1 SA Derby. Michael Azzie’s smart colt has already garnered the first two legs, the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas and Gr1 SA Classic for owners Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren.

Mike Bass, already a three-time winner of the Vodacom Durban July, will be pinning his hopes on Paterfamilias and his trio of smart fillies Inara, Silver Mountain and Nightingale.

Fascinating this year will be the battle of the three-year-old colts leading up to the July. Abashiri aside, Johan Janse van Vuuren has three smart entries in Unparalleled, Brazuca and New Predator but there are a host of colts that for one reason or another have not been fully exposed.

Some in this category include the Duncan Howells pair of Ten Gun Salute, already a Gr3 winner in Open company, and Sylvester The Cat. Howells has also nominated the classy Saratoga Dancer.

Justin Snaith has entered Investec Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn and Baritone, narrowly beaten by one of Dean Kannemeyer’s entries Mambo Mime at Greyville last Friday. Another Snaith entry is Dynamic, a controversial second behind another Kannemeyer July entry Cape Speed at Scottsville last Sunday.

Surprisingly the powerful Mike de Kock yard only has three nominations, Jubilee Line, Persian Rug and the Australian-bred Kinaan.

Important Vodacom Durban July dates to diarise:

• First Declaration: Close 11:00 Monday, 9 May 2016
• First Supp. Entries: Close 11:00 Tuesday, 10 May 2016
• Second Declaration: Close 11:00 Monday, 30 May 2016
• Final Supp. Entries: Close 11:00 Monday, 6 June 2016
• Weights Published: Tuesday, 7 June 2016
• Final Declaration: Close 11:00 Monday, 20 June 2016
• Final Field and Draw: Announcement of the Final Field and Barrier Draws will take place on Tuesday, 21 June 2016
• Public Gallops:  7am at Greyville Racecourse, Thursday, 23 June 2016

Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event, the Vodacom Durban July, traditionally run at Greyville on the first Saturday in July, is now worth R4,25 million, an increase of R750 000 over the prior year.  Further to the announcement of the increased stake, Gold Circle also confirmed that Vodacom has extended its sponsorship of the Vodacom Durban July for an additional three years.

First entries closed on Wednesday, 13 April 2016, and the 65 nominations were unveiled at the launch of South Africa’s Champion Season 2016 held at Greyville Racecourse.

The full list of entries are as follows:

 

HORSE	TRAINER		M/R
LEGAL EAGLE	Sean	Tarry	120
ABASHIRI	Mike	Azzie	117
FRENCH NAVY	Sean	Tarry	115
INARA	Mike	Bass	111
PATERFAMILIAS	Mike	Bass	110
SILVER MOUNTAIN	Mike	Bass	110
UNPARALLELED	Johan	Janse van Vuuren	110
RABADA	Mike	Azzie	109
BRAZUCA (AUS)	Johan	Janse van Vuuren	109
SAMURAI BLADE (AUS)	Sean	Tarry	108
STONEHENGE	Sean	Tarry	108
MASTER SABINA	Geoff	Woodruff	108
DEPUTY JUD	Mike	Azzie	107
PUNTA ARENAS	Dennis	Drier	107
OLMA	Frank	Robinson	107
GOLD ONYX (NZ)	Sean	Tarry	107
PROSPECT STRIKE	Sean	Tarry	107
BELA-BELA	Justin	Snaith	106
DEO JUVENTE	Geoff	Woodruff	106
EXIT HERE	Charles	Laird	105
MASTER’S EYE	Justin	Snaith	104
NEW PREDATOR (AUS)	Johan	Janse van Vuuren	103
SOLID SPEED	Dean	Kannemeyer	103
HALVE THE DEFICIT	Sean	Tarry	103
ROMANY PRINCE	Ormond	Ferraris	102
MAC DE LAGO (AUS)	Weiho	Marwing	102
AFRIKABURN	Gavin	van Zyl	102
TEN GUN SALUTE (AUS)	Duncan	Howells	101
DYNASTIC POWER	Vaughan	Marshall	101
DISCO AL	Joey	Ramsden	101
THE CONGLOMERATE (AUS)	Joey	Ramsden	101
IT’S MY TURN	Justin	Snaith	101
TROPHY WIFE	Sean	Tarry	101
BALANCE SHEET	Dean	Kannemeyer	100
ULTIMATE DOLLAR	Justin	Snaith	100
ST TROPEZ	Joey	Ramsden	99
BARITONE	Justin	Snaith	99
CELTIC CAPTAIN	Gavin	van Zyl	99
SYLVESTER THE CAT	Duncan	Howells	98
DYNAMIC	Justin	Snaith	98
DIESEL JET	Erico	Verdonese	98
MAMBO MIME	Dean	Kannemeyer	97
TRADING PROFIT	Mike	Azzie	96
MARINARESCO	Mike	Bass	96
CAPE SPEED	Dean	Kannemeyer	96
BLACK ARTHUR	Justin	Snaith	96
JUBILEE LINE	Mike	de Kock	95
SARATOGA DANCER	Duncan	Howells	95
STORMY ECLIPSE	Charles	Laird	95
DEPUTY RYDER	Neil	Bruss	94
PERSIAN RUG	Mike	de Kock	94
UNBELIEVABLE CHAD	Paul	Lafferty	92
SILVER SPRING	Gavin	van Zyl	92
MASTER SWITCH	Geoff	Woodruff	92
BANKABLE TEDDY	Brian	Wiid	89
OLE GUNNAR	Paul	Lafferty	88
NIGHTINGALE	Mike	Bass	87
RAINY DAY BLUES	Joe	Soma	87
ELUSIVE SILVA	Justin	Snaith	86
NIGHT SHADOW	Gavin	van Zyl	86
MILLA’S WORLD	Sean	Tarry	85
KINAAN (AUS)	Mike	de Kock	84
FORT MEYERS	Sean	Tarry	81
WARGAMES	Johan	Janse van Vuuren	80

Entries:  65

Important Vodacom Durban July dates to diarise:

• First Declaration: Close 11:00 Monday, 9 May 2016
• First Supp. Entries: Close 11:00 Tuesday, 10 May 2016
• Second Declaration: Close 11:00 Monday, 30 May 2016
• Final Supp. Entries: Close 11:00 Monday, 6 June 2016
• Weights Published: Tuesday, 7 June 2016
• Final Declaration: Close 11:00 Monday, 20 June 2016
• Final Field and Draw: Announcement of the Final Field and Barrier Draws will take place on Tuesday, 21 June 2016
• Public Gallops:  7am at Greyville Racecourse, Thursday, 23 June 2016

Summerveld trainer Frank Robinson described his top class Dynasty filly Olma as “spot on” on the eve of her departure for Johannesburg, where she will participate in the Gr 1 Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes over her probable optimum distance of 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday.

Meanwhile, all is still well with the Mike Bass-trained three-time Gr 1-winner Inara, who has also been trained for the Empress Club out of Summerveld.

Excellent jockey Ian Sturgeon has formed a fine partnership with Olma and rides her from a plum draw of four in the prestigious weight for age event, which has attracted a small but classy field of nine.

Sturgeon never rides Olma in work due to the fine training track partnership the small filly has formed with workrider Enos Magaba.

Robinson said, “Enos knows what to do and gives excellent feedback. Her work has been very good, I am very happy. She has come on from her last win and is very well. She is getting better and better. I always knew she was going to mature. The tongue tie has also made a big difference.”

Robinson also admitted at the beginning of the season to have over-estimated her ability to stay.

 

She has consequently won her last three races in impressive style, a Conditions Plate over 1800m on the Greyville turf, the Gr 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m on the Greyville turf and the Gr 3 Kings Cup against the boys on the Greyville poly.

Travelling to and from altitude has always posed a problem for South African trainers, but anecdotal evidence would say horses should be capable of raiding from the coast for races not further than a mile.

Five-time champion trainer Geoff Woodruff also once pointed out Summerveld is at an altitude of about 700 metres. He said, “It is already more than a third of the altitude of Johannesburg and from there a horse can get away with a run over any distance,””

Many Summerveld horses have proven him correct, including a horse trained by Robinson’s former guv’nor Herman Brown Senior called Singing Boy, who raided to win a Gr 1 over 2000m at Turffontein as well as a Gr 1 over 1600m, a Gr 3 over 2000m and another big race over 1800m.

Robinson has recently conformed to the trend of leaving on Friday at midnight and arriving on the morning of the race.

However, he has now decided to revert to the method used in the days of Singing Boy and is leaving tonight (Thursday) and arriving early tomorrow morning (Friday).

“This gives us a chance to feed her and walk her and she can have a bit of a break before the race. She can get a little worked up, but I noticed last time she travelled back she was fine, and it’s probably due to her being a bit older and more mature.

Foveros, Yamani and Rock Star were other examples of Brown-trained horses who won Gr 1s at Turffontein when arriving a day or two before the race.

Olma has run three times at Turffontein and every one of the races has been way below par, so hopefully the new travel strategy will reap dividends.

Robinson regards Inara as being “a tough nut to crack”, but pointed out her three worst runs were around a right handed turn and he also wondered whether having to first acclimatise to Summerveld, after travelling from Cape Town, and then having to acclimatise to Johanesburg, would take the edge off her.

However, the Bass camp would say her three below par runs around right-handed Greyville last season could likely be put down to the lung infection she was found to be carrying.

Assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe said everything was currently “hundreds” with her. She is coming off a brilliant defence of her Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes crown, which was run on January 23.

The raiding pair are the two highest rated horses in the race on 111 and 107 respectively, but will face stiff competition from the like Of Trophy Wife, who was finished in the top three in three separate Gr 1s.

Olma’s credentials were given a boost yesterday (Wednesday) when her Michael Roberts-trained half-brother by Argonaut Caddy Master won on debut on the Greyville turf over 1200m.

By David Thiselton

Apprentice Lyle Hewitson will more than likely break the record for the shortest time taken for an apprentice to lose his 4kg claim. He landed a double at Greyville yesterday to take his tally to 13 in less than 80 rides at an amazing strike rate for an apprentice of 14%.

To be fair to his Jockey Academy colleagues, Hewiston was well grounded on the work rider’s circuit before joining the academy, winning the championship last year and can hardly be classed as a green apprentice.

He will however also be learning the tough ways of the weighingroom and will no doubt have taken some flak from senior rider Brandon Lerena after landing the fifth on the Kom Naidoo-trained Tuscan. Although what all the fuss was about is hard to fathom.

Hewitson tracked the pace one off the rail and made good use of his claim quickly sending his mount for a clear run up the outside fence. It got close at the wire as the grey Stolen Destiny pressed him all the way but Tuscan held on narrowly.

The objection hooter announcing second against first had patrons puzzled especially as the alleged interference occurred at the 1200m mark. A review showed things getting a little tight but hardly grounds for an objection.

Hewitson had earlier kept the Sean Tarry wrecking ball rolling in the fourth with another polished display aboard In Other Words as the filly notched her sixth win from only nine starts and her first on the turf.
“She’s not the best mover,” said assistant Deshone Steyn. “That’s why we have kept her to the poly. But she will win races on the grass. She’s above average.”

In Other Words was a hiccup in Dean Kannemeyer’s run of form with Impala Lily sent out favourite and only narrowly beaten.

An hour later the R3 million yearling purchase Tripandie had the stable back on track as he run up his third win on the bounce with a telling stretch run.

“I thought he finished his race off very well. Today was a good win. He’s gone up 4kg in the weights,’ reasoned Kannemeyer.

“He came with a price tag but he hasn’t been an easy horse to train. I will allow him to earn his stripes and he’s going the right way. We will see how he pulls up and take it from there.”

It was a day of doubles as Roy’s Fly followed up for Naidoo and prolific owner Roy Moodley in the seventh.

By Andrew Harrison