Caballo Blanco should get Kenilworth punters off to a winning start in the opening maiden juvenile tomorrow.

His first run three weeks ago was packed with promise (Mike Bass: “He got left a little bit but he is a smart horse”) and the form of his third place was boosted when the fourth, Dancer, won last Saturday. He already holds both Starflash and Telamon.

However things are not so straightforward from this point on. Bass and Grant van Niekerk should, in theory at any rate, follow up with Cold As Ice’s half-sister Live Life who was backed from 5-1 to 18-10 favourite when second on debut. But China Pearl was only half a length away despite starting at 35-1 and costing less than an eighth of her rival’s R2.5 million. Who is to say she won’t have come on by at least that margin? Gypsy Beauty also has good first run-based claims.

Joey Ramsden throws a potential spanner in the works 35 minutes later by pitching two superbly bred juveniles against the three-year-olds in the All To Come Maiden. Red Granite is a half-sister to Guineas winner Act Of War and R900 000 purchase Arctic Green is a daughter of Allan Robertson heroine Silver Arc.

Both are bred to be much better than tomorrow’s opposition but it’s worth pointing out that they meet the three-year-olds on terms 5.5kg (more than four lengths) worse than weight-for-age and also that it is difficult for Milnerton trainers to get horses ready to win on debut.

Dark Chocolate is the form horse and is tentatively preferred despite the way she ran last time suggesting that she needs further than this 1 200m.

The Racing.It’s A Rush Allowance Plate is even more tricky. Sceptre winner Princess Royal would appear to stand out, and is the forecast favourite, but she comes out level with longshot Sapsan when you adjust for the weights and weight-for-age while Night In Tahiti is only a point behind.

It just might pay to side with Captain’s Flame even though she has 2.5kg to find. She has won two of her three starts and was described by Andre Nel as “pretty talented” when she scored over the trip three weeks ago.

Keegan de Melo, who won on Black Arthur for Justin Snaith in November, flies in for six rides for the former champion trainer. The best of them could be Prince Of Wales in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap but Snaith is cautious, saying: “He is a horse to follow but this 1 400m is a bit on the short side. Also he is coming back from gelding so he may just need it.”

The biggest danger is probably Silver Snaffles who came home 3.5 lengths clear when making all over this trip four weeks ago.

By Michael Clower
Picture: Keegan de Melo rides at Kenilworth on Saturday

Abashiri and Heaps Of Fun will have the support of many at Turffontein on Saturday where they will embark on the second legs of their Triple Crown and Triple Tiara missions respectively.

Abashiri will be hard to beat from a good draw in the Gr 1 R2 million SA Classic over 1800m. He had to be sent for home early in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas over too sharp a trip. The turn of foot he displayed surprised many as he was being rousted seconds earlier. Once he had hit the front he was always going to be difficult to catch as he has a giant stride and a big engine. He will likely be ridden more conservatively this time and should mow down those who attempt to get first run on him.

Brazuca has a nice stride on him too and will relish the course and distance and Anton Marcus will help him overcome a tricky draw of nine.

Liege is fancied for third over a suitable course and distance. Others who have to be considered for the placings are Champagne Haze, Muwaary and Suyoof.

Samurai Blade is also worth considering for a place as he has some class and should enjoy the faster pace of a Gr 1 race over an ideal course and distance. Heaps Of Fun ran with ears pricked in the front in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and held on courageously. She displayed her class and can be ridden from anywhere, so over this likely suitable trip she is going to be a tough nut to crack.
However, the Geoff Woodruff-trained Alexa is tipped to beat her as she caught the eye in the Fillies Guineas running on strongly. She had to continually switch inward as no gaps were opening and finished right on the inside rail. She was only 4,75 lengths back at the line and is now slightly better drawn in nine. She will relish the step up in trip and will be hoping for a quicker pace too.

Witchcraft, Negroamara, Frosty Friday, Princess Varunya and Christmas Carol will also enjoy the course and distance, while She’s A Dragon also has to be considered.

The other Gr 1 on the card is the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m. The KZN raider Ice Machine is a joy to watch as he has a pehenomenal turn of foot and this could finally be his day. He has a fair draw in a big race for a change and Anthony Delpech will be able to keep an eye on the only likely danger Legal Eagle. The latter showed how good he is over a mile when galloping them off their feet in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate. Captain America won this race in bottomless ground last year. This big horse proved when winning this season’s Green Point Stakes he can settle in front and can handle fast ground, so is still likely to be involved in the finish from the pole position draw. However, he is unlikely to get the soft ground which would given him his best chance.

The first race on the card is a fillies and mares handicap over 1600m. Wukkin’ Up is a courageous sort and will attempt to make it four wins in five starts, but is not going to have it easy. Bountiful Harvest and Star Of Love should make bold bids over a suitable course and distance.

The second is the GR 3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m and Cloth Of Cloud, an exciting half-sister to Silver Mountain, is going to be hard to beat considering the manner of her six length win on debut.

In the third, the Gr 3 Man O’War Sprint over 1100m, Bull Valley is another one full of speed and class and back to the sprint trip he will be hard to beat receiving 2kg from the top two, despite not having run since November. Al Azraq and Isca are well regarded and could provide place value.

In the fourth, the Gr 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m, He’s A Var created a fine impression on debut with his speed followed by a kick and looks the one to beat. However, the filly in the race, Seattle Singer, has a weight advantage being still a maiden and on form she has a big shout.

The sixth, the Gr 3 Jacaranda Handicap over 1800m is the toughest race on the card. The talented Patchit Up Baby should now be fully acclimatised to the Highveld and looks ready to bounce back to her best. Peggy Jay is in fine form over further, but is effective over this trip too. Pennington Sands will enjoy the fast conditions and the others who make most appeal are front-running sorts Cassie O’Malley, Ahlaam and Dream Galaxy, as well as Gr 1 winner Bilateral, last year’s runner up Fortitude, who is only one point higher in the merit ratings, the course and distance suited Zrinski and the well drawn and distance suited Mamasita, who has Gavin Lerena up.

The ninth is the Gr 3 Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m and the class over this testing course and distance lies at the top of the weights with Cool Chardonnay and Storm Warning and with the only female in the race Marmalady.

The last is a tricky MR 84 handicap over 1160m and Captain’s Causeway looks to be on the up. Thrust keeps on defying the handicapper and should go well fresh. Manx Park has come into his own and has to be considered.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Abashiri (Nkosi Hlophe)

There look to be some opportunities for punters to go thin in two or three legs of the big Classic meeting carryover Pick 6 at Turffontein on Saturday – estimated to reach R4million.

In the Gr 1 R2 million SA Classic the long-striding Mike Azzie trained Abashiri can afford to be given a more conservative ride than he was in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas when driven into the lead early in the straight and holding on for a comfortable 2,5 length victory. He is drawn well again. His giant stride dwarves those of his rivals and it would appear only bad luck in running can cost him victory.

Brazuca ran on resolutely from a long way back in the Guineas. He also has a nice long stride and will relish the step up in trip, so could pose the main danger. S’Manga Khumalo has jumped ship from Lunar Approach on to Liege and this looks a wise decision as this improving son of Dynasty will relish the course and distance. Champagne Haze was waited with for ages in the straight in the Guineas before running on for second. From pole position and with Gavin Lerena up he should also be thereabouts, especially as Lerena’s judgement of pace would undoubtedly have been sharpened up in Hong Kong. Muwaary has been crying out for this trip and will be fitter than he was for the Guineas. Romany Prince stayed on from last in the Guineas and then proved his liking for a tougher test when winning the Listed Drum Star handicap over this trip in very soft going. He faces stronger here but Delpech is now up from a plum draw of five. Suyoof did too much early in the Guineas so can’t be written off with a likely more conservative ride. Samurai Blade is a dark horse as a classy long-striding sort who could benefit from the faster pace of a Gr 1 race.

The Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic will see the jockeys being a lot more wary of Heaps Of Fun. She won’t be allowed to dictate as she did in the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic. However, she still has a fine chance as she can also run from off the pace if necessary and will enjoy this trip. The Geoff Woodruff-trained Alexa, whose eye catching run from the back of the field in the Fillies Guineas started towards the outside and ended up right on the inside, makes most appeal of the others. The improving Witchcraft is an Oaks type who could earn from pole position. Fillies Guineas runner up Negroamara will also enjoy the step up in trip as will Princess Vurunya, Frosty Friday, Persian Rug and Christmas Carol.

The ground on the day is likely to be fast so Legal Eagle and Ice Machine look likely to fight out the Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m. This could finally be the luckless Silvano gelding Ice Machine’s day as his good draw of five should enable his exhilarating turn of foot to be unleashed to its maximum capacity.

The last leg of the Pick 6 could be fought out by Cool Chardonay, Storm Warning and Marmalady.

The first leg looks to lie between He’s A Var and Seattle Singer.

The third leg is the Gr 3 Jacaranda Handicap, which is very open and punters will have to consider including the whole field.

By David Thiselton
Picture: Ice Machine (John Lewis)

 

Age is often an excuse when it comes to under-performing athletes whose performances appear to have tailed off in the twilight of their careers but seven-year-old Marchant kicked that theory over the fence in the Racing.Its A Rush Handicap at Greyville yesterday. Without a win for nearly two years but some fair form in useful company in the Western Cape, the gelding put a decent field to bed in emphatic fashion with his seventh win from 33 starts.

Byron Vorster, long-time assistant to Paul Lafferty and now Sabine Plattner’s KZN assistant to Western Cape-based Andre Nel, is a man of few words but given the manner of victory he will be encouraged that Marchant has juice left in the tank come the winter season.

However, Marchant’s win does not reflect well on KZN sophomore form with a trio of promising colts buried. Ole Gunnar fared best finishing second with Lafferty reasoning beforehand that his charge would be better suited to tens furlongs. But more was expected from Monte Christo and Team Guys, the latter now appears lengths better on the poly.

If that was not enough, Royal Master, eleven lengths back in a Kimberley handicap last time out and a win his only placing in eight starts, ensured some healthy exotic dividends. Bill Human’s runner paid close to 33-1 on the tote and under the odds given his form.  A mad scramble at the start compromised a few of the fancied runners chances helping the Kimberly visitor’s cause but replacement apprentice Ryan Munger took the shortest way home to finished ahead of the cavalry.

A change of equipment was all that was needed to get Bold Star to shine for Pat Lunn and stalwart owner Mike Destombes in the card opener. “I was quietly confident,” said Lunn, a master at setting up a horse for a ‘touch’. “She was too keen in her races, so we took the blinkers off and put on a tongue tie,” Lunn surmised post-race. Warren Kennedy did the rest, pouncing from mid-field.

They don’t all have the “look of eagles” so a good eye for a yearling is an asset. “There’s not much of her,” quipped television presenter Paul Lafferty of second race winner Zagora after Kennedy had notched a quick double, this time for Gavin van Zyl. “Very light,” concurred van Zyl. “Brian (Burnard) picked her and she was going cheap. He said we can’t let this one go.” It was an inspired buy as the daughter of Lateral has already paid her way with a second win.

Even stretching the imagination Strategic’ s Pride is not in the same league as Dubai World Cup winner California Chrome, the only similarity being that like Victor Espinoza, apprentice Lyle Hewitson had to steer from the rumble seat as the saddle slipped in the running for the third. It was an easy victory for Sean Tarry’s runner made easier by favourite Tanjiro bouncing Anthony Delpech into the air as the gates were sprung, finished riderless and declared a non-runner.

“I always thought he was a smart horse,” said Dennis Bosch, a trainer forever wary of the handicappers who in retrospect were generous with only a five pound penalty for the gelding’s second place last time out. Bosch had Cutting Edge honed to a razor’s edge for the fourth and Delpech always had the race in hand. “He’s a smart horse; he just has to learn to do things the right way.”

By Andrew Harrison

Many punters looking for a banker in Saturday’s carryover Pick 6 (estimated pool R4million) will reach for trainer Sean Tarry and seriously consider two of his runners at the meeting, Legal Eagle and Heaps Of Fun.

The ruling champion trainer, who is the leading the championship by some way this season, says: “I wouldn’t dissuade anybody from bankering either horse” and is cautiously optimistic about their chances.

Legal Eagle is the top-rated runner still racing in South Africa and will line up in the R1-million HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m. The race is run at weight-for-age and Legal Eagle is at least 1.50 lengths better than any of his rivals in the race.

“He is going for the R4-million President’s Champions Challenge so this is a prep race and while I believe he’s a better horse over 2000m, he did win the Queen’s Plate over 1600m in January. So it would not be foolhardy to judge him a suitable banker. But we’re hopeful rather than confident. If he wins, that’ll be fantastic.”

Tarry will also field Halve The Deficit in the Grade 1 race and believes he must not be left out of Quartets.

“He pulled up with a virus in the SANSUI Summer Cup so we had to give him time. I wasn’t unhappy with his sprint-up, when seventh in an 1100m Pinnacle race. He’ll be thereabouts.”

Heaps Of Fun, who races in the R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m, beat 10 of these rivals when winning the Gauteng Fillies Guineas in February.

She races over 1800m for the first time, but Tarry says: “I think she’s probably looking for the ground and don’t see a problem with the distance.”

He did confirm that he is certainly not going to restrict the filly to front-running tactics again.

“That was our game plan in the Fillies Guineas. She hadn’t been racing from the front before that, but I knew tactically it would work for us because the others wouldn’t worry about us.

“She’s a simple, laid-back and straightforward horse, who came out of the Fillies Guineas nicely. She’ll be competitive, for sure,” he said.

Negroamaro, who started favourite in the Fillies Guineas and finished a 0.90-length second, is the horse he fears most because “there is a lot of talk about how good she is and I’m not sure if there were excuses in that race”.

“Mike de Kock’s coupling, Noor and Persian Rug, have scope for improvement over the distance, but I make the grey filly the horse to beat.”

Tarry’s other runner in the SA Fillies Classic is Witchcraft. She won over 2000m in her last race and “the form has worked out well,” said Tarry. “She’s definitely an Oaks filly and this will be a nice test for her in this kind of company. We’ll see how she handles the jump in class. If she handles it, I wouldn’t expect her to get beaten too far. She’s very well.”

He has four runners in the topliner at the meeting, the R2-million SA Classic, Malak El Moolook, Lunar Approach, Liege – the choice of stable rider S’manga Khumalo – and Samurai Blade.

Tarry believes they all have a bit to do on merit ratings and says: “If I get a piece of the pie I won’t be unhappy.”

He points out there were valid reasons why they can do better this time.

“Malak El Moolook didn’t disgrace himself in finishing third behind Abashiri and Champagne Haze in the Gauteng Guineas and he got his tongue over the bit when well beaten by Liege last time out. We’ll try a tongue tie and see if that helps. But he is suspect over the trip.

“Liege had a problem in the stalls on Guineas Day but won his next race very well. I knew he was capable but the runner-up Count Tassilo was badly out at the weights. He won well enough and couldn’t do more than that.

“Lunar Approach’s saddle slipped in the Gauteng Guineas so you can’t read much into him finishing last.

“The interesting runner is Samurai Blade, who is only having his second run for the yard. I’d planned to run him in the Derby Trial but his prep run – when second in a Pinnacle Plate – was so good, I thought I’d take a chance and see how he goes in this race.”

Are any of them underrated, in his opinion? “Maybe Lunar Approach is lurking under the radar,” he says. “It didn’t work out for him in Cape Town and he only had one run – in the CTS Million. But I don’t think Liege has done much wrong either.

“They’ve all been well prepared and with a clean run, we’ll see where they fit in.”

Another runner he believes can do well is very talented but temperamental Cloth Of Clouds. “She’s interesting because depending on how she does, we’ll decide whether to take on the colts in the SA Nursery at the end of the month or go against the fillies.”

As for his other runners on the day, he says none of them can be summarily discarded. “I’ve got a lot of good horses running and they should be competitive throughout, but it’s hard racing and nothing really stands out.”

– TABnews