Lyle Hewitson is probably the most experienced four-claiming apprentice in the history of the South African Jockey Academy. The champion workrider is in the unique position of probably having ridden in and won more races than some of the more experienced apprentices currently in the academy yet the National Horseracing Authority rules governing if, when and where an apprentice may ride still apply. Given his age and experience one would suggest that in this case the “law is an ass”.

While one understands why the rules are in place, Hewitson’s case is an exception and surely reason should prevail. He was given the green light to race-ride before the usual three-month probation was up but is now restricted to ride only in races down the straight. Given that he has already ridden and won races around the turn, this restriction is laughable.

Be that as it may, punters can cash in. His proven ability with a 4kg claim will make him hot property and while he had to forgo his ride at Greyville yesterday after the meeting was switch from Scottsville, the Highveld trainers have cashed in and Hewitson has a host of decent mounts at The Vaal this afternoon.

One of his better rides comes in the eight, an MR 92 Handicap, where he partners Mod Barley for Paul Peter. The gelding scored the fourth win of his career when staying on well under apprentice Divan Neethling to beat the useful Aurum Pot last time out and before that was staying on nicely behind the Mike de Kock-trained Moofeed.

Given his current form and Hewitson’s claim Mod Barley looks a live contender.

The biggest threat to his chances could come at the bottom of the weights where Clinton Binda saddles a rejuvenated Cannes. The gelding had some fair Kimberley form but back on the turf he has won two of his three starts, including his last over course and distance. He rises in class this afternoon but gets weight from all and is a must for exotic bets.

It has been a week of ups and downs for S’Manga Khumalo. After riding six winners over the weekend and chasing hard for his second jockey championship, he took a tumble at Turffontein on Tuesday and has been booked off all his rides this afternoon.

By Andrew Harrison

High-flying combination Sean Tarry and S’Manga Khumalo could have another day of multiple success at the Vaal tomorrow as they are tipped to win no fewer than five races.

They could get the ball rolling in race one as the Mambo In Seattle filly Goodytwoshoes, who has some scope, faces a weak field and even from a tough draw should be able to build on her decent debut and come home in front.

In the following race, a MR 85 handicap over 1600, the Fort Wood colt Fort Meyers has his third run after a long layoff. He over raced early over 1400m last time, but is now four points lower in the merit ratings and will enjoy the step up in trip to 1600m. However, the main concern in this uninspiring ten horse field is his draw of five as he will need to try and get over towards the standside fence, which is where the jockeys tend to want to be.

In the sixth race, a fillies and mares handicap over 1400m, Kahal filly Kalanchoe gets a better draw than she’s had in her last few and if Khumalo is able to find cover in the running she could emerge in front of another uninspiring field.

In the seventh, Rebel King filly Modjadji has good gatespeed and early pace and might relish the step down to 1000m off a one point lowered merit rating. She is drawn on the right side.

In the last over 1200m, the big four-year-old Trippi colt Mombela is having only his third career outing but impressed in his maiden win last time and looks capable of rising some way above his current 69 merit rating.

Tarry has good chances in all of the other races too.

By David Thiselton

Ashburton-based trainers punch well above their weight if one considers numbers – horses and trainers – and the quality of horse stabled there. There are only ten trainers based at the picturesque training centre situated on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg and most of the horses housed there did not set the sales ring alight.

The biggest and strongest yards belong to Gr1 winning trainers Duncan Howells and Weiho Marwing. Howells has been champion KZN trainer and is currently heading the local log while Marwing has quickly settled in since relocating from Turffontein and came within an objection of winning the Vodacom Durban July with Wylie Hall.

But the smaller yards are also doing their part as they battle the economy and a dearth of owner support and between them saddled five winners over this past weekend. Paul Gadsby, Des Egdes and Howells had a winner apiece along with Gary Rich and Steven Janse van Rensburg while Lowan Denysschen saddled two seconds.

Rich and Janse van Rensburg are two relatively recent additions to the Ashburton ranks. Rich is the son of July winning trainer Des Rich (Lightning Shot) who also trained at Ashburton before his death. Gary started his training career at Ashburton before turning his hand to working at the South African Jockeys Academy where he worked for seven years.

But he missed training and when the offer came from Adam Kethro in Mooi River he jumped at the opportunity. That lasted for just over four years before they parted company.

“I was at a loose end but couldn’t find a job,” surmised Rich. “My age probably counted against me so eventually I decided to start out on my own again.”

“It’s been tough going but I’m enjoying it much more this time around,” he said.

Rich has had five winners since his return, most recently Roy’s Twilight for prolific owner Roy Moodley introduced to Rich by good friend Warren Lenferna. Roy’s Twilight had poor form before arriving in Rich’s yard. “After I started working her I couldn’t believe that her form was that bad,” said the trainer. He was correct in his assessment and after showing marked improvement at her first two starts for Rich, the daughter of Al Miqdaam shed her maiden third time out.

She followed up at her next start at Scottsville on Sunday. “It was a surprise but not really a surprise if that makes any sense,” he laughs. “She was working well but I didn’t think she could win two in a row.”

Steven Janse van Rensburg is the most recent arrival in Ashburton after relocating from Port Elizabeth. Van Rensburg started in Gauteng, working for Leon Erasmus for four years before joining the late ‘Oom’ Nic Claassen when he moved from the Vaal to Port Elizabeth.

“I worked for Oom Nic for 16 years and have been on my own for five years now,” he said.

He moved to Ashburton at the beginning of the year. “I suppose I was looking for better opportunities,” he said when quizzed on his move. Janse van Rensburg has 18 horses at the moment and has had two winners since relocating, the favourite Dhaamer obliging at Greyville on Friday night.

By Andrew Harrison

Kenilworth Racing and Phumelela are to adopt a more flexible approach to race programming in a bid to meet trainers’ concerns about the shortfalls of the present system.

Phumelela boss Clyde Basel said: “We are going to review the programme every two months, see which races are filling, which are not and why they are not. We can then tinker with the programme and make the necessary changes.

“Cape racing is fantastic and we want to keep it that way. The trainers are keen to increase the number of runners per race and we want to put things in place to enable them to do this.”

Eric Sands, one of those at the forefront of the call for change, said: “This will help – and we certainly can’t afford to give away any more of our racemeetings to another centre – but it can’t be done without also having an up-to-date horse census each time.

“Derek Brugman has suggested to me that we should go to each trainer each month, ask him or her what horses they have to run, the type of horse and the distances they are looking for – and that is a good suggestion.”

By Michael Clower 

Picture: Eric Sands (hamish NIVEN Photography)

A number of good horses are turning out at tomorrow’s KZN meeting, which has been moved from Scottsville to Greyville, and some of them like the much talked about Royal Life will be returning from long layoffs.

Trainer Alistair Gordon said Royal Life would definitely need his outing over the too sharp 1200m of the sixth race.

The gelding was bought into the Gordon yard as a three-year-old just over a year ago after an impressive six length win over 1600m in his second career start.

However, he had a few initial hiccups and then contracted a serious virus after being gelded.

This run will get him going again, but he is looking for a lot further.

Gordon also brings back classy sorts in Monte Christo, Beat The Retreat and Sublime Code.

Monte Christo finished lame last time over 1600m on the day the jockeys protested about the Scottsville turn (December 20), so has had to be brought back to fitness.

Gordon said, “He is fit and well and put up a good gallop on Monday. He is talented and I hope for a good run, although he might just need it.”

The good looking Trippi colt should love running fresh over the 1400m course and distance of the Novice Plate event and is tipped to win.

Beat The Retreat by Argonaut has a fine record down the Scottsville straight and has never run on the poly before. However, he should be right there in the seventh, a competitive MR 97 Handicap over 1200m.

Gordon said, “He has been gelded and it’s made a big difference. He has been working nicely. It might be a bit sharp for him now, but I expect him to run a nice race.”

Sublime Code, a three-year-old by Warm White Night, has his second run after gelding in the last, a MR 77 Handicap over 1200m.

Gordon would have obviously preferred the race to have been at Scottsville, as he said, “He was really, really green on the poly last time and will be better up the straight. He has improved a lot and I am hoping for a decent run.”

The Dennis Drier yard make Desert Fighter their best runner on the day in that last race. He looks to have been leniently treated by the handicappers, especially considering the form of his 3,25 length win over the course and distance has turned out well.

The Drier yard said Sea Fever would likely need his first run back from the Cape in the seventh, although he would still be fit enough to be a contender.

Drier’s Var filly Nova has her second career outing in the third race over 1000m, after a five month layoff, and they said it would likely be inexperience rather than fitness which could find her out as she was a small filly and had put in the necessary work.

Gareth van Zyl said Redcarpet Captain was beginning to become a bit coltish at home so they were sending him out, to run in tomorrow’s seventh, a bit earlier than ideal in order to settle him down. This run will bring him on as he obviously has a lot bigger fish to fry in the forthcoming South African Champions Season.

Garth Puller brings back Mr McSteamy from a nine month layoff to run in the fourth, a Maiden over 1000m. He said he had some class, but might be one run short.

Puller viewed the Charles Laird-trained Variable Pitch as the obvious horse to beat, because despite also returning from an eight month layoff he had decent form as well as the advantage of a 4kg claimer aboard. However, he pointed out Mr McSteamy’s half-sister Dreya’s Gold had relished the step back to this 1000m trip on Sunday when beating a promising sort in Cosmic Burst and hoped Mr McSteamy would do likewise.

Mike Miller’s decent sort Executive Power over raced when sent over1600m last time, but Miller refuses to accept he is a pure sprinter yet so tries him over 1400m of the fifth.

By David Thiselton