Mike Bass has two runners in Saturday’s J&B Met, last year’s third-placed Helderberg Blue and the Gr 2 Premier Trophy winner Paterfamilias.

The maestro trainer continues his own brave personal battle to get back to full health, but this has not diminished his closeness to his beloved horses and his intuition in knowing just how well they are.

He said, “Helderberg Blue is particularly full of himself and is drawn well so will do the best he can do, but I am not sure whether that is good enough. He finished third last year and I would be happy with that again.”

The five-year-old Jet Master gelding is drawn two, but faces a stronger field than last year and stable jockey Grant van Niekerk has abandoned him in favour of Paterfamilias.

Bass agrees Paterfamilias has more ability of the two, but was concerned about his wide draw of 12 in the 14-horse field.

He said about the six-year-old Trippi gelding, who has this season proved why he has always been so well regarded, “He galloped very well the other morning. He has had issues and is back to his best. He has also matured, so has been running better races lately. If he can get a spot from the draw he will have a shout. However, it will take a lot to get in from there and I think the draw could cost him.”

Bass has three runners in the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships and said, “It’s a race with a mixture of horses and we would be happy to get into the money.” He singled out Line Break as one who had been doing well, although he was not convinced he fitted into this class of field. The mare Fly By Night is a Gr 1 winner, but her raceday performances have become a bit difficult to predict. Six-year-old Tevez has finished third and fourth respectively in the last two runnings of the race and is ideally suited to the tough course as he packs a strong finish.

The day to day running of the Bass yard is in the capable hands of Bass’ daughter Candice Robinson, and the formula is proving successful as they walked away with the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes trophy last Saturday courtesy of Inara.

By David Thiselton

With 36 horses carded to run at the J&B Met meeting on Saturday, trainer Justin Snaith will have little time to socialise at the 12-race meeting and that will suit him fine – it means he can turn off his cell phone after Race 3 and pray that when he turns it back on again there are no death threats.

Historically it’s a no-holds-barred day for Snaith and he chuckles: “If it has four legs and is feeling good, it’s running. My horses are all really well and ready for action.”

But he is loath to single out those he prefers because “although my intentions are always good, in the past I’ve had death threats from disgruntled punters. It started on Met Day in 2007 when Gulf Trade got rolled in Race 9 and only stopped about a year ago (after he won the national trainers’ championship). But, even so, when I’ve got more than one horse running on Met Day, I won’t put myself in the firing line. Some punters have huge bets at this meeting.”

And that horses can make fools of people is highlighted by last weekend’s Investec Cape Derby result. Although Snaith warned fans in the pre-race interview that eventual winner It’s My Turn was “working the house down”, most still sided with his better-fancied stablemate Black Arthur, who finished fourth.

When pressed about his tips for this Saturday, he suggested punters should follow the jockeys. “I’ve gone for the best jockeys on my better-fancied horses – Piere Strydom, S’manga Khumalo and, where I could, Anthony Delpech. They are all ordinarily top jockeys but at the moment are riding the best in their careers. They’re hot property.”

Three of his minor-race runners, he says, are progressive and could be well handicapped – Prince Of Wales (Race 11), Baritone (Race 12) and, maybe, Star Express (Race 2).

He has three runners in the Met but will not separate his two stable stars – Futura, who won this race last year while in the care of Brett Crawford, and Legislate.

“It’s a close call,” he says. “Futura ran a bit of a flat race when fifth in the Queen’s Plate – he didn’t enjoy the slow pace and is certainly better than that. He will be ready come Saturday. Legislate (second to Legal Eagle in the Queen’s Plate) seems to be back to the same form as when he won the Cape Derby, the Daily News and the Durban July as a three-year-old.

“We are the underdogs,” he says, pointing out that Futura would be getting 0.5kg from Legal Eagle in a handicap and Legislate would be 1.5kg to the good over the big-race favourite.

“Legal Eagle has got it all going for him. Sean Tarry’s team have the confidence.”

Snaith’s third runner is Krambambuli, who is hopelessly out at the weights but is versatile in that he can lead or come from just off the pace. Many trainers will be hoping Snaith has him in the race to set a good and steady gallop so every horse has an equal chance.

Snaith is noncommittal at the suggestion though, saying, “That’s not something I like to do.”

He is taking it one race at a time with Futura and Legislate, but there is a possibility one of them could travel to Jozi for the summer-autumn season. A team decision will be made after Met Day.

“I was very comfortable in Durban last year but the stables I used then are now occupied and I’m concerned where I might be put. Before I take a string to Durban I’ll need to make sure my horses will be comfortable. The other option is to raid from my Turffontein satellite yard.”

– Nikki Garner for TABnews

The J&B Met meeting Pick 6 is always difficult to catch, but it is still worth having a go due to the potential big payout, and this year the expected pool is R8 million thanks to a R2,2 million carryover.

The first leg is a potential stumbling block as it is a Listed two-year-old event in which weight is decided by number of wins and there is also a filly’s allowance. The two Justin Snaith runners look to have scope and so does the other winner in the field, Felicity Flyer. However, they have to give away weight so the best route looks to be to take the field without the non-runners, which would mean including seven runners.

It gets no easier because the second leg is a fillies and mares handicap over 1400m. However, Silvan Star looks a classy sort and was most unlucky not to remain unbeaten in her second start last time out over this course and distance. She must have a big chance again despite a wide draw. Qing is an impressive sort and is drawn well under Piere Strydom, and she should be effective over this trip despite likely preferring a touch further. She has to overcome a seven point raise but looks up to it. Those two could perhaps be risked as the only two for the Pick 6.

The third leg is a tough MR 96 Handicap over 1200m.  Space Launch is back to a winning mark and can do better than last time when finding no cover.  Captain Swarovski won that race in good style and this scopey sort could continue to progress off a four point higher mark. Sea Fever and Captain Sam both ran well in a strong form race over 1100m and could be included. Mister Matchett ran a cracker last time out when out at the weights and has to be considered. Rodney is stepped back in trip and has good form over sprints so is another one to be considered.

The fourth leg is the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships over 1000m and a top class field lines up. Carry On Alice’s last run can be ignored, as nothing went right for her, and she is the one to beat. Brutal Force is ever improving since gelding and must go in to the equation. Trip Tease is officially the best weighted horse in the race and has a high strike rate. Guinness is a classy Gr 1 winner who is said to be back to his best. Harry Lime is an outsider to consider as gelding has brought the best out of him and he won in fine style last time out, suggesting he is better than his merit rating, and he could continue to progress.

The fifth is the big one, the J&B Met, and it could be at the mercy of the favourite Legal Eagle as his limit is still unknown and the best he has shown to date would be good enough to win anyway. He could be a banker, although the one possibly capable of beating him would be Futura.

The final leg is the J&B Urban Honey Stayers in which an upset is always possible, especially when considering the likelihood of the infamous “Cape Crawl” playing a part. However, the SA Oaks winner Pine Princess is well weighted and looks the one to beat. Solid Speed ran a fine preparation race when winning over 1600m and will appreciate the step up in trip. Last year’s winner Kingston Mines can be included along with last year’s runner up Coltrane, while the reliable Current Event could defy his merit rating, the well weighted Hot Ticket is a class act on his day, Masterly has the masterful Piere Strydom up, Ovidio could be yet to show his best and Gallica Rose is third best in at the weights and interesting over this trip.

This provides a guideline for the most difficult of bets, and taking it usually adds some excitement to the day as the dream of winning big is always a possibility.

By David Thiselton

The J&B Met favourite Legal Eagle is in good shape and National Champion Trainer Sean Tarry believes through natural progression the brilliant four-year-old would have come on from his cosy Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate victory.

Tarry also runs Gold Onyx in the big race and has Carry On Alice in the Gr1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships over 1000m.

Tarry said, “I have only worked Legal Eagle on his own since the Queen’s Plate, he has been down here in Cape Town longer now and is eating better, and this is his third run after a layoff, so, although I can’t measure it, I would expect him to have come on through natural progression.”

The Greys Inn gelding has drawn superbly in three and Tarry said, “He has raced in every way possible. He has come from last, he has come from midfield and he has raced handy, so it will just be a matter of the pace. We haven’t seen his limit yet. We didn’t get a true reflection in the July because he was going well at the 300m but after the interference his chances were over. This year’s Met is a little stronger than last year’s. It is going to be interesting.”

Regular pilot Anton Marcus being aboard will adds to Legal Eagle’s chances.

Tarry was also pleased with the preparation last year’s Met runner up Gold Onyx had enjoyed. The eight-year-old Black Minnaloushe gelding thrives in Cape Town, so can’t be written off.

Tarry was quoted before Gold Onyx’s first Cape Town start this season in the Gr 2 Premier Trophy as saying “he would need it badly”, but the evergreen horse then ran on well for second.

Tarry said, “We were under pressure before that first start and sometimes when they have not had a good prep first up and then run above expectations, the second run can grab them a bit. But in his case in the Queen’s Plate he was caught wide and over raced and taking that into consideration his 5,25 length defeat was a very good result. He now has a 2kg pull at the weights. S’Manga (Khumalo) was very happy with his Met gallop. He also worked him on the sand tracks over the weekend and is upbeat about his well-being. It would have been easier from a 6 or 7 draw but we know what we want to do with him and if he can get in behind after the jump he should be fine.”

Tarry said about dual Gr 1-winning sprinter Carry On Alice, “She is in good order, I am happy with her.” He was not concerned about her last start, when running fifth at odds of 9/10 in the Gr 2 Horses For Causes Sceptre Stakes over 1200m, because nothing went right for her, from the time she was squeezed out at the start, all the way to the finish. She is drawn ten and Tarry admitted Kenilworth was one track where he could not work out which side, if any, would be favourable down the straight on any given day, but he believed over 1000m it would not matter anyway.

Tarry has scratched the impressive Cloth Of Cloud from the Sun International Summer Juvenile Stakes, after her six length romp on Saturday. He said while this race would be close, his chief concern was the effect the tents and razzmatazz could have on an inexperienced and temperamental filly.

Tarry had two runners in the CTS Million Dollar race on Saturday and praised sponsors CTS and Investec for having done a “phenomenal” job and putting on a “stunning” event.

By David Thiselton

CTS Million Dollar-winning part-owner Francis Carruthers admitted “disbelief” had been one of the emotions he had felt when leading 16/1 shot Illuminator into the winner’s enclosure at Kenilworth on Saturday.

It was perhaps the same emotion a direct ancestor of his, Johnstone Douglas, had felt 130 years ago after his horse Old Joe had won the 1886 Grand National at odds of 25/1.

Carruthers is neither horseman nor pedigree fundi, so leaves the Sales selection process to his trainer Glen Puller. However, he had always wanted to buy a racehorse sired by the much admired stallion, Trippi.

Of the handful of Trippi’s available at the CTS March Yearling Sale of 2014, he had ended up with a shortlist of two. Puller had then selected “the better of the two”, the Klawervlei Stud-bred colt Illuminator.

Carruthers reiterated, “I haven’t got a clue what a good horse looks like at the Sales and rely entirely on the advice of others, including Glen, who is an exceptional horseman and probably his best quality is his knowledge of which horses can be bought.”

Carruthers has shares in a number of horses, but had also always wanted to take the risk of owning one by himself. Fortuitously, Illuminator became the chosen one to fulfil this dream.

Carruthers was “very impressed” when Puller managed to secure the Trippi colt for what, even at the time, looked a bargain R180,000.

After the Sales, friend and regular racing partner Ian Robinson approached him and a deal was made whereby Robinson would get 20% of Illuminator in exchange for shares in some other horses.

“It was a very shrewd deal on Ian’s part,” laughed Carruthers.

Carruthers is clearly fond of the colt and said, “He is the naughtiest horse you can imagine. When he is being shoe-ed he has been known to pick up the farrier’s leg and drag him across the yard. He has a playful nature and often has to be put in the naughty box at the races where he can get out of hand.”

Carruthers was not as confident as Robinson when arriving at the course on Saturday. Firstly, the experienced and world class jockey Weichong Marwing had been replaced by apprentice Heavelon van der Hoven, who was going to be unable to claim his normal 2,5kg allowance. He added, “Ian thought we had a chance, but I questioned whether our horse was absolutely up to it and I didn’t think we could possibly win it – the like of Silver Mountain and Hard Day’s Night are super horses.”

He was also concerned about the saddling procedure knowing how “coltish” Illuminator can be. The colt duly played up in the parade ring, but arrived at the start safe and sound.

Carruthers admitted to being nervous as the off time approached and therefore decided to watch on his own, choosing a spot in front of a TV monitor.

Illuminator had a lot of ground to make up in the straight and Carruthers said, “You never know whether they can make it up or not.”

However, it became apparent in the closing stages he was going to win. Carruthers added, “He won well and in another twenty or thirty yards he would likely have been further ahead.”

His immediate emotion was “shell shock”. He made his way down to greet his horse and lead him into the winner’s enclosure and recalled, “To have won the country’s richest ever race – I was extremely happy and amazed!” The winning stake cheque to be shared by connections was worth US$500,000 and at the exchange rate this translated into R8,39 million.

Illuminator did not race as a two-year-old but Carruthers had spoken to Puller at the beginning of this season and the CTS Million Dollar had always been the colt’s chief target.

The Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas had been another target and Carruthers would really have liked to have won that race. Considering the way the colt ran on Saturday, Carruthers now believes “the trigger” was pulled too early in the Guineas, although Illuminator had still managed a respectable 3,65 length eighth to the subsequent Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate runner up Noah From Goa.

Van Der Hoven has in fact ridden Illuminator three times and on all three occasions they have won. Those have been Illuminator’s only three wins in a six start-career to date, so it was an inspired decision by Puller to give the apprentice the ride. Van der Hoven had phoned Puller after learning of Marwing’s decision to stand down (due to reported back trouble).

Illuminator’s future will likely be discussed later this week. However, having downed the brilliant Gr 1-winning filly Silver Mountain on Saturday by 0,75 lengths, his prospects look bright.

The colt is out of the five-times winning Listed-placed Al Mufti mare Pacific Lights, who is a half-sister to the Gr 1 Allan Robertson-winning Silvino mare Silver Arc.

Carruthers has a good racing pedigree himself. Besides a grandfather on his father’s side having owned a Grand National winner, his grandfather on his mother’s side was the famous racing correspondent of the Daily and Sunday Express, Geoffrey Gilbey.

Carruthers was able to speak to Lester Piggot at Saturday’s races and the legendary jockey remembered Gilbey, who actually has a race in England named in his honour, the Geoffrey Gilbey Handicap Chase, which is run at Newbury racecourse in late February or early March.

Carruthers’ first introduction to horseracing was through his father, who worked for the keen racehorse owner the Earl Of Rosebery.

His father and he used to attend the races at Musselburgh racecourse in Scotland together.

Carruthers’ first foray into racehorse ownership was many years ago when he had a horse with veteran Cape Town trainer Greg Ennion, which won one race. He later had a horse with Joey Ramsden and in unison they decided to retire this horse after just one start.

“It wasn’t a brilliant start to ownership,” he reflected.

About three years ago he became involved in the game again through friends Ken Martin and Ian Robinson and together the trio decided to support former jockey and now trainer Glen Puller. Carruthers has shares in about 20 horses today.

The CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale of last week was “out of his price bracket” and he was also away holidaying in Namibia.

However, Illuminator looks sure to “brighten up” a few more race days for the partnership of Carruthers and Robinson, whose loyalty to a relatively small yard has paid handsome dividends.

By David Thiselton