The remarkable Zubbadubbadoo attempts to make it six wins from nine starts in the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap at Kenilworth today and, although this is a hotly competitive handicap, he is attractively priced at 9-2.

Corne Orffer’s mount scored by a length and a half last time and was raised five points (2.5k) which is roughly the equivalent of the winning distance. As he has such a high strike rate you would expect the handicappers to have given him a bit more. Furthermore he appeared to win with something in hand.

“He has done well since but five points is quite a bit,” cautions Brett Crawford who also provides one of the main dangers in Sail South. World Sports Betting opened this one at 11-2 on Monday and he has since eased to 8-1.

Kingvoldt also opened at 11-2 and was 5-1 yesterday. He looked considerably higher class than this at one stage and gelding ended his haemo-concentrating problems. He has been dropped three points for his last performance and it’s his third run after a rest. So is he pretty near right? “He should be,” answers Justin Snaith. “No excuses now and it’s time for him to live up to his reputation.”

Blarney Bay (12-1) will ensure a strong pace but he tends to get touched off in the closing stages on this fast ground and 7-1 shot Blackmore could be a bigger threat, particularly as he had to overcome a slow start last time and went up only a kilo for his win. ”This race is tougher but when he puts his best foot forward he can run,” says Dean Kannemeyer. “He’s got to have a chance.”

Kannemeyer also runs his 2014 Gold Vase winner Hot Ticket who is a 25-1 shot here and is having a prep for the J & B Jet Stayers on Met day. “I’m a bit on the back foot with him. He’s fat after getting a virus,” reports the Milnerton trainer.

Eighth Wonder is the only three-year-old in the field and has been backed from 8-1 to 9-2. He won the Cape Classic but had no luck in the Selangor or the Cape Guineas. “Everything went wrong last time – he is far better than that,” says Greg Ennion. “He burst through the pens and then raced five wide.”

Extradite, who lost valuable ground at the start on debut, opened 15-10 favourite for the two-year-old race but WSB has since erased its prices. Betting World simply avoided pricing up the race – or at least that was the situation yesterday afternoon.

In any case preference is for The Secret Is Out. The Captain Al newcomer is a full sister to the Mercury Sprint, Allan Robertson and Thekwini winner All Is Secret. Vaughan Marshall, who trained All Is Secret, confirms that this one is smart and is not expected to need the run.

Orion Quest, who went into the notebook when well backed on debut, is odds-on for the All To Come Maiden and is hard to oppose. “He is a nice horse who will definitely be competitive,” says Crawford.

> A service to Oratorio, worth R100 000, is one of eight stallion coverings being auctioned at Saturday’s Sceptre Stakes meeting in aid of 16 ‘Horses For Causes’ charitable organisations.

By Michael Clower

Picture (Nkosi Hlophe): All Is Secret winning the Mercury Sprint in 2013

Noah From Goa ran another game race taking third place in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate over 1600m at Kenilworth on Saturday, against some of the best older milers in the land.

The three-year-old by Tiger Ridge will be given a well-deserved rest now and Mike de Kock commented: “Noah From Goa gave a great account in what was considered to be one of the strongest renewals of the Queen’s Plate in recent years.

“Noah From Goa has had a long and successful season so far, he’s given his best and he will enjoy a nice few weeks off now. We have the autumn feature season coming up in Gauteng so we’ll probably point him at the Horse Chestnut 1600 or the Classic early in April.”

– Mikedekockracing.com

Picture: Noah From Goa (Liesl King)

Reigning National champion trainer Sean Tarry might have won the R1 million L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate on Saturday with Legal Eagle but Justin Snaith had by the end of the day increased his lead on the current National Trainer’s log, due to five wins, as well as, among other stakes cheques, claiming second and fifth in the Queen’s Plate with Legislate and Futura respectively, and third in the Gr 1 R1 million Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes with Bela-Bela.

Snaith always takes a big team to both of Cape Town’s biggest meetings, the Queen’s Plate and the J&B Met, and has on two occasion had five winners at the J&B Met, so the five winners on Saturday was another milestone moment.

At this time last year Tarry had already taken the lead in his successful title bid, but looks to have a tougher task this season, although the firepower he has for the lucrative Johannesburg Autumn Season will make it exceedingly tough for Snaith to stay ahead.

Snaith currently has stakes earnings of R9,301,950 and Tarry is on R8,209,587, while Mike de Kock, whose focus these days is on his overseas campaigns, in in third on R7,424,225.

Snaith made it to a century of winners for the season on New Year’s Day at Fairview and has had 110 to date, while Tarry has had 75 and De Kock 61.

The win strikes rates are Snaith 18,12%, Tarry 12,5% and De Kock 15,25%.

By David Thiselton

Legal Eagle, 11-2 last Saturday morning and as big as 7-1 at one stage, is now as short as 11-10 with Betting World for the J & B Met after the way he decisively beat many of the January 30 opposition in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. Rival firm World Sports Betting makes the Sean Tarry-trained four-year-old a 13-10 chance.

Another big mover is the Paddock Stakes winner Smart Call who has been slashed from 20-1 to 12-1 with Betting World and a point longer with WSB.

The response to Legal Eagle’s emphatic win was expected although not many foresaw the new favourite’s price being quite as short. Indeed one bookmaker queried it, saying: “A number of horses in the race ran too bad to be true, notably Futura.”

Smart Call (Liesl King)

This backs up rider Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s view that the steady pace last Saturday meant that he had no chance of winning on a horse that needs further. Last year’s winner has been marked out from 13-10 and 12-10 to a best-priced 33-10 but, significantly, the five-year-old is still shorter than stable companion Legislate even though Saturday’s runner-up has hardened from 15-2 to 11-2 third favourite.

Captain America ran a fine race on Saturday to take fourth after nearly coming down shortly after leaving the pens but he has gone out from 17-2 to as much as 18-1, presumably because he has long been regarded as essentially a miler.

Power King, last of 14 in the Queen’s Plate and reported distressed by the course vet, has gone from 20-1 to as big as 50-1.

Peninsula Handicap winner Light The Lights has been dramatically reassessed, dropping from 200-1 to a quarter of those odds.

There were no additions to the field at yesterday’s final supplementary stage. Declarations are next Monday with the draws taking place at the public racecourse gallops on Thursday January 21.

Betting World: 11-10 Legal Eagle, 33-10 Futura, 11-2 Legislate, 12-1 Smart Call, 14-1 Deo Juvente, 15-1 Mac De Lago, 16-1 Captain America, French Navy, Master Sabina, 18-1 Paterfamilias, 33-1 Same Jurisdiction, 50-1 and upwards others.

World Sports Betting: 13-10 Legal Eagle, 3-1 Futura, 11-2 Legislate, 13-1 Smart Call, 18-1 Captain America, Deo Juvente, French Navy, Mac De Lago, Paterfamilias, 22-1 Master Sabina, 28-1 Same Jurisdiction, 45-1 Power King, 55-1 and upwards others.

By Michael Clower

The nine-race meeting at the Vaal today is on the outside track, meaning by trends high draws will be favourable.

The first race is a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m. Dukes Dime showed good pace second time out over 1160m at Turffontein and should have improved from the run. The form of the race has worked out well and she is now drawn on the right side.  Snowdonia could use her natural pace to overcome her low draw.  Strydom is an eyecatching booking. Shirley-Kay has improved with blinkers and could earn a place in this field although she doesn’t have the easiest of daws. Youcanrockme didn’t find much extra when prominent throughout over 1400m last time so is interesting stepped down in trip. Catwalk Tease’s good pace could help her overcome her low draw and she could earn here.

Gavin Lerena

The second is a Maiden over 1400m. Crimson Magic packs a strong finish from sprints up to this trip and is the one to beat from an ideal draw. Raging Fire, having not been disgraced from tough draws in two good maidens over 1200m at Scottsville, didn’t enjoy much luck from an unfavourable draw over this course and distance in his penultimate start but caught the eye and from a fair draw should earn in this uninspiring field. Vee Man ran on well after being bumped at the start over 1160m on Saturday so if taking his place could earn here if dropped in behind them which could enable him to overcome his low draw. De Lujo is a big galloping type and has a tougher draw than when running third over course and distance last time, but this is a weaker field overall so he could earn again. Count’s Quest could earn dropped back in trip as he did quite well last time over1800m despite over racing.

The third is a Maiden over 1400m. Mississippi Rising made a fair comeback over 1200m on the Turffontein Inside Course on 26 December and should have come on from the run so is the one to beat in this weak field from a good draw over a suitable trip. Scotland has his third run after gelding and could earn from a good draw over a step up in trip which will suit as he moved up well in a race over this course and distance before his gelding but didn’t go through with it. Keep On Flying has a 2,5kg claimer up and if reproducing his best run over course and distance, when run out of it on November 21, he can earn in this weak field. Border Hopper made breathing noises when prominent over1600m in early October before finding no extra and is interesting with first-time blinkers on. Il Duce has shown enough to be able to earn here from a good draw.  Can You Hear Me can earn if overcoming the draw.

The fourth is a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1600m.Mythical Magic is well drawn and the form of his third over this trip at Turffontein in late October is strong. Sweet Chestnut is drawn on the right side and should go well over a suitable trip for Gavin Lerena. Loving Kindeness has the form to go close but has a tough draw. American Story ran on well after losing two lengths over course and distance last time and could earn. Tawhiri should improve but has a tough draw.

The fifth is a MR 68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m. Cape Marigold charged at them late over course and distance last time and is drawn on the right side off the same merit rating. Alexa was not striding out last time so is better than that and could make amends here from a good draw with Lerena back up. Readyforyourlove was found to be coughing when going close over 1700m here last time and is now well drawn over a suitable trip with Marwing up.

Race 6 is a MR 93 Handicap over 1400m.Machismo is 1kg under sufferance but is drawn on the right side and should go close if settling. Light The Way is a decent sort who is course and distance suited  and has a fair draw. Captain Aldo won well over course and distance last time and is drawn on the right side off six point higher mark with Lerena keeping the ride. Rushmore River is in good form and could earn. Prince Jazeem is 2,5kg better off with Captain Aldo for a 1,25 length beating but has a tough draw.

Race 7 is a MR 75 Handicap over 1400m and the front runner Strong Mind is drawn well over a suitable trip and the 2,5 kg claim will help. Tamarind is only two points higher than his last win over course and distance and Strydom is now up and with a lot of pace in the race he could overcome the low draw. Nation Builder is course and distance suited and the race should set up for him well from a fair draw under Lerena. Demosthenes is interesting stepped down in trip having run on well the last time he tried it and subsequently having twice set the pace over 1700m and 1600m respectively. Woza Mododa is drawn well over a suitable trip off an attractive merit rating.

Race 8 is a MR 88 Handicap over 1000m. Al Azraq is a well regarded sort and is well drawn over a suitable trip. He deserves a change in luck. African Ruler will make a bold bid to continue his winning ways having beaten a good sort last time out. He is off a five point higher mark but Lerena stays aboard. Angel’s Power is right up with African Ruler on 1300m form and is unbeaten in two starts over this trip so is interesting from a good draw.

Race 9 is a MR 68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m and Shiver ‘N Shake is knocking on the door and could get it right from a good draw over this suitable trip with Lerena up. Silvan Jazz could be dangerous from a good draw over a suitable trip off a significantly lowered merit rating. Qarman returns to the trip of her debut win when ridden by Andrew Fortune and he is reunited with her.

By David Thiselton