In shock news the popular Highveld conditioner Dominic Zaki has decided not to renew his trainer’s license.

Vaal-based Zaki had a good season in 2014/2015, finishing 16^th on the national log, and was in 22^nd place on the current log.

He said, “It is a very tough industry, a very expensive industry and it is hard to make money. I had 95 odd horses, a great string and great owners, but even then the business was just not financially viable and I lost my passion for it. I would like to thank my clients who stuck with me throughout. I am going to miss the game, but was forced into the decision. We will see what happens in time to come.”

Zaki will now put his energy into his family’s business.

He named the sprint-miler National Spirit as his “best memory” in racing. This National Emblem gelding, bred by KZN Midlands couple, Dr Alan and Robyn Bechard, won the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe (now a Gr 1) as a two-year-old, then won the Gr 2 Dingaans, the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas, the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes, the Gr 1 Gold Challenge and the Gr 2 Emerald Cup on sand. He was a much loved by the public due to his courage, as a front runner who refused to be overtaken, and he was named KZN Breeders Horse Of The Year in 2006.

In 2008 Zaki won the Gr 1 R3,5 million GommaGomma Challenge over 2000m, which was at that stage the richest race ever run in South Africa, with the three-year-old Model Man gelding Eddington.

His best position on the national log has been 6^th, achieved in both the 2004/2005 and 2006/2007 seasons from his own private training centre, and in the latter of those seasons he had his highest seasonal earnings of R7,213,175. He began pressing this yard record last season shortly after relocating to the Vaal and had earnings of R6,259,275, which is one of the reasons the news of his departure from the game came as such a shock as he seemed set to break into the top echelon again.

Zaki is known as a cheerful and approachable individual, so it is not only his expertise in training horses which will be much missed.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Dominic Zaki

Not many thoroughbred mares have their best seasons as seven-year-olds, but such is the case with the Paddy Lunn yard’s “ATM”, Quintella.

The mare has loved running on the poly, which is not surprising considering she is by Miesque’s Approval, and was the overall series winner of the recent KZN Summer Chapter Challenge series, accumulating 36 points. This season Quintella has run eight times for one win, three seconds, two thirds and two fourths. Her merit rating has consequently risen from 54 to 61 and having been on the edge of retirement she is now very much still in training.

Quintella (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Lunns have actually put her recent consistency not down to the poly, but down to a love of the tight Greyville track, which perfectly suits her hold up style and short run in. She has a fine turn of foot and her recent win over 1000m on the Greyville poly was only her second career victory, and was a long time in coming, having won her maiden over 1200m on the Greyville turf way back in April 2012.

The Lunns know all about preparing horses suited to Greyville Sprints as Paddy was the conditioner of one of the most loved Greyville specialists of modern times, The Barbican. This chestnut speedster by Volcanic out of Kiki Bar was virtually unbeatable over the Greyville 1000m, winning the Gr 2 Concord Stakes over that course and distance three years in succession between 1986 and 1988.

He was named ARCSA Champion Sprinter in 1987, a year after the yard scooped the ARCSA Horse Of The Year award with Model Man. The latter won four Gr 1s including the J&B Met in a glittering career, yet his possibly most talked about performance was in an A Division Handicap over the Greyville 1100m, a distance palpably too short. He gave weight to some of the best sprinters around that day and produced one of the most devastating finishing runs the course has ever witnessed from a seemingly hopeless position to get up in the last stride.

Quintella, despite her love of Greyville, will still be interesting over 1000m at Scottsville on December 23 as she has landed a plum low draw. One of the countries best up and coming riders Keagan de Melo has moulded a successful relationship with the mare and knows exactly how to bring the best out of her. Punters should not be concerned if they see her sitting well off the pace early as she is sure to be finishing strongly and De Melo has learnt exactly the best moment to deliver her telling challenge.

By David Thiselton

The Cape Guineas is one of the few big races to have eluded Mike Bass during his near 40-year training career and he has an open mind about whether hot favourite Silver Mountain can put the record straight in the Grand Parade-sponsored classic on Saturday.

He said: “I don’t really know how good she is, and I’m not sure that the press aren’t getting a little bit ahead of themselves.  I can only see what happens on the racecourse which is where it counts.

“At home she just goes along nicely like any other horse and in any case you can’t really tell how good they are at home unless you put them with something really talented and try them.”

Silver Mountain gave the 70-year-old training legend his fourth Cape Fillies Guineas win 11 days ago but he wasn’t really expecting her to win by five lengths. “I was hoping for something like that but I wasn’t sure. She was drawn badly, I thought she might get a bit far back and only get out late.

“I remember Sun Classique running from a 13 draw in 2006, coming from last and only just winning – and she was pretty good. But things went well for Silver Mountain and she won quite comfortably.”

So, how does he expect her to fare on Saturday?  “Whether she is up to beating the colts is debatable. It’s a bit of an ask,” he replied.” I think we can manage the averagely good ones but there are some who haven’t really been exposed and there are also some pretty smart proven colts, big strong horses.

“There are the obvious ones like Mike Azzie’s colt Rabada (who was scratched yesterday) and Johan Janse van Vuuren’s Brazuca while that horse of Gavin van Zyl’s (Budapest) ran a pretty smart race in the Ready To Run, getting away from them like that – although I don’t know if he will be able to do that again. Hopefully it will be a different story on Saturday.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Mike Bass

Greyville has an interesting eight race meeting on Wednesday’s public holiday, although plenty of homework will be required by punters in order to return a profit.

The first three races are on poly and the last five on turf, weather permitting.

Run Rhino Run (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the first race over 1600m, Open Your Heart went close over 1400m last time when taken to the front by Anton Marcus and the latter now keeps the ride over a trip the filly should appreciate on pedigree. Liquorice Moon ran a fair race when racing wide from a high draw over 1400m last time and, if finding cover this time, could earn. Belarus, L’Attitude and Mad Pushpa make most appeal of the rest.

In the second over 1600m, Live On The Moon caught the eye running on over this course and distance last time and will have come on from the run. It was his first outing for over a year but many of the Nel yard’s horses were off the course in such a manner, not for soundness reasons or for a lack of fitness, but rather because Sabine Plattner was without a licensed trainer for that period. Jullidar steps back to the distance of one of his best runs and should be thereabouts. Stokvel has run two good races over 1400m when not having much luck and is interesting over this trip.

In the third over 1000m Ostentation looks the one to beat from a good draw having run two fine races from tougher draws over course and distance recently and having excuses in both. Roy’s Gul Gul Ha ran a fine race first time out the maidens and should be a threat. Rasta’s Jet could place at likely nice odds.

In the fourth over 1400m on the turf, Redcarpet Captain is drawn in pole over a suitable trip and faces a generally uninspiring field. Cutting Edge has some class and will also enjoy this trip. Fully Charged has a wide draw to overcome but will love the return to the turf and should be running on strongly.

Redcarpet Captain (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the fifth over 2400m on the turf, Worship Dancer has always been an eyecatching sort and looks likely on racing style and pedigree to relish this trip, so he could be the one to side with despite a three point raise for his last win. Kentucky Guest has come down to an attractive merit rating and was staying on over 2000m last time. Pioneer Spirit as always struck as a horse who would enjoy  this trip and being by Go Deputy should be coming into his own. Great Rumpus is in fine form and has proven staying power. Supercede and Seeking The Dream can’t be ignored.

In the sixth, a Graduation Plate over 1600m on turf, Marcus has abandoned Willoughton in favour of the promising Run Rhino Run, who has landed a good draw over a suitable trip and is best in at the weights. He can overcome a five month layoff as he has plenty of class.

In the seventh over 1600m on the turf, Delpech remains faithful to Killer Woman, who is well drawn and looks likely to relish this course and distance. Roy’s Academy won her maiden easily and has not been unduly punished by the handicapper so should be thereabouts over a step up in trip that should suit. Thaler Point is interesting back over the trip of her best run this year. Beautiful Jet should be running on well in her second start after a long break. Syringa could be a big threat if settling in the running.

In the last over 1600m on the turf, Off Ramp should appreciate the course and distance as she flashed up late over 1400m last time, having been a touch disappointing before that in two poly runs, so she probably prefers this surface. Money Penny has some good form and being by Silvano should enjoy the step up in trip, although her Fort Wood dam was speedy. Lobelia has drawn in pole which will suit her handy style but on pedigree she is not certain to enjoy this step up in trip.

By David Thiselton

Rabada has been withdrawn from Saturday’s Grand Parade Cape Guineas. Trainer Michael Azzie said yesterday: “Rabada did very well after his second in the CTS Ready To Run Cup and he was going along nicely but I wasn’t happy with his final gallop last Thursday.

“We would be taking on Silver Mountain who I think is something special and I don’t want to go down to Cape Town if I am not happy with the horse.”

Rabada was the highest-rated horse in the race – jointly with Silver Mountain who receives 2.5kg –  and the Ready To Run Cup at Turffontein at the end of October was his first outing since landing the Premiers Champions Stakes at Greyville three months earlier.

Azzie said: “He was in need of the run when he ran second (to Champagne Haze) that day. Things hadn’t gone his way in the build-up. They pulled up some of the tracks and he missed crucial work when I needed to give him a bit of stamina work and the track was not available. As a result he went into the race underdone.”

The scratching of Rabada has seen World Sports Betting adjust Silver Mountain into 11-10 for Saturday’s Cape Guineas, followed by Noah From Goa (3-1), Brazuca (6-1), Budapest (10-1), Hard Day’s Night (12-1), Victorious Jay (12-1), Eighth Wonder (14-1) and Nassa (16-1), with 20-1 on offer bar these.

By Michael Clower

Final field and draws for the Grand Parade Cape Guineas (Grade 1) over 1 600m at Kenilworth on Saturday: