The Paul Lafferty-trained Unbelievable Chad returned to Summerveld no worse for wear after taking hold of the bit at Turffontein before the Investec Dingaans on November 28 and bolting to the start. He was duly scratched much to the disappointment of his KZN fans.

He always travels well and Lafferty said, “When you have a Ferrari you look after it and this horse is a Ferrari. So we checked him thoroughly, including his mouth and there was no damage to his teeth. But we have cut back two of his molars to try and prevent him from grabbing the bit like that again.”

Lafferty will take the Toreador colt to the racecourse for a gallop on a raceday as another preventative measure.

He will then likely run him in a Novice Plate with the aim of preparing him for the Champions Season.

Unbelievable Chad is named after and part-owned by the by Olympic swimming gold medallist Chad le Clos.

Chad’s father Bert, who coined the term “Unn-Believable”, was a former bookmaker, so knows the racing game well, and both he and Chad took the mishap well after travelling up to Johannesburg to watch. They proved their sportsmanship too by making a point of congratulating the connections of the winner, the Mike de Kock-trained and Wilgerbosdrift Stud-bred Tiger Ridge gelding Noah From Goa.

By David Thiselton

Last year’s J&B Met runner up Gold Onyx “will need the run badly” in Saturday’s Gr 2 Premier Trophy over 1800m at Kenilworth warned national champion trainer Sean Tarry.

Tarry said the eight-year-old Black Minnaloushe gelding’s last gallop had “unfortunately” revealed he had needed it significantly and he consequently adjudged he would still be some way below his peak for Saturday’s race.

Gold Onyx is known for his devastating turn of foot but short run-in and is drawn three on Saturday in the race which was used as his Cape Summer Of Champions Season pipe opener last year. He finished a 2,5 length sixth from a wide draw of eight back but had a November run in Durban under his belt back then, whereas Saturday’s run will be his seasonal reappearance.

He went on last year to finish an unlucky third in the Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate followed by a second in the Met so there is plenty of life in him yet, despite it now being six seasons since his only Gr 1 win in the Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville as a two-year-old.

His resurgence last year was thought to have had a bit to do with his association with a jockey who brought the best out of him, Grant Behr, but one of the Tarry yard’s chief stable jockeys, S’Manga Khumalo, will be back aboard on Saturday.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Gold Onyx (Nkosi Hlophe)

Jockey Jarred Samuel has been in the thoughts and prayers of the entire racing industry since being hospitalised after his terrible fall last Friday night and the good news is that he is now out of sedation and off the ventilator.

Jarred “woke up” Tuesday morning and, whilst still being very groggy and sleepy due to all the medication in his system, his levels of communication and  responsiveness are improving by the hour.

He has the use of an oxygen mask, a normal precaution to improve the levels of oxygen in his body, and physiotherapy on his bruised body has begun.

He will be taken for further scans to check that everything is alright.

The initial diagnosis shortly after arriving in hospital was that he had escaped without any head injury or broken bones.

By David Thiselton

The very tight inner city Happy Valley track has been the nemesis of many a visiting international jockey. Unlike the Sha Tin track, which is perfectly suited to a European style of racing, Happy Valley demands that jockeys bounce their mounts out as fast as possible and go hell for leather to the finish. Something that most visiting jockeys find hard to adapt to.

Gavin Lerena though, had no such problems.

Given a ride in the first by Tony Millard, Lerena showed that he is well equipped to race with the best of the locals, steering his mount Medic Swordsman into third, 0.75 lengths behind the winner and demoting fellow countryman and local hero Douglas Whyte to fourth.

Lerena went on as he had started and when he was legged up on Mr Right, number 8 and drawn 8, he certainly had all the Chinese luck on his side. Lerena stormed home and just got Mr Right up on the line, beating ST Yazin and Maxime Guyon into second.

His ride in the fourth and last leg, Superoi was considered his best and the Derek Cruz trained gelding showed just why. Urged to challenge the lead down the home straight by Lerena, he stormed home, winning comfortably by 0.75 lengths, with Lerena celebrating in true HK style.

That was enough to capture the Longines Hong Kong International Championship, with Lerena receiving the magnificent trophy and a cheque worth HK$500,000, roughly R1 million.

Lerena thanked Tony Millard who gave him the ride in the first enabling him to get used to the track. “It’s a very fair track and I had a great time. Thank you Hong Kong”, he said. “It is fantastic to be able to ride with such great jockeys”, he added.

When asked if he would consider following the likes of Dougie Whyte and Karis Teetan and ride in Hong Kong, Lerena said that he would certainly consider it if the opportunity arose.

“It’s a fantastic track, with a great atmosphere and it was my dream to ride here. To win the Challenge was just amazing! Two lucky eights, so I guess eight is now my lucky number too.”

By Liesl King

Justin Snaith, 41 last Thursday, needs just seven more winners to reach 2 000 and Captain Swarovski can take him a step nearer this notable landmark – and at a good price too – in the Itsarush.co.za Graduation Plate at Kenilworth today.

Justin Snaith (Nkosi Hlophe)

He also runs the four-month absent Harry Lime but stable jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe is on the Captain and Snaith says: “They are both very well but I think that Captain Swarovski would be the one on his gallop which was very impressive.”

This is an open race because a number of the eight runners unlikely to run up to their merit ratings. One that almost certainly will is The Tripster who has good recent form but, if the handicappers have got it right, he has one of the worst chances!

Light The Lights is best-rated and has 3kg in hand of the next best (Harry Lime). “He is better over further but his last run, which was over this trip, was good,” says Glen Kotzen. “It’s a very competitive race but I believe he is a big runner. After this he goes for the Jet Master on Saturday week and, if he qualifies, he will go for the J & B Met.”

Captain Nemo started odds-on at Turffontein on his last start for Geoff Woodruff and joined Brett Crawford not long afterwards. He has a chance on ratings. “I am still learning about him but he put up a nice grass gallop,” says his new trainer.

Silicone Valley is 1.5kg worse with Prince Of Thieves for the two lengths Aldo Domeyer’s mount beat him over this distance last month but Silicone Valley was repeatedly baulked that day and should be able to confirm the placings. He was 5-2 favourite with Betting World yesterday but there was money for Captain Nemo who shortened from 4-1 to 33-10. Light The Lights and The Tripster were next at 9-2 while the two Snaith horses were 6-1 chances as was Prince Of Thieves.

Harry Lime (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Dennis Drier-trained Ferrie is odds-on for the opening maiden. He is held in high regard and finished third first time but the same applies to Percival who looks value at 5-2. He would have finished a lot closer on debut had he got away on terms and Andre Nel spoke highly of him beforehand, saying: “He can run and he is very smart.”

Nel and Fillies Guineas hero Domeyer may also win race three with 18-10 favourite Keep On Chooglin who has won both his starts. He went up only 2kg for his last win and, given normal improvement, he should be able to give weight all round. Seymour is second favourite at 5-2 but Panga Panga (9-2) looks just as big a danger.

Tender Trip is 18-10 favourite but 4-1 chance Variance from the Vaughan Marshall stable has the form to win the Summer Of Champions Maiden. Brooklyn Brawler (12-10) could be another for Snaith in race five. However he will have to put his best foot forward if he is to beat Crawford’s 5-2 shot Rock On Geordies who showed promise on debut.

BLOB Michael Clower concluded last Friday’s Fillies Guineas preview by saying: “Our Destiny is probably best of the long shots.” She came second at 100-1.

By Michael Clower