The Vaal inside track stages an eight race meeting today and it should be noted that by trends the low draws are favoured due to the inside strip of going tending to be superior.

In the first, a workrider’s maiden over 1200m, First Officer is drawn perfectly according to trends and is interesting dropped back to the trip of his excellent debut effort. The form of that race has worked out well and he has subsequently shown pace over 1400m. Criss Cross Man has finished strongly in both of his first two starts and might get into the race earlier now that he is learning what it is all about. He is also drawn on the right side. Mississippi Rising returns from a six month layoff but has shown ability and could earn here for an increasingly prominent yard.

African Ruler (Nkosi Hlophe)

There are many first-timers in race 2, a 1200m maiden for fillies and mares. Of those to have run Our Miracle ran a cracker on debut over 1000m when backed and should improve but the high draw might make it tough. Bally Swiss was also backed on debut and ran a good second but also has a tough draw, although she did show early pace which could help her overcome it. Modjaji ran her best race over course and distance and the pole position draw might help her cause. Russian Friend could be a contender in her third run after a layoff. Angie The Rebel has caught the eye on sand before and is better than her last run on turf when found to not be striding out. South Atlantic is by Horse Chestnut out of a Listed winning sprinter. Girl On The Run by Silvano is a half-sister to Sabadell and Gavin Lerena is up although she is drawn in the wrong side. Saddler’s Lass is by Fort Wood out of a three-time winner from 1160m to 1800m. Dynamite Lady is by Miesque’s Approval and is a half-sister to the fair sort Napoleon Dynamite. Tip Of The Glacier is by Western Winter and is a half-sister to Mystical Jet who won her first three starts.

In the third over 1700m Road To Indy only just failed over 1600m last time against a fair type and looks the one to be with despite a high draw. Captain Marooned represents a high flying stable and on pedigree should relish this trip after two fair runs in sprints. Champions Cup was too far out of his ground last time out over 1600m and could do better. Revelation flyjumped over 1400m last time and could have done better but is but is not sure to enjoy this step up in trip, although on the other hand he is drawn on the right side with Strydom up. Beaufort Tree will stay the trip easily, in fact it is probably too sharp, and he is drawn on the right side.

The fourth over 1700m looks a good opportunity for Estimation, who will love the trip and faces a weak field. Angel Of Mercy has a chance with Strydom up if bouncing back to her best. Peg O’ My Heart is better than her last start and could earn.

Max The Man (Nkosi Hlophe)

The fifth over 1200m could be won by Buckland who thrashed the promising New Predator in his penultimate start in a maiden and now drops back to that trip. Burg has dropped down to a competitive merit rating and is drawn on the right side over a suitable trip. Forest Fox is frustrating as he has tons of ability but doesn’t always put it in, so he is interesting with the blinkers back on.

In the sixth over 1000m Viking a Hero ran a cracker last time over 1160m and the form has been franked. Captured Wind could drop in behind them from a wide draw and make a bold bid considering he was given only two points for his good last win.  African Ruler will appreciate the step back to this trip. Wisnaam looks promising but hasn’t run since his win on debut in April when making a breathing noise. Cohiba is drawn on the right side and should be charging home late.

In the seventh over 1400m Celtic King has been knocking on the door and is drawn on the right side with Strydom now up. Rough Justice looks likely to enjoy the return to a straight course and is drawn on the right side over a trip he should enjoy. Wottahottie loves the course and distance and Gavin Lerena is up from a fair draw.

In the eighth over 1400m Nkomo has a better draw than last time and should be running on. Eliza Doolittle returns to the course and distance of her facile maiden win and has not only come down to an attractive merit rating but is drawn on the right side. Lemonade River flew up over course and distance last time and could do the same if dropped out from a high draw.

By David Thiselton

Draws will be made for all Cape Town non-features after acceptances – instead of at the entry stage as at present – with effect from the December 12 meeting.

This is part of a three-pronged strategy aimed at increasing the average field size from the present ten to 12, the minimum considered necessary to maximise betting returns.

However the later draw method, although favoured by at least one of the top trainers, proved unpopular with many when tried previously and led to increased non-runners from those drawn wide.

However the 12-day suspension for horses scratched will in future run from the date of the race, not the scratching.

Thirdly the runners per box clause will be more closely monitored to ensure trainers produce a minimum of 90% of target.

Brett Crawford, a member of the programmes committee as well as the Cape trainers’ committee, explained: “The criteria is six runs per season per box. You have to achieve 90% of this and they will look at this quarterly rather than annually in future. We don’t yet know what the penalty will be for not achieving it.”

Crawford added: “These changes are going to have to work but whether they will I don’t know. Everybody blamed Durbanville for small fields but many of them are small at Kenilworth too.”

Both Kenilworth Racing and Phumelela warned in September that fixtures will be reduced, and/or stakes dropped in races of less than eight runners, if the 12-runner average is not achieved.

However some Cape Town trainers are concerned that the proposals they made have not been accepted, in particular for more gallops to enable them to get horses ready. At the moment gallops at Kenilworth are only allowed for horses entered for Graded races and the weekly Durbanville gallops in practice alternate between horses trained at Milnerton and Phillipi.

Eric Sands, also a member of the programmes committee, said: “Small trainers are hardly ever in a position to gallop at Kenilworth. We suggested that they should be allocated a percentage.

“We also proposed that arrangements should be made allowing us all to gallop every week at Durbanville but this also fell on deaf ears.”

By Michael Clower

Silver Mountain has been installed hot favourite at 1-2 with the sponsors for the World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday.

That might sound a prohibitive price but this race is no stranger to restrictive odds favourites. Mamju started at 30-100 when she won 12 months ago and in 2011 Princess Victoria won at 1-5.

The Mike Bass-trained Choice Carriers winner was reported on song by her stable at the weekend following a work-out over 1 400m on the course last Wednesday when she was partnered by big race rider Aldo Domeyer and went with Inara (Donavan Mansour) and Taffety Tart, third in the Choice Carriers but 20-1 for Saturday’s race. She was ridden by Corne Orffer as Grant van Niekerk was delayed.

“Silver Mountain worked well and she is very well in herself,” said Candice Robinson. “But she again has a difficult draw (11) to overcome and it could be more difficult to get across this time. Also there are a couple of fillies  who are better than those she met in the Choice Carriers. Aldo is going to have to shine.”

One of those Mrs Robinson has in mind is presumably 6-1 second favourite Bela-Bela for whom Justin Snaith has booked six times champion Piere Strydom. She also galloped at Kenilworth last Wednesday. “She is a very uncomplicated filly and she went well,” said Chris Snaith.

Anton Marcus will ride the stable’s other runner, 12-1 shot A Time To Dream who has won three of her four starts.

As expected Mike de Kock, who has won two of the last three runnings, has switched Choice Carriers runner-up Entisaar to the 1 000m Southern Cross Stakes on the same card. He relies on 7-1 shot Noor (Anthony Delpech) who has won both her starts, albeit in lesser company.

Entisaar will face the Sean Tarry-trained dual Grade 1 winner Carry On Alice (S’Manga Khumalo) and last year’s Mercury Sprint winner Fly By Night (Domeyer) who also won this 12 months ago.

World Sports Betting prices: 1-2 Silver Mountain, 6-1 Bela-Bela, 7-1 Noor, 12-1 A Time To Dream, 14-1 Well In Flight, 16-1 Flying Ice, 20-1 Taffety Tart, Icy Fire, 25-1 Anglet, 33-1 Our Destiny, Valediction, 50-1 Ocean’s Swell, Miss Marker.

By Michael Clower
Picture (Liesl King): Silver Mountain

Mambo Mime’s Cape Guineas prospects took a serious knock when he was beaten into fourth behind Big Cat in the Wynberg Cricket Club Handicap at Kenilworth on Saturday.

There were legitimate excuses for the 2-1 favourite – he appeared to be striding short going to the start and Grant Behr reported afterwards: “There was something not right behind and he felt uncomfortable” – but time is not on the colt’s side with the Grand Parade-sponsored classic only 19 days away.

The Vasco Premier Trophy is on Saturday week but Dennis Drier is having doubts about asking Big Cat to run even though the six-year-old answered Sean Veale’s every call to shade Henry Of York.

Drier said: “This was a very courageous win in a tough field. The horse is as honest as the day is long and always gives of his best but, while I have nominated him, I don’t think the Premier is the right race. I will discuss it with the chaps but I think it’s too strong for him.”

The chaps include James Drew and Mike Fullard who also won the Haak Fourie & Snyman Handicap with another ex-Stan Elley horse, My World. Elley recalled the gelding’s R110 000 purchase as if it was yesterday.

He said: “I bought him at the Natal sale when nobody knew much about the sire Ideal World but I thought I had to have the yearling as he is out of Sadler’s Wells mare. When they brought him out of the box I was most disappointed because he was a real ugly duckling.

“The only reason I didn’t tell the groom to put him straight back was because I didn’t want to offend the breeder (Maine Chance). Then I saw him walk and I had to have him once more.”

This was the middle leg of a treble for Mike Bass and Grant van Niekerk but the latter made it clear that he will be glad to see the return of the summer course on Saturday. He said: “The winter track is very unfair at the moment. With the going on top the horses in front are not stopping and those behind are not making up the leeway.”

Punters were left flabbergasted when Gull Rock came home at 50-1 under Corne Orffer in the Iron Lady Maiden but Brett Crawford deflected any credit to Malan du Toit, saying: “He has put a lot of time and work into this horse. The last time Gull Rock came out of the pens he left the jockey (S’Manga Khumalo) behind.”

But some inspired punters more than made up for this when stable companion Speedy Chestnut was backed from 16-1 to 15-4 to land the Lady Natasia Handicap.

Not many horses win three times inside a month but Dixie Express completed this particular treble in the Rockets Classic Handicap to delight Brandon May and surprise the stable – “She has astounded us,” declared Chris Snaith.

By Michael Clower
Picture (Liesl King): My World (right) fends off A Time To Kill

Geoff Woodruff dominated the SANSUI Summer Cup for the third year in succession as he not only saddled the winner but repeated his one-two of last year after having sent out the first three the year before.

The six-year-old Jet Master gelding Master Sabina, second two years ago and having his second run after a year’s layoff, won the day after surviving an objection from stablemate Deo Juvente, beaten 0,2 lengths. The Sean Tarry-trained favourite French Navy ran a magnificent race, running on from near the back to finish a 0,6 length third, and was a touch unlucky as he had to be switched inward at a crucial stage. Deo Juvente could also be counted unlucky as he was caught wide throughout from a high draw.

Master Sabina was backed into 13-2 second favourite, while French Navy drifted out to 6-1. Deo Juvente, who won the Gr 2 Victory Moon Stakes to book his place in the race, also drifted and started 15-1. Judicial, third last year, was once again presented in fine condition by Tyrone Zackey and came from a long way back for fourth despite odds of 100-1. The Weiho Marwing-trained Mac De Lago was fifth ahead of the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Vodacom Durban July winner Power King.

Master Sabina is owned and was bred by Michael de Broglio and after a largely luckless career this was only his second stakes victory. He won the Gr 3 tabGold 2200 on July day last year.

Master Sabina came from about seven lengths off the pace which was expectedly set by Diesel Jet.

Earlier, there was bitter disappointment for swimming icon Chad le Clos when the horse he part-owns, Unbelievable Chad, was scratched from the Investec Dingaans after bolting to the start. Later the Mike de Kock-trained Tiger Ridge gelding Noah From Goa, who started favourite and was handy throughout under Anthony Delpech, just got up to deny the Johan Janse Van Vuuren-trained New Predator after a thrilling ding-dong tussle down the straight. The long-striding Mike Azzie-trained Abashiri showed smart turn of foot from last place and held on for third from Lineker. Abashiri looks to have a particularly bright future. Jubilee Line was 6,5 lengths behind the winner in fifth place.

Later, the Alec Laird-trained-trained Ideal World filly made light of a Gr 1 penalty to win the Gr 2 Bradlows/Morkels Ipi Tombe Challenge over 1600m, wearing down Bichette to win by 0,75 lengths under regular pilot Weichong Marwing. The Paul Peter-trained London finished third ahead of a disappointing Trophy Wife with Pennington Sands next best.

Earlier, the Gr 3 Joshua Doore/Russels Fillies Mile didn’t have a strong pace and Weichong Marwing dictated on the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Fort Wood filly Negroamaro, who was backed into favourite. She stole a length or two early in the straight and never looked like being caught, winning by 4,25 lengths. Sean Tarry’s 16-1 shot Heaps Of Fun ran on for second, just pipping the Stanley Ferreira-trained Juxtapose. Persian Rug ran a better race to clinch fourth ahead of Ntoma.

Joey Ramsden won the Gr 2 Merchants, now sponsored by AmTote, for the third time, on this occasion with the huge four-year-old Western Winter gelding Brutal Force, who looked well weighted on his excellent previous run. He has come into his own since being gelded and Anton Marcus hit the front 200m out and kept early leader, the Alec Laird-trained Dollar Dazzler, at bay to win by 0,4 lengths. Yvette Bremner completed a fine raid from Port Elizabeth with just three runners when eight-year-old long shot Copper Parade flew up for third and Al Don Cumarco got a cheque for fifth.

The Gr 3 Magnolia Handicap was won by the classy four-year-old Stanley Ferreira-trained Kahal filly Kwinta under Marco van Rensburg. She  just touched off the luckless Janse van Vuuren-trained Silver Class, who has been knocking on the door since being dropped to sprints. The Bremner-trained Eros’s Girl was always rated by the Justin Snaith yard and she showed, despite having won up to 2000m, that she still has plenty of speed by just getting up for third at huge odds of 75-1. Lumya and Easy Street were next best.

The Gr 3 Gauteng Racing Association Handicap over 3200m was won by the Tarry-trained Australian-bred Supertube under S’Manga Khumalo. He caught the Weiho Marwing-trained Cool Chardonnay in the run in and drew away bravely in a hard fought finish. The Dominic Zaki-trained topweight Storm Warning stayed on for third.
– David Thiselton
– Picture (The Citizen): Master Sabina (centre) holds off stable companion Deo Juvente and French Navy (farside) to win the 2015 Sansui Summer Cup