Turffontein has an eight race card on the Inside track today and most the races are competitive so the dividends should be handsome for those who have done their homework.

Andrew Fortune (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the first race, a fillies and mares maiden over 1450m, Hatfield Square is by the good sire Mambo In Seattle so probably has plenty of scope for improvement and she can build on her decent first two runs, including last time over 1700m when the jockey dropped the crop. Lindelize’s best run was when handy over this course and distance so a draw of two will benefit her and she can do better than last time, in September, as the Tarry yard were not yet firing.

Andrew Fortune has stayed aboard Samarra, who stayed on well over 1600m on this course from a tough draw last time and she now has a good draw. Global Ethos can’t be ignored having run well over course and distance last time and Piere Strydom now rides. Tangerine Lady showed improvement last time when stepped up to this course and distance but does have a wide draw to overcome. Jewel Of Gibraltar is an Australian-bred by Rock Of Gibraltar and the Woodruff yard have been in form. First-timer Giveusakiss is a full-sister to King Of Pain, while Flying Silver is by Silvano out of a Jet Master mare.

In the second race, a MR 97 Handicap over 1600m, Master ‘N Commander represents the in-form Woodruff yard from a plum draw over a suitable trip and champion jockey Gavin Lerena stays aboard. Fah Fee is drawn well over a suitable trip and is off a competitive merit rating. Shadow Of His Smile has proved classy over this trip before and with the Woodruff yard in form he could be a runner with Andrew Fortune up, although he is still five points higher than his last handicap win, a five length victory over this course and distance in a MR 92 in January.

The Hangman (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the third race, a Maiden over 1600m, Champions Cup is drawn well in his third career run and with natural improvement will be the one to beat. El Bombero showed improvement last time in a workrider’s event when stepped up to this trip and is now well drawn in his third run after a rest and gelding. Seattle Prince should enjoy the step up in trip here and is a runner from a good draw as he should be improving. Gaggle can earn if repeating his decent debut over course and distance and he wasn’t disgraced in a strong field last time either. Arabian Bay is usually thereabouts and could place although this is his 31^st career start.

The fourth, a Maiden over 1000m for fillies and mares, is tough to assess because the obvious selection Honeybush Tea has quite a tricky draw to overcome. First-timer Qarman is by Var out of a once-winning Silvano mare and Fortune is up from a plum draw. Matron Prilli made a fair debut on the sand, before disappointing second time out, and has a chance from a fair draw if bouncing back. Perfect Dream has run two fair races to date and now has Strydom up from pole position. Pipkin has a wide draw but ran on late on debut after losing a length at the start so can’t be ignored. Jay River has run some fair races and returns from a rest. Black Opium is by Toreador, who is having a fine season, out of twice winner from 1000-1400m by Silvano. Gimmeabreak is by Overlord out of a Sapieha mare.

In the fifth, a Maiden Plate over 1200m, Tripp Force has been rested since May having always made breathing noises but he was often backed and if that issue has been sorted out he could be a big runner from a good draw. Occulus has been knocking on the door and should be improving. Laughistheanswer has a wide draw but more conservative tactics than last time when run out of it could see him involved.

Klondike River (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the sixth, a MR 67 Handicap over 1200m, One Yesterday is off an attractive merit rating and has a good draw for a change so could be a big runner with Strydom up. Al Dee Kay is potentially well weighted and will be a threat despite a tricky draw. Cash In Camilla is an interesting runner stepped back to the 1200m of her 14 length victory over this trip on the Vaal sand in her penultimate start especially as she is has a fair draw with Lerena up.

In the seventh, a MR 69 handicap over 2000m, the Dynasty colt Trees Of Green impressed in his second career start and looks to be going places so should run up a sequence from his starting handicap mark of 70. Commodore Al goes well for Andrew Fortune so should bounce back from his last disappointing run. Rushing Lark has come down to a competitive merit rating and Gavin Lerena is up. Colonel Rockjaw wasn’t disgraced over this trip at The Vaal last time out and is off a competitive merit rating. Peregrine has been a frustrating sort but has the ability to earn over this trip off this merit rating.  King’s Drive and Double Bind make most appeal of the rest.

In the last over 1600m Street Flyer with Gavin Lerena up improved last time without blinkers when staying on over 1400m so will be a big runner over a suitable trip from a fair draw with the blinkers off again. Oreo Shake could have done better last time if switched outward at the top of the straight instead of inward through traffic and Piere Strydom now has the ride from a plum draw. Pacific G has been knocking on the door and is off a competitive merit rating and he should be running on from a wide draw. Steel Wing has been competitive off this merit rating and is distance suited but does have a tricky draw to overcome. Klondike River has been thereabouts off his current mark and Fortune keeps the ride after a good run on the Greyville poly.

By David Thiselton

Sean Tarry has given Saturday’s Sansui Summer Cup favourite French Navy a vote of confidence despite the horse’s 60kg burden.

The champion trainer said at the weekend: “French Navy is doing well. Yes, he’s got a lot of weight  but he has won two Grade 1s and I think he deserves it.”

The highest weight carried to victory in the great Turffontein race in the last ten years was Louis The King’s 59kg 12 months ago and he was the first favourite to score since Rudra in 2008. Tarry won with Aslan in 2009.

French Navy heads the market at 7-2 and Betting World go 11-2 Power King, 7-1 St Tropez, 9-1 Deo Juvente, 10-1 Master Sabina, Ultimate Dollar, 12-1 ML Jet, 14-1 Mac De Lago, Easy Lover, 16-1 Diesel Jet, 25-1 and upwards others.
– Michael Clower

Next year’s Lanzerac Green Point will be run on the new course if the trainers get their way. Justin Snaith has even volunteered to provide staff to help move the rails!

He said: “This is now a very big meeting and, as such, it should be run on our premier track.”

The longer straight is the most significant difference between the so-called new course and the winter one and over it Futura would almost certainly have collared Captain America instead of being beaten a rapidly-dwindling half length.

But Corne Orffer made it a never-to-be-forgotten 35^th birthday by stealing the race. He swept Captain America straight to the front and, as he turned into the straight, he kicked into what proved an unassailable lead.

Brett Crawford said: “This horse likes to use his action so we decided to go on if nobody else did. It’s the Queen’s Plate next.”

It will be for Futura too with Snaith saying: “There is nothing else for him in the meantime but I am over the moon at the way he ran here.”

Paterfamilas, at 50-1 the rank outsider of the field, was only another half length back third but there were some complaints from the riders in the stands that the leader was given too much rope. Joey Ramsden called for the stipes to adopt the Australian approach of questioning jockeys about their tactics.

His Act Of War was deliberately ridden with patience (Derek Brugman: “From that bad draw we didn’t want to let him go and teach him bad habits”). He made up six lengths in the straight and he remains very much in the spotlight for the L’Ormarins January 9 showpiece.

Vaughan Marshall will run both Kenilworth Cup winner Gothic and fourth-placed Desert Swirl in the J & B Jet Stayers but Greg Cheyne would fancy his chances of beating them on the front-running Parachute Man if that race was run on Kenilworth Cup terms.

He said: “Aldo Domeyer only got it because Gothic’s nose was down as we crossed the line. My horse would not lie down and even in another furlong and a half Gothic would never have passed me.”

Marshall’s Exelero was reported striding short when a heavily backed joint favourite for the Cape Merchants but the Milnerton trainer said: “He hit his head on the pens but I had him checked out by my own vet and he was OK. He did have a slight discharge afterwards and he is not yet back in full work.”

The Lanzerac City Of Oaks Handicap was a landmark for Money Surger. It was her 75^th race – more than twice as many as the rest of the field combined – and the eight-year-old got up on the line to thrill Piet Steyn.

– Michael Clower
– Picture (Liesl King): Gothic (farside) edges out Parachute Man in the Kenilworth Cup

The Cape Guineas looks the most open for years after the Selangor threw up more hard luck stories than a soup kitchen.

This mile test is traditionally the key to the Grand Parade-sponsored classic – it has produced five winners and four seconds in the last ten years – but last Saturday the first seven were covered by little more than a length.

Hard Day’s Night, a 6-1 chance here, would be entitled to start favourite. Markus Jooste’s Monarch-bred son of Warm White Night won on merit, doing it the hard way out in front after overcoming a bad draw, to give Joey Ramsden his third Selangor in four years.

Anton Marcus said: “He had every opportunity to spit the dummy – and the second horse went past him – but instead he dug down deep. He’s got heart and he is not short of ability either.”

Ramsden, who will also train Friday’s R1.5 million Ready To Run sale-topper for Jooste, was just as impressed and added: “I eased him up before his last run and he wasn’t ready for it but today I fancied him to kill.”

Victorious Jay went under by less than a neck to boost his classic credentials (Vaughan Marshall: “He ran very well. I think we’ll go for the Guineas”) while the less experienced Nassa and Illuminator both finished like trains.

Andrew Fortune, confirming that the latter would have been even closer had he had more experience, said: “I would love to ride him in the Guineas and I have already asked for the mount.”

Eighth Wonder faded to finish where his name suggested. However Greg Ennion said: “He got the trip but he was taken out by the winner and the jock said he was never travelling after that.”

Anthony Delpech’s initial reaction was to blame the winter course for the eclipse of Muwaary (tenth) but the 12-10 favourite was found to be coughing, in respiratory distress and suffering from a nasal discharge.

Budapest (Liesl King)

Budapest looks like joining the party on December 19 after making every metre under Delpech in the Lanzerac Ready To Run. The 33-1 shock really stretched in the final furlong to score by more than four lengths.

Gavin van Zyl insisted that no decision will be made until after discussions with son Gareth, who apparently does most of the work, and owner Brian Burnard.  But the Ballito businessman, who collected a whopping R1.25 million for his R160 000 outlay, is already booking his pre-Christmas flights.

Malan du Toit is also on standby. The famed horse whisperer went to Durban to try to get the gelding over his pens’ anxieties and was again on hand on Saturday when the horse was so troublesome that his stalls cert was cancelled.

Seventh Plain, who made light of his 16 draw, weakened into fourth in the closing stages in a manner that cast doubts about his stamina.

Marcus said: “He overcame the draw economically, he had every chance and I have no excuses. It was just a disappointing run.”

Anglet bounced back into the Fillies Guineas picture by running on into second after turning for home plum last. “They take her off the bridle in a fast run race. She wants at least a mile,” summed up Paddy Kruyer.
– Michael Clower
– Pictures (Liesl King): Hard Day’s Night (Anton Marcus up) and Budapest (Anthony Delpech)

The Brett Crawford-trained five-year-old Captain Al gelding Captain America took the bull by the horns in yesterday’s Gr 2 R400,000 Lanzerac Alta Mater Green Point Stakes, a weight for age event over 1600m, and managed to stay in front all the way under a superbly judged ride by Corne Orffer.
The Equus Horse Of The Year from the Justin Snaith yard, Futura jumped from a plum draw and was well poised on the rail when they turned for home, but the opposite was the case for the favourite Act Of War, who was left with too much to do after being dropped out from a wide draw.
Futura was a bit flat-footed at the top of the straight but the rank outsider Paterfamilias had quickened superbly and was chasing Captain America who stole a March at the top of the straight.
Futura then got going and closed rapidly but was 0,5 lengths shy at the line while Paterfamilias at odds of 50/1 was a further 0,5 lengths back in third. Act Of War ran on well but it was too little too late and he finished fourth ahead of Night Trip.

Captain America (Liesl King)

Captain America gave notice of his L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate credentials and will be hoping for the same conditions as there was a little bit of cut in the ground. However, Futura will be a hard horse to beat there as he will come on from this run and Act Of War will be a different proposition from a good draw on the more galloping New Course.
The big budget stables are largely located in the Cape and they had the bulk of the runners in the Non-Black Type R2,5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m, but they were annihilated by the KZN raider Budapest from the yard of Gavin van Zyl. Budapest, whose thoroughly deserving owner is the enthusiastic Brian “Buffalo Bill” Burnard, was given a superbly professional ride by Anthony Delpech. The connections had decided to press the favourite, the champion colt Seventh Plain, and were determined to not allow him to get over easily into the lead from his wide draw. The plan worked as the latter had to be used up significantly to get his head in front. Delpech then “squeezed” the Lithuanian colt at the top of the straight and the response was instantaneous. He streaked clear, leaving Seventh Plain gasping for air, and in the end won by 4.25 lengths despite starting odds of 33/1. The Paddy Kruyer-trained Biarritz filly Anglet ran on strongly down the inside rail for second and the second favourite from the Ronnie Sheehan yard, Captain Chaos, was third ahead of the Dennis Drier-trained favourite Seventh Plain, who would have benefitted from the run and should be spot on for the CTS Million Dollar in January. The Justin Snaith-trained Nordic Wind finished fifth.The first three past the post all had nice draws of 5, 2 and 6. Budapest, winning for the second time in his fifth career start, became an instant millionaire, earning a cheque of R1,25 million. He was bred by Witzenberg Stud.
Anton Marcus had earlier ridden a superb race to win the Gr 2 R400,000 Selangor Cup over 1600m on the Joey Ramden-trained Warm White Night colt Hard Day’s Night. He plotted a clever course from a wide draw down the back straight which allowed him to take the lead at the turn without having exerted too much energy.
In the straight the bay bravely kept himself in front despite a blanket of closing horses on his outside. He got to the line 0,2 lengths clear of the flying Vaughan Marshall-trained Victorious Jay with the Crawford-trained Nassa a close up third and the next two Illuminator and Purple Mountain were 0,7 and 1,1 lengths behind the winner in the thrilling finish.
Hard Day’s Night, bred by Monarch Bloodstock, is likely to be a strong contender for the Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby.
The Listed R150,000 Lanzerac le General Kenilworth Cup over 3200m was marked by a slow pace and in the end those coming from behind were proved to have misjudged it as it was soon clear they were going to have no chance of catching the pair who had stolen a march, the six-year-old Silvano gelding Gothic and Parachute Man. In a thrilling finish Aldo Domeyer, who had earlier looped them when deciding the pace was too slow, managed to get Gothic’s nose down on the line. The 33/10 favorite Ovidio was running on but it was too late and had to settle for third. This was only the third career win for the perennial bridesmaid Gothic, who finished runner up to Wylie Hall in the Gr 1 SA Derby as a three-year-old, and his first for over two years.
– David Thiselton
– Picture (Liesl King): Captain America is driven out by Corne Offer to land the 2015 Green Point Stakes