Turffontein Inside stages a nine race card today and punters will be looking to accumulate some betting money for the forthcoming Sansui Summer Cup meeting.

In the first over 1450m Youcanrockme had to be used up to get handy from a wide draw over 1400m on the Standside last time but still ran a fair race and from a good draw this time could go close over a course and distance that could well suit her better. Redaire was awkwardly away on debut and green and was also tight for room in the closing stages. She reportedly made a breathing noise, but with natural improvement for a very much in form yard she should be right there despite a wide draw. Gavin Lerena has kept the ride. Banking April broke slowly from a tough draw on debut over 1000 and stayed on well, so should enjoy this step up in trip. Love Tryst and Snowdonia could earn. Of the first timers Sylvianna by Silvano cost R600,000 and is a half-sister to a Joshua Dancer colt who won over 1200m at Clairwood on debut. New Delhi is by Tiger Ridge out of a Rich Man’s Gold mare and is a half-sister to a Dynasty filly who won second time out over 1000m at Clairwood.

The second is a Graduation Plate over 1450m and Trophy Wife is best in at the weights and distance suited. The champion yard should have her fit enough and she is drawn in pole. Stablemate Imperial Gold should have benefitted from his last run, which followed an eight month layoff and gelding, and could follow her home. The disappointing Anjaal is a capable sort who can never been relied on and this is probably his optimum trip.

The third is a Maiden over 1200m and Justash with Gavin Lerena could be the one to side with in this weak event as he should appreciate the step back in trip and is well drawn. His hard knocking form is on sand but his three turf runs have been in strong company. Mississippi Rising has some fair form and should be thereabouts despite returning from a six month layoff. Calapan is drawn wide but has some pace and others to consider are Cry Of The Toreador and Ashkenazi.

In the fourth over 1600m Road To Indy made late progress in a well contested maiden over 1160m on debut and will relish the step up in trip so gets the vote from a good draw. Connaught Hotel was doing eyecatching late work against a promising sort over 1600m last time and with further improvement should be a contender for an in form yard, although he does have a tricky draw. Diamond Conker has a good draw for a change and should put in a bold bid.

In the fifth, a handicap for fillies and mares over 1450m, Heaps Of Fun was not disgraced when fifth in the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup after having to be eased at the start and from a fair draw over a suitable trip should go close. Nikki won her maiden easily over 1200m against a weak field but should improve over this trip so should be a big runner from a good draw off a lenient merit rating. For The Lads is a distance Gr 1 winner running off a merit rating of 79 and Gavin Lerena has kept the ride after she ran on late last time over 1400m on the Standside course, so she is a most interesting runner. Sweet Habanero and Tell My Star are others to consider.

The sixth is a MR 70 Handicap over 1600m and Tabreek could be the one having been unlucky in his first run as a gelding last time over course and distance. He has been given a four point raise but is well drawn again. Rocketball has a touch of class and turf might be what he has been looking for after a string of good runs on the Greyville poly, although he does have a tough draw to overcome and the handicapper punished him three points for his last run. Facebook has been coming into his own and enjoys this course and distance so he could be involved. Regal Force and Kidmambo make most appeal of the rest.

The seventh is a MR 80 Handicap over 2600m. Silver Matador has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight and he should be finishing as strongly as he did last time over course and distance. Top Shot has improved with blinkers and looks likely to relish this trip so he will likely go close with a light weight and Khumalo up from a good draw.  Supertube will love the course and distance and has Strydom up. Noble Star and Enaad also have to be considered.

In the eighth, a MR 76 Handicap over 1800m, Lava Flow has always had some class and bounced back to his best when blinkers were refitted last time so from pole position he should go close as he was running on in that 1600m race and is now drawn in pole off the same merit rating. Baracah has ability and will likely appreciate the step down in trip so off a lowered merit rating and from a god draw he could represent some value. Super Glue probably needed his last run quite badly and was far from disgraced, while being by Ideal World he should be coming into his own, so he is an interesting runner in his second run after a layoff of nearly a year. American Magic and Respectable Ruler make most appeal of the rest.

In the ninth, a MR 67 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m, Grand Epoque is off a competitive merit rating and could go close over a suitable trip if able to get handy from a wide draw without being used up too much. There is not much between her and Shawl and the latter does have a better draw so is a big runner. Spurwing Summer is drawn in pole and proved last time out over 2200m that she is competitive off this merit rating, while her only win has been over this course and distance.

By David Thiselton

French Navy, current favourite for the R2-million Gauteng SANSUI Summer Cup, will jump from barrier No 8 when the horses jump from the 2000m mark at Turffontein on Saturday November 28. The final field and barrier positions for Johannesburg’s most prestigious race were announced on Wednesday.

The SA Classic and Daily News 2000 winner is one of two runners for champion trainer Sean Tarry, and will carry top weight of 60kg in the Grade 1 race and has Raymond Danielson up. “He is a horse who drops out and races from off the pace so the draw is not that important,” said Tarry.

“However, No 8 is decent position to be in.”

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Vodacom Durban July winner Power King will receive 1.5kg from French Navy and like many progeny of Silvano could well now be at his peak as a five-year-old. He impressed in his recent preparation run over 1 200m at Greyville, flying up for third.

He is also nicely drawn at No 5 and will be ridden by Stuart Randolph who was aboard when Power King won the Durban July.

Irish import Flying The Flag will be one of three horses attempting to give Mike de Kock his 10th Summer Cup. He ran on well from the back in the Charity Mile and will likely relish the soft ground the rains could bring as he has done well in testing going in Ireland before.

“He has improved markedly since running in the Charity Mile and we’re hoping for a big run. But landing up with No 16 draw has not helped his chances,” said assistant trainer Mathew de Kock.

Master Sabina, runner up two years ago, will be having his second run after a year’s break and will be one of three horses attempting to give five-time champion trainer Geoff Woodruff his third successive victory in the race.

Woodruff won last year with Louis The King and in 2013 with Yorker when he trained the first three past the post.

Ultimate Dollar is one of two horses for Justin Snaith and will be fancied by many as the course and distance should perfectly suit his running style and he will be ridden by Piere Strydom. Unfortunately they drew No 19.

Final field for the R2-million Gauteng SANSUI Summer Cup (Grade 1) over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 28 November.

1 – 8 FRENCH NAVY (S G Tarry) R Danielson 60.0 – 113

2 – 5 POWER KING (D Kannemeyer) S Randolph 58.5 – 109

3 – 16 FLYING THE FLAG (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 – 108

4 – 20 JUDICIAL (T Zackey) …………… 56.5 – 105

5 – 7 MASTER SABINA (G V Woodruff) G Lerena 56.5 – 105

6 – 9 HALVE THE DEFICIT (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 56.0 – 104

7 – 4 YER-MAAN (S J Gray) Q Riddle 56.0 – 104

8 – 17 MAC DE LAGO (W H Marwing) W Marwing 55.5 – 104

9 – 6 EASY LOVER (S T Pettigrew) M V’Rensburg 55.0 – 103

10 – 18 DEO JUVENTE (G V Woodruff) S Cormack 54.5 – 102

11 – 2 M L JET (G H Van Zyl) M Yeni 54.5 – 102

12 – 19 ULTIMATE DOLLAR (S J Snaith) P Strydom 54.5 – 102

13 – 10 DISCO AL (J Ramsden) A Fortune 54.5 – 101

14 – 14 DYNAMIC (S J Snaith) K de Melo 54.0 – 100

15 – 13 DIESEL JET (E Verdonese) M Byleveld 53.0 – 99

16 – 15 ST TROPEZ (J Ramsden) A Marcus 53.0 – 99

17 – 1 THE CAPTAIN’S TUNE (G V Woodruff) C Murray 53.0 – 99

18 – 12 AHLAAM (M F De Kock) J P v’d Merwe 52.0 – 96

19 – 11 THE CENTENARY (M F De Kock) C Zackey 52.0 – 96

20 – 3 PLATINUM JET (G H Van Zyl) K Zechner 52.0 – 91

Same Trainer: (1,6) (3,18,19) (5,10,17) (11,20) (12,14) (13,16)

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Sensible Lover has what it takes to upset the shorter-priced Come Fly With Me and Acrostar in the Racing.It’s A Rush Conditions Plate at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Greg Cheyne’s mount has three lengths to find with favourite Come Fly With Me on their running in last month’s Diana Stakes at Durbanville but she is 5.5kg better, has run a good race since and will strip fitter this time.

“Weiho Marwing trained her last season and she then went to the farm,” relates Darryl Hodgson. “She had been in only 22 days when she ran in the Diana and I thought she might well finish last but she ran pretty well. She will go very close here.”

Acrostar is also weighted to beat Come Fly With Me, on their running at Greyville in June, but this is her first outing for 15 weeks. “She will need it, particularly over a mile,” says Justin Snaith. “But I am expecting a good run.”

Acrostar was backed yesterday – from 33-10 to 22-10 with World Sports Betting- while Come Fly With Me eased marginally to 18-10. Sensible Lover was supported from 5-1 to 4-1 but she still looks value at that price.

The R3 million Ante Omnia managed only a disappointing ninth on his Cape Town debut but he could be worth another chance in the opening maiden, particularly at yesteday’s 11-2. He showed promise first time out at Scottsville and now wears blinkers. “He has come on but he is average,” cautions Dennis Drier.

The form horse, Psycho Syd, had the selection over seven lengths behind and has gone close in his last three. He is hot favourite at 18-10. Two others to watch out for are 10-1 shot Viking Voyage (if he runs) and Purple Rock (11-2) who is on a recovery mission.

“Viking Voyage’s work is exceptional but he gave a couple of coughs on Saturday so I’m not sure if I will run him,” reports Andre Nel while Hodgson says: “Purple Rock has a bit of ability but it was greenness last time – when he turned into the headwind in the straight he got lost – and that it is why I am putting him up the straight.”

The All To Come Maiden (race two) is wide open and a good case can be made for Tripinthemist (28-10) and 5-1 shot La Flambee (Adam Marcus: “She is working very well and we rode her the wrong way last time”) but it might be worth taking a chance with the consistent Brilliant Idea who is ridden by Bernard Fayd’Herbe for the first time. She was 7-2 yesterday and that looks reasonable considering her overall form.

Fayd’Herbe can also win races four and five. Brooklyn Brawler showed improved form last time and has a considerable draw advantage over Mega Secret and League Of Legends.

Little went right for Mulher De Branco when odds-on last time. She was ridden to get a position early but couldn’t get in and had to be eased back. She was also difficult to settle. The extra 200m should suit her. She was 2-1 yesterday and she should be able to beat 16-10 favourite Playboy Buddy.

By Michael Clower

South African master trainer Patrick Shaw won his third Singapore Gold Cup after Argentinian-bred stayer Cooptado landed the famous race in a heart-stopping finish on Sunday.

Heading into this year’s renewal of the Longines-sponsored Group 1 race with a smashing four-pronged attack, the 59-year-old Durbanite, who already had two previous Singapore Gold Cups to his name (Mr Line in 2006 and Quechua last year), again cemented his mettle as a conditioner of stayers with a podium finish for two of them – Cooptado on top and Perfect P third – while Quechua and Emperor’s Banquet did not finish far behind in fifth and sixth place respectively.

“He was the true stayer among the four, obviously along with Quechua, who showed he had the distance when he won the race last year,” said Shaw.

“Emperor’s Banquet always does well and he was not far behind. Perfect P was the only doubtful over the trip but he showed he got the 2200m with his third place.

“But when we got Cooptado from Argentina, my agent Ignacio already told us he was one of the best stayers there. He came with a big reputation but we still had to give him time to prove himself.

“When he came for the SIA Cup (Singapore Airlines International Cup), we were trying to figure him out within such short notice. His body weight was an issue as (previous Dubai trainer) Doug (Watson) doesn’t weigh his horses.

“He was not ready in the SIA Cup, but with more time he’s slowly improved and never ran a bad race. I’ve been increasing his distances and the Gold Cup was always going to suit him.

“But, after three months with us, we realised he had some back issues. We had to treat his back with a lot of acupuncture and, luckily, he’s come right.

“I was very happy with his run in the El Dorado when he carried 57 kg while giving Sebrose 7kg. When I put a set of blinkers on him, he really travelled a lot better and I knew he would run well in the Gold Cup.

“He travelled well in the race, and with a good ride from Shafiq, he got there right in the nick of time.”

With the bulk of his horses belonging to either fellow South African owner Fred Crabbia or the Avengers/Tmen Stable, Shaw was delighted he had picked up the biggest prize on the Singapore racing calendar for Russian owners Evgeny Kappushev and Valentin Bukhtoyarov of Red Stable.

“I have to thank Evgeny and Valentin for their support and patience. It’s nice for them to win the Gold Cup even if they’re not here,” said Shaw.

“It’s also wonderful I have won three Gold Cups. Laurie (Laxon) is always having a dig at me, but I’ve won three and he’s still on two. But I’m only joking as he’s a great trainer!

“It’s funny how I was known as a staying trainer all my life, as I won three Derbies in South Africa and also won the July Handicap with Teal, but then came Rocket Man.

“But it’s a fact I’ve always had a lot of luck with stayers and I guess there must be some truth to it.”

– Singapore Turf Club

Dennis Drier revealed that Triptique’s win in the Gr 2 Cape Merchants at Kenilworth on Saturday was a plan come together and the imposing son of Trippi might now be aimed at the Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate.

Drier has perennially become a thorn in the flesh of the big-Cape yards and was not surprised to be in the winner’s enclosure of the Cape Summer Of Champions Season’s second Gr 2 event.

He said, “I have always rated him and said to Braam (Van Huysteen, who part-owns him), ‘I think he can win the Merchants’.” Drier went on to speak of the satisfaction of a plan coming together.

He praised lightweight stable jockey Sean Veale, who joined the yard in about February, and said, “He has taken the bull by the horns, is riding with a lot of confidence and rode to instructions.”

Veale was given the ride ahead of first call stable jockey Sean Cormack simply due to the 52kg Triptique was set to carry and Drier confirmed that at the weights, with Generalissimo having to carry 57,5kg, Triptique had “definitely” been the yard elect. The betting reflected this as Triptique was backed in from 16/1 to 9/1, while Generalissimo drifted from 8/1 to 20/1.

Drier had spoken of his regard for Triptique in the build-up to the Cape Summer Of Champions and had rated him the 26-horse string’s “dark horse”, before adding, “He is very talented and we haven’t seen the best of him yet. I think he could be looking for 1400m to a mile.” Drier thus regards the 1000m of the Cape Flying Championship as too sharp for him. One plan he is eyeing is to take in the Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m at Kenilworth on December 26 and then run him two weeks later in the Queen’s Plate, which is widely regarded as the country’s most prestigious weight for age mile. Plan B is to keep him to sprints.

Triptique will be taking on a lot of the country’s best horses if he runs in the Queen’s Plate, including two Equus Horses Of The Year in Legislate and Futura, but asked on whether he was up to it, Drier replied, “He has done nothing wrong to date.” Indeed, if the race turns into the crawl that it did last year he could be the dark horse considering his natural speed.

However, the feedback on Generalissimo was not bright, as he has pulled up badly from his fourth place finish in the Merchants and the yard are on tenterhooks as they monitor his condition.

Generalissimo was regarded as one of the yard’s leading Cape Flying Championship hopefuls and Drier said they could only “hope and pray” he would recover timeously from his lameness, which looks to be worse than mere “jarring up.” X-rays have been taken and have revealed little.

Meanwhile, Equus Champion Three-Year-Old colt Seventh Plain is doing well ahead of Saturday’s R2,5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes, while the Gr 2 weight for age Green Point Stakes contender Punta Arenas continues to thrive and the top sprinter Guiness is also enjoying himself at Drier’s Phillippi yard.

Seventh Plain, a tall colt by Seventh Rock with a beautiful action, makes his seasonal debut and is merit rated ten points superior than any other horse in the 16-horse field which lines up for the Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m. However, Drier admitted he had it “all to do” from the very outside barrier position. However, the classy bay does have early pace as well as a fine turn of foot, two vital assets for the tight Kenilworth Old Course, and another bonus is Anton Marcus aboard.

Punta Arenas thrived while being taken care of by Drier during the Champions Season on behalf of the now retired Stan Elley. As an official member of the yard, he has continued to enjoy himself at Phillippi, which he is familiar with as this was Elley’s base. The J&B Met is his main aim but Drier has still not decided which race will be his final stepping stone into the Met, pointing out that the 1600m of the Queen’s Plate was a touch on the sharp side. Elley used the Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m on Queen’s Plate day as a preparation for Punta Arenas in both 2014 and 2015 and he went on to finish 3^rd and 5^th respectively. The evergreen seven-year-old Silvano gelding loves to gallop and if able to find a handy position from his high draw of nine under Sean Cormack he could be the surprise package in Saturday’s ten horse field for the Green Point Stakes.

By David Thiselton