In the first race, a maiden plate for fillies and mares over 1200m, Dark Rose’s first two starts with blinkers on over 1000m were good efforts and she now runs over the course and distance of her fast-finishing close up third in June, so from a good draw and the headgear on over this possibly more suitable trip she looks the one to beat. Cronological was unable to find the necessary extra last time out over 1400m in a race which had a false start and was also found to be coughing afterwards. The blinkers were off probably due to a below par effort over 1000m at Scottsville, but in her previous start with first-time blinkers she went close over this course and distance. It is therefore significant that Marcus remains aboard with the blinkers back on from a plum draw. Seven Tales is the least exposed of the prominent runners in this race, so is open to improvement, and she will relish the step back to 1200m having over raced over 1400m last time out. She is drawn in pole with Anthony Delpech up. Paix Embleme finished a length behind Cronological the last time they met over course and distance, but has a tougher draw this time. Drury Lane shows pace over 1400m but might find this a touch sharp.

In the second, a Maiden over 1200m, Winter Auralius fared well in strong fields over this trip at Scottsville and is tipped to win. It can’t be a confident tip because of the draw, but his good natural pace will give him a chance of overcoming it. Texas Cowboy has some fine hard-knocking form over course and distance and trainer Tony Rivalland felt he had done enough work to get away with a layoff since June. Red China, who shows pace over1400m, might find this a touch sharp at first glance but being by Silvano he will be coming into his own now as a four-year-old and with master of pace judgement Anton Marcus aboard from a good draw he could improve on his only other run over this trip to date. Samovar was carried out at the start last time when running on well over 1400m and beating Red China, but he has another wide draw to overcome. Jason Argo ran a cracker with first-time blinkers over this trip at Scottsville last time out but the wide draw and a stronger field makes it tougher here. Imagination is by Visionaire and is a half-brother to the Gr 1-placed sprinter Showmetheway. Trainer Michael Roberts said he would not be fully wound up and would prefer further.

In the third, a MR 66 Handicap over 1200m, Var Du Bois is likely to have improved from his fine debut win and is drawn well again, so could go in again off a reasonable merit rating of 77. Moi Power proved he is off a competitive mark when going close last time over course and distance and is once again drawn in pole, this time with Marcus up. Wild Namaqua is well drawn for his front-running style and will be a tough nut to crack, considering he is 1kg better off for a 0,75 length beating over course and distance by Var Du Bois and he also cast a shoe on that occasion. Victoria’s Love cruised in last time out over 1000m and a repeat could see him go close despite a maximum eight point merit rated raise. Lizard’s Pursuit likely needed his last run when well beaten by Victoria’s Love and now being 4kg better off he could be involved if reproducing some of his best Cape Town form. Semonkeng has the eyecatching booking of Anthony Delpech and trainer Michael Roberts said he would be fit enough after a layoff but the wide draw is a concern.

The fourth is a weak maiden over 1600m and Noordhoek Ice is the one to beat from a good draw having run on well for third over course and distance on his KZN debut after being dropped out from a wide draw. He should have benefitted from the outing and Delpech replaces Marcus. Kepler ran on well from last over 1400m at Scottsville last time out with first-time blinkers and will relish the step up in trip so could be in the first three from a good draw. The Lonsdale should also go close as he is doing well with blinkers and should handle the step up in trip. Suzie’s Arrow has his third run after a rest and could earn on best form. Turn Up The Heat is having only his second KZN start and could also improve, although he was comfortably beaten by a seven-year-old maiden last time. The first-timer Silverturnstogold is by Brave Tin Soldier and this trip should suit but he has a tough draw.

The fifth is a weak fillies and mares maiden over 1600m and Grand Jury could be the one to side with as she did well with this 4kg claimer up over 1400m here on debut despite losing three lengths at the start and being by Ideal World she should be improving. Delpech has deserted her after her disappointing last run and is aboard Cherry Tree Lane, who will likely relish the step up in trip, but she did not show much to get excited about over 1200m on debut. Topaz Rain is a disappointing sort who could earn here and Maybe and Make My Own Luck make most appeal of the rest.

The sixth is a weak Maiden over 1600m and Zagora stayed on well last time when stepped up to this course and distance so is the one to beat. However, Juds Express stayed on well over 1200m at Scottsville last time over course and distance and will relish the step up in trip, so will be a threat. Fort Afreet could improve over this trip too.

The seventh is a MR 74 Handicap over 1600m. Sovereign Reign didn’t get any cover last time over course and distance and still fought on well in the straight. There is not much pace in this race either, but he has a nice draw and Anton Marcus has stayed aboard so is tipped to win from a good draw. Last Tiger won well in his KZN debut last time over 1400m and will enjoy this trip. He has come from the stronger Cape Town centre so his seven point merit rated hike is unlikely to stop him. Black Jaguar should be suited to the lack of pace from a good draw and looks to be a big runner. Pure Valor is drawn well over a suitable trip and should stay on strongly as usual from a handy position, although this is a step up in class. Cage Fighter has done well after a long layoff before so can’t be written off over the course and distance of his easy win here last December.

The eighth is a MR 66 Handicap over 1000m and the always-fast-finishing Quintella has a short run in and the stronger pace of a 1000m race might be just what she is looking for. Victory Takeover has good pace and with Marcus up from a good draw will go close. Race Me Home won her maiden well from the front over course and distance and she has not been punished by the handicapper so has a chance under Delpech. Jolo has been competitive off this mark and should be running on strongly. Maria Estella had to be snatched up on the turn for a few strides last time and with better luck trainer Roberts expects a good run. Girlfriend and Royal Honeymoon are outsiders to consider.

By David Thiselton

Horse racing’s version of the Ryder Cup, the Breeders Cup, will be staged at the iconic Keeneland racecourse for the first time in its history this weekend and the Pick 6 on Saturday will provide a get rich quick opportunity for South Africans as the local Tote will comingle into one of the world’s biggest guaranteed Pick 6 pools.

The stars of the USA and Europe, headed by American Pharoah (pictured) and Golden Horn, will do battle and 20 of the 22 races will be shown live on Tellytrack (DSTV 239), starting from 6.30pm on Friday night and 5pm on Saturday evening.

SAFtote are providing a full betting menu. On Friday, Tellytrack will broadcast races 1 to 9 of the ten-race meeting and SAFtote will provide betting on only those nine races. On Saturday, broadcast and betting will be provided for races 1 to 11 of the twelve-race meeting.

The highlight of the meeting is the Breeders Cup Classic, which is race 11 on Saturday night, taking place at 11.35pm South African time.

The betting will consist of a combination of commingled and local pools.

Wins, places, exactas, doubles, Pick 3s and Pick 6s will be commingled, but please note that instead of the normal R1 unit, the unit will be R20. Furthermore, the Pick 6 will have no fractional betting.

The Breeder’s Cup Pick 6 pool on Saturday will have a guaranteed pool of $2 million.

On Saturday night there will be a “Classic Pick 3″, with a minimum pool of $750,000, on the Breeders Cup Juvenile, Turf and Classic, Races 9-11.

Local pools will host Pick 4s (Jackpots), swingers and trifectas.

Commingled pools:

> Win (Commingled at R20 unit and R20 minimum)

> Place (Commingled at R20 unit and R20 minimum)

> Exacta (Commingled at R20 unit and R20 minimum)

> Pick 6 (Commingled at R20 unit and R20 minimum with no fractions)

> Double (Commingled at R20 unit and R20 minimum)

> Pick 3 (Commingled at R10 unit and R10 minimum)

Local Pools – SAFtote rules apply:

> Pick 4/Jackpot (SAFtote rules)

> Swinger (SAFtote rules)

> Trifecta (SAFtote rules)

 

 

 

Horse of the Year Futura delighted Justin Snaith when galloped over 1 400m yesterday in the five-year-old’s first serious piece of work this season.

Snaith said: “He went with a companion and he was very good so now it’s all systems go.”

Stable companion Legislate, rated a kilo below Futura, is not quite at the same level of readiness and Snaith explained: “Legislate takes less time and so we are waiting a bit longer with him – and really he only needs to be ready in January.”

No decision has yet been taken on which of the big two will represent the stable in the Green Point Stakes at Kenilworth on November 21 although, according to their trainer, “One of them will start there. The main aim with both is the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (January 9).

“Act Of War has raised the standard and so we are going to have to raise our game but it’s all good so far.”

Last year’s Grand Parade Cape Guineas winner Act Of War broke the Durbanville 1 400m record on his reappearance in the Kuda Matchem Stakes early this month and has both the Green Point and the Queen’s Plate on his shopping list. He is officially rated on the same 117 mark as Legislate.

So too is the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Captain America who was yesterday  reported by trainer Brett Crawford to be in good heart for his reappearance in the Hollard Humdinger Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Same Jurisdiction, Duncan Howells’ winner of the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes on July day, has been given top weight of 60.5kg in the six furlong Cape Merchants on November 14. This is 2.5kg more than Tevez who has won the last two runnings for Mike Bass.
– Michael Clower
– Picture: Futura and Bernard Fayd’Herbe (Liesl King)

The final racemeeting on the Vaal sand will take place tomorrow, as the course will then be dug up and replaced by a turf track. There will be many a sad punter after race 8 on the card, because this track invariably provides good dividends for those who spend a little bit of extra time delving into the form.

In the first race, a maiden over 1200m, Leigh Woods would likely have come on from his debut last week over 1450m when green and staying on for second and from a plum draw here could stay on resolutely from the front to win. The first-timer Champions Cup is drawn in pole and has an eye catching sand pedigree being by Miesque’s Approval out of the dam of a three-time winner from 1200-1450m Cup Of Rubies so the betting must be watched. Fidelio has faced some fair sorts without being disgraced and enjoyed the step up to this trip on turf so will be a big runner under Piere Strydom, although the draw of eight is a concern. Pera Hur ran well over course and distance on Supreme Cup day. Tobago is by Dynasty but his dam, who was a Listed winner, has not produced any winners to date despite being sent to top sires.

In the second, a maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m, Cash In Camilla has a perfect sand pedigree and a racing style that should be ideal for this surface so is the one to beat from pole position under Andrew Fortune. Meet Me At Manos ran a fair second over course and distance last time but the winner was having her 12^th start and had only managed two placed before that. She’s A Flirt stayed on from a wide draw for third in that race and Gavin Lerena now rides from another wide draw.

The third features some classy sorts in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1200m. Roman Carnival was an impressive winner over course and distance in his penultimate start and is the one to beat from pole position under Fortune. Amazing Strike has a touch of class and will be improving being by Ideal World so could overcome a five month break to do well here under Lerena, particularly considering he has a fine sand pedigree. Sarve is best in at the weights and has a plum draw. Across The Ice showed he was coming back to form last time when not disgraced over 1000m and he loves the course and distance so should be thereabouts from a good draw. Precursor is classy and goes well on the sand but does have a very wide draw to overcome.

The fourth is a MR 72 Handicap over 1000m. Wisaam could be the one to side with despite being a three-year-old asked to run off a merit rating of 84. He won with a ton in hand on debut and looks to be a classy sort, although the one concern besides the weight of 60,5kg is that he made a breathing noise. Magic took 12 runs to win his maiden but always bumped good types and the form of some of his races, such as his 1,4 length second to Noah From Goa over this course and distance, looks very good, so he will be a big threat. The pacey Chief Sioux will love the return to course and distance and Lerena is back aboard. The speedy Battle Of Alma is very close to Chief Sioux on the form of their last meeting, although the weight might just find him out in the closing stages. Kopi Luwak was also 1,5kg under sufferance last time out when finishing a close third over course and distance, but has a slightly tougher task here off his four point higher merit rating.

The fifth is a MR 68 Handicap over 1000m for fillies and mares. Slick Deputy is a typically progressive daughter of Go Deputy and looks to be running off a capped merit rating because she was being eased up when winning last time by 3,5 lengths. She has become very effective with hold-up tactics. Scandal has good early pace and could be a threat with Lerena up. Patrina brings some fair form from Cape Town, which has the strongest horses in the country, so is interesting off a mere 65 merit rating and running fresh over a trip too sharp. Last Girl Standing won her maiden well over course and distance and didn’t do badly last time over 1200m considering she was squeezed out at the start. Sweet Pickings is 7kg better off for a six length beating by Slick Deputy and could place. Wintry Night is 6,5kg better off for a 3,5 length beating by Slick Deputy but might have been flattered, although she could still earn a cheque.

The sixth is a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m. Eastside is in fine heart and could claim a hattrick as the maximum eight point raise might not be enough to stop her with Piere Strydom up from a fair draw over a suitable trip. Escudo has been disappointing in her last two since an easy win over course and distance but jumps from a good draw for a change. Dover Beach was an easy winner of her last start over 1800m on the sand but the form is not outstanding, although she has a chance despite a wide draw. Fire Dancing ran a fair race from the same draw last time, but has had a tough campaign lately. Lemonade River makes her sand debut over a suitable trip from a good draw and as her grandam is by Fort Wood she might enjoy the sand.

The seventh is a MR 74 Handicap over 1600m. Facebook stayed on well over course and distance last time behind a pair of good form horses and is the one to side with from a good draw here despite making breathing noises last time. Hattrick-seeking Formal Request found extra after showing pace over 1450m last time and this scopey horse should handle the trip, although the wide draw and a six point merit rated raise makes it tough. Calico Quiver was pushed the whole way last time over 1450m after losing a length but responded well and will relish the slight step up in trip. Kidmambo has been knocking on the door over course and distance but has a wide draw. Lava Flow is interesting on sand debut as he has the pedigree and is a fair sort on his day but the wide draw is a concern. Son Of Approval is an in and out sort who could surprise on the day with Fortune up.

The eighth is a MR 65 Handicap over 1400m and Viking Castle has been knocking on the door over this distance and now has a good draw while he should have come on from his last outing too. It would be fitting if the sand stalwart St. John Gray brought the curtain on the Vaal sand and he has a chance with De La Vere who has a good sand pedigree and a good draw so should handle a two point merit rated after a good run over 1500m on turf. Disco Boy could earn if repeating his last start but the off putting factor is his quite wide barrier position.

By David Thiselton

Pictures

1. Across The Ice (JC Photos)
2. Sarve (Nkosi Hlophe)

Frankie Dettori had a spring in his step in spite of the heavens opening after he touched down at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport on Tuesday morning.

Resplendent in a bright blue riding jacket and multicoloured cap, Dettori made an unplanned visit to the Keeneland training centre to take an adoring look at his Breeders’ Cup Turf mount Golden Horn.

Joking to the drenched press corps at the Polytrack training facility, the Italian looked forward to Saturday’s mile-and-a-half race that will be a swansong for the Investec Derby, Coral-Eclipse, Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner.

He is mindful both of his gate position on the rail and the importance of fending off as much unnecessary pressure as he can, with his week in Kentucky in its infancy.

“Hey, you guys, don’t put any pressure on me I’m just off the plane,” he said while watching Golden Horn engage in a routine spin on the Polytrack.

“I came in this morning and didn’t feel jet-lagged so I couldn’t resist changing my mind and visiting the track to see Golden Horn.

“I’ll be riding him in some work. Let’s see what happens but he looks amazing and everyone is very pleased with him.”

When questioned about Golden Horn being in stall one and the inclement weather, he said: “The weather is what it is.

“There’s nothing we can do to change it. They say it will carry on raining Wednesday but then maybe it will dry out.

“I suppose I might have to use my horse from that post but it’s still early days to be talking tactics, I’m just delighted to be here and I feel great.

“In one week it will be all over and I’m going to take a holiday with my wife who hasn’t seen that much of me this year and greatly deserves to have a nice break.”

Dettori has five rides for Wesley Ward, spread over three days, and partnered one of the trainer’s horses on the Polytrack.

He said: “I ride two for Wesley on Thursday and three more at the Breeders’ Cup, including his filly (Undrafted) in the Turf Sprint, and I know he was pleased to get the wide gate with her.”

– Sportinglife.com

Picture: Golden Horn and Frankie Dettori