Hard Day’s Night stands out in the Magnum Cape Classic when racing returns to Kenilworth tomorrow and the talented colt can become the third in succession to win this test for Joey Ramsden in the famous Jooste colours.

He was most impressive against older horses over a furlong further at Durbanville last time, giving weight all round, having everything else in trouble a long way out and winning pulling up. He seems sure to start favourite and that’s a positive with favourites winning half the last 12 runnings.

His biggest danger is probably his habit of drifting right in the closing stages. Donovan Mansour (pictured) reckons this is psychological because he remembers the sore shins he has had in the past. Ramsden says the horse had this slightly after Durbanville but adds: “He is doing very well.”

Captain Chaos and Eighth Wonder are the equal of Mansour’s mount on adjusted merit ratings but the draw puts them at a serious disadvantage.  Ronnie Sheehan reckons his Cape Nursery winner is only 80% ready but Eighth Wonder is fighting fit.

“I do think he is more of a Derby horse and I wasn’t going to run him here from that draw,” says Greg Ennion. “But he has come out of his last run so well and he does have a lot of natural speed.”

The Stone Thrower is rated little more than a length behind the top three but he has not run since July. “We cut him since then, he has had a slightly interrupted preparation and he wouldn’t be quite where I want him,” says Ramsden.

The penalty structure is hard on Baritone for winning his last three and Bernard Fayd’Herbe has opted for stable companion Aspara. “There was very little in it between them but it was the draw that decided us,” says Justin Snaith. “But I’m worried about the trip. They would both be better over a mile.”

Forward Drive, another handicapped by a wide draw, did not race with his usual flair when held up last time although Paul Reeves reckons the educational value was considerable.

“If he pops the gate he will be up handy and hopefully he will then run a better race,” says the trainer. “But I will leave it to the jock. Making the running only to hit a brick wall 200m out wouldn’t be ideal.”

Mike Bass is bidding for his sixth Cape Classic in 14 seasons and Grant van Niekerk has opted for Ernie in preference to Rodney and Brilliant Crimson. “It was very difficult to choose,” he admits. “But Ernie ran very well in a sprint the other day.”

Seymour was impressive when winning a Greyville polytrack maiden and, although the handicappers were not taken – they only rated the gelding 79 when they could have gone up to 91 – Dennis Drier has not got where he is today by mistaking his geese for swans.

Purple Mountains has not raced for nearly four months and, as Xavier Cartsens cannot claim his allowance, the colt is effectively putting up 1.5kg overweight while Roman Discent is the lowest rated horse in the field.

Icy Fire appeals in race five as does Marinaresco 40 minutes later.

The PinkDrive meeting at Greyville tonight will be abuzz with atmosphere in support of the good charity-raising cause of breast cancer awareness and there look go be a few good opportunities on both that card and at the Turffontein meeting on Saturday.

The tips for tonight are Ricochet Flyer to beat Dark Avenger and Oracle Kingdom in the first, First Sea Lord to beat Shine Up in the second, Queen Of Thrones to beat Red Seductress and Gordon’s Cungee in the third, Sea Urchin to beat Lord Luton and Bank It in the fourth, Let It Rip to beat Mission Rapids and Royal Denise in the fifth, Master James to beat Olma and Solar Star in the Listed Michaelmas Handicap, Arabian National to beat Harrison and Tonto in the seventh and Heart Of Christmas to cause an upset in the eighth at the expense of Chapel Queen and Simla.

Turffontein has a nine race card.

In the first race Silvery Dream is by Silvano and is a half-sister to the useful Living With Heart who won over this trip on debut. She is drawn in pole and doesn’t have much to beat and S’Manga Khumalo is an eyecatching booking. Another first-timer Green Goddess is by Invincible Spirit out of a Majmu mare but her wide draw will make it tricky. Sweet Chestnut ran on well from behind over 1200m on debut in a similarly weak field and should appreciate the step up in trip. Nesspresso has found betting support twice in similar fields and Gavin Lerena has kept the ride from a fair draw over a trip the horse should appreciate. Russian Friend was in with a winning chance last time when going clear over 1200m but faded and was found to have bled so looks to have some ability. Catwalk Tease is a hard knocking but exposed sort who could earn. Lingerie could earn after a sluggish start on debut and not much luck thereafter.

In the second over 2600m, Aszkaban is trained by Weiho Marwing, whose renowned for his ability to win staying races, and this horse caught the eye when staying on resolutely over 2000m in May and giving the impression he would enjoy this trip. Yours And Mine should enjoy the step up in trip too and could be a threat. Beaufort Sea makes most appeal of the rest.

In the third over 1600m, Neptune’s Jewel could win if reproducing his first start over 1400m when green and staying on well because the form of that race looks reasonable. He disappointed over this trip last time but was found to not be striding out. Trippi colt Magical Moon stayed on well for a narrow loss over 1200m when backed on debut and as a half-brother to Jackson he should enjoy this trip. The form of that first run is not great, but he does jump from pole position. Izbdaba stayed on  over 1400m last time and has scope for improvement. Belenos could improve over this trip and is well drawn. Kinaan disappointed last time over 1400m but was staying on late and could earn over this step up in trip. William Nicol could also earn. Matchmaker is by Dynasty out of the Gr 1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Sports Chestnut and cost R850,000 so is interesting from a good draw.

The fourth sees some classy sorts clashing in a Novice Plate and Al Azraq looks the one the side with as his only two defeats on the Highveld have been to the highly promising Bull Valley and his tremendous speed should make him suited to the minimum trip.  Captain Nemo made an impressive debut over 1160m and will likely appreciate stepping back to a sprint after disappointing over 1450m, so he will be a threat.

In the fifth over 1800m St. Tropez is a classy sort who should be staying on strongly. Master Sabina also has plenty of class and Gavin Lerena is an eyecatching booking in his return to the course after a layoff of a year. It’s an open contest and Deo Juvente, Easy Lover and Disco Al could also be included.

In the sixth over 1450m Love Token looks to have the class to rise above a 77 merit rating so looks the one to side with from draw three over a suitable course and distance. She returns from a 180 day rest but being by Silvano has likely strengthened and benefitted from the rest. Cape Marigold is an honest sort and Andrew Fortune could help her overcome her wide draw, while Modern Muse has her third run after a rest and could earn off a lowered merit rating.

The seventh over 1450 Regal Force is well drawn over a suitable trip under Weichong Marwing and has a good chance considering her strong finish. Noah From Goa looks to have some class and doesn’t face an inspiring field so could go close despite a wide draw. Steel Wing is drawn wide but is suited to this trip and will be running on. Var Bay goes for a hattrick and will be suited to this course and distance, although the draw is a concern. Aza Arrow would prefer further but should be finishing strongly.

The eighth over 1200m China Beach has come class and is interesting stepped back in trip. Sharp Princess did well in the Golden Slipper over 1400m but the form of the two-year-old fillies Gr 1s from last season are suspect and her 89 merit rating makes it tough. Inyanga looks to be useful and should be in the shakeup.

The ninth over 1200m Dolphin is improving and has caught the eye lately so is the one to beat under Andrew Fortune. Fiedelio and Colmant make most appeal of the rest.
– David Thiselton
– Picture: St Tropez, on the right, contests the fifth at Turffontein tomorrow (Nkosi Hlophe)

Champion trainer Sean Tarry will make his first raid on Port Elizabeth on Sunday when he saddles Orchestrated and Stonehenge in the R350,000 Grade 3 Betting World Algoa Cup over 2000m on the Fairview turf track.

“I don’t really know what I’m up against,” said Tarry yesterday. “I do believe my two runners are unexposed and are better than rated. I’m upbeat about their chances.”

In all his years as a trainer Tarry has not taken a runner to the Eastern Cape, but admits the lure of a R350,000 race cannot be ignored. “Both are the right type of horse for an event like this and it has come at the right time. Horses with merit ratings in their 80s are not going to get into R350,000 races in Joburg.

“I think those two horses have the right profile. Stonehenge finished second to Legal Eagle in the Listed Derby Trial and Orchestrated I always thought had a bit of class and I think he was crying out for the blinkers.”

Orchestrated seemed to be losing his way a little but in his last start Tarry fitted blinkers and the change was immediate. The five-year-old son of Jay Peg was up with the pace the whole way in the Vaal River Handicap (Non-Black Type) on the Vaal sand and did well to finish a 1.50-length second behind Ahlaam.

Orchestrated is a four-time winner, all of which have been over 1600m and 1700m but he failed over 2000m when more than eight lengths behind Stonehenge.

“I believe he is crying out for the distance. I think he will be very comfortable with 2000m. He was losing interest and the blinkers have helped.”

S’manga Khumalo is a regular rider in Port Elizabeth and knows the course well. He is aboard Orchestrated who carries just 52.5kg, and they will jump from barrier No 2. Stonehenge has Julius Mariba in the irons but they will have to deal with No 14 draw.

“Julius knows the horse well and with just 52 on his back there was not much point trying to find another jockey. Stonehenge is quite versatile in that he can come from last or sit up with the pace so the draw is not a big deal.

“Orchestrated, on the other hand, likes to race up handy and S’manga likes to go up there so No 2 draw is ideal for him.

“I don’t know the form of the PE runners but I would just imagine if I were to contest a normal race down there my runners would win.

“I just hope they travel well and we get a true understanding of how the form correlates.”

The two horses left for Port Elizabeth on Wednesday night.
– Jack Milner for TABNews

The PinkDrive meeting at Greyville is here at last and the crowds should be flocking to the course in their pink outfits to support the worthy cause of breast cancer awareness as well as enjoying plenty of on course entertainment and great racing.

There look to be some good opportunities for punters, which is usually the case on a polytrack card.

In the Listed Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m, Master James has been fitted with blinkers since running green on his first outing after gelding and he is doing “exceptionally well” after taking part in a grass gallop at Summerveld on Monday alongside Solar Star. The latter had excuses in his last start in the KZN Breeders Million in June as he was hit by a clod and he has also been doing exceptionally well. He won his only poly start over 1600m and should enjoy this trip. Olma has won her three poly starts from 1600-2000m by an average of five lengths and will be fully wound up having recently been taken to Greyville for a gallop. She is drawn well in five under Ian Sturgeon but is eight points higher in the merit ratings since her last win and is up against battle hardened males so won’t have it easy. The selection is Master James to beat Olma, Solar Star and Alghadeer with The Royal Rhumba making most appeal of the rest.

In the first over 1400m, Ricochet Flyer has fared well against some good sorts and is drawn in pole over a suitable trip. Dark Avenger drops back to the trip of his best run and should be thereabouts from a good draw. Oracle Kingdom has only ever faced useful sorts and is better than his form suggests so could earn here under a 2,5kg claimer over a step up in trip which should suit. Royal Champion and Buster Brown could earn too and Buck Eye by Ideal World is the most interesting of the first-timers.

In the second over 1400m, First Sea Lord has been expensive to follow for win-only punters, but this looks to be a good opportunity over a suitable course and distance and he will be hard to beat from a plum draw. Shine Up is having his third run after a rest from a good draw over a suitable trip and should earn in this weak field. Quantity is likely improving and should enjoy the step up in trip while betting moves for the two-first-timers by Dynasty and Visionaire respectively, Filoli and Stokvel, should be monitored.

In the third over 1400m, the hard knocking Queen Of Thrones gets a good opportunity to get off the mark from a good draw. Red Seductress hasn’t been disgraced against one or two fair sorts and should enjoy the step up in trip. Gordon’s Cungee has pace and should appreciate the step up in trip so is interesting with Delpech up from a good draw.

In the fourth over 1000m, Sea Urchin is the one to beat from pole position under Delpech, especially if he jumps on terms as he has been close up to two good sorts in his two starts over this trip despite losing a couple of lengths on both occasions. Lord Luton improved with blinkers on the turf with this same 2,5kg claimer up which makes him interesting here as he is well-bred for the poly being by Miesque’s Approval. Bank It is a consistent sort who can earn again.

In the fifth over 1600m, Let It Rip would prefer further, but she has been doing well at home and can follow up on her easy course and distance win in May, albeit off an eleven point higher merit rating. Mission Rapids is hard to ride as she usually pulls if she jumps well and her best win was when able to stride out freely before settling in behind horses as the handler had held her by mistake, causing her to lose five lengths. However, if she does manage to settle she will be the one to beat as she has some class. Topweight Royal Denise  proved herself a capable sort when beating the classy Sabaha on turf over 1400m and Delpech might bring out the best in her off a four point higher merit rating from pole position.

In the seventh over 1000m, Arabian National is ultra-quick and won his only poly start over this course and distance, so is interesting from a good draw with Delpech up. Harrison appears to be a fair sort who is improving and from a good draw he could earn a place, or even a win, and a same could be said for Tonto.

In the eighth over 1000m Regardstobroadway will be hard to beat from a good draw if behaving himself at the start as he is quick, classy and should have benefitted from his last outing. All True Man is knocking on the door over course and distance and is drawn in pole and Apollo’s Gift should be right there too as he is improving and had a legitimate excuse when finishing second over this distance at Scottsville last time.

The last over 1000m Heart Of Christmas showed pace on debut at Scottsville over 1200m and was green so could cause an upset as the form of that race has worked out quite well. She will have to improve considerably to reverse form with Chapel Queen, but will likely appreciate the step down in trip as she was up with the pace before beginning to run all over the place. Chapel Queen has good natural speed so should be involved under Delpech. However, she does have to overcome a high draw. The obvious horse in the race is Simla and she will be right there if not being used up too much early to overcome a high draw.
– David Thiselton
– Picture: Master James (Nkosi Hlophe)

Trainer Mike de Kock will be upbeat about the chances of Toro Rosso after the announcement on Wednesday of the final field for the R1-million Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 31.

The Brazilian-bred son of Elusive Quality has proven his ability on the turf and comes into this Grade 2 event drawn No 1 and with just 54.5kg on his back. Anthony Delpech gets the ride.

De Kock also saddles Flying The Flag who will be having his first run in South Africa, and Mitraad. Flying The Flag was formerly trained by Aiden O’Brien and joined De Kock last year. The son of Galileo has raced five times for the yard and won his penultimate start over 2000m in Dubai.

He is drawn No 10 for the Charity Mile and will be ridden by Marco van Rensburg.

The draw for charities and celebrities was made at a function at Emperors Palace yesterday. This year the charities will receive a record R1-million, with the charity who draws the winning horse receiving a whopping R150,000 with the second-placed runner earning R100,000 for their charity. Even the horse who finishes last will bring R50,000 into the fold for the charity.

French Navy, winner of the Grade 1 SA Classic and the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 tops the weights with 60kg but Sean Tarry’s charge has landed up with No 16 draw. Regular jockey Raymond Danielson is in the irons. Tarry also runs Halve The Deficit and Whiteline Fever but was disappointed that 2013 Vodacom Durban July winner Heavy Metal is only in as the second reserve runner.

Alec Laird saddles two runners in Bouclette Top and last year’s winner Bezanova. Bezanova has one just once since last year’s event but he comes back carrying just 0.5kg more than last year and jumps from barrier No 4.

Another runner of interest is Deputy Jud, a facile winner of the Supreme Cup over 1450m on the sand. Mike Azzie’s charge is proven on the turf but jockey JP van der Merwe will have to contend with No 13 draw.

ML Jet came back to form with a win over 1600m on the inside track recently and with just 54kg to carry and jumping from No 5 draw, the Gavin van Zyl-trained runner has to be a contender. Keagan de Melo takes the ride.

Justin Snaith saddles two runners in Ultimate Dollar and Dynamic but both drew wide. Fortunately he has engaged two top jockeys with Piere Strydom on Ultimate Dollar and Weichong Marwing on Dynamic.

Vee Moodley, Phumelela’s Betting Executive, has already pulled a couple of rabbits from his hat. There will be a Pick 6 carryover of R900,000 with an estimated pool of R4 million, while R100,000 will be injected into the Quartet on the Charity Mile itself and a pool of R700,000 is predicted.

– Phumelela

Picture: Halve The Deficit (Nkosi Hlophe)

Final field for the R1-million Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile (Grade 2) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 31 October

1 – 16 FRENCH NAVY (S G Tarry) R Danielson 60.0 – 113

2 – 11 BOUCLETTE TOP (A G Laird) G Lerena 58.0 – 108

3 – 10 FLYING THE FLAG (M F De Kock) M V’Rensburg 58.0 – 108

4 – 4 BEZANOVA (A G Laird) …………… 57.5 – 107

5 – 13 DEPUTY JUD (M G Azzie) J P v’d Merwe 57.0 – 107

6 – 6 RAMPANT ICE (W H Marwing) I Sturgeon 56.5 – 106

7 – 14 BOLD INSPIRATION (C Laird) …………… 56.5 – 105

8 – 19 HALVE THE DEFICIT (S G Tarry) C Zackey 56.5 – 105

9 – 12 MAC DE LAGO (W H Marwing) S Khumalo 55.5 – 104

10 – 9 WHITELINE FEVER (S G Tarry) A Marcus 55.5 – 103

11 – 1 TORO ROSSO (M F De Kock) A Delpech 54.5 – 102

12 – 15 ULTIMATE DOLLAR (S J Snaith) P Strydom 54.5 – 102

13 – 17 DYNAMIC (S J Snaith) W Marwing 54.5 – 101

14 – 5 M L JET (G H Van Zyl) K de Melo 54.0 – 101

15 – 2 THE CAPTAIN’S TUNE (G V Woodruff) …………… 53.0 – 99

16 – 18 MITRAAD (M F De Kock) R Simons 52.0 – 97

Reserve Runners

17 – 7 SARATOGA DANCER (D C Howells) Reserve 1 52.0 – 95

18 – 3 HEAVY METAL (S G Tarry) Reserve 2 55.0 – 100

19 – 8 KILLUA CASTLE (G V Woodruff) Reserve 3 56.0 – 104

Same Trainer: (1,8,10,18) (2,4) (3,11,16) (6,9) (12,13) (15,19)