Port Elizabeth has its equivalent of the Vodacom Durban July this Sunday at Fairview, the Gr 3 R350,000 Algoa Cup over 2000m, and some good value could possibly be found in the talented but enigmatic Mitch Wise-trained Taarish.

This five-year-old Australian-bred Encosta De Lago gelding has the habit of dropping himself out at the beginning of his races, leaving himself with too much ground to make up in the closing stages. He always finishes well and connections are usually left wondering how much closer he would have been without his early race antics. However, the blinkers have at last been fitted and off a merit rating of 88, which sees him carrying a weight of just 52,5kg, he could be worth a small each/way bet at likely long odds. The cheek pieces didn’t appear to help in his penultimate start over 1800m on the poly, but his tailed off position early on in the race on that occasion had more to do with  dwelling in the starting stalls.

The big race has been won by a Cape Town raider for the last five times in succession.

However, the selection to do best of the Cape-based trainers’ horses is Current Event, a Justin Snaith-trained horse who has run his last three races in Port Elizabeth. He is a similar type to the winner of the last two Algoa Cups, Disco Al, in that he is effective over the 200m trip, but can win over further too. He looks to have been given the perfect preparation and jumps from a plum draw of six under Robert Khathi with just 52,5kg to carry.

Snaith also has a very interesting runner in the Jet Master gelding Masterly, who has improved from a 50-something merit rated horse to an 87 since arriving in PE from a Johannesburg yard earlier this year. He has won his last four starts, all on the poly, in fine style and sneaks into the handicap with bottom weight and from a good draw under the quality rider Keagan de Melo. There is no reason why he should not be just as good on turf.

Another of his stablemate’s Krambambuli announced that he is likely to be at his best this year when running on strongly to win over 1800m at Durbanville in his seasonal reappearance and he could be a big threat under Andrew Fortune, although he has a tricky draw of nine.

The Mike Bass yard send the Jet Master gelding Mountain Master and he has a definite chance as he has dropped back to a competitive merit rating, so only has to carry 52,5kg over a suitable course and distance and from pole position draw under stable jockey Grant van Niekerk.

The Glen Kotzen-trained Cape Town raider Gone Baby Gone is a frustrating sort who can’t be ignored on his best form, although he is 0,5kg under sufferance. His stablemate Political Power, who only has one eye, is an ultra-consistent sort and should be distance suited. His last win was off a one point higher mark, but he does have a tough draw.

The Alan Greeff-trained Kalamein is one of the big local hopes as he is a classy sort who could still be ahead of the handicapper and he has the polished Greg Cheyne aboard, but he unfortunately has to contend with the widest draw of all.

The Dorrie Sham-trained Symbolik should be ideally suited to this trip and in form Karl Zechner rides, although the draw of ten is not easy.

The East Cape polytrack horse of the year Gogetthesherriff is also effective on turf and is distance suited. Being by Go Deputy he is showing no signs of slowing down and is unbeaten in three this season, but he does have a big weight of 61,5kg to lug.

Gothic raids from Cape Town and from a good draw would not be a surprise winner for a trainer-jockey combination who have won this race before, especially considering he is off a two point lower merit rating than his last win. He is a similar type to Disco Al as he is effective over this trip and stays further, so he should be right there.

National champion trainer Sean Tarry sends two raiders down from Johannesburg and Orchestrated must be a runner carrying just 52,5kg from draw two, as he bounced back to form over 1800m on the sand last time in his first outing for over four months.

Stablemate Stonehenge is 2kg under sufferance but actually has Orchestrated beaten on their last meeting over this distance on turf, although that was back in May and the latter ran below par.

Zestful has been off form since arriving in Port Elizabeth and will have to bounce back to form.

Silent Partner finished third last year off a considerably higher merit rating, but is getting a bit long in the tooth now and won’t be carrying many local hopes as he comes into the race 4kg under sufferance.

A chance is taken with Taarish to beat Current Event and Gothic, with Kalamein and Masterly next best.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Taarish (Nkosi Hlophe)

The in-form Andrew Fortune rides at Durbanville for the second time in three weeks today and, as on his last visit, the former champion can kick off with a winner.

He has six rides but only one of them is a favourite and Betting World yesterday opened the well drawn Tumbles at 7-2 for the opening maiden. At that price the filly looks value.

This is the last meeting at the country course until February but, so far as Adam Marcus is concerned, the all-important factor is the fast going.

“Tumbles has a lot of natural speed and in her first two starts at Kenilworth the ground was very heavy,” says the Milnerton trainer. “She needs to be settled and Andrew has beautiful hands. I think she is going to be very competitive.”

She is drawn two whereas many of the form horses are drawn wide, notably 5-1 shot Gin For Genius who starts on the outside. Has she the gate speed to overcome that? “I don’t want her to have the speed early,” answers Eric Sands. “I want the speed to pull her along and I think she might be alright.”

Ichkeria, 100-1 on debut in a good Kenilworth maiden last month, ran well enough to suggest she could pose a threat here and she is a 4-1 chance but her 12 draw is hardly a positive.

Molly’s Chambers (14-1) has a bit of form but she failed to show it when making the running here last month. “It was her first time on the course,” explains Piet Steyn. “I think she has a place chance.”

Favourite at 3-1 is the Andre Nel-trained newcomer Skip A Beat, a daughter of Dynasty. This is not an easy course for a first timer and it will be interesting to see if she remains at the head of the market come race time.

Nel has made a sparkling start and his La Favourari is 18-10 favourite for the Soccer 10 Maiden Plate even though the colt’s debut second reads poorly with Roxy Babe (third) and Hammie’s Game (fifth) letting the side down on Saturday.

“La Favourari is a fairly decent horse,” says Andre Nel. “We thought he would win first time if there was nothing special among the other newcomers and he has come on since.”

The form of Heart Of Darkness’s fourth to March On, on the other hand, has been repeatedly boosted with the second, third and fifth all winning next time out and at 7-2 he makes more appeal despite not having raced for almost three months and being drawn seven out of ten.  Knight Of Glory (5-1) looks best of the rest

Fortune’s mount Moment To Shine is 22-10 favourite for the All To Come Maiden Plate but she and last time’s runner-up Excellent (5-2) are drawn wide. The vote goes to Sky Fly whose 7-2 looks reasonable. The Geoff Woodruff-trained filly lost valuable ground at the start on her first run here last month and she is sure to have learnt from that.

Icy Trail is a stingy price at 6-10 in the Place Your Bets Maiden Plate but he looks the one they all have to beat.  Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount had to drop back and switch when his path was blocked last time and he ran on as if he will be better suited by the extra distance here.

However if you don’t like betting odds-on,  a good case can be made for Roman Silvanus at 5-1 after  last Saturday  – he was the meat in the sandwich between One Away and Avail on their previous start – and Accountability (28-10) is the one that comes out best on merit ratings.

By Michael Clower 

Picture: Andrew Fortune (Nkosi Hlophe)

The PinkDrive Racemeeting, supported by Gold Circle, in aid of breast cancer awareness takes place at Greyville Racecourse on Friday evening, 23 October 2015.

PinkDrive is South Africa´s best-loved Breast Cancer Community Carer and is a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) powering South Africa´s first mobile PinkDrive Mammography Unit and PinkDrive Educational Unit, driving home the fact that `Early Detection Saves Lives´.

Night racing at Greyville has become a Friday institution in Durban and this Friday will see non-stop entertainment on-stage and on-track.

In the spirit of the occasion patrons are asked to dress up in pink as roving judges will dish out spot prizes for the best dressed in pink.

There is also a win-if-you-lose competition with four prizes of a weekend getaway worth R14000 up for grabs.

The ever popular Braai Zone will be in operation along with the Kidzone while the Lightning Shot Bar will feature live music and a happy hour.

Restaurant reservations for the Durban View can be made by calling Gail on 031 3141780.

Picture: ‘Pink Angels’ Carey-Ann Radford and Janice Benecke giving retired racehorse Tutazela some well-deserved attention before making his appearance at Greyville Racecourse on Friday evening in support of the Pinkdrive breast cancer awareness programme. (Chantal Cormack)

Champion trainer Sean Tarry will be taking two horses to Port Elizabeth on Sunday to contest the R350,000 Betting World Algoa Cup. The Grade 3 race is run over 2000m on the turf track.

Tarry’s two runners are Orchestrated, to be ridden by S’manga Khumalo, and Stonehenge, who will have Donavan Mansour aboard. Orchestrated has won four of his 15 starts and has placed on another eight occasions. The son of Jay Peg is one of those horses who performs well on the sand and on the turf.

This could be a shrewd move by Tarry because if, as has happened before, inclement weather results in the meeting being moved to the Polytrack, he has a horse who could win on either surface. Orchestrated four wins have been over 1600m and 1700m and he has yet to prove he stays 2000m. In fact, the last time he raced over the trip he was beaten 8.25 lengths by stable companion Stonehenge.

However, Orchestrated did run well enough in the Listed Aquanaut Handicap over 2450m at Turffontein in heavy going when a 4.25-length fourth behind Cool Chardonnay.

In the Algoa Cup he is well drawn at No 2 and has just 52.5kg to carry.

Stonehenge has raced 11 times for two wins and four places but his best effort came in the Listed Derby Trial over 2000m at Turffontein last season when he finished a 2.25-length second behind Legal Eagle. Unfortunately Stonehenge has drawn No 14 but over this distance that should not be too much of a disadvantage.

Justin Snaith saddles three runners in Krambambuli, Current Event and Masterly, while Glen Kotzen sends out Political Playboy and Gone Baby Gone.

There are two other visiting trainers with runners in the main event. Vaughan Marshall has sent Gothic while the Mike Bass yard will be bringing Mountain Master. MJ Byleveld and Grant van Niekerk are the respective jockeys on the two runners.

Top weight is local star Gogetthesheriff, trained by Jacques Strydom and to be ridden by Raymond Danielson. They have been allotted 61kg and will jump from barrier No 8. The five-year-old son of Go Deputy has won seven of his 14 starts since arriving in Port Elizabeth, of which six have been on the Polytrack.

Final field for the R350,000 Betting World Algoa Cup (Grade 3) over 2000m at Fairview (turf track) on Sunday 25 October.

1 – 8 GOGETTHESHERIFF (JVA Strydom) R Danielson 61.0 – 105

2 – 9 KRAMBAMBULI (S J Snaith) A Fortune 57.5 – 100

3 – 4 GOTHIC (V H Marshall) M Byleveld 56.0 – 95

4 – 13 POLITICAL PLAYBOY (G S Kotzen) A Domeyer 54.5 – 92

5 – 10 SYMBOLIK (D Sham) K Zechner 54.5 – 92

6 – 15 KALAMAIN (A C Greeff) G Cheyne 53.5 – 92

7 – 5 ZESTFUL (JVA Strydom) X Ndlovu 53.0 – 89

8 – 6 CURRENT EVENT (S J Snaith) R Khathi 52.5 – 88

9 – 1 MOUNTAIN MASTER (M W Bass) G van Niekerk 52.5 – 88

10 – 2 ORCHESTRATED (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 52.5 – 88

11 – 12 TAARISH (M Wiese) J P v’d Merwe 52.5 – 88

12 – 3 MASTERLY (S J Snaith) K de Melo 52.0 – 87

13 – 7 GONE BABY GONE (G S Kotzen) C Zackey 52.0 – 86

14 – 14 STONEHENGE (S G Tarry) D Mansour 52.0 – 85

15 – 11 SILENT PARTNER (M Wiese) …………… 52.0 – 79

Same Trainer: (1,7) (2,8,12) (4,13) (10,14) (11,15)

RELEASED BY: PHUMELELA GAMING AND LEISURE LIMITED

Picture: Sean Tarry 

Dual Grade 1 winner French Navy has been allotted top weight of 60kg for the R1-million Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 31 October.

The Grade 2 race will be run over 1600m on the standside track. Unfortunately for the SA Classic and Daily News 2000 winner, he has drawn No 28 of the 34 runners.

The news was better all round for visiting trainer Dean Kannemeyer who has nominated Vodacom Durban July winner Power King, Afrikaburn and Solar Star.

Power King was given 58.5kg to carry and has landed No 12 draw while Afrikburn will have only 55.5kg to carry and has drawn beautifully at No 5. Solar Star, though, has drawn poorly at No 25.

There was mixed fortunes for the Mike de Kock yard. Toro Rosso has drawn perfectly at No 1 and, from that draw and with just 52.5kg on his back, will be one of the strongly fancied runners for the big race.

His impressive victory over 1450m at Turffontein on Saturday demonstrated that he was not only capable of winning on the sand.

The two Grade 3 features on the card, the Graham Beck Stakes and HSH Princess Charlene Of Monaco Starling Stakes, for three-year-olds and three-year-old fillies respectively, have been well supported and no doubt trainer Alistair Gordon will be delighted as highly rated runner Bunker Bill has drawn No 1 for the R250,000 Graham Beck Stakes.

However, the De Kock-trained Entisaar will have to jump from wide out in the fillies’ event, having drawn No 20 among the 32 entries.

Final declarations for the Charity Mile close at 10am on Tuesday 20 October but the final fields will be embargoed and will only be announced on Wednesday 21 October, when the charities and celebrities will also be announced.

As far as the Grade 3 and Listed races are concerned, supplementary entries close at 9am on Friday 23 October with final declarations at 10am on Tuesday 27 October.

Draws and weights for the R1-million Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile (Grade 2) over 1600m

28 FRENCH NAVY (S G Tarry) 60.0

12 POWER KING (D Kannemeyer) 58.5

20 BOUCLETTE TOP (A G Laird) 58.0

18 FLYING THE FLAG (M F De Kock) 58.0

9 BEZANOVA (A G Laird) 57.5

22 DEPUTY JUD (M G Azzie) 57.0

23 BOLD INSPIRATION (C Laird) 56.5

31 HALVE THE DEFICIT (S G Tarry) 56.5

34 MASTER SABINA (G V Woodruff) 56.5

11 RAMPANT ICE (W H Marwing) 56.5

15 KILLUA CASTLE (G V Woodruff) 56.0

5 AFRIKABURN (D Kannemeyer) 55.5

21 MAC DE LAGO (W H Marwing) 55.5

16 WHITELINE FEVER (S G Tarry) 55.5

3 HEAVY METAL (S G Tarry) 55.0

4 ZAMBEZI RIVER (S G Tarry) 55.0

17 DISCO AL (J Ramsden) 54.5

29 DYNAMIC (S J Snaith) 54.5

24 ULTIMATE DOLLAR (S J Snaith) 54.5

10 ML JET (G H Van Zyl) 54.0

32 THE HANGMAN (S G Tarry) 54.0

33 SHADOW OFHIS SMILE (G V Woodruff) 53.5

25 SOLAR STAR (D Kannemeyer) 53.0

2 THE CAPTAIN’S TUNE (G V Woodruff) 53.0

7 ANJAAL (M F De Kock) 52.5

1 TORO ROSSO (M F De Kock) 52.5

30 MITRAAD (M F De Kock) 52.0

14 SARATOGA DANCER (D C Howells) 51.0

26 PRINCE OF ORANGE (M G Azzie) 50.0

13 MASTER ‘N COMMANDER (G V Woodruff) 49.5

19 PIVOTAL PURSUIT (G M Alexander) 49.5

6 NATIONAL KEY (B O Wiid) 49.0

27 KINGMAMBO’S LEGACY (M F De Kock) 48.5

8 FULCRUM (W H Marwing) 46.5

Draws and weights for the R250,000 Graham Beck Stakes (Grade 3) over 1400m

20 ENTISAAR (M F De Kock) 56.5

23 ABASHIRI (M G Azzie) 54.0

18 AFRICAN RULER (P A Peter) 54.0

10 ALACA (R R Magner) 54.0

24 ANGEL’S POWER (B O Wiid) 54.0

29 BRAZUCA (J A Janse van Vuuren) 54.0

21 BUCKLAND (S G Tarry) 54.0

13 BULL VALLEY (D Zaki) 54.0

1 BUNKER BILL (A D Gordon) 54.0

17 CAMPS DRIFT (C E Erasmus) 54.0

16 DELFTSHAVEN (J A Janse van Vuuren) 54.0

11 DUKE NUKEM (G M Alexander) 54.0

4 EL MAESTRO (S G Tarry) 54.0

19 ISCA (G H Van Zyl) 54.0

27 JUST AS I SAID (D J Nieuwenhuizen) 54.0

2 LIEGE (S G Tarry) 54.0

6 LUNAR APPROACH (S G Tarry) 54.0

26 MALAK EL MOOLOOK (S G Tarry) 54.0

3 MUWAARY (M F De Kock) 54.0

28 NEW PREDATOR (J A Janse van Vuuren) 54.0

30 NOAH FROM GOA (M F De Kock) 54.0

12 PROSPECT STRIKE (D Zaki) 54.0

9 ROMANY PRINCE (O A Ferraris) 54.0

7 ROSSLYN CHAPEL (W H Marwing) 54.0

15 ROY’S STRIKE FORCE (P V Lafferty) 54.0

5 TRADING PROFIT (O A Ferraris) 54.0

8 UNBELIEVABLE CHAD (P V Lafferty) 54.0

14 NEGROAMARO (J A Janse van Vuuren) 51.5

25 PERSIAN RUG (M F De Kock) 51.5

22 SHAAMA (M F De Kock) 51.5

Draws and weights for the R250,000 HSH Princess Charlene Of Monaco Starling Stakes (Grade 3) over 1400m

20 ENTISAAR (M F De Kock) 59.0

31 ALLEGORICAL (M N Houdalakis) 54.0

22 ANGIE THE REBEL (W H Tolmay) 54.0

24 BAJAN FANTASY (G M Alexander) 54.0

11 BEAUTIFUL SHAY (S Moffatt) 54.0

3 CASEY CAN (S G Tarry) 54.0

7 FINDING ALICE (M N Houdalakis) 54.0

29 FIRSTIMESACHARM (M N Houdalakis) 54.0

27 INTERGALACTIC (S G Tarry) 54.0

8 JOAN RANGER (M N Houdalakis) 54.0

6 KILAUEA (D J Nieuwenhuizen) 54.0

4 LEILA’S CHARGER (D Zaki) 54.0

26 MADAME DUBOIS (R R Sage) 54.0

1 MELLA MARIA (M G Azzie) 54.0

5 MELLIFLORA (M G Azzie) 54.0

9 MIRACLE RISING (P A Peter) 54.0

23 NEGROAMARO (J A Janse van Vuuren) 54.0

25 PACIFICA (J A Janse van Vuuren) 54.0

16 PERSIAN RUG (M F De Kock) 54.0

30 SAPSAN (D J Nieuwenhuizen) 54.0

12 SCANDAL (C Spies) 54.0

32 SHAAMA (M F De Kock) 54.0

18 SHIRAZ CABERNET (W H Marwing) 54.0

10 SILVAN JAZZ (C Spies) 54.0

14 STRATEGIC MOVE (S G Tarry) 54.0

2 SWEET PAINTED LADY (C Spies) 54.0

19 SWEET PICKINGS (L J Erasmus) 54.0

17 SWIFT SARAH (S G Tarry) 54.0

13 TIDE IS TURNING (J M Goodman) 54.0

21 TRINI’S COLATERAL (D C Howells) 54.0

15 WHATAWONDAFULWORLD (T A Mitchley) 54.0

28 WITCHCRAFT (S G Tarry) 54.0

Draws and weights for the R250,000 Yellowwood Handicap (Grade 3) over 1800m

4 AHLAAM (M F De Kock) 60.0

13 LOVE TO SAIL (M F De Kock) 59.0

9 OLMA (F Robinson) 59.0

14 WILD ASH (G V Woodruff) 58.5

19 BILATERAL (W H Marwing) 57.5

3 MARMALADY (O A Ferraris) 55.0

10 THE CENTENARY (M F De Kock) 55.0

16 DREAM GALAXY (S Moffatt) 54.0

11 EPSOM DOWNS (S G Tarry) 54.0

2 PEEP SHOW (M G Azzie) 53.0

6 HAWKER HURRICANE (O A Ferraris) 52.5

5 PENNINGTON SANDS (T Zackey) 52.5

18 PERSIAN RUG (M F De Kock) 52.5

15 SHE’S A LOOKER (B D Botes) 50.0

8 RIO FILO (S G Tarry) 48.0

12 SISTERS OF MERCY (G V Woodruff) 48.0

17 ELIZA DOOLITTLE (P A Peter) 47.5

1 ALESSIA (M F De Kock) 45.5

7 MISS TEE (J M Goodman) 45.0

Draws and weights for the R150,000 Golden Loom Handicap (Listed) over 1000m

28 TRIP TEASE (L W Goosen) 62.5

23 BELONG TO ME (J A Janse van Vuuren) 58.0

7 BRUTAL FORCE (J Ramsden) 57.5

15 DOLLAR DAZZLER (A G Laird) 57.0

27 MOOFEED (M F De Kock) 57.0

19 SARVE (C Spies) 57.0

16 ZAMBEZI RIVER (S G Tarry) 57.0

8 GREASEPAINT (R R Magner) 56.5

2 SHEIK’S BRASHEE (A Wright) 56.5

5 DOING IT FOR DAN (L W Goosen) 56.0

12 TIGER TERRITORY (M F De Kock) 56.0

25 VALBERG (D Zaki) 56.0

24 ISPHAN (M G Azzie) 55.5

1 ONE MAN’S DREAM (L W Goosen) 55.5

10 VARBRATION (L W Goosen) 55.5

29 AURUM POT (A G Laird) 55.0

17 DE VAR HYT (W H Marwing) 53.0

4 VIVA LA VAR (C Laird) 53.0

22 BAD BOY BUDDY BOY (D Zaki) 52.0

26 EDDIE SWEAT (F Robinson) 52.0

6 MOD BARLEY (P A Peter) 52.0

9 SPLENDID GARDEN (M G Azzie) 50.5

21 CAPTURED WIND (C Spies) 49.5

20 OLYMPIC OWEN (C Spies) 49.5

18 VICTORIOUS (D Zaki) 49.5

13 VIKING HERO (G J Maroun) 49.0

3 HUNTING OWL (D C Howells) 48.5

11 PIANO MAN (J M Goodman) 48.5

Draws and weights for the R150,000 World Sports Betting Java Handicap (Listed) over 2450m

7 DISCO AL (J Ramsden) 60.5

20 KINGSTON MINES (M F De Kock) 60.5

2 STORM WARNING (D Zaki) 58.5

13 SAVAGE WIND (J A Soma) 58.0

17 WILD ASH (G V Woodruff) 57.5

21 LIONS EMBLEM (E Verdonese) 56.5

18 HENRY HIGGINS (P A Peter) 56.0

3 SHIMMERING GEM (D Zaki) 55.5

14 ARCH RIVAL (G V Woodruff) 54.5

9 ALGHADEER (M F De Kock) 54.0

5 J’S OUTSIDER (S T Pettigrew) 54.0

22 MARMALADY (O A Ferraris) 54.0

10 LEEULOOP JET (S Moffatt) 53.0

6 THE CENTENARY (M F De Kock) 53.0

15 KOLKATA (S G Tarry) 52.5

12 NOBLE STAR (M N Houdalakis) 52.5

4 GOLDEN HIGH (S G Tarry) 52.0

1 SMART MART (M F De Kock) 52.0

11 SHEA DEVON (G V Woodruff) 51.5

19 SUPERTUBE (S G Tarry) 50.5

8 ENAAD (M F De Kock) 48.5

16 FORTUNE FELLA (D Little) 42.5

14 WILL PAYS (J A Janse van Vuuren) 48.5

RELEASED BY: PHUMELELA GAMING AND LEISURE LIMITED

Picture: French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)