The ever-improving Paul Gadsby-trained four-year-old speedster Miss Varlicious will not be embarking on a feature race program until next year’s Champions Season.

However, another potentially exciting KZN-based sprinter, the Wendy Whitehead-trained three-year-old Ideal World filly Free State, is eyeing the Gr 3 R250,000 Magnolia Handicap over 1160m at Turffontein on Sansui Summer Cup day November 28.

The Var filly Miss Varlicious gave the impression when winning a Conditions Plate over 1200 at Scottsville on Sunday that she had hung to the left just before she making  her final charge, but that was due to apprentice Eric Ngwane overcorrecting when attempting to straighten her as she had begun drifting right towards the horses on the far side. However, when she quickened she impressed all and sundry, even if she was only carrying 48kg, and she had a flying Chestnuts N Pearls, who is a Gr 1-winning three-year-old, beaten by 1,5 lengths at the line.

Gadsby believes Miss Varlicious’s best trip is undoubtedly 1200m, as opposed to the 1000m distance of her previous two wins, and her chief target will be the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m next May. The handicapper has dictated the route he is taking with her as he would like to at least get five wins out of her, in order that the owners can recoup their investments, before taking on the best. She was given an 82 merit rating for winning a 1000m maiden in her second career start in March by six lengths and she was increased from an 85 to a 91 after winning a 1000m handicap at Scottsville by 1,5 lengths three runs later. She was then given another three points for a second place finish over 1000m, which took her merit rating to 94. She showed she had improved further on Sunday and Gadsby will likely be looking for another conditions race like Sunday’s one, because being still only a three-time winner she will come in well weighted again.

Another promising Var filly from the Gadsby yard, the three-year-old Royal Kaitrina, also won in her second career outing over the Scottsville 1000m. She impressed in that 2,75 length victory, which took place on the second weekend of September, and the form has worked out exceptionally well, with three horses behind her having won next time out.  However, she was also accorded an 82 merit rating. Gadsby will try and find more wins for her before embarking on a Champions Season feature race program.

In other yard news the useful 100 merit-rated six-year-old Lundy’s Liability gelding Candy Moon has returned from a stint with Noordhoek Beach-based trainer Mike Stewart, where the therapeutic qualities of the sea helped him overcome a tendon injury. Fortunately one of Candy Moon’s owners, Dr Ralph Katzwinkel, was present when he pulled a tendon while preparing for last season’s Betting World 1900 and was able to administer treatment immediately. The yard had fancied the gelding’s chances in the Betting World 1900 and were hoping to qualify him for the July. However, instead he had to be box-rested for two months, before being transported down to Cape Town. Mike Stewart apparently commented that Candy Moon had not seemed like a horse that had ever had a tendon injury, so sound was he while down at his Noorhoek Beach yard. Candy Moon’s best effort last season was a narrow second in the Gr 3 Kings Cup over 1600m and he also had close up fourths in the Gr 3 Christmas handicap and the Listed Sledgehammer over 1800m and 1750m respectively. He will likely be targeted at similar races this season.

Meanwhile, Whitehead will be giving Free State an outing in a fillies and mares MR 76 1000m handicap at Scottsville on November 6 before committing her to the Magnolia Handicap. The strongly-built filly was given an 83 merit rating for her impressive debut victory over 1000m at Scottsville on October 11, in which she was backed from 33/1 into 33/10 favourite before winning full of running by 2,25 lengths. Ideal World’s progeny usually improve with experience and over ground. However, Free State looks like a sprinter, being quite short-coupled, and Whitehead believes the minimum trips will be her game. However, she is a full-sister to the Adam Marcus-trained Fear Not, who finished a fine 1,1 length third to the dual Gr 1-winner Inara in the recent weight for age plus penalties Gr 3 Diana Stakes over 1400m at Durbanville.

Whitehead is having a fine spell at present, having had six winners in a three week period between September 18 and October 11.

She added that the yard had a number of promising unraced youngsters to look forward to.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Miss Varlicious (Nkosi Hlophe)

The promising Alistair Gordon-trained pair of three-year-olds Beat The Retreat and Bunker Bill will have a gallop at Scottsville this morning (Tuesday) ahead of their respective engagements in the Listed R150,000 KZN Guineas Trial on the Greyville turf on November 8 and the Gr 3 R250,000 Graham Back Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on October 31.

Meanwhile, Paul Lafferty reported that Anthony Delpech had been “very impressed” with the Graham Beck-bound Unbelievable Chad’s gallop at Scottsville on Sunday, in which he was given a lead over 1400m and strode all the way to the line in eyecatching fashion. Lafferty had spoken to Piere Strydom about riding the Toreador colt in the Graham Beck a while ago but has been unable to confirm the engagement as the latter is currently on honeymoon. The pair will be attempting to retain their respective crowns in the race having combined to win it last year with Harry’s Son. Unbelievable Chad, who is part-owned by swimming legend Chad le Clos, has drawn eight out of 30 nominations and Bunker Bill, who is by Dupont and is expected to enjoy the step up in trip, has drawn pole position.

Argonaut colt Beat The Retreat found his last start over 1200m too sharp and will relish the step up to 1600m in the KZN Guineas Trial.

Unbelievable Chad and Bunker Bill will both be using the tried and tested travel routine of leaving Summerveld late on the Friday night and arriving at Turffontein on the morning of the race.

Two of a few other Summerveld horses who will be making the journey to the Johannesburg meeting on October 31 are the Dennis Drier-trained Gr 1 Golden Slipper winner Chestnuts N Pearls and the classy Gavin van Zyl-trained Redcarpet Captain, who will both be running in the R2,015,000 Bloodstock South Africa Ready To Run Cup over 1400m.

Chestnuts N Pearls by Horse Chestnut made her seasonal reappearance in a Conditions Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m on Sunday and flew late to finish a 1,5 length second to the exciting four-year-old speedster Miss Varlicious, to whom she gave 3kg if apprentice claims are included. The 100 merit-rated filly will palpably prefer the 1400m trip and, having come out of the race very well, will likely be cherry ripe on October 31. A KZN filly she will have to face in the Ready To Run Cup will be the Duncan Howells-trained Lauderdale, whom she beat in the Golden Slipper but lost to in the subsequent Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m.

The Captain Al colt Redcarpet Captain ran on well at Scottsville on Sunday in a MR 90 Handicap over 1200m in which he had to carry 60kg off his merit rating of 101 and finished a 1,15 length fifth to a horse who has developed a winning habit, Talktothestars. In his only start over 1400m Redcarpet Captain was not at all disgraced, finishing 3,8 lengths behind Seventh Plain in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe having had to jump from a very wide draw. He should be ideally suited to the 1400m distance at this stage of his career. He has come out of Sunday’s race well and the yard are hopeful of a big run in the Ready To Run Cup. He is the joint highest merit rated horse in the Cup together with Lauderdale and the Justin Snaith-trained Australian-bred Star Witness colt Lineker.

Van Zyl’s other contender in the big October 31 meeting at Turffontein will be the four-year-old Jet Master gelding M L Jet, who fought back well to win a Graduation Plate over 1600m at Turffontein last week, although he was weighted to win it. He will be running in the Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile and, having enjoyed the blinkers off and tongue tie on last time, there will be no changes to his equipment declarations. He has come out of the race well and Van Zyl hoped that the win heralded a return to form for the 101 merit-rated bay.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Beat The Retreat (Nkosi Hlophe)

Korea is to stage two rich international races next September – a US$700 000 sprint and US$ 1 million 1 800m event, both with substantial travel allowances – and has invited Mike de Kock to send horses from his British base.

The Korea Racing Association has close ties with South Africa through its sponsorship of the two Greyville Guineas races and for a time it was thought that these new international races could be the long-awaited key to opening up the protocols.

Western Province RA chapter chairman Vidrik Thurling said: “When I was in Korea in June their racing director told me they wanted to attract South African horses and I felt this could be our opportunity. However, after some discussion and deliberation, they decided that they should wait for Europe to take the lead on the protocol issue.

“I then suggested they invite Mike de Kock and I mentioned the international meeting to him. His initial reaction was positive.”

The Korea races will fill the gap left by Singapore’s decision to drop the Krisflyer International Sprint and the Singapore International Airlines Cup.

By Michael Clower

The highlight of yesterday’s meeting at Scottsville was a Conditions Plate over 1200m for fillies and mares and the lightly weighted Paul Gadsby-trained four-year-old Var filly Miss Varlicious confirmed herself a sprinter to be reckoned with when finding a strong finish to win comfortably. The course manager Sthembiso Dlamini has worked wonders with the track and the infamous sprint track draw bias, that used to palpably favour low draws, was shown in this meeting to be just about insignificant. Miss Varlicious only had to carry 48kg, if the 4kg claim of apprentice Eric Ngwane was included, and after jumping from a draw of five she didn’t appear to be doing herself any favours by drifting wide at about the 500m mark.

However, she then stormed home to beat the Gr 1-winning 22/10 favourite Chestnuts N Pearls by 1,5 lengths, with Beloved Country staying on for third. The fancied African Dream had to concede lumps of weight and likely needed the run ,being beaten 5,15 lengths into fifth just behind LittleBlacknumber. Chestnuts N Pearls finished strongly over too sharp a trip, carrying 51kg, and this was a fine preparation for the R2,015,000 Bloodstock South Africa Ready To Run Cup over 1400m at Turffontein on October 31. In the next race, a MR 90 Handicap over 1200m, apprentice Ngwane completed a quick double and weekend treble when winning aboard Kimberley-based trainer Coenie de Beer’s raider Talktothestars, an amazing four-year-old gelding by Overlord, who won off a 93 merit rating to land his sixth win in his last seven starts and seventh career victory overall. Runner up Highway Explorer from the Tony Rivalland yard ran on well for second, pipping the nine-year-old topweight Royal Zulu Warrior who had to lug 64kg even including the 2,5kg apprentice claim. The Fort Wood filly Nikki easily converted odds of 1/3 in the first race over 1200m to give Mike de Kock a weekend double and Anthony Delpech his third of his five winners over the weekend. She showed good speed throughout. The Alistair Gordon yard have a number of promising three-year-olds at present and the runner up Cause Célèbre by Argonaut is another to follow. The Mark Dixon-trained Muhtafal filly Isingamoya found some early betting support in the second over 1200m after an eyecatching debut and never looked in danger of defeat, despite a high draw.  She ran handy and kicked clear to win easily by 2,75 lengths from the favourite Seventh Moment and give Keagan de Melo a weekend double. Dixon also trained Isingamoya’s dam, Shoot The Breeze, who was a facile winner on debut over this course and distance six years ago.

In the third over 1200m Tony Rivalland landed the second leg of a weekend treble when the Miesque’s Approval gelding Humidor, who is a half-brother to the useful Caviar, returned from a layoff of nearly a year to win cosily under Anton Marcus in just her second career start. In the fourth over 1200m, the R900,000 purchase by Captain Al, the Rivalland-trained first-timer gelding Spanish Captain, won cosily under Delpech from a high draw after being backed from 5/1 Into 4/1. The first-timer by Second Empire from the Paul Lafferty yard, Neruda, is a half-brother to two speedsters Dennis The Menace and Battle Of Alma, and caught the eye running on well for second from a high draw Later, the Colin Scott-trained six-year-old Count Dubois gelding Innate Quality bounced back to his best to easily win a 2400m handicap under Muzi Yeni. The Sean Tarry-trained three-year-old colt Forest showed himself to be a promising stayer when winning the eighth, a maiden over 2400m, in good style under Delpech in just his fourth career start. The last race, a maiden over 1600m for fillies and mares, was won by the improving King’s Chapel filly Reigning Wave under Alec Forbes to give Paul Gadsby a meeting double.

By David Thiselton

The National Horseracing Authority has moved to lessen the growing rumour and speculation about the number of dope test positives by releasing the figures. It is also stepping up the testing.

But the increase in the number of samples returned positive is disturbing – 18 so far this year compared with only five in the whole of the 2013/14 season and nine the previous season.

NHA chief executive Colin Hall said: “Of the 18 specimens which were found to contain prohibited substances, 12 were specimens taken immediately after the race, two shortly before the race and four from horses which were not entered to race – ‘out of competition’ specimens as they are commonly known.

“The NHA has increased the number of out of competition and pre-race tests being conducted.”

Only six of this year’s 18 cases have got as far as a completed inquiry and the NHA will not release the details of the remainder until they reach that stage, with Hall explaining: “Due to the nature of inquiries into the presence of a prohibited substance found in a specimen, some take longer than others and it would be inappropriate to report on the incomplete inquiries at this time.”

The matter was brought out into the open when the Sporting Post published an email sent to Hall by Brett Maselle.

The advocate said: “Rumour is rife in the industry and horseracing websites that a sizeable amount of horses have been found to have prohibited substances in their systems.

“The talk is a trainer has already been fined and a horse suspended as a result of a positive in a Group race, and that a positive has been found in a horse relating to Durban’s biggest race.”

Hall has at least been able to knock the last point on the head, saying: “The NHA can confirm that all specimens taken from horses on 4 July have been tested and no prohibited substances were found by the laboratory.”

Only one of the six completed cases was the result of a pre-race test – the Leon Erasmus-trained Captain Ali who finished sixth at 25-1 at the Vaal in May. This was also the only one in which a substance was found that could be regarded as a stimulant (caffeine).

One of the five post-race positives, 4-1 winner Redcarpet Captain (Gavin van Zyl) at Turffontein in February, showed traces of the antibiotic procaine. Samples of the other four contained anti-inflammatories or pain-relievers – Cool Anne (K.G. Naidoo) 25-1 winner at Greyville in March, Gogetthesheriff (Jacques Strydom) 33-10 winner at Fairview in April, Liquid Ice (Cliffie Miller) 12-1 when last at Flamingo Park in January and Pennington Sands (Tyrone Zackey) 28-10 favourite when fourth at Turffontein in August.

In none of the six cases was there anything in the betting trends to suggest that the horse had been the subject of a gamble. The horses concerned have been disqualified and the trainers fined amounts varying from R20 000 to R60 000.

By Michael Clower