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

Gulf Storm,  second in last season’s Tsogo Sun Sprint, is set to have his first race of the campaign in the 1 200m Pinnacle Stakes when racing returns to Kenilworth on Saturday.

But stable companion Captain America, the highest-rated horse in the race, will wait a bit longer despite not having raced since winning the H.F. Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein over six months ago.

Brett Crawford, in double form with the Corne Orffer-partnered Winter Prince and One Away at Durbanville on Saturday, said: “There is another Pinnacle over 1 400m at Kenilworth on October 31 and it’s possible that Captain America could run in that. His mission is the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.”

Ready To Attack’s mission is the Selangor Cup on November 21 after the Langerman winner put his credentials on the table in Saturday’s mile handicap. Bernard Fayd’ Herbe had to get serious with him when his path was blocked but the Australian-bred fairly turned on the tap and came home ears pricked.

Justin Snaith said: “He is going the right way and indeed I would have waited for the Magnum Cape Classic on Saturday but he had a bad draw in that.”

Snaith reckons to run Aspara and possibly the four-time seeking Baritone in the Classic while Krambambuli and Masterly will be his representatives in the Betting World Algoa Cup at Fairview on Sunday.

He said: “I normally take a lot of horses to this Port Elizabeth meeting but I am sending just one load this time. Even so, I think I will have a good weekend.”

Mike Bass, who has won five of the last 13 Cape Classics, will run Ernie and Rodney.

Candice Robinson, after seeing Laurie’s Gold justify favouritism under a determined Grant van Niekerk, said: “We also have Marinaresco in the Cape Classic but he is drawn 45 so he may run instead in the mile handicap where he is well drawn. We run Mountain Master in the Algoa Cup.”

Aldo Domeyer is convinced that Bass would also have won the mile novice plate with Sublime Lady had Darryl Hodgson’s all-the-way neck winner kept straight instead of drifting right and carrying Domeyer’s mount with her.

He promptly lodged an objection for “intimidation by crop and by being carried out.” However this was over-ruled by the stipes who pointed out that under the rules they have to be certain that the second horse would have won had there been no interference and, unlike Domeyer, they were not convinced. The outcome was a change of luck for Chris Puller who has been beset by niggling injuries and was riding only his second winner of the season.

Sean Cormack, on the other hand, is on a Durbanville roll and took his tally to five from the last two meetings by scoring on Make The Magnet for Eric Sands and the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Captain Alfredo.

Six years ago Glen Kotzen won two Grade 1s with Lady Windermere and the mare’s daughter Fantastic Trip filled him with hopes of future glory when running on into third on her debut in the opener, particularly as he also has high hopes for Our Destiny who won the race for his old mentor Ralph Rixon.
– Michael Clower
– Pictured: Captain America (Liesl King)

Greyville’s second ever Twenty20 meeting on Friday evening saw the in form Gavin van Zyl and Dean Kannemeyer yards on fire once again.

Van Zyl scored two wins, a second, a third and a fourth from six runners, while Kannemeyer notched up two winners and a third with his only three runners on Friday evening.

The twenty minute gap between races makes for an exciting evening and appears to be a popular innovation as long as it remains an occasional event, because the downside is obviously that with the format being jockeys riding alternatively with apprentices, trainers are unable to always book their first choice riders.

In the third, a MR 94 Handicap over 1400m, the Van Zyl-trained four-year-old Seul Amour gelding Just Ask Me proved he could soon take in a feature as he won well off his merit rating of 90 under Billy Jacobson, holding off the admirably consistent Translunar. Just Ask Me has won four times from just ten starts and Seul Amour is proving to be a useful sire.

In the fifth, a Novice Plate over 1600m, the Sean Tarry-trained Intergalactic was attempting to book her place in the R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup, but instead it was the R2,015 million Bloodstock South Africa Ready To Run Cup candidate Way Out Front, who showed her big sales race credentials with a good win under Keagan de Melo. The Van Zyl-trained Mogok filly showed a fine turn of foot from the back of a small six horse field to quickly reel in the Kahal filly Khonza, who was beautifully relaxed in the running and made an early dash for home. Khonza fought back well when headed to be only 0,75 lengths shy at the line and is a horse with plenty of scope so is definitely one to follow.  Intergalactic ruined her chances by over racing and was well beaten in third.

Kannemeyer’s new arrivals from Cape Town to his Summerveld satellite yard kept up their fine record and in all have now had 18 runs, 9 wins, one second, three thirds and four unplaced runs.

His five-year-old Judpot gelding Surrey relished the step back in trip to 1400m in an Apprentice 78 Handicap , having over raced early when narrowly winning his KZN debut over1600m on the poly two weeks earlier. The event fortunately fell in one of the four apprentice-ridden races on the night, which allowed 4kg claimer Eric Ngwane to keep the ride. Ngwane took Surrey straight to the front from a wide draw and the gelding strode out at relaxed pace. Ngwane simply had to use hands and heels to drive him out to a comfortable 3,75 length victory over Mackdesi. The handicapper might take a while to rein in this horse and he could make it a hattrick next time out.

Later Kannemeyer’s once well regarded Argentinian-bred Giant’s Causeway five-year-old gelding Capel Top enjoyed the slight step up in trip from 1800m to 1900m, having battled to stay in touch early last time out before running on. This was also his third run after a layoff and he was clearly a touch sharper which allowed Anthony Delpech to get him into the perfect position early, one wide of the rail in fifth place, having jumped well from draw six. The luckless Van Zyl-trained Rocketball had to be driven to get into a handy position from a wide draw and this early exertion might just have been his undoing as he only just failed to hold on from a running on Capel Top. Rocketball should be cherry ripe next time out.

In the first race of the evening, which was interrupted by a false start, the Sean Tarry-trained King’s Chapel filly proved perfectly suited to the 1400m trip at this stage of her career. She had not been disgraced in some fair company in two races over 1200m. However, she then appeared to be a bit uncomfortable at the maiden 1600m pace last time out, despite being out of a Badger Land mare, and over raced slightly throughout before finding little extra. This time she relished the quicker pace and despite being caught wide she found plenty in the straight to win comfortably under Muzi Yeni at generous odds of 12/1. She will enjoy stepping up in trip against a better class of horse next time out.

In the second, an Apprentice maiden for three-year-olds  over 1400m, the Tony Rivalland-trained New Zealand-bred Kolinsky looked hard to oppose having not been disgraced against strong opposition in his previous two starts. He easily despatched the weak field, cruising in by three lengths hands and heels under Luyolo Mxothwa. Runner up Mighty Mississippi and the third-placed favourite, the first-timer Bahamas Woodstar, will both enjoy a step up in trip as they stayed on well.

The sixth race, an Apprentice Maiden over 1800m, saw an exciting finish as the three-year-old James Goodman-trained A.P. Answer filly Fashion Talk, ridden by 2,5kg claimer Tristan Godden, just touched off Cherry Orchard by a short-head with the rest of the field well beaten. This was far from being an inspiring field but the front two are at least improving.

In the eighth, an Apprentice MR 64 handicap for fillies and mares, Doug Campbell kept up his good recent form as the five-year-old mare Lucky Packet enjoyed stepping down to a sprint trip for the first time in over two years off her competitive merit rating and won comfortably under Callan Murray at odds of 5/1. The 54 merit-rated mare won on debut way back on Boxing Day at Clairwood in 2012 as an early two-year-old and this was her first victory since.

The ninth race, a Maiden over 1600m, was a thriller. The Mike de Kock-trained Australian-bred three-year-old gelding Fareeq started 5/10 and led from the off under Anthony Delpech, although he did have to do some work to get there from a draw of six. Meanwhile, the Wynand Nel-trained five-year-old Fort Wood gelding Danish Wood, returning from a nine month layoff and ridden by Mandla Ntuli, had settled well on the rail about three lengths off the lead from a low draw. Fareeq maintained a resolute finishing run in the straight and fought back after being headed by the running on Danish Wood. The judges were unable to separate them. The Kannemeyer-trained third-placed Noordhoek Ice is one to watch having run on strongly from second to last in the running.
– David Thiselton
– Picture: Surrey was an easy winner at Greyville on Friday night (Nkosi Hlophe)

The double header in KZN this weekend has two nine race cards, a much anticpated 20/20 meeting at Greyville tonight, and a Scottsville meeting in which some good horses are being turned out.

The selections for tonight are Swiss Note to beat Chronological in the first, Kolinsky to beat Mighty Mississippi in the second, Translunar to win the third from Just Ask Me and Diamond King, Surrey to beat Military Leader in the fourth, Intergalactic to beat Khonza in the fifth, Yell to beat Cherry Orchard and Fashion Talk in the sixth, Grey’s A Rockin to beat Capel Top in the seventh, Quintella to beat Jolo and Lucky Packet in the eighth and Fareeq to beat Blue Ocean and Sunshine City in the ninth.

Mark Dixon turns out the classy sprinter African Dream in the fifth race at Scottsville, a Conditions Plate over 1200m for fillies and mares, and he said that while she would not be “fully wound up” he believed she would be at her best this season as she has strengthened and improved. She will take a power of beating, but two horses who will definitely be tough nuts to crack at the weights will be the Charles Laird-trained Beloved Country and the Paul Gadsby-trained Miss Varlicious. Beloved Country will arrive fit from a three month break, being from the Charles Laird yard, and this classy sort receives 6,5kg from African Dream. Miss Valicious has struck as one with a bright future and she not only receives 8kg from African Dream, but also has a 4kg claimer up, which makes it a 12kg advantage in all. Miss Varlicious is therefore the tip to win with Beloved Country second under Anthony Delpech and African Dream third under regular pilot Keagan de Melo. Littleblacknumber is useful but has a tough task at the weights and the Gr 1 winner Chestnuts ‘N Pearls is likely a bigger threat, although the GR 1 two-year-old form of last season is not standing up too well to date.

In the first race, a maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m, Nikki reverts to a sprint, having been beaten as favourite over 1600m. She finished 6,75 lengths back to the highly promising Rock On Baby when third on debut over 1000m and the runner up Elephant Matriarch, who was only 0,5 lengths in front of her, won next time out so she will take a lot of beating. Juds Express makes most appeal of the rest having been slow away on debut over course an distance before running on well and the Duncan Howells yard horses usually come on from their first runs.

The second is also a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m and here Seventh Moment could be the one to beat from a favourable draw. She made a fine debut over course and distance and her saddle then slipped second time out over 1000m. Anthony Delpech has kept the ride. Bella Miesque has run against some fair sorts and her form has stood up well so she could be a big danger from a favourable draw for an in form yard. Diamond League showed pace on debut over 1200m on the poly in May before finishing just under five lengths back to a very promising sort, so should be thereabouts from a favourable draw. Isingamoya could improve on her debut in which she was slow away and not disgraced over 1000m. Aventurine is from the champion trainer Sean Tarry’s yard and should also improve, although Delpech has defected to ride Seventh Moment. Anton Marcus is an eyecatching booking for the first-timer Poise, who is by Kahal out of a Fort Wood three-time winner from 1400-1800m.

The third is a Maiden over 1200m and of those to have raced the hard-knocking Destined For Dawn could get it right at last for an in form yard.  Re-Examined is an interesting runner as the form of his debut looks quite strong. Bacca Laureate improved considerably last time in a weak field and Delpech now rides from a favourable draw. Roy’s Power could earn another cheque in this uninspiring field. Humidor returns from a one year layoff after making a reasonable debut and Anton Marcus is a significant booking from a plum draw. None of the first-timers make much appeal.

The fourth is a Maiden over 1200m and Protea Power returns to the course and distance of his excellent effort in early August and this time runs from a better draw so is the one to beat. Brave Knight was green on debut and ran on well and although the form does not look strong he should improve considerably being from the Howells yard. Powder Keg is back to the course and distance of his best run and has first-time blinkers on from a plum draw. Purple Splash made a fair debut here over 1000m and could earn. Delirious Nomad could also be in the frame. Neruda is by Second Empire and is a half-brother to the useful sprinter Dennis the Menace and the speedy battle Of Alma.

The sixth is a MR 90 Handicap over 1200m and  Gavin van Zyl said that this would be a preparation run for Redcarpet Captain for the forthcoming Bloodstock South Africa Ready To Run Cup on October 31 at Turffontein, so he won’t be fully wound up. Hunting Owl will enjoy the course an distance and is tipped to beat Talktothestars, who jumps from a favourable draw with a 4kg claimer up, and Redcarpet Captain could be next best.

In the seventh over 2400m Battle Hammer looks well weighted over a suitable trip and Depech rides. Your Worship and Sugarbuzz make most appeal of the rest.

In the eighth over 2400m Forest caught the eye last time behind a good sort over 1600m when caught wide from a high draw before running on well and he should relish the step up in trip. Desert Sunset should enjoy the trip and looks be the danger alongside Roy’s Horse, who stayed on for third over course and distance last month.

The last over 1600m could be won by Estimation, who was green when backed on debut and is now well drawn over a step up in trip she will appreciate and Marcus is up. Zilla and Coastal Spell look to be the dangers.

By David Thiselton

Picture: African Dream (Nkosi Hlophe)