Vodacom Durban July hero Power King is among 34 powerful entries for this year’s R1-million Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile (Grade 2) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday October 31.

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer had said a while back he could be bringing Power King to the Highveld for a shot at the R2-million SANSUI Summer Cup over 2000m at the end of November. He is one of three runners from the Kannemeyer stable nominated for the Charity Mile, the others being Afrikaburn, who is sure to love the Turffontein 1600m, and Solar Star, a five-time winner from 17 starts.

All three are currently based at Kannemeyer’s Summerveld satellite yard and, if they run, will raid from there. “I only brought the majority of my Durban Champions Season horses home to Cape Town last Thursday so I could do their African horse sickness vaccinations in the warmth – it only really starts warming up in Cape Town from late October, early November,” said Kannemeyer. “Some, like Power King, Afrikaburn, Solar Star, Master James and Hot Ticket remained behind to, perhaps, run in Johannesburg during the spring season.”

He added his plans had not yet been finalised. “They have been provisionally nominated. We still have to have a look at the conditions and handicaps and do what’s best for the horses.”

Justin Snaith, who has stables locally, has entered Dynamic and Ultimate Dollar, who finished third behind Deputy Judd in the recent Supreme Cup, sponsored by SAP, over 1450m on the Vaal sand.

He could get a second crack at Deputy Judd as Mike Azzie has entered the son of Judpot into the Charity Mile. Azzie has also nominated Prince Of Orange.

As expected there is a strong entry from the Mike de Kock yard which is headed up by Mitraad, a winner of four of his five starts. Other De Kock entries are Kingmambo’s Legacy, Anjaal, Flying The Flag and Toro Rosso.

Mitraad’s lone defeat was to Zambezi River and he is one of five entries from the Sean Tarry yard. Among the others are Equus Champion Three-Year-Old French Navy and Heavy Metal.

This year’s Charity Mile will be the biggest yet, with the 16 chosen charities receiving a share of R1 million, a dramatic increase from last year’s total of R550,000.

The barrier draw, which will be held at Emperors Palace on 21 October, will decide which of the 16 thoroughbreds will represent which charity. Sixteen celebrities will each be matched with a charity for the day.

The charity who draws the winning horse will receive R150,000, the charity represented by the runner-up will receive R100,000 with the other 14 charities getting proportionate amounts of the total donation, depending on the allocated horse’s placement.

Supplementary entries close at 11am on Friday after which the weights will be posted.

Declarations close at 10am on Tuesday 20 October and the final field will be announced at a special event on Wednesday 21 October when the draws will be made. The draw for charities and celebrities will be performed at the same function. (TABNews)

Entries for the R1-million Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile (Grade 2) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 31 October in order of merit ratings:

French Navy	(4G)	Sean Tarry	113
Power King	(5G)	Dean Kannemeyer	109
Bouclette Top (ARG)	(5G)	Alec Laird	108
Flying The Flag (IRE)	(6H)	Mike de Kock	108
Bezanova	(5G)	Alec Laird	107
Deputy Jud	(4G)	Mike Azzie	107
Rampant Ice	(4G)	Weiho Marwing	106
Bold Inspiration	(5G)	Charles Laird	105
Halve The Deficit	(7G)	Sean Tarry	105
Master Sabina	(6G)	Geoff Woodruff	105
Afrikaburn	(4G)	Dean Kannemeyer	104
Killua Castle (AUS)	(6G)	Geoff Woodruff	104
Mac De Lago (AUS)	(4C)	Weiho Marwing	104
Whiteline Fever	(7G)	Sean Tarry	103
Zambezi River	(4G)	Sean Tarry	103
Heavy Metal	(7G)	Sean Tarry	102
Ultimate Dollar	(4G)	Justin Snaith	102
Anjaal (AUS)	(4G)	Mike de Kock	101
Disco Al	(6G)	Joey Ramsden	101
Dynamic	(6G)	Justin Snaith	101
M L Jet	(4G)	Gavin van Zyl	101
The Hangman	(6G)	Sean Tarry	100
Shadow Ofhis Smile	(5G)	Geoff Woodruff	99
The Captain’s Tune	(4G)	Geoff Woodruff	99
Solar Star	(5G)	Dean Kannemeyer	98
Toro Rosso (BRZ)	(4C)	Mike de Kock	98
Mitraad (AUS)	(4G)	Mike de Kock	97
Saratoga Dancer	(4G)	Duncan Howells	95
Prince Of Orange	(4G)	Mike Azzie	93
Master ‘n Commander	(4G)	Geoff Woodruff	92
Pivotal Pursuit	(6G)	Gary Alexander	91
Kingmambo’s Legacy	(4G)	Mike de Kock	90
National Key	(6G)	Brian Wiid	90
Fulcrum	(6G)	Weiho Marwing	85

Picture: Power King winning the 2015 Vodacom Durban July (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Charles Laird-trained Oracy colt Main Submission would have climbed up to about second or third position on the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup log, which was last issued on October 1, after his win in a Graduation Plate on Sunday and there was plenty of activity over the weekend for horses attempting to both prepare and book their berths in the big race.

The Mike Azzie-trained Rabada still has the R2,5 million race, which will be run over 1400m at Turffontein on October 31, to himself on paper. The unbeaten 111 merit-rated Brave Tin Soldier colt, who counts the Gr 1 Premiers Champions Stakes over 1600m among his three victories, put in a pleasing gallop on the Randjesfontein grass on Saturday and Azzie was left admiring the professionalism of jockey Anton Marcus, who flew in and out from Durban especially for that one piece of work.

Meanwhile, Main Submission kept on finding down the straight in the 1400m event at Scottsville on Sunday to beat the ultra-consistent five-year-old gelding Nineteen Fourteen by 0,75 lengths. Three-year-olds receive 7kg from five-year-olds at this time of the year on the weight for age scale over a distance of 1400m, but Main Submission was only receiving 1,5kg from the 84 merit rated Nineteen Fourteen under the conditions of the race.

This means Main Submission would have run to a merit rating of 97. Winners of Plate races are only allowed to go up six points anyway, so Main Submission’s merit rating looks likely to increase from 91 to 97, which would put him one point behind the second placed horse on the Ready To Run log, the Joey Ramsden-trained Tar Heel. However, 98 merit-rated Tar Heel finished last in a MR 84 Handicap over 1400m at Durbanville on Saturday, although he did over race from a wide draw, so it remains to be seen how the handicapper and the Ready To Run cup log panellists view the performance.

The Laird-trained Kahal colt Top Form ran a respectable third to two five-year-olds who look well handicapped in a MR 74 Handicap over 1400m on the Greyville poly on Friday night and looks likely to qualify for the Ready To Run Cup as he was merit rated 86 and was in joint 12^th place on the last log.

Laird’s strongly built Kahal gelding Dance On Air won well over 1400m on the poly on October 2 and has also been merit rated 86, so he also has a good chance of qualifying. Both Top Form and Dance On Air are lightly race and entitled to improve.

On Friday night the well regarded Sean Tarry-trained Kahal filly Witchcraft won a maiden over 1400m, but the 76 merit rating awarded to her will not be enough to qualify for the Ready To Run Cup. The yard are likely going to have to find another race for her. She looks a big strong horse who will be able to take a lot of racing and Friday night’s race was in fact only five days after her debut, in which she was green down the straight at Scottsville.

Another Tarry yard contender is the 81 merit-rated Kahal filly Intergalactic, who is entered in a Novice Plate over 1600m on the Greyville poly on Friday night. The fillies 2,5kg allowance is built into the log assessment and Intergalactic was placed in joint-11^th place on the last log.

The Tarry-trained St Petersburg filly Faberge Style was in joint-third position on the last log on a merit rating of 88 and only managed a 7,65 length seventh in a Progress Plate for three-year-old fillies over 1200m at Turffontein on Saturday. However, it was a strong event and her merit rating is unlikely to change. Both of her wins have been on all weather surfaces (sand and poly), but she did run a good second in a turf maiden over 1000m to the subsequent Gr 1-placed Madame Dubois.

The Lucky Houdalakis-trained Captain Al filly Khaleesi finished third in the above-mentioned Progress Plate and this confirmed she was up to her merit rating of 88, which also had her in joint third on the last log. She is yet to go beyond 1200m but ran on in eyecatching style on Saturday and on pedigree will also relish the step up in trip.

Khaleesi’s stablemate Emperor’s Lass finished last in Saturday’s race, way below her debut win last March over 1200m, but was interfered with on the turn which might have offered an explanation. She was merit rated 83 and in tenth place on the last Ready To Run Cup log, but this run might put a bit of pressure on her qualification.

The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Visionaire filly Sobonana just held on for second on Saturday ahead of Khaleesi, at level weights, proving she is worth her 86 merit rating, which had her in joint 8^th position on the last Ready To Run log. She showed fine gatespeed and dictated, so it remains to be seen whether she will enjoy the step up in trip, although her dam by Toreador did win over 1400m.

There was also a strong Progress Plate for three-year-old males at Turffontein on Saturday and in this race the Gary Alexander-trained A.P. Arrow colt King Of Chaos could only manage a 9,25 length seventh in his first outing outside of Port Elizabeth. However, he did have to give 2,5kg to the outstanding winner of the race Bull Valley, who is one of the most exciting three-year-olds around. Twice-winning King Of Chaos was in joint fifth on the last log with a merit rating of 92 together with the Mike de Kock-trained Perfumed Lady and the Louis Goosen-trained A Million Dreams.

King Of Chaos’s stablemate, the Bankable gelding Duke Nukem, put his hand up for a place in the final Ready To Run Cup by running a fine third to Bull Valley. He was previously rated 79, which put him in only 24^th place on the last log, but he ran to a 90 on Saturday and the trainer will be allowed to request that he is officially accorded that merit rating (In the handicapping rules winners of Plate races will not be adjusted more than six points and placed horse will not be adjusted upwards unless requested by the connections).

The Alexander-trained Kahal colt Champagne Haze, who is a half-brother to Pierre Jourdan, booked his place in the Ready To Run Cup field the previous weekend when waltzing home in a MR 92 Handicap for three-year-olds over 1450m, which earned him a merit rating of 90.

The Joey Ramsden-trained Australian-bred High Chaparal filly Chisanyama, in 13^th place on the last log, will attempt to cement her place as she is entered in a Novice Plate over 1600m at Durbanville next Saturday.

Three-time winner Country Gent was also in joint 13^th place on the last log, but finished unplaced in a MR 84 Handicap over 1800m at Flamingo Park yesterday in which he was only 0,5kg under sufferance off a merit rating of 85.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Main Submission (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Vaal’s eight race sand meeting today represents one of the last chances for punters to reap some of the good dividends that can be found on this track as there are only three subsequent meetings before it is replaced by a turf track.

In the first race over 1450m the champion yard of Sean Tarry is kicking into top gear and Le Dominion looks to be a horse who will take well to the sand on both running style and pedigree so could win it from pole position. Seventh Apostle showed early pace over 1000m on debut and is stepped up in trip from a good draw. On pedigree he is not certain to stay the trip being by the sprinter King’s Apostle from a very fast female line which includes the like of National Colour. However, on the other hand horses that carve out a big lead on this surface are sometimes hard to catch even if plugging on at one pace.

Bullion Bay is drawn well over the trip in which he went close last time from a similarly good draw and the form of that race has not worked out too badly. Pera Hur has been knocking on the door from 1200-1450m on the sand and now has Andrew Fortune up from a fair draw. Battle Of Arcole has the form to be a contender here and has champion jockey Gavin Lerena up, but on the downside he has a terrible draw.

In the second race over 1000m Magic has gone close to some good sorts including in a feature over course and distance last time, so now has a good opportunity from a fair draw to get off the mark. Boogaloo ran a fine race over course and distance last time when showing pace throughout and the low draws have appeared to have been getting an early advantage over course and distance recently so he will be a threat. Justash has pace and a low draw with Lerena up and in second time blinkers should do better than last time when bumped at the start, so he could also be a threat as his score in meetings with Magic over course and distance is one victory and two defeats.

In the third over 1000m Supanova is a consistent sort with plenty of speed and the ability to stay on, so he could just get up with a late rally from a high draw as he looks capable of rising above his lowly merit rating. The progressive Racing Red is by the impressive sire Querari and would not be a surprise winner following his taking maiden win over course and distance as he looks to have also been awarded a lenient merit rating. Buster Posy faced a fine field on his sand debut last time and back in this class his good pace could see him finishing thereabouts under Lerena. La Tasca won well over course and distance last week, but will carry 2kg more than carded as a result. The Gobi has come down to a competitive merit rating and could earn.

In the fourth over 1000m Ballerini has been knocking on the door against some fair types over course and distance and has Lerena up from an ideal looking draw. La Strada has dropped seven points in the merit ratings despite finishing a respectable fifth in a feature last time on the sand when bumped at the start. Winter Darling comes from an in form yard and was not disgraced over course and distance last time in a feature despite losing a length at the start. Slick Deputy won impressively over course and distance last time out and being by Go Deputy should have come into her own now as a young five-year-old, so she would not be a surprise winner. Captain’s Diva should be running on strongly and can’t be ignored. Super Guppy has been facing good sorts without being disgraced and is off a competitive merit rating so has to go into the equation being from the Tarry yard who are kicking onto top gear.

In the fifth over 1200m Wishful Heart has some class and looks ideally course and distance suited, so from a good draw is the one to beat. Return To The Sun has been knocking on the door off this merit rating and has a fair draw over an ideal course and distance. Shine Tiger won in commanding fashion the last time he had this pole position draw over this course and distance, so he could be a threat back despite being six points higher in the merit ratings since that last win.

In the sixth over 1600m, Opah Latino should love the sand on both running style and pedigree and from a good draw looks to be the one to side with in an ultra competitive affair. White Christmas is running over his best trip and off a slightly lowered merit rating should be right there as he comes from some fair formlines.  Perfect Trip runs from a much better draw than he had last week when well beaten here over 1450m and he could run into the money.

In the seventh over 1800m Arabian World is an improving sort being by the classy sire Ideal World and he is drawn well over an ideal course and distance off just a four point higher merit rating than his last win. Commodore Al has a fine record over course and distance, but the handicappers are taking no chances with him and he is ten points higher in the merit ratings since his last win. Colonel Rockjaw was a facile winner over course and distance last time out and on paper could have the edge on Commodore Al, but that doesn’t take into account that Commodore Al stumbled in their first meeting and still beat him.

In the eighth over 1800m Knock Knock will appreciate the step back to this trip and could have the beating of this field with Gavin Lerena up from a good draw, especially as his recent runs over shorter are likely to have brought him on for this race. Siena’s Star is officially 3,5kg under sufferance, but won well when stepped up to this trip at Flamingo Park last time so is the dark horse, although her wide draw makes it tough. Imperial Empress is not far behind Knock Knock on the form of their last meeting over course and distance. Seattle Fairy has won over course and distance before and could earn in this weak contest. French Approval is very lowly merit rated and way out at the weights but has shown signs of ability and could possibly place from pole position.

By David Thiselton 

Picture: Gavin Lerena

Brazuca, 4kg clear top-rated of the 44 first nominations for the Magnum Cape Classic, will miss Saturday week’s Kenilworth Grade 3 test because of his 25 draw.

However Johan Janse van Vuuren said yesterday that a tilt at the Grand Parade Cape Guineas on December 19 could still be under consideration.

He said: “That was my plan originally, otherwise I wouldn’t have nominated him for the Cape Classic, but it’s draw dependent and in the Cape Classic he has got a bad draw.”

Janse van Vuuren took the unconventional step of running the Australian-bred in the Grade 1 Golden Horseshoe on July day when he was still a maiden (“because he is good”) and the colt was beaten only a short head by Seventh Plain. He has since won at the Vaal.

Act Of War, who took last year’s Cape Classic en route to victory in the Selangor and Cape Guineas, has taken his reappearance Matchem win exceptionally well.

Joey Ramsden, confirming that the Green Point on November 21 is next on the agenda, said: “Act Of War has come out of the race really well. He is a different horse now and he is like an absolute bull.”

Greg Ennion still has a lot of faith in the former Stan Elley-trained Eighth Wonder despite the gelding’s three-quarter length defeat by Victorious Jay at Durbanville last Saturday.

Ennion said: “All that beat him was last time’s four point merit rating increase and that he needed the run – he was blowing hard afterwards. He is a very well bred horse (his grandam is a half-sister to Horse Chestnut) and he is going to be good.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Brazuca (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Dennis Drier-trained six-year-old Captain Al gelding Barbosa proved himself a 1000m sprinter to be reckoned with when missing the break in a Pinnacle Stakes race at Scottsville yesterday and still managing to win cosily under Sean Cormack. He gave 1,5kg to both the course and distance specialist Mr Whatever and the Gr 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint winner Normanz and quickened well to beat them by 1,25 lengths plus a shorthead. Cormack praised Drier’s workrider Carrie Radford because Barbosa, who was recording a hattrick of wins, has apparently come into his own since she began working with him at Summerveld.

Later the ever improving Charles Laird-trained three-year-old Oracy colt Main Submission proved himself a classic contender when finding another gear to repel  Nineteen Fourteen in a Graduation Plate over 1400m and win by 0,75 lengths under Anton Marcus. He was only receiving 1,5kg from the 84 merit-rated five-year-old runner up, so this was a decent performance. Furthermore, he was giving 3kg to his classy and fast-finishing contemporary Rikitikitana, whom he beat by a length, although he did benefit from the latter’s jockey dropping the whip.

The strength of last season’s two-year-old Gr 1s has been questionable and last season’s Gr 1 Thekwini winner Lauderdale was apparently not up to running off a merit rating of 101 in a MR 90 handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m. This was her second run after a layoff and she would likely prefer further, but that was possibly not enough to excuse a 5,5 length beating by her lightweight Duncan Howells-trained stablemate Trini’s Collateral, who was ridden by Sean Veale. Furthermore, the runner up Umoyana was 1,5kg under sufferance, but beat Lauderdale by 3,75 lengths.

A Howells horse to watch is the Australian-bred Henrythenavigator colt Ten Gun Salute, who was green before doing eyecatchng work late when finishing runner up in a Maiden over 1600m. This race was won in good style by the Robbie Hill-trained Just As Well gelding Just Like Magic to give Marcus the second leg of a treble. Marcus’s other winner was aboard the Gavin van Zyl-trained Noordhoek Flyer gelding Bagger Vance who converted his strong maiden formlines into success over 1000m.

Wendy Whitehead looks to have a fine prospect in the Ideal World filly Free State who was backed from long odds into 33/10 favouritism in a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1000m and a high draw didn’t bother her as she powered to an easy 2,25 length win under Alec Forbes. It was part-owner Dr Ralph Katzwinkel’s 50^th winner as an owner and this filly could join another one he owns, the brilliant filly Same Jurisdiction, as a feature race contender. Free State’s win completed a weekend double for the in form Whitehead stable and both winners were ridden by Forbes.

Forbes later rode the Windrush filly Velvet Wind to victory in a fillies and mares maiden over 1600m and as it was only her second start she looks to be another nice horse to look forward to for the flourishing Alistair Gordon yard.

Drier scored a double when apprentice Calvin Ngcobo rode the Toreador filly Fiery Goddess to victory in a MR 80 fillies and mares maiden over 1000m.

The meeting was rounded off by Glen Kotzen and Billy Jacobson who combined to comfortably win a MR 72 Handicap for fillies and mares with the Casey Tibbs mare Dizzy Feet.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Barbosa (Nkosi Hlophe)