Greyville has another eight race meeting on the poly and there look to be some good opportunities for punters.

In the first, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1400m, is a tough one for punters to assess. Banda showed pace over 1000m last time at Cape Town, where the maidens are generally stronger than Durban, and she will relish the step up in trip so would not be a surprise winner under a 4kg claimer. Witchcraft made a fair debut over 1200m on Sunday when green and will appreciate the step up in trip.

Drury Lane was caught late after opening up a big lead in the straight when using front running tactics last time and considering her pole position draw and the race times she does have La Gitano beaten on paper but the latter did have the saddle slip excuse. La Gitano went close last time over course and distance despite the saddle slipping slightly and a repeat of the latter incident is unlikely with one of the country’s strongest jockey, Sean Veale, aboard. Time Capsule was doing her best work late over 1000m at Scottsville on debut behind a highly promising sort and not only has the form of that race worked out well but she will appreciate the step up in trip.

Swan Dance over raced a bit last time over course and distance so is interesting with the blinkers off and Anton Marcus up. Eleven looks to have scope for improvement and considering she was a bit strong behind a slow pace over 1600m last time, a race in which she was also baulked late, she should appreciate the step down in trip. Thanda has beaten Eleven in both their meetings but is more exposed and not as scopey. The only first-timer is the Judpot filly Notability, whose sibling have not amounted to much and she only cost R90,000, but on the other hand she is trained by Mike de Kock and Anthony Delpech rides.

The second over 1400m, Master Of Mischief flyjumped last time when a touch disappointing on turf but ran a cracker over this course and distance before that and is the one to beat. Eternal Ice over raced with cheek pieces last time against winners and they are now off so he should be right there with Marcus back in the saddle. Leroy was not far behind Master Of Mischief when they met over course and distance.

In the third race over 1400m, Brave William wasn’t disgraced on debut over 1200m when slow away and green in a maiden that has worked out well, and on pedigree he should relish the step up in trip. Aficionado ran on well on debut over course and distance when green so with expected improvement should be right there. Starcraft Prince has shown some signs of ability and should be cherry ripe having his third run after a long rest. Buster Brown has a place chance on form. Long Walk is usually thereabouts over shorter and on pedigree should enjoy this trip.

The fourth over 1400m, Last Tiger looks well weighted on his Cape Town form and could provide yet another winner for Dean Kannemeyer’s new arrivals from Cape Town. Top Form will be fit in his comeback, as he is from the Charles Laird yard, and his class could help him defy an 86 merit rating from pole position. Fantasy Art has improved since being gelded and is course and distance suited. Storm Surf is now back to a competitive merit rating over an ideal course and distance from a plum draw. Red Rover is course and distance suited. Aware did well in blinkers in his last two and could earn off a one point lower merit rating.

In the fifth over 2000m Golden High has a touch of class and off just a two point higher merit rating than his last win he could follow up over an ideal course and distance. Entrée only just failed last time over course and distance and could make amends here. Night Lock is consistent and could earn again over a suitable course and distance.

In the sixth over 1600m, Alessia beat a fair sort last time and could have the class to defy her 83 merit rating first time out the maidens. Lady Ami is a runner here as a hard knocker with Marcus up, although she would probably prefer a touch further. Music World was still green when winning her maiden over course and distance and could improve further. Nanojet ran well last time but this is her second run after a long rest. News Weekly has a chance on form.

In the seventh over 1200m Off Ramp, who has won on the Greyville poly before,  looks extremely well weighted on her Cape Town form although the slight concerns are that she is widely drawn and would probably prefer 1400m. Quintella loves this course and distance and was a touch unlucky in her penultimate start. Chennai Babe has a hattrick chance with Marcus up over a suitable trip.

In the last over 1200m the hard-knocking Teppenyaki could lead all the way from a low draw. Burrwood should be running on strongly late. Temple Rock is off an attractive merit rating and could earn. Risky Rosco is always thereabouts and is distance suited. Rainer can’t be ignored over a suitable trip. Portelinha Samba could still improve and can’t be ignored.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Alessia (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Vaal stages another intriguing eight race meeting on the sand and as always on this surface punters will need to do their homework.

In the first race over 1000m the speedy Angie The Rebel, whose pedigree for this course and distance could hardly be better, looks hard to oppose on form. Windinmyhair appears best when held up off the pace so with a lot of speed in this race it should pan out to her liking and she could run on strongly for second. Matron Prilly has a suitable sand pedigree and is a noteworthy first-timer. The Berry Lady has speed but has made breathing noises before, although she does now have a tongue tie on. Pendulum Of Life is by Count Dubois and was purchased for R500,000, but a concern is that her two siblings to have raced have not amounted to much.

In the second over 1450m, Rock Me Var has come class and is a full-brother to Solarium who is generally kept to sprints but has won over 1400m, so he is interesting stepped up in trip with Andrew Fortune up, although he has a tricky draw of five in the seven horse field. Battle In Seattle has a better draw than last time when probably going too fast in front and it would be no surprise to see him make amends. Mighty Manzi is by Windrush, whose progeny are known to love the Vaal sand. He cast a shoe in his first start on the surface, but won second time out over this course and distance when flying up late. He has a better draw this time but runs off a two point higher merit rating and the concern is that he benefitted from horses going too fast in front last time out.

Olympic Owen is better than his last start in which he stumbled and overreached and was caught wide from a wide draw before being rushed around them , so from a good draw his class could possibly see him reversing form with Mighty Manzi, who beat him comfortably last time out. Vulcan is a speedy sort but won his only start over course and distance. He is now seven points higher in the merit ratings and he continually interfered with Rock Me Var last time over 1200m on turf  so the latter could reverse form. Raise The Red likely needed his last start and can improve but his wide draw will make it tough.

In the third over 1450m the Windrush filly Bluemoonrush  improved when switched to sand last time out over 1000m and on pedigree will love the step up in trip. Ginger Sioux ran well the last time she tried the course and distance and is now drawn in pole with Fortune up. Lindeman Lustre beat the latter in that race but there is now a reversal in draw fortunes. Eastside can earn if repeating her last start over course and distance. Somerset Skye’s best run in Cape Town was over this trip and she could improve on her Highveld debut.

In the fourth over 1200m, Don Christo should enjoy the switch to sand having run two fair races on turf and has Gavin Lerena up from a fair draw. Le Clos has run well three times on turf, twice over this trip, and is well drawn but a concern is that he has made breathing noises every time. Seven Cheers ran a cracker from pole position over course and distance in his penultimate start and now has a draw midway between that and the draw he had last time, also over course and distance, when well beaten.

In the fifth over 1600m, Dancing Escudo won well over course and distance in her penultimate start and then was found to not be striding out when disappointing over 1800m, so she could be a big factor here if back to her best, although her wide draw is a bit of a concern. Fashion Secret won easily in just her second career start last time over course and distance and Lerena has kept the ride although her time was over three seconds slower than Escudo’s victory. Fire Dancing ran well in a Gr 2 on Saturday over 1450m and has the ability, but a concern is that she has been below par twice when stepped up in trip to this course and distance.

In the sixth over 1000m High Game is interesting as he was considered good enough to contest a Gr 1 and his merit rating of 76 is reasonable. He showed pace in a 1300m event last time out so the trip shouldn’t be too sharp. Maji Moto should be a runner here over an ideal course and distance with Fortune up. Chief Sioux did well over course and distance last time out and Lerena retains the ride. Flag Of France’s best recent performances have been over 1000m and he has come further down the sand merit ratings. Benbow is back to the merit rating of his last win over course and distance.

In the seventh over 1200m Knock Knock is off a competitive merit rating and ran a cracker over 1450m last time on the sand, so this shouldn’t be too sharp and he should be running on strongly from a wide draw. Play Date is interesting stepped down to this course and distance with Lerena up off a very much lowered merit rating as she has done well over course and distance before when in the maidens. Tabanna ran well over this trip on the turf last time and in her only sand start was outclassed in what proved to be a strong race over 1000m, so she could feature in the finish.

In the eighth over 1450m, Sub Shaawes used to be known as a shirker so now that he has won a race well last time and has the same experienced jockey aboard, he can be followed despite being given a six point merit rated raise. Cumberland should handle this trip and the form of his last start over 1200m looks good.  Pay As You Go has run well in his last two sand starts over 1600m and as a handy sort is interesting over sharper from a fair barrier position.
– David Thiselton
Picture: Champion jockey Gavin Lerena rides Don Christo (Race 4) at the Vaal today

Futura and fellow stable star Legislate are building up for their five-year-old campaigns but there is no indication yet whether either or both will take on Act Of War in the Green Point Stakes at Kenilworth on November 21.

Justin Snaith said yesterday: “They both went for a rest on a farm after Durban and they are now slowly getting there but we haven’t yet decided on any plans.”

The pair started off in the Green Point last season with Legislate setting a new mile course record and Futura finishing third before going on to take both the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the J & B Met for Brett Crawford, and later winning the Champions Cup for Snaith to clinch the Equus Horse of the Year award. Legislate won the Gold Challenge.

Act Of War was left on his 117 merit rating despite breaking the 1 400m Durbanville record in last Saturday’s Kuda  Matchem and Anton Marcus casting doubt on the handicap mark, saying: “Joey Ramsden will probably call me a prophet of doom but I am not convinced the horse is 117.”

However Heartland, beaten a length and a half when in receipt of 1.5kg, has been raised five points to 102. Bernard Fayd’Herbe felt that the colt wasn’t at ease on the tight course and Snaith’s immediate reaction was that he had banged a fetlock.

The former champion trainer said yesterday: “I couldn’t find much wrong with him even though he knocked himself but he didn’t feel right on the track. I might run him in something like the Diadem (Dec 26) later.”

Snaith’s Baritone, twice a winner at Kenilworth in August, is set to give weight all round in the Magnum Cape Classic at Kenilworth a fortnight on Saturday. Easily the highest-rated horse among the 44 entries is Brazuca who went under by only a short head to Seventh Plain in the Durban Golden Horseshoe on Vodacom Durban July day despite being still a maiden.

Joey Ramsden, who  has won the last two runnings of the Cape Classic with Red Ray and Act Of War, has entered six including the highly regarded pair Hard Day’s Night and Tar Heel who has his first run of the season at Durbanville on Saturday.

Ronnie Sheehan reported yesterday that Cape Nursery winner Captain Chaos “has come on a lot” since his reappearance but he was disappointed by the colt’s 35 draw.
– Michael Clower

Picture: Legislate left Futura right (John Lewis)

Mystical Twilight can make amends for last time’s disappointment and score at a rewarding 5-1 in the Gold Circle Graduation Plate at Durbanville today.

MJ Byleveld’s mount has the form to win as he had Met day Listed winner Buckinghamshire nearly two and a half lengths behind in the SA Nursery in April.  He was an easy winner of maiden over this course and distance two months ago but things went wrong when he started second favourite here last time.

“He got bumped coming out of the gate and I think you will see a vastly improved performance this time,” says Vaughan Marshall. “I believe he will like the five furlongs even though you wouldn’t expect that from his pedigree.”

Buckinghampshire comes out nearly two lengths better on adjusted ratings and opened at 9-10 with Betting World yesterday but he has been off for over 11 weeks. “He will run very well although I think he is better over a little bit further,” says Justin Snaith.

Ernie, who started favourite when fourth in the Langerman and is 3-1 here, also has strong claims but he has not raced since June. “It’s not so much that he will need the run but that it’s a bit short for him,” says Candice Robinson. “He has been gelded since his last race.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe had three winners on Saturday and he should waste little time in striking again because his mount Duke The Duke looks capable of beating fellow 5-2 joint favourite Barnstable and Rit Mo Total (28-10) in the first.

He can also win race three on Durban Beach who opened at 9-10. The gelding has not raced since starting odds-on for his debut ten months ago but bookmakers have long memories and they have not forgotten how the money poured on this one. “He was a precocious, speedy type,” Snaith recalls. “But his knees came up after that first run so he has had a long break. He is a nice type of horse.”

Snaith also trained the Darryl Hodgson pair Cardinal Call and Chennai Space when they made their January debuts but neither has raced since. Chennai Space has the better chance of the pair according to the bookies and Betting World had him second favourite at 5-2 yesterday. “I think he will probably need the run,” is Darryl Hodgson’s verdict.

Ravishing Lad doesn’t have the same potential but is expected to go close and the 7-1 chance could be worth a small place bet. “I am going to put cheek pieces on him and he will go to the front,” says Mike Stewart. “When Richard Fourie rode him here in July he was beaten less than half a length into third. Richard told me that he had the second and third stone cold but the horse wouldn’t go past them.”

Midnight Spy, 5-2 joint favourite for race four, was only caught on the line when running a cracking debut here a fortnight ago but Taffety Tart (also 5-2) has slightly stronger form and is preferred.

Big Ed has run well over shorter distances in his last two races but Shane Humby’s five-year-old is in his element over 2 400m and looks another for Fayd’Herbe in the Gold Circle Handicap. However yesterday’s 14-10 looks short enough.

By Michael Clower 

Picture: MJ Byleveld

The Australian-bred Aces United will bring South Africa a world first today in race nine at The Vaal when running with a breathing device invented by Dr. Ralph Katzwinkel of the Summerveld Equine Hospital.

Katzwinkel emphasised that the device is not at all performance enhancing, rather it allows the horse to receive sufficient oxygen and therefore perform to its natural ability. The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) has approved the device.

Aces United  ran second in his first two starts over 1000m at Kenilworth to two decent sorts in Equity Kicker and Tomba La Bomba.

Then on L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate day he won over 1200m. However, he has not run since J&B Met day, where he was well beaten over the same course and distance.

The well-bred four-year-old colt by Lonhro was starting to become anxious at both the races and in training and sweating up in the ring until eventually one day he finished extremely distressed and wanted to fall over.

It was then discovered that he had a rare condition, which can usually not be detected when a horse is at rest, called “a fourth branchial arch defect.” It apparently occurs at a rate of two horses in every 20,000 and the end result of the condition is that a horse does not receive sufficient oxygen while galloping.

Aces United not surprisingly scoped normal at the Sales. Katzwinkel was only able to pick up the cause of the problem through the use of an Overground Exercise Laryngoscope, a device which transmits a live video of a horse’s throat while at full gallop.

A fourth branchial arch defect, or “four bad”, is a congenital condition affecting the fourth branchial arch.

It is a malfunction in the upper airways whereby the nerve endings and muscles do not develop properly. This leads to multiple defects in the upper airways. Horses who have had surgery in an attempt to solve the condition inherently do not do well.

Katzwinkel and his team first performed a “permanent tracheotomy” on the horse. This is where a permanent opening is created and in Ace’s United case the opening was made high up on the neck just behind and between the jaw mandibles.

When Aces United was put back into work, it was discovered the opening was acting like a valve and was collapsing. In other words the horse was sucking the opening closed.

Katzwinkel had Aces United transported from Cape Town to Summerveld in order to find a solution to this problem. He consequently invented a removable plug to keep the incision open. The device is covered with gauze, so that no dirt can enter the opening.

The device worked very well and the horse has not made any noises in training since it was applied and he is no longer showing any signs of distress either.
– David Thiselton