The Gr 2 R1 million Supreme Cup sponsored by SAP, formerly known as the Emerald Cup, had its last running on the Vaal Sand track on Saturday and among those who are sad about this surface’s pending discontinuation is Mike Azzie, trainer of Saturday’s big race winner Deputy Jud.

Azzie was thrilled for Deputy Jud’s owners Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren, who have had close to 100 winners in three years in the game, but this was their first big one.

“It was their biggest pay day and long deserved. I think there are good times ahead for them because with patience there are now some good horses coming through the ranks.”

Deputy Jud has come through the race well. “He is a tough horse”, said Azzie of the four-year-old Judpot gelding.

The Van Vuurens, who are one of the biggest spending couples at the South African thoroughbred sales, were not on course due to a family wedding. However, they are keen racegoers and are unlikely to miss Deputy Jud’s other big engagements this season, which according to Azzie could either  be the Gr 1 SANSUI Summer Cup at the end of November or races like the Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and Gr 1 J&B Met.

Azzie was also full of praise for Deputy Jud’s jockey JP van der Merwe, who rode a treble for the yard at the meeting. He said, “Horses love JP, he is kind to them and they run for him. He is talented and I have always said when he gets serious one day he will really go places.”

Azzie did not put down Deputy Jud’s win to a freakish liking for the sand surface, but rather to an improvement in him brought about by recent gelding.

He said, “He doesn’t have to prove himself on turf, he finished third in the SA Classic and second in the SA Derby and might even have won the Daily News 2000 if he hadn’t taken that bad bump. After he had taken that bump, he became very obstinate and gave us a torrid time. He did not want to go to work in the mornings, the groom had to lead him all the way to the ring, and before his workout he would stand for minutes not wanting to do it until he felt like it.”

Upon returning to Johannesburg Azzie told Van Vuuren he would not be able to continue training the horse unless he was gelded. In emphasising the necessity he pointed to a former inmate of his Potala Palace, a Gr 1 winner with an outstanding pedigree, who was attracting little interest at stud. Indeed if Deputy Jud had been packed off to stud he would likely only have been covering Van Vuuren’s own mares, such is the quality of stallion in the country at present.

Azzie is one of many who is sad about the pending discontinuation of the Vaal Sand surface. He said, “When the plan to build the Vaal Sand track was embarked upon, many of us put pressure on them not to do it, but they proved us completely wrong. The sand surface offered a lifeline for so many horses that were going nowhere on the turf, so it is going to be missed for this reason by owners, trainers and breeders. It is a sad day for many.”

One of the best examples of a horse who was given a new lease of life by the surface was provided by the St. John Gray-trained Alami gelding Alimony. After over 40 runs on the turf, Alimony had a merit rating of only 69, despite having won 6 races. However, he proved a revelation on the sand and after a quick hattrick of 1600m wins, two of them by close to ten lengths, he suddenly found himself 18/10 favourite for the 2008 Emerald Cup, despite already being a six-year-old. He duly won the race, carrying 52kg off a merit rating of 94, and in the following two years finished third and second respectively.

However, Alimony wasn’t bad on the turf and didn’t fall into the category of horse whose career could be rescued by the Vaal sand. The latter were sorts who were able to maintain a reasonable gallop from the beginning of a race right until the end, but did not have the necessary turn of foot to win races on the turf (Like dirt surfaces in the USA, the lack of traction on the sand surface makes immediate acceleration more difficult). When the Vaal sand track closes it will be difficult to find victories for this one-paced type of horse, some of whom had choppy actions as opposed to the long strides that are invariably vital on turf surfaces.

However, jockeys might not be among those sad to see the end of the Vaal Sand.

Piere Strydom was its biggest critic. He said it was important on this track to be within striking distance in the straight, because he likened the attempt to reel in a horse in front to trying to trying to catch up with somebody in the soft sand of the beach. The kick back apparently made this task even more difficult. A good start was therefore vital, but he lamented that  horses often slipped when attempting to ping the gates. Jockeys were thus left in a catch 22 situation.

Punters were generally not fans of the surface either, due to the perception that there was a relatively higher incidence of upset results. However, the shrewd were often able to find value on this surface. One example was of horses making their debuts on the Vaal Sand who might have racing styles as well as pedigrees which could be suited to the surface and therefore form improvement could be expected.

– David Thiselton

 

Mike Azzie and JP van der Merwe reigned supreme on the Vaal sand on Saturday when clinching a treble including the big one, the Gr 2 R1 million Supreme Cup over 1450m with the four-year-old Judpot gelding Deputy Jud.

Assistant trainer Adam Azzie confirmed afterwards that his father had deliberately kept Deputy Jud away from the Vaal sand with this race in mind after the horse had proved very much suited to the surface when comfortably winning his maiden here over 1600m last November. He added, “We didn’t want to make the same mistake we made with Pylon (who finished second in this race two years ago with a massive merit rating of 119).”

Deputy Jud’s work had also improved since being gelded after a busy three-year-old campaign, while his rating of 103 was also at one of the top of one of the merit-rated bands, which dictated the weights of the race.

The powerful galloper duly started joint second favourite at 6/1 along with Mootahadee and Ultimate Dollar. Toro Rosso was backed into 4/1 favourite, while Willow Magic drifted out to start at 7/1 together with Roman Carnival.

This was a deserved win for owners Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren, who are together one of the country’s biggest spenders at the sales.

The first to show in the race was the well drawn Ultimate Dollar. The favourite Toro Rosso had to be backed out and checked by the course veterinarian after playing up in the stalls, but that didn’t stop him shooting around into a handy position from his wide draw. Deputy Jud broke well and was perfectly poised behind the leading horses.

The pole position drawn Precursor didn’t jump very well and didn’t enjoy the kickback, while the Gr 3 August Stakes winner Roman Carnival, who stood to win a R100,000 bonus sponsored by World Sports Betting, had difficulty overcoming his wide draw and was in midfield together with the fancied Mootahadee and the best weighted horse, the filly Jade Vine. The speedsters Willow Magic and Isphan were left more than ten lengths out of their ground and just ahead of them was the gallant topweight Uncle Tommy.

Ultimate Dollar kicked on gamely in the straight. However, it was clear Deputy Jud was moving like a winner from a long way out and the connections had one hand on the cup when  he hit the front at about the 300m mark. Uncle Tommy emerged from the pack to chase him home and finished 2,25 lengths back in second, his third successive top three finish in this race and second successive runner up spot. Ultimate Dollar plugged on to finished three lengths back in third ahead of Toro Rosso, whose early exertions were costly. Solar Triptych, who was handy throughout, took the fifth place cheque.

Deputy Jud was bred by Mr and Mrs J Erasmus and was purchased for R460,000 at the Bloodstock South Africa National Yearling Sales.

This was the last Supreme Cup, formerly known as the Emerald Cup, to be run on the soon to be done-away-with Vaal sand track.

Later in the Listed Hampton Handicap over 1000m the horse considered to be the meeting banker, Trip Tease, found 63,5kg just too much and had to settle for second. However,   his Louis Goosen-trained stablemate Doing It For Dan showed he is capable of following in his footsteps with an amazing victory. He lost many lengths at the start, but still managed to power through for an easy 2,1 length victory under Anthony Delpech. The four-year-old gelding provided a third victory on the day for Windrush, whose progeny have always loved the Vaal sand.

In the next race the flying Dominic Zaki-trained four-year-old Judpot filly Little Genie won for the fourth time in succession over 1000m under Craig Zackey, beating home the gallant Brigtnumberfour with Twilight Tiger next best.

Earlier, the Listed Britehouse Supreme Fillies and Mares Stakes over 1450m was won by Azzie and Van der Merwe with the four-year-old Ideal World filly Peep Show, who confirmed she had come into her own, and comfortably repelled pole position drawn Run For Revelry with the favorite Walking On Air next best.

In the Non-Black Type Investec Sophomore Fillies 1000, the unbeaten Mike de Kock-trained Captain Al filly Perfumed Lady, who is a half-sister to the Gr 1 Royal Ascot King’s Stand Stakes third-placed Jallad filly Sweet Sanette, enjoyed her first outing on the sand and converted odds of 28/10 under Randall Simons.

Later, Corné Spies clinched a meeting double when the Var gelding Captainoftheworld took well to the sand and easily won the Non-Black Type SAP Sophomore 1000 under Gavin Lerena, despite having to give at least 2kg to the whole field bar one other horse.

The Non-Black Type Vaal River Handicap over 1800m, saw both De Kock and Delpech clinching respective feature race doubles as the Asiatic Boy filly Ahlaam defied a big weight of 60kg to win bravely from the front.

– David Thiselton

– Picture: Deputy Jud (Sporting Post) 

 

Private Richmond-based trainer Doug Campbell ended a lean spell with a memorable four-timer on the polytrack at Greyville on Friday night, two of them ridden by Donovan Dillon who in turn scored a treble at the meeting.

Campbell’s night began with a victory by a horse he bred, the three-year-old Mogok filly Race Me Home. Race Me Home’s dam is an own sister to the Campbell-trained National Emblem mare National Navigator, a seven-time winner who won a Listed race and later produced the dual Gr 3-winnner Kinematic Countess. Friday night’s Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m was Race Me Home’s third start and she started 16/10 favourite having caught the eye in both of her first two starts. The only concern was the two slow starts she had previously had.

However, being loaded late made all the difference and she jumped well. This saw her in front and over racing a bit, but the experienced stalwart Anthony Delpech didn’t panic and allowed her to use her lovely action. In the straight she kept the persistent challenge of her market rival Chapel Queen at bay to win by a quarter-of-a-length and they were followed home closely by a flying Glimmer Of Silver and the consistent Campbell-trained earner Dark Rose. Race Me Home looks likely to win more races.

Campbell sent out the well-bred Strummer in the second, a Maiden over 1000m.  The Arc-en-Ciel Stud-bred colt is by Var out of the Sportsworld mare Hello Margarita, who was placed third in both the Gr 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m and the Gr 1 Cape Guineas, and he is a half-brother to the useful Cruzwithmecaptain. Strummer, who started at 6/1 under in form Ian Sturgeon, not surprisingly showed pace from a good draw of two and turned for home in front.

Under a hands and heels ride he stayed there and pulled further clear when asked the question at the 200m mark to win by 2,75 lengths from Shreya’s Star, who should win soon having showed good pace throughout from a wide draw. Strummer has plenty of speed and looks to have a nice, relaxed temperament too, so he could well be above average. He was picked at the sales by Campbell’s wife Di, who also puts in a tremendous amount of work as assistant trainer.

Campbell claimed a quick 1000m hat-trick in the next when the five-year-old Yellow Star Stud-bred Kildonan gelding Fire The Rocket got up in a MR 74 Handicap under Dillon. The previous Friday night Fire The Rocket had run a cracking close up third to good horses in a Pinnacle Stakes event, which made him hard to oppose back in a handicap. He duly delivered at odds of 22/10, although he had his work cut out and only just got there by a head from the talented but unsound H’Oponopono.

Later Dillon brought home the four-year-old Campbell-bred Overlord filly Overlap to win a MR 75 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m at odds of 8/1. Dillon timed his run to perfection, which he later revealed was necessary with this filly, who doesn’t enjoy being in front for too long.

Campbell has achieved a four-timer on only one previous occasion and that was way back in 1989 at Scottsville. He was full of praise for his team, singling out Di as well as another of his assistants John Swart, who will be leaving him at the end of the month. He also thanked the yard’s owners.

Dillon’s other winner was aboard the Garth Puller-trained five-year-old Mogok gelding Way Of Light, who is lightly raced and is now coming into his own. The 84 merit-rated horse burst through to win a MR 86 Handicap over 1400m in impressive style to record his second win in a row and fourth career victory in just nine starts.

Delpech also scored a treble on the night. He brought home the Dean Kannemeyer-trained five-year-old Jay Peg mare Alzerra to win a MR 75 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m. She just got up in her first start in KZN, but it provided further proof that the merit ratings of Cape Town horses are often suppressed due to the class of horse down there and they usually appear to have an advantage at the weights when arriving in KZN. Later, Delpech won on the Kumaran Naidoo-trained Australian-bred three-year-old High Chaparral filly Princess Varunya, who relished the step up in trip in the 2000m fillies and mares Maiden and won effortlessly by 5,75 lengths. She looks to have some class as she is a filly with substance and possesses a nice, long stride, so is one to follow.

The only other winner on the night was also an eye-catcher. Weiho Marwing had obviously thought a lot of the now four-year-old Admire Main filly Mamasita last season, as he entered her in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000. She once again showed her liking for the poly on Friday night, storming through to win a MR 92 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m by a length under Jarred Samuel off a merit rating of 81. The runner up from the Alyson Wright yard, Alpine Ridge, has won on the poly before and can also be followed.

– David Thiselton

 

The R1 million Supreme Cup sponsored by SAP has been won over the last few years by a speedy, well drawn horse and the Dominic Zaki-trained Precursor fits the bill.

He is not badly treated at the weights and in his third run after gelding last time out over 1000m on the sand he was staying on well and should now be cherry ripe. Zaki believes he will have no problem staying the trip and on pedigree he should do so being by Captain Al out of the London News mare Oracle News, who was a sprint-miler.

Toro Rosso has a terrible draw but could overcome it with his early pace and he could then gallop all the way to the line over a course and distance where he has impressed before.

Willow Magic is a classy sprint miler who might just need it according to his trainer but he is in good shape and his class might pull him through. He could use his pace to overcome a tricky draw and on pedigree he should enjoy the sand.

Deputy Jud has been the talked about horse for this race as his work has improved with recent gelding and he is a powerful galloper who jumps from a good draw. The trip is on the sharp side but he should be staying on strongly.

Mootahadee takes time to come to hand but is useful when he is at his peak and he showed he was roundabout his peak last time out when thrashing them over course and distance. That effort earned him more weight but he has a fair draw.

Roman Carnival, who stands to win a R100,00 bonus sponsored by World Sports Betting for doing the August Stakes Supreme Cup double,  has both speed and the ability to stay a mile so should be a big runner but on the downside he has to overcome a wide draw and a ten point merit rated raise.

Isphan has plenty of speed but has been looking for this trip, so it is a pity he has landed a wide draw. He will be a big runner if his excellent gate speed enables him to find a good position in the running.

Jade Vine is an ideal Supreme Cup type being a sprinter to 1450m horse who loves the sand and who has a good draw of five. She is also officially the best weighted horse in the race, but on the downside she has had an interrupted preparation after suffering a mild colic which forced her to miss her last intended start two-and-a-half weeks ago.

Sand specialist Taptap Makhatini runs well fresh and this handy type is effective from 1450m up to 1800m, but his wide draw makes it tough.

Ultimate Dollar showed his class when winning a Gr 3 over 2200m comfortably at Greyville last time and he is effective over this trip. He will enjoy the long straight as one who takes time to get into his big stride, but a concern is that Jet Masters generally don’t appear to enjoy the Vaal sand and he might not also have the necessary early pace to take advantage of his plum draw of two.

Solar Triptych appears to be a 1400m specialist and has a fair draw of seven, but he has it all to do being under sufferance and it is not certain that he has that much more improvement in him.

Topweight Uncle Tommy has done well in this race before but he looks to now need some relief from the handicapper.

All The Bids would prefer further and also looks to be too high in the weights.

Lavender Landscape enjoys being up front so his draw of eight makes it tricky and he would likely prefer 1600m. He doesn’t have it easy at the weights either.

The selection is in the order mentioned.

In the first race over 1200m Will Pays is a classy sort who showed his liking for the sand when running close behind the brilliant Trip Tease over 1000m last time, so is the one to beat despite a tough draw of nine.

In the second over 1450m Brad’s Surge will love the step back to this trip and can beat another horse on the up, Battle In Seattle, although they both have tough draws.

In the third over 1200m Sweet Painted Lady could do well from a good draw off a lowered merit rating, although Easy Game and Second Bite also look to be worthy inclusions.

The fourth over 1000m could be won by the exciting Speedy Gonvarlez from stablemate Howdulikeit. Perfumed Lady, Speedy Suzy and Mella Maria also have to be considered.

In the fifth over 1000m Haddington makes most appeal and could beat Faberge Style and Noah From Goa, although Alaca and Kingoftheworld should also be considered.

The sixth over1450m could see Walking On Air continuing her progression, although Peep Show will be a threat and topweight Antonia’s Fortress should enjoy the sand on pedigree and is distance suited.

Trip Tease could defy topweight in the eighth over 1000m, although it is wide open beyond him and each/way value could be provided by the speedy lightweight, Victorious, who should love the sand on pedigree.

The ninth over 1000m could see the flying Little Genie winning again as the handicapper has likely not caught up with her yet and she could be followed by the big, strong Drifting Dusk and the small horse with a big heart, Brigtnumberfour.

The tenth over 1800m could be won by the progressive Big Shot from Isosha and Capricorn Ridge.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Mootahadee (Nkosi Hlophe)

Parachute Man has a big chance of making it three in a row in the Settlers Trophy at Durbanville tomorrow.

Normally you would bet against a horse who is attempting to defy the handicappers like this – and Greg Cheyne’s mount has been raised 4.5kg for his last two wins – but there are grounds for believing that he is still quite well treated.

He finished nearly two lengths in front of Seize The Throne in the Winter Derby and they again meet at levels. He beat Arezzo a length last month and gives him the same half kilo.

“He has improved and I don’t think he is badly handicapped,” says Darryl Hodgson. “Indeed he should have won the Winter Classic. He went many lengths clear and tired close home.”

What is also in favour of Hassen Adams’gelding is that the bottom four are all under sufferance albeit not by very much. His biggest negative is that the last seven favourites have all been beaten and he seems certain to head the market.

There is no common denominator amongst the weights and ages of recent winners but MJ Byleveld has won four of the last six runnings and he is again on Desert Swirl who attempts to follow the example of Sun City, the only dual winner in the past 18 years.

The five-year-old has been raised only 3kg since, not bad considering he also won the Woolavington. “He will run very well,” says Vaughan Marshall who confirms that last time’s outing over 1 400m was a prep for this.

However Justin Snaith’s pair Seize The Throne and Arezzo could prove a bigger threat because both are in form and neither is fully exposed. “I should have a good Saturday and these two both have chances,” says Snaith, bidding for his third Settlers in nine seasons. “Seize The Throne is an out-an-out stayer. Arezzo is a little under sufferance (1.5kg) but most of the good stayers are not in the race.”

Friendly Tibbs runs over this trip for the first time since last year’s Winter Derby but Piet Steyn is adamant that this should not be taken to mean a doubt about the five-year-old’s stamina – “There is no problem with the distance. He was running against Power King and Dynastic Power in that race and he was not far off them. I am also expecting a good run from Forte De Ouro who needed his last run here.”

However there are doubts about Can Cope getting the trip. Her last two wins were over 1 800m and 2 000m. “She tends to pull,” says Harold Crawford. “If Lucien can get her settled behind something she might be alright but she won’t stay if she fights.”

A Time To Kill, a half-brother to Durban July winner Dunford, tackles this distance for the first time since his well-beaten fifth in last year’s East Cape Derby and is 2kg under sufferance. But Mike Bass has won two of the last nine runnings and Grant van Niekerk is a cracking good jockey.

No horse has won this with 60g or more this century and Paddy O’Reilly’s 64.5 surely rules him out, particularly at the age of nine and after three months off.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Greg Cheyne (Liesl King)