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)

Act Of War has been supplemented for the Kuda Matchem Stakes at Durbanville on Saturday week but last season’s Cape Guineas winner has once again drawn badly- 19 out of 27 – and he is far from certain to run.

Racing manager Derek Brugman said yesterday: “We’ll see. It will depend on who runs and who doesn’t but it’s intended to be the start of his summer campaign and he is only 80% ready. I don’t want him to have high pressure by having to overcome, say, a ten draw.”

Joey Ramsden has also supplemented La Rebel (Fairview Listed placed when with Yvette Bremner) for the Diana Stakes on the same card.

The jockeys will race on foot after the last at Durbanville on October 10 when they are turning the meeting into a charity event for the Western Cape Equine Trust and the WP Grooms School.

Some owners are sponsoring jockeys to run in their own colours and the public can also “buy” individual riders to support the charities. Such events normally turn into an Aldo Domeyer benefit and 12 months ago he was so superior that he was able to turn round and taunt the opposition by running the last few metres backwards.

MJ Byleveld said: “We want to give something back to retired racehorses as well as to the grooms and we have a whole series of sponsors to benefit the cause.

“We are inviting the public to come and meet the jockeys after racing and perhaps join us in watching the rugby. It’s the Wales-Australia game that day.”

Richard Fourie is lending his support from Hong Kong by becoming one of the sponsors.

Grant Behr, taken to hospital after being kicked on the arm in the parade ring on Saturday, made the journey there again yesterday. He was kicked on the leg at the start for the first race and said he expected to have stitches inserted.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Act Of War (Liesl King)

The supporting features at the Vaal on Saturday will be full of intrigue and getting them right will help punters land a piece of the Pick 6 pool which is expected to reach close to R5 million.

The first leg of the Pick 6, the Non-Black Type Investec Sophomore Fillies 1000 sees the reappearance of the exciting Lucky Houdalakis-trained Var filly Speedy Gonvarlez, who converted all the talk into reality on debut when scooting in by eight lengths over course and distance. She could improve further but the field she faced last time was uninspiring and she might not quite be a banker.

Her stablemate Howdulikeit showed sudden improvement to win her maiden over 1200m on the sand and then beat her well regarded stablemate Firstimesacharm easily over 1300m on turf, admittedly when receiving 2,5kg. She went to the front in both those wins and is interesting stepped down to this trip. Speedy Suzy has speed and class and being by Trippi should love the sand. There is not much between her and Mella Maria, who also makes her sand debut. Perfumed Lady also won easily on debut on turf and could improve further.

In the second leg, the Non-Black Type SAP Sophomore 1000, Sean Tarry rates Faberge Style, who is the only filly in the field, his best chance on the day and she has a shout having won her maiden over course and distance by over ten lengths. However, Haddington ran a comfortably quicker time than her when winning on debut over course and distance and being by Ideal World he will likely have a lot of scope for improvement. Noah From Goa converted yard confidence over course and distance on debut and could also improve and for wider the two topweights Alaca and Kingoftheworld should be considered.

The third leg is the Listed Britehouse Supreme Fillies and Mares Stakes and the ever improving Walking On The Air has been unfortunate to have a merit rating that falls at the very bottom of one of the weight bands, meaning she is officially 2kg under sufferance with some of the opposition, but that might not stop her from a draw of two that will suit her handy style of running down to the ground.

Peep Show should be on top of Walking On Air at the line according to the weight turnaround from their last meeting and showed last time when winning in commanding style over course and distance that she is improving, which is not surprising being by Ideal World. Topweight Antonia’s Fortress is an interesting sand debutant being by Fort Wood and having been close behind the Equus award winner Hammie’s Hooker in the Prix du Cap over this sort of distance, so she must have a shout with Andrew Fortune up over a suitable trip.

Maria Theresa is interesting on this surface for the first time being by Dynasty and it is a suitable trip, although she does have a wide draw to overcome. Run For Revelry comes in at the top of one of the merit rated bands, so is officially well weighted and she could improve on her last start over course and distance when well beaten by Peep Show as she jumps from pole position instead of draw ten.

The fifth leg of the Pick Six is the Listed SAP Hampton Handicap over 1000m and the brilliant Trip Tease has to lug 63,5kg off a merit rating of 114 but this might not stop him considering how well he won last time over course and distance despite banging his head on the starting stalls. This day often suits ultra speedy types so the pacey Victorious, who is only 0,5kg under sufferance carrying 52kg, could be good each/way value especially considering he should love the surface on pedigree.

Trip Tease’s stablemate Varbration has Andrew Fortune up and showed he handles sand when comfortably winning the World Sports Betting Sprint over this distance at Flamingo Park, so he could be a threat off just a three point higher merit rating and receiving 7kg from Trip Tease. Another stablemate Wishful Heart is improving and is 4kg better off with Trip Tease for a 3,5 length beating so could get closer. Doing It For Dan is yet another stablemate in with a chance considering he won comfortably over course and distance in his penultimate start, despite breaking through the stalls. The fifth of the Louis Goosen runners is the talented One Man’s Dream who makes his sand debut over his ideal trip. Tiger Territory can never be ignored over course and distance as he is very quick on his day and has won six times from eleven starts over course and distance.

The final leg of the Pick 6 is the Listed Banyana Handicap and the flying Judpot filly Little Genie might still be running off a capped merit rating having once again destroyed them in a 1000m handicap on the turf to record a hattrick last time out. Drifting Dusk is a big powerful sort who is sure to be running on strongly. Brigtnumberfour is all heart and there is not much between her and Drifting Dusk. Easy Street showed her liking for the course and distance when winning easily on her sand debut and she could continue to progress. Sarve has a touch of class and can’t be ignored despite carrying topweight as she has won twice over course and distance before.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Faberge Style (Nkosi Hlophe)