Cape Town’s trainers have been issued with an unpalatable ultimatum and they are united in their belief that they must produce more runners to avoid the axe falling. But they are far from agreed as to how this should be achieved.

They have been informed by Phumelela boss Rian du Plessis and Kenilworth Racing chairman Chris van Niekerk that fixtures will be reduced and/or stakes dropped in races with less than eight runners if they do not produce an average of at least 12 runners per race.

This average, considered essential for betting turnover, has fallen from 12 to ten in the last three seasons.

Brett Crawford, a member of both the Cape trainers’ committee and the programmes committee, said: “I think the trainers need to ask themselves what should be done because there are certainly enough horses in Cape Town to make up the numbers.

“The problem is basically at Durbanville as people are not prepared to run horses there from bad draws. I am not sure what we can do – maybe some sort of incentive – but we need to sit down and discuss it.”

One trainer who asked not to be named was adamant that the draw for stall positions should be made after declarations and not, as at present, when entries close – “This is the way they have it in every other racing jurisdiction. The authorities know it would solve the problem but they won’t do it.”

It was tried a few seasons ago but many trainers were against it, hence the change back to the original system. Also horses drawn wide had a tendency to suddenly go off their feed, start coughing or develop sore shins!

Justin Snaith has a different solution, saying: “There should be nominations for ten races and you then run the eight with the biggest fields. Problem solved.”

Another trainer maintained that the fault lies with the programmes which are not mapped out quite as often, or with as much local input, as they used to be. They are now done twice a year instead of every four months when they were “closely allied to the horse census and demographics – and depending on how well races filled – and the Cape Town handicapper was also involved.”

It might be possible to ease some of the Durbanville problem in races from 1 000m to 1 400m by siting the stalls 20-25m out from the rail instead of right up against it. This would reduce the advantage of those drawn low, particularly if the stalls were set at a slight angle so that all horses started the same distance from the beginning of the bend. The course is wide enough to do this.

Owners are adamant that trainers must come up with a solution. One said: “I pay R 10 000 a month plus vet’s fees and I would rather see my horse racing once during the month, even if only for a chance of finishing third or fourth, than staying in his stable.”

Michael Clower

Daughter Candice said: “He now starts intensive physio and we will know more where we are after a week or so. He is still on dyalisis and he has to stay on that until his kidneys are right again.   He is a bit frustrated and a bit miserable.
Still, it is less than six weeks since he was at death’s door and arrangements are already in place for the prosthetic that will become the lower part of his right leg. He is going to have two of them made, one for daily use and one that swivels so he can play golf.

His horses gave him another boost at Durbanville on Saturday when dual Grade 1 winner Inara could hardly have won the Gold Circle Allowance Plate more easily. Sail For Gold, also partnered by Grant van Niekerk, had to work a bit harder in the Graduation Plate but he booked his Kuda Matchem ticket while Inara also returns on Saturday week for the Lanzerac Diana.

Candice said: “Inara stays in training and she will again go for the Paddock and Majorca – there is not much else for her in the Cape season. Most of the other races are sprints and she is no sprinter.”

Captain Chaos dropped out a little disappointingly in the final furlong of the Graduation and finished last but, significantly, his trainer was not in the least put out.

Ronnie Sheehan said: “It was like I told you it would be. He hadn’t seen grass for three and a half months and I’m happy because he lasted to the 200m mark before he tired.

“I’m not sure yet but I will have a rethink about the Matchem. I just might give him another three weeks and wait for the Cape Classic.”

Grant Behr was taken to hospital for x-rays on his right arm when Flying Mistral lived up to his name in the parade ring before the Pick 6 Maiden. The colt reared up and then landed on top of him before careering off dangerously towards other horses, while Behr staggered to his feet clutching his arm. Fortunately nothing was broken.

Brett Crawford and Corne Orffer won this with My Man Alex and completed a treble with Preoccupation and Bono Vox while CTS Million Dollar candidate Victorious Jay justified 22-10 favouritism under MJ Byleveld to add extra enjoyment to Vaughan Marshall’s short Mauritius holiday.

Punters got off to a disastrous start, backing newcomer Secret Seven from 5-1 to 28-10 favourite and letting stable companion Jets-A-Blazing drift from 5-2 to 9-2. The latter made all under Craig du Plooy while Secret Seven was among the backmarkers all the way.

“”I don’t know why they made Secret Seven favourite,” said a bemused Justin Snaith. “I suppose somebody must have heard a rumour but Jets-A-Blazing had the form to win.”

Joey Ramsden withdrew two of his runners because of dirty lung washes. He mentioned this problem in his most recent blog but played it down on Saturday, saying: “The vaccinations hit my horses quite hard this year but I am sure a lot of other trainers are in the same boat.”

The Donavan Mansour-partnered Around Not Across went some way towards proving his point by coming from last to first in little more than a furlong to spring a 12-1 surprise in the last. The handicappers also helped, dropping the gelding five points for his previous run.

Michael Clower

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained three-year-old Mambo Mime was the most significant winner over the weekend in KZN, although the older horses Barbosa and Bold Inspiration confirmed their class with sterling performances.

The Greyville polytrack proved its worth again as rain fell continually at the Friday night meeting, but this did not stop it from being completed, while yesterday’s meeting was able to be moved from Scottsville which could well have been too waterlogged to stage the racemeeting.

Mambo Mime’s ability was apparent in his second career start in May, a maiden over 1600m on the Greyville turf, as he pulled hard throughout but still managed to win. He over raced again in his next start in mid-July in a handicap against older horses on the Greyville poly over 1600m but still managed a short-head second to his promising contemporary Celtic Captain.

Mambo Mime winning at Greyville on Friday night (Nkosi Hlophe)

He faced older horses again in a handicap over the same course and distance on Friday night and was racing off a merit rating of 88, so didn’t face an easy task.  However, the writing was on the wall for the opposition when he settled beautifully in the hands of Anthony Delpech, who was riding him for the first time. He duly pulled clear in the straight to win by a comfortable 1,75 lengths, converting odds of 5/2. The good looking bay colt by the ever more exciting sire Mambo In Seattle will now head for Cape Town and will soon be tested against the best of his age in the country.

The Dennis Drier-trained Barbosa, a six-year-old gelding by Captain Al, has really come into his own and the Greyville poly suits him due to his telling kick in the straight. He showed his class under Sean Cormack over his favourite trip of 1000m on Friday night and converted odds of 12/10. His main rival Viva La Var, to whom he gave 3kg, did hang outward which helped his cause and the latter, trained by Charles Laird, was having his second run after an eight month injury layoff so could still be a force to be reckoned with.

Laird’s five-year-old Horse Chestnut gelding Bold Inspiration loves the poly and powered clear from a handy position with topweight of 60kg in a MR 99 handicap over 1600m under Anton Marcus to win comfortably by 2,75 lengths. He does have feet issues, one reason why he prefers the kinder poly surface. The runner up in this race Baracah must be followed over a mile as he became stuck in campaigns over longer distances after winning over 2400m 18 months ago, but his two best recent runs have been when dropped back to a mile and he is now off a competitive merit rating.

Others to follow from Friday night are the Weiho Marwing-trained Khonza, a three-year-old filly by Kahal who is full-sister to Kwinta, and the Gavin Van Zyl-trained Sarge gelding Harrison. The former produced a powerful late run under in form Ian a sturgeon to get up in a fillies and mares maiden over 1400m and looks to have plenty of scope for improvement. Harrison produced a strong finish from behind after jumping from a wide draw over 1200m under Brandon Lerena and he could also progress further.

Four-year-old Toreador gelding Thrust produced another telling late kick to claim a 1000m hattrick at Turffontein on Saturday and he could continue to go through the divisions as he strikes as being better than his 70-something merit rating.
The Lucky Houdalakis-trained Count Dubois gelding Counterstroke is another four-year-old who is ever improving and his victory over 1600m off a merit rating of 76 suggested he had more wins in the tank.
– David Thiselton

Due to steady rain over the past 24 hours, soft underfoot conditions and with more heavy falls predicted for Saturday, the meeting scheduled for Scottsville on Sunday, September 20, has been moved to the Greyville poly track.

All race times remain the same with Race 1 off at 13h05. However, the distance of Race 5 has been reduced from 2400m to 2000m and the distance for Race 6 has been increased from 1950m to 2000m.

Trainers will be given the option of scratching their horses because of the change of surface and there may also be eliminations from the first two races as they each have more than 12 runners at present.

For further information contact NRB on 031 314 1777.

ENDS

Scottsville has a low key eight race meeting on Sunday which follows hot on the heels of tonight’s meeting at Greyville, so punters are in for another rollercoaster weekend.

In tonight’s meeting the tips are Barbosa to beat Viva La Var in the first, Township Talk to beat Forest in the second, Khonza to beat Deeyala and Swan Dance in the third, Taku Wind to beat Shine Up and Texican in the fourth, Miss Stingray to beat Quintella in the fifth, Baracah to beat Bold Inspiration and Master Archer in the sixth, Variety Romp to beat Mambo Mime in the seventh, and Hold The Line to beat Salesman, Harrison, Var’s Dream and Delicious Damowin in the eighth.

At Scottsville Protea Power could open proceedings with Anthony Delpech up as this National Emblem colt drops back to the trip of his excellent penultimate start and is better drawn this time. Bagger Vance also ran well in his penultimate start over course and distance behind a top class sort and could be a threat if returning to form, having felt amiss on the Greyville poly last time. New Hampshire stayed on well behind a classy sort last time over course and distance and should be doing so again from a high draw.

In the second over 1200m, Tide Is Turning ran a decent sixth in the Gr 2 Debutante over 1200m after two good runs before that and is the one to beat here from draw one with a 4kg claimer up. Finding Alice represents a raiding yard which is in fine form and she hasn’t been disgraced behind two classy horses in her two career outings, although a concern is that she made a breathing noise last time. Ding Ding made a fair debut when green over 1000m at Scottsville and with natural improvement should be concerned in the finish over a step up in trip she should enjoy.

In the third over 1600m Lighting The Fire has been knocking on the door over sprints and is bred to go this trip and further, so is tipped to win. Dukes Drift has run two fair races over 1200m and will relish the step up in trip. Sheriff Hood improved last time over 1400m and the penny appears to have dropped, so he should be running on again.

In the fourth over 1600m Zilla ran on strongly last time over 1400m from way back to finish second to a promising sort and on that evidence will enjoy the step up in trip. Bois Cheri didn’t get a hundred percent clear run last time when staying on over 1400m here and she now has Delpech up from pole position over a step up in trip she should enjoy. Chapel House ran a fair race over course and distance last time and could earn in this uninspiring field.

In the fifth over 2400m Your Worship has continued to be consistent outside of the maidens and is drawn well over an ideal course and distance with the good jockey Keagan de Melo aboard. Barbarian ran a good race over 1950m here las time and on breeding could get this trip, although a concern was that he pulled up blowing and fatigued. Jay Boy could be interesting over this trip as one who stayed on well to win from the front over 2000m on the poly last time, because from a good draw he might get a tow from Eco Storm. The latter won well from the front over course and distance last time and is only 2kg higher in the merit ratings. Battle Hammer is course and distance suited and will be 4,5kg better off with Eco Storm for a 3,55 length beating despite his 4kg claimer carrying 2kg overweight.

In the sixth over 1950m Pioneer Spirit won well over course and distance last time and being by Go Deputy, whose progeny come into their own at this age, she could follow up with a 4kg claimer aboard. Stablemate Qatar Springs is also course and distance suited and has some excellent form so should be right there with a 4kg claimer up. Worship Dancer always catches the eye and has some hard-knocking form and Eva Tibbs and Mamasita must be considered too.

In the seventh over 1400m Joan Ranger impressed last time over this trip and is drawn well with Delpech up in this Novice Plate for fillies and mares where she is well treated at the weights on official merit ratings. Pacifica is the best in at the weights on official merit ratings and hasn’t been disgraced in her last two against good sorts so could go close from a good draw over a step up in trip which should suit. Well In Flight looks a decent sort in the making but has a tough draw in her first time around the turn. Shezaleader has been knocking on the door over course and distance and could earn. Pearl Emblem ran a cracker over 1200m last time and has won over course and distance before so should be thereabouts despite this being her second run after a layoff and jumping from a wide draw. Intergalactic is an improving sort who was hampered over this trip on the poly last time so can’t be ignored.

In the last over 1000m, Respect At Bay has a 4kg claimer up and is interesting in her first turf start as one with fine form over sprints on the Greyville poly. Lady Penrhyn is well regarded and has plenty of pace so should go close from a favourable draw. Sorbonne went close over course and distance last time and now has a more favourable draw, so should be thereabouts.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Pioneer Spirit (Nkosi Hlophe)