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)

Impressive Cape Nursery winner Captain Chaos will be the focus of much attention at Durbanville tomorrow but he has it all to do to beat Sail For Gold in the Gold Circle Graduation Plate.

This is his first race for over three months and he has never been to Durbanville before, not even for a gallop. And, perhaps even more important, he has nearly three lengths to find with the older horse when you adjust their merit ratings for weight-for-age.

“He has been doing well but he might just be lacking fitness and I think he is going to be short of a gallop,” says Ronnie Sheehan.

“I didn’t run him in the Langerman and instead I put him away because I had a different programme in mind. He will now probably go for the Matchem, the Cape Classic and then the R2 million Lanzerac Ready To Run. At the moment he is second on the log for that.

“I could have taken him to Durbanville for a gallop but I didn’t want him peaking too soon and he has to go there for the Matchem. This time Sail For Gold could be a hard horse to beat.”

The top weight has to concede only 2kg compared to the 7.5kg of the weight-for-age scale and he has the benefit of a recent run – and a good one at that. River God could also pose a threat. He was only caught close home a fortnight ago and he is a course winner.

The Mike Bass stable should also win the Gold Circle Allowance Plate with the high class Inara who in January became the first three-year-old this century to win both the Paddock and the Majorca in the same season.

She has over three lengths in hand on ratings and, although she has been off since Durban July day, she should be up to the task. “She had a break after Durban but she galloped at Durbanville with Come Fly With Me last Thursday,”says Candice Robinson. “They will both run in the Diana Stakes after this.”

Midnight Breeze, well backed on debut only to suffer a slipping saddle, stands out in the first but her ten draw is surely the kiss of death. Jets-A-Blazing could be the one (she was forced to ease 100m out when a close-up fourth on debut) at the expense of Stockade who showed improvement last time.

BLOB Donovan Dillon must wonder whether he is coming or going since his move to Cape Town. He was criticised for riding Aspara to the line last Saturday and now the NHA’s Inquiry Board has suspended him for ten days for not riding a horse to the line!

This was Captain Swarovski who the Inquiry Board reckoned could have got fourth instead of fifth – and the ban has been imposed even though the course vet reported that the colt was blowing hard after the race.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Inara (Liesl King)

Captain Chaos, who has his first race of the season at Durbanville on Saturday, is due to return there for the R250,000 Grade 3 Kuda Matchem Stakes over 1400m on Saturday 3 October.

He is the highest merit-rated of the 26 entries and veteran trainer Ronnie Sheehan has been carefully mapping out a plan of campaign for last season’s Cape Of Good Hope Nursery (Grade 3) winner.

The Matchem, confined to three and four-year-olds, has been won by some high-class horses in recent years, most notably Variety Club in 2011 and Capetown Noir two years later. Justin Snaith, successful with Changingoftheguard three years ago, has the biggest entry (eight) and these include the provenly useful Heartland, Alpha Pegasi, Krambambuli and Charles Lytton.

Variety Club’s trainer Joey Ramsden has entered six, including the talented three-year-old Hard Day’s Night and Tar Heel, who started odds-on for the Cape Of Good Hope Nursery in June but failed to reproduce the form he showed when winning the Listed Somerset 1200 previously.

The Mike Bass stable, whose most recent successes came with Thundering Jet in 2008 and Rushing Wind 12 months later, have five entered including Sail For Gold who takes on Captain Chaos this Saturday.

The draw will be of supreme importance with the bend from the back straight into the straight beginning so soon after the pens open and those drawn high will be at a disadvantage, particularly if the field reaches double figures.

Inara, who completed a notable Grade 1 double in January in the Maine Chance Paddock Stakes and the Klawervlei Majorca, heads the 21 entries for the Lanzerac Diana Stakes over the same course and distance and on the same day as the Matchem.

She also runs at Durbanville this Saturday and the Mike Bass stable’s present plans are to go from there to the Diana which they won with Hammie’s Hooker two years ago. Their other wins in this race include the high class Sun Classique in 2006.

Alexis, winner of last season’s KRA Fillies Guineas, may represent Brett Crawford. Glen Kotzen has the best recent record with four winners in the last 15 years and he has entered three while Snaith has the biggest entry (six). He has won three of the last six runnings, most notably with the Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas winner Ebony Flyer in 2011.

There is a supplementary entry stage for both races next Wednesday (23 September) and declarations are on Monday 28 September.

Entries and draws for the Kuda Matchem Stakes (Grade 3) over 1 400m at Durbanville:

Entries and draws for the Lanzerac Diana Stakes (Grade 3) over 1 400m at Durbanville:

        –   TABNews

Picture: Inara (Liesl King)

Greyville stages the third of its popular Friday night series meetings this season and there look to be more good opportunities for punters, starting with Barbosa in the opener.

Barbosa appears to have the first, a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1000m, at his mercy as the Dennis Drier-trained gelding is particularly well in at the weights following his Umgeni Handicap win over course and distance on Super Saturday. Viva La Var finished 1,75 lengths behind Barbosa in the Umgeni and is now 1,5kg worse off, but was returning from an eight-month layoff for a knee chip then and should have benefited from the run. Eddie Sweat could fill third place being well drawn and only 0,5kg worse off for a 3,9 length beating by Barbosa over course and distance on Vodacom Durban July day. Prince Of Magic might have needed his last start and could earn. Sheik’s Brashee is second best in at the weights, but is hard to fancy on his last two disappointing runs. Chosen Dash’s winning time over course and distance was a lot slower than Barbosa’s and she is also 5kg under sufferance with the latter.

In the second, a Maiden over 2000m, Township Talk, who can front run and has a nice kick, is the form choice with Anton Marcus up over a suitable trip. However, Forest is likely to improve further over this trip and could be a threat. Red Savage over-raced a little bit over 2000m at Turffontein last time and could do better from a good draw here. Desert Sunset was only 1,5 lengths off Township Talk at Scottsville and has run ran a fair third over 1800m on the poly before. Knockout Johny stayed on over 1600m on the poly last time and could earn.

In the third, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1400m, Khonza is a full sister to the decent sort Kwinta and will relish the step up in trip. She is tipped to beat Deeyala who is improving and ran a fair race over 1600m last time behind a horse who went on to finish second in a Gr 1. Swiss Note will likely relish the step up in trip. Swan Dance has cracked a good draw for a change which should help her settle over a suitable course and distance. Coastal Spell is not sure to appreciate the step up in trip.

In the fourth over 1400m Taku Wind’s course and distance form has worked out well, so as a likely improver he is tipped to win. Shine Up’s course and distance form has also been franked. Texican ran on strongly over 1200m last time and is likely to relish the step up in trip. Streetwear was not disgraced behind a top class sort over this trip at Turffontein last time. Promissory is another who can’t be ignored.

In the fifth over 1400m, Miss Stingray has dropped down to the merit rating of her last career win, which was over this course and distance and she is well drawn. Quintella was a touch unlucky last time over 1200m and should be running on as usual, but she would probably prefer 1200m. Tales Of Mambo hasn’t been harshly treated by the handicapper after winning her maiden over 1600m at Turffontein and the form looks fair. Alcanina’s class is undone by her breathing problems. Seek The Summit has improved and can’t be ignored. Hunger Games could earn if reproducing her best.

In the sixth over 1600m, Baracah ran on well to finish close up the last time he tried this trip and could be dangerous off a two point lower merit rating with a 4kg claimer up. Bold Inspiration enjoys the kinder poly surface due to his foot issues and his class could carry him close. Master Archer won well last time over this trip at Scottsville and can defy a three point raise. Master James is a progressive sort who has won over course and distance but he is returning from a three month layoff. Buffalo Bill is ideally course and distance suited.

In the seventh over 1600m, Variety Romp is reasonably merit rated and interesting running fresh over 1600m having dominated his only start over 1900m. Mambo Mime is a classy sort but has not settled well in his runs to date so it is a concern that he is a young three-year-old running fresh off an 88 merit rating. Astro, Open Heir and Klondike River can’t be ignored.

In the last over 1200m, Hold The Line has been knocking on the door and is course and distance suited. Salesman is also knocking on the door and is drawn well over an ideal course and distance, but does have a big weight to carry. Var’s Dream, Harrison and Delicious Damowin must also be considered.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Barbosa (Nkosi Hlophe)