There is an eight race meeting on the Vaal sand today, a venue where value can often be found.

In the first over 1000m, Ronin Warrior is a by Kahal and is a half-brother to the fair sorts Silva Hawk and Red Rover and he doesn’t have much to beat, although he will prefer further in time. Magic has improved since being beaten by three of the other contestants over course and distance in July and should go close. From that race Gold Comet is well exposed after 17 starts and only three places, Song From Seattle has made breathing noises in both starts to date, and Mendoza’s Melody has not impressed in two starts since. Edgbaston could improve on his debut effort but a concern is he made a breathing noise. Tzitzikama Fire has a place chance having run two fair races over course and distance. Noah From Goa is a half-brother to the like of Guy From Dubai and looks likely to need further on pedigree.

In the second over 1450m Beaufort Sea is by Fort Wood so should love the sand. He has fair form on turf from 1200-1600m and his wide draw should not be too much of a problem considering he has Andrew Fortune up. Seven Single’s decent debut on sand over 1200m behind a well regarded sort was followed by a reasonable effort over 1600m on turf, although he was well beaten in that race by Beaufort Sea. Bullion Bay made late head way last time out over course and distance in a similarly moderate event to run a close second so has to be considered from pole position.  Battle Of Arcole does have breathing issues so will likely appreciate the step down to the course and distance of his best recent run. Marsden could earn if bouncing back to his best but his last three runs from similarly wide draws have been poor which is a concern.

In the third over 1600m Nurse Harriet is by Windrush so should love the sand and she is drawn well over the same trip of her last two fair efforts on turf. Angel’s Smile pulled up lame last time after a 1450m event on the sand but if reproducing her previous 1600m run on turf she could earn here. Carole Bouquet ran a fair race last time over 1450m on the sand, but a concern is that this is her second run after an eleven month layoff.

In the fourth over 1000m Ballerini ran a cracker last time over course and distance behind two promising sorts when under sufferance in a Pinnacle Stakes event and if she reproduces that here back in a handicap she will win. Easy Street ran well over 12000m in her first three starts before disappointing over 1400m, so is interesting making her sand debut over this trip. Wintry Night has a good sand pedigree being by Western Winter and has not been unduly punished by the handicapper after easily winning her maiden in her third career start over this course and distance, so she could do well despite having been well beaten on turf by Easy Street when showing pace on debut over 1200m.

In the fifth over 1200m Flag Of France is off a competitive merit rating and is 2,5kg better off for a 3,25 length beating by Shine Tiger over course and distance in his penultimate start. Shine Tiger disappointed last time but is re-associated with Craig Zackey who rode him to a convincing win over course and distance in his penultimate start, albeit from pole position whereas he now has to jump from the same seven draw as in that last run. Cosmic Tom, well beaten by Shine Tiger three runs ago when not himself, represents an in form yard and is well drawn over a course and distance he has gone close over in his last two starts. Formal Request has landed a good draw over the course and distance of his facile win in his penultimate start and he showed next time out over 1400m that he was up to his raised merit rated mark by only being caught late over 1450m. Return To The Sun is drawn in pole and has dropped down the merit ratings so could use his early pace to gain a place.

In the sixth over 1450m Wishful Heart is likely stretched by this trip, but has won over it before and is a progressive sort, so could be the one to side with considering the astute judge of pace Andrew Fortune is aboard. Brad’s Surge is drawn in pole as opposed to the draw of six when a nine length second over course and distance last time and he could go close as the runaway winner of that race looks a decent sort. Rough Justice is 1,5kg better off with Brad’s Surge for a 2,2 length beating in that aforementioned race and has another good draw so should also be concerned in the finish.

In the seventh over 1450m Divine Grace, ridden by Fortune, is off a competitive merit rating and was run out of it over 1600m by a decent sort in his last two so looks the one to beat over this step down in trip. River Run packs a strong finish and is likely to be a big runner from a good draw under promising 1,5kg claimer Callan Murray. Seven Kingdoms has a good sand pedigree being by Sarge and is well drawn over the course and distance of his easy maiden win.

In the eighth over 2000m Dover Beach likely runs off a capped merit rating having scooted in by ten lengths in his penultimate start on the sand over 1800m so could follow up.  Isosha ran on late over 1800m on the sand last time and just failed so should be right there from a good draw under Gavin Lerena. Inala has run well in two starts on the sand from 1450m to 1600m and stayed on over 2000m in his penultimate start on turf, so should also be involved in the finish.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Andrew Fortune 

The four-year-old Seventh Rock gelding made short work of beating a Graduation field over 1200m at Scottsville last Sunday and “couldn’t blow out a candle after the race”.

Said Drier: “He has come out of the race fantastically well. I was confident going into the race that the operation was a great success, but Anton Marcus was concerned because Guiness was making a little bit of a noise in the pull-up at the end of his work. On Sunday he reported back that there was no noise. And Guiness’ joints were ice cold on Monday morning. It was unbelievable to see him trot out.

“I think he’s a hell of a sprinter, so I expected him to win like that. I would have been disappointed if he hadn’t beaten that field. He’s back on track, big time.”

Guiness “went in the wind” when compounding to fifth behind Zinnavar in a 1000m Graduation Plate at Kenilworth in December last year. A few of Drier’s Cape Town string had come down with a virus and immediately after the race the poor performance was put down to Guiness being off colour. Sadly that was not the case and Cape veterinary surgeon Dr Alasdair Cameron performed a wind operation and removed his vocal chords four days later. Guiness was then gelded in January.

Drier held his breath. “I’m not one for wind ops because in past we haven’t had too much success but my last three have been phenomenal,” he said. “Sea Fever, a horse owned by Jack Mitchell, has been 100% and even won the KZN Winter Challenge 1200, while the Trotters’ Legend Fighter, while no star, has had no issues since his wind op.

“Vets have obviously developed new techniques and are getting better.”

Having aced this test, Guiness will now be a member of a 24-horse raiding party Drier is taking to Cape Town for the Sizzling Summer Season with his main mission being the Betting World Cape Flying Championship in January.

He will be joined on the float by dual Grade 1 winner Seventh Plain, who is targeting the CTS Million Dollar on Cape Flying Championship Day, and Grade 1 Golden Slipper winner Chestnuts N Pearls, who is first set to run in a sales race on Charity Mile Day at Turffontein.

“We’ll see how she travels and then decide whether she will go for the Cape Fillies Guineas in early December. That race might come a bit soon and I won’t just run her for the sake of running her. Her Cape mission will probably be the Klawervlei Majorca Stakes on J&B Met Day.”

  –    Nicci Garner for TAB News

Picture: Guiness (Nkosi Hlophe)

An appeal against the controversial demotion of Ladbrokes St Leger first past the post Simple Verse will be held next week.

The BHA confirmed on Monday an appeal had been lodged by connections of the runner-up, who lost the race to Bondi Beach in the stewards’ room following the race.

An initial appeal date of Thursday this week was changed due to issues with the availability of one of the participants’ counsel. The BHA issued three options – September 22, 23 or 25.

Simple Verse passed the post a head in front of promoted winner Bondi Beach, but the stewards determined that two separate incidents of interference between the pair had denied Bondi Beach the win and reversed the placings.

Trainer Ralph Beckett and David Redvers of owners Qatar Racing both expressed their dismay and pledged to appeal the result.

Explaining their main grounds for appeal on Sunday, Redvers said: “The big thing that has been mentioned everywhere is inconsistency and that’s the only thing I’ve got to say.”

Supplied by Racingpost.com

Picture: Simple Verse (attheraces)

Paul Lafferty is considering aiming Unbelievable Chad at the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans, to be run over 1600m at Turffontein on November 28, and other Johannesburg features. His yard had success in Johannesburg last season with Harry’s Son, who is being kept fit in Mauritius by Lafferty’s assistant Roy Waugh through regular exercise on the beach.

Lafferty said, “Unbelievable Chad looks to be a very good horse”. He added the colt by Toreador was looking for further.

Unbelievable Chad, who is part-owned by South African swimming legend Chad le Clos, ran out an easy 4,25 length winner of a 1400m maiden at Scottsville on Sunday. His time was almost a second quicker than the fillies maiden over the same distance, which was won by a decent looking sort in the Mike de Kock-trained Rozenna.

Toreador, who was a sprint-miler, is known for producing speedsters, but he appears to have had a new lease of life and two of the best in his youngest racing crop, Prospect Strike, who finished second in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes, and Rikitikitana, who won his maiden over 1600m by 6,75 lengths, look to be milers plus.

Unbelievable Chad could follow suit as he is out of a Rakeen mare, Pink Tinge, who won twice from 1400-1600m and is a half-sister to the Western Winter stallion Lion Tamer, who finished runner up to the great Pocket Power in the J&B Met.

Meanwhile, Harry’s Son has been walking, trotting and galloping on the beach in Mauritius, where he is on the second leg of his five month journey to Dubai. The Australian-bred is enjoying his stay and is his normal laid back self.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Unbelievable Chad (Nkosi Hlophe)

Piere Strydom is now 99% sure he will appeal against the severity of the penalty handed down to him for his ride aboard Dublin Rebel in race 3 at Turffontein on August 27.

Strydom was given a 90 day suspension by the National Horseracing Authority, although forty of the days have been suspended. Strydom has until tomorrow to appeal and will then have 14 days to state his reasons for doing so.

An appeal board will then be formed to hear the case. Strydom will be represented by a lawyer in the hearing.

Strydom’s error of judgement cost Dublin Rebel almost certain victory. He thought he had his two main dangers beaten and believed he had the race won, so began easing his mount down. However, he had failed to notice Top Shot sneaking through on the inside rail until it was too late and the photo-finished proved the latter had won the race by the narrowest of margins.

Strydom later apologised profusely and with genuine remorse in a statement addressed to the connections, punters and the entire racing community and called it the worst mistake of his riding career. He went on to talk about his feeling for horses and his consequent career-long practice of never punishing his mounts unnecessarily. On this occasion he had eased his mount accordingly in the belief he had the race won.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Piere Strydom (Nkosi Hlophe)