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)

KZN form has been standing up well this season and punters face another potentially rewarding day tomorrow at Greyville, where there is an eight race meeting on the polytrack.

In the first, a Maiden for three-year-old fillies over 1200m, Roy’s Queen jumps from a good draw and looks suited to the course and distance, while Anthony Delpech has stayed aboard which is a further bonus.  Euthenia comes from three strong form races and her early pace will help her overcome her wide draw. However, the first timer Estimation must be watched as she is by the top class sire Distorted Humour out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and jumps from a good draw under in form Ian Sturgeon. First-timer Ginger Quill is by up-and-coming sire Ideal World and is a full-sister to the decent sort Zante, although she will likely need further. Hey Georgie Girl must also be watched being by the promising sire Mambo In Seattle out of a Fort Wood twice-winning sprinter. Time Capsule could improve on her fair debut.

The second, a Maiden over 1200m for three-year-olds, and Seymour could improve on debut in which he stayed on behind runaway winner Sylvester The Cat. He jumps from pole and Sean Cormack is now aboard. Lecture D has run some fair races against decent sorts and has Andrew Fortune up from a good draw. He might appreciate the step down in trip after a three month-and-a-half month layoff. Extreme Dubai is an Australian-bred by Oasis Dream and doesn’t have a lot to beat so must be watched.

In the third, a Maiden over 1600m, Guilty As Charged is an improving sort who is distance suited and he could be the one to side with despite a wide draw. Golden Tongue was outpaced and caught a bit wide on debut so looks likely to relish the step up in trip and should have gained something from the experience. Soldier’s Code could improve on his fair debut when green and hanging over this course and distance and Anthony Delpech remains aboard. Roy’s Whistle has faced some good sorts and could earn in this weaker field. Man The Fort should appreciate the step up in trip. Relish is by Rebel King and doesn’t have as much speed as his top class half-brother Trip Tease, so might appreciate the step up in trip, although his pedigree suggests otherwise as it is packed with speed. Royal Champion is consistent and could earn again. Red Apache is a first-timer by Miesque’s Approval, whose progeny go well on the poly, and he is a half-brother to the top class The Apache so he has to be given serious consideration.

The fourth is a Maiden over 1400m for fillies and mares and Alessia went close over course and distance in her last start despite casting a shoe so could get it right this time. Stablemate Martita Ridge ran on well over 1200m on debut and looks to be the danger from a good draw over a step up in trip she will relish. Princess Varunya only faded late the last time she went the course and distance when setting the pace but is drawn identically in barrier ten and that could be her undoing again. Madame Le Roi and Zagora are likely to both improve over this trip. Zara’s Legacy and Thanda could earn although both have tough draws.

The fifth is a MR 64 Handicap over 2000m for fillies and mares and Lady Lago had excuses last time here over 1600m and could make a bold bid over a step up in trip she should enjoy. Lady Ami doesn’t seem to mind wide draws over this course and distance and on recent poly form should be right there. Sword Storm will enjoy the course and distance and is starting off a merit rating of only 64 after a facile maiden win over 1800m so should be running at them late. Likeness was a touch unlucky last time over 1950m at Scottsville when the jockey dropped the whip, so she could be right there from a good draw under the same 4kg claimer. September Storm is well drawn over a suitable course and distance and should be involved in the finish.

The sixth is a MR 74 Handicap over 1400m and Roy’s Winter Patch is a progressive sort who strikes as one who could follow up on his win over 1600m last time, despite having to carry topweight now off a five point higher merit rating. However, if he fluffs his lines it looks very open. Atso Time is an interesting runner as he runs off a merit rating 14 points lower than his sand rating and is well drawn over an ideal trip. Millrace should get closer to Roy’s Winter Patch this time due to a weight turnaround. Nicklaus is in fine form and will be a threat from a good draw although he might prefer 1600m. Military Leader is better than his last start when slow away and overracing over 1600m and he could well appreciate the step back to 1400m. The Poet hasn’t run badly since his maiden win and could earn. Peter Piper should have come on from his last start and together with Excalivar can’t be ignored.

In the seventh, a MR 74 Handicap over 1400m, Gumbi was unlucky on Vodacom Durban July day over course and distance when not getting his usual good start and from pole position this front-running type has a good chance over an ideal trip off a two point lowered merit rating. Time Marches On is distance suited and looks to now be off a winning merit rating so he will be a big threat. Max The Man is interesting over a suitable trip from a good draw for a raiding combination who have a high strike rate at this track. The veteran Live Controversy is course and distance suited and Delpech is an eyecatching booking. Black Jaguar is course and distance suited and has his third run after a rest.

The last race is a MR 66 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m and Girlfriend can win it provided she gets a better start than she did last time at Scottsville because she is ideally drawn in two for her front running style. Surtherfini is an honest sort who should be finishing strongly over an ideal course and distance. Grand Fantasy is an improving sort who goes well for this 4kg claimer and she would not be a surprise winner, although she has a tough draw.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Sword Storm (Nkosi Hlophe)

Drakenstein-based sire Duke Of Marmalade was denied a fourth European Classic winner this year when his daughter Simple Verse was demoted in the boardroom after crossing the line first in the St. Leger at Doncaster on Saturday, a head clear of the Aiden O’Brien-trained Bondi Beach.

When the winning connections of Bondi Beach were later presented with the trophy and jockey Colm O’Donoghue the Leger cap, boos and the odd shout were heard ringing out and later Simple Verse’s angry trainer Ralph Beckett vowed he would appeal against the upheld decision.

The decision looked harsh and in fact the following day across the Irish Sea the interference caused by the superstar Golden Horn when winning the Irish Champions Stakes looked far worse, with Free Eagle being the victim, but the result stood after a steward’s enquiry. The margin of victory in both instances must have played a big part (Free Eagle lost momentum to such an extent that he finished only third, beaten one-and-a-half lengths).

Footage of the St. Leger enquiry first shows Simple Verse, who looks full of running, overtaking Bondi Beach but then being kept in a pocket by the latter behind the two horses in front. She then forces her way outward, which was considered “the first bit of interference”. Later when both are driving for the line she shifts outward again and interferes with Bondi Beach, which the stewards call “the second bit of interference”.

However, it is clear that between the time of the first bit of interference and the second, Bondi Beach leans on Simple Verse, and even gives her a small bump. This forces her inward by two or three horse widths. Simple Verse, who was staying ahead all the while, clearly reacts to being leaned on by eventually shifting outward and if she hadn’t she would have risked being pushed on to another slowing horse on her inside.

Atzeni was at pains to point out that he was being leaned on in the enquiry and goes on to say, “The best horse won the race and I think if the other horse was good enough he had plenty of time to get by me. I don’t think my filly would have let him get by me and even if we had gone another lap I don’t think he would have got by me, it was 50/50 (interference).”  Bondi Beach’s jockey Colm O’Donoghue concluded by saying, “Has an instant occurred? Yes. Has it took me off a straight course? Yes. Before the second time in the race my horse had received a severe bump which has obviously taken his breath, knocked him off his stride and his rhythm. He is doing his best and trying his heart out to get back at the filly that obviously has a weight allowance against him, but he’s suffered interference and he’s been beaten a head on the line, and he’s received two instances.”

Atzeni could well have been right in saying the best horse won the race as Simple Verse was unable to go for home when she had wanted and clearly has more gears than the more one-paced galloping type Bondi Beach.

However, despite the number of upheld enquiries in Britain being relatively low, British stewards have never reacted kindly to jockeys forcing their way out of tight situations. That is clearly what Atzeni did when he was full of horse with nowhere to go.

The upheld decision cost Atzeni a second successive St. Leger. Simple Verse would have become the first filly to win the race since 1992. It was the first time a horse had been disqualified from first place in the St Leger since 1789.

This year Duke Of Marmalade’s daughter Sound Of Freedom won the Italian 1000 Guineas, another daughter won the Gr 1 Prix de Diane over 2100m in France (equivalent of the Epsom Oaks) and his son Nutan won the German Derby by five lengths. Drakenstein appear to have timed the purchase of the five-time European Gr 1 winner particularly well as he in unusually high positions on the various European sires logs for a stallion imported to South Africa.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Simple Verse (attheraces)

Dual Grade 1 winner Inara and classic hope Captain Chaos have their first outings of the season at Durbanville on Saturday when a big screen will be installed to show the Rugby World Cup.

Inara , winner of both the Maine Chance Paddock Stakes and the Klawervlei Majorca in January, reappears in the 1 400m Gold Circle Allowance Plate and is the principal reason why Grant van Niekerk decided to take his seven-day suspension a week early.

The four-year-old will be opposed by stable companion Come Fly With Me (Corne Orffer) and has the Lanzerac Diana Stakes on October 3 as her first feature objective. Neil Bruss has snapped up the in-form Donovan Dillon for Zante who has her first run since finishing fourth in the Woolavington over three months ago.

Robert Khathi, star of the Nedbank TV advert (“amazing things happen when you partner with the right people”),  partners Cape Nursery winner Captain Chaos for the first time in public in the 1 300m Gold Circle Graduation Plate which came perilously close to being scratched yesterday. Only five of the 35 entries were declared and the National Racing Bureau had to hastily ring round for others to make up the numbers. Even so, they only came up with two.

Durbanville is not popular with some owners and trainers. They point to the slight ridge-and-furrow surface and the firmness of the ground in summer. In the writer’s experience it bears favourable comparison with country courses in other parts of the world (firm ground apart) and it is certainly better than the majority of those in Ireland. Also it’s wide and the bend between the back straight and the straight is cambered to help the horses.

Dynamic looks set to miss the R1 million Supreme Cup at the Vaal on Saturday week despite running so well on his reappearance in the Edgeline Pinnacle at Turffontein last Saturday.

Justin Snaith said: “He did a tendon as a three-year-old so I am not going to risk him in the sand. He is being aimed at the Sansui Summer Cup (November 28) and he will have a good chance if he gets a light weight.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Inara (Liesl King)

The Vaal has another ten race meeting on the turf outside track today and, while the going is usually superior on the outside, high draws are not always favourable because hold up horses drawn on this side often find themselves stuck behind a wall of horses in the closing stages.

The eighth, an intriguing MR 100 handicap over 1000m, is the highlight and could be won by the progressive speedster Bad Boy Buddy Boy. He is 2kg worse off for a 1,2 length defeat of Mod Barley, but looks to have landed the perfect draw of six in the eight horse field considering his front-running style. Mod Barley could chase him home and Isphan, who will likely be using this as a preparation for the Supreme Cup sponsored by SAP on September 26, should be running on strongly. The classy Sarve is drawn on the outside and can’t be ignored, while Greasepaint should get closer to Bad Boy Buddy Boy than in their last meeting.

In the first over 1200m Ntoma stayed on well over 1000m on debut and Gavin Lerena now rides over an extra 200m she will appreciate. Lindelize drops back in trip and makes most appeal of the rest to have run. Of the first-timers the Trippi filly Nala is out of Gr 1 winner Bold Ellinore. Another Trippi filly Killauea is a half-sister to the promising Knox. Vogadonna is by Dynasty out of a Western Winter mare and is a half-sister to useful sprinter Piano Man. Perfect Dream is by Warm White Night out of an Argosy mare who has produced a facile debut winner before. Amazing Var is by Var out of a Northern Guest mare who hasn’t produced much to date.

In the second over 1200m Brazuca is full of class and was unlucky in a Gr 1 over 1400m last time so will be hard to beat. Machismo comes from strong formlines and could earn. Danza has been thereabouts against some good sorts and this is a suitable trip. Ashkenazi could earn at best. Le Clos has pace and should appreciate the step down in trip. Suyoof is an Australian-bred by Magic Albert. Umthetho is an Australian-bred by Encosta De Lago and Andrew Fortune rides.

In the third over 1200m A Woman’s Will found some support on debut and showed pace so is tipped to win, although a concern is she made a breathing noise. Honeybush Tea is knocking on the floor and should be up with the pace on the outside.  Seal My Fate is improving and could earn. Soul Of Spain has not been disgraced against some good sorts.

Monarch Air will appreciate the step up in trip.

In the fourth over 1400m the well-bred Liege caught the eye on debut behind a promising sort and will relish the step up in trip. Scheme Of Things has pace and could improve on his fair debut. Teagan’s Boy stayed on well over course and distance last time out and could earn.

In the fifth over 1400m Calico Quiver wasn’t disgraced first time out the maidens over this trip and could be the one to side with especially as Andrew Fortune now has the ride. Capuche is in good form and should go close over his optimum trip. Nahoon Beach flew late when stepped down to 1600m off a lowered merit rating and is interesting stepped further down in trip.

In the sixth over 1400m Love To Sail looks distance suited and has the form to win. Sapsan finished an excellent third in a Gr 1 over this trip last time but doesn’t have it easy as a young three-year-old off a merit rating of 95. Stablemate Green Crest has the form to be a contender too.

In the seventh over 1400m Antonia Major was raised only two points for a comfortable win over this distance last time and could follow up. Intergalactic has ability but it is not easy for a young three-year-old in a handicap off a merit rating of 81. Tell my Star has a tricky draw but has the form to earn over a suitable trip.

The ninth over 1000m is at the mercy of Little Genie who runs off a capped merit rating having obliterated a handicap field last time over course and distance by 7,25 lengths and receiving the maximum raise of eight points.

In the tenth over 1600m Matilda’s Daughter should appreciate the step up in trip and could beat home Samarra, although the first-timer Noor is one to keep an eye on.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Mod Barley (Nkosi Hlophe)