Greyville will be all abuzz again tonight as the second meeting of the current night racing series, which runs through until next April, takes place and has eight intriguing races.

In the first, a Maiden Plate over 1600m, Just Like Magic makes appeal as one who has faced some promising sorts without being disgraced and is now up against weaker over a suitable trip from a plum draw and with Anton Marcus up. Apple Jack stayed on last time in his first run around the turn at Durbanville over 1300m after being squeezed at the start so he could do well in his first run for an in form yard over a trip which should suit. Beluga has been expensive to follow over shorter but has always been up against fair sorts, although she is by Argonaut out of a sprinting Fort Wood mare so is not sure to appreciate the step up in trip. Well Bound has been green in two starts over 1200m and could improve over this trip. Courageous King ran on over 1400m here last time and should appreciate the step up in trip.

The second is a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1600m. Winter Wood ran on well over 1200m last time out here and not only has her third run after a rest but should appreciate the step up in trip on pedigree. Roy’s Monkey strikes as one who will relish the step up in trip having run on well from off the pace over 1400m at Scottsville last time out although she does have a wide draw to overcome. Queen Of Thrones is a hard knocker who is suited to the course and distance and Marcus is up from a good draw. Topaz Rain stayed on over 1400m last time and could begin fulfilling her potential as she matures. Royal Mazari could improve over this trip.

The third is a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m. Swan Dance has shown up well behind some fair sorts when up with the pace over further. Last time out with first time blinkers on over 1400m on the poly she over raced early and found no extra late. She could get it right here over the step down in trip, especially considering Delpech is up and that her dam by Fort Wood was speedy. Masked Girl always seems to find one better but she should be right there again as her excuse last time here over 1000m was that she was cut into. Stunning Angel has shown pace over this trip on the Vaal sand before and has Marcus up from pole position.

In the fourth, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, the pole position-drawn Whitley Willows made an eyecatching debut over 1000m at Scottsville last time, starting from an outside draw and continually shifting inward until he was on the inside rail, and he will appreciate the strip up in trip. Oracle Kingdom has always been up against good fields but has shown glimpses of ability and in this weak field could earn over a step up in trip he should enjoy. Aguero is always thereabouts and wasn’t disgraced in a stronger field in his only try at this trip so could earn here.

The fifth is a MR 66 Handicap over 1200m and Victory Takeover could be the one to side with running over a suitable trip off a competitive merit rating and with a 4kg claimer up. Teppenyaki has good early pace and is interesting stepped down in trip as he could well make a bold bid from the front. The hattrick-seeking Copper’s Pride is improving and is only three points higher for his win over course and distance last time, so should be right there again on this surface he clearly loves. Burwaaz was a touch unlucky over course and distance last time and should be running on strongly again despite being given a three point merit rated raise. Keep Your Light On has come down to a competitive merit rating and could be concerned in the finish if reproducing his maiden win over course and distance.

The sixth is a MR 73 Handicap over 1400m for fillies and mares and the promising Silvano filly Tiptol is interesting in her first start on the poly and first try at this trip from a good draw as she has finished strongly from off the pace to win over 1000m on the turf course here before. You Bolt moved up well over 1200m last time at Scottsville and she could prove to have a good kick over this trip on a surface she enjoys. Mogokity is off a competitive merit rating over a suitable trip so should be right there from pole position. Big Sugar ran in a Gr 1 last time and did quite well in some features before that but as a young three-year-old doesn’t have it easy off a merit rating of 83. Royalsecuritypower should finish just about together with Mogokity according to the form of their last meeting over course and distance.

The seventh is a MR 74 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m and Shezaleader is a handy type who is interesting with the excellent judge of pace Anton Marcus up, although the wide draw is not ideal. Trini’s Collateral was not disgraced in the KZN Breeders Yearling Sale Million over 1300m when racing green and should relish the step up in trip but she has a tough task off an 89 merit rating. Dizzy Feet looks to be off a competitive merit rating now and could earn over a suitable course and distance having been rested during the Champions Season.

The last is a MR 91 handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m. Taking Chances loves the poly and is only four points higher for her easy course and distance win last time out which came from a similar wide draw. Red Label should be cherry ripe and will appreciate the step down in trip so should be right there. Royal Denise showed some class last time out over this trip at Scottsville when beating some good sorts and she could handle a four point raise over a course and distance she enjoys. Peace Again can never be ignored over this trip on any course and should be finishing strongly. Princess Tantan needed her last start in the Highveld and is drawn in pole over a suitable trip.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Taking Chances (Nkosi Hlophe)

Piere Strydom was yesterday handed a 90 day suspension by the National Horseracing Authority for the error of judgement he made when riding Dublin Rebel in race 3 at Turffontein on  August 27, which cost the horse almost certain victory, although forty of the days have been suspended.

The legendary 5000-winner jockey has the right to appeal against the penalty imposed and said yesterday (Wednesday), “I have seven days in which to appeal but am still in two minds whether to do so, so will take a couple of days to decide.”

Strydom is riding at The Vaal today (Thursday) and if he takes the suspension from after the meeting onward, he will be back in time for the Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile racemeeting at Turffontein on October 31.

A press release was sent out by the NHA after the inquiry in Johannesburg yesterday.

It stated:

Inquiry – Jockey Piere Strydom

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that at an Inquiry held in Johannesburg on Wednesday 9 September 2015, Jockey Piere Strydom was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.3 in that he failed to ride the horse DUBLIN REBEL out to the end of Race 3, run at the Turffontein Racecourse on 27 August 2015, thereby prejudicing his chances of obtaining first place.

Jockey Strydom pleaded guilty to the charge.

The Inquiry Board found Jockey Strydom guilty and imposed a penalty of a suspension from riding in races for a period of ninety days, of which forty days are wholly suspended for a period of two years, provided that during the period of suspension he is not convicted of a contravention of Rule 62.2.3 prejudicing his chances of finishing in the first, second or third position.

Jockey Strydom has the right of appeal against the penalty imposed.

– David Thiselton

A potential field for North America’s richest race, the $5 million Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, is shaping up now almost two months out from October 31.

Contenders are still chasing American Pharoah in leading into it, with the Triple Crown winner again topping the latest NTRA (National Thoroughbred Racing Association) Top Thoroughbred Poll released on Tuesday.

Mare Beholder (Pacific Classic), Honor Code (Whitney) and Liam’s Map (Woodward) follow American Pharoah off their own major Grade I wins. Others who could go in the Classic, Keen Ice and Tonalist, rank seventh and tenth, respectively, this week.

Shared Belief remains in the top 10 but continues recovering from a hip injury and isn’t expected to be ready in time for the Breeders’ Cup.

NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll (first-place votes)

1. American Pharoah (28)
2. Beholder (1)
3. Honor Code (2)
4. Liam’s Map
5. Private Zone
6. Shared Belief
7. Keen Ice
8. Lady Eli
9. Flintshire
10. Tonalist

Others receiving votes: The Pizza Man (31), California Chrome (19), Sheer Drama (17), Frosted (15), Big Blue Kitten (9), Cavorting (6), Songbird (5), Stellar Wind (5), Wicked Strong (5), Ironicus (4), Lovely Maria (4), Big John B (3), Coach Inge (2), Dortmund (2), Nyquist (2), Rachel’s Valentina (2), Rock Fall (2), Tiz Shea D (2), Catch A Flight (1), Hard Not To Like (1), Runhappy (1), Wise Dan (1).

The Courier-Journal‎.com

Picture: American Pharoah

Mubtaahij has arrived in Dubai and will spend a few days in quarantine before his return to his stable at his official “home”, Mike de Kock’s Blue Stables at Meydan.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s colt enjoyed a refreshing spell of rest at Newmarket, UK, after his exploits in the US and was shipped back to the UAE last Sunday.

De Kock commented about the yard’s Dubai World Cup prospect: “Mubtaahij is very well off for his break and after he’s settled in at Blue Stables we’ll start his preparation for the 2016 Dubai Carnival.”

Meanwhile Mubtaahij’s US form to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah continues to hold up. It was well franked again in the recent Travers Stakes (G1, 2000m at Saratoga), when Keen Ice (3/4-lengths ahead of Mubtaahij in the Kentucky Derby over 2000m and only a neck ahead of him in the Belmont Stakes over 2400m), lowered superstar American Pharoah’s colours – three-quarters in it.

American Pharoah will continue his racing career, with the Breeders’Cup Classic (G1) as his ultimate target. After his defeat to Keen Ice on 29 August, owner Ahmed Zayat talked about retiring the colt, but he tweeted a few days later, “I have decided to continue to race American Pharoah! The champ deserves another chance!”

In a subsequent statement, Zayat explained, “I have discussed all aspects of American Pharoah’s race last race and his condition since the race with our whole team, and have decide he deserves another chance, so we are pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”

          – Mikedekockracing.com – extracts from TDN

  Picture: Mubtaahij (Liesl King)

The Vaal stages an eight race meeting on the sand tomorrow (Thursday) and punters who have done their homework could once again be rewarded on a track that usually produces an upset result or two.

In the first race, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m, Tripadvisor and River Empress have both had breathing issues and will wear tongue ties, but have very little to beat. River Empress has done quite well in her last two starts on the sand over 1000m and 1200m and is drawn well with Piere Strydom up and the form of her last start has been franked so she is tipped to win. Tripadvisor has quite strong turf form and being by Trippi she is likely to love the sand. She is drawn in pole position from where she can use her good early pace and Gavin Lerena rides, but she did make a severe breathing noise last time, which is a concern. Narnia has tied up in her last two starts, both behind good sorts in KZN, and if her muscular problems are behind her she could surprise.

The second over 1000m is one of four interesting Pinnacle Stakes events on the day that have attracted good horses. However, this one looks to be at the mercy of Trip Tease, who is 5,5kg better off with any other horse on official merit ratings. Furthermore, in eight starts over course and distance this Trippi gelding has won seven of them. His stablemate Varbration won the Flamingo Sprint over this trip, where he showed his liking for this sort of surface, and is second best in at the weights, so could follow him home. Another stablemate Wishful Heart is a progressive sort who caught the eye when winning over course and distance last time out. Will Pays has shown glimpses of class so could be better than his merit rating suggests and he could surprise. Duty Dance is having his first start on sand but has an ideal pedigree for this surface so is another dark horse.

The third is a Pinnacle Stakes race for fillies and mares over 1000m. The Lucky Houdalakis yard are in devastating form and Drifting Dusk bounced back with a convincing win over 1160m on the turf last time out. On pedigree she should take to the sand well and Piere Strydom has kept the ride, which speaks volumes.  Twilight Tiger has a good record over course and distance and meets Drifting Dusk on the same terms as she would in a handicap. Sarve is the best in at the weights and if bouncing back from a below par run last time when cut into she will be right there over a course and distance she enjoys. Jade Vine is second best in at the weights and will have benefitted from her last run, but she would likely prefer a touch further. Miss December is an improving sort who is course and distance suited and weighted to finish level with Twilight Tiger and Drifting Dusk but the number one draw is not ideal by trends.

The fourth race is a Maiden Plate over 1800m and the Mike de Kock-trained Mooghamir will be hard to beat over a trip he will relish. Il Duce is likely to improve over this trip and could chase the selection home. Yours And Mine has shown the odd glimpse of ability and could be s surprise place earner over a course and distance he could well enjoy.

The fifth is a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1450m in which many of the R1 million Supreme Cup entries will be having preparation runs. The De Kock-trained Capricorn Ridge is under sufferance but caught the eye last time when unlucky in the Flamingo Mile and from pole position draw he could surprise.  Stablemate Alghadeer looks to be the yard elect but jumps from a wide draw and this trip could be a touch on the sharp side, although he is sure to be finishing strongly. Another stablemate Mootahadee is having his third run after a rest and will appreciate the step up in trip, so could be dangerous. Olympic Bolt could make it a De Kock quartet as he is in fine form, although he would prefer a touch further. Raise The Red is unbeaten in two starts over course and distance but returns from a long layoff for the in-form Houdalakis yard.

The sixth is a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1450m for fillies and mares and De Kock could be in the winner’s enclosure again with Ahlaam, who is interesting over this step down in trip having blitzed them over 1600m in her penultimate start. She seems to always do well against her own gender and Anthony Delpech is up from a good draw. Peep Show should be improving being by Ideal World and should be finishing strongly from a fair draw with Strydom up. Lady Of Kildare has won three in a row on the Greyville poly off her lower turf rating. However, she enjoys this course and distance too and could earn again.

The seventh is a MR68  Handicap over 1450m and Diesel Power disappointed over 1800m last time and will likely appreciate the step down in trip so he could present good value from a good draw off a lowered merit rating. Celtic King is potentially well handicapped having bounced back to form and winning twice on the turf meaning his sand rating is now eight points lower than his turf rating. He is drawn well over a suitable course and distance. Angel Gabriel did well last time when attempting to steal it over course and distance and he has the same draw and runs off the same merit rating.

The last is a MR68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m and Imperial Empress could follow up on her facile recent win here over 1800m as she is now drawn at the opposite extreme in pole. Bellevue won a weak maiden easily over 1800m on the sand last time and could earn again off a merit rating of only 62. Final Score stays well and could plug on for a place.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Gavin Lerena