Justin Snaith is aiming to become the first Cape Town trainer to win the Sansui Summer Cup since Mike Stewart scored with Fire Arch 20 years ago.

He is preparing both Investec Cape Derby runner-up Dynamic and Tabgold 2200 winner Ultimate Dollar for the November 28 Turffontein R2 million showpiece. Both horses travelled to his Johannesburg satellite yard from Durban as did Lineker who is being trained for the even more valuable Ready To Run Cup at the end of next month.

Snaith said: “I now have 12 horses at the satellite yard which is going very well and growing all the time. Ashleigh Hughes is in charge and she is brilliant. She used to be with Gary Alexander and then Weiho Marwing. She worked for me in the last Durban season so she now knows how I do things.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Justin Snaith

Same Jurisdiction put up a magnificent performance in her seasonal reappearance at Scottsville yesterday when cruising to an effortless 2,75 length victory under Anton Marcus in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1400m.

The four-year-old Mambo In Seattle filly will thus head off for Cape Town on a high note and her chief targets there will be the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m and the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m.

On her last two performances, victory in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes and yesterday, she is likely the best filly in the country, despite belonging to a vintage crop, a few of whom will still be racing in South Africa this season.

Same Jurisdiction started at odds of 1/3 yesterday.

The Brett Crawford-trained De Kock built on his previous good run, which followed two below par performances, to finish second. The Gavin Van Zyl- trained pair MLJet, who set a good pace, and No Worries were third and fourth respectively followed by the Howells-trained Surefire.

Later, the Paddy Lunn yard kept up their recent good form when the six-year-old Mogok gelding Mr Whatever powered to victory in a MR 90 Handicap over 1000m under 4kg claimer Akshay Balloo having been backed in over a course and distance he loves.

Meanwhile in Mauritius the seven-year-old Argentinian-bred Vettel from the Ramapatee Gujadhur stable was a surprise winner of the island’s biggest race, the Air Mauritius Maiden Cup over 2400m, under Kevin Ghunowa.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

Durban’s curry hangouts have a tendency to shout out loud for everyone to hear. Who doesn’t know Florida Road’s House of Curries, Govender’s Original House of Curries and Britannia Hotel’s Capsicum (Red Pepper) Restaurant?

But a small pub, Bartab No 56, hidden away at The Atrium mall (formerly Overport City), might well be the city’s best-kept secret.

Not only does it serve the best curries – the venue’s samp and mutton curry special is irresistible and the briyani is up there with the best in town – but they are dirt cheap, and that applies to the drinks as well as the food.

If curry is not your thing, then the grilled hake, which comes with a generous portion of chips, is a steal at R30 a portion. A burger sells for R40.

Bartab No 56 is not your traditional restaurant. Far from it. It’s actually a sports-betting pub. But don’t let that conjure up images of a seedy, smoke-filled, dimly lit dungeon. The venue is modern, with a laid-back vibe, modern furnishings, exposed brick walls and raw-wood tables and benches. Top that with the hospitable manager and excellent service and you’ll forget you’re in the company of ageing, shabby punters.

Beers cost less than R15, and if you manage to make it in time for happy hour (between 5pm and 6pm) then expect to pay only R10.50 for a dumpie. The same costs R25 in Florida Road.

The other night I turned up for some Phuza Thursday sundowners with seven colleagues, who all agree that this is the best deal in town. A fair number of rounds and about five meals later, the bill came to a princely R560.

While Bartab might not be the kind of place to take your better half on a date, it is perfect for chilling over a few pints with friends.

NEED TO KNOW:

When to go: Around 5.30pm, after the horses have run the last race and the punters, who can be noisy, have left.

Who to take: Your cash-strapped colleagues. Loads of food and laughter, at a fraction of the amount you’d ordinarily spend.

What not to do: Pop in on your way to a dinner. Bartab’s food is irresistible.

What to drink: At those prices, as much as possible.

Whatever you do: Don’t try this spot for a romantic first date. Unless her name is Beauty.

How much do you need: R50 will get you a proper meal and a drink.

Address: Shop 56, The Atrium Mall (Overport City), Durban

– Sibusiso Ngalwa for Timeslive.co.za

*Bartab No.56 is open 7 days a week from 10am to 8pm (later on select nights).
And features include:
– a sports lounge,
– 15 HD televisions broadcasting live racing and sports,
– slot machines (5 LPM),
– full Tote facilities (11 terminals)
– with fixed odds (bookmaker) facilities coming soon (November 1)
You can contact Bartab No.56 on 031 207 5508

KZN has a much anticipated double header this weekend with eight races on the Greyville polytrack tonight and eight at Scottsville on Sunday.

Quintella in the last race is the top tip tonight as she loves the course and distance, goes very well for Keagan de Melo and has at last landed a good draw.

The other tips are Madame Justice in the first with Zaida the back up, Goodnight Nurse in the second, Roy’s Gul Gul Ha in the third, Music World in the fourth, African Fish Eagle in the fifth although Silva Hawk and Royal Zulu Guard must also be considered, Al Azraq in the sixth although he won’t be at his peak and The Tripster and Dance On Air could be back ups, and Main Submission in the seventh where Night Editor and Thunderwood must also be considered.

At Scottsville, in the first race over 1400m First Sea Lord ran a close third over this trip on the poly and the form of that race has been franked so he should have a good chance from a good draw, especially considering he ran a fair third over1600m at Scottsville before that. Protea Power has run two good races over 1200m in good fields and the same 4kg claimer remains aboard over a trip that he should handle, but this is his first run around the turn and he has a tricky draw. Secret Warning is a full brother to Tales Of Bravery and could improve on his debut where he wasn’t disgraced in a strong maiden juvenile plate.

In the second for fillies and mares over 1400m Open Your Heart has run two fair races over 1200m and should relish the step up in trip. Cakewalk has run two seconds over 1600m, including one at Scottsville when staying on well, and Anton Marcus is now up. Ravishing Luly enjoys the course and distance.

The third over 1400m should be at the mercy of the brilliant Same Jurisdiction. De Kock bounced back to form last time and is drawn in pole over a suitable trip. No Worries has won a Gr 2 over this trip before. MLJet might well be best suited to this trip and has class. Sabaha has some class too and would have needed her last start.

In the fourth over 1000m Hunting Owl is well regarded and having showed good pace over 1200m in his last two starts in good fields he is interesting with Marcus up over the minimum trip. Piano Man was unlucky over 1200m last time and is effective over this trip too.

Royalsecuritypower returns to lesser company than he has been facing and has 4kg claimer up. Sea Fever is only 1kg worse off with Hunting Owl after beating him by 0,75 lengths over 1200m and he should be running on strongly late. Captain On The Run is not overly reliable but can never be ignored and has a 4kg claimer up. Mr Whatever loves this trip and with a 4kg claimer up can’t be ignored. Big King is interesting at Scottsville for the first time over a suitable trip.

In the fifth, a maiden over 1950m, Grey’s A Rockin was held up off the pace for a change last time over course and distance and flew late so if settling better this time he has a big shout under Marcus. Barbarian has faced two good horses in his two career starts and wasn’t disgraced last time so should be a big runner over a step up in trip he will relish. Seattle Wolf has run two fair races to date and his half-brother Arniston finished 4th in the Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby so he could enjoy this trip.

The sixth is a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1950m and Roy’s Gold could improve on her last start over course and distance as it was her first time with blinkers and also just her second time around the turn. Ravishing Aromance beat Roy’s Gold last time and now has a reversal in draw fortunes in her favour too. Fly Away With Me was only quarter-of-a-length behind Roy’s Gold last time and now has Delpech up.

In the seventh over 1950m Golden High has been knocking on the door and has Delpech up over a step down in trip he will likely relish. Leeuloop Jet is only three points higher for his decent win over 2000m at the Vaal and Highveld raiders over this sort of trip are always dangerous. Flying Fellow is well drawn over a suitable course and distance and has run well off this sort of merit rating before.

In the last over 1950m the three-year-old Kitty’s Destiny has caught the eye as a progressive sort and although he doesn’t have an easy task at the weights he could possibly win first time out the maidens against an uninspiring field. Rocky Stallone raids from the Highveld and has dropped to a competitive mark. French Mark has fallen to a competitive merit rating and with a 4kg claimer up could earn here considering his only win was over 1800m.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

Twinkle Toes can live up to her name in the Pravda Maiden tomorrow when Kenilworth stages its last meeting for seven weeks.

This R1.8 million purchase ran above stable expectations when starting second favourite on debut three weeks ago and would have gone very close had not the winner taken her ground 50m out.

“She surprised me that day and this always worries me when they run the next time,” says Justin Snaith, seemingly more cautious than confident. “She will probably still need it a bit but she will run a big race.”

It’s perhaps worth noting – rather than being wiser and poorer afterwards – that she is drawn only four from the outside. The ground is significantly better on the inside for the whole length of the sprint course so Donovan Dillon is going to have to tack across.

So too will Aldo Domeyer on big danger Sails Set but Persian Silk, who has had two good runs, has a good draw and so may pose the biggest threat.

The Snaiths think a lot of Black Arthur but the newcomer has it all to do from his ten draw in the 1 400m St Dalfour Maiden and Jiggery Pokery should be hard to beat after his ultra-promising first run.

He was to have reappeared on 10 August but was scratched on the morning of the race after failing to eat up. “He had a bit of a virus and didn’t eat for two days,” recalls Candice Robinson, adding: “but he is fine again now.”

The Mike Bass stable may follow up with Arabian Winter in the Mountain View Academy Maiden. The handicappers say that Meritocracry is half a kilo better but there is a line of form- admittedly pretty tentative – that gives Grant van Niekerk’s mount a slight edge.

When Captain Bagg sprang a 14-1 surprise last month Eric Sands said that the horse had “a lot of ability but problems upstairs.” The bottom weight will be much shorter in the Michaud Agencies Handicap and Sands, expanding on last time’s comments, says: “He is not an easy horse to train and he tends to race with his head cocked to one side. Also he rushes and then comes back to you.”

Top weight Muscatt, the course record holder over this distance, has been raised a kilo for last time’s second but is given marginal preference.

Varumba, a R2.5 million Var filly, stands out in the Fulcrum Novice Plate after her third places in the SA Fillies Nursery and Kenilworth Fillies Nursery. She has not raced for three months but Vaughan Marshall – 15 winners from the last eight Cape Town meetings- has his horses on song and confirms “Yes, she is fit.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Muscatt (Nkosi Hlophe)