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)

Private Highveld trainer Clinton Binda raids the Greyville polytrack meeting tonight with three horses, including the three-year-old Toreador gelding Al Azraq, whom he rates the best horse in his yard. However, he warned there would be a lot of negatives surrounding this horse.

He said, “I am coming down mainly for Al Azraq because the ground up here is too hard to train on at the moment let alone race on and he is a good horse with a future so we have to be careful with him and the poly will be kinder. But there are a lot of negatives about him, the main one being he hasn’t had a gallop due to the hardness of the ground, it will be the first time he has travelled and it will also be his first time on the poly, under the lights and over the 1400m trip. But he has the ability and I still expect him to win, although I think my best chance on the night could be with Night Editor, whom I think will enjoy the poly.”

Binda does not wind up his horses before their debuts, yet Al Azraq finished third first time out in May over 1000m, at odds of 16/1, to a highly regarded sort Bull Valley, who was backed into 13/10. Furthermore, he finished just a neck behind another classy sort, Nephrite, who went on to win next time out before running a three length fifth to Rabada in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m. Al Azraq came out again in June over 1100m at The Vaal and won by 8,25 lengths under Gavin Lerena. Three horses have won out of that race to date.

Binda explained his reasons for sending him over 1400m, “My theory is that he needs to stay a minimum of 1600m because if he is good enough he can then be entered in the Graham Beck and the Dingaans. If I put him over sprints now I will never be able to teach him to settle over further later, but putting him over 1400m I can always bring him back to sprints if he doesn’t stay.”

Al Azraq showed plenty of early speed in his win and also a fine turn of foot, although he was driven out all the way to the line. He should be suited to his pole position draw tomorrow night, due to that early pace of his, and KZN Champion Jockey Anthony Delpech in the irons is a further plus. On a merit rating of 92 he is rated seven points higher than the Charles Laird-trained three-year-old Red Hot Poker, who is the second highest rated horse in the race, although on jockey bookings the Laird stable elect appears to be Dance On Air. The Tripster and Rocketball are two others that have shown decent form.

Night Editor runs in the seventh race, a MR 80 Handicap over 1200m, and will be ridden from draw five by 4kg claimer Calvin Habib, who won on him over 1160m at Turffontein in his penultimate start. The five-year-old Right Approach gelding was raised to his highest ever merit rating of 75 for that win, but proved himself up to it when showing good pace and staying all the way to the line next time out over the same course and distance, losing by just 1,5 lengths to the decent sort Talktothestars, who was winning for the fourth time in succession. Right Approach’s progeny appear to enjoy all weather surfaces so he should go close in this race and will have vastly more experience than the class act in the race, the Charles Laird-trained three-year-old Main Submission. Laird rates Main Submission as one who will improve continually as he gets older, but he also regarded him from early on as “a miler plus”. However, Main Submission does possess speed too and his debut win over 1200m at Scottsville in June has proven to be one of the strongest form races this year with the like of Swakopmund, Bunker Bill, Rio de la Plata, Land Of Legends and Rikitikitana behind him.

Binda’s first runner on the night is the five-year-old Silvano gelding Ayrton, a battler who runs in race three, a Maiden Plate over 1200m. Ayrton once finished a 5,5 length third to the useful stayer Solid Speed over 1800 at Kenilworth when trained by Glen Kotzen. Binda is Ayrton’s third trainer. Binda has gained a reputation over the years for his expertise in buying horses-in-training and then turning their careers around. In six runs for the yard, Ayrton has already managed three places, all over sprints. The gelding has some early pace, but lacks a kick at the end, so with 4kg claimer Habib up he could possibly earn a cheque in this uninspiring field if able to get handy from a tricky draw of eight in the ten horse field.

However, the races involving Al Azraq and Night Editor are likely to be the two most interesting events of the evening.

By David Thiselton

Picture: The Tripster (Nkosi Hlophe)

Night racing returns to Greyville tonight and there will be a meeting every Friday night until April 29, 2016.

Tonight’s meeting has eight races and there will be immediate interest because in the first, a maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m, the Charles Laird-trained Dynasty filly Madame Justice is a full sister to former Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate. She doesn’t have much to beat, although Zaida is a nice big, strong horse who looks to have plenty of scope for improvement.

In the second over 1200m Goodnight Nurse has caught the eye twice when finishing fifth in two strong maidens respectively and is the tip to win. Wow Holiday is better than his last run and will be a factor if bouncing back to the form of his debut. Budapest returns from a layoff but could earn if close to his best.

In the third over 1200m Roy’s Gul Gul Ha has run two recent  races over course and distance and has Anthony Delpech up, albeit from a wide draw. Jack The Knife was not disgraced last time against a good sort over 1400m and might appreciate the step down in trip as he tired late in that race. Astroman is having his third run after a long layoff and as a handy type could do well here from a good draw. Ayrton has fair Highveld form and must be included. Long Walk could do well if he settles early.

The fourth is a weak maiden over 1600m but Music World makes plenty of appeal as one who will come on from her fair debut over 1400m and she will appreciate the step up in trip. Wind Trader has shown signs of ability and could well enjoy this surface. Classy Chic has fair form and should enjoy the trip and has Delpech up. Manyou has caught the eye before and is interesting stepped up in trip. Iced Gem is improving and could earn from a good draw.

The fifth over 1600m is open but African Fish Eagle has his third run in KZN and on the evidence of his last race could step up to the plate. Both Silva Hawk and Royal Zulu Guard have some class and could fill the trifecta positions. However, none of the runners in this race can be ignored.

The sixth, a Novice Plate over 1400m, looks on paper to be at the mercy of the Gauteng raider Al Azraq who was impressive when winning his maiden over 1100m by 8,25 lengths and he should enjoy the step up in trip. However, trainer Clinton Binda has warned that there will be a lot of negatives, the main one being he hasn’t had a gallop due to the hardness of the ground at present on the Highveld, and the others being he hasn’t travelled before and it will also be his first time on the poly, under lights and over the trip. The Tripster is interesting stepped up in trip having stayed on quite well over the tough Scottsville 1200m in his penultimate start to a good sort and Dance On Air makes most appeal of the rest.

In the seventh over 1200m Main Submission’s maiden win over this trip at Scottsville has turned out to be very strong form and he is the type who will improve continuously as he gets older. However, it won’t be easy off his 87 merit rating as a young three-year-old and the Highveld raider Night Editor could be a strong challenger, while Thunderwood has scope and could also give some cheek.

The last over 1200m could be won by Quintella, who was dropped out from a wide draw last time before running on strongly. This time she is drawn well and Keagan de Melo remains aboard.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Main Submission (Nkosi Hlophe)