Vaal-based trainer Lucky Houdalakis finds himself in sixth place on the national log after a halcyon month of August in which the yard had ten winners.

The Houdalakis team created a yard record in June, when they had nine winners, and bettering this mark just two months later suggests they are undoubtedly heading in the right direction.

The former Highveld-based jockey is assisted by his wife Natalie, father-in-law Trevor Lange, who was a good trainer in his own right, and Vic Moore and together they are a formidable team.

They yard look to have a few feature race prospects this season.

It is too early to get overly excited but the three-year-old Var filly Speedy Gonvarlez made a big impression when streaking to an eight length victory over 1000m on the Vaal sand on debut. The legendary J J The Jet Plane, who put the Houdalakis yard’s name on the map, also made his debut on the Vaal sand. Interestingly, Speedy Gonvarlez is out of a half-sister to J J.

Houdalakis took two horses down to Greyville for Super Saturday and the gallant Noble Star ran out a 9,25 length winner of a MR 78 Handicap over 2400m before the Right Approach gelding Nephrite ran a three length fifth in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m.

Interestingly Nephrite, who was born in December of his foaling year, is five months younger than the Champions Stakes winner Rabada, and that sort of age gap is significant among juvenile racehorses.

A week ago the yard’s Antonius Pius filly Firstimesacharm won comfortably on debut over 1200m on the Vaal turf.

Earlier, the three-year-old Tiger Ridge gelding Netflix, an immature sort who took six runs to win his maiden, was impressive over 1700m in first time blinkers, finding plenty in the straight despite over-racing early.

The yard’s four-year-old Count Dubois gelding Counterstroke is described as still being “a big baby”, so is another one to follow as he has won two of his last three starts and has never been out of the first three in seven career outings.

Their four-year-old Dynasty filly Drifting Dusk, who won her debut by 7,25 lengths, bounced back to form recently with a 3,25 length victory over 1160m at Turffontein in a Graduation Plate.

The yard have entered the four-year-old Slew The Red gelding Raise The Red in the R1 million Supreme Cup sponsored by SAP over 1450m on the Vaal sand on September 26. He is unbeaten in two starts over the Supreme Cup course and distance, including winning the last of them by a facile 4,75 lengths as a young three-year-old about a year ago.

Natalie said about some of the yard’s prospects, “Speedy Gonvarlez will run in the Non-Black Type Sophomore 1000 on Supreme Cup day and we will see how she goes. We have sent Nephrite to the farm for two months to allow him to grow and have high hopes for him. Firstimesacharm looks very nice, we don’t know what she was up against, but she is a lovely, big strong filly and won convincingly. Counterstroke is getting better with each run. We have always rated Drifting Dusk and backed off her when she went a bit off. She won convincingly first time back and continues to improve. Noble Star tries his heart out every time he runs and has now won six races (including three out of five starts over staying trips). He particularly enjoys KZN and has won his last two starts down there.”

The Houdalakis’ are full of praise for the Vaal as a training centre. Natalie reckons it has the best training tracks in the country and the string tends to relax in the horse-friendly environment. The results of trainers at The Vaal last season speaks volumes.

Lucky’s career as a jockey ended when a kick by a horse shattered his shin bone.

He was persuaded to take out his trainer’s license in 2006 by Natalie and a friend of his, Coenie Strydom.

Fittingly Coenie was a shareholder in the great J J The Jet Plane and the Houdalakis couple quickly proved what they could do with a top racehorse.

J J, who was bought for a mere R70,000, ended his three-year-old year by winning five Graded races on the trot, the Gr 2 Senor Santa Handicap, the Gr 3 Man O’War Sprint, The Gr 1 Computaform Sprint, the Gr 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint (with topweight) and the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint (by five lengths in course record time). He then left the yard to campaign overseas where he had some initial success.

However, by the time he had made his way back to the Houdalakis yard he had appeared to have lost his way. He was a forgotten racehorse to the extent that he was allowed to start at odds of 13/2 in his comeback in the Gr 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint. However, he became the first South African horse to return from an overseas campaign and win a Gr 1 and he did it comfortably. He then sauntered to a 5,5 length win in the Mercury Sprint. The connections were then considered unrealistically optimistic when sending him to run in the Gr 1 Hong Kong Sprint, because he faced a rigorous three-and-a-half month journey, through climates ranging from hot to freezing, and he would only land in Hong Kong eleven days before the race.

However, he famously beat a field studded with international stars under a brilliant ride by Piere Strydom, who rates him the best horse he has ever ridden. J J went on to win the Gr 2 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai.

J J is still a celebrity at his retirement home Balmoral Stud in the KZN Midlands and is regularly visited by adoring fans. He shares a paddock with a Mary Slack-owned dressage and showing champion Dark Rider and the pair are inseparable.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Lucky Houdalakis (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mike Bass could be out of hospital early next month. He had his tracheostomy tube removed yesterday and he was able to sit up in a chair when daughter Candice went to see him at the Milnerton Mediclinic.

Son Mark reported on the stable’s website that his amputated right leg will not require any further surgery, saying: “There was a serious concern that the doctors would need to go above the knee but they did asses and perform a minor procedure and at this stage it looks very positive.

“His lungs are still heavily clogged but the infection seems to be clearing up well. He is still under fairly high doses of sedation but the staff have estimated that, if all goes well, he should remain in hospital for at least four-six weeks before he will be moved to a rehabilitation centre.”

By Michael Clower 

Picture: Mike Bass (Nkosi Hlophe)

There was consternation at Kenilworth yesterday when the axle of the starting stalls broke shortly after the off of race three.

But the real problems started when it was realised that the spare set could only accommodate eight horses. After much discussion between certain trainers and the stipes, all the trainers were summoned to a meeting in the boardroom.

The trainers were unanimous that the meeting should continue, no matter that some horses might not be able to run. Most were in favour of starting the remaining races by flag. But, according to chief stipendiary steward Ernie Rodrigues, the rules stipulate that the horses have to be started from pens with the front gates open in flag starts.

The trainers were unanimous about this too. It was ridiculous, they said, although some used a rather less printable description! Horses taught all their racing lives to jump when they are confronted with an open gate would never stand still waiting for the fall of a flag.

Race four was delayed for over 20 minutes while all this was going on – two scratchings had already reduced it to the now-necessary eight – and then it was back to the boardroom where it was agreed that the remaining races would be reduced to the required number by elimination.

“What a balls-up,” exclaimed one trainer but most took it in a surprisingly good part, as did the small crowd many of whom seemed mystified by all the goings on.

But perhaps it is time to review the rule governing flag starts. In many other countries the pens are pushed out of the way and the horses line up as well as the jockeys (and the starter) can manage.

However Rodrigues is not in favour and said: “You could end up with one horse facing the wrong way – and that horse could be the favourite.”

“The normal method in this country is to load the horses with the front gates open and shut the back gates behind them. Then they are all facing the right way. But we couldn’t do that because we couldn’t move the pens from one start to another as a result of the broken axle.”

By Michael Clower

Scottsville has another low key meeting today, but there have been some good results for on-the-ball punters in KZN lately and some more rewards could be reaped.

In the first race the Tony Rivalland-trained Ice Run comes from some good maiden formlines and has good pace so is the one to beat despite a high draw in the nine horse field over 1000m. Al Wahed also showed good pace over 1200m last time and will have come on from that run, as it was a return outing from a layoff of a year and another point is that he was backed in from 20/1 to 8/1on debut so must show something at home. Captain King is always thereabouts and with a 4kg claimer up from a low draw should give another good account of himself.

The second is a fillies and mares maiden over 1000m. Roy’s Guardian returns from a layoff but is expected by her in-form yard to run well fresh, especially considering her best race was over this trip. Chapel Queen made a fair debut over this trip on the poly and has Anthony Delpech up, so could be thereabouts in a weak race, despite a high draw. Millies Rockstar makes most appeal of the rest.

In the third, a maiden for fillies and mares over 1400m, Roy’s Queen has a wide draw to overcome, but has Delpech up and has some eyecatching from 1200m up to 1600m. She was finishing well over 1200m last time, so this trip should suit her down to the ground. Well Dressed returns from a six month layoff but is drawn in pole, so should be involved in the finish. Liquorice Moon looks to be the Dixon yard elect despite returning from a layoff and from a good draw over a suitable trip he could earn.

The fourth is a maiden over 1600m and Rikitikitana looks hard to beat here having finished just six lengths back in a strong Gr 1 over this trip last time out. Winter Auralius ran two fair races in strong 1200m maidens and should appreciate the step up in trip, so is interesting from a good draw. Ricochet Flyer is drawn better than he was last time so could make amends as he is looking for this trip and further. The stablemate Levi Roots has run some fair races over shorter and will appreciate the step up in trip, so could earn from a good draw. Roy’s Rolls Royce makes most appeal of the rest.

The fifth is a MR 71 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m and Obrega could be the one to side with from a good draw having run on well in her first try at this trip on the poly and only just failing. Ire de Fiesta will also enjoy the course and distance. Silver Inspiration should start coming into her own now as a Silvano four-year-old and is well drawn over a trip she has enjoyed before. Rehoboth Beach relished the step up to this trip when winning her maiden and hasn’t been badly punished by the handicapper. What An Answer is having her third run after a rest and can’t be ignored over a suitable trip. Miss Stingray could go well if starting on terms and is another who can never be ignored.

The sixth is a MR 64 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1950m and presents a good opportunity for Lady Ami, who has proven suited to this trip on the poly and now has her first turf run in KZN. Princess Beach has become a frustrating sort to follow but looks to have plenty of ability and is now off a competitive merit rating. September Storm has some good form and from a good draw should be right there over a trip she should enjoy. Rascality won her maiden easily over 2000m at Turffontein so can’t be ignored returning to that trip. Likeness makes most appeal of the rest.

The seventh is a MR66 Handicap over 1400m and Listen And Learn ran on well with a change in tactics last time over this course and distance so is interesting from a good draw. Bizjet would probably prefer a bit further but is in good form and well drawn with Delpech up. Excalivar flew to win over course and distance last time and is only three points higher in the merit ratings. Kilroy is distance suited and with a 4kg claimer up from a wide draw can’t be ignored. Delray Beach has a wide draw to overcome but looks to have some ability.

The eighth is a MR 66 Handicap over 1000m and Melanchette has dropped to an attractive merit rating and could be the one to side with from a favourable draw. Threshold jumps from a good draw over a course and distance he loves and is off a competitive merit rating with a 4kg claimer up. Bikini Billy has some good form over 1000m but as a young three-year-old doesn’t have an easy task off a merit rating of 80 and carrying 60,5kg. Burrwood can never be ignored over this trip. Stampede enjoys this course and distance and he could over overcome his wide draw with his early pace considering he has a 4kg claimer aboard.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Tony Rivalland (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mike Bass, hopefully buoyed by Saturday’s Kenilworth double, has made remarkable progress in the past seven days.

No longer is he in a coma and, while his ability to speak is severely curtailed, he has managed on different occasions to indicate that (a) he wants a cup of tea, (b) he is bored and (c) he would like to go home.

Speech is difficult because of the tracheotomy performed to help his breathing. It’s not quite the human equivalent of hobdaying but his horses will sympathise.

Of course it hasn’t all been upward progress. Seemingly the doctors have expressed concerns about the amputated leg and son Mark’s running commentary on the stable website has, somewhat inevitably, revealed almost as many bad days as good ones.

Daughter Candice said on Saturday: “He was quite good today. He is very weak and still on the dialysis but the doctors say that his kidneys will come right.”

She again stressed that recovery is going to take a long time but after less than three weeks it’s a far cry from the early prognosis that gave him no better than a five per cent chance of survival. Seemingly his dour toughness, calm temperament and fighting spirit are all helping and, while the home straight is still a long way off, he has certainly got back into it after that potentially fatal start.

Marsh Shirtliff, whose colours have been made legendary by Bass-trained horses, said after Spirit Of Hamilton got up close home that the trainer was watching on TV and added: “Mike is on the way back which is super.”

Grant van Niekerk, who hardly lets a winner go past without mentioning his boss, had words of encouragement for him after landing the opening maiden on the mammoth 537kg newcomer Moonlight ‘ N Roses.

He said: “She is very temperamental but she will carry on winning. I lost three or four lengths at the start and I had to squeeze my way through gaps to win.”

Unfortunately she also drifted sharply right in the closing stages, badly hampering fourth-placed Kryptonite, and her rider was given seven days for failing to prevent it. Craig du Plooy suffered the same penalty after runner-up Brilliant Idea forced Bridget Dubois (sixth) to ease.

Donavan Mansour got off the Cape Town mark as a jockey when odds-on Hard Day’s Night managed the remarkable feat of drifting all the way across from the faster ground on the inside to the slower going on the stands side. He still won in a common canter.

Joey Ramsden explained the drifting, saying: “He had slight sore shins about ten days ago and he was probably feeling them again but he is a smashing big horse.”

Donovan Dillon is fast establishing himself with the Snaiths and he rode two of the stable’s four winners, earning high praise from the boss for the way he grabbed the Matus Handicap by the scruff of the neck to make all Ovidio – “Donovan made his own call to go to the front. That was a good sign from a young jockey and shows that he is in Cape Town to do business.”

Ronnie Sheehan’s big race ambitions may be centred on Captain Chaos but he reckons that Mambo Fever is also going to make the news. The filly apparently worked like a dream last Tuesday and won for the second time inside three weeks under Robert Khathi – “She is going to be a top class filly later in the season,” enthused a man who has been in racing for 65 years.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Mike Bass (Nkosi Hlophe)