Scottsville stages a low key eight race meeting today but there are still some interesting horses being turned out and there could be one or two opportunities for punters.

The first is a weak maiden over 1200m and the one to side with could be Timeous, who stayed on well over 1200m on the poly last time after being caught in behind horses which allowed the winner to steal a march. Masked Girl ran second over course and distance last time out after the race had panned out very well for her as she was given a tow by the leader until the 300m mark. From a higher draw she might have it tougher this time. Simla has some fair form against stronger but looks held by Timeous on their only meeting over this trip, although that was admittedly on the poly. Elusive Lady returns from a layoff and might appreciate the step down in trip. Venetian Gold appears to have problems but two of her best runs were over 1200m and she can’t be ignored.

Rock On Baby looks an exciting horse in the making and could follow up on her easy maiden win in the second over the same 1000m course and distance. Just Lucky has some class and will be running on strongly over this too sharp trip. Lady Penrhyn is well regarded and could earn.

Roy’s Strike Force ran a decent second last time out over the 1200m of the third race and could go one better here. Omega Onslaught made a good debut over course and distance and with natural improvement will be a big runner. Thunderwood was not far behind him and should improve too. Destined For Dawn is a hard knocker who is course and distance suited and he could earn. Forest has scope for improvement and is also one to consider.

Nikki ran on for third behind two promising sorts over 1000m on debut and is drawn in pole over the much more suitable 1600m of the fourth race. Wind Trader has run two fair sprints to date and should also appreciate the step up in trip. The consistent Cherry Orchard is likely to be involved in the finish here.

The hard knocking Dark Avenger could finally get it right in the fifth over a suitable 1600m with Anton Marcus up. However the improving Rio De La Plata should also relish the step up in trip and could be a big threat from a good draw.

Leopard Lily was up against some decent sorts last time out over the 1600m course and distance of the sixth and was by no means disgraced, so she could be the one to side with.

Alpine Ridge has always been promising and as a daughter of Go Deputy should now be coming into her own. Her last start can be ignored as she dislodged the rider. Miss Argentina has a touch of class and is interesting stepped up to this trip with Marcus up. Lertasha has matured into her big frame and is also a contender. Cassie O’Malley ran a fair race over course and distance last time and can’t be ignored.

Diamond King has overcome his problems and his class will make him hard to beat in the seventh over a probably ideal trip of 1400m. Kings Archer and Baltic Amber should give some cheek. Firewood, Master Archer and Cinema Scope also have plenty of ability and can’t be ignored.

Royal Roy has snuck into the handicap with bottom weight in the eighth and has a 4kg claimed aboard too so he looks the one to side with in the eighth over 1200m. It is a competitive event but Theseus has some class and could make his presence felt despite carrying a welter 64kg.

Special Encounter, Piano Man and National King make most appeal of the rest.

In the last race over 1200m Ooh La Var is a half-sister to Legal Eagle and doesn’t have a lot to beat. Hannah’s Answer ran a fair debut and could improve and the consistent Seek The Summit is likely to be in the frame again.

By David Thiselton

Like migrating birds, the Gold Cup meeting marks the end of Champions Season and visiting trainers head back home accompanied by many of the best horses. This year’s migration was delayed a week but we are now left with the common or garden variety looking to pay their way and justify their monthly expenses.

Over the next week or so a pattern will evolve with trainers who bottled up horses not capable of competing during Champions Season popping the cork – the trick is to work out which trainers and which horses.

With two Gr1 winners behind his name this past season Duncan Howells does not fall into the “battler” category because he knows which of his horses are geese and which are swans and with ten runners pencilled in for Scottsville today his runners may be worth following.

He has not made things easy in the Racing. It’s A Rush Handicap that heads up the nine race card having booked Anton Marcus for Kings Archer and current stable first call Muzi Yeni aboard the progressive Baltic Amber.

However, weight could be the key here with Marcus much more comfortable at 59,5kg and light weight Yeni aboard Baltic Amber with 55kg to shoulder.

That however, does not solve the problem. King’s Archer has plenty in his favour. After pulling outside draws at his last two starts he has finally cracked an inside gate. Given his style of running and over what looks to be his optimum trip he may be the stable elect.

But in Baltic Amber he faces a progressive gelding who has taken time to come to hand but now looks to be close to the peak of his powers. He found stable companion Saratoga Dancer too hot to handle at his most recent outing when trying to make all the running, only fading out of contention inside the final 200m. Given that he is in receipt of 4,5kg from King’s Archer, Baltic Amber may prove to be the right one of the pair.

But the list of possible winners does not stop there. Master Archer finished well beaten behind Saratoga Dancer and Baltic Amber when last they met but Sean Tarry’s runner was drawn in Woodhouse Road. He pulled another bum draw at Greyville at his next start but will now jump alongside Kings Archer which should make for some interesting tactics between Marcus and Anthony Delpech.

That leaves Diamond King. Tony Rivalland’s gelding has always promised much but has come up short when expected to feature. However, he has contested two strong feature races since returning from a break and during Champions Season it’s never easy. This will be his third run since a lay-off and over what looks to be an optimum distance he can give Brandon Lerena his first winner back after giving up his position as stable jockey to Ricky Maingard in Mauritius.

In all, this race epitomises what punters will be faced with in coming weeks and unless one is convinced of having worked out the form correctly, it may be best to stick to set weights races when it comes to all-to-come bets.

In the first, a Maiden sprint over 1200m, Timeous, runner-up in both starts will have her supporters although she was a well beaten second when sent out favourite behind Patty Cake. The year older Masked Girl has not been out of the money at her last four starts but she has had her chances and a high number draw is not in her favour given her obvious limitations.

A better proposition could be the Kom Naidoo-trained Simla. Last time out she was pitched into the deep end in the Gr 2 The Debutante won by the very promising Cosmic Light and a drop to Maiden company with 4kg claimer Tristan Godden aboard could see her triumph.

Dennis Drier has had a superb season with five Gr 1 wins and he will be looking to kick off his new term in the second with Rock On Baby. Caught late from a difficult draw on debut, she made amends over the same course and distance at her second outing, winning unextended. Second place Elephant Matriarch, some six lengths back at the wire, has since franked that form which gives Rock On Baby plenty of shine.

However, the Howells-trained Just Lucky, not aptly named given her myriad of problems, is rated 3kg superior to her nearest rival in the weights, Snow Rose, and must be given serious consideration. She has been racing over much further at recent outings but she did not gain her rating for nothing and although she drops in trip, this may well turn out to be her best trip.

By Andrew Harrison

The Ideal World filly, Persian Rug, who races in the silks of Mike de Kock’s assistant trainers Stephen Jell and Natie Kotzen, seemed to have the Thekwini Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m sewn up. However, as Kotzen relates it, “when S’manga Khumalo starts going after her, she pricks her ears, ducks to the left and then digs her toes in” approaching the line made by the grandstand’s shadow.

Khumalo, obviously feeling the crop was doing nothing for her chances, hid it away against his body and rode her hands and heels to the wire. Persian Rug took off in the final 50m and finished third, a rapidly closing 0.50 lengths behind winner Lauderdale.

Said Kotzen: “Anton Marcus, who won on her first time out, said she did the same thing to him. She’s just green and doesn’t know what’s going on yet.”

Even though she didn’t win the race, Kotzen was pleased with the filly, leased to the partnership by Jessica Slack’s Mauritzfontein Stud. “It was a great run. At least we know she’s got ability.

“She’s a big horse who is still immature and is going to strengthen up. She’ll come into her own as a late three-year-old,” he said.

De Kock has already sent the horses he is taking to Dubai for next year’s Carnival to Mauritius, so Persian Rug, who won her first two starts, is staying in South Africa for at least her three-year-old career, according to Kotzen. “I’d love to see her race in Dubai, but that decision has to be Jessica’s.”

Initial plans, he said, were the Triple Tiara in Johannesburg next year, so the filly, who he has had in his care since she first came into training, will be leaving his Durban stable bound for Randjesfontein.

* According to Charl Pretorius, editor of De Kock’s website www.mikedekockracing.com, the stable’s Dubai-bound horses currently in quarantine in Mauritius are: Australian-breds Ertijaal, winner of the Cape Derby; Almashooqa, runner-up in the 1400m Golden Slipper, and two-time winner Mutamakkin, as well as an ex-Joey Ramsden-trained Trippi four-year-old Liquid Mercury, winner of the Winter Derby, and former Geoff Woodruff-trained Tellina. Highly regarded grey filly Majmu, who at this point is retiring to stud in the UK, is also in Mauritius.

– TABNews

Picture: Persian Rug finishing third to Laurderdale in the Thekwini (Nkosi Hlophe)

The man behind horseracing’s most famous voice, Sir Peter O’Sullevan, died last week at the age of 97. The famous commentator was aptly named the “Voice Of Racing” and his unique, dulcet tones became associated with all of Britain’s and some of Europe’s top races. The Grand National, of which he called home 38 winners for BBC television, lost a little of its grandeur after O’Sullevan’s retirement at the age of 79 in 1997.

The Guardian paid tribute to O’Sullevan last week and described his life and career.

He was brought up by his maternal grandparents in the Surrey countryside after the separation of his parents in the 1920s. An only child, he was always content with his own company, and that of his pony, Fairy. He remained essentially a loner for most of his life, preferring to work, travel and eat on his own when away from home. Educated at Charterhouse in Surrey and a boarding school in Switzerland, O’Sullevan suffered in his youth from poor health and in late adolescence from a disfiguring facial skin ailment.

His health issues led to him being turned down for military service and he spent much of the Second World War serving in the Chelsea Civil Defence rescue service.

Even during wartime, betting on such horse racing as there was occupied much of his time, and in December 1944 he applied for a job as a racing subeditor at the Press Association news agency. After the war he was employed as an “outside” man responsible for race descriptions. It was during this period that he encountered Peter Dimmock, a former RAF pilot, who after demob was briefly employed by the PA before moving on to BBC TV’s outside broadcast department.

Dimmock’s bustling self-confidence rapidly earned him a role both as producer and race commentator for the BBC. He employed O’Sullevan as a much-needed race-reader and the latter’s skill in this role earned him a broadcasting trial at Cheltenham in autumn 1947. His first “live” commentary followed two months later. The following year he commentated on his first Grand National, covering the first fence for BBC Radio. When Dimmock, who became head of BBC outside broadcasts in 1954, finally persuaded Aintree’s owner, Mirabel Topham, to allow television coverage in 1960, O’Sullevan led the commentary team, and called home the next 38 Grand National winners.

In 1950, O’Sullevan left the Press Association to become racing correspondent of the Daily Express. Thus began the legendary partnership with the Old Etonian Clive Graham, which had developed its roots in television, with Graham acting as O’Sullevan’s race-reader. Graham was to become BBC TV’s paddock commentator in a partnership that lasted for 25 years until his death in 1974.

O’Sullevan soon earned a reputation for unearthing “dark horses” in his pre-season tours of French stables. His fluent grasp of French gave him a head start over his journalistic rivals and enabled him to land some substantial ante-post betting coups on the frequent French winners of top British races.

His successful betting enabled him to own several racehorses during this period, but the first dozen failed to win a single race.

However, In October 1965 he bought a yearling for 2,800 guineas at the Newmarket October sales, and after naming him Be Friendly the colt went on to win 12 races and become Champion Sprinter of Europe. He ended his career with a stallion valuation of £88,000.

O’Sullevan earned widespread plaudits for his controlled television commentary on Be Friendly’s big successes and was also behind the microphone when his other successful racehorse, Attivo, won the Chester Cup and Triumph Hurdle. As a journalist he enjoyed the confidence of leading personalities in racing, notably Lester Piggott. He was entrusted with betting commissions by several top trainers, in particular his friends in Ireland and France.

By the late 1960s, O’Sullevan was at the height of his journalistic and broadcasting fame and in 1968 he was approached by ITV to “change sides”. Dimmock knew the value of O’Sullevan’s popularity, however, and went to extreme lengths to hold on to his prize asset. Despite O’Sullevan’s frequent criticisms of the BBC, both privately and in print, neither Dimmock nor any of his successors chose to risk earning the label of “the man who lost O’Sullevan”.

O’Sullevan exploited his untouchable status with considerable skill financially, as he did when approached by the Daily Mail in 1973. His temporary resignation from the Express, and reinstatement, led to a salary rise from £5,500 to £9,000 pa. When he finally left the Daily Express in 1985 it was in an atmosphere of acrimony. No love had been lost between him and the newspaper’s sports editor, who had hoped that O’Sullevan would retire three years earlier at 65.

In truth, while O’Sullevan was much admired by fellow journalists, until recent years he had few close friends. As a broadcaster he was considered difficult to work with and rarely, if ever, socialised with colleagues.

As his career in journalism drew to an end, O’Sullevan threw himself into charitable work. In 1983 he embarked on fundraising for the International League for the Protection of Horses. Other charities to receive his support were the Brooke Hospital for Animals, the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre, and several other horse-related charities. In 1999 he established the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust, which raised more than £3m for six animal-related charities. In 1986 he was elected a member of the Jockey Club, which gave him an official platform from which to voice his antagonism towards excessive and improper use of the whip.

O’Sullevan was married in 1951 to the former model Pat Duckworth. She died in 2010. His personal life remained very private, and his wife’s dislike of flying meant that he spent many holidays on his own. Travel, fine wine and haute cuisine remained his favourite pleasures.

He was appointed OBE in 1977 for his services to broadcasting and CBE in 1991 for his charity work. In 1997, the year of his retirement from broadcasting, he received a knighthood.

  –  Article supplied by The Guardian

  –  Picture supplied by The Independent

Long-time racing fanatic and racehorse owner Jeremy Chetty was the deserved winner of this year’s Gold Circle sponsored Charity Turf Challenge. His entry under the pseudonym “Common Law” held on to the lead on Super Saturday and he walked away with the R100 000 first prize.

Second-placed Selvan Pillay’s “Bourne Identity”, who finished five points behind the winning total of 226, could have overtaken the leader if either Punta Arenas or Light The Lights had found a place in the Gr 1 Champions Cup. However, it was not to be and he had to be content with the R20 000 runner-up award.

A loyal supporter of the competition Philani Mfeka was a further five points back and earned R10 000 for third place.

Jeremy’s key horses were Power King and Captain Of All. He is an avid form studier and correctly predicted that Power King would enjoy a good Vodacom Durban July preparation and come in well weighted. He couldn’t see Captain Of All being beaten in either of the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint or the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint. The Conglomerate was another horse he liked. However, he is still lamented opting for Alboran Sea at the expense of the high-scoring Carry On Alice, as his entries would otherwise have filled the first three positions. His other three entries ultimately finished joint sixth, joint 24^th and joint 84^th.

Jeremy usually submits ten entries, but this year only made a last minute decision to enter.

His winning entry was named after the first and most successful horse he has owned, the Duncan Howells-trained three-time winner and Listed placed Dominion Royale filly Common Law.

His love of the Sport Of Kings began as a kid when he used to accompany his grandmother to the Tote. A horse he remembered well around that time was the classy grey filly Breyani.

The bug bit in his early twenties his passion was fueled through his friendship with Rajan Samuel, father of the jockey Marcus. Jeremey set himself goals in ownership and bought a share in Common Law. It was soon clear how talented she was when beating the useful older horse Rebel Patriot in a gallop. At the age of 25 Jeremy led in his first winner when Common Law won a Maiden Plate over 1000m at Scottsville in her sixth career start under Alec Forbes, having finished second in her first two outings. She won next time out and a few runs later Jeremy asked Willie Figueroa to fly down to ride her in the Listed Kwazulu-Natal Stakes over 1000m at Scottsville, in which she finished a 1,55 length third to the decent sort Mocha Java.

Jeremey later took a share in the Howells-trained Restructure colt Tarkwa Gold who won one race.

His next three horses were with various other trainers and didn’t win a race between them so he took a break from ownership until buying a share in the Yadav Singh-trained Irish Eminence. He believed this Grey Eminence colt had real ability and he duly won easily second time out over 1200m at Scottsville before being plunged straight into the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day. Irish Eminence was badly cut into that day and was never the same horse afterwards.

Jeremy has an interest once more as he has bought into a Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud-bred Gimmethregreenlight colt that was knocked down at this year’s Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale. The colt is the first foal of the twice-winning Jet Master mare Tisane and has been named Rev Your Engine. The experienced Summerveld conditioner Ivan Moore will train him and the nice-sized colt has already been assessed as having both a good action and temperament.

Jeremy was also shortlisted for a position as a presenter on Tellytrack recently and was hoping another such opportunity materialised in his home province of KZN.

The Charity Turf Challenge certainly adds a lot of interest to the Champions Season and is a must for any racing enthusiast. Furthermore, the African Horse Sickness (AHS) Trust benefits from the proceeds to the tune of R30,000.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Jeremy Chetty (Nkosi Hlophe)