Dennis Drier’s brilliant Captain Al colt Captain Of All produced one of his career best performances in his swansong at Greyville yesterday when easily winning the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m under replacement jockey Greg Cheyne, to follow up on his impressive win with topweight in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scotsville on May 23.

The strapping bay colt’s regular rider Sean Cormack was sent to hospital for observation after his mount Zacharias collapsed with a pulmonary haemorrhage in an earlier race.

Cheyne commented later that this was the easiest Gr 1 winner he had ever had. Cheyne has won three Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprints, but this was his first Gr 1 sprint win on a colt.

However, he was full of sympathy for Cormack and said, “I feel for Sean, I know what it’s like when you ride these horses and especially today, it’s a very special occasion, it’s his last run, and Sean had been with him from day one.”

Captain of All jumped well to take the lead and Cheyne said the pace had initially been sedate. However, when he saw Legilsate coming around to take it up he knew the latter would not be able to afford to slow it up and admitted the race had panned out extremely well for him from then onward.

Captain of All moved out for his run in the straight and showed an exceptional turn of foot to draw alongside the reigning Equus Horse Of The Year before powering clear to win by 4,5 lengths.

Carry On Alice did well to storm home on the outside for second as she had been caught quite far back in a race lacking a true pace.

Legislate was only a short-head further back in third. This was his first defeat at Greyville, although his four wins here, all Gr 1s, have been over distances from 1600-2200m.

Last year’s winner Fly By Night stayed on well to be neck further back in fourth, a head clear of the gallant African Dream, who behaved well again when accompanied in the parade ring by “horse whisperer” Glyn Redgrave and to the start by both the latter and trainer Mark Dixon’s wife Hayley.

Drier was full of praise for Captain Of All’s “legend breeder” Duncan Barry of Riverton Stud, who has been behind a number of Drier’s many Gr 1 wins.

Captain Of All was sold at a Klawerveli Farm Sale for a mere R100,000 due to an offset knee, but this hasn’t stopped him winning three Gr 1s under Drier’s care.

Drier said, “He’s been a wonderful horse, his knee hasn’t really worried him.”

He added that resting the colt for most of his three-year-old year due to a niggle had been a  turning point, “I think that when you have a horse of this quality you don’t want to stop, start, stop start and that’s why I said to Derek (Brugman) let’s give him a nice long break.”

Regarding the jockey change Drier said, “Derek and I discussed it quickly, Greg has had the experience of Hong Kong, he’s riding with the utmost confidence and I’m just so sad for Seany (Cormack), so sad.”

Markus and Ingrid Jooste own Captain Of All, who will now join his father among the stallion ranks at Klawervlei, which is part-owned by Jooste.

Earlier there was an impressive display by the Duncan Howells-trained Maine Chance Farms-bred Querari filly Cosmic Light, who used her exceptional turn of foot and big stride to come from off the pace and win the Gr 2 The Debutante over 1200m in fine style under Muzi Yeni. Yeni dropped her out from a wide draw but she made the ground up quickly in the straight down the inside and held off a late challenge by Rebel To The Fore, who lost a length at the start. Lala, Roy’s Goddess and Khaleesi were next best.

Later in the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m the Mike Miller-trained Waterford Stud-bred King Of Kings colt King’s Knight galloped clear under Anthony Delpech to win by a comfortable 3,25 lengths. The win gave KZN’s “Mr Racing” Bill Lambert his first ever feature race winner as he part-owns the rangy colt. Oriental Tiger and Vous Et Var were next best.

The Listed Queen Palm Stakes over 2400m was won impressively by the Alyson Wright-trained Go Deputy filly Deputy Ryder under a typically cool ride by champion jockey elect Gavin Lerena. She was the only three-year-old in the race, yet carried joint top weight so she looks to have a bright future as a stayer.

The Interprovincial series saw the KZN Falcons winning two of the four races and the Highveld Hawks and Cape Eagles won one race each.

The KZN Falcons, consisting of Anton Marcus, Anthony Delpech, Muzi Yeni, Sean Cormack and Keagan de Melo (substitute in the last leg for Cormack) emerged winners on 158 points, with the Highveld Hawks (Gavin Lerena, Raymond Danielson, S’Manga Khumalo and Piere Strydom) second on 152 and the Cape Eagles (Greg Cheyne, Donovan Dillon, Richard Fourie and Corne Orffer) third on 108 points.

The winning team members each received R12,000, the second team received R8,000 each and the third-placed team received R5,000 each.

Anton Marcus won the Interprovincial third leg, the Listed Off  To Stud Stakes over 1600m on the polytrack aboard the Stan Elley-trained four-year-old Horse Chestnut filly Pecan Nut. The blinkered grey was officially 2kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse Euphoria, but relished the poly and travelled like a winner throughout in a handy position. She drew away in the straight to beat Red Label and Resolution by two lengths and 3,5 lengths respectively. Fortitude was next best and the disappointing Euphoria found little in the straight and could only manage sixth.

In the Interprovincial first leg, a Maiden Plate over 1600m on the poly, the Sean Tarry-trained two-year-old Kahal filly Intergalactic improved on her decent debut to annihilate her older rivals under Highveld Hawks’Gavin Lerena, winning by 5,25 lengths from Sword Storm and Zara’s Legacy.

The second leg over 1600m on the poly was fought by the only to two-year-olds in the race and the Gavin van Zyl-trained Celtic Captain only just got the better of Mambo Mime.

The last leg over 1200m on the poly was won easily by the Kumaran Naidoo-trained topweight Tuscan under Donovan Dillon.

The first race of the day over 1200m saw an upset as Richard Fourie rode a clever race on the Mike Bass-trained Come Fly With Me, who is a full-sister to Fly By Night, and the odds-on favourite Real Princess was unable to catch her in the straight.

By David Thiselton

Jet Supreme has over four lengths in hand on adjusted merit ratings as she bids to win the Final Fling Stakes for the second successive year at Kenilworth tomorrow.

But punters taking a short price – and Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount could well start favourite – have to decide whether her recent problems at the start mean that she won’t produce her best.

She started slowly in the Olympic Duel but that was nothing compared to what happened when she reared in the pens as the starter pressed the button in the Ladies Mile last time. “She caught her neck in the roof – not a nice experience at all,” says Justin Snaith. “She is going to stud soon and some fillies coming to the end of their careers can get rattled quite easily. Sean Cormack felt that he went in a bit early and this time they must load her later.”

Jet Supreme won the Victress Stakes over this trip in December but more recently her best form has been in sprints. “No, she is not a 1 200m horse,” her trainer is adamant. “She is definitely better around a mile.”

Snaith, bidding for his third successive Final Fling, also runs the improving Cat And The Moon who kept producing more when winning the Winter Oaks over 2 200m last month – “She is a tough little filly and anything around this distance is fine for her.”

Both the Snaith runners have won in the soft and, if the forecast for heavy rain today proves correct, that is important.

Jet Supreme is favoured by recent statistics – favourites have won three of the last four runnings  and older horses every one of the last five – but three-year-olds Moonsong Magic and Crystal Cavern finished close up in the Winter Oaks and have definite claims.

“Moonsong Magic is versatile but once again she has to jump from a wide draw which always makes it difficult,” cautions Greg Ennion.

In the Winter Oaks Crystal Cavern finished fast in a manner that suggested she is one to bear in mind. “We think highly of this filly and we believe that what beat her was the winter course,” says Adam Marcus. “If we had had the longer straight she could have unwound a bit earlier. As it was she sat about second last whereas the two that finished in front of her were sitting handy and had the run of the race.”

This is the winter course again but, if Jet Supreme thinks more about what happened last time than breaking fast, Crystal Cavern could be the one to take advantage. She has won in the soft and she just might start at an each way price.

Of the others Alascan Maiden and Omaticaya should run well on recent form but not well enough to win.

By Michael Clower

The Gr 1 Mercury Sprint meeting at Greyville tomorrow will be full of interest as there are not only five features, but there is also a jockeys’ interprovincial being contested by the KZN Falcons, the Highveld Hawks and the Western Cape Falcons.

The Mercury Sprint over 1200m looks likely on paper to be fought out by Carry On Alice, Captain Of All and Fly By Night, with Trip To Heaven and Legislate being the dark horses.
Carry On Alice gets the nod as a look at the time she ran when winning the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint puts her ahead of Captain Of All, whom she also beat in the Computaform Sprint, although she did lose to him in the Betting World Cape Flying Championship after being made to stand in the stalls for ages.
Captain Of All was only caught late here in a Gr 1 over 1400m as a two-year-old so will handle the course and his speed, class and good preparation will make him a tough nut to crack.
Legislate is unbeaten at Greyville and all four wins were in Gr 1s (from 1600-2200m). His class and devastating turn of foot could carry him close.
Fly By Night will be running on strongly in the defense of her crown and considering she was only beaten 1,8 lengths by Carry On Alice in the City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint when jumping from a tougher draw she should finish close to the latter.
Trip To Heaven is not far off the best on paper and was only just not ready for Scottsville in time, so should be fit now and his speed, class and plum draw make him a runner.
Willow Magic enjoys Greyville and was undone by a false start in the Gr2 Post Merchants over course and distance, so he is another with an outside winning chance, although he appears to prefer further these days.
Daring Dave loves Greyville and together with the talented African Dream could earn a cheque.

The Gr 2 Debutante over 1200m could be won by Cosmic Light, who impressed on debut and the form has been franked. She has a wide draw but there could be a fast pace here set by Khaleesi, who is drawn one inside of her. Khaleesi could stay on for second ahead of Frosted Honey who will be running on late but might prefer further. Rebel To The Fore would not be a shock winner having run on well to win on debut over 1000m. Lala clearly enjoys this course and distance, but this is a step up in class.
The Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m is of below par standard and Buckinghampshire’s class could tell. However, staying all the way to the line from a wide draw might be a bit of a concern and Top Form is the back up. The Port Elizabeth raider Oriental Tiger is drawn in pole and was not stopping when winning by over six lengths on debut over 1000m, so he could be a contender.
The Listed Off To Stud Handicap over 1600m on the poly could be won by Euphoria who won with a bit in hand over course and distance last time and is best in at the weights again. Enchanted Silk loves the poly and could give cheek despite being better over a touch further. Resolution looked primed on Vodacom Durban July day over 1400m and duly delivered with a strong finish and she is as good over this trip too.
The first is a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1200m for fillies and mares. Real Princess looks to have plenty of class, having shown a tremendous turn of foot to win easily at Scottsville last time over 1100m, and she might prove too good for the useful Beloved Country.
The Listed Queen Palm Stakes over 2400m could be won by the up and coming Deputy Ryder, who looks likely to relish the trip. Semra and Counting Angels make most appeal of the rest.
The second race on the poly over 1600m is the first leg of the Rider Cup interprovincial and S’Manga Khumalo could get one on the board for the Highveld Hawks by winning with Sword Storm who is able to produce a strong finish over this course and distance so the wide draw will be of little concern. Cakewalk ran on well over this trip at Scottsville last time and should be right there. Princess Milo should also be in the shake up.
The third is over 1600m on the poly and two-year-old Mambo Mime looked full of class when running on to win on the turf over this last trip last time despite having pulled hard throughout. If he settles here he will be hard to beat. Phoebus has some good Cape form and could be the back up together with Flying Fellow, and others to consider are Mystic Express, Fantasy Art and Celtic Captain.
The fifth is over 1200m on the poly and sees the return of Gemini Gold, who has a touch of class and the draw and trip look ideal for a horse returning fresh from an eight month layoff. Trainer Dennis Bosch could afford to give him a break for a joint injury, as he is the owner, and he said although he might need it he expected him to be right there as he was a “smart horse”. Salesman, Grey Light and Cinema Scope look the chief dangers. Gun Fighter and Theseus can also be considered.
By David Thiselton
Picture: Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)

Three provincial teams featuring 12 of the country’s top jockeys will compete over four races at Greyville Racecourse (Races 2,3,4 and 5) on Saturday, July 18, for the inaugural Interprov Rider Cup.

Western Cape Eagles	Highveld Hawks	KZN Falcons
Greg Cheyne	Raymond Danielson	Sean Cormack
Donovan Dillon	S’Manga Khumalo	Anthony Delpech
Richard Fourie	Gavin Lerena	Anton Marcus
Corne Orffer	Piere Strydom	Muzi Yeni

 

The competition will be run over four consecutive races (Greyville R2, R3, R4, R5) with points being allocated as follows:

1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	11th	12th	Scr
20	16	14	12	10	8	6	5	4	3	2	1	7

Because of the narrow band of points allocation it is hoped that competition will be close and contain a little “needle”.

In order to give all riders an equal opportunity, the horses in each race have been seeded by a panel of form experts into four categories of three from top to bottom. The riders from each team will get a chance to ride in each category with the choice of horses done by ballot. This will give each rider a chance to showcase their skills on the best and the worst rated runners.

“We are always looking for ways to promote and add entertainment to our racedays and this format has proved successful in the past,” said Gold Circle’s Racing and Marketing Executive, Graeme Hawkins.

“It will give racegoers the opportunity to watch the best jockeys in the country go head-to-head and the bragging rights that go with winning the Interprov Rider Cup will hopefully add a competitive edge to the races.”

All riders will carry the owners’ colours but will be distinguished by different coloured caps. The KZN team will wear black caps with the Western Cape blue and the Highveld red.