Duncan Howells and Dennis Drier are once again out in front in the race for the KZN Trainers Championships and they dominated the three R200,000 KZN Winter Challenge Finals races at Scottsville on Saturday.

Ashburton-based Howells won the KZN Trainers Championship for the first time last season, usurping many-times champion Drier, but ended Saturday 12 winners behind the Summerveld-based maestro. However, he landed both the Winter Challenge 1950m and 1600m finals through Crime Victim and the exciting three-year-old gelding Saratoga Dancer and four of his other five contestats finals contestants earned cheques in their respective races.

Crime Victim, who started 3-1 favourite in the 1950m final despite carrying third top weight of 59kg, was a bit slowly away, but settled well on the rail from the off. He looked to be enjoying himself throughout and turned for home full of running. Jockey Anton Marcus switched him inward and he easily made up the leeway on the Mike de Kock-trained Semra before being given his head at about the 300m mark. He readily repelled the persistent Semra as well as the Paddy Lunn-trained Cat In Command, who was running on down the inside rail, before finding another gear and going on to win by 3,5 lengths. Semra held on for second from a fast finishing Howells-trained His Approval. Cat in Command was next best and the Alyson Wright-trained Go West McGraw was 7,5 lengths back in fifth. Crime Victim is a four-year-old gelding by Bezrin and is owned by Barry Reardon, who bred him at Yellow Star Stud. He is a consistent sort and from 18 career starts has won three times and laced nine times.

In the 1600m final Saratoga Dancer started second favourite at 4/1 behind his stablemate Baltic Amber, who was backed into 7/2, but this classy three-year-old gelding by Mambo In Seattle never looked in danger of defeat under championship-chasing jockey Gavin Lerena. Saratoga Dancer jumped from a tricky draw of eight carrying 57,5kg and took a little bit of time to settle as Lerena looked for a good position. The top jockey managed to slot him in just before the first turn. He settled well in about fifth place behind a steady pace set by Baltic Amber. The rangy Saratoga Dancer gained more and more momentum down the straight, despite hanging inward late, and won easing up by 3,5 lengths from the Garth Puller-trained Translunar with the Howells-trained Entrée just pipping his stablemate Baltic Amber for third. The Gavin van Zyl-trained Silver Spring finished fifth. Saratoga Dancer, bred by Gary Player Stud, is owned by Howells himself in partnership with Rodney and Jane Trotter, CV Winter, Mr and MRs RAJ Nidd and S Westwater. Howells has deliberately avoided running him in the big Champions Season features this year as he believes he will be at his best as a four-year-old. He definitely looks one with the potential to win a feature or two next season and to date had won four times from nine starts.

In the 1200m final The Drier-trained Sea Fever, who started at odds of  6/1, broke well under Sean Cormack and showed pace throughout. He was able to go straight the whole way from a low draw and from the halfway mark was able to sit behind the Howells-trained 18/10 favourite Hunting Owl, who had tracked over to the inside rail from a draw of eight to set the pace. The Mark Dixon-trained second favourite London Call, carrying a welter 62kg, tracked over all the way from draw 13 and threw down a strong challenge. However, Sea Fever stayed on resolutely and got up to beat a gallant London Call by 0,25 lengths with Hunting Owl a further 0,5 lengths back. The Tony Rivalland-trained Lucky Break finished fourth ahead of Kumaran Naidoo-trained Royal Roy. Sea Fever, a three-year-old gelding by Argonaut, was bred by Cheveley Stud and is owned by Jack and Nancy Mitchell. He has won three times from seven starts.

Gold Circle’s Challenge series’ have always been a good incentive for smaller owners to race for good prize money.

Mumsy’s Jet emerged leading horse of the Winter series, earning 32 points, and landed a cheque of R30,000 for his trainer Alyson Wright. Discourse was second on 31 points, earning a cheque of  R15,000 for trainer Craig Eudey, and joint-third on 30 points were Libertine and Fire The Rocket, whose trainers Colin Scott and Doug Campbell shared prize money of R7,500.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Saratoga Dancer (Nkosi Hlophe)

Castlethorpe can bounce back from last time’s flop to take the Racing.It’s A Rush Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow.

The seven-year-old started second favourite for a mile handicap four weeks ago on the strength of a smart sprint second to Brutal Force but he finished stone last. The course vet reported that he was not striding out behind.

“He is getting on a bit and he is probably not as consistent as he used to be,” acknowledges Mike Bass. “But he is moving OK now and this 1 400m is probably his optimum distance.”

It’s also the ideal for Blarney Bay who reappears after a six-month break. It’s not hard to see him galloping the others into the ground and loving every moment. But Mike Robinson is keeping  his own feet firmly on the ground.

“We’ve done lots of sand work with him and I have given him a grass gallop but he will probably just need it,” reports the Philippi trainer. “I think he will probably get caught out in the last 200m.”

The race conditions favour the top horses. The weights are calculated on merit rating bands but, instead of the horses moving down 2.5kg at a time, they only go down 1.5kg for each five points. Matador In Red, for example, should receive 10.5kg from Castlethorpe but only receives 6kg.

ReadyToGoRightNow, officially the best horse in the race, has been scratched (Justin Snaith: “We feel he is not quite ready so we will give him a couple more weeks”) and there are doubts about Lockheed Jetstar’s readiness.

“All the horses that we took to Cape Town had to stay for two weeks on the way down and could only trot then,” explains Geoff Woodruff’s son Tim. “It is taking a little while to get them back to match fitness. This horse does go well fresh but I think he will probably need the run.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount was 15-10 favourite in the Betting World forecast yesterday with Greg Ennion’s  recent winner Petty Officer next best at 5-2. Castlethorpe was 5-1 and Blarney Bay 8-1.

The Snaiths have run more two-year-olds than any other stable in Cape Town – 42 individual runners so far – but their juveniles are really beginning to fire and have won at least one race at each of the last six meetings. A Time To Dream looks nailed on for race two.

Things are nothing like so clear cut in the first. Top Of The Rock ran well against older horses last time, Bold Aspen has come on (Robinson: “I scratched him from the May 23 race because he went a bit shinny but he is now 100% and working very well”) and Brilliant Crimson gets only a tentative vote.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Castlethorpe (Liesl King)

The KZN Winter Challenge Day at Scottsville provides an opportunity for smaller owners to earn a bigger cheque as the three Challenge finals each carry a stake of R200,000 tomorrow.

In the 1200m Challenge, Piano Man has come down to an attractive merit rating and will be a big runner here for a trainer who knows how to get them ready. Hunting Owl is a horse on the up who improved with first time blinkers last time, winning a handicap over course and distance by 3,75 lengths. He could follow up as the win was probably worth more than the maximum eight point raise he was given. London Call is a talented sprinter who could rise above his current merit rating of 94. He could possibly carry 62kg to victory and the Scottsville sprint course bias appears to have evened out lately so his high draw of 15 shouldn’t be a major disadvantage. Libertine is an honest sort who enjoys the Scottsville 1200m and he should be right there again. Sea Fever has scope for improvement and drops back to the 1200m of his two career wins. Fortissimo is also a talented sort and stepping back in distance could also aid his cause. Buffalo Bill makes most appeal of the rest.

In the 1950m Challenge, Crime Victim has been knocking on the door since his last win. He finished third in a feature over 2400m last time out but his last win was over this course and distance. He should be fit and could go close. Oh Boy appears to love Scottsville and should handle this trip. Cat In Command is another horse who enjoys Scottsville and on pedigree he should stay this trip, although his wide draw is a concern. Semra is the only filly in the race but is course and distance suited. Topweight Assegai has gone close in two runs over course and distance, albeit off a lower merit rating, and he could feature with championship chasing Gavin Lerena aboard despite carrying topweight. Night Lock is 0,5kg under sufferance but has a 4kg claimer aboard and usually runs well over this sort of trip at Scottsville. Kentucky Guest’s last win was over course and distance and at his best he could earn here off just a three point higher mark.

In the 1600m Challenge, Saratoga Dancer has a lot of class and should rise above his 88 merit rating. Auction King was quite close in a Listed race over 1750m here last time and is suited to this trip, so should be thereabouts despite a wide draw. Caribbean Day has been transformed since cheek pieces were fitted and goes for a course and distance hat-trick. The wide draw shouldn’t bother him. Vienna Wood is ideally course and distance suited and should be involved from a similar draw to his last win here. Rockaberry Lane is a full-sister to Gr 1 Cape Guineas winner Solo Traveller and is stepped up to this trip from pole position. Translunar improved with blinkers last time when second to a talented sort over this trip on the Greyville poly. He has run well over course and distance before and is well drawn. Silver Spring has been knocking on the door since his last win and appears to enjoy Scottsville. Tell The Tale is a well bred progressive sort who should be distance suited but he is returning from a three month layoff. Baltic Amber ran well at Scottsville last time and has to be considered.

The first race should be won by the well regarded Beluga, who was unfortunate to bump into a good one in both of his career starts.

The well-bred Deeyala, a Western Winter filly out of the speedy Gr 2 runner up Dijla, could prove to be the one to beat in the second race as none of the experienced horses make much appeal.

Mike de Kock should also win the third as Sharp Princess looks hard to oppose.

In the fourth race the two-year-old Kitty’s Destiny was green and didn’t have much luck over 1200m at Greyville last time and she could represent fair eachway value here against an uninspiring field.

Jet Explorer looks a penalty kick in the fifth race over 1400m and Surefire could fill the other exacta position from a good draw over an ideal course and distance.

The two-year-old Fort Ember should win the last, although Cakewalk could give her a race as she is better than her last start.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Jet Explorer (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mike Azzie looks to have two fine prospects in his hands in the two-year-old colts Rabada and Abashiri, but will avoid running them against each other on Vodacom Durban July day. He could also have a big runner in the July itself with Deputy Jud and will be hoping to prove a point with Isphan in next Friday night’s Post Merchants.

Azzie said about his pair of  unbeaten two-year-olds, “Rabada is a special horse. He will be entered in the Golden Horseshoe on July day but will have to draw well to run. We are going to keep Abashiri back for the mile on Gold Cup day.”

Azzie said both horses had come out of their last runs well.

Go Deputy colt Abashiri came from a long way back on debut over 1600m at Greyville and impressed with his long stride in the straight, which saw him sweeping past the bulk of the field. He then found an extra gear late to overtake the more experienced Grey’s A Rockin. Jockey Corné Orffer got off and described him as the best two-year-old he had sat on so far this season and he certainly looks to have plenty of scope for improvement.

The Brave Tin Soldier colt Rabada looked to be full of class when winning the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m at Greyville on Saturday by 3,25 lengths, having won on debut over the same trip at Turffontein by 4,75 lengths. Anton Marcus said he had displayed plenty of signs of inexperience in that last win and predicted he would be even better as a three-year-old.

Azzie’s big Judpot colt Deputy Jud produced a sustained finishing effort in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 from a handy position and appeared to be finding top gear when he was taken out by MLJet, who suddenly shifted to the left. Deputy Jud could easily have run in the first three, but instead was eased right out of it, so his ten length eighth is not a true reflection at all. Azzie said the yard were taking it “day by day” in preparing the big chestnut for the July and said, “He has things we have to work around, but he is doing well and looking good.”

Meanwhile a new acquisition to the yard, Amsterdam, will be given a break until next season after running downfield in both the SA Derby and Daily News 2000. Azzie said, “We will aim him at races like the Summer Cup and J&B Met. He needs time to mature and furnish before he develops into the horse we expect him to be.”

The three-year-old Tiger Ridge gelding Isphan was left out of the recent Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, despite being merit rated higher than some of the other contestants, and Azzie will be hoping that his run in next Friday’s Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m at Greyville will prove that he should have been given a chance. He ran the prolific winner Trip Tease to 0,3 lengths over 1000m in his penultimate start and then ran a decent fifth in the Gr 1 Computaformm Sprint over 1000m, beating the like of Post Merchants contenders Willow Magic, Tevez and Normanz. He has won over 1450m before, so should relish stepping up from 1000 to 1200m.

Azzie concluded by saying that his entire Champions Season string were doing well at Summerveld.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Gavin van Zyl-trained five-year-old Kahal gelding No Worries was scratched from the Vodacom Durban July on Tuesday after a below par run in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge, but could still be on track to defend his KZN Breeders Million Mile crown at Greyville on June 28.

However, Van Zyl will still have a strong line up for July day, which includes Redcarpet Captain in the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe, Banbury in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes, Heart Of A Lion in the Gr 2 Gold Vase, MLJet in the Listed Thukela Handicap and possibly Vino Veritas in the Gr 3 Campanajo.

Van Zyl said, “No Worries’ blood reading has indicated he is incubating a low grade virus and we didn’t feel his last run warranted him taking his chances in the July. However, if he recovers in time we will run him in the KZN Breeders Million Mile and depending on how he does there he will take his chances in the Gr 1 Champions Cup (Greyville July 25 over 2000m).”

No Worries went into last year’s Million Mile very well weighted carrying 54kg, as he was only a two-time winner at that stage, and he duly won by a comfortable 3,25 lengths. However, this year he will have a much harder task as he is now a four-time winner and will also accrue a 2kg penalty for a Gr 2 win in the last 18 months, having won the Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m last October.

Redcarpet Captain ran a fine second to the top class sort Seventh Plain in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m on May 23. The classy Captain Al colt showed the ability to both relax in the running and accelerate smartly in his victorious debut over 1000m at Turffontein and followed up by winning the Gr 3 Englezakis Protea Stakes over 1100m at the same course. His well-being was below par when fourth in the Gr 1 SA Nursery and that report was substantiated by his excellent Medallion run. Van Zyl believes Redcarpet Captain will love the step up to 1400m. He will have to make up 2,75 lengths on Seventh Plain, which will be no easy task considering the latter didn’t look to be stopping at the end of the Medallion, and there are also other horses like Rabada that have put up their hands since then. However, he should make a bold bid.

The four-year-old Seul Amour gelding Heart Of A Lion has run one of the most eyecatching Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup trials to date. He weaved his way through from the back of the field to finish a 1,75 length third in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m. He was only merit rated 95 for that race but was giving 1kg to the winner Solid Speed, who is being touted as a top Gold Cup candidate. The handicapper has kept him on 95, meaning he will need to run a big race in the Gold Vase to book his Gold Cup place. Van Zyl said he had come out of that last race well.

The yard have identified and sorted out a problem with Banbury so believe she will be a lot better in the Garden Province than she was in the Gr 2 Tibouchina over 1400m last time out, when finishing 7,5 lengths behind Hammie’s Hooker. Van Zyl has no illusions about the strength of the field she will face in the Garden Province, but believed that at her best she would be up to it.

Van Zyl was very pleased with MLJet’s first outing for the yard in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and said, “It was a pleasing race with first time blinkers. He didn’t quite stay the trip and 1600m will be much more down his alley so the Thukela will be the perfect race for him. The Daily News would have brought him spot on for that race.”

Vino Veritas is an ever improving four-year-old filly by Silvano, who has won five times including three of her last five starts. The yard will see how she goes in the Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks over 2400m on June 21 before possibly running her in the Campanajo over 2200m. Two of her wins have been over the tough Turffontein 2200m and on pedigree she should enjoy the Oaks trip.

By David Thiselton

Picture: No Worries (Nkosi Hlophe)