Saturday’s Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner and reigning Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate will not defend his Vodacom Durban July crown, but might well still take part in one or two Champions Season Gr1s. The brilliant Justin Snaith-trained four-year-old Dynasty colt will be nominated for both the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint and the Gr 1 Champions Cup, which are both to be run at Greyville, on July 17 and July 25 respectively.

Meanwhile, the Snaith’s ruling July favourite Futura is “very much” on track for the big race and so is Saturday’s Gr 3 Cup Trial third-placed Dynamic.

The yard have pulled Legislate out of the July in his “best interests.” They had ruled him a doubtful starter at the beginning of May, as he expended a lot of energy after his scratching at the start of the Drill Hall Stakes on May 2, and the feeling at the time was that a tilt at both the Gold Challenge and the July would be too much to ask of him, especially as he would be asked to carry a big weight in the July. The yard have stuck to their guns despite Legislate having won Saturday’s Gold Challenge, which was always his chief Champions Season target.

Futura, winner of both the Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and J&B Met, flew from last place in the Gold Challenge over 1600m on Saturday to finish 1,15 lengths back in fourth, while Dynamic likely boked his place in the July by staying on strongly for a 1,75 length third in Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m.

Jonathon Snaith said, “Futura has pulled up like a lion and Dynamic also pulled up well. I think Dynamic is a massive runner in the July with around 53kg on his back with Richard Fourie riding. He has run very well in three feature races in KZN, all from wide draws. After his Met run he was found to be sick with the same virus that affected Legislate. Bar that run his form has been unbelievable. He is a huge runner.”

By David Thiselton 

Picture: Justin Snaith and Legislate (Snaith Racing)

Captain Chaos gave Ronnie Sheehan one of his biggest wins for a long time when striding away from the opposition in the Cape Of Good Hope Nursery at Kenilworth yesterday and, what is more, the veteran trainer reckons there is more to come.

Grant van Niekerk sent the 9-1 shot to the front a furlong out and his mount strode away to beat the strong-finishing 33-1 chance The Stone Thrower by three and a half lengths with the winning jockey punching the air in delight. Van Niekerk said: “This is a good horse, he quickens well and he was taking on what are probably the best two-year-olds in the Cape at the moment.”

Sheehan added: “I have never had a Captain Al before and I am over the moon. He is a top horse and when he goes over 1 600m he will be even better.”

The disappointment of the race was Tar Heel who started at 13-20 and managed only fourth with Anton Marcus reporting: “”Obviously he wasn’t the same horse as last time.”

Richard Fourie and Justin Snaith followed up Legislate’s great win by taking the Kenilworth Fillies Nursery with Petala, leaving Chris Snaith to reflect on what might have been had that devastating virus not struck at the height of the summer season. He said: “It was a terrible virus and it affected all the horses although the two-year-olds recovered faster than the others.

“Training is a juggling act. You try to keep as many balls in the air at the same time as you possibly can but when you drop the whole lot it’s very hard to start again.”

Riaan van Reenen was talking about balls of a different kind when Red Rex slammed his head against the wall of his racecourse stable a month ago – “I said that they had to come off. He knocked his face against the wall so aggressively that he knocked teeth out. It was horrible to see.”

Seemingly the operation worked a treat because Morne Winnaar was able to deliver him with a strong run to lead just inside the last 100m of the Soccer 6 Maiden and spring a 20-1 surprise. Van Reenen added: “He’s got a skew leg and one cloudy eye that means he can’t see properly but he will win more races.”

Stan Elley is still puzzling over the disappointing run of Betting World 1900 winner Dynastic Power in Saturday’s Cup Trial won by stable companion Punta Arenas. Dynastic Power was backed from 7-1 to 11-2 but finished with only one behind him.

Elley said: “He was 100% sound this morning (Sunday). He did have a foot abscess between the 1900 and this run and, while that should not have accounted for it, he was on antibiotics for four or five days and that may have left an effect.”

Robert Khathi travelled to Nairobi to renew his successful association with the David Southey–bred Happy Times. The Casey Tibbs filly started long odds-on for the Kenya St Leger and won easily. Khathi had already ridden her to victory in the Kenya Derby, Oaks and Fillies Guineas. He is convinced she would have won all five classics had she not been reluctant to load in the Guineas and been withdrawn by the starter.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Ronnie Sheehan and Captain Chaos (with Grant van Niekerk up) – Equine Edge 

There were a feast of racing accomplishments over the weekend, including Legislate’s successful return in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge, but the highlight was no doubt American Pharoah becoming the 12^th horse in history to win America’s Triple Crown.

“And the 37 year wait is over! American Pharoah has won the Triple Crown!”, roared the overwhelmed commentator and the massive crowd did not stop cheering for the big Bob Baffert-trained colt by PioneerOf The Nile, who hardly looked as if he had been in a race.

It was one of the rides of the century by Victor Espinoza. Usually a horse with stamina doubts will be given a chance by dropping it out, but instead Espinoza, despite a tardy start, took American Pharaoah straight to the front. The tall horse relaxed beautifully at a steady gallop. The Mike de Kock-trained Mubtaahij travelled well throughout behind him on the rail and was switched out to challenge around the final turn.

Meanwhile Frosted had slipped through down the inside and went with Amrican Pharaoah when he kicked for home. Mubtaahij fought on bravely but was no match for the front two. Meanwhile, the crowd’s roar dipped momentarily and millions of viewers around the world also held their breaths.

Could Frosted become the 14^th horse in the last 37 years to spoil a Triple Crown party? And the answer was no as American Phraoah found extra and pulled clear. The roof of the grandstand virtually lifted off as he passed the line five lengths clear. There was then a six lengths gap back to Keen Ice, who beat Mubtaahij by a length.

The rest of the eight horse field were unsighted and a sign of American Pharoah’s greatness was that despite apparently ambling for most of the journey his time of 2 minutes 26,65 seconds was only 2,65 seconds slower than the immortal Secretariats 31 length romp in the Belmont Stakes in 1973. Affirmed was the last to have achieved the Triple Crown in 1978 and the year before that Seattle Slew did it. In the build up to American Pharoah’s bid Seattle Slew’s trainer Billy Turner commented, “The way he (American Pharoah) ran in the Preakness, it sure looked like it didn’t take anything out of him.”

It looked the same after Saturday’s history-making accomplishment. Most race fans like to think great horses have a certain showmanship about them and know they are good, but American Pharaoah’s demeanor throughout the wild cheering post race was one of nonchalance and he remained relaxed to the point of being almost half asleep. This horse looks to be a legend in the making and he will no doubt become a great asset to the Sport Of Kings.

At Greyville, Legislate showed once again that he loves to run fresh and that he also loves Greyville. Richard Fourie gave him an enterprising ride, taking him to the front and on course part-owners Dennis Evans and Jack and Nancy Mitchell would have been thrilled to see him back to his best. His kick at the top of the straight was enough to send him clear and he was then able to hang on from a brave Willow Magic, who showed his class in his first trip beyond a sprint since he had won the Dingaans 19 months ago.

The lung infection that blighted Legislate’s L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate run has clearly not had any long term effect and it will be no surprise to see him announced as a definite to defend his Vodacom Durban July crown, now that he has accomplished his main Champions Season goal. Bezanova showed his liking for Greyville again by finishing third. Futura made up a lot of ground from last in the steady-paced race to finish a 1,15 length fourth and should be spot on for the July.

Punta Arenas deservedly won the Gr 3 Cup Trial under the underrated jockey Ian Sturgeon, as he has had to contend with a plethora of wide draws in big races since landing his first graded success in the Gr 3 Winter Derby three years ago. The six-year-old Silvano gelding is an evergreen sort who always gives the impression he loves his racing. It was a fitting win for popular Cape trainer Stan Elley, his second Graded success in the space of a month at Greyville, as he had announced earlier in the week that he would retire from training at the end of this season.

Hammie’s Hooker has always appeared best at 1400m and she duly defended her crown in the Gr 2 Tibouchina over 1400m. She put up a career best effort in last season’s Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m on July day when going close against the brilliant Beach Beauty, and will need to again because Same Jurisdiction ran a cracker in the Tibouchina, her comeback from a luckless Johannesburg campaign. Coming from near the back, she was doing her best work late.

The Neil Bruss-trained Go Deputy filly Flying Ice remained unbeaten when winning the Listed Devon Air Stakes under Weichong Marwing, beating a still green looking Almashooqa. This was a deserved win for owner Michelle Paterson, who now resides in Australia, as her first expensive purchase for Bruss, Savannah Air, turned out to be a “wobbler”. However, Paterson did not throw in the towel and her second purchase for him, a R10,000 Go Deputy called Bandana Girl, has won a race and she now has a lot to look forward to with Flying Ice.

The impressive 3,25 length winner of the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes Rabada provided  an exciting moment for KZN breeding as he is by the promising Summerhill Stud sire Brave Tin Soldier. Jockey Anton Marcus confirmed he was still green and would likely be even better as a three-year-old.

In Harare an incredible crowd of over 70,000 poured into Borrowdale for the Gr 2 Ok Grand Challenge, where the side attraction was a plethora of cars and other prizes being  given away. The St. John Gray-owned-trained-and-bred six-year-old Jam Alley gelding Yer-Maan became the second horse in two years to do the Gr 1 Castle Tankard-Ok Grand Challenge double, following Silvano filly Equina achieving it last year. Yer-Maan, ridden by Zimbabwean Champion jockey Quinton Riddle, will no doubt try and go one better by winning the Gr 3 Republic Cup in early July.

At Epsom Downs in the UK, Frankie Dettori won the world’s most famous race, the Epsom Derby, on the unbeaten John Gosden-trained Golden Horn, who quickened in emphatic style in the closing stages to win in the manner of a great horse. It was also a second Derby win for Gosden.

By David Thiselton 

Picture: American Pharoah winning the Gr1 Belmont Stakes (Getty)

It was mission accomplished for Justin Snaith’s Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate at Greyville today as he took the bull by the horns in his Champions Season target, the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m, and powered home under Richard Fourie after being taken to the front from a high draw.

Later, Stan Elley, who announced he would retire at the end of the season, landed a second Champions Season Graded race at Greyville when his reliable six-year-old Punta Arenas won the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m under Ian Sturgeon.

The Cheveley Stud-bred Dynasty colt Legislate is now a four-time Gr 1 winner and his unplaced run in his previous outing five months ago in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate, after which he was found to have a serious lung infection, remains the only blip since he announced his arrival by winning last season’s Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby.

Snaith said the connections would decide early next week whether the star colt would defend his Vodacom Durban July crown.

The Gold Challenge result will likely affect the July betting, but will probably not have much impact on the choosing of the final big race field. The ruling July favourite Futura ran a good preparation, running on from last for a 1,15 length fourth.

The Sean Tarry-trained Willow Magic, a former Investec Dingaans winner, ran a cracker, staying on for a 0,75 length second, but he is not a July entry. Neither is the Alec Laird-trained Bezanova, who ran on strongly for a 0,9 length third, and neither is fifth-placed Night Trip.

Halve The Deficit did his chances of making the final field no harm, by finishing 2,15 lengths back in sixth. However, King Of Pain was once again below his best and his 4,9 length seventh was unlikely enough to force his way into the July field.

No Worries faded into a 5,4 length ninth. He was 11th on the second July log and his final field position appeared on the one hand to be under threat, as borderline cases Dynamic and Helderberg Blue later put their hands up by running third and fourth in the Cup Trial. But on the other hand a couple of other July log incumbents, Gold Onyx and Dynastic Power, were beaten over ten lengths in the Cup Trial.

Legislate’s part-owners Jack Mitchell and Dennis Evans were on course to accept the trophy.

The disappointment of the day was the scratching of Ice Machine, who was strongly fancied by many to win the Gold Challenge. He was found to be striding short upon arrival at the course.

Maine Chance Farms-bred Silvano gelding Punta Arenas had to overcome a wide draw in the Cup Trial and ran on strongly from near the back of the field to book his place in the July, winning by 1,25 lengths.

Wild One ran for the first time since his Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup second place at the end of last season and ran a cracker to finish second. Dynamic and Helderberg Blue ran well to be just 1,75 and 2,5 lengths back.  The favourite Kochka’s stride shortened in the final stages, having moved up well, and his three-length fifth might not be enough to climb into the July field.

The Mike Bass-trained Zanvliet Stud-bred Trippi mare Hammie’s Hooker defended her crown in a strong Gr 2 Tibouchina  field over 1400m. Her terrific turn of foot was enough to hold off the classy but luckless Same Jurisdiction, who ran on strongly from the back, to be beaten 0,5 lengths. Maybe Yes, Red Flame and Whatalady were next best.

Hammie’s Hooker doesn’t usually go down well to the start, but clearly thrives in KZN and appears to love Greyville.

In The Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m the Mike Azzie-trained Brave Tin Soldier colt Rabada showed a few signs of inexperience but still streaked clear to win impressively by 3,25 lengths under Anton Marcus. The long-striding Summerhill Stud-bred bay will appreciate further and is an exciting prospect for the future.

In the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m the Neil Bruss-trained Go Deputy filly Flying Ice improved from her debut win over the same distance at Scottsville two weeks earlier to remain unbeaten under Weichong Marwing. The Lammerskraal-bred bay fended off the favourite Almashooqa bravely to win by a head.

The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Antonius Pius colt Belong To Me looked lean and mean before the running of the Non-Black Type Durban Dash over 1100m on the polytrack for three-year-olds and duly won well under Donavan Mansour after showing pace throughout.

The meeting once again attracted a huge, festive crowd to Greyville thanks to the marketing genius of Rising Sun’s CEO Vijay Maharaj.

In the UK today Frankie Dettori won the world’s most famous flat horserace, the Epsom Derby, on the unbeaten John Gosden-trained favourite Golden Horn.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Legislate winning the Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville today (Nkosi Hlophe)

Tar Heel can complete a second successive Somerset-Cape Of Good Hope Nursery double for Joey Ramsden at Kenilworth on Sunday when most of the runners tackle softish ground for the first time.

The going was officially soft at Tuesday’s meeting and a further 50mm of rain has fallen since but the forecast suggests the going will again be on the soft side rather than heavy. The question is how will Tar Heel handle it?

“No idea,” texted Ramsden from Epsom yesterday, adding optimistically but uninformatively: “Always hopeful – nothing ventured, nothing gained.” However Anton Marcus’s mount is by Var who hardly raced in the soft but whose stock tend to be pretty versatile.

In theory Western Storm should finish almost level with Tar Heel – he is 2kg better for a length and three-quarters – but Glen Puller says: “I feel that Tar Heel would still have beaten us had we met at levels.”

Brandon Morgenrood’s mount, though, looks a big danger. Mystical Twilight has run in the soft and, although still a maiden, was third to Arabian Beat in it in a Turffontein Grade 1. “He ran in some pretty strong races up there,” points out Vaughan Marshall who has won two of the last five runnings.

Stan Elley believes Eighth Wonder will handle the going and Greg Ennion reckons Northern Corner is also in with a fighting chance: “He is tiny but he has a huge action, S’Manga hardly moved on him when he won his maiden and he rates the horse.”

Ennion’s chances of winning the Kenilworth Fillies Nursery for the first time since Nocturnal Affair six years ago are even better because Just Felicity would have won her last three had she not been conceding 2kg to My Emblem last time.

“She worked exceptionally well on Tuesday,” he reports. “She goes well on the sand and hopefully that is an indicator about the ground. Also the jock knows her better than last time when she flew out of the pens and ended up as the hare.”

My Emblem is 2kg worse for a head and Marcus has switched to Varumba. “He had the choice and I have to respect his judgement,” says Eric Sands. “But I have a good jockey and the filly will be OK on the ground so long as it’s not porridge.”

Varumba , though, may beat them all. She made such an impression when storming home over five lengths clear in a Turffontein maiden that she started favourite for the SA Fillies Nursery. She finished a creditable third, proving her ability to handle the soft in the process.

But don’t ignore stable companions Petala and Victoria Lavelle. “They are both by Captain Al and in my experience his stock love the wet,” says Jonathan Snaith, adding: “Victoria Lavelle is doing particularly well.”

By MICHAEL CLOWER