However, her awaited clash with Same Jurisdiction didn’t materialise in the end as the latter was declared a non-runner due to her starting gate not opening properly.

This misfortune  didn’t detract from Majmu’s performance. The grey Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum-owned Redoute’s Choice filly was handy in the running and went clear halfway down the straight. She won comfortably despite not having run since her Gr 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas victory in early December. The brave Sean Tarry-trained Trophy Wife found her fourth big race place in succession,  running on strongly for second ahead of her stablemate Tamaanee and the top class Mike Bass-trained mare Hammie’s Hooker.

Majmu (Liesl King)

De Kock, Delpech and Sheik Hamdan had a treble together, all with Australian-breds, as the two-year-old Redoute’s Choice filly Shaama had earlier won impressively on debut over 1160m and later the top class Lonhro colt Anjaal had bounced back to form and easily won a Graduation Plate over 1400m.

Later, the Listed Spook Express Handicap over 2450m was won in good style by the big Australian-bred Dylan Thomas filly Wild Ash, who is trained by Geoff Woddruff and was ridden by Anton Marcus.

Earlier the Louis Goosen-trained Trippi gelding Trip Tease put up an excellent preparation for the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint, to be run in two weeks time, by winning the Henneman Memorial Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m under Piere Strydom, despite carrying joint-topweight and hitting the gate after pre-empting the start. It was the amazing R70,000 purchase’s eleventh career victory in just his 16th career start. Strydom rode a treble to close the gap on National log leading jockey S’manga Khumalo, who had a single winner, to seven.  Delpech’s treble put him just 16 off the pace.

Later in England, the famous Crabbie’s Grand National was won by the second topweight Many Clouds, trained by Oliver Sherwood and ridden by Leighton Aspell.

There was some top class racing at Greyville on Friday night which had three feature events on the turf. It has to be said that the slow pace of all three races will make the overall form quite hard to assess.

The De Kock-trained Trippi filly One Fine Day put up an excellent performance to win the Gr 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m. She had to come from second last in a race run at a crawl, but showed  a blistering turn of foot under Delpech to win by a length from the running on Silver Class. The classy Alexis came from last and had to be switched from the inside to the outside in the straight so did well to finish just 1,75 lengths behind the winner, to whom she conceded 2 kg.  All three fillies will be contenders in the Gr 2 KRA Fillies Guineas, although One Fine Day and Alexis were the ones that created the best impression. One Fine Day is owned and was bred by Drakenstein Stud.

Heartland (Liesl King)

The Gr 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m saw another slow pace, this time set by Easy Lover. The Justin Snaith-trained Heartland settled well in the running in third place under Sean Cormack, while  Kingvoldt tugged at the bit behind him. Light The Lights fought with his rider going down and in the running. Heartland showed why he has always been so well regarded when running on strongly in the straight to win by 0,75 lengths. The runner up Kingvoldt was surging late so this was an excellent performance, considering he was conceding 3kg to the winner. Easy Lover carried 2kg more than the winner and finished 1,75 lengths back in third. Light The Lights carried the same weight as the winner and finished 2,05 lengths back, but he clearly needed the run and was doing good work late. He could be a fair each/way ante-post outsider to side with in the Vodacom Durban July.

Heartland was bred by Highlands Farm Stud and is another top progeny of the National Log leading sire Dynasty. He is owned by two of the great sire’s biggest supporters, Jack Mitchell and his daughter Nancy.

The meeting was opened by the postponed Listed Easter Handicap over 2000m and the Paul Lafferty-trained Double Clutch defied the handicapper for the third time in succession to win in good style under Keagan de Melo. This Derek Martin “King”-bred four-year-old gelding by Stronghold has earned the nickname “the miracle horse” as he recovered from a life threatening illness early in his career and has gone on to win five races from just 12 career starts. De Melo cleverly took him to the front having correctly predicted that the normally handy King Neptune would not be as pacey without the blinkers. Double Clutch, who started 33/10 second favourite, then dictated at a slow pace and ran on resolutely in the straight to beat the Duncan Howells-trained 40/1 outsider Crime Victim by 1,5 lengths. The latter ran on in eyecatching style, despite being under sufferance. Silver Spring and Gone Baby Gone finished third and fourth respectively. The favourite Balance Sheet battled to make up the ground off the slow pace and finished fifth. Jockey Delpech said later that Balance Sheet had proved in  need of the run, which was his first as a gelding.

Generalissimo (Nkosi Hlophe)

Another potential three-year-old classic horse that put his hand up during the meeting was the Duncan Howells-trained Mambo In Seattle gelding Saratoga Dancer, who was a bit keen early in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m behind a snail-like pace set by the only filly in the race, Euphoria. The long striding gelding was admittedly only carrying 50kg under Muzi Yeni but created a fine impression when finally wearing down the persistent Euphoria in an exciting tussle down the straight. He had been backed in from 12/1 to start 5/2. The favourite Jet Explorer had little chance of making up the ground off the slow pace, considering he was conceding a whopping 11,5kg to the winner and that this was his Champions Season pipe opener.

Howells said later that Saratoga Dancer would be better as a four-year-old and would probably not be taking on the best during the Champions Season.

The official first race on the card saw an eyecatching debut win over 1400m for the giant two-year-old Ideal World filly Persian Rug, who is trained by De Kock and is owned by two of his assistants Nathan Kotzen and Steven Jell. Anton Marcus schooled the green filly by turning her around on the way to the start and cantering her around the bend. She then beat a weak maiden field effortlessly and looks one to follow.

Dennis Drier looks to have possibly the two best sprinting males in the country in Captain Of All and Generalissimo. The latter made his comeback in a 1200m race on the polytrack and his 15/20 odds proved generous as he annihilated them by four lengths unextended. Drier had told owners Nick and Ben Jonsson to ignore his previous start in Cape Town as a slight sideways knock had affected him and he had duly finished lame. Drier, with the support of the Jonssons, had excercised caution by not running him again in Cape Town. The Gr 1 weight for age Computaform Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein on April 25, for which Captain Of All will be a leading contender, comes too soon for Generalissimo, but Drier said that all going well he would be targeted at the Gr 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville on May 23.

Betting World opened her at 6-10 yesterday and made Nights Of Stars the biggest danger at 4-1 with Sunset Tripp (7-1) the only other one in single figures.

Fly By Night (Liesl King)

At the weights the Mercury Sprint winner has a minimum of two lengths in hand over the next highest rated – Supreme Sunset (10-1) and Night Of Stars – but that is not a lot when a horse has been off for 11 weeks.

However Mike Bass is confident that she won’t be in need of the run. “She is quite fit,” he points out and says that the joint infection that caused her to run below par in the Cape Flying Championship was relatively short-lived. “It was caused by her whacking herself, one leg against the other, and she wears boots all the time at home.”

This 1 200m is on the short side for Supreme Sunset while Night Of Stars owes her rating to being raised 4kg for last month’s course and distance win. This race will show whether such a hefty increase was warranted.

Jet Supreme (10-1) has been off almost as long as the favourite and over-raced when she finished last in the Klawervlei Majorca. “This is a prep for the winter season,” says Justin Snaith but Andrew Fortune’s mount is another who would prefer further.

This is the only race that Anton Marcus sits out. The four-time champion, who has won on five of his 22 Kenilworth rides (a 22% strike rate) this season, partners six for the in-form Joey Ramsden and R1.3 million newcomer Brilliant Crimson for Bass in the first. The market is likely to provide the best guide here.

Supercilious, who would have finished a lot closer on debut had she started on terms, has obvious claims in race two particularly as her pilot is so brilliant at the gate. However Jane S Piddy finished like a certain future winner on her first start three weeks ago.

The form is difficult to evaluate – the first six were all newcomers and the fifth has been beaten since – but Greg Cheyne’s mount fairly caught the eye. “We have always thought highly of her but I thought 1 000m might be a touch too short for her,” says Glen Kotzen. “I would think she has come on because she was quite green that day.”

Seventh Feather flopped in a work riders’ race last time – she flyjumped and her saddle slipped – but her previous two runs suggested a marked improvement which could see her beat shorter-priced rivals in the Gill Davies Maiden.

“I didn’t change anything but she suddenly turned the corner,” recalls Carl Burger. “Some horses are like that and Gerrit Schlechter says she is now on top of her game.”

The idea of a horse coming from Dubai to win America’s most prestigious race is somewhat foreign to me — And now you know why I never made it as a comic. Seriously, though, folks, I am really starting to warm to the idea of 2015 finally being the year that a horse comes out of the UAE Derby to make some real noise on the first Saturday in May. Oh what the heck, I will just come out and say it — I think Mubtaahij might be just the horse to beat all the Americans and win the 2015 Kentucky Derby.

Boo! Hiss! Before you call me a hater of hot dogs and apple pie — I’m not. I enjoy eating both of those things. Let me run down the list behind my reasoning for liking this son of Dubawi so much.

Mubtaahij (Liesl King)

Running Style – With all the speed lining up for this year’s Kentucky Derby, having a horse who can relax early, is, in my mind, a very positive trait. Moreover, the Derby is seldom won by a stone cold closer, but rather by a horse who has enough tactical speed and maneuverability to find a preferable spot in the early stages, and then take full advantage of the right holes at the right times. In watching his racing in Dubai, it would appear Mubtaahij is just such a horse. Just watch him in his latest, as he relaxes early, measuring his competition. He then deftly moves off the rail to pounce, and when asked, his turn of foot is a thing of beauty. All of this should suit him perfectly on May the 2nd.

Training – Mike de Kock is one of the finest trainers in the world, having trained countless good horses to important wins. With the hearty Mubtaahij, he has been able to train his horse to be stronger and fitter than what we typically see in America. His horse is battle tested and only getting better for the work, and de Kock knows how to win big races.

Dirt – For the first time in several years, the UAE Derby was run and won on dirt, and there can be no doubt that Mubtaahij is a dirt horse. Five consecutive strong performances on the surface have more than proven that. While we never knew about the ability of recent Dubai shippers to handle the dirt, it is not a worry this year. There is every reason in the world to believe that Mubtaahij will take to the Churchill Downs’ main track swimmingly.

Distance – Discount this part of the equation, if you will, but after running a trio of solid races at seven furlongs and a mile, Mubtaahij demonstrated his fondness for a route of ground with two excellent performances at 1 3/16 miles. He’s run twice at distances farther than any other horse in the Derby field will have ever run, and in both cases, he finished very strong. When some are getting leg weary late, he should be prepared to see it out all the way to the finish.

Experience – After not doing much on the turf in England as a juvenile, Mubtaahij has had five quality races on Meydan’s new dirt course. Starting with a New Year’s Eve maiden win, the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum owned colt has moved up the latter of quality while racing on a regular basis. No horse will run in this year’s Kentucky Derby with more three-year-old experience than the horse coming from Dubai. Take a look at his lone loss on dirt, and tell me that this is not a tough horse, who will be more than ready for a fight on Derby day.

Form – There can be little doubt that Mubtaahij is thriving. Since coming to Dubai and switching to dirt, he has continued to improve with each and every start. He his 5-4-1-0 in those races, and his latest was undoubtedly his best yet. Provided that he acclimates well to his new surroundings, he will enter the Derby as a red-hot and improving horse. Considering that he has traveled well before, it is a good bet that he will also do well in Louisville.

Class – How do the races like the UAE Derby and Al Bastakiya stack up against American Derby preps? It’s impossible to know for sure at this point, but I would counter that I also wonder quite a bit about how good the horses that the Kentucky Derby favorites (Dortmund, American Pharoah, and Carpe Diem) have been beating truly are, other than Firing Line. In the $2 million UAE Derby, Golden Barows, Maftool, and Sir Fever all came in with a strong reputation, but Mubtaahij simply outclassed them. Who’s to say that bunch could not compete in U.S. stakes racing? And remember how well last year’s UAE Derby winner, Toast of New York did against America’s best in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Have I convinced you yet? Mubtaahij is a whole new type of Dubai shipper coming for the Run for the Roses. Unlike anything we’ve seen before, he is indeed a major threat to be our next winner of the Kentucky Derby.

–          Horseracingnation.com

Since the departure of Ken Rutherford this role has been filled on a temporary basis by Phumelela’s International Executive Director, John Stuart.

In the new structure Scott will report into Stuart but will be directly responsible for the day-to-day operations on the horse racing television channel as well as implementing strategies for the future growth of it.

In making the announcement, Phumelela’s CEO Rian du Plessis said: “It was always the intention to employ a full-time CEO of Tellytrack and we are delighted to have someone like Rob come on board for this challenging position. His role will be to continue to develop the Tellytrack team to a level where its performance is at least equal to the best global horse racing channels”.

Scott said: “I am looking forward to joining the Tellytrack team. The channel is the window to horseracing and serves a host of customers with varying needs and expectations. We will need to build a strategy that is not only commercially viable but also services our diverse customer base. This will require a team effort and some innovative thinking on our part. A lot of ground work has been put in place under the guidance of John and I look forward to building on this foundation.”

Racing Association CEO Larry Wainstein was excited about Rob’s appointment, highlighting his significant commercial and horse racing experience.

Majmu looks hard to oppose despite facing a high quality field in the Empress Club Stakes. She beat Inara with contempt in her last start in the Gr 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas and the latter then went on to win two weight for age Gr 1s in succession, beating older females in both. Earlier, Majmu had given Siren’s Call 4kg and a 1,75 length beating. She is still the only female to have beaten Siren’s Call, who is on the cusp of landing the Triple Tiara. The De Kock yard have confirmed that Majmu will be close to her peak, although they added that the outing will bring her on. The draw of eight won’t worry Majmu as she settles well in the running and has the ability to make up ground easily before being switched into top gear.

Majmu (Liesl King)

However, she won’t be able to afford to let the well drawn and classy filly Same Jurisdiction get too far ahead of her in the straight, so jockey Anthony Delpech might be having one or two niggling worries about the draw. Same Jurisdiction will also have the advantage of a couple of recent runs under her belt. This is her best trip and she will strip fitter than she did in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, in which nothing went right for her in the running. She should reverse form with Trophy Wife, Smart Call and Tamanee from that run.

Arcetri Pink could also be a threat if the ground comes up soft as she appears to grow an extra leg under those conditions and this is likely her ideal trip.

Banbury could offer value for a place as she is much better than her last run in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic, in which she overraced after being taken too handy. From pole position she should be able to be positioned just off the pace, which look to be the best tactics for her considering her impressive win in the Gr 3 Fillies Mile over Saturday’s course and distance. Hammies Hooker bounced back to her brilliant best last time out in the Prix Du Cap over 1400m after an overall luckless season and her close second to Beach Beauty in last season’s Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes proved that she is effective over this trip, even if it might just stretch her stamina reserves. The selection if the going is fast is Majmu to beat Same Jurisdiction, with Banbury, Hammies Hooker and Trophy Wife next best, but in soft going Arcetri Pink could split them by finishing third.

Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Listed Spook Express Handicap over 2450m is the supporting feature and here the classy Erin makes most appeal from a good draw despite having to carry top weight. Wild Ash looks to be a progressive stayer and could pose a big threat. The Centenary fits into the same category and should also be included in the Pick 6.

The first leg of the Bipot is in race 2 and Escape Route makes most appeal as he should improve on his fine debut. He is drawn one and it might be worth including the consistent Just As I Said from draw 8 as he has strong form and the going might be better on that side. Mystical Twilight is talented and potentially a lot better than her form suggests. Slinky Jack won well on debut so cant be ignored and a betting move for Picardi Pink must be respected.

Trip Tease should be too classy in the third where he is well in at the weights over his optimum trip of 1000m. Deliver The Power looks the danger.

In the fourth over 1400m the relaxed front running type Sea Fan could be hard to beat going around the turn from a good draw, although Honeybush Tea and Wandie’s will be running at her late and could be considered for the Pick 6.

Hammie’s Hooker- Equine Edge

Anjaal and Rake’s Chestnut have the most ability in the fifth, a Graduation Plate over 1400m, but appear to have their issues. Therefore O’Brien, Mr Mulliner, Captain Aldo, Light The Way, Arniston and Finchatton should also be considered.

Battle In Seattle is course and distance suited in the sixth over 1400m and appears to have the strongest form, although he has a tricky draw. Via Della Tigre has some fine form and is not only well drawn but looks well handicapped too. Prince Of Darkness is a capable sort and is only two points higher than his last win so he could feature and Inala and Moon Lay Hidden make most appeal of the rest.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is race 9 over 2000m and the improving Pride In Battle should enjoy the step up in trip having been a bit unlucky when running on late over 1600m last time. Tempest looks likely to relish the trip too and will be a big runner. Jamming should also be included in the Pick 6.