He explained:” Fat Bottom Girl reared up with me at Kenilworth and I hit my back against an upright. I had some good rides that day so I just carried on.

“I’ve had physio but I can’t get myself into the positions I want to and I have to have six weeks of treatment. I will be off for three or four of those weeks. I was meant to start the treatment on Saturday but I wanted to ride Forte De Ouro and Big Cat.”

He won on both but then gave up his remaining rides. Piet Steyn was relieved to see him take the mount on Forte De Ouro because he has been having a lean spell and the 7-2 chance got the best of a three way photo to give the trainer his first success of the year.

Big Cat held off Zingzilla by no more than the thickness of his rider’s medical prescription and Stan Elley has Vodacom Durban July day ambitions.

He said: “Last year we did everything we could to get him into the July consolation (TabGOLD 2200) but he went lame on the Friday. Hopefully we will have more luck this year.”

Andrew Fortune has been finding winners hard to come by on his latest return and his bad luck seemed to continue on Saturday when favourite Eternal Love was withdrawn at the start on veterinary instructions and Surruptitious, ante-post favourite for Big Cat’s race, was stung on the nose by a bee and scratched.

But Henry Of York came to the former champion’s rescue in the mile handicap. To be fair, Fortune’s genius came to the horse’s rescue after he looked beaten inside the final furlong although Darryl Hodgson reckons his own pep talk pla

yed as big a part – “I whispered in the horse’s ear that his brother had just won the Gauteng Guineas and it was now up to him to win too!”

Fortune has three rides at Durbanville on Wednesday and will also be in action at Kenilworth on Saturday but he then starts a week’s suspension for an interference offence on Balletome last Wednesday.

David and Diane Nagle delayed their return to Ireland to see Provenance (Richard Fourie) readily follow up her Kenilworth win in the 1 300m handicap. They have bred some of best horses in the world including Generous, Imagine, Yeats and Oratorio. They own this one in partnership with Maine Chance, Coolmore Stud owner John Magnier and Goffs Sales executive ‘Legs’ Lawlor.

Justin Snaith, chalking up winner number 111 of the season, was impressed and said: “I am proud to be associated with people like this.”

He didn’t believe that the exacting Derby trip would do any good for his Australian-bred champion colt’s racing career and added, “He is already a stallion and the Derby just dilutes everything, so we will leave it to the stayers. He is a very good horse and has never lost to a horse that has previously beaten him.”

Harry’s Son lost to Harry Lime in the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m in his third career start in April last year, but beat him when finishing an unlucky third in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Medallion over 1200m.He then beat the Medallion winner Guinness when once again an unlucky third in the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m. Harry’s Son then won the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m, a victory that earned him Equus Champion two-year-old colt, and Golden Horseshoe winner Afrikaburn was among the horses he defeated in that race. His first defeat this season was when beaten by Unparalleled in the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans over 1600m on the Turffontein Standside course and he exacted revenge on the latter on Saturday. In the light of his penchant for revenge, it will be interesting to see whether Act Of War, who beat him in the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas, will travel up to Johannesburg for the SA Classic.

Harry’s Son has travelled from Summerveld to outside provinces on four occasions this season. The laid back colt won the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on November 1 in his seasonal reappearance and  was runner up in the Dingaans at the same venue on November 29. His journey to Cape Town by air for the Cape Guineas didn’t go smoothly as he was left stranded on the King Shaka airport tarmac for three hours due to a “hiccup” and, furthermore, it was a two-legged journey via Port Elizabeth. Not surprisingly he was not really himself in the Cape Guineas and over-raced early, so it was a measure of his class that he still finished second. His journey to Turffontein for Saturday’s Gauteng Guineas went smoothly and he was back to his best.

Jockey Piere Strydom was quick to praise Lafferty and his team for the amazing training feat on Saturday, but Lafferty deflected the accolades and said, “The horse makes it easy for us, he is such a wonderful traveller.”

Harry’s Son ate up well yesterday morning (Sunday) before travelling by float back to Summerveld.

He will likely take his next journey to Johannesburg at the end of March in his stride and the main question might turn out to be whether the altitude will have more of an impact over 1800m than it does over 1600m. There are many theories on the effects of altitude on horses, but no scientific study has ever been done as South Africa is the only major racing country in the world affected by it. Lafferty won the SA Classic two years ago with Love Struck, but that horse was prepared for the event out of a Johannesburg yard.

Harry’s Son will be facing the unbeaten Mike de Kock-trained Investec Cape Derby winner Ertijaal in the SA Classic, which will make it a highly intriguing race even if Act Of War does not make the journey. Act Of War is merit rated 117, Harry’s Son won on Saturday off a 114 and Ertijaal is currently merit rated only 107, despite his comfortable Cape Derby victory.

Harry’s Son is by Haradasun, who won two Gr 1s over 1500m and 1600m respectively in Australia, before being bought into top Irish trainer Aiden O’Brien’s yard and winning the Gr 1 Queen Ann Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot in 2008.

Harry’s Son runs in the colours of Durban-based businessman Roy Moodley, who is enjoying a halcyon season, and the other owners are the KZN Highway area group of friends Phil Georgiou, Doug and Sheila Steyn and Martha and Angelica Bilro.

Aldo Domeyer’s mount ran a fine race to beat all except Captain America in a most competitive handicap on Met day and he looks the one they all have to beat, particularly as he has been raised only half a kilo for that last run.

“He has won at Durbanville before and he is in good form,” says Stan Elley. “He has been working very nicely and he is fit and well.”

Big Cat opened at an attractive 4-1 yesterday with Betting World who made top weight Surruptitious favourite at 33-10 even though he has been raised a kilo for last time’s good run.

“He is a big horse,” says Mike Stewart, reasoning that the gelding is well able to carry weight. “I think he will suit Andrew Fortune who rides him for the first time and I expect him to go very close.”

Titus (5-1) beat Surruptitious just over a length over this course and distance in September and is only a kilo worse so he also comes into the equation, especially as Mike Bass is on a roll with seven winners at the last two Kenilworth meetings. Stable companion Evening Storm (11-2) steps up from a mile but has Grant van Niekerk who is also in cracking form.

Juddering Angel has been raised 2.5kg for last time’s win over this distance and, while that may not necessarily stop him, it is certainly going to make life a lot harder for the 7-2 chance.

Jo’s Bond, fifth in the Listed race on Met Day, looks better than Noisette in the first and Justin Snaith has few fears about the course. “She is not the type to run green,” he says.

Cosmic Code, who finished just in front of Wednesday’s winner Zubbadubbadoo last month, wears blinkers for the first time in the Moulin Rouge Student Maiden and that should enable him to beat In Full Regalia. One who could run into a place here is 14-1 shot Illinois who showed improved form last time and seemingly there was no fluke involved. “I gave him a break, sent him to a farm and it seemed to work,” says Harold Crawford.

Fortune and Eternal Love look a winning combination in the Grand Prize Maiden as War Declaration and Come Along are both drawn wide.

Arezzo dispenses with blinkers in race four as he is being stepped up from a mile to 2 400m. “It might be jumping the gun but I thought it could be a weak race,” says Snaith. Three Balloons (9-2) gets only marginal preference.

The KZN raider Harry’s Son could win the ultra-competitive Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas as he over-raced last time out in the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas. He also spent three hours on the tarmac at King Shaka airport, but still managed a gallant second. He wasn’t suited to the sticky conditions when beaten 4,25 lengths by Unparalleled in the Investec Dingaans over tomorrow’s course and distance so his team will be hoping for lighter conditions.

Mutamakkin could offer each-way value as the best has likely not yet been seen of the progressive colt and he could develop into a genuine Triple Crown contender. He found the 1450m of the Tony Ruffel on the inside track too sharp last time and was outpaced late by the closers having stolen a march for home. His draw of nine is a bit tricky, but Anthony Delpech always rides the standside course well.

The classy and ever improving Unparalleled is 3,5kg better off with Mutumakkin for a mere 0,2 length beating in the Tony Ruffel in which he was dropped out before running on strongly. He was presented in tip top condition for The Dingaans in which the ground was affected by a deluge just before the start.

Zambezi River was a bit quiet in the week of the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas and the yard believed he ran a flat race. This magnificent specimen could make amends as his finishing effort in the R2 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes suggested he should get 1600m.

MLJet has been gelded and this could bring out the best in a horse who has been disappointing this season after promising much as a two-year-old. He should relish the standside course.

The Captain’s Tune represents the Geoff Woodruff yard who won this race easily last year with the hitherto unheralded Louis The King. This horse is improving with experience and might be taken to the front as he tried to duck in behind runners in the Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes, but then won easily when leading from start to finish in a 1600m handicap over tomorrow’s course and distance.

Anjaal is a fine specimen and was only 0,25 lengths behind Harry’s Son in the Gr 1 Premiers’ Champion Stakes over this trip at Greyville as a two-year-old. However, this run could come a touch too soon after his seasonal reappearance just two weeks ago.

Imperial Gold is a player if repeating his fourth place in the Cape Guineas, but he does have 5,45 lengths to find on Harry’s Son.

French Navy is improving all the time and could earn if repeating his Dingaans third.

Amsterdam is the only unbeaten horse in the race, but faces a big step up in class and is widely drawn.

The three-year-old male crop is not a vintage one this year, so it could be wise to go wide in this race, although the horses are selected in the order mentioned.

In the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas the stand out is the KZN raider Same Jurisdiction, who is unbeaten in four starts since her debut, including the Gr 1 Thekwini over this trip. She won the latter event despite having been found to have bled and was very impressive last time out when cantering home in the Gr 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m against older fillies and mares.

Siren’s Call is classy and will relish the step up in trip from her 1400m R2,5 million CTS Book 2 Graduates race win. Kileigh will also be finishing strongly and could offer place value as the Gr 3 Fillies Mile didn’t pan out in her favour and she is better than that. Smart Call will be a big runner and Gr 1 winner Bilateral’s last run can be ignored. Tamanee has 3,25 lengths to find on Smart Call from the Fillies Mile but did beat Bilateral, Kileigh and Olma in that race.  Olma could offer place value as she was hurt in the float when travelling up for the Fillies Mile and is a lot better than that. Pine Princess has class but would prefer further. The improving Trophy Wife could earn but Same Jurisdiction is a banker suggestion.

The Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes could be won by the blossoming Ashton Park. Sabadell, Readytogorightnow, Lockheed Jetstar and Whiteline Fever could follow him home.

The Gr 3 Acacia Handicap is highly competitive and could be won by any of the horses, but the order of fancy is Amber Orchid, who has a lot in her favour, followed by Enchanted Silk, Maria Theresa, Will I Do, Be Mine Tonight, Euphoria and Whatalady.

The Listed Aquanaut Handicap is tough but the fancies in order are Orchestrated, Baracah, Savage Wind, Gold Bank, Qatar Springs, Aki Bua and Henry Higgins.

We’ll look at Thursday first and start with two runners who have been flying below the radar. The first is five-year-old entire Flying The Flag, shown in the photo below winning a Gr3 race over 2000m at the Curragh on 28 June 2013, racing for Aiden O’Brien, his second of two career victories.

Flying The Flag (Johnny Geroudis up) was seen out only three times since, racing for Mike de Kock and a new partnership of owners and just missing the money over 1800m, 2400m and 1600m respectively.   Three pounds below his highest-ever rating, the chestnut gets a chance to show what he is capable of in a 2000m contest on turf –  he’s rated near halfway down the handicap off 106 and what looks like a handy enough 58,5kg.

“Flying The Flag is improving all the while and he’s catching the eye in his exercise gallops. He ran on well after a rest last time and I fancy he’ll be very competitive here,” said Mike on Wednesday morning.

Lightly-raced four-year-old colt Johann Strauss (GB, Pat Dobbs) lines up in the Gr2 Zabeel Mile on turf after being touched off in a Listed race in Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago, his first UAE appearance and indeed his first for the stable.

“Johann Strauss is rated 102 in a quality race against the likes of Dark Emerald and Safety Check and on paper looks to have a battle on his hands, but he’s a horse with scope and potential and I think he’s better than he’s rating, so he’s not out of it, he can spring a surprise,” Mike assessed.

Best at the Saturday meeting could be the highly regarded Zahee, set to contend the Nova Stakes over 1200m on turf with Christophe Soumillon at the helm. Zahee drops way back in distance after running on for second in an 1800m handicap last time but this, said Mike, should be of no concern to his supporters.

“It may seem crazy to drop him so far back in distance, but Zahee has a massive amount of pace and he won’t be disgraced against the these sprinters, he won over 1100m and 1200m in Australia as a young horse and he’s very well.  He could be a good value Place bet.”

RUNNER COMMENTS

Thursday (Feb 26)

Race 3: Gr3 UAE Oaks, 1900m on turf Shahrasal (Paul Hanagan) “Shahrasal is well exposed, she stayed on in the UAE Oaks Trial and she’ll get the trip, we’ll be looking for a first-three placing.”

Race 4: Listed Meydan Classic, 1400m on turf Tannaaf (Oisin Murphy);  Toscanelli (Wayne Smith); Mastermind (Dane O’Neill) “We’re preparing Tannaaf for a race in the UK in April, he will need it being short of peak fitness and this is too short for him.  Mastermind won an excellent race over the course and distance last time with Toscanelli two lengths behind him.  It won’t be easy for Mastermind to repeat that feat as we have to contend with a wide draw this time and Paul Hanagan will be jumping on a horse for David Hayes in preference, so we’re not too sure what to expect. He’s well, however and so is Toscanelli who has come on steadily in the last few weeks after not showing too much when he joined us.”

Race 6: Gr2 Zabeel Mile on turf Anaerobio (Geroudis);  Johann Strauss (Dobbs); Darwin (Soumillon) “Anaerobio keeps earning his way, conceivably he has a place chance again. Darwin should put up a better showing this time.  He’s a much fitter horse and he’s better on turf.”  (Johann Strauss discussed above).

Race 7: Handicap over 2000m on turf Mushreq (Hanagan);  Flying The Flag (Geroudis) “Mushreq was disappointing last time, but he had too much exposure during the running of the race. He’s a horse that likes to race almost buried behind others, to put up a strong effort and run on late. We’ll look for cover and a better performance. ” (Flying The Flag discussed above).

MEYDAN SATURDAY

(Feb 28)

Race 1: Handicap over 1600m on dirt El Estruendoso (Soumillon) “His rating has dropped a bit now, but probably not enough and this is the last roll of the dice for El Estruendoso, we’ll be fitting him with blinkers and a tongue-tie.”

Race 3: Handicap over 1400m on dirt Royal Ridge (Hanagan) showed pace last week over a mile, he had to race wide however and faded out over the last 300m. At the shorter he must have place prospects.

Race 4: Nova Stakes over 1200m on turf Zahee (Soumillon); Fountain Of Youth) (O’Neill) “Fountain Of Youth was slow into stride last week and then got trapped behind others in the straight and had to switch.  With some luck he may have finished in the money. He’s doing nicely and should run well.” (Zahee discussed above).

Race 6: Gr 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy, 2810m on turf Almoonqith (Hanagan) and Star Empire (Soumillon) “Almoonqith has been in good form this term up to 2000m and we’re putting him over ground now, trying the 2810m. On pedigree he should see it out, he’s by Dynaformer and I believe he will enjoy the journey and make the frame; has a first-four chance. Star Empire hasn’t been running to the level of previous carnivals, his age is starting to show.”

Race 7: Handicap over 2000m on turf Mujaarib (O’Neill) and Atomic Rush (Soumillon) “We’ve got Mujaaribn as fit as we can have him for this race, he is well and has improved with every run this season.  Atomic Rush is a horse I really like. He hasn’t had the best of preps for this race, we’ve had one or two problems with him and not enough training time, but he shows ability and should run a good race, we’re looking forward to see him in action.”