Andrew Harrison

Gelding appears to have been the key to top sprinter Dyce finding his best form that had tailed off after winning the Cape Flying Championship. He was back in top form last time out and should have today’s Pinnacle Stakes at his mercy as he his rated way better than the opposition.

The race heads an eight-race programme on the Vaal Classic course and although Dyce looks difficult to beat Danilo Danilovitch could pose a threat. He takes a jump in class and looks well held at these weights but he does get a 4kg claimer aboard and will carry 46kg, getting 16kg from Dyce. If allowed to get away Paul Matchett’s gelding could prove tricky to peg back. Cliff Hanger showed up well first run back from a break and should come on from that effort. She shows good pace and the drop in trip should suit. Troppo Veloce takes on males but is smart over the trip and has a light weight.

In the card opener, Mark Khan and Jarred Penny have struck up a winning relationship and that can continue with Zafar. The son of Captain Of All has a lofty rating after showing some promise but the blinkers didn’t help last run as he ran out of steam to finish tailed off. The blinkers stay on but this trip should suit. Muzi Yeni has switched from Zafar to stable companion Mizzen Sword who has also shown some ability. A distant third last run, this could be a more suitable trip. The balance have shown little or are first timers but One More Star could show decent improvement. 

Johan Janse van Vuuren is two-handed in the second, a Novice Plate, with Happy Mo Corrupt. Happy Mo has not been out of the money in her last five starts but has a big weight to carry and Kabelo Matsunyane has jumped ship to partner Corrupt who was well fancied on debut and landed the odds. But it’s not an easy race with a number of form runners. Gimmeachance gets blinkers for the first time and the drop in trip could get him home for his second win in just seven starts. 

The third is a difficult maiden. Empress Wu was a distant fourth last run but the winner won by five so it was not a bad effort. It was also only her second start and the step up in trip should be in her favour. Ambitious Lady, Pass The Baton and Bella Boop Boop all finished within a length of each other but Corrie Lensley could have the right one in Ambitious Lady as she steps up in trip and is better off in the weights with both. Tik Tok Addiction has missed the break at his last two but can feature strongly over this trip.

Mike and Adam Azzie hold a strong hand with nearly half of the runners in the fourth. Best of them could be Emblem Of War in spite of not having raced for nearly a year. He has obviously had his issues but Muzi Yeni stays with the ride and the lightly raced gelding has not been out of the money in three starts. The lay-off is a concern and if he does not shape, stable companion Storm Ahead can pick up the pieces. He showed up well when going the distance for the first time as favourite and he can make amends. Snow Moon made sudden improvement last run when sent over ground for the first time and Roman’s Revenge stays the trip and should be included in all exotics. 

Muzi Yeni and trainer St John Gray have been in mustard form of late and they team up with Secret Chord in the fifth who looks primed for another win. He finished two lengths behind The Navy Lark who has cracking form for Jaap Visser under apprentice Trent Mayhew but is now 3kg worse off with Secret Chord which should see the tables turned. Piere Strydom can afford to choosey about his rides and he partners What A Tiger for Fabian Habib and he was aboard for the gelding’s last win. King Of Venus returns from a long break but boast excellent sprint form. Calvin Habib won aboard him back in December last year and will be aboard again for Sean Tarry. 

The sixth is a wide open handicap with form a little on the thin side. Tibetan Voyage up well first run for Mark Khan but his next outing over 1400m is best ignored. She had some fair Cape form and if she can build on her local debut she will have a strong chance. Kylie’s Angel showed up well last time out in her first run in a handicap. She got a two-pound relief in the handicap in spite of that showing and although set to shoulder 62kg she could prove the one to beat but it won’t be easy. Twice As Wild will have her supporters after finishing a close-up third behind the improved Inafix at her last two. Together Again was a length behind Twice As Wild in their last meeting and is now 0.5kg better off taking apprentice Trent Mayhew’s 2.5kg allowance into consideration. There should be very little between these two. 

The last is another tough handicap. Samoa lines up for the 96^th time in her career and has been knocking on the door in recent starts. She was a close-up second last time out and Gavin Lerena stays with the ride. Inafix is six years younger but did get the better of Bridget Stidolph’s mare last time out but is now 2.5kg worse off which should be enough to turn the tables. Written In Stone has 91 runs under her girth and is back over her favourite course and distance. Nine-year-old Jet Cat was only two lengths behind Inafix and is 3kg better off. 

RACE 1

Summary: Mark Khan and Jarred Penny have struck up a winning relationship and can continue with ZAFAR (1). The son of Captain Of All has a lofty rating after showing some promise but the blinkers didn’t help last run as he ran out of steam to finish tailed off. The blinkers stay on but this trip should suit. Muzi Yeni has switched from Zafar to stable companion MIZZEN SWORD (2) who has also shown some ability. A distance third last run, this could be a more suitable trip. The balance have shown little or are first timers but ONE MORE STAR (7) could show decent improvement. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-7).

RACE 2

Summary: Johan Janse van Vuuren is two-handed in this Novice Plate with HAPYY MO (1) and CORRUPT (7). Happy Mo has not been out of the money in her last five starts but has a big weight to carry and Kabelo Matsunyane has jumped ship to partner Corrupt who was well fancied on debut and landed the odds. But it’s not an easy race with a number of form runners. GIMMEACHANCE (4) gets blinkers for the first time and the drop in trip could get him home for his second win in just seven starts. (Andrew Harrison: 7-4-1)

Del       3          Summary: Difficult maiden. EMPRESS WU (10) was a distant fourth last run but the winner won by five so it was not a bad effort. It was also only her second start and the step up in trip should be in her favour. AMBITIOUS LADY (2) PASS THE BATON (3) and BELLA BOOP BOOP (6) all finished within a length of each other but Corrie Lensley could have the right one in Ambitious Lady as she steps up in trip and is better off in the weights with both. (Andrew Harrison: 10-2-3-6).

RACE 4

Summary: Mike and Adam Azzie hold a strong hand with nearly half of the runners in the race. Best of them could be EMBLEM OF WAR (1) in spite of not having raced for nearly a year. He has obviously had his issues but Muzi Yeni stays with the ride and the lightly raced gelding has not been out of the money in three starts. The lay-off is a concern and if he does not shape, stable companion STORM AHEAD (2) can pick up the pieces. He showed up well when going the distance for the first time as favourite and he can make amends. SNAOW MOON (8) made sudden improvement last run when sent over ground for the first time and ROMAN’S REVENGE (7) stays the trip and should be included in all exotics. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-8-7).

RACE 5

Summary: Muzi Yeni and trainer St John Gray have been in mustard form of late and they team up with SECRET CHORD (4) who looks primed for another win. He finished two lengths behind THE NAVY LARK (2) who has cracking form for Jaap Visser under apprentice Trent Mayhew but is now 3kg worse off with Secret Chord which should see the tables turned. Piere Strydom can afford to choosey about his rides and he partners WHAT A TIGER (3) for Fabian Habib. Strydom was aboard for the gelding’s last win. KING OF VENUS (7) returns from a long break but boast excellent sprint form. Calvin Habib won aboard him back in December last year and will be aboard again for Sean Tarry. (Andrew Harrison: 4-2-3-7).

RACE 6

Summary: Wide open handicap with form a little on the thin side. TIBETAN VOYAGE (8) showed up well first run for Mark Khan but his next outing over 1400m is best ignored. She had some fair Cape form and if she can build on her local debut she will have a strong chance. KYLIE’S ANGEL (1) showed up well last time out in her first run in a handicap. She got a two-pound relief in the handicap in spite of that showing and although set to shoulder 62kg she could prove the one to beat but it won’t be easy. TWICE AS WILD (7) will have her supporters after finishing a close-up third behind the improved Inafix at her last two. TOGETHER AGAIN (5) was a length behind Twice As Wild in their last meeting and is now 0.5kg better off taking apprentice Trent Mayhew’s 2.5kg allowance into consideration. There should be very little between these two. (Andrew Harrison: 8-1-7-5).

RACE 7

Summary: Gelding appears to have been the key to DYCE (1) whose form had tailed off after winning the Cape Flying Championship. He was back in top form last time out and should have this Pinnacle Stakes at his mercy as he his rated way better than the opposition. DANILO DANILOVITCH (6) looks well held at these weights but he does get a 4kg claimer aboard and will carry 46kg, getting 16kg from Dyce and if allowed to get away Paul Matchett’s gelding could prove difficult to peg back. TROPPO VELOCE (5) takes on males but is smart over the trip and has a light weight. (Andrew Harrison: 1-6-5).

RACE 8

Summary: Tough handicap. SAMOA (8) lines up for the 96th time in her career and has been knocking on the door in recent starts. She was a close-up second last time out and Gavin Lerena stays with the ride. INAFIX (6) is six years younger but did get the better of Bridget Stidolph’s Mare last time out but is now 2.5kg worse off which should be enough to turn the tables. WRITTEN IN STONE (4) has 91 runs under her girth and is back over her favourite course and distance. Nine-year-old JET CAT (7) was only two lengths behind Inafix and is 3kg better off. (Andrew Harrison: 8-4-6-7).

Graeme Hawkins

Questioning kept his unblemished record at Hollywoodbets Durbanville safely intact with a workmanlike and uncomplicated victory in Saturday’s R300 000 Kuda Matchem Stakes (Gr3) over 1400m. Questioning raced up handy from a wide draw under JP van der Merwe and tracked the free-running Montien into the home stretch. Returning fresh from a 175-day absence, Montien kept up a solid gallop and refused to throw in the towel, but Questioning gradually wore him down and forged ahead over the final 100m to score by half-a-length.

Trained by Vaughan Marshall and racing in the colours of Cape Racing Chairman Greg Bortz for a partnership which includes Mukund Gujadhur, the Wernars family and Gina Goldsmith, Questioning has now won all four of his starts at the country course. As a 3yo the gelded son of Querari, bred by Alec Foster, won last year’s Cape Classic over 1400m but subsequently disappointed in the Selangor Cup and the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, both over 1600m. His forte is clearly sprinting, and Marshall confirmed post-race that Questioning’s principal targets will now likely be the Cape Flying Championship (Gr1) over 1000m and the Diadem Stakes Stakes (Gr2) over 1200m.

Montien, on the other hand, is being aimed at the King’s Plate (Gr1) over 1600m at the beginning of January. Trainer Piet Botha was delighted with Montien’s performance on Saturday and is optimistic that the big-striding 5yo son of Louis The King will be able to hold his own against the best around. The ultra-consistent and classy At My Command stayed on well to finish third in Saturday’s Matchem Stakes and he is likely to progress nicely through the Cape Summer Season. The WSB Green Point Stakes (Gr2) over 1600m, in which he finished runner-up behind See It Again last year, will be on his immediate radar and there’s no doubt that the 5yo son of Querari has what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Dean Kannemeyer, still glowing from Gimmie’s Countess’ brilliant performance in the Baker McVeigh Diana Stakes (Gr3) some 35 minutes earlier, was equally thrilled with Gimme A Prince who ran on from the back to round out the Quartet. Having his first start following an injury-enforced 12-month lay-off, the dual Grade 1-winning Gimme A Prince was a given a sympathetic ride, but he was doing his best work late and Kannemeyer was more than satisfied with the performance. Chatting to Dean yesterday morning, it would appear that Gimme A Prince came through the race unscathed, and the King’s Plate (Gr1)remains his ultimate mission.

Gimmie’s Countess, the 3yo own sister to Gimme A Prince, took out the supporting feature, the R200 000 Baker McVeigh Diana Stakes (Gr3) for fillies and mares over 1400m in some style and is well on track for the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 7 December. Ridden by KZN-based Serino Moodley, Gimmie’s Countess was some way back halfway up the home stretch, but she quickened smartly in the closing stages and sprinted clear of Summer Lily and Princess Izzy to score by a length. Gimmie’s Countess is likely to follow the traditional path into the Fillies’ Guineas and her next engagement will in all probability be the R450 000 Western Cape Fillies Championship (Gr2) over 1400m at Kenilworth on 9 November.

Andrew Harrison

Cats Pajamas certainly looked the part in the Graduation Plate that headed the card at a rapidly cooling Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday, but even trainer Frank Robinson will have been impressed with his charge as the gelding slapped up a useful field.

Off his handicap mark, Cats Pajamas was always going to be hard to beat, but the manner of victory is what counted.

Given a strong early pace with riders hoping to make use of a brisk tail wind, Rachel Venniker was not fazed even off a slightly sluggish jump and was well back in the early running. Into the straight there looked to be reason to panic given his distance behind, but Venniker obviously know what she had under her. Once releasing the brake, Cats Pajamas lengthend stride to win as he liked.

Recently gelded, Robinson has the Merchants on the Highveld as a possible immediate target and even though yesterday’s opposition was not up to Merchants quality, the win was full of merit.

Owner Sid Moodley is the mainstay of the Robinson stable and Cats Pajamas, who rounded off last season with a win in the Gr2 Umkomazi Stakes, should keep the home fires burning. 

 Robbie Hill was a top rider in his day but also a man of few words. “It’s not about looks, it’s not a fashion parade,” was all he commented after Regeneration made a stunning debut in the first. 

The chestnut daughter of Danon Platina was nowhere in sight turning for home as Muzi Yeni tried all to benefit from the strong tail wind on the grey Panthera Uncia but once Regeneration found her feet and the penny dropped, she motored home to put the field to bed in promising fashion with Panthera Unica staying on gamely for second.

Hill was back in the winner’s box as Queen Amina fired through under Craig Zackey to win the third. Going the 2000m trip for the first time, Zackey was closer to last than first turning for home, but the chasing pack opened up like the Red Sea for Moses crossing the subway and Queen Amina needed no further invitation as she quickened through in spite of lugging in the last bit.

Run out of it in the first, Yeni made no mistakes in the second as he had Artist’s Model tracking pacemaker Shiny Bob from the jump. He eased his mount off the fence approaching the home straight and from there it was one-way traffic as Mike de Kock’s charge quickened up with the wind behind and came home lonely. 

Lucretius is not the easiest to train but Carl Hewitson’s gelding took to the 2300m of the Middle Stakes to win well under Craig Zackey for The Poet’s Syndicate and Irish-based Mike Moroney and local partners. 

Local Quartet pools with fractional betting on selected UK race meetings will return to the TabGold betting menu from this Thursday following a mixed reception from customers to the introduction of commingled Quartet pools on all UK and Irish race meetings last month.

Such commingled Quartet pools have been welcomed in some quarters, but many TabGold customers have complained that this has resulted in them being unable to play fractional Quartet bets on UK races.

TabGold have taken note of the complaints and from this Thursday 12 September customers can enjoy the best of both worlds. As before local Quartet pools with fractional betting will be offered on two UK meetings most days with commingled Quartet pools on all other UK and Irish meetings.

Whether an Irish or UK meeting has local or commingled pools will be displayed clearly on Tab sheet race cards in store and online.

Unfortunately for several reasons, including vast differences in exchange rates, it is not technically possible to offer fractional bets on pools commingled internationally.

The minimum unit for commingled bets is R1 (more in the case of countries like the USA) and this is itself a fractional bet in international tote pools.

As an example, the unit of a UK Tote Quartet is one Pound and a customer playing a R1-unit Quartet with TabGold on a UK race is buying about 1/24th of the bet, depending on the exchange rate on the day. And if that bet is the only winning ticket, the customer will get 1/24th of the pool and the remainder will be carried over. To get the full UK Tote payout on a commingled Quartet requires playing the bet to a R24 unit.

That aside, the introduction of commingled Quartet bets has given TabGold customers many more opportunities to play Quartets on UK and Irish races, and access to bigger pools and payouts.