David Thiselton (continues from part 1)
In the fifth, Derryl Daniels made Our Smoking Joe his “best ride on the day” and said: “He pulled up well from last time, he is doing very well and will run a big race.”
Kevin Shea isn’t riding the De Kock contender here Kentucky Express but rode him work and felt he would win adding: “The horse that beat him last time is a good horse”. Assistant Nathan Kotzen said: “He is consistent, honest and has good form.” Bart Rice felt Chigger Yellem “might need it” and only gave The Walrus an outside chance as he has an apprentice aboard.
The Walrus requires top jockeyship as he needs to be held up for as long as possible and timing is of the essence.
The Wendy Whitehead yard is in good form and Spring Clover can’t be discounted although she is up against colts and geldings now.
The Colin Scott-trained Dance With Mikey is rated 90 having run a cracker last time in a feature.
If repeating that effort he should be the one to side with from pole postion in the sixth, a Graduation Plate over 1950m, although he was beaten off a 74 merit rating the last time he was in a handicap.
Mr Premier won with his head twisted to the side in his last two starts, almost as if he was anticipating the whip which he hates. The whip was left behind in both those starts so he might start improving if his more pleasant racecourse experiences continue and if he can get onto the rail.
Ferrie was a bit disappointed with Mont D’Or’s last start and described him as “honest and always puts in a devent effort.”
Lafferty felt Kokorot Sop “might just need it” but would enjoy the distance and if fit enough would be “right there.”
Van Zyl expected a good run from River Lodge whom he felt didn’t seem to see out the distance in his last two starts so should appreciate the drop back in trip. Van Zyl said of his runner in the seventh, Wittenberg.
“He has his problems so is not the sort I can tip with confidence.”
He does seem the most talented in the field though.
Daniels said: “Lucky Boy is getting old and clever, so is not easy to ride, he is also small and must carry 63kg. But he's sound and fit and could place.”
James Goodman sends out Anaboo for the first time and said: “He’s a very nice horse, although he is a bit difficult.”
In the last Newlands made Kumba-Ya the Miller yard’s “best runner on the day” and said he “is improving all the time.” He could be banker material.

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Turffontein Mega Pick Six C/Over: R 914 132 on Saturday 04 September 2010. Race 4 off at 14h05. Estimated Pool: R 3.5 million

Scottsville Maxi Net Quartet C/Over: R 216 053 on Sunday 05 September 2010. Race 8 off at 16h55. Estimated Pool: R 700 000.

Scottsville Maxi Net Trifecta C/Over: R 5 931 on Sunday 05 September 2010. Race 8 off at 16h55. No Estimation.

Scottsville Maxi Net Exacta C/Over: R 201 on Sunday 05 September 2010. Race 8 off at 16h55. No Estimation.

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Andrew Harrison
Staying races restricted to fillies and mares are few and far between, possibly because when they are carded they are not very well supported. Only eight runners are due to step out in the Ivan Clark Open Handicap to be run over 2 400m at Kenilworth on Saturday but even though the race lacks numbers, it should be an intriguing affair where tactics are likely to play a big role.
In this department, Joey Ramsden and Mike Bass may be pitting their wits against each other, as both have a brace of runners in the race. That said, so do Ri van Reenen and Greg Ennion, so just who will call the tune could be the key to this puzzle.
Both of Ramsden’s runners go this trip for the first time with a "mile" being the limit of their exposed form to date but both are bred to go a bit of ground and have an opportunity to show off their talents.
Fact Not Fiction, by boom sire Dynasty, tried to make all the running over the Kenilworth 1600 m at her last start but was run out of it over the final furlong to be beaten less than a length by Lassiter. Starting at 33-1, Fact Not Fiction was obviously not expected to put up much of a showing but the change of tactics may have brought out the best in her. It is no given that she will see out the extra 800 m but she was not stopping at the end of her last race which may have prompted Ramsden to step her up in trip and she could end up making the pace for Jean Jeannie.
Karis Teetan has been partnering both fillies recently and looks to have opted for Jean Jeannie who has an outstanding pedigree, one that suggests this extended trip should be to her liking.
She caught the eye when finishing better than her stable companion in the race won by Lassiter and looks capable of turning the tables. Both of the Ramsden runners will be giving weight to the Mike Bass pairing of Splinter and Final Approach, both very consistent and possibly more importantly, tested over the trip.
Top weight Splinter appeals as the likely ante-post favourite as she is currently in mustard form and was running on nicely when second to surprise winner A Dancer's Legacy last time out. She had previously scored twice in succession and has shown in the past that she stays the trip. Final Approach was friendless in the market behind A Dancer's Legacy but stayed on gamely to finish a head behind her stable companion. There should again be little between the two.
Of the balance, Single Line has a postage stamp on her back and may well save Fact Not Fiction the donkey work while there appears to be very little between old rivals Cold Hearted Cat and Reptilian if past form is anything to go on.
But summing up, the Ramsden runners look to have the most improvement to come and Jean Jeannie is taken to get home ahead of Splinter and Final Approach, although four runners in you Pick 6 or Jackpot will cover the field which may not be a bad option.

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Andrew Harrison
Trainer Ernie Anderson cannot be described as one of the big hitters in Highveld racing but the Turffontein trainer has been around a while and goes quietly about his business.
He finished up with 12 winners last season but the current season reflects a 33% winning strike rate with two winners from just six runners.
Anderson’s strike rate may take a dip at the Turffontein inner track on Saturday where he sends out six runners, but his winning tally could edge up when he saddles top weight Valley Of Rubies in the BHP Billiton Handicap, seventh race on the card.
A daughter of the Storm Cat stallion Mogok, Valley Of Rubies is set to give lumps of weight all round but does boast a touch of class that could be enough to see her home. She was returning from a lengthy break when 10 lengths back to Tree Of Perfection at her most recent outing but prior to that had shown that she was not out of place in feature company.
She came within an ace of landing the Sycamore Stakes when just failing to catch Smangaliso and was not too far behind Captain’s Gal in the Camellia Stakes before being given a well earned break.
The pipe-opener should have blown away some of the cobwebs and with Andrew Fortune taking over in the saddle one could not ask for a better rider to coax home the top weight.
However, like most handicap races, the event looks fairly wide open and with a Pick 6 pool expected to top R3,5 million, exotic bet punters would be well advised to add a few more to this leg.
Piere Strydom has struck up a good rapport with the Barden Botes’s-trained Delightful Diva who should be included in all bets along with Mgede, from a resurgent Geoff Woodruff yard. With a number of tricky races in the Pick 6 line-up, a banker or two would not go amiss and the Paul Matchette-trained Mary Lou should fit the bill in the eighth where she contests a Graduation Plate over 1 000m. Since hacking up in the Swallow Stakes back in January, Mary Lou has been banging at the door in feature company but has just not been able to to kind the key to the winner’s enclosure. It has been close at times, as her half-length second to Grade 1 winner Captains Gal confirmed in the Camellia Stakes.
With very little else on the horizon as far as feature races go, Matchette has opted to drop Mary Lou back to Plate company and fit and well she should take a power of beating. Officer Class faces a more daunting hurdle in the sixth, a Handicap sprint over 1 200m but the Captain Al gelding has been in top form at recent outings.
He ran out a very comfortable winner of his most recent start with Strydom taking it rather easy over the final furlong and with a good inside draw, should beat more home than beats him. In fact he could finish ahead of the pack.

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