Fairview Wednesday Tips and Suggested Bets by Devonne Govender

R1 (6) First Charm (7) Royal Splurge (9) Alegra
R2 (4) Rusalka (5) Scolding (2) Time For Launch
R3 (1) Mark The Doorman (4) Forbidden Affair (8) Phantom Rolls
R4 (6) Ninjinsky’s Son (2) Fiery Fort (8) Awakening
R5 (1) Close To My Heart (5) Rock Stardom (2) Wylie’s Flame
R6 (2) Seattle Mermaid (11) Furla (5) Yodalicious
R7 (1) Pick Again (3) Sail Smartly (4) Master Newton
R8 (5) Viva Le Bleu (9) Ladysmith (8) Microbe

Exotics

PA (R48)
Leg 1: 4 x 5 x 2
Leg 2: 1 x 4
Leg 3: 6 x 2
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 2 x 11
Leg 6: 1 x 3
Leg 7: 5

PICK 6 (R288)
Leg 1: 1 x 4 x 8 x 11
Leg 2: 6 x 2 x 8 x 3 x 9 x 5
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 2 x 11 x 5
Leg 5: 1 x 3 x 4 x 2
Leg 6: 5

BEST BET
Race 5: 1

VALUE BET
Race 4: 6  

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

Equus Horse Of The Year Do It Again improved enough in well-being this week for trainer Justin Snaith to have kept the big bay’s Sun Met aspirations alive.

Do It Again was among the 14 horses announced in the big race’s final field yesterday.

Snaith had expressed doubts about the five-year-old Twice Over gelding lining up in the Met after his below par L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate run. 

He had expressed concern about Do It Again’s lacklustre demeanour.

However, the big horse appears to have turned the corner and Snaith said, “Horses can’t talk unfortunately, but I can see a change and am happy with him. He is looking a lot more upbeat and has been freshing. There has been a lot of thinking, a lot of hard work and a few sleepless nights.”

Snaith also has the Dynasty gelding Bunker Hunt in the race. 

This four-year-old has almost certainly not shown his best yet as his three-year-old campaign was interrupted after a superb running-on third in in the Grade 2 KRA Guineas.

In his last start, his second of the season, he finished a 2,25 length second to Hawwaam in the Grade 2 Premier Trophy over 1800m, although he was receiving 2kg from the latter. 

Snaith said, “He is doing very well. He is the dark horse of the race. He needed that last run, it was a prep for this race, and I think he will be in the first four.”

Snaith said the yard would be saving the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap winner Belgarion for a tilt at the Vodacom Durban July. 

Snaith’s Equus Champion Sprinter Kasimir will be defending his Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship crown on Met day.

He said, “He is very well. He needed his last outing and is flying. I think the only one he has to beat is Run Fox Run, who is unbeaten but this is her first real test.” 

Snaith also has three runners in the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes, Sleeping Single, Miyabi Gold and Silvano’s Pride, but he said this trio were more suited to 2000m so would have to run big races to be involved. He rated the Sean Tarry-trained Celtic Sea as a top horse and believed she would give the current race favourite, the Mike de Kock-trained Queen Supreme, “a good go.” 

By David Thiselton

Hawwaam has a seven-year hoodoo on favourites, as well as 13 rivals, to overcome if he is to give Mike de Kock and Anton Marcus their fourth Sun Met victories at Kenilworth on Saturday week.

Ever since the eight-time champion trainer last won South Africa’s most valuable conditions race with the odds-on Australian-bred filly Igugu in 2012 the favourite has been beaten – and three of them didn’t even make the frame.

Hawwaam, despite managing only fifth in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, is rock solid at around 17-10 and not even the presence of the man who is the most successful big race jockey in the world at the moment on last year’s winner Rainbow Bridge has convinced the bookmakers that they need to lengthen the favourite.

The Eric Sands runner remains third best at 9-2 with Queen’s Plate winner Vardy (28-10) considered a bigger danger. Ten different stables are represented and only Brett Crawford (with just 45-1 outsider Undercover Agent) can match De Kock’s three Met winners. Vaughan Marshall (One World) has won it twice, Justin Snaith (Do It Again and Bunker Hunt) once while Eric Sands’ victory 12 months ago was also his first in the great race.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe (Bunker Hunt) equals Marcus with three Mets to his name but Piere Strydom ( Head Honcho), Greg Cheyne (More Magic) and Aldo Domeyer (Twist Of Fate) are the only others in the line-up to have won the race before.

Bunker Hunt is a 33-1 chance but his trainer’s observations suggest he could be each way value at that price. “I rate him the dark horse of the race,” says Snaith who was pleased with the way the gelding went when ridden by Fayd’Herbe in a gallop with Wild Coast on the course last Saturday. “His second to Hawwaam in the Premiers was a prep and, by not running in the Queen’s Plate, he comes into this feeling good.”

It was at this meeting four years ago that Snaith equalled the eight-winner world record for the number of races won on the same card and this time he again has the most runners with 36. Glen Kotzen has 17, Brett Crawford 15 and Candice Bass-Robinson 14.

Richard Fourie will be the only jockey riding in all 12 races but Cheyne, Fayd’Herbe and Morne Winnaar each have 11 mounts. Interestingly Ryan Moore, who has never ridden at Kenilworth before, will get the chance to assess the course on mounts for Sean Tarry in the two R5 million CTS sales races. He also rides the part-Coolmore owned Dynasty’s Blossom for Crawford in the Western Cape Stayers.

Candice Bass-Robinson and Domeyer hope to repeat last year’s Bidvest Majorca win with Clouds Unfold but seemingly Front And Centre will prove a major threat despite managing only fifth when odds-on for the Cartier Paddock Stakes last time.

“I think she didn’t stay the nine furlongs that day,” said Crawford. “She is unbeaten over seven and she won a Group 1 over a mile. At Greyville she got away with it because of the short straight.”

By Michael Clower

Vaal Tuesday Tips and Race Previews by David Thiselton

Race 1

Preview: JACKPOT JEWEL (1) has failed narrowly twice over 1600m and should also enjoy this trip. LATEST CRAZE (4) ran on well when second to a promising type last time over 1400m. CURIOUS (7) looks open to improvement and wears second time blinkers. (David Thiselton 1-4-7)

Race 2

Preview: PEACEONTHEROCKS (6) just failed in second time blinkers last time out over this trip and if low draws are not a disadvantage on the day he is the one to beat. THEATRE OF DREAMS (16) has run two decent races over 1200m and 1400m respectively and being by Ideal World should be improving all the time, and a 168 day layoff should have given her a chance to strengthen. FRANKLIN (5) made up a lot of ground from last in the Million Maiden over 1160m last time and is interesting over this step up in trip from a high draw.  MACULATE (15) stayed on over 1600m last time and had to be eased slightly at one stage so she should earn over this step down in trip. ELLA BEAN ran on over course and distance last time and now has Lerena up.  (David Thiselton 6-16-5-15-14)

Race 3

Preview: EMERALD CREST (6) flew up late last time over this trip and will go close with a repeat if the low draws are not disadvantageous. COTOPAXI (7) stayed on last time over this trip and should be involved in this uninspiring field. PAVLOVA PROJECT (3) has been over racing and finding no more over 1600m so should enjoy this trip but she hasn’t raced since September. LORALEI (15) can improve on her fair debut.  ANATURA (9) stayed on over 1200m last time and should enjoy the step up in trip. (David Thiselton 6-7-3-15-9)

Race 4

Preview: DUAL AT DAWN (7) improved second time out and won well and should relish the step up in trip. WHIPPING BOY (5) won his maiden impressively with first time blinkers on but does have to give weight to Dual At Dawn. STONE JUDGEMENT (6) beat Dual At Dawn in the maidens by 1,75 lengths over this 1400m and is only 1kg worse off over a step up in trip he should enjoy being by Judpot. TRAPICHE (9) has put up two fine performances over this trip and should be a big runner here if producing her best although it’s never easy against the boys. AUGUST RAIN (10) is a scopey sort who can improve (David Thiselton 7-5-6-9-10)

Race 5

Preview: ILLUSION (5) has good form and is open to improvement and represents an in form stable. ODEN (3) has an impeccable record in sprints so should enjoy the step back down in trip. PRINCE OF VENICE (6) is a promising type who can continue to progress. (David Thiselton 5-3-6)

Race 6

Preview: FLICHITY BY FARR (4) has a resolute finish so will enjoy the long straight and she enjoyed the step down to middle distances last time. JET START (2) is a progressive sort capable of a strong finish and is distance suited. RETURN FLIGHT (1) is a dual Grade 1 winner and she should be cherry ripe so will be dangerous if finding the front in this small field but against her is that Seville Orange also likes to lead. (David Thiselton 4-2-1)

Race 7

Preview: SHABBA RANKS (7) should relish this course and distance and Khumalo should help him overcome a tricky draw. ROYAL HONOUR (5) is in good form over this trip but does have a tricky draw. CHRSTOPHER ROBIN (12) is not sure to stay this trip being out of a speedy Malhub mare although his sire Damage Is Done won over 2000m and he is drawn in pole so he is tipped to continue his good form. KURT’S APPROVAL (11) has dropped to a competitive mark and is well drawn over a suitable trip. AT HAND (1) disappointed in his last two over 1800m and 2000m but had tough draws and now has a plum draw. THEREVADA (9) must also be respected in this race from a good draw. (David Thiselton 7-5-12-11-1-9)

Race 8

Preview: FLYING HIGH (5) is a progressive distance suited three-year-old. SCENT OF EVENING (4) beat a good field last time and this talented sort might now be over some of the issues which had previously affected her. GALLIC PRINCESS (9) has been knocking on the door and should go close. (David Thiselton 5-4-9)

Race 9

Preview: EX’S ‘N OHS (2) has fine form over this trip and although returning from a 94 day lay off she deserved that break and being by Jackson whose progeny improve with age she might well have benefited from it. KAPAMA (3) is distance suited and has in form Gavin Lerena up. OCEANIA (14) has been in goof form and can earn again. (David Thiselton 2-3-14)

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

Garth Puller still finds himself out in front in the KZN Trainer’s Championship approaching the mid-point of the season but he does not believe he will have the firepower to hang on to this lead or to hold on to his lofty position in the Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge trainers’ table.

Puller has had 28 winners in KZN this season, six clear of second-placed Gavin van Zyl and eight clear of the joint third-placed trainers, Dennis Drier, Dennis Bosch and Dean Kannemeyer. Johan Janse van Vuuren and Gareth van Zyl are ten winners behind in joint sixth place.

Puller lies in second place in the Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge trainers’ table, five points behind leader Paul Lafferty. The latter is on 485.5 points, Puller is on 480.5 points and they are followed by Alyson Wright on 414 points, Duncan Howells on 352.5 points and Gareth van Zyl on 341 points. The competition finishes at the end of February, so Puller and Lafferty still have eleven meetings to negotiate. 

Puller is in fact the 2.86/1 favourite with Hollywoodbets to win the Challenge with Lafferty on 3.03/1 and Wright on 5/1.     

However, Puller said, “Neither the Championship or the Challenge are foremost on my mind. I don’t want to be influenced into running horses for the sake of running them. My main aim is to keep the horses happy and fresh so I can keep them racing, or in other words keep them good enough to run often enough without hurting them. I started the season well and have been in front ever since. But this is a relatively weak time of the year and I don’t think I will have the firepower in the SA Champions Season. I have been told I am five points behind in the Challenge table but I might run out of horses as I have a lot of two-year-old unraced horses but not many older horses.”

Two of Puller’s best horses Brooklyn and Bay Tibbs will shortly be going in to quarantine on their long journey to join David Ferraris’ stable in Hong Kong. 

By David Thiselton