Geoff Woodruff will be aiming Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic third-placed Secret Potion at the Grade 2 R1 million SA Oaks over 2450m on Champions Day on May 5.

Woodruff said, “I am hoping she will get the trip. Being by Elusive Fort you would think she would get it and on her style of running too, she is not an aggressive runner. If she can get a draw I think she will be a big runner.”

The long-striding filly is out of an unplaced Parade Leader mare who is a half-sister to Grade 3 Langerman (1500m) winner Heat Of The Night and Grade 3 Winter Classic winner (1800m) Naughty Prince.

Secret Potion enjoyed the quicker pace of a Grade 1 in the SA Fillies Classic as she takes a while to hit top gear in the straight.

Secret Potion will be one of the horses standing between Takingthepeace and the completion of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara, which carries with it a R1 million bonus.

CORAL FEVER UP FOR THE CHALLENGE

Robbie Sage will take it one step at a time with his Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes winner Coral Fever and he will see how he goes in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge on May 5 at Turffontein before deciding whether there will be a SA Champions Season campaign for him.

Meanwhile, one of his two best three-year-olds, Vacquero, has been sold to race in Hong Kong and the other one, Seerite, is a pending sale to the same country.

Sage said about the five-year-old Judpot gelding Coral Fever, “He is just off the best but is an honest horse who always tries his best and a horse like that always has a chance.”

He added the chestnut had come out of his victory on 31 March well.

He is at odds of 10/1 with World Sports Betting in the Champions Challenge ante-post market.

Vacquero, a long-striding Silvano colt, finished third in the Dingaans and fifth in the Gauteng Guineas. Seerite, a Curved Ball gelding, was a narrow runner up in the Dingaans.

By David Thiselton

Cape Guineas winner Tap O’Noth put up an excellent gallop with a companion at Greyville yesterday ahead of his SA Champions Season debut in the Grade 2 Daisy Guineas on Friday night May 4.

Meanwhile, Dennis Bosch is targeting the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m at Scottsville with his impressive Oratorio colt Cue The Music, who is a half-brother to the champion sprinter Val De Ra,

Marshall said about Captain Al colt Tap O’Noth, “I thought he worked extremely well, I was very happy with the way he strode out and after his work he was not blowing as much as I had expected him to be.”

Marshall will see how he runs in the Daisy Guineas before deciding his next step.

The colt’s four wins in six starts also includes the Grade 3 Cape Classic over 1400m. His only below par run to date has been last time out in the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby over 2000m. However, both Marshall and jockey MJ Byleveld said the run had not necessarily meant he did not stay, as he had never been travelling well and was clearly just not himself on the day. He is in fact a half-brother to Strathdon, a Silvano gelding who has won two stakes races over staying trips.

Cue The Music, a R1,6 million purchase, caught the eye when winning a barrier trial over 1000m on the Greyville poly and followed up by beating a number of touted sorts by 2,75 lengths over the same course and distance. Bosch said the colt was still immature so was improving all the time. He plans to race him once more before he lines up in the Medallion.

By David Thiselton

Anton Marcus has been provisionally booked for African Night Sky in the Vodacom Durban July and the four-time champion will ride the big race favourite for the first time in the Betting World 1900 at Greyville on May 19.

Jonathan Snaith said yesterday: “African Night Sky will go on from the 1900 to the Cup Trial on June 9 before running in the July and, assuming all goes well with the horse and that Anton is happy with him, he will ride him in all three races.”

Marcus is one of four jockeys who have won the great race four times (on Dancing Duel in 1993, El Picha in 2000, Dunford five years later and Hunting Tower in 2007. Tiger Wright, Piere Strydom and Anthony Delpech have also won it four times.

African Night Sky, the first since Pocket Power to win Cape Town’s Winter Series, has shortened from better than 6-1 to 11-2 in the last few days.

By Michael Clower

Featured Image: African Night Sky (Liesl King)

Neptune’s Rain sounded a warning for the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint to be run at Scottsville next month as she turned in a smart performance in the KwaZulu-Natal Stakes (Listed) at Greyville yesterday.

The switch from turf to poly after Scottsville’s Sunday meeting was moved to Greyville will have turned some of the expected form upside down and it was the case for a few.

Writing on his website, Duncan Howells was of the opinion that Neptune’s Rain may just need the outing and that five furlongs on the poly would be way too short and sharp for her. In hindsight it may have been a wrong call as the diminutive but quick Hashtag Strat was turned loose from the jump and had the field off the bit inside the first furlong with stable companion Captain’s Girl in close attendance.

Lacking early speed, Anton Marcus was rousing Neptune’s Rain along in the rear-guard and was still scrubbing hard at the top of the straight. But the killer pace had taken it’s toll as the opposition fell away

At this stage Captain’s Girl had relegated Hashtag Strat to the also-ran brigade and even fooled the on-course photographers who had her in their viewfinders as the most likely winner and missed the winning shot completely.

They were not to blame as once Neptune’s Rain cleared the traffic she powered home on the outside to win going away with Captain’s Girl game on the inside.

Favourite Jo’s Bond was prominent early but failed to fire when it counted.

Billy Silver, having his second run back after a rather disappointing Cape sojourn for Dennis Bosch, started favourite for the sixth and in spite of going down in the last stride, he is one for the notebook.

Richard Fourie pressed forward from his outside draw to take the lead before the field hit the turn and looked to have the race in the bag with a furlong to run. But the Greyville poly is deceptive and horses that make an early dash are often swallowed inside the last 100m by the chasing pack.

This was not the pack but Filippo, under an inspired ride by Gunter Wrogemann and Yogas Govender declaring blinkers for the first time, snaffled Billy Silver in the last jump.

Earlier, Bosch had teamed up with Marcus to land the odds on the well-backed Laat Lammetjie

It was an afternoon for Ashburton-based trainers with Shane Humby saddling Elsa Of Arendelle to victory off a smart barrier trial in the second, denying the Howells-trained favourite Holy Flame.

Lowan Denysschen sent out outsider Piaget Prince for the third and it was the Howells/Goosen show in the KwaZulu-Natal Stakes.

Michael Roberts rounded off the meeting with a double with Viento and Pamas doing it for the yard.

By Andrew Harrison

Vaal Thursday Tips and Race Previews by David Thiselton

Race 1
I LIKE IT (3) was a surprise winner on debut when producing a flying finish and Strydom is a significant booking. RONNIE’S CANDY (9) went close in that same race and has a favourable draw. JOSI DI NERO (7) is drawn on the wrong side by trends but looks likely to improve n a fair debut. FIRDOAS (5) is an Australian-bred by Benadini who is a half-sister to stakes placed horses Fareeq and Ataab. SALLY CALLED (6) is by Captain Al out of a one-time winning Elliodor mare who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Superwood. (David Thiselton 3-9-7-5-6)

Race 2
DAN’S EMPIRE (1) has improved and should be in the shake up. CERTIFIABLE (2) is knocking on the door and should be involved. CAMEL WALK (12) made a good debut over 1600m when finishing strongly. (David Thiselton 1-2-12)

Race 3
Preview: NAWAASI (12) was backed on debut but nothing went right for him and she can make amends. MILESENDE (10) looks to have a good formline but does have a tricky draw by trends. FIRE SIDE (13) made a fair debut and being by Ideal World will improve. MAKING TRACKS (9) is by Dynasty out of a Jet Master mare who was placed in a Grade 3 over 1800m and won twice over 2000m. DISCO MODEL (8) is by Martinelli out of a Model Man mare. (David Thiselton 12-10-13-9-6)

Race 4
Preview: BEST KEPT SECRET (5) did well in a feature last time despite an awkward start and can go close here. TWELVE OAKS (4) is well drawn and competitively merit rated over a suitable trip. TAMMANY HALL (2) has a touch of class which could help her overcome a potentially unfavourable low draw. (David Thiselton 5-4-2-6-12)

Race 5
Preview: COLOUR OF LIGHT (1) looks to have plenty of ability and could be ahead of the handicapper so could get it right from a plum high draw. OSSETRA (9) is improving and was flying late over this trip last time when just failing. MACADAMIA (11) has dropped to a competitive merit rating and has a favourable draw by trends. (David Thiselton 1-9-11-12-5)

Race 6
Preview: SPEEDPOINT (2) has the talent to go close in his first start on the Highveld from a favourable draw. ALL NIGHT FLIGHT (8) has a plum high draw by trends and has a fine record over this course and distance. GREASEPAINT (1) is in fine form despite getting on in years but does have a tricky low draw by trends. SPORTING MONARCH (5) has been up against tough field lately and is now off a competitive mark. BRIGTNUMBERTEN (3) is a much improved sort who has not been disgraced in features in his last two starts and his speed can help him overcome a low draw which by trends is u unfavourable. (David Thiselton 2-8-1-5-3)

Race 7
Preview: GREAT SHAKA (1) is an improving sort and go close off the same mark as his second last time out. SMOKE (2) is speedily bred and Strydom stays aboard after his easy maiden win albeit from a probably tricky low draw. SHIFTING SHADOWS (3) is in fair form and can earn again from a favourable draw. (David Thiselton 1-2-3-10-6)

Race 8
Preview: TRADING PROFIT (1) has a 4kg claimer up so can go close if repeating his win of two runs ago over course and distance from an identical draw and now off an effective eight point higher mark. MANITOBA (9) has dropped to a competitive merit rating and should start enjoying this trip. EMILY JAY has come class but it will be tough against the boys.  (David Thiselton 1-9-2-10-4)

Race 9
Preview: KEANAN’S ROCK (5) stayed on over 1500m last time and from a favourable high draw can be in the mix here for a back in form champion yard. BUSH PILOT (4) has always had promise and having won easily last time over course and distance he can follow up off a five point mark as his high draw is favourable by trends. NO MANS LAND (10) was most disappointing last time but pulled up lame and if sound in this race will be a threat to his stablemate Bush Pilot although his low draw could be a problem. (David Thiselton 5-4-10-1-7)