Daughter Candice said: “He now starts intensive physio and we will know more where we are after a week or so. He is still on dyalisis and he has to stay on that until his kidneys are right again. He is a bit frustrated and a bit miserable.
Still, it is less than six weeks since he was at death’s door and arrangements are already in place for the prosthetic that will become the lower part of his right leg. He is going to have two of them made, one for daily use and one that swivels so he can play golf.
His horses gave him another boost at Durbanville on Saturday when dual Grade 1 winner Inara could hardly have won the Gold Circle Allowance Plate more easily. Sail For Gold, also partnered by Grant van Niekerk, had to work a bit harder in the Graduation Plate but he booked his Kuda Matchem ticket while Inara also returns on Saturday week for the Lanzerac Diana.
Candice said: “Inara stays in training and she will again go for the Paddock and Majorca – there is not much else for her in the Cape season. Most of the other races are sprints and she is no sprinter.”
Captain Chaos dropped out a little disappointingly in the final furlong of the Graduation and finished last but, significantly, his trainer was not in the least put out.
Ronnie Sheehan said: “It was like I told you it would be. He hadn’t seen grass for three and a half months and I’m happy because he lasted to the 200m mark before he tired.
“I’m not sure yet but I will have a rethink about the Matchem. I just might give him another three weeks and wait for the Cape Classic.”
Grant Behr was taken to hospital for x-rays on his right arm when Flying Mistral lived up to his name in the parade ring before the Pick 6 Maiden. The colt reared up and then landed on top of him before careering off dangerously towards other horses, while Behr staggered to his feet clutching his arm. Fortunately nothing was broken.
Brett Crawford and Corne Orffer won this with My Man Alex and completed a treble with Preoccupation and Bono Vox while CTS Million Dollar candidate Victorious Jay justified 22-10 favouritism under MJ Byleveld to add extra enjoyment to Vaughan Marshall’s short Mauritius holiday.
Punters got off to a disastrous start, backing newcomer Secret Seven from 5-1 to 28-10 favourite and letting stable companion Jets-A-Blazing drift from 5-2 to 9-2. The latter made all under Craig du Plooy while Secret Seven was among the backmarkers all the way.
“”I don’t know why they made Secret Seven favourite,” said a bemused Justin Snaith. “I suppose somebody must have heard a rumour but Jets-A-Blazing had the form to win.”
Joey Ramsden withdrew two of his runners because of dirty lung washes. He mentioned this problem in his most recent blog but played it down on Saturday, saying: “The vaccinations hit my horses quite hard this year but I am sure a lot of other trainers are in the same boat.”
The Donavan Mansour-partnered Around Not Across went some way towards proving his point by coming from last to first in little more than a furlong to spring a 12-1 surprise in the last. The handicappers also helped, dropping the gelding five points for his previous run.
Michael Clower
