David Thiselton

Horses returning to KZN from campaigns in Cape Town have proved to be ones to follow, even if their Cape campaigns had been disappointing. 

It is well known that horses who have travelled from Cape Town begin to thrive in KZN, although they also often arrive ahead of the handicapper having faced stronger fields in Cape Town.

The latest example was at the Hollywodbets Scottsville meeting on Sunday where the Gareth van Zyl-trained Vercingetorix filly Pritti Victory waltzed home by 2,5 lengths in a MR 76 handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m, after being backed in to 5/2 favourite.

This three-year-old made a winning debut in KZN over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville in late November. Four other winners have come out of that race, including Littleblackvelvet who has won twice.

She went to Cape Town to run in the R7.5 million Gold Rush over 1600m, where she was not disgraced in a 7.05 length seventh, considering it was only her second start. 

She then stayed for one more run there and ran a 1,75 length fifth to Pinapplemintgreen in a Class C handicap over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth at odds of 4/1 after being backed in from 8/1.

One other winner, the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Nordic Quest, has come out of that race.

So Pritti Victory running off just a 83 merit rating and carrying 61.5kg minus the 4kg claim of Brevan Plaaitjies looked to have a great chance on Sunday and duly obliged.

Van Zyl was in fact the trainer who got the boom status of Pritti Victory’s sire Vercingetorix rolling as he won the sire his first Gr 1 when landing the Allan Robertson with Vernichy.

Pritti Victory looks to be one who can progress further.

It was in fact a fine meeting on Sunday for the Maine Chance Farms-based stallion Vercingetorix as he also produced the winner of two other races. 

The promising Tony Rivalland-trained Mary Liley-owned three-year-old daughter of Vercingetorix Celtic Beauty kept going in courageous fashion under Richard Fourie to win the Listed WSB Scarlet Lady over 1750m. She has  now won three of her five starts. She was bred by Klawervlei Stud, but Rivalland and Liley raced her NZ-bred dam Killer Woman (Rip van Winkle), who won three races from 1400m to 1800m.       

The classy Andre Nel-trained Cape Eagle put his hand up as an exciting staying prospect when held up at the back in his first attempt at a staying trip in the Non-Black Type WSB Highland Night Cup over 2400m and flying home under Serino Moodley to get up by a head. He carried 60kg and did admittedly receive 1,5kg from the Justin Snaith-trained One Way Traffic, who finished an encouraging second. Dynasty gelding One Way Traffic, who is now a six-year-old, has put up one top class performance in his career, when winning the Hollywoodbets Durban July consolation race, the Vodacom 2200, by three lengths on July day 2022. He has not won since, but has become consistent this season with that runner up finish following three thirds and two fifths in Cape Town. He can hopefully fulfil his potential in staying races this Champions Season.

At the previous KZN meeting, on the poly last Wednesday, the Dean Kanemeyer-trained Master Of My Fate gelding Royal Swan Master was another example of a horse having his first run after returning from Cape Town and winning.

Last weekend at Hollywoodbets Scottsville the Peter Muscutt-trained Lancaster Bomber colt Cold Shine won first time out back from the Cape in his third career start and the promising Rivalland-trained King Of The Gauls (Vercingetorix) also won first time back from the Cape.

At the April 1 meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville Justin Snaith’s treble was all with Cape horses having their first runs in KZN, Great Plains (Danon Platina), Lightning Glow (Vercingetorix) and Get Impressed (Vercingetorix).

The previous day at Hollywoodbets Greyville Snaith had won the Gr 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes by 5,30 lengths with Double Grand Slam (Vercingetorix), who was also having her first start in KZN.

Other recent KZN winners having their first runs since traveling from the Cape are the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Spelling Bee (Futura) and the Peter Muscutt-trained Isivivane (Erupt).

The Mike Miller-trained Silvano gelding Narina Trogon is also clearly thriving in KZN. This form Cape-based horse was bought at an in-training sale and in four starts in KZN has a seventh, when he needed it, followed by a second in a Non-Black Type event and then two Listed wins in the Kings Cup over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville and then on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in the Sledgehammer over 1750m. 

RACE 1

3 FIRST LORD      4 GOLDEN LINK      6 CAN’T SAY NO      8 MAGICAL RIVER 

Preview: FIRST LORD (3) made an attractive debut and with natural improvement, can go close to winning. GOLDEN LINK (4) has run twice and caught the attention on both occasions. He has strong each way claims. CAN’T SAY NO (6) showed huge improvement at the second time of asking – obvious strong win chance. MAGICAL RIVER (8) has a place chance. (Warren Lenferna 3-4-6-8) 

RACE 2

3 SPECMAGIC      4 WILLIAM’S LEGACY      5 MASTER OF DEFENSE      1 HAT HOT HAT 

Preview: SPECMAGIC (3) can be expected to progress on his local debut and must be taken seriously. WILLIAM’S LEGACY (4) is always honest and must be factored into all bets – he should get it all right soon. MASTER OF DEFENSE (5) is very well tried and has his customary; strong place chance and HAT HOT HAT (1) could be the value for the quartet perms. (Warren Lenferna 3-4-5-1) 

RACE 3

1 STORM BOULEVARD      4 CRYSTAL MAIDEN     11 SUNDROP      15 WHATCHMYTAIL 

Preview: STORM BOULEVARD (1) has been running close up in Cape town and now in Port Elizabeth, could be a serious force to be reckoned with. He is selected to set free from the maiden ranks. Win choice. CRYSTAL MAIDEN (4) is running so well and has strong each way claims. SUNDROP (11) is taking forever to get it all right but flashes up and goes close now and again – can never be dismissed from any bets. WHATCHMYTAIL (15) is an interesting runner and could be the lurker. (Warren Lenferna 1-4-11-15) 

RACE 4

4 LADY WRITER      7 ON THE GUEST LIST      3 STATE OF MIND      9 SKY VELOCITY 

Preview: LADY WRITER (4) is ultra-consistent and has gone extremely close in her last two starts. She could be hard to beat. ON THE GUEST LIST (7) is another that has been running so consistently well and deserves her next career victory – bright win chance. STATE OF MIND (3) has each way claims and must be factored into the shortlist. SKY VELOCITY (9) is clearly relishing this province and is a must for trifectas and quartets. (Warren Lenferna 4-7-3-9) 

RACE 5

1 GRAZINGINTHEGRASS      3 GLOBAL ALLY      8 SAY YES      5 BRENDEN JAMES 

Preview: GRAZININTHEGRASS (1) ran a huge race in the same class of race last time and again, should go close to winning. He is a THIRTEEN-time winner and hard to fault. GLOBAL ALLY (3) is in mustard winning form and if he were to follow up, it would be absolutely no shock at all – big runner. SAY YES (8) can certainly be very competitive in this province and in this very race – respect as the value for the places and BRENDEN JAMES (5) is a must for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 1-3-8-5) 

RACE 6

5 WHATEVER NEXT      4 ROSE OF BAYEUX      9 SLINGS AND ARROWS      1 INHERIT THE RAIN 

Preview: WHATEVER NEXT (5) boasts useful and consistent form. This is a hugely competitive contest but he has as good a chance as any – big runner. Richard Fourie gets on well with him. ROSE OF BAYEUX (4) ran a cracker last time when nearly causing an upset at 20/1. He can never be ignored from any calculations. SLINGS AND ARROWS (9) from a neat draw should be in the first four and INHERIT THE RAIN (1) can be forgiven for his last run – chance. (Warren Lenferna 5-4-9-1) 

RACE 7

3 CONCERTO      2 RAISING QUINN      1 MARY LAMB      4 DREAM SCAPE 

Preview: CONCERTO (3) showed guts and determination when winning last time and is selected to follow up. RAISING QUINN (2) is holding form, never far off the winners and has strong each way claims. Should be right there at the finish. MARY LAMB (1) – ignore her last run – she is the place value for the quartet. DREAM SCAPE (4) won impressively last time and is one for the shortlist. (Warren Lenferna 3-2-1-4) 

RACE 8

3 DONNY TEE      9 AMERICAN DREAM      10 COASTAL PATH      1 LIFE ON MARS 

Preview: DONNY TEE (3) went close to winning last time and is selected to go one more today. AMERICAN DREAM (9) has won his last two well and has an undeniable hat trick chance. COASTAL PATH (10) is taking time to win again, but is consistent and should be right there again, like last time. LIFE ON MARS (1) can follow up. (Warren Lenferna 3-9-10-1) 

David Thiselton

The Non-Black Type Betway Mythical Flight Sprint for three-year-olds over 1100m saw the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Dreamland converting favouritism under Gavin Lerena and putting the cherry on the top of a good weekend for the former Equus Champion Sprinter Val De Ra.

It was the annual Henneman Memorial meeting and all of the nine races were named after the victims of the airplane tragedy of April 12 1988 which claimed the lives of 13 jockeys, one trainer, five officials and two owners.

The Avontuur Stud-bred gelding Dreamland is out of Val De Ra’s placed British-bred daughter Dream De Ra, who is bred in the purple. Val De Ra, who won the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint, the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint and the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championship, was by European champion sprinter Var and Dream De Ra was by another European Champion Sprinter in Oasis Dream, who has produced the winners of 27 Group 1 races.

On Friday Val De Ra’s Gavin Smith-trained three-year-old daughter by Oratorio won her first start in the Eastern Cape, over 1300m on the poly at Fairview, by 6,25 lengths under Muzi Yeni. It was only in an open maiden for fillies and mares and she only had to carry 57,5kg after a previous record of a second and five unplaced runs in the strong centre of Cape Town, but the manner of the victory suggests she has a good future ahead of her in Gqeberha.

Dreamland has always shown a lot of promise and in his fourth start over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville waltzed in by 3,75 lengths.

He ran second off a 90 merit rating after that, but then went off the boil for three runs between October and November last year. 

However, he went down to an 87 and in his last five runs has a fourth, a third, a second (to the useful Time Fo Orchids) and two wins.

He won off an 86 over 1160m on March 23 and on Saturday won off an 89 in the handicap Non-Black Type event.

Dreamland broke well from draw five of seven and shared the early lead with Gocekwithlove.

However, at the 400m mark he shot forward and nobody was ever going to catch him.

Richard The First, Just Be Lekker and Mount Pilatus closed in, but Gavin Lerena kept Dreamland going to beat them by 0,25 lengths, 0,75 lengths and 1,25 lengths respectively.

Lerena has ridden Dreamland to both of his last two wins.

It was a quick double for Houdalakis as he had also pulled off a fine training feat in the previous race when the promising Judpot filly On The Horizon returned from a three-and-a-half month layoff to record a fourth career win in a MR 90 Handicap over 1400m for fillies and mares under Raymond Danielson.  

The next race was a Mr 106 handicap over 1160m and it also saw a follow up win. The Johan Janse van Vuuuren-trained Erupt four-year-old gelding Cosmic Star had won by 2,75 lengths over 1000m on March 16, but the seven point raise he was given did not stop him running on strongly on Saturday to beat the consistent Captain Hindsight by 1,25 lengths. Gavin Lerena is his regular pilot and the win secured him a treble on the day.

Lerena had also waltzed in by 4,25 lengths in the first race of the day, a Juvenile Plate over 1160m, on the Candice Dawson-trained Truth. This Heavenly Blue colt is out of the Frankel mare Frankly, who is out of a Fastnet Rock mare and disappointingly only won one race. However, she could make amends in the breeding shed. Truth is her second foal and second runner and the first one, Courageous, has also won a race. Futhermore, Frankly’s half-sister, the Brett Crawford-trained Mont Loisir by Vercingetorix, bolsted the pedigree about an hour-and-a-half later when winning a maiden over 1400m in the strong centre of Cape Town by an easy 2,50 lengths under Richard Fourie.

Lerena was the only treble scorer on the day at Turffontein, but the double scorers were all of Muzi Yeni, Houdalakis, Janse van Vuuren and Fanie Bronkhorst.  

Graeme Hawkins

Mont Loisir (1/1) was the popular Pick 6 banker in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday and the 3yo son of Vercingetorix was more than equal to the task. Trained by Brett Crawford and ridden by Champion Jockey-elect Richard Fourie, Mont Loisir sat in the box seat as Devil A Saint ensured a decent pace but once Fourie called for his effort, Mont Loisir quickly put the race to bed and came home lonely. Lightly-raced Water Dragon ran on well to finish second with Devil A Saint (80/1) staying on nicely to complete the Trifecta.

Trainer Eric Sands does not have the luxury of a large team of horses but he clearly has a number of very promising two-year-olds in the yard. Having already saddled the eye-catching juvenile winners Banff and Kinda Wonderful, Sands stepped out the Lammerskraal owned and bred Querari filly Furious Queen, a half-sister to the talented Future Variety, to score on debut in the opening race on Saturday. Friendless in the market, Furious Queen (16/1) lagged about five lengths off the early speed but she accelerated smartly and gradually wore down the favourite Be Merry (9/4) over the last 200m to win by a neck.

Master of Paris and Tothemoonandback disputed favouritism in the second race, a Class 5 Handicap over 1600m, and it was the former who was always travelling too well for his market rival. Master of Paris took over the lead halfway up the stretch and drew clear to win comfortably. Tothemoonback stayed on well at the finish to grab second spot ahead of the well-supported Prime Venture.

Returning from an unplaced effort in the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes back in January, Love Is A Rose drifted markedly in the betting for the third race over 2200m as an avalanche of support came for Allez Moris, who shortened from an initial call of 18/10 to start deep in the red. Allez Moris was given every chance by Richard Fourie but Love Is A Rose refused to throw in the towel and kept on doggedly to ward off the favourite by a neck.

The fifth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1400m, produced a thrilling finish with less than half a length covering the first four fillies past the post. Aldo Domeyer was seen at his brilliant best when producing top weight Callmegetrix (3/1) from some way off the pace to score narrowly ahead of Among The Clouds followed closely by the dead-heaters Wugug and Go Like Flo.

The sixth race was a hotly contested Class 3 Handicap over 1600m with more than half the field having winning claims and not surprisingly the race produced another close finish. Solomons Seal appeared to be heading for certain victory when moving through smoothly at the 200m pole but Tyrion Lannister, from the in-form Piet Botha stable, rallied strongly over the last 50m to claim the honours in a hard fought finish. The consistent Pomodoro’s Jet finished a creditable third with Quartermain rounding out the Quartet.

The progressive Silvano filly, Plum Pudding (8/1), recovered from a slow start to run out a comfortable winner of the seventh race, a Cape C Stakes (F&M) over 1800m, and Corne Orffer believes the further she goes the more she will improve. Summer Night City (9/2) ran another honest race to claim the runner-up berth for the second time in succession and her winning turn in this class cannot be too far away.

The bomb landed in the eighth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1800m, when 33/1 chance Green Mandarin came from the clouds to deny Voorlopertjie in the shadow of the post. Voorlopertjie burst out the pack with a good looking challenge approaching the final 200m but JP van der Merwe timed his run to perfection on Green Mandarin and trainer Glen Kotzen’s charge got his nose in front in the very last stride. The favourite, Prevalence, ran a shocker, trailing in at the back of the field.

Brett Crawford saddled the first two home in the ninth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1200m, but it was the lesser fancied of the pair, Grand Bay (20/1), who prevailed over stable companion Night Bomber (11/2) by a narrow margin. Night Tiger was withdrawn at the start on veterinary advice but the tote favourite, The Tinkerman, failed to pitch up and could only finish midfield. Grand Bay’s surprise victory ensured yet another Pick 6 carryover at Kenilworth.

JP van der Merwe completed a three-timer in the tenth race when storming home on recent maiden winner First Masterpiece to reel in Great Cat over the last 50m. Great Cat (5/1) went clear inside the final 300m but First Masterpiece (25/1) took off late to take the honours in this Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1100m.