Rabada has been withdrawn from Saturday’s Grand Parade Cape Guineas. Trainer Michael Azzie said yesterday: “Rabada did very well after his second in the CTS Ready To Run Cup and he was going along nicely but I wasn’t happy with his final gallop last Thursday.

“We would be taking on Silver Mountain who I think is something special and I don’t want to go down to Cape Town if I am not happy with the horse.”

Rabada was the highest-rated horse in the race – jointly with Silver Mountain who receives 2.5kg –  and the Ready To Run Cup at Turffontein at the end of October was his first outing since landing the Premiers Champions Stakes at Greyville three months earlier.

Azzie said: “He was in need of the run when he ran second (to Champagne Haze) that day. Things hadn’t gone his way in the build-up. They pulled up some of the tracks and he missed crucial work when I needed to give him a bit of stamina work and the track was not available. As a result he went into the race underdone.”

The scratching of Rabada has seen World Sports Betting adjust Silver Mountain into 11-10 for Saturday’s Cape Guineas, followed by Noah From Goa (3-1), Brazuca (6-1), Budapest (10-1), Hard Day’s Night (12-1), Victorious Jay (12-1), Eighth Wonder (14-1) and Nassa (16-1), with 20-1 on offer bar these.

By Michael Clower

Final field and draws for the Grand Parade Cape Guineas (Grade 1) over 1 600m at Kenilworth on Saturday:

From 1 June 2016 until the end of 2022 Phumelela has licensed ARC to supply and distribute audio-visual coverage, including data, of all South African race meetings to all Licensed Betting Offices (“LBOs”) in the UK and Ireland. The agreement will also see South African Racing continue to be distributed to online betting operators via the At The Races streaming platform Sports Media Stream.

South African Racing has become an integral part of the LBO offering to customers with some 440 race meetings per annum comprising coverage from eight racecourses: Durbanville (turf), Fairview (turf and polytrack), Flamingo Park (sand), Kenilworth (turf), Turffontein (turf), Vaal (turf), Greyville (turf and polytrack) and Scottsville (turf).

South African racing is a familiar and popular betting product with there being at least one meeting from South Africa every day of the year, except Christmas day. Due to South Africa being one to two hours ahead of the UK its racing commences at lunchtime, ahead of afternoon racing in the UK, thereby extending betting opportunities for customers.

Phumelela Chief Executive, Rian Du Plessis said: “We are delighted to have struck a deal with ARC which ensures South African racing can continue to have a UK and Irish audience and grow its popularity. Our racing complements ARC’s racing very well and the joint offering should be very well received by UK and Irish betting operators.”

ARC Chief Executive, Martin Cruddace said: “ARC is thrilled to be extending our relationship with Phumelela in order to help further promote South African racing to a British and Irish audience. This is mutually beneficial for all involved and we are pleased to be providing a transparent service for LBOs.”
– TABNews

Dennis Drier was disappointed with Punta Arenas run in the Gr 2 Premier Trophy on Saturday but his CTS Million Dollar contender Seventh Plain is doing well and will have his final preparation run in the Listed Sophomore Sprint over 1200m at Kenilworth on January 2.

Punta Arenas failed to quicken from off the pace on Saturday and finished a disappointing 3,4 length fifth in the 1800m event. However, he remains on track for the J&B Met via the Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m on January 9. A look back at his record suggests there should not be too much to be concerned about because two seasons ago, when ultimately running a fine 1,95 length third in the Met, his Cape Summer Of Champions Season form read very similarly to what it does so far this season.

In that season he started with a four length seventh in the Green Point Stakes, as opposed to a 5,3 length seventh is this season’s Green Point, and he then went on to finish a 4,3 length eighth in the Premier Trophy, as opposed to his 3,4 length fifth this season. He then went on to finish a much improved 1,75 length third in the Peninsula before his excellent Met run. The seven-year-old gelding blossomed in the Champions Season and progeny of Silvano do tend to get better with age, so his relatively advanced years are of little concern.

Drier admitted Seventh Plain had ultimately needed his run in the R2,5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes on November 21, his seasonal reappearance. He is clearly better than that effort in which he only just managed to hang on for fourth, 5,75 lengths behind the winner Budapest, for after jumping from a wide draw his usual effortless cruising speed coupled with his tremendous turn of foot were not at their sharpest. However, under Drier’s expert guidance he should be spot on for his chief target, the Million Dollar, over 1400m on January 23.

Drier’s best result so far this Cape Summer Of Champions Season was winning the Gr 2 Cape Merchants with a horse he has always rated, the four-year-old Trippi gelding Triptique, and this horse will now go for the Gr 2 weight for age (with Gr 1 and Gr 2 penalties) Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over the same course and distance on December 27. The Merchants was a handicap in which the imposing horse only carried 52kg, although he was 1,5kg under sufferance, and he will have it much tougher here, especially as he will carry a Gr 2 penalty. The handicappers raised him from 93 to 101. Triptique might possibly be aimed at the prestigious Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate, as Drier has always believed he would go further, but a decision will only  be made after the Diadem.

Unfortunate news from the yard is that Generalissimo, who was one of the chief sprinters in the stable, will be out for the season.

By David Thiselton

The Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas contender Budapest put in a pleasing gallop at Kenilworth last Wednesday under the watchful eye of trainer Gareth van Zyl and it is all systems go for the Lithianian gelding ahead of Saturday’s R1 million race.

Budapest was a 4,25 length winner of the R2,5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m last time out on November 21 from a good draw. The collateral form is interesting because the runner up Anglet then went on to finish a 5,8 length fourth to Silver Mountain in the Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas two weeks later. Silver Mountain is quoted at around 9/20 for Saturday’s race, while Budapest is around 9/1.

However, Silver Mountain has a plum draw of two while Budapest is drawn wide out in 15. Van Zyl is not too concerned by the draw due to the athletic bay’s gatespeed and handy running style.

By David Thiselton

Blarney Bay seems sure to give punters a run for their money in the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap at Kenilworth today.

This free-running galloper loves to go off in front and the 1 400m is his ideal trip. True, he has to give weight all round and his task is made even harder by being raised 2kg for his last win.

That was in a Pinnacle over the same distance when he beat subsequent Green Point winner Captain America and had a string of other big names behind including last Saturday’s Premier scorer Paterfamilas and third-placed Helderberg Blue.

Of course such results need to be taken with a pinch of salt but Brandon May’s 4kg claim will help. “Heavelon van der Hoven (who rode him last time) is going on holiday and, as Brandon is still claiming 4kg, I thought why not give him a chance,” says Mike Robinson (pictured).

Blarney Bay opened at 9-2 with World Sports Betting yesterday and the improving Sheer Trouble, winner of three of his last four, is 16-10 favourite.

Robinson can also take the opening Welcome Maiden with 7-2 chance Prize Peg who drops in distance for this. But that, apparently, is not significant – “She is so well and showing me so much pace that I thought I should let her run,” her trainer explains.

On the book there is little in it between Donavan Mansour’s mount and Princess Jane (also 7-2) who is invariably right there at the death.

Artic Teon has a clear chance in the Summer Of Champions Maiden although the opening 7-10 is giving nothing away. But here the step-up in distance is relevant. “I’ve been waiting for a stayers’ maiden for some time,” says Andre Nel whose good run was temporarily halted last Wednesday when hot favourite Keep On Chooglin flopped and was reported coughing.

“We did have a lot of coughing but it’s mostly gone,” says Nel. “Keep On Chooglin coughs every time he runs and I think it was just a flat run. I may have run him too soon after his previous race.”

Exclusive Knight (9-2), attempting to win at the 34^th attempt (he has been placed 19 times), also steps up in trip. “Competition is a bit weaker over this 2 500m. Over 1 800m you’ve got three-year-olds coming up all the time,” says Piet Steyn who has an interesting story about Money Surger with whom he won for the ninth time in 76 races on Saturday.

Nobody bid for her as a yearling and a float driver, picking up the yearlings after the sales, rang Steyn when found her on her own. Steyn told him to deliver her to him and rang breeder Dan de Wet. He wanted R5 000, they settled on R3 000 and Steyn named her Money Surger because he believes she would prove to be just that. She was won R557 000 so far.

Justin Snaith, now only three short of 2 000 winners, has a big chance with 15-10 favourite Sub Zero in race three but Mr Piscato is marginally preferred at 5-2.

By Michael Clower

Paterfamilias looks the obvious answer to the Premier Trophy at Kenilworth tomorrow but favourites have a poor record in this race and Dennis Drier is expecting Durban July second Punta Arenas to prove a major threat.

There was over four lengths between them over a furlong less in the Green Point three weeks ago but that was Punta Arenas’s first run for 16 weeks. “He will improve the three or four lengths that he needs so it could be interesting,” remarked Dennis Drier who is bidding for his third Premier in four years.

Aldo Domeyer rode Paterfamilias last time and now Grant van Niekerk takes the ride. “Grant is stable jockey and he wanted to ride the horse,” Candice Robinson explained. “Paterfamilias is well and in good form.”

The favourite has won this race only once in the last ten years and four times finished nowhere so don’t be surprised if there is an upset. Royal Dreamer and last year’s second Helderberg Blue look the most likely contenders.

Sublime Lady may beat the older horses in a wide-open Victress Stakes although stable companion Come Fly With Me makes a lot of appeal. However she has never raced as far as this before and Mrs Robinson has reservations. “I could be wrong but I’m not sure about Come Fly With Me staying the 1 800m,” she said.

Sean Cormack has won the last two runnings and has a big chance on Gathering Flame. “She needed her first run, she is doing well and she will run a nice race,” said Drier.

The first hurdle that punters have to overcome is the Western Cape Bookmakers Association Maiden Juvenile, the opening two-year-old race of the Cape season.

Most of the eight runners are cheaply bought and R400 000 purchase Var Ahead (a daughter of SA Fillies Nursery winner and Allan Robertson second Waywest Goddess) cost more than the rest put together. Several rival trainers said they had heard that the colt is fast.

But how fast? “I don’t know,” answered Justin Snaith. “He is a tank of a horse but I don’t rev up my two-year-olds anymore.”

The twinkle in Vaughan Marshall’s eye suggested he is keen on taking him on with R25 000 buy Desert Dreamer – “She is tiny but she is quick and she has beaten everything I’ve worked her with.”

Glen Kotzen, in double form on Wednesday, runs the Zimbabwe-bred Mount Keith who is also small. He said: “The horse has a big action but it might be a bit short for him. He will be doing his best work at the end.”

Paul Reeves has similar reservations about R25 000 buy Miss Stake, saying: “I don’t know that she is an 800m horse. She would be better over 1 000m.”

Elevated cost R100 000 and is by SA Derby winner Elusive Fort out of a sprinter.  “He is more of a classy sport than a speedy sort,” said Riaan van Reenen.

Rebel Force cost only R15 000 despite being out of a half-sister to a Breeders’ Cup juvenile winner. “He has come to hand quickly but he is not a speedy horse,” cautioned Mike Stewart.

Carl Burger said he couldn’t split Los Ninos (R70 000) and On The Right Path (R30 000) and added: “They are nice horses and I expect them both to go well.”

So it would appear to be a question of whether Marshall’s little filly can topple the Snaith powerhouse. Maybe she can.

By Michael Clower

Picture (Liesl King): Paterfamilias

Greyville’s eight race meeting tonight, with the last two being on the turf, and Scottsville’s meeting of eight races down the straight on Sunday are not easy to assess overall and dividends could be healthy for those who do their homework.

In the first at Greyille tonight, a Maiden over 1400m, The Lonsdale will relish the step down in trip and the likely faster pace. He was a bit strong behind the leaders over 1600m last time, and had the jockey swinging on the bridle, and then found little extra late. Anton Marcus is now up. King’s Landing has some fair form over this trip on turf and should be running on strongly at the finish. He is well drawn and Brandon Lerena is in form. Lecure D has some fair form from1200-1600m but his trainer only rates him an each/way chance.

In the second, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1400m,  Durban Blues could be too strong despite returning from a five month layoff as she has run close to some of the best of her age and this should be a suitable trip, although a concern is the well below par recent form of her yard. Dark Rose has been knocking on the door for a long time and finished strongly in her first try at this trip last time so she should make a bold bid. Agustina showed some zip over 1000m last time but on pedigree should enjoy this trip. Diamond Prop should have come on from his last start and had some fair form last season. Durban Beach and Majestic Pots both look to have scope for improvement.

The third, a fillies and mares MR 70 handicap over 1400m, is a minefield. French Lass won well on her Greyville poly debut when quickening nicely and although she would prefer the latter trip she can’t be ignored here despite a five point merit rating raise. La Gitano looks to have strengthened and improved since  being given a three month layoff so could make a bold bid having been accorded a lenient merit rating for her easy maiden win over 1200m last month. Floral Secret has run two fair races subsequent to beating La Gitano by four lengths over this course and distance in her Maiden win in August. Bella Miesque is small and game and being by Miesque’s Approval loves the poly, so she could follow up on her course and distance maiden win from a good draw off a reasonable merit rating. Nyangan has some fair Cape Town form over this trip and should earn.

In the fourth race, a Maiden over 2000m, Toreador gelding Osuna has not been an easy ride over shorter but on racing style and pedigree, with the dam having won over 2400m, he looks likely to relish the step up in trip. Saarikh went close over course and distance last time and should be right there again. Apple Jack will relish the step up in trip on pedigree and is drawn in pole with Marcus up. Dark Avenger stayed on gamely from the front over 1800m last time and has gone close over this trip before too.  Nutcracker by Ideal World ran a fair race on turf over 1400m last time out and is another who will relish this trip.

Princess Varunya (Nkosi Hlophe)

The fifth is a MR66 Handicap over 2000m and Kitty’s Destiny will appreciate the step up in trip and has always struck as a sort with plenty of scope for improvement.

Just Like Magic looks to be a useful sort who will enjoy the trip and with a 4kg claimer up could handle a merit rating of 82. Aficionado looks to be an out and out stayer and from a good draw with Delpech up is sure to be contesting the finish. Selvan’s Jet stayed on well from the front last time out to beat Just Like Magic over 1800m and he has an ideal draw of three but if apprentice claims are included he is now 3,5kg worse off with Just Like Magic for a 0,5 length beating. Discourse is down to an attractive merit rating and could be dangerous over a suitable course and distance.

The sixth is a MR 73 Handicap over 1600m. Team Guys has always been a talked about horse and confirmed his liking for this course and distance last time when winning his maiden easily, so a merit rating of 78 looks manageable for this progressive sort. Ferdinand The Bull had some decent Cape Town form and the merit ratings are often suppressed there due to the overall higher class of horse, so he could improve over this more suitable trip having stayed on well over 1400m on his KZN debut. Texican has a nice turn of foot and a resolute finish and is interesting with first time blinkers on although making a respiratory noise last time is a concern.

The first turf race is a MR 75 handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m and Princess Vurunya looks a good middle distance sort in the making and she can make it a hattrick from pole position despite a five point merit rated raise. Leopard Lily is off a competitive merit rating and is drawn well in two over a suitable course and distance and can do well if ridden more conservatively than last time. Lemon Tea has Anton Marcus up and represents a yard who excel when they go over more ground. Archetype could feature if reproducing her best Johannesburg form. Divine Wind, Duchess Kate and Sword Storm are all distance suited and should all be staying on strongly. The yard are expecting an improved run from Classe Mondiale.

Barbosa (Nkosi Hlophe)

The second turf race is a Maiden over 2000m and the improving Modernista looks hard to beat from a fair draw over a suitable trip. Maybe has been staying on over a mile and could be a threat from a good draw. Lizzie’s Chapel is a half-sister to a horse who has won over 1900m so she should enjoy this trip and has some fair form over shorter.

The two highlights of the eight Scottsville Sprints are the fifth and the seventh, a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1000m and a Novice Plate over 1200m. Barbosa looks the meeting banker in the former event, being a horse who has come into his own, drawn on the right side and best in at the weights. In the Novice Plate Isingamoya looked to be a horse who could go places after her impressive maiden win second time out over this course and distance and she could follow up.

By David Thiselton

The very tight inner city Happy Valley track has been the nemesis of many a visiting international jockey. Unlike the Sha Tin track, which is perfectly suited to a European style of racing, Happy Valley demands that jockeys bounce their mounts out as fast as possible and go hell for leather to the finish. Something that most visiting jockeys find hard to adapt to.

Gavin Lerena though, had no such problems.

Given a ride in the first by Tony Millard, Lerena showed that he is well equipped to race with the best of the locals, steering his mount Medic Swordsman into third, 0.75 lengths behind the winner and demoting fellow countryman and local hero Douglas Whyte to fourth.

Lerena went on as he had started and when he was legged up on Mr Right, number 8 and drawn 8, he certainly had all the Chinese luck on his side. Lerena stormed home and just got Mr Right up on the line, beating ST Yazin and Maxime Guyon into second.

His ride in the fourth and last leg, Superoi was considered his best and the Derek Cruz trained gelding showed just why. Urged to challenge the lead down the home straight by Lerena, he stormed home, winning comfortably by 0.75 lengths, with Lerena celebrating in true HK style.

That was enough to capture the Longines Hong Kong International Championship, with Lerena receiving the magnificent trophy and a cheque worth HK$500,000, roughly R1 million.

Lerena thanked Tony Millard who gave him the ride in the first enabling him to get used to the track. “It’s a very fair track and I had a great time. Thank you Hong Kong”, he said. “It is fantastic to be able to ride with such great jockeys”, he added.

When asked if he would consider following the likes of Dougie Whyte and Karis Teetan and ride in Hong Kong, Lerena said that he would certainly consider it if the opportunity arose.

“It’s a fantastic track, with a great atmosphere and it was my dream to ride here. To win the Challenge was just amazing! Two lucky eights, so I guess eight is now my lucky number too.”

By Liesl King

The Mike Bass-trained Silvano filly Silver Mountain obliterated the field in the Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas yesterday under Aldo Domeyer and was later described by Bass’s daughter and assistant Candice Robinson as “a freak.”

Robinson believes she could even be better than the like of Sun Classique, who won a Gr 1 overseas, and another former stable star Crimson Palace, or at least as good, although she added, “Time will tell.”

Bass watched at home but was on the phone to the connections shortly after the victory, which is bound to provide him with a tonic in his own private battle to overcome his well-publicised recent health problems.

The tall and rangy bay started at odds of 9/10 with the two main dangers being the unbeaten pair, the Mike de Kock-trained Highveld raider Noor, and the Justin Snaith-trained Bela-Bela. They started at 28/10 and 11/2 respectively.

The pace was a fair one in windless conditions and was set by Oceans Swell, while Noor was quite handy in a field that became strung out. Domeyer managed to place  Silver Mountain in about midfield on the outside from a wide draw, where she looked like a ball of energy waiting to be let loose. Bela-Bela sat right at the back.

In the straight the field fanned out and Silver Mountain was angled to the centre. She put the race to bed in a matter of strides and was soon powering clear. She showed no signs of stopping and put many length between herself and the second-placed Glen Kotzen-trained 100/1 shot Our Destiny, with the Bass-trained Taffety Tart in third.

The three-year-old fillies crop this season has not shone at all overall to date, but Silver Mountain now stands out like beacon. On visual appearance alone she looks to be a star in the making.

She is owned by Maine Chance Farms Stud and was bred by Highlands Farms Stud.

Earlier, the brilliant Sean Tarry-trained four-year-old Captain Al filly Carry On Alice stamped herself as the best sprinting filly in the country after beating a top class field in the Gr 2 World Sports Betting Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m under S’Manga Khumalo. In a thrilling finish she only just got her nose down in time to beat the Brett Crawford-trained Cuvee Brut, but she was carrying a 2kg Gr 1 penalty. Carry On Alice started at odds of 2/1 and jumped well before tracking Rock On Baby towards the inside. The rest of the field were bunched towards the outside.

Khumalo switched Carry On Alice inward at about the 400m mark and she showed her usual fantastic turn of foot. A wall of horses had quickened towards the outside headed by the Glen Kotzen-trained Princess Royal and Carry On Alice began drifting to that side. However, Cuvee Brut produced a late burst and emerged as the main challenger on the standside and as the horses drove to the line it was impossible to separate them with the naked eye. However, the slow motion replay favoured Carry On Alice and the photo finish confirmed it. Cuvee Brut, running off a mere 98 merit rating, was 6,5kg under sufferance with Carry On Alice, so this was a cracking run. The Dean Kanemeyer-trained Real Princess finished third.

The Listed World Sports Betting Southeaster Sprint, a handicap event over 1100m, was also a thriller. The Dean Kannemeyer-trained four-year-old Captain Al gelding Captain Al Fredo caught the brave Kimberly raider, the Coenie de Beer-trained Talktothestars, close to home but then had to hang on grimly as the Bass-trained Ernie flew home on the inside. Captain Al Fredo just got there under Grant Behr from Ernie and Talktothestars.

By David Thiselton

Jockey Jarred Samuel has escaped the terrible fall he took near the finish line of Friday night’s fourth race at Greyville without any head injury or broken bones.

He was placed on a ventilator and sedated by medical experts after the incident and taken to hospital. He remained on the ventilator throughout Friday night but doctors were pleased with his progress and began bringing him out of sedation yesterday (Saturday).

However, probably due to all the equipment etc down his throat he became panicky while awaking so they put him back into sedation. He did very well through last night (Saturday) while remaining on the ventilator and will be brought out of sedation once again today (Sunday).

Samuel’s horse Fly Away With Me clipped heels and fell on the finish line and the meeting was delayed for a long time as he was attended to.
– David Thiselton