Author Archives: Brendan Pather

gold gup vi copy

Gold Cup moved to August 1

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Given the soaking rain over the past 24 hours, and the forecast of further heavy rains over the coming weekend, the prognosis for racing to go ahead at Greyville on Saturday is extremely poor.

Against that background, and in the best interests of all affected parties and stakeholders, Gold Circle has decided to postpone the Super Saturday race meeting, featuring the eLan Property Group Gold Cup and three other Grade 1 races, in its entirety to Saturday 1 August.

The race meeting originally scheduled for 1 August will now take place on Sunday 2 August.

“With the support of Event World and all our service providers we are pleased to confirm that all marquee infrastructure will remain at Greyville for the delayed race meeting thus affording the 17 Charities the opportunity to continue with their much needed fund-raising activities on 1 August,” said Racing and Marketing Executive Graeme Hawkins.

“All bookings in the various venues will also be transferred to the new date and Gold Circle would appreciate clients advising the company of any cancellations,” added Hawkins.

“The decision to postpone was not made lightly as we are well aware that the official NHA statistics, which determine the Championship in respect of various categories such as Champion Stallion, Champion Breeders, Champion Trainer, Champion Jockey etc will be finalized when the Season closes on 31 July, ” said Hawkins.

Fortunately the Championship in respect of the Trainer and Jockey is a done deal, with Sean Tarry and Gavin Lerena holding unassailable leads, but Super Saturday could have played a major role in other categories – in particular the General Sires Log, which now seems likely to be headed by Captain Al.

The Equus Awards panel will however consider the performances of horses running on Super Saturday when voting on the outcome of the various equine categories which are not governed by official NHA statistics.

The ever popular Gold Circle Racing Masters golf tournament at the Wild Coast Sun, which has attracted a record entry of 110 golfing enthusiasts from amongst the racing fraternity, will go ahead as planned from Sunday 26 to Wednesday 29 July.

“The long term weather forecast for next week is good with sunshine predicted from Monday all the way through to Sunday 2 August,” concluded Hawkins.

 

Justin Snaith (Nkosi Hlophe)

Another Fling for Snaith?

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Jet Supreme has over four lengths in hand on adjusted merit ratings as she bids to win the Final Fling Stakes for the second successive year at Kenilworth tomorrow.

But punters taking a short price – and Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount could well start favourite – have to decide whether her recent problems at the start mean that she won’t produce her best.

She started slowly in the Olympic Duel but that was nothing compared to what happened when she reared in the pens as the starter pressed the button in the Ladies Mile last time. “She caught her neck in the roof – not a nice experience at all,” says Justin Snaith. “She is going to stud soon and some fillies coming to the end of their careers can get rattled quite easily. Sean Cormack felt that he went in a bit early and this time they must load her later.”

Jet Supreme won the Victress Stakes over this trip in December but more recently her best form has been in sprints. “No, she is not a 1 200m horse,” her trainer is adamant. “She is definitely better around a mile.”

Snaith, bidding for his third successive Final Fling, also runs the improving Cat And The Moon who kept producing more when winning the Winter Oaks over 2 200m last month – “She is a tough little filly and anything around this distance is fine for her.”

Both the Snaith runners have won in the soft and, if the forecast for heavy rain today proves correct, that is important.

Jet Supreme is favoured by recent statistics – favourites have won three of the last four runnings  and older horses every one of the last five – but three-year-olds Moonsong Magic and Crystal Cavern finished close up in the Winter Oaks and have definite claims.

“Moonsong Magic is versatile but once again she has to jump from a wide draw which always makes it difficult,” cautions Greg Ennion.

In the Winter Oaks Crystal Cavern finished fast in a manner that suggested she is one to bear in mind. “We think highly of this filly and we believe that what beat her was the winter course,” says Adam Marcus. “If we had had the longer straight she could have unwound a bit earlier. As it was she sat about second last whereas the two that finished in front of her were sitting handy and had the run of the race.”

This is the winter course again but, if Jet Supreme thinks more about what happened last time than breaking fast, Crystal Cavern could be the one to take advantage. She has won in the soft and she just might start at an each way price.

Of the others Alascan Maiden and Omaticaya should run well on recent form but not well enough to win.

By Michael Clower

Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)

Alice has the edge on Captain

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The Gr 1 Mercury Sprint meeting at Greyville tomorrow will be full of interest as there are not only five features, but there is also a jockeys’ interprovincial being contested by the KZN Falcons, the Highveld Hawks and the Western Cape Falcons.

The Mercury Sprint over 1200m looks likely on paper to be fought out by Carry On Alice, Captain Of All and Fly By Night, with Trip To Heaven and Legislate being the dark horses.
Carry On Alice gets the nod as a look at the time she ran when winning the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint puts her ahead of Captain Of All, whom she also beat in the Computaform Sprint, although she did lose to him in the Betting World Cape Flying Championship after being made to stand in the stalls for ages.
Captain Of All was only caught late here in a Gr 1 over 1400m as a two-year-old so will handle the course and his speed, class and good preparation will make him a tough nut to crack.
Legislate is unbeaten at Greyville and all four wins were in Gr 1s (from 1600-2200m). His class and devastating turn of foot could carry him close.
Fly By Night will be running on strongly in the defense of her crown and considering she was only beaten 1,8 lengths by Carry On Alice in the City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint when jumping from a tougher draw she should finish close to the latter.
Trip To Heaven is not far off the best on paper and was only just not ready for Scottsville in time, so should be fit now and his speed, class and plum draw make him a runner.
Willow Magic enjoys Greyville and was undone by a false start in the Gr2 Post Merchants over course and distance, so he is another with an outside winning chance, although he appears to prefer further these days.
Daring Dave loves Greyville and together with the talented African Dream could earn a cheque.

The Gr 2 Debutante over 1200m could be won by Cosmic Light, who impressed on debut and the form has been franked. She has a wide draw but there could be a fast pace here set by Khaleesi, who is drawn one inside of her. Khaleesi could stay on for second ahead of Frosted Honey who will be running on late but might prefer further. Rebel To The Fore would not be a shock winner having run on well to win on debut over 1000m. Lala clearly enjoys this course and distance, but this is a step up in class.
The Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m is of below par standard and Buckinghampshire’s class could tell. However, staying all the way to the line from a wide draw might be a bit of a concern and Top Form is the back up. The Port Elizabeth raider Oriental Tiger is drawn in pole and was not stopping when winning by over six lengths on debut over 1000m, so he could be a contender.
The Listed Off To Stud Handicap over 1600m on the poly could be won by Euphoria who won with a bit in hand over course and distance last time and is best in at the weights again. Enchanted Silk loves the poly and could give cheek despite being better over a touch further. Resolution looked primed on Vodacom Durban July day over 1400m and duly delivered with a strong finish and she is as good over this trip too.
The first is a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1200m for fillies and mares. Real Princess looks to have plenty of class, having shown a tremendous turn of foot to win easily at Scottsville last time over 1100m, and she might prove too good for the useful Beloved Country.
The Listed Queen Palm Stakes over 2400m could be won by the up and coming Deputy Ryder, who looks likely to relish the trip. Semra and Counting Angels make most appeal of the rest.
The second race on the poly over 1600m is the first leg of the Rider Cup interprovincial and S’Manga Khumalo could get one on the board for the Highveld Hawks by winning with Sword Storm who is able to produce a strong finish over this course and distance so the wide draw will be of little concern. Cakewalk ran on well over this trip at Scottsville last time and should be right there. Princess Milo should also be in the shake up.
The third is over 1600m on the poly and two-year-old Mambo Mime looked full of class when running on to win on the turf over this last trip last time despite having pulled hard throughout. If he settles here he will be hard to beat. Phoebus has some good Cape form and could be the back up together with Flying Fellow, and others to consider are Mystic Express, Fantasy Art and Celtic Captain.
The fifth is over 1200m on the poly and sees the return of Gemini Gold, who has a touch of class and the draw and trip look ideal for a horse returning fresh from an eight month layoff. Trainer Dennis Bosch could afford to give him a break for a joint injury, as he is the owner, and he said although he might need it he expected him to be right there as he was a “smart horse”. Salesman, Grey Light and Cinema Scope look the chief dangers. Gun Fighter and Theseus can also be considered.
By David Thiselton
Picture: Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)

same jurisdiction

Where to next?

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Dean Kannemeyer is to wait until Power King recovers from his exertions in Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July before making any plans about the four-year-old’s future. He said: “Power King was a little wobbly and exhausted straight after the race so we will let him get over this and then decide where we go.”

Kannemeyer, winning the great race for the third time, explained that the horse had not been straightforward to train:  “He had a few soundness problems as a young three-year-old. Then he was haemoconcentrating and so I said to Lady Christine Laidlaw that there was only one way to deal with that and we gelded him.

“But the July is the ultimate race for a trainer in South Africa and I am over the moon to win it again.”

Lady Laidlaw raised the interest levels of the foreign media contingent by reacting positively to overseas campaign suggestions but the horse seems far more likely to stay in this country.

Stuart Randolph had to shed almost four kilos in three weeks to do 53k – “It wasn’t a strict diet but I watched it and the weight slowly came off”- and he is now facing a fortnight’s suspension.

Nothing to do with the Punta Arenas bumping match but everything to do with the way he came across Legal Eagle, Gold Onyx and Halve The Deficit as he began his run. “He cleaned up half the field,” commented a brassed-off Sean Tarry who trains all three.

This was the second successive year that the historic race has been decided in the boardroom but, even more remarkably, the first three are all by Silvano and were all bred by Maine Chance.

Duncan Howells has already mapped out Same Jurisdiction’s future and, after the way she justified 17-10 favouritism under Anton Marcus in the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province, he was talking about her in the same breath as Via Africa. He said: “You cannot believe the improvement she has made in the last two months and not even Via Africa galloped the way she did last Tuesday. She won’t run again this season and next term we will go to Cape Town for the Paddock Stakes and the Klawervlei Majorca.”

Marcus has amazing talent at both ends of a race but even he excelled himself when getting up in the last stride on 12-10 favourite Seventh Plain in the Durban Golden Horseshoe. The superlatives flowed like champagne at a wedding but owner Markus Jooste remarked tongue-in-cheek: “With what Anton costs one expects that sort of ride!”

The former champion added: “This win was a testament to the horse’s courage. He had every opportunity to spit the dummy but instead he dug down deep.”

Trainer Dennis Drier, who initiated a notable Grade 1 double with 16-1 shot Chestnuts N Pearls in the Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper, said: “You dream about Grade 1 winners but to have two in one day is unbelievable and I am blessed to have jockeys like Anton and Sean Cormack.”

Seventh Plain is to be put away for Cape Town and the Cape Guineas but the Thekwini on July 25 is a possibility for the filly. But it’s worth noting that Brazuca, beaten a short head in the Horseshoe, would almost certainly have won had he not been baulked 300m out and been switched to get a clear run.

Also with an eye to next time when the first three in the SABC Gold Vase meet again in the Gold Cup: Solid Speed, who started favourite and was beaten less than a length into third behind the Gavin van Zyl-trained Heart Of A Lion (Muzi Yeni), lost a front shoe.

Dynamic proved the July selection committee’s point when weakening close home in the TabGold 2200 won in all-the-way fashion by S’Manga Khumalo on stable companion Ultimate Dollar but Justin Snaith is still very much concerned about the pens. He said: “This trip was a little bit too far for Dynamic but we have always rated Ultimate Dollar highly. We were going to use the same tactics on him in the Daily News but he got injured at the start.

“These stalls come from Australia and there is too much of a gap between the back gates. We have complained but I feel that the guys are not taking us seriously.”

The stipes certainly took Warren Kennedy seriously when he used a few choice words to the starter – his mount Sun On Africa was injured in the pens and had to be withdrawn from this race. He was fined R1 000 for “abusive language.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

july fin

The objection discussed

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How I won the July and survived the objection – Stuart Randolph

“I broke the gates well and so I was able to keep in contention, and I had the favourite in front of me. Everything worked out beautifully and I hit the front going through the 300m.

“The horse on my outside (Punta Arenas) then ran on to mine. The first bump wasn’t much but the second time he gave me a nudge in the hindquarters and my horse became a bit unbalanced. I had to gather him up and he fought to the line. I was never in any doubt about the outcome of the objection.”

And how Ian Sturgeon saw it

“I got to the 200m, went for my run on the outside rail but it got tight. I went towards Power King but, if you look at the slow motion, you will see that I didn’t touch him. However my horse lost his momentum and it took him about 100m to regain it.

“Then, at around the 100m, Power King bumped me and got unbalanced. I thought it was a gallant effort on my horse’s part. He gave his all.”

Sturgeon objected to the winner “on the grounds of interference in the latter stages.” The stipes deliberated for 15 minutes before over-ruling the objection and confirming the original result.

The film shown to the media demonstrated how Punta Arenas moved in on Power King, bumping the latter’s quarters. Power King’s off-hind foot slipped with the impact and he swerved in sharply on Punta Arenas.

What other jockeys said:

Sean Cormack (fourth on 9-2 top weight Futura): “I would like to have had him closer early on but he was slow to get going. But it was a phenomenal run under 60k.”

Anton Marcus (fifth on 7-2 favourite Legal Eagle): “I was slightly impeded in the straight and I felt I didn’t have enough horse under me to avoid it. But it was a good run and I have no complaints.”

Anthony Delpech (ninth on 11-2 chance Majmu): “She didn’t run any kind of race.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe (16th on 11-2 chance Wylie Hall): “I had a beautiful run until going through the 700m when he faltered. From then on he was a different horse and I expect something will show up.”

Chad Schofield (eighth on 33-1 shot The Conglomerate): “I was unlucky. I got interfered with quite badly just after we straightened.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Nkosi Hlophe

vdj

Quartet the big winner

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The Quartet was the star on a day turnovers went through the roof.

Overall turnovers at Greyville’s Vodacom Durban July meeting on Saturday were up 10.62% but as far as the Durban July itself was concerned, the increase from last year was an outstanding 27.68%.

While the Pick 6 was marginally down and did not exceed the expected R12 million it appears the reason for that was the overwhelming support for the Quartet, which was the big winner on Durban July day. There was a R1-million added to kick start the pool but even taking that amount off, the pool was up almost 35% from last year’s figure of R10,655,842 to some 16.2 million.

The Quartet of Power King, Punta Arenas, Tellina and Futura paid R82,066 to 197.40 winners.

Also receiving a major boost was the Place pool, which increased by almost 34%. However, that was more expected as Vee Moodley, Executive Director: Sports betting for TAB points out. “This year we were back to 18 horses in the July whereas last year we had only 16. We also paid out six places this time against the five places last time.

“The Quartet was way higher than we predicted and in fact, is the highest Exotic pool ever offered by TAB,” said Moodley.

“This year was quite an eye opener and I have some exciting new ideas for next year’s race.”

The Win pool also showed a decent increase of 22.8% but again that can be put down to the increased number of runners.

 

no worries nh

No Worries to repeat  

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The KZN Breeders meeting at Greyville on Sunday provides smaller owners with the chance of winning big prize money as it features the R1 million KZN Breeders Million Mile on turf and also eight other limited polytrack races which each carry a total stake of R200,000.

No Worries could defend his crown in the Million Mile. He is the best in at the weights on official merit ratings and from a good draw of six could take advantage of his ability to kick well from a handy position. He has a hard task reversing form with Bezanova on their Gold Challenge meeting over course and distance, but is capable of a lot better and could bounce back to his best as he did in this race last year.

Bezanova has quite a tough draw but has never run a bad race at Greyville and has the advantage of Anton Marcus aboard.

Wild One ran a cracker in the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m last time and is another who loves this course,  although this is his second run after a layoff and it’s a touch on the sharp side. Solar Star has improved in KZN and from a good draw over a suitable trip should be a factor.

Run Rhino Run was given little chance last time after being sent to the front in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, but preferable hold up tactics should see him running on strongly. Front Rank showed some improvement in his third run after gelding last time and could surprise from a good draw over a suitable trip.

No Worries (Nkosi Hlophe)

No Worries (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the first over 1200m Harvest Queen appeared to over race in a feature over 1400m last time, so will appreciate stepping back to the course and distance of her impressive debut win.

In the second over the same course and distance the topweight Malak El Moolook is an improving sort who looks likely to be effective over this step down in trip and he could pack too much class here from a good draw. Chosen Dash was outpaced in a feature over 1000m last time but stayed on strongly late so will appreciate this step up in trip. Anthony Delpech is an eyecatching booking on the first-timer Dandy Man.

The talented African Dream defends her crown in the next over 1200m and has run well fresh before so is the one to beat from a good draw. The courageous Virgo’s Babe is the best in at the weights and can never be ignored, even from a wide draw like this, and Pej and Winter Star are both talented sorts with winning chances. Miss Argentina is the lurker as she has not yet had many opportunities to fulfil the early potential she showed.

In the fourth over 1200m Approval Rating ran on too late last time over 1100m at Turffontein and could make amends from a good draw under Anton Marcus. Kingston Boy has a fine turn of foot and always runs well from good draws like this, while the best weighted horse Showmetheway was caught wide in the Post Merchants and has a chance from a good draw.  Flyfirstclass and Al Ciberano could be involved too.

Enchanted Silk should pack too much class in the fifth over 1900m, although Mamasita put in a decent effort in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 and could be a threat.

Baracah enjoyed the step down from staying trips last time and could win the sixth over 1900m.

The talented It Is Written could carry topweight to victory in the eighth over 1600m and could be chased home by Translunar, who has improved with blinkers.

Euphoria is another one who could be too good despite topweight in the last over a suitable 1600m with Marcus up.

By David Thiselton

 

Brett Crawford - Liesl King

Seattle can flip the script

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Night In Seattle can turn Winter Classic form upside down in the Winter Derby at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Corne Orffer’s mount was only sixth in last month’s race but the Winter Classic is a notoriously unreliable guide. No horse has won both races since Pocket Power nine years ago and the last seven favourites (often backed on the strength of their running in the Classic) have all been beaten.

The combination of the extra 600m and softer ground usually proves fatal to the supposed form horse but Night In Seattle’s sixth place did not represent his true ability.

“He got badly interfered with in the Classic,” Brett Crawford (pictured) recalls.” He was going as well as the winner but that horse was hanging into him and then another horse came in on him.”

Night In Seattle (5-1 in the Betting World forecast) has won in the soft and his dam won over an extended mile and a half in France, suggesting he should get the trip.

Royal Dreamer sprang an 8-1 surprise in the Classic and is forecast 4-1 joint second favourite with Master’s Eye. He is by the sprinter Rebel King and there is a lot more speed than stamina on the dam’s side. Seemingly, though, this one is different. “He doesn’t sprint,” says Candice Robinson, “and I think he will get the trip. I’m just a bit worried about the pace.”

She needn’t be because Winter Derby king Stan Elley says: “If there isn’t one we are going to make it with My World and I’m really pleased with the way he is doing.”

Elley is bidding for his fourth Winter Derby in seven seasons and My World should go well even though his forecast 9-2 looks a bit short. However he has won in the soft and he is one of only four to have scored over the trip – Even So and the Greg Ennion pair Revved Up and Irish Dynasty are the others.

Liquid Mercury was beaten only three-quarters of a length in the Classic and is forecast 3-1 favourite. Bernard Fayd’Herbe says he gained the impression that the gelding will be better over this trip but he is acutely conscious of his mount’s stamina limitations on pedigree.

By Michael Clower