Author Archives: Brendan Pather

Bass in a confident mood

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Mike Bass was bullish of his Vodacom Durban July chances after landing the exact draw he had wanted for his good looking gelding Helderberg Blue. He also has a strong hand in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes where he runs Hammie’s Hooker and Inara.

Bass envisaged that from a draw of eight, which is likely to be seven when the second reserve runner comes out, Helderberg Blue would be able to relax in the early stages, while the horses on the inside were rushing to hold their positions and the horses on the outside were unsettled as their jockeys attempted to slot them in.

His four-year-old Jet Master gelding ideally likes to be handy as he is capable of quickening from close to the pace and is then able to stay on resolutely. He has always been well regarded but is a nervous horse and as a youngster often used to run his race before the start.

However, the outstanding horsemanship of the three-times July-winning trainer and the care provided by his professional team have now converted him into a horse who, according to Bass, is now “almost normal.” Helderberg Blue’s new best friend is the recently retired Epic Tale, who accompanies him to the track every morning to keep him calm.

Bass believes the decision to raise Helderberg Blue 12 points for his J&B Met third-place finish was ridiculous, but his charge has now come down three points and has snuck into the handicap with a nice galloping weight of 53,5kg. He will be 4,5kg better off for a 2,35 length beating by Futura in the Met, so has a chance on paper.

He showed improvement in his last start, when fourth in the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m, and is not only two points lower now but will also peak at just the right time. Grant van Niekerk, who went within a hair’s breadth of victory on the outsider Smanjemanje in his July debut in 2012, has his third ride in the big race, having been an unlucky fifth on the filly In The Fast Lane last year.

Bass’ top class Trippi mare Hammie’s Hooker put up a career best performance in last year’s Garden Province Stakes, when getting within 0,75 lengths of the great Beach Beauty, with the rest of a top class field strung out like the washing. Bass said she had been an easier horse to train this year, as she had matured and was a lot stronger, so she should be able to repeat that run from last year. She has drawn in pole position this year, as opposed to last year’s tough barrier position of nine out of ten.

Furthermore, one of the main dangers, Same Jurisdiction, whom she beat last time out by 0,5 lengths when defending her crown in the Gr 2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m at Greyville, is drawn wide out in 14. On the downside Same Jurisdiction carried a Gr 1 penalty of 2kg in the Tibouchina, compared to Hammie’s Hooker’s Gr 2 penalty of 1kg, whereas the Garden Province is a pure weight for age race. Furthermore, Bass believes Hammies’ optimum trip is 1400m although he added that she was “fine” with 1600m. Regular pilot Bernard Fayd’Herbe holds the Trippi mare in high regard and knows her well.

Inara (Liesl King)

Inara (Liesl King)

Inara scoped a bit dirty after her disappointing fifth in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 and Bass also believed she was not “comfortable” over the 2000m trip. She followed up her victory in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m with a win  in the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m. She had earlier finished second to the mighty Majmu in one of the best form races of the season, the Gr 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas, so 1600m does look to be her optimum trip. Bass said she was currently fine and would be competitive. She likely needed her run when staying on strongly for second in the Gr 2 KRA Fillies Guineas and should be at her peak now in her third run after a layoff. She has a fine turn of foot and is a big runner from draw seven under Van Niekerk.

The yard also run Mountain Master in the Gr 3 tabGold 2200 and Equity Kicker in the eTHekwini Sprint over 1200m on the polytrack.

Mountain Master is drawn wide but if repeating his fifth place finish in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 he could have a chance, considering he is now two points lower in the merit ratings.

Equity Kicker was only 3,2 lengths back in the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m, despite being about 3kg under sufferance. He is not well treated at the weights in the eThekwini either. However, he has a plum draw of six and has already proven, like most Trippis, that he enjoys the poly.

By David Thiselton

 

Shea retires from raceriding

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Kevin Shea has officially hung up his riding boots after both his neurosurgeon and doctor declared him unfit to race ride again due to the effects of wear and tear on his back.

Shea had a glittering 37 year career and will be remembered not only for his brilliance in the saddle but also his colourful personality. Fortunately the latter will not be lost to the industry as he is clearly enjoying his new role as an on course presenter.

He joined the South African Jockeys Academy in 1977 and rode his first winner in 1979 on the Des Rich-trained Druids Robe over 1200m at Greyville.

He was still an apprentice when landing his first Gr 1 winner on the Buller Benton-trained Have A Fling in the Holiday Inns at Turffontein. The horse landed a  betting coup for one of the country’s biggest owners and punters, Cyril Hurvitz.

Shea, due to a pair of the finest hands in the game and peerless big match temperament, was at his best on top horses.

In the 2008 Vodacom Durban July he rode the Justin Snaith-trained Dancer’s Daughter for the first time and this powerful grey filly had over raced in her previous start when winning the Gr 1 Gold Challenge, so many pundits wrote her off, saying that from the wide draw over 2200m she would never settle. However, if anybody was going to be able to settle her it would be Shea and he duly relaxed her beautifully towards the back of the field, which as a handy sort she had never experienced before. She stormed up the straight to dead-heat with the great Pocket Power in one of the big race’s most thrilling finishes.

Shea’s other July win was also aboard a filly, the great Mike de Kock-trained Ipi Tombe, whom he regards as one of the best he has ever ridden.

He holds another De Kock-trained filly, Sun Classique, in equal regard.

Shea always enjoyed plenty of support and was associated with top trainers like Tony Furness, David Payne, Doug Campbell, David Goss, Mike De Kock and Duncan Howells.

However, his best years were undoubtedly with De Kock, and he played a particularly vital role for the master trainer in his overseas campaigns.

His first international Gr 1 win for De Kock was aboard Ipi Tombe in the Dubai Duty Free in 2003. Then in a memorable 2008 the pair combined to win the Gr 1 Dubai Sheema Classic with Sun Classique, the Gr 1 QE II Cup in Hong Kong with Archipenko and the Gr 1 Hong Kong Cup with Eagle Mountain. However, they also suffered one of the most disappointing moments of their respective careers that year when Archipenko was kept in a pocket in the  Gr 1 Arlington Million and denied almost certain victory. Later in 2010, the pair combined to finish second in the world’s richest race, the $US million Dubai World Cup, with the South African-bred Lizard’s Desire, losing in a photo finish that took an age to decide.

Shea had a number of other stakes victories for De Kock overseas, including winning the Gr 2 Al Fahidi Fort five times.

He also rode for De Kock in the UK, which is not always a welcome environment for a foreign jockey. However, his gregarious and likeable personality enabled him to fit in easily and he reveled in the opportunity to experience the many different racecourses and the centuries of tradition behind their races. His most memorable moment over there was aboard Eagle Mountain when breaking the course record on the famous Rowley Mile course at Newmarket in the Gr 2 Joel Stakes over a mile. He also won the Gr 2 Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot on Archipenko. He rode in one of the world’s most famous races, the Ascot Gold Cup, and recalls the immortal four-time winner of this race Yeats running with his head in his chest while he was pushing his mount Thundering Star along to stay in touch coming up the hill from Swinley Bottom.

Shea’s skills were not blunted by age and, already in his fifties, he rode four Gr 1 winners last year, two aboard the Duncan Howells-trained Via Africa, one on the Joey Soma-trained Athina and one on the Howells-trained Same Jurisdiction.

By David Thiselton

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Daring move pays off

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Champion trainer Justin Snaith retained the Gr 2 Post Merchants trophy over 1200m at Greyville on Friday night when the small four-year-old Dynasty gelding Daring Dave got up late under Richard Fourie to beat Moofeed and the favourite Willow Magic in a thriller. Snaith won it last year with the filly Varikate.

The race was affected by a false start, which was called when Willow Magic pinged his gate slightly prematurely.

Willow Magic started well second time around but had to be checked just before turning for home, as he was being kept in a pocket behind the leader Sheik’s Brashee by Normanz on his outside. The latter hit the front at the 300m mark, but Willow Magic had recovered quickly and soon powered past him. However, the widely drawn Moofeed had unwound a strong finish from last and mastered Willow Magic just before the line.

But, Daring Dave, had the last say. He had relaxed well in the running in midfield from a good draw and ran on resolutely before bursting between the front two to deny Moofeed by a head. Willow Magic was a further 0,25 lengths back in third. Aurum Pot ran a fine fourth, considering he had travelled the furthest in the false start, and Isphan stayed on well for fifth.

Daring Dave, who started at odds of 11/1, was bred by Highlands Farms Stud and is owned by Hassen Adams in partnership with D Chinsammy and T Chinsammy.

Earlier in the evening the Mike de Kock-trained Muwaary put in a fine trial ahead of races like the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe and Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes when waltzing clear in a Juvenile Plate over 1300m under Anthony Delpech.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Daring Dave (centre) slices through in time to land the Gr2 POST Merchants (Nkosi Hlophe)

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Howells and Drier dominate Challenge

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Duncan Howells and Dennis Drier are once again out in front in the race for the KZN Trainers Championships and they dominated the three R200,000 KZN Winter Challenge Finals races at Scottsville on Saturday.

Ashburton-based Howells won the KZN Trainers Championship for the first time last season, usurping many-times champion Drier, but ended Saturday 12 winners behind the Summerveld-based maestro. However, he landed both the Winter Challenge 1950m and 1600m finals through Crime Victim and the exciting three-year-old gelding Saratoga Dancer and four of his other five contestats finals contestants earned cheques in their respective races.

Crime Victim, who started 3-1 favourite in the 1950m final despite carrying third top weight of 59kg, was a bit slowly away, but settled well on the rail from the off. He looked to be enjoying himself throughout and turned for home full of running. Jockey Anton Marcus switched him inward and he easily made up the leeway on the Mike de Kock-trained Semra before being given his head at about the 300m mark. He readily repelled the persistent Semra as well as the Paddy Lunn-trained Cat In Command, who was running on down the inside rail, before finding another gear and going on to win by 3,5 lengths. Semra held on for second from a fast finishing Howells-trained His Approval. Cat in Command was next best and the Alyson Wright-trained Go West McGraw was 7,5 lengths back in fifth. Crime Victim is a four-year-old gelding by Bezrin and is owned by Barry Reardon, who bred him at Yellow Star Stud. He is a consistent sort and from 18 career starts has won three times and laced nine times.

In the 1600m final Saratoga Dancer started second favourite at 4/1 behind his stablemate Baltic Amber, who was backed into 7/2, but this classy three-year-old gelding by Mambo In Seattle never looked in danger of defeat under championship-chasing jockey Gavin Lerena. Saratoga Dancer jumped from a tricky draw of eight carrying 57,5kg and took a little bit of time to settle as Lerena looked for a good position. The top jockey managed to slot him in just before the first turn. He settled well in about fifth place behind a steady pace set by Baltic Amber. The rangy Saratoga Dancer gained more and more momentum down the straight, despite hanging inward late, and won easing up by 3,5 lengths from the Garth Puller-trained Translunar with the Howells-trained Entrée just pipping his stablemate Baltic Amber for third. The Gavin van Zyl-trained Silver Spring finished fifth. Saratoga Dancer, bred by Gary Player Stud, is owned by Howells himself in partnership with Rodney and Jane Trotter, CV Winter, Mr and MRs RAJ Nidd and S Westwater. Howells has deliberately avoided running him in the big Champions Season features this year as he believes he will be at his best as a four-year-old. He definitely looks one with the potential to win a feature or two next season and to date had won four times from nine starts.

In the 1200m final The Drier-trained Sea Fever, who started at odds of  6/1, broke well under Sean Cormack and showed pace throughout. He was able to go straight the whole way from a low draw and from the halfway mark was able to sit behind the Howells-trained 18/10 favourite Hunting Owl, who had tracked over to the inside rail from a draw of eight to set the pace. The Mark Dixon-trained second favourite London Call, carrying a welter 62kg, tracked over all the way from draw 13 and threw down a strong challenge. However, Sea Fever stayed on resolutely and got up to beat a gallant London Call by 0,25 lengths with Hunting Owl a further 0,5 lengths back. The Tony Rivalland-trained Lucky Break finished fourth ahead of Kumaran Naidoo-trained Royal Roy. Sea Fever, a three-year-old gelding by Argonaut, was bred by Cheveley Stud and is owned by Jack and Nancy Mitchell. He has won three times from seven starts.

Gold Circle’s Challenge series’ have always been a good incentive for smaller owners to race for good prize money.

Mumsy’s Jet emerged leading horse of the Winter series, earning 32 points, and landed a cheque of R30,000 for his trainer Alyson Wright. Discourse was second on 31 points, earning a cheque of  R15,000 for trainer Craig Eudey, and joint-third on 30 points were Libertine and Fire The Rocket, whose trainers Colin Scott and Doug Campbell shared prize money of R7,500.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Saratoga Dancer (Nkosi Hlophe)

 

justin snaith with legislate

Legislate out the July

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Saturday’s Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner and reigning Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate will not defend his Vodacom Durban July crown, but might well still take part in one or two Champions Season Gr1s. The brilliant Justin Snaith-trained four-year-old Dynasty colt will be nominated for both the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint and the Gr 1 Champions Cup, which are both to be run at Greyville, on July 17 and July 25 respectively.

Meanwhile, the Snaith’s ruling July favourite Futura is “very much” on track for the big race and so is Saturday’s Gr 3 Cup Trial third-placed Dynamic.

The yard have pulled Legislate out of the July in his “best interests.” They had ruled him a doubtful starter at the beginning of May, as he expended a lot of energy after his scratching at the start of the Drill Hall Stakes on May 2, and the feeling at the time was that a tilt at both the Gold Challenge and the July would be too much to ask of him, especially as he would be asked to carry a big weight in the July. The yard have stuck to their guns despite Legislate having won Saturday’s Gold Challenge, which was always his chief Champions Season target.

Futura, winner of both the Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and J&B Met, flew from last place in the Gold Challenge over 1600m on Saturday to finish 1,15 lengths back in fourth, while Dynamic likely boked his place in the July by staying on strongly for a 1,75 length third in Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m.

Jonathon Snaith said, “Futura has pulled up like a lion and Dynamic also pulled up well. I think Dynamic is a massive runner in the July with around 53kg on his back with Richard Fourie riding. He has run very well in three feature races in KZN, all from wide draws. After his Met run he was found to be sick with the same virus that affected Legislate. Bar that run his form has been unbelievable. He is a huge runner.”

By David Thiselton 

Picture: Justin Snaith and Legislate (Snaith Racing)

captain chaos phumelela

Sheehan wins Cape Nursery

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Captain Chaos gave Ronnie Sheehan one of his biggest wins for a long time when striding away from the opposition in the Cape Of Good Hope Nursery at Kenilworth yesterday and, what is more, the veteran trainer reckons there is more to come.

Grant van Niekerk sent the 9-1 shot to the front a furlong out and his mount strode away to beat the strong-finishing 33-1 chance The Stone Thrower by three and a half lengths with the winning jockey punching the air in delight. Van Niekerk said: “This is a good horse, he quickens well and he was taking on what are probably the best two-year-olds in the Cape at the moment.”

Sheehan added: “I have never had a Captain Al before and I am over the moon. He is a top horse and when he goes over 1 600m he will be even better.”

The disappointment of the race was Tar Heel who started at 13-20 and managed only fourth with Anton Marcus reporting: “”Obviously he wasn’t the same horse as last time.”

Richard Fourie and Justin Snaith followed up Legislate’s great win by taking the Kenilworth Fillies Nursery with Petala, leaving Chris Snaith to reflect on what might have been had that devastating virus not struck at the height of the summer season. He said: “It was a terrible virus and it affected all the horses although the two-year-olds recovered faster than the others.

“Training is a juggling act. You try to keep as many balls in the air at the same time as you possibly can but when you drop the whole lot it’s very hard to start again.”

Riaan van Reenen was talking about balls of a different kind when Red Rex slammed his head against the wall of his racecourse stable a month ago – “I said that they had to come off. He knocked his face against the wall so aggressively that he knocked teeth out. It was horrible to see.”

Seemingly the operation worked a treat because Morne Winnaar was able to deliver him with a strong run to lead just inside the last 100m of the Soccer 6 Maiden and spring a 20-1 surprise. Van Reenen added: “He’s got a skew leg and one cloudy eye that means he can’t see properly but he will win more races.”

Stan Elley is still puzzling over the disappointing run of Betting World 1900 winner Dynastic Power in Saturday’s Cup Trial won by stable companion Punta Arenas. Dynastic Power was backed from 7-1 to 11-2 but finished with only one behind him.

Elley said: “He was 100% sound this morning (Sunday). He did have a foot abscess between the 1900 and this run and, while that should not have accounted for it, he was on antibiotics for four or five days and that may have left an effect.”

Robert Khathi travelled to Nairobi to renew his successful association with the David Southey–bred Happy Times. The Casey Tibbs filly started long odds-on for the Kenya St Leger and won easily. Khathi had already ridden her to victory in the Kenya Derby, Oaks and Fillies Guineas. He is convinced she would have won all five classics had she not been reluctant to load in the Guineas and been withdrawn by the starter.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Ronnie Sheehan and Captain Chaos (with Grant van Niekerk up) – Equine Edge 

american pharoah gettyima

A historic weekend of racing

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There were a feast of racing accomplishments over the weekend, including Legislate’s successful return in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge, but the highlight was no doubt American Pharoah becoming the 12th horse in history to win America’s Triple Crown.

“And the 37 year wait is over! American Pharoah has won the Triple Crown!”, roared the overwhelmed commentator and the massive crowd did not stop cheering for the big Bob Baffert-trained colt by PioneerOf The Nile, who hardly looked as if he had been in a race.

It was one of the rides of the century by Victor Espinoza. Usually a horse with stamina doubts will be given a chance by dropping it out, but instead Espinoza, despite a tardy start, took American Pharaoah straight to the front. The tall horse relaxed beautifully at a steady gallop. The Mike de Kock-trained Mubtaahij travelled well throughout behind him on the rail and was switched out to challenge around the final turn.

Meanwhile Frosted had slipped through down the inside and went with Amrican Pharaoah when he kicked for home. Mubtaahij fought on bravely but was no match for the front two. Meanwhile, the crowd’s roar dipped momentarily and millions of viewers around the world also held their breaths.

Could Frosted become the 14th horse in the last 37 years to spoil a Triple Crown party? And the answer was no as American Phraoah found extra and pulled clear. The roof of the grandstand virtually lifted off as he passed the line five lengths clear. There was then a six lengths gap back to Keen Ice, who beat Mubtaahij by a length.

The rest of the eight horse field were unsighted and a sign of American Pharoah’s greatness was that despite apparently ambling for most of the journey his time of 2 minutes 26,65 seconds was only 2,65 seconds slower than the immortal Secretariats 31 length romp in the Belmont Stakes in 1973. Affirmed was the last to have achieved the Triple Crown in 1978 and the year before that Seattle Slew did it. In the build up to American Pharoah’s bid Seattle Slew’s trainer Billy Turner commented, “The way he (American Pharoah) ran in the Preakness, it sure looked like it didn’t take anything out of him.”

It looked the same after Saturday’s history-making accomplishment. Most race fans like to think great horses have a certain showmanship about them and know they are good, but American Pharaoah’s demeanor throughout the wild cheering post race was one of nonchalance and he remained relaxed to the point of being almost half asleep. This horse looks to be a legend in the making and he will no doubt become a great asset to the Sport Of Kings.

At Greyville, Legislate showed once again that he loves to run fresh and that he also loves Greyville. Richard Fourie gave him an enterprising ride, taking him to the front and on course part-owners Dennis Evans and Jack and Nancy Mitchell would have been thrilled to see him back to his best. His kick at the top of the straight was enough to send him clear and he was then able to hang on from a brave Willow Magic, who showed his class in his first trip beyond a sprint since he had won the Dingaans 19 months ago.

The lung infection that blighted Legislate’s L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate run has clearly not had any long term effect and it will be no surprise to see him announced as a definite to defend his Vodacom Durban July crown, now that he has accomplished his main Champions Season goal. Bezanova showed his liking for Greyville again by finishing third. Futura made up a lot of ground from last in the steady-paced race to finish a 1,15 length fourth and should be spot on for the July.

Punta Arenas deservedly won the Gr 3 Cup Trial under the underrated jockey Ian Sturgeon, as he has had to contend with a plethora of wide draws in big races since landing his first graded success in the Gr 3 Winter Derby three years ago. The six-year-old Silvano gelding is an evergreen sort who always gives the impression he loves his racing. It was a fitting win for popular Cape trainer Stan Elley, his second Graded success in the space of a month at Greyville, as he had announced earlier in the week that he would retire from training at the end of this season.

Hammie’s Hooker has always appeared best at 1400m and she duly defended her crown in the Gr 2 Tibouchina over 1400m. She put up a career best effort in last season’s Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m on July day when going close against the brilliant Beach Beauty, and will need to again because Same Jurisdiction ran a cracker in the Tibouchina, her comeback from a luckless Johannesburg campaign. Coming from near the back, she was doing her best work late.

The Neil Bruss-trained Go Deputy filly Flying Ice remained unbeaten when winning the Listed Devon Air Stakes under Weichong Marwing, beating a still green looking Almashooqa. This was a deserved win for owner Michelle Paterson, who now resides in Australia, as her first expensive purchase for Bruss, Savannah Air, turned out to be a “wobbler”. However, Paterson did not throw in the towel and her second purchase for him, a R10,000 Go Deputy called Bandana Girl, has won a race and she now has a lot to look forward to with Flying Ice.

The impressive 3,25 length winner of the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes Rabada provided  an exciting moment for KZN breeding as he is by the promising Summerhill Stud sire Brave Tin Soldier. Jockey Anton Marcus confirmed he was still green and would likely be even better as a three-year-old.

In Harare an incredible crowd of over 70,000 poured into Borrowdale for the Gr 2 Ok Grand Challenge, where the side attraction was a plethora of cars and other prizes being  given away. The St. John Gray-owned-trained-and-bred six-year-old Jam Alley gelding Yer-Maan became the second horse in two years to do the Gr 1 Castle Tankard-Ok Grand Challenge double, following Silvano filly Equina achieving it last year. Yer-Maan, ridden by Zimbabwean Champion jockey Quinton Riddle, will no doubt try and go one better by winning the Gr 3 Republic Cup in early July.

At Epsom Downs in the UK, Frankie Dettori won the world’s most famous race, the Epsom Derby, on the unbeaten John Gosden-trained Golden Horn, who quickened in emphatic style in the closing stages to win in the manner of a great horse. It was also a second Derby win for Gosden.

By David Thiselton 

Picture: American Pharoah winning the Gr1 Belmont Stakes (Getty)

legislate rising sun

Media Release: Legislate rises again

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The four-year-old Dynasty colt Legislate held on tenaciously to win the R1-million, Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday but there is still doubt whether last year’s Vodacom Durban July winner will line up to defend his crown in Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event in a few weeks’ time.

For the Justin Snaith stable it was a plan that came together but not, one might think, without some tense moments when the Sean Tarry-trained Australian colt, Willow Magic, challenged strongly in the final dash to the line after tracking the champion for most of the race. There might even have been a few anxious seconds when stable mate and race favourite Futura unleashed his run down the outside of the field and was gaining with every stride.

Snaith had stated publicly before the race that the Rising Sun Gold Challenge was Legislate’s “mission” for Champions Season and warned after the event that his charge must still be considered a doubtful starter for the R3.5-million Vodacom Durban July which he won on an objection last year. He stated in his pre-race interview that the top horses had to be carefully managed because they were extremely valuable for stud and later said the decision to run Legislate in the July would be discussed early this week and a decision made and publicised possibly by midweek.

Jockey Richard Fourie deserved the credit for Legislate’s win, getting him out like lightning from the widest draw and sending him to the front to dictate the pace ahead of No Worries and Willow Magic with Futura rather sedately getting under way and settling in at the back of the field. In spite of the going being very much on top, the pace was not anything to write home about as the winning time of 96.11 secs was only .20 secs better than the average and well below the 92.99 secs course record. It was also considerably below the time of 94.14 secs the colt set when winning the KRA Guineas last year.

So Fourie confidently set the pace he wanted possibly bearing in mind that his mount was a little short of fitness which seemed to show in the final 200m of the race where only the colt’s guts kept him ahead of Willow Magic to win by three-quarters of a length.

Willow Magic under Piere Strydom ran a fantastic race being some 7kg on straight handicap out at the weights with the champion, and the Alec Laird-trained Bezrin gelding Bezanova produced one of his best efforts to take third place less than a length behind Legislate.

Then there was the run by Futura. Travelling at the back of the field some 10 lengths off the pace, Sean Cormack took him to the outside rail for his run when they hit the home straight giving Legislate eight or 10 lengths start. He produced the powerful finish he is known for and at the line was a mere 1.15 lengths behind his stable mate.

The only remaining question from this race is how the handicappers will deal with Willow Magic and Bezanova? Neither is a July candidate.

The training accolades for the meeting could go to Stan Elley who has declared that he would not renew his licence at the end of the season. His six-year-old Silvano gelding Punta Arenas, that ran a top race for third place behind stable companion Dynastic Power in the Betting World 1900, powered home with a strong finish to win the Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1 800m and in so doing leaving the July selection panel no choice but to confirm him as a runner in the big one on the fourth of July.

He did it from a wide draw and from near the back of the field to beat the Mogok gelding Wild One across the line by 1.25 lengths. The Mike de Kock-trained five-year-old was having his first race since running second to Wavin’ Flag in the Grade 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup at the end of July last year.

He is not a Vodacom Durban July entry but both Dynamic and Helderberg Blue, that took third and fourth places, are. They were settled just outside the top 20 on the July Log and might have done enough to make the big race field.

The Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes was won for the second year in success by the Mike Bass-trained Trippi mare Hammie’s Hooker. She is a top mare but could find a formidable opponent in the Jonssons Workwear Garden Province at Greyville on Vodacom Durban July in the Duncan Howells-trained Mambo In Seattle filly Same Jurisdiction.

The three-year-old was ridden from the back of the field by Anton Marcus who swept her to the outside rail for her home run and she produced a superb finishing run to fail by half a length. Maybe Yes from the Brett Crawford stable made the running and stayed on for third place ahead of Red Flame from the Neil Bruss stable that had earlier won the Listed Devon Air Stakes with the filly Flying Ice.

One of the most impressive performances on the day was that of the Brave Tin Soldier colt Rabada in the Gatecrasher Stakes which he won by 3.25 lengths. The two-year-old had won his first race in fine style for trainer Mike Azzie and in spite of looking quite green on Saturday, put the race to bed a long way from the finish.

r legislate site

Legislate back with a bang

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It was mission accomplished for Justin Snaith’s Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate at Greyville today as he took the bull by the horns in his Champions Season target, the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m, and powered home under Richard Fourie after being taken to the front from a high draw.

Later, Stan Elley, who announced he would retire at the end of the season, landed a second Champions Season Graded race at Greyville when his reliable six-year-old Punta Arenas won the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m under Ian Sturgeon.

The Cheveley Stud-bred Dynasty colt Legislate is now a four-time Gr 1 winner and his unplaced run in his previous outing five months ago in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate, after which he was found to have a serious lung infection, remains the only blip since he announced his arrival by winning last season’s Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby.

Snaith said the connections would decide early next week whether the star colt would defend his Vodacom Durban July crown.

The Gold Challenge result will likely affect the July betting, but will probably not have much impact on the choosing of the final big race field. The ruling July favourite Futura ran a good preparation, running on from last for a 1,15 length fourth.

The Sean Tarry-trained Willow Magic, a former Investec Dingaans winner, ran a cracker, staying on for a 0,75 length second, but he is not a July entry. Neither is the Alec Laird-trained Bezanova, who ran on strongly for a 0,9 length third, and neither is fifth-placed Night Trip.

Halve The Deficit did his chances of making the final field no harm, by finishing 2,15 lengths back in sixth. However, King Of Pain was once again below his best and his 4,9 length seventh was unlikely enough to force his way into the July field.

No Worries faded into a 5,4 length ninth. He was 11th on the second July log and his final field position appeared on the one hand to be under threat, as borderline cases Dynamic and Helderberg Blue later put their hands up by running third and fourth in the Cup Trial. But on the other hand a couple of other July log incumbents, Gold Onyx and Dynastic Power, were beaten over ten lengths in the Cup Trial.

Legislate’s part-owners Jack Mitchell and Dennis Evans were on course to accept the trophy.

The disappointment of the day was the scratching of Ice Machine, who was strongly fancied by many to win the Gold Challenge. He was found to be striding short upon arrival at the course.

Maine Chance Farms-bred Silvano gelding Punta Arenas had to overcome a wide draw in the Cup Trial and ran on strongly from near the back of the field to book his place in the July, winning by 1,25 lengths.

Wild One ran for the first time since his Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup second place at the end of last season and ran a cracker to finish second. Dynamic and Helderberg Blue ran well to be just 1,75 and 2,5 lengths back.  The favourite Kochka’s stride shortened in the final stages, having moved up well, and his three-length fifth might not be enough to climb into the July field.

The Mike Bass-trained Zanvliet Stud-bred Trippi mare Hammie’s Hooker defended her crown in a strong Gr 2 Tibouchina  field over 1400m. Her terrific turn of foot was enough to hold off the classy but luckless Same Jurisdiction, who ran on strongly from the back, to be beaten 0,5 lengths. Maybe Yes, Red Flame and Whatalady were next best.

Hammie’s Hooker doesn’t usually go down well to the start, but clearly thrives in KZN and appears to love Greyville.

In The Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m the Mike Azzie-trained Brave Tin Soldier colt Rabada showed a few signs of inexperience but still streaked clear to win impressively by 3,25 lengths under Anton Marcus. The long-striding Summerhill Stud-bred bay will appreciate further and is an exciting prospect for the future.

In the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m the Neil Bruss-trained Go Deputy filly Flying Ice improved from her debut win over the same distance at Scottsville two weeks earlier to remain unbeaten under Weichong Marwing. The Lammerskraal-bred bay fended off the favourite Almashooqa bravely to win by a head.

The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Antonius Pius colt Belong To Me looked lean and mean before the running of the Non-Black Type Durban Dash over 1100m on the polytrack for three-year-olds and duly won well under Donavan Mansour after showing pace throughout.

The meeting once again attracted a huge, festive crowd to Greyville thanks to the marketing genius of Rising Sun’s CEO Vijay Maharaj.

In the UK today Frankie Dettori won the world’s most famous flat horserace, the Epsom Derby, on the unbeaten John Gosden-trained favourite Golden Horn.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Legislate winning the Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville today (Nkosi Hlophe)