This was the first turf meeting at Greyville since November 9 and the course was presented in fine condition in front of another big Friday night crowd.

Fourth Estate has now won eight races, six of them on the Greyville turf, and earned bold black type for the first time. He was backed in from 14-1 to 10-1 and after jumping from pole position was settled on the rail in about midfield.

The second favourite Diamond King hit the front at the250m mark, but when Fourth Estate was switched inward he made up the ground quickly and kept going well to win easily. Isobar, the 9/2 favourite Candy Moon and Uncle Tommy had to be dropped out from wide draws and ran on from the back for third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Fourth Estate is owned by Colin Scott’s brother Rob together with B Bougardt and N Govender, was bred by Tertia Properties and has now earned R673,225 in stakes.

Picture: Fourth Estate (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ramsden and Fayd’Herbe were all smiles afterwards, in stark contrast to the Gr 1 Avontuur Estate Fillies Guineas two weeks earlier in which their fancied charge Cold As Ice broke through the starting stalls and bolted. The ups and downs of racing were displayed in no uncertain terms as Ramsden had no fewer than five winners yesterday. Act Of War’s owners Markus and Ingrid Jooste were not on course, but enjoyed a halcyon meeting as their colours were in the winner’s enclosure on six occassions.

Act Of War Cape Guineas – Liesl King

Fayd’Herbe said afterwards about the strapping Dynasty colt Act Of War, “He is one of the best horses I’ve ever sat on and everybody must get on the bandwagon and enjoy this horse now because he is something special.”

Ramsden’s emotions were more of relief as he said Act Of War’s preparation had gone well until a poor gallop last weekend. He had therefore endured a highly stressful week. However, he has proved himself a fine trainer of high class horses many times before and he had his charge in fine condition by the time of the race.

However, despite the comfort of the win in the end, he said afterwards that he had felt the horse had not been at his best on the day.

Trainer Paul Lafferty might have also felt the same as Second favourite Harry’s Son, a usually very laid back sort, did not settle nearly as well as he usually does in the running. Furthermore, he had flown into Cape Town from Durban on the morning of the race. He therefore put up a highly courageous performance, answering Piere Strydom’s call to go for home early from a handy position, stealing a march and staying all the way to the line.

Act Of War had in the meantime not broken well from a good draw of two, but Fayd’Herbe was happy to end up off the fence in midfield as he had always planned to have him in a “comfortable” position away from the bustle.

Fayd’Herbe had the perfect horse to follow into the straight in Act Of War’s classy stablemate Kingvoldt. Fayd’Herbe kept his eye on Harry’s Son out in front but never panicked and when he asked the question the answer was instantaneous. He said later that he had only had to give him a “little squeeze” to exact that response. The writing was on the wall from that moment onwards for the gallant Harry’s Son and his passionate owners, who had also flown down for the race. Act Of War simply cruised past to win by 1,75 lengths. Kingvoldt threatened to follow him through but Harry’s Son fought all the way to the line to beat him by a head.

The Sean Tarry-trained third favourite Zambezi River was not well away but tried very hard in the straight. However, he made little inroads and it was his unheralded stablemate, the 75/1 shot Imperial Gold, who finished in eyecatching style to beat him into the final quartet position, albeit 3,5 lengths behind Kingvoldt.

Ramsden was not drawn to answer where Act Of War will go next and the connections will likely only make a call after they have monitored how well he comes out of yesterday’s race. Markus and Ingrid Jooste own Act Of War and he was bred by Arc-En-Ciel Stud. The Jooste’s were represented by their racing manager Derek Brugman, who like Ramsden was also relieved that the race was over.

Earlier, Surruptitious was an unfortunate scratching in the Gr 3 Grandwest Cape Summer Stayers over 2500m as he looked sure to set a good gallop, and instead the pace was farcical in the early stages. The only filly in the race, Dynasty’s Pride, was then sent clear. The rest were content to bide their time and she turned for home at least ten lengths clear. Current Event was the first to come out of the pack and Gothic and the hot favourite Wavin’ Flag were making runs from well back.

However, the Ramsden-trained Argentininan-bred Giant’s Causeway gelding Coltrane, who had turned for home last, stormed through under Anthony Delpech to cause a 25/1 upset from Gothic, Current Event and Dynastic Power with 15/10 shot Wavin’ Flag in fifth. Coltrane was a useful stayer last season but was virtually pulled up in his last start over the too far 3200m, which probably explained the lack of market support.

The Dennis Drier-trained Jet Master mare Jet Aglow was well weighted in the Listed Cape Premier Jet Master Stakes over 1600m and duly landed 2/1 odds under Sean Cormack. She came from a handy position and stayed on resolutely, although Jet Explorer was closing quickly and put in an eyecatching preparation for the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate by finishing just 0,5 lengths back in second. They were followed closely by the rank outsider Friendly Tibbs. Readytogorightnow and It Is Written were next best.

Pictures: Liesl King

Last year’s Cape Derby second made all, albeit at a desperately slow pace, and he has now won all his three races since having over 15 months off to recover from a damaged tendon.

Justin Snaith said: “I was absolutely devastated when he did that tendon. It was bad news to have to give someone so I said to Hassen Adams ‘We will take a share and there will be no bills.’

“I think he is the type for the Durban July and we were going to keep him for that but after this we might have to go for the Met. If so he will go straight there and there will be no Met gallop. The interests of the horse come first and nobody is going to tell me otherwise.”

Helderberg Blue, gaining all the way to the line and only beaten 0.2 lengths by the 12-1 winner, was shortened from 40-1 to 33-1 by Betting World and he will have another outing in the meantime. Mike Bass said: “The Met is six weeks away so I will have to run him. Maybe we can find a Pinnacle.”

Dean Kannemeyer could be looking for the same thing with third-placed Power King who was giving weight all round and has left unchanged at 40-1. He said: “Power King was gelded just over three weeks ago because I was battling with his blood which was getting thicker all the time. He needed this so I will probably give him one more run.”

Stan Elley is already targeting the Peninsula Handicap on 10 January with 40-1 shot Punta Arenas who fired Aldo Domeyer into the air during the parade (he landed painfully astride the fence) and then galloped flat out for more than a complete circuit.

Captain America proved an expensive favourite and has been marked out from 25-1 to 50-1 while Brett Crawford scratches his head in puzzlement. Crawford said: “I’m disappointed. He settled and then moved up as if he was about to go forward but he stayed where he was.”

The Phillipi trainer added that 9-2 third favourite Futura will run in Saturday week’s Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes, saying: “There is a big gap between the Green Point and the Queen’s Plate so I have decided to run him in the Diadem.”

Sean Cormack, for whom this was the third consecutive Premier, also used his fine tactical skills to bring out the best in the Devines’ homebred 8-1 shot Jet Supreme in the Calulo Victress. She and unlucky runner-up Acrostar will both go for the Maine Chance Paddock Stakes on 10 January.

Warm White Night had his first runners in the Themba Dry Cargo Maiden and he got off the mark with the Glen Puller-trained Harlem Shake.

Picture: Legislate, last season’s Vodacom Durban July winner, remains a firm favourite in the early J&B Met market (Liesl King)

The five-year-old hot favourite gave trainer John Moore his second victory in the big race as he had won it in 2011 with Able One. The pacemaker Gold Fun kept on well for second. The Japanese pair Grand Prix Boss and World Ace were next best ahead of last year’s winner Glorious Days.

However, Moore and Moreira were not yet finished as they then won the Gr 1 HK $25 million Longines Hong Kong Cup over 2000m with another local horse and hot favourite, Designs on Rome, who won comfortably from Military Attack, Criterion, Cirrus Des Aigles and Helene Super Star. South African ex-patriot jockey Douglas Whyte finished runner up in three of the Gr 1s he rode in on the day.

Designs On Rome – Joao Moreira (Liesl King)

In the HK$ 18,5 million Hong Kong Sprint over 1200m the Paul O’Sullivan-trained second favourite Aerovelocity made virtually all the running under Zac Purton to hold off Whyte’s mount, the Tony Cruz-trained rising three-year-old star and race favourite Peniaphobia.

Earlier the great French trainer Andre Fabre landed favouritism in the Gr 1 $HK 16,5 million Hong Kong Gold Vase over 2400m with his four-year-old British-bred Dansili colt Flintshire, who was ridden by Maxime Guyon. He just held off the fancied Cruz and Whyte partnered Willie Cazals by a neck. Whyte’s third Gr 1 second was on the Richard Gibson-trained Gold Fun in the Mile.

Pictures: Liesl King

Neethling’s mount Latino Heat, who escaped uninjured, seemed to get a fright when the neighbouring horse hit the front of its gate and he then appeared to try and leap through the top part of the gate, losing his footing in the process.

Neethling’s arm reportedly has a clean break and he will likely be out for six to eight weeks.

The meeting had been delayed by a power failure reportedly caused by a fault in the sub station behind Greyville.

There was then a further delay as the ambulance had to leave the course to transport the injured rider. However, the last six races of the eight-race meeting were completed.

The main race, the Non-black Type River Indigo Handicap over 1400m, was won by the Dennis Drier-trained four-year-old Solskjaer filly Red Label, ridden by Sean Veale.

The racecourse floodlights at Greyville are not connected to a generator due to the enormous expense of such an undertaking, as it would either require one massive generator, or a generator apiece for every three to four lights.

However, a UPS system keeps the lights on for about four minutes after a power failure to ensure that they would never go out during a race.

Following successful surgery earlier this week, Lerena said: “I had a bone removed from behind my Achilles tendons that was causing pain and pressure on the tendons (tendinitis). It’s commonly referred to as ‘pump bumps’ from riding and overuse. The doctor said the tendons were not compromised in the operation because he had done key-hole surgery. And the recovery period is normally around 6 to 8 weeks.”

Lerena is back at home, enjoying the support of family and friends, and hopes to be back in the saddle soon. The SA Racing App team wish him a speedy recovery.

Sourced by Victor Tojeira for http://www.goldcircle.co.za

S’Manga Khumalo got his first look at Happy Valley on Tuesday ahead of the International Jockeys’ Championship. Photo: Kenneth Chan

It’s fair to say that of the 12 riders lining up in tonight’s contest, none boast such an inspirational tale as the 29-year-old’s unlikely path to stardom.

Plucked from a Durban school as a 14-year-old by a South African Jockey Academy talent scout, Khumalo rose through the ranks to become the first black jockey to win his country’s most prestigious race, the Durban July, and then again made history when crowned the first black champion jockey of South Africa this year.

Just as winning last year’s July earned Khumalo respect and opened up opportunities for the ambitious rider, he hopes success tonight can do the same here.

A model representing South Africa takes a selfie with S’Manga Khumalo.

“It was a huge breakthrough for me to win the July, and I wouldn’t be here riding against these great jockeys if it wasn’t for that win,” he said.

“That’s the race that showed people I have the talent. But there’s still a lot I want to accomplish and, ever since I was an apprentice, I wanted to come and race here in Hong Kong.

“This is definitely that same sort of chance to show what I can do. I want to show I belong and prove it on the track. I want to show the trainers and let them make the decision, and say, ‘Wow, this guy rides well’ and then want me to come back.”

Khumalo said his freelance status allowed him some flexibility if a short-term contract were to become available in the latter part of the season.

“I’m not tied to a stable and I would love the chance to ride here,” he said. “We watch the racing here closely and when I look at the jockeys I have tried to learn from and look up to like Piere Strydom, Anton Marcus and Anthony Delpech, they all spent time here and became better riders.”

A solid book of rides has Khumalo in the top half of betting in the four-race series, and while he only got his first glimpse of the unique city track yesterday, he was not intimidated.

“Hopefully, my experience at Greyville can help me,” he said. “It is a bigger track than this, but right handed as well and with very tight turns.

“It’s all about having the right horse, but at least racing at Greyville is the same sort of style.

“It’s all about getting your horses out of the gates quickly and getting them into position early.”

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Inspirational Khumalo eager for Happy Valley success

In the Victress Stakes Snaith stable jockey Richard Fourie will be aboard Acrostar, who has burst into prominence with two impressive displays over 1400m and 1600m in her last two starts.

Snaith said about the four-year-old Australian-bred by Danehill Dancer, “She is a late maturing filly who has come well. We have gelled with her and everything we are doing she is enjoying. She has come into her own and is doing well at home, so we are expecting a similar race to her last two.”

Acrostar finished second in last season’s Listed Winter Oaks over 2200m, so should have no problem with the 1800m trip. She came from last in both of her recent wins, so her draw of eight will be of no concern either. This will be her last run before the Paddock Stakes.

The five-year-old Jet Master mare Jet Supreme returned from a three month rest on November 8 in a MR 88 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m and ran on strongly to finish second, beaten 0,2 lengths.

Snaith said, “She is a very nice filly and that was a very impressive first run back. She was unlucky not to win as she found a bit of trouble early on. She is doing well and is consistent, so will run a good race, and Sean Cormack is the best rider for her.”

Jet Supreme (Nkosi Hlophe)

Jet Supreme beat Acrostar a short-head when winning the Gr 3 weight for age Final Fling Stakes over 1800m on August 3, so will enjoy the trip. She has a difficult draw of nine, but Cormack is skilled at placing horses in the running.

Star Jet is also a five-year-old Jet Master mare and has finished 3,5 lengths and 3 lengths respectively behind Acrostar in her last two outings, although she was giving the latter 3kg in the first of them. Snaith said, “Her runs back from a break have also been very good and she is primed for a big run on Saturday. I wouldn’t be surprised if she is the fastest finisher, especially over this distance.” She is drawn in pole position with Karl Neisius up.

Snaith summed up his Victress Stakes chances, “We are very strong and I will be disappointed if we don’t walk away with a win.”

The yard have four runners in the Premier Trophy and Fourie has surprisingly chosen to ride True Master, who is the lowest merit rated of them on 93.  The five-year-old Jet Master gelding won his second race this season in a MR 95 Handicap over 1600m and  Snaith said, “He had a successful wind operation after Durban and it has made a lot of difference, he might be better than his form suggests and he has come on from his last run.” He is drawn well in four.

Snaith’s former Investec Cape Derby runner up Dynamic, a 99 merit-rated five-year-old Dynasty gelding, returned from a break of well over a year to win both his starts this season over 1600m.

However, Snaith said, “We were very disappointed with his last start. He did win it but in that Graduation Plate race he should have won easier. He was a bit heavy and I have given him a gallop and he will strip fitter. He is a high quality horse but could be just one run short at this level. On ability he is the best of our runners, but there is a question mark over his fitness.” Dynamic is drawn six and Cormack is aboard.

True Master (Liesl King)

Snaith was bullish about the 97-merit rated four-year-old Silvano gelding Arion, who finished a 2,5 length third to Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate in last season’s Investec Cape Derby. He returned from a seven month break to run fourth on his reappearance over 1300m and was then fifth as joint-favourite in the Gr 3 Betting World Algoa Cup over 2000m at Fairview.

Snaith said, “This is one who I’m expecting a good race from and he could be the dark horse. I don’t think he was given a good ride last time and needed the run too. He will strip a lot fitter.” Arion is drawn in pole and Bernard Fayd’Herbe rides.

Snaith said about his other runner, the five-year-old Jallad gelding Johnny Rockets, who jumps from draw 8 with Greg Cheyne aboard, “He runs on strongly but is not the soundest so I am going in fresh and hoping for a good race.”

He concluded about his Premier Trophy runners, “It will take a nice horse to beat them. There is very little in it and it will just depend on which one of them is fittest and soundest on the day. Any one of them could win at their best.”

Snaith said about his other runners on the day, “(1st race) – Captain Blackwater, these workriders’ races are impossible to predict. (2^nd race -) I haven’t been hard on my two-year-olds this year, so both Carmina and Rock Jo Emma have chances but are not readied up. (3^rd race -) Carmen Silver will run a better race and is almost ready to win. (4^th race -) Cap Alright is trying 1400m, so there’s a question mark, Paulo is running fresh, which he likes, so they have each/way chances.  (5^th race -) Tell Me More is looking for the extra ground and could run a big race, he is a nice one to follow on the day.”

Kochka caused a 25/1 upset on debut over 1000m at Scottsville when beating subsequent Gr 1 winner Captain Of All. He then finished fourth in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Medallion behind Captain Of All over 1200m at Scottsville, before exacting revenge in the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day, where he went down by a hair’s breadth to Forest Indigo with Captain Of All a further 0,25 lengths back in third.

He then clinched the champion colt award when beating Forest Indigo by 0,75 lengths to win the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m on Gold Cup day.

All of those runs were in 2013 and he was then given a deserved rest. However, he rapped a tendon in training in March this year shortly before his comeback and the veterinarian advised a long rest as a precautionary measure.

Upon his return to Summerveld he was “hacked” for about a month and has now just begun light workouts.

The Wrights expect him to be racing again in about March next year.

The dark bay lost none of his good looks during his forced holiday and race fans will be looking forward to seeing his long stride in action again during the Champions Season.

He has not raced since the Golden Horseshoe on July day, when he weakened in the closing stages after leading early on, but Dennis Drier (pictured) confirms that he is reasonably ready.

“The Golden Horseshoe was too soon but I think he is an out-and-out sprinter,” Drier adds. “The Betting World Cape Flying Championship is a big ask for a three-year-old but it is at the back of my mind.”

Stable companion Beckedorf has also been off for four months – “He is a smart little horse and it’s just unfortunate that he has to bump one like Guiness” – but Sean Cormack’s mount looks the one. He was 9-10 with Betting World yesterday and that looks reasonable considering how far he is in front of the opposition on both ratings and last season’s form.

Second favourite Harry Lime (22-10) has the advantage of race fitness and seemingly he did not run up to his best when over six lengths behind Guiness in the Medallion. “He pulled up shin sore after that race,” explains Justin Snaith.

Western Force proved costly when starting favourite last time. He was found to be making an abnormal respiratory noise and not striding out on his right fore, but seemingly his problems were of a more delicate nature.

“We found that he had a twist in the string of one of his testicles,” Joey Ramsden explains. “He has been gelded since and I would like to think he is now a better horse. He works like a nice one.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount is 33-10 favourite and looks the one in the opening maiden while stable companion Icy Winter Air (3-1) may follow up half an hour later. She is 3kg better with Nonki Poo (9-2) for two lengths.

However watch out for 4-1 shot Azarenka who hasn’t been out of the first three in five starts, all of them over 600m less. “She couldn’t go with them last time,” says the champion trainer, explaining the step up in distance. “But this is a test – it’s a big jump – so be cautious.”

Four-year-olds in maidens are not normally the ones to be on – if they haven’t won a race by this stage the chances are that at least one of three-year-olds will be better – but Big Ed didn’t start racing until June and he looks a worthy favourite for race three.

Smiling Mistress would have gone close against Cuvee Brut had she not lost so much ground at the start last time and Darryl Hodgson is expecting a big run from the 11-2 chance in race six, particularly if the wind is in the right direction. “I’m hoping the South-Easter blows,” he says. “She must have an outstanding chance on the way she worked on Saturday.”

But Mike Stewart is keen on the shoeless Promicing Polly (9-2) who is a kilo better with Abyssinia for three-quarters of a length. “She’s got a big chance,” says the Noordhoek trainer.

That said, this is Abyssinia’s third run after a rest and that may just swing the balance in favour of the 7-2 favourite.