Justin Snaith is set on making Kasimir Equus Champion Sprinter after Richard Fourie’s mount followed up his Cape Flying Championship success by taking the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes at a crowd-filled Kenilworth on Saturday.

“Sprinter of the Year is a big thing for me and Kasimir has won every main sprint race we could throw at him this season,” he said. “He won’t go for the Computaform – he will have a break – but he will go to Durban for the Mercury Sprint.”

Snaith, also on the mark the Corne Orffer-ridden Libra, was limping like the proverbial wounded soldier – apparently the result of a swollen foot developed as he tried to get himself ready to race. There were no shortage of medical experts in the crowd offering advice including one woman who had a Latin name for the affliction and a dire warning of what would happen if he does nothing about it.

Joey Ramsden was a little unlucky not to win the Diadem with 44-1 shot Speedpoint who was fast closing the gap and went down by only a short head. He had better luck with Rose In Bloom in the same Brian and Kathy Finch colours in the Vasco Prix Du Cap, thanks in no small part to a power-packed S’Manga Khumalo ride.

Ramsden, winning this for the sixth time in 15 seasons, said: “She is an absolute superstar. She got pneumonia coming back from Jo’burg and was in hospital for 12 days. Yet she promptly finished fourth in the Sceptre. She is for sale and she is piro-free.”

But it was Vaughan Marshall who stole the show with his latest Captain Al star. Captain Of Stealth,a R500 000 CTS Premier purchase, was backed from evens to 6-10 for the 1 400m Divine Jet Maiden Juvenile, led after two and a half furlongs and coasted home over five lengths clear with M.J. Byleveld waving his index finger as if he had a message to impart.

Indeed he had, saying: “This horse has a massive action and a huge cruising speed, and my only concern was that he had never been off the bit.”

Marshall, who also trains his triple wining half-sister Rocket Girl, confirmed that the colt will go the One World route (Langerman) and added: “He is a super horse. I think he is something special.”

He is 20% owned by Johannesburg-based John Habib and 80% by a thrilled Pat Freestone who also part owns Rocket Girl and related: “I said to Vaughan at the sales that I wanted to have a go at the big time but this was the first occasion I realised that he was going to be good. It was more than exciting. Indeed I’m still shaking – but boy oh boy, he didn’t want to stop. What can he do next?”

Next on the agenda for the first two legs of a Candice Bass-Robinson/Aldo Domeyer treble is Durban. Vandah’s Spirit, who made it look so easy in the Kepu Trading Juvenile, goes for the Allan Robertson at Scottsville while Aeolus OTR Kenilworth Cup winner Pacific Chestnut has the Gold Vase and the eLan Gold Cup on his bucket list.

Anthony Andrews now has some idea of how John The Baptist felt – only in his case the wilderness lasted four times as long – yet throughout the barren spell he has remained cheerful (outwardly anyway) and positive, and he rode a peach of a race to win the Selangor Jet Master on Run Red. “Anthony is an unsung hero. He rides a lot of our work at home yet he doesn’t really get the chances,” said Andre Nel, paying tribute.

William Bambiso made his experience tell on River Rhone in the Work Riders Maiden but the stipes were so appalled at the general standard of riding that they had all six of them in and warned them that their licences could be in jeopardy if their riding does not improve.

BLOB The size of the crowd, and the overall atmosphere, attracted favourable comment from a succession of Tellytrack interviewees. Events Officer Clinton Theys, who is entitled to take a bow, said: “At a thumbsuck we had between 3 500 and 4 000 here although it seemed more than last year. Certainly people stayed longer this time.”

By Michael Clower

The Turffontein Inside track stages a nine race meeting tomorrow and the exotics look to be the best way to play it on a track which can produce the odd upset.

The seventh race, a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1200m, is the highest rated race on the card and Green Plains is the one to beat. She is the best in at the weights according to official merit ratings and is unbeaten in two starts on the Turffontein Inside track. Both of them were over 1000m but she has shown good pace and the ability to kick on over 1160m so has it all in her favour here from pole position around the turn. Rock A Roll Dancer beat a useful field last time in good style and there is not much between her and Schippers on some formlines so she can do well from a fair draw.

Witch Of The West has always struck as one with class and she should have come on from her last run, which was her seasonal reappearance, so she is the dark horse from a plum draw over a suitable trip. Schippers has come into her own this season and has won three out of four starts including one over this course and distance. Last time out she won the Grade 3 Magnolia Handicap over 1160m by four lengths. However, the form has not worked out exceptionally well and she was given a nine point raise, so she is up against it, although she is joint second best in at the weights. Desert Rhythm won the Grade 2 Golden Slipper as a two-year-old but is an enigmatic sort, although her best recent run was over this trip so she is difficult to ignore.

In the first leg of the PA Glamorous Scandal went close last time over this 2600m trip and is the one to beat. Bondiblu has fallen to a competitive merit rating and Emily Hobhouse, despite being 5,5kg under sufferance, is coming into her own in the typical fashion of a daughter of Ideal World.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Aurelia Cotta enjoys running on from behind and so the draw will not be a bother and on pedigree she has a chance of staying the trip. Rail Trip has niot lived up to expectations but has to be included. Miss Sabina, by Silvano and a half-brother to the twice Summer Cup winner Master Sabina, is going the right way.

In the first leg of the Jackpot Mighty Rock went close when stepped up to this 2000m last time. Blame Game is by Captain Al and is a half-brother to Whiteline Fever who finished close up in the Vodacom Durban July once so he can improve over this trip. Humour Me should relish this step up in trip and has a chance if bouncing back after not striding out last time.

In the sixth race over 2000m Arlington’s Revenge’s last two wins over 1600m have worked out very well and he should stay the trip on pedigree. Zeal And Zest has always had ability and bounced back with a good win last time. Yamoto can improve being by Dynasty and having his third run after a layoff and gelding and he was staying on over 1600m last time. There is not much between Zeal Zest, Seventh Of June and Kings Cup.

In the eighth over 1500m Epic Dream is 1kg under sufferance with Orpheus on official merit ratings but has a touch of class and has always struck as one who would get this trip. Only To Win is on the up and is a threat and Orpheus has talent but the concern is his breathing issues.

In the ninth over 1500m Xplosive Kiss is the best in at the weights and should enjoy this step up in trip on pedigree. Irish Wonder Girl is drawn in pole and is in good form, but would prefer further and Vi Va Pi Pa is capable of producing a good performance.

By David Thiselton

Kasimir is a confident selection to follow up his Cape Flying Championship win in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes at Kenilworth’s Prawn Festival meeting tomorrow.

The Justin Snaith four-year-old won the Cape Merchants over this course and distance in November but his performance on Met day was an eye-opener. Far from being inconvenienced by the 1 000m – as most people thought he would be –  he was able to hit the front over half a furlong out and stride on strongly to beat Bold Respect by almost two lengths.

He has definitely improved this season and should be able to confirm the form with the runner-up. The latter’s stable companion Search Party should not be faraway and don’t ignore the 2017 winner Trip To Heaven. This slow starter with the brilliant finishing speed has an extra furlong to find his feet following his Cape Flying fifth.

According to the handicappers Chimichuri Run should bounce back to winning form after disappointing in the Cape Guineas and the CTS 1600. They make him best by half a kilo, even before adding in anything for having Anton Marcus on his back. Personally I find this hard to swallow.    

The race is run six weeks later this year and so past results may not be quite as relevant but four-year-olds have won half the last ten runnings and only two favourites and one joint favourite have been successful during this period.

Kasimir opened 2-1 favourite with World Sports Betting on Wednesday and was 22-10 by noon yesterday with Bold Respect on 15-4 and Chimichuri Run a 9-2 chance. Search Party had been backed from 17-2 to 11-2 but nobody seemed to want to know Trip To Heaven who had drifted from 17-2 to 10-1.

Joey Ramsden has by far the best record in the Vasco Prix Du Cap, winning five of the last 14 runnings, and he can collect again with Rose In Bloom who has a theoretical 3kg in hand and is favourite at 33-10. She was a four-length sixth in the Majorca and before that had the speed to finish fourth in the Sceptre- and the last two weeks have shown local punters just what an advantage it is to have S’Manga Khumalo in the irons.

The bookmakers have a high opinion of the Dean Kannemeyer Graduation winner Silva’s Bullet and have her favourite for the Selangor Jet Master at 33-10. But Brave Move is the one with the form in the book and, despite a rather disappointing season so far, she makes strong appeal at 9-2.

Cedar Man (5-2), although under sufferance, may be able to turn the tables on 3-1 shot Dynasty’s Blossom in the Aeolus OTR Kenilworth Cup.

By Michael Clower

Moved from Wednesday to today, racing is on the Greyville poly track this evening where the exotics may be the best way to tackle a tricky card. Check out the change in starting times.

In the opening leg of the Place Accumulator, Class Of Eight has shown signs of coming to hand and has shown up well in her last two. She is down in trip here but looks ready. Elusive Diva will probably start favourite for the umpteenth time and has been expensive to follow. She is obviously limited but could find this shorter trip more to her liking.

The first leg of the Pick 6 looks wide open. So Var has shown up well in his two starts since a break and this is his peak run. Di Mazzio carried bottom weight in the Marula Sprint but beat a strong field. He went up six points in the ratings but should still be competitive in this company. Roy Magner raids from the Highveld with Life Is Good who has come down rapidly in the ratings and showed improved form in blinkers. Another to consider is Royal Amour who goes best on the poly and found some good market support last time out. He may just have needed it and should feature prominently.

Garth Puller and Anton Marcus have an enviable strike rate and top-rated Mana Santana has all the right credentials in the fourth. However, Italian Way was not far off the promising Last Of The Legend and Wednesday’s winner Mr Fitz so could oblige at a decent price.

One always needs to take note of Highveld raiders and Brian Wiid has a knack of sending the right horse for the poly. Petite Aime is a long-time battler but has shown some recent improvement and is up against some equally limited opposition in the fifth. A head separated Ruby Slippers and Summer Day when last they met. Ruby Slippers gets a tongue-tie so could reverse the placings.

Marcus will have had a pick of a few mounts in the sixth and has opted for the lightly raced Mashari for Puller. The gelding is a late starter, and judging by the number of barrier trials, has his problems, but he is winner of two of his three starts and looks progressive. Marcus was aboard Cruz Giovanni and The Master when shedding their maidens. They are both lightly raced geldings so should have more to come while Emperor Niarchos is an old campaigner who has dropped even further in the ratings and could surprise.

The seventh is a minefield although Awayinthewoods has yet to run a bad race and has a light weight. Both of her wins have come on the poly. Adorable Analia nearly caused a major boil-over when narrowly beaten at her last start and appeared to enjoy the extra so may be one to follow. The list of possible winners is a long one so it may prove prudent to load up in this leg.

Although a little disappointing last time out, Toronto has been consistent and the switch to the poly could be in his favour. Roy’s Physco has taken tome to come to hand but has proved of late while Fashionada made some promising improvement at his second outing and can do even better over this trip. He is one to watch.

In the card opener, one can draw a line through Alfonso Spagoni’s last effort when playing up badly at the start. He had some promising form before that and the Mark Dixon stable has hit form. He takes to the poly for the first time. Mokoko and the two Highveld raiders One Of Our Own and Phoenix Sun also come into the picture.

By Andrew Harrison

The Mike de Kock-trained Gin Fizz is probably the best two-year-old filly seen out this season and is living proof her late sire Soft Ralling Rain will be a big loss to the industry.

Soft Falling Rain passed away in September 2018 during his fourth covering season at Wilgerbosdrift Stud.

He had full books and his progeny are sort after.

At the recent Cape Thoroughbred Premier Yearling Sale six of his progeny were sold for a total of R2,15 million with a high of R800,000 and an average of R358,333.

The R800,000 lot was out of a Listed-winning Var mare who is a half-sister to the like of Chesalon, Mardi Gras and Valeta (the dam of She’s A Giver).

Gin Fizz stood out in the parade ring on Sunday as an imposing individual with plenty of substance and presence.

In the running she looked a chip off the old block, displaying a huge stride and winning hands and heels under Gavin Lerena by 7,4 lengths.

Her dam Espumanti, a British-bred by Dansili, won the Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Challenge over a mile and the Grade 2 Betting World 1900 and she finished second in the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes to the great Beach Beauty.

Ginn Fizz is her first foal.

Gin Fizz should follow in the footsteps of her father by running in either the SA Nursery of the SA Fillies Nursery. Soft Falling Rain, who was by the speed influence National Assembly and was trained by De Kock, won all four of his starts in South Africa from 1000-1160m and won his first three starts in Dubai, where he was named Champion three-year-old Miler. He won the Grade 2 Joel Stakes over a mile at Newmarket in his second start in the UK and the following year finished a length second to the great Variey Club in the defence of his Godolphin Mile crown. In his final start he finished a four length sixth in the Group 1 Queen Ann Stakes over a mile at the Royal Ascot meeting.

Gin Fizz should also get a mile in time.

There have been some other eyecatching two-year-old fillies seen this season like the Candice Bass-Robinson trio Cousin Liz (Captain Al), Miss Honey (Pathfork) and Vandah’s Spirit (Trippi), the Alan Greef-trained Brandina (Capetown Noir) and the Yogas Govender-trained Her Royal Majesty (Great Britain), but none of them have been as impressive as Gin Fizz.  

Soft Falling Rain has seven lots on the forthcoming BSA Cape Yearling Sale on March 17 at the Mistico Equestrian Centre between Durbanville and Paarl.

By David Thiselton

Adam Marcus is calling on Uncle Anton in a bid to restore Brave Move to her old form in the Selangor Jet Master Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The mare won six in a row last season, including the Ladies Mile and the Final Fling and went up in the ratings from 74 to 107. Yet in three outings this term she has failed to finish closer than fourth and an abnormal blood count ruled her out of the Majorca.

Her trainer said: “I was expecting bigger things this season – the way she was winning last year I thought she wasn’t going to stop – but she is in good form and I am hoping we can get her back on track. She was drawn off the course in the Prix Du Cap so we are going for the Jet Master with her.”

Brave Move was 9-2 second favourite when World Sports Betting posted up its prices yesterday. The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Silva’s Bullet, odds-on when winning a graduation at the end of last year, heads the market at 7-2.

Cape Flying Championship winner Kasimir is 2-1 favourite to follow up in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes and Rose In Bloom is 28-10 favourite to give Joey Ramsden his sixth Vasco Prix Du Cap in 15 seasons.

By Michael Clower

In an interview earlier in the week, Gavin van Zyl was confident that the winner of yesterday’s umThombothi Stakes (Non Black Type) at Scottsville would come from one of his four runners – he included son Chesney’s pair in the mix – but was uncertain of the right one.

Punters were not fazed however, as Marchingontogether was backed as if the result was already known. He duly landed the plunge, although hard-pressed to the line by ‘stable companion’ Blackball.

Marchingontogether had solid credentials before lining up in the Gauteng Guineas earlier this month where he finished with just three behind him.

But with blinkers removed, the son of Pathfork was settled mid-field by Warren Kennedy before moving though in the straight to win smartly. The year-older Blackball made a race of it but came up nearly a length shy with the filly Flichity By Farr running a cracker in her come-back from a break in third.

Anton Marcus seldom goes home without a winner, most often two, and he collected another double yesterday.

The first came for Shane Humby whose Mr Fitz looked the best bet on the card and lived up to his billing. Runner-up on debut behind Last Of The Legend, a winner in good company next time out, Mr Fitz franked that form with a solid performance that bodes well for the colt’s future.

There are few more passionate owners in racing than Rob Haswell, retired Municipal Manager of Msunduzi (Pietermaritzburg), but he was missing in action yesterday – work commitments – as Marcus rode a copybook race on Cumulus in the White Horse Function Room Handicap. Showing early pace, Marcus sat for as long as possible before asking Nathan Kotzen’s gelding for and effort and Cumulus responded smartly, finding another gear to motor to a convincing victory.

Milnerton-based trainer Piet Steyn, after winning a race at Kenilworth on Saturday, made a passionate plea for owners to support the smaller trainers, without them he reasoned, racing would be doomed. However, racing has a habit of ploughing the same furrow regardless of consequences.

The most popular winner on the day, no matter the lengthy odds, was the Gary Rich-trained Connect Me – spectators and fellow trainers alike warm in their congratulations. Rich, son of July winning trainer Dessie (Lightning Shot), operates a small string with the help of his daughter Tessa, and they get the best out of what they have.

Steyn put it bluntly to Racegoer writer Michael Clower. “In a year or two’s time we are going to end up with only four or five trainers in Cape Town, and racing can’t survive on that. They have got to start to support the smaller trainers. I know you can’t tell people where to put their horses but come and look at Milnerton and see how many empty stables there are.

 “It’s a disaster and it comes from agents, breeders and the whole clique. It doesn’t matter how good you are – if you are not in that flow you can forget about it.”

Possibly an early warning for us in KZN!

By Andrew Harrison

Rain has not only bedevilled racing in KZN but also on the Highveld and some trainers are looking elsewhere for relief. Turffontein-based Paul Peter is in the vanguard with three runners at Scottsville today and some of his Highveld colleagues, notably Chesney van Zyl, have also cottoned on.

Sunday’s rescheduled meeting is headed by the umThombothi Stakes (Non-Black Type) over 1950m where weights are allocated according to number of wins which sees Legend at the top of the handicap.

On official merit ratings, Legend will have his work cut out in this company in spite of two recent forward showings, especially as he is up against a quartet of progressive three-year-olds.

Chesney van Zyl raids with top-rated Marchingontogether and Stream Ahead while his father Gavin also holds a competitive hand in Affranchi and the year older Blackball. Add to this the progressive Duke Of Spin and the smart filly Flichity By Farr and we have the ingredients for a good contest.

Marchingontogether and Stream Ahead both took their chances in the Gauteng Guineas, both finishing down the field. The race was run in yielding going but Van Zyl Snr confirmed that those runs were way below par. Speaking on behalf of his son he said the blinkers come off Marchingontogether and the tongue-tie comes off Stream Ahead and both were in a good space as was Affranchie.

“He’s coming on nicely and I think we have finally got to the bottom of him,” confirmed Van Zyl. Affranchi has not run up to expectations since switching to the Van Zyl yard but he has been showing signs of life at recent outings.

“Blackball raced wide with no cover last start so I’m expecting a better showing from him as well,” said Van Zyl. “I can’t single out any one of our runners but I think the winner will come from one of them.:

Duke Of Spin, the lowest rated of the three-year-olds was palpably in need of his last run and his efforts were not helped by stable companion Legend giving him a rough passage. He looks like a smart colt and a win would not be unexpected.

Best weighted is Alyson Wright’s filly, Flichity By Far. However, she has not been out since October last year where she proved to be more than useful over marathon trips so this race, her first in over three months over a trip short of her best, does look like a warm-up although she will probably race fresh.

The White Horse Function Room Handicap is a competitive sprint but it may be worth following Anton Marcus who stays with the Nathan Kotzen-trained Cumulus. The gelding has shown flashes of ability, having run recent eight-time winner Ronnie Rocket to within a length and his last two efforts have signalled a change in fortune.

A change of tactics could also be in order and Cumulus is likely to be running at them late. Given all the recent thunder storms, his name could be an omen.

Of the balance, Buffalo Soldier is smart on his day while the grey Isca hacked up in a weak four-horse barrier trial but did show his well-being and he loves this course.

Finally, Darryl Moore looks to have a potential star in the making in Woodstock Festival and a win in this company will set him on the road to bigger things.

By Andrew Harrison

Brett Crawford, who won the Daily News two years ago with subsequent July third Edict Of Nantes as well as with Jackson in 2012, is to aim Charles at the R2 million Greyville Grade 1 on June 1 following the colt’s fine run in the G-Bets Cape Derby when he was only beaten a fifth of a length by the Mike de Kock-trained Atyaab.

Crawford said: “Charles ran a great race that day and he goes to Durban. There is a seven furlong race (Byerley Turk on April 7) as a starting point, he then definitely runs in the Daisy Guineas (May 4) and after that he will head for the Daily News.”

The precise value put on the form of the Cape Derby has been lowered by two kilos after Robert Bloomberg – acting for De Kock, Crawford and Justin Snaith, trainer of fourth-placed Bunker Hunt- lodged a successful appeal against the revised ratings of three of the first four.  The Glen Kotzen-trained Herodotus, who was third, was not included in the appeal but his rating was also lowered by 2kg.

The mystery of Mushi Sterek remains. Nothing has shown up – even the blood tests were clear – to account for her poor performance when odds-on for her handicap debut at Kenilworth on January 12. She was in trouble after little more than a furlong and finished a long way last. The only outward sign that all was not as it should be came when she was tossing her head around going down to the start.

Crawford said: “She has now gone for a rest. We will give her a nice break and then start again.”

Much has rightly been made of Sean Tarry’s feat in training his 2 000^th winner with Flash Burn at Turffontein last Saturday. However the corresponding achievement of his great championship rival passed under the radar during the 2015/16 season. Snaith’s total now stands at 2 530. Cape Town’s current winningmost trainer started operations in 2001 when he was 26 while Tarry was 28 when he first took out his licence in May 1997.

By Michael Clower