The barrier draw ceremony for the Sun Met was held yesterday and the big three, Do It Again, Oh Susanna and Rainbow Bridge, would all have been happy with their positions.

Rainbow Bridge is the type who needs cover as he can over race so the connections would have been thrilled with his draw of two.

Oh Susanna will want a fast pace or otherwise she will have to go to the front herself and draw five gives her a couple of options.

Do It Again relaxes well and can come from off the pace if necessary so his draw of seven also gives him options.

Legal Eagle shouldn’t be written off as he ran a flat race in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and he did not have good luck in running in the Met last year when finishing fourth. He has finished second twice in this race before but does now have to overcome a tough draw of eleven.

July runner up Made To Conquer drew well in four.

The likely pacemaker Milton drew six.

By David Thiselton

Do It Again, bidding to end the run of six beaten favourites in the Sun Met, will start from a mid-division seven in the R5 million Kenilworth showpiece on Saturday week.

Justin Snaith himself picked the straw (in the form of a Mumm champagne bottle) at yesterday’s GrandWest Casino barrier draw ceremony and later demonstrated a new-found skill by opening the bottle with a knife.

Brother Jono secured stall five for Oh Susanna who started from gate four when she won 12 months ago. The last four winners, and eight of the last 12, have started from single figure pens.

Legal Eagle, second from gates three and nine but only fourth from 13 last year, will this time break from stall 11.

Piere Strydom, who won on Angus in 2003, picked pen three for 20-1 shot Doublemint.

Eric Sands, the first man up to the table that carried all the numbered bottles, was well pleased with two for his 7-2 second favourite Rainbow Bridge. But M.J. Byleveld drew the 13 short straw for his mount Tap O’Noth.  Byleveld started from the same pen six years ago and was beaten only a neck on Hill Fifty Four.

By Michael Clower

Anton Marcus and apprentice Khanya Sakayi both rode trebles at the eight race Scottsville meeting yesterday.

Marcus was at his best in the first race on the hot favourite Uncle Charlie from the Garth Puller yard. The big horse had a lot of ground to make up in the straight of the 1400m Maiden event and looked to have too much to do as the horses towards the inside had stolen a march and he was taking a while to get going. However, Marcus got him into top gear in the last 200m and he got there in the nick of time.

Puller and Marcus scored a double when the decent sort Mashari won the last race, a MR 63 Handicap over 1400m, with ease and looks to be one to follow.

Marcus had earlier won the second race aboard the Louis Goosen-trained odds-on favourite Song Of The Forest, who enjoyed first time blinkers and converted 19/20 odds comfortably.

The hardworking 2,5kg claimer Sakayi rode the last three legs of the Jackpot, winning the fifth race aboard the Paul Gadsby-trained topweight Expresso Martini, the sixth on the Glen Kotzen-trained Chestnut’s Charm and the seventh on the Duncan Howells-trained Silver Raisin.

The easiest winner of the day was the Dennis Drier-trained Silver Prancer, who is improving in the typical fashion of a Silvano four-year-old filly and won the fourth race over 1950m by 5,40 lengths despite it being her eleventh start in the maidens.

There was also a win for Dennis Bosch and Warren Kennedy with Ella’s World, who looks to be another one to follow. 

By David Thiselton

The first horseracing inductees into South Africa’s Hall Of Fame were announced yesterday and they are Michael Roberts (jockey), Syd Laird (trainer), Sea Cottage (horse) and Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer (owners).

Michael “Muis” Roberts was a shoe in as the jockey. He held the record for the most winners as an apprentice for many years and won the first of his eleven South African Jockeys Championships while still an apprentice. He later became only the sixth non-British or Irish jockey to win the British Jockeys Championship, which began in 1840 and is regarded as the hardest championship to win in world racing. In doing so he became only the third jockey in history after Sir Gordon Richards and Pat Eddery to ride over 200 winners in a British flat racing season.

Syd Laird was the nephew of the great horseman Syd Garrett. He became a great horseman himself and holds the record for the most Durban July wins, seven in all. He trained South Africa’s first racehorse inducted into the Hall Of Fame, Sea Cottage, and expertly nursed him back from a bullet wound to the soft flesh of the hindquarters, which happened just three weeks before the 1966 July. He also trained the like of Colorado King, Mazarin and Politician who are all mentioned when the greats of the SA turf are discussed. His son Alec went on to become a fine trainer who also won the July.  

Sea Cottage won 20 of 24 starts and was known for his devastating finish from off the pace. He had won eleven of 12 starts when disaster struck three weeks before the 1966 Durban July. A lone gunman shot him in the soft flesh of the hindquarter while he was walking under a bridge on to the Blue Lagoon beach where he was trained. Trainer Syd Laird still managed to have him ready for the July but he suffered bad luck in running and finished fourth. The following year with topweight he had to produce an electrifying finish to catch the lightweight Jollify and he just managed to do so. The result was a dead-heat.  He won the Queen’s Plate twice, the Clairwood Winter Handicap twice, the SA Derby, the SA Guineas, the Champions Stakes and also won the Grade 1 Newbury Stakes over 1200m twice, showing his versatility.

Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer owned and bred the great Horse Chestnut, who would have been the chief opposition to Sea Cottage for the first equine Hall Of Fame inductee. The popular couple won the July six times among many other great races. They founded Mauritzfontein Stud and this breeding operation together with Wilgerbosdrift Stud, which are today owned and run by their daughter and granddaughter respectively Mary and Jessica Slack, continues to make an enormous impact on the thoroughbred breed in this country. The two stud farms bring in quality stallions and broodmares from overseas and breed to high standards. Bridget was fondly known as “The Queen Mum of South African racing” in her last years. The couple’s famous yellow and black silks, today running under the banner of Mauritzfontein Stud, are still a regular fixture in SA racing and were carried to victory by Smart Call in the 2016 J&B Met.

By David Thiselton

Saving the best wine until the last? The Biblical phrase could ring true for punters at Kenilworth today when Vforvictory is taken to justify favouritism in the concluding 1 800m maiden.

This was the one, remember, who got that ringing endorsement on Winning Ways (Kevin Shea: “He could be a Derby horse”) when catching the eye on his debut in early November. In retrospect it doesn’t look that good a maiden and he was beaten five lengths. He finished pretty much the same margin behind the winner when fourth just before Christmas but that looked a much stronger affair.

Anton Marcus, who rode the Brett Crawford colt on debut, is back on board and that looks significant because this is not a Ridgemont horse. Draw 11 will present no problems to the four-time champion and at 5-2 the colt looks worth an interest.

Crawford also runs two of the main dangers:  6-1 shot Middle Wood who is ridden by stable jockey Corne Orffer while Greg Cheyne is on 9-2 chance Marauding. Cheyne rode Vforvictory last time and there are few better jockeys in the whole country. Big Fish (5-1), the only four-year-old in the field, and Retro Effect (13-2) also have claims.

Somewhere In Time was as short as 7-10 for the opening Juvenile Fillies with World Sports Betting yesterday morning and fellow newcomer Sweet Karma (the only other seriously considered in the betting) on 12-10. The three that have raced were all beaten a minimum of ten lengths and so, with first timer Orferd’s Flash available at 18-1, it seems safe to conclude that this is going to be between the two big guns.

The Justin Snaith-trained favourite was knocked down to Nick Jonsson for R1.2 million at last year’s Cape Premier and could hardly be better bred – he is by Captain Al out of a half-sister to Mother Russia.

In contrast his Candice Bass-Robinson rival cost only R15 000 at the CTS April Sale and is by Biarritz out of the Western Winter mare Tin Legs who was fourth in the Southern Cross and is the dam of the smart Olympian. This, coupled with the stable’s good record with first-timers, suggests that she can floor the favourite.

The consistent Fluttering may just be good enough to give M.J. Byleveld his comeback winner in race two while Gavin Lerena’s mount Merkaba can overcome his bad draw and justify 19-10 favouritism in the fourth.

By Michael Clower

The Turffontein Standside night meeting looks to have one or two opportunities for punters and taking full bets in the exotics looks affordable.

The first race is the first leg of the Bipot and the two big, scopey sorts African Rock and Dry Your Eyes should fight it out over a suitable 1600m trip.

In the first leg of the PA Dancing Queen looks to be a good prospect and is well in at the weights so can be bankered.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, African Daisy is by Captain Al out of a Sadler’s Wells mare who won over a mile-and-a-half so she should relish the step up to this 1800m trip. Oh So Cold stayed on well over 1600m last time and looks the main danger. Magic’s First is an effective front runner who will stay this trip. Ever Fair might have hit the front too soon last time over this trip after moving up well. Midnight In Paris was run out of it when stepped up from 1000m to 2000m last time and will have come on from the run. Those three can also be included in the Pick 6.

In the first leg of the Jackpot Wonderous Climber has taken well to staying races and can defy the handicapper again over this 2400m trip. He is a progressive son of Dynasty and is made the best bet on the card and an exotic banker. The risk averse might consider including Earth Sky, who also looks to be a progressive stayer.

In the next race over 2400m Cash Time has Noble Secret beaten on paper. Last time they met over 1800m and Noble Secret beat Cash Time by 0,90 lengths. However, there is now a reversal in draw fortunes and Cash Time is 1,5kg better off. Furthermore, when they met in the SA Derby Cash Time was beaten only a head by Noble Secret and he is also 1,5kg better off from that run. Come The Day also looks to be one who is looking for this trip.

The sixth race is a tricky fillies and mares handicap over 2000m. Angelic Appeal returns to the trip of her facile win in her penultimate start and should be able to handle the six point raise based on that effort. Knysna Rose disappointed last time but the last time she ran over this trip was on the tight Turffontein Inside track and she only got going late. She should enjoy this trip on the Standside track. Glamarous Scandal has the ability to be involved too. However going as wide as possible is the suggestion and the ones of the rest who make most appeal are Regal Girl, Purdey, African Sunbird, Ezieza and Pretty Polly.

In the next race Kissmeinmydreams has always seemed promising and showed last time that she was looking for ground. That might have been the key and she can follow up. Mattina has to be included too in the Pick and Jackpot as a hard knocker who also enjoyed the step up in trip. Musette is also capable of popping up carrying a light weight over a suitable trip from a good draw.

In the last race over 1000m I Ain’t Trippin has fair natural speed and should enjoy this course and distance. She doesn’t face a strong field and the one who makes the most appeal of the rest is the speedy Queen Of War, who has a 4kg claimer up but will need to bounce back from a poor recent run when found to be coughing. The consistent Ilha Da Var has a big shout too from a nice Standside draw.

By David Thiselton

Bunker Hunt has been installed 6-1 G-Bets Cape Derby favourite to make amends for his Politician disaster when he stumbled out of the pens unseating Richard Fourie and then sent Justin Snaith crashing to the ground when he was trying to catch the horse. Both jockey and trainer are bidding for their fourth Cape Derby win.

World Sports Betting makes Anton Marcus’s mount Charles and Duncan Howells’ raider Thanksgiving joint second favourites at 7-1.

Snowdance, almost unbackable at 1-4 when she won last year’s Majorca, is now on offer at 22-10 for a repeat in the Bidvest-sponsored Grade 1. Lady In Black, who came out of the Sun Met to go for this, is on 28-10 with the WSB Fillies Guineas winner Front And Centre seemingly on the drift. She opened a clear favourite at 18-10 but was out to 22-10 by mid-afternoon yesterday.

Kasimir and Bold Respect, first and third in the Cape Merchants in November, are both on11-2 for the Betting World Cape Flying Championship but Pacific Trader, who beat both of them in a Pinnacle at the end of last month, has been backed from 6-1 to 5-1 favourite..

One World, who lost his unbeaten record when third to Soqrat in the Cape Guineas, is 2-1 favourite to gain huge compensation in the R5 million CTS 1600. Twist Of Fate, who finished half a length in front of him in the Guineas, is second favourite at 22-10 while fourth-placed Cirillo dominates the market for the CTS 1200. The Sean Tarry runner is on 19-10 with 8-1 and upwards available about the rest.

For many punters the New Turf Carriers Stayers is seen as the traditional getting-out stakes, being the last of the features on the marathon 12-race card, and here the Snaith-trained Strathdon has been installed favourite at 2-1. Intriguingly last year’s winner Let It Rain is on offer at 25-1. Dan Katz has laid Greg Cheyne’s mount out for this since the start of the season!

By Michael Clower

Scottsville has an eight race meeting tomorrow and the racing is competitive so the exotic dividends should pay well for those who do their homework.

In the first leg of the PA Allez Les Bleu is well regarded and is a nice type. He was unlucky last time when unable to get in from a wide draw over 1200m. He now has a good draw and on pedigree will enjoy the step up in trip. Song Of The Forest has earned cheques from 1000m up to 1400m and is improving. The Louis Goosen yard have bounced back to form and this Oratorio filly is now ridden by Anton Marcus for the second time in a row. She now gets blinkers on having been run out of it when a 1,1 length second over this trip last time on the poly. Her draw of eight is tricky but with Marcus up she should have every chance of finding a good position in the running. Duchess Lane will relish the step up to this trip and will also be a big runner from pole position.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 the last time Pumpkin Queen ran over this 1600m course and distance she won by three lengths and although that was off a six point lower merit rating she proved last time she is up to her current mark when just failing to get there in a slow run Pinnacle event over 1800m on the Greyville turf. She has a fair draw of four in the seven horse field and is the selection. Parabola has been facing some good sorts and with a drop in merit rating and class and jumping from pole position under Lyle Hewitson she will be a big danger. Those two will be enough for the PA but Generous Lady is distance suited and in good form and has Marcus up so has to be included in the Pick 6. Lady Li Lay also has to be considered for the Pick 6. The risk averse might also want to include Ella’s World as she won her maiden easily and a recent barrier trial would have put this promising daughter of Ideal World in good nick for this race.

The first leg of the Jackpot is an uninspiring maiden over 1950m. Silver Prancer has stayed on in her last three runs from 1400-1800m and is by Silvano so will be improving all the time. She is well drawn and should be involved in the finish. Jamaica Bay is a rangy type who did well from a handy position last time over 2000m at Greyville and the form was franked. Unilateral has been knocking on the door and is distance suited so with Marcus up and the Goosen yard having turned the corner she is a must include. Circle In The Sand was green last time over 1800m at Greyville and can improve. Belle Of Paris improved last time when stepped up to 2000m and has to be considered.

In the fifth race over 1950m Expresso Martini is a typically progressive daughter of Ideal World and having been raised only two points for her last win she now has a 2,5kg claimer up and is drawn in pole. Little Audrey has always been well regarded and she might start showing her true potential now with the Howells yard and jockey Mark Khan in good form. Mythical Magic will have a good chance if she settles because she over raced the last time she ran over this course and distance and still managed to stay on for third. She is now four points lower in the merit ratings, although she does have a high draw and is a quirky type who can’t be relied on.

In the sixth race over 1950m Josephine Baker is an improving daughter of Ideal World and she can get it right this time rom a good draw. Awesomely Tuned stayed on well when stepped up to 2000m last time and now gets a 4kg claimer up and runs for a new yard. There won’t be much between her and Red Herring on form.

In the seventh over 1400m Miss Calypso looked promising at one stage and she returns to the course of her two career wins. She will enjoy this trip but does have a tricky draw. Hashtagthemost was unlucky last time over 1200m and should enjoy the step up in trip. Awayinthewoods has to be included from a good draw first time out the maidens as Marcus has kept the ride. Silver Raisin is course and distance suited but also has a tricky draw. Biker Babe is in good form and over a suitable trip has a good draw. Ooh La La is ideally distance suited but has to overcome a tough draw.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 Mashari looks a promising sort and Marcus is up from a good draw over an ideal trip. This gelding has substance and a fine turn of foot and is made the best bet on the card. 

By David Thiselton

Do It Again looks like starting the shortest priced Met favourite since Igugu won at 15-20 seven years ago.  Richard Fourie’s mount, bidding to become the first since Pocket Power to complete the Durban July, Queen’s Plate, Met treble, eased slightly with some bookmakers yesterday but he was generally available at no more than 12-10.

Betting World has him at evens and goes 33-10 Rainbow Bridge, 7-1 Oh Susanna, 10-1 Head Honcho, 14-1 Legal Eagle, Made To Conquer, 16-1 Undercover Agent, 20-1 bar while World Sports Betting quotes 12-10 Do It Again, 33-10 Rainbow Bridge, 13-2 Oh Susanna, 12-1 Head Honcho, 14-1 Legal Eagle, 16-1 Undercover Agent, 18-1 Made To Conquer, 20-1 bar. 

Only 12 have been declared against him leaving the 2019 R5 million Sun Met celebrated with G.H. Mumm (to give the race its full title), in the new strictly weight-for-age format, with the smallest field the race has seen in 25 years – and probably a fair bit longer.

It was expected that the numbers would drop when the race conditions were changed but the historic ten furlong Grade 1 more than makes up for it in quality, and those that opted out at yesterday’s declaration stage were all long shots.

Billy Prestage decided to take a chance with Milton – cut from 100-1 to 66-1 – and has engaged Randall Simons for his first Met runner as a trainer since taking out a licence over 40 years ago. He needs to beat three home to recoup his entry and declaration fees.

Justin Snaith, successful in the Met for the first time with Oh Susanna 12 months ago, is responsible for four of the 13 runners with July runner-up Made To Conquer (S’Manga Khumalo) and Peninsula Handicap winner Doublemint (Piere Strydom) joining the big two.

Andre Nel – Head Honcho (Keagan de Melo) and Kampala Campari (Aldo Domeyer) – is the only other trainer with more than one runner. The pair are his first Met contestants.

Hat Puntano (Donovan Dillon) takes his chance even though Joey Ramsden was unable to find anything that could have accounted for his rather disappointing seventh in the Queen’s Plate. Ramsden has yet to win the Met although he came within less than half a length with Bravura in Igugu’s year.

There are 195 horses declared for the 12 races and Snaith is responsible for 32 (16%) of them. However this figure is down on recent years. The current champion trainer declared 35 last year, 40 in 2017 and 36 in 2016 when he made a clean sweep of the first six races and equalled the world record for winners at the same meeting on the one day with eight.

– BLOB Marinaresco has his first race since finishing third in last year’s Met in the 1 400m Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan on Thursday week.

“He is doing very well in Dubai and we are hoping that he will run a place,” says Marsh Shirtliff in whose colours the 2017 Durban July winner races. “But you can’t expect him to win against this sort of competition after being off for a year.”

Shirtliff will not be there to cheer him on as he will be buying at the Cape Premier Yearling Sal the previous evening.

By Michael Clower