The GBets Summer Cup is just seven weeks away and it is time to start looking for value in the ante-post market.

Silver God has shortened from original odds of 75/1 into 33/1 after his running on victory over 1450m on Saturday in an Assessment Plate. He is a half-brother to Grade 1 winners William Longsword and Real Princess, but being by Silvano should stay the 2000m and he will also be coming into his own as a four-year-old this season. He is trained by the reigning Summer Cup-winning trainer Sean Tarry. He still has to a bit to do to get into the race as he was only merit rated 93 before that last start but he could be an interesting contender if getting in with a low weight.

Silver God (JC Photographics)

A 100/1 shot Tarry horse worth noting is Warrior’s Rest. He is by the champion sprinter What A Winter, but this sire is throwing a few who can stay. Furthermore, Warrior’s Rest is a half-brother to the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 winner Viva Maria. He is a massive horse with a big stride so will need a couple of runs to get to his peak. He finished a 0,6 length fourth to Eyes Wide Open in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes as a two-year-old when leading and staying on. Last season he was only 5,75 lengths back in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 which he went in to off a far from ideal preparation having had a layoff between October and April. He has had one run this season and if he is able to get a couple more good runs in he could be a surprise package.

Nine time-winning Summer Cup trainer Mike de Kock’s long-striding Noble Secret is quoted at between 5 and 7/1 a win and roundabout 13/10 for the first four and for the risk averse this is the one who is probably best to load each-way doubles into as he should grow into his big frame this season and start fulfilling his undoubted talent.

De Kock’s much improved Puget Sound is on 33/1 and has proved he stays the 2000m trip. His merit rating is over 100 now and this blossoming horse will be an interesting contender if getting in with a low weight.

Their stablemate Silver Thursday could be of interest at 67/1 odds. It should be remembered she was only beaten a quarter-of-a-length by Takingthepeace in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the latter is a Summer Cup 20/1 shot. Furthermore, she is by Silvano so should come into her own this season and should stay the 2000m trip. She is not been seen out this season yet and an entry should be seen for any horse before any ante-post commitments are made.

Geoff Woodruff’s incredible run in the Summer Cup this decade came to an end last season but he can never be ignored in this race. His charge The Rising Legend at 50/1 odds is interesting. This horse is already well known for his good turn of foot and the sustained finish which he produces from last place. He should relish the usual good pace of the Summer Cup and the course and distance which should maximize the effect of this finishing effort. However, he still has a lot to do to get into the big race.

Woodruff’s SA Oaks winner Secret Potion is a big, rangy horse who should come into her own this season. She is 33/1 for the Summer Cup, but is another who is yet to be seen this season.

By David Thiselton

Trainers and racegoers will have often wondered what makes one horse faster than another.

Investigations into the equine genome have found some genes that are particularly related to speed. One of these is the myostatin gene, which can have several alleles, or alternative forms.

DNA strand (thehorse.com))

Myostatin is a protein that influences muscle cell growth and differentiation. Horses have different types of muscle fibers, some of which contract rapidly and produce forceful bursts of energy, and others of which contract somewhat more slowly but do not fatigue as rapidly. Depending on the presence and action of myostatin gene alleles, a particular horse might have more fast-twitch or more slow-twitch muscle fibers, though all horses have some fibers of both types. In the former case, the horse will generally exhibit larger muscle masses, be taller and quicker-maturing, and excel at fast paces over a shorter distance. These horses have the C:C allele. In the latter case, horses with the T:T allele will generally reach maturity later, be smaller, show less muscle definition, and be competitive at longer distances.

Horses can also inherit the C allele from one parent and the T allele from another. These C:T horses show characteristics of both types, and may win at both short and long distances…or they may not win at all, which underscores the fact that there is more to racing than pedigree.

A study done at the beginning of this decade using 593 horses from 22 Eurasian and North-American horse populations, museum specimens from 12 historically important Thoroughbred stallions, 330 elite-performing modern Thoroughbreds and 42 samples from three other equid species showed the T-allele was ancestral and there was a single introduction of the C-allele at the foundation stages of the Thoroughbred from a British-native mare. Furthermore, it showed that the C-allele was rare among the celebrated racehorses of the 18th and 19th centuries, but has proliferated recently in the population via the stallion Nearctic (b.1954), the sire of the most influential stallion of modern times, Northern Dancer (b.1961).

Nutrition, training schedule, influence of exercise riders and jockeys, farrier competence, prevention or management of injuries, health status, track surface characteristics, weather, race experience, tack choices, and quality of other entrants are all important factors in how a horse will perform in a race. Genetics can help predict whether a horse is likely to be a sprinter or a stayer, but there are still no guarantees that any horse will succeed in a racing career.

Source www.nature.com and www.ker.com

By David Thiselton

De Kock has nominated Premiers Champion and Joburg Spring Challenge runner-up Alyaasaat for the Cape Classic and Ghaalla (a close-up third in the fillies Jo’bug Spring Challenge) for the Western Cape Fillies Championship – formerly the Choice Carriers and before that the Odessa. De Kock, successful with Ektifaa two years ago and with Phillipa Johnson in 2003, has also entered Nafaayes who has won two out of three.

Sweet Mary Lou, Anneka and Sally Called are the three Tarry entries for the 1 400m Grade 2 and the three-time champion trainer has also entered two for the Cape Classic including top-rated Chimichuri Run who was third in both the SA Nursery and the Gold Medallion.

Sean Tarry

Vaughan Marshall, who used last year’s Cape Classic as Tap O’Noth’s stepping stone to the Cape Guineas, has nominated the Lanzerac Ready To Run-bound Agent Of Fortune but stable companion One World is a notable absentee. Marshall indicated earlier in the month that the Concord Cup (formerly Selangor) on 24 November is the more likely target. Joey Ramsden, successful in three of the last five runnings, has only one entry – Twist Of Fate who was third in the Premiers Champion.

Justin Snaith, who won his fifth WC Fillies Championship last season when Snowdance presaged her Cape Fillies Guineas and Majorca victories, has entered three plus seven for the Cape Classic which he has won only once – with Solo Traveller eight years ago.

The decision to appoint Arnold Hyde as interim chief executive of the NHA until a replacement for the departed Lyndon Barends can be found smacks of commonsense. Hyde knows the racing game inside out and, in the process of working his way up through the stipendiary ranks to the head of Racing Control, he has earned the respect of most of the professionals.

Indeed he has all the qualities needed to take the NHA’s top job on a permanent basis, the most important of these being integrity and the ability to ensure that this is carried all the way through every aspect by every official. It also needs somebody who understands and enjoys racing which is quite different from any other sport or activity.

What the NHA does not need is a businessman. It already has accountants to prepare budgets and ensure that they are adhered to, and making money is not it’s raison d’etre. Hopefully it won’t be tempted into opting for political correctness either. Racing is too important to be swayed by that and it cannot afford for its governing body to make a mistake a second time.

Danny Muscutt, son of Brett Crawford’s Summerveld assistant Peter Muscutt, faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines following a horror fall at Chelmsford in England last Thursday evening. His mount Pico Boulevard, who had to be put down, appeared to clip heels and Muscutt broke a bone in his neck, three vertebrae and a rib.

He has ridden 21 winners since the championship season started on May 5 and last year he finished second on Fanciful Angel in the Arlington Million, his first ride in America. He also won on the horse in Dubai.

By Michael Clower

“Spot on,” was Yogas Govender’s comment on the preparation of Arianos Shadow earlier this week and his assessment was ‘spot on’.

Given her rating, 5kg superior to the balance of the opposition in the KZN Fillies Guineas Trial at Greyville yesterday, 5-1 seemed rather generous odds in the ante-post market. Many took advantage and they too were ‘spot on’.

Miss Calypso set a searching pace but Muzi Yeni always had the race under control as he shadowed Generous Lady who ended up second best as Arianos Shadow collard her and raced past.

Sweet Mary Lou, soon on her way south for the Western Cape season, warmed up well enough as did stable companion Second Request.

Arianos Shadow (Candiese Marnewick)

Frank Robinson was never shy to take on the big guns with Roy’s Riviera during Champions Season but although only making the frame only once in her last five outings, she was never far off the cream of the crop. She is an entry for the G-Bets Summer Cup and she may still find a place in the sun given yesterday’s showing.

Roy’s Riviera looked a cut above her rivals in the Durban View Restaurant Pinnacle Stakes and confirmed her class. A short break, top weight and a tardy start were not enough to blunt her chances as in-form apprentice Serino Moodley rode a confident race.

Moodley missed a gap at the top of the straight but committed up the inside of Tammany Hall and drove smoothly for the wire.  Tammy Hall loomed dangerous for a few strides but was running on empty as Argenteus cut across her bows in pursuit of Roy’s Riviera, the chase in vain.

High Altar found the step up in class a bridge too far but was staying on well for third.

Judged on the avalanche of money for Uncle Charlie in the Greyville opener, the race looked all over bar the shouting but those that plunged knew their fate a furlong out.

Given Gareth van Zyl’s comments post-race, Marchetto is a name for the note book as he collared Uncle Charlie before going on to win comfortably.

“He’s a little bit on the small side, but he’s a lion this horse,” said Van Zyl, heaping praise on his charge. ‘I’m excited.”

“We don’t know where his bottom is,” concurred Warren Kennedy. “He’s a fighter.”

“When he goes a trip, we will see the best of him,” concluded Van Zyl.

Similarly, there is not much of Peacock Alley but he was overdue a win in the Greyville Convention Centre Maiden and he did it in style.

Close-up in all three of his recent starts, Keagan de Melo had little hesitation taking the gelding to the front and Mark Dixon’s runner was never challenged.

De Melo banged home a quick double as a bold forward move on the home turn saw Josephine Baker steal a march in the All To Come Maiden Plate. Once clear, Josephine Baker was never in danger with Whatabeauty making a mockery of her form to take second. Favourite Asiana was slow to begin and made up lengths on the straight, but not enough ground to trouble the winner.

Lickerio turned the fifth upside down as he bolted clear from the jump leaving Muzi Yeni hunting for position on favourite Thanksgiving – that position turning out to be last.

Lickerio’s petrol gauge flickered red early in the straight leaving The Bayou and Amore Ardiente to do battle. It was anyone’s race over the final 50m but Craig Zackey got Paul Lafferty’s gelding home in a desperate finish. Yeni and Thanksgiving were forced to negotiate roadblocks all the way up the straight and did well to finish third. Not one to write off.

By Andrew Harrison

Arianos Shadow confined to sprints so far in her career, takes a mighty step up when she lines up in the KZN Fillies Guineas Trial at Greyville on Sunday. Not only does she jump to a ‘mile’ for the first time, but she is also up against some useful opposition already tested over the trip.

That said, she is rated 5kg better than anything in the opposition and just that fact may be enough to see her home but more encouraging is that but Yogas Govender is confident of her chances.

“She won’t have any trouble with the trip. If you watched her last race you will see that she was off the bit a long way out but was running on. She is spot on and I will be disappointed if she does not finish in the first two,” he said. Govender has a smart filly on his hands and judged on pedigree and her trainer’s comments the extended trip should be well within her compass.

Arianos Shadow (Candiese Marnewick)

Arianos Shadow won the Sentinel Stakes second time out back in April making all the running. Rider Richard Fourie was impressed with his mount. “She’s a nice filly and needs further. The only thing to worry about is her temperament. You just have to keep her quiet and happy.”

After a change of stable, she was off the track until the end of July where she contested Gr2 The Debutante, finishing second to the smart Temple Graffin, in her first outing for Govender.

She made her seasonal debut in a 1200m sprint at Greyville where she was well supported in the market. The race was run at a cracking gallop and Arianos Shadow showed all the signs of ring rust as she looked to hang in under pressure but she was running on nicely suggesting that Sunday’s trip will be right up her street.

The scrap for the shallow end of the purse is likely to be a close one. Sean Tarry is two-handed, both having won over the trip, but recent maiden winner Generous Lady looks likely to be the biggest improver amongst the opposition. Paul Lafferty’s filly took three runs to get off the mark but when she did it was a smart victory over 1400m at Scottsville. Drawn on Woodhouse Road, she put daylight between herself and second-placed Cape Bluebell.

The latter has since franked that form in another competitive maiden which augurs well for Generous Lady’s chances.

Tarry was quick to realise the talents of current National Champion jockey and still apprentice Lyle Hewitson and was key to Hewitson’s championship aspirations. Similarly, young Luke Ferraris has fast made a name for himself as an apprentice with a big future and the pair will be aboard the two Tarry runners. As senior partner as it were, Hewitson’s mount Sweet Mary Lou could be the pick as she cantered home in her first attempt at 1600m on the Greyville poly. If there is a concern it may be that both her wins have been in the synthetic surface while stable companion Second Request has won on the Scottsville turf. Ferraris was aboard both fillies in their recent victories.

Frank Robinson was not afraid to pit Roy’s Riviera against the best around during Champions Season and she steps out for the first time in two months in a Pinnacle Stakes, fourth race on the card.

The Australian-bred was far from disgraced in any of her Champions Season races, having finished just over two lengths back to Fiorella in the Fillies Guineas and never further back than four lengths to the likes of Oh Suzanna (Gr 1 Woolavington) African Night Sky (Gr3 Cup Trial), Redberry Lane (Gr1 Garden Province) and rounded off last season beaten under e length by Miyabi Gold.

She jumps straight into an 1800m contest which suggests that Robinson has her racing fit.

Of the opposition, Peter Muscutt saddles Parabola for Brett Crawford, and last season’s Scarlet Lady winner has a warm-up under her girth and will be a threat.

The interesting runner here is High Altar. She has disposed of everything Duncan Howells has pitted her against in her last four starts with ease but takes a big jump in class. She has obviously been a later maturing mare and with only 52kg to shoulder and in receipt of 9.5kg from Roy’s Riviera, she could extend her winning streak to five on the bounce.

By Andrew Harrison

Trainer David Ferraris hit a landmark in race three, the Class 4 Dianthus Handicap (1650m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Ultimate Dream stormed home under Teetan to give the South African handler his 400th Hong Kong victory.

David Ferraris & Karis Teetan (HKJC)

Ferraris, 55, arrived in Hong Kong ahead of the 2002/03 season and is best known in these parts as the man behind champion galloper Vengeance Of Rain. Tonight’s win was his third this season, all of which have been achieved at the city track.

“Every winner is something to celebrate – it’s not easy in this place – so you just enjoy these wins when they come. I suppose it’s come at a good time,” he said.

“Those of us who train at Olympic Stables need support. There’s this rumour, this mindset, about the stables being no good, but you don’t get better facilities than that. The last two seasons have shown that I’m happy to work there and I wouldn’t move back to the old stables if you paid me to.”

Ferraris has 41 horses in his yard at present with a further 10 imports in quarantine. “We’re getting there slowly,” he added.

Teetan continued his pursuit of Purton in the jockeys’ standings. The Mauritian doubled up aboard the Tony Cruz-trained Blitzing in race five to end the night on 13 wins to Purton’s 16.

Chris So, meanwhile, put the saddle on Lunar Zephyr in race four and past champion Douglas Whyte did the rest, driving the Commands gelding to a 17-1 score in the 1000m Class 4.

Hong Kong racing returns at Sha Tin, 13 October.

– hkjc.com (David Morgan)

The WSB Grand Heritage has been split into two races and moved to Turffontein Inside track as the Vaal racecourse has not improved sufficiently yet to stage it.

The two races will be called the WSB Grand Series leg 1 and leg 2 respectively, both run over 1475m, and a potential match race between the two winners will take place in December.

Mardi Gras (JC Photographics)

The original Grand Heritage favourite Mardi Gras has a harder task than he would have had in a 28 horse field down the straight as he has drawn wide and looks to have ended up in the stronger of the two heats. Furthermore, his chief rivals have generally drawn well. However, he has class, a good turn of foot and as a four-year-old son of Oratorio who is improving and is having his third run after gelding he looks to be ahead of the handicapper off a 90 merit rating. He is thus tipped to win but Gavin Lerena will have his work cut out from draw eleven. Tsitsikamma Dance had some useful Cape Town form and won his Highveld debut nicely over 1400m. He is likely to have come on from that run and now has blinkers on from a nice draw of four. Zouaves is another classy runner in the field and he has landed a plum draw of three over an ideal trip. Daffiq caught the eye running on well last time over 1450m and is well drawn in six and over an ideal trip. This is his third run after a layoff and as he was at one stage well regarded by former trainer Mike de Kock he has a shout off a mere 82 merit rating. Full Of Attitude won well over 1450m last time and is drawn in pole but he does have a five point merit rating raise to overcome. Danza is distance suited and Mujallad can’t be ignored despite a wide draw. They are selected in the order mentioned.

In the first leg Rings And Things is selected as the best bet on the card in her third run after a layoff. This classy Querrari filly finished just two lengths behind the subsequent Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner Undercover Agent in the CTS Mile and yet is merit rated just 85. This is an ideal trip and she has a good draw of five. Soldier On looks to be a progressive sort and has a plum draw of two, although he would prefer a mile. Divine Odyssey is a progressive sort who is well drawn over a suitable trip and he has the advantage of Gavin Lerena aboard. Purple Diamond has a tongue tie and blinkers on and has the ability to go close from a good draw over a suitable trip. Chepardo ran a good preparation race over 1450m here from a tricky draw and he should have come on from the run so can earn despite another unfavourable draw. Hakeem is distance suited and has dropped to a competitive mark but has a tough draw.

In the WSB Grand Heritage Series Consolation race Big Mistake will be hard to beat. He ran second last time to the classy filly Mighty High and now has his third run after a layoff. It is also his third run on the Highveld and his third run as a gelding so he should be cherry ripe to deliver over a step up in trip to 1475m which he should relish as he was making good late progress in his only career attempt at 1400m. The dangers could be the progressive filly Gimme Hope Joanna, who only has 50kg to carry, and the promising Flying Winger, who is coming off a pleasing comeback effort from a nine month layoff.

The fifth race could see the improving Until Dawn following up on her last victory. Gold Shades, who has dropped to an attractive merit rating, and the promising youngster Chitengo look to be the dangers.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, an Assessment Plate over 1450m, Social Order is well weighted and could run well fresh over a trip a touch sharp, and Silver God and Rule The Night should also make their presence felt.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is a typically tricky staying race and Santa Vittoria is tipped to prove herself better if ridden from off the pace but all of Goede Hoop, Glamarous Scandal, Parisienne Chic, Knysna Rose and Emerald Lady have to be considered too.

By David Thiselton

Enable gained a thrilling second consecutive victory in the G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, France, last Sunday and the brilliant filly may now create another piece of history by becoming the third horse to be crowned the Cartier Horse Of The Year twice.

Enable (Liesl King)

Only Ouija Board (2004 & 2006) and Frankel (2011 & 2012) have received this premier equine accolade more than once, but the John Gosden-trained four-year-old could join such illustrious company following her short-neck verdict over Sea Of Class in Europe’s leading middle-distance and richest contest.

Victory at Longchamp saw Enable, out with injury for most of the year, move up to 56 points in the Cartier Horse Of The Year and the Cartier Older Horse standings, but the daughter of Nathaniel, homebred by owner Khalid Abdullah, holds leading chances in both categories due to the unique nature of the Cartier Racing Awards.

European horseracing’s top awards are delivered through a tried and tested combination of points earned by horses in Pattern races (30%), combined at the end of season with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists/handicappers (35%) and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph plus ITV Racing viewers (35%).

The participation of the public plays a crucial role in determining the winners of each year’s Cartier Racing Awards and gives horseracing fans the chance to put forward their favourite horses in a meaningful way.

The 28th Cartier Racing Awards will be presented at a glittering ceremony before an invited audience of 300 at the Dorchester Hotel, London, England, on the evening of Tuesday, November 13, 2018.

– racenews@racenewsonline.com

The handicappers have raised Rainbow Bridge seven points to a new merit rating of 104 following his impressive win in last Saturday’s Matchem Stakes but that still leaves the unbeaten four-year-old quite a bit below the mark required to win the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. Legal Eagle, winner of the last three runnings, is rated 123 which makes him nearly ten lengths the better over a mile.

The Eric Sands stable reported yesterday that their star had “pulled up well.” Surprise runner-up New Caledonia has been raised five points to 95 but last year’s winner Our Mate Art, beaten two lengths in third, has been left on an unchanged 99.

Rainbow Bridge (Liesl King)

Last year’s Cape Guineas winner Tap O’Noth, fourth in the Matchem, and Progress Plate winner One World – also unchanged on 113 and 109 respectively – were said by Vaughan Marshall yesterday to have come out of their races well, with the trainer adding: “It was a very pleasing day.”  But Justin Snaith’s comments about Kasimir echo those of Bernard Fayd’Herbe which suggested that One World may have been flattered by the courageous way he appeared to outbattle Kasimir.

Snaith said: “It was Kasimir’s first run since May, he had only had one gallop since then and he got tired in the last bit. He is best in sprints but it is going to be hard for him because he has a high rating of 105.”

The champion trainer had arranged to sell the horse to Hong Kong but the deal fell through because the four-year-old failed the piroplasmosis test aimed at ensuring that he is free from any trace of tick-borne diseases.

The market in the jockeys’ championship has altered dramatically in the 16 days since this column expressed the opinion that Anton Marcus, then fourth in the log, was a big price at 20-1.

The four-time champion, now on 42 winners and only one behind log leader Muzi Yeni, has been slashed to 4-1 with Yeni, Richard Fourie and Gavin Lerena joint favourites at 33-10 with World Sports Betting.

Now the value looks to be Ryan Munger who landed a four-timer at Kimberley on Monday to put himself third on the log. He has, surprisingly, been pushed out from 14-1 to 25-1 despite being a natural lightweight with a keenness to travel that sees him having more rides than anyone except Yeni.

Munger, on 37 winners after landing the opener at Durbanville yesterday on Rob Roy for Glen Kotzen, said: “I am going well. Rob Roy was my fifth winner from my last nine rides and my strike rate is higher than it has been for quite some time.”

Current champion Lyle Hewitson is an 11-2 chance and others priced up are Aldo Domeyer at 15-2 and Warren Kennedy on 16-1 with 45-1 available about Keagan de Melo. Greg Cheyne is a 55-1 shot and you can get 75-1 about Craig Zackey.

Backers of favourites had a tough time yesterday with all bar Silver Maple biting the dust including many people’s idea of the biggest certainty, Trippi’s Express. He was beaten just over a length into third at even money behind the Paul Reeves-trained all-the-way 9-1 shot Photocopy (Donovan Dillon) in the Betting World Handicap. To be fair, it was only the colt’s third run and he was rated 85.

Brett Crawford said: “I expected better but I am not devastated. At this time of year it is harder for three-year-olds against older horses than people think and he was giving weight to the two four-year-olds that beat him.”

By Michael Clower

Raymond Rogers, the stalwart KZN racing TV Producer, passed away suddenly on Monday in Johannesburg where he was to film Ready To Run gallops. Tributes poured in for the affable giant who will be a great loss to the industry.

Gold Circle’s Racing Executive Raf Sheik said, “To fill his shoes will be impossible.”

Sheik was referring to Raymond’s renowned passion and dedication to his job. He used the recent introduction of the green screen studio at Gold Circle to highlight these sentiments.

Green screen technology has the ability to superimpose any image required on the green background, giving the impression that the studio presenters are either in an ultra-modern room or even outside.

Raymond Rogers

Rogers and Sheik attended a meeting in Johannesburg a year ago to speak to the suppliers.

“Raymond was so impressed I had to drag him away kicking and screaming,” recalled Sheik. “He mastered the technology very quickly and basically ate and slept it. I would regularly receive phone calls at 8 o’ clock at night to tell me he had discovered something else the technology could do.”

The green screen studio was soon up and running and remains an impressive feature of Gold Circle Racing.

Raymond was also known for arriving at the course on race days at 6:30 a.m. sharp and sending sms’s to all of his staff telling them what time they were to start work.

“Nothing was ever too much for Raymond,” said Marketing Consultant to Gold Circle, Graeme Hawkins.

Raymond approached every task he did with high professionalism and mastered his role as TV Producer. On race days this involved the visual mixing, communication with the on course presenters and Tellytrack simultaneously, and at the same time he was producing the race replays to be available as soon as possible. He never delegated the teaching of new staff but instead showed them the ropes himself and in this way had full faith that they knew exactly what was expected of them.

Raymond was the son of former Kingsmead cricket groundsman Roy.

The Sport Of Gentlemen rubbed off on him and in 1968 he became the first pupil of Westville Boys High to ever make the Natal Schools cricket team. He must have only been in standard eight at the time, because two years later in 1970 he made the South African Schools team.

Dave Pearse, an old boy of Kearsney College who played both cricket and rugby for Natal, remembers Raymond as being “a very quick” opening bowler at school.

He recalled him having a long run up, almost from the boundary, but remembers him being quiet and always respectful to batsmen.

The only time he remembered him having anything to say to the opposition was in a club game for Marist when the known powerful batsman Keith Hosken of Durban University was smashing him all over the park. Eventually an exasperated Rogers stood in the middle the pitch with hands on hips and shouted, “Where the @#$!% am I going to bowl it next!”

Rogers played under the captaincy of renowned Natal and South Africa seam bowler Pat Trimborn at Marist, but his club cricket career did not last too long.

His new sporting passion became football refereeing. He rose to become one of the most respected refs in the National Football league and reached the pinnacle of achievement by refereeing the biggest Derby match in the country, “the Soweto Derby” between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

Paul Lafferty, a former Durban City Player and current Gold Circle director, remembers Rogers being very active as a referee in the South African premiership and being highly respected. He said, “He was fair and could take a chirp.” Lafferty later enjoyed a fine partnership with Rogers in the production of the Tellytrack magazine program Winning Ways, which Lafferty co-hosts with James Goodman.

Raymond continued to follow South African soccer after his refereeing days were over and was an avid Pirates fan.

However, he will probably be best remembered for his friendly demeanour and his enjoyment of some banter during his tours of departments in Gold Circle to discuss work matters.

Gold Circle staff were left reeling with the news on Monday and it was hard to believe the big man’s loud voice and quick wit will never be heard again.

Farewell Ray.

By David Thiselton