Stuart Randolph described the moment he realised the terrible fall he was involved in at Scottsville on Sunday was happening.

Fortunately, both he and Lyle Hewitson escaped with soft tissue damage and both expect to be back in the saddle soon, as does S’Manga Khumalo, who was stood down injured in the Turffontein meeting on Saturday.

Stuart Randolph (Nkosi Hlophe)

Randolph said, “Although it happens so quickly in real time, those moments seem to unfold in slow motion. You have to accept what is happening and relax yourself because if you try and fight it you tense up and that is when you get injured. I saw Lyle in front of me and knew I had to go sideways to avoid him but the horse carried on going straight. Falling was inevitable so I had to accept it and when I felt myself being flung sideways out of the saddle I didn’t try and prevent it. I then had to accept I was going to hit the ground and closed my eyes and relaxed. I feel surprisingly good this morning. It is usually the next morning that you feel as if a bus has hit you. But today I feel just a bit stiff. We were fortunate as it could have been a lot worse. But it was tremendously sad the two horses had to be euthanized. That is the part of racing I have always hated.”

The incident happened in a 1000m sprint handicap.

Hewitson was in the front on Gratuity and Randolph was tracking him aboard Pathway To Glory when the former suddenly broke down leaving the 400m mark.

Hewitson was thrown to the ground and somehow avoided being hit by Pathway To Glory who had attempted to leap over Gratuity but had made contact. Hewitson then also avoided being hit by Gratuity as he rolled underneath the horse as it rolled over in the air.

Meanwhile, Randolph was airborne above the melee and appeared to land heavily on both his hip and shoulder. He said the collar bone would likely have been damaged had he not relaxed himself and another thought that had gone through his mind was his hip, which had been capped with ceramic material in an operation a couple of years ago.

However, all was fine according to the doctor’s examination and there was just soft tissue damage to the muscle between the neck and the shoulder. The stiffness he had on Sunday night in this area had already improved by yesterday morning and he was able to move his neck freely again. However, he has been told to report back to the doctor at the first sign of any pins and needles or any other unusual symptoms.

He said he would be workriding again today (Tuesday) although cautiously.

Reigning national champion jockey Hewitson’s prognosis was a knee sprain and some soft tissue damage. He said yesterday to Turftalk’s Charl Pretorious, “I am feeling a bit better than yesterday. I’m just applying ice and doing as much compression as I can. I don’t expect to be out for long.” It was Hewitson’s second meeting back from an eight week layoff which damaged his other knee in a fall at Fairview in July. He is flying to Singapore later this week with Muzi Yeni and Aldo Domeyer to compete in the PGI Jockeys Challenge, presented by Phumelela Gaming & Leisure and Tabcorp, which will be hosted by the Singapore Turf Club at Kranji on 25 September.

Meanwhile, Khumalo was diagnosed with bruising after banging his knee on a starting stall gate on Saturday, which forced him to be stood down. He is applying ice and taking anti-inflammatories and hopes to be back in action at the Highveld’s Saturday meeting.

By David Thiselton

Dennis Drier had a disappointing season last term, despite being crowned KZN Champion trainer for the 8^th time this millennium, but is currently in the middle of a purple patch.

By the close of play on Sunday he had won thirteen races this season at a strike rate of 24,53%, which is the top strike rate in the top 20 trainers on the national log and second only to Ashley Fortune’s 25% in the top 30.

He said during the SA Champions Season earlier this year, “I have the strongest string of two-year-olds I have ever had” and this bold statement is now proving accurate as a number of these now three-year-old horses have not only won but won well.

He confirmed the concentration of his strength this season would be among the three-year-olds and has already earmarked some of them for his annual Cape Town campaign.

Dennis Drier (Nkosi Hlophe)

He believed his two best three-year-old fillies were Golden Chance by Dynasty and In The Stars by Master Of My Fate.

It is not surprising Drier had the Steven and Jessica Jell-owned Golden Chance sent to him as she is a three-parts sister to the great Drier-trained Dynasty filly Beach Beauty. Golden Chance showed a lot of speed when winning by seven lengths over 1200m at Scottsville on debut in a good time of 69,69 seconds, but her pedigree suggests she is a classic prospect. Her Goldkeeper dam Free Gold’s two wins were over 1400m and 1800m, while Beach Beauty had plenty of speed but was at her best over a mile and stayed 2000m. Beach Beauty was famous for her terrific turn of foot. Golden Chance was bred by James Armitage, the nephew of Beach Beauty’s late breeder Trevor Armitage.

Some had begun to ask questions of Master Of My Fate, whose first crop’s fortunes had tailed off a bit after the fine start they had made. However, Drier had not lost faith and his sentiments were vindicated when In The Stars won in fine style on debut at Scottsville. In her barrier trial at Greyville she lost about 50 metres and at Scottsville the official stipendiary report said she lost three lengths and “thereafter was slow into stride.” However, she was soon on the tail of the others. In the last 400m, with still about five lengths to make up, she showed a fine turn of foot and burst through to win easing up by three-quarters of a length.

Drier mentioned Star In The Sky as one of his best staying three-year-old fillies. She is by Silvano out of the Listed-winning Galileo mare Dance To The Stars. She won her maiden by six lengths full of running when stepped up to 1900m on the Greyville poly on Sunday and Drier described her as “above average.”

Golden Chance was bought for R400,000 at the National Yearling Sales, while In The Stars is a Varsfontein home-bred, so neither qualifies for either of the CTS half-a-million dollar races.

One of Drier’s promising males who does qualify for the lucrative CTS sales races is the R500,000 Pathfork gelding Priceless Ruler, who won his only start over 1200m last June. He is a half-brother to Grade 1 second-placed sprinter Snowdon and is duly a strongly built horse who showed fine finishing speed.

Drier mentioned Driven Force, a gelding by Sail From Seattle, as another to keep an eye on.

He described Hardcore, the speedily-bred Silvano gelding who provided him with his 2000^th career win, as a “nice little horse”.

However, there are plenty of others who will likely come to the party, including Blackburn Roc, who won easily last Wednesday, and the like of Goliath Heron and Fransisco.

By David Thiselton

The Justin Snaith-Richard Fourie team has been dubbed “a machine”, so regularly has it churned out winners in recent weeks. And at Durbanville today the well-tuned engine looks set to keep purring along.

The trainer and jockey combo have strong chances in two races and could be dangerous in a couple more.

Despite what Mark Twain said about statistics being akin to lies and damned lies in the hands of politicians, current racing stats can’t be denied and tell a compelling story.

Justin Snaith

Snaith has a winning strike rate of nearly 19% over the six weeks of the current season – and about 23% at Durbanville racecourse. His horses place more than 40% of the time.

Fourie’s numbers are hotter: a win rate of over 33% and a place rate of 45%, with an even better record at the country course. If you’d stuck a R1 win on every Fourie mount since 1 August, you’d be about R13 richer.

Following these winners, with a bit of judgment thrown in, is a profitable formula no sensible punter can ignore.

Snaith and Fourie are responsible for the best bet on today’s card, the appropriately named Rip It Up in the sixth, a MR 74 Handicap over 1250m around the left-hand turn.

This three-year-old colt started as favourite on his debut last month – indicating the stable’s regard. He could only manage third place that day, but put things right when winning three weeks later. A step up in trip from the minimum distance will suit him, while an inside draw adds further weight to his case.

The main threat to Rip It Up comes from Vaughan Marshall-trained Jardin, who had a sparkling two-year-old campaign over the KwaZulu-Natal winter season. He won his first three races on the spin before an unhappy experience in a feature, hurting his mouth and bumping the precocious Chimichuri Run.

Rip It Up and Jardin look a decent couple for Swingers and Exactas.

The card opener, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares, could also go the way of the “machine”. Here the equine moving part is Mumtaz, a three-year-old filly by Visionaire having her third start.

She has been a little wide-eyed and bewildered thus far, but the expert guidance of Fourie will get her mind on the job, while tackling more ground should also be of benefit.

There are several first-timers in this race, so an eye must be kept on the betting as Trifectas and Quartets are composed.

Queen Nitocris, from Candice Bass-Robinson’s stable, was a R2.2-million yearling purchase and connections will be eager to see money start coming back pronto.

An interesting Snaith-Fourie runner is Ernesto in race two, a Maiden Plate over 1250m. This son of Captain Al hasn’t shaped in three runs so far, but steps out here having been gelded and had blinkers fitted, two tactics that can bring about dramatic improvement in horses.

Also intriguing is Silver Maple in the fourth, a MR 88 Handicap and the highest-rated event on the card. This R1-million purchase won his first two races on the Highveld as a three-year-old for Geoff Woodruff and looked headed for the top.

However, he’s obviously had problems since then. A move to Snaith’s yard at the coast, along with gelding, might see him get back on track. The son of Silvano might not be ready to win after nearly a year off racing, but his performance will be closely watched.

– TAB news

Early in Saturday’s meeting at Turffontein the Sean Tarry-trained four-year-old Mambo In Seattle filly Desert Rhythm had her first victory since winning the Grade 2 Golden Slipper as a juvenile. She was ridden in the MR89 fillies and mares handicap over 1450m by S’Manga Khumalo, who was subsequently booked off after banging a knee in the starting stalls. This knee had previously been operated on and Khumalo went for checks but he could not be reached yesterday for further news.

Desert Rhythm ran on well to beat the progressive Gimme Hope Johanna. The promising three-year-old Vivir was third, but over raced for the second time in succession. She did win over 1400m last time but was better drawn then and found cover and settled earlier in the running that day.

By David Thiselton

The Mike de Kock-trained Pietro Mascagni sounded a warning to all GBets Summer Cup hopefuls when making a fine comeback over 1450m on Saturday on the Turffontein Inside track.

The day also featured a few eyecatching preparation runs for the Grand Heritage, to be run over 1475m at the Vaal on September 30.

Pietro Mascagni will come into his own this season being a four-year-old by Silvano who was gelded during his winter layoff. He should relish the tough Turffontein 2000m of the Summer Cup as he is out of a Western Winter mare who is a full-sister to both Ice Cube, who won from 1000-1800m including two Grade 1s as a juvenile, and Jagged Ice, who was a Grade 2 winner who finished second in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and third in the Vodacom Durban July.

Pietro Mascagni (JC Photographics)

The gelding has been at the centre of controversy before. The connections appealed against the low merit of 79 rating he was given after his impressive debut on October 31 last year. They thus gave an inkling of how highly they regard him. Clearly this was not a horse they wanted to win through the divisions with, but rather they saw him as a classic contender.

They lost the appeal but Pietro Mascagni did still run in the Dingaans but disappointed. He put that behind him by winning a handicap well next time out over 1500m. He subsequently finished a 3,7 length fourth to the top class Surcharge in the Tony Ruffel over 1400m, although he was receiving 4kg. In his final start he was beaten 7,3 lengths into sixth in the Gauteng Guineas but was only 1,8 lengths behind Surcharge.

He will have strengthened during his layoff and the best will likely be seen of him when he steps up to middle distances. The Grade 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile on November 3 would be the obvious stepping stone into the Summer Cup, which is to be run on December 1. However, having won off just a 93 merit rating on Saturday, it will be touch and go whether he gets into the Charity Mile so the yard might think of getting another run in before then to book his place. Otherwise he could go for the Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m on November 9.

On Saturday Pietro Mascagni settled nicely in midfield under Randall Simons after jumping from draw six of the twelve runners. He then used his nice stride to make up about seven lengths in the straight. He hit the front with 100m to go and held on gamely by a quarter of a length from no slouch in D’Arrivee, to whom he was giving 9kg.

It was a fine effort considering Matthew de Kock had said he would need the run and he had to carry 61kg. Pietro Mascagni landed odds of 71-10.

There were a number of Grand Heritage entries running. The Alec Laird-trained 88 merit rated Chepardo put in a fine preparation as he was caught wide for a short time from his tricky draw of eight but still managed to run on strongly for a one length third carrying 59kg. It was the first start since March 31 for this seven-year-old Trippi gelding and he is a 22/1 shot for the Grand Heritage. His 78 merit rated stablemate Danza ran a fair two length fourth in Saturday’s race and is a 40/1 chance for the Grand Heritage. Bockscar was just a short-head further back and was finishing liker a train. He was racing off just a 75 merit rating and remains a 50/1 shot for the Grand Heritage, but if he is one of the horses who gets in on the lower merit rated tier he will be an interesting contender. The 86 merit rated Daffiq put in an eyecatching preparation as he was finishing strongly for sixth and on September 30 will be having his third run after a layoff over an ideal trip so he could be fair value at 28/1. Dan The Lad was a touch disappointing and is 40/1 for the Heritage. Count Tassilo stayed on nicely and will come on from the run. He is 25/1. Pilou went too fast in front carrying 59,5kg and the run can probably be ignored. He is a 45/1 shot.

In the previous race Joey Ramsden got his Highveld campaign rolling with a good win for Rose In Bloom, who was comfortably the best weighted horse in an Assessment Plate over 1450m but was allowed to go off at 61-20 as it was her first start since June. This four-year-old Gimmethegreenlight filly ran unplaced in two starts in KZN but had shown her class during the Cape Summer, finishing a 1,8 length third to Snowdance in the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes over 1600m and a two length second to Magical Wonderland in the Grade 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes over 1200m. She followed that up by finishing runner up in both the Grade 3 Prix du Cap and Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes, both over 1400m.

On Saturday she jumped from a plum draw of two under Piere Strydom. She broke well and Strydom was able to settle her in midfield on the rail. The tall filly showed a fine turn of foot in the straight plus an extra gear in the final stages, without being put under pressure and won cosily by half-a-length from the US$500,000 CTS Mile third-placed Rings And Things. The De Kock-trained three-year-old Var filly Ghaalla probably has high expectations this season and made a fair comeback, finishing 2,5 lengths back in fifth from a wide draw.

Rings And Things, formerly trained by Candice Bass-Robinson and now trained by Ashley Fortune, is a 25/1 shot for the Grand Heritage.

By David Thiselton

After a short drought, well by his standards anyway, Anton Marcus was back on track at Scottsville yesterday with a four-timer. He doubled up for Shane Humby, winning on Socrates and then having to work harder to get Tribal Fusion home after looking to be in trouble two furlongs out.

It was also an Ashburton double for Duncan Howells and Muzi Yeni. La Villette made nearly all the running in the second and Edge Of The Sun was pushed all the way to the line by Captain Von Trapp to deny Marcus another winner.

Tribal Fusion (Anneke Kitching)

Dean Kannemeyer had his second winner of the new season as Keagan de Melo had something of an armchair ride on Pumpkin Queen.

Cat’s Legacy appears to have finally found his niche as he made short work of the opposition in the Pinnacle Stakes over 2400m. Marcus was sitting with a double handful at the top of the straight and Cat’s Legacy responded with a six-length victory over Brighteyebushytail.

Lyle Hewitson, at only his second meeting back from injury, took a heavy fall as his mount Gratuity came down in the fourth with Pathway To Glory, who was hot on her tail, also falling. Both riders escaped serious injury. Hewitson with a sore knee while Stuart Randolph has a possible concussion and will go for observation. “They both left on their own steam. They were not ambulanced out of here,” said Chief Stipendiary Steward, Shaun Parker.

By Andrew Harrison

Dean Kannemeyer took a ‘time out’ after the end of Champions Season with It’s My Turn’s eLan Gold Cup victory putting the cherry on another successful season. R&R and AHS vaccinations have been the order of the day with only a single winner since the start of the current season but that can change at Scottsville on Sunday where the stable sends out some competitive runners starting with Savea in the Dennis Drier Racing Handicap.

The lightly raced son of Var was a winner on debut at Kenilworth before taking on some fair juvenile fields, twice finishing behind Twist Of Fate.

Savea has since been gelded and made a smart seasonal debut behind Leslie Shadowliner, also finishing a length behind Socrates who runs in the following race, a MR 80 Handicap where Shane Humby’s runner has a strong winning chance.

World Mission (Candiese Marnewick)

Gelding appears to have had the desired effect although Savea does face a useful field.

Anton Marcus has stayed with Captain Von Trapp, just over a length back to the useful Sylvester The Cat last time out, but will possibly prefer this shorter trip.

Duncan Howells has a busy afternoon ahead with 13 runners and Edge Of The Sun also comes into the picture after his close-up second last time out. “Coming back to his best,” was the comment on his website.

Newly crowned national champion Lyle Hewitson is making his way back from injury with four mounts at Turffontein tomorrow and another four on Sunday although Fieldmarshal Fenix does look held on current form.

Dennis Bosch appears to have got Chantyman back to where he was early in his career when he showed loads of potential. After a lengthy break he has returned with a useful trial and a warm-up when third to Pata Pata over Sunday’s course and distance.

But he will need to be pretty close to his best in the Duncan Howells Racing Stables Handicap as he faces a number of runners in good form. The currently lethal combination of Garth Puller and Khanya Sakayi will have plenty of support teaming up with Ishnana while the mare Gratuity is quick and the lightly raced Socrates has only once been out of the money.

Only seven horses are carded for the fifth where Los Barbados and Crime Victim renew rivalry. However, Brighteyebushytail has a touch of class and looks to be over what should be a more suitable trip in his third run back from a lengthy break.

Also in the mix is Cat’s Legacy who only got going late when back to a mile last time out and he could well find this trip more to his liking.

Redeemer is unbeaten at Scottsville but Brett Crawford’s runner has not been out since April and that he is not over his optimum trip would suggest that he will be short of his best. A better option in the Nathan Kotzen Racing Stables Handicap could be Tribal Fusion. Marcus will be aboard for Shane Humby and the gelding was running on stoutly behind Monte Christo last timeout. He has yet to finish out of the money since being tried in blinkers and from a plum draw should at least be in the money again.

Kannemeyer saddles Pumpkin Queen in the seventh and the filly has shown excellent form since arriving in KZN. She has also taken to Scottsville and can turn the tables on Komeshans Flight with Grecian Laurel also a threat over what looks to be a more suitable trip.

Jet Stream has improved with every outing and could close off the meeting although the often difficult Pavarotti Passion appears to have settled down and has a chance along with Caliente.

By Andrew Harrison

Pleasedtomeetyou is taken to beat Clouded Hill in the clash of the young titans in the Sophomore Sprint at Durbanville tomorrow.

The Andre Nel runner, 12-10 favourite yesterday, was supremely impressive when winning on debut and looked a possible Guineas horse even though four of the six he beat were unraced. The third and fourth have franked the form by winning since.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe

Nel, who reported that the Querari colt was a gallop short and carrying a bit of condition on debut, sounded more cautious than confident when quizzed during the week but said: “He has been doing exceptionally well and, if he runs like he works, he should be hard to beat.”

The snag is his inexperience. At Kenilworth that wouldn’t matter so much but this is the country course with so much of the race on the turn and it is possible that Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount could become unbalanced or at least not gallop as freely as he would on a straight course. On the plus side he receives a kilo from the top three.

Clouded Hill, second favourite at 14-10, powered home as if he was something special when scoring on his second start and he was just as impressive when following up four weeks ago despite losing a front shoe.

Justin Snaith, bidding for his fifth Sophomore and his fourth in eight seasons, is in the sort of form where everything is possible but he did say last time that this horse is looking for further. “He is,” the champion trainer confirms. “But we just get the feeling that he is the most ready of my three-year-olds.” Can Richard Fourie’s mount beat the favourite? “For sure – Pleasedtomeetyou beat a bunch of unraced horses.”

Lanza has also won his last two starts and has Durbanville experience. He has not been as impressive as the big two but he could be one of those that only does just enough and Glen Kotzen, successful with Miller Time in 2007, knows exactly what is required. Ryan Munger’s mount is rated only a kilo behind Clouded Hill yet he is as big as 11-2.

Elusive Trader (13-2) is another who is on a hat-trick and Greg Ennion, who won this with Bulldozer 12 years ago, also runs the 22-1 outsider Sailor Sam. “Elusive Trader’s main mission is the Lanzerac Ready To Run but I have to make sure he gets qualified,” he says, adding: “Elusive Trader is the superior of the two but Sailor Sam is also doing well so I should be competitive.”

Top Of The Class is the only one of the six who went to Durban. He ran well in the Gold Medallion but was reported not striding out when disappointing in the Gatecrasher. “We gelded him after that,” says Vaughan Marshall whose most recent Sophomore success came with Lord Balmoral only two seasons ago. Does he give the 13-1 shot a chance? “Yes, I do.”

Whatever their fortunes with Lanza, the Kotzen-Munger combination should win the Tabonline Maiden with Herodotus who ran like a certain future winner on debut three weeks ago.

By Michael Clower

The Turffontein Inside track stages a nine race meeting on Saturday and it is tricky so the exotics look the way to go.

In the first leg of the PA over 1450m the Philanthropist filly Vivir looks to be a promising three-year-old in the making and in her first handicap off a 95 merit rating she has the advantage of 2,5kg claimer Luke Ferraris up. She has a tricky draw which is a concern as she raced quite strongly until another horse had slotted in front of her last time. On the other hand Ferraris might be happy to allow her to stride out in front as her last race was on the Standside track whereas this tighter track can play into the hands of front runners. Gimme Hope Johanna is a progressive sort who likes to be handy as she has a resolute finish and she can go close off just a three point higher mark than her win over this trip last time.

Whosethebossnow (JC Photographics)

In the first leg of the Pick 6, an Assessment Plate over 2000m, Forest Express is the obvious horse as he is best in  at the weights on official merit ratings and went close in a handicap and a Graduation Plate over this trip in May and July respectively. He might need it having likely come off his AHS vaccinations and is the sort who would prefer the Standside track as he likes to build a finish from off the pace. Therefore, the second best weighted horse, Royal Utopia, and Master Of Magic, who will relish the step up in trip, can be included. Two outsiders who can be considered are Big Parade, who ran some good races in Cape Town and now has his third run after gelding, and Wheel Of Time, who is drawn in pole and could be better than his form suggests.

The first leg of the Jackpot over 2000m is an uninspiring race and the promising sort The Rising Legend could be the one to side with despite not having run for 83 days. He is capable of a strong finish from off the pace and could rise above his 84 merit rating this season. Come The Day is 1,5kg under sufferance but this resolute galloper is progressive and should appreciate the step up in trip. Secret Captain has the class to carry topweight and at this stage of his career should get the trip, although he is a quirky sort who is difficult to predict.

In the sixth race over 1600m Elegancia is taken as the value bet on a tricky card. Last time the trip rather than the handicapper likely got her as the jockey couldn’t hold her in last and decided to rush her around horses coming around the final bend at the Vaal. She not surprisingly faded late in the long straight and should relish the step back to a mile.

The seventh race over 1200m is one of the trickiest races of the exotics. Brave Zndaya is the pick due to his recent liking of front-running tactics and a nice draw over an ideal course and distance. Kissmeinmydreams is an improved sort who could also go close, but going as wide as possible is the suggestion.

The eighth over 1450m is an Assessment Plate where Rings And Things is chosen as the day’s best bet despite being considerably under sufferance on official merit ratings. Her third place finish in the CTS 1600 was a performance way above her current 89 merit rating and she will probably be fitter than the other lively contenders Rose In Bloom and Ghaalla having had a recent run.

The last race over 1450m is the trickiest on the card as many are returning from layoffs. Whosethebosnow has had two grass gallops and could be the one to side with from pole position but the suggestion is to go as wide as possible.

By David Thiselton