Master’s Spirit can benefit from the talented Luke Ferraris’s 4kg claim and upset the big guns in the Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow.

On adjusted merit ratings the Justin Snaith six-year-old might as well stay at home – certainly compared with Dutch Philip and Tevez – but the rain has changed the complexion of the race and this is a horse that goes in the soft. Furthermore he is a decent price at 11-2.

Dutch Philip (Liesl King)

Dutch Philip is a class act and the obvious favourite. He gave away more ground at the start than he was beaten when second to Silicone Valley in a similar race over a furlong further in April and on official handicap marks he has the beating of everything except Tevez. However he is untested in soft ground and at 18-10 that is too big an imponderable.

Tevez (7-1) acts on this going but there is more than a suspicion that he is not quite as good as he was and, rising nine, that is only to be expected.

Olympian (9-2) has strong claims, not least because he is proven in the ground. Over 1 200m last time he had Nasty Harry, Master’s Spirit and Power Grid behind and is weighted to confirm the placings.

Kingston Passage (8-1) looked very good last season, particularly when making the running, and he likes this trip. His ability to act in the wet is a complete unknown but that doesn’t mean to say he won’t.

Power Grid, also an 8-1 chance, should be in his element but you would have to wonder if he is quite good enough to beat this opposition.

Nasty Harry (9-1) will like the underfoot conditions and Mike Stewart has long predicted that Al Wahed will really come into his own when the rain arrives. That said, the six-year-old has too much to do at the weights while Strikeitlikeamatch is a long shot even at 33-1 and allowing for his ability to go in the ground.

Of the others 30-1 shot Big Mistake has been disappointing in recent starts while Fifty Cents (16-1) has been off since February.

Snaith Racing are now finally beginning to unleash their two-year-olds. They run four in the first, four in the second and two against older horses in race three. Seven of them are first-timers. But they will have to be smart to beat Shadowing in the opener and the form book says that Winter Five is likely to prove too strong for Without Limits in race two.

By Michael Clower

Former Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate will be one of the centres of attention when he runs in the Gr2 Post Merchants at Greyville tonight. Legislate’s stud career was cut short as he has fertility problems so just how he performs back on the racetrack after an absence of two years will be interesting.

He hacked up in a recent barrier trial at Scottsville but tonight’s race is a different proposition. He was carrying plenty of condition in his trial and is unlikely to strip anywhere near his peak, but he does have class on his side.

The Post Merchants has a reputation of throwing up surprise results and tonight’s race could be no different as it has attracted a highly competitive field and the list of possible winners is a long one.

Legislate

Likely favourite is the Brett Crawford-trained Sunset Eyes, who finished second to stable companion Bold Respect in the recent Tsogo Sun Sprint. Sunset Eyes recorded his last win over Friday’s course and distance and both he and the Crawford stable are in mustard form.

Joey Ramsden was disappointed with Attenborough’s run in the Tsogo Sun Sprint and the Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner will be out to redeem himself. Ramsden blamed a wide draw at Scottsville and he has fared better here and will jump from a mid-field draw of seven.

Sniper Shot is smart and versatile although dropping back to 1200m after contesting the Daisy Guineas may be a problem albeit that he has run Sunset Eyes close on two occasions.

Alec Laird tends to fly under the radar and Pure Blonde could be the surprise package of the race. The gelding has some solid Highveld form and the blinkers are back on which should see him improve on his effort behind Bold Respect and Sunset Eyes in the In Full Flight Handicap.

Dennis Drier is chasing hard to regain his KZN Champion Trainer title he lost to perennial rival Duncan Howells last season and Caliente will be a strong fancy in the card opener after a smart barrier trial led to a promising debut.

However, he could find the year older Pavarotti Passion difficult to beat. Mark Dixon’s gelding has been a nightmare at the gates but showed in his first barrier trial that he has plenty of ability. His next trial is best ignored and the fact that he lines up this evening means that he has been passed at the gate.

Merit ratings have been a hot topic of debate this past week after African Night Sky seemingly got off lightly after his victory in the Cup Trial but that’s a debate for another day. An interesting runner tonight will be the showing by Flying Myth in the Wild Coast Sun Handicap.

Sean Tarry’s runner obviously has his problems given his record of time between races and they have not been at all good since winning a Juvenile Maiden back in 2016.

He started his three-year-old career off a rating of 93. That has dropped to this evening’s 66 and given his recent form that is probably a fair assessment.

But the fact that Tarry has persisted with the gelding may tell a tale and the switch to the poly track could hold the key. He’s not one for a big wager but also one that you cannot ignore.

By Andrew Harrison

The shortest priced female in the Vodacom Durban July, Cascapedia, is still on course for the big race despite having had to be scratched from the Jubilee Handicap on Sunday due to a spiked temperature.

Cascapedia (JC Photographics)

Her trainer Mike de Kock lambasted the handicappers for what he perceived to be inconsistencies in treatment of different July runners, including his own charge Yakeen, who won the Jubilee.

Assistant trainer Matthew de Kock said about Cascapedia, ““This is a setback as we’ve missed two prep runs with her, but this won’t change our plans. She’s already better, her blood’s not quite right yet but she will be fine. She has been doing really well in her work and we’ll give her a public gallop if needs be.”

De Kock pointed out that African Night Sky had run to at least a 121 merit rating in the Sun Met (he escaped punishment as a local rule states only the first five horses in a Grade 1 race can have their merit ratings upwardly adjusted and he finished a short-head behind the fifth-placed horse.)

African Night Sky duly won the Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1800m at Greyville with consummate ease on Saturday but was only raised four points, while Yakeen “fell across the line” in the Jubilee but received the same four point raise.

Matthew said about the Australian-bred three-year-old Teofilo colt Yakeen, “It will be hard to leave him out of the July now.”

By David Thiselton

The Paul Lafferty-trained Sniper Shot should go close on formlines in tomorrow night’s Grade 2 post Merchants over 1200m at Greyville. However, he had an interruption in his training program due to a sales offer and then had to be scratched from the Tsogo Sun Sprint due to a pulled muscle in his back. But all is now well with the three-year-old Judpot gelding and Lafferty’s assistant trainer Roy Waugh said, “He has put up a good grass gallop and is looking fantastic.”

Do It Again (Candiese Marnewick)

Sniper Shot failed the pisoplasma test after being the subject of a sales offer. In his last three runs he won the Fever Tree Handicap over 1400m at Scottsville, finished second in the Grade 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m at Greyville to subsequent Grade 1 winner Undercover Agent and then finished second in the Grade 2 Daisy Guineas at Greyville to Do It Again.

Previous to that he had run twice at Scottsville over tomorrow night’s trip of 1200m and been beaten both times by Post Merchants contender Sunset Eyes. In the first of those meeting he gave Sunset Eyes 1kg and was beaten two lengths and in the second meeting in February he received half-a-kilogram and was beaten 0,75 lengths.

He now faces Sunset Eyes at level weights. However, if weight for age changes are taken into consideration he is 3,5kg better off for a two length beating and 1,5kg better off for a 0,75 length beating, so there is very little in it.

However, Betting World have Sunset Eyes as the 5/2 favourite and Sniper Shot is at 8/1.

Sunset Eyes does have a draw advantage of pole position vs draw ten, which is a big factor.

Sniper Shot was kept wide in order to overcome a wide draw in the Byerley Turk and ended lying third in the running alongside the well drawn Undercover Agent, but it will be tough to repeat that tactic against classy speedsters over a 200m shorter trip. Nevertheless, he should be running on strongly as he loves Greyville.

By David Thiselton

Candice Bass-Robinson, already one ahead of her first season 88-winner total, has a favourite’s chance of collecting with Dutch Philip in the Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The US$500 000 CTS 1200 winner heads the market at 18-10 with World Sports Betting which has the Vaughan Marshall-trained Olympian next on 9-2 with Master’s Spirit on 11-2. Justin Snaith has snapped up 4kg-claiming rising talent Luke Ferraris for the last-named.

Mrs Bass-Robinson’s second string Tevez is a 7-1 chance with Kingston Passage and Power Grid on 8-1. Other prices are 9-1 Nasty Harry, 16-1 Al Wahed, Fifty Cents, 30-1 Big Mistake and 33-1 Strikeitlikeamatch.

By Michael Clower.

Featured Image: Dutch Philip (Liesl King)

Jarred Samuel is one of the unsung members of the weighing room but given a chance he can match it with the best of them as he showed when getting Unbelievable Lad home in a driving finish in the Hunting Tower Handicap at Greyville yesterday. It may not have been the ‘July’ but Samuel gave Ivan and Darryl Moore’s gelding a peach of a ride.

Jarred Samuel

For some reason, probably initiated by poly specialist Anton Marcus whose want is to head wide into the straight, swinging wide into the Greyville straight on the poly track appears to have some kind of benefit and Samuel, wide off the turn, went straight up the outside rail.

Highveld-based Craig Zackey sent Royal Rustler up the inside and the pair left the balance of the field chasing shadows as they hooked up 300 m out. It was nose-and-nose to the line with Royal Rustler angling out to join Unbelievable Lad but every picture tells a story and Samuel’s had his mount’s nose in front when it counted.

A wide draw on the poly track is not much of a handicap as Warren Kennedy proved in the seventh. He pressed forward early on Brett Crawford’s runner Savuti and then set his mount alight on the turn. It proved an inspired move as Savuti shot clear and was not for the catching. Dance Off and favourite Gunner chased from well of the pace but were never in contention for the judges.

Barrier trials get up the noses of many a trainer but it was two trialists that fought out the finish in the third. Priceless Ruler and Ticket Holder, both prominent in their respective trials, fought out a protracted duel with Dennis Drier’s gelding, owned by wife Gill, getting home narrowly. Duncan Howells knocked Drier off his throne as KZN Champion Trainer last season (judged on number of winners in KZN) but Drier has turned on the taps to regain his crown and Priceless Ruler put him 9 ahead of Howells with about seven weeks of the season to run so it could still come down to the wire as it did last season when Howells sewed it up inside the final fortnight.

Bequia was labelled the ‘money horse’ in the card opener and didn’t let his supporters down, winning easily under Bernard Fayd’Herbe for Garth Puller ahead of favourite Majestica who trailed in nearly three lengths adrift.

Blinkers were the inspired addition to Vaughan Marshall’s colt Provocateur and he put four lengths on the opposition in the second and looks more than just useful.

Calladdi found his best form for Gavin van Zyl when he burst clear inside the last 100m to land the fifth. Up until then, Warren Kennedy was involved in a tight tussle with Muzi Yeni on Big King, but Calladdi suddenly found an extra gear and rocketed away with Bonnie Dawn running on late for third.

Sharpe’s Eagle had his wings clipped when favourite for the third but O’Keefe eased the pain for Andre Nel in the Summerhill Stud Handicap as she kept on resolutely to get the better of Kahula and Inga with Pumpkin Queen coming from well back to take fourth.

By Andrew Harrison

Turffontein Standside stages a nine race meeting tomorrow and purists will not want to miss either the first race or the main race on the card, an MR 102 Handicap over 1000m.

The first race features the maiden with the best form in the country, two-year-old Pomodoro colt Cirillo, but he might not have things all his own way as three-year-old gelding Seventh Rule could be dangerous. Cirillo has finished narrow seconds in three features to date, including the Kuda Sprint, the Grade 3 Protea Stakes and the Grade 2 SA Nursery. He was one of the shortest priced horses in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion but was severely hampered so a line can be drawn through that run. He has a high draw which is favourable by trends and should get off the mark.

Seven Lives (JC Photographics)

Seventh Rule has not run for eight months and makes his Highveld debut for new trainer Ashley Fortune, who gets plenty of help in the yard from her legendary jockey husband Andrew. Interestingly, Andrew’s son Aldo Domeyer makes the journey from Cape Town for the meeting and rides Seventh Rule. This horse had decent form in Cape Town including finishing close quite close up over 1000m to the like of Kasimir and Steel Rose. He can get away with it running fresh over a sprint, although his low draw might be against it.

However, Domeyer’s best ride on the day is likely for Fortune’s contender in the last race over 1160m, Mount Keith. He came from Cape Town with some fair sprint form and should have come on from his first two starts on the Highveld which yielded second and third place finishes over 1200m, both times behind the ever improving Snow In Seattle.

In the main race Seven Lives is an improving three-year-old gelding by Seventh Rock and his late charge last time caught the eye. In a smaller field he should not have as much ground to make up if held up. Brigtnumberten is consistent and 4kg better off with Seven Lives for a 2,2 length beating in April so there should not be much in it, although as they are drawn next to each other Seven Lives might get a tow from him and then pounce late. Queen Laurie is the most talented horse in the field as she proved in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint where she finished a fine fourth. She often costs herself with tardy starts but if she jumps reasonably well and then finds cover from a tricky number one draw she could mow them down late.

Torre Del Oro is an honest sprinter who is drawn on the right side by trends and with Lyle Hewitson up he should be thereabouts. Wrecking Ball is talented and has a lot of speed. If there were races over 900m she would just about be a champion because she often fades in the final stages. Angel’s Power had some good form but his loss of form coincides with him making breathing noises. Greasepaint is an admirable seven-year-old who is still competitive. He is 4kg better off with Seven Lives for a 2,25 length beating in April, but as the latter is a three-year-old he would have improved since. African Ruler appears to have lost his way but has come down the merit ratings as a result.

The best bet on the card could be Santa Vittoria in race three over 2000m. She stayed on well last time to the promising sort Silvez and as she is by Commands out of a Galileo mare will relish the step up in trip.

Another fair bet could be Hungry Heart in race five over 1400m. This Irish Flame filly is improving and has a good draw over an ideal trip with Piere Strydom aboard.

The seventh and eighth races are tricky sprint handicaps and going wide is the advice. In the first of them Rebel’s Champ does have the form to win though and has a 4kg claimer up.

By David Thiselton

Harold Crawford is involved in a race against time to get Perovskia ready for the Vodacom Durban July after the Drill Hall winner was injured in last Saturday’s Cup Trial.

The four-year-old dropped out in the straight and finished last but one, nearly seven lengths behind African Night Sky, and the veterinary examination ordered by the stipes showed a severe cut in the gelding’s left fore.

Crawford said yesterday: “As he turned into the straight I saw him change his legs as another horse gave him a bit of a bump. He wobbled a bit and then didn’t carry on.

“Any horse will stop when he is hit on the fetlock joint like that and he came back with a nasty wound on his left one. He is not lame or sore on it but he is feeling it. I don’t yet know whether or not I will get him ready in time but I will see how he improves this week.”

By Michael Clower