Ordinary mid-week meetings on the Greyville poly are often just more of the same and one goes through the afternoon in a somnambulistic coma.

Then there are other days likes yesterday, that offer much to ponder. Do barrier trials work, is apprentice Lyle Hewitson as good as he is made out to be and does it pay to take notice of runners that take a drop in class?

Hot favourite Charge D‘Affaires put a kink in the form of Outlandos D‘Amour’s chances of winning the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship at Scottsville on Saturday when she was beaten by Noemi in the card opener.

Charge D‘Affaires had no answer to the late challenge from Neomi, patiently ridden by Hewitson, who added another win to his fast-growing tally to squeak home aboard Karen and Greg Anthony’s Zadora in the seventh.

Zadora (Candiese Marnewick)

Garth Puller has been around the block more than once in a brilliant riding career. More than that, he was a horseman rather than a high-class ‘panel-beater’ and he has used the barrier trials to his advantage. Noemi was close-up in her trial without being asked for anything close to maximum and the experienced paid dividends yesterday.

Seasoned race watcher David Thiselton gives his expert opinions on the barrier trials on the Gold Circle website and anyone who took the trouble to look up his comments will have been rewarded.

“2^nd 0,5 lengths Noemi (Godden/Puller 2yof 56kg) This athletic Crusade filly took a keen hold from the off and was under a tight hold when sitting behind the eventual winner. When switched out she displayed a nice daisy cutting action and was still under a tight hold at the line. She appears to have plenty of natural speed and some scope.”

There is a meeting of trainers and Gold Circle scheduled for today to discuss the merits of barrier trials and while they are an added frustration and expense to trainers, and there are some valid points that need to be addressed, barrier trials are far from misleading if viewed in the correct light. Australian heroine Winx had to trial before her last umpteenth Gr1 victory where she finished a distant fifth!

There is no doubting that Hewitson has what it takes and in a year where his senior opposition, notably Anthony Delpech, have been sidelined through injury, his quest for the National Jockey’s title has been made a lot easier and now a formality. But he is a class act which ever way you choose to look at it.

Under the current merit rating system of handicapping, one of the ploys by trainers is to run horses against superior opposition, get them tuned up without a penalty – a bonus being a drop in their rating –  and then pitting them against horses of their own calibre. It doesn’t always pan out but it did for the Tony Rivalland-trained Fantasy Art who dropped a division and comfortably won the sixth.

By Andrew Harrison

The Gold Medallion has virtually been owned by Dennis Drier this decade as he has won six of the last eight renewals, but this year he is up against it and the race might fall to another Dennis.

Dennis Bosch runs the exciting Oratorio colt Cue The Music, who first impressed in a barrier trial before coming out and doddling a 1000m event on the Greyville poly. He was not tuned up for that debut race debut but gave a glimpse of how good he was next time out by cruising through to beat a good field over 1100m at Scottsville. He did it effortlessly and is worthy 28/10 favourite with World Sports Betting.

Drier has the scopey Querari colt Immoretlle in the field as well as the strong Master Of My Fate colt Goliath Heron.

Dennis Bosch

Immortelle showed fine cruising speed over the Medallion 1200m course and distance on debut and then showed a good kick and resolve to get up. He has plenty of scope for improvement and could be Drier’s chief hope.

Goliath Heron has 6,8 lengths to make up on Cue The Music. He raced a bit strongly when sitting behind the latter that day and was also carried out a touch so could possibly get closer. It should be remembered that in 2012 Drier’s winner Potent Power reversed previous form with a horse called Twitter by more than ten lengths.

Traces, was reportedly in need of his last start when beaten 6,75 lengths by Cue The Music. This Australian-bred colt by Snitzel had won his previous start, the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1000m at Kenilworth on Sun Met day, in impressive style by 2,25 lengths. He has a fine action and Brett Crawford will be looking to add another Grade 1 victory to the six he won last season.

Grade 1 SA Nursery winner William The Silent could also be a threat. He looks the ideal Scottsville type as he possesses good natural pace together with a kick. On pedigree he should enjoy this tough 1200m too being by Var out of Cape Fillies Guineas runner up Tick Tock.

Cirillo is still a maiden but showed a fluent action when finishing a head second to William The Silent in the SA Nursery. This Pomodoro colt also has good natural speed and a kick.

Van Halen is a good looking Oratorio gelding who will be trying to upset the applecart. The strapping bay appeared to enjoy the tough Scottsville course last time and put a few disappointing efforts behind him by finishing second to Cue The Music but he does have three lengths to find on the latter.

Trippi colt Chimichuri Run was still green when running a 1,6 length third in the SA Nursery and could improve.

Byword colt Crown And Country is of the strong, scopey type who do well at Scottsville and he made it two from two when winning impressively over this course and distance. He was defeated subsequently on the poly and Goliath Heron comes out better on strict formlines.

Oratorio colt Di Me showed good pace and a kick when beating a good field over course and distance on debut at 75/1 odds and could be anything.

Twist Of Fate ran on well over this trip at Kenilworth last time to make it three wins from five starts but he is only 3kg better off with Traces for a 4,3 length beating on Met day.

In Cahoots stayed on for fifth in the SA Nursery but looks held by William The Silent, Cirillo and Chimichuri Run.

Sulka by Gimmethegreenlight is an immature sort who will be improving continuously. He won well second time out over 1000m and was extending, but before that was beaten 4,1 lengths by Chimichuri Run over 1000m.

Top Of The Class is a good looking sort by Var who can improve on his KZN debut when beaten 8,6 lengths by Cue The Music.

Affranchi looks held on SA Nursery form but he probably had the worst of the draw there and could improve.

Topmast is a rangy type by Sail From Seattle who beat Chimichri Run over 1000m but on previous 1200 form he looks held.

Reserve runner Rule The Night will have to bounce back from two poor runs.

By David Thiselton

Paul Lafferty believes his Ideal World gelding Dark Moon Rising has done enough to qualify for the Vodacom Durban July after finishing a 0,5 length second in the Grade 2 WSB 1900 at Greyville on Saturday.

The yard also spoke about their runner in the Tsogo Sun Sprint, Sniper Shot.

Dark Moon Rising was running off just a 95 merit rating on Saturday but was 5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse, the luckless Fort Ember, and was 2kg under sufferance with the winner Elusive Silva.

He thus proved he was better than his rating suggested.

Dark Moon Rising (Candiese Marnewick)

Lafferty’s assistant trainer Roy Waugh pointed out the progressive gelding also had two things go against him on Saturday.

As a horse who would stay 3200m “on his coconut” he is firstly one who needs a good pace and instead got a crawl.

Secondly there was no false rail, so this nullified his good draw of two as he had to be dropped back and switched outward for a run, which was made particularly difficult off the slow pace.

Nevertheless, the rangy bay ran on strongly with long strides on the outside and swept past all but one of the runners.

Waugh said, “All things considering it was a great run.”

The yard plan to now go straight into the July.

Sniper Shot was the subject of an offer to purchase from overseas after his excellent runner up finish in the Grade 2 Daisy Guineas. However, he failed the compulsory pyroplasmosis test so the sale was called off. This meant he was out of work for two weeks and has consequently put on a bit of condition according to Waugh. He has proved effective over sprints and will have an important gallop midweek this week.

By David Thiselton

Glen Kotzen said the three-year-old Philanthropist colt Pack Leader was fine and on course for the Vodacom Durban July, despite having to be scratched on course on Saturday when favourite for the Grade 2 WSB 1900.

He also spoke about his contenders for Scottsville’s Festival Of Speed meeting on Saturday.

Pack Leader

Kotzen said, “When loading on to the float two grooms had to hold him he was so full of himself, he had a good temperature reading, he had eaten up fine and everything was fine. However, two hours later he showed signs of cramping.”

Kotzen suspected a slight case of colic and decided to scratch him as a precaution.

He said, “We treated him back at the stable, he was soon scratching for his food, and I took him to the track this morning (Monday) for a canter and he was nice and fresh.”

Kotzen had planned to put Pack Leader straight into the July after the 1900 but has now had to find another race for him. The most suitable race appears to be the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 on June 2 and the yard have duly entered him.

Kotzen has Too Phat To Fly and Princess Peach in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint and he said, “Too Phat To Fly comes in off two good wins (over 1100m and in the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes over 1400m). She is flying and put up a great workout this morning (Monday). Princess Peach is doing well but has to come back to her best.”

He runs Pathfork filly Purest Bliss in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson. She followed a barrier trial win by beating winners, including some well regarded sorts, in a Juvenile Plate over 1200m at Scottsville. Kotzen said, “She doesn’t know how good she is, the penny hasn’t dropped yet.”

By David Thiselton

Vaughan Marshall may well have had Scottsville this coming Saturday in mind when Charge D’Affaires made her debut earlier this month, but those plans were shelved as she came up short behind Allan Robertson runner Outlandos D’Amour.

However, Dennis Drier’s charge has a reputation of being more than just useful so Charge D’Affaires should take some beating when she lines up in the Greyville opener this afternoon. Charge D’Affaires was game to the end on debut but Outlandos D’Amour had just a little more to come.

With a barrier trial and that race under her girth, Charge D’Affaires is likely to go off at cramped odds.

Dennis Drier

Also runner-up on debut was Dean Kannemeyer’s colt Fitzwilliam who is also fancied to get off the mark in the second. Up with the pace throughout over the Scottsville 1200m, he was run out of it late by Di Me. Fitzwilliam put in a good barrier trial on the poly so the switch of surfaces should not trouble him. But he does face a stiffer task than Charge D’Affaires.

Sigismund and Euphoric both trialled well while Gallagher is not up from the Cape to sample the Durban air and likely to make good improvement on his Durbanville debut.

In the third, Amberbell does not have the best of draws, a point that worries Lowan Denysschen. “A bad draw is a bad draw, it’s as simple as that,” he said.

However, his daughter of Silvano appears to have come to hand and the step up to 1400m should also be in her favour. But she does take on a competitive field. Holy Flame is the highest rated filly in the line-up and a beaten favourite last time out while Amber Furst was only a neck behind Holy Flame on debut and Wendy Whitehead’s charge should have more to come on that showing alone.

Two Stroke is rated way better than the majority of the field in the fourth and looking to snap a sequence for two runner-up berths, last time going down narrowly to Piaget Prince. The biggest threat to his chances could come in the form of Holy Land. Dennis Drier’s charge was just over a length back to stable companion Immortelle on debut and the latter is among the fancied runners for Saturday’s Gr1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion.

With two straight wins in the bag, Sunny Bill Du-Toy aims for a hat-trick in the fifth but it is likely to be a little more difficult as he takes a steep rise in class. He was the stand-out runner in his last race but although he is progressive, he will need to take full advantage of apprentice Luke Ferraris’s 4kg claim to pull this one off as top weight Pure Logic is back over what appears to be his optimum trip while Viento, Topclassman and the filly Roy’s Pony all rate dangers.

Fantasy Art takes a drop in class in the sixth and has not been far back at recent outings when taking on stronger. He goes well on the poly and from a good draw should be competitive in an open race. Piaget Prince makes his handicap debut under a big weight and also has a wide draw to contend with. But he has come well for his new stable and can go in again. Sovereign Solder is also down in class and jumped from a difficult draw last time out so must warrant consideration along with Roy’s Rolls Royce who is never far back and Gunter Wrogemann has stuck with the ride.

The seventh appears wide open but Above Eleven takes a major drop in class and is also down to what looks to be a more competitive handicap mark which could do it for Michael Roberts.

Roy’s Zara can round off the meeting for Duncan Howells ahead of Hatfield Square, recent winner Expresso Martini and the highly strung, High Altar.

By Andrew Harrison

Racing switches to the winter course for the Highlands Stud Winter Classic meeting at Kenilworth on Saturday and as a result Eric Sands has been reappraising tactics for probable favourite Rainbow Bridge who is drawn nine out of ten.

The most noticeable aspect of the switch from the summer course is that the straight is reduced from three furlongs to two and Sands said: “It means he is going to have to make his move earlier than he did in the Winter Guineas. If the Classic was run the same way he wouldn’t get there in time over this course.

Eric Sands (hamishNIVENPhotography)

“In any case I don’t want to teach him to race from the back as, if you do that, you can end up with the sort of horse who you are always wondering whether he is going to get there.”

With Aldo Domeyer on Grade 1 duty at Scottsville Candice Bass-Robinson is bringing down Stuart Randolph for Durban July candidate Rocket Countdown and four other rides together with Ryan Munger whose six mounts for the stable include Pacific Chestnut.

Joey Ramsden is expecting an improved showing from Ancestry who has just under two lengths to find with the favourite and is a kilo better.

He said: “I thought he was more forward than he was in the Winter Guineas but he proved only 80% ready. I was very impressed with Eric’s horse that day but there is plenty of improvement in Ancestry while my other runner Morning Catch worked well on the course last Saturday morning.”

Fresnaye, who ran below par when taking on the colts in the Winter Guineas, is switched back to her own sex in the Stormsvlei Mile and Richard Fourie has been snapped up.

Ramsden said: “She had a mucky trach wash after that last run but she worked well when we took her to the course on Saturday.”

Justin Snaith, who entered 15 for the Overarching Maiden Juvenile, has whittled the issue down to four with Callan Murray on Kiss Me Twice.

By Michael Clower

Justin Snaith said his Vodacom Durban July contenders Elusive Silva, Platinum Prince and African Night Sky could not have pulled up better than they have after their heroics at Greyville on Saturday.

He is also looking forward to Saturday’s Festival Of Speed meeting at Scottsville.

Snaith believes his Grade 2 WSB 1900 winner Elusive Silva has a shout in the July and said about the five-year-old Silvano gelding, “He is not one of the best horses in the race but has as much chance as any of the rest. He could be put on the second tier, whereas there are some horses who have no chance. He won the Winter Derby in an absolute canter, so 2200m is probably his best distance. He is not weighted out of it and he loves Greyville. So he has more going for him than not. if I can get him to the course in good condition on the day it would be no surprise to see him run in the first four.”

Elusive Silva

Elusive Silva has been given a four point raise to a new merit rating of 111 and is rated a 15/1 shot for the July by 1900 sponsor World Sports Betting.

Platinum Prince was most unlucky. He came from last and his long stride was putting him into contention when a gap closed on him, which was not altogether surprising as there was no false rail. When he got through he stayed on strongly and was just pipped for third by the equally unlucky Matador Man. Snaith said, “He would have gone very close.”

The Silvano gelding did not appear on the first July log so will have to have another race to qualify. Snaith said he would go for the Cup Trial on June 9.

Snaith said unplaced Strathdon had suffered a rough race on Saturday, which was unfortunate as he had been hoping for a positive run. However, he said he would be fine and would be going the stayers route.

His other runner in the 1900 was Captain Splendid, who ran ninth and will also be going the stayers route.

The best July trial of all on Saturday was put up by Snaith’s African Night Sky, who sliced through the field from the back in a Pinnacle event but was hampered in the process. He has duly gone to the top of the July betting boards.

Snaith said, “It was an unbelievable prep, he should never have lost. He was hit on the hindquarters and was knocked sideways, he looked like he was one of the horses in my polo game on Sunday. But he come out 100% sound and will also run in the Cup Trial.”

Star Express won the Pinnacle event and Snaith said her July participation would be discussed with the connections. He said, “She is a very good filly. Every now and then her feet give her trouble but she has run second in the Majorca twice and is a genuine Group 1 filly.”

Snaith will have two runners in Saturday’s Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville. He said CTS 1200 runner up Kasimir was “flying” at home. He also expected a good run from Sir Frenchie, who is capable of a strong finish and whom he felt had “no chance” last time out when carrying a big weight but would now go in with a nice galloping weight.

He felt the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint was weaker than usual and believed his runners Gimme Six, Jo’s Bond and Casual Diamond would all run well.

By David Thiselton

Featured Image: Roy Had Enough (Candiese Marnewick)

Tsogo Sun raceday at Scottsville in Pietermaritzburg this coming weekend confirmed its status as the sprinting capital of South Africa when full fields of 16 runners plus reserves were carded for the four Grade 1 races over 1 200m that make the meeting unique on the country’s racing calendar.

With total feature race stakes of R3.25-million on offer for the four races, every top sprinting thoroughbred in the country is set to face the starter with the R1-million, Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint field including the first three horses past the post in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein recently.

Attenborough

Joey Ramsden’s speedsters Attenborough and Speedpoint filled first and third places in that 1 000m race with Dorrie Sham’s Pinnacle Peak sandwiched between them and they are set to renew their battle over the testing Scottsville course where they will be joined by, among others, the winner and runner-up in the In Full Flight Handicap Bold Respect and Sunset Eyes from the in-form Brett Crawford stable.

Poinsettia Stakes winner Sommerlied from the Dennis Drier stable along with the first three past the post in the recent Camelot at Turffontein, Green Plains, Myfunnyvalentine and Winter’s Forge, are among the acceptors for the R750 000, Grade 1 South African Fillies Sprint and the two Grade 1 races for juveniles, the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion and Allan Robertson Championship, have highly competitive fields featuring the leading two-year-olds from around the country.

Dennis Drier has accepted with his three entries – Crown And Country, Goliath Heron and Immortelle – in his bid to win the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion for the eighth time but will face serious opposition from William The Silent, Cirillo and Chimichuri Run that filled the first three places in the SA Nursery at Turffontein and the trifecta of runners from the Godolphin Barb – Cue The Music, Van Halen and Traces that led his colt Goliath Heron home on the day.

In the Allan Robertson Championship, the outcome of the race is another difficult to predict as the field includes the winner and runner-up in the SA Fillies Nursery at Turffontein, Ronnie’s Candy and Ghalla as well as the first three past the post in the Strelitzia Stakes, Inverroche, Canukepitsecret and Petra.

The four races form the official Jackpot at the meeting and with large exotic bet pools on the day, the competitiveness of the feature events could result in large payouts for successful punters.

By Richard McMillan.

Punters could get off to a good start at the Vaal Outside track meeting tomorrow, which has nine races in all, as the well-bred Saints Alive looks to have a fine chance in the first.

This Elusive Fort filly is a full-sister to the three-times Grade 1 runner up Safe Harbour and caught the eye staying on strongly with long strides on debut over 1200m to finish a narrow second despite having lost two lengths at the start. She should appreciate the step up to 1400m in this Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies. However, she won’t have it easy as the Trippi filly Railtrip also looks a decent sort. She is a half-sister to SA Derby winner Hero’s Honour so will also appreciate the step up to 1400m. Last time out she was drawn on the wrong side on the Vaal Inside track over 1200m and after showing good pace stayed on strongly to only just fail. Saints Alive is given the vote as she is drawn close to the outside rail, which is usually the right side to be on at this course.

Alex The Great (JC Photographics)

Punters could accumulate more in the next race through Rocky Night. He is by speed influence Seventh Rock but is out of an In The Wings mare and is also a rangy sort, so he will likely appreciate the step up to 1400m in this Maiden Juvenile Plate. Furthermore, looks to have plenty of scope too. He is drawn 16, another point in his favour. It is an interesting race as there are quite a few others who make some appeal, including Drop Kick, Electromagnetic, Forries At Five, My Boy Calois, Tequila Man and the first-timers Tarzan and Latin Opus, but Rocky Night is the selection.

The third race over 1200m won’t take a lot of winning and the first-timer Risingofthenorth is the selection being by the promising sire Pomodoro out of the twice Grade 3 runner up sprinter Mary Stuart, who is by Black Minnaloushe. King Of The Delta has attracted betting support before and having finished strongly over this trip last time he should go close again from a favourable high draw. Her looks to be the main danger.

In the fourth race over 1200m the well-named Sally Called made a decent debut and is chosen to be a Pick 6 banker, but only due to the first-timer rule. Hot Chocolate and Laduree are well-bred first-timers who could upset her. The former is by Oratorio out of the Silvano Grade 2-winning sprinter Mocachino and the latter by Var is a full-sister to 94 merit rated sprinter Vous Et Var.

The handicaps then start so it gets tougher.

In the fifth race over 1200m Alex The Great has always been well regarded but has been disappointing. However, he has now dropped to a competitive merit rating and can make his presence felt from quite a high draw of 12. Cannes is an eight-year-old but still has pace and he is down to a competitive merit rating and drawn well over a course and distance he enjoys. Ashley Fortune is doing well with her horses which have been brought up from the Cape and if Mount Keith reproduces his Cape Town form he will be right there. Silver King can’t be ignored for those wishing to go wider as he beat Cannes last time they met and Snow In Seattle has been in fine form too.

Race six over 1000m sees a clash between two promising sorts in Sirtain and Copper Jay. The former’s only defeat in three starts since blinkers were applied was when he was changing legs last time before being narrowly beaten into second. He can resume winning ways if bouncing back to his best. Copper Jay is 1kg better off with Sirtain for a 0,3 length beating in the aforementioned race and has caught the eye before as one with some potential.

In the next over 1400m Bockscar was a bit outpaced over 1200m last time but flew up to win going away and he can follow up off just a four point higher mark. He could be a banker consideration, but beyond him the race is wide open.

The chief contenders in the eighth over 1400m are Dawn Flight, Inthepurplerain and Pretty Popular. Dawn Flight looks better than her merit rating and proved effective last time over this trip, although her low draw might be tricky. Inthepurplerain has been facing stronger without being disgraced and will go close. Pretty Popular has improved since a tongue tie was applied and is drawn on the right side.

The last race over 1400m Quebec Queen has won three times in her last four starts and if maintaining form can be involved again off a four point higher mark, although not too much can be read into her beating the promising Make Me Happy last time as the latter was drawn on the wrong side. Some Song was unlucky when beginning to move up well in that same race so the bare result can be ignored and she has a big shout here. Snow Path, All I Got and Chartwell make most appeal of the rest.

By David Thiselton