Paul Lafferty was bullish about the chances of his charge Dark Moon Rising in the Grade 2 World Sports Betting 1900 to be run on the Greyville turf on Saturday.

He said about the progressive four-year-old Ideal World gelding, “He only got going late in the Sledgehammer (0,8 length third) and now it is 100m further. His best trip will be 2400m. He is doing well at home and is improving all the time.”

This rangy sort is officially the worst weighted horse in the race, which is run under merit rated band conditions. He is 5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse Fort Ember and 2,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted male horse, It’s My Turn. However, the merit ratings can be misleading due to the number of sub-rules which bind the handicappers. Furthermore, typical of the progeny of Ideal World, he is improving all the time and has cracked another plum draw of two. His Sledgehammer pilot Craig Zackey keeps the ride.

By David Thiselton

Featured Image: Dark Moon Rising (Candiese Marnewick)

Ante-post favourite African Night Sky is a notable absentee from the 13 declared for the World Sports Betting 1900 but he will still run at Greyville on Saturday.

Jono Snaith said: “He runs in the mile Pinnacle instead. Fred Crabbia (owner of African Night Sky) already had It’s My Turn in the 1900 and that one needs to qualify for the Vodacom Durban July. But most importantly African Night Sky is better weighted in the Pinnacle and, so far as his July weight is concerned, the right decision is to run in the Pinnacle.

“Furthermore Justin wants progressive distances for the horse and going for the Pinnacle means he can go 1 600m then the 1 800m of the Cup Trial to lead into the July over 2 200m.”

African Night Sky (Liesl King)

With Anton Marcus on the injury list Grant van Niekerk will ride the four-year-old for the first time on Saturday but Marcus has given the stable an assurance that he will ride one of the Snaith runners in the July.

African Night Sky has not raced since finishing a two-length six in the Sun Met and he has been noticeably weak in the July market so far this month, drifting from 6-1 favourite to 8-1 with Betting World whereas stable companion Do It Again has been all the rage since his Daisy Guineas win and is now as short as 5-1. You could get 20-1 last month.

However Snaith Racing is concerned that punters are latching on to Oh Susanna, currently joint second favourite at 8-1, in the belief that she is an intended runner.

Jono said: “Oh Susanna is only 50:50 to run in the July and we want punters to be aware of this. The owners are already thinking in terms of the next Cape season and going for a second Sun Met.”

The decision of the handicappers to re-assess the Premier’s Champions Challenge has important implications for the July as it means that Coral Fever and Abashiri, both 16-1 chances, will have a kilo less to carry. The actual big race weights will not be published until June 19.

The exciting Eric Sands-trained Rainbow Bridge has been hit with a wide draw in the Highlands Stud Winter Classic at Kenilworth on Saturday week. The unbeaten Winter Guineas winner has only one of the 16 entries outside him.

Last year’s Met winner Whisky Baron is now back in Newmarket, but this time with William Haggas, after his disappointing Dubai campaign.

Ridgemont racing manager Craig Carey said: “Things were hard for him in Dubai and he didn’t take it well so the owners (Craig and Ross Kieswetter) have decided to give him a break. They haven’t made any plans – they are waiting to see how he is.”

Markus Jooste, despite all his problems, is still part-owner of a number of high class horses with Aidan O’Brien at the famous Ballydoyle stables in Ireland. These include Rostropovich who won the Dee Stakes at Chester last week and who is owned by Jooste in partnership with Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Sue Magnier.

The colt is a son of the legendary Frankel and is currently a 16-1 chance for next month’s Investec Derby. If he were to win, and with his pedigree, he would be worth upwards of £10 million with Jooste’s share making a significant contribution to the Mayfair Speculators debt.

By Michael Clower

Aldo Domeyer goes into tomorrow’s Kenilworth meeting needing just one winner to record his second century. He has mounts in seven of the eight races including two favourites and two second favourites.

He finished up last season on 99 but this time he is already certain to beat his previous best numerically (110 in 2015/16). He will be particularly keen to chalk up his ton here after both Callan Murray and Greg Cheyne hit that target over the weekend.

Aldo-Domeyer

Perhaps his best prospect is on Ballad Of The Sea in the Book Your Seat Handicap (race three). This is a tricky contest but the Candice Bass-Robinson runner had the subsequent East Cape Derby winner American Landing behind when a close second over this course and distance last time. He seemed to appreciate the step up in trip and is lightly raced so may have more scope for improvement than some of this opposition.

Ballad Of The Sea opened 5-2 joint favourite with Rock My Soul with World Sports Betting. Grant van Niekerk’s mount is one of three for Joey Ramsden and it’s worth noting that William The Brave (15-2) was hampered on his most recent start while 33-10 chance Paddington appeared to be feeling the ground and so should be more effective after last week’s rain.

Whatever his fortunes in this race Ramsden can take the first, the 1 000m maiden, with two-year-old Montego Bay who was quickly supported at 7-2. He showed plenty of promise first time and is bound to have come on from that.

Favourite at 22-10 is Seventh Sea who has run well in his last two. But Ramsden has won 13 two-year-old races this season and Justin Snaith only one so this statistic alone points to Montego Bay.

Race two is difficult because it is such a modest maiden but Vase makes most appeal and has shortened fractionally from 19-10 to 17-10 since the prices were published.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who rides the Andre Nel runner, is in cracking form and he can win races four and five on Mind Blowing and Hammie’s Fan.

Mind Blowing (4-1) is preferred in the market for the Betting World Maiden by Domeyer’s mount Unrivalled (2-1 favourite) and Magnificent Seven (28-10), and he has a bit to find on ratings. But he has finished second in three of his last four and may be good enough.

Hammie’s Fan shares 3-1 second favouritism for the Play Soccer Maiden with Royal Kiss but Domeyer’s mount is badly drawn and the selection has run well on his last two. Magic Mary is 5-2 favourite and represents an obvious danger.

By Michael Clower

The Grade 2 World Sports Betting 1900 is an important Vodacom Durban July pointer and this year’s renewal, which takes place at Greyville on Saturday, is ultra-competitive and will likely be a thriller.

The race is run under merit rated bands conditions and females are given their weight for age allowance.

On paper the order of finish will be 1^st Fort Ember; 2^nd It’s My Turn (2,5kg under sufferance with Fort Ember); tie 3^rd Elusive Silva, Olivander (3kg under sufferance); 5^th Pack Leader (3,5kg under sufferance); tie 6^th Crowd Pleaser, Matador Man, The Slade, Captain Splendid, Platinum Prince, Strathdon (4kg under sufferance); 12^th Kampala Kampari (4,5kg under sufferance) and last Dark Moon Rising (5kg under sufferance).

Fort Ember

However, not only are the accuracy of merit ratings open to question due to the plethora of sub-rules which bind the handicappers, but there are also draws, track suitability and levels of fitness to take into account.

Only the winner of this race will be raised in the merit ratings (to a maximum of six points unless more is requested). The placed horses will not be effected unless requested.

Fort Ember can be quite strong in the running and needs a good draw to be seen at her best as the only option for her from a wide draw is to go up to the front and she does not have the natural speed to do that easily. She was able to get to the front in the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m at Turffontein from a wide draw and finished a gallant second to Coral Fever, but in the Premier’s Champions Challenge she was unable to get to the front from another wide draw and the effort took its toll. She now at last has a good draw of three. She has proved she has the quick turn of foot required at Greyville. She won both the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m and the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m at this course when kicking from respective handy positions off slow paces. This time there will likely be a decent pace with Crowd Pleaser in the field but she might be able to dictate in second place. She proved by finishing second in the Summer Cup she can mix it with the boys, but the question is how much that last race, just two weeks ago, took out of her.

It’s My Turn will be cherry ripe for new trainer Dean Kannemeyer having his third run after a seven month layoff. He was staying on well last time over the too sharp 1600m in the Kings Cup for a narrow third and has a middle draw of seven. Dynasty’s progeny love Greyville, due to their ability to quicken, and although It’s My Turn has never won here before he has twice placed in Grade 1 races and finished third in this race last year.

Elusive Silva, having his second run after a layoff, relaxes beautifully in the running and is capable of turning it on, but he has to prove he is as good as he once was after twice having long injury layoffs.

It’s My Turn (Liesl King)

Ollivander was caught wide throughout in the Sledgehammer here over 1800m and has a better draw now. He will be hoping for a strong, true pace as he is a galloping type who would appreciate further.

Pack Leader is an honest type who should have come on from his short-head second in the Sledgehammer. He has a fair draw of four and will relish a strong pace, although it is a concern Fort Ember is drawn inside of him as he might be trapped one wide if trying to get up there.

Crowd Pleaser is a fine front-runner who loves Greyville, but he does have to bounce back from two below par runs and it is his second run after a layoff.

Matador Man will likely be dropped out as he will be stretched by the trip and can turn it on from behind. He loves Greyville and finished third in the Grade 1 Champions Cup over just 100m shorter than this race last year.

The Slade will enjoy a good pace and will be staying all the way to the line.

Captain Splendid would prefer further but is capable of earning over this trip running fresh.

Platinum Prince caught the eye staying on with long strides for a close second in the Kings Cup. He will enjoy the step up in trip, but has a wide draw to overcome.

Strathdon is best at staying trips but did win the last time he ran over this trip so could run well fresh.

Dark Moon Rising is by Ideal World so will be improving all the time and having stayed on in eye catching fashion for third in the Sledgehammer, he has the identical draw of two and will relish the extra 100m.

By David Thiselton

Lyle Hewitson is on track to become the first apprentice since the legendary Michael Roberts to land the National Jockey’s title as an apprentice after pulling level with current leader Anthony Delpech and then going one better with a last race victory at Greyville yesterday.

A winner at Fairview on Friday and another in the last race on Saturday, took him to within one of equalling Delpech’s 136 winners for the season. The Paul Lafferty-trained Touch Of Magic was probably fittingly named as Hewitson delivered a typically full-out ride on the favourite to win the third and equal Delpech’s current total but went to bed last night one ahead and firmly on track for the title as he steered Liverpool Lass to victory in the last.

Touch Of Magic (Candiese Marnewick)

Muzi Yeni, third placed in the title race, has not given up the chase and his three winners on Saturday took him to 109 for the season so far, but with Delpech unlikely to be back to defend his title after being side-lined through injury, it will take a monumental effort from Yeni to stop Hewitson becoming only the second apprentice to land the National title after Roberts, and this in only his third year as professional jockey.

Hewitson did have the benefit of a couple of seasons in work rider’s races, champion before being admitted to the SA Jockey Academy, so had the perfect grounding.

Ashburton-based after many years in Cape Town, Shane Humby has a reputation of running his horses sparingly so if you are an owner who likes his horses to run every other week, look elsewhere.

On the other hand, Humby is one of the most astute trainer’s around and if your horse has any ability, he will get to the bottom of it; all you need as an owner is patience.

The Humby-trained Socrates, a comfortable winner of the fourth, benefitted from a strong early pace, making it two from two on the poly as he out-gunned favourite Falkland to deny Hewitson taking the lead in the jockey’s title race.

With Anton Marcus out of action, Humby called on Cape Town-based Donovan Dillon to deputise and he took no prisoners. Hewitson looked to have the race sewn up approaching the final furlong but Dillon had other ideas. Trailing off a blistering early pace, he came into the straight with plenty of horse under him but with little space to manoeuvre.

In desperation, Dillon barged through the smallest of gaps, collard the favourite and won going away.

Apprentice Luke Ferraris took 25 rides to get off the mark, but since breaking his duck he has been prolific in the past fortnight, going from naught to six, three coming over the weekend with one for Duncan Howells and two for Michael Roberts, the last a narrow win aboard Charlie-Fox who got over the line just in time to hold off a charging Pantsula.

By Andrew Harrison

The third and final leg of the Work Rider’s Challenge will be held at Turffontein tomorrow and Joe Gwingwizha looks to have a fine chance of emerging victorious.

Goodman Dadamasi currently leads in the scramble for the overall R50,000 first prize on 38 points to Joe Gwingwhizha’s 34 points, Chamu Mabaya’s 24, Tshepiso Matsole’s 20 and Phelisile Mongqawa’s 20. Riders are awarded 10 points for a first place, seven for second, five for third and three points for fourth.

Sam Mosia

Gwingwhizha can close the gap in the first race over 1160m as he rides Go Thuli Go. This filly would prefer further but does possess some pace and can go close in this uninspiring field. Kick Butt ridden by Frans Semela looks to be the main danger and Chamu Mabaya has an interesting ride on the two-year-old first-timer Snowballed, who is by What A Winter out of a unraced Antoniu Pius mare who is a half-sister to a Grade 3-placed Dansili filly over a mile in the USA.

Gwingwhiza is also in the pound seats in the second over 1160m on Battle Front, who has the best form but hasn’t raced for ten months. Sam Mosia is aboard the main danger Gunston and Dadamasi has a decent ride on Torpedo Officer.

Mabaya has a good ride in the third over 1000m on Hurricane Lass who shows pace and stays on. She seems better than her form suggests so the blinkers could do the trick.

Matsoele has a good ride there on the pacey Prima Ballerina and also holds the aces in the fourth over 1000m on Queen Of War, who comes out best on paper. Gwingwizha rides the main danger in the latter race, Pearl Of Siberia.

Mabaya and Sam Mosia could fight out the fifth over 2400m on two staying types, Imoto and Hironito and Gwingwizha has yet another chance here on Brand New Cadillac.

Gwingwizha has a plum ride in the sixth over 2000m on the hard knocking New Zealand.

The two that make most appeal in the seventh over 1600m are Rockstar Child and Norland and the latter could reverse 1500m form from a good draw over this 1600m event as he was staying on well in that 1500m race.

In the last race over 1600m Mabaya rides the best bet of the day, Alnasl who was slow away second time out over 1500m but finished fast and only just failed.

By David Thiselton

Dorrie Sham will nominate Grade 1 Computaform Sprint runner up Pinnacle Peak for the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville on May 26 but said his participation is all “in his hooves”.

She said the three-year-old Querari gelding had come out of Saturday’s race at Turffontein well.

She believed he would appreciate the step up to 1200m and pointed to his win in the Grade 3 Man O’ War Sprint over 1100m in which he led throughout yet was doing his best work late.

Joey Ramsden

Sham did not expect to have a horse for the SA Champions Season and would regard participation in the Tsogo Sun Sprint as a bonus.

Pinnacle Peak was bred by John Everett’s Narrow Creek Stud and has become a testament to the fine eye of owner John Finlayson.

Everett recently related, “John came to visit me on the farm. He loves taking a walk early in the morning and fell in love with this colt out in the field and offered to buy him off the farm. I said ‘No John, you’re here to visit, not to buy horses’, but at the end of his visit, John left a note with his offer. Over the next month he kept calling and asking about him and eventually the deal was done.”

Pinnacle Peak was only a weanling at the time.

He has been raised nine points by the handicapper to 112.

Joey Ramsden had the first and third in the Computaform Sprint, Attenborough and Speedpoint.

Attenborough is a quirky four-year-old gelding by Western Winter. When things go his way he can produce a powerful finish like he did on Saturday. He started favourite for last year’s Tsogo Sun Sprint running off a 106 merit rating but could only manage a 5,9 length 12^th. He has been raised four points to 114 after Saturday’s win, which, considering the recent across the board six point raise to all major centre merit ratings, means he is only two points higher than he was at this time last year. Speedpoint was raised eleven points to 109 for his 2,2 length third. Considering he finished a 4,4 length third in the Langerman over 1500m as a juvenile, he should enjoy the tough Scottsville 1200m if that is his target.

The speedy Queen Laurie got a relatively good break on Saturday for a change and showed she is effective from off the pace with a charging 3,1 length fourth. She put up her hand for a tilt at the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint as she beat her female four-year-old contemporary Exquisite Touch by 0,35 lengths.

By David Thiselton

Al Miqdaam is one of those stallions that floats around in obscurity for much of their careers. Ignored by mainstream studs for one reason or another and as a result not commercially viable, Al Miqdaam’s support base is mainly owner/breeders who do not have the numbers or quality of mare to make him popular.

Given a chance with a decent mare, Al Miqdaam does have some potential as Al Ciberano and Ishnana have shown, the two lining up in the sixth at Greyville tonight.

Al Ciberano

Both bred by Robert Smith, a long-time supporter of the sport and Al Miqdaam, Al Ciberano, now rising eight, was the first of the stallion’s progeny to feature prominently and to date has won four of his 34 starts, placed 19 times, and earned close to half-a-million rand.

Al Ciberano is over his favourite course and distance this evening but could find his younger rival too hot to handle although Tony Rivalland will have an idea on what to expect. Rivalland sends out Al Ciberano and also saddled La Ferrari, who fell victim to Ishnana last time out.

The Garth Puller-trained Ishnana has never been far back in his seven starts, twice successful, and blinkers appear to have brought out the best in him. La Ferrari had not finished out of the first three in his first five starts before taking on feature company in the In Full Flight Handicap last time out and did well enough to finish five lengths off Bold Respect. Tonight’s field is a lot weaker and on a line through La Ferrari, Ishnana could prove the one to beat in a difficult race.

After a virus scare, Duncan Howells is getting his string on track again and Ninjinsky’s Son can get his evening off on a winning note. After no-shows in his first three outings, Ninjinsky’s Son came good last time out, finishing like a train behind the talented but difficult Don Piero. The extra furlong should be right up his alley. Prince Ardent, in the money at his last five starts, and Lord Of Glencoe are possible dangers.

Sunny Bill Du-Toy came to hand with a bang when stretched to 1800m on the poly last time out and although that was a lowly maiden win, he appears to have some scope. Franco looks his biggest danger. He gets 4kg from Sunny Bill and has done well since being switched to the poly and sporting blinkers. He stays the trip and weight could be a deciding factor.

Howells sends out Crystal Ball and Roy’s Zara in the fourth, both in with chances in a tricky handicap. According to Howells, Crystal Ball is coming back to her best form and with a four-claimer up in Luke Ferraris, she may prove the pick of the two although Roy’s Zara trialled well and “has a say,” according to Howells.

Others with obvious chances are Vilette and Irish Marsh.

By Andrew Harrison

Star Cape filly Oh Susanna, impressive winner of the region’s premier event, the Grade 1 Sun Met, tops the first Vodacom Durban July Log released yesterday and heads an exciting and very strong top end to Africa’s greatest racing event.

It is no surprise that the Justin Snaith-trained Australian import is the leading contender in the opinion of the official July Selection Committee and after outside Coral Fever from the Robbie Sage stable ran out a surprise winner of the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Challenge at Turffontein on Saturday, the five-year-old Judpot gelding staked his claim to what is likely to be a guaranteed position in the 2 200m spectacle.

The Sean Tarry stable is the country’s leading yard but at this stage has just one of its entries in the top 20 and that is the winner of the Summer Cup, Liege, that occupies third spot ahead of the three-year-old Gimmethegreenlight colt Surcharge that will represent trainer Stuart Pettigrew. The colt was just beaten into second place in the Derby at Turffontein on Saturday but it was a top-class effort and follows up on second placings in the Gauteng Guineas and SA Classic.

The four-year-old Russian Sage gelding Perovskia from the stable of veteran Cape trainer Harold Crawford elbowed his way onto the log with his unexpected victory in the Grade 2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville on Friday evening. Before that win he had run consistently well and only missed the placing four times in 13 starts and this was the sixth win of his career.

Snaith has four of his nominees in the top 18 with the filly being supported by Investec Cape Derby runner-up Do It Again, African Night Sky and Star Express.

The Irish import Cascapedia is the sole representative of the Mike de Kock stable in the top 18 having won the London News but his three-year-old Captain Al colt Like A Panther is just on the outside looking in and could make his way into the final field as the season progresses.

The Dean Kannemeyer stable that has an excellent record in the country’s big race, finds two of its entries, It’s My Turn that was strongly fancied for the Vodacom Durban July last year and the runner up in the Peninsula Handicap, The Slade, among those just outside the top 18 on the log.

By Richard McMillan

Featured Image: Oh Susanna (Liesl King)