Harold Crawford is a doyen of Western Cape racing and a rare visitor to KZN but his decision to send Perovskia for Champions Season paid dividends first up at Greyville on Friday night and there may still be more to come.

Perovskia has a reputation of being a difficult horse to pass as favourite Undercover Agent found to his detriment in the Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes as Callan Murray kept his mount hard to his task and the gelding lived up to his reputation.

Perovskia (Candiese Marnewick)

“I was always sure that I was going to get there,” said Murray. “I was only worried about what was behind me.”

From a small yard, Crawford does not have the luxury of spending big at the sales and must live off what’s on offer at the bottom end of the market. Russian Sage, a smart galloper in his time, did not make it as a commercial stallion. The aptly named Perovskia is probably the best of his progeny and Perovskia being the proper name for a flowering plant commonly called Russian sage.

Crawford gave all the kudos to his daughter Michelle Rix. “She’s done all the work with this horse. She’s been here a month. She must take all the glory.”

“We’ll go for the Cup Trial next and see how he goes there, then maybe the July. I don’t know at this stage.”

Perovskia has not been further then 1800m, second to Kampala Campari at Durbanville at his penultimate start, but Crawford has no doubts that he will stay the trip.

“Richard Fourie rode him before he even raced and came back and said he would win the stayers race on Met day or the Gold Cup.”

“But he makes a bit of a noise,” said Crawford, pointing to his throat. “I’ve had him scoped but they found noting. Still I have been scared to go too far with him. If we don’t go for the July, maybe the Gold Cup.”

By Andrew Harrison

Tomorrow’s Champions Day at Turffontein is the richest meeting in South Africa and Legal Eagle could cement his chances of landing a third Equus Horse Of The Year title.

Legal Eagle is unbeaten over a mile but his effectiveness over the 2000m trip of tomorrow’s Premier’s Champions Challenge is illustrated in his course and distance record which reads two wins and a neck second in three starts. Things did not pan out well for him in the Met or in this race last year, but now from a good draw he will be hard to beat. Nother Russia challenged Legal Eagle strongly over 1600m last time and they meet on weight for age terms again, but she is drawn outside of him, unlike last year. Coral Fever has proven over and over this season that he is a horse to be reckoned with. He is better draw here in seven than he was in the Summer Cup where he finished third. He did carry only 52kg in the latter race, and this is now a weight for age event, but he looks up to it.

Nother Russia (JC Photographics)

Abashiri will likely have come on from his last start when a touch laboured in the finish and at his peak this long-striding Triple Crown winner will be a threat. Glider Pilot is also long-striding sort and is still improving. Tyrone Zackey is a fine big race conditioner and this horse has a chance. Orchid Island has disappointed in her last two starts in the Horse Chestnut and the Empress Club, but will relish the step up in trip and is drawn in pole position. Dawn Assault is a progressive sort who is well drawn over an ideal course and distance. Silvan Star appears to be thriving on the Highveld and stays this trip. She only has 1,7 lengths to make up on Nother Russia from the Empress Club but has a wide draw.

Fort Ember can be a touch headstrong and thus went to the front last time from a wide draw and might have to do the same here which will make it tough. Safe Harbor is drawn well and has the top jockey Lyle Hewitson up so if bouncing back to the form of last season could surprise. Deo Juvente showed his class last year when winning this race but his three runs since then have been below par. Brazuca finished third behind Legal Eagle in this race two years ago and was only 4,5 lengths back last year, but his recent form has been uninspiring and he has a tough draw. French Navy has become disappointing and also has a tough draw.

The Grade 1 SA Derby could see Majestic Mambo making up for the bad luck he had in the SA Classic when nearly brought down. He was slicing through the field like a hot knife through butter at the time. He should stay this trip being out of a mare who won over 2400m and his exceptional turn of foot could carry him close after being dropped out to his usual last place. Surcharge was probably used up a bit much to overcome a wide draw in the SA Classic last time and it proved costly. He is likely to be dropped out and will go close as a relaxed type with a big action. Like A Panther has always struck as Derby type and being trained by Mike de Kock will go close.

The Computaform Sprint has attracted a weaker field than usual and is the hardest race on the card, especially considering the low draws are sometimes difficult to win from on the big days. Rocky Valley is given the vote as he won with a bit in hand last time over course and distance, so he can defy the handicapper. Sergeant Hardy should go close despite a low draw due to his exceptional cruising speed and the ability to stay on.

In the SA Oaks Takingthepeace goes for the Triple Tiara and despite having a stamina doubt in pedigree can do it due to her relaxed style of running coupled with her good turn of foot and resolute finish.

Bold Eagle is the one to beat in the SA Nursery but Hit The Green impressed last time and could be a threat.

By David Thiselton

Mr Crumford can ram home the message that there was no fluke about the impressive way he floored the odds laid on Frank Lloyd Wright four weeks ago by giving Brett Crawford his first Somerset 1200 at Kenilworth on Sunday.

Greg Cheyne’s mount, despite starting at a little-considered 15-1, led two furlongs out and strode clear to win by three lengths with third-placed Machiavelli boosting the form by winning last Saturday.

Greg Cheyne (Liesl King)

Frank Lloyd Wright is the only maiden in the field – only the second time it has reached double figures in this race in the past nine years – and he may prove the biggest danger.

He was considered almost unbeatable by his stable (not to mention most punters too) last time but ran as green as the grass he was galloping on and took an impossibly long time to grasp what his jockey’s increasingly anxious urgings were all about. By the time he finally got the message the race was as good as over.

He will know a lot more about it on Sunday and the 2kg allowance he receives may well enable him to go close.

Joey Ramsden is invariably the trainer to beat – he has won four of the last five runnings – and his trio are all high up in the betting forecast. Twist Of Fate looks a good sort but he will have to be, giving weight all round. Tarsus possibly needs to step up but Arabian Air has won his only start.

Fabian made most to beat Tarsus and represents the combination who won with Dutch Philip 12 months ago. He should make the frame.

Candice Bass-Robinson and Aldo Domeyer were also successful in the Perfect Promise Sprint at this meeting last year – with none other than Magical Wonderland, the race’s first winning favourite for five years – and they can follow up with Nous Voila.

This Judpot filly looked something special when winning on debut, beating well regarded subsequent winner Canukeepitsecret with the third another four lengths away, and is held in high regard.

Durbanville winner Lesedi La Rona heads the market in the TAB sheet betting forecast but her stable companion looks a far more likely winner.

Carioca is the only one to have won more than once and as a result has to give weight all round which could well prove her undoing while Racine is probably better than last time’s run would suggest.

By Michael Clower

Justin Snaith finally broke his winter season ice at Scottsville on Wednesday, hopefully for him the start of a winning streak as he saddles his bomb fillies, Snowdance and Oh Susanna, in the two Guineas races at Greyville tonight.

The build-up to South Africa’s Champion season has delivered some mouth-watering prospects for the racing aficionado and it all begins in earnest this evening with the official launch.

The Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes is the traditional season opener and the Gr2 race could fall the way of Brett Crawford whose stable is in almost invincible form at present.

Oh Susanna (Candiese Marnewick)

After drawing on Marriott Road for the Guineas, Crawford opted for the Drill Hall for Undercover Agent who comes into this evening’s race off a winning streak that includes the CTS1600 and more recently, the Byerley Turk over course and distance.

The colt does take on some hard-knocking older horses but looks to have more than just a touch of class. Peter Muscutt, who oversees Crawford’s Summerveld yard, is confident of a big run saying; “He is quick out of the gates and comes into this race very well.”

Stable companion and last season’s Champions Stakes winner, Sail South, has to give his younger rival 5kg which may prove a tough ask given that he has not been out since Sun Met day at the backend of January.

Duncan Howells will be looking to break a string of second places with Saratoga Dancer who has come back well since being side-lined through injury. The six-year-old has been putting in good work at home although Howells is weary of the deep draw.

“Drawn between one and six we nearly win it. From 12 it will not be easy.” Since Howells commented, there have been four scratchings so Saratoga Dancer jumps from stall eight which makes things interesting.

Snowdance, only once beaten in her career, will start at cramped odds for the Gr2 Daisy Fillies Guineas and is currently 1-3 in the ante post market with only Lady In Black (5-1) in single figures.

Winner of the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas at the expense of stable companion and subsequent Sun Met winner Oh Suzanna, and beating older horses in the Gr1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes, defeat will come as a major upset.

Lady In Black looks held on all current form but Dennis Drier had a difficult time during the Cape summer with his string never firing and Lady In Black appears to have come good back on home turf. But whether she can match Snowdance is debateable.

Snaith has avoided a potential clash between Snow Dance and Oh Suzanna with the latter taking on males in the Gr2 Daisy Guineas where she faces a much more daunting task.

The WFA conditions of the Sun Met suited the filly, as did the distance, and tonight’s mile could be a tad on the sharp side especially as she takes on the likes of Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Tap O’ Noth and runner-up White River.

The Gr1 Woolavington would be her logical Champions Season target so this will be a warm-up. That said, she is a class act and current 14-10 favourite with Tap O’ Noth and White River next best in the market.

Snaith has a second string to his bow in Gr1 Cape Derby second Do It Again although he too could prove a better proposition in the Gr1 Daily News 2000.

By Andrew Harrison

Frank Robinson felt his two big guns Roy Had Enough and Roy’s Riviera had run “flat” races on Classic Day over 1800m respectively at Turffontein last time out and expected them to bounce back in the Daisy Guineas and Daisy Fillies Guineas respectively tomorrow night.

He said they had seemed to be a bit stiff coming off the float at Turffontein and Roy Had Enough was quiet in the parade ring instead of being full of himself as he normally was.

Roy Had Enough (Candiese Marnewick)

“He was just not himself. He didn’t run badly to finish fifth but he just didn’t have his normal kick.”

Roy’s Riviera has run ahead of Fiorella once and close to her on another occasion, so Robinson knew she was not herself when finishing way behind her at Turffontein.

However both horses came out of their races well and have been doing very well in the build up to their Guineas engagements.

The Daily News 2000 is probably the main target of Roy Had Enough, who has a wide draw to overcome tomorrow night. However, he is unbeaten in two starts over the Daisy Guineas course and distance and Robinson said, “He has a good turn of foot so from his wide draw we can drop him out like we did in the Christmas Handicap. This will be a big test for him, because previously he has just beaten local horses.”

Roy’s Riviera has a good draw, but Robinson admitted Snowdance would be hard to beat. He added they would have no chance against Snowdance in a slow run race, as her optimum trip was a mile. He pointed out Roy’s Riviera most impressive win had been from a handy position without cover and hinted she could be sent to the front tomorrow night in order to set good fractions.

The Woolavington 2000 will be Roy’s Riviera’s next target.

By David Thiselton

Brett Crawford has five runners at tomorrow night’s opening meeting of the SA Champions Season at Greyville and will contest two of the headliners, the Grade 2 Daisy Guineas and the Grade 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m.

Crawford’s assistant trainer Peter Muscutt spoke about their chances.

In the Grade 2 Daisy Guineas they run White River. This Trippi colt made up a lot of ground in the straight in both the Selangor Cup and the Cape Guineas and also in his KZN debut in the Byerley Turk over 1400m.

Sail South (Candiese Marnewick)

However, in order to have a winning chance tomorrow night he will likely need to be closer to the pace.
Consequently, he will run in first time blinkers and Muscutt said, “It is a tight course and the idea of the blinkers is to put him into the race earlier. They appear to have had the desired effect (in training) and he is very well.”

Anthony Delpech had originally been earmarked to ride him before his terrible recent fall put him on the sidelines and Anton Marcus is the more than able replacement. White River has always struck as one who would stay further, but his only disappointing run to date has been when strongly fancied for the Investec Cape Derby over 2000m. However, Muscutt confirmed, “He will ultimately go further (than a mile).”

Crawford runs Sail South and the three-year-old Undercover Agent in the Drill Hall. The latter was drawn 18 out of 18 among the initial Daisy Guineas entries and Muscutt said it was a “no-brainer” to run him instead in the Drill Hall, where he has drawn six out of 13. Muscutt was bullish about the chances of this well regarded Captain Al colt. He said, “He is quick out of the gates and comes into this race very well.” He is coming off impressive victories in both the US$500,000 CTS 1600 and the Byerley Turk over the Drill Hall course and distance.

Sail South, who won last season’s Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m, has cracked a fine draw of two in the Drill Hall. He is effective over this trip and was just 0,45 lengths back in sixth in last year’s blanket finish won by Marinaresco. Muscutt said, “The draw might be contrary to his racing style and I would have preferred our pair to have been drawn the other way around. You can get into traffic on the fence and he has always finished better when ridden quietly. But he is very well and runs well fresh. He has to give the others weight but is Grade 1 class while the rest of the older horses look to be hard-knocking handicappers.”

Both Undercover Agent and Sail South will be going for the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge next.
In race four, a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1200m, Crawford runs the promising three-year-old Sail From Seattle gelding Pacific Trader who finished close up on debut over 1000m at Kenilworth and then easily won his next two starts over that same course and distance.

He said, “He put up a very impressive recent gallop.” He is drawn perfectly in two, especially considering he has been up with the pace in his last two starts. Feature races will be beckoning if he does well tomorrow night.

The yard also run Twice Over gelding Game Changer in the last, a Maiden over 1400m. He ran quite well in his second barrier trial when finishing 6,9 lengths behind Zodiac Ruler over 1000m on the Greyville poly. Muscutt said, “He is quite a nice horse and we expect him to be effective over further.”

By David Thiselton

Vodacom Durban July favourite African Night Sky has been installed 4-1 favourite with the sponsors for the World Sports Betting 1900 at Greyville on May 19 when the Justin-Snaith four-year-old will be ridden by Anton Marcus for the first time.

It’s My Turn, equal third in last year’s race when trained by Snaith but now with Dean Kannemeyer, shares second favouritism on 8-1 with the Mike de Kock-trained Cascapedia whose three-race winning run came to an end when she finished only tenth behind Nother Russia in the Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes.

Tilbury Fort, second in last year’s 1900, is a 25-1 chance this time and last season’s third Mr Winsome is one of the real outsiders at 45-1. Elusive Silva, fifth last year and another Snaith entry, is quoted at 18-1.

By Michael Clower

Featured Image: It’s My Turn (Liesl King)

When expected pacemaker Newton’s Spark got the better of a scrum of starter’s assistants before eventually wearing out the starter’s patience, the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap was reduced to six runners and had Dean Kannemeyer cursing his luck.

As he feared, the field hacked the first 1500m leaving top weight Made To Conquer to win the sprint for home, which he did finishing clear of hot favourite and a one-paced Silva’s Bullet and Snaith stable companion One Direction.

“I purposely gave this horse a break to leave something for KZN and it worked out nicely,” said Justin Snaith who finally broke his winter season duck in the province.

Gavin Van Zyl

“It’s been a bit tense and I have been ‘box walking’ but the weather hasn’t been kind. Three days of rain then 30 degrees then rain, it hasn’t been easy but we will settle down and start firing.”

With Snaith saddling the two best fillies on the country at Greyville on Friday night, yesterday’s win was a timely boost of confidence.

Made To Conquer came off some cracking Cape form, this being his fifth win from his last five starts but any thoughts of a supplementary entry for the Vodacom Durban July are on hold.

“He’ll probably get about six points for this win. He may not get into the July and he might not be good enough if he does but I know he stays so maybe the Gold Cup will be a better option,” pondered Snaith. “We will see how we go.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who had ridden Made To Conquer in his five previous starts, was cautious about the chances of the favourite beforehand. “He’s won for of his last five,” he said of the top weight, “and we are only getting half a kilo,” he surmised.

Anton Marcus made an early move at the top of the straight and Made To Conquer kept rolling to the line. Silva’s Bullet briefly looked a threat but it was soon clear that his rival had pinched a winning lead.’

Given the slow early fractions this form could prove deceiving and Silva’s Bullet may be worth another chance.

Miss Calypso booked her place in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship with a smart victory in the second on the card, underlining the benefit of racing experience as opposed to those making their debut. “Next is the big one,” said Gavin van Zyl after Miss Calypso had streaked clear of market rival Alsflamingbeauty making her debut for Snaith. Miss Calypso knew what it was all about while Alsflamingbeauty was at sea for most of the race and did well enough to stay on for second. She is definitely one for the notebook.

Alsflamingbeauty had finished close-up in her barrier trial to Sunday’s Strelitiza Stakes winner Inveroche who is also headed for the Allan Robertson. “The Allan Robertson and then she is also eligible for that million-rand race on July Day,” said Mark Dixon. “Then we will put her away.  Five races is enough for a two-year-old.”

Di Me was responsible for one of the longest priced winners in recent months as Ivan van Wyk’s colt got the meeting off to a rocky start. Di Me was a 125-1 chance with the books and paid R73 a win on the tote.

By Andrew Harrison

Snaith Racing will wait until Friday evening before dispatching Computaform Sprint favourite Sergeant Hardy and stable companion Bishop’s Bounty from Summerveld in order to minimise the effects of altitude.

Jonno Snaith said “Sergeant Hardy is the type of horse you want to take to Jo’burg – tough as nails and sure to dig deep – but the trip could be on the short side for Bishop’s Bounty.”

Justin Snaith

The latter is a 16-1 chance with Betting World which makes Bernard Fayd-Herbe’s mount 22-10 favourite ahead of 9-2 chances Trip To Heaven and Exquisite Touch. Attenborough (Richard Fourie) and Speedpoint (Callan Murray) are outsiders at 16-1 and 25-1 but Joey Ramsden is expecting a big run from both of them.

He said: “Attenborough is in brilliant form, absolutely superb, and he did a good gallop there last week. Speedpoint is not out of it either. He ran a smasher at the Vaal in his first race since Met day and he had had a holiday in the interim.

“He is a tricky horse to train as he has little niggles but it’s the right trip for both of them and I am lucky to have two such top jockeys.”

Brett Crawford is looking at more immediate targets and he has the first two in the betting in the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville on Friday evening. The hat-trick seeking Undercover Agent is 3-1 favourite with World Sports Betting and Sail South next on 9-2.

Crawford said: “Undercover Agent is very well in himself and Sail South is also in good form. He hasn’t raced since the Met but he likes to run fresh and he will be running on well at the end.”

By Michael Clower

Dennis Drier said his Equus Champion filly Lady In Black was very well ahead of the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas at Greyville on Friday night and said she had improved by about “four to five” lengths since returning from Cape Town.

However, he believed the brilliant Justin Snaith-trained Snowdance would be hard to beat. Both fillies run in the black and white colours of Jack Mitchell.

Drier had a wretched Cape Summer season where nothing appeared to go right.

However, Lady In Black put in the stand out performance of the campaign by finishing second to subsequent Sun Met winner Oh Susanna in the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes over 1800m.

The Drier yard has turned the corner since returning from Cape Town and Lady In Black won her comeback in KZN in the Grade 2 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m at Greyville.

However, he said her main target for the SA Champions Season is the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000.

Drier reckoned he had the best crop of two-year-olds he had ever had and one of his barrier trial eye-catchers, Outlando D’Amour runs in race one.

By David Thiselton