Chesney van Zyl could well make a fairytale start to his career as a licensed trainer as the runners at his debut meeting, Turffontein’s Champions Day on Saturday, include the Grade 2 SA Nursery favourite Bold Eagle.

The Bold Silvano colt is unbeaten in three starts and Chesney said he had come on from his win in the Grade 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m when giving weight all around.

He said, “He is very, very well, he has taken all of his runs well and is improving and I am happy with the spacing of his races.”

Bold Eagle (JC Photographics)

He has a middle draw of eight in the 13 horse field and is the one to beat.

Warren Kennedy rode him on debut and replaces the recuperating Anthony Delpech.

Chesney has four runners in the Grade 2 SA Oaks over 2450m and a couple of them could be dark horses.

He admitted the Await The Dawn filly Pilgrim’s Progress had been a bit disappointing but pointed out she had always had to be carrying big weights against older winners and it had been tough to make up ground under those circumstances. He said, “She will definitely stay the trip and her work at home has been very good and she is well within herself, so now that she is at level weights with her own age group hopefully she can turn the tables.”

He also rated What A Winter filly Mar Del Seur a dark horse and said considering how fast she had gone in front last time in the SA Fillies Classic her ten length beating had not been bad. He said, “Every time I have sent her over further than 1400m she has disappointed, but she has not been given the best of rides. With Grant van Niekerk now aboard she can hopefully be ridden with more patience, but it all depends on whether she stays.”

He was hoping African Dynasty could reproduce her excellent third in the Oaks Trial and hoped Azkhur, who has been a touch disappointing, could bounce back.

He is hoping for a good pace as three of his runners have to overcome wide draws, although Mar Del Sur’s chances of staying have been helped by a pole position draw.

Chesney was bullish about the chances of Just Cruised In in the Grade 3 Gold Bowl over 3200m where he is in the handicap carrying only 52,5kg. He said, “He is very well and is carrying a light weight so I am hoping for another big run as he is enjoying the long trips and we are now seeing the best of him.”

Chesney served his father very well as the caretaker of his Turffontein satellite yard for nine years and in that time not only delivered winners but winners at the highest level such as The Apache, Slumdogmillionaire, Seal, Along Came Polly, Bulsara, Prestic, Franny and others.

Chesney said, “It feels the same really, but it is good to finally be going on my own and I hope it goes well.”

He will continue to view his father as his mentor and said, “He is always there for us, he has vast knowledge on his side and is a great horseman so I will always turn to him when needing help.”

Gavin said, “We wish Chesney every success in the future as he enters the training ranks in what could be described as the toughest of times, where only the tough will survive.”

By David Thiselton

Silva’s Bullet appears to have taken his gelding well and turned in a smart performance to win over the Greyville mile on the poly last time out.

Dean Kannemeyer was full of praise for his charge after that victory and just how far the gelding has progressed will be judged at Scottsville today where he lines up in the seventh over 1950m.

Silva’s Bullet showed a smart turn of foot when winning and the step up in trip and class is unlikely to trouble him. A convincing victory today will set him up nicely for a possible crack at the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and punters have not been slow out of the blocks. Silva’s Bullet is 12-10 favourite with Track & Ball, in from a 15-10 opening call.

Justin Snaith saddles the year older Made To Conquer who comes off some smart Cape form, winning four of his last five starts. However, the gelding has not been out for four months and Snaith has made an unusually slow start to his KZN season. It may also be telling that Bernard Fayd’Herbe has jumped ship to partner Silva’s Bullet.

Silva’s Bullet (Candiese Marnewick)

Made To Conquer may not do it for Snaith but Alsflamingbeauty could get him off the mark when she runs in the second. The daughter of Captain Al caught the eye in the paddock and in her barrier trial at Scottsville, beaten less than a length by Sunday’s impressive Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes winner Inveroche. Her trial did not go un-noticed by the bookmakers either and she is marginal favourite at 13-10 with the more experienced and beaten favourite Miss Calypso at 18-10.

However, there has been a mountain of support for the Yogas Govender-trained Bargeme, in from 22-1 to 6-1 after making good improvement at her second trial, so one needs to be a little cautious.

Boeing City (11-1) also put in a good trial behind Triple Fate Line who only found the highly rated Cue The Music too good for him on his race course debut proper so it will be interesting to see how the form of these respective trials work out.

Triple Fate Line is ante-post favourite in the card opener with recent trial winner Roman Dancer next best in the market. Triple Fate Line was left bobbing like a cork in the wake of a speedboat called Cue The Music but it was still a smart debut effort.

Nathan Kotzen’s Lilibet is back on her favoured surface in the opening leg of the Pick 6 but there are a few in with winning chances. Duncan Howells has indicated that he may declare blinkers on Silver Raisin before today’s event and she could make amends for her recent defeat when favourite. Amber Furst also made a smart debut and will have her supporters.

Pumpkin Queen makes her local debut for Kannemeyer in the fifth and comes off some useful Cape form but she does not have an easy draw so it may be wise to load up in this leg of the exotics. Lightning Spectra is expected to improve over the trip and although this pair are the only runners quoted in single figures, it could prove more complicated than that.

The sixth is a seriously competitive handicap with 6-1 bar. There has been significant support for Shane Humby’s charge Midnight Vision and it could prove to be inspired support while The Poet gets blinkers for the first time and over his best course and distance could be a big runner for Mark Dixon. These are just two contenders in a difficult race.

By Andrew Harrison

French Legend, touched off by Vodacom Durban July entry Legend recently, could be the one to side with in the Laboratory Supplies Handicap at Greyville tomorrow night.

Sean Tarry’s filly has only won one of her 14 starts and her merit rating has slowly been coming down and would probably have been a lot lower had she not been so consistent. However, she somehow escaped a penalty for her last run and even though shouldering top weight, she could prove difficult to beat.

Sean Tarry

Dangers include the year younger Hidden Thought, in mustard form since shedding her maiden and Karatage, who although beaten by Roy’s Pony (also in this race) last time out, will be having her third outing after a break. Her earlier form, most notably when touched off by recent The Scarlet Lady winner Parabola, is solid and good enough to see her feature prominently.

In the evening’s finale, Roy’s Stingray finished way behind class act Saratoga Dancer in her barrier trial but made a mockery of that nearly 10-length beating when starting favourite under Anthony Delpech to shed her maiden next time out.

The Aussie-bred made a smart debut at long odds before being rested and does look to be above average.

She meets little of note in the final race of the evening and could have the better of top weight Inga and Crystal Ball.

Joey Ramsden sent out the first two-year-old winner taking on older rivals when Tarsus landed the odds at Kenilworth last Saturday and Doug Campbell can follow suit in KZN when he saddles Farland in the opening leg of the PA.

Farland makes her racecourse debut proper tomorrow but turned in a smart barrier trial when finishing a close-up second to the highly rated Queen’s Plain.

Falkland and Pantsula look best of the older brigade.

Shane Humby races his charged sparingly but they invariably pay to follow. He sends out Suzi Woo in the Jayce Projects Maiden and she should prove difficult to beat in the first leg of the Pick 6 and is a possible banker. She was a close-up second last time out and takes on a field with little or no form.

If there is a threat is should come from Who Knows who has improved with each run and makes her poly debut.

Bravo Zulu has been costly to follow, but Louis Goosen’s charge is rated way better than anything else in the Morris Vee Sports Bet maiden and the gelding has to get it right at some stage of his career.

By Andrew Harrison

A MR 90 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m heads a low key nine race card at Turffontein on Saturday and there is also a MR 88 handicap for fillies and mare over 1000m on a day where careful form study should reap rewards.

In the main race Aurelia Cotta looks the one to beat. She has been a bit disappointing after a fine start to her career but has not been disgraced against some of the best in the land in her last five starts. In fact the last time she ran over this trip against females she finished second in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile to Folk Dance. The latter finished a fine fourth in the Grade 1 Empress Club on Saturday despite having to make up plenty of ground on the back of a slow pace. Lyle Hewitson has proved the headlines he makes have not just been hype and has matured into a genuinely top echelon rider. From a draw of two he looks sure to reserve enough fuel for his mount’s final dash to the line.

Lyle Hewitson

Seal My Fate has been in fine form from 1600-1800m and has a fair draw. The underrated Ryan Munger is her regular pilot and should get the best out of her again. In her penultimate start she beat Secret Potion over 1800m and the latter went on to finish third in the Grade 1 SA Classic over that same trip. Last time out in the Grade 3 Jacaranda over 1800m Seal My Fate was 3kg under sufferance and after her usual front-running role faded out to finish 8,8 lengths behind Al Danza. However, the latter then proved how good she was by finishing second in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes.

The last time Seal My Fate went this trip she finished a two length second in a handicap. She is now an effective six points higher but that race was against the boys, so it was a commendable effort and she should make a bold bid from the front tomorrow. Dressed To Impress has caught the eye before and might have been caught napping the last time she ran over this trip by a horse who stole a march down the inside. However, her good finishing run did peter out slightly so there is a question whether she saw it out. This concern is exacerbated by the fact she over raced in her penultimate start, also over this trip. Her sire Pathfork won a Group 1 as a two-year-old over seven furlongs but her dam by Western Winter is a half-sister to Grade 1 SA Classic winner over 1800m Divine Jury, so she should be given another chance, considering she has only had three starts to date.

Waity Katy has proved she has plenty of ability since joining the David Nieuwenhuizen yard and being ridden by Dylan Lerena, scoring a three wins in a row and a narrow second two weekends ago against a stand out form horse in Sha-Boom Sha-Boom. On the downside she was given a two point raise for that last run and Lerena rides 2kg overweight tomorrow. The two factors combined are a big obstacle to overcome but she is well drawn and should be in the shake up. Topweight Costa Da Sol has to be taken seriously. She finished just three lengths behind Al Danza over 1500m in her penultimate start and was making late progress against the decent Oh My Darling from draw 9 of 11 over this course and distance last time out. She now has the identical draw, but in a bigger field, and she is two points lower in the merit ratings, so has a chance. Those five are the stand outs and should get punters through the exotics.

In the eighth over 1000m Cals Crush has turned the corner and although seven points higher for her course and distance win three weeks ago she can produce another storming run from behind. Topweight Movie Show has class and Piere Strydom on her side and also has a fine course and distance record. Opera makes most appeal of the rest as she is a massive 7kg better off with Cals Crush for a 0,75 length beating over this trip at the Vaal and as a three-year-old daughter of Oratorio should now be coming into her own.

By David Thiselton

The Vaal stages a low key eight race meeting tomorrow and those who do their homework can likely expect some healthy dividends.

The highest rated race of the day is a MR 74 Handicap over 1500m and Prince Swarovski and Alssakhra could fight it out. Prince Swarovski started favourite last time over 1600m and was a touch disappointing although he did stay on to finish a 0,6 length second. However, he was found to be striding short so can make amends here off the same merit rating and from a fair draw. Alssakhra over raced over 1800m last time, so will appreciate the step back to this trip. He is highly regarded enough to have taken his place in the Gauteng Guineas in his penultimate start and was not disgraced. The outsider who makes most appeal here is Shotgun Rider as he has dropped to a competitive merit rating. He often loses ground at the start but is capable of a late charge.

Lyle Hewitson

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Chimichuri Run is only a two-year-old but made a good debut in a fair Maiden Juvenile Plate and can improve on that. He does not have a lot to beat. Singfonico is not the most reliable sort but has pace and should put himself in contention before coming under pressure late. Lazarus Tree will be an interesting runner dropping down to 1000m as he showed pace over 1200m on debut and was only just run out of a place.

In the next leg over 1000m Urban Oasis is also a two-year-old but has shown enough to be able to beat this weak field. Juanita will be having her 35th start in the maidens but has placed in the first three in three of her last four starts and can do so again. Goa is an interesting runner as she had some fair form in Cape Town and then wore blinkers in three starts in KZN, including last time when runner up over 1200m at Scottsville in late January. However, the blinkers are now off in her first start for an in form yard. Casual Wear is a two-year-old who made a good debut and she can make her presence felt. Shiloh was unlucky last time out and the blinkers seem to have brought the best out of this small filly so she has to be considered.

In the fifth, a maiden for fillies and mares over 2000m, New Zealand has always stuck as a fair sort but keeps on bumping one too good. She now has a tough draw and is up against Animal Lover who is well drawn and will relish the step up in trip.

The sixth race is a typically tough MR 68 handicap. However, Viburnum made a good impression when stepped up to 1600m and winning his maiden second time out. Being a Mike de Kock-trained gelding by Ideal World he will without doubt relish the further step up in trip and is drawn well. Psychic had some good form in Cape Town and the form of his maiden win over 2000m last time has been franked.

The last race is also a difficult MR68 handicap for fillies and mares over 1500m but Written looks the part. She followed up on her easy maiden win by winning comfortably over 1600m last time and has only been given a three point raise. She is drawn well too and can beat Fish River Canyon, who enjoys this course and goes well for Hewitson, and Rose Water, who ran a cracker in her penultimate start over this trip and is as well drawn this time and also has Strydom up. Words can also be considered and Gold Shades should be finishing strongly from a high draw.

By David Thiselton

Candice Bass-Robinson holds two of the aces in the Book Your Seat Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth today but, even so, she is not sure that her hand will prove strong enough. The problem is concerns over fitness.

“Dutch Philip will need it a little bit and he has a big weight,” she explains. “Tevez is doing very well but he usually needs his first run back.”

Dutch Philip (Liesl King)

This will be Dutch Philip’s first run since his victory in the valuable CTS 1200 on Met day, now almost three months ago, and he is a possible for the Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville in a month’s time – “I will nominate him and he could go. I will play it by ear,” says his trainer.

Aldo Domeyer’s mount is 22-10 favourite with World Sports Betting but on adjusted ratings he comes out only third best, 3kg behind Silicone Valley and 3.5k behind stable companion Tevez (33-10) who is the only member of the field to have run in this last year. He started hot favourite that day but was beaten over three lengths into third. Significantly it was, like this time, his first race since Met day.

Silicone Valley (9-2) is a versatile sort and he actually ran in the Met but he does seem best over tomorrow’s trip. He won the Cape Merchants over it in December beating Dutch Philip by three-quarters of a length and giving him 4kg. The weight-for-age scale says that half that difference has now gone but that still leaves Piet Botha’s mount with a 2kg advantage.

Dutch Philip, though, has potential for improvement and he is taken to win. Vincente, who has a not inconsiderable race fitness advantage, is next in the market at 15-2 and has to be respected but he looks the only real danger to the top three.

Power Grid is quite smart on his day and he will have been helped by the rain but he has drifted from 11-1 to 14-1 and Andries Steyn is far from optimistic.

The scratching of After Glow paves the way for Yolta to win the Betting World Maiden. The Ramsden two-year-old would have been a convincing winner but for being squeezed at the start last time and looks a worthy 14-10 favourite. Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount Bell Jar (22-10) looks the only real danger.

Jailhouse Rock was having his first run since November when showing improved form earlier this month and an inside draw is also in his favour in the Interbet.co.za Maiden.

By Michael Clower

Joey Ramsden has turned the Winter Guineas picture upside down by supplementing Fresnaye for the Highlands Stud-backed feature at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The filly beat all except Snowdance and Oh Susanna in the Cape Fillies Guineas and was also third in the Paddock Stakes before taking on the colts in the Cape Derby. She was only seventh in that but on merit ratings she is different class to her ten male opponents on Saturday.

At the weights she has 8kg in hand over Rocket Countdown and 9.5kg to spare over the next best.

Ramsden has won this Grade 3 with some high class horses in the past, notably Winter Solstice in 2004, Variety Club in 2012 and Act Of War three years ago.

M.J Byleveld has been confirmed for Fresnaye and Donovan Dillon partners stable companion Ancestry.

Ramsden also has the probable favourite in the Sweet Chestnut Stakes In Rose In Bloom (Dillon) who was second in the Sceptre and third in the Majorca.

She is rated a minimum of 4kg clear of the rest who include stable companion Made In Hollywood (Bernard Fayd’Herbe). She has not raced since the Strelitzia Stakes at Scottsville 12 months ago. The Milnerton trainer said: “Made In Hollywood has done incredibly well, she has been to Kenilworth for a gallop and she will be fit enough.”

By Michael Clower

Justin Snaith galloped his four biggest SA Champions Season stars, Snowdance, Oh Susanna, Do It Again and African Night Sky, on the Greyville turf yesterday and was pleased with all of them.

He said Snowdance had needed the outing most.

“She was almost too well and needed to burn some of it off.”

He said he felt better about her after the gallop but added she would still not be at a hundred percent for the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas. However, he added, “But is she still good enough to win it? Yes.” He elaborated, “If she does win it those boys had better watch out!”

Snowdance

He was referring to another possible target of hers, the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge, where she would face the best male milers in the land.

However, he emphasised all of his horses this Champions Season would be taking it one run at a time and there was no definite route for any of them.

Oh Susanna also looked well yesterday. Her huge stride creates an impression that she is bigger than she actually is.

Snaith, asked about her fitness levels, said, “She is always fit. She is just a naturally fit horse.”

She will be avoiding Snowdance by running in the Daisy Guineas against the boys. However, her chief target will be the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000.

Snaith believed she had a chance in the Guineas and said, “She hasn’t run since the Met and will be better suited to the 2000m of the Woolavington, but she is very talented.”

He added Oh Susanna’s chances of lining up in the Vodacom Durban July depended on the weights.

The four-year-old gelding Marinaresco won the July last year with top weight but Snaith said, “For a three-year-old filly to carry a big weight is a different story.”

Snaith said Cape Derby runner up Do It Again had “clicked” in Durban. “He is thriving.”

He certainly looked a picture yesterday.

He continued, “African Night Sky also put in an impressive gallop. He is loving it in Durban too.”

African Night Sky is the ruling 6-1 July favourite with Track And Ball. This four-year-old Dynasty gelding finished sixth in the Sun Met and thus escaped a merit rating raise, so is potentially well weighted.

Oh Susanna is at 8-1 for the July and Do It Again is a 16-1 chance.

By David Thiselton

Ashley Fortune, wife of former champion jockey Andrew Fortune, saddles her first runner as a licensed trainer tomorrow at the Vaal.

“It is a dream come true, I didn’t think it would happen so soon, or ever, actually.

“I feel blessed and grateful for the support from those who have backed our stable so early.”

The Vaal-based trainer sends out the former Brett Crawford-trained Mambo In Seattle filly Pachanga in the last race of the day, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1700m.

She said she did not quite know what to expect, but felt the bay filly would go close “on paper.”

Andrew acts as assistant and was more bullish.

Andrew Fortune

He said, “She is doing well and her work has been really good. I will be disappointed if she doesn’t run in the first three and I think she will win.”

Ashley is from Zimbabwe and is now South African by naturalisation.

She started her career in racing as assistant trainer to successful Zimbabwean trainer Noelene Peach.

She met Andrew when he came out to ride in Zimbabwe and later became assistant to the top trainer Joey Ramsden when moving to this country in 2008.

She has also worked on stud farms.

TABnews reports that Ashley received a massive vote of confidence with leading owner Hassen Adams transferring all of his Gauteng based horses to her care.

The standout among these is Gr2 winning stayer Let It Rain, who has been nominated for the Gold Bowl at Turffontein on May 5.

“I have also received two Cape horses from Mr Adams in the form of Red Light Girl and Emerald Gal, and would like to thank him for showing such faith in me,” she said.

Andrew was sad to declare yesterday his jockey career “done and dusted” on the advice of his doctor.

He has had five operations to his right knee, including a partial knee replacement, and also has arthritis.

However, he added, “I am still able to ride horses, I just can’t ride short like a jockey.”

He therefore plays an important role as work rider in the yard.

Those familiar with South African racing will know of Andrew’s highly entertaining post-race interviews and contributions to panel discussions and will not be surprised to hear that he also does the “talking” for the yard.

Andrew has also worked with top trainers in his career like Ramsden, Dennis Drier and Charles Laird, so will have learnt a lot about varying methods that have produced good results.

The couple already have 20 horses just two months after Ashley wrote her trainer’s license examination and are also active at the current National Yearling Sales.

They work as a team at the sales spotting yearlings and Andrew added, “I often ask for a third or fourth opinion, I am not scared to ask for help.”

He seeks on-hands advice or via phone calls to trainers and others with vast sales experience.

By David Thiselton