Yesterday’s Greyville meeting ended on a farcical note as a false start resulted in the favourite Fire Song galloping 800m and being scratched at the insistence of jockey Anton Marcus along with offender, Sandcastle, who broke through his gate moments before the starter sent the field on its way.

After a lengthy delay, the situation was compounded by a second false start, this time not called by the starter, resulting in the ‘winner’ and favourite Lord Of Glencoe being declared a non-runner after a review of the start by the stipendiary stewards, Lord Of Glencoe charging his gate which opened fractionally ahead of the rest.

The race eventually went to the Ivan van Wyk-trained Sherman.

Pure Logic (Candiese Marnewick)

The meeting started with a double for Doug Campbell. The card opener always looked to be a match between Campbell’s Rose Hill and the luckless Esstoora and it went according to script with Rose Hill getting the upper hand in the two-horse contest, although it got a bit sweaty for Rose Hill supporters at the top of the straight.

In the box seat on the fence turning for home, pacemaker Bhavani dropped back suddenly and Anthony Delpech was force to check Rose Hill only to find himself hemmed in on his outside by Esstoora and forced to drop back even further to get around.

“The kid in front of me stopped and Anton tried to keep me in but that’s race riding,” reasoned Delpech. “I would have done the same. It just showed that my filly was a bit better than his.”

The ‘Del Mar’ show kicked off early with Delpech winning the first and Marcus the next two with a pair of straight forward rides.

Tracking the pace deep into the straight, Marcus extracted Pathway To Glory out from behind a tiring Grizzard before setting sail for home for a bloodless victory in the second.

Seattle Silva finally got her maiden out of the way much to the relief of Peter Muscutt who runs Brett Crawford’s satellite yard at Summerveld. “Mission accomplished Lance!” said Muscutt, referring to owner Lance Sherrell. “She’s been frustrating,” he said of the filly who had run into the money six times in her dozen starts.

The ‘Del Mar’ show came to an abrupt end in the opening leg of the jackpot with favourite Moon Bird disappointing as much improved apprentice Khanya Sakayi accounted for the first upset of the afternoon on the 30-1 chance Royal Rustler for Dennis Bosch.

“The kid rode a good race,” summed up Bosch who was also a little taken aback by the win. “He’s a weird horse. He likes to run up alongside a horse and hang in there for a while and then taker off. That’s how he won his maiden. But the kid rode an ‘un-panicked’ race.”

Sakayi took advantage of the strong tail wind as he went clear in the straight to win unchallenged for the tenth victory of his short career.

The poly track is not every trainer’s cup of tea but there is little doubt that horses with miles on the clock generally take to the surface.

A case in point is Tuscan who notched the ninth win of his career at eight years old and his fifth win on the synthetic surface. With apprentice Julius Mphanya, second on Tuscan at his previous two starts, back in Port Elizabeth, Diego de Gouveia took over in the saddle for Kom Naidoo and the pair took command inside the final furlong to win well.

Marcus’s talents were back on display in the sixth, booting home his third winner of the afternoon on the Duncan Howells-trained Sitia. Taking the filly to the lead shortly after the start, they looked to be in trouble with a furlong to run as the chasing pack, led by Expresso Martini, looked set to swamp the pair. But Marcus extracted extra from his mount and they eventually drew off to win quite comfortably.

The ‘Del Mar’ express was back on track as Delpech drove hard in a tight finish to get Dean Kannemeyer’s runner Pure Logic home in the second last to make amends for his recent defeat when favourite.

By Andrew Harrison

The ‘Del Mar’ show, a phrase coined by former jockey and now television pundit Kevin Shea, looks set to continue in the first on the Greyville poly today with Anthony Delpech and Anton Marcus most likely to be going head-to-head on the two fancied runners in the race, Rose Hill and Esstoora.

Both fillies have proved expensive to follow but although Rose Hill has had more chances, her form looks slightly superior. Marcus has had two stabs at getting her home and Delpech is back for his second try so it could be a game of cat and mouse between the two.

Anthony Delpech

Esstoora, a 1-4 favourite, tried gamely behind Sheik’s Storm last time out but was unable to peg back Paul Gadsby’s runner.

These two look the pick of the race where only the recent trialist Escape Club could pose a threat.

Verdier has come well since arriving in Mark Dixon’s yard from the Cape and two runner-up placings finally led to victory when beating Impact Zone over 1950m at Scottsville.

He appeared to enjoy the extra two furlongs of that race and he can go in again in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap that heads the card although it is not an easy race. He gives weight all round but looks capable of going in again.

Amor Ardiente can be a difficult customer at times but has been consistent. A beaten favourite last run, and in the money at his last four starts, Belinda Impey has resorted to cheek pieces and they may be what’s needed to bring out the best in the gelding.

Likely favourite is Pure Logic who has started at the top of bookmaker’s boards at his last four outings, obliging once when touching off Coys at Scottsville.

The stable has been a little quiet of late but Pure Logic is never far back.

Course and distance specialist is Pure Valor. Four of his six wins have come on the poly, three over course and distance so Lowan Denysschen’s runner cannot be ignored in open event.

Anton Marcus

Shane Humby’s stable is starting to turn after a difficult time with coughs and colds and Roman Courtisan rounded off Sunday’s meeting with Marcus aboard. Humby and Marcus team up again with Moon Bird in the fourth. The lightly raced four-year-old was touched off by Gadget Man in his first start on the poly when sporting blinkers and has a strong chance in some fairly modest company.

Of the balance, Nauticus has his first run back from a trip to the Cape and although he has shown flashes of ability, he may just be short of peak fitness after a two-month break. Captain Cobalt on the other hand, was a smart maiden winner over course and distance when fitted with a tongue-tie and could be good enough to feature again.

Brett Crawford’s KZN satellite yard keeps simmering and Border Control can snap a string of seconds when dropping back a furlong in the fifth. The gelding has been up with the pace only to be run out of it late in his last three starts over course and distance and he could well prove a better proposition over this shorter trip.

War-King strikes as a likely danger as he is lightly raced and steps up in trip while the ‘old man’ of the race, Tuscan has been touched off over course and distance at his last two but his four-kilo claimer, Julius Mphanya, has moved to Port Elizabeth and replacement Diego De Gouveia’s 1.5kg claim may not be enough to get him home.

By Andrew Harrison

Duncan Howells said he would be “taking it easy” this SA Champions Season with Saratoga Dancer and his Vodacom Durban July horse at this stage is the Listed Michael Roberts Handicap winner Wild Wicket.

He said about Saratoga Dancer, who finished fifth in last season’s July, “He was injured in the July. A horse ran into his side and he rapped a tendon. We rested him and he has come back very well and there have been no problems. His barrier trial the other day was pretty good and I would like to keep him fresh and go for a Listed or Grade 3 race.”

Wild Wicket

The rangy six-year-old Mambo In Seattle gelding won that barrier trial over 1000m on the Greyville poly by 9,5 lengths in a time of 58 seconds, despite not being asked to do a lot. The second and third-placed horses in the trial, Roy’s Stingray and Palmieto, both came out and won on Sunday on the Greyville turf.

Howells said about Wild Wicket, “I don’t know if he’s good enough for the July but I have been getting the impression that the good three-year-olds are going to avoid the race. We will see if he’s good enough in his preparation races.”

Howells had always felt Wild Wicket was hitting the front too soon and a plan to hold him up for as long as possible in the Michael Roberts Handicap worked as he produced a late burst to just get up. However, Howells said it would have to be seen whether he could do the same against stronger horses before labeling that tactic as “the key” to the horse.

He continued, ”There is no reason not to aim him at the July, I don’t think he will have a problem with the distance and the track suits him as he is a short-coupled horse.” Another thing in the four-year-old gelding’s favour is he is by Dynasty, who won the July and whose progeny love Greyville.

Howells current big race mission is with the Captain Al filly Fiorella, whom he has entered in the Grade 1 R1 million SA Fillies Classic, to be run at Turffontein over 1800m on April 7.

She has won three races form seven starts, but is yet to be tried beyond 1600m. However, she is out of Jallad mare Arcola, who won the Grade 3 Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m, and she is a half-sister to a Var colt who has won over 1950m. She will need to improve on her last start in February when a 2,3 length fourth over 1600m at Scottsville in a fillies and mares handicap when running off a merit rating of 90.

Neptune’s Rain

Howells said, “She will stay all day. Our recent virus meant she has not had the ideal preparation as I would have liked her to have gone for the Gauteng Fillies Guineas first. I feel the Cape three-year-old fillies are much stronger, so I suggested going for the Grade 1 in Johannesburg to the owner. Due to her rating there is no other way really.”

Howells will be aiming two of his best fillies, Neptune’s Rain and Lunar Rush, at the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint.

He said of the former, a three-year-old by Antonius Pius who finished an unlucky third in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson last season, “She will go the normal route into the SA Fillies Sprint, including the Poinsettia. She has been doing very well and is a lot more mature. She is above average, although it will be tough as there are some good sprinting fillies around, but she has done nothing wrong in her career.” Neptune’s Rain showed her class last time out when giving the speedy Effortless Reward 4kg and running her to a 1,35 length third in the African Holly Handicap over 1000m. Her merit rating after the across-the-board six point raise is now 110.

Lunar Rush is merit rated 102 after her good win over 1200m at Greyville recently. Howells said, “She will follow the same route as Neptune’s Rain as there is nothing else for her. She is just below Grade 1 level and if she gets any black type I will be over the moon.”

He will be aiming the talented Querari gelding Procal Harum at the Grade 2 Daisy Guineas. He said, “He has been off due to the yard virus, but if I have him ready he will take his chances.”

Dawn Calling

A filly he had high hopes for last season, Dawn Calling, won her first race for close to two years two weekends ago when cruising in by 2,25 lengths in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1400m at Greyville. However, that win has seen her raised to only a 95 merit rating, which is a long way off the top rated fillies in the country. Howells said, “It is debatable how good she is but if she proves good enough I might aim her at the Garden Province, although it will be tough against those good Cape Town horses. But I will also run her again in the KZN Breeders Mile (a R1 million race in which she finished second last year).”

Others to mention are Legend, who finished second in the Listed Christmas Handicap over 1600m, and Brighteyebushytail.

However, Howell said he did not know whether Legend was good enough and revealed Brighteyebushytail had copped the worst of the virus and he was not sure whether he would have him ready in time for the Champions Season.

He added he had some strong two-year-olds, whom he hoped could make an impact in Graded features.

He took his yard out of racing for about three weeks due to the severity of the virus, where the symptoms were temperatures and coughing, but he said they were now on top of it.

By David Thiselton

Featured Image: Brett Crawford (Liesl King)

The Vaal Classic track stages an eight race meeting tomorrow and a MR 96 Handicap over 1000m is the highlight.

Tandava is a versatile sort who has recently run in races from 1000m to 2000m. However, his 1000m form is very good and he has won half of his six career races over this minimum trip. He packs a strong finish and is sure to be running on strongly again. Gunther Wrogemann, the man who won on him over course and distance two runs ago, regains the ride which augurs well. Sporting Monarch has always had a lot of speed and was only 0,3 lengths behind Tandava in the aforementioned race. He is now half-a-kilogram better off so has a fine chance. Donny G is another who has shown a lot of pace on occasion and he is most interesting returning fresh and having his first run for Bradley Maroun.

Gunter Wrogemann

All Night Flight has dropped to an attractive merit rating and finished close to a good form horse in January. Cathedral County has a touch of class and Gavin Lerena will be aboard him in his first outing since December. Queen Laurie is packed with speed, but carrying a big weight against the boys will be tough and she is an unlikely winner. Greasepaint is a seven-year-old but has been in fine form, although he hasn’t won a race for nearly a year. Whorly Whorly is 2,5kg better off with Tandava for a 1,4 length beating, so has a chance on paper, but he has to bounce back from a poor effort over 1160m where he was found to be coughing. Just As I Said is having his second run after a layoff and on recent form looks to need a bit of a drop in merit rating.

Golden Man would prefer a touch further as his customary late charge might come a bit too late over this trip. Clever Guy has his third run after a layoff and will need to improve considerably on his last two runs, although Piere Strydom will give him every chance of doing so. Le Tigre looks outgunned on recent form. Magic has speed and the ability to stay on but this is his first run since October. Laurent du Var runs fresh and on his best form he could be dangerous off a lowered merit rating, although overall he has been a touch disappointing since his good first two runs as a juvenile.

The best bet of the day vote goes to Gottalottaluv in the sixth race over 2000m. She has been chosen because she looks to have class and is going places, but this is her first try at the trip so he can’t be considered an overly confident best bet. She is by the speed influence Var but has plenty of stamina in her female line being out of a mare who by Model Man out of Olympic Duel. Both of the latter went close in the July. In fact, Gottalottaluv is a half-sister to the top class Gold Standard, who finished a close second in last season’s Grade 1 Cape Guineas before finishing an excellent fourth in the Sun Met. She looks the part too, being an imposing filly with plenty of scope.

She relaxed well in front over 1700m last time and found extra to stave off the challengers. She is now drawn two, which is ideal for her front-running style. Strydom rides her for the third time in succession, which is significant. The two horses who could pick up the pieces if she fluffs her lines are Our Shining Star and Littlewood, so have both been included in the Pick 6. The former was staying on behind the decent Waity Katy last time over 1500m and is interesting stepped up to this trip being by Silvano. The latter is by Fort Wood, so should also enjoy the trip and is from the yard of Lucky Houdalakis, who gets them to continually improve.

In the next race Red Ridge unsuccessfully objected against a decent sort in Awfaa last time and she will be coming into her own now being a four-year-old by Silvano. She is drawn in pole over a suitable trip of 1500m and is made a PA banker along with Gottalottaluv. However, for the Pick 6 two others have been included, Regal Graduation, who looks to be going places and should enjoy the step up in trip on pedigree, and Oh My Darling, who has always struck as having class. The latter was staying on well over 1400m last time and now has Delpech aboard.

By David Thiselton

The expected influx of Stellenbosch students at the St Patrick’s Day meeting at Durbanville on Saturday failed to materialise because the university put the mockers on the promotional project.

According to a Racing It’s A Rush press release it did so as a result of the “Students’ Representative Council being concerned that students will be influenced with the gambling aspect of our sport.”

Fortunately for racing such a puritanical attitude (if it existed at all in those days) failed to deter the likes of Mike Bass, Charles Faull, Andrew Harrison, Liesl King and – dare I say it – Markus Jooste who in his own way proved to be the biggest gambler of all.

Despite the snub Kenilworth Racing is determined to try again after getting the SRC on side. “The racing and betting industries are huge employers in this country and we want the students to hear about the broad spectrum of professionally qualified people that are needed,” said Donna Bernhardi who had arranged to take various groups on tour throughout the afternoon.

Significantly the SRC viewpoint was in marked contrast to that of the students when Luella Robinson visited the university earlier to distribute some 500 leaflets. Mrs Robinson, who came up with the original idea and did much of the groundwork, said that the general reaction was “Sounds like a great day-out. We’ll be there.”

By Michael Clower

Super Performer advertised his prospects for Thursday’s CRT Horses In Training Sale (in the Kenilworth parade ring) by making most of the running for an emphatic win in the seven furlong maiden at Durbanville on Saturday.

Corne Orffer and Brett Crawford decided to fit ear muffs and change tactics on the 15-1 shot and this certainly worked.  “He had been over-racing but here he was doing it comfortably in front,” said Crawford. “He is a typical Dynasty in that he just needs to strengthen up and find his feet.”

The gelding might not make much of a contribution to the Absa bank debt but there are more races to be won with him and he could easily fetch more than the R225 000 Mayfair Speculators paid for him as a yearling.

Corne Orffer

Canukeepitsecret leaves for Durban on Thursday with the rest of Vaughan Marshall’s KZN team after comfortably landing prohibitive 1-4 odds in the TAB Telebet Maiden Juvenile Fillies but seemingly she is a different type to her Allan Robertson-winning full sisters All Is Secret and The Secret Is Out.

M.J. Byleveld remarked that she is a bit smaller and Marshall added: “The others that I’ve had from this family were out-and-out sprinters but I think this one will go a mile.”

Marshall and his stable jockey followed up with Symphony in the Betting World Maiden but even this double hardly compensated them for the death of star two-year-old Zinedine from a pulmonary haemorrhage last weekend.

Richard Fourie, who dominated the rest of the card with a four-timer, got Jackson off the mark as a sire when making much of the running on Bountiful Strength in the opener and seemingly the Joey Ramsden-trained winner is better than the half-length verdict would suggest.

Fourie reported: “He seemed to be stuck in third gear because he didn’t like it in front and he was looking for company” while assistant trainer Ricardo Sobotker added: “He has natural speed – and shows a lot of it at home – as well as a lovely action and a nice turn of foot.”

However stable companion Carnage had a horrible time of things 35 minutes later. She took fright in the pens and burst through the gate, inflicting several wounds in her head and knocking out a tooth. She had to be scratched. Aldo Domeyer then sprang a 13-1 surprise on Sacred Arrow but, as he waited for his turn in the Tellytrack interview box, it was his boots that attracted all the attention.

They were reminiscent of those open-toe affairs that Fareed Anthony insisted on using because he found them lucky. Domeyer’s are not quite so bad but most of his rivals wouldn’t be seen dead in them.

Nor, apparently, are they ‘lucky’ boots. “I’m over that sort of thing,” he said. “But they are comfortable. I will get them repaired.”

They certainly didn’t stop him from completing a double for Candice Bass-Robinson on Queen Moira in the last.

Braam van Huyssteen’ colours were well to the fore and Fourie won on both Paddington for Ramsden and Royal Marine for Greg Ennion while the Paul Reeves-trained Dayonaut has now won three after just holding on under his unstoppable rider in the Supabets Handicap. Top weight Rommel, eased down from almost two furlongs out, was found to be lame.

By Michael Clower

Glen Kotzen’s smart string of SA Champions Season fillies arrived safely at last Wednesday and travelled well.

Among them are the like of Elusive Heart, Franking, Princess Vicky, Luna Child, Princess Peach, and Final Judgement.

Glen Kotzen

Elusive Heart is the only horse to have ever beaten the brilliant dual Grade 1-winner Snowdance. This three-year-old Elusive Fort filly proved that 1400m handicap victory over Snowdance was no fluke when romping home in the Grade 3 Vasco Prix du Cap over 1400m in her last start. She will have two Greyville turf features over 1400m in her sights, the Grade 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes on April 8 and the Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes on June 2. She is also being aimed at the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas on May 4.

Franking is a merit rated 86 King Of Kings filly, whom Kotzen rates. She has won twice over 1600m and 2000 respectively.

He also rates Princess Vicky, who is the first foal of the four-time Grade 1-winner he trained, Princess Victoria. He said this three-year-old Silvano filly had plenty of speed, but stays a mile, and he would start her in sprints. He believed she would “go through the divisions” and hoped she could pick up a feature.

Three-year-old Ideal World filly Luna Child has won her last three races including the Listed Breeders Guineas and the Daisy Fillies Guineas is an obvious target.

Three-year-old Captain Al filly Princess Peach, who won the Grade 3 The Sunlife Vitamins Debutante over 1200m at Greyville last season and finished third in the Grade 2 Cartier Sceptre over 1200m at Kenilworth, will be aimed at sprint events.

Four-year-old Judpot filly Final Judgement, who won the Grade 2 Gold Circle Golden Slipper as a two-year-old, was a bit disappointing during the Cape Summer. However, “she loves Durban” according to Kotzen and this was outlined by her two feature seconds last Champions Season in the Umzimkhulu Stakes and the Daisy Fillies Guineas.

Most of Kotzen’s colts and geldings arrived over the weekend, but his two big guns Eyes Wide Open and Gold Standard will only travel next month. Eyes Wide Open has the Daisy Guineas and Daily News 2000 in his sights, and Kotzen will play his Vodacom Durban July participation by ear as he is one of the highest merit rated three-year-olds in the country and might be asked to carry a big weight. Gold Standard, who did not like the fast going during the Cape Summer, is being targeted at the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge and the July.

By David Thiselton