Top Of The Class is Durban-bound after setting a new two-year-old course record when leading throughout the opener on Saturday.

Vaughan Marshall, whose juvenile string looks even better than usual, said: “I was a bit worried about taking on winners but this one is special and I will put him on the float on the 22^nd.”

Marshall and M.J. Byleveld doubled up with Sequined who just held on in the Betting World Handicap from the fast-finishing and unlucky course specialist Rustar Dhow. The runner-up knocked out one of her teeth when painfully banging her mouth against the stalls.

Top Of The Class (Liesl King)

But Marshall’s Crusade’s Promise could only manage third to the Joey Ramsden-trained Carioca, Donovan Dillon’s first success since breaking his hand, in the Juvenile Fillies. She was odds-on at one stage before easing to joint favouritism with the winner. “They went very fast and she wants a mile. It won’t take her long to win,” said the trainer.

Adam Marcus is going to aim Brave Move at the Ladies Mile (June 30) and the Final Fling Stakes (July 21) after the Horse Chestnut filly comfortably landed the odds under Aldo Domeyer in the mile handicap.

Marcus said: “She wins cantering and you don’t know how much more there is to come but I think she is very good.”

The in-form trainer promptly took his tally to 14 winners in 15 weeks when Richard Fourie snatched the Supabets Handicap with an extraordinarily confident ride on Bridal Party. He sat last until just over 300m out when he had 12 lengths to make up. He got there just two strides from the line in the sort of blanket finish that handicappers usually only see in their dreams – the first five were covered by half a length.

Fourie, asked when he felt he knew he was going to get up, replied: “After we had gone the first 400m!”

Marcus, sweat still pouring from his brow, said: “I wish I’d known.” He was rather more relaxed as he described staff changes at his stable. Father Basil has now retired from his role as assistant trainer (bar one Sunday afternoon a fortnight to give the trainer a break) but his mother Epsom-born Debbie made a rare visit to the races as if to compensate.

Braam van Huyssteen wasn’t there but his money was and Northern Corner made up three lengths in the last 70m to land the 1 000m handicap and enable Domeyer to celebrate his 31^st birthday a day early.

Greg Ennion said: “I told Braam that he should have a bet but not to go crazy because the horse has enough on his back as it is. Northern Corner is a tiny little animal but in the last three months he has really blossomed and he now has this amazing burst of speed.”

Despite all its changes and improvements the Durbanville course, in marked contrast to Kenilworth, still favours front-runners and the winner made most of the running in half the eight races. Grant van Nierkerk landed a double for Justin Snaith in this way on The Boston Rose and Amarosa with the former tipped by the trainer to do well in handicaps here.

Devin Ashby, in agony after being kicked as he was trying to mount Main Street in the last, had to forego the mount but is confident he will be fit for tomorrow. He said yesterday: “She got a fright and kicked me in the groin and abdomen. I’m a little bruised but it could have been worse.”

By Michael Clower

African Night Sky is being laid out for the Vodacom Durban July after the stable’s high hopes for last season’s Winter Series winner failed to materialise when he was only sixth in the Met.

Justin Snaith, bidding for his third July after Dancer’s Daughter in 2008 and Legislate four years ago, said: “He is one to note and I need to hide him because one hike in his rating would spoil his July chance.

“I am going to plan his campaign very carefully and the only way will be to race him sparingly, maybe running him in a big handicap where a win wouldn’t put him up much.”

African Night Sky (Liesl King)

Snaith Racing’s 30-strong armada sets out for Durban on March 24 and will include Do It Again who returned to his best to take second in the Cape Derby.

Snaith said: “He ran flat in the Cape Guineas as I’d over-trained him and I had to freshen him up for the Derby. His programme will be a prep then the Daisy Guineas followed by the Daily News. After that, we will see.

“But I have got one hell of a string for Durban and I just want a bit of luck with the draws. You need to be on the inside at both Scottsville and Greyville.”

The Cape Town stipes are waiting to hear from the National Horse Racing Authority in Johannesburg after taking DNA tests on All Aboard last week but their investigations are already focussed on the centre page of his passport which showed white socks and a white muzzle. The Mambo In Seattle colt had no such markings when he was compulsorily scratched from his debut at Kenilworth 13 days ago.

Senior stipe Ernie Rodrigues said: “We have to establish how this centre page (it was the horse’s third passport) got there and when. It is so different from the markings that it would have been noticed by the stalls team.”

The horse’s passport was checked by the stalls team on two occasions before his planned debut and seemingly it tallied with the horse both times.

By Michael Clower

The South African-bred Silvano colt Janoobi put up a fine display in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta over 1800m at Meydan on Saturday, but former Sun Met winner Whisky Baron enjoyed little luck in the same race and did not do his chances of making the Dubai World Cup night cut any good. Later, last year’s SA Derby winner, the Silvano gelding Al Sahem, ran on strongly for fifth in the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold over 2410m and earlier Neil Bruss had two runners in the Group 3 Burj Nahaar, whom he had brought over from his current base in Saudi Arabia.

Janoobi (JC Photographics)

Janoobi’s only previous attempt at 1800m was in last year’s Grade 1 SA Classic and he was beaten 17,75 lengths after probably going too fast early on. He proved on Saturday he stays the trip and was possibly a touch unlucky. He got a flying start from a middle draw, but Just as he was settling in third place on the flank of the leader he was bumped off course by Folkswood, who had switched outward. Jockey Gerald Mosse on the pacemaker was deemed to be the cause of the incident and was reprimanded for careless riding. Janoobi had to be settled all over again, so it could have been costly because after he had hit the front at the 350m mark he was unable to repel two other horses in a three horse struggle to the line. He finished three-quarters of a length plus a head behind the winner Blair House with Benbatl second. De Kock had been attempting to win a record-equalling fifth Jebel Hatta. Janoobi looks likely to be targeted at the US$5 million Dubai Turf, formerly known as the Dubai Duty Free, on World Cup night over the same 1800m turf course and distance. De Kock has won the Dubai Turf twice with Ipi Tombe in 2003 and with the dead-heating Right Approach in 2004.

The Brett Crawford-trained Whisky Baron was trapped wide in the running from a wide draw and couldn’t go with the leaders in the straight after turning for home on Janoobi’s flank. The way the race panned out did him no favours, but he also looks like he would prefer further, considering his rangy stride. He would probably be better suited to the US$5 million Dubai Sheema Classic over 2410m on World Cup night.

The De Kock-trained Al Sahem put up a fine effort in the City Of Gold, where he came from near the back and was doing his best work late to finish 6,5 lengths behind the classy Charlie Appleby pair Hawkbill and Frontiersman. He might have a chance of making the Sheema Classic field now, although his three runs in Dubai are yet to yield a place.

Neil Bruss has been having a fine season in Saudi Arabia and Bernard Fayd’Herbe travelled over to ride God’s Speed in Burj Nahaar over 1600m on dirt. However, the seven-year-old Oratorio gelding was coming off a Grade 2 win over 2400m and a Grade 1 second-placed over 2000m, so was not surprisingly outpaced. He ran on but was beaten 18,75 lengths. Bruss’s other runner Fantastic Four won a Grade 3 in Saudi Arabia over 1600m in January and started his Dubai campaign with a third place finish in a Group 3 over 1600m on the dirt in February under Fayd’Herbe, albeit 16 lengths behind the winner Heavy Metal. The form was confirmed on Saturday for after showing some early toe he finished more than 20 lengths behind runner up Heavy Metal.

By David Thiselton

The Gavin van Zyl-trained colt Bold Eagle cruised to victory in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m at Turffontein on Saturday under Anthony Delpech in what was the day’s most impressive performance.

There were also five other features on the card.

Bold Eagle provided Bold Silvano with a first stakes success in South Africa as a sire, although he is also sire of the Grade 3 Zimbabwe Guineas winner Flasher On The Run.

Bold Eagle (JC Photographics)

Bold Eagle, who is replica of his father, had impressed on debut as he found another gear late to win by 0,9 lengths over 1000 at the Vaal. On Saturday Delpech was able to secure the favourable outside spot in the running after a good break from draw ten in the 13 horse field. The handsome bay was not hard pressed to be in the leading line and when Delpech asked him the question at the halfway mark, a good kick saw him go clear. His big action carried him to the line for a comfortable 3,5 length win and he remains unbeaten. Royal Italian made it a one-two for sons of former Vodacom Durban July winners as he is by Pomodoro, who has made a good start to his stud career. Royal Italian had a tough draw of four so did well to stay on from midfield. The first-timer by Var, Heavenly Risk, was receiving 3kg from the winner but after taking a bump at the start did well to run on from behind for a 4,5 length third with another first-timer by Var, Dewali, a further 0,25 lengths back. The twice-winning filly Mazari was fifth. The favourite Van Halen showed good pace under a lovely action but faded out. He is not one to give up on though as he might have still needed it. The second favourite, William The Silent was never in it.

The Listed Ruffian Stakes saw the hot favourite Miss Khalifa being found to be not striding out and she was scratched at the start. Querari is having a fine season and his Mike de Kock-trained daughter Dagmar won on her debut. She was slowly way from a low draw of three and, after racing behind the pace, showed a good turn of foot when switched inward to win comfortably by 2,1 lengths, although the race was run in a 0,86 second slower time than the Storm Bird. Another Querari filly, Urban Oasis, was second followed a further three lengths back by the pacemaker River Rafting. Star Flyer was next best and the favourite, the Frankel filly Frankly, had no cover from the number one draw and ran a disappointing 7,25 length fifth.

The Listed Bauhinia Handicap over 1000m saw the Dianne Stenger-trained Crusade filly Covered In Snow recording her fourth victory in succession. She showed fine cruising speed, sitting behind the leaders in the middle, and she then kicked well and found another gear to repel the challengers, winning by a cosy 1,25 lengths from Myfunnyvalentine and Frederico’s Dream, in a time 0,3 seconds slower than the Storm Bird Stakes. Muzi Yeni thus secured a Listed double as he also rode Dagmar.

The Non-Black Type events were the Sun Chariot Handicap over 2400m for fillies and mares, the Egoli Mile and the Gold Rush Sprint over 1100m and they saw wins for the Erico Verdonese-trained Emerald Bay (Craig Zackey), the Stuart Pettigrew-trained Soldier On (Marco van Rensburg) and the Mike Azzie-trained Mrs O (Weichong Marwing) respectively.

By David Thiselton

Anton Marcus is not one to return for post-race interviews for minor races. “People have seen the race so I can’t add anything. Let the owners and trainers have their place in the sun,” is his view.

Anton Marcus

So it was telling when a clearly agitated Marcus made an appearance in public after hot favourite Antony Hotspur spread-eagled his field in the first leg of the Pick 6 at Greyville yesterday.

Runner-up in his first two when favourite, Marcus made amends on the 4-10 favourite Antony Hotspur but his biggest scare came at the start.

Sentido, drawn on the outside of the favourite, played up in his stall and broke open the front gate and an already jumpy Antony Hotspur also reacted and was backed out. Sentido was withdrawn and fortunately for favourite punters, Antony Hotspur took his place.

The start in KZN has become a major bone of contention with trainers and jockeys, and while many of the delays are attributed to unruly and badly schooled horses, the military precision of loading by numbers and starter’s assistants who appear clueless add to these perceptions.

The race proved to be a formality for the favourite but it was not a happy Marcus that appeared in front of the television cameras and let rip about the starting procedures.

“This horse barrier trialled a week ago and was up tight. But because of the new loading system he had to go in first. It’s not fair on the punters. It’s funny how 99% of people in racing are wrong and 1% are right.”

“Nobody is looking for preferential treatment but clearly it isn’t a consideration amongst the officials,” he concluded angrily.

Nicolene Roscoe, assistant to Alistair Gordon, confirmed, “He (Antony Hotspur) is up tight and probably a little above himself. He had an injury so we will see how he pulls up.”

Marcus had better fortune in the seventh where he finally got the best out of Dawn Calling.

There are few more competitive trainers around than Duncan Howells and a recurring virus eventually forced him to shut up shop for a fortnight towards the end of February.

When he did re-start, it was with a splutter, but Dawn Calling will have put some spark back into the operation with a smart win in a strong Pinnacles Stakes where she was badly out at the weights.

Antony Hotspur (Candiese Marnewick)

The weight disadvantage did not trouble her yesterday as Marcus had her handy throughout, pinching a lead that she never relinquished.

Favourite Statute, made a tardy start and from then on was never travelling and finished out of the money. She is a filly with class but at this stage of her career, a straight six furlongs may be her forte.

Any seasoned punter will tell you that taking odds-on about a runner, especially in maiden races, is a major financial risk and best left alone as there is seldom value.

However, the trick is working out which runner is fair value and those that had done their homework in the second would have been wary of taking the odds-on about Esstoora.

Beaten by the modest galloper Rosie Bubbles when an even money favourite last time out, she certainly did not look to be as short as odds-on in spite of Marcus staying with the ride.

So it proved! Esstoora tried hard and was in contention all the way to the line but Sheik’s Storm, seemingly out of it after finishing a distant fifth on debut, showed that she had ability when trialling well and her run behind the smart Statute, although beaten nine lengths, was not a bad debut.

“We had a bit of a wide draw,” confided Callan Murray. “But she jumped well and was up with the pace,” he said of Paul Gadsby’s runner.

By Andrew Harrison

There is not much of her, which probably explains her R700k price tag considering that her full brother, Legislate, won the Vodacom Durban July, but Statute has a good set of wheels. Just how good will be tested at Greyville tomorrow when Michael Roberts has pitted her against some really smart opposition.

After this race, Roberts should know just where he stands with his filly with Champions Season in mind and the Gr2 Daisy Fillies Guineas likely an immediate target.

Statute (Candiese Marnewick)

Statute hacked up on debut at Scottsville and was then sent against some smart fillies in the Flamboyant Stakes at just her second outing.

“Unfortunately, the race didn’t pan out for us,” said Roberts. “I didn’t think she could win it but was hoping for a place.”

“But she’s got class, there’s no doubt about it.”

Will she get a trip? Part owner Dr Nic Labuschagne is confident. “She will go a lot further and even the trip like her brother.”

It is a little worrying that Statute fluffed her lines in her only start around the turn but she has only had three starts and the experience will have done her good.

Roberts has engaged Anthony Delpech and from a plum draw, the trainer appears to have all his ducks in a row.

Still it will not be easy. She takes on two proven older fillies in Premier Dance and Ngaga and possibly the best one-time winner in the country, Dawn Calling.

Ngaga has trialled well since her arrival in KZN but her earlier form has been over further and this 1400m trip may be a touch on the sharp side given the strength of the opposition. Premier Dance would probably prefer it a little further too but in her favour is her recent outing in the Gr1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes where she finished three lengths off the top class Snowdance.

She has sprinted well in the past so she may prove the biggest threat to Statute.

The luckless Dawn Calling is over arguably her best course and distance and was a close-up second to her smart stable companion Fiorella at Scottsville last time out. She is not well in at these weights but does look capable on her day.

Anton Marcus had a red-letter day at Greyville on Wednesday with four winners and can get the Pick 6 rolling with Antony Hotspur for Alistair Gordon. Going down a neck on debut behind Gat Henshaw, Antony Hotspur was not seen out again for nearly nine months before cruising up in a barrier trial. Marcus only rode the barrier trial that afternoon with no further mounts which probably tells a tale.

Dawn Calling

The fourth, another Pinnacle Stakes event, is a bit of a puzzle with some smart sprinters in the line-up. Vision To Kill is a top class filly and made a smart return after a break when getting the better of the lightly weighted Hashtag Strat over the Scottsville shortcut early last month.

Vision To Kill was a victim of the virus that has been plaguing Ashburton recently. “She was really hard hit,” revealed, Beth Gadsby. Ominously for Sunday’s opposition, husband Paul said of that race, “I think she was only 70 to 80% fit.”

Gadsby has his eye on the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint in May but Vision To Kill has obviously taken her come-back run well although she steps up to 1200m.

Sunset Eyes has come well since arriving in KZN and will be looking for his fourth win on the bounce. Brett Crawford’s runner is taking on much stronger company but the form of his recent win has worked out well and even at this late stage in his career could still be under the handicapper’s radar.

If one looks past Vision To Kill, it’s not an easy race and exotic bet punters will do well to fill in a few more blocks on the betmark cards.

By Andrew Harrison

There is a race meeting for the purist to look forward to at Turffontein Standside tomorrow as the Pick 6 is made up of six features, three Listed races and two Non-Black Types.

The Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m could rest between three one-time winning males and three well-bred first-timers, who will receive 3kg from the latter. Bold Eagle was backed on debut and after showing good pace was doing his best work late to win cosily. The Gavin Van Zyl yard said he had improved and expected him to be competitive. Anthony Delpech is an eye-catching booking and the Bold Silvano colt is drawn on the right side by trends. William The Silent dwelt on debut over 1000m in a Juvenile event but ended up winning fluently by 2,8 lengths, despite having been ignored in the betting market.

Witchcraft

He is a well-bred sort being by Var out of the Cape Fillies Guineas second-placed Captain Al filly Tick Tock. Rule The Night is an imposing gelding by Var who was very green on debut, but still won comfortably by three lengths over this course and distance. The form has not worked out exceptionally well, but considering he ran all over the course he has plenty of scope for improvement. However, the number one draw might be against him. Heavenly Risk is a R300,000 Var colt and is a half-brother to the like of Grade 1 SA Classic winner Divine Jury.

Vardo is a R300,000 Var colt, who is out of a Listed-winning Captain Al filly, who is a full-sister to the brilliant Snowdance. Dewali is a R325,000 Var colt out of the Grade 2 KRA Fillies Guineas winner Festival Of Fire, who was also runner up in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint. Heavenly Risk has a nice high draw, while Dewali has an unfavourable low draw and Vardo is drawn six. The two fillies in the race, Mazari and Miss Boomerang, both have plenty of speed, but have a tough task at the weights as the only two two-time winners in the field.

In the Listed Ruffian Stakes Anton Marcus rides the Spies-trained Sail From Seattle filly Miss Khalifa, who won by an easy three lengths on debut. The first-timer Princess Blitz makes appeal from a nice draw of seven in a nine horse field as she is by the promising sire What A Winter out of the Listed-winning Var sprinter La Volta. Frankly is by the legendary Frankel and would have been the suggestion if not drawn so low.

The Listed Bauhinia Handicap could be won by Covered In Snow, who won the Listed Swallow Stakes over 1160m from a similar draw to record a hattrick. Winter Watch has a good turn of foot and should run on strongly from a plum standside draw. Frederico’s Dream has a lot of pace and stays on well, so this quick 1000m will suit her, and she faces Covered In Snow on just half-a-kilogram worse terms, after being beaten just a head by her over 1160m in the Swallow Stakes.

The Non-Black Type Sun Chariot Stakes over 2400m could go to Seeking Gold, who is 1,5kg better off with Bondiblu for a head beating over course and distance and as a four-year-old will still be improving. Witchcraft, who is well drawn over an ideal trip, is coming off a good performance in the Aquanaut over course and distance. Bondiblu is drawn in pole over an ideal trip and there is not much between her and Witchcraft or Patchit Up Baby. The latter beat Witchcraft by 2,6 lengths the last time they met over course and distance but is now 2kg worse off so there is not much in it. Emerald Bay has a chance if repeating her last run over course and distance.

The Egoli Mile vote goes to the eyecatching The Dazzler in his first run for Mike de Kock. The Puma also has class too and Helios makes his first start after impressing on debut.

In the Gold Rush Sprint Best Kept Secret is well bred and from a good draw can follow on from a fine effort in the CTS 1200. Down To Zero is coming into his own, and the fast-finishing Vicomte can bounce back from a better draw after stumbling last time.

By David Thiselton

Joey Ramsden runs all his four two-year-old winners at Durbanville tomorrow and can be rewarded with success in the opener.

Three of the four contest this 1 000m race and the one that stands out is Twist Of Fate who had stable companion Temp The Tiger nearly three lengths back when fourth in the Met day Listed race. The colt opened 14-10 favourite and, with the eight-strong field including three newcomers, Grant van Niekerk should be able to make light of his outside draw.

Grant Van Niekerk

The danger on form is the third Ramsden runner Lucky Dancer who returned not striding out – he had cuts on a hind pastern – when finishing fifth in the Kuda Sprint but the money so far suggests that the one to fear is the Vaughan Marshall newcomer Top Of The Class, a Var colt from a speedy family.

The World Sports Betting odds compilers thought they were taking no chances when they priced this one up at 5-2 on Wednesday but he was down to 18-10 yesterday morning. He receives a useful 3kg from the previous winners.

Ramsden’s Carioca has already been nibbled at 33-10 for the 1 250m fillies race. Donovan Dillon rides this one and she followed up her decent run in the Met Day Listed race with a convincing win three weeks ago.

However Marshall’s Crusade’s Promise, receiving 3kg, is favourite at 5-2 and gets marginal preference. She lost ground at the start when third at 50-1 on debut but still finished in front of Valderrama (4-1). And don’t overlook 9-2 chance Twin Falls. She won first time and was badly interfered with in the Met Day Listed race.

Miss Smarty Pants (3-1) should win the Tabonline.co.za Maiden on form and ratings and she looks better than Ladysmith who has so far been preferred in the market and was down to 28-10 yesterday.

The Boston Rose has been expensive and frustrating to follow – second or third in all her last five races and favourite in three of them – but Durbanville takes a lot less getting than Kenilworth and suits some horses better. She could be one of them (although she has been here before) and is a decent price at 9-2.

Above Eleven failed on Met day but she finished in front of Make It Raine and she may reverse with Sun At Midnight in the Betting World Handicap.

Bwana apparently can be difficult but he has won two out of three and has effectively only gone up two points for his last win. He can collect again in the St Patrick’s Day Handicap.

Adam Marcus may extend his recent good run by winning the next two with Brave Move (12-10) and Bridal Party (2-1).

By Michael Clower