Vodacom Durban July hero Marinaresco and Sun Met runner-up Last Winter fly out for their 90-day quarantine stint in Mauritius next Monday.

Dean Kannemeyer, who has Hong Kong ambitions in December for Last Winter, is relieved that the decision was taken for the horse to leave the country this month rather than travel after running in the Durban July.

He said: “It means that we have plenty of time for him to recover and get acclimatised. Had we waited for the July that might not have been the case.”

Cape Town racing returns to Durbanville for four consecutive meetings on Saturday with a further two in April. The course will stage its first two-year-old races since February 2016.

More use is being made of Durbanville since the racing surface was improved and there are 27 meetings scheduled there this year compared with 29 on the Kenilworth summer course and 25 on the winter course.

In 2016, Durbanville’s last full year of operation, there were 16 meetings at the country course – primarily in February and September/October but now there will be at least one meeting a month with the exception of May, November and December.

Betting turnover there used to be low relative to Kenilworth but, according to manager Dean Diedericks, it has improved significantly since the re-opening.

By Michael Clower

Two MR 84 handicaps are the highlight of a lowkey nine race card at the Vaal Inside track tomorrow.

The first of them is a competitive one for fillies and mares over 1800m. Pilgrim’s Progress has always struck as one with ability and last time out stayed on quite well from behind over the too sharp 1600m. She has a good draw here and it is her third run after a layoff. She is unbeaten in three starts from 1800-2000m.

She’s A Giver

The chief danger could be Being Fabulous. She was far from disgraced over 1600m last time when setting the pace against some useful males and now has her third run after a layoff over a trip she should get. From pole position she should be able to dictate the pace, although she does have to give the field 3kg and more. Secret Potion is a leggy sort with a fine turn of foot and she probably hit the front too soon last time when having to hold on bravely over 2000m.

She might appreciate the step down in trip and off just a three point higher mark this progressive filly can make it a hattrick. Forest Express was tried in a feature after an impressive maiden win over 1600m, so must be held in high regard and she sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight, so must have a good chance over a step up in trip she should relish.

Cold Cash wasn’t disgraced behind the like of She’s A Giver over 1600m last time in a conditions plate when way under sufferance and she has her third run after a layoff over a suitable trip. Pennington Sands could earn if repeating her last run as she has been dropped another two points in the merit ratings.

The next race is a MR 84 handicap over 1700m. Shenanigans is hard to asses. Last time, after hitting a flat spot in a 2000m event, he stormed home and just failed. He looked to need every inch of that distance, but in his previous start had shown a fine turn of foot when winning over 1600m, so he should enjoy this 1700m trip. He has been raised only two points for his last run and is well drawn. Notting Hill is a nice rangy sort and needed his last run over 1400m when fading out. He could surprise from a good draw over a more suitable trip and if he doesn’t place tomorrow, he should be followed subsequently as he has always struck as a decent sort. Diamond Dancer is a resolute galloper with a good kick and should run well fresh over a trip just a touch short of his best.

The best bet on the card could be in the last over 1100m as Inyanga put up a fine display last time from a tough draw with first-time blinkers on and Strydom remains aboard from a favourable draw.

However, the first three legs of the Pick 6 are tough and players might have to go wide.

By David Thiselton

Adam Marcus is optimistic that a deliberate pruning policy, coupled with his recent rich vein of form, will enable him to up the quality of his stable.

A first and last race double at Kenilworth on Saturday took his tally to 12 winners in the last 14 weeks but he is setting his sights more in line of those of father Basil and uncle Anton, explaining: “I am aiming to expand and hopefully these recent winners will encourage more big owners to back me – I have yet to get any of the big Cape Town ones but I am hopeful of doing so.”

He has slimmed the string down to 30 expected to pay their way, leaving room for the new intake, but one that will be staying is Red Rascal who made a winning debut under Aldo Domeyer in the opener after being backed from 9-2 to 9-10 and despite not having had a racecourse gallop.

Adam Marcus

Marcus said: “He has a long way to go to reach where we think he will get – we think very highly of him.”

Greyville is where Andre Nel is going with Silver De Lange who Anthony Andrews delivered through the racing equivalent of the eye of a needle in the TAB Telebet Handicap. The gap between the outside rail and stable companion Kampala Campari was being squeezed like an orange as he shot through it and his mount received a hefty bump in the process.

Nel said: “He will go for the staying races in Durban. He is an up-and-coming horse and I ran him here to see if he was going to be good enough to go.”

Paul Barrett recently teamed up with Ian Robinson and Francis Carruthers to buy Meliora from trainer Glen Puller (at the gelding’s R50 000 sale price plus training costs since) and they recouped R50 000 at the first time of asking when Piet Botha delivered the 6-1 chance late for a comfortable win in the Tabonline Maiden.

No surprise, though, because these owners collect winners like a philatelist collects stamps. Barrett has had 151 in 24 years and this was number 99 in ten years for Robinson including, of course, that million dollar race with Illuminator.

Ken Truter and wife Jane have had too many to keep count but the male half of the partnership was kicking himself after Domeyer completed his double on the Vaughan Marshall-trained Vincente in the Supabets Handicap, saying: “He might have won more races sooner had I not insisted on him not being gelded before!”

Greg Cheyne was also in double form – on Bendy Bullet for Eric Sands and Marcus’s Elusive Touch – while Andrews got into the same act by winning the Interbet Handicap on Samsara for his parents and Greg Ennion.

The expected Brett Crawford bonanza proved an expensive illusion – for punters as well as the trainer – and hot favourite Spring Man didn’t even make the frame behind MJ Byleveld on the Paddy Kruyer-trained Earth Hour in the Play Soccer Handicap. He was hanging from 400m out.

By Michael Clower

The Kenilworth stipes will tomorrow carry out a DNA test on All Aboard as part of their investigations into why the unraced two-year-old’s markings failed to match those in his passport when he was compulsorily scratched at Kenilworth last Tuesday.

Senior stipe Ernie Rodrigues on Saturday reiterated that it was the correct horse who appeared last week – the scanned chip matched the number in both the passport and the NHA records – and he explained: “We are doing the DNA test so that we can clear the horse to race as soon as possible.”

Hashtagyolo

Rodrigues explained that the NHA receives photographs of foals and yearlings from the studs – All Aboard was sold by Klipdrif as agent for R300 000 at last year’s CTS Premier – and the one in its records shows markings that match the original passport.

However equine passports can be re-issued and that of All Aboard has been issued three times. It is the centre page of the third passport that shows markings completely different from the two previous ones.

Rodrigues said: “We still have to ascertain how this latest centre page got into the passport.”

He and his colleagues also have to ascertain which passport was presented when the Mambo In Seattle colt was granted his stalls certificate and, if it was the third one, why the discrepancy was not spotted by officials at the time.

All Aboard is trained by Dean Kannemeyer who reported that the unbeaten Hashtagyolo, favourite for the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas before being scratched, has been back in the equine hospital in Johannesburg a second time.

She was originally sent there after suffering what Kannemeyer describes as “a wobbly” and he said: “She had recovered and was doing well when her temperature went back up again.

“She was obviously incubating a virus so I put her back into hospital for a couple of days. She is OK again now and I will probably send her down to Durban shortly.”

Kannemeyer believes it was a blessing in disguise that the wobbly happened when it did rather than at the time of the race, saying: “If you run them when they are incubating a virus it can set them back three or four months.”

By Michael Clower

Alistair Gordon has been training for 45 years but said there would have to be something wrong with you if you still not get excited about winning horse races and he experienced one of the most adrenalin-rushing moments of his career when his charge Monks Hood toyed with the Grade 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas field at Turffontein Standside on Saturday and drew away to win by an effortless 5,5 lengths under Anthony Delpech.

Summerveld-based Gordon stood alone and watched the race having been caught halfway between an interview and owner Mary Slack’s box and said, “I couldn’t believe how well he was travelling going through the 300m mark against such a high caliber field, it was almost surreal.”

Alistair Gordon

Moments earlier Gordon had wondered whether the good looking bay had gone too soon, a factor he and Delpech had discussed. However, Delpech had little choice because at the top of the straight he was travelling so much better than the horse in front of him, Greek Fire, that he had to switch outward for a run.

Gordon continued, “When he put his foot on the pedal nobody was going with him.”

Delpech pressed the button just before the 400m mark and the response was instantaneous. By the 300m mark he had hit the front and had done it effortlessly.

“Monks Hood is toying with them in the Gauteng Guineas!” boomed commentator Alistair Cohen’s voice.

The Querari gelding sauntered clear and crossed the line easing up with ears pricked having been given no more than a couple of backhanders.

Gordon was surprised by the manner of the win, but had been expecting him to run “a good race”.

He said, “I had told the media he had improved a lot since his Dingaans win.”

He then said something quite frightening for the opposition, “We will see the best of him when he runs on good ground, you could see that at Scottsville last time the way he quickened. He is maturing and getting better all the time.”

Officially the penetrometer reading was 21 yesterday, which is on the quick side of good ground, while at Scottsville the reading had been 24.

Gordon said Monks Hood had looked fine after the race. “He was chilled and eating grass at the back … he was totally relaxed.”

The horse left Turffontein at 7 o’clock yesterday morning (Sunday).

Gordon heaped praise on his staff and said, “It is like any business, you can’t achieve without the right team.”

He mentioned Monks Hood’s regular workrider Carrie Radford and all of the yard’s grooms.

Delpech gave the horse a fine ride and quickly had the horses settled with cover from a draw of seven and Gordon said, “He switches off very easily now that he has matured mentally. That is why he can show such a good turn of foot.”

Monks Hood (Candiese Marnewick)

Gordon will now discuss the next step with Delpech and Mary Slack of owners Wilgerbosdrift Stud, but warned, “I have done it often enough to know it is very difficult to travel up to Highveld twice in a month, it is not easy, it only gets harder, and if he were to run a bad race in the SA Classic it could wipe him out for the SA Champions Season.”

Gordon, asked about the Vodacom Durban July, said, “I don’t think he will get the July trip, definitely not, but it is just my opinion.”

The runner up Surcharge put in a fine performance considering he lacks gatespeed and was caught two wide in the running from a wide draw. He looks likely to relish the step up in trip to 1800m in the Grade 1 SA Classic.

Royal Crusade stayed on doggedly from the front, while Noble Secret and Vacquero both ran on well from well back in the running. All three should enjoy the SA Classic distance too.

The disappointment of the race was the favourite Majestic Mambo, who seemed to have his head in the air when asked to quicken from well back in the running and might not have enjoyed the quick going, although the penetrometer reading was officially the same as in his impressive Sea Cottage Stakes win. He is unbeaten in three starts over the SA Classic distance.

By David Thiselton

Frank Robinson had earmarked the Gauteng Guineas and Fillies Guineas as a likely target for Roy Had Enough and Roy’s Riviera but he may have ‘clocked’ a gallop or two at Summerveld and decided against the trip north as Monks Hood simply destroyed the Guineas field at Turffontein on Saturday.

Roy Had Enough (Candiese Marnewick)

All will be left wondering if Roy Had Enough would have made Monks Hood work any harder but he was hard-pressed to get the better of smart older horse Celtic Captain in a Pinnacle Stakes at Greyville yesterday who did not make things any easier by forcing his younger rival across the course.

All did not go according to plan for the winner, instructions from Robinson were to find cover, but in a small field it proved difficult for apprentice Lyle Hewitson who was left with daylight a lot earlier than was planned.

However, there is no substitute for class and Hewitson and Roy Had Enough fought through all their tribulations to win comfortably in the end but it was obvious that a mile is at the bottom end of ‘Roys’ optimum range.

Monks Hood is an unlikely runner in the Gr1 SA Classic but the Turffontein 1800m looks the ideal trip for Roy Had Enough.

This was Hewiston’s 284^th winner as an apprentice but there is some confusion as to whether this win equalled or bettered the record for the most winners by an apprentice in South Africa.

Lyle Hewitson

Stats are difficult to verify due to dodgy record-keeping but it should all come out in the wash in the next day or two.

Hewitson had extensive work riders experience and was crowned champion before being accepted at the SA Jockey Academy after matriculating at Kearsney College and his apprenticeship was cut to three years.

He had his first ride as a fully-fledged apprentice at Scottsville on March 6, 2016 and trainers were quick to capitalise on his experience and 4kg claim. In a little over three months 60 winners were in the bag and he was in with the big boys without his apprentice claim.

This proved to be a cavaletti rather than a hurdle and Hewitson’s services remained, and still remain, in high demand.

Whether he equalled or broke the record yesterday is really immaterial because with nine months of his apprenticeship still to run, his total of winners will be out of reach of most mortals.

By Andrew Harrison

The Guineas meeting is one of the highlights of the Johannesburg season as it begins sorting out the wheat from the chaff in the Highveld three-year-old division, although a KZN horse might upset the applecart in the colts and gelding version of the race at Turffontein Standside tomorrow.

Monks Hood (Candiese Marnewick)

The Alistair Gordon-trained Monks Hood is better drawn in the Grade 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas than he was when winning the Investec Dingaans over the same course and distance. He was dropped out that day from a tricky draw and was swung outward for a run at the top of the straight. He should be closer to the pace turning for home this time and should be able to afford to take cover for some of the straight. The unbeaten Majestic Mambo would prefer further, but does relax well at the back and has a devastating turn of foot, so his status as favourite is justifiable. Surcharge is top class and builds up into a powerful finish so is ideally course suited. He will also relish the step up to this trip, but his lack of gatespeed and early pace is a concern. Royal Crusade also has plenty of class, but does have 2,25 lengths to make up on Majestic Mambo.

However, that was over 1800m and he now gets blinkers on and is drawn in pole. Noble Secret is a relatively unexposed horse who looks to be full of class and on the evidence of his last start he will relish the galloping nature of this course and its long straight. Ideal Secret is ideally course and distance suited and his draw of eight should allow him to find cover. He has to be waited with for a bit and then produces a fine turn of foot, so he is capable of an upset. The six mentioned stand out. Pietro Mascagni found 1400m too sharp last time and should be running on. Greek Fire has a fine draw and has his third run after a layoff over a suitable trip. Big Bear has the class to be a contender, but he might need it after having to have a testicle removed which was troubling him. He also has a wide draw to overcome. Vacquero has a strong finish and was a close up third in the Dingaans, but that was from a plum draw, while he is now widely drawn. Wonderwall has proven class but probably prefers 1400m. Puget Sound has a good draw but has a lot to find on previous meetings with some of these. Cash Time, Silver God and Alssakhra look outgunned.

The Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas is not as strong and the two most fancied horses, Fish River and Folk Dance, stand out. However, their respective wide draws are a concern as they have both been seen to take a strong hold in past races. Fish River did respond well last time when asked to switch off in the Grade 3 Three Troikas over 1400m and this progressive sort finished that race off very well. It suggests she will get the 1600m. Folk Dance over aced for a few strides from a good draw when winning the Grade 3 Fillies Mile easily. She now has a wide draw so it will not be easy for Gavin Lerena to restrain her. However, if she does find cover she will go close. Silver Thursday could pick up the pieces if the top two fluff their lines as she will relish this galloping track with its long straight, although she would prefer a touch further. The unbeaten Radiant Splendour is the unknown quantity and could be anything as she doddled a Novice handicap over 1400m last time, albeit off only a 77 merit rating. Rockin Russian performed below par in Cape Town but the overall class of horse she faced was out of the top drawer. She should not be written off as there is little wrong with her pervious form and she has a plum draw. Aurelia Cotta is an honest sort who will be running on so. Pearl Of Bahrain is a nice looking unexposed sort, who will be improving. The same can be said of Awfaa. Takingthepeace has a long stride and will appreciate the step up in trip. The other three can’t be fancied.

By David Thiselton

Spring Man, fifth in the Investec Cape Derby at 30-1, reverts to handicap company at Kenilworth tomorrow and can show that his Met-day run was no fluke.

He had won his previous two starts, also over 2 000m, and the one concern is that the Play Soccer 6 Handicap is only a mile but the Brett Crawford runner looks a smart sort and races off the same mark as the one he was given before the Derby.

Professor Brian also went into the notebooks on Met day when fifth under top weight to all-the-way winner Quickfire who reopposes on 3kg worse terms in the Supabet Handicap. Quickfire finished more than three lengths clear of Professor Brian and that should be enough for him to confirm the form at the weights but the Joey Ramsden hope didn’t get a clear run that day and was crucially bulked for several strides approaching the furlong marker.

The selection and Quickfire are joint 33-10 favourites with World Sports Betting which makes Valbonne (fourth that day and now closely handicapped with the two principals) on 9-2.

Vase is a big price at 15-2 in the Betting World Maiden and looks worth an interest at those odds even though she has not raced since November. She showed plenty of promise first time and then started second favourite only to finish second last.

Not the virus apparently – “She lashed out in the pens and hit the back very hard. She was sore afterwards,” explained Andre Nel.

Waiting For Rain (5-2) and Friendly Tibbs (28-10) both worked well yesterday encouraging Piet Steyn to turn them out again for the TAB Telebet Handicap even though the pair ran last Saturday when the first-named ran below form.

“He was working exceptionally well and he shouldn’t have been out of the first three but maybe he needed the run a bit,” said his trainer. Friendly Tibbs ran on well from quite some way back over a furlong less last time and gets the vote but a case can be made for all five runners.

The first and third race maidens are tricky because they are modest-looking affairs but maybe the improved form shown by Robert Frost (18-10) last time will enable Corne Orffer’s mount to beat Head Of The Pack (22-10) and 9-2 chance Boy Scout in the Itsarush.co.za Maiden.

There is almost nothing in it on ratings between the top four in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden but Harvest Wind may have come on enough to add to the Crawford-Orffer tally.

By Michael Clower

A persistent virus that affected most yards in Ashburton saw Duncan Howells shut up shop for a fortnight and take stock. He saddles three runners at Greyville this evening and has a chance of getting back on track.

“The break has done the horses good and I have also tweaked a few things so hopefully we will soon be back on track,” he said yesterday.

Accidental Tourist (Candiese Marnewick)

Howells saddles two ex-Charles Laird runners in Good To Give and Buffalo Soldier, both in with chances, but his best chance of a winner could come with the filly Accidental Tourist in the sixth. She loves the poly and although shouldering top weight she has yet to miss a cheque since July last year.

Louis Goosen has also been affected by the virus but has kept firing and Shwanky could prove the biggest threat to the top weight.

Paul Gadsby has been hounding the handicappers for months as far as the rating of Miss Varlicious is concerned and his nagging has had some effect as Miss Varlicious now races off a 72 rating, 17 points lower than November last year, but she still has not made it to the winner’s box again.

She had no chance with the impressive Statute last time out but now looks to be competitive off her new rating.

Good To Give has had one outing since a break and makes her debut for Howells in the fifth. She takes on males but was finishing strongly in her last start over course and distance and with a handy galloping weight should be competitive.

Brian Burnard, had he been at Scottsville on Wednesday would have twice visited the winner’s enclosure, will be anticipating another winner when the unbeaten Sir Bernadini lines up in the seventh. Dennis Bosch’s charge made the jump from maiden win to a MR76, both wins coming on the poly and the Aussie-bred looks to be useful.

Sir Bernardini (Candiese Marnewick)

Howells saddles Buffalo Soldier and the change of scenery could bring out the best in the gelding who has threatened in smart company yet remains a two-time winner. He drops in class this evening and from a good draw rates the biggest threat to Sir Bernadini.

After a relatively quiet spell, Sean Tarry is starting to fire again and Esstoora can make a winning local debut in the card opener. The lightly raced filly has shown up well in two starts on the Vaal inside track and could prove too strong for Rosie Bubbles and So Vain.

In the second, Great Dictator gets another chance to shed his maiden after running up a hat-trick of second placings. The blinkers did not seem to have any effect in his last start over course and distance and they have been removed.

Apprentice Ashton Arries should be back in action after his three-timer last Wednesday was spoilt when parting company with Dancing With Tatum in the last race of the day.

By Andrew Harrison

Nothemba Mlonzi is a relatively unknown name in horse racing circles but her CV outside of the sport is impressive. A self-made woman, who rose from nowhere in rural Transkei to become a respected attorney, an acting High Court Judge, an academic, hotelier, philanthropist, has served on several corporate boards, and made history by establishing the first ever 100% black woman-owned oil plant in South Africa.

The magic touch appears to have also extended to horse racing with her fledgling Mwetwood Stud based in Howick in KZN.

Anthony Delpech

Nathan Kotzen went to R100k for her first yearling sold at Nationals and the daughter of Master Of My Fate scored first time out at Scottsville yesterday as Master Keys, in spite of trying to take the scenic route, took apprentice Lyle Hewitson within two winners of equalling Gavin Lerena’s record as the most winners by an apprentice.

“She’s a light framed filly but has shown us a lot,” said Nathan Kotzen of Master Keys. “I told you she could run,” added former Msinduzi Municipal Manager Rob Haswell in whose colours the filly races.

Master Keys gave Hewitson a testing ride as she race very green and then hung badly in the closing stages before picking off well-backed favourite Oratorina. Watching the ride, it is not surprising that Hewitson is where he is in the national jockey’s pecking order

Prolific owner Brian Burnard had a profitable day with a double, the first in the card opener as Across Seattle took advantage of the absence of the well fancied Mastagambit to record a comfortable win for Mark Dixon.

He was chased by the speedy Eastbrook and Anthony Delpech for much of the race but eventually proved too strong for his rival who was making his debut.

Master Keys is by the freshman stallion Master Of My Fate, a feisty customer when racing, but behaved perfectly on her race course debut. Not so sibling Mastagambit.

The smart looking dark bay, who had been well supported in the ante-post market, appears to have inherited his father’s temperament and simply refused to load. Dennis Drier, who also trained Master Of My Fate, was understandably not impressed with the going on’s at the start.

The Burnard colours were back in the winner’s enclosure in the opening leg of the PA as Minaloushe Venture finally shed his ‘professional maiden’ tag after an enterprising ride from Brandon Lerena. Lerena, a vastly under rated heavy-weight rider, took the initiative early and sent his mount to the front, not to be caught.

Eastbrook had to play second fiddle to Across Seattle in the first but Haylor made amends in the opening leg of the Pick 6 for Karen Anthony. “He’s a horse that has had a lot of problems. But we have taken it easy,” she said after he had skated clear of second-placed Iknow.

Root Beer was the toast of most punters who had banked on him in the exotics and Alyson Wright’s charge obliged with the minimum of fuss.

Popular television presenter Paul Lafferty, on duty for the day, had difficulty interviewing himself but will have been well pleased with his double, Majestic Glory and Sniper Shot, both hitting bull’s eye.

By Andrew Harrison

Featured Image: Dennis Drier (Liesl King)