The Vaal stages a nine race card tomorrow and punters will be looking to boost their bankrolls ahead of the big Guineas meeting on Saturday.

A fillies and mares MR 84 Handicap over 1000m is the headliner. Myfunnyvalentine was a bit outpaced last time over this trip in a race dominated by the speedy Frederico’s Dream, but she flew at the finish and was only 0,9 lengths back in third at the line. The Tarry yard have hit form at last lately and in this weaker field the rangy Captain Al filly can defy topweight of 61kg under regular pilot Lyle Hewitson. Movie Show was also out the back in that aforementioned race but when she began her telling late run she was cramped for room so should have finished closer. She has been in good form as a five-year-old and has won twice over this course and distance. Kissable looked to be a top sprinter in the making as a two-year-old, winning her first two starts over 800m and 1000m respectively by 6,4 and 7,5 lengths.

Lyle Hewitson

However, she then went off the boil and it was only six runs later, after dropping to a 77 merit rating that she managed her third career win. That was also the first time 1,5kg claimer Mpumi Mjoko had ridden her and he is back aboard. She is 4 points up in the merit ratings and her confidence will be up, so she could be a threat. Levi Lady has plenty of speed and is now 2,5kg better off with Kissable for a 1,4 length beating, so should be thereabouts. Daring Diva was among the best two-year-olds of her crop, but she has run well below par in her last two starts. She has dropped to an 85 merit rating from an original mark of 97 so if bouncing back can go close and is worth considering. Singing In Seattle had some good Port Elizabeth form and has not been disgraced in three starts on the Highveld, so she could earn too having been dropped three points in the merit ratings.

Punters should be given a good start with Rivonia Boulevard in the first race over 1200m. Last time out this rangy Count Du Bois colt stayed on well for an excellent third in the Kuda Sprint over 1200m at Kenilworth on Sun Met day. Good horses always contest that race and she will be hard to beat in a much weaker field and with a nice middle draw.

The second will likely see Matanuska being all the rage, but she might have been flattered by her debut where she was making late progress as the time was slow. Generoso is having her 46^th start but if things go her way she can run on quite nicely and she seemed to appreciate the step down from staying trips to 1400m last time and ran third to a promising sort. Hurricane Lass can also go close if settling better than she did last time when fresh from a layoff. Petite Aime could represent place value and Keep It Hot and Sea Like Glass could be quartet considerations.

In the third over 1200m Running Brave kept on finding extra over 1000m on debut despite long odds and a possibly unfavourable low draw, so she looks likely to enjoy this trip and is the one to beat. Riptide showed fine pace on debut over 1000m before displaying signs of inexperience and also getting tired. She was reported to have made a breathing noise which is a concern and her low draw is also a possible worry. However, she should have come on from the run and is tipped to fight out second place with Cloud Break, who stayed on over 1000m on debut.

Gavin Lerena

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Silvano filly Believe Me was not overly impressive second time out when staying on for second over 1200m but in this uninspiring field over a step up in trip she will appreciate she could be a banker. Hartleyone made a fair debut after a slow start but was found to have a hairline fracture and is coming back from a layoff.

It gets tough in leg 2 but Gold Dawn created a good impression last time when running on strongly to win her maiden and Gavin Lerena is up so she can beat Eleni and Moss Gass. Goodness Me and Jamra warrant consideration too.

In the seventh over 1600m Dressed To Impress looks a fair sort in the making and is a banker consideration.

In the eighth over 1400m Momo has dropped to a competitive mark but the low draw might be against her so going as wide as possible is the suggestion, although Shelley, Fish River Canyon, Flowing Gown, Sammi Moosa and Piccadilly Square are the one which make most appeal.

In the last the R1,1million Dynasty filly Kentucky Blue stayed on well over 1200m last time and will relish the step up to 1400m, but the number one draw might be a concern. Son Of A Legend and Hard Ball might also have to be considered. Two Guns and Timkat make most appeal of the higher drawn horses.

By David Thiselton

Nous Voila could be Allan Robertson-bound after putting up a hugely impressive performance to beat the much-vaunted and superbly bred Canukeepitsecret on debut in the TAB Telebet Maiden Juvenile at Kenilworth yesterday.

The Judpot filly, owner-bred by the Niarchos family’s Jagessar, went for home two furlongs out and she found another gear when the favourite came out of the pack to give chase. A length and a quarter was as close as she could get – and seemingly that was without the winner being asked for everything – while the third horse was another four lengths away.

Aldo Domeyer

Aldo Domeyer said: “This filly has shown us a great deal at home and to win in this fashion was impressive. I am really excited about what the future holds.”

Candice Bass-Robinson added: “I think she is a special filly and I might take her to Scottsville for the Allan Robertson. Aldo is keen for her to go for that.”

In the Itsarush.co.za Maiden Juvenile half an hour earlier it was R3.25 million buy Frank Lloyd Wright who stole the thunder even though he was beaten a head by the comparative bargain buy (R100 000) Sailor Sam.

The runner-up looked sure to score inside the final furlong but, fatally for those who backed him at 71-20, the billboards on the inside of the course caught his eye at quite the wrong time.

Justin Snaith said: “Every time he has come here he has looked at those boards. If he had challenged the winner on the other side it would have been a different result. But I was very happy with the run and, while we will have to see how he pulls up, we may earmark him for Durban.”

But back to the Greg Ennion-trained winner. He was the most experienced horse in the field but Corne Orffer said the colt would have won last time had he known him better while Braam van Huyysteen put his money on at 16-1. It must have been a fair bit because the horse was returned at less than half that at 27-40!

The well-supported Deepston put up a performance full of promise in fifth but 17-10 favourite Quick Star was a little disappointing in sixth considering his previous experience..

There was considerable speculation when it was announced shortly before the off that newcomer All Aboard had been scratched because of a “passport discrepancy.” Dean Kannemeyer promptly dismissed suggestions that this could be the wrong horse, pointing out that the correct chip number had been shown when the colt was scanned on arrival from the sales and again when he passed his stalls test.

It was senior stipe Ernie Rodrigues who ordered the scratching and he explained: “The chip scanning shows it is the right horse but the markings are very different from those in the passport and I am mystified why this wasn’t picked up by our people.”

By Michael Clower

The Summerveld dogs have been barking the name Mastagambit for some time now and he finally lines up in the first at Scottsville this afternoon.

Dennis Drier is a veteran of a sport where anything can go wrong at any time so was cautious in his comment. “Nice horse but may be a bit short”.

Mastagambit is a son of the once Drier-trained Master Of My Fate, a hugely talented colt whose feisty temperament gave his trainer many a sleepless night, but if he has imparted any of his talent to Mastagambit, it will take a good one to beat him.

Also in the first race line-up is the son of the smart race-mare Sunshine Lover, bought by one of the shrewdest horsemen around, Barry Irwin. The well-named Bronzed, a son of Oratorio, also opens his account but at the top of the Track & Ball boards yesterday was Across Seattle.

Gunner

Mark Dixon’s runner has had valuable experience over course and distance where he took on winners on debut. He finished a creditable third to the promising Val-La-Ree so Mastagambit will need to be all that he is cracked up to be as experience generally counts for a few extra lengths.

The barrier trial debate rages on relentlessly but their value to punters is not conclusive as at the time of writing they were optional. From Thursday they become compulsory in KZN for all first-timers and horses that have been off the track for 120 days so one should get a clearer picture and with all relevant information available, the form of the trials may work out. The ryder being that punters will need to watch these trials closely as there is no winner or loser, but some trial ‘form’ could prove stronger than others. The value of the trials will be tested again in the opening leg of the PA where Minaloushe Venture is rated way above anything else in what has stacked up into a fairly modest field. Dennis Bosch’s runner is overdue a maiden win and barring a ‘springer’ he should prove difficult to beat. He is the current ante-post favourite at 14-10 but Desert Thief, making his racing debut for Brett Crawford after putting up a prominent showing in a barrier trial, is not short of support at 2-1.

Without the trial, the only public guide would be the betting and the generosity of the connections when approached for first-timer comments.

Crawford’s Western Cape-based stable jockey, Corne Orffer, will be aboard Desert Thief but Anthony Delpech steps aboard the Crawford runner Game Changer in the opening leg of the Pick 6. Game Changer has had two barrier trials, first in his latest effort with steel shoes, and has been priced up 12-10 favourite in the ante post market ahead of Mark Dixon’s runner, Two Stroke, at 33-10.

Surprise package could be the rank outsider Don Pierro. The Gary Rich-trained gelding can be a nightmare getting onto the track in the mornings but once over his tantrums he puts in some decent work.

Don Pierro behaved perfectly in his race course debut and did all that was asked of him. But Rich is still on edge. “That was all new to him so he behaved himself. Now that he knows what’s going on he could start his nonsense again. He has come on from that run so we are holding thumbs.”

Des Egdes hands in his trainer’s licence tomorrow and saddles his last runner in Le Cheik in the fifth. Dessie’s face will be missed after over three decades in the sport but he will be aiming to sign off on a winning note. Le Cheik goes well over course and distance but there are no prisoners in this game and Le Cheik may have to play second fiddle to Alyson’s Wright’s Root Beer who finished three lengths ahead of Le Cheik last time out. It was a reversal of form with Le Cheik having finished ahead of Root Beer at their previous meeting. In a seven-horse field over 2400m, pace will be the crucial factor between winning and losing.

By Andrew Harrison

The Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas is the first leg of the Triple Tiara and the two chief protagonists, Fish River and Folk Dance, both look to be milers so should be going all out on Saturday.

Fish River by Canford Cliffs has stamina limitations on pedigree but Mike de Kock said after her 2,1 length victory in the Grade 3 Three Troikas Stakes over 1400m, in which she found another gear late to win easing up, “On this run she will see out a mile … I think the mile will be her limit though.” De Kock sent her to owners’ Mauritzfontein Stud’s paddocks for a while last year and she came back strengthened and improved. Her penultimate start, when beating older fillies and mares in a handicap over 1400m off an 86 merit rating, was just as impressive as her Three Troikas effort.

Mike De Kock

In her favour on Saturday is her good gatespeed, but the unknown is how well she will settle over this step up in trip from a tricky draw of nine. She did take a keen hold from draw seven in her penultimate start, but last time out responded well when asked to switch off.

Folk Dance is by Tiger Ridge, who has sired a Triple Tiara winner before in Cherry On The Top, but he imparts plenty of speed too and Folk Dance’s female line is also full of speed. Folk Dance is proven over a mile, but she clearly over raced in the early stages of the Grade 3 Fillies Mile from a fair draw of four, before settling upon finding cover and winning easily. She now has a wide draw of eleven and races fresh, so Gavin Lerena might not have an easy task settling her.

Radiant Splendour has been backed so must be highly regarded. She will easily stay this trip on pedigree. She is unbeaten in two starts and second time out when stepped up to 1400m in a handicap she came from last and doddled it. However, she was only racing off a 77 merit rating, so still has a lot to prove. Her good draw will help.

Silver Thursday has a shout from a plum draw. In the Starling Stakes over 1400m last October she came from some way back to run Folk Dance to half-a-length. She was receiving 2kg and Folk Dance was widely drawn, but that trip was too sharp. In the Cape Fillies Guineas she was caught wide throughout from a wide draw. Next time out in the Victress Stakes over 1800m she stayed on strongly from pole position for a decent fifth to some top fillies. The 1800m might be her better trip, but she will love the Turffontein galloping track with its long straight and she will be improving being by Silvano.

Cashel Palace made a bold bid from the front from a wide draw in the Fillies Mile. She hasn’t raced since but is by Fort Wood, so should have strengthened and improved, but she now has the widest draw of all to overcome.

Aurelia Cotta had the run of the race in the Fillies Mile and ran on to pip Cashel Palace for second. She was too far back last time from a wide draw in the CTS Mile but could earn here from a fair draw under Piere Strydom.

Piere Strydom

Takingthepeace and Green Top are both decent sorts who were running on in the Three Troikas for fourth and fifth respectively. Takingthepeace has a long stride and should relish the step up in trip. Green Top is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a SA Fillies Classic winner so should also love the trip, despite her half-brother by Captain Al, Doosra, appearing to prefer shorter than a mile.

Pearl Of Bahrain is an imposing daughter of Western Winter out of the decent staying mare Arabian Pearl and she won her maiden easily second time out after stepping up to 1500m. This is a big step up but she could be anything and she has a fair draw of seven.

Awfaa ran on well after a slow start to win a handicap last time over this trip off a 78 merit rating. She is a classy looking daughter of Silvano so will be improving and is a dark horse, although she has a tricky draw.

Pale Lilac is a big galloping sort who won from start to finish last time over this trip at the Vaal last time so has an ideal pole position draw if this tactic is to be repeated. However, she was running off just a 76 merit rating in that three-year-old fillies handicap so this will be a lot tougher.

Dame Kelly gave Fish River some cheek from a handy position in the Three Troikas but was a well beaten third in the end so has a bit to find.

Rockin Russian will have a point to prove having been left out of the CTS Mile despite running second in the Grade 1 Thekwini over this trip last year. The horse she finished third to in her penultimate start in a Progress Plate over 1400m, Elusive Heart, came out and won the Grade 3 Prix du Cap easily and her second last place in the Majorca was against a top class field, so she should not be written off.

By David Thiselton

Trainer Paul Peter has a strong hand in both the R1-million Gauteng Guineas and the R500,000 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas with Majestic Mambo and Folk Dance respectively. But both will have to overcome wide draws.

Paul Peter (JC Photographics)

Both Gr 2 races will be run over 1600m on the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday. The Guineas is also the first leg of the R2-million SA Triple Crown while the Fillies Guineas is the opening leg of the R1-million Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara. The other races concerned are the R2-million SA Classic and R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, both Grade 1 races over 1800m on April 7, with the final legs – the R2-million SA Derby and R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks – run over 2400m on Saturday, May 5.

There is little doubt unbeaten Majestic Mambo is a Triple Crown contender, especially as he has won all three of his races over 1800m. He has been unextended so far and has done nothing wrong. However, he could battle winning the Guineas from 11 draw. It could be on the sharp side and the field has just 200m to cover before they hit the bend.

Nevertheless, he has been priced up as the 22-10 favourite with Betting World with Surcharge, who is drawn even wider at 14, second favourite at 4-1. Both horses will have top jockeys in the irons with Gunter Wrogemann aboard Majestic Mambo, who cost just R40,000, and Piere Strydom on Surcharge who looks way above average.

Dingaans winner Monks Hood will not have too much work to do early on as he is drawn 7. Anthony Delpech, who has ridden Majestic Mambo in his last two starts, stays with Monks Hood for the Guineas as he has to honour his retainer. Alistair Gordon’s charge looked good in his comeback run at Scottsville two weeks ago and along with Surcharge are the top-rated runners. He is on offer at 6-1.

Sean Tarry has three runners but unfortunately his best performed pair of Big Bear and Wonderwall are drawn widest of all at 15 and 16 respectively. As a result they are on offer at 14-1 and 16-1.

The other two horses in single figures are the impressive Greek Fire from the Mike and Adam Azzie yard and Mike de Kock-trained Royal Crusade who is drawn 1 and has Anton Marcus up.

Monks Hood (Candiese Marnewick)

Betting World have opened Folk Dance and Fish River as joint 5-2 favourites. However, just like Majestic Mambo, Folk Dance is drawn 11. In her favour is that she is ideally distance suited. Gavin Lerena is back in the irons.

Fish River is only slightly better off at 9 but the Mike de Kock-trained filly is in good form right now and has Delpech up.

Unbeaten Radiant Splendour is the “unknown quantity” in this race as she has been impressive in her two wins and is drawn well at 5. Marcus has the ride on Gary Alexander’s charge.

Opening betting:

Gauteng Guineas: 22-10 Majestic Mambo; 4-1 Surcharge; 6-1 Monks Hood; 13-2 Greek Fire; 8-1 Royal Crusade; 14-1 Ideal Secret, Noble Secret; 14-1 Big Bear; 16-1 Wonderwall; 20-1 Vacquero, Puget Sound; 25-1 Cash Time; 40-1 Pietro Mascagni, Silver God; 50-1 State Trooper; 66-1 Alssakhra.

Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas: 5-2 Folk Dance, Fish River; 11-2 Radiant Splendour; 8-1 Silver Thursday; 10-1 Cashel Palace; 12-1 Awfaa; 14-1 Aurelia Cotta, Takingthepeace; 16-1 Dame Kelly; 20-1 Green Top, Pale Lilac; 25-1 Rockin Russian, Pearl Of Bahrain.

– TABnews

The excitement starts early at Kenilworth today when high expectations and high prices get their first real test in the first two races.

No less than 19 of the 26 runners are newcomers and, if the winners come from this group, it would fit the pattern of the Cape Town juvenile scene so far this season. There have been 13 two-year-old races and ten of them have gone to first-timers.

The highest-priced of today’s debutants is Frank Lloyd Wright who made R3.25 million at last year’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale. He was sold by Drakenstein and now races in the colours of Qatar Racing in partnership with Drakenstein. By Captain Al, he is out of a seven-time winner and opened 3-1 favourite for the Itsarush.co.za Maiden when World Sports Betting posted its prices on Saturday.

Silver Coin (Wayne Marks)

“He is the type we could see in the R5 million races next January,” says Jonathan Snaith who is wary of predicting victory as he points out that the stable has not won a two-year-old race this season. “This colt is inexperienced but he should run into the money and we will be disappointed if he doesn’t.”

But seemingly he will have to go to beat Quick Star who was backed down to 4-1 second favourite when fourth on debut in the Kuda Sprint on Met day. Admittedly he was beaten over seven lengths but seemingly the money for him had a solid foundation.

“He is a serious horse and we thought he had a big chance that day,” recalls Glen Kotzen who predicts: “He should be hard to beat.”

He has been backed from 4-1 to 22-10 joint favourite with the Vaughan Marshall-trained Var colt Deepston. Marshall has won four juvenile races this term and all four scored first time out. This one has been backed from an opening 9-2.

Candice Bass-Robinson won with a number of first-timers last season and her two juvenile winners this term were both newcomers. She runs the What A Winter colt Sacred Arrow, a R250 000 buy. “He is ready to run but I am not expecting him to win first time,” is her verdict on the 10-1 chance.

Joey Ramsden has won four juvenile races but only two were newcomers. The Var colt Carnage showed enough first time to suggest he could get into the shake-up but he has drifted from 9-1 to 14-1.

Sailor Sam (10-1) is the most experienced and was only beaten a neck last time. “”He is well and he should again run well,” says Greg Ennion.

Greg Ennion

Quick Star gets the vote and in the TAB Telebet Maiden Juvenile half an hour later the Marshall runner Canukeepitsecret looks the pick. She comes from the prolific-scoring Mystic Spring family and is a Captain Al filly out of the Sceptre and Southern Cross winner Secret Of Victoria, already the dam of All Is Secret and The Secret Is Out. “She is on the list for Durban,” says Marshall. She opened favourite at 16-10 and was 14-10 yesterday.

European Roller (4-1) has finished closest but Kotzen’s Princess Elsa (backed from 3-1 to 16-10) ran in the Listed race on Met day and, judging by the money for her, she is expected to go close.

Mrs Robinson runs four newcomers with stable jockey Aldo Domeyer on the 6-1 Judpot filly Nous Voila – “She should have run earlier but she was coughing. She is very nice and I think she will run well,” says her trainer.

Corne Orffer can bounce back from last Saturday’s sickness to win the Tabonline.co.za Maiden on 12-10 favourite Miss Smarty Pants although stable companion Capital Q is joint second favourite at 5-1 with Blue Flower.

Chatuchak has gone close in his last two and is understandably favourite at 22-10 for race four but slight preference is for Sark at 28-10.

Silver Coin, last in the Cape Derby, heads the market at 3-1 for the Play Soccer Handicap but he could be hard pressed to beat top weight Bobby Dazzler who might well have won at Durbanville last time had he got away on terms.

By Michael Clower

Last year’s Sun Met winner Whisky Baron will renew rivalry with the Mike de Kock-trained Noah From Goa in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta over 1 800m at Meydan on Saturday week after running so well in the Zabeel Mile last Thursday when he finished fourth to Janoobi with Noah From Goa third.

Noah From Goa (hamishNIVEN Photography)

Brett Crawford said yesterday: “I was over the moon with the way he ran and Colm O’Donghue was very excited with the horse. We knew he was going to need the run and I thought Janoobi was the horse to beat because he had been working exceptionally well.

“Whisky Baron has come out of the race great and the plan is next the Jebel Hatta and then, if all goes well in that, we could aim him at something on World Cup night.”

Corne Orffer, Crawford’s stable jockey in South Africa, is confident he will be fit for Kenilworth tomorrow after being taken ill on Saturday morning, being sick and suffering from diarrhoea.

He said yesterday: “I woke up 100% but I started feeling ill at work and I took myself to hospital where I was put on a drip to put back the electrodes. It was just a 24-hour bug – apparently it can take over within seconds – but I feel a lot better today and I will be fine for Tuesday.”

The very much in-form Richard Fourie will be out of action for seven days from Wednesday after being given a week’s interference suspension for his riding of runner-up Ladysmith at Kenilworth on 17 February.

By Michael Clower

Top jockey Piere Strydom regards his Grade 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas mount Surcharge as a “special” horse, but is concerned about his wide draw.

The classy Gimmethegreenlight colt has a strong finish and has won the Listed Secretariat Stakes and the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes, both over the Turffontein Standside track, in impressive fashion in his last two starts.

Strydom said, “The way he runs he will be better over a mile.”

However, he lamented landing a draw of 14 out of 16.

Piere Strydom

He said, “He does not have a lot of speed and doesn’t jump too well. If he is slowly away, where is he going to be from that draw? He will either be caught wide or have to give them ten lengths start in the straight. It takes a special horse to do that. So the draw is not going to help.”

However, Strydom reiterated that he is indeed a special horse and added, “At the moment he is lacking gatespeed, but is still winning. He has a such a long, big stride. He is just talented and is only starting to know what he’s doing now, so has a lot of scope.”

If Surcharge is able to make up the ground, he will not be hitting the front too soon, because Strydom said the good looking bay’s acceleration was “gradual” rather than instantaneous.

He mentioned the Investec Dingaans winner Monks Hood among the opposition.

He said, “He has a fair draw and the jockey (Anthony Delpech) will be able to place him.” The Alistair Gordon-trained KZN raider had a tricky draw of nine out of 16 bin the Dingaans, but found a good position near the back. However, he only saw daylight in front of him throughout the 700m of the straight so did well to win. He also looks to be a special horse and might be handier this time from a draw of seven.

Strydom was most disappointed about the scratching of his original mount for the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, the unbeaten Dean Kannemeyer-trained Hashtagyolo, although it was obviously the right decision as he confirmed the virus she had contracted had made her ill.

However, he has landed another ride, on the Sean Tarry-trained Aurelia Cotta. She is midway down the betting board at 14/1 with Betting World.

This Ashaawes filly is undoubtedly one of the dark horses of the race. The champion yard have endured a largely frustrating season, finding themselves in second place on the national log having been dominant throughout the 2016/2017 term. However, they have at last hit form and Tarry clinched a four-timer on Saturday and ran one-two-three in the highest class race of the day, a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1160m.

Surcharge (JCPhotographics)

In her last start in the US$500,000 CTS Mile, Aurelia Cotta was too far back from a wide draw of 15 out of 16 on fast ground. However, her Turffontein Standside form makes good reading. On Sansui Summer Cup day she finished a three length second in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile to the Gauteng Fillies Guineas joint-favourite Folk Dance. She had the run of the race that day and ran on well. In her favour is that Folk Dance over raced a bit early in the Fillies Mile, but from a good draw of four was soon able to find cover. She has not raced since and is now drawn eleven out of 13, so Gavin Lerena might not have an easy task settling her. Aurelia Cotta on the other hand has drawn in the middle in eight and usually settles well. In her penultimate start she jumped from a wide draw of nine out of 11 in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m against the boys. She ran on well again for a far from disgraced 3,15 length fourth to the Gauteng Guineas favourite Majestic Mambo, from whom she received the weight for age allowance of 2,5kg.

Strydom rides the Gary Alexander-trained Kangaroo Jack in the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m. The five-year-old Querari gelding has won over the course and distance before. However, he has drawn wide on Saturday and Strydom said once again this would leave him with a tough task against top horses. In last year’s race Kangaroo Jack was drawn nine out of nine and Andrew Fortune took him to the front where he sat on the flank of the leader New Predator. He stayed on well but found no extra late in the yielding conditions and finished a 1,85 length fourth. This horse usually settles well and has an exceptional turn of foot, so will be interesting with more conservative tactics employed in a race where there should be a good pace.

By David Thiselton

Elusive Heart, the only horse ever to beat Snowdance, added another illustrious label to her name by leading throughout the Vasco Prix Du Cap at Kenilworth on Saturday – and Glen Kotzen is already eyeing rich pickings at Greyville.

He said: “The course there will suit her because she can turn it on so quickly. Also she has matured – she used to race quite light but she is now a super filly.”

Glen Kotzen

Richard Fourie added: “After she beat Snowdance I thought she might win the Fillies Guineas but Snowdance killed us that day. However my filly is now very good. We went a bit fast here – she was travelling too hard – but she kept going.”

Not only that but the 6-1 Elusive Fort filly won a bit snugly at the end to fill Hugo Hattingh and Peter de Beyer with KZN hope.

Rose In Bloom, the 11-10 favourite, did best of the rest but Robert Khathi had no excuses – ”The winner was gone at the top of the straight. Even if I had sat right behind her I wouldn’t have beaten her. She was the best horse on the day and she must be very good to have beaten Snowdance.”

Miss Katalin, the third of the three three-year-olds, was only a rapidly-dwindling neck further back and she would surely have been second but for throwing away a good two lengths at the start.

The Cape Town Prawn Festival attracted a huge crowd with marketing manager Jenna Adams and the rest of the Kenilworth team convinced it was easily the biggest and most successful yet. Critics often carp that such events do little to attract people to racing but the queues at the bookmakers – six deep at times – suggested otherwise.

Perovskia’s success in the Kepu Trading Jet Master Stakes made it a red-letter day for two of Cape Town racing’s unsung heroes, Harold Crawford and Lucien Africa. Both are quiet, self-effacing individuals and so are up against it in a game where it pays to blow your own trumpet.

Crawford, though, is a shrewd punter albeit usually on a modest scale and he said: “I felt very confident because Perovskia had a bit in hand when he beat Summer Sky last time.”

But he had only a neck to spare over Mambo Mime at the line and it might well have been even closer had not the runner-up carried half a kilo overweight. “It was a gutsy performance from a horse who has gone through hell but still pays his way,” said Dean Kannemeyer.

Corne Orffer

Dan Katz was understandably delighted at third-placed Mac De Lago’s return to form, saying: “If he hadn’t been slowly away he would have challenged the winner but at least this shows I am on the right path with him.”

Corne Orffer’s sudden virus attack had trainers rushing for last-minute replacements like buyers on Black Friday and few had more reason to be pleased with their choice than Brett Crawford’s assistant Barry Donnelly.

Keagan de Melo’s talents have been known to those in KZN racing for quite some time but he is something of an unknown quantity for many in Cape Town. Not any longer. The bold front-running tactics he employed on Looking At Stars in the Hi Fi Corp Maiden – and the stylish way he executed them – impressed almost everyone who witnessed them.

Vasco put a lot into the promotion of this day and so victory for the Piet Steyn-trained Man About Town in the Bryn Ressell colours in the SAB Maiden was popular far beyond the confines of those who backed Fourie’s mount down to odds-on. But make a note of the runner-up.

Magnificent Seven had several lengths to find when the winner set sail for home but the Horse Chestnut gelding stretched his head out, lengthened his stride and set about making up the leeway like a real racehorse. He was only a short head behind at the line.   His turn will come and, on this performance, that day won’t be far away.

By Michael Clower

Anthony Delpech continued on his relentless march for the National Jockey’s Championship and extended his lead to 35 at Greyville yesterday with another ride out of the top drawer on Savuti for Brett Crawford and Summerveld assistant Peter Muscutt in the Track & Ball Savera Handicap.

The race looked wide open but Delpech had his tactics down pat as he sent Savuti around his field to lead shortly after the start. He looked well on his way to victory with a furlong to run before Sean Veale produced Agencefrancepresse with a telling late run. For a stride or two it looked as if Doug Campbell’s charge had the measure of Savuti but Delpech extracted more from his mount and went to the line with something to spare.

Savuti (Candiese Marnewick)

With the Mayfair Speculator rides drying up, some of the ill-informed on social media were calling Anton Marcus’s ability into question. He may be a veteran of the saddle but he is far from washed-up as he showed on two mounts for a past master in the saddle, Garth Puller.

Marcus delivered a knock-out punch up the inside rail on Queensbury Rules in the card opener and then made al the running on luke-warm favourite Ryker two races later.

Second, albeit a distant one, behind Sir David Baird in the KZN Guineas Trial, Ryker had been disappointing in two subsequent sprints on the turf at Scottsville.

Back over a mile, Ryker took to the poly and led from the jump to win as he liked.

Marcus added a third to round off a sound afternoon at the office as he rode a typically powerful finish on favourite Victory Trip to give Dennis Bosch his second after the afternoon after saddling Wild Hushpuppy to an upset victory in the second under Gunther Wrogemann who is now a regular visitor to these shores.

The fifth resulted in a tremendous finish with nine runners finishing within a two lengths of each other. Delpech looked set for his second victory of the afternoon as he kept Destiny Duchess hard to her task only to have Gareth Wright sneak Argenteus through on the outside rail to snatch the decision in the last stride.

Not to be out-done, Delpech got another one on the board in another desperate finish to the seventh. Moon Bird, Mbali and Gadget Man fourth a three-way battle over the final furlong with Depech extracting just that little bit extra from Gadget Man to sneak home by a neck with a short-head separating Mbali and Moon Bird who was having his first run since July last year.

By Andrew Harrison