There is an eight race card at the Vaal Inside tomorrow and once again there are good horses turning out as they need runs before their respective feature race campaigns.

Gavin Lerena

The fifth is a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1000m for fillies and the topweight Wrecking Ball is weighted to win. She has to carry 61,5kg but is 3,5kg better off than any other horse on official merit ratings and has Gavin Lerena up over an ideal trip. Her high draw is unfavourable by trends but she can overcome it with her pace and class. Queen Laurie is held on form by Wrecking Ball and returns from a layoff, with her last race having been when setting the pace in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint. However, she has a plum draw of two by trends and considering her early pace could be a danger. Winter Watch didn’t beat much last time but did it comfortably and looks to have a bright future. She packs a strong finish and is the dark horse, despite officially being 4,5kg under sufferance with Wrecking Ball. Just Vogue ran a good race over course and distance in June when two lengths behind the speedy Effortless Reward and she should be staying on again from a tricky high draw. Daring Diva had good feature form as a two-year-old and can’t be ignored.  She has a high draw but could overcome it with her pace. She is 3,5kg under sufferance on official merit ratings with Wrecking Ball, but should have come on from her last outing. Those are the five which make most appeal, but on a tricky card Wrecking Ball will have to be a banker consideration with Queen Laurie the back up.

The following race is a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1000m. The Thinker is officially 5kg under sufferance with the  best weighted horse but he proved in his last race, when winning a Pinnacle event over 1000m at Turffontein from a tough draw, that he is under rated. He is a solid sort who packs a strong finish and could develop into a top sprinter this season. He beat the admirable former champion sprinter Talktothestars by 0,55 lengths last time and the latter is now 1,5kg better off so should go close. Fillies are favourably weighted in Pinnacle events and Green Pepper is duly the best in. However, she returns from a layoff, having run two slightly below par runs in April and May, and the classy Exquisite Touch, who is ideally distance suited, is chosen to be the first female home. Green Pepper is tough to ignore though as she had looked pretty special before those two below par efforts and could have benefitted from the layoff. Isphan can’t be ignored either as he is 1,5kg better off with The Thinker for a 0,3 length beating and has become consistent down the straight over this trip. Champagne Haze is also capable of popping up as one with speed and class and he did well the last time he ran over course and distance.

In the second leg of the Pick 6, a MR 80 Handicap over 1400m, Sir David Baird has been chosen as a banker, although by no means a confident one as this race is packed with promising three-year-olds and some toughened older handicappers. Sir David Baird is an impressive specimen by Dynasty and was done no favours last time by the jockey, who looked behind him a couple of times in the final stages and was possibly caught napping. The horse should have come on from the run and is likely to be using that big stride to finish strongly. He has a tough high draw by trends but Delpech is up and will help him overcome it. Surcharge quickened impressively last time over this trip when up in the vanguard throughout and did it in probably unfavourable going which made it an even more meritorious win. He now has a plum draw and Strydom is up, but on the downside he has to give Sir David Baird 2,5kg. O Lucky Man won a moderate maiden easily over this trip last time and getting 3kg from Sir David Baird could make his presence felt. Bold Coast makes most appeal of the older horses as an improving sort who is distance suited. Keanan’s Rock has class but hasn’t run since May and Blackball also has class but has a tough merit rating to contend with.

In the first leg of the PA the rangy Visigoth should be enough to get punters through, although there won’t be much between him and another rangy sort in Finding Troy.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a tricky staying event and Scotland, Samar and Sabastian make most appeal but exotic punters would be advised to go as wide as possible.

In the seventh race Takingthepeace looks to have class but it is never easy for a young horse to carry topweight in a handicap, so others should be considered. Timetoperfection and Prosperity make most appeal of the rest.

In the last race Emerald Bay has caught the eye before and is ideally suited to this 1800m trip. However, she has a tough draw so it is another tricky race. The improving Musette and the attractively handicapped Hatfield Square make most appeal of the rest.

By David Thiselton

The new Durbanville surface has stood up to use so well that the country course’s season has been extended by a week to give Kenilworth some much-needed extra time to recover.

Duty manager Teresa Esplin said: “Following an inspection of Kenilworth a decision has been made to continue racing at Durbanville for an additional two meetings (21 and 25 October). Racing will resume at Kenilworth on 28 October.”

Kenilworth Racecourse

The 21 October meeting includes the 2 400m Woolavington Handicap in which last year’s runner-up Francia will bid to go one better.

The 28 October restart features two of the most important Guineas preliminaries. The Choice Carriers, formerly Odessa and now renamed the Western Cape Fillies Championship, has been won by the subsequent Cape Fillies Guineas winner four times in the last seven seasons.

The unbeaten Magical Wonderland looks like having a reasonable draw (nine) whereas the two set to give her weight have drawn wide. The Dennis Drier-trained Thekwini winner Lady In Black is 25 out of 30 and Sean Tarry’s Golden Slipper scorer Desert Rhythm is drawn 20.

Joey Ramsden, who has won three of the last four runnings of the Cape Classic, accounts for six of the 34 entries for the 1 400m Grade 3 including Ancestry (drawn ten), a close second in both the Golden Horseshoe and the Premiers Champion. Sean Tarry has also nominated six horses but Glen Kotzen’s Premiers Champion winner Eyes Wide Open has drawn badly at 33.

Anthony Delpech makes a rare visit to Durbanville on Wednesday when the reigning champion has five rides for Dean Kannemeyer including Last Winter, the stable’s main hope for big race glory this season.

The Cape Town stipes are to make more use of the seldom-employed Rule 62.2.7 in a bid to improve the pace at which races are run, particularly those at Kenilworth.

The Rule does not mention anything about pace but states: “The rider shall ensure that he does not cause interference, bunching, intimidation and/or constitute a source of interference or danger.”

Durbanville Racecourse

However Brandon May received a caution under it after slowing early on, riding fourth-placed Libra in a mile handicap at Durbanville on the day of the Matchem.

Senior stipe Ernie Rodrigues said: “Brandon had gone to the front but he wanted cover so he slowed the pace and that caused those behind to bunch up and lose position.

“We don’t want the Cape crawl and so the Rule will be used more in future. We do talk to jockeys about it but the Rule is difficult to prove and the video evidence has to show it.”

The false pace at which many races at Kenilworth are run makes life difficult for punters because the form does not stand up as a result, most noticeably in maidens.

On the other hand coping with the prevailing South-Easter plays an important part in deciding riding tactics. No jockey wants to be riding into the teeth of a strong wind without getting cover from other horses. As a result nobody wants to make the running – whatever the Rules say.

By Michael Clower

Given all the rain midweek that interrupted training regimes and the lowly handicaps on offer it was always going to be rough going for punters at Greyville yesterday and so it proved.

Winners were difficult to find but Parade’s End looked to be the best proposition on the card and so that proved. Second in two competitive maidens before yesterday, Parade’s End made short work of her opposition, leading all the way under stable rider Gareth Wright.

“I let her do her own thing and use her action,” he explained. “She got to the front easily and from there on it was easy.”

Brandon Lerena

For the balance of the card’s favourites it was not so easy. Sharp Seattle was given a good chance by Gavin van Zyl but veteran Burra Boy (8-1) brought his A-game to the poly and won with daylight to spare at the start of the Pick 6. Blake and Cathy Richards have had a lot of fun with some relatively cheap buys and with Mark Dixon at the helm they have had good success.

This was Burra Boy’s third win from 35 outings but had finished in the money on 14 occasions – 15 after yesterday – so has more than paid his way with earnings of over R270k.

Just when it looked as if Sharp Seattle would run him out of it, Brandon Lerena changed gear and Burra Boy pulled clear to win going away.

Home-bred by Gold Circle director Babu Nunan, Burfi (19-1) has been consistent without setting the track alight but his mare put her best foot forward to land the Track & Ball Gaming handicap. She kept digging down to hold the luckless favourite Zinzara with Online staying on for the shallow end of the purse.

Kom Naidoo pulled off a quick double in the sixth as Serino Moodley kept pumping away relentlessly on Northern Storm (16-1) to eventually ware down leader Zadora who has improved since being raced in a tongue-tie.

Charles Laird has been a little quiet in recent months but the veteran is starting to step them out and was rewarded with Dance On Air (5-1) under Keagan de Melo getting the better of recent winner Mr Roy and Mumsy’s Jet after stable companion Monte Christo set a searching early pace.

Starting for home too early on the poly track very often results in an empty tank come the final 50m – not always but more often than one would expect on a quick surface and so it proved in the card opener. De Melo pinched what looked to be a winning lead at the top of the straight as he sent Green Fairy for home early, but was run down on the line by the consistent Coral Queen.

“Warren (Kennedy) said we should try her over 2000m,” surmised Gavin van Zyl. “He’s stable jockey so it helps to listen to them.”

Kennedy confirmed. “Keagan (de Melo) skipped but his horse came back at me and my horse stayed to the line.”

A percentage of the Pick 6 won and the PA paying close to R1 000 told of a difficult day for backers.

By Andrew Harrison

Parade’s End, runner-up in two competitive maidens, can come to punter’s aid on a tricky 10-race card at Greyville on Sunday.

The mini cyclone that hit Durban last Tuesday has had little effect on the Greyville poly track and while the surrounds, notably Royal Durban Golf Course still resembled a lake come Wednesday morning, Greyville course manager Kurt Grunewald was unfazed.

“We could have raced today,” he said Wednesday morning. “The track has drained perfectly and areas where we sometimes experienced problems (with drainage) were dry.”

Monte Christo

Parade’s End makes her poly debut in the SA Racing App Maiden Plate but Andre Nel’s runner has given notice that she has a future after two smart efforts behind filly’s that have franked that form. Parade’s end has not been out since July but unless there is a ‘springer’ among the first timers, she does look good enough to break her duck.

Three others that could make up the quartet are Kateecador, Diamonds Forever and Flo Joyner.

Kateecador also returns from a break but Gavin van Zyl’s runner has not been out of the money in three starts, two in the soft, and should be well suited to the poly.

Diamonds Forever has a tricky outside draw to contend with but is in good form and Flo Joyner has run into two strongly fancied runners at recent outings and must come into the picture.

Corrine Bestel operates a small string out of Summerveld and she looks to have a decent prospect in Luneburg in the opening leg of the PA. The well-bred daughter of Var caught the eye on debut in spite of reportedly found coughing post-race. She takes on males but is sure to have come on from that effort and have the better of the year older Delectable Desire and the gelding Vision Of Trust.

The card is headed by a difficult handicap where a number are in with chances. Monte Christo is struggling for another win but came within a piece of paper of beating Mr Roy when the two clashed last Sunday.

Monte Christo is better off at the weights here but they both may have to play second fiddle to Mumsy’s Jet. Alyson Wright’s veteran has been in cracking form on the poly and although he takes on slightly stronger here the takes a corresponding drop in the weights that should see him competitive again. Last Tiger, narrowly beaten by stable companion Mr O’Neill in a fast-run race last time out, is back over what looks to be his optimum trip and is another to consider.

Online is back over best course and distance and could add a second win to her CV in the Track & Ball Gaming handicap. It has been over a year since her maiden win but she has been taking on stronger at recent outings and can go all the way from a good draw.

Fair Antonia, a winner at second time of asking, could be a threat although she does have it all to do under joint top weight.

A modest field of maidens line up in the Durban View Restaurant Handicap but recent maiden winner Pomona had good form leading up to that win and can follow up. She comes from a stable that is finding form. However, an upset is a distinct possibility and the likes of Lavender Bank and Lobelia will start at lengthy odds while Royal has been consistent of late and goes well on the poly.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is another wide-open affair but Sharp Seattle was up against stronger last run and didn’t finish far off. He has stronger help from the saddle this time around and can get the better of Roy’s Donkey while Dale House has a chance of giving apprentice Dylan Lerena his second win as the gelding improved in blinkers last run and has a chance with a 4 kg claimer up.

By Andrew Harrison

Turffontein Inside track stages a ten event meeting tomorrow and some decent horses are being stepped out with some big Highveld Spring features fast approaching.

The celebrated triple crown winner Abashiri makes his long awaited reappearance in a Pinnacle Plate over 1600m. His tough three-year-old season took its toll and his three runs as a four-year-old were all below par. However, he returns from a nine month layoff, which he should have benefited from, and if running close to his ability has a chance. However, he is likely to need the run and others are preferred.

Liege

Shukamisa has already had two runs this season so will be fit and faces a field who are mostly returning from layoffs. He was staying on over this trip in his penultimate start and is drawn in three with the added bonus of Anthony Delpech aboard. Being a four-year-old by Silvano he should now be coming into his own. He is not badly off at the weights, being only 3,5kg under sufferance with the officially best weighted Abashiri. Master Switch won his reappearance last year over 1800m following a similar layoff to this one. His only bad races have been at Greyville and from draw two running fresh over a trip a touch too sharp he should go close. He is only 1,5kg under sufferance with Abashiri on official merit ratings.

Brazuca won his reappearance over 1400m in November last year and won over this course and distance in February, so has a fine chance here being the second best in at the weights on official merit ratings. Romi’s Boy has fine form over sprints where he has shown a lot of pace in the past before staying on. He was staying on well over 1200m last time at this course when held up and as a long-striding sort by Querari out of a Montjeu mare who won over a mile he is very interesting here from pole position. Furthermore, he is a half-brother to a Jay Peg horse who has won over 1800m. The Sean Tarry pair Liege and Samurai Blade both have the ability to win but are returning from layoffs.

Liege has his second run after gelding and is preferred. Banner Hill does well over staying trips but won well over 1800m at Greyville in a preparation run earlier this year so could surprise here.  Irish Pride has plenty of ability and is distance suited and should have come on from his last run, so can’t be ignored. Bezanova’s second run after a year long layoff comes a week after his poor comeback, so he can’t be fancied despite the suitable distance. The selection is Shukamisa to beat Master Switch, with Brazuca, Romi’s Boy and Liege next best.

Samurai Blade

Earlier, in an MR 90 handicap over 2000m, the horse who beat Shukamisa last time, Kilrain, could follow up for, despite being raised four points, he is likely looking for this trip now. Topweight Bankable Teddy won well over course and distance last time, but now has a wide draw and a four point higher merit rating to contend with. Therefore the main danger could be Top Shot, who stayed on in his penultimate start over this course and distance. However, it is a tricky race and going wide might be the best way to tackle it.

In the next race, a Progress Plate over 1450m for three-year-olds, Warrior’s Rest could be the one to beat. This big horse likes to lead and he then stays on strongly, so the course and distance should suit, especially running fresh as he would ideally prefer a mile. His wide draw is a concern as he will have to be made some use of. Flying Free impressed in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m when being hampered at a crucial stage at the top of the straight but recovering to run on for a close fourth. He ran a fine race carrying 62,5kg in his reappearance over 1200m and should go close.

The seventh is also a Progress Plate over 1450m, but is for three-year-old fillies. Silver Thursday has had the benefit of a run this season, where she stayed on well over this course and distance and she has a good draw with Delpech up. Let It Flow ran a fine race in the Grade 2 Golden Slipper over 1400m and has the ability to be involved in her seasonal reappearance here.  Aurelia Cotta, Only To Win and Dame Kelly are all capable of winning, although the latter is the preference of the trio, being drawn well and having romped home in her seasonal reappearance over 1600m.

The last leg of the Pick 6, a fillies and mares handicap over 1200m is the trickiest race on the card. However, the well-bred Best Kept Secret should have come on from her last run and from a good draw could keep going this time.

By David Thiselton

Mike Robinson with a string of just 27 at Phillippi training centre in Cape Town has started the season well and has high hopes for his Royal Air Force mare Goodtime Gal, who won the Grade 3 WSB weight for age Diana Stakes over 1400m at Durbanville on Saturday by a comfortable 2,25 lengths under Anton Marcus.

One characteristic of the mare, which gives Robinson confidence of further progression this season, is that she takes more after her damsire Silvano than her sire Royal Air Force.

Goodtime Gal (Liesl King)

He said, “The Royal Air Force’s tend to be tall and lanky. She is not typical of them, she is not big, but, like the Silvano’s, there is a lot of her.”

It has become well established that Silvano’s progeny get better and better with age, so his influence could see Goodtime Gal doing even better as a five-year-old than she did last season.

In fact, last season she finished second in the Diana Stakes to Captain’s Flame and reversed that form on Saturday by over four lengths.

Her two victories last term included the Grade 3 Victress Stakes over 1800m in December, where she beat Nightingale by 0,75 lengths at level weights. She showed in that race she has another trait passed on by Silvano, courage.

In her next start in the Grade 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes over the same Kenilworth 1800m course and distance she faded late to finish a 3,65 length eighth.

However, she bounced back in the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes and looked the winner until scythed down late by the fast finishing pair, Nightingale and Star Express.

Significantly, Goodtime Gal was drawn in pole in both the Victress and the Diana and in barrier position three in the Majorca, whilst she had a wide draw of eleven out of 12 in the Paddock. She is a handy type who has an excellent turn of foot and found cover in all of the Victress, Majorca and Diana, but was caught one wide in the Paddock. This suggests she might take too strong a hold without cover.

She will be worth following this season.

Robinson had 20 winners last season at a strike rate of 11,63% and is on track to bettering that this season with six winners already at a strike rate of 13,95%.

He is glad to be at Phillippi due to what he described as “good facilities”, including “very good tracks and nice, big, wide open spaces where horses can roll, it’s a great environment to train in and it also nice being close to Kenilworth.”

Robinson was full of praise for the newly re-laid Durbanville surface and said that whilst the going was firm due to the current record-breaking drought it was, importantly, level.

“It is when you have firm ground coupled with divots where problems happen,” he said.

At Phillippi the tracks are watered through the natural underground water reserves and up to now there has been a normal supply of municipal water for the horses’ drinking requirements.

Goodtime Gal has been raised from a 99 to a 101 merit rating by the handicappers, which Robinson will be relieved about. The runner up was the 106 merit rated Gimme Six, so the handicappers could have taken a harsher view, but off a 101 Robinson will have more options open to him.

By David Thiselton

Whisky Baron is injured and the Sun Met winner misses his planned Hong Kong preliminary in the Godolphin Stud And Stable Staff Awards Challenge Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow.

The setback is a bitter blow to owners Craig and Ross Kieswetter as well as to Brett Crawford and Greg Cheyne who had both flown to England for the seven furlong Group 2.

Barry Donnelly, Crawford’s assistant, said yesterday: “Whisky Baron cantered on Monday and was to gallop the following day but he hurt his hind fetlock and Brett had to pull him out of the race.

Whisky Baron (Liesl King)

“The vets were at the stables to see him this morning. I’m not sure how serious an injury it is, or what is the long-term prognosis, but obviously it is a bit of a downer.”

Anton Marcus has been suspended for a week (October 9-15) for failing to do enough to prevent interference to Gold Standard on his inner when finishing second on Table Bay in last Saturday’s Matchem.

Our Mate Art, who won the race and goes for the Green Point, has been raised 5kg to a new rating of 103, 12 points below Gold Standard who was conceding 2kg. The handicappers have upped Diana winner Goodtime Gal by a kilo to 101.

South African Fillies Sprint third The Secret Is Out suffered an epistaxis (burst blood vessel) when justifying 13-10 favouritism on her reappearance in the Supabets Conditions Plate at Durbanville yesterday. She did the same thing on her second start last season when she was suspended for 60 days. But this time she has been barred from racing for a whopping 180 days as the relevant rule triples the penalty if the second bleed takes place within a year of the first one.

Vaughan Marshall said: “I don’t know what causes her to do this. She didn’t do it at home or when she had a gallop.”

He added: “Giving them a compulsory suspension is stupid” and pointed out that this does not happen in North America. Indeed it doesn’t in Europe either.

The Milnerton trainer confirmed that fellow Grade 1 winner Always In Charge is fine after his Matchem run despite finishing eighth of nine. The four-year-old was giving weight all round and missed the break.

Glen Kotzen reported that Final Judgement is similarly OK after finishing last in the Diana when the stipes ordered a veterinary examination, which revealed nothing amiss.

Kotzen said: “She needed the run, stumbled coming out of the pens and was then caught wide.”

Stable companion Eyes Wide Open, who managed only seventh on his reappearance in the WSB Progress Plate, still pleased the Woodhill trainer who said: “He hadn’t seen grass this season and he had a nice gallop as a prep for the Cape Classic.”

Finally Mike Stewart is not much the worse for being bitten on the hand by Icon King when he was tightening the surcingle after saddling the gelding for the Matchem.  He still bears a nasty tooth mark and, as you might imagine, it’s painful.

By Michael Clower

In spite of the torrential downpour experienced over Durban on Tuesday, the Greyville poly track was un-affected by the 122mm of rain as coastal residents mopped up and serveyed the damage under cloudless skies yesterday.

“We could have raced today,” said track manager Kurt Grunewald. “The track has drained perfectly and areas where we sometimes experienced problems (with drainage) were dry. No, everything is fine for Sunday.” No rain is forecast for the interim.

The turf track was also flooded but the next turf meeting is only scheduled for Sunday, October 22. “Provided that we don’t get any more rain like yesterday, the track should be in great shape,” added Grunewald.

By Andrew Harrison