New Predator did not have much luck during Champions Season although he did turn in some smart performances including a close-up fourth in the Drill Hall Stakes behind Marinaresco and third in the Mercury Sprint to Bull Valley.

He has not been out since early July and no doubt Johan Janse van Vuuren will be warming him up for the Highveld spring when he makes his debut this term in the Gr3 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m at Turffontein tomorrow where the Spring Challenge and Spring F&M Challenge herald the start of the Highveld season.

New Predator

New Predator is back over what is arguably his best trip and is no doubt warming up for bigger things but so are most of the opposition with only Will Pays and Finchtatton of the nine runners having raced recently.

With the spring rains having finally arrived on the Highveld – the Vaal was abandoned on Thursday – the going is more than likely going to be on the soft side but two of New Predator’s best recent efforts have come in the soft with a win followed by a close-up second in the Hawaii Stakes to Rafeef. Regular pilot Gavin Lerena stays aboard.

Runners from the Sean Tarry yard are at their most dangerous come feature race days and he saddles a trio of which Matador Man could prove the pick. S’Manga Khumalo’s mount is usually a tardy starter that often costs him dearly but he is top class when he puts it together.

He rounded off last season with third behind Sail South in the Gr1 Champions Cup over 1800m but the majority of his racing has been over shorter. He turned in a cracking performance in the KZN Breeders beating the smart filly Dawn Calling and a repeat of that showing will see him in the firing line.

The three-year-olds Wonder Wall and Mujallad look lively prospects for the Highveld classics and just how they go here will be watched with keen interest. Wonderwall has not been out since finishing third behind Mustaaqeem in the SA Nursery but has yet to finish out of the money in four outings. He looks mighty promising as does Mike de Kock’s runner Mujallad.

Will Pays

He has not been out since July when a close-up eighth behind Eyes Wide Open in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes after threatening until the final 100m. Although not well in at the weights he does only have 51kg to shoulder so he cannot be written off lightly.

Janse van Vuuren and Lerena have a chance of a feature double with She’s A giver in the F&M Challenge. The grey only had a single outing during Champions Season where she found fellow grey Bela-Bela too strong in the Gr1 Garden Province.

But it will not be easy tomorrow. Secret Star is in cracking good form for Stuart Pettigrew, a filly that Piere Strydom knows well having ridden her in all but one of her recent starts. She does step up in trip tomorrow but finishes her races off well so the extra furlong and a tricky draw are unlikely to be a factor.

Shatoosh and She’s A Dragon look pick of the older runners while Rockin Russian was up with the best of last season’s juvenile crop and how she fares here could give some indication as to where they stand in the current pecking order.

By Andrew Harrison

She bloomed in technicolour at Chantilly and John Gosden believes racing would be the winner if Enable gets the chance to wow racegoers all over again in 2018.

A decision on whether the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine will return to training at four is expected to be made by owner Khalid Abdullah within the next ten days.

But Enable would be welcomed back with open arms by Gosden, who would love to help write another chapter in the story of the wonderfilly, which began in earnest with her racecourse debut just ten months ago.

Enable (Liesl King)

The trainer was at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale on Tuesday trying to find stars of the future to add to the superstar he has at home in Enable, who on Sunday made it five Group 1 wins in a row with her sublime performance at Chantilly.

Boasting a CV bulging with big-race wins, the daughter of Nathaniel will be a hot commodity when she does make it to the breeding sheds, but when exactly that will happen is still open to discussion.

“She’s done everything we could have dreamed of,” Gosden said. “We’ll see how she is over the next ten days and talk to Prince Khalid, who will make a decision.

“She’s only really had ten months of racing and it would be wonderful if she could run next season as she would be bit of a crowd-puller.”

Gosden watched the race in splendid isolation from what was already his favourite grandstand at Chantilly and, reflecting on the afternoon, he said: “It was very moving. There was an awful lot of pressure and a lot was expected.”

That pressure melted away as Dettori helped deliver the seventh victory of Enable’s eight-race career and the trainer now has the pleasant problem of whether she, like 2015 Arc winner Golden Horn, will have a statue on the lawn at the yard to commemorate her achievement.

He added: “She’s a very kind filly with a lovely, sweet nature, but when she gets her tack on she’s very assertive. She was expressing herself and it was great for her and for Prince Khalid.”

Having been visited on Monday by big-race partner Frankie Dettori, Enable has settled back into life at Clarehaven Stables in Newmarket, and Gosden said: “She’s in great form. She got back in very good order and had a trot and pick of grass this morning. She’s got a little cut on a hind leg from the race but is fine.”

Gosden secured several lots for Godolphin at the sales on Tuesday, with Sheikh Mohammed’s operation ending their self-imposed ban on purchasing progeny from fellow superpower Coolmore earlier in the sales season.

That pattern continued with Godolphin purchasing another son of Galileo and, commenting on the thawing of relations between the two giants of the sport, Gosden said: “The past is the past.”

– racingpost.com

The Racing Association has announced the South African Jockeys team for this year’s Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge on Sunday, November 19, and a change in the format of the contest.

The honour of captaining the team goes to reigning champion jockey Anthony Delpech, who will lead Gavin Lerena, Greg Cheyne, Anton Marcus, S’manga Khumalo and Craig Zackey.

Anthony Delpech

Unlike the last few years, this time the Challenge will comprise just the one meeting but will take place over six races, rather than four as has been the case previously. “Gavin Lerena came up with the suggestion that instead of spending the weekend running around the country, we have just one meeting but up the number of races,” explained Racing Association Chief Executive Larry Wainstein.

At this stage the international team has not yet been finalised but discussions are well on their way with UK Champion jockey Jim Crowley, Frenchman Gérald Mossé, Irishman Pat Smullen and Australian Corey Brown.

“A lot will depend on whether they will be riding at the Breeders’ Cup meeting in the US. Once we know what is happening with them we will be able to finalise the arrangements and the team,” said Wainstein.

The international team will gather in Mauritius from the Monday prior to the event and will then be flown to Jo’burg on Thursday 16 November by Air Mauritius. The next day they will be available for interviews for both print and television media. The jockeys will have a day off on Saturday when they can relax and acclimatise and on Sunday they will be fired up to do battle.

– Turf Talk

Whisky Baron will run in the Challenge Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket on Friday week and, if all goes well in that, the Sun Met winner will go in pursuit of the huge money on offer at the Longines International meeting at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on 10 December.

Brett Crawford said yesterday: “The nominations for Hong Kong close on the 23rd of this month. We will nominate Whisky Baron and see what happens but as of now it is more about making sure that he is ready for the race.”

Whisky Baron gallop – Liesl King

The two possible races at Sha Tin are the 2 000m Longines Hong Kong Cup worth HK$ 25 million (R43 million) and the Hong Kong Mile which is almost as valuable.

Crawford continued: “Greg Cheyne flies over again for the Challenge Stakes. We very happy with the horse’s run in the Shadwell Joel Stakes. The ground was very soft [by South African standards] which was unfortunate but he was still the last horse to come off the bit and then he got squeezed.”

Cheyne added: “Being beaten 14 lengths might not sound too good but anyone watching the race would have seen it was a fine run. The track was against him and 500m out, which is where things start to happen at Newmarket, he took me into the race.

“Just under a furlong out the pacemaker rolled on top of me. My horse then got a second bump. He was leg-weary by this stage and it took him clean out of the race. He would never have beaten the winner who is something special– when I was still travelling well he quickened away from me – but all things being equal he could have run fourth.”

Gold Challenge winner Captain America, who started last season by winning the Matchem, will begin much later this term. “He will have his first run in the Green Point unless I can find a suitable prep beforehand,” said Crawford.

The popular Jockeys Chase will have a new look on Saturday with the participants paired off into teams of two, each member running 100m before handing over a baton to his partner for the second 100m. The jockeys make no secret about the new formula being introduced to thwart Aldo Domeyer who has been a runaway winner in each of the last four years. The weighing room’s answer to Usain Bolt has been paired with Corne Orffer who admits to being one of the slowest things on two legs.

Organiser MJ Byleveld said: “We thought it would be more fun if we turned the Chase it into a handicap and so we have teamed up the fastest jockeys with the slowest – Aldo is not happy!”

By Michael Clower

The Australian-bred Hard Ball is long overdue a victory and that could change at the Vaal tomorrow when he lines up in the card opener over 1400m. Johan Janse van Vuuren’s gelding has finished runner-up at his last two and blinkers do appear to have improved his focus, having only been run out of it late in those races. Gavin Lerena has stuck with the ride he can get punters off to a winning start.

Gavin Lerena

However, after giving many of his runners a break at the end of last season, Sean Tarry is starting to roll them out again and if Hard Ball runs into a straight bat it could be in the form of the Tarry-trained Cyrus. He raced green in his debut sprint and will surely prefer this trip with Lyle Hewitson booked for the ride.

Hewitson partners the Mike and Adam Azzie runner Vanuatu in the second who will hopefully make marked improvement on his disappointing second start. He was a promising second on debut but pulled up lame when down the field behind Boatswain. The Azzie’s will fit blinkers and a tongue-tie tomorrow which will hopefully see him run an improved race. Also behind Boatswain was Sweet Trail who is definitely better than that last effort after a close-up second at his penultimate start. Lerena rides for the third time which is always a good sign.

Candice Dawson is fast making a name for herself in her own right as a trainer and saddles Western Shamrock in the opening leg of the Pick 6. The daughter of Philanthropist was well fancied on debut but was possibly just short of a run, fading late behind Sweet Juliet. She is sure to improve on that run and most of the opposition are well exposed.

Although taking a big rise in trip, Mutawaary is likely to start among the fancied runners for the Supabets Maiden. Mike de Kock kept the Aussie bred to sprints where he showed signs of getting off the mark before a well below par effort in a handicap sprint last time out. His pedigree suggests that the step up in trip will be well within his compass.

The Azzie’s send out fellow Australian-bred Sess who disappointed badly when favourite last time out after a smart showing at his previous start. It was obviously a performance well below what was expected and he does have the benefit of having been tried over ground.

The Interbet.co.za Handicap heads the card and it looks a bit of an open affair. Banner Hill, who acquitted himself well during Champions Season, has his first outing for Geoff Woodruff, no doubt in preparation for the Highveld spring season where there are some lucrative opportunities for staying horses. He has a big weight but could race fresh over this trip and Piere Strydom will get the best out of him.

Kilrain has come back well since a break and starting for his new stable, winning well over the Turffontein 1600m. With fitness on his side he could prove the better option as opposed to Banner Hill.

Stonehenge and Bankable Teddy met last time out with Bankable Teddy coming out on top. He is now 2kg worse off with the runner-up so there is not likely to be much between the two.

By Andrew Harrison

Accomplished horseman Tobie Spies has been appointed stud manager at Ernst Du Preez’s up-and-coming Favour Stud near Stilbaai, Western Cape.

Spies’s appointment follows the departure of Renate and Jannie du Plessis, who have moved to Australia. Du Preez’s 350-hectare farm has 100 stables and presently houses 35 mares and 20-something yearlings born and raised at the farm. Spies said: “Three weeks ago Corne (Spies, son), walked into my office at the Vaal and said, “Dad, how do you feel about going to Stilbaai?” I was taken aback, it was going to be a serious career move, but here I am. My wife and I have moved into the house on the Favour Stud premises and we’re still wide-eyed, but I’m up for the challenge, this is a nice opportunity for us.”

Corne Spies (Supplied)

A former leading Grade 1-winning trainer himself (Yardmaster, Fast Gun, Petros, Mysterious Hal, etc.), Tobie mainly managed Corne’s Vaal stables for the last 10 years while Spies Jr was travelling the country raiding everywhere from Kimberley to Port Elizabeth and even doing a spell in Zimbabwe.

The new arrangement has seen Corne return to his permanent base at the Vaal with former stable jockey Francois Naude joining as stable employee and assistant. There are 60 horses stabled at the Vaal yard and a further 30 in Port Elizabeth. Tobie Spies says: “I will miss racing in Gauteng and elsewhere, I’ve always enjoyed preparing and saddling our runners for races, but I also loved my time as yearling inspector for TBA, working with John Kramer. We travelled around the country several times to rate the yearlings at stud farms. I got to know most of the breeders well and I also know the beautiful areas from Franschoek to Robertson and Ceres, I will be travelling to these areas again with mares from Favour Stud to be covered by a number of stallions.

“Ironically, Kramer is due to visit Favour Stud for sales inspections on 19 October and Tobie says: “Getting the yearlings walking properly and looking the part is our first big challenge. They’re running around here, rough and tough, and we have to get them in shape for inspector Kramer. With just two weeks to go we face a task of proportions!”

Renate du Plessis recently told Sporting Post: “I think I could handle a train running into me now – that would be nothing compared to breeding season!” but Ernst du Preez believes there is nobody more qualified for the position.

“Tobie is a top class horseman. He and his family have been instrumental in our success and enjoyment of racing. Corne’s professionalism and great attitude brought us to Tobie, we are very happy to have him working for us in this important role.” Du Preez added: “It is our mission at Favour Stud to compete at the highest level. We aim to breed top racehorses and we’ve invested over the years in the best mares we could find, like Gr1 performers Limerick (dam of Noah From Goa), Zaitoon, Far De Vie and Supreme Deal. “We have shares in top new stallions including What A Winter, Querari, Quasillo, also Elusive Fort so we have fixed visits booked. We’ll be looking for more high quality mares, they’re not easy to find but we’re in the market, we’ll get them.”

— turf talk

Durbanville Wednesday Tips and Race Previews by Warren Lenferna

Race 1
Preview: GOA (7) is coming along the right way and from an okay draw looks ready to go close. OSTINATO (5) keeps running second but should be able to go one better and get it right soon. Big runner as always. DEAR MONIETTE (3) tries a touch further and should be able to get much closer now. (Warren Lenferna 7-5-3)

Race 2
Preview: SECOND NATURE (4) ran on well to win last time and is in good form. She can follow up. TIFFINDELL (5) returns from a short rest but was in good form before that. If she were to win it would be no shock at all. NORTHERN BALLET (1) might have a tough task at the weights but nevertheless, still has a bright chance. (Warren Lenferna 4-5-1)

Race 3
Preview: MAGIC SAILOR (1) was out run in the shadow of the post last time and tried all the way up the lane. He finished second behind Valbonne whom was making his debut and this afternoon Magic Sailor looks very hard to beat under M J Byleveld. SEVENTH RULE (2) is the exacta choice and LA MER (3) could help boost the quartet dividend. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-3)

Race 4
Preview: HUNDREDS (9) caught the eye on debut when running on well and now with that run under the belt looks very hard to beat here. GREENSTREETTRACTOR (3) went close to winning last time and has a huge chance. COYS (2) the KZN runner from the Paul Lafferty stable has shown ability in KZN and today with the help of blinkers should go close but they will all have to run to beat Hundreds! (Warren Lenferna 9-3-2)

Race 5
Preview: BLUE DOOR (4) ran a good race last time finishing second when putting in a late effort. He can go one better. JUDDERING ANGEL (5) is much better than his last run shows and can bounce back to best. WOODLAND’S FOREST (3) will have a chance if reproducing his penultimate run – definite quartet inclusion. (Warren Lenferna 4-5-3)

Race 6
Preview: STATE BALLET (4) normally races from the front and might hold on to win. Her form is consistent and her draw the best – she might be hard to catch this time. BIG MISTAKE (8) is very fast and won well in his penultimate start – chance. LOVE TO FLY (9) has very consistent form but returns from a short rest – it would be silly to ignore his chances. (Warren Lenferna 4-8-9)

Race 7
Preview: KAMPALA CAMPARI (2) never shaped in Gauteng in a feature last time but his form before that is very strong. He clearly has ability and despite returning from a rest might prove tough to beat. CAPTAIN COURTEOUS (3) is very reliable and should once again be there at the finish. SNIPER SHOT (9) has top KZN juvenile form and should be able to get into the action here. (Warren Lenferna 2-3-9)

Race 8
Preview: The three runners that have recorded one run for one win look set to fight it out. STILL I RISE (6) was very impressive when taking off to win and looks to be above average. She might be the right one and has been selected to win. ONTENDERHOOKS (5) and DOUBLE BLACK (7) should be right there at the finish and both also look to have ability. (Warren Lenferna 6-5-7)

The Trust, a registered Public Benefit Organisation, has been raising funds to help improve the life of equines since 2005. Its Rehoming Program focuses specifically on the safe and secure future of thoroughbred racehorses once they are retired from their racing career. Many of them are retired as young as two or three-years-old.

Ken Truter

The rehoming programme is run by volunteers and most of the horses come directly from racing, having been donated by owners, trainers and breeders who care about the future of their horses. A few have come through “rescue” situations, having been sold on and landed up in dire circumstances.

Last year, the Trust was able to raise R260,000 through a charity auction held shortly before the running of the CTS Southern Cross Stakes as well as from the sale of races and tables on the day.

Chairman Ken Truter said the Trust would love to equal or better that figure on this year’s raceday, but that they face a harder task.

He told Turf Talk: “We only have eight races this year, that’s eight races to sell to sponsors, and they exclude a feature race. But we know that racing’s benefactors always try their best to help with causes like ours, so we’ll work hard to achieve the highest figure we can.

“We will have a special lunch on the day, so we will be selling tables again and like last year we will have an auction. We’re collecting all sorts of special things to auction off, there will be a raffle and a collection of prizes to give away.”

Truter, who is presently in London, added: “I am mailing Bernard Kantor this morning to see if we can secure a few tickets to next year’s Investec Derby. I cannot make this official yet, but let’s hope Mr Kantor can help.”

– Turf Talk

Gold Standard faces nine opponents for his long-awaited reappearance in the World Sports Betting Matchem Stakes at Durbanville on Saturday.

Gold Standard (Liesl King)

The Cape Guineas runner-up has not raced since his fourth to Whisky Baron in the Sun Met with a cautious approach to fetlock problems deciding Glen Kotzen to give the Durban season a miss. Those taking him on include Table Bay who started favourite for the Guineas but was beaten into third.

Anton Marcus’s mount is a kilo better off but has more than three lengths to find. Top weight Always In Charge has to shoulder a 3kg Grade 1 penalty as a result of his Gold Medallion success at two.

Gold Standard is expected to start favourite to give Richard Fourie his second Matchem – he won on Majestic Sun 11 years ago. Favourites have won three of the last four runnings but the eight previous ones were all beaten.

Andre Nel has booked Donovan Dillon for last year’s winner Captain’s Flame in the Diana Stakes but Gimme Six looks like heading the market. Justin Snaith has won three of the last eight runnings and Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount finished a head second in the Woolavington and fourth in the Garden Province after winning the Daisy Fillies Guineas.

By Michael Clower

Second Nature, who has won three of her last four, can go in again in the Play Soccer Conditions Plate at Durbanville tomorrow even though merit ratings say she hasn’t a prayer.

The Mike Robinson five-year-old was raised four points for her win at Kenilworth three weeks ago but still has the lowest rating of anything in the race but she has the advantage of race fitness and being in form. The combination may swing it for her at 3-1.

Tiffindell opened 18-10 favourite with World Sports Betting yesterday and little wonder. On her last run, over a mile and a half at Fairview two months ago, she ran Northern Ballet (3-1) to a short head and she renews rivalry with her stable companion on 6kg better terms.

Dress For Success

But neither has raced since and as a result Justin Snaith is not optimistic, saying: “They are both coming back from a rest and they are only 80% ready.”

The Paul Lafferty-trained Dress For Success actually comes out best on ratings but she has had to travel from Durban in the last month and it’s no surprise to see her as big as 6-1. Adorado (5-1) disappointed here ten days ago but ran well at Greyville previously while O’Keeffe, the outsider of the party at 11-1, has it all to do.

The opening Itsarush.co.za Maiden looks a tough nut to crack but a few trainer comments and explanations may help, in particular why Aldo Domeyer rides newcomer Little Miss Me in preference to Goa who has good recent form. “Grant van Niekerk is retained by Drakenstein and he rode Goa last time,” says Candice Bass-Robinson who adds: “Little Miss Me will need the run.”

Ostinato, joint second favourite at 5-1, drops back from 1 400m. “It makes no difference to her whether it’s 1 200m or 1 400m and they went too slow for her the other day,” says Glen Kotzen who points out that the filly has a bad draw.

Evie’s Light, who had smarter form last season than her 10-1 odds might suggest, also reverts to a shorter trip. “She has become a bit strong and I thought the quicker pace over 1 200m would suit her. She has also become a bit soft in the mouth and so I am using a different bit,” says Greg Ennion.

Bendy Bullet is favourite at 9-2 and is given marginal preference over Goa and Kotzen’s London Spirit (5-1). The sahorseracing computer also says the Eric Sands filly will win with Ostinato and Evie’s Light filling the minor placings.

The TAB Telebet Maiden looks a straight fight between 14-10 favourite Magic Sailor and 16-10 shot Seventh Rule. Magic Sailor ran very well here ten days ago and, as he is rated 3kg higher, he gets the nod.

Hundreds was only three-quarters of a length behind Greenstreettractor on debut and so Richard Fourie’s mount should have come on enough to reverse the form in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden.

By Michael Clower