Horse racing is a fickle mistress and injury, be it horse or jockey, can suddenly be career ending. But perseverance often pays dividends and although apprentice Dennis Schwarz will have had outstanding support and re-hab from the South African Jockey Academy, it is often easier for a young lad to throw in the towel after a career-threatening injury.

Schwarz lost his 4kg claim quickly once trainers cottoned on to his potential and he was on a roll towards the end of last season. But a serious knee injury saw him side-lined for close on six months.

It has taken some time for Schwarz to get back to riding fitness and trainers to pick up on the fact that he was one of the more promising youngsters but he gave notice that he is back with a double at Scottsville yesterday, boosting his seasonal tally to four.

Art Attack (Candiese Marnewick)

His first came on the battling maiden Chilli Affair for Alyson Wright as the six-year-old finally got his act together, much to many punters chagrin, as he got first run on hot favourite Coys and kept rolling to the line.

From a tricky draw, Anthony Delpech was hung out like the washing for most of the early exchanges unable to get close to the rail, and in the straight was not helped as Coys kept looking to run off a straight course.

Schwarz, replacement for fellow apprentice Diego d Gouveia, produced another enterprising ride on out-sider La Gitano in the Track & Ball Gaming Handicap for Tony Rivalland to hold off Captains Moll with favourite Girl In Gold battling to quicken and finishing unplaced.

Ivan Moore was a top jockey in his home country of Zimbabwe before taking out a trainer’s licence and then moving south.

He has a small yard with grandson Darryl, who cut his teeth with top trainer Charles Laird before joining his grandfather, and Art Attack’s victory in the White Horse Function Room Handicap will have been sweet. Consistently place over 1600m but running on empty over the final 100m, Warren Kennedy took advantage of the drop to 1400m, attacked early and pinching a lead before holding on gamely to deny Magic Memory a third straight win.

Delpech had better luck in the second as he produced a well-timed effort on the well-supported Lucky At Last for Nathan Kotzen who, after struggling to saddle his first winner as a licenced trainer, added a quick second after Cumulus broke his duck on Sunday.

Anton Marcus is never one to doubt his ability and an early move on the Mike Miller-trained Fashion Quest paid dividends in the Qualified Maiden Plate. Stepped up to 1600m after a string of placed runs over sprints, Marcus showed faith in that his mount would stay the trip from a tricky draw. Taking up the running before the home turn, he fought off all challengers when at one stage it looked as if he would be swamped.

By Andrew Harrison

Race 1
Preview: THE ROCKETMAN should have a lot of speed being by weight for age Grade 1-winner over 1200m Foxwedge out of a General Niedym mare who won three times as a two-year-old from 1000-1200m, including New Zealand’s richest race, the Karaka Million over 1200m for two-year-olds. He has a plum draw and Strydom is up. MOONEY is improving and was still a bit green last time over 1200m around the turn when running on well. The draw of seven is a bit of a concern, but he should appreciate the long straight and the step up in trip. HARD BALL drops in trip with the blinkers now on and if reproducing his best will be involved. OUTSIDE EDGE has some reasonable form and Khumalo is an eyecatching booking. SOLDAT is never far off and could earn here. MIDNIGHT MESSENGER ran a fair race on debut over 1000m and had excuses last time, so could be thereabouts from a good draw in this uninspiring field. CITY ROCK is by Seventh Rock out of Gr 2 GC Oaks third-placed Santiago, who has produced Listed placed middle distance sort San Trip, but jockey bookings suggest he is not the yard elect. MARIO LANZA is by Judpot out of the Equus champion female stayer Night Diva, who has produced the like of Castle Tankard winner Winter’s Night. (David Thiselton 13-5-3-6-4-9)

Race 2
Preview: SOFII’S MIESQUE made a good debut when running on for second behind a promising sort and she looks to have scope for plenty of improvement. QUICK GLIMPSE ran a fair third on debut after being bumped at the start. PRETTY PENNY is by champion sprinter What A Winter out of Listed Off To Stud winner Magic Penny. ILHA DA VAR has run three fair races and could earn. SAHEERA is an Argentinian-bred by Grade 2 seven furlong winner on the dirt Exchange Rate, but jockey bookings suggest Quick Glimpse is the stable elect. LA BASTIDE is by Dan De Lago out of a Fort Wood two-time winner over 1000m who has produced a couple of one-timer winners. (David Thiselton 15-12-11-2-13-9)

Race 3
Preview: MUTUWAARY is a consistent sort who ran well over course and distance last time. ALL OVER THE WORLD has some class and proved she can mix it with the boys in sprint handicaps last time with a close third.  REBEL’S CHAMP has a touch of class and being a sprinter shouldn’t be hindered by a three month layoff, but he might need to find his feet in handicaps starting off a tough merit rating of 87. HOT AUGUST ran a cracker last time behind a promising sort, despite being dropped out from a wide draw over 1000m on the turn, and that race revealed that hold up tactics might be best for him, although the number one draw can sometimes be disadvantageous here. VULCAN has pace and is interesting dropped down to a sprint again. (David Thiselton 8-5-4-6-1)

Race 4
Preview: CLARET CUP is on the up and can make it a hattrick despite carrying topweight, as the opposition is uninspiring. The pacey QUEEN AT WAR is 7,5 kg better off with Claret Cup for a three length beating over 1200m, if the apprentice claim is taken into account, and could be dangerous over this fast course and distance. GOLDEN ATTITUDE is 3kg better off with Claret Cup for a 2,3 length beating over 1200m and showed pace that time, so should be thereabouts over this course and distance. CATWALK TEASE is 3,5kg better off with Claret Cup for a 4,1 length beating over 1200m and could earn here. QUEENIE is 3kg under sufferance but did look a promising sort as a young two-year-old and if she rediscovers her form in this reversion to a sprint she could surprise. (David Thiselton 1-6-7-5-10)

Race 5
Preview: PILLAROFTHEEARTH is a promising sort who has Lerena up over a suitable course and distance, although making a handicap debut off an 83 merit rating is never easy for a young three-year-old. SECRET HARBOUR was only 1,9 length back off a 90 merit rating on his handicap debut over this trip and off a one point lower mark he could make his presence felt as he likely benefitted from that run. MOSHAV can never be ignored over 1000m down the straight and with Strydom up he can follow up on his latest win off just a three point higher mark. LE TIGRE is 1kg better off with Moshav for a 0,8 length beating and if things go his way this speedster always has a chance. MAGIC will be a big runner if reproducing his run over course and distance in July. ROMAN EVENING has often struck as an underachiever and his win last time out might signal him coming into his own, so he has a chance off just a three point higher merit rating. LIKE ASTAIR looks to have some class and can’t be ignored in his first run after gelding. (David Thiselton 6-1-4-8-2-9)

Race 6
Preview: CELTIC LADY has a good opportunity here off a one point reduced merit rating over an idea course and distance. VARSITY PRINCESS has to carry 62kg but looks to have the ability to go close here. BURGUNDY ROSE is disappointing in that she does not appear to find the necessary extra in the closing stages, but she is always thereabouts. AIMEE SWEET is better than her last run and if bouncing back should be right there. PHILLYDELPHIA improved to win her maiden over this trip and a repeat will see her involved, although her 74 merit rating doesn’t make it easy. (David Thiselton 3-1-2-6-4)

Race 7
Preview: DEFY GRAVITY is well drawn over a suitable trip and should enjoy the long straight on the evidence of his staying on performance over 1900m at Greyville on Gold Cup day. EDISSON is drawn in pole and on pedigree should enjoy the step up in trip. STUNNED is a fair sort who has his third run after a short layoff over a trip which is on the sharp side for him, but he will enjoy the galloping track and Khumalo is an eyecatching booking. AMERICAN INDIAN could be anything after his facile win in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1700m in June and he starts off an 82 merit rating in his first outing for just over two months. MAN AT WAR stayed on well over 1600m last time and should enjoy the course and distance. CASCAPEDIA won on debut over 1400m in April, but made a breathing noise and has to carry topweight in her first outing since then. (David Thiselton 7-5-2-6-4-1)

Race 8
Preview: BECKONING is capable and from a good draw over an ideal course and distance could go close as Khumalo and Gray are in good form together. LEBANESE TRACTOR was a touch unlucky over course and distance last time and should be running on under Lerena. ONAMISSION returns from a three month layoff having shown some good form in juvenile races over this trip, although she does have to overcome an 82 merit rating on her handicap bow, which is never easy for a young three-year-old. (David Thiselton 3-1-2-9-6)

The Turffontein eight race meeting tomorrow sees an interesting first-timer stepping out in race one and there are a number of other intriguing races to look forward to.

The Rocketman is a three-year-old colt by Foxwedge, who won a weight for age Grade 1 event, defeating the like of Hay List, who was the biggest rival of the great undefeated 15-time Grade 1-winning mare Black Caviar. The Rocketman is out of the General Niedym mare Sister Havana, who comfortably won New Zealand’s richest race, the Karaka Million over 1200m for two-year-old graduates of the Karaka Sale. The Rocketman comes from the family of other successful South African-based horses like Brazuca, Rich Girl, Global News and Suyoof, and he was purchased for Aus $126,364. Piere Strydom rides him in tomorrow’s Maiden over 1400m and they jump from a plum draw of two. He does not look to have a lot to beat. Mooney is improving and should relish the step up in trip as well as the long straight as he was staying on well over 1200m on the tight Inside track last time. Hard Ball has shown glimpses of promise and after showing no interest over 2000m last time he is dropped to this trip with the blinkers fitted. However, he does appear to have his problems.

Sovereign Reign

One of the most interesting races on the card is the seventh, a Novice Handicap over 1800m. Defy Gravity was staying on resolutely over 1900m at Greyville last time for a 5,25 length fourth. Two promising horses, Roy Had Enough and Opera Royal, were the front pair there, so he could feature over a course and distance he should enjoy from a good draw. However, it is an open race. Edisson covers quite a lot of ground and on pedigree might well enjoy the step up in trip. He is by Vodacom Durban July winner Bold Silvano and his dam, an Argentinian-bred by Orpen called She’s So Cold, won on debut over 1200m as a juvenile and next time out went close over 1500m.

Edisson did not enjoy much luck last time when staying on from near the back over 1450m on the Inside track and gave the impression he would prefer this more galloping track. Stunned would likely prefer further, but S’Manga Khumalo has been doing well for St. John Gray and this horse has dropped to a competitive merit rating. He should enjoy this galloping track too. The one who could prove to be a cut above the rest in time is the three-year-old American Indian, who won a Maiden Juvenile Plate by 4,4 lengths over 1700m at the Vaal in June and the third placed horse was a further six lengths back. However, the form is questionable and Defy Gravity did beat him, albeit by a short-head in an earlier meeting over 1600m.

Furthermore, Defy Gravity had a run at the end of July, while American Indian has not run since June. On the other hand American Indian does appear to be a more scopey sort. Both have hard tasks running off 82 merit ratings as young three-year-olds. Man At War stayed on well over 1600m last time from a favourable draw on the Vaal Outside track and this rangy type looks likely to enjoy the step up in trip and the galloping track. He does have a tough draw though. Cascapedia won on debut over 1400m in April, but made breathing noises and hasn’t run since. She has a tough task carrying topweight against the boys, although she has been given a Northern Hemisphere allowance as an Irish-bred who is six months younger than her four-year-old contemporaries.

The best bet has been chosen as Sofii’s Miesque in the second as she looked to have scope in her good debut over this 1160m course and distance and she is being ridden by the unstoppable S’Manga Khumalo.

Beckoning, running in the last, is not the most reliable, but Khumalo and St. John Gray team up with her in the last over 1400m. This capable sort is ideally course and distance suited and is chosen as the value bet.

Celtic Lady has been made a PA banker in race 6 over 1000m as she has proven competitive off her lowered merit rating and she has come down a further point. This is an ideal course and distance and Gavin Lerena is aboard.

By David Thiselton

Record-priced R6 million purchase, Silver Coin, may yet make it into the big time despite his flop in the Langerman.

Hopes were high when the Silvano half-brother to Halve The Deficit made a winning debut in early April and he started favourite for the Langerman only to finish plumb last. There was an excuse – the veterinary examination ordered by the stipes revealed that the colt was not striding out behind – but seemingly there was more to it than that.

Silver Coin (Wayne Marks)

Joey Ramsden said: “The run was too bad to be true. He obviously had something not right but he faced an impossible task. He could have done with another run up the straight and the race came at the end of a spell of elevated temperatures when our horses weren’t running up to their best.”

The colt was given a break afterwards but he is now back in although Ramsden has yet to decide when he will reappear. However Dan Katz, making a hot start to his second training career with three winners in as many meetings, has his eye on Graded targets for Dex Dexter who made it two out of three when quickening well to land a mile handicap at Kenilworth a week ago.

Katz said: “I must keep my feet on the ground but I really do believe I’ve got something in Dex Dexter. Jason Smitsdorff told me that he thought Commander Bond had him beaten last week. Then he gave his horse a smack and it was all over.

“I would eventually like to run him against good horses in something like the Green Point but he is only rated 76 and he will have to tell me he is good enough by winning his next two starts.”

By Michael Clower

Tellytrack television presenter Deez Dayanand was a popular choice as Personality of the Year at the recent KZN Racing awards. He is also an astute reader of form, chief beneficiary being champion jockey Antony Delpech for whom Dayanand acts as agent.

It helps that Delpech is at the top of the tree as far as jockeys go so when Dayanand telephones for the ride there is hardly an argument on the trainer’s part. But first he has to pick the right mount and he looks to have done that in the opener at Scottsville today where Delpech partners Paul Lafferty’s charge Coys.

Anthony Delpech

The Australian-bred has improved with every outing and caught the eye with a terrific finish over the Greyville mile from a coffin draw last time out. He hasn’t drawn much better today with only one on his outside, but it is a lot easier at Scottsville and draw aside, Coys ticks all the right boxes.

Gary Rich saddled his first winner of the new season at Scottsville on Sunday with Connect Me shedding her maiden at her second attempt. Naked Truth is at the other end of the scale, having his 18^th start without much luck. He lines up in the second but has shown improved form at recent starts, running on nicely behind the highly rated Brighteyebushytail last time out.

Naked Truth was given a good workout last Friday to Rich’s satisfaction. “That was good work. I think he has a big chance. My only concern is that this may be a bit sharp for him.”

Ashburton-based trainers won four of the eight races on Sunday and Paul Gadsby’s runner Majestic Moon could prove a threat although his recent improvement has come on the Greyville poly.

With big fields and open handicaps the order of the day punters will need to knuckle down to some serious homework. Fashion Quest has been confined to sprints at recent starts but Michael Miller stretches her back to a mile in the Qualified Maiden and booked Anton Marcus for the mount. She has shown consistent pace in all of her starts and now a year older looks to be crying out for the extra ground. African Honey has her third outing after a break and could prove better than her form suggests and looks a threat along with French Toast and Kailua Beach.

In Clover is an Australian-bred daughter of the re-patriated Delago Deluxe who was trained by Charles Laird and also raced in the Mayfair Speculator silks. In Clover was well supported on debut, winning comfortably on the Greyville poly but she takes on stronger in the Soccer 13 Handicap where top weight Leisure Trip can record his first win in KZN. He has been confined to the poly track but takes a hefty drop in class and Serino Moodley, currently lying joint second on the leading apprentice log, gives 2.5kg relief.

Ku Du Tu

Duncan Howells and Dave MacLean are a formidable combination, recording a double at Scottsville on Sunday, and Girl In Gold could add another in the Track & Ball Gaming Handicap. She only shed her maiden last time out but takes on a weak handicap field and looks good enough to defy joint top weight. Two that could threaten, although a little compromised by tricky draws, are Light House Lady and Captains Moll, the latter dropping in the ratings and with Delpech aboard.

Doug Campbell is another who had a winner on Sunday and is always a stable to keep tabs on at this time of the year. He saddles Eden Garden Blitz in the White Horse Function Room Handicap. She makes her seasonal debut after showing good form in useful company over Champions Season. With Marcus aboard she can snap a two-race winning streak by Magic Memory who got a six-point handicap rise after her last win.

The lightly raced Ku Du Tu won well at second time of asking and Garth Puller’s gelding should have more to come in the Jackpot Quickmix Handicap. Selvan’s Jet has been racing over further and confined to the poly track at recent starts but has won five races and was a close-up second from a tricky draw last time out. He will be a threat along with Valcar who has yet to finish out of the money but has been off for close on three months.

The last is something of a minefield but the adage, “when in doubt, back the top weight’ could hold true here with Roy’s Taxi in consistent form and has Delpech to help him along.

By Andrew Harrison

Despite a week of mixed weather including torrential downpours, the final day of Baden Racing’s Grosse Woche Festival dawned bright and sunny with the going surprisingly reported as good.

While the highlight on the final day is the Group 1 Longines Grosser Preis von Baden, the card also features a Listed race and a Group 3 sponsored by Steinhoff International N.V.

The €55,000 Group 3 Steinhoff Zukunftsrennen (1 400m) for two-year olds drew a field of nine, including the British raider Starlight Mystery trained by Mark Johnston.

Guignol (Liesl King)

Julio, a son of Exceed and Excel, who recently won a Sales race in Cologne, started as clear favourite.

Gestüt Röttgen however, has been on a roll since Windstoss won the 2017 Group 1 Germany Derby and hence it came as no surprise to see their colours carried to victory by Narella, a homebred filly by Reliable Man, who stormed to an emphatic victory under Adrie de Vries.

Auenperle, with Nicholas Guilbert in the saddle, finished in second two lengths back with Julio, under a driving ride by Stephen Hellyn, having to settle for third a further four lengths back.

Klug was understandably delighted with the victory.

“She is the best two–year-old in my stable. I will now aim her at the  (Group 3) Winterkonigin.

“Adrie (de Vries) left her alone in the beginning until she found her rhythm and then in the home straight she just flew.”

De Vries was equally impressed with the young filly.

“When I pressed the button, she really kicked.

“She went so fast I thought I might have gone too soon, but she kept going and finished off strongly.”

The feature race, the €250,000 G1 Longines Grosser Preis von Baden over 2 400m also went the way of a homebred, when Stall Ullman’s five-year-old entire Guignol, trained by Jean-Pierre Carvalho, led from start to finish under Filip Minarik to win by 2.5 lengths.

Last year’s winner Iquitos chased hard, but could make no inroads into Guignol’s commanding lead and the newly crowned Horse of the Year had to settle for second with Colomano (GB) a short head back in third.

By Liesl King

MJ Byleveld will resume at Kenilworth on Saturday little more than seven weeks after his horror fall on the Greyville polytrack.

He said yesterday: “They had to operate and put a plate in my broken thumb but I am now 100% again. I am just taking the one ride (Red Eight in the Tabonline Maiden) to begin with.”

MJ Byleveld

Byleveld, riding Fonteyn for Yogas Govender in a 2 000m fillies maiden on 19 July, was involved in a three horse pile-up. When Honeymoon Cove clipped heels 700m out, she fell like a stone and Byleveld’s mount galloped straight into her, firing her rider into the ground with the force of a pile-driver – “and, believe me, the poly is not soft,” said the jockey.

Anton Marcus flies in for six good rides: Rommel, Eastern Front, Ice Queen and True Words for Joey Ramsden, Leadman (Brett Crawford) and Querari’s Secret (Vaughan Marshall).

Fake News, formerly President Trump, makes his long-awaited debut for Justin Snaith in the first, a 1 200m maiden. Bernard Fayd’Herbe rides but apparently the stable is not expecting fireworks.

However Snaith Racing is expecting a lot from Winter Series winner African Night Sky and reports that the four-year-old will have his first race of the season in the Matchem Stakes at Durbanville on 7 October. The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Sun Met are the targets.

Racecourse general manager Dean Diedricks yesterday confirmed that the Durbanville seven meeting campaign will go ahead as planned, starting on 23 September. There were rumours floating around at Kenilworth last Saturday that there had been second thoughts. Not so, said Diedricks.

Bookmaker Bertie Dobbie and his brother Melvyn, due to cease on-course operations after last Wednesday’s meeting, have been granted a reprieve and were happy to accept an invitation to carry on for a limited period.

By Michael Clower

Glen Kotzen’s top class colt Gold Standard is in full work and will be a leading contender for the two Principal Grade 1 events of the Cape Summer Of Champions Season, the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met.

Kotzen will also have a strong team for the three-year-old classics led by his Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes winner Eyes Wide Open.

Gold Standard (Liesl King)

Gold Standard “went wrong” after his excellent fourth place finish in an ultra strong Sun Met at the end of January and a decision was made to avoid the SA Champions Season in KZN.

Kotzen said the couple of months holiday had done the strapping Trippi colt a “world of good”.

He will now take the traditional Cape Summer route for a top older horse of the WSB Green Point Stakes, the Queen’s Plate and the Met.

However, he might have a preparation outing before the Green Point.

Kotzen said, “He is in a good place, he’s cruising, and is twice the horse he was as a three-year-old.”

It was a surprise to many when last season’s Grand Parade Cape Guineas winner William Longsword was not named the Equus Champion Three-year-old Male and he and Gold Standard looked to be a class apart in the latter race both in looks and performance. Gold Standard had earlier beaten William Longsword when winning the Grade 2 Selangor Cup and his record against the Equus Three-Year-Old Male Champion, Edict Of Nantes, was two-nil. He then proved his class in the Met, finishing 1,25 lengths ahead of Marinaresco on 2kg better terms than weight for age, whereas Marinaresco beat Edict Of Nantes in the Vodacom Durban July, despite the latter being 4kg better off than weight for age with him. The Equus Awards now appear to be based chiefly on Grade 1 victories, presumably to avoid controversy, but this measure has arguably made it more controversial as Gold Standard was not even among the nominees in the Three-year-old Male category.

Eyes Wide Open, a Dynasty colt, runs in the same colours as Gold Standard, being owned outright by Hugo and Suzanne Hattingh’s Chrigor Stud, who part-own Gold Standard together with Drakenstein Stud.

Eyes Wide Open won the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes in impressive style on Gold Cup day. He was subsequently given a three week break and given his African Horse Sickness vaccinations.

Kotzen said, “He is out of the top drawer and is a serious contender for the three-year-old classics.” His chief targets are the Cape Guineas and the Investec Cape Derby. He will also likely defend the yard’s crown in the Selangor Cup before those two races.

Eyes Wide Open (Candiese Marnewick)

Kotzen also views two of his other colts as classic contenders, Opera Royal and Pack Leader.

Opera Royal by Oratorio won his maiden in his third start by 3,5 lengths over 1400m on the Greyville poly. He followed up by finishing a narrow second to the promising Roy Had Enough in a Juvenile Plate over 1900m on the Greyville turf. The form of the latter race has not worked out too well to date, but Opera Royal looks to have plenty of scope for improvement. Kotzen said, “He is a really smart colt and I think once he matures we will hear a lot about him.” The connections believe he might have got going too late in that 1900m event because with the blinkers on he had not seen the other horse on the inside rail. The blinkers were put on for the previous 1400m race, as it was considered too sharp for him, and they were kept on after he had won that race easily. However, they might now be removed. Kotzen views Opera Royal as a Cape Derby horse.

Pack Leader, a Philanthropist colt, was unlucky in the Premier’s Champion Stakes, where he finished a 1,45 length seventh. Kotzen said, “Craig Zackey had to check him and he reckoned he would otherwise have won the race. The Philanthropists get better as they get older and I believe he will mature into a beautiful three-year-old. He is a Guineas and Derby contender.”

Kotzen’s leading three-year-old filly is the Grade 3 The Debutante winner Princess Peach, by Captain Al. He said on paper she should stay a mile, but she had enjoyed reverting to 1200m in the Debutante, so the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas might not be part of her program.

However, he has another filly, Too Phat Too Fly by Bezrin, whom he rates as a Guineas contender. She finished second in two Listed events in Cape Town, over 1200m and 1500m respectively, before travelling to Durban to run in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m at Greyville on Gold Cup day. She finished a 3,85 length sixth, but Kotzen said, “I thought it was an incredible run. It was her first time going clockwise, and she came from stone last and made up a lot of ground. Richard (Fourie) was impressed and said she would be his preferred Fillies Guineas horse.”

By David Thiselton

Turffontein Standside is one of fairest tracks in the country and punters will be looking forward to the eight race meeting tomorrow.

The Pick 6, Jackpot and PA look attainable.

In the first leg of the PA, a MR 89 handicap over 1600m, Shukamisa looks to be a banker. He stayed on well over 1400m last time and being by Silvano should be coming into his own and should relish the step up in trip. If Elevated lines up he could be a threat. It would have taken a good horse to finish fourth in this year’s Grade 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas, as he did, as the form of that race has proved strong. He proved his class on Saturday in his first run for the Mike de Kock yard when winning hands and heels over this trip on the Inside track. Some will say the second run after a layoff theory means little unless it comes too soon after a hard comeback effort. On the one hand this run does come just three days after the comeback, but on the other he was not hard ridden to win.

Hunting Owl

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m, two up and coming sorts, Walter Smoothie and Stay With Me should relish the course and distance. The former has a nice big stride and this rangy sort caught the eye running on over 1400m on debut. Stay With Me is also a scopey sort and he ran out of straight over 1400m last time, despite having been caught wide in the running.  He will be a big runner here, especially if getting better luck in the running from another tricky draw. The more experienced Dancing Rebel can be included for the risk averse. He over raced a touch last time over this trip on the Inside track but still stayed on well for third. If he settles better from a similar draw he will be right there, although this is his 38^th run in the maidens.

The next race is an uninspiring maiden for fillies over 1600m and looks to be a two horse race between Serendipity and Candy Kisses, although Sussex is a lurker who could upset. The form of both Serendipity and Candy Kisses speaks for itself. Sussex would likely prefer further, but his improved run over 1800m last time makes him a danger over just 200m shorter on the same galloping track.

Race five, a fillies and mares handicap over 1160m, is a potential stumbling block. Melinda’s Garden might be all the rage, but history will show that young three-year-olds merit rated above 80 are often outgunned in their first meeting with older horses, even if they later prove to be better than that rating. Her 82 merit rating is thus a concern, especially as her easy maiden win over 1000m was not run in a great time. Therefore a bold decision to leave her out has been made and Open Road (dropped to an attractive merit rating), Madam Secretary (under achiever who should be coming into her own), Burundi Bush, Secret Vision and Last Girl Standing (all in good form) are selected to get punters through.

The next is an equally tough 1000m handicap, although Unchained Melody still looks reasonably merit rated on 70 considering his easy start to finish maiden win over this trip. He cast a shoe in his only subsequent start and if reproducing his maiden win could defy topweight. Rebel Renegade, Hunting Owl, Western Warrior and Chief Sioux are the ones who make most appeal of the rest and this is on the grounds of them being reasonably handicapped on their best form over what should be a suitable trip.

In the fifth leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m, the progressive Starret City is the choice from a good draw over a suitable trip, although one slight concern is this is his first run since the end of June and it might be being seen as a run to get him going for the season. Dan The Lad’s only win was over course and distance. His resolute finish makes him suited to this long-straighted course and a wide draw should not be of too much bother. Yankee Captain keeps on improving and is ideally course and distance suited. He is also capable of running on too, so a wide draw is not insurmountable. Holy Joe is interesting dropped in trip from a good draw on this galloping track as he is capable of turning it on. Rambo can never be ignored despite being a nine-year-old.

There should be a lot of pace in the last leg with both Time To Be Great and Just A Gigolo involved and this should set it up for the closers Rand Club, Pachucho and Tommy Waterdevil. Crazy Vision can also be included for the risk averse.

By David Thiselton

Three months ago Still I Rise had a hole in her head as if she had been shot with a bolt from a humane killer, and it was a bolt that went perilously close to killing her.

“She rolled in her box, somehow spiked her head on the ring and the metal stuck in her skull,” said Joey Ramsden as Steph Grentell produced the evidence on her phone to prove it. Yet, despite repeatedly swishing her tail in protest at Morne Winnaar’s whip, this AUS$ 80 000 (R825 000) Melbourne purchase showed a decisive turn of foot – a good omen if ever there was one – to make a winning debut in the Test Kitchen Maiden at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Joey Ramsden (Kenilworth Racing)

Siberian Husky in the Shirtliff colours, 4-1 winner of the Perpetua House Maiden with Greg Cheyne in the irons, also has a difficult medical history. “He has an urticaria – we thinks it’s an allergy from something in his box,” related Eric Sands, “So all this week I put him in a paddock day and night with a companion.”

The treatment worked but there were side-effects in the form of bite marks on the gelding’s neck – the so-called companion decided to show the patient who was boss and further doubts set in when the horse worked badly last Thursday.

A treble has brought Justin Snaith’s total in 16 seasons to just two short of 2 300 winners but he was most unhappy about last term’s 175 – 40 less than Sean Tarry – and he has vowed to do much better this time.

“Last summer was the worst I have ever had and this season we are on a mission,” he declared. “We always seem to do well early and now I want us to push on throughout the season.”

Richard Fourie started the ball rolling with an enterprising no-nonsense ride on One Direction, Bernard Fayd’Herbe celebrated both his return and Chris Snaith’s 67^th birthday on Greenflashsunset and Grant van Niekerk completed the stable’s treble by making all on Weston in the last.

Van Niekerk, who was also in treble form, is quietly building up a useful and potentially rewarding association with Snaith Racing and he also took full advantage to snatch the Carl Greaves Brokers Pinnacle on the Ramsden-trained Catkin when Icon King decided to treat the shadow from the stands as if it was the first fence in the Grand National.

Richard Fourie (Nkosi Hlope)

But the Pinnacle proved most disappointing for heavily- backed favourite Silicone Valley. He was odds-on only a few minutes before the off but he threw away a priceless advantage coming out of the pens and Piet Botha never looked happy on him after that.

“I needed to commit and go but I was caught three wide,” he said, reliving the frustration. “When I wanted to go the others quickened and when I wanted to ease back they slowed.”

Victorious Captain has been frustrating for Vaughan Marshall as well as punters but he made virtually all under Corne Orffer to score at the eighth attempt. ”He should have won two races by this stage,” said the trainer. “But he has had terrible problems with his shins – they are like those on American horses.”

Marshall’s day was made when the consistent, and clearly talented, Sequined broke her maiden in the St Dalfour Platewith Van Niekerk asking her to do the bare minimum out in front.

– Elevated’s win in the mile handicap at Turffontein on his first start for Mike de Kock was greeted with delight by Riaan van Reenen for whom the gelding finished fourth in the Cape Guineas.

The Philippi trainer said: “Elevated left me after the Winter Classic but I am still involved in the planning and I am recommending that he goes to Dubai. He is very good in the sand.”

By Michael Clower