Three horses stand out in this Saturday’s HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m at Turffontein – top-rated Safe Harbour, Fort Ember and Cape raider Star Express.

Ultra-classy Safe Harbour is one of five runners from the Sean Tarry stable and her trainer admits she must be the stable elect. The three-year-old was beaten only a neck by Orchid Island in the SA Fillies Classic over 1800m. She is drawn at No 7 in the 16-horse field and will carry 2.5kg less than her two main rivals.

Fort Ember is a five-time winner who finished fifth behind Legal Eagle in the recent Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m. Trainer Paul Peter believes the horse to beat in the race is Safe Harbour, but added: “Fort Ember is exceptionally well, has a great draw (No 1) and a top jockey (Anton Marcus). She’ll run an excellent race. I’m quietly confident.”

Safe Harbour (Liesl King)

Cape-based Justin Snaith, who has a string of horses at Summerveld in KwaZulu-Natal until the end of winter, intends to bring Majorca Stakes runner-up Star Express to the Highveld on Friday to take part in the weight-for-age race, but said: “I’ll see how the week goes – I won’t bring her unless she’s got a chance. I liked the look of the race meeting and will always do my best to play a part when it counts.

“Star Express is a lovely filly who gets every bit of 1600m easily and she’s doing very well at home. I’m not happy with her wide draw – it’s a long way to come for that draw – but Anthony Delpech will give her a bit of a chance in the race so we still have a filly afterwards.”

Lightly raced Juxtapose, last year’s SA Fillies Classic and SA Oaks winner who made a promising comeback from a rest last time out, is the next highest-rated runner in the field. Her trainer Stanley Ferreira cautioned: “This is on the sharp side for her and she’s got entries in the Champions Challenge, Gerald Rosenberg and Gold Bowl – I think she’ll stay every metre of that 3200m because she’s a proper galloping lass – as well as the Vodacom Durban July.

“She’s a tiny filly but has a huge heart. She’s a little darling!”

Three horses are rated 101, Bella Sonata, Intergalactic and Trophy Wife.

Trainer Gavin van Zyl said he is “upbeat that Bella Sonata will run a good race even though she is drawn wide. Her form has turned around in her two runs since she had a wind op, she’s just got better and better, and I expect her to be in the first three.”

Tarry trains both Intergalactic and Trophy Wife.

“Intergalactic had a good prep and has been competitive in this type of company, so must have a chance. (Stablemate) Tahini did beat Intergalactic last time but was the fitter horse and there is a turnaround at the weights.”

He said he wouldn’t be surprised to see Trophy Wife in the mix. “She had a bit of a rushed prep but her comeback from a rest (when second to stable companion Carry On Alice over an inadequate 1100m recently) was very good.”

Fort Ember (Nkosi Hlophe)

His other runner is Heaps Of Fun. “She’s had a good preparation but her form’s not been there in her last few runs. She will, however, bounce back soon and I don’t think she’s out of it.”

Polyphonic came back to best to win the Jacaranda Handicap from a wide draw recently and Alec Laird has booked jockey Piere Strydom for the filly again.

Laird was unavailable for comment, but Strydom said he was hoping for “luck from a bad draw against horses who are better weighted under the conditions”.

The Mike de Kock stable will field three horses – Nother Russia, Al Hawraa and The Centenary and assistant trainer Mathew de Kock said it would probably be close between the first two.

“The Centenary is coming off a long layoff and, although she enjoys running fresh, she’ll probably be better over 2000m. Nother Russia is consistent and always gives her best. She has a good draw, which is always a big help. Al Hawraa is best at 1600m – the 1800m of the SA Fillies Classic was a touch too far. She hit the front with 400m to go and got run out of it late. But she has got a horrible draw so will need a lot of luck.”

Johan Janse van Vuuren’s grey filly Negroamaro will always have her supporters, even though she is a chronic bleeder. He would only say, “She’s very well but is in a very strong race.”

Roy Magner, asked about Anna Pavlova, said yesterday: “She worked hard this morning and did nicely. She’s in a good place and, although she is not well drawn, I’m expecting a good run.”

Kilauea is another runner with a wide draw. She had an interrupted preparation, but David Nieuwenhuizen said: “She’s got a lot of guts and must have a chance, although it’s a strong field.”

TABNews

Justin Snaith is taking a leaf out of the Mike Bass book by raiding from Summerveld with Star Express in a bid to beat the altitude in Saturday’s HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes.

He said: “I have tried doing it every other way and they haven’t worked but I have seen it work from Summerveld. You are almost halfway there with the altitude and so she travels to Johannesburg on Friday afternoon.

“She has been doing very well and a lot of effort has gone into the day so it will be nice to be part of it.”

Summerveld is 700m above sea level and Turffontein around 1750m. Bass sent Inara from Summerveld similarly close to the race when she won last year’s Empress Club.

Last season’s Gold Medallion winner Always In Charge is involved in a race against time after being forced to miss his prep for the Tsogo Sun Sprint (May 27) at Scottsville last Sunday.

Vaughan Marshall said: “He pulled a muscle behind. We are trying to get him back as quickly as possible but we are not holding out much hope.”

By Michael Clower

A strong field of runners from all over the country will line up for the R1-million HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday.

Cape Town-based trainer Justin Snaith has opted to bring Star Express, second behind Nightingale in the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes at Kenilworth in January, to Joburg for this Grade 1 race on the Standside track.  Bella Sonata, although based on the Highveld with Chesney van Zyl, represents the KwaZulu-Natal-based Gavin van Zyl yard.

The running of this year’s race will be a royal affair as HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco will be at the Joburg track on Saturday. Her support of the raceday means a number of charities are set to benefit among those the Red Cross, Highveld Horse Care Unit and Gugu Lesizwe Primary School.

“I look forward to once again attending a racemeeting at the historic Turffontein Racecourse and of course continuing the support of a number of worthy causes,” Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene said of her involvement on the day.

“To have the horseracing community rally behind this will be amazing and being able to play a part in restoring some of the glamour back into the sport is also special.”

Princess Charlene was a special guest at the same venue back in 2012 when featuring at the Charity Mile meeting which is held annually every November.

In keeping with her passion to fight for the underdog, Princess Charlene will also sponsor two Maiden Plates over 1400m. They will each carry prize money of R250,000.

Three horses stand out in Empress Club Stakes – top-rated Safe Harbour, Fort Ember and Cape raider Star Express. Safe Harbour is one of five runners who hail from the Sean Tarry stable and her trainer admits she must be the stable elect.

The three-year-old was beaten only a neck by Orchid Island in the SA Fillies Classic over 1800m. She is drawn at No 7 in the 16-horse field and will carry 2.5kg less than her two main rivals.

Fort Ember is a five-time winner who finished fifth behind Legal Eagle in the recent Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m. Trainer Paul Peter believes the horse to beat in the race is Safe Harbour, but added: “Fort Ember is exceptionally well, has a great draw (No 1) and a top jockey (Anton Marcus). She’ll run an excellent race. I’m quietly confident.”

Snaith, who has a string of horses based at Summerveld in KwaZulu-Natal, intends to bring Star Express to the Highveld on Friday but is concerned about her wide draw.

BY: Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Ltd

Final field for the R1-million HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m

The Blinkers Bar Handicap could provide one of the keys to unlocking some of the form behind the big staying races come Champions Season. The race has attracted a competitive field of mostly young horses on a seven-race card at Scottsville this afternoon.

Banner Hill was among the 57 first entries for the Vodacom Durban July and he did his chances of making the final field no harm when winning an excellent race at Greyville a fortnight back.

It was a race run at a solid gallop, a rare phenomenon these days, and the three-year-old Warfarer kept fighting doggedly to stay on for third after being handy throughout.

Warfarer gave the impression that today’s 2400m would be right up his alley and a corresponding drop in class for Lezeanne Forbes’s runner should see him right there in spite of having to lump top weight.

Warfarer (Nkosi Hlophe)

Certain to see out the trip is Vaughan Marshall’s gelding Omaha Tribe. He has some steady Cape form over the trip and comes off some good recent form over ground which makes him a must inclusion in all exotic bets.

Paul Gadsby has high hopes for Techno Captain but the gelding’s temperament often gets the better of him and consequently he’s not the easiest horse to train. However, Sean Veale is back aboard and the pair are unbeaten in two starts together and he too should enjoy the step up in trip.

The Irish-bred Cape Fling was a late starter and lightly raced which suggests that Dean Kannemeyer has had to sort out a few ‘issues’. But he has won three of his four starts in the space of eight months and the form of his last start, when holding on narrowly from the progressive Chicago Beat, has been franked and he can go in again in the Itsarush.co.za Middle Stakes.

But it will not be easy as he faces a tough handicap field.

Heir Line is also lightly raced but Dennis Drier’s runner followed up on his maiden win and second-placed Mr O’Neill has also paid tribute to that form. Heir Line looks to have plenty of scope and won well on his handicap debut, making all the running.

Of the balance, Roman Emperor still races very green and has cost himself on more than one occasion but the drop in class could see him put in a better effort while Lonelyarethebrave has shown up well in two recent starts over course and distance.

In the Racing It’s A Rush Divided Handicap, Dress For Success took on much stronger last start and was running on late. Her last three wins have been over course and distance. Adorada has some useful Cape form who looks more comfortable over this trip after trying further at her last start. Another possible is Hot Toddy who drifted in the market on debut but was a runaway winner. It was soft ground that day but on that showing she looks capable of following up.

In the opening leg of the jackpot Seattle Spell has shown some promise and was in need of his last run, his first since gelding. He meets a weak field in the All To Come Maiden Plate and could prove difficult to beat. Turf Conqueror has improved since joining his new stable having come on with each run. He looks ready now.

By Andrew Harrison

Leading South African owner Markus Jooste is slowly spreading his wings internationally with horses racing in Australia, Europe, England and Ireland.

Last Friday, 54 horses were entered for the Gr1 Investec Oaks, the premier English fillies’ Classic and highlight of Ladies’ Day at Epsom Downs on Friday, June 2, day one of the Investec Derby Festival, with Jooste having connections with four of the Oaks hopefuls.

Rhododendron (Sportinglife)

He has three in conjunction with the world’s leading ownership partnership according to the TGR rankings, Magnier, Tabor and Smith and one in his own right.

Key To My Heart, Longing and Pocketfullofdreams are owned in partnership with Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith and trained in Ireland by Aiden O’Brien.

The Sky Is Blazing races in the familiar Jooste silks and is trained in England by William Haggas.

Ireland’s champion trainer O’Brien has won the latest two renewals of the Oaks, with Minding (2016) and Qualify (2015), and been successful six times in all. He has the most entries (12) of any handler in 2017.

Heading the Ballydoyle contingent is Rhododendron, who ended 2016 by taking the G1 Dubai Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket in October. The three-year-old daughter of Galileo is the current Oaks favourite in the ante-post betting market.

Another leading contender from Ballydoyle is Hydrangea. She too is a daughter of Galileo and finished second to Rhododendron in the Dubai Fillies’ Mile. Hydrangea was triumphant on her reappearance at Leopardstown in the G3 Ballylinch Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial.

Longing has also been out in 2017, making a promising debut when third in a 10-furlong Leopardstown maiden on April 5.

The Investec Derby, the greatest Flat race in the world, has the highest prize money of any British contest, being worth £1,500,000, and the premier Classic is staged on Saturday, June 3, Derby Day.

– Racenews@racenewsonline.com

Picture: Investec Oaks ante-post favourite Rhodondren [Sportinglife]

Bernard Fayd’Herbe has been appointed first jockey to Snaith Racing’s Cape Town operation and he celebrated by riding a double for the stable at Kenilworth on Saturday plus a winner for Harold Crawford.

Chris Snaith said: “We have given Bernard carte blanche and he is well worth it. He will ride all ours in Cape Town that he can do the weight on. We can’t operate with jockeys wanting to get off horses any longer.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe (Nkosi Hlophe)

Fayd’Herbe has had a long, but sometimes on-off, association with the stable and there was a similar arrangement in the first half of last season until the yard decided to shop around for lighter jockeys.

Fayd’Herbe said: “My weight is good. I managed to get down to 55kg for one of my rides in Dubai and I will probably ride at 57kg here.”

Snaith snr was particularly impressed with the advice Fayd’Herbe gave him about 1 400m maiden winner The Right Road, explaining: “Bernard suggested trying him over further after he rode him over 1 200m – and it’s nice to have someone who can get off a horse and point you in the right direction like that.”

Dutch Philip booked his ticket for the Somerset 1200 on May 6 by taking the Juvenile Plate under Aldo Domeyer and apparently he is better than his Met day Listed third to Call To Account would suggest.

Candice Bass-Robinson said: “Things didn’t go right for him that day but we have always rated him. This was a little bit short and the Somerset will be a better distance.”

BLOB The 2014 Gold Cup winner Wavin’ Flag was one of two horses stolen from a racehorse rehoming yard in Philippi last week. He was found unhurt but the other, maiden winner Maximum Flo, had shattered sesamoids and had to be put down.

NHA boss Lyndon Barends, spurred into action by the Sporting Post’s Robyn Louw, has opened an inquiry. Under recent rule changes owners have a responsibility for their horses’ welfare after they are retired and Wavin’ Flag’s owners included some of the best known names in racing.

By Michael Clower

Made In Hollywood can show that last time’s six-length romp was no fluke by winning the Place Your Bets Juvenile Plate at Kenilworth on Saturday,

The Joey Ramsden filly led two furlongs out on Prix du Cap day and came right away to win in a common canter with Anton Marcus declaring: “She gave me a very smart feel.” True, the form has only been franked by fourth-placed Favola while the runner-up, fifth and seventh have all been well beaten since.

Joey Ramsden (Nkosi Hlophe)

But this R450 000 buy gave the impression of serious potential and she should be able to beat the other four previous winners in Saturday’s field. The Somerset-bound Dutch Philip would have run last week had the race not been scrapped and he was good enough to take third in the Met-day Listed race when starting a hot favourite.

Only two subsequent winners have come out of that 14-strong field but this is a smart colt. So too is Zodiac Jack who has a five-length win to his credit and should be forgiven last time’s odds-on defeat as he was found to be incubating an infection.

This race would have been scuppered for the second week running had not Ramsden put three in it. His juveniles are strong this season and it’s worth bearing in mind that Speedpoint had a bit in hand when springing an 11-1 surprise in a field of 16 that had subsequent winner Pen-Chan three lengths back third.

The stable’s third string Rose In Bloom is more difficult to fancy. She started odds-on last month but had to stretch to hold off Casual Diamond and has more on her plate here.

Ramsden introduces the R650 000 Var filly Ice Queen, whose dam is a sister to Mother Russia, in the first but riding arrangements point to stable companion Fours A Crowd who led on debut but weakened in the final 200m to take fourth to surprise winner Raya Baya.

However the debut form of Angel’s Trumpet suggests that the Snaith filly may prove the stronger. She had Merysagos, Delia’s Delight, Dragonair and Heart Of Legend well behind on her debut third to Regal Ruby and last Saturday’s winner Lily Theresa in a field of 18. But it’s worth noting that Heart Of Legend lost a fair bit of ground at the start that day.

BLOB All three of Michael Clower’s selections won last Saturday including Pen-Chan at 4-1.

By Michael Clower

Summerveld trainer Paul Lafferty is enjoying a fine run at present, especially with his juveniles, and despite having a string which totals just 45 horses he said there were more promising youngsters waiting in the wings.

Lafferty has one of the most exciting two-year-old fillies in the country, Touch Of Magic, who was landed for a bargain price at a Magic Millions Sale in Australia last year.

On debut over 1000m at Scottsville on March 1, this strongly built bay sat in behind the leaders, showing good cruising speed, and after being switched out by Diego De Gouveia quickened effortlessly to win by 3,75 lengths. The runner up Rose Hill finished a close second next time out to frank the form.

Paul Lafferty

Lafferty described Touch Of Magic as a “real machine” and was thrilled for owners Brian Riley, Michael Leaf and Sherwin Jerrier, whom he described as “absolute gentleman to train for.”

He added, “The Allan Robertson is her aim. She is a bomb and we are just keeping her ticking over. If we find the right race she could come out before then, but I wouldn’t worry at all about sending her straight into the Allan Robertson.”

Touch Of Magic already has considerable paddock value.

Earlier this year her dam Moccasin Bend, who is by the USA-bred Majestic Light stallion Eternity Range, made headlines.

Her Not A Single Doubt colt fetched Aus$725,000 at the Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast knocked down to the Shadwell Stud of Sheik Hamdan’s.

Three years earlier new breeder Gary Castledine had bought Moccasin Bend, a Gr 2 W A Guineas winner, for Aus$135,000 in foal to four-time Gr 1-winner Sepoy. The latter was both the champion two-year-old and three-year-old colt in Australia.

Lafferty liked the look of the resultant foal, Touch Of Magic, and with Brian Riley accompanying him secured her for what now looks a bargain Aus$75,000.

Lafferty has five young Judpots in his string as he regards him as an excellent value stallion.

On Sunday his Judpot colt Sniper Shot won a Juvenile Plate over 1200m at Greyville from pillar to post under 4kg claimer Ashton Arries, beating among others the smart Cape colt Sir Frenchie into third by 1,5 lengths.

Touch Of Magic (Nkosi Hlophe)

That was his second win in succession and Lafferty said, “He is useful and speedy. Our Captain Al colt Freddie Flint, who finished fourth in the Sentinel Stakes, is also promising. But we have some unraced two-year-old colts who are better than them, including a couple of Australian-breds and one by Count Dubois.

He hoped some of his two-year-old males would prove to be Gr 1 class, although he recognised the strength and depth of the Cape and Gauteng campaigners among the crop.

The yard’s Elusive Fort filly Crymeariver “could be anything” after winning a Juvenile Plate over 1200m at Scottsville on debut, beating the well regarded winner Neptune’s Rain. On paper her form compares favourably with her Maiden Juvenile Plate-winning stablemate, the Rebel King filly Simply Scrumptious. However, Lafferty believes these fillies are not up to the class of Touch Of Magic.

Lafferty has sent out eleven winners since March 1 at a strike rate of 27,5%.

His puts his recent success down to team effort and also made particular mention of the benefit of a Faradic Machine. This impulse therapy machine treats horses every day at the yard. It has double benefit to owners, who are not charged for its use, as it keeps the veterinarians at bay. An example of its positive affect can be seen in the filly Pearl Emblem. She was transformed from a battling one-time winner into a horse who won a further six races in the space of six months.

Lafferty’s horses have been turned out in magnificent condition lately and he attributed this partly to the two very good “clippers” (who could be termed equine hairdressers) he has working for him.

By David Thiselton