A string of disappointing performances by his horses over the summer and particularly Sun Met day, led trainer Dean Kannemeyer to discover that his Milnerton-based string has been infected with a low-grade virus.

Dean Kannemeyer (Nkosi Hlophe)

Kannemeyer issued a public statement yesterday stating; “When all of my Met day runners performed so poorly I realised that something was definitely amiss. The difficulty is that, despite the virus, the horses eat well and work well, but do not display any outward symptoms of illness. But their falling away late in their races and fading to nothing suggested that all was definitely not well”.

Kannemeyer, whose Summerveld satellite base in KwaZulu-Natal has been regularly producing winners, called in leading veterinarian Dr John McVeigh who took the bloods from his runners after the Met and randomly tested 18 horses in his Cape yard.

The results came back positive last Monday, 6 February.

According to McVeigh, this virus is common and widespread throughout the equine population worldwide.

“I am told that the virus will go as quickly as it arrived. We will thus be treating the entire string and ease off them for at least a fortnight,” said Kannemeyer. He added that the virus was not expected to have any impact on his SA Champions Season plans and that it would be business as usual later on this month in the Cape.

By Andrew Harrison

Turffontein Standside stages an eight race meeting on Tuesday night and not surprisingly some good horses have been attracted on the eve of the Highveld Autumn Season.

The headliner is a Conditions Plate over 1400m and it is worth visiting the track for this race alone as it sees an intriguing clash between New Predator and Kangaroo Jack. On paper there is not much between them. Kangaroo Jack won easing up the last time they met over 1450m in October and at level weights was 2,2 lengths ahead of New Predator at the line. However, New Predator is now 6kg better off which brings them together on paper. New Predator was also making his seasonal reappearance in that race and likely needed it. Furthermore, he had a wide draw and after being dropped out he had too much to do. This is his first run since returning from Cape Town and he might also need it as it is likely a pipe opener for the Autumn season.

New Predator (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, importantly, he is well drawn this time so should be closer turning for home. He is classy and 1400m running fresh will be right down his alley, so he is tipped to win. However, there is unlikely to be much in it. Kangaroo Jack will likely be more forward and has never looked in danger of defeat in his last two starts over this sort of distance. He doesn’t have a bad draw of six. On paper Forest Fox also has a shout, being 1,5kg better off with Kangaroo Jack for a 0,5 length beating over course and distance.

However, Kangaroo Jack won that race hands and heels and was being eased at the line. Forest Fox was once a frustrating sort, who would get out it at the slightest opportunity, but he has become consistent lately and is beginning to fulfil his potential. Will Pays is only 0,5kg better off for a two length beating by Kangaroo Jack over 1450m in October. He has gone off the boil in his last two starts too, so will need to bounce back. Bulleting Home is a strapping sort, who is likely at his best over 1400m. He will also relish the long straight here, although he has a tricky draw of seven.

In race three, a Conditions Plate over 1000m, Green Pepper could take another step towards proving herself a likely successor to the current best female sprinter in the land, Carry On Alice. She is officially only third best in the weights here running off a merit rating of 106, but looks to have plenty more to come. She beat her chief danger here, Joan Ranger, by 3,75 lengths back in November over course and distance when receiving 7,5kg. They now face each other at level weights and, considering weight for age allowances per month, this puts them just about together.

Furthermore, Joan Ranger was a touch unlucky that day as she didn’t get her usual good start. Joan Ranger has speed and a good kick at the end so is going to be a tough nut to crack, especially as the Lucky Houdalakis yard is in such fine form. However, the verdict goes to the exciting prospect Green Pepper, albeit only just. Old Em is officially the best in at the weights, but has to bounce back from a 17 length beating by Green Pepper over 1160m on Summer Cup day, where she was found to be not striding out.

A Pinnacle Stakes staying race over 2450m will also be a highlight. These races often throw up results which make a mockery of the merit ratings. The best weighted horse here, Cool Chardonnay, looks likely to need the run, although no Weiho Marwing-trained horse can ever be completely discounted in a staying event. Go Direct is the up-and-coming stand out of the race and is tipped to win, being a son of Go Deputy whose progeny come into their own as four-year-olds and who have stamina aplenty.

Consistent stayer Storm Warning goes very well for Piere Strydom and is the second best in at the weights, so looks the chief danger. Officially he is 1,5kg well in with Go Direct. Odd Rob is an interesting contender, despite officially being 6,5kg under sufferance with Cool Chardonnay. He over raced with blinkers on in his penultimate start over 3200m and otherwise could have gone close. The blinkers are now off. The Elmo Effect is also out at the weights, but is consistent over this trip. Kingmambo’s Legacy is a runner from pole over a suitable trip. He is 1,5kg better off with Go Direct for a 1,4 length beating over 2000m. Deputy Jud is not the most reliable and could be in it if things go his way, but he does have a wide draw to overcome.

By David Thiselton

The first foal of the French-bred Treve, twice winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, was born on February 1 and served to highlight the saturation of the Northern Dancer and Mr Prospector cross which exists in the modern thoroughbred.

The foal is by Dubawi, champion sire of France in 2015 and record holder for the quickest to ever reach 50 Group winners. Dubawi also has more Group winners at present than any other sire at the same stage of their careers. He has 26 Gr 1 winners to date and is the flagship stallion of Darley, the worldwide stallion operation of Sheik Mohammed, Ruler Of Dubai.

Treve (Supplied)

Treve’s first foal has two lines of Mr Prospector mixed in with six lines of Northern Dancer. She stunned the racing world in 2013 by scooting to a five length victory in the Arc at odds of 9/2, annihilating the 2/1 favourite Orfevre. She had an interrupted 2014 season and went into the Arc as an 11/1 shot on the back of three losses in succession. However, she romped to an easy two length victory.

Ironically, she was an even money favourite to make it three-in-a-row in 2015, but could only manage fourth. Treve, trained by Criquette Head-Maarek, won nine races in 13 starts and six of those wins were Gr 1s. She is owned by Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani (Al Shaqab Racing) of Qatar. Her first foal was born at Sheik Joaan’s Haras de Bouquetot at midday last Wednesday.

Meanwhile in the USA the brilliant racehorse but luckless broodmare Zenyatta is due to foal down to Medaglia D’oro soon. Zenyatta won her first 19 starts, including 13 Gr 1s, but was beaten in her 20^th and final start in the Breeders Cup Classic, although she only just failed in that race and was most unlucky.

As a broodmare her two runners to date are yet to win in a combined total of six starts. Her other two foals tragically had to be euthanized. The foal by Medaglia D’Oro out of Zenyatta will be 4×4 to the Northern Dancer and Mr Prospector cross.

Meanwhile, Rachel Alexander, who ousted Zenyatta as Eclipse Horse Of The Year in 2009, was not covered in any of the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons due to complications in the birth of her last foal.

However, her two foals to date have both won. The second of them, Rachel’s Valentina by Bernadini, was a Gr 1 winner and finished second in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Rachel Alexandra’s first foal was a colt, Jess’s Dream, and his impressive debut win proved to be his only start. He is now a sire. Rachel Alexandra was by Medaglia D’Oro. There is, of course, a long list of great race mares who have not made it at stud.

However, South Africa are fortunate to have the blood of one of the North American greats who did succeed at stud too.

Glorious Song, a Canadian-bred daughter of Halo, won four Gr 1s and at stud produced three notable racehorses-turned-sire, Rahy, Singspiel and Rakeen.

Rakeen was imported to South Africa and won a Gr 2 and a Gr 3 as well as finishing third in the Durban July. At stud he sired Jet Master, five-time Gr 1 winner and twice Horse Of The Year, before becoming the greatest SA-bred stallion in history, winning the national sires title seven times.

However, Glorious Song is in stark contrast to Jet Master’s own dam, Jet Lightning, who only won two races and whose ten foals yielded only one stakes winner.

By David Thiselton

Budapest, the horse not the city, has always had ability but it has taken patience for him to realise his full potential after pulling off a surprise victory in the big Lanzerac Ready To Run sales race two seasons back.

Racing in pacifiers appear to have done the trick and he came from the clouds to land the Pinnacle Stakes at Scottsville yesterday.

One never knows what you get from enigmatic Sylvester The Cat, but he brought his A-game to the track yesterday and set a smart early pace under replacement rider Jarred Samuel. With the line in sight it looked as if ‘Sylvester’ would hold on for his fifth victory, but Budapest finished with a rattle to nail him on the line in a fine training feat by Gareth van Zyl for owner Brian Burnard.

Budapest (Candise Marenwick)

The two principal runners in the Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares, Lala and favourite Impala Lily, finished in that order but it was hardly a contest. The two met in the Flamboyant Stakes where Lala had the worst of the draw finishing down the field with Impala Lily second. Lala proved the form all wrong as she was given a copybook ride by Anton Marcus.

“We were under a bit of pressure,” said Doug Campbell. “I got Albert (Rapp) to come down from Jo’Burg for the race.”

Always travelling well, Marcus produced her with a trouble-free stretch run to win comfortably.

Impala Lily, on the other hand, took time to find her rhythm and Anthony Delpech was forced to switch in and out of traffic before she finally got going to edge out Spring In Seattle for second.

Objections are never without their share of controversy and it was touch-and-go in the third where Diamante and La Suerte De Matar came together in a tight finish with the stipendiary stewards calling for a race review immediately after the runners crossed the line.

Duncan Howells eventually decided to object on behalf of second-placed Las Suerte De Matar. It was pretty much a 50-50 call according to a relieved Mark Dixon with Diamante getting the benefit of any doubt.

The stable has been in mustard form of late and added a double although the blood pressure will have risen for the second time in just a couple of hours as The Poet had to thread his way through some heavy traffic.

At the top of the straight Keagan de Melo picked a clear run up the outside rail, The Poet moving with De Melo sitting with a double handful. However, most of the riders in the field had similar ideas and it was plan B for De Melo as the door was firmly shut.

Dixon, watching from his favourite table, let fly in anguish, but De Melo switching in for a second go, got The Poet to respond and get to grips with Warren Kennedy and Putchini, putting his head down when it counted. Eric Denman, acting on behalf of his United States-based brother Trevor and wife Robin, was even more relieved. “This has got to be the most unlucky horse in training. He had no luck in his last two. Thank goodness it changed today but it was close.”

The Poet has had his problems. “He’s much better than a two-time winner,” said Dixon and on the evidence of this win, a change of luck and staying sound should give substance to that opinion.

By Andrew Harrison

Mark Dixon hit form with a double at Scottsville on Sunday and his smart filly Isingamoya can get back to winning ways at the same venue today where she is joint top weight in a FM 92 Divided Handicap over 1200m. Three of her four wins have been over course and distance and she makes a return to female company again after taking on some smart males in a set weights event last time out.

Isingamoya (Nkosi Hlophe)

Although she has won around the turn on the Greyville poly track she does appear better on the turf down the Scottsville straight where she recorded her last win beating the useful Deep Down Rebel giving the runner-up 8.5kg.

On the strength of that showing she was sent to the Highveld for a crack at the Gr2 Magnolia Handicap but after showing good pace she folded over the last 100m to finish fourth behind the highly-rated Green Pepper.

Similar tactics were tried last time out in a Pinnacle Stakes event at Greyville but she found the promising Amazon King too smart.

She faces a fair field this afternoon and if looking past Isingamoya, one can make out a case for a number of runners.

Just Vogue and Miss Varlicious finished on top of each other when last they met and both have held form. Miss Varlicious has been a victim of her own consistency and although down a further pound in the handicap she may still need more relief to make it back to the winner’s enclosure.

Free State is another course and distance specialist but has not been out since October last year and may be found in need of an outing. Having said that, she has yet to miss the frame. Shezaleader was promoted ahead of Free State when last they met but the former has turned in five modest efforts since although her last showing was an improvement.

Miss Varlicious (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the card opener, Trini’s Var Hyt was the subject of an inspired gamble on debut in one of the first 800m scurries in December, taking on the odds-on favourite Argo Magic. Blinkers and Anton Marcus aboard were the obvious pointers and Kom Naidoo’s filly skated in by over three lengths. Argo Magic franked that form winning comfortably at Greyville next time out and seventh placed Royal Explorer also winning his next outing.

The trio meet again this afternoon and with fillies generally quicker to mature the result could be the same.

Techno Captain is often a difficult customer on the home gallops but Paul Gadsby does rate him and the gelding showed a glimpse of his ability when second behind the well fancied Roman Emperor at Greyville earlier this month. The penny appears to have dropped and if Sean Veale can keep the lid on his mount he can go one better in the second.

Courageous King went off the boil in the early part of this season and was then given a break by Mark Dixon. Two runs back saw a much improved effort and he should be able to carry that improvement through to win in a somewhat desperate field that makes up the first leg of the PA.

Fashion Quest, having her third run after a break and back over what appears to be her optimum trip, strikes as a likely winner of the fourth but the Duncan Howells pair of Roy’s Kaitrina and Hour Glass strike as dangers.

By Andrew Harrison

Miss Frankel, so disappointing when starting at 5-10 on debut at Kenilworth ten days ago, will not race again before returning to Durban.

Dennis Drier said: “Miss Frankel was 100% afterwards but she just didn’t bring her homework to the track. That has happened before [with other horses] and it will happen again.”

The second foal of champion sprinter Val De Ra, Miss Frankel is the only offspring of the undefeated superstar to race in South Africa so far. Frankel commands a stud fee of £125 000 (R2.1 million). The reports of his daughter’s homework had been good but she was niggled at from the off and managed only seventh of 12 to fellow newcomer Magical Wonderland.

By Michael Clower

The Sun Met racemeeting, celebrated with G.H.Mumm at Kenilworth on Saturday, was of such a high standard in every way it prompted an English owner to call South African racing the best in the world.

Brett Crawford (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ironically, in Sun International’s first year of sponsorship following the 39 year stint of whisky-producing J&B, the big race winner was named Whisky Baron. The Brett Crawford-trained four-year-old Australian-bred gelding is owned under the banner of Ridgemont Stud, which was formed by the Kieswetter family, Wayne and Belinda and their sons Ross and Craig. It was decided Ross and Craig would race all of this partnership’s male horses in their colours, which are reminiscent of Scotland’s national flag, while the fillies run in the Ridgemont colours.

Craig represented England in one day cricket 71 times, but his career was ended by an eye injury. Mother Belinda was born in Scotland and among entrepreneurial father Wayne’s business ventures is a partnership in a Scottish whisky distillery.

The win gave Crawford a third Met and jockey Greg Cheyne a first. Two years ago Crawford completed the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and Met double with Futura, only to see the horse depart his yard a few weeks later due to a dispute between the owners. However, fortune compensated him at the end of the same year when he inherited Whisky Baron after a split between the Kieswetters and their original trainer.

Whisky Baron extended his unbeaten run as a gelding to five starts. He and the favourite Legal Eagle were the stand outs in the preliminaries. In the back straight Whisky Baron became trapped wide and his chances hung in the balance. However, this horse has a laid back demeanour and jockey Greg Cheyne had little difficulty in easing him back and slotting him in.

Whisky Baron (Liesl King)

Anton Marcus had to get to work earlier in the straight on Legal Eagle than he had last year as  Captain America and Gold Standard were showing no signs of stopping in front. Whisky Baron was meanwhile making inroads after turning for home about eight lengths off the lead. His white near-fore sock made it easy to see how well he was throwing that leading leg out.

The leading trio’s strides were laboured by the time he had caught them just before the 100m mark and he swept past in machine-like fashion to win by 1,5 lengths. Runner up Legal Eagle was carrying a 2kg Gr 1 penalty, but Whisky Baron was being eased down at the line.

The winner’s stablemate Captain America repeated his third placing from last year. An objection against him by three-year-old Gold Standard was overruled. Second favourite Marinaresco turned for home on Whisky Baron’s heels, but couldn’t match his initial turn of foot. He was finishing fast for fifth. French Navy pipped the filly Bela-Bela for the all important sixth place.

The Vodacom Durban July looks likely to be on Whisky Baron’s radar, so the handicappers’ view of the race will be important.

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

Earlier, Englishman Dr John Warner had waxed lyrical about South African racing. He had every reason to feel elated as the mare he part-owns, Carry On Alice, had just won the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships over 1000m under S’Manga Khumalo. The five-year-old daughter of Captain Al has now won a Gr 1 in all four of her racing seasons.

She is yet to win an Equus award and might be hard pressed to do so in this season’s Sprinter category, because the performance of the day undoubtedly belonged to the Cape Flying runner up, Trip To Heaven. This five-year-old Trippi gelding lost at least five lengths at the start, yet failed by just 0,3 lengths to catch his stablemate. The result gave Sean Tarry a Gr 1 one-two. Gr 1 Mercury Sprint winner Red Ray was third and the filly Jo’s Bond proved her recent defeat of Carry On Alice was no fluke by finishing fourth. The veteran Tevez was a gallant fifth.

Earlier Carry On Alice’s formline had been enhanced when the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained filly Live Life won the US$500,000 CTS Sprint over 1200m under Grant van Niekerk. The Gr 2 Sceptre Stakes victor produced another powerful finish to beat Gr 1 winner Always In Charge. Trippi had one over Captain Al on this occasion. Attenborough was third.

Nightingale (Liesl King)

Later, Bass-Robinson’s heart must have sunk when she saw Silver Mountain’s promising run petering out in the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes. However, it didn’t matter in the end as the stablemate, the Silvano filly Nightingale, produced a strong finish to get up, beating Star Express and Goodtime Gal. This was Bass-Robinson’s official first Gr 1 winner, having taken the reins from her legendary father Mike at the beginning of this season. It was also a first Gr 1 win for the familiar duo of jockey Anthony Delpech and owner-breeder Mary Slack since their official retained-status partnership begun.

Earlier, Gold Standard’s Met chances had been enhanced when his Grand Parade Cape Guineas conqueror, the Captain Al colt William Longsword, stormed to victory in the US$500,000 CTS Mile under Anton Marcus, defeating 35/1 shot Copper Force by 1,75 lengths. Dingaans winner Singapore Sling was next best.

The result also enhanced the form chances of the Crawford-trained Count Dubois colt Edict Of Nantes in the Investec Cape Derby. Edict Of Nantes duly won it to give an elated Frankie Dettori a first Gr 1 victory in South Africa, twenty years after missing out on the Queen’s Plate ride on London News due to illness. The Derby race time was nearly five seconds slower than the Met’s. However, the result proved form and distance suitability to be the two ultimate guides.

Crawford’s day had begun with a hair’s breadth victory for Bold Silvano colt Bold Respect in the R1 million Kuda Sprint under Corne Orffer.

Crawford clinched a memorable four-timer when Orffer won the eleventh on Winter Prince.

By David Thiselton

The Sun Met 2017

Greg Cheyne, won on Whisky Baron: “When I asked him for his effort he turned it on superbly. Some horses quicken but this one has two kicks.”

Anton Marcus, second on Legal Eagle: “He tried hard and he ran up to his best. In fact he ran the same race as last year.”

Corne Orffer, third on Captain America: “I thought for a time that he might hold on but then he started running outwards, using up his energy. I could have been a lot closer had he kept straight.”

Richard Fourie, fourth on Gold Standard: “It was a good run but I got interfered with. Captain America carried me out the width of eight horses.”

Grant van Niekerk, fifth on Marinaresco: “He is not travelling in a race like he used to and I need to figure out why his putting in only half the effort he should.”

Weichong Marwing, sixth on French Navy: “Everything went according to plan but he just kept on at the one pace.”

Piere Strydom, eighth on It’s My Turn: “He didn’t take the bend and I had to slap him down the shoulder to keep him in.”

Frankie Dettori, 13^th on The Conglomerate: “He was OK early but he was soon throwing out distress signals. He took me to the straight and then he ran flat.”

By Michael Clower