The Alec Laird-trained six-year-old Bezrin gelding Bezanova relished the soft ground at Turffontein Standside yesterday and produced a strong finish on the outside to win the Gr 2 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m under Randall Simons.

The big chestnut won the Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile as a four-year-old. He also won the KZN Breeders Mile later that season, following a cracking third in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge. However, going into yesterday’s race he had appeared to have lost interest and had not made the frame for his last seven starts.

However, he was well weighted on his best form yesterday, carrying just 54kg, and was backed into 9/1.

Bezanova (Nkosi Hlophe)

The meeting was postponed from Saturday and there were five scratchings, leaving 12 runners facing the starter.

Bezanova was slotted into midfield from a draw of six as stablemates Arctica and Amsterdam set a steady pace up front. The 3/1 favourite Liege was next and was followed by the fancied Master ‘N Commander.

Liege got the better of the front runners in the straight and the only three-year-old in the field Bold Rex also ran on well. However, they had no answer to Bezanova’s powerful finish, in which his long stride was seen back at its best. Liege was beaten 0,5 lengths into second and Bold Rex was third. Arctica was next best ahead of Coltrane, while Master ‘N Commander ran a disappointing second last.

Earlier, the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained three-year-old Gimmethegreenlight filly Green Pepper proved herself a sprinter with a big future when waltzing away with the Listed Gardenia Stakes over 1000m and she provided the first leg of e feature double for Randall Simons. She was officially 6,5kg under sufferance being a progressive sort who had only reached a merit rating of 86 in three runs. To beat older fillies and mares at this stage of the season by a comfortable 2,25 lengths was some performance. Another three-year-old, Queen Laurie, finished second and Crystal Glamour was third. The topweight Joan Ranger was a touch slow away, so did well to finish fourth, and the second favourite, three-year-old Exquisite Touch, was fifth. Green Pepper, a powerful bay, started favourite at 15/10.

Earlier in a hotly contested Pinnacle Stakes race over 1160m, the Equus Champion Sprinter Talktothestars could only manage fifth place as the Tarry-trained Trip To Heaven romped home to a comfortable victory under S’Manga Khumalo. Talktothestars (merit rated 121), Legal Eagle (120), Abashiri (117), Trip To Heaven (114), Dollar Dazzler (107) and Doing It For Dan (105) all carried 61,5kg. Talktothestars set the pace but Trip To Heaven, who was making his seasonal reappearance, enjoyed the conditions and cruised past to win by two lengths. Splendid Garden, merit rated only 99, was officially 8kg under sufferance with Talktothestars, but is known to be a quirky sort and he had one of his going days, running on for second. The reigning Equus Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle made a cracking seasonal reappearance over a trip well short of his best to run a 2,4 length third. Pivotal Pursuit was fourth and Talktothestars faded late to finish 3,1 lengths back in ground which may not have suited him.

By David Thiselton

Rabada, injured in the Charity Mile nine days ago, is to undergo further tests in an effort to discover the full extent of the problem.

Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

Brett Crawford said: “His near-fore was quite swollen after the race. We are not quite sure what it is and we are going to have to rescan the leg but he will be rested for three months.”

Last season’s Daily News winner was the original favourite for the Sansui Summer Cup but Vodacom Durban July winner The Conglomerate is still as short as 14-1 despite finishing only ninth in the Charity Mile.

Joey Ramsden, reporting him on the course for the big Turffontein race on Saturday week, said: “He was fine afterwards. It was just that he didn’t catch a draw and he was slowly away.”

Stable companion Table Bay (Anton Marcus) will start at short odds for the Selangor Cup at Kenilworth on Saturday, not least because he has 7kg in hand on official ratings. Ramsden, bidding to win the Grade 2 for the fifth time in six years, said that going straight to the Cape Guineas was never really an option – “there is such a big gap between the Cape Classic and the Guineas that you have to do something in the meantime.”

Marcus also partners the highest merit-rated in the Lanzerac Ready To Run whose winning purse is five times as much as the Selangor at R1.25 million. The Vaughan Marshall-trained Grade 1 winner Always In Charge has a theoretical 2kg in hand over the next best, Sergeant Hardy. Anthony Delpech rides this one for Justin Snaith.

By Michael Clower

Jo’s Bond and Anthony Delpech can take the Laisserfaire Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow when so many of the top weight’s 13 rivals have question marks against them.

Anthony Delpech (Liesl King)

Four of them have not raced for three months or more and another four will effectively be carrying overweight. Although this is a handicap it is also a Listed race and therefore apprentices can’t claim.

Mind you, Jo’s Bond is not proven off her new mark (up from 93 to 99) because she had the benefit of a useful 4kg claimer when she won last time and her task here is considerably stiffer. But she is provenly race fit and that is a huge plus.

Some horses – but not that many – can give of their best after a lengthy break but few Cape Town trainers really have the facilities to get the others fully racing fit first time and that could make things difficult for the likes of forecast favourite Chevauchee. Glen Kotzen may be able to do it with Our Destiny and Trip To India and Andre Nel is similarly in a position to overcome things with Hoist The Mast.

The three-year-olds have scope for improvement in them and it could well be significant that after Live Life won at Durbanville Candice Bass-Robinson said: “We are very excited about her – and she has a lot of speed.” Grant van Niekerk can get within half a kilo of the allotted 52kg.

Miranda Frost is 2.5kg wrong with most of the field but she is almost certainly better – much better –than her 88 handicap mark because she was found to be suffering a significant naval discharge after the Perfect Promise when she gave Live Life 2kg and finished two lengths behind her. But Akshay Balloo can’t claim here and nor can Brandon May on Primrose Lane who is, by my calculations, already 4kg under sufferance with most of the others.

Beach Goddess has a big chance – she didn’t feel right last time according to her rider – but she has repeatedly lost ground at the start. She is quite close with Come Fly With Me on Champagne form but that could be unreliable here as the race was run in the soft. Varumba should not be far away but her last two runs have suggested that the handicappers have her measure. Recent form puts Dixie Express quite close with her.

Sean Veale has to get down to 52 kg for Twinkle Toes who has won three of her last four but he is going to have to sit tight. This is the horse who nearly decapitated Shadley Fortune at Durbanville.

Sail South appeals in the NRC Charity Plate Pinnacle and old reliable Tevez can do it again in the Haak Fourie & Snyman Pinnacle.

By Michael Clower

The Gr 2 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday is the last big pointer to the Sansui Summer Cup, but is never an easy race to assess as some horses use it as a preparation while others need big runs to make it into the Summer Cup field.

Liege (Nkosi Hlophe)

Liege should start coming into his own a four-year-old being a son of Dynasty and he looks ideally course and distance suited. He won the Gr 3 Jubilee Handicap in June over the course and distance. He has had two starts this season, winning the last of them over 2000m. He beat Bankable Teddy by 0,75 lengths in that race and now faces him on the same terms. Furthermore, he should be cherry ripe and is drawn in pole position.

St. Tropez enjoys a galloping track like this one and will require a big run to make sure of his place in the Summer Cup field. He is another who could well come into his own this season being a five-year-old by Silvano. He moved up well in the Charity Mile before running out of steam, which suggested he needed the run. The wide draw is a concern but Anton Marcus is up. Marcus must think a little bit of him considering he chose to ride him in the Vodacom Durban July ahead of the ultimate winner The Conglomerate.

Master Switch is yet another horse who will likely reach his peak this season and he proved it with a good win over this trip at the Vaal, beating his stablemate Master Sabina. Geoff Woodruff has an unbelievable recent record in the Summer Cup, so this race will likely bring Master Switch to his peak for that race.

Coltrane (Liesl King)

Prince Of Orange is an interesting contender as one who has always been highly tried. He won from a tough draw on Grand Heritage day and should enjoy this step up in trip. He has a plum draw of two. Judicial is a perennial contender for the Summer Cup, in which he has placed in the last two renewals. Last year he won the Victory Moon but carries 6kg more weight this time around. He will still be a factor as his sustained finish suits the Standside track.

Coltrane is a staying type who has proved effective over this trip before. That will particularly be the case on this galloping track. He has a wide draw, but has Piere Strydom up, so is one of the dark horses.

Master ‘N Commander is well weighted and has a fair draw of eight. He comes from the Woodruff yard and will need a big run to get into the Summer Cup field. This is his third run after a layoff and he has proved he stays this trip before. He also showed himself to be in good heart last time when winning over 1450m.

Bankable Teddy can’t be ignored. Bold Rex is a three-year-old on the up who will love the course and distance. However, he is officially 7kg under sufferance with Judicial, so has a tough task. Easy Love caught the eye last time out when unlucky behind Master Switch and could be coming back to his best. Rocketball has a huge stride and will love this course and distance, but he has been a bit disappointing lately. Enaad is another with an outside chance and although he would prefer further he should be cherry ripe and can stay on into the money.

St Tropez (Nkosi Hlophe)

Joan Ranger is a classy sort who has won a feature over 1160m here and also finished a fine third in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint. She runs in the Listed Gardenia Stakes and has landed a high draw, which is sometimes favourable at this track. She is officially well weighted in this race and has her third run after a rest, so is the one to beat and is a potential banker.

The best bet on the card is likely in the last race, a MR 72 Handicap over 1160m. Ebony Knight cruised to a wide margin victory in a maiden last time over 1200m. The handicapping rules state a four-year-old maiden winner in a major centre cannot be merit rated above a 70 nett. This horse’s merit rating of 70 might well be capped, so he likely has a weight advantage.

The value bet is in the fourth race over 1600m in the form of Misty Roller. He caught the eye in  no uncertain terms over 1400m here when running the fastest time from 400m to finish. He can upset the hard knocking Pajama Party, who over raced in his first attempt at the trip and has drawn one outside of Misty Roller.

The Equus Champion Sprinter Talktothestars appears in a Pinnacle Stakes races over 1000m. He is officially very well weighted but does have a low draw which might make him vulnerable to the speedy Buckland. The latter is out at the weights but has excellent gatespeed and early speed and the best has unlikely been seen of him yet.

By David Thiselton

Race 1
Preview: LAUREN OF ROCHELLE made a smart debut but followed that up with a below par effort second time out. She maybe was tried over ground a bit too quickly and now back over a sprint could be very hard to beat. HERACLES returns from a rest but did finish second before that – he has had a few bites at the cherry but should win his maiden one of these days. TIGER WARRIOR has been close up in his last two and could make the frame today. (Warren Lenferna 7-1-2)

Race 2
Preview: CAPE SPEED is a very good horse but is returning from KZN and a rest. He is the best horse in the race if ratings are anything to go by and despite this possibly being a prep run, his ability and class should pull him through – winning selection but with caution. KILRAIN and SOLAR NIGHT should get into the mix in a small field. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-5)

Race 3
Preview: COPPER FORCE applied lots of pressure to Star Of Joseph last time all the way to the wire and he now looks ready to go one better. There is opposition and the biggest threat looks to be SCRIPTWRITER who has finished second in his last two – he has a massive winning chance. PLANO caught the eye on debut and with natural improvement should be able to get into the first four. (Warren Lenferna 8-4-10)

Race 4
Preview: MOON PRINCESS is a winner without a penalty. She won last time but was demoted in the board room for shifting around in the closing stages of the race. She has improved with each and every run and looks very hard to beat here. SIXTH STATION improved last time and now tries 1400m for the first time and gets the services of KZN based jockey Anthony Delpech – these are positive factors and she could improve some more and go very close. CURATRIX misbehaved on debut but ran a fair race – she should relish the extra distance and can improve to place. GET YOUR GUN gets some extra distance and she too can improve big time to get into the action at what could be a nice price. (Warren Lenferna 2-12-9)

Race 5
Preview: BARITONE was eating up the ground last time to finish close up to Captain America. He has been selected as the best bet on the card and he should be much fitter than he was last time now being his second run back from a rest. MIDNITE ZONE has consistent form and it would be simply silly to not give him a strong chance – but he will have to run some to beat Baritone! BLACK ARTHUR is returning from KZN and a rest – he is tops and can turn it on. This distance now is more than likely too short for him and he is one to follow for the season. He should be running on powerfully and can place. (Warren Lenferna 3-4-2)

Race 6
Preview: TIN SOLDIER is coming back to form steadily and looks ready to score his second career win. CUDUIARI is ultra consistent and should be right there once again. BANNER HILL was one paced last time but he is better than that and can bounce right back to best here. (Warren Lenferna 5-9-3)

Race 7
Preview: An exciting feature race where the three year olds look set to dominate! MIRANDA FROST has shown that she has ability and is an exciting prospect for the future. Her come back run the other day was good and she should be much sharper now – light weight, fair draw and she looks very hard to beat. LIVE LIFE was an expensive purchase and she is coming along the right way – she asserted herself to win well last time and she has a big chance once again. PRIMROSE LANE has solid form and only tasted defeat for the first time last time finishing second. She looks good and has a chance. TWINKLE TOES must be included in the quartet but they will all have to run some to beat talented MIRANDA FROST!

Race 8
Preview: HACK GREEN is confidently selected to remain unbeaten. REAL PRINCESS can turn it on in the closing stages of a race and has class about her – big respect and big chance. PERCIVAL is going for four in a row but has more to do against these – in saying that he has a quartet chance. (Warren Lenferna 10-7-11)

Race Previews Greyville Sunday Nov 13 by Andrew Harrison

Race 1

Preview: Desperately poor field. GONDWANA has run two fair races at Durbanville and makes his poly debut. He doesn’t have to be too good to win here. STREET BOY has improved at recent outings over further. Best effort on the poly over a mile. LORD LUTON is along-time battling maiden but is better than his last two and should feature in this company. ROMAN EMPEROR is a well-bred first timer and possibly one to watch in the market. (Andrew Harrison: 8-2-1-12).

Race 2

Preview: Another poor field. STARWIN has shown some promise and now starts in blinkers. Distance suited and rates the one to beat. SOMNIUM disappointed at her second outing after making a promising debut. She tries blinkers and must have a strong chance in a poor field. The stable thinks ARRAN ISLES will run a good race and worth including in all bets. Anton Marcus rides the well-bred VARSONIC and is one to watch in the betting although the stable believes she needs further. (Andrew Harrison: 2-11-8-12)

Race 3

Preview: RED MOON AT NIGHT has been a touch disappointing at her last two but is back in blinkers and can make amends. LUNAR RUSH returns from a break. She has done well to stronger but may need the run. SEATOPS makes her poly debut. She was favourite for her first run out of the maidens and can still improve. TIMEOUS goes well over course and distance and can place. (Andrew Harrison: 3-7-6-2)

Race 4

Preview: SPECIAL ENCOUNTER was close-up in a modest field last time out but has improved at recent outings. The extra should suit. ELYSIAN PARK has not been far back in two local starts and takes a big drop in class. He has a fair weight but meets very little of note. EL BOMBERO has been trying further on the Highveld and but has not been far back. The switch to poly in a poor field could do the trick. TRINITY HALL has improved at his last two in blinkers. He is down in class from his last run and can feature. MARRON was a recent maiden winner but has shown some promise in good company. However, he has a tough draw and a big weight. (Andrew Harrison: 6-2-9-11).

Race 5

Preview: AFRICAN SUNBIRD won well on debut and although she takes a steep rise in class she looks capable of following up. WELL IN FLIGHT has been consistent on the turf of late. She handles the poly and rates a strong chance. MUSIC WORLD won her last two over course and distance. She has drawn well and at best is another in with a strong winning chance. FANTASY LADY won well first time back from a break. She is lightly raced and can follow up. RUBY GEM has a light weight and is another to consider. (Andrew Harrison: 8-4-5-3).

Race 6

Preview: SEVEN SINGLE has some useful Highveld form. He is well drawn and if he takes to the poly he will be a big runner. SILVER ROSE takes on stronger here but won very well in blinkers last time out and with a light weight can follow up. RUN RHINO RUN has been consistent. He steps up in trip and is overdue another win. RIKITIKITANA found his best form when winning last time out, this third run after a break. There should be little between him, OLE GUNNAR, RAP ATTACK and OPEN HEIR. (Andrew Harrison: 7-11-4-2)

Race 7

Preview: FRENCH REVOLUTION has been knocking at the door and is due a change of fortune. He is a little out at the weights but should be right there. DOUBLE CLUTCH is well in with his apprentice allowance and is also in good form. He should be right there. SIRISSA ran well below best when sent up to the Highveld. He is a dangerous front runner. ROYAL NAVY SHIP needed his local sprint debut and will much prefer this trip. (Andrew Harrison: 4-3-1-2).

Race 8

Preview: SHINE UP is long overdue. He stays the trip and goes well on the poly. He should be right there again. BLACK FOREST has shown up well in his last two and is stil improving. He looks a lively threat. HANDSOME HARVEY is struggling to improve but is another with consistent form. He has a tough draw to overcome. FIRE BOLT caught the eye when running on late over shorter. He should prove better this trip. (Andrew Harrison: 1-7-4-11).

Heavy rain and a dodgy pull-up area saw the last two races abandoned last Sunday. But given that the KZN 3YO Series races play an integral role in preparing for the summer Classics, the race was rescheduled and takes centre stage at Greyville this evening.

Run over 1 600m, brought to you by SPAR Central Office, the race has attracted a small but quality field where the filly Dawn Calling could put one over the colts.

Dawn Calling (Nkosi Hlophe)

The race was originally scheduled for the Greyville turf, but as the grass has not fully recovered from its spring treatment and with rain the order of the day the event was switched to the poly track.

The Duncan Howells-trained Dawn Calling has taken to the synthetic surface and although unlikely to be anywhere close to her peak with the Cape Summer of Champions a possibility, she could still prove a cut above her male rivals.

Dawn Calling recently made her seasonal debut in a 1 200m sprint against some useful older fillies where she was not well in at the weights and over a trip that already appears to be well short of her optimum.

However, she was all over a winner except at the line as Impala Lily got up to deny her victory.

Although taking on some smart males Dawn Calling is nicely in at these weights and will much prefer today’s trip. With the G1 Cape Fillies Guineas on the agenda, just how she fares will give some indication of her chances should she take her place in that race come early December.

Howells will have a line on most of the field with Palladium, Highway Eightyfive, My Pal Al and The King Of Random all behind the Howells-trained Roy’s Magic at Scottsville last month.

It was a desperately close finish but Roy’s Magic came from off them to nail My Pal Al and Palladium on the line. On that showing there should be very little between My Pal Al and Palladium again today but both could find the filly too hot to handle.

Palladium (Nkosi Hlophe)

Something of an unknown quantity is the Frank Robinson-trained Winter Is Coming. The colt took time to come to hand but once stepped out on the poly his form improved dramatically.

His last run was super impressive as he put a maiden field to the sword, winning by eight lengths easing up. The handicappers were also impressed and he earned a 94 rating. Whether that rating is justified, we will know by this evening.

Outside of the Series Race, the balance of the seven races have full fields and punters will not find things easy – the bonus being that you will get a decent price whatever your fancy.

All the noise surrounding Donald Trump’s election as US President this week could prove an omen for Media Circus In the opening leg of the Pick 6. Sean Tarry’s runner is lightly raced on the Highveld but has always been relatively short in the betting. He could make major improvement racing on the poly track for the first time. Likely favourite is Vested Interest who was a game second last time out. He has improved in blinkers and rates a strong chance if he stays the trip. Portman Square is seldom far back over shorter and this longer trip could bring out the best in him.

Second leg of the exotic bet s an absolute nightmare although Selvan’s Jet is back over his best course and distance and he has been up against slightly stronger of late. Lady Linda takes on males but is in good form and has shown up well in useful company while Dhaamer has finished like a bullet at his last two since returning from a break and is definitely one for the short list.

The fifth is another wide-open affair by Silver Inspiration comes from an inform yard and should be right there from an inside draw. Roy’s Dancer has improved in blinkers and was not far off from a tough draw last start. The extra should also suit while Jazz Bar has a wide draw but showed up well first up on the poly after a returning from a lengthy break. She is sure to improve.

It doesn’t get any easier in the sixth where Bagger Vance is taken to get back to something like his better form from Newyorkstateofmind who is highly consistent but has an inexperienced apprentice aboard here. Given the benefit of the doubt he should be thereabouts again. Capel Top heads the handicap but is returning from a break. He is more effective over further but could race fresh.

By Andrew Harrison

The progressive Pillar Of Hercules can make it three off the reel in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow but watch out for Lord Balmoral.

It is rare to have racing in Cape Town on a Thursday but the Joey Ramsden-trained colt is well bred enough to win whenever and wherever. By Captain Al, he is out of the Rock Of Gibraltar mare Gibraltar Blue who won both the KZN Fillies Guineas and the Tibouchina for Mike de Kock in 2010 after showing smart form in Britain and Ireland as a two-year-old.

Joey Ramsden

Donovan Dillon’s mount followed up a good-style win at Durbanville by scoring first time out of the maidens at Kenilworth a fortnight ago. He has gone up 2kg for that and probably didn’t have 2kg in hand but he is almost certainly still improving.

Lord Balmoral owes punters plenty after disappointing when hot favourite in his last two runs but he looked the business in his previous two and he has been dropped 2kg for last time when there was a valid excuse. “We found he had a bit of an upper airwaves infection,” says Vaughan Marshall who thinks enough of the horse to run him again on Saturday week in the R2.5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run.

Pillar Of Hercules opened at 5-2 with World Sports Betting on Tuesday and hardened to 22-10 yesterday while Lord Balmoral is on 5-2. According to the sahorseracing computer they will finished first and second.  Fire Master looks fully exposed and is a 15-2 chance, Zud Wes (9-2) beat him a head in July and is half a kilo better but has been off ever since while Desert Fighter has not raced since just holding on in a blanket finish on the polytrack on Durban July day.

Surely not even the in-form Dennis Drier can get him to win this although the bookmakers are taking no chances and will only offer 22-10. It is difficult to find a realistic reason for supporting either Seven Wood (15-1) or Tiger Tiger (18-1) even with Richard Fourie in the irons.

Over Drive opened favourite for the first (and hardened to odds-on yesterday) despite proving expensive in his two Durbanville outings although stable expectations are not that high. “We are hoping that he will run a good race but we are not confident of winning,” says Chris Snaith.

I thought it would pay to side with 18-10 chance Maxamore instead. Darryl Hodgson has booked Grant van Niekerk for the gelding who showed promise on debut at Durbanville last month despite losing ground at the start and running green. However Gstaad, who finished half a length in front of him when third that day, let the form down here last Saturday and so Over Drive is given another chance.

Captain Gambler, who gave weight to the three who finished in front of her in last month’s Durbanville graduation, could be the answer to the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap at 7-2.

The money has already come for Pure Logic in race four and the Dean Kannemeyer colt has shortened from 9-2 to 5-2. That looks a tip worth taking.

Drier should again provide the winner of the getting out stakes and Mogostar has already been backed in the last, shortening from 15-10 to 11-10.

By Michael Clower