Captain America satisfied Brett Crawford when running on to take third in the Champions Day Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday. The five-year-old will now attempt to repeat last year’s HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut win on April 2.

Crawford said: “For a prep run I was happy enough. I don’t think the race was run to suit him. They went very slowly and he was caught three wide but he did come back at them at the end.”

Captain America was set to give weight all round and he drifted from 6-10 to 11-10. He looked like being swallowed up at the 200m mark but he responded well to JP van der Merwe’s urgings to finish third to Silver Scooter. Regular rider Corne Orffer will take over in the Horse Chestnut.

Cape Flying Championship runner-up Brutal Force is being aimed to the Computaform Sprint at Turffontein on April 30. The four-year-old is already in Johannesburg under the care of the Joey Ramsden assistant Alson.

Stable companion King Of Pain, winner of last month’s CTS Chairman’s Cup, is to go to Durban where he won the 2014 Rising Sun Gold Challenge. This time he will run in staying races.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Captain America (Liesl King)

Richard Fourie has decided, a little surprisingly perhaps, to ride as a freelance for the time being.

When he won on the Justin Snaith newcomer Le Harve on only his second ride back at Kenilworth on Saturday it looked business very much as usual, with his signature on the record-breaking trainer’s dotted line all that was needed to restore the pre-Hong Kong partnership.

But Fourie said afterwards: “I’m not making any decisions yet and at this stage I don’t want to commit myself to anything. I want to see if I can pick my rides.”

Snaith, meanwhile, is busy nurturing his two-year-old talent and said: “I will wait a bit with Le Harve, put him away and look after him. But Bishop’s Bounty could run in the 1 100m race on Saturday although he needs ground while I am tempted to geld Sergeant Hardy (Met day Listed winner) as he is a very big horse.”

Richard Fourie (Liesl King)

Tar Heel, who led from halfway for Joey Ramsden in the OFYT Pinnacle, looks like having a crack at next month’s Computaform Sprint – albeit by default.

Derek Brugman reasoned: “He is an out-and-out 1 000m horse and Group-wise there is not much for him in Durban. The Computaform wouldn’t be first choice and you couldn’t go into it with a lot of confidence but I can’t see an alternative.”

Donovan Dillon, who rode the 7-1 shot, is developing a useful association with Glen Kotzen and gave the Woodhill trainer his 40^th winner of the season on newcomer South Side in the Birchwood Hotel Maiden.

Andre Nel is planning a tilt at the Fillies Winter Series with the Midas Handicap winner Captain’s Flame while Percival will also be kept in Cape Town after getting the better of Little Mo close home to justify some hefty support in the First Cut Handicap.

Nel said: “Captain’s Flame can be a little hot but she is pretty talented. Percival is improving all the time and I think he is going to enjoy the winter.”

Winners are what most jockeys want for their birthdays and Aldo Domeyer, who celebrated his 29^th with an Alan Greeff treble at Fairview on Friday, partnered both the Nel winners and got Pixelate up in the final furlong of the Boland Promotions Maiden for Shane Humby.

Both Bernard Fayd’Herbe and Brett Crawford are convinced that Me Myself And I will be better over further after the 8-1 chance came into her own in the closing stages of the mile Tytec Maiden. The winner is owned by the Ridgemont Stud which was also successful with the filly’s year older half-sister Chinawhite at Turffontein 90 minutes earlier.

Riding master Terrance Welch has abandoned post-CTS Million Dollar plans to go countrywide with Heavelon  van der Hoven who partnered the 17^th winner of his lucrative season after the Mike Robinson-trained Bold Aspen was backed from 12-1 to 6-1  in the Brilliant Glass Maiden.

Welch explained: “Heavelon will go to PE and possibly some apprentice races in Durban but riding elsewhere is not going to work. It’s in Cape Town that he gets his support and the trainers here want the jockeys with them in the mornings. Once riders start disappearing they don’t want them at all.”

By Michael Clower

Derreck David was pinching himself hard after he rode a winner at his very first Kranji ride, Poseidon – and in Friday night’s feature race for good measure.

The 27-year-old South African jockey was already grateful he had been given a chance to “live his lifelong dream” of riding in Singapore at an early stage of his relatively young career, but to win first-up was the icing on the cake he had not quite expected. In his own words, it was “unreal”.

The long and frustrating wait before he got the nod probably made him savour that moment even more. David has tried a few times to get in before but was unsuccessful, and when he finally got the stamp of approval, his original six-week tenure was whittled down to only one week through no fault of his – long processing time for his work permit.

The former South African champion apprentice jockey and reigning Mauritius champion jockey could have moaned or felt shortchanged but he remained positive.

Derreck David (Nkosi Hlophe)

To him, the six rides – two on Friday and four on Sunday – was still a crack in the door, and how he flung it wide open with a brilliant front-running ride aboard Poseidon in the $125,000 Racing Guide Classic (1400m).

Known as the “Prince of the Kilometre” in Mauritius for his knack at getting horses out of the barriers in a flash in 1000m scampers, David showed his reputation was not usurped.

Bouncing Poseidon ($36) out from the second worst barrier, David eagerly scrubbed up his mount until he was two lengths clear before crossing to the steel. The Gold Centre four-year-old was inclined to reef and tear a little, but David showed silky skills as he gave him a breather before they cornered for the judge as the horse to run down.

The $24 favourite Dragon Fury (Danny Beasley) and Hughsy (Wong Chin Chuen) closed him down but David had not gone for broke yet, easing Poseidon off to the middle part of the track first before throwing everything he had at him, like his life depended on it inside the last 100m.

Dragon Fury came huffing and puffing but was beaten a short head by Poseidon for that perfect mythological snapshot. The Dragon slain by the God of the Sea thanks to a divine ride from a mastercraftman named David.

“My dream has come true. I’m very emotional now, it feels unreal,” said David who had his equally ecstatic wife Angelique by his side after the win.

“It was already a dream to ride here at the Singapore Turf Club and to win at my first ride, it doesn’t get any better than this.

“I have to say the wide draw was a concern, but he really pinged the gates tonight. I got him out quickly, which is something I’m pretty good at and when I saw a couple of horses inside me were slow I knew half the battle would be won once we crossed over.

“He travelled beautifully and in the straight, with only 52.5kg on his back, he didn’t stop. I tried to come out to intimidate the others but I didn’t have to as he had his ears pricked and never stopped.

“He’s a nice progressive up-and-coming horse and I’d like to thank Mr Cliff Brown for putting me on him.”

The feeling was mutual with the Australian conditioner who had never met or heard of David before, but still took a chance with him and was repaid with a third consecutive win from the Olympian Stable-owned gelding.

“I was getting to know him and he was getting to know me, too. And we got a winner, how good is that?” said Brown. A

“This horse showed good gate speed at his last win with Rueven (Ravindra) and I told Derreck to do the same from the wide barrier tonight. He rode him very well and it’s good for him he got a winner at his very first ride here.

“Things are going really well with this horse and the owners too. They’re having a ball but we’ll just take it as it comes.

“He’s an easy horse to train. All we have to do is just get him ready, I don’t deserve much credit.

“He is a progressive horse and we may look at the Singapore Four-Year-Old series with him.

With that fifth win, Poseidon was completing a three-in-a-row with earnings closing in on the $320,000 mark.

– South China Morning Post

Jockey Karl Zechner has matured tremendously in the tough profession he has chosen and the Triple Crown hopeful Abashiri could take this once virtually forgotten about rider to the next level.

Zechner believes there is a still a lot more to come in both his and Abashiri’s career, so it is exciting times.

Zechner said it was the move to Johannesburg half-way through 2012 which helped his career turn around.

However, before that an eight month stint in New Zealand in 2009 riding for the small string of owner John Carter also helped his riding, despite the sojourn only yielding two winners.

Karl Zechner (Nkosi Hlophe)

He said, “It’s very different out there, it’s very rough, they don’t give an inch and I learnt a lot about placing a horse. It’s wet and the ground is often sticky, so the going becomes very important, you had to know where it was best on the day.”

His tactical nous improved as well as his understanding of racing due to the many people he met from a country passionate about the sport.

In Johannesburg Zechner was given a lot more opportunities. He had a big win on the Saeed Mohideen-trained Zambucca in the Gr 2 Victory Moon Stakes of 2012, a race he was to win again in 2014 aboard the Tyrone Zackey-trained Judicial.

On New Year’s Day 2013 Zechner was reunited with Royal Zulu Warrior, who amazingly returned from a layoff of nearly two years to win the Gr 3 Lebelo Sprint at Turffontein. Zechner had ridden this horse to respective nine length and six length victories over 1200m at Clairwood back in December 2010 and regarded him as the best he had ridden until climbing aboard Abashiri.

Zechner began rising up the National Jockeys log and this was helped further when his travels to Port Elizabeth culminated in a lethal partnership with trainer Dorrie Sham.

From the doldrums of the 2011/2012 season, when riding just nine winners, he broke into the top 20 last season, riding 71 winners and finishing 14th on the log. On top of that his 17 winners at Borrowdale saw him crowned Zimbabwean Champion Jockey. This term he has broken into the top ten in South Africa and is currently in 8th position. He drew level with his record of 71 winners in a season on Friday at Fairview when riding the Yvette Bremner-trained Copper Parade to victory in the Listed East Cape Sprint Cup. His strike rate, with still over four months of the season remaining, has improved to 10.58%.

Zechner, who is known for his strength, has always admired top riders like Piere Strydom, Jeff Lloyd and Anton Marcus and their professionalism has rubbed off on him.

Abashiri (Nkosi Hlophe)

He studies every race he is going to be riding in, so will know which is the horse to follow and where both the pace and the dangers will be coming from. The going is often paramount and he always tries to position himself on the right side as early as possible.

His agent Desmond Zackey and wife Lauren have also played big roles in maintaining his career on an upward curve Zechner is one of three jockeys who could probably count themselves as stable jockey to the ever more powerful yard of Mike Azzie. He said, “I share the rides with JP (van der Merwe) and Callan (Murray). Mr Azzie puts on the riders which suit the horse best.”

Zechner used to help Azzie out on the training tracks at Summerveld during the Champions Season and the favour is now being returned.

Zechner describes the Go Deputy gelding Abashiri as a very professional horse, who can correct minor mistakes made by a jockey. He is a tough horse too and wasn’t phased by the bumps and squeezes he received early in the Gauteng Guineas. The mile is too short for him, so Zechner asked him to unwind early in the straight, not wanting to be caught flat footed. This decision turned out to be spot on.

The giant-striding bay will relish the 1800m trip of the Gr 1 SA Classic and should get the SA Derby trip of 2450m.

Zechner said, “We have a tough couple of weeks in front of us, although he is an easy horse to work with. He wants to get to the track, but once he’s there he relaxes and enjoys his work. Like most good horses he reserves his best for the races.”

Abashiri is fast becoming the darling of the public and Zechner concluded, “He has opened doors for me, these are the horses you want to try and get on. I’m very fortunate, he is very smart and he is young, so is only going to progress.”

By David Thiselton

The Frank Robinson-trained Dynasty filly Olma proved herself the best polytrack horse in the country by winning the Gr 3 Kings Cup over 1600m on Friday night at Greyville in comfortable style under Ian Sturgeon, despite carrying 58kg under handicap conditions against the boys off a merit rating of 101.

Ian Sturgeon (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, she is just as good on turf and Robinson is now targeting the Gr 1 Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein on April 16.

The Kings Cup was run in the rain and took place shortly after a torrential downpour.

The going on the all weather surface for the last three races was described as “rain affected” but most horses didn’t seem phased.

Sturgeon said he knew virtually from the off it would take a good one to beat the small Dynasty filly as she was “moving so sweetly”.

She came from the box seat on the rail and used her exceptional turn of foot followed by her resolute finish to overtake the brave Alyson Wright-trained pace maker Mumsy’s Jet and win by 2,75 lengths.

The Charles Laird-trained Stormy Eclipse stayed on strongly and was just a short-head further back in third.

The Tote favourite Exit Here was asked to do quite a lot early to find a handy position from a draw of eight and found nothing in the straight, finishing last.

Robinson said the race provided further evidence Olma was improving all the time.  The mile seems to be her best trip too.

Robinson and Sturgeon also combined to win the first race over 1200m with the impressive Horse Chestnut three-year-old gelding Bahamas Woodstar, who ran on powerfully from last to win easily. He had been unlucky on debut last October when hampered, which also caused him to pull up sore. Robinson, because he rates this horse so highly, decided to allow him the time to recover fully, and is not going to rush him into anything too soon.

Olma (Nkosi Hlophe)

Later the up and coming Dean Kannemeyer-trained sprinter Captain Alfredo announced his South African Champions Season pretensions with a fine win in a MR 102 handicap over 1000m, wearing down the useful Viva La Var. The Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint is likely to be on his agenda.

Kannemeyer’s Real Princess didn’t enjoy the slow pace of a Conditions Plate over 1400m, where she was 5kg well in, and couldn’t catch Weiho Marwing’s Auatralian-bred filly Sensible Lover. The latter has always been well regarded and is coming into her own.

Dennis Drier added a double to his four-timer the previous Wednesday. Stable jockey Sean Veale rode four of these six winners.

By David Thiselton

Richard Fourie will be the focus of much attention at Kenilworth tomorrow when he has his first rides since saying goodbye to Sha Tin and Happy Valley.

Jockeys stepping out of Hong Kong’s steamingly competitive cauldron tend to ride in inspired form – who can forget Karis Teetan’s seven winners from 21 mostly-unfancied mounts in August 2014? – while Fourie himself landed a double on his first day back 12 months earlier.

He will be in action in all eight races with four mounts for his old boss Justin Snaith and four for Adam Marcus with whose father he spent much of his apprenticeship.

Richard Fourie (Nkosi Hlophe)

Snaith reckons Daring Dave in the OFYT Pinnacle has the best chance of his quartet but says: “This horse’s problem is that he has been left eight lengths in his last two starts but he will be a huge runner if he jumps.

“Alpha Girl (race one) will be better over this five furlongs and she should be in the money. Newcomer Le Harve (an R850 000 Var full brother to Golden Horse Casino winner Normanz) is a nice colt but it’s an extremely strong race and he would have to be very good to win. I am just looking for a good run from Nordic Wind (race five) which I think she will give and she could surprise.”

Marcus rates Gyre (race four) the pick of his Fourie rides, adding: “He has improved a lot and ran on well last time after coming from off the pace. Valerio (race six) runs over 1 000m for the first time and I’m excited to see how he goes. His main issue has been pulling quite hard and he ran a cracker when we brought him back to 1 200m.

“Golden Pass (race three) has to improve but we are going to switch her off and get her to run on while Come On Inn (race eight) is progressively getting better and should be in with a shout if she can continue that progression.”

Alpha Girl has mostly newcomers to contend with in the Birchwood Hotel Maiden but two of Mike Bass’s four juvenile winners this term have been first timers and his Live Life (a R2.5 million Trippi half-sister to Cold As Ice) gets the vote.

Dancer’s experience should prove decisive in the Wallace Trust Maiden and his form has been franked by stable companion Attenborough’s win last Saturday. In addition to Le Harve, newcomers to note include Moonrise Sensation who cost a whopping R4 million and Bass’s Caballo Blanco (a R360 000 Ready To Run purchase).

Peonie Rock made an eye-catching Durbanville debut and could be the one in the Boland Promotions Maiden while Gyre should score for Fourie 35 minutes later. Line Break, like Daring Dave, was unlucky in the Cape Flying and the 3kg he receives can swing things his way in the Pinnacle.

By Michael Clower

The weekend sees a feast of action around the country and the quality meetings at Greyville tonight and at Turffontein tomorrow both include feature events.

Exit Here (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Gr 3 Kings Cup over 1600m is to be run on the poly tonight and this looks to be a good programming change as it is could easily be called the Greyville Poly Championships.

It is an intriguing race, but the class of Exit Here could settle the arguments and he is tipped to beat Olma, Stormy Eclipse, In Other Words and It Is Written, although Marchant and Uncle Tommy are a pair who niggle at the back of the mind as upset material.

Dean Kannemeyer could have yet another good night on the poly. Cape Town horses often arrive in KZN attractively handicapped because the superior class of horse in the Mother City tends to suppress their merit ratings. The talented Kannemeyer-trained sprinter Captain Al Fredo could be such a horse. He has some big fish to fry during the South African Champions Season, so off just a 98 merit rating he could start off on a winning note tonight in the second race, a MR 102 Handicap over 1000m.

Kannemeyer’s classy filly Real Princess is weighted to romp home in the fourth race as she is 4,5kg better off with any other horse according to official merit ratings. Furthermore, she has won over the 1400m course and distance before. She has been reported to have made breathing noises but Kannemeyer was annoyed to learn this and said, “What I see as breathing noises and what they label as breathing noises are two completely different things.”

Olma (Nkosi Hlophe)

One of the most interesting runners on the night could be the Gavin van Zyl-trained Chesa in the fifth, a MR 70 Handicap over 2000m. It has for a long time been a practice among punters to regard horses coming off their maiden wins with caution. However, the KZN handicappers definitely seem to be treating maiden winners more leniently these days and cases in point have been seen in the last week through Roy’s Twilight and Desert Fighter, who both won their first handicaps starts. Chesa has been merit rated only 61, but three horses have come out of his maiden win over 2000m and won and another two have come out and finished second. A tongue tie has made all the difference to him and being by Ideal World he is also improving all the time. He has been putting up good work at home and could beat home the like of Selvan’s Jet, from whom he gets 2,5kg.

Variable Pitch should win the first tonight.

The well-bred Gypsy Pirate could fight out the third with the hard-knocking Coastal Spell and the likely improver Enticer.

The seventh is a boat race and Wealthy is fancied to just touch off Koncealed.

The last could see the in form Dennis Drier yard notching up another winner through Delirious Nomad.

On the Turffontein Inside track tomorrow the Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m is the headliner and this is always a difficult race to call as some use it as a preparation event. The smashing looking individual Romany Prince might be using the race as a stepping stone to the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m, but having run on quite well from last in the Gauteng Guineas after being dropped out from a wide draw, he could win this from pole position under Jockey’s Championship contender Anthony Delpech.

Real Princess (Nkosi Hlophe)

Diesel Jet is an effective frontrunner so could be dangerous on this tight course from a fair draw of six. Judicial’s sustained finishing run from off the pace makes him more suited to the Standside course but his class could pull him into the first three. Master Switch set the pace last time in a handicap over 2000m and destroyed them by 4,5 lengths so could be running off capped merit rating, having been given the maximum eight point raise. He won’t be allowed an easy lead here but is still one to consider. Easy Lover has a good turn of foot from off the pace on his day and should be cherry-ripe, so can’t be ignored. Shea Devon could bounce back over a course and distance he enjoys and Dante’s Legacy should be considered for exotics too.

In the second race the Querari filly Touching, who is a half-sister to the multiple Gr 1-placed Tellina, will attempt to make it seven wins out of seven Juvenile Fillies races contested this season by national champion trainer Sean Tarry. If this amazing streak continues the pundits will be searching through the archives to see if any records have been broken.

By David Thiselton

Greyville’s night meeting tomorrow features the Gr 3 Kings Cup over 1600m and this shapes as a polytrack championship, so is going to be full of intrigue.

Exit Here (Nkosi Hlophe)

Charles Laird sent Exit Here over trips shorter than the mile due only to the big money pull of the CTS Million Dollar, because he is crying out for further and the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 will be his main target. However, he showed by running fifth in the Million Dollar, despite a slower pace than expected, the mile is well within his compass. His run of five successive wins before that included four on the poly and he is the one to beat.

Olma also loves the poly. She was weighted to win the Gr 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m on the turf last time and did it effortlessly. She could have more to come now her probable best trip has been found.

Stormy Eclipse has won four out of his five races over the course and distance and jumps from draw two. He should be cherry ripe and carries Anton Marcus’s riding weight of 55kg, so won’t have to lug any deadweight. He could be a threat.

The filly In Other Words is another danger as she is unbeaten in five starts on the poly, so it is unknown what her limit is. She looks distance suited and is drawn in pole.

It Is Written is by Dynasty, like Olma and Stormy Eclipse, and has already proven his liking for the poly. He is 1kg worse off with Stormy Eclipse for the 1,25 length beating he gave him in the GR 3 Christmas Handicap over this trip on the Greyville turf, so they should finish on top of each other on paper. However, his wide draw of eleven makes it tough.

Way Of Light (Nkosi Hlophe)

Uncle Tommy is down to a competitive merit rating and will be a big runner too.

Marchant is one to be concerned about as his form in the stronger centre of Cape Town is decent and he could be well handicapped, particularly considering he sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight.

Way Of Light has won three out of five on the poly and won his only start over this course and distance comfortably, so is another one who can’t be discounted.

No Worries has become disappointing but his merit rating has consequently dropped. He makes his poly debut but he usually needs his comeback outing.

Silver Spring has many issues but has a big heart, although things will likely need to go his way.

Mumsy’s Jet is also a courageous sort and he has snuck in with the minimum weight, so can’t be ignored.

The selection is Exit Here to beat Olma with Stormy Eclipse, In Other Words and It Is Written next best. However, Uncle Tommy and Marchant niggle as a pair who could upset the applecart, so should be considered for exotics.

By David Thiselton

Lyle Hewitson is probably the most experienced four-claiming apprentice in the history of the South African Jockey Academy. The champion workrider is in the unique position of probably having ridden in and won more races than some of the more experienced apprentices currently in the academy yet the National Horseracing Authority rules governing if, when and where an apprentice may ride still apply. Given his age and experience one would suggest that in this case the “law is an ass”.

Lyle Hewitson

While one understands why the rules are in place, Hewitson’s case is an exception and surely reason should prevail. He was given the green light to race-ride before the usual three-month probation was up but is now restricted to ride only in races down the straight. Given that he has already ridden and won races around the turn, this restriction is laughable.

Be that as it may, punters can cash in. His proven ability with a 4kg claim will make him hot property and while he had to forgo his ride at Greyville yesterday after the meeting was switch from Scottsville, the Highveld trainers have cashed in and Hewitson has a host of decent mounts at The Vaal this afternoon.

One of his better rides comes in the eight, an MR 92 Handicap, where he partners Mod Barley for Paul Peter. The gelding scored the fourth win of his career when staying on well under apprentice Divan Neethling to beat the useful Aurum Pot last time out and before that was staying on nicely behind the Mike de Kock-trained Moofeed.

Given his current form and Hewitson’s claim Mod Barley looks a live contender.

The biggest threat to his chances could come at the bottom of the weights where Clinton Binda saddles a rejuvenated Cannes. The gelding had some fair Kimberley form but back on the turf he has won two of his three starts, including his last over course and distance. He rises in class this afternoon but gets weight from all and is a must for exotic bets.

It has been a week of ups and downs for S’Manga Khumalo. After riding six winners over the weekend and chasing hard for his second jockey championship, he took a tumble at Turffontein on Tuesday and has been booked off all his rides this afternoon.

By Andrew Harrison

High-flying combination Sean Tarry and S’Manga Khumalo could have another day of multiple success at the Vaal tomorrow as they are tipped to win no fewer than five races.

They could get the ball rolling in race one as the Mambo In Seattle filly Goodytwoshoes, who has some scope, faces a weak field and even from a tough draw should be able to build on her decent debut and come home in front.

S’Manga Khumalo (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the following race, a MR 85 handicap over 1600, the Fort Wood colt Fort Meyers has his third run after a long layoff. He over raced early over 1400m last time, but is now four points lower in the merit ratings and will enjoy the step up in trip to 1600m. However, the main concern in this uninspiring ten horse field is his draw of five as he will need to try and get over towards the standside fence, which is where the jockeys tend to want to be.

In the sixth race, a fillies and mares handicap over 1400m, Kahal filly Kalanchoe gets a better draw than she’s had in her last few and if Khumalo is able to find cover in the running she could emerge in front of another uninspiring field.

In the seventh, Rebel King filly Modjadji has good gatespeed and early pace and might relish the step down to 1000m off a one point lowered merit rating. She is drawn on the right side.

In the last over 1200m, the big four-year-old Trippi colt Mombela is having only his third career outing but impressed in his maiden win last time and looks capable of rising some way above his current 69 merit rating.

Tarry has good chances in all of the other races too.

By David Thiselton