Abashiri has pulled up well from his emphatic victory in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas and trainer Mike Azzie’s only further comment was “He has spoken.”

This is in line with his new policy stated before Saturday’s race, “I am not talking to the media or Tellytrack. Usually I’m the one who does all the talking and it lands me in trouble so this time I’m going to let the horse do the talking.”

Abashiri, a Lammerskraal-bred gelding by Go Deputy, did the talking alright. Jockey Karl Zechner’s strength suits him, as he is a laid back horse and was off the bit early in the straight.

Abashiri (Nkosi Hlophe)

He had earlier found the perfect spot in the running, on the rail within striking distance.

Zechner’s strong driving got him into top gear and from then onward nobody could live with the big bay’s acceleration coupled with his giant stride.

It is no surprise upon studying his pedigree to see he is a close relative of the 2003 Equus Horse Of The Year Yard-Arm (his dam is a half-sister to Yard-Arm) because like the latter he has a giant of a stride.

Abashiri was a genuine Triple Crown contender before Saturday’s race, which was always going to be his toughest hurdle, being a touch sharp for him.

Go Deputy has become unfashionable and only covered two mares last season, both of them Lammerskraal-owned.

This horse might see him back in favour.

A frightening fact is Go Deputy’s progeny improve markedly with age and most only come into their own as four-year-olds.

Abashiri was purchased for R400,000 at the National yearling Sales and the most touching moment of his victory was to witness the excitement of one of the biggest spending couples at the South African Sales, Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren.

Their passion for the game and for their horses was clear for all to see and this one has the potential to take them higher and higher.

By David Thiselton

National Champion Trainer Sean Tarry clinched a double in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas on Saturday when Heaps Of Fun crossed the line first under a top class ride by S’Manga Khumalo. The yard won the race last year with Siren’s Call, who subsequently went within a stride of landing the Triple Tiara.

Tarry is not certain Heaps Of Fun, a Summerhill-bred filly from the first crop of Visionaire, will go the 2450m Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks trip.

However, he believed she would be looking for the 1800m of the Gr 1 Wilgersbodrift SA Fillies Classic.

Heaps Of Fun dictated at a slow pace on Saturday under a perfectly judged ride and was able to stave off Negroamaro throughout the length of the straight to win by 0,9 lengths.

Sean Tarry

Owner Nchakha Moloi was away in Australia and was overjoyed to be awoken by a phonecall from Tarry. Tarry was introduced to Moloi by Summerhill’s Mick Goss. Moloi’s first horse in the yard was a share in a Summerhill-owned and bred horse. Since then he has added to his interest and Tarry praised him in the winner’s enclosure as an understanding owner. Moloi reaped the rewards on Saturday and is unlikely to miss out on the Classic next month, which is the second step towards the Triple Tiara.

Tarry will still have a big runner in the SA Oaks regardless, because Witchcraft has “always been our Oaks horse.” This Kahal filly is also bred by Summerhill and won a MR 74 Handicap for fillies and mares on Saturday by an emphatic 2,6 lengths under Khumalo.

Tarry said yesterday (Sunday) Heaps Of Fun’s 4,25 length second place finish in the Gr 3 Fillies Mile on SANSUI Summer Cup day had given him hope, because she still had “strengthening” to do.

Her comeback run on January 16 over 1160m in the Listed Swallow Stakes, where she finished a head second, had then “excited” him.

The only “surprise” of her career to date was next up and this was caused by how badly she ran, finishing 7,9 lengths back in the Three Troikas Stakes over 1450m, beaten 7,7 lengths by Negroamaro.

However, there were genuine excuse because she had been widely drawn, she had got her tongue over the bit and was later scoped and found to “have mucous”.

Tarry hoped ahead of Saturday her increased strength could take her two or three lengths closer to Negroamaro, as long as it excluded the factors which had blighted her Three Troikas run.

In the pre-race discussion he had asked Khumalo to “commit” from his good draw of six and added, “Don’t panic if you find yourself in front. If she pricks her ears around the turn she’s a big runner.” The plan worked to perfection.

• Racegoer’s Brendan Pather was probably the only pundit on the ball for Saturday’s Gauteng Fillies Guineas and tipped Heaps Of Fun, who landed odds of 20/1, in the Mercury and Cape Times.

By David Thiselton

Cape Town racing has been shocked by the decision to axe tomorrow’s Durbanville meeting – handing over R620 000 in stakes to Port Elizabeth – but, more particularly, by the fear that this could be just the beginning.

The decision was taken after entries of 160 produced just 54 acceptors. The two 2 000m races had nine and ten runners but each of the other six had only between five and seven. A hastily arranged Fairview polytrack substitute produced 95 declarations.

“I think it’s a crisis,” said Tellytrack presenter and former trainer Stan Elley, echoing the view of many. “We’ve got to do something or Phumelela will cut more meetings. A lot of people’s livelihoods are at stake here.”

Kenilworth Aerial view

Elley, a member of what is effectively a local programmes committee for more than half his 41 years as a trainer, believes the problem lies with the big yards (he estimates that the top half dozen have 80-85% of the horses) often being reluctant to run their clients’ horses against each other for fear of upsetting owners.

He said: “Trainers have got to wake up. Owners have too as well and spread their horses around more while I think there should be a limit on the number of horses each trainer is allowed.

“You cannot do anything about the trainers that have their own yards but you can with the rest. It has been done in PE and I believe in Durban too.”

Last September Phumelela and Kenilworth Racing warned trainers that fixtures would be dropped and stakes reduced if the average field did not increase from ten to 12 (the minimum necessary to generate decent betting turnover). Yet this month only six of the 62 races produced 12 or more runners.

Dean Kannemeyer is one of the big trainers involved and he said: “They tell me that I am not having enough runners and they are putting me under pressure but I have moved 30 of my horses to Durban.

“I understand the need for runners but there is something wrong somewhere in Cape Town. I see meetings here with 150-160 entries but in Durban they can have as many as 700.

“What is needed is for somebody to sit down with me (and other trainers), ask how many horses I’ve got, where I want to run them and over what distances in a coming three-month period rather than being told you’ve got so many rated 70-80 etc.”

Eric Sands, a former member of the programmes committee, made the point that in February many Cape trainers want to give their horses a break after a busy summer season while most two-year-olds based here do not race until the rains come to avoid getting sore shins on the firm ground.

He added: “I am not saying that the trainers are blameless – they are not – but the programmes are drawn up only twice a year, one for five months and the other for seven, and they are done two to three months in advance which means that a horse can be running in a programme prepared ten months earlier. It should be done every three months and from a box-by-box census to make it relevant.”

Kenilworth Racing issued a press release last Friday saying, inter alia: “A number of trainers have not stepped up to the plate… the last resort is to reduce the number of racemeetings… recently a census was completed and the winter programme (April-August) is based on the latest facts.”

By Michael Clower 

Glen Kotzen issued a warning that he has two-year-old talent aplenty – both in Cape Town and for Durban  – after Donovan Dillon’s mount Corker lived up to her name when becoming the first of the Pathforks to win at Durbanville on Saturday.

Glen Kotzen

Kotzen said: “I’ve got a stable full of Pathforks and they are very nice. I’ve told owner Hugo Hattingh that this one won’t go to Durban because the plan is the nursery at Kenilworth but I’ve got others going to Durban who are really smart.”

Nobody could accuse Paul Reeves of not running his horses often enough and Sunshine Lady, fourth here last Wednesday, enjoyed an all-the-way romp in the 1 400m maiden while Brandon May initiated a quick double for the ex-jockey and owner Paul Barrett by making every metre on All Magic 35 minutes earlier.

However Reeves is narked about not being able to go again tomorrow, saying: “I am a small trainer with 30 horses and 19 of them are two-year-olds. My clients have paid training fees and they were expecting to race. I’m angry.”

Aldo Domeyer, who rode Sunshine Lady, was in treble form with 2013 Winter Derby winner Gifted For Glory winning for the first time since damaging a tendon during his Durban campaign of nearly two years ago, and Ovar making amends for Andre Nel’s Wednesday reverses.

Nel reported that Jingle Belle, never at the races when starting favourite for the 1300m maiden, “is a 2 000m horse and only got going at the end” while even warmer favourite Weskus Klong is apparently no better than his third place would suggest.

Corne Orffer had a nightmare afternoon – beaten on three favourites plus the fancied Rock On Geordies finishing only third behind Grant Behr on the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Doctorow – but he had compensation in the last when Chasing Dreams got up 100m out. The Adam Marcus winner has had two sinus operations and is owned by a syndicate run by Gold Circle’s communications guru Glenn Marcus.

It was only 16 days ago that Greg Ennion vowed to support Lucian Africa and his faith was rewarded with Roman Discent storming home in the Marsh Shirtliff colours in the 2 000m handicap. “Lucian is riding like a demon,” said Ennion in an emphatic I-told-you-so tone.

By Michael Clower

Gold Coast Captain looks good for the Summer Of Champions Maiden at Durbanville tomorrow despite having the worst of the draw.

The Brett Crawford gelding lost at least the 3.75 lengths he was beaten when dawdling out of the pens three weeks ago but he should know more about it now – this is his third run – and the coffin box shouldn’t be too much of a hindrance with only seven runners.

He opened 12-10 favourite yesterday with World Sports Betting who had the once-raced Fort Infinity next at 22-10 – “He has come on a little bit so I think he must have a chance,” says Harold Crawford.

Sweet Surrender is a big price at 11-1 as he was forced to check last time. “He had to snatch up,” says Glen Kotzen. “He would probably have finished second otherwise so he has a big shout here.”

On the other hand Banderos, despite his strong form claims, could be too short at 28-10 as this is his first race for five months. “He had a bone injury,” reports Vaughan Marshall who believes the gelding will need the run.

Corne Orffer also has to contend with the outside draw on Rebel’s Burst, 18-10 favourite for the Juvenile Fillies Maiden, but Riaan van Reenen is optimistic that he can succeed – “This is a very speedy filly and she has the speed to overcome her draw,” he explains.

But the odds are short enough and in what looks quite an open race 7-2 chance Royal Duchess may have come on enough to win.

Mr Wise Guy has improved enormously in the last few weeks and the way he won on Met day – leading after the first furlong and staying on strongly  – suggests he may be able to cope with the extra 400m of the Play The Bipot Handicap and with the 2.5kg the handicappers raised him.

Londalozi started 3-1 favourite for her debut earlier in the month but she ran green and was beaten almost ten lengths. The Mike Bass filly again heads the market for the Racing. It’s A Rush Maiden-  she opened at 18-10 – but there is some doubt as to the source of last time’s money. “I’ve no idea why [she was backed]. It wasn’t stable money,” says assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe. “She has improved a bit but she probably needs further.”

Sunshine Lady (28-10) may be good enough but Bass’s Stormy City appeals at 5-1 for the Itsarush.co.za maiden after showing significant improvement last time. Rock On Geordies (18-10) kept changing stride in the straight here last time when Doctorow (15-4), a length and a half behind, was unable to get a clear run. King Of Babylon (9-2) will have support but this is his second run after a lengthy rest.

By Michal Clower

Turffontein’s big Guineas meeting tomorrow heralds an opportunity to reassess the three-year-old crop and history will say the picture could be dramatically altered.

Abashiri and Negroamaro are the two stars going into the meeting, but it would be no surprise if other stars are shining brighter by Monday.

Abashiri will find the trip sharper than ideal in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas. Furthermore, the outside often appears to be sort after down the straight on big days at Turffontein, so another concern could be him being caught on the inside of horses from his low draw. He won the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m by 2,5 lengths, but did have a weight advantage and had to be hard ridden. Things will need to go his way tomorrow over this too sharp trip, but is still the first choice due to his class and progressive profile.

Suyoof’s stride will be dwarfed by Abashiri’s, but he does also possess a nice turn of foot. Anthony Delpech should help him overcome his wide draw and will surely judge his run to perfection in the straight.

The classy Brazuca will also be running on and the Anton Marcus booking speaks volumes.

New Predator is on a par with Brazuca on a line through Noah From Goa and likely didn’t enjoy the Turffontein Inside track last time out.

Muwaary bled in the Cape Guineas when widely expected to romp home at odds of 12/10. This is his comeback from the obligatory three month suspension and he is the dark horse.

Champagne Haze took off from quite some way out when winning the R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run over 1400m on this track and stayed all the way to the line, so he should stay this trip and is horse whose name could potentially be up in lights on Monday.

Rocketball will finish on top of Abashiri on paper, although the latter did lose some ground at the start when they met in the Sea Cottage. Rocketball will probably appreciate the step up in trip and has a winning chance.

His stable companion Celtic Captain over raced in the Tony Ruffell, so did well to finish fifth. This is the trip of his three career wins. The blinkers remain on and if he settles he could be a contender.

Romany Prince finished second in the Sea Cottage, but is 2kg worse off with Rocketball for a 0,75 length beating and he then disappointed in the Tony Ruffell .

Ole Gunnar is unexposed but progressive and should be running on. He makes most appeal of the rest.

The selection is Abashiri to win from Suyoof,  with New Predator, Brazuca and Champagne Haze next best.

The Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas is also ultra competitive beyond the obvious favourite Negroamaro. Her facile Gr 3 Fillies Mile victory and her flying close up second in the Three Troikas over 1450m make it difficult to look beyond her.

However, this does not appear to be a strong crop, so the unexposed runners must be considered in the search for a special horse. KZN raider Princess Varunya is a candidate as her four wins on the trot were achieved with impressive fluency. She will relish this galloping course, although she would prefer further.

Christmas Carol is lowly merit rated but has won her last three and brings the Geoff Woodruff factor to the party. The five-times champion trainer’s ability to extract improvement for big Turffontein racedays is well known.

Frosty Friday impressed last time out over 1450m and is on the up.

She’s A Dragon was doing her best work late in the Three Troikas where she carried 1kg more than Negroamaro and only lost to her by two lengths.

Juxtapose finished just as quickly as Negroamaro in the Three Troikas and was beaten 0,6 lengths, although she is now 1kg worse off. She was hanging in the Fillies Mile when beaten over seven lengths and has improved since then but the memory of that antic does create a question mark.

Jungle Mist has to be considered on her last run, Persian Rug is enjoying the more forgiving recent ground and will relish the course and distance and Bella Sonata is better than her Three Troikas effort in which she pulled up with pharyngitis.

The selection is Negroamaro to beat Princess Varunya and Christmas Carol with Frosty Friday and She’s A Dragon next best.

The brilliant KZN miler Ice Machine will be a thrill to watch in the Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m if producing his best.

The Gr 3 Acacia Handicap is an open affair, but Off The Mark is progressing in the right direction and sneaks in with the minimum weight.

Arch Rival looks well weighted in the Listed Aquanaut Handicap over 2450m.

The treble for the day could be Ektifaa in the first, French Navy in the fourth and Down Under in the tenth.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Abashiri (Nkosi Hlophe)

The fairytale continues for CTS Million Dollar winning rider Heavelon van der Hoven, who has suddenly found himself in demand.

The phlegmatic youngster is grabbing the opportunity with both hands and was even afforded the opportunity to travel to Greyville for last Friday’s 20/20 meeting, where he rode one winner in three rides.

His record this season up until Illuminator’s big win had been 8 wins at a strike rate of 6,4% and since then it has been 7 wins at a strike rate of 12,5%.

The future had looked bleak for Van der Hoven.

He was nearing the end of his five year stint at the South African Jockey’s Academy and had only ridden 22 winners from his debut on April 3, 2012, until the morning of the day he will never forget, Saturday January 23.

The Academy have now allowed Van der Hoven a sixth year to ride out his claim.

He looks likely to pass the all important 50 winner mark within the year allotted as he only has 20 to go.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Heavalon Van Der Hoven (Liesl King)

Harry’s Son put up an excellent gallop last Thursday in preparation for tonight’s (Thursday) Gr 2 US$250,000 Zabeel Mile, where he will face Goldolphin horse Safety Check on 1,5kg better terms for a 1,75 length beating in the Gr 2 Al Fahidi Fort over 1400m.

The UAE’s reigning champion jockey Richard Mullen rides tonight and was also aboard for the turf gallop last Thursday.

Harry’s Son (JC Photos)

In the gallop, Harry’s Son started from the 1200m mark, was picked up by Royal Navy Ship at the 800m.

In the straight he passed his companion as if he was standing still, despite the latter’s rider saying he had gone really well.

Harry’s Son will jump from a plum draw of two tonight.

The Australian-bred colt by Haradasun is rated 113, so in tonight’s race is behind only 116-rated Safety Check, who won the Al Fahidi Fort in course record time.

Owners Phil Georgiou and Doug Steyn are two of the partners in Harry’s Son and are also partners in Second Empire colt Ole Gunnar, who will on Saturday at Turffontein attempt a repeat of Harry’s Son’s Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas victory of last year.

Ole Gunnar has a lowly merit rating of 87, but is unexposed and progressive.  Lafferty said he would be favoured by a strong pace, as one who possesses a good finishing kick. Keagan de Melo keeps the ride and they jump from draw 12.

Harry’s Son’s progress in Dubai, under the care of experienced assistant trainer Roy Waugh, can be followed on www.laffertyracing.co.za

By David Thiselton

The Gavin van Zyl yard have two contenders in each of the Guineas races at the big Turffontein meeting on Saturday and all of Rocketball, Celtic Captain, Frosty Friday and Bella Sonata have outside chances.

The yard also have some other chances on the day.

Rocketball (Left) King’s Knight (Right) – Nkosi Hlophe

Van Zyl said, “Rocketball has a bit of a wide draw but has been working well and on the weight turnaround with Abashiri from the Sea Cottage Stakes has a chance. He is improving all the time and we expect him to run into the money.

“Celtic Captain has a good draw and has also been working well so has an outside chance. He was maybe a bit fresh in his first start at Turffontein and can only get better so we expect him to be competitive. Rocketball is the stable elect on form.”

Rocketball, a gelding by Judpot who will be ridden by Muzi Yeni, is an early August foal and is 4kg better off with Abashiri for a 3,25 length beating in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m. His draw should not be much of a disadvantage, because the jockeys invariably perceive the going to be better towards the outside of the straight on big race days at Turffontein.

Celtic Captain, a colt by Captain Al, over raced in the Gr 3 Tony Ruffell Stakes over 1450m last time out, but still managed a 3,8 length fifth, so is interesting from draw two here over the distance of all three of his career victories. Brandon Lerena keeps the ride.

Van Zyl continued, “Frosty Fiday is the right one in the Fillies Guineas, Chesney (Van Zyl) said she has been working very well. She has a bad draw but with a bit of luck in running she has a fighting chance. Bella Sonata pulled up with Pharyngitis after the Three Troikas so she can do better and has a shout, she covers a lot of ground.”

Celtic Captain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Frosty Friday by Western Winter is drawn 14 with Yeni aboard. Bella Sonata by Silvano is drawn 12 with Craig Zackey up.

Van Zyl’s best chances on the day might be in race three and race ten. In race three, a fillies and mares handicap over 2000m, both of his two three-year-olds Estimation and Superwoman have strong chances.

He said, “Estimation is progressive and might still beat the handicapper, although Superwoman is the better off of the two at the weights, on paper, considering their last meeting. We expect both horses to be in the money.”

Estimation has a fine turn of foot and is drawn eight with the eyecatching booking of Anthony Delpech. Superwoman has Bernard Fayd’Herbe aboard from draw ten.

In race ten, a handicap over 1400m, the yard run Down Under. This progressive four-year-old gelding by Fort Wood switched off beautifully in last place in a 1600m Graduation Plate over the Turffontein Inside track over 1600m last time before running on strongly and seemed to have it won, but a horse with some good formlines, Rainy Day Blues, then surged and pipped him on the post. Two three-year-olds rated in the 90s were comfortably beaten, so Down Under likely ran above his 83 merit rating and the tough 1400m of the Standside course should be ideal from a plum draw of six with Yeni up.

Vino Veritas (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the Gr 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m, the yard run Cassie O’Malley and Van Zyl said, “She is consistent and is a nice big Jet Master filly who is still improving. But it’s a tough race and we will be happy if she runs into the places.”

Cassie O’Malley is a galloping type, who doesn’t have a noted turn of foot, so is always taken to the head of affairs.  The three merit rating points raise she was given for her runner up finish last time will make it hard for her to keep challengers at bay. Yeni rides from draw 10.

The yard run the classy Silvano stayer Vino Veritas in the ultra-competitive Listed Aquanaut Handicap over 2450m.

Van Zyl said, “She was unlucky last time as she raced wide around the turn going up the hill. With a more patient ride this time she has a chance. She is small but has a big heart and although she has a tough task at the weights she seems to be able to carry big weights.”

Vino Veritas jumps from draw seven with Fayd’Herbe up.

Van Zyl’s first-timer in the second race over 1000m, Hallo Mr, is interesting being by Muhtafal and a half-brother to the speedy Just Africa, who won her maiden over 1000m by four lengths second time out.

By David Thiselton

Tellytrack reports a positive response to its new dual programme subscription service designed for phones, tablets, computers etc.

Chief executive Rob Scott said: “You can get it on any smart-enabled device and we started the service on December 16. We purposely kept it low key so that we could iron out any problems and the reaction so far has been good.”

One channel is for the TT2 service (normal Tellytrack) and the other is given over to the GBI international service with its focus on British racing and the cost is R69.95 per month.

Scott commented: “We have two channels so that if you want to watch Ascot, for example, without the local racing interrupting you can.”

The Racing Association website, which has been showing live South African racing and also replays, is to be amended so that it does not clash with the new service.

Larry Wainstein explained: “To log in to the new Tellytrack service you need a code and we will provide each of our members with one so that they can log in for free as part of their membership benefits.

“The public will still be able to use our website but the live racing will be subject to a five minute delay as we don’t want bookmakers pirating it. The replays will go off our site as they will be part of the Tellytrack package which will be far more reliable and of a better quality.”

By Michael Clower