Turffontein Standside stages an eight race meeting today which kicks off at 12h15 with the last race due at 16h10 in order to cater for the Christmas Eve festivities.

The headliner is the fifth race, a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1600m, and  the brilliant French Navy could make up for his possibly unlucky SANSUI Summer Cup defeat as he is well in at the weights and his powerful finishing run on this ideal galloping track should be too much for the opposition. Judicial finished half-a-length behind French Navy in the Summer Cup and is now 3,5kg worse off, but he tends to stay at his peak for a while and could surprise. French Navy’s three-year-old stablemate Lunar Approach is worst in at the weights on official merit ratings but is a progressive sort who could go places and he could finish next best.

French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)

The first race is a maiden over 1000m. Gimmeabreak looks to have plenty of ability. He started slowly on debut and was then a touch outpaced too over 1000m on the Turffontein Inside track but then finished strongly to be beaten just 1,5 lengths into fifth. The form has worked out well and if starting better he could mow down Fidelio, who has some pace and will be dangerous if starting better than last time when finishing second over 1000m at the Vaal. Former Cape Town campaigner Dragoon showed excellent pace on his Highveld debut over 1000m on the Inside track last month when overtaken late and finishing third. He is likely to have come on from the run, it having been his first since July, so he could also be a threat with a 4kg claimer up. First-timer Charltons Announce is a half-brother to the lower division six-time winner Antonius Charm. First-timer Watabout is by Seventh Rock out of a Clash By Night mare who won twice over 1200m.

The second is a MR 80 Handicap over 1000m and the Mike de Kock-trained three-year Wisnaam wouldn’t normally have an easy task off a merit rating of 89 against toughened older campaigners, but he faces an uninspiring field and as a horse who  looks to be going places should score his third win in his fourth career outing.  Benbow is an eight-year-old who has suddenly been dropped seven points by the handicapper to a mark of 64 so he could be a threat having scraped into the handicap with the minimum weight. Manx Park is an in and out sort but if he has a going day could also be a threat as he is only two points higher than his last winning mark.

The third is a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1160m and Tracy’s Legacy makes her seasonal reappearance having  been backed into odds-on on debut last May and running a fair third in a juvenile Plate race which has worked out well. The De Kock yard are sure to have her fit enough. The consistent mare Jay River stayed on well for a close third over this trip on the Inside track and should be involved as she looks to have come into her own after a layoff. Samarra is interesting dropped back to the trip of her good debut run, having been campaigned from 1450m to a mile and she, Pipkin and Welcome Home should also be in the shakeup. The most appealing first-timer is Dalley, who is by Ideal World and is a half-sister to Banbury, who won on debut over 1200m before going on to win the Gr 3 Fillies Mile.

Max The Man (Nkosi Hlophe)

The fourth race is a Maiden Plate over 1400m and the perennial bridesmaid Golden Man has more bad luck with the draw, having to jump from berth 16. The one to beat him this time could be Resolute Captain who has been backed in both starts, not doing badly on either occasion, and is now fitted with blinkers and jumps from draw three.

Emblem King ran well last time out over 1400m despite losing a length and is the third choice. Champions Cup, Shimmering Brook and Crimson Magic also have to be considered. The first-timer Urban Myth is by Judpot out of a Flaming Rock mare and is a half-sister to the like of Lady Kelpie, who has won five times in Cape Town from 1400-1600m.

The sixth race is a MR 68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m and Tobesuretobesure is an eyecatching sort who should be cherry ripe having her third run after a long break and although she stays further this trip should also suit from her good draw. Off The Mark should appreciate the step up in trip and is well drawn, so is the chief danger as an improving sort who looks to be off a reasonable merit rating. Paree won well from a similar draw last time over 1450m and is only four points higher so could follow up with another good run.

The seventh is a MR 72 Handicap over 1400m and the consistent Luca de Lago is widely drawn but should be running on strongly and he has the form to win this over a suitable trip. The up and coming Duke Nukem doesn’t have it easy off an 84 merit rating but has class on his side and could be the biggest danger. Max The Man is well drawn and in a good space so with a 4kg claimer up over an ideal trip he will also be dangerous.

The eighth is a weak Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m and Capricious could win it if repeating her last course and distance run three runs ago. Catwalk Tease jumps from a good draw and has gone close over this trip before. Queen Of Arts, Cambridge Choir and Beach Cottage could also be considered.

By David Thiselton

Legendary commentator Trevor Denman has announced his retirement from his 33-year long position as chief caller at the flagship Santa Anita racetrack in California and officials will be scouring the planet looking for a replacement knowing they have huge boots to fill.

Denman’s skill could be defined by his call of one of the most exciting races in world racing history, when the hitherto unbeaten Zenyatta won the Breeders Cup Classic at Santa Anita in 2009 in astonishing fashion under Mike Smith after being “dead last” early on and having “a lot, a lot of ground to make up”, halfway around the final turn.

Denman’s words “If she wins this she will be a super horse,” summed up the situation. The gentle giant mare had already become an American icon and a massive crowd had turned up to watch her make history that day in her 14th career start and her first against the boys, which included a selection of the best horses from around the planet. However, her myriad fans seemed muted for most of the way around and officials probably began fearing it would be a repeat of Big Brown’s Triple Crown flop.

Zenyatta’s trainer John Shirreffs could see only glimpses of the famous mare from where he stood near the rail in front of the main grandstand. However, from her hopeless position she had surged through a couple of gaps when coming off the rail and into the straight and suddenly there was hope. Shirreffs knew she had a chance when Denman said “she is starting to pick them off though, Zenyatta’s going to hook to the outside.”

Trevor Denman (insidesocal.com)

Shirreffs could hear the urgency in the commentators voice and said, “Trevor really gets the dynamics of a race. When he starts mentioning a horse, you knew something can happen.” However the crowd were still on tenterhooks until Denman raised his voice at the critical moment, “AND ZENYATTA’S COME TO THE OUTSIDE!” and with that the roof lifted off the grandstand.

To watch this moment at full volume never fails to cause goosebumps due to Denman’s timing and the crowds immediate, spine-tingling response. It was one of those roars so loud it reaches what could be best described as a silent spot at the crescendo. Zenyatta’s enormous stride took her past her rivals and Denman’s Durban roots were evident when he said spontaneously, “THIS IS UN-BE-LEEEEEVABLE!” The crowd continued to roar for minutes afterwards and her lady fans swaggered. The humble Shirreffs could be seen grinning broadly and voicing superlatives. However, there was little doubt the moment could easily have been lost without Denman’s brilliance.

Denman had been using effective changes in voice pitch for decades, a good example being when he called home the great Prince Florimund to win the Gr 1 South African 2000 at Greyville in 1982, abandoning calling the order of horses as they entered the straight and simply emphasising, “PRINCE FLORIMUND!!”. Off-course punters, who enjoyed no visuals in those days, were spared the agony of the final stretch because Denman was a renowned judge and they knew when he emphasised a name it was virtually race over.

On top of this ability to connect with the audience, he is also unerringly fluent and accurate and this is partly due to his consummate professionalism, which includes meticulous preparation and an acute sense of pace.

California trainer Ron Ellis said. “I could sit in the paddock and visually see the race with his call.”
Denman’s signature verse at Santa Anita came to be known as “And away they go,” a well know commentary term in South Africa and “scraping paint” and  “will need to sprout wings” were other examples of his many catch phrases.

Denman was only the fourth incumbent caller in Santa Anita’s history and one punter said last week, “Denman’s calls became etched in our minds. To us, Trevor is Santa Anita.”

Hall of fame jockey Gary Stevens said, “One of a kind, there will never be another like him. He was calling the race as if he was riding the horse I was on, he was calling what I was feeling.”
Santa Anita track Chairman Keith Blackpool said of Denman’s retirement announcement, “We knew this situation would come one day, but we were selfishly hoping it would be many years down the line.”

South African commentator Craig Peters was assistant to Denman for one year in the early 1980s and became a great caller in his own right. He named that year as one of his biggest learning curbs and is ever grateful to Denman for his enthusiastic willingness to share his knowledge. Peters has always kept his commentary box immaculate, having taken on board Denman’s highly professional approach, and gave a clue to the possible reason for the latter’s  immediate impact in the USA, “He once told me that if you can call successfully on South African courses you can call anywhere in the world. In the days when we relied on binoculars we had to deal with the pear-shaped Greyville, the long straight of the Vaal and other difficult courses.”

Denman also helped mentor Craig’s son Sheldon, who sent him tape recordings requesting advice.

Trevor influenced many, including, no doubt, his brother Eric, who also became a fine caller in his own right.

Trevor had wanted to become a jockey but grew too big and felt the next best thing would be commentating.
In the early 1970s he rented a flat overlooking Greyville and began calling races into a tape recorder and the Durban Turf Club eventually gave him a start as assistant commentator to another legend, Ernie Duffield. The latter called his last Durban July in 1976 and Denman then took over.

Trevor will continue to call at Del Mar but his working days at the Great Race Place (Santa Anita) will end on December 26. The 63-year-old will instead spend more time on his Minnesota Farm and travelling around the USA.

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith has snapped up Piere Strydom for Legislate in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate on January 9. The six-time champion won the 2012 race for him on Gimmethegreenlight.

Legislate, winner of last year’s Vodacom Durban July, started odds-on for last season’s Queen’s Plate but finished last. He was found to be suffering from a virus and has not raced since finishing third to stable companion Futura in the Champions Cup at the beginning of August.

Snaith said: “Legislate is doing very well. I gave him a racecourse gallop last Wednesday, he went with a nice horse and won the gallop. He will have another next Tuesday.

“My only regret is that I couldn’t run him in the Diadem but that race is now too close to the Queen’s Plate.”

The Mike de Kock-trained Noah From Goa, winner of last Saturday’s Grand Parade Cape Guineas, is the only three-year-old among the 23 entries for the Queen’s Plate. The handicappers raised him 1.5kg to 111 for his classic win.

They left second-placed Brazuca unchanged on 109 but raised the Hong Kong-bound Nassa 6.5kg to 109 for finishing third. Silver Mountain (fourth) was left on 111 while Victorius Jay (fifth) was put up 3.5kg to 104.

Ken Nicol, commenting on Silver Mountain, said: “She might not have run up to her very best but the race was only two weeks after the Fillies Guineas and she did find a little bit of trouble in running.”

Silver Mountain was reported by the course vet to have suffered a cut on her right hind in the race but Candice Robinson said yesterday that she is fine.

By Michael Clower

Geoff Woodruff has reluctantly sent his SANSUI Summer Cup winner and runner up, Master Sabina and Deo Juvente, down to Cape Town earlier than intended and they arrived at the Milnerton training centre over the weekend.

Master Sabina (JC Photos)

The chief target for both is the J&B Met and Woodruff had wanted to train them out of Randjesfontein, but became “panicky” due to a recent positive African Horse Sickness case in North Pretoria, which fell only just outside a 40km radius from Randjes. If the case had been within the 40km radius they would not have been allowed to travel.

Both horses have also been nominated for the Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate but Woodruff is not sure yet whether they will take their places.

He admitted both Master Sabina, as a Gr 1 winner with a 108 merit rating, and Deo Juvente, off a 104 merit rating, had tough tasks under the conditions of the Met, which is basically a weight for age race with a Gr 1 penalty. Both horses would be 6kg under sufferance with the 120 merit rated Legal Eagle if the weights were set today.

However, he added the six-year-old Jet Master gelding Master Sabina should have come on from the Summer Cup, for which he was “only just ready enough and I think he got away with it”, while the four-year-old Trippi gelding Deo Juvente was a “big strong” young horse who was improving.

Woodruff faced a dilemma when Deo Juvente’s jockey Sean Cormack objected against Master Sabina in the Summer Cup, but fortunately the stipendiary stewards allowed him to remain neutral.

It was the third time in succession Woodruff yard had achieved the Summer Cup exacta and this included doing the trifecta two years ago.

This year’s result saw the five-time championship winning yard soaring from 18^th place on the National Trainer’s log to 7^th.

The two horses will be staying at the Woodruff satellite yard in Cape Town which is run by his daughter Lucinda.

By David Thiselton

Noah From Goa has been raised just three points (1.5kg) to 111 for his win in Saturday’s Grand Parade Cape Guineas and Mike de Kock’s latest star is the only three-year-old to be entered in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate on January 9.

Same Jurisdiction, who easily won Saturday’s Grand Play Conditions Plate, is the only filly or mare among the 23 Queen’s Plate entries but she has been drawn quite wide at 17. Duncan Howells yesterday also put her in the Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes on the same card but there she has been drawn wider still at 19 out of 21.

Mike Bass has resisted the temptation to put Fillies Guineas winner Silver Mountain in the Paddock – she waits for the CTS Million Dollar a fortnight later – but his four entries include Taffety Tart who was third to her in both the Fillies Guineas and the Choice Carriers.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

The dogs are barking about Lohnromance who reappears after a 15-month absence in the Khaya Stables Handicap at Kenilworth today.

Aldo Domeyer’s mount made a huge impression when romping home over 1 400m on debut at Durbanville with Yogas Govender saying: “She is blessed with talent but she has a deformity on her off-fore pastern and runs on three legs.”

He put the bad leg continuously in ice buckets but wasn’t able to get her to the course again. Now it’s the turn of Andre Nel who says: “She has had serious problems and it’s a long time to be off but she has come back nicely.”

Rival trainers seemed to know all about her when discussing prospects on Saturday and Nel has already shown more than once that long lay-offs hold few fears for him. His Rondeberg facilities for getting a horse racing fit are much better than those of most of the Cape Town trainers who have to rely on prep runs.

Aldo Domeyer

The mare gets in with a rating of only 65 and is clearly far better than that in terms of sheer talent. She opened at 2-1 with World Sports Betting yesterday but that price soon went.  Top weight Money Surger is an obvious danger at 9-2 and is bidding for her third win off the reel after recovering her best form.

“I don’t really work her at home – she spends most of her time in a paddock,” says Piet Steyn. “Kenilworth down the straight is her track, particularly when the south-easter is blowing.”

Strictly speaking 3-1 second favourite Star Academy should reverse the placings as she is 2.5kg better with Money Surger for last time’s half a length while it is significant that Boomtown Belter (15-4) steps up in trip after six successive races over 1 000m.

“She has always been running on just too late,” explains Adam Marcus. “I’m hoping that we get a true run race.”

Five Star Rock opened evens favourite for the opening maiden but he may have been flattered by last time’s second – it was in a work riders’ race and they are notoriously unreliable – and so the vote goes to Mount Fuji (backed from 6-1 to 4-1 yesterday) even though Vaughan Marshall has decided to run him without blinkers.

Marshall and MJ Byleveld may also win race two with 12-10 favourite Tonya whose good second at the beginning of the month was her first run out of the maidens.

Marshall is using Shadlee Fortune’s valuable 4kg claim on 9-2 stable companion Dance In The Woods whereas Mike Stewart employed it to good effect on Caprice Des Dieux ( 9-2 here) when she beat Tonya half a length. “I reckon I have again got Tonya to beat,” says Stewart.

Wafiqah looks the part in race three even though she has only three-quarters of a length in hand over Malachite Sunbird. “She has always shown that she is above average and after her debut on Met day – I reckon I ran her too early – I gave her a long break,” says Darryl Hodgson.” When she reappeared she ran too free. She wanted more ground and last time she ran on very well.”

By Michael Clower

Anton Marcus has called for the Maine Chance Paddock Stakes and the Klawervlei Majorca to be switched in future years.

The four-time champion made his plea after leaving the opposition for dead on Same Jurisdiction in the final 100m of the Grand Play Conditions Plate. Duncan Howells is going to run the 11-10 favourite in both races.

Marcus said: “You want to go a natural progression from a mile to nine furlongs. That’s self-explanatory and common sense should prevail. It was [originally] a pretty poor decision from the powers-that-be.”

Anton Marcus

Tar Heel, who has lost races he should have won in the past by refusing to settle, may be entered for the Betting World Cape Flying Championship after coming good under Marcus in the Racing Association Need For Speed Sprint. He really stretched away in the final 200m although his rider warned: “I think six furlongs is his absolute ceiling.”

Joey Ramsden added: “I have been trying to teach him to settle. He could well have a go at the Cape Flying although I don’t think he is quite good enough.”

Brutal Force is the stable’s main hope for the Met-day sprint and he is to return from Johannesburg in the next few days despite earlier plans to leave him there until a week before the race.

Ramsden explained: “We have had to give up on that idea because you just don’t know what the state vet could do with AHS travel restrictions.”

Captain Chaos, who started joint favourite with Tar Heel, was hardly at the races by comparison and will step up in trip with Ronnie Sheehan observing: “They took him off his feet.”

Heartland, who battled hard under Bernard Fayd’Herbe for a narrow win in the Cape Premier Sales Jet Master, is likely to be entered for the Queen’s Plate this morning.

Justin Snaith said: “I don’t know what sort of chance he would have but off 102 what else could he do? I will talk to the owners.”

The former champion trainer sent out the 2 000^th winner of his hugely successful career when The Merry Widow kicked off the stable’s four-timer. This was the first of three winners in the Drakenstein blue.

Current Event, who showed a fine turn of foot at 20-1 under S’Manga Khumalo in the Grandwest Cape Summer Stayers, looks a natural for the J & B Jet Stayers on January 30 although he would meet runner-up Kingston Mines (who won last season’s race) on 4kg worse terms.

Quote of the day: “We’ve got 1 000 kids here today and I will spend any amount of money to see them happy.” Hassen Adams.

By Michael Clower

A crack at Futura, Act Of War and Captain America could be on the cards for Noah From Goa after the gutsy way he won the Grand Parade Cape Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday

The 5-1 Tiger Ridge gelding, part-owned by breeder Mary Slack, gave Mike de Kock his first win in this race since Domino Man 12 years ago and his fourth in all.

Noah From Goa (Liesl King)

Son and assistant Matthew said: “Noah has had a hard season and we will see how he pulls up but the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate would be one of the options. We’ve got to expose these three-year-olds to the older horses and see how good they are.”

A Kenilworth Grade 1 could also be on the agenda for Brazuca (8-1) who was only beaten three-quarters of a length. “If Weichong thinks he will stay 2 000m we will leave him here for the Investec Cape Derby,” said a clearly pleased Johan Janse van Vuuren.

But Nassa, backed from 20-1 to 11-1 and only a short head further back, goes to Hong Kong and Tony Millard, who will train him, said: “We already have a very nice horse for the Cape Derby with Brett Crawford in Nebula.”

Silver Mountain, who briefly looked a furlong out as if she might justify all the money that poured on her – she started at 8-10, was less than a length behind the winner. She came back with a cut on her right hind but nobody was offering that as an excuse.

“She had a bit much to make up on them,” said Mike Bass who was wheel-chaired through a sea of well-wishers by son Mark to get into the parade ring. “But Aldo gave her a good ride and she had every chance. I thought she ran a good race.”

Daughter Candice pointed out that the filly has five weeks – compared with only two this time- before the lucrative chips are down in the CTS Million Dollar. Victorius Jay, 40-1 but beaten only 1.2 lengths into fifth, also goes for the big money.

Sean Tarry reported that Liege (14^th) was coughing and the disappointing Budapest (last) was blowing hard after the race.

What the jockeys said:

Anthony Delpech (Noah From Goa):  “He struggled the whole way round the turn as he was on the wrong leg but he is a small horse with a big heart and he doesn’t know how to lie down.”

Weichong Marwing (Brazuca, 2^nd): “He ran very well and he loomed up. I thought it was a great run.”

Corne Orffer (Nassa, 3^rd): “It was always going to be difficult from that 16 draw and I didn’t want to be three wide. I made up ten lengths in the straight – if only I’d had a decent draw.”

Aldo Domeyer (Silver Mountain, 4^th): “I would have preferred a harder pace but I was happy with the way she was making up ground and I thought she might do it. I got to the winner’s hindquarters but then he went on again. Had she had another week it might have been different. She will beat these horses in time.”

Anton Marcus (Hard Day’s Night, 10^th): “He got to the front easier than he had done in the Selangor but there was no kick – he just faded very quickly.  It was a flat run.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Noah From Goa (Liesl King)

Following the abandonment of the last two races at Scottsville yesterday and the jockeys’ concerns with the going on the turn between the 800 and 600 metre marks, Gold Circle has decided to move Wednesday’s (23 December 2015) race meeting to Greyville with all races remaining on the turf.

In addition the two races not run at Scottsville on Sunday will be moved, as carded, to the Greyville turf track this coming Saturday, 26 December 2015.

Silver Mountain looks a worthy favourite to beat her male opponents and complete a famous Guineas double in the Grand Parade version at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Aldo Domeyer’s mount has done pretty well everything right so far, she has a good draw this time  and the advantage of her 2.5kg allowance – worth two and a half lengths – should not be underestimated.

For Mike Bass it’s a last throw of the dice at the only big Cape Town race he has never won. “Silver Mountain has definitely got more to do this weekend,” he says. “I would like to think she is good enough but obviously I’m guessing. You can’t tell from their work at home. Only when they race do they show you how good they actually are.”

Silver Mountain (Liesl King)

She is 11-10 (with Betting World) and 33-10 second  favourite is the Dingaans winner Noah From Goa who has won four out of five and represents Mike de Kock, bidding for his fourth Cape Guineas and his first for 12 years. Is the colt good enough to beat Silver Mountain?

“That’s a difficult question but it’s what we are coming to find out,” says De Kock’s son and assistant Matthew. “She will be hard to beat but I don’t think she will be as comfortable as she has been against the fillies and the form of this year’s crop could be a little bit suspect.”

Brazuca (6-1) is the highest-rated male – although three and a half lengths behind the filly at the weights – and has won both his starts since going close in the Golden Horseshoe. Johan Janse van Vuuren sent him to Brett Crawford (successful with Elusive Gold two years ago) for the last part of his preparation.

The Selangor winner has gone on to take this race five times in the last ten and Joey Ramsden has won two of the last four Guineas, both pointers to 14-1 shot Hard Day’s Night. Agonisingly for Donavan Mansour, the draw-defying big race ace Anton Marcus is waiting in the wings now that Rabada has gone down with pharyngitis. A decision will be made today.

“I gave the colt a little break after the Selangor and freshened him up. He has done very well since,” Ramsden reports. “Silver Mountain looks exceptional and will be hard to beat but Budapest also impressed me. He put up some performance in the Ready To Run and he could be a major opponent.”

A line through Anglet puts Budapest (14-1) only a length and a half behind the favourite, albeit there are a good few ifs and buts involved. “Silver Mountain has the draw and the class,” says Gavin van Zyl. “But my horse has done well since his win and he has the speed to overcome his 14 draw.”

However the first seven in the Selangor were covered by little more than the width of a horse blanket. Victorius Jay (16-1) finished closest but the ones that really caught the eye were Nassa and Illuminator who both finished like a train. They are 16-1 chances and Andrew Fortune has already said that his mount would have finished closer had he had more experience.

Nassa would appear to be stymied by his dreadful draw and the gremlins have similarly struck 25-1 chance Eighth Wonder who was fancied and unlucky that day. Purple Mountains and Rodney were also close up in the Selangor. They could again finish on the heels of the placed horses but they don’t look like Guineas winners.

The 40-1 about Liege is almost an insult for a horse from the stable of the champion trainer and ridden by a former champion jockey but, even if you ignore his last run, his form does not look good enough.

By Michael Clower