In the first race, a maiden plate for fillies and mares over 1200m, Dark Rose’s first two starts with blinkers on over 1000m were good efforts and she now runs over the course and distance of her fast-finishing close up third in June, so from a good draw and the headgear on over this possibly more suitable trip she looks the one to beat. Cronological was unable to find the necessary extra last time out over 1400m in a race which had a false start and was also found to be coughing afterwards. The blinkers were off probably due to a below par effort over 1000m at Scottsville, but in her previous start with first-time blinkers she went close over this course and distance. It is therefore significant that Marcus remains aboard with the blinkers back on from a plum draw. Seven Tales is the least exposed of the prominent runners in this race, so is open to improvement, and she will relish the step back to 1200m having over raced over 1400m last time out. She is drawn in pole with Anthony Delpech up. Paix Embleme finished a length behind Cronological the last time they met over course and distance, but has a tougher draw this time. Drury Lane shows pace over 1400m but might find this a touch sharp.

Wild Namaqua (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the second, a Maiden over 1200m, Winter Auralius fared well in strong fields over this trip at Scottsville and is tipped to win. It can’t be a confident tip because of the draw, but his good natural pace will give him a chance of overcoming it. Texas Cowboy has some fine hard-knocking form over course and distance and trainer Tony Rivalland felt he had done enough work to get away with a layoff since June. Red China, who shows pace over1400m, might find this a touch sharp at first glance but being by Silvano he will be coming into his own now as a four-year-old and with master of pace judgement Anton Marcus aboard from a good draw he could improve on his only other run over this trip to date. Samovar was carried out at the start last time when running on well over 1400m and beating Red China, but he has another wide draw to overcome. Jason Argo ran a cracker with first-time blinkers over this trip at Scottsville last time out but the wide draw and a stronger field makes it tougher here. Imagination is by Visionaire and is a half-brother to the Gr 1-placed sprinter Showmetheway. Trainer Michael Roberts said he would not be fully wound up and would prefer further.

In the third, a MR 66 Handicap over 1200m, Var Du Bois is likely to have improved from his fine debut win and is drawn well again, so could go in again off a reasonable merit rating of 77. Moi Power proved he is off a competitive mark when going close last time over course and distance and is once again drawn in pole, this time with Marcus up. Wild Namaqua is well drawn for his front-running style and will be a tough nut to crack, considering he is 1kg better off for a 0,75 length beating over course and distance by Var Du Bois and he also cast a shoe on that occasion. Victoria’s Love cruised in last time out over 1000m and a repeat could see him go close despite a maximum eight point merit rated raise. Lizard’s Pursuit likely needed his last run when well beaten by Victoria’s Love and now being 4kg better off he could be involved if reproducing some of his best Cape Town form. Semonkeng has the eyecatching booking of Anthony Delpech and trainer Michael Roberts said he would be fit enough after a layoff but the wide draw is a concern.

The fourth is a weak maiden over 1600m and Noordhoek Ice is the one to beat from a good draw having run on well for third over course and distance on his KZN debut after being dropped out from a wide draw. He should have benefitted from the outing and Delpech replaces Marcus. Kepler ran on well from last over 1400m at Scottsville last time out with first-time blinkers and will relish the step up in trip so could be in the first three from a good draw. The Lonsdale should also go close as he is doing well with blinkers and should handle the step up in trip. Suzie’s Arrow has his third run after a rest and could earn on best form. Turn Up The Heat is having only his second KZN start and could also improve, although he was comfortably beaten by a seven-year-old maiden last time. The first-timer Silverturnstogold is by Brave Tin Soldier and this trip should suit but he has a tough draw.

Sovereign Reign (Nkosi Hlophe)

The fifth is a weak fillies and mares maiden over 1600m and Grand Jury could be the one to side with as she did well with this 4kg claimer up over 1400m here on debut despite losing three lengths at the start and being by Ideal World she should be improving. Delpech has deserted her after her disappointing last run and is aboard Cherry Tree Lane, who will likely relish the step up in trip, but she did not show much to get excited about over 1200m on debut. Topaz Rain is a disappointing sort who could earn here and Maybe and Make My Own Luck make most appeal of the rest.

The sixth is a weak Maiden over 1600m and Zagora stayed on well last time when stepped up to this course and distance so is the one to beat. However, Juds Express stayed on well over 1200m at Scottsville last time over course and distance and will relish the step up in trip, so will be a threat. Fort Afreet could improve over this trip too.

The seventh is a MR 74 Handicap over 1600m. Sovereign Reign didn’t get any cover last time over course and distance and still fought on well in the straight. There is not much pace in this race either, but he has a nice draw and Anton Marcus has stayed aboard so is tipped to win from a good draw. Last Tiger won well in his KZN debut last time over 1400m and will enjoy this trip. He has come from the stronger Cape Town centre so his seven point merit rated hike is unlikely to stop him. Black Jaguar should be suited to the lack of pace from a good draw and looks to be a big runner. Pure Valor is drawn well over a suitable trip and should stay on strongly as usual from a handy position, although this is a step up in class. Cage Fighter has done well after a long layoff before so can’t be written off over the course and distance of his easy win here last December.

The eighth is a MR 66 Handicap over 1000m and the always-fast-finishing Quintella has a short run in and the stronger pace of a 1000m race might be just what she is looking for. Victory Takeover has good pace and with Marcus up from a good draw will go close. Race Me Home won her maiden well from the front over course and distance and she has not been punished by the handicapper so has a chance under Delpech. Jolo has been competitive off this mark and should be running on strongly. Maria Estella had to be snatched up on the turn for a few strides last time and with better luck trainer Roberts expects a good run. Girlfriend and Royal Honeymoon are outsiders to consider.

By David Thiselton

The final racemeeting on the Vaal sand will take place tomorrow, as the course will then be dug up and replaced by a turf track. There will be many a sad punter after race 8 on the card, because this track invariably provides good dividends for those who spend a little bit of extra time delving into the form.

In the first race, a maiden over 1200m, Leigh Woods would likely have come on from his debut last week over 1450m when green and staying on for second and from a plum draw here could stay on resolutely from the front to win. The first-timer Champions Cup is drawn in pole and has an eye catching sand pedigree being by Miesque’s Approval out of the dam of a three-time winner from 1200-1450m Cup Of Rubies so the betting must be watched. Fidelio has faced some fair sorts without being disgraced and enjoyed the step up to this trip on turf so will be a big runner under Piere Strydom, although the draw of eight is a concern. Pera Hur ran well over course and distance on Supreme Cup day. Tobago is by Dynasty but his dam, who was a Listed winner, has not produced any winners to date despite being sent to top sires.

Across The Ice (JC Photos)

In the second, a maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m, Cash In Camilla has a perfect sand pedigree and a racing style that should be ideal for this surface so is the one to beat from pole position under Andrew Fortune. Meet Me At Manos ran a fair second over course and distance last time but the winner was having her 12^th start and had only managed two placed before that. She’s A Flirt stayed on from a wide draw for third in that race and Gavin Lerena now rides from another wide draw.

The third features some classy sorts in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1200m. Roman Carnival was an impressive winner over course and distance in his penultimate start and is the one to beat from pole position under Fortune. Amazing Strike has a touch of class and will be improving being by Ideal World so could overcome a five month break to do well here under Lerena, particularly considering he has a fine sand pedigree. Sarve is best in at the weights and has a plum draw. Across The Ice showed he was coming back to form last time when not disgraced over 1000m and he loves the course and distance so should be thereabouts from a good draw. Precursor is classy and goes well on the sand but does have a very wide draw to overcome.

The fourth is a MR 72 Handicap over 1000m. Wisaam could be the one to side with despite being a three-year-old asked to run off a merit rating of 84. He won with a ton in hand on debut and looks to be a classy sort, although the one concern besides the weight of 60,5kg is that he made a breathing noise. Magic took 12 runs to win his maiden but always bumped good types and the form of some of his races, such as his 1,4 length second to Noah From Goa over this course and distance, looks very good, so he will be a big threat. The pacey Chief Sioux will love the return to course and distance and Lerena is back aboard. The speedy Battle Of Alma is very close to Chief Sioux on the form of their last meeting, although the weight might just find him out in the closing stages. Kopi Luwak was also 1,5kg under sufferance last time out when finishing a close third over course and distance, but has a slightly tougher task here off his four point higher merit rating.

Sarve (Nkosi Hlophe)

The fifth is a MR 68 Handicap over 1000m for fillies and mares. Slick Deputy is a typically progressive daughter of Go Deputy and looks to be running off a capped merit rating because she was being eased up when winning last time by 3,5 lengths. She has become very effective with hold-up tactics. Scandal has good early pace and could be a threat with Lerena up. Patrina brings some fair form from Cape Town, which has the strongest horses in the country, so is interesting off a mere 65 merit rating and running fresh over a trip too sharp. Last Girl Standing won her maiden well over course and distance and didn’t do badly last time over 1200m considering she was squeezed out at the start. Sweet Pickings is 7kg better off for a six length beating by Slick Deputy and could place. Wintry Night is 6,5kg better off for a 3,5 length beating by Slick Deputy but might have been flattered, although she could still earn a cheque.

The sixth is a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m. Eastside is in fine heart and could claim a hattrick as the maximum eight point raise might not be enough to stop her with Piere Strydom up from a fair draw over a suitable trip. Escudo has been disappointing in her last two since an easy win over course and distance but jumps from a good draw for a change. Dover Beach was an easy winner of her last start over 1800m on the sand but the form is not outstanding, although she has a chance despite a wide draw. Fire Dancing ran a fair race from the same draw last time, but has had a tough campaign lately. Lemonade River makes her sand debut over a suitable trip from a good draw and as her grandam is by Fort Wood she might enjoy the sand.

The seventh is a MR 74 Handicap over 1600m. Facebook stayed on well over course and distance last time behind a pair of good form horses and is the one to side with from a good draw here despite making breathing noises last time. Hattrick-seeking Formal Request found extra after showing pace over 1450m last time and this scopey horse should handle the trip, although the wide draw and a six point merit rated raise makes it tough. Calico Quiver was pushed the whole way last time over 1450m after losing a length but responded well and will relish the slight step up in trip. Kidmambo has been knocking on the door over course and distance but has a wide draw. Lava Flow is interesting on sand debut as he has the pedigree and is a fair sort on his day but the wide draw is a concern. Son Of Approval is an in and out sort who could surprise on the day with Fortune up.

The eighth is a MR 65 Handicap over 1400m and Viking Castle has been knocking on the door over this distance and now has a good draw while he should have come on from his last outing too. It would be fitting if the sand stalwart St. John Gray brought the curtain on the Vaal sand and he has a chance with De La Vere who has a good sand pedigree and a good draw so should handle a two point merit rated after a good run over 1500m on turf. Disco Boy could earn if repeating his last start but the off putting factor is his quite wide barrier position.

By David Thiselton

Pictures

1. Across The Ice (JC Photos)
2. Sarve (Nkosi Hlophe)

Frankie Dettori had a spring in his step in spite of the heavens opening after he touched down at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport on Tuesday morning.

Resplendent in a bright blue riding jacket and multicoloured cap, Dettori made an unplanned visit to the Keeneland training centre to take an adoring look at his Breeders’ Cup Turf mount Golden Horn.

Joking to the drenched press corps at the Polytrack training facility, the Italian looked forward to Saturday’s mile-and-a-half race that will be a swansong for the Investec Derby, Coral-Eclipse, Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner.

He is mindful both of his gate position on the rail and the importance of fending off as much unnecessary pressure as he can, with his week in Kentucky in its infancy.

“Hey, you guys, don’t put any pressure on me I’m just off the plane,” he said while watching Golden Horn engage in a routine spin on the Polytrack.

“I came in this morning and didn’t feel jet-lagged so I couldn’t resist changing my mind and visiting the track to see Golden Horn.

“I’ll be riding him in some work. Let’s see what happens but he looks amazing and everyone is very pleased with him.”

When questioned about Golden Horn being in stall one and the inclement weather, he said: “The weather is what it is.

“There’s nothing we can do to change it. They say it will carry on raining Wednesday but then maybe it will dry out.

“I suppose I might have to use my horse from that post but it’s still early days to be talking tactics, I’m just delighted to be here and I feel great.

“In one week it will be all over and I’m going to take a holiday with my wife who hasn’t seen that much of me this year and greatly deserves to have a nice break.”

Dettori has five rides for Wesley Ward, spread over three days, and partnered one of the trainer’s horses on the Polytrack.

He said: “I ride two for Wesley on Thursday and three more at the Breeders’ Cup, including his filly (Undrafted) in the Turf Sprint, and I know he was pleased to get the wide gate with her.”

– Sportinglife.com

Picture: Golden Horn and Frankie Dettori

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah has been installed as the early 12-10 favorite and will break from the fourth post for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic in Kentucky on Saturday in his hugely anticipated racing farewell.

The Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old will be looking to cap his stellar career with a ninth win in 11 starts, having finished a shocking second in his most recent outing — in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August.

“We were 50-50 as to whether or not we were going to run in that race,” Baffert told reporters about the Travers Stakes. “Unfortunately, he didn’t really run his race and coming out of it, I could tell everything … had kind of taken its toll.

“He needed the 60 days (preparing for this week’s Classic). This horse, he runs well fresh.”

According to Baffert, American Pharoah has displayed very impressive form in recent weeks while working out at his home track in California before being shipped to Kentucky on Tuesday.

“Sometimes I get a bit excited, the way he does things so easily. He looked fantastic (in training) and I really feel good about the way he’s coming into this race,” said Baffert.

American Pharoah entered the pantheon of U.S. thoroughbred racing’s all-time greats by winning the Belmont Stakes wire-to-wire in June to become the first horse to capture the coveted ‘Triple Crown’ in nearly four decades.

In winning a seventh straight race, American Pharoah became the 12th horse and first since Affirmed in 1978 to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.

With jockey Victor Espinoza in the saddle, American Pharoah will arrive at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington as the favorite for the showpiece Classic but is expected to face a strong challenge from Beholder.

The 5-year-old mare, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2012 and the Distaff in 2013, has won all of her five starts this season, including the Pacific Classic at Del Mar against male rivals over the Classic distance.

With Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens on board, Beholder will start the Classic from the 10 hole as a 3-1 choice.

Tonalist, the 4-year-old who dashed California Chrome’s Triple Crown bid in 2014 with a thrilling victory at the Belmont Stakes, is at 6-1 for the Classic — along with exciting stretch-runner Honor Code.

British raider Golden Horn, a rare winner of the Epsom Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for trainer John Gosden, will break from the rail in a field of 10 for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf, the penultimate race on Saturday.

With his regular jockey Frankie Dettori aboard, Golden Horn is the 4-5 favorite as he aims to improve his outstanding career record to eight wins in nine starts.

The Breeders’ Cup, a 13-race meeting worth a total of more than $26 million, will be run on Friday and Saturday (DSTV 239).

– Reuters.com (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)

Picture: American Pharoah (by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Gerrit Schlechter is bracing himself for a lengthy spell on the sidelines as his back injury has proved worse than originally thought.

He said yesterday: “Other problems have crept in and it doesn’t look too good. I am waiting on the doctors but I am off for quite a while.”

Schlechter, 50, was found to have a prolapsed disc when he could hardly get off Beyond Limits after winning on him at Kenilworth at the beginning of June. When he returned three months later the injury struck again on only his second ride back. This time he struggled to even get to the start.

He is one of a select group of the current riders to have won both the Durban July (Eyeofthetiger in 2006) and the J & B Met (Past Master in 2011) and seemingly  the present near-five month absence is hard to bear– “I really miss it,” he said feelingly.

However Karl Neisius is optimistic that he will be given the all-clear to resume no later than the beginning of December.

He said: “I am signed off until November 14 but I will probably know about the 10^th and then it will take about three weeks’ riding work before I return to race-riding.”

Inflammation in his lower back has meant that Neisius has not ridden since September 12 when he won on Exploracy for Shane Humby at Durbanville.

Devin Ashby, who had two pins inserted into the ankle he broke when a horse came over on top of him riding work at Milnerton, will have to wear his surgical boot for a further month “but I hope to be back by the end of December or early in January.”

Fareed Anthony resumed last Saturday after being off for six months and he rides again at Kenilworth today.

He said: “I injured my neck and my back, and I now have to go for an evaluation of my spine. But the rest has done me a lot of good and I’m feeling much better.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Karl Neisius

The date of the 155th running of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (LQP) – South Africa’s premier horseracing day – has been confirmed for Saturday, January 9, 2016, at Kenilworth Racecourse, guaranteeing a magnificent start to the year’s social calendar.

LQP is once more set to be an exhilarating day of horse racing – the day’s 12-race card will set South Africa’s finest thoroughbreds against each other as they pursue the coveted trophy and R1 million purse.

The Peninsula Stakes, sponsored by England’s Goodwood Racecourse, meanwhile, will run for a third year, bringing international flavour to the day’s line up. Additionally, the Breeder’s Cup, the biggest annual race day held in the United States, will again grant the LQP winner automatic entrance to its Mile Division, cementing the race’s global status.

Beyond the track, the elegance of LQP will again be exhibited by guests dressed in the LQP colours of blue and white as they mingle and enjoy world-class music, entertainment and culinary offerings across a variety of hospitality marquees including the Stud Club and Style Lounge.

“The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate has a rich history and is a defining moment in the international horseracing calendar.

Every year we strive to maintain strict standards of elegance and leisure while building on the successes of the past. LQP 2016 will deliver everything people have come to expect, plus a few surprises,” said Katherine Gray, co-ordinator of LQP 2016.

–  Phumulela

Charles Laird will send a string of five horses to the big meeting in Johannesburg this weekend and they include his Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile runner Bold Inspiration as well as sprinter Viva La Var and Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup contenders Main Submission, Top Form and Dance On Air.

Bold Inspiration has sensitive feet, so Laird runs him in special shoes that have a rubber cushion between the feet and the alumite base. However, the Summerveld trainer is still hoping for some rain to ease the current hard going in the Highveld, which has been suffering from a dry spell. There is about 29mm forecast this week in Johannesburg, 20mm of it at 60% probability and 9mm of it at 30% probability, so there is hope for at least some cut in the ground.

Main Submission (Nkosi Hlophe)

The five-year-old Horse Chestnut gelding Bold Inspiration began his career with Weiho Marwing and won two of four starts for him before being bought into Laird’s yard by Alesh Naidoo.

He won his first start for Laird over 1600m at Clairwood in comfortable fashion and followed up by winning twice in succession easily on the Greyville poly between 1800m and 2000m, before winning the Listed Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m on turf with topweight. He then failed in last year’s Sansui Summer Cup, but not surprisingly as he was asked to do it from the front over 2000m having travelled up to altitude.

This will be his second trip to altitude, but it is over a shorter trip of 1600m. On the other hand he will be running off a 105 merit rating as opposed to the 100 he ran off in the Summer Cup.  This was courtesy of an easy victory over 1600m on the Greyville poly last time out with topweight in a handicap.

Anton Marcus will not be able to ride him on Saturday as he is aboard Whiteline Fever for the owner who retains him, Markus Jooste. However, replacement Andrew Fortune is capable of doing a fine job too, although he won’t have an easy task overcoming a wide draw of 14, although he will come into draw eleven if the three reserve runners are scratched.

Dance On Air (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup, Laird will also not be able to use Marcus as the latter is booked to ride the likely hot-pot favourite, the Mike Azzie-trained Jooste-owned Gr 1-winner Rabada.

Laird felt that all three of his contenders were running for place cheques due to Rabada’s presence.

Main Submission is officially the highest rated of them, but Laird was loathe to separate the trio as he said the other two, Dance On Air and Top Form, had still been learning in their races.

Main Submission, a three-year-old colt by Oracy, has always been rated by Laird as one who would keep on improving through this season. He has shown just that by winning both of his starts this term, over 1200m and 1400m respectively, and both of them were in handicaps against older horses. Anthony Delpech now gets the ride on the 97 merit-rated horse and as things stand he will have to jump from draw eight of 12 runners.

Dance On Air is an impressively strong 86 merit-rated Kahal gelding, who proved his liking for the 1400m trip last time when winning comfortably on the Greyville poly in second time blinkers. Piere Strydom takes the ride on Saturday from draw seven.

Top Form is a classy colt by Kahal who ran off an 86 in his first handicap last time out. That rating was due to a facile 4,5 length victory over 1200m on debut, which was followed by an unplaced run in the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m. He did well to finish third to older horses over 1400m on the poly in his handicap debut as it was his seasonal reappearance and his first outing in blinkers. In fact it earned him a two point merit rating increase to 88. He unfortunately has to jump from draw eleven of 12 on Saturday, but he has a good big race jockey in Raymond Danielson aboard.

Top Form (Nkosi Hlophe)

Laird has won the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup twice, both times with fillies, and that included an amazing victory by Rich Girl last year from a wide draw under Marcus. Last year’s R3,85 million race is still the most expensive race to have been run in South African history.

The speedy five-year-old Var gelding Viva La Var, who has only had seven outings to date, has come back successfully from a knee chip issue to run two fine races over 1000m on the poly. The form now looks good as he was second on both occasions to Barbosa, who has transformed into a really good sprinter this year. The tall speedster has a low draw of four in Saturday’s Golden Loom Handicap over 1000m, which had cut down to 13 runners by the time of going to press, and he carries a nice galloping weight of 53kg , although a jockey is yet to be booked.

Laird said all of his runners were very well and would be travelling up on Friday night and arriving on the morning of the race.

By David Thiselton

Vaughan Marshall is considering a tilt at the Selangor Cup on November 21 with Victorious Jay whose form was given a big boost by Eighth Wonder’s Magnum Cape Classic win last Saturday.

The Milnerton trainer said: “I am going to prep him for the Selangor but he has to draw well to run. I think he is a lot better than he has been given credit for.”

Victorious Jay has won three of his last four starts, most recently beating Eighth Wonder (who was conceding 1.5kg) by three-quarters of a length in a 1 400m handicap in fast time at Durbanville. Marshall has the CTS Million Dollar on January 23 as his long term target for the Jay Peg colt.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Vaughan Marshall

Garth Puller has a good regard for his four-year-old Fort Beluga gelding Sea Urchin, who won impressively at Greyville’s PinkDrive meeting on Friday night under Anthony Delpech. Sea Urchin is not the only Fort Beluga to have done well under Puller’s care and it is not surprising the former jockey great has a few of the ill-fated stallion’s progeny in his Summerveld yard as he rated this Sean Tarry-trained son of Fort Wood very highly after winning on him in his first two career starts.

Sea Urchin started his career as a four-year-old due to a joint chip. On his debut over 1000m on the Greyville poly on August 23, he was backed in from 25/1 to 10/1. However, he lost two lengths at the start and was detached at the back of the field when turning for home, before running on fluently and overtaking all but the easy winner, the promising Swakopmund. In his next start on October 11 over 1000m at Scottsville he started even money after being backed in from 4/1 but, after hitting the gate and losing two lengths, he was once again outpaced before flying home for a 1,15 length third to Bagger Vance.

Sea Urchin (Nkosi Hlophe)

On Friday night at Greyville over 1000m on the poly, his third career start, Sea Urchin was backed in from 5/10 to 1/3 and broke well for a change from pole position, which allowed him to find a midfield position under Anthony Delpech. He then got better and better the longer the race went and strolled home a comfortable winner.

Puller admitted Sea Urchin had not beaten a strong field and the handicappers have duly merit rated him only 68. However, he confirmed the horse was looking for further, so this gelding is definitely one to follow until beaten because he strikes as a horse, who from this handicapping starting point, could run up a sequence of victories.

Other of Fort Beluga’s progeny Puller trains include the three-time winners Fortissimo and Call Me Maybe, as well as one-time winner King’s Affair and the twice-placed from just three starts, Enchanted Bay.

Current national champion trainer Tarry for a long time rated the luckless Fort Beluga the best horse he had ever trained.

Puller rode him in his first two career starts, both at Clairwood, and immediately rated him a horse with multiple Gr 1 potential after victories of six lengths and 2,5 length victories respectively over 1200m and 1450m.

Fort Beluga won his first four starts but then calamity struck. Starting 18/10 favourite in the 2006 Gr 1 BSA Cape Guineas, an upset in the stalls prior to the race saw him finishing unplaced 30 lengths back and the experience had a negative influence on his subsequent racing career. He still managed to achieve another two wins so ended a six-time winner over distances of 1200m – 1600m. He never earned black type, despite attaining a highest merit rating of 105, but at least looked to have a promising stud career ahead of him as he had a fair female line with his dam by Northern Guest having also produced Gr 2 eight-time winner Hundred Acre Wood and stakes-placed Joshua Tree and Magnolia Lane, all of whom were also by Fort Wood. Alas, Fort Beluga had only covered for one season at Bruce le Roux’s Spring Valley Stud when he was struck by lightning, so was fated to only ever produce one crop.

By David Thiselton

Trainer Mike de Kock will be upbeat about the chances of Toro Rosso after the announcement on Wednesday of the final field for the R1-million Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 31.

The Brazilian-bred son of Elusive Quality has proven his ability on the turf and comes into this Grade 2 event drawn No 1 and with just 54.5kg on his back. Anthony Delpech gets the ride.

De Kock also saddles Flying The Flag who will be having his first run in South Africa, and Mitraad. Flying The Flag was formerly trained by Aiden O’Brien and joined De Kock last year. The son of Galileo has raced five times for the yard and won his penultimate start over 2000m in Dubai.

He is drawn No 10 for the Charity Mile and will be ridden by Marco van Rensburg.

The draw for charities and celebrities was made at a function at Emperors Palace yesterday. This year the charities will receive a record R1-million, with the charity who draws the winning horse receiving a whopping R150,000 with the second-placed runner earning R100,000 for their charity. Even the horse who finishes last will bring R50,000 into the fold for the charity.

French Navy, winner of the Grade 1 SA Classic and the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 tops the weights with 60kg but Sean Tarry’s charge has landed up with No 16 draw. Regular jockey Raymond Danielson is in the irons. Tarry also runs Halve The Deficit and Whiteline Fever but was disappointed that 2013 Vodacom Durban July winner Heavy Metal is only in as the second reserve runner.

Alec Laird saddles two runners in Bouclette Top and last year’s winner Bezanova. Bezanova has one just once since last year’s event but he comes back carrying just 0.5kg more than last year and jumps from barrier No 4.

Another runner of interest is Deputy Jud, a facile winner of the Supreme Cup over 1450m on the sand. Mike Azzie’s charge is proven on the turf but jockey JP van der Merwe will have to contend with No 13 draw.

ML Jet came back to form with a win over 1600m on the inside track recently and with just 54kg to carry and jumping from No 5 draw, the Gavin van Zyl-trained runner has to be a contender. Keagan de Melo takes the ride.

Justin Snaith saddles two runners in Ultimate Dollar and Dynamic but both drew wide. Fortunately he has engaged two top jockeys with Piere Strydom on Ultimate Dollar and Weichong Marwing on Dynamic.

Vee Moodley, Phumelela’s Betting Executive, has already pulled a couple of rabbits from his hat. There will be a Pick 6 carryover of R900,000 with an estimated pool of R4 million, while R100,000 will be injected into the Quartet on the Charity Mile itself and a pool of R700,000 is predicted.

– Phumelela

Picture: Halve The Deficit (Nkosi Hlophe)

Final field for the R1-million Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile (Grade 2) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 31 October

1 – 16 FRENCH NAVY (S G Tarry) R Danielson 60.0 – 113

2 – 11 BOUCLETTE TOP (A G Laird) G Lerena 58.0 – 108

3 – 10 FLYING THE FLAG (M F De Kock) M V’Rensburg 58.0 – 108

4 – 4 BEZANOVA (A G Laird) …………… 57.5 – 107

5 – 13 DEPUTY JUD (M G Azzie) J P v’d Merwe 57.0 – 107

6 – 6 RAMPANT ICE (W H Marwing) I Sturgeon 56.5 – 106

7 – 14 BOLD INSPIRATION (C Laird) …………… 56.5 – 105

8 – 19 HALVE THE DEFICIT (S G Tarry) C Zackey 56.5 – 105

9 – 12 MAC DE LAGO (W H Marwing) S Khumalo 55.5 – 104

10 – 9 WHITELINE FEVER (S G Tarry) A Marcus 55.5 – 103

11 – 1 TORO ROSSO (M F De Kock) A Delpech 54.5 – 102

12 – 15 ULTIMATE DOLLAR (S J Snaith) P Strydom 54.5 – 102

13 – 17 DYNAMIC (S J Snaith) W Marwing 54.5 – 101

14 – 5 M L JET (G H Van Zyl) K de Melo 54.0 – 101

15 – 2 THE CAPTAIN’S TUNE (G V Woodruff) …………… 53.0 – 99

16 – 18 MITRAAD (M F De Kock) R Simons 52.0 – 97

Reserve Runners

17 – 7 SARATOGA DANCER (D C Howells) Reserve 1 52.0 – 95

18 – 3 HEAVY METAL (S G Tarry) Reserve 2 55.0 – 100

19 – 8 KILLUA CASTLE (G V Woodruff) Reserve 3 56.0 – 104

Same Trainer: (1,8,10,18) (2,4) (3,11,16) (6,9) (12,13) (15,19)