Somerset winner Tar Heel dominates the Darkhorsewheels.com Handicap at the jockeys’ charity meeting at Durbanville tomorrow but the Cape Classic entry faces a mammoth task.

Donavan Mansour’s mount has joint top weight and this is his first appearance since his shock odds-on defeat in the Cape Nursery four months ago. “He did too much too soon that day and Anton Marcus just couldn’t get him settled,” says Joey Ramsden whose treadmill will have diminished much of the lengthy absence negative.

But a draw nine out of ten over 1 400m is a huge disadvantage at this course and would appear to swing the balance against the forecast favourite.

Forward Drive’s catch-me-if-you-can style of running is ideal for Durbanville and in the normal course of events would make him the one to beat but his trainer wants this to be a learning process. “He has never been here before and going off in front might not be the best thing to do first time round a turn,” says Paul Reeves. “We are going to try and hold him up a bit.”

The hat-trick seeking Albarakah is 3kg worse with Forward Drive for just over a length and a half but is drawn eight and can be no certainty to confirm the placings, or with Joiners Arms.

Jet Air’s form is over a bit further (rider Aldo Domeyer, incidentally, looks the biggest certainty since Frankel in the post-racing Jockeys Chase) and stable rider Grant van Niekerk is on the worst drawn Marinaresco instead.

Eighth Wonder has run well here and was considered good enough to run in the Cape Nursery but his four point increase for last time’s second has lessened his chance. “That was cruel,” says Greg Ennion feelingly. “But he needed that last run badly and he has come on a lot since then.”

So what will win if there is good reason for so many of them not to? Maybe Groen Gevaarte. Brett Crawford’s runner was good enough to make a winning debut here four weeks ago and there are lines of form that suggest normal improvement could be sufficient.

Brilliant Idea, second on her last three outings, should finally get her head in front in the opening maiden sponsored by Richard Fourie who is making rather a slow start to his Hong Kong season – just one winner compared with four for Karis Teetan and 18 for the all-conquering Moreira.

But don’t ignore Supercilious just because of last time’s run – the blinkers are coming off.

Whatever his fortunes with her, Ramsden can win the next with Icy Trail whose first run showed potential. Shenyang and League Of Legends have more obvious credentials but Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount appeals.

Wednesday’s results suggest there is little to choose between The Best Of Me and Mount Fuji in the Mauritzfontein Stud Farm Maiden and MJ Byleveld’s mount gets only marginal preference.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Donavan Mansour (Nkosi Hlophe)

Greyville has another eight race meeting on the poly and there look to be some good opportunities for punters.

In the first, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1400m, is a tough one for punters to assess. Banda showed pace over 1000m last time at Cape Town, where the maidens are generally stronger than Durban, and she will relish the step up in trip so would not be a surprise winner under a 4kg claimer. Witchcraft made a fair debut over 1200m on Sunday when green and will appreciate the step up in trip.

Drury Lane was caught late after opening up a big lead in the straight when using front running tactics last time and considering her pole position draw and the race times she does have La Gitano beaten on paper but the latter did have the saddle slip excuse. La Gitano went close last time over course and distance despite the saddle slipping slightly and a repeat of the latter incident is unlikely with one of the country’s strongest jockey, Sean Veale, aboard. Time Capsule was doing her best work late over 1000m at Scottsville on debut behind a highly promising sort and not only has the form of that race worked out well but she will appreciate the step up in trip.

Swan Dance over raced a bit last time over course and distance so is interesting with the blinkers off and Anton Marcus up. Eleven looks to have scope for improvement and considering she was a bit strong behind a slow pace over 1600m last time, a race in which she was also baulked late, she should appreciate the step down in trip. Thanda has beaten Eleven in both their meetings but is more exposed and not as scopey. The only first-timer is the Judpot filly Notability, whose sibling have not amounted to much and she only cost R90,000, but on the other hand she is trained by Mike de Kock and Anthony Delpech rides.

The second over 1400m, Master Of Mischief flyjumped last time when a touch disappointing on turf but ran a cracker over this course and distance before that and is the one to beat. Eternal Ice over raced with cheek pieces last time against winners and they are now off so he should be right there with Marcus back in the saddle. Leroy was not far behind Master Of Mischief when they met over course and distance.

In the third race over 1400m, Brave William wasn’t disgraced on debut over 1200m when slow away and green in a maiden that has worked out well, and on pedigree he should relish the step up in trip. Aficionado ran on well on debut over course and distance when green so with expected improvement should be right there. Starcraft Prince has shown some signs of ability and should be cherry ripe having his third run after a long rest. Buster Brown has a place chance on form. Long Walk is usually thereabouts over shorter and on pedigree should enjoy this trip.

The fourth over 1400m, Last Tiger looks well weighted on his Cape Town form and could provide yet another winner for Dean Kannemeyer’s new arrivals from Cape Town. Top Form will be fit in his comeback, as he is from the Charles Laird yard, and his class could help him defy an 86 merit rating from pole position. Fantasy Art has improved since being gelded and is course and distance suited. Storm Surf is now back to a competitive merit rating over an ideal course and distance from a plum draw. Red Rover is course and distance suited. Aware did well in blinkers in his last two and could earn off a one point lower merit rating.

In the fifth over 2000m Golden High has a touch of class and off just a two point higher merit rating than his last win he could follow up over an ideal course and distance. Entrée only just failed last time over course and distance and could make amends here. Night Lock is consistent and could earn again over a suitable course and distance.

In the sixth over 1600m, Alessia beat a fair sort last time and could have the class to defy her 83 merit rating first time out the maidens. Lady Ami is a runner here as a hard knocker with Marcus up, although she would probably prefer a touch further. Music World was still green when winning her maiden over course and distance and could improve further. Nanojet ran well last time but this is her second run after a long rest. News Weekly has a chance on form.

In the seventh over 1200m Off Ramp, who has won on the Greyville poly before,  looks extremely well weighted on her Cape Town form although the slight concerns are that she is widely drawn and would probably prefer 1400m. Quintella loves this course and distance and was a touch unlucky in her penultimate start. Chennai Babe has a hattrick chance with Marcus up over a suitable trip.

In the last over 1200m the hard-knocking Teppenyaki could lead all the way from a low draw. Burrwood should be running on strongly late. Temple Rock is off an attractive merit rating and could earn. Risky Rosco is always thereabouts and is distance suited. Rainer can’t be ignored over a suitable trip. Portelinha Samba could still improve and can’t be ignored.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Alessia (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mystical Twilight can make amends for last time’s disappointment and score at a rewarding 5-1 in the Gold Circle Graduation Plate at Durbanville today.

MJ Byleveld’s mount has the form to win as he had Met day Listed winner Buckinghamshire nearly two and a half lengths behind in the SA Nursery in April.  He was an easy winner of maiden over this course and distance two months ago but things went wrong when he started second favourite here last time.

“He got bumped coming out of the gate and I think you will see a vastly improved performance this time,” says Vaughan Marshall. “I believe he will like the five furlongs even though you wouldn’t expect that from his pedigree.”

Buckinghampshire comes out nearly two lengths better on adjusted ratings and opened at 9-10 with Betting World yesterday but he has been off for over 11 weeks. “He will run very well although I think he is better over a little bit further,” says Justin Snaith.

Ernie, who started favourite when fourth in the Langerman and is 3-1 here, also has strong claims but he has not raced since June. “It’s not so much that he will need the run but that it’s a bit short for him,” says Candice Robinson. “He has been gelded since his last race.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe had three winners on Saturday and he should waste little time in striking again because his mount Duke The Duke looks capable of beating fellow 5-2 joint favourite Barnstable and Rit Mo Total (28-10) in the first.

He can also win race three on Durban Beach who opened at 9-10. The gelding has not raced since starting odds-on for his debut ten months ago but bookmakers have long memories and they have not forgotten how the money poured on this one. “He was a precocious, speedy type,” Snaith recalls. “But his knees came up after that first run so he has had a long break. He is a nice type of horse.”

Snaith also trained the Darryl Hodgson pair Cardinal Call and Chennai Space when they made their January debuts but neither has raced since. Chennai Space has the better chance of the pair according to the bookies and Betting World had him second favourite at 5-2 yesterday. “I think he will probably need the run,” is Darryl Hodgson’s verdict.

Ravishing Lad doesn’t have the same potential but is expected to go close and the 7-1 chance could be worth a small place bet. “I am going to put cheek pieces on him and he will go to the front,” says Mike Stewart. “When Richard Fourie rode him here in July he was beaten less than half a length into third. Richard told me that he had the second and third stone cold but the horse wouldn’t go past them.”

Midnight Spy, 5-2 joint favourite for race four, was only caught on the line when running a cracking debut here a fortnight ago but Taffety Tart (also 5-2) has slightly stronger form and is preferred.

Big Ed has run well over shorter distances in his last two races but Shane Humby’s five-year-old is in his element over 2 400m and looks another for Fayd’Herbe in the Gold Circle Handicap. However yesterday’s 14-10 looks short enough.

By Michael Clower 

Picture: MJ Byleveld

The profitability issues of staging Western Cape racing is again in the spotlight after racing operator Phumelela issued a warning to local owners and trainers that unless field sizes were boosted up to 12 horses and above per race, stakes might be reduced or meetings shelved.

The topic of field sizes evokes a divergence of views. Stats in the Western Cape bear out the virtually universal trend that horses are being run less often and field sizes have come down. Nine is the average field size at Durbanville, with around 10 runners going to post in each race at Kenilworth.

Heavily invested owner Marsh Shirtliff is adamant his horses must run as often as possible and field numbers must increase. He downplays the supposed impact of dodgy draws, a common reason for horses not taking up engagements, and is instead advocating fuller participation to promote a well-supported, sustainable local racing scene.

But, more typically, owners or trainers are reluctant to race horses from bad draws. No owner likes to see their horses fare badly, and draws can be tough to overcome, even if not the insurmountable problem they are sometimes made out to be. Critics may also cite the awkward camber that can see runners at Durbanville become unbalanced. The threat of their valuable bloodstock sustaining a career threatening injury may prompt cautious connections to keep them tucked away safely in the stables.

Mooted improvements to the racing surface at the country course would make a significant difference, meanwhile when racing reverts back to the flatter, sweeping expanses of Kenilworth next month, field sizes ought to bump up.

The racing programme, which currently comprises 84 meetings and 694 races across the season in the Western Cape, is also a continual source of debate. Racing secretaries find that it’s virtually impossible to keep everybody happy. Depending on the shifting composition of their strings, trainers may want more top-level handicaps or lower grade contests, races for stayers not sprinters, or set weight affairs races rather than merit rated handicaps.

For example, Candice Robinson, who is skillfully managing the Mike Bass stable, counts Shirtliff among their most prominent patrons and would love to oblige by running horses more regularly. However, she is currently frustrated by the lack of viable opportunities for their many above- average horses, who are caught out by being just not quite good enough for feature races.

While field sizes are an issue, at the heart of the controversy is the need to boost betting revenues which makes the wheels of this racing game go round. The Western Cape, where close to 1500 individual runners compete each season, is one of the lowest per runner contributors when assessed against betting turnovers. This, despite being home to quality thoroughbreds, outstanding horsemen, a proud tradition of historic stakes races and a sterling breeding industry.

Western Cape racing has much in its favour, and resilient industry players who have risen to multiple challenges over the years are again committed to sorting things out. Recent meetings suggest that, be it dealing creatively with the draw issue, administrators imaginatively tweaking the racing programme or genuine improvements being made to course conditions, a collaborative solution with the operators will be found.

– Mark van Deventer for TAB News

The R1 million Supreme Cup sponsored by SAP will not become defunct due to the discontinuation of the Vaal Sand, but instead will be raced on turf, although the venue is still the subject of discussions.

Clyde Basel, who officially became Phumelela’s Racing Executive on October 1 while still retaining his position as Executive in charge of hospitality and events, said the Vaal Triangle was an “untapped” racing area and the validity of staging the Supreme Cup at The Vaal racecourse had already been proven. This year’s event, held September 26 and sponsored by the enterprise software giant SAP, was said by some to be the best ever.

The Vaal looks likely therefore to be the favourite to retain the Supreme Cup meeting.

The Vaal Sand will be replaced by a turf track. It was a sad day for many to see the end of the Vaal sand, because the surface clearly offered a lifeline to many horses who were going nowhere on the turf.

However, a R1 million turf race over 1450m on the last weekend of September could well offer an exciting springboard for big horses being targeted at such races as the Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile and the Gr 1 SANSUI Summer Cup.

Also under discussion at Phumelela will be the building of a polytrack. Basel said the merit of such a surface had already been proven at Fairview, whose polytrack had to date saved 15 racemeeting since being opened in October 2013.

By David Thiselton

The promising Alistair Gordon-trained three-year-old Dupont gelding Bunker Bill is being targeted at the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on October 31 and will certainly not be lacking support as there are a crowd of a passionate racing folk involved in the ownership syndicate behind him.

Gordon said the strikingly handsome bay’s participation in the Graham Beck would depend on the draw he lands and an alternative target would be the Listed KZN Guineas Trial over 1600m on the Greyville Turf on November 8.

He added, “He came out of his last run really well and I think he is looking for the extra distance.”

Bunker Bill was having only his third career start in that last race over 1200m at Scottsville and finished just 2,75 lengths behind the Gr 1-winner Guiness, who is an out and out sprinter. Furthermore, he was receiving only 4,5kg from Guiness, which meant he was 2kg worse off than weight for age, so it was an outstanding performance. He also had the promising newcomer Executive Power beaten by two lengths.

Further evidence of Bunker Bill’s potential is contained in his maiden victory over 1200m at Scottsville, which he won in commanding style by eight lengths on July 15 in his second career start. This race has provided one of the strongest maiden formlines of the season in KZN as the runner up African Ruler is unbeaten in two starts since, third-placed Land Of Legends has won his only start since, and fourth-placed Apollo’s Gift has won and been placed second respectively in his only two starts since.

Bunker Bill looks likely to provide fun for a group of owners who deserve a good horse as they are avid supporters of the sport.

He also has a heart-warming story behind him.

The cousins and close friends Bruce Armstrong and Peter “Pumpy” Lambert raced Bunker Bill’s dam Promise Me together with Alistair Gordon and his wife Jeannet. Under the experienced care of Gordon, Promise Me proved a consistent sort and won one race over 1450m at Clairwood, while also running several places ranging from 1200-1600m. Her career spanned three seasons from June 2008 until September 2010 and she ran 22 times.

Bunker Bill (Nkosi Hlophe)

The connections then struck a deal with breeder Mark Greene, giving her away on the condition they could in turn have her first foal for racing.

Greene was at that stage boarding his mares at the Sandown Stud farm of James and Joy Armitage in Stellenbosch.

Dupont, a son of Zafonic, has always been a good value sire having produced three stakes winners and nine stakes placed horses from 198 foals, 73% of which raced, while 45% of those runners won.

Among Dupont’s stakes winners was the Gordon-trained Lady Magpie, who won the Gr 3 King’s Cup over 1600m in 2011. Among the boys she beat that night was the subsequent J&B Met winner Martial Eagle.

Promise Me’s twice Gr 1-winning sire Labeeb was a big loss to Sumerhill Stud when passing away in 2006, having produced 12.5% stakes winners to runners, including four stakes winners and seven Black-type performers, in his first crop of just 31 foals.

James Armitage revealed that Bunker Bill was a “fantastically good looking foal from the word go.”

He appeared to be a natural and Armitage added, “When he was sent to Alistair he looked as good as any horse going to the yearling sales but hadn’t even been prepared for the sales.”

Bunker Bill has turned out to be amazingly well named. Most could be excused for believing he was named after Peter Lambert’s ebullient father Bill, who is known as KZN’s “Mr Racing” and sometimes by the nickname “Bunter.” However, the horse was in fact named after Mark Green’s father-in-law.

Peter Lambert decided to lease his share to Greyville’s “Box B”, which is usually the rowdiest box on course being frequented as it is by Peter and his twin brothers Ian and David and their equally festive friends. Gordon’s stepson “JP” Coppez and his wife Bronwyn have also taken a share. Bunker Bill therefore has a huge and passionate support base.

Meanwhile, Mark Greene has set up Ndoro Stud on leased land in Wellington, which was once the residence of the late Godfrey’s Gird’s JSE Listed Stud operation Oaklands.

He will be looking forward to the future progeny of Promise Me, which to date includes an unraced two-year-old colt by Warm White Night and a younger filly by Twice Over. Promise Me is currently in foal to Judpot.

In other Gordon yard news he confirmed that the three-year-old Argonaut gelding Beat The Retreat needed his run on Sunday at Scottsville when third to the two classy sorts Split the Breeze and Executive Power in a Graduation Plate over 1200m and added that he was looking for a lot further. Gordon believes Beat The Retreat, who finished 1,5 lengths at level weights behind the Equus Champion Two-year-old colt Seventh Plain in both a Gr 2 over 1100m and a Gr 1 over 1400m last season, will go a mile or even 2000m and is targeting him at the KZN Guineas Trial.

The yard’s promising three-year-old Trippi colt Monte Christo is being aimed at handicap over 1400m at Scottsville on the 18^th of this month.

Gordon is the longest standing trainer at Summerveld and has been associated with many good horses in his time. His yard, having had an upturn in fortunes last season, look to have good prospects for this season and Bunker Bill could well be leading the charge.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Bunker Bill (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Duncan Howells-trained Mambo In Seattle gelding Saratoga Dancer proved he will be a force to be reckoned with in the Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile when sauntering to his fifth career win over 1600m at Scottsville yesterday in a Pinnacle Stakes event under Muzi Yeni.

Saratoga Dancer sat about five lengths off the pace and it was soon clear in the straight he was going to beat the favourite, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gr 1-winner Afrikaburn, who was a little headstrong early. Saratoga Dancer was receiving 4,5kg from Afrikaburn.  He won cosily by 1,5 lengths from the progressive Charles Laird-trained Stormy Eclipse, who proved himself more than just a polytrack horse as he ran at level weights with the winner. Afrikaburn was beaten two lengths into third, but will come on from the run.

Another hot race on the day was a Graduation Plate over 1200m in which the Charles Laird-trained 11/2 shot, the four-year-old Brave Tin Soldier gelding Split The Breeze, returned from a four month layoff to produce a strong finish under Anton Marcus and overtake the second favourite, the Mike Miller-trained Executive Power, who was having only his third start and is full of promise. The Alistair Gordon-trained Gr 3 runner up and Gr 1 fifth placed Beat The Retreat started favourite but proved just in need of the run and was 3,5 lengths behind the winner in third.

Mark Dixon had a 1950m double on the card, winning a maiden with the Mogok gelding Red Red Ruby under Athandiwe Mgudlwa and a MR 70 Handicap for fillies and mares with the Eyeofthetiger filly Timeforatiger, who was ridden by Sean Veale.

Alistair Gordon’s winner of the first over 1000m, the Warm White Night three-year-old colt Sublime Code, caught the eye when winning effortlessly under Alec Forbes and looks to be a fair sort.

Forbes scored a quick double when the consistent Wendy Whitehead-trained A. P. Answer filly Hannah’s Answer won the second over 1200m.

James Goodman’s hard knocking six-year-old gelding Piano Man gave Mogok a quick double when winning the fifth over 1000m under Ian Sturgeon. It was Piano Man’s sixth career victory.

Yogas Govender had his first winner since going on his own when winning the last over 1950m with the Horse Chestnut fill Roy’s Gold and this gave Marcus a double.

*

At Longchamp in Paris Frankie Detorri was at his brilliant best when winning his fourth Gr 1 Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe, this time aboard the John Gosden-trained three-year-old Cape Cross colt Golden Horn, who has now won four Gr 1s. Golden Horn’s only blemish in eight career starts was when narrowly losing the Gr 1 Juddmonte International at York. Yesterday, Dettori stayed well wide of the pack in the first straight, probably in superior going, and this could have been the key to the win as the colt found a handy position and won full of running to deny the French filly Treve, who only managed fourth place, a record third successive win in the race.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Saratoga Dancer (Nkosi Hlophe)

Act Of War will attempt to follow in the talented hoofprints of Capetown Noir after smashing the Durbanville 1 400m course record on Saturday.

As did Capetown Noir – the only other horse to justify favouritism in the Kuda Matchem in the last decade – last season’s Cape Guineas winner has the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate as his target and in the meantime there is the possibility – not to put too fine a point on it – of a mouth-watering clash with Legislate and/or Futura in the Green Point Stakes on November 21.

The 1-3 hotpot was entitled to beat Saturday’s rivals with some ease and it wasn’t so much that he won that impressed but the way he did it after being off for five months, having a rushed preparation and travelling as many kilometres as a long distance lorry driver.

Anton Marcus deliberately gave him plenty to do, so much so in fact that at the 1 400m mark the disturbing thought flashed through the writer’s mind: ‘He is going to have to be Nijinsky to win from there.’ Substitute your own, more modern, equine superstar if you will but six lengths in a field at full flow is a hell of a lot. Yet the favourite did it with over 50m still to run and, what is more, he took nearly three-quarters of a second off Signal Green’s 1 min 23.8 sec record that had stood for 20 years.

It all contributed to a day to remember for owner Markus Jooste who was at his daughter’s wedding but his retained jockey recalled an even more memorable occasion when he rode the mighty Empress Club to victory in the South Easter Sprint here in 1992. She also broke the course record that day.

Marcus reckons that this was his last visit to Durbanville and he added: “Joey asked me to ride Act Of War a little more conservatively than usual because he hadn’t run for some time.

“In the race it was always my intention to wait until the last furlong, or furlong and a half, because they went a fair tempo and I wasn’t prepared to get into any sort of bunfight.”

Ramsden recalled how he had galloped the horse at Greyville a fortnight earlier when Marcus wasn’t happy with him.

He added: “I probably left it a little bit late bringing him back down from Durban and we galloped him here last Sunday. I then smashed him on the treadmill on Tuesday, giving him another strong piece of work.

“Today he looked magnificent – the best I’ve ever seen him – and he was different class. I reckon to keep him at around a mile so it’s the Green Point and the Queen’s Plate.”

Ramsden revealed that the Arc-En-Ciel bred Dynasty colt had been under consideration for the Champions Cup in July “but he ran a slight temperature. That’s the only reason we didn’t run him.”

He fitted  a tongue tie for the first time in a race, explaining: “From day one the horse has made a little bit of a noise and, as he had taken to it well, I didn’t see any reason why not to use it.”

Racing manager Derek Brugman added: “This is a bloody good horse and to win like that after what he has been through in the last couple of weeks, with the all the travelling and galloping to get him ready, is quite something.”

The Mike Bass stable is considering bringing Inara back in distance after the way Gaynor Rupert’s homebred gave the stable its second Diana Stakes in three seasons.

Candice Robinson said: “She showed a lot of pace here so maybe she will run in a sprint before going for a second Paddock and Majorca.”

Certainly Grant van Niekerk was impressed, saying: “I was never worried at any stage. I knew what I had under me and she showed what she is made of.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Act Of War and jockey Anton Marcus in the Kuda Matchem Stakes (Liesl King)

The champion yard of Sean Tarry kicked into full stride at Turffontein yesterday as the four-year-old Trippi colt Trip To Heaven won the Gr 2 World Sports Betting Spring Challenge over 1450m under S’Manga Khumalo in impressive style. The pair later combined for a double when another four-year-old by Trippi, the 101 merit-rated Zambezi River, won a Pinnacle event over 1000m cosily, while Ormond Ferraris also scored a double, including winning the Gr 2 World Sports Betting Spring Fillies and Mares Stakes over 1450m with the crack filly Lazer Star, who was ridden by Weichong Marwing.

Down at Durbanville the Joey Ramsden-trained Act Of War and the Mike Bass-trained Inara confirmed their brilliance when respectively winning the Gr 3 Matchem Stakes under Anton Marcus and the Gr 3 Diana Stakes under Grant van Niekerk, both over1400m.

Trip To Heaven had to be reshod at the start and then stumbled shortly after jumping, but after surging to the front he settled beautifully. The brilliant Charles Laird-trained miler Ice Machine, who raided from KZN, was well in at the weights on official merit ratings under the weight for age plus penalties conditions, but did not get the pace he needed and was forced to race wide from his high draw. Trip To Heaven kicked for home superbly and when Ice Machine’s challenge petered out, it was left to the Alec Laird-trained Bouclette Top to chase him home and clinch his second Gr 2 runner up spot over this sort of trip. The Tarry-trained Whiteline Fever pipped Ice Machine for third and the Tarry-trained Halve The Deficit was fifth. Trip To Heaven now looks likely to stay the trip of the Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile on October 31.

Earlier, the Ormond Ferraris-trained Toreador four-year-old filly Lazer Star proved herself more than just a pure sprinter when winning the Gr 2 World Sports Betting Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge over 1450m under Weichong Marwing. She has now won seven races from just nine starts, six of them over sprints, and is fittingly owned by Marwing’s wife Anneli. Under yesterday’s weight for age conditions, she bided her time in third place behind a steady pace set by Sarve and after creeping forward in the straight she found a telling late kick to go on and win comfortably by 1,75 lengths, converting even money favouritism. Sarve, rated 103 compared to Lazer Star’s 109, held on for second ahead of the three-year-old Madame Dubois.

Ferraris had earlier sent out the Australian-bred Duke Of Marmalade mare Marmalady to score her third win on the trot in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 2200m and she looks to be a highly progressive stayer.

National log-leading jockey Andrew Fortune scored an early double and one of his winners, the three-year-old Gary Alexander-trained Kahal colt Champagne Haze, a half-brother to Piere Jourdan, had a fair bunch spread out like the washing behind him in a MR 92 handicap for three-year-olds over 1450m.

At Durbanville, the Western Cape’s Champion Three-Year-old colt from last season, the now four-year-old Dynasty colt Act Of War, sat one wide in midfield in the Matchem Stakes, which meant he was some way out of his ground on the tight course after the Justin Snaith-trained Heartland, to whom he was giving 2kg, had stolen a march down the inside. However, he came home powerfully after winding up into his big stride and beat Heartland by a comfortable 1,5 lengths, converting 1/3 odds. Charles Lytton finished third and Line Break and second favourite Sail For Gold were next best. Three of the first four are by Dynasty and Charles Lytton is by Dynasty’s half-brother Thomas Crown.

In The Diana Stakes Inara, who conceded at least 3kg to the entire field, sat in second place behind her sprint-miler stablemate Come Fly With Me. After she had eventually found top gear in the straight, she surged past to win by a length, converting odds of 5/10. Come Fly To Me was second favourite at 5/2 and finished second. Fear Not was only a head back in third, ahead of Harvard Crimson and Just Felicity.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Inara winning the Diana Stakes (Liesl King)

Dean Kannemeyer landed a treble at Greyville on Friday night, while his other two runners both finished third, and these results not only provided proof of his skills as a trainer but also of the apparently superior Cape Town form, as all five of his horses were having their first KZN outings since being transported from Kannemeyer’s Milnerton base to his Summerveld satellite yard and most of them were sent out at attractive odds.

In the first race over 1200m his runner, the five-year-old Kahal gelding Black Agate, had already had 13 runs in the maidens and had been beaten more than ten lengths in both of his last two runs. However a closer look at his Cape Town form showed that in good going he had only once been out of the first five over this trip, so considering the strength of maiden races in Cape Town compared to Durban and the fast poly surface, he looked good value at R4.40 a place and duly ran on strongly for third. The winner of this race was the well backed favourite Var Du Bois, who was the second first-timer by Var that Doug Campbell had sent out to win on successive Friday nights and both were ridden by Ian Sturgeon.

Kannemeyer’s second runner of the evening, the three-year-old Kahal colt Tanjiro, looked impossible to impose facing a weak field in a Maiden over 1600m, having gone close over 1400m in Cape Town in his previous run. He was allowed to drift out to R1.80 a win, apparently due to some negative on course rumours, but he duly won comfortably under Anton Marcus.

Kannemeyer’s next runner, the five-year-old Judpot gelding Sussex, was another one who looked likely to enjoy the relatively fast poly surface, so looked amazing value at R23.70 considering the previous time he had raced on good ground over this 1600m trip in Cape Town he finished only 2,45 lengths behind the decent Bianzino and was now not only three points lower in the merit ratings but also had a 4kg claimer up in the handicap event. Apprentice Eric Ngwane didn’t panic when the horse was headstrong early in the running, but instead allowed him to bowl along in the joint lead and he fought back after being headed in the straight to deny Rocketball by a head.

In the next race, a handicap over 1800m, the once highly regarded Kannemeyer-trained Giant’s Causeway gelding Capel Top had dropped to a 66 merit rating and ran on for third paying R1.80 a place.

His runner in the next, a handicap over 1400m, was the Lecture filly Leylani and she didn’t look to have an easy task as a three-year-old carrying 60kg off a merit rating of 82. However, she won cosily under Alec Forbes and returned R7.00 a win.

The record of the off season arrivals to Kannemeyer’s satellite yard at Summerveld from Milnerton now reads seven runs, five wins and two thirds.

Charles Laird and Anton Marcus combined for a double at the meeting. In the fourth, a maiden over 1600m, the Dynasty filly Madame Justice, a full-sister to Legislate, relished the step up in trip and powered to a 9,25 length win.It was a weak field, but she over raced early so looks most promising.

Laird’s strong three-year-old Kahal gelding Dance On Air also looks decent having won the last race, a handicap over 1400m, comfortably despite carrying 60,5kg off a merit rating of 81.

The other two winners on the night were the problematic Belinda Impey-trained seven-year-old Scripture gelding Dulce Leche, who, ridden by Sean Veale, beat an unlucky Sweet Turn in a maiden over 1600m; and the often disappointing Gavin van Zyl-trained Silvano gelding Night Shadow, who enjoyed the step up to 1800m in a handicap, and won comfortably off a lowly 63 merit rating under Warren Kennedy.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Dean Kannemeyer