Gift Funeka, who in the year 2000 became the first black jockey to ride in the Durban July, died on Friday.

Funeka was rushed to hospital with severe internal pains and died a short while after being admitted.

Funeka booked a place in the 2000 July aboard the Anil Maharaj trained New Zealand-bred His Nibs after winning the Gr 2 Greyville 1900 on the seven-year-old gelding at odds of 20/1.

The Greyville 1900 was his biggest career win.

However, he also gained a huge amount of respect for the brave and highly successful comeback he made to the saddle about two years ago, having been off for about four-and-a-half years due to a bout of meningitis which affected his balance for some time.

Trainer Dorrie Sham was instrumental in helping him renew his license and he became associated with her Fairview yard.

Sham had a long friendship with Funeka and admitted she regarded him as an “extra son.” Funeka had a winner for Sham in his second comeback meeting and finished the 2013/2014 season with 20 winners at a strike rate of 6,73%.

In the first part of the 2014/2015 he became associated with the like of the George Uren and Des McLachlan/Duncan McKenzie yards, and he also had rides here and there for the like of Alan Greeff, Glen Kotzen and Mitch Wiese.

He was clearly held in high regard and consequently landed a position with the powerful yard of Yvette Bremner, having ridden two winners for her in his early handful of chances for the yard, a 50/1 shot in Leta’s Bonnet and a 28/10 favourite in Benedict.

He finished last season with 40 winners at a strike rate of just over 9%.

He had not ridden since the second Fairview Friday meeting of this season due to illness.

Funeka joined the South African Jockey’s Academy in 1995 and rode his first winner at Scottsville in April 1997 aboard the Clodagh Shaw-trained Dale Vision, a day he described as the happiest of his life. He went on to ride 48 winners as an apprentice.

One of Funeka’s nicknames was ‘mnotho’, which means money, and was given to him by the grooms who said that whenever the money was down he would bring it home.

Funeka was born and grew up in Kwa-Mashu as one of a family of three boys and is survived by his wife Ntombi Viv, son Nkosinathi and daughter Nkanyezi.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Gift Funeka

Act Of War is as short as 4-10 in the Betting World forecast for tomorrow’s Kuda Matchem Stakes but this Durbanvile feature is a favourite’s graveyard and nine of the last ten have been beaten.

Joey Ramsden’s star has over six lengths in hand on his best form and master-starter Anton Marcus is almost guaranteed to make light of the colt’s eight draw. A gallop on the course last weekend satisfied his trainer that lack of Durbanville racing experience won’t be a handicap either.

However he has not raced for five months and, although the Cape Guineas winner was kept in work at Summerveld over the winter, his racecourse absence just might make him vulnerable.

Ramsden, who won this with the great Variety Club four years ago, does not agree and says: “He is pretty fit. I wouldn’t let him out if I didn’t feel he could do the job.”

Surprisingly there are no three-year-olds in the line-up – ten were entered – and only two other trainers are represented. Justin Snaith, successful with Changingoftheguard in 2012, runs five with Sean Cormack’s mount Alpha Pegasi marginally the best on ratings and a forecast 7-1 chance.

“Alpha Pegasi will run well but I think Heartland (6-1) will probably be our main hope,” says Snaith. “But, really, it’s a toss-up between the five and much will depend on which one handles Durbanville the best.”

Snaith, in tremendous form so far this season, is also of the opinion that the favourite could be vulnerable – “Particularly at Durbanville which is a place that tames lions. Here it’s not always the best horse that wins but the one that acts best on the course.”

Mike Bass, bidding for his third Matchem in eight years, runs four and Sail For Gold could be the one to floor the favourite.  In the Winter Guineas, when Act Of War returned from three months off, he ran the Ramsden hotpot to a fighting length and a quarter on these terms.  He is race fit after winning over 1 300m here a fortnight ago and looks value at the forecast 8-1.

Candice Robinson confirms that Grant van Niekerk’s mount has the best chance of the stable’s quartet but says the hat-trick seeking 20-1 shot Sheer Trouble “is in great form at the moment and I think he will be right there.”

Favourites have a much better record in the Diana Stakes, winning four of the last six. Dual Grade 1 winner Inara scored with incredible ease here a fortnight ago and the stable confirms that she has come on since.

She is sure to be odds-on and she should certainly go in again but punters should not take too short a price. Stable companion Come Fly With Me is 6kg better for two lengths and in the opinion of the handicappers Inara has only 2kg in hand at the weights.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Act Of War (Liesl King)

KZN has a double header this weekend with the usual eight race card on the Greyville poly tonight and an eight race meeting at Scottsville on Sunday.

In race one over 1200m, Black Agate showed some fair form over this trip early in his career in Cape Town, which generally has maiden races a lot stronger than this, so looks the one to beat despite a tough draw. War Requiem enjoys the Greyville poly and could earn again under a claimer he gets on well with. Purple Splash wore blinkers on debut over 1000 at Scottsville, which is never a good sign, but ran a fair third and could earn again.  Wild Namaqua jumps from a good draw over a suitable trip and has the ability to win this but a concern is that he choked up last time out.

In the second over 1600m Lecture D made a good poly debut over 1200m and with Anton Marcus up is the selection. Good Team is a well-bred sort by Captain Al and the step up to a mile should suit. Sweet Turn is by Miesque’s Approval, whose progeny enjoy the poly, and he could build on his improved last run. Whale Trail ran on well in his penultimate start and should enjoy the extra 200m. Dulce Leche is already a seven-year-old, but has run on well over shorter, so is interesting over this trip.

In the third over 1600m Tanjiro has some good maiden form in Cape Town and looks impossible to oppose. Winter’s Heir ran a fair race over 1400m on the poly last time and should enjoy the step up in trip. Levi Roots is open to improvement and could earn a cheque.

In the fourth over 1600m Madame Justice, a full-sister to Legislate, wasn’t overly impressive over 1200m on debut, but faces an uninspiring field and will relish the step up in trip. Zara’s Legacy has run some fair races over course and distance and could earn. Hatton Garden ran on late for third over course and distance last time and could place again.

In the fifth over 1600m Surrey hasn’t enjoyed the soft going in his last two starts, but has run one or two good races in better going, so should enjoy the poly. Cape Town horses often have suppressed merit ratings due to the class of horse down there and therefore Surrey is the tip to win, especially considering he has come down in the merit ratings since a good run over 1600m on good ground last November. Sovereign Reign should appreciate the step up in trip on pedigree and this well regarded sort has a chance from pole position under Anton Marcus. Fleetfox has run well over course and distance before and being by Silvano should be improving. Cat In Command is 5kg better off than Royal Colours for a 2,25 length beating over course and distance so could reverse form. Royal Colours loves the course and distance, but has battled to win off a merit rating this high in the past.

The sixth race over 1600 the once well regarded Capel Top is another who could be well weighted in his KZN handicap debut over a suitable trip. Spritzer was way under sufferance in a Novice last time but back in a handicap over a suitable trip could go close. Variety Romp will relish the step back to the trip of his maiden win and will likely attempt to dominate from the start.

In race seven over 1400m, the new Plattner Racing trainer Andre Nel has two runners, The Morrigan and De Sol A Sol, who haven’t run for eight months. His Summerveld assistant Byron Foster didn’t expect them to run bad races, but said they had not been wound up so they will come on from the runs and he expected them to be more effective from a mile upwards. Obrega is selected as she looks likely to appreciate the step down to 1400m, considering the 1600m appeared to blunt her finishing speed. Flash McQueen finished strongly to win over course and distance last time with a first time tongue tie and was only raised three points. Money Penny has been given a reasonable merit rating after winning her second career start over 1200m at Scottsville and could still improve over a trip that should be ideal on pedigree.

In the last race over 1400m Dance On Air is a strong three-year-old who can defy topweight, especially as he looks likely to get a tow from the probable pacemaker Teppenyaki. Roy’s Ambassador could well appreciate the step down in trip and his good finish should be effective in race that looks to have pace. Ready For Take Off is having his third run after a rest and is another who should be finishing well. Eternal Ice has to be considered after a good last run over this trip at Scottsville behind a good sort. Royal Lance could run on into the money. Teppenyaki has heart and it would not be a big surprise to see him holding on for a place.

At Scottsville the highlight will be the clash between the promising Duncan Howells-trained Saratoga Dancer and the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gr 1-winner Afrikaburn in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m. Saratoga Dancer is officially 1kg under sufferance with the latter, but looks likely to continue progressing.

The third, a Graduation Plate over 1200m, will also be a cracker. The up-and-coming Executive Power clashes with the 101 merit rated Beat The Retreat and the former is the choice having already run twice this season. Snowman makes his reappearance here too and this is a horse to follow this season as he is full of talent and could well have benefitted from a long break, although he will be at his best over a mile. Highway Explorer is another talented horse in the race. The Charles Laird’s trio Split The Breeze, Chosen Dash and Red Hot Poker can’t be ignored either.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Anton Marcus

The exciting Duncan Howells-trained four-year-old Dynasty filly Sabaha will travel up to Johannesburg on Friday night for her engagement in the Gr 2 World Sports Betting Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge over 1450m.

Howells has described her before as a difficult horse to train, chiefly because she pulls very hard in her workouts, but she is a different kettle of fish both at the races and on the way to the races, relaxing well, so Howells is not at all concerned about the float journey up to the Highveld.

Sabaha, who has won three of her six career starts, is held in high regard by Howells and needed her last start when touched off over 1400m at Scottsville in a MR 90 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m.

She has put up a very good gallop since then and Howells confirmed she was now “very fit”.

She should be cherry ripe, but Howells did admit that she was a difficult horse to judge due to her antics on the training tracks.

However, he is expecting a good run and predicted a top three finish.

She tends to start slowly and this is probably by design, because she relaxes well when slotted in behind horses. This will likely be the tactic employed from the outside draw of nine in Saturday’s nine horse field. Coming from well back doesn’t pose a problem for her as she has a fantastic turn of foot.

She came from near last when winning her penultimate start in a MR 81 handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m at Scottsville by a comfortable 2,25 lengths and a signal of her class is that the second and third horses in that race, Deputy Rider and Come Fly With Me, have both come out and won twice since and one of the former’s victories was in a Listed event.

Sabaha is merit rated 95 and runs at level weights on Saturday with two other four-year-old fillies rated over 100, the 109 merit rated Lazer Star and the 103 merit-rated Sarve.

However, both of the latter horses have a stamina doubt hanging over their heads.

The only other horse rated above 100 in the race is the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championships third-placed Madame Dubois. She lost at odds of 1/3 in her first try at this sort of trip, but she was likely below par as she was laid off for the rest of her two-year-old season. She made a good comeback in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1200m three weeks ago, when just touched off by the decent mare Shepard One.

Other interesting runners on Saturday are the progressive Mike de Kock-trained four-year-old pair, Alice Springs and Love To Sail, and the mare Featherfoot, who is lightly raced and typically of a Silvano is coming into her own at the age of five.

The only Gr 1 winner in the field is the Sean Tarry-trained For The Lads, but she is a frustrating sort who has now dropped to an 81 merit rating.

The Corné Spies-trained Fire Dancing looks to be outclassed.

Sabaha might well be the one to beat, catching Lazer Star late, and they could be followed home by Featherfoot, Madame Dubois and Alice Springs.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Sabaha (Nkosi Hlophe)

Log leader Andrew Fortune rode in Cape Town for the first time this season yesterday and promptly gave his army of supporters a 16-1 surprise on a horse that only has one eye.

The Eric Sands-trained newcomer Hanabi was down to be ridden by Grant Behr and, when Sands found that he had not fully recovered from the nasty kick he suffered here a week ago, he had little hesitation in going for Manna Fortune.

However the former champion, who now gets the majority of his rides in Johannesburg, promptly ruled out becoming a Cape Town regular once more.

He said: “The reason I came here today was to gallop Princess Victoria’s sister Princess Royal because I am riding her in the features this season and they then put me on a few horses. A winner was a bonus.”

Fortune’s searching pace this term – he has ridden more winners (37) and has had more rides (almost 230) than any other jockey – has given rise to speculation that he is going all out for a repeat of his 2008/09 title.

Seemingly, though, it is too early to say that as he commented: “I am working hard and if the championship is there I will go for it – but not yet. One thing I have learnt, though, is that I am very tough.”

Indeed he has got over the weight and other niggling problems that threatened to end his career and in the previous four seasons restricted him to less rides, and less winners, than he has had in the first two months of the current campaign.

He said: “I’m hungry and I’m in the type of mood that you have got to put me on anything.”

Andre Nel got off the mark in his new role as Sabine Plattner’s private trainer when the Aldo Domeyer-ridden Ma Choix defied top weight and an eight month absence in the Gold Circle Handicap.

By Michael Clower 

Picture: Andrew Fortune 

The Vaal Sand track hosts an eight race meeting today and will provide opportunities for those punters who have done their homework.

In the first, a Workrider’s Maiden over 1000m, Racing Red relished the step down to this trip last time and put up a fine display against a promising sort so is an obvious form choice.

Captain Ali is a six-year-old who has only had three starts but he has shown pace and could earn here. Gold Comet has a suitable sand pedigree and has shown the odd sign of ability so could earn despite being an exposed sort having his 19^th start. Victor’s Folly has faced a couple of talented sorts in his last two starts over course and distance when well beaten but could earn on the form of his previous start which was against a similar field to this. Boogaloo has some pace and should have come on from his first two starts.

In the second over 1200m, Son Of Approval is interesting dropped in distance from a good draw off a decreased merit rating as he has won twice over course and distance before. Aleut made a good debut over course and distance before winning his second start easily on turf and he can be excused his last start when up against a good sort because his saddle slipped. Fleetfoot Mac did quite well in his first sand start in his penultimate start over course and distance despite stumbling and he could earn from a good draw despite officially being 2kg under sufferance. Angel Gabriel has dropped to a competitive merit rating and is distance suited. Dravidian recorded a good time when winning over 1000m on the sand in his penultimate, but the 200m further from a wide draw is a concern.

In the third over 1200m, Span Die Seile is a R1,5m purchase by Captain Al and doesn’t have a lot to beat. School Of Dynasty has struck as one who will enjoy the sand and certainly has a fitting pedigree so he could do well from a good draw. Abby Blue wasn’t disgraced in his Cape Town starts which makes him a runner here despite returning from a six month break as the class of horse down there is superior. Narnia had a fair introduction to sand last time out over course and distance despite stumbling, but she did finish distressed which is a concern.  Attract The Crowd could earn if reproducing her best run over course and distance.

In the fourth over 1450m, News Filter starts in handicaps off a reasonable merit rating of 80 after two effortless wins over sprint trips on the sand so could record a hattrick. Rippit Whippet is 5,5kg better off with News Filter for a six length beating over 1200m and has the overall sand form to be a contender. Bodega is course and distance suited and well drawn. Inkolo has done well lately on the turf off this sort of rating and has a chance here considering he has a good sand pedigree. Wensleydale won in commanding style last time out over course and distance so looks to have improved and could also be a contender for a hattrick despite her tough draw.

In the fifth over 1450m, Viking Castle has a better draw than when charging home last time so could be the one to beat. Formal Request is in form and drawn well over a suitable trip. White Christmas might well prefer this trip to 1600m and had an excuse last time so could earn.

In the sixth over 1000m, Sweet Pickings ran a cracker in a feature over course and distance on Saturday and this will be easier. Scandal was beaten just under a length by Sweet Pickings in that race and is now 0,5kg better off, so could also be a contender. Slick Deputy finished well over course and distance last time and could earn if repeating.

In the seventh over 1600m, Gaisge Gold won his maiden well over course and distance last time with front-running tactics and from draw two with a light weight he could repeat the effort. Inala just failed over course and distance in his penultimate and should go close again. Kidmambo is course is 2kg better off with Inala for a 4,6 length beating over course and distance and is drawn in pole so could be a threat. Ciao Ciao could earn of repeating her last start over course and distance when staying on well. Pay As You Go is 2,5kg better off with Inala for a 5,1 length beating over course and distance so could be a factor despite a tricky draw.

In the eighth over 1800m Mooghamir’s merit rating of 82 after his impressive maiden win over course and distance doesn’t look high enough to stop him. Colonel Lockjaw loves this course and distance too and is drawn in pole. Triple Beat is distance suited and being by Trippi should love the sand, so is an interesting contender.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Vitruvian Man (Nkosi Hlophe)

Charles Laird will travel the brilliant Ice Machine up to Johannesburg late on Friday night to take part in the Gr 2 World Sports Betting Spring Challenge over 1450m on Turffontein’s Inside track.

The evergreen seven-year-old Silvano gelding’s regular rider Anton Marcus is engaged to ride last season’s Cape Champion Three-Year old colt Act Of War in the Gr 3 Kuda Matchem Stakes over 1400m at Durbanville on the same day, so the top class veteran Andrew Fortune, who is currently leading the National Jockeys Championship by two winners from Anthony Delpech, takes over.

Laird believes Fortune will suit the horse. Fortune is known to have a great pair of hands and for his ability to place a horse in the running, so he does indeed look ideal for  Ice machine, who likes to be held up and relaxed in the running before displaying his exhilarating turn of foot in the straight. If anybody can help him overcome his tricky draw of nine in the eleven horse field on the tight course it will be Fortune.

The 117 merit-rated Ice Machine is officially the best in at the weights, being rated at least eight points higher than any other horse, while only have to give them between 0,5kg and 1,5kg.

Laird gave Ice Machine a bit of a break after his narrow defeat to the subsequently named Equus Horse Of The Year Futura in the Gr 1 Champions Cup on Super Saturday and gave him his compulsory African Horse Sickness Vaccinations, but he said the horse had been doing well.

Laid has only trained Ice Machine for four of his 27 career runs, but he is thriving in the yard and his career record shows that he runs well fresh.

This will be his first stepping stone to the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate, for which he will also raid.

Ice Machine faces some classy opposition in the Spring Challenge, not least of whom is the Sean Tarry-trained four-year-old Trippi colt Trip To Heaven, who is the second highest rated horse in the field on 109. In his seasonal reappearance over 1200m on the Inside course in a Graduation Plate he started slowly, possibly by design, and then relaxed beautifully near the back.

However, the most impressive part of the run, in which beat the 101 merit-rated pair Lineker and Forest Fox, was that after making up the ground possibly too quickly with his scintillating turn of foot he was then able to find yet another gear when challenged. This suggests he will be suited to the step up in trip and he should be cherry ripe having his third run after a six month layoff. His stablemate Halve The Deficit, who is a 107 merit-rated seven-year-old, has it tough from draw eleven. However, the Tarry string are coming to hand and he will be suited to this trip running fresh. Tarry’s third runner is the seven-year-old Whiteline Fever, who was at one stage at his most dangerous when making his seasonal reappearance. However he has needed the help of blinkers in his last two starts so this time is likely to have come on from his seasonal reappearance three weeks ago and he could be a threat with Piere Strydom up from draw two over his ideal trip.

Alec Laird’s Bezanova ended last season in fine style and won his seasonal reappearance exactly a year ago over this course and distance, albeit in a Graduation Plate. This big horse has come into his own, but does have a wide draw and the stable elect is likely Bouclette Top, who had a new lease of life when blinkers were applied last season. Bouclette Top now looks ideally suited to this trip and Gavin Lerena up, from a fair draw of six, is a further bonus.

Mike de Kock’s Moofeed is interesting in only his second try beyond sprints as he often does his best work late over 1200m and won his only start over 1400m. However, stable jockey Delpech is aboard Anjaal, who looked to have a fine career ahead of him after his narrow third in the Gr 1 Premiers Champions Stakes over 1600m. Breathing issues ruined his three-year-old feature campaign, but he did bounce back with a couple of decent efforts after a wind operation and could be excused his last run on the poly when striding short and found to be coughing.

Easy Lover has his first run for Stuart Pettigrew and this progressive sort should be ideally suited to the course and distance as he likes to come from off the pace and has a fine turn of foot. He has a plum draw of three with Weichong Marwing up.

The enigmatic Forest Fox is talented but unreliable. However, he did run on well when beaten 1,7 lengths by Trip To Heaven over 1200m last time and is now 1 kg better off.

Light The Way has a tough task at the weights but did finish in front of Whiteline Fever over course and distance last time out, although he is now 2,5kg better off for a one length beating.

It is an intriguing race, but Ice Machine looks the one to beat with Trip To Heaven giving him most to think about and they could be followed home by Easy Lover, Bouclette Top and Halve The Deficit.

By David Thiselton 

Picture: Ice Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

Persian Silk could be the answer to punters’ prayers in the opening Gold Circle Maiden at Durbanville today.

What everyone is looking for is a horse who is better than the bare form suggests and is available at a better price than it should be – and this filly ticks both boxes.

On her second start, over 1 200m at Kenilworth, she went to the front two furlongs out absolutely cantering. It was quite a way from home to go clear but it looked simply a question of how far. However she weakened in the final 200m to finish third.

Kenilworth three and a half weeks ago was a carbon copy – going easily, leading at the 400m mark only to run out of steam in the closing stages. The only difference was that she finished fourth instead of third.

Clearly the trip was a furlong too far, or she needed to be waited with for a bit longer. This time, though, she runs over a surely ideal 1 000m. Betting World opened her at 22-10 yesterday and that looks generous.

“After the first of those two I said to the jockey that I would put her over five furlongs but he said no,” Glen Kotzen recalls. “Last time I think she didn’t see the two horses on her outside until it was too late but this trip is really going to suit her.”

Kotzen also runs the frustrating Mamselle Al who has started favourite in all her last five starts and is actually a kilo better than Persian Silk on adjusted merit ratings. “I have been trying everything,” says the trainer who took the blinkers off last time. “And now I am running her in cheekpieces.”

Mamselle Al was a 6-1 chance yesterday and the 2-1 favourite was Sandton Rocker who started odds-on here last time but was not suited by being taken on when trying to make it. She is probably better than that last run would suggest but she should not beat Persian Silk

Supercilious’s nine draw will test Donavan Mansour’s talents to the full in race two but she managed third to the talented Icy Fire when drawn just as badly over the same distance at Kenilworth last time and a repeat of that effort would be good enough. However yesterday’s 1-3 is too short considering the draw and punters should only back her if they can get better.

Nebula is drawn eight out of 11 in the Pick 6 Maiden but he stands out after going close on debut when he was backed from 12-1 to 3-1. “I expected him to run well and he did,” says Brett Crawford. “But he ran a bit green and he only got going late. He then had a break but he is doing well.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe returns after three weeks off and, although he has three rides for Justin Snaith, his best chance is probably on 9-2 chance Exclusive Knight in the 2 000m maiden (race four).  This will be the five-year-old’s 30^th attempt to win a race but he keeps going close.

“He is perfectly genuine but he just keeps finding one too good for him,” says Piet Steyn. “Three Balloons, who beat him a few races back, was second to Hard Day’s Night on his next start last Saturday. Exclusive Knight has won almost R160 000 in stakes and that’s as much as winning four races.”

But 5-2 shot Eastern Charm comes out 1.5kg better and is preferred. Avail is the 22-10 favourite and his good performances here suggest he will also make the frame.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Glen Kotzen  

Dennis Drier’s formidable string of 26 horses for the Cape Summer Of Champions season arrived safely at Phillippi training centre in Cape Town last Thursday and he looks likely to come home in February with a few more trophies to add to his burgeoning Cape collection.

Heading the list is the four-year-old Seventh Rock gelding Guiness, whose wind operation was shown in no uncertain terms to be successful when he made short work of a decent Graduation Plate field over 1200m at Scottsville recently. Drier rates him highly as a sprinter and his career route could continue to follow that of the yard’s Equus Champion Sprinter and KZN Horse Of The Year Captain Of All. Like Captain Of All, Guiness won the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion as a two-year-old before having to be laid off after just one start as a three-year-old and all going well his Cape Town campaign will culminate in a tilt at the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships over 1000m, a race which Captain Of All lost on the head bob last season.

The Vodacom Durban July runner up Punta Arenas duly joined Drier after Stan Elley’s retirement at the end of last season. The seven-year-old Silvano gelding spent the Champions Season at Drier’s Summerveld yard, where he clearly had a new lease of life. He continues to thrive and will be aimed at the J&B Met, in which he finished third last year and fifth this year.

The four-year-old Triptique, an imposing gelding by Trippi, is highly regarded. Drier believes he could be looking for 1400m to a mile and rates him the dark horse of the string, saying, “He is very talented, we haven’t seen the best of him yet.”

His contemporary Generalissimo, a speedy colt by Var, will be aimed at the big sprint events.

Drier will face no dilemmas with his dual Gr 1-winning three-year-old Seventh Rock colt Seventh Plain as he qualifies for the CTS Million Dollar over 1400m, so the mile question mark that hangs over his head will be left for a later date.

The yard’s Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper winner from last season, Chestnuts N Pearls, will be going for the R2,015,000 Bloodstock SA Ready To Run Cup over 1400m at Turffontein on October 31, but she might be taken to the Cape after that.

The impressive Just As Well filly Well In Flight will be aimed at the Gr 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas, with the Gr 2 Choice Carriers Championship over 1400m providing a stepping stone.

Possibly the most exciting three-year-old filly in the yard is Rock On Baby, a daughter of Seventh Rock, who has been a facile winner of her last two starts over 1000m. Drier said he would keep her to sprints for the time being and take it race by race.

The yard were very disappointed with the last run of the Captain Al filly they rate, Lady Penrhyn, but jockey Sean Cormack believed it might have been due to a dislike of the poly and for that reason she was taken down to Cape Town.

On the other hand the yard’s older sprinter Barbosa clearly absolutely loves the poly and he has duly stayed behind in KZN.

Drier was “very impressed” with the easy 1200m polytrack victory of the three-year-old Count Dubois gelding Seymour in his second career outing and this “smart little horse” could be one of the Cape string’s first runners as he is being aimed at the Gr 3 Magnum Cape Classic over 1400m on October 24. Seymour also qualifies for the CTS Million Dollar.

Drier also travelled a number of “very, very smart” maiden and unraced horses, who will provide summer fun for Cape-based owners. Among them is a Trippi colt who was intended to be named after the Roxy Music star Brian Ferry, but when that name was forbidden he was fittingly called “Ferrie”, the surname of Drier’s loyal assistant Stuart Ferrie, who will as usual be staying home in KZN to run the Summerveld yard. Ferrie made a promising debut over 1200m at Scottsville behind two promising sorts Monte Christo and Unbelievable Chad. An equally promising debut over the too sharp Scottsville 1000m was made by the Speightstown colt Ante Omnia, who at R3 million was one of the Cape Premier Yearling Sales toppers. Drier believes the Fort Wood gelding Whitley Willows should not have lost his second career start over 1200m on the Greyville poly and he adds another string to the three-year-old bow. Both Ferrie and Ante Omnia qualify for the CTS Million Dollar.

The now five-year-old mare Eventual Angel has not been able to fulfil her obvious potential but has recovered from a foot injury and all going well will be aimed at the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m and the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m.

Her contemporary Gathering Fame is rated just below the best but won the Listed Jamaica Stakes for fillies and mares over 1700m at Kenilworth last season and will likely have similar targets.

KZN’s leading owner Roy Moodley will have an excuse to spend a weekend or two in Cape Town as his two four-year-olds Roy’s Winter Patch and Royal Union Jet will both be campaigning. The former pulled a flank muscles last time out, which explained his below par effort, and Drier believes both of these progressive types by Western Winter and Jet Master respectively will pay their way.

Others who fall into the same category are the lightly raced three-time winning five-year-old from just six starts, Space Launch, who won twice over 1200m at Kenilworth last season, and Sea Fever, a four-year-old three-time winner from just eight starts.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Dennis Drier (Liesl King)

The great former KZN-based Durban July-winning trainer Brian Cherry died on Sunday night having never recovered from a recent stroke.

One of the great characters of the game, Cherry leaves his wife of 64 years, June, as well as six children, 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Cherry never had a big string, but was never without good horses.

As well as being a fine horseman, he was renowned for being a shrewd placer of horses.

He started at the old Newmarket stables near the Blue Lagoon.

However, his most successful years were out of Summerveld, which he moved to upon its opening in the 1966/1967 season.

One of the first big horses he trained was Chimboraa, who won the 1968 Durban July under David Payne at odds of 33/1, defeating horses of the like of William Penn and the great Hawaii, although the latter pair did have to concede a lot of weight to the five-year-old Chimboraa.

Among other top horses Cherry trained were Ted’s Ambition, a top class sprinter who was virtually unbeatable at Greyville (winning the Gr 1 Chairman’s Stakes, the Gr 2 Concord Stakes three times and the Gr 3 Durban Merchants twice, among other races); Row To Rio, who won the Gr 1 National Sprint at Gosforth Park and the Gr 1 Gilbeys Sprint (Tsogo Sun Sprint); All Heart, who was one of his favourites and won the Gr 1 Clairwood Winter Handicap and the Gr 1 Kronenbrau 1308 Stakes at Turffontein; Be Noble, a New Zealand-bred winner of the Gr 1 Adminstrator’s Champion Juvenile Stakes and the Gr 1 SA Derby; Kentford, who gave Felix Coetzee, as an apprentice, his first Gr 1 winner in the 1976 Clairwood Winter Handicap; the twice Gr 1 Natal Fillies Sprint winner Mildenhall; the Australian-bred Gr 1 Garden Province Stakes winner Just McKenna; the New Zealand-bred Zamit, who won the Gr 2 John Skeaping Trophy and went close in all of the Gr 2 Dingaans, Gr 1 Administrators Classic, Gr 1 SA Derby and Gr 1 Holiday Inns; the fourteen-time winner Trocadero, who later sired the Champion Three-year-old colt Port Pegasus and the Gr 1-winning Craftsman as well as the like of the useful Cherry-trained Astronaut; Cherry also trained the like of Jungle Palm, Vivorata, Mighty Mandarin, Royal Play, Dougal and Ulterior Motive.

Cherry had an outstanding eye and despite training so many good horses was never a big spender at the sales.

He also ventured to overseas sales and had success with both New Zealand and Australian-breds.

He was always associated with top jockeys, including Payne, Johnny McCreedy and in the 1980s the great Michael “Muis” Roberts.

Cherry loved to recount stories from the old days and one of his favourites was about McCreedy, who was told in the parade ring on one occasion by an owner to have the horse in front. Upon returning to the parade ring, with the horse not having shown throughout the race, the owner asked the jockey why he had not followed the instruction to which McCreedy replied, “I wanted to go to the front but I had to stay with the horse.”

Cherry offered Roberts a position after the latter had lost his job as stable jockey to Fred Rickaby and together they became a formidable partnership.

Roberts described Cherry above all as a man who became a very loyal friend and as one of the characters of the game, “an enigma on his own”.

“We had some lovely times and he was a great man to ride for. He was very fair too and would let me off if I had the possibility of a better ride.”

On one such occasion in 1981 Roberts opted to ride English Statesman in the Gold Cup in preference to Brave Persian, who had been sent to Cherry’s yard for the Winter Season by Highveld trainer Ormond Ferraris, who is described by the Cherry family as probably Brian’s “best friend”. Cherry told Roberts he believed he was making a mistake and Brave Persian duly won with Roberts’ mount unplaced.

Roberts said, “He demanded a good work ethic and we worked as a team, we had a great relationship. He was a natural as a trainer, was very astute and clever, he knew when horses were right and seldom made a mistake.”

One such example happened when Cherry inherited a horse called Royal Play after it had previously had only one start in a sprint. Roberts thought Cherry had gone “off his rocker” when after having had the horse for only about three weeks he told him he was backing it to win a maiden over 1800m at Clairwood. Roberts was aboard and recalled, “He won the race hard held.”

Roberts was advised by Cherry on another occasion when riding the Harry Hotspur first-timer Ulterior Motive to leave his goggles in the parade ring because he would never be behind any horses in the race. Ulterior Motive duly won easily from pillar to post.

Some of Cherry’s biggest owners were Mary Liley, Lou Burnstein, Roy and Gladys Meaker, Aubrey Wicks, Costa Livanos and Ted Hook, who bred his own horses and always began their names with “Ted’s”.

Gladys Meaker recalled, “He was a fabulous trainer, very shrewd. He was an absolutely wonderful father to his six children, had a wonderful marriage and we became great family friends.”

Chimboraa will possibly be the horse most associated with Cherry due to his win in the big one and was the subject of a couple of interesting stories in Jean Jaffee’s book “They Race To Win”. This horse was bought at the 1964 Rand Yearling Sales by Michael Carey and John McKay for their respective wives and Lou Bernstein then bought out a third share for his wife. He won the JG Hollis Memorial Plate as a two-year-old, which was run at 2:30 p.m., but after an objection the stewards deliberated throughout the afternoon and eventually announced at 5 p.m. that they had awarded the race to the objecting horse, Reel Cap.

Chimboraa became unsound at the end of his two-year-old season and was sent to the farm. Trainer Willie Kleb sympathising with Cherry apparently said, “Don’t worry the rest will do him good. You never know he may win the July Handicap.” Chimboraa later beat the Kleb-trained William Pen by half-a-length when winning the July. The Careys and McKays had also decided to sell their shares to the Burnsteins after Chimboraa had returned from his farm rest for his three-year-old campaign, because they lived in Johannesburg and were not getting enough fun out of the horse, so they thereby missed out on leading in a July winner.

Accolades poured in for Cherry throughout yesterday.

His funeral will be held at the Makaranga Lodge, 1 Igwababa Road Kloof at 11 a.m. today (Tuesday).

By David Thiselton

Picture: Brian Cherry