Author Archives: Nikita

Hot Ticket (Liesl King)

Media Release: Track & Ball Derby & Gold Circle Oaks Final Fields

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Only eight of the 26 entries for the R400 000, Grade 2 Track & Ball Derby, to be run over 2 400m at Scottsville on Sunday, have stood their ground making it a lot easier for last year’s winner of the race, Hot Ticket, to complete the double.

By comparison, 15 fillies will compete for the R187 500 first place cheque in the R300 000, Grade 2 Gold Circle Oaks making this race far more competitive.

The two races will be run at weight-for-age plus penalties related to previous successes and that has resulted in the weights looking way out of kilter related to those that would apply in a straight handicap. Merit ratings are given by the handicappers on their assessment of the runners’ ability and are applied in straight handicap events.

With a merit rating of 112, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Silvano gelding Hot Ticket is thrown in the race and, on paper and barring any unforeseen circumstances, appears one of the biggest certainties in recent South African racing.

Kingston Mines from the Mike de Kock stable, rated at 100, will carry joint top weight of 60kg with Hot Ticket with the balance of the runners also all well out at the weights. On straight handicap, Kingston Mines should be receiving 6kg from Hot Ticket while Disco Al, that receives 1kg from the top two, should be receiving 5.5kg from Hot Ticket.

The two three-year-olds, Krambambuli from the Justin Snaith stable and Hot Ticket’s stable companion, Master James, enjoy the 3kg weight-for-age allowance but still have a mammoth task ahead of them if their ratings are correct.

The Snaith-trained Black Minnaloushe filly Ash Cloud is set to carry top weight of 60kg in the Gold Circle Oaks, giving 2kg to the highest-rated filly in the race, Vino Veritas, from the Gavin van Zyl yard that should, on straight handicap, be giving Ash Cloud 3.5kg.

Ash Cloud should also be receiving weight on merit ratings from Gallica Rose, Shingwedzi and Supercede but has to concede 2kg to each of them.

The three-year-old fillies Patchit Up Baby and Olma, are well in at the weights on handicap which sets the scene for a very competitive contest and the possibility of a close finish.

Picture: Hot Ticket (Liesl King)

Hot Ticket (Nkosi Hlophe)

Derby double could be on

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Dean Kannemeyer will send out his Equus Champion Stayer Hot Ticket to defend his Gr 2 Track and Ball Derby crown over 2400m at Scottsville on Sunday and he runs the improving three-year-old Master James in the same race.

Hot Ticket was unlucky not to win this race as a three-year-year old over 2400m at Clairwood when baulked for a run. However, he made amends in no uncertain terms last year, also at Clairwood but over 2500m, when cruising unextended to a 3,75 length win over the useful sort Tribal Dance. He went on to win the Gr 2 Nokia Gold Vase over 3000m on Vodacom Durban July day and then ran a cracking fourth with a welter 60kg in the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m at Greyville. Since then he has had to have a wind operation due to an infection. Kannemeyer revealed that the surgeon had done an outstanding job because, whereas a horse would normally still make a breathing noise after such an operation, in his case it could hardly be heard.

Kannemeyer said, “He badly needed his first Durban run this season over a mile at Greyville but ran a very good race. I then put him in another mile at Greyville, which is far too sharp for him, against Futura and he was doing nice work late. He has never been a great worker, he just goes through the motions, so he needs races to get him fit, but I now have him ready. He is an old tough campaigner, he knows what to do, and if he runs to his rating he is the horse to beat. He enjoyed Clairwood and Greyville, now we will see if he enjoys Scottsville too.”

The five-year-old Silvano gelding has actually run once over the course and distance, as a still maturing three-year-old, and finished a close up second. He will jump from draw six in the eight horse field on Sunday and his regular pilot, Karl Neisius, will ride him for the first time this season.

Master James three career wins have all been over a mile, although he did finish close to the fair sort Warcraft over 1900m on the Greyville polytrack.

Kannemeyer said, “He is coming on nicely and improving. He was a big backward Jet Master who is only now coming into himself. His mother (Park Lane by Elliodor) was a good race horse (won a Gr 2 over 1400m) but didn’t stay further than a mile. Nevertheless I have always thought that Master James would stay but only the race will tell. This Derby is now an open race and is not so easy for three-year-olds, but he has improved since coming to Durban. The penny has dropped and we will see how good he is.”

Master James will be ridden by Luyola Mxothwa, who has ridden him once before, and jumps from draw four.

He said that both horses were “fit and well.”

Kannemeyer runs the two-year-old Noordhoek Flyer colt Shap Shap over 1300m on the turf in a Juvenile Plate at Greyville on Friday night. He had always thought this horse would stay a mile, so was  disappointed when he didn’t seem to go through with it over 1400m last time having travelled well throughout, so is now in two minds and wonders whether he might be a 1200m horse. His only win was in a weak 1000m race on the Greyville polytrack and he could fare better over this slight drop in trip on Friday from a good draw under Bernard Fayd’Herbe.

On Sunday he also expects plenty of improvement from the Ideal World colt Cape Speed, who runs over a much more suitable trip of 1600m in a Maiden Juvenile Plate. He said this horse had been “hopelessly left and was then completely lost” over 1200m on the polytrack at Greyville on debut. Anthony Delpech was seen to be pushing him along throughout as he raced very green. Ideal World’s often surprise when stepped up in trip and find a place at big prices. However, Kannemeyer did conclude by saying that he was the type that might still need one more run to have him exactly where he would like him to be.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Hot Ticket (Nkosi Hlophe)

snaith site

Cloud ready to burst

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Champion trainer Justin Snaith will have runners in all three of the Champions Season features this weekend and rates his Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks contender Ash Cloud the best of them.

He said about the four-year-old daughter of Black Minnaloushe, who will jump from a plum draw of two and be ridden by stable jockey Richard Fourie in the 2400m event at Scottsville on Sunday: “Months and months of effort have gone into her run, this is the one we have been waiting for.”

The former Gr 1 SA Oaks winner is only merit rated 95 and has to carry a 2kg Gr 1 penalty, meaning she is officially a whopping 5,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse Vino Veritas, but Snaith feels she is up to it.

Snaith also runs the Kahal filly Bountiful Harvest. She finished third in the East Cape Oaks over 2000m and has landed a nice draw with Donovan Dillon aboard, but Snaith said, “It will be very hard for her at the weights as a three-year-old.”

Snaith runs French Revolution and Krambambuli in the Gr 2 Track and Ball Derby, also over 2400m at Scottsville on Sunday.

He sounded more bullish about the chances of Krambambuli and said, “He stays all day but it is a pity they have opened this race to older horses because it is not easy for three-year-olds and I will be impressed if he can do it. But he is very well.” This Black Minnaloushe colt has been working up a storm at Summerveld and Fourie rides from the widest draw of all in the eight horse field.

At the beginning of the Champions Season Snaith was touting French Revolution as a strong Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup contender, but this attractive New Zealand-bred four-year-old grey colt is currently merit rated only 92 and has his work cut out to still qualify for the big race. Snaith said, “This will be his prep to see if he stays, although I’ve always viewed him as a staying type. He has put on a bit of condition, like we all do in Durban, and has gone a little bit heavy on me although I hope I am wrong.” Sean Cormack rides from a good draw of three.

On Friday night the yard will defend their crown in the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m at Greyville, having won the race with Varikate last year.

Snaith said about their contender Daring Dave, who jumps from a plum draw of four under Fourie, “You will see a big improvement and I think this will be his best run in Durban. In the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint last time he had to stand for four-and-a-half minutes in the pens, which affected his gate speed, and then his eyes were closed for two days afterwards because he was hit by clods. He actually had to be treated as it caused him to have a temperature.” Snaith had also not been too happy with the four-year-old Dynasty gelding’s preparation leading into the Tsogo Sun Sprint, but said that this time “he has had a proper prep.”

By David Thiselton

Picture: Justin Snaith

Gold Cirle Horse Racing

Free lunch

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They say there is no such thing as a free lunch but there is between now and the end of September if you are a racehorse owner with a runner at Kenilworth.

Owners will qualify for a complimentary lunch in the first floor Paddock Room or Garrett Bar on the days they have runners provided they are in a party of at least three others who are paying for their lunch.

Oscar Foulkes, co-owner of Dish Food & Social which does the first-floor catering at Kenilworth, said: “This is an extra reason for owners to come to the races and watch their horses run and, at the same time, it provides an opportunity to enjoy the social experience of racehorse ownership.”

The offer also applies to trainers with runners, again provided they are in a party of three or more lunch-payers. Those taking advantage of this offer also get vouchers for meals at Dish Food’s other restaurants.

By Micheal Clower

The great debate begins

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The annual Vodacom Durban July three-year-old versus older horse debate will begin in earnest this week as the countdown to the final field announcement next Tuesday begins.

The three-year-old fillies crop was for a long time seen as a vintage one and they duly had an unprecedented six representatives on the first July log. However, their reputation was dented on Gr1 Daily News day.

Firstly, in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000, Smart Call’s upset victory in which she narrowly beat the SA Oaks winner and staying type, Pine Princess, put a slight question mark on the Johannesburg form, where her best feature race finish was two length third in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Guineas. Furthermore, the Gr 1 Laurie Jaffee Empress Club third-placed Tamaanee, who was an impressive winner of the Gr 2 Gerald Rosenberg over 2000m, could only manage a well beaten ninth, while the dual Gr 1-winning Inara’s fifth place also put a question mark on the Cape sophomore form.

The best of the crop Majmu, had meanwhile been scratched from the Woolavington in the morning due to a spiked temperature. Later, Siren’s Call, who went within a stride of landing the Triple Tiara, was beaten before she had turned for home in the Daily News. This was the second time she had been beaten by three-year-old males, who have spent most of the season being criticised as a below par crop.

However, there were some genuine excuses. Smart Call relished a change in tactics. Inara was run into from behind and trainer Mike Bass also believed she didn’t quite  stay the trip. Tamaanee lifted a shoe which was then found to be bent into her foot. Furthermore, the perennial Triple Tiara bridesmaid in Johannesburg, Trophy Wife, ran third without any excuses, which provided some confirmation of the Johannesburg form.

Siren’s Call was caught wide and rushed up the hill, so not surprisingly found little extra, and she was also coming off an ultra tough Highveld campaign.

Nevertheless, there are now only three sophomore fillies still involved in the July, Majmu, Pine Princess and Tamaanee.

The three-year-old colts were given a boost in the Daily News 2000 when the Gr 1 SA Classic winner and SA Derby third-placed French Navy stormed home impressively to beat the Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby winner Ertijaal. Third-placed The Conglomerate also came from classic form, having won the Gr 2 KRA Guineas in comfortable fashion. Furthermore, the unlucky horse was Deputy Jud, who had finished third in the SA Classic and runner up in the SA Derby.

The impressive SA Derby winner Legal Eagle then gave the three-year-old males a further boost on Sunday when slamming a field of older horses in the Gr 3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m despite carrying topweight.

Suddenly, the three-year-old males have become the talk of the town.

The criticism of the three-year-old male crop was largely based on them not having fared well in open company, as well as by facile Investec Cape Derby winner Ertijaal’s failure in both the SA Classic and SA Derby. However, Unparalleled and Kingvoldt were the only two that had really been tested against older horses in features and the latter’s class is questionable, considering his Investec Dingaans victory was achieved in boggy ground, while Kingvoldt was already having coltish issues when running below par in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate. The like of French Navy were beaten in ordinary handicaps in the early season, but that is not unusual, even for the best three-year-olds.

Legal Eagle’s defeat in an ordinary 1700m handicap in March off a merit rating of a mere 74 was his first time out the maidens and just his third career start. Lastly, Ertijaal’s dislike of soft ground was confirmed by his good Daily News run, although he has unfortunately been scratched from the July.

Legal Eagle’s demolition job on Sunday came off a merit rating of 112 and showed just how much he has blossomed. However, there are still question marks because second-placed Judicial and third-placed Killua Castle were well beaten by Wylie Hall in the President’s Champions Challenge.

The most fancied older horse is ruling July favourite Futura, who is viewed by some as invincible at his peak, even considering the 60kg he has to carry.

Wylie Hall also looks top class. An upside for the older horses is that Wylie Hall defeated one of the most fancied three-year-olds in the July betting, Majmu, by 1,25 lengths in the Gr 1 President’s Champions Challenge over 2000m and, taking the weight for age scale into account, the pair will face each other on identical terms in the July. The question mark is whether Majmu ran a bit of a flat race in the Challenge, it being her second run after a layoff.

Majmu’s class is beyond question. However, although she will carry the same weight of 55kg that Igugu carried to July victory in 2011, she does have a harder task as she will run off a 114 merit rating compared to Igugu’s 109.

Other older horses with chances are Punta Arenas, who is clearly thriving at Summerveld, and Halve The Deficit who looks quite well weighted on recent form. Helderberg Blue and Tellina will be fairly well weighted in comparison to Futura from the Met, while the best might not yet have been seen from Dynamic, who is officially 2,5kg under sufferance.

The downside for the older horses is that the Met form has not been convincingly stamped by the placed horses Helderberg Blue, Gold Onyx and Tellina.

Furthermore, No Worries let the form of the Gr 1 President’s Champions Challenge down.

Virtually every year these days the older July analysts make the same mistake of saying “a three-year-old can never win with that weight”, without stopping to think of the class dilution that each older crop has suffered in the last decade or two due to the export of many of the best overseas. They usually end up with egg on their faces, but this year they perhaps have a higher chance than normal of being right.

By David Thiselton

Willow Magic (JC Photos)

Willow has the magic

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The Gr 2 Post Merchants will be run over 1200m on Friday night at Greyville and the Sean Tarry-trained Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge runner up Willow Magic could be the one to beat.

The four-year-old has lost some of his speed since winning the Gr1 SA Nursery over 1160m, but is still effective over sprints and is the best weighted runner according to official merit ratings. He has a fair draw of seven.

The Charles Laird-trained Gr 1 winner Normanz has landed a plum draw of five. He is officially not well treated at the weights weighted, but his early speed coupled with his resolute finish will make him a huge runner.

Aurum Pot’s defeat of Sheik’s Brashee over 1160m in his penultimate start now reads well, as the latter went on to finish third in the Tsogo Sun Sprint, and he will be able to make full use of his considerable early speed from draw three.

In form Mike Azzie runs Isphan, who ran the prolific winner Trip Tease to 0,3 lengths over 1000m in his penultimate start and then ran a decent fifth in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m, beating the like of Willow Magic and Tevez. He is drawn fairly well in eight.

Daring Dave didn’t enjoy the best preparation going into the Tsogo Sun Sprint and could do better here from a good draw over a suitable trip.

Brutal Force is drawn wide but is a big, strong horse with plenty of early pace. Nothing went right for him in the Tsogo Sun Sprint but otherwise he would likely have confirmed that he had improved with gelding.

Tevez is known for his exceptional turn of foot from off the pace and is well drawn, although at the weights he has a tougher task than last year when finishing a 1,85 length fourth from a wide draw.

The consistent Moofeed has a wide draw but is capable of a strong late run.

Kingston Boy has a fine turn of foot and ran second in this race last year from pole position, but is now four points higher in the merit ratings and drawn 15.

Sheik’s Brashee remains on a 103 merit rating despite his Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint third, but Scottsville is his best track and he is drawn 16 here.

Royal Zulu Warrior won over course and distance in March but this is tougher and he is getting a bit long in the tooth.

Showmetheway is ten points higher in the merit ratings than when running sixth in this race last season, but a change of tactics since then has benefitted him so he can’t be ignored.

Diamond King faces a tough task at the weights but is yet to fulfil his considerable potential so could surprise.

Equity Kicker is progressive and could also be a dark horse. Royalsecuritypower is largely kept to 1000m these days and has never faced a field this strong.

By David Thiselton

Bezanova (JC Photo)

24 Entries for the KZN Breeders Million Mile

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The KZN Breeders Million Mile meeting at Greyville in Durban on June 28 has been strongly supported with the R1-million race itself drawn 24 entries including some top horses like the Alec Laird-trained Bezrin gelding Bezanova that ran a tremendous third behind Legislate in the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge last weekend.

Bred at Clifton Stud, he was less than a length behind the champion but if standing his ground on June 28 will have to make his bid for victory from a wide draw.

The highest-rated runner among the entries is the Gavin van Zyl-trained Kahal gelding No Worries. He was bred at Summerhill Stud and has drawn 12 in the preliminary draws and will receive 2kg from the highest-weighted entry, Flyfirstclass from the Craig Eudey stable that is rated 101 with a draw of seven. He is also a product of Summerhill Stud.

The Charles Laird-trained filly Admiral’s Eye, third behind Same Jurisdiction in the Flamboyant Stakes, was bred by Mr P A M Magid and Summerhill Stud and will have to carry 57.5kg from a wide draw while the Mike de Kock stable inmate Wild One, second in the recent Cup Trial in his first race since running second in last year’s eLan Group Gold Cup, is set to carry 55kg from a wide draw. He was bred at the Scott Bros Highdown Stud.

Supplementary entries will be accepted by 11am on Friday, June 19 with declarations by 11 am on Monday, June 22.

Entries are in for July Day

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A tsunami of entries have been received by Gold Circle for the eight feature races on the supporting programme to Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event, the R3.5-million Vodacom Durban July, promising to make the meeting a spectacular 4th of July occasion.

Attracting an incredible galaxy of racing talent from around the country, many of the races are heavily oversubscribed with a total of 253 horses nominated for the eight events.

The three Grade 1 races, the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes, the Golden Horseshoe and Golden Slipper have drawn 21, 35 and 32 nominations respectively with a massive 44 entries for the Grade 3 Campanajo 2200 and 60 for the Listed Thukela Handicap.

Heading the entries for the R750 000 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes is the Mike de Kock-trained super filly Majmu who is also strongly fancied in the betting for the Vodacom Durban July.  De Kock has the unenviable task of deciding which of the races she will contest on the day as she is well drawn at three for this fillies event and will have to take her chances in the draw for the July.

Also among the entries is the Alec Laird-trained winner of the Woolavington 2000, Smart Call, along with the winner of the KRA Fillies Guineas from the Brett Crawford stable, Alexis. Her stable companion Maybe Yes, third to Hammie’s Hooker in the Tibouchina Stakes is also among the entries and Mike Bass is looking for the feature double with “the Hooker.”

Bass has also entered his dual Grade 1 winner Inara in the race. After winning the Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes and the Klawervlei Majorca Stakes, she finished second in the KRA Fillies Guineas but ran below expectations when fifth in the Woolavington 2000.

The classy filly Same Jurisdiction from the Duncan Howells stable, second in both the SA Fillies Classic and the Tibouchina Stakes, will be looking to go one better here.

The Durban Golden Horseshoe and the Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper are the juvenile events over 1 400m with both races carrying a stake of R600 000. They have both been strongly supported with 35 entries for the colt’s race and 32 for the filly’s race.

Some very smart juveniles are in these races including the Dennis Drier-trained Seventh Rock colt Seventh Plain and the Captain Al colt Redcarpet Captain from the Gavin van Zyl stable that filled the first two places in the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion at Scottsville. They are joined by the SA Nursery winner Arabian Beat, the unbeaten Gatecrasher Stakes winner Rabada and the Godolphin Barb Stakes runner-up Beat The Retreat.

The runner-up to Entisaar in the Allan Robertson Fillies Championship, Princess Royal from the Glen Kotzen stable is one of the leading entries for the Golden Slipper along with her stable companion and winner of the Strelitzia Stakes, Royal Pleasure.

Also among the entries is the Mike Azzie-trained runner-up in the SA Nursery Frosted Honey and the Count Dubois filly Madame Dubois from the Robbie Sage yard that ran a good third in the Allan Robertson.

Among the 25 entries for the Grade 2 SABC Gold Vase are last year’s eLan Group Gold Cup runner-up and a recent second in the Cup Trial, Wild One, and the Dynasty gelding Solid Speed from the Dean Kannemeyer stable that has won his last three starts including the Highland Night Cup and the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup.

The 44 entries for the Grade 3 Campanajo 2200, the “consolation” race for horses that do not make the Vodacom Durban July cut, is laden with talent including many that are still hoping for a place in the premier event.