Adam Marcus is still in discussion with owners about the future of his Grade 3 Winter Classic winner Vardy.

Marcus believes the Var gelding is not quite ready for the Vodacom Durban July yet.

He said, “As a still immature three-year-old I think we could be dealing with a very special four-year-old if we nurture him into the Cape Summer season.”

Vardy reversed the Winter Guineas form by beating the highly regarded Vaughan Marshall-trained One World in Saturday’s Winter Classic and he did it by a comfortable 2,25 lengths.

The strength of the form was shown by the gulf back to third-placed Majestic Mozart. 

This horse was beaten 2,85 lengths in the Winter Guineas and by 8,50 lengths in the Winter Classic.

Marcus was confident Vardy would improve from his Winter Guineas run, where he did not settle well.

The problem is his “severe parrot mouth and very soft palate” and Marcus looks to have solved it with a plastic bit used in dressage competition which he imported from Italy.

Saturday was the first time he had raced with the bit.   

By David Thiselton                                            

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Twist Of Fate delighted Joey Ramsden in his final piece of work at Summerveld yesterday and the trainer expects his colt to really put it up to hotpot Hawwaam in the Daily News at Greyville on Saturday.

Ramsden said: “Twist Of Fate has done fabulously well since winning the KRA Guineas and I give him a serious chance – he is such a tough, hard-knocking horse. He did 1 800m in the Politician at Kenilworth looking like he loved it and wanted further while he seemed to like Greyville in the KRA Guineas and he was only getting into gear when he crossed the line.

“We grassed him last Thursday and he went really nicely in his last serious bit of work this morning. I like him a lot for Saturday – he has had a great prep going into it with no problems. I am sure it is the same with Hawwaam and it looks like being a fabulous contest.”

S’Manga Khumalo, who rode him in the CTS 1600 (second to One World), will be back on board and his mount is rated 2kg behind Hawwaam but 2.5kg and more in front of the rest. He is generally available at between 9-2 and 5-1 whereas Hawwaam is as short as 3-10. Cape Derby runner-up Charles (8-1) is the only other in single figures. Favourites have won three of the last five runnings and five of the last ten.

By Michael Clower

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Mark Dixon’s filly Inverroche paid dearly for her third place in last year’s Gr1 Allan Robertson and her similar placing in the Gr1 The Debutante, ending the season with a lofty 99 merit rating. She has been hard-pressed to live up to that rating this term but races off a three-point lower mark in the All To Come Graduation Plate, first leg of the PA on the Greyville poly today.

However, given that this is a set weights race, she is rated 3.5kg better than her nearest male rival Mastagambit and in theory should have her opposition dead to rights. But it will not be that easy. She faces some improving sophomore males, best of which could be Vikram. Andre Nel’s runner is way out at the weights with Inverroche and a host of other rivals but the gelding made an eye-catching local debut when third behind Twice As Smart. He has the best of the draw and although he takes to the poly for the first time, Nel has a knack of sending the right horses up from his Cape Town base to exploit the synthetic track, his KZN assistant Byron Forster adding the finishing touches.

Punters took a bit of a pounding at Scottsville last Saturday with only one favourite obliging but Wayward could help fill empty wallets when he takes a drop in class in the Inanda FM 88.4 Handicap over 1200m.

If nothing else, Shane Humby’s charge is consistent and has been up against much stronger at his last two. He is seldom far back although his last effort at Scottsville over 1400m was a tad disappointing as he just stayed on in a race run at a good clip.

Waywood switches to the poly track today and with some relief from the handicapper over a furlong shorter he should make a fist of it.

Alistair Gordon’s runner Marshall That is something of a course and distance specialist with two of his three wins coming on the synthetic surface. There was a lot to like about his comeback run when staying on behind Royal Amour last time out and Anton Marcus has stuck with the ride which is generally a good sign.

This year’s sophomore crop is generally perceived as being of good vintage and Rockliffe will have his supporters after finishing an eye-catching third behind the useful Cumulus at Scottsville last month. That was his first outing since being gelded and with blinkers on for the first time he is a must inclusion in all calculations.

Surprise package could come in the form of top weight Affranchi. He showed loads of potential early in his career but has been frustrating to follow this term. He makes his debut for Yogas Govender today and the change of stable and routine could possibly bring out the best in him.

Fillies and Mares Handicaps can often deliver upset results and the sixth may be no different.

Stelvio has her first outing for Dennis Drier after a smart a barrier trial. Prior to that she won two on the bounce. Drier has put her straight into a mile and horses from this stable are rarely short of a gallop. Should however, face stiff opposition from Be Yourself who was narrowly beaten by much improved stable companion Heart Of A Legend last time out. A repeat of that run can see her go one better. Of the balance, Pumpkin Queen returns from a lengthy break but seldom runs a bad race and the stable has found form of late.

By Andrew Harrison

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This Saturday’s Grade 1 Daily News 2000 final field is compact compared to previous years but the eight-runner field is packed with class. The hot ruling favourite is the Mike De Kock trained Hawwaam. Anton Marcus jumps aboard once again after having partnered him to his impressive victory in the Grade 1 Champions Challenge when trouncing his rivals by over four lengths. Hawwaam is currently rated 121 and one off the best three-year-olds around.

De Kock also saddles Atyaab, winner of the Grade 1 Cape Derby, who could be a likely pacemaker.

The race is not cut and dried even though Hawwaam has a huge reputation. The KRA Guineas winner Twist Of Fate is no slouch and has run some cracking races against strong opposition in Cape Town.

S’Manga Khumalo has an excellent strike rate of late when riding for Joey Ramsden and will have his supporters.

Another interesting runner is Charles from the Brett Crawford yard who currently sits nineteenth on the Vodacom Durban July log. This son of Trippi, who cost a whopping 6 million rand as a yearling, ran a cracking effort behind Atyaab in the Cape Derby. He is extremely well bred and cannot be discounted. One must also take into account that the stable he comes from have a solid record of performing well in big races in KwaZulu-Natal having won the race with Jackson in 2012.

The Sean Tarry yard have been in top form recently winning three Grade 1’s on Tsogo Sun Sprint day last Saturday at Scottsville. Tarry saddles Zillzaal who is surprisingly only a one-time winner but is not short of talent although he has twice been beaten by Hawwaam.

Top KZN trainer Duncan Howells has Thanksgiving who is a son of Dynasty out of an Al Mufti mare. It’s no secret what the stable think of him and he could be in the firing line with inform jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe aboard.

Justin Snaith has Bunker Hunt in the race who is another by Dynasty. He put in a decent effort in the KRA Guineas and could be an unknown quantity.

Capoeira, from the Andre Nel yard, comes into this race with a rating of 81 and on paper looks to have a tough task ahead. The stable clearly rate him judging by the fact they supplemented him for the race and Gavin Lerena jumps aboard.

Supporting features are the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 where some of the country’s best three-year-old fillies go head to head and also the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m.

By Devonne Govender

Dual Grade 1 winner Hawwaam has drawn two for Saturday’s Grade 1 Daily News 2000 at Greyville which has eight acceptors in all including the Andre Nel-trained supplementary entry Capoeira.

Twelve runners will face the starter in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 including dual Grade 1 winner Return Flight, Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner Front And Centre and Grade 2 KRA Fillies Guineas winner Santa Clara.

Hawwaam’s stablemate Soqrat will not be running in the Daily News 2000 and this was likely due to him landing a good draw of five in the weight for age Grade 1 Rising Gold Challenge, which attracted a star studded field of 12.

Mike de Kock has kept Anton Marcus aboard Hawwaam for the Daily News.

Marcus replaced Gavin Lerena for the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein as the latter is retained by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Studs and had to ride Cascapedia that day.

Marcus duly brought him home and Lerena, who was aboard when Hawwaam won the Grade 1 SA Classic, has had to settle for Capoiera, who is merit rated thirty points lower than 121 merit rated Hawwaam.

Hawwaam is going to have his toughest task to date as he is up against the 117 merit rated Twist Of Fate, who comes off a fine win in the Grade 2 KRA Guineas, where the widely drawn three-times Grade 1-winning miler Soqrat could only manage fourth.

Twist Of Fate, trained by Joey Ramsden and drawn five, finished second to Soqrat in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas but perhaps his most eyecatching trial for Saturday’s race was in the Grade 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth where he gave away lumps of weight and won easily.

Hawwaam has had a tendency to over race, although in his last two starts he settled well. However, if he doesn’t settle well on Saturday Twist Of Fate will be a serious danger.

The 112 merit rated Bunker Hunt has always been well regarded by the Justin Snaith yard and this big horse caught the eye in no uncertain terms when staying on strongly for third in the KRA Guineas. He is drawn in three and this trip will be ideal. Like most Dynastys he is already showing a liking for the tight Greyville track. 

The Sean Tarry-trained Zillzaal, merit rated 105, stayed on resolutely for second in the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m, but on Champions Challenge form over this trip he has 6,1 lengths to make up on Hawwaam. However, he is a progressive sort and at this time of the year three-year-olds who have been just off the best on the Highveld have been known to transform when running down at the coast, with an example being the Tarry-trained Matador Man.

The local hopes rest with the Duncan Howells-trained Thanksgiving, who has drawn widest of all. He stayed on well for fifth in the KRA Guineas and earlier finished a 3,40 length second to Hawwaam in the Dingaans over 1600m. His Cape Derby run over this trip can be ignored as he pulled up lame behind. He has always struck as one who is looking for this trip and being by Dynasty he not surprisingly enjoys Greyville.

Atyaab won a below par renewal of the Grade 1 Cape Derby, although among the defeated were the neck runner up Charles and the 2,65 length fourth-placed Bunker Hunt.

Bunker Hunt has clearly improved since then. Atyaab has since been beaten 17,55 lengths in the SA Classic by Atyaab, where Zillzaal was beaten 11,25 length, and Atyaab was then fourth in the SA Derby, 0.70 lengths behind Zillzaal.

Charles needed the run in the KRA Guineas when forced wide at the top of the straight from a handy position and not finding much. This expensive Trippi colt was wearing second time blinkers there and is progressive so could earn on Saturday.

Capoeira has only had five runs and showed improvement last time when a narrow second to Our Coys over 1750m at Scottsville in a Progress Plate. However, he will need to make dramatic further improvement to be a factor here.

By David Thiselton

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The racing at the Tsogo Sun Sprint day on Saturday proved there is no longer any draw bias on the sprint course at Scottsville.

Triumphant trainer Sean Tarry had wondered before the event whether his leading Tsogo Sun Sprint contender Chimichuri Run would be disadvantaged by a high draw of 15 but as it happened the three-year-old Trippi colt was able to stick to his station and power through to beat his stable companion Trip To Heaven (drawn 13) and Africa Rising (drawn seven).

Tarry said, “It was a great day and the course being fair, enabling horses to win from all over, helped. There wasn’t bunching and the consequent worrying of getting a run. Well, the Allan Robertson was a bit like that, but the jockeys became more and more confident of spreading out as the day progressed.”

For a long time, starting in the second half of last decade, the going was palpably advantageous towards the inside of the Scottsville sprint course.

Once this problem has set in it is exacerbated by the jockeys doing everything in their power to get to that strip of going.

Consequently, the horses become bunched on that strip, which, due to the repetitive pounding, becomes like a road. It is similar to the way a path is formed in the veld. The constant weight of feet causes compaction of the earth and the path is formed.

It is very difficult to reverse this trend on a racecourse once it has set in.

As one top jockey retorted a few years ago after the riders had been encouraged to use the width of the track at Scottsville, they would risk criticism or even belittling from the connections if they did not at least make an attempt to find the perceived better going.

Various measures were taken to solve the problem.

The inside fence was at one stage moved outward for a few meetings in order to prevent the road effect.

However, as soon as the fence was moved back inward the jockeys made a bee-line for the fresh grass.  

The problem became so entrenched that in 2016 Gold Circle decided to move the inside fence outward for the Tsogo Sun Sprint meeting and limit the Grade 1 field sizes to 14.

However, this caused understandable disgruntlement from connections whose borderline horses missed out on a run.

Yet, despite the aforementioned snowball effect, the ground staff to their credit have somehow slowly but surely managed to solve the draw bias problem.

The improvement was started by the late track manager Inos Majola and continued by the renowned Ralph Smout.

Latterly, the teamwork of the like of Vilasen Pillay, Michael Ndlovu and KZN’s senior track manager Kurt Grunewald have brought the track to its current fair state.

Any regular watcher of racing at the Pietermaritzburg track over the last couple of years would hardly have bothered to check the draw before placing their bets for Saturday’s Grade 1 sprint events.

By the time of the Tsogo Sun Sprint, the last of the Jackpot of Grade 1s, even the jockeys were convinced there was no bias. The 16 runners were spread evenly across the track. In fact the first two home, Chimichuri Run and Trip To Heaven, were among a bunch of four horses who were hugging the outside rail.

Hopefully, that race spelt the end of the mindset which causes bunching towards the inside of the Scottsville sprint course. 

If it does the hard luck stories which have tended to accompany the Festival Of Speed meeting will be minimized as they were on Saturday.

By David Thiselton

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Jean’s Man looks worth an interest in the opening maiden juvenile at Durbanville today even though the big prices have already gone.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount opened at 6-1 with World Sports Betting over the weekend but this was down to 33-10 yesterday morning when Betting World was offering the same price. Billy Prestage mentioned just before taking on General Franco six weeks ago that his horse had been showing a lot of speed at home and Jean’s Man finished a highly promising fourth of 11. He missed a subsequent Durbanville engagement because of a swollen off-fore.

“He had a scratch that went septic – very common at Milnerton – and it took longer to come right than I would have liked,” said Prestage yesterday before adding about the debut run “I thought he would have been doing better at the end of the race than he did but he was a bit warm in the shins afterwards.”

As Prestage points out, the form of that April 16 race is mixed even if you ignore the General’s subsequent flop. Runner-up Three Two Charlie went on to win emphatically at Durbanville while third-placed Stormin Norman (in opposition again here) was only fourth next time

“Personally I think Grey Ferrari will be a hard horse to beat,” says Prestage. “But I am looking forward to Jean’s Man. He has lots of speed and he should go well.”

Grey Ferrari (9-2) is close with Jean’s Man on a line through Three Two Charlie while Joie De Vivre was a neck behind Grey Ferrari here last time and is 33-10 favourite. The 11-2 shot Stormin Norman also has claims but the selection has the advantage of Fayd’Herbe and that may swing it.

Fayd’Herbe has a favourite’s chance on Scottish Ally in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden Juvenile two races later. The 13-10 shot disappointed last time but had to switch. However Mon Cherie gets marginal preference at 3-1. Greg Cheyne’s mount has been showing signs of improvement and she didn’t get a clear run when beaten five lengths by Roll In The Hay who went on to finish a respectable sixth in the Allan Robertson.

Wadi Rum (5-2) had Kingston Rock nearly a length behind when they met here last month and the in-form Robert Khathi’s mount can confirm the placings in the Betting World Maiden, particularly as his rival is badly drawn and his trainer Mike Robinson showed he has his horses in winning form with Transylvania on Saturday.

Veld Flower went close on debut despite being hampered and is well-nigh impossible to oppose in the Tab Telebet Maiden despite being odds-on with both the big two.

By Michael Clower

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Saturday was a day that young apprentice Jeffery Syster will remember. One can list on one hand apprentices that have ridden a winner on their first ride and fittingly it was for riding legend and now trainer, Michael Roberts, who also rode his first winner at Scottsville. The youngster was overwhelmed as he made for the winner’s enclosure, looking to dismount before even being led in by stalwart owner Nick Labuschagne and Shirley Koster.

Kingsmead looked to be hopelessly out of his ground going through halfway but Syster hunted every gap seamlessly and without going for the stick, Kingsmead rocketed home.

By Andrew Harrison

Elusive Silva, third in last year’s Vodacom Durban July and a member of Snaith Racing’s veritable armada for the great race five weeks on Saturday, arrived at Summerveld last Friday to begin his preparation in earnest.

Jono Snaith said: “He has had a wind operation which is why he travelled late but it worked well – his wind is now clear – and he galloped at Kenilworth last week. We will see how he goes before deciding if and when he runs before the July.”

The stable’s master strategist outlined plans for the others still in the R4.25 million showpiece – “Last year’s winner Do It Again runs in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge on Saturday week, Bunker Hunt in the Daily News this Saturday, Doublemint in the Cup Trial (June 8), Made To Conquer either in the Cup Trial or straight to the July, Magnificent Seven possibly in the Cup Trial but may not run again before the July; he is fit and well and he doesn’t need another run, Myabi Gold will have one more outing while Oh Susanna will not run in the July. Platinum Prince has been scratched. He hasn’t enjoyed Durban and is coming back to Cape Town.”

Mark Khan (Made To Conquer) is the only confirmed riding arrangement so far – so, said Snaith, “jockeys need to get on the phone.”

The Snaith family are bidding for their fifth July. Chris was successful with Flaming Rock in 1991 while Justin scored with Dancer’s Daughter in 2008, Legislate in 2014 and Do It Again who is the shortest priced of this season’s challengers at 5-1. The Mike de Kock-trained favourite Hawwaam has been the main mover in the past week, shortening from 7-2 to 28-10 with Betting World.

By Michael Clower

Run Fox Run stole the Winter Classic’s thunder, and had Greg Cheyne dreaming of big race glory, when extending her unbeaten run to four with a display of almost blinding speed in the Olympic Duel Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Run Fox Run stole the Winter Classic’s thunder, and had Greg Cheyne dreaming of big race glory, when extending her unbeaten run to four with a display of almost blinding speed in the Olympic Duel Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The 17-20 shot came out of the pens like a greyhound after a hare and, while she appeared to be doing little more than saunter, nothing was able to get near her as she scorched home five lengths clear.

“Going through the 600, Sceptre Stakes was going through my mind and passing the post I was I thinking ‘I will be at Scottsville next year,’ ” said a thrilled Cheyne. “When the gates opened I had two lengths for nothing, the fractions I set were pretty decent and it’s been a long time since I’ve ridden a horse that can cruise at this speed.”

The Kieswetter family were away at a wedding – how they would have loved this – while for Brett Crawford it was some compensation for a largely frustrating Scottsville. “There is a possibility that she may run in the Champagne on July 27 and after that she will obviously have a break,” he said practically.

Most trainers are equine psychologists to a certain extent but Adam Marcus dedicates as much time to the minds of his charges as a top psychiatrist in the Panorama and he was privately convinced that Vardy’s defeats by One World were due to something other than inferior ability. The Winter Classic proved his point.

“Vardy has a severe parrot mouth and a very soft palate – anything with a link presses on that and is uncomfortable for him so he doesn’t settle,” Marcus explained. “I was convinced he would have beaten One World in the Winter Guineas had he done so.

“I felt the dressage world was the place to look and I found a flexible plastic bit in Italy. I then had to get it passed by the NHA. They only gave me the go-ahead three days before the race.”

Rather than look a fool if it didn’t work, he kept quiet until after the win but he then declared,  “It has made the world of difference to the horse.”

“I knew I had One World just before the straight – it was as early as that,” said a delighted Craig Zackey who had to contend with heckling from punters (“mind you keep straight this time”) as he went out on to the course.

One World, who to be fair was conceding 2kg, was beaten two and a quarter lengths. “Beaten by a better horse on the day,” M.J. Byleveld sportingly conceded while Vaughan Marshall will now give the CTS 1600 winner a rest – “He has had a tough season.” The Winter Derby on June 29 beckons for Vardy and his Italian mouthpiece.

That day Helen’s Ideal will bid to complete the fillies Winter Series in the Winter Oaks after adding a hard-fought Stormsvlei Mile to last month’s Sweet Chestnut. “I thought we were in a bit of trouble when I saw her tail swishing,” admitted Paul Reeves who paid tribute to Donovan Dillon for promptly putting his stick down and riding her out with hands and heels.

Breeder Peter de Beyer, who shares ownership with Paul Barrett, believes she will stay the extra 600m “even though she shows so much speed that you always ask yourself.”

The rest of the day belonged to Robert Khathi who landed a treble and Harold Crawford who is battling his way back from his stroke with the help and encouragement of his daughter Michelle Rix. They had an emotional win with Alfred’s Girl (the last horse bred by Gwen Heyns’ late husband Alfred) and followed up with Ready Steady Go –“A rebellious child who gives us all grey hairs.”

By Michael Clower