David Thiselton

Exciting news from KZN Breeders is they have acquired a Gr 1-performing son of Wootton Bassett and he will be the first son of this late record-breaking stallion phenomenon to stand in South Africa.

2022-born State Visit would have been unobtainable had he won the Aus$1 million Gr 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400m at Randwick, instead of finishing a somewhat unlucky short-head second. It was not only due to the performance that he would have been out of reach for KZN Breeders, but also due to his outstanding pedigree.

State Visit was caught wide in the Gr 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes, although he did have cover, and he accelerated smartly in the straight. He kept going courageously despite having challengers all around him and was beaten a short-head by Vinrock, who enjoyed a rails run. The I Am Invincible colt Vinrock ended his two-year-old career unbeaten in three starts, which also included a Gr 2 win, and he now stands with Yulong for Aus$22,000 (R250,000).

In addition to State Visit’s pedigree, he has it all in the looks department too.

Wootton Bassett (GB) was unbeaten in five starts as a two-year-old, including the Gr 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. The son of Iffraaj (Zafonic) was retired after his unsuccessful three-year-old season and his first French-bred crop consisted of just 23 foals. However, amongst these was the triple Gr 1-winner Almanzor and a host of other Graded performers. At this point Coolmore bought him and In Ireland he was duly inundated with mares, despite his service fee having been pushed up to €100 000 . His first Irish-bred crop of two-year-olds produced ten juvenile Group winners, surpassing the record of seven held jointly by super powers Danehill and Galileo! He went on to be named Europe’s best ever sire of two-year-olds. Shuttled to Australia he became a leading sire of two-year-olds there with only his first crop running and he became the highest priced stallion in Australia in 2025 with a stud fee of Aus$385 000 (R4.5m) before his untimely death.

It is now up to his sons to pass the blood through.

State Visit (Aus) is the first foal of the mare Celebrity Queen (Aus) who is by Redoutes Choice out of a stakes-winning More Than Ready mare. After a stellar racing career Celebrity Queen was sold as a filly for stud for Aus$2 500 000. She had 14 career starts and won seven of these (three on the trot), and this included the Gr 1 MRC Oakleigh Plate and the Gr 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes as well as 2nds in the Gr1 WATC Winterbottom Stakes and the Gr 3 AJ Scahill Stakes. As she is still a young mare at stud (born 2016) there is every chance State Visit’s pedigree is going to continue to grow. Celebrity Queen in fact has progeny of top class sires in the pipeline, a colt by Justify, a filly by Wotton Bassett and she is in foal now to Home Affairs.

The depth of State Visit’s pedigree does not end with Celebrity Queen as the latter’s More Than Ready dam Celebrity Miss is not only a stakes winner herself, but she is out of a dual Gr1-winning daughter of Marscay (Biscay).

The potency in the sires of State Visit’s pedigree are simply unbelievable:

Wootton Bassett, champion two-year-old sire in Europe.

Redoute’s Choice was champion two-year-old sire in Australia in 2004 and claimed the champion sires title in 2005-06; 2009-10 and 2013-14. He has been a four-times champion Broodmare Sire and in June 2023 became the first broodmare sire in Australian history to crack $30 million in earnings in a season.

More Than Ready – sire of three-times South African champion sire Gimmethegreenlight. More Than Ready is the only sire to have had an Eclipse Champion for four years in a row and is the sire of the most Breeders Cup winners in history.

Marscay – Champion sire in Australia twice, and four times Champion Broodmare sire.

It comes as no surprise that State Visit was a true Gr 1-performing two-year- old in Australia, the land where juvenile races are king.

This is confirmed by the below comments from the yard:

“At his first start he was very impressive, running good sectionals, but he was still very new,” assistant trainer Gerard Dubord said.

“Second start he had to go all the way back and make his run on the outside, which is not easy to do, and in his last start he was very good. Jason (Collett) said he actually didn’t see the horse (winner Vinrock) on his inside and that’s why he came back again in the end.”

“He’s got the best attitude, a beautiful action. He is a lovely colt so we will try to get that Group One win.”

In summary he won his first start impressively (1250m), in his second start over 1200m in a Gr3 he came from last to run 3rd, and his next start in a Gr1 over 1400m he again came from the back of the field, and wide, to run 2nd. Only two weeks later he was in the Gr 1 Champagne Stakes over 1600m in soft going, which he didn’t enjoy, but ran 4th. So in the space of just under two months at the start of his two year old career he won, placed 3rd in a Gr 3, placed 2nd in a Gr 1 and 4th in a Gr 1, against what proved to be the best two year olds in Australia in that generation. He developed an issue after that pressure and they could never quite get to the bottom of it meaning his career was cut short. He had nine starts, with only the first not being in a stakes race, and was retired as a winner, 2nd in a Gr1, 3rd in a Gr3, 4th in a Gr1, 4th in a Listed and 5th in a Gr 2.

The KZN Breeders Club’s first stallion purchase, Eden Roc, has been well received and the mandate for their next step was to buy something that would introduce new blood and broader appeal. State Visit will do this and offer something special not only to their own members, but to the greater South African breeding fraternity.

State Visit is currently in quarantine and will be in KZN in time for the upcoming breeding season.

For more details contact Warwick Render (082 872 7799, bushhillstud@futurenet.co.za).

RACE 1

4 WARRIOR OF DESTINY ran a great race behind Uncle Sam on the 16th of June at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, he will love the step up in trip to 1600m, on his current form, he has a big winning chance in this field. 2 ROYAL LIGHT finished just over two lengths behind Warrior Of Destiny last time, top jockey Richard Fourie has been booked to ride this colt, he will be given every chance from a good draw. 5 YOU MADE ME LOOK has run two decent races in succession, he will be running on strongly late, include him into all bets. 6 MOONSHINE BAY could sneak into the Quartet on her best form.

RACE 2

3 LE CONCIERGE stayed on well to finish second behind Another Hero on the 23rd of June, he will love the step up in trip, and he has no weight on his back, he will be right there in the finish on his best form. 2 RHYTHM KING has been rested for 87 days, in hope that he doesn’t need the run badly after a small break, he will be super competitive from a good draw. 6 LE TISSIER finished third behind Diamond Baron in his last start, with some luck in running, he should finish amongst the places, watch him closely. 7 FRACTAL was very disappointing on the 2nd of June, he was well supported in the market when finishing just over 20 lengths behind Witch Hazel, he will be much fitter going into this race, include him into all bets.

RACE 3

3 BLACK ERIKA quickened up smartly to win a good race on the 16th of May, she was given two points for that win, she will be just off the speed early, and she will be flying at them late. 5 SHE’S CHOSEN won her maiden impressively on the 31st of May, the form of that race has worked out well, even though she takes on older horses here, she will be competitive. 6 PALACE GIFT was a touch slow out of the gates last time, he stayed on late to finish just under three lengths behind Trois Sept Huit on the 21st of June, he has a good place chance in this field, watch him closely. 1 WILLIAM’S WOMAN never runs a bad race, she will be right on top of them from a good draw.

RACE 4

5 TRIP TO CAMELOT won a good race on the 16th of May, he was given four points for that win last time, the form of that race has worked out extremely well, he has a big winning chance again. 1 CHANCE ENCOUNTER stayed on nicely for second behind a nice type on the 2nd of June, in hope that he stays this trip of 2000m, he will go close to winning from a good draw. 4 BACKINTHEFASTLANE has run two lovely races in succession, his form with the blinkers fitted is solid, he will be running on strongly late, watch him closely. 3 FORT LIAM stays well, he could sneak into the Quartet.

RACE 5

3 GLENALMOND quickened up well to win a good race on the 2nd of June, in hope that he has made further improvement at home, he should be right there in the finish again. 5 TOTHEMOONANDBACK has dropped a point in the ratings from his last run, and he gets the blinkers fitted, he could be the value play in this tricky race. 4 MASTER COINER won a good race last time, he is getting better with every start, even though he tackles stronger here, he will be competitive. 8 HEAVENLY PRINCE was a touch disappointing on the 2nd of June, he is much better than that, watch him closely from a tricky draw.

RACE 6

1 GIVE IT LALDY has been rested for 78 days, he fought hard to win a good race on the 27th of April, the yard thinks highly of this gelding, he will go close to winning again from a good draw. 7 FAST TRAIN quickened up smartly to win nicely last time, he was given four points for that impressive win, he will be flying at them late, watch him closely from a tricky draw. 8 OBJET D’ART has been rested for 78 days, he will be doing some good work late, include him into all bets. 3 CHURCHILLIAN has dropped in the ratings, on his best form, he will trouble them in the finish.

RACE 7

6 SCANDALIZE won her maiden well on the 16th of June, the form of that race has worked out well, even though she tackles stronger company here, she has a big winning chance again. 1 MISS NEW YORK has dropped even further in the ratings, she could be the value play in this tricky race from a good draw. 3 TAKE IT AS RED has run three good races in succession, with no weight on her back, she will run a big race, include her into all bets. 2 FINAL CALL has been rested for 72 days, she is much better than her last run.

RACE 8

3 IN A TIMELY MANNER ran a great race for second behind his stable companion on the 21st of June, the yard thinks highly of this gelding, he will be hard to beat here. 7 SOHO HEARTTHROB will be cherry ripe for this race, he was flying at them late when finishing third in the same race as In A Timely Manner last time, with some luck in running, he will go close to winning. 6 KATSU has been rested for 78 days, he is honest, and he tries hard, include him into all bets. 8 ROCKANROLLIN gets the services of Richard Fourie, on his current form, he should be amongst the places.

RACE 9

7 CLARK GRISWOLD won with absolute ease on the 16th of June, he was given four points for that win last time, he will be just off the speed early, and he will be running on strongly late. 3 MIAMI SUMMER needed his last run badly when finishing three lengths behind Clark Griswold, that was his first run back after a long break, he will be much fitter going into this race, include him into all bets. 2 SIGNOR DANTE continues to race in good form, he will be right there in the finish from a neat draw. 1 FORT YUKON is as honest as they come, he never runs a bad race, he will be given every chance from a good draw.

David Thiselton

The big news at the end of last week was the scratching of Star Major from the Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup which effectively takes him out of the running for the Equus Horse Of The Year Award.

The connections have renounced the false rumour that he had been sold and said the temperature he was shown to have had before his scratching from the Hollywoodbets Durban July had remained in flux and had put him out of work for eleven days, which was no way for a horse to go into the Gr 1 weight for age Champions Cup.

See It Again is in the pound seats for the Equus Horse Of The Year award having won the Gr 1 wfa Sun Met and the Gr 1 wfa Premier’s Champion Challenge. If he can add a third Gr 1 weight for age race he will surely be a shoe-in.

However, Questioning and The Real Prince are also still in the running.

Questioning is the most in-form horse in the country and could add the G1 weight for age Mercury Sprint to his Gr 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge win. He has also won two Gr 2s, the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m and the IOS Drill Hall stakes over 1400m.

In fact Questioning might even be considered if not winning the Mercury provided See It Again does not win the Champions Cup. The reason for the consideration would be that he narrowly beat See It Again when a short-head second in the King’s Plate and he beat an admittedly below par See It Again by 5,45 lengths when winning the Gold Challenge.

However, open Gr 1 weight for age wins usually carry the day in the Equus Horse Of The Year award.

The Real Prince could join See It Again on two Gr 1 wfa wins if landing the Champions Cup as he was the winner of the King’s Plate. If he wins the Champions Cup he will also have levelled the tally between himself and See It Again this season to 3-3.

Both horses have had two Gr 1 wfa places besides their wins, with See It Again finishing a 0,25 length third in the King’s Plate and a 3,75 length second in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, while The Real Prince was a 1,25 length third in the Met and a 2,95 length fourth in the Gold Challenge. So See It Again will probably edge it between those two even if The Real Prince wins the Champions Cup.

However, Questioning could spoil the party for both of them.

The five-year-old Querari gelding has transformed this season from a hard-knocking Gr 1 sort into a horse with the X-factor and he will be going for his fifth victory in succession in the Mercury, presuming he takes his place.

The only reason for him not to take his place would be the unfortunate wide draw he has landed.  However, such have his performances been of late coupled with his obvious zest for racing that it would be no surprise to see him storming to victory, provided he can find some cover around the turn. However, he will need plenty of luck and even then he is up against the highest rated horse in the land, Buffalo Storm Cody.

The latter demonstrated his class last time out in his preparation run for the Mercury when eating up the ground late with his huge stride in the Gr 3 Post Merchants. That was run over the same 1200m course and distance as the Mercury and the weight turnaround will see him 2kg better off with Post Merchants winner Jet Force for a half-a-length beating.

However, Buffalo only beat Tenango by a short-head in the Post Merchants and faces him on the same terms. Furthermore, Tenango has landed a plum draw. Tenango was a 1,60 length second to Buffalo in last year’s Mercury when jumping from draw 13 compared to Buffalo’s 9, so on the draw reversal from that race he has a chance too.

Buffalo has a fair draw of nine this year out of the 24 entries still standing their ground, so should come into a nice draw.

The Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint winner Asiye Phambili also comes into it with her 2,5kg gender claim and she has landed draw eleven among the entries.

Others to consider are the in-form Taxi To The Moon, while Cosmic Speed and Cats Pajamas are capable sorts who have not landed favourable draws.

In the Champions Cup See It Again’s chief opposition could come from his own stablemate Eight On Eighteen.

The Lancaster Bomber gelding is the reigning Equus Horse Of The Year, but has had an interrupted season. His run in the Gold Challenge can be ignored as he was caught wide behind an unsuitable slow pace. He put up a fine workout at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops and Richard Fourie has since been quoted as saying it would require a crowbar to separate him from Eight On Eighteen, so good did he feel in the gallop.

Eight On Eighteen will appreciate the step up in trip and has drawn a fair six out of 12. He will come in nice and fresh having not run in the July.

Running in the July did not stop Gladatorian from winning the Champions Cup last year and he has landed a plum draw again.

Legal Counsel can’t be ignored either having run a short-head second to Questioning in the Gold Challenge and second to See It Again in the Met. In the July he was asked to lead with topweight and it proved too much. He should appreciate the step down in trip in the Champions Cup and is a tough horse.

Former Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King has won this race before, but is not in the best form, while Main Defender would have been capable of winning this race at his best, but also needs to bounce back.

Alistair Cohen

Justin Snaith is positively cruising towards another Champion Trainer title but he is certainly not resting on any laurels to take his foot off the gas towards the end of the season. In A Timely Manner hails from his yard and this underachieving son of boom sire, Legislate could be on his way to a breakthrough win. He runs in race 8 over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Tuesday.

He has come up against some good opposition lately and remains consistent. Perhaps a rating relief would have gone a long way, but the handicapper has been impressed enough against good company to leave him rated 92. Digging deep, he is out of a Silvano mare and the great sire only had his progeny hit their straps as older horses. He is riding four-years-old now and that hints that better days lie ahead.

The recent company he has kept includes a trip to Gqeberha where he finished behind the brilliant Anotherdanceforme. There is no disgrace finishing 5,5 lengths behind one of the stars of the Eastern Cape giving her 2kg. He was given a two-month layoff after that run and he found Chasingtherainbow too good over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Again, he fell short by 3,8 lengths which sounds like a good beating but one needs to keep in mind that Chasingtherainbow has won subsequently against far stronger. In A Timely Manner then went very close to beating Blind Date in his most recent appearance in the middle of June. The 0,4-length deficit behind a horse evidently on the up must give him a good leg up against this division.

These are the calmest waters that In A Timely Manner has been in for a while. He gets the services of JP van der Merwe. From a good gate of No 3, plenty is stacked in his favour.

Katsu must be respected with only 50kg to carry. Eduan Muller takes a valuable 4kg off his back. After running to the likes of Tenpenny, La Pulga and Major Master lately, he too plummets in class. Two of those named ran in the Grade 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom Campanajo 2200 last Saturday. Major Master was carded to run in a Listed feature. Katsu does not win too often which is his biggest query. Despite some good numbers and largely consistent runs suggesting he should run another solid race, it is hard to have full faith in him. This is his first run in three months so fitness might not be at his peak. Lucinda Woodruff trains. She is probably the most in-form yard in the country at the moment.

It Is My Time is never far behind In A Timely Manner and he is picked to get into the money. It would be unfair on It Is My Time to tip the latter strongly and ignore the chances of the former. There should be little between them again.

A fun rivalry is starting to form between Objet D’Art and Give It Laldy. Both are improving young horses with good days ahead. Both of them are held in high regard by their connections. They meet in race 6 over 1250m.

The scoreboard shows 1-1 between them. Both of the have been off for nearly three months but both of them should end up running at a fair level during the Cape summer.  Preference is for Objet D’Art using their last meeting as a guide. He is 2kg better off with Give It Laldy when there was 0,3 lengths between them. The counter to that is Give It Laldy is drawn in gate No 1 and he has Gavin Lerena in the irons. Give It Laldy has the Champion Jockey in waiting, Craig Zackey aboard.

Warrior Of Destiny makes appeal in race 1 over 1600m. His main danger looks to be Royal Light and they met last time when Warrior Of Destiny finished two lengths ahead. It is hard to motivate that deficit to be turned around. It is not a strong race by any stretch. Pedigree suggests that this trip should suit ideally too.

Race 2 is the first of two apprentice races. Le Concierge stands out as the horse to beat with Varun Jodhee in the saddle. Every run has been better and his last start was pleasing when beaten less than a length by Another Hero at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth over 1200m. His last run is easily the best run on offer throughout the entire field.

Trainer Adam Marcus has a strong hand in race 3 over 1000m with Ruby Rex and Black Erika. Interesting jockey bookings are at play because Craig Zackey has gone with Ruby Rex who won a weak maiden last time. Zackey rode Black Erika to a narrow win last time. Ruby Rex defeated Miss Smiley by 1,25 lengths. She had the race sealed a long way out but that is not a race to easily hang much faith in. It could be a tip in itself from Zackey so Ruby Rex is given the verdict.

Trip To Camelot is on the up and he finally gets to run over 2000m for the first time. He looks set to complete a hat-trick of wins in race 4 under Zackey. He is a real grinder who looks like he is making hard work of his wins but he is related to SA Derby winners so his running style is no shock. He could develop into a very smart four-year-old now that his wheels are in motion. If he steps into this trip as expected, it could give connections plenty of hope for the future. He will face hard opposition from Chance Encounter, Fort Liam, Phantom Man and Backinthefastlane who all have their capabilities.

It has been many moons since Beer With The Boys last won but his form has turned for the better and he must stand a huge chance in race 5 over 2000m. Jumping from draw No 1, he gets the services of Gavin Lerena. He takes on a field of horses either straight out of the maidens of battling to find direction after a string of wayward efforts. He seems most reliable to at least run into the money and with some luck, win it.

The second apprentice event is race 7 over 1250m where Take It As Red can take advantage of a return to form. She has finished fourth in her last three runs while her rating continues to slowly drop. Eduan Muller is carded to take the ride for Piet and Elbert Steyn. She could not have found a more winnable race.

A very nice race awaits in the last. Race 9 over 1400m has some interesting dynamics attached. Highly rated Miami Summer returned from a six month break last time and he clearly needed the run finishing three lengths behind Clark Griswold in fourth. He is 2kg better off. Clark Griswold is also rated by his yard and his last win was commanding. The addition of recent winners Signor Dante and Gold Dust adds to the intrigue of the race.

David Thiselton

The Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup has attracted a fine entry of stayers and among them are three former winners of the prestigious 3200m race.

Last year’s winner King Pelles, the 2024 winner Master Redoute and the 2023 winners Future Pearl are all entries and there are also two former runner ups,  last year’s runner up Holding Thumbs and the 2024 runner up Shoot The Rapids.

Also entered are the Gr 3 Durban Gold Vase (3000m) winner, Ahead Of The Facts, the Gr 3 Lucky Fish Winter Stakes (2400m) winner Native Ruler and the Gr 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom Campanajo 2200 winner, Magic Verse.

King Pelles showed his class in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, splitting the dominant three-year-old males and finishing a 1,55 length third. He was used as the line horse so remains on 122.

Native Ruler on 121 is carrying 60kg and King Pelles’ weight is still pending, but with the compressed weight structure he might carry 60kg too or 60,5kg at the most. He has an unusually good turn of foot for a horse who gets two miles and managed to carry the topweight of 60kg to victory last year.

Ahead Of The Facts showed a magnificent turn of foot when winning the Gr 3 Durban Gold Vase and went from about second last to third in a matter of strides. He proved he will get the Gold Cup trip too as he was being eased at the line. The Gold Cup has always been his target, so he should come on from that run a bit too, so will be dangerous carrying 58,5kg off a 116 merit rating.

Master Redoute and Shoot The Rapids come into the reckoning based on the Gold Vase form as they will be 1,5kg and 1kg better off with Ahead Of The Facts respectively for a half-a-length and a 1,30 length beating.

Shoot The Rapids is capable of some fine performances as he proved when runner up two years ago despite going too fast near the front. This season he won the RA Stakes at Turffontein Standside by 9,50 lengths and has been right there in his last few starts, including a 1,30 length third in the Gr 3 Lucky Fish Winter Stakes and a 1,30 length third in the Gold Vase. He is set to carry 59kg which puts him in with a chance although he has landed a wide draw.

Master Redoute had had a fine preparation and should make a bold bid carrying 58.5kg.

Holding Thumbs will be 1kg better off with Ahead Of The Facts for a 3,40 length beating. He is a gallant sort who is capable of a strong finish, but he has unfortunately drawn very wide.

Future Pearl has a lot of class and although he has not run a place since winning the Gr 3 Tabgold Derby over 2400m two years ago he loves Hollywoodbets Greyville and showed signs he could still have what it takes when finishing 4,50 lengths back in the equivalent of that race this year, the Gr 3 Lucky Fish Winter Stakes. He will be 2,5kg better off with Native Ruler for that 4,50 length beating and he should have come on from the run.

Native Ruler won the Winter Stakes in impressive style and ran a good sixth in the July. That was the same position he finished in the July last year, but he ran off a two point higher merit rating this year and, furthermore, had the conditions of the race been the same as last year he would have finished fourth.

Magic Verse is an interesting entry as he was a comfortable winner of the July consolation race, the Gr 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200. He finished a 0,75 length second to Holding Thumbs in the Gr 3 Cape Of Good Hope Chairman’s Cup over 2500m on LKP day and he wasn’t disgraced in the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m when beaten 5,55 lengths by Ahead Of The Facts, He will face Holding Thumbs on half-a-kilogram better terms from the Chairmans and will face Ahead Of The Facts on 1,5kg better terms.

Johnny The Thief finished second in the July consolation, beaten 1,40 lengths, and faces Magic Verse on 1,5kg worse terms due to the compressed weight conditions.

Jazz Cafe is an interesting lightweight as the winner of the Gr 3 Lucky Fish Winter Fillies Stakes as that was her first attempt at a staying trip and she beat the SA Derby winner Curious Girl.

Enflame has won five out of his last seven starts and they have been exclusively over staying trips from 2400m to 3200m, so he has a chance if finding his Highveld form, although the concern is his well below par effort at Hollywoodbets Greyville in the Winter Stakes.

Continentalexpress has some good staying form, although he was beaten 5,50 lengths in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m when stepping up to stakes race company.

He was almost three lengths ahead of Vihaan’s Bomb in the latter race and the latter takes his place in the Gold Cup after finishing fourth in the Gold Vase.

Chill In The Air was well beaten in the Gold Vase, but did beat Vihaan’s Bomb in the Lonsdale Stirrup.

It will be interesting to see whether there will be any supplementary entries today (Monday), considering the relatively small size of the field of 14 entries.

The Highveld four-year-old Erupt gelding Corrupt won well over 2600m at Turffontein Inside last Thursday off an 84 rating and this progressive sort would be up with the other bottom weights in the Gold Cup if given a chance.

The declaration stage of the Gold Cup in on Thursday.

Andrew Harrison

Tristan Godden has had a season to remember with the first Gr1 of his career coming in the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup for Frank Robinson, and is now getting chances from the top stables.

Crossing the subway in the Bet With The Tote Class 3 handicap on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday, he will have been a touch nervous of what the Snaith yard will have been saying as he got hemmed in with seemingly little prospect of getting out.

Aboard the Justin Snaith-trained favourite Powerandtheglory, Mickaelle Michel aboard City Of Love had him tight in behind Wild At War with nowhere to go.

However, as Wild At War shifted in slightly and City Of Love came up empty, the gap opened timeously  enough for Powerandtheglory to accelerate through to catch Maphaka who had slipped through on the inside rail.

Godden made light of the situation saying that he knew that he was on the best horses but admitted that he would have liked to have pulled the trigger a little earlier.

Veteran trainer Ricky Maingard is one of the deepest thinkers in the sport and the man behind the formulation of the popular Capstone Feeds. He was also the man who trained champions of yore, Wolf Power and Bodrum to name but a few.

That said, he may have set a new president for Champions Season, arriving in KZN without out any stars in his string but a string laced with horses that would perform at the lower levels for the increased stakes. All but one of his runners have finished either first or second in their races and Billy Cool added to that tally as he made all the running in the eighth, to give champion jockey elect Craig Zackey another winner.

It was a relatively straight forward win. Leading from an inside gate, waiting for challenges to arrive and then pressing on to a bloodless victory.

Former multiple champion jockey Anton Marcus once labelled the outside of the straight on the poly track as the ‘golden highway’ with the perception that there was a track biase. That biase has since been remedied with the revamp – if in fact it ever existed – but jockeys who still elect that route for a straight and clear run at the line, often come up trumps.

While most of the field for the Lucky Fish Magic Mile Class 4 battled up the inside rail, attempting to peg back the free-striding Blue Steel, Zackey took his chances on Nathan Kotzen’s runner Bangladesh. Back early, Zackey made his move around the turn and wide into the straight and while all were in the scrum on his inside, Bangladesh finished with a wet sail to collar an ever game Blue Steel.

In spite of giving his rivals four months start in the championship, Keagan de Melo has given notice that he will be a force to be reckoned with come August 1 as he racked up his 150^th winner of the current season. At a winning strike rate of 20% he is only behind log leader Craig Zackey and last season’s record-breaking Richard Fourie.

His 150^th came aboard the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Molten Lava in the card opener, taking the lead smoothy at the top of the straight and winning with the minimum of fuss.

He was back in the winner’s enclosure in the third but forced to share the honours with apprentice Mxolisi Mbuto who arrived with a telling late run on Darryl Moore’s charge Fort Usher. Green Commander looked to have the race in the bag 50 m out but Fort Usher was making up ground all the while from a long way off the pace. Green Commander was running on empty the last bit as Fort Usher just failed to get past with the judges unable to separate them at the line.

Not yet done, De Melo added a third winner to his tally as he gave Position Of Power the perfect ride to land the Class 3 seventh. With the pace on from the jump, De Melo was happy to sit mid-field on Alyson Wright’s runner before punching through a gap that opened like the Red Sea to reel in Blazing Fury and Rainbow Reward who disputed a tight finish for the minor money.

The Apprentice Class 4 developed into a two-horse race as Last Margarita with Anaas Mosaheb aboard and Damyan Pillay riding Miss Ladyaterix burst out of the pack. However, Yogas Govender’s charge finished the stronger of the two, eventually pulling clear of Last Margarita.

It was a long wait for Calvin Habib with only two rides on the day but it was worth it as Habib rode a confident race on Lucinda Woodruff’s filly Innerbloom. Tracking the pace he moved smoothly into the lead and the result was clear a long way out in spite of De Melo arriving late on Sovereign Gem to snatch second.