Category Archives: Y-Champions Season

Olma (Nkosi Hlophe)

Olma loves Greyville

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Frank Robinson runs the Dynasty filly Olma in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 and said she was back to her best, while Neil Bruss and the Alec Laird yard were pleased with their runners in that race, Zante and Smart Call respectively.

Olma has an outstanding record at Greyville, albeit on the polytrack but there is no reason for her not to do just as well on turf.

Robinson pointed out, “Her only bad runs have all been at Turffontein and at altitude in soft going it was very hard. You will see a much better horse this time and she has never let us down at Greyville before. She has been doing very well  since returning from Johannesburg and I hope to see her back to her best but it’s a tough field.”

The 2000m trip looks to be her optimum trip. Not only was her most impressive poly win over this distance, but she was also a bit keen early last time out over 2450m in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks, suggesting that was a touch far for her. Ian Sturgeon rides from a plum draw of five.

Ideal World filly Zante is drawn well in three with Gavin Lerena up and will relish this trip. Bruss said from Summerveld on Tuesday, “She raced a bit handy last time trying to overcome a bad draw. The 2000m is her game and she will be doing her best work at the finish. It’s a tough field but she is absolutely fine and looking very good. We are just keeping her ticking over, she has done all of her hard work. I am very happy with her.”

Gr 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas third-placed Smart Call should enjoy this trip as she is also by Ideal World and is out of a Horse Chestnut mare. She is drawn six with Weichong Marwing up and has been at Summerveld since last week. Alec Laird’s assistant trainer Julia Pringle said, “She has been doing well and working well.”

By David Thiselton

Picture: Olma (Nkosi Hlophe)

Blinkers for MLJet

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Former top Gauteng-based jockey Gavin van Zyl has only had his trainer’s license for eight years at Summerveld but already has a fine record in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and has two more chances of adding to that record on Saturday.

He won the race with The Apache in 2011, finished third with Shogunnar in 2012 and second with No Worries in 2013. His chief hope in the R2 million race this year will be a newcomer to the yard, MLJet, which is pronounced [Mil-yet] and is the name of one of the Adriatic Islands of the Dalmatia region of Croatia.

Van Zyl has decided to fit this talented Jet Master gelding with first-time blinkers.

He said, “He is in good shape. His sand work is not as good as his grass work, but he put up very exciting work on the grass at Summerveld with blinkers on a week ago. He is drawn second widest but is a 102 merit rating, which he has earned somewhere along the way, so we expect him to run a very competitive race and if he brings his grass work and the form of his second to The Conglomerate in the Politician Stakes to the course he is in with a shout.”

MLJet’s 0,5 length runner up finish to The Conglomerate in the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth on January 10 was viewed as yet another disappointing run at the time, but now looks very good on paper. He was giving The Conglomerate 3kg that day and the latter is currently the joint Vodacom Durban July third favourite after his impressive win in the Gr 2 KRA Guineas.

Overall MLJet has been one of the most disappointing three-year-olds of the season. He looked set for big things after two impressive wins in Juvenile Plates at Clairwood last year were followed by an unlucky 0,25 length third to Equus Champion colt Harry’s Son in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville.

He has not lived up to expectations, and joined Van Zyl’s yard after a disappointing run in the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein on March 28, his second after gelding, although the very soft ground probably went against him in that race.

He has not raced since then as an intended preparation in an Allowance Plate at Greyville on May 8 had to be scrapped due to a lack of entries.

Warren Kennedy rides from draw 15 in the 16 horse field and it should be remembered that in the recent Gr 2 Betting World 1900 the first five were drawn in double figures, partly because they avoided the scrimmaging on the inside around the first turn.

The yard also run the Silvano gelding Dante’s Legacy, who will be wearing blinkers for the first time since he tried them against MLJet as a two-year-old over 1500m at Clairwood, a race he was beaten in by 10,65 lengths.

No Worries came in unheralded two years ago and Dante’s Legacy has a similar profile. His only run over this trip was in the Listed Derby Trial and looks good on paper as he finished 2,85 lengths behind the subsequent Gr 1 SA Derby winner Legal Eagle and was giving the latter 2,5kg. He finished a decent fifth in the SA Derby, beaten 10,25 lengths, but he was only 3,25 lengths behind Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby winner Ertijaal.

Dante’s Legacy has been at Summerveld for about a month and Gavin’s son and assistant trainer Gareth said, “He is doing well and we are looking for him to be a bit sharper with the blinkers on. We are hoping for a first four finish.”

Van Zyl also runs two horses in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, Heart Of A Lion and Sun Of Africa.

He said, “  Heart of a Lion is well and if he repeats his last two runs he is in with a chance (third in both the Gr 3 Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m and the Gr 2 Gold Bowl over 3200m). Sun Of Africa is well weighted if he can repeat the form of his second behind Bezanova (that was over 1600m but he won well over 1900m at Greyville as a two-year-old) and he is not without a winning chance. He has been working very well.”

Both horses are taking in this race on route to the Gr 2 Track and Ball Derby over 2400m on June 21 and the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m on July 25.

By David Thiselton

Picture: MLJet (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mountain Master (Nkosi Hlophe)

Countdown begins for the July

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It’s the last chance saloon situation for most of the 21 Vodacom Durban July hopefuls that take to the Greyville course in Durban on Saturday at the Daily News 2000 racemeeting.

The current July Log only features 10 of the runners that will compete in the R2-million, Grade 1 Daily News 2000, the R1-million, Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 and the R250 000, Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup and while a few could consider their positions on the Log secure, even they will have to produce top performances to prevent being dislodged.

For Kingston Mines and Mountain Master, the 2 400m of the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup is where their fate will be determined and both will need to produce very impressive performances. Neither feature in the top 25 on the Log and the selection panel may well consider that for Kingston Mines the 2 200m journey of the July is far enough below his best to include him in place of a well-formed and better distance-suited runner.

He has won the J&B Stayers in the Cape over 2 850m and the Caradoc Gold Cup over 2 800m at Turffontein and his merit rating is low at 100 compared to other contenders but a very convincing win in the Lonsdale could swing things in his favour.

Mountain Master has an even lower rating but he did place over 2 000m at Turffontein and he was not disgraced when 2.65 lengths fifth in the Betting World 1900.

Among the Daily News 2000 runners, stable companions French Navy and the filly Siren’s Call from the Sean Tarry stable are in 6th and 7th positions respectively on the Log and they need only show that they are in good fettle to secure their places in the big race field. Ertijaal from the Mike de Kock stable is in 10th place on the Log could also be safe if producing a good run.

The Conglomerate jumped into 13th place after winning the KRA Guineas very impressively and on his Highveld form Deputy Jud is currently in 15th place. Both are still not safe unless they produce the goods on Saturday by winning or finishing close up.

For most of the other July hopefuls in the Daily News 2000 it will have to be all or nothing and only a win or high placing could have the July Selection Panel giving them a second thought. Many have ratings below 100, far below any of the current contenders on the log.

From the Woolavington 2000 field, the filly Majmu from the De Kock stable is 4th on the Log and on her record must be a definite inclusion in the July and the Mike Bass-trained filly Inara, although down in 8th position, should also be secure based on her rating and her impressive double Grade 1 victories in the Cape.

Pine Princess, in 9th place, beat Siren’s Call in the SA Derby and placed in top company from 1 600m to 1 800m before that which should be enough to secure her a place in the Vodacom Durban July. Tamaanee from the Tarry stable is, however, in the danger zone in 14th place but her rating of 105 from winning the Gerald Rosenberg might swing things in her favour.

As it is in the Daily News 2000, the balance of the July hopefuls will need something very special to sway the panel.

With the Rising Sun Gold Challenge and the Cup Trail to come the week after this meeting where some older hard-knockers will be making their final bids for a big race run, all the July hopefuls racing this weekend will have to give it a full go as things could still change drastically before the final Vodacom Durban July field in announced.

Inara (Liesl King)

Inara has plenty in her favour

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Cape trainer Mike Bass and KZN’s Paul Lafferty both have chances of Gr 1 glory at Greyville on Saturday and their respective contenders Inara and Run Rhino Run are in fine shape ahead of their runs in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 and Gr 1 Daily News 2000 respectively.

Bass’s assistant Robert Fayd’Herbe is looking after the yard’s Champions Season string at Summerveld and said about the Trippi filly Inara, “She has come on nicely from the KRA Fillies Guineas and has a good draw.”

Inara ran second in the best form race of the season, the Gr 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas, and has 2,5 lengths to find on Majmu from that run. However, her subsequent wins in both the Gr 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes over 1800m and the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m showed that she had improved.

She didn’t enjoy the best of luck in running in the Paddock Stakes before running on well and holding on late, so she should stay the 2000m trip. On pedigree her dam Trippi was a twice Gr 1 winner over 1400m, but Inara herself is a half-sister to Mountain Master, a middle distance to staying gelding by Jet Master who runs in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m on Saturday. Inara showed a fine turn of foot in the Gr 2 KRA Guineas last time out and weaved her way through, but had no reply to Alexis on her outside and could only stay on for  a two length second, which suggested she needed the run.

Fayd’Herbe said Mountain Master had improved from his good effort in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 two weeks ago when running from the front and staying on nicely for a 2,65 length fifth. He reckoned he was looking for this 2400m trip and off a 96 merit rating the yard will be hoping for a big run in order to book his place in the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup, although it is not a certainty he will stay that arduous 3200m journey.

Meanwhile, Lafferty recently said about the talented Silvano gelding Run Rhino Run, “He has only been running over his minimum trip (1400-1600m) and all he wants is a bit of ground. Wait until he gets that because he is a really good horse.”

Lafferty’s assistant Roy Waugh was pleased with Run Rhino Run’s gallop over a mile at Greyville last Wednesday in which he was given a lead and “left his companion for dust” in the straight. He had his final serious workout yesterday and did well. Waugh said, “It is just a matter of getting him over from that draw (15). I think they will go in this race and he has a bit of tactical speed (meaning jockey Keagan de Melo will be able to have him handy or drop him out according to how it pans out).

By David Thiselton

Picture: Inara (Liesl King)

the conglomerate strydom lk site

Marcus happy with The Conglomerate

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Top jockeys Anton Marcus and Greg Cheyne are looking forward to their rides in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 on Saturday aboard The Conglomerate and Light The Lights respectively.

Marcus said about the Joey Ramsden-trained Australian-bred colt by Lonhro, The Conglomerate, “He doesn’t give much away at work, but I’m happy with where he’s at.”

Marcus rode The Conglomerate for the first time in the Gr 2 KRA Guineas at Greyville at the beginning of this month and the colt surprised Ramsden, who believed a mile would be his bare minimum, by winning impressively by two lengths. However, he did benefit form a good pace and should relish the step up to 2000m. Marcus is not convinced about the strength of the KRA Guineas form and mentioned the Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby winner Ertijaal as a horse that could be the one to beat, having noticed how well he had quickened in the Investec SA Derby over 2450m at Turffontein last time out before the soft ground and the distance got to him.

Marcus has also been happy with his Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup ride Disco Al’s work at Summerveld.

Cheyne was looking forward to seeing how Light The Lights would do over the 2000m trip and confirmed trainer Glen Kotzen’s view on the Western Winter colt’s stamina range. He said, “He had some speed when he was younger but has lost that now and this is the trip he is now looking for.” Cheyne believed the colt only had to repeat his run in the Gr 2 KRA Guineas, where he finished third, to have a good chance on Saturday. Kotzen confirmed that the colt had come on nicely from that last run.

Light The Lights has landed another good draw of three, while The Conglomerate is in seven.

Kotzen was also happy with his Lonsdale Stirrup Cup contender Gone Baby Gone and said, “We fancied him last time, but he has in fact been working even better this time.” .

By David Thiselton

Picture: The Conglomerate (Liesl King)

 

Siren's Call (JC Photo)

Prep runs for Tarry’s young guns

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National Champion Trainer elect Sean Tarry has a strong hand in both the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 at Greyville on Saturday.

He is running his top class filly Siren’s Call in the Daily News and this makes good senses as not only has this season’s three-year-old fillies crop been seen as exceptional compared to the dubious reputation of the three-year-old males but the race carries a total stake of R2 million compared to the R1 million of the Woolavington. Furthermore, with a merit rating of 109 and a 2,5kg female allowance she will need to win the Daily News by a street to attain a merit rated raise, while she could risk a merit rated raise in the Woolavington by merely running close to the 114 merit rated Majmu.

However Tarry did add that the Daily News is part of the Vodacom July preparation for both her and stablemate French Navy. He said, “There will still be a little bit to come from both of them, but they should still run well. We have left a little bit to work with for all of our July horses.”

Both Siren’s Call and French Navy will love the 2000m distance, having won the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic and Gr 1 SA Classic respectively in very soft going over the tough Turffontein Standside 1800m. Interestingly, Siren’s Call’s time was 0,11 seconds quicker than French Navy’s that day, despite her having to make her finish on the inside of horses, which was the inferior going on the day. Both horses have won in fast going before so clearly go on any ground and both are known for their strong finishes from off the pace, so they should enjoy Greyville.

Tarry has two Woolavington contenders, Tamanee and Trophy Wife, and he said, “Tamanee is very well, but there could be slight improvement after this run. Trophy Wife is probably at her best.”

Tamaanee ran a cracker last time out when stepped up to this distance for the first time in the Gr 2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes and her time was actually 0,43 seconds quicker than Woolavington favourite Majmu’s on the same day, despite the fact that she was carrying 2,5kg more. That was a brilliant performance and this improving type could well finish in the first three on Saturday.

Trophy Wife, the perennial bridesmaid to Siren’s Call, has also continued to improve throughout the season and appears to be ultra-tough. She was doing her best work late last time out in the Gr 2 KRA Fillies Guineas and looks likely to appreciate the step up in trip.

Tarry said an improvement could be expected from his stayer Kolkata, who runs in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m, although he could still come on further for the run. He said, “There are one or two things we have got on top of with him.”

By David Thiselton

Picture: Siren’s Call (JC Photo)

majmu jc site

Majmu sets the standard

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Mike de Kock’s Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 fancies Majmu and Pine Princess and his Gr 1 Daily News 2000 contender Ertijaal arrived at Summerveld last week and have all been doing well.

Meanwhile, he will try Jayyed in blinkers in the Daily News 2000, after his disappointing unplaced run in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900.

The champion Majmu will be hard to beat in the Woolavington and her exceptional turn of foot coupled with her powerful, sustained finishing run should see her taking well to the tight Greyville track. She was beaten over this 2000m distance last time out in the Gr 1 President’s Champions Challenge against older males at Turffontein but was carrying a Gr 1 penalty, so on paper she put up at least as good a performance as the winner Wylie Hall, who was only carrying a Gr 2 penalty. Furthermore, that was her second race after a layoff and might have been a slightly flat run.

Majmu’s world class performance in the Gr 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas, which she won with contemptuous ease by 2,5 lengths, remains the best form race of the season. Runner up Inara, who subsequently won both the Gr 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes over 1800m and the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m, will likely be Majmu’s chief rival on Saturday and has the advantage of a pole position draw, course experience and she should also relish the trip, but she still has a bit to do to reverse the form.

De Kock’s Gr 1 SA Oaks winner Pine Princess has also been doing “very well” and De Kock said she had improved. She is a courageous sort who showed a fine turn of foot in the Oaks to make up the leeway quickly at the top of the straight and she later fought back when headed to deny Siren’s Call the Triple Tiara. It would be no surprise to see her going handy from a wide draw and making a bold bid down the straight, although over this sharper than ideal trip she will probably be vulnerable to the closers like Majmu.

De Kock confirmed that Ertijaal would appreciate the likely firmer ground and, having watched him quicken very well in the Gr 1 SA Derby before “falling in a hole”, he believed the 2000m trip was his optimum. He is versatile in running style, but hasn’t run on firm ground since his impressive pillar-to-post win in the Investec Cape Derby over 2000m. His draw of ten hasn’t done him any favours, but jockey Anthony Delpech knows the course well and will be riding him for the third time.

De Kock said that Jayyed had to be “pushed along” for most of the journey in the Betting World 1900. He also appeared to show little interest in the straight. This Jet Master colt has had a successful breathing operation and before that had advertised his talent with a narrow second in last season’s Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m. Hopefully the blinkers will reignite him and if it does he will be a contender in an open race from pole position with champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo up.

De Kock also runs Kingston Mines and Raees in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m. Both of them won their last respective starts over this trip. Kingston Mines, as the winner of the Gr 2 J&B Urban Honey Stayers and the Gr 3 Caradoc Gold Cup, has likely booked his place in the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup already, so is likely to be viewing this as a preparation run, while Raees will need to go all out for victory off his lowly 86 merit rating, which sees him 0,5kg under sufferance.

By David Thiselton

alboran sea nh

Alboran Sea retired after injury

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The Mike de Kock-trained three-time Gr 1-winning sprinter Alboran Sea has been retired after sustaining a knee chip when running second in Saturday’s Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint and will be covered by another former De Kock-trained star Soft Falling Rain in the forthcoming breeding sason.

Meanwhile, two of De Kock’s star two-year-old fillies Entisaar and Shaama are also unlikely to run again this season.

De Kock said that the connections of Australian-bred three-year-old Alboran Sea would not be considering operating on the knee and bringing her back to racing. Firstly, her local record, in which she won the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m as a two-year-old and two weight for age Gr 1 Sprints over 1000m this season, the Betting World Cape Flying Championship and the Computaform Sprint, could hardly be improved upon and any further wins would not increase her already high stud value. Secondly, an overseas campaign has been ruled out due to the arduous five month journey via Mauritius and Europe that has to be undertaken to campaign horses in places like Dubai.

De Kock said he had suspected something had been amiss on Saturday when the Rock Of Gibraltar filly had not gone through with her effort in her normal fashion. She had been in a position to challenge the eventual winner Carry On Alice, but had made little impression and only just managed to hold on for second, which was still a fine effort considering she had to come from an unfavourable high draw.

Shaama had earlier started favourite for the Allan Robertson but disappointed, running a well beaten seventh, and she was found to have pulled up lame on her off fore, so will be given the rest of the season off.

The Allan Robertson winner Entisaar has pulled up well but De Kock believes she has done enough this season, having also won the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery, and he is also not convinced she will stay much further than sprint distances so she “will be put on ice”.

His Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion fourth-placed Muwaary “wants to go the Derby distance”, being by the classic producing sire O’Reilly. De Kock is “not in a hurry” to run him again this season as he is an immature sort, but he might consider running him in the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day and/or the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes on Super Saturday provided he drew well.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Alboran Sea (Nkosi Hlophe)

 

Glen Kotzen

Kotzen upbeat

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Glen Kotzen is bullish about the chances of his charge Light The Lights in Saturday’s Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and champion trainer Justin Snaith expects a much better showing from his talented sort Ultimate Dollar.

Kotzen said, “Light the Lights is doing great, I am really pleased, he is fit and well and drawn well and is going over his right trip for the first time. His grass gallop for this race was the KRA Guineas and he has come on for it. This will be his test to see whether he can make it into the July field and he will need to be in the first three to do so.”

Kotzen was confident that the Western Winter colt could achieve the latter goal and spoke of how well this horse had filled out lately. Kotzen has always viewed him as a sort that would only come into his own in the latter part of this season and the Vodacom Durban July has been this target from a long time ago.

Light The Lights has followed the identical route into the big race that Kotzen’s 2009 July winner Big City Life did, although he has a long way to go to fill the latter’s boots. The current three-year-old males are not being viewed as a vintage crop and Light The Lights’ task of making the first three on Saturday have been made harder by the entry of the filly Siren’s Call, who is one of the best of an outstanding three-year-old filly’s crop.

Furthermore, the Gr 1 SA Classic one-two-three, French Navy, Amsterdam and Deputy Jud, as well as the Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby winner Ertijaal, have all entered the fray. Light The Lights’ great sire Western Winter is usually viewed as a speed influence, but his Northern Guest dam First Arrival won a Gr 3 over 2000m, so he should relish the trip. He found the rail from a plum draw in the KRA Guineas and stayed on well for third. However, on that form he has 2,75 lengths to make up on The Conglomerate and 0,75 lengths to make up on Mac De Lago. He has landed another fine draw of three and regular rider Greg Cheyne will be aboard.

Ultimate Dollar, a gelding by Jet Master, has always struck as one who will relish this trip. His run in the KRA Guineas, when finishing a 5,95 length twelfth, can’t be taken literally as he is sort who takes a while to wind up into his big action and on that occasion he got stuck behind the pacemaker Riff Raff, who was going backwards before the turn. It badly affected his momentum. He is drawn perfectly in five on Saturday with Richard Fourie up and Snaith said, “I’m not saying he would have won the Guineas but he would have finished three lengths back instead of five lengths and I have been waiting to put him over 2000m for a long time.”

Ultimate Dollar’s dam Mkushi Gold by Western Winter was stakes-placed and won from 1200-1600m and she is a half-sister to both a stakes-winning sprinter and a stakes-winning stayer.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Glen Kotzen

Dean Kannemeyer

Indaba faces a tough task

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The very much in-form Cape trainer Dean Kannemeyer was realistic about the chances of his Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 contender Indaba, although he said she would definitely strip fitter this time than she did for her last run when finishing tailed off last in a Conditions Plate over 1400 at Greyville.

Kannemeyer said, “She is a nice filly, but she still has a lot to prove. She was badly in need of her last run. We were on the back foot with her when we arrived in KZN and have been playing catch up.”

The Dynasty filly’s three wins have all been over 1600m and she ran a decent third in the Gr 3 Victress Stakes over 1800m. She should get this 2000m trip, but off a merit rating of 96 against some of the best from a vintage three-year-old fillies crop she faces a tough task, especially when considering it is her second run after a layoff. She is drawn eight in the twelve horse field and Stuart Randolph rides.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Dean Kannemeyer