Category Archives: Y-Champions Season

jay power site

Kochka on hydra alert for July                

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A Hydro Spa as well as an Infrared Solarium Lamps facility have been installed at Summerveld for the preventative and recuperative treatment of horses and one of the first to make use of it has been the former Equus Champion two-year-old male and Vodacom Durban July entry Kochka.

The Hydro Spa is an excellent training aid and this is the first one in KZN. Trainers have had one available to them in both Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. Showjumpers and sports horses will also be able to make use of the one at Summerveld.

Mike de Kock’s chief owner Sheikh Mohammed bin  Khalifa Al Maktoum installed a Hydro Spa at De Kock’s Dubai stables in 2011. De Kock said  about it at the time, “Trainers in the UK are raving about it and we’ve put it to the test with good results.”

After the horse has been walked into the contraption and the watertight doors on either side closed, the spa, which has a capacity of 3000 litres, is filled with water infused with Epsom Salts. The water level covers the legs of the horse. A tiny amount of bleach is also put in the water to kill bacteria. The water is aerated and has a washing machine effect.

The hydrotherapy stimulates blood circulation for the prevention of injuries and also aids in increasing mobility and reducing swelling in the limbs before and after competitive racing and training. It treats such leg parts as ligaments, tendons, joints and stifles and typical conditions which respond well to equine hydrotherapy include tendonitis, suspensory ligament desmitis, soreness, stiffness, arthritis, hoof and foot problems including laminitis, joint conditions, soft tissue damage, sore shins, cuts and bruises.

The horses appear to thoroughly enjoy the hydrotherapy, especially once they are used to it.

Kochka is quite a highly strung sort and was introduced to the Hydro Spa early last week with a ten minute session. On Thursday he had a fifteen minute session and was clearly loving it. He munched on carrots and apples and blew contentedly. In future he will be booked for normal twenty minute sessions, which is the most effective usage time period.

Kochka was off the race track for about a year-and-a-half due to a tendon injury, which was fortunately caught at just the right time, meaning he was able to recuperate through rest. He returned in February with a decent second over 1 200m at Scottsville before winning his last start in March over 1 200m at Greyville. Those were fine performances considering he is looking for a lot further.

An injured tendon will never strengthen to the exact level it once was, as there will be a small percentage of scar tissue, and trainers tend to underwork horses with such weaknesses. Kochka’s trainer Alyson Wright was therefore thrilled with the arrival of the Hydro Spa, which she said was “perfect” therapy in his case.

As well as being used as an injury preventative measure before and after exercise, equine hydrotherapy has rapidly established a reputation for resolving lameness much faster than normal. It works effectively in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, conventional treatments. The Solarium Lamps treat the neck, withers, spine, hindquarters, coxix and glutes before and after excercise. It is a system

of large red lamps that give off infrared heat and provides deep muscle therapy. The lamp positioning is designed to treat specific muscle groups and helps the horse by improving performance, increasing circulation, and reducing the chance of injury. The heat, set at a pleasant temperature, penetrates the skin, and aids in warming up prior to exercise and loosening muscles after exercise. It can draw out lactic acid and is especially useful in the case where a horse has tied up. This form of infrared therapy is a safe method of natural health care and physiotherapy for the horse.

The Summerveld Hydro Spa and Solarium Lamps are owned by a company called Equine Spa and Wellness Centre run by Juanita Baxter and Leigh-Anne Dunkley and a grand opening demonstration will be given at 17h30 on Thursday May 14. The pair said that trainers can pay a monthly fee and tailor it according to what they need, but they emphasised that booking a time was important to prevent queuing.

By David Thiselton

 

maybe yes nh

Maybe Yes has ‘come on’

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Greyville racecourse stages two mixed turf and polytrack meetings over the weekend on Friday night and Sunday respectively and the latter features the Non-Black Type Highland Night Cup.

One of the most intriguing races is the second on Sunday, a Conditions Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m on turf.

The three-year-old Banbury is 2kg better off with any other horse in the field and is drawn well in barrier two over a trip that should be ideal as she has always been up there over 1600m and, when settling well, has shown a good turn of foot.

She was looking fit and well at Summerveld yesterday and strode out well on her own in some fast work on the beach sand.

Trainer Gavin van Zyl said, “The trip should suit her nicely, her last two runs have been a bit disappointing although she did improve in the second of them and we hope to see her back to form here.”

Maybe Yes also worked on the beach and wasn’t being hard pressed to keep up with the useful sprinter Cuvee Brut, although the latter was also cruising. Trainer Brett Crawford’s assistant Barry Donnelly said that her last run over 1200m at Scottsville had just been a prep and added that she had “come on a lot” since then. She is drawn well in six.

Dean Kannemeyer said that Indaba had been injured on Met day meaning she had only been walked for a while, so would probably need it. However, he added that she would stay further and had lots of scope, so running fresh here could be interesting.

Justin Snaith sad that it would be a “prep” run for Acrostar and he was hoping for a nice run that could be built on.

Topweight Arcetri Pink has her first run for Kumaran Naidoo. She has speed and a fine turn of foot, but is known to prefer soft ground.

Neil Bruss said that the talented Red Flame had been doing well, but lamented her wide draw. She will be suited to the 1400m trip.

Maybe Yes is tipped to beat Banbury with Red Flame next best.

One of the most eyecatching workouts of the morning was put in by the Kannemeyer-trained Classy Fighter, who appeared to be getting the better of the Vodacom Durban July entry Solar Star on the beach sand. He runs in the sixth race on Sunday, a competitive 1400m race on the poly, having been raised three points for a narrow defeat over that course and distance last time out. He now has a wide draw to contend with but should go close.

This race provides another opportunity to take advantage of the Majmu Cape Fillies Guineas-winning form, which has been the form race of the season, as Grey Light was ten lengths back in that race. This big grey filly looked tailor made for the poly when scooting in by 7,5 lengths over 1600m last August. However, it is her first run since February and she is drawn very wide.

Gareth van Zyl said that Buffalo Bill had been prepared for this race, so will appreciate the step up to this trip and he had proven before that he could carry big weights. Garth Puller reported Fortissimo to be well and he was certainly looking in good shape. Alistair Gordon’s Mambo Master is 2kg under sufferance but he has a 1,5kg claimer up and Gordon was expecting a good run. Cat In Command loves the poly and should be right there.

The selection is Classy Fighter to beat Grey Light, with Buffalo Bill, Cat In Command and Fortissimo next best.

The Highland Night Cup has compressed weights and the two topweights Coltrane and Kolkata could fight it out. Jay Power is officially out at the weights but has struck as an up and coming sort who could go places, so he should be included.

The Sunday meeting begins with a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1600m on the turf and the Garth Puller-trained Mr McSteamy ran a cracker last weekend on debut over 1400m and Puller said he would see how he worked today (Friday) before deciding whether to run him a week later. The Charles Laird-trained Team Guys should improve over this trip.

The third is a weak fillies and mares maiden over 1900m on poly and Dellavera is the selection from West Coast Star.

The fourth is also a weak 1900m fillies and mares maiden over 1900m on the poly and the Craig Eudey-trained Cakewalk is not only the one to beat on form but will love the step up on trip on pedigree  and has been working very well.

In the fifth over 1600m on the poly Guest El Grande could beat Danish Zealot and Popular Blues.

In the eighth over 2400m on the turf, Bratislava should enjoy the step up in trip and is tipped to beat Yearofthedragon and Le Chat D’Amour.

A horse to strongly consider at the Friday night meeting is the Puller-trained You Bolt. This strongly built filly was looking a picture yesterday and returns to the poly on which she won her maiden well. She could produce a storming run from a wide draw over 1200m in the fifth.

– By David Thiselton

Picture: Maybe Yes (Nkosi Hlophe)

Media Release: Betting World 1900 Final Field

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A smart, competitive field of 16 will face the starter for the R350 000, Grade 2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville Racecourse on May 15 with all but two of the 17 runners carded being nominees for the Vodacom Durban July.

Trainer Mike Azzie’s gallant galloper Brooks-Club and the four-year-old Dynasty gelding It Is Written from the Dean Kannemeyer yard are the two that at this stage have no July aspirations but Kannemeyer has two other contenders in Power King and Solar Star that command the utmost respect for  the May 15 1 900m encounter.

The field for the Betting World 1900 is headed by the Mike Bass-trained Jet Master gelding Helderberg Blue that has drawn well at three and boasts places in the Peninsula Handicap and the J&B Met. He has long been highly rated by the stable and will be one of the shorter-priced runners in the field.

Justin Snaith’s Jet Master gelding Jet Explorer has recovered well from his horrific accident at Clairwood last season and showed that when running fourth to Futura in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. He has had one outing, in a pinnacle stakes race over 1 600m, since arriving in KwaZulu-Natal and is sure to have come on from that outing.

Snaith’s other runner, the Dynasty gelding Dynamic, beat Helderberg Blue at level weights in the Cape and impressed in his local debut when a close second to Polar Star in the Sledgehammer. He is drawn wide which will not improve his chances but he looks a big runner.

With a good draw at six, the Geoff Woodruff-trained Killua Castle has had moderate form since winning the London News and running second to Louis The King in the Summer Cup but he is a classy individual at his best and could run well here.

Power King was second to Arion in the Peninsula Handicap and a close second in a Cape feature before coming to the East Coast where he ran out a very easy winner of a pinnacle stakes event over 1 400m. He and stable companion Solar Star that has won both his starts in the region since arriving will be strongly fancied to feature in the result.

As a two-year-old the Mike De Kock entry Jayyed showed tremendous potential when second in the Premier’s Champion Stakes and in the Godolphin Barb Stakes before failing in the Dingaans. He bounced back to win a sprint at the Vaal and most recently was never a factor in the KRA Guineas.

Yet another son of Dynasty is from the Brett Crawford yard in the form of four-year-old De Kock. He has finished in the money in seven of his 11 starts with three wins to his credit but his full potential, as envisaged by the stable, is yet to be revealed.

Stan Elley fields Punta Arenas and yet another son of Dynasty, Dynastic Power. The former is a gallant six-year-old battler that can certainly run into the money at his best while Dynastic Power has shown a fair degree of ability with placings in his last four starts over distances from 1 400m to 2 800m.

The “miracle” horse from the Paul Lafferty stable, Double Clutch (Pictured), once at death’s door, has won four of his last five starts, the most recent in the East Coast Handicap. This is his favourite distance and although drawn wide could add another good run to his portfolio.

The six-time winner Bold Inspiration from the Charles Laird stable is the ride of Anton Marcus and his win in the Michaelmas Handicap over the course and distance and his pinnacle stakes win before that on the poly make him a big player when factoring in the inside draw and the Marcus talent.

Whiteline Fever for Sean Tarry can never be ignored and the Paul Gadsby trained Candy Moon make up the balance of the field and the latter, with placings in feature races in his last four starts, mark him as a runner not to be treated lightly.

Mountain Master is the reserve runner with a fourth in the London News his only recent high point. This trip is right up his street and he could make his presence felt if getting a run.

By Richard McMillan – Gold Circle

 

Sean Tarry (Liesl King)

Tarry banks on new strategy

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National Champion Trainer elect Sean Tarry will be taking a different approach to the Champions Season this year and also to the Vodacom Durban July.

He will prepare his horses from Johannesburg for their first Champions Season runs and play it by ear from there and he might also run his horses fresh in the July, depending on how safe their place in the field is according to the July log.

He said that his Gr 1 SA Derby winner Legal Eagle would with 90% certainty miss the Gr 1 Daily News 2000.

Legal Eagle and other colts and geldings have hardly any July preparation opportunities on the Highveld and on that point Tarry was shocked to find that there was a Pinnacle Plate at the end of May and one in June both over sprint distances but none over 1600m and beyond for July horses. Therefore, the Gr3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m on June 14 looks to be the only possibility of a July preparation on the Highveld for Legal Eagle.

Siren’s Call might have a July pipe opener in a Pinnacle Plate over 1400m in early June.

Tarry, considering the importance of draws at both Greyville and down the Scottsville straight, lamented the spacing of some of the big Champions Season races as it didn’t allow the opportunity to see where a horse was drawn in both. If drawing badly in the first of the races one either had to take one’s chances or hope for a better draw in the second.

His options for the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint runner up Carry On Alice would be either the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint or the Gr 2 Tibouchina and either the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes or the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint.

Former SA Nursery and Dingaans winner Willow Magic will have either the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint or the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge as his first Champions Season run.

Impressive six length Gr 2 Camellia Stakes winner Bichette is entered in both the Tsogo Sun Sprint and City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint and promising three-year-old colt Zambezi River is a Tsogo Sun Sprint entry.

Debut winner Donny G is entered in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold medallion and Tarry said, “He was quite impressive but he’s got a lot to learn.”

Six length debut winner Swift Sarah is entered in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship.

Gr 1 SA Classic winner French Navy will go for the Gr 1 for Daily News 2000 and Trophy Wife and Tamaanee will go for the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000.

Tarry was pleased with Trophy Wife’s 4,1 length seventh in the GR 2 RA Fillies Guineas on Saturday and said, “She ran a very good race, she only got into the race late and took off in the last 100m, although I haven’t seen the 400m to finish times.”

Tarry has eleven horses in total entered in the July and he will decide their routes upon seeing the first July log. He said that he had learnt that “by prepping horses you can unqualify yourself”, so some of his incumbents in the top 18 might go into the big race fresh.

– By David Thiselton

wylie hall

Few surprises with July log

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The first Vodacom Durban July log was out yesterday and some will claim that it contained one or two surprises while others will be happy. But as usual it is sure to draw a lot of discussion.

The recent Gr 1 winners are packed at the top of the log and include the three most fancied runners Majmu, Futura and Wylie Hall.

Legal Eagle will attempt to become the third SA Derby winner this century to win the July and is the highest placed three-year-old male on the log in fifth, one behind the highest placed three-year-old filly Majmu. There are six three-year-old fillies in the top 20 on the log, which must be a record, although it is not surprising as this could be the best three-year-old fillies crop ever seen in the country.

Three-year-old The Conglomerate was an impressive winner of the KRA Guineas last Saturday and not only was his merit rating raised to 108, but he has joined last year’s July winner Legislate on a price of 8/1 in the betting. He is one of five three-year-old males in the top 20 and finds himself in position 13, one behind the oldest horse in the top 20, the seven-year-old gelding Gold Onyx, who is known as a Greyville specialist. Gold Onyx has a history of being omitted from the July at the eleventh hour, but might now finally get his first chance to run in the big race since finishing a 2,65 length seventh in 2012.

The Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge was the only race in South Africa to make it onto the IFHA’s recent top 100 races in the world list, but the winner of this race last year, the 113 merit rated-King Of Pain, finds himself outside of the top 20 too. He finished a 1,75 length second to the log number one Futura in last season’s Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m despite carrying joint topweight, so the grounds for his omission from the top 20 can only have to do with his relative inactivity since then, having had only two more runs, including a lacklustre performance in the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes over1400m on Saturday.

Another possible surprise is the omission of the Joey Soma-trained Athina from the top 20 as she flew up for a head second in the prestigious Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m. The reason might be that her only performance against the boys in a Gr 1 saw her well beaten in the SANSUI Summer Cup.

The twice-placed Triple Tiara bridesmaid Trophy Wife, who also finished runner up to Majmu in the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes, is not in the top 25, which could be counted as another surprise considering she comes from a vintage crop, whereas Deputy Jud, coming from a relatively disappointing crop of male three-year-olds, finds himself in position 15 on the log after Triple Crown third and second-place finishes. The reason could be that Deputy Jud has proved his stamina reserves by finishing runner up in the SA Derby.

– By David Thiselton

Picture: Wylie Hall (Nkosi Hlophe)

futura gallop grey april

VDJ Log as at May 5

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Following his consecutive Grade 1 wins in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and J&B Met at Kenilworth in January 2015, Futura tops the 2015 Vodacom Durban July Log as issued by Gold Circle today.

It is important to note that the maximum field size has been increased this year from 16 to 18 runners, thus allowing 18 runners to face the starter for the 2015 Vodacom Durban July and today’s initial log reflects the composition of the field as if the race were to be run at this point in time. The panel has also selected two reserve runners in order of preference and the next five favoured horses in alphabetical order.

NO NAME TRAINER MR SEX
1 FUTURA Justin Snaith 120 (4C)
2 WYLIE HALL (AUS) Weiho Marwing 116 (5H)
3 LEGISLATE Justin Snaith 117 (4C)
4 MAJMU (AUS) Mike de Kock 114 (3F)
5 LEGAL EAGLE Sean Tarry 112 (3G)
6 FRENCH NAVY Sean Tarry 110 (3G)
7 SIREN’S CALL Sean Tarry 109 (3F)
8 INARA Mike Bass 110 (3F)
9 PINE PRINCESS Mike de Kock 109 (3F)
10 ERTIJAAL (AUS) Mike de Kock 106 (3C)
11 LOUIS THE KING Geoff Woodruff 114 (4C)
12 GOLD ONYX (NZ) Sean Tarry 110 (7G)
13 THE CONGLOMERATE (AUS) Joey Ramsden 108 (3C)
14 TAMAANEE (AUS) Sean Tarry 105 (3F)
15 DEPUTY JUD Mike Azzie 106 (3C)
16 NO WORRIES Gavin van Zyl 111 (5G)
17 HELDERBERG BLUE Mike Bass 110 (4G)
18 TELLINA Geoff Woodruff 109 (5G)
19 SAME JURISDICTION Duncan Howells 108 (3F)
20 ICE MACHINE Charles Laird 113 (6G)
Next 5 in Alphabetical Order
ATHINA Joe Soma 106 (4F)
HOT TICKET Dean Kannemeyer 112 (5G)
KING OF PAIN Joey Ramsden 113 (5G)
POWER KING Dean Kannemeyer 106 (4G)
UNPARALLELED Johan Janse van Vuuren 104 (3G)

The next Log will be issued on Tuesday, 2 June 2015

One step at a time with Legislate

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Champion trainer Justin Snaith has declared Legislate a doubtful starter for this year’s Vodacom Durban July, but added that the Equus Horse Of The Year and reigning July champion had emerged from a starting stall incident at Greyville on Saturday sound and that “there is nothing wrong with him”.

He said that the incident had led to a lot being taken out of the superstar Dynasty colt and that as a consequence his Champions Season program might have to be curtailed. However, he added that Legislate would “definitely” line up for the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge on June 6 and that the rest of his program would still depend on the outcome of a discussion with the owners.

Snaith was angered by a couple of decisions made by officials at Greyville on Saturday that he believed had affected his prized horse, who was a shock late scratching in the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m.

However, both the Chief Starter Paul Hepworth and Chief Stipendiary Steward Sean Parker defended the decisions that were made.

Legislate kicked out after being loaded and his near hind foot became stuck for a few seconds between the gates. He managed to free the foot before a handler coming to the rescue could reach him.

Snaith said that the course veterinarian’s decision to scratch the horse had been “100% correct.”

However, Snaith’s first gripe was that Legislate had been loaded ahead of three other horses, despite being known to kick in the pens. He also pointed out that a lot of money had been riding on him and that the public had been looking forward to seeing him run. He contrasted it to the handling of Act Of War, who was the hot favourite for the Winter Guineas in Cape Town the following day and had duly been loaded last.

Hepworth responded by saying that Legislate had come from Cape Town graded as a “kick in the pens.”. He pointed out that the loading sheet had clearly stated that Legislate would be loaded before three horses with more serious gradings. Therefore trainers and jockeys had been given ample opportunity to “come and have a chat”. Jockey Richard Fourie did in fact speak to Hepworth’s assistant at the start on Saturday and appeared to have been happy with the latter’s response, which included a reminder that Legislate had been in the same place in the loading order for last year’s July. Furthermore, Hepworth confirmed that he had now changed Legislate’s grading to reflect his antics on Saturday.

Snaith’s second gripe was that as a stallion who had been anticipating a race, it had been a poor decision to lead Legislate back to the parade ring on the same way around the circuit as the race and hence past the main grandstand.

Parker responded by saying that the horse was led in that direction in his best interests because a set of starting stalls and the machinery that is used to haul them had been on the turf track at the 1600m mark in anticipation of the next race, which was over 1900m on the polytrack. Going the other way he would also have had to cross the road near the Royal Durban entrance, which could potentially be used by cars between races.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Legislate (Liesl King)

 

 

act of war piere strydom lk site

Workmanlike from Act Of War

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Act Of War landed the almost unbelievably prohibitive odds of 2-17 in the Tekkie Town Winter Guineas at Kenilworth yesterday with a performance that owed far more to guts and determination than his natural brilliance but he is far from certain to be seen in Durban this year.

Markus Jooste’s racing manager Derek Brugman spelt out the provisos with unmistakeable clarity, saying: “I have learned over the years that it is not fair on a good horse to run from a bad draw if you can help it and if he doesn’t draw well in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge (June 6) he will stay in Cape Town and wait for next season.”

He was drawn badly in yesterday’s Grade 3 and Anton Marcus, typically, had him out of the pens better than any of his rivals. He then slowed the pace but, even so, he had most of the opposition in trouble as he turned into the straight.

A furlong later, though, the favourite was also having to be ridden and in a matter of seconds those bold enough (or rash enough) to have backed him went from winnings-calculating to something approaching heart failure. Three times Marcus was forced to give his mount a tap but, to the colt’s credit and to his backers’ considerable relief, the horse responded each time and at the line he had a length and a quarter to spare over 25-1 shot Sail For Gold with 33-1 chance Royal Dreamer less than half a length away third.

“Job done and I’m happy,” declared Joey Ramsden. “It was a pretty good effort and I wasn’t expecting any more.”

The Milnerton trainer, sending out his 75th winner of the season, then revealed just what he and the Cape Guineas winner have been going through with haemo-concentrating.

He said: “The red blood cells become very thick and the horse can’t get enough white cells to absorb the oxygen and this is why he pulled up slightly wobbly after the Cape Derby. What we do is hydrate him a lot by dripping him.”

Stable companion The Conglomerate, so convincing in Saturday’s KRA Guineas, is set to return to Greyville at the end of the month for the Daily News 2000.

Ramsden said: “I will speak to Derek but I would think he will run there next. He is a live contender for the Vodacom Durban July and that is his target.

“The idea is to get there with as low a penalty as possible. I don’t know what he will get for Saturday’s win but he had lower rated horses second, fourth and fifth.”

Ramsden is puzzled by King Of Pain’s disappointing effort when starting 4-1 second favourite for the Drill Hall and said: “We did a lung wash and found a little bit of muck but he didn’t want to gallop early on which is not like him.”

Title leader Gavin Lerena had to be content with one second from his flying visit to Cape Town and so he remains on 134, just three winners in front of S’Manga Khumalo, with Anthony Delpech and Greg Cheyne on 128. Piere Strydom is only four winners behind him.

– By Michael Clower

Picture: Act Of War (Liesl King)

the conglomerate kra guine

A smashing performance from The Conglomerate

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The Joey Ramsden-trained The Conglomerate burst into the Vodacom Durban July picture with his impressive win in the Gr 2 KRA Guineas at Greyville on Saturday under Anton Marcus and kept up the fine recent run of Australian-breds in South African feature races.

The bookmakers have suspended betting but are likely to shorten him from his previous price of 20/1.

Ramsden chose the colt at the Australian sales together with Markus Jooste’s racing manager Derek Brugman and said, “We are lucky we were able to buy the one we wanted, we both fell in love with him.”

Ramsden was also grateful that he was allowed to take his time with the slow maturing colt and said that after this win the plan would now definitely be the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and the July.

Ramsden had believed beforehand that the 1600m trip would be far sharper than ideal for The Conglomerate and wasn’t expecting him to win so was glad to have got the strong pace set by Riff Raff that played right into his hands.

He continued, “The KRA Guineas was not part of his plan, but there were no other races for him and we had to start him somewhere. The mile is the bare minimum trip for him.”

The Conglomerate is by the brilliant eleven-time Gr 1-winning Australian hero Lonhro, nicknamed “The Black Flash”, who won his big races from six up to ten furlongs.

Two outsiders, the Weiho Marwing-trained Mac De Lago and the Glen Kotzen-trained Light The Lights, stayed on well for second and third respectively. Light The Lights is a July entry and enhanced his chances of getting into the big race field.

– By David Thiselton

Alexis (John Lewis)

Alexis kicks off Champions Season on a high

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The Brett Crawford-trained Dynasty filly Alexis proved herself suited to a mile, despite her speed, when winning the Gr 2 KRA Fillies Guineas in fine fashion under Corne Orffer on Saturday and it was a second big race win in the space of five weeks for owner Delma Sherrell.

Crawford won this race last year in similar style with Maybe Yes and wasn’t tempted to go for the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 on that occasion. However, he was leaving his options open with Alexis. Considering the way she won, settling well, quickening superbly and then running all the way to the line, she could possibly get the 2000m trip.

Second-placed Inara ran well in her comeback race and will come on for the effort and Ataab stayed on gamely for third, while One Fine Day was probably the hard luck story as she was too far back in a slow-paced race after missing the break.

Delma Sherrel now owns Alexis outright and also has a share, among others, in the Crawford-trained Captain America, who won the Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein on March 28.

Her son Lance, the former Springbok flyhalf who was selected for the tour to New Zealand in 1994 at the expense of subsequent World Cup hero Joel Stransky, represented her on course on Saturday and was full of smiles.

He revealed that being involved in horseracing was a continuation of a legacy left by his father, who owned the Gr 1 Cape Derby winner Impressive Style among others.

Lance spoke about the thrill of watching a family-owned horse win a big race. “It is more exhilarating than lining up a kick in a big game, it is proper goosebumps and it’s also very addictive!”

Crawford heaped praise on his assistant trainer Barry Donnelly who has being taking care of his Champions Season string at Summerveld.

– By David Thiselton