Category Archives: Y-Champions Season

ice machine john lewis

The Meaker’s go home proud

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Roy and Gladys Meaker are two of the most loyal supporters of KZN racing and their stalwart Silvano gelding Ice Machine gave them a deserved big win on home soil when winning the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m, a race he had finished second in two seasons ago behind the brilliant Beach Beauty.

Charles Laird, the third trainer to have worked with the problematic gelding, has done a fine job in bringing him back from a long layoff and this was just his second start for the yard.

Previous trainer Dean Kannemeyer also delivered a Gr 2 victory the second time he sent Ice Machine out and his win on that occasion in the Gr 2 Green Point Stakes over 1600m, beating champions like Beach Beauty and Capetown Noir, showed his true potential.

Ice Machine had virtually been forgotten when reappearing at Scottsville after a nine month break just over a month ago, but the rest and recuperation he had been given by Laird had done the trick and he ran an eye-catching second to his useful former stablemate Power King.

Ice Machine looked to have a huge chance on Saturday after the shock scratching of Legislate as he runs well fresh and the Greyville 1400m is tailor made for him because of his electric turn of foot.

The Meakers, who owned the 1977 J&B Met winner Bahadur, have been patient with Ice Machine and it paid dividends on Saturday. However, Laird’s post-race comment that he hoped the gelding would pull up sound speaks volumes of how difficult a horse he is to train and his future can’t be planned too far in advance.

– By David Thiselton

Picture: Ice Machine (John Lewis)

ice machine john lewis i

Big movers in July betting

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Ice Machine was yesterday slashed from 100-1 to 20-1 for the Vodacom Durban July following his impressive win in the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes.

KRA Guineas winner The Conglomerate was the other big mover. He was backed from 33-1 to 20-1 before Saturday’s race and Betting World yesterday cut him right down to 8-1.

The country’s biggest bookmaker shortened favourite Majmu from 33-10 to 3-1, eased Legislate from 7-1 to 8-1, marked out King Of Pain from 33-1 to 50-1 and Heartland from 55-1 to 200-1.

– By Michael Clower

Alexis (Nkosi Hlophe)

Alexis rules in Fillies Guineas

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Brett Crawford has made a cracking start to his KZN season, winning two of the three races his horses have contested so far. Gulf Storm won the In Full Flight Stakes at Scottsville last Sunday and Alexis gave Crawford his second consecutive Gr 2 KRA Fillies Guineas – Maybe Yes last year – when she powered away from the favourite Inara, jockey Corne Orffer punching the air in triumph.

Orffer has his mount settled midfield as Ataab pulled herself to the front ahead of Cathy Specific at a reasonable gallop. “I thought she might not see out the ‘mile’ but she switched off nicely,” said Orffer. “When I asked her she gave a very good kick.”

Inara, whose coat looked a little wintery in the paddock, took off together with Alexis as the field crossed the subway, but the latter showed a superior turn of foot and went on to win by two lengths. Inara ran on to snatch second ahead of Ataab who had stayed on resolutely.

In contrast to his jockey, Crawford was never in doubt about the filly’s stamina. “I was never worried about her seeing out the trip. Her debut run in Natal was very good and she had come on well from it.”

Where to now? “I’ll tell you tomorrow! I think ten furlongs may be a bit far (The Woolavington 2000). She’s only this big,” he said, indicating waist-high.

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: Alexis winning the Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas (Nkosi Hlophe)

The-Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Conglomerate stakes his claim

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The Conglomerate threw his hat into the ring for the Daily News 2000 and the Vodacom Durban July with a smashing win in the Gr 2 KRA Guineas. Possibly taken in by the often moderate pace in which many races are run in the Cape, Joey Ramsden was surprised as the lesser fancied of his two runners landed the Guineas from Mac De Lago and Light The Lights.

“I must be honest I thought it was too short. I didn’t think he could win an eight furlong race, but they went like hell.” Anton Marcus echoed Ramsden’s sentiments. “I thought it was patently too short but he was aided by the good tempo up front.”

Marcus was at his sublime best as he tracked the pace set by Riff Raff and Amazing Strike with Ramsden’s more fancied runner Kingvoldt tucked in behind.

Marcus went early on The Conglomerate and pinched what turned out to be a winning lead. “I was cursing Anton. I thought he had gone too early,” laughed Ramsden.

Mac De Lago run on steadily up the inside rail to take second with Light The Lights just ahead of a wall of horses.

Disappointment was Kingvoldt who found nothing in the straight.

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: The Conglomerate winning the Gr 2 KRA Guineas (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ice-Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ice Machine turns on the style

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Ice Machine, a gelding with tons of ability but plagued throughout his career by soundness problems, earned a well deserved victory in The Gr 2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville today.

“It was a tremendous training feat by Charles (Laird) keeping him sound. He was floating today,” said his pilot Anton Marcus. “He’s a very special horse and at WFA over eight furlongs he can go with the best of them.”

Ice Machine certainly proved it yesterday as he showed a tremendous turn of foot to outgun Bouclette Top and Ashton Park although his cause was helped by the late scratching of favourite Legislate.

The long awaited return to the track of last season’s Equus Champion was put on further hold after getting a hind leg caught up in the back gate as he lashed out after being loaded. Course vet Roehann Sutherland said Legislate has suffered a few minor abrasions but appeared a “little ginger” on the leg so was taking no chances. “Fortunately he was quite sensible and did not struggle in the gate.  It was possibly just a bit of a ‘lamey’ but only tomorrow will tell.”

Ice Machine has been through a number of yards but after last season owners Roy and Gladys Meaker decided on complete rest.  “He had an absolute break,” said Laird and please God he pulls up sound tomorrow. The Gold Challenge is a possibility but we will take it one race at a time.”

A feature of the day’s racing on the turf track were the solid early fractions and Chekilli barreled out of gate 12 to set a strong pace leaving Ice Machine and Ashton Park towards the back of the field along with the fancied King Of Pain.

Bouclette Top was the first to challenge his stable companion and looked a likely winner but Ice Machine unwound a sustained finish up the outside of the field to win going away. Ashton Park was also doing his best work late to run into the money.

King Of Pain failed to quicken and never troubled the commentator.

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: The Conglomerate wins the 2015 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes (Nkosi Hlophe)

one fine day nh

It should be One Fine Day

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The Champions Season’s opening meeting at Greyville tomorrow sees some of the country’s best horses clashing in three much anticipated Gr 2 races.

The current three-year-old fillies crop is possibly the best ever seen in this country, and the KRA Fillies Guineas looks to be the most exciting of the three races. The dual Gr 1-winner Inara will clash with two potentially brilliant milers in One Fine Day and Alexis, while the tough Trophy Wife and the promising Ataab will give an inkling of how strong the Johannesburg three-year-old classic form is.

One Fine Day quickened effortlessly in her last start over 1400m at Greyville and won with a bit in hand. She finished an excellent second against the boys over 1400m in last season’s Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe so clearly enjoys this track. This Trippi filly has struck as one that will get the 1600m. Her exceptional turn of foot will mean she can afford to be dropped out from her tricky draw, especially considering her stablemate Ataab looks capable of ensuring a good gallop.

Alexis switched inward and then outward again before finishing strongly in the 1400m race at Greyville won by One Fine Day. She is now 2kg better off for a 1,75 length beating and, furthermore, she needed that last run. This Dynasty filly has speed but also plenty of gears over shorter so should stay the trip. Her pedigree also suggests she will get the trip. She put in eyecatching work at Summerveld on Tuesday and has clearly come on a lot from that last run.

Inara finished runner up to Majmu in the best form race of the season, the Gr 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas, and followed up by winning both the Gr 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes over 1800m and the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m. She was given a deserved break after that but the yard said that this Trippi filly, who apparently shows nothing at home, would be “quite fit” and considering her form that would be enough to put her in with a big shout.

Trophy Wife is ever improving but at this level she might prefer a galloping track like Turffontein. She has had a grueling campaign but is tough.

Silver Class stayed on well to finish just a length behind One Fine Day over 1400m at Greyville last time out but the latter appeared to have a bit in hand. She could earn.

Real Princess is held in good regard and could still be anything.

Cathy Specific is a nice type capable of running on strongly and will have come on from her last start, but is in the deep end here.

Zante has Cathy Specific held on formlines but would prefer further.

Sensible Lover looks held by Trophy Wife and Ataab looks held by Inara. However, Ataab could play a valuable role as pacemaker.

Just Lucky looks outclassed here.

The selection is One Fine Day to beat Alexis with Inara, Real Princess and Trophy Wife next best.

The KRA Guineas is an intriguing affair, but the classy Heartland has gears which makes him suited to Greyville and he should now be coming into his own. However, his draw is a concern and so the surprise choice to beat him is Light The Lights. The best hasn’t been seen of this well regarded sort and from a good draw he could make amends for his last start over 1400m at Greyville when caught wide pulling for his head but still managing to stay on. He has come on from that run and has been working well.

Ultimate Dollar has an impressive stride and although the Daily News 2000 might be more down his alley he is well drawn here so should turn for home handy and he will build up more and more momentum down the straight so is tipped for third.

Anjaal finished a narrow third in a two-year-old Gr 1 over course and distance and looks to have turned the corner again after going off form, so he should be involved from a good draw.

Jayyed narrowly beat Anjaal in the aforementioned Gr 1, but has had to have a breathing operation and this is only his second run since.

Kingvoldt is 3kg better off with Heartland for a 0,75 length beating over 1400m at this course so must have a shout, although he does have a tricky draw.

Forest Fox is a talented sort and the yard now know that he needs to be left alone in the early stages before running on.

The Conglomerate is a progressive sort but might need the run and will prefer the distances of the Daily News and July.

Easy Lover ran on well over 1400m after being slow away last time and is now 2kg better off with Heartland for a 1,75 length beating. He has a wide draw so might have to come from near the back again.

Amazing Strike should be coming into his own but made a breathing noise last time and is widely drawn.

The selection is Light The Lights to beat Heartland with Ultimate Dollar, Anjaal and Kingvoldt next best.

Legislate runs very well fresh and the Gr 2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m will tell whether he is the same horse after his L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate failure, subsequent to which he was found to have had a serious lung infection. He should win if that incident caused no long term effect. King Of Pain is the other class horse in the race and a wide draw and having his second run after a rest shouldn’t stop him from going close. Ashton Park, Night Trip and Ze Kaiser are all effective over this trip and are tipped to follow the two big guns home.

–     By David Thiselton

Picture: One Fine Day (Nkosi Hlophe)

Light The Lights (Nkosi Hlophe)

Kotzen with double chances

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Glen Kotzen has two further chances of success in Saturday’s KRA Guineas meeting at Greyville having started his Champions Season campaign in fine style at Scottsville on Sunday by winning both the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes and the Gr 3 Poinsettia Stakes.

Kotzen runs the progressive Western Winter colt Light The Lights in the Gr 2 KRA Guineas and described him as “a proper horse”.

He said that Light The Lights had been “a bit above himself” in his Champions Season pipe opener over 1400m at Greyville, so it was not surprising that he fought for his head early when caught wide in a slow-paced race. However, he was seen to be doing pleasingly strong work late in the race. Kotzen added that Light The Lights had worked “very well” on Tuesday morning at Summerveld. He was looking forward to seeing how the colt would do from a good draw on Saturday as he has always regarded him as one who would come into his own in the latter part of the season. Light The Lights will follow the same path as the yard’s Vodacom Durban July winner of 2009, Big City Life, although he has big shoes to fill as Big City Life won both the KRA Guineas and the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, having arrived in KZN on the back of a win in the Gr 1 Cape Derby. Light The Lights looks fair value in the ante-post July market at 150/1 for a win and 30/1 for a place, although off a merit rating of 102 he will need a couple of big runs just to get into the big race.

Kotzen runs Cathy Specific in the Gr 2 KRA Fillies Guineas, a Royal Air Force filly who is part-owned by his son Kuyan. He said, “It is a tough ask as she is a bit out at the weights, but we will take our chances. She needed her first run here and ran a good race and has come on a lot from it.”

Cathy Specific won her debut over 1000m at Kenilworth on January 10 in impressive style after a slow start and she was then not disgraced in a competitive handicap over 1000m on J&B Met day when a 1,65 length fifth behind the useful Balkan. She followed up by finishing a 3,25 length fourth in the level weights Listed Breeders Guineas at Fairview on March 12 from a wide draw. In her Champions Season pipe opener at Greyville she produced her usual strong finish to win a fillies and mares Progress Plate over 1600m by a short-head. The runner up was the promising  Zante, who needs further and was flying late. Zante will have a 6kg weight swing in her favour on Saturday, so Cathy Specific will have to have improved a lot from that last run. Cathy Specific is only an 81 merit rating at present, but looks to be an unexposed, progressive sort who should rise above that figure in time. This is her first big test and she will have to prove well above average to feature in a classic race contested by some of the best fillies of a vintage crop.

– By David Thiselton

Picture: Light The Lights (Nkosi Hlophe)

Inara (Liesl King)

Bass holds strong hand

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The Gr 2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m at Saturday’s Champions Season opening meeting could virtually be called the ‘Mike Bass Stakes’ as he has five runners in the twelve horse field. Bass looks to hold the trump card in an earlier event, the Gr 2 KRA Fillies Guineas, with the dual Gr 1-winning Trippi filly Inara.

The masterful Cape trainer’s assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe has relocated from Johannesburg to Summerveld for the Champions Season and said that the Drill Hall would be used as a preparation event for all of Helderberg Blue, Ashton Park, Night Trip, Ze Kaiser and Mountain Master.

Inara (Liesl King)

Inara (Liesl King)

However, he was more bullish about the chances of Inara. He said she had been “doing alright” and “would be quite fit, although she might just need it a little”. The yard gave her “a bit of a holiday” after she had won both the Gr 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes over 1800m and the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m in January. Fayd’Herbe admitted that she was not easy to judge because “she shows nothing at home.”

Inara and fellow Vodacom Durban July entry Helderberg Blue, who ran an excellent second in the J&B Met, were certainly looking pictures of health at Summerveld on Tuesday morning. The temperamental Helderberg Blue has a new friend, the recently retired Epic Tale, who accompanies him wherever he goes to the extent that he walks alongside him when ringing in the mornings. The nervous Jet Master gelding won his maiden over 1400m, but Fayd’Herbe confirmed that the Drill Hall trip is a little bit on the sharp side for him these days.

Ashton Park has won six times over 1400m and looked a bit of an unlucky loser over this distance in his penultimate start in the Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes when charging home to lose by just 0,75 lengths after taking too long to find a clear run. He is a bit of a headstrong sort and pulling for his head early cost him in his next run in the Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. He is now back to his favourite trip, but a big downside is that he is drawn eleven which will be a particular disadvantage for one who either needs cover from off the pace or needs to be in front.

Fayd’Herbe regards Night Trip as at his best from 1400-1600m. The yard have often lamented how good he would be if he reproduced his homework. His last win was in the Listed Darley Arabian over 1600m on the Greyville Polytrack, so he does enjoy tight tracks and from draw two he has a chance of earning if putting his best foot forward.

Mountain Master is the third of the Bass July entries and has won over course and distance before, but that was off a merit rating of 77 in a handicap and in this class he would be much better suited to 1800m and upward.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Liesl King

Caution first with Harry’s Son

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The champion Paul Lafferty-trained Australian-bred colt Harry’s Son was found to have heat in the knee this morning and has therefore been scratched from his first big engagement of the Champions Season, Saturday’s Gr 2 KRA Guineas.

Fortunately the problem is not serious and the yard are simply excercising caution.

Lafferty said, “The knee was also a little sensitive, so we got the vet in and X-rays showed the knee to be perfectly clean. We are not going to take a chance as he’s obviously jarred the knee.” Lafferty said that a decision would be made in a couple of weeks time about his next target.

Saturday is also the opening day of the popular Charity Turf Challenge and Harry’s Son should not now be ignored by those wishing to enter a list as he was the champion of his crop last year and is not without a chance of still proving himself the best of them over the next three months.

The good looking bay had put in some fine work on Summerveld’s top sand track yesterday morning ahead of his engagement in Saturday’s Gr 2 KRA Guineas at Greyville and this followed an outstanding gallop at Scottsville last Friday.

In the former gallop he had worked with the stable’s useful Listed Easter Handicap winner Double Clutch over 1400m, of which 1200m was run at racing pace, and after being switched out from behind his companion at the 200m mark he finished a remarkable six lengths clear, an indication of his class and just how good his turn of foot is. Another notable characteristic he has is his excellent recovery rate, which is one of the best measures of aerobic capacity. Furthermore, in his gruelling recent SA Classic race run in “very soft” going he was found to have lost a mere 1kg in weight.

Turn of foot is one of the prerequisites at Greyville and Harry’s Son has proved suited to the tight track, having won the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m last season, following an unlucky third at the same course over 1400m in the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe. Therefore the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m on June 6 at Greyville might well be on his agenda and will give the connections the opportunity to test him against the country’s best milers as well as an opportunity to exact revenge on his crop’s highest merit rated horse, Act Of War.

The three-year-old male crop has not covered itself in glory this season, but Harry’s Son could well have put up the best performance among them when winning the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein last November by a comfortable two lengths, as he was giving lumps of weight away to some classy horses. He was also impressive in his Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas win. Furthermore he has had excuses for all three of his defeats this season.

The one chink in his armour is that he hates soft ground and that has been his likely undoing in both the Investec Dingaans and the Gr 1 SA Classic which were his only two below par runs. The laid back colt is a very good traveller but his legitimate excuse after being unusually keen in the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas at Kenilworth was that he had spent three hours on the tarmac at King Shaka airport early that morning due to a delayed flight and he then had to endure a two-legged flight via Port Elizabeth. His runner up finish was a remarkable performance considering the journey he had earlier endured.

By David Thiselton

Picture: JC Photos

Decisions to be made for Louis The King

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There is a possibility that Louis The King will be gelded following his poor run in last Saturday’s R2-million President’s Champion Challenge at Turffontein.

Last year’s Triple Crown winner was close up turning for home but started fading from the 400m. In the end jockey Piere Strydom did not persevere with him and the son of Black Minnaloushe trailed in at the back of the field, 14.50 lengths behind the winner, Wylie Hall.

“We are not sure, we think we are losing the battle and he is haemoconcentrating,” said Trainer Geoff Woodruff on Tuesday. “We still need to do a lot more tests but that’s what appears to be happening.

“He pulled up sound but it means his blood is not moving around as much as it should.”

Should that be the case it means “Louis” either has to be sent off to stud or he will need to be gelded. “A lot of things need to be spoken about. I don’t want to see the horse go to stud and then get moved all over the place because he is not producing. In the meantime he misses out on some races he could have won.

“The kinder option, I think, is to geld him because I think he has a lot of good racing left in him,” added Woodruff.

In other news from Champions Day trainer Weiho Marwing President’s Champions Challenge winner Wylie Hall will go straight into the Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July on Saturday 4 July without having a warm-up run. “He doesn’t need prep runs, he runs well fresh so why go and still run the horse,” said Marwing.

“He has had two tough races so I will freshen him up at home. It’s not as if he still has to qualify. He is in and there’s no need to push him.

“I am very happy with him. He took Saturday’s race very well and he pulled up well.”

Wylie Hall was first past the post in last year’s Durban July but lost the race to Legislate on an objection.

Marwing added that he planned to take Cool Chardonnay to KwaZulu-Natal for the season and aim him at the Gold Cup over 3200m. “I unfortunately had to scratch him from Saturday’s SA Derby because he pulled a muscle. They’ve changed the conditions for the Derby in KZN and it is now open to all horses so he’s probably better off running in Gold Cup.

“There are also a lot of good warm-up events during the season.”

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