The main race at Scottsville yesterday, a MR 86 Handicap over 1200m, saw a cosy win for the promising Mark Dixon-trained Silent Crusade. .

This three-year-old Crusade filly looked capable of improving on a 78 merit rating as she is a half-sister to her useful stablemate Silver Fantasy who reached a merit rating of 92. Carrying just 52,5kg she sat just off the pace and moved through smoothly under Keagan de Melo to beat topweight Essenceoflife by 1,90 lengths.  

The meeting began with a win for the talented but problematic Duncan Howells-trained Rocket Fire in a Maiden over 1000m. This Klawervlei Stud-bred gelding is by Rock Of Gibraltar out of a placed Irish-bred mare who is a half-sister to twice Group 2 winner Bankable, who stood at stud in South Africa. His temperament has cost him as he gets worked up and then tends to over race. However, yesterday he was allowed to stride out at the head of affairs under Mark Khan and stayed on well to beat Krishnies Jet and convert 2/1 favouritism.

The second race was a Maiden over 2400m and once again the horse who was bred to win did so. The Frank Robinson-trained Cruise Cruz is by Vodacom Durban July winner Bold Silvano out of a half-sister to the SA Derby winner Seal and after sitting third in the running he stayed on well in the straight and won cosily in the end under Serino Moodley. This colt has a rangy action and could win more races over staying trips.

Moodley and Robinson then clinched a quick double with the Gimmethegreenlight filly Watchmego in a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m. The rank outsider benefitted from a tactic change as she shot out of the starting gates straight into the lead and managed to gallop all the way to the line for a one length victory over the fancied By The Way.

In the next race, a Maiden over 1400m, Last Of A Legends was settled near the back from a tricky draw of eight and Luke Ferraris then switched the Sean Tarry-trained three-year-old Horse Chestnut colt to the outside in the straight. He ran on full of running to win by 1,75 lengths from outsider Mr Fitz, who caught the eye with a strong finish on debut.

In the fifth, a Maiden for Fillies and Mares over 1400m, the Tony Rivalland-trained Oratorio filly Star Vega is a good looking sort with plenty of substance and after running on resolutely from midfield down the inside of horses she found another gear in impressive style to win by 1,60 lengths under Stuart Randolph from the rank outsider Class Of Eight with the favourite Winter Retreat third.

The sixth race was a MR 72 Handicap over 1200m and Lyle Hewitson took the Garth Puller-trained Toreador gelding Sentido straight to the front. He was full of gallop on the day and won easily by 3,25 lengths from the second favourite Tristful.  

The last race over 1000m saw the Darryl Moore-trained Querari gelding Woodstock Festival just getting up under Jarred Samuel to deny Bravo Zulu.  

By David Thiselton

Trainer Eric Sands said his Sun Met hero Rainbow Bridge had taken Saturday’s race well and he would now have a rest on the farm before heading for a campaign in KZN.

However, he did add the cautionary words “presuming he is still with us.”

Sands, asked on whether he had become confident as the race unfolded, replied, “I had been confident from Saturday morning, I’m not sure why, although I knew I had the right bloke on top. I only saw Do It Again running on down the inside when I watched the replay. I was only concerned about my own horse so only watched him and could see he was going to fetch the leader a long way out.”

The Ideal World gelding has a reputation for becoming hot in the preliminaries and also has a tendency to over race.

However Sands said, “He was better behaved but was his normal self. It didn’t matter though because the number went up in the frame.”

Rainbow Bridge did sweat up but Marcus’ confidence was buoyed when taking him down to the start faster than usual and then reining him back. He said, “He came back to me beautifully.”

Marcus’ reservations about the strapping four-year-old staying the trip were thus put to bed and he duly settled well in the running.

Sands concluded, “He had issues during the running of the Queen’s Plate but luckily we were able to get him over it.”

Rainbow Bridge missed last season’s Champions Season and instead ran in the first two legs of the Cape Winter series, both of which he won. He was then rumoured to be running in the Vodacom Durban July but this was halted due to a pending sale overseas. He failed the piroplasmosis test and the sale did not go through.

His career is following a similar route to the legendary Pocket Power’s, although the latter completed the Winter Series Triple Crown and then won both the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and the Met before heading for KZN for the first time.

An arch rivalry has developed between Rainbow Bridge and Do It Again and the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge to be run at Greyville over 1600m on June 8 is shaping up to be a clash of the titans. 

By David Thiselton

The Vaal stages a nine race workrider’s meeting at the Vaal tomorrow and it should be exciting as none of the best riders have a clear advantage in terms of the quality of their mounts.

The best bet comes in the seventh over 2000m as the hard-knocking Indy Ice should finally get it right over an ideal trip from a plum draw with the former Champion Workrider Chamu Mabaya aboard, although Flapjack will give some cheek from pole position under the astute Goodman Dadamisi.

Mabaya rides Shezahotti in the eighth race over 2000m. This Irish Flame filly went close over 1800m last time and should relish the further step up in trip. She is an honest sort and will be hard to beat from a pole position draw. However, Midnight In Paris is also a capable sort and if Charles Ndlovu rides her from off the pace over this ideal trip like she was in her penultimate start she could upset the applecart.

Mabaya has a chance with the frustrating Noble Princess in the next race over 1700m. However, this filly has become expensive to follow and is proving to be limited so although she has to be included in all exotic bets preference is for Arctic Party who can start coming into her own now being by Oratorio. Factor Fifty made a fair debut and is also a must include. One Dollar Massage and The Great Queen are also capable of earning.

The first leg of the PA should be fought by Kindavar, who has the experienced former Workrider’s Champion Francis Semela aboard, and Royal Future who represents the lethal combination of Paul Peter and Charles Ndlovu.

The latter pair will also have had a chance in the first leg of the Bipot with the first-timer Just Dance, who is by Querari out of a Whitechapel mare who is a half-sister to a Listed-winning Var filly. However, Fuyu looks the one to beat on paper and he is ridden by Marcell Pillay, who has ridden in Australia and trainer Shaylen Naidoo has put him aboard for the reason he gets along well with this horse. 

Paddy’s Legacy looks likely to improve in the fourth over 1400m having made a fair debut over 1200m despite losing a length. Tintagel is an interesting runner as he looked to have a fair chance last time over 1160m but never got in to the race and he could now be looking for this trip.

In the fifth over 1400m Colonel Caramel will be ridden by Castigo Machaelie, who has only had five rides but has a second and a fourth to his name. This rangy sort has caught the eye before and has had a succession of bad draws around the turn but should now have a fair chance down the straight. Latin Opus and Dry Your Eyes are capable of improvement and are probably more reliable selections. Prix Eclips and Gaelebale can also be included.

In the sixth race over 2400m Smart Deal has been disappointing but faces an uninspiring field. The Honey Badger needs things to go away so he will have a chance from a plum draw. Voodoo can also be involved although this race could have an upset and it would be wise to try and find more to include.

By David Thiselton

Boeing City is a speedy filly who is on the up and she can make it a hattrick in the seventh race at Scottsville today, a MR86 Handicap for fillies and mares.

Last time out this speedy Sail From Seattle filly showed good speed to overcome a wide draw on the Greyville poly over 1000m yet still found extra when required in the closing stages so she should be able to stay 1200m down the straight. She has to overcome a four point merit rated raise. However, that win was in October last year and it is no mean feat for a three-year-old that young to win off an 89 merit rating.

Although some say three-year-olds generally do not improve at the same rate as the weight for age scale suggests they should, they would need to explain why these youngsters appear to find it easier to win off higher ratings in the second half of the season than they do in the first. This filly looks capable of handling the merit rated raise. She faces Essenceoflife on 4kg worse terms for a 1,50 length beating but according to the wfa scale she should have improved by 2kg so the difference is actually only 2kg which still puts her ahead on paper. Silent Crusade could be the main danger. She has a fluent action and was a touch unlucky last time over course and distance so could make amends off the same merit rating meaning she has to carry only 52,5kg.

Lunar Rush has dropped to a competitive merit rating and is tough to ignore as she has a good record over this course and distance. Victory Trip and Cause And Effect are close on form and are also hard to ignore.

The last race of the day over 1000m looks tough at first glance but Wendyle could be the one. The Louis Goosen yard have turned full circle this month and this Twice Over gelding could be the latest one to pop up. He has a lot of speed and probably found 1200m too far last time. He has been dropped another four points in the merit ratings and with 4kg claimer Jason Gates aboard has to carry only 50,5kg. In his only run over course and distance he went close in a maiden to Solid Gold, who is not struggling off a 78 merit rating, 14 points higher than Wendyle’s.

The sixth race over 1200m is the only other handicap on the card and Coldhardcash could be the one. He won his maiden well and starts off on a reasonable 75 merit rating. Tristful also looks promising and his 78 merit rating is also a reasonable starting mark. The topweight Blackburn Roc has dropped to a competitive 81 mark and is distance suited.

The other five events are all maidens.

In the first over 1000m Krishnies Jet could win under Lyle Hewitson if repeating her penultimate run. The frustrating Rocket Fire ran on of his best races over course and distance and was a touch unlucky that day so could be involved. Solsbury Hill has fair form and Marcus is aboard but he might need it. Alfonso Spagoni is close to Krishnies Jet on form. Hondo could also earn.

In the second over 2400m the ones which make most appeal on a combination of form and pedigree are Network Jet, Cassius Colt and Cruise Cruz.

African Angel is the one to beat in the third over 1200m as she is improving.

In the fourth over 1400m Pollard was most disappointing last time but should appreciate the step up in trip and now has Marcus up.

In the fifth over 1400m Winter Retreat looks to be a promising sort and if able to overcome a tricky draw should enjoy this trip.

By David Thiselton

Summerveld based trainer Mark Dixon might need to use his Google Maps App on his phone to help him get to Scottsville later today as he has not had any runners for the past two months.

Dixon backed off his whole string recently and has not had any runners due to a virus going through the yard. Dixon says the virus was related to liver enzyme problems.

He has three runners at the Pietermaritzburg track today, his first runners since the set back.

“I am a bit in the dark as to how they will run,” commented Dixon, “but I suspect they might just need this run. In saying that, they all now seem well and are working very well. I am hoping they run big races. I have three nice runners and am hoping they will finish in the money.”

Quite a few yards countrywide have recently suffered from various virus infections and the horses recover at different rates depending on the severity of the infections.

Speaking to trainers, they say that it is tough to assess how horses will perform as they look good and work well but only once they race can you assess where you are with the virus.

Recently trainers Dennis Drier, Louis Goosen and Duncan Howells have been along the rough road and Dixon is hoping to see the end of it today.

By Warren Lenferna

Harold Crawford, in Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital since suffering a stroke 16 days ago, is making such a good recovery  that he is expected to be able to leave  his present ward by the weekend.

His daughter Michelle Rix said yesterday: “My father is doing well and the doctors are very happy with his progress. He will spend another couple of days in hospital and then he has to do a mandatory six weeks’ rehab before going back home.”

There were initial fears about the paralysis in his left arm and left side, and there was concern that he might need a second operation. The first was to ease the pressure on his brain following the carotid artery clot that caused the stroke.

But his daughter said: “Everything is good and all clear, and he is walking and talking once more. The movement has all come back and he now has full function of his entire body.”

She was always confident that he would pull through, pointing out that he is a strong individual, and she confirmed this yesterday, adding: “They don’t make them like they used to in his day!”

By Michael Clower

Owning, breeding and training doyen George Rowles passed away last week much to the sadness of the racing community who reminisced about his enormous contribution to and achievements in the sport.

Racing owner and Gold Circle ambassador Bill Lambert said, “George and I were lifelong friends as we had a family cottage when I was growing up at Isipingo where the Rowles family lived. We also used to race together and had successful partnerships in horses. Wave Blaster was the best of them. His father was a trainer and while at school George used to help mucking out, grooming and riding work. He was tall but thin and became a leading amateur rider at the Gymkhana meetings. Later he had stables and a training track on his farm in Waterfall and after owning a lot of horses he also began breeding. He eventually had a big breeding operation, Ivanhoe Stud, in the KZN Midlands.

He also made commercial developments on his land at Waterfall and this was hugely successful and includes the present day Watercrest Mall. He achieved all this from humble beginnings. A few years ago he led the successful campaign to save Clairwood racecourse from being sold but was supportive of the sale this decade at a much greater price. I was invited to present him with his lifelong achievement award at the KZN Breeders Awards in 2014 and that was a great honour. We have lost a real stalwart. George was a real maverick and a wonderful gentleman.”

Vodacom Durban July-winning owner Nick Jonsson, part-owner of Do It Again, also paid tribute, “My father Ben and George were great, lifelong friends and we became family friends. George was legendary and we loved him. He had a wonderful training facility in Waterfall. We had great fun at the races and also at the amateur races in which both he and my father used to ride.  He also pulled off some interesting betting coups. Dennis Durant was his trainer at Waterfall but George was very hands on and I remember on one occasion he had a runner called Ring The Changes who he fancied strongly. We were all sitting in Des Scott’s box that day and George sent us youngsters down to the bookmaker area armed with cash. We waited until we saw the planned signal from the box, George’s waving of the white handkerchief, and then all moved in and backed her simultaneously. She won easing up by three lengths and we made a fortune. George loved sport and he and my Dad played tennis every week. He was a great character and a wonderful storyteller. But he would often collapse in so much laughter he was unable to finish the story!”

George was in fact greatly sought after as a rider in the Gymkhana meetings and on more than one occasion rode six winners in a nine race meeting. He also represented Natal southern districts at both rugby and cricket.

The Rowles family had a dairy at Isipingo and after school George moved to the Transvaal to open a dairy there. However, racing was in his blood and he had soon purchased two mares. He bred one of them to Black Cap and the progeny Shanghai gave him his first winner as an owner-trainer at Newmarket ridden by Charlie Barends.

He moved to Waterfall in 1959 where he bought a tract of land in what is known today as Linkhills. He developed his training facility, complete with starting stalls and swimming pool, and also established Ivanhoe Stud in the KZN Midlands.

He was one of the first in the country to bring in imported mares of any quantity.

In 1973 he imported a successful English-bred stallion called Caerdon, who became the leading Natal-based stallion for a number of years.

He also stood probably the best horse he owned and bred, The Eileen Bestel-trained Sabre, a classic winner of 12 races who established an 1800m world record time of 106 seconds flat when winning the Grade 1 Clairwood Winter Handicap in 1974.

He later stood another successful sire in Rocky Marriage, whose reach was felt beyond racing and this stallion once had a representative in the Olympic Games eventing competition.

Ivanhoe at one stage occupied fifth spot on the national log, an incredible achievement considering the competition in those days.

From his El Dorado yard in Waterfall, George campaigned a lot of his Ivanhoe home-breds in his familiar red and grey colours.

In recent times he bred the winner of the inaugural KZN Breeders Million Mile run at Greyville in 2012, the Ormond Ferraris-trained Muhtafal gelding Knock On Wood.

He was a Natal Owners and Trainers committee member for 15 years and a steward at Clairwood Turf Club.

He was a regional representative of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association council and was instrumental in starting the Newmarket yearling sales in “the stables” near today’s Jonsson Kings Park rugby stadium. Today this sale is known as the KZN Yearling Sales and is held at Sibaya Casino.

George was always guided by the belief that the best course of action is that which will be of ultimate benefit to the game as a whole and he cared about the small man.

He is going to be sorely missed by the racing community.

His funeral will be held at Highbury school in Hillcrest on Thursday 31 January at 15h00 and family have requested no flowers and instead, in lieu thereof, have suggested a donation to the Coastal Horse Care Unit in Cato Ridge ((031)7821434 or 0735503061).

By David Thiselton

Three times in the past 15 years the winner of the Cape Derby has gone on to land the Vodacom Durban July so the obvious question now is whether Atyaab can put his name on the same page as Dynasty, Big City Life and Legislate.

Mick de Kock, who also won the Cape Derby with Ertijaal four years ago, did not answer the question with a direct yes or no after Atyaab’s success in the GBets-sponsored Grade 1 last Saturday but said: “Off a certain mark he would be competitive in a good handicap.”

Angus Gold, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s long-serving racing manager, added: “Atyaab is a tough horse and a real fighter. Hopefully he can go on.”

Most punters went for Bunker Hunt (fourth) and the Australian-bred winner was only nibbled at from 15-1 to 13-1. “It was no surprise to us,” said De Kock, adding pointedly: “We don’t come 1 800 kilometres down here just to use a bucket and spade.”

The colt may have officially only beaten Charles by a fifth of a length but he suffered serious interference from long-time leader Helen’s Ideal who hung badly right in the final 300m. He was well handled by Diego de Gouveia whose only previous experience of the Cape Town course was when fourth on Walter Smoothie in the Chairman’s Cup on Queen’s Plate day.

The 22-year-old said: “Helen’s Ideal hampered me a lot and had Atyaab been a nervous type I could have had problems. But this is a gutsy little bugger and he fought his way past.”

De Gouvier ended his apprenticeship earlier this month and this was his first Grade 1 win and his 82^nd success in all. As his name suggests, he has a cosmopolitan background despite growing up in Johannesburg. His mother comes from Italy and his father, although born in South Africa, is of Portuguese descent.

When Kasimir was beaten in a pinnacle a month ago Justin Snaith said that 1 000m was really too short for the horse “but we will make it work for the Cape Flying.” He did so to such effect that Richard Fourie was able to take it up over 100m out in the Betting World Grade 1 and win going away.

So how did Snaith manage it? “We sharpened him up by being a bit harder on him at home than before,” the champion trainer explained, adding: “Richard was a big help in advising me what to do.”

Clouds Unfold gave Candice Bass- Robinson her second Bidvest Majorca in three seasons and the Drakenstein homebred was the first Grade 1 winner for What A Winter who stands at Gaynor Rupert’s stud. Aldo Domeyer’s mount is now bound for Durban.

She emphatically reversed the Fillies Guineas form with Front And Centre and her trainer explained: “Clouds Unfold was a bit above herself in the Guineas, pulling a lot, and she galloped over a guinea fowl which didn’t help.”

Mrs Bass-Robinson has her own satellite yard adjoined Summerveld but she may not make use of it for her 16-1 Tattersalls Summer Juvenile winner Miss Honey who had her conqueror of three weeks earlier, 2-1 stable companion Vandah’s Spirit, nearly four lengths back sixth.

The trainer explained: “She is a little bit hot. She will have a break and then I will play it by ear but I might run her in the Nursery here and then decide.”

Anton Marcus had the biggest South African pay day of any jockey after preceding his Sun Met success with both the CTS R5 million races. He earned a gross R8 million plus for the owners concerned.

The CTS races certainly franked the Cape Guineas form in no uncertain manner. Fourth-placed Cirillo ran out an emphatic winner of the 1200 and One World (third) made most in the 1600.

Sean Tarry is far from convinced that Cirillo is a sprinter, saying: “He is versatile. It was a very strong field in the Guineas and we followed the wrong horse.” Vaughan Marshall said earlier this season that he would not take horses to Durban this time and he confirmed this in the winner’s circle. He still believes that One World ran below form in the Guineas and said: “We can’t explain it but it wasn’t his day. Now, though, he has bounced back to what we thought.”

By Michael Clower 

Marinaresco could have his next Dubai race as early as three weeks on Thursday after pleasing connections on his reappearance in the Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan last Thursday.

This seven furlong Group 2 was the 2017 July winner’s first race since his third in last year’s Sun Met and he was a little considered 33-1 shot. Bernard Fayd-Herbe, who won the July on him, tucked him in at the back and the horse made some progress in the straight – without being hard ridden – to finish ninth of 13 some  five and three-quarters of a length behind the winner, the Charlie Appleby-trained D’bai.

Mike de Kock said: “I thought it was a good run, only five and three-quarters of a length off the winner after a year off. He will come on by at least the amount he was beaten. He will run in the Zabeel Mile (Group 2 on Feb 21) or the Jebel Hatta (1 800m Group 1 on March 9), or in both races.”

By Michael Clower 

There are two MR84 Handicaps and one Assessment Plate in the eight race meeting on the Vaal Classic track tomorrow and these will be the key races in the exotics as they provide an opportunity to go thin.

The first of the MR84s is over 1000m and the three stand out horses are State Trooper, Copper Jay and Sugoi. State Trooper is an imposing Captain Al gelding who has plenty of substance and he enjoyed being held up last time over this trip before running on strongly to win narrowly. That was an Assessment Plate and he was raised just two points which will be manageable. Copper Jay is ultra consistent and has a win, a second and a third from three starts over this course and distance so has a chance despite carrying topweight. Sugoi is a progressive three-year-old gelding by Noordhoek Flyer. The latter has been a disappointing sire but this youngster looks just like him being a well muscled red chestnut and is getting better and better. He was raised three points for his last win but looks capable of winning off this 77 mark.

The second of the MR 84 handicaps is over 1800m and the one to beat will be Senor Lizard, who finished 3,9 lengths behind the subsequent Cape Derby winner Atyaab last time over this trip at level weights and he has another good draw. He will be a big runner in this easier race and can beat Come The Day, who is still well handicapped on a 78, considering he was considered good enough to be entered in the Summer Cup. He disappointed over 2400m last time but this trip will be right down his alley. Finchatton has a wide draw to overcome but is 4kg better off with Come The Day for a 2,10 length beating over 2000m and this trip is probably his optimum. Those three can get punters through.

The Assessment Plate over 1600m sees a banker possibility in Flying Fable, who is talented and well in at the weights according to official merit ratings and is distance suited. However, she does not come from an in-form yard and has a tricky draw of five in a seven horse field. Podcast has caught the eye before and this three-year-old’s only win was over this trip. He has his third run after gelding but does have a tricky draw. On The Double has shown ability and will relish this trip. She is only 3,5kg under sufferance with the first choice on official merit ratings and can still progress so can be included over an ideal trip and from a better draw than the other two.

Masaaqaat made a fine debut from a difficult draw over 1000m on debut and is hard to oppose in the first leg of the PA.

In the first leg of the Jackpot over 1200m Peppermint Tea has come into his own and was far from disgraced last time against the classy Prince Of Kahal. He is the one to beat and is a banker consideration. Electromagnetic is a nice type who showed some pace on debut when not far behind subsequent SA Nursery winner William The Silent so he is interesting here returning from a layoff over a drop in trip. Eurostorm made an eyecatching debut and starts off on a reasonable 79 merit rating. Those two make most appeal of the rest.

In the seventh race over 1600m there is one stand out formline and Jubilee Line, Combat Muster and To The Regiment all come from it and are hard to separate. Wildlife Safari and Ready To Strike also make appeal but are both widely drawn. O Lucky Man can’t be ignored as he is drawn in pole and is better than his last start when finishing lame.

The last race is a Maiden Plate over 1600m and should be fought out by Ideal Day, who will relish the step up in trip, and the hard-knocking Gold Lightning. Over Sharing ran well from a wide draw over 1400m in his first start after gelding and should also be included. 

The meeting starts with an interesting heat over 1000m as there are a trio of interesting first-timers. Green Laser makes most appeal on pedigree being by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Parade Leader half-sister to Capetown Noir, who had speed and an exceptional turn of foot. Power Shot is a R220,000 colt by Bold Silvano out of the four-time winning Windrush mare Rushing Elf and the Spies yard have a fine record in two-year-old events. Winter In Ireland is by champion sprinter What A Winter out of a four time-winning full sister to Irish Flame and should also make her presence felt.

By David Thiselton