Racing made a welcome return to Scottsville yesterday and with the turf in pristine condition trainers took full advantage with every field on the card close to maximum. The result was that punters had to search long and hard for winners with a few long-shots making it tough going in the exotics.

One of the few favourites to oblige was Rebel’s Champ. Not for nothing is apprentice Lyle Hewitson national champion jockey as he rode a pearler on Paul Peter’s gelding to turn the tables on his Golden Loom conqueror Captain’s Girl.

I’m Free (Candiese Marnewick)

With a furlong to run and a wall of horses across the track in the Itsarush.co.za Pinnacle Stakes, commentator Craig Peters was hard pressed identifying a likely winner. But at the last second, Hewitson extracted Rebel’s Champ out from behind Sunset Eyes and in the blink of an eye got up to claim victory.

Procal Harum made a cracking return to the track after a break as he snatched second ahead of the game filly Captain’s Girl. Procal Harum is an entry for the Gr2 Merchants at Turffontein on December 1. Rebel’s Champ ducked in shortly after the line, dislodging Hewitson, who escaped unscathed. Rebel’s Champ was a R10k buy at the CTS Two-year-old sale and yesterday took his earnings to over the R500k mark

Apprentice Jason Gates, currently facing a seven-day suspension for careless riding, was on his best behaviour as he got Storm Ruler home for a second successive victory in the Rockefellers Restaurant Handicap over 2400m. Gates had Alyson Wright’s gelding neatly placed behind pacemaker Lucius Fox and went for broke at the top of the straight. Riding a powerful finish, Gates kept Storm Ruler straight and hard to his task to hold off Hewitson on Big Si.

Hewitson got his afternoon off to the best possible start, and that of Wayne Badenhorst, as he kept the temperamental filly, I’m Free, racing in ear-muffs, going long enough to hold off Amra and African Angel.

Johan Janse van Vuuren seldom heads back to the Highveld without a scalp or two but it required all Anton Marcus’s expertise in the second to get Lady Jackson home ahead of Daryl Moore’s first timer Woodstock Festival who has been well backed to make a winning debut.

There is every likelihood that Luke Ferraris could follow in the footsteps of Hewitson as he has just five winners to go before losing his claim in just his second year of his five-year apprenticeship. It was winner number 55 yesterday as he had little more than a steering job to do on the Sean Tarry-trained Tierra Del Fuego in the third.

By Andrew Harrison

Ashburton-based Louise Goosen has a handful of quick fillies in his yard and three of them will be up against each other in a hotly contested Pinnacles Stakes when racing returns to Scottsville on Sunday.

The course has had a two-month break for spring treatment and Goosen, ever professional, did an inspection on Tuesday and declared himself satisfied that the track is in top nick.

Of his three fillies, Captain’s Girl boasts the best recent form. She paid her way on a trip to Turffontein earlier this month, taking on a smart field of sprinters in the Golden Loom, beating all but Riverine home.

Wynkelder (Candiese Marnewick)

That was a top effort and with apprentice Jabu Jacobs claiming his 4kg on Sunday, it may be enough to see her go one better.

But it will not be easy. Many trainers have been waiting for the Scottsville turf and they have lined up in numbers. Included in their ranks is visiting Paul Peter who saddles Rebel’s Champ, a fast-finishing fourth in the Golden Loom. He started 5-1 favourite for that race which is an indication of what punters were up against. He has a steadier of 62kg on his back but with Jacobs’s claim, it seems unlikely that he will be able to turn the tables on the filly.

Wynkelder is a course specialist, as is the smart London Call who finished two lengths behind him when last they met.

Hashtag Strat and Effortless Reward are both quick while Sunset Eyes and Procal Harum are the ‘class’ runners in the race but both have been pencilled in for the Merchants at Turffontein on December 1 so this is a likely warm-up run.

Lenny Taylor, who died recently, was a maverick trainer but one of the true characters of the sport and it is fitting that the fifth is named in his honour. The Lenny Taylor Memorial Handicap is a bit of a puzzle but Gavin van Zyl is sure to be looking for a better effort from Affranchi. Bought out of Tony Nassif’s yard after finishing a close-up second to Perfect Peter, he was well supported in the market for the KZN Guineas Trial. However, he ran no sort of race and was upstaged by lesser fancied stable companion Stream Ahead.

The blinkers go on and if Affranchi runs up to his previous form he could prove difficult to peg back.

The dangers could lurk among the bottom three in the handicap where the consistent Roy’s Magic makes most appeal.

Lowly handicaps over ground are often a recipe for an upset and with a maximum field of 12 lining up for the Rockafellas Restaurant Handicap over 2400m it looks right for baking. There are a number of seasoned handicappers in the race including multiple winners Rawedge, Hyaku and Storm Ruler but they may all have to get past recent maiden winner Banjo On My Knee. Before his last run there was little in his Cape Town form to recommend him. But he obviously revelled in the step up to 2400m and hacked home ahead of the luckless Belfry. He is lightly raced and an obvious improver taking on some well exposed opposition.

By Andrew Harrison

The Turffontein Inside track stages a low key nine race meeting but there could be some fair opportunities for punters.

In the first race over 1200m Without Limits was prominent from the off in the R1 million Maiden on Charity Mile day and she then stayed on well for a decent 4,1 length sixth. This is a much weaker field so she will be hard to beat from pole position under Gavin Lerena. Seventh Light found some support on her debut over 900m at Kenilworth last December but weakened and has not been seen out since. The first-timer Super Fine is by Duke Of Marmalade and is a half-sister to the two-time winner Inga who reached a high of a 79 merit rating but who is a miler to middle distance sort.

Captain And Master

The second race over 1200m is another uninspiring event and although Banana Republic is a battling maiden having his 17^th outing he does have a good opportunity to get off the mark here jumping from a good draw over a suitable trip. The first-timer Starlighttemptress from the Woodruff yard is interesting as she is by Seventh Rock out of a half-sister to the dam of Not Sulking, who did very well for the Woodruff yards in features a few years ago. Others to consider are Hit The Road, Jacko Boy and Kutamba.

In the third race over 1800m Myrrh was ridden handy from a similar draw last time over 1700m and plugged on well for second. He now has Gavin Lerena aboard and is the one to beat. Toastmaster is a big horse who has scope for plenty of improvement, so he could have benefitted from a 77 day layoff and will be a big threat, although he does have a tricky draw of ten under champion jockey Lyle Hewitson. Greatest Wish was not disgraced in the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup and can earn in this weaker field. He is by Var but his dam, Fisani by Kahal, won the Grade 2 Gerald Rosenberg over 2000m so he should stay the trip.

The fourth over 1800m could be won by Dunas Douradas as she finished well when stepped up to 1600m last time and has a fair draw. Viscount Vivien is not far off Duna Douradas and Fly Thought is better than her last start.

The fifth race over 1800m features some fair sorts and the consistent Hafla should enjoy this course and distance from a good draw. She was a late foal and has always struck as one who would improve with age so she should start coming into her own now. Noceur as a five-year-old is now fulfilling the promise she always showed but does have a tough draw to overcome. Pretty Ballerina, Cold Cash and Tammany Hall can’t be ignored either.

In the 6^th over 2000m Hokanui is another who has struck a one who could improve with age and he can follow up on his win last time over this trip, which followed a seven month layoff. Hakeem has dropped to an attractive mark but has to prove he stays this trip. Excalibur’s return goes for a hattrick and has to be included too.

The seventh race over 1450m has the day’s best bet, Captain And Master. He is full of class but can be headstrong, so he should relish the step down to this trip and is well drawn.

In the eighth over 1600m Strawberry Pavlova is a talented sort who should enjoy the step up in trip and Shelley can bounce back over a drop in trip she will enjoy. Invincible Lady, Lady Val and Guns And Roses are hard to ignore.

The last is an uninspiring handicap and Pale Lilac could outclass them despite jumping from a wide draw and having to carry topweight. Written over raced over 1800m last time so could be dangerous from a good draw over a drop in trip and All I Got is capable of popping up in a race like this at a big price.

By David Thiselton

Pleasedtomeetyou can prove to be just that so far as punters are concerned by defying assessment logic in the TAB Telebet Progress Plate at Kenilworth tomorrow.

The Andre Nel runner should finish with only one behind him on adjusted merit ratings but he has race fitness on his side and his running in last month’s Cape Classic points to his chance over this furlong shorter test.

He finished third in that race after racing prominently and failing to last home – “He had every chance but he didn’t finish the race. He ran out of steam,” said Nel afterwards. “But we now know where we are going – sprinting.”

Sand And Sea

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who won the Sophomore on the colt at Durbanville two months ago, regains the ride and the three-year-old was 19-10 joint favourite with Sand And Sea in the books of World Sports Betting yesterday.

Sand And Sea has a big theoretical advantage over the selection because Anton Marcus’s mount only concedes a kilo whereas the official weight-for-age scale says he should be giving away five. However he has not raced since April and that is a major disadvantage.

Speedpoint, the other four-year-old in the field, is a 33-10 chance. He is officially the best horse in the race but has not been seen since finishing a creditable two-length fifth in the Mercury Sprint three and a half months ago. If race-fit he would be well-nigh impossible to oppose even if the Nel horse is as good as this scribe thinks he is.

Of the others Lanza (9-2) was a length behind Pleasedtomeetyou in the Cape Classic and looks held as does Clipper Captain (15-2) who was a further four lengths back after getting himself in a state in the pens. Run To Denmark, stable companion of the selection, is the outsider of the party at 15-1.

In the fillies Progress Plate (race five) Temple Grafin stands out after running a cracker in the Western Cape Fillies Championship, her first run since winning the Debutante at the end of last season. She started favourite and beat all except Clouds Unfold. She is also favourite here (at 11-10) and Anton Marcus again has the mount.

Diana Stakes runner-up Miss Katalin (5-2) is the highest rated but watch out for Nous Voila at 17-2. She has been beaten at odds-on in two of her last four but she failed to act round the turn in her last two races and this is why she is being put back up the straight.

In the first Kingston Rock can confirm placings with Dragon Power and possibly get the better of Fayd’Herbe’s mount Empire Glory who ran well last time.

By Michael Clower

The KZN Champion two-year-old male of last season Cue The Music has been sold to race in Hong Kong and will not run in South Africa again.

The Dennis Bosch-trained Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm-bred Oratorio gelding won his first three starts including the Grade 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1100m at Scottsville and he then only just failed to hold on when runner up in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m at Scottsville.

He then disappointed over further when fifth in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.

His last run was in the Grade 3 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m on the Greyville turf and he once again disappointed but was clearly not himself and is better than that.

He is a half-brother to the brilliant Champion Sprinter Val De Ra and is as laid back as she was so should take the arduous journey well and is sure to make his presence felt on the racing mad island.

By David Thiselton

Coral Fever is out on his own according to the official merit ratings for the GBets Summer Cup but trainer Robbie Sage still expects him to line up for the big race on December 1 despite him having to give the field 5,5kg.

Sage said, “We will wait until closer to the time but he took his Charity Mile run well and we will take our chances.”

Coral Fever’s win in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge sent his merit rating up eight points to 118 but that did not stop him winning the Peermont Emperor’s Charity Mile in his last start.

Coral Fever (JC Photographics)

He received a further two points for that win.

The joint second highest merit rated horses are five-year-old Cascapedia and four-year-old Roy’s Had Enough on 109 meaning they will receive 5,5kg and 6kg respectively from Coral Fever.

Only 15 of the entries still standing are in the handicap at present as the minimum weight will as usual be 52kg.

In other Summer Cup news Sean Tarry said he would keep Warrior’s Rest in the Summer Cup but felt that off his 91 merit rating his chances of getting in were “nil”. He scratched the big horse from the Victory Moon Stakes and said, “He was well beaten in his last start. You can only go forward so much and if you do not see the evidence before your eyes you have to accept it.”

There are 43 entries still standing of the original 58 and 32 of them are higher merit rated than Warrior’s Rest so he will need a lot of scratchings to get in.

The panellists do not have to stick to merit ratings when selecting the final field and one of the horses who is under sufferance, Buffalo Bill Cody, is surely a certainty to get in considering he was given the maximum eight point raise for his last two handicap wins when demolishing the field. The Irish-bred four-year-old Redoute’s Choice colt is officially only 1,5kg under sufferance and is in fact the ruling favourite with the sponsor at 6/1, who have obviously recognised that without handicapping restrictions his merit rating would be a lot higher.

The Alec Laird-trained Green Top has drawn in pole in one of the supporting features on the day, the Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Challenge for fillies and mares over 1600m. Laird was frustrated by the slow pace in the filly’s last start on the Inside track over 1600m which turned it into a sprint for home and she had little chance of catching the decent Mike de Kock-trained Storm Destiny. A line can probably be drawn trough her run there, although she will face Storm Destiny on 5kg worse terms in the Ipi Tombe and also has to face the like of the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province winner Redberry Lane as well as last season’s KZN three-year-old champion filly Fiorella and last season’s Equus Two-year-old champion filly Return Flight.

By David Thiselton

The Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m is the headliner tonight at Turffontein Standside and all of the trainers commented on their runners.

Sean Tarry said, “Liege is doing well but is obviously not well weighted. This is part of his prep and it will bring him to his peak for the Summer Cup. Bulleting Home is trying the distance again, I would have been confident about him getting it at Greyville but this is a more testing track. He is doing well but also has a hard task against the two fillies at the weights. French Navy needed his first run back and I’m hoping to qualify him for the Summer Cup. He has always acquitted himself well in features but had three ordinary runs in Grade 1’s last season so has plummeted down the merit ratings. I will be hard pressed to win this race but would like to see a nice run from Liege and hope French Navy can run in the first five to qualify.”

French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)

Matthew de Kock said, “Takingthepeace is extremely well and is the best weighted horse so has a big shout. Like A Panther will still be using this run as a prep for the Summer Cup.”

St. John Gray said, “Dawn Assault is coming off a seven week break and his chief mission is the Summer Cup, but he is working well and if he gets a good position I expect a good run. However, he has to overcome a poor draw in what looks likely to be a moderately paced race.”

Adam Azzie said, “Full Mast and Arctica have both come out of the Charity Mike well and are fit. Full Mast had a wide draw last time and we had to jump and ride him for luck and it didn’t pan out. But now he has a decent draw so we will be able to place him and this race will be the best indication of whether he sees out the trip.”

Geoff Woodruff said, “Zouaves is well but we are not quite sure whether he will get the trip so he will be ridden quietly. Deo Juvente is also fit and well. He became very sick in Cape Town and his Champions Challenge win last year sent his merit rating through the roof to an unrealistic figure, but he is now off a manageable mark. His last race was a very good run as he carried a big weight and came from the back. He is on an upward trend and although he is now a seven-year-old he looks like a four-year-old.”

Gokhan Terzi said about Tandava, “This is the best I have had him, so he has every chance if he stays the distance. He has two or three lengths to find on Arctica on their last meeting over course and distance but he has improved and he will have the blinkers on this time which I think he runs best with so I have fingers crossed.”

Paul Peter said, “Sabina’s Dynasty has come through her prep very well, she is jumping out of her skin and if there is a decent pace she won’t be out of the first three.”

Ashley Fortune said, “Cash time is much fitter than he was for his last couple of runs.”

David Nieuwenhuizen said, “Bankable Teddy is up against a very strong field so is up against it but he has been working nicely and we have sorted out a few issues he had. We will see how he goes and if he comes out of the race well he will go for the Summer Cup.”

The Alec Laird-trained Gambado has been scratched.

By David Thiselton

Patrons of the Track & Ball outlet, diagonally opposite the ‘Boshoff Street Country Club’ (Thistle Hotel) in Pietermaritzburg, have a standing joke. “Will Shine Up ever win a race?”

Butt of the joke is long-time Shine Up supporter Ray Martinaglia.

Biker Babe (Candiese Marnewick)

He gets it from all sides from his mates when Shine Up runs, and he doesn’t even have a share, but many an owner would give their eye-teeth to own a horse who earns a cheque almost every time he runs.

22 place cheques in 36 runs is not a bad record, add to that R275 000 in stake money, and the seven-year-old Shine Up has more than paid for his keep.

Doug Campbell’s runner was on the receiving end again yesterday as Secret Dynasty put six lengths of daylight and some change over him, but another R21k in the bank will have been more than welcome for his connections.

It was not the greatest of fields, but Secret Dynasty made no secret of his ability as Dennis Bosch led him in after a facile victory under Anton Marcus.

After a stuttering start to his career, Edge Of The Sun appears to have got the hang of things and reeled off his third win in four starts when getting home ahead of Real Vision in the eighth for Duncan Howells. This win should score Edge Of The Sun enough points to head the log in the KZN Summer Series, ahead of Ronnie Rocket and Roy’s Magic, the latter running at Scottsville on Sunday where he will be up against the Howells-trained Good To Give in the tussle for top spot and a bonus cheque.

Dennis Drier is in his customary Western Cape escape where he got his summer campaign off to a winning start last Sunday. For stable rider Sean Veale it’s a case of up and down and plenty of air miles but it was well worth it yesterday as Escape Club did the business in the card opener. It was a hard-fought win as poly track specialist O’Keeffe gave plenty of cheek but Escape Club kept up her exemplary record, this her fourth win from just six outings.

By Andrew Harrison

One World has been installed 19-10 favourite to extend his unbeaten run to five in the R400 000 Concorde Cup at Kenilworth on Saturday week. The colt is Vaughan Marshall’s main hope for a third consecutive Cape Guineas next month.

World Sports Betting makes the Sean Tarry-trained Chimichuri Run – the highest rated horse in the race by 3.5kg – second favourite at 11-2 with Twist Of Fate, Hudoo Magic and Herodotus all on 9-1.

In the Cape Merchants on the same card last year’s runner-up Dutch Philip is favourite at 11-2 with top weight Bold Respect on 15-2 and Kasimir on 8-1.

Justin Snaith has already declared five. In addition to Kasimir (Richard Fourie) he runs Sergeant Hardy (S’Manga Khumalo), Bishop’s Bounty (Brandon Lerena) Star Chestnut (Robert Khathi) and Sir Frenchie (Sean Veale).

Snaith also runs four in the R2 500 000 CTS Ready To Run Stakes with Fourie on Captainofthesea, Black Indy (Brandon Lerena), Seventh Sea (Robert Khathi) and Carlas Mambo.

By Michael Clower

Featured Image: One World (Liesl King)

Turffontein Standside stages an eight race night meeting tomorrow which is headlined by the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m.

The two females in the Victory Moon, Takingthepeace and Sabina’s Dynasty, are the best weighted on official merit ratings but preference is for Like A Panther, a long-striding, scopey sort who should come into his own this season. He has a wide draw but can be dropped out before running on. Deo Juvente should go close as he has been dropped to a competitive merit rating and caught the eye in his last run. Gambado strikes as a progressive sort and he will come on from his last start. Arctica and Takingthepeace also have to be included in exotics. Sabina’s Dynasty, Dawn Assault and Tandava make most appeal of the rest.

Cascapedia (JC Photographics)

It is a tricky card and Redberry Lane is made the best bet in race two over her optimum trip of a mile. She won the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes in fine style and in her recent comeback she caught the eye staying on strongly to get up over 1450m. Her main rival here Cascapedia will likely be using this as a preparation for the GBets Summer Cup.

The first leg of the Pick is tough but Flying Winger is on the up and on pedigree will enjoy the step up to 1800m. However, the lightly raced and progressive Diamond Dancer from pole position will be a big threat. Kilrain should bounce back off a lowered merit rating and Secret Captain and Silver God have to be considered.

The first leg of the Jackpot is a tough MR 88 sprint handicap. Copper Jay is an up and coming sort who was scalped last time and he can make amends being 2kg better off with Donny G for a 1,3 length beating. The latter has always struck as one with ability and has begun living up to that since being partnered with Piere Strydom. They go for a hattrick together. Pillaroftheearth also looks to have come into his own and must also be included. Torre Del Oro has been disappointing lately but was coughing last time and if bouncing back to his best could be a threat. The speedy Great Shaka could be dangerous too running fresh.

The next race should be fought out by the promising youngsters Big Blue Marble and Palace Chapel and the best weighted Mawsoof.

In the Listed Gardenia Stakes Green Plains is well weighted but she does have the number one draw which can sometimes be the worst side on this straight sprint course. Therefore Covered In Snow, Kissable, Wrecking Ball, Queen Laurie and Rose In Bloom have to also be considered.

In the last race Africa Rising gets on well with Lyle Hewitson and can beat the Equus Champion Sprinter Will Pays, who is returning from a layoff. Legal Eagle ran a place in a similar race last season and Pinnacle Peak, Romi’s Boy, Captain’s Causeway and Angel’s Power are hard to ignore.

By David Thiselton