The Grade 2 World Sports Betting 1900 is an important Vodacom Durban July pointer and this year’s renewal, which takes place at Greyville on Saturday, is ultra-competitive and will likely be a thriller.

The race is run under merit rated bands conditions and females are given their weight for age allowance.

On paper the order of finish will be 1^st Fort Ember; 2^nd It’s My Turn (2,5kg under sufferance with Fort Ember); tie 3^rd Elusive Silva, Olivander (3kg under sufferance); 5^th Pack Leader (3,5kg under sufferance); tie 6^th Crowd Pleaser, Matador Man, The Slade, Captain Splendid, Platinum Prince, Strathdon (4kg under sufferance); 12^th Kampala Kampari (4,5kg under sufferance) and last Dark Moon Rising (5kg under sufferance).

Fort Ember

However, not only are the accuracy of merit ratings open to question due to the plethora of sub-rules which bind the handicappers, but there are also draws, track suitability and levels of fitness to take into account.

Only the winner of this race will be raised in the merit ratings (to a maximum of six points unless more is requested). The placed horses will not be effected unless requested.

Fort Ember can be quite strong in the running and needs a good draw to be seen at her best as the only option for her from a wide draw is to go up to the front and she does not have the natural speed to do that easily. She was able to get to the front in the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m at Turffontein from a wide draw and finished a gallant second to Coral Fever, but in the Premier’s Champions Challenge she was unable to get to the front from another wide draw and the effort took its toll. She now at last has a good draw of three. She has proved she has the quick turn of foot required at Greyville. She won both the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m and the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m at this course when kicking from respective handy positions off slow paces. This time there will likely be a decent pace with Crowd Pleaser in the field but she might be able to dictate in second place. She proved by finishing second in the Summer Cup she can mix it with the boys, but the question is how much that last race, just two weeks ago, took out of her.

It’s My Turn will be cherry ripe for new trainer Dean Kannemeyer having his third run after a seven month layoff. He was staying on well last time over the too sharp 1600m in the Kings Cup for a narrow third and has a middle draw of seven. Dynasty’s progeny love Greyville, due to their ability to quicken, and although It’s My Turn has never won here before he has twice placed in Grade 1 races and finished third in this race last year.

Elusive Silva, having his second run after a layoff, relaxes beautifully in the running and is capable of turning it on, but he has to prove he is as good as he once was after twice having long injury layoffs.

It’s My Turn (Liesl King)

Ollivander was caught wide throughout in the Sledgehammer here over 1800m and has a better draw now. He will be hoping for a strong, true pace as he is a galloping type who would appreciate further.

Pack Leader is an honest type who should have come on from his short-head second in the Sledgehammer. He has a fair draw of four and will relish a strong pace, although it is a concern Fort Ember is drawn inside of him as he might be trapped one wide if trying to get up there.

Crowd Pleaser is a fine front-runner who loves Greyville, but he does have to bounce back from two below par runs and it is his second run after a layoff.

Matador Man will likely be dropped out as he will be stretched by the trip and can turn it on from behind. He loves Greyville and finished third in the Grade 1 Champions Cup over just 100m shorter than this race last year.

The Slade will enjoy a good pace and will be staying all the way to the line.

Captain Splendid would prefer further but is capable of earning over this trip running fresh.

Platinum Prince caught the eye staying on with long strides for a close second in the Kings Cup. He will enjoy the step up in trip, but has a wide draw to overcome.

Strathdon is best at staying trips but did win the last time he ran over this trip so could run well fresh.

Dark Moon Rising is by Ideal World so will be improving all the time and having stayed on in eye catching fashion for third in the Sledgehammer, he has the identical draw of two and will relish the extra 100m.

By David Thiselton

Lyle Hewitson is on track to become the first apprentice since the legendary Michael Roberts to land the National Jockey’s title as an apprentice after pulling level with current leader Anthony Delpech and then going one better with a last race victory at Greyville yesterday.

A winner at Fairview on Friday and another in the last race on Saturday, took him to within one of equalling Delpech’s 136 winners for the season. The Paul Lafferty-trained Touch Of Magic was probably fittingly named as Hewitson delivered a typically full-out ride on the favourite to win the third and equal Delpech’s current total but went to bed last night one ahead and firmly on track for the title as he steered Liverpool Lass to victory in the last.

Touch Of Magic (Candiese Marnewick)

Muzi Yeni, third placed in the title race, has not given up the chase and his three winners on Saturday took him to 109 for the season so far, but with Delpech unlikely to be back to defend his title after being side-lined through injury, it will take a monumental effort from Yeni to stop Hewitson becoming only the second apprentice to land the National title after Roberts, and this in only his third year as professional jockey.

Hewitson did have the benefit of a couple of seasons in work rider’s races, champion before being admitted to the SA Jockey Academy, so had the perfect grounding.

Ashburton-based after many years in Cape Town, Shane Humby has a reputation of running his horses sparingly so if you are an owner who likes his horses to run every other week, look elsewhere.

On the other hand, Humby is one of the most astute trainer’s around and if your horse has any ability, he will get to the bottom of it; all you need as an owner is patience.

The Humby-trained Socrates, a comfortable winner of the fourth, benefitted from a strong early pace, making it two from two on the poly as he out-gunned favourite Falkland to deny Hewitson taking the lead in the jockey’s title race.

With Anton Marcus out of action, Humby called on Cape Town-based Donovan Dillon to deputise and he took no prisoners. Hewitson looked to have the race sewn up approaching the final furlong but Dillon had other ideas. Trailing off a blistering early pace, he came into the straight with plenty of horse under him but with little space to manoeuvre.

In desperation, Dillon barged through the smallest of gaps, collard the favourite and won going away.

Apprentice Luke Ferraris took 25 rides to get off the mark, but since breaking his duck he has been prolific in the past fortnight, going from naught to six, three coming over the weekend with one for Duncan Howells and two for Michael Roberts, the last a narrow win aboard Charlie-Fox who got over the line just in time to hold off a charging Pantsula.

By Andrew Harrison

The third and final leg of the Work Rider’s Challenge will be held at Turffontein tomorrow and Joe Gwingwizha looks to have a fine chance of emerging victorious.

Goodman Dadamasi currently leads in the scramble for the overall R50,000 first prize on 38 points to Joe Gwingwhizha’s 34 points, Chamu Mabaya’s 24, Tshepiso Matsole’s 20 and Phelisile Mongqawa’s 20. Riders are awarded 10 points for a first place, seven for second, five for third and three points for fourth.

Sam Mosia

Gwingwhizha can close the gap in the first race over 1160m as he rides Go Thuli Go. This filly would prefer further but does possess some pace and can go close in this uninspiring field. Kick Butt ridden by Frans Semela looks to be the main danger and Chamu Mabaya has an interesting ride on the two-year-old first-timer Snowballed, who is by What A Winter out of a unraced Antoniu Pius mare who is a half-sister to a Grade 3-placed Dansili filly over a mile in the USA.

Gwingwhiza is also in the pound seats in the second over 1160m on Battle Front, who has the best form but hasn’t raced for ten months. Sam Mosia is aboard the main danger Gunston and Dadamasi has a decent ride on Torpedo Officer.

Mabaya has a good ride in the third over 1000m on Hurricane Lass who shows pace and stays on. She seems better than her form suggests so the blinkers could do the trick.

Matsoele has a good ride there on the pacey Prima Ballerina and also holds the aces in the fourth over 1000m on Queen Of War, who comes out best on paper. Gwingwizha rides the main danger in the latter race, Pearl Of Siberia.

Mabaya and Sam Mosia could fight out the fifth over 2400m on two staying types, Imoto and Hironito and Gwingwizha has yet another chance here on Brand New Cadillac.

Gwingwizha has a plum ride in the sixth over 2000m on the hard knocking New Zealand.

The two that make most appeal in the seventh over 1600m are Rockstar Child and Norland and the latter could reverse 1500m form from a good draw over this 1600m event as he was staying on well in that 1500m race.

In the last race over 1600m Mabaya rides the best bet of the day, Alnasl who was slow away second time out over 1500m but finished fast and only just failed.

By David Thiselton

Dorrie Sham will nominate Grade 1 Computaform Sprint runner up Pinnacle Peak for the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville on May 26 but said his participation is all “in his hooves”.

She said the three-year-old Querari gelding had come out of Saturday’s race at Turffontein well.

She believed he would appreciate the step up to 1200m and pointed to his win in the Grade 3 Man O’ War Sprint over 1100m in which he led throughout yet was doing his best work late.

Joey Ramsden

Sham did not expect to have a horse for the SA Champions Season and would regard participation in the Tsogo Sun Sprint as a bonus.

Pinnacle Peak was bred by John Everett’s Narrow Creek Stud and has become a testament to the fine eye of owner John Finlayson.

Everett recently related, “John came to visit me on the farm. He loves taking a walk early in the morning and fell in love with this colt out in the field and offered to buy him off the farm. I said ‘No John, you’re here to visit, not to buy horses’, but at the end of his visit, John left a note with his offer. Over the next month he kept calling and asking about him and eventually the deal was done.”

Pinnacle Peak was only a weanling at the time.

He has been raised nine points by the handicapper to 112.

Joey Ramsden had the first and third in the Computaform Sprint, Attenborough and Speedpoint.

Attenborough is a quirky four-year-old gelding by Western Winter. When things go his way he can produce a powerful finish like he did on Saturday. He started favourite for last year’s Tsogo Sun Sprint running off a 106 merit rating but could only manage a 5,9 length 12^th. He has been raised four points to 114 after Saturday’s win, which, considering the recent across the board six point raise to all major centre merit ratings, means he is only two points higher than he was at this time last year. Speedpoint was raised eleven points to 109 for his 2,2 length third. Considering he finished a 4,4 length third in the Langerman over 1500m as a juvenile, he should enjoy the tough Scottsville 1200m if that is his target.

The speedy Queen Laurie got a relatively good break on Saturday for a change and showed she is effective from off the pace with a charging 3,1 length fourth. She put up her hand for a tilt at the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint as she beat her female four-year-old contemporary Exquisite Touch by 0,35 lengths.

By David Thiselton

Al Miqdaam is one of those stallions that floats around in obscurity for much of their careers. Ignored by mainstream studs for one reason or another and as a result not commercially viable, Al Miqdaam’s support base is mainly owner/breeders who do not have the numbers or quality of mare to make him popular.

Given a chance with a decent mare, Al Miqdaam does have some potential as Al Ciberano and Ishnana have shown, the two lining up in the sixth at Greyville tonight.

Al Ciberano

Both bred by Robert Smith, a long-time supporter of the sport and Al Miqdaam, Al Ciberano, now rising eight, was the first of the stallion’s progeny to feature prominently and to date has won four of his 34 starts, placed 19 times, and earned close to half-a-million rand.

Al Ciberano is over his favourite course and distance this evening but could find his younger rival too hot to handle although Tony Rivalland will have an idea on what to expect. Rivalland sends out Al Ciberano and also saddled La Ferrari, who fell victim to Ishnana last time out.

The Garth Puller-trained Ishnana has never been far back in his seven starts, twice successful, and blinkers appear to have brought out the best in him. La Ferrari had not finished out of the first three in his first five starts before taking on feature company in the In Full Flight Handicap last time out and did well enough to finish five lengths off Bold Respect. Tonight’s field is a lot weaker and on a line through La Ferrari, Ishnana could prove the one to beat in a difficult race.

After a virus scare, Duncan Howells is getting his string on track again and Ninjinsky’s Son can get his evening off on a winning note. After no-shows in his first three outings, Ninjinsky’s Son came good last time out, finishing like a train behind the talented but difficult Don Piero. The extra furlong should be right up his alley. Prince Ardent, in the money at his last five starts, and Lord Of Glencoe are possible dangers.

Sunny Bill Du-Toy came to hand with a bang when stretched to 1800m on the poly last time out and although that was a lowly maiden win, he appears to have some scope. Franco looks his biggest danger. He gets 4kg from Sunny Bill and has done well since being switched to the poly and sporting blinkers. He stays the trip and weight could be a deciding factor.

Howells sends out Crystal Ball and Roy’s Zara in the fourth, both in with chances in a tricky handicap. According to Howells, Crystal Ball is coming back to her best form and with a four-claimer up in Luke Ferraris, she may prove the pick of the two although Roy’s Zara trialled well and “has a say,” according to Howells.

Others with obvious chances are Vilette and Irish Marsh.

By Andrew Harrison

Star Cape filly Oh Susanna, impressive winner of the region’s premier event, the Grade 1 Sun Met, tops the first Vodacom Durban July Log released yesterday and heads an exciting and very strong top end to Africa’s greatest racing event.

It is no surprise that the Justin Snaith-trained Australian import is the leading contender in the opinion of the official July Selection Committee and after outside Coral Fever from the Robbie Sage stable ran out a surprise winner of the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Challenge at Turffontein on Saturday, the five-year-old Judpot gelding staked his claim to what is likely to be a guaranteed position in the 2 200m spectacle.

The Sean Tarry stable is the country’s leading yard but at this stage has just one of its entries in the top 20 and that is the winner of the Summer Cup, Liege, that occupies third spot ahead of the three-year-old Gimmethegreenlight colt Surcharge that will represent trainer Stuart Pettigrew. The colt was just beaten into second place in the Derby at Turffontein on Saturday but it was a top-class effort and follows up on second placings in the Gauteng Guineas and SA Classic.

The four-year-old Russian Sage gelding Perovskia from the stable of veteran Cape trainer Harold Crawford elbowed his way onto the log with his unexpected victory in the Grade 2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville on Friday evening. Before that win he had run consistently well and only missed the placing four times in 13 starts and this was the sixth win of his career.

Snaith has four of his nominees in the top 18 with the filly being supported by Investec Cape Derby runner-up Do It Again, African Night Sky and Star Express.

The Irish import Cascapedia is the sole representative of the Mike de Kock stable in the top 18 having won the London News but his three-year-old Captain Al colt Like A Panther is just on the outside looking in and could make his way into the final field as the season progresses.

The Dean Kannemeyer stable that has an excellent record in the country’s big race, finds two of its entries, It’s My Turn that was strongly fancied for the Vodacom Durban July last year and the runner up in the Peninsula Handicap, The Slade, among those just outside the top 18 on the log.

By Richard McMillan

Featured Image: Oh Susanna (Liesl King)

The Gary Alexander stable yesterday ruled out suggestions of supplementing last Saturday’s shock SA Derby winner Hero’s Honour for the Vodacom Durban July.

Dean Alexander, the trainer’s brother, said: “He is still a bit immature for a race like that and he still has some growing to do so he will now have a break before bringing him back for the new season. At the moment we are not looking at anything with him – he has done what we wanted him to.”

However rider Mark Khan apparently has next year’s Sun Met in mind as Alexander said: “Mark mentioned the Met so it is a possibility. We will see how we go.”

Hero’s Honour (JC Photographics)

The handicappers were mightily impressed by the 55-1 shot’s win and they have raised the gelding a whopping 21 points to 109 for his length and half win. Coral Fever has been raised ten points to a new mark of 120 for his success in the Premier’s Champions Challenge while runner-up Abashiri has gone up eight to 117.

Interestingly Legal Eagle, who faded badly inside the final furlong after trying to make all, has been dropped two points to a new mark of 123. July entries Silvan Star (third) and Nother Russia (fourth) have been left unchanged on 108 and 112.

Harold Crawford’s hopes of having his first runner in the great race have been given a boost by the decision to put up Perovskia by ten to 109 for his hard-fought success in the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall.

Eric Sands has decided to run his exciting Winter Guineas winner Rainbow Bridge in the Winter Classic at Kenilworth on May 26. He had been in two minds about this previously but yesterday confirmed him a runner, adding: “He is a very special horse and he pulled up well after the Guineas.”

Justin Snaith has set many records in his time but leaving it until the second week of May to have a two-year-old winner ranks as a personal best (or worst, depending on how you look at it). He had run 23 two-year-olds in 48 races before Perfect Symmetry finally won at Kenilworth yesterday.

Some observers have openly wondered whether the lack of success indicates that the latest crop of Snaith juveniles are not that good but the boss was dismissive of any such suggestion.

He said: “Not at all. What has happened has been the plan all along. The handicapping and merit rating systems in this country mean that winning races early on in a horse’s career is not viable for the horse long-term. We have been saying this and keeping on saying it until eventually we reached the point where we decided to do something.”

By Michael Clower

The Vaal Inside meeting tomorrow features a MR 94 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m and Emily Jay could defy the handicapper again.

This Jay Peg filly has struck as one with some class from day one and has come into her own this season, winning five times from seven outings. The key has been a drop to 1400m to a mile trips and her good turn of foot is then used from handy positions. She has a plum draw tomorrow, Strydom stays aboard and she is just three points higher in the merit ratings after her win last time out. Specialists over 1400m always have to be respected as it is an in between distance and Rouge Allure is such a horse. The excellent Lyle Hewitson will get the most out of her from the plum number one draw. Dame Kelly is a typically progressive  daughter of Dynasty and will make her presence felt, despite a wide draw. Those three should get punters through the exotics, although Noceur and Dame Elanor should be considered for wider.

Lyle Hewitson

The meeting begins with a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m and Firdoas should get punters off to a good start.

This Mike de Kock-trained Bernadini filly showed excellent speed on debut over 1200m and was only just touched off. The horse she beat into third by 1,6 lengths came out and won the Grade 2 SA Fillies Nursery over 1160m next time out. Firdoas will also appreciate the step down to 1000m considering her speed, so is hard to oppose and will likely start at cramped odds.

The second is a moderate maiden over 1400m and Stop And Stare makes most appeal having not been disgraced last time over this trip in a stronger field. He would probably prefer further as his best recent effort was over 1800m but he is drawn on the right side and will be running all the way to the line. D’Arrivee returns from a layoff and gelding having gone close when leading over 1600m in December. He found betting support in that last event and started favourite, so should run well running fresh over a 200m shorter trip. Pachacuti could represent good place value as he invariably finishes well after being out the back and in a field like this capable of earning.

The third race over 1400m is tough but the vote goes to Silvez. This big scopey sort will be improving all the time and was doing her best work late last time over this trip on the Standside after being caught wide from a wide draw. She now has a low draw, which is favourable by trends and has the high flying Lyle Hewitson aboard. Rubix is a daughter of Dynasty and will thus be improving all the time. She was not disgraced over this trip in her penultimate start against a better field than this but she does have a high draw which might not be in her favour. Tortola beat Silvez the last time they met over this trip but there is now a reversal in draw fortunes. Sing And Dance is hard to ignore as she moved up well to hit the front over 1500m last time but then became a bit one paced. She also over raced slightly in that race so will relish this slight step down in trip. Tricia has run two good races in her last two but will prefer further. Poormans Lady has started favourite in her last two starts over this trip and has a chance if not needing it after a layoff.

In the fourth over 1400m Manitoba looks to be ideally distance suited and after running on well over 1200m last time will enjoy this step up in trip again. His draw will come in to seven if the reserve runners are scratched, which is not bad. Vicomte is capable of a strong finish over shorter and is interesting stepped up in trip. Tokyo Drift has to be included having improved with blinkers and the consistent Shortstop and Humble Addict, who gets the blinkers on, can’t be ignored.

The value bet of the day could be Kentucky Blue in the sixth over 1400m. This R1,1 million daughter of Dynasty took a while to get off the mark as she was either running over too short or badly drawn. She now has a good draw over an ideal 1400m trip and looks to have been given a lenient opening handicapping mark by the handicapper.

In the seventh Colour Of Light looks capable of making it four wins from five starts as she has pace and a telling change of gear at the business end over this ideal 1200m trip.

In the eighth race over 1800m Tigerlace is made the best bet of the day. She has shown signs of class and this progressive sort is ideally distance suited and has a plum draw of three.

By David Thiselton

Trainer Robbie Sage believes Coral Fever has been harshly treated in being given ten points for his Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge win at Turffontein on Saturday and he said a tilt at the Vodacom Durban July remains “up in the air.”

The five-year-old Judpot gelding has a good turn of foot but he pointed out the tight Greyville track with it’s short run in required a different type of turn of foot. “At Turffontein you can build up momentum but at Greyville you need to quicken off the mark.”

Coral Fever (JC Photographics)

The merit rating changes are usually determined by the line horse which is chosen. Coral Fever, rated 110 going into Saturday’s race, confirmed form with the 109 merit rated Abashiri, but the handicappers probably decided the latter had been peaked for this event and had proved himself better than his merit rating. So they went back to one of the placed fillies, the 108 merit rated Silvan Star or the 112 merit rated Nother Russia to find a line horse. Coral Fever not only gave that pair 3,5kg and 1,5kg respectively but also beat them by four lengths and 5,25 lengths.

Coral Fever was raised to 120 and Abashiri has been raised to 117.

Coral Fever shortened in the July betting with Betting World from 22/1 to 16/1 and Abashiri has shortened from 25/1 to 16/1.

Sage’s Var colt William The Silent caused a 45/1 shock on Saturday in the SA Nursery over 1160m, which has unfortunately been downgraded to a Grade 2.

However Sage was not overly surprised by the colt, who had won on debut and then been beaten 9,85 lengths by Bold Eagle at level weights in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m. He started at shorter odds than Bold Eagle in the latter race and Sage explained, “He had sore shins after his first start and didn’t enjoy his next start. I gave him time off to get over the shins and thought he would be thereabouts as he is a decent horse.”

Sage is thinking about Scottsville’s Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion for William The Silent. He believes although the colt showed exceptional pace on Saturday he will train on and go further in time. If that is the case then at this stage the tough Scottsville 1200m should be an ideal course and distance for him.

By David Thiselton