Frank Robinson felt his two big guns Roy Had Enough and Roy’s Riviera had run “flat” races on Classic Day over 1800m respectively at Turffontein last time out and expected them to bounce back in the Daisy Guineas and Daisy Fillies Guineas respectively tomorrow night.

He said they had seemed to be a bit stiff coming off the float at Turffontein and Roy Had Enough was quiet in the parade ring instead of being full of himself as he normally was.

Roy Had Enough (Candiese Marnewick)

“He was just not himself. He didn’t run badly to finish fifth but he just didn’t have his normal kick.”

Roy’s Riviera has run ahead of Fiorella once and close to her on another occasion, so Robinson knew she was not herself when finishing way behind her at Turffontein.

However both horses came out of their races well and have been doing very well in the build up to their Guineas engagements.

The Daily News 2000 is probably the main target of Roy Had Enough, who has a wide draw to overcome tomorrow night. However, he is unbeaten in two starts over the Daisy Guineas course and distance and Robinson said, “He has a good turn of foot so from his wide draw we can drop him out like we did in the Christmas Handicap. This will be a big test for him, because previously he has just beaten local horses.”

Roy’s Riviera has a good draw, but Robinson admitted Snowdance would be hard to beat. He added they would have no chance against Snowdance in a slow run race, as her optimum trip was a mile. He pointed out Roy’s Riviera most impressive win had been from a handy position without cover and hinted she could be sent to the front tomorrow night in order to set good fractions.

The Woolavington 2000 will be Roy’s Riviera’s next target.

By David Thiselton

Brett Crawford has five runners at tomorrow night’s opening meeting of the SA Champions Season at Greyville and will contest two of the headliners, the Grade 2 Daisy Guineas and the Grade 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m.

Crawford’s assistant trainer Peter Muscutt spoke about their chances.

In the Grade 2 Daisy Guineas they run White River. This Trippi colt made up a lot of ground in the straight in both the Selangor Cup and the Cape Guineas and also in his KZN debut in the Byerley Turk over 1400m.

Sail South (Candiese Marnewick)

However, in order to have a winning chance tomorrow night he will likely need to be closer to the pace.
Consequently, he will run in first time blinkers and Muscutt said, “It is a tight course and the idea of the blinkers is to put him into the race earlier. They appear to have had the desired effect (in training) and he is very well.”

Anthony Delpech had originally been earmarked to ride him before his terrible recent fall put him on the sidelines and Anton Marcus is the more than able replacement. White River has always struck as one who would stay further, but his only disappointing run to date has been when strongly fancied for the Investec Cape Derby over 2000m. However, Muscutt confirmed, “He will ultimately go further (than a mile).”

Crawford runs Sail South and the three-year-old Undercover Agent in the Drill Hall. The latter was drawn 18 out of 18 among the initial Daisy Guineas entries and Muscutt said it was a “no-brainer” to run him instead in the Drill Hall, where he has drawn six out of 13. Muscutt was bullish about the chances of this well regarded Captain Al colt. He said, “He is quick out of the gates and comes into this race very well.” He is coming off impressive victories in both the US$500,000 CTS 1600 and the Byerley Turk over the Drill Hall course and distance.

Sail South, who won last season’s Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m, has cracked a fine draw of two in the Drill Hall. He is effective over this trip and was just 0,45 lengths back in sixth in last year’s blanket finish won by Marinaresco. Muscutt said, “The draw might be contrary to his racing style and I would have preferred our pair to have been drawn the other way around. You can get into traffic on the fence and he has always finished better when ridden quietly. But he is very well and runs well fresh. He has to give the others weight but is Grade 1 class while the rest of the older horses look to be hard-knocking handicappers.”

Both Undercover Agent and Sail South will be going for the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge next.
In race four, a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1200m, Crawford runs the promising three-year-old Sail From Seattle gelding Pacific Trader who finished close up on debut over 1000m at Kenilworth and then easily won his next two starts over that same course and distance.

He said, “He put up a very impressive recent gallop.” He is drawn perfectly in two, especially considering he has been up with the pace in his last two starts. Feature races will be beckoning if he does well tomorrow night.

The yard also run Twice Over gelding Game Changer in the last, a Maiden over 1400m. He ran quite well in his second barrier trial when finishing 6,9 lengths behind Zodiac Ruler over 1000m on the Greyville poly. Muscutt said, “He is quite a nice horse and we expect him to be effective over further.”

By David Thiselton

Vodacom Durban July favourite African Night Sky has been installed 4-1 favourite with the sponsors for the World Sports Betting 1900 at Greyville on May 19 when the Justin-Snaith four-year-old will be ridden by Anton Marcus for the first time.

It’s My Turn, equal third in last year’s race when trained by Snaith but now with Dean Kannemeyer, shares second favouritism on 8-1 with the Mike de Kock-trained Cascapedia whose three-race winning run came to an end when she finished only tenth behind Nother Russia in the Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes.

Tilbury Fort, second in last year’s 1900, is a 25-1 chance this time and last season’s third Mr Winsome is one of the real outsiders at 45-1. Elusive Silva, fifth last year and another Snaith entry, is quoted at 18-1.

By Michael Clower

Featured Image: It’s My Turn (Liesl King)

When expected pacemaker Newton’s Spark got the better of a scrum of starter’s assistants before eventually wearing out the starter’s patience, the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap was reduced to six runners and had Dean Kannemeyer cursing his luck.

As he feared, the field hacked the first 1500m leaving top weight Made To Conquer to win the sprint for home, which he did finishing clear of hot favourite and a one-paced Silva’s Bullet and Snaith stable companion One Direction.

“I purposely gave this horse a break to leave something for KZN and it worked out nicely,” said Justin Snaith who finally broke his winter season duck in the province.

Gavin Van Zyl

“It’s been a bit tense and I have been ‘box walking’ but the weather hasn’t been kind. Three days of rain then 30 degrees then rain, it hasn’t been easy but we will settle down and start firing.”

With Snaith saddling the two best fillies on the country at Greyville on Friday night, yesterday’s win was a timely boost of confidence.

Made To Conquer came off some cracking Cape form, this being his fifth win from his last five starts but any thoughts of a supplementary entry for the Vodacom Durban July are on hold.

“He’ll probably get about six points for this win. He may not get into the July and he might not be good enough if he does but I know he stays so maybe the Gold Cup will be a better option,” pondered Snaith. “We will see how we go.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who had ridden Made To Conquer in his five previous starts, was cautious about the chances of the favourite beforehand. “He’s won for of his last five,” he said of the top weight, “and we are only getting half a kilo,” he surmised.

Anton Marcus made an early move at the top of the straight and Made To Conquer kept rolling to the line. Silva’s Bullet briefly looked a threat but it was soon clear that his rival had pinched a winning lead.’

Given the slow early fractions this form could prove deceiving and Silva’s Bullet may be worth another chance.

Miss Calypso booked her place in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship with a smart victory in the second on the card, underlining the benefit of racing experience as opposed to those making their debut. “Next is the big one,” said Gavin van Zyl after Miss Calypso had streaked clear of market rival Alsflamingbeauty making her debut for Snaith. Miss Calypso knew what it was all about while Alsflamingbeauty was at sea for most of the race and did well enough to stay on for second. She is definitely one for the notebook.

Alsflamingbeauty had finished close-up in her barrier trial to Sunday’s Strelitiza Stakes winner Inveroche who is also headed for the Allan Robertson. “The Allan Robertson and then she is also eligible for that million-rand race on July Day,” said Mark Dixon. “Then we will put her away.  Five races is enough for a two-year-old.”

Di Me was responsible for one of the longest priced winners in recent months as Ivan van Wyk’s colt got the meeting off to a rocky start. Di Me was a 125-1 chance with the books and paid R73 a win on the tote.

By Andrew Harrison

Snaith Racing will wait until Friday evening before dispatching Computaform Sprint favourite Sergeant Hardy and stable companion Bishop’s Bounty from Summerveld in order to minimise the effects of altitude.

Jonno Snaith said “Sergeant Hardy is the type of horse you want to take to Jo’burg – tough as nails and sure to dig deep – but the trip could be on the short side for Bishop’s Bounty.”

Justin Snaith

The latter is a 16-1 chance with Betting World which makes Bernard Fayd-Herbe’s mount 22-10 favourite ahead of 9-2 chances Trip To Heaven and Exquisite Touch. Attenborough (Richard Fourie) and Speedpoint (Callan Murray) are outsiders at 16-1 and 25-1 but Joey Ramsden is expecting a big run from both of them.

He said: “Attenborough is in brilliant form, absolutely superb, and he did a good gallop there last week. Speedpoint is not out of it either. He ran a smasher at the Vaal in his first race since Met day and he had had a holiday in the interim.

“He is a tricky horse to train as he has little niggles but it’s the right trip for both of them and I am lucky to have two such top jockeys.”

Brett Crawford is looking at more immediate targets and he has the first two in the betting in the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville on Friday evening. The hat-trick seeking Undercover Agent is 3-1 favourite with World Sports Betting and Sail South next on 9-2.

Crawford said: “Undercover Agent is very well in himself and Sail South is also in good form. He hasn’t raced since the Met but he likes to run fresh and he will be running on well at the end.”

By Michael Clower

Dennis Drier said his Equus Champion filly Lady In Black was very well ahead of the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas at Greyville on Friday night and said she had improved by about “four to five” lengths since returning from Cape Town.

However, he believed the brilliant Justin Snaith-trained Snowdance would be hard to beat. Both fillies run in the black and white colours of Jack Mitchell.

Drier had a wretched Cape Summer season where nothing appeared to go right.

However, Lady In Black put in the stand out performance of the campaign by finishing second to subsequent Sun Met winner Oh Susanna in the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes over 1800m.

The Drier yard has turned the corner since returning from Cape Town and Lady In Black won her comeback in KZN in the Grade 2 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m at Greyville.

However, he said her main target for the SA Champions Season is the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000.

Drier reckoned he had the best crop of two-year-olds he had ever had and one of his barrier trial eye-catchers, Outlando D’Amour runs in race one.

By David Thiselton

Chesney van Zyl could well make a fairytale start to his career as a licensed trainer as the runners at his debut meeting, Turffontein’s Champions Day on Saturday, include the Grade 2 SA Nursery favourite Bold Eagle.

The Bold Silvano colt is unbeaten in three starts and Chesney said he had come on from his win in the Grade 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m when giving weight all around.

He said, “He is very, very well, he has taken all of his runs well and is improving and I am happy with the spacing of his races.”

Bold Eagle (JC Photographics)

He has a middle draw of eight in the 13 horse field and is the one to beat.

Warren Kennedy rode him on debut and replaces the recuperating Anthony Delpech.

Chesney has four runners in the Grade 2 SA Oaks over 2450m and a couple of them could be dark horses.

He admitted the Await The Dawn filly Pilgrim’s Progress had been a bit disappointing but pointed out she had always had to be carrying big weights against older winners and it had been tough to make up ground under those circumstances. He said, “She will definitely stay the trip and her work at home has been very good and she is well within herself, so now that she is at level weights with her own age group hopefully she can turn the tables.”

He also rated What A Winter filly Mar Del Seur a dark horse and said considering how fast she had gone in front last time in the SA Fillies Classic her ten length beating had not been bad. He said, “Every time I have sent her over further than 1400m she has disappointed, but she has not been given the best of rides. With Grant van Niekerk now aboard she can hopefully be ridden with more patience, but it all depends on whether she stays.”

He was hoping African Dynasty could reproduce her excellent third in the Oaks Trial and hoped Azkhur, who has been a touch disappointing, could bounce back.

He is hoping for a good pace as three of his runners have to overcome wide draws, although Mar Del Sur’s chances of staying have been helped by a pole position draw.

Chesney was bullish about the chances of Just Cruised In in the Grade 3 Gold Bowl over 3200m where he is in the handicap carrying only 52,5kg. He said, “He is very well and is carrying a light weight so I am hoping for another big run as he is enjoying the long trips and we are now seeing the best of him.”

Chesney served his father very well as the caretaker of his Turffontein satellite yard for nine years and in that time not only delivered winners but winners at the highest level such as The Apache, Slumdogmillionaire, Seal, Along Came Polly, Bulsara, Prestic, Franny and others.

Chesney said, “It feels the same really, but it is good to finally be going on my own and I hope it goes well.”

He will continue to view his father as his mentor and said, “He is always there for us, he has vast knowledge on his side and is a great horseman so I will always turn to him when needing help.”

Gavin said, “We wish Chesney every success in the future as he enters the training ranks in what could be described as the toughest of times, where only the tough will survive.”

By David Thiselton

Silva’s Bullet appears to have taken his gelding well and turned in a smart performance to win over the Greyville mile on the poly last time out.

Dean Kannemeyer was full of praise for his charge after that victory and just how far the gelding has progressed will be judged at Scottsville today where he lines up in the seventh over 1950m.

Silva’s Bullet showed a smart turn of foot when winning and the step up in trip and class is unlikely to trouble him. A convincing victory today will set him up nicely for a possible crack at the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and punters have not been slow out of the blocks. Silva’s Bullet is 12-10 favourite with Track & Ball, in from a 15-10 opening call.

Justin Snaith saddles the year older Made To Conquer who comes off some smart Cape form, winning four of his last five starts. However, the gelding has not been out for four months and Snaith has made an unusually slow start to his KZN season. It may also be telling that Bernard Fayd’Herbe has jumped ship to partner Silva’s Bullet.

Silva’s Bullet (Candiese Marnewick)

Made To Conquer may not do it for Snaith but Alsflamingbeauty could get him off the mark when she runs in the second. The daughter of Captain Al caught the eye in the paddock and in her barrier trial at Scottsville, beaten less than a length by Sunday’s impressive Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes winner Inveroche. Her trial did not go un-noticed by the bookmakers either and she is marginal favourite at 13-10 with the more experienced and beaten favourite Miss Calypso at 18-10.

However, there has been a mountain of support for the Yogas Govender-trained Bargeme, in from 22-1 to 6-1 after making good improvement at her second trial, so one needs to be a little cautious.

Boeing City (11-1) also put in a good trial behind Triple Fate Line who only found the highly rated Cue The Music too good for him on his race course debut proper so it will be interesting to see how the form of these respective trials work out.

Triple Fate Line is ante-post favourite in the card opener with recent trial winner Roman Dancer next best in the market. Triple Fate Line was left bobbing like a cork in the wake of a speedboat called Cue The Music but it was still a smart debut effort.

Nathan Kotzen’s Lilibet is back on her favoured surface in the opening leg of the Pick 6 but there are a few in with winning chances. Duncan Howells has indicated that he may declare blinkers on Silver Raisin before today’s event and she could make amends for her recent defeat when favourite. Amber Furst also made a smart debut and will have her supporters.

Pumpkin Queen makes her local debut for Kannemeyer in the fifth and comes off some useful Cape form but she does not have an easy draw so it may be wise to load up in this leg of the exotics. Lightning Spectra is expected to improve over the trip and although this pair are the only runners quoted in single figures, it could prove more complicated than that.

The sixth is a seriously competitive handicap with 6-1 bar. There has been significant support for Shane Humby’s charge Midnight Vision and it could prove to be inspired support while The Poet gets blinkers for the first time and over his best course and distance could be a big runner for Mark Dixon. These are just two contenders in a difficult race.

By Andrew Harrison

French Legend, touched off by Vodacom Durban July entry Legend recently, could be the one to side with in the Laboratory Supplies Handicap at Greyville tomorrow night.

Sean Tarry’s filly has only won one of her 14 starts and her merit rating has slowly been coming down and would probably have been a lot lower had she not been so consistent. However, she somehow escaped a penalty for her last run and even though shouldering top weight, she could prove difficult to beat.

Sean Tarry

Dangers include the year younger Hidden Thought, in mustard form since shedding her maiden and Karatage, who although beaten by Roy’s Pony (also in this race) last time out, will be having her third outing after a break. Her earlier form, most notably when touched off by recent The Scarlet Lady winner Parabola, is solid and good enough to see her feature prominently.

In the evening’s finale, Roy’s Stingray finished way behind class act Saratoga Dancer in her barrier trial but made a mockery of that nearly 10-length beating when starting favourite under Anthony Delpech to shed her maiden next time out.

The Aussie-bred made a smart debut at long odds before being rested and does look to be above average.

She meets little of note in the final race of the evening and could have the better of top weight Inga and Crystal Ball.

Joey Ramsden sent out the first two-year-old winner taking on older rivals when Tarsus landed the odds at Kenilworth last Saturday and Doug Campbell can follow suit in KZN when he saddles Farland in the opening leg of the PA.

Farland makes her racecourse debut proper tomorrow but turned in a smart barrier trial when finishing a close-up second to the highly rated Queen’s Plain.

Falkland and Pantsula look best of the older brigade.

Shane Humby races his charged sparingly but they invariably pay to follow. He sends out Suzi Woo in the Jayce Projects Maiden and she should prove difficult to beat in the first leg of the Pick 6 and is a possible banker. She was a close-up second last time out and takes on a field with little or no form.

If there is a threat is should come from Who Knows who has improved with each run and makes her poly debut.

Bravo Zulu has been costly to follow, but Louis Goosen’s charge is rated way better than anything else in the Morris Vee Sports Bet maiden and the gelding has to get it right at some stage of his career.

By Andrew Harrison

A MR 90 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m heads a low key nine race card at Turffontein on Saturday and there is also a MR 88 handicap for fillies and mare over 1000m on a day where careful form study should reap rewards.

In the main race Aurelia Cotta looks the one to beat. She has been a bit disappointing after a fine start to her career but has not been disgraced against some of the best in the land in her last five starts. In fact the last time she ran over this trip against females she finished second in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile to Folk Dance. The latter finished a fine fourth in the Grade 1 Empress Club on Saturday despite having to make up plenty of ground on the back of a slow pace. Lyle Hewitson has proved the headlines he makes have not just been hype and has matured into a genuinely top echelon rider. From a draw of two he looks sure to reserve enough fuel for his mount’s final dash to the line.

Lyle Hewitson

Seal My Fate has been in fine form from 1600-1800m and has a fair draw. The underrated Ryan Munger is her regular pilot and should get the best out of her again. In her penultimate start she beat Secret Potion over 1800m and the latter went on to finish third in the Grade 1 SA Classic over that same trip. Last time out in the Grade 3 Jacaranda over 1800m Seal My Fate was 3kg under sufferance and after her usual front-running role faded out to finish 8,8 lengths behind Al Danza. However, the latter then proved how good she was by finishing second in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes.

The last time Seal My Fate went this trip she finished a two length second in a handicap. She is now an effective six points higher but that race was against the boys, so it was a commendable effort and she should make a bold bid from the front tomorrow. Dressed To Impress has caught the eye before and might have been caught napping the last time she ran over this trip by a horse who stole a march down the inside. However, her good finishing run did peter out slightly so there is a question whether she saw it out. This concern is exacerbated by the fact she over raced in her penultimate start, also over this trip. Her sire Pathfork won a Group 1 as a two-year-old over seven furlongs but her dam by Western Winter is a half-sister to Grade 1 SA Classic winner over 1800m Divine Jury, so she should be given another chance, considering she has only had three starts to date.

Waity Katy has proved she has plenty of ability since joining the David Nieuwenhuizen yard and being ridden by Dylan Lerena, scoring a three wins in a row and a narrow second two weekends ago against a stand out form horse in Sha-Boom Sha-Boom. On the downside she was given a two point raise for that last run and Lerena rides 2kg overweight tomorrow. The two factors combined are a big obstacle to overcome but she is well drawn and should be in the shake up. Topweight Costa Da Sol has to be taken seriously. She finished just three lengths behind Al Danza over 1500m in her penultimate start and was making late progress against the decent Oh My Darling from draw 9 of 11 over this course and distance last time out. She now has the identical draw, but in a bigger field, and she is two points lower in the merit ratings, so has a chance. Those five are the stand outs and should get punters through the exotics.

In the eighth over 1000m Cals Crush has turned the corner and although seven points higher for her course and distance win three weeks ago she can produce another storming run from behind. Topweight Movie Show has class and Piere Strydom on her side and also has a fine course and distance record. Opera makes most appeal of the rest as she is a massive 7kg better off with Cals Crush for a 0,75 length beating over this trip at the Vaal and as a three-year-old daughter of Oratorio should now be coming into her own.

By David Thiselton