There is a full card of ten races on the Vaal Outside track tomorrow and there look to be one of two opportunities for punters.

In the first race over 1200m Silver Spine can boost the bankroll before the exotic bets start. This gelding is by Silvano out of the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Sparkling Gem and he looks the part. He is a rangy sort and was probably only undone  by the unfavourable high draw last time over this trip on the Vaal Inside track. He showed pace throughout and was caught by the late-charging Seventh Son. He should have come on from that run. He has another high draw and although this used to be an advantage on the Outside course, this is no longer the case. However, it does not appear to be a disadvantage. The main danger is King Of The Bay, who went close over the Vaal Inside track 1200m last time, also from an unfavourable draw. The form of that race has been franked by the runner up State Trooper, who has come out and won twice since. The first-timer Limestone Mass can’t be ignored being by Rock Of Gibralatar and a half-brother to a Listed winner.

Royal Rose

The second race over 1200m is intriguing, as there are no standout horses. Quick Glimpse is the selection as she showed pace over this trip back in September and drops back to it after a couple of races over 1400m, including going close last time. Peppermint Tea had a wall of horses in front of her last time over 1000m, so had to switch inward and was making up some ground late. She looks a fair sort and will likely relish the step up in trip. Ticktacktoe stayed on well for second in yielding going over 1160m last time. The concern is she was already a four-year-old when making her debut and she had to pushed along for almost the entire race. However, if the latter fact was just due to inexperience, rather than a lack of pace, she should be right there.

The first leg of the PA over 1400m should be fought out by two progressive Silvano fillies, Amanika and Believe Me. However, the former is the more imposing looking of them and is tipped to win and be a banker for the PA.

In the next race it is easy to see why Kentucky Blue cost over a million rand on the looks front and he is chosen as a Pick 6 banker. He started awkwardly last time over 1200m but was stretching out well at the line for a fast-finishing 1,75 length fifth. Being by Dynasty he will be improving and will relish the step up in trip. Dreamsaremadeof, who nearly made all at Greyville last time over 1600m, and What A Story, who chased home a promising sort over 1200m last time and should enjoy this trip, are the dangers.

The handicaps start in the first leg of the Jackpot, where Emily Jay could make it four-in-a-row having lately begun fulfilling the talent she has always had. She has also proven suited to the drop down to 1400m and a mile and can defy the handicapper again with Lyle Hewitson remaining aboard. Alileo and Sylvan On Fire should also be in the shake up. Tammany Hall is an eyecatching daughter of the good sire Await the Dawn, so can’t be ignored in her comeback run. Maleficent once looked destined for big things so has to be considered in her second run after a long layoff.

The next race is open and going wide is advised, although Shelly ran well over this trip last time and now has Strydom up off a one point lowered mark.

In the seventh, Well Connected is in fine form and should be improving being by Silvano so is tipped to beat Boatswain, Pillaroftheearth, Baahir and Seven Lives.

The last leg of the Jackpot is tricky but Mademoiselle won well on debut despite playing up a bit in the preliminaries, so she can follow up off a reasonable 72 merit rating and can beat Opera, Shifting Shadows, Amajory and Moggie Brown.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is a lower division sprint and all of Thewaywemakem, Seventh Son, Supanova, Bling Ball, King Of Mani and King Of Shaka are suggested for the Pick 6, although going wider if possible would be even better.

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith looks at first sight to be running away with the National Trainers Championships, as he was unofficially R6,777,525 clear of defending champion Sean Tarry at time of going to press and more than R10 million clear of Mike de Kock.

Sean Tarry

However, a look at which stage of the season these three trainers earn their money shows that the championship is in fact still very much alive.

Sean Tarry has earned over R10 million in each of the last three Highveld Autumn seasons and Mike de Kock has earned huge amounts in two of those three Autumn seasons too. This pair could close the gap on Snaith, who has earned between R8 million and R10 million less than Tarry during this phase of the season for the last three years. However, Snaith looks the strongest of the trio for the SA Champions Season and this is outlined by the record amounts he earned during the Cape Summer, so he will still be the firm favourite.

The season can be divided into four segments. Segment 1 is from August up to and including the Sansui Summer Cup meeting (incorporates Highveld Spring Season); Segment 2 is from the beginning of December up to and including the Sun Met meeting (incorporates Cape Summer Season); The third segment runs from February up to and including the country’s richest race meeting, Champions Day at Turffontein (incorporates Highveld Autumn Season); Segment 4 is the remainder of the season (incorporates SA Champions Season).

In 2015 the Gold Cup was run on August 1, so that will be included within the 2014/2015 statistics.

In the tables below the sequential numbers represent segment 1, segment 2, segment 3 and segment 4 figures plus the season total.

Mike de Kock was champion in the 2012/2013 season and the segmental figures for that season were as follows:

De Kock: R4,562,212.50; R2,327,375; R3,734,825; R6,241,900 = R16,866,312.50

Tarry: R4,290,100; R2,018,525; R4,969,825; R5,701,062 = R16,517,350

Snaith: R3,732,585; R2,280,675; R2,229,500; R5,238,900 = R13,943,822.50

Snaith was the champion in the 2013/2014 season.

Snaith: R4,142,275; R4,217,875; R2,406,112.50; R8,724,462.50 = R19,490,725.00

Tarry: R3,363,600.00; R3,106,287.50; R4,665,125; R3,392,650 = R14,527,662.50 (3^rd)

De Kock: R3,110,687.50; R1,785,437.50; R3,654,175; R4,620,475 = R13,170,775.00 (4^th)

Tarry was the champion in the 2014/2015 season (August 1, 2015 figures included):

Tarry: R5,755,500; R3,961,925; R10,760,575; R5,526,525 = R26,004,525.00

De Kock: R5,330,162.50; R4,589,150; R6,174,075; R4,448,325 = R20,541.712.50

Snaith: R4,751,950; R3,543,712; R2,582,175; R6,174,525 = R17,052,362.50

Tarry was champion in the 2015/2016 season (August 1, 2015, figures excluded):

Tarry: R5,259,812.50; R4,954,525; R12,932,925; R4,772,725 = R27,919,987.50

Snaith: R5,764,025; R4,735,237.50; R2,081,887.50; R5,770,837.50 = R18,351,987.50 (3^rd)

De Kock: R4,527,300; R2,453,800; R2,758,175; R3,796,150 = R13,535,425.00 (4^th)

Tarry was champion in the 2016/2017 season:

Tarry: R7,741,675; R8,414,525; R10,289,075; R9,598,525 = R36,043,800

Snaith: R6,376,825; R5,513,775; R3,016,825; R6,203,425 = R21,110,850

De Kock: R3,440,775.00; R2,487,550.00; R8,677,250; R1,876,650 = R16,482,225 (5^th)

For the first two segments this season the figures read:

Snaith:R5,807,600; R12,167,200 = R17,974,800

Tarry: R5,516,650; R5,165,550 = R10,682,200 (3^rd)

De Kock: R4,296,000; R2,329,450 = R6,625,450 (5^th)

*Please note that all of these figures include restricted race stakes, which currently are officially not included in the Trainer’s Championship.

By David Thiselton

The 2016 Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner Mac De Lago will have his first start for Dan Katz in the Jet Master Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday week.

Dan Katz (SportingPost)

The six-year-old, who carries the colours of Hassen Adams, went to take third in the Vodacom Durban July for Weiho Marwing but rather lost his way this season and last, only making the frame once when fourth of seven behind Romany Prince in the London News Stakes 13 months ago.

Katz said yesterday: “He was a very good horse but he seemed a bit disinterested in his last couple of runs and came to me about three months ago. He has had a lot of small niggles and aches and pains that we have been working though while we try to get his mind back on racing to see if we can rejuvenate his career.

“He is enjoying himself at the moment and seems a happy horse. He should be able to show us that he still wants to do it in the Jet Master. Greg Cheyne rides.”

Joey Ramsden yesterday confirmed that his Klawervlei Majorca third Rose In Bloom will run in the Vasco Prix Du Cap on the same card.

He said: “She has improved but she has been pretty consistent all season and I thought her sixth from a wide draw in the Cape Fillies Guineas was also pretty special.”

Ramsden, bidding for his sixth Prix Du Cap in the last 14 seasons, has also nominated last season’s Fillies Guineas winner Just Sensual who won this 12 months ago but disappointed in the Majorca. No decision has yet been made on whether she runs.

By Michael Clower

Fiorella’s participation in the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas hangs in the balance after she drew 20 out of 23 when the computer spat out the draws at nominations on Monday. The first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara will be run at Turffontein on Saturday, March 3, and a lot may depend on how the daughter of Captain Al performs at Scottsville this afternoon where she is due to run in the GCC Fast Tracked Handicap over 1600m.

Fiorella carries top weight in a competitive handicap and given a good showing, Duncan Howells may well be tempted to let his filly take her chances in the Fillies Guineas in spite of the draw – after all there is only one crack at the classic.

Fiorella was a game winner when getting the better of luckless stable companion Dawn Calling at Scottsville last month and although well beaten by Hastagyolo in the Flamboyant Stakes, it was more of a warm-up after running Dean Kannemeyer’s highly rated filly to within two lengths prior to that.

Kannemeyer has not had much luck with barrier draws in feature races recently with Last Winter drawing 20 in the Sun Met and Hashtagyolo pulling one gate further out than Fiorella in the Fillies Guineas.

Fiorella (Candiese Marewick)

But Hastagyolo is a definite runner and Kannemeyer has already booked Piere Strydom.

Hashtagyolo was ridden by Anthony Delpech in all of her three wins from three starts in KZN, but due to contractual commitments, Kannemeyer was obliged to find a new rider.

“I was extremely pleased to secure the services of Piere Strydom to ride this very promising filly in Anthony’s absence,” said Kannemeyer. “She has been in Johannesburg a few weeks and has settled well. She did some pace work over 800m last week. She will be given a gallop at Turffontein over 1400m about ten days before the big race. All going well, she will be aimed at the Triple Tiara. She is a filly who is looking for ground,” he added.

A further plus in Fiorella’s favour today is that her last win came in soft ground and the forecast for Scottsville today does appear to be damp and with the Greyville poly currently undergoing a revamp, there is no chance of a venue change.

Fiorella’s obvious danger is likely to be Kannemeyer’s filly Pearl Glow, a winner of two of her last three outings and a close-up second to the useful Ideal Winter last time out. Only once out of the money in six outings, she should give Kannemeyer and Howells an inkling to where they are headed.

Sunset Eyes will be looking for a hattrick of win in the GCC Takeover Handicap but is up against some smart younger horses in the form of Varallo, Ryker and Sniper Shot.

Sunset Eyes has come well since his move to Brett Crawford’s KZN satellite yard where he arrived a one-time winner from a dozen outings. He gave notice of his improvement first time out and has since built on that showing with two smart wins.

He does face a much stiffer task this afternoon and Ryker and Varallo will be no push-overs.

Ryker disappointed behind Sunset Eyes at their last outing, finishing last of the seven runners, but it was a well below par performance judged on his earlier form. He is now 3g better off, given apprentice Denis Schwarz’s 1.5kg claim, and he should come up with a better showing this afternoon.

Varallo gives weight to the field and boast some smart form in useful company. However, he has not been out since early December and this will be his second outing for Dennis Bosch. It will also be his first start since gelding so he may be just short of a gallop.

By Andrew Harrison

Alistair Gordon was hopeful of a good draw and good ground for the Gr2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas after Monks Hood scored a facile victory at Scottsville on Sunday. The first of Gordon’s wishes was realised when his Gr2 Dingaans winner drew 7 of 23 nominations yesterday.

The handicappers rate Monks Hood the equal of Stuart Pettigrew’s impressive recent winner Surcharge with Mustaaqeen still top of the pile in spite of his recent defeat when making his seasonal debut.

Assistant Matthew de Kock was of the opinion that his Gr1 SA Nursery winner was in need of the outing after a lengthy break and recovering from knee surgery, however, he was done no favours in the draw.

Mustaaqeen will jump from the extreme outside no matter what.

But De Kock has plenty of options with eight of the 23 entries.

Hastagyolo has similarly bad luck for the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, drawing 21 out of 23 and after Last Winter drew 20 out of 20 in the Sun Met, Dean Kannemeyer will not be particularly pleased.

Fellow KZN raider Fiorella did not fare much better in the draw as Duncan Howells’s filly drew on inside of Hashtagyolo at 20.

Frank Robinson’s filly Roy’s Riviera was more fortunate and should come in a few spots from her initial draw of 11.

The races will be run at Turffontein on Saturday, March 3.

By Andrew Harrison

R1,000,000  1600m     0

BETTING WORLD GAUTENG GUINEAS (Grade 2)

For 3 year-olds (1st Leg SA Triple Crown)

23 MUSTAAQEEM (AUS)   (3C) 60.0 109   Mike de Kock

7 MONKS HOOD         (3G) 60.0 104   Alistair Gordon

18 SURCHARGE          (3C) 60.0 104   Stuart Pettigrew

6 GREEK FIRE         (3C) 60.0 100   M G Azzie/A A Azzi

12 ROY HAD ENOUGH (AU (3C) 60.0 100   Frank Robinson

8 IDEAL SECRET       (3C) 60.0  98   M G Azzie/A A Azzi

11 MAJESTIC MAMBO     (3C) 60.0  98   Paul Peter

22 WONDERWALL         (3C) 60.0  97   Sean Tarry

15 SEERITE            (3G) 60.0  96   Robbie Sage

9 NOBLE SECRET       (3G) 60.0  95   Mike de Kock

19 SIR DAVID BAIRD    (3G) 60.0  95   Mike de Kock

3 PUGET SOUND        (3G) 60.0  92   Mike de Kock

1 ROYAL CRUSADE      (3C) 60.0  92   Mike de Kock

10 VACQUERO           (3C) 60.0  92   Robbie Sage

20 BIG BEAR           (3C) 60.0  91   Sean Tarry

17 YAKEEN (AUS)       (3C) 60.0  91   Mike de Kock

5 CASH TIME          (3G) 60.0  90   Gary Alexander

14 ALSHIBAA (AUS)     (3G) 60.0  89   Mike de Kock

13 PIETRO MASCAGNI    (3C) 60.0  87   Mike de Kock

4 SILVER GOD         (3C) 60.0  87   Sean Tarry

2 STATE TROOPER      (3G) 60.0  81   Roy Magner

16 ALSSAKHRA          (3C) 60.0  80   Paul Peter

21 LOYAL LIEUTENANT   (3G) 60.0  79   Robbie Sage

(23)

R500,000    1600m 

WILGERBOSDRIFT GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEAS (Grade 2)

3yof (1st Leg Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara)

21 HASHTAGYOLO        (3F) 60.0  99   Dean Kannemeyer

16 FOLK DANCE         (3F) 60.0  97   Paul Peter

10 FISH RIVER (AUS)   (3F) 60.0  96   Mike de Kock

2 SILVER THURSDAY    (3F) 60.0  95   Mike de Kock

11 ROY’S RIVIERA (AUS (3F) 60.0  92   Frank Robinson

8 TAKINGTHEPEACE     (3F) 60.0  92   Mike de Kock

19 CASHEL PALACE      (3F) 60.0  90   Alec Laird

20 FIORELLA           (3F) 60.0  90   Duncan Howells

18 DAME KELLY         (3F) 60.0  88   Ormond Ferraris

14 TAMMANY HALL       (3F) 60.0  88   Paul Peter

9 AURELIA COTTA      (3F) 60.0  87   Sean Tarry

3 ROCKIN RUSSIAN     (3F) 60.0  85   Sean Tarry

6 RADIANT SPLENDOUR  (3F) 60.0  83   Gary Alexander

5 GREEN TOP          (3F) 60.0  82   Alec Laird

15 SECRET POTION      (3F) 60.0  81   Geoff Woodruff

12 AWFAA              (3F) 60.0  80   Mike de Kock

13 JET START          (3F) 60.0  79   Ormond Ferraris

1 PALE LILAC         (3F) 60.0  79   Alec Laird

22 DRESSED TO IMPRESS (3F) 60.0  77   Geoff Woodruff

23 SCHIPPERS          (3F) 60.0  76   Geoff Woodruff

17 REDBERRY WOOD      (3F) 60.0  74   Geoff Woodruff

7 PEARL OF BAHRAIN   (3F) 60.0  73   Mike de Kock

4 PRETTY BALLERINA   (3F) 60.0  71   Ormond Ferraris

(23)

Justin Snaith is considering sending Gimme Six to Turffontein to campaign in the R1 million Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes on 21 April following the four-year-old’s fifth place in the Klawervlei Majorca.

But brother Jonathan, so often the stable’s master strategist, is adamant that she has to be given adequate time to acclimatise to the altitude.

Gimme Six

He said: “Master trainers have been trying to raid Johannesburg from Cape Town for more than a century. It has been done successfully on occasions but basically we can’t reinvent the wheel. So if she goes – and the owners have yet to make a final decision – she will go next week.”

The stable won the 2009 Empress Club with previous season’s Durban July dead-heater Dancer’s Daughter and since then Cape Town trainers have been successful with Thunder Dance (Brett Crawford) and Inara (Mike Bass).

Star Express, second only to Snowdance in the Majorca, goes to Durban and will be aimed at the July with an expected low weight. If she doesn’t make the cut she will have another crack at the Garden Province.

Snowdance and Sun Met heroine Oh Susanna are still enjoying their well-deserved break at Drakenstein while Jonathan and his brother mull over options with the owners.

Jonathan said: “Snowdance could possibly start in the Daisy Fillies Guineas on 6 May. Her main mission is the Garden Province but she will be nominated for both the SA Fillies Sprint (26 May) and the Rising Sun Gold Challenge on 9 June. The owners, Gaynor Rupert and Jack Mitchell, will decide which races she goes for.

“Oh Susanna runs in the Woolavington on 2 June and after that a decision will be made about running her in the Vodacom Durban July.”

–   What A Winter proved to be the big mover at the Horses For Causes stallion nomination auction for the second year running at Kenilworth last Saturday. His published fee for last season was R50 000 but such has been his success that Mark Bass had to go to R 71 000 (the highest price of the day) to secure a service.

In the previous year the stallion’s fee was R20 000 and a service at the Peninsula Room auction made R47 500.

By Michael Clower

The Vaal Inside track stages a low key eight race meeting tomorrow, although there are some good horses appearing and Amsterdam could make the headlines.

Brazuca

This rejuvenated six-year-old galloper by Windrush can score his third win of 2018 over a suitable trip in the MR 104 Handicap over 2000m. His draw of two in the six horse field will suit his handy to front-running style, especially considering the pole position drawn Kitty’s Destiny tends to be dropped out. Furthermore, the field has cut down to just six runners after the scratching of the sold-without-engagement Master Switch and carrying just 52,5kg he can dictate under JP van der Merwe, who rides him for the third time in succession. His resolute finish can then see off the challengers. However, he will not have it easy. Glider Pilot looks to be the main danger. He showed his class by finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 in just his third career start. Interestingly, his second career start was over this course and distance in May last year and he finished a 1,9 length second to Amsterdam at level weights. He was 2,5kg worse off than weight for age with Amsterdam  in that race and is now 4kg worse off than weight for age with him, so on that bit of form Amsterdam should confirm the placings.

However, Glider Pilot is obviously more experience now and it would be no surprise to him winning. The four-year-old A P Arrow gelding is coming off a good second in a Progress Plate. He was well weighted in the latter race, but now has his third run after a layoff. Bankable Teddy will also be a threat. He is distance suited and last time, with the blinkers removed, came from off a slow pace over 1800m to lose by a head to Amesterdam. He is now half-a-kilogram better off and all three of his career wins have been over this 2000m trip. The blinkers remain off and Ryan Munger rides for the third time in succession. Brazuca is the class horse of the race but has to lug 61,5kg and comes off a poor run over 1800m in which he was not striding out. Kitty’s Destiny has always struck a one with ability and this long-striding sort was running on well over 1600m last time. He is 2kg under sufferance , but is drawn in pole and could surprise. Top Shot sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight and with Lyle Hewitson up can’t be ignored over a trip in which he has only once finished outside of the first three.

The next race is a MR 82 Handicap over 2000m and The Rocketman might be attempting to book his place in the classics. Last time over 1600m he took a while to get going but won full of running and this three-year-old Australian-bred gelding by Foxwedge will relish the step up in trip. The concern is a wide draw of seven but in the eight horse field he can make up the ground if dropped out to the back. Shenanigans got going late to win over 1600m last time and should also relish the step up in trip. In fact he won his maiden by 4,5 lengths over this trip and this lightly raced Dynasty gelding looks to be going places. It looks to be a boat race and is full of intrigue as both are likely ahead of the handicapper off 83 and 78 merit ratings respectively. Malinga is in good form and has never been out of the first two in four attempts at the course and distance. He is the most likely to pick up the pieces if the top two fluff their lines.

The best bet could be Sailor Girl who runs in the third race, a Maiden Plate over 1700m for fillies and mares. She was a touch unlucky last time with first-time blinkers on when forced outward just before the serious part of the race started. She was doing her best work late and the winner Gottalotofluv looks a decent sort while the second, Tigerlace, has since come out and won. Furthermore, she now has pole position. She can be bankered in all bets against an uninspiring field.

The meeting begins with an uninspiring maiden over 1000m, but two interesting first-timers appear. The Turf King is a R350,000 purchase by the speed influence Var and is a half-sister to the twice Listed-winning speedster, The Merry Widow, so she should have plenty of pace and is tipped to win with Marco van Rensburg up for Geoff Woodruff. Leprechaun’s Love is only a R75,000 purchase but is by Philanthropist and is a half-brother to the rangy, twice-Listed winner speedster Doing It For Dan and Lyle Hewitson is an eye-catching booking. The experienced horse who is most likely to give cheek is Coastal Torrent as he has bumped decent types in every one of his six career starts and as he has shown pace before he will likely appreciate the step down to this trip.

The Value bet is chosen to be Pilou in the seventh over 1400m as he has always struck as a fair sort and drops to 1400m, having held on from the front last time over 1600m with first-time blinkers on. It is a common mistake to believe a horse who only just holds on in the front over 1600m will win next time out over a shorter trip. Over the shorter trip there will be a step up in overall pace and the horse might not even be fast enough to lead. However, the plum draw of one and the suitability to the blinkers is what swings it in his favour.

By David Thiselton

Last Winter is a surprise nomination for the Jet Master Stakes at Kenilworth’s Prawn Festival meeting on Saturday week but Dean Kannemeyer has made it clear that the Met runner-up will not run unless quarantine plans are knocked back.

He said on Saturday: “I am just waiting to hear that we have been given a slot in the quarantine station. I know that there are quite a few horses in there at the moment.”

The Jet Master was switched from its traditional Cape Guineas day slot in a bid to get more runners – there were only seven last season although there were 11 in the previous campaign – but just 12 were entered last Friday. Some trainers have pointed out that many otherwise eligible horses are being rested at the moment.

Milton is top-rated in the likely absence of Last Winter and Billy Prestage is hoping that Gavin Lerena (who bounced back by winning on his first three rides at the Vaal on Saturday) will come down to partner the six-year-old on whom the former champion won the Premier Trophy in December.

Joey Ramsden has won the Vasco Prix Du Cap five times in the past 13 seasons and his pair Just Sensual and Rose In Bloom are the highest-rated of the 14 entries for Saturday week’s 1 400m Grade 3.

Cape Guineas winner Tap O’Noth is reported 100% following his below-par effort in the Cape Derby – when some of the Vaughan Marshall string were suffering from a possible respiratory virus infection – and goes to Durban.

Marshall said: “You always wonder when you have something like that hanging over you but nothing showed up and we could find no sign of it with him. He is fine now and, while it is early days yet, possible targets are the Daisy Guineas (6 May) and the Rising Sun Gold Challenge (9 June).”

By Michael Clower

One was expected, two was a bonus, as Alistair Gordon left Scottsville a contented trainer yesterday.

Gauteng Guineas candidate Monks Hood did everything expected of him and more as he carved up a strong handicap field and while he may have been ignored in the Dingaan’s market he showed yesterday at the win is unlikely to be a flash-in-the-pan.

Anthony Delpech rode a super confident race on the gelding, coming from the tail of the field to mow down a game Redcarpet Captain, the winning margin belying the ease of victory.

Monks Hood (Candiese Marnewick)

Delpech was matter of fact after the race. “If I couldn’t beat these horses then I shouldn’t be going to Jo’burg to run in the Guineas,” he said. “I know there are one or two hard knockers there but we think a lot of this horse. But he had to win the way he won to have a chance in the Guineas.”

Brandon Lerena rode a super race on Redcarpet Captain, reserving his best for late, but his best was just not good enough as Monks Hood proved his superior.

“We know how to ride him now,” said Delpech. “Don’t ride him forward, ride him cold. He has a good turn of foot.”

Nominations for the Guineas close tomorrow and Gordon was holding out for a “good draw and good ground.”

“I don’t think he was quite suited to the soft going in the Dingaans. I think he will be a much better horse on good ground because it will suit his action.

“He’s always looked like a nice horse, but I think he has matured now, and I think he’s getting better. Today’s he wasn’t 100% and he should come on from this run.”

Not expected was sales-bound River Ayre who put a spanner in the works of many an exotic, paying over R17 for a win on the tote.

River Ayre has not been the easiest of customers at the start. “She got left quite badly at her last start, but the starter did a good job today and had a handler up with her.” Jumping on terms yesterday, she added a few extra rands to her sales price. “She’s up for sale on Tuesday. These things often happen,” concluded Gordon.

Robbie Hill has been through a couple of lean months recently but will have been well satisfied with the showing by his filly Everlasting Love. Switched to the turf after two modest efforts on the poly, she showed her rivals a clean pair of heels without Sean Veale needing to give much encouragement. “I think she’s better on the grass,” said Hill. “Her last two on the poly she didn’t settle and gave the jocks a bit of a torrid time.”

Veale was able to settle her in the box seat for much of the race and she extended smartly in the straight to win comfortably.

A late declaration of blinkers did the trick for Vision Of Trust who finally got off the mark for Paul Gadsby in the card opener. “I thought if blinkers and Anton Marcus can’t win then he will never win a race,” said Gadsby after Marcus had unleashed a winning run to snaffle favourite Great Dictator for owner/breeder and former Gold Circle Chairman Robert Mauvis.

Andrew Harrison