Durban July winner Marinaresco is second favourite for Saturday’s Sun Met as he was 12 months ago when it all went pear-shaped.

“He had a nice position on the fence but Grant said he wasn’t happy there and pulled him off it,” Candice Bass-Robinson recalls. The end result was that his mount got too far back and managed only fifth. Expectations are high after the gelding’s encouraging, and not totally trouble-free, run in the Queen’s Plate.

Marinaresco

His trainer said: “He is doing really well and we are confident of a big run assuming all goes well in the race. He is drawn 13 so he is not going to be up with the pace but in any case he likes to be ridden with a chance.”

Mrs Robinson won last year’s CTS 1200 with Live Life and Magical Wonderland is 14-10 favourite to collect after the way she toyed with the opposition in the Sceptre. “I thought she had a winning chance that day but I was surprised how easily she won – and she has taken the race well.”

Stable companion Dutch Philip has been backed from 6-1 to 9-2 second favourite and seemingly punters would be well advised not to take his Diadem flop at face value.

“I am not 100% sure but I think that the little saddle Aldo was using was uncomfortable for him and was pinching him,” his trainer explains. “Going down to the start he didn’t even want to take hold of the bit. With Grant riding him on Saturday he will have a proper saddle.”

Talk Of The Town is 2-1 favourite for the CTS 1600 but it is surprising to see stable companion Ancestry as big as 16-1. After all he is the one with Grade 1 form.

“They are two totally different horses but everything that could have gone wrong with Ancestry this season has gone wrong,” says Joey Ramsden. “What I can tell you is that I cut him straight after his last run and he has been doing exceptionally well since.”

If it wasn’t for Snowdance Ramsden would have the favourite for the Klawerveli Majorca in Just Sensual despite last season’s Fillies Guineas winner’s below par effort in the Sceptre.

Her trainer takes the blame for that and explains: “I did as bad a job with her for that race as I did a good job when she won the Southern Cross on her return in her previous race. I now think that I might have done too much with her.”

By Michael Clower

An MR 87 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m head the ten race card on the Vaal Inside track today and Movie Show is the one to beat.

The five-year-old Atso mare represents the flying Paul Peter yard and is in a fine vein of form. Last time she finished five lengths behind Alfolk over 1000m, receiving 3kg, and the weight for age Grade 1 Cape Flying Championships on Saturday could prove how good that form is because Alfolk could win it. Movie Show would also prefer this 1200m trip as she ran on strongly in her penultimate start to win a fillies and mares handicap over this distance. She is only two points higher in the merit ratings and goes well for Muzi Yeni. Furthermore, she has draw one which is usually the favourable side on this Inside track.

Paul Peter ( JC Photographics)

The main danger could be the consistent Shivering Sea, who has only been in the first three over this course and distance ten times in 14 attempts. She also has a nice low draw and Strydom is up. Takingthepeace has class but will have to bounce back to her best after a most disappointing run last time. Delpech has brought out the best of her and replaces JP van der Merwe. If she reproduces her best this big, rangy filly will go close. French Legend should beat Shivering Sea on the form of their last meeting when she bounced back to her best over 1160m, but her high draw might be against her. Let It Flow was Grade 2-placed as a two-year-old over 1400m and she returns to the course and distance of her only win, so can also be involved.

The best bet on the card could be Fragrant Miss in the fourth race over 1700m, provided she settles early. Last time over 1600m she was a bit keen early, but was still unlucky not to finish third as she was cramped in the closing stages. She is strengthening and improving and if she relaxes early she should turn it on the closimg stages and emerge winner. The back ups are the consistent Tigerlace and Gottalottaluv, who has been runner up in all three starts from 1400-1800m and Strydom stays aboard.

The value bet of the day is Coriander Queen over 1700m in the fifth and this is based on the hope that she settles better than she did last time. She might not have liked racing under the lights then, but still turned it on in the early stages of the straight in that 2000m contest. She now has a plum draw and on the evidence of that last run will relish the step down to 1700m, so off a merit rating lowered five points should go close. Rose Water is beat her last time by 2,75 lengths and is now 2kg worse off, but she does have another tough draw to overcome. However, she ran on well in that last 2000m race and is also effective over this trip.

In the next race the good-looking Loyal Lieutenant is interesting in his first outing as a gelding and stepped up to 2000m. He looks to be a classy sort in the making and was not disgraced when setting the pace in the Dingaans. However, it is an open race and Alssakhra will go close too. Arlington, American Indian and Forafewdollarsmore also have to be included.

In the next race over 1000m Pillaroftheearth is a well regarded sort who has his third run as a gelding, having not been disgraced against two fair sorts in his last two starts. He can fight it out with Manx Park and Like Astair.

In the eight race Fort Vodka caught the eye in her maiden win over 1200m and the form has been franked so she can go in off just a 72 merit rating, although Ninjara and Nightmare look capable of winning too.

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith is 22-10 favourite to be the winning trainer in the Saturday’s Sun Met with Candice Bass-Robinson 33-10 and Sean Tarry 4-1. World Sports Betting’s other prices on this particular bet are 7-1 Mike de Kock, 15-2 Dean Kannemeyer, 10-1 Brett Crawford, 18-1 Glen Kotzen, 55-1 Robbie Sage and 110-1 Glen Puller.

“I liked to hear about that 22-10 but what worries me is that I think I was favourite last year too,” says Snaith whose runners came no closer than seventh 12 months ago and who has yet to win the great race. This time, though, he sends out a quarter of the field.

Oh Susanna (Liesl King)

Krambambuli and Elusive Silva are longshots but Oh Susanna, African Night Sky and Copper Force are all in single figures. The last-named finished so strongly in the Queen’s Plate that he was beaten less than half a length by Legal Eagle but form students are still scratching their heads because the performance was well above anything he had done before.

“He always had good form but before his previous run (the Green Point) he had a slight injury and I think the medication knocked him back a bit,” Snaith explains. “In fact he was a bit unlucky in the Queen’s Plate. The re-run doesn’t really show what happened but Lyle Hewitson said he found trouble twice in the straight. Wherever Legal Eagle finishes I reckon Copper Force will either be next to him or in front of him.”

African Night Sky (also on 9-1) is the one the stable has laid out for the race from the start of the season. “They took away the Jet Master Stakes so he was a run short, and having his second race after a rest, in the Queen’s Plate but being beaten less than three lengths in a hard run race was a good effort. He will be spot on for Saturday and he is much better over ten furlongs than a mile.”

Oh Susanna is the shortest priced of the Snaith quintet at 7-1 and bids to emulate Smart Call who completed the Paddock-Met double two years ago. She was beaten over three lengths by Snowdance in the Fillies Guineas but have a look at the re-run before judging her. She lost several lengths almost immediately by tacking across to the rails from her 13 draw and in the straight she came from miles back whereas Snowdance was perfectly placed throughout.

“Snowdance is very good but Oh Susanna is not too far behind her,” Snaith confirms. “As time goes on she will get better and better. She has a decent draw and an in-form jockey. With only 51.5kg you’ve got to give her some sort of a chance.”

Snowdance is well-nigh unbackable for the Klawervlei Majorca (at odds of anything between 2-9 and 1-6). “It’s a big concern,” says her trainer who is worried about the filly being got at. “We have heightened all the security around her but she is flying and she is now better than when she won the Fillies Guineas.”

By Michael Clower

Glen Kotzen goes into Saturday’s Sun Met bullish about Gold Standard’s chances and added, “I will win the Derby, but I don’t know with which one.”

Kotzen sends a string of 18 to the meeting and has reason to feel optimistic as his yard have gotten over the respiratory virus which now appears to be affecting some yards at Milnerton and also Andre Nel’s yard at Rondeberg.

One of his Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby contenders, Eyes Wide Open, had to miss the Cape Guineas due to the virus but bounced back with an impressive win last time out in the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m. Kotzen said, “Against his own age group he is going to be hard to beat.”

Glen Kotzen

The Dynasty colt has already won a Grade 1, the Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville as a two-year-old, and was beautifully relaxed in the running last time before showing a fine turn of foot and resolute finish. Kotzen said, “Top horses can do that, you can chase them at the start and then switch them off.” Eyes Wide Open has a fine draw of five and Richard Fourie rides.

Kotzen believes stablemate Pack Leader is the biggest danger. He said, “He turned for home two lengths behind the second last horse in the Cape Guineas on a track which was running fast and White River, running green, first hung inward across him and then hung outward across him.”

The Philanthropist colt still ran on well in his third attempt to get a run, but not surprisingly had less left at the finish than White River. Fourie had already committed to Eyes Wide Open, but would otherwise have given Pack Leader some consideration. Anthony Delpech is a top replacement aboard the latter and Kotzen said, “Pack Leader is working the barns out.” On racing style and pedigree he should relish the step up in trip and has a plum draw of two.

Oratorio colt Opera Royal is the third Kotzen horse in the Derby and he said, “He ran a courageous race when chasing Milton in the Premier Trophy and  therefore Richard was not hard on him last time when he ran on in the Politician. He will now be fresh for the Derby. He doesn’t give much away at home but will be in the mix.” Luyolo Mxothwa rides from draw nine.

Some have questioned whether Gold Standard is the same horses since a fetlock chip was removed last year after he had run a fine second in the Cape Guineas and an equally classy fourth in the Met. But Kotzen said, “He doesn’t have to prove anything to me. He has been prepped for this race, will be cherry ripe and the extra 400m will be right down his alley.”

Kotzen pointed out the Queen’s Plate was a preparation run for Gold Standard and he was widely drawn, so the slow pace of the race had not suited him in the fast conditions, yet he still finished on top of them (the field was backed up behind Legal Eagle, who did not chase the front pair).

Kotzen revealed Fourie believes he has a huge chance of giving the short-priced favourite Snowdance a run for her money in the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m aboard Silvan Star. She missed two weeks of training with a foot injury before her excellent sixth place in The Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes and has been “flying” at home. Unfortunately, she has a tough draw of 14.

Gold Standard (Liesl King)

He also runs Final Judgement in the Majorca from a good draw. She didn’t travel well to Port Elizabeth last time in the only race they could earmark as a preparation but he said, “When she’s good she’s very good and I hope she comes to the party.”

He runs Too Phat To Fly in the US$500,000 CTS 1600 and said, “Her best run was in the Cape Fillies Guineas over this trip when she ran on well, but this is a tough race.” Last time out they found out after the 1400m race she had cracked an incisor on the float and are not sure whether it would have affected her performance.

In the Kuda Sprint over 1200m Kotzen has two runners and said, “Let’s Be Frank had the quickest 400m to finish time on debut but looks to be drawn on the wrong side. It all depends on the conditions on the day which side they go, but they usually stick to the inside. We are running Quick Star because he is a smart colt, but he might be green on debut.”

The yard have three runners in the Listed Tattersalls Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1000m and Kotzen couldn’t separate them. He said, “Lanza was very green on debut and gets no penalty so should go close with Richard Fourie aboard. Twin Falls was green when winning on debut and we expect further improvement. Princess Elsa is very quick and in her debut here she gets a pull at the weights.”

By David Thiselton

In an historic move, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be simulcasting South African racing for the first time.

Basil Marcus

Hong Kong will be taking Race 5 to 10 from Kenilworth on Saturday and includes the R5-million Sun Met.

“This is a major achievement for South African racing,” said International Executive Director John Stuart. “The Hong Kong Jockey Club look to simulcast only the major meetings from around the world so one can see how highly they rate South African racing and specifically an event such as the Sun Met.”

In addition the HKJC have sent two of their journalists to cover the build-up to the race meeting and Tellytrack are creating a special production for them where one the presenters will include former jockey Basil Marcus who is well known in Hong Kong. Marcus is a seven-time champion jockey who has settled back in Cape Town after the curtain came down on his riding career.

Legal Eagle remains 4-1 favourite to go one better than his second of the last two years in the Sun Met celebrated with G.H. Mumm at Kenilworth on Saturday but three-time champion trainer Sean Tarry has been more concerned with getting the gelding’s preparation exactly right.

He was initially concerned that the dual Horse of the Year might have had an unduly hard race when winning the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate after having to pull out all the stops to collar Captain America.

“As hard a race as he seemed to have from us watching it, we never saw any indication of that from when he pulled up and there were no telltale signs. He was very fresh – indeed he was full of himself – and he also ate very well afterwards so we have basically handled him as we would normally.”

Tarry has no worries about No 15 draw, particularly with Anton Marcus in the irons and commented: “A good jockey and a good horse – they will find their way.”

All the publicity surrounding Legal Eagle is in marked contrast to his first Met runner, Alastor in 2005. Tarry talked about the build-up to that race in the July 2008 edition of now-defunct South African Bloodstock News magazine.

“Garth Puller, who rode Alastor, helped me with most of the work and I was excited because the horse was going really well,” Tarry related. “A few days before the race I walked into Tattersalls to see what my chances were. When I found out he was a 50-1 shot I was devastated. I suddenly thought that maybe I was missing something. Either that or it was too big a jump in class.”

Tarry, who was at one time a bookie’s clerk, had recovered his composure and his self-belief by the time it came to the sweepstake cocktail party. He bid for his runner and got him for R2,500. He collected 40 times that sum, not quite as good as the odds offered by the bookmakers, but a handsome bonus to add to his percentage and all the kudos that went with it.

Current betting: 4-1 Legal Eagle; 5-1 Marinaresco; 15-2 Oh Susanna, Last Winter; 9-1 Copper Force, Cascapedia, African Night Sky; 14-1 Gold Standard; 16-1 and upwards others.

By Michael Clower

Jaden’s mother Nicola wrote an emotional message on Instagram this morning, saying: “It is with very mixed emotions that I write this post today. Just four days short of his 16th birthday today our son embarks on the pathway towards his chosen career.

“Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think that we would be leaving him in another country, but his ambition and love for the sport was unwavering. Many have questioned our decision and our reasons are many, but with Australia not having an Academy and Jeff a firm believer that the concept that the SAJA adopts, offers an apprentice a world class Jockey grounding in a disciplined, protected environment , we were led to the very hard decision that Jaden would spend a year abroad so he could continue to school while getting the opportunity to ride every day.

“Live, embrace and grow my boy – but please…. always remember that you are NOT Jeffrey Lloyd you are Jaden and as a mother I hope that not only you but everyone else too, never compares you or feels the need to make comparisons.

“A few weeks ago Dad was having a disappointing day at the races and he came out and won the last race – you turned to me and said “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish” – remember your own words always my boy.

“Dad took eight months to ride his first winner and has gone on to be so successful – just remember no matter what anyone ever says, as long as you always do your best and work hard we will be exceptionally proud of you no matter what – stay safe, we will miss you so much, especially when you just appear from nowhere and give us a “Jaden cuddle”. Don’t let anything change that beautiful heart – love you Jay Jay!”

– Turf Talk

It’s about 28%. People often asked themselves how much Markus Jooste’s buying power boosted prices at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale and last weekend’s Convention Centre auction – the first without him – provided the answer with the average plummeting 27.8% and the aggregate by 28.2%.

Jooste also owned a quarter of the company and almost half the sale’s biggest vendor. He may have fallen from grace as heavily – and almost as painfully – as a skydiver with a faulty parachute but his absence has hit the breeding industry hard.

In a business that – uniquely – has two and a half years between covering and recovering, losses take a long time to work their way through.  Thankfully those reports of the Hong Jockey Club switching some of its purchasing from Australia to South Africa have proved correct.

Hopefully it will succeed with its publicly-stated aspiration to find an acceptable solution to the quarantine restrictions. That would be the silver lining that this country’s breeders now need more than ever.

By Michael Clower

The Vaughan Marshall-trained Tap O’ Noth will attempt to become the first horse since Capetown Noir five years ago to do the Grade 1 Cape Guineas and Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby double and his class should pull him through, although he will have his work cut out fending off Eyes Wide Open.

Tap O’ Noth (Liesl King)

The rangy Tap O’ Noth hung in the straight in the Guineas and a number of horses closed on him in the final stages. However, a closer look at the race suggests he was idling in front and still had a bit in the tank. On pedigree he has a chance of staying the trip, for although he is by the sprint-miler Captain Al he is a half-brother to the Grade 3-winner over 2500m, Strathdon. The latter is admittedly by the stamina influence Silvano, but Captain Al has produced a Met winner before in Hill Fifty Four and Captain America was a Cape Derby runner up and twice third in the Met. Furthermore, Tap O’ Noth now has a plum draw of three. His jockey MJ Byleveld has developed into a top class big race rider over the last couple of seasons and has won the last two renewals of the Cape Guineas.

Eyes Wide Open, is a classy looking sort who won the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m as a two-year-old. He proved his class last time when winning the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m. He was carrying only 52kg off a merit rating of 99, but the handicapper was impressed and raised him to 108, a four point higher mark than Tap O’ Noth. He will be improving all the time being by Dynasty and should have come on from that last run. He now has a good draw of five over a trip he should relish and Richard Fourie takes over from Anthony Andrews.

Silver Coin is an interesting runner. He is the most expensive yearling in SA history at R6 million and will be looking for this trip being by Silvano out of a Fort Wood mare who is a half-sister to Smart Banker, who won the Grade 1 Champions Challenge and the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes twice. In his first run as a gelding last time, Silver Coin caught the eye with his rangy action and is good turn of foot to win easily. He was only running off a 74 merit rating but he looks to have plenty more to come and could surprise.

White River took a bump in the early stages of the Cape Guineas but that didn’t stop him running on strongly for second. He will relish the step up in trip considering his running style and pedigree. He is by Trippi out of a Giant’s Causeway mare, who has some good middle distance sorts in her family.

Like A Panther has always had Derby horse written all over him, although perhaps more for the traditional Derby distance of a mile-and-a-half. He would also likely be at his best at an out-and-out galloping track like Turffontein. However, he finished well in the Guineas for third and will relish the step up in trip. He does have a tricky draw of eleven but seems to be a relaxed type who should settle wherever he is.

Silver Coin (Wayne Marks)

Do It Again is held in high regard and is crying out for this trip being by Twice Over out of a Casey Tibbs mare who won the Grade 3 Winter Derby over 2400m. He can improve on his Cape Guineas effort in which he stayed on at one pace.

Pack Leader came from last in the Cape Guineas for fifth and could repeat the feat here. He should relish the step up in trip being by Philanthropist and a half-brother to Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 winner In The Fast Lane.

The filly Fresnaye finished strongly in the Paddock Stakes for a fine third to the top class Oh Susanna and she has won over this course and distance before. Piere Strydom stays aboard, albeit from a tough draw of 12, and she could gain her third successive Grade 1 place.

Spring Man is unexposed and on the up. He held off the fair older horse Mister Colin over this course and distance in a handicap first time out the maidens. However, he was running off only a 78 merit rating and has a wide draw. Stable jockey Corne Orffer has chosen to ride White River.

Another dark horse could be Visigoth as this big colt by Visionaire is a long-striding galloping sort who is crying out for a step up in trip. The furthest he has been is the 1800m of the Politician Stakes and he was not disgraced in fifth place. The blinkers are now off.

Steel Rose was ahead of Visigoth in the Politician after plugging on gamely for third, but he now has a tough draw as opposed to pole position that day.

The Sun Also Rises also has to be considered despite his wide draw as he finished second in the Politician Stakes, ahead of Steel Rose and Visigoth, but Strydom has stayed aboard Fresnaye.

Opera Royal Is a rangy sort who stayed on for fourth in the Politician Stakes and he should enjoy the step up in trip, so also has a place chance.

What A Joker ran on for a place over 1600m last time off a 74 merit rating so will need a lot of improvement.

Kimberley Star is merit rated 94 based on his two-year-old Port Elizabeth form. He has never run beyond 1400m but is by Ideal World out of a Strike Smartly full-sister to the Grade 2-winner over 2000m Prestic, so he should relish this trip. However, he doesn’t look to have had an ideal preparation having had only one run since a four month layoff and gelding.

By David Thiselton

Sean Tarry declares himself “very hopeful” of making it third time lucky with Legal Eagle in Saturday’s Sun Met now that the dual runner-up does not have to shoulder a 2kg penalty.

The three-time champion trainer has been carefully monitoring Legal Eagle to see exactly how much the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate took out of him so that he can judge what work to give the horse in the interim.

Tarry said: “We were mindful of the fact that he may have had a hard race but there were no telltale signs to confirm this afterwards. He was very fresh  – indeed full of himself- and he also ate well. So we have basically handled him as we would normally.”

Tarry, who won the 2005 Met with 50-1 shot Alastor – his first runner in the great race, is untroubled by Legal Eagle’s 15 draw not least because he has the priceless advantage of Anton Marcus in the irons. “A good jockey and a good horse – they will find their way,” he said.

He has also been concentrating on getting the slow-starting Trip To Heaven smartly into his stride. This is to ensure that there will be no repeat of the gelding’s performance in last year’s Betting World Cape Championship when he gave away eight lengths at the break but flew home so fast that he was only beaten a neck by stable companion Carry On Alice.

Tarry explained: “Basically it has been just different schooling in the pens and repeatedly putting him through them.”

It seemed to work in the Diadem but is there any risk that altering his accustomed method will take the horse out of his comfort zone and affect his performance?

“Yes, there is and that’s possible,” Tarry admits. “Indeed I felt that he might have been a little too handy in the Diadem. He certainly didn’t kick as he normally does. But it’s a matter of getting the right balance.”

By Michael Clower