After many months of try-outs, analyses and reviews, Brandon Bailey has earned the right to join Nico Kritsiotis and Alistair Cohen in South African commentary boxes as a junior commentator.

More than 100 people entered the competition from all over the country which was cut to a top nine from Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. There were further eliminations and that came down to just three in Johannesburg. Each was then given the opportunity to commentate on live racing action.

Bailey, 24, admits that while he had thought about commentating it had not been a serious consideration until the competition was announced.  “Commentating was something I always wanted to try. It did appeal to me and I admire Alistair and Sheldon (Peters), so when the competition came out and the carrot was dangled, I decided to give it a go.”

The competition has been long and exhausting but Bailey says it has been “an enjoyable experience”. “It’s been a bit long and overwhelming. But it’s been different. I’ve been standing in the shower and going through the motions, I’ve also been learning from the other guys.”

The most important trait one needs to be successful as a commentator, believes Bailey, is passion. “Every race is different so you need to be knowledgeable about the runners and be able to keep your head. But you have to have passion for what you are doing.”

Clyde Basel, Executive – Horse Racing, Events & Hospitality for Phumelela, and a top commentator himself, added: “We welcome Brandon to the commentary box. We believe he has natural talent and wish him only the very best. May he call home many winners in favour of our patrons!”

He added, “A lot will depend on the draws. A good draw is a good draw in any man’s language.”

Woodruff will be attempting to create South African training history on November 25 at Turffontein Standside by winning one of the country’s three major races for the fifth time in succession. The three “majors” are considered to be the Vodacom Durban July, the Sun Met and the Sansui Summer Cup. Woodruff’s four Summer Cups in a row equalled the feat of trainer Fred Murray’s four successive Julys from 1910-1913 and trainer Mike Bass’s four successive Mets from 2007 to 2010.

Woodruff has not only dominated the Summer Cup’s winner’s box in the last four years, but also the placings. He sent out the first, second, third and fifth in 2013, the first and second in 2014, the first and second in 2015 and the first and third last year.

Woodruff was disappointed the filly Bi Pot didn’t make it into the final field on Tuesday, considering her good recent Graded race form.

However, he was not going to dwell on it and added, “It’s a competitive, open race and I think we have a good team.”

He continued, “All three of our runners ran good thirds in their preparation races. Master Switch’s was the most eye catching of the runs and it is nice to have Piere Strydom on him again. Pagoda is course and distance suited and has a light weight. I really liked Banner Hill’s last run. He got so close to Abashiri and will now be better off in the handicap. He has also been putting up super work at home. Of the three his work has been the best. However, Pagoda and Master Switch have never been great work horses, but they do bring it to the races.”

Woodruff knew Pagoda would come in with a light weight (52,5kg) so spoke to JP van der Merwe a “long time ago”. The lightweight rider “confirmed well ahead of time” and will be hoping to add a Summer Cup to his Met win on Smart Call last year.

Woodruff said, “JP can go in confidently as he now knows how Pagoda behaves. You have to niggle away at him in the early stages, but he produces a good finish. If he can come from midfield with that light weight he must have a shout. This is the course and distance of his best career performance, which came in the Derby Trial. He thrashed them that day. But a good draw is important for him. He might battle if he doesn’t get a good draw.”

Woodruff was also hoping for good draws for Master Switch and Banner Hill, but said it would not be as important as they both possessed good gate speed.

He said, “Master Switch came from draw 17 of 19 last year, but some use of him had to be made early and he was only caught late by Master Sabina and The Conglomerate. From a better draw …”

Master Switch races off exactly the same merit rating as last year of 101 and carries 54kg as opposed to 53,5kg. Woodruff said this horse’s poor form at Greyville could be ignored as he did not like the course and the slow pace of the races he had encountered there had not suited him. He added, “There is normally a decent pace in the Summer Cup.”

The six-year-old Jet Master gelding has finished third in all three of his starts on Turffontein Standside. Last time out he was running on powerfully in the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m.

Woodruff is also happy with Banner Hill’s jockey booking. He regards Grant van Niekerk as “a good rider in big races”.

Pagoda, a four-year-old gelding by Mogok, was the Grade 1 SA Derby runner up and races off a 99 merit rating, while five-year-old Tiger Hill gelding Banner Hill is also off a 99 and carries 53kg.

Betting World quote Pagoda at 10/1 and have both Master Switch and Banner Hill on 14/1.  

Woodruff has not spared any thought for records and said, “The odds are against us numerically.”

However, he did not feel his runners this year would be any weaker than in previous years.

“The Guv’nor” could well be rewriting the history books in two Saturdays time.

The barrier draw for the Summer Cup was screened live on Tellytrack on Wednesday evening. Unfortunately, Woodruff had little luck, although Pagoda did at least fare best. Pagoda drew eleven, Banner Hill 13 and Master Switch 16. 

by David Thiselton

This season’s Sun Met gallops have been scrapped – much to the relief of several of the trainers.

The R5 million race closes on 10 January and the published conditions contain the usual stipulation that “all runners participate in public gallops scheduled for Thursday, 18 January, failing which the horse may be declared ineligible to run.”

But Kenilworth duty manager Teresa Esplin said yesterday: “The trainers don’t want these gallops which are a bit close to the race but also we are doing this in the best interests of the horses. Every time you travel them to the racecourse you are putting them at risk and some of them can get stirred up.”

More and more trainers have been working horses on their own so that they do not over-exert themselves. And, although these gallops have become increasingly popular with the public, the performances have been more and more difficult to assess with no second horse with which to make comparisons.

Justin Snaith, one of the biggest critics of the gallops, said: “This is the best news I’ve heard all year. Apart from anything else nine days beforehand was too close to the race. Indeed if people want to see the horses gallop they can see them in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate as many of them also take part in that.

“Making the gallops mandatory was a bit like saying to everyone in the Comrades Marathon ‘we also want to see you run nine days beforehand.’”

The draws, normally done straight after the gallops, will now be done at a function later on 18 January during the Kenilworth racemeeting which has been transferred from the previous day.

The meeting on Wednesday 29 November will also be run on a Thursday. France Galop, a significant contributor to Tote turnover in South Africa, requested the switch to the 30^th and for the card to be increased in size so that French punters have something to watch and bet on early in the afternoon and in the evening. There will now be 11 races (assuming they can all be filled!) on the card.

* Snaith ended a run of 40 consecutive Cape Town losers when Richard Fourie got 13-2 chance Sassy Lady up in the last two strides of the Play Soccer Handicap at Kenilworth.

He said: “We are still high on the trainers’ log but it was all getting a bit annoying because it’s been hard finding races for a lot of our horses.

“Nothing in training horses is ever plain-sailing. There is a lot of hard work involved and you need things to go your way.”

Sassy Lady cost only R30 000 and is owned by a syndicate headed by long-term stable patron Eddie Powell. She will now be aimed at the $500 000 CTS 1200 on Met day.

By Michael Clower 

The Vaal stages a ten race meeting tomorrow and the highlight will be a Progress Plate over 1200m for three-year-olds, which has attracted some classy sorts.

Mike de Kock must have one of his most powerful ever crop of three-year-olds and this race sees the return of the exciting Dynasty colt Noble Secret. He showed an effortless turn of foot on debut over this course and distance and with Randall Simons looking over his shoulder sauntered to a 9,25 length victory. He was accorded a merit rating of 88, which he will surely rise above in time. Simons has been given the ride again and although Noble Secret has not run for 119 days his class will give him a good chance. The officially best weighted horse is the Mike Azzie-trained Down To Zero, who showed pace throughout when winning a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m by a comfortable margin in June. He had the classy Surcharge beaten in that race and will appreciate the step back to this trip, having been well beaten in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m in July.

Rebel’s Champ looks to have the beating of the top weight So Var on paper, although it could be a different story at the races. Rebel’s Champ was beaten 1,5 lengths by So Var over 1160m in June and is now 5,5kg better off. However, So Var subsequently beat the classy Alfolk, despite giving him 2kg, and was then runner up to another classy sprinter in Al Mariachi, whom he also gave 2kg. The concern is that he made a breathing noise in his comeback run last month, so Rebel’s Champ is given the nod for third. Rebel’s Champ made a fair comeback against older horses two months ago over 1160m and has subsequently been gelded. Another interesting runner having his first outing since gelding is Pinnacle Peak from the Dorrie Sham yard as he ran two decent 1000m races in his first two starts in Port Elizabeth.

The De Kock machine should also win the fourth race over 1200m with Afdeek. He was a touch unlucky on debut over this trip as the winner crossed his path at a crucial stage. He does not have a lot to beat and should have improved with that run.

The three Pick 6 legs following the Progress Plate are all fillies and mares handicaps and punters will have their work cut out getting through the exotics. However, De Kock could possibly claim a quick hattrick in the sixth race over 1200m with Rajasthani Queen. She is not an imposing sort, but ran on well to win over 1000m on debut and the horse she beat, Schippers, then went close next time out over 1160m.  Rajasthani Queen was accorded a reasonable merit rating of 76 and will appreciate the extra 200m. The topweight Momo is by Ideal World so should be coming into her own as a four-year-old. In her last two runs she was widely drawn at the Turffontein Inside track so can be forgiven those runs. She has been dropped two merit rated points and can bounce back and go close. Kungfoofighting went close on her Highveld debut and although raised four points for that run she has to be considered along with her stablemate An Air Of Success and Amoretta, who lost her jockey last time but before that won her maiden in good style and runs off a mere 61 merit rating for the in-form Paul Peter yard.

In the seventh race over 1000m the Dorrie Sham-trained Lawdy Miss Clawdy could be the one having also made a fine Highveld debut. She finished close up to two useful sprinters in Shivering Sea and Mrs. O. Sham’s regular jockey Raymond Danielson is aboard Singing In Seattle, who beat Lawdy Miss Clawdy the last time they met in Port Elizabeth and faces her on the same terms. However, she has not had the benefit of a run on the Highveld yet. Those two could be split by Twelve Oaks, whose best form appears to be over this trip and she can use her long stride to run past horses late.

The eighth over 1400m could also go to the topweight, Isolde. The Sean Tarry yard have had a rare dry spell lately, but such is his professionalism they are sure to bounce back. This mare is by Silvano so should be coming into her own as a five-year-old. Furthermore, she runs well fresh and this is her ideal trip. Promise looks promising and passed her acid test by placing first time out the maidens having won on debut. Polly Wolly Doodle made a cracking comeback over the too sharp 1200m, so should be involved. All Over The World once looked a fair sort in the making so can surprise now that her merit rating has dropped to a lowly 63. Leopard Lily has a fine turn of foot when things go her way and she has dropped to an attractive merit rating so could also be involved with Strydom up. Wrap It Up can’t be ignored.

By David Thiselton

Dennis Drier is confident that Miss Frankel will make a full recovery from the strained high suspensory ligament damage she suffered when odds-on for her handicap debut at Kenilworth last Thursday.

He said yesterday: “A strained suspensory is a nasty injury but I am sure that, with treatment and rest, she will be back.”

The three-year-old daughter of champion sprinter Val De Ra was found to be lame on her off-fore after finishing only fifth of seven. She will go home to Avontuur for her recuperation.

By Michael Clower

The altered quarantine status of Sha Tin has claimed its first Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) victim with Emirates Stakes winner Tosen Stardom unlikely to make the trip from Australia next month.

The former Japanese galloper, now trained for Australian Bloodstock by Darren Weir, produced an explosive finish on Saturday to win the 2000m Gr1 at Flemington but, paradoxically, has probably ended thoughts of the Hong Kong Cup.

Since Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources changed the rules on October 2, any horse targeting Hong Kong must do six months’ quarantine in a third country before returning to Australia.

Tosen Stardom, a son of glamour stallion Deep Impact, has now won Group Ones in Melbourne at two of his last three starts and Australian Bloodstock principal Jamie Lovett indicated that increased interest from stud farms had changed the landscape.

“Before the weekend, we were quite keen to come to Hong Kong. The quarantine thing was certainly an issue but we’re really keen to bring one over there and he was a real possibility,” Lovett said.

“But now we are looking at quite a bit of interest in him to stand at stud and, as we’re looking around for the best deal we can do, the feeling is that any Australian stud farm who does buy him would prefer to see him run in Gr1 races here in our autumn.

“If he goes to Hong Kong, that effectively ends his racing career in Australia because he has to go to New Zealand for six months afterwards.”

By the time that quarantine period is over, it would be the eve of the new breeding season in Australia and Tosen Stardom would be off to his new career.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

“The other thing we have to think about now is that, Winx or no Winx, we know how good Tosen Stardom is and he’s going to be a solid chance in races like the Doncaster or the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney and there’s A$7 million in prize money in those races alone,” Lovett said.

“And if they do take Winx to Royal Ascot, I’m not sure of the logistics of that. If it meant that she has to miss the Queen Elizabeth, we wouldn’t want that situation to happen and our horse, that we think could win it, is standing in a paddock in New Zealand due to the Hong Kong trip.”

Lovett said Australian Bloodstock had also been keen to bring its German-based stayer Red Cardinal to the Hong Kong Vase and he would not be affected by the quarantine problem.

“I think our best way to handle the quarantine situation is to bring one back from Australia after the Melbourne Cup through Hong Kong on their way back to Europe,” he said.

“And that has been a good formline for the Vase in the past, too. That might have been Red Cardinal but he jarred up in the Cup on Tuesday so that plan is also out.”

– South China Morning Post

Arrogate retained his top position on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse rankings released last Thursday with a rating of 134. Australian mare Winx remains number two, rated 132. Cracksman, on the strength of his victory in the Qipco Champion Stakes, is rated 130, up from 122, edging Gun Runner, whose Breeders’ Cup Classic victory bumped his rating from 127 to 129. The top five is rounded out by super filly Enable, at 128.

Arrogate retains the top spot despite three straight losses because the standings are based on each horse’s top performance during the year. For Arrogate, that was the Dubai World Cup, where he came from last, passed Gun Runner in the stretch with total ease and won going away.

After the Longines handicapping panel sorts things out during its December meeting in Hong Kong, the final year-end rankings for 2017 will be revealed during the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Ceremony in January. The top rung is unlikely to feature Arrogate.

No question who’s atop the Churchill Downs all-time training list. Dale Romans is the guy, breaking out of a tie with Bill Mott as he sent out Storm Runner to win Sunday’s sixth race. Romans, the quintessential south side Louisvillian, now has 703 wins under the Twin Spires, leaving Mott second with 702. Mott had held the record for more than 31 years and said, “That’s long enough. That’s long enough for anybody to hold a record.”

Romans said, “It is truly an honour to stand here as the all-time leading trainer at Churchill Downs. With everything I’ve done in my career at Churchill Downs, and around the country, nothing beats this moment right now.” He heaped praise on his staff and life partner Tammy Fox.

“Everybody knows there’s one goal left out there – one major goal – and that one takes a lot of luck to get to it,” Romans said. “That would be to win a Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Every 2-year-old in the barn is a Derby horse until they prove they’re not.”

Romans trained Shackleford to a fourth-place finish in the 2011 Run for the Roses.

– thoroughbrednews.com.au

Passionate racing man Sean Singleton made a big impact last season as the owner of history-making stayer Hermoso Mundo and his colourful “Woer Woer Masjien” warcry has become so keenly anticipated he is now expected to deliver it whenever stepping up on to the winner’s podium.

Singleton now finds himself in dreamland once again as Hermoso Mundo has shot to the top of the Sansui Summer Cup boards and is quoted by Betting World at 8/1.

The five-year-old Ideal World gelding made his seasonal reappearance earlier this month in the Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile.

He appeared to run a bit of a flat race at first sight when finishing a 9,25 length 14^th .

The run hardly seemed to justify him becoming Summer Cup favourite.

Singleton said he had also initially been disappointed with the run, but soon had a different view.

He said, “He was running over a distance short of his best and if you watch the replay he accelerated superbly at the 300m mark. Weichong (Marwing) was beaming from ear to ear when he returned to the parade ring. He will be cherry ripe for the Summer Cup and I am sure he will bring his ‘woer-woer’ when it counts at his home course over a more suitable trip (2000m).

Hermoso Mundo became the first horse to win the “gold” triple crown, consisting of the Gold Bowl (3200m), the Gold Vase (3000m) and the Gold Cup (3200m).

He is obviously at his best over two miles, but another key is his turnaround in form since joining the Weiho Marwing yard. His record for the yard is three victories in four starts and he has gone from a 73 merit rating to 100.

He has a beautiful, long-striding action, so is perfectly suited to the galloping Turffontein Standside track with its long straight.

Hermoso Mundo will carry a featherweight of 52kg in the Summer Cup as things stand, but that will depend on whether 115 merit rated Deo Juvente stands his ground.

The big bay is sure to be staying on strongly on November 25 and racing fans will be looking forward to that warcry if the bookmakers are proven to have it right.

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith was very happy with winter triple crown hero African Night Sky’s seasonal reappearance in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1400m at Kenilworth on Saturday and Black Arthur’s poor run has been explained as he pulled up a bit sore on his off hind.

The yard are also looking forward to good runs in big races this Saturday with a trio of three-year-olds, the unbeaten Twice Over gelding Do It Again, the Choisir gelding Sir Frenchie and the well-bred Trippi filly Miss Katalin.

Snaith said about four-year-old Dynasty gelding African Night Sky’s 1,75 length fifth place on Saturday behind three Grade 1 winners, Edict Of Nantes, Sail South and Captain America, and the progressive Black Cat Back, “It was a very good comeback run. He was still big in the parade ring and will strip fitter next time.”

He said the Green Point Stake would come too soon for African Night Sky and he was targeting another race instead.

Black Arthur finished a disappointing last in Saturday’s Pinnacle.

Snaith said the five-year-old Silvano gelding’s Black Arthur’s problem was not serious and it would just require a lot of hard work from the yard to have him ready for the Cape Summer Of Champions Season’s big races. He was not sure yet of the timeline for his return to form.

Do It Again runs in Saturday’s Grade 2 Selangor Cup over 1600m. The big galloper stayed on strongly to win over 1200m on debut and followed up with a comfortable win over Saturday’s course and distance.

Snaith said, “He is a nice horse who needs further. He is drawn wide and we will have to drop him in and see how he goes.”

Snaith was impressed by Sir Frenchie last race in the Grade 3 Cape Classic over 1400m. He stayed on strongly from way back in the running for a 3,55 length fourth to Tap O’ Noth.

Snaith said, “That was a prep run so there will be improvement and he could be in the money. He is drawn alright so we will tuck him in and he should run on nicely, but the track is running very quick and it’s not easy for the horses coming from behind.”

The race will still be run on the Winter Course, with its short straight, and this makes it even tougher for horses coming from off the pace.

Miss Katalin, who is out of a Grade 1-winning Jet Master mare Little Miss Magic, was a bit keen in her last run in the Grade 2 WCF Championship over 1400m so was not disgraced in sixth place, 8,15 length behind  runaway winner, her stablemate Snowdance.

Snaith said, “She has a soft mouth and does settle, she just needed that last run, it was a prep for this race. She will run okay and this race always produces upsets.”

Miss Katalin is drawn nine out of the 23 entries and Sir Frenchie is drawn 14.

Meanwhile, Snowdance is doing well and her next run will be in the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas on December 2.

By David Thiselton

The champion trainer’s quartet include three of the four highest-rated with S’Manga Khumalo’s mount Wonderwall 3.5kg clear of the next best. This is Bold Respect who beat Wonderwall to win a R1 million sales race on Met day. However the Brett Crawford runner is badly drawn at 14.

Candice Bass-Robinson, successful with Live Life in the $500 000 CTS Sprint in January, runs three with stable jockey Aldo Domeyer on Virtue who is drawn widest of all.

Premiers Champion winner Eyes Wide Open has to give 2kg to the rest of the field in the Selangor Cup. He represents the Glen Kotzen-Richard Fourie combination that won last year’s race with Gold Standard.

Last month’s Woolavington winner Strathdon misses the Kenilworth Cup as Justin Snaith is keeping him for the Cape Summer Stayers Handicap on 16 December. Instead the stable runs top weight Master’s Eye (Bernard Fayd’Herbe).

Saturday’s scheduled first two-year-old race of the Cape season has been scrapped after attracting only four runners. Paul Reeves supplied two while Kotzen and Paddy Kruyer declared one each. Normally there is no juvenile race at Kenilworth until December.

Snaith reports Western Cape Fillies Championship winner Snowdance in good shape, saying: “She came out of the race very well and at the moment she is in cruise control for the Fillies Guineas (2 December).”

Dean Kannemeyer plans to make haste slowly with Sugar Girl, the R2.5 million National Yearling Sale-topper who made such a big impression when winning first time out at Kenilworth last Thursday.

He said: “Sugar Girl has lots of potential, she won exceptionally well and she will get better as she matures. I would have been happy if she had finished in the first three but Grant Behr told me that, when he asked her, she simply dropped the gears and went.

“But you have got to have patience with a filly like this. I took her to Durban but didn’t run her and it was only two months ago that she began to turn the corner.”

By Michael Clower