The teams for the Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge have been finalised and some well-known UK jockeys will be flying to South Africa for the test. It will be held at one venue this year, Turffontein on Sunday 19 November, and the test will be held over six races.

Anthony Delpech

Captain. This Seychelles-born 48-year-old has ridden for South Africa in every International Jockeys Challenge held so far. He won the national jockeys’ title last season, riding 43 more winners than second-placed Greg Cheyne and maintaining a high 22% win rate. That was his third jockeys’ title after 1998-99, when he set the standing record in South Africa for number of winners in a season – 334, and 2002-03. “Bonji” won four Grade 1 races last season. Although only 10^th on the 2017-18 log, he is maintaining his high strike rate this season with 20 wins from 94 rides and a win-place strike rate of nearly 60%. He has ridden in Singapore, Mauritius, Hong Kong and Dubai. He rides at 53kg.

Greg Cheyne

This 41-year-old Pretoria-born rider was in the South African team in the 2015 International Jockeys’ Challenge. He has a diverse international CV that includes appearances in Malaysia, Germany, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore Macau and most recently in England where he partnered Whisky Baron in his UK debut. His second on the national jockeys’ log in 2016-17 was his highest finish to date, although he did finish third on a couple of occasions before that. He made his one Grade 1 victory for last season count – it came in the Cape’s biggest race, the Sun Met, aboard Whisky Baron. Cheyne is currently 18^th on the national jockeys’ log with a win-place strike rate of nearly 60%. He rides at 53kg.

Gavin Lerena

Champion SA jockey 2014-15 and third on the log last season in spite of spending almost three months in the UK. The 32-year-old Johannesburg-born won the Grade 1 Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup on Master Sabina last year and his four Grade 2 wins included the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile. He has ridden in Hong Kong, Mauritius, China, Dubai, England and Zimbabwe. This is the sixth time he will represent South Africa in this challenge and he rode in the Hong Kong International Jockeys’ Challenge and Shergar Cup in 2015. He is third on the log and more than a quarter of his rides so far have won. He rides at 57kg.

Anton Marcus

Four-time champion SA jockey, he has captained the “Proteas” four times in the International Jockeys’ Challenge and ridden in this test six times. The 47-year-old, who was born in Cape Town and is retained jockey to the powerful string belonging to Markus Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators, won six Grade 1 races last season when he finished fourth on the national jockeys’ log with a winning strike rate of 25.52%. His winning strike rate so far this season is even better, 29.27%, so he continues to ride with finesse. His international experience includes rides in Australia, Macau Dubai, England, Hong Kong, Mauritius and Singapore.

S’manga Khumalo

Two-time champion SA jockey – the first person of colour to achieve that honour – this KwaMashu-born 31-year-old has ridden in the International Jockeys’ Challenge five times and was captain in 2014 when the local team won by a country mile. Finished fifth on the log in 2016-17 with a winning strike rate of 16.6% and a tally of three Grade 1 wins. Has made a fairly slow start to the current season and is 25^th on the table. Has represented his country in jockey tests in England and Hong Kong and has also ridden with success in Australia, China, Kenya, Mauritius and Zimbabwe. Weighs in at 53kg.

Craig Zackey

The Benoni, Johannesburg-born 22-year-old rides in the International Jockeys’ Challenge for the first time but has already represented his country twice, in the Asian Young Guns in Seoul in 2014 and 2015. Finished sixth on the SA Jockeys’ log last season with 138 winners and his second Grade 1 trophy, when Nother Russia won the HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes. His best finish came in defeat, though, when the filly was beaten two short heads into third by hard-knocking males Deo Juvente and Legal Eagle in the Premiers Champions Challenge. Is currently ninth on the national jockeys’ log. Rides at 53kg.

Pat Smullen

Represents Ireland. This 40-year-old rider, who rode his first winner in 1993, has won the Irish flat-racing jockeys’ title nine times and has won major races in his homeland, England, France and the United States. He has ridden several times in the Shergar Cup, although his team failed to win on any of those occasions. He will be riding in South Africa for the first time. Is currently second on the Irish jockeys’ log behind Colin Keane with a 14% winning strike rate. Biggest win this year came in the Moyglare “Jewels” Blandord Stakes (Group 2) aboard Dermot Weld-trained Shamreen. His lowest riding weight this year was 54.5kg.

Seamie Heffernan

Represents Ireland and eighth on the Irish jockeys’ log this year with a 10% winning strike rate. The 45-year-old, who was born in County Kildare, rode in the International Jockeys’ Challenge in South Africa in 2012 when he won a race at Clairwood and helped his team win the test. He has also ridden in England, France and the USA, where he won the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Highland Reel last year. Rides mostly for Aidan O’Brien and his big-race wins this year include three Grade 1s – the Irish Derby on Capri, the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes on US Navy Flag and the Prix de l’Opera on Rhododendron. Rides at 54.5kg.

Corey Brown

Represents Australia. The 41-year-old Taree-born jockey has ridden in Mauritius, Singapore (fourth in the premiership there last year) and Hong Kong but comes to South Africa for our International Jockeys’ Challenge for the first time. Champion Australian jockey in 2001-2002, he is best known internationally for riding Shocking to victory in Australia’s premier race, the Melbourne Cup, in 2009. Has ridden a lot for Godolphin this year winning on a third of his rides for them. Currently 39^th on the Australian jockeys’ log. Rides at 53kg.

Martin Dwyer

Represents England. The 42-year-old Aintree, Liverpool-born jockey has ridden in Mauritius but visits South Africa for the International Jockeys’ Challenge for the first time. Has recorded Group 1 wins in England (including winning the Oaks on Casual Look in 2003 and the Derby on Sir Percy in 2006), Canada, Hong Kong, Italy, Dubai (where he won the Dubai Sheema Classic on Phoenix Reach in 2005) and India. Rides a lot for his father-in-law Willie Muir. Has a 10% winning strike rate this year and is 46^th in the British Flat jockeys’ standings. Was licensed to also ride over jumps this year. His lowest riding weight in 2017 was 52kg.

Thierry Thulliez

Represents France. The 43-year-old Paris-born jockey, affectionately called “Thuthu”, started his life in the saddle as a jump jockey, winning 17 races over obstacles before moving to Chantilly to ride in Flat races. Although without a Group 1 win and a 6% winning strike rate this year, he is no stranger to big-race success, having won at the highest level in France, Italy and the USA, where he won the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Mile on Domedriver, and his international experience also includes Germany, Mauritius, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Dubai and Czechoslovakia. Has ridden as light as 53.5kg this year.

PJ McDonald

Represents Ireland but the 35-year-old jockey works in the UK and is in the top 10 on their jockeys’ log. Was recently crowned Flat jockey of the year at Ayr. A former jump jockey, he switched codes after winning the 2007 Scottish Grand National on Hot Weld as an apprentice, and has won 645 Flat races in his career. Is having his best season yet with 97 wins to his credit at the time of writing. His first Group 1 Flat race success came on 13 October aboard Laurens in the bet 365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. That was his third win aboard trainer Karl Burke’s charge. McDonald’s lowest riding weight this year has been 53kg.

Previously Gr1 winners carried penalties.
The 2000m contest, the Capes flagship race is expected to attract South Africas best, with berths available for 20 runners. It was won by the Australian-bred Whisky Baron at its inaugural running and the last under the old weight conditions.
Entries for the Met close at 11h00 on Wednesday 29 November 2017.
Other key dates:
First Supplementary Entries Close at 11h00 on Tuesday 12 December 2017
Final Supplementary Entries Close at 11h00 on Monday 8 January 2018
Weights will be published on Monday 8 January 2018
Final Declarations are due by 11h00 on Monday 15 January
Announcement of the Final Field will be made on Monday 15 January 2018
Barrier Draws to be made at an event on Wednesday 17 January 2018
The compulsory public gallops will be held on Thursday 18 January 2018

Turffontein Inside has a nine race meeting tomorrow and plenty of good horses are turning out as the big Highveld features approach.

The first leg of the PA sees the Mike de Kock-trained Naafer clashing with the Gavin van Zyl-trained Vicomte and others. Naafer was unlucky in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe at Greyville last time out and earlier finished a four length second to his brilliant stablemate Mustaaqeem in the Grade 1 SA Nursery. Anthony Delpech was up in the latter race and gets the ride again from a fair draw of five over the 1000m trip. Vicomte is an eye-catching gelding by Var, who was green on debut and when the penny dropped his long stride was impressive. The horse he mowed down, Darkest Hour, went on to beat the classy Sir David Baird over 1400m, so he looks to be better than his 78 merit rating suggests. Whorly Whorly is well held by Naafer, but could place. Alfolk has some class and a lot of pace, but has to contend with a wide draw and top weight. Pillaroftheearth has struck as one who could develop into a top division sprinter. The first-timer filly Some Song is by Oratorio out of a half-sister to Natural Selection, who dead-heated for fourth with Pocket Power in the 2007 Vodacom Durban July, just 0,45 lengths behind the winner. She has a featherweight and a good draw so should not be ignored.

Later, in a classy conditions plate over 1600m, Tahini should not be ignored. She won a conditions plate over course and distance a year ago, despite returning from a layoff and being considerably under sufferance. Her odds that day were 35/1 but she proved it was no fluke in March this year when winning a Pinnacle Stakes event over the same course and distance by four lengths at odds of 5/1. Those have been her only two starts over course and distance and like last year she is returning from a layoff again. However, the selection to win is Bi Pot, simply due to her being so well treated at the weights. Geoff Woodruff is aiming this Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic runner up at the Summer Cup and holds her in high regard. She is 0,5kg better off with Wind Chill tomorrow on official merit ratings and is at least 4kg better off with the rest of the field. Wind Chill will be improving being by Silvano, but this SA Oaks winner would likely prefer a touch further, so Tahini is chosen to finish second. The classy topweight Fort Ember will be dangerous as a representative of the very much in form Paul Peter yard and Intergalactic is a classy distance suited sort making her comeback.

The following race is a MR 91 Handicap where Social Order is chosen as the best bet of the day, although Sean Tarry is a little bit concerned about his suitability to the Inside track. This four-year-old Count Dubois gelding was travelling well throughout in the Grand Heritage over 1475m last time out but encountered severe traffic problems at a crucial stage. When he finally saw daylight he flew home for a 3,8 length fifth. He will enjoy the step up in trip and has a nice draw of five with S’Manga Khumalo now taking over the ride. Elevated was beaten 2,9 lengths by Social Order in the Grand Heritage and they face each other on the same terms. However, he had no cover the whole way in that race and before that was a comfortable winner over Saturday’s course and distance. This well regarded sort wears first time blinkers and will be attempting to qualify for the Charity Mile and Summer Cup, so Anthony Delpech has his work cut out from a wide draw. The topweight Unagi can be forgiven his last two runs and from pole position over his favourite course and distance will also be a big runner.

In race two over 1200m the first-timer Australian-bred Shufoog is most interesting being by Grade 1-winning sprinter Star Witness out of a multiple stakes-winning sprinter.

In race five over 2000m, Ali Bon Dubai looks to have been under rated by the handicapper and can use his fine turn of foot to make it a course and distance double and a career hattrick.

In the following race End Game makes little appeal at first sight, especially from a wide draw. However, this Silvano filly is well treated on her best form and should be running on strongly under Piere Strydom if bouncing back to her best.

By David Thiselton

Billy Prestage’s good stayer built up a huge lead in last month’s Settlers Trophy and romped home over five lengths clear. Many of the rival trainers have since made it clear that they think their jockeys were caught napping by Wes Marwing’s opportunism but the fact that his mount took more than two seconds off the course record suggests there was no fluke about the performance.

Some observers even took the 2 400m record with a pinch of salt, pointing to the improved state of the track, but not many other races have established new records.

Red Peril is the oldest horse in the race and the handicappers have raised his rating by eight points, roughly the equivalent of the five lengths-plus by which he won. But he had been ten lengths clear approaching the furlong mark and he appeared to have been allowed to ease in the closing stages.

However Marwing, the one man in a position to know, says not – “I rode him to the line. I think it was more a case of the others having realised they had to do something about it (the big lead).”

Prestage is optimistic, saying: “I am very happy with him at home and I believe he has an outstanding chance although I don’t think the others will let him get away so easily this time.”

At the TAB forecast 5-2 he looks the best bet but Justin Snaith, bidding for his fourth Woolavington, has two strong contenders in the hat-trick seeking Strathdon and the mare Northern Ballet.

“I think Strathdon shows the more potential. He won his last race very well and he stays well,” is the trainer’s view.

Candice Bass-Robinson is two-handed with Three Balloons, who never really got into it in the Settlers, and Benjan whose 3kg under sufferance gives him a lot to do.

“Benjan stays well and Three Balloons should be competitive,” says Mrs Robinson. “He now has two runs under his belt this season and he still needed it last time.”

Dean Kannemeyer has won more Woolavingtons (seven) than all tomorrow’s rivals put together but Speed Of Africa, despite winning his last two starts, has been off for six months. “I have given him plenty of time – he is backward and immature – but it’s been a long break and I would like to have got one or two gallops into him.”

Mangrove ran well on his reappearance three weeks ago but Greg Ennion has well-founded reservations, explaining: “He is 3kg under sufferance so it’s a big ask. But there aren’t many races for him so we are giving it a go.”

By Michael Clower

There will be more than just apprentice Denis Schwarz riding on Got Your Back when the filly lines up in the Helen Lucre Resourcing Qualified Maiden at Greyville this evening. Dennis Bosch’s charge will be a popular exotic bet banker and looks well capable of snapping a string of runner-up berths.

Only once out of the money in six outings, she was well fancied to shed her maiden over course and distance last time out, but was unfortunate enough to find the frustrating On The Bounce eventually find form and Got Your Back finished up second best for the third time running.

There is not a lot of depth among the opposition with only Arran Isles, another who has been expensive to follow, the most likely threat.

The Huhcor Handicap looks to be a more competitive event where plenty are in with chances. Out My Way is bidding for a fifth victory and should come on from his fourth-place finish behind Al Ciberano. That was the geldings first outing in three months and looks better suited to tonight’s trip.

Three years younger is Suzie’s Soldier who made a smart handicap debut for Doug Campbell finishing two lengths off the vastly more experience Royalsecuritypower. His maiden form has held up quite nicely and you leave him out of calculations at your peril. Marriot, Captain Ellio and Sapphire Petunia are others to consider.

Apprentices take centre stage on the night and Akshay Balloo will have his riding skills tested when he partners Flight Mode in the Campbell’s Cargo Handicap. The gelding is prone to taking a hold and if allowed to get away in the pre-race parade, Balloo could find himself hanging on.

However, Flight Mode has come on nicely at recent starts, finishing a close-up second last time out and looks well capable in this line-up.

Another potential banker on the card is Pure Logic. Dean Kannemeyer was in fine spirits at the launch of the Sun Met in Cape Town on Wednesday night after Last Winter turned in another smashing performance at Durbanville, giving notice that he will be a factor this summer. Assistant Barbara Bardenhorst is likely to be doing the saddling this evening and Pure Logic is back on his favourite surface. He has been up against stronger opposition at recent outings and should feature here.

Among the more obvious dangers are Viking Red, Crime Victim, Icy Avalanche and Cat’s Legacy.

Viking Red was well fancied to snap his run of seconds over course and distance last time out, but arrived on the scene too late to catch surprise winner Ataturk. Frank Robinson will be looking for his charge to go one better.

Crime Victim has been dropping steadily in the ratings and his form has been consistent. The handicappers have dropped him a further three pounds since his last start and he looks competitive off his new mark.

Top weight Cat’s Legacy is lightly raced and will have his supporters. He showed up nicely in some competitive fields last season and was probably in need of the outing at his seasonal debut behind the promising Zen Arcade.

He goes this trip for the first time but should see it out.

Icy Avalanche looked to have come to the end of his career in Port Elizabeth but Tony Nassif is a shrewd judge and the gelding has taken a new lease on life, finishing close-up second in both recent outings. Nassif has engaged poly specialist Anton Marcus for the ride so the inference is obvious.

Apprentices round off the evening where Ashburton trainers could dominate. Lowan Denyssechen saddles Zilla, who showed up well on her return from a break and Ashton Arries could be defending his lead come the line from Craig Bantam on the Duncan Howells runner Miss Suey who was a close-up third behind stable companion Mythical Magic last time out.

By Andrew Harrison

Three-times national champion trainer Sean Tarry was happy with the runs of Liege and Samurai Blade on Saturday at Turffontein in preparation for the Sansui Summer Cup and also spoke of his other entries for Johannesburg’s biggest race.

Tarry said the free entries into the big race had been “a drawcard” as this allowed trainers to enter in numbers and then see how their preparations went.

Liege has shortened to 20/1 in Betting World’s Summer Cup book after Saturday’s eyecatching three length fifth in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m on the Inside track, where he was caught wide without cover the whole way but still managed to stay on well. It was the five-year-old son of Dynasty’s second run as a gelding and first outing since running in the Jubilee Handicap on June 11.

Samurai Blade finished a 4,25 length sixth in Saturday’s race. It was his first run since April and he only faded in the last bit after looking threatening.

Tarry said, “The distance was too short for them and the course doesn’t really suit them but I was pleased with their comeback runs and expect more from both of them on the Standside track over further.”

Tarry said Liege’s preparation for the Vodacom Durban July earlier this year had not gone according to plan and he had eventually pulled him out with a view to preparing him for the Summer Cup.

He continued, “I think the Victory Moon is the right race for him, although I may also consider the Charity Mile. The Victory Moon is four weeks after this last run, so will provide a nice build up. He should give a nice positive performance in his next race, but whichever race it is will be a preparation run for his target race, the Summer Cup.”

Samurai Blade also looks likely to use the Victory Moon as his final preparation run.

Matador Man is the shortest-priced of the Tarry Summer Cup entries at 16/1 with Betting World, but Tarry is not convinced.

He said, “He will have to carry a lot of weight and I am not sure he didn’t raise his game at Greyville. I am not sure he would enjoy 1800m or 2000m at Turffontein as much as he would at Greyville. But I was not too concerned about his first prep run the other day (in the Grade 2 Spring Challenge on Turffontein Inside over 1450m where he was beaten 7,1 lengths by his promising three-year-old stablemate Wonderwall). Before the race I would have been satisfied for him to finish three lengths back, but the track was heavy that day and they were not making up ground on the outside. He would prefer the track a bit firmer and we will now try further, but I will have to be convinced about his Summer Cup chances.”

Matador Man’s running on third in the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville suggests he will stay the Summer Cup trip, despite being by Toreador out of the Mogok 1400-1600m type Sahara. The Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile on November 4 looks his ideal next race, although he has drawn wide in 25 out of 35 entries.

French Navy is also likely to run in the Charity Mile as his Summer Cup preparation and Tarry said he would be happy for him to finish five or six lengths back.

Tilbury Fort is off a 97 merit rating and hasn’t run since the Vodacom Durban July, so Tarry said he would have to find a good preparation race for him and take it from there.

Tarry rates the unexposed 86 merit rated Social Order as good enough to run in big handicap races like the Charity Mile and Summer Cup, but added, “It will be difficult to qualify him for the Charity Mile and I am stuck between a rock and a hard place because the Inside Track might not suit him (he runs there on Saturday in a 1600m handicap). But off bottom weight in the Charity Mile and Summer Cup he won’t disgrace himself.”

Social Order, a four-year-old Count Dubois gelding, was the unluckiest horse in the Grand Heritage in just his fourth career start last time out. When he finally saw daylight he finished strongest of all for a 3,8 length fifth.

Tarry said Bold Viking was improving but was not sure he was good enough. “He will be very lucky to qualify.”

He is considering taking Stonehenge to Cape Town as an alternative to the Summer Cup and said, “Older horses often do well down there.”

He said Hyaku’s run on the Greyville poly over 1900m on Gold Cup day had not panned out well, so he had done well to finish a close up fourth, and he was now hoping for a bug run in the Michaelmas from the 87 merit rated six-year-old.

Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Challenge winner Intergalactic is 96 merit rated and Tarry said, “She starts in a conditions Plate on Saturday and we will see how she goes.”

Witchcraft is also in that race and will then run in the Grade 3 Yellowwood Handicap on Charity Mile day.

Tarry pointed out 89 merit rated Tambalang had “run on very nicely” in her last start over 1800m and would also go for the Yellowwood. He added, “She is in a nice space and is having the right preparation races.”

Tarry has had a statistically slower start than in his last two championship-winning seasons, but said, “The game hasn’t started yet. Producing big horses through the season is what it is all about. I have been fortunate to win the last three championships, but the clock starts again on August 1 each season.”

By David Thiselton

Last Winter lit up Durbanville yesterday with a hugely impressive performance to extend his unbeaten run to four when defying a three-month absence and giving weight all round in the Interbet.co.za Handicap.

The sky now looks the limit but Dean Kannemeyer is determined to keep his feet on the ground and the horse to the easiest possible passage.

He said: “Last Winter is only now turning into a racehorse and, while the route takes care of itself if they are good enough, we have to plot where he goes next. This was a very good performance and the handicapper is going to hike him. We are looking towards the summer features.”

When the Green Point on 2 December was mentioned as a possible Kannemeyer nodded, adding: “At this point, and as it stands, yes but we will have to discuss it.”

The 18-10 favourite, who took many an onlooker’s breath away with his physical appearance in the parade ring, looked the winner from a long way out and surged to the front just over a furlong out, coming away to win far more comfortably than the length and a quarter margin over 13-1 shot Ollivander would suggest.

Anthony Delpech said: “I thought he would win but he blew me away with this. When I asked him he was there within five strides. I eased him down at the end. He would have won by four or five lengths otherwise.”

Delpech enjoyed his first visit to Durbanville and the three-time champion gave the course a qualified vote of approval after getting up in the closing stages of the Betting World Handicap on the Kannemeyer 5-2 favourite Gadget Man.

He said: “It’s a beautiful track and I really enjoyed riding here. It reminds me a bit of Happy Valley in Hong Kong, always on the turn. I will definitely be back.

“But the 1 200m is quite tight and the turn starts too soon. I don’t know why they don’t do away with 1 200m races and start them from the 1 300m. That would be fairer on everybody.”

Dennis Bosch has booked Delpech for Billy Silver in the 1 400m Cape Classic at Kenilworth on Saturday week, and he has already declared the colt who readily justified odds of 4-10 in a four-runner novice plate over 1 200m at Scottsville early last month.

Justin Snaith has declared Grant van Niekerk (in fine form with a four-timer yesterday) for Cot Campbell and has supplemented Sir Frenchie while Joey Ramsden – successful with Table Bay in last season’s race – supplemented November Storm.

Snaith is also making a determined assault on the Betting World Algoa Cup at Fairview on Sunday week and has declared Master’s Eye (Van Niekerk), Platinum Prince (Richard Fourie) and True Master (Raymond Danielson) for this 2 000m R350 000 Listed event. Fourie won last year’s race on the Brett Crawford-trained Nebula.

Andre Nel, who yesterday confirmed that Plattner Racing now has a retainer on Donovan Dillon, has booked Keagan de Melo for Loadshedder in the Algoa. The four-year-old was third in the Winter Guineas and Winter Classic last season and was fourth in a Durbanville handicap on his reappearance last month.

By Michael Clower

Ireland’s all-conquering champion trainer Aidan O’Brien looks likely to hit the magical 30 Gr.1 winner mark before the end of this season and he could take another step closer at the QIPCO Champions Day fixture at Ascot on Saturday.

US Navy Flag led home an historic top four finish for O’Brien in Saturday’s Dewhurst Stakes in Newmarket – taking his trainer to 24 Gr.1 wins this season.

US Navy Flag could have his 11th start of the season in next month’s Breeders’ Cup in Del Mar after becoming the first horse in 35 years to complete the Middle Park-Dewhurst Stakes double on Saturday after leading home his stable companions, Mendelssohn, Seahenge and Threeandfourpence at Newmarket.

The Ballydoyle squad for this weekend includes the dual-Guineas winners Churchill and Winter who both hold entries in the Champion Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Caravaggio could have another crack at Harry Angel in the Champions Sprint while Seventh Heaven is among the possibles for the Fillies and Mares Stakes.

Before the four Gr.1 races at Ascot, Ireland’s champion trainer could also be in top-class action in Australia in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Johannes Vermeer only just failed to overhaul Gailo Chop in the Ladbrokes Stakes on Saturday and on the back of his impressive first start in Asutralia he has been cut to 8-1 to make a successful reappearance in the Caulfield Cup.

The mile and a half handicap was pinpointed as a likely target for the colt by Ryan Moore as early as July and Katelyn Mallyon, who rode Johannes Vermeer on Saturday, was upbeat about the Irish horse’s chance in that $3 million (€2.5 million) race too.

Along with the Melbourne Cup, the Caulfield Cup is the first of Australian racing’s three most coveted prizes. O’Brien won the third of them, the Cox Plate, with Adelaide in 2014.

The Ballydoyle trainer is unlikely to have a runner in Sunday’s Prix Royal Oak, the French St Leger, run at Saint-Cloud but one firm is already betting on the basis that the Irishman’s pursuit of Bobby Frankel’s 25 top-flight wins in 2003 is old news.

O’Brien will also have his eye on the Breeders’ Cup weekend at Del Mar, the spring carnival in Australia and the possibility of runners at the Hong Kong International meeting, as well as the Japan Cup.

– sportinglife

The first leg of this season’s Workrider series takes place tomorrow at the Vaal Inside track and the first-timers will play a part as all eight races are uninspiring maidens.

There are two interesting first-timers in the first race over 1000m. The Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Glacus is by Querari out of a Western Winter mare who won five times over 1000m so this R300,000 purchase should have plenty of speed. He looks to be the stable choice as he will be ridden by Francis Semela, who had the joint most number of workrider race winners last season on eleven. The Mike de Kock-trained Mawshoof is by Trippi out of a twice-winning Western Winter half-sister to two Grade 2 winners, including Alderry, who is the dam of SA Derby winner Al Sahem. The low draws are usually favourable by trends down the straight on this course and this will give Mawshoof, who is drawn five, an advantage over the barrier ten drawn Glacus. However, Glacus’s speed breeding gives him the nod. The best of those to have run looks to be Ragnarok, who was not disgraced on debut behind the two-year-old champion Mustaaqeem. He hasn’t run since April, but ability-wise looks superior to the rest of the raced horses. However, Tumbling Stream, an improving sort who went close over this trip last time out, should finish in the quartet, although he does have a high draw. Toby Coates has the form to earn. Sage Rock is well bred and has shown a lot of pace in both of his starts before fading. He now drops to the minimum trip and should strip fitter so is a dark horse.

In race two over 1000m, Schippers is speedily bred being by Var out of the Count Dubois sprinter Fair Rosalind. The latter had precocious speed, winning her first two starts as a two-year-old and she later won the Grade 3 Magnolia Handicap over 1160m in the December of her three-year-old year. Schippers will be ridden by Goodman Dadamasi, who had the joint most number of workrider winners last season. Glencassley could be a big threat as one with tremendous cruising speed. She will undoubtedly appreciate the step down to 1000m and her pace should enable her to choose whichever side the jockey wants to go to from a high draw. Her rider is inexperienced, but has ridden a place in his two rides this season. Ilha Da Var has also shown enough to be able to place.

In the third race over 1400m the reigning champion workrider Sam Mosia rides the selection Diva Faustina. This horse should do well over 1400m down the straight as she went a bit fast three runs ago over this trip around the turn, but still held on for third. If ridden a bit more conservatively from the front she should go close and a draw of six, which is favourable by trends, should allow Mosia to do so. The Australian-bred Yes We Do makes her debut and is most interesting, being by the brilliant ten times Grade 1 winner So You Think out of a winning half-sister to a Grade 1 placed horse. Siyabonga Mthembu, who rode three winners last season, is aboard. Queen Anne is always fancied in the betting due to her hard knocking form, but she is hard to win with as she is a handy to front-running sort who doesn’t find the necessary extra in the closing stages. Queensberry Square and Princess Tin Tin can earn on form and the first-timer Lady Adela is interesting being by Crusade out of a full sister to Grade 3 Three Troikas winner Sharp Mistress.

In the fourth race over 1400m the vote goes to Cyrus, but he’s not a confident choice. He was left out of his ground on debut over 1160m and ran on quite well, but not in the eye-catching style which inspires confidence. He is only chosen due to the weakness of the field. Soldat looks to be a better place accumulator banker as he is distance suited and consistently thereabouts. The first-timer Sucha Charmer will win easily if anything like as good as his full-brother Africa Rising, but Lucky Houdalakis does tend to bring his good horses on slowly but surely.

In the fifth over 1200m the Mike de Kock first-timer Yaamen is by Silvano out of a Grade 2 Betting World Oaks placed horse. However, despite the stoutness of the pedigree he is the choise as the pedigree also has class and that could pull him through. Chamu Mabaya is a top workrider and has six rides for De Kock on the day. The hard knocking Flying Russian should finish in the top three and No Man’s Land can be involved if starting better than he did on debut.

The sixth is over 2400m and jockeyship should be at a premium here so Mosia is chosen to bring home the proven stayer Pocahontas Girl. Just A Jet with Semela up could be a threat and Until Dawn could improve over this trip.

The seventh over 1800m is a tough race and going wide would be wise, although the Gardner Girl with Mosia up is the selection.

In the eight over 1800m Collegiate could be the best bet on the card, although a concern is rider Paulus Jevu’s low winning strike rate. This five-year-old gelding by Ideal World ran on strongly for second over 2000m on Saturday after a slow start and if the penny has dropped he will be hard to beat.

By David Thiselton

The Sansui Summer Cup picture took on a different complexion after Saturday’s meeting at Turffontein. Three horses, in particular, must have pleased their respective trainers – Brazuca, Abashiri and Banner Hill.

They finished first, second and third respectively in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m on the Turffontein Inside track and you could virtually hear the respective trainers say “and now for the Summer Cup”.

The bookmakers were also impressed by Abashiri’s performance and have priced him up 5-1 favourite for the Cup.

That spectacle takes place over 2000m on the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday 25 November and all three will be better suited to the course and distance. Donavan Mansour rode Brazuca this time and wasted no time in taking his mount to the head of affairs.

“I thought he might want to go if there was no pace and I said before the race that it was stupid to fight him and the best thing to do was let him run his own race,” said Mansour.

“He needed the run so if he faded late it was not going to be too much of a concern.”

He did exactly the opposite and kicked nicely in the straight to easily hold off the opposition and win by 1.70 lengths.

Janse van Vuuren said he would look at the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile as Brazuca’s next run but a lot will depend on where he is drawn.

It is worth noting that Mansour has ridden Brazuca four times for three wins and a second. The runner-up race was on debut and was over 1000m where he finished second to Isca. There is no doubt Mansour has a great rapport with the Australian-bred son of Teofilo.

Last week Adam Azzie said Abashiri was in desperate need of a run and they just wanted him to see a racecourse again. There were no expectations at all, a comment which the younger Azzie reiterated again on Saturday. “If he finishes within five lengths of the winner we will be over the moon,” he said.

But champions don’t like to lose and we saw that desire in Abashiri on Saturday. Left to race near the rear of the field by Karl Zechner, Abashiri got just one smack and that got him going. He started to charge up on outside but lack of fitness probably caught him out.

“It was a fantastic comeback,” said Mike Azzie. “I didn’t want him under pressure and we had no expectations but he just blew us out of the water. This run was way better than what we expected.

“He ate up well, his legs were ice cold – everything just worked out perfectly.”

Azzie senior added that the Inside track was not right for Abashiri, but they wanted him to have a run and had few other options. “It left us between a rock and a hard place so we thought, let’s put him in and let him have fun.

“He used to get all worked up on the racecourse but on Saturday he was dead calm. His ears were pricked, he was so relaxed and just looking at everything around him. When he got his saddle on he stomped around and walked around the parade ring like he dominated it.

“He knew he was on the racetrack again,” said Azzie.

His next run will be in the Victory Moon Handicap next month.

Banner Hill had his first run for Geoff Woodruff and the trainer must have been delighted with the fact his charge was just beaten 1.80 lengths over a course and distance that would not suit him.

Woodruff has won the last four Summer Cups and will feel comfortable a runner like Banner Hill is capable of making it five in a row.

– TABonline