Anthony Delpech breaks new ground at Durbanville tomorrow when he rides at the Cape Town course for the first time.

“I have never ridden there in my life before,” says the three-time champion who adds. “I am looking forward to it, particularly now that they have done up the track. I’m told it’s very good.”

He has five mounts for Dean Kannemeyer and also partners Tally-Ho for Mike Robinson in the last but the main purpose of his visit is to renew his association with the highly-regarded Last Winter in the Interbet Handicap.

This well bred Western Winter four-year-old has won all his three starts, all with Delpech in the irons, and would have been a Guineas contender last season but for suffering a hairline fracture in a freak accident. He has been off for almost three months but would almost certainly have a higher rating than his present 99 had he not been sidelined.

The question is whether he will need the run. “He is doing exceptionally well although he is not a horse who over-exerts himself at home,” answers Dean Kannemeyer.

“I would love to have got a grass gallop into him but unfortunately we can’t do that at the moment and I think he just might need one more run to bring him to peak racing fitness.”

That said, it is hard to go against him particularly with Delpech flying in to take the mount, and his class may just pull him through.

Kannemeyer also runs Cape Speed (who needs further) and Mambo Mime who returned here earlier in the month after being off since the Met. “He had a lot of setbacks but he has come on since his run and I think he will be right there,” says his trainer.

Last Winter opened 15-10 favourite with World Sports Betting who make Mambo Mime a 12-1 chance. Third favourite at 4-1 is Star Chestnut who has been raised three points for his hard-fought win over this course and distance last month.

Union Jack (9-2) is returning after a break and so perhaps the biggest danger to the selection is 7-2 shot Captain Courteous who was second over a furlong less here last month when the bit went through his mouth, making him difficult to steer round the turn. He now wears blinkers, which could further enhance his chance.

Kannemeyer also mentions Kapen Pride who moves into handicap company in race six after a three-and-a-half Greyville polytrack maiden success and has been installed favourite at 33-10. The Milnerton trainer is always wary of horses running out of the maidens for the first time and says: “It was a very weak maiden although he won it exceptionally well and I think he is improving.”

Zanzibarian, a little unlucky last time, can take advantage of a good draw in race two. The Brett Crawford runner is 5-2 favourite and Kannemeyer’s World Mission is next in the market at 4-1.

By Michael Clower

Abashiri has swept to the top of the Sansui Summer Cup boards after his fine comeback run on Saturday in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein and the horse he pipped for second place, Banner Hill, is rated a big runner in the Summer Cup by record-seeking trainer Geoff Woodruff.

Woodruff also revealed that last year’s Summer Cup runner up Deo Juvente is not a certainty to line up in the big race, although Mayfair Speculator’s racing manager Derek Brugman elaborated and said a final decision was “far from being made.”

Donavan Mansour aboard Summer Cup entry Brazuca took the bull by the horns in Saturday’s Pinnacle and took the Australian-bred by Teofilo to the front. He kept going in fine style and despite hanging outward in the closing stages passed the line 1,7 lengths clear. This was the second year in succession Brazuca had won his seasonal reappearance. He escaped without a merit rated increase and has shortened in to 16/1 with Betting World for the Summer Cup.

Abashiri jumped from the second widest draw in the ten horse field and was dropped out by jockey Karl Zechner. He had cover the whole way, one wide, and turning for home with just two behind him, used his big stride to run on well. He will surely benefit from the run and has shortened to 7/1 favourite for the Summer Cup.

Abashiri will be attempting to follow in the footsteps of Louis The King as a Triple Crown winner who went on to win the Summer Cup. Louis The King did it as a four-year-old in 2014.

Abashiri’s tough three-year-old season took its toll and all three of his runs as a four-year-old were below par. However, the five-year-old gelding showed on Saturday he had benefitted from a nine month layoff.

Louis The King won the Summer Cup off a 110 merit rating and carried 59kg. Abashiri’s current rating is 109 and as things stand he will carry 57kg, as the highest rated entry is the 115 merit-rated Deo Juvente.

Brugman said about Deo Juvente’s participation, “It is very much up in the air at the moment. I am not sure it is the right thing to run him in the Summer Cup with topweight and it might be better to aim it at weight for age events like the Queen’s Plate and then The Met. But, we will wait and see how his preparation run goes and then will also look at how the other horses have prepped and the quality of opposition etc. before deciding.”

The second highest merit rated horse is New Predator on 113, but he has a stamina doubt, so is also not a certain starter. Next highest is the 112 merit rated Matador Man, who on pedigree has a stamina doubt but his strong-finishing third in the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m suggests he will have a chance of staying the 2000m trip.

Abashiri and Master Sabina, who will be attempting to emulate Elevation and Java by winning the Summer Cup three times in a row, are the joint next highest rated on 109. Master Sabina, trained by Woodruff to his two Summer Cup wins, is now with trainer Joey Soma having joined Justin Snaith during the SA Champions Season.

Banner Hill was caught one wide in third place in the running on Saturday and the rangy five-year-old gelding by Tiger Hill then stayed on strongly all the way to the line.

This former Cape Town-based horse is known as a stayer, but won a handicap over 1800m at Greyville in good style in April and Woodruff said, “Those Cape staying races are often run quite slowly and I think the Turffontein Standside 2000m will be right up his alley. He is a nice horse, I like him, and I don’t think he will need another. He will go into the Summer Cup on better weight terms than he was under in Saturday’s Pinnacle and if he goes in with 52kg or 53kg I think he is a huge runner.”

Woodruff said he would likely give Banner Hill a couple of grass gallops rather than another race. The big horse has shortened into 28/1 with Betting World, while Deo Juvente is a 25/1 shot.

Woodruff also had last year’s Summer Cup third-placed Master Switch in Saturday’s race but he was never travelling well and finished last, beaten 8,75 lengths.

Woodruff said, “He was disappointing and returned a bit sore, but I might now run him in the Victory Moon.” Master Switch has drifted to 35/1.

Woodruff’s shortest priced runner in the Summer Cup at 14/1 is last year’s Grade 1 SA Derby runner up Pagoda, who will run in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 2000m on Turffontein’s Inside track on Saturday.

He said, “He hasn’t raced since July, but is well, looks very good and put up a nice gallop at home.”

Among his other Summer Cup entries, Woodruff mentioned the filly Bi Pot, who finished second in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic.

He said, “Greyville didn’t suit her at all and on Turffontein Standside she is a different proposition.”

She is a 50/1 shot with Betting World.

Woodruff’s other Summer Cup entries are Zouaves (40/1), Killua Castle (80/1), Go Direct (80/1), Starret City (100/1), Gone Baby Gone (150/1), Whosethebossnow (250/1), Starpath (330/1).

The five-times national champion trainer will be attempting to become the first trainer in South African history to win one of the three major races (July, Met, Summer Cup) five times in succession.

By David Thiselton

Whisky Baron is making a good recovery from the hind leg setback that ruled him out of last Friday’s Challenge Stakes at Newmarket but plans to send him to Hong Kong for December’s International meeting have been abandoned.

Ridgemont manager Craig Carey said yesterday: “He got a bit of swelling above the joint but the good news is that it is nothing serious. There are no fractures, tears or anything like that, and the swelling has subsided after a lot of ice and care over the last few days.  We think he must have twisted his ankle.

“He is fine in himself and he can start working again in the next few weeks but we are going to call it a day for this year and wait until next year with him.”

Brett Crawford added: “We are not now going to look at Hong Kong but we will try again next year.”

The five-year-old Australian-bred, owned by Craig and Ross Kieswetter and named after their father Wayne, won all five starts last season including the Peninsula Handicap and Sun Met. He is now based at Mary Slack’s Abington Place stables in Newmarket.

Justin Snaith will be three-handed in his bid to win the Woolavington Handicap for the third successive year at Durbanville on Saturday. Bernard Fayd’Herbe rides last season’s runner-up Francia, Richard Fourie will be on Strathdon and Grant van Niekerk has been booked for Northern Ballet.

The five-strong opposition is head by Red Peril (Wes Marwing) who romped to a five-length win in the Settlers Trophy over the same course and distance last month.

By Michael Clower

Todd recently stepped away from his role as MD of Cape Thoroughbred Sales (CTS) in order to focus solely on export protocols.

The severe quarantine restrictions pertaining to African horse sickness (AHS) which have been placed on South African horses have shackled the thoroughbred industry’s ability to progress to a new level.

Currently the most feasible option for horses to travel to countries like Dubai is via Mauritius and the whole process takes an arduous five months.

The reason this route had to be resorted to was due to European Union legislation whereby any outbreak of AHS in the South African AHS Controlled Area in the Western Cape prompts an automatic two year ban on direct horse exports to the EU.

The frustrating aspect of the EU’s policy of suspending exports for a period of two years is that it is virtually impossible for foreign investors to plan with any degree of confidence.

However, a recent vital scientific breakthrough has enabled researchers to ascertain whether an AHS outbreak originated from natural infection or from a vaccine.

Todd said researchers had thus discovered that all previous AHS outbreaks in the Controlled Area had in fact originated from vaccines.

Therefore, a new regulation has been introduced whereby vaccines administered in the AHS Controlled Area can only be done in the winter months. The culicoides midge which carries the disease is mostly inactive in cold weather and thus restricting vaccinations to the winter months will dramatically reduce the chances of a “vaccine outbreak.” The midge can feed off a horse which has become “viraemic” due to the vaccine (which is a live modified vaccine) and the midge can thus spread the disease.

Therefore, Todd is confident an EU audit done on the state of the AHS disease in South Africa in September or October next year will lead to the lifting of the suspension of direct exports to the EU by the end of next year.

The AHS Controlled Area is of particular importance because the pre-export quarantine station is currently situated within its “AHS Free Zone.”

Todd revealed that Dr. Evan Sergeant of AusVet had done a risk assessment on AHS last year. The assessment looked at the risk of AHS being exported under lockdown vector protected conditions in the AHS Free Zone together with the use of the RT PCR Test, which can ascertain whether the AHS virus exists within hours of the test being done. Todd said the assessment had returned a result of “safe” to export.

He added that the results of this assessment would be part of the strategy taken to the international horseracing community in the export protocol negotiations.

Ultimately, the export protocols are decided upon by government to government negotiations, so a good relationship between the SA thoroughbred industry and government is vital.

Todd said this relationship was currently better than it had ever been. He was full of praise for the Department Of Agriculture’s resolve to work with the thoroughbred industry in solving the export problem.

He said, “The Department Of Agriculture are doing great work, we couldn’t ask for more.”

Todd said the Department of Agriculture’s efforts had also led to a good understanding and united front existing between the central veterinary authorities and the provincial veterinary authorities in their outlook on AHS and equine exports.  

Todd said another vital cog in the process was the united front which SA horseracing has formed to tackle the export problem.

This had its incubation in a workshop held in 2015 between the rival sales companies, Bloodstock South Africa and CTS.

An export protocol task team was the outcome of that workshop and good progress has been made since.

By David Thiselton

There is an eight race card at the Vaal Inside tomorrow and once again there are good horses turning out as they need runs before their respective feature race campaigns.

The fifth is a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1000m for fillies and the topweight Wrecking Ball is weighted to win. She has to carry 61,5kg but is 3,5kg better off than any other horse on official merit ratings and has Gavin Lerena up over an ideal trip. Her high draw is unfavourable by trends but she can overcome it with her pace and class. Queen Laurie is held on form by Wrecking Ball and returns from a layoff, with her last race having been when setting the pace in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint. However, she has a plum draw of two by trends and considering her early pace could be a danger. Winter Watch didn’t beat much last time but did it comfortably and looks to have a bright future. She packs a strong finish and is the dark horse, despite officially being 4,5kg under sufferance with Wrecking Ball. Just Vogue ran a good race over course and distance in June when two lengths behind the speedy Effortless Reward and she should be staying on again from a tricky high draw. Daring Diva had good feature form as a two-year-old and can’t be ignored.  She has a high draw but could overcome it with her pace. She is 3,5kg under sufferance on official merit ratings with Wrecking Ball, but should have come on from her last outing. Those are the five which make most appeal, but on a tricky card Wrecking Ball will have to be a banker consideration with Queen Laurie the back up.

The following race is a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1000m. The Thinker is officially 5kg under sufferance with the  best weighted horse but he proved in his last race, when winning a Pinnacle event over 1000m at Turffontein from a tough draw, that he is under rated. He is a solid sort who packs a strong finish and could develop into a top sprinter this season. He beat the admirable former champion sprinter Talktothestars by 0,55 lengths last time and the latter is now 1,5kg better off so should go close. Fillies are favourably weighted in Pinnacle events and Green Pepper is duly the best in. However, she returns from a layoff, having run two slightly below par runs in April and May, and the classy Exquisite Touch, who is ideally distance suited, is chosen to be the first female home. Green Pepper is tough to ignore though as she had looked pretty special before those two below par efforts and could have benefitted from the layoff. Isphan can’t be ignored either as he is 1,5kg better off with The Thinker for a 0,3 length beating and has become consistent down the straight over this trip. Champagne Haze is also capable of popping up as one with speed and class and he did well the last time he ran over course and distance.

In the second leg of the Pick 6, a MR 80 Handicap over 1400m, Sir David Baird has been chosen as a banker, although by no means a confident one as this race is packed with promising three-year-olds and some toughened older handicappers. Sir David Baird is an impressive specimen by Dynasty and was done no favours last time by the jockey, who looked behind him a couple of times in the final stages and was possibly caught napping. The horse should have come on from the run and is likely to be using that big stride to finish strongly. He has a tough high draw by trends but Delpech is up and will help him overcome it. Surcharge quickened impressively last time over this trip when up in the vanguard throughout and did it in probably unfavourable going which made it an even more meritorious win. He now has a plum draw and Strydom is up, but on the downside he has to give Sir David Baird 2,5kg. O Lucky Man won a moderate maiden easily over this trip last time and getting 3kg from Sir David Baird could make his presence felt. Bold Coast makes most appeal of the older horses as an improving sort who is distance suited. Keanan’s Rock has class but hasn’t run since May and Blackball also has class but has a tough merit rating to contend with.

In the first leg of the PA the rangy Visigoth should be enough to get punters through, although there won’t be much between him and another rangy sort in Finding Troy.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a tricky staying event and Scotland, Samar and Sabastian make most appeal but exotic punters would be advised to go as wide as possible.

In the seventh race Takingthepeace looks to have class but it is never easy for a young horse to carry topweight in a handicap, so others should be considered. Timetoperfection and Prosperity make most appeal of the rest.

In the last race Emerald Bay has caught the eye before and is ideally suited to this 1800m trip. However, she has a tough draw so it is another tricky race. The improving Musette and the attractively handicapped Hatfield Square make most appeal of the rest.

By David Thiselton

The new Durbanville surface has stood up to use so well that the country course’s season has been extended by a week to give Kenilworth some much-needed extra time to recover.

Duty manager Teresa Esplin said: “Following an inspection of Kenilworth a decision has been made to continue racing at Durbanville for an additional two meetings (21 and 25 October). Racing will resume at Kenilworth on 28 October.”

The 21 October meeting includes the 2 400m Woolavington Handicap in which last year’s runner-up Francia will bid to go one better.

The 28 October restart features two of the most important Guineas preliminaries. The Choice Carriers, formerly Odessa and now renamed the Western Cape Fillies Championship, has been won by the subsequent Cape Fillies Guineas winner four times in the last seven seasons.

The unbeaten Magical Wonderland looks like having a reasonable draw (nine) whereas the two set to give her weight have drawn wide. The Dennis Drier-trained Thekwini winner Lady In Black is 25 out of 30 and Sean Tarry’s Golden Slipper scorer Desert Rhythm is drawn 20.

Joey Ramsden, who has won three of the last four runnings of the Cape Classic, accounts for six of the 34 entries for the 1 400m Grade 3 including Ancestry (drawn ten), a close second in both the Golden Horseshoe and the Premiers Champion. Sean Tarry has also nominated six horses but Glen Kotzen’s Premiers Champion winner Eyes Wide Open has drawn badly at 33.

Anthony Delpech makes a rare visit to Durbanville on Wednesday when the reigning champion has five rides for Dean Kannemeyer including Last Winter, the stable’s main hope for big race glory this season.

The Cape Town stipes are to make more use of the seldom-employed Rule 62.2.7 in a bid to improve the pace at which races are run, particularly those at Kenilworth.

The Rule does not mention anything about pace but states: “The rider shall ensure that he does not cause interference, bunching, intimidation and/or constitute a source of interference or danger.”

However Brandon May received a caution under it after slowing early on, riding fourth-placed Libra in a mile handicap at Durbanville on the day of the Matchem.

Senior stipe Ernie Rodrigues said: “Brandon had gone to the front but he wanted cover so he slowed the pace and that caused those behind to bunch up and lose position.

“We don’t want the Cape crawl and so the Rule will be used more in future. We do talk to jockeys about it but the Rule is difficult to prove and the video evidence has to show it.”

The false pace at which many races at Kenilworth are run makes life difficult for punters because the form does not stand up as a result, most noticeably in maidens.

On the other hand coping with the prevailing South-Easter plays an important part in deciding riding tactics. No jockey wants to be riding into the teeth of a strong wind without getting cover from other horses. As a result nobody wants to make the running – whatever the Rules say.

By Michael Clower

Given all the rain midweek that interrupted training regimes and the lowly handicaps on offer it was always going to be rough going for punters at Greyville yesterday and so it proved.

Winners were difficult to find but Parade’s End looked to be the best proposition on the card and so that proved. Second in two competitive maidens before yesterday, Parade’s End made short work of her opposition, leading all the way under stable rider Gareth Wright.

“I let her do her own thing and use her action,” he explained. “She got to the front easily and from there on it was easy.”

For the balance of the card’s favourites it was not so easy. Sharp Seattle was given a good chance by Gavin van Zyl but veteran Burra Boy (8-1) brought his A-game to the poly and won with daylight to spare at the start of the Pick 6. Blake and Cathy Richards have had a lot of fun with some relatively cheap buys and with Mark Dixon at the helm they have had good success.

This was Burra Boy’s third win from 35 outings but had finished in the money on 14 occasions – 15 after yesterday – so has more than paid his way with earnings of over R270k.

Just when it looked as if Sharp Seattle would run him out of it, Brandon Lerena changed gear and Burra Boy pulled clear to win going away.

Home-bred by Gold Circle director Babu Nunan, Burfi (19-1) has been consistent without setting the track alight but his mare put her best foot forward to land the Track & Ball Gaming handicap. She kept digging down to hold the luckless favourite Zinzara with Online staying on for the shallow end of the purse.

Kom Naidoo pulled off a quick double in the sixth as Serino Moodley kept pumping away relentlessly on Northern Storm (16-1) to eventually ware down leader Zadora who has improved since being raced in a tongue-tie.

Charles Laird has been a little quiet in recent months but the veteran is starting to step them out and was rewarded with Dance On Air (5-1) under Keagan de Melo getting the better of recent winner Mr Roy and Mumsy’s Jet after stable companion Monte Christo set a searching early pace.

Starting for home too early on the poly track very often results in an empty tank come the final 50m – not always but more often than one would expect on a quick surface and so it proved in the card opener. De Melo pinched what looked to be a winning lead at the top of the straight as he sent Green Fairy for home early, but was run down on the line by the consistent Coral Queen.

“Warren (Kennedy) said we should try her over 2000m,” surmised Gavin van Zyl. “He’s stable jockey so it helps to listen to them.”

Kennedy confirmed. “Keagan (de Melo) skipped but his horse came back at me and my horse stayed to the line.”

A percentage of the Pick 6 won and the PA paying close to R1 000 told of a difficult day for backers.

By Andrew Harrison

Parade’s End, runner-up in two competitive maidens, can come to punter’s aid on a tricky 10-race card at Greyville on Sunday.

The mini cyclone that hit Durban last Tuesday has had little effect on the Greyville poly track and while the surrounds, notably Royal Durban Golf Course still resembled a lake come Wednesday morning, Greyville course manager Kurt Grunewald was unfazed.

“We could have raced today,” he said Wednesday morning. “The track has drained perfectly and areas where we sometimes experienced problems (with drainage) were dry.”

Parade’s End makes her poly debut in the SA Racing App Maiden Plate but Andre Nel’s runner has given notice that she has a future after two smart efforts behind filly’s that have franked that form. Parade’s end has not been out since July but unless there is a ‘springer’ among the first timers, she does look good enough to break her duck.

Three others that could make up the quartet are Kateecador, Diamonds Forever and Flo Joyner.

Kateecador also returns from a break but Gavin van Zyl’s runner has not been out of the money in three starts, two in the soft, and should be well suited to the poly.

Diamonds Forever has a tricky outside draw to contend with but is in good form and Flo Joyner has run into two strongly fancied runners at recent outings and must come into the picture.

Corrine Bestel operates a small string out of Summerveld and she looks to have a decent prospect in Luneburg in the opening leg of the PA. The well-bred daughter of Var caught the eye on debut in spite of reportedly found coughing post-race. She takes on males but is sure to have come on from that effort and have the better of the year older Delectable Desire and the gelding Vision Of Trust.

The card is headed by a difficult handicap where a number are in with chances. Monte Christo is struggling for another win but came within a piece of paper of beating Mr Roy when the two clashed last Sunday.

Monte Christo is better off at the weights here but they both may have to play second fiddle to Mumsy’s Jet. Alyson Wright’s veteran has been in cracking form on the poly and although he takes on slightly stronger here the takes a corresponding drop in the weights that should see him competitive again. Last Tiger, narrowly beaten by stable companion Mr O’Neill in a fast-run race last time out, is back over what looks to be his optimum trip and is another to consider.

Online is back over best course and distance and could add a second win to her CV in the Track & Ball Gaming handicap. It has been over a year since her maiden win but she has been taking on stronger at recent outings and can go all the way from a good draw.

Fair Antonia, a winner at second time of asking, could be a threat although she does have it all to do under joint top weight.

A modest field of maidens line up in the Durban View Restaurant Handicap but recent maiden winner Pomona had good form leading up to that win and can follow up. She comes from a stable that is finding form. However, an upset is a distinct possibility and the likes of Lavender Bank and Lobelia will start at lengthy odds while Royal has been consistent of late and goes well on the poly.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is another wide-open affair but Sharp Seattle was up against stronger last run and didn’t finish far off. He has stronger help from the saddle this time around and can get the better of Roy’s Donkey while Dale House has a chance of giving apprentice Dylan Lerena his second win as the gelding improved in blinkers last run and has a chance with a 4 kg claimer up.

By Andrew Harrison

Turffontein Inside track stages a ten event meeting tomorrow and some decent horses are being stepped out with some big Highveld Spring features fast approaching.

The celebrated triple crown winner Abashiri makes his long awaited reappearance in a Pinnacle Plate over 1600m. His tough three-year-old season took its toll and his three runs as a four-year-old were all below par. However, he returns from a nine month layoff, which he should have benefited from, and if running close to his ability has a chance. However, he is likely to need the run and others are preferred.

Shukamisa has already had two runs this season so will be fit and faces a field who are mostly returning from layoffs. He was staying on over this trip in his penultimate start and is drawn in three with the added bonus of Anthony Delpech aboard. Being a four-year-old by Silvano he should now be coming into his own. He is not badly off at the weights, being only 3,5kg under sufferance with the officially best weighted Abashiri. Master Switch won his reappearance last year over 1800m following a similar layoff to this one. His only bad races have been at Greyville and from draw two running fresh over a trip a touch too sharp he should go close. He is only 1,5kg under sufferance with Abashiri on official merit ratings.

Brazuca won his reappearance over 1400m in November last year and won over this course and distance in February, so has a fine chance here being the second best in at the weights on official merit ratings. Romi’s Boy has fine form over sprints where he has shown a lot of pace in the past before staying on. He was staying on well over 1200m last time at this course when held up and as a long-striding sort by Querari out of a Montjeu mare who won over a mile he is very interesting here from pole position. Furthermore, he is a half-brother to a Jay Peg horse who has won over 1800m. The Sean Tarry pair Liege and Samurai Blade both have the ability to win but are returning from layoffs.

Liege has his second run after gelding and is preferred. Banner Hill does well over staying trips but won well over 1800m at Greyville in a preparation run earlier this year so could surprise here.  Irish Pride has plenty of ability and is distance suited and should have come on from his last run, so can’t be ignored. Bezanova’s second run after a year long layoff comes a week after his poor comeback, so he can’t be fancied despite the suitable distance. The selection is Shukamisa to beat Master Switch, with Brazuca, Romi’s Boy and Liege next best.

Earlier, in an MR 90 handicap over 2000m, the horse who beat Shukamisa last time, Kilrain, could follow up for, despite being raised four points, he is likely looking for this trip now. Topweight Bankable Teddy won well over course and distance last time, but now has a wide draw and a four point higher merit rating to contend with. Therefore the main danger could be Top Shot, who stayed on in his penultimate start over this course and distance. However, it is a tricky race and going wide might be the best way to tackle it.

In the next race, a Progress Plate over 1450m for three-year-olds, Warrior’s Rest could be the one to beat. This big horse likes to lead and he then stays on strongly, so the course and distance should suit, especially running fresh as he would ideally prefer a mile. His wide draw is a concern as he will have to be made some use of. Flying Free impressed in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m when being hampered at a crucial stage at the top of the straight but recovering to run on for a close fourth. He ran a fine race carrying 62,5kg in his reappearance over 1200m and should go close.

The seventh is also a Progress Plate over 1450m, but is for three-year-old fillies. Silver Thursday has had the benefit of a run this season, where she stayed on well over this course and distance and she has a good draw with Delpech up. Let It Flow ran a fine race in the Grade 2 Golden Slipper over 1400m and has the ability to be involved in her seasonal reappearance here.  Aurelia Cotta, Only To Win and Dame Kelly are all capable of winning, although the latter is the preference of the trio, being drawn well and having romped home in her seasonal reappearance over 1600m.

The last leg of the Pick 6, a fillies and mares handicap over 1200m is the trickiest race on the card. However, the well-bred Best Kept Secret should have come on from her last run and from a good draw could keep going this time.

By David Thiselton

Mike Robinson with a string of just 27 at Phillippi training centre in Cape Town has started the season well and has high hopes for his Royal Air Force mare Goodtime Gal, who won the Grade 3 WSB weight for age Diana Stakes over 1400m at Durbanville on Saturday by a comfortable 2,25 lengths under Anton Marcus.

One characteristic of the mare, which gives Robinson confidence of further progression this season, is that she takes more after her damsire Silvano than her sire Royal Air Force.

He said, “The Royal Air Force’s tend to be tall and lanky. She is not typical of them, she is not big, but, like the Silvano’s, there is a lot of her.”

It has become well established that Silvano’s progeny get better and better with age, so his influence could see Goodtime Gal doing even better as a five-year-old than she did last season.

In fact, last season she finished second in the Diana Stakes to Captain’s Flame and reversed that form on Saturday by over four lengths.

Her two victories last term included the Grade 3 Victress Stakes over 1800m in December, where she beat Nightingale by 0,75 lengths at level weights. She showed in that race she has another trait passed on by Silvano, courage.

In her next start in the Grade 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes over the same Kenilworth 1800m course and distance she faded late to finish a 3,65 length eighth.

However, she bounced back in the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes and looked the winner until scythed down late by the fast finishing pair, Nightingale and Star Express.

Significantly, Goodtime Gal was drawn in pole in both the Victress and the Diana and in barrier position three in the Majorca, whilst she had a wide draw of eleven out of 12 in the Paddock. She is a handy type who has an excellent turn of foot and found cover in all of the Victress, Majorca and Diana, but was caught one wide in the Paddock. This suggests she might take too strong a hold without cover.

She will be worth following this season.

Robinson had 20 winners last season at a strike rate of 11,63% and is on track to bettering that this season with six winners already at a strike rate of 13,95%.

He is glad to be at Phillippi due to what he described as “good facilities”, including “very good tracks and nice, big, wide open spaces where horses can roll, it’s a great environment to train in and it also nice being close to Kenilworth.”

Robinson was full of praise for the newly re-laid Durbanville surface and said that whilst the going was firm due to the current record-breaking drought it was, importantly, level.

“It is when you have firm ground coupled with divots where problems happen,” he said.

At Phillippi the tracks are watered through the natural underground water reserves and up to now there has been a normal supply of municipal water for the horses’ drinking requirements.

Goodtime Gal has been raised from a 99 to a 101 merit rating by the handicappers, which Robinson will be relieved about. The runner up was the 106 merit rated Gimme Six, so the handicappers could have taken a harsher view, but off a 101 Robinson will have more options open to him.

By David Thiselton