The thrill of Africa’s greatest racing event, the Vodacom Durban July, at Hollywoodbets Greyville in Durban last Saturday is over for this year but racing enthusiasts have another equally exciting feast of racing to look forward to at the end of the month with the country’s premier race for speedsters, the R1-million, Grade 1 Mercury Sprint, being one of the main graded races on Champions Day at the Theatre of Champions on July 27.

The meeting, also featuring the R1-million, Grade 1 World Sports Betting Champions Cup and the R1.25-million, Grade 3 eLAN Gold Cup, brings the curtain down on South Africa’s world-renowned three-month Champion’s Season and attracts thousands to the Durban venue where eight highly important graded races will take place on the 12-race card.

The Mercury Sprint, the longest running media-sponsored race in the country, is South Africa’s premier race for sprinters with the country’s fastest horses clashing over 1 200m under weight-for-age conditions which for the purists determines the real champion sprinter of the land. The result is likely to determine South Africa’s Champion Sprinter of the Year at the annual Equus Awards in August.

This year 27 horses have been nominated for the Mercury Sprint including the winners of three of the country’s top sprint races – the Grade 1 Cape Flying Champions, the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint and the Grade 1 South African Fillies Sprint.

For the first time in many years a two-year-old colt has been nominated to take on the older and stronger horses. Frosted Gold, from the Mike de Kock stable, is a New Zealand-bred son of All Too Hard that won the SA Nursery at Turffontein then ran second to the unbeaten Var colt Eden Roc in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion at Scottsville. Eden Roc followed that up on Saturday when he won the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1 400m on July Day being the exotic bet banker for most punters.  The Sean Tarry-trained colt has been entered for the R750 000, Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 1 600m.

Among the 27 entries for the Mercury Sprint are the SA Fillies Sprint winner Celtic Sea that on Saturday beat Oh Susanna and Snowdance in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over a mile and the winner of both the Cape Flying Championships and the Diadem Stakes Kasimir. The winner of the Tsogo Sun Sprint, Chimichuri Run, is among the entries as is Snowdance that was second to Celtic Sea in the Scottsville Grade 1 for fillies and mares.

As the grand finale to Champions Season, eLan Gold Cup day is the second biggest meeting in the country and the Mercury Sprint is a leading feature on the day.

By Richard McMillan

All of Sean Tarry’s Vodacom Durban July day runners were prepared in Johannesburg with the exception of Silver God but for the Gold Cup meeting all of the participants who ran on July day will be prepared at Summerveld.

He said Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province winner Celtic Sea and Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe winner Eden Roc were both likely to run in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint and the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes respectively.

The only niggling doubt for Tarry about their participation was that a bad run for either could affect their probable positions as Equus Award champions elect.

The Golden Horseshoe runner up Putontheredlight is also expected to line up in the Premier’s. Tarry has also nominated Shango, who won at Scottsville yesterday, as well as Rock The Globe, who finished a 4,65 length ninth to Eden Roc on Saturday.

However, Tarry will have to think about his Grade 1-winning sprinter Chimichuri Run’s participation in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m as he drew 27 out of 27. Celtic Sea drew well in barrier position eight for the Mercury, Trip To Heaven drew eleven and Africa Rising drew 15.

He has two entries in the day’s headliner, the Grade 3 eLan Gold Cup. Liege, who won the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, and Shenanigans, who won the Betting World 2200, drew 16 and 7 respectively out of 26 nominations.

Tarry has plum draws in the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m, one and two for Cirillo and Matador Man respectively and Captain And Master drew five.

He also has three nominations in the Grade 1 Thekwini, the promising Victoria Paige as well as one-time winners Keep Smiling and Escape To Victory. Victoria Paige finished a 4,90 length eighth on Saturday in the Grade 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m from a wide but will much prefer this trip and should have a better barrier position having drawn 14 out of 26 nominations.

Eden Roc showed an exceptional turn of foot to get up on Saturday in the Golden Horsehoe over 1400m. Tarry rates him highly and felt he would enjoy the 1600m trip. He said, “I think he is very good. He is progressive, is a good mover and covers ground. He ticks all the boxes. He is by Var but is out of a family who have done well for me over 2000m in the past and his style of running will also help him get the trip.”

He also rates Putontheredlight and said, “I think he is a top horse. His female line doesn’t suggest he will get much further but if he takes after his father Pomodoro there will be no stamina doubts.”

He concluded about this pair, “It would be foolhardy for me to make predictions on what will happen next year but both have potential.”

Tarry had earned stakes of R24,636,825 at the time of writing, R2,057,362 clear of Justin Snaith and R2,292,762 clear of Mike de Kock.

However, Snaith has no entries in either the Champions Cup or Thekwini.

He does have a good hand in the Gold Cup with Strathdon, Made To Conquer, Elusive Silva and Doublemint. His Grade 1 winning sprinter Kasimir is the favourite to win the Mercury.

Mike de Kock has a good hand in the Champions Cup with the top class Buffalo Bill Cody and the three-time Grade 1 winner Soqrat, although the latter did draw wide.

He has interestingly entered the two-year-old Frosted Gold in both the Mercury Sprint and the Premier’s Champions Stakes. He also has Alyaasaat in the Mercury and Alibi Guy and Var And Away in the Premier’s.

His pair Palace Of Dreams and Lady Defiance have both drawn wide in the Thekwini and he has no entries in the Gold Cup.

The feature races on Gold Cup day include the R1,25 million eLan Gold Cup, the R1 million WSB Champions Cup, the R1 million Mercury Sprint, the R750,000 Premier’s Champions Stakes, the R750,000 Thekwini Stakes, the R400,000 Gold Bracelet, the R300,000 Umkhomazi Stakes, the R300,000 The Debutante as well as two R150,000 Listed races, so there are opportunities for both Snaith and De Kock to catch up.

However, the bookmakers make Tarry the hot favourite to win his fourth championship. He is at 2,5/10 and both Snaith and De Kock are 3,65/1.

Tarry said the decision to keep the July day participants at Summerveld had nothing to do with the theory that horses can travel down to KZN twice in a season but not three times. He pointed out that Celtic Sea had travelled down to KZN for all three of her SA Champions Season starts and that hadn’t stopped her winning the Garden Province on Saturday.

Tarry said the decision was made due to the short three week gap between the July and the Gold Cup meetings and this would put the participation of any horse who did not travel well back to Johannesburg in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, Legal Eagle, who finished second last in the July on Saturday will remain in training.

Tarry said, “We normally avoid Durban but tried it this year and it didn’t work. We will give him the same break as he has always had and then follow the same Cape Town-Johannesburg campaign that has worked so well. If he shows any signs of being lacklustre he will be retired.” 

By David Thiselton

Horse racing is a sport of incredible highs but mostly lows. For owners the highs are intoxicating but the lows take faith, patience and quite often deep pockets, and sometimes even that is not enough!

But when it all comes together the sport is even more rewarding as Lynn and Garth Towell celebrated a second win as Before Noon carried Lynn’s royal blue and grey silks to victory in the sixth at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday.

A buy-back on a dispersal sale, Sean Tarry recommended the gelding to the Towell’s. “About ten days later Sean phoned and said ‘I don’t know how to tell you this but your horse fractured a hind leg in work’,” recounted Garth yesterday.

“He fractured a left hind leg in about January last year but Sean had it x-rayed and the vet said he thought the horse had a chance.”

“He was sent to Karen Eekman in Kyalami for re-hab. Karen spells a lot of Sean’s horses and I must thank both Karen and Sean for their dedication and care,” said Garth.

The faith, patience and not inconsiderable expense all paid dividends as after a year off, Before Noon made it back to the track in February. He won at his third comeback race at Greyville and had placed three times more before adding another winner to champion jockey Lyle Hewitson’s growing total in his title defence.

With a double yesterday, both for Tarry, Hewitson extended his lead in his title chase and has now racked up 205 winners so far. Nearest rival Muzi Yeni picked up one winner yesterday to take his total to 196. With three weeks of the season left, Hewitson is odds-on to retain the title that he won as an apprentice last year and will head to Hong Kong safe in the knowledge that if all goes pear-shaped in the notoriously hard school that is Hong Kong, he can always return to a safe haven.

Tarry has played no small part in Hewitson’s success, having picked up on the youngster’s talent when champion work rider and it was again on display as Hewitson got favourite Shango home from a testing draw to win the fourth. Tarry obviously has high hopes for Shango who is amongst his nominations for the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes at the end of this month along with last Saturday’s Gr2 Golden Horseshoe winner Eden Roc.

Hewitson was thwarted in his bid for a treble as another young gun, Luke Ferraris, got the better of him in the last. Riding for Michael Roberts, Ferraris got Winter Sun’s head down on the line to edge out Wishful Girl Linn with favourite Innogen under pressure a long way out.

Garth Puller was one of the finest ever to grace a racing dock and is also a fine horseman and trainer. Given his background he also knows the struggles that all participants in a tough sport face and is not averse to giving jockey’s chances. Athandiwe Mgudlwa is one of the fortunate few riders that does not have to battle the scale and Puller regards him as ‘under rated’. “He just needs to get his confidence back,” he said after Mgudlwa had got home on Simply Russian for Puller in the third. The race before he had finished runner-up on Puller’s short-priced favourite Winter Chill where he had to play second fiddle to the R40k purchase Candle Cove that gave Yeni his winner for the afternoon for Frank Robinson.

Robinson had favourite World Cruise in the fifth but was not overly confident of his chances.  In the money at his last five outings, World Cruise looked the right one in the 2400m contest but, “he’s a bit of a brass,” cautioned Robinson. “He’s always trying to get out of it.”

Whether he could have beaten the Puller-trained Belle Of Paris is debateable as apprentice Jabu Jacobs took full advantage of his 4kg claim and the filly made short work of her male rival.

By Andrew Harrison

The Vaal straight course stages an eight race meeting tomorrow and there are one or two opportunities for punters. 

In the first over 1000m, Sarah has won easily in her last two starts against her own gender and is the one to beat for the flying Paul Peter yard. The Tobie Spies yard are also in form and facile Flamingo Park debut winner True Charm could be a danger. 

In the second over 1000m, Dublin Quays is the one to beat as his debut win has worked out well and Marcus is now up. He can beat Astrix and De La Cruz.

The third over 1000m is likely to be contested by first-timers. The best of those to have raced is Rainbow Haze, who ran on over 1000m on debut in a fair field and was not disgraced. However, Scarlet Tiger is tipped to win. This first-timer is by Captain Al and is a half-sister to Mela Stregata, who was expensively purchased and has speed and talent but has hitherto been disappointing. The other first-timers to consider could be Pachal’s Samore, who is by promising new sire Vercingetorix out of a four time-winning Victory Moon mare from 1200-1400m, Musaytara, who is by Var out of the Grade 2 Debutante runner up Dijla (Elusive Quality), although the latter has not produced a winner yet, and Sasskia, who is by Master Of My Fate out of a one-time winning Dubawi mare.

The fourth over 1600m should be a duel between On My Mind and Blue Spark and the former is given the nod as one who has more experience and better time figures.

In the fifth over 1600m Ronnie’s Candy is talented and is well in at the weights. She has the ability to easily beat this field but this is her first run after a suspension for epistaxis. Scent Of Evening has beaten Ronnie’s Candy before over 1400m at level weights so must have a shout receiving 3kg here. However, Ronnie’s Candy was likely using that aforementioned race as a preparation. Furthermore, Scent Of Evening, although undoubtedly talented does have issues. So Pretty Border might also have to be included in the Pick 6 and Jackpot.   

In the sixth race over 1600m Zabarjad won his maiden easily over this trip last time. It was an improved performance and he looks capable of progressing off his opening handicap mark of 69. Gavin Lerena is an eyecatching booking although it won’t be easy carrying topweight. Oh Yeah will appreciate the step up in trip and has been dropped two points after his disappointing handicap debut. He is capable of better than that last run. Riga D’Oro ran a fair race first time out the maidens last time over this trip at Scottsville and could earn. However, many others will have to be considered if Zabarjad is not bankered. 

In the seventh over 1400m Monopolize ran a flat race in his second run after a layoff over 1200m last time. Over this ideal trip he should bounce back. Greenwood Drive will be dangerous from the front and proved last time this trip is not too sharp for him. Rocky Night also represents the Peter yard and should enjoy this course and distance from a middle draw, Count Tassilo beat both Greenwood Drive and Rocky Night last time over 1450m and this six-year-old Silvano gelding has won over the course and distance before. Nordic Rebel enjoys this course and distance and has dropped to a competitive mark.         

In the last race over 1200m the two-year-old Lighthearted is an imposing sort and could not find a gap when appearing to be travelling well last time over this trip and this followed a good win over 1000m. He represents the flying Paul Peter yard and should be in the shake up. However, he does have a big weight and a high draw and it remains to be seen which draws will be favourable on the day. Steffi’s Graft has a lot of natural speed and probably found the 1400m a touch beyond her last time. Back over this trip she must have a shout and in that last race over 1400m a low drawn horse won so the number one draw here should not be a disadvantage. Pretty Jolly moved up well over 1400m last time but found no extra late and she might appreciate the step down in trip. Baahir can go close if repeating his penultimate run, although he did disappoint last time. Category Four was not disgraced over 1000m over the weekend and should appreciate the step up in trip.

By David Thiselton

Rainbow Bridge has been installed 15-10 favourite by the sponsors to gain July compensation in the World Sports Betting Champions Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday fortnight.

But the runner-up in the Vodacom Durban July has enjoyed mixed fortunes in recent runnings of the Champions Cup. Marinaresco won it 2016 but the previous year Punta Arenas finished second last and in 2014 Wylie Hall (relegated to second in the July) managed only third last in the Champions Cup. In 2017 and 2018 the July second did not even run in the Champions Cup.

Last Sunday’s Turffontein winner Buffalo Bill Cody is 3-1 second favourite for the nine furlong R1 million Grade 1 with 12-1 quoted about July third Twist Of Fate, Soqrat, Oh Susanna and Cirillo. Eyes Wide Open, third in last year’s Champions Cup and fourth in the July, is next on 14-1 together with Undercover Agent whose trainer Brett Crawford has won four of the last six runnings of the Champions Cup.

Sean Tarry is now considered by the bookmakers to be virtually unassailable in his bid to become champion trainer for the fourth time in five seasons. He leads current champion Justin Snaith by some R2.5 million and is variously quoted at 1-2 and 7-20. Snaith and Mike de Kock (close behind Snaith) are both between 3-1 and 15-4.

The championship is decided on NHA figures which exclude sales races. The Sporting Post considers this unfair and its statistics (which put Tarry nearly R6 million clear) include these high value races. The racing paper has a point – the sales races are worth so much that they have become prime targets for all owners and trainers with eligible horses.

By Michael Clower

Highveld trainers are putting pressure on the locals, especially at the bottom end of scale and Paul Matchett is another trying to make hay when he runs Informative in the card opener at Hollywoodbets Scottsville this afternoon.

Placed in all three starts to date, Informative shows good pace and was only touched off late when coming up empty over the final 100 m in his last start.

However, the Scottsville track is a little more testing than Turffontein and he could face serious opposition from Paul Lafferty’s first timer On The Bayou who has had the benefit of a gallop over the course and distance.

On The Bayou rocketed out of the gate and although this was only a barrier trial, the balance of the runners were left treading water. Stable companion Burmese Ruby made an early attempt to go with his stable companion but the others were left trailing nearly 13 lengths behind.

Time for the trial was not particularly fast but then On The Bayou was never put under pressure and cruised home under Mark Khan who will be in the hot seat again.

 Of the balance, Man Of Action was not too far back in open company last outing and can feature again while Live By Night and Mister Minister must also be considered.

In the second, Winter Chill showed up well in his barrier trial behind the filly Maidens Prayer. The latter finished runner-up to recent Gr2 Golden Slipper winner Cockney Pride in her debut which augurs well for the chances of Winter Chill but 9-10 are skinny odds.

Puller holds a strong hand in the seven-horse line-up with Double Espresso and Krisnies Jet also in the field. The betting should provide some indication as to the stable fancy.

Kom Naidoo was a little miffed that Rainbow Unicorn did not make it into the field for the Gr2 Golden Slipper ahead of a couple of maidens and will be looking to make a point in the third.

Castellano and Rainbow Unicorn look principal protagonists in the third. Rainbow Unicorn opened her account from a poor draw last time out but is three gates better off here.

Glen Kotzen is in a terrific vein of form at present and Castellano looks the biggest threat to Rainbow Unicorn. She is drawn even wider than her rival but came from well back when shedding her maiden over 1600m at Greyville and her turn of foot should hold her in good stead.

The fourth is a touch tricky with many going the trip for the first time. Favour (9-2) was not far back in a promising debut and put in a good trial before that. He has the best of the draw and Dean Kannemeyer’s string is hitting its straps. Lyle Hewitson is slowly edging clear in the defence of his national jockey title and teams up with his staunch supporter Sean Tarry with 14-10 ante-post favourite Shango. In spite of having the worst of the draw he has shown up well in two Highveld sprints.  The step up in trip should be right up his alley. Duncan Howells can put a spanner in the works with his two runners, All The Way Up and Saipan, both capable of improving on recent form.

Banking in a maiden event over 2400m is a risk but World Cruise (16-10) could fit the bill for the exotics in the fifth. Frank Robinson’s runner is consistent and more importantly proven over the trip. He may be the one to beat. What A Blast has not been far back since Dennis Bosch tried blinkers at his last two but has yet to go the trip. Just Prime and Belle Of Paris also warrant attention.

Don Pierro (7-1) has always been a bit of a handful but Tessa Rich did sterling work to get him settled before winning for her father Gary and his subsequent move to Bosch. The Australian-bred still has his quirks but is talented. He enjoyed the extra ground last start and with a light weight can follow up – but it will be close.  Before Noon (4-1) was narrowly beaten by Don Pierro when last they met but was subsequently a touch disappointing on the poly. He can do better here. Brighteyebushytail (14-1) is dropping in the handicap and has improved in blinkers while Walterthepenniless (9-2) has yet to run a bad race in blinkers and should be thereabouts again.

The seventh is wide open. Dallas (5-1) has been consistent and has improved further with blinkers and should go close here. Fives Wild (5-1) is in cracking form for his new stable and was game in defeat last time out. Luke-warm favourite Celebration Rock and Written look pick of the balance.

Finally, Rampancy was green and not far back when starting favourite on debut and could be good value at 5-1 in the ante-post market as she should come on with the experience. Ante-post favourite Innogen (2-1) ran in feature company last start, all of her runs being around the turn. She can improve down the straight course. Wishful Girl Linn has placed in all three starts and has gone well this trip. One to watch is Golden Syrup who has shown signs of coming to hand and can feature with Bernard Fayd’Herbe aboard.

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

By Andrew Harrison

The South African national jockeys championships is heading for an exciting conclusion, while Sean Tarry looks unlikely to be caught for the trainers championship after enjoying a good day on Vodacom Durban July day.

Justin Snaith’s win with Do It Again in the R4,25 million Vodacom Durban July and his second and third places with Oh Susanna and Snowdance in the R1 million Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes saw him sneaking past Mike de Kock into second place on the trainers log.

However, Sean Tarry won the R500,000 WSB 2200 with Shenanigans, finished one-two with Eden Rock and Putontheredlight in the R600,000 Durban Golden Horseshoe and won the R1 million Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes with Celtic Sea.

Tarry is now on R24,886,825 which is just over R2,5 million clear of Snaith on 22,347,663, who is a mere R3,600 ahead of De Kock who is on R22,344,063.

The only major race day left on the calendar is Gold Cup day, which includes the R1,25 million eLan Gold Cup, the R1 million WSB Champions Cup, the R1 million Mercury Sprint, the R750,000 Premier’s Champions Stakes, the R750,000 Thekwini Stakes, the R400,000 Gold Bracelet, the R300,000 Umkhomazi Stakes, the R300,000 The Debutante as well as two R150,000 Listed races.

Snaith or De Kock would have to win a number of the biggest stakes races on that day to stand a chance and Tarry would have to have a bad day, which is unlikely considering he will probably have Eden Rock and Put On The Red Light in the Premier’s.

Meanwhile defending champion Lyle Hewitson reached the 200 winner mark for the season on Sunday at Turffontein with a double.

Closest rival Muzi Yeni had one winner and is now six behind on 194. Anton Marcus now has a mountain to climb as he is 18 behind on 182.

Tack And Ball have Hewitson at 11/20, Yeni at 17/10 and Marcus at 4/1.

Luke Ferraris, on 77 winners, is 17 clear of Dennis Schwarz in the Apprentice Championship.

Chris van Niekerk owns all of Shenanigans, Eden Rock and Putontheredlight so forged ahead in the Owner’s Championship on Saturday. His nearest rival Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s chances were dented by the unfortunate scratching of Hawwaam from the Vodacom Durban July.

Van Niekerk is on R15,030,913 and the Sheikh is on R12,101,788.

Maine Chance Farms sire Silvano has wrapped up the Sires Championship. This will be his third title in succession and his fourth overall. His earning of R20,261,425 is just over R4,5 million clear of the late Captain Al on R15,729,938. Var is in third place on R13,439,988.

Mary Slack and Jessica Gell’s Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud operation have wrapped up the Breeders Championship. Their earnings of R27,557,153 are well clear of defending champions Klawervlei Stud on R19,835,888. Summerhill Stud are in third place on R15,845,600.

By David Thiselton

Adrian Todd, who said on Winning Ways five months ago, that he was aiming to have South Africa opened up for direct equine exports to Europe by June, has now put back his sights to later in the year.

The all-important stepping stone to the pot of gold that lies at the end of this particular rainbow is an audit of the present protocols by the European Union’s veterinary officials.

Todd said: “We have asked them if they want to come and do an audit, and our application is in. My money is that they will want to. It is considered a trade issue and it is being finalised now but we already have the risk control measures in place.

“I am very encouraged. It has all been a long time coming and it has been tough but I am confident that we will get it this year.”

Asked specifically whether “it” means the audit or the opening up of direct exports, Todd replied: “Both.”

Todd, managing director of South Africa Equine Health and Protocols, has been working on this project for almost two years and has recently been encouraged by the work and advice of a European-based expert that he has engaged to steer him through the bureaucracy and requirements of the relevant departments of the European Union. He also has the support and assistance of the South African government.

Opening up the protocols would transform the fortunes of the South African breeding industry because our horses are cheap by the standards of Australia and other Southern Hemisphere countries and are proven on the international stage.

For the first time samples were taken from all the runners in the Vodacom Durban July on the day before the race – not, as some cynic suggested, in case the post-race ones were hijacked again but as an improved integrity measure. The first three were also sampled as in previous years.

There will be similar pre-race testing for the Sun Met and senior racing control executive Arnold Hyde said: “We are looking to up our game although we won’t get the results until this week whereas in Japan and Hong Kong, where they have bigger budgets, they get them before the race. We have already done this for a few of the big races at Turffontein but there we took the samples on the morning of the race.”

Walter Smoothie, Stuart Pettigrew’s first winner of the DStv Gold Vase, is to be gelded after running in the eLan Gold Cup on July 27.

Pettigrew explained: “He is a rig and sometimes his testicles worry him. That is why he is not as consistent as he should be but he is a really good stayer and the pace last Saturday was just right for him.”

However Justin Snaith is beginning to despair of finding a winning opportunity for third-placed Strathdon who made much of the running but has not won since December 2017.He has been placed in six of his 11 subsequent starts.

“He had 52kg on his back when he won that December 2017 race and ever since he seems to have had one of the top weights in staying races. On Saturday he ran his heart out under 60kg and he could hardly stand after the race. It’s very disappointing. I will speak to the owners (Alec and Gillian Foster) and see what they think.”

Toby Spies and his son Corne are targeting the Thekwini Stakes (July 27) with both Cockney Pride and What You Are, first and second in the Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper.

The winner was little backed at 17-1 but Corne said: “We were expecting a good run but we were worried about how she would take the bend. My father would love to have come on Saturday but my mother Annatjie is not too well so he stayed in Jo’burg.”

Odds-on Eden Roc and well backed (20-1 to 9-1) stable companion Putontheredlight, first and second in the Durban Golden Horseshoe, are both under consideration for the Premiers Champion Stakes.

Sean Tarry, who also won the Golden Horseshoe with Purple Diamond two years ago, said: “I am going to leave them both in Durban, study the draws and then decide but the runner-up is definitely looking for the mile.”

By Michael Clower

Former Summerveld-based trainer Chesney van Zyl has landed the position of private trainer to luxury jewellery and watch retailer James Kennedy in Australia and as an accolade to his horsemanship skills he was handpicked by the legendary “horse whisperer” Monty Roberts.

Van Zyl will be based at a new training centre and racecourse called Pakenham Racing Club, which is about an hour outside of Melbourne.

This brand new facility was built by Racing Victoria in response to overcrowding in the city which prevented the expansion of existing training centres and the building of new ones.

Kennedy Racing has spared no expense in an operation whose key characteristic will be Monty Roberts’ influence on the development of the horses.

All of the staff have been handpicked by Roberts, including an understudy who has been with him for eleven years.

After applying for the job Chesney was first interviewed by James Kennedy and then by Monty Roberts.

Chesney’s father Gavin believes it was Chesney’s impressive CV which secured him the position.

Gavin said, “Chesney did a sterling job training our horses in Johannesburg with multiple Group success. He is also an accomplished rider who work rides his own horses and he won a Workrider’s race at Turffontein in 2010 on River Lodge. He is also a qualified farrier, and an accomplished one. He is an all round horseman.”

Kennedy commissioned Roberts to be part of the early schooling and breaking in of all of his horses.

The Roberts methods are new to Chesney but he is being tutored by the legend in the breaking in of horses and the ground work. He will always be working closely with Roberts.

Kennedy has bought “very nice” young horses and will grow the operation year by year.

The facilities Chesney has includes hot and cold water showers for the horses, an industrial vacuum for the stables, rubberised stables and barn, his own starting stalls to school horses in, a horse walker, a lunging arena and cameras in every box.

Gavin said, “The whole operation is based on the well-being and schooling and grounding of the horses being absolutely perfect. Chesney has a team and he is the head trainer. It is a wonderful opportunity to start afresh and he will be able to concentrate on training horses without the stress of having to find new owners and running the yard’s finances.”

Kennedy and Roberts are looking for a stable jockey and at present it seems a suitable one might be sourced from the Laffit Pincay jockey training academy in America.

Chesney will reside in a brand new house with his wife and young son and daughter.

Gavin said, “They are very happy and I am sure they will make a success of it.”

By David Thiselton

Frank Lloyd Wright, who came good in a 1 400m handicap here 17 days ago, looks the best of champion Lyle Hewitson’s seven rides at Kenilworth today and he should be able to collect in the Interbet.co.za Handicap.

Hewitson is beginning to take command of this season’s title race and he went into Fairview yesterday on the 200-winner mark, six in front of Muzi Yeni, with Anton Marcus now looking almost out of it on 182.

Frank Lloyd Wright has been raised five points for that last win but the Justin Snaith-trained gelding had come down a lot in the ratings and the way he won – going to the front after 300m and making the rest to score by two lengths – suggests he can go in again.

True, he is drawn seven out of seven but more to the point is that he has shown that he can handle softish ground and that is a vitally important quality today.

The Computaform Express racecards show every horse’s record on ground softer than good – look for the Wet figures, eg in Frank Lloyd Wright’s case Wet:1-2-4 indicating that he has run four times on it, winning once and being placed twice. You get the same information on the free TAB Sheet racecard on the tabonline.co.za racecard.

What the figures do not tell you is how soft the ground was on those occasions. It may have been just good to soft or it could have been heavy but they are still a most helpful guide because the majority of horses produce a different level of ability in the soft to what they show on good or faster.

Waiting For Rain, who is running for the 75^th time, sometimes lives up to his name and probably represents the main danger while in the preceding Tellytrack.com Pinnacle Stakes Milton looks tempting at 13-2 with Bernard Fayd’Herbe in the irons. This 1 800m is the distance over which he won last season’s Premier Trophy but, although he has won in the soft, his record in it (one win from eight starts) suggests that his usual front-running tactics might not enable him to last home. I prefer Man About Town.

Fayd’Herbe may, however, win both the two-year-old races. Gold Medal is untested in the soft but he ran well enough on debut to suggest he can get the better of Quintay and Hardfallingrain in race two.

Stable companion Sailing Ship started favourite for the Perfect Promise and, while nothing she has done before or since warranted that, she went close last time and makes more appeal than Hewitson’s mount La De Da and Kelpie in race three.

By Michael Clower