Sean Tarry runs Cirillo and Matador Man in one of the strongest ever renewals of the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge and he said he would not be stunned if either of them won.

Cirillo comes off a 0,35 length third in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m behind Undercover Agent and Rainbow Bridge.

Tarry believed it was not his slight missing of the break which had cost him there, but rather the decision to take on the known fighter Undercover Agent at the 300m mark which gave the latter time to fight back.

He was 3kg better off than weight for age (wfa) in the Drill Hall, as the first two both carried a Grade 1 penalty, so he will have his work cut underweight for age conditions on Saturday.

However, in his previous start he finished just 0,80 lengths behind his fellow three-year-old Soqrat in the Grade 1 wfa Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein Standside. That race proved he will stay Saturday’s trip, as the Greyville mile is less testing than the Turffontein one, and it puts him in with a form chance as Soqrat had previously beaten both Undercover Agent and Rainbow Bridge in the Grade 1 wfa L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate over 1600m at Kenilworth.

Cirillo has been prepared at Randjesfontein and will travel down to Summerveld on Friday.

Tarry said about Matador Man, who has been prepared at Summerveld, “He raises his game over this course and distance so it would be silly not to try him here. His last win was exceptional. It was in a very good time and he was carrying 62kg.”

Tarry said the pace should not have much of an impact on Matador Man’s performance. This horse always loses a bit of ground at the start and Tarry said, “If they go fast, the front ones will be stopping, and if they go slow it will give him a chance to make up the ground.”

He concluded, “They are both in good order and are course and distance suited. I have respect for the opposition but if either of them won it would not stun me.”

Tarry runs Social Order and Silver God in the Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1800m.

Neither of them are among the Vodacom Durban July entries still standing their ground.

He said, “Social Order seems to be enjoying going over shorter these days but couldn’t crack a draw in the Post Merchants and he was eliminated from the Tsogo Sun Sprint. But he is versatile.”

This five-year-old Count Dubois gelding finished third in the Colorado King Stakes over 2000m at Turffontein last year and won the Kings Cup over 1600m on the Greyville turf, so Tarry felt it worthwhile to take a chance in Saturday’s handicap where he will run from draw five under Julius Mariba and carry 56kg.

Silver God was originally a July entry but has been scratched as the improvement after gelding was not coming as quickly as hoped for.

This Silvano gelding is a half-brother to both William Longsword and Real Princess and was highly rated as a young horse but did not deliver. After gelding in May last year he came back strongly but then soundness issues arose and he had to be rested again.

Tarry is still hoping his pedigree will kick in and he can’t be written off on Saturday, despite being 4kg under sufferance as he was even worse off at the weights in the Grade 2 WSB 1900 and was only beaten 1,25 lengths into eighth.

He is drawn seven and Lyle Hewitson rides.

In the Grade 2 Tibouchina over 1400m Tarry runs three-year-old In The Dance and four-year-old Desert Rhythm.

He said, “In The Dance is a very classy half-sister to Capetown Noir and Across The Ice. She had a few interruptions and we were considering Scottsville but she wasn’t ready in time. So it would have been nice to have given her a prep but she is in good order and should give a good account of herself. I think she is top class and whether the run is coming too soon is the only question.”

He continued, “Desert Rhythm was holding form nicely before her last run. She is course and distance suited (she won the Grade 2 Golden Slipper here as a two-year-old) and has a good draw so she is not out of it, on her day she is more than capable.”

He runs Apple Magic in the first and felt she should be competitive although he said she would probably prefer further than this 1700m trip and there was a question mark whether she would enjoy the turf as her good form was all on the polytrack.

He runs Sweet Mary Lou in the Chapter Challenge 1600m final and he said, “Her last start over 1400m might have been too sharp. I thought she was better on the poly but her previous run at Scottsville was quite good, so I hope for a decent run but can’t be confident.”

In the last he runs Celestina and admitted she would have a tough task being 3,5kg under sufferance and jumping from a wide draw.

Tarry also has some important runners at Turffontein on Sunday.

His Vodacom Durban July candidates Legal Eagle and Tilbury Fort have their final preparation runs before the July in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1400m. He expected the race to put them spot on. 

He also runs Redberry Lane and Wonderwall in that race and in the Grade 3 Jubilee he runs Captain And Master, Royal Italian and Shenanigans.

By David Thiselton

Move over Andrew Fortune – you have competition when it comes to post race television interviews. Aron Xabendlini, riding What A Captain in the work riders’ race at Scottsville yesterday, played to the crowd, and for whatever reason it was jam-packed for a mid-week meeting in the Capital.

Egged on by presenter Dees Dyanand and clearly not short of a word or three, Xabendlini had onlookers cheering.

“That’s what makes racing so much fun,” said one grizzled veteran. “I wish the whole world could see this.”

The paddock held more supporters than before the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint and although the race was run without incident barring a slight scrimmage out of the gates, there were a few out-of-breath riders on their return.

Mike de Kock, who saddled the winner, was quietly amused. “The only thing I told him was not to go to the front,” he commented halfway through the race as What A Captain, Great Stohvanen and Be Happy cut out the pace.  He need not have worried, Xabendlini had it all under control and he got home with nearly two lengths to spare.

Anton Marcus, still in the hunt for the championship behind Yeni and Hewitson, booted home a quick double for Glen Kotzen, Prince Of Persia taking it up early and running hard to the line chased by Quant Master with the filly Talia Al Ghul being run out of it late after showing early toe.

First season sire Wylie Hall has got off to a fair start from limited opportunities, Poinciana his fourth winner from 17 runners to date. It was the Kotzen / Marcus show again as Poinciana took up the running a long way out to comfortably hold the first timer Baby Shooz, who raced in ear muffs, and Krishnies Jet.

Dean Kannemeyer shows little emotion when watching his runners and he hardly twitched a muscle as Silva’s Fling finally landed the odds in the Natal Property Consultants Maiden. With the blinkers removed, he kept rolling relentlessly to out-gun the year younger Knight Warrior and Brilliant Disguise.

Kotzen was looking for his third of the afternoon as Luna Child and favourite Golden Chance fought a desperate finish to the fifth, a short head in it at the line.

The stipendiary stewards called a race review that was upgraded to an objection after Hewitson had a cursory glance at the patrol film, objecting on the grounds of intimidation in the latter stages.

If anything, he was the chief culprit in the coming together so it came as no surprised when the protest was over ruled.

Donovan Dillon is a welcome addition to the KZN jockey ranks after deciding to re-locate from Cape Town. He was side-lined for two months after suffering a knee injury in a starting stalls incident but is now back to full fitness. He scored a double for Shane Humby at Greyville last week but most punters will not have been too enamoured with his win aboard Wendy Whiteheads Rocking Ruby in the sixth, a 55-1 chance on the books and paying R63.80 on the ‘nanny’.

Expedite was a top division sprinter in the Cape who won 12 races back in the late seventies, but the filly of the same name is no sprinter and came up short of giving Glen Kotzen and Marcus a treble for the afternoon in the seventh over 2000m. Marcus looked to have timed his run on the top weight to perfection as Expedite took the lead a furlong out, but Ella’s World under Gavin Lerena for Dennis Bosch, kept grinding away to out-run her rival when it counted.

Kannemeyer was back in the winner’s box for the last as Seattle Kid scored a narrow victory over rank outsider Sherman. Stand By Me had the call through the 400m marker and fighting hard, but his condition gave out in the battle for the line as Sherman took it up, only to be out-gunned late by the faster finishing Seattle Kid.

By Andrew Harrison

Image: Golden Chance (yellow) Lunar Child (black) – Candiese Marnewick

Frank Robinson runs Roy Had Enough in the Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1800m at Greyville on Saturday and realises the necessity for a big run if he is to stand a chance of making it in to the Vodacom Durban July field.

Robinson said, “He’s doing very, very well, I am very happy with him. We have got to try and qualify him for the July and Anton (Marcus) is riding him. He had a few issues and a few niggles last season but this season he is much better. If you watch his last run he actually ran away from Eyes Wide Open (In the Listed Sledgehammer over 1800m on the Greyville poly) and that one came out and won the WSB 1900. I’m expecting a good run from him. He has to otherwise he’s not going to get into the July. Although, he may get in if he runs second or third, I don’t know.”

The Australian-bred colt by Pierro carries joint top weight of 60kg and has a plum draw of two. All five of his wins, from 1600m to 1900m, have been at Greyville, including three on the turf. He will be a big runner on Saturday.

By David Thiselton

Glen Kotzen had originally planned to go straight into the Vodacom Durban July with Eyes Wide Open after the latter’s win in the Grade 2 WSB 1900, but he has changed his mind and the Dynasty colt will line up in Saturday’s Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1800m at Greyville.

Kotzen said, “He is a big horse and he is quite a lazy horse. I had to give him two gallops in between and he does just enough and I thought it might not be enough to bring him to peak fitness. So we decided to supplement him for the Cup Trial to see how he drew and he drew well. So he will run there and will then do the public gallop and should then be cherry ripe. But he is absolutely flying. They didn’t move his merit rating, so he is weighted to win.”

Eyes Wide Open carries joint top weight of 60kg in the handicap event and is drawn four with Warren Kennedy retaining the ride.

The yard run Elusive Heart in the Grade 2 Tibouchina over 1400m and Kennedy is also aboard in this race.

Kotzen said, “She is deadly over 1400m. She missed the break in the SA Fillies Sprint, so a line can be put through that race. We jumped her through the pens recently and she jumped five lengths clear of the stable companion.”

She won the Grade 3 Prix du Cap over this trip as a three-year-old last season and then finished third in three starts at Greyville, in the Grade 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m, in the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas over 1600m and in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m. 

She must be in with a shout from draw seven out of eleven.

By David Thiselton

The Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge defending champion Undercover Agent has been doing very well at Summerveld and the Brett Crawford yard make him the one to beat on Saturday, despite it being one of the strongest fields in the races history.

Assistant trainer Peter Muscutt said, “He has come through his very encouraging run in the Tsogo Sun Sprint in fine order. He will go in to the Gold Challenge third up, it should be his peak run, and from the optimum one draw he is the horse to beat.”

Muscutt admitted it to be a very competitive race with the like of Do It Again, Rainbow Bridge and Soqrat in the field, not to mention Cirillo and Matador Man, but added, “They have got to come and get him.”

Asked on what made him think the big Captain Al colt could reverse L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate form with the first three mentioned above, Muscutt said, “I think he is better on a right hand track and Greyville is far more suitable for him as a forward going horse than Kenilworth.”

Undercover Agent has run five times at Greyville starting with an easy win in the Grade 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m last season as a three-year-old, a long head second in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m, a win in the Grade 1 weight for age Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m, a two length second in the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m and a win in the Drill Hall Stakes in his pipe opening start to this season’s SA Champions Season.

Regular pilot Corne Orffer will be aboard on Saturday.

The field has cut up to eight runners but is sure to be the strongest line up in the SA Champions Season and it will be a race to savour for the purists.

By David Thiselton

There were a couple of well fancied runners in the maiden race where Prince Of Persia made his debut and he ran a cracker first up behind Cartel Captain and High Voltage who subsequently both ran in the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion.

Glen Kotzen’s runner showed good pace on debut and tried hard over the final furlong. With that experience and a drop to 1000m he could prove difficult to beat in the second at Scottsville this afternoon where racing around the turn makes a rare trip on the outside track due to the preparations for the finish of the Comrades Marathon this coming Sunday – the race ending on the inside track.

Quant Master was only run out of it late by Candy Apple on debut and looks a threat while Paul Gadsby’s filly Talia Al Ghul comes out tops in all Computaform ratings and although she takes on males, her pedigree suggests that seven furlongs and further would make her a better proposition.

Work riders are back in action in KZN for the first time in a long while and although the first race is hardly a betting proposition, it should prove something of a spectacle.

Jockeys are supreme athletes when it comes to fitness and even seasoned observers are unaware of the level of fitness it takes to ride a thoroughbred at a full gallop for 1000m let alone anything further.

Riding work is one thing, riding in a race is quite another and a few of these riders will be coming up for air long before the finishing line.

Mike de Kock’s charge, What A Captain, with Aron Xabendlini aboard, is a short-priced favourite but the likes of Great Stohvanen, Callum Dixon riding for his father Mark, and Kom Naidoo’s Peace Train with Tristan Mustard in the irons – his grandfather Leslie successful on Lightning Shot in the 1977 July – both show good pace.

Not a race to plunge in!

Krishnies Jet has earned his owner over R100k in stakes, having finished in the money in more than half of his starts, but he may have to be content with another finish in the shallow end of the purse in the third as Garth Puller’s gelding takes on some fast-improving juveniles, two months off turning three.

Duncan Howells saddles a trio of runners, best of which could be All The Way Up, who caught the eye on debut when finishing just off Toro Bravo. He can do better down the Scottsville straight and looks fair value at around 7-2. Second favourite is Poinciana at 5-2 with Krishnies Jet a little short at 22-10.

Silva’s Fling and Knight Warrior are vying for favouritism in the Natal Property Consultants Maiden, Silva’s Fling having his third outing since being gelded and the blinkers coming off.

The year younger Knight Warrior has been close-up in all three of his starts and will have his supporters while Brilliant Disguise is set to make big improvement on his debut effort over what looks to be a more suitable trip. This trio are the only runners quoted in single figures.

From here on things get progressively more difficult, punters faced with a succession of well-filled handicaps.

It’s 9-2 the field in the fifth with Golden Chance and Dame Kelly topping the boards but there is a lot to like about the chances of the lightly raced Elegant Royal who ran a cracking race behind course specialist High Altar last time out when trying to make all the running. With racing on the outside track, her 13 draw should not affect her chances and 11-1 look fair odds.

Petra was a little disappointing in the KRA Guineas when down the field behind Santa Clara after showing signs that she was back to the promise that she showed earlier in her career. Back in weaker company she can notch a long overdue second win in the sixth.

But it will not be easy, Sunshine Mint is lightly raced and comes off some useful Cape form while Ancient Spirit trialled well and sure to be a factor here.

Ruling the ante-post market is Procrastination who was a recent Durbanville maiden winner when landing short odds but 9-2 does not inspire much confidence about the favourite.

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

By Andrew Harrison

Mike de Kock confirmed on Saturday after the Daily News 2000 that it was his intention to run Hawwaam in the Vodacom Durban July so the colt was still among the 32 horses left at the second declaration stage yesterday.

Also issued by Gold Circle yesterday was the final Vodacom Durban July log headed by last year’s winner Do It Again, ahead of Rainbow Bridge and Hawwaam.

Under the radar at this stage is Legal Eagle, who made his one and only appearance in KZN in the 2015 Vodacom Durban July.

One high profile casualty from the original log is Oh Susanna, Justin Snaith rather aiming her at the Gr3 Tibouchina Stakes this coming Saturday and then either the Gr1 Garden Province Stakes on July day or the Gr2 Gold Bracelet at the end of July.

Also out is Gr1 Cape Derby winner Atyaab who suffered a nose bleed in the Daily News on Saturday.

Eyes Wide Open, showing a welcome return to form, jumped from borderline to 10 on the log after his victory in the World Sports Betting 1900.

The log is only a guide to what the selection panel is thinking and there may still be changes given this Saturday’s Rising Sun meeting that has a host of borderline cases. However, the log reflects very much what the panel is thinking and barring any further withdrawals the field is close to settled.

The Gr1 R3.5 million Vodacom Durban July will be run over 2200m at Greyville on Saturday, July 6.

By Andrew Harrison

Sun Met winner Rainbow Bridge was yesterday reported very much on song for Saturday’s Rising Sun Gold Challenge and by the time you read this he will have done a vital piece of pacework at Summerveld.

Eric Sands said: “He was in the position where I wanted him, from the point of view of wellbeing and fitness, when he ran second in the Drill Hall. As it was his first run back he would have been a little bit above himself and racing a bit on nervous energy.

“He has definitely come on since, he now knows Greyville and he strips fitter. Indeed the stepping stones towards the big one are going well. He does a bit of pacework in the morning and he will have a sprint-up on Thursday.”

Anton Marcus’s mount has seven opponents including last year’s Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again who was three-quarters of a length second in the Met and has not raced since.

A bullish Justin Snaith said yesterday: “Do It Again is doing very well, he looks amazing and everything has gone to plan. His gallop was franked when Made To Conquer came out and ran third in the WSB 1900 so everything seems spot on and he will be ready come Saturday.”

Rainbow Bridge, with his race fitness advantage, is favourite at 22-10 with Track And Ball with Do It Again on 5-2 and Soqrat 9-2. Undercover Agent is a 5.25-1 chance to become the first dual winner since Variety Club in 2013 and then it’s 8-1 Cirillo, 12-1 Matador Man, 13-1 Lady In Black and 25-1 New Caledonia.

Favourites have had a poor record in recent seasons. Snowdance, second 12 months ago, was the first to even finish in the first three in five years.

Bunker Hunt, 40-1 for the July and the subject of some encouraging comments from his trainer after being forced to miss last Saturday’s Daily News – he was lame on his left hind – was due to be checked out by the vets yesterday.

Snaith said: “It would have been very hard to beat Hawwaam but I think he would have been a big runner and that he could have been in the first three. He kicked a wall and, although it’s not a train smash, I need to see the extent of the damage.”

And the all important question: will he make the July? “I think he should,” replied his trainer. “But I need to wait and make sure he is 100% right.”

Silvano’s Pride, Snaith’s fourth Woolavington winner in six years, looks like missing a clash with her elders in the Garden Province on July day. “She has already had three races in the Durban season and they have all been tough races,” reasoned her trainer. “In the Garden Province she would be taking on older fillies, tough nuts to crack, so I might put her away and bring her back in the Gold Bracelet at the end of the season.”

By Michael Clower

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

Justin Snaith has some important runners at Saturday’s big meeting at Greyville, including Do It Again in the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge.

He said, “Do It Again is doing well, I’m very happy with his prep. He had a nice gallop at Greyville and Made To Conquer came out and franked the gallop which was quite important to give us some sort of line where we were. So I am very happy. Everything has gone to plan. I think we have got Soqrat to beat, he was very unlucky last time, so it is going to be interesting. It is going to be a helluva race.”

The race has cut up and Snaith said the draw of five out of eight was “perfect.”

Richard Fourie rides and Snaith said if all goes well he will stay aboard for the Vodacom Durban July.

The reigning Equus Horse Of The Year Oh Susanna will run in the Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m from the widest draw of all in an eleven horse field.

Snaith said, “Over 1400m from the Drill Hall it is very hard. She has got her work cut out. But she is flying at home, absolutely flying, she is at her best. So she has just got the draw to negotiate, that’s all I am worried about, everything else is spot on. She will take some beating. She is at her one hundred percent best.”

Snaith said in the event of the draw letting her down and her running a bad race she will be retired.

He said that would be a “sad ending”.

However, if she does come through the race well she might then line up in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m on Vodacom Durban July day.

In the Grade 2 Cup Trial over 1800m he runs Made To Conquer from draw ten out of ten and Doublemint from draw six.

He said, “Made To Conquer has his work cut out from a wide draw but it is a prep for the July. I just feel he needs one more run. Remember they took the Sledgehammer away (switched to the poly track), so he missed one run, so I’ve put him in here so he will be fit come July day. Doublemint is flying. He just needed that last run (7^th in the WSB 1900). It was a hard run race and he’s a colt, so being a colt he just needed that one good blow and he’s ready now.”

Snaith believed Doublemint had done enough to get into the July already as a winner of the Grade 2 Peninsula this season and the winner of the Grade 3 Politician Stakes as a three-year-old as well as the Grade 3 Winter Derby. He also finished sixth in a strong renewal of the Sun Met this season, a significant placing as it allowed him to escape any merit rated raised.

Snaith added, “He will be a lot higher in the July log after the Cup Trial!”

He concluded by saying, “If Doublemint doesn’t finish in the first two in the Cup Trial, he doesn’t deserve to be in the July. It will take a nice horse to beat him and Made To Conquer on Saturday.”

Doublemint is currently merit rated 104 so even a win in the Cup Trial is unlikely to effect his July weight, considering his 125 merit rated stable companion Do It Again will likely be in the July.

In the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m for two-year-old fillies Snaith runs Innogen, who is by Master Of My Fate out of the twice Listed winner Cymbeline, who won from 1600m up to 2200m.

Snaith said, “She ran well first time out and I think she is a runner. I wouldn’t put her in the race for no reason and in these races the previous winners get a penalty, which makes a big difference because some horses have won weak races. Coming in as a maiden you get an allowance so under those conditions she will run a good race.”

The yard run Rip It Up, carrying 52kg, in the Non-Black Type Durban Dash over 1100m. Snaith said, “He ran very disappointingly at Scottsville last time, so I am hoping it can just be put down to Scottsville. I’ve taken the blinkers off so he will run a better race.” 

Snaith won the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 on Saturday with Silvano’s Pride, but due to the strength of the older females it is unlikely she will be lining up in the Garden Province. Snaith mentioned the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m on Gold Cup day as a possibility for her.

Bunker Hunt had to be scratched from Saturday’s Daily News 2000 after kicking a wall. Snaith believed he would have “definitely” finished in the first three.

He said he would monitor the damage to the outside of his fetlock, which he said was “nothing too hectic”.

He said, “If it is all good he will go back into training and contest the July.”

Snaith believes getting weight from Hawwaam, Bunker Hunt will be a “big runner in the July.”  

Meanwhile, Snowdance is being targeted at the Garden Province and the Grade 1 Allan Robertson winner Miss Florida will be nominated for the Grade 2 Golden Slipper on Vodacom Durban July day, although if she draws badly she will be scratched.

By David Thiselton

South Africa are readying themselves to embrace a new equine hero in the Mike De Kock-trained  Hawwaam, who cantered to victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and now has his eyes on the Vodacom Durban July.

The Silvano colt arrived in Durban as a twice Grade 1 winner, of the SA Classic over 1800m and the Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m, both at Turffontein, but he still had something to prove in the Daily News as he was up against the toughest opposition he had faced to date in the form of Twist Of Fate.

The latter, merit rated four points lower than Hawwaam on 117, had the run of the race as he went to the front and led at a comfortable pace and then got a tow from Zillzaaal from the 1100m mark onward.

Meanwhile, Hawwaam had missed the break and his plan to lead was out the window. He followed Zillzaaal but when that one went to the front he was trapped one wide without cover. This did not phase him as he continued to relax and Anton Marcus then edged him forward to join Zillzaaal.

In the straight the top class Twist Of Fate’s chase was always in vain.

Out in front Marcus rode hands and heels. He said later this was in order to keep him straight and he might have been thinking of his mount in the previous race, Front And Centre, whose hanging antics might have cost her victory in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000.

Hawwaam looked to have something in hand when crossing the line 1,60 lengths clear. There was a further 4,90 lengths back to the rank outsider Capoeira, an 81 merit rated horse who proved the decision to supplement him had been  worthwhile.

De Kock said if it was up to him Hawwaam would line up in the July, but the final decision will rest with owner Sheik Hamdan and his racing manager Angus Gold.

Hawwaam will carry 56kg in the July if his merit rating stays unchanged on 121. If he does get a raise the very most he can carry is 57kg, the maximum weight for a three-year-old male.
De Kock said Hawwaam had now proved himself against the best and pointed out his big heart, as it was the second time he had won without the race panning out in his favour. He said he was on his way to being rated alongside the like of Vercingetorix and Variety Club, whom he said were the last “proper” horses he had trained.

Anton Marcus said it had been a win full of merit and he believed in a couple of months’ time “the world could be this horse’s Oyster.”

.Marcus is contracted to ride Hawwaam’s half-brother Rainbow Bridge in the July. Gavin Lerena seems the likely replacement as he was aboard Hawwaam for his SA Classic win. However, it will depend on whether any Wilgerbosdrift Stud or Mauritzfontein Stud-owned horses are in the big race as Lerena is retained by them.

Hawwaam has shortened into 2,35/1 for the July with Track And Ball and Do It Again and Rainbow Bridge have now drifted out to 5/1 apiece.

Hawwaam was the second Grade 1 winner of the day to be by Silvano out of a Jet Master mare.

Earlier the Justin Snaith-trained Silvano’s Pride had led from start to finish to win the Woolavington 2000 under Richard Fourie. This horse has always led in his races or at least been handy due to her tendency to take a keen hold. However, Snaith said in the build up to this race he had been working on this problem and as it happened the strongly built filly settled well in front and dictated at a good gallop. She kicked well in the straight and it was going to take a good one to catch her. The 21/10 favourite Front And Centre made a storming run from second last but unfortunately hung all the way from the outside to the inside despite Marcus’s efforts. She was only 0,3 lengths shy at the line of the 16/1 chance winner so this antic might have cost her the race. The progressive Blossom ran on well for third ahead of Seville Orange and the twice Grade 1-winner Return Flight.

Silvano’s Pride did not attract a bid at the sales and has therefore been raced by breeder Anthony Peter.

Snaith said in the post race interview how disappointed he had been by Bunker Hunt’s scratching in the Daily News as he believed this one would also have caused an upset.

Earlier, the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m saw the former Sean Tarry-trained Summer Cup winner Liege bouncing back to his best. He won comfortably under Raymond Danielson from Gimme One Night and Silver Rose. The step up in trip appears to have been the key to this horse.

By David Thiselton