Hawwaam’s price for the Vodacom Durban July has predictably been slashed following his convincing win in Saturday’s Daily News and Mike de Kock’s public confirmation that he wants to run his latest star.

Track And Ball, one of the first off the mark, cut the colt from 10-3 to 2.35-1 but by mid-morning yesterday he was as short as 16-10. Rainbow Bridge and Do It Again have been pushed out to 5.25-1 while Saturday’s runner-up Twist Of Fate has come down markedly, from 25-1 to 13-1.

De Kock, who will be bidding for his fifth July but his first for eight years, answered ante-post punters’ prayers by spelling out the exact scenario in his post-race interview with Deez Dayanand.

He said: “The July is our premier race – it’s the one everyone wants to win – and I have always maintained that I am very happy to run this horse in it. If it is up to me, he runs. But I must emphasise the fact that this decision will be made by Sheikh Hamdan and Angus Gold (his racing manager) – the Sheikh likes to be involved in this sort of thing – but they will be encouraged by me to run and, as soon as I get the agreement from them, the public will be told.”

De Kock made the point that Hawwaam’s year older half-brother Rainbow Bridge (who runs in Saturday’s Rising Sun Gold Challenge) is second favourite – “It would be fantastic to see Hawwaam with an older sibling in the same race. It would be a great spectacle and something which I would hope can happen.”

By Michael Clower

Brave Move is to race on despite finishing plumb last on her reappearance in the Interbet.co.za Pinnacle at Kenilworth on Saturday

The Ladies Mile and Final Fling winner went from hero to zero in the Cape season, showing about as much enthusiasm towards the end of it as a turkey for Christmas. Adam Marcus, though, reckoned he could rekindle the sort of spirit that had won the mare six off the reel: “I put her in a paddock and let her soften up – and I waited until she showed me she was happy before bringing her in again.”

The treatment seemed to work: she was alert, on her toes with ears pricked and taking a keen interest, as she walked out onto the course and it was only the punters who were sceptical, allowing her to drift from 10-15 to 16-10. They looked like being proved wrong when Diego de Gouveia pressed the button. She moved up like a winner but just as suddenly she emptied and dropped away.

Marcus was not surprised: “I brought her into this very fresh expecting it to be a 1 000m race but almost at the last minute they changed it to 1 400m and she had had no grass gallop. But she did look happy and her work has been good so we will carry on from here.”

The race was won by the Snaith-trained Libra ridden by Robert Khathi who picked up two whip fines  – more than 12 strokes – in successive races earlier in the afternoon.

Many racegoers were openly wondering how Anthony Andrews would get hotpot Constable across from the slower inside to the better going on the outer without giving away too much ground in the maiden juvenile. He seemed to manage it pretty seamlessly, and well after the initial 200m keep-straight section, but seemingly appearances were deceptive.

Andrews reported: “It wasn’t that easy but I didn’t want to get beaten on an odds-on favourite by staying on the inside when my instructions were to come up the outside.”

Jockeys tend to take a jaundiced view of instructions, certainly those of the verbose sort, and for the last two meetings a quote from Lester Piggott has adorned the weighing room wall. It says, beneath a picture of the great man: “A good jockey doesn’t need orders and a bad jockey couldn’t carry them out anyway. So it’s best not to give them any.”

Morne Winnaar gives them to himself, particularly now that he is doing so well. After completing a Glen Kotzen double on Pearl Tiara he said: “When you go out there you’ve got to have a plan and beforehand I said ‘when she comes out of the pens I am going to be close.’ You don’t want to be at the back with too much ground to make up.”

Backers of Var Express in the Betting World Maiden can count themselves unlucky. The 2-1 favourite cast a front shoe on the way to the start and then lost the replacement during the race. He managed only fifth behind M.J. Byleveld on the Geoff Woodruff-trained The Perfect Wave.

Liam Tarentaal had a good week, following up a winner for Vaughan Marshall at Durbanville on Tuesday with success for Justin Snaith on Fortune Flies here. The 21-year-old’s total now stands at 35.

Work riders’ races are not popular with punters – the form is unreliable – but they play a vital part in racing’s labour relations and, something the rest of us tend to forget, they are looked forward to for days beforehand by the participants. “This was a big day for me,” said Dean Kannemeyer staff member Bulelani Thwalani after making all on the Mike Stewart-trained Hollywood Belle, adding that it was his second winner and rattling off where he had finished in a string of other races.

By Michael Clower

Two questions were answers at Greyville yesterday. Hawwaam is the best three-year-old in the country over a middle distance and it is almost a given that he will take his place in next month’s Vodacom Durban July.

Given the hype around Mike de Kock’s colt, it would have been a mighty let-down had he not landed the odds in the Gr1 Daily News 2000. But he did it with the minimum of fuss as he comfortably held off recent G2 KRA Guineas winner Twist Of Fate with the balance in another race.

There were fears before the race that Hawwaam’s suspect temperament may get the better of him in the preliminaries but he behaved like a gentleman although De Kock was granted permission for the colt to do one lap of the paddock before heading to the start.

“He’s a pretty straight forward horse,” said De Kock, “but he is a real man and likes to dominate. He gives you time to put the saddle on, time to get the jockey on but if you leave it too long, he can be difficult. He is a strong-minded horse and there are temperament issues.”

General expectations were that stable companion Atyaab would set the pace but that never materialised as Twist Of Fate went to the front with Anton Marcus sitting off the pace, Hawwaam keen to get on with it.

“The pace was just ordinary,’’ confirmed Marcus. The pair took up the challenge at the top of the straight but Marcus did not have to resort to the stick. “I kept the stick off him and just kept him as balanced as possible.”

“You have got to be impressed. Races like this are never a gimme. Twist Of Fate was only rated 4lbs inferior so it was a win full of merit. A couple of months down the line the world will be his oyster.”

A relieved De Kock said the race was always going to be a test. “You have to beat the best and the second best three-year-old around (Twist Of Fate) was going to test him today.”

“Nothing went well and he still came through. The plan was to go to the front today.”

De Kock heaped praise on Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum and his racing manager Angus Gold. “Sheik Hamdan is a massive asset to South African racing. All owners are important but Sheik Hamdan as been a staunch supporter, just frustrated by the current export protocols.”

De Kock confirmed that he had always intended to run Hawwaam in the Vodacom Durban July. “I was always happy to run the horse in the July – if it’s up to me the horse runs. It’s the most important race in South Africa but I must stress that it is up to the owners whether he runs or not.”

Twist Of Fate put up a cracking performance in second but found one too good for him on the day.

The Gr1 Woolvington 2000 proved to be something of an upset result as 11-1 chance Silvano’s Pride went to the front and never looked like getting caught although there were a few hard luck stories behind Justin Snaith’s filly.

Marcus lost his compass aboard favourite Front And Centre drifting across the entire width of the track to the inside rail causing a few runners to ease but finishing a clear second. He now faces a stewards inquiry.

“We have been looking for the right race,” said Snaith. “In her races the others always seemed to quicken past her. But everything came together today and I’m very proud that my horses always run to the line.

Silvano’s Pride is not among the Snaith nominations for the Vodacom Durban July, Oh Susanna withdrawn on Friday, but there is still one further supplementary stage so Silvano’s Pride may well still feature in the final field. Second declarations for the Vodacom Durban July are on Monday and will be accompanied by the final VDJ log while the final supplementary stage is on Tuesday, June 18.

Snaith has been relatively quiet so far this Champions Season but sounded a warning yesterday saying that this was now the sharp end of Champions Season and he was about to get serious.

By Andrew Harrison

The Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 to be run on Saturday at Greyville will see a fascinating clash between top class fillies from top yards.

Return Flight from the high flying Sean Tarry yard won both the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m and Grade 2 SA Oaks over 2450m and followed up with a win in the Grade 2 Gerald Rosenberg over 2000m. That would seem like a tiring program but Tarry pointed out she was not hard pressed in two of those wins. She has drawn in pole on Saturday, so will likely try and take up her customary front-running position under Lyle Hewitson, who replaces Anton Marcus as the latter is retained by the connections of Front And Centre. Return Flight as a galloping type would seem unsuited to the tight Greyville track but she did win the Grade 1 Thekwini here as a two-year-old.

Front And Centre won the Cape Fillies Guineas and was second in both the Grade 1 Majorca and Grade 2 KRA Fillies Guineas. This is the first time she tries further than a mile.  She is a half-sister to Poatala Palace, whose best win was over a mile, but her sire Dynasty should help her stay and she was staying on well last time in the KRAFG. She has a tough draw of ten.

Santa Clara won the KRA Fillies Guineas in fine style and showed a fine turn of foot. She is by Duke Of Marmalade out of a full-sister to Silvano so should be improving all the time and should relish this trip. However, she has a tough draw of eleven. 

One of the most interesting runners is Blossom, who has her first run for Mike De Kock having previously been with recently retired legend Ormond Ferraris. Her mother Cherry On The Top won the Triple Tiara and was a warm order in this race but failed. Blossom could well do the opposite as she won none of the Triple Tiara races but she did place third in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m and second in the Grade 2 SA Oaks over 2450m and strikes as one who will continue to improve. She is drawn eight and should be staying on strongly if able to find a good position from a tricky draw of eight.

Bize has always struck as a talented sort who would improve continuously and this trip should be ideal. She was a four length fourth to Return Flight in the SA Oaks but has drawn well here over a probably ideal trip. She looks to be the dark horse.

Seville Orange has some class and as a daughter of Duke Of Marmalade should be starting to come into her own. She finished third in the SA Oaks and was only 1,9 lengths behind Bize in the Oaks Trial over this trip when giving her 8kg, so she could also earn from a fair draw of six Chitengo is also a progressive sort and  wasn’t far back in any of the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, the SA Fillies Classic and the SA Oaks. However, Gavin Lerena has opted for Blossom and Raymond Danielson has opted for Bize. Chitengo has the widest draw to overcome too.

Silvano’s Pride tends to take a keen hold, which is why she often leads. Justin Snaith had plans in mind to help her relax and settle better in the running and if they haven’t worked this trip will stretch her. However, she does have courage and some class and being by Silvano will be improving all the time. Furthermore, a similar type in Viva Maria won this race from the front in 2012.

Richard Fourie is aboard Silvano’s Pride from draw seven and the stable companion Madonna will be ridden by Luke Ferraris from draw nine. This horse has plenty of scope and is better than her 82 merit rating suggests. She comes off a good win in the LIsted East Coast Oaks over this trip.

Snapscan was a head second to Madonna in the East Cape Oaks and then franked the form by running on strongly for a cracking fourth in the Listed East Coast Cup over this trip at Greyville. She faced some good older horses in that race and showed she was better than her 81 merit rating suggests.  

Princess Irene will relish this step up in trip having stayed on from behind in the KRAFG. She had previously won the Listed Jamaica Handicap over this trip and is another daughter of Duke Of Marmalade who will be improving all the time.

Count Dubucks stayed on resolutely to win when stepped up to 1750m last time at Scottsville but she will need a lot of further improvement to feature here. 

By David Thiselton                                            

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Adam Marcus is still in discussion with owners about the future of his Grade 3 Winter Classic winner Vardy.

Marcus believes the Var gelding is not quite ready for the Vodacom Durban July yet.

He said, “As a still immature three-year-old I think we could be dealing with a very special four-year-old if we nurture him into the Cape Summer season.”

Vardy reversed the Winter Guineas form by beating the highly regarded Vaughan Marshall-trained One World in Saturday’s Winter Classic and he did it by a comfortable 2,25 lengths.

The strength of the form was shown by the gulf back to third-placed Majestic Mozart. 

This horse was beaten 2,85 lengths in the Winter Guineas and by 8,50 lengths in the Winter Classic.

Marcus was confident Vardy would improve from his Winter Guineas run, where he did not settle well.

The problem is his “severe parrot mouth and very soft palate” and Marcus looks to have solved it with a plastic bit used in dressage competition which he imported from Italy.

Saturday was the first time he had raced with the bit.   

By David Thiselton                                            

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Twist Of Fate delighted Joey Ramsden in his final piece of work at Summerveld yesterday and the trainer expects his colt to really put it up to hotpot Hawwaam in the Daily News at Greyville on Saturday.

Ramsden said: “Twist Of Fate has done fabulously well since winning the KRA Guineas and I give him a serious chance – he is such a tough, hard-knocking horse. He did 1 800m in the Politician at Kenilworth looking like he loved it and wanted further while he seemed to like Greyville in the KRA Guineas and he was only getting into gear when he crossed the line.

“We grassed him last Thursday and he went really nicely in his last serious bit of work this morning. I like him a lot for Saturday – he has had a great prep going into it with no problems. I am sure it is the same with Hawwaam and it looks like being a fabulous contest.”

S’Manga Khumalo, who rode him in the CTS 1600 (second to One World), will be back on board and his mount is rated 2kg behind Hawwaam but 2.5kg and more in front of the rest. He is generally available at between 9-2 and 5-1 whereas Hawwaam is as short as 3-10. Cape Derby runner-up Charles (8-1) is the only other in single figures. Favourites have won three of the last five runnings and five of the last ten.

By Michael Clower

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Mark Dixon’s filly Inverroche paid dearly for her third place in last year’s Gr1 Allan Robertson and her similar placing in the Gr1 The Debutante, ending the season with a lofty 99 merit rating. She has been hard-pressed to live up to that rating this term but races off a three-point lower mark in the All To Come Graduation Plate, first leg of the PA on the Greyville poly today.

However, given that this is a set weights race, she is rated 3.5kg better than her nearest male rival Mastagambit and in theory should have her opposition dead to rights. But it will not be that easy. She faces some improving sophomore males, best of which could be Vikram. Andre Nel’s runner is way out at the weights with Inverroche and a host of other rivals but the gelding made an eye-catching local debut when third behind Twice As Smart. He has the best of the draw and although he takes to the poly for the first time, Nel has a knack of sending the right horses up from his Cape Town base to exploit the synthetic track, his KZN assistant Byron Forster adding the finishing touches.

Punters took a bit of a pounding at Scottsville last Saturday with only one favourite obliging but Wayward could help fill empty wallets when he takes a drop in class in the Inanda FM 88.4 Handicap over 1200m.

If nothing else, Shane Humby’s charge is consistent and has been up against much stronger at his last two. He is seldom far back although his last effort at Scottsville over 1400m was a tad disappointing as he just stayed on in a race run at a good clip.

Waywood switches to the poly track today and with some relief from the handicapper over a furlong shorter he should make a fist of it.

Alistair Gordon’s runner Marshall That is something of a course and distance specialist with two of his three wins coming on the synthetic surface. There was a lot to like about his comeback run when staying on behind Royal Amour last time out and Anton Marcus has stuck with the ride which is generally a good sign.

This year’s sophomore crop is generally perceived as being of good vintage and Rockliffe will have his supporters after finishing an eye-catching third behind the useful Cumulus at Scottsville last month. That was his first outing since being gelded and with blinkers on for the first time he is a must inclusion in all calculations.

Surprise package could come in the form of top weight Affranchi. He showed loads of potential early in his career but has been frustrating to follow this term. He makes his debut for Yogas Govender today and the change of stable and routine could possibly bring out the best in him.

Fillies and Mares Handicaps can often deliver upset results and the sixth may be no different.

Stelvio has her first outing for Dennis Drier after a smart a barrier trial. Prior to that she won two on the bounce. Drier has put her straight into a mile and horses from this stable are rarely short of a gallop. Should however, face stiff opposition from Be Yourself who was narrowly beaten by much improved stable companion Heart Of A Legend last time out. A repeat of that run can see her go one better. Of the balance, Pumpkin Queen returns from a lengthy break but seldom runs a bad race and the stable has found form of late.

By Andrew Harrison

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This Saturday’s Grade 1 Daily News 2000 final field is compact compared to previous years but the eight-runner field is packed with class. The hot ruling favourite is the Mike De Kock trained Hawwaam. Anton Marcus jumps aboard once again after having partnered him to his impressive victory in the Grade 1 Champions Challenge when trouncing his rivals by over four lengths. Hawwaam is currently rated 121 and one off the best three-year-olds around.

De Kock also saddles Atyaab, winner of the Grade 1 Cape Derby, who could be a likely pacemaker.

The race is not cut and dried even though Hawwaam has a huge reputation. The KRA Guineas winner Twist Of Fate is no slouch and has run some cracking races against strong opposition in Cape Town.

S’Manga Khumalo has an excellent strike rate of late when riding for Joey Ramsden and will have his supporters.

Another interesting runner is Charles from the Brett Crawford yard who currently sits nineteenth on the Vodacom Durban July log. This son of Trippi, who cost a whopping 6 million rand as a yearling, ran a cracking effort behind Atyaab in the Cape Derby. He is extremely well bred and cannot be discounted. One must also take into account that the stable he comes from have a solid record of performing well in big races in KwaZulu-Natal having won the race with Jackson in 2012.

The Sean Tarry yard have been in top form recently winning three Grade 1’s on Tsogo Sun Sprint day last Saturday at Scottsville. Tarry saddles Zillzaal who is surprisingly only a one-time winner but is not short of talent although he has twice been beaten by Hawwaam.

Top KZN trainer Duncan Howells has Thanksgiving who is a son of Dynasty out of an Al Mufti mare. It’s no secret what the stable think of him and he could be in the firing line with inform jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe aboard.

Justin Snaith has Bunker Hunt in the race who is another by Dynasty. He put in a decent effort in the KRA Guineas and could be an unknown quantity.

Capoeira, from the Andre Nel yard, comes into this race with a rating of 81 and on paper looks to have a tough task ahead. The stable clearly rate him judging by the fact they supplemented him for the race and Gavin Lerena jumps aboard.

Supporting features are the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 where some of the country’s best three-year-old fillies go head to head and also the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m.

By Devonne Govender

Dual Grade 1 winner Hawwaam has drawn two for Saturday’s Grade 1 Daily News 2000 at Greyville which has eight acceptors in all including the Andre Nel-trained supplementary entry Capoeira.

Twelve runners will face the starter in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 including dual Grade 1 winner Return Flight, Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner Front And Centre and Grade 2 KRA Fillies Guineas winner Santa Clara.

Hawwaam’s stablemate Soqrat will not be running in the Daily News 2000 and this was likely due to him landing a good draw of five in the weight for age Grade 1 Rising Gold Challenge, which attracted a star studded field of 12.

Mike de Kock has kept Anton Marcus aboard Hawwaam for the Daily News.

Marcus replaced Gavin Lerena for the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein as the latter is retained by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Studs and had to ride Cascapedia that day.

Marcus duly brought him home and Lerena, who was aboard when Hawwaam won the Grade 1 SA Classic, has had to settle for Capoiera, who is merit rated thirty points lower than 121 merit rated Hawwaam.

Hawwaam is going to have his toughest task to date as he is up against the 117 merit rated Twist Of Fate, who comes off a fine win in the Grade 2 KRA Guineas, where the widely drawn three-times Grade 1-winning miler Soqrat could only manage fourth.

Twist Of Fate, trained by Joey Ramsden and drawn five, finished second to Soqrat in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas but perhaps his most eyecatching trial for Saturday’s race was in the Grade 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth where he gave away lumps of weight and won easily.

Hawwaam has had a tendency to over race, although in his last two starts he settled well. However, if he doesn’t settle well on Saturday Twist Of Fate will be a serious danger.

The 112 merit rated Bunker Hunt has always been well regarded by the Justin Snaith yard and this big horse caught the eye in no uncertain terms when staying on strongly for third in the KRA Guineas. He is drawn in three and this trip will be ideal. Like most Dynastys he is already showing a liking for the tight Greyville track. 

The Sean Tarry-trained Zillzaal, merit rated 105, stayed on resolutely for second in the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m, but on Champions Challenge form over this trip he has 6,1 lengths to make up on Hawwaam. However, he is a progressive sort and at this time of the year three-year-olds who have been just off the best on the Highveld have been known to transform when running down at the coast, with an example being the Tarry-trained Matador Man.

The local hopes rest with the Duncan Howells-trained Thanksgiving, who has drawn widest of all. He stayed on well for fifth in the KRA Guineas and earlier finished a 3,40 length second to Hawwaam in the Dingaans over 1600m. His Cape Derby run over this trip can be ignored as he pulled up lame behind. He has always struck as one who is looking for this trip and being by Dynasty he not surprisingly enjoys Greyville.

Atyaab won a below par renewal of the Grade 1 Cape Derby, although among the defeated were the neck runner up Charles and the 2,65 length fourth-placed Bunker Hunt.

Bunker Hunt has clearly improved since then. Atyaab has since been beaten 17,55 lengths in the SA Classic by Atyaab, where Zillzaal was beaten 11,25 length, and Atyaab was then fourth in the SA Derby, 0.70 lengths behind Zillzaal.

Charles needed the run in the KRA Guineas when forced wide at the top of the straight from a handy position and not finding much. This expensive Trippi colt was wearing second time blinkers there and is progressive so could earn on Saturday.

Capoeira has only had five runs and showed improvement last time when a narrow second to Our Coys over 1750m at Scottsville in a Progress Plate. However, he will need to make dramatic further improvement to be a factor here.

By David Thiselton

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The racing at the Tsogo Sun Sprint day on Saturday proved there is no longer any draw bias on the sprint course at Scottsville.

Triumphant trainer Sean Tarry had wondered before the event whether his leading Tsogo Sun Sprint contender Chimichuri Run would be disadvantaged by a high draw of 15 but as it happened the three-year-old Trippi colt was able to stick to his station and power through to beat his stable companion Trip To Heaven (drawn 13) and Africa Rising (drawn seven).

Tarry said, “It was a great day and the course being fair, enabling horses to win from all over, helped. There wasn’t bunching and the consequent worrying of getting a run. Well, the Allan Robertson was a bit like that, but the jockeys became more and more confident of spreading out as the day progressed.”

For a long time, starting in the second half of last decade, the going was palpably advantageous towards the inside of the Scottsville sprint course.

Once this problem has set in it is exacerbated by the jockeys doing everything in their power to get to that strip of going.

Consequently, the horses become bunched on that strip, which, due to the repetitive pounding, becomes like a road. It is similar to the way a path is formed in the veld. The constant weight of feet causes compaction of the earth and the path is formed.

It is very difficult to reverse this trend on a racecourse once it has set in.

As one top jockey retorted a few years ago after the riders had been encouraged to use the width of the track at Scottsville, they would risk criticism or even belittling from the connections if they did not at least make an attempt to find the perceived better going.

Various measures were taken to solve the problem.

The inside fence was at one stage moved outward for a few meetings in order to prevent the road effect.

However, as soon as the fence was moved back inward the jockeys made a bee-line for the fresh grass.  

The problem became so entrenched that in 2016 Gold Circle decided to move the inside fence outward for the Tsogo Sun Sprint meeting and limit the Grade 1 field sizes to 14.

However, this caused understandable disgruntlement from connections whose borderline horses missed out on a run.

Yet, despite the aforementioned snowball effect, the ground staff to their credit have somehow slowly but surely managed to solve the draw bias problem.

The improvement was started by the late track manager Inos Majola and continued by the renowned Ralph Smout.

Latterly, the teamwork of the like of Vilasen Pillay, Michael Ndlovu and KZN’s senior track manager Kurt Grunewald have brought the track to its current fair state.

Any regular watcher of racing at the Pietermaritzburg track over the last couple of years would hardly have bothered to check the draw before placing their bets for Saturday’s Grade 1 sprint events.

By the time of the Tsogo Sun Sprint, the last of the Jackpot of Grade 1s, even the jockeys were convinced there was no bias. The 16 runners were spread evenly across the track. In fact the first two home, Chimichuri Run and Trip To Heaven, were among a bunch of four horses who were hugging the outside rail.

Hopefully, that race spelt the end of the mindset which causes bunching towards the inside of the Scottsville sprint course. 

If it does the hard luck stories which have tended to accompany the Festival Of Speed meeting will be minimized as they were on Saturday.

By David Thiselton

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