The final leg of the work rider series is always accompanied by much excitement so there is sure to be some intriguing battles in the eight race meeting at Turffontein tomorrow.

Former champion work rider Chamu Mabaya looks to have a fair book of rides and Joe Gwingwizha and Charles Ndlovu should also have good days.

In the first race over 1000m Kindavar, ridden by Mabaya, has a lot of zip and could get a tow from the speedy Desert Kitten before pouncing and attempting to win at the 22^nd attempt. However, she could be upstaged by Miss Samurai, who showed pace in her penultimate start over this trip and finished a 5,75 length second to subsequent Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes winner Singforafa. Miss Samurai will be ridden by inexperienced workrider Kelly Fisher. Two-year-old Winter Haze has shown ability in two starts and displayed good pace last time. She was overtaken by a promising sort and pipped by another fair horse but being by What A Winter should be improving. She is now up against older horses which will make it tough despite the field being uninspiring.

Former champion Sam Mosia could win the next over 1000m on Bold Matador who looked the winner last time over this trip before being caught by a flying Hartleyfour. Charles Ndlovu has a good ride here on Country Squire, who hit the front in the aforementioned race before fading and he was reported to have made a respiratory noise. He can do better and should be improving being by Duke Of Marmalade. Gwingwizha rides Pidgeon Rock, who showed promises second time out but hasn’t run since last July.

In the third over 1160m Ndlovu rides The Russian Sailor who went close over 1200m last time despite losing two lengths. Written In Stone caught the eye in the preliminaries and in the race on Tuesday when second from a wide draw over 1200m at the Vaal Classic track and he is sure to be involved. Maldives should be running on well.

In the fourth over 1600m Mabaya can earn his riding fee by taking Kayla’s Eagle to the front and settling her. If he does accomplish those two tasks she can beat this uninspiring field. Caftan under Ndlovu beat Kaylá’s Eagle last time down the straight over this trip, but the latter raced too strongly behind horses. First-timer Ligogo by Golden Sword out of Listed Banayana winner Sapphire Ring makes some appeal under reigning champion work rider Goodman Dadamasi.

In the fifth over 1600m Ndlovu could win on Category Four, who proved suited to this trip when finishing third over 1700m on Wednesday. Flapjack under Mabaya and Royal Pursuit under Mosia are the dangers.

In the sixth over 2000m Gwingwizha could win on Slay The Dragon who has a tricky draw but has fair form, is unexposed and stays the trip. Byron Bay under Dadamasi ran well in his previous start over this trip and should be right there and Three Dog Night showed improvement with gelding last time so can also be a threat under Mosia.

Mabaya can win the seventh over 2000m on the hard-knocking Irish Flame filly Shezahotti, who can run on after being dropped out from a tricky draw. Merengue and Laconia are both improving and are the dangers.

The last over 1160m could go to Themba Muchansa on the promising Varquera who has not had much luck to date but has caught the eye. Brittania Queen and Destiny’s Game look the dangers.

By David Thiselton

Class could be the deciding factor when Hoodoo Magic takes on some salted opposition in the Dormehl Phalane Property Group Handicap that heads the card at Scottsville on Sunday.

Brett Crawford’s Australian import has been up against the cream so far this season and given that this season’s crop of sophomore males is widely regarded as being above average, that form is likely to hold up.

Last Friday’s G2 KRA Guineas winner Twist Of Fate and Gr1 Cape Derby winner Atyaab are both close-up in Hoodoo Magic’s formline and he is sure to improve on his Byerley Turk effort behind Tristful in his KZN debut.

It was his first outing in over three months and Crawford’s runners are starting to click into top gear.

But he does face a hard-knocker in Sea Urchin. The seven-year-old’s form is not the stuff of feature races but Garth Puller has nursed him through his career and the gelding has come into his own of late with five of his nine wins coming this term, more significantly those wins came in his last seven starts.

Sea Urchin goes particularly well for apprentice Jason Gates who is full value for his 2.5kg claim and from an inside gate, Corne Orffer will need to be wary of a few prickles.

Fellow three-year-old Mastergambit is drawn on the paint inside of Sea Urchin, and although his form does not match that of Hoodoo Magic, he comes from a yard that is firing winning salvos and Mastagambit can make amends for his recent defeat when sent out favourite on the Greyville poly.

Silva’s Bullet did his supporters no favours when down the field in The Sledgehammer (Listed) on the Greyville poly, a race moved from Scottsville because of a sodden track, but Dean Kannemeyer’s runner did not travel well to the start and looked equally uncomfortable on the way home on the synthetic surface.

He is Kannemeyer’s sole entry for this year’s Vodacom Durban July and if he doesn’t feature in this conditions race where he has the weights in his favour, then any thoughts of participation in the VDJ would probably be out of the window.

An interesting runner is Dyno Man, Garth Puller looking to win the race that he is sponsoring. The grey has his third run after a break and pressed the progressive Mr Fitz to half-a-length last time out. The winner is well regarded although Shane Humby has shunned the Classics stating that his charge needs time to mature.

Be that as it may, it was a sterling effort from Dyno Man and he should strip at his peak come Sunday.

Dennis Drier has an enviable client base and the results show as he is well on his way to a consecutive KZN Champion Trainer title. He has another strong hand come Sunday although Ideal Duel may be a little down the list of his possible winners on the day.

The mare has steadily come to hand at recent outings and although all that form has been on the poly, the switch to turf should not trouble her in the Khayelihle Funeral Services Handicap.

It’s a difficult race to call with any certainty but Ideal Duel was running at them hard behind favourite Moon In June last time out but it would be foolish to ignore the chances of top weights Kilmokea and Philae.

Kilmokea was all at sea in the Scottsville mud in The Scarlet Lady (Listed) but her previous form was solid albeit against more measured opposition. Her recent form shows smart efforts behind Heart Of A Legend and stable companion and subsequent Gr1 Empress Club winner Camphoratus in the Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes so she has earned her weight.

Philae’s form line is not quite as impressive given the opposition but Andre Nel’s mare has been close-up in her last five and the extended trip from a good draw should see her contest the finish.

By Andrew Harrison

Racecard for Sunday’s Scottsville meeting on May 12 embedded below.

12 May – Scottsville

Cedar Man has been installed 22-10 favourite with the sponsors for the World Sports Betting East Cape Derby at Fairview on Saturday and Greg Ennion has booked former champion Gavin Lerena for the mount.

The gelding, second over 2 000m at Durbanville last time, showed that stamina is his game by going close is the Kenilworth Cup in February and finishing fourth to Magnificent Seven in the New Turf Carriers Stayers on Met day.

The favourite has won seven of the last eight runnings of the Port Elizabeth showpiece. Cedar Man and 7-2 second favourite St Valdimir dominate the 14-strong field on merit ratings, being assessed 4.5kg better than the next best.

WSB also bets 15-2 In a Perfect World, 17-2 Drop Kick, Sailing Lizard, Swift Surprise, 12-1 Mercurana, 14-1 Wildcat, Just Chaos, 22-1 and upwards others. Cape Town trainers have traditionally dominated this 2 400m Listed race and have won all the last nine runnings. They field only five of the 14 runners this time but their quintet are five of the eight highest rated.

By Michael Clower

The Vaal straight course stages a nine race meeting today where there are a few opportunities for punters.

In the first race over 1200m Secret Palace is an athletic type who stayed on well over this trip around the turn on debut in yielding going. She can win this with expected improvement, although it is never easy against the boys even if she is getting a 2,5kg gender allowance. The two dangers could be the well-bred first-timers Bold Over and Indy Go. Bold Over is by Twice Over and is a half-sister to the Grade 2 Golden Slipper winner Desert Rhythm and Indy Go is a R325,000 gelding by Captain Of All out of Grade 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Go Indigo.

In the second race Virtuosa caught the eye on debut running on strongly from way back and she does not face an inspiring field here. Spring Break is well bred being by Trippi out of the speedy mare Miss October and this R1,8 million filly could be the biggest threat. Allmyloving has some speed and can stay on and both Capetown Dream and Get Set have shown some ability.

In the third race over 1400m Therevada caught the eye in a workrider’s maiden on debut when staying on with long strides and Gavin Lerena now rides. He is made a PA banker.

The first leg of the Pick 6 sees Captain Of Tortuga and Rockin Russian renewing rivalry. The former won comfortably when they last met but the latter likely needed it badly that day as she was coming off a long break. There shouldn’t be much in it this time as Rockin Russian is now having her third run after a layoff. Fired Up caught the eye on debut as one who should be progressive but ran wide and over raced second time out over 1600m. Back to this trip he could make his presence felt again.

In the first leg of the Jackpot Virginia has always been held in good regard and she benefited from a layoff recently which allowed her to do some maturing. She should have come on from that good comeback run and her class can enable her to carry topweight here over a suitable 1600m trip. She can be made a PA banker, although Walnut Dash and Quebec Queen are decent sorts who can be included in the Pick 6.

In the next race over 1200m, a MR 104 Handicap, Danza is proving suited to this distance and is knocking hard so he is the one to beat. Clever Guy beat Danza by 0,70 lengths last time and is now 1kg worse off so there should not be much in it. He only finished 5,30 lengths back in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint on Saturday. The switch from blinkers to cheek pieces helped in his penultimate start when beating Danza and the cheek pieces are back on. Africa Rising is an admirable sort with some class and a nice turn of foot and as one who stays further than this trip he should run a good race fresh here. Those three could get punters through.

In the seventh over 1100m the consistent Mademoiselle is off a nice merit rating and with a galloping weight of 55kg over a trip she should enjoy she is the one to beat. Pool Party has run three fine sprints against decent sorts in her last three starts, one of them a win and with a 4kg claimer up she will be a big runner here. Miss Pinkerton has been disappointing lately but she is capable and can also be included.

In the eighth over 1000m the two promising sprinting stablemates Winter Storm and American Hustle should fight it out, despite carrying topweight of 61kg. They are going paces and the big horse Winter Storm is preferred.

In the ninth over 1000m Farraranga has pace and can do better than last time. Generous Notion has done well against decent sorts in her last three starts over 1200m and now has blinkers on over 1000m so should be right there. Geographe Bay returns from a short layoff and is now running off a competitive merit rating. Reserve runner Claremorris is knocking on the door and must be included if getting in. Illegal has plummeted in the merit ratings and should now start being competitive. However, this is a wide open race and it would be wise to choose as many horses as possible for the Pick 6.   

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith has six runners included in the initial log for the R4.25 million Gr1 Vodacom Durban July released earlier today. Last year’s winner Do It Again heads the log while stable companion and second last year, Made To Conquer is 15^th on the initial list of the 18 preferred entries.

The Eric Sands-trained Rainbow Bridge, winner of the Gr1 Sun Met and a fast-finishing second in the Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes last Friday evening, is second on the log followed by last Saturday’s Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes winner Hawwaam.

Mike de Kock has cautioned that Hawwaam is not certain to take his place in the race but also has Gr1 Cape Derby winner Atyaab in fifth place and another smart three-year-old Barahin (15^th).

Sean Tarry has three entries in the top 18 headed by the crack filly Return Flight (4^th) backed up Legal Eagle (10^th) and Tilbury Fort (11^th).

Last Friday night’s Gr2 KRA Guineas winner Twist Of Fate is 7^th on the log.

Other Snaith runners are Oh Susanna, Doublemint, Magnificent Seven and Miyabi Gold.

With just under 60 days to the country’s biggest race, there is still much water to flow under the bridge but the log gives trainers a guide as to where they stand as far as getting a run in the race is concerned.

First declarations are due on Monday, May 13, with first supplementary entries due the following day.

The logs are compiled in consultation with the handicappers and reflect all the horses, in order of preference, as to the make-up of the final field at the time of the log’s publication.

An updated VDJ log will be issued on Wednesday, May 22, following the running of the WSB 1900 on Saturday, May 18, at Greyville.

Journalist: Andrew Harrison

The drama at the Kentucky Derby capped a weekend of captivating racing.

The stewards at Churchill Downs were certainly brave in making the decision to disqualify the winner Maximim Security, but whether it was the correct one will be debated for years to come.

The rule the stewards referred to states: “If a leading horse or any other horse in a race swerves or is ridden to either side so as to interfere with, intimidate, or impede any other horse or jockey, or to cause the same result, this action shall be deemed a foul. … If, in the opinion of the stewards, a foul alters the finish of a race, an offending horse may be disqualified by the stewards.”

So, the first decision the stewards had to make was whether a foul had taken place.

The answer to that question was a clear cut yes.   

Maximum Security, who led from pillar to post in sloppy conditions, veers away from the rail rounding the final turn at the top of the straight. He thus impedes War Of Wills. The latter’s momentum was not only affected but he is forced outward and in doing so bumps Country House.

Probably the most badly impeded horse was Long Rainge Toddy, who was squeezed out between War Of Wills and Country House.

The stewards now had to decide whether the foul had altered the result.

After the incident Maximum Security runs back towards the rail and then in the straight he fends off all challengers bravely.

He crosses the line full of running, 1,75 lengths clear of Country House. 

A long 22 minutes later the stewards announced their unanimous decision to disqualify Maximum Security.

The objection was lodged by jockey Flavien Prat, the rider of Country House, and this is the chief the decision has been deemed controversial as Country House was not badly affected by the incident.

Country’s House’s trainer Bill Mott admitted his horse had only been affected “slightly.”

He said, “It may have affected us slightly, but I would say it affected the other two horses dramatically. . . . They lost all chance, and those two horses lost their opportunity to win or place.”

Prat and Mott said the horse, and not the jockey, had caused the interference.

Maximum Security’s jockey Luis Saez said, “My horse shied away from the noise of the crowd and may have ducked out a little.”

Maximum Security’s trainer Jason Servis said, “I don’t think it changed the outcome of the race. It looks like something scared him in the infield, but I haven’t been able to watch it that close.”

However, Country House is now in the record books and at 65/1 odds is the second longest shot to win the famous “run for the roses” after 91/1 Donerail in 1913.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott thus scored his first Kentucky Derby victory in his tenth attempt spread over 35 years.

It was Flavien Prat’s first win in his third attempt.

Maximum Security could have been claimed for US$16,000 before his debut, when Servis entered him in a maiden claimer.

He was the only unbeaten horse going into Saturday’s race and started 9/2 second favourite.

Most pundits believe he then proved himself the best horse in the race.

President Donald Trump also believed so and said on twitter, “The Kentucky Derby decision was not a good one. It was a rough and tumble race on a wet and sloppy track, actually, a beautiful thing to watch. Only in these days of political correctness could such an overturn occur. The best horse did NOT win the Kentucky Derby – not even close!”

By David Thiselton

The Eric Sands-trained Rainbow Bridge was looking a picture at Summerveld yesterday morning having made an exceptional KZN debut in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes on Friday night. Drill Hall winner Undercover Agent has also come through his race well.

There was plenty of feedback from trainers of other horses too.

Rainbow Bridge appeared to be battling to quicken after coming from a handy position over the too sharp 1400m trip on Friday night.

However, at the 200m mark he suddenly got going and his powerful finish under Anton Marcus carried him within a longhead of Undercover Agent.

He split two of the best 1400m horses in the country, as the three-year-old Cirillo finished third.

This eyecatching run will have been just what Rainbow Bridge’s new owner Mike Rattray had hoped for ahead of his two big targets, the Grade 1 wfa Rising Sun Gold Challenge and the Vodacom Durban July. Rattray watched Friday night’s race from his grandstand suite.  

Rainbow Bridge is staying at Brett Crawford’s Summerveld yard. The latter’s assistant trainer Peter Muscutt said the most pleasing aspect of the temperamental gelding’s preparation was that he had settled in well at Summerveld, as not all Cape horses do. 

Undercover Agent has also come through his race “without any issue” and will head for the Gold Challenge and Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m.

Lady In Black ran on well for fourth in the Drill Hall over a trip too sharp and the Dennis Drier yard said she would next run in the Gold Challenge and then the July.

Drier’s two-year-olds must always be watched at this time of the year due to his incredible record in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion at the Scottsville Festival Of Speed meeting. He had an eyecatching two-year-old debut winner recently, Cartel Captain, but Drier’s assistant trainer Stuart Ferrie said Master Of illusion, who finished a short-head second on Friday night in the Grade 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1100m, is just as good. Both horses will line up in the Gold Medallion.

The winner of the Godolphin Barb, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained African Warrior by Vercingetorix, provided a first ever feature race winner for long-time owner and former Gold Circle director Bruce Armstrong. His D K Kannemeyer Syndicate partner, former Gold Circle chairman John Bescoby, was happy so see the colt had come out of the race well but was not sure of his next step yet. African Warrior will certainly appreciate further than sprints.

Gareth van Zyl hopes his promising filly Yessiricanboogie had just needed the run on Friday night when fading to a disappointing 5,05 length sixth in the Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m. He admitted the feature races can sort out the pecking order but jockey Warren Kennedy felt she had needed the run badly and believed she could bounce back.

Kennedy rode the Paul Lafferty-trained Dark Moon Rising to fifth place in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge on Saturday at Turffontein and was a touch disappointed, saying he had not quickened as well as he normally did. Kennedy had expected to finish in the first three and put it down, perhaps, to the travel and altitude.

Candice Bass-Robinson’s assistant Robert Fayd’Herbe was expecting Clouds Unfold to arrive at Summerveld sometime this week after her impressive win in a 1000m sprint at Kenilworth on Sunday. She is being targeted at the Tibouchina and the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m. Her stablemate Santa Clara quickened exceptionally well under Bernard Fayd’Herbe to easily win the Grade 2 KRA Fillies Guineas at Greyville on Friday night. The latter win did not surpise Robert Fayd’Herbe, despite her 11/1 odds. Her pedigree, Duke Of Marmalade out of a full-sister to Champion stallion Silvano, suggests she will continually improve. Her next target is the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000.

The Alyson Wright yard said Flichity By Farr would run in a 2000m event on WSB 1900 day and then go the staying route, the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, the Track and Ball Oaks, the Gold Vase and the eLan Gold Cup.

The Tony Rivalland-trained Tristful was found to be coughing after his disappointing run in the KRA Guineas and mucus was found in his trachea.

The Glen Kotzen yard were happy with Temple Grafin’s third place finish in the KRA Fillies Guineas but reckon she might not quite get the mile. Her next target is undecided. They said Eyes Wide Open would come on a lot from his fourth place finish in the Sledgehammer.

By David Thiselton

Met winner Rainbow Bridge will renew rivalry with his Drill Hall conqueror Undercover Agent in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville on June 8 and last year’s Vodacom Durban July hero Do It Again will also be in the line-up.

The way Rainbow Bridge flew home to be beaten little more than a head in his first race for more than three months was a revelation even though trainer Eric Sands had predicted that he would be competitive.

Sands said yesterday: “He has matured physically and hopefully that maturity is coming through because he travelled to the course the best he has ever done. He was very well in himself but I was concerned about his going right-handed for the first time, that it was his first night meeting and he was dropping back to seven furlongs.

“Anton said they were getting away from him going through the 700m and when he turned for home the horse was last. He said he could have given him a smack but he didn’t see the point until he found his legs and, when the horse did, he didn’t have to give him a smack.”

Brett Crawford confirms that Undercover Agent will go for a second successive Gold Challenge and that there will be no July run. Instead the four-year-old will wait for the Champions Cup in which he was second to stable companion Captain America last season.

Do It Again will have just three races in KZN, all Grade 1s and starting with the Gold Challenge – nothing to do with avoiding an increase in ratings prior to the July apparently. “He is a horse that is quite light and doesn’t take a lot of racing so we decided only three races,” Jono Snaith explained. “It will be tough first time back in the Gold Challenge but he will be at his best on July day, and then he goes for the Champions Cup. His gallop on the course last Friday was outstanding – he came from off the pace of Made To Conquer.”

Snaith confirmed that Snowdance will take on the female speedsters in the SA Fillies Sprint at Scottsville on May 25 “and then Drakenstein will decide whether or not she runs in the Garden Province. Oh Susanna is in full work at Summerveld but the trip to Jo’burg for the Empress Club took a lot out of her. We will discuss with Drakenstein what she will do.”

Saturday’s Computaform Sprint winner Pacific Trader did not do well in Durban last year and so he will now have a well-earned break. “He will come back to Cape Town and wait for the summer season here,” said Crawford who adds that Cape Fillies Guineas winner Front And Centre will bid to make amends for being beaten in last Friday’s KRA version in the Tibouchina on June 8 and the Garden Province on July day.

He said: “It was very tough for her from her outside draw but I also think she was a bit green under the lights for the first time.”

Santa Clara, who beat Front And Centre by nearly three lengths, will step to 2 000m for the Woolavington on June 1 while Poinsettia-winning stable companion Freedom Charter goes for the SA Fillies Sprint. Candice Bass-Robinson will also run both Strelitzia third Vandah’s Spirit and Miss Honey (fifth) in the Allan Robertson that day.

Glen Kotzen is toying with alternative options for KRA Fillies Guineas third Temple Grafin, saying: “She ran well on Friday but I might freshen her up for the SA Fillies Sprint. Otherwise it will be the Tibouchina and the Garden Province.”

BLOB Grant Behr has been suspended for a fortnight (May 9-22) after traces of Furosemide were found in his system when he was tested at Kenilworth on February 26. Furosemide is a diuretic but it is also used to treat high blood pressure and is banned by the NHA. Behr took it as a pee pill three days earlier under the impression that it would have cleared his system by raceday.

By Michael Clower

The Vaal has a competitive eight race meeting on the Vaal Classic track tomorrow and the exotics are usually catchable on this fair track. 

The first race over 1450m is the first leg of the Bipot and it looks likely to be fought out by On My Mind and Ehsaan. There is little between them on form lines but on visual evidence On My Mind looks more likely to enjoy the step up in trip.

In the first leg of the PA Candle Rock moved up well on Saturday over 1600m when coming from a tricky draw and then faded late. This trip should be right down her alley if she lines up and she is now drawn well. Masaaqaat disappointed last time when dropped out from a wide draw over 1400m and plugging on in to fourth place. He could still go close in this uninspiring field though with first-time blinkers on and can be included in the PA.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Stockbridge has been knocking on the door and is interesting stepped down to 1200m after being run out of it over 1400m last time. He can be bankered as the main danger looks to be the first-timer Al Mutawakel, a Silvano colt who is a full brother to the SA Derby winner and July runner up Al Sahem.

In the first leg of the Jackpot over 1450m Eightfolds Lass packs a strong finish and can mow them down from off the pace after being dropped out from a wide draw. Aideen will be a threat from a fair draw as she was one paced in the finish over 1200m last time when not disgraced and being by Irish Flame will relish the step up in trip. Golden Spiral is improving and can also be included although she does have a tough draw to overcome.

In the next over 1400m Live In Love is a promising stayer in the making and is the choice carrying a light weight. She will be vulnerable though as a handy to front running type. Both Bated Breath and Chariot Of Gold come off decent form and can also be included. However these female staying races are tough to predict and Glamarous Scandal, Emerald Bay and Animal Lover can also be included in the Pick 6 and Jackpot.

In the sixth over 2400m Hit For Six looks to be an out and out stayer who can continue to improve. From pole position and off a reasonable opening handicap mark of 70 he is a banker consideration. Beyond him the ultra consistent Kings Cup can also be considered as can Horace who comes off a good win over 2000m and should stay this trip. Mighty And Magic can’t be ignored from a good draw and Plucky Plunderer could also do well from a good draw.

The next is a wide open handicap over 1600m. Norland is a consistent sort who has a plum draw over a suitable trip. Missouri should be staying on after being dropped out. Skiminac will be dangerous from the front with a 4kg claimer up. Defy Gravity, Responsible and Mutrib can also be included. Jackman also warrants consideration from pole position. Lainsberg Blue won his maiden by over ten lengths but has not been seen for two years and on jockey bookings Missouri appears to be preferred.  

In the last race over 1800m Long Pond could be good value. She caught the eye last time out staying on over the too sharp 1400m trip. She will relish this step up in trip and has a fair draw. Crystal Stream has the ability to relax well in front before producing a kick in the straight and she could be the main danger. Targaryen Queen came from last with a good run to win going away in her first attempt at this trip in the maidens. She starts off reasonable merit rating and has a good draw this time so could be closer to the pace. She can also be included in all bets.

By David Thiselton

Brett Crawford rounded off his memorable weekend in some style when Armando accelerated like a good’un to add yesterday’s Somerset 1200 to the stable’s Computaform and Drill Hall triumphs.

The What A Winter colt started odds-on for the Kenilworth Listed race but when Corne Orffer pressed the button at the furlong marker he seemed to hang fire for a few ominous seconds. He then switched into another gear to beat the strong-finishing Captain Tatters rather more impressively than the length verdict might suggest. “He had never been here before so he was having a look around,” explained Orffer. “When I gave him a back-hander he took off.”

The 9-10 winner is bound for Hong Kong in the long term as he is owned by Tony Millard client R. Ng but Crawford said: “It’s in our mind to take him to Scottsville for the Gold Medallion. If not he will run in the Kenilworth Nursery. This is something I have to discuss with Tony but it has been a massive weekend – to win big races in three different provinces is a mighty achievement.”

Snaith Racing and Sue Rowett are already talking in terms of next season’s Fillies Guineas with Amy Johnson who finished like a rocket to pip Drama Queen on the post in the Perfect Promise Sprint. “We have got something good here – she is mind-blowing in her work at home,” enthused Richard Fourie while Jono Snaith added: “She is a high class filly, a three-parts sister to Bella Bella. We have put away most of our Fillies Guineas winners after they have won so I doubt this one will run in next month’s Fillies Nursery.”

Clouds Unfold has already achieved Grade 1 heights and the Majorca winner won the TAB Telebet Pinnacle accordingly. This was a significant part of her preparation for the Tibouchina on June 8 and an impressed Bernard Fayd’Herbe said: “It’s a long time since I have sat on one as good as this.” Candice Bass-Robinson will despatch her next week.

In his days as racing correspondent of the Independent Richard Edmondson was known as much for his ability – he was Britain’s Racing Journalist of the Year – as for his stories of personal disaster with which he entertained the racecourse press rooms of England and Ireland.

He has now added another to his repertoire thanks to his part ownership of Roi Querari. For each of the colt’s first three runs he enthusiastically flew out from his Istanbul home, backed the horse and treated defeat like a martyr being burned at the stake. Yesterday he decided to ease the pain by staying in Turkey and, as he is now telling all and sundry, sod’s law prevailed.

His co-owners, Bryn Ressell and Jill Warner, are planning to add insult to injury by jokingly suggesting that his absence was the deciding factor! Dr Warner and her husband John are both medical specialists. Although best known on the racecourse as owners of star sprinter Carry On Alice, they are lecturers at London’s Imperial College and are honorary professors at the University of Cape Town.

By Michael Clower