A potentially serious situation was diffused at Turffontein on Saturday when racing officials persuaded a group of about 50 protestors assembled on the racetrack to leave the course so that racing could continue following its interruption after the second race on Champions Day.

While racing resumed after a delay of about an hour – the result of a grooms’ protest against working conditions – one sad and unfortunate consequence was the decision by veteran trainer Ormond Ferraris to hand in his license.

The 87-year old Ferraris, upset and severely stressed by the grooms’ actions, had to be taken to hospital for a check-up and observation when his staff decided to desert the yard around 4am on Saturday morning. He was released on Saturday afternoon and told Turf Talk on Sunday: “I have made my decision, I am giving up training.”

Grooms prevented horses from cantering up the straight before the start of the third race.

Ferraris, who has served the horseracing industry with great distinction for 70 years, said that trainers at Turffontein were aware of the pending strike on Friday. “I arranged with my 20 grooms to come to work Saturday at 3am, an hour earlier, so they could attend their meeting which was scheduled for 5am.

“All I wanted them to do was the bedding, and to feed and water the horses. Just a few came along at three but soon disappeared leaving me and my Head Lad of 40 years, John Sibeko, to get by on our own. I was distressed, they had to take me to the Union Clinic but I am feeling better now. This is it, this is the third protest action of this nature we’ve had to endure recently and I am not prepared to put up with this any longer. I am out.”

Ferraris said that there were “troublemakers” in the grooms’ ranks who have stirred up the rest with a variety of demands, including higher wages and for an office to be allocated to one of their faction officials at Turffontein.

“I would love to pay the grooms what they want, big salaries, but it is simply not possible. The sport of racing cannot sustain this. The costs of feeding and training horses today are astronomical and stakes haven’t increased in proportion to the high expenses. The few millionaires in racing can afford it, but I fear for the middle man, the smaller owner. This kind of pressure is going to hit them and the smaller stables the hardest. They are battling to feed themselves, let alone their horses. There is just no way they can survive!”

Ferraris recalled when he first started: “In those days, training racehorses was a relatively cheap profession. We could buy 150 pounds of feed for just 10 shillings and our workers were paid well because everything was affordable. In the 60s and 70s the big trainers had 30 horses in their stables, the smaller ones had 10 or 12, but we all made a good living. We raced twice a week and the sport was simply great. But the good times are over now.“Today, costs are out of hand and this has had various ramifications. Racing is in trouble with escalating expenses and all the demands from workers. Look at the outcome of this issue. I have 10 horses leaving tomorrow for Durban. They are owned by Hong Kong Syndicates who want to see their runners in barrier trials. My son David sent them a list of KZN trainers and they decided on Garth Puller. A further 20 horses will be sent to other trainers. Thereafter, my grooms will be paid off. They will be unemployed.”

Reflecting on his career, Ferraris said: “I’ve had a marvellous time, I wouldn’t have it any other way. To come to the end of my career in this way is disappointing, to use a moderate word. But perhaps making the break, seeing things from the outside without involvement will be good for my health.”

Phumelela’s Racing Executive, Patrick Davis, said that Saturday’s strike had nothing to do with the racing operator. “We are not going to comment on the matter at this stage, it happened as a result of friction between grooms’ factions. We will, however, be issuing a statement in the course of next week.”

Vee Moodley, CEO of the National Horseracing Authority, said that he, too, preferred not comment at this point and referred us back to Davis.

– Turf Talk

Hawwaam has been cut from 15-2 to 9-2 favourite for the Vodacom Durban July by Betting World following his staggeringly impressive win in Saturday’s Premier’s Champions Challenge.

He seems sure to go up considerably in the ratings – and therefore in the July weights – when the handicappers discuss things this morning and in any case punters should hold fire until such time as Mike de Kock makes a public comment about the likelihood (or otherwise) of the horse running in the great race – and that seems unlikely to come until after the colt’s next race which will, in all probability, be the Daily News on June 1 or the Rising Sun Gold Challenge a week later

Last year’s July winner Do It Again remains on 5-1 but Met hero Rainbow Bridge has shortened a point to 11-2 after going so close on his reappearance in Friday night’s Drill Hall.

Anton Marcus’s choice will be key. The four-time champion is the most successful July rider of all time and would appear to hold most of the aces. Do It Again last season was his record fifth win, he is the regular rider of Rainbow Bridge and now, presumably, of Hawwaam too. As if all that was not enough, he gives every impression of riding even better than ever this season.

Twist Of Fate, on whom Marcus won Friday’s KRA Guineas, is the other big July mover being slashed from 40-1 to 16-1, while Do It Again’s stable companion Magnificent Seven has been shortened from 25-1 to 16-1.

World Sports Betting also makes Hawwaam clear favourite at 9-2 and goes 5-1 Do It Again, 11-2 Rainbow Bridge, 9-1 Barahin, 16-1 Magnificent Seven, 18-1 Doublemint, Head Honcho, 22-1 Twist Of Fate, 25-1 and upwards others.

By Michael Clower

Anton Marcus’s party trick is to play down his ability but he doesn’t get the call to ride the best for nothing. He rarely makes a mistake, be it a maiden or a Grade I, and he had them all on a string at Turffontein yesterday in spite of riding what was probably the cream that included Frosted Gold In the Gr2 SA Nursery, Return Flight in the Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg, not to mention Twist Of Fate in the Gr2 KRA Guineas at Greyville on Friday night.

All were singing the praises of Hawwaam after putting the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Challenge field to the sword but in truth it was a below par field for a Grade 1 and it was a bloodless beheading.

Out in a flash, as is the Marcus trademark, Hawwaam was in the box seat in a matter of strides.

Fellow three-year-old Zillzaal tried gamely to stay with his rival in the straight, but Hawwaam had too much class and Zillzaal developed a speed wobble as he tried to keep up and was quickly out the back door. Stable companion Cascapedia was there to collect in the shallow end of the purse from Divine Odyssey and veteran Legal Eagle but they were four lengths adrift as Marcus geared down to the line.

Mike de Kock, when quizzed on future plans for his star colt, earmarked the Daily News 2000 and possibly the Rising Sun Gold Challenge in Champions Season for both Hawwaam and Soqrat, but was not drawn on any hard and fast plans.

De Kock obviously has reservations about bad draws at Greyville, intimating that Soqrat, unplaced in the Gr2 KRA Guineas on Friday night, was compromised by a wide gate.

Piere Strydom, still waiting for the Mauritian government bureaucracy to clear his work permit for the island, recently lamented his choice of rides. “I wasn’t even getting third choice,” he summised after winning The Oaks on Return Flight on Sean Tarry’s start filly. He was ‘jocked off’ the filly yesterday in the Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes, the ride going to Marcus, but whatever the circumstances, Strydom remains one of the greatest riders ever to grace a racing dock in the recent era.

Brett Crawford had Pacific Trader primed to perfection for the Gr1 Computaform Sprint and Strydom, canny as ever, tracked the pace and pounced when it counted.

Crawford commented beforehand that, “Pacific Trader is and out-and-out five-furlong horse,” but even over the quick Turffontein short-cut, Strydom judged the gallop from off the pace and ‘struck’ at just the right time to nab outsider Princess Rebel when it counted.

After the running of the first two races, disgruntled grooms staged a sit-in. Proceedings were delayed by an hour after a negotiated agreement defused de-fused the stand-off.

By Andrew Harrison

All eyes will be on Hawwaam tomorrow at Turffontein Standside where he will attempt to prove his status as the highest rated South African horse on the Longines World Rankings.

The Silvano colt runs in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2 000m and the question is how well he will settle. Anton Marcus landed the ride on his half-brother Rainbow Bridge, who has a similar tendency to over race, and he settled the latter perfectly.

“Superman” can repeat the feat here.

If he does settle him it should be race over. Hawwaam has an electrifying turn of foot at his best and trainer Mike de Kock has not hidden his regard for this colt. If he does not settle he should still win as he did not settle well in the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas but still ran on well for second.

Divine Odyssey has always been well thought of by Johan Janse van Vuuren. However, he was continually frustrating until his last two runs when winning in the manner of a class horse.

If he brings that form to the track again he could be the main danger. Zillzaal has always struck as being one who would improve with age and this trip always looked to be ideal. He was ridden too handy last time and can be forgiven that surprise defeat. If ridden from off the pace he should use his resolute finish down the long straight to maximum effect.

Legal Eagle could be a big player if repeating his Sun Met run, in which he was held up before running on strongly.

The course and distance will suit him if he is ridden that way.

Tilbury Fort has turned the corner since gelding and proved in the G-BETS Summer Cup he loves this course and distance.

Dark Moon Rising from KZN is capable of running on well too and should love this tough course and distance.

The draw of ten is not a problem as he enjoys running around horses on the outside. Cascapedia will be ridden by Hawaam’s usual rider Gavin Lerena, who is retained by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein studs.

She has made breathing noises in her last two starts but if able to produce her best can be a player here as he has plenty of class.

The Grade 1 Computaform Sprint is wide open. The defending champion has a fine chance of defending his crown as he has a high draw which is favourable by trends.

But is all depends which Attenborough pitches up on the day.

At his best he is capable of producing a devastating finish.

 Quinlan is a dark horse who always had a lot of substance and who has possibly never yet produced his best. He has a plum standside draw. Prince Of Kahal is one of the most reliable horses in training and has speed and a kick so he could be thereabouts from a high draw.  Pacific Trader is likely the one to beat on pure form as he brings fine Cape Town performances.

The Turffontein 1160m is quick, a lot easier than the Kenilworth 1000m, so he should stay the trip. Speedpoint also has a shout on his last Cape Town form and finished third in this race last year. Van Halen, Trip To Heaven and Rivarine can also be included. Rebel’s Champ is another one who can be considered.

By David Thiselton

Sanskrift can give Candice Bass-Robinson her third successive Perfect Promise Sprint win at Kenilworth on Sunday when the Milnerton trainer is responsible for three of the seven runners.

The sahorseracing computer predicts that victory will go to stable companion Drama Queen with Keagan de Melo’s mount only third but Sanskrift was held in high regard even before she went close on debut and she was most convincing when she followed up at Durbanville a fortnight ago. “I didn’t expect her to turn it on like she did,” said an impressed De Melo.

Sanskrift was a 3-1 chance when World Sports Betting posted its prices yesterday but fortunately not favourite, a doubtful honour awarded to stable companion Drama Queen. Although the favourite has won three of the last ten runnings, only once in the last six seasons has the best backed horse been successful.

Drama Queen led over a furlong out when scoring over 200m further on this course in a winner’s race last month and comfortably holds Ferrari Red on that run while Hidden Strings (the computer’s choice for second) made all over the trip at Durbanville but has something to find on the book. Riding arrangements point to the maiden Amy Johnson rather than Justin Snaith’s other two runners.

Armando, the 22-10 favourite, may beat Minnesota Dream in an open-looking Somerset 1200. The form of his debut win at Durbanville five weeks ago is decidedly mixed but he did win by four lengths and that takes a bit of doing first time out. Furthermore he was well backed, shortening from 6-1 to 19-10 favourite.

Minnesota Dream, a big price at 10-1, comes from the right stable – Joey Ramsden has won five of the last six runnings – and he showed a blistering turn of foot when winning on debut. Nothing has gone right since – Bernard Fayd’Herbe was fortunate to escape serious injury when the horse took fright in the pens last time – but the memory of that first time acceleration lingers on.

For what it’s worth the computer says Ground Control (11-2) to win from debut winner Captain Tatters (33-10) and Armando. Ground Control is one of three Vaughan Marshall runners and won the Kenilworth race in which Minnesota Dream managed only fourth, beaten nearly four lengths.

Again this is a race in which to be tread carefully with the favourite. Although three of the last ten won, the last four have all been beaten.

Majorca winner Clouds Unfold is 16-10 favourite and has a theoretical 4kg in hand over 8-1 shot Celestial Storm and 7-1 chance Dutch Philip in the TAB Telebet Pinnacle, but she has to overcome a drop in trip and a 14-week absence. She was fast enough to win the Sceptre on her previous start so she could still be the one.

By Michael Clower

Rainbow Bridge makes his long-awaited debut in KZN when he runs in The Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes (Gr2) at Greyville this evening. Eric Sands is using this race as the gelding’s warm-up for Champions Season and ultimately a crack at the Vodacom Durban July while a couple of hours before, Justin Snaith will put Do It Again and Made To Conquer, first and second respectively in last year’s July, through their paces, also over 1400m.

Sands has already warned that Rainbow Bridge has a couple of obstacles to negotiate, namely this being his first run under lights, first time around a right-handed turn and a lay-off since beating Do It Again in the Sun Met.

With the July in mind, Rainbow Bridge will obviously not be anywhere near his peak at this stage of his preparation but he is a class act, has won over the distance and racing fresh should at least see him running at them late.

Undercover Agent, not a July entry but arguably over his best trip, has finished behind Rainbow Bridge in his last two starts, namely the L’Ormarins Queens Plate and the Sun Met, prompting bookmakers to have him at the top of their boards in the ante-post market.

However, Rainbow Bridge may have most to fear from the three-year-old Cirillo. Sean Tarry’s colt turned in a tremendous performance when going down late to hot favourite and Cape Guineas winner Soqrat in the dying strides of the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. That was a tremendous front-running performance and those tactics could pay dividends this evening.

It is difficult to nail one’s colours to the mast with any degree of certainty in races of this nature where many of the top runners are warming up for the bigger races in the next three months but a win for Rainbow Bridge will surely enhance his July chances.

The Drill Hall Stakes along with the Gr2 KRA Guineas and KRA Fillies Guineas are the traditional Champion Season openers and this year the card has been boosted by the addition of a host of minor features that were due to be run at a washed-out Scottsville meeting last Sunday.

The eight features are supported by the ‘No Whips’ first race where the jockeys have, for some reason cried off, forcing officials to replace them with apprentices, and the 400m Dash that closes the meeting.

The ruling favourites for the two Guineas races, namely Cape Fillies Guineas winner Front And Centre and Cape Guineas winner Soqrat, have both drawn wide in their respective races which leaves the door ajar for their rivals.

Front And Centre jumps from the extreme outside gate in the Fillies Guineas, usually a coffin draw over the Greyville 1600m. However, Anton Marcus is never shy to push forward, be it maidens or Graded features. He is a master of the quick start so one can expect Front And Centre to be right up there before the turn but given her draw, she will need to be a length or two better than some smart opposition if she is to pull this one off.

With the likely defection of reserve runner Mazari, Nayfaayes has pulled the plum pole-position gate, always an advantage, and Mike de Kock’s filly has some smart Highveld form to commend her, having not finished out of the money in her eight starts.

Of the balance, Silvano’s Pride was unable to overcome a wide draw in her last start and has again drawn wide as has Santa Clara, runner-up to Temple Grafin in the Umzimkulu Stakes where she was drawn on off the fence.

Marcus rode a particularly good race on Temple Grafin that afternoon and Greg Cheyne will need a repeat performance to get her home here.

Mike de Kock will have shrugged his shoulder in despair as Soqrat drew 13 for the KRA Guineas but the Australian-bred is no stranger to Greyville and boasts some cracking form in the top tier. He ran Do It Again to a neck in the L’Ormarins Queens Plate and was tremendously game when getting the better of Cirillo in the Horse Chestnut. This will be his third run after a break and he should strip extremely fit which will allow Randal Simons a little licence.

National Park, the only horse to beat Hawwaam, should be a major force over this Greyville mile and it may prove prudent to draw a line through his SA Classic run where he did not appear to see out the extra furlong.

Joey Ramsden looks certain to be lost of SA racing as he prepares to leave for Singapore and Twist Of Fate, second to Soqrat in the Cape Guineas, could provide a fitting sent-off.

Charles and Bunker Hunt, separated by two lengths in the Cape Derby, are both Vodacom Durban July entries so their performances will be watched with interest while local hopes will rest with Tristful and Thanksgiving who could well up their games.

By Andrew Harrison

Top KZN trainer Duncan Howells is expecting a fine run from Thanksgiving in the Grade 2 KRA Guineas at Greyville on Friday night.

The meeting heralds the opening of the SA Champions Season and there will be eight feature races for fans to look forward to.

Ashburton-based conditioner Howells said, “Thanksgiving’s Cape Derby run can be ignored as he pulled up lame behind and in retrospect it was a huge mistake to go down to Cape Town anyway but we took a chance. He needed his last start (in the Byerley Turk over 1400m) and was caught flat footed in a slow run race. He put up an extremely good recent gallop and is drawn well on Friday night so I expect him to give a very good account of himself. Look, it is a tough race. This is one of the strongest three-year-old crops in recent times but he is up with the best of them and will finish right on top of them.”

The Dynasty colt caught the eye early in his career but was an unconsidered 33/1 shot when travelling up to Johannesburg to run in the Grade 2 Dingaans over 1600m last November in just his fifth career start. He was backed in to 15/1 and justified the support. He produced a fine turn of foot in the straight and ran all the way to the line. Unfortunately he was up against a firecracker in Hawwaam, who has since been rated the highest South African Horse on the Longines World rankings.

Thanksgiving finished a 3,40 length second in the Dingaans. He had KRA Guineas candidates National Park 8,60 lengths behind him.

On Friday night he jumps from draw two of 13. He is up against the highest merit rated three-year-old in the country, Soqrat, whose three Grade 1 wins have all been over a mile. The latter does have the widest draw of all to overcome, but has the perfect racing temperament, so should relax well wherever he is. He also has a fine turn of foot coupled with a resolute finish and extra gears. His first Grade 1 win was over this course and distance as a two-year-old in the Premier’s Champions Stakes.

Howells has a few other runners on the night in a not to be missed meeting which is always full of thrilling racing and one which always has an effect on the three-year-old pecking order.

Neptune’s Rain runs in the Grade 3 IOS On Saturday Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m, where she has a wide draw of ten.

Howells said, “She needed her last run and was a little unlucky not to win, it was a great run. The weights are in her favour on Friday night. It not a good draw but she is not a quick starter so it will give us the opportunity to tuck her in and she finishes extremely well.”

He runs High Voltage in the Grade 3 IOS Affluence Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1100m and said, “The going caught him out last time. He is improving all the time and has not been beaten by two bad colts. He is capable and can run in the first three.”

Howells runs Coldhardcash in the IOS Sports and Racing Dash over 400m. This gelding shows a tremendous amount at home and Howells said he had recently realised he should have been running him over five furlongs (1000m). He said, “He is a very fast, strong and solid horse and can get going quickly. He will be competitive, he has just got to run like he works.”

He runs Buffalo in the IOS Arts and Pleasure Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m and said, “It has been difficult to find races for him.”

By David Thiselton

Horse racing is not always about the rich, famous and the best. Just as in any other sport, tactics, courage and a little luck make for riveting viewing, be it an Under 15 C schools rugby match or a lowly handicap on the Greyville poly.

Race riding is often a matter of split-second decisions, the best riders making the least mistakes. To add spice, there is often a little needle in the competition as was evident in the Durban View Restaurant Handicap yesterday.

In a race of muddling fractions, Warren Kennedy and title chasing Muzi Yeni had a right royal battle on the Glen Kotzen pair of Heart Of A Legend and Be Yourself, the more fancied of the two just prevailing under Kennedy.

With no pace on in the early fractions, Yeni slowed it down to a point where Kennedy was fighting an over keen Heart Of A Legend. But coming up the hill, Kennedy let loose and Heart Of A Legend, the brake released, strode clear to open up a clear lead on her rival.

With 25 starts under her girth, one would have expected Heart Of A Legend to have learnt the ropes. She took a good lead into the straight but started to run around when asked the question and Yeni looked to count coup as he set about cutting down the leeway.

50m out Be Yourself was up-sides Heart Of A Legend, looking all over a winner, but Kennedy regathered his mount and she stuck her head in front just when it counted.

Although nothing but a lowly handicap, it was a tactical battle to savour with two horses giving their all and two jockeys at the top of their game.

Dean Kannemeyer was reluctant to reveal any plans for Emerald Band after the gelding had held off a determined challenge from Justaguything in the card opener, but the red and white silks of Mike and Norma Rattray will be in the glare of the spotlight on Friday night when the recently acquired Rainbow Bridge takes his first step towards the Vodacom Durban July in The Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes in a card littered with features, supported by a ‘no whips’ race and a 400m dash to round off the evening.

On a personal note, colleague Warren Lenferna took time off from his television presenting to lead in Marsanne in the Greyville Convention Centre Maiden.

At last year’s National Yearling Sales, the daughter of Mogok tried to take a piece out of Lenferna’s arm in the company of Dave MacLean. It was decided that the filly should be bought and she races in partnership with MacLean, Frank da Ascencao, Lenferna and trainer Duncan Howells.

Marsanne had a setback after a smart barrier trial but got it all together yesterday to win rather comfortably and the partnership could be in for a bit of fun.

By Andrew Harrison

Sun Met winner Rainbow Bridge heads the ten declared for the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville on Friday evening and, while Eric Sands reports him in good order, he points out that there are several factors not in the horse’s favour.

Sands said: “I had planned for him to see the course last week and I wanted him to have an easy gallop there but it was flooded. He is doing well but it’s a night meeting (his first), a right hand turn and a new course. He will be competitive, unless he is completely off the bit because of the strange surroundings. It is his first run back and he must come through it and enjoy it.”

It will also be the four-year-old’s first run in the distinctive red and white quartered colours of new owner Mike Rattray who is a former chairman of Greyville. Anton Marcus’s mount is 15-4 second favourite with World Sports Betting which makes the Brett Crawford-trained Undercover Agent – just over two lengths back fourth in the Met – the market leader at 5-2. Sean Tarry’s CTS 1200 winner Cirillo is on 9-2 while 8-1 shots Matador Man and Lady In Black are the only others in single figures.

The no whip race experiment returns this week with the Eden Rock Estate Maiden at Greyville on Friday and the Hands ‘N Heels Handicap at Turffontein the following day. There is a subtle difference in the two race conditions as stated on the sahorseracing website. Whereas those for the Greyville event stipulate that ‘riders will not be permitted to use crops’ the corresponding wording for the Turffontein race says ‘no crops will be allowed.’  This would suggest that the jockeys at Greyville, unlike those at Turffontein, will be allowed to carry their whips but not wave them or hit their mounts.

However senior racing control executive Arnold Hyde, when this was put to him yesterday, was unequivocal, saying: “The riders will not be permitted to carry crops in both races.”

The initial no whip race at Turffontein in November was well received by some of the leading trainers – notably Mike de Kock and Justin Snaith – and made headlines around the world with South Africa seen as setting the standard for other major racing countries. It is good that the experiment is being continued.

Candice Bass-Robinson, bidding for her third successive Perfect Promise win, runs three in the two-year-old fillies Listed race at Kenilworth on Sunday with Keagan de Melo retaining the ride on last time’s convincing Durbanville winner Sanskrift. Justin Snaith also runs three but Greg Ennion (Hidden Strings) is the only other trainer represented.

Vaughan Marshall has the biggest hand in the Somerset 1200 with three while Joey Ramsden, who has won five of the last six runnings, relies on Minnesota Dream and has also gone for De Melo.

By Michael Clower