Glen Kotzen was surprised his Duke Of Marmalade filly Temple Grafin had been overlooked by on course television pundits before winning the Grade 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m at Greyville on Sunday and he was looking forward to a good SA Champions Season for her and others in his string, including former Cape Derby winner Eyes Wide Open.

He said, “I thought Temple Grafin could have been mentioned considering she won the Grade 3 Debutante over 1200m at this course last season and she finished second to the highest rated three-year-old filly in the country, Clouds Unfold, over this trip in the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship.”

He continued, “This filly never cracks a draw and we imagined she would have to go to the front from her draw but Anton Marcus then suggested instead of making it so hard on her why not give her a chance and drop her out.”

He duly dropped her into a midfield position and when he found himself caught one wide he accelerated past Ella’s World and managed to slot her in behind Runaway Gal. So he was in joint fourth place one wide with cover, without having given the filly much to do. She then ran on strongly to win by 0,40 lengths, despite being one of only two contestants to be carrying a 1,5kg penalty.

It was a triumph for Drakenstein Stud stallion Duke Of Marmalade as another of his daughters, Santa Clara, finished runner up.

The Duke Of Marmalades appear to get better with age and Kotzen said, “Ant Mgudlwa rode Temple Grafin in work last season and he couldn’t believe how much she had matured when he saw her for the first time at Summerveld this season. She has really matured and grown bigger and stronger.”

The aim is now the Grade 2 KRA Fillies Guineas.

Kotzen is adamant she will stay the trip.

He said, “She is out of a Grey’s Inn mare who won third time out over 1900m. We just hope she cracks a draw for a change.”

The Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas was her only attempt at the mile and she was rushed to the front from draw 13 of 13 and then began over racing a touch when she was reined back to allow two other horses to go past her. Not surprisingly she compounded in the straight and finished a 7,60 length eleventh.

The SA Fillies Sprint could also be on the menu for Temple Grafin, as she has plenty of speed, and Kotzen said he would be discussing this possibility with owner Hugo Hattingh of Chrigor Stud.

Santa Clara and third-placed Silvano’s Pride can also be taken out of the Umzimkhulu as ones to follow. Santa Clara will be improving continuously, especially as she is out of a full-sister to champion stallion Silvano, whose progeny mature like fine wines. Silvano’s Pide is by Silvano and as one who takes a strong hold she only knows one way of running, from the front, so she did well to finish third in her first KZN start and should come on plenty from it.

Kotzen said Eyes Wide Open, who also runs in the familiar Chrigor Stud colours, had been “cruising” in his work and he will make his first Champions Season appearance in the Sledgehammer. The aim is to get him into the Vodacom Durban July with a nice galloping weight.

He said, “He battled in the Cape Season with haemoconcentration but we have been working on his bloods and he is back to his best.”

He was also hoping to get Herodotus into the July, whom he rates as a “proper” horse. This Trippi colt, who finished third in the Grade 1 GBets Cape Derby, is back in Cape Town and would likely run in the first two legs of the Cape Winter Series before heading for KZN, although Kotzen said he would play it by ear.

Kotzen has a feeling there will be a number of hitherto unknown three-year-olds emerging from various yards during the Champions Season.

He mentioned two among his string could be the promising Ideal World colt Cat Daddy, whom he reckoned would improve as he went over more ground, and the What A Winter gelding Spring Fling, whom he has hopes for over a mile and beyond.

By David Thiselton

Captain Of Stealth makes his eagerly awaited second appearance in the opening Itsarush.co.za Juvenile Plate at Durbanville on Saturday. All due deference to the Candice Bass-Robinson stars, this colt looks the best two-year-old seen out in Cape Town so far this season.

Starting favourite at 6-10 on debut, the R500 000 Captain Al was allowed to take it up after two and a half furlongs and from 400m out he stretched away effortlessly to win by five and a half lengths in impressive fashion with Vaughan Marshall declaring: “I think he is something special.”   True, no winner has come out of the race but the over-riding impression was that the colt’s trainer was spot-on.

The Langerman on June 29 is his aim and on Saturday he has to contend with three other previous winners –Finding Camelot, Marco Polo and Minnesota Dream- as well as concede 3kg to four maidens.

Brett Crawford is considering a tilt at the 1 200m Olympic Duel Stakes at Kenilworth on May 25 for Run Fox Run who had no difficulty in extending her unbeaten run to three at Kenilworth last Wednesday. The handicappers have raised her seven points to a new rating of 91 which should give her a reasonable weight in the Listed handicap.

Crawford intends sticking to sprints with Ridgemont’s Australian-bred for the time being – but he expects stable companion Boomps A Daisy, effortless winner of a 1 000 maiden on the same day, to get further; her sire Zoustar won up to 1 400m and her dam at up to a mile. She will start in handicap company off a mark of 73.

Anton Marcus fell foul of the Rule 62.2.3 – ‘every rider must ride his horse out to the end of a race to the satisfaction of the stipendiary stewards’ – when repeatedly looking round on Run Fox Run in the final furlong. He was fined R1 000.

Senior stipe Ernie Rodrigues explained to the writer that the relevant rule is not, as is widely supposed, to lay things on a plate for the handicappers but to ensure that jockeys are not caught napping by something finishing unexpectedly fast. The rule is common in the southern hemisphere but does not exist in many parts of Europe. In Britain and Ireland, for example, the only stipulations are that a horse must be run, and be seen to be run, on its merits and to be given a full opportunity to achieve the best possible placing. Ensuring that the winning margin is less than it could be is not an offence provided the placing is unaffected.

Robert Khathi has been given a ten-day suspension for causing interference on Trip To The Sky to second-placed Russet Air in the Tellytrack.com Handicap at Kenilworth last Wednesday whereas Craig Zackey on the winner Vardy was given seven days (April 14-20) for essentially the same offence – both riders switched their whips to the outside hand causing their mounts to veer inwards. According to the stipes Khathi’s actions were much more pronounced.

By Michael Clower

The Vaal Classic track tomorrow sees the return of the good prospect Fired Up, who runs in an Assessment Plate over 1600m and  is made the meeting banker.

This Rock Of Gibraltar gelding is a typically robust progeny of a Galileo mare and will relish this step up in trip in the second leg of the Pick 6 and first leg of the Jackpot. On debut he showed a good turn of foot and then galloped on resolutely to win a maiden over 1400m. That was despite running from the number one draw, which is often unfavourable on the Vaal straight course.

He impressed the handicappers, who gave him a merit rating of 80, and is thus officially the best weighted horse in this Assessment Plate for three-year-olds. On a line through a horse called Lasair he comes out better on formlines than the second choice Flash Burn, who will enjoy the step down in trip after failing over 2000m last time. Flash Burn is an athletic type and won his maiden in fine style over 1600m. He also has the advantage of a plum draw of three, while Fired Up has to contend with a wide draw of nine, so some will consider including him.

In the second leg of the Jackpot over 1600m Royal Italian goes for his fourth win on the trot. He is a versatile type who can win from handy or rely on his fine turn of foot from off the pace. Last time he won going away over 1500m and the son of Pomodoro should relish the step up in trip. Nordic Rebel is a consistent type but does tend to lose ground at the start. If the 4kg claim of his apprentice is included then he is a whopping 8kg better off with Royal Italian for a 2,25 length beating over 1500m so has a fine chance on paper. Ragoon looks to have a touch of class and he wasn’t suited to a front-running role last time. He still beat Nordic Rebel in that race, although the latter did lose three lengths. Ragoon is drawn in pole and the distance should be ideal.

The third leg of the Jackpot is a tricky 1200m handicap. Only To Win looks to be better than her merit rating suggests as she has been consistently thereabouts in decent fields. She might enjoy this trip as she likes to sit behind horses before turning it on and the faster pace of a race over this trip might well suit her. She could be a banker consideration. However, beyond her a few must be included. It Takes Two was only just touched off by a good sort over this trip in her penultimate start and then won next time, so off a reasonable merit rating here has a chance. Florence, Shadow Queen and Illegal have shown signs of ability and also have to be considered.

The last leg of the Pick 6 could also be won by Mike de Kock, who trains both Fired Up and Only To Win. His charge Gimme Hope Johanna is ultra consistent and is drawn in pole over a suitable 1450m trip. Last time over this trip, also from pole, she went close to the decent gelding Orpheus, so has a big shout back against the girls here. Walnut Dash flashed past the line together with Boutique last time over 1400m and the latter looks to be a good prospect, so she must be included despite a four point merit rated raise. Mistressofmyfate caught the eye on debut so was most disappointing last time. She finished distressed in the latter race and can bounce back. Lady Lexington has caught the eye before as one who would enjoy this step up in trip. Kentucky Blue has a form chance so can also be considered.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is an uninspiring maiden over 1600m. Verdi makes the most appeal as one who was staying on well over this trip last time and went close over this distance three runs ago. The Russian Sailor is improving and looks likely to appreciate the step up in trip after staying on when stepped up to 1400m last time. Mighty Rock would likely prefer further but has fair form and could attempt to gallop them into the ground from a fair draw.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is tough but Royal City looks the one to beat as he won his maiden well over 1160m and is bred to go this 1450m trip. He has faced strong assessment plate fields in his last two and has duly been dropped to a reasonable looking merit rating and is also drawn well. However, it looks to be a contest in which punters will have to go as wide as possible in.

By David Thiselton

Trainer Gordon Elliott was overcome with emotion as Tiger Roll, ridden by Davy Russell, returned after winning his second consecutive Randox Health Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

Tiger Roll, a nine-year-old, became the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win two back-to-back Randox Health Grand Nationals. He was sent off the 4-1 favourite, and beat 66-1 chance Magic Of Light.

Elliott, for whom it was a third Randox Health Grand National success – he also trained Silver Birch to win the 2007 renewal of the £1-million race, said: “We work very hard for this the whole time. I’ve got a brilliant team behind me, and all my family at home. Davy Russell’s mother died last year, and this was for her, and my uncle Willie Elliott died this year and this was for him.”

Asked to sum up his brilliant horse, who now has four Cheltenham Festival wins and two Randox Health Grand National victories to his name, Elliott shook his head and just said: “Tiger.”

Tiger Roll is owned by Gigginstown House Stud, the racing and breeding operation of Ryanair supremo Michael O’ Leary.

O’Leary said: “It’s just unbelievable. I thought that he genuinely had no chance today carrying that weight, but it was a beautiful ride and a phenomenal training performance by Gordon. It’s brilliant he keeps bringing this horse back to Cheltenham better than ever and Aintree better than ever. What a ride by Davy – fantastic!

“Tiger Roll has got a stage now where you just want to mind him. You run the risk every time he runs, you think ‘Oh my God, please don’t let anything happen to him’ and it is unbelievable to win two Grand Nationals. It’s incredible. It’s a great result for the punters; it’s fantastic.”

Elliott, in tears, reacted: “Everyone loves him. He is the people’s horse. I cannot believe it.”

O’Leary commented: “They don’t win for a second year in a row – the odds are so heavily against it. I don’t know what Gordon has done this year but Tiger Roll has come back stronger and better than ever.

“I was thinking Davy don’t go too early, so well was he going. It is just incredible – I thought we had absolutely no chance.”

Russell reacted: “What can I say, Tiger Roll is just an unbelievable horse. I was running away for most of the race. It was marvellous – he gave a couple of stumbles and I think the blinkers lit him up.”

– racenews@racenewsonline.com

Sleeping Single, sold twice before she had even seen a racecourse, could yet live up to early expectations. Despite being six months wrong with the opposition, she ran out a convincing winner of the Betting World Maiden at Durbanville on Saturday and Snaith Racing is talking of putting her away for the big prizes of next season.

Jono Snaith said: “She is a classic-type and she could be in the Paddock Stakes next year.”

Bred in Britain by the Nagles, she is by dual Derby winner Australia out of a half-sister to an American Grade 1 scorer and was bought for Markus Jooste for €220 000 (now nearly R3.5 million) at the 2017 Goffs Orby Sale. When she came up again at last July’s Central Route Trading Sale she was purchased for R1.8 million for Nic Johnsson and Jack Mitchell.

Anton Marcus’s response to an SOS to replace the sidelined Greg Cheyne on five rides may not have resulted in any immediate winners but Rigemont’s Pretty Young Thing looks good for next time.  The 13-1 chance made up ground hand over fist in the straight in the Play Soccer 6 Maiden Juvenile and only failed to overhaul all-the-way winner Hidden Strings by a rapidly-disappearing head.

“Thank heavens I’ve got cat gut for my heart,” joked Greg Ennion who had bought the winner for a mere R50 000 at last year’s TBA Mistico Sale and told a complicated story about not knowing who the breeder (W.J. Engelbrecht) was only to later sell a share in the filly to Engelbrecht’s son. The latter recouped his costs in a bet while the pair’s fortunes were further boosted by a R50 000 Bloodstock SA juvenile winner cheque.

The first two winners similarly benefitted (owner R39 500, trainer R5 000, breeder R5 000 and groom R500) and for JP Cuvelier, owner of the Robert Khathi-ridden Captain Tatters in the first, it doubtless helped with the expenses as he was hosting his daughter’s wedding in Hong Kong. Apparently proceedings were interrupted so that they could all watch the race on TV and the result was greeted with a huge cheer.

Brett Crawford’s applause was rather more muffled despite two winners but newcomer Armando, the first leg of a Corne Orffer treble, was the stable’s second juvenile scorer of the season from just four individual runners. He also qualified for the R50 000 bonus and was backed from 6-1 to 19-10 favourite.

The recently gelded Retro Effect showed the benefit of the operation to spearhead a Woodruff one-two in the Tellytrack.com Maiden while Lucky Dancer benefitted from a step-up in trip to give part owner Gisela Burg “the biggest surprise we have had in a very long time.”

Handicap good thing Singfonico – 9.5kg better-in than his rating – duly made all at 13-10 in the Interbet.co.za Handicap but what was interesting was Anthony Andrews’ views on the difference between riding a front-runner in a sprint at Durbanville and one at Kenilworth.

He said: “At Durbanville they like to ride in single file, or one off the rails, and if you are in front they will leave you alone (until well into the straight) so you can hold your horse up and then let him go. But at Kenilworth they spread out and you can be having to fight them off from the 800m mark.”

By Michael Clower

Horse of the Year Oh Susanna is 15-10 favourite for the HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday but Snaith Racing is concerned that punters, seeing Richard Fourie’s mount rated 4.5kg clear of the next best (Fresnaye), will rush in blindly without taking sufficient notice of the negatives.

Jono Snaith said on Saturday: “Oh Susanna may not need to run to her best form as she is weighted to win but punters need to be cautious and tread lightly. The factors against her are the altitude, that she is coming off a rest and that the mile is short of her best.”

The stable, which won this Grade 1 with Dancer’ Daughter ten years ago, sent last year’s Met winner to Summerveld a month ago and she will travel to Turffontein on Friday evening in a bid to minimise the effects of the  course’s near 1 800m altitude.

Fresnaye is an 11-1 chance with World Sports Betting which sees the Mike de Kock-trained Cascapedia (9-2) and Nafaayes (13-2) as the biggest dangers to the favourite. De Kock has won three of the last four runnings and seven of the last 13. The Sean Tarry-trained Celtic Sea (15-2) is the only other in single figures.

By Michael Clower

Some top horses have raced in the colours of Mary Liley, one the springs to mind being Queen’s Plate and Champion Stakes winner Bold Monarch back in 1979. She has had some good horses since but none as good, until maybe yesterday.

The lightly raced gelding Tristful gave notice that he will be a horse to be reckoned with over the last few months of the season but as Tony Rivalland, caution, “the pressure’s on now,” after the gelding scored an eye-catching win in the Gr3 Byerley Turk at Greyville yesterday.

Sean Veale rode a faultless race as he tracked a slow early pace set by Solid Gold, but when he asked for an effort, Tristful responded with a smart turn of foot.

“You haven’t seen the best of him yet,” said Veale. “Wait until he goes 2000m, that’s his game.”

Given those words, Tristful will probably go the traditional route for three-year-old males, the KZN Guineas, Daily News 2000, and all going well, a possible tilt at the Vodacom Durban July.

The July is still 88 days away and a lot can happen in the interim, but Liley and Rivalland got proof yesterday that they are in with a shout at least.

Temple Grafin, winless since The Debutante at the end of last season, opened her seasonal account in the Gr3 Umzimkulu Stakes under another tremendous ride from Anton Marcus. Inching his way into a challenging position from his outside draw, Marcus had Temple Grafin within striking distance coming off the false rail and the filly came forward gallantly to outgun Santa Clara and Silvano’s Pride.

Richard Fourie had no hesitation taking favourite Silvano’s Pride to the lead and she set a strong pace, tracked by Santa Clara who had the run of the race. These two hooked up at the top of the straight with Santa Clara slowly wearing down her rival, but neither had an answer to the late challenge from Temple Grafin, Glen Kotzen’s filly getting up close home.

Champion jockey Lyle Hewitson is making a bold attempt in defence of his title and took the lead ahead of Muzi Yeni and Anton Marcus for the first time this season with a double at Fairview on Friday. He added to his lead by winning the first on Elnora for Wayne Badenhorst but not before having to survive an objection.

In the lead, Hewitson pulled his stick through to his right and Elnora took exception, shifting sharply onto the well-fancied Rose Dance.

Sean Veale objected on the grounds of interference in the latter stages, but although he was well within his rights, the stipendiary board ruled that Rose Dancer would not have got past the winner and the result stood.

Ishnana, bred and owned by Robert Smith, finally snapped a string of second places with a superb victory in the fourth where he took on a really smart field.

Drawn wide, apprentice Luke Ferraris was hard pressed to get the gelding to settle early on, but once in behind runners he dropped the bit nicely as Calvary set off at a blistering gallop.

Not for nothing was Garth Puller nicknamed “The Headwaiter” when he was a jockey, often pouncing late when all looked lost, and he would have been proud of Ferraris. Last into the straight, he shot through a big gap and Ishnana pulled him through to win smartly.

By Andrew Harrison

The nine race meeting at Turffontein Standside tomorrow features the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m in which a few horses will be putting up their hands for a berth in the Vodacom Durban July.

The race is run under weight for age conditions plus a 2kg penalty for a Grade 1 win and a 1kg penalty for a Grade 2.

Fort Ember is an effective front-runner who lacks early pace so a good draw is vital and she has landed one here. Last year in this race she carried a Grade 2 penalty to second place behind Coral Fever from draw nine of nine and now has no penalty, so will be a big runner. She is the third best in at the weights. 

Sylvan On Fire won well in her last start over course and distance. She has a good turn of foot so can be dropped out from a wide draw. She is 2,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted Secret Potion but is in better form than the latter. 

Cash Time is 7kg under sufferance with Secret Potion but caught the eye last time when rallying late with first time blinkers on in the Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m. He should relish the course and distance and is drawn well in two. Furthermore, Piere Strydom keeps the ride.

The second best weighted horse is Dawn Assault and he is ideally course and distance suited having finished second in the G-Bets Summer Cup. He has had some tough races this season and ran a lacklustre race last time in the Drum Star. However, he is courageous and had an even worse draw than this one in the Summer Cup, so is tough to ignore.

Divine Odyssey is better than his overall form suggests and proved it last time when winning the Drum Star despite having been under sufferance. He is 7,5kg under sufferance with Secret Potion here but if having another on day it would be no surprise to see him going close.

The Dazzler is well regarded but does have a tough draw over this ideal course and distance. He is 1,5kg better off with Drum Star winner Divine Odyssey for a two length beating but does have a tough draw. 

Secret Potion won last season’s Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic and is a classy, long-striding sort who is ideally course and distance suited. She likely needed her last start when downfield in the London News over 1800m on January 6, beaten eight lengths by Dawn Assault, but she might need this run too.

Liege and Social Order have shown their capabilities over this course and distance before. Liege won the Summer Cup last season and Social Order was a close third in this race last year. 

However, they both have clouds hanging over them. Liege is off form and Social Order was reported making a breathing noise when finishing last in the Drum Star.

It is a tough race to assess but the selection is Fort Ember to beat Sylvan On Fire with Cash Time, Dawn Assault and Divine Odyssey next best. 

The second feature is the Grade 3 Sycamore Sprint, a handicap for fillies and mares over 1160m.

Schippers is the one to beat. She has won three times and finished second twice over course and distance and comes off a fine fourth to Mardi Gras in the Grade 2 Senor Santa over course and distance. 

Pretty Penny is coming into her own and has a favourable high draw by trends. 

Desert Rhythm is 1kg better off with Pretty Penny for a quarter of a length beating and is interesting with blinkers on. 

Dancing Queen has turned the corner and represents the flying Roy Magner yard. 

See You Tyger won well over 1000m last time and was going away at the line. She sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight so must have a shout. 

San Fermin has always been held in high regard and having won well last time she might now be coming into her own and can’t be ignored. 

In an open race Mary O’Reilly and Covered In Snow are hard to leave out.

By David Thiselton

Lasata, beaten only a neck by the potentially useful Finding Camelot four weeks ago, may just be good enough to get punters off to a winning start in the opening Juvenile Plate at Durbanville tomorrow.

The form was given a slight boost when third-placed Capkuta occupied the same placing behind Mister Vargus in a winners’ race last Saturday but not enough of one to indicate any real confidence in the selection who is 2-1 favourite with World Sports Betting.

Justin Snaith has 40% of the ten horse field and all his four are newcomers – he has won four Cape Town two-year-old races so far this season and two of his winners were making their debuts. Riding arrangements point to Savvy who is an 11-2 chance but the betting would suggest that the Eric Sands newcomer Broadside (3-1) is likely to prove a bigger threat.

Candice Bass-Robinson has won five Cape Town juvenile races (three with first-timers) and she introduces 6-1 shot Snow Report – “A lovely horse and a beautiful mover but I am not sure how he will go first time out. He is a long-striding horse and not an out-and-out speedster.”

Snaith runs another four in race two and Querari newcomer Lead Singer is already as short as 15-20 which suggests that he is hard to oppose. Tree of Wisdom (11-2) was slightly hampered on debut and would have been the selection had he not been drawn nine out of ten.

Race three, also a juvenile maiden but for fillies, has attracted the maximum 14-strong field and is wide open. The form horse is 22-10 favourite Hidden Strings who was beaten little more than half a length when third to Capacity Crowd five weeks ago but Victoria Tower went into the notebook when moving up like a future winner after losing a lot of ground at the start on debut. Admittedly she only finished fourth of six but at 4-1 she is the one that appeals most.

The Bass-Robinson newcomer Elusive Rain (by Elusive Fort out of a Spectrum mare) is a 15-1  shot  and has the advantage of both an inside draw and Aldo Domeyer. “She works quite nicely at home,” says her trainer. “She is bred to go quite a bit further but I think she will need the experience.”

Sleeping Single showed improved form last time and is 5-2 favourite for race four. She is taken to win but don’t ignore Dancing For Rain (15-2) who returned from six months off to run way below previous form three weeks ago. “I was very disappointed and I suggest you ignore that run, “says Vaughan Marshall.

By Michael Clower

If the weather forecast is to be believed, it will be wild and windy at Greyville this evening. However, the poly track has drained well in recent down-pours and the synthetic surface appears to be at its optimum with the added water.

Be that as it may, punters face a difficult card, none more so than in the sixth, a competitive fillies and mares handicap where one can make a case for almost every runner.

Louis Goosen has high hopes for his runner Yaas although he admits that she is up against it. “Look, she is out at the weights but the apprentice does take 2.5kg off her back. Also, her 400m to finish time last time out made my hair stand on end.”

Yaas came from last that day after being dropped out from a wide draw and a repeat could see her home.

Goosen believes that top weight Making Waves is the filly to beat. She had a few problems last time out behind Miss Frankel but Goosen is confident that Dennis Bosch will have sorted out any issues. “He’s a professional,” he complimented.

Tweed Valley comes of a lengthy break but put in some good work for Kom Naidoo at Ashburton on Tuesday morning and 12-1 looks fair value.

Banjo On My Knee is one of the few horses left racing in the silks of the late Chris Gerber and can add to his tally when he runs in the fifth. Dean Kannemeyer’s runner has a big weight but did well against much stronger last time out and should go close in this company. Danger could be the consistent Sea Sponge who gets all of 10kg from his rival and showed good improvement when racing in blinkers for the first time. Both are on offer at 9-2 and look better value than the 22-10 about ante-post favourite Before Noon who got a five-pound shunt up the handicap for his last win beating the luckless, The Money Man.

Anton Marcus went one behind Muzi Yeni in the race for the jockey championship last Tuesday but has some plum rides this evening including Secret Dynasty in the Pick 6 opener. All the cards appear to have fallen the way of Dennis Bosch’s runner, this being his third run after a break, over what looks to be his optimum trip from a pole position draw.

Paul Gadsby’s gelding Techno Captain has been something of a surprise package since being dropped in trip. He is not the easiest but the stable is in form and he should be right there. A possible upset could come in the form of Gibraltar Green. He improved first time up for Garth Puller and his merit rating has been dropping steadily from a recent high of 77 to his current mark of 53. At 11-1 in the market he makes some appeal.

Moon In June will have many supporters in the first leg of the jackpot after Robbie and Shannon Hill’s filly bolted home in her maiden. She does however, face some hard-knockers in the form of seven-time winner Expresso Martini and Colours Your Dreams from in in-form Dennis Drier yard.

By Andrew Harrison