Hawwaam has been cut from 17-2 to 11-2 joint favourite for the Vodacom Durban July following his breathtaking near six-length win in last Saturday’s SA Classic.

World Sports Betting has also clipped stable companion Buffalo Bill Cody from 13-2 to 11-2 in its pre-nomination book and pushed out Rainbow Bridge (previously outright favourite at 5-1) by half a point to make it three on 11-2.  Last year’s winner Do It Again stays on 15-2 but stable companion Doublemint (sixth in the Sun Met) has been cut from 14-1 to 11-1.

Mike de Kock, an 8-1 chance for much of the season, has been cut quite sharply to 9-2 to record a ninth trainers’ championship. Justin Snaith is 12-10 favourite with Sean Tarry a close second on 14-10. Tarry leads the log with stakes of R8.7 million and Snaith has just over R8 million but De Kock is fast closing the gap and is now on R7.9 million.

Muzi Yeni went into yesterday’s Fairview meeting on 123 wins, seven behind Anton Marcus, but he is now as short as 16-10 favourite to win the title for the first time. Marcus is on 28-10, the same price as the 2014/15 champion Gavin Lerena who has ridden 94 winners this term. Current champion Lyle Hewitson (107 wins) is a 9-2 chance.

Concerns that two of the races at Durbanville on Saturday would be scrapped for lack of support have proved groundless. All six nominated for the opening Streamline Agencies Maiden Juvenile Fillies stood their ground at yesterday’s declaration stage as did eight of the nine nominated for the Crawford Racing Maiden.

Race sponsor Klawervlei is also backing a seven-a-side soccer tournament before racing with teams coming from several studs as well as from the Snaith Racing and Eric Sands’ yards.

The big target for most punters, though, will be Boomps A Daisy in race three, the 1 250m Crawford Racing Maiden. This Australian-bred started second favourite for her debut in a 16-runner field at Kenilworth last month and simply flew home to make up five lengths inside the final furlong and go under to Fluttering by a fast-disappearing head.

Greg Cheyne takes over from Anton Marcus on the Brett-Crawford trained Ridgemont filly. Crawford, incidentally, reports that Cape Fillies Guineas winner Front And Centre goes to Durban and has the Daisy Fillies Guineas at Greyville (May 4) on her shopping list.

By Michael Clower

Sean Tarry’s Pomodoro filly Return Flight put herself in the running for a second Equus Award when leading from start to finish under Anton Marcus to win Saturday’s Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and she will now go for the Grade 2 SA Oaks over 2450m.

Return Flight was last season’s Equus Champion two-year-old filly courtesy mainly of a win in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m at Greyville and has joined Front And Centre and Clouds Unfold as a Grade 1 winner from the three-year-old fillies crop this season.

Tarry was sure she would get the 2450m Oaks distance.

Marcus took this galloping type straight to the front from draw two and dictated at a pedestrian pace. She kicked on well and was able to keep all the challengers at bay including the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Nafaayes, who was a 0,80 length runner up.

Tarry said Return Flight would be nominated for the Vodacom Durban July, but it would first have to be seen how she went in a race like the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000. The handicappers have accorded her a 105 merit rating, up by three points.

Tarry confirmed that the mare bookings to Pomodoro had already been improving in quality due to the early success he had had in his stud career with the like of Return Flight and Cirillo.

Tarry’s other SA Fillies Classic runner, the Twice Over filly Second Request, disappointed and finished an 8,25 length tenth. However, he pointed out she was a staying type and hence had not enjoyed the slow pace at all. She could bounce back in the SA Oaks.

Tarry also won the Listed Aquanaut Handicap over 2400m with Wonderous Climber, who lost ground at the start but ran on strongly under Lyle Hewitson. This four-year-old Dynasty gelding has turned the corner since being sent over staying trips and has now won five of his last six starts. He has risen from a 62 merit rating to an 85. Tarry said his initial target in the Champions Season would be the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m at Greyville on June 1.

Tarry was disappointed in the run of Zillzaal in the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m, despite finishing fourth behind three top class horses. It was his distance behind them which had not pleased him. Before the race he had considered him a Vodacom Durban July possibility, but is now not so sure. However, he did say this horse preferred a quieter ride than he had been given. He had run handy is a fast run race. He also believed he might not be concentrating and would consider equipping him with blinkers. He will go for the SA Derby next.

Last weekend Chimichuri Run ran a good 1,05 length third in the Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m at Kenilworth. He was not running with a 2kg penalty, unlike the winner Kasimir, so the margin can’t be taken on face value. Tarry is not convinced he is a five furlong horse, but will still likely run him in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein on May 4, a race which Kasimir will avoid. Tarry reckoned Chimichuri Run had also been a bit too handy in the Diadem and believed he was a better horse coming from off the pace.

The two fillies Green Plains and Exquisite Touch will also be Computaform entry possibilities, although Tarry is happy with what they have achieved to date and anything further would be a bonus.

Another obvious candidate for the Computaform would be Cirillo, although like Chimichuri Run and Green Plains he would probably prefer six furlongs. Cirillo is the highest earning thoroughbred in South Africa this season, which is a fine feather in the cap for Pomodoro.

By David Thiselton

The Vaal nine race card offers some fair opportunities tomorrow for both exotic and on the nose players.

In the second race over 1800m, a workrider’s event, Mighty Rock has everything in his favour and will be hard to beat. Last time over 2000m he had to be used up a little to get into the lead from a wide draw and he was sent for home early too. Under the circumstances he did well to only just fail, especially as he had been found to have cast a shoe. He now has the pole position draw and represents the lethal combination of Paul Peter and Charles Ndlovu. Wild Fire is never far off and represents the chief danger with first-time blinkers on. The filly Plum Field should also improve over this trip.

The third race is a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m with a few first-timer involved. Got The Greenlight made a good impression on debut when matching it with an odds-on first-timer from the Mike de Kock yard. He was beaten only 2,2 lengths and the rest of the field were way back so he could also be hard to beat. However, he has to take on another ominously well-bred De Kock first-timer called Ehsaan. This Captain Al colt is out of an unraced More Than Ready mare whose dam by Red Ransom is a daughter of Tracy’s Element, a champion Australian-bred by Last Tycoon who graced the SA turf for Ormond Ferraris in the 1990s. The Bold Silvano colt Western Park is also an interestingly-bred first-timer being a full brother to Star Profile, who had useful juvenile form and finished third in the Grade 3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m, just 3,25 lengths behind Green Plains and beating the like of Desert Rhythm.

In the fourth race over 1200m It Takes Two is made the best bet on the card. She has finished close up to three decent sorts in succession, Scent Of Evening, Florida Quays and Boutique, and has very little to beat from a high draw over an ideal trip. Gavin Lerena is booked and she has a high draw, which is usually favourable. Catch A Glimpse, who was 3,85 lengths behind It Takes Two last time, could be the chief danger. Hartleyfive can be involved if reproducing her debut run behind the useful Blonde Vision.

The fifth race over 1200m should be doddled by Celtic Sea, at least on paper, as she has speed and is well in at the weights. If she fluffs her lines then either Victor Forth of Benji could pick them up.

The sixth over 1200m is one of the more tricky races on an overall easy looking card. In this 1200m handicap Smoke could be the one to beat if reproducing his last run over course and distance when 5,25 lengths behind San Fermin in a race where he was under sufferance. He does make breathing noises and wore a tongue tie for the first time in the latter race. Certifiable is the most reliable PA choice in this race as he loves this course and distance and has Lerena up from a high draw. Moon Warrior has been kept mainly to 1000m but was charging home over that trip last time so might now get the 200m further trip. However, all of Snow In Seattle, Battle Creek and Prince Jordan have to also be included in the Pick 6 and Jackpot and the risk averse should consider going even wider.

In the seventh over 2400m Forest Express and Woodland’s Forest are both proven over the trip and well weighted so should fight it out. Forst Express is preferred as Woldland’s Forest will be having his first run at altitude, which will be a test over this marathon trip. Ryder can also be included in the exotics as he has eyecatching breeding for this distance, although he has admittedly failed in two previous attempts over staying trips. He is by Mambo In Seattle out of the Rakeen mare Winona, who won the Listed Queen Palm over 2600m.

The eighth is a tricky fillies and mares handicap over 1700m. The Sash represents the in form Mike and Adam Azzie yard and is drawn in pole. She has finished close to some decent sorts over distances of 1450m to 1800m and is drawn in pole. Mattina will enjoy this trip from a plum draw and Flowing Gown can never be ignored. Return To Power, Curbstone Shuffle, Elegancia, reserve runner Kapama, Poormanslady and Big Myth can also be included.

The last race over 1400m is an uninspiring maiden and should be fought out by two promising unexposed horses, Hareer and Fife. The hard knocking Targaryen Queen can also be included.         

By David Thiselton

Western Cape trainers have hit back at suggestions that they are swamping their Port Elizabeth counterparts with their better class horses and so providing unfair competition.

The Sporting Post website led on Saturday with a piece headlined Should PE Be Closed To Cape Town Raiders? and cited an unnamed local trainer commenting on Facebook: “What’s on my mind? They don’t run their horses in Cape Town yet they come to PE by the truckload and steal honey from our pot. Just have a look at the PE nominations. My argument is that they race four-horse fields in Cape Town – they don’t run their horses but will send three trucks to PE.”

Cape Town trainers have increased their raiding parties since the Met, largely because there is an average of only one meeting a week in the mother city during February and March, but last Friday’s Fairview fixture was the final straw for the Facebook writer. Justin Snaith and Candice Bass-Robinson each had two winners and Vaughan Marshall one. Alan Greeff (3) and Jacques Strydom were the only locals to get a look in.

However Mrs Bass-Robinson hit back at the criticism, saying: “In the UK and in Australia trainers travel their horses all over the place. Indeed they do this in countries round the world so why should we be confined to our own back yard? In any case a little bit of competition is healthy.

“Also it’s not just a matter of putting a horse on a float. It costs R6 000 just for the transport of the horse and then there is the flight for the assistant trainer.”

Justin Snaith fully agreed and pointed to the positive effect Cape Town runners have on Fairview Tote turnover. But the Facebook writer will no doubt be tempted to add further comment by the nominations for two of this Saturday’s Durbanville races.  The Fillies Maiden Juvenile has just six entries and the Fillies Maiden only nine. The National Racing Bureau has warned that these races may be cancelled if the numbers declared fall below six and eight respectively.

Before last Saturday Keagan de Melo’s problem with Durbanville was getting his mount’s head in front where it matters. “I’d only ridden here once before,” he related. “And that was last October when I had three seconds who were beaten by a total of less than a length.”

He made up for it this time, firing of a quick-fire treble on Waldorf Astoria for Joey Ramsden, After Glow (Adam Marcus) and the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Sacred Story.

Aldo Domeyer rode five favourites but had to be content with two winners, both for Andre Nel. Your grandmother could have won on Procrastination but the Metropolitan ride was inspired stuff. Knowing full well that his mount would stop the minute he hit the front, Domeyer waited as long as he dared (the second last stride) before nudging the 5-10 favourite’s head into the lead.

It was quite a day for 20-year-old Liam Tarentaal. He rode his 30^th winner on Eric Sands’ Capacity Crowd and doubled up in the last on the Mike Robinson-trained Fateful.

Both Vaughan Marshall and M.J. Byleveld seem to think that Tutorial will step up on his narrow win in the first but the jockey was also impressed by runner-up Mister Various, saying: “We were flying at the finish but the second horse kept coming at me. He must be a nice sort.”

By Michael Clower

Mike de Kock has followed up Hawwaam’s impressive SA Classic win on Saturday with an impassioned plea for the European Union to send inspectors to South Africa to audit the disease control measures so that horses can be exported direct to Europe once more.

He watched the race in Melbourne and said on his website: “We have a horse here that can take on the best in the world but we are being held back by quarantine protocols. We have everything in place and we are desperate for the European Union to inspect us so that we can show them what we have done, show them that the protocol is in place and that we can go and showcase our product to the rest of the world.

“Hawwaam is good enough to race against the best but we are being held back by politics – not science – and the politics are preventing South Africa, with our massive racing industry, to bring the world our thoroughbreds. We can breed world-class runners but we can’t show them to the world because we can’t compete on a level playing-field.”

De Kock is one of the original directors of South African Equine Health and Protocols which was established two years ago to remove the barriers preventing direct equine exports. It’s managing director Adrian Todd said in a Winning Ways interview last month that he aiming to get everything sorted out by June.

He said at the weekend: “The final hurdle is obtaining an audit date from the EU.  The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has requested that the EU conduct an audit of our control measures. However no commitment of an inspection date has yet been forthcoming from the EU.

“We need political assistance to push this over the line once and for all so that South Africa may finally and fully re-enter the world stage. Without exports our industry will collapse but one final political push will provide our country with a flourishing export market and an influx of much-needed foreign investment.”

By Michael Clower

The father and son combination of Robbie and Shannon Hill have been in good form of late and picked off a double at Greyville yesterday. Not so expected was Triple Fate Line in the second but Brandon Lerena rode a typically powerful finish to get the 25-2 chance home.

Moon In June, on the other hand, ran up to her 5-4 odds, putting five lengths between herself and the opposition.

Champion jockey Lyle Hewitson is way out of the title race, his defence scuppered by injury even before the start of the current season, but he continues to impress and riding a particularly good race on the filly Flichity By Farr for Alyson Wright in the Intelligent Solutions Pinnacle Stakes, giving Wright a double on the day.

Paul Peter was looking for a third victory of the weekend with the hotly fancied Fort Ember after Ring Of Fire on Friday and Rocky Night obliged under Hewitson.

But the wheels came off at the start as Fort Ember missed the break and apprentice Kabela Matsunyane rousted her up to get closer to the lead, going three wide in the process. It was too much too early and Fort Ember was a spent force early in the straight as Flichity By Farr and Our Coys joined battle with Hewitson extracting just that much more out of his filly.

By Andrew Harrison

There are question marks about the two Mike de Kock-trained favourites in the respective Grade 1 SA Classic and Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m at Turffontein tomorrow and one, Nafaayes, is tipped to win and the other, Hawwaam, is tipped to be beaten.

Hawwaam looks to be as talented as his half-brother Rainbow Bridge but has the same tendency to over race. If he does manage to settle, as he did in the Dingaans, he has an exceptional turn of foot so it all depends on how well Gavin Lerena can relax the Silvano colt. In his favour is draw five out of nine, a better draw than the eleven out of fifteen he had in the Gauteng Guineas. Secondly it is a smaller field so he will be closer to the front when starting his run from the back. However, against him is an apparent lack of pace in the race and this might allow the classy and long-striding Gauteng Guineas winner National Park to dictate. Hawwaam still managed to run on well in the Guineas from last despite having over raced and he should still go close no matter what happens, but he does have 2,7 lengths to find on National Park. Barahin is one of only two horses of this crop who have beaten Soqrat, so is full of class and should have come on from his Gauteng Guineas run which was his first appearance of the season and in which he finished a decent third. He should stay the trip too. Those three are hard to oppose. Zillzaal could be the other one for the quartet as he is an improving sort who will relish the galloping course and distance with its long straight. Atyaab could also earn as one who won a below par Cape Derby.

In the SA Fillies Classic Nafaayes is as well drawn as she was when winning the Gauteng Fillies Guineas (GFG), where she was settled well with cover by Warren Kennedy from draw three and then stayed on well in the straight to just get up from Running Brave. This time she is drawn in pole and Kennedy has no doubt she will stay the trip despite her pedigree suggesting there could be a doubt.  She is by Exceed And Excel, who was a six furlong to seven furlong horse, and is out of a seven furlong to miler type. Ronnie’s Candy has a lot of speed being the winner of the SA Fillies Nursery. However, she is by the miler King Of Kings out of a horse who finished second in a Graded race over 1800m and furthermore she is a full-sister to a horse who has won over 2000m. Thus she should get the trip on pedigree and she has also relaxed beautifully in her last two starts. If able to get cover from a tricky draw she will go close as she appeared to be the unlucky horse in the GFG as she never had enough room to use her superb turn of foot to maximum effect. Second Request ran on well against strong older horses in the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes over this trip and has a fair draw so must have a shout. Chitengo was making eyecatching late progress in the GFG and is a progressive sort who will relish the step up in trip. Return Flight was the Equus Champion two-year-old filly and has always struck as one who will relish this course and distance. She showed last time she still has it in her and has a plum draw of two, so could dictate. Running Brave is a gallant filly who often flies under the radar. She has as good a chance as any from a plum draw of four. The dark horse is Storm Destiny who has talent and was caught wide in the GFG so not surprisingly found little extra. This time she has a good draw and could surprise. Skye Lane has to be considered as one who ran a cracking fourth in the CTS 1600, although it won’t be easy going 1800m in a Grade 1 first up at altitude. 

In the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m Soqrat should show why he is the highest rated three-year-old in the country from a plum draw. He has a superb temperament and a fine turn of foot, although he is up against some good horses here.

The up and coming Greener Pastures is the tip to win the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap from Silver Thursday and Cashel Palace.

Odd Rob, Walter Smoothie and Samurai Warrior are the choices for the Listed Aquanaut, although it is advisable to go wide in the exotics here. 

By David Thiselton

Tutorial looks nailed on for the opener at Durbanville tomorrow when the biggest danger is the price. The Vaughan Marshall runner opened at a value 16-10 with World Sports Betting on Wednesday but those odds didn’t survive the night and by yesterday morning 15-20 was the best on offer.

That is short enough but there is no denying the claims of M.J. Byleveld’s mount. He was considered good enough to make his debut in the Listed race on Met day and, pushed along for much of the way, he caught the eye running on late and was only beaten five lengths. Winning Ways made him one to follow.

Only one of his five opponents has yet to see a racecourse in earnest and that is Mister Vargus (5-2 to 7-2) who was less than four lengths fifth of seven to Double Alliance, subsequently a length and half in front of Tutorial in the Met day race. Vivant (28-10) is the shortest priced of the newcomers but it is far harder for a first-timer to win here than it is at Kenilworth.

There is as little to choose between Capacity Crowd (28-10) and Drama Queen (5-2) in race two as the betting would suggest. The Eric Sands runner came out less than half a length the better when the pair made their debuts three weeks ago but on this occasion Drama Queen may just come out on top. She has much the worst of the draw but we have seen before that a poor draw here can be overcome with relative ease when you are up against inexperienced two-year-olds.

Aldo Domeyer can follow up on Procrastination 35 minutes later. The Andre Nel filly showed plenty of promise on debut, albeit in what could be quite a modest race. The favourite won easily but our selection had the third over three lengths back. But watch out for stable companion Silver Beauty. She has not raced since finishing five lengths-fifth on debut in December but she has been backed from 11-1 to 9-2 second favourite.

Domeyer is the top jockey at the country course in the past 12 months and he should have few problems bettering his 17% average strike rate tomorrow. He has an obvious chance on Nel’s Metropolitan in race four and rides 3-1 favourite Secret Depths for Mike Robinson (in double form at Kenilworth on Tuesday) in the next. He also has a good each way chance on 11-2 shot Woodstock Fairy in race six.

Domeyer is taken to win the Interbet Maiden (race seven) on 22-10 favourite Lip Service, a relatively rare ride for Joey Ramsden. But winning the last on newcomer Susie’s Son is a tall order and here the vote goes to Robinson’s Fateful.

By Michael Clower

Chesney van Zyl has made the move to Summerveld from Gauteng, lock, stock and barrel. His recent local runners have been saddled by his father Gavin while he has settled in so La Bahia marks his real start as a KZN trainer, and it could prove a winning one.

La Bahia is rated a couple of lengths better than most of the opposition and Van Zyl is fairly bullish about his filly’s chances as she takes to the poly track for the first time. “She shows good work on the sand at home so I think she will be suited to the poly,” he said. “Anton (Marcus) also asked for the ride which is always a good thing. It’s better when a jockey asks for the ride, rather than you putting them on, because you then know that he has confidence in his mount which is always a good thing.”

La Bahia does look the right one if you are prepared to put a line through her last effort in a work riders plate and bookmakers have her at around 12-10 favourite but the likes of Starlight, Hey Jude and Liquid Irish are all in the picture.

Punters are faced with another tricky card of maidens and lowly handicaps which could make for some rough results.

War Trumpet (28-10) is at the top of the boards for the fourth. Andre Nel’s runner is lightly raced but made good improvement at his second run after a break and should strip at his peak. Bedazzled Joker (7-1) took on much stronger last outing and was not far back. He had consistent previous form but does have a wide draw to contend with here while Lithuanian’s Dream (14-1) can do better than his recent form with the switch to the poly and first-time blinkers.

It’s 5-1 the field in the fifth but Wendy Whitehead was full of praise after Getaway shed her maiden. She has had her problems but won well enough to suggest that she can go in again. Vase was an impressive maiden winner first up on the poly track. She had some fair Cape form before that. The blinkers come off Geographe Bay and with a further drop in the ratings she will be competitive. Yaas and Fair Antonia are others to consider in a difficult race.

Open Court and Royal Rustler should both be competitive in the sixth while Roy Magner, a rare visitor to KZN, saddles the well-tried Alex The Great who has been dropping rapidly in the handicap and takes to the poly for the first time.

Garth Puller and Anton Marcus team up with the relatively lightly raced Belle Of Paris in the Qualified Maiden, another potential minefield. She has improved at recent outings but is likely to be hard-pressed by the likes of Roy’s Novice, Fonteyn and Whispering Hill.

In the last race of the evening, Siberian Husky only got a three-point raise for his last win when taking on stronger and can go in again while Cuduiari goes well on the poly and is overdue a win. He has a handy weight and rates a strong chance.

By Andrew Harrison

The Gauteng Fillies Guineas (GFG) winner Nafaayes is favourite for the second leg of the Triple Tiara, the SA Fillies Classic to be run over 1800m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday, but the question is whether she will handle the step up in trip.

The Triple Tiara and the three races within it are sponsored by Wilgerbosdrift Stud, who have two home-breds running in Saturday’s race, Chitengo and Blossom.

Nafaayes stayed on from a handy position in the GFG, having been given a fine ride from draw three by Warren Kennedy. She should get the run of the race again from pole position and trainer Mike de Kock said he believed she would just get the 1800m but anything further would be a question mark.

Chitengo was caught a touch wide early on in the GFG and after keeping up in the straight from a handy position she was making some eyecatching late progress. She will relish the step up in trip and if Raymond Danielson can place her well from draw nine she has a chance.

Ronnie’s Candy was the unlucky horse in the GFG. She has a fine turn of foot but never saw the daylight which could have enabled her to really let herself down. She was also eased before the line so should have finished third. She has plenty of speed, having won the SA Fillies Nursery, but has learnt to settle recently and could get the trip if Karl Zechner is able to find cover from draw eight.

Last season’s Champion two-year-old filly Return Flight had always struck as one who would be ideally suited to this course and distance as a galloping type who stays on resolutely. The best of her has not yet been seen this season and she will be a threat from draw two.

Her stablemate Second Request proved her class down in Cape Town and could well be the stable elect.

Running Brave was touched off in the GFG and has another good draw so this gallant sort should be right there.

Storm Destiny was caught wide in the GFG and after moving up she faded. That was not the first time she had been undone by a bad draw, but on other occasions she has shown her class so is the dark horse from a good draw of six this time.

Skye lane is an interesting runner having finished a fine fourth at 100/1 odds in the CTS 1600, although it is never easy for a horse who has moved up from Cape Town to Jo’burg running straight away in a feature.

Dagmar was sixth in the GFG but now has a tough draw so is an unlikely winner.

I Like It and Blossom also look held from wide draws.

Perfect Tigress is drawn well and runs for an in form yard but she will need to have improved a lot from the GFG.

By David Thiselton