Marchingontogether makes his seasonal debut on the Greyville poly today and just how he fares should give some indication of where he is headed.

The signs are good for Gavin van Zyl’s colt, who since being stepped up in trip, is unbeaten and gives the impression that he could be a classic contender.

Gavin Van Zyl

His trainer concurs. “He’s a progressive horse. A nice big-striding Pathfork from a good family. His half-brother ran in the Gold Cup and won about six races for the Bass’s, they trained him so there is a bit of stamina in the family,” said van Zyl post-race.

“He won twice over a mile here and both times won impressively. We can look forward to a bit of fun with this horse.”

He takes on a field of hard-knockers in the fifth including recent winner Gunner, Q The Music and Savuti. Gunner, a Gr1 winner as a juvenile, is finally down to a more competitive rating and showed that by winning his last start. “He was precocious as a juvenile but you have to be careful of those horses,” said Paul Gadsby. “I never thought he was a Group 1 horse but he’s now down to a more competitive rating.”

He won well enough ion the Greyville poly although he did pick up a five-pound penalty for that win.

The KZN Trainer’s Association AGM takes place tomorrow and the issue of barrier trials will be put to the vote and the outcome of what amounts to a referendum will be keenly monitored.

Some trainers are fore, others vehemently against other’s feel that the system can be tweaked to please all. Whatever, it’s the battle of the barrier trials in the card opener where Wendylle and Opensea look the two most likely protagonists. Both have had two trials, both smart efforts. The grey has shown good pace in both is trial and this short-cut on the poly should be right up his alley. Opensea, named after Gavin van Zyl’s head lad who was formerly head lad for now Australia-based David Payne, has trialled well on both occasions and has had the benefit of a sprint on the poly. He also shows a lot of pace and could be a threat to the grey. Duke’s Dozen trialled well enough but Brett Crawford’s gelding is bred to stay much further. A win here will make him a prospect worth following.

In the second, Walterthepenniless, from the very much in-form Dennis Drier yard, has been close-up in both starts and goes well on the poly. He was a touch unlucky last time out and can make amends. The dangers are many however with Great Stohvanen, Ultra Magnus, One Destiny and Gordonstoun all in with a shout.

Spume has a lot in his favour in the opening leg of the Pick 6 and although it could prove risky, he has enough in his favour to suggest that punters can go light in this leg of the exotic. Zigi Zagi Zugi and Stone Tiger look pick of the balance.

Silver Prancer is long overdue a win and although a distant second last time out she could have the better of Roy’s Novice and the lightly raced Reactive Glaze who should enjoy the extra furlong.

Star Evolution and O’Keeffe appeal most in the sixth. O’Keeffe has come well on the poly but Star Evolution went down narrowly when trying to make all the running in first-time blinkers and can give Morne Winnaar his first winner since moving up from Cape Town for the Glen Kotzen satellite yard.

Kateecador has smart form over course and distance, winning her last two, but could find Shane Humby’s mare Neala too hot to handle. She was just short of a gallop when second behind Pata and has useful form on the poly.

Finally, Marshal That is back on his best surface. He was possibly just short of a run when returning from a break last time out. Of the balance, Real Vision has a light weight and was much improved in blinkers while Timeous goes well on this surface and should be a contender.

By Andrew Harrison

Aldo Domeyer shone in the PGI Jockeys Challenge sponsored by Phumelela at Kranji today, taking home the prize for top individual jockey.

Aldo Domeyer

He had produced a brilliantly timed finish to win Race 4, and briefly bring Team SA right back into things.

Fittingly with each race in the series being named after one of the teams, this was titled the PGI Jockeys Challenge South Africa, and that proved prophetic.

Joao ‘Magic’ Moreira hit the front halfway up the straight on Solaris Spectrum, and looked to have done everything right.

But Domeyer produced his mount Safeer at just the right time, and pounced late to win going away by half a length.

Earlier Team SA had got off to an encouraging start in the first leg of the challenge, with Yeni (second), Domeyer (third) and Hewitson (sixth) all finishing in the points.

The first and third proved enough for Domeyer (56  points) to pip the UK’s Rab Havlin (54) and Australia’s Kerrin McEvoy (51) to the individual prize.

Australia walked off with the team honours on 119 points, just pipping the UK with 117. Team SA ended on 102, with Asia a distant last on 76.

– TAB news

Rainbow Bridge impressed in a gallop yesterday and Eric Sands promptly confirmed that the unbeaten Queen’s Plate and Met hope will begin his campaign in the Matchem Stakes at Durbanville on Saturday week.

He added: “The horse won’t be at his peak but then we wouldn’t expect him to be until later in the season.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe has landed the plum ride on Chris Gerber’s colt. He takes over from Richard Fourie who, although officially freelance, has considerable commitments to Snaith Racing this season. Fayd’Herbe, who partnered Rainbow Bridge in the gallop, said: “He is a very nice horse but it is going to be tough this season because there are a lot of good horses around. He is going to need to prove himself.”

Eric Sands (hamishNIVENPhotography)

Fourie rode four more winners at Durbanville yesterday – including three for the Snaiths – but the one that got away was hotpot Crown Towers in the Interbet.co.za Handicap. It looked just a question of how far when the 1-3 shot hit the front two furlongs out but Fayd’Herbe on 27-4 chance Sacred Arrow promptly went a length up and, try as he might, Fourie could not peg him back.

Justin Snaith was philosophical but far from down-hearted, saying: “Don’t rule him out yet. He is going to be a very nice horse. It was just that he was caught flat-footed in a tail wind and he is still learning.”

Stable companion Juniper Spring, considered good enough to make her debut in a Listed race but a beaten favourite in her last two starts, got it right at the fourth attempt when leading from over two furlongs out in the TAB Telebet Maiden. She started at 5-10 but Fourie was pulling up before the line.

Snaith said: “She is a lovely quality filly, a full sister to Snowdance and the spitting image of her. But we had to downgrade Juniper Spring to this level to win and we were fortunate to find a race like this one. That said, she won well.”

If Fourie does win the championship this season it is going to be due as much to the sort of enterprising tactics he showed on Ben-Hur in the Potjie Competition Handicap as to the support of the Snaith powerhouse.

The first half of this 2 000m race was run at the sort of pace donkeys go on the beach. Fourie, deciding there was no point in continuing with the crawl, then dashed Ben-Hur to the front, kicked again early in the straight and was promptly gone beyond recall. Fourie is now on the 32-winner mark, just one behind log leader Muzi Yeni.

This was one of four successes for Candice Bass-Robinson who also trains Sacred Arrow and who is on a busman’s tour of Newmarket – Monday was Abington Place and yesterday Sir Mark Prescott’s stables. She will be back on Friday.

That celebrated maiden won by Pleasedtomeetyou at Kenilworth last month was given yet another boost when runner-up Trippi’s Express won the first under Corne Orffer just as easily as his 2-10 price suggested he should – and seemingly there is plenty more to come.

Brett Crawford said: “He has always shown good form at home and here he quickened up and did everything right. He has the scope to go on and, while I am not sure what trip he is going to get, I know he will keep improving.”

By Michael Clower

Gavin Lerena is the only jockey to have won the WSB Grand Heritage and could retain his crown on Saturday as he will be aboard the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained favourite Mardi Gras.

The draw can play a significant part in this 1475m race and Lerena will be hoping from draw 26 the track runs like it did in 2016, towards the outside, as opposed to last year when the inside to middle inside seemed favourable.
Mardi Gras will need to beat 27 other competitors but is a worthy 33/10 favourite with the sponsors. The Oratorio grey was in the spotlight on his debut over 1000m at the Vaal in December as he was a R3,2 million purchase. He did not disappoint when staying on strongly for third. He has always struck as one who would come into his own as a four-year-old. That observation has proven correct as he began to impress late last season and in his reappearance this term he ran a fine race over 1160m in just his sixth career start and his first as a gelding. He is the one to beat carrying 56,5kg as he will relish the step up to 1475m and considering his class he is likely ahead of the handicapper off his 91 merit rating.

Mardi Gras (JC Photographics)

Janse van Vuuren won this race with Irish Pride in 2016. This now six-year-old won the race off a 92 merit rating and has dropped to a 91, which is effectively seven points lower if the across the board six point raise given in March is taken into account. He hasn’t won for a year-and-a-half but has his third run after a layoff, so is not without hope.

Janse van Vuuren’s third entry is Divine Odyssey, a progressive sort who likes to be handy and has a good kick. He pecked at the start last time, which affected his chances following two wins, and he has a chance off a 91 merit rating.

The second favourite is Pietro Mascagni, a well regarded Mike de Kock-trained four-year-old who should come into his own this season. This trip is sharper than ideal but he will have come on from his winning reappearance over 1450m and his class could pull him through from a nice middle draw. His stablemate Hakeem looks ideally distance suited and has some class. However, he did miss a recent preparation when racing was abandoned. De Kock’s other runner is Mujallad, who ran on well last time in the Spring Spree Stakes over 1200m and he should stay this trip. Bernard Fayd’Herbe is an eyecatching booking.

Sean Tarry has four runners and a reserve. Unfortunately Bockscar was eliminated despite a fine preparation race, which was surprising as some of his other runners don’t have great recent form. London Secret has been disappointing since her good two-year-old career and would be a surprise winner, although she ran quite a nice preparation race. Purple Diamond is a similar sort as he won the Golden Horseshoe as a two-year-old but has not won since. Bold Viking is talented and won his last start but he has breathing issues and is also hard to fancy. Count Tassilo could be the best Tarry runner as he is ideally distance suited and was staying on in eyecatching fashion in the race over 1450m in which Bockscar was ahead of him.

Daffiq is an ex De Kock horse who had class but obviously problems too and he had an eyecatching preparation in the above mentioned race. He is ideally distance suited and could be in the mix for Gokhan Terzi. Chepardo also ran on in eyecatching style for third in that race and is distance suited. Danza ran well in that race too but is on the one-paced side so will find it tough to beat such a big field.

Dan The Lad was in that race and found little extra so will have to be ridden from off the pace.  Another ideally distance suited horse is Bold Coast, who is way better than his last run.

Rings And Things’ class was proven when third in the CTS Mile and she will be dangerous off a mere 85 merit rating.

African Night Sky (Candiese Marnewick)

Tsitsikamma Dance won his Highveld debut well over 1400m and Cape horses often have suppressed merit ratings due to the class of the horses in that centre so he is an interesting contender as he was raised just one point and should have come on from the run.

Lake Kinneret is 1kg better off with the latter for a 2,7 length beating but ran a cracker next time out over 1450m and is a dark horse.

Rebuked looks held by Lake Kinneret. Soldier On has ability and comes in off a fine preparation and as one who would prefer further he will be staying on. Full Of Attitude is a progressive type who won well last time but was raised five points. Kings Archer is a soldier who is distance suited and goes well for Strydom but it will be tough carrying 61kg. Zouaves is a classy distance suited horse and Geoff Woodruff knows how to peak them.  Sail For Joy is distance suited and in good form and he is 1kg better off with African Ruler for a 0,2 length beating.

African Ruler, from the yard of last year’s winning trainer Paul Peter, could be dangerous from the front as he has plenty of speed and proved he stays 1400m last time, although the extra 75m might stretch him.

Nephrite looks held by Soldier On and Divine Odyssey. Huyssteen has struck as one with promise but usually disappoints. Finchatton looks to have too much weight.

Mardi Gras could beat home Tsitsikamma Dance, Pietro Mascagni, Rings And Things, Count Tassilo and Zouaves, although these fancies could change if there proves to be a notable draw bias in the earlier races.

By David Thiselton

Eric Sands has put the unbeaten Winter Guineas and Winter Classic winner Rainbow Bridge into Saturday week’s Matchem Stakes even though he has not been able to get a race into the colt this season.

Rainbow Bridge (Liesl King)

Last year’s Cape Guineas winner Tap O’Noth has also been entered for the Durbanville Grade 3 and has to give weight all round– Vaughan Marshall’s previous winners of the race include Tales Of Bravery (2010) and Play Catch in 2004.

Our Mate Art, who scored for Candice Bass-Robinson 12 months ago, is also among the 14 entries while Justin Snaith, successful with Changingoftheguard six years ago, has already declared Fifty Cents (Richard Fourie), Copper Force (Robert Khathi) and Star Chestnut (Athandiwe Mgudlwa).

Snaith has also declared three for the Diana Stakes on the same card- Dynamic Diana (Fourie), Angel’s Trumpet (Greg Cheyne) and Miss Katalin (Khathi). The champion trainer has won three of the last nine runnings. Goodtime Gal, successful for Mike Robinson and Anton Marcus in last year’s race, is set to give weight to the other 13 entries.

Marcus, surprisingly, is as big as 20-1 with World Sports Betting for the jockeys’ championship despite being fourth in the log on 24 winners. Muzi Yeni, who heads the list on 33, is 5-2 favourite and Richard Fourie (28 winners) second favourite at 28-10 with Aldo Domeyer (14) next on 4-1. Current champion Lyle Hewitson and former champion Gavin Lerena are both 11-2 chances. Ryan Munger, third on the log with 27 winners, is a 14-1 shot.

By Michael Clower

Champion Jockey Lyle Hewitson’s first foray on the international stage ended in a suspension. Riding in Singapore on Sunday, ahead of today’s Singapore Raceday meeting, Hewitson was charged with careless riding after shifting ground and taking up the running at the winning post on the first time around, to a point where there was insufficient room for Golazo, resulting in that horse being severely crowded for room and eventually losing its rightful running.

Lyle Hewitson

Hewitson finished third in the race, the Gr3 $150,000 El Dorado Classic.

The stewards took into account his record, guilty plea, the degree of interference and carelessness and that he has been engaged to ride at the Singapore Race Meeting.

The commencement of the suspension was deferred to begin on Wednesday, October 3 until Sunday, October 7, both dates inclusive (two Singapore Race Days).  Hewitson was not alone as five other jockeys were charged with similar offences.

Muzi Yeni also managed a third in the $125,000 Flax 2012 Stakes over 1200m.

The two South African youngsters were making their debut in Singapore ahead of today’s Premier Gateway International Jockeys Challenge.

TAB will operate a special Pick 6 pool – boosted by a TAB bonus – on today’s Kranji meeting.

The pool will start with a R150,000 add-in from TAB and the total net pool is expected to be about R400,000.

The Pick 6 will be on Races 2 to 7 with Leg 1 at 12h55 South African time. Normal TAB Pick 6 rules will apply and any carryover will go into the TAB carryover pot used to create Pick 6 MegaPools on selected days.

Crown Towers, so impressive when winning on debut at Kenilworth at the beginning of the month, can go in again when he tackles handicap company in the 1 400m Interbet at Durbanville today.

The superbly bred Australian colt was bought pretty much ready to run out of Joey Ramsden’s stable at a Grant Knowles sale here two months ago and he looks well handicapped (in the view of Justin Snaith as well as the writer) off a mark of 85 – and he is particularly well drawn.

Anton Marcus (Liesl King)

He was the subject of rave reviews after scoring so well first time and the extra furlong is a major plus considering his pedigree – by Camelot out of a multiple-winning Galileo mare – and it was no surprise to see him odds-on at 8-10 with World Sports Betting yesterday.

Stable companion Green Jacket, who won over course and distance 17 days ago, is the obvious danger at 9-2 with top weight Sacred Arrow next on 11-2. But, in truth, there should only be one winner – either that or most of us need our eyes testing.

Trippi’s Express looks equally nailed on in the first. The Brett Crawford runner was second to Pleasedtomeetyou in that good maiden at Kenilworth in August when subsequent winners Trip To The Sky and Green Jacket were four and five lengths behind. The selection had to be withdrawn earlier this month because of an abnormal blood count but the patience shown that day should be rewarded here, albeit at a skimpy price – he was 9-20 yesterday.

Juniper Spring is proving expensive to follow – she was beaten at 5-4 last time and at 7-20 on her previous start – and she is odds-on for the TAB Telebet Maiden. But she has a good draw and stands out on form.  She could have most to fear from Spring Burst but she is well-nigh impossible to oppose.

Go Snow Girl Go with Anton Marcus in the irons looks tempting at 33-10 in race three but 16-10 favourite Silvano’s Pride ran well enough here first time a fortnight ago to suggest she can collect.

Whatever his fortunes in that race the four-time champion should win the mile handicap 35 minutes later on Love Supreme who is fully entitled to her position at the head of the market (11-10).

Valbonne is very much on the upgrade, as he showed when winning a Kenilworth Pinnacle on his last start two months ago, and Greg Cheyne’s mount can make it three off the reel in the Supabets Pinnacle.

By Michael Clower

With jockey Olivier Placais suspended, trainer Alwin Tan had been struggling to find a suitable replacement for Nova Strike in the $1 million Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m) on Sunday, but the staging of an international jockeys challenge at Kranji next Tuesday has indirectly come to his rescue.

Team South Africa made up of Lyle Hewitson, Muzi Yeni and Aldo Domeyer are one of four squads doing battle in the inaugural Premier Gateway International Jockeys Challenge, but decided it would be nice to have a warm-up meeting two days earlier.

With their availability at the Raffles Cup meeting, the Springbok trio along with Australia’s Hugh Bowman have certainly helped plug the current dearth of jockeys, mainly through suspensions.

Muzi Yeni

Besides Placais, Alan Munro, Ryan Curatolo and Azhar Ismail are also out on Sunday while the other 13 Raffles Cup runners had already been paired with a senior jockey.

With Bowman already snapped up by Lee Freedman on Circuit Land, Tan had to pick among the three South Africans, and admitted he had heard precious little about the trio before.

After doing some research and going with the recommendation of a few connections familiar with South African racing, he plumped for Yeni.

“It’s been a tough job looking for a jockey for Nova Strike,” said Tan.

“At first, we thought of Franco Da Silva, who rode here at the KRA (Korea Racing Authority) Trophy meeting, but he told us he couldn’t confirm. In the end, he is riding Countofmontecristo for Michael Clements, but I did give him a ride on My Win in race two.

“There weren’t many jockeys left here with so many of them suspended. And then, I heard about the four jockeys coming up for the Raffles Cup.

“I didn’t really know them, but after checking their records, we decided Muzi Yeni would be a good fit. Nova Strike needs a strong rider and we saw from some of his past race videos how strong he was.

“The owners and myself are very happy to have booked him on Nova Strike.”

A 10-time winner, the six-year-old chestnut Red Giant has drawn seven and is up against an armada of big guns in the first Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series, such as Jupiter Gold, Debt Collector, Circuit Land, Elite Invincible, Clarton Super, Elite Excalibur, Mr Clint, Countofmontecristo, Preditor, all proven Group winners, not to mention a South African Group 1 winner in the impressive Noah From Goa.

From Singapore Turf Club

The Turffontein Inside track stages a low key nine race meeting tomorrow and there look to be one or two opportunities for punters.

In the first race over 1200m the most interesting runner is the first-timer three-year-old Elusive Fort colt, Monopolize, who is a half-brother to his Paul Peter-trained stablemate Maximizer. The latter is an imposing, front-running sort whose six wins, including a Listed race, range from 1400m to 1600m. Monopolize is described by Peter as a decent sort and he faces an uninspiring field so looks the one to side with. Sean Tarry’s first-timers can never be ignored and he introduces a colt by Pomodoro, who is proving to be an exciting sire. This colt is called Riga D’Ora and although costing only R60,000 he is out of a four-time winning Doowlay mare who is a half-sister to a stakes winner, so he could well be in the mix. The best of those to have run could be the improving Hartleyfour.

Gold Dawn (JC Photographics)

In the second race over 1200m Pink made a fair debut over this trip at the Vaal and horses from the Lucky Houdalakis yard invariably come on slowly but surely. Furthermore, she is drawn in pole and looks to have some pace. Fly Thought is an interesting first-timer and although she will need a lot further she could have the class to compete. She is by Philanthropist out of Grade 1 Paddock Stakes winner Badger’s Gift and she is a half-sister to two stakes-winning stayers.

In the third over 1600m Vega Vox is by the hitherto disappointing sire Noble Tune. However, the latter’s progeny should improve with age and over further so as she did well last time over 1400m she can improve again from a good draw over 1600m. The form of her last third place has been franked and she does not face an inspiring field. She looks hard to beat. Early Bird will relish the step up in trip as one who has a rangy action who plugged on debut. However, her wide draw makes it tough.

In the next race over 1600m Indy Ice looks a fair sort and was a touch unlucky last time over this. He will be hard to beat from a good draw, although Perfect Pursuit, who is a full brother to the SA Fillies Nursery winner King’s Temptress, has a nice action and could pose a threat over a step up in trip which might suit.

In the fifth, a handicap over 1600m, Gold Dawn is hard to beat on the form of her last race when close up in an Assessment Plate where she was way under sufferance. This Await The Dawn filly has always struck as one who would be progressive and she is now fulfilling that promise as a four-year-old.

In the sixth race over 1800m Skiminac came back from a layoff strengthened and improved and can follow up on that easy maiden win. However, Endofmarch has to be respected as one with decent form in the strongest centre of Cape Town. Aranjeuz is coming into his own and could also be involved.

In the seventh over 1450m Orapa once looked a promising sort in the making and he has his third run after a layoff over a step down in trip which will suit and off a mere 70 merit rating which is now attractive. This good looking Tiger Ridge gelding is made the value bet of the day. Rocky Night looks a fair sort and is the danger despite being a young three-year-old who has to run off a tough 85 merit rating. Melchizidek could represent good place value as a scopey sort who over raced last time after being slow away and rushed. This time he is well drawn and if he settles with cover he can earn.

The eighth is a tough race and punters should go as wide as possible.

The ninth sees the improved Mademoiselle going for a course and distance hattrick off just a two point higher mark than her last win. Her wide draw should not be a concern as she jumped from similar draws in her last two wins. Hear The Trumpet improved in third time blinkers to win her maiden well and from a plum draw could be thereabouts again.

By David Thiselton

Horse racing is widely touted as the ‘brain game’ when it comes to the leisure rand and for this reason for years it was the only legalised form of ‘gambling’ before lotto, scratch cards and casinos were given license.

The number of gambling zombies mesmerized by the pressing of buttons and staring at revolving screen images beggars belief. When they lose, which is often, they blame bad luck. Punters on horse racing can blame a myriad of other factors such as going – good or bad – bad jockeys, bad trainers or bad horses – they can also add to that their own bad judgement.

Mark Khan

The first night meeting of the new season sees racing switching to the Greyville poly and it will be a ‘brain test’ for punters who are faced with a tricky card.

Form for the first two races on the card is thin but Mark Khan, now a regular rider for Lezeanne Forbes, can get the evening off to a winning start when he partners Easy Ginger.

The filly showed good improvement when taking on winners last time out. Back in the maidens she should have a bright chance in a weak field. Danger could be Twice Over Satin who has only had a barrier trial but she put up a decent time and the ‘winner’ of that trial had some fair form behind his name.

In the second, Don’t Look Back improved nicely in blinkers at his second outing and that form has held up quite nicely. He should also be suited by the extra 300m. Paddington’s Luck is another that should enjoy the step up in trip and the stable is in excellent form.

When ever Johan Janse van Vuuren comes into town his horses invariably start favourite and that is the case in the opening leg of the Pick 6. The presence of Anton Marcus aboard Dreams Are Made adds to the filly’s appeal and she was a short at 17-10 yesterday. Second favourite is the Duncan Howells-trained Starlight. The daughter of Stagelight has a staying pedigree and should much prefer this trip to her debut sprint. The stable is also in form with a brace of winners at Scottsville on Wednesday.

Second Request, a facile winner of her maiden, has been priced up 6-10 favourite for the fourth although Sean Tarry’s filly is not the best weighted filly in this Graduation Handicap. Statute was a victim of her easy debut win and subsequent beating of the well-tried Miss Varlicious and was lumbered with a rather unrealistic merit rating of 98. She has dropped to a 91 for this race, in theory 5kg superior to Second Request, but has been forced to compete in tough company courtesy of her high rating. However, Michael Roberts steps her up to a mile tonight and she makes her poly debut.

Also in the line-up are two useful performers from Dean Kannemeyer’s Summerveld yard and both Miss Milanna and Mara warrant serious consideration.

The fifth is another competitive handicap but Marcus appears to have picked another plum in Fieldmarshal Fenix. The gelding has been knocking at the door for some time now and was only run out of it late last Sunday. He is back over his best trip and his consistency can be rewarded. Elusive Wolf has a big weight but is another overdue a win while Piaget Prince nearly caused a major boil-over when a close-up third at long odds last time out and the stable is starting to turn the corner.

Van Vuuren and Marcus team up with Penny Royal in the sixth but in another tricky filly’s handicap is only a luke warm favourite at 2-1 ahead of recent course and distance winner Call Me Winter.

Noemi was thrown in at the deep end when lining up for the Gr3 The Debutante at the end of last season but earned her place with smart win on debut. She takes on a lot weaker here but again it’s not a race to go light in, in the exotics.

It can test the nerves to rely in a banker in the last leg of an exotic bet but Benfontein will be a banker in many a bet. The gelding has not been out of the money since arriving in KZN from the Cape and with blinkers on for the first time he could have the measure of Putchini and Honest Prince.

By Andrew Harrison