Backing newly turned three-year-olds against older horses, especially in fixed weight races, at this time of the year can be dangerous. Unless the younger horse is way better than the opposition, it’s likely to get beaten and leave many a puzzled punter who has taken the form at face value.

It is by no means a hard and fast rule but definitely one to consider when working out your bets.

A possible example could come in the first at Scottsville on Sunday where some promising three-year-olds take on a few older horses with some useful recent form.

The WFA scale, the bible of handicappers, says that three-year-olds in August should be in receipt of 7kg from their older rivals in races over 1000m to 1200m. In South Africa three-year-olds only get 2kg relief in Maiden Plates and therein lies the rub.

Brighteyebushytail (Candiese Marnewick)

Horses like Buckleberry and Cavalry have yet to be assigned a merit rating as they have not yet had three races so one needs to work out whether they are 5kg better than their older rivals. Buckleberry has been narrowly beaten in his two starts and with Anton Marcus aboard, Paul Lafferty’s colt is likely to start close to the top of bookmaker’s boards. Cavalry has shown up well in two barrier trials and was not disgraced against winners when making his debut in a small feature.

According to many trainers, our handicappers tend to over-rate maiden winners, dishing out unrealistically high merit ratings, and victory for either of the two mentioned could see them rated in the 80’s.

Pantsula and Leslies Pathtofame have both been knocking on the door and Pantsula especially is a distance specialist with consistent form. Gavin van Zyl is a dab hand in Scottsville sprints and Pantsula could prove more than a match for his younger rivals given these weights.

We have a similar scenario in the second and here it’s a case of whether you rely on the handicapper’s assessment and back Riptide or go with the older runners headed by the best performed Fleek. Louis Goosen’s runner is lightly raced with some patchy form but has turned in some useful performances including a close-up second over 1000m on the poly last time out. Her pedigree suggests that she should prefer Sunday’s trip. She should also be helped in her quest with hot apprentice Luke Ferraris giving her 2.5kg relief from the saddle.

The year younger Riptide, who was a beaten favourite over a mile last time out, is rated 1.5kg better than Fleek and has Marcus in the irons. I’m A Var and Under The Rose must have claims and Star In The Sky, a close-up third on debut, could spoil the argument as she has an exceptional pedigree and should be at home over this trip.

Marcus has picked a lot of low hanging fruit for Sunday and could well go into the opening leg of the Pick 6 with two winners to his credit. He has another plum ride in Prince Charming for Greg and Karen Anthony in the opening leg of the Pick 6. Prince Charming has come on from every run and could have the measure of the younger White Lightning who has pulled a bum draw.

The highly rated Brighteyebushytail has had more problems than the Guptas but can get back to form in the fourth. He was not asked for much when returning from a seven-month break and although this 1600m may still be on the sharp side he could have too much class if finding his best form.

By Andrew Harrison

Adam Marcus has decided to keep stable star Brave Move in light work over the next quiet couple of months rather than send her off to a farm for a complete rest.

He said: “I am in a catch-22 situation. I have got to give her a break but she is so well she could run. I just wish I could fast-forward time.

“She has pulled up so well since her last win and I think she is still on the up. Indeed every time Aldo Domeyer rides her he says that she has got better.”

The five-year-old has won all her last six starts, including the Ladies Mile and the Final Fling Stakes, going up in the ratings from 74 to 107. Her objectives include the Paddock and the Majorca Stakes.

By Michael Clower

The Turffontein Inside track stages a typically competitive August nine race meeting although the purists can look forward to a couple of good horses turning out, including Lord Silverio, who looks to be on the way to the top.

This four-year-old grey has a lovely big action and being a Silvano colt will be improving all the time. Sean Tarry will be wanting to qualify him for the big summer features so will be keen to get his merit rating, which is currently a relatively lowly 86, up to a good mark. This looks to be another step up the ladder for this quality R1,1 million colt.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Stormbourne Thunder went close in his penultimate start over this course and distance and is drawn in pole. The top 2,5kg claimer Luke Ferraris looks to have some good rides on the day and this is one of them. However, this horse did disappoint last time so the pair Lana Turner and Lalia can be included in exotics as they have scope for improvement.

Lord Silverio (JC Photographics)

In the next leg Barbie Doll is rated as the value bet of the day as she has run well in her last two starts over 1700m and 1600m respectively and she will relish the step up to 2000m. The only concern is her wide draw. She did overcome a wide draw in her last win, over 1800m on the Vaal Inside, but that track has a straight which is a lot longer than this one. Pretty Ballerina went close over this trip at the Vaal last time and now has the advantage of the 2,5kg claim of Ferraris so should go close from a good draw of five. Spring Poetry has been dropped to a competitive mark and could also be in the mix. Noceur has always struck as a nice type and is difficult to ignore despite a tough draw and having a hard task with Pretty Ballerina at the weights. The latter beat her by 1,4 lengths last time and if apprentice claims are included is 2kg better off. Animal Lover will relish the step back to this trip and is another once who has to be considered from a plum draw of two.

In the sixth race over 1600m Shogun is ideally distance suited and not only has pole position but also has Ferraris with his valuable claim up. He is the one to beat. Puget Sound has some eyecatching form over this trip including close up finishes to the like of Yakeen and Royal Crusade. He does have to overcome a three point raise for his win last win over 2000m but could be up to it. D’Arrivee is a big scopey sort and perhaps didn’t stay 1800m last time when moving up and finishing no extra. However, he was beaten by a highly promising horse in Lord Silverio and could also enjoy the step down in trip, so should be given another chance.

In the seventh over 1450m Tammany Hall gets a chance to show how good she is. She looked to be promising early in her career and has not quite lived up to expectations but now being a four-year-old by Await The Dawn she should start coming into her own. She is drawn in pole with Ferraris up so can take full advantage over this ideal trip. Saragon is also a classy sort and the only thing against her is a wide draw of eight and it will also be difficult to beat Tammany Hall due to Ferraris’s claim. However, this Ideal World filly has shown a lot of promise and will also be coming into her own. Strawberry Pavlova is difficult to ignore due to her good comeback run over this course and distance, where she won going away, and she has only been given a two point raise.

The next race is difficult but young Ferraris is aboard a four-year-old Silvano filly Amanika who will be improving so can build on her last two good runs. However, she has a tough draw of eight. Pearl Of Bahrain has shown promise in the past and can do better than recently as the merit rating has come down, the blinkers are off and he is drawn in pole. Gimme Hope Johanna is a progressive sort who has to be included. Waity Katie also can’t be ignored as she has ability and give of her best. Kirconnel Lass can be included in wider permutations.

In the last leg the front runner Beautiful Shay has everything in her favour. She is in fair form, has come down to an attractive merit rating and is course and distance suited. However, it is a competitive fillies and mares handicap and as many as possible must be included.

By David Thiselton

Dean Kannemeyer got his new season kick-started at Scottsville on Sunday and Caprera can get the ball rolling a little faster in the first at Greyville today. Caprera made a smart debut over course and distance when second to Lotsa Silver and is surprisingly easy to back at 17-10 with Track & Ball in spite of that showing.

Lickerio is rated top by Computaform but Caprera is rated 34 notches above his market rival in the speed ratings which looks a more realistic assessment.

Lickerio put in two smart efforts on the poly before trying the turf last time out where he never got in a blow. Back on the synthetic surface he is likely to find his better form and does look the most obvious threat.

Bravo Bravo (Candiese Marnewick)

Anton Marcus is an astute judge of form one of the few top riders without an agent. So, when he phones for a ride the trainer generally knows that they have one of the major contenders and Marcus has picked the plums today with Lickerio in the first and Glen Kotzen has pencilled him in for Keep It Real (5-4) in the second.

The daughter of Kildonan was allowed to ease up over the last two furlongs of her barrier trial but followed up with a good second on debut to Making Waves, the latter following up on her bold showing in her barrier trial with victory on debut.

Close-up behind Making Waves in the trial was Ambra who makes her debut proper for Dennis Drier and Tristan Godden stays with the ride. She could well make winning debut.

With African Horse Sickness restrictions still in place on horses returning to the Western Cape, Justin Snaith is likely to be around for a little longer than he possibly expected and Captain Courteous (14-10) can finally pay for his winter season excursion to KZN in the third.

The six-year-old has improved with every run of late and looks primed for this. Marcus has also picked up on the form and will be aboard although he will need to work for his crust in a competitive handicap. Gadget Man, Drageda and recent winner Amor Ardiente will be no push-overs while Princess Peach was close-up behind Captain Courteous when last they met over course and distance.

The list of possible winners for the fourth includes the entire field but the two most likely candidates are Miss Milanna and Township Melody. Miss Milanna has shown her best form on the poly and Township Melody won well over a sprint last time out and should be good enough to step up in trip from a plum inside draw.

The Durban View Restaurant Handicap is a bit of a punter’s mine field but Class Act has had the form of her last race franked and she goes well over course and distance.

It’s 3-1 the field for the sixth but Bridal Veil steps up to a trip over which she could prove better suited and she does well on the poly.

Doug Campbell and Marcus will be hoping for a double with ante-post favourite Stand By Me (2-1) in the seventh but Silvan Saint could prove a match. Mike Miller’s charge is lightly raced and appears to have taken to the poly like many an older horse. His last run is best ignored.

Chatty Cathy was touched off at her last start and can round off proceedings for Julie Dittmer. Josephine Baker and Bold Beauty look pick of the balance.

By Andrew Harrison

The Western Cape trainers were as prominent as usual in the 2017/2018 season and four of their yards finished in the top ten on the national log.

The Western Cape wrested back the South African trainer’s championships as the Justin Snaith yard broke the three year hold Sean Tarry had on the title. Snaith’s first national championship was in the 2013/2014 season and that broke a four season streak by Mike de Kock.

Justin Snaith

However, the Western Cape won less Grade 1s than their Johannesburg counterparts. Of the 29 South African Grade 1s on offer 15 were won by Gauteng yards and 13 by Cape Town yards.

Snaith’s stakes earnings of R32.263.050, if restricted races are excluded, was his best ever return but was less than Tarry’s record amount of R32,263.050 in the 2016/2017 season. If restricted stakes are included Snaith earned R29,987,488, a massive return yet some way short of Tarry’s R36,109,550 of the 2016/2017 season.

Snaith won seven Grade 1s and these included the countries two most celebrated races, the Vodacom Durban July with Do It Again and the Sun Met with Oh Susanna. He was also just 0,4 lengths away from winning the prestigious Grade 1 L’Ormarin’s Queens Plate with Copper Force. Oh Susanna became the first three-year-old filly in over 100 years to win the Met and this followed an emphatic victory in the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes. She then made it three Grade 1s in a row when winning the Woolavington 2000 in her only start in KZN. Before those three wins she had met her stablemate Snowdance twice, in the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship and the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and been beaten into fifth and second respectively.

Snowdance also won the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes. She arrived in KZN a superstar but was then responsible for the yard’s three biggest disappointments as she was beaten narrowly into second in all of the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas, the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge and the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes. However, it was still a memorable SA Champions Season for the yard as they returned the most dominant finish in Vodacom Durban July history. Terrance Millard did the July trifecta twice but Snaith went one better by sending out the trifecta and the fifth-placed horse. However, Snaith’s best day of the season was on Met day, where he landed three Grade 1s. Sergeant Hardy got the ball rolling that day in the Betting World Cape Flying Championships.

Snaith also won five Grade 2s, six Grade 3s, seven Listed races and five Non-Black Type events. Among the latter was the R2,5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes with Miss Katalin.

Brett Crawford was fourth on the National trainers log with official earnings of R12,379,188. He won three Grade 1s, all in the SA Champions Season. He retained his crowns in both the Rising Sun Gold Challenge and the Champions Cup. His highlight was when Captain America, the yard’s flag bearer for many seasons, won the latter race in his swansong. Three-year-old Undercover Agent won the Gold Challenge. His other Grade 1 winner was with three-year-old Bold Respect in the Tsogo Sun Sprint. He also won two Grade 3s, five Listed races and two Non-Black Types. Among the latter wins was the US$500,000 CTS Mile with Undercover Agent.

Candice Bass-Robinson finished sixth on the National trainers log with official earnings of R10,463,900. She retained her crown in the US$500,000 CTS 1200, this year doing it with Dutch Phillip.  All in all she won two Grade 2s, three Grade 3s, two Listed races and two Non-Black Types.

Snowdance

Glen Kotzen finished 8^th on the National log with official earnings of R8,985,000. His highlight was winning the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby with Eyes Wide Open, who also won the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap. Kotzen provided the first South African Graded winner for the top European performer Duke Of Marmalade when Temple Grafin won the Grade 3 Debutante over 1200m on Gold Cup day, Kotzen won one other Grade 3 and also five Listed races.

Dean Kannemeyer finished eleventh on the National log and pulled off a magnificent training feat with It’s My Turn, who joined his yard as a five-year-old having not won since victory in the Cape Derby as a three-year-old. In the space of five weeks in June and July It’s My Turn won the Track and Ball Oaks, the Gold Vase and the Gold Cup, all Grade 3s but the latter event remains the most prestigious staying event in the land. Kennemeyer also won one other Grade 3 and a Non-Black type with his unbeaten KZN-based filly Hashtagyolo, and he also won a Listed race.

Joey Ramsden was probably the chief sufferer among trainers when perennial champion owners Mayfair Speculators began disbanding last December, but he still finished 13^th on the national log and landed one Grade 1, the Computaform Sprint with Attenborough, and won Grade 2 and four Listed races. His filly Fresnaye did the Stormsvlei Mile and Winter Oaks double.

Vaughan Marshall and Andre Nel finished 18th and 19^th on the national log respectively. Marshall landed the Grade 1 Cape Guineas with Tap O’Noth, who also won a Grade 3. Marshall also won a Grade 2, a Listed race and two Non-Black Types. Nel won a Grade 2, three Listed races and a Non-Black Type.

Eric Sands’ provided one of the Cape highlights with the unbeaten three-year-old Rainbow Bridge, who won the first two legs of the Cape Winter Series, both Grade 3s, before being sent overseas.

Harold Crawford won a Listed race as well as the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes with Perovskia.  Bill Prestage won a Grade 2 and a Listed race, Dan Katz won a Grade 2, Glen Puller won a Grade 2, Adam Marcus won a Grade 3 and a Listed race, and Mike Robinson won a Grade 3.

By David Thiselton

Joey Ramsden is considering again sending horses to Johannesburg in the first few months of the season and these could include Mercury Sprint runner-up Attenborough.

Attenborough

The Milnerton trainer said: “He is a good horse who just needs to be ridden in a certain way. He ran a good race in the Mercury Sprint – he got caught wide and the winner got first run on him – and he will return to Cape Town when they lift the restrictions.”

Dutch Philip, only tenth of 14 in the Mercury, left Summerveld with others of Candice Bass-Robinson’s string on Saturday morning and will spend two weeks in Touws River before being allowed to continue to Cape Town.

His trainer said: “It was the draw and racing wide in the Mercury but I don’t think he is as effective round the turn. It might be different, though, if he is drawn on the rails.

“I may well geld him when he gets back. He is not going to be a stallion and he is quite coltish. He will then have a break before returning for the Cape summer season.”

Stable companion Tevez will run in his fourth successive Kenilworth Pinnacle on Saturday when he will be ridden by Ryan Munger for the first time. The now nine-year-old was not suited by the slow gallop when starting joint favourite last time and managed only fifth.

Anton Marcus flies in to take just one ride – the Brett Crawford-trained Water Spirit for his new retainer Ridgemont in the three-year-old fillies maiden – while Anthony Andrews rides for the first time since damaging his shoulder in a pens accident at the end of April.

By Michael Clower

A total of 58 horses have been entered for the R750,000 World Sports Betting Grand Heritage (Non-Black Type) – the event with the biggest field in South African racing – to be run over 1475m at the Vaal on Saturday, September 29.

There will be 28 starters for what has become known as “the cavalry charge”.

Former national champion trainer Sean Tarry has no fewer than eight nominations, including Africa Rising, Count Tassilo and London Secret.

Mike de Kock has entered just two, but they are quality individuals: Triple Crown performer Noble Secret and highly rated Australian import Dhabyaan.

Winner of the inaugural Grand Heritage in 2016, Irish Pride, from the Johan Janse van Vuuren stable, is among the hopefuls.

Others to catch the eye are veteran campaigner Killua Castle, from Geoff Woodruff’s yard, and a raider from KwaZulu-Natal in the shape of Shane Humby-trained Socrates.

The Grand Heritage is open to all horses and the final field is by way of invitation from racing operator Phumelela.

To be considered for inclusion in the final field, every horse nominated must have had at least a minimum of ONE run from the time of first entry up to and including the time of the final supplementary entry.

Base weights are determined by the handicapper prior to consideration of additional weights for Graded and Listed races. Additional penalties for highest Graded/Listed win in the last 18 months are: Grade 1 3kg, Grade 2 2kg, Grade 3 1kg, Listed 0.5kg. Thereafter, where applicable, amended weights for runs between first and final supplementary entries will be published on a weekly basis until final weights are published. There is no sex allowance and no apprentice allowance.

Stakes are payable up to 15th position, provided 28 runners + 2 reserve runners are declared, with the first prize being R406,250.

Entries for the R750,000 WSB Grand Heritage (Non-Black Type) (Open) over 1475m at the Vaal on Saturday 29 September:

18 AFRICA RISING (S G Tarry) 0.0,

37 AFRICAN RULER (P A Peter) 0.0,

15 BOCKSCAR (S G Tarry) 0.0,

13 BOLD COAST (S M Ferreira) 0.0

20 BRONX BOMBER (A G Laird) 0.0

16 CERTIFIABLE (S J Gray) 0.0

25 CHAPEL JIVE (S J Gray) 0.0

43 CHEPARDO (A G Laird) 0.0

33 CLASSIFY (D Sham) 0.0

53 CLEVER GUY (S Moffatt) 0.0

52 COMBAT MUSTER (S J Gray) 0.0

41 COUNT TASSILO (S G Tarry) 0.0

57 DAFFIQ (G Terzi) 0.0

47 DAN THE LAD (P F Matchett) 0.0

11 DANZA (A G Laird) 0.0

56 DHABYAAN (M F de Kock) 0.0

44 DIVINE CONNECTION (A G Laird) 0.0

10 DIVINE ODYSSEY (J J van Vuuren) 0.0

31 FINCHATTON (G Terzi) 0.0

35 FLYING WINGER (A G Laird) 0.0

32 FULL OF ATTITUDE (J A Soma) 0.0

2 GALACTIC WARRIOR (M N Houdalakis) 0.0

46 HUYSSTEEN (M N Houdalakis) 0.0

3 IMAGE AWARD (S G Tarry) 0.0

23 IRISH PRIDE (J J van Vuuren) 0.0

8 JUBILEE LINE (F P Habib) 0.0

7 JUST ASK ME (C J Lensley) 0.0

42 KILLUA CASTLE (G V Woodruff) 0.0

24 KINGS ARCHER (S T Pettigrew) 0.0

12 LAKE KINNERET (S J Gray) 0.0

21 LONDON SECRET (S G Tarry) 0.0

50 MARDI GRAS (J J van Vuuren) 0.0

26 MOUNT KEITH (A B Fortune) 0.0

19 NOBLE SECRET (M F de Kock) 0.0

49 PILOU (S G Tarry) 0.0

29 PURPLE DIAMOND (S G Tarry) 0.0

6 REBUKED (S Moffatt) 0.0

34 RINGS AND THINGS (A B Fortune) 0.0

4 ROUGE ALLURE (S Moffatt) 0.0

27 SAIL FOR JOY (F P Habib) 0.0

28 SEVENTH OF JUNE (P A Peter) 0.0

17 SILVER COIN (G Terzi) 0.0

38 SILVER PEG (G M Alexander) 0.0

1 SOCRATES (S W Humby) 0.0

58 SOLDIER ON (S T Pettigrew) 0.0

22 SOVEREIGN REIGN (D Nieuwenhuizen) 0.0

14 STRAWBERRY PAVLOVA (S J Gray) 0.0

45 STREET FLYER (P F Matchett) 0.0

55 TALKTOTHESTARS (F C de Beer) 0.0

9 TANDAVA (G Terzi) 0.0

54 TOP SHOT (G M Alexander) 0.0

40 TORIO LAKE (J J van Vuuren) 0.0

5 TSITSIKAMMA DANCE (A B Fortune) 0.0

30 UNAGI (G M Alexander) 0.0

48 WILD CURVE (F P Habib) 0.0

51 WILLIAM NICOL (S J Gray) 0.0

39 YAMOTO (S G Tarry) 0.0

36 ZOUAVES (G V Woodruff) 0.0

From Saturday, August 11 to the end of November, any horse winning a Maiden Plate in its first five starts will have to run twice in an Assessment Plate before being allowed to compete in a handicap race on the Highveld.

These Assessment Plates are being introduced at Turffontein and Vaal racecourses on a trial basis from August through November at the request of a group of Highveld trainers and many other industry players nationally led by Mike de Kock.

“We believe in trying something different. These plate races can only assist the handicappers in making more informed decisions in arriving at merit ratings for horses who win within their first few starts. This way we can have less debate,” said De Kock.

Trainers were requested to attend the meeting at which the Assessment Plate proposal was put forward and discussed. Phumelela representatives, the senior handicapper and De Kock were joined by trainers Sean Tarry, Geoff and Tim Woodruff, Mike and Adam Azzie, Grant Maroun, Joe Soma, Clinton Binda, Ormond Ferraris, Paul and Tony Peter, David Niewenhuizen and Johan Janse van Vuuren. Cape-based Brett Crawford and Durban trainer Tony Rivalland participated via video conference.

Senior handicapper Roger Smith indicated that he was willing to trial Assessment Plates.

Full details of Assessment Plates are as follows:

* For maidens and one and two-time winners. Maidens carry 54kg, one-time winners 57kg and two-time winners 60 kg with a 2.5kg sex allowance. A 0.5kg allowance will be applied for each unplaced start since a horse was placed (first four) up to a maximum of 3kg. Graded and Listed-race starts do not qualify for allowances. The current weight allowance applied in all plate races will apply.

* The winner of a maiden race within five starts must have two compulsory runs in an Assessment Plate before participating in a handicap.

* Any horse taking more than five starts to win a maiden race is not required to run in an Assessment Plate before running in a handicap.

* A maiden with two runs in an Assessment Plate can run in a handicap after a minimum of three starts.

* Any Graded, Listed and non-black type feature race will be counted as an assessment run. In other words a maiden winner who then competes in a Listed feature twice can then run in a handicap.

* Horses may participate in any number of Assessment Plates subject to the race conditions and elimination procedure.

* Handicappers shall adjust merit ratings at their own discretion for horses required to run in Assessment Plates. In the case of horses not required to run in Assessment Plates, penalties are optional at the request of the trainer.

* Elimination details will be published in the programme book.

* Prize money for an Assessment Plate will be R108,000 of which R2,000 is for finishing sixth, R1,500 for seventh and R1,000 for eighth.

The Vaal Outside track stages a nine race meeting tomorrow and punters should take note of any draw bias in the early events as it has been unpredictable at this venue recently.

The best bet comes in the second race where the R4 million filly Frankly by Frankel faces an uninspiring field over 1200m. She made a good debut behind the subsequent Grade 2 Golden Slipper runner up Mazari. She then disappointed in two features but now has her first run for the in-form grandfather-grandson combination of Ormond and Luke Ferraris. Vega Vox could be the chief threat. She lost a length on debut over 1000m and was then green but was doing her best work late. Being by Noble Tune she will relish the step up in trip and can reverse form with Seneca Falls, who was just ahead of her in that last race but had a clearer passage and was being caught late.

Luke Ferraris

The first leg of the PA over 1000m is the highest rated race and should be fought out by Winter’s Forge and Queen Laurie, who are the best in at the weights in this fillies and mares Conditions Plate. Winter’s Forge is more reliable so can be made a PA banker. Queen Laurie has more ability but is a quirky sort who costs herself sometimes at the start and needs to settle behind cover to show her best.

Casual Wear is chosen as a banker in the first leg of the Pick 6, but this is only because the Pick 6 has many difficult legs and a banker has to be chosen somewhere. It is always risky to select a filly having her first run out of the maidens in a handicap, especially a young three-year-old merit rated above 80. However, the form of some of her maiden runs, such as a 2,1 length second to subsequent Grade 1 Allan Robertson winner Mighty High, is good and the form of her maiden win has worked out very well indeed. Ideally Ilha Da Var and the first-time blinkered Queen Of War should also be included in the Pick 6 but this will cut the percentages a lot.

Mount Keith is a potential banker in the first leg of the Jackpot considering the ease with which he won last time. However, he was scratched from his last intended start on July 26 with an abnormal temperature and does face a six point merit rated raise so there are a couple of concerns. Beyond him it is wide open and just about the whole field has to be included.

In the sixth race Seventh Rule is a most interesting runner with a 4kg claimer up. He has a lot of pace and kept going recently in his maiden over 1400m to hold on. He now has a 4kg claimer up and will likely attempt to gallop them into the ground, but it is debatable whether he will see out the trip. Darkest Hour will be a big threat as he showed a return to form last week when going close over 1400m and his close up finish in the Dingaans is the stand out bit of form in this race. Punters should consider going wider than those two though.

The seventh is another tough race. Big Myth, an easy winner of a weak maiden last time, has scope for further improvement and is taken to beat Sovereign Reign, who has always been well regarded and is in fine form but he has to prove he stays the trip. Others like Front Rank, Colonel Bogey and Wildlife Safari will have to be considered too,

The eighth over 1600m looks to be a straight fight between two horses who should enjoy the step up in trip, Royal Future and Hot Chocolate.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is tough despite being a maiden. Tripple Z and Peapack should both do well. The one with the best form is Proud Dynasty, who is another Cape Town horse to join the Ashley Fortune yard. However, he has reportedly bled twice and returns from a layoff. Therefore Power Of Place, Ready To Strike and possibly others will also have to be included in the exotics.

By David Thiselton

Sean “Woer-woer Masjien” Singleton” and Neil Patrick Smith have been “living a dream” with their stalwart stayer Hermoso Mundo and are grabbing “a once in a lifetime opportunity” with both hands and sending the gelding to race in Dubai.

The other part-owners of the six-year-old Ideal World gelding are NC Smith, GD Cahn, G Morris and W Volschenk.  

Hermoso Mundo (Candiese Marnewick)

Current trainer Weiho Marwing will hand over the reins to Mike de Kock but the former will be on hand for consultation and will remain very much involved.

Hermoso Mundo’s chief target will be the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup run over 3200m on turf at the World Cup meeting on March 30, 2019, at Meydan racecourse.

The prize money for this race has been raised to US$ 1.5 million for its 2019 renewal.

Hermoso Mundo made history in the 2016/2017 season when landing the unofficial stayer’s triple crown, winning the Gold Bowl, the Gold Vase and the Gold Cup, and he was duly crowned Equus Champion Stayer.

Singleton’s colourful victory war cry, which ends with the words “jou woer-woer-woer masjien!” became a much-looked forward to aside during last year’s SA Champions Season. Furthermore, the story of Smith, his opponent and an umpire huddled together on a tennis court in Germany watching the Gold Vase on a laptop, after the former had requested a break in play in a tennis tournament match, was one of the most heart-warming tales of the season.

Hermoso Mundo was a gallant runner up nine days ago in the defence of his Gold Cup crown.

“It was heartbreaking to come second after he had come from so far back,” reflected Singleton and Smith, “but It’s My Turn was a deserving winner. Based on that run we have decided to send him overseas. He is an out and out stayer and there is nothing really for him here. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we have to do it. We believe he will do very well there and Mike thinks he will do ok. We are very happy to be going with Mike as he is an absolute champion trainer. It’s very exciting. He is by Ideal World so can still run for a few years and can race in other countries. If he does well we can expand and wouldn’t mind going to Australia for the Melbourne Cup. There are lot of other races for him in Australia too. There are some beautiful turf tracks with long straights overseas. Whatever happens we are going to have some fun. It’s a dream.”

Hermoso Mundo was on his way to Cape Town last Thursday. The Kenilworth quarantine station is the first leg of an arduous five month journey to Dubai, which goes via Mauritius and Europe.

By David Thiselton