Justin Snaith was confident of good Vodacom Durban July qualifying runs from his fancied pair Platinum Prince and Elusive Silva in tomorrow’s Grade 2 Betting World 1900, in which he has four contestants.

Snaith said, “If Platinum Prince could contend over a mile like he did last time then he will be a big runner as that was way too short and he has come on a lot from the run and has been doing very well. He needs a big run to qualify for the July but will have to be careful from that wide draw. Elusive Silva is back and if his legs don’t give him trouble he should also be in contention. He strained a tendon at the July gallops last year. However, he is as good now as he was.”

Elusive Silva

He continued, “It is a bit sharp for Strathdon and it will be a bit hit and miss as he has been off for a long time. He will either have a forward run or will need it but I am hoping for a positive run. Captain Splendid is looking for further but I am hoping for a positive run.”

Snaith runs July second favourite African Night Sky and Star Express in a Pinnacle event over 1600m and said, “He may need it a little but I am looking for a positive run into the Cup Trial and expect him to be in the money. Star Express is having her first run and is doing well but she will come on from the run.”

Snaith was thrilled with the Barrier Trial run of former July winner Legislate at Scottsville on Wednesday.

He said, “There is still a long way to go but it was nice to watch!”

He will see how he goes before entering him in a race and said about ahis chances of lining up in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge, “We will see but I feel I’m just one run short.”

July third-favourite Oh Susanna is only 50/50 to line up in the big race as Snaith feels a big weight is a very hard ask for a three-year-old filly to carry over 2200m.

However, she put up a fine gallop at Greyville yesterday, beating her stable companion Copper Force at level weights.

Snaith said, “She is now fit and ready for the Woolavington. Copper Force had to be dropped out from a wide draw in his first run in Durban in the Drill Hall, and it didn’t work out, so it was good to see him putting up a good gallop.”

By David Thiselton

After a memorable couple of days of informative business sessions, the 37^th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) came to a close in the Grand InterContinental Parnas on Thursday night in Seoul, Korea with a momentous announcement that South Africa will be hosting the 38^th Asian Racing Conference in Cape Town in 2020.

Ken Truter, Chairman of the National Horse Racing Authority was delighted to accept the ARF flag from Winfried Englebrecht-Bresges, ARF Chairman.  “As Chairman it is a great privilege for the NHA to accept South Africa as the Asian Racing Conference destination for 2020. We are proud and honoured that the Asian Racing Federation has placed such confidence in us. Together with our industry partners we will put much effort and endeavour into making the 2020 conference a resounding success.”

South African Ambassador to South Korea, HE Miss Nozuko Bam was equally delighted that the Asian Racing Conference will be returning to South Africa after an absence of 27 years.

“On behalf of the South African Government, we are delighted that the auspicious Asian Racing Conference will take place in to our beautiful country in 2020. We will give the local organizing committee all our support to ensure that the conference will be enjoyable and memorable.

We would like to extend a thank you to the Asian Racing Federation and especially to the National Horseracing Authority of South Africa and its industry partners for making it happen. We will be ready when to welcome everyone to the shores of our friendly and exciting country.”

Featured Image by Liesl King

The Turffontein Inside course meeting on Sunday is headlined by the Listed Syringa Handicap over 1600m but of equal interest is a Pinnacle Stakes event over the same trip in which a couple of Vodacom Durban July contenders line up.

The classy Cascapedia is the best weighted horse in the Pinnacle event, despite Bernard Fayd’Herbe carrying 1kg overweight. The big four-year-old daughter of High Chaparral has breathing issues but this does not seem to bother her as she has won five of seven starts from 1400m up to 1800m. She is six months younger than her contemporaries so will be improving all the time. She was fancied for the Sun Met but had to be scratched after not travelling well. She likely needed her comeback run in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes and will have come on from that effort. She is already eleventh on the July log and is unlikely be given any raise in her merit rating even if she wins here as she is best in at the weights.

Cascapedia (JC Photographics)

Greek Fire has been omitted from the log after two below par runs in the Gauteng Guineas and SA Classic. However, neither race panned out well and he is better than that. Under Piere Strydom he might be given more of a chance and dropped out from a wide draw and should be capable of a strong finish being by Dynasty.

However, She’s A Giver and Unagi are preferred to fill the trifecta. Unagi has four wins and a second from five starts over this course and distance. She’s A Giver is a handy sort who has proven lately she stays 1600m and from a plum draw should be in the shake up over a tight course which will suit her style.

Warrior’s Rest can’t be ignored is a big son of What A Winter and if Lyle Hewitson can get him into his favourite front running role from draw six he will be a big runner as he has a good kick.

The enigmatic Secret Captain can never be ignored either and will be especially interesting with blinkers tried from a fair draw.

In the Syringa Handicap over 1600m Redberry Wood will be looking to end a streak of five seconds on the trot. Hewitson will have to get her into her favourite front-running role from the widest draw of all without expending too much energy. There is not a lot of pace in the race, which will aid his cause and she is tipped to get it right.

Her stablemate Aurelia Cotta has been a touch disappointing against the best but can make her presence felt in this lesser event having dropped to a competitive mark and having to carry just 53kg. She has a plum draw of two.

Brigtnumberfive has always been well regarded and is usually slow away so her wide draw of nine should be of little concern. She turned it on last time over course and distance and has a shout carrying just 52,5kg.

However, it is wide open and the like of Heaps Of Fun, Shatoosh, Mar Del Seur, Costa Da Sol, Kilauea and Mrs. O can’t be ignored. However, on a competitive card it is hard to include too many in the exotics.

Modjaji is the last has been chosen as the best bet as she is ultra-consistent and is unbeaten in two starts over course and distance so will be hard to peg back under Piere Strydom who went close on her over 1000m at the Vaal in her penultimate start.

By David Thiselton

Dean Kannemeyer holds a strong hand in the World Sports Betting 1900, one of the major stepping stones to this year’s Vodacom Durban July, and both It’s My Turn and The Slade will have to put up their hands at Greyville tomorrow if they are to be considered for the final July field.

Dean Kannemeyer

With none of tomorrow’s runners in this Gr2 event assured of a July run, the race will be seriously competitive and there could be a few hard luck stories come 3.20pm tomorrow.

The Slade is relatively lightly raced and after reeling off a hat-trick of wins culminating in a close-up second to the smart three-year-old Eyes Wide Open in the Gr2 Peninsula Handicap towards the end of last season he was being touted as a possibly July winner.

However, the Peninsula was his last outing in the Cape Summer and it was nearly four months later that he stepped out in the Sledgehammer where he started favourite in the 1800m event.

But things didn’t quite go according to plan. “I expected more from him,” said Kannemeyer. “But Anton (Marcus) said they went very slow in the Sledgehammer which didn’t suit him. But he has been a little disappointing,” admitted Kannemeyer.

That race was nearly a month back and The Slade should strip a lot fitter tomorrow.

Stable companion It’s My Turn is fairly well weighted in the race and has his third outing for Kannemeyer. “It’s My Turn has had two runs for me. He’s back from injury but is doing very well. He ran a great race in the King’s Cup because he’s a better horse over 10 furlongs, possibly even a mile-and-a-half.”

Kegan de Melo has committed to ride for Kannemeyer for Champions Season so his choice of rides needs to be respected.

Investec Derby and Peninsula winner Eyes Wide Open is a glaring omission from the list of initial entries for the Vodacom Durban July but Pack Leader is from the same stable and races in the same colours. He was nearly two lengths clear of The Slade in the Sledgehammer and was not far back in the Cape Classics over the summer.

Glen Kotzen was optimistic earlier in the week as saying, “He has had a great preparation. He ran on Met day and only had one 1000m grass gallop after that before going into the Sledgehammer.

The Slade

“He was way off and ran much better than expected. He was blowing hard afterwards, but the jockey was not hard on him. Since then he has come on a helluva lot and has been working twice as well.

“If he wins on Saturday and is raised just a couple of pounds his weight will be spot on for the July. I will be disappointed if he is not in the first three and if we are happy the run has qualified him he will not have another race before the July.”

The mare Fort Ember is the best rated runner in the race according to merit ratings and she has an enviable record at Greyville where she seems to “grow and extra leg,” according to Paul Peter. Her recent poor showing in the Champion’s Challenge at Turffontein is best ignored as her previous form was solid.

Justin Snaith, speaking after Oh Susanna had galloped at Greyville yesterday morning, was also fairly confident of his runner’s chances,

“If Platinum Prince could contend over a mile like he did last time then he will be a big runner as that was way too short and he has come on a lot from the run and has been doing very well. He needs a big run to qualify for the July but will have to be careful from that wide draw. Elusive Silva is back and if his legs don’t give him trouble he should also be in contention.”

Snaith has plotted a slightly easier route for African Night Sky who lines up in a Pinnacle Stakes event a half-hour later.

“He may need it a little but I am looking for a positive run into the Cup Trial and expect him to be in the money.”

By Andrew Harrison

Candice Bass-Robinson has a favourite’s chance of winning all three two-year-old races at Kenilworth tomorrow and in two of them her principal hope is odds-on.

Aldo Domeyer, still on 99 after unexpectedly drawing a blank here on Tuesday, should not have to wait long as he rides all three and Mixed Signals stands out in the opener.

Aldo-Domeyer

This filly was a totally ignored 45-1 chance when running on well after it was all over to take second to smart stable companion Santa Clara on debut four weeks ago and should have come on enough. At World Sports Betting’s 13-20 she is short enough though because third-placed Tropical Hibiscus has since let the form down in a big way.

That said, there is no obvious danger. The Vaughan Marshall newcomer African Diamond (a R100 000 Rock Of Gibraltar filly) at 4-1 is the only other quoted at less than 10-1. Sparkling Fire at 14-1 is a big price for a Ramsden two-year-old.

Frozen Tune 40 minutes later looks the weakest link in the Bass-Robinson treble as he has been beaten four times already – admittedly second three times and third on the other occasion – but the 16-10 chance has the best form.

Watch Me Dad (6-1) ran well first time despite losing ground at the start and looks a big threat while The Suit (18-10) had Tuesday’s winner Montego Bay a place behind when fourth last time and would be an appropriate tip on Meghan Markle’s big day.

In race three Russet Air (like Mixed Signals a Winning Ways horse to follow) stands out. He lost lengths at the start on debut when third to stable companion Machiavelli, finishing in front of The Suit and Montego Bay. The problem is that he is quoted at 6-10 and is poor value at those odds. Maybe a few Rand on the Domeyer treble would be a more attractive option.

Of the opposition Dynamite Jack and Famous Orator have shown ability while, with his trainer in such blistering two-year-old form, Arrivederci’s 20-1 looks each way temptation.

In the Betting World Maiden Rocket Girl takes on older horses after two good runs over the trip. She is favourite at 16-10 and looks good enough.

Two in-form 4kg claimers give 9-2 shots Northern Corner and Al Wahed strong claims in the Play Soccer 6 Handicap but the vote goes to Fire Walker (also 9-2). He has been raised five points for last time’s win but he won easing up.

By Michael Clower

The Listed East Coast Cup over 2000m is the supporting feature at Greyville’s WSB 1900 meeting on Saturday.

Leaves Of Grass is an Australian-bred daughter of Poet’s Voice and could be well handicapped. She was 2kg under sufferance when winning the Listed Jamaica Handicap over this trip at Kenilworth in January and her new eight point higher merit rating of 84 falls at exactly the top of one of the merit rated bands in this race. She was flying at the finish of the Scarlet Lady having come from last. She will enjoy the step up in trip, but on the downside she does have a tough draw of eleven out of eleven.

Hidden Thought (Candiese Marnewick)

Franking is a big, galloping daughter of King Of Kings who has cracked a good draw of three. It should be noted that she has been carded with the wrong weight of 57kg and will actually be carrying 55,5kg. Last time out in the Scarlet Lady she was caught one wide just off the lead and was then cramped in the straight just when she had unwound into her big stride. She will relish this step up in trip, being by King Of Kings out of Jet Master mare Bennie And The Jets, who finished third in the Oaks Trial over 2200m. She would likely prefer a galloping track but will be dangerous if getting into a nice handy position, or leading, from this good draw.

Parabola quickened superbly when winning the Scarlet Lady. Her merit rating was raised four points to 91 and that falls near the bottom of her band so it will be tougher this time, but as a four-year-old daughter of Silvano she will be coming into her own.

Ngaga was caught wide throughout in the Scarlet Lady so can be forgiven the unplaced run and she now has a plum draw of two and has also been lowered three points by the handicapper. Her new 99 merit rating falls exactly at the top of the highest band in this race, so she is the best weighted horse in the race according to official merit ratings together with Epona. She should enjoy this trip.

Epona won this race last year, but comes in with worse form this year and will need to bounce back.

Fantasy Lady quickened well from the box seat in the Scarlet Lady to hit the front and she was staying on well when hampered late so is better than the bare result suggests and could be a player here from pole position over a trip she stays.

Kahula was cramped for room in the Scarlet Lady but was staying on well, so is another with a fine chance as her merit rating of 89 is at the top of one of the bands and she should enjoy the trip. However, she does have a tricky draw of eight.

Royal Utopia is a galloping type who could lead. In her penultimate start over 1800m at Turffontein she finished 4,4 lengths behind the Grade 1 winner Orchid Island at Turffontein when receiving 4,5kg, which was not a bad effort. She stays this trip and will be coming into her own being a four-year-old by Ideal World. However, she makes breathing noises which is a concern.

Hidden Thought is a progressive three-year-old and being by Lateral will relish this step up in trip. However, she has to face her stablemate Franking at level weights, as opposed to the 2kg she would receive in a normal handicap, so this is a tough ask in her first attempt at earning black type.

Onesie ran well in her penultimate start at Scottsville but has a tough task on the form of the Scarlet Lady. However, she is better drawn this time and is another four-year-old by Ideal World, so will be coming into her own.

Being Fabulous is a talented filly who is better than her form suggests. This is her third run with blinkers and she might give more effort with Mark Khan aboard who makes a horse know it’s in a race.

By David Thiselton

Paul Peter has freshened up Fort Ember and expects her to have a big shout in the Grade 2 WSB 1900 on a course she loves.

Peter said, “She loves the climate down in Durban and grows an extra leg at Greyville. I feel she will gel with Strydom and punters must put her in.”

Fort Ember

Peter said the pace was too hot for her last time out in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein and she was unable to overcome her wide draw.

That race was just two Saturdays ago so there would be a concern for some that this race has come too soon.

However, Peter has freshened her up and she did “extremely well” in her last bit of work yesterday (Wednesday) when not asked to do too much as he wants to keep her fresh to prevent her from going “flat”.

He said, “She came out of the Challenge sound. She is looking better than she did before that race.”

Fort Ember has at last cracked a good draw of three.

She has a fine record at Greyville, having won both the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m and the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m.

Furthermore, she is the best weighted horse in the 1900, being 2,5kg better off than any other horse according to official merit ratings.

She proved she can mix it with the boys in this season’s Sansui Summer Cup, where she finished second.

If she does well in the 1900, the Vodacom Durban July will be her next target.

By David Thiselton

It didn’t quite happen, the dream alive until the final stride, as Autumn Rain was touched off in a driving finish to the third at Scottsville yesterday. Owned by Hong Kong-based trainer David Ferraris, ridden by son Luke and trained by Grandfather Ormond, who was on course to saddle, Autumn Rain went down in the last jump to Washington Square ridden by Gareth Wright.

Autumn Rain was always travelling well under Ferraris from his outside draw and looked to have the race in the bag until Washington Square came out of the pack to challenge and give Andre Nel the first of two winners.

However, Nel was quick to give credit to his KZN satellite team of Byron Forster and Thomas Simpkins. “I didn’t train them,” he confessed modestly. While Washington Square scraped home, Silver Rose was far more convincing as the gelding sat handy under apprentice Serino Moodley and pulled away in the straight to win as he liked.

Washington Square (Candiese Marnewick)

“I tried to keep him for Cape Town,” said Nel. “But I just couldn’t get him right so sent him up to KZN.”

Much was made of former Vodacom Durban July winners Legislates return to the race track in a barrier trial after a spell at stud. “He was getting one in three in foal,” said Snaith of the entire’s stud career. “That’s just not good enough for a commercial stallion but I am really glad that he is back in training.”

Legislate did little more than a solid grass gallop and finished off nicely ahead of affairs as was expected. “He’s still heavy,” comment Snaith. “I’m not sure where to from here. That was his first real piece of work since he’s been back and I don’t know whether I will have him ready in time for any of the big races.”

“The (Rising Sun) Challenge looks the right race but Snowdance will probably go that route. I’m not sure. We’ll just have to see how it goes.”

Apprentice Lyle Hewitson keeps batting them in at the top of the log and he added another victory to his growing list on Majestic Glory. Hewitson produced Paul Lafferty’s Australian-bred with a telling late run and burst clear of the chasing pack with short-heads separating the next six runners home.

“He’s good this kid. He doesn’t panic,” said Lafferty’s assistant Roy Waugh. This was Majestic Glory’s first crack at 1200m and he stayed it well in soft underfoot conditions.

Moodley was back for a second bite at the cherry as Arizona Sunset gave Kom Naidoo his first winner since moving to Ashburton earlier this money.

His Ashburton colleagues were to the fore in the second as they saddled the first four past the post. The Duncan Howells-trained favourite Beat It won well ahead of Fleek for Louis Goosen, Innocently Naughty for Naidoo and Pina Colada for Gary Rich.

Pure Bliss may have booked her place in the Gr1 Allan Robertson in a fortnight’s time after a smart victory in the card opener. “She’s a smart filly,” according to Glen Kotzen. “She may go for the Gr1 at the end of the month but it’s not set in stone.”

By Andrew Harrison

Snaith Racing plan to boost their already considerable Vodacom Durban July hand by supplementing the much improved Made To Conquer early next month.

Made To Conquer (Candiese Marnewick)

The four-year-old has won five of his last six starts, most recently giving weight all round when beating Silva’s Bullet by three and a quarter lengths in a 1950m handicap at Scottsville at the beginning of the month.

Jono Snaith said yesterday: “We are going to take the easy route into the July with him and try to get in at or near bottom weight. He runs next in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup on June 2 and, if all goes according to plan in that, we will supplement him.”

Joey Ramsden continues to set the two-year-old pace in Cape Town and 10-3 shot Montego Bay’s success under Donovan Dillon in the first at Kenilworth yesterday was his 14th juvenile victory of the season. Candice Bass-Robinson (11) is the only other within sight. The Var colt’s win was – a relatively rare occurrence these days – gained in the famous Mayfair Speculators colours.

Ramsden said: “I have made it my policy to try to get a run into all the two-year-olds before they turn three as it gives us an idea where we stand with them for next season. We have fired with them like this for the last three years.

“We could struggle next season by not having many maidens but I am hoping that someone out there will replace them.”

Ramsden reckons there is more to come from Montego Bay, explaining: “Although he looks physically mature I think that is fooling us at the moment. When he turns those muscles into real muscles he will look like Anthony Joshua!”

By Michael Clower