The Vaal Outside track has a ten race meeting tomorrow and their look to be a few opportunities for punters and exotic players.

An MR 84 Handicap over 1600m is the highest rated race and the value bet of the day runs here, Notting Hill. This is a striking looking horse who now has his third run on the Highveld since moving up with the Dorrie Sham yard from Port Elizabeth. He faced a stronger field last time over 1700m and put up a bold display from the front before fading late. He would have come on from the run, will appreciate the slight step down in trip and is effectively two points lower in the merit ratings. He has a plum draw of 14 out of 14 by trends on this course. The three-year-old Ghost Town was a facile winner of his second start over this trip and could be anything, so his merit rating of 83 is reasonable and it would be no surprise to see him following up from a fair draw of eleven. Zerodarkthirty has some eyecatching form and was running on strongly in his first attempt at this trip last time in the Egoli Mile. However, he is drawn on the wrong side by trends. Those three are taken to get punters through the exotics and Notting Hill could represent good each-way value.

Baahir

The best bet on the card could be Sirtain in the seventh, a MR 80 handicap over 1000m. This four-year-old Australian-bred by Not A Single Doubt started his career with two ordinary runs, but blinkers then turned him around and, after winning his maiden by 4,1 lengths, he won a handicap last time cosily. Both of his wins have been over this trip and he still looks to be learning so has plenty of scope for further improvement. However, Baahir has been knocking on the door since relocating to the Highveld with the Sham yard and from a high draw has a shout. Copper Jay disappointed last time in a minor feature but if bouncing back to the form of his maiden win could be a threat from the stands rail draw.

The meeting starts off with an interesting maiden as the R1,6 million Fort Wood colt Carbon Atom steps out. He is out of the speedy sprint-miler type Welwitschia so should have speed and is from the yard of national champion trainer Sean Tarry. However, a low draw is against him. My Boy Caloi could be the value here because on debut over 1200m he was tailed off last at one stage but then ran on well for a fair 4,15 length fifth to Affranchi. A low draw is also against him.

In the second Awayinthewoods caught the eye on debut and is drawn on the right side so will go close.

In the third Words stayed on well last time over 1600m and should be thereabouts from a high draw. However, Tortola should be included in the PAas she stayed on well last time over 1800m and the form has been franked.

In the fourth over 1600m Nuntius Oratorion has plenty of scope and this rangy type has a fair draw so should be doing his best work late.

In the sixth, Melinda’s Garden is a striking looker, being a big and athletic filly and as she looks to have found her niche over 1400m she can follow up on her last win.

The last two legs of the Pick 6 are tough but Some Song and Alphamikefoxtrot are the ones given the vote, although Picture Me will likely give a lot of cheek.

By David Thiselton

Surcharge, who beat all except the brilliant Hong Kong-bound Monks Hood in the Gauteng Guineas at the beginning of the month, is 28-10 favourite for Saturday week’s SA Classic despite being drawn widest of all.

Surcharge (JC Photographics)

But Royal Crusade, only a quarter of a length further back, is 11-2 with World Sports Betting to add to Mike de Kock’s fine record in the Classic. He won it with the great Horse Chestnut in 1999, Greys Inn (2004), Forest Path (2009) and Heavenly Blue last year. He has five others still in the race – 7-1 chance Noble Secret who was fourth in the Guineas, Like A Panther (8-1), Yakeen (16-1), Pietro Mascagni (25-1) and 33-1 shot Alshibaa.

Favourites have won two of the last four runnings and six of the last 16. Only three times during this period has the winner started at longer than 10-1. Kings Gambit sprang a 40-1 shock ten years ago, the Mike Bass-trained English Garden was a 16-1 chance in 2011 and Love Struck scored at 22-1 for Paul Lafferty in 2013.

De Kock’s Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Takingthepeace is 9-2 joint second favourite with runner-up and stable companion Silver Thursday for the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic. Since Ipi Tombe scored at odds-on in 2002 de Kock has won the race five times, most recently with Orchid Island 12 months ago.

Favourite at 4-1 is the Paul Peter-trained Folk Dance who also started favourite for the Fillies Guineas but finished only fourth after over-racing early and being caught wide. Gavin Lerena said he felt there was something amiss with her and the course vet reported the filly in post-race distress.

Favourites have won six of the last 16 runnings but only twice during that period has the winner started at longer than 12-1 – Spiced Gold was a 40-1 chance when she dead-heated with Here To Win in 2010 and two years ago Juxtapose started at 50-1.

By Michael Clower

The Greyville polytrack meeting today is headed by an MR80 Handicap over 1000m, which is the first leg of the Pick 6.

The big six-year-old chestnut gelding Big King’s effective 16 point drop in the merit ratings since his last win was due to a sequence of five poor runs on the Highveld. However, his record shows he much prefers running around the turn and in 15 starts at Greyville has only once failed to earn a cheque. He strode out well in a recent barrier trial and looked well, so with Anton Marcus up from a plum draw of four can win despite a layoff since last July. On Your Life beat Yaas in November over course and distance by 2,9 lengths and is now effectively 2,5kg better off if weight for age changes are taken into account.

Anton Marcus

Winter Blues is an improving son of What A Winter who has won his last three and well drawn. However, he is not the biggest and must shoulder 60,5kg. His stablemate Yaas is a speedy three-year-old filly who jumps from pole with a 4kg claimer up, but running against older males is not going to be easy. Panza has a chance on a favourable weight turnaround with Winter Blues, but that was at his favourite Scottsville track. They are selected in the order mentioned.

The meeting opens with a fascinating Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1200m. Lateral filly Bequia put up one of the most eye-catching recent barrier trials, displaying a big action, quickening well and being kept on a tight hold. Torbenite won that trial and displayed good gatespeed and a nice daisy cutting action. Arianos Shadow is a strongly built Querari filly who digs her toe in and she won her barrier trial over 1000m on the poly in a time 1,84 seconds faster than Torbenite’s. Cashmere Mist is a slightly built but rangy Philanthropist filly who stayed on well for second in her trial, but looks to need further. Easy Ginger strode out well in her trial. Of those to have raced Miss Calypso is also a strongly built Querari filly and after a fair barrier trial showed good natural pace over 1200m at Scottsville on soft ground and quickened well before finding no extra late and finishing second. However, the vote goes to Bequia.

In the second over 1200m Majestic Mary, an impressive daughter of Dynasty, took a keen hold when restrained over 1000m last time, but finished strongly from last for second and now from a better draw she will hopefully settle better and run on to win under Marcus.

Marcus can win the fourth too o the King Of Random, whose handy-running on style is suited to the pole position draw he has.

Fonteyn should relish the 1800m trip of the fifth.

Sunny Bill Du-Toy was caught wide on debut, but looks a nice type and is selected to win the sixth.

Champenois is tipped to win the seventh and Under The Stars is selected for the last, although the wide draw is a concern.

By David Thiselton

Brett Crawford’s SA Champions Season string have arrived at Summerveld and look to have traveled well.

He said the big horse Captain America, winner of last season’s Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge and second in the Grade 1 Champions Cup, would likely go the same route as last year and thus avoid the Vodacom Durban July. He said, “I think it’s just too far and he will have too much weight, so rather stick to the weight for ages.” Therefore, Captain America will likely start in the Grade 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m on Champions Season opening night, a race he finished a narrow fifth in last year. This twice weight for age Grade 1-winning seven-year-old Captain Al gelding has shown no sign of slowing down and has earned a cheque in every one of his last 21 starts.

Sail South (Liesl King)

Sail South, who scored his sole career Grade 1 when winning the Champions Cup last year, will go the same route as Captain America again. However, he will not be receiving 2kg from the latter this year in the Champions Cup as he will now have to carry a 2kg Grade 1 penalty.

An interesting inclusion in the string is Rabada, a twice Grade 1 winner, who has not raced since November 2016, when finishing second last in the Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile. He has been out with an injury and Crawford said, “He is on the road back, but has not had any major gallops yet, so it is a long road back. But he is doing fine.” Crawford said he would likely nominate Rabada for the July.

His two best three-year-olds, Undercover Agent and White River, are with the string. The former is coming off a fine win in the US$500,000 CTS Mile on Sun Met day. This Captain Al colt will be aimed at the Grade 2 Daisy Guineas on Champions Season opening night on May 4. Crawford has his doubts about him staying the 2000m of the Grade 1 Daily News 2000. However, the latter race will be the target of Trippi colt White River, who stayed on in eye-catching style for a half-a-length second in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas. He then disappointed when starting favourite for the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby over 2000m. However, middle distances look to be his game and he should be improving all the time. He will also run in the Daisy Guineas.

Crawford has gone close in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint in two of the last three seasons, finishing second with Gulf Storm in 2015 and second with Search Party last year. The latter, a five-year-old Captain Al gelding, appears to love Scottsville, not surprisingly as he has good early pace and a telling kick. He will be a strong contender for Crawford again this year. However, if the recent six point across the board merit rating raise is taken into account, he is off a merit rating which is four points higher than the one he ran off in last year’s Tsogo Sun, so he is going o have his work cut out.

Sunset Eyes (Candiese Marnewick)

Crawford will also be targeting Sunset Eyes at the Tsogo Sun. This four-year-old Western Winter gelding has won his last four races in KZN, including his last three over the 1200m Tsogo Sun Sprint distance. Two of those last three wins were at Scottsville, so he will have a shout if he manages to get in with a low weight. His current merit rating of 98 includes the obligatory six point raise, so he will likely need to perform well again before the big date on May 26 to ensure a berth.

Crawford could also have a big two-year-old runner at the Festival Of Speed meeting on May 26 in the form of the Australian-bred two-year-old Snitzel colt Traces, who romped to an impressive victory on Sun Met day in the Listed Tattersalls Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1000m.

Crawford had a fine SA Champions Season last year, winning four Grade 1s with four different horses, Captain America, Sail South, Edict Of Nantes and Lady Of The House. The latter pair were both owned by the beleaguered Mayfair Speculators so will not be campaigning for the yard this Champions Season. However, assistant trainer Peter Muscatt will once again be taking care of the string, so the ingredients are there for another fine campaign.

By David Thiselton

Brett Crawford has decided against keeping his CTS 1600 winner Undercover Agent in Cape Town for the Winter Series and has sent him to Durban.

Crawford said: “He is the sort to find his feet as he gets older and matures, and I think Greyville will suit him. He will run in the Byerley Turk on Sunday week and then go for the Daisy Guineas.”

Professor Brian

Kenilworth Racing has increased its number of charity racemeetings from four to 13 and Clinton Theys, a key member of the events team, points out that the reasoning behind the increase is not purely benevolent.

He said: “I am convinced that we can get more people interested in racing – and so increase attendances – and charity meetings have proved to be a good way of getting new people to the races.”

Grant Knowles, encouraged by the success of last Thursday’s Horses In Training Sale in the Kenilworth parade ring, intends staging more such sales.

He said: “People there told me that it was a great idea as, at the moment, there are few sales where people can turn over horses and we had a great turn out. There was seating for 120 but still some people had to stand.

“But you have got to have a couple of good ones in the catalogue to generate interest. It won’t work if such sales prove to be just a dumping ground.”

The 1400m Progress Plate at Kenilworth on Saturday has been scrapped as it attracted only four runners, three of them trained by Candice Bass-Robinson. However the Fillies Progress Plate over the same trip stands even though only six have been declared, half of them trained by Mrs Robinson. Justin Snaith (2) and Vaughan Marshall are the only other trainers represented in the race. The first of what is now a seven-race card is due off at 12.05pm

In-form Richard Fourie forsakes the meeting to take nine rides at Turffontein including the Mike de Kock-trained Dame Eleanor in the Sycamore Sprint and Professor Brian for Joey Ramsden in the Senor Santa Stakes.

By Michael Clower

The Vaal Inside track stages a low key eight race meeting tomorrow and some good dividends could be the reward for those who do their homework.

A MR 74 handicap over 1500m is the highest rated race and The Rising Legend looks the one to beat. On debut he made up an astonishing amount of ground late in the race over 1160m after a slow start. Second time out over 1600m he was slow away again and had a mountain to climb in the final stages but somehow managed to make up the ground. The early stages of his racing should improve with experience and he looks to be talented. Gavin Lerena should be looking to produce another strong finish from him and as he is by Eightfold Path he should be suited to this trip.

Gavin Lerena

Tumbling Stream is a fascinating runner here as he built up a good lead over 1400m last time and only one other horse, Shortstop, managed to catch him. Shortstop went on to win next time out to frank the form. The 1500m trip will stretch Tumbling Stream, but he is drawn in pole and if able to dictate at a slower pace than last time he will go close. However, another thing against him is he had a 4kg claimer aboard in that last race and has been given an effective one point raise, so at the weights he has a tougher task. However, he does have the experience Gunter Wrogemann aboard. Aranjeuz is a nice looking gelding and faced a much tougher field than this one last time.

Furthermore, he is from the Lucky Houdalakis yard, whose horses continually improve. Trip To Troy is probably ideally distance suited as he moved up well over 1600m in his penultimate start and then found no extra. He has a plum draw. Tokyo Drift is an honest distance-suited sort who has dropped to a competitive merit rating and he could be involved. Savannah King was a commanding winner of a maiden last time over 1400m but before that lost to Tumbling Stream, who now carries half-a-kilogram less weight than him.

Tirzan in the previous race warrants banker consideration after overcoming a wide draw last time over this same 2000m course and distance and finding a nice handy position before winning full of running by 3,4 lengths. He has an effective seven point raise to overcome. Another question is whether there will be as a good a pace. Last time Fort Augustus went well clear and Tirzan sat behind the second-placed horse Barbados Cruise, who had to keep up a fair pace to stay within range of the leader. If it doesn’t pan out well for Tirzan then the risk averse can also include Skynight and Tiger Jet whose recent performance over 1800m make fair reading and they should stay this trip.

Piere Strydom

Another banker consideration is No Mans Land, who raced a bit strongly over 1600m last time after being bounced out to overcome a wide draw. However, he still found a resolute finish in the long Turffontain Standside track and only ran out of steam right at the end. This time he has a better draw of five and he will also appreciate the 100m shorter trip. Streetwear and Wottahottie look the dangers. Piere Strydom has stayed aboard Streetwear after he went close over this trip last time. The consistent Wottahottie had the blinkers removed last time when stepped up to this trip and stayed on well for third. He has a wide draw, but that last run suggests he will enjoy the course and distance and it is just a question of whether JP van der Merwe can find a position for him.

Race three over 1200m is the toughest on the card and Cutey Me could be the one to side with as she ran well the last time she tried this course and distance when staying on behind the fair sort Ninjara. However, the suggestion is to go as wide as possible for this race.

Race five is a difficult maiden over 1800m one but three similarly scopey types, Wolves Among Sheep, Shallcross and Nuntius Oratorion should improve and should be finding finishes. Stop And Stare is also interesting as one who has been effective over 1400m from the front, but who is bred to stay this trip.

In the second over 1000m Scoop can use his early pace from the number one draw, which is a plum one by trends on this track. Last time he had an unfavourable high draw and was up with the pace and was overtaken late by Gone With The Wind for third. Gone With The Wind can repeat the dose as he has another nice low draw and is a rangy type who looks to have plenty of scope for improvement.

By David Thiselton

Candice Bass-Robinson has more than 60 two-year-olds this season and Nous Voila is apparently not the only potential star among them. “It’s an exciting crop,” says their trainer although she cautions: “It’s early days yet and they have to go and do it.”

Lesedi La Rona (named after one of the biggest diamonds ever found) became the fifth to win when catching better fancied stable companion Santa Clara on the line in the newcomer-dominated Fillies Maiden Juvenile at Durbanville on Saturday with the heavily backed (6-1 to 17-10 favourite) Dancing For Rain only third.

Greg Ennion

This was the 70^th success of the season for both Mrs Robinson and Grant van Niekerk who also adopted waiting tactics to complete a treble on Oloye for Eric Sands and the Justin Snaith-trained Love Happens in the last two races.

Greg Ennion, a near neighbour of Bass Racing, has seen his numbers slump alarmingly from 40 to 22 in the past three months but that has not stopped him advertising his talents with a winner at each of the last six Cape Town meetings – and he was full of praise for Sandile Mbhele after the 20-year-old had brought Northern Corner with a decisive run between horses to record his eighth success in the TAB Telebet Handicap.

Ennion said: “This horse doesn’t like being hit but with a hands ride he will give you everything and I told Sandile what to do. He listened to my instructions and he carried them out to a T.”

The five-year-old carries the Braam van Huyssteen colours and so it was no surprise to see him backed from 9-2 to 2-1 joint favourite. But the shock of the day came in the Hassen Adams silks when Shadow Warrior made most of the running at 28-1 to beat the Dan Katz first string Royal Ginger in the Supabets Handicap.

It looked as if Devin Ashby had stolen the race when he kicked several lengths clear before the straight but the jockey, rather more modestly, said: “He has been running over 1 400m and a mile and I suggested trying him over 2 000m. But he is a tearaway and he went a bit hard early as I couldn’t hold him!”

Curiously the improved course layout has had more impact on race times in the distance races than in sprints. The 2 000m record here is 2 min 0.06 sec set by Gimme One Night last September and Delma Sherrell’s American Landing was only just over a second outside that in the Play Soccer Maiden.

Brett Crawford and stable jockey Corne Orffer also took the Tabonline Maiden with 6-10 hotpot Miss Smarty Pants who made most with the trainer predicting: “I wouldn’t be surprised if she won again quite soon.”

First time blinkers worked the oracle with Cape Charlotte in the Betting World Handicap (Grant Behr: “Normally she doesn’t quicken but today she did so as soon as I asked her”) to delight Paddy Kruyer and owner-breeder Spencer Cook who recalled that he didn’t get a bid when he tried to sell the filly as a yearling.

By Michael Clower

Seemingly there was rather more to Whisky Baron’s below-par performance in the Jebel Hatta in Dubai 16 days ago than simply a flat run – although Brett Crawford is playing his cards close to his chest.

Whisky Baron (Liesl King)

The Philippi trainer, asked by Grant Knowles about last year’s Sun Met winner in a Tellytrack interview at Durbanville on Saturday, said: “We were very disappointed with that last run but there were reasons for it. We are busy hard at work on that and we are on top of it. We just need to get him back where he should be.”

Crawford, asked afterwards whether the reasons were physical or mental, would only say: “They are in-house.”

Normally one of the most open in the business, Crawford added: ”They were affecting his performance and I have no doubt resulted in him running the way he did. We just need to get him right.

“He could have run on World Cup night but I felt it would be unfair to run him again so soon without getting to the bottom of his issues and three weeks wasn’t enough.”

In the Knowles interview Crawford seemed to indicate that there could be a doubt about the horse making the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong on April 29 when he said: “You can be assured that if we take him to Hong Kong he will be in top form.”

However he said afterwards that the horse will run in the US$3 million (R35 million) ten furlong Grade 1.

By Michael Clower

The Grade 3 Kings Cup was the headliner at the Greyville turf meeting yesterday and national champion trainer Sean Tarry retained his crown in this SA Champions Season pipe-opening race as record-breaking apprentice Lyle Hewitson got Social Order up to win in courageous style.

The four-year-old Count Dubois gelding travelled down from Johannesburg on Saturday and clearly took the journey well.

Social Order (Candiese Marnewick)

He jumped well and was up with the pace early before being eased back expertly by Hewitson to sit one wide of the rail and covered by Sun On Africa, who sat on the flank of the pace setter and Tote favourite Redeemer. The 2016 Investec Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn was on the rail behind the leader and was followed by his Justin Snaith-trained stablemate Platinum Prince. Redeemer, who was going for his fourth win in a row in KZN, was put under pressure early in the straight and Social Order became involved in a ding-dong tussle up front with It’s My Turn. Social Order courageously maintained his one neck advantage and then late in the day Platinum Prince joined the fray with long strides. However, Social Order held on to beat the latter by a long-head, with It’s My Turn a quarter of a length further back. Red Chesnut Road stayed on in eyecatching fashion for fourth ahead of Redeemer.

Last year, the King’s Cup was run on the poly and was won easily by the Tarry-trained Bulleting Home.

The first race once again displayed the value of barrier trials. On March 11 the Dennis Drier-trained Master Of My Fate colt Goliath Heron showed he possessed plenty of natural speed in a barrier trial over 1000m on the poly. The Paul Lafferty-trained Judpot colt Victorious Man had been the eye-catcher in a barrier trial over 800m at Scottsville on February 28, where he displayed a fine action. Goliath Heron duly started at 21/10 second favourite and Victorious Man was the 5/1 third favourite. The 16/10 favourite was the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Philanthropist colt Clifton Crusher, who had put up a fair debut over 1000m at Kenilworth and is a good looking sort. Goliath Heron was duly placed well in a handy position by Sean Veale and then kicked away from the field to win by four lengths from Clifton Crusher with Victorious Man staying on well for third.

Veale had a fine day as he rode a double for Drier and another winner for Frank Robinson.

By David Thiselton

With a furlong to run in the Michael Roberts Handicap, the stipendiary stewards were probably heading for the boardroom door to collar Marco van Rensburg before his feet even touched the ground on his return to the paddock.

Doing a startlingly good impression of a shop window mannequin on a racehorse, Van Rensburg was viewing the backsides of the opposition on the fancied Duncan Howells-trained Wild Wicket. Even the trainer was panicking – had his rider lost his mind? The stipes will ‘pinch’ me as well!

Wild Wicket

But Van Rensburg either has ice water running through his veins or is a tremendous judge of what he has under him, much to the collective relief of all concerned.

With barely a flick of the reins, Wild Wicket picked up his gallop in an instant and roared through to win going away in a remarkable display by horse and rider.

That was then, Sunday is two days away, and Wild Wicket takes his place in the Gr3 Kings Cup, a stepping stone into the Vodacom Durban July.

Howells has earmarked Wild Wicket as a possible for the July and victory on Sunday will go some way to strengthening the gelding’s chances of making the final field although it’s no ‘given’ – victory and the July.

Van Rensburg is back in the saddle on Sunday against many of the horses he beat last time out. The shorter Greyville straight should hold no fears as he has shown a remarkable turn of foot and with only 54kg to shoulder he should get in a blow.

Redcarpet Captain seldom runs a bad race and Mark Dixon’s gelding was less than a length behind Hong Kong-bound Monks Hood at his last start. However, the winning margin was flattering as Monks Hood cruised to the front hard-held. Given his head the margin could have been five or six lengths.

Stable companion Celtic Captain met progressive three-year-old Roy Had Enough over the Greyville mile last time out and it was only in the dying strides that ‘Roy’ got the upper hand.

Just how Celtic Captain shapes up here could provide a valuable key to bot Roy Had Enough’s chances in the SA Classic and Wild Wicket’s future.

Haddington (Candiese Marnewick)

Wild Wicket faces a hard-knocking field but a reproduction of his last run could have hearts beating fast again but should be enough to see him home.

Haddington steps up over a more suitable trip in the first leg of the PA and should prove a safe exotic bet banker. He only got going late when beaten by Toltec last time out and the extra 300m will be in his favour.

Garth Puller could hold the key to the Sports Betting Maiden plate, first leg of the Pick 6, with two runners, It’s My Turn and Los Barbados. Both step up to a more suitable trip after showing up well in their pipe-openers but Los Barbados has had many chances and the younger It’s My Turn should have more scope for improvement.

The Air Products Handicap is a mine field but Whiteleaf Hills, who came from the clouds to shed his maiden, should prove better than his last run when taking a major step up in class and being ridden by an inexperienced apprentice. Down in class and Callan Murray aboard could be enough to see him home in a very tricky contest.

The Howells stable appears to have turned the corner after battling a virus and Miziara can get his ball rolling in the Morris Vee Sports Bet handicap. She is seldom out of the money and appeared just in need of her last start behind Ideal Winter.

By Andrew Harrison