Kenilworth Racing have announced that Markus Jooste has resigned from their board of directors. The board would like to thank him for his valued contribution to the board and to racing in the Western Cape and in the rest of the country.

Sir David Baird recently won the Listed KZN Guineas Trial in effortless fashion and comes into the Guineas very fit and very well. Trainer Mike de Kock told Turf Talk yesterday morning: “Sir David Baird and Like A Panther have been in Cape Town for a few weeks and we’ve had a chance to gallop them at the track. We’re expecting good runs from both.”

Sir David Baird (Candiese Marnewick)

He said about Sir David Baird: “He has something about him, there is something there. He was beaten against expectations over 1400m twice, once by the smart Surcharge, but all he needed was the bend and a mile and he showed what he was capable of.

“Sir David Baird beat a weak field in the Guineas Trial, but he wasn’t near extended so should handle the step up. He’s well drawn and has a good jockey, two factors we don’t have to worry about.”

De Kock added: “If I look at Saturday’s Guineas I see no obvious stars, they haven’t revealed themselves yet. Vaughan Marshall’s Tap O’Noth is probably the best of the opposition, he may come out of it victorious as the champion among them, but it could be us too, it could be Sir David Baird. We’re keen to see how he goes.”

Like A Panther, De Kock opined, will be better over 2000m and further. “He’s a good Derby prospect for us. He will be hard pressed to win a mile at this level. But he’ll be staying on, he has a place chance.”

Ante-post betting for the Gr1 Forus Cape Guineas

9-2 Tap O’ Noth
13-2 White River, Do It Again
7-1 Rocket Countdown
8-1 Undercover Agent, Bold Respect
9-1 Captain And Master
10-1 Sir David Baird
12-1 Like A Panther, Sir Frenchie (Aus)
14-1 Wonderwall
16-1 Pack Leader
20-1 Purple Diamond, Cot Campbell

Ante-post betting for the Gr3 Premier Trophy

2-1 Last Winter
9-2 Nebula
11-2 Deo Juvente
6-1 Back Arthur, Horizon
8-1 Crambambuli
10-1 Milton
14-1 and upwards others.

– Turf Talk

For a jockey, no matter a champion or a lesser light, the battle against the scale is often more intense that a close finish and for those riders at the top end, life can be a living hell. So those with a disciplined mindset regarding their diet deserve the utmost admiration.

Brandon Lerena is a rider who fights a constant battle with the flashing digits registered by the Clerk of Scales but given the ride he gave the Mark Dixon-trained Diamante in the eighth at Greyville yesterday, the lack of a square meal would have been well worth it for both Lerena and Dixon.

The clique, ‘only fire when you see the whites of their eyes’ is appropriate here. In front early, Lerena let all challenge in the straight and for a brief second looked as if he was headed for the backdoor as all threatened to swamp him.

Diamente (Candiese Marnewick)

But it takes a talent with a steely nerve to know just how much is left under him. Lerena let them all challenge but then squeezed extra out of his mount to come back from a seemingly desperate position.

It was an exhibition of riding out of the top drawer, seldom appreciated by those that care only for the numbers in the frame.

Savuti is one of the most scenic and popular destinations in Botswana but that will have been far from the minds of those punters who took on the favourite Brighteyebushytail.

Sean Veale turned up the wick on Brett Crawford’s charge passing behind the Drill Hall in the sixth, and on a course that was racing quick, he was always in control and going to the line unchallenged.

Having only his second local start, Savuti had obviously come on from this debut effort and won with authority.

The danger light flickered red from the jump for the favourite. Sluggish out of the gate, he was bustled for position but was never travelling well. He raced like he had never seen a racecourse and only in the straight got going when the contest was over – although not soon enough for the majority of PA punters. But on the evidence of yesterday’s performance, you write him off at your peril.

It was a good day for prolific owner Fred Crabbia who recorded a double. Muzi Yeni, who now plies his trade on the Highveld, paid for his airfare as Hidden Thought built on her recent improvement to run out an easy winner of the opening leg of the Pick 6. Yeni took the initiative early and Hidden Thought kept rolling to win comfortably.

Crabbia’s second win was in complete contrast. Miss Milanna, jumping from a wide draw, was well handled by Anthony Delpech and looked to be headed for a fairly comfortable win in the seventh.

However, Sorceress, ridden with a lot of patience by Sherman Brown from a box one outside of Miss Milanna, finished like a rocket but the line came a jump too soon, going down a nostril.

Dean Kannemeyer’s local yard is in top form after a spell in the doldrums and his KZN satellite operation is in the capable hands of Barbara Badenhorst.

Sean Veale’s early forward move on Savuti may well have come as a result of Storm Ruler’s victory in the opening leg of the Jackpot. Champion KZN apprentice for the past two years, Eric Ngwane, made an even earlier move on the Sean Tarry-trained Storm Ruler in the 1800m event, taking over early and making most of the running.

In truth it was something of an armchair ride as Ngwane had little more to do in the dash for home other than punch out for the line as any challenges failed to materialise.

By Andrew Harrison

The Selangor is traditionally the best trial for Saturday’s Forus Cape Guineas – five of the last 12 winners went on to take the classic – but Rocket Countdown’s victory came as a 36-1 shock. Even his trainer was surprised but he has now won three off the bounce, rising steadily up the ratings.

“He needs to take his chance after that  – he won the race fair and square,” says Candice Bass-Robinson of Aldo Domeyer’s mount, a 7-1 chance. “We will see how he follows up but we are still not 100% sure about his best distance, whether it’s going to prove to be 2 000m or a mile.”

Tap O’ Noth (Liesl King)

White River, at 13-2 second only to Tap O’Noth in the betting, has half a length to make up on Selangor running but Greg Cheyne’s mount might well have found it had he not been so intent on taking a bite out of the winner.

“He is a playful horse and he does do a few strange things,” laughs Brett Crawford. “But I am confident he will be fine this time. We have done a lot of work on him since and we’ve tried to teach him a few manners. He is a horse who keeps improving and, while I think he is looking for a bit further, the long run-in will suit him.”

Stable companions Bold Respect (Corne Orffer) and Undercover Agent (Donovan Dillon) are both 8-1 chances but the former has never been further than 1 400m. Will he get the trip?

“Obviously there is a question mark but he can settle and switch off, and he does quicken up well so I think he will be alright,” answers his trainer who reckons he knows why Undercover Agent managed only fifth in the Selangor after going so close in the Cape Classic.

“We found a few little niggles which we have sorted out. He works exceptionally well at home and he is classy horse. I wouldn’t write him off and indeed it wouldn’t surprise me to see him in the shake-up.”

Eyes Wide Open is coughing and was scratched yesterday. Richard Fourie has switched to 16-1 stable companion Pack Leader who has just over a length to find with Bold Respect on Ready To Run form. “That race was too short for him but I still thought it a cracking run,” says Glen Kotzen. “He hasn’t got the greatest of draws – 14 out of 15 – but the favourite is on the outside of him so it’s going to be interesting.”

There were no nominations at yesterday’s Sun Met first supplementary entry stage. Legal Eagle and Edict Of Nantes remain joint favourites at 3-1.

By Michael Clower

Justin Snaith will gallop African Night Sky at 11.30am – an hour before racing -at Kenilworth on Saturday in order to put the Winter Series winner on track for the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met. The stable’s carefully mapped-out plans were thwarted when the Jet Master Stakes was postponed until February.

African Night Sky (Michael Price)

Snaith said yesterday: “He will work over 1 400m with Elusive Silva (Grant van Niekerk) and the relative weights of the two jockeys works out well because I am looking for a bit of gut-buster for African Night Sky.”

In the meantime Snaith is hoping that his recent rich vein of form holds for Saturday’s Forus Cape Guineas in which he has 7-1 shot Do It Again as well as 12-1 chance Sir Frenchie and 25-1 outsider Cot Campbell.

He said: “We are in a good place with the horses at the moment and Do It Again (Fayd’Herbe) did a good gallop last week. We have been waiting for the longer run-in with him because he always comes from too far back and he found trouble in the straight in the Selangor. Had it not been for that I think he would have won.

“Having Callan Murray will help Sir Frenchie’s chances. The horse is well and enjoying his racing but I just wonder if he is good enough to win the Guineas. Only the race will tell.

“Cot Campbell (Van Niekerk)  has twice found trouble on the inside fence. He had to switch out and he wasn’t beaten far in the Cape Classic or the Ready To Run. He galloped particularly well last week – actually it surprised me how well he did work – and it was certainly good enough for him to be a contender.”

By Michael Clower

Brighteyebushytail is a name more fitting of a tree squirrel than a racehorse but the racehorse of that name would hardly care what his name is. Duncan Howells, who saddled a double at Greyville on Sunday, appears to have a decent sophomore on his hands and the son of Dynasty looks destine for far better things than the Excel Tax & Accounting MR 66 Handicap that he contests at Greyville tomorrow.

Duncan Howells

The colt finished well down the field in his sprint debut but is unbeaten in two over ground. He shed his maiden beating the well fancied Kapen Pride who has since franked that form and then got up to beat the giant Haddington at his last outing. Louis Goosen’s gelding has paid tribute to that form, winning three times since.

If there is a chink in Brighteyedbushytail’s armour it is that he has not been out since late August but even if he steps onto the track a little ring-rusty he should still have too much class for the opposition.

Anton Marcus has been conspicuous by his presence at Ashburton on some mornings and is picking the plums in the Howells string. Byline has the worst of the draw in the Say NO to Violence Maiden Plate, always a major disadvantage over 1400m on the Greyville turf, but Graham Elliot’s home-bred is a winner without a penalty. She should never have been beaten by stable companion Roy’s Kaitrina last time out and with Marcus aboard there are unlikely to be any mistakes tomorrow.

Kinsky’s Crusade can open proceedings in spite of her disappointing last effort over 1600m. Corine Bestel’s filly may have found the trip too far as her sprint form was promising. She drops back to the minimum trip here and with blinkers on for the first time the balance of the field are likely to be doing the chasing come the final furlong.

Mighty Mercury looks the part in the second where he is rated a couple of kilos better than his opposition. Charles Laird’s runner contested an apprentice handicap last time out that turned into a race of pot luck, but prior to that got to wining a neck of Winter Blues with Marcus in the irons. This will be his third run after a break and he makes a lot of appeal. Captain Cobalt seems to prefer the poly after a below par performance on the turf last time out and along with Fives Wild is the pick of the balance.

Wendy Whitehead appears to have a smart filly in the making in Twice As Smart who stepped out of the maidens into a tough handicap and finish second to Accidental Tourist who was recording her third win on the bounce. That win earned her a further two-point rise in the handicap but that should not be enough to stop her here although she does faces some seasoned older horses.

By Andrew Harrison

The Western Cape Equine Trust, which finds new homes for retired racehorses, has lost much valuable equipment as a result of a break-in at its Philippi stables.

Committee member Leigh Taberer said yesterday: “The tack room was cleaned out and we lost our saddles, bridles, lead reins, halters and blankets despite our having serious locks on the front gates and on the tack room door.”

The Trust is appealing for donations of second-hand tack. Anybody with anything suitable is asked to contact Ms Taberer on 071-226 6999.

By Michael Clower

The Eric Sands filly has shown superior form to this opposition and is rated the best of them. “She got injured and she then had an abscess,” says her trainer, explaining the lengthy absence. But will she needs the run? “I hope not and she has had a gallop here.”

Eric Sands (hamishNIVENPhotography)

She opened at 22-10 with World Sports Betting on Sunday and was 2-1 yesterday. The Dennis Drier newcomer Sunshine Mint is second favourite at 33-10 with Vice Versa on 7-2. This Brett Crawford runner did not get a clear run on debut and rates the danger ahead of the Snaith filly Spam Alert (5-1).

Aldo Domeyer’s mount Waterbaby is a 9-1 shot and has been off since August. “She cracked her pelvis in her last race so she will probably need it a bit,” says Paul Reeves.

His Photocopy reverts to 1 200m in the TAB Telebet Maiden 35 minutes later and is 22-10 favourite but the shorter trip may not be in the colt’s favour. “He is not a sprinter but he has been haemo-concentrating,” says the trainer, explaining the drop in trip (haemo-concentrating does not have as much impact in sprints).  “We are hoping to get a win out of him before he is gelded, and he is fit and well in himself.”

In the circumstances, though, the vote goes to Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount Count Rosberg (33-10) although there is not much in it between him and 5-1 shot Strabo on their last run.

Andre Nel has been having a quiet spell by his standards – even though Hoist The Mast so nearly did it in the Southern Cross – but Washington Square (28-10) may have come on enough to confirm last time’s placings with 19-10 favourite Inertia in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden.

Tyrandeus looks a big price at 15-2 on the form he showed the first time but he has been well beaten twice subsequently. “We gelded him and he is having his first run since,” says Candice Bass-Robinson. “He is a nice horse but he needs to strengthen up more.”

With the Snaith horses in such form Tease at 2-1 is given marginal preference over 17-10 favourite Dynasty’s Blossom in the Betting World Maiden (race four) while Make It Raine gets the vote in the Supabets Handicap despite the strong claims of Sassy Lady, Sun At Midnight and Swift Dancer.

By Michael Clower

It’s been a tough week for Markus Jooste but at least Just Sensual did him proud by getting up in the dying centimetres of the SW Security Solutions Southern Cross Stakes in the teeth of a gale at Kenilworth on Saturday.

From the stands it looked as if Donovan Dillon had just held on to spring a 66-1 shock on Hoist The Mast – Anton Marcus thought so too – but the camera showed that last year’s Cape Fillies Guineas winner had won for the sixth time.

Off for over five months and running over the shortest trip of her life, this was some training performance and Joey Ramsden disclosed: “She is not the biggest so her runs are limited and you have to plan them. I now think that the Garden Province at the end of last season was probably a race too many.

Just Sensual (Liesl King)

“She will go for the other fillies’ sprint (Sceptre on 5 January) but we might also do the Majorca with her too.”

Jooste, leading owner for every one of the past ten seasons, has put an enormous amount into racing and his investment has been a major contributor to employment. He may shy away from the spotlight in victory – a smiling “I’m not allowed to speak to the Press”  is normally all you ever get out of him – but he has given racing manager Derek Brugman free rein.

Plans for the horses, and observations about them, are happily given for onward distribution to the public, and no question is ever shirked or side-stepped. The horses are run openly and honestly while his trainers are positively encouraged to take each other on.

Sometimes the wrong horses win but never once have I heard a racecourse punter complain about the way they have been run. And in a sport where accusations are bandied about as freely as losing Tote tickets (and often as a direct result), that is a statement that speaks for itself.

If, as seems inevitable, he has to cut right back some people will find it easier to win races but many will be out of a job, some of the top stables will be decimated and the bloodstock industry (which he has heavily supported through Klawervlei and at the CTS sales) will take a serious knock.

But back to Kenilworth where Justin Snaith landed a four-timer to take his haul to 13 of the 27 races run in Cape Town so far this month.  Three of Saturday’s winners  were ridden by Grant van Niekerk who looks like being the major beneficiary should Bernard Fayd’Herbe decide against trying to starve himself within striking distance of 55kg to partner Snowdance in the Majorca on the richest day of the season.

Snaith said: “At this stage it’s Grant, otherwise it would be Anton Marcus. But Grant is putting in quite a bit of work in the yard and that is what is likely to get him the ride.”

Friendly Tibbs, described in the racecard as a reliable veteran and by Piet Steyn as “rough and tough like his trainer,” won for the eighth time in 71 starts in the 1 800m handicap despite seldom seeing his stable. He is kept in a paddock night and day to stop him box-walking. He cost a mere R20 000 yet his winnings now exceed R600 000.

 Sean Veale has been suspended for a week (17-23 December) for interference on fourth-placed Anime in the race won by Red Ginger.

By Michal Clower

Tap O’Noth is favourite to give Vaughan Marshall a fifth Cape Guineas win – despite a terrible draw – in the Forus-sponsored classic at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Vaughan Marshall

The Cape Classic winner is 5-1 with Betting World and 9-2 with World Sports Betting but for Marshall the 15 out of 15 pen is a case of déjà vu. “Captain Al was drawn 16 out of 16 when he won in 2000 and last year William Longsword came from 13 out of 16,” he recalls. “So, while this year’s draw is not ideal either, we will take our chances.”

The Milnerton trainer and stable jockey M.J. Byleveld (successful on Le Drakaar in 2008) have already worked out what they are going to do.

Confirming that the horse has the necessary gate speed, Marshall says: “He will have to get out fast and get across. It’s no good trying to tuck him in but you can sit him anywhere.”

The colt (a son of Captain Al) has deliberately not raced since the end of October but Marshall has no reservations about his fitness. “He has done very well since the Classic and he galloped a mile with two other horses on the course last Saturday week. M.J. rode him, he went well and I was very happy with him. He will definitely appreciate the longer straight on Saturday as he is a big, long-striding horse.”

Asked about dangers, Marshall shakes his head and says quietly: “We just need a bit of luck.”

Will he get a bit uptight beforehand or, after four such victories, does the 66-year-old take it all in his stride?  After all, he has been training for 36 years.

He grins. “For me, it’s no different to a maiden race. I still get excited with a maiden and I will be excited with this race too. But I might just get a bit more nervous and be harder to live with!”

White River is second favourite at 13-2 with Betting World which goes 7-1 Rocket Countdown, Do It Again, 8-1 Bold Respect, Undercover Agent, 9-1 Captain And Master, 10-1 and upwards others.

A notable absentee is Cape Merchants second Dutch Philip. Candice Bass-Robinson, who will be represented by Selangor winner Rocket Countdown, has decided to keep him for the $500 000 CTS 1200 on Met day.

By Michael Clower