Relying on charity when riding in a horse race is tantamount to sporting suicide as Anthony Delpech found out to his cost aboard favourite First Crusade in the Business Woman’s Association Maiden Plate at Greyville yesterday.

Anthony Delpech (Liesl King)

Social media was fired up over the ride, basically accusing Delpech of negligence, but in fairness to the champion jockey it was a case of dammed if you do and damn if you don’t.

Arch rival Anton Marcus has a grin all over his chops as he steered Lucky Veil over the line for Ivan and Darrel Moore, more because he has persuaded the grandfather and grandson combination to run the gelding rather than having put one over arch rival Delpech.

“I didn’t want to run the horse from a wide draw,” said Moore the younger post-race, “but Anton persuaded me. He’s a master at what he does.”

However, it may have all turned out differently had Muzi Yeni had let Delpech through a tight gap. It was there for the taking a furlong-and-a-half out but Yeni’s mount rolled out, shutting the door on Delpech who was sitting with the proverbial handful on the favourite.

By the time Yeni had switched his stick and rolled back on a straight course, it was a case of race-over for First Crusade who cut the deficit to a neck at the line that came four jumps too soon.

The stipendiary stewards called for a race review but First Crusade was victim of circumstance rather than any wrong doing on the part of Yeni which was how the stipes viewed the incident .

Delpech was booked off after the race and Stuart Randolph took full toll as he steered Gadget Man to a comfortable victory in the Mitras Amenities Handicap for Dean Kannemeyer whose horses have come to hand with a vengeance of late.

Meet The Logans looked the best bet on the card and duly obliged with a bloodless victory in the card opener but Liberty Market brought all back to earth as she obliged for Pat Lunn at her 42^nd time of asking in what quite frankly was a desperate maiden.

By Andrew Harrison

Argentinian Gr1 Guineas winner Hat Puntano was being written off as a lemon after fluffing his lines on his local debut but a change of bit made all the difference.

“Horse make fools of every one but today he showed his true worth,” commented an emotional Mike Azzie after the colt silenced his critics with a stunning victory in the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile at Turffontein yesterday.

Azzie gave all the credit to Bomber Nel, who specialises in making bits for horses.

Mike Azzie

“He (Hat Puntano) was always hanging and giving us a hard time,” said Azzie. There was plenty of advice from all sides but Azzie eventually called in Nel who spent two days in his yard working with the colt. “He said we were racing him in the wrong bit and training him in the wrong bit. When we changed on Bomber’s advice, the horse settled and started running straight.”

Carrying joint top weight with race favourite New Predator and ridden by Cape jockey Grant van Niekerk, the colt got his mind on the job and gave notice that he will be a contender for the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and possibly the Gr1 Sun Met.

Earlier Via Seattle put a major spanner in the exotics.

“I’m racing here with a few of my mates and we never even put her in the Pick 6,” confessed part owner Braam van Huyssteen after Port Elizabeth raider put the skids under a high-class field of fillies in the Gr3 Princess Charlene Starling Stakes. “You hope but you don’t really believe,” he said of the 66-1 outsider who was given a copybook ride by apprentice Lyle Hewitson.

Hewitson, who has replaced Anton Marcus in the South African team for the Jockey’s International Challenge, showed just why he cracked the nod.

He sat comfortably off the pace before making his move as Folk Dance and Silver Thursday battled it out for the lead. Just as Folk Dance gained the upper hand in that duel, Hewitson slipped Via Seattle up the inside fence to win going away.

Purple Diamond

Big Bear, one of a trio saddled by Sean Tarry in the Chris van Niekerk silks in the R2.5 million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup, underlined his credentials with a smart victory over the game filly Brave Mary.

It was possibly one of the strongest Ready To Run fields in the history of the race with Brave Mary a Gr1 winner and Purple Diamond a Gr2 winner on July day in the line-up.

Big Bear, prominent throughout as stable companion Wonderwall cut out the early fractions, kept finding to win impressively, his third victory from just four starts.

Bred by Summerhill Stud, whose boss Mick Goss pioneered the Ready To Run concept in South Africa, Big Bear has a stout pedigree that should stand him in good stead if Tarry decides to chase the Triple Crown.

By Andrew Harrison

Know The Ropes can make it four off the reel and give weight all round in the Supabets Handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow.

The Andre Nel four-year-old has shrugged aside problems to go from strength to strength this season and last time she led over a furlong out to win by two and a quarter lengths quite comfortably. Indeed she won in the manner of a horse that will follow up next time even though the handicapper has raised her up six points.

Andre Nel

“I thought that was a bit harsh,” says Andre Nel. “She is unsound but she ploughs through that and I think she can win again.”

She has been installed 2-1 favourite with World Sports Betting but she has some stiff opposition to contend with, notably 4-1 chance Sequined who was only beaten three and a half lengths when seventh in a good progress plate at Durbanville last time. Those who finished immediately in front of her included Magical Wonderland, Rose In Bloom, Too Phat To Fly and Oh Susanna who occupied four of the first five places in last Saturday’s Western Cape Fillies Championship.

Then there is Still I Rise (5-2) who was good enough to win first time even though she swished her tail each time her rider touched her with his whip. She subsequently refused to load in the Durbanville handicap won by Lindleys Lane (5-1) who is weighted to confirm the placings with Rings And Things (13-2) and Double Black (7-2).

Wedgwood was beaten almost four lengths by Know The Ropes last time but is 4.5kg better so the Woodruff mare could go quite close despite her 16-1 price.

Flower Of Carmel was only just over a length behind the more experienced Saltire on debut so you would expect Aldo Domeyer’s mount to reverse the placings in race one but Brett Crawford’s horses are in great form so Saltire is taken to win.

Whatever their fortunes in the opener Domeyer and Candice Bass-Robinson should win the next with What A Winner even though the three newcomers are also from top stables and therefore command respect.

Finally Emerald Gal could be worth a few rand each way in the last, particularly if she starts anywhere near her present 8-1. She flopped at Durbanville last time and was found to be coughing but she made the frame six times on the trot before that.

“A lot of horses cough at this time of year when there is a high pollen count,” says Dan Katz. “Also she didn’t like Durbanville but this is the right race for her and I think you will see the form she showed previously.”

By Michael Clower

It is one of Turffontein Standside’s big race days on Saturday and punters will be looking to capture a slice of the big exotic pools.

The Grade 2 R1 million Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile is the headliner and New Predator could retain his crown.

New Predator

Last year he finished close up in the Jo’burg Spring Challenge in his pipe-opener and has done the same going into this year’s race. He is off a six point higher merit rating this season and has to carry topweight of 61kg, as opposed to 58,5kg last year. However, this year’s field is not nearly as star studded as it was last year and he jumps from a plum draw. He wore blinkers in his penultimate start in the Grade 1 weight for age Mercury Sprint over 1200m at Greyville and this allowed him to be up with the pace from the off before staying on for an excellent 1,1 length third. However, he has never worn them before over this trip, so them being declared it is a slight concern. However, his regular pilot Gavin Lerena should be able to keep him settled. Bella Sonata is also full of class and can be switched on and off, so she should be able to overcome her wide draw. On a line through Bela-Bela there is very little between her and New Predator.

The officially worst weighted horse in the race is Social Order, who is 4,5kg under sufferance. However, he caught the eye flying home after encountering severe traffic problems in the Grand Heritage and was not suited to the tight Inside track last time over 1600m. He will relish the Standside track with its long straight and has a plum draw under national log-leading jockey Lyle Hewitson. Hermoso Mundo has class and can use his big action to pass horses in the straight running fresh over a trip short of his best. The joint topweight Hat Puntano won two Grade 1s over a mile as a two-year-old in Argentina in the first half of last year and nothing went right for him in his SA debut, so he can be given another chance. Classify sneaks into the handicap with bottom weight and looks likely to relish the course and distance. Go Direct is capable of a strong finish and will be coming into his own being by Go Deputy.

Mac De Lago

French Navy, Mac De Lago and Tilbury Fort have the class to be involved, but all are making their seasonal reappearances. Irish Pride also has some class and is now one point lower in the merit ratings than his last win. Tahini stayed on well for third in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes over course and distance and can’t be ignored. Finchatton looks a touch high in the merit ratings. The 2014 winner Bezanova has his third run after a layoff and has pole position. Forest Fox would prefer 1400m and Top Shot has a tough task at the weights.

They are selected in the order mentioned.

Big Bear is the selection for the R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup over 1400m. He impressed last time over 1450m on the Inside track and this big, galloping, progressive type will prefer this track and has a good draw. Surcharge has been most impressive in his last two starts over this trip at the Vaal, but is drawn 17 in his first start around the turn. Takingthepeace has shown a fine turn of foot in sprints and should enjoy the step up in trip. Wonderwall is best in at the weights on official merit ratings but will find it tough from a wide draw in fast going considering his front-running to handy style. Tammany Hall is a progressive galloper who should stay on resolutely from a draw of two. Purple Diamond has his seasonal reappearance but is a Grade 2 winner over this trip. Vicomte is an eye-catchingly long-strider and is the dark horse.

In the Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m Hakeem has caught the eye before and will relish the course and distance, although Flying Free, Galactic Warrior, Zen Arcade and Kahal’s Legacy also have the class to contest the finish and Missouri is a dark horse.

By David Thiselton

Winning first time out of the maidens is always difficult but given a modicum of talent at this time of the year in KZN it is a little easier as She’s A Dream showed at Greyville on Wednesday.

Mark Dixon’s filly does look a cut above the average but Oligarch does not have to be anything super special to register his second win when he lines up in the Klinger Mzansi Handicap at the same venue tonight where all the races are on the poly.

Oligarch (Candiese Marnewick)

Oligarch, a son of Kahal whose progeny take well to the poly track, had come unstuck in a few of his early starts but blinkers and the poly track appear to have brought out his true ability. After an improved effort behind Tommy Grand, he followed up with a comfortable maiden victory. The only three-year-old in the race, he takes on some seasoned opposition, but the Dean Kannemeyer stable is currently in mustard form with three winners at Greyville on Wednesday, all from tricky draws, and the extra furlong should also suit Oligarch.

Alyson Wright’s filly Green Ice has similar credentials to those of Oligarch, possibly even stronger. After showing good form in feature company as a maiden, she made short work of her opposition when back in maiden company, beating Flamenco Dancer. She too takes on older opposition but was good enough to finish just over three lengths back to subsequent Gr1 winner Lady In Black in her first start on the poly and a repeat of that effort should be good enough to see her home where the dangers are Miss Suey and Jingle Belle who makes her local debut after a much improved effort at Kenilworth last time out.

The Greta Schoeman Memorial Handicap has a wide open look about it and the list of possible winners is a long one. As mentioned earlier, the Kannemeyer yard has hit form with a vengeance and Orelia can follow up on her recent victory. The draw is not in her favour but she only picked up a two-pound penalty for her win and although she takes a jump in class, her form is nothing if not consistent.

Magic Memory is another that rises in class but was touched off in her first run back from a break by the width of an onion skin in second behind Art Attack. She shed her maiden over course and distance before following up in easy fashion. But she has drawn one gate inside of Orelia so they both start at a slight disadvantage. Rae’s Dyna Jet, Onsie and Leisure Trip are all in with chances while Mark My Card has been up against males at her last two outings and victory would not come as a major surprise.

By Andrew Harrison

The R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup is the first of the big sales races this season and it is fitting that Summerhill Stud, who brought this popular concept to South Africa, have a strong hand in Saturday’s race over 1400m on the Turffontein Standside track.

Await The Dawn’s untimely passing after siring just two crops was a big loss and this is illustrated by the Summerhill-bred R240,000 purchase Big Bear as well as the Summerhill-bred filly Tammany Hall, who are both in Saturday’s race. Big Bear has won two of three starts and had the field spread out like the washing over 1450m on the Inside track last time out in a Novice Handicap, although he was carrying bottom weight. Await The Dawn won a Group 1 over a mile-and-a-half and Big Bear is big and strong and a resolute galloper, so will not only be constantly improving, but will relish the Standside track with its long straight.

Big Bear (Candiese Marnewick)

Tammany Hall has also won two out of three and kept on gamely last time to beat older horses in a handicap over 1450m off a merit rating of 85. She has a plum draw and has a chance over a likely ideal course and distance.

First reserve runner Ekuseni is also by Await The Dawn and is also a galloping type.

The former Summerhill-based sire Visionaire has a chance with the promising filly Takingthepeace, a R280,000 Summerhill-bred purchase. Takingthepeace showed a fine turn of foot last time out to win a MR68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m by a comfortable 2,4 lengths off an 83 merit rating. Her dam finished third in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m, so Takingthepeace should comfortably get this 1400m trip. Anthony Delpech might drop her out from a draw of eleven.

Brave Tin Soldier produced a runner up in this race two years ago in Rabada and has Riding Shotgun in Saturday’s event. This horse is the favourite to be pacemaker as he has fine form from 1000-1400m when allowed to lead. However, from a wide draw of 14 it is going to be tough for this R80,000 purchase.

Grade 1 winner Brave Mary, a daughter of Brave Tin Soldier, was born at Summerhill. She is an unknown factor over this trip, although her draw of four will allow her to use her plentiful speed to her advantage.

The Summerhill-breds will likely be looking at Wonderwall, Purple Diamond and Surcharge as the horses to beat.

By David Thiselton

The world of social media and the multitude of Apps available on smart phones is making it easier and easier to keep track of what is current and TABgold.co.za have introduced a new feature to their on-line racecard called ‘Follow Me’.

Blatant advertising aside, it is a feature that dispenses with the old ‘Black Book’ that one often forgets to consult, resulting in many a missed opportunity.

So if you had clicked on Dunzie and She’s A Dream as horses to follow, you would have been in the pound seats at Greyville yesterday as both obliged in a fashion that suggests that you click on ‘Follow Me’ for at least their next few outings.

Dunzie was all over her rivals when making her debut at Scottsville but being something of a tricky customer at home, the stable was wary of what to expect first up.

“She gets herself into a bit of a state,” admitted Duncan Howells post-race. “That’s why she goes down with a lead pony.”

Bred and owned by long-time supporter of the sport, Knut Haug, Dunzie is obviously a quick learner as very little went her way in the race. Drawn wide, stable rider Keagan de Melo, hunted for the inside rail without success and eventually cornered three wide. “I didn’t want to be there but I had to accept my fate.”

But even from the draw, Dunzie quickened and pulled away to win as she liked from Alistair Gordon’s filly Prosecco, definitely a candidate for ‘Follow Me’.

Mark Dixon is never one to rush his charges, letting them find their feet before putting them to the ultimate test, but those that took note of She’s A Dream’s maiden win could not have been other than impressed and hopefully a few rand richer after yesterday’s performance. All went wrong on debut, slow out and banged about like a mini in a Durban taxi jam, she still prevailed, so the modest field she took on in the fifth yesterday was easy meat. Sat mid-field by blossoming apprentice Ashton Arries, She’s a Dream scythed through the opposition to win as she liked.

On the down side, it was a performance that will not go un-noticed by the handicappers.

“She’s progressive and will get further,” said Dixon. “But for the time being I’ll keep her to what we know.”

Plans? “No plans. We will decide tomorrow.”

Louis Goosen’s colt Zen Arcade is a runner in the Gr2 Graham Beck at Turffontein on Saturday where the Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile is feature, and his form got a timely boost when Ryker ran out a smart winner of the sixth. Ryker ran Zen Arcade to within a length over 1400m when last they met but showed a smart turn of foot over the Greyville short-cut to put a useful handicap field to bed in a matter of strides.

Given his turn of speed and pedigree, Garth Puller looks to have a useful colt on his hands. Possibly another for ‘Follow Me’.

By Andrew Harrison

Anton Marcus will not be able to take part in the Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge at Turffontein on Sunday 19 November and talented apprentice Lyle Hewitson has been chosen as a replacement.

Hewitson, who only started his apprenticeship in March last year after 23 wins in work riders’ races, has made an outstanding success to the start of his career as a jockey. His total tally of wins to date is 236. He is currently leading the South African jockeys’ premiership with 39 wins, the biggest coming in the Grade 2 Joburg Spring Challenge on Wonderwall.

Anton Marcus (Liesl King)

According to a press release from the Racing Association, the panel who selected Hewitson to replace Marcus “feel, although he’s still an apprentice, he is able to make a great contribution to the team this year”.

The South African team now comprises Anthony Delpech, Greg Cheyne, Gavin Lerena, S’manga Khumalo, Craig Zackey and Hewitson. The internationals are Ireland’s Pat Smullen, PJ McDonald and Seamie Heffernan, Australia’s Corey Brown, England’s Martin Dwyer and France’s Thierry Thulliez.

The International Jockeys’ Challenge will comprise just one meeting this year but the jockeys will compete in six races rather than four, as has been the case previously.

The runners will be seeded beforehand and a ballot will be held for mounts in each of the races to try and ensure both teams have roughly the same calibre of rides overall.

Points are awarded as follows: first – 30; second – 15; third – 12; fourth – 10; fifth – 8; sixth – 7; seventh – 6; eighth – 5; ninth – 4; 10th – 3; 11th – 0; 12th – 0. If a jockey does not ride in a race, he gets seven points. The team that scores the most points wins the Challenge and there are awards for the top rider in each leg and the top rider overall.

The International Jockeys’ Challenge has been held for the last nine years and South Africa has won it seven times.

Riaan van Reenen will run Tuesday’s Kenilworth winner Midnight Moonlight in the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas on 2 December if she makes the cut but the Philippi trainer is worried she might not.

Mambo Mime

The daughter of Jay Peg has finished in the first two in all four starts but she went into the Interbet Handicap with a rating of only 85 and, as she only won by a length and a quarter, she is unlikely to be rated much higher than 90.

Van Reenen said: “I don’t want to run her again before the Fillies Guineas because that would mean her having three runs inside five weeks. What messed up my plans was the switching of two Kenilworth meetings to Durbanville and I didn’t want to run her there.”

Dean Kannemeyer, on the other hand, is looking for the easiest race possible for Mambo Mime’s next start. The five-year-old twice came close to death earlier in the year, first with a thrombosis and then with an attack of colic so bad that he had to have an operation to survive.

Kannemeyer said: “He has been to hell and back but he is a tough bastard and he has pulled up sound in his two races since. He ran well in Last Winter’s race at Durbanville and I now want to go the softer route. I need to find an easy race that he can win to get his confidence back, maybe a Pinnacle although everybody seems to have the same idea about those races at the moment.”

Mambo Mime has some good form to his credit including third in the Daily News and the Canon Guineas. He was considered good enough to run in last year’s Durban July and this year’s Sun Met.

By Michael Clower

The nine race meeting on the Vaal Classic track tomorrow will highlight the question of how difficult it is for horses to win first time out the maidens as the last three legs of the Pick 6 will have respectively fancied horses in this boat.

In the seventh race the Mike de Kock-trained Mawsoof got better the longer the race lasted in an uninspiring maiden over 1000m and won by 4,75 lengths from Ragnarok, who has fair form but likely needed the run as he was returning from a long layoff. Mawsoof made a respiratory noise, which is always a concern. He was accorded a reasonable 76 merit rating but still has to carry topweight of 60kg and faces a field of toughened sprint handicaps. He has been tipped to win only because he is likely to improve, but cannot be selected with confidence especially as he would likely prefer a touch further in time, being by Trippi out of Western Winter mare Besma whose two wins were both over 1200m. Furthermore, the main danger Exclusively Trendy hails from the flying Paul Peter yard and showed fine pace last time out before being cut down late by Brigtnumberten. The latter then franked the form by running way above his rating in a Graduation Plate over 1000m, so Exclusively Trendy looks to be a big runner here, especially considering Anthony Delpech will now be in the irons. Singaswewin won his maiden in his 33^rd career start but off a merit rating of 58 should not be under-estimated as he went close off a merit rating of 59 in a 1000m handicap on the Vaal Inside track in August.

Mike De Kock

In the eight race Rock Pigeon also won well on debut over 1000m and runs over the same trip. She was more eye catching than Mawsoof as she showed a fine turn of foot and won cosily by 1,6 lengths without being hard pressed. Yet she was only accorded a merit rating of 75, so has a chance here carrying 58,5kg. On the other hand the form of her win has not stood up well. However, although she will likely have to improve further to win, she had been selected to cross the line first as she does not face an inspiring field. Varsity Princess has showed good pace in her last two races with blinkers on. Last time out the only horse to overtake her was the promising three-year-old Takingthepeace, who looks to be going places. Prosperity is an improved sort who has won three out of her last five races and last time she can be forgiven as she lost two lengths at the start. Celtic Lady is a small filly with a big heart and she is 2kg better off with Prosperity for a recent 0,7 length defeat, so she should also be in the shake up, although she is battling to get her nose in front. Claremorris could also have a say if recapturing her best form.

In the last race Combat Muster came from some way back in a fast paced race on Grand Heritage day to win over 1200m. The form has been franked as the runner up Captain My Captain has won since. Therefore, Combat Muster has a chance off a mere 73 merit rating in this 1200m handicap. However, the tip to win is Dawnbreaker, who has plummeted down to a 58 merit rating and for the first time this year drops to the trip of her only win, which she achieved on her debut.

The meeting starts off with a maiden over 1500m and Eight Cities is the choice. He was slow away and wide last time out over course and distance but was only caught late by the promising Middle Path and there was daylight back to the rest. He now has pole position and faces an uninspiring field.

In the second, a maiden for fillies and mares over 1500m, Circle Of Latitude looks to be going places and is choice for best bet.

Her Australian-bred stablemate Yes We Do is the selection for the first leg of the PA as she did not have much luck on debut over 1400m but was staying on and looks likely to relish the step up to this 1700m trip.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden over 2400m, The Await The Dawn gelding Before Noon is bred for this trip and is interesting as he was carded to run on Tuesday night over 2000m.

In the first leg of the Jackpot, a MR 68 handicap for fillies and mares over 2400m, the topweight Dalley is the choice as this trip looks ideal and being a five-year-old mare by Ideal World she is likely to be coming into her own.

By David Thiselton