The new Durbanville surface has stood up to use so well that the country course’s season has been extended by a week to give Kenilworth some much-needed extra time to recover.

Duty manager Teresa Esplin said: “Following an inspection of Kenilworth a decision has been made to continue racing at Durbanville for an additional two meetings (21 and 25 October). Racing will resume at Kenilworth on 28 October.”

Kenilworth Racecourse

The 21 October meeting includes the 2 400m Woolavington Handicap in which last year’s runner-up Francia will bid to go one better.

The 28 October restart features two of the most important Guineas preliminaries. The Choice Carriers, formerly Odessa and now renamed the Western Cape Fillies Championship, has been won by the subsequent Cape Fillies Guineas winner four times in the last seven seasons.

The unbeaten Magical Wonderland looks like having a reasonable draw (nine) whereas the two set to give her weight have drawn wide. The Dennis Drier-trained Thekwini winner Lady In Black is 25 out of 30 and Sean Tarry’s Golden Slipper scorer Desert Rhythm is drawn 20.

Joey Ramsden, who has won three of the last four runnings of the Cape Classic, accounts for six of the 34 entries for the 1 400m Grade 3 including Ancestry (drawn ten), a close second in both the Golden Horseshoe and the Premiers Champion. Sean Tarry has also nominated six horses but Glen Kotzen’s Premiers Champion winner Eyes Wide Open has drawn badly at 33.

Anthony Delpech makes a rare visit to Durbanville on Wednesday when the reigning champion has five rides for Dean Kannemeyer including Last Winter, the stable’s main hope for big race glory this season.

The Cape Town stipes are to make more use of the seldom-employed Rule 62.2.7 in a bid to improve the pace at which races are run, particularly those at Kenilworth.

The Rule does not mention anything about pace but states: “The rider shall ensure that he does not cause interference, bunching, intimidation and/or constitute a source of interference or danger.”

Durbanville Racecourse

However Brandon May received a caution under it after slowing early on, riding fourth-placed Libra in a mile handicap at Durbanville on the day of the Matchem.

Senior stipe Ernie Rodrigues said: “Brandon had gone to the front but he wanted cover so he slowed the pace and that caused those behind to bunch up and lose position.

“We don’t want the Cape crawl and so the Rule will be used more in future. We do talk to jockeys about it but the Rule is difficult to prove and the video evidence has to show it.”

The false pace at which many races at Kenilworth are run makes life difficult for punters because the form does not stand up as a result, most noticeably in maidens.

On the other hand coping with the prevailing South-Easter plays an important part in deciding riding tactics. No jockey wants to be riding into the teeth of a strong wind without getting cover from other horses. As a result nobody wants to make the running – whatever the Rules say.

By Michael Clower

Given all the rain midweek that interrupted training regimes and the lowly handicaps on offer it was always going to be rough going for punters at Greyville yesterday and so it proved.

Winners were difficult to find but Parade’s End looked to be the best proposition on the card and so that proved. Second in two competitive maidens before yesterday, Parade’s End made short work of her opposition, leading all the way under stable rider Gareth Wright.

“I let her do her own thing and use her action,” he explained. “She got to the front easily and from there on it was easy.”

Brandon Lerena

For the balance of the card’s favourites it was not so easy. Sharp Seattle was given a good chance by Gavin van Zyl but veteran Burra Boy (8-1) brought his A-game to the poly and won with daylight to spare at the start of the Pick 6. Blake and Cathy Richards have had a lot of fun with some relatively cheap buys and with Mark Dixon at the helm they have had good success.

This was Burra Boy’s third win from 35 outings but had finished in the money on 14 occasions – 15 after yesterday – so has more than paid his way with earnings of over R270k.

Just when it looked as if Sharp Seattle would run him out of it, Brandon Lerena changed gear and Burra Boy pulled clear to win going away.

Home-bred by Gold Circle director Babu Nunan, Burfi (19-1) has been consistent without setting the track alight but his mare put her best foot forward to land the Track & Ball Gaming handicap. She kept digging down to hold the luckless favourite Zinzara with Online staying on for the shallow end of the purse.

Kom Naidoo pulled off a quick double in the sixth as Serino Moodley kept pumping away relentlessly on Northern Storm (16-1) to eventually ware down leader Zadora who has improved since being raced in a tongue-tie.

Charles Laird has been a little quiet in recent months but the veteran is starting to step them out and was rewarded with Dance On Air (5-1) under Keagan de Melo getting the better of recent winner Mr Roy and Mumsy’s Jet after stable companion Monte Christo set a searching early pace.

Starting for home too early on the poly track very often results in an empty tank come the final 50m – not always but more often than one would expect on a quick surface and so it proved in the card opener. De Melo pinched what looked to be a winning lead at the top of the straight as he sent Green Fairy for home early, but was run down on the line by the consistent Coral Queen.

“Warren (Kennedy) said we should try her over 2000m,” surmised Gavin van Zyl. “He’s stable jockey so it helps to listen to them.”

Kennedy confirmed. “Keagan (de Melo) skipped but his horse came back at me and my horse stayed to the line.”

A percentage of the Pick 6 won and the PA paying close to R1 000 told of a difficult day for backers.

By Andrew Harrison

Parade’s End, runner-up in two competitive maidens, can come to punter’s aid on a tricky 10-race card at Greyville on Sunday.

The mini cyclone that hit Durban last Tuesday has had little effect on the Greyville poly track and while the surrounds, notably Royal Durban Golf Course still resembled a lake come Wednesday morning, Greyville course manager Kurt Grunewald was unfazed.

“We could have raced today,” he said Wednesday morning. “The track has drained perfectly and areas where we sometimes experienced problems (with drainage) were dry.”

Monte Christo

Parade’s End makes her poly debut in the SA Racing App Maiden Plate but Andre Nel’s runner has given notice that she has a future after two smart efforts behind filly’s that have franked that form. Parade’s end has not been out since July but unless there is a ‘springer’ among the first timers, she does look good enough to break her duck.

Three others that could make up the quartet are Kateecador, Diamonds Forever and Flo Joyner.

Kateecador also returns from a break but Gavin van Zyl’s runner has not been out of the money in three starts, two in the soft, and should be well suited to the poly.

Diamonds Forever has a tricky outside draw to contend with but is in good form and Flo Joyner has run into two strongly fancied runners at recent outings and must come into the picture.

Corrine Bestel operates a small string out of Summerveld and she looks to have a decent prospect in Luneburg in the opening leg of the PA. The well-bred daughter of Var caught the eye on debut in spite of reportedly found coughing post-race. She takes on males but is sure to have come on from that effort and have the better of the year older Delectable Desire and the gelding Vision Of Trust.

The card is headed by a difficult handicap where a number are in with chances. Monte Christo is struggling for another win but came within a piece of paper of beating Mr Roy when the two clashed last Sunday.

Monte Christo is better off at the weights here but they both may have to play second fiddle to Mumsy’s Jet. Alyson Wright’s veteran has been in cracking form on the poly and although he takes on slightly stronger here the takes a corresponding drop in the weights that should see him competitive again. Last Tiger, narrowly beaten by stable companion Mr O’Neill in a fast-run race last time out, is back over what looks to be his optimum trip and is another to consider.

Online is back over best course and distance and could add a second win to her CV in the Track & Ball Gaming handicap. It has been over a year since her maiden win but she has been taking on stronger at recent outings and can go all the way from a good draw.

Fair Antonia, a winner at second time of asking, could be a threat although she does have it all to do under joint top weight.

A modest field of maidens line up in the Durban View Restaurant Handicap but recent maiden winner Pomona had good form leading up to that win and can follow up. She comes from a stable that is finding form. However, an upset is a distinct possibility and the likes of Lavender Bank and Lobelia will start at lengthy odds while Royal has been consistent of late and goes well on the poly.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is another wide-open affair but Sharp Seattle was up against stronger last run and didn’t finish far off. He has stronger help from the saddle this time around and can get the better of Roy’s Donkey while Dale House has a chance of giving apprentice Dylan Lerena his second win as the gelding improved in blinkers last run and has a chance with a 4 kg claimer up.

By Andrew Harrison

Turffontein Inside track stages a ten event meeting tomorrow and some decent horses are being stepped out with some big Highveld Spring features fast approaching.

The celebrated triple crown winner Abashiri makes his long awaited reappearance in a Pinnacle Plate over 1600m. His tough three-year-old season took its toll and his three runs as a four-year-old were all below par. However, he returns from a nine month layoff, which he should have benefited from, and if running close to his ability has a chance. However, he is likely to need the run and others are preferred.

Liege

Shukamisa has already had two runs this season so will be fit and faces a field who are mostly returning from layoffs. He was staying on over this trip in his penultimate start and is drawn in three with the added bonus of Anthony Delpech aboard. Being a four-year-old by Silvano he should now be coming into his own. He is not badly off at the weights, being only 3,5kg under sufferance with the officially best weighted Abashiri. Master Switch won his reappearance last year over 1800m following a similar layoff to this one. His only bad races have been at Greyville and from draw two running fresh over a trip a touch too sharp he should go close. He is only 1,5kg under sufferance with Abashiri on official merit ratings.

Brazuca won his reappearance over 1400m in November last year and won over this course and distance in February, so has a fine chance here being the second best in at the weights on official merit ratings. Romi’s Boy has fine form over sprints where he has shown a lot of pace in the past before staying on. He was staying on well over 1200m last time at this course when held up and as a long-striding sort by Querari out of a Montjeu mare who won over a mile he is very interesting here from pole position. Furthermore, he is a half-brother to a Jay Peg horse who has won over 1800m. The Sean Tarry pair Liege and Samurai Blade both have the ability to win but are returning from layoffs.

Liege has his second run after gelding and is preferred. Banner Hill does well over staying trips but won well over 1800m at Greyville in a preparation run earlier this year so could surprise here.  Irish Pride has plenty of ability and is distance suited and should have come on from his last run, so can’t be ignored. Bezanova’s second run after a year long layoff comes a week after his poor comeback, so he can’t be fancied despite the suitable distance. The selection is Shukamisa to beat Master Switch, with Brazuca, Romi’s Boy and Liege next best.

Samurai Blade

Earlier, in an MR 90 handicap over 2000m, the horse who beat Shukamisa last time, Kilrain, could follow up for, despite being raised four points, he is likely looking for this trip now. Topweight Bankable Teddy won well over course and distance last time, but now has a wide draw and a four point higher merit rating to contend with. Therefore the main danger could be Top Shot, who stayed on in his penultimate start over this course and distance. However, it is a tricky race and going wide might be the best way to tackle it.

In the next race, a Progress Plate over 1450m for three-year-olds, Warrior’s Rest could be the one to beat. This big horse likes to lead and he then stays on strongly, so the course and distance should suit, especially running fresh as he would ideally prefer a mile. His wide draw is a concern as he will have to be made some use of. Flying Free impressed in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m when being hampered at a crucial stage at the top of the straight but recovering to run on for a close fourth. He ran a fine race carrying 62,5kg in his reappearance over 1200m and should go close.

The seventh is also a Progress Plate over 1450m, but is for three-year-old fillies. Silver Thursday has had the benefit of a run this season, where she stayed on well over this course and distance and she has a good draw with Delpech up. Let It Flow ran a fine race in the Grade 2 Golden Slipper over 1400m and has the ability to be involved in her seasonal reappearance here.  Aurelia Cotta, Only To Win and Dame Kelly are all capable of winning, although the latter is the preference of the trio, being drawn well and having romped home in her seasonal reappearance over 1600m.

The last leg of the Pick 6, a fillies and mares handicap over 1200m is the trickiest race on the card. However, the well-bred Best Kept Secret should have come on from her last run and from a good draw could keep going this time.

By David Thiselton

Mike Robinson with a string of just 27 at Phillippi training centre in Cape Town has started the season well and has high hopes for his Royal Air Force mare Goodtime Gal, who won the Grade 3 WSB weight for age Diana Stakes over 1400m at Durbanville on Saturday by a comfortable 2,25 lengths under Anton Marcus.

One characteristic of the mare, which gives Robinson confidence of further progression this season, is that she takes more after her damsire Silvano than her sire Royal Air Force.

Goodtime Gal (Liesl King)

He said, “The Royal Air Force’s tend to be tall and lanky. She is not typical of them, she is not big, but, like the Silvano’s, there is a lot of her.”

It has become well established that Silvano’s progeny get better and better with age, so his influence could see Goodtime Gal doing even better as a five-year-old than she did last season.

In fact, last season she finished second in the Diana Stakes to Captain’s Flame and reversed that form on Saturday by over four lengths.

Her two victories last term included the Grade 3 Victress Stakes over 1800m in December, where she beat Nightingale by 0,75 lengths at level weights. She showed in that race she has another trait passed on by Silvano, courage.

In her next start in the Grade 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes over the same Kenilworth 1800m course and distance she faded late to finish a 3,65 length eighth.

However, she bounced back in the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes and looked the winner until scythed down late by the fast finishing pair, Nightingale and Star Express.

Significantly, Goodtime Gal was drawn in pole in both the Victress and the Diana and in barrier position three in the Majorca, whilst she had a wide draw of eleven out of 12 in the Paddock. She is a handy type who has an excellent turn of foot and found cover in all of the Victress, Majorca and Diana, but was caught one wide in the Paddock. This suggests she might take too strong a hold without cover.

She will be worth following this season.

Robinson had 20 winners last season at a strike rate of 11,63% and is on track to bettering that this season with six winners already at a strike rate of 13,95%.

He is glad to be at Phillippi due to what he described as “good facilities”, including “very good tracks and nice, big, wide open spaces where horses can roll, it’s a great environment to train in and it also nice being close to Kenilworth.”

Robinson was full of praise for the newly re-laid Durbanville surface and said that whilst the going was firm due to the current record-breaking drought it was, importantly, level.

“It is when you have firm ground coupled with divots where problems happen,” he said.

At Phillippi the tracks are watered through the natural underground water reserves and up to now there has been a normal supply of municipal water for the horses’ drinking requirements.

Goodtime Gal has been raised from a 99 to a 101 merit rating by the handicappers, which Robinson will be relieved about. The runner up was the 106 merit rated Gimme Six, so the handicappers could have taken a harsher view, but off a 101 Robinson will have more options open to him.

By David Thiselton

Whisky Baron is injured and the Sun Met winner misses his planned Hong Kong preliminary in the Godolphin Stud And Stable Staff Awards Challenge Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow.

The setback is a bitter blow to owners Craig and Ross Kieswetter as well as to Brett Crawford and Greg Cheyne who had both flown to England for the seven furlong Group 2.

Barry Donnelly, Crawford’s assistant, said yesterday: “Whisky Baron cantered on Monday and was to gallop the following day but he hurt his hind fetlock and Brett had to pull him out of the race.

Whisky Baron (Liesl King)

“The vets were at the stables to see him this morning. I’m not sure how serious an injury it is, or what is the long-term prognosis, but obviously it is a bit of a downer.”

Anton Marcus has been suspended for a week (October 9-15) for failing to do enough to prevent interference to Gold Standard on his inner when finishing second on Table Bay in last Saturday’s Matchem.

Our Mate Art, who won the race and goes for the Green Point, has been raised 5kg to a new rating of 103, 12 points below Gold Standard who was conceding 2kg. The handicappers have upped Diana winner Goodtime Gal by a kilo to 101.

South African Fillies Sprint third The Secret Is Out suffered an epistaxis (burst blood vessel) when justifying 13-10 favouritism on her reappearance in the Supabets Conditions Plate at Durbanville yesterday. She did the same thing on her second start last season when she was suspended for 60 days. But this time she has been barred from racing for a whopping 180 days as the relevant rule triples the penalty if the second bleed takes place within a year of the first one.

Vaughan Marshall said: “I don’t know what causes her to do this. She didn’t do it at home or when she had a gallop.”

He added: “Giving them a compulsory suspension is stupid” and pointed out that this does not happen in North America. Indeed it doesn’t in Europe either.

The Milnerton trainer confirmed that fellow Grade 1 winner Always In Charge is fine after his Matchem run despite finishing eighth of nine. The four-year-old was giving weight all round and missed the break.

Glen Kotzen reported that Final Judgement is similarly OK after finishing last in the Diana when the stipes ordered a veterinary examination, which revealed nothing amiss.

Kotzen said: “She needed the run, stumbled coming out of the pens and was then caught wide.”

Stable companion Eyes Wide Open, who managed only seventh on his reappearance in the WSB Progress Plate, still pleased the Woodhill trainer who said: “He hadn’t seen grass this season and he had a nice gallop as a prep for the Cape Classic.”

Finally Mike Stewart is not much the worse for being bitten on the hand by Icon King when he was tightening the surcingle after saddling the gelding for the Matchem.  He still bears a nasty tooth mark and, as you might imagine, it’s painful.

By Michael Clower

In spite of the torrential downpour experienced over Durban on Tuesday, the Greyville poly track was un-affected by the 122mm of rain as coastal residents mopped up and serveyed the damage under cloudless skies yesterday.

“We could have raced today,” said track manager Kurt Grunewald. “The track has drained perfectly and areas where we sometimes experienced problems (with drainage) were dry. No, everything is fine for Sunday.” No rain is forecast for the interim.

The turf track was also flooded but the next turf meeting is only scheduled for Sunday, October 22. “Provided that we don’t get any more rain like yesterday, the track should be in great shape,” added Grunewald.

By Andrew Harrison

The Vaal stages a nine-race meeting on the outside track tomorrow and the exotics will be popular bets considering the Pick 6 is made up of six competitive handicaps and dividends are likely to be healthy.

The highest rated race on the card is the seventh, a MR 80 Handicap over 1600m.

Pilou is the one to beat. He only just failed over this trip at Turffontein last time out despite spreading a shoe. He is only 0,5kg better off with Tommy Waterdevil for a narrow beating. However, by trends he is drawn on the right side in barrier seven in a nine-horse field. He won his maiden over course and distance by six lengths and is reunited with S’Manga Khumalo, who has ridden him in both of his wins. Pilou might have needed that last run slightly, it being his season’s reappearance, and the national champion yard of Sean Tarry yard should start kicking into top gear now with August being the traditional month for trainers to administer AHS vaccines.

Shogun

Well Connected started slowly over 1450m last time and showed a good turn of foot in the straight. However, he was unable to go through with his initially strong finish. His dam is by National Assembly and won once over 1200m. However, he is by Silvano and his second dam is an Oaks winner, so he could well be looking for this step up in trip. He was dropped two points to an 82 merit rating after that last run. That is still a tough merit rating for an early season three-year-old facing older horses, but being by Silvano he should be improving all the time. His draw of two might be a concern, although the draw bias has been unpredictable at the Vaal lately and the earlier races must be monitored to see if there is any bias on the day.

Tommy Waterdevil warrants consideration too as he has taken well to a mile in his last two starts, having been kept to sprints and 1400m events before that. He was running on well in that last race, but he did have the run of the race from a good draw and has to overcome a three-point merit rated raise, so this will be tougher and his draw of three might also be a concern. Shogun had to overcome a draw of nine in the aforementioned race and was only 0,85 lengths back at the line. He has remained on the same merit rating and now has Anthony Delpech up. However, he is drawn in barrier one so in his case the earlier races will also have to be monitored. If there is no draw bias he has a huge shout.

National Key is eight-years-old but is a capable sort and over a suitable course and distance is the dark horse jumping from the standside draw of nine and having been dropped to an attractive merit rating. Street Flyer is also hard to ignore with Strydom up as he went close the last time he ran in this class and he was off the identical 79 merit rating on that occasion.

Man’s Inn is an effective handy to front-running sort, who has also dropped to a competitive merit rating, so he also could pop up. The selection is Pilou to beat Well Connected with Shogun next best ahead of National Key and Tommy Waterdevil.

In the first leg of the PA over 1400m the touted Huyssteen should enjoy the step up in trip after a good debut over 1200m, where he was cut into. La Scala was unlucky last time and looks promising too. Both have low draws and the widely drawn Hyper Jet warrants consideration as he will relish the step up in trip.  The first-timer Think Of Magic is a R300,000 Philanthropist and is a half-brother to the dam of Triple Crown winner Louis The King, so the betting must be monitored. The other first-timer Savannah King is by Tiger Ridge out of an Elliodor dam who has produced three winners.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a competitive maiden over 1400m but Witch Of The West makes most appeal as a rangy sort who will come on from her running on second over 1200m on debut. She does have a low draw but Anthony Delpech is up.

In the next leg the hard-knocking Celtic Lady has a good chance over an ideal 1000m trip and Varsity Princess is interesting with fist-time blinkers on from a standside draw as she has shown ability and is well bred.

The David Niewenhuizen pair Monarch Air and Flowing Gown make most appeal in the next over 1600m from high draws. Charter Jet is none too reliable but has the ability to win too.

In the penultimate leg of the Pick 6 Captain Chips runs over his ideal 1400m trip and could beat hat-trick-seeking Darkest Hour and Sail For Joy. However, it’s a competitive race and going wide could be the way to go.

The last leg is also competitive but Cedrus Lebani makes most appeal. He is a long-striding progressive sort who might enjoy the step up in trip and he is drawn on the right side under Gavin Lerena. Neuf De Pape should also go close, while Genesis could improve further from his gutsy debut win over this trip.

By David Thiselton

The good news for Western Cape trainers is that grass racecourse training gallops should be available to them again by October 20.

The trainers have been without any racecourse gallops whatsoever since about September 20 and the situation will also have an effect on breeders, who will be wanting to prepare their horses for the CTS Ready To Run Sale “breeze ups”, which are to take place on November 16 at Durbanville.

Durbanville race track

In a normal season racecourse gallops are catered for by Durbanville and on a quota basis at Kenilworth.

However, not only has Cape Town been locked in the worst drought for over a century, but the Durbanville racecourse has only recently been reopened after being relaid.

The Durbanville surface has been described as “beautiful” by trainers and although it is presently firm it is also nice and level so the horses have been pulling up well.

However, the powers that be do not want to risk putting too much pressure on the course before the grass has fully knitted.

The Kenilworth New Course was closed for scarification in September, so there have consequently been no racecourse grass training gallops available for Western Cape trainers since September 20.

However, the situation is under review by Phumelela in unison with Kenilworth Racing’s racecourse manager Dean Diedericks.

Phumelela’s Racing Executive Clyde Basel was optimistic that the quota gallop system would be re-opened at Kenilworth on October 20.

The quota system at Kenilworth allows each trainer a certain number of gallops with a view to being able to prepare graded class horses.

Basel was also confident gallops at Durbanville could start happening again on October 22, following the last race meeting there on October 18.

Basel believed Diedericks would be able to scarify Durbanville in stages, which would allow the gallops at Durbanville to be reopened on the aforementioned date.

Grass gallops are viewed as vital by some trainers in order to bring a horse to its peak for a race.

Meanwhile, Cape Thoroughbred Sales’ new CEO Wéhann Smith is in discussions with Diedericks and Kenilworth Racing regarding preparation opportunities for breeders before the CTS Ready To Run Sale, which is presented by Lanzerac Hotel and Spa.

Smith said that, as it stands, breeders or pre-trainers would not be allowed to prepare their horses at Durbanville as they have done in past years.

However, all 146 of the lots will be allowed to do their breeze up on the Durbanville course on November 16.

By David Thiselton