The highest rated race at the Greyville polytracks’s nine race meeting on Sunday is a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m and the Duncan Howells-trained Wild Wicket looks the horse to beat.

Wild Wicket (Nkosi Hlophe)

Howells said about the Dynasty gelding before the SA Champions Season, “He is decent and progressive and the Guineas and Daily News will be on his agenda if he shows us he’s that quality as he has been difficult to place with his high merit rating.”

He is now even higher in the merit ratings on 90 after another win over 1600m, but that makes him the best weighted of the male runners in this contest. He is drawn well and being by Dynasty looks cherry ripe to start showing the class the yard believe him to have. In his last start on the poly he finished third behind two decent sorts in What A Poet and Unbelievable Chad, a good effort considering it was his first run out of the maidens. The best weighted horse is Lala, but she is a female taking on the boys. She does enjoy the course and distance though and has a plum draw of two with a 2,5kg claimer up.

Seventh Plain has been a disappointing sort after winning two Grade 1s over 1200m and 1400m respectively in fine style as a two-year-old. It is interesting to see Dennis Drier now trying him over a mile as he did fight on in that Grade 1 1400m win on the Greyville turf. Mumsy’s Jet goes for a polytrack hattrick and has a good record over this course and distance, so this honest sort has a chance from pole position with in form 2,5kg claimer Ashton Arries up. Nicklaus finished second in the Listed Darley Arabian over course and distance last time and Anthony Delpech is up, albeit from a tricky draw. Breakfast Club can’t be ignored either, as he loves the poly and is distance suited.

The meeting opens with a Maiden Plate over 1600m, where Might Mississippi is the form horse but returns from a layoff. He is still the one to beat and Turf Conqueror and Zenzero are the dangers.

Seventh Plain (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the second over 2000m Lucky At Last ran a good race last time from a wide draw over 1800m and is the one to beat here from a good draw under champion jockey Delpech. Francesco could be a threat under the same 2,5kg claimer who went close on her last time over 1600m.

Roy’s Kaitrina and Miss Ferris could fight out the next race over the same course and distance, although the former is preferred.

Ideal Winter could be the one in the first leg of the Pick 6, but it is competitive and Star Of Caesour, Iced Up, Crystal Ball and Osprey have to be included too.

Eina is interesting in the next with Delpech riding for the Wright yard and could be dangerous despite a wide draw. Peggy’s Dream makes the most appeal of the rest.

Princess Analia makes appeal over a likely suitable step up in trip in the seventh, Colour Your Dreams could follow up on her maiden win in the eighth and the topweight The King Of Random makes appeal from pole position in the ninth.

By David Thiselton

Turffontein has a typically competitive early season nine race meeting on the Inside track, but there look to be some fair chances for punters.

In the first leg of the Bipot over 1600m, Rolled Silver showed a good turn of foot over 1450m last time and after hitting the front was only caught late. She is a daughter of Go Deputy so will be coming into her own having just turned four and she should stay the extra 150m from a good draw. However, it will be worth including the consistent and hard knocking King’s Creek, who will definitely stay the trip and is drawn in pole.

Mike Azzie (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the first leg of the PA over 1450m, the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Artax makes appeal as an improving sort who was a touch unlucky last time over the course and distance and he now jumps from the identical draw. Weichong Marwing takes over from Lyle Hewitson, who is aboard the Spike Lerena-trained first-timer by Oracy, Two Guns. A first-timer who does make appeal here is Artax’s stablemate Greek Fire, a three-year-old Dynasty colt who is a half-brother to Gold Cup winner Wavin’Flag and to the useful Greek Legend. Piere Strydom is aboard from a good draw of two and betting support must be respected. The four-year-old gelding Over Easy, a Tiger Ridge half-brother to the like of St. Tropez and Tan Can, made a promising debut in a stronger field than this on May 28 over 1160m. He should have the class to be a big runner, although this is his first start around the turn, he has a wide draw, and he hasn’t run since making that belated debut.

Darkest Hour should be good enough to win the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1200m. He admittedly had the run of the race when drawn in pole last time over course and distance, but this looks to be a weaker field and he was relaxed in the running last time, so should be able to overcome a draw of seven. S’Manga Khumalo, who is likely to be chasing a third National Jockeys title, is aboard which is a big plus.

The first leg of The Jackpot is a competitive MR 93 Handicap over 1000m and Piere Strydom has retained the ride on Angel’s Power, despite his disappointing run at Greyville last time out. Strydom has a fine record on this horse and they should be staying on strongly from a draw of seven. Aramouse is a reliable sort who sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight and is well drawn, so he makes appeal as the main danger together with Tandava. The latter has a touch of class and beat the like of Champagne Haze the last time he tried this distance, so he should be running on strongly after being dropped out from a wide draw. Isphan has bounced back to his best recently, and is hard to ignore despite a tough draw. Alpine Glacier could be dangerous from a good draw as another one who has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight.

Piere Strydom (Nkosi Hlophe)

The sixth race over 1000m sees Secret Harbour being asked to carry topweight as a young three-year-old off a merit of 90 and the toughened older handicappers like Gun Fighter and Mission Control are preferred. Bono and Cumberland can’t be ignored either.

The classy Runalong looks to have it well set up for her in the seventh from pole position over 1600m, despite it being her second run after a long layoff. Shatoosh also has class and could pick up the pieces if Runalong fluffs her lines.

In the eighth, Collabro by Var is a half-brother to Legal Eagle and won his maiden easily over 1600m last time, albeit in his seventh career start and his third for Geoff Woodruff. He could follow up over a likely suitable 1800m off a merit rating of only 71. Beyond him it is a wide open race and Trip To Rio, Trip To Troy, King’s King, Full Mast and Artemisia make most appeal of the rest.

The last race over 1800m is competitive but September Bloom has come into her own and can follow up on her recent win over 2000m. Blue Berry Pie, Subtle Force, A P’s Lily, Rose Water and Monarch Air make most appeal of the rest.

By David Thiselton

Riding sensation Callan Murray, having ridden three Grade 1 winners on Turffontein’s Champions Day alone, now has his sights set on going close in the championship.

“I want to ride as many winners as I can this season and finish very close to the top,” he says. “The latter is a goal at the back of my mind but I am not going to let it drag me back. For the moment I just want to keep consistent.”

Callan Murray (Nkosi Hlophe)

Two of those three Champions Day Grade 1s were for Mike de Kock as was Heavenly Blue’s SA Classic win and the association will be every bit as strong this term: “There is nothing on paper but every day I’m not racing I ride work there. They give me a lot of rides and, while I don’t ride some of the horses, they are very loyal to me.

“I am also riding for Tara Laing in Port Elizabeth. In addition Mr and Mrs Jooste, and Derek Brugman, are giving me a lot of support, and not just in P.E.”

Riding for Justin Snaith at the mid-week Cape Town meetings is something new. “Obviously there are going to be some meetings that clash but I want to race at Kenilworth as much as possible because it will be good experience for the big races there later on in the season.”

Murray’s workaholic schedule allows little time for hobbies. Fortunately he doesn’t have any! “I don’t do anything other than racing so I don’t need time on my hands.”

Murray, who celebrates his 21^st birthday tomorrow week, is tall for a jockey but wafer slim with light bones. “I ride comfortably at 54kg but I can do 52kg if I am given a good bit of notice.”

Champion apprentice two seasons ago, he broadened his education with a successful stint in Hong Kong Kong last season and was suitably impressed by the jockeyship he came up against. “Magic Moreira is obviously very good – he gets a lot of good rides but obviously you’ve got to perform on them and he does that very well.

“There are heaps of other good jockeys there too, though. It’s just that they are not under the same spotlight and riding against them was great experience. What I learned was amazing.”

But this season the concentration will remain firmly on South Africa. “Hong Kong might ask me to go there for a meeting or so but now is the time for me to learn more here, and I am going to stay put for a season or two. Only after that am I hoping to go back.”

By Michael Clower

The Sean Tarry-trained Greys Inn gelding Legal Eagle was crowned Equus Horse Of The Year for the second year in succession at the Emperor’s Palace on Tuesday night.

The awards panellists had to make the usual number of decisions, which were going to be contentious no matter which horse they chose. However, there were also the usual number of recipients who received rousing applause for being thoroughly deserving.

Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)

The panellists stuck rigidly to the criteria, which stated, “The awards are based on graded races and in particular Grade 1 races”. There was an exception made to this rule for the Stayer’s Award which stated, “As regards the stayer category, the winning horse will be at the discretion of the voting panel. This decision was taken as the only Grade 1 race in SA is the SA Derby, which would mean that this should be the obvious winner based on a single run. This would also have excluded fillies and mares.”

The Champion Three-Year-Old Male award, won by the Brett Crawford-trained Edict Of Nantes, was likely decided on number of Grade 1 victories alone as many had expected William Longsword to win it. Edict Of Nantes was the only dual Grade 1 victor in this category, winning the Investec Cape Derby and the Daily News 2000, and was good enough to justify champion status. However, the question remains whether he was as good as William Longsword and Gold Standard, whose dominance out in front in the Grade 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas was one of the outstanding memories of the season. Gold Standard defeated Edict Of Nantes in both of their meetings and went on to finish an outstanding fourth in an ultra strong Grade 1 Sun Met. However, he was not even a nomination for the category due to his lack of a Grade 1 win. William Longsword opted for the big money route on Met and Cape Derby day and won the US$500,000 CTS Mile. He was then retired to stud, while Gold Standard was laid off for the rest of the season. The three-year-old male award possibly highlights the need for the big sales races and the Grade 1 classics to have separate calendar slots.

The Tarry-trained Carry On Alice finally broke her Equus duck in her fourth season and nobody would have begrudged this thoroughly deserving individual from walking away with both the Champion Sprinter and Champion Older Female awards. The panellists had tough tasks in both categories as they included the respective nominations Bull Valley and Bela-Bela, who, like Carry On Alice, had both won two Grade 1s each. The panellists might have viewed the Grade 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship over 1000m, won by Carry On Alice, as the strongest of the relevant Grade 1s and on paper it certainly was. Some would have pointed to Rafeef having beaten Carry On Alice in their only meeting in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint, but that was his only Grade 1 victory of the season. He was then retired to stud.

The unluckiest non-winners were Bela-Bela and Bull Valley. However, Bela-Bela at least received consolation in that her dam Mystic Spring finally won the Broodmare Of The Year award, in which she had been so unlucky in the past. Mystic Spring’s other top offspring include the champion Rabiya as well as stakes winners, Rafiya, Spring Lilac, Touch The Sky and Secret Of Victoria, and the latter has become a matriarch herself.

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

Legal Eagle once again proved himself invincible over a mile. He remained unbeaten over this trip and defended his crowns in both the weight for age (wfa) Grade 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and the wfa Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. He was giving Whisky Baron 2,5kg when defeated by 1,5 lengths in the Grade 1 Sun Met and was giving Deo Juvente 1kg when defeated a neck in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge, both over 2000m. He also won the Grade 2 WSB Green Point Stakes. As well as the Horse Of The Year award, he also won the Champion Miler award and the Champion Older Male award.

The Brett Crawford-trained Met winner Whisky Baron was undefeated in five starts in the season, including a Grade 2, and deservedly won the Champion Middle Distance Award.

The Weiho Marwing-trained Hermoso Mundo became the first horse to do the “Gold” stayers treble, winning the Gold Bowl over 3200m, the Gold Vase over 3000m and the Gold Cup over 3200m, and he deservedly won the Stayer’s Award, ousting Grade 1 SA Derby winner Al Sahem.

The Champion three-year-old Filly and Champion two-year-old Male awards were expectedly won by the Joey Ramsden-trained Just Sensual and the brilliant Mike de Kock-trained Mustaaqeem respectively.

The Dennis Drier-trained Lady In Black won the two-year-old filly award. Lady In Black’s Grade 1 victory was narrow, while Brave Mary was a runaway winner in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson, but, on the other hand, Lady In Black was undefeated in three starts, while Brave Mary was defeated three times.

The other awards were: Silvano, Stallion Of The Year; Dynasty received an Outstanding Stallion Award; Klawervlei Stud were Breeders Of The Year; Varsfontein Stud won an Outstanding Breeder Award; Anthony Delpech was Champion Jockey; Lyle Hewitson was Champion Apprentice; Mayfair Speculators were Champion Owners; Mike de Kock received an Inustry Merit Award.

By David Thiselton

There were two top division Sprint Handicaps on the Greyville poly yesterday for punters to enjoy and both were won by 2,5kg apprentice claimers.

In a MR 94 Handicap over 1200m, the Mark Dixon-trained Scent Of The Tiger started 9/2 favourite and turned for home in front under Ashton Arries. The field could only chase in vain and the four-year-old Tiger Ridge gelding ran out a 0,75 length winner from Great Value and Mr Roy.

Later, the speedy Hashtag Strat was caught close to home by a flying Paul Gadsby-trained Vision To Kill in a MR 91 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m. The four-year-old Kildonan filly’s topweight of 62kg was relieved by the claim of Serino Moodley and she converted odds of 21/2 for her fourth win in just ten starts.

Priceless Gem (Denzil Govender)

In the first, a Maiden over 1200m, the Michael Roberts-trained four-year-old Dan De Lago gelding Lupo is an impressive specimen and won at odds of 21/2 under 2,5kg claimer Ashton Arries. He jumped from a draw of 12 out of 12 and did well to kick on and win by a comfortable 1,5 lengths, especially considering Arries had brought him around the field from near the back before they had reached the straight. Lupo looks capable of winning more races.

In the second, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m, Torrey Pines started 12/10 favourite and the first-timer Rapid Roxy was backed in from 20/1 to second favourite before drifting out to 5/1. There was also money for the Paddy Lunn-trained Antonius Pius filly Fair Antonia, who had made a moderate debut over 1000m. She shortened from 20/1 to 10/1 and, jumping from a wide draw, tugged Stuart Randolph to the front. She stayed on well in the straight and Torrey Pines, coming from near the back, failed by a neck to catch her.

In the third, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m, the Charles Laird-trained four-year-old Great Britain filly Sapphire Petunia impressed in the parade ring and led from start to finish under Tristan Gooden to convert 26/10 favouritism.

Randolph made it a double in the fifth, a MR 77 Handicap over 1200m, when coming from near the back on the Wendy Whitehead-trained 5/1 shot Hard To Play. The three-year-old Curved Ball colt is now unbeaten in two starts.

There was an upset in the seventh, a MR 70 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, when the Greg and Karen Anthony-trained five-year-old Lion Tamer mare Class Act stayed on strongly from a handy position under Alec Forbes, having overcome a draw of ten. The favourite Tweed Valley failed by 1,25 lengths to reach the 17-1 chance.

In the last race, a MR 61 Handicap over 2000m, punters watched in disbelief as the jockeys who were in a position to do anything about it just allowed the James Goodman-trained eight-year-old Silvano gelding Priceless Gem to escape in front after jockey Doctor Lembethe had decided the pace was far too slow. Not surprisingly, Lembethe kept going on the 55/1 shot and the fancied Viking Red, who was caught on the rail behind the slow pace, could only chase in vain.

By David Thiselton

Legal Eagle was voted Equus Horse of the Year for the second year running at a glittering function held at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg last night.

Legal Eagle, owned by Mayfair Speculators, who were once again the country’s leading owners, and bred by Avontuur Stud, faced some stern opposition from the likes of Sun Met winner Whisky Baron, Vodacom Durban July winner Marinaresco and the mare Carry On Alice.

However, Legal Eagle’s victories in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queens Plate and Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, plus runner-up berths in the Gr1 Sun Met and Gr1 Premier’s Champion’s Challenge carried the day. Legal Eagle was also voted Champion Miler and Champion Older Male, which further enhanced his credentials.

Carry On Alice, a winner of a Grade 1 in every season she races, finally got just rewards being voted Champion Sprinter and Champion Older Female.

The voting panel comprised of Andrew Harrison, Matthew Lips, Jason Dedekind, Roger Smith, Michael Clower and RA chairman Larry Wainstein as non-voting chairperson. There were a couple of dead-heats in the voting and Wainstein had a casting vote.

The main racing awards were:

Champion Two-year-old Colt – distance immaterial: Mustaaqeem.

Champion Two-year-old Filly – distance immaterial: Lady In Black

Champion Three-year-old Colt – distance immaterial: Edict Of Nantes.

Champion Three-year-old Filly – distance immaterial: Just Sensual.

Champion Older Male –
distance immaterial: Legal Eagle.

Champion Older Filly/Mare – distance immaterial: Carry On Alice.

Champion Sprinter – (1000 – 1200m; age/gender immaterial): Carry On Alice.

Champion Miler – (1400 – 1600; age/gender immaterial): Legal Eagle.

Champion Middle Distance – (1800 – 2200; age/gender immaterial): Legal Eagle, Marinaresco, Whisky Baron

Champion Stayer – (2400 and up; age/gender immaterial): Al Sahem, Hermoso Mundo

Voting Criteria
The awards are based on graded races and in particular Gr 1 races.

Champion Apprentice: Lyle Hewtiston

Champion Jockey: Anthony Delpech

Champion Owner (based on stakes earned): Mayfair Speculators

Champion Trainer (based on stakes earned): Sean Tarry

Horse of the Year Award: Legal Eagle

The Vaal stages a low key meeting on the Inside track tomorrow and low draws are favourable by trends.

Varsity Princess could be a banker in the first leg of the Pick 6 as she has good speed and is still unexposed so should be improving. She has a plum draw and Weichong Marwing is an eyecatching booking. Surfer’s Paradise could be the biggest threat as an improving sort who ran well first time out the maidens

Weichong Marwing

The second leg of the Pick 6 has an interesting topweight in Marmook as he looks to be progressive. It is never easy for a three-year-old to carry topweight first time out the maidens at this time of the year, but he might be classy enough to still win. The backup is Cannes, who is course and distance suited and has a fair draw under Piere Strydom, and Roman Evening, although the latter is admittedly quite frustrating to follow as he appears better than his form suggests and the fact he never wears alumites is a concern. Cold Front and Minnesota make the most appeal of the rest.

Duzi Moon is an interesting runner in the next leg of the Pick 6 over 1700m. He won his last start at Turffontein Inside and in his previous start over this course and distance flew up and just failed against the decent sort Wild Brier. He now has the identical draw. Silver Peg ran on over shorter last time so should enjoy the trip. Elusive Flyer was not far behind Duzi Moon in the Wild Briar run, so is interesting dropped back to this trip after below par efforts over much further in his last two starts.

In the sixth over 1400m, Tokyo Drift has everything in his favour including a plum draw over a suitable trip and off a reduced merit rating, so can defy top weight. Hideway has dropped to a competitive merit rating and this is his ideal trip but there is not much between him and Lauren Of Rochelle on formlines. Crazy Vision has the form to go close if able to overcome a high draw and William Grace has always struck as one with some ability and can’t be ignored off his current lowly merit rating, despite a high draw.

In the seventh race over 1400m Captain Chips is well drawn over an ideal course and distance and is bang in form so should be right there. However, an interesting runner here is Just A Gigolo, who has always struck as one with plenty of ability, but he used to over race in his early days. He now did well over 1600m last time with blinkers on so with the equipment back on over this probably more suitable 1400m he should be right there from a fair draw.

In the last race Juba could surprise and is chosen as the value horse of the day. He was dropped to this trip last time and the blinkers were fitted. However, he raced quite strongly and then found no extra, but was still quite close up at the line, so this trip without the blinkers might be what the doctor ordered and he also has a plum draw. Main Roll has dropped to a competitive mark and Legend Seeker has a good draw coming off an easy win in the maidens. Shine Bright has ability but is enigmatic and All Done could be anything.

By David Thiselton

There are some good horses turning out at Greyville today in the eight race polytrack meeting and the PA and Pick 6 will be popular bets.

In the first keg of the PA, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m, Torrey Pines jumps from draw three and should have too much class here.

Miss Varlicious (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the first leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden over 1200m, the first-timer Clique is well drawn and this Oratorio half-brother to Barbosa should make his presence felt. Of the raced runners, there is little between Sapphire Petunia and Laters Baby.

The fourth race is a MR 94 Handicap over 1200m and Buffalo Soldier makes appeal with a 2,5kg claimer up from a good draw over a suitable trip. Mr Roy handles this trip and with Delpech up from a good draw off the same merit rating as his last win he will go close. Donny G has speed aplenty and will appreciate the step down in trip so will be a factor from draw six. The speedy Miss Varlicious showed she can run on from behind too last time so is a big runner from pole position. Waltzed Home could be a factor if overcoming a high draw. The classy Monte Christo can’t be ignored and neither can Over Sure.

In the fifth, a MR 77 Handicap over 1200m, Var Du Bois has dropped to a mark three points lower than his last wining mark and cracks pole position draw, so he should be right there if starting on terms. Peter Piper has dropped to a competitive merit rating and has won over course and distance from this draw before, so has a chance with Delpech up. Yankeedoodledandy has gone close in his last two over 1400m and now gets the blinkers on over a touch shorter from a good draw with a 2,5kg claimer up. Fire The Rocket is in good from and well drawn over a suitable trip. Wynkelder will be running on from a wide draw and Hard To Play could be anything, but won’t have it easy off an 82 merit rating.

In the sixth a MR 91 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, La Revere has speed and class and from pole position having her third run after a rest should go close under Anthony Delpech. Old Em is 5,5kg better off with Hashtag Strat for a 3,05 length beating over this trip at the Vaal and is now drawn well. Hashtag Strat has exceptional cruising speed and at her best will be a big runner, but this is her sixth run in just under twelve weeks and her last two runs were below par. She doesn’t have the easiest draw either. The youngster Virga was impressive in her only start over course and distance and although officially 1,5kg under sufferance she is well drawn with a 2,5kg claimer aboard. A Vision To Kill is drawn well, so will do better than on July day when drawn wide. Anime can’t be ignored either.

Ian Sturgeon (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the seventh race, a MR 70 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, Vargraves led from start to finish to win her maiden over course and distance and on formlines it would be no surprise to see her following up from a good draw under a 2,5kg claimer. Tweed Valley has a tricky draw but has a strong finishing run and is a threat. Seatops will also be finishing strongly as he did when finishing just behind Tweed Valley on Gold Cup day from a similar draw. Zadora has always possessed a touch of class and should be staying on strongly from a wide draw. Var Agtig has been disappointing but is interesting with first time blinkers on off a reduced merit rating.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is a MR 61 Handicap over 2000m. Racing Socks won easily the last time he ran over course and distance and off a five point higher mark should go close despite a draw of eight. Courageous King was an unlucky second last time over 1900m on the poly. He has been given a four point raise and has to jump from a wide draw, so will likely have to come from the back again. Viking Red is a son of Go Deputy, whose progeny often turn the corner after their fourth birthdays and he could follow suit. He was unplaced the last time he tried this trip, but the form of that race is not bad and he now has a good draw, so if settling well should go close.

Ian Sturgeon remains aboard after finishing strongly on him last time for a narrow second over 1600m, although he has been given a three point raise for that run. Strategic’s Pride won easily over course and distance last March and is now three points lower in the merit ratings. On the evidence of his last 1900m and 2000m poly runs respectively he has a chance from a good draw. The Money Man beat Strategic’s Pride by 1,5 lengths the last time they met over 1900m here and is only 0,5kg worse off, but the reversal in draw fortunes is against him. Lebeoana is a former Kimberley Horse Of The Year and can’t be ignored.

By David Thiselton

Alec Laird has an exciting prospect in the unbeaten Moutonshoek-bred Trippi colt Broadway Trip, who won the BSA Million Colts and Gelding at Scottsville on Sunday and has recouped his purchase price in just two runs.

Robbie Hill was thrilled to win the BSA Million Fillies with bargain buy Fullfillyourdream and her time over the 1400m trip compared favourably with the boys.

Broadway Trip (Candiese Marnewick)

Broadway was still green and, after jumping from a draw of 12 in a field of 13, he threw his head up once or twice when approaching the turn. However, once jockey Randall Simons had successfully slotted him in near the back he travelled nice and relaxed and was able to lope along behind a fair pace. In the straight his big stride had carried him to the front by the 150m mark and he then stretched away to win by 2,25 lengths from the Louis Goosen-trained first-timer Zen Arcade and the well regarded debut winner Silva’s Bullet.

In a race in which the weights are set by purchase price, Broadway Trip carried 58kg and was receiving 2kg from the second and third-placed horses. He was backed into 37/10 second favourite following an eye catching debut in which he ran all over the place in a 1450m event at Turffontein yet still managed to just get up in the shadow of the post.

He was bought for R300,000 at the Bloodstock South Africa National Two-Year-Old Sale last year and is owned by Peter White and Chris Gerber. He has plenty of scope and looks to be a fine prospect for the season’s classics.

Fullfillyourdream, an Oldlands Stud-bred daughter of Indigo Magic, came into Sunday’s race with just one fourth place finish over 1000m to her name and she started at odds of 36/1. Sean Veale slotted her in from a draw of six and she was relaxed in the running. She turned for home near the back and ran on resolutely to win by half-a-length from the second favourite Mind Your Business from the Duncan Howells yard. She only had to carry 54kg, but so did the second and third-placed horses, so she looks to have a promising future.

Fullfillyourdream was also bought at the BSA National Two-Year-old sale. Hill said he had really liked her at the sale and despite having no buyer clinched her for a paltry R25,000. He is owned by Gerald Kalil and her time on Sunday was only 0,34 seconds slower than Broadway Trip’s.

By David Thiselton

Anthony Delpech was lyrical about the condition and design of Ascot racecourse after riding for The Rest Of The World team in the Shergar Cup on Saturday.

South Africa’s reigning champion jockey rode the John Best-trained Glenys The Menace to victory in the fifth race over a mile-and-a-half.

He also had a second and a fourth, which saw him finishing fourth in the individual standings, while his team finished second to Great Britain and Ireland.

It was the first time Delpech had ever ridden in England.

He said, “It was unbelievable, it is one of the best tracks I have ever ridden on. The condition of the grass was immaculate, it was like a carpet, and the design of the course with the downhills and uphills, and also the parade ring and grandstand, it was just out of this world.”

Delpech spoke also of the tremendous on course atmosphere and also of the camaraderie between the jockeys riding in the Shergar Cup.

Delpech showed his class in scoring a win as race riding in the U.K. is completely different to race riding in South Africa and takes a while to get used to.

The pace tends to be faster and the horses have to be fitter as the ground is generally more difficult to go through compared to South Africa where ii is generally “on top”.

Reserving enough for the finish is of the essence, so good hands, balance and tactical nous are of high importance.

Delpech showed all three when producing Glenys The Menace, who was one of four fillies in the ten horse field, with a strong late run on the outside to get up and win by half-a-length.

She returned odds of 8/1. Trainer Best had been confident as she had finished a close second just two days earlier when staying on over a mile and two furlongs at Sandown.

Delpech managed to get to Scottsville in time on Sunday to ride the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Silvano colt Silva’s Bullet in the BSA August Million Colts and Geldings over 1400m.

The colt had opened 17/10 and drifted out to 32/10 in the face of strong support for the eventual winner Broadway Trip. Silva’s Bullet showed a good turn of foot in the straight from a handy position and hit the front, but had no answer to the finish of Broadway Trip. Delpech was not unhappy at all with the 3,25 length third and said, “He needs further.” He is a half-brother to the useful Kannemeyer-trained Solid Speed, who won eight races including a Grade 2 over 1900m and a Grade 3 over 2400m, and being by Silvano will continue to improve. He is a horse to watch in the classics this season, especially in the Investec Cape Derby and Daily News 2000.

Delpech also rode for Kannemeyer in the BSA August Million Fillies and his mount Pearl Glow finished fifth.

Delpech’s championship winning season just past was unusual in that he was out with a broken collar bone for over a month in December and January.

His 195 winners ridden at a strike rate of 22,01% was not as good as his return last season when he was runner up with 210 winners at a strike rate of 23,57%.

Nevertheless he won his third South African Jockeys Championships by a comfortable 43 winners from Greg Cheyne.

His winners included four Grade 1 victories, one Grade 2, two Grade 3s, four Listed races and five Non-Black Type events.

He was the leading rider at Greyville during the season with 85 wins from 389 mounts at a strike rate of 21,85%, beating Anton Marcus, who had 78 wins from 312 rides at a strike rate of 25%.

Delpech was second only to Keagan de Melo at Scottsville, riding 45 winners from 196 mounts at a strike rate of 22,96% to the latter’s 48 winners from 263 rides at a strike rate of 18,25%. Marcus had 43 winners at Scottsville ridden at a strike rate of 25,6%.

Delpech rode 30 winners at Turffontein at a strike rate of 17,05%.

His 32 winners at The Vaal were ridden at a high strike rate of 34,04%.

He rode three winners at Kenilworth at a strike rate of 11,11%.

He also had four rides at Fairview but no winners.

Delpech has certainly had an August to remember for besides his Shergar Cup exploits he won the coveted Green Jacket at the Gold Circle Racing Masters golf tournament, which is held annually at The Wild Coast in the week after the Gold Cup meeting.

By David Thiselton