The race meeting scheduled for Scottsville tomorrow has been postponed to Saturday 20^th May 2017.

A track inspection was carried out this morning by the Track Manager and a Trainer from Ashburton and it was agreed that there was no prospect of the race meeting going ahead as planned.

“Fortunately Turffontein is a standalone meeting on Saturday and hence, with the blessing of Phumelela, we have made the decision to postpone to this date,” said Gold Circle Racing Executive Raf Sheik.

More than 200mm has fallen over Greyville since Friday and a decision regarding the Betting World 1900 race meeting will be made closer to the time. The weather forecast suggests the sun will be out from tomorrow but clearly the turf track will need ideal weather conditions for it to dry sufficiently.

“For this reason we have kept Sunday as a Plan B option should the track require more time,” added Sheik.

“With our major race days on the horizon, we are very mindful that we need to avoid causing excessive damage to the racing surfaces while at the same keeping the disruption to the planned racing programmes to an absolute minimum.”

Gold Circle

You have no doubt heard of the jockey they call ‘The Magic Man’. Now, perhaps, the world of racing has witnessed the arrival of ‘The Young Wizard’.

At the age of just 20, South African-born Callan Murray this week made the biggest leap in rankings points in the entire evolution of TRC Global Rankings – more than any fellow jockey, any trainer, any owner or any sire.

The lofty comparison with Joao Moreira – ranked third in our latest classifications – is not invoked stylistically or in any other way superficially but strictly numerically. For, as we will see shortly, Murray is one of the riders who profiles like Moreira by our numbers. (With Murray headed for a three-month stint in Hong Kong the two will meet head-on.)

Joao Moreira & Callan Murray

Murray goes up 31 rankings points and 160 places to 109 for his G1 treble on Champions Day at Turffontein. He landed the Premier’s Champions Challenge (2000m) on Deo Juvente, the South African Nursery (1200m) on Mustaaqeem, and the Computaform Sprint (1000m) on Rafeef. Two of the three came for trainer Mike De Kock and in the colours of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, while Deo Juvente is trained by Geoff Woodruff and owned by the increasingly influential Mayfair Speculators.

Of course, a rider does not come without his book of rides. And a small sample can always just be a fluke. So, even if you are not convinced by Murray’s languid, relaxed, uber-cool ride on Deo Juvente, for instance, precedent suggests that winning three Group 1 races is a notable achievement, particularly in one so young.

The history of TRC Global Rankings goes back to 2014. On that day, we formed the initial rankings internally using the previous three years of results in Group and Graded races around the world. That window has shifted forward 174 times to this week’s classifications, and the system moves the competitors in each category of jockeys, owners, trainers and sires up or down in an attempt to minimise the number of future changes it has to make.

In other words, TRC Global Rankings is equally forward- and backward-looking. It measures past accomplishment – like all world rankings systems try to do – but it is unique in doing so predictively. In the context of statistics, this means that the maths we use tries to strip out randomness from every competitor’s results, smoothing their change in rankings points by learning what each win or loss really means.

We sometimes get asked why not simply aggregate Group and Graded wins to produce the classifications? And how can we rank competitors with fewer wins above more prolific rivals? The answer is that Group and Graded race performances must be placed in their proper context – how rare was the achievement in that part of the world? How good was the race independent of its grading? How much evidence is there that it is repeatable? – before the rankings can serve as more than an exercise in playing with numbers.

Less sophisticated rankings could not capture the brilliance of Moreira, or trainers like John Moore, if they merely used aggregation. And the system is betting heavily on South African Murray becoming a global star in the next few years.

– Thoroughbredracing.com

La Favourari made it three off the reel in the Royal Horse Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth yesterday but only after the race turned into a farce of theatre proportions.

Grant Van Niekerk (Nkosi Hlophe)

Tevez, at the time 2-1 favourite, played the lead role. His celebrated short-lived patience with the pens was seemingly at minimum and he came out of them as fired up as a bullet coming down the barrel. Unfortunately for him, and for the race, starter Fred Bosman had still to press the button and the gate mechanism proved totally unable to withstand over half a tonne of horseflesh at full surge.

“He had to wait a second and a half in the pens and then he just decided to go,” reported rider Donovan Dillon who recommended that his mount should not be asked to race again in view of the possibility of injury to the horse’s head.

Fortunately vet Eugene Reynders pronounced him unharmed but a number of the other six took too long to get their jockeys’ false start message and the fancied Kingston Passage (5-2) was promptly scratched by Brett Crawford who explained: “I wasn’t going to send him again. It was a five furlong race and his bubble was burst.”

Adam Marcus also decided that discretion was the better part of valour with longshot Prince Alfred and La Favourari was left to make all the running – but he had less than a length to spare over two of his three opponents.

“We had gone between 150 and 250m and that took a lot out of him,” reported Grant van Niekerk. “But he showed guts finishing the way he did after what happened.”

It wasn’t only the horses and their connections who were put out but punters and bookmakers too. One of the former complained that he had been counting on an all-the-way romp from Kingston Passage while course layer Bertie Dobbie said: “Tevez and Kingston Passage were the only two horses I laid – and then I had to give all the money back again!”

La Favourari (Liesl King)

Dillon, though, wasted little time in gaining compensation. In the Equine Online Pinnacle Stakes 40 minutes later he decided to make the most of Billy Prestage’s ‘go to the front and lead all the way’ instructions and shortly after halfway he was ten lengths clear. He was still eight in front 200m out but from that point on his mount started to die like a wilting flower and he had less than half a length left at the line.

Prestage, still hoping for the long-overdue rain to appear, quipped: “He handles the wet – although not when it’s as wet as the polytrack was in Greyville today!”

Van Niekerk stole the riding honours with a five-timer- including two winners for Geoff Woodruff and two for Andre Nel – although his day started badly and expensively with a failed objection and a R3 000 fine for using his whip with excessive frequency.

Snaith Racing had its first winner in the famous Marsh Shirtliff colours with Forest Prince in the first while the stable and Bernard Fayd’Herbe promptly doubled up with Miss Katalin.

By Michael Clower

Turffontein Inside track has an eight race meeting tomorrow and three of the Pick 6 legs are fillies and mares handicaps, so some healthy exotic dividends are on the cards.

Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the first leg of the Pick 6, Let It Flow is made the best bet of the day despite being up against two promising sorts in Think Twice and Dame Kelly. On debut Let It Flow was backed in at quite long odds, but had her chances severely affected by the winner jumping sideways at the start. She had to be checked and effectively lost two or three lengths, yet ran on strongly to lose by 0,5 lengths in the 1200m event. The stipendiary stewards overruled the subsequent objection. The Judpot filly could make amends here from a good draw over the same trip around the turn and Marco van Rensburg keeps the ride. On formlines, she comes out better than both Think Twice and Dame Kelly and has a better draw too. Both of the latter pair look promising and should improve from their respective debuts. Think Twice was only run out of it by two decent sorts on debut over 1400m and should be effective over this trip. Dame Kelly was staying on strongly over 1160m and has a fair draw here under Anthony Delpech. A Pick 6 banker has to be found somewhere and Let It Flow is awarded the role.

Earlier, in the first leg of the PA, the Sean Tarry-trained Querari colt Play The Night showed good pace from a difficult draw on debut in a decent field over 1000m down the Turffontein straight and found no extra late. He should relish the step up in trip and has a fair draw. He hasn’t run since that debut on February 7, but is given the tentative vote ahead of Pillaroftheearth. The latter has run second in both of his starts over 1000m and 1200m respectively and comes out better than the selection on paper, but perhaps does not have as much scope for improvement.

The second leg of the Pick 6 is a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1450m and three horses, Knysna Rose, Chapati and Grey Missile, might be enough for the Pick 6. Knysna Rose is a hard knocker over this trip. Chapati is a talented filly, but hasn’t run since September last year. Grey Missile is a scopey two-year-old, who will relish the step up in trip. All three of these fillies have fair draws. Key Hostess has some good form, but has a tough draw and ran below par when stepped up to this trip last time. However, she is by Fort Wood so could be dangerous. Boudica has run second in her last two starts over this sort of trip and is well drawn, but does not have as much scope as the first three selections.

Sean Tarry (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the third leg of the Pick 6, a MR 73 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1450m, Diamond Noir makes appeal as an improving sort who went close over course and distance last time. She now has a tough draw but Jockey’s-Championship favourite Delpech is aboard. Movie Award is well drawn over a suitable trip and has dropped to a merit rating two points lower than her highest winning mark, so must be considered in a weaker field than she has been facing lately. Burundi Bush is effective from 1200m up to this trip and is in fine form, so must go into the equation off a three point higher mark than her latest win. However, it is an open race and wider perms can be considered.

In the next leg over 1800m, Parisienne Chic drops from feature race company into an ordinary handicap and is drawn in pole over a suitable trip, so should go close. However, beyond her it is another typically open fillies and mares handicap.

The penultimate leg of the Pick 6 over 1800m is the most open race of the day, although the three that make most appeal are Fish River Canyon, My Angelface and September Bloom. Fish River Canyon has caught the eye before and this is her perfect trip. She has been chosen on those two grounds and also due to her merit rating having dropped to an attractive mark. However, on the downside, she has a wide draw to overcome. My Angelface has her first run out of the maidens, but as a Northern Hemisphere-bred horse she is six months younger than her contemporaries so should be coming into her own only now. She starts handicapping off a reasonable mark. September Bloom is improving in the typical fashion of a Lucky Houdalakis-trained horse and is interesting with first time blinkers on, having gone close over 200m further last time. Furthermore, she is drawn in pole.

The last leg of the Pick 6 and PA is a tough sprint handicap over 1000m, but three in form horses are well drawn, Le Tigre, Starcraft Prince and Roman Evening. They are the sole choices for the Pick 6, although cannot be considered confident ones.

By David Thiselton

Aldo Domeyer, forced to call off his rides at Kenilworth yesterday because of problems with his back, will see a neurosurgeon today.

Aldo-Domeyer

He said: “It’s the old injury in my back, it keeps niggling me and it feels too bad for me to ride. I went to hospital on Friday and they suggested cortisone but I know that is not going to fix the problem. I told them that I would go to a specialist but unfortunately he could not see me until Monday.”

Daisy Fillies Guineas winner Gimme Six will return to Greyville for the Woolavington on June 3 and Jono Snaith reports that Turbulent Air will join Winter Guineas winner African Night Sky (Bernard Fayd’Herbe) in a two-pronged challenge for the Highlands Stud Winter Classic at Kenilworth on Sunday.

The closing date for entries for the Cape Of Good Hope Nursery and the Kenilworth Fillies Nursery, both on May 27, has been held over until this morning. There were only ten nominations for the former on Friday and just seven for the fillies race.

The virus that hit a number of Joey Ramsden’s horses appears to have spread to Vaughan Marshall’s stable. Marshall scratched all nine of yesterday’s Kenilworth runners.

By Michael Clower

Turffontein Standside track stages the final leg of the Workriders Challenge tomorrow and this meeting always produces plenty of excitement as the riders vie for the title and the R50,000 main prize.

However, the quality of the horses on the day are not out of the top drawer and all eight races are maidens.

Sam Mosia

In the first leg of the PA over 1160m, Bono returns from a layoff since January but has the reigning champion workrider Sam Mosia up and has the form to win the race. Singaswewin and Bravo Zulu are the other pair who could be in the winner’s enclosure. Singaswewin ran an improved race last time and was finishing well. Bravo Zulu is only a two-year-old, but has faced some good opposition without being disgraced and the blinkers have been dispensed with after he failed with them on last time. Francis Semela, who won the second leg of this season’s Challenge, is aboard Bravo Zulu, while Singaswewin has the in form Goodman Dadamisi aboard. Dadamisi has won on five of his last eleven rides. He does not have the best rides on the day, but is a rider who is always worth following as he has a fine pair of hands as well as balance and horses run for him.

In the second leg of the PA and first leg of the Pick 6, Semela can post a win on Gotoluvher, who has the form to beat Playing Games and Fictitious.

The next race is over 2000m and pace judgement will be of particular importance. Two good, experienced riders, Charles Ndlovu and Sam Mosia, are aboard the two form horses, Subtle Force and Half A Bar respectively. Subtle Force makes more appeal as he is likely looking for this trip. Yes Dear’s rider Sebelo Siphika is not In line for the title, but he did finish second on her over 2600m in April, so this horse also has a chance.

The fifth race is competitive, but Ohio makes most appeal being by Ideal World and now stepping up to 2000m. His rider Siyabonga Mthembu had a win and two seconds in the second leg of the Challenge. Golden Gate Bridge was staying on over shorter last time and is an interesting runner with Dadamisi aboard. Houston Rocket, Zingana and Ali Bon Dubai all have winning chances too.

The sixth race is a weak event over 1400m and the superbly bred Lainsberg Blue has a chance to make amends for his losing debut, where he went off at 8/10. He is by Dynasty and is a half-brother to Trip To Heaven and the good rider Joe Gwingwizha is aboard from a good draw of three. He showed good gatespeed on debut and has a nice stride, but was overtaken in the closing stages and might appreciate the step up in trip.

In the seventh over 1400m Lady Lucinda ran a fair race last time from a wide draw over 1450m and now has a good draw. She has a long stride and champion workrider Sam Mosia should position her well. It is an open race, but Grey’s Delight makes most appeal of the rest.

In the eighth race over 1000m Phillydelphia has good gatespeed and pace and was tried in the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery last time. She was outclassed there but back in a maiden could keep an uninspiring field at bay. Music Maker makes most appeal of the older horses here as she has shown some ability.

By David Thiselton

Johan Janse van Vuuren, who currently has a small raiding string based at Ashburton, takes to the Greyville poly track on Sunday where his runners have realistic chances in all six of their races and a straight-line Pick 6, while unlikely, is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Crowd Pleaser in the Pick 6 opener is a progressive three-year-old who is no stranger to the Greyville poly as both of his victories have come on the synthetic surface. Back in January she simply ‘smoked’ home, leading all the way over the 1900m.

Anton Marcus (Nkosi Hlophe)

Crowd Pleaser was wacked eight pounds for that win which will make things a touch more difficult this time around against some more seasoned opposition but he has a poly master in Anton Marcus up and he could prove difficult to peg back.

Marcus will be aboard another Van Vuuren runner in Gasoline in the fourth who caught the eye when finding some interference in his last start at the Vaal before finishing second. Older horses tend to take to the poly and on that showing he could have the measure of Keep On Chooglin, going this trip for the first time, and confirmed poly specialist, the Brian Wiid-trained Racing Socks.

Marcus has forsaken the ride on the speedy Vine Street Star and a possible hat-trick of wins for the Mayfair Speculators filly to partner The Thinker for Van Vuuren. If his sequence of win, lose, win continues, he is due another victory although his merit rating is also on the rise. Bonnie Dawn from the visiting Louis Goosen yard, and Vine Street Star are obvious dangers.

Cathedral County hunts a winning hat-trick for Van Vuuren in the Track & Ball Gaming Handicap after scoring two effortless wins at the Vaal. Of concern is that he was reported to be coughing after both of those wins and they won’t be taking any prisoners when it comes to pace in this five-furlong dash with the filly Go With Flo under a postage stamp and the highly rated La Ferrari not short of early toe.

Another Van Vuuren runner, Doosra, has lost his way a little since beating the likes of Heavenly Blue and Daffiq early last season but although well beaten into second last time out, blinkers appear to have improved him a little. He will need to find his best form if he is to get the better of the smart and lightly weighted Palladium.

Cedrus Libani is the last of the Van Vuuren runners in the Jackpot Quick Mix Handicap where he will be up against it from a tricky draw in a field packed with possibilities. Top weight Breakfast Club is finally showing his true colours, winning both recent starts over course and distance, while Yankeedoodledandy, Archilles, King Django and Restless Rogue head a long list of possible winners.

By Andrew Harrison

Tevez is a logical choice for the Royal Horse Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth on Sunday but watch out for rising star Kingston Passage.

Tevez (Liesl King)

Greg Cheyne’s mount carries the Whisky Baron colours and has won the last three of his four starts, most recently going straight to the front and killing off the opposition shortly after halfway – and the time was good.

“It’s a big ask at the weights,” says Brett Crawford. “But it is going to be an interesting race and it should tell us exactly what he is capable of.”

True, the Western Winter gelding faces a formidable task against a horse who only two races back was beaten less than two lengths when fifth in the Cape Flying Championship. Even after going up eight points for his last win, Kingston is a full 6kg worse with Tevez than he would be in a handicap.

But he is not the only horse Aldo Domeyer has to worry about because La Favourari beat him off when he appeared to come at him with the race in the bag over a furlong further in a similar event three weeks ago. The four-year-old is on a hat-trick and clearly improving – “He is still doing well and there is no reason why he shouldn’t run another nice race,” says Andre Nel.

Lineker (Nkosi Hlophe)

But Tevez should surely reverse the form with a run under his belt and a 3kg turnaround in the weights. “He always runs a good race and he won’t need it this time,” points out Candice Bass-Robinson.

It looks between the three even though Vincente passed the post only a length and a half behind Kingston Passage five weeks ago and is now 4kg better.

Weights and recent form point to Silvan Star in the Equine Online Pinnacle even though it is debatable whether she deserved to go up as much as 2.5kg for last time’s neck win.

Top weight Milton seldom runs a bad race but he was most disappointing when favourite for a 1 400m Pinnacle at the beginning of last month and it is significant that Billy Prestage is putting him back over this longer trip.

Lineker would have strong claims if Greg Cheyne can get him away on terms but the Snaith four-year-old lost four lengths coming out of the pens in his last race and six lengths the previous time. Little wonder that Bernard Fayd’Herbe has switched to It Is Written.

Excellent looked unlucky when favourite three weeks ago and could be worth another chance in the Epol Handicap.

By Michael Clower