Punters will need to dig deep into their formbooks and do some serious studying for today’s meeting at Scottsville as they are faced with a loaded card of mostly maximum fields. However, the pickings will be profitable if they can find correct combinations.

The White Horse Function Room Handicap is a sample of what they are up against being a competitive handicap. Dante’s Legacy was a beaten favourite last run and Gavin van Zyl’s charge is having his fourth run after a lengthy break. He has raced handy in both of his last two starts before coming up short under pressure but the extra distance and a good draw should see him in the firing line.

Rainbowinthesky (Nkosi Hlophe)

Gareth van Zyl saddles the Australian-bred Handsome Harvey for the first time. The colt shed his maiden for Mike Azzie at Turffontein and had shown steady improvement leading up to that win. He has the worst of the draw but looks progressive.

Terabyte has his third run after a lay-off and gelding but still gave his rider a tough time last time out as he proved a touch headstrong. He races with a tongue-tie for the first time and that could make all the difference.

Crystal Ball takes on males for the first time but there was a lot to like about the way she finished off her latest start. She made up many lengths in the straight and with that run under her girth she cannot be written off lightly.

In the Rockafellas Restaurant Handicap, Cuvara made good improvement to win at his second start and looks progressive. Tony Rivalland’s yard has come good over the past few weeks and it generally pays to follow form stables. Talking of form stables, Paul Lafferty has been lining them up in recent weeks along with apprentice Ashton Arries who is back from suspension. They team up with top weight Dark Moon Rising who won well on debut beating the luckless but subsequent winner Indian Tractor. Of the balance, Rock Of Africa has some fair form to stronger in the Cape and can make the step up.

The final race on the card is a tough Fillies and Mare Handicap but Rainbowinthesky has shown up well in two starts against stronger since shedding her maiden. An outside draw down the Scottsville straight does not appear to be an issue any longer so gate 16 should not be a disadvantage.

Russian Girl has been holding form and looks a live danger to the selection while Silk Trip was deemed good enough to try a trip to the Highveld and can improve on her last effort.

A possibly exotic bet banker may come in the form of Silent Obsession in the Racing It’s A Rush Maiden Plate. The gelding only has one eye but has come to hand after making major improvement at his last start. He was an expensive yearling buy and is a smart looking individual.  The filly Enticer looks his main threat and although she takes on males she has smart form over shorter. If she stays the trip she will be competitive.

On The Bounce will have many supporters in the card opener after finishing a useful third against winners last time out. That form has since been franked with second-placed Neptune’s Rain winning the Gr3 Strelitiza Stakes at her subsequent outing.

Both On The Bounce and Swift Dancer have had both their starts in soft ground and there was a length between the two when they met for the first time. There is unlikely to be much between them again today and drawn alongside each other should make for an interesting tussle. However, there are plenty of unraced fillies in the line-up and the betting may prove a better guide.

By Andrew Harrison

Anton Marcus will ride Trip To Heaven for the first time in the Computaform Sprint at Turffontein on Saturday.

It’s a fascinating prospect – the best starter in the business teamed up with perhaps the speediest horse in the country but one with a flaw in his make-up that often results in him giving away a fatal amount of ground at the start.

Marcus’s famed starting method involves pushing his weight almost impossibly far forward as the gates open, so encouraging the horse’s momentum, but the four-time champion faces an additional problem with Trip To Heaven because the Sean Tarry-trained gelding is not just slow out of the pens but also slow to get going.

When he started favourite In the Cape Flying Championship in January, with Grant van Niekerk in the irons, he was eight lengths last after 100m yet he finished far faster than anything and only failed to peg back stable companion Carry On Alice by a rapidly-dwindling neck.

Marcus, though, has been struck by how well the horse ran in his two races at Kenilworth and said: “He has got to bring his Cape Town form to Jo’burg.”

Trip To Heaven is 28-10 second favourite with Betting World which has Carry On Alice heading the market at 22-10 in her bid to become the first dual winner of the Computaform since Golden Loom at the end of the last century.

What A Winter in 2013 is the only Cape Town winner since Laisserfaire 15 years ago and Snaith Racing is not optimistic about the chances of Jo’s Bond (8-1) despite her close-up fourth in the Cape Flying and her more recent Listed win at Scottsville.

Jonathan Snaith said: “We are raiding from Summerveld and people don’t seem to realise that is only about 1 700 feet whereas Jo’burg is over 5 000 feet. This makes it very difficult and, while the shorter the distance of the race the better chance you have, we are not at all confident.”

Legal Eagle (Marcus ) is as short as 4-10 to repeat last year’s win in the Premier’s Champions Challenge and Heavenly Blue (Callan Murray) is 6-10 to give Mike de Kock his first SA Derby since Irish Flame seven years ago.

Michael Clower

Billy Jacobson made the most of his opportunities in the “Levelling the Playing Fields Series” and heads the standings after Sunday’s second leg at Scottsville.

Jacobson, successful aboard the Chris Erasmus-trained Puchini in the first leg, was drawn to partner Mark Dixon’s runner, The Poet, and rode the perfect race to get his mount home ahead of Puchini in a thrilling finish.

Allocation of jockeys is done on a random draw basis and Jacobson knew what he was up against in Puchini. “He’s a horse that never gives in. I was a bit worried because I thought I’d gone to soon. I know Pucini would come back at me.” There was only a nose in it at the line.

Former commentator Eric Denman was complimentary of Jacobson’s ride and was on hand to lead in The Poet who races in the colours of his brother Trevor and his wife Robin. “Billy did his homework.  He worked out the race beforehand and knew exactly what he was up against. I thought he rode a great race.”

Morne Winaar was fortunate enough to re-draw the mount on Brave And Bold on which he finished second in the first leg. This time he went one better on Wendy Whitehead’s mare and made all to hold The King Of Random with first leg winner Royal Agree back in fourth. Jacobson and Winaar now lead the jockey standings.

A feature of the “Levelling the Playing Fields Series”, is that jockeys’ mounts are balloted and each trainer was invited to enter only one horse from their yard to compete in all three legs with the 14 highest point earners qualifying for the final at the end of June. While all horses entered for the series will compete again in the third round, the make-up of the fields for the two heats will change, as a fresh draw will take place to decide upon the two fields for the 1600m contests.

The third round takes place on Saturday, 27 May with the final being held over 1400 metres at Greyville on Sunday, 25 June.

Prize money for each race in rounds 1, 2 and 3 is R100 000 but the final will be contested for R200 000. In addition the Owner, Breeder and Trainer of the horse that accumulates most points, including the final, will each receive an additional R50 000 and the Jockey who accumulates the most points over the series will receive a bonus of R50 000.

Andrew Harrison

Picture: The Poet and Billy Jacobson (Nkosi Hlophe)

The South African  Tote plans to offer minimum-amount guaranteed Pick 6 pools on major racedays in future and kicks off with a R4.5-million guaranteed pool on the Champions Day race meeting at Turffontein this Saturday.

Champions Day is one of the “Big 4” race meetings on the SA calendar – it’s Joburg’s richest raceday and features Jozi’s richest race in the R4-million Premier’s Champions Challenge. The Pick 6 pool on the meeting starts with a R1.1-million carryover and should soar way over the R5-million mark (TAB’s official estimate is R5.1 million).

But to heighten interest and awareness, and to satisfy the requests of many customers, TAB is guaranteeing a total net pool of R4.5 million up front. “Many of our customers have said that only knowing the approximate pool a few minutes before the off hampers their play,” said TAB boss Vee Moodley.

“These customers tend to base the amount they spend on the Pick 6 on the actual pool size, not our estimates, and to encourage them to spend more we will guarantee minimum pool levels for major race meetings.”

Should a pool fail to reach the guaranteed amount, TAB will make up the difference subject to the condition that all commingling partners are able to bet into the pool as scheduled.

“Obviously if a local or international commingling partner is prevented from betting into the pool for whatever reason, for example a loss of connectivity, the guarantee will fall away. Once the pool exceeds the guaranteed amount, the actual pool total will be displayed and paid out as normal,” said Moodley.

TAB is also guaranteeing a minimum R2.7-million Pick 6 pool for the Daisy Guineas meeting at Greyville this Sunday, when the pool will start with a R750,000 carryover.

There’s a bumper TAB betting menu for Champions Day at Turffontein on Saturday May 6 with carryovers into several pools in addition to the Pick 6:

Race 2: BiPot ONE Leg 1 – R25,246 caarryover, likely pool R550,000

Race 3: PA Leg 1 – likely pool R1,250,000

Race 4: Pick 6 MEGAPOOL Leg 1 – R1,100,000 carryover, GUARANTEED pool R4,500,000 (estimated pool R5.1 million plus)

Race 5: Jackpot ONE Leg 1 – likely pool R1,000,000

Race 6: PA Blitz Leg 1 – likely pool R100,000

Race 7: BiPot TWO Leg 1 – likely pool R150,000

Race 8: Normal range of TAB bets

Race 9: Premier’s Champions Challenge – Jackpot TWO Leg 1 – R40,000 carryover, likely pool R750,000. Also M6 for Soccer GG

Race 10: Normal range of TAB bets

Race 11: Jackpot Quickmix Leg 1 – R22,950 carryover, likely pool R200,000

Race 12: Normal range of TAB bets

* Tote betting on the meeting opens Wednesday 3 May.

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Are you enthusiastic and eager to learn?

Are you capable of performing physical and practical work?

Do you possess excellent communication skills?

Have you just completed your 3 year diploma in Horticulture?

If you have answered ‘yes’ to all the questions above, then we have the perfect opportunity for you.

Gold Circle (Pty) Ltd is recruiting Interns in the Horticultural field.

The duration of the programme is 12 months.

Gold Circle has a wide range of horticultural opportunities available as the company has some of the best turfgrass facilities in the country. With six top class grass tracks spread among the four fantastic centres there is no shortage of learning and training.

Students get to learn irrigation and drainage first hand from experienced individuals, they use horticultural mechanization machinery first hand including boom sprayers, vertidrains and all types of the latest mowers used in turf industry. They practice spring treatment and learn about fertilizer programmes, mowing heights and programmes and race track preparations. Hedge-trimming, pruning, planting and designing racecourse gardens, tree felling, sod cutting, light construction work and handyman assisting are among the many techniques and practices experienced.

Interested students to email their CV and academic record to Nirvana Doodhram – Nirvanad@goldcircle.co.za by Wednesday May 17.

There exotic races at the Turffontein Inside track on Saturday are generally competitive although there are possible bankers for the brave.

In the first leg of the PA two-year-old Twice A Dancer is an impressive specimen who can build on his eye catching debut as he is a robust sort who should have come on from the run, so he looks to be a banker. Another two-year-old Pillaroftheearth made a good debut and with Gavin Lerena up from a good draw should also go close. Pretty Wendy is by Dynasty and is a half-sister to Gr 1 SA Oaks winner Pine Princess, who won her first two starts over 1200m and 1000m respectively, so she is an interesting runner. Island View found support last time over 1450m and moved up well before finding little extra, so he might have needed it and might also appreciate the step down to 1200m. Artax made a fair debut in a strong field and is well draw.

The second leg of the PA is likely to be a straight fight between Only To Win and Boudica. A-Rod has been consistent but has been racing in weak Greyville polytrack maidens.

In the third leg Front Club is three months younger than her contemporaries being Irish-bred so should be improving and on pedigree will relish the trip, being a half-sister to Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks winner Front House. Generoso ran on well to beat Front Club last time over 1600m and is another to include alongside the consistent middle distance horse Eversilver. However, King’s Creek, Advance To Go and Musette must be considered for the Pick 6 and Jackpot.

In the next leg the well-bred Consequentially has risen through the ranks since blinkers were fitted, while Snowdonia has been acquitting herself well against stronger. For the Pick 6 and Jackpot the promising Cold Cash and the improving Russian Star can’t be ignored.

In the fifth leg of the PA Zouaves is selected to win as he produced a powerful finish from off the pace to win his maiden over course and distance and hasn’t been punished by the handicapper. However, Silver Sails is an exciting prospect and is also well drawn in his first run for the Joe Soma yard. Raasmaal, Bonnie Prince and Crazy Vision, and maybe even Tendre, have to be considered for Pick 6 and Jackpot bets too.

In the next leg the powerfully built and well bred Alileo is a banker consideration, but this is only her second start and beyond her Lumya, Easy Game, Lady Of The World, Heavy Metal and Favour’s Pride all look to have winning chances.

The last leg is tricky, but topweight Beckoning has dropped to a competitive mark and can be effective from a good draw. Ponchielli was a touch unlucky last time and so was Allora, who has dropped to an attractive merit rating. High Seas Beauty has ability but has to overcome a wide draw and Always A Lady and Queen’s Jet can also be involved.

By David Thiselton

Our Mate Art can finally start realising his potential by winning the Highlands Stud Winter Guineas at Kenilworth tomorrow.

The highly regarded Australian-bred missed the rest of the Cape season after chipping a splint bone in the Selangor but returned after a 19 week lay-off to take second in a Pinnacle at the beginning of the month only to be seemingly stymied by a bad draw here.

But that all changed on Wednesday afternoon when Bernard Fayd’Herbe, as so often in the past, was first to spot that the ground on the stands side had become faster and he came home alone on the winner. In the next race they all swung wide at the turn.

African Night Sky (Liesl King)

If – as seems probable – conditions are much the same tomorrow Aldo Domeyer, successful on Marinaresco 12 months ago, won’t need a Marcus-type flying start to get into a decent position.

He could have most to fear from Elevated who is going to be a good price. He comes from one of the smaller yards and his recent form is positively discouraging. But he was a sick horse after the Derby and patently not ready last time. Nothing else here can match his fourth in the Cape Guineas.

“He is the best horse in the race,” says Riaan van Reenen, “and, while he is not 100%, he is very close to it – maybe 95 or 96% – and that could be enough.”

Newlands is best on ratings and Joey Ramsden is bidding for his third Winter Guineas in six seasons. The gelding has some useful form but not useful enough to jump out at you as the likely winner and the owner’s retained rider Anton Marcus is on Turbulent Air instead.

Marcus has won three of the last five Winter Guineas and his strike rate at Kenilworth this season is a barely credible 37%. In other words he has almost two winners from every five rides. Dare I say it, though, Turbulent Air looks more like one of the statistical three losers.

True, he was running for the first time for four months when only just behind Our Mate Art (who was giving 1.5kg) in the April 1 Pinnacle but he had been well beaten in races like the Langerman and the Cape Classic.

Stable companion African Night Sky has always looked a good horse in the making and, if that Pinnacle form is correct, he could get into the shake-up.

Piere Strydom is a high-profile booking for I Travel Light who finished a length in front of African Night Sky in the CTS Mile but was well beaten in the Cape Guineas. Victory for any of the other eight – Loadshedder included – would be a shock of seismic proportions.

Who will head the market is as difficult to predict as the winner but it’s important because the favourite has won five of the last six runnings. As regards the rest of the card, Fresnaye and Silver Mountain are stand-outs.

By Michael Clower