Veteran jockey Andrew Fortune will be having knee surgery this week, but on the bright side he is only expecting to be out for three weeks.

Fortune had made recent inroads into Gavin Lerena’s lead in the National Jockeys Championships, but he now admits a top five finish would be a good result.

Andrew Fortune (Nkosi Hlophe)

Meanwhile, Greg Cheyne, who is in second place on the Jockey’s log, did not lose much ground to Gavin Lerena during his three week injury layoff as the latter has been through a rare dry spell.

Fortune booked off his rides on Saturday due to swelling in the knee and cancelled his rides for Monday’s meeting at Flamingo Park. However, he did ride yesterday (Tuesday) and notched up his 100th winner of the season. The years of attrition from jockeyship has led to arthritis in the knee. He has no cartilage left in the joint. The operation will be in order to clean the knee out, i.e. to get ride of the bone chips etc. Fortune recently copped a ten day suspension for a riding misdemeanour and will take it while recuperating.

The jockeys title looks likely to be a two horse race between Lerena and Cheyne, although stalwarts Anton Marcus, Anthony Delpech and Richard Fourie would all be within striking range if any of them decided to chase the title.

Lerena ended the weekend still locked on 110 winners, the number he has been on since February 28. It is amazing by his standards to not have had a winner for the whole of March to date.

Cheyne was two winners off the lead at the time of his nasty fall on Nebula on February 25 at Kenilworth, an incident which saw him laid off for three weeks.

He made his comeback on Friday at Fairview. A winner there plus another winner at Kenilworth on Saturday put him on 106 for the season, just four off the pace. Fortune rode eleven winners during Cheyne’s absence and has surged into third place on the standings.

He was philosophical about the pending layoff and said, “After years of riding there is wear and tear on the body, it is going to happen, and you just have to take it on the chin. But a top five finish will still be an accomplishment, I will be turning 50 in about two months’ time.”

Fortune started the season like a greyhound out of a trap. He was generally riding at four centres, Gauteng, Kimberley, Cape Town and Kimberley, and was 24 winners clear midway through October. However, a filly he was riding on October 13 at Turffontein reared over backwards and the consequent injury put him out for seven weeks.

Greg Cheyne (Liesl King)

By the time he had returned on December 2, Cheyne had gone top of the table, although the latter’s 58 winners had him only one winner ahead of Fortune. Lerena at that stage was six off the pace.

However, Fortune then curtailed his schedule and by the end of last month had dropped 21 winners off the pace, which was now being set by Lerena.

Both Lerena and Cheyne ride in Port Elizabeth on top of their home bases of Gauteng and Cape Town respectively.

They both commandeer excellent support wherever they go. However, Cheyne definitely has the upperhand in PE as the first call rider to Alan Greef, who is well clear in the Eastern Cape Trainers Championship.

Marcus and Delpech both ended last weekend on 95 winners and Fourie, who had a treble at Kenilworth on Saturday, was on 92. However, none of this trio appear to be chasing the title.

Ceaig Zackey had a treble at Turffontein yesterday to move ahead of Fourie on to 93 winners and sixth place on the log. The jockeys who has had most rides this season, Muzi Yeni, is in eighth position on 91 winners. Apprentice Lyle Hewitson is 9th on the log on 85 winners.

Reigning champion S’Manga khumalo served a 60 day suspension at the beginning of the season and is in 10th place on 80 winners, so is probably too far back to mount a challenge.

Table topper Lerena proved two seasons back that he is lethal when the pressure is on. In June 2015 he set a South African record for the number of winners in a month, 42. Of those 42, 12 were at Turffontein, nine were at Fairview, eight were at The Vaal, six were at Scottsville, four were at Flamingo Park and three were at Greyville, which is an indication of how taxing it is to chase the title. However, those winners saw him forging clear of S’Manga Khumalo, who had been level with him at the beginning of that month.

By David Thiselton

Bob Baffert said he is delighted with Arrogate’s condition at Meydan Racecourse on Monday after the favourite for the Dubai World Cup worked for the first time under the watchful eye of his trainer.

Arrogate completed a breeze of around 800 metres under work rider Dana Barnes with his dual World Cup-winning handler looking on, having flown in to the UAE on Sunday.

A few hours later Baffert also oversaw a similar workout by Hoppertunity, who placed third in last year’s World Cup.

When asked whether Arrogate had taken the long journey from California in his long, raking stride, Baffert said: “He’s handling everything really well. He looks good to me.”

Baffert added of Hoppertunity: “He has been training better than he ever has, he really loves it here.”

Arrogate was declared on Monday under regular partner Mike Smith, while Hoppertunity will once again have Flavien Prat as his guide. The pair spearhead a large American contingent that includes Gun Runner, Neolithic and Keen Ice.

Overall, 14 horses will compete for a cut of the US$10 million (Dh36.7m) in prize money on World Cup night on Saturday, and the UAE will be represented by Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 winner Long River, Move Up, Special Fighter and Furia Cruzada.

Mubtaahij, last year’s runner-up, will represent South African-trainer Mike de Kock in the line-up, as will four Japanese runners: Lani, Gold Dream, Apollo Kentucky and Awardee.
– TheNational.ae

Betting for the Dubai World Cup to be run over 2000m on Saturday [Mar 25] at Meydan:

1/3 Arrogate; 8/1 Mubtaahij; 10/1 Gun Runner, 14/1 Hoppertunity, 25/1 Neolithic, Special Fighter, Keen Ice, 33/1 upwards the others

Turffontein Inside track stages an eight race meeting on Tuesday and punters will need to tread wearily.

Saturday’s racing proved that this particular course can throw some upset results, although the form of the maiden events stood up well and should do so again.

Made To Conquer has been scratched from the third, a maiden over 1600m, where he looked the proverbial certainty, and this has played into the hands of the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Student Grant. The latter caught the eye running on over 1450m last time and has a good draw over a step up In trip he will enjoy.

It’s A True Story ran well over 1600m last time, but visually he did not make as much of an impression as Student Grant did. Furthermore, Student Grant has It’s A True Story held on paper on a formline through a horse called King Of Mani. On formlines Huhi could be a threat, but he has a wide draw to overcome. Student Grant is thus selected as the best bet on the card and as a Pick 6 banker as no other horses in the field make any appeal.

There should be some value to be had about Cat’s Whiskers in the second race, a MR 68 Handicap over 1200m for fillies and mares. She jumped from the worst draw of all, the number one draw, over 1400 on the Vaal Ouside track last time so did well to finish a 4,3 length fourth to the progressive My Friend Lee. She was thereabouts at the 400m mark before plugging on gamely, so is interesting from a good draw over a step down in trip. Little Swift has pace and the ability to stay on, so will be a big runner here too if able to overcome a tricky draw of seven. Gavin Lerena is up which is an obvious bonus.

The fifth race has a possible Pick 6 banker in Simply Royal, but as it is her first run out the maidens only the brave would go that route. She is beautifully bred being by Silvano out of the Dingaans winner Royal Fantasy (Al Mufti). She looks the part too and on debut, despite breaking through the stalls, she swept through the field from last to win going away by 3,5 lengths over the 1200m at this course.

The concerns are her inexperience and she also over raced on that debut when being reined back, which creates a question mark about the trip. However, once she had cover she relaxed very nicely and on pedigree she should relish the step up in trip.

The topweight Silver Class is interesting in this race as she has been far from disgraced running exclusively in features and plate races this season and she now runs in a handicap off a lowered merit rating. She is also well drawn over an ideal trip. Comme-Ci-Comme-Ca has caught the eye recently in a stronger class and is another one who is interesting back in a handicap over a suitable trip, although her wide draw makes it tough. Samarra’s recent form over this trip is good and the blinkers are off after she disappointed over 1000m last time, so she can’t be ignored from a good draw of two.

Eternal Spring impressed on debut and is worth another chance after her disappointing second start, although that was after a layoff. She does have a tough merit rating though compared to Simply Royal.

David Thiselton

There seemed more reason to think that the remarkable winning sequence of multiple Gr1 winner Winks (Street Cry) might come to an end at a saturated Rosehill Gardens on Saturday offering the heaviest racing conditions witnessed in Sydney for a very long day.

Winx (sahracing.com)

But if anything, the $1m, Gr1 ATC China Horse Club George Ryder (1500m) will be remembered for one of the champion racemare’s greatest ever performances.

Shooting for her 16th straight victory and second consecutive success in one of the outstanding events on the domestic racing calendar, the amazing Winx treated the Australian racing public to a galloping exhibition, careering away from her opposition to score by no less than seven and a quarter lengths.

In truth, not one of her rivals ever seemed to be traveling well enough at any stage of the race to provide the remarkable racemare with some resistance, and the event as a contest was as good as over by the top of the home straight.

Seemingly in complete control with her biggest rivals making heavy weather of the conditions, Winx travelled sweetly throughout and went on to score without her opponents landing a single blow.

Even trainer Chris Waller appeared surprised at the authority of her victory, admitting immediately afterwards.

“I didn’t expect her to win like that. She is just an amazing horse. It is amazing to have a horse that you’re associated with who is so well received,” he said.

Regular pilot Hugh Bowman was equally in awe of Winx after the win.

“It is just so special. I am really lost for words as she receives a round of applause here,” he said.

Winx, by Street Cry out of the Al Akar mare Vegas Showgirl, took her career earnings past the $10 million barrier after 26 mostly unforgettable starts for her owners Peter Tighe, Richard Treweeke and Debbie Kepitis. – Thoroughbrednews.com.au

South African Mike de Kock enters Saturday’s Dubai World Cup meeting with a select team of two headed by Mubtaahij (IRE), runner-up in last year’s $10million Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates.

He is joined on the card by the talented but thus far wayward Fawree (USA) , who will hope to emulate his illustrious stable companion by winning the Group 2 UAE Derby sponsored by The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group.

Runner-up on his racecourse debut, in a 1400m maiden on the Meydan dirt, at the end of last year, he missed the break on that occasion and did well to finish second.

Well away two weeks later, he was never headed in a 1600m maiden but, again, was not the best behaved at the stalls.

Disaster was to strike on Super Saturday when, as hot favourite of the Al Bastakiya, he broke out of the stalls at the same moment the field were set on their way, unseating Bernard Fayd’Herbe in the process.

“The stalls had always been an issue with him,” said De Kock. “We had done an awful lot of work with him ourselves, as well as involving the starter, Shane Ryan, and his team so it was a bit disappointing.

“We know he is a serious horse and we hope a genuine UAE Derby contender so we reached out to South Africa’s leading equine behavioural therapist, Malan du Toit.”

Unorthodox perhaps but the evidence is that the move has reaped dividends and, last Friday, Fawree passed his Stalls test with flying colours.

Du Toit explained: “He is a lovely horse and has been a pleasure to work with throughout. He was a bit insecure to begin with but improved on a daily basis to the extent that we can now load him without a hood and he is happy to stand in the stalls.

“Importantly, the handlers who will deal with him on Saturday were on hand and everything went perfectly.”

Fayd’Herbe, who has been involved throughout and ridden the horse in both completed starts as well as on Super Saturday, will again be in the saddle.

De Kock added: “Bernard has done an awful lot of hard work with the horse and Christophe Soumillon certainly understands the situation so is more than happy.”

However, Soumillon will be aboard Mubtaahij, without a win since that 2015 UAE Derby success but who has consistently performed well in top company.

This will be just his second start of the season, having finished second in a handicap over the same 2000m dirt course and distance as Saturday’s race.

“Saturday has been his target since he was second last year,” said De Kock. “Ideally we would have had two runs, as we did last year, but we ran out of time a bit so ran him a month ago instead of Super Saturday.

“We were pleased enough with him not to run him again and he is in great shape ahead of what looks another strong renewal. Arrogate (USA) is clearly world class and going to be tough to beat but at least we are proven under these conditions.”

Mikedekockracing.com

Sun Met hero Whisky Baron jets out to Mauritius this morning. He will race in England later in the year but his principal target is the richest race in Hong Kong in December.

The four-year-old will complete his initial three-month quarantine in the second half of June and he then has to do a further month in Britain before he is allowed to race or go overseas.

Whisky Baron (Liesl King)

Brett Crawford said: “It’s a long road to travel and so much has to go right. But, if it does, the plan is to prep him in England for the 2 000m race in Hong Kong.”

The Longines Hong Kong Cup on December 10 carries a total stake of HK$ 25 million, or R41 million, making it the richest race in the territory.

Ridgemont manager Craig Carey said: “It’s an invitation race and what happens is that you first enter your horse for it and then, if they are satisfied, you receive an invitation to run.”

Carey added: “Dubai next year is up in the air but he could well run there too if he is well, the races are suitable and Brett is happy with him.”

The Australian-bred Whisky Baron, owned by Craig and Ross Kieswetter and named after their father Wayne, is unbeaten in five starts since being gelded in the middle of last year.

By Michael Clower

Iron man Greg Cheyne bounced back from last month’s horror fall on Nebula to ride a winner at Fairview on Friday and at Kenilworth the following day he gave Andre Nel a notable career landmark.

“I burnt the boot of my right foot (the one he broke in seven places only 15 months ago) against the rails in that fall,” Cheyne related. “The boot was a write-off but what did the damage was the horse coming up and hitting me, and the damage was to my neck.”

Saturday’s Racing. Its a Rush Pinnacle Stakes was almost as rough as Nebula’s and just under two furlongs out Asstar came off a straight line hampering Vincente, Purple Tractor, Al Wahed and Olympian. Less than 200m later Cheyne’s mount La Favourari shifted out, hampering Asstar and causing the doubly-unfortunate Purple Tractor and Al Wahed to become severely cramped for galloping room. Donovan Dillon on Asstar was given ten days for the first incident and the inquiry into the second is still ongoing.

Greg Cheyne (Liesl King)

La Favourari, who beat stable companion Ovar by nearly two lengths, gave Nel the 100^th success of his short training career. “I’m surprised – I would have been happy with a place for either horse,” he said. “And when it eventually rains La Favourari is going to love the winter.”

Racing can be almost as dangerous for trainers as for jockeys and when Nordic Breeze last ran in January Justin Snaith was left limping like a war veteran but, to mangle a phrase, once cow-kicked twice shy. When the temperamental madam’s aluminium-tipped hooves came at him this time Snaith side-stepped with all the agility of a fly-half and Grant van Niekerk did the rest in the 1 200m handicap.

The in-form rider also won the opener on Big Pleasure for Joey Ramsden but the expected treble on hotpot Shrewdy in the last failed to materialise. The 2-1 favourite managed only tenth behind Corne Orffer on the Brett Crawford-trained Miss Carrera and she was afterwards found to be not striding out behind.

Basil Marcus didn’t become seven times champion in Hong Kong without learning to read horses’ minds like an equine psychiatrist and it was largely due to his study of Golden Pass that Sihle Cele left it until the shadow of the post to get up on the 66-1 chance in the 1 200m fillies handicap. “She has been a head-scratcher,” her owner explained. “She tends to get unbalanced when she comes off the bit so we decided to sit until you couldn’t wait any longer.”

Marcus snr played a big part in the making of Richard Fourie in the top jockey’s formative years and he was understandably impressed with the rider’s quick-fire treble which ended with Gin For Genius coming good at the18th attempt to initiate a double for his own son Adam.

Indeed Fourie is riding with all the dash and polish of the heady Legislate days – “Most of it is due to the good support I am getting. That makes a big difference” – but it was only by the width of a Tote ticket that he got King Of The Corn home in a three-way photo for the Soccer 13 Handicap. “I don’t know that any other jockey would have got the horse’s nose down on the line,” said an understandably impressed Mike Robinson.

Piet Steyn, who trains both the second and third, might not have been so taken with the performance! But Fourie promptly put the record straight by scoring on Steyn’s King Of Aces while promising 21-year-old Craig Bantam brought his score to 15 when making most on 28-1 shot Benjan for Mayfair and Candice Bass-Robinson in the Tabonline Handicap.

By Michael Clower

Winning favourites were few and far between this weekend and there will have been more than just a few punters licking their wounds come yesterday evening.

The trend looked set to continue come the first race at Greyville yesterday when the well fancied Flower Blue failed to hit the boards with Touch Wood (5-1) finally getting his act together for Dennis Drier. Much had been expected of the gelding but until yesterday he had failed to deliver. “It was back to the drawing boards,” said stable rider Sean Veale after his disappointing last effort. “We took the blinkers off and this was a better effort.”

Scent Of The Tiger finally snapped the run of losing favourites as Mark Dixon’s runner prove too good for Scarrabeast and Newyorkstateofmind, and taking advantage of missing ante-post favourite Palladium who was pulled out with a hoof abscess.

Lezeanne Forbes

Night Circus was the next favourite to bite the dust. He chased in vain as Alec Forbes pushed for home early on bottom weight Warfarer for his wife Lezeanne and Night Circus was left chasing shadows.

When Anton Marcus is at the head of affairs and going a steady canter one would think the alarm bells would be ringing amongst his rivals. The bells were obvious ignored or didn’t ring at all as Marcus led the opposition a merry dance aboard Rockerfeller for Charles Laird. Marcus went to the line unchallenged with veteran outsider Discourse making the most of the funereal pace to take second.

There is not much to Pyrenees In Spain but Anthony Delpech rode the gelding as if he was aboard Sea Cottage. Storm Faerie did not set any record-breaking pace but Delpech had Dennis Bosch’s charge trailing come the top of the straight. Seemingly without much effort from Delpech, Pyrenees In Spain picked off his rivals with ease with favourite Into The Groove, who had unshipped her rider on the way to the start, battling home into second.

Roy’s Sailor was the next favourite to go walk-about, failing to hit the boards, as Forbes picked up a double aboard Nottingham Forest (4-1) for Karen and Greg Anthony. Apprentice Khanya Sakayi looked to have pinched a winning lead come the final furlong but even the 4kg claim was not enough as Sharp Seattle was swallowed up late by Nottingham Forest and outsider Beluga Berry.

Bosch was back in the winner’s enclosure in the second last but did exotic bet punters no favours, those still left in their bets that is, as Eric Ngwane drove home Founding Father (9-2) to deny Forbes his treble as Master Of Mischief cut his lead to a head at the line. They were followed home by the Bosch-trained pair of Ho’Oponopono and Elusive Wolf. Spanish Captain came out at the start leaving Flying Rock favourite but he was a spent force a long way out.

Ian Moore went one better in the last as Warren Kennedy sent Tropical Wonder to the front and kept his mount running to the line with the petrol light flashing red to hold a fast-finishing Sweet Chestnut.

Andrew Harrison

Justin Snaith talks of this being a disappointing season for his stable but he has had 112 winners and won nearly R13 million in stakes – only Sean Tarry has done better – and Captain Alfredo can add to the tally in the Racing.Its A Rush Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Captain Alfredo (Nkosi Hlophe)

Richard Fourie’s mount has to give weight all round but he ran a fine race to take second to Brutal Force three weeks ago when he had the slow-starting Line Break and Asstar behind on these terms. The fact that he had the speed to get to the front after a furlong and a half should stand him in good stead over this shorter trip.

Despite its name this race is a close to being a handicap with the weights marginally favouring those at the top end. Asstar comes out just the best and probably represents the biggest danger despite his habit of giving away ground at the off. He holds La Favourari, Line Break and Vincente on Southeaster running on Christmas Eve.

“He is sluggish coming out of the stalls so 1 000m is really too short for him,” says Glen Puller. “But we are running him here to keep him ticking over before we send him to Durban.”

Line Break started favourite when finishing third 12 months ago but is not quite the force he was – or at least he is not so inclined to run up to his form – and he looks only third best.

Kuda Sprint fourth Apollo Star has the best form in the opener but the fact that he is the only one of Joey Ramsden’s quartet not jocked up is a cause for concern. Donovan Dillon, who rode him last time, is now on the promising Rock My Soul and accordingly this one gets the vote.

King Of The Corn has won three of his last five and is probably still on the upgrade so he is taken to beat Friendly Tibbs in the Soccer 13 Handicap.

Hernando’s Promise is rated seven points clear in the Racing Association Maiden but he has proved expensive to follow and has found one too good for him in each of his last four starts. Oval Office is preferred.

Shrewdy kept on well in an admittedly weak 1 200m race last time and the Andre Nel filly has a lot more on her plate in the mile maiden but the extra distance may enable her to bring out the necessary improvement.

Greg Cheyne, who returns for eight rides at Fairview today, has seven mounts here and his best chance is probably on Make It Raine in race six.

By Michael Clower

The nine race meeting at Turffontein on Saturday will not be an easy one for punters as it is back on the Inside track which can throw an upset or two.

Samurai Blade (Nkosi Hlophe)

The main race is the Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m and Samurai Blade could exact revenge on Romany Prince. He is 2,5kg better off for a 1,75 length beating by Romany Prince over this trip, so there is not much in it on paper. However, Samurai Blade has a plum draw of three with Strydom up, while Romany Prince has to overcome a wide draw.

On the other hand Romany Prince has a better turn of foot than Samurai Blade, who produces a sustained finishing effort, and that could be telling on this tighter track, so Samurai Blade is not a confident selection. Master Switch has come into his own as a five-year-old this season and also has the class to go close here, but this will be his first outing since his third place finish in the SANSUI Sumer Cup. He beat Samurai Blade by 29 lengths in the Summer Cup, but it was obviously not the latter’s race. Samurai Blade  bounced back after the Summer Cup to win his next two races.

Top Shot also has a shout as he has turned the corner recently. He is 10,5kg better off with Samurai Blade for a mere 2,8 length beating over this trip at the Vaal in December. However, it must be taken into account how easily Samurai Blade won. Arctica is an improving sort who is course and distance suited. He likes to run from the front, so his pole position draw is ideal and he has S’Manga Khumalo up too. Stonehenge should ensure a good gallop in this race.

Earlier there is an interesting Pinnacle Stakes race which features last year’s Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic and Gr 2 SA Oaks winner Juxtapose over 1600m. She could reverse 1450m form with Intergalactic, being 4kg better off at the weights from their last meeting in September, especially as she is drawn in pole. It is likely to be a preparation outing for bigger events, but her class should pull her through.

Brazuca (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the next race, a MR 84 Handicap over 1600m, Racethegreenlight is chosen to beat Tilbury Fort, who could be using this race as a preparation for the SA Classic. Racethegreenlight finished just 0,25 lengths behind Gr 1 performer Brazuca in a Progress Plate over this trip in his penultimate start, so looks capable of rising above his 78 merit rating, He will prefer this trip to the 1400m of last time when staying on for a close third in a three-year-old handicap and he looks to have plenty of scope for improvement. Tilbury Fort has been far from disgraced in his last two starts in the CTS Mile and the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas and, as usual, he will give of his best all the way to the line. However, he does have to give 3kg to the progressive Racethegreenlight.

The first race over 1000m sees an interesting clash between Laurent Du Var and Mr Fire Eyes. The former was unlucky on debut over 800m when backed and he caught the eye too. However, he reared and injured himself in the starting stalls next time at the races and had to be scratched, so is not a straight forward horse. Mr Fire Eyes has not been disgraced in two good fields, including in a Listed race last time, so this will be easier. However, he was not as eye catching as Laurent Du Var. So Var could follow these two home, or even split them, having made a decent debut in a moderate event.

In the second race Spring Breeze appeared to idle when hitting the front last time, so should benefit from blinkers. From a good draw with Strydom up she could be one of the better bets on the card.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is one of the trickiest heats on the card, being a fillies and mares handicap over 1800m. However, Dalley looks to be the one to side with coming from the always in form Lucky Houdalakis yard and being drawn well in barrier two over a suitable trip. She is by Ideal World, so should be coming into her own and she has dropped to a competitive merit rating. She was a touch unlucky the last time she ran over this course and distance in January and she is also 2kg better off with Cool Fantasy for a 1,1 length beating from that run. Cool Fantasy has a nice turn of foot and is selected to finish second.

By David Thiselton