ANDREW HARRISON

PUNTING Highveld racing during the off season is not for the fainthearted, a point that could be illustrated at the Vaal today were the eight-race card has many pitfalls.

But if you get it right, the pickings are generally fruitful and with the Pick 6 in particular rarely paying less than R50k, a wide spread and a percentage can still reap generous rewards.

The opening leg of the Pick 6 sees Sean Tarry saddle half the field in a competitive six-horse field where all will be going like the clappers. Riding arrangements suggest that Lyle Hewitson is on Tarry’s stable elect. Spring Break was narrowly beaten last run, her second after returning from a break and a repeat should see her close again in what is a competitive race. Paul Peter, who will have been mightily disappointed with Summer Pudding losing her unbeaten record in the Gr1 Paddock Stakes last Saturday and being forced to withdraw his star filly from the Met, sends out the quick 1000m specialist Garden Party who should ensure a cracking gallop if taken on by Tarry’s front-running filly Slalom Queen and Valyrian King. Paul Matchett’s runner is also quick and Muzi Yeni steered the gelding to a comfortable five-length victory last time out.

Matchett’s ex-Zimbabwean galloper Lily Blue is short-priced favourite in the fourth after two recent local victories. She won nine races in Zim, the last six on the trot so is obviously smart, but the handicapper is slowly catching up and a third win on the bounce could just be beyond her as both Rouge Allure and Shivers meet her on better weight terms.

However, the biggest threat could come from Candice Dawson’s runner Smoking Hot. She has come on nicely since a short break and gets lumps of weight from Lily Blue. She only has 49.5kg to shoulder.

Tarry saddles Nabraas in the fifth and in a change of tactics last run, the colt was raced handy but ran out of gas late. He was finishing nicely in is penultimate run and has had three runs since a break. He should strip at his peak. Seldom runs a poor race and was a close-up second at his last two. He is due a change of fortune. Tyrus Express is the weak early favourite but it is 4-1 the field.

Plum Field and Afternoon Tea dominate the betting for the sixth, the former at the top of the boards.

She finishes her races off nicely but hasn’t quite got there at recent starts but that can change today. Bitter Wind was a recent maiden winner but had steady form leading up to that win. She takes on males but this is a modest line-up. Afternoon Tea has shown some improvement in blinkers and has been battling wide draws. She is a little closer to the action here.

Un Deux Trois and Swiss Bank are both in good form in the seventh and could dominate proceedings while the last is the proverbial minefield with the bookies offering 5-1 the field.

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ANDREW HARRISON

THERE could be more than just a handful of Pick 6 ticket-holders holding their breath going into the final leg at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today with East Coast Star high up on their list of possible exotic bet bankers.

After warming up in two sprints, East Coast Star was sent out deep in the red to shed her maiden in her first attempt at 1400m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly.

It looked to be money in the bank a furlong from home as Anton Marcus hit the front on Peter Muscutt’s filly but she came up empty when challenge late by My Saving Grace.

East Coast Star switches to the turf today and Marcus, marooned in Cape Town for the month, has been replaced by stable regular Donovan Dillon.

A perusal of the opposition form makes modest reading but more cautious punters could include stable companion Racey Stacey in their calculations.

She does have behavioural issues but has shown that she does have ability when flashing up to run second to Shastina at her penultimate start with Gavin van Zyl’s filly having since paid tribute to that form, winning again.

Given that showing, Racey Stacey was well fancied to break her duck over the Greyville poly mile next time out but gave apprentice Jabu Jacobs a few harrowing moments as she took the scenic route home in the straight.

Seasoned rider Raymond Danielson will be legged up this afternoon and will have been made well aware of his challenge.

If he gets the best out of his mount, East Coast Star may find herself in the maidens for another race and the 11-10 about her chances with Track & Ball about sums up her chances with Racey Stacey 5-1 with 6-1 bar.

 The Track & Ball Gaming Handicap over 1400m heads the card and although one can make a case for a number of runners, the race looks tailor-made for former Gr2 Post Merchants winner Sniper Shot to finally get back into the winner’s enclosure. It has been a long time between drinks, his last win coming nearly three years ago, and it has been a lengthy journey down the merit rating ladder to what may now be a more realistic handicap mark.

It has taken 943 days since his Merchants win for the handicappers to drop the six-year-old from a high of 110 to his current mark of 95, three pounds lower than for his last start. In the handicapper’s defence, Sniper Shot has shown flashes of his early ability which earned him his highest MR and the number crunchers have been hesitant to drop his rating.

That said, this is a clear example of a horse, not quite out of the top drawer, being hamstrung by the ratings.

Black Cat Back finished second in the Merchants and was exported to Mauritius where he won four races. It has taken 18 starts and three years for the handicappers to work out that Sniper Shot’s rating was out of kilter.

But with this rating drop and apprentice Kyle Strydom giving him 2.5kg relief in the saddle, Paul Lafferty’s runner does look an attractive bet at current odds.

Desolate Road failed narrowly last run where he finished ahead of Sniper Shot and he has improved in blinkers. However, he is now 6kg worse off, given Strydom’s claim so he is unlikely to confirm the placings. Guru’s Pride, Tready Swiftly and Socrates are all in with a shout.

The race sponsors deem this a wide-open affair with Tread Swiftly a weak 9-2 favourite and the other runners mentioned all at 5-1.

There should be little separating stable companions Civil Rights and Countess Cartier in the card opener, Mike Miller’s pair finishing within a neck of each other on debut. Ashton Arries is the stable first call rider and has stuck with Civil Rights while Tristan Godden retains the ride on Countess Cartier.

The balance of the field are at long odds.

Any one of Café Pacifica, Camora or Trumpet Voluntary could see you through the opening leg of the PA but two of the three would be a safer option.

In the opening leg of the Pick 6, Quenanza, who has improved with each outing since a lay-off, has her peak third run after a break and with Garth Puller’s yard seldom out of form she should be up there. Garry Rich’s filly Leading Lyric is at surprisingly long odds and 16-1 appeals as an each-way punt. She has had two tough draws at recent starts at Greyville and sports first-time blinkers.

Top of the boards is What A Splash who made a promising debut on this course for Michael Roberts.

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation last night and announced that the country remains on adjusted alert level 3 and therefore the status quo of ‘Racing Behind Closed Doors’ as per the NHA’s Press Release on 29 December 2020 remains in place.

Some salient points of the President’s speech last night are:

1. The pandemic in our country is now at its most devastating level.

1. The number of new infections, hospital admissions and deaths is higher now than it has ever been since the first case was recorded in our country in March 2020.

1. Since New Year’s Day, we have recorded nearly 190 000 new infections.

1. The country has recorded more than 4 600 Covid-19 deaths so far this year alone with more than 33 000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

1. As a proportion of the population, the province with the highest average number of cases over the last seven days is KwaZulu-Natal, followed by Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. 

1. New infections in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape have grown fast and have now far exceeded the peak during the first wave.

1. Infections in Gauteng are growing exponentially and are expected to increase further as more residents of Gauteng return to the province following the festive break.

1. We do know that this new variant of the virus spreads much faster than the earlier variants. This explains the fact that many more people have become infected in a far shorter space of time.

1. Now more than ever, we must each make a deliberate decision to avoid any unnecessary contact with other people.

1. Given the risk of widespread transmission, most indoor and outdoor gatherings are not permitted.  This includes social gatherings and gatherings at sports grounds, etc.

A further update will be provided by 26 January in respect of Riders being domiciled in one region.

The NHA reiterates that the proven non-pharmaceutical measures of wearing of masks, hand sanitizing/washing for at least 20 seconds and social distancing of at least 1,5m apart, is critical and the Chief Compliance Officer, Mr Arnold Hyde, together with his team shall continue to ensure same is done throughout a race meeting.  

Please be reminded that the wearing of masks in a public place is mandatory and is one of the best ways to prevent transmission.

As and when the President announces any further amendments, the NHA will advise accordingly.

SUMMER PUDDING was scratched from the Cape Town Met Gr 1, Tuesday 12 January 2021 @13.54. No reason given.

THE race meeting scheduled for the Turffontein Inside track on Saturday 16 January has been moved to the Standside track.

Frequent rain and overcast weather conditions have retarded grass growth over the recently installed drainage systems at the pull-up area and the 1100m and 900m marks on the Inside track.

The surface should still be ready for racing on 16 January, but with more rain forecast over the next few days, it has been decided to move the race meeting to the Standside track as a precautionary measure.

The following distance changes apply: 1450m races now 1400m and 1500m races now 1600m.

The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) confirms that at an Inquiry held on 10 November 2020, adjourned and resumed on 11 January 2021, Stable Employee Mr Andrew Fortune was charged with a contravention of Rules 72.1.25, 72.1.26 and 72.1.43:

Rule 72.1.25 – in that Mr Fortune misbehaved himself or conducted himself in an improper manner by physically assaulting Jockey Gavin Lerena in the weighing room after the running of Race 7 at Turffontein Racecourse on Saturday, 24 October 2020.

Mr Fortune pleaded guilty to the charge.

The Inquiry Board found Mr Fortune guilty of the charge in terms of Rule 72.1.25 and after considering the mitigating factors presented, imposed a penalty of a fine of R20 000 (twenty thousand rand) of which R10 000 (ten thousand rand) is suspended for 24 months, provided that Mr Fortune is not found guilty of a similar offence during the 24-month period.

Mr Fortune has the Right of Appeal against the penalty imposed.

In terms of Rule 72.1.26, the Inquiry Board took no further action.

In terms of Rule 72.1.43 – in that Mr Fortune published, communicated or uttered words or statements or posted on any social media platform or channel material, content or comments, or conducted himself in a manner which could reasonably be construed to be either obscene, offensive, defamatory, racist, threatening, harassing, discriminating, sexist or abusive to any other person or entity involved in the racing industry, or bring the good name of any person or entity in the industry or the NHA into disrepute, after the running of Race 7, on 24 October 2020, at Turffontein Racecourse and during the occurrence of the physical assault on Jockey Gavin Lerena in the weighing room.

Mr Fortune pleaded not guilty to the charge and was found not guilty.

Furthermore, Mr Fortune’s suspension in respect of the attendance of race meetings, has been lifted.

NHA PRESS RELEASE

ANDREW HARRISON

THERE were more questions than answers after the second day of the L’Ormarins Racing Festival held at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Given the closing odds, Jet Dark’s victory in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queens Plate was not quite the surprise that many had expected.

Even though he was some 12.5kg under sufferance with runner-up Rainbow Bridge, his official starting price was given as 9-1 and the tote paid an eye-brow raising R4.90.

Post-race Mike de Kock was lavish in his praise of this year’s sophomore crop but in hindsight, was it a case of a young and accomplished ‘miler’ taking on older horses that have may have lost a little ‘toe’?

Saturday’s result, and indeed the Greenpoint Stakes, shows that there is little to choose between Rainbow Bridge, Belgarion and Do It Again at level weights over 1600m.

All three were out-sprinted by their younger rival in the Queen’s Plate but there is a school of thought that Rainbow Bridge and Do It Again are over the hill. However, both are sure to be more effective over the 2000m Met trip. Belgarion suffered his first defeat as a gelding but Justin Snaith commented post-race that his charge was not a ‘miler’.

The result of the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes is also gave food for thought. Summer Pudding was ideally placed but never quickened from midfield and she had to be content with seventh position, just under five lengths off the winner.

 It was unfortunate that Summer Pudding lost her unbeaten record but she was reported to be coughing with a nasal discharge after the race. That would explain her lack lustre performance and could possibly see her participation in the Met out of the window.

Queen Supreme on the other hand was most impressive in victory. She was cruising a long way out and it would have taken a stellar effort from any of the opposition to close her down.

De Kock, who said this was mission accomplished for Queen Supreme, expressed empathy with his colleague Paul Peter.

“It’s not easy to travel – sometimes we get lucky. Then first time from a wide gate on a new course in a field of this calibre. I’m sure Summer Pudding will be back,” he added.

Queen Supreme is definitely not over the hill and with the Met only a furlong further and a sex allowance in her favour, De Kock must have thoughts of having a tilt.

 While all the Met ante-post money prior to the running of the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate was for Belgarion, who had steadily shortened in, Saturday’s racing changed the complexion of the big race betting.

Hollywoodbets spokesman Patrick Bradley, writing in the Sporting Post, summed up matters. “After Saturday we shortened Paddock Stakes dual winner Queen Supreme in to 8-1, and the possibility is that she could still opt for the Majorca ahead of the Met.

“Also shortening were stablemates Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat, as well as Do It Again, who ran fourth in the Queen’s Plate. Paul Peter’s Summer Pudding was drifted out to 11-2, although I think a line can possibly be drawn through her run as a vet exam after her unplaced run showed she had mucous on her lungs and was coughing. 

“Belgarion should strip a far bigger threat over the 2000m of the Cape Met.

“The biggest shorteners were Premier Trophy placers African Night Sky and stablemate Sachdev into 25’s.”

With just under three weeks to go, this year’s Met on Saturday 30 January, is panning out into one of the most interesting in some years.

JET DARK, the only three-year-old in the 2021 G1 Queen’s Plate, delivered a knockout blow to accomplished older horses in a 1600m epic, just as Gimmethegreenlight had managed for the self-same training outfit, Snaith Racing, when also pitted against the big guns as a three-year old in 2012.

After Hurricane Harry had set a steady pace with Cirillo and Silver Operator stalking, it was Rainbow Bridge who made what seemed the decisive move in deep stretch down the centre of the Kenilworth Summer course. However, casting eyes towards the rail it was noticeable that Jet Dark was hurtling through best of all down the inner under Grant van Niekerk, and this momentum carried the Trippi colt past Rainbow Bridge just short of the wire. Short priced favourite, Belgarion stayed on from near the back to get third with Do It Again making progress into the quartet slot.

Wry cynics have given jockeys a dubious reputation for often- times being the worst judges – even American Hall of Fame rider, Eddie Arcaro quipped that when retired he wanted to be the bookie taking bets in the Jockey Room!

However, Justin Snaith paid fulsome tribute to Grant van Niekerk, revealing that he only supplemented Jet Dark for the Queen’s Plate on the advice of this emerging, world class jockey after a particularly impressive early morning workout.

“Grant has magic in his hands and can win on anything.” extolled Snaith who decided to enter the bargain 200K BSA 2019 National Yearling Sale graduate in a nick of time, a move fully supported by owners, Nick Jonsson and varsity mate, Tommy Crowe.

Described by Snaith as a “precocious miler who only got beat in the Cape Guineas after being drawn in the bush”, Jet Dark is out of the Jet Master mare, Night Jet and was bred at Drakenstein Stud. Peeking far into the future is tricky even for knowledgeable pedigree buffs – Snaith speculated that this outstanding three-year-old from what is shaping up as a potent crop may even end up back at his Franschoek home in the stallion shed!

It was mission fulfilled for Queen Supreme in the Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1) as she doubled up on last year’s romp in this prestigious WFA contest for fillies and mares. The Irish-bred, Exceed and Excel mare stamped her class in a true run 1800m after Heart Stwings had set a torrid pace. What A Winter mare, Clouds Unfold, herself a G1 winner snared three-year-old, Princess Calla in a head bobber for second. Another of the new generation fillies, Chat Ching ran an honourable fourth.

Winning horseman, Mike de Kock who is always a major force when bringing entries to G1’s in Cape Town, described Queen Supreme as a quirky customer and was full of praise for his charge who really raised her game when it counted. She sat a perfect rail-hugging trip with jockey Keagan de Melo following the tactical insights conveyed by his brother-in-law to-be, Johannesburg jockey, Callan Murray (who has previously partnered Queen Supreme to multiple victories) precisely.

Clouds Unfold tried her heart out but was out-finished. Still, trainer Candice Bass Robinson was more than satisfied with her brave effort. Third placed Princess Calla (by Flower Alley) also met with her trainer’, Adam Marcus’’ approval, “I was just excited to be part of things, so to be placed is great! She was still green, dropping the bit but this was an excellent effort at only her fifth start.”

17.2 hands giant, Golden Ducat rallied for a most courageous victory in the Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy (G2). The even money favourite found himself in front down the backstretch at a pedestrian tempo only to be passed by a resolute Sachdev when the race began in earnest and looked sunk with 200m to go as that one surged past. Golden Ducat is made of stern stuff however and used his bulk and big heart to eke out a slim verdict, thereby repeating a similarly narrow defeat he handed out to rival, Sachdev in the 2020 Cape Derby.

– kirsti@caperacing.co.za