The opening races at the Turffontein Inside track today probably provide punters with their best opportunities, although the exotics will provide more attractive pools and are certainly worth a crack.

In the first race, a Workrider’s Maiden over 1450m, Light Indigo’s pole position draw will suit her front-running style. She will be getting 3kg from the boys and has very little to beat. She has a good rider up too. The main danger will be the gelding Play Misty For Me, who should enjoy the further step up in trip, but Light Indigo’s form looks a touch stronger.

Negroamaro (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the second race the classy Negroamara could be vulnerable despite it being an ideal 1800m trip, as this is likely to be a preparation after a close to three month layoff. The chief threat is Pagoda, who is a progressive son of Mogok and is drawn in pole over a trip he should enjoy. Amsterdam might have benefitted from his decent effort last week over the too sharp 1400m and can also be considered.

In the third, Unchained Melody showed early pace and hit the front over 1160m last time before finding no extra, so should enjoy the step down to 1000m from a plum draw of two. Seattle Seahawk over raced over 1200m last time and will relish this step down in trip too.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a tricky maiden for fillies and mares over 1600m. Trumpets Calling will enjoy the step up in trip, but her slow starting habits are a bit of a concern. Sheema could attempt to gallop them into the ground from her nice low draw over a suitable trip, so Trumpets Calling will need to get after her early in the straight.

In the next, a Maiden over 2000m, the hard knocking Aristocrat should enjoy the trip on the evidence of his last start and so will the unexposed Student Grant. They could get punters through the exotics.

In the sixth, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 2200m, Prada Princess stayed on over 1800m last time so should stay. However, it’s an open race and Just A Jet, Hot Talent, Island Bliss and Eversilver have to be considered.

In the seventh over 1600m, Bold Viking could fulfill the regard he is held in over this step up in trip. Top Shot and High Drama have performed well against decent sorts. Life Is Good looks to have ability and Fareeq ran a cracker last time.

In the eighth over 1600m, Patric should be improving being by Silvano and his only win was over this course and distance from a similar low draw.

William Nichol is back to his last winning mark and could win the last leg of the Pick 6 over 1200m.

By David Thiselton

Aldo Domeyer, riding on the crest of a wave, has hit rough water and is sitting out a ten-day suspension for his part in the fall of Greg Cheyne at Kenilworth nine days ago.

The stipes ruled that he “failed to take sufficient corrective measures and was a source of interference” when riding the winner Victorious Jay.

Aldo Domeyer

It is not easy keeping half a tonne of horseflesh straight at nearly 60kph, particularly when it is beginning to tire, your weigh only 55kg and you are perched on little more than a postage stamp but Domeyer is taking the ban on the chin.

He said: “I didn’t have much control of my horse, he is very strong and he tends to do that (hang) but neither I nor MJ Byleveld on Milton (in the lead) was aware that Greg was where he was. However I understand where the stipes are coming from – somebody gets hurt so they have to act – and I am taking the suspension immediately.”

He signed off with an Andre Nel double on Saturday on Straat-Kind and Skip A Beat and then won the finale on River Cam, the first winner in his new role as number one to Candice Bass-Robinson. “It’s nice to be promoted from making tea to being stable jock,” he commented drily – a reference to his early days as a teenage wannabee doing anything at the Bass yard just to be involved.

Cheyne, who missed three of Alan Greeff’s five Fairview winners on Friday, also sat out Saturday explaining: “I never made the improvement I was hoping for during the week.” Indeed jockeys were in as short supply as water in the Steenbras dam. Craig du Plooy was too badly bruised in a fall on the sand track that morning to meet his commitments and Grant Behr, who had a nasty fall on Friday, was forced to call it a day after only one ride.

The day began with a shock victory of almost Trump proportions when Kasimir, supposedly unbeatable at 1-5, could never get in a meaningful blow behind 16-1 shot Al Mariachi on whom Corne Orffer led from pillar to post.

Greg Cheyne (Nkosi Hlophe)

Brett Crawford, just back from Australia where he bought four yearlings for Ridgemont and one on spec, said: “I fancied him the first time but he was as green as grass. I wasn’t sure we could beat the favourite here but he is a horse with a bit of a future.”

Robert Khathi, who leaves for Mauritius on Wednesday, also sprang a surprise bringing 28-1 shot Chisanyama in the Mayfair colours fast and late to snatch the Soccer 6 Handicap. On her most recent start, in December, the Joey Ramsden filly finished 11^th of 12 and rider Ossie Noach reported that she took no interest but the fact that she wore a tongue tie on Saturday could be the key. The stipes advised that she should also wear one in future races.

Former English trainer Gavin Hunter, who bought Quickfire as a yearling, was talking in terms of the Winter Series after the gelding came good at the second time of asking in the 1 200m maiden and Glen Kotzen, sending out his 50^th winner of the season, confirmed this view.

Richard Fourie, who rode the horse, was seen at his skilful best on Gyre who has seen more seconds than a professional boxer. Ten times, including all his last five races, the Adam Marcus gelding has managed to find one too good for him but Fourie got him up on the line, saying: “Everything has to go his way and even here I thought I had hit the front a bit too soon because he began to put the brakes on.”

Piet Steyn recalled picking up Racing Association Maiden winner Lady Vogue for a mere R20 000. Judging by how well she travelled for Heavelon van der Hoven in the 1 400m maiden there is more to come.

By Michael Clower

Sun Met winner Whisky Baron is in the quarantine station at Kenilworth racecourse as a preliminary to a major international campaign under Brett Crawford.

Craig Carey, manager for the Kieswetter family’s Ridgemont Stud operation, said yesterday: “We felt that the weights would be all wrong if we went for the Vodacom Durban July so our hands were tied to a certain extent.

Whisky Baron (Liesl King)

“Whisky Baron will go to Mauritius and join up with Mike de Kock’s horses going over and from there he will go to Mary Slack’s Abington Place stables in Newmarket where he will stay for four or five months before going to Dubai.

“However Dubai will not be his main mission. That will be Hong Kong for whatever we can get an invite. Brett will have control of the horse which will be nice for him as it will be his first big international campaign.”

Glen Kotzen has also abandoned plans to go for this year’s July with Gold Standard, fourth when the only three-year-old in the Met after winning the Selangor and finishing second in the Cape Guineas.

Kotzen said: “He has had a month off but he will now miss the Natal season – or at least, if he does go, he will travel at the end of it for the Champions Cup. In the meantime the Winter Series in Cape Town is more than likely.

“He is still a young horse and his main missions are next season’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Sun Met.”

By Michael Clower

On the face of it, the addition of blinkers would account for My Pal Al’s current good form but Alistair Gordon was not so sure. My Pal Al was a most impressive winner of the Kas Govender Memorial Handicap at Greyville yesterday leading stable companion Marshall That and Roy’s Strike Force a merry dance as Anton Marcus took the race by the scruff of the neck from the jump.

“He’s finally learning what racing’s all about,” said Gordon. “The blinkers may have helped but you can see in the morning’s that he wants to race and he’s starting to enjoy his racing.”

My Pal Al (Nkosi Hlophe)

“It’s still too soon but we may even take the blinkers off at a later stage. Anton says he’s still a big baby but I haven’t had time to have a good chat to him so I’ll see what he says before we decide. For now we will keep him to weaker opposition and take it from there,” Gordon concluded.

There was certainly a lot to like about the victory as My Pal Al hammered away from the break and showed no signs of stopping come the line. My Pal Al is owned and was bred by father and son combination of Dr Nic and Kim Labuschagne.

There is a fine line between being fit and at peak fitness as Anthony Delpech alluded to at Greyville yesterday. Quizzed about his ride Al Sahem in the G2 Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein on Saturday he said his mount had missed some vital work because of the rain and that was the difference between winning and losing.

Al Sahem went down a short head to pacemaker Janoobi and Delpech added, “He’s a very smart horse and will have a big chance in the other two legs of the Triple Crown.”

Delpech opened the batting yesterday on the filly Osprey for Dennis Drier where the sister to Met winner Martial Eagle and Algoa Cup winner Nebula opened her account. The opposition was nothing to write home about but Delpech rated her “a bit better than the other horses in this race. She’s decent.”

Delpech took his tally to three for the afternoon as Napoli rattled home for Alyson Wright in the fifth.

Anthony Delpech (Liesl King)

It was David vs Goliath in the second but Goliath winning this round as Good Grace scored a narrow victory over Mark My Card. Good Grace comes from the all-powerful Candice Bass-Robinson yard while Wayne Bardenhorst trains a small string out of a private establishment that borders Doug Campbell’s yard near Richmond.

Robert Fayde’Herbe does an excellent job with the Bass-Robinson satellite string and the switch to poly may have been the secret. “She didn’t travel in Cape Town,” referring to her action, “but she’s travelling now.”

Part owner Eric Buhr concurred. “It was a good move to bring her up from Cape Town for the poly,” as Good Grace recorded her fourth victory.

“I don’t come down here for nothing,” warned Gauteng-based Brian Wiid after he picked up his second winner of the weekend. Racing Socks did the honours on Friday night and Lee’s Pick rounded off a profitable weekend with the gelding proving far too strong for some modest opposition.

Former jockey turned trainer Jeff Freeman has been through a quiet spell of late but What A Scorcher was given a peach of a front-running ride in the fourth by apprentice Lyle Hewitson who was recording the 154th success of his short career.

By Andrew Harrison

Horseracing has a habit of stamping milestone moments. The latest occurrence was on Saturday at Turffontein when Mike de Kock registered his 3000^th winner in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas. The colt Janoobi also secured a feature treble for the De Kock yard on the day.

Mike de Kock

Fate could not have ordained a more fitting jockey to have been aboard Janoobi than Piere Strydom.

If there was ever a vote for greatest South African trainer De Kock would probably win it, while Strydom is the only South African to have ever ridden 5000 winners and is peerless in this country in terms of natural talent.

The reason eight-times SA Champion Trainer De Kock would likely win the vote is due to his overseas exploits. He has virtually single-handedly put South African racing on the map.

Therefore the final fitting stamp on the 3000^th winner was the famous blue with white epaulettes colours Janoobi carried.

These colours of Sheik Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum have been carried to victory twice in the world’s most famous flat race, the Epsom Derby, and are synonymous with British racing. Twenty years ago nobody would have dreamed of them being a regular fixture in South Africa.

De Kock inherited a string of 50 horses in 1988 at the age of 23 when his then boss Ricky Howard-Ginsberg passed away unexpectedly.

The owners had unanimous faith in the young De Kock taking over the string due to the natural affinity he had shown for horses. In his time in the army’s equestrian unit he had learnt how to get horses to peak fitness for both combat and endurance races. In his subsequent stint with Ormond Ferraris he had learnt the importance of attention to detail. These two aspects of training have been the cornerstones of his success today.

His first winner was with Evening Mist in a Listed race at Newmarket on December 21, 1988, a fitting start because it was growing up close to this racecourse which had attracted him to horses and racing in the first place.

Piere Strydom

Evening Mist gave him his first Gr 1 winner in April the following year when beating the boys in the Administrator’s Champion Stakes over 2000m at Turffontein, despite odds of 25/1.

De Kock’s career took off at the end of the last millennium through his training of Horse Chestnut, who is widely regarded as the greatest racehorse in South African history. The versatile colt was a facile winner of the Cape Guineas and followed up by winning the J&B Met by eight lengths. He then went on to land the Triple Crown. He was an easy winner of his only start in the USA. However, a subsequent training injury forced an early retirement, having won nine of his ten career starts.

But, the great horse had given De Kock a penchant for overseas travel.

De Kock had soon boldly set up a yard in Dubai. On a historic night for South African racing at the Dubai World Cup meeting in 2003, De Kock landed the UAE Derby with Victory Moon and the Gr 1 Dubai Duty Free with the filly Ipi Tombe.

De Kock went on to become the second most successful trainer in Dubai Carnival history and is still a force to be reckoned with out there today. He also has a yard in Newmarket in England. Two years ago he became the first South African to have a runner in the Kentucky Derby.

The benefit to South African racing of De Kock’s overseas success will only be truly felt when the iniquitous export protocols imposed on South African horses by most countries around the world are relaxed. This situation remains De Kock’s biggest bugbear and causes him immense frustration.

Janoobi (JC Photographics)

He has been heard to say “the floodgates” for SA racing will be opened once it has been resolved.

De Kock said in the build up to the 3000^th winner, he was not much one for milestones as a person who tended to look ahead rather than backwards.

However, he would have gained great satisfaction from his son Mathew being at the helm for the three feature victories on Saturday, courtesy of Rafeef, Nother Russia and Janoobi, as he himself was away in Dubai.

Mathew also saddled the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas runner up Al Hawraa and looks ever more capable of filling his father’s huge boots.

De Kock’s most apt statement in exposing what made him tick came in reply to a question posed on South Africa soil on whether he was still learning about British racing. He said, “I am still learning over here.”

David Thiselton

Former Zimbabwean and South African-based trainer Neil Bruss won Saturday’s Gr 1 SR250,000 King Abdulaziz Racetrack Champion Cup over 2000m on sand with the six-year-old Oratorio colt Gods Speed, who was ridden by Luis Morales.

Jumping from gate 7 in a ten horse field, the Abdulelah Abdul Aziz Almousa-owned horse had cover throughout and travelled well.

Neil Bruss (Nkosi Hlophe)

Morales made his move around the final turn and entering the 400m straight just had to overtake the pacemaker on his inside.

The good looking bay then surged into the lead and managed to held on from the charging pair Smoking Sun (Smart Strike) and Ibn Alnafees (Premium Tap).

Bruss’ latest stint in Saudi Arabia began last September and in 100 runs he has had 14 winners.

The veteran trainer is an outstanding horseman and has successfully raided Dubai with his Saudi Arabian-trained horses before.

In 2009 he sent out former Port Elizabeth horse Paris Perfect and the Argentinian-bred Muller to run third and fourth respectively in the Dubai World Cup.

Oratorio currently stands at Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm in Stellenbosch.

By David Thiselton

Mike de Kock’s 3000^th winner was given a traditional African welcome as Janoobi and Piere Strydom were serenaded into the winner’s enclosure by a gaggle of De Kock’s grooms after their narrow victory in Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein yesterday. Mathew de Kock, running the yard while father Mike is in Dubai, was swept off his feet with cell phone still to his ear as Janoobi’s excited groom picked him up and carried him around the enclosure.

It was somewhat fitting that the first South African jockey to pass the 5000 winners mark was aboard Janoobi (9-2), as both De Kock and Strydom are legends of the sport.

Strydom, who rides freelance and who had ridden Janoobi on two previous occasions, was not over confident of his chances pre-race. “I’d won on him before and ridden him in Cape Town and to me he was just a nice horse,” he said. “He was short and stocky and tended to over-race all the time but the jockeys have been telling me all week that they can’t believe how well this horse was working.

“I thought ‘Ja well, I’ve ridden him and I know the horse’ but when I cantered down I though he had grown and he was more relaxed than ever and that’s why he could maybe get away with it today.

“You know, he went to the front and was relaxed in front …. he had to relax otherwise he got beat. He held on by a short head.”

Sean Tarry, looking for a Guineas double after Smiling Blue Eyes won the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, was denied a short-head as Al Sahem came up just short with the De Kock-trained Heavenly Blue coming home strongly for third.

It was almost a given that either Tarry or De Kock would saddle the winner of the Fillies Guineas in light of the fact that between them they sent out three quarters of the runners in the field.

However, few pundits came up with the Tarry-trained Smiling Blue Eyes (18-1) and the grey daughter of Dynasty gave notice that the Triple Tiara is within her capabilities.

Making light of a difficult outside draw, Raymond Danielson had no hesitation in pressing for position early. Not being able to get onto the rail she raced three-wide into the straight and made a bee-line for the outside rail. Smiling Blue Eyes gradually reeled in the opposition and just when it looked as if she would have a race on her hands, the leading contenders ran out of petrol and Smiling Blue Eyes drew off to win as she liked.

De Kock runners filled the shallow end of the purse with outside El Hawraa running on for second with the well fancied Orchid Island given every chance but not up to the task. Fancied Ektifaar was prominent throughout but also came up empty while Safe Harbour was never a factor.

“This was probably a bit short for her,” said Danielson. “The further she goes the better.”

Earlier in the day, and learning from a previous mistake, Callan Murray pressed the button at exactly the right moment in the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes to get the Australian-bred colt Rafeef (3-1) home and take Mike de Kock’s career tally of winners to 2998.

Apparently something of a monster – “I’m not scared of horses but I’m scared of this one,” De Kock admitted – Rafeef certainly doesn’t lack courage as he fought a protracted stretch battle with favourite and pacemaker New Predator, getting the upper hand late and win with something in hand.

Craig Zackey often gives the impression that he’s half asleep but just two years out of his time he is up there with the best. Ice also runs through his veins as he brought Nother Russia (11-2) through from last to first in the Gr3 Acacia Handicap and set De Kock up for his 3000^th winner.

Andrew Harrison

There is little doubt that National Key is a tough customer. Five seasons and 59 races under his girth, Brian Wiid’s runner is still going strong and can put a seventh victory behind his name when he lines up in the Kas Govender Memorial Handicap that headlines the Greyville poly meeting today.

The seven-year-old is no stranger to Greyville or the surface, having already raced on it six times for a win and a string of places, and it is also a surface that appears to bring out the best in older horses with mileage on the clock. National Key fits nicely into that category.

The gelding has been up against some strong company in his Highveld home and comes into the race off a warm-up and should strip close to his peak. Muzi Yeni, who has relocated to Jo’Burg, rode him in that race and will be back aboard today.

But although National Key ticks most of the boxes he does face some smart younger opposition, mostly in the form of Alistair Gordon’s pair of My Pal Al and Marshall That, both likely candidates for the big three-year-old features during Champions Season.

My Pal Al is definitely on the way up and will be a threat to the top weight. He was deemed good enough to take his chances in Gr2 The Dingaans at Turffontein but ran way below form in the soft ground.

That may not have been his only problem as Gordon declared him in blinkers for his next start and the results were immediate as he barrelled home five lengths clear of the opposition. Anton Marcus has stayed with the ride but the only concern is that the 1200m trip may be on the sharp side which could give National Key the edge.

Marshall That gave notice of his ability with a runaway maiden win with apprentice Eric Ngwane admitting that he had been a mere passenger. The gelding is obviously not an easy ride so his recent showing when a beaten favourite is probably best ignored. Sean Veale is one of the strongest riders around so Marshall That is not likely to get away with much today.

Of the balance, Wynkelder was strongly fancied to back up on his maiden win but soft ground and the seven furlongs may have been his undoing. Given his pedigree his poly debut should not be a problem and a win here will see him rocket up the handicap.

Andrew Harrison

Silvan Star can defy top weight in the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow after her good performance on Met day.

Richard Fourie’s mount was beaten less than half a length when third to The High Life over this same 2 000m and had Jetano (now half a kilo better) three-quarters of a length behind despite Fourie reporting to the stipes that he felt something was amiss with her.

Richard Fourie (Nkosi Hlope)

The racecourse vet could find nothing physically wrong – other than that she was making a noise – although Glen Kotzen plays it down, saying: “She keeps changing legs and so she tends to roll a bit from side to side.”

Evoke Emotion looks held on that form even though she didn’t get a clear run and has been dropped a kilo but the biggest danger is probably Skip A Beat. The Andre Nel runner was fourth in the Jamaica Handicap over this distance and a line through Nima puts her close with the selection.

Another big plus with Silvan Star is that Fourie is riding so well – and with such confidence – at the moment and he and Kotzen can also take the Play The Pick Six Maiden with Quickfire. This once-raced gelding was a promising fourth to Perovskia three weeks ago with a length further back to  Pop The Question who franked the form with a convincing win here on Tuesday.

Greg Cheyne has found that he needs a bit longer to recover from last Saturday’s bruising so the plum mount on Kasimir in the first is going begging. This colt is almost impossible to oppose after going close in the Listed race on debut on Met day. “He was actually a bit unlucky in that race because he was drawn on the wrong side of the course,” says Justin Snaith who fully expected the horse to run as well as he did.

Just about the only doubt is that Snaith points out: “I have been very easy on him since.” Rikers Island, 40-1 when 11^th of 20 in the Kuda Sprint, could be the one for the forecast.

Scorpion Queen looks another for Fourie in the Racing Association Maiden, particularly as Nel says that newcomer Lady Li Lay “is a staying type and probably a month away” from being ready for her first outing. She runs because he feels he could not throw away the chance of starting in such a modest race.

BLOB Michael Clower is on a roll with seven winners from his last 13 selections and a R60 profit (to a R10 stake) over the last four Kenilworth meetings.

By Michael Clower

Johannesburg’s Autumn season begins on Saturday with the Guineas meeting and the three-year-old pecking order will be clearer afterwards.  

The Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas could see Matador Man emerging as one of the top sophomore colts in the country. This Toreador gelding relaxes beautifully in the running and has a magnificent turn of foot, so looks likely to stay the trip. He will relish a return to the Standside track on which he won the Listed Secretariat Stakes over 1400m in impressive style. Furiosa is a resolute galloping sort, who might attempt to gallop the field into the ground from his fair draw. The trip might turn out to be on the sharp side for him, so he will be favoured if the ground remains soft.

Lyle Hewitson will be aboard Matador Man

Janoobi pulled and was wide when a decent fourth in the CTS Mile, so will be a big runner if settling from a tricky draw. Piere Strydom has remained aboard. Heavenly Blue is favourite, having gone close from a wide draw in the Investec Dingaans over course and distance. On a line through Singapore Sling there iis not much between him and Janoobi, but he has the widest draw of all. The unbeaten Al Sahem must be included in all bets as he relaxes well in the running and has a superb turn of foot, although an interrupted preparation is against him. Unagi has won four of his five starts over this trip and has a plum draw of two, so cannot be ignored. Doosra has class but 1400m might be his game. Chili Con Carne has improved with blinkers, but looks held by Matador Man. Tilbury Fort usually finds extra when challenged so could be a suprise place getter if taken to the front and dictating, although Furiosa looks a more likely pacemaker.

In the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas Orchid Island was ultra impressive over 1800m last time and this grandaughter of the brilliant Ilha Da Vitoria looks to be a candidate to land the three-legged Triple Tiara. Safe Harbour has the class to threaten her, but had a busy Cape Town campaign and might just need the run. Anna Pavlova has a tremendous turn of foot” and will appreciate a good pace. Ektifaa has the ability, but there is a stamina question mark. Babbling Brooke has been brought on in fine style by Triple Tiara-winning trainer Ormond Ferraris and is a Triple Tiara candidate. Being Fabulous has always struck as a classic contender and although held narrowly by Babbling Brooke on paper there is a draw reversal in her favour. Belle Rose beat the latter pair last time but has a tough task confirming it at the weights. 

Redberry Lane sparked when blinkers were fitted last time so could be anything. Stablemate Smiling Blue Eyes won the Gr 3 Fillies Mile over course and distance, but has not raced since and is drawn very wide. Al Hawraa looks the part and is interesting over this step up in trip.  Visuality looks held by Anna Pavlova. Santiburi has the class to be a suprise place getter if settling. Pool Party looks held by Last Chirp. Last Chirp is 1kg better off with Anna Pavlova for a length beating over 1450m and could set the pace again. Her half-sister won over 1800m. Maleficent has the ability to win but is an enigmatic sort. Elusive Strike is held on 1400m form, but will relish the step up in trip. 

By David Thiselton