Those pundits with long memories will remember the days of yore when each race club had their own handicappers. Charles Laird was the handicapper at Turffontein before turning his hand to training so he knows a thing or two about placing his runners and Anton Marcus may not necessarily be on the ‘right’ one in the Coalvest Group Handicap at Greyville tonight.

Captain Of Rock (Nkosi Hlophe)

Marcus has been pencilled in to ride the relatively unexposed Yankeedoodledandy while apprentice Diego de Gouveia will be aboard stable companion Captain Of Rock who bids for his third win on the bounce – both horses in the colours of Mayfair Speculators.

The mere presence of Marcus in the saddle has bookmakers automatically slashing the odds on his mounts, regardless of form, consequently he rides many a false favourite. The flip side is his winning strike rate of 27% so one has to have some sympathy for the men of the crossbar.

Yankeedoodledandy has not seen a racetrack since June last year when finishing second to Count Von Count on his handicap debut after a narrow victory on debut. That form is nothing to write home about but in the seven months since he may well have improved.

Captain Of Rock on the other hand made a winning return after a short break under then four-claiming apprentice Serino Moodley. The handicappers saw fit to raise Captain Of Rock by four pounds and with De Gouveia claiming 2.5kg, Captain Of Rock theoretically goes into this race without a penalty.

This is all on paper of course and the reality could pan out quite differently. But given his current form and proven affinity for the poly track, Captain Of Rock looks the right one.

Obvious danger is Roy Royale who finished under a length back to Captain Of Rock at their last meeting and is slightly better off at the weights but possibly not enough to turn the tables.

Tonight’s card is littered with moderate horses so be prepared to do your homework and add in the odd long-shot in your exotics. It could make for a profitable evening.

By Andrew Harrison

National Champion trainer Sean Tarry has a strong hand in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas, but bookmakers have not necessarily got his four charges, Furiosa, Al Sahem, Matador Man and Tilbury Fort, in the right order.

The Toreador gelding Matador Man is only rated third of the Tarry runners by Betting World at odds of 5/1, but makes most appeal. He comes out better than Furiosa on formlines through both Misty Roller and Al Fahad. Matador Man had to come from an impossible position last time out in the Gr 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1450m, but ran on in eye-catching style to be beaten only 0,6 lengths by the classy filly Ektifaa. However, he was receiving 1,5kg from the latter. On the other hand he looks likely to relish the return to the Standside track with its long straight.

He was an impressive winner of the Listed Secretariat Stakes over 1400m on the Standside track in his penultimate start. He looks likely to stay the 1600m trip, despite his sire Toreador and dam Sahara (Mogok) both being sprinter-to-1400m types. Matador Man relaxes beautifully in the running and has a fine turn of foot. His wide draw is of little concern as he invariably loses a length or two at the start and slots in behind the field. Lyle Hewitson rides.

The most fancied of Tarry’s runners in the betting is the Australian-bred colt by Fastnet Rock, Furiosa, who is second favourite with the sponsors at 3.75/1. S’Manga Khumalo will be aboard. This rangy sort has always given the impression that he would both improve with age and be best suited to a galloping track like Turffontein Standside. He was possibly a reluctant leader last time in a MR 80 Handicap over 1800m in very soft going on the Turffontein Inside track. However, he relaxed well and being in front enabled him to use his big action. He then stayed on resolutely under a typically strong ride by Khumalo and won by two lengths from the useful

Lyle Hewitson rides Matador Man (Nkosi Hlophe)

older horse Amsterdam, from whom he was receiving only 2,5kg. So, it will no surprise to see him going to the front again from a good draw of four, especially as it is a small field, a scenario which often favours front runners.

Furiosa’s distance is not easy to predict on pedigree. On the one hand his sire Fastnet Rock was a twice Gr 1-winning sprinter, and furthermore Furiosa is a full-brother to a Listed winner over 1100m. However, Furiosa’s dam is by stamina influence Woodman and is a half-sister to a Gr 2 winner over 2040m. Visually, Furiosa strikes as one who is looking for 1800m and beyond. However, if the ground remains on the soft side on Saturday, it will favour him.

The unbeaten Tarry-trained Silvano colt Al Sahem is out of Alderry, who finished a narrow third in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas in 2010 and went on to win the Gr 2 November Handicap over 1600m. Both of Al Sahem’s eye-catching wins have been over the Gauteng Guineas course and distance. He is another who relaxes well in the running and has a superb turn of foot. On a line through Amsterdam there is not much between him and Furiosa. He will be improving being by Silvano. Anthony Delpech up and a plum draw of three are two further pluses. However, against him is he has had an interrupted preparation. He is 4/1 with Betting World.

Tilbury Fort, a colt by Horse Chestnut, has a touch of class and is a gallant sort, who keeps finding extra when challenged. He is distance suited too. In his last Highveld start he received 4kg from Guineas contender Chili Con Carne and gave him a 3,9 length beating, so his odds of 25/1 are more attractive than the latter’s 10/1. Raymond Danielson will be aboard Tilbury Fort.

Chili Con Carne has done better since the aforementioned race, but is well held by Matador Man on their last meeting. Tilbury Fort is also well held by Matador Man, having been given 3,5kg and a 1,75 length beating by him in the Secretariat. Therefore, it is interesting to note that on Cape Town 1600m form there is only 1,75 lengths between Saturday’s favourite Heavenly Blue and Tilbury Fort on a line through William Longsword.

All in all it points to Matador Man being the one to side with in Saturday’s Gauteng Guineas, which constitutes the joint first leg of the SA Triple Crown.           

David Thiselton

Doosra has been beaten by Matador Man, Chili Con Carne and Heavenly Blue in the past and has become a difficult customer before the start of his races. But he has plenty of talent and Johan Janse van Vuuren’s runner will have his supporters in the R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday.

He is an 8-1 shot with the race sponsor, Betting World, and his trainer seems to believe his price is fair because both the Gauteng Guineas and the Wigerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas “look like tough races”.

Doosra showed his ability in the Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m in November when beating top-rated weak favourite Heavenly Blue by a head.

His feisty character then started to develop and he was stubborn going into the pens when fourth behind Singapore Sling, Heavenly Blue and Bold Rex in the Dingaans, his only previous race over 1600m. He was again unruly before a Graduation Plate next time out but won anyway, beating Daffiq by 1.60 lengths with Furiosa (renews rivalry) 4.10 lengths away in fourth place. His next two starts were over shorter and yielded thirds behind Chili Con Carne and Ektifaa respectively.

Janse van Vuuren will saddle Being Fabulous in the Fillies Guineas. This two-time winner is a classy individual who likes to be in control in her races nowadays.

Her second career win came in handicap company where she beat Eloquence by five lengths, which saw her merit rating upped eight points. She then started favourite but might have hit the front a bit too soon when third behind Belle Rose and Babbling Brooke, both of who renew rivalry.

One horse Janse van Vuuren is much more keen on is New Predator in the Hawaii Stakes (Grade 2) over 1400m. “New Predator is very well,” he confirmed. This is a preparatory run for the New Approach four-year-old, who will be bidding to win the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m later this autumn. That is a race in which he finished third to Legal Eagle last year.

He has had one preparatory run already, when beating Kings Archer over 1400m at this track last month. Bulleting Home (3kg better off), Kangaroo Jack (6kg better off) and Will Pays (6kg better off) were behind him that day. He is drawn at No 1 and looks likely to start favourite.

TABnews

Ruling champion trainer Sean Tarry has yet to win the R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) over 1600m but, in Furiosa and Al Sahem, he has two of the favourites for the alternate first leg of the SA Triple Crown at Turffontein this Saturday.

Betting World has priced Furiosa up at 15-4, marginally behind 7-2 favourite Heavenly Blue, with Al Sahem on offer at 4-1. Tarry has two other runners in the race – Matador Man at 5-1 and 25-1 outsider Tilbury Fort.

Sean Tarry (Nkosi Hlophe)

Asked whether he believes any of his four runners is capable of winning the Triple Crown, which also comprises the 1800m SA Classic and the 2450m SA Derby, he replied: “I don’t think it is about a horse being good enough to win the Triple Crown, it’s more about whether they will get the Classic and Derby distances. Furiosa and Al Sahem are suited to all three distances.”

Furiosa is the choice of Tarry’s No 1 jockey S’manga Khumalo, having won an 1800m race on the Inside Track at Turffontein three weeks ago. Tarry believes his fitness influenced the rider’s decision because Al Sahem is coming off a break and has missed work because of the rainy weather.

“Furiosa has done very little wrong,” he continued. “He did appreciate the step up in distance to 1800m and is coming back to 1600m, but showed a lot of speed early on for us to think he’d win a 1200m race.

“He’s on the up and hopefully he’s improved enough to get a blow in.”

Al Sahem has won both his races to date in weaker company and Tarry said: “I’m sure everyone would agree he’s a really nice horse. I’m not too fazed about him going up in class – he’s certainly good enough. But coming here off a break is not ideal. Unfortunately it just panned out this way.

“We had to scratch him from a race and he’s missed work in a very important week in terms of race prep.

“Matador Man just didn’t get there in time in a feature on the Inside Track last time out but was beaten by a very good filly in Ektifaa. That was a good prep run after a short break.”

He’s not ideally drawn at No 9 in the 10-horse field, but Tarry is not too concerned, because “he misses the break and comes from off them”.

Furiosa (JC Photographics)

He will also be travelling this far for the first time, but “the way he ran on in his last start gives me every reason to believe he will get a 1600m – though I’m not sure he’ll go further.”

He described Tilbury Fort as “a nice horse, maybe not in this class as yet, but certainly on the up. He could get a blow in here.”

His pick? “It’s hard to split Furiosa, Al Sahem and Matador Man. Furiosa has got fitness and a draw, while Al Sahem is also well drawn but is coming off a break and Matador Man doesn’t have a draw.

“All three have chances, but I’m not bullish. It’s an open and competitive race and the opposition needs to be respected. It’s an exciting start to the Triple Crown.”

Tarry-trained Safe Harbour is the highest-rated runner in the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, the first leg of the Triple Tiara but is drawn “out by Wemmer Pan” in No 16 stall. Betting World have her 4-1 third favourite.

“I would imagine Safe Harbour will be in need of the run,” said Tarry. “Looking at the programme I couldn’t find a more suitable start to her autumn campaign – I would have sidestepped this race if there was an easier route to the SA Fillies Classic. But we know she’s classy and it would be nice if that got her through.”

Khumalo picked the lowest-rated of Tarry’s four runners in Redberry Lane, who frustrated her trainer until blinkers were added to her equipment. Once her concentration was honed, she started realising the potential Tarry knew she had, winning a Maiden Plate by eight lengths.

Al Sahem (JC Photographics)

She is the best-drawn of Tarry’s four runners in No 3 stall and is also among the fittest.

Smiling Blue Eyes has won two races in a row including a 1600m feature last time out. “She’s a lovely filly and will probably run in all three legs of the Triple Tiara because she’ll improve over the 1800m of the SA Fillies Classic and maybe even more over the 2450m of the Oaks,” said Tarry. “I’d be optimistic if she had a decent draw because she can race up there with the pace, but from that wide draw, we’ll have to take our medicine and come from off them.

“But this is a starting point and if you haven’t got a ticket, you haven’t got a chance.”

He said Visuality had “lost her way badly in Cape Town where she didn’t put one decent run together”.

However, he conceded she is being stretched over 1600m and said “it’s hard to have confidence in her from a stall only one inside Smiling Blue Eyes”.

The other Grade 2 race is the Hawaii Stakes in which Tarry will saddle French Navy and Bulleting Home.

“The 1400m is now a bit sharp for French Navy, but I’m expecting a good run. Bulleting Home has a tough task at the weights, but his last run was good from a deep draw. He’s in good order and should be competitive.”

* Other news from the Tarry stable is that talented but temperamental Cloth Of Cloud has had a colic operation. “Hopefully she’s on the mend,” said Tarry. Cloth Of Cloud last raced in the CTS Sprint over 1200m on Sun Met Day but missed the break, refused to gallop and cantered home. She then got colic on her way back to Johannesburg from Cape Town.
– TABnews

Connections of Arrogate, the highest-rated Flat performer in the world, have confirmed his next target is the Dubai World Cup at Meydan on March 25.

The Bob Baffert-trained four-year-old won the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November and kicked off 2017 with a comfortable four-and-three-quarter-length victory in the inaugural Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park last month.

Following Arrogate’s victory in the US$12million contest, Baffert expressed some doubts about Arrogate travelling to Dubai but after pleasing in a mile workout at Santa Anita on Monday, connections confirmed Meydan is now the target.

Baffert said: “I just got the call and we’ve got the green light to send him to Dubai as long as he’s doing well. [The decision] came down from [owner] Prince Khalid [Abdullah].

“He looked great. I’m really happy the way he’s come out of that race [the Pegasus].

“He hasn’t regressed or anything, he looked fantastic. He’s enjoying himself, and he did it the right way. I’m really happy with the way he’s going. He’s just holding his form very well,” Baffert told www.bloodhorse.com

Meanwhile, Racingpost.com report that the Dubai World Cup meeting has lost one of its potential stars following a surprising change of heart by connections of Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther.

Last weekend the five-year-old won the very valuable Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin and it seemed a trip to Meydan for next month’s Dubai Turf was the next target.

However, it emerged on Tuesday that Werther, who was around 8-1 for the race with British bookmakers, would not be going to Dubai.

The South China Morning Post reported that trainer John Moore was informed of the change of plans via a text from owner Johnson Chen. Moore was dismayed at the news, not just for himself, but also for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, whose officials the SCMP reported had suffered a ‘loss of face’.

Hong Kong’s presence at this year’s meeting will be reduced further as sprinters Lucky Bubbles and Peniaphobia will also not be making the trip, with domestic campaigns preferred.

William Longsword is the toast of the Western Cape sophomore colts after victory in the Gr1 CTS Cape Guineas and the CTS 1600 while the Highveld brigade should be sorted into some sort of pecking order come Saturday with the running of the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas. As far as KZN goes, it is likely to stay up in the air for at least another month or so without any specific features for three-year-old males and no trainers seemingly willing to raid.

Gr2 Dingaans winner Singapore Sling is a notable absentee from the Gauteng Guineas field but he, and both Janoobi and Heavenly Blue, were soundly beaten by William Longsword when raiding the Cape.

Roman Emperor (Candiese Marnewick)

It would be disappointing if Vaughan Marshall’s star does not make the trip to KZN for Champions Season as there is speculation that he may be retired to stud as an early replacement for his aging sire Captain Al although he only has a merit rating of 109, six pounds shy of top rated three-year-old Gold Standard rated 115.

Be that as it may, Mr O’Neill and Roman Emperor are way down the pecking order if their ratings are to be believed but could still be contenders come the winter features but they will need enforce that view when they run in the itsarush.co.za Middle Stakes at Scottsville today – Middle Stakes races being restricted to horses with a nett MR of 80 and below.

Mr O’Neill is much improved since being gelded and sent over ground by Dean Kannemeyer and he was far from disgraced when runner-up, beaten less than a length, by the progressive Heir Line giving the winner 3.5kg, this after winning two on the bounce.

The step up to 1950m should hold no fears and he will start as one of the fancied runners.

Duncan Howells saddles the lightly raced Roman Emperor who was just over a length back to Heir Line and Mr O’Neill when they met in early February but looks capable of a lot better. He did not handle the soft ground well and hung badly when under pressure. The going today should be perfect and although he is 2kg worse off with Mr O’Neill he strikes as a horse with plenty of scope and should be a threat.

Unbelievable Chad (Nkosi Hlophe)

Silver Rose is a lightly raced four-year-old who has been in good form on the Greyville poly. He stays the trip well and if he handles the switch to turf he too should be right there.

Of the balance, Captain At Sea was hammered with a hefty rating after his maiden win and on a line through Silver Rose and Lucky Luciano, looks well held – the switch to turf possibly the only point in his favour.

Air Chief Marshal carries top weight in the All To Come Handicap where he can take advantage of a drop in class. He jumped a division when fourth, beaten four lengths by Caribbean Day over the course and distance, but prior to that was a fluent winner on the Greyville turf. He has the worst of the draw but it is only a ten-horse field so should not be too disadvantaged.

Unbelievable Chad has been disappointing and is definitely better than his record of a single victory would suggest. Paul Lafferty’s charge does appear to have a few behavioural issues but was a close-up second on the poly last time out and can finally go one better.

Also in with a chance is Baltic Amber. He was caught for pace over the Greyville 1400m last time out and Duncan Howells will be more confident of his chances over the course and distance where he recorded his last win.

With bright sunshine over the past two days, Scottsville should be in prime condition after the recent rains.

By Andrew Harrison

Grant van Niekerk has been appointed first jockey to the powerful Plattner Racing team handled by Andre Nel.

Nel said on Tuesday: “Grant is a natural choice. He is very talented, he can ride all the weights and he has already done well for us. We will have first claim on him.”

Nel has 30 horses to race in Cape Town during the coming winter season and, in addition, he is sending ten of his best ones to join his Durban string. Van Niekerk will fly up to partner those that run in Group races. The stable also has 26 two-year-olds.

Van Niekerk said: “I am very happy to get the job. Andre is a gentleman to ride for and he has some good horses. I went up there to work this morning and I rode a couple of nice ones. I think we will do well together.”

Van Niekerk, 25, replaces his great friend Aldo Domeyer who took over his job as first jockey to Candice Bass-Robinson. He has been sidelined since Met day by accumulated suspensions but says he will be back in action on March 11.

Michael Clower

At least nine horses sold so far at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Australia could be coming to race in South Africa, having been sold to South African interests.

The two bought early at the sale by Markus Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators are likely to remain in Australia, having been co-signed by Victoria-based Heywood Bloodstock.

They spent Aus$280,000 on a Camelot colt and another $260,000 on a Fastnet Rock filly.

Jehan Malherbe’s Form bloodstock has secured seven horses already at the sale, which has been running since Sunday.

His most expensive purchase was a Smart Missile filly secured for $180,000. He bought a Shamus Award filly, who is related to Alboran Sea, for $90,000, a Fiorente filly for $70,000, a Choisir colt for $60,000 and a filly by Black Caviar’s four-time winning half-brother All Too Hard filly for $30,000.

Paul Guy’s Heritage Bloodstock has bought two fillies, paying $210,000 for a daughter of Snitzel and R100,000 for a filly by Camelot.

Andy Williams, manager of World Wide Bloodstock, has spent $175,000 on two yearlings, a Sebring colt ($120,000) and a Declaration Of War filly.

The sale ends on Wednesday [Mar 1].

– TABNews; Picture: Racing.com

It’s business as usual for Dean Kannemeyer’s Milnerton string after battling a low-grade virus that put the yard out of commission for nearly a month.

Dean Kannemeyer (Nkosi Hlophe)

In early February Kannemeyer shut down his Milnerton operation after discovering that many of his horses were infected with a low-grade virus. Yesterday, Kannemeyer said that things had returned to normal with his horses jumping out of their skin and training in full swing.

Kannemeyer said that in hindsight, quick and assertive action had been the saving grace.

“It has been a trying time for our team. A racing yard not racing and spending hours with slow long canters and medicating and tending ill horses is not the happiest place to be – but things have turned for the better and the spirit and vibe is back.”

He said that he had stepped up the training routine and expected to send out his first runners in Cape Town in the next ten days.

Kannemeyer added that given the firmness of the going in the Cape that the break may have come as a blessing in disguise.

“As we always do in the first two weeks of March, preparations will soon be under way for the movement of our SA Champions Season contenders to KZN for the winter feature season there.”

By Andrew Harrison

Heavenly Blue and Furiosa are vying for favouritism at the top of the sponsor’s boards for the R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday.

The Gauteng Guineas is the joint first leg of the SA Triple Crown, which is worth R2 million to a horse who can win the Cape Guineas or Gauteng Guineas, the SA Classic over 1800m a month later and the SA Derby another four weeks later.

Heavenly Blue, one of three runners from the Mike de Kock stable, is currently board topper at 7-2. The Australian-bred grey is the joint top-rated runner in the 10-horse field alongside stablemate Janoobi but has drawn widest of all.

Another Australian-bred runner, Furiosa is to be ridden by the Sean Tarry stable’s first choice S’manga Khumalo. He was always in control last time out, when beating Amsterdam by two lengths over 1800m on the Inside track last time out.

His stable companion, unbeaten Al Sahem, is third favourite. He has not raced for 79 days but is an unknown factor in this class of field and must have lots of room for improvement.

De Kock and Tarry also saddle the fourth and fifth favourites, Janoobi and Matador Man respectively.

Betting World Gauteng Guineas betting: 7-2 Heavenly Blue, 15-4 Furiosa, 4-1 Al Sahem, 9-2 Janoobi, 5-1 Matador Man, 8-1 Doosra, Unagi, 10-1 Chili Con Carne, 25-1 Daffiq, Tilbury Fort.

– TABNews