The Vaal Classic track has an eight race meeting tomorrow headed by the Non-Black Type Egoli Mile where the exciting prospect Marshall can defy top weight.

This classy Vercingetorix gelding was found to not be striding out in the Dingaans where he disappointed as favourite. However, he showed he was not an over-hyped horse last time when sauntering to an impressive victory in a handicap over 1450m. This powerful bay with the lively action jumps from draw five and will take a lot of beating despite having to give weight away. He has to give Viper Jet 8kg which won’t be easy as the latter lost to him by only half-a-length over 1160m in the Maidens. Viper Jet sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight after being given a lenient mark for his easy win over 1450m last time and being by Pomodoro ge should relish the step up in trip. Indy Go makes most appeal of the rest having run well against dome hood horses over this trip although he does have second top weight and a tough draw.

Punters could get off to a good start with Expressfromtheus in the first race over 1450m.

This rangy What A Winter three-year-old has gone close in two starts and now over a step up in trip he will relish he has his first run as a gelding. The form of his last start looks strong as the winner Valetorio finished fifth next time out in the Grade 2 Tony Ruffel Stakes which was won by the classy Ikigai. The other formline which gives it a strong look is that he beat Willo’thewisp by 5,25 lengths. The latter, who also lines up in this race tomorrow, had gone close in two previous starts over 1200m and didn’t appear to have any excuses in that last race.

Another horse who should be improving and running on is Ideal Wolff, although he has a tricky draw to negotiate.

Untamed Tiger is an effective frontrunner and has a reasonable draw of eight. He was bumped at a crucial stage last time over this trip when a 1,50 length second will be dangerous if able to get to the front easily.

Ministerwithout lost his jockey last time but before that had stayed on well from well off the pace over 1200m so he can’t be ignored.

Willo’thewisp could also improve over this trip and he has a plum draw.

The second is also over 1450m and Bianca is an interesting runner here. She was green on debut over this trip and never had much room so as not at all disgraced finishing 5,50 lengths back. She is now drawn in pole with Gavin Lerena up. Wallaa looked a tad outpaced over this trip in October but she has scope and the rest would have allowed her to strengthen. She dos have a wide draw but should be staying on. Lightning Rock comes out better than Bianca on strict formlines on the evidence of her last start but that was her fourth start compared to the latter’s debut.  She has a plum draw of two and should be thereabouts in an overall uninspiring field.

In the third race over 1200m Sweet Trial is a most interesting runner. In her last start over 1000m blinkers were refitted and she won well, beating the promising sort Captain Hindsight. She is effective over this trip and only has a two point raise to deal with, so could go in again. Touch Of Fate is one of the horses who makes Sweet Trial’s win look like good form as he was well beaten by him but has been right there in two subsequent starts over this trip and 1000m respectively. He has good early pace and will be dangerous from a good draw. We All Chomies runs off a reduced merit rating and might enjoy the step down in trip so makes most appeal of the rest. Colour Of Light, Varimax and Baahir warrant consideration.

In the next over 2400m the relatively unexposed Alicante looks to be a useful stayer in the making although the draw of nine is tricky. Piere Strydom is drawn in pole aboard Glamarous Scandal having won on her three runs ago over 2600m. She is five points higher but will appreciate the step back up in trip. Crystal Stream enjoys this trip and has won over it from a similarly wide draw before. Emerald Bay has talent although she needs things to go her way so she will be a threat from draw five. Laconia could still improve having not been disgraced on her handicap bow.

In the next over 2400m three-year-old Out Of Your League won well last time despite bursting through the stalls. He is on the up and can defy a three point raise. Village Deep was narrowly beaten by him in that aforementioned start and should be right there with Strydom up. Brand New Cadillac has put up some fine performances over staying trips and is interesting in his third run after a layoff having had two preparation runs over shorter. Highlander and African Adventure also need to be included.

In the sixth over Tobefair won her Maiden well when stepped up to 1800m and off a reasonable merit rating can go close over this further step up in trip. Rabia The Rebel has been in fine form over this trip since Chase Maujean climbed aboard and should be involved again. Littlewood is off a competitive mark and will be dangerous over a suitable trip from pole position.

The last race over 1600m is open and a few will have to be included. Podcast, Written In Stone, Electromagnetic, In The Game and Top Rank are the ones who make most appeal.

By David Thiselton

It’s one of the most thrilling sights in racing – two top jockeys fighting it out up the straight, neck and neck all the way to the line.

Anton Marcus and Richard Fourie did just that in the 2 500m maiden at Kenilworth on Saturday. Throughout the last two furlongs they steadily drew six lengths clear of the rest as they stylishly asked their mounts for everything, and without any excessive or unnecessary use of the whip. In Auro and Long Reign responded with everything they had and it was only by a head that the latter got the verdict on the line.

Fourie said: “Anton is not an easy guy to beat but I felt I always had the measure of his mount. I know it looked on the TV as if he headed me but he didn’t.

“That said, it’s lovely to ride against champions like him because he wouldn’t be out of place anywhere in the world. I know I’ll be pleased if I can ride like him when I am his age.”

Marcus, who will be 50 in May (Fourie is 34), for once flew back to Durban empty-handed despite three of his four rides starting favourite and the other second favourite. But he was unlucky not to win the 1 400m maiden on Morse who finished fast to take equal third with only a few centimetres covering the first four. The stipes report revealed that he had had to ease his mount after a couple of furlongs to avoid him clipping the heels of fifth-placed Alfred’s Legacy. This cost him much more that the margin by which he was beaten.

First time blinkers apparently did the trick for the winner – the Glen Kotzen-trained 10-1 shot Final Appeal who was well handled by Morne Winnaar riding his 24^th winner of the season.

First time headgear is – or should be – an important tool in the punter’s armoury but, regrettably, it is not flagged as such in the racecards, newspapers or racing websites.  It is not fool proof but it often enables a horse to show improved form. In addition to Final Appeal, On Captain’s Side won the first at 47-20 for Greg Ennion and M.J. Byleveld – the first occasion on which he raced with ear muffs – and the Adam Marcus-trained 7-1 shot Winter Shadow (Anthony Andrews) took the 2 500m handicap wearing cheek pieces for the first time. In every case either the trainer or the jockey said that the headgear had made the difference.

Adam Marcus, incidentally, is expecting further improvement from the Lammerskraal homebred Hildegarde who led two furlongs out under Corne Orffer to justify 13-10 favouritism in the 1 100m handicap. “She appeared to be quite limited early on but we brought her down in trip and she hasn’t looked back since,” he explained. “We are looking for black type next.”

The talented Liam Tarental celebrated his return to the fray by getting up close home on the Paul Reeves-trained Skidoo in the Racing Association Handicap. “I broke my leg riding work last June. The doctor said I would be out for three months but for some reason it took a lot longer,” said the 21-year-old who was riding the 36^th winner of his career.

It was also a day to remember for Sandile Mbhele as he rode his first winner as a fully-fledged jockey when going to the front two furlongs from home on Fours A Crowd to complete a Kotzen double in the last.

By Michael Clower

Of all the racecourses in South Africa Hollywoodbets Scottsville has more nuances than nearly all put together. Some horses just don’t act, others are a few lengths better on the Midlands track. Two were in action yesterday – Blackball, five of his seven wins, and Ishnana, five out of six, are prime examples.

Gavin van Zyl will probably have been cursing his luck with the forced move from Hollywoodbets Scottsville to Hollywoodbets Greyville poly for the Michael Roberts Handicap, but the gelding, that races with a cornel collard to help his breathing, did well enough to finish a close-up fourth in that race.

There were no mistakes in the UmThombothi Stakes (Non-Black Type) yesterday as Raymond Danielson rounded off a profitable weekend, three winners at Turffontein on Saturday, and a double at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

Blackball was off the pace for much of the early exchanges but down the straight it turned into a proper cavalry charge with almost the entire field spread across the track, Blackball getting the upper hand late to out-gun The Dazzler and stable companion and last year’s winner, Marchingontogether.

“He’s and old bugger and he knows what it’s all about,” said Danielson. “Once he got his head in front, he gave me another kick and it was race-over.”

Hit The Gas, not in the race until 7.30 this morning after the scratching of Oreo Black, caught punters off guard in the second. Lowan Denysschen with other plans for the weekend, had a fellow trainer saddle for him and was also caught unaware as apprentice Jason Gates produced the formless filly with a telling late flourish to collar favourite Blue Winter and win rather comfortably.

Gates rides plenty of work at Scottsville and was quick to call for the ride on the 55-1 shot. Gates is also not short on confidence. “I know this filly and I think her two best races were for me.”

“When I saw that she was in the race this morning I phoned Mr Denysschen. I knew she could turn it on but I was a bit shocked that she did it so easily.”

Hit The Gas my have lightened a few wallets but Sir Pom converted favouritism for Michael Roberts in the first. “He still didn’t know what he was doing, he was all over the place,” said Roberts. “He’s a nice little horse and I don’t think he will stop here.”

Williams Land did some early damage to the Pick 6 as Keagan de Melo got his mount to quicken past the long-time leader Maty O and chased home hard by News Stream.

 “He’s quite a funny horse. He has ability,” according to Dean Kannemeyer’s KZN assistant Nicolet Roscoe. “Sometimes he gets left, sometimes he jumps on terms. It makes is difficult and at home he has become a little difficult. We work him with a pony and he’s a little bit sensitive about his mouth. Today he jumped on terms and Keagan left him at the back and stayed off his mouth.”

Robert Smith is one of KZN’s stalwarts. A breeder, owner and trainer early in his career, he has handed over the training to Garth Puller who managed a sixth win for the Smith-bred Ishnana who Smith races in partnership with Howick antiques furniture restorer Thabo Mhlongo. Settled in off the pace per instruction by apprentice Jabu Jacobs, Ishnana, who had recorded four of his previous five wins over course and distance, finished with a rattle for his sixth success.

By Andrew Harrison

Morse, only a bit player in his nine episodes so far, can star in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden at Kenilworth tomorrow.

The Eric Sands gelding has finished third in four of his last five starts,  all over 1 800m or a mile, and has been showing better form than he did over this 1 400m trip previously – and this is the big doubt.

If he does prove as effective, though, he is a good price at 3-1 because he is rated only a point behind The Second Wave and a minimum of seven in front of any of the other runners. But the biggest thing in his favour is that he is ridden by Anton Marcus for the first time. A smart start should see him flying out of his nine pen and making the best of his way home.

The Second Wave has drifted slightly from 5-2 to 3-1 and recent form suggests that this could well be his trip. Over 1 800m last time, when he finished only a neck in front of Morse, he was hanging for much of the race.

Red Rock Canyon (33-10) also comes into the reckoning as he was only beaten a head over this trip on his most recent start, despite over-racing early, and had Morse’s 5-1 stable companion Mr Fergie a short head behind.

Many punters will be considering an accumulator on Marcus’s four rides after he won on all three here last Saturday and the supremo should start proceedings on the right note with Hello Tomorrow in the first. Sands has his horses in good form and this Ridgemont runner has losses to recoup after being beaten at 7-10 in a modest-looking maiden last time. She led until inside the last 100m and she should be able to hold off On Captain’s Side even though M.J. Byleveld’s mount is rated 1.5kg better.

The Vaughan Marshall-trained In Auro is not a Ridgemont horse but Marcus rode him when he started favourite in his last two starts. He was around even money yesterday but there has been support for Long Reign who finished three-quarters of a length in front of him over this 2 500m in December and may confirm the placings.

However Marcus can take the last on the Glen Kotzen-trained My Wicked Ways. She heads the market at 7-2 but punters should note that this is an extremely open-looking race. Also, don’t ignore 10-1 shot Croisette. She made a big impression when winning on debut and is almost certainly better than her two subsequent runs would suggest.

By Michael Clower

The nine race meeting at Turffontein Inside tomorrow has some good horses turning out ahead of their Autumn feature season campaigns.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1800m the front-running Chijmes should have a fine chance as he stays on well and this track with its shorter straight should suit him. The main concern is that there is another front-runner involved, Seville Orange. However, she is drawn outside of him so if he does get to the front and she challenges he can allow her to lead and, as she prefers further, he can overtake her in the straight. The main danger to Chijmes could be the filly Sunshine Silk who is the best weighted runner. In a handicap she would receive 7kg from Chijmes but is receiving 9,5kg here and carrying just 50,5kg.

Furthermore, she is drawn in pole and is one from one over this course and distance. AL Mutawakel has proven class and should enjoy this trip, although he would prefer 2000m and would also prefer the longer-straighted Standside track. However, he is being tried with blinkers which should help him get into the race earlier, although his draw of eight out of eight is thus going to be tricky.

Divine Odyssey looks to need a few runs to reach his peak and he should be cherry ripe now. He should be running on strongly over an ideal distance, but he has a sustained finish and would probably prefer the Standside track. Seville Orange and Tilbury Fort have the class to earn here too. American Indian is well drawn and capable of surprising. Ali Bon Dubai would prefer further.

In the second leg of the Pick 6 In The Dance has a turn of foot equal to that of her half-brother Capetown Noir and should be ideally suited to this tight mile. She is drawn in pole position. Return Flight is back in form and will be a big threat from the front. The up and coming Machali represents in form Candice Dawson. She is capable of a strong finish and being by Dynasty will be improving. 

In the third leg of the Pick 6 over 1450m Tierra Del Fuego is admirably consistent and this distance is ideal. Furthermore, he has a plum draw of three. His stablemate Warrior’s Rest is equally admirable. He is very effective when getting to the front as he continually ups the tempo and runs all the way to the line. The concern is whether he will be able to get to the front from a wide draw of nine. Zouaves can’t be ignored either dropping back to his favourite course and distance, where he has a record of three wins in four starts. He packs a strong finish on his day and has a fair draw of six. The enigmatic Matador Man is the best weighted male but has his second run after a long layoff and will have his work cut out to make up ground over this tight track after his usual slow start. La Bella Mia is the best weighted horse and is interesting upped in trip as she finished fast last time over her favourite 1200m trip.

In the next leg of the Pick 6 Ocean City is very quick and capable of staying to the line over 1000m, so will be suited to this track and trip from a low draw. Prince Of Venice has always struck as one with plenty of ability and he can be a threat from draw five. Scoop has lots of ability and proved last time she is now off a competitive mark. 

In the next leg Our Man In Havana is progressive over these middle distances and can beat the handicapper again. Rocky Path looks the chief danger on form. Tough Choice could run well fresh and Kings Cup and Master Supreme can be considered too.  

In the last leg over 2000m Ever Fair is improving and distance suited and Fayrooz should relish the step up in trip after not being disgraced over a sprint on debut. Cotopaxi runs on over shorter so can be considered. Adorable Alley, and Smoking Hot also warrant consideration.

By David Thiselton

Stuart Pettigrew is not an unfamiliar face in KZN, or more accurately that of his assistants, but when he sends a raider it is mostly prudent to sit up and take notice. Seattle Force arrives at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday with exemplary Highveld form and should make a bold bid in the UmThombothi Stakes (Non-Black Type).

But the four-year-old will not have all his own way given the structure of the weights and the likes of Marchingontogether, the highest rated runner in the race, is set to get 4 kg from Seattle Force.

That said, one has consistent form, for the other, one has to look into a crystal ball.

A strong front-runner, Seattle Force has hardly been out of the money in recent outings and has been competing useful Highveld company. He was a beaten favourite behind Hero’s Honour on the Turffontein inside track last time out when weakening late but was only three lengths back. Prior to that he was caught late by the former KZN-based filly Flichity By Farr.

Going along with good recent form could be the way to go but Marchingontogether looks tossed in at these weights in spite of his rather dismal recent showings.

He made no show in the November Handicap and Summer Cup but did show a return to something like his better form when two-lengths off The Dazzler in the Christmas Handicap. That was followed by another disappointing effort when drawn wide in the Michael Roberts Handicap that was switched from Hollywoodbets Scottsville to the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly.

He was given a three-point relief in the ratings after that showing and the fact that Warren Kennedy has opted for this ride ahead of Michael Roberts fourth-placed Blackball suggests that Marchingontogether could prove the pick of the Gavin van Zyl pair.

Blackball, drawn widest of the 13 runners here, was only a length back to GG’S Dynasty in the Michael Roberts and a little over a length back to The Dazzler in the Christmas Handicap, both times finishing ahead of Marchingtontogether with Kennedy in the irons. Raymond Danielson gets the call-up on Sunday.

Stuart Ferrie has been holding the fort while Dennis Drier has been trying to pluck a few plums in Cape Town and Ferrie saddles Wealthy who has an excellent record at Scottsville where he has recorded five of his six wins. He was beaten four lengths in the Michael Roberts but prior to that went down narrowly to the much improved Merlin From Berlin in a Chapter Challenge final. He does appear to be a couple of lengths better at Scottsville and victory will not come as a surprise.

The Dazzler and Silver Rose will have supporters while Dark Moon Rising may need another outing to find form. White Lightning is always knocking at the door which could pen soon while Twice Golden and Great Warrior are in the deep end but do have scope and light weights.

Van Zyl can get Pick 6 punters off to a good start when he saddles Wave in the opening leg. It is a Graduation Plate where all the stats point in his favour but he is up against opposition that boasts some useful form.

Touched off by the poly specialist Di Mazzio last time out, this extended trip back on the turf should be a benefit.

Promising Pearl Of Asia, winner of his first two starts, ran out of gas last time out but races with a tongue-tie for the first time and could still have more improvement to come.

By Andrew Harrison

Viva Rio, second in the Cape Guineas, has been installed 17-10 favourite to give Glen Kotzen his third Cape Derby victory at Kenilworth’s Prawn Festival meeting on Saturday week. The Woodhill trainer was successful with subsequent Vodacom Durban July winner Big City Life in 2009 and with Eyes Wide Open two years ago.

The Justin Snaith Politician winner Silver Host is second favourite at 9-2 for the ARF Commemorative-backed Grade 1 with stable companion Sachdev next in the market on 11-2. Snaith has won the race three times – with Russian Sage (2008), Legislate (2014) and It’s My Turn four years ago. Final declarations are this morning.

Anton Marcus, having won on all three rides last Saturday, is again the focus of attention in the early betting for this Saturday’s Kenilworth meeting. He has four mounts and three – Hello Tomorrow, In Auro and My Wicked Ways – have opened favourite while the Eric Sands-trained Morse is 3-1 second favourite for race three.

By Michael Clower

Candice Bass-Robinson is now beginning to focus on the SA Champions Season in KZN after enjoying one of the best days of her career on Sun Met day, where she sent out two Grade 1 winners, Clouds Unfold and Russet Air.

She won the Vodacom Durban July in her first season as a licensed trainer, becoming the first female trainer in history to win the country’s premier horse race.

Sun Met day enhanced her reputation for big race preparation skills and also amplified how well she does with the progeny of former stable star What A Winter.

Both Clouds Unfold, who defended her crown in the Grade 1 Bidvest Majorca Stakes over 1600m, and Russet Air, who won the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship, are by What A Winter.

Bass-Robinson said most of her SA Champions Season campaigners would be prepared at her home base of Milnerton before their first KZN races. They would be transported to KZN shortly before the race and then stay at Summerveld until the completion of their campaigns.

This approach worked with Marinaresco in 2016, when still trained by Candice’s father Mike, as he ran in the Cape winter series before running second in the July and then winning the Grade 1 Champions Cup.

The following season he arrived in Durban shortly before winning the Drill Hall Stakes and two runs later won the July.

Last season the same approach worked with Santa Clara, who was prepared in Cape Town before running a narrow second in the Umzimkhulu Stakes on April 7 and then winning the KRA Fillies Guineas on Champions Season opening night, May 3.

Freedom Charter was prepared in the same manner and won her first race in KZN on May 3 at Greyville, the Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes. 

Bass-Robinson said, “They are used to Milnerton and it is not easy when the training tracks are completely different.”

She has booked 15 boxes at Summerveld for the winter but is not sure yet exactly which horses will be going.   

However, Clouds Unfold will definitely be one of them. 

The star filly’s campaign will start on June 13 at Greyville in either the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m or the Grade 2 Tibouchina over 1400m. Her chief target is the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m on Vodacom Durban July day. 

Clouds Unfold was set to be one of the stars of the SA Champions Season last year but unfortunately broke loose one day at Summerveld and fell.

Bass-Robinson said, “She chipped the point of her hip. It was a serious injury and she spent three months doing nothing.”

However, the Majorca, which she won with authority, proved she has fully recovered.

Russet Air might avoid KZN and be aimed at the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein.

He will first take in the Grade 2 Diadem over 1200m on February 22 at Kenilworth where he will carry a 2kg Grade 1 penalty.

Bass-Robinson said, “He doesn’t really enjoy running around a turn and I think the Turffontein track will suit him.”

The horses being looked at to try and make it a fifth Bass-trained Vodacom Durban July winner overall (Mike won three and Candice has won one) are More Magic, Sovereign Spirit and Majestic Mozart. 

Bass-Robinson spoke of her success with What A Winter’s progeny.

She said, “I enjoy training them as they have good temperaments, they respond and do well and when you get a good one you get a really good one. We have bought a number because he throws nice specimens, they look like horses that will win. His best is still coming in the next two seasons because he is now not just getting numbers he is getting good quality mares too.”

Dutch Philip, Magical Wonderland and Snow Report are among the other good What A Winters that Bass-Robinson has trained. All three are Graded winners. 

What A Winter won the Cape Flying Championship twice and was an Equus Champion Sprinter twice.

However, as Clouds Unfold proves, he doesn’t only throw pure sprinters. 

Clouds Unfold is out of a Montjeu mare, which might explain it, or otherwise she has been influenced by What A Winter’s damsire Ahanoora, who like her, was a chestnut.

Ahonoora was a sprinter who progressed from handicapping as a three-year-old to Group company as a four-year-old and his biggest success was when being awarded the Group 1 William Hill Sprint Championship (The Nunthorpe) over five furlongs at York after an objection.

However, he exceeded all expectations at stud and proved capable of siring top class performers at a wide range of distances. He proved to be one of the most successful and important representatives of the Byerley Turk Line in the modern era and his best progeny include Epsom Derby winner Dr Devious, the Group 1-winning sprinter and successful sire Indian Ridge and he is damsire of the like of New Approach, Cape Cross, Azeri. Leroidesanimaux and Acclamation.  

By David Thiselton

Maybe Diva, Black Caviar and more recently Winks, have been the iron horses of modern day Australian racing. Their performances on the racetrack are legendary but the one thing that they all have in common is their age, sex and iron will.

This exalted trio raced to an age where most thoroughbred racehorses will have been retired to the breeding shed, hacking brigade or show jumping arenas. But with hardly a blemish on their form in an age where most fillies and mares – and males for that matter – will have been put out to grass and deemed past their sell-by date, they soldier on into equine immortality.

The Pat Lunn owned and trained – officially by Johan Janse van Vuuren – Ginger Biscuit hardly fits the bill as super star but in common is that she is eight years old and soldiered to her ninth career victory at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

The daughter of Admire Main, not a popular commercial stallion, was bought for R20k as a yearling and in seven seasons has clocked up 79 races and her ninth win.

Lunn is a man of few words but Keagan de Melo, successful with a top class ride on Mythos in the second for Dean Kannemeyer, expanded a little.

“Very gutsy,” he said when quizzed post-race by Paul Lafferty, one-time assistant to Lunn in the days of yore. “When she comes to the course you can always rely on her to finish in the first three. Today she won and is a bonus and she truly deserve it. She is very consistent and I just enjoy riding her.”

Serino Moodley is fast making a name for himself as a solid and reliable rider and although in the past he has fallen foul of authority for his over enthusiastic use of the stick, he still managers to get his mounts in the right place at the right time. With legendary jockey Michael Roberts in the background giving advice, it’s not surprising that he is maturing. He scored on the Roberts-trained rank outsider Forever Amber on the first but was more kind to punters in the seventh as he steered Guru’s Pride to an easy win, bursting through late to win as he liked.

 It is not often that a jockey is priced up favourite for seven out of eight races on the card – and probably eight had his mount not been scratched – but Anton Marcus is in warm demand in KZN by all trainers. Although when he calls for a ride, you can knock two or three points off the bookmaker’s odds regardless of the form.

But being favourite and winning are two different scenarios and in South Africa where conspiracy theories abound for little more reason than a punter has ‘done’ his cash, opinions can get heated.

There have been a few ugly scenes of disgruntled punters verbally abusing, trainers, officials and jockeys at the past two Hollywoodbets Greyville meetings, and while one can admire their passion, their poor behaviour cannot be condoned. There are other avenues of complaint to the stipendiary stewards – views legitimate or not.

By Andrew Harrison

L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate hero Vardy is being given a lengthy break following his tough time in the Sun Met when he was nearly brought down as he clipped the heels of Hawwaam early on.

Adam Marcus said: “He got roughed up, and he went a bit quiet on me for a few days. It’s the first time that has happened to him and he is not a straightforward horse. He has a delicate mouth for a start and things have to go his way. I put him on a soft feed, got him relaxed again and he began to freshen up once more.

“He is not going to go to a farm. He will stay with me so that I can keep an eye on him. He can be very playful and I have lovely paddocks at my yard.”

The Durban season is on the agenda and he could run in the big one despite the doubts about him getting the trip. “The Vodacom Durban July is a big option,” says the four-year-old’s trainer. “Nothing is set in stone at this stage but it is the prestige race of the season. That apart, he will go for some of the other big races.”

Stable companion Twist Of Fate, who ran his usual honest race to take fourth in the Met, was third in last year’s July for Joey Ramsden and will also be going to Durban. “He came through his race beautifully and he loves Greyville,” said his trainer who celebrates his 31^st birthday in eight days’ time. “If Twist Of Fate can go into the race with a nice weight he will be a very big runner.”

Saturday week

Justin Snaith has already declared four for Saturday week’s Kenilworth Fillies Nursery – S’Manga Khumalo rides December winner Favorita, Richard Fourie will partner Met day Listed race third Stuck On You and Bernard Fayd’Herbe has been booked for Trickster although no jockey has yet been decided on for Trippin The Stars. Met day Listed race winner Erik The Red (Fourie) has been declared for the Cape Of Good Hope Nursery.

There has been some criticism of the decision to transfer these two Grade 3 races from their traditional June slots, and the critics point to the small entry of 13 in each, but both races have often struggled to get a decent-sized field in the past. The colts’ race has had a field of only five three times in the last seven years and it has not reached double figures since 2008 while the fillies race has averaged only seven in the past eight seasons.

The races were moved because Kenilworth Racing wants to put up as impressive a show as possible for those at next week’s Asian Racing Conference. With the Prawn Festival meeting expected to attract a crowd at least equalling that of the Sun Met, the delegates’ reports home should be extremely favourable – something that can only benefit our industry in the long term.

By Michael Clower