The European Union (EU) has agreed to an audit of South Africa’s bloodstock export protocols and has committed to announce the date of the audit in the next few weeks.

This follows South Africa’s long-standing efforts to get the restrictions on bloodstock exports lifted by the EU.

The South African Equine Health & Protocols (SAEHP) stated recently that all SA’s disease control measures were in place, that they were of a world-class standard, and in fact exceeded all of the EU’s disease control requirements.

However, an impasse occurred because of a trade dispute between the EU and South Africa over poultry, and the EU for several months held firm that no audit regarding horses will be forthcoming while poultry exports to South Africa were closed after the 2017 Avian influenza outbreak.

In a message to Adrian Todd, CEO of SAEHP, the Chief Director of Trade Negotiations, International Trade and Economic Development Division (ITED), Niki Kruger, wrote: “We had a follow-up meeting with the EU yesterday (Monday). The EU confirmed that they will come to do an audit. They will confirm the date within the next few weeks but it will definitely happen. We requested that the audit happens as soon as possible.”

Todd commented: “This is great news, we are almost there. The way everybody in South Africa came together to address the African Horse Sickness case reported near Randjesfontein last week, our movement controls, and the moving of the Ready To Run race showed how effectively we can deal with these issues and this would’ve made an impression on the EU.

“This is an example of what can be achieved by working together. We are delighted, and credit is due to the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for having worked so hard to get us to this stage. Our thanks and appreciation also to the EU for separating the poultry and equine issues.”

– Turf Talk

“Exam passed; no further action required.” Insufficient recovery time was the explanation given for Hawwaam’s scratching from tomorrow’s Racing Association Pinnacle Stakes at the Vaal but his absence clears the way for Cirillo and Sean Tarry’s contingent in the 1400m event.

Cirillo was a member of the sophomore elite last season and although mostly finding one or two to finish in front of him, Tarry’s runner boasts an exceptional record and may well have given Hawwaam a searching test had the later stood his ground.

Third behind Rainbow Bridge and Soqrat in the Gr1 Champions Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the last Saturday of the season – two high-class performers – Tarry had kept his charge on the boil for much of the early part of this year and the colt will have welcomed the three-month break.

But with the Cape Summer season on the horizon and Champions Season in the offing, it is back to business.

With Hawwaam out of the picture, Cirillo faces a field of mostly well exposed older horses who would be hard-pressed to make it at the highest level. In truth, Cirillo will have to turn in a well-below par performance to get beaten.

The one possible improver is stable companion Tierra Del Fuego. Current form suggests that he is no where in the class of Cirillo but he is still a young horse and was a more than comfortable winner of his seasonal debut. He is in receipt of 8kg from Cirillo, but even that should not be enough.

Gelding can do wonders for a colt’s behaviour and more importantly his concentration in races and Leprechaun can weave a bit of Irish magic in the second. A 7-1 chance in early exchanges, Mike and Adam Azzie’s charge showed in two starts that he is not short of pace but was reported to be making a respiratory noise. The addition of a tongue-tie could sort that problem and now that he is ‘two stones’ lighter he looks a fair price to ante-post favourite Duke Of York who has been costly to follow.

 With nine races carded, the PA kicks off in the third where backers face a tricky race. If Duke Of York does not perform, Johan Janse van Vuuren backs up with four competitive runners, best of which could be Magnificus. Like his stable companion, he has been running on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly but is showing some improvement. Lady Scarletina and Supreme Win take on males but both have light weights and are a must inclusion in all exotics. A possible upset could come in the form of Grey Power with Tony Nassif engaging log-leading rider Warren Kennedy. Current ante-post favourite is the Sean Tarry debutant Nebraas.

Single Red Rose will be a popular choice in the opening leg of the Pick 6. She has yet to finish out of the money and must have a change of fortune sooner rather than later. Pun intended. Tartan Dancer, a close-up second last Saturday, could be a threat. The blinkers may go back on – keep an eye on the changes. 

Hawwaam may be a casualty on the day but the De Kock stable is firing on all cylinders and Masaaqaat should start a short-priced favourite in the fifth. She showed up well in her seasonal debut, finishing with a rattle, and the extra furlong should count in her favour. She should dominate along with Cosmic Ray, who has put in two smart efforts and was a touch unlucky last run.  She looks the biggest threat to the favourite.

The sixth is a difficult handicap and the advice is to load up as many as possible in the exotics. Tokyo Drift is a little long in the tooth but has put in two promising recent efforts and should go well in this company while Movie Magic, Lazarus Tree and Norland appeal as likely challengers.

The last two races are also tricky affairs. In the eighth, Golden Spiral is in cracking form and although taking on stronger here she must have a decent winning chance. Scent Of Evening took on a strong field last time out and takes on a lot weaker here. She has a big weight and should at least be competitive. Zulu Dawn and recent maiden winner Land Of Rubies can also feature prominently.

Hidden Agenda is another seasoned campaigner but has not been out of the money since his last win. He stays the trip and could finally have a change of luck. Nimcha has improved in blinkers and has only been run out of it late in his last two starts while At Hand was a comfortable winner under Hailey Turner last Saturday. He does not have the best of draws here. He will get a penalty but may also be scratched. Kurt’s Approval is another to consider as he has his first run for a new stable. Muzi Yeni stays with the ride and they can go close.

By Andrew Harrison

Golden Ducat is taken to defy the general rule that you shouldn’t back horses first time out of the maidens when he contests the Tellytrack.com Handicap at Kenilworth today.

The principle makes a lot of sense because so many horses struggle when they are pitted against seasoned handicappers for the first time. Their maiden wins were achieved against fellow novices, many of whom in all probability were slow to leave the pens or spent a lot of time looking around them. Now the opposition all know they are there to race.

But this mile event is slightly different and not just because Golden Ducat is a half-brother to Rainbow Bridge and Hawwaam. His two main dangers, at least according to the betting, also won a maiden on their most recent start.

Eric Sands, who said previously “I think Golden Ducat is going to be a top horse,” said: “I am confident about his ability” when asked how he thought his horse would fare in today’s race. Mind you, he did qualify that by expressing concerns about the horse’s mental approach, much as he had done when Golden Ducat won last month.

Possibly the colt’s 2-1 price does not fully take this into account but he gets the vote on the strength of the way he won and the fact that runner-up Turn It Up Harvey went close last Saturday.

Favourite at 17-10 is Pinkerton who comfortably justified a very short price to win at the fifth attempt at the beginning of the month. Richard Fourie rides him in preference to 11-2 stable companion Peaceful Day who receives a kilo and got up close home to score in his fourth and most recent race.

“They are both horses who will go through the divisions but I think Pinkerton is a bit more ready and that Peaceful Day may need another run out of the maidens,” says Justin Snaith. “Pinkerton is a big runner and he will go very close.”

Top weight Late At Night (13-2) has had two races out of the maidens and lost ground at the start last time. “I am expecting a good run here,” says the in-form Brett Crawford. “He is doing very well at home and I think he will love the mile.”

Six Degrees (8-1) is the only four-year-old in the field and Glen Kotzen says: “I ran him the other day over 1 400m and he needs further. He has a nice draw and I give him a good chance.”

Brandenburg (15-2) finished two lengths in front of Six Degrees last time and is only half a kilo worse so, in theory at least, he should confirm the placings. Jean’s Man is the outsider of the party at 12-1 but it could be significant that he is stepping up in trip.

Aldo Domeyer’s mount Congo Compaq, racing without blinkers this time, is marginally preferred to the improving August Leaves in the first and 35 minutes later Smart William may be able to reverse last time’s placings with Alpha Pappa.

By Michael Clower

The R2.5 million CTS Ready To Run Stakes at Kenilworth has been switched from this Saturday to 14 December as a result of the recent African Horse Sickness outbreak in Gauteng.

There were 18 declared by 11.00am yesterday but Sean Tarry’s quartet and the Mike de Kock-trained Dublin Quays would not have been able to make it because of the restrictions placed on horses travelling from Randjesfontein.

Ashley Fortune got Etched In Blue and Invidia out in time and they will now run on Saturday in the Graduation Plate put on as an extra race at the end of the card. The Joey Soma-trained Tiger’s Rock will also run in this 1 400m race. The Johannesburg-based declarations accounted for seven of the top ten merit-rated in the Ready To Run.

Cape Thoroughbred Sales boss Wehann Smith said in a statement that the overriding concern was to do everything possible to ensure that all buyers at last year’s CTS Ready To Run Sale had the very best chance of having a runner.

He added: “We consulted all trainers with entries in the race and the balance of opinion was overwhelmingly in favour of rescheduling. This was particularly the case for the Cape-based trainers who were as one in their support of the move. I believe this show of support is a genuine acknowledgement of their willingness to welcome the up-country trainers for the season – and that ultimately being in the best bigger picture benefit to racing in the Cape.”

The Graduation Plate has attracted eight others, notably leading Cape Guineas hope Captain Tatters who was beaten less than half a length by Silver Operator in last month’s Cape Classic.

In other news the unbeaten Captain Of Stealth, the forgotten man of last season’s two-year-olds, is about to start on the long road back after suffering a career-threatening leg injury when odds-on for the Langerman.

Part owner Pat Freestone said: “We have been given the all-clear but it will be six months before you see him.”

Last Winter is to stay in training with Sir Michael Stoute as a seven-year-old but he will not race again this year.  The 2018 Sun Met runner-up was beaten over ten lengths when fourth of six in the mile and a half Matchbook Floodlit Stakes at Kempton 15 days ago, his first experience of the all-weather.

By Michael Clower

Hawwaam continues his education through the starting stalls at the Vaal on Thursday where he lines up in a Pinnacles Stakes event over 1400m.

Similar to last week, this race is more about the starting stalls and the race day experience rather than a must win scenario.

Having his first run back after being scratched at the start of the Vodacom Durban July, Hawwaam behaved impeccably, loading quietly and breaking on terms. From there on it was a matter of ‘how far?’ as he showed his class by winning comfortably over a distance well short of optimum.

“To say I am relieved is an understatement,” Malan de Toit, one of the country’s best known equine behavioralists, wrote on his Facebook page after that win. “The last time this horse saw the race course was on July day in Durban. Absolute devastation!! The favourite scratched because of behavioral problems at the starting gate. Between then and now there was a lot of brain storming on what would work for him.

“Between then and today, lots and lots of work was done with him by the team comprising of Mathew de Kock, Vengi Masawi, one of team De Kock’s assistants, work riders, Anton Marcus, Ben, one of the best handlers (starter’s assistant) in Gauteng and myself.

“Today a plan came together.”

Thursday’s 1400m will be more to Hawwaam’s liking but if he behaves there should only be one result in spite of the opposition including the smart performers Cirillo and Zouaves.

A recent case of African Horse Sickness (AHS) reported in the Nietgedacht area of Gauteng early this month has put a question mark on horses moving from the Highveld to the Western Cape for their summer season but will hopefully not prevent Hawwaam lining up for the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Sun Met early next year.

Should the outbreak scupper travel plans to the Cape, the next obvious target will be Champions Season and the Vodacom Durban July.  

By Andrew Harrison

Image: A relieved Malan du Toit, Anton Marcus and Mike de Kock after Hawwaam’s victory at the Vaal last week.

A competitive card faces punters in the inside track at Turffontein today with a number of riddles that they will have to solve.

The first leg of the PA is one such race. Although only six runners are due to line up, it is a useful field of fillies, all six in with chances.

Palace Of Dreams has some smart form but does look a tricky ride and Diego de Gouveia, back from a short stint in Mauritius, takes over from Callan Murray on Mike de Kock’s runner. Earmuffs suggest that Palace Of Dreams is a tricky ride and the fact that Murray has opted for stable companion Virtuosa, a maiden winner last outing, adds to the puzzle. Take into account that neither Murray nor De Gouveia can get anywhere near the 52.5kg required of the third De Kock runner, Mabella, and you have another piece to fit in.

Virtuosa was a very easy maiden winner after a string of good showings in the maidens and jockey bookings suggest that she is the preferred stable runner but Mabella was sent out an odds-on favourite last start but never threatened. Add Geoff Woodruff’s filly Wild Date into the mix, who is way better than her last showing, and you have an equation that even Sheldon Cooper of the Big Bang Theory would have trouble deciphering.

In the opening leg of the Pick 6 Gary Alexander appears to have a smart filly in Mount Laurel, unbeaten in three appearances and has improved with each start. Alexander has stepped her up gradually from 1000m on debut to 1200m and 1450m, winning easier every time. The extra furlong should suit. She could feature as your Pick 6 banker on a tricky card – at least you would know your fate early. Dangers are Youcanthurrylove, who has come good of late and Bohica whose last effort is best ignored. She has won over course and distance and can feature prominently.

From here on the going gets more difficult. There should not be much between Lone Survivor and Sea Air in the fourth but the latter is 1 kg worse off for a half-length beating. But Sea Air has recently been gelded and can come on from that showing and reveres the form. Captain Flynt has only been out of the money once in eight starts and with a light weight and a good draw, is not out of it.

Exion in the fifth can add to Paul Peter’s growing tally and young Luke Ferraris takes over from a suspended Warren Kennedy. Exion has been close up in all three starts, has drawn well and should make a bold bid. Crank It Up goes this trip for the first time which should suit and this is his third run after a break and should strip cherry-ripe. Blue Flute appeals as an upset chance.

The sixth is possibly a ‘field’ race for the exotics but Ikigai has shown up well in his to post maiden runs. He was finishing off nicely at his last start and Strydom should suit. Riverstown, Mawsool and Green Laser at top of a long list of possible winners.

Before the Dawn has yet to finish out of the money for Ashleigh Fortune and the daughter of Oratorio is re-united with apprentice Tajesh Jaglall who piloted her to her last two wins. Gallic Princess, Soul Of Wit and Tigermil are others to consider.

Miss Kalifa can round off the afternoon for Corne Spies. She came from a long way back for second She has been in fair form since her last win but the drop in trip is a concern. Rosalina has found market support at her last two and has a chance in a difficult race while Black Tie met much stronger last run. She had shown some promise before that. Add Cosmic Mist two your list and you have another tricky hurdle to jump.

By Andrew Harrison

From desperately dry to desperately wet within a week. The weather patterns in KZN are so changeable these days that a senior weather forecaster has admitted that even three-day forecasts can be dodgy.

Racing is scheduled for the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday but punters are advised to keep an eye on the weather as a switch to the poly track is a distinct possibility should any more rain add to the 119mm recorded over the past week.

The wet will also have affected training schedules but the Summerveld poly track will have been in high demand this past week.

Mark Dixon holds three high cards for the Pinnacle Stakes that heads the programme where Silent Crusade can confirm that she is a contender for South Africa’s Champions Season that starts in May next year.

Dixon has gone easy on the daughter of Crusade, as she has only her ninth start in two seasons, but she has kicked off the current term on the right note, although Keagan de Melo may disagree.

Parting company with Silent Crusade at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last month will still be fresh in De Melo’s mind. It was a fearful fall and a miracle that he escaped serious injury.

De Melo was back on board the filly at her next start where he rode a cracking finish on the favourite. Tracking the pace, Silent Crusade shifted into top gear 400m out but didn’t look at all comfortable as she hung out and seemingly not too keen to go on with her effort. But De Melo kept hard at her and she gamely held off a charging phalanx headed by Generous Lady and Exclusive Quantity.

That was only her second outing since a break and given the weights and some further improvement she does rate the horse to beat.

Generous Lady will be in opposition again and she followed up that outing with a close-up seventh in a tough handicap against males, beaten under two lengths by GG’s Dynasty.

However, she is 0.5kg worse off with Silent Crusade and although she has the better draw, she does look held.

Michael Roberts, who shares a ring at Summerveld with Dixon, will know exactly what he is up against as he saddles Statute, the fill sister to Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate. The daughter of Dynasty is in good form of late and with a light weight should be competitive. The Dixon-trained She’s A Dream got it all together with a tongue-tie last start. She has ability and also has a light weight.  Apprentice Ashton Arries comes out of his time shortly and a win will boost his confidence before he faces the reality of free-lance riding.

 Anton Marcus is back in the hunt for the best rides after a lengthy spell on the sidelines and he was quickly on the phone to Duncan Howells for the ride on High Voltage in the first.

At first glance the form may looks a little patchy but if one takes into account that he has some useful feature company form and is still a maiden, Marcus appears to have picked another plum even though Howells is of the opinion that the 1000m may be a touch on the short side.

By Andrew Harrison

Aldo Domeyer has a real chance of starting what should be a rewarding day with victory in the first three races at Kenilworth tomorrow.

He starts off with Academic Gold for Andre Nel whose horses are in tremendous form and whose Cape Town strike rate of 15.9% is bettered only by Brett Crawford and Dennis Drier. 

The filly has already been backed from 3-1 to 19-10 favourite and she was unlucky not to win last time. She was beaten only a fifth of a length after becoming unbalanced when she and American Prayer bumped 100m out.

American Prayer finished 2.3 lengths farther back and it was her first run so she might well have come on enough to reverse the placings. She rates the main danger and is a big price at 7-1, particularly with Bernard Fayd’Herbe in the irons.

On Captain’s Side (13-2) is the highest-rated of the four that have been given a mark but Queen Of Quiet (28-10) has been knocking at the door and represents the blistering form of the Justin Snaith-Richard Fourie combination. Also worth noting is the Drier-trained 6-1 shot Two For Tea who finished first in a barrier trial at Scottsville and started odds-on when fourth on debut there. Newcomer Sing Out Loud does not seem particularly fancied at 17-2 and, being by Dynasty, she might need a bit further.

The next three of Domeyer’s rides are for his old boss Candice Bass-Robinson whose horses are taking time to hit their usual form this season but the stable has averaged almost a winner a meeting over the last six and many of the runners are beginning to have a should-win-next-time look about them.

That certainly applies to Turn It Up Harvey in the A Whole New World Maiden. This gelding has been second in his last two and is rated ten points clear of the three other rated runners. Unfortunately some punters have already had a bite at this particular cherry and he has gone from evens to 13-20.  Tillieangus (4-1) would need to have improved and the Nel-trained 11-2 newcomer Warrior Bling rates the danger.

Domeyer’s mount Joy Maisha is 17-10 favourite for the Ain’t Misbehaving Maiden (how refreshing to see a new approach with the race names) and her last run was better than the bare form might suggest because she was tightened for galloping room shortly after leaving the pens. According to the handicappers, who have taken the interference into account, the Argentinian-bred filly is no better than Snaith’s Whisky Tango and only half a kilo superior to her own stable companion Reef Knot. But Domeyer may make the difference.

Our old pal General Franco goes in the next after being dropped three points for that lacklustre effort in the Cape Classic. Some punters are still waiting for him to go off in front but here he looks too short at 4-1 and is best watched.

By Michael Clower

The World Sports Betting International Jockey Challenge, supported by Sun International and Air Mauritius, takes centre stage at Turffontein this weekend. The big names such as Dettori and Moore may be missing but the international team is made up of some tremendous riders who have proven themselves in the international arena.

Brazilian-born João Moreira was a relatively unknown when still riding in Singapore and part of the visiting International Team of that year, but rode tremendous races on some decidedly moderate horses to help the internationals to their first win. Any anyone who took notice will have made a bundle on Moreira in his first season in Hong Kong.

Given that the four challenge races are lowly handicaps, punters should be wary of the likely outcomes, but the riders will be giving it their all and with the internationals having nothing to go on besides the formbook and trainer’s instructions, their professionalism will be to the fore. There is the old maxim, of “good jockeys don’t need instructions and bad jockeys don’t listen anyway,” so we are in for a great afternoon’s entertainment.

The first leg of the International Jockey Challenge – good riders and not so good horses – could see the visitors off to a big start. Gelding appears to have been the key to Mike and Adam Azzie’s Al Borak who made good improvement first up after the unkindest cut of all. Although drawn wide, Haley Turner can get the internationals off to a flying start along with Fran Norton on What A Joker and International captain Rab Havlin on Jackman.

In the next leg, Starlight Express is a dangerous front runner and is much better drawn than in her last two and seasoned international Martin Dwyer rides for Geoff Woodruff. Local riders could come to the fore with Kirkconnels Lass. She does not have the best of the draw but S’Manga Khumalo has been riding like a man possessed of late. Seven Seas, with South African captain Muzi Yeni aboard, showed up well in his handicap debut when taking on stronger. He is lightly raced from a strong from a strong stable.

The third leg is a wide-open handicap. Bockscar is not the easiest ride but is having his third run after a lay-off and was doing his best work late last time out. The blinkers go on to an old soldier and Gavin Lerena can record the first win for the SA team. Biggest threat could come from the Fran Norton ridden Barron Rooney although this is a seriously difficult handicap to sort.

The final leg of the International Jockey Challenge is another puzzle but St John Gray looks to have a live contender for Haley Turner who is no stranger to the Turffontein winner’s circle. At Hand is in the right space, three runs after a lengthy break, and can get the better of the De Kock’s runner Hellofaride that obliged second time out. He should be progressive in a modest field but it is never easy first time out of the maidens.

The first two juvenile races of the current season make up the first two races on the card where the betting could prove your best guide, while the R1 million Monaco Sprint for maidens kick’s off the Pick 6 but wily trainer Mike de Kock appears to have saved a plum for the winner’s cheque and Battleoftrafalgar looks the ‘right one’.

By Andrew Harrison

Aldo Domeyer could be the jockey to follow at Kenilworth on Saturday particularly if – as expected – the extra sharpness he showed on his brief visit here in the Hong Kong close season in July is repeated.

The former Cape champion rides in seven of the eight races and his mounts include three Candice Bass-Robinson trained favourites – Turn It Up Harvey, Joy Maisha and Constable – as well as two second favourites.

Richard Fourie is also on three favourites – Queen Of Quiet, Sleeping Single, and Bayberry – and he rides for Justin Snaith in every one of the eight races. Bernard Fayd’Herbe also has a full card and, while Dynastic Light in race five is his only favourite, he also partners three second favourites.

Anton Marcus has taken five rides and, although none are favourite in the early betting, Proclaimer and Quintay are both second favourites. Quintay, trained by his nephew Adam, is the only non-Ridgemont-owned of the quintet.

By Michael Clower