After a two-month break and having various appendages stitched back together, multiple champion Anton Marcus is back in full-time action at Hollywoodbets Greyville this evening. Never one to sit back and let others dictate his course of action, Marcus has had two barrier trials to test fitness and booked himself some competitive rides that will hopefully announce his return.

First up he partners Valiente for Brett Crawford in the card opener where the switch back to the poly should prove beneficial after disappointing on turf last time out. Assistant Peter Muscutt has removed the blinkers and Valiente looks the part in a field that shows modest form.

Marcus has taken advantage of Warren Kennedys absence due to the latter’s seven-day suspension and partners a few hot runners for Gavin van Zyl including the first timer Whizz Of Odds in the second.

“Whizz Of Odds barrier trialled well but unfortunately has a bad draw. But we are taking our chances because she is very quick. I rate her and she has a good winning chance,” commented Van Zyl to colleague David Thiselton mid-week.

Vying for favouritism are Another Secret and Royal View, the two finishing within a head of each other when last they met. Another Secret has the better draw this time around and that may give her the edge. Also in the mix is Katie’s Treasure who makes her poly debut but has shown some ability. The switch of surfaces could bring out the best in her.

Marcus has another plum ride in Wave, also for Gavin van Zyl. Wave is another that makes his poly debut but although returning from a break he has strong form in feature company. He had the worst of the draw over a mile in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes last start but prior to that was up with the best of his generation. Tonight’s trip is possibly on the short side but Van Zyl has declared blinkers and Wave could prove a little too smart for this line-up even though he is up against some useful opposition and Marcus will have to trim to 56kg!

Railtrip is another that Van Zyl is warming up for bigger things and he appears to have picked the ideal race for her second outing of the season in the Concorde Cranes Graduation Plate. Although taking on males, Railtrip is well in at the weights and is a smart filly who should come on lengths from her last run. About the obvious dangers; What A Blast is back on his favourite surface while Dennis Drier saddles a lively pair in Walterthepenniless, who is possibly the stable elect, and Bank Robber who has his third run after a break and improved nicely last time out.

If not making the winner’s enclosure by the fourth, Marcus should be on the mark in the fifth where he partners La Duchesse for Paul Gadsby. Placed in her last five starts, she is due a change of fortune and outside of a possible threat from the disappointing – to date at least – Tarocco, La Duchesse should be hard to beat.

The sixth is a tricky handicap with many in with chances but On The Double has her third run after a break and has been up against stronger in those two starts. She tries blinkers and should be cherry-ripe. Barinois has been consistent and her last win was over course and distance. She takes a small rating drop and with a claiming apprentice aboard will be a threat. One to watch is American Princess. She scrambled home on debut but was expected to do it a little easier so may have more to come.

The seventh has an impossible look about it but Agent Murphy is lightly raced and does appear to have some scope. He was in need of his last run when taking on stronger and can feature prominently in a tough contest. There is very little separating the likes of Grande Maestro, Sovereign Soldier, Roy’s Taxi, Rumbleinthejungle and Jonathan while the honest soldier Putchini, out for the 99^th time, hardly ever runs a bad race and was less than a length behind Sovereign Soldier last run. Do Or Dare let the side down last time out has been costly to follow but should be worth another chance in the last where Academy Award and Man In The Moon look the most likely dangers.

By Andrew Harrison

Adrian Todd’s bid to persuade the European Union to send officials to conduct an audit of protocols, and so pave the way for South Africa to be allowed to export horses direct once more, has run into problems from poultry.

Todd said: “The EU has stated that no audit regarding horses will be forthcoming while poultry exports to South Africa are closed after the 2017 Avian influenze outbreak.”

Todd is still convinced that he can succeed and has adopted a slogan from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, declaring: “Let’s push this over the line.”

By Michael Clower

The Cape Mile at Kenilworth on November 9 could be on the agenda for Tap O’Noth as he heads towards the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and after the encouraging way he ran on into third behind Head Honcho in last week’s Durbanville pinnacle.

It was the five-year-old’s first outing since the Sun Met in January, and his first since being gelded, and Vaughan Marshall said: “I was very pleased. He might run next in the Cape Mile even though the conditions are ridiculous. If your horse is rated 101 he has to carry 60kg.”

Tap O’Noth is on an unchanged 120 after his run and, unless there are any of the real stars in the race, he could benefit from the conditions of the R135 000 1 600m non-black type event as he will meet anything rated above 100 at levels. There is a 2kg penalty for Grade 1 winners but this only applies if they won at the top level in the last 18 months.

Marshall also has One World for the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate but he is keen that the two stable companions should not clash before the big one. Last year’s Cape Mile was won by Rainbow Bridge en route to third in the Queen’s Plate and victory in the Met.

By Michael Clower

Eking out a living at the bottom end of the food chain when it comes to training thoroughbred race horses is no bed of roses. Even those at the top of the food chain don’t have it easy in this country’s shrinking economy with well-heeled owners who enjoy the sport increasingly hard to come by.

Gary Rich operates a small string out of Ashburton and is no mug when it comes to horses. Born into a racing family, his father Des, won the July with Lightning Shot ridden by Gary’s brother-in-law Leslie Mustard.

It has been a rewarding week for Rich who saddled Clouds Of Witness to win last Sunday and he followed up with Stormy Miss in the second at Hollywodbets Greyville yesterday.

Stormy Miss may not have been a hit with punters, given that she was friendless in the market at 45-1, but given her nature she is well named. A handful in the mornings, pacifiers will have given some indication of her nature but not her ability.

Going head-to-head with short-priced favourite Ode, Keagan de Melo with first to pull the stick. “When Keagan pulled his stick first, I knew a had him,” enthused Billy Jacobson, a journeyman rider who has stuck loyally with Rich.

“She’s a bit dippy,” Rich confided. “But she’s shown us that she can run.”

Owner Geoff Perkins has also been a staunch supporter of the yard and was on hand to lead the filly in. “We didn’t expect much although Billy and Gary said she had worked well at home. I wish that I had a little bit more on!”

Rumours of the Ashburton Training Centre closing have been doing the rounds for years and given the current financial state of affairs, there are a few that would like to see the centre mothballed.

However, there is no doubt that it is a prime facility, three of yesterday’s eight winners coming out of Ashburton, Kom Naidoo and Duncan Howells also on the bandwagon. Juniper Lane scored for Naidoo in the first and Coldhardcash staying on gamely to dead-heat with Kingsmead in the fourth for Howells.

Ashburton’s only fault is that it is situated a long drive from the Umhlanga playground.

Seasoned trainer Doug Campbell, privately based on his farm outside of Richmond, has never been tempted to move to one of the two training centres although he makes use of Ashburton to pass his runners through the pens and give them a good blow-out on the grass track.

It worked a treat in the Greyville Convention Centre Handicap with Kentucky Spur finishing too strongly for Merlin From Berlin, a recent addition to the Nathan Kotzen stable.

Kotzen makes a rare raid on Fairview this weekend where he has Tommy Grand in the Algoa Cup on Sunday and three other runners, all owned or in partnership by Alderman Rob Haswell, former mayor of Msunduzi (Pietermaritzburg), and a staunch supporter of the sport.

In addition, there will be the full Kotzen family of trainers, Glen from Cape Town, Nathan, from Durban, and Sharon, who will be on home soil.

By Andrew Harrison

Anton Marcus will make his long awaited comeback to race riding on Friday night at Greyville and among his six rides are three talented Gavin van Zyl-trained horses, Wave, Railtrip and Whizz Of Odds.

Marcus said last week his wrist and knee had “improved” from the state they were in before surgery and believed fitness would be his main obstacle.

However, Van Zyl had no concerns about the latter and said, “When Anton Marcus is riding your horse you know he will be ready. He is a professional. He will start off where he left off from and will be a force to be reckoned with for as long as he puts his backside on a saddle.” 

Ironically, Marcus was able to pick up those three rides because the national log leading jockey, Warren Kennedy, who is Van Zyl’s stable jockey, is sitting out a one week suspension.

KZN racing can look forward to a fierce rivalry between the pair as Kennedy has recently looked more and more capable of filling the gap left by the retirement of Marcus’s arch rival Anthony Delpech. 

Van Zyl has no doubt Kennedy will fill the gap and added, “He will give Anton a run for his money. But Warren’s agent will have to sharpen his pencil and be quick on the draw to outmanoeuvre Anton for the best spare rides. Anton picks his rides himself and is very choosy. He is as sharp as a two-edged blade. You know anything he asks to ride has a chance, especially when he phones, because you know he will have done his homework and handpicked the horse. His ability to pick them out is why he has such a phenomenal strike rate in KZN.”

Kennedy’s one advantage over Marcus will be the strength of the Van Zyl strings.

Gavin probably has the strongest string in KZN at present and his son Gareth, who also has Kennedy as his stable jockey, also has some good horses.

Gavin is currently in joint second place on the log with twelve winners and Gareth is in joint seventh with seven.  

Gavin said about his three Marcus-ridden horses on Friday night, “Whizz Of Odds barrier trialed well but unfortunately has a bad draw. But we are taking our chances because she is very quick. I rate her and she has a good winning chance.”

“Wave is Grade 1-placed and comes back from a rest. He is not quite where I want him but is good enough to run well in this competitive field. If they have a place chance, they have a winning chance. He was caught wide in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes without cover and didn’t stay so we are going to stick to sprints with him. We have fitted him with blinkers so he should get out of the pens quicker. A couple of times at Greyville he has been sluggish, especially at night.”

“Railtrip finished second in a Grade 1 as a two-year-old and we have sorted out some problems with her, so she is back to her best. She is looking for further than this 1700m but she is well prepared and should be competitive.”

By David Thiselton

The Vaal Classic track has an eight race meeting tomorrow and hopefully the rainfall earlier in the week should have eased the ground.  

In the first over 1200m the first-timer Karino is by Duke Of Marmalade out of Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes winner Stratos, meaning she is a half-sister to Orpheus, the runaway winner of the Listed Sledgehammer. The Azzie yard have described Karino thus, “A nice filly, could run a decent race, will be a bit green.” She will not have to be a superstar to beat this field and jumps from a fair draw with S’Manga Khumalo aboard, so is selected to win on debut. Orchid Express could improve on her first two starts over a step up in trip she will appreciate, provided she gets a better start. Varnica showed pace with first-time blinkers on over 1200m last time and finished third, although she now has a tougher draw. Stormy Weathers will be dangerous with a 4kg claimer on from a good draw. Sapphire Rock has been highly tried so must be well regarded but she still has to live up to it and has a wide draw.

In the second race, a maiden for three-year-old fillies over 1600m, Flower Season has a nice long-striding action and has scope for improvement. She has been thereabouts in all three of her starts from 1160m to 1450m and should appreciate the step up in trip, so is selected to win under S’Manga Khumalo, despite a tricky draw of eight. Fluorescent stayed on from way back over 1200m on debut and will relish the step up in trip, although she has a tricky draw. Bat Orchid stayed on quite well over this trip last time from pole position on the Turffonftein Inside track and could be involved with a repeat from a good draw of two. Flaming Opal ran a cracker in her last start as a juvenile when stepped up to this trip and has a chance on that form, but she has not raced for 131 days and has a tough draw. Super Duper is another to consider having shown improvement to finish third when stepped up to 1600m.

In the third race over 1600m, a MR 88 handicap, Ragoon comes off a run over 2000m where he pulled, brushed the rail and cast a shoe. However, his record over this course and distance is three wins, a second and a third in five starts so he can bounce back. Nordic Rebel looks to be the main danger being 3,5kg better off with Finchattion for a one length beating over this distance. Hidden Agenda has been ultra consistent lately and proved he was up to his current merit rating last time out.

In the first leg of the Jackpot, a MR 72 handicap over 1800m, the promising Heart Stwings has a plum draw and will relish the step up in trip. Big Myth is an effective front-runner and this distance looks ideal but she does have a wide draw. Itsmydarlin has been in fine form, but does have a tough draw here. Plum Field stayed on over 1600m last time and should enjoy this step back up in trip.  Passion Peach ran an encouraging race over 1600m last time and could earn here with a repeat. Picadilly Square is also worth considering.

In the fifth race over 1800m Jive Express has mixed it with the talented Jacko Boy recently and on that form is the one to beat from a good draw under 2,5kg claimer Juglall. Littlewood was a head in front of Jive Express in the latter race but is effectively 2,5 kg worse off due to Juglall’s  claim. Illuminate ran a good race with first time blinkers on over 2000m last time and is 1,5kg bettter off with Circle Of Latitude for a 1,15 length beating. Circle Of Latitude is well drawn but was well beaten by Jive Express and Littlewood last time out over 2000m. Pink and No More Words can be considered.

The sixth race, a Graduation Plate over 1000m, Crown Guardian is a talented speedster and is the best weighted male in the race. The race sees the return of Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe third-placed Invidia. He has won over this trip and is the second best weighted male. Scoop is only half-a-kilogram worse off with Invidia accoridng to official merit ratings and can earn. Snow Palace is the best weighted runner but might find this a touch sharp. Singforafa is better weighted than any of the males and will enjoy this trip. 

In the seventh race over 1200m Hear The Trumpet has dropped to a competitive mark and has a 4kg claimer up so looks the one to beat. Rosalina and Nordic Queen come off good races over this trip and look to be the chief dangers.

In the last race, a Maiden Handicap over 1450m, Gentleman’s Wager has caught the eye a couple of times. This long-striding sort should not mind the drop in trip considering he quickened some way from home last time out when just failing over 1800m. He does have a tricky draw but jockey Chase Maujean is particularly good when coming from off the pace. Stone Judgement ran two good races over sprints and then found little extra 1600m, so he should enjoy the step down in trip. Whipping Boy has also disappointed over 1600m, twice, but if reproducing his previous run over 1400m when running on from far back he could be in the shake up.

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith, despite uncharacteristically meeting with defeat in the first three maidens at Durbanville yesterday, is keen on the chances of several of his 15 runners at Kenilworth on Saturday and, intriguingly, some of those he considers value are at big prices.

He said: “I have some high quality runners on Saturday including in the maidens. Richard Fourie enjoys riding  Sachdev but in the Cape Classic he might have his work cut out from that draw (ten). The horse would have to be the next Do It Again to win from there – but then he might be!”

Snaith also runs Captain Tatters (Robert Khathi) and the highly rated General Franco (S’Manga Khumalo) ïn the Classic and added: “Captain Tatters needed the run last time but he is really well now and I am expecting a big run from him. At 12-1 he is the one I think is the best value.

“In the Western Cape Fillies Championship I am a bit worried about Casino Queen being drawn 11 but Richard is very good from there.”

Khumalo rides Somewhere In Time but apparently it could be 20-1 shot Amy Johnson (Khathi) that punters should bear in mind – “She is the dark horse and she could be the best value. She cuts through her field better than anything I have seen this year but, while she quickens well, she then stops so I have put a lot of work into her and I am now happy with her.”

By Michael Clower

Coldhardcash showed early that he had loads of ability but that came with many problems that added some grey to Duncan Howells’s already thinning thatch. Shedding his maiden after gelding in December last year, things looked back on track but then Coldhardcash developed breathing problems which had form guide Computaform commenting, “pace tired,” “moved up – no more,” and “handy – faded out.”

As a last resort and on the advice of vet Dr Ralph Katzwinkel, Coldhardcash was fitted with a cornel collar. The device helps keep the air passage open and the results have been immediate with Coldhardcash showing why he impressed in his early homework.

Coldhardcash is unbeaten in two starts with the cornel collar, making most of the running on both occasions, and can keep that record when he lines up in the Soccer Any 15 MR Handicap over 1000m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf today.

Given Howells’s early assessment and taking current form into account and a good draw, the opposition could be left chasing shadows and punters will be in sorely need of an exotic bet banker on a card that will deliver some lucrative dividends.

Ode took on males when arriving on the scene too late, going down to Treading Water over the Greyville 1000m last time out. That was only her second visit to the races and the extra furlong against her own sex should see her back in the money, if not the winner’s box, in the opening leg of the PA. Kildonan Bay, a 50-1 chance on debut when second to Diamondsandpearls, and To The Max look the obvious threats.

Winter Sun has not been out since finishing third in the Gr2 Debutante Stakes, beaten just over a length by Montreal Mist. She started ignored at 66-1 that afternoon from a coffin draw of 14 so that was an exceptional effort.

She makes her seasonal debut in the Track & Ball Gaming Handicap and although rested, she could have too much class for some of her older rivals that includes the very much inform and year older Wildly In Love that has come good at recent outings.

Things get decidedly more tricky from here on.

Leicester Square was most disappointing first up out of the maidens but judged on his previous showings can do much better. Northern Route has had his form franked by Techno Captain who has since twice finished runner-up while On The Bright Side and Merlin From Berlin also warrant close scrutiny.

The seventh is another tough race but Good Rhythm has had two warm-up sprints since a lengthy break and was a close-up third last run when finishing with a rattle under Sherman Brown, making up five lengths in the straight to finish a neck back to the useful sprinter Goliath Heron. Alistair Gordon now has him over what looks to be his optimum trip and Brown has been booked again. GG’s Dynasty is another back from a break and making his poly debut. However, his form before the rest was good and the stable in form.

There are a host of first timers in the last so keep an eye on the betting. Lowan Denysschen had a winner with Eternal Words last Saturday and Imperial Seal looks the pick of the runners with exposed form. In the early market she shares favouritism with debutante Jackson Wells, Mark Dixon’s filly coming off a forward showing in a barrier trial.

Currently at 10-1 is the five-year-old Go Kitty. She made a smart debut for Gary Rich behind the promising Maiden’s Prayer before disappointing at her next start. Forgive her that showing and she looks fair value in a difficult race. Blushing Diamond has a poor draw but did find some betting support on debut and is sure to improve while Class Of Eight is a long-time maiden but has shown flashes of ability and has a chance at best but this does not look to be a race that one can go light in with any confidence.

By Andrew Harrison

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

The Gary Alexander yard have an exciting prospect in the Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-bred filly Mount Laurel, who was an impressive winner of an MR 99 Handicap for three-year-old fillies over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track on Saturday. She remains unbeaten after three starts.

The Ideal World filly carried 53,5kg off a merit rating of 86 against some promising sorts and ran on powerfully from second last to win by a comfortable 2,75 lengths under Dennis Schwarz. 

Alexander will be patient with her and although entered in the Grade 3 Starling Stakes on Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile day he said she was unlikely to run as he felt she was still too immature. 

He said the long term plan for her would be the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara next year.

South African cricket legend Jimmy Cook is among the syndicate who own her.

“We’ve known Jimmy for a long time and he loves his racing,” said Alexander. “We have had a number of cricketing owners in our yard over the years including Richard Snell and Ken Rutherford.” 

Mount Laurel has proved herself effective from 1000m to 1450m and should get further being by stamina influence Ideal World out of a mare by stamina influence Fort Wood. This one time-winning Fort Wood mare is a half-sister to the Grade 1-winning miler and now sire Noordhoek Flyer, who  finished second in the Grade 1 Cape Derby over 2000m.

Therefore, Mount Laurel should stay the 1800m of the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic on the tough Turffontein Standside course and the SA Oaks is also not an unrealistic target. 

Gary gave the credit to his brother Dean for picking her out at the BSA National Two-year-old Sale as he himself was away on holiday at the time.

He said, “We have been together for years and there is no doubt Dean can pick a horse.”

They landed her for a bargain R50,000.

Gary continued, “Mount Laurel has a beautiful dam line and it was maybe the market which allowed us to get her at that price. We have our criteria when looking at horses and don’t worry what they go for. Our yard has landed a lot of good horses for that sort of price range. Pierre Jourdan, Icy Air and Imperious Sue all cost just R60,000 each. If the horse is an athlete you are half-way there. Pierre Jourdan was a beautiful athlete but didn’t have the nicest head. But London News also didn’t have the best looking head. They don’t run with their heads. Mount Laurel is a nice looking filly, you can’t fault her. You can sometimes get lucky in the bidding, but others we have liked go for too much. If it’s your day, it’s your day.”

Alexander said running her in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile on Gauteng Summer Cup day would be a possibility.

He said it might depend on the draw and added, “The draw has been important in Gauteng lately.”

This is due to the fast going caused by the lack of rain.

He was relieved to see some rain forecast this week which would slow the going down.   

The Alexander yard have 75 horses at present and are looking to buy more in a couple of weeks’ time at the BSA Ready To Run Sale.

Gary said, “The Ready To Run sale has been very good to us.” 

Pierre Jourdan was among the horses they found at this sale.

The yard’s other best horses at present include four-year-old Ato gelding Chijmes, who fined a head second in the Grade 2 Johannesburg Spring Challenge over 1450, Chijmes’ twice-winning half-sister Gaian Glory (Visionaire) and the rangy Philanthropist filly Magic School. He also still has hopes for the syndicated filly Just Kidding and there is also the older soldier Unagi.

Alexander felt syndication was important at present due to the expense of ownership and the yard pour a lot of marketing into this strategy.

By David Thiselton

Anton Marcus returns to race-riding in earnest at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday evening and on Saturday he will be on fancied contenders in both the Cape Classic and the Western Cape Fillies Championship at Kenilworth.

“It’s exciting to be back and I’m very fortunate that I have the support of Ridgemont,” he said yesterday as he calculated that he will have been riding work for two and a half weeks, and have ridden in three barrier trials (the third at Greyville tomorrow), by the time he returns from being sidelined by operations on his wrist and elbow.

The four-time champion has been snapped up by Vaughan Marshall for top-rated Langerman runner-up Silver Operator in the Cape Classic (a race he has won three times in the last six seasons) and for his retainer Ridgemont he partners second favourite Pretty Young Thing in the Western Cape Fillies as well as Yorktown in the mile handicap. Both are trained by Brett Crawford.

He also rides the Candice Bass-Robinson trained Joy Maisha in the 1 400m maiden and Bindi for Glen Kotzen in the last.

Aldo Domeyer’s book on his return from Hong Kong has increased to four. World Radar is 33-10 favourite for the Western Cape Fillies which Domeyer won on subsequent Cape Fillies Guineas winner Silver Mountain four years ago and on Clouds Unfold last season. In addition to Congo Compaq and Vikram for Andre Nel, he has been engaged by Paul Reeves for Pippielangkous in the fillies sprint handicap.

The Western Cape Fillies has a full book of 16 (plus a reserve) and this is something that has happened only twice before in the last decade. The winner has gone on to take the Cape Fillies Guineas five times in the past nine seasons.

Pretty Young Thing is currently a 5-1 chance and the Kotzen-trained Third Runway (Morne Winnaar) is on 6-1. Justin Snaith runs three in his bid to win the Grade 2 for a sixth time but none of his trio is considered a serious threat by the bookmakers. Richard Fourie’s mount Casino Queen is the shortest-priced at 13-1.

Snaith’s Sachdev (Fourie) is 9-2 favourite for the Cape Classic. The former champion trainer’s only previous winner of the race was Solo Traveller who in 2010 went on to land the Cape Guineas, a double subsequently achieved by Act Of War and Tap O’Noth.

Dean Kannemeyer has narrowed his powerful three-strong entry down to just Seventh Gear (Keagan de Melo) who is second favourite at 5-1.

By Michael Clower