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

Bernie could be worth a chance in in the MR 90 Handicap when Durbanville stages its final meeting of the year this afternoon.

The five-year-old was a little bit unlucky over 1 000m here last month as he started slowly, losing more ground than the extended length he was beaten. He still finished two lengths in front of Power Grid and, on only a kilo worse terms, he should do so again. Furthermore third-placed Roi Querari has since emphatically franked the form.

Frank Lloyd Wright is an obvious danger even if his last two runs suggest that the handicappers have taken his measure once again. Nasty Harry’s stable is in fantastic form but the biggest threat may come from Spectra Force who has been a revelation in recent months, winning three of his last four.

“He has got sounder as he has got older and I think that is the reason for the improvement,” says Michelle Rix. “He went to the farm for a couple of months and came back a hassle-free horse. This is a little bit on the short side for him but there is no other suitable race.”

The shorter trip, coupled with a seven-point increase in the ratings for his last win, is the reason Bernie is preferred but it would be no surprise to see M.J. Byleveld’s mount go in again.

Latest betting sees Spectra Force sharing favouritism with Frank Lloyd Wright at 22-10 while Nasty Harry is on 7-2 and Bernie a 4-1 shot.

Queen Of Quiet is hard to oppose in the opening maiden. She was no match for comfortable winner Missisippi Burning at Kenilworth last time but she has less on her plate here and, given the way the Snaith horses have been mopping up maidens, it is not surprise to her quoted at odds-on.

Adam Marcus, trainer of Missisipppi Burning, again provides what looks the strongest opposition in Noble Freedom who ran well over this course and distance at the end of last month.

Marcus’s Quintay has proved horribly expensive to follow and, despite being the best on ratings and on form, it seems folly to risk even more money on him in the Betting World Maiden.

Maybe a more sensible solution  is to go for Richard Fourie’s mount Lead Singer although it is worth noting that Matchless Captain was six lengths clear at the turn when fifth over this 1 400m earlier in the month.

Warren Kennedy, who rides Quintay for a third time, has a more straightforward task on Freedom Of Speech in the next.

By Michael Clower

Gavin van Zyl’s five-year-old Black Minnaloushe gelding Blackball looks capable of stepping up to bigger races after sauntering to victory in yesterday’s Listed Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m under Warren Kennedy.

The gelding, who wears a cornell collar, was last seen in the KZN Winter Challenge 2000 on June 8, where he was most unlucky. 

However, the yard had him fit and ready and were confident in the build up.

Kennedy is in sublime form and took a strong hold as they jumped from pole position as the gelding has a tendency to pull.

However, the cover was quickly there and the athletic bay was relaxed in midfield from then onwards in the eight horse field. 

In the straight he moved up under the hands and when he quickened through a gap it was race over. 

Starting at odds of 113/20 he won by 1,75 lengths from the two biggest outsiders in the field, the Gareth van Zyl-trained 16/1 shot Paths Of Victory and the Dennis Drier-trained 22/1 shot Wealthy. 

Silver Rose and The Dazzler were next best ahead of the disappointing favourite Our Coys.

The meeting started with winner number 16 this season for Garth Puller when Luke Ferraris extracted a strong finish out of the Var colt Brooklyn, who converted 16/10 favouritism.  He is owned by a Hong Kong-based syndicate managed by Luke’s trainer father David. 

Kennedy was on the board in the next on the Gareth van Zyl-trained Noble Tune gelding Lightning Parcador, who started 28/10 favourite and beat Greek Head by a short-head.

The Kumaran Naidoo-trained Mambo In Seattle filly Jer got off the mark at the eleventh time of asking in the next, ridden by Raymond Danielson. 

Gary Rich and Billy Jacobson combined to win the first of the handicaps with the Master Of MY Fate gelding Clouds Of Witness, but only after an objection against Techno Captain, who carried him outward slightly and crossed the line a whisker in front.

The Paul Lafferty-trained Gimmethegreenlight filly Shoot The Wagon then got off the mark at the ninth time of asking under Calvin Habib.

The sixth was a Mr 92 Handicap for fillies and mares and the Dennis Drier-trained Pathfork mare Stelvio stayed on resolutely from a handy position to win under Sean Veale.

In the eighth over 1400m the Lowen Dennyschen-trained Byword mare Eternal Words won courageously from the front under Jason Gates.

Gareth van Zyl scored a double and Warren Kennedy a treble when the Oratorio colt Horoscope Harry burst through late to convert favouritism cosily in the last over 1200m.

By David Thiselton

Hong Kong-based South African trainer David Ferraris has continued to support the SA sales and six three-year-olds he has an interest in are currently being trained by Summerveld-based Garth Puller, one of whom won at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

The Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-bred Var colt Brooklyn won over 1600m on the turf yesterday under David’s son Luke in his fourth career start, converting 16-10 favouritism. 

He turned for home in midfield and after being switched outward ran on strongly to win by half-a-length. He looks to have scope for further improvement.  

The other five horses are Bay Tibbs, Brass Bell, August Red, Backpacker and Cherokee Chief.

All six horses were moved to Puller’s yard after the recent retirement of David Ferraris’s legendary father Ormond.

The long-term intention for all of them was to be exported to Hong Kong and to be trained there by David. 

However, horses in training have to pass certain ability criteria before being accepted for import to the island.

Puller believes two of them, Bay Tibbs and Brass Bell, will soon be on their way. 

Riyo Stud-bred Bold Silvano colt Bay Tibbs won his maiden second time out over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville by 3,80 lengths having finished second on debut over 1200m. He then won first time out of the maidens over the same course and distance in a handicap, scoring by 0,70 lengths against older horses off a merit rating of 88. His current merit rating is 93. He is owned by CW Hui.

The improving Pathfork colt Brass Bell finished second twice in the maidens over 1200m. In his fifth career start he was stepped up to 1400m on the Greyville turf and won cosily by 1,25 lengths. This Highlands Farms Stud-bred colt is now merit rated 86 and is owned by KW Chow.

August Red is a Lammerskraal Stud-bred gelding by What A Winter and he was well beaten on debut over 1000m. However, he is out of the useful stayer Adobe Pink, so will improve over further. 

The Cheveley Stud-bred Cherokee Chief is a colt by Silvano out of twice Listed winner Oceana, who finished second in both the Grade 1 Allan Robertson and the Grade 1 Thekwini over 1600m. He was well beaten in his first two starts over 1200m and then finished just 2,80 lengths back when stepped up to 1400m. Being by Silvano he should continue to improve. 

The Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-bred Silvano colt Backpacker also improved when stepped up to 1400m in his second career start and finished third, although he was beaten 6,30 lengths.

All of Brooklyn, August Red, Cherokee Chief and Backpacker are owned by the Five Up High Syndicate, whose nominee is David Ferraris. 

Puller is currently leading the KZN Trainer’s championship with 16 winners.

By David Thiselton

Grant van Niekerk scored an amazing wide-draw double at Sha Tin in Hong Kong yesterday but it was a disappointing day for South African-bred horses on the island and the current SA Champion Jockey Lyle Hewitson is still struggling to get off the mark.

The island’s jockeys championship is being dominated by Joao Moreira, Zak Purton and the former South African based Mauritian Karis Teeten. They had ridden 24, 18 and 14 winners apiece at respective strike rates of 24%, 18,5% and 14,9% before yesterday’s meeting.

Before yesterday’s meeting, Van Niekerk was in joint fourth place on the log with five winners at 9,1% and Aldo Domeyer was in 7th place on 4 winners at 10,25%.

Van Niekerk’s double puts him on seven winners for the season, but he is now in fifth place as CY Ho rode a treble yesterday to move into fourth place on his own. 

South African ex-pats David Ferraris and Douglas Whyte saddled the first two winners on the card and Grant van Niekerk then made it an SA treble by riding the next.

Van Niekerk jumped from draw seven out of eight in this 1200m handicap and dropped his mount, the CS Shum-trained Seasons Bloom, out to last. He then had to roust his mount to get him back on to the bit. He improved position on the rail before the turn, but in the straight Van Niekerk managed to switch him all the way to the outside for a run. Seasons Bloom looked to be going nowhere until suddenly producing a burst which saw him getting his nose down in a blanket finish.

Among the conquered was the celebrated QE II Cup winner Pakistan Star, who was making his seasonal reappearance and needs further.

Van Niekerk later won a handicap over 1400m and in this 14 horse field he was once again drawn widest of all. He dropped his mount Emerald Spur out to second last but was able to make up some ground on the rail. He turned for home in fourth last position and switched his mount outward. He found a gap and the rangy PF Yiu-trained five-year-old Flying Spur gelding, who has plenty of substance, ran on to make it two from two this season, both times ridden by Van Niekerk. 

Hewitson was fully prepared when arriving on the island but has quickly discovered how tough a school it is, especially in the realm of booking rides. Of the five rides he had yesterday, three were rank outsiders and neither of the other two were fancied.

His return after 56 rides is zero wins, one second, one third, three fourths and two fifths for stakes earnings of HK$821,165.

That equates to R1,543,792, showing that Hong Kong is not always a bed of roses for those have attained a much sort of jockey’s license.

In comparison, the leading jockey earner in SA this season, Warren Kennedy, has accumulated 6,201,700 in stakes so far.

On the other hand Teetan’s stake earnings at this early stage of the season are already HK$14,313,368, which converts to a cool R27,097,131.

Hewitson rode the six-year-old South African-bred Philanthropist gelding Singapore Sling in the Group 2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy yesterday, but he was widely drawn and after being dropped out to last he found little in the straight and finished last. The Tony Millard-trained bay will come on for the run as it was his first outing for five months.

Later, the former Alistair Gordon-trained Dingaans and Gauteng Guineas hero Monk’s Hood had his second start in Hong after a layoff. He is now called Graceandmercy and is also trained by Millard. After his debut in Hong Kong on 28 April he was found to have a substantial amount of blood in the trachea. Since then he has had surgery to the left guttural pouch. He was drawn widest of all in a 13 horse handicap field over 1400m yesterday and Aldo Domeyer settled him closer to the back than the front and three deep. He finished ninth, beaten six-and-a-quarter lengths, but he ran on well and the winner Golden Sixty is a star in the making having won five out of six starts to date. Graceandmercy will definitely come on from the run and it is worth keeping an eye out for his next appearance, which will likely be over a mile.

By David Thiselton

Image: Seasons Bloom with Grant van Niekerk aboard at Sha Tin

Aldo Domeyer is to make a surprise return from Hong Kong and he will be in action at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Alan Greeff has booked him for ante-post favourite World Radar in the Western Cape Fillies Championship and he has two mounts for Andre Nel – Congo Compaq in the mile maiden and Vikram in the MR90 Handicap.

When Domeyer did so well in his first few months in Hong Kong that he was offered a contract to return for the current season many feared that he had been lost to South African racing for good. Jockeys can earn a fortune in Hong Kong and Grant van Niekerk (who rode a double at Sha Tin yesterday) has spoken of the thrill of riding in front of 50 000 people at meeting after meeting.

Before he left in April Domeyer was first jockey for Candice Bass-Robinson who said: “I am bringing down Stuart Randolph for my runners this Saturday. Aldo will again be riding for me in the future but it depends on how long he is going to stay.”

Greeff said yesterday that World Radar, impressive winner of her only two starts, is to travel from Port Elizabeth on Thursday. African Warrior is 3-1 favourite for Saturday’s Cape Classic despite doubts about him running because of the weight he has to give away from a bad draw.

Dean Kannemeyer is deferring a decision until this morning and said on Saturday: “I am not ruling anything out at the moment and African Warrior is still under consideration. Liberty Hall and Seventh Gear both did pacework over 1 200m at Durbanville on Thursday. They didn’t gallop together but they worked well. Seventh Gear is nicely drawn but he still has to prove himself. I will see how they go on Monday morning and then decide.”

By Michael Clower

Charles has had a R6 million bill hanging over his head all his racing life but, while removing his stud potential eliminates his long-term earning capacity, seemingly it is going to be the making of him as a racehorse.

“He was gelded in August as soon as he got back from Durban,” relates Brett Crawford. “Since then his whole attitude has changed. He is not playing around anymore and he is now focussed on what he is doing.”

Punters were expecting the old Charles – good enough to get placed but not to win – and were happy to let him drift unbacked from 11-2 to 10-1 in the Tellytrack.com Pinnacle at Durbanville on Saturday but from Keagan de Melo’s position the picture looked very different. “I was always going well,” he said. “Everything seemed to be slowing up 600m out and, when I managed to get a couple of lengths on them, I knew I was going to win.”

For the horse’s trainer equine psychology is now the deciding factor in future plans. “To win, drawn ten out of ten over a trip that was his shortest, was impressive but I have got to build up his confidence.

“He is only rated 111 and so he is far behind the 130-plus stars. There is a mile coming up next month (Cape Mile) and if he wins that well we will take on the old guns in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met.”

If Charles was a revelation Twist Of Fate was a disappointment. Last into the parade ring, he looked in the picture of health, albeit a bit big round the middle. The money poured on him from 17-10 to 17-20 and he raced handy. But when Stuart Randolph started riding two furlongs out the response was nil. Indeed he weakened to finish fifth. To be fair, he was giving away lumps of weight and it was his first race for nearly three months.

“He needed it,” said the jockey. “Turning into the straight he began to labour a bit but he will come on from this.”

Snapscan had been off just as long but there was confidence behind her – she shortened from 9-2 to 26-10 – and she led 100m out under Louis Mxothwa for a convincing win in the TAB Telebet Conditions Plate. Like Charles she set a new class record.

“She has run in staying feature races to get black type,” said Glen Kotzen. “We will go the soft route with her to start with and run in the Victress (Dec 21) but if she wins that we can look at the Paddock Stakes.”

Justin Snaith clocks up the winners so fast that he is past landmark after landmark with nobody noticing – including himself. His tally now stands at 2 635, an incredible average of 146 a year since he started training in 2001.

He and Richard Fourie chalked up three more on Saturday with Aye Aye, Wild Coast and the wandering Winter Is Over.

Sandile Mbhele is nearing a landmark of his own as he needs just five more winners to lose his claim after scoring on Spy for Vaughan Marshall. However the talented 21-year-old’s personal schedule has been put back a week with an interference suspension.

Donovan Dillon is making the most of his flying visits from Durban and he scored on How And Why for Eric Sands and the well-backed Brett Crawford-trained Khopesh in the last.

By Michael Clower

The Michaelmas Handicap (Listed) has attracted only eight runners, disappointing in terms of numbers for the R150k stake, but that said, sorting out a pecking order is no easy task.

It may prove prudent to look among the bottom weights for a likely winner where Paul Lafferty’s runners get lumps of weight in the 1900m contest on the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

The pick of the Lafferty runners could be White Lightning who has his third run after a break and now tries blinkers. The grey has only recorded a single victory in his 14 starts but has only been out of the money on four occasions and has placed against some useful opposition. He was far from disgraced when just under three lengths back to the promising Jack Of Hearts last time out, giving the winner 7kg. Lafferty has probably had the Michaelmas pencilled in for his colt a way back as he goes well over course and distance. With a light weight and blinkers on for the first time, he could prove the one to beat.

Lafferty says both of his runners are in with strong chances. “White Lightning and Our Coys are both big runners,” he said yesterday. “The half-cups are on White Lightning just to get him to concentrate,” he said.

Frank Robinson has probably had similar plans for his filly Arianos Shadow who caught the eye in her last two starts over 1400m. She was staying on stoutly in both those races and the step up to 1900m with only 53kg on her back could make her a handful.

Of the balance, The Dazzler has a big weight but is always honest and although Blackball returns from a four-month break and may just need it, he will go close on his best form.

Mike de Kock is back in two and saddles two runners with strong chances, Port Key in the fourth and Balletto in the eighth.

Balletto shows some promise and is sure to be among the fancied runners, many of whom have poor draws to contend with. She is a lightly raced daughter of the ill-fated stallion Soft Falling Rain whose progeny have come to light in recent weeks. Her pedigree suggests that Sunday’s 1400m will be right up her alley and she may prove to be the one to beat.

Lowan Denysschen is enjoying a good spell of late and he saddles Eternal Words, successful in three of her ast five starts including a recent victory over Liquid Irish. She has the benefit of an inside gate and young apprentice Jason Gates has an enviable record aboard the mare.

But the list of possible winners is a long one. Obvious dangers Spam Alert, Linear and Je Ne Sais Quoi have drawn in Marriott Road – not the best place to be in a 1400m dash.

Port Key lines up in a seriously competitive handicap in the fourth race and opening leg of the Pick 6 – there are nine races on the card.

Dean Kannemeyer saddles the progressive Favour who bids for his fourth race on the bounce. He was cleverly placed when winning a lowly merit rated handicap on the poly last time out and takes a jump in class this time around. However, he does come from a very much in form stable and has a handy galloping weight.

Clouds Of Witness is consistent and Gary Rich’s runner caught the eye when two lengths back to Noble Joshua in his warm-up for this event. He will much prefer this trip and with a good draw will make them gallop.

Port Key arrives with useful Highveld form, no further back than second in his four starts, and the lightly raced four-year-old is likely to start at the top of the boards.

Kannemeyer could provide two of the better bets on the card in Ice Baron in the first leg of the PA and Silva Magic in the fifth.

By Andrew Harrison

Twist Of Fate is well-nigh impossible to oppose in the Tellytrack.com Pinnacle Stakes at Durbanville tomorrow but punters should hold fire until such time as they are sure that the horse is going to run.

The colt was the only one declared without a jockey on Monday and I was unable to contact Joey Ramsden on Tuesday or again yesterday morning. But he often prefers to scratch a horse if he can’t find a rider he considers suitable – and this one is the stable star.

He has only been unplaced once in 16 starts and has earned over R3 million. Last season he won the Cape Classic over tomorrow’s trip as well as the Politician and the KRA Guineas. He was second in the Cape Guineas, CTS 1600 and Daily News while he was also third in the Vodacom Durban July and the Concorde.

Just as much to the point he has 5kg in hand on adjusted ratings. True, he is drawn eight out of 12 and has not raced for nearly three months but neither should stop him.

He was trading at a generous-looking 15-10 yesterday, with original main market rival Charles drifting from 9-2 to 6-1, but the Brett Crawford runner is also having his first run of the season. Furthermore he is badly drawn and needs further.

If the favourite does not run then Sacred Arrow could be the best bet. His price will, of course, shorten significantly from his present 11-2 but this is his trip, he is well drawn and has had an outing. “He should go well,” says Candice Bass-Robinson. “He needed his run when seventh (beaten less than three lengths) in the Matchem but he would have been a bit closer with a decent draw.”

Star Chestnut is a big price at 18-1 for a Snaith-Fourie runner, particularly with the combination in such hot form, but he was only tenth in the Matchem.

Keagan de Melo, who rides Charles, could have his work cut out to overcome the widest draw of all in the TAB Telebet Conditions Plate but Star Fighter has the most appealing recent form as she was fifth in the Diana. Unfortunately much of the value has gone with her price shortening from  4-1 to 5-2.

Duchess Of Bourbon (Snaith/Fourie) was the original favourite and, while she won the Winter Oaks, that was over 600m further than this and she is held by the selection on previous Stormsvlei Mile form.

By Michael Clower

This time of the year is traditionally greatly looked forward to by the more astute and patient punters of the SA racing fraternity as it heralds the arrival of the summer rains and trainers have their best horses tuned like machines to take advantage of the more forgiving going.

Unfortunately the rains are yet to arrive and there is no sign of them in the forecast this weekend, where the highlight is a MR 104 Handicap over 1200m.

The latter race is difficult to analyse, but Grade 2 Post Merchants winner La Bella Mia is given the nod. She has a wide draw to overcome but will be fit, having had recent runs, and has a 4kg claimer up. She has won over this course and distance before and many of the opponents she faces have question marks against them. If she gets the necessary luck in running she will go close.

Winter Storm struck as one who was headed for the top in the sprinting division last season but by the end of the term he needed a layoff and disappointed in his last couple of starts. He should have come on from his comeback run last time. Interestingly, the blinkers have been removed and with Warren Kennedy aboard he has every chance of overcoming a tough draw.

Warrior’s Rest is a highly effective front-runner but such is his style, in which he continually ups the pace, it is essential he gets to the front as he lacks turn of foot when sitting behind a slow pace. This trip is too sharp, so he could battle to get to the front, but he is well drawn so might be worth including. State Trooper is capable of running on so is interesting from a tricky draw. Attenborough had a disappointing last season but this Grade 1 winner can’t be ignored over an ideal trip from a plum draw.

In the previous race, a MR 99 Handicap over 1800m, Silver Spectrum appears to be on the up and can follow up on his last win off a five point higher mark. Green Haze has some class and will be a threat. He has run once over this trip and appeared to not stay. However, he is now having his third run after a layoff and gelding so he should be given another chance, especially being by miler Gimmethegreenlight out of a Western Winter mare who won twice over this trip. Popsicle Toes looks to be an ever improving sort and he will also be right there over a suitable trip if able to overcome a tough draw.

In the seventh race, a MR 92 handicap for fillies and mares, Ouro is the narrow first choice. She has some class and has bounced back to form this season after ending last season on a disappointing note. Double ‘O’ Eight has a tough draw and a welter 61,5kg to carry but has a fine turn of foot, so if finding a good position in the running she will go close. Three Stars improved last time with second time blinkers on when running second, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Ouro. She has a good draw, but is half-a-kilogram worse off with Ouro, who likely needed that run. Blonde Vision is a small but zippy sort and with first-time blinkers on she can’t be ignored. Twelve Oaks is capable of popping up and is effective over this trip so will be dangerous from a plum draw with a 4kg claimer aboard.  

It should be an enjoyable meeting but many will be keenly anticipating the arrival of the summer rains. 

By David Thiselton