RUGBY 8 WIN MARGIN on Saturday, 11 May 2024 C/Over R 61 759 Pool Closes at 14h00

Soccer 4:  Sport 19 Pool 1– 09 MAY 2024

Match 3 (M3): MILTON KEYNES DONS vs CRAWLEY TOWN. New Match Date: 11 May 2024 . Match Is Postponed Due To a Waterlogged Pitch.

Soccer 6: Sport 5 Pool 1 – 09 MAY 2024

Match 5 (M5): MILTON KEYNES DONS vs CRAWLEY TOWN. New Match Date: 11 May 2024 . Match Is Postponed Due To a Waterlogged Pitch.

Soccer 10: Sport 15 Pool 1 – 09 MAY 2024

Match 5 (M5): MILTON KEYNES DONS vs CRAWLEY TOWN. New Match Date: 11 May 2024 . Match Is Postponed Due To a Waterlogged Pitch.

PLEASE NOTE!

Soccer 6: SPORT 3 & POOL 2 – 06 MAY 2024 Match 5 (M5): JUVENTUDE vs ATLETICO GOIANIENSE. New Match Date: TBC This Match Has Been Postponed to Play at a Later Date.

Soccer 10: SPORT 8 & POOL 1 – 06 MAY 2024 Match 10 (M10): JUVENTUDE vs ATLETICO GOIANIENSE. New Match Date: TBC This Match Has Been Postponed to Play at a Later Date. All results (the field) will qualify for the above match. In terms of TAB rules, all choices (the field) will apply in determining results and payouts.

David Thiselton

It was a dark day in South African racing on Saturday as the Champions Season’s always much anticipated opening meeting had to be abandoned after an unruly mob blocked the exit to the parade ring before the first feature race of “the season”, the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes.

The controversy revolved around the scratching of the hot odds-on favourite Main Defender after being tested to have elevated TCO2 levels.

The connections of the Tony Peter-trained favourite were allegedly the instigators of the protest and they were allegedly joined by punters, who were irate that with one of the meeting’s Pick 6 bankers now scratched they would have to rely on the Tote favourite in a very open race.

The three features that did not happen will now be run at the same venue, Hollywoodbets Greyville, on Wednesday.

Main Defender remains a scratching in the Drill Hall and has been joined by Texas Red, who is trained by Tony Peter’s sister-in-law Robyn Klaasen.

The Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas and the Gr 2 WSB Guineas had no card scratchings at the time of writing.

A strongly worded press release by Gold Circle, included the following statement, “Gold Circle firmly intends to sanction those responsible, which may include a banning order from it’s race tracks and facilities going forward, and would like to take this opportunity to apologise to all connections and racing fans who were compromised by the unseemly actions of a minority whose behaviour bordered on anarchy.”

Award winning veteran journalist CharlPretoriusironically wrote an article released before racing on Saturday about the subject of TCO2 (total carbon dioxide).

The administration of sodium bicarbonate (bi-carb) in the hours prior to racing, is viewed by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) as performance enhancing. It is performed using a practice widely known as ‘milkshaking’ – commonly via the insertion of a naso-gastric tube between 3 to 5 hours prior to a race.

This is intended to elevate TCO2 and therefore reduce lactate. 

The National Horseracing Authority, mandated and under increased pressure to identify trainers who use illegal methods to gain an advantage, last month introduced a new specimen analysis procedure for TCO2 (total carbon dioxide) measurement on a race day.

These are tests performed on the blood samples of racehorses to combat the practice of administering alkalizing agents for the purpose of enhancing performance.

Blood specimens are taken from selected horses approximately 50 minutes prior to race time, on any given race day. The specimens are immediately analysed using handheld blood gas analysers.

When a sample taken is found to have an elevated pre-race blood TCO2 level above of 36 millimoles per litre (mmol/L) – the threshold set by the International Horse Racing Federation (IFHA) and prescribed to by the NHA – a second blood specimen is collected, between 10 and 15 minutes later. If the TCO2 concentration of the second specimen is more than 36.0 mmol/L, the horse is withdrawn and then detained for additional specimen collection.

During the additional tests, screening can be performed for other illegal substances that may or may not be present in the blood sample.  

Dr. Matthew Bawden, the NHA’s Chief Veterinarian, remarked: “The main goal of measuring TCO2 before racing is to detect horses that may have received an alkalizing agent. Alkalinization of a horse or the use of an alkalizing agent is prohibited on race day, and a level exceeding the international threshold constitutes prima facie evidence of alkalinization. The administration of an alkalizing agent results in a measurable increase in the TCO2 over time with an intent to achieve maximal buffering capacity at the time of the race.”

Charl Pretorius continues by saying, “The implication here is that a horse could pass the TC02 test before the race, but could possibly fail it afterwards, which presents an interesting conundrum.”

He follows by questioning why pre-race tests, which only lead to a scratching at present, are done and not post-race which could lead to a career ending fine?

The tests being done by the NHA have drawn praise from many quarters including from the renowned activist against drug use in horseracing, Barry Irwin, a successful American owner and breeder who is very much involved in SA horseracing.

Irwin said, ““Welcome to the real world of horse racing. It is about time. This technology has been around for decades. This updated protocol will go a long way in levelling the playing field on the Highveld. Targeting trainers whose horses improve is a proven formula used by regulators worldwide. Not to follow this practice would be wasteful and foolish.”

However, there are detractors with one study showing that bicarbonate did not improve horses’ performance at all. The man who did the study, Dr Michael I. Lindinger, PHD, also reckoned the threshold level arrived at by the authorities was  based on statistically manipulated data and he added that the conclusion that an elevated level was caused by the administering of an alkalizing substance was based on assumption not fact.

To put some other points in to summary about a complex issue, some research suggests it is possible that different barns might create different environments for TCO2 readings given their combination of feed and exercise programs. 

The NHA are doing their best to level the playing fields, but it seems there are a few things that need to be looked at.

One of the other implications is the impact sudden scratchings have on punters. This is particularly in the case when they have splashed out on a Pick 6 with a banker, who is suddenly replaced by one with much less chance.  

However, taking the law into one’s own hands is totally unacceptable and hopefully the response to Saturday’s events by the powers that be will prevent the shocking events from happening again.

Graeme Hawkins

Pacaya bounced back to his best form under a driving ride from Richard Fourie to land the R350 000 Legal Eagle Stakes (Gr 3) over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday. The 5yo Trippi gelding bred by the Drakenstein Stud – who were also responsible for the first four winners on the card – had beaten Winchester Mansion in last season’s WSB 1900m but pulled up distressed in the WSB Cape Town Met at the end of January. On the comeback trail last month, Pacaya hinted at a return to form when running on strongly in the Variety Club Mile over 1600m and he clearly relished the extra 200m of the Legal Eagle Stakes to register an emphatic victory.

The race favourite Rascallion tried gamely to make all the running under top weight of 61kgs but was found wanting over the final 300m and had to be satisfied with third spot. Rapidash made good headway from the rear of the field to fill the Exacta position with fellow three year old Greeting My Master rounding out the Quartet.

Red Palace failed to fire in the R200 000 Ladies Mile (Listed) for Fillies and Mares over 1600m and trailed in a distant ninth as Time For Love (33/1), a lightly raced 4yo daughter of Time Thief bred by the Late Hassan Adams, stayed on strongly from just off the pace to notch up her third career victory from only eight starts. Trained by the Harold Crawford/Michelle Rix partnership and ridden by Craig Zackey, Time For Love comfortably held off My Flower Fate, Rainbow Lorikeet and Princess Izzy to score by a length.

Summer Lily was a late scratching from the Ladies Mile due to elevated TCO2 levels as was the case with the fancied Be Merry in the first, both from the Snaith yard.

Gavin Lerena flew into town to partner One Stripe in the second race, the R300 000 Winter Nursery (Gr 3) for two year olds over 1100m, and he was duly rewarded with a facile win by the ultra-promising son of leading freshman sire One World. Sent off as the 7/10 favourite, One Stripe was given a confident ride as Rama Forcesa cut out the early pace with One Stripe’s stable companion, Lion Rampart, in the slipstream. But once Lerena gave One Stripe his head, the favourite quickly assumed control of the race and ran on strongly to beat Lion Rampart by a length with Roman Agent some way back in third after a slow start.

Vaughan Marshall trains both One Stripe and Lion Rampart and indicated in his post-race interview that the Langerman over 1500m next month could be One Stripe’s next target.

Symphony In White proved too strong for her market rival, Kinda Wonderful, in the opener, a Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1000m. Ridden by Aldo Domeyer for trainer Candice Bass-Robinson, Symphony In White was always travelling too well for Kinda Wonderful and the beautifully-bred daughter of What A Winter had nearly two lengths to spare at the finish.

All Out For Six (8/1) gave Vaughan Marshall a quick race-to-race double when taking out the third race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m, in very good style. After racing midfield for much of the journey, All Out For Six, yet another juvenile winner for One World, produced a powerful finish under Ashton Arries to win going away from the well-backed Aristotle (9/4) and he looks set for a bright future.

Un Bel Di (2/1), trained by Justin Snaith, was a popular winner of the opening leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden Plate over 1000m.  Having his first run as a gelding, Un Bel Di was always in command prompting Richard Fourie to quip post-race that it was an “armchair” ride. Marshall and Arries were again on the mark in the fifth race, an Open Maiden over 1800m, as Princess Of Bayeux (7/1) stormed home to a comfortable 3-length victory over the favourite English Mistress.