Andrew Harrison

Hot Pearl often lives up to her name and Wendy Whitehead was having anxious moments as the course ambulance came to a halt before the start of the second race at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday. “I was having heart failure because she doesn’t like to wait for anyone. She’s very impatient and it was a long wait for the ambulance.”

Regular rider Calvin Habib had it all under control and managed to keep her quiet. “She handled herself professionally behind the gate,” he said post-race.

However, neither jockey or the filly’s connections needed to worry once the gates opened as Hot Pearl streaked clear and was not for the catching as she put five lengths on her nearest rival, Rapid Fire who just got the better of favourite Vision To Achieve. 

If you want to know why Richard Fourie is champion jockey elect and well on his way to breaking Anthony Deplech’s record of 334 winners in a season, watch the head-on replay of the Fillies Maiden Plate, third race on yesterday’s card won by Canford Queen.

Always handy and on the quarters of pacemaker Lemon Scent, the race was unfolding as expected until Lemon Scent lost her compass under pressure. Fourie found himself hunting running room as Lemon Scent continued to drift outwards and Canford Queen continually blocked.

“She was dead,” commented Gavin van Zyl, assistant to his son Gareth, post-race but Fourie finally managed a clear run and his filly responded gamely, taking off over the final 100m to snatch the decision ahead of City Lights. “You can’t get there without the horse,” said Fourie in a typical understatement. 

Down in class but carrying the ‘grandstand’ Rachel Venniker rode a patient race on Chara Sands from his wide draw in the sixth and gave the gelding a copybook ride as he glided to victory with Venniker posing like a statue. Michael Roberts, recognizing talent, took Venniker under his wing from her first days in the Jockey Academy. A better mentor she could not have asked for. A champion rider on two continents, Roberts is a hard task master but Venniker has repaid with hard work and yesterday rode her 100^th winner for the stable, fittingly aboard a horse bred and owned by Michael’s wife Verna.

The Little Ballerina form lines have been some of the hottest in recent memory with a host of winners finishing behind her. The Mask was another as Glen Kotzen opened his Champion’s Season account, the son of Gimmethegreenlight bounding clear in the straight to win the first unchallenged.

Gelded after his debut behind Little Ballerina where he ran into traffic to finish nine lengths off the winner, there were no mistakes yesterday as Athandiwe Mgudlwa steadied him around the turn. A sling-shot into the straight saw the traffic melt away and The Mask was not for the catching. Always Shining tried gamely but was hard-pressed to hold debutante Bound By Destiny, Dean Kannemeyer’s runner definitely one for the notebook.

Muzi Yeni is possibly the hardest rider to get past in a tight finish. His low centre of gravity allows him to keep balance when throwing the kitchen sink as he showed on Tom’s Act. He had Doug Campbell’s runner poised in midfield before making his challenge and the son of Act Of War responded to Yeni’s vigorous urgings to get his head in front of a closing pack headed by San Marzano.

Lucky Dollar backed up on his recent victory with a strong finish to land the fifth for Stuart Ferrie. The lightly weighted Action Stations with 4kg claimer Brevan Plaatjies aboard, was always in front until challenged by Lucky Dollar, Tristan Godden timing his run to perfection.

The combination of Venniker and Dennis Bosch have been in good form of late and it was back-to-back wins for Venniker as she sent favourite Poursomesugaronme up the inside rail to score a bloodless victory in the seventh.

RACE 1     

5 MOUNTAIN HIGH 4 KEY WORKER 8 VARVARA 7 RADIANT HEAT

Preview: 5 MOUNTAIN HIGH made a good debut and then ran fifth in the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery, 0,25 lengths behind You Bring Me Joy, and that form is way superior to any other form in this race. 4 KEY WORKER is a full sister to  Surcharge (Yulong Prince), whose two Gr 1 wins included one in Australia. 8 VARVARA has run three fair races and could earn. 7 RADIANT HEAT is better than her last run and can earn if bouncing back. (David Thiselton 5-4-8-7)  

RACE 2     

2 LEAD THE CHARGE  9 MESSALINA 8 ZIP CODE 6 SERRANO

Preview: 2 LEAD THE CHARGE has finished second in two starts on the Highveld after a decent debut in Cape Town and he is the one to beat from pole position over a suitable course and distance. 9 MESSALINA is knocking on the door over this trip and has a good draw. 8 ZIP CODE made a fair debut and could improve. 6 SERRANO made a fair debut when beaten 8 lengths by two good sorts. (David Thiselton 2-9-8-6)  

RACE 3     

6 MASTER CASPER 8 WOLF MOUNTAIN 5 HOWZIT BOET 2 SMASHING

Preview: 6 MASTER CASPER ran two good races in Cape Town and should beat this field. 8 WOLF MOUNTAIN is by Buffalo Bill Cody out of a Silvano mare who won four times from 1200m to 1400m and she has produced two winners from three runners. 5 HOWZIT BOET is by Willow Magic out of a six time winning Galileo mare from 1200m to 2000m, including a Gr 3 and a Listed race, and the best the latter has produced is a three time winner by Gimmethegreenlight.  2 SMASHING has enough form to earn here. (David Thiselton 6-8-5-2)

RACE 4     

10 SICILY 1 ERIMITAGE 11 SCARS OF WAR 3 BREATH OF MAGIC 5 APACHE SON

Preview: 10 SICILY wasn’t disgraced behind two good sorts on Highveld debut after a fair run in Cape Town and this two-year-old should enjoy this trip. 1 ERIMITAGE ran an improved race when dropped to this trip and has a chance although he has a tricky draw. 11 SCARS OF WAR faces older male horses after a good debut in a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies and she has a good draw over a step up in trip she should relish. 3 BREATH OF MAGIC has been consistently thereabouts lately and can earn again here. 5 APACHE SON ran an improved race with second time blinkers and could earn here. (David Thiselton 10-1-11-3-5)

RACE 5     

10 SNEAK PREVIEW 1 KYLIE’S ANGEL 9 EASY ON ME 2 SYLVAN LADY

Preview: 10 SNEAK PREVIEW went close second time out and now has a fair draw over the same distance category. 1 KYLIE’S ANGEL was only 0,30 lengths behind Sneak Preview last time but does have a tricky draw. 9 EASY ON ME made a good debut but has not run for eight months, although she has a good draw and Lerena is up. 2 SYLVAN LADY is on the up and can earn if overcoming a tricky draw. (David Thiselton 10-1-9-2)

RACE 6     

3 WILLIAM IRON ARM 1 BARBARESCO 2 PYROMANIAC 7 JORDAN

Preview: 3 WILLIAM IRON ARM is a long-striding sort who will enjoy this trip and he returns from an operation  on a rig issue so could now start to fulfil his obvious potential. 1 BARBARESCO has proven class and a good draw but does have to give William Iron Arm 3kg. 2 PYROMANIAC has class and is distance suited but does need things to go his way and pole position should help them go his way. 7 JORDAN has talent and only just failed over this trip last time. (David Thiselton 3-1-2-7)

RACE 7     

3 THE BRIEF 1 SLINKY MAPIMPI 4 CIRCLE OF GRACE 2 TROIS TROIS QUATRE

Preview: 3 THE BRIEF ran a cracker behind Marauding Horde last time and can go close if able to overcome a wide draw. 1 SLINKY MAPIMPI was doing well up to 1600m before not liking 2400m and he could be right there over this more suitable trip, although he also has a wide draw. 4 CIRCLE OF GRACE is in good form, although he seems to prefer the HWB Greyville poly. 2 TROIS TROIS QUATRE is usually thereabouts and is off a competitive merit rating. (David Thiselton 3-1-4-2)

RACE 8     

12 EMPRESS GAME 3 IN THE ETHER 1 LULU’S BOY 7 CIRCUS LIGHTS

Preview: 12 EMPRESS GAME is knocking on the door and has a fair draw over and ideal trip. 3 IN THE ETHER is capable of a flying finish after being held up but does appear to prefer 1000m. 1 LULU’S BOY has Fourie up and can earn if able to overcome a wide draw. 7 CIRCUS LIGHTS is in good form and has a fair draw over an ideal trip. (David Thiselton 12-3-1-7)

David Thiselton

A Progress Plate over 1800m is the highligt of an eight race meeting at Turffontein Inside on Thursday May 2. 

William Iron Arm is weighted to doddle it, being 7kg better off with any other horse according to official merit ratings. He is returning from rig surgery, which will hopefully sort out his hanging issues. He has run well fresh before and although he would prefer a more galloping track he sould take a lot of beating. Barbaresco is also classy and has a good draw over an ideal trip, but he does have to give William Iron Arm 3kg. Pyromaniac is the sort who needs a good draw and he gets pole. He represents the flying Sean Tarry yard with Richard Fourie up and is a threat. Jordan has some class and could rise above a 91 merit rating in time, but he has a tough task here. Fostinovo and Emporium are fair sorts who should not be disgraced. Scarlett Pimpernel is no slouch either.

In the first race over 1450m the flying Sean Tarry yard have two runners and should win it with Mountain High. This Rafeef filly made a good debut and then ran fifth in the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery, 0,25 lengths behind fourth-placed You Bring Me Joy, who has come out and won since then. SA Fillies Nursery second-placed Just Reckless beat Mountain High by six lengths but has come out since and won the Gr 3 Strelitzia. So, Mountain High should be hard to beat here with Richard Fourie up over a suitable step up in trip, although the first-timer Key Worker from the Stuart Pettigrew yard could be a threat if anywhere near as good as her full-brother Surcharge, who won one Gr 1 in SA and another in Australia under the name Yulong Prince. Mountain High is drawn three and Key Worker is drawn four. Mountain High’s stablemate Varvara has run three fair races and could earn. Radiant Heat is better than her last run and can earn if bouncing back. African Beauty wasn’t disgraced on debut behind Almond Sea but disappointed over 1400m next time out and will need to bounce back too.

In the second race over 1450m Lead The Charge has finished second in two starts on the Highveld after a decent debut in Cape Town and he is the one to beat from pole position over a suitable course and distance. Messalina is knocking on the door over this trip category and has a good draw, so will be a threat. Zip Code made a fair debut over 1160m and will relish the step up in trip, but he does have a wide draw of eight. Serrano was beaten eight lengths on debut over 1200m, but the pair who beat her, Don’t Cry For Me and Winds Of Change, are good sorts so Serrano could do well stepped up to a more suitable trip, although he does have a wide draw. Spring Tradition has been well beaten in all of his starts but those three events have been won by Almond Sea, Legend Of Arthur and Truth, all classy sorts, so he could earn here.

In the third race over 1000m Master Casper ran two good races in Cape Town and should beat this field. First-timer Wolf Mountain is by Buffalo Bill Cody out of a Silvano mare who won four times from 1200m to 1400m and she has produced two winners from three runners. First-timer Howzit Boet is by Willow Magic out of a six time winning Galileo mare from 1200m to 2000m, including a Gr 3 and a Listed race. The best she has produced is a three time winner by Gimmethegreenlight. Smashing could earn a cheque here from draw five with a 4kg claimer up. Rawalpindi is by Wings Of Desire and is out of Madrisa, a Grey Eminence mare who won five of her first six starts including a Gr 3 and a Listed race.

In the fourth race over 1450m two-year-old Sicily could beat his older rivals from a fair draw of five. He wasn’t disgraced when beaten 8,50 lengths in a race dominated by the classy pair Don’t Cry For Me and Winds Of Change. The Rafeef gelding is out of a Var mare, but he should get this trip. Ermitage ran an improved race when dropped to this trip and has a chance although he has a tricky draw. Scars Of War  faces older male horses after a good debut in a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies and she has a good draw over a step up in trip she should relish, being by Heavenly Blue out of a Judpot mare. Breath Of Magic has been consistently thereabouts lately and can earn again here. Apache Son ran an improved race with second time blinkers and could earn here.   

The fifth race over 1450m is an uninspiring event. Sneak Preview went close second time out over 1400m and now has a fair draw over the same distance category. Kylie’s Angel was only 0,30 lengths behind Sneak Preview last time but does have a tricky draw. Easy On Me made a good debut but has not run for eight months, although she has a good draw and Lerena is up. Sylvan Lady is on the up and can earn if overcoming a tricky draw. Tipperary is drawn in pole and could earn if repeating her debut effort.

In the seventh over 1800m The Brief ran a cracker behind Marauding Horde last time and can go close if able to overcome a wide draw. Slinky Mapimpi was doing well up to 1600m before not liking 2400m last time and he could be right there over this more suitable trip, although he also has a wide draw. Circle Of Grace is in good form, although he seems to prefer the HWB Greyville poly. Trois Trois Quatre has been a bit disappointing overall, but is usually thereabouts and is off a competitive merit rating. Clarkson has ability and early in his career seemed to be a middle distance type, so he can earn if producing his best.

In the eighth over 1200m Empress Game is knocking on the door and has a fair draw over an ideal trip. In The Ether is capable of a flying finish after being held up but does appear to prefer 1000m. Lulu’s Boy has Fourie up and can earn if able to overcome a wide draw. Circus Lights is distance suited and in good form and has a fair draw over an ideal trip. Dancing Dora is capable of popping up from a good draw. 

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David Thiselton               

Sean Tarry is a bit like the Springbok rugby team, who are at their most dangerous just when their star appears to be waning, and the dynamic trainer bounced back from a season that had not yet reached the heights of last season to record a five-timer, including three Graded features, at the big meeting at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.

Richard Fourie rode four winners on the day, including three for Tarry, and he is now an 8/100 shot to break Anthony Delpech’s famous 334 wins in a season, which was often regarded as the safest record in South African sport.

Tarry came from a hopeless position on the trainers log last year to be within one race of overtaking Justin Snaith on  the last big race meeting of the season.

If he is to do the same this season the turning point happened on Saturday.

Furthermore, he looks set to add to his record number of 18 Gr 1s at Hollywoodbets Scottsville because his candidates for the Festival Of Speed meeting are emerging at just the right time as usual.

However, he does face a quandry with the top class Gimmethegreenlight Varsfontein Stud-bred Gimmethegreenlight colt Lucky Lad.

Lucky Lad won last year’s Gr 1 Gold Medallion at Hollywoodbets Scottsville by more than five lengths and after a delayed reappearance to this season he had his third run after a layoff of close to seven months on Saturday in the Gr 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m. 

He delivered a memorable victory under a memorable ride from Fourie.

Lucky Lad’s gate-speed has always made him vulnerable over sprint trips and he once again dwelt slightly meaning Fourie found himself sitting at the back. 

He made the immediate decision to track over and sit behind the inside batch of horses, which would have surprised many as the high draws are viewed as advantageous down the Turffontein straight.  

However, Fourie must have been mindful that the outside channels become overcrowded as jockeys seeks to be in the perceived best going.

Lucky Lad ended up making his run inside of the whole field and still had at least five lengths to make up as they reached the 400m mark.

At that stage his big stablemate Winter Greeting, a four-year-old filly by What A Winter who was officially the best weighted runner, was about to hit the front and was going ominously well.

However, Lucky Lad displayed his devastating turn of foot to change the outlook of the race in a matter of strides.

Fourie managed to pull off two deft changes of whip-hand in the final 200m to prevent the hanging that had earned him a suspension in the Gold Medallion.

Lucky Lad won easing up by 0,40 lengths from a running on I Am Giant, who put his hand up as a contender for the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint. 

I Am Giant’s Brett Crawford-trained stablemate Surjay was beaten just 0,60 lengths into third and is on track for another Graded campaign in KZN, which yielded a Gr 1 second and third last season as well as a Gr 2 third. 

Winter Greeting was beaten just a length in fourth place and will likely be targeted at he Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint.

Unzen, who is best over 1400m, was fifth ahead of Rulership.

The quandary Tarry faces is Lucky Lad’s effectiveness over classic distances is yet to be tested and he is entered in next Saturday’s Gr 2 WSB Guineas at Hollywoodbets Greyville. From their the route could either be a drop back to the Gr 1 Golden Horse or a step up to the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and July, for which he has been entered. 

Earlier, in the Gr 2 TAB Colorado King Stakes over 2000m, the Fanie Bronhorst-trained Laurence Wernars homebred New Predator gelding Pure Predator won in cosy fashion by 0,75 lengths under Fourie from the Tarry-trained three-year-old Hotarubi.

Puerto Manzano bounced back to a semblance of form by finishing third, although he was beaten four lengths, narrowly ahead of older horses Aragosta and Safe Passage.

It was a fine training feat by Bronkhorst, because he would have had to freshen the horse up after his respective fourth in the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic and second in the Gr 1 SA Derby with his targets the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July in mind.

In the Gr 2 TAB Igugu Stakes over 2000m the Stuart Pettigrew-trained Ridgemont-bred Rafeef filly Beating Wings produced a fine finish under Calvin Habib to deny fellow three-year-old My Soul Mate with Bellevarde, Gilded Butterfly and Perfect Witness next best.

Tarry had earlier caused an upset when the Wilgebosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-bred Rafeef filly Mrs Browning won the Gr 2 Camellia Stakes over 1160m under Craig Zackey from Time Fo Orchids and the perennial feature-placed horse White Pearl. Mrs Browning is part-owned by Laurence Wernars, who had a feature treble on the day.

Wernars also won the Gr 3 Protea Stakes over 1160m with the progressive Tarry-trained homebred Gimmethegreenlight Proceed, who put his hand up for the Gr 1 Gold Medallion at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on June 1.

The Gr 3 TAB Pretty Polly Stakes was won by the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Ridgemont-bred Canford Cliffs filly Simply Majestic under Gavin Lerena.

The Listed TAB Gold Bowl over 3200m was won by the Ridgemont-bred Brett Crawford-trained six-year-old Dynasty gelding Crimson King under Kabelo Matsunyane.

Tarry had two early impressive winners over 1600m and the respective Lancaster Bomber colt and One World filly, Legend Of Arthur and World Of Alice, ridden by Fourie and Zackey respectively, have promising potential for the two-year-old mile features. 

The last race over 1400m was won by the De Kock-trained Muzi Yeni-ridden Heavenly Blue colt Zinovi, whose successful wind op has seen him score two in a row.