The Brett Crawford gelding was a 25-1 chance over 200m further on debut but made up a lot of ground in the closing stages and promptly went on to the Winning Ways list of horses to follow.

“I wasn’t surprised because he had been showing good work at home,” says Crawford. “The trip is not ideal but I didn’t want to take him to Durbanville and he is doing very well.”

Breathless Bertie and Pegasi were joint 3-1 second favourites when Betting World posted up the prices on Monday but the former holds Pegasi on their running last month. Imperial Guard (4-1) has been off since September but the booking of Bernard Fayd’Herbe is significant.

Fear Not is proving expensive and it is a bit disturbing to see her dropping back to 1 200m in race four as Adam Marcus has maintained all along that she is going to be best going round the turn – and he still does.

“Greenness beat her last time,” he explains. “She came round the turn a bit wide, pricked her ears and looked around. I know she is bred to go further but she has the ability and hopefully she can win.”

She opened favourite at 18-10 and possibly deserves another chance although Good Grace (5-2) and Captain’s Dove (5-1) won’t be easy to beat.

Form points to Political Power in the opening maiden juvenile and the Crawford hope is 7-2 in the Betting World forecast (the bookmakers delay offering prices on two-year-old races as long as they can) but 5-2 shots Schachar and Prince Of Thieves, in particular, might beat him.

“I didn’t think Prince Of Thieves would win first time but I did think that he would run well,” says Joey Ramsden. “I would hope that he has come on.”

Nordic Wind is a forecast 8-10 to confirm the placings with Leylani (22-10) in the fillies race but Karl Neisius’s mount may be able to reverse the form. “It was a good performance on debut. She got left a furlong and a half,” says Dean Kannemeyer with tongue-in-cheek exaggeration. The starter put it at four lengths but it would be enough to change the result.

However don’t ignore Me Jane, particularly at her forecast 14-1. “She was running on strongly when she stumbled badly last time and she pulled up a bit jarred,” reports Greg Ennion. “I thought she had a big chance that day and I’m hoping for a change of luck with her.”

Mike Robinson, who has 32 two-year-olds to go to war with, introduces two well bred sorts in the first and two more in the second. But it’s worth noting that he is not expecting fireworks. “They are nice horses who are ready to start campaigning but they will probably need it,” he says.

Lafraisiere won Zimbabwe’s most prestigious race, the Gr 1 Castle Tankard, with a horse he part-owns, the Alyson Wright-trained Code Rock, in 2012.

Kevin Wright commented, “He is an absolute gentleman, a pleasure to train for and his roots in racing are deep.”

Lafraisiere has had about 15 wins in South Africa and still has horses with the Wrights as well as with Brian Wiid and Glen Kotzen.

He was the Gold Circle owner of the month in July 2012.

Lafraisiere has had over 70 wins in Mauritius and, on top of being a member of the Mauritius Turf Club, is the ex-Chairman of the horseracing association in Mauritius, the AEPS.

As a successful businessman and knowledgeable racing man Lafraisiere should be good for the game in a region where racing innovations are sorely needed in the tough current economic climate.

He has already stated that one of his aims in becoming a steward is “co-operation between South African racing and Mauritius.”

Picture: Christian Lafraisiere (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Western Cape stud sold the top three lots at Sunday’s Val De Vie Yearling Sale outside Paarl and appropriately the stud is owned by Susan Rowett, chairman of both Bloodstock SA and its TBA parent.

John Freeman went to R1.2 million to fend off all opposition for the sale-topper, Playboy Prince, a fine Dynasty colt out of a winning daughter of the four-time Grade 1 winner Kiss Of Peace.

Freeman said: “He was the nicest horse in the sale and I bought him for Jack Mitchell.”

Hassen Adams stands his L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Gimmethegreenlight at Varsfontein and he had little hesitation in going to R950 000 for the stallion’s colt Hack Green who is out of a full sister to the dam of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Pluck.

But it was the stallion that influenced Adams who said: “This colt looks the spitting image of Gimmethegreenlight.” Justin Snaith, who trained the horse, also liked the colt but he seems set to go to Darryl Hodgson.

Auctioneer Graeme Hawkins (who later earned a big round of applause for an impromptu rendition of ‘I did it my way!’) asked for R1 million for the third lot into the ring, Doosra, a Captain Al colt out of the SA Fillies Classic winner Caughtintheslips. He very nearly got it because the hammer came down at only R100 000 less.

The buyer was Johannesburg clothing businessman Laurence Wernars who said: “He is a nice horse, well put together, and Janse van Vuuren will train him.”

Jehan Malherbe paid R850 000 for a nice Var colt from the Cheveley Stud out of four-time winner Time Control. He was acting for Sheikh Khalifa Al Maktoum and the colt will go to Mike de Kock.

The top six prices all came from the 30-lot select session where vendors paid R10 000 – as against the normal R4 000 – to put horses into it, and there were mixed views about allowing sellers to be the judge of their own horses.

Director Peter Gibson said: “A lot of the buyers don’t like it but it adds a bit of razzmatazz and I am sure we will continue with it.”

But the venue met with almost universal approval. True, the estate’s internet access problems compromised the office staff and made filing copy a nightmare. But otherwise the only real complaint was the ring – too small and also too low for the horses to be viewed properly.

The popular Bipot starts in race 2, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m. The best of the experienced runners, Ashkenazi, was far from disgraced second time out over 1000m at Turffontein when finishing just 3,25 lengths behind one of the most exciting two-year-olds of the season to date, Mogok Master. He looks to be a possible banker. Of the first-timers the eye catchers on pedigree are Sweet Turn, Slinky Jack and Trip To Paradise, while Kemul Kavur and Richiethelionheart are also interesting. Tearaway was only 2,1 lengths behind Ashkenazi last time so is also a consideration.

Geoff Woodruff

In the first leg of the PA, a maiden over 1600m, the Geoff Woodruff-trained Odd Rob is a powerful looking horse and has plenty of scope for improvement. He lost two lengths on debut and without being given a hard time ran on in eyecatching fashion late, so could be a PA and Bipot banker and is also worth a win bet. The St. John Gray-trained Lacroix ran on well on debut over 1200m and should relish the step up in trip, but doesn’t come from a very strong formline.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a Graduation Plate over 1200m in which the top three on the card, Dollar Dazzler, Burg and Captain Clipper stand out, although Punk Rocker has plenty of ability and will enjoy the step back in trip so can also be included. Burg ran the classy Belong To Me to just 0,5 lengths over 1160m in his penultimate when giving the latter 0,5kg and makes the most appeal for those looking for a banker.

In the first leg of the Jackpot, Iwannabe came from way back last Thursday to win over this 1200m course and distance. At time of going to press her merit rating had not yet been adjusted and her chances here could depend on the handicapper’s assessment of that race. Antonia Major, Lizzie’s Legs and Silent Rush make most appeal of the rest. However, Second Bite should be included as one with plenty of ability, because Sean Tarry always has them fit even after a year-long break like this one’s.

In the next Epic Tale lost two lengths the last time he tried this course and distance but kept on well for third and is now one point lower in the merit ratings. Rushing John only just lost to the useful Prince Of Orange over course and distance last time when caught late and has a chance despite a four point raise. Tom Fool enjoys the course and distance and is knocking on the door off his current mark.

In the seventh over 1400m Half Moon Hotel, Morpheus and Form Up make most appeal on recent form, but on ability The Hangman, Flag Of France, Victory Cruise, Move Like Jagger and Rocco’s Luck have to be considered.

Samogan has won two races switched from the sand to the turf over the 1400m course and distance of the eighth, so could prove to be well handicapped here. Sacred Ground and Gambol make most appeal of the rest. Our Jet, Max The Man and Antonius Charm could also be considered.

In the last race Unconditional lost ground at the start over 1160m on debut last November and was outpaced before staying on well and he doesn’t have much to beat over this more suitable trip. Tempest stayed on late over 1160m last time and will also enjoy the step up in trip and C’Est Chique is knocking hard over this distance.

It was Unparalleled who came out on top on the Dingaans as the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained runner sped away to win by 4.25 lengths. On that occasion he had the benefit of No 3 draw in a field of 16 runners but this time jockey Gavin Lerena will need to overcome a wide draw as he is likely to jump from barrier No 15.

Harry’s Son and jockey Piere Strydom (JC Photo)

The Grade 2 Guineas is the first leg of the SA Triple Crown and one of these 16 runners will be looking to emulate the feat of Louis The King last year and collect the R2-million bonus. To do that they will also have to win the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m and the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m.

As far as the fillies are concerned, other than the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, they will be looking to win the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks to claim the R1-million bonus offered for winning the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara.

Unparalleled was rested after his Dingaans victory but has come out to win a Graduation Plate over 1160m at Turffontein and then looked desperately unlucky to finish a 0.50-length third in the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1450m on the inside track.

Following his run in the Dingaans, Harry’s Son went to Cape Town and put up a great effort to finish a 1.75-length second behind Act Of War in the Grade 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas at Kenilworth in December.

Piere Strydom has stayed loyal to trainer Paul Lafferty and the rest of the connections and will once again ride the Australian-bred colt, jumping from barrier No 8.

However, the race does not end with those two. Vaughan Marshall has Mljet in the race though, sadly, he also has a very wide draw. Marshall has warned that his charge has recently been gelded and could be in need of a run.

Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

Sean Tarry has three runners – Zambezi River, French Navy and Imperial Gold – all of whom are very capable on their day. They have all landed good draws and, over this 1600m, Zambezi River could be the pick.

Mike de Kock saddles Anjaal and Mutamakkin and, perhaps with stable jockey Anthony Delpech in the irons, the latter could be the pick of the pair.

The Fillies Guineas is headed up by Same Jurisdiction from the Duncan Howells stable, This KwaZulu-Natal-based runner has won her last four starts, including the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m at Greyville.

However, jockey Stuart Randolph will have to contend with No 12 draw.

Same Jurisdiction will face a strong challenge from the Tarry yard. They send out Siren’s Call with Piere Strydom up, Tamaanee, to ridden by S’manga Khumalo, Bichette, Sean Cormack up, and Trophy Wife, the mount of Raymond Danielson.

– Phumelela