Van Zyl’s R1,2 million purchase Redcarpet Captain impressed on debut last Tuesday night at Turffontein. He showed good cruising speed in the Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m and S’Manga Khumalo was consequently able to ride a confident race, sitting on him until the closing stages before producing a telling late burst to win cosily by 0,75 lengths from Mogok Master. Redcarpet Captain was receiving 3kg from the latter, but looks to have a lot of improvement in him and will likely enjoy further too. Mogok Master won well on debut and has been described as “an extremely good” horse by Peter, so will also be worth following.

Buckinghampshire (left) Seventh Plain (right) – Sporting Post

Gavin van Zyl’s chief owner Brian “Buffalo Bill” Burnard is a fine horseman himself and the pair have amassed a two-year-old string from various sales that are a sight to see in the mornings. Redcarpet Captain was the first of them to win and it should pay to keep an eye on any of this string coming out in the next few weeks.

Yesterday at Scottsville the well bred Baahir, an Australian-bred colt by world leading sire Galileo out of an Oasis Dream mare, won comfortably over 1200m under Anthony Delpech. He will have class on his side so could contest a couple of major sprints as a two-year-old before stepping up to a more suitable trip.

Corne Spies is usually competitive in the big two-year-old races and last Tuesday night at Turffontein his filly Scandal scooted home in a Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1000m under Fanie Chambers, winning easily despite being green and running around a lot. It would be no surprise to see her contesting forthcoming features, including the Gr 1 SA Fillies Nursery. It would be particularly fitting if she could win the latter event as she is by the old KZN Midlands soldier Muhtafal, who died this past weekend.

Meanwhile, Buckinghampshire is already in Johannesburg where he will be prepared for the SA Nursery. Buckinghampshire, who is an eyecatching specimen, beat the promising Seventh Plain in the Listed Sun International Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1000m on J&B Met day. He was receiving 3 kg, but looks more a sprinting type than the latter. The long-striding Seventh Plain has plenty of scope for improvement and is also likely to make an impact on Gr 1 races this season, especially when the trip is extended.

* Pictures supplied by SportingPost.co.za

He said: “I normally never have a bet but I was so convinced about this filly that I put R1 000 on at 3-1 last Wednesday morning and I advised my partner in the horse (Larry Wainstein’s wife Lucille) to do the same.”

Ennion was one of the few people on course who thought that Richard Fourie’s mount had got up and Andrew Fortune, grinning broadly, rode straight into the winner’s box on Natatela convinced he had held on.

The stipes interviewed the former champion about his riding. Although he picked up his whip inside the final furlong he rode the closing stages with hands and heels. He was informed that “he needs to ride his mounts with sufficient vigour so as to leave the stewards with no room for query.”

Ennion’s comments on this page a week ago about Monsoon Magic winning with bone chips in her joints attracted the attention of the SPCA and the Milnerton trainer had a pleasant surprise when he had the legs x-rayed.

He said: “The vet told me that he had some good news. The fragments had all gone. They had been healed by nature and time.”

Paul Reeves reports that Forever Alert, who trailed in last when 13-10 favourite for Wednesday’s two-year-old race, is free of any virus.

He said: “We are still doing tests but physically she is fine. The only thing I can put the performance down to is her behaviour. She is like a lamb at home but this time she wouldn’t even let the jockey get on.”

Brandon May, the latest apprentice find, made it two out of two for Eric Sands when scoring on Silver Salver. The 18-year-old also rode a winner at Scottsville and another at Turffontein before returning to his home town six weeks ago.

Joey Ramsden said: “He had colic last September and had to have an operation. We’ve been getting him back and he is doing very well. I am still in two minds about running him but it is more than likely that he will return in the Mile.”

Cape Guineas third Kingvoldt is also in Saturday’s R110 000 conditions race but he seems more likely to run in the 1 200m Pinnacle Stakes on the same Prawn Festival card.

Ramsden said: “He wasn’t well on the Monday after the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. We did blood tests and we found a few things wrong but we couldn’t get the blood level in time for him to run in the Cape Thoroughbred Sales Stakes.”

Mercury Sprint winner Fly By Night is also entered for the Pinnacle but she will stay at home.

Mike Bass reported: “I haven’t got enough work into her. I have only just got her joint right and she is not yet ready for this.”

Bass has seven of the 27 entries in the Breco Seafoods Prix Du Cap – a race he has won three times in the past eight seasons – including top weight Hammie’s Hooker and Lanner Falcon who is badly drawn.

He said: “I will decide what to run after they have done their work on Monday but I am trying to run a couple including Hammie’s Hooker.”

Neil Bruss will run Klawervlei Majorca fourth Red Flame and Brett Crawford confirms last season’s KRA Fillies Guineas winner Maybe Yes an intended starter.

Grant van Niekerk’s mount started favourite over 1 400m last time but threw away his chance by pulling hard and refusing to settle in the early stages. He was beaten three-quarters of a length and should be suited by the faster pace of this sprint race.

“I think he is as good over 1 200m as he is over 1 400m and he has got a chance here,” says Mike Bass. The gelding opened at 2-1 yesterday with Betting World who have as their 13-10 favourite Saint Donan, a consistent sort who has the advantage of Andrew Fortune for the first time.

Yesterday’s scratching of Tar Heel (dirty trach wash) leaves Galaxy King with a big chance in the opening Welcome to Bishops Charity Raceday Maiden. He was a 40-1 chance on debut and carried half a kilo over yet he beat all except Ernie who went on to take third in the Met day Listed race.

“He had a bad cough since and that interfered with his preparation, although not a lot,” says Ronnie Sheehan. “He is a nice horse and he has come on.”

Eric Sands, who had a double on Wednesday, sends out 22-10 favourite Silver Salver for the next. His rider’s 4kg claim will be useful, particularly as he was raised a kilo for last time’s third. Bobby James ran well in good company on Queen’s Plate day and has been left on the same rating. He is preferred at 7-2.

Interestingly the useful Twentymanjones (33-10) drops in trip after good runs over 1 200m and 1 400m. “The race doesn’t look that strong and I’m trying to get him into the weakest races to boost his confidence,” explains Darryl Hodgson.

Phoebus is a 5-1 chance for the Sillery Private Estate Maiden and could be the one to beat if you are prepared to overlook last time’s disappointment. The stipes ordered a veterinary examination but nothing showed up. “There was nothing wrong,” explains Dean Kannemeyer. “He raced three wide and Karl Neisius said he couldn’t get in.”

Canadian Dollar is evens favourite but has been off for six months and so Consonance (28-1) could be the danger. He is another who ran below his best last time. “His debut was better than expected but I have no excuses for that second run except that the course was riding quick and he got a bit far back,” says Brett Crawford who admits he is a little in the dark. “The horse is not a great home worker and he is still  not showing much.”

The Vaughan Marshall-trained Sassy Sal (28-10) could be hard to beat in the Powerplaycricket Maiden but Greg Cheyne is on the useful Chill Spa (33-10). He is riding out of his skin and has had nine winners in the past week. Fortune rides Natatela (28-10) and Hodgson reckons she will appreciate the step up in trip.

Picture: Grant van Niekerk has the ride on Panga Panga

The highest rated race tonight is the sixth, a MR 74 Handicap over 1800m, and it is ultra competitive. Big Bird is 15 points lower than his last winning mark on turf and is drawn well over a trip and surface he should enjoy.

Big Bird (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mr Royal has shown some good form over this sort of course and distance and took to blinkers well last time, so from pole position draw for an in form yard he has a chance. Pearly King has always struck as better than his form suggests, but was often head strong, so now that he has become more settled and is low in the ratings he could follow up on his recent win. He was ridden by an apprentice having his first ride around the turn last time and ran wide into the straight so that run can probably be ignored and he now has a more experienced 2,5kg claimer up.

His stablemate Priceless Gem is in good form and has a better draw than he did last time when running on well from near last over course and distance for a close second. Black Jaguar has run on well over 1600m on the poly before so is interesting stepped up to this trip. Discourse was 0,35 lengths behind Priceless Gem last time when racing a touch wide, but he now has an even wider draw. Sean Cormack has remained aboard Roy’s Jet so has to be considered despite needing to improve on form.

On My Wits Alone was a touch disappointing last time but he is now re-united with Sean Veale who won a maiden easily aboard him over course and distance before that. Silver Spring is a disappointing sort and the handicapper isn’t being too kind to him, but he did beat Priceless Gem over 1900m on turf in his last start so can’t be ignored. Emblem Royale also comes out better than Priceless Gem on their last meeting on the poly, but that was over 1600m and to date he has failed when stepped up in trip. The horses are selected in the order mentioned.

The first race over 1000m forms the first leg of the bipot. Varlotone has a 2,5kg claimer up and with second time blinkers from a good draw she could be the one to beat as she has shown pace before. Dark Rose stumbled at the start over course and distance last time but still managed to stay on for third. Ginger Biscuit is costly to follow but has a chance if fulfilling her potential. Roy’s Angel hasn’t been disgraced and could improve.

In the second race Anasa was slow away and then ran all over the course on debut at Scottsville, but was doing good work late and she is the one to beat from a good draw with Anthony Delpech up.

In the third Supreme Power was given a nine point raise for his last win but on his best Cape form he still has a fine chance of defying the handicapper. Legend Fighter was a bit outpaced in the straight over 1200m last time before staying on strongly so he should love the extra 200m here. Hat-trick-seeking Nitro Nori is in fine form over course and distance and as one that has always potentially been better than this level, he should be right there.

Beautiful Jet (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the fourth race White Christmas showed ability on debut over 1200m before plugging on when appearing to be outpaced throughout over 1400m last time and he should relish this trip on pedigree. Roy’s Flyer is an obvious form contender in this weak field. Fairtrade wasn’t disgraced over 1200m last time and should enjoy the step up in trip.

The fifth is another weak race, but Bev’s Baby has some fair poly form over this sort of trip and is the one to beat with Cormack up.

In the seventh Beautiful Jet returns to the course and distance of her fine penultimate run. She ran on well from a long way back then and nearly got up, so her wide draw is not too much of a concern although she would like a fair pace. Saint Camille is a half-sister to Serissa and could set the fractions. She has some fair poly form in the maidens and fought back to just fail over 1400m the last time she ran on it, which suggested she should stay this trip. Queen Eliza also has to be considered.

In the last race Cape Vesta was most unlucky over this 1600m trip in her penultimate start on turf and could get it right here as she is only 0,5kg under sufferance. Rachel Leigh has been knocking on the door off this merit rating and is well drawn.

At Scottsville the eye catching sort Snowman returns to action in the seventh race over the 1600m course and distance of his unlucky defeat at the end of December. This is definitely a horse to follow.