Bloodstock agent John Freeman not only owns a share of the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and J&B Met winner Futura, but is in the rare positon of managing both the first and second placed stallions on the current national sires log, Dynasty and Trippi respectively.

Freeman also manages Captain Al, who is right up there in fifth place on the log.

He purchased Dynasty as a yearling and was later responsible for syndicating both him and Captain Al.

He has shares in all three of the above-mentioned sires.

Freeman recalled, “Dynasty has extremely well balanced proportions and superb looks and temperament. If you had to make a mould of how a stallion ought to look, he would be it. He also has incredible movement.”

Freeman said about the now four-year-old colt Futura, “He is very much his father’s son. The most valuable asset Dynasty passes on to his progeny are his elastic stride and his heart.”

Dynasty, a 1999-born colt by the late great Fort Wood, was trained by Dean Kannemeyer and won nine of his twelve starts. He won four Gr 1s in successive races in 2003, the Cape Derby, the South African Guineas, the Daily News 2000 and the Vodacom Durban July.

Freeman, in recalling the purchase of Dynasty, began, “I was a great admirer of Fort Wood, his progeny were so outstanding you couldn’t miss them.”

However, Dynasty’s grandsire Commodore Blake was considered an off putting point for all except Freeman.

He said, “People didn’t understand Commodore Blake, so Dynasty was hard to assess. Nobody knew that Commodore Blake was trained by Sir

Michael Stoute, who told me the horse could run very well. He had a timeform rating of 123. He was imported by the Bloemfontein-based Jane Wessels so I knew the horse well as I am a third generation racing man and the racing community used to be small. Commodore Blake only averaged 15 foals per crop in a short stud career in South Africa. But the key to Dynasty is that Commodore Blake was by the English Derby winner Blakeney out of Ribamba, who was a half-sister to the classic winner Bruni (who won the St. Leger by ten lengths). Commodore Blake’s grandam is a close genetic relative of Horse Chestnut. I liked the pedigree and it has proven to be good.”

Freeman recalled that even prominent owner Jack Mitchell, who is today one of Dynasty’s biggest supporters at the sales, had decided to “pass” when offered a share in Dynasty after the yearling sales, because although he loved the horse he was not sure about the Commodore Blake angle. Today Mitchell has a share in both Futura and another top Dynasty colt, the Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate.

Dynasty was owned during his racing career by John Newsome’s Fieldspring Racing, who also owned the champions Free My Heart and Rabiya.

Freeman was Fieldspring’s trusted bloodstock agent in South Africa and he recalled that there was once an offer for Dynasty after his July win of an incredible US$5 million. The prospective purchaser could not believe that this amount could be turned down for a South African-bred and Freeman had replied, “It’s simple, he’s not for sale because we want to breed with him.”

This turned out to be a wise decision, because his stud value would far surpass that figure today.

The Highlands Stud-based Dynasty recently broke the record for the highest priced horse sold at a South African sale when a Maine Chance Farms-bred yearling colt, out of a full-sister to the champion sire Silvano, was knocked down for R5,2 million.

The top former trainer Herman Brown Senior, respected for his vast knowledge of thoroughbreds, commented that in 63 years of attending sales he had never seen a better yearling. He said that this Dynasty colt had resembled a three-year-old and also spoke of his excellent legs.

The Drakenstein Stud-based Trippi remains the most expensive thoroughbred ever imported to South Africa and Freeman is adamant that a stallion of such quality would never have been landed had it not been for the financial crisis in the USA.

Trippi’s numbers are now the equal of Dynasty and his success this year lies in his amazing three-year-olds, the best of whom is the Maine Chance Paddock Stakes and Klawervlei Majorca Stakes winning-filly Inara. Trippi is leading the three-year-old national log.

Freeman said that initially Trippi’s progeny had been viewed as “forward” types and he consequently broke the South African record for having the highest number of two-year-old stakes winners with his first crop.

Freeman said, “That was initially his undoing, but trainers now understand not to rush them and give them the time they deserve and the rewards are coming.”

Lafferty said: “He is going to go for the Betting World Gauteng Guineas at the end of the month and then the SA Classic four weeks later.

“I am also going to run him internationally – he is top class and I want to test him. That may mean going via Mauritius but there are things going on (regarding quarantine) that may come to something.”

Harry’s Son, winner of last season’s Premiers Champion Stakes, was beaten less than two lengths by Act Of War when flown down for the Grand Parade Cape Guineas. But that was an experience Lafferty is not keen to repeat.

He said: “There is too much schlep involved in getting a horse down to Cape Town. He had to stand on the tarmac for three hours and he didn’t get to the course until 10.00am.”

He said, “All seven of my rides will be competitive and five of them have a good chance of making the first four.”

He emphasised, “I really like the ride for Mr Tarry in race 2, Aleut.” This three-year-old colt by Sail From Seattle out of an Al Mufti mare made his debut in a weak maiden over 1200m on the Vaal sand and, although finishing 5,5 lengths back in second to the progressive sand type Forest View, he was 5,25 lengths clear of the rest of the field and should have benefitted from the outing.

He faces another weak field and comes out well on formlines. The only danger of those to have run appears to be Mississippi Rising, who made a fair debut over today’s course and distance in a weak race.

All six of his other rides are for Mike Azzie.

Hewitson began, “Love Without End in race three is a big runner.” This Dynasty filly is a half-sister to the useful five-time winner Himilayan Hill. She found consistent betting support in four outings on the sand and might appreciate the switch to turf in this weak field over1400m, although the Johan Janse Van Vuuren-trained C’Est Chique looks the one to beat.

Hewitson rates Apple Crumble in race four, a maiden over 1400m, another big runner, “provided he brings his work to the course.” This four-year-old gelding is bred in the purple, being by Trippi out of the Azzie-trained Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes-winning Jet Master mare Stratos.

Hewitson said, “I was supposed to have ridden him earlier, but there was a change of ownership, and we think the 1400m will be the best introduction for him. I have already worked him three times on the grass and he gives a good feel. He is a straight forward horse and won’t be green.”

Next up in race five, a maiden over 1700m, he rides the favourite Netherby Hall and said, “After his pleasing debut he will be a big runner.” This three-year-old Judpot gelding showed pace throughout on debut over 1600m and finished a close up third. He looks to be a resolute galloper and will not only appreciate the step up in trip, but will likely strip fitter.

In race eight, a maiden over 2000m, he rides the three-year-old Awesome Adam. This Australian-bred colt returns to the turf after a way below par outing on sand and is the 18/10 favourite. Hewitson said, “He is crying out for this trip and is also a big runner.”

Hewitson is the son of former jockey Carl, who is these days the assistant trainer in the top Port Elizabeth yard of Yvette Bremner. Lyle has always regarded his father as his biggest mentor and is thrilled that he will be at the meeting today. He said, “My Dad has watched me ride one winner before but it will be great to have him at the meeting to provide extra advice. I just hope it works out well and that I can make him proud.”

He said about his plans to become a professional jockey, “As soon I have completed my matric I will consider my best options but I definitely want to make it my career path.”

The South African Jockeys Academy know about his ambitions and, due to his obvious skill in the saddle and fantastic attitude, they are unlikely to turn him down if that would indeed be his best option. Hewitson revealed, “I barely get to ride work during the school term, which is quite hard and is a limitation, but in the holidays I pretty much ride 24/7. I am grateful to Kearsney for allowing me the time off to ride in races.”

He has a following among his fellow pupils as well his school teachers. His biggest fan is the Engineering and Graphic Design teacher Dean Moodley, who is also a prominent sports coach. He said, “I think he knows about the noms before I do!”

He feels he has a good relationship with the likes of Azzie and Tarry and said, “I wish I could pay them back by riding work more often, but I am grateful for the support and hope it will pay off tomorrow.”

Hewitson rode his first winner on 19 November 2013 aboard the Yogas Govender-trained Argo’s Jet in just his second career race ride. To date he has had 40 rides for 8 winners at a superb strike rate of 20% and is very much a rider to follow.

“I am now giving the two-year-olds one less gallop than I used to. It’s one less than they should have and I then let the races bring them on,” said the champion trainer. “I know it’s not ideal for punters but that’s the way it has to be with the handicap system in South Africa the way it is.

“I used to bring them out ready to win first time but in some cases they were only winning because I had given them more work than the other trainers.”

This is not the first time that Snaith has vowed to go easy with his two-year-olds to avoid the risk of them being over-rated and in the past it has soon fallen victim to his relentless desire to win. But seemingly he means business on this occasion.

He is also looking forward to new opportunities in the second half of the season, particularly with the 26-box Johannesburg satellite yard to be opened in May.

He said: “That is going to be exciting and, after taking a week off, I’m going to make some decisions because I might send some horses up there now including Buckinghampshire.

“In the meantime I’ve got to work through this virus which is making the yard a ghost of what it normally is.”

The decisions will involve Legislate – “He is just resting at the moment. We don’t know what he will do although there is talk of Durban.”

The big races apart, Sean Cormack was dominant and landed a four-timer starting with the Dennis Drier-trained Balkan when hot favourite Night Of Stars returned with a wound on her upper jaw after bursting through the pens.

But what would have happened had Act Of War not fallen victim – almost certainly to the bug that is sweeping as mercilessly and as randomly through the Cape Town stables as the devil’s scythe – is a matter of expensive conjecture for those who backed him at 1-3.

“I was happy to track the leader but 500m out I knew I was in trouble,” reported Piere Strydom whose triumphant record-breaking roll went into sharp, albeit temporary, reverse on three beaten Grade 1 favourites.

The course vet reported that Act Of War was “mildly fatigued” but Joey Ramsden found him far worse when he inspected him in the racecourse stables, saying: “He is a very tired horse and he is blowing hard. This wasn’t his run – he emptied out too quickly for that – and he finished in a heap with horses rated far below him.”

Gavin Lerena boldly made all the running and then set out to really stretch the field as he turned for home. Asked when he realised he had the favourite in trouble, he replied straight-faced: “When I worked my horse last Monday!”

Matthew de Kock, assistant to his father, added: “We made the running because we knew he could get the distance and we wanted to make sure that it was a true run race. This is a special horse and I was screaming for him the whole way up the straight. He is now looking at the SA Classic and Derby.”

Angus Gold, racing manager for owner-breeder Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: “Ertijaal had colic as a young horse. We had to open him up and it was touch and go whether he would survive. To win a Derby 18 months later is quite something.”

Lerena and De Kock jnr repeated the tactics with Kingston Mines in the J & B Urban Honey Stayers and the Archipenko four-year-old will go for the Gold Bowl at Turffontein in April.

Mike Bass, 70 today, celebrated early when Inara gave him his fourth Klawervlei Majorca in ten years.  Grant van Nierkek took full advantage when Cold As Ice’s suspect stamina began to tell in the final furlong.

Strydom, confirming this was the reason why the 18-10 favourite drifted towards the middle of the course, added: “I saved her and saved her as long as I could.”

Kevin Sommerville, racing manager for the Trippi filly’s owner-breeder Gaynor Rupert, said: “She is qualified for the Breeders’ Cup after winning the Paddock Stakes. At the moment that is only an option but Mrs Rupert will sit down with Mike and discuss it.”