Woodruff didn’t do quite as well as last year when sending out the trifecta but his remarks that Louis The King’s preparation had gone perfectly and that Killua Castle’s last run from a wide draw in the “bog” could be ignored proved to be spot on. 

Louis The King was placed perfectly about six lengths off the pace that was set reluctantly by Bold Inspiration and was not a strong one. The mare Jet Belle struck the front quite early in the straight and took about a two length lead but challengers began coming from all sides in the drying ground, which was officially posted as “good”.

The crowd roared as Louis The King, backed in to 18/10, began closing in on the outside but in the meantime his 66/1 shot stablemate Killua Castle had burst through in the centre. Louis The King then showed the courage that is the hallmark of all great champions. Both protagonists drifted towards the inside but it was the four-year-old Alchemy-bred Black Minnaloushe colt that responded to the crowd’s urging and managed to extract the necessary extra, despite carrying 59kg and giving Killua Castle 2,5kg.

The winning margin was 0,25 lengths and there was then a further 2,75 lengths back to the Tyrone Zackey-trained Gr 2 Victory Moon winner  Judicial. The Gr 1 Gold Cup winner the Brett Crawford-trained Wavin’ Flag was next best ahead of the Victory Moon runner up, the Alec Laird-trained Earl Of Derby. The Gavin van Zyl-trained No Worries filled the all important 6th place, as the Tote paid out that number of places.

Up and coming trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren took a chance entering Unparalleled in the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans over 1600m considering the gelding had taken five runs to win his maiden and was rated only 86. However, his belief in the Alchemy-bred by Lateral proved spot on as he came from a handy position off a strong pace and galloped on strongly to win by a facile 4,25 lengths under Gavin Lerena, defying his 55/1 odds. The favourite Harry’s Son took a bump early but was well positioned to strike and appeared to be cruising at the 300m. However, he could only plug on gamely and although he put 1,25 lengths between himself and the rest of the  field, the impression given was that he might prefer an easier mile. French Navy finished third ahead of the winner’s fancied female stablemate Siren’s Call and Illuminati was fifth.

Gavin van Zyl had a strong hand in the Gr 3 Fillies Mile and in the end it was the most fancied of his quintet, the Mauritzfontein-owned and bed Horse Chestnut filly Banbury, that was given a superbly judged ride by Piere Strydom to catch the Tote favourite Smart Call late and win by 1,25 lengths. The fancied Ataab was a further two lengths back in third.

The Gr 2 Stonach Group Racing Merchants over 1160m was won by the Highlands Farms Stud-bred three-year-old Trippi colt Trip To Heaven, who is trained by Sean Tarry and was ridden by birthday boy S’manga Khumalo. The classy 2/1 favourite crept closer from some way off the pace before showing a fantastic turn of foot and winning by 1,5 lengths from One Man’s Dream and the winner’s stablemate Blazing Al.

The Gr 2 Ipi Tombe Challenge over 1600m saw the Woodruff-trained Arcetri Pink proving her liking for course and distance and bursting out of the pack to win comfortably under Gavin Lerena at odds of 6/1. She is an Australian-bred by Rock Of Gibraltar and won the Gr Gauteng Guineas over course and distance last season. Pine Princess ran on well to just pip the favourite Carry On Alice for second. The latter is a top class three-year-old and didn’t have an ideal preparation as her seasonal reappearance was just nine days earlier and she should bounce back from this defeat.

The Ormond Ferraris-trained three-year-old Toreador filly Lazer Star remained unbeaten when showing pace throughout to win the Gr 3 Hardware Magnolia Handicap easily over 1160m under Weichong Marwing from Winter Star and Pej. The Tawny Syndicate bred horse is owned by Marwing’s wife Anneline and started 4/1 favourite.

The Dominic Zaki-trained five-year-old Highlands Farm Stud-bred Dynasty gelding Shimmering Gem showed amazing guts and staying power to win the Gr 3 Racing Association Handicap over 3200m by a comfortable margin under Khumalo.

Picture: Hack Media

Triple Crown hero Louis The King’s eyecatching preparation run in the Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile was his seasonal reappearance and he has “come along nicely since then.” He will love the expected soft going.

Rake’s Chestnut proved he enjoys this trip when a narrow second to Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and on that run he is well handicapped. He should handle soft going and although he lost his jockey at the start last time out in the Charity Mile he would have at least had a good blow out.

Disco Al has caught the eye as one that should love the course and distance and from pole position draw could be good place value. Judicial looks fair value considering his good win in the Gr 2 Victory Moon in testing conditions over 1800m on his reappearance. He is now 6 points higher in the merit ratings but has come into his own and can’t be ignored. Bold Inspiration is a big, long-striding sort who should love the Turffontein Standside track and it is easy to imagine him running on gamely throughout the straight, although travelling to altitude for a race this far is never easy.

Bouclette Top and As You Like are well handicapped with Louis The King on Triple Crown form but that didn’t help them much in the Charity Mile. However, Bouclette Top is having his third run after a rest and gelding. The yard make him a big runner over a trip he should enjoy. As You Like, who does have his niggles, was having his first run after a rest and gelding then and has been working “beautifully” so could well be a bigger threat this time.

Lockheed Jetstar plugged on gamely in the Charity mile and faces Louis The King on the same terms for a 0,5 length beating. He should get it on pedigree and Richard Fourie in the saddle from a good draw are two bonuses. Killua Castle looks a touch high in the handicap and appears to prefer fast ground.

Bezanova has grown into his big frame and is having his third run after a rest over a suitable trip, so could be a factor from a good draw despite a three point raise for his Charity Mile win.

Earl Of Derby ran a fine second in testing going in the Gr 2 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m, so will love the going and could run into the money, although from a wide draw he will likely have to make up a lot of ground.

Jet Belle is full of class and has won a Gr 2 over 2000m, but a wide draw and soft ground over this trip could be a concern. Athina is also widely drawn and full of class but the trip in soft conditions creates a question mark. Glorious Jet ran fair races in the Charity Mile and Victory Moon but now has a very wide draw.

Wavin’ Flag would prefer further but will love a true stamina test so might fare well in soft conditions on this tough track. Sovereign Mint has improved and runs on well over shorter so could get the trip but he has a very wide draw.  Everest is a handy type and will likely find it tough to keep this field at bay. Enchanted Silk will love soft ground but has a tough task at the weights.

The selection is Louis The King from Rake’s Chestnut, Judicial, Disco Al, Bold Inspiration and Bouclette Top.

Champion colt Harry’s Son has a fine racing temperament and is improving all the time so will be hard to beat in the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans over 1600m. Jayyed was running on late over 1400m in the Graham Beck so will prefer this trip, but is now 4,5kg worse off with Harry’s Son. The filly Siren’s Call’s formlines are very strong. Front Rank proved his liking for testing conditions last time over course and distance and is well drawn. Pioneer Spirit was staying on well in the Ready To Run Cup and being by Go Deputy will be improving all the time. They are tipped in the order of mention.

Smart Call has very strong form and could be the one to beat in the Gr 3 Fillies Mile from a good draw. Kileigh has a wide draw but is well regarded and could be the day’s best place bet. Ataab is an improving sort and could be next best from Zrinski and Banbury.

For The Lads has relished returning to sprints and is well handicapped in the Gr 3 Magnolia where she is tipped to beat Pej, who will love soft ground, Goldie Coast, Tzigane and African Dream.

Flyfirstclass should love the Turffontein straight and is tipped to win the Merchants from Kingston Boy, Normanz, Vulcan and Showmetheway.

Carry On Alice is ultra classy and should win the Gr 2 Ipi Tombe over 1600m, despite her reappearance having been a bit close. Mohave Princess is underrated and improving and gets a fair draw for a change so is tipped as the danger. Pine Princess, Silver Class and Arcetri Pink could be next best.

Shimmering Gem impressed from the front last time and can follow up in the Gr 3 RA Handicap from Baracah, Savage Wind, Sky Rise and Henry Higgins.

Picture: Louis The King and Rake’s Chestnut (Nkosi Hlophe)

The selection table below represents each tipsters first three selections in the six big feature races (Races 4 to 9) being run at Turffontein tomorrow, including the Gr 1 Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup (Race 7). Turffontein is expecting a crowd of over 20,000 on Summer Cup day and punters around the country have a host of carryover pools to look forward to, including a Pick 6 pool (Races 4 to 9) that’s expected to top R5MILLION.

Laird said that all three of his raiders Bold Inspiration, Pej and Normanz were “absolutely spot on” and that Sean Cormack had been very happy with their work. He felt Bold Inspiration, a long striding sort who should love the Turffontein Standside track, should be helped by the expected soft going due to his considerable size. He said Pej, who runs in the Gr 3 Hardware Magnolia Handicap “grows an extra leg” in soft going, “she loves it”, and Normanz, who runs in the Stronach Group Racing Merchants also enjoys it. Laird  doesn’t believe in the second run after a rest theory, which would apply to Normanz. Laird will follow the same travel plan he used for Rich Girl, who won the R3,85 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup at the beginning of the month, by arriving on the day of the race.

Mark Dixon said that his respective Magnolia and Merchants runners, African Dream and Showmetheway, were “cherry ripe.” He is hoping his wife Hayley will be given permission to accompany African Dream to the starting stalls as she did last time and said that if all went well at the start the speedy filly would be a “massive runner”. He said Showmetheway is “not the best handicapped horse” around but had “never been better”. Showmetheway has had a new lease of life since hold up tactics have been employed. Both horses will relish soft ground.

Frank Robinson said that his talented Gr 3 Bradlows/Morkels Fillies Mile candidate Olma “ploughs through” the beach sand at home and will love a testing 1600m, while her wide draw could work in her favour as the going is often better on the outside in wet conditions at Turffontein. Sean Cormack has been “ecstatic” with her work. Robinson felt his Investec Dingaans runner Leven Point, being a Fort Wood who is looking for 2000m, would also love the testing 1600m. He gave Great Rumpus a big shout in the tenth, pointing out that he finished close to Bold Inspiration last time out despite being checked twice in the straight. Jamal “has a big climbing action and loves soft ground” and won his only previous start at Turffontein.

Craig Eudey said that his Merchants runner Flyfirstclass, who has plenty of pace, should enjoy Turffontein’s quick sprint track. “He is very well and loves soft ground.”

Doug Campbell’s Merchants charge Kingston Boy finished third in the race last year and the exhilarating turn of foot he possesses is ideally suited to this track as he can sit behind the strong pace in the early stages. He said Donovan Dillon was “very excited” about his chances and he himself felt Kingston Boy was handicapped to beat a lot of the opposition.

Tony Rivalland said that his Magnolia runner Choir Maiden had not been working as well as he had known her to, but she did finish fourth in her only previous try over the course and distance despite hanging across the track.

Laird and Eudey’s charges arrive on the morning of the race and the rest arrive midday Friday.

Van Zyl said, “The top weight has to be a concern over 2000m in expected soft going, but he does now have a lovely draw of eight meaning he will be able to be placed according to the pace.”

No Worries’ (main picture) soft ground statistics are not encouraging, but Van Zyl said, “It is hard to say how he will handle soft ground, because he only experienced it before we fitted blinkers late in his three-year-old year, and this horse has disappointed everytime recently when he’s run without blinkers.”

Van Zyl has three runners in the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans over 1600m and sides marginally with Pioneer Spirit, although stable jockey Keagan de Melo has chosen Sun On Africa.

He said, “Pioneer Spirit (pictured)  is very well and was staying on well in the Ready To Run Cup over 1400m when beaten only 1,4 lengths. On a line through Afrikaburn he has a chance and is crying out for the extra 200m. He has been gelded since that last run and we did win a feature with Bulsara three weeks after gelding. Sun On Africa was found out by the heavy going last time and is now having his peak run. It’s a little bit on the short side but if he repeats his second place finish to Bezanova he is in the hunt. Iwo Jima was running on when three lengths back in the Ready To Run Cup and the extra 200m, and further, will suit him down to the ground.”

The yard have five runners in the Gr 3 Bradlows/Morkels Fillies Mile and Van Zyl fancied Kileigh ahead of De Melo’s choice Brown Sugar, who is coming off a hattrick of 1400m wins.

He said, “Brown Sugar will be competitive if she stays the trip. The mile will be right up Kileigh’s alley and she won’t be as far back as she was in the Starling Stakes. Banbury has got the form to win considering Piere Strydom’s aboard. Cassey O’Malley wasn’t disgraced on her Highveld debut and the winner Ataab then came and won next time out by five, so with expected improvement she shouldn’t be left out of trifectas and quartets.

“Withbatedbreath is a lovely big filly with a huge stride and won her maiden very well. She will hold her own in the company. I think that of the competition Smart Call is very smart, Ataab is improving all the time, Zrinski won her maiden very well despite losing two lengths, Tamanee is not out of it and Bilateral won a Gr 1 beating Alboran Sea, although I think this will be her toughest test. The formlines are still being established but I think some good fillies will come out of this race.”

Van Zyl runs Mohave Princess in the Gr 2 Ipi Tombe Stakes over 1600m. He said, “She is improving all the time and finding herself. She has the ability to win a race like this and has her best draw for some time.” The three-year-old Pine Princess is currently 3/1 favourite for this race while Mohave Princess is 10/1. The latter is 0,5kg better off with Pine Princess for a neck beating over 1800m at the end of October. The weight for age change since then would mean Pine Princess still has the form edge, but there is not much in it.

Van Zyl said about his well-bred first-timer by Ideal World in the last, “The factors against are that it is on the short side, it could be wet, it’s under lights and he could be green, but he is a very, very smart horse and I wouldn’t be surprised if he popped up.”

Pictures: Nkosi Hlophe