The SA Champions Season commenced yesterday and although it will be unrecognisable in some facets due to the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic the crowded program brings with it plenty of exciting racing for online and telephone betting punters to look forward to.

The downside will be reduced stakes and only absolutely essential personnel will be allowed on course so there will be no crowds to create atmosphere. 

In the first eight weeks of the SA Champions Season all of these races will be run: 

June 7: The Grade 2 WSB Guineas (R175,000), the Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas (R150,000), the Grade 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes (R175,000).

June 13: The Grade 2 Post Merchants (R175,000), Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes (R100,000), Grade 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes (R100,000), the Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes (R100,000).

June 20: The Grade 2 WSB 1900 (R175,000), the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (R125,000), the Listed East Coast Cup (R85,000).

June 28: The Grade 1 Daily News 2000 (R500,000), the Grade 1 Gold Challenge (R425,000), the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 (R325,000), the Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes (R150,000), the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes (R85,000), the Listed Devon Air Stakes (R85,000), the Non-Black Type Durban Dash (R75,000.).

July 4:  The Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint (R425,000), the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint (R325,000), the Grade 1 Golden Horse Medallion (R325,000), the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship (R325,000), the Grade 3 Cup Trial (R125,000).

July 11: The Grade 2 Track And Ball Derby (R150,000), the Grade 3 TRack and Ball Oaks (R125,000), The KZN Winter Challenge races (1200m, 1600m, 2000m all for a stake of R75,000)./

July 18: The KZN Breeders Million Mile and seven other KZN Breeders races (all for stakes which are yet to be announced).

July 25: The Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July (R1,5 million), the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes (R325,000), the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe (R150,000), the Grade 2 Golden Slipper (R150,000), the Grade 3 Campanajo 2200 (R125,000), the Grade 3 DSTV Gold Vase (R125,000), the Listed Thukela Handicap (R85,000), the Non-Black Type eTHekwini Sprint  (R75,000) and the Non Black Type KZN Yearling Sale Million (R650,000). 

There will be a five week breathing space between the Vodacom Durban July meeting on July 25 and the Gold Cup meeting on August 29. 

At the latter meeting the following feature races will be staged, Grade 3 Gold Cup (R400,000), the Grade 1 Champions Cup (R425,000), the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint (R425,000), the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes (R325,000), the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes (R325,000), the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet (R150,000), the Grade 2 Umkhomazi Stakes (R150,000), the Grade 2 The Debutante (R150,000), the Listed Umngeni Handicap (R85,000) and the Listed Darley Arabian (R85,000).

The following rules shall be applicable from racing’s effective restart date, June 1.

The field sizes will be restricted to 12 runners per race with the exception of ALL Pattern races in which 14 runners will be allowed. However, it is hoped that by the time of the July the protocols will allow more than 14 runners. 

Jockeys will be restricted to ride in the region of their choice and cannot move in between provinces.  They will be allowed to make ONE move prior to the commencement of racing.

The adjusted minimum riding weight in Handicap races shall remain at 54kg.

Horses moving between regions shall NOT be allowed unless a horse is moving to another province on a permanent basis as per the regulations of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

All Horse Transport Companies must have the necessary Permits to move horses between the training centres and race courses.

The last race must be run not later than 16h45.

Only essential staff members will be permitted on to the racecourse through a single entrance point. 

1. Licensed Jockeys/Apprentices engaged to ride at the race meeting

2. Licensed Trainers with engaged runners

3. Licensed Assistant Trainers/Stable Employees (recommended one per stable)

4. Grooms (one per horse)

5. Official Photographers/Technical Staff

6. Racing Operator Staff

7. Licensed Officials

8. A maximum of two Racing Journalists at the sole discretion of the Racing Operator.

All public betting outlets will be closed but online betting and telephone betting will go ahead as normal.

To open an online TAB account: Visit www.tabgold.co.za and under FAQs there will be detailed instructions on how to open an account for online betting and telebetting. Downloading the Tabgold Betting App also allows one to bet on sport online.

Visit www.trackandball.co.za to open a fixed odds online betting account.    

By David Thiselton

Most of Cape Town’s top racehorses had departed for KwaZulu-Natal for the Durban season at the beginning of March, where the Vodacom Durban July, South Africa’s premier race was due to be run on the first Saturday in July. 

But with COVID-19 rearing its ugly head, Candice Bass Robinson, the first female trainer to win the prestigious Vodacom Durban July, found her string of stars stuck in Cape Town.

“My horses were only actually going to be going up in stages.  I wasn’t going to send the whole string up at the beginning of the season. And then the day they were supposed to leave, we were going into lockdown, so I decided to keep them here”, Bass Robinson explains.  “I’m glad I kept them here, as it means we are all in one place and I don’t have to worry about horses stuck up in Durban, without me being there.  So it worked out quite well.”

Bass Racing normally has a full complement of around 50 staff working at the racing yard. With lockdown looming the racehorses still had to be fed and exercised, while stables needed to be cleaned.  Bass Robinson admits that in the beginning it was tough going, but says her staff were absolute stars. 

“I had 23 guys that decided they would be happy to stay, and they stayed on the property here.  So for the first five weeks of lockdown we worked with half the staff.  Initially it was hard, but we changed a couple of things and we got into a nice groove.  I had 23 really good guys here.  No complaints, no moaning, they were fantastic, they were unbelievably accommodating.  They just got stuck into it.  

“This is what we have to do, and this is what we do. The only down side was that those guys never had a day off and it was a bit tough on them because it is hard work.”

Bass-Robinson was forced to look at new ways of doing things, with a reduced staff. “It has certainly opened my eyes to a couple of things that I need to change in my yard going forward.  Procedures and structures that I would like to change, because it actually worked really well.

As soon as the country moved to Level 4, the initial group of staff were given time off, while the second group of staff took over.  The racing stable is now back up and running.  “We are back to a full complement of staff”, said Bass Robinson.

“In full lockdown we obviously didn’t have any movement in and out of the yard, but with lockdown easing we are now going to have a lot more movement and that opens us up to a bit more risk. Hence, we have taken the necessary precautions.  We take temperatures every morning on arrival. There are hand sanitisers all around the yard and they have got to sanitise their hands in between work and when they come in and leave. Masks are worn at all times, even when riding.  We try to keep social distancing. It isn’t easy in a yard, but we all try and do our best.  These are uncertain times all over the world and we just need to make the best we can of a bad situation.”

With the movement of horses finally being allowed now, Bass Robinson will be sending her string up to contest the Durban season.  “I have pretty much kept the horses in work, they will have a prep run here and then they depart for Durban on the 11^th of June.” For only the second time in its history, the Vodacom Durban July has been moved and the race will now be run on the 25^th of July.

By Liesl King

Raymond Danielson has a good card of rides at the Highveld’s first meeting after lockdown at the Vaal (Tuesday 02 June) and has been tipped to score a hattrick.

The meeting marks the return of reigning national champion jockey Lyle Hewitson.

Luke Ferraris, Sean Tarry and David Nieuwenhuizen have all been tipped to score doubles.

The highlight of the meeting will be races 6 and 7 in which some classy horses are turning out.

The unbeaten Lady Of Steel faces the boys in race 6, an Allowance Plate over 1450m and this classy three-year-old is sure to make a bold bid but she does have a tough task at the weights with the talented Riverstown, who is ideally distance suited. The topweight Warrior’s Rest is always a tough nut to crack as he is able to maintain a strong gallop all the way to the line. Astrix is unbeaten over this trip and is well regarded by trainer Paul so can’t be discounted either and Promiseofamaster is a scopey sort who should have benefited from the break.

In the seventh the talented filly Wylie Wench comes in as reserve from a plum draw of two and is the one to beat provided she runs. Trainer Mike Azzie said he was waiting to find out whether she had made it into the field for the Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas to be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday and if she had she would be scratched from the Vaal race.

To open an online TAB account: Visit www.tabgold.co.za and under FAQs there will be detailed instructions on how to open an account for online betting and telebetting. Downloading the Tabgold Betting App also allows one to bet on sport online.

Visit www.trackandball.co.za to open a fixed odds online betting account.    

By David Thiselton

It’s premature to read anything into the form after a break of two months, but what was obvious at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday was that the stables of Brett Crawford, under the stewardship of Peter Muscutt, visiting trainer Glen Kotzen, and Anton Marcus are primed for South Africa’s Champion Season.

What will be more interesting in the next few days will be which jockeys will stay in KZN given that the National Horseracing Authority rules, under direction from the lock-down regulations, state that jockeys may move province only once until restrictions on movement are lifted.

So do the riders that previously had the luxury of travelling stay in KZN for Champions Season or take a chance on Gauteng, where their season’s ends on Saturday?

Marcus is always looking for an edge and was a regular riding work at Summerveld during lock-down, so not for nothing is he one of the most sort after riders in the country – not only for his undeniable ability in the saddle but also his work ethic.

Best ride of his four-timer was possibly the Doug Campbell-trained Farland. ‘Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes,’ was an order allegedly given by American officer William Prescott at the Battle of Bunker Hill in the American Civil War but it is often suicidal to give start at the top of the straight on the Greyville poly. But while all were scrubbing for home and sticks flailing, Marcus waited until the last second to pull the trigger and after a few sweaty palms for Farland supporters it was very much job done for Marcus.

Final Attempt and Hexatonic may have put a kink in a few preparations for the classics although Wendy Whitehead will not have been pleased with the antics of African Sunrise which saw the gelding not make it into the starting gate.

Who did catch the eye was Mount Anderson, who came from a long way back to fill the shallow end of the purse giving the impression that a mile and further, the Gr1 Daily News 200 in particular, will be well within his compass.

Kotzen made inroads into the travelling expenses account with a brace of winners, Final Attempt and Hexatonic adding to the kitty and debutante Fast Love, taking on older runners, running out a comfortable winner of the opening leg of the Pick 6.

By Andrew Harrison

The consequences of the Coronavirus lock-down have been debilitating as far as the sport’s finances are concerned but it is back to business come Monday with a 10-race card scheduled for the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly track.

Training has not been interrupted with both Ashburton and Summerveld carrying on as normal but it has been a bit of guess work as far as preparations have gone. Trainers have been in the dark as to when racing would resume so getting their charges to peak fitness for the restart will have been tricky.

That said, the two-month break will have done most horses the world of good with trainers having the time to sort out any persistent niggles.

So, the 120 horses lining up for Monday’s events should be in prime condition but finding winners could prove tricky. Some will be being preparing for the bigger races scheduled for South Africa’s Champion Season while some of the lessor lights will be primed for the restart.

A trio of runners that will almost certainly have the final classic races of the season in their sights are African Sunrise, Mount Anderson and Trip To Africa in the sixth, all three of which showed above average promise before the lock-down.

African Sunrise has won two of his four starts and both wins have been full of merit. Last time out from a coffin draw over the poly 1600m, he coasted home against older and more seasoned rivals. He has another difficult draw to overcome on Monday but Wendy Whitehead’s charge is a talented gelding and if not winning, should at least be in the money.

Dean Kannemeyer has a number of runners on the day and he will be looking for a big effort from Mount Anderson who followed up his maiden win with a smart victory in a MR 90 Handicap, a big step up from his maiden win. The gelding then came unstuck in a 98 MR Handicap but was under two lengths back to the useful Padre Pio. He is ideally suited to this course and distance and will be a big runner.

Trip To Africa is also lightly raced but Duncan Howells is of the opinion that he has a future. His first run out of the maidens is best ignored but he showed up well next time out, his jockey of the opinion that he may just have needed the run. He will much prefer Monday’s trip and must be included in all bets.

With only two months of the official season to run, Monday sees many juveniles in open company and those that show some potential are most likely to be too strong for many of their moderately performed older rivals.

Thomas Henry could be a case in point and open the card on a winning note for visiting trainer Glen Kotzen. He showed up well in his first two outings at Kenilworth but then fluffed his lines in an early season feature. Kotzen is not likely to have wasted money on a float trip to KZN if he didn’t think his charge would pay his way.

Given that punters will be hungry for some local action the Pick 6 will be a popular bet. Two runners that could save on expenses are Fade To Back in the opening leg, fourth race on the card, and Farland in the seventh.

Fade to Black could prove the pick of the runners that have raced but it may pay to keep an eye on the first timer Fast Love, another Glen Kotzen runner. Kotzen will leg up Anton Marcus in spite of him putting up half-a-kilo overweight which all points to a big run.

Doug Campbell’s runners generally perform well on the poly surface and although Farland’s last two outings have been on the turf, they have been in far superior company to what he meets on Monday. Farland is no stranger to the poly and from a good draw and Marcus aboard he strikes as a possible exotic bet banker.

By Andrew Harrison