Easy Lover had proved his class in his previous outing when beating some useful older horses in a handicap over 1200m despite being an early three-year-old running off a merit rating of 92.

This was the first time he had raced over further than 1450m, but after sitting at the back he looked as if he had been dropped into the race at the 200m mark and won effortlessly by 2,5 lengths from the Mike de Kock-trained favourite Trip To Rio and the Mike Miller-trained Melson.

The second favourite Split To Breeze was next best, but finished 7,75 lengths behind the winner, while the promising Rif Raf was beaten eight lengths into fifth which underlined the class of Easy Lover’s performance.

However, Howells does not believe Easy Lover is quite Gr 1 class and will instead be aiming him at a Cape Thoroughbred Sales R2,5 million sales race at Turffontein in February.

Easy Lover drifted from 22/10 to 9/2 and this was a welcome win for KZN’s champion trainer as his yard has been through a rare quiet spell.

In the previous race, a MR 74 Handicap over 1200m on the polytrack, the Dennis Drier-trained four-year-old Horse Chestnut gelding Ho’oponopono (pictured) looked one of the best bets on the card as he was running off a likely capped merit rating of 70 having won his maiden over 1000m by over three lengths. He duly won by 4,5 lengths under Sean Cormack and will probably still be ahead of the handicapper next time out.

Cormack completed a double when the ever improving Paul Gadsby-trained Lundy’s Liability gelding Candy Moon narrowly won the last, a Conditions Plate over 1600m, which was one of only two races run on the turf.

Anton Marcus added another winner to his treble on Friday night by scoring in the second race on the heavily backed Garth Puller-trained odds-on favourite Snow Rose.

Anthony Delpech rode a winner on Friday night, one at Turffontein on Saturday and followed suit by having one winner yesterday on the Sean Tarry-trained Strategic’s Pride who won a maiden over 1600m.

Mark Dixon has only had the four-year-old Trippi filly San Trip for two runs and she has now won both of them, having got up in a fillies and mares MR 84 handicap over 1900m yesterday under Keagan de Melo. This big, rangy sort could have more wins in her.

The most exciting finish yesterday was the fifth over 1000m and saw 2,5kg claimer Callan Murray only just prevailing on the Colin Scott-trained Stormy Cat.

However, the ride of the day could well have come in the first from the much underestimated jockey Derryl Daniels, who won on the 150-1 shot Mullins Bay first-timer filly from the Lola Crawford yard Dream Bay. The poly is being called a “jockey’s track”, as pace judgement and timing are of the essence and Daniels poly statistics in October and November tell a story, 26 rides, eight wins and a strike rate of 30,77%. Furthermore the return for a R1 bet on every one of his mounts in this period has been R114,30.

Pictures: Nkosi Hlophe

Drier’s big classic hopeful Generalissimo (pictured) was hugely impressive again on Saturday when leading from pillar to post against a classy Graduation Plate field over 1200m under stable jockey Sean Cormack and in the process he lowered the course Kenilworth record from 69,54 seconds to 69,51 seconds.

Drier is hopeful the Var colt will see out 1600m despite his speed and said, “There was a tailwind on Saturday and he showed that he might just have needed it. My gut feel is that he will get the mile as he is just so relaxed.”

Indeed he did appear to tire late in the race, but had carved out a big lead in effortless fashion before that and won comfortably by 1,25 lengths.

He has drawn very well in the weight for age Gr 2 Selangor Cup over 1600m on the Kenilworth Old Course on November 22 and how he fares there will likely decide whether he has a tilt at the big one, the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas.

Drier’s string are now “totally over” the bad patch and are in rude health at his Phillippi base. He said, “It is a blessing we left early, because they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to have run in their planned races. They’re all now eating well and working nicely.”

In fact a case of African Horse Sickness at Summerveld a week or two after the string left would have prevented them from travelling at all had they had left it much longer.

An exciting youngster from the yard, Mint Master, makes his Cape Town debut on Wednesday in a MR 76 Handicap over 1000m. This Jet Master colt won his debut on the Greyville polytrack over 1000m by 4,25 lengths and Drier said, “He is very well. It’s the first time out the maidens, but we are hoping he runs a cracker. He has lots of natural ability and is very speedy.”

The yard’s stalwart five-year-old Jet Master mare Jet Aglow (pictured)  is also “very, very well.” She deserves a Gr 1 win and will take the same path that her celebrated stablemate Beach Beauty took last year, the Gr 2 weight for age (wfa) Green Point Stakes over 1600m on November 22 against the boys (where she has drawn superbly in three), followed by the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m and the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m.

However, Cormack might have a tough choice in the latter two events as they are also the target of another top class Jet Master from the yard, the four-year-old Eventual Angel. This filly has won four out of five, including a Gr 3, and makes her Cape debut on November 19 in a fillies and mares conditions plate over 1600m.

She has never gone beyond 1400m and Drier said about her chances of seeing out the 1800m of the Paddock Stakes, “We will see but she is a very relaxed, easy filly.”

His two big sprinters Guinness and Captain Of All are both back on track and being targeted at the Betting World Gr 1 Cape Flying Championship on January 24.

Drier is also going to stick to the straight for the time being with his talented Horse Chestnut filly Balkan (pictured). She runs in a Conditions Plate over 1000m on 16 November and will then be aimed at the Gr 2 Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m on December 6.

He said, “The problem after the travel lingered with her a bit, but she is now hundreds and is firing. Her work has been exceptional, phenomenal, it has just been unbelievable.”

The 1200m polytrack form of his three-year-old Western Winter gelding Knox has worked out exceptionally well and this horse qualifies for the R1 million Cape Thoroughbred Sales Book 1 Graduates race over 1200m on January 24. Drier said that this horse “shouldn’t only sprint”, so he could have a bright future.

The yard’s above average A P Answer gelding Beckedorf is “very well” and will likely be aimed at the Listed Southeaster Sprint on December 6 followed by the three-year-old feature, the Need For Speed Sprint.

Drier doesn’t know yet how good his four-year-old Jet Master filly Gathering Fame is as she has won her two starts over 1600m and 1900m on the poly very comfortably since being stepped up from sprints. However, she was one of the worst affected after the travel and might take the Cape season slowly in order that she is in top shape for the Champions Season.

Pictures: Liesl King

Dean Kannemeyer, disclosing the full extent of the setback, said at the weekend: “I had to scratch him from the Champions Cup because he rapped himself in work, bruising his near-fore tendon, and I then confined him to walking for three months.

“I could have walked him for just six weeks but he is a valuable horse and I decided to give him time. Touch wood, he has been fine since. I would have started him in the Green Point but I want him to come on so that I have him right for the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.”

Kannemeyer, who won the 2003 Cape Merchants with 25-1 shot Honour The Guest, will also run Hot Ticket on Sunday even though the trip is way too short for last season’s Betting World Stakes and Nokia Gold Vase winner. Again a setback is the reason. The Milnerton trainer explained: “He had an infection in the guttural pouch so I had to ease up on him and I want to give him a blow over 1 200m.”

Kannemeyer, looking for his sixth Cape Guineas in 11 seasons, galloped his main hope Afrikaburn at Kenilworth on Saturday.

He said: “It was pacework over seven furlongs and he went nicely. I haven’t made up my mind yet whether he runs in the Green Point or in the Selangor Cup on the same day. I’ve won the Green Point with three-year-olds before (Roman Charger, Dynasty and Royal Opinion) and I also have Balance Sheet in both races. He did nice pacework on the course on Saturday.”

Picture: Liesl King

Kathy Finch and Bridget Kieswetter’s Western Winter filly proved too strong for the pace-setting Double Whammy in Saturday’s Choice Carriers Championship with Fayd’Herbe sending his mount to the front just over a furlong out to score by a most convincing length and a quarter.

Joey Ramsden said: “This is a very good filly and I thought she would win like that. It might sound big-headed but really I wasn’t worried about anything. It’s like having Variety Club and my other good horses – they give you confidence.

“The Fillies Guineas is going to have a seriously good field and I would be a bit worried about the mile. But Bernard isn’t.”

Fayd’Herbe added: “Majmu will be a hard horse to beat, and Cold As Ice is not going to get the mile as well as her, but it’s Cape racing so you never know.

“Anyway it’s going to take a good horse to beat mine. When you press the button it’s like sitting in a Porsche and today I never had any doubts. Indeed I haven’t had any since the first time I rode her.”

However the steady pace – the time was slower than the first of the 1 400m handicaps and only slightly faster than the second one – provides a cautionary caveat and suggests Mike de Kock might have to bring a pacemaker if he wants to copper-bottom Majmu’s chance on 6 December.

It certainly gave Glen Kotzen grounds for optimism. “Double Whammy switched off in front just too well this time,” he said, “and next time we want to see her when she doesn’t have to make the running.”

Vaughan Marshall, too, wants a true gallop for third-placed Jet Set Go and said: “I was very happy with her run here but the extra 200m of the Fillies Guineas is what she is looking for.”

Generalissimo got Dennis Drier’s Cape season off the mark in sensational style by smashing the Kenilworth 1 200m course record, leading throughout the Spring Valley Graduation Plate to clock 69.51 sec. According to the National Racing Bureau, the old record of 69.9sec had stood since L’Passionata 13 years ago.

Sean Cormack’s mount has plenty of speed in the pedigree – by Var out of a mare whose six wins were all over 1 000m – but Drier intends stepping him up to a mile in the Selangor next time.

He said: “They have always told me that a horse who can lead all the way over 1 200m at Kenilworth will get a mile. He is still a bit immature but the way I rate him I would have been disappointed if he hadn’t won like he did.”

Ramsden followed up his Choice Carriers success by completing a quick-fire treble with Miss Saigon (Andrew Fortune) and Swannee Rose (Anthony Andrews) but the former champion only got the mount after seeing he was to be replaced by Karl Neisus.

He promptly sent an aggrieved text to Ramsden and said: “I couldn’t believe they wanted to jock me off for Karl. I thought ‘this man is putting on somebody worse!’” Cape Town’s master of timing, possessed of a considerably more modest make-up, simply shook his head and gave a knowing smile.

Pictures: Liesl King

Joey Ramsden holds a strong hand with Cold As Ice, currently at the top of the boards, and ample back-up in Grey Light, both in with big chances. Sean Cormack deputised for heavy-weight Bernhard Fayd-Herbe in a Graduation Plate victory last time out but today’s field is a lot tougher.

Glen Kotzen has been waxing lyrical about his recent Diana Stakes winner Double Whammy who made all to beat the older and more than useful Lanner Falcon in that race. She had the better of Cold As Ice when shedding her maiden but while the latter was making her debut Double Whammy was having her second outing. There should not be very much between the two.

But they may all have to take a back seat to the hitherto unbeaten Jet Set Go. Vaughan Marshall’s runner quickens nicely, goes the trip and has a plum draw. She meets a strong field but can stake her Guineas claim.

The Highveld is girding up for the Sansui Summer Cup at month’s end and although there is no feature at Turffontein today punters are faced with some seriously competitive racing.

The Greyville turf track is slowly being brought back into action after a lengthy spring treatment and the last two races tomorrow afternoon will be on new turf including the KZN Guineas Trial where some promising sophomores line up in this Listed event over a “mile”. Likely ante-post favourite is the Charles Laird-trained Split the Breeze that has his first test around a turn and over 1600m after showing some smart form over sprints.

Split The Breeze started his career with Luiz Cunha, giving the fledgling stable their first winner, but a dispute over ownership resulted in a change of colours and trainer with Alesh Naidoo paying a handsome sum to acquire the colt on auction.

Naidoo was not bidding blind however, as Laird’s stable jockey Anton Marcus had partnered the colt in his last two outings for Cunha and no doubt would have had some input into the decision to buy the horse.

Split The Breeze waltzed home when blinkered for the first time in a feature, one of the last races ever run down the Clairwood straight, making all the running to win by over four lengths. That victory, some four months back, garnered him a rating of 97, the highest in tomorrow’s field and the fact that he has the added advantage of  Marcus aboard one would not bet heavily against him.

KZN Champion trainer Duncan Howells has had a relatively quiet start to the current season but has not had a happy time of it on the poly. However, his runners are always thereabouts and he is one trainer who will be relieved that the turf is back in use. He saddles the promising Easy Lover from an inside barrier. In Easy Lover’s favour is that he has gone close over 1450m before and came with a rattle to land the spoils at his last start when catching the hard-knocker Flyfirstclass on the line. I doubt that he has stamina limitations and he looks a live threat to Split The Breeze.

Since his return from the UK, Mike de Kock has upped his stable’s ante and his runners are winning all over in what appears to have been a well-planned strategy. He saddles two runners tomorrow with Trip To Rio looking the stable elect judged on the riding engagements. The colt won comfortably enough in handicap company under Delpech over the stand side Turffontein 1600m last time out and although he meets a better class runner tomorrow he is a must inclusion in all exotics.

Stable companion Casciano has yet to finish out of the first two in four stabs that include three outings on the poly. Although he beat a modest handicap field last time out, he also beat the well regarded Riff Raf when shedding his maiden and the latter franked that form in no uncertain manner.

The dark horse is the Garth Puller-trained Fortissimo. Friendless in the market on debut, he came with a telling late run to slam the promising Alghadeer on the poly. It was a smart debut and any market support must be respected.

However, given the combination of Laird and Marcus, Split The Breeze looks the right one but expect Easy Lover and Trip To Rio to be chasing hard.

A Pinnacle Plate rounds off the eight-race meeting where another Laird inmate Admiral’s Eye, also in the colours of Alesh Naidoo, could have the wood on her male rivals. She is rated 4kg superior to the best of the opposition and is in very good form. She made all the running to win her last start and although the margin was less than a length it was a rather cosy victory. That was her first run on the poly and although she takes on stronger she has a handy weight from a good draw.

Interesting will be the performance of Gold Onyx. Although this trip is on the short side, Sean Tarry’s runner loves Greyville and given his aging legs, the new turf could just bring out the best in him.