Firstly the win followed a journey through the early morning hours from Summerveld and secondly he clearly relished the galloping nature of the Turffontein Standside track, which was his reappearance run after winning the Gr 1 Premiers Champion Stakes at the end of last season over 1600m on the tight Greyville course. In giving weight to the rest of a high class field and a two length beating, Harry’s Son laid claim to being the best three-year-old male in the land.

The Cape horse Act Of War pulled off a similar feat the previous weekend in the Gr 3 Cape Classic over the same distance on the Kenilworth Old Course, but the margin of victory, albeit on a tighter course, was not as convincing. However, a possible clash between the pair in the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas is now more eagerly awaited than ever.

Harry’s Son had been due to make his reappearance in the Cape Classic, but those plans were scuppered due to a case of African Horse Sickness at Summerveld, meaning all travel from the latter vicinity into the Western Cape’s AHS controlled area was banned for a period of 40 days. This might have been a blessing in disguise, as the journey to the Cape is an arduous one and the Kenilworth Old Course is a tricky one to handle for a horse making its first appearance on a left handed track.

It is not surprising that the Australian-bred colt by Haradasun is a good traveller as he has a superb racing temperament. Last Wednesday night at the annual Lafferty stable “braai” he was seen accepting kisses from one of his doting owners and then returning them. A horse could hardly have a more relaxed demeanour than the one he possesses. It is wonder of the thoroughbred that a horse sitting so contentedly in his box that he could be petted by a child could be the same one three days later that answered the call of a jockey to bravely burst through a tight gap at high speed.

Even Strydom, who is now only six winners away from an incredible record-breaking career mark of 5000, was becoming a bit anxious as the pocket Harry’s Son was caught in on the inside rail while reefing in behind refused to open.  However, at the first inkling of a gap, Strydom switched him off the heels, which caused Harry’s Son one high kneed stride, and in an instant they were clear. This horse really lets himself down, a sign of his soundness, and he was still going strongly at the line. Jayyed finished a neck behind him at level weights in the Premier’s, but on Saturday Harry’s Son gave him 4,5kg and a two length beating, suggesting the latter is more at home on a course with a long straight. He should be ideally suited to the course and distance of the Cape Guineas on December 20 and it will be interesting to see whether he also takes in the Gr 2 Dingaans over 1600m on Turffontein Standside on November 29.

Harry’s Son is out of the Anabaa mare Dash On Ruby and his half-sister Rock Of Arts by Rock Of Gibraltar won the R2,5 million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup at Saturday’s corresponding meeting two years ago over the same course and distance as the Graham Beck. Harry’s Son, a bay who is of the powerfully built sort rather than the tall rangy type, was bred by Cranton Bloodstock in Australia and was signed for by one of his current owners Phil Georgiou for a now bargain looking price of Aus$60,000 off the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sales. He has already earned just short of three quarters of a million rand.

Picture: Harry’s Son winning the Gr Graham Beck Stakes at Turffontein yesterday (JC Photos)

Both horses were thoroughly deserved winners. Bezanova, a four-year-old gelding by Bezrin bred by Peter Blyth’s Clifton Stud, has matured into a magnificent specimen and after improving consistently in the big three-year-old features last season finally landed a Graded victory.

The pace rather than the draw turned out to be the key as Tommy Gun set steady fractions which allowed the widely drawn second top weight No Worries to race comfortably on his flank in second, while 18/1 shot Bezanova overcame draw nine quite easily to find a nice position in fifth place. The triple crown hero Louis The King was right near the back. The 5/1 favourite Sovereign Mint was in midfield just behind the most fancied of the Alec Laird-trained trio Bouclette Top. Bezanova made a strong run down the inside, but No Worries, who gave the winner 2,5kg, challenged him all the way to the line to go down by only 0,25 lengths. Louis The King flew late to be beaten just 0,75 lengths in an excellent preparation run for the Sansui Summer Cup. Lockheed Jetstar was fourth followed by Bouclette Top.

Bezanova earned R100,000 for the charity the National Horse Trust, who were represented by celebrity Sarah Kate Scott and the media partner Mix FM. All sixteen charities involved on the day took home at least R20,000. Marcus was unseated on the fancied Rake’s Chestnut, but was able to continue riding through the meeting. Owner Chris Gerber was on hand to accept the trophy. Bezanova was bought for R150,000 and has now earned R880,475.

Rich Girl became the second Charles Laird-trained, Australian-bred and Markus and Ingrid Jooste-owned filly to win the Ready To Run Cup, with Hollywoodboulevard having done it for them in 2010, albeit with Willie Figueroa aboard. The latter’s runner-up was the mighty Igugu and yesterday another Mike de Kock-trained horse, the Judpot gelding Dreamuponadream, had to play second fiddle, this time by only a neck. The Tote favourite from the in form Sean Tarry yard, the Australian-bred Teofilio filly Tamanee, finished third and next best was the Silvano filly Silver Class from the winning trainer of last year Johan Janse Van Vuuren. In a blanket finish they were followed by the Gavin van Zyl-trained Go Deputy colt Pioneer Spirit and the Duncan Howells-trained outsider, the Mambo In Seattle colt Saratoga Dancer.

Rich Girl, who started bookmaker’s favourite at 9/2, was the highest merit rated horse in the race and was given a brilliant ride by Marcus. She had it all to do after she drew wide in 14, as she went into the race with a stamina doubt hanging above her head. Marcus even suggested to Laird that he scratch her as he felt running her from that draw would be an “exercise in futility.” Laird said afterwards that they had gone in with three separate plans and he left it to Marcus to see how the race panned out. Marcus committed and after rushing around them to the front, the speedy chestnut filly settled well. She kept on finding in the straight to repel the outsider Saratoga Dancer and then found extra to keep a flying Dreamuponadream at bay. The runner up came from about five lengths back and took a while to get through some traffic, while all of the others in the first six stayed on from relatively handy positions.

Later the brilliant Mike de Kock-trained Australian-bred Redoute’s Choice filly Majmu showed that she could follow in the footsteps of the great Igugu. She gave weight to a quality field in the Gr 3 HSH Princess Charlene Of Monaco Starling Stakes ove 1400m and, coming from a midfield position, swept past them with contempt to win easing up by 1,75 lengths under Anthony Delpech. The grey started at prohibitive odds of 13/20 and beat home the previously unbeaten Sean Tarry-trained Elusive Fort filly Siren’s Call, whom she gave 4kg, by 1,75 lengths. The Alec Laird-trained Ideal World filly Smart Call was next best. Majmu has now won four out of five starts and her only defeat was a very unlucky one.

In the next race the Equus Champion two-year-old colt of last season, the Paul Lafferty-trained Harry’s Son, laid claim to being the current best three-year-old in the land when winning the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m in commanding style under Piere Strydom. Like Act Of War had done in the Cape Classic last weekend, Harry’s Son gave weight to the field, and after being caught in a pocket flew home to deny the De Kock-trained favourite Jayyed by a comfortable two lengths, despite giving him 4,5kg. The second favourite Trip To heaven was next best. Harry’s Son started at 6/1. This bay colt, who has a superb racing temperament, was yet another Australian-bred to succeed on the day.

Picture: Bezanova winning the Gr2 Charity Mile at Turffontein yesterday (JC Photos)

A suitably impressed Sean Cormack said: “This was the highlight of my day. She got the job done in a procession and I’ve no doubt she will go a bit further.”

How much further is the $64 000 question. The mile of the Avontuur Cape Fillies Guineas? “That’s highly questionable,” answered Joey Ramsden, “although she doesn’t work like a five or six furlong horse.”

But he has no reservations about asking her to turn her out again for a Grade 2 in only nine days’ time – “Why not? I would have galloped her anyway.”

Richard Fourie, race-riding for the first time for three months, had to be content with a fourth and an unplaced – and dreams of glory.

The last came earlier in the day when he was reunited with Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate in a racecourse work-out and described the four-year-old’s performance as “phenomenal.”  The colt galloped 1 200m with Lion’s Roar (Robert Khathi) and they went a really good clip.

Justin Snaith said: “It was a very good gallop – Lion’s Roar is a good 1 200m horse – and I think they probably broke the course record! Everything was positive.”

Act Of War has gone rocketing up the merit ratings after successfully conceding 4.5kg to Mljet in last Saturday’s Cape Classic and is now officially the joint third-best three-year-old in the country.

The handicappers raised the Ramsden-trained colt by 15 points- or 7.5kg – to 110, the same mark as the Durban Golden Horseshoe winner Afrikaburn and below only Majmu and Guiness who are both on 114. The handicappers left Mljet unchanged on 108 and they also saw no reason to change third-placed Heartland’s 89 rating.

Picture: Liesl King

Triple Crown hero and second topweight Louis The King returned sore from his run in the Vodacom Durban July after nearly being brought down, but x-rays showed it to just be a sprain and he is fully recovered.

Woodruff said, “He is very well and has put up two very nice grass gallops at Randjes. His aim is the Summer Cup and he will strip fitter for that race. However, he is fit enough to be competitive and is there to win, but it will be very difficult from his wide draw.”

Woodruff said about the topweight Tellina, “The same applies to Tellina as Louis The King, the Summer Cup is his aim.”

Killua Castle carries 57,5kg and receives 2,5kg from Tellina and 2kg from Louis The King. Woodruff said, “He is fitter than the others and is coming off a good run in the Emerald Cup. He is well drawn and course and distance suited. It has all been going very much according to plan, it is just a question of whether he is good enough.”

Rake’s Chestnut also runs with 57,5kg and Woodruff said, “A line can be drawn through his last run as he returned with a snotty nose. He is now fit and in good shape. His main mission is also the Summer Cup, but he has a lot of class and I will be looking for him to sit in midfield and run on.”

Lockheed Jetstar carries 56,5kg and hasn’t run since winning the Listed Thukela Handicap over 1600m on Vodacom Durban July day. However Woodruff said, “He is an aggressive worker so usually runs well after a layoff. He will be pretty fit and is ideally course and distance suited so from an inside draw has a fair chance.”

Tellina (pictured) will be ridden by Bernard Fayd’Herbe from draw seven, Louis The King has Piere Strydom up from draw 17, Killua Castle has Akash Auchuruz aboard from draw three, Rake’s Chestnut is reunited with Anton Marcus from draw ten and Francois Herholdt rides Lockheed Jetstar from draw two.

The NHRA came to my stables in September and proceeded to search my stables. They turned the place upside down searching through my stables including my feed and car. They took away many bags of feed samples, feed supplements routinely fed to horses by most trainers as well as medications commonly utilized in racing stables.

I was duly notified that an inquiry would be opened because they found an empty paste tube of Nitrotain. The tube had expired in 2011 and had been used 6 years ago to treat a horse with Laminitis. They found that it had contained an anabolic steroid and fined me R30000. In mitigation, I argued that, firstly it had expired over three years ago, was empty and was lying in the cupboard. Secondly, I have a clean record having never transgressed in my twenty eight years as a trainer and, thirdly, had never had a positive specimen taken from any of my horses.

The rule concerning steroids only changed in June this year, long after the paste had expired. All anabolic steroids were banned from racing in June, only after a recommendation by the Trainers Association’s to the NHA to have it classified as such. Prior to this, anabolic steroids were regularly prescribed by vets to improve appetite and general well being of racehorses and commonly utilized in racing stables. The NHA were never going to ban the use of steroids prior to the meetings initiated by trainers, who wanted a more uniform approach to be adopted when dealing with all drug classifications and the penalties attached thereto. The idea was that a more rational approach to fines around prohibited substances was imperative as ANY and ALL medication present in a horses system when presented for racing is illegal – including Antibiotics’.

Anabolic steroids are not illegal when prescribed by a veterinarian, and would be recommended by any practising vet if a horse was being rehabilitated after illness or life threatening surgery or bout of laminitis, which has a very high mortality rate in horses. Nitrotain is still the drug of choice in Australia today because it is the only steroid demonstrated to improve peripheral blood flow, vital for a successful rehabilitation in the case of laminitis and permitted in terms of the NHA rules in these type of circumstances when prescribed and administered by a vet.

I knew steroids had been banned from racing and it was purely an oversight that I did not do a thorough clean out of my medicine room post the introduction of this rule. I did not realize that this SIX YEAR OLD EMPTY EXPIRED PASTE TUBE was present in my cupboard. If I was cheating I would have been hiding it in an obscure place where it could never be found. This substance was not present in a sample taken from any horses in my stables either in or out of competition testing.

I have often been an outspoken critic of the NHA and believe that this amounted to nothing more than a witch hunt.  Under the circumstances I honestly believe that a reprimand would be the order of the day and was amazed at the severity of the penalty.

I have lodged a notice to appeal with the NHRA.

Paul Lafferty.