To cement his chances he has called on the services of crack rider Piere Strydom, 12 short of 5000 career winners, who will partner ante-post favourite Arion. The four-year-old was bottled up over the winter after his fast-finishing third behind stable companion Legislate in the Investec Cape Derby and has been specifically aimed at this race.

In his comeback run after nearly seven months off he was well beaten over 1300m at Durbanville but the race amounted to little more than a blow-out. He has shown good form over ground and with a plum draw, a light weight and a good sprint-up under his girth he could prove difficult to peg back.

Disco Al took advantage of the switch to the poly track to win last year’s race, albeit narrowly, but that has been his last success. However, Ramsden appears to have primed him nicely for another crack and he looks a serious contender.

So too Tribal Dance. The six-year-old has proved to be a length short of really top class but is never far off the best. He too has had a good warm-up and although he gives weight to all but Astro News he also strikes as a very big runner.

The Western Cape is gearing up for their summer season and it all starts in earnest at Kenilworth this afternoon where the Gr3 Cape Classic takes centre stage. The majority of runners will be using this outing as a stepping stone into the CTS Cape Guineas so one doesn’t quite know what to expect but the race has attracted a high class field and just how they all fair will be watched with more than just passing interest.

While the Classic takes centre stage there will be a lot of sentiment attached to the return of Jet Explorer to the racetrack in the HP Security Pinnacle Stakes. His preparation for the J&B Met was punctured by injury sustained in the pre-race gallops and his journey to the Vodacom Durban July was abruptly terminated when he and jockey Richard Fourie took a crashing fall in the Gold Challenge at Clairwood.

Fourie is still suffering the side effects of his injury but Jet Explorer, who shattered his jaw in the fall, is back to full health thanks to the dental skills of vet Ralph Katzwinkel.

However, Jet Explorer is very unlikely to be fully wound up for this race and stable companion Readytogorightnow looks the pick of the Snaith runners.

Vaughan Marshall’s runner Mljet was the ‘talking horse’ during Champions Season in KZN after reeling off two emphatic victories. However, his luck ran out in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes where a killer wide draw over the Greyville ‘mile” claimed another victim. After a sluggish start, MJ Byleveld found himself amongst the back markers turning for home and then ran into traffic.

Mljet makes his seasonal debut off a rating of 108 and if the handicappers have their sums correct then today’s outing should be little more than a formality with Act Of War (95) conceding 4,5kg and facile debut winner Heartland earning a mark of 89.

Picture: The Vaughan Marshall-trained Mljet should take some beating when he warms up for the CTS Cape Guineas in the Gr3 Cape Classic to be run at Kenilworth today. Stable jockey MJ Byleveld has the ride.

Heartland, full brother to Gr1 winning Jackson now retired to the paddocks of Highlands Farm, made light work of the opposition on debut but that form has proved suspect and Justin Snaith’s runner will face a more searching test here.

Snaith believes he has a decent horse on his hands but has expressed reservations about the colt’s fitness after having been given nearly three months off after his maiden win. “We asked to gallop him at Kenilworth and they wouldn’t let us. I’ve got to find a race for him and I’m using this as a gallop rather than going for glory. I want to see him running on at the end and then have him ready for another day.”

Langerman winner Act Of War has to give weight all round and he hasn’t raced for three months. “He is pretty fit although not fully wound up but it’s a very stiff task,” says Joey Ramsden.

Of the balance, Glen Kotzen’s yard has come good in recent weeks and sends out Zingaro who disappointed last time out at Durbanville. However, the country course with its sharp top turn can often catch runners out so it may be better to judge the colt on is facile maiden victory.

On debut he was touched off by Prince Of Eden, also an entry this afternoon, so there should not be very much between them. Kotzen is quietly confident of a decent run so there may not be much between these two.

BEST BETS

Kenilworth Saturday

Race 7: (2) Mljet

Turffontein Saturday

Race 1: (10) Ride Of Honour

Fairview Sunday

Race 5: (5) Oreo Shake

MJ Byleveld’s mount is the only horse in the field to have come anywhere near winning a Grade 1 and adjusted merit ratings indicate that he has nearly seven lengths in hand.

“He is well in but you’ve got to take these ratings with a pinch of salt,” says Vaughan Marshall whose feet are invariably firmly on the ground. “However he has been doing very well and he worked well when I took him to Durbanville for a gallop.”

No, there is no special weight of expectation from Marshall. It’s the lack of it on the part of his rivals that is so telling.

Heartland (9-2) is the one horse in the field who could make the big time – even if the form of his wide-margin debut is hardly worth the paper it’s printed on – and Justin Snaith believes he is the real deal.

“Heartland is a very good horse,” he says but it’s the colt’s fitness that gives the champion trainer serious reservations. “We asked to gallop him at Kenilworth and they wouldn’t let us. I’ve got to find a race for him and I’m using this as a gallop rather than going for glory. I want to see him running on at the end and then have him ready for another day.”

Langerman winner Act Of War is forecast 18-10 second favourite but Anton Marcus’s mount has to give weight all round, including 4.5kg to Mljet, and he hasn’t raced for 15 weeks. “He is pretty fit although not fully wound up but it’s a very stiff task,” says Joey Ramsden who also runs the once-raced maiden winner Prince Of Eden (14-1) – “It was quite strong maiden form and we are giving him a run here to see where we are with him.”

Mike Bass, bidding for his sixth Cape Classic in 13 seasons, relies on 20-1 shot Sheer Trouble whose Durbanville defeat of last Saturday’s easy winner Bruno reads well. But the master has doubts whether the horse’s class is quite up to this. “He has come on a bit but I’m not expecting too much and I’ll be delighted if he runs a place.”

Glen Kotzen, very much on song, is hopeful of a strong performance from 16-1 chance Zingaro who trounced Brutal Force before disappointing at Durbanville where he refused to settle early on. His trainer believes the course didn’t suit him and the handicappers put him in too high. “We are running Zingaro because we want to test him,” Kotzen adds, “and he definitely has a shout.”

Moonlight Runner has some solid form but the forecast 25-1 is a fair assessment of his chance, Al Capitano is a 33-1 shot and the once-raced Saint Donan is the rank outsider at 50-1. Favourites have a good record, winning half of the last 12 runnings and making the frame in the other six.

Zingaro should get an early boost from Brutal Force who is evens favourite to win the opening maiden. But it’s more a question of how far. The colt needs to win by a wide margin to get into next month’s Lanzerac Ready To Run so expect to see Marcus shoot him out of the pens and attempt to stretch away.

Meanwhile, Fairview has it’s always eagerly anticipated Festival Of Racing weekend and there will be some good horses appearing both today and on Sunday.

The Michaelmas looks to be at the mercy of the Charles Laird-trained Bold Inspiration, a progressive sort who is currently an ante-post 16-1 shot for the Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup. He will need to win this race to book his place in the latter event and will be equally effective whether it is run on the turf or the polytrack. Anton Marcus rides from a fair draw of six.

Akii Bua looks to have been prepared for this race and as he is well regarded he could upset the applecart from pole position draw over an ideal trip.

Zhivago has also run some fine races lately and could earn, whether it be on turf or poly, over a suitable course and distance, although he does have quite a tough draw.

Auction KIng has been in good form and has a fair draw over a suitable trip.

Emperor Niarchos unfortunately has a wide draw as he ran a good preparation recently over 1400m and will relish the step up in trip.

At Fairview today the Glen Kotzen-trained Light The Lights will be tough to beat in the Listed RA Stakes. Arniston will appreciate the return to turf and could give some cheek, while the promising Shinning Day can’t be ignored either, despite carrying more weight than the aforementioned pair.

At Fairview on Sunday the main race is the Gr3 Algoa Cup over 2000m and the horse to beat could be the six-year-old Mitch Wiese-trained Forest Digger. Interestingly Gift Funeka has been given the ride having produced a flying finish from this one over a too sharp 1600m in his penultimate in a Pinnacle Stakes race where he probably ran above his rating. He is drawn well now over a suitable trip and another fast finish can be expected.

The Justin Snaith-trained Arion finished third behind Legislate and Captain America in the Investec Cape Derby back in February and is well regarded. He has only run once since then and hated the firm ground that day, so is likely to run a much better race here. This is his second run after a rest but Snaith wasn’t concened about that and off a merit rating of just 97 he has a chance from a fine draw with Piere Strydom up.

Disco Al has Anton Marcus up and is in fine fettle. He will relish the step back to this trip, having produced a strong finish over 1600m last time out and is well drawn.

The classy Blaze Of Fire had to lead last time when winning a conditions race over 1800m and in this better field might be able to get cover from a nice draw, so he could be a big threat off a merit rating that is effectively eight points lower than he was this time last year.

There is not much between Blaze Of Fire and Political Playboy, although the latter will probably appreciate the extra 200m from their last meeting more than the former will. Political Playboy does have a slightly tougher draw though.

Gone Baby Gone will also enjoy this trip, but is returning from a layoff since July. Astro News is getting on a bit but has run well fresh before.

In the first on Sunday, the Snaith-trained Ovidio was green around the turn on debut but ran on quite well before fading and doesn’t have much to beat.

In the third, Peregrine King has become known for his flying finishes on the poly and he might still be ahead of the handicapper. Marcus rides from a good draw over what should be a suitable trip.

In the fifth, the Snaith-trained Oreo Shake has a touch of class and looks to be off a reasonable merit rating, while he should love the step up to this trip.

Another Snaith-trained runner, Lift Off, should be too strong in the sixth over 1600m.

Path To Travel is talented and has dropped to a low merit rating so could be the one to beat in the eighth.

Picture: Bold Inspiration (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Racing. It’s a Rush International Jockeys Challenge sees a formidable team of international jockeys take on a six-man South African team. Captaining team South Africa this year is S’Manga Khumalo, last season’s Champion Jockey. Known affectionately as “Bling”, Khumalo is the first black jockey to win the Jockey Championship.

Also in this talented local team is Piere Strydom, rated as one of South Africa’s all-time finest jockeys and is expected to ride his 5000^th winner later this year. Strydom describes the annual International Jockeys Challenge as “fantastic” and his favourite local event in which to compete.

Making up the local team are Richard Fourie, Muzi Yeni and Anthony Delpech.

A younger team of riders then in previous years make up the international team and includes James Doyle, the UK jockey who achieved four major wins this past year riding champion racehorse, Kingman. Kingman is likely to be voted “Cartier Horse-of-the-Year” in December, the highest award for horses in European Horse Racing. He also rode a brilliant front-running race on Qipco Champion Stakes winners Noble Ambition at Ascot last Saturday.

The other international team members are Martin Harley (Ireland), Adam Kirby (United Kingdom), Andreis Helfenbein (Germany) and Selim Kaya (Turkey).

“The International Jockeys Challenge is the perfect sponsorship opportunity for Racing. It’s a Rush as it aligns with what our brand is trying to achieve. This is a prestigious event which brings together the thrill of horseracing, great South African and worldwide talent, offering the public a wonderful day at the races,” said Michael Varney of Racing. It’s a Rush.

At both Turffontein and Kenilworth entrance is free and besides the enthralling international racing, there will also be food stalls, entertainment for the kids and much more.

The jockeys will ride in four races at each event. The team that scores the most points wins the Challenge but there are also awards for the top riders in each of the legs and the top rider overall.

In the last six years, South Africa has won four times and the international team twice.

For booking information, please call 011 681 1702 or 021 700 1600.

Picture: Combined teams from the 2012 International Jockeys Challenge (Nkosi Hlophe)

Hassen Adams was one of the attenders at Summerhill and made the poignant remark, when referring to the so-called sales company war between  the Thoroughbred Breeders Association (TBA) and the Cape Thoroughbred Sales (CTS), that the love of horseracing should rise above both the egos of individuals and unnecessary hostility within the sport.

In early September  Summerhill’s Mick Goss, who has been the driving force behind the Ready To Run sales race initiative, notified the TBA that he would be withdrawing his draft from the Bloodstock South Africa (BSA) Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Sale 2014 (BSA is the sales division of the TBA).

On virtually the same day CTS announced that, due to a request by several vendors, they would be holding a Ready To Run Sale in Johannesburg on the same weekend as the TBA’s sale.

The TBA felt it to be an aggressive move, especially in light of CTS also announcing that they would  be putting on a Yearling Sale in Johannesburg next April, the same month as the BSA National Yearling Sales.

Nevertheless, these were the reasons that the traditional “breeze ups” were split between two centres this year and held on separate days.

However, the buyers were not complaining and by all accounts they enjoyed a fun two-day outing.

Some of them were accommodated by the TBA in the Midland’s area on Wednesday night and enjoyed the entertaining “after party” at Yellow Star Stud after the BSA gallops, featuring Dave Abbott of the well-known Johannesburg-based group Abbott and Crabb, not to mention a sumptuous buffet spread and drinks.

Some buyers and analysts then moved on to Summerhill Stud, where they were accommodated at the renowned five star boutique hotel, Hartford House.

CTS put on an “awards dinner” on Thursday night at Summerhill’s School Of Equine Management Excellence. Medals were handed out to the gallops panel analysts, Graeme Hawkins, Dean Kannemeyer, Grant Knowles, Alec Laird, Craig Peters, Michael Roberts, Sean Tarry and Felix Coetzee. 

At Koos and Lorraine De Klerk’s Yellow Star Stud the gallops were held on the 1400m grass track that is used by the stud to work their horses in training.

The attention levels immediately rose after the first lot galloped past, Welsh Emperor, a Go Deputy half-brother to the useful Lightning Lecture that floated across the turf in eyecatching style. He was from the large draft presented by Balmoral Stud CC. Others from this draft that caught the eye were Lot 13, a good-actioned full-brother by Var to the useful Twitter; Lot 25, a Bankable filly who strode out well; Lot 27, a long-striding Australian-bred colt by the world class sire Bernardini; lot 30, a Captain Al colt out of a half-sister to Gr 1-winner Crimson Palace who stretched out beautifully; Lot 31, a Tiger Ridge colt out of the SA Oaks winner Cyber Cento who was a powerful mover; Lot 63, an Australian-bred Henrythenavigator colt out of a Listed winner who created a good impression, despite running green.

Jane Trotter’s Ambleway Stud presented a few horses including a trio of eyecatching Western Winters, namely: lot 38, a colt out of a Gr 3-winning Model Man mare who stretched out well and looks to have plenty of scope; Lot 50, a filly out of a stakes-placed French mare who was an athletic sort; Lot 53, who has a classic pedigree being out of the J&B Met winner Imperious Sue and should improve with time.

Far End Pre Training had some eyecatchers among their draft, including lot 16, a Noordhoek Flyer filly who stretched out magnificently; Lot 62, a King’s Apostle filly really caught the eye as an athletic mover; Lot 105, a Black Minnaloushe filly out of the Gr 2 winner Supper Club is a scopey sort.

Lot 54, a King’s Chapel colt with a superb low action, was the stand out of Yellow Star’s draft.

At the Summerhill gallops Graeme Hawkins commented that were he a bookmaker he would price up the fillies at 5/10 to win next year’s sales race and the colts at 12/10.

The most popular fillies with the panellists were lot 69 and lot 108, the former a Kahal filly out of Kingmambo mare who had a nice low action and the latter an Australian-bred by Redoute’s Choice with a huge action and plenty of scope. Lot 10, a Captain Al filly who is a half-sister to the top class sprinter Sweet Sanette, had a big action and drew four votes. Lot 82, a scopey Australian-bred by Exceed And Excel  received three votes. Two panellists were impressed by lot 25, a strong Seventh Rock filly who stretched out superbly. Lot 102, a Visionaire filly who put her head down and stretched out well also drew two votes and so did lot 13, a Kahal filly who moved well. Lot 132, an Australian-bred High Chaparal filly who had a lot of substance, also caught the eye of two panellists.

The most popular colt was lot 110, a big strong chestnut by Encosta De Lago. Lot 101, a powerful colt by Brave Tin Soldier was also a popular choice. So were lot 72, a rangy Kahal colt who is a full-brother to the Listed winner Distinguished, lot 84, a Visionaire colt out of a Dynasty mare who strode out well, and lot 76, a Var colt who really stretched his toe out. Lot 34, a Visionaire colt with an economical action drew two votes and so did lot 12, a Muhtafal colt who also had an uncomplicated stride. All of the most popular lots were presented by Summerhill Stud, with the exception of lot 25, who was prepared by Far End Farm.

Both the BSA and CTS drafts included a few horses that galloped in other centres.

Felix Coetzee had the task of choosing the best workrider at the CTS gallops and it appropriately went to John Motaung, who is the assistant manager of Summerhill’s pre-training division.