David Thiselton

The two most significant Gr 2 WSB 1900 results this decade are when the Justin Snaith-trained Belgarion won it in in 2020 and when the Brett Crawford-trained 99 merit-rated Winchester Mansion finished a 0,30 length second last year, because both of those horses went on to win the big one, the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Therefore there is some dramatic irony in the fact that in Saturday’s latest renewal of the WSB 1900 at Hollywodbets Greyville the Justin Snaith-trained Futura gelding Future Swing won it and the Brett Crawford-trained Vercingetorix colt Oriental Charm finished a 0,30 length second!

The irony goes go a bit further, because Belgarion won the 1900 off a merit rating of 113, which is exactly the same merit rating Oriental Charm ran off on Saturday.

Furthermore, Winchester Mansion came second off a 99 and then won the other similar July pointer, the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m, off a 103.

Future Swing won the 1900 off a 103 on Saturday.

The Snaiths regard Future Swing as a stayer whose minimum optimum range starts with the Hollywoodbets Durban July trip of 2200m.

They were therefore desperate to qualify Future Swing for the big race.

The great six-times July-winning trainer Terrance Millard always claimed one ideally needed a mile-and-a-half horse to win the July.

Future Swing fits perfectly into the mould of a type of horse who is often considered the ideal July candidate i.e. the under the radar four-year-old.

These progressive types have been hard to beat in the past because they would carry the bottom weight for an older male of 53kg when potentially being better than their merit rating suggested.

However, the organisers of the big race have made it harder for them this year by raising the minimum weight for an older male by 1kg to 54kg.

If this condition had been published last year, then on paper the result would have been different.

Winchester Mansion would have carried 54kg instead of 53kg and the horse he beat by 0,25 lengths, the three-year-old See It Again, would have instead beaten him by about a length.

So Brett Crawford will be glad that his WSB 1900 0,3 length second this year is an under the radar three-year-old.

Oriental Charm earned his 113 merit rating when finishing a 3,25 length third in the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby.

On Saturday he proved that the Derby run was no fluke.

Still. it is going to be very difficult for him to reverse the form with the Cape Derby winner Green With Envy in the July.

The latter was raised to 123 after winning the Gr 2 WSB Guineas last Wednesday.

That means as things stand, Green With Envy will carry only 53,5kg in the July.

The minimum weight for a three-year-old male in the big race is 53kg, meaning Oriental Charm will only get half-a-kilogram from Green With Envy, who is the current July ante-post favourite.

Looking at the collateral form, it will be even harder for Future Swing to beat Green With Envy, because as things stand he will have to carry 54kg.

Future Swing will be well held by Oriental Charm, as the latter gave him 2kg on Saturday and in the July he will receive 1kg, a 3kg swing for a mere 0,30 length beating.

This is all presuming the current topweight, See It Again, is still standing his ground at the time of the publishing of the weights and is still merit rated 132.

So the under the radar horses, both three-year-old and four-year-old, will be hoping for the unlikely happening that See It Again does not stand his ground.

In that case the new topweight will likely be the 125-rated Royal Victory.

With him as topweight Green With Envy would have to carry 57kg, meaning he would have to give 4kg to Oriental Charm.

The minimum weight for an older female in the race has been raised 1kg this year to is 53kg and the minimum weight for three-year-old females remains on 52kg. 

So at present merit ratings that are important per age and gender are 122 for three-year-old males, 120 for three-year-old females, 120 for four-year-old males and 118 for four-year-old females.

The respective horses on those merit ratings will come into the race with the minimum weight for their age and gender and will not be under sufferance.

If Royal Victory becomes the topweight then the important merit ratings are 115 for three-year-old males, 113 for three-year-old females, 113 for four-year-old males and 111 for four-year-old females.  

The third place finisher in the WSB 1900, the Gr 3 New Turf Western Cape Stayers winner, the Andre Nel-trained Master Redoute, put in a better performance than the winner Future Swing as he gave the latter 4kg and was beaten 1,70 lengths. That, and his Gr 3 win, will augur well for his chances of making it into the July final field.

Earlier, another Nel-trained July entry, the 110 merit-rated four-year-old Dynasty filly Saartjie, won the Listed KRA East Coast Cup over 2000m carrying a welter 61,5kg.

This filly had tremendous bad luck last Champions Season and deserves a place in the July final field.

The Snaith-trained Mucho Dinero was very prominent in the July betting at one stage, having started the season with four wins in succession, including a Listed race and a Gr 2.

However, he disappointed in his Champions Season opener and on Saturday in the 1900 drifted alarmingly in the betting from 5/1 to 14/1 before finishing a 2,30 length fifth giving the winner 2kg. He is merit rated 110 and might need a big run in the Cup Trial to book his place.

Hollywoodbets surprisingly make Future Swing 10/1 for the July, 10 points shorter than Oriental Charm, who they have at 20/1.

Mucho Dinero is 25/2, Master Redoute is 40/1 and Saartjie 75/1.  

Graeme Hawkins

Vaughan Marshall and Ashton Arries teamed up to win the R165 000 Cape A Stakes over 1100m at Kenilworth on Saturday with the 3yo Querari gelding Questioning (28/10), who proved too strong for Jerusalema Rain over the last 200m. Jerusalema Rain moved up with a menacing late charge but Questioning found another gear inside the closing stages and held on by half-a-length.

The veteran Rio Querari ran on steadily from the back of the small field to finish third with Mufasa rounding out the Quartet. The Adam Marcus-trained Bereave proved a huge disappointment and could only finish fifth nearly four lengths behind Questioning. Bereave was given every chance but failed to quicken under pressure and was very one-paced over the final 300m.

Marcus enjoyed better fortune in the first race, an Open Maiden over 1200m, when the ultra-consistent Tambourine Man finally shed his maiden ticket with a dominant start-to-finish victory. He was chased home by the lightly-weighted United We Stand with Song To The Moon finishing well for third position. As a sparingly raced juvenile, the favourite, Worldly, was not well treated by the conditions of an Open Maiden and was never a threat at any stage of the race.

Prince of Tibet (7/1) was also rewarded for his consistency with a hard-fought victory over Mr Belvedere in the third race, a Maiden Plate over 1400m. In the money in eight of his ten previous starts, Prince of Tibet was certainly not winning out of turn, but the market leaders Groovejet and Cliff Swallow both ran well below expectations and could only finish fourth and fifth respectively. Groovejet is bred to appreciate a lot more ground and he could atone when tried over more testing distances.

Water Dragon (5/4) was all the rage for the fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 1800m, but was comfortably beaten by Aladdin’s Lamp and Jack In The Green. Aladdin’s Lamp has shown progression in each and every start and there is potentially a lot more to come. Jack In The Green is also very much on the improve and his maiden victory cannot be too far away, but perhaps Water Dragon will be at his best over slightly less ground.

Green Mandarin has certainly turned the corner following a number of indifferent performances in his post-maiden races. Last time out he beat Voorlopertjie by a narrow margin and the latter came out to frank the form with a facile victory in his follow-up start. Green Mandarin eased in the betting from 9/4 to 7/2 but he showed that his last win was no flash-in-the-pan and stormed home to a comfortable victory in the fifth race, a Cape C Stakes over 1600m. It was certainly no vintage line-up, but the manner in which Green Mandarin got the job done suggests there may yet be scope for further improvement.

Bardolino is very capable on his day but consistency has never been a hallmark of his career. Sent off at 25/1, Bardolino turned up in a galloping mood on Saturday and proved far too good for Quartermain (11/2)  and Rule of Thumb (10/1). Windrunner (14/1) rounded out the Quartet, which paid in excess of R10 000, with the favourite Big Unit a very disappointing fifth.

A major upset in the seventh race, a Cape C Stakes over 1400m, was averted when Black Path (66/1) was collared in the last few strides by Little Miss Pink (9/2) who flew up late under Oswald Noach to take the honours for trainer Vaughan Marshall. Little Miss Pink had gone 677 days without winning a race but her previous run, when a close third behind Grandiosa, suggested that perhaps her third career victory was imminent.

The promising juvenile, O’Tenikwa, was sent out an odds-on favourite to land the eighth race, a Class 5 Handicap over 1200m, but he was outgunned over the last 200m by the seasoned 4yo gelding Shifting Path, who forged ahead to score by half-a-length. Meeting Shifting Path on 12kgs worse terms than weight-for-age, O’Tenikwa was certainly not disgraced in only his second start and he looks to be a cut above the average.

After three consecutive runner-up efforts over 1400m, Oliver was fitted with blinkers for the first time and was dropped back in trip for the ninth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1200m. The changes made by Adam Marcus proved to be the masterstroke as Oliver quickened smartly off a good pace to come home an easy and impressive winner. Night Bomber ran on best of the balance to fill the Exacta position with Night Tiger back in third.

The Pick 6 returned a dividend of R162 850-00 but would almost certainly have been carried over if not for Little Miss Pink’s last gasp victory over Black Path in the seventh race.

Andrew Harrison

One of the arts in training a thoroughbred racehorse is to be able to gauge its ability and plot accordingly. Two trainers who are masters of their trade are Justin Snaith and Brett Crawford who have their sights firmly set on the Hollywoodbets Durban July after Saturday’s World Sports Betting 1900. Of course they need the horse to accomplish their goal and then plans to dodge the handicappers.

Future Swing and Oriental Charm fall into this category with both trainers doing a masterful job of getting their charges into the country’s premier race with bottom weight for their age group – at this stage anyway.

Future Swing loomed dangerous for a few strides in The Sledgehammer behind Narina Trogon in what was an obvious warm-up for the 1900. The gelding went into Saturday’s race with only 54kg to shoulder and no stamina doubts. With Richard Fourie sweeping all before him he was always going to be a factor in a 14-horse field of July entries.

Oriental Charm ran a cracking second after making most of the running. A year younger and giving Future Swing 2kg, Crawford will have been well pleased with his effort although victory will have been sweeter. Oriental Charm had his merit rating jump from 87 to 103 after his third to Green With Envy in the Gr1 SplashOut Cape Derby and is unlikely to get a rating increase although Future Swing is likely to be around the 110 mark come Monday.

Master Redoute stayed on well for third while Ponte Pietra came from almost last for a close-up fourth and Dean Kannemeyer will now have a line-horse as he lines up Green With Envy for a crack at the July.

Earlier, Saartjie defied top weight in the Listed KRA East Coast Cup, Andre Nel’s filly setting herself up for a crack at the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 in two weeks’ time. 

Up there in the top echelons of her age group, the race went her way as Julie Tango set a modest early gallop tracked by the favourite Hold My Hand. Both of the front runners folded early in the straight and Corne Orffer took the shortest way home. The daughter of Dynasty quickened smartly from off the pace. She was pressed to the line by rank outsider Future Girl and Brett Crawford’s strategy of prepping them on the Highveld and raiding is paying handsome dividends as Future Girl also put up her hand for the Woolavington 2000.

Mountain High and Sorceress Supreme were the only two in the betting for the first. At the line Sorceress Supreme was the only one in the picture. Muzi Yeni had no hesitation in taking Michelle Rix’s filly to the front and she put eight lengths over her rivals, the form behind Little Ballerina proving nearly infallible.

Great Plains was another to frank the Little Ballerina form, winning his next race after finishing two lengths off the filly on debut. Richard Fourie rode a confident race on Justin Snaith’s gelding in the second, sitting well back in the pack in the early exchanges before giving Great Plains a clear run at the line. The grey quickened smartly under joint top weight and went to the line unchallenged.

Great Plains has earned a reputation of being a little ‘hot’ but if Snaith can keep the lid on he must be a challenger for the big juvenile features.

The Specialist came in for strong market support at his second start but bumped his mouth in the gate and let the side down. Fourie deserting to ride Rototo will have weighed on some punter’s minds but S’Manga Khumalo took full advantage as he sent MJ Odendaal’s colt up the inside rail and he stretched clear to hold off a flying challenge from the poorly drawn Industrialstrength who made a cracking debut from his outside gate. Rototo was all at sea form most of the race so should benefit from the outing.

Tienie Prinsloo has one of the smallest strings in Summerveld but his talents are way under rated. Policy Of Truth had not gone further than a mile before he stepped out first time over a mile-and-a-half on debut for Prinsloo and the gelding added to Fourie’s ever growing tally. Riding a confident race in a field lacking depth, Policy Of Truth sailed clear at the top of the straight to win as he liked.

Mascherina is up there with some of the best local fillies around as she proved when quickening smartly to land the fifth to give Fourie a third winner. She was a worthy favourite after finishing second to the promising Celtic Beauty last time out. Diana The Huntress, a late reserve entry after the scratching of Kisshoten, finished strongly under Athandiwe Mgudlwa with a game Bosnay staying on for third.

 Fourie looked to have his fifth winner on the day sewn up after making all the running on The Grey King. There were no challengers over the final furlong until Serino Moodley extricated Flag Man out of a sandwich press. Judged on the market, stable companion Golden Peace was the stable elect probably going on Flag Man’s wide draw, however, Flag Man accelerated like Brad Binda in Moto GP and put a sword through The Grey King’s heart. This was the Clifton Stud-bred son of Flying The Flag’s third straight win from just five previous starts and his name must be in the hat for the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and a possible supplementary entry for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

David Thiselton

The Listed Secretariat Stakes for three-year-olds over 1450m is the headliner at Turffontein Inside’s nine race meeting today.

The race is run under handicap conditions and the suggestion to win it is the Candice Dawson-trained Flying The Flag gelding Salute The Flag. This horse is having his first run out of the maidens, so might not be prominent in the betting. However, he won in fine style last time out over 1400m on Turffontein Standside jumping from the same draw of two he has here. He quickened quite effortlessly from a handy position and then stayed on resolutely before drawing clear in the final stages. His 83 merit rating looks reasonable and S’Manga Khumalo stays aboard, although he does have to ride half-a-kilogram overweight. Sabre Strike is an interesting runner as one with obvious talent. He won easily first time out and second time out finished 2,75 lengths behind the classy Barbaresco in a Graduation Plate over this trip when receiving just 3kg. His official merit rating is 90, but he can rise above that, although he does have a tough draw. The topweight Presley is classy and is well enough regarded to have run in the Gr 1 SA Derby. He also has a wide draw, but should be running on strongly over the distance category he won his maiden over, beating the promising Marauding Horde. Master Christmas has a touch of class and is on the up. He is distance suited and only has to carry 55,5kg off a merit rating of 89. However, he is another fancied runner with a tricky draw, eight out of 12. Max The Magician had some useful early form, including being just 1,75 lengths behind Lucky Lad over 1160m on one occasion. He was beaten 12,50 lengths by Presley over 1600m the last time he ran, but now has his first run as a gelding and off a merit rating reduced to 86. Longsword is also an interesting runner. Sean Tarry is in good form and this horse has always struck as one with ability. He turned it on impressively over 1200m in his penultimate start and should stay this trip. However, Richard Fourie rides 1kg overweight from a draw of six off an 83 merit rating.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m and this looks like a race in which the talented Savannah Storm can pop up. He was not disgraced last time in the Hawaii Stakes, finishing six lengths behind Sandringham Summit. He now has to carry just 52kg from and is only 2,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted Lady Of Power and he is only half-a-kilogram out with the top-weighted Bingwa. The latter is classy on his day but needs things to go his way and he has a tricky draw of six out of eight. Scallywag won well last time from the front, despite returning from a layoff, but will have it tougher here. Lady Of Power won the Gr 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas but is not reliable and also needs things to go her way, although draw three will give her a chance to get the easy lead she likes. Eye Of The Prophet was the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas winner, but needs to bounce back from some below par form.

In the fifth race over 1800m Darling Harbour will have a fine chance if repeating her penultimate start when finishing just 1,40 lengths behind Frances Ethel in the Listed Oaks Trial over 2000m when receiving just 3kg. Say It With Roses had some eye-catching maiden form before an easy win over this trip and looks to have been given an attractive opening handicap mark of 80. Furthermore, she is trained by Stuart Pettigrew who has a fine record with Flower Alley fillies. Special Charm has been knocking on the door and is distance suited but does have a tough draw. A Place In The Sun has come into her own but does have a tough draw. Rosy Lemon is a capable sort and Muzi Yeni has won twice on her.

In the sixth over 1800m Dimako’s Jet looks capable of progression. Damova ran well after a layoff and should have come on from that run. Red Knot ran well first time out the maidens and has a plum draw.

In the eighth over 1450m Just Be Lekker has the class to overcome a wide draw over a suitable trip. However, Vix Princess is in fine hard-knocking form and is well drawn and Alabama Anna is ultra consistent and distance suited so also has to be included.

In the last race  Across The Pond has caught the eye more than once and should enjoy the step up in trip from a plum draw. She is a two-year-old who has been given an 84 merit rating for this race, but that makes her just half-a-kilogram under sufferance. Cueta beat an uninspiring field over 1600m by 6,25 lengths to exit the maidens and runs off an 81, so must be included although a wide draw makes it tough.

In the first leg of the Bipot over 1600m Panning Gold and Karoo Gold have the form to fight it out.

In the first leg of the PA over 1600m Mocha Frappe looks promising and would have learnt from his win last time when wearing first time blinkers over 1400m.  

The meeting opens with an interesting maiden over 1600m and the in form Alec Laird yard are fancied to win it with the progressive looking sort The Crown, although Rainbow River and Oxalis Gold also have good credentials.     

PLEASE NOTE!

Soccer 10: Sport 8 Pool 1 – 11 MAY 2024

Match 8 (M8):ATLETICO MINEIRO vs GREMIO. New Match Date: TBCGremio, Internacional & Juventude Requested Postponement Due to Floods.

Therefore;

Soccer 10: Sport 12 Pool 1 – 13 MAY 2024

Match 10 (M10): INTERNACIONAL vs JUVENTUDE. New Match Date: TBC Gremio, Internacional & Juventude Requested Postponement Due to Floods.