Sean Tarry sends a strong team to Turffontein on Saturday, including star colts Ikigai and Shango who top the boards for the Grade 1 SA Classic, although both of them have question marks hanging over their heads.

Vercingetorix colt Ikigai won both the Tony Ruffel over 1400m and the Gauteng Guineas in impressive style but there is a slight stamina question mark about him.

Tarry said, “He has shown what you would expect considering Vercingetorix is out of a National Assembly mare and there is speed close up in the female line too. However, we have adjusted his work program, he has settled into it nicely and I am a bit more upbeat about him staying the 1800m than I initially was.”

Shango is by the sprinter Captain Of All out of a Jet Master mare who won from 1200m to 1400m but he won the TAB/Betting World Dingaans going away and Tarry has no doubt whatsoever about him staying this 1800m trip.

However, he had to be scratched from the Gauteng Guineas after a minor setback which put him out of work for a three or four days.

Tarry said, “The interrupted preparation has cost him. That doesn’t mean he can’t win as he is classy, but he might prove to need it, the race will tell.”

Tarry would not want to swap this pair’s draws around. Ikigai tends to race handy and has landed a good draw of four, whereas the rangy Shango tends to come from off the pace and can be dropped out from a high draw of 12.

Tarry also runs outsider Rock The Globe and he said, “He flopped in the Cape Guineas but his mile form before that was good (third in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes as a two-year-old) so we have given him the benefit of the doubt and will see how he goes.”

In the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic Tarry said it had been “a tough pill to swallow” to have to scratch Victoria Paige as he had given her a big chance. Keep Smiling is now his only runner and he said, “She finished close in the Fillies Mile but when we stepped her up to 2000m she didn’t see it out, so we have taken the blinkers off to see whether that helps her settle better and then she can hopefully finish better.”

Tarry should have an early chance of landing a feature with Ecstatic Queen in the Listed The Citizen Ruffian Stakes over 1000m. This Gimmethegreenlight filly has some speed and a nice big action and was finishing strongly on debut when beaten just three-quarters of a length into third by Springs Of Carmel. She gets 3kg from the latter and 7kg from the unbeaten Miracle Flight. She has landed the plum Standside draw and has been working well.

In the Listed TAB Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m he also has a good chance with Querari filly Slalom Queen whom he rates as “very decent.” She showed good cruising speed on debut over 1000m, then quickened exceptionally well and also found extra when challenged. She won easing up by 2,25 lengths, but is now up against a seemingly exceptional colt in War Room, although she does receive 4,5kg.

Tarry also runs Willow Express in this race and didn’t want to believe his first start, where beaten 12,50 lengths, so has drawn a line through it and is giving him another chance. He said, “His work is good enough so we will find out.”

In the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m he has four runners and said he felt Cordillera had the best profile considering her weight, draw and form. He pointed out Rockin Russian had bounced back to win well over 1400m last time and the form of that race had worked out exceptionally well. Aurelia Cotta and Saints Alive are also well. Tarry has been impressed with Johan Janse van Vuuren’s unbeaten filly Lady Of Steel and felt she was the one to beat.

In the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes Tierro Del Fuego is course and distance suited and has won five of his last six runs but is up against some highly rated horses like Barahin and Buffalo Bill Cody, who, on the other hand, are returning from layoffs. This will be Tierro Del Fuego’s acid test.

Tarry’s Cirillo also has a high merit rating and he felt he would bounce back to form in the Hawaii. He said, “He has been haemoconcentrating and has had muscular problems but we are on top of it and I am much more upbeat about his chances this time.”

He also runs Matador Man in the Hawaii and said, “His comeback run was poor but he then showed good improvement in his second run. At his best he has a chance although he does unfortunately seem to reserve his best for Greyville.”

In the Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m he has two runners and said, “Silver God is in a good place and the distance should be no problem. His form is decent and he must have a shout. Lord Silverio has his first run after gelding and we hope he can get back to his potential. He might just need this first run after gelding but we expect a good showing.”

In the Listed Aquanaut Handicap Shenanigans also has his first run after gelding.

Tarry said, “He has a good pedigree so we held off but he wasn’t able to use himself properly behind. The gelding has had the desired effect and he is moving well. I would have preferred to bring him back over 1800m or 2000m but he is a nice stayer and should still make his presence felt.”

Tarry hoped to see his other runner here Wonderous Climber bouncing back after being off form but then showing “slight improvement” in his last start over 2000m.

By David Thiselton

Summerveld trainer Paul Lafferty was thrilled his charge Bint El Malak could win the lucrative Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Horse challenge for stalwart owner Brian Riley.

Riley also owns the third-placed horse Explosive Beauty in partnership with Sherwin Jerrier.

Lafferty said, “Brian and Sherwin are two of the gentlemen of the game, every stable would like to have people of this ilk in their yard.”

Lafferty said that once Bint El Malak, a four-year-old Kings Chapel filly, had gathered 14 points with a win on the first day of the challenge, which stretched out over three months from December 1 to February 29, it was decided to try and win it.

That first win was in a qualified maiden in her 13th start, but nevertheless she started out her handicapping career in fine style with two seconds, a win, a third and a sixth. This increased her tally to 75 points and she finished eight clear of Wendy Whitehead’s Jayden’s Shreya.

Lafferty said, “I didn’t think she would improve that much, but she did and is still in fine shape so will probably be out again soon.”

The competition came at the right time for the yard because in about October last year they had finally overcome a persistent virus which had blighted them for about a year.

The yard then hit form and Lafferty finished second in the Sizzling Summer Trainer’s competition.

He said, “Garth Puller was too strong but I think we had the highest percentage if I’m not mistaken. Well done to the Puller yard. Alyson Wright in third place also pressed hard and won a number of races for their clients, who have got to be happy.”

Lafferty praised Hollywoodbet for the initiative in providing this excellent incentive.

Warren Kennedy won the Jockeys challenge from Anton Marcus.

The R750,000 total prize money, R250,000 for each of the three challenges, was split between the first six places with R100,000 going to the winner of each challenge.

Lafferty and team are determined the yard will never be affected so badly by a virus again and have taken extreme precautions. He said, “We check bloods everyday and it was a very tough time, the blood pictures were shocking. But the horses have come well and now we take many measures, including spraying the boxes with viruscides and administering herpes injections every three months.”

By David Thiselton

Greg Cheyne, heading for his best season in terms of races won, rides two favourites and three second favourites from eight rides when Cape Town racing reverts to Durbanville on Saturday.

The early betting suggests that his best prospect is the Andre Nel-trained Tostada who has opened a warm 11-10 favourite for the Racing Association Maiden (race two) but Our Prized Jewel also heads the market in the Hospitality & Venue Booking Handicap. The Brett Crawford-trained 2-1 shot was impressive when odds-on for her debut and is bred in the purple, being a half-sister to both Cape Fillies Guineas winner Silver Mountain and SA Nursery scorer Cloth Of Cloud.

Cheyne is on the 127-winner mark at the moment and his present strike rate suggests he will top last season’s 160 winner total. Three times before he has bettered 150 winners.

Also doing well is Grant van Niekerk who is lying fifth on the Hong Kong log with 31 winners, the same number he achieved in the whole of last season. But, being Van Niekerk, he has also had interference problems and has had five suspensions since September. These have cost him nearly R400 000 in fines alone.

He told the Racing Post’s Graham Cunningham: “Racing here is quick – you are always trying to find the best position – so occasionally you are going to find a bit of trouble. I just have to make sure it doesn’t happen as often and do my best to stay out of the boardroom!”

By Michael Clower

A maiden winner with a merit rating in the 90’s is either good according to the handicappers, or over rated if you listen to the trainer. The handicappers won out at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday as Winter Sun gave all sunburn in the Durban View Restaurant Novice Plate.

Michael Roberts thought well enough of Winter Sun to race her mostly in feature company last season that earned the filly a lofty 97 rating. But yesterday she showed that her rating was very much in the mark.

Roberts, a world champion rider in his day, has given Serino Moodley a break and he has paid the faith. “Mister Roberts picked the right race.

“She gave me a good feel at work so this was not a surprise. Mister Roberts told me to ride her aggressively and she won well.”

“She over race in the Flamboyant, and she pulled her way to the front,” opined Roberts. “I thought this Novice Plate would suit her. She’s a nice filly.”

Shane Humby is a trainer of few words and his runners seldom have a lot of mileage on the clock. Prime example was Mr Fitz, a four-year-old with just seven runs under his belt, but who stamped himself as a horse for South Africa’s Champion Season with a convincing win.

“He was not putting it in so we had to resort to the unkindest cut of all,” he explained.

This was the now gelded Mr Fitz’s first outing minus his family jewels and he produced for stable rider Donovan Dillon. “He needed gelding but still looked to get out of it and I had to give him a few reminders,” said Dillon.

Humby is not one to run his horses for the sake of it but has built up a band of patient owners.

“I don’t tell my trainer what to do,” said former bookmaker Trevor Fourie who has a share in Mr Fitz. “He trains the horse so knows what is best, I don’t get involved.”

Mr Fitz, not out of the money in his seven starts, could be a horse to follow in the next few months.

Earlier Humby was in front of the TV cameras after Diamondsandpearls landed the first leg of his double. Notching her fourth win, she is not the easiest temperament wise but has been a good earner for owner Geoffrey van Lear.

The filly has temperament issues but, “we are getting on top of them and once we have sorted them out, she can go further,” said Humby.

Frank Robertson is not known for producing his two-year-olds early but he may have uncovered a gem in Love Bomb who quickened away like a good horse to win the Maiden Juvenile Plate.

The luckless Ziva De Grace did everything right but was no match for the finishing burst of Love Bomb.

“She’s got everything,” commented a clearly impressed Robinson. “From day one she has looked like a good filly and I think she can go the whole way. I rate her highly.”

Sean Veale was equally impressed. “I said to Frank, ‘don’t take me off this one.’  I think that she can go on to win a small feature.”

By Andrew Harrison

Kenilworth Racing is to have a general manager once more. This post was abolished, presumably as a cost-cutting measure, some years ago and was not thought necessary when the day-to-day running of Kenilworth and Durbanville was taken over by Phumelela under a management arrangement.

Recruitment consultants Baard and Partners have been appointed to find a suitable person and their advertisement appears on the Sporting Post website. Applicants are expected to have a post-graduate business qualification and at least ten years of relevant experience.

The job involves rather more than just ‘the buck stops with you’ problems on racedays and complaints from racegoers. The successful applicant will be expected to secure maximum returns from the company’s considerable property portfolio as well as from functions and conferences, and also to attract sponsors.

The appointment will be a major stepforward in re-establishing good relations with the racing and betting public. For too long racegoers have had nobody to whom they could address their concerns – whether they were about the food, betting display boards, non-working escalators or anything else. Just having somebody who is known to be in overall charge will work wonders. Applications should be emailed to info@baardandpartners.co.za.

Jonathan Snaith and Justin Vermaak have resigned from the Western Cape Chapter of the Racing Association at the RA’s agm held at Kenilworth and Turffontein Racecourses last month. This is one of several fascinating facts to emerge from the copy of the minutes obtained by the Sporting Post and published on its website.

The relevant minute states that they resigned under the terms of the RA’s Memorandum of Incorporation but (surprisingly) did not make themselves available for re-election. They have been replaced by racecourse commentator Philip Sarembock and Drakenstein racing manager Kevin Sommerville who will sit alongside CTS sales boss Wehann Smith, Ridgemont’s Craig Kieswetter and Avontuur Stud owner Philip Taberer.

Sarembock called for riding fees to be reduced in order to increase the return to owners. Quite what the jockeys will make of this proposal can only be imagined! The proposal was not adopted but, according to the minutes “discussions were ongoing.”

Mike de Kock, who is a director of the RA, proposed that money contributed by race sponsors should be split 50:50 between stakes and Phumelela. At one time Phumelela got the lot but at the moment it is divided 70:30 with Phumelela taking the lion’s share.

By Michael Clower