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. So, when set weights race like the Durban View Restaurant Novice Plate come around, trainers with horses with high ratings jump at the opportunity.

Two that stand out are Winter Sun and Dive Captain at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.

Michael Roberts thought well enough of Winter Sun to race her mostly in feature company last season. This earned her a lofty 97 rating but last year’s juvenile feature winners, both male and female, have not set the tracks alight in the current season which makes Winter Sun’s rating appear suspect.

Roberts stepped his filly up to a mile in the Flamboyant Stakes on Boxing Day and it was an experiment that did not have the desired result. Using her light weight, Denis Schwarz had her up with the pace before blowing out of the back door.

Winter Sun’s sprint form is far superior and although she takes to the poly track for the first time she does look capable of notching her second win, and if her rating is correct, it should be a comfortable win.

Dean Kannemeyer’s KZN string is firing nicely and if the ratings hold any water, Dive Captain should pose the biggest threat to Winter Sun. Although rated 3kg inferior, she is in turn rated 4.5kg superior to the next highest rated filly, Cut Loose.

Dive Captain made no show in the soft at Scottsville last time out but prior to that showed good early toe on the poly, only to be run out of it in the last few strides. Her effort behind the useful Petra in a Graduation Plate was a particularly commendable effort and a repeat on her favourite surface could see the opposition chasing shadows.

Tony Nassif will never go home wondering. He wears his heart on his sleeve and when he raids KZN it is always worth taking note. Cut Loose ran out of puff when well fancied at her second start at the Vaal but was reported to be making a respiratory noise. The addition of a tongue-tie appears to have solved that issue as she scored a comfortable win over the Hollywoodbets Scottsville 1400m next time out. She could be anything and probably worth including as a safety measure in the exotics.

 Some quick horses contest the Greyville Convention Centre Handicap and a win for Drunken Sailor would not be out of turn. Yogas Govender’s gelding has earned a cheque in all of his 10 starts and his fourth behind Scottsville specialist Ishnana being his only finish out of the first three.

Regular pilot Billy Jacobson has been signed up by Louis Goosen so the ride goes to Sherman Brown but it was probably on Jacobson’s advice that Govender has declared blinkers for the first time.

The irony is that Jacobson could provide the stiffest opposition as he partners the Goosen-trained poly specialist Di Mazzio, the combination bidding for a winning hat-trick – never an easy feat – but the stable does appear to have turned the corner.

Coldhardcash would appear to be held by Di Mazzio given their last meeting but apprentice Jabu Jacobs claims his 4kg and Coldhardcash will be out and gone when the gates open.

In the fifth, Arrabiata has shown up well in two starts since shedding her maiden over course and distance. She tried further last run but looks more at home over this shorter trip. Diamondsandpearls, Popova and Barinois could feature as the main threats. Diamondsandpearls won well last run and the extra furlong should not hold any fears from her good draw while Popova has been coming to hand slowly for her new stable and caught the eye over course and distance last time out. But judging by the riding arrangements, Arrabiata is the stable elect. Barinois is over her best course and distance but will not have her original 1.5kg claim as apprentice Jason Gates booted home his 60^th winner on Sunday and is now ineligible to claim.

Jacobs landed a treble at Scottsville last week and he could finally see Ziva De Grace into the winner’s enclosure in the first. Kom Naidoo’s filly has been game in defeat in all three of her starts and the five furlongs on the poly with the claim could be enough to see her home.

By Andrew Harrison

Hollywoodbets Greyville Wednesday Tips and Race Previews by Andrew Harrison

Race 1

6 ZIVA DE GRACE   8 KINSKEY’S TUNE   3 GALACTICO   2 WINTER WHISTLE
Preview: The 4kg claim by apprentice Jabu Jacobs who booted home a treble at Scottsville last week, could finally see ZIVA DE GRACE (6) into the winner’s enclosure. Kom Naidoo’s filly has been game in all three of her starts and the five furlongs on the poly with the claim could be enough to see her home. KINSKEY’S TUNE (8) found good betting support last time out after making a promising debut but took on males in a small field but she looks a threat. GALACTICO (3) was not too far back in her Highveld debut and is sure to improve. WINTER WHISTLE (2) trialled well and is one to watch. (Andrew Harrison: 6-8-3-2).

Race 2

9 HOT MONEY   8 RETAIL THERAPY   2 SPANISH OASIS   4 INGAKARA
Preview: Open race with weak form. HOT MONEY (9) was a beaten favourite at his last two but has been consistent and it could be third time lucky. RETAIL THERAPY (8) boasts some fair Cape form and was not too far back in her recent Vaal debut. She looks a threat. SPANISH OASIS (2) has done better than her last run and a tongue-tie has been added to her equipment. INGAKARA (4) made a modest debut last Wednesday but can come on from that. (Andrew Harrison: 9-8-2-4).

Race 3

6 COZY DOT COM   4 TEETOTAL   8 AMBERBELL   1 PLAMHEART
Preview: COZY DOT COM (6) improved nicely at her second start when making her poly debut. She meets a weak field here and could have a little more scope. TEETOTAL (4) is a battling maiden but goes well on the poly and has not been far back. She will never get an easier chance. AMBERBELL (8) is another struggler nut has shown her best over coursed and distance PALMHEART (1) is down in trip and the blinkers go on. She may be one to keep an eye on. (Andrew Harrison: 6-4-8-1).

Race 4

11 JONATHAN   5 FINAL ASSEMBLY   1 ENTERTHEDEBUTANTE   6 PETER PIPER
Preview: JONATHAN (11) was due to run last Friday night. He has a tricky draw but is much better than his last effort on the turf and is back on his favourite surface where he has shown consistent form. He does step up in trip. FINAL ASSEMBLY (5) was close-up in a blanket finish last run and a repeat can see him close again. ENTERTHEDEBUTANTE (1) takes on males but showed up well from a poor draw last run. Blinkers, a light weight and a plum draw sees a lot in her favour. PETER PIPER (6) is always game and was a fair second to Roy’s Physco who finally managed a second win last time out. (Andrew Harrison: 11-5-1-6).

Race 5

10 ARRABIATA   3 DIAMONDSANDPEARLS   9 POPOVA   11 BARINOIS
Preview: ARRABIATA (10) has shown up well in two starts since shedding her maiden over course and distance. She tried further last run but looks more at home over this shorter trip. DIAMONDSANDPEARLS (3) won well last run and the extra furlong should not hold any fears from her good draw. POPOVA (9) has been coming to hand slowly and caught the eye over course and distance last time out. BARINOIS (11) is over her best course and distance. She was a close-up second last run and Jason Gates takes 1.5kg off her back. (Andrew Harrison: 10-3-9-11).

Race 6

2 WINTER SUN   8 DIVE CAPTAIN   9 SANSKRIFT   7 CUT LOOSE  
Preview: WINTER SUN (2) feature placed last season and has shown her best form over this distance. Her run in the Flamboyant Stakes is best ignored. DIVE CAPTAIN (8) is back on her favourite surface and can do much better than her last showing. CUT LOOSE (7) was a comfortable maiden winner last run but is lightly raced. SANSKRIFT (9) has been over further at her last two. She was a beaten favourite last run and can make amends. (Andrew Harrison: 2-8-9-7).

Race 7

4 DRUNKEN SAILOR   10 DI MAZZIO   9 COLDHARDCASH   3 MR FITZ
Preview: DRUNKEN SAILOR (4) is seldom out of the money. The blinkers go on from a good draw. DI MAZZIO (10) goes for a winning hat-trick. He has drawn wide but is over his best course and distance. COLDHARDCASH (9) is quick and with a 4kg claimer aboard can make all. MR FITZ (3) is smart but is returning from a break and may just need it. (Andrew Harrison: 4-10-9-3).

Race 8

3 LORD CARO   6 KING CYRUS   12 SOLICITOR GENERAL   11 TRANSONIC
Preview: LORD CARO (3) made sudden improvement last run. Good chance if he can repeat. KING CYRUS (6) was a little disappointing last run but is back on the poly where he showed some improvement. He’s lightly raced. SOLICITOR GENERAL (12) has shown his best form on the poly but has again drawn wide. TRANSONIC (11) has also drawn wide and returns from a break but he has shown some ability and has a chance in a weak field. (Andrew Harrison: 3-6-12-11).

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Mercurana has been raised a massive 20 points (10kg) for his shock 45-1 win in last Saturday’s Kenilworth Cup.  His new 97 merit rating should give the Candice Bass-Robinson four-year-old a good chance of getting into the DStv Gold Vase and the eLan Gold Cup.

Swift Surprise, headed almost on the line, has gone up four to a new mark of 95 but Troop The Colour, who earned only R7 500 for finishing fourth, has been hit with a 13 point-rise to 80.

Strathdon (third) and fifth-placed Cedar Man have been left unchanged as has top weight Tap O’Noth who would surely have finished a lot closer than last – admittedly only beaten just over three and a half lengths – had he not been repeatedly denied a clear run. Last year’s Gold Cup winner Dynasty’s Blossom, who made a lot of the running before finishing sixth, is the only one of the eight runners to have been dropped and she comes down from 108 to 106.

Durbanville, forced to switch to Kenilworth on the morning of the racemeeting a week ago, has been given the go-ahead to resume on Saturday.

Racecourse manager Dean Diedericks said yesterday: “We are fine for Saturday and we could do with a few drops of rain.” None is forecast but the problem area – 50m from the winning post and in the centre of the track – is now back to normal.

The MR 78 1 000m handicap had only five acceptors when declarations closed at 11.00m and has been scrapped. The fillies 1 250m maiden and the 1 400m MR94 handicap have each attracted only six runners but the rest of the card has held up well. Candice Bass-Robinson has the most runners with ten while Justin Snaith has nine and Brett Crawford eight. Richard Fourie and Greg Cheyne are the only jockeys with a ride in every race but Sandile Mbhele and Corne Orffer each have seven mounts.

King Of Gems, winner of the Concorde Cup in November but only eighth in the Cape Guineas and last but one in the Cape Derby, has been diagnosed with a wind problem and is to have an operation.

Stable companion Front And Centre goes to Durban even though it was thought that the 2018 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner wasn’t at her best there last year. “She will continue racing until the end of the season and she will probably just have two races – in the Tibouchina (June 13) and the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province on July day,” Crawford reports. She started second favourite for last year’s Garden Province but finished only seventh.

Ready Steady Go could also be making the Great Trek after running such a good race in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes ten days ago. Despite being continually held up for a clear run and having to be switched, the 40-1 shot was only beaten a length and a quarter in fourth.

Michelle Rix said: “We decided to run him fresh, he flew up from last and was unlucky. We weren’t planning to send him to Durban but we will now look at the KZN season with him. We will talk to the owner (Francis Carruthers) and, if he agrees, we will send the horse.”

Prawns

The estimated 3 700 crowd at Kenilworth’s Prawn Festival meeting consumed a total of 2.1 tonnes of prawns. That works out at just over half a kilo per person. Interestingly Kenilworth’s events supremo Clinton Theys reveals that it was the racecourse which footed the bill and then sold the prawns to the public at cost. He is now trying to come up with a similar promotion for Durbanville – not prawns but something (he doesn’t yet know what) that is likely to be just as appealing to the general public.

By Michael Clower

The athletic Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Wylie Hall filly Wylie Wench was one of the most eyecatching winners of the weekend and she looks capable of justifying the money Varsfontein Stud Farm South Africa paid to acquire her.

A quick glance at her rich pedigree is all that is required to know why she has brought two famous racing families together. Her story starts with Anthony Kalmanson, a Durbanite who used to enjoy riding in jumps races in England. He used to look for fillies in Europe to bolster his broodmare band at Varsfontein Stud, which he founded in 1974. He would race them over there and sometimes ride them in hurdles races before bringing them out to South Africa.

In the early 1970’s he bought a filly called Lucky Libra, who was by the Fair Trial line sire Great White Way. She won three races in England, one over 1600m on the flat and two over hurdles. Despite winning a hurdles race over two-and-a-half miles, she was destined to become the founding mare of a family whose most famous names are sprinters, although some members of the family are versatile.

Her first South African-bred foal Crown Sable (Peacable Kingdom) won nine races from 1000m to 1900m, including a Grade 3 over 1000m. Lucky Libra was then sent to Scott Brothers’ five-times champion sire Jungle Cove and the result was the filly Enchanting, who was a superb racehorse and became a matriarch at stud. She won two Grade 1s and a Grade 2 over 1600m, inlcuding the Gosforth Park Fillies Guineas.

Anthony Kalmanson passed away in 1979 and the running of Varsfontein had been handed down to his twin offspring, John and Susan. The twins, to their lasting regret, sold Enchanting. However, they always look for her family members at the Sales. Enchanting was exported to the USA after her racing feats out here and stood at her owner Graham Beck’s Gainesway Farm.

She was later sent back to SA to stand at Beck’s Highlands Farm Stud, but not before she had produced four USA-bred foals, including the Spend A Buck filly Enchanted Dollar.

Enchanted Dollar won twice in South Africa before standing at Highlands. She produced two Graded winners including the champion National Assembly colt National Currency.

The latter was purchased for R500,000 at the National Yearling Sales and Beck took a share in him together with A Christoforou, C J W and N Hilt and J E H Clarke.

National Currency, trained by Mike Azzie, broke 1000m course records at Turffontein and Newmarket on his way to nine career wins, including three Grade 1s.

He was an Equus Champion two-year-old and an Equus Champion three-year-old sprinter.

The big 16-hands-2-inch bay earned the nickname “the horse with the movie star looks” and was still said to be maturing when tragically passing away as a four-year-old.

In his penultimate start in South Africa in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m at Clairwood, when still a three-year-old, he destroyed them by 5,25 lengths.

He then went over to Hong Kong and ran second to the legendary Silent Witness, who was named world champion sprinter for three years in succession.

Azzie had claimed before that race that had it been over six furlongs and not five the opposition would have been better off not pitching up.

National Currency’s next start in Dubai in a Listed race over 1200m on the dirt perhaps proved him correct as he cruised in by six-and-a-half lengths.

National Currency had the world at his feet and it was a devastating blow to Azzie and SA racing fans when his life was then claimed by a suspected snake or scorpion bite.

Azzie was once asked by the Racegoer when he had a runner in the Mercury Sprint to compare the favourite of that race to National Currency and he said, “National Currency could have stopped for a cup of tea at the 400m and still beaten him.”

That is how much he revered him.

Enchanting’s first SA-bred foal was Harry’s Charm, an ARCSA Champion two-year-old and three-year-old filly and she was later a Champion Older Sprinter.

Later in 1998, just a year before National Currency was born, Enchanting produced a filly by National Assembly called Enchantress.

Her eight wins included the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint and she was named Equus Champion Older Female Sprinter in 2002.

Enchantress has produced the Grade 1 Thekwini winner and Equus Champion two-year-old filly Laverna and the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup winner Nevvay, proving there are still lines of stamina coming through from Lucky Libra.

Wylie Wench, bred by Lammerskraal Stud, is the eighth foal of Enchantress.

Susan Rowett (nee Kalmanson) of Varsfontein bought Wylie Wench at BSA’s National Two-year-old Sale for R600,000.

Mike Azzie had also liked her conformation and he and Susan had soon agreed that as he knew the family so well Azzie Racing Stables would be the right ones to train her.

After all her dam is a three-parts sister to National Currency.

The Azzies provided Wylie Wench with a test on Saturday which was going to help them plan her future.

It was just her second career start and she was being asked to overcome a wide draw in the 1450m fillies and mares maiden on the tight Turffontein Inside track.

After dwelling slightly she was caught wide in the running without cover.

However, she remained relaxed and made up the deficit easily at the top of the straight.

She then wandered around in the front before a backhander from Raymond Danielson saw her surging to win as she liked.

The Azzies said she had taken time to mature.

Her sire Wylie Hall is one of the best performed South African-based sons of the late great Australian champion sire Redoute’s Choice and he is already beginning to make waves as a sire himself.

The Azzies are not getting ahead of themselves but Wylie Wench undoubtedly has more to come and is definitely a horse to follow.

By David Thiselton

The Vaal Classic track meeting tomorrow has some interesting races including three good class handicaps for fillies and mares.

The seventh, a MR 92 Handicap over 1450m, is a particularly fascinating contest as it sees some up and coming fillies clashing with some proven older females. Stage Dance is the selection. She is a daughter of Duke Of marmalade so will be improving. She has been close up in her last five starts to some good horses including Celtic Sea, Green Top, Snow Palace, Mount Laurel and Rio’s Winter. She now has a first-time tongue tie on from pole position and her merit rating of 91 is attractive. Promise is a five-year-old but keeps on defying the handicapper and has won five of her last seven starts. She had a bit in hand when winning at Scottsville last time in soft going and has been raised only two points.

The six-year-old mare Rouge Allure has raced over 1800m and 1600m in her last two starts and has come down four points in the merit ratings which will make her dangerous from a plum draw of two as this is her best trip. Kay Tee Perry caught the eye when winning her maiden second time out over 1160m, beating the promising Cornish Pomodoro, so she should go on to win a few races, but this is her first time around the turn and she faces a decent field from a tough draw. Makara has caught the eye since day one and races as if she will stay this trip, so she is interesting in her third run after a layoff. but on the downside she has a tricky draw and on pedigree, being  by the speed influence Soft Falling Rain out of a Var 1000m specialist, there is a slight stamina doubt.

The Fifth Wave stayed on well over 1200m last time after a slow start so can’t be ignored from a good draw. Gallic Princess is a decent sort but looks held by Stage Dance on their last meeting over this course and distance. Gimme Hope Johanna has come down in the merit ratings and has two wins and a third over this course and distance so is hard to leave out. Bullsade has been off form but has come down the merit ratings and from a wide draw is capable of finishing strongly from off the pace.

In the fourth race, a MR 91 Handicap over 1800m, Machali looks the one to beat. She was found wanting last time in the closing stages over 1600m after turning for home in a handy position, but that was a strong field and she should relish the step up in trip being by Dynasty out of a Jet Master mare who won over this trip. Topweight Destiny’s Game won going way last time over 1600m and has won her only start over this course and distance so this progressive daughter of Master Of My Fate should be able to handle the five point raise she was given.

Pretty Ballerina has also won over the course and distance before and has a plum draw. Moroccan Flame is a progressive daughter of Ideal World who is drawn well over a suitable trip so she might be able to handle a four point raise, although she was well beaten by Pretty Ballerina in her penultimate start over this trip. Elusive Butterfly has a bit to find with Destiny’s Game and there might be a stamina doubt considering her speedy female line, but she is by Elusive Fort so there is a chance she will enjoy the trip and she is drawn in pole.

The sixth is a MR 92 Handicap over 1000m and Double O’ Eight can make it a quick double. She was given a five point raise for her beating of a good Pinnacle field last time and is set to carry a welter 64kg but the 4kg claim of Philisande Mxoli alleviates that.  Rainbow Haze has eyecatching pace and will be dangerous with a 2,5kg claimer aboard off an 83 merit rating. Ocean City can never be ignored over 1000m as she is capable of blitzing a field.  

The rest of the card is competitive too.

Belle View should enjoy the step down in trip in the first and should offer some value.

Pluviophile and Bella Rosa should fight out the second.

Latin Opus enjoyed stepping up to middle distances last time so has a fine chance in the third, although G.I. Joe should have come on from his last run and will be a threat, while Fort Alado can improve too.

In the fifth Flying High should be too good at the weights, although Magic Mila is progressive and could give her a run for her money.

In the last Crime Scene, Putin’s Promise and Creation are up and coming sorts while The Makwakkers is off a decent mark and Written In Stone will relish the step back in trip but has a tough draw.  

By David Thiselton