Front And Centre is on a recovery mission in the Vasco Da Gama Prix Du Cap at Kenilworth on Saturday after inexplicably flopping in the Bidvest Majorca.

Last season’s WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner started third favourite for the Met day Grade 1 but finished with only three behind her. The course vet reported that Anton Marcus’s mount came back with abrasions on her left hind, suggesting that she had a bit of a rough passage, but Brett Crawford is not so sure.

He said yesterday: “We didn’t find much wrong. She just seemed to have no gate speed, she was never really travelling well and she produced no finishing effort.”

It was the first time that the four-year-old had raced with blinkers and, although she has been declared to wear them again, Crawford is in two minds about fitting them a second time.

The bookmakers seem to think that Front And Centre will run considerably better this time and most have her favourite at 2-1 with Santa Clara (two and a half lengths in front of Front And Centre when ninth in the Majorca) vying for second favouritism – at around 6-1 – with Cartier Sceptre third Golden Chance.

Crawford runs three in the ARF Commemorative Cape Derby in a bid to win the race for the third time following Jackson (2012) and Edict Of Nantes three years ago. Aldo Domeyer’s mount King Of Gems is the highest rated, and the shortest priced, of the trio and he wears a tongue tie for the second successive race.

“He makes a bit of a noise and we thought the tongue tie would assist him,” explained the Philippi trainer. “He has been doing well, he looks well and his work has been good.”

The Concorde Cup winner is a 17-2 chance with Viva Rio hot favourite at 17-10 ahead of the Justin Snaith pair Sachdev (5-1) and Silver Host (11-2).

By Michael Clower

It would appear from media reports that one of the triggers that precipitated the violent conduct by a small group of irate punters at Hollywoodbets Greyville last week, was primarily aimed at jockey Anton Marcus.

However, his favourite in the first race fractured a leg and the Marcus-ridden favourite in the second, Fergie’s Rock, pulled up lame and unplaced which appeared to spark the protest.

Among other grievances that have subsequently emerged was that Hollywoodbets, the racecourse sponsors and leading bookmakers, also sponsor trainers and jockeys that these punters contended could lead to races being ‘fixed’.

Hollywoodbets have vehemently denied all allegations and there is no evidence to suggest otherwise.

Marcus, who is not sponsored by Hollywoodbets and rides freelance for the most, is one of the sought-after jockeys for his proven expertise in the saddle and consequently rides many more fancied horses than his weighing room counterparts.

He does not always get his pick of rides, “I’m often turned down,” he says, but it stands to reason that his judgement, or that of the trainers who often request his services, may not always be on the mark. In other cases, his mounts may be having an off day or develop some other physical niggle during a race, a fate that can befall any other horse or rider.

Marcus, like all other jockeys, earns his basic salary through riding fees so out of necessity of putting bread on the table, will take rides even if their chances of winning are remote.

The list of possibilities is endless but the simple fact is that his mere presence in the saddle trims the odds on his mounts, whether they have the form to win or not, and are often ‘false favourites’.

The ‘educated’ punter is well aware of this and does not fall into this betting trap easily.

Marcus currently has a national winning strike rate of 30.4% for the season so far, a trend that goes back a decade, while log-leading jockey Warren Kennedy has an 18% winning strike rate. Those percentages increase on their home courses with Marcus on 32.2% and Kennedy 19.4%.

While you can read whatever you like into statistics, Kennedy is riding for his first National Jockey’s Title and the more rides he gets the better his chances. The fact that he still boasts a winning strike rate of close to 20% is testimony to his ability. Marcus, a three-time National Champion and not chasing the title, is more judicious and has 69 winners from just 227 rides. Kennedy has 165 winners from 898 rides.

The national average of winning favourites at all of the country’s courses, Zimbabwe and Mauritius included, for the past three years is constant at around 30% that equates to close to one in every three favourites winning.

By Andrew Harrison

See tables below:

Summer Pudding has come out of her win in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas very well and the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara dream is still alive.

Trainer Paul Peter also has three horses aimed at the second leg of the SA Triple Crown, Astrix, Western Fort and Battle Of Alesia.

Peter believed before last Wednesday evening’s meeting the Fillies Guineas would be the hardest leg of the SA Triple Tiara for Summer Pudding to win as the mile is on the sharp end of her stamina range.

She displayed both her courage and stamina reserves in testing conditions when fighting back after the strong-finishing Rio’s Winter had ranged up to her with 100m to go.

The Silvano filly is out of Cherry On The Cake, who is a half-sister to SA Triple Tiara heroine Cherry On The Top.  

Peter said yesterday, “All is on song for the SA Fillies Classic (a R1 million Grade 1 event run on March 7, also sponsored by Wilgerbosdrift).”

Astrix only just failed to hold on for third in the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas. He was beaten a short-head by Green Laser and was 3,80 lengths behind the winner Ikigai.

Peter said he had needed it and jockey Callan Murray was adamant he would stay the 1800m trip of the SA Classic.

Peter said the tactic to take Astrix handy to try and overcome his wide draw had also probably been a mistake and is now of the opinion he is a horse who needs to “take a sit”. This strategy will likely be used in the SA Classic.

Western Fort, a colt by Elusive Fort, was unplaced on his debut over 1600m last October but followed up with two impressive victories over 1900m and 2000m respectively. He started odds-on for his last start, a Graduation Plate over 2000m, but was beaten narrowly into second by the filly Diorama, to whom he gave 7kg.

However, Peter believed he had a valid excuse and said, “A line can be drawn through that run. He got a bad bump and then had no option but to go to the front. He is not a horse who wants to lead.”

Battle Of Alesia finished a 4,75 length fourth in the TAB/Betting World Dingaans.

He subsequently disappointed when a 1,75 length fourth in a strong Graduation Plate.

However, Peter said, “Warren said he wasn’t trying in that last race. He needed gelding and is better than that run. He has come on a lot since gelding.”

Battle Of Alesia is out of a Fort Wood maiden who placed over 2200m, so he should love the 1800m trip.

Both Astrix and Battle Of Alesia are by the new stallion sensation Vercingetorix, who is a son of the champion sire Silvano.

Peter said, “I don’t have enough Vercingetorix’s, I only have three!”

Peter was hoping he had a shout of winning the SA Classic.

He pointed out there might be a stamina doubt with Gauteng Guineas winner Ikigai and said that although Shango won the Dingaans in commanding style he was by Captain Of All, which also created a bit of doubt.

In other Peter yard news he said the classy sprinter Fly Away had hated the soft ground in the Grade 3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap, where she finished unplaced, and they hoped the going would be on top for her next engagement.

Peter has a four runners at the Vaal today and made Benji, who runs in the seventh, a Progress Plate over 1100m, a “massive runner”.

He said, “It didn’t pan out well for him last time but he still won and he will be better down the straight.”

By David Thiselton

Gary Alexander landed the eleventh four-timer of his career last Saturday at Turffontein and is now eyeing the Vodacom Durban July with two of his stalwarts, Chijmes and Hero’s Honour.

He has other feature race dates in mind for the like of Saragon, Magic School, Just Kidding and Gaian Glory and believes General Jackson can also make the step up to feature class.

Alexander believes both Chijmes and Hero’s Honour will be ideally suited to Greyville as they both have the ability to quicken from handy positions.

Hero’s Honour, who is a five-year-old gelding by Await The Dawn out of a Galileo mare, won the SA Derby two seasons ago but did not winter well that season so did not run in the July.

However, the race he won recently is a good starting point from which to have another tilt.

Chijmes is by the sprint-miler Ato out of a Russian Revival miler called Sophie’s Choice.

However, he has a nice big stride and found extra on Saturday over 1800m when challenged in the final 150m by the decent performers Divine Odyssey and Al Mutawakel.

On that evidence he could get the Greyville 2200m trip.

Alexander said there were plenty of other options for this pair in the SA Champions Season, including the Grade 1 Champions Cup.

Alexander has always thought a lot of the Ideal World mare Saragon, who has now won four of her 14 states. He is considering two Grade 1 events for her, the HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes and the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes, both over a mile. This mare has a fine turn of foot.

The three-year-old Visionaire filly Just Kidding took on the boys on Tuesday in the Egoli Mile at the Vaal and finished second carrying 54,5kg.

She had earlier finished third in the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup.

She could have a couple of SA Champions Season targets and so could the three-year-old Philanthropist filly Magic School.

The latter finished second to Frosted Gold in the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m and finished a narrow third against her own gender in the Grade 3 Three Troikas Stakes over that same Turffontein Standside course and distance.

She was unplaced in last Wednesday night’s Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas but nothing went right for her. She was drawn wide and then missed the break. She moved up well in the straight but the effect of the slow start told. However, she was still only 5,25 lengths back at the line.

She will take her place in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and Alexander believed she would have no problem getting the 1800m trip as she “settles so well”.

Three-year-old Gaian Glory is by Visionaire and is a half-sister to Chijmes. She finished second in the Ready To Run Cup and followed that with a far from disgraced sixth place finish to the top class Ikigai in the Grade 2 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1400m.

Alexander’s run on Saturday began with an easy five length win for General Jackson in a maiden over 1600m and he believed this three-year-old Jackson gelding could improve enough to be aimed at a minor feature soon.

He won the next three races on the card with Fierce Fighter (maiden plate over 2600m), Chijmes and Saragon.

However, this feat does not constitute a yard best. Had two six-timers in the mid-1990s, including once on an eight race card.

He has 70 horses in his yard and concluded, “We have a well balanced string. Chijmes, Hero’s Honour and Saragon are relatively lightly raced so are still fresh horses and we have some above average younger horses.” 

By David Thiselton

Carl Burger has finally lost his long-running battle with ill-health and he was buried yesterday at the age of 60.

The former Philippi trainer had his biggest success when Richard Fourie rode Grey Cossack to victory in the Gold Vase on Durban July day in 2011 – and the win meant rather more to him than it would have done to most trainers in similar circumstances.

“Greyville was my home town, I was born in a hospital nearby and I went to school down the road from the course,” he was to recall. He often played truant to attend the mid-week meetings – “the teachers would go there to look for me on Wednesdays and even as a schoolboy my dream was to have a winner there.”

It was a long time coming. He worked as a farrier from 1980 to 1984 and then joined Metrorail as an electrical fitter “although I was still always going to the races.”

He went on to work as a commodity dealer and was also involved in boxing promotion. But the call of racing was never far away and he worked for Herman Brown snr, Weiho Marwing and Selvan Moodley before setting up on his own account in 2009. Grey Cossack’s win at 13-1 in the following year’s Durbanville Cup was his first feature.

He was one of the first in Cape Town to train for Braam van Huyssteen who was part-owner of Grey Cossack. However his string remained relatively small and, while he shrugged off his increasing health problems, they struck with horrifying vengeance in July 2016. A fortnight after having a quadruple heart bypass operation he had to have his left leg amputated below the knee.

Riaan van Reenen came to the rescue by offering a training partnership (“What are friends for if you are not there for them when they need you?”). It seemed an unlikely combination – two outspoken men each with their own firm views about most things, including how horses should be trained. But for two seasons it worked well before Burger decided he could not continue. Thereafter he was seldom seen on the racecourse.

Van Reenen, who probably knew him better than anyone, said on the way to yesterday’s funeral: “Carl wore his heart on his sleeve and he spoke without thinking of the repercussions but he had a kind heart.

”He also had a great passion for German Shepherd dogs (he had six of them) as well as for horses and indeed for all animals – he couldn’t bear to see any of them suffer. He will be sorely missed.”

By Michael Clower