There is an eight race meeting on the Vaal straight track tomorrow and there are one or two opportunities for punters.  

In the first race over 1200m, Soul Connection ran on over 1000m last time for third and Piere Strydom staying aboard is a good sign. Fists Of Fire moved up well last time over this trip last time but appeared to tire late and if that was the case he will be one to look out for going over 1000m.

However, the experienced connections have read it that he idled in front as they are fitting him with blinkers and if they are right he could well be the one to beat. Zig Zag has shown signs of ability and could improve further to earn a cheque.  

In the second race over 2000m Imperial Ruby has not been disgraced in his last two over 2400m and 1800m respectively behind two useful sorts. That last effort was in the Listed Secretariat Sakes and he has copped a harsh eight point raise. He consequently has to carry 61kg so it won’t be easy but Warren Kennedy is aboard which is a bonus. Diorama is a progressive filly who won well over this trip last time. She might have the SA Oaks on her agenda if defying the handicapper again here, but it is never easy against the boys. Christopher Robin has gone close over this trip recently despite being out of a speedy mare.

In the third race Wylie Wench is by the promising sire Wylie Hall and she was very green when going close on debut over 1000m. She should know more about it this time and hopefully won’t be surveying the scenery as she was in that last start and she should also appreciate the step up to 1200m. Persica has speed and could be a threat if getting a better start than last time. Sexy Cinderella also has some pace and is capable of staying on in to the frame.

In the fourth race over 1000m Arikel has earned a cheque in four out of five starts over this course and distance, although none of those were wins. It could change tomorrow as she comes out well on formlines. Hear The Trumpet has come into her own and goes for a hattrick. She proved last time she is effective over this trip when producing a strong late run. Gavin Lerena stays aboard which is a good sign, but it will be tough off a five point higher merit rating. Towards The Sun won her maiden well over this course and distance. It was in her eighth start, but she had bumped some fair company before that without being disgraced and she starts handicapping off a lenient merit rating of 67. Wings Of Honour is half-a-kilogram better off with Hear The Trumpet for a quarter if a length beating, so there should be nothing in it. However, she did make a respiratory noise last time, although on the plus side Warren Kennedy now takes the ride. Scarlet Tiger looked promising when winning her maiden in the July of her two-year-old year by 4,50 lengths over this trip. She has been well beaten in a Grade 2 feature and an ordinary handicap since then. However, she was laid off for 159 days after the latter start and in her return she can’t be ignored off a mark which has come down eight points considering she also has a 4kg claimer aboard. 

The fifth is a Progress Plate over 1100m and Benji could follow up on his last win over 1200m. He has always been well regarded and looks to have benefited from the layoff he was given. He now has his peak run and although this is a lot tougher he should give a good account of himself. On the downside he only beat Smoke by 0,30 lengths in that last race and is now 1kg worse off with him, which might not augur well as Smoke is hopelessly out at the weights here. However, Smoke did have some decent earlier form before a long layoff so might be coming back into his own. Epic Dream is 3kg better off with Benji for a 0,30 length beating so this horse, who struck as a decent sort from day one, can continue his recent good run of form. Land Of The Brav has pace and the ability to stay on so will be a threat. Captain And Master has a been a disappointing sort overall but as one who has sometimes overraced over further he is interesting running fresh over this trip as he does have class. What You Are is the best weighted and this is an easier task than she faced in Cape Town but it would appear she would prefer further.

In the sixth over 1600m Rooi Tom disappointed over 1400m last time but if repeating his previous start over this he will go close, especially considering he has a 2,5kg claimer up. Ice Lord won his first two starts over this trip and wasn’t disgraced last time over 1800m considering the winner was the classy Youcanthurrylove. Waqaas can do better than last time when failing to overcome a wide draw over this trip.

In the seventh over 1600m Destiny’s Game has shown ability over this trip and this consistent sort looks the one to beat on form. Now You See Me goes very well for Piere Strydom and is distance suited so should go close. Wordyness won well last time over this trip and the form was franked when Littlewood came out and won yesterday. Circle Of Latitude can never be discounted. Soul Of Wit ran a good race over this trip last time and also has a shout. 

In the last race over 1600m Oh Mercy Me has an impressively strong finish and should relish this course and distance. Gavin Lerena stays aboard and she is made a PA banker. The risk averse can also consider Franklin for the Pick 6 as she won her maiden well over 1400m and should relish the step up in trip so could upset running off a reasonable looking merit rating. 

By David Thiselton

Sean Tarry has not yet decided upon a definite path for his Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas winner Ikigai.

Meanwhile, his Dingaans winner Shango had a minor setback which put him out of work for three or four days, causing him to be scratched from the Guineas. However, he is on track for the Grade 1 SA Classic. The promising Cornish Pomodoro had a similar setback and Tarry is also thinking of running him in the SA Classic.

Tarry will nominate Ikigai for the SA Classic, which constitutes the second leg of the SA Triple Crown. 

However, the exciting prospect is looking at this stage to be best suited to a mile, so he will be keeping his options open.

His sire Vercingetorix, who is by stamina influence Silvano, won the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 but Ikigai’s dam Al Shiba, by Al Mufti, was never tried beyond a mile and her siblings were generally sprinter-to-1400m or 1400m-to-miler types.

Ikigai is an athletic colt with a daisy cutting action.

Tarry’s Captain Al filly Victoria Paige was an unlucky third in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas. She ran wide from a draw of 16, although she did have fair cover, and was then baulked for a run from the 200m mark until about the 25m mark. She looked to still have plenty in the tank at the time and did surge in the final 25m when finally getting a clear run. Her mission has always been the SA Triple Tiara. She will be a big threat to Summer Pudding in the second leg, the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m, although the latter will also appreciate the step up in trip.

Tarry had a few interesting runners on Saturday too.

Al Mutawakel wore first time blinkers to try and get him to travel better in the race, but he then probably traveled too well. The blinkers might be tried again before a decision whether to persevere with them is made. Tarry said Al Mutawakel’s main target could well be the Premier’s Champions Challenge on May 2 and an option on the way there is the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes on March 28.

He was pleased with the filly Return Flight’s third place finish over the too sharp 1600m on Saturday. Defending her crown in the Grade Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over 2000m on May 2 is on her radar.

Tarry’s Skit Skizzle colt Tierra Del Fuego made it five wins from his last six starts, beating stable companion Warrior’s Rest in a 1450m event.

Tierra Del Fuego might be targeted at the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m on March 7 and might also take in the weight for age Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m on April 4.

Warrior’s Rest might be aimed at the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m on March 14.

Tilbury Fort ran fifth in a Pinnacle event over 1800m on Saturday and Tarry reckoned the former Summer Cup winner was now back in form. The Colorado King would be an obvious short term target for him.

Meanwhile, Celtic Sea is back in Johannesburg. The Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes, the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint and the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes is her probable big race route.

Chimichuri Run lines up in the Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m at Kenilworth on Saturday. Tarry felt the Cape Flying Championship had not panned out well for Chimichuri Run, but he had been trying his best in the finish. He might run him in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m on May 2 after giving him a Johannesburg pipe opener. The defense of his Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint crown as well as the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint were other probable engagements.

Tarry’s long-time stable star Legal Eagle was moved to the Port Elizabeth yard of Yvette Bremner late last year.

By David Thiselton

The Stephen Moffat yard’s confidence in the R70,000 purchase Rio’s Winter was nearly converted on Wednesday night in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas when she moved up looking the winner before being narrowly denied by the classy and courageous favourite Summer Pudding.

The Oratorio filly had thus repeated the feat of her mother Winter Ade (Western Winter), who finished second in this race for Geoff Woodruff in 2007.

Moffat said she had come out of the race very well and added, “Piere Strydom has no doubt she will stay 1800m, so we will definitely take our chances in the SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1 R1 million race at Turffontein Standside on March 7, also sponsored by Wilgerbosdrift), although I’m not sure about her getting the 2450m SA Oaks trip.”   

Considering her good breeding the price Rio’s Winter was acquired for at the National Yearling Sales in 2018 was a bargain.

Winter Ade was not only a Grade 2 runner up but is also a half-sister to two other stakes placed horses, Autumn Splendour and Count Tassilo.

Moffat recalled, “I liked her so thought I would take a chance.”  

He admitted R70,000 was still a lot to pay for his small yard but believed the reason for the relative lack of interest in her at the Sales was probably due to her size.

He said, “She was a bit on the small side, but I could see she would grow into a lovely big filly.”

Vaal-based Moffat put together a syndicate of friends, whom he confirmed are now “very happy friends.”

The syndicate consists of Clinton Lines, PJ Delport, N Delport, R Delport, S Delport and Stephen Moffat’s wife Julia.

Whereas Winter Ade started at odds of 40/1 in the 2007 Gauteng Fillies Guineas and was beaten 1,75 lengths by Dane Julia, Rio’s Winter was backed in from 18/1 into 9/1.

Moffat said, “I thought she would just about win and she did everything but win.”

The robust filly showed good gatespeed from draw six and Strydom was able to slot in front of Summer Pudding and secure the rail just as they reached the first turn.  

She relaxed well in the box seat.

Strydom kept her covered in the straight on the outside until the 400m mark and then switched inward for her run.

Her resolute finish had taken her level with Summer Pudding by the 100m mark and her momentum looked likely to carry her to victory. 

However, Summer Pudding is full of class and courage and fought back to win by a quarter of a length.

The distance was on the sharp side of Summer Pudding’s Range, so Rio’s Winter is going to have a tough task to reverse form. However, her performance was no fluke. She looks the part and will likely do better than her mother’s seven length tenth in the SA Fillies Classic.

Rio’s Winter showed Moffat how good she was from day one and won her debut in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m last April by three lengths. 

She took her chances in the Grade 2 SA Fillies Nursery and the Grade 1 Alan Robertson and finished unplaced in both.

However, the connections always knew she wanted further.

She won fourth time out this season when stepped up to 1450m in a Graduation Plate for fillies and mares and enjoyed the further step up to a mile last Wednesday.

Her half-sister by Mogok, First Winter, has won over 1800m.

Rio’s Winter has earned R251,900 in stakes so far.

By David Thiselton

Richard Fourie is expecting significant improvement from champion sprinter Kasimir when he bids to repeat last year’s victory in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes at Kenilworth’s Prawn Festival meeting on Saturday.

The Justin Snaith gelding was only third when attempting to win a second Cape Flying Championship on Sun Met day but, according to the form book at least, he didn’t get a clear run and had to be switched off the heels of fourth-placed Run Fox Run approaching the furlong marker.

“Kasimir wasn’t checked,” says Fourie, putting the record straight.

“I was two lengths off Run Fox Run at the time, I saw it coming so I moved my horse across.

“In effect I just changed lanes.

“But the difference on Saturday is that Kasimir went into the Cape Flying having had only one run – whereas last year he’d had three – and as a result he wasn’t tight. But he is now.”

Bold Respect, second in last year’s Cape Flying and beaten a short head this time, looks a big price at 10-1.

Was he in any way unlucky?

And was there anything that could have been done differently to perhaps reverse that wafer-thin verdict?

Greg Cheyne, who again has the mount, shakes his head and grins when the question is put to him, “No, there were no excuses in the Cape Flying – I was beaten on the bob.

“If it was me who’d got the nod [and not Aldo Domeyer on Russet Air] then I would have won.”

 On Met day and, after winning the two-year-old Listed race with Erik The Red, Justin Snaith spoke of his reluctance to let a horse of his size race so fast so early in his career.

Yet the colt turns out again for the Capetown Noir Cape Of Good Hope Nursery and is odds-on favourite.

“No, I have no reservations about running him again here,” said the trainer. “If you remember, I hadn’t galloped him before the race on Met day and he has been doing very well. He should take some beating.”

Similarly Dean Kannemeyer doesn’t appear to have hesitated about bringing back R2 million purchase Delta Queen for the Kepu Kenilworth Fillies Nursery only a fortnight after her debut.

Kannemeyer said: “It’s not as if she tore her guts out to win – she did it quite comfortably – and she came through the race very well.

If she also comes through this one with flying colours I will put her on the list for Durban.”

Delta Queen is 16-10 favourite with Snaith’s Stuck On You (third in the Met day Listed race) next in the market on 22-10. Stable companion Favorita (6-1) is the only other in the 11-strong field in single figures. Erik The Red has only six against him and is quoted at 5-10 with Anton Marcus’s mount Joseph Barry second favourite at 5-1.

This is the eighth successive year that the Cape Town Prawn Festival is being held at Kenilworth and the organisers are offering a R99 special of 25 prawns, chips or rice and sauces plus free admission.

Compare that for value with what Navan racecourse in Ireland were offering to attract racegoers for last Sunday’s return of dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll: 35 euros (R565) to cover admission, a beef roll, a race card and a bottle of beer. Admittedly they threw in a free 5 Euros (R80) bet but Navan’s facilities and general comfort level make Kenilworth look like Royal Ascot.

Those going to the course on Saturday will also be given a complimentary entry for draws for R50 000 worth of household goods including a R20 000 star prize.

You have to complete a form on arrival at the racecourse to take part.

By Michael Clower

The Vaal Classic track has an eight race meeting tomorrow headed by the Non-Black Type Egoli Mile where the exciting prospect Marshall can defy top weight.

This classy Vercingetorix gelding was found to not be striding out in the Dingaans where he disappointed as favourite. However, he showed he was not an over-hyped horse last time when sauntering to an impressive victory in a handicap over 1450m. This powerful bay with the lively action jumps from draw five and will take a lot of beating despite having to give weight away. He has to give Viper Jet 8kg which won’t be easy as the latter lost to him by only half-a-length over 1160m in the Maidens. Viper Jet sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight after being given a lenient mark for his easy win over 1450m last time and being by Pomodoro ge should relish the step up in trip. Indy Go makes most appeal of the rest having run well against dome hood horses over this trip although he does have second top weight and a tough draw.

Punters could get off to a good start with Expressfromtheus in the first race over 1450m.

This rangy What A Winter three-year-old has gone close in two starts and now over a step up in trip he will relish he has his first run as a gelding. The form of his last start looks strong as the winner Valetorio finished fifth next time out in the Grade 2 Tony Ruffel Stakes which was won by the classy Ikigai. The other formline which gives it a strong look is that he beat Willo’thewisp by 5,25 lengths. The latter, who also lines up in this race tomorrow, had gone close in two previous starts over 1200m and didn’t appear to have any excuses in that last race.

Another horse who should be improving and running on is Ideal Wolff, although he has a tricky draw to negotiate.

Untamed Tiger is an effective frontrunner and has a reasonable draw of eight. He was bumped at a crucial stage last time over this trip when a 1,50 length second will be dangerous if able to get to the front easily.

Ministerwithout lost his jockey last time but before that had stayed on well from well off the pace over 1200m so he can’t be ignored.

Willo’thewisp could also improve over this trip and he has a plum draw.

The second is also over 1450m and Bianca is an interesting runner here. She was green on debut over this trip and never had much room so as not at all disgraced finishing 5,50 lengths back. She is now drawn in pole with Gavin Lerena up. Wallaa looked a tad outpaced over this trip in October but she has scope and the rest would have allowed her to strengthen. She dos have a wide draw but should be staying on. Lightning Rock comes out better than Bianca on strict formlines on the evidence of her last start but that was her fourth start compared to the latter’s debut.  She has a plum draw of two and should be thereabouts in an overall uninspiring field.

In the third race over 1200m Sweet Trial is a most interesting runner. In her last start over 1000m blinkers were refitted and she won well, beating the promising sort Captain Hindsight. She is effective over this trip and only has a two point raise to deal with, so could go in again. Touch Of Fate is one of the horses who makes Sweet Trial’s win look like good form as he was well beaten by him but has been right there in two subsequent starts over this trip and 1000m respectively. He has good early pace and will be dangerous from a good draw. We All Chomies runs off a reduced merit rating and might enjoy the step down in trip so makes most appeal of the rest. Colour Of Light, Varimax and Baahir warrant consideration.

In the next over 2400m the relatively unexposed Alicante looks to be a useful stayer in the making although the draw of nine is tricky. Piere Strydom is drawn in pole aboard Glamarous Scandal having won on her three runs ago over 2600m. She is five points higher but will appreciate the step back up in trip. Crystal Stream enjoys this trip and has won over it from a similarly wide draw before. Emerald Bay has talent although she needs things to go her way so she will be a threat from draw five. Laconia could still improve having not been disgraced on her handicap bow.

In the next over 2400m three-year-old Out Of Your League won well last time despite bursting through the stalls. He is on the up and can defy a three point raise. Village Deep was narrowly beaten by him in that aforementioned start and should be right there with Strydom up. Brand New Cadillac has put up some fine performances over staying trips and is interesting in his third run after a layoff having had two preparation runs over shorter. Highlander and African Adventure also need to be included.

In the sixth over Tobefair won her Maiden well when stepped up to 1800m and off a reasonable merit rating can go close over this further step up in trip. Rabia The Rebel has been in fine form over this trip since Chase Maujean climbed aboard and should be involved again. Littlewood is off a competitive mark and will be dangerous over a suitable trip from pole position.

The last race over 1600m is open and a few will have to be included. Podcast, Written In Stone, Electromagnetic, In The Game and Top Rank are the ones who make most appeal.

By David Thiselton