Aldo Domeyer had the finest day of his racing career at Kenilworth on Saturday and it proved his standard of professionalism and horsemanship has sharpened to a genuinely world class level.

Domeyer’s three big wins comprised two Grade 1s as well as the joint richest race in South Africa and he came from off the pace with perfectly timed runs in all three of them.

His successful stint in Hong Kong played a part in raising his game and he said, “When I got to Hong Kong there were things I thought I knew but soon learnt there were points I needed to sharpen up on. You don’t really think about it or notice the improvement, you make adjustments, certain points click and without really realising it you’ve taken the next step.”

With the skills upgrade also came composure.

He said, “My father said to me on Friday evening, ‘Are you nervous?'” and I replied ‘No, I don’t get nervous anymore’. I used to get anxious about what might work out and what might not, but not anymore. I think it is just down to life experience and constantly being on the big stage. In Hong Kong everything happens at a high tempo and I have consequently calmed down and become a lot more composed. The composure helps you to slow things down a lot. To have more time makes a huge difference in any sport.”

Domeyer’s win in the CTS 1200 was a particularly emotional moment as the winner Invidia is trained by Ashley Fortune, the wife of his father Andrew Fortune. It happened in sad circumstances too as Andrew lost his beloved mother just two weeks ago.

Aldo and Andrew had agreed on a plan for the race in the build up. He said, “We agreed this horse needs to be ridden with confidence.” However, it was only Aldo’s professional composure which kept this plan intact.

He explained, “The horses were winning from the front and when I got to the parade ring my father suggested we should maybe change the plan. I just smiled at him. He then said, ‘Listen to me, the course is running quickly!’ The more he said it the more I just smiled at him. I didn’t want to have my judgement clouded and change the initial plan we had both agreed on.”

Domeyer had been given a tremendous feel by Invidia when riding him work earlier in the week and had made an instant decision to not sit on him again before race day.

He said, “I wanted that last feeling he gave me in my memory.”

He continued, “He was on his toes in the parade ring, which worried me, but my father just told me to give him some love. I patted him and stroked him as I got up and, it was amazing, he eased down instantly.”

Domeyer gave him a good warm up at the start and the horse then “told him” he was ready when he stopped trotting and relaxed.

Domeyer stuck to the original plan. A few of the other jockeys were aware of the conditions, so went up handy, and this worked in his favour.

He said, “In races like this it is best to ride for a place and if the horse is good enough he can go through and win.”

Invidia was switched to the outside for a run and passed the other four still in contention to win by 0,75 lengths from Cartel Captain.

Later, Domeyer went into the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship believing he had a chance on the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained What A Winter gelding Russet Air.

He said, “He had a solid record and had built up into a nice, big horse and was improving.”

Russet Air’s previous start had given Domeyer confidence he would be cherry ripe for Met day.

He made a split second decision in the race on Saturday to stick to the rail having noticed Morne Winnaar was alone on the rail ahead of him.

He said, “Morne is always able to keep horses going for a long time so I knew he would give me a tow to where I needed. I knew I wasn’t on the best horse so I waited for the big horses in the pack to challenge each other and hoped they would falter.”

The jockeys of the big guns had a lot of respect for each other, so engaged quite early and the effort soon told. It was the moment Domeyer had waited for and he pounced. Russet Air flew up on the inside rail from near last and got up to beat Bold Respect by a shorthead. Domeyer was particularly confident ahead of the Grade 1 Bidvest Majorca over 1600m as he knew the defending champion, the Bass-Robinson-trained What A Winter filly Clouds Unfold, had been given the perfect preparation. Furthermore, she was now “boxing over her own territory” i.e. a mile.

Domeyer’s confidence soared when he felt Clouds Unfold “gliding” in the running. He said, “Not many horse can do that. It is a feeling of a flowing stride, movement of authority. I knew then I would be able to wait as long as I wanted. I think I even sat behind a horse at the 200m mark. Then I saw Celtic Sea going and I went and knew I would get her as Clouds Unfold has a big heart.”

The classy filly powered through to beat the champion Celtic Sea by 0,30 lengths. Domeyer later got the best out of Twist Of Fate in the big one, the Sun Met, finishing fourth. Domeyer has come a long way since winning the Sun Met in 2013 as an unheralded rider on the rank outsider Martial Eagle. That might well have been the pivotal moment of his career so it was fitting his greatest day to date happened at the same meeting.

By David Thiselton

It did not cross MJ Byleveld’s mind in the final furlong of the Sun Met on Saturday that he was locked in battle with the jockey rated the best in the world, Ryan Moore, and he humbly gave all credit for the win to the bravery of his horse, the Vaughan Marshall-trained One World, although he did admit he could not resist a “chirp” to Moore later.   

Byleveld said, “If you are on the right horse, it doesn’t matter who you are. I never think about who I am up against, I just concentrate on getting my horse in the right place at the right time. But I guess if you want to be the best you have to take on the best and the opposition is always strong.”

It was a thing of beauty for Rainbow Bridge’s fans to see Moore sitting motionless in the straight tracking Head Honcho. One World had joined the latter on his inside, but was already being niggled at. Earlier, Moore had been swinging on the bridle in a clear third place as the front three raced in single file. When Moore switched the powerfully built defending champion out at the 400m mark it looked to be race over.

However, this view did not account for the immense courage of One World, Any stamina doubts were soon to be dispelled too. 

Byleveld said, “My horse loves a fight, I have won on him like that before. When they come to challenge he digs down deep, wow, he has a big heart.”

It was revealed afterwards that rugby fanatic Byleveld had worn a pair of Faf de Klerk-brand underpants. 

Byleveld said, “My girl friend gave them to me for Christmas and funnily enough the first time I wore them was the day I rode the Jackpot!”

He added, “I said later to Ryan Moore, how did you like watching the South African flag for a whole circuit of Kenilworth! It was all good fun banter.”

Byleveld downplayed the part he played in the win, which was to position the horse perfectly from a wide draw and then keep him going in the stirring finish. 

He said, “All the credit must go the horse. I just had to put him in the right position and follow the plan. From the draw I was always going to race him up handy, I wasn’t going to sit. I thought there would be a bit of a pace and he has good gate-speed. It worked out really well.”

One World joined Rainbow Bridge in second place in the early stages and Moore allowed Byleveld to slot in in front of him. Moore had no doubt watched the video of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate where Rainbow Bridge had become involved in a head-to-head pulling duel with Hawwaam for about three furlongs. He had cover this time but the ideal scenario was for his mount to race on his own. Moore might also have identified One World as a horse he would have the measure of later on. 

Byleveld was strong and rhythmical in the finish and did not panic at any stage.

He understated, “My job was just to keep him concentrating and going straight.”

He did however admit that being pain free after a recent neck operation had made a big difference to his riding this season.

For about a year after a serious fall at Greyville he had felt something had been amiss. 

He said, “Your brain controls your body. When it is telling you there is something that is not quite right you naturally hold back. You are freer when you are not riding with any pain.” 

Byleveld regarded it as the greatest day of his career and in an emotional post race interview with Andrew Bon he thanked Vaughan Marshall and his parents for their unwavering support and also thanked the owners of One World, Etienne Braune, Ken and Jane Truter and Braam van Huysteen.

He said, “I had gone close in the Met on Hill Fifty Four (2013), who then won under Anton Marcus the next year, and then had the July taken away (Wylie Hall 2014), and we then went close in the Queen’s Plate this year, so it has been frustrating.”

He continued, “Mr Marshall is a pleasure to work for. He is an absolute gentleman and right is right and wrong is wrong, He is straightforward, there is no bull, and we seem to work nicely together.”

He added, “My parents have always been my biggest supporters and my Dad doesn’t miss a race.”

MJ’s path to Saturday’s glory began one day at a cattle show. His father was a cattle salesman and a friend of his who had owned horses looked at his son and recommended he apply to the SA Jockeys Academy.

One World is still a colt and might well be retired now to stand on the farm of his breeder, Klawervlei Stud.

It is said that freak ability is unlikely to be passed on by a stallion to future generations, whereas courage is one asset which can be. This sentiment is accredited to the great Vincent O’Brien who was impressed by Northern Dancer’s record in which he had never won any of his 14 races by far and thus identified him as a sire to concentrate on. Northern Dancer went on to become probably the most influential sire in the history of the thoroughbred.

One World showed just how much courage he has on Saturday. His record also attests to it. He has run in 14 races for ten wins three seconds and a third.

Saturday’s race would likely have taken a lot out of him and he has little left to prove.

By David Thiselton

“Before the race I was thinking back to how well One World had run in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. They went quite quick that day and he really kicked. I know there were doubts whether he would stay the trip in the Met but, if you watch the replay, you will see that he ran to the line.

“I said to Mr Marshall ‘Please run this horse in the Met – I think he could win.’ Obviously the draw was a bit of a worry but I knew Head Honcho would go on and I thought that, if I could just latch on to him, it would be ideal. He gave me good speed out of the gate and Ryan Moore on Rainbow Bridge followed me.

“When a horse challenges One World he kicks on but in the Queen’s Plate Vardy had a good turn of foot at the right time and he outsprinted me. At the 400m this time I started working on One World because I felt I needed to get going. I thought that if he is going to stay he is going to stay anyway but I needed to keep going and I was hoping that something would challenge me. Fortunately Rainbow Bridge came and he actually passed me. That made my race a little bit easier. My horse promptly changed legs, put his head down, ran to the line and I thought then that he would hold on. He has a big heart and I could tell that he enjoyed the fight every bit as much as I did.”

By Michael Clower

One World earned himself a harem for the rest of his days when out-fighting Rainbow Bridge in a final furlong thriller in Saturday’s Sun Met.

The original plan was that he would accompany the rest of Vaughan Marshall’s string going to Summerveld but owners Ken and Jane Truter, Etienne Braun and Braam van Huyssteen now have to consider the implications of every move and, if at all possible, avoid any further defeat.

You would think that last bit might be easy considering the colt’s record – ten wins from 14 starts, three seconds and a third in the Cape Guineas. Certainly he has the pedigree – by the late, great Captain Al, he is out of an imported Giant’s Causeway mare whose own dam (by Caerleon) was placed in the Prix Vermeille and is a full sister to a French Oaks winner.

Klawervlei would look an obvious destination, not least because John Koster bred One World who was bought for R425 000 at the 2017 CTS Cape Premier and has now won over R5.6 million! Whatever their choice, the owners are unlikely to get it wrong because it was they who persuaded Vaughan Marshall to let the 15-1 shot take his chance.

“I was in two minds about running him because I had my doubts about whether he would stay the trip,” Marshall admitted after greeting the third Met winner of his career. “But the owners were keen.”

There was no fluke about the result with only the fancied Vardy having a legitimate excuse and the 2 min 2.48 was the fastest in this race since Pocket Power won it for the first time 13 years ago.

Rainbow Bridge

For Rainbow Bridge the focus now switches to a second attempt to achieve owner Mike Rattray’s great ambition of winning the Vodacom Durban July but a furlong out, with Ryan Moore still not having asked for everything, a second Met looked as good as in the book. The fact that appearances were to prove deceptive did little to diminish the great jockey’s opinion of the horse or, for that matter, connections’ opinions of the rider.

“He ran a great race but I never thought I had it,” said Moore as he returned to the weighing room with trainer Eric Sands supremely impressed. “Ryan can ride for me any day. He had the horse beautifully placed throughout and he gave the horse a great ride.”

Unfortunately he won’t be free on July day as that comes at the height of the British and Irish seasons and usually clashes with the Eclipse – but it wasn’t just Moore’s race-riding that impressed Sands. “I spent two hours with him on Friday. He listened to everything, he was so intense and he walked the course with me.”

No lesser jockey than former champion Andrew Fortune was equally taken with Moore who, incidentally, rides a hole or two longer than most jockeys here. “Did you see him going to the start?” said Fortune whose own success was due in no small part to his intuitive understanding of horses. “He had his mount’s head down, not in the air like some of the South African riders. He is a proper jockey.”

De Kock

Hawwaam, the 43-20 favourite who was three and a half lengths back third, now leaves for Britain via a three-month Mauritius quarantine. “Anton Marcus did a sterling job and he settled the horse just where I wanted him,” said Mike de Kock who now seems to believe that the colt may have been a little over-rated by some observers. “I am starting to wonder – he has just about run to the form of his win in the Premier Trophy.”

Twist Of Fate (fourth) fared better than strongly fancied stable companion Vardy who was only sixth but seemingly lack of stamina was not the problem. “Hawwaam came in on me, my horse clipped heels and he just buckled,” said Craig Zackey who was fortunate not be brought down. “He got very unbalanced and he didn’t really pull himself together after that,” added Adam Marcus. “Thank God he is not injured but it was disappointing. With One World winning, you look at the collateral form with Vardy and you think we could have had it.”

Those post- Queen’s Plate problems with Do It Again left their mark and the dual July winner managed only ninth. “He never fired, just sort of switched off,” reported Richard Fourie and Justin Snaith added: “He was at the back and, although he ran through a third of the field, he was not himself. He will have a break and then go to Durban.”

Candice hits back

For much of this season the Candice Bass-Robinson stable has seemed to be some way below it’s customary high standards. You only have to compare the 8% strike rate with the ten of the last two seasons to appreciate that, but the renaissance came just in time to enable her father (who still plays a big part behind the scenes) to enjoy yesterday’s 75^th birthday celebrations.

His daughter landed the Cape Flying Championship and recorded her third Bidvest Majorca in her four seasons. “I didn’t really do anything different,” she said. “The horses just came right at the right time.”

Aldo Domeyer certainly made a big difference. The brilliance and sheer confidence of his riding post-Hong Kong has even his father (Andrew Fortune) envious and the way he saved and delivered first Russet Air and then Clouds Unfold for devastating late runs would have done credit to any jockey anywhere in the world. For good measure he also won the CTS 1200 on Invidia for Fortune’s wife Ashley.

Sadly for his growing band of fans Domeyer is intent on returning to Hong Kong soon – “I can’t wait to get back. It’s unfinished business so far as I am concerned” – so the mounts on Saturday’s two Group 1 winners will be up for grabs.

“I am not sure about Russet Air going to KZN but he may go to Jo’burg for the Computaform Sprint,” said the victorious trainer who added: “Clouds Unfold is something special. She had an injury (she chipped the point of her hip when getting loose at Summerveld) and I struggled to get her back. But she is something special as well as versatile – a brilliant sprinter who can also go round the turn.”

Kasimir, last year’s Cape Flying victor, was an honourable third and Snaith said: “Horses were hanging and we had to go round them. Also he was a run short.”

By Michael Clower

The first leg of yesterday’s Pick 6 at Hollywoodbets Greyville was the highest rated race on the card, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1 400m, and was won by the Dennis Drier-trained four-year-old Visionaire gelding Caliente under Sean Veale.

All nine races were on the poly and in this race Veale sat in the box seat one wide and one back with cover before extracting a good finish out of the 8-1 chance.

Many tickets were knocked out of the exotics when the odds-on favourite Born To Perform finished unplaced for the first time in his career.

Born To Perform, whose issues are well documented, has a record of five wins out of five starts with Warren Kennedy aboard.

The grey gelding’s record with other jockeys now stands at five losses from five starts as even the great Anton Marcus was unable to change the losing streak yesterday. Kennedy might well be up the next time Born To Perform runs.

Marcus was also aboard a slow starting favourite in the first race over 1 100m, the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Jay Fizz, but the What A  Winter gelding responded well to his urging thereafter to make up the leeway before running on well in the straight to win cosily.

Marcus then made it a double for himself, favourites and What A Winter when coming from one wide and one back on the Glen Kotzen-trained Arctic Princess to win comfortably.

In the third over 1 400m Tristan Godden brought the Alyson Wright-trained Gimmethegreenlight gelding Ralph The Rascal from the back of the field but it was hardly in doubt as he mowed the field down with ease to win by 3,50 lengths in just his second career start.

The in form Gavin van Zyl yard had another winner in the fifth over 1400m when Kennedy burst through from midfield on the Pomodoro gelding Opensea. Apprentice Thabiso Gumede was dumped at the start of this race by Fives Wild, who dropped his head to the floor.

Gumede was taken to hospital for routine check ups.

The sixth over 1 400m saw the first leg of a double for Dennis Bosch as Craig Zackey produced the six-year-old Royal Air Force gelding Royal Rustler with a sustained run on the outside.

The seventh over 2 000m saw a thrilling finish and Keagan de Melo prevailed by a shorthead on the favourite, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Ideal gelding Joseph Jagger at the expense of Isikheto.

In the eighth over 1600m Alyson Wright completed a double when the Oratorio gelding Caesura ran on strongly on the outside under Dennis Schwarz. Bosch completed his double in the last when the outsider Ms Rosa Parks, a Black Minnaloushe filly, burst clear under Ant Mgudlwa.

By David Thiselton