The Vaal Classic track hosts an eight race meeting tomorrow and there look to be a few opportunities for punters.

There is some slight rain forecast on the day.

In the first, a workrider’s event over 1 000m, Sexy Cinderella has improved with blinkers and never really had a clear run last time.

She now has Chamu Mabaya up and can go close.

Exultant improved last time when beating Sexy Cinderella narrowly and has Sam Mosia aboard.

Single Red Rose has plenty of pace and benefited from the removal of the blinkers last time, beating both of the first two selections, and she will attempt to give Kelly Fisher her first win in her 21st ride. Cappadocia is improving and is interesting with blinkers now on.

If starting better than last time she should be thereabouts.

Samoa has shown some early pace over 1 200m and finished second in her only start over this trip so is a contender.

In the second over 1 000m Blow Me Down has been catching the eye running on well over this trip and looks the one to beat. However, Soul Connection has been close up in his last two including finishing just two lengths behind the promising Captain Hindsight over this trip in his penultimate start so it would be no surprise to see him delivering.

Var Aglow ran a fair race on debut over this trip and after being a touch unlucky over 1 400m with Gavin Lerena up is back to this trip with Lerena staying aboard.

In the third over 1 450m Creation strikes as one with a touch of class and he now looks cherry ripe to deliver having had three runs after a layoff and gelding.

It is an uninspiring field so he has a fine chance if S’Manga Khumalo is able to overcome a wide draw.  Untamed Tiger has improved with blinkers and is now knocking on the door so can go close from a fair draw of eight. Eppagilia is capable of running on and might need to from a wide draw.

In the fourth race over 1 450m Cotopaxi is knocking in the door and is ideally distance suited.  She is drawn wide but is capable of a strong finish.

Daphne Du Maurier can also be a threat as she is a scopey sort who will relish the step up in trip after plugging on over 1200m on debut.

 In the next race, a MR 88 Handicap over 1 450m, Rooi Tom has faced some of the best of his crop without being disgraced. After winning a handicap in his penultimate start he was raised four points to a 93 and then went close to the promising Dual At Dawn over 1 600m.

He has a fair draw of six with the leading apprentice Dennis Schwarz up so should go close.

Rivonia Boulevard had shown promise as a young three-year-old but then had to have a layoff of over a year for injury.

He made a satisfactory comeback recently over the too sharp 1200m and is now drawn in pole over a much more suitable trip.

Hertog is by Duke Of Marmalade so should be improving all the time and is 2kg better off with Rooi Tom for a 2,25 length beating over 1 400m.

He should not be far off on that bit of form and he has a plum draw of two. Lazarus Tree is a talented individual but needs things to go his way.

He was beaten just a long-head by Rooi Tom last time and is 1,5kg better off, which gives him a fine chance on paper.

However, he had a plum draw last time and now has a tricky draw.

Palace Assembly won well last time over 1 160m when coming from off the pace so is interesting tried over further. In the sixth over 1 000m Captain Hindsight did well first time out the maidens over this trip, producing a late surge to lose by a head. He is the one to beat.

Touch Of Fate was most disappointing in the aforementioned race and was beaten 7,40 lengths by Captain Hindsight. However, that was not his race and he proved it next time when showing place and being caught late over 1 200m. Pillaroftheearth has been knocking on the door and has Gavin Lerena up. Sullenberger can’t be ignored as he has won over this course and distance and has Warren Kennedy up. Pearl Of Siberia, Gemcutter and Anatolio could also earn.

In the seventh over 2 000m Last Of The Legend has been disappointing as he had struck as one with some class but he should enjoy the step back up in trip and he is well weighted and well drawn. Western Fort is an up and coming three-year-old who can continue to progress and he would not be a surprise winner at all from a fair draw with Kennedy up.

He won easily over this trip last time in just his third career start.

At Hand, Christopher Robin and Diorama could all earn in this race over a suitable trip.

In the last race, an uninspiring maiden over 1 800m, Rock You is knocking on the door and being by Judpot should enjoy the step up to 1 800m.

Ocean Forest is by Duke Of Marmalade so should be improving and should enjoy the step up in trip after two fair efforts over 1 600m.

Dance Class ran a fair race over 1 400m last time and is interesting with Gavin Lerena up over this step up in trip, although she does have a wide draw to overcome.

By David Thiselton

The MR system of handicapping pays no attention to number of wins but rather to a horse’s inherent ability. That said, it is still difficult to get around the fact that a five-time winner taking on a one-time winner is not really fair given that the one-time winner has to give weight to a horse that has earned more than three times the stake.

The sixth at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today is a case in point where Moshav, a five-time winner, lines up against a lot of one-time winners with little separating them at the weights.

That doesn’t make Moshav a ‘good thing’ but the six-year-old’s current form suggest that he could be in line for the sixth win of his career.

He made a winning debut for Nathan Kotzen after being re-located from Stuart Pettigrew’s Highveld yard, before losing form and was given a break. He has since come back showing signs of his old self, improving nicely to finish strongly behind Wolfgang last time out and has his third run after a break today that should see him strip at his peak. The blinkers are also back on which all points to a big effort.

One always needs to take note of runners up from the Western Cape having their first local outing and Hardfallingrain is one to take note of especially as Anton Marcus will be aboard Glen Kotzen’s runner.

Three years younger than Moshav, Hardfallingrain has taken on stronger company at recent starts and not finished too far back and the Cape form is often a touch stronger than local. Apprentice Joshwin Solomons took 4kg off his back when four lengths back in a MR90 handicap last time out and he drops a division this afternoon and must be included in all bets.

In August last year, Moshav got the better of Blaze Of Silk, running him down inside the last furlong. Corrine Bestel’s gelding franked that form by winning next time out. Blaze Of Silk is something of a course specialist and in his latest showing when returning from a break, stayed on gamely only to be touched off by Robberg Express, a talented sprinter with a myriad for problems.

Blaze Of Silk does have to give Moshav 3kg which could be the difference between these two.

Le Bella is the only filly in the race and her last three outings have been in yielding going in useful company where she has turned in some useful performances. She showed good pace when tried over 1400m last time out before weakening over the last bit and reported lame after the race.

Back in more suitable company and shrewd judge Garth Puller booking apprentice Jabu Jacobs to give her 4kg relief from the saddle, she could prove a handful for the lads.

Corne Spies has done more travelling than a long-distance lorry driver but wherever his horses pitch, it’s worth taking note.

Baby Let’s Mambo is under a cloud after making seemingly amazing improvement when torpedoing a field at 66-1 two runs back and the gelding’s couple of subsequent efforts have reverted to back-of-the-bus efforts. But he does take a drop in class and his 18-length no-show last time out could count for nothing although punters and the stipes may have a few things to say should he pop up.

A better Spies proposition looks to be Windy Flight, a narrow winner at Kimberley early last month, five days after winning over today’s course and distance. Stuart Randolph puts up 0.5kg over-weight and a four-time winner carrying 54.5kg must carry come water.

Solid Pick 6 bankers are in short supply but the lightly raced King Julian may fit the bill. Shane Humby does not run them often but when he does his charges are usually competitive and King Julian should at the very least be competitive in the seventh.

Not out of the first three in four starts, the blinkers go on and he should go close in what is a competitive maiden.

By Andrew Harrison

Ashley Fortune has some ambitious plans for Invidia who made amends for last time’s disappointing run to storm home in the R5 million CTS 1200 last Saturday and give owner Mario Ferreira a R2.5 million payday.

“I am going to take him back to Johannesburg and go for some of the big sprints, perhaps the Computaform (May 2),” she said before reflecting on the horse’s third to Pure State in the CTS Ready To Run. “It may have been a bit far for him – the whole family are five and six furlong horses – but also I don’t think he was as well then as he is now. But this was my first winner in Cape Town and what a way to break the ice.”

She and her husband were intent on celebrating. She used her teeth to speed up the removal of the gold foil from the proffered bottle of champagne before Andrew grabbed hold of it, shook it powerfully and sprayed everyone within reach like Lewis Hamilton.

Fortune proved a powerful draw on the victory rostrum and when he moved to join Deez Daganand at the microphone the crowd surged forward in expectation of entertainment. They weren’t disappointed because the somewhat one-sided interview proved to be pure theatre. Fortune didn’t need questions, he already knew what he was going to say and the words poured forth as readily as the champagne. His choice of words might have broken many of the conventions of political correctness (and doubtless horrified some people) but Fortune spoke from the heart, leaving no-one in any doubt about just what victory in such a valuable race meant to him and the crowd roared their appreciation.

Sadly the television cameras had already switched to events elsewhere. Fortune’s excitement and enthusiasm would have provided a wonderful advertisement and certainly a far more powerful one than all the normal material that the operators use to try to attract custom.

Domeyer

Aldo Domeyer, who rode Invidia and made it a day to remember by winning the Bidvest Majorca and the Cape Flying as well, summed up his take on all the success by saying: “Have a bit of faith and these things can happen.”

Domeyer is a deeply religious man and in the days leading up to his win on Silver Mountain in the 2015 Cape Fillies Guineas he prayed for the Good Lord to calm his nerves which were threatening to get the better of him. Even today he crosses himself every time he rides into the winner’s box and he revealed some of the background to this after Russett Air’s victory, saying: “I would like to dedicate this win to my Gran who died recently. She said ‘Keep making the sign of the cross.’”

Count Jack

Plans for Count Jack, the Jackson colt who won the R5 million CTS 1600, are dependent on what the handicapper does to him. Brett Crawford is under no illusions -“He has now won four out of six so he is going to get a pounding.”

The Big Five Syndicate has made a handsome profit on the horse’s R250 000 purchase price and includes Irish bloodstock agents Ross Doyle and Mick Flanagan who used to work for Mike de Kock.

Varsfontein homebred Erik The Red, who made much of the running to give Justin Snaith his first success in the Met day two-year-old race for four years (he had won it five times on the trot before that), is to be entered for the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion at Scottsville on May 30.

Snaith said: “I had done as little as possible with him, and there were no grass gallops, because I believe that horses of his size should not be going that fast so early in their careers.

“I am going to consider the Scottsville race but, if I have any doubts, I will pull him out as the race has proved to be the end for many horses.”

Silver Host got into the City Of Cape Town Politician with second bottom weight and so he is going to find it much tougher in the Cape Derby on Saturday fortnight. Indeed CTS 1600 runner-up Sachdev looks a more likely candidate to give the stable its fourth success in the Grade 1 ten furlong.

But the trainer said: “Silver Host is a horse with a lot of potential and I kept him away from several races because I knew the handicappers were itching to get at him. He will be one of the big runners in the Derby.”

By Michael Clower

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