Garth Puller still finds himself out in front in the KZN Trainer’s Championship approaching the mid-point of the season but he does not believe he will have the firepower to hang on to this lead or to hold on to his lofty position in the Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge trainers’ table.

Puller has had 28 winners in KZN this season, six clear of second-placed Gavin van Zyl and eight clear of the joint third-placed trainers, Dennis Drier, Dennis Bosch and Dean Kannemeyer. Johan Janse van Vuuren and Gareth van Zyl are ten winners behind in joint sixth place.

Puller lies in second place in the Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge trainers’ table, five points behind leader Paul Lafferty. The latter is on 485.5 points, Puller is on 480.5 points and they are followed by Alyson Wright on 414 points, Duncan Howells on 352.5 points and Gareth van Zyl on 341 points. The competition finishes at the end of February, so Puller and Lafferty still have eleven meetings to negotiate. 

Puller is in fact the 2.86/1 favourite with Hollywoodbets to win the Challenge with Lafferty on 3.03/1 and Wright on 5/1.     

However, Puller said, “Neither the Championship or the Challenge are foremost on my mind. I don’t want to be influenced into running horses for the sake of running them. My main aim is to keep the horses happy and fresh so I can keep them racing, or in other words keep them good enough to run often enough without hurting them. I started the season well and have been in front ever since. But this is a relatively weak time of the year and I don’t think I will have the firepower in the SA Champions Season. I have been told I am five points behind in the Challenge table but I might run out of horses as I have a lot of two-year-old unraced horses but not many older horses.”

Two of Puller’s best horses Brooklyn and Bay Tibbs will shortly be going in to quarantine on their long journey to join David Ferraris’ stable in Hong Kong. 

By David Thiselton

The Vaal nine race meeting is competitive and those who do their homework can hope for some healthy dividends in the exotics. 

In the first race Jackpot Jewel moved up well over 1600m last time out before plugging on for second and the step down to 1400m here could be the answer. Warren Kennedy has kept the ride. Latest Craze was drawn in pole over this trip on the Turffontein Inside track last time and he ran on well from a handy position to finish a decent 1,30 length second to the promising Cornish Pomodoro. Curious and Semper Fi both stayed on well last time over this course and distance for places. The former could reverse form from a more favourable draw by trends. Twice The Surge stayed on well over 1200m in a workriders maiden and should improve over this trip so has a big chance. Gold Rock stayed on for fourth over this trip last time from a handy position and he should be thereabouts again.  

In the second race over 1400m Peaceontherocks is a progressive sort who just failed to catch the winner Midnight Top last time over course and distance. The connections will be hoping there is no draw bias as she is drawn two. Theatre Of Dreams has not run since last August but being by Ideal World she might well have benefited from the rest. Franklin caught the eye running on well from way back in the Million Maiden over 1160m and should relish the step up in trip. Maculate had to be eased at one stage over 1600m last time when staying on but the step down in trip is not sure to suit. Ella Bean stayed on quite well over course and distance last time and could earn.

In the third over 1400m Emerald Crest caught the eye flying up late over this trip last time and she looks to be a scopey sort.  Cotopaxi stayed on well over this trip and if Peaceontherocks wins the second the form will have been franked. Both the first two choices have potentially unfavourable low draws, Pavlova Project tended to oevrreace a bit over 1600m before a layoff so should run well fresh over this trip. Loralei was not disgraced on debut and could improve. Anatura should enjoy the step up in trip.

In the fourth race over 1600m Dual At Dawn looks to be a decent sort and won her maiden well last time over 1400m. He is by Vodacom Durban July winner Pomodoro, although his dam was speedy which creates a slight concern. Whipping Boy was a revelation last time with first time blinkers on and despite running past the field on what appeared to be the unfavourable inside he stormed through to win easily. He now has high flying Craig Zackey aboard, although he does have to give Dual At Dawn 1,5kg. Stone Judgement beat Dual At Dawn when winning his maiden over 1400m by 1,75 lengths and is now only 1kg worse off, although  the latter has improved. He is by Judpot which gives him a chance of enjoying the step up in trip, although he is also out of quite a speedy mare. Trapiche is up against the boys but has fine form over this trip. August Rain looks to have plenty of scope so is another must include. 

The fifth over 1100m provides a good opportunity for in-form Candice Dawson to pick up another winner with the relatively unexposed but seemingly decent Illusion. Warren Kennedy stays aboard which is a bonus. Oden has flawless recent sprint form and should make another bold bid despite being five points higher for his last win. Prince Of Venice has always struck as one with some class and should also be in the mix.

In the next race over 1800m could Flichity By Farr proved last time she had acclimatised to the Highveld. David Nieuwenhuizen keeps them in form well and the filly, who has a resolute, enjoys middle distances on courses with long straights. Jet Star is capable of a strong finish too and is also distance suited. Return Flight is a dual Grade 1 winner and will go close if able to dictate in front, although Seville Orange might challenge her for the lead. The latter is not out of it and Pretty Border can’t be ignored either.

In the seventh Shabba Ranks is chosen as the best bet on a tricky card despite a wide draw as he stayed on well last time in a good field over 1600m with the blinkers back on and he should relish the step back up in trip. He should be coming into his own being by Jackson and is two points lower in the merit ratings. Royal Honour stayed on well over 2000m last time and is in consistent form. Christopher Robin is not sure to stay the trip being out of a speedy mare but his sire Damage Is Done won over 2000m which gives him hope and he is in fine form. Others to consider are Kurt’s Approval, At Hand, who gets a good draw for a change, and Therevada.

The eighth is an interesting event over 1400m and the question is whether Scent Of Evening can repeat her fine effort last time when beating a good field in a Pinnacle Stakes race. She has always had talent but has issues. Preference is for Flying High who should be coming into her own. Gallic Princess is in good form and should make a bold bid and Too Phat To Fly and Rockin Russian have the class to contest it. 

In the last over 1400m Ex’s N Ohs comes back from a deserved break and being by Jackson should be coming into her own so should be right there. Kapama looks to be the main danger. Oceania, Midnight Top and Tahitian Orana should also be considered.

By David Thiselton

For years it has been a one-way street between Australia and South Africa when it came to buying thoroughbred yearlings. South African owners heading Down Under annually to snap up potential stars, yet Australian buyers stayed at home, citing impossible quarantine requirements and arduous long-distance travel.

That was until New Zealand-based bloodstock agent Ric Wylie created history at the CTS Premier Sale recently held in the Cape Town International Convention Centre, when purchasing two fillies specifically to race in Australia. The sales topping filly, the Trippi (USA) daughter of Champion Sprinter Val De Ra, was consigned as Lot 120 by Avontuur Stud. The outstanding filly was snapped up by Wylie, on behalf of an undisclosed Australian client. Wylie, who was part of the CTS Premier Yearling Sale inspection team, was so impressed with what he saw at Avontuur last September, that he was prepared to go to R1.65 million to secure the bay filly, named All That Jazz.  He also purchased Lot 104, a Visionaire (USA) filly out of Strawberry Lane, consigned by Lammerskraal Stud, for R600,000.

“After the inspections last year, I was really impressed with some of the types – and that was without pedigrees. So I went to some of the top studs in Australia and New Zealand and said, I can buy the best-bred filly in South Africa for 20 cents in the dollar. One client was very interested, and they have got involved. Both of my buys come from great families, Group 1 families,” he said. “Lot 104, the Strawberry Lane filly, comes from a great Australian family too – her second dam is the Centaine mare Taineberry (AUS), that’s the family of one of my purchases a while ago in Galaxy Fair (AUS), also Barkada (AUS) and Best Western (AUS). You can’t access a filly with a page like that for that sort of price elsewhere.”

According to Wylie the two yearlings will go into quarantine shortly in order to travel to Australia. The fillies will spend three months in Mauritius, before heading to the UK for another six months of residency. “They will spend the summer in the UK. I have the nicest trainers in Lambourn. They’ll have a quiet English summer with the sun on their backs and they’ll be broken in up the Lambourn gallops. Then when they arrive in Australia, they will be ready to go into training with whichever trainer my client decides to put them with”, Wylie added.

The salestopper, Lot 99, an outstanding son of Champion sire Silvano (GER), was consigned by Drakenstein Stud. A spirited bidding war saw the price quickly slip over the R1 million barrier, with the colt out of the Giants Causeway(USA) mare Song Of Happiness eventually knocked down for R3 million to Nic Jonsson.  Jonsson, part owner of the 2018 and 2019 Vodacom Durban July winner Do It again, explained that he had in fact bought the colt in partnership with Bjorn Nielsen, owner of the well-known star stayer Stradivarius (IRE). “He just ticked all the boxes, for me he was the buy of the sale”, said Jonsson. “He has a great conformation, an incredible walk and a beautiful temperament.” The colt, named I Want It All, will be trained by Justin Snaith.

International bloodstock agent Amanda Skiffington also acquired two of the top lots, when the hammer came down at R975,000 for Lot 51, a Silvano colt consigned by Maine Chance Farms and at R2.2 million for Lot 145 a Rafeef(AUS) colt consigned by Ridgemont Highlands Stud. EL Bloodstock was responsible for the second R2.2 million colt when the hammer fell in their favour for Lot 174, a Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) colt out of the Jet Master mare Cupid, consigned by Klawervlei Stud as agent.

Despite a significant drop in prices at what was considered a very tough sale, CTS CEO Wehann Smith pointed out that the Australian involvement, together with a number of new international buyers is exactly what was needed, especially with the likelihood that regular exports could resume later this year.  “As an industry, I think it’s something that we in South Africa should be really excited about. It’s an arduous and costly trip at this point from South Africa to Australia, so to have the support of Ric and his clients is exciting”, he said.  “I know the vision for the sale from the outset was that this would be the gateway from South Africa to the international market. In one sense, this sale was subsidised by the belief that one day, we’d get exports open again. Hopefully, this is another step in that direction and by the time we return here in 2021, there may be further confidence from the international market.”

By Liesl King

Image: The sales topping filly, the Trippi (USA) daughter of Champion Sprinter Val De Ra, was consigned as Lot 120 by Avontuur Stud. Picture: Liesl King

Do It Again, described by Justin Snaith a week ago as no better than 50:50 to make the Sun Met, has made remarkable improvement and now looks like running in Saturday week’s Kenilworth highlight.

But this piece of good news has been almost totally overshadowed by the decision to jock off Gavin Lerena from last year’s winner Rainbow Bridge and fly in superstar Ryan Moore. When this broke on Saturday afternoon it was widely assumed that the horse’s owner Mike Rattray had been responsible for switching jockeys.

But Rattray explained yesterday: “I didn’t do anything. I employ my trainer to train my horses and he must make the decisions. Ryan Moore was his recommendation and I told him ‘Whatever you decide – it’s your business.’“

Sadly Rattray, whose life’s mission is to win the Durban July, does not expect to make the Met. The 87-year-old is having problems with his spine and is under doctor’s orders to take it easy.

Former champion Lerena was first booked for Rainbow Bridge when Anton Marcus, who had won the Met on him, preferred to ride Hawwaam in the Vodacom Durban July. Lerena was beaten less than half a length by Do It Again in the big one. This season Lerena has ridden the five-year-old to finish third in both the WSB Green Point and the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

Eric Sands, explaining the background to the recommendation to replace Lerena, said yesterday that he had not been entirely happy with the way his horse had been ridden in his two races this season.

The decision to get a new jockey was a hard one to take, particularly as he has known Gavin and his father for decades – “But at the end of the day it was about making the right decision for the horse and so I told Gavin that I had decided to make a change. He was more understanding than I expected.”

With the doubt about Do It Again’s participation Sands spoke to Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie who rode Rainbow Bridge to win the horse’s first three races as well as last season’s Champions Cup. But the dual July winner’s recovery put paid to that.

When Sands spoke to Rattray the owner suggested Frankie Dettori – “But we couldn’t get hold of him. However I knew Jehan Malherbe had a link to Ryan Moore who is, if not the best jockey in the world, certainly one of the top four. So I spoke to Jehan about getting him.” 

Lerena said yesterday: “The Met was Rainbow Bridge’s mission and to be jocked off when the horse is going over his right trip is a bitter pill to swallow. I believe he goes very well for me. He doesn’t over-race and he runs as straight as an arrow whereas he hangs with some of the other jockeys who have ridden him. All the best to Ryan – he is one of the greatest – but he doesn’t know Rainbow Bridge.”

Moore, 36, first jockey to Aidan O’Brien’s all-conquering Ballydoyle operation, has won big races all over the world including the Derby (twice), Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (twice), Melbourne Cup, Japan Cup and nine Breeders’ Cup races – but so far nothing in South Africa.Do It Again’s poor recovery from his Queen’s Plate run may have been because he is a carrier of biliary, the equine version of tick fever.

Tick fever

Snaith explained: “A lot of horses in South Africa become biliary carriers after getting bitten by a tick and we now think there is a small chance that Do It Again was carrying it in when he ran in the Queen’s Plate.

“Also he is not a good doer – he just eats as much as he needs – and this is why we don’t run him a lot. But there has definitely been improvement [in the last few days] and he is now looking better than he did before the Queen’s Plate.”

BLOB Wednesday’s meeting at Kenilworth has been abandoned after there were only 46 acceptors for the eight races. National Racing Bureau staff rang the trainers but could not come up with enough extra runners. In truth, the writing was on the wall when there were only 74 entered.

By Michael Clower

Justin Snaith will train last Thursday’s R3 million Cape Premier Yearling Sale top price, the Silvano colt I Want It All who was purchased by Nic Jonsson and Bjorn Neilsen. Snaith trained the grandam Captain’s Lover and her half-sister Ebony Flyer to win the Cape Fillies Guineas in 2007 and 2010. This is also the family of Vardy.

However the price was R1 million less than last year’s top and only half the R6 million paid for Charles at this sale in 2017 and for the little-remembered Silver Coin the previous year.

Indeed the figures for last Thursday’s event are frightening, or at least they are at first glance. The R326 531 average was down by 25% – it has fallen in each of the last three years and is less than half what it was in 2017. Turnover has also fallen consistently over the same period and the R56.4 million aggregate was down by almost a third this time.

The fall was accentuated by pre-sale expectation. Sales boss Wehann Smith had said: “I’m quite positive. The news about a pending solution in the export side is firm enough to make an impact.”

That was also a view held by many people and some translated it into a 10% increase. “That was over-optimistic,” said Bryn Ressell’s racing manager Mark van Deventer. “People have heard this [re the exports] so often that they have become a bit cynical. They want to see it become reality.”

Brett Crawford, who trains Charles, said: “Don’t forget, three years ago we had Markus Jooste and he brought some big players with him. It was a buyer’s market last week and there were some nice horses to be had at good value.”

John Freeman listed the economy as well as the Jooste factor but he also mentioned more technical issues. “Three years ago there were yearlings by five top stallions whereas this time the market was out of kilter as far as the new rising stars are concerned. I bought horses well below their value.”

Fellow bloodstock agent Jehan Malherbe added: “The market is struggling. It’s because of the economy and the situation that racing is in with stakes coming down and expenses going up. It’s going to be a tough year for breeders”

Opinions vary about the effect of the loss of the two CTS R5 million sales races (Van Deventer: “Having a big incentive like that does attract buyers”) but Peter de Beyer believes the whole market is shrinking and that people have to adjust.

The owner-breeder is also an actuary, a former deputy managing director of Old Mutual and still on the board. “The number of foals registered each year has gone from 3 000 to 1 600 in recent years,” he said. “I worked out that 75% of horses sold at auction last year were sold at a loss.”

As he says himself: “Sometimes it’s depressing to be good at numbers!”

By Michael Clower