The 1000-piece puzzle was once a popular pastime that often took days to complete. Punters face a similar conundrum at Hollywoodbets Greyville this evening but do not have the luxury of time. They are faced with a tricky card but those that fit the right pieces should be handsomely rewarded.

The scratching of Cherry Road (cast in box) has robbed punters of a possible Pick 6 banker in the first leg but left the way open for Silva Magic who has come good since being put over ground and ran a cracker first up out of the maidens. In Jest franked the Cherry Road form by winning next time out albeit to weaker but she too should enjoy the extra.

The fifth is a difficult handicap over ground where any number of the runners have a winning chance. Gibraltar Green pulled up lame last outing so that run is best ignored as he was in good form before that. He has a light weight from a strong stable. Paybackthemoney put in a below par performance behind stable companion Merlin From Berlin last start but his best recent form has been over this trip. Just Cruised In has a big weight but takes on weaker as does Top Classman who enjoys the sting out of the ground. Merlin From Berlin took a hefty 12-point hit in the ratings for his recent victory and he could battle off his new mark. Je Ne Sais Quoi is a smart filly who should be at home over this extended trip and cannot be ignored in a wide open race.

The sixth is another tricky contest but Rocket Fire, although he has a big weight, has fair form to stronger in recent outings. He is down in the handicap with a good draw and is a must inclusion in all calculations. Truly Wicked has also dropped in the ratings and was not far back from a tough draw last time out. He jumps from pole here with Marcus up. Putchini made no show in his 100^th start but his form before that was fairly solid albeit on the poly but does go well for this rider.

Yaas was as much improved in first time blinkers last time out and jumping from a wide draw. She has drawn on the other side of the track here and could prove the pick in another difficult affair. Sarabi has done little wrong of late and has useful form on the turf which is in her favour. Starlight and Spring Burst are others to consider.

Johan Janse van Vuuren travels his runners up and down from the Highveld between his Turffontein and Summerveld yards and Prince Of Venice tripped to the Vaal for his last outing where he took on a bit stronger than what he meets here. Marcus up is an added bonus.  

The last could rest between Dispicable and Horoscope Harry although they face plenty of opposition.

Dispicable has a tough draw but does seem to be late maturing and still on the up while Horoscope Harry has won his last two and looks to have some scope. He has also drawn well.

By Andrew Harrison

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

The European Union (EU) has confirmed that an audit of South Africa’s export protocols will be conducted in the months of April/May 2020.

This follows a meeting on Tuesday between the EU, the South African Department of Agriculture’s Director of Animal Health, Dr Mpho Maja and Niki Kruger, Chief Director of Trade Negotiations, International Trade and Economic Development Division (ITED)

Adrian Todd, MD of South African Equine Health & Protocols (SAEHP), commented: “The EU will be sending a pre-audit questionnaire early in the New Year so that final preparations can be done. This is a most exciting development for all of us in the South African breeding and racing industries. It shows what can be done when the private and government sectors cooperate and work towards the same goal.”

Eight-times SA Champion trainer and SAEHP board member Mike de Kock was delighted and said: “With all the negative news we’ve had, this is the announcement of the year. I am excited for SA racing, the audit still has to be completed and there will be a few technical issues after that, but we’re as close now as we’ve been which is wonderful.

“This is a vital issue. Some of our industry’s biggest investors, like the Sheikhs of Dubai, have been getting impatient but now, at last, we have something tangible, light at the end of the tunnel. I have seen the ramifications of the prohibiting protocols on my own business with an internationally competitive Dubai string of 40 horses grinding to an almost complete halt. “Adrian Todd and his team at SAEHP have worked very hard and in the face of many obstacles to get us this far. They deserve compliments, along with Dr Maja who gave racing her preference and several others who have done sterling work behind the scenes.”

Hawwaam looks like starting one of the shortest priced favourites for Saturday’s Premier Trophy since subsequent Met winner Angus came home in front at 4-10 in 2003 – and he might even go off shorter than that. The latest Mike de Kock star is quoted at 1-3 with some bookmakers and Matthew de Kock reported yesterday that all went smoothly with the four-year-old’s introduction to the left-handed Kenilworth course.

The triple Group 1 winner worked over 1 200m with a companion and took to it “100 per cent.” De Kock jnr added: “This (the Premier) wasn’t part of our plans but, considering the hand we have been dealt, things have gone well so far.”

Rider Anton Marcus won this race on Pick Six for Charles Laird in 2007 and the ex-Joey Ramsden-trained Twist Of Fate has his first run for Marcus’s in-form nephew Adam. Craig Zackey’s mount is 8-1 third favourite with the Glen Kotzen-trained Eyes Wide Open (Morne Winnaar) a fraction shorter at 15-2.

Cape Classic winner Silver Operator (Vaughan Marshall-Anton Marcus) is as short as 28-10 for the Cape Guineas despite being drawn 14. African Warrior and Justin Snaith’s Concorde runner-up Sachdev are next on 13-2, Snaith’s Cape Classic second Captain Tatters on 15-2 with Eden Roc heading the Sean Tarry four on 10-1. A little surprisingly the Brett Crawford-trained King Of Gems, who beat Sachdev a neck in the Concorde, is as big as 16-1.

Ready To Win

Want to win the CTS Ready To Run and its big stake? Maybe you should ask the sales boss for advice on which horses to buy.  Wehann Smith backs his firm’s sale with his own money and his record is truly remarkable.

In addition to being part-owner of last Saturday’s winner Pure State, he also had a significant stake in the 2016 winner Safe Harbour and a share in Majestic Mozart who was second last year.

“I buy a few out of this sale every year,” he says, “and after the 2018 sale I went to Chris van Niekerk and asked him if I could buy a leg in Pure State. I own 25%.”

A False Start

Some punters have questioned the wisdom of calling a false start when a horse begins to rear as the starter presses the button, as happened in race two at Kenilworth last Saturday. A couple of the other horses were upset about being asked to load a second time and the eventual start – at least ten minutes after the first one – was a lot more ragged than the original one. The aggrieved punters maintained that it was a clear case of the transgressor benefitting and the innocent suffering – and that those who had their money on well-behaved horses lost out through no fault of theirs or of the horses they backed.

Senior stipendiary steward Ernie Rodrigues said: “There are no specific guidelines on this except the aim is that every horse should get a fair start. The decision lies with the starter and he has only a split second to decide whether or not to call a false start.

“Basically it’s a no-win situation and in some overseas countries the practice is to let them go (in similar situations) because they take the view that, if a horse’s bad behaviour was responsible for him being slowly away, he should not benefit.”

Perhaps consideration should be given to adopting this practice in South Africa.

By Michael Clower

With 28 runners in the line-up, the WSB Grand Heritage very much represents the charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava in the 1854 Crimean War, sans the cannons and bullets.

That said, the jockeys will be out to dodge any bullets in the run down the Vaal 1475m straight and it will be every man for himself come the final 400m.

Sean Tarry has eight runners in the race, 10 if you add the reserves, but his best bet of a victory could come with Social Order. Tarry has an enviable record in feature events and always has long-term plans for his runners. Social Order put in a cracking effort behind stable companion Tierra Del Fuego in a strong Pinnacle Stakes last time out and although he carries joint top weight, he has earned it.

Glen Kotzen saddles the mare Elusive Heart who has shown that she was not far off the best of her generation last season. There is not much of that stature in tomorrow’s contest although this is a handicap with a big field to boot.

She put in a tremendous effort first crack out of the box this term when second to accomplished sprinter Sunset Eyes in receipt of only 4kg. She has shown that she is effective up to a mile so if Stuart Randolph can track the pace and find a clear run to the line, she must be a big runner.

Another KZN raider is Desolate Road and Tony Rivalland has his gelding primed for this. Desolate Road made steady progress into his recent victory where he made most of the running to hold off The Master. He has drawn on the extreme outside of the field giving Mark Khan a box-seat view of the runners on his inside.

Both KZN runners are among the 33-1 supposed no-hopers.

Paul Peter and Warren Kennedy could team up with the stable cat and win this and Riverstown is the early favourite, although 6-1 odds in this line-up look decidedly skinny. Lightly raced, he has not finished out of the money in four starts. He was doing his best work late when beaten by Ikigai in a Graduation Plate last time out but not far behind him that day was Russian Beat who was giving him 2kg. They meet at level weights here and Russian Beat is double the odds.

Runners from the De Kock yard can never be discounted and Fired Up, second call at 7-1, will be looking to build on his last two wins but given recent trends, his inside draw, two off the paint, could prove a disadvantage with jockeys generally heading for the outside going at recent meetings.

By Andrew Harrison

Umkhomazi Stakes winner African Warrior heads the 16 declared for the Cape Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday – and Dean Kannmeyer is convinced that Keagan de Melo’s mount is fully recovered from the muscle problem that was found to be responsible for his flop when starting favourite in last month’s Concorde Cup.

Kannemeyer, who will be bidding for his sixth success in this Kenilworth classic, said yesterday: “He tweaked a muscle in his hindquarters and as a result he was slightly short behind but, after two or three sessions with the physio, he was 100% again. It never set him back in his fitness – he was only off for about five days – and he is back in tiptop shape. He had a good workout on the cinders on Monday and he is ready for his race on Saturday.”

African Warrior is the highest rated horse in the race but the one slight doubt the trainer has is whether he will get the trip. “On pedigree (by Vercingetorix out of a Jet Master mare) there is no reason why he shouldn’t but whether he will really get a genuine mile is a question mark at the back of my mind. He has a hell of a turn of foot.”

The gelding’s chance has been boosted by Sean Tarry’s decision not to run Dingaans winner Shango (the original favourite) and by Mike de Kock not declaring Frosted Gold who won the Graham Beck Stakes. De Kock has won the Cape Guineas five times but he will have no runner in Saturday’s race.

However Tarry, who has yet to win it, runs four headed by Durban Golden Horseshoe winner Eden Roc (Gavin Lerena) and including last Saturday’s CTS Ready To Run winner Pure State who has been raised 17 points for that valuable win. He will be ridden by jockey-of-the-moment Craig Zackey.

Brett Crawford, successful with Elusive Gold six years ago, has declared three including Concorde Cup winner King Of Gems (Aldo Domeyer) plus the two reserves. Justin Snaith, who won with Solo Traveller in 2010, also has three starters with Richard Fourie opting for Sachdev and Bernard Fayd’Herbe, hoping for Guineas victory number four, on Wild Coast.

Vaughan Marshall, whose five wins include two of the last three runnings, is represented by both Cape Classic winner Silver Operator (Anton Marcus) and Cane Lime ‘n Soda (M.J. Byleveld).

Glen Kotzen put Green Point fourth Pack Leader into the Sun Met at yesterday’s R9 900 (plus VAT) supplementary entry stage while Snaith has already declared Do It Again (Fourie) and Bunker Hunt (Fayd’Herbe) for the February 1 showpiece

Pack Leader was one of the few Green Point runners whose rating has been changed by the handicappers. He went up two points to 116, Undercover Agent (fifth) was dropped three points to 127 while Head Honcho (seventh) came down by the same amount to 126. The winner Vardy was left unchanged on 128. Stable companion Missisippi Burning was raised 19 to a new mark of 116 for her triumph in the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas.

By Michael Clower