Sachdev at 7-1 could be the answer to a tricky-looking Cape Guineas at Kenilworth tomorrow when the appearance of Sun Met favourite Hawwaam in the Premier Trophy will be a major attraction.

Richard Fourie’s mount might not have the most obvious credentials – he flopped in the Cape Classic and was beaten in the Concorde Cup – but in fact those two performances hold the key to his chance here. His blood was found to be wrong – indicating an infection – after the Classic, so much so in fact that Justin Snaith had to ease off him and he lined up for the Concorde quite some way off peak fitness.

Yet he produced an explosive turn of foot and was only caught in the last stride by King Of Gems and the Concorde (together with its Selangor predecessor) is a good guide to the Guineas. With a better preparation, it’s not hard to see him turning the tables and even winning.

Snaith also has a strong contender in Captain Tatters who ran Silver Operator to a dwindling four-tenths of a length in the Cape Classic and looked the more likely of the pair to benefit from the extra furlong here. Yet he is a 15-2 chance and Silver Operator is 3-1 favourite, and badly drawn to boot.

Part of the reason is the reputation of his rider Anton Marcus and the five-time winning record of trainer Vaughan Marshall, but there is also the remarks they made in the immediate aftermath of the Classic. Marshall pointed out that it was the colt’s first run for seven weeks while Marcus said he should have sent the horse on sooner and that he will be far more effective on the summer course as well as suited to a bit further.

It’s worth noting that seven of the last ten Cape Guineas favourites have been beaten. That said, the race usually goes to one of the fancied runners and only twice in the last 17 years has the winner started at a bigger price than 5-1.

This year looks more open than usual. King Of Gems accelerated every bit as well as Sachdev in the Concorde and, although he started almost completely ignored at 55-1, there was no fluke about his victory. He has already been backed from 16-1 to 11-1.

His trainer Brett Crawford has his horses in top form and stable companion Macthief (13-1) was a close-up third in the Concorde despite clipping heels in the back straight. Interestingly Kilindini is the shortest priced of the stable’s trio at 10-1 despite being beaten at odds-on last time.

Sean Tarry saddles a quarter of the field (and he normally does all the saddling himself) including last Saturday’s big winner Pure State but Eden Roc is the highest rated and at 10-1 the shortest priced. He hasn’t quite hit top form this season but his trainer certainly has.

Merit ratings gained in Durban at two often don’t stand up elsewhere at three but it’s worth noting that African Warrior’s top-rated 115 was earned in the Matchem at Durbanville. Forget last time’s muscle-strained flop. The 13-2 shot is second favourite.

It’s almost impossible to see Hawwaam getting beaten. At least it would be if nobody told you what a terrible record favourites have in the Premier Trophy – all but two of the last 14 got stuffed. If you don’t fancy risking your money at 2-7 Twist Of Fate was only 1.6 lengths behind Hawwaam in the Daily News, he receives a kilo, is racing on home ground and his new trainer is on fire. You can get 13-2.

By Michael Clower

Sean Tarry and Mike de Kock look set for a field day at Turffontein tomorrow but with both trainers having multiple runners in all the races that they are contesting, it will be for punters to sort the pick of their runners.

De Kock saddles two runners in the opening leg of the Pick 6 with stable first-call rider Callan Murray possibly on the pick of the stable pair. Stage Dance has her third run after a break and has improved with each run. She should be spot on for this event. Victoria Page and Stage Dance both contested feature races last term with some success. Victoria Paige is the more consistent of the two but has not been out since July which could count against her. That said, Stage Dance is not the most reliable but is smart on her day.

Tarry saddles the filly Keep Smiling in the fifth and can put one over her male rivals given her light weight. She has hardly been out of the money in her nine starts and Tarry has engaged Warren Kennedy, the log-leading rider who can make the weight.

Spero Optima is lightly raced and followed up his maiden win with a good second and is the most likely danger while Owlinthetree found his best form last run but has to give lumps of weight to the filly.

Tarry holds another strong hand in the sixth. Montreal Mist just needed her last run and breaking through the font of the stalls before being re-loaded will not have helped. She had smart form before that and can get the better of stable companion Spiritofthegroove who has been trying further and may find this a tad short at this stage of her career. A Tarry trifecta is on the cards as Tropic Sun showed up well first run out of the maidens in useful company and cannot be discounted.

De Kock can return the compliment in the seventh where Vaseem may be the stable elect of his four runners. He was an end-to-end winner over a sprint last run but is his only attempt at ground he was galloped into. He looks ideally suited to this trip. Virtuosa won his last two and Alameery and Your Place Or Mine all look progressive while Al Borak is unbeaten since being gelded and will have his supporters.

Frosted Steel and Flying High look the principal contenders in the eighth. Frosted Steel has been in good form against stronger of late and looks the part while Flying High has been close-up in both starts since her maiden win and goes well over this trip. 

In the ninth, Curious does not have the best draw but was finishing off his race nicely at only his second outing and should improve on that effort. Akwaan has been consistent but now tries blinkers which could bring out the best while stable companion Ghalyoon had his saddle slip badly last run so that is best ignored. He has two useful efforts over this trip to his name and has drawn pole.

By Andrew Harrison

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

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