Traces looks good for the Interbet.co.za Graduation Plate at Kenilworth today. The Brett Crawford Australian-bred has only won once in nine starts but his fifth in the Cape Merchants 11 days ago suggests he is going to be hard to beat.

Anton Marcus rides, as he has done in the four-year-old’s last two runs and, despite the handicappers dropping him a kilo for his good Merchants effort, he still has a theoretical 4.5kg in hand. Not surprisingly he is favourite but the present 16-10 is not prohibitive.

Next best in is the top weight Machiavelli who won over 100m further than this in August and is 4-1 second favourite. General Franco comes next in the betting at 9-2 but is hard to fancy on anything except his debut win.

The opening two-year-old race is a fascinating affair as none of the seven runners has been seen before. Glen Kotzen runs three and has booked Warren Kennedy for Mifid Two who opened favourite at 17-10. This Gimmethegreenlight filly is out of the Diana winner and Cape Fillies Guineas third Double Whammy and is jointly the most expensive filly in the field at R200 0000 at the National Two Year Old Sale. “She hasn’t done much but she is a nice filly and she is probably the most forward of my three runners,” says the Woodhill trainer.

His other two were bought at the Klawervlei Farm Sale – Musical Glitch (R30 000) by Jay Peg out of a mare who won over a mile, and Ruby Rhythm (R35 000) by Captain Of All out of a mare who won twice at two and is a half-sister to the July second Run For It.

Justin Snaith runs Favorita, a Gimmethegreenlight out of a Var mare and who didn’t go to the sales. “She is very small but very speedy,” says Snaith. “She has only had one gallop when she went with Stuck On You (third last Saturday) and finished half a length the better.”

Glen Puller’s assistant Riaan van Reenen says that Dad’s Catch (a R150 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale purchase by Captain Of All out of a Western Winter mare) “is more advanced than our two who ran last Saturday and she will be competitive.”

Winter Peace cost R200 000 at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale and is by What A Winter out of a half-sister to State Crown who won the Winter Guineas and was third in the Cape Guineas. Candice Bass-Robinson admits she is a bit in the dark about the filly’s chance and says:” She is not lightning quick but she is a nice filly.”

Last, but certainly not least, is the bargain basement buy Spacial Aura, by Jay Peg out of a mare who won once in ten starts and as a three-year-old. She failed to find a buyer at R20 000 at the Cape Yearling Sale and was bought at the Klawervlei for only R5 000.

Mike Robinson, who trained the dam, is positive, saying: “She has shown nice speed and she has done everything right. Robert Khathi has done the work on her but he has on Justin’s runner as well so he rides that. Richard Fourie rang me and said he was available.”

So nobody is that bullish and the race looks wide open. Punters (and this writer too) got it wrong with Thomas Henry on Saturday. Unless there is a real move for any of them it just might pay to side with Fourie’s mount at 7-2.

Gavin Lerena flies down for just two rides – Bold Diva and Cartel Captain – but it looks significant that Anton Marcus rode Rocamadour last time and is on her again in the Betting World Maiden even though she is not a Ridgemont horse. I also like Speed Of Night in race two and Proclaimer in the next.

By Michael Clower

Golden Ducat, half-brother to Hawwaam and Rainbow Bridge, has been gelded. Eric Sands and owners Wilgerbosdrift decided on this drastic (in view of his pedigree) measure following his third in a mile handicap at Kenilworth 13 days ago. He has long been a bit difficult and it is thought that gelding will concentrate his mind on racing.

Sands said: “We are not going to rush him back. If he is ready for the Cape Derby (February 22) he will run in that. If not he will either stay in Cape Town for the Winter Series or go to Durban.”

Hawwaam, favourite for the WSB Green Point on Saturday week, now looks almost certain to miss the race. The Sporting Post reports that the Mike de Kock star runs at Turffontein on Thursday and will then be aimed at the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met before going to Australia.

Champion sprinter Kasimir will miss his hoped-for reappearance race at Kenilworth on Saturday because only three others were declared when the National Racing Bureau added a 1 100m Pinnacle to the programme. The trio comprised stable companion Mister Vargus, the high class Bold Respect and Ready Steady Go, a useful performer from the Harold Crawford stable. But that was not enough and the NRB said no.

Strathdon, winner of the Cape Summer Stayers Handicap two years ago but only fifth when favourite last year, heads the sponsor’s market for Saturday week’s World Sports Betting Cape Summer Stayers Handicap. The Justin Snaith-trained six-year-old is 7-2 with Gimme One Night second favourite at 6-1.

Candice Bass-Robinson’s Majorca winner Cloud Unfold is 3-1 joint favourite with the Brett Crawford-trained Run Fox Run for the WSB Southern Cross Stakes on the same card. Last year’s winner Princess Rebel is a 13-1 chance.

Glen Kotzen sends Elusive Heart for the R500 000 Grand Heritage at the Vaal on Saturday. Stuart Randolph’s mount has joint top weight and will raid from Summerveld.

Mike Stewart, who had a rare Fairview winner with Duchess Of Prussia last Friday, has only had six runners at the Port Elizabeth course in the last five seasons but intends having more.

He said: “They have races for horses with low merit ratings and, provided you have a sound horse, it can be worth it. Also you know the draws before you accept.”

By Michael Clower

The Mike de Kock team were “very proud” of the gutsy performance Soqrat put up in defeat in the Grade 1 Gauteng Chris Gerber Summer Cup on Saturday and are now gearing up for the Cape Summer Season.

The Australian-bred colt by Epaulette jumped from a high draw and was caught wide without cover throughout. Yet, he still managed to run on strongly and, despite giving the winner and all of the other placed horses 8kg, he failed by just a couple of strides to get there in time.

In the process he obliterated any 2000m stamina doubts hanging over his head and will be heading to Cape Town to run in the L’Ormarins Queens Plate and the Sun Met.

At present there is an equine travel ban from Johannesburg to Cape Town due to an African Horse Sickness case within a 30km radius of Randjesfontein but the ban is expected to be lifted on the tenth of this month.

The De Kock team will travel down as soon as the ban is lifted.

Their Irish-bred filly Queen Supreme ran on from a handy position in the Summer Cup for a gallant 1,6 length fourth and a decision to send her down to Cape Town is pending. The Paddock Stakes will be her obvious target.

Matthew de Kock said, “She is still physically a three-year-old and only actually turns four in March so it was a fantastic performance for a filly of that age.”

The yard were also “chuffed” with Atyaab’s staying on fifth.

“Atyaab ran a very good race considering it was a distance short of his best and we will be sending him down to Cape Town for some staying races,” said Matthew.

Barahin started third favourite behind Soqrat and Queen Supreme and stayed on for a 2,85 length eighth.

Matthew said, “It was little disappointing but he is better when there has been a bit of rain. He is not easy to work with and has his niggles so prefers more forgiving ground.”

Cascapedia was tailed off after “choking up” and has been retired.

Matthew said, “She had been given a third surgery, but it has not worked.”

This big High Chaparral mare was always packed with class and will be a valuable addition to the broodmare band of her owners Mauritzfontein Stud. She won a Grade 2 over 1450m, two Grade 3s over 1800m and was placed three times in Grade 1 events.

The Australian-bred Frosted Gold was as courageous as ever on Saturday in the TAB/Betting World Dingaans and found another gear when it counted to draw away from the crack filly Cockney Pride. However, he had no answer to the devastating finish of the long-striding Shango and had to settle for second.

Mike de Kock had spoken beforehand about a slight doubt over this strongly built grey’s stamina over a mile. However, assessing his performance in the Dingaans, Matthew said this All Too Hard gelding should be tailor made for the easier Kenilworth mile. He has duly been nominated for the Grade 1 Cape Guineas.

One of the yard’s biggest disappointments on Saturday was Marshall, who went into the Dingaans unbeaten in two starts and was backed into favourite. The Vercingetorix colt was in a good position to strike in the straight but found little and finished second last.

He was found afterwards to be not striding out on his right fore. He is held in high regard and Matthew said, “At least we are not scratching our heads on the reason for the run.” The yard is not in a rush to get him into his next race and this magnificent looking colt should bounce back from this disappointment after taking a back seat for a while.

Another good three-year-old in the yard, Alibi Guy, is being looked upon as a Derby type, so is also not being rushed and is yet to make his seasonal reappearance.

The yard have a number of horses who qualify for forthcoming CTS sales races including Dublin Quays, Alramz and Battleoftrafalgar. 

Meanwhile, Hawwaam continues to do well and will have his final Queen’s Plate and Met preparation race on Thursday at Turffontein in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m. 

By David Thiselton

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained African Warrior was a major disappointment when finishing out of the money for the first time in his career in the Grade 2 Concorde Cup over 1600m on November 23 on the Kenilworth Old Course but he was subsequently found to have strained a hindquarter muscle and is now back on track.

The Vercingetorix gelding had started 16/10 favourite, despite having to give the rest of the field 1kg, but when asked the question by Keagan de Melo from his customary position at the back of the field his usual blistering acceleration was not there and he finished a 4,40 length ninth.

He was found by the on course veterinarian to not be striding out on his left fore.

He trotted out short the next day too and the cause was found to be a strained hindquarter muscle. 

However, he has had treatment and was back in work on Saturday.

Kannemeyer felt the few days off work would not affect African Warrior’s preparation for the Grade 1 Cape Guineas to be run on December 21.   

Kannemeyer has an enviable record in this three-year-old classic, having won it five times himself on top of the handful of successes his father Peter had.

Asked to compare African Warrior to his previous Guineas winners, he said, “The handicapper loves him and rates him very highly, but if you had to ask me I would say he probably has a lot of work to do to match them. But he could prove me wrong as he is a toughy and is genuine and has a turn of foot.”

The athletic bay’s program has been carefully planned to date.

He won the Grade 3 Godolphin Barb over 1100m at Greyville before finishing an unlucky fifth in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion. Kannemeyer then deliberately avoided the Champions Season’s bigger juvenile races from then onward, opting instead to run him in the KZN Yearling Sale Million over 1300m and the Grade 2 Haval Motors SA Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m, both of which he won.

He put up one of the best three-year-old performances of the season to date when finishing a 2,25 length fifth in the Grade 3 Matchem Stakes over 1400m in his comeback. 

Meanwhile, Kannemeyer’s superbly bred Captain Al colt Seventh Gear has been gelded. He finished an encouraging 1,90 length fifth in the Concorde Cup, but Kannemeyer subsequently informed connections that this horse’s blood had been “slowing down”. He recommended gelding but it was not a decision which was going to be taken lightly as he is out of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara heroine Cherry On The Top. However, he was duly gelded the Monday after the race and will consequently not be ready in time for the Cape Guineas.

Another of Kannemeyer’s good colts, Liberty Hall, should be cherry ripe for the Cape Guineas.

This son of Querari was runner up in the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes on Gold Cup day and finished a 4,80 length seventh in his comeback on November 5 over the too sharp 1200m. He is running again this Saturday in a handicap over the too sharp 1400m off his 108 rating and that should put him spot on for the Cape Guineas a couple of weeks later. 

By David Thiselton

In another exciting initiative for Horse Racing in KwaZulu-Natal, Gold Circle country, Hollywoodbets has launched a new competition for Jockeys, Trainers and Owners – with R750 000 up for grabs! The Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge, which awards points for every runner in every race, gets underway on the 1^st December 2019.

Gold Circle and Hollywoodbets launched the Grooms’ Initiative in October, rewarding the winning groom for every race in KZN with R1 000. In yet another ground-breaking initiative, the pair have introduced this new competition to reward  other key stakeholders in the Horse Racing industry, the Trainers, Jockeys and Owners. Together with the Grooms’ R1 000 award per race over the three months – these programmes will inject One Million Rand into racing in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge will run on a points system, with points awarded according to the finishing position for each runner taking part in a race. The total points available in each race is determined by how many runners are taking part. Therefore, if there are 10 runners in a race, there will be 10 points for 1^st place, 9 points for 2^nd place, and so on, down to 10^th place receiving 1 point. If there are only 6 runners in a race, there will be 6 points for a win, 5 points for 2^nd, and so on.

The points will be awarded to the Jockey, the Trainer, and that particular horse (representing the Owner/s). A running leader board will be made available online, in the media and on the big screens at Hollywoodbets Greyville racecourse.

The competition will run for three months, covering all KZN race meetings from the 1^st December 2019 to 28^th February 2020.

A prize pot of R250,000 will be awarded to each of the categories, totalling R750,000 in the competition.

The prize money will be broken down for the top 6 positions, with R100k going to 1^st place, R50k to 2^nd place, R40k to 3^rd place, R30k to 4^th place, R20k to 5^th place, and R10k to 6^th place.

“This is a way to encourage Owners, Trainers and Jockeys to be part of racing in Gold Circle country and reward them for their efforts throughout the KZN Summer season,” said Devin Heffer, Brand and Communication Manager for Hollywoodbets.

“We view this competition as a great opportunity to encourage trainers to enter more of their horses in KZN races, as well as an incentive to get them running more often. Trainers from outside the province might find this as an ideal opportunity to target a string of their horses for the KZN Summer season.”

“The beauty of this competition is that it won’t necessarily be the best horses in the province winning the competition. It will be the horses that run more often and perform more consistently.”

“This also applies to Jockeys and Trainers who ride and train more horses in KZN. They give themselves a better chance of placing in the prize money. It also encourages Jockeys to ride out their mounts in every race. Every position gained is an extra point for their position on the leader board.”

“As there are 6 places in the prize money, the competition will go all out until the end of the three-month period.”

Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle recently made the announcement that from the 1^st of December 2019, a horse’s carded number will now be the same as its allocated barrier draw. This will run concurrently with the Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge and will be on trial until the end of February 2020.

The Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge gets underway on Sunday 1^st December 2019 at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse. Gold Circle has also announced that racing will take place on the first three Friday nights in December, adding to the festivities of the holiday season!

The newly revamped “Short Head” venue will host a launch event for the competition on Friday 29th November at 15:30. Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle would like to extend an invitation to all Owners, Trainers, Jockeys, Punters and Grooms to be part of this.

ENDS