Golden Ducat is taken to defy the general rule that you shouldn’t back horses first time out of the maidens when he contests the Tellytrack.com Handicap at Kenilworth today.

The principle makes a lot of sense because so many horses struggle when they are pitted against seasoned handicappers for the first time. Their maiden wins were achieved against fellow novices, many of whom in all probability were slow to leave the pens or spent a lot of time looking around them. Now the opposition all know they are there to race.

But this mile event is slightly different and not just because Golden Ducat is a half-brother to Rainbow Bridge and Hawwaam. His two main dangers, at least according to the betting, also won a maiden on their most recent start.

Eric Sands, who said previously “I think Golden Ducat is going to be a top horse,” said: “I am confident about his ability” when asked how he thought his horse would fare in today’s race. Mind you, he did qualify that by expressing concerns about the horse’s mental approach, much as he had done when Golden Ducat won last month.

Possibly the colt’s 2-1 price does not fully take this into account but he gets the vote on the strength of the way he won and the fact that runner-up Turn It Up Harvey went close last Saturday.

Favourite at 17-10 is Pinkerton who comfortably justified a very short price to win at the fifth attempt at the beginning of the month. Richard Fourie rides him in preference to 11-2 stable companion Peaceful Day who receives a kilo and got up close home to score in his fourth and most recent race.

“They are both horses who will go through the divisions but I think Pinkerton is a bit more ready and that Peaceful Day may need another run out of the maidens,” says Justin Snaith. “Pinkerton is a big runner and he will go very close.”

Top weight Late At Night (13-2) has had two races out of the maidens and lost ground at the start last time. “I am expecting a good run here,” says the in-form Brett Crawford. “He is doing very well at home and I think he will love the mile.”

Six Degrees (8-1) is the only four-year-old in the field and Glen Kotzen says: “I ran him the other day over 1 400m and he needs further. He has a nice draw and I give him a good chance.”

Brandenburg (15-2) finished two lengths in front of Six Degrees last time and is only half a kilo worse so, in theory at least, he should confirm the placings. Jean’s Man is the outsider of the party at 12-1 but it could be significant that he is stepping up in trip.

Aldo Domeyer’s mount Congo Compaq, racing without blinkers this time, is marginally preferred to the improving August Leaves in the first and 35 minutes later Smart William may be able to reverse last time’s placings with Alpha Pappa.

By Michael Clower

The R2.5 million CTS Ready To Run Stakes at Kenilworth has been switched from this Saturday to 14 December as a result of the recent African Horse Sickness outbreak in Gauteng.

There were 18 declared by 11.00am yesterday but Sean Tarry’s quartet and the Mike de Kock-trained Dublin Quays would not have been able to make it because of the restrictions placed on horses travelling from Randjesfontein.

Ashley Fortune got Etched In Blue and Invidia out in time and they will now run on Saturday in the Graduation Plate put on as an extra race at the end of the card. The Joey Soma-trained Tiger’s Rock will also run in this 1 400m race. The Johannesburg-based declarations accounted for seven of the top ten merit-rated in the Ready To Run.

Cape Thoroughbred Sales boss Wehann Smith said in a statement that the overriding concern was to do everything possible to ensure that all buyers at last year’s CTS Ready To Run Sale had the very best chance of having a runner.

He added: “We consulted all trainers with entries in the race and the balance of opinion was overwhelmingly in favour of rescheduling. This was particularly the case for the Cape-based trainers who were as one in their support of the move. I believe this show of support is a genuine acknowledgement of their willingness to welcome the up-country trainers for the season – and that ultimately being in the best bigger picture benefit to racing in the Cape.”

The Graduation Plate has attracted eight others, notably leading Cape Guineas hope Captain Tatters who was beaten less than half a length by Silver Operator in last month’s Cape Classic.

In other news the unbeaten Captain Of Stealth, the forgotten man of last season’s two-year-olds, is about to start on the long road back after suffering a career-threatening leg injury when odds-on for the Langerman.

Part owner Pat Freestone said: “We have been given the all-clear but it will be six months before you see him.”

Last Winter is to stay in training with Sir Michael Stoute as a seven-year-old but he will not race again this year.  The 2018 Sun Met runner-up was beaten over ten lengths when fourth of six in the mile and a half Matchbook Floodlit Stakes at Kempton 15 days ago, his first experience of the all-weather.

By Michael Clower

Hawwaam continues his education through the starting stalls at the Vaal on Thursday where he lines up in a Pinnacles Stakes event over 1400m.

Similar to last week, this race is more about the starting stalls and the race day experience rather than a must win scenario.

Having his first run back after being scratched at the start of the Vodacom Durban July, Hawwaam behaved impeccably, loading quietly and breaking on terms. From there on it was a matter of ‘how far?’ as he showed his class by winning comfortably over a distance well short of optimum.

“To say I am relieved is an understatement,” Malan de Toit, one of the country’s best known equine behavioralists, wrote on his Facebook page after that win. “The last time this horse saw the race course was on July day in Durban. Absolute devastation!! The favourite scratched because of behavioral problems at the starting gate. Between then and now there was a lot of brain storming on what would work for him.

“Between then and today, lots and lots of work was done with him by the team comprising of Mathew de Kock, Vengi Masawi, one of team De Kock’s assistants, work riders, Anton Marcus, Ben, one of the best handlers (starter’s assistant) in Gauteng and myself.

“Today a plan came together.”

Thursday’s 1400m will be more to Hawwaam’s liking but if he behaves there should only be one result in spite of the opposition including the smart performers Cirillo and Zouaves.

A recent case of African Horse Sickness (AHS) reported in the Nietgedacht area of Gauteng early this month has put a question mark on horses moving from the Highveld to the Western Cape for their summer season but will hopefully not prevent Hawwaam lining up for the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Sun Met early next year.

Should the outbreak scupper travel plans to the Cape, the next obvious target will be Champions Season and the Vodacom Durban July.  

By Andrew Harrison

Image: A relieved Malan du Toit, Anton Marcus and Mike de Kock after Hawwaam’s victory at the Vaal last week.

A competitive card faces punters in the inside track at Turffontein today with a number of riddles that they will have to solve.

The first leg of the PA is one such race. Although only six runners are due to line up, it is a useful field of fillies, all six in with chances.

Palace Of Dreams has some smart form but does look a tricky ride and Diego de Gouveia, back from a short stint in Mauritius, takes over from Callan Murray on Mike de Kock’s runner. Earmuffs suggest that Palace Of Dreams is a tricky ride and the fact that Murray has opted for stable companion Virtuosa, a maiden winner last outing, adds to the puzzle. Take into account that neither Murray nor De Gouveia can get anywhere near the 52.5kg required of the third De Kock runner, Mabella, and you have another piece to fit in.

Virtuosa was a very easy maiden winner after a string of good showings in the maidens and jockey bookings suggest that she is the preferred stable runner but Mabella was sent out an odds-on favourite last start but never threatened. Add Geoff Woodruff’s filly Wild Date into the mix, who is way better than her last showing, and you have an equation that even Sheldon Cooper of the Big Bang Theory would have trouble deciphering.

In the opening leg of the Pick 6 Gary Alexander appears to have a smart filly in Mount Laurel, unbeaten in three appearances and has improved with each start. Alexander has stepped her up gradually from 1000m on debut to 1200m and 1450m, winning easier every time. The extra furlong should suit. She could feature as your Pick 6 banker on a tricky card – at least you would know your fate early. Dangers are Youcanthurrylove, who has come good of late and Bohica whose last effort is best ignored. She has won over course and distance and can feature prominently.

From here on the going gets more difficult. There should not be much between Lone Survivor and Sea Air in the fourth but the latter is 1 kg worse off for a half-length beating. But Sea Air has recently been gelded and can come on from that showing and reveres the form. Captain Flynt has only been out of the money once in eight starts and with a light weight and a good draw, is not out of it.

Exion in the fifth can add to Paul Peter’s growing tally and young Luke Ferraris takes over from a suspended Warren Kennedy. Exion has been close up in all three starts, has drawn well and should make a bold bid. Crank It Up goes this trip for the first time which should suit and this is his third run after a break and should strip cherry-ripe. Blue Flute appeals as an upset chance.

The sixth is possibly a ‘field’ race for the exotics but Ikigai has shown up well in his to post maiden runs. He was finishing off nicely at his last start and Strydom should suit. Riverstown, Mawsool and Green Laser at top of a long list of possible winners.

Before the Dawn has yet to finish out of the money for Ashleigh Fortune and the daughter of Oratorio is re-united with apprentice Tajesh Jaglall who piloted her to her last two wins. Gallic Princess, Soul Of Wit and Tigermil are others to consider.

Miss Kalifa can round off the afternoon for Corne Spies. She came from a long way back for second She has been in fair form since her last win but the drop in trip is a concern. Rosalina has found market support at her last two and has a chance in a difficult race while Black Tie met much stronger last run. She had shown some promise before that. Add Cosmic Mist two your list and you have another tricky hurdle to jump.

By Andrew Harrison

From desperately dry to desperately wet within a week. The weather patterns in KZN are so changeable these days that a senior weather forecaster has admitted that even three-day forecasts can be dodgy.

Racing is scheduled for the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday but punters are advised to keep an eye on the weather as a switch to the poly track is a distinct possibility should any more rain add to the 119mm recorded over the past week.

The wet will also have affected training schedules but the Summerveld poly track will have been in high demand this past week.

Mark Dixon holds three high cards for the Pinnacle Stakes that heads the programme where Silent Crusade can confirm that she is a contender for South Africa’s Champions Season that starts in May next year.

Dixon has gone easy on the daughter of Crusade, as she has only her ninth start in two seasons, but she has kicked off the current term on the right note, although Keagan de Melo may disagree.

Parting company with Silent Crusade at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last month will still be fresh in De Melo’s mind. It was a fearful fall and a miracle that he escaped serious injury.

De Melo was back on board the filly at her next start where he rode a cracking finish on the favourite. Tracking the pace, Silent Crusade shifted into top gear 400m out but didn’t look at all comfortable as she hung out and seemingly not too keen to go on with her effort. But De Melo kept hard at her and she gamely held off a charging phalanx headed by Generous Lady and Exclusive Quantity.

That was only her second outing since a break and given the weights and some further improvement she does rate the horse to beat.

Generous Lady will be in opposition again and she followed up that outing with a close-up seventh in a tough handicap against males, beaten under two lengths by GG’s Dynasty.

However, she is 0.5kg worse off with Silent Crusade and although she has the better draw, she does look held.

Michael Roberts, who shares a ring at Summerveld with Dixon, will know exactly what he is up against as he saddles Statute, the fill sister to Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate. The daughter of Dynasty is in good form of late and with a light weight should be competitive. The Dixon-trained She’s A Dream got it all together with a tongue-tie last start. She has ability and also has a light weight.  Apprentice Ashton Arries comes out of his time shortly and a win will boost his confidence before he faces the reality of free-lance riding.

 Anton Marcus is back in the hunt for the best rides after a lengthy spell on the sidelines and he was quickly on the phone to Duncan Howells for the ride on High Voltage in the first.

At first glance the form may looks a little patchy but if one takes into account that he has some useful feature company form and is still a maiden, Marcus appears to have picked another plum even though Howells is of the opinion that the 1000m may be a touch on the short side.

By Andrew Harrison