Last Winter has his second race since finishing a half-length second to Oh Susanna in last year’s Sun Met in the Matchbook Floodlit Stakes over a distance just short of a mile and a half at Kempton today. The race is due off at 6.00pm South African time.

The six-year-old, now trained by Sir Michael Stoute, will be ridden for the first time by Louis Steward. Last Winter comes out equal second with John Gosden’s 2018 Ebor runner-up Weekender on adjusted ratings. The William Haggas-trained Young Rascal is 3lb clear top.

Candice Bass-Robinson reports that Russet Air, winner of the 1 000m Pinnacle at Kenilworth six days ago, will run next in the WSB Cape Merchants on November 23.

By Michael Clower

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, vowing to return with a bang, did just that at Kenilworth on Saturday when he won on his first ride back.

Concussion, or rather medical analysis of the need to give his system a break because of the risk of its long-term effects, may have sidelined him for three months but his mental faculties were as sharp as ever on the Andre Nel-trained Lady Lu in the opening maiden.

Punters didn’t give the filly a prayer, despite her jockey’s sky-high reputation, and allowed her to drift unbacked from 3-1 to 9-1 – but they were left wondering what had happened to their judgement after hearing Fayd’Herbe’s first-hand account of his.

“I jumped out and she was rushing but there was a strong tail wind,” he related. “So I brought her back a little and she started travelling underneath me. I was watching Richard Fourie on Linda Loves Lace in front of me. He was going easy fractions. I sent mine on perhaps too early but when she got going she really took off.”

He followed up two races later on Gold Medal for the Bass-Robinson stable and some of the owners for whom he won the Vodacom Durban July on Marinaresco two years ago. But apparently those three months off were no holiday for a man has spent the last 20 years keeping his frame at least 7kg below its natural weight.

“I had to do a lot of work,” he related. “Dougie Whyte from Hong Kong helped me, I went on a new diet and I rode the Equicizer every day.”

Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie chalked up their now almost expected treble – with Pinkerton (backed from 5-10 to an almost unbelievable 2-10), Fleeced and Pay Pay to take their tallies for the season to 43 and 41. But the rest of the card went to men for whom life must all too often seem more like Moodys (outlook negative but otherwise unchanged) than Springbok.

“I’ve had nothing but seconds – even other trainers are sending me pictures of my horses finishing second,” rued Paddy Kruyer after Louis Mxothwa on 16-1 shot Savea stopped the rot in the TAB Telebet Handicap, and he fished out his phone to show a shot of What A Flirt being beaten less than the thickness of a betting slip last Tuesday. 

Hidden Strings, in the colours of breeder Willem Engelbrecht jnr and well handled by Keagan de Melo in the Interbet.co.za Handicap, was Greg Ennion’s first winner since June. “It’s been a tough few months,” said the trainer with some feeling. “I had a herpes virus in the yard – but the horses are starting to look good again and I have some lovely babies.”

Piet Steyn, most of whose glory days were a long time ago, took the bold step of turning out old stager Waiting For Rain for the second Saturday running in the Tellytrack.com Handicap and was rewarded with an 18-1 victory.

“Last week he got sandwiched on the fence,” the trainer related. “He came out of it well so I decided to run him. I don’t gallop mine much. If you haven’t got many – and I have 20 – you have to look after them.”

But in many ways the real unsung hero of this race was Grant Behr who bided his time to pounce fast and late, thwarting Fayd’Herbe of victory number three. “Nobody could have ridden the horse better,” said an admiring Steyn, and with justification.

Behr seldom attends the Tellytrack interviews and this was no exception. “I’ve been a bit down lately,” he said in explanation. “But maybe I should go to them.”

Certainly he should. They provide a real shop window and in racing self-promotion is one of the names of the game.

By Michael Clower

Anton Marcus may have been out for three months, getting himself stitched up and back into one piece, but although the limbs may be taking strain the racing brain is as sharp as ever.

Marcus was given free licence on Fools Gold in the Model Man Mile (Listed) at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday and like a shrewd prospector who had seeded his claim, he played the field on the break, cruising to the line unchallenged. Making all the running he delivered what ultimately amounted to little more than an exercise gallop for Robbie and Shannon Hill’s gelding.

A proven front runner, Marcus set pedestrian fractions on Fools Gold and somewhat surprisingly was never challenged as his mount sped clear at the top of the straight to win as he liked.

The win will have been have been cold comfort for Marcus with Mike de Kock, who saddled six winners at Turffontein on Saturday, pointing out that had he been able to take up the De Kock rides he would have added the Gr2 Emperors Palace Charity Mile on Barahin and the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes on Frosted Gold to his CV.

Marcus is tied to a contract with the powerful mainly Western Cape-based Ridgemont stable that required him to ride Bitter Lemon in a lowly MR73 Handicap at Kenilworth on the same afternoon. De Kock, in jest rather than malice, took the opportunity to rub a little salt into the ‘lemon’ of a good friend.

Frank Robinson’s gelding Avro Lancaster has the Summerveld dogs barking but Tony Nassif, a doyen and one of the really nice men in the sport, was on hand to lead in Greattobecaptain in the card opener for Karen and Greg Anthony. Poorly drawn last run and a much better gate at two yesterday. Serino Moodley steered the colt home. “On his work we knew he would run a big race,” confirmed Anthony and knowing the owner’s, Greattobecaptain will not have been allowed to ‘run loose’.

Avro Lancaster pulled up with a myriad of reported problems so do not write him off.

Mark Dixon was in Gauteng hoping to pluck another plum at the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Sale, but Victor Tojeira, owner Brian Burnard’s son-in-law, appears to have picked a good one at the National Two-year-old sale in Dinetto. Pressed to a mile last time out, the wheels came off, but yesterday it was all smooth travelling as Dinetto put in a telling run up the inside of the pack to head off Themba and Elusive Force with favourite Fred emulating a Manchester United dud signing.

Dixon was on the mark again as Presumptuous continued is steady improvement with a comfortable win in the third.

Exion and Battle Of Alesia were the expected flag-bearers for the raiding Paul Peter yard, but it was the less expected Western Front, down the field in a work-riders maiden on debut, who paid their way, getting the better of Twice Golden in the fifth.

By Andrew Harrison

Turffontein Standside hosts the Grade 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile and the progressive Candice Dawson-trained Approach Control could cause an upset.

Last time out he was well beaten by the favourite Zillzaal over this course and distance. The latter, who won easing up, beat him by four lengths. However, Approach Control clearly did not enjoy blinkers and was throwing his head around at one stage. The blinkers have been taken off and he is 4,5kg better off with Zillzaal. The form of his previous start looks better. In that race over 1400m he beat the like of Charity Mile contenders Divine Odyssey,

Infamous Fox, Flying Winger and Pilou and on paper should either beat them again or there should be nothing in it, so he looks good value at long odds. Lastly, he is a long-striding sort who will relish the long straight of the Standside track and he has always struck as a scopey sort who would come into his own as a four-year-old. On the downside he is 1,5kg under sufferance, half-a-kilogram due to his merit rating and 1kg due to S’Manga Khumalo riding 1kg overweight. However, Khumalo is not a twice champion jockey for nothing and he is riding at the top of his game. The other downside is his tricky draw of ten out of 16, so Khumalo will need to be at his best and also have some luck to find necessary cover.

Zillzaal has improved with gelding and went through with his run last time, something he had not been doing last season. Therefore, he could be well handicapped as he is probably yet to show his best. However, the Gauteng Summer Cup is his main aim, so he might not be quite at his peak. 

Infamous Fox seems to prefer tighter tracks. He has a good draw, which should enable MJ Byleveld to find cover. However, he will need to follow a forward moving horse in the straight so his fine turn of foot can be used to maximum effect. 

In The Dance has as good a turn of foot as her half-brother Capetown Noir and is still relatively unexposed, so she will be dangerous running with just 53kg on her back. However, Sean Tarry did say he would have liked another run under the belt before tackling this tough mile race.

Marchingontogether, who finished third in the SA Derby, prefers further and his chief target is the Summer Cup. However, he has plenty of class and has improved with gelding. He won his seasonal reappearance over the too sharp 1400m, so there is no reason why he should not make an impact here. 

The like of Camphoratus, Cascapedia, Barahin and Divine Odyssey have the ability to go close but this looks likely to be a build up run for the Summer Cup. Tilbury Fort has a harder task at the weights than he did when running a close second first up last year and the talented Zouaves has a wide draw over a trip which stretches him.

In the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m Putontheredlight has scope and as a long-striding sort will relish this course and distance. He is well drawn and should also get the good pace he will appreciate with a lot of stablemates under the same ownership taking part. Riverstown is well regarded and has been working well at home. His last run can be ignored as he bumped his head in the stalls and it was not his run. Eden Roc has proven class and has a fine turn of foot so should be involved although he does not have as much scope as Putontheredlight. Frosted Gold and Tallin cannot be ignored for the exotics. 

In the Grade 3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes Cockney Pride will relish the course and distance as one with a strong, sustained finish. She has one run under the belt which will give her an advantage over Mill Queen, who is drawn in pole and has always struck as one whose class would blossom the older she got. Sidonie went too hard last time but was still not disgraced against the classy older horse Vistula, so she could be dangerous under a more conservative ride from a good draw and Strydom up is an obvious bonus.

The Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup is as competitive as ever but Gaian Glory looks to have the class to take it. Enjoy The View should have come on from his effort last week and has some class. Spiritofthegroove should run on from a wide draw. Seemyvision might make a bold bid from the front but has a stamina doubt and Bohica can’t be ignored.

The Grade 3 Yellowwood Handicapo could be fought out by two classy well drawn horses, Queen Supreme and Roy’s Riviera.

Paul Peter has a strong hand in the Listed Golden Loom and two of this trio, Operetta and Rebel’s Champ have favourable high draws. Prince Of Kahal is in fine form and also has a high draw. 

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith can kick off what should be a good day by taking the opening Itsarush.co.za Maiden at Kenilworth tomorrow with Linda Loves Lace.

The probable favourite threw away her chance in her last two Kenilworth starts by coming out of the pens like a grandmother – but at Durbanville last time her tuition clearly paid off because she reverted to the useful form that saw her finish either second or third in three consecutive outings last season.

The obvious danger is Festive Girl who finished nearly six lengths in front of her early last month in a race in which Piet Steyn had three of the first four. Morne Winnaar’s mount certainly has the form to take advantage if the Snaith filly fluffs the start again but Steyn is cautious.

He said yesterday: “I am expecting a good effort – she is doing well and working well – but I gave her a bit of a break and I haven’t galloped her since that last race so she might need the run.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe returns on the Andre Nel newcomer Lady Lu who was 33-10 third favourite yesterday morning. The bookmakers are also cautious about 5-1 fellow first-timers Silver Maria and Blue Duchess. Keep an eye on the betting because money for any of the three would be significant.

Pinkerton is not much of a price at 5-10 in the Cape Town Summer Of Champions Maiden 40 minutes later but Richard Fourie’s mount was considered good enough to go to Durban and, while no match for convincing winner Kilindini three weeks ago, he had the useful 84-rated Gold Medal over five lengths back third.

Second favourite at 9-2 is Ronaldo who steps up in trip after a good run over 1 250m but he will need to have come on a fair bit to trouble Pinkerton.

Matchless Captain (6-1) made the running when four lengths-fifth to Quintay over this trip at Durbanville 11 days ago but was reported hanging out in the straight. This is his eighth run and he looks a bit unlikely.

Race three, though, may see the Snaith bandwagon brought to a temporary halt by Lit trained by the in-form Glen Kotzen. Winnaar’s mount has finished second in the last two of his three starts and both were over the distance of this race. He is justifiably favourite at 13-10.

Fourie rides 5-2 second favourite Myhopesanddreams in preference to 15-1 shot Peter Paul Rubens who has been showing promise but the main danger to the selection could well be 7-2 chance Gold Medal. Fayd’Herbe’s mount is rated the equal of Lit and has some promising form but the negative is his poor draw.

By Michael Clower