Barrier trials are a continuing bone of contention amongst local trainers but they are here to stay for the time being so it is best to try and make use of them as a pointer to possible ability.

Back in September, the word was out early that Kay Tee Perry was something special and Johan Janse van Vuuren’s Argentinian-bred filly duly arrived in her Hollywoodbets Scottsville barrier trial, never allowed off the bit. The ‘form’ behind that doesn’t look too flash at this stage but there were a number of ‘non-triers’ behind her that, had this been a race, would have had jockey and trainer locked up for life.

One was Han Solo, Sean Veale letting Glen Kotzen’s runner cruise to the line without asking anything serious from his mount.

Barrier trials need to be viewed in context. They are essentially an exercise in smoke and mirrors but for punters who take their form studying seriously, they are another gun in their arsenal.

Han Solo may have flattered to deceive in his 1000m trial, but all will be revealed when he lines up in the second at Hollywoodbets Greyville tonight where he tackles 1600m on debut. The signs are good – Anton Marcus aboard from a plum draw and a strong stable.

It is another tricky card on the synthetic surface but Techno Captain can get the Pick 6 off to a favourable start in the third. There were varying opinions as to the validity of his demotion behind Clouds Of Witness last time out, many believing that Paul Gadsby’s runner was a trifle unlucky to be on the receiving end. No matter, Techno Captain escaped unsullied by the handicappers and with regular pilot Sherman Brown back in the saddle he rates a possible Pick 6 banker.

Silva Magic found one better when Shoot The Wagon upstaged her last time out and she renews rivalry with Lady Clementine – a length back in that race. This pair of improving three-year-olds should be involved in the finish again along with Live My Dream who Gadsby has set up nicely for this race.

Should Lady Clementine oblige, Lady Caroline Lamb could afford Gavin van Zyl and Warren Kennedy a quick double. Although a recent maiden winner, she enjoyed the trip and her first race on poly and rates a strong chance. Challenges could come thick and fast from the Ashburton challenge of Bold Beauty from Duncan Howells and Chatty Cathy and Purple And Gold, Julie Dittmer’s pair having valid excuses in their recent starts and both due a change of fortune.

Louis Goosen has been quite of late but has recently relocated to Summerveld and may only now be getting the hang of the tracks. He saddles Yaas in the sixth and the booking of Anton Marcus could prove significant but the dangers are many. Ginger Biscuit is a remarkable mare that never knows when she’s beaten while Vaal-based Dorrie Sham is not a regular in KZN but Samba With Suzie is one of two Sham runners in the race. Her best recent form has been over the Fairview poly and with a light weight is one to watch.

Jardin looks well handicapped in spite of top weight in the seventh and the ever-alert Marcus could cash in for Alyson Wright.

The last is a difficult race but Land Of Mystery is down in class and takes a two-point drop in the ratings which should see him competitive in spite of top weight. Roy’s Magic is useful and has also taken a rating drop and from a good draw could shape as the biggest threat along with Candle Cove that took on a strong field first up out of the maidens from a wide draw.

By Andrew Harrison

Peace Flower, a half-sister to the R9 million colt who smashed the South African yearling record six months ago, sprang one of the shocks of the month when coming home at 50-1 (and 65-1 on the Tote) in the mile fillies maiden at Kenilworth yesterday.

The once-raced Ideal World filly was the second string for both Candice Bass-Robinson and owners Varsfontein – and was allowed to drift almost unbacked from 28-1 – yet Anthony Andrews was able to bring her with a strong run to shade the fancied What A Flirt by less than the thickness of a race card.

Andrews said: “The penny is still far from dropping. I was battling a long way out and niggling probably 1 000m from home but she is only going to get better.”

The winning trainer added: “There is a lot of improvement to come although this was very much a surprise. I said to Susan Rowett of Varsfontein beforehand that she is the type of filly who is going to need a couple of runs.”

Mrs Bass-Robinson should know because she won her first Grade 1 with Peace Flower’s half-sister Nightingale in the 2017 Klawervlei Majorca. But it’s Masaki, yet to see a racecourse, who is the family headline-maker.

At the National Yearling Sale in April Mike de Kock, acting for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, got the better of a battle royal with Hong Kong-based Tony Millard to buy him for 50% more than any yearling in South Africa had ever made before.

By Michael Clower

TAB have expanded its range of Jackpot Quickmix pools.

Going forward, there will be five Jackpot Quickmix pools, daily fixtures allowing.

The first Jackpot Quickmix pool daily will comprise only Australian races and the second will normally end with the first race at the South African meeting on the day.

Jackpot Quickmix three will normally begin with the last South African race of the afternoon and Quickmix four will comprise any combination of the final races at afternoon international meetings and the early races at international fixtures in the evening.

The other Jackpot Quickmix daily will be the Jackpot pool in the BLITZ race meeting, which comprises seven of the best races daily in a mid-afternoon timeframe.

TAB customers should note that from tomorrow the bets on BLITZ race meetings will comprise:
* PA Quickmix (BLITZ races 1 to 7)

* Pick 6 Quickmix (BLITZ races 2 to 7)

* Jackpot Quickmix (BLITZ races 4 to 7)

Jackpot Quickmix betting details are as follows:

* Quickmix ONE

* Quickmix TWO

* Quickmix THREE

* Quickmix FOUR

 For TABgold customers, please consult outlets or visit www.tabgold.co.za for daily venue codes.

There look to be some fair opportunities for punters at the eight race Vaal Classic track meeting tomorrow.

The first race is a Workriders maiden over 1450m and Karakoram looks the one to beat. Last time over this trip on the Turffontein Inside track when wearing first-time blinkers he had to jump from draw ten of ten and was caught wide for a bit just before turning for home, so he did well to stay on for a three length fourth. He has a better draw this time and faces an uninspiring field. Latest Craze finished well back in his first two starts against good horses. He improved after gelding and with first time blinkers on last time to finish second and should earn again in this field. My Kingdom ran a fair race on debut over this distance and should improve.

In the second race over 1450m Constantia looks the part. She has improved in her last two starts and last time out over 1200m, despite a tardy start, she ran on strongly for a 0,90 length second. She looks likely to relish the step up in trip and she has a good draw. Empress Josephine was scalped on debut and caught without cover when making a fair debut over 1200m. She has a speedy pedigree being by Crusade out of a Listed-winning sprinter so this step up in trip is not certain to suit. However, she is drawn in pole and is sure to make a bold bid from the front or a handy position. Notquitethereyet ran on well for a place last time from well back and is interesting with blinkers on. 

In the third over 2000m Flaming Duchess looks ready to win. She stayed on well for a 1,40 length third from a wide draw over 1600m last time and, being by Duke Of Marmalade out of a five-time winning Jet Master mare who won up to 1800m, she should enjoy this step up in trip. She has a fair draw and Callan Murray has his third ride on her. Smiley River is by the Vodacom Durban July winner Pomodoro but she has a speedy female line. However, she stayed on late over 1600m in hr penultimate start after being slow away and was never a factor last time over 1450m, so might be looking for this trip. Nazareth was caught late over 1800m last time and being by Black Minnaloushe and a half-sister to a horse who won over 1800m she has a chance from a good draw.      

In the fourth race over 2000m Sell High has been knocking on the door over 1600m and has finished third over this trip before so looks the one to beat from a good draw. Arnica Montana has been expensive to follow but being by Flower Alley out of a placed full-sister to Mother Russia she might be looking for this trip. Turf Master has done well from the front before and in this uninspiring field he could earn if finding the front from a wide draw.

The fifth race over 1800m is wide open although Captain Flynt has a good chance. He has been knocking on the door over 1600m and should enjoy the step up in trip being by Captain Al out of a Silvano mare who won a Listed race over 1800m. He has a good draw too. Meeraas caught the eye when winning his maiden cosily over 2000m three runs ago. He has then disappointed twice over 2400m, so the step back to 1800m should see him firing again. He will be a threat from a fair draw. The consistent Hidden Agenda has been staying on over shorter and does have a good record over this trip, so he will be dangerous under an accomplished 4kg claimer, although he does have a tricky draw. March To Glory has become a bit in an out, but on his on days he is capable of staying on well. Warren Kennedy is the perfect jockey for him and proved this in his penultimate start when going close over 1600m, so him being back aboard is a bonus. Corrido is capable of being involved in the finish here and so is Zeal And Zest, while Snorting Bull is interesting dropped in trip as he can turn it on well. Bosphorous will also be a factor over this trip.

In the sixth race over 1600m At Hand stayed on strongly over this course and distance last time and Warren Kennedy is now up off the same merit rating and from a similar draw. In The Game stays this trip these days and gets his first good draw for a while, pole position, so he will be a threat. Youcanthurrylove won cosily third time out and the form was then franked so he also has to be included.

In the next race over 1000m Singforafa was a facile winner last time over course and distance when well weighted and she is well weighted again. Fly Away also won impressively last time over the same course and distance and recorded a faster time than Singforafa despite carrying more weight, so she has a big shout too. Tropic Sun made a promising debut and could also be involved.

In the last race of the day over 1200m Big Blue Marble is chosen as the best bet of the day. He has always been well regarded and was far from disgraced last time over this trip in a race where he had the like of Grade 1 winner Eden Roc behind him. He was dropped a couple of points by the handicappers and has pole position which will suit as he has won from the front before. Purple Diamond stayed on well over 1000 last time and will prefer this trip so has a shout from a good draw. Sporting Monarch has run well fresh before so he has to be considered from a good draw over an ideal trip. 

By David Thiselton

It was tough going at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Friday night and it could be equally testing for punters on the poly at the same venue this afternoon. That said, the harder the going the better the rewards for those who do their homework.

There are no obvious exotic bet bankers on the card and race-by-race may be the way to go.

Tuscan Kiss and Duran could be the exacta in the card opener in what is a tricky race with thin form. Tuscan Kiss ran a fair race behind his stable companion Kingston Rock last start and meets weaker here. Duran has disappointed Gary Rich on more than one occasion as he has expected more from his charge that has shown ability at home. The Rich stable is in form and Duran can improve on recent showings. Of the balance, Shining Bright has found market support at recent starts and reverts to a sprint which could help.

In the second, Irish Pearl was backed at long odds last start and made good improvement in cheek pieces. She has drawn wide but this is only her fourth start so could have more to come and offers more scope than Amberbell and Retrial. This pair look the more obvious but Amberbell is a long-timer battler although not far back at recent outings while Retrial was a short-head behind Amberbell when last they met so there should not be much between the two again although Amberbell has the better draw. Enrapture improved nicely second time out and has a winning chance in a weak field.

The lightly raced Gwendolyn won well second time out and looks progressive in a modest field when she lines up in the opening leg of the Pick 6. San’s Dancer has run two cracking races for her new stable and the step up in trip should suit so she could prove the biggest threat. Of the balance, season veteran Royal Kaitrina is never far back and comes from a form stable and although S’Manga Khumalo puts up 1kg over-weight that should not be enough to stop her putting in a big effort.

Velvet Season has a bright chance in the fourth and is overdue a first win as he is rated way better than the majority of this field. He has a good draw to boot. Biggest danger could come in the form of Smart Sox who has only had two starts for Dean Kannemeyer. He made a promising debut on the poly and although he was a distant fourth on the turf next up he can do better back on the synthetic surface.

The fifth is wide open but recent maiden winner Royal Kitty has shown ability and won unextended. That was a moderate maiden line-up and she meets a lot stronger this time around. Such A Rush has excellent form on the poly and Lowan Denysschen’s yard is in good form of late while Arrabiata, Stormborne Thunder, Blue Flower and Fire Faerie all warrant consideration in a difficult race.

Candle Rock showed signs of returning to form last start and Jeff Freedman’s filly was backed at long odds. She is down in class and although drawn a little wide she should put in a big effort. Track & Ball have her at 10-1 which are attractive odds. Smiley Kylie has been rested but Garth van Zyl’s filly has put in two smart efforts on the poly and if not short of a gallop will be right there. La Valette has been rested but was not far back in strong feature company last outing while Purple Persuasion is at the top of the ante-post boards with Smiley Kylie.

The seventh is another open handicap but Made In Hollywood has had two outings for his new stable and has made marked improvement. At 12-1 in the ante-post market he looks fair value. Favourite is recent winner Graduate who scored comfortably at his last two. He got a four-point penalty for that last win but should still be competitive. Hey Boy is quick and goes very well on the poly and gets weight from most of his biggest rivals.

Kom Naidoo sends out a steady stream of winners from his Ashburton yard and he could round off the meeting with Fives Wild who takes a big drop in class and with 4kg claimer Xola Jacobs up should have a big chance in this line-up. Others to watch are Jerry The Juggler, Alphamikefoxtrot and Ninotto in another wide open contest.

By Andrew Harrison

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