Grant van Niekerk scored an amazing wide-draw double at Sha Tin in Hong Kong yesterday but it was a disappointing day for South African-bred horses on the island and the current SA Champion Jockey Lyle Hewitson is still struggling to get off the mark.

The island’s jockeys championship is being dominated by Joao Moreira, Zak Purton and the former South African based Mauritian Karis Teeten. They had ridden 24, 18 and 14 winners apiece at respective strike rates of 24%, 18,5% and 14,9% before yesterday’s meeting.

Before yesterday’s meeting, Van Niekerk was in joint fourth place on the log with five winners at 9,1% and Aldo Domeyer was in 7th place on 4 winners at 10,25%.

Van Niekerk’s double puts him on seven winners for the season, but he is now in fifth place as CY Ho rode a treble yesterday to move into fourth place on his own. 

South African ex-pats David Ferraris and Douglas Whyte saddled the first two winners on the card and Grant van Niekerk then made it an SA treble by riding the next.

Van Niekerk jumped from draw seven out of eight in this 1200m handicap and dropped his mount, the CS Shum-trained Seasons Bloom, out to last. He then had to roust his mount to get him back on to the bit. He improved position on the rail before the turn, but in the straight Van Niekerk managed to switch him all the way to the outside for a run. Seasons Bloom looked to be going nowhere until suddenly producing a burst which saw him getting his nose down in a blanket finish.

Among the conquered was the celebrated QE II Cup winner Pakistan Star, who was making his seasonal reappearance and needs further.

Van Niekerk later won a handicap over 1400m and in this 14 horse field he was once again drawn widest of all. He dropped his mount Emerald Spur out to second last but was able to make up some ground on the rail. He turned for home in fourth last position and switched his mount outward. He found a gap and the rangy PF Yiu-trained five-year-old Flying Spur gelding, who has plenty of substance, ran on to make it two from two this season, both times ridden by Van Niekerk. 

Hewitson was fully prepared when arriving on the island but has quickly discovered how tough a school it is, especially in the realm of booking rides. Of the five rides he had yesterday, three were rank outsiders and neither of the other two were fancied.

His return after 56 rides is zero wins, one second, one third, three fourths and two fifths for stakes earnings of HK$821,165.

That equates to R1,543,792, showing that Hong Kong is not always a bed of roses for those have attained a much sort of jockey’s license.

In comparison, the leading jockey earner in SA this season, Warren Kennedy, has accumulated 6,201,700 in stakes so far.

On the other hand Teetan’s stake earnings at this early stage of the season are already HK$14,313,368, which converts to a cool R27,097,131.

Hewitson rode the six-year-old South African-bred Philanthropist gelding Singapore Sling in the Group 2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy yesterday, but he was widely drawn and after being dropped out to last he found little in the straight and finished last. The Tony Millard-trained bay will come on for the run as it was his first outing for five months.

Later, the former Alistair Gordon-trained Dingaans and Gauteng Guineas hero Monk’s Hood had his second start in Hong after a layoff. He is now called Graceandmercy and is also trained by Millard. After his debut in Hong Kong on 28 April he was found to have a substantial amount of blood in the trachea. Since then he has had surgery to the left guttural pouch. He was drawn widest of all in a 13 horse handicap field over 1400m yesterday and Aldo Domeyer settled him closer to the back than the front and three deep. He finished ninth, beaten six-and-a-quarter lengths, but he ran on well and the winner Golden Sixty is a star in the making having won five out of six starts to date. Graceandmercy will definitely come on from the run and it is worth keeping an eye out for his next appearance, which will likely be over a mile.

By David Thiselton

Image: Seasons Bloom with Grant van Niekerk aboard at Sha Tin

Aldo Domeyer is to make a surprise return from Hong Kong and he will be in action at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Alan Greeff has booked him for ante-post favourite World Radar in the Western Cape Fillies Championship and he has two mounts for Andre Nel – Congo Compaq in the mile maiden and Vikram in the MR90 Handicap.

When Domeyer did so well in his first few months in Hong Kong that he was offered a contract to return for the current season many feared that he had been lost to South African racing for good. Jockeys can earn a fortune in Hong Kong and Grant van Niekerk (who rode a double at Sha Tin yesterday) has spoken of the thrill of riding in front of 50 000 people at meeting after meeting.

Before he left in April Domeyer was first jockey for Candice Bass-Robinson who said: “I am bringing down Stuart Randolph for my runners this Saturday. Aldo will again be riding for me in the future but it depends on how long he is going to stay.”

Greeff said yesterday that World Radar, impressive winner of her only two starts, is to travel from Port Elizabeth on Thursday. African Warrior is 3-1 favourite for Saturday’s Cape Classic despite doubts about him running because of the weight he has to give away from a bad draw.

Dean Kannemeyer is deferring a decision until this morning and said on Saturday: “I am not ruling anything out at the moment and African Warrior is still under consideration. Liberty Hall and Seventh Gear both did pacework over 1 200m at Durbanville on Thursday. They didn’t gallop together but they worked well. Seventh Gear is nicely drawn but he still has to prove himself. I will see how they go on Monday morning and then decide.”

By Michael Clower

Charles has had a R6 million bill hanging over his head all his racing life but, while removing his stud potential eliminates his long-term earning capacity, seemingly it is going to be the making of him as a racehorse.

“He was gelded in August as soon as he got back from Durban,” relates Brett Crawford. “Since then his whole attitude has changed. He is not playing around anymore and he is now focussed on what he is doing.”

Punters were expecting the old Charles – good enough to get placed but not to win – and were happy to let him drift unbacked from 11-2 to 10-1 in the Tellytrack.com Pinnacle at Durbanville on Saturday but from Keagan de Melo’s position the picture looked very different. “I was always going well,” he said. “Everything seemed to be slowing up 600m out and, when I managed to get a couple of lengths on them, I knew I was going to win.”

For the horse’s trainer equine psychology is now the deciding factor in future plans. “To win, drawn ten out of ten over a trip that was his shortest, was impressive but I have got to build up his confidence.

“He is only rated 111 and so he is far behind the 130-plus stars. There is a mile coming up next month (Cape Mile) and if he wins that well we will take on the old guns in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met.”

If Charles was a revelation Twist Of Fate was a disappointment. Last into the parade ring, he looked in the picture of health, albeit a bit big round the middle. The money poured on him from 17-10 to 17-20 and he raced handy. But when Stuart Randolph started riding two furlongs out the response was nil. Indeed he weakened to finish fifth. To be fair, he was giving away lumps of weight and it was his first race for nearly three months.

“He needed it,” said the jockey. “Turning into the straight he began to labour a bit but he will come on from this.”

Snapscan had been off just as long but there was confidence behind her – she shortened from 9-2 to 26-10 – and she led 100m out under Louis Mxothwa for a convincing win in the TAB Telebet Conditions Plate. Like Charles she set a new class record.

“She has run in staying feature races to get black type,” said Glen Kotzen. “We will go the soft route with her to start with and run in the Victress (Dec 21) but if she wins that we can look at the Paddock Stakes.”

Justin Snaith clocks up the winners so fast that he is past landmark after landmark with nobody noticing – including himself. His tally now stands at 2 635, an incredible average of 146 a year since he started training in 2001.

He and Richard Fourie chalked up three more on Saturday with Aye Aye, Wild Coast and the wandering Winter Is Over.

Sandile Mbhele is nearing a landmark of his own as he needs just five more winners to lose his claim after scoring on Spy for Vaughan Marshall. However the talented 21-year-old’s personal schedule has been put back a week with an interference suspension.

Donovan Dillon is making the most of his flying visits from Durban and he scored on How And Why for Eric Sands and the well-backed Brett Crawford-trained Khopesh in the last.

By Michael Clower

The Michaelmas Handicap (Listed) has attracted only eight runners, disappointing in terms of numbers for the R150k stake, but that said, sorting out a pecking order is no easy task.

It may prove prudent to look among the bottom weights for a likely winner where Paul Lafferty’s runners get lumps of weight in the 1900m contest on the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

The pick of the Lafferty runners could be White Lightning who has his third run after a break and now tries blinkers. The grey has only recorded a single victory in his 14 starts but has only been out of the money on four occasions and has placed against some useful opposition. He was far from disgraced when just under three lengths back to the promising Jack Of Hearts last time out, giving the winner 7kg. Lafferty has probably had the Michaelmas pencilled in for his colt a way back as he goes well over course and distance. With a light weight and blinkers on for the first time, he could prove the one to beat.

Lafferty says both of his runners are in with strong chances. “White Lightning and Our Coys are both big runners,” he said yesterday. “The half-cups are on White Lightning just to get him to concentrate,” he said.

Frank Robinson has probably had similar plans for his filly Arianos Shadow who caught the eye in her last two starts over 1400m. She was staying on stoutly in both those races and the step up to 1900m with only 53kg on her back could make her a handful.

Of the balance, The Dazzler has a big weight but is always honest and although Blackball returns from a four-month break and may just need it, he will go close on his best form.

Mike de Kock is back in two and saddles two runners with strong chances, Port Key in the fourth and Balletto in the eighth.

Balletto shows some promise and is sure to be among the fancied runners, many of whom have poor draws to contend with. She is a lightly raced daughter of the ill-fated stallion Soft Falling Rain whose progeny have come to light in recent weeks. Her pedigree suggests that Sunday’s 1400m will be right up her alley and she may prove to be the one to beat.

Lowan Denysschen is enjoying a good spell of late and he saddles Eternal Words, successful in three of her ast five starts including a recent victory over Liquid Irish. She has the benefit of an inside gate and young apprentice Jason Gates has an enviable record aboard the mare.

But the list of possible winners is a long one. Obvious dangers Spam Alert, Linear and Je Ne Sais Quoi have drawn in Marriott Road – not the best place to be in a 1400m dash.

Port Key lines up in a seriously competitive handicap in the fourth race and opening leg of the Pick 6 – there are nine races on the card.

Dean Kannemeyer saddles the progressive Favour who bids for his fourth race on the bounce. He was cleverly placed when winning a lowly merit rated handicap on the poly last time out and takes a jump in class this time around. However, he does come from a very much in form stable and has a handy galloping weight.

Clouds Of Witness is consistent and Gary Rich’s runner caught the eye when two lengths back to Noble Joshua in his warm-up for this event. He will much prefer this trip and with a good draw will make them gallop.

Port Key arrives with useful Highveld form, no further back than second in his four starts, and the lightly raced four-year-old is likely to start at the top of the boards.

Kannemeyer could provide two of the better bets on the card in Ice Baron in the first leg of the PA and Silva Magic in the fifth.

By Andrew Harrison

Twist Of Fate is well-nigh impossible to oppose in the Tellytrack.com Pinnacle Stakes at Durbanville tomorrow but punters should hold fire until such time as they are sure that the horse is going to run.

The colt was the only one declared without a jockey on Monday and I was unable to contact Joey Ramsden on Tuesday or again yesterday morning. But he often prefers to scratch a horse if he can’t find a rider he considers suitable – and this one is the stable star.

He has only been unplaced once in 16 starts and has earned over R3 million. Last season he won the Cape Classic over tomorrow’s trip as well as the Politician and the KRA Guineas. He was second in the Cape Guineas, CTS 1600 and Daily News while he was also third in the Vodacom Durban July and the Concorde.

Just as much to the point he has 5kg in hand on adjusted ratings. True, he is drawn eight out of 12 and has not raced for nearly three months but neither should stop him.

He was trading at a generous-looking 15-10 yesterday, with original main market rival Charles drifting from 9-2 to 6-1, but the Brett Crawford runner is also having his first run of the season. Furthermore he is badly drawn and needs further.

If the favourite does not run then Sacred Arrow could be the best bet. His price will, of course, shorten significantly from his present 11-2 but this is his trip, he is well drawn and has had an outing. “He should go well,” says Candice Bass-Robinson. “He needed his run when seventh (beaten less than three lengths) in the Matchem but he would have been a bit closer with a decent draw.”

Star Chestnut is a big price at 18-1 for a Snaith-Fourie runner, particularly with the combination in such hot form, but he was only tenth in the Matchem.

Keagan de Melo, who rides Charles, could have his work cut out to overcome the widest draw of all in the TAB Telebet Conditions Plate but Star Fighter has the most appealing recent form as she was fifth in the Diana. Unfortunately much of the value has gone with her price shortening from  4-1 to 5-2.

Duchess Of Bourbon (Snaith/Fourie) was the original favourite and, while she won the Winter Oaks, that was over 600m further than this and she is held by the selection on previous Stormsvlei Mile form.

By Michael Clower