Justin Snaith is on crutches with his right leg in plaster after having an operation to repair some horrific tendon damage.

The dual champion trainer, 44, said: “I tore all the tendons off the inside of my right leg – I have played a lot of sport and over the years I have done quite a lot of damage to my ankle – and I have had to have constructive surgery to get it all back the way it was.

“The operation has been a long time coming – I put it off for four months because I didn’t want to have it during the Durban season – and I then had to find the time to get it done.

“It means being in a wheelchair for a while and then I will be fine. I’m not sure when I will be back on the racecourse as I am concentrating on the horses in the yard for the time being.”

By Michael Clower

Not since Capetown Noir six years ago has the winner of the Matchem gone on to land the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate but so impressive was One World’s finishing kick in Saturday’s Durbanville highlight that you would have to think that the double might well be achieved this season.

This is a horse who, don’t forget, has only ever been beaten twice in his life and on this occasion he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a manner seldom seen since Jonah emerged from the mouth of the whale.

The Truter colours could be seen uncomfortably far back early on and halfway up the straight you could name your own price. Even 100m out the 53-20 shot was only fifth yet he flew home like Pegasus to beat Search Party by four-tenths of a length with the favourite Undercover Agent a length and a quarter further back third.

Victory was particularly sweet for M.J Byleveld who had been forced by injury to hand over all last season’s triumphs on this horse to Anton Marcus. “My plan had been to have him handy but he didn’t have the speed and they went too quick for him,” Byleveld related. “At the 300m mark they started coming back to me and, once he lowered, I knew I was going to win. It now looks like being an exciting season!”

This was the third Matchem in 15 years for Vaughan Marshall who promptly outlined plans: “There are a couple of opportunities coming up including the Cape Mile (Nov 9) and the WSB Green Point (Dec 14) but the Queen’s Plate is obviously the main one.”

African Warrior, only fifth in his bid to become the first three-year-old Matchem winner since Variety Club, finished close enough – and well enough – for Dean Kannemeyer (who won the last with Captain Elliodor) to decide to aim him at the Cape Guineas.   

Front And Centre started odds-on for the Diana Stakes and, although those who backed her had a few nervous moments a furlong out, a couple of confident pushes from the man on top was all it took to settle the issue. “Helen’s Ideal (third) had a soft lead and so I didn’t want to give her too much start,” Greg Cheyne related. “The pace was only average – given the class of the race I thought it might have been a bit stronger. Front And Centre is not wound up yet and she has a lot of upside going into the season.”

This was the first Diana victory for Brett Crawford and he has yet to win the Majorca but avenging last season’s third is an obvious objective for him and the Kiewswetters. The combination were also on the mark with Kelpie in the Betting World Handicap after the in-form Cheyne shrewdly chose this one in preference to unplaced favourite Flame Tree.

Freedom Charter, off since May and a little considered 16-1 chance, was only beaten half a length in the Diana and an understandably pleased Candice Bass-Robinson said: “She has matured into a lovely sort and she will now go back sprinting for the Sceptre Stakes and a couple of races before that.”

Robert Bloomberg had already worked out plans for Cane Lime ‘N Soda even before Byleveld brought the three-year-old with a strong run to lead inside the final furlong of the New Turf Carriers Handicap and beat the older horses – “The Racing Association Mile in P.E., Cape Guineas, CTS sales race on Sun Met day and Cape Derby,” he said.

It was quite a day for Marshall and his stable jockey and they kicked off with Fynbos making up four lengths in the final furlong of the mile maiden to delight breeder and part-owner Peter de Beyer. He had been surprised when he failed to get a meaningful bid on his R600 000 reserve when she came up at the big CTS sale just days before her half-brother Last Winter went close in the Met.

The Snaith stable continued their seemingly unstoppable march through the maidens with Camp David and Sovereign Secret (the latter the first winner for Pete and Janet Carolin) while stable jockey Richard Fourie produced a fine turn of foot to take the jockeys race.

The crowd was big by present-day standards – “It’s like the July,” quipped one official – and events officer Clinton Theys promptly predicted that “this meeting is going to grow and grow.” Certainly it augurs well that so many children found the racecourse such an enjoyable experience. 

By Michael Clower

It was an absolute scorcher of a day at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the East Coast and if yesterday’s weather was an early indication of what we can expect for the coming summer then we all better make sure that our aircon’s and fans are in good working order.

Racing was just like the weather, HOT! The first race went the way of the visiting horse trained by Weiho Marwing, Orchid Street.

He won very well beating Inside Politics whom was promoted from third to second in the boardroom. Mr Samuels owns Orchid Street and this horse was a deserved winner as he has been ultra consistent. Duke Of York still looked a bit green and was being urged into the straight by jockey Stuart Randolph. The second race kicked off the Place Accumulator where Brass Bell accelerated past Lundy’s Lad in the straight whom had got first run on Garth Pullers handsome, well put together grey son of Pathfork. Talented apprentice Luke Ferraris whose record boasts two rides on this horse for a second and now a win, was rather complimentary of the victory and mentioned that he should go on in his career. Brass Bell was the first leg of Pullers double as Jack Of Hearts recorded back to back victories when he won the sixth race under a start to finish ride from apprentice Thabiso Gumede.

The opening leg of the Pick Six was the first leg of a quick double for the Tony Rivalland and Mary Liley combination where In Jest defied being drawn the widest.

This daughter of Silvano won well and in the post race interview with Deez Dayanand, Liley mentioned that she hoped this was not the last time In Jest would be seen in the winners enclosure. The quick double came with Tristful in the very next race.

He won well and held the fast finishing Kapen Pride at bay. He looks something rather special and it could pay to follow him into the summer and especially next year! Twice To Sydney went down to the start for the fifth by far the best in my opinion and duly obliged. This was her first run out the maidens and she impressed. The seventh was a tough race but the punters did not want to know as the money came for Ultra Magnus whom ended up being an ultra impressive winner. Jockey Donovan Dillon went to the head of affairs and asked his mount for maximum effort in the closing stages under a hands and heels ride. He found all the way to the line and held off a low flying Wynkelder from the tail of the field.

The connections of Ultra Magnus mentioned that they were hoping to have a crack at the Merchants in Gauteng and why not.

Proud part owner Graeme Hawkins was on course to see his horse win and mentioned in the post race interview that they can now go to Guateng to see if he can swim with the best of them. Hawkins owns this horse in partnership with Brian Makwabarara from Zimbabwe.

The last race of the day went off shortly after 5pm where it had thankfully got much cooler by then and the Dennis Bosch trained Graduate went past Share Holder easily to score.

By Warren Lenferna

Buffalo Bill Cody went into the Gr1 Champions Cup at the end of last season preceded by a huge reputation but he fluffed his lines and it was back to the drawing boards for trainer Mike de Kock. Prior to the Champions Cup, Buffalo Bill Cody had suffered only a single reverse, that being on debut when a distant fourth to Rebel’s Champ who has since established himself as a top sprinter.

The Australian-bred horse makes his seasonal debut in the Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m at Turffontein tomorrow and bookmakers have not taken any chances with Buffalo Bill Cody as short as 12-10 in the early exchanges.

However, a lay-off and a wide draw over the tight Turffontein inner circuit will not make his comeback a walk in the park but outside of his Champions Cup disappointment, Buffalo Bill Cody had solid form, putting daylight between himself and any rivals.

The Spring Challenge marks the start of the two-month Highveld spring season that culminates with the Gauteng Summer Cup on November 30 where Buffalo Bill Cody is a nomination along with the cream of the De Kock yard and although he does look a cut above some useful opposition, caution may be the operative word when it comes to the exotics.

Zouaves has not won since the Hawaii Stakes last season but goes very well over this course and distance where he boasts an unbeaten record. In his favour is that Geoff Woodruff has got a race into his charge in preparation for this event in what was a smart seasonal debut over a distance short of his best. He also has the best of the draw at gate two so victory will not come as a surprise.

Of the balance, Infamous Fox is never far back while the Sean Tarry pair of Chimichuri Run and Putontheredlight are both smart horses but could possibly be short of a run, not having been out since July.

The Gr2 Spring Challenge for fillies and mares is another intriguing puzzle. Form horse is Vistula who made short work of the opposition for Paul Peter and jockey Warren Kennedy last month. Vistula has an exceptional record and must rate the filly to beat.

However, she does have a tricky draw to overcome and faces three younger rivals who should make a race of it. De Kock saddles Gin Fizz who was possibly just in need of her last run when caught in the dying strides. That was a hard race and second run after a break may come into play but the step up in trip should suit. Sidonie hacked up on debut for Sean Tarry and could be anything as she has a top pedigree and a good draw to boot.

Stable companion Spiritofthegoove should enjoy the step up in trip and has been beaten less than a length in three starts since shedding her maiden on debut. She has drawn on the wrong side of mid-field but does like to come from off the pace so the draw may not be a factor.

Vistula is top of the ante-post boards on offer at 22-10 with Gin Fizz and Sidonie bracketed on 5-1.

By Andrew Harrison

No horse has ever covered the Durbanville 1 400m in a time faster than One World did at this meeting 12 months ago and the Vaughan Marshall colt may beat Undercover Agent in tomorrow’s Matchem Stakes.

On paper at least the race should be a straight fight between the pair because on adjusted ratings they are 4kg (worth three and a half lengths over this trip) better than anything else in the race.

Undercover Agent has been off for four months but he won first time out last season and he beat Rainbow Bridge in the Drill Hall after an absence of three months. He has an exceptional draw and the stable is on song.

But he has eased to 15-10 as the money has come for One World who had shortened from 5-2 to 14-10 favourite with some layers by yesterday morning. He has only been beaten twice in nine starts – third in the Cape Guineas and by Vardy in a Winter Classic that came at the end of a tough season – and he outstayed Kasimir when he won here a year ago.

The main negative is that the Matchem has so often proved disastrous for favourites – 11 of the last 14 have been beaten. But it’s rare for this race to go to a longshot – indeed Our Mate Art at 10-1 two years ago was the longest-priced winner since the turn of the century.

Search Party’s form figures – five consecutive noughts in front of his name – might not give encouragement for the Brett Crawford second string – but they don’t do justice to Donovan Dillon’s mount and the 33-1 shot is third best on adjusted ratings.

African Warrior had smart form last season and is a 15-2 chance but no three-year-old has won since Variety Club (good enough to win in Hong Kong and Dubai) eight years ago and he has the sort of draw that trainers have nightmares about.

Front And Centre is hard to oppose in the Diana even though this is her first race for three months. She is a Fillies Guineas winner and she is drawn on the fence. Maybe 7-10 slightly overstates her case but favourites have won four of the last six runnings.

Freedom Charter comes out only 2kg behind her on adjusted ratings but the Candice Bass-Robinson mare has not raced since May. Dynamic Diana (15-2) would be an appropriately-named winner and her trainer is bidding for his fourth win in this race.

Maybe, though, Helen’s Ideal (17-2) could pose the biggest threat to the favourite. She returns fresh after a working holiday by the sea and she is well drawn.

By Michael Clower