The General Franco bubble burst as explosively and expensively as anything done by his controversial namesake in the 1 400m handicap at a damp Durbanville on Saturday.

The R4 million Frankel colt started a warm 17-10 favourite and, just as his trainer predicted, he was settled at the back. The commentator got excited when he made a bit of progress early in the straight but Richard Fourie was already, and ominously, niggling. The chestnut’s effort, such as it was, proved to be short-lived and fourth of five- over three lengths behind the winner – was the best he could manage.

Fourie had no excuses – “the handicapper got him” – and, while Michelle Rix, Harold Crawford and Spectra Force’s owners were celebrating, Justin Snaith was reflecting on the favourite’s high rating.

“I have been trying to prove the handicappers right, doing everything I can and using all my skill to build the horse up so that he could compete in a race like this but giving him 102 for a maiden …..” For once words failed even Justin Snaith.

To be fair to the handicappers they weren’t the only ones who got it wrong. Most of the media – and none more so than this writer – were bowled over by the colt’s debut win to such an extent that they refused to countenance that his next, stone-last, run could be nearer the real General Franco.

Snaith had better luck with Stopalltheclocks (Fourie) in the first and with the Greg Cheyne-ridden Mister Vargus in the Tellytrack.com Handicap – “Mister Vargus is one of the very few three-year-olds I’ve got that the handicappers haven’t absolutely taken to pieces.”

The rest of the day belonged to Glen Kotzen and Morne Winnaar. The Woodhill trainer landed a four-timer with Winnaar on all bar Point Of Sale on whom  Cheyne shrugged aside the foot injury he incurred in the pens (“I will worry about that tomorrow – let’s get through today first”).

Kotzen said: “Point Of Sale is out of a full sister to Big City Life and her next run will be in the Western Cape Fillies Championship – she will love the extra trip – while Follow The Star is a super filly with loads of ability. She is out of a Galileo mare so we are hoping ten furlongs will be fine for her.”

Winnaar won several races leading from the off last season and securing a reluctant Kotzen’s approval for this tactic (“I don’t like horses going to the front but the jock said we should let him stride”) proved decisive on Hubble in the last with the 9-1 chance scoring by a staggering nine lengths.

Vaughan Marshall brought off the biggest priced winner of the day when Anthony Andrews scored on Crusade’s Promise at 20-1 in the Interbet.co.za Handicap.

By Michael Clower

Corinne Bestel has one of the smaller yards in Summerveld but she has a racing pedigree second to none, being the daughter of Eileen Bestel. Bestel was among the first female trainers in the country along with Anne Upton and had the distinction of training the once world record holder for 1800m, Sabre.

It was a rare double for Bestel and staunch owner Georgina Buchanan at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday. The first timer Soiree got the ball rolling in the card opener as she got the better of the fancied Bling A Ding and Gareth Wright completed the double for the stable as the consistent Blaze Of Silk kept finding in the sixth to out-gun pacemaker Great Stohvanen inside the final furlong.

Bestel is not one to hold back when her runners are in with a shout and nor does Warren Lenferna who had those around him looking for earplugs as favourite Marsanne landed the odds in the fourth.

One of the allures of horseracing is buying a relatively cheap horse whose performance outdoes their purchase price but also has a fine story behind it.

Marsanne was a chance buy as she took a shine to Dave MacLean at the yearling sales at Gosforth Park, allowing him to pet her forehead. Enter Lenferna who was accompanying MacLean on the day. Marsanne took umbrage at his approach and latched onto his arm.

There was an omen according to Maclean and he subsequently landed the final bid on the filly.

Not having the best of legs, Marsanne was a late starter but under the patient care of Duncan Howells, she scored her third win from four starts yesterday and was possibly unlucky not to have a clean sheet, the saddle having slipped in her previous start.

MacLean races the filly in partnership with Howells, Lenferna and Frank da Ascencao.

Marsanne was the first of a Howells treble with Wildly In Love getting home by a short head in the fifth to deny Queen Of Alamo and apprentice Gabriel Pieterse his first winner.

The money came for Straight Up in the last and while there was a little squeaky bum time for his supporters approaching the last furlong, Mark Khan left the best for last as he pushed Straight Up past favourite Do Or Dare to win going away.

Apprentice Jabu Jacobs, making full use of his 4kg claim and carrying out the instruction of legendary jockey Gath Puller, rode perfect race on Jack Of Hearts in the seventh. In receipt of lumps of weight from the opposition, Jacobs set the pace the strapping son of Jackson. He then gave him mount a breather approaching the final turn and then chased for home at the top of the straight.

All along, Donovan Dillon had him in his sights as Zanzibarian loomed up alongside but the 8.5kg difference told in the final analysis with Jack Of Hearts eventually pulling clear to win rather comfortably.

Warren Kennedy took a tumble at Turffontein on Saturday and although only shaken according to his wife Barbra, he was booked off the rest of his rides on the day so the 48hr rule applied.

As a result, Callan Murray was called in as replacement and proved an able deputy as he and Gareth van Zyl posted a double with Horoscope Harry in the second and Noble Joshua in the eighth.

This coming Saturday, Hollywoodbets Scottsville plays host to a meeting for rural riders before undergoing its annual spring treatment.

By Andrew Harrison

The calculation of handicap weights is reliant on a panel of experts employed by the National Horseracing Authority in an effort to level the playing fields when it comes to races of this nature. In this age of computers and artificial intelligence, handicapping by formula is little more than inputting the required data and pushing a button.

So, given some of the ‘handcuffs’ that the handicappers are forced to adhere to often results in skewed assessments, and do not always reflect the handicappers view regarding what see as the correct weights.

Handicapping a race that has a 10kg weight range – 60kg as top weight and 50kg as bottom weight – leaves much to debate for punters trying to unravel the intricacies of the system.

Jack Of Hearts is bottom weight for the Greyville Convention Centre Handicap at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and with apprentice Jabu Jacobs taking a further 3.5kg off the back of Garth Puller’s charge, top weight Just Cruised In might find his rival difficult to peg back.

Jack Of Hearts has hardly been out of the money in the lower divisions but he has drawn well and is distance suited which makes him a serious contender – also taking into account that his stable is in good form.

Brett Crawford’s gelding Ultra Magnus did the stable proud on Wednesday and his Summerveld satellite yard appears to be coming to hand again after a break for AHS vaccinations. Stable assistant Peter Matchett saddles Zanzibarian who has had a single outing this term after running up a string of wins at the tail end of last season.

His recent seven-furlong dash was just a pipe-opener and that should have brought him along enough to be a major contender here. The filly Red Al, Steam Ahead, Our Coys and Just Cruised In are threats but this could develop into a match between the bottom weight and all at the top.

Hollywoodbets Scottsville goes into hibernation after this meeting with just a rural racing festival on the cards at the end of the month before undergoing its annual spring treatment.

Trainers have been quick to take advantage of the turf track with the majority of the races filled with capacity fields and a host of debutants making the maiden races that much trickier. If one is not a student of the barrier trials, then you will have to rely on the betting market for guidance in these races.

With nine races carded, the opening leg of the Pick 6 comes in the fourth race where many will be relying on the Duncan Howells-trained Marsanne. A winner of her first two on the poly, she was a trifle unlucky not to keep her clean sheet intact after having her saddle slip in her third start, resulting in her hanging as Craig Zackery became unbalanced.

She meets the winner of that race, Linear, on 1kg better terms but Lezzeanne Forbes’s filly races in steel shoes which may, or may not be, an indication of her chances.

Candy Galore, narrowly beaten by the promising Travelling Light last time out, should have a bright chance in the fifth but Wildly In Love, much improved in a tongue-tie, and the lightly weighted Extravargant, will be dangers.

The sixth is a minefield but the ever game and diminutive Winter Blues did not have it all his own way in two recent competitive Pinnacle Stakes events and although he has to shoulder 61kg he could be good enough to hold off the attentions of Graduate and Rocket Fire who caught the eye last time out and is a must inclusion in all exotic bets.

By Andrew Harrison

Frank Lloyd Wright may not have the class of exciting stable companion General Franco but he could well beat him in the Play Soccer 6 Handicap at Durbanville tomorrow.

For a start Richard Fourie’s mount has to take on the older horse on terms six kilos worse than weight-for-age and that alone is worth more than five lengths over this 1 400m trip. But what clinches it, for the writer at least, is that the favourite is to be ridden with the future very much in mind, dropped out and taught to settle.

Durbanville, unlike Kenilworth, is a front-runner’s course. True, many of the races are won by horses coming from behind but anything turning for home three lengths clear can be very difficult to peg back.

The betting suggests that the bookmakers have taken on board Justin Snaith’s comments in yesterday’s Racegoer page about the General being dropped out and tucked in. He still heads the market and but he has been eased from 8-10 to 12-10 while Frank Lloyd Wright and Green Jacket have both shortened.

The dual champion trainer has long given the impression that he does not share the view of the handicappers – and reporters like this one – that General Franco’s impressive debut suggested he just might be the next superstar but said: “His gallop into this race was with a high-rated horse and he gave a good account of himself. This is the test to see if everyone is right about his ability.”

General Franco is Fourie’s pick of the three Snaith runners tomorrow but, when the trainer was asked if he shares the same view, he replied: “No. I think things will go Frank Lloyd Wright’s way and that he will be a hard nut to crack. Last time he couldn’t get to the front where he likes to be and the race didn’t pan out the way we had hoped. He strips a fitter horse this time and, with a small field, he will love it. Green Jacket is also quite consistent and, if he takes part, he could also fight it out.”

Meraki (15-2) has to give weight all round and, while his most recent run does not inspire confidence, it is worth pointing out that he meets Frank Lloyd Wright on 4k better terms than when he finished six and a half lengths behind that horse over this trip at Kenilworth in July.

Spectra Force (also 15-2) ran way below form last time – the course vet could find nothing wrong – but he did win his previous two, both over a mile. Pink Floyd has a better chance than his 15-1 price would suggest if you ignore his last run when he raced wide without cover and, perhaps understandably, tired in the straight.

By Michael Clower

The Turffontein Inside meeting has nine races tomorrow and there will be plenty of intrigue for racing purists as well as opportunities for punters.

The intrigue starts in race one, a Workriders Maiden over 1200m, as the high-flying Paul Peter yard turn out Golden Duke, a Duke Of Marmalade three-year-old colt who is a half-brother to the top class Grade 1-winning sprinter Chimichuri Run. He only cost R75,000 but the yard describe him as a nice colt who will be competitive. He would not have to be a superstar to beat this field. The dangers look to be his relatively unexposed stablemate Bold Ransom, who has earned in both starts, and the hard-knocking Orchid Street.

In the first leg of the Bipot over 2000m topweight Pilgrim’s Progress from the Peter yard does love this course and distance and is the selection despite a tricky draw. Jacko Boy is progressive and will be a runner if lining up, as she was due to run on Thursday, and Circle Of Latitude has always struck as one with ability so can be involved off a competitive merit rating.

In the first leg of the PA over 1450m Sean Tarry’s first-timer Sidonie makes plenty of appeal being by Dynasty and a half-sister to the like of Grade 1 winner Viva Maria and other stakes winners Bichette and Pilou and stakes placed Blizzard Belle and Warrior’s Rest. She is drawn in pole and can beat the Toreador first-timer Anydreamwilldo, who is a full-sister to a three-time winner and will be distance suited. Little Rain will be the back up as she made a fair debut and is well drawn over a step up in trip which will suit.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is tricky as Green Top is very well weighted but returns from a 294 day rest and has a tough draw. Three-year-old Keep Smiling hasn’t been disgraced in good company and Cordillera has run some good races and is distance suited but including the whole field in the Pick 6 is advisable.

In the first leg of the Jackpot Virginia and My Dream Chaser are coming into their own and are capable of overcoming respective eight point raises. The progressive Abelie is the back up.

In the sixth race over 1800m Seville Orange is classy and will be coming into her own being by Duke Of Marmalade and she is well weighted here. However, she does return from a layoff and is from a yard who tend not to wind them up first up. Therefore Shenanigans is the selection as he began catching the eye at the end of last season and was particularly unlucky in the Gold Cup when caught wide. Puget Sound should be right there as a decent sort who is having his third run after a layoff.

In the next race over 1000m  Peter and Kennedy could have another win with Catitude, who should have come on from his good debut win and is drawn in pole. The progressive Before The Dawn goes for a hattrick and Solar Flare can also be included having twice performed well against the subsequent Graded runner up Spring Break.

The eighth over 1200m can be fought out by Black Ferrari and Mount Laurel, who look to have been leniently handicapped after their respective maiden wins.

In the last over 1200m Succession impressed in his maiden win and can follow up off a manageable mark from a plum draw. It is wide open beyond him and Fitzwilliam and The Sands are chosen as the back ups.

By David Thiselton