The Turffontein Inside track stages an eight race meeting tomorrow where there look to be one or two opportunities for punters.

The best bet could be Therecanbeonlyone in the third race, a MR 70 Handicap over 2600m, although there are some negatives to her chances. On official merit ratings she is 2,5kg under sufferance which is reduced to 1,5kg by having claiming apprentice Kabelo Matsunyane aboard. The latter has a 1,5kg claim but rides at 0,5kg overweight. The Twice Over filly would also prefer a more galloping track as she does take a while to get going. On the plus side she has plenty of scope, being a filly of some substance, and she looks to be an out and out stayer. She also has a featherweight of 51kg to carry. Perfect Light could be a threat as she is a year older and looks likely to relish the step up in trip being by Jam Alley out of Sadler’s Wells mare Painter’s Dream, who won over this course and distance. 

The meeting starts off with a MR 68 Handicap over 1000m and Snow In Seattle is selected to follow up on his last win. He is drawn widest of all but it is a small eight horse field so he can be dropped out and make up the ground. Last time he finished powerfully over 1160m to win and although he is three points higher in the merit ratings he doesn’t face an inspiring field. Hot August is drawn well in two and is 1,5kg better off with Snow In Seattle for a 0,75 length beating so has a fine chance with Chase Maujean staying aboard. Lithuanian’s Dream is capable of blitzing a field so will be dangerous if bouncing out and getting to the front on this tight track. 

In the first leg of the PA over 1600m two fillies who have improved with blinkers, Seneca Falls and Full Force, face each other and there shouldn’t be much in it. Seneca Falls has more handicap experience and a better draw so gets the vote. Full Force had caught the eye as one with scope for improvement early on in her career. She went to the front over this trip last time with the first time blinkers on and has a similarly wide draw here. She won easily that day so has a shout of following up if able to get to the front again.

In the first leg of the Jackpot over 2600m Snorting Bull has always struck as a useful stayer in the making. Last time he produced his usual strong finish but it came a touch too late and he just failed, although the winner Indy Ice was finishing just as strongly and was a deserved winner. He does have a good turn of foot so this track might be ideal because in long straights he can hit the front too soon. He usually loses ground at the start but in this small field will not have a lot of ground to make up in the straight. Before Noon has plenty of resolve and will be a tough nut to crack. He goes for a hattrick and is drawn in pole over a trip he should relish. However, he has been racing in KZN so there is the change in altitude to consider and Johannesburg racing is also a touch stronger. Fact looks to be a useful stayer and comes from the Weiho Marwing yard, who are particularly good with stayers. He is drawn well in two and has scope for further improvement, especially considering he is out of a Silvano mare. 

In the second leg of the Jackpot over 1450m the Mike de Kock-trained Vercingetorix filly Tallinn could be well handicapped off an 83 considering the recent across the board ten point raise for all horses. Under the old figures she would have been running off a 73, which would have been a particularly low mark for an August debut-winning three-year-old to have. She won well on debut over 1200m and should relish the step up in trip. Kapama just failed last time from a wide draw over 1400m and now has a plum draw of three. She was 0,50 lengths behind No More Words in that race and is now half-a-kilogram better off. No More Words has another wide draw to overcome, but was flying at the finish in that last race. Similar hold up tactics will see her going close, although on the Inside track it is going to be tougher to make up the leeway. 

In the sixth race over 1450m, Western Oasis could follow up on his easy maiden win over 1400m as he does not face an inspiring field. However, he does have a tricky draw so it won’t be easy. Armstrong could be a big threat if able to overcome his wide draw of eleven. He will be ridden by Chase Maujean who is particularly good when hold up tactics are employed, as they should be here. This horse moved up well over 1400m last time from a similarly wide draw. Of the well drawn horses, Melchizedek is starting to show some of the potential he always looked to have and this distances looks ideal.

The last leg of the Jackpot is an uninspiring race and the seemingly moderate Wijdaan could be good enough to win it from a fair draw over a suitable trip. Midnight Lights has useful 1000m form in the context of this race but as she is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Captain Al sprinter the wide draw over a step up in trip to 1450m is a concern. Notquitethereyet had her best run over this course and distance and has a plum draw of two so has a chance too.

In the last race the hard-knocking Segontium gets a good opportunity over an ideal trip although it will depend on whether he can overcome his wide draw. He will likely go to the front, which he has proven capable of doing before. The biggest threat looks to be The Riddler, who was a touch unlucky over 1600m last time, and is now well drawn over an equally suitable trip.   

By David Thiselton

Brett Crawford has never won the Sophomore Sprint but he would appear to have a big chance of filling this gap in his CV at Kenilworth on Saturday as he has the two highest-rated runners in the 1 200m Listed race.

Stable jockey Corne Orffer sticks with Finding Camelot (a son of triple classic winner Camelot) on whom he finished a close third in the Langeman while Donovan Dillon gets the call for King Of Gems who was a length away fourth in that 1 500m Grade 3.

As expected, Dean Kannemeyer has decided against running the Umkhomazi winner African Warrior and Keagan De Melo, who rode the gelding to victory in that Grade 2, instead partners the third-highest-rated Constable for Candice Bass-Robinson who will also be represented by Three Two Charlie (Greg Cheyne). The last-named had a pipe-opener under Warren Kennedy at Durbanville a week ago.

Justin Snaith, bidding for Sophomore number five, relies on Captain Tatters (Richard Fourie) who has not raced since beating all except the Hong Kong-bound Armando in the Somerset 1200 four months ago.

The race has attracted a double figure field for only the fifth time in the last 17 years. Attempts to boost its attraction by switching it to January didn’t work – there were just six runners in 2017. Running it at Durbanville last year didn’t have the desired effect either as Pleasedtomeetyou beat only five home.

Vaughan Marshall, bidding for his third win in the race this century, will be represented by the Somerset third Ground Control (M.J. Byleveld) who is also out for his third Sophomore victory. But there will be even more interest in stable companion Silver Operator who takes on older horses in the Perpetua House Handicap. This Silvano colt was immensely impressive on debut and was only beaten a short head in the Langerman.

By Michael Clower

Aldo Domeyer is joint leader of the Hong Kong Championship after grabbing a double on the opening day of the season on Sunday at Sha Tin and although his winning rides were 95% superb, the one mistake he made landed him in hot water and he copped an 11 day ban.

Meanwhile, Douglas Whyte took just two races to get off the mark as a trainer.

Domeyer said at this time last year, “They say you need 10,000 hours before you start understanding your craft. I have been listening to my father (Andrew Fortune) for a long time and had been kind of getting it but also kind of not and last season everything just clicked. I think a lot of it is just trusting your instincts and listening to yourself. The last thing you want to be doing is questioning yourself. So now I am no longer thinking of the big names I’m riding against, I’m just riding against myself. It is all coming together and I know what I am doing.”

This showed yesterday in the first of his wins when bouncing his mount, California Gungho, out from a draw of eleven in the 1200m event and outpacing those on his inside before settling him one wide and one back. The rider of Bingo helped him by coming across to provide cover. He drove California Gungho into the lead and only drew the stick about 100m from home by which stage he had the race in safekeeping. The horse started at odds of 8,5/1.

In the next race over 1400m Domeyer was on the weak 5,6/1 favourite Sunshine Warrior and once again had him beautifully positioned, this time in about sixth place with cover and with enough room to stride out. Realising the pace had not been hot he peeled his mount out rounding the turn and charged for the line. Domeyer was driving his mount with a right hand whip and making some progress, but it was not fast enough, and he then pulled off a whip-hand change of incredible deftness. The horse duly changed legs and found another gear and powered to a three-quarters of a length win. Domeyer did make one mistake though. In putting his head down and driving for the line, he forgot to look where he was going and did not realise his mount was hanging in until it was too late. His mount interfered with the second and third-placed horses. It didn’t affect the result but he was charged with careless riding and will miss four meetings.

Both of Domeyer’s wins were for top trainer Tony Cruz, who about two decades ago put Felix Coetzee on the map in Hong Kong through some good horses including the legendary Silent Witness. 

Douglas Whyte, started off his training career with a fourth place finish in the first race and won the second with 6,7/1 chance Adonis, who was ridden by young Australian jockey Regan Bayliss.

South African champion jockey Lyle Hewitson had five rides and his best finishes were 3rd on a 25/1 shot and 4th on a 12/1 chance. 

By David Thiselton

Kahal was one of the best recent sires in KZN and, a week after his son Wynkelder was named KZN Champion Sprinter, Prince Of Kahal shared first prize in the first Graded race of the season, the Grade 3 Spring Spree Stakes over 1200m on Turffontein Inside, with Angel’s Power, who survived an objection.

The Mike Azzie-trained gelding Angel’s Power, at the age of seven, thus landed a race he had finished second in twice, in 2016 and 2017 respectively, and fourth in last year.  

Five-year-old gelding Prince Of Kahal, trained by Roy Magner and ridden by Dennis Schwarz, loves the Turffontein Inside track and has now won four out of five starts there.

His early pace and ability to kick on suits the tight course perfectly.

He had a good draw of six and duly found the box seat behind the pacemaker Russian Prince.

He kicked for home coming off the elbow and hit the front at the 350m mark.

Angel’s Power, who is also by a KZN-based stallion, Miesque’s Approval, sat behind Prince Of Kahal in the running but was then outpaced in the first part of the straight.

However, he got going at the 350m mark and a furlong later, under a strong ride by S’Manga Khumalo, had made up the two length deficit.

Angel’s Power put his head in front but then in a stirring duel Prince Of Kahal fought back to share.

Angel’s Power gave Prince of Kahal a slight bump late in the race and Schwarz objected but the result stood.

It was a first stakes success for both Prince Of Kahal and Angel’s Power.

The latter became the fifth stakes winner for Miesque’s Approval.

Both Prince Of Kahal and Wynkelder are from the last crop of Kahal, who has now produced 42 stakes winners, including six Grade 1 winners.

It is interesting to note that both Prince Of Kahal and Wynkelder hail from mares who were out of Foveros mares.

Kahal, who passed away in 2014, was by Machiavellian, who also produced the mighty Street Cry, sire of the 2017/2018 Equus Horse Of The Year Oh Susanna.

Both Kahal and Street Cry’s female sire lines trace directly back to Polymelus, Kahal through the common line of Danzig and Nothern Dancer and Street Cry through the more unusual line of Fairway. 

Polymelus was owned by Solly Joel of Kimberly diamond mining fame and this stallion had a significant impact on South African breeding through the like of his imported son Polystome, who was the ten times SA champion sire.

So the strength of Northern Dancer line sires like Kahal were always going to have plenty of blood to bolster them out here.

By David Thiselton

The Turffontein Standside nine race meeting tomorrow is headed by two MR84 handicaps. 

In the first of them, for fillies and mares over 1000m, Nawaasi had become a disappointing sort but has found a new lease of life lately, winning her last two starts by three lengths over this minimum trip. If she did have an issue it must have be sorted out. She could be running off a capped merit rating here as she won going away with ease last time and could only be given a maximum eight point raise. Ocean City has a shout as she was beaten five lengths by Nawaasi in her penultimate start and is now 8kg better off. She went too fast in front that day and if more is held in reserve this time, as it was when second in her last start, she should do better and will be a threat. Elbi is a consistent sort who is 6kg better off with Nawaasi for a six length beating, which makes it tough for her on paper, but she burst through the stalls that day and that is known to affect a horse’s chances, especially a sprinter who needs every drop of reserve fuel for the final stages. 

In the second of the MR 84 races, for fillies and mares over 1600m, Virginia makes plenty of appeal. She took the bull by the horns last time and set a blistering gallop from a wide draw. She never let up and crossed the line two lengths clear. She has always looked to have some class and allowing her to stride out in front looks the way to go. She will not have the 2,5kg claim of apprentice Juglall to help her this time and she is also an effective eight points higher in the merit ratings. However, she has a plum draw of two and S’Manga Khumalo is aboard so she can afford to take it a little easier in front this time. Destiny’s Game is progressive and looks likely to enjoy the step down in trip. She won her maiden easily over this trip and later won over 1800m but she was run out of it over 2000m last time, so this trip might be what she is looking for. Only To Win had become disappointing but she bounced back last time when held up off the pace over the trip. That might be the key to her so she must be included.

The meetings starts with a maiden over 1160m and Succession could be the one to side with. He made a fair debut over 1200m and was thought highly enough of to take his place in the SA Nursery. He was well beaten there but should have benefited from the layoff since then and does not face an inspiring field here. Bold Ransom can improve from his fair debut when showing good pace and then finding no extra. He should have come on from the run and will have benefited from the experience too. House Master beat Bold Ransom by a quarter of a length when staying on well and should be in the shake up. 

The second race over 1160m, the first leg of the Bipot, should be fought out by Black Ferrari and Winterwind. The former made a good debut over 1000m in June from the widest draw of all on the Turffontein Inside track, failing by just 1,25 lengths after finding some support. He now has a favourable high draw down this straight course. Winterwind made a pleasing debut in the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1000m on Sun Met day and wasn’t at all disgraced, finishing 6,70 lengths back. However, she hasn’t been seen out since.

In the first leg of the PA over 1600m Matloob made a belated debut over this trip and was not disgraced finishing a two length fourth at odds of 10-1. He is by Silvano so should be improving all the time and has a fair draw here. Jungle Book finished a good 1,75 length second last time out over 1200m considering he was coming back from a seven month layoff and lost a length at the start. He should have benefited from the run and has a fair draw. Marmara Sea found a lot of support last time over this trip and had excuses when finishing a three length fourth. He should make his presence felt although he has a tricky draw to overcome.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1800m Prince Of Promise was caught wide last time in the running over 1600m but still managed to stay on quite well. He should be competitive from pole position over a step up in trip he can handle. What A Joker stayed on strongly over 1400m last time and if dropped out and finding cover from a tricky draw he is an interesting candidate over this step up in trip. See Me Run just failed with first time blinkers on over 1600m last time and has proven he stays this trip so is also an interesting runner from a reasonable draw of seven. Serendipity disappointed last time but could feature over a suitable step up in trip from a good draw. So Long Spring goes well for 1,5kg Kabelo Matsunyane and has to be a runner here despite being raised four points for his good run last time. In The Game is capable of popping up so has to be considered trying this trip for the first time.

In the third leg of the Pick 6 Queen Of War has plenty of pace and thus it is not surprising she has a good record over this fast course and distance. She is off a competitive merit rating and has the advantage of a good 2,5kg claimer aboard. She also has quite a high draw, which is usually favourable down this straight. She could fight it out with Moggie Brown who is another one with good pace and she is better than her last run.

In the eighth race over 1600m Shuckra is the choice. He has been facing much stronger fields and although never a threat in those races he has dropped to a competitive merit rating and is drawn in pole over a suitable trip. He should start coming into his own this season. Lemon Drop Shot won his maiden easily over 1800m and the form was franked when the runner up Dry Your Eyes won his next two starts on the trot. He found 2000m too far last time and this 1600m trip from a good draw is likely to be ideal. Dry Your Eyes has a tough task with Lemon Drop Shot on their last meeting but is coming into his own and is drawn well.

The last race looks likely to be fought out by Mike De Kock’s pair Hawthorn and first-timer Deebaa. Hawthorn is by Flower Alley filly out of an unraced Tiger Ridge mare, who is out of Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Emerald Beauty, and she will relish the step up in trip.  Deebaa is a R550,000 Dynasty filly out of an unraced Peintre Celebre mare who has produced two winners including Deebaa’s full sister Tehuano who has won twice from 1700m to 2000m. Tobefair can also be included in the Pick 6 having made a fair debut. 

By David Thiselton