Bernard Fayd’Herbe, originally sidelined until August 28, has now been ruled out of action until the end of November with the sahorseracing.co.za website altering the period of his absence to August 8 – November 30.

Fayd’Herbe was unavailable for comment yesterday but his agent Ken Nicol said: “Originally Bernard was to rest for a month but when he went back to the doctors they said he needed a bit longer.”

Nicol had previously explained in a tabonline.co.za article that the original lay-off was a precaution because a routine medical check-up had revealed signs of concussion, not due to any single fall but more a cumulative effect. He confirmed yesterday that this is still the case.

Fayd’Herbe – three Mets and two Vodacom Derby Julys to his credit –is one of the most sought-after jockeys in the country and his continued absence will present problems for several of the leading Cape Town trainers who are already having to fly in riders from other centres to take the place of the now Hong Kong-based Aldo Domeyer and Grant van Niekerk.

Warren Kennedy, who last week rode at Durbanville for the first time since shortly after completing his apprenticeship, is back for Kenilworth on Wednesday when he has four rides for Adam Marcus and one each for Geoff Woodruff, Mike Robinson and Paddy Kruyer.

Muzi Yeni rides for Eric Sands, Greg Ennion and Glen Puller while Keagan de Melo, now a regular visitor, gets the call from Ennion, Justin Snaith, Candice Bass-Robinson and Glen Kotzen.

But it is the Snaith/Richard Fourie combination that dominates the early betting with either the favourite or a joint favourite in seven of the eight races.

Some punters are already looking to Kenilworth’s Sophomore Sprint card on Saturday when the Snaith stable is bringing back potential bankers Queensbarns and Frank Lloyd Wright in the two 1 400m handicaps. Queensbarns won her maiden by over five lengths last month (Snaith: “She is a bit of a hot filly but she is nice”) and Frank Lloyd Wright has won his last two in the manner of a horse who should be followed until he gets beaten.  Fourie rides both.

By Michael Clower

The Hollywoodbets Greyville eight race polytrack meeting yesterday had a mixed bag of results with three upsets in the first three races balanced by quite favourable results thereafter, although it did appear clear as the meeting went on that the outside strip was the place to be down the straight. 

The first over 1600m saw Keiko, the Frank Robinson-trained Wynnholme Stud-bred three-year-old Mogok gelding, flying through on the outside for an eye catching 0,30 length win at odds of 25/1 under Luke Ferraris. He had also found a strong finish on debut over 1000m so was probably good value at those odds considering he was going to relish the step up in trip on pedigree with King Julian on second. The favourite Do Or Dare chose to go down the inside and was beaten 0,60 lengths into third.

In the second race over 1600m the action was on the outside again. The rangy Dennis Bosch-trained reserve runner Lady Secret led from start to finish under a fine ride by Eric Ngwane after being backed in to 11/1. This three-year-old filly is by Philanthropist and was bred by Klawervlei Stud. The favourite Arrabiata was doing good work late and was beaten 1,10 lengths into second. She will enjoy further and will win soon. 

In the third race, a MR 78 Handicap over 1600m, it was another horse running down the outside who won. The Doug Campbell-trained home-bred six-year-old Mogok gelding Plymouth Rock ran on steadily to just get the better of Nicklaus. The fancied What A Blast, who was seeking a hattrick, was stuck behind the winner on the outside rail for quite some time but was eating up the ground late and can continue to be followed.

In the fourth race, a Maiden over 2000m, Mark Khan had the Lezeanne Forbes-trained four-year-old Querari filly one wide with cover one off the lead and was able to switch to the favourable outside going at the top of the straight. The Maine Chance Farms-bred filly found extra when challenged by the perennial bridesmaid La Duchesse, who was favourite, and won by a comfortable 1,70 lengths.

In the fifth race over 1400m it was Luke Ferraris on Vartanium who had the one wide-one back position and had soon bounded clear in the straight. The four-year-old Sean Tarry-trained Backworth Stud-bred Var gelding won by 0,75 at odds of 113/20 from a fast closing Galway.

In the sixth race over 1400m Tony Rivalland’s four-year-old Oratorio filly Star Vega, bred by Dr IR Heyns, looked likely to relish the step up in trip after finishing strongly over 1200m last time and after Jarred Samuel managed to squeeze her through a narrow gap on the outside she flew home to beat the favourite Spam Alert by 1,30 lengths. 

The seventh was a MR 92 handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m and the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Ancient Spirit found the one wide and one back position under Keagan de Melo and duly waltzed clear to win by 3,50 lengths. The Australian-bred five-year-old mare by Fastnet Rock converted 16/10 favouritism.

Frank Robinson scored a double, a MR 80 handicap over 1200m,  when the favourite Leslies Pathtofame found the outside rail and roared home to win by 0,75 lengths from the fancied Extravargant. The five-year-old Pathfork gelding was bred by Normandy Stud.

By David Thiselton

SUBJECT: Flamingo Park to close in December
DATE: Thursday 29 August 2019
RELEASED BY: Phumelela Gaming

Flamingo Park Racecourse will stage its last meeting on Monday 9 December.

“The decision is based purely on commercial factors,” explained Phumelela Racing Executive Patrick Davis on Thursday.

“A financial analysis conducted on Kimberley Racing in isolation from the other racecourses, indicated it was losing around R23.5 million a year. It has the lowest TAB turnover of any of local race meeting at around R3 million.

“It is also one of the least cost-effective meetings to stage as we have to bring in people like stipes, judges etc from other centres.

“The last race meeting will take place on Monday 9 December after which Flamingo Park will close as both a training facility and a racecourse.”

Davis and Racing Association CEO Larry Wainstein went to Kimberley to discuss the move with the Kimberley trainers and their staff, also assuring them they would not be left in the lurch.

“Phumelela will support the trainers and all their grooms to relocate to another venue. Over the next month or so we will be in discussions as to where they wish to move. The options are the Vaal, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town,” said Davis.

“The general consensus is that they will go in different directions.”

As a result of the closure, the 2020 fixture list has been rejuggled to accommodate 20 of those 36 meetings. The plan is they will be held at either the Vaal or Port Elizabeth and will be programmed with Kimberley-level stakes and race programmes.

“We will also include some kind of protection clause for former Kimberley-based trainers at those extra meetings,” said Davis.

ENDS

The highest rated race in the eight race meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack this Sunday is a MR 92 handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m. Sunshine Mint looks ready to pounce off a reduced merit rating, although she does have a tricky draw of eight to overcome.

This Await The Dawn mare had some fair form in the strong centre of Cape Town over this trip and now has her third run in KZN and it is also her third run after a layoff. She clearly needed her last start over this trip at Hollywoodbets Scottsville as she moved up well and then found little extra. Her merit rating has been dropped six points in total from the time she arrived in KZN and she is a contender here if able to overcome that draw. Ancient Spirit ran on well from way off the pace over this course and distance in her penultimate start to finish a 1,55 length fourth and was reported coughing. She now has a tongue tie on and from a handier position could be right there. Torbenite should also be involved in the finish. Last time she beat Sunshine Mint by 3,75 lengths at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and is now only 2kg worse off and drawn well in two.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a MR 78 Handicap over 1600m and the progressive What A Blast goes for a hattrick. The wide draw should not bother him as he came from way off the pace last time with a telling run over this course and distance. He is off a three point higher mark and has a chance again. Antigonus will enjoy the step up to this trip and will also be running on. Peter Piper is nine-years-old but shows no sign of slowing down and can also be in the mix, although he is another with a tough draw. Podcast and Philos have good draws and are both one from one over course and distance so must also be included.

In the second leg of the Pick 6 over 2000m Elusive Quest went close over course and distance last time and gets a good opportunity here from a plum draw. Tallulah Jet has shown signs of ability and from a good draw could make her presence felt over a likely suitable trip. Hard-knocking La Duchesse should make her presence felt over a suitable trip if able to overcome the high draw.

In the third leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m Head Boy had some fair form in Cape Town from 1400m to 2400m and will be competitive here in this weaker centre. Tuscan Kiss is also from Cape Town and has a plum draw over an ideal trip. Galway, Just Prime and Icloud can also be included.

In the sixth race over 1400m Star Vega looks promising and will enjoy the step up in trip having run on strongly over 1200m last time. She does have tough draw to overcome though and hard knockers Spam Alert and Mitra Music can also be included.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 over 1200m Extravargant has ability and a plum draw over a suitable trip. Highveld raider Belton Road has dropped to a competitive mark and can make his presence felt if able to overcome a wide draw.  Pickawinner won his maiden well over course and distance in his penultimate start and has a 4kg claimer up from a fair draw so must be included.   

By David Thiselton

The Grade 3 Spring Spree Stakes over 1 200m heads the Turffontein Inside course nine race meeting tomorrow. Social Order could be the one to beat as he has shown good form lately over sprints and has a plum draw of five. The six-year-old Count Dubois gelding has been seen to be charging late in his last two starts over this trip and he has now dropped to a competitive mark.

Prince Of Kahal has won his only start over course and distance and is in good form so he will be a threat from a fair draw. Zouaves has class and some speed and from a fair draw of seven should be finishing strongly.

Russian Prince has promise and should start coming into his own this season so will be a threat off a competitive mark if able to overcome a tough draw. Will Pays has proven class and is a previous winner of this race but he does have a big weight to carry and a tricky draw.

Down To Zero will also be a big runner if able to overcome a high draw. Angel’s Power finished second in this race two years ago off what was effectively a one point higher merit rating so from draw two must be considered.

The Non-black Type Ladies Stakes is a handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m and it is wide open. Lawdy Miss Clawdy won a Pinnacle event over this trip at the Vaal easily last time and has a fair draw of five.

If she can repeat that effort she will be right there. Rock A Roll Dancer is in good form and has a fine record over this trip but she does have to overcome a tricky draw of nine.

Operetta has to be included as a consistent sort who has taken well to blinkers, winning both starts with the headgear on over 1000m, and she has a good record over this trip too.

She jumps from a fair draw and with Warren Kennedy on she looks the Paul Peter stable elect.

Stablemate Afrostar has class coupled with a plum draw of three, but she does have to carry topweight and is likely looking for a touch further.

She will be staying on, as she did last time over this trip at the Vaal, but she faces Lawdy Miss Clawdy on the same terms from that race despite having been beaten 2,25 lengths.

Spiritofthegroove has plenty of resolve and looks promising. She possesses a strong finish and will have to produce it from a tricky draw of ten. She is 3,5kg under sufferance according to official merit ratings but has only had three runs and looks capable of rising above her current mark. Witch Of The West has to be considered as she is 4,5kg better off with Rock A Roll Dancer for a 1,40 length beating, although that was over 1 450m and this will be on the sharp side.

It is tough to find a best bet on the day and Rockin Russian is chosen, despite being 5,5kg under sufferance on official merit ratings with her stablemate Second Request in the eighth, a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1 450m. The 1,5kg claim of Kabelo Matsunyane will alleviate that to some extent and she is also drawn well over an ideal trip.

Second Request has not run since March, but if close to her peak will be hard to beat as she does possess a fine turn of foot and should be effective over this trip running fresh. Both should be included in the Pick 6 and Jackpot, but Rockin Russian is made a PA banker.

Bohica will be a popular choice in the fifth race, a MR72 Handicap over 1 600m, having won well from the front second time out over 1 400m when still extending at the line.

He starts off on a reasonable mark but could be given some cheek by Melchizedek, who is at last showing signs of the potential he has always had.

From pole position over a suitable trip the latter should run well, although officially he is 1kg under sufferance.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1 600m Reach For The Line has been a major disappointment after seeming promising early, but he ran well last time from the front over 1 450m so is obviously off a competitive mark and this is the trip of his only win.

However, the topweight Lone Survivor is the selection as he was likely ridden too handy last time and can make amends with S’Manga Khumalo up from a good draw.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 over 1 450m Ghalyoon has plenty of scope for improvement and should have come on from his fair debut over 1 400m when green so he can do well here from a good draw.

His stablemate Arnica Mountain is a R360,000 Flower Alley gelding out of a placed full-sister to Mother Russia, so is an interesting first-timer.

Quest For Good found support on debut over this course and distance and ran a fair race so can also be involved from another good draw.

By David Thiselton