David Thiselton

The Justin Snaith-trained Jet Dark became the first South African-based thoroughbred for at least 50 years to win two open weight for age (wfa) Grade 1 events over classic distances as a three-year-old when winning the HKJC World Pools Champions Cup over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
Jet Dark’s other open Grade 1 win was in the country’s most prestigious mile event, the wfa L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.
He has thus outdone the great Variety Club, who finished a narrow second in the Queen’s Plate as a three-year-old before winning the wfa Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge later that season.
In Full Flight in 1972 and Yataghan in 1973 both won the Queen’s Plate and Durban July as three-year-old but the latter is a handicap. J J The Jet Plane won three open Grade 1 events as a three-year-old, two of them wfa, and the filly Alboran Sea won two open wfa Grade 1s as a three-year-old, but both of those horses were sprinters.
It is fitting Jet Dark is owned by two KZN men, Nick Jonsson and Tommy Crowe, both of whom are fine horsemen in their own right having reached a high class level in the sport of polo.

Furthermore, Jonsson hails from a family steeped in KZN horseracing history and he and Crowe have poured a lot of money into the sport.
Snaith was crowned SA champion trainer for the third time on Saturday, but nevertheless the Champions Cup win ended a frustrating period for him and was in fact his only Grade 1 winner of this SA Champions Season, a three month festival in which he reached a high of five Grade 1 wins in 2019.
Snaith said, “In the Queen’s Plate Jet Dark blew away one of the best fields ever put together in this country.
“Sadly, he sustained a slight injury in the race and had to be rested. “He came very late into the KZN season and put in a very impressive gallop against Belgarion on Guineas day.
“I applied for a second gallop but was told Scottsville would be my only option so I took it but sadly he pulled up a bit jarred so we had to back off him.
So I thought he would need it slightly in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and I was just hoping for a positive run.”
Jet Dark finished a disappointing 3,65 length sixth in that race but Snaith said, “He pulled up beautifully and we knew the Champions Cup was now a reality. I was slightly concerned about him settling over 1800m and we needed a pace to suit both of our runners, so that is when we decided Crown Towers would be used.”
Snaith had a lot of respect for the rest of the field and said, “Catch Twentytwo particularly had impeccable
form and has always been turned out beautifully by Paul Peter.”
Stable jockey Richard Fourie had a tough choice of ride but eventually went with his heart and opted for Do It Again.
Jonsson and Crowe were excited to learn Snaith had booked twice SA Champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo for Jet Dark.
Snaith said, “S’Manga has always been a fantastic team player and every time we have had a disappointment he has been so positive and been willing to be involved in the next fight.
“He has also won numerous races for Nick, including on the like of Ultimate Dollar and Miyabi Gold.”
Jet Dark jumped slowly from draw six and then began pulling for his head after Khumalo had managed to drop him in near the back on the rail.
However, Crown Towers began stretching them out after finding the lead and both Jet Dark and Do It Again, who was in last place, were then able to stride more freely.

Khumalo switched Jet Dark off the rail turning for home and a dream gap opened. He produced a powerfully resolute finish, consigning Catch Twentytwo to a third consecutive SA Champions Season runner up spot, beaten this time by 0,40 lengths.
Do It Again, whom Snaith describes as the most graceful equine athlete he has ever seen in SA, ran on superbly and finished a further 0,40 lengths back in third.
Crown Towers only finished seventh but Snaith said the important role he played had earned him a grass paddock for the rest of his life.
Jonsson, after looking through the shortlist of horses chosen by himself and the Snaiths at the 2019 BSA National Yearling Sales, selected Jet Dark as one of the lots to bid for and they were surprised to secure him for just R200,000. Nick then invited his good friend from University days, Tommy Crowe, in as a partner.
Snaith described the Drakenstein Stud-bred Jet Dark as having being extremely athletic as a yearling.
The fact he was out of a Jet Master mare and had a lot of Jet Master in him was one of the selling points for NIck and being by the illustrious stallion Trippi made it a fine mix.

Nick’s Uncle Hugh Jonsson in fact bred Jet Master, who is comfortably the most successful SA-bred thoroughbred stallion in history.
Snaith said a stud career would definitely be beckoning for Jet Dark, but first the connections are excited about the defense of his Queen’s Plate title as well as a possible tilt at the Met.
Jet Dark not only has strikingly stallion-like looks but Snaith mentioned him alongside Gimmethegreenlight and Do It Again as the most impressive three-year-old he had trained.
Gimmethegreenlight, who became the first three-year-old in 39 years to win the Queen’s Plate when downing his contemporary Variety Club in 2012, has fittingly just been crowned National Champion Sire.

David Thiselton

Sean Tarry had a halcyon last day of the season at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday landing the headliner, the Grade 3 Marshalls World Of Sports Gold Cup over 3200m with four-year-old gelding Nebraas and the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m with Rain In Holland, both ridden by South Africa’s now three-time national champion jockey Lyle Hewitson whose performance in the latter race was touted by many as the ride of the season.  Tarry spoke about the two wins and his prospects for the forthcoming season. It was Tarry’s second Gold Cup win and third Thekwini.  Nebraas has now run in just two staying events and won both of them. He had showed his suitability to a stamina test in his previous start in the Grade 3 DSTV Gold Vase over 3000m, winning full of running, yet came into the Gold Cup carrying just 52.5kg off a 95 merit rating.
However, Tarry said his program had not been especially planned around the country’s premier staying race.  He said, “He was earmarked for the SA Derby as a three-year-old and ran a cracking trial but pulled up unsound so we had to go give him the time to get over it.” Tarry said Nebraas had also had a tendency to race too keenly.  He continued, “However, this season he has got the ground even though he has not settled well. I was in a dilemma whether to leave the blinkers on. But we had waited so long for the next win (over 2000m at the Vaal on June 8) that even with the step up in trip (for the Gold Vase) I couldn’t take the blinkers off because he had just won with them on. He came out of his Gold Vase run fantastically. I think that was what made the difference and enabled him to up his game in the Gold Cup.” Tarry pointed out Nebraas had “definitely done too much in the running” in the Gold Cup, so the fact he still won shows just what a huge engine this Vercingetorix Al Adiyaat home-bred gelding must have. Hewitson took him up towards the front from the off. He was a touch keen but still responded well to his instructions and Hewitson was thus able to find cover in a perfect position one wide and behind second-placed Chitengo. The order did not change much in the front except for Sunshine Silk being brought around the field from about the 1700m mark onwards and joining the pacemaker Paths Of Victory as they turned for home.   Paths Of Victory attempted a repeat of last year’s front-running win but both his and Sunshine Silk’s efforts in the straight were short-lived.  Nebraas had joined the latter pair by the 300m mark and Hewitson kept him going with the stick in the left hand to prevent him from  hanging right. Former SA Derby winner Out Of Your League was running on threateningly in the centre and Before Noon, Silver Host and Wealthy were gathering momentum on the outside. However, Nebraas held on by a quarter of a length from a rapidly closing Silver Host. Out Of Your League was a length further back with Before Noon and Wealthy next best. Silver Host confirmed trainer Justin Snaith’s assertion he is the best stayer in the country as he carried 58kg and put in the best performance at the weights. Earlier, Duke Of Marmalade filly Rain In Holland was squeezed out at a crucial point in the straight and looked to be beaten.
Tarry admitted, “I thought we were finished. Incredible that she came back, she has got to be tops.”    This is the first Drakenstein Stud homebred Grade 1 winner he has trained.   He said about his first impressions of her, “She was always backwards and always looked like she was going to get better. In her first race we expected her stable companion (Marigold Hotel) to win and she did. However, we had not expected Rain In Holland to place and she ran second on the Turffontein Inside course over 1450m and I thought ‘Wow, that’s a really good run.’ Then  she won her maiden well, then beat the boys, then won another race and then she beat the boys again, so she’s now won five as a juvenile including a Group 1 and that doesn’t happen too often.” Tarry was not concerned about her being suited to the tighter Hollywoodbets Greyville track and said, “I had expected her to go clear and make the others stay but we went so slowly and that was a problem. She can get a little bit hot and above herself but she’s very workmanlike when she’s on the track and in races and she always puts her best foot forward when she needs to. So she has the X-factor and she’s also got a very good action and uses herself very well.” Tarry does not envision having to take Rain In Holland down to Cape Town due to Drakenstein’s strong base down there and he believed he would thus be able to give her a well deserved holiday before preparing her for a tilt at the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara. He believes stamina tests will be of no problem to her.  Tarry failed to defend his SA Champion trainer crown but said his two-year-od string from the season just past had been stronger than the previous year and said he had “five or six proper four-year-olds”, including Paisley Park, who needed surgery after three victories in three starts, Eagle Alley, who had a wind operation after being tailed off when going for three out of three, and Silver Tycoon, who needed a testicle removed after a 6,25 length romp second time out.     

David Thiselton

TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE hosts an eight race meeting today and punters can have a profitable first day of the new season.

In the first race over 1400m The Candice Dawson-trained Run For Isla caught the eye running on over 1450m second time out and was short of room late so could have got closer than a 6,50 length fifth. The winner of that race Hollywoodbound went on to finish third in the Grade 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m, albeit beaten by 8,15 lengths. That represents fair form in the context of this race. The main danger Right Choice plodded on for second over 1200m last time in a workriders’ event and now tries this sort of trip for a second time. Cap Estel looks to have scope and should improve over this trip after being slow away over 1000m on debut and well beaten. 

In the second over 2000m Category Four has come back to form and if able to be dropped in behind horses from a wide draw should be running on as strongly as usual in the long straight. He receives 7kg from the talented Dr Doolitle who has never finished out of the first two in non-Graded events. 

In the third over 1400m Forged By Fire is not an imposing sort but ran on well from midfield last time over 1450m with second time blinkers and he has pole position again in an uninspiring field and Muzi Yeni is now up. Soweto Spina has plenty of scope and should enjoy the step up in trip after a fair debut. The two first-timers have to be respected here. Fighter pilot is by Act Of War out of a three-time winning Jet Master speedster. Alfaatik is by Kingsbarns and is a half-brother to Nafoorah (Soft Falling Rain), who won two out of four starts. Touched By Stars could also earn here.

In the fourth over 1000m Valyrian King has a favourable standside draw and is going to be hard to catch. Bold Ransom holds him by a short-head on paper so can be included in case his low draw does not turn out to be unfavourable.

in the fifth over 2000m Southern Song is on the up and has relished being stepped up to this trip. She can handle a two point raise for her second place finish last time because she is now drawn in pole. Irish Wonder Girl produced a late burst to come from nowhere to win over this trip in her penultimate start at the Vaal and she will love the long straight here so can go close if dropped out and finding cover from a wide draw. Ideal Jet has some class and is distance suited so has to be considered too. 

In the sixth over 2000m Fred has not had much luck lately with draws but now gets draw two and considering he finished a close second over this course and distance in March and is now four points lower in the merit ratings he must have a shout. The Sash usually runs well when drawn well and gets a good draw here over a suitable trip. Fifth Of July is by Wylie Hall so that gives him hope he can stay the trip despite being out of the Grade 2-winning sprinter Virgo’s Babe (Malhub). Watusi is a problematic horse but won his only start over this course and distance and is drawn in pole following a four month layoff so he is an outsider who could be worth including. There is not much between Fifth Of July and Elusive Swan and Khumalo rides the latter.

In the seventh over 2000m Oyster King goes for his fifth win this year. He can do it because he stays the trip and is better drawn than his last start, which he won over 1600m, and he is only three points higher in the merit ratings. Barak has a fine chance too if repeating his last run. Fsquadron is course and distance suited and Baymax and Super Handsome are also worth considering. 

In the last race over 2000m Crusade To Royalty is 2kg better off with Mariposa despite beating the latter by a head in her penultimate start in the maidens over 1800m. She makes appeal as Mariposa then won easily over this trip next time out. They can both be included. Others to consider are Wedding Bliss, Rabia The Rebel and Sheltering Sky.      

Andrew Harrison

VAUGHAN MARSHALL was quietly confident of a big run when Gainsford picked up a gate as first reserve for the Gr2 Post Merchants and although things didn’t quite work out as planned the gelding still ran a cracking race to finish just over a length back to top sprinter Kasimir.

He takes a drop in class when he lines up in the sixth at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today where hopefully the weather has warmed up a little.

Gainsford has taken time to come to hand in KZN but is no stranger to Scottsville having twice visited the Capital without much success, although more through bad luck than anything else.

He has a habit as a tardy starter which often costs him position. The In Full Flight Stakes was a disaster for many runners as the field bunched up towards the inside rail and those caught at the back of the scrum, like Gainsford, found themselves short of running room and their race run a furlong out.

At his most recent outings at Hollywoodbets Greyville he missed the break again but was firing at the business end. That may well be the case again on Sunday but this time the opposition is slightly weaker and he can get away with a slow start although Sean Veale will be fully aware of the task ahead.

There are some promising contemporaries in the line-up with the likes of Burning Wings, the filly Hawker Typhoon and Light That Loose not likely to go down without a fight.

Burning Wings has won four of his last six outings including a facile victory at Greyville where he did benefit from the 4kg claim of promising apprentice Kaiden Brewer. Brewer will be aboard again for Glen Kotzen and with only 52.5kg to shoulder he will be a threat in receipt of 5.5kg from Gainsford.

Hawker Typhoon was having her first run back after a three-month break when tenth over course and distance behind Mirage, but the placing did not tell the full story as she was only three lengths off the winner.

Prior to that she had reeled off two wins on the trot and in a significant jockey booking, Garth Puller has engaged Champion Jockey elect Lyle Hewitson.

Of the balance, Light That Loose, Quick Star and Good Rhythm are all in with a shout.

There is some competitive racing on the day starting in the first where visiting trainer Paul Matchett saddles his only runner on the day. Angel Of War has shown steady improvement since making his debut and was only outpaced late over 1400m. He was reported ‘blowing’ after the race so may not have been at peak fitness and with that run under his girth the extra should suit. Bristolbeaufighter has shown promise over sprints and takes a big leap in trip but his pedigree suggests that he should see it out comfortably. Illicit Kiss shows good sprint form and was not far back from a wide draw in a competitive feature last start.

The second is an open race with a number of first timers in the line-up. Of those that have run, Geronimo was friendless in the market at his second start but showed up nicely and looks capable of better. Michael Roberts holds a strong hand with four runners in the race best of which could be Seventh Song who is long overdue. He found another too good for him last start but he is hardly ever out of the money.

Trump Queen and Reginas Angel could prove the pick of the opening leg of the PA but the race is wide open. Caution is advised and the betting could prove your best guide. Alittlebitnaughty, Embarras De Riches, Three Hearts, Blanchetta and Trump Queen all warrant consideration.

 In the fourth, Deputy Marshall has shown recent improvement and has shown that he stays the trip. Drawn well he should also run well. Jumeirah Gold has shown some promise on the Highveld. He goes this trip for the first time but looks capable while Coral Copy is lightly raced but has been coming along nicely at recent starts and looks primed.

The fifth is another wide open affair with some quick horses in the field. Fly The Coup was in contention for a long time behind the smart Captain Fontane last time out. This shorter trip should suit. Winter Flight comes with some useful Cape form to his name. He carried a big weight in soft going last start and can do better here. Blaze Of Silk is over his best course and distance and is better than his last effort. Kings Road gets a 4kg claimer up and has been in good form over the distance at recent outings while Sir Pom and Princekresh also have strong chances.

In the seventh, Captain Who was not too far back in his first two starts for his new stable. He met much stronger last run and with the blinkers off can notch his second win. Willow’s Wish has only had the two starts and shed his maiden second time out in easy fashion when sent over ground. He looks to have plenty of scope. Clouds Of Witness was narrowly beaten over 2400m last run but could prove better over this trip while Double Gemini has not been far back since shedding his maiden and with a 4kg claimer up carries a light weight.

Kapen Pride, Teichman and Gavel Strike look the pick of the eighth. Kapen Pride showed steady form on the poly but did even better when switched to the turf. He is well drawn here and in good form.

Princess Anastasia, blinkered for the first time, can round off the day for Dennis Drier. She was a beaten favourite last run but has come to hand of late. Silver Maria has been in the money in her last five starts and goes well this course and distance and should put in another bold bid. Gardenia and Eager Duchess are others to consider.

David Thiselton

TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE has a nine race meeting today and it provides a mixed bag of good horses and competitive racing.

The highest class race is a MR95 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m and the Candice Dawson-trained Sultanah will be an interesting runner from a fair draw of four. She is by Vercingetorix out of a Galileo mare who won over 2000m so it is not surprising she was stepped up to 1600m as early as her second career start. However, Vercingetorix has been shown to put plenty of speed into his progeny, unlike his superstar sire Silvano, so it is interesting to see Sultanah dropped in trip to 1400m as she has been seen to take a fairly strong hold over 1600m. Querari Ferrari is a big galloping type who will love the long straight but she is going to have a problem slotting in from draw eleven. Spice Market had to do too much too early last time. She is capable of galloping a field into the ground if getting a comfortable lead and she might get that here although the pole position drawn Golden Spoon did lead when winning her penultimate start over 1450m. Cordillera has two wins and four places in eight starts over this course and distance and has to be included despite a tricky draw of nine. Rouge Allure came from right near the back three runs ago when mowing them down over 1600m and she beat Sultanah by 6,50 lengths there so the latter will need to prove she wants this trip. Therefore, Rouge Allure has to be included as she is effective over this trip too, although she is four point higher in the merit ratings.  Louis Gem also has to overcome a four point raise for her course and distance win last time. She jumps from exactly the same draw with the same 1,5kg claimer up and the form has been franked by the fifth-placed Ululate, who won next time out. Golden Spoon can also be considered with Yeni up.

The third race, a MR 93 Handicap over 1160m, sees the promising Tuscan Winter making his fourth racecourse appearance and he is the one to beat having only just failed to fetch the equally promising Full Velocity last time over 1200m. He does have a potentially tricky low draw but Gavin Lerena will be able to afford to drop him out as he can turn it on. However, the hard-knocking Bowie, whose only ever win was over 1000m, has to be included dropped back to sprints. The fit again and back-in-form Portico also has a shout. 

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Sea Virescent is tried in blinkers for the first time and he is the one to beat considering he is highly regarded and only rated 82. However, beyond him it is wide open so punters will have to decide whether he is bankered or whether they go wide. 

The second leg should be fought out by Mariposa and Lucky Shamrock. The former overtook  the latter late last time over 1800m so is given the nod.

Sekhmet is a potential banker in the sixth race from a good draw having been caught late over 1450m last time. Me Time had no luck on Tuesday and from pole position here could be a threat, whilst Big City Girl is proving consistent and versatile so can also be considered.

In the eighth race Dance Lesson was running on late over 1200m last time for second and will relish the step up to 1400m. Chloris and Vertigo Again also make appeal.

In the last race over 1600m Leading Lad is the form choice but returns from a six month layoff, so more must be included and Eskimo Pie, Fifth Of July, Attentive and Dawn Of A New Era make most appeal of the rest.