Saturday was a day that young apprentice Jeffery Syster will remember. One can list on one hand apprentices that have ridden a winner on their first ride and fittingly it was for riding legend and now trainer, Michael Roberts, who also rode his first winner at Scottsville. The youngster was overwhelmed as he made for the winner’s enclosure, looking to dismount before even being led in by stalwart owner Nick Labuschagne and Shirley Koster.

Kingsmead looked to be hopelessly out of his ground going through halfway but Syster hunted every gap seamlessly and without going for the stick, Kingsmead rocketed home.

By Andrew Harrison

Elusive Silva, third in last year’s Vodacom Durban July and a member of Snaith Racing’s veritable armada for the great race five weeks on Saturday, arrived at Summerveld last Friday to begin his preparation in earnest.

Jono Snaith said: “He has had a wind operation which is why he travelled late but it worked well – his wind is now clear – and he galloped at Kenilworth last week. We will see how he goes before deciding if and when he runs before the July.”

The stable’s master strategist outlined plans for the others still in the R4.25 million showpiece – “Last year’s winner Do It Again runs in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge on Saturday week, Bunker Hunt in the Daily News this Saturday, Doublemint in the Cup Trial (June 8), Made To Conquer either in the Cup Trial or straight to the July, Magnificent Seven possibly in the Cup Trial but may not run again before the July; he is fit and well and he doesn’t need another run, Myabi Gold will have one more outing while Oh Susanna will not run in the July. Platinum Prince has been scratched. He hasn’t enjoyed Durban and is coming back to Cape Town.”

Mark Khan (Made To Conquer) is the only confirmed riding arrangement so far – so, said Snaith, “jockeys need to get on the phone.”

The Snaith family are bidding for their fifth July. Chris was successful with Flaming Rock in 1991 while Justin scored with Dancer’s Daughter in 2008, Legislate in 2014 and Do It Again who is the shortest priced of this season’s challengers at 5-1. The Mike de Kock-trained favourite Hawwaam has been the main mover in the past week, shortening from 7-2 to 28-10 with Betting World.

By Michael Clower

Run Fox Run stole the Winter Classic’s thunder, and had Greg Cheyne dreaming of big race glory, when extending her unbeaten run to four with a display of almost blinding speed in the Olympic Duel Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Run Fox Run stole the Winter Classic’s thunder, and had Greg Cheyne dreaming of big race glory, when extending her unbeaten run to four with a display of almost blinding speed in the Olympic Duel Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The 17-20 shot came out of the pens like a greyhound after a hare and, while she appeared to be doing little more than saunter, nothing was able to get near her as she scorched home five lengths clear.

“Going through the 600, Sceptre Stakes was going through my mind and passing the post I was I thinking ‘I will be at Scottsville next year,’ ” said a thrilled Cheyne. “When the gates opened I had two lengths for nothing, the fractions I set were pretty decent and it’s been a long time since I’ve ridden a horse that can cruise at this speed.”

The Kieswetter family were away at a wedding – how they would have loved this – while for Brett Crawford it was some compensation for a largely frustrating Scottsville. “There is a possibility that she may run in the Champagne on July 27 and after that she will obviously have a break,” he said practically.

Most trainers are equine psychologists to a certain extent but Adam Marcus dedicates as much time to the minds of his charges as a top psychiatrist in the Panorama and he was privately convinced that Vardy’s defeats by One World were due to something other than inferior ability. The Winter Classic proved his point.

“Vardy has a severe parrot mouth and a very soft palate – anything with a link presses on that and is uncomfortable for him so he doesn’t settle,” Marcus explained. “I was convinced he would have beaten One World in the Winter Guineas had he done so.

“I felt the dressage world was the place to look and I found a flexible plastic bit in Italy. I then had to get it passed by the NHA. They only gave me the go-ahead three days before the race.”

Rather than look a fool if it didn’t work, he kept quiet until after the win but he then declared,  “It has made the world of difference to the horse.”

“I knew I had One World just before the straight – it was as early as that,” said a delighted Craig Zackey who had to contend with heckling from punters (“mind you keep straight this time”) as he went out on to the course.

One World, who to be fair was conceding 2kg, was beaten two and a quarter lengths. “Beaten by a better horse on the day,” M.J. Byleveld sportingly conceded while Vaughan Marshall will now give the CTS 1600 winner a rest – “He has had a tough season.” The Winter Derby on June 29 beckons for Vardy and his Italian mouthpiece.

That day Helen’s Ideal will bid to complete the fillies Winter Series in the Winter Oaks after adding a hard-fought Stormsvlei Mile to last month’s Sweet Chestnut. “I thought we were in a bit of trouble when I saw her tail swishing,” admitted Paul Reeves who paid tribute to Donovan Dillon for promptly putting his stick down and riding her out with hands and heels.

Breeder Peter de Beyer, who shares ownership with Paul Barrett, believes she will stay the extra 600m “even though she shows so much speed that you always ask yourself.”

The rest of the day belonged to Robert Khathi who landed a treble and Harold Crawford who is battling his way back from his stroke with the help and encouragement of his daughter Michelle Rix. They had an emotional win with Alfred’s Girl (the last horse bred by Gwen Heyns’ late husband Alfred) and followed up with Ready Steady Go –“A rebellious child who gives us all grey hairs.”

By Michael Clower

Sean Tarry has won three Grade 1 events on one day before but statistically his achievement at Scottsville on Saturday was his best ever day as he sent out the trifecta in the main race and he was arguably unlucky to have not been the first in the country to ever win a Jackpot of Grade 1s.

Tarry joined Dennis Drier as a trainer who had won one of the Festival Of Speed’s Grade 1’s six times this century when Celtic Sea won the SA Fillies Sprint, although Drier’s six wins of the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion have all come this decade.

In the first leg of Saturday’s Jackpot Tarry’s charge Cavivar managed to produce a late charge but had her momentum affected by the tiring Yessiricanboogie, who hung outward and bumped her about 25 metres from the post. Cavivar managed to rally and was beaten a head by the Justin Snaith-trained Miss Florida, who provided Nic Jonsson with a Grade 1-winning homebred and a first Grade 1 winner for apprentice Luke Ferraris.

Jockey Lyle Hewitson decided to object on the grounds that Miss Florida had hung outward and possibly intimidated Yessiricanboogie into shifting sideways and bumping Cavivar. Tarry was not so confident as he believed Yessiricanboogie was hanging that way anyway, but he encouraged Hewitson to go with his instincts. The stipendiary stewards overruled the objection and Tarry was certainly not upset by the verdict.

Cavivar runs in the famous brown and white Beck colours and two runs later these colours were carried to victory by Celtic Sea, who was ridden by Hewitson. It was the second Grade 1 winner on the day for the late great sire Captain Al as Miss Florida is also by Captain Al. It was the tenth win of the progeny of Captain Al in Scottsville Grade 1’s. 

Celtic Sea produced a swooping run on the outside to overtake another Captain Al filly, the Snaith-trained Snowdance, and beat her by 1,70 lengths.

Tarry said, “I don’t need to run Celtic Sea again this season, but I will consider various options, including the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province and the Mercury Sprint, but if I don’t find a very good option, she may not run again this season.”

Earlier, the Avontuur Stallion Var had his eighth Grade 1 win at this meeting through the Tarry-trained two-year-old colt Eden Roc, who was also ridden by Hewitson.

Tarry said he was always going to be running at them, as he had won well effortlessly 1400m on debut. However, he added the day did not necessarily favour those who came from off the pace, pointing out that there were very few leading contenders on the day who were known to be effective front-runners in the mould of National Colour, Via Africa and Val de Ra etc.

Eden Roc is likely to be seen in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day.

In the big one, the R1 million Tsogo Sun Sprint, Tarry chose his riders carefully. Trip To Heaven had had a new lease of life since partnered by Hewitson and Luke Ferraris had won twice on Africa Rising in two rides. This left the ride open on the favourite Chimichuri Run for Raymond Danielson, who a few years ago gained the nickname “Super Sub” for his unerring ability to win big races when landing chance rides, a number of them for the Tarry yard. Once again Danielson delivered, driving the three-year-old Trippi colt through a gap towards the outside and overtaking the running on Africa Rising. Trip To Heaven ran on well on the very outside, after his customary slow start, to pip Africa Rising for second. It was a memorable moment in Tarry’s career and probably the first trifecta success for one trainer in this race.

Chimichuri Run’s obvious next target is the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m on Gold Cup day at Greyville, although Tarry said he would likely not run him from an unfavourably wide draw. 

Trip To Heaven could also be a candidate for the Mercury Sprint. Tarry said in a full field draws were not imperative for him due to his tendency to lose ground and run on.

Tarry pointed out Trip To Heaven had also never been disgraced before in the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m. He lost this race on objection three years ago and finished second two years ago. That weight for age mile is another consideration for him and so is the Grade 2 Post Merchants over 1200m where his current merit rating will be in his favour.

The Post Merchants is also a possibility for Africa Rising and so is the KZN Breeders Million Mile.

Tarry said another horse who might be aimed at the Post Merchants could be Social Order, whom he said had found form again since dropped in trip.

Meanwhile, Legal Eagle will run in a Pinnacle event over 1400m on June 9^th as his Vodacom Durban July preparation.

Tarry also warned the public not to write off Tilbury Fort, whose last run he said could have a line completely drawn through it.

Tarry’s form continued into yesterday and his unbeaten Silvano colt Al Mutawakel, a full-brother to SA Derby winner and July runner up Al Sahem, looks to be an exciting prospect after making it two from two. This big horse sauntered through under Hewitson to win a 1400m handicap against older horses in just his second career start. He was only running off a 72 merit rating but is crying out for further.

By David Thiselton

Turffontein Standside hosts a low key eight race meeting on Sunday, although there are some fair opportunities for both on-the-nose and exotic players.

In the first leg of the PA over 1160m Magic School has plenty of substance and caught the eye on debut. She over raced from a wide draw over the Turffontein Inside 1200m before being dropped out to last place and she then ran on strongly. She could reverse form with Flying High in this race down the straight and is made a PA banker.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 2000m, Duke Of Swing is the obvious choice as he should relish the step up in trip on pedigree and he is draw well in two. However, the concern is he took quite a strong held last time when wearing first time blinkers in a slight step up in trip to 1700m and he was not finding a lot at the finish. He will have to settle better in this race than he did then. Mr Cuddles is better than his last start and Humour Me has a chance from pole position. Those three can be included in the PA, but the suggestion is to go wide in the Pick 6.

In the first leg of the Jackpot over 2000m, Evening Bell is a nice looking daughter of Trippi and she has a good draw over a step up trip she should relish, being a half-sister to Grade 1 Daily News 2000 runner up Rake’s Chestnut. She was not disgraced last time in an Assessment Plate over 1600m against the like of the useful Bize so she looks competitively merit rated here off a 70. Big Myth ran well in her third run after a layoff over 1800m last time to win start to finish comfortably despite being 1,5kg under sufferance and with similar tactics she could go close despite an eight point merit rated raise as she has placed off higher marks before. There are plenty of others who have shouts in this competitive race but a chance is taken in making Evening Bell a PA banker and just having the two horses in the Jackpot and Pick 6.

In the fifth over 2400m Hit For Six looks an out and out stayer and nothing went right for him last time over this trip. The run can be ignored and the pilot who won well in the maidens on him, Randall Simons, is back aboard from a good draw. Horace is likely running off a capped merit rating as he cruised in by 6,50 lengths last time, beating Hit For Six by 10,75 lengths, and he must be included in everything despite having to carry a welter 62kg.

In the next race over 1400m Al Mutakawel, a full-brother to Grade 1 SA Derby winner and VDJ runner up Al Sahem, will appreciate further in time but having won well on debut over 1200m he is the one to beat in this step up in trip from a good draw. He can rise above his 72 merit rating and sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight. Lake Kinneret has found his right trip and has come into his own so can also be included in all bets. 

The seventh is a competitive fillies and mares handicap over 1400m. Hafla should be cherry ripe and is ideally course and distance suited and she can beat the hard-knocking Gimme Hope Johanna, although for Pick 6 purposes every horse bar Mwelase has a chance.

The last race over 1600m is also competitive and although Top Rank, Skiminac and Mutrib are the top three choices, going as wide as possible is the advice.

By David Thiselton