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

Tomorrow’s Winter Classic looks a straight fight between One World and Vardy. There was only a head in it in last month’s Winter Guineas and they meet on the same terms but One World is one of those tough you-won’t beat-me characters who puts his head down and battles whenever defeat is staring him in the face.

Indeed he has only been beaten once in eight outings and that was in the Cape Guineas in December when things did not go according to Vaughan Marshall’s plans – and the Milnerton trainer says that he has no concerns about tomorrow’s extra furlong.

Vardy, who had a race fitness advantage last time, tends to come off a straight line under pressure but he pleased Adam Marcus in his final piece of work yesterday.

Marcus said: “He has done exceptionally well since the Winter Guineas and he is in a very good place at the moment. The 1 800m is an unknown distance for him but, although he is by Var, I have always felt that the further he goes the better he will be. He has the ability to switch off in his races and he has a very good turn of foot.

“That said, taking on One World is never an easy task. He is the same style of horse as Jay Peg – they like to dictate and, if something comes, they dig deeper and keep finding more – but we will give it our best shot.”

M.J. Byleveld takes over from Marcus’s uncle Anton and in some ways he is on a hiding to nothing. If he wins everybody will praise the horse and if he gets beat they will blame the jockey. But MJ, who is bidding for his third Winter Classic, was three for three on the colt before being sidelined by injury and he is riding particularly well at the moment.

His mount has to be the selection – although generally odds-on you could still get evens (Betting World) yesterday morning – and the stats point to him. The last five Winter Guineas winners who went on to the Classic all won and the favourite has taken the last three runnings whereas no Winter Guineas runner-up has landed the Classic since 2010.

Majestic Mozart (best-priced 8-1) will be suited by the extra distance but he has nearly three lengths to find on the big two. Herodotus (9-1) will similarly be helped by the trip but he has even further to make up.

Helen’s Ideal looks good for the Stormsvlei Mile and Run Fox Run can extend her unbeaten record in the Olympic Duel.

BLOB Over the last 20 Cape Town racemeetings 33 (43%) of Michael Clower’s 76 selections have won, showing a profit of R195.90 to a R10 level stake.

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By Michael Clower

Chimichuri Run, beaten favourite in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint, is at the top of the boards for tomorrow’s Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint. But 4-1 with Track & Ball doesn’t inspire any confidence and a better option could be the 11-2 about top weight Undercover Agent.

Brett Crawford, successful with Pacific Trader in the Computaform, is not short of ammunition for the Scottsville showpiece with four runners, three of which are accomplished sprinters.

Last year’s winner Bold Respect has been winless since although close up during the Cape summer. Search Party was under two lengths back to Pacific Trader in the Computaform and Sunset Eyes, who warmed up nicely in a Pinnacle Stakes, is carrying joint bottom weight.

That leaves top weight Undercover Agent. He is the class horse in the field but there are concerns in some quarters that 1200m may be on the sharp side given his recent form. He was far from disgraced in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Gr1 Sun Met but it may have been his class that carried him so close. Prior to those races, his last win was in a 1200m sprint at Kenilworth before warming up for tomorrow’s event with a game win over Rainbow Bridge in the Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m.

The testing Scottsville straight has found out many a good speed horse but suits a galloper with speed and a touch of stamina, a perfect profile for Undercover Agent.

Stable rider Corne Orffer, whether out of sentiment or choice, has stayed with Undercover Agent which is a further tick in the right box.

The balance of the field is evenly matched. The grey Mardi Gras appears to have had the ideal preparation. After running up a hat-trick of wins, he was given a short break by Johan Janse van Vuuren. His warm-up was at Greyville earlier this month where he gave away lumps of weight and he should strip at his peak.

Last year’s winner Bold Respect is handily weighted and carries only 1kg more than last year with the added advantage of Anton Marcus in the saddle.  He boasts solid Cape summer form so will have many supporters.

It is not surprising that Chimichiri Run is at the top of the boards given his recent record and cannot be left out of any calculations while fellow three-year-old Palace Chapel looks fair each-way value at 20-1.

The three other Gr1 sprints are equally difficult. Snowdance is a luke-warm ante-post favourite for the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint. Justin Snaith has specifically targeted this race, believing that she is more of a sprinter than a ‘miler’. Like Undercover Agent, her stamina will come into play and she could land the odds.

She is up against last year’s Allan Robertson Championship winner Mighty High and recent Camelot Stakes winner Schippers. The two met recently in the Camelot Stakes with Schippers running out a comfortable winner. Schippers got a hefty shunt up the handicap for that win but they meet on almost identical terms here so Geoff Woodruff’s runner can confirm that form.

The Juvenile races are a completely different kettle of fish. With young horses maturing at different rates and full fields of 16 runners lining up in both the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion and the Gr1 Allan Robertson, it is something of a guessing game.

The unbeaten SA Fillies Nursery winner Basadi Faith will have her supporters in the Allan Robertson but she was hard pressed to hold on to her lead that day as Cavivar challenge hard. The extra 100m on the Scottsville track could find out Basadi Faith but they may all have to get to Travelling Light. Garth Puller, a multiple Gr1 winner as a jockey, has yet to repeat as a trainer but in Travelling Light he has a lively contender. She cruised home on debut beating the well-regarded Talia Al Ghul by nearly five lengths with the balance of the field a further five lengths back.

Owner Dave MacLean has four runners engaged in the Gold Medallion, all four in with chances. Recent Highveld awards winner Frosted Gold from the Mike de Kock yard is at the top of the boards but MacLean has three smart runners from the Duncan Howells yard which gives him a strong hand.

Dennis Drier bids for an unprecedented seventh win in this race over the past decade and pins his hopes on Cartel Captain and Master Of Illusion. The former may prove the pick which brings African Warrior and High Voltage into the picture.

In all, this will be a fascination day’s entertainment and a highlight of Champions Season.

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By Andrew Harrison

Scottsville’s holds its annual speed race meeting this Saturday with four Grade 1 races on the day that includes the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint as the main feature.

The country’s talented sprinters from the Highveld, Cape Town and KZN will compete for the huge stakes pot.

Search Party is a horse that I have been following closely and he looks to come into this race with an ideal prep. In his last start in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint, he jumped from a wide draw and was holding his line on the extreme outside. He did have some trouble in the running because he was switched from the outside to the inside and was low flying late and only hit top stride when the race was over. It was an eye-catching performance.

It’s never easy for a horse to keep finding especially when switching in sprint races. This won’t be an easy task for Search Party as there are some high-quality athletes in this race however the 55kgs on his back will help accompanied by a strong rider in Richard Fourie.

Brett Crawford has four runners in the race and all look to be in with a shout, however Search Party looks a solid place bet at the 28-10 that is currently on offer.

The South African Fillies Sprint looks open with Snowdance from the Justin Snaith yard topping the betting boards at 4-1. The second favourite Schippers from the Woodruff yard comes in with excellent recent form. The speedy daughter of Var will be ridden by Chase Maujean and comes from a yard who are famous for training top sprinters.

The place double Search Party and Schippers works out at inviting odds of 7-1.

The day hosts a variety of events like fashion shows combined with high quality racing not forgetting the two Grade 1 races for two-year-olds and racing pundits will be eager to see the unbeaten filly Basadi Faith in the Allan Robertson Championship.

Scottsville is the place to be come this Saturday.

By Devonne Govender

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