Suspensions – as opposed to fines – for exceeding the 12-strike whip limit could be on the way but it looks as if thoughts of including the use of the whip in the backhand positon in the 12 permitted will be dropped.

When the whip rule was introduced on May 10 the initial stipes reports stated that “The general use of the crop will be monitored until 31 May. Until this time the limit of 12 crop strikes will apply.”

Senior racing control executive Arnold Hyde explained yesterday: “The monitoring of crop use really pertains to the use of the crop in the backhand position with the hands on the reins, and to see if the 12 strikes should include the backhand but it looks as if the backhand is not being abused at all. It’s possibly a bit early to say this but at the moment 12 strikes is where we want to be bearing in mind that we only introduced a number on May 10.”

So far fines have usually been the order of the day, even for repeat offenders (Serino Moodley last week was a notable exception), but more suspensions are on the horizon. Hyde said: “We are still in the initial stages of our rule but in other jurisdictions there are harsher penalties and the way the world of racing is going we definitely have to consider that angle.”

In France, for instance, jockeys are limited to five strikes as they are in Germany where the five includes slaps down the shoulder. German jockeys also face a mandatory 14-day suspension, even for the first offence, and the loss of their share of the stakes. Sliding scale suspensions apply to jockeys in France who use the whip more than ten times – 11 days for 11 strokes, 12 days for 12 strokes etc.

In Australia the rules have recently been changed to allow objections to be made against a jockey who exceeds the limit, and that could also come here.

Hyde said: “There is a view that if a jockey contravenes the rule he is gaining an advantage over the rest who are keeping within the rule, so we would have to look very seriously at this. There needs to be a level playing field for all and, if someone breaking the rules gains an advantage, there should be a penalty that is appropriate.”

By Michael Clower

Clinton Binda has found a happy hunting ground amongst the lower divisions in KZN of late and Pearl Of Siberia can add to his tally in the Inanda FM88.4 Handicap over 1000m on the Greyville poly today. The gelding took an age to shed his maiden, scoring at his 24^th attempt, but to his credit he has been ultra consistent this year, not once further back than third in seven races.

Stretched an extra furlong at Scottsville last time out, Binda removed the blinkers and it nearly paid dividends as Pearl Of Siberia ran the much improved Fives Wild to a neck.

Its back to his preferred trip of 1000m today with the blinkers back on and a handy draw in his favour.

Pearl Of Siberia is currently 5-1 along with Bravo Zulu who was down the field in the race won by Fives Wild, but it was a performance way below his best. He is back over his best course and distance and with Bernard Fayd’Herbe to help him along he should be a big runner. Great Dictator, with Anton Marcus aboard, is 33-10 favourite but Hondo and Panza, who steps out for the 81^st time, are also not out of it.

Roy’s Novice has come into her own since reverting to the synthetic surface, winning three on the trot. Last time out she accounted for Arizona Sunset who paid tribute to that form with victory, albeit a narrow one, last Saturday.

Alyson Wright’s Aussie-bred steps up in trip in the sixth but appears to be a late developer and can go in again with Lyle Hewitson aboard.

Julie Dittmer will have other ideas when she saddles Chatty Cathy who has come to hand on the poly and was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out. These two head the market, 33-10 and 4-1 respectively.

Dennis Drier holds a strong card in the card opener with Land Of Mystery and Liquidity, the latter possibly the pick with stable rider Sean Veale in the irons. The Querari gelding has two sprints to his credit, most recently being out-paced late over 1200m. Given his pedigree, this extended trip looks right up his street and 9-2 looks a juicy price at current odds. Dean Kannemeyer’s runner Capera is at the top of the boards at 28-10. He was narrowly beaten when casting a shoe on his return to KZN and a repeat could see him justify favouritism.

Marcus looks to have landed a plum ride in the opening leg of the PA where he partners Chesney van Zyl’s filly Itsapleasure who caught the eye with a strong finish when second on debut and is understandably 11-10 favourite.

The opening leg of the Pick 6 looks to be a far more difficult affair. Anuchke’s Wings is favourite as she makes her poly debut, bookmakers possibly wary of the Marcus, Glen Kotzen combination, as the form is hardly striking.

Frank Robinson is enjoying a good run with Roy’s Riviera putting up a smart showing last Saturday and Isikhwami Sami will have her supporters. The daughter of Golden Sword steps up to what should be a more suitable trip and Fayd’Herbe, who did the honours aboard Roy’s Riviera, has the ride.

In the fourth, High Green is way overdue after a string of placed runs and given that Lowan Denysschen’s gelding is at the bottom of the handicap he should have a strong chance of finally recording his third win. 7-2 looks a fair price with top weight Blackball (5-2) having to give the consistent High Green 9kg.

Fillies Handicaps are notoriously tricky as reflected in the ante-post market with three horses bracketed on 5-1. Lady Abigail bids for a hat-trick while Josephine Baker will be aiming to go in again along with visiting filly Giglio from the Johan Janse van Vuuren yard.

By Andrew Harrison

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

Frank Robinson will nominate Listed East Coast Cup winner Roy’s Riviera for the Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1800m at Greyville on June 8.

His other Vodacom Durban July entry Roy Had Enough will be entered in the same event but has other qualifying options too.

Robinson had no doubt Roy’s Riviera would stay the 2000m trip on Saturday and said in retrospect she had been the form choice. She had finished on top of Matador Man in her previous start in the King’s Cup and the latter came out and beat July livewire Head Honcho in a Pinnacle event on Saturday.

Roy’s Riviera’s performance was all the more impressive on Saturday because she did not have the best luck in running. She was caught three wide for much of the race. Yet she still found plenty in the straight and held off a strong challenge from topweight Miyabi Gold, who was eventually beaten into second by lightweight outsider Perfect Air.

Roy’s Riviera carried 60kg and was receiving 1,5kg from Miyabi Gold, whom she beat by 0,65 lengths.

Miyabi Gold was ranked 18^th on the first July log.

Robinson said the Australian-bred All Too Hard filly had pulled up well and had hardly even appeared to have been in a race.

He said if she failed to qualify for the July she would go for the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes instead.

She has clearly come into her own as a four-year-old and will be a force to be reckoned with for the rest of the season.

Robinson said Roy Had Enough was in even better shape at present.

He said, “Last season he had a few unsoundness issues and aches and pains but is a different animal this season and I hope he can get in the July.”

Robinson said Bernard Fayd’Herbe had got off after riding Roy Had Enough to second place in the Sledgehammer and called him the best horse in Durban.

The well bred Pierro colt has plenty of stamina in his classy pedigree so Robinson also has the option of running him in the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m on July 1 instead of the Cup Trial a week later.

Another option would be the Grade 1 wfa Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m on June 8, although he would have to take on the best in the country if running there.

Roy Had Enough avoided the WSB 1900 after drawing 28 of 28. 

Meanwhile, Robinson has acquired two horses from the Ormond Ferraris yard, Dame Kelly and Shogun. They are both owned by the recently retired legend. Both are merit rated in the mid 80s and still have racing in them.

By David Thiselton

General Franco is to be given a lengthy rest following his flop when long odds-on at Kenilworth last Saturday but tests and follow-up inspections have so far proved inconclusive.

Justin Snaith said yesterday: “He has pulled up a little bit shin-sore but bar that we cannot find anything. Whether it is enough for him to have run such a bad race I just don’t know but I am hoping it is the reason. He will now be put away for a while.”

The champion trainer, bidding for his fifth Winter Classic, runs only 30-1 outsider Clouded Hill in Saturday’s R250 000 Kenilworth feature. The six-strong field will be the smallest since Naughty Prince beat only four home in 2007. The Vaughan Marshall third string Blackbeard was the only one of the original entries to drop out at yesterday’s declaration stage. Stable companion One World, whose only defeat in eight starts came in the Cape Guineas, remains odds-on at 17-20.

Donovan Dillon, successful on Kheelan Dynasty at Scottsville on his second day back last week, regains the plum ride on Helen’s Ideal in the Stormsvlei Mile. He rode the Paul Reeves filly in her first six races.

There will be a lot of punter interest in Run Fox Run in the Olympic Duel Stakes.  The Australian-bred has comfortably won all her three starts and she steps up to Listed company for the first time. Greg Cheyne takes over from Anton Marcus.

By Michael Clower

Paul Lafferty’s Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint contender Sniper Shot put up an outstanding gallop on the beach sand at Summerveld on Sunday and his big race jockey Mark Khan returned impressed and excited about his chances.

Lafferty spoke about the plans for some of his other Champions Season feature race campaigners too.

Sniper Shot last ran in the Grade 2 IOS Drill Halls Stakes over 1400m but went into that race on the back of treatment with anti-biotics for loose bowels. He was likely not himself but was still not disgraced against some of the best in the country, finishing 4,70 lengths back in eighth.  

He will carry 53kg off a 106 merit rating on Saturday.

The yard’s promising Australian-bred two-year-old Share Holder was scratched from the Grade 1 Gold Medallion due to a clipped heel.

The injury has healed well but the yard did not want to take a chance with such a good prospect.

He will now be put in to a Juvenile Plate race over 1200m before targeting the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day and the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m on Gold Cup day.

This Zoffany colt, who won easily over 1000m at Scottsville on debut in early February, was bought by Lafferty at a Magic Millions Sale in Australia.

A Zoffany colt called Zodiac Ruler, who Lafferty also bought in Australia, won the Golden Horseshoe in just his second start for Justin Snaith three years ago.

Meanwhile, Lafferty and his assistant trainer Roy Waugh disagreed with jockey Warren Kennedy’s analysis that Dark Moon Rising had not quickened as well as usual when running fifth in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge but were rather of the opinion that dead going towards the outside had cost their charge a place.

Lafferty had hoped for a top three finish in the Premier’s Champions Challenge for Dark Moon Rising, as that is often enough to secure a berth in the Vodacom Durban July.

The five-year-old Ideal World gelding Dark Moon Rising will now be relying on the Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1800m at Greyville on June 8 to earn a July place.

Lafferty rates the three-time winner The Bayou and this 83 merit rated Mogok gelding will be aimed at the KZN Breeder’s Million Mile.  

The yard have acquired Top Classman, a good looking four time-winning middle distance to staying type by Mogok.

He is going to be aimed at a KZN Chapter Challenge 2000 final and then go for the Grade 3 Track And Ball Derby at Scottsville on June 22.

By David Thiselton