A potentially serious situation was diffused at Turffontein on Saturday when racing officials persuaded a group of about 50 protestors assembled on the racetrack to leave the course so that racing could continue following its interruption after the second race on Champions Day.

While racing resumed after a delay of about an hour – the result of a grooms’ protest against working conditions – one sad and unfortunate consequence was the decision by veteran trainer Ormond Ferraris to hand in his license.

The 87-year old Ferraris, upset and severely stressed by the grooms’ actions, had to be taken to hospital for a check-up and observation when his staff decided to desert the yard around 4am on Saturday morning. He was released on Saturday afternoon and told Turf Talk on Sunday: “I have made my decision, I am giving up training.”

Grooms prevented horses from cantering up the straight before the start of the third race.

Ferraris, who has served the horseracing industry with great distinction for 70 years, said that trainers at Turffontein were aware of the pending strike on Friday. “I arranged with my 20 grooms to come to work Saturday at 3am, an hour earlier, so they could attend their meeting which was scheduled for 5am.

“All I wanted them to do was the bedding, and to feed and water the horses. Just a few came along at three but soon disappeared leaving me and my Head Lad of 40 years, John Sibeko, to get by on our own. I was distressed, they had to take me to the Union Clinic but I am feeling better now. This is it, this is the third protest action of this nature we’ve had to endure recently and I am not prepared to put up with this any longer. I am out.”

Ferraris said that there were “troublemakers” in the grooms’ ranks who have stirred up the rest with a variety of demands, including higher wages and for an office to be allocated to one of their faction officials at Turffontein.

“I would love to pay the grooms what they want, big salaries, but it is simply not possible. The sport of racing cannot sustain this. The costs of feeding and training horses today are astronomical and stakes haven’t increased in proportion to the high expenses. The few millionaires in racing can afford it, but I fear for the middle man, the smaller owner. This kind of pressure is going to hit them and the smaller stables the hardest. They are battling to feed themselves, let alone their horses. There is just no way they can survive!”

Ferraris recalled when he first started: “In those days, training racehorses was a relatively cheap profession. We could buy 150 pounds of feed for just 10 shillings and our workers were paid well because everything was affordable. In the 60s and 70s the big trainers had 30 horses in their stables, the smaller ones had 10 or 12, but we all made a good living. We raced twice a week and the sport was simply great. But the good times are over now.“Today, costs are out of hand and this has had various ramifications. Racing is in trouble with escalating expenses and all the demands from workers. Look at the outcome of this issue. I have 10 horses leaving tomorrow for Durban. They are owned by Hong Kong Syndicates who want to see their runners in barrier trials. My son David sent them a list of KZN trainers and they decided on Garth Puller. A further 20 horses will be sent to other trainers. Thereafter, my grooms will be paid off. They will be unemployed.”

Reflecting on his career, Ferraris said: “I’ve had a marvellous time, I wouldn’t have it any other way. To come to the end of my career in this way is disappointing, to use a moderate word. But perhaps making the break, seeing things from the outside without involvement will be good for my health.”

Phumelela’s Racing Executive, Patrick Davis, said that Saturday’s strike had nothing to do with the racing operator. “We are not going to comment on the matter at this stage, it happened as a result of friction between grooms’ factions. We will, however, be issuing a statement in the course of next week.”

Vee Moodley, CEO of the National Horseracing Authority, said that he, too, preferred not comment at this point and referred us back to Davis.

– Turf Talk

Hawwaam has been cut from 15-2 to 9-2 favourite for the Vodacom Durban July by Betting World following his staggeringly impressive win in Saturday’s Premier’s Champions Challenge.

He seems sure to go up considerably in the ratings – and therefore in the July weights – when the handicappers discuss things this morning and in any case punters should hold fire until such time as Mike de Kock makes a public comment about the likelihood (or otherwise) of the horse running in the great race – and that seems unlikely to come until after the colt’s next race which will, in all probability, be the Daily News on June 1 or the Rising Sun Gold Challenge a week later

Last year’s July winner Do It Again remains on 5-1 but Met hero Rainbow Bridge has shortened a point to 11-2 after going so close on his reappearance in Friday night’s Drill Hall.

Anton Marcus’s choice will be key. The four-time champion is the most successful July rider of all time and would appear to hold most of the aces. Do It Again last season was his record fifth win, he is the regular rider of Rainbow Bridge and now, presumably, of Hawwaam too. As if all that was not enough, he gives every impression of riding even better than ever this season.

Twist Of Fate, on whom Marcus won Friday’s KRA Guineas, is the other big July mover being slashed from 40-1 to 16-1, while Do It Again’s stable companion Magnificent Seven has been shortened from 25-1 to 16-1.

World Sports Betting also makes Hawwaam clear favourite at 9-2 and goes 5-1 Do It Again, 11-2 Rainbow Bridge, 9-1 Barahin, 16-1 Magnificent Seven, 18-1 Doublemint, Head Honcho, 22-1 Twist Of Fate, 25-1 and upwards others.

By Michael Clower

Anton Marcus’s party trick is to play down his ability but he doesn’t get the call to ride the best for nothing. He rarely makes a mistake, be it a maiden or a Grade I, and he had them all on a string at Turffontein yesterday in spite of riding what was probably the cream that included Frosted Gold In the Gr2 SA Nursery, Return Flight in the Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg, not to mention Twist Of Fate in the Gr2 KRA Guineas at Greyville on Friday night.

All were singing the praises of Hawwaam after putting the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Challenge field to the sword but in truth it was a below par field for a Grade 1 and it was a bloodless beheading.

Out in a flash, as is the Marcus trademark, Hawwaam was in the box seat in a matter of strides.

Fellow three-year-old Zillzaal tried gamely to stay with his rival in the straight, but Hawwaam had too much class and Zillzaal developed a speed wobble as he tried to keep up and was quickly out the back door. Stable companion Cascapedia was there to collect in the shallow end of the purse from Divine Odyssey and veteran Legal Eagle but they were four lengths adrift as Marcus geared down to the line.

Mike de Kock, when quizzed on future plans for his star colt, earmarked the Daily News 2000 and possibly the Rising Sun Gold Challenge in Champions Season for both Hawwaam and Soqrat, but was not drawn on any hard and fast plans.

De Kock obviously has reservations about bad draws at Greyville, intimating that Soqrat, unplaced in the Gr2 KRA Guineas on Friday night, was compromised by a wide gate.

Piere Strydom, still waiting for the Mauritian government bureaucracy to clear his work permit for the island, recently lamented his choice of rides. “I wasn’t even getting third choice,” he summised after winning The Oaks on Return Flight on Sean Tarry’s start filly. He was ‘jocked off’ the filly yesterday in the Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes, the ride going to Marcus, but whatever the circumstances, Strydom remains one of the greatest riders ever to grace a racing dock in the recent era.

Brett Crawford had Pacific Trader primed to perfection for the Gr1 Computaform Sprint and Strydom, canny as ever, tracked the pace and pounced when it counted.

Crawford commented beforehand that, “Pacific Trader is and out-and-out five-furlong horse,” but even over the quick Turffontein short-cut, Strydom judged the gallop from off the pace and ‘struck’ at just the right time to nab outsider Princess Rebel when it counted.

After the running of the first two races, disgruntled grooms staged a sit-in. Proceedings were delayed by an hour after a negotiated agreement defused de-fused the stand-off.

By Andrew Harrison

All eyes will be on Hawwaam tomorrow at Turffontein Standside where he will attempt to prove his status as the highest rated South African horse on the Longines World Rankings.

The Silvano colt runs in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2 000m and the question is how well he will settle. Anton Marcus landed the ride on his half-brother Rainbow Bridge, who has a similar tendency to over race, and he settled the latter perfectly.

“Superman” can repeat the feat here.

If he does settle him it should be race over. Hawwaam has an electrifying turn of foot at his best and trainer Mike de Kock has not hidden his regard for this colt. If he does not settle he should still win as he did not settle well in the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas but still ran on well for second.

Divine Odyssey has always been well thought of by Johan Janse van Vuuren. However, he was continually frustrating until his last two runs when winning in the manner of a class horse.

If he brings that form to the track again he could be the main danger. Zillzaal has always struck as being one who would improve with age and this trip always looked to be ideal. He was ridden too handy last time and can be forgiven that surprise defeat. If ridden from off the pace he should use his resolute finish down the long straight to maximum effect.

Legal Eagle could be a big player if repeating his Sun Met run, in which he was held up before running on strongly.

The course and distance will suit him if he is ridden that way.

Tilbury Fort has turned the corner since gelding and proved in the G-BETS Summer Cup he loves this course and distance.

Dark Moon Rising from KZN is capable of running on well too and should love this tough course and distance.

The draw of ten is not a problem as he enjoys running around horses on the outside. Cascapedia will be ridden by Hawaam’s usual rider Gavin Lerena, who is retained by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein studs.

She has made breathing noises in her last two starts but if able to produce her best can be a player here as he has plenty of class.

The Grade 1 Computaform Sprint is wide open. The defending champion has a fine chance of defending his crown as he has a high draw which is favourable by trends.

But is all depends which Attenborough pitches up on the day.

At his best he is capable of producing a devastating finish.

 Quinlan is a dark horse who always had a lot of substance and who has possibly never yet produced his best. He has a plum standside draw. Prince Of Kahal is one of the most reliable horses in training and has speed and a kick so he could be thereabouts from a high draw.  Pacific Trader is likely the one to beat on pure form as he brings fine Cape Town performances.

The Turffontein 1160m is quick, a lot easier than the Kenilworth 1000m, so he should stay the trip. Speedpoint also has a shout on his last Cape Town form and finished third in this race last year. Van Halen, Trip To Heaven and Rivarine can also be included. Rebel’s Champ is another one who can be considered.

By David Thiselton

Sanskrift can give Candice Bass-Robinson her third successive Perfect Promise Sprint win at Kenilworth on Sunday when the Milnerton trainer is responsible for three of the seven runners.

The sahorseracing computer predicts that victory will go to stable companion Drama Queen with Keagan de Melo’s mount only third but Sanskrift was held in high regard even before she went close on debut and she was most convincing when she followed up at Durbanville a fortnight ago. “I didn’t expect her to turn it on like she did,” said an impressed De Melo.

Sanskrift was a 3-1 chance when World Sports Betting posted its prices yesterday but fortunately not favourite, a doubtful honour awarded to stable companion Drama Queen. Although the favourite has won three of the last ten runnings, only once in the last six seasons has the best backed horse been successful.

Drama Queen led over a furlong out when scoring over 200m further on this course in a winner’s race last month and comfortably holds Ferrari Red on that run while Hidden Strings (the computer’s choice for second) made all over the trip at Durbanville but has something to find on the book. Riding arrangements point to the maiden Amy Johnson rather than Justin Snaith’s other two runners.

Armando, the 22-10 favourite, may beat Minnesota Dream in an open-looking Somerset 1200. The form of his debut win at Durbanville five weeks ago is decidedly mixed but he did win by four lengths and that takes a bit of doing first time out. Furthermore he was well backed, shortening from 6-1 to 19-10 favourite.

Minnesota Dream, a big price at 10-1, comes from the right stable – Joey Ramsden has won five of the last six runnings – and he showed a blistering turn of foot when winning on debut. Nothing has gone right since – Bernard Fayd’Herbe was fortunate to escape serious injury when the horse took fright in the pens last time – but the memory of that first time acceleration lingers on.

For what it’s worth the computer says Ground Control (11-2) to win from debut winner Captain Tatters (33-10) and Armando. Ground Control is one of three Vaughan Marshall runners and won the Kenilworth race in which Minnesota Dream managed only fourth, beaten nearly four lengths.

Again this is a race in which to be tread carefully with the favourite. Although three of the last ten won, the last four have all been beaten.

Majorca winner Clouds Unfold is 16-10 favourite and has a theoretical 4kg in hand over 8-1 shot Celestial Storm and 7-1 chance Dutch Philip in the TAB Telebet Pinnacle, but she has to overcome a drop in trip and a 14-week absence. She was fast enough to win the Sceptre on her previous start so she could still be the one.

By Michael Clower