One World and Vardy, separated in Saturday’s Winter Guineas by only a head – as hard-fought in the boardroom as it was on the racecourse, may well meet again over a furlong further in the Winter Classic on May 25. Hopefully it won’t be quite such a rough affair.

Anton Marcus’s mount, starting a prohibitive 4-10, led after 200m but two furlongs from home main market rival Vardy began to move up travelling ominously easily. He joined the favourite and looked sure to win as he went a head up.

But One World has only been beaten once in eight starts and, as many will remember, no less a horse than the Cape Flying Championship winner Kasimir also once dared to head him only to be battled out if it. Vardy was given the same treatment and was the first to wilt.

He came off a straight line and bumped the favourite. From then on it was no holds barred, with the pair touching several times, but Craig Zackey had his whip in his right hand. Horses tend to drift away from the whip and towards the ones they are battling and Vardy did just that. True, Marcus also switched his crop to his outside hand in the heat of battle but the stipes took the view that he was doing this to stop Zackey’s mount from bumping him again.

There was only a head in it at the line and Vardy’s trainer Adam Marcus promptly lodged an objection against his uncle for interference, leaving one wit in the weighing room to quip: “You can choose your friends but you can’t choose your relations!”

The objection was over-ruled and jockey Marcus commented: “I thought it was straightforward – he hit me four times.” No action was taken against Zackey – he had been given a week when Vardy caused interference winning on his previous start – but Marcus was fined R1 000 for hitting his mount more than three times in consecutive strides.

The Klawervlei-bred Captain Al winner, bought by his trainer for R425 000, has now won nearly R3.4 million for Ken and Jane Truter, Etienne Braun and Braam van Huyssteen. “He is a very good horse and a very game one,” said Vaughan Marshall.

In the Sweet Chestnut 35 minutes earlier Bernard Fayd’Herbe and Helen’s Ideal made light of their 11 draw to delight Paul Barrett and breeder Peter de Beyer and book her ticket for next month’s Olympic Duel Stakes.

“Blinkers turned the corner for this filly and there are bigger things to come,” said Paul Reeves. “Hopefully she gets a draw next month. Every time I have a runner in a feature they seem to be drawn on another planet.”

By Michael Clower

Joey Ramsden intends finding a couple of days in his packed next fortnight to make a flying visit to Singapore to determine whether he should make the place the new home for himself, his partner Steph and their small daughter. Sadly for South African racing, he looks like doing so.

He said on Saturday: “The training facilities there are different class, the prize money is huge, owners’ incentives are massive and there is the opportunity to trade which is just not possible here.”

The Singapore Turf Club’s announcement in a press release on Friday – that he was one of three trainers to be allocated boxes – took him by surprise. “I had not been over. I had inquired if there were any availabilities but that was as far as it went. While I have now been given the green light, and they have offered me the opportunity to train there, nothing is signed and I don’t have a licence.

“It is all subject to me going over there, giving everything the OK and signing everything up. Obviously we are very focussed and busy here right up to the end of the season but I am going to try and get over in the next couple of weeks.”

The announcement from Singapore also caused him considerable embarrassment. He had not told his owners that he was considering leaving South Africa and he had to hastily send out an email explaining why he hadn’t and adding: “I have provisionally accepted  boxes at the Singapore Turf Club but, until I go to Singapore and discuss things further, it’s business as usual at Goodhope Racing.”

Ramsden, 50, has been hit hard by Markus Jooste’s overnight decision to stop owning horses in South Africa. The troubled business tycoon was by far his biggest owner and he had to move to a smaller yard to cut costs. He and Steph have adopted an attacking policy both in attracting new owners and in trying to win as many races as possible. It has been successful but the yard does not have the same fire power as in the Jooste glory days.

In his email to owners he said: “I have dire concerns about the future of Cape racing and racing in this country in general.” Asked about this on Saturday, he spoke of rumours about one of the country’s biggest owner-breeders (not a Ramsden client) expanding to 150 horses-in-training next season and the numbers his main Cape Town rivals will train. “I estimate that there will be less than 800 horses in Cape Town next season. How many will be left for me?

“I don’t want to come across as a whiner. I love Cape racing and it has been absolutely fabulous to me but stakes are not going to go up. The way fields have been filling (or rather not filling) they are going to cut races, and I don’t blame them. I am not being nasty but it is going to happen.”

He feels that his present rewards are not enough. “I can have six winners in a month and my percentages will come to less than 30 grand. After tax, what is left for me and my operation? This not intended as a bitch but these are the facts and I can’t go on ignoring them. It is sad because I love it here and I always thought I would die in South Africa.”

His reference to the opportunity to trade in Singapore is something that trainers in certain other racing jurisdictions use to exploit their abilities and boost their income. Ramsden is unhappy that it doesn’t apply here. “I can go out and buy a yearling to pinhook for 100 grand and win first or second time up with it but I will then be offered less than it cost. That is the state of the market here. Basically there is no market.”

If he does leave Ramsden will be a big loss to South African racing. He is a world class trainer – he showed that when he won the Godolphin Mile with Variety Club at Meydan five years ago. He has won over 1 750 races, including 26 Grade 1s, most notably the 2016 Vodacom Durban July with The Conglomerate. True, others would take his place but they wouldn’t be the same colourful, larger-than-life character who attracts interest (in racing as well as in himself), believes in calling a spade an effing shovel and will be remembered in racing folklore long after he is gone. 

In the meantime – and this is what suggests the visit to Singapore will have to be next week rather than this one – there is the KRA Guineas on Friday and his bid to win the following day’s Computaform Sprint with either Attenborough or Speedpoint, first and third 12 months ago.

“Twist Of Fate has done fabulously. He galloped on Friday at Greyville and Anton rode him. I wasn’t there to see it but Alson was and he pronounced him very happy and very excited for when he goes over a bit further.

“Attenborough has also done great. We galloped him on the grass at Randjesfontein on Friday. He went with Speedpoint and they were magic. I couldn’t be more happy with them.”

By Michael Clower

Marco van Rensburg is a journeyman jockey who seldom gets the opportunities of the higher profile riders. But give him a chance and he’s as good as any as he showed when giving the field the slip in The Sledgehammer (Listed) at Greyville yesterday.

Marco van Rensburg is a journeyman jockey who seldom gets the opportunities of the higher profile riders. But give him a chance and he’s as good as any as he showed when giving the field the slip in The Sledgehammer (Listed) at Greyville yesterday.

It was probably a plan discussed with Mike Azzie and perfectly executed by Van Rensburg as he took Orpheus to the front, extending his lead with every stride and was way out of reach come the home turn with the balance of the field bobbing like corks in his wake.

Roy Had Enough, a late entry after the race was originally abandoned because of a soggy Scottsville track last Sunday, threw out a belated challenge but Orpheus was home and hosed long before he got to the line, some seven lengths adrift.

Of the Vodacom Durban July contenders, Eyes Wide Open was admittedly underdone as Glen Kotzen alluded to before the race and I doubt if the poly track suited, while Silva’s Bullet never looked comfortable on the surface.

In the card opener, Mai Tai confirmed her barrier trial showing as Warren Kennedy drove Wayne Badenhorst’s filly home ahead of the slightly more experienced Another secret.

Anton Marcus picked up a seven-day holiday courtesy of the stipendiary stewards after being found guilty of interference last week, but he banged home a treble to keep bread on the table and himself in contention for the national jockey championship.

Master Jay was the first of his two winners for Glen Kotzen as Master Jay followed up on his recent victory, holding off a fast-finishing Knight Warrior in the second race.

The belated addition of blinkers brought out the best in favourite Spring Fling in the third to give Kotzen and Marcus a quick double. The blinkers were added on the advice of Marcus who was run out of what looked to be certain victory at Scottsville a fortnight back as Tripple Z arrived late on the scene.

Not to be outdone brother, Nathan Kotzen saddled two-year-old Kaydens Pride to a comfortable win in the fourth, celebrated by national log-leader Muzi Yeni adding to his three victories at Turffontein on Saturday. This win took him four clear of current champion Lyle Hewitson, now facing a 14-day suspension, and seven clear of Marcus who is also facing seven days on the side-lines.

By Andrew Harrison

The Turffontein Inside track stages a low key nine race meeting tomorrow and most of the races are competitive, so the exotics could be the way to go.

The first leg of the Bipot should be fought out by Keep Smiling and Flying High who both made fair debuts when staying on over this same 1200m trip. They both have scope for improvement but Keep Smiling was up against males on debut so will appreciate being against her own gender now and she has a better draw.

In the first leg of the PA Super Fine can be bankered. She made the pace from a wide draw over this 1200m course and distance last time and just failed. This time she is well drawn and being by Duke Of Marmalade would have improved. However, Jay Bomb will be a big threat as she ran on well from draw ten of ten to be beaten just 1,80 lengths by Super Fine last time and this time from a fair draw under Gavin Lerena should be closer to the pace.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Petroni Vini ran on well over 1000m last time with first time blinkers on to finish a 1,90 length third. He is a rangy type with scope and should relish the step up in trip so has a shout from pole position. The two-year-old Union Castle has plenty of scope and ran on well last time over this trip so he will be the biggest danger, despite having to face Petroni Vini on terms 5,5kg worse than weight for age. Written In Stone beat Petroni Vini easily over this trip in his penultimate start but now has a tough draw, although he can be included in the Pick 6 and PA.

In the first leg of the Jackpot Deerupt is not the most imposing but her 79 merit rating looks attractive considering her from against some good sorts in Assessment Plates. She has a plum draw of three over this 1200m trip. Topweight Casual Wear usually runs over shorter but has some class and as a handy type will be dangerous from draw two. Peppermint Tea, Mazari and Generous Notion can also be included although it is an open race and others can also be considered.

In the sixth race over 1600m Flash Burn is going the right way and makes appeal from a plum draw despite being officially out at the weights with the two fillies. Bize has class but will find this a touch sharp and Captain’s Princess was unlucky last time when stepped up to this trip for the first time. 

Trip To Troy makes appeal in the seventh over 1450m as he is distance suited, well drawn and has come down to an attractive merit rating. Shortstop and Missouri can also be included.

In the eighth over 2000m Slay The Dragon stayed on resolutely over 1600m last time and should enjoy this trip so is the one to beat. Jose Di Nero has hard-knocking form from 1200m to 1600m and tries a step up in trip and will be thereabouts if he stays, although on pedigree there is a stamina doubt. Vetri Vel, Dry Your Eyes and Mr Cuddles have to be included too.

In the last race over 2000m Jive Express and Ideal Cut will relish the step up in trip and hard knocking Jungle Jane can also be included.

By David Thiselton

One World is hard to oppose in the Winter Guineas at Kenilworth tomorrow even though there are grounds for thinking he is not such a certainty as his prohibitive 11-20 price would suggest. On the plus side he has only been beaten once in seven starts – when third in the Cape Guineas – and on ratings he has a theoretical six lengths in hand.

However more recent form book evidence puts his advantage at considerably less than this, at less than two lengths in fact. In the CTS 1600 three months ago he had Vardy three and three-quarter lengths back third and here he has to concede 2kg. Furthermore he has not raced since whereas his principal rival had a pipe-opener three weeks ago and won it.

But Vaughan Marshall, who surprisingly has not won the Winter Guineas this century, has not got where he is today by running his horses a couple of gallops short and Anton Marcus has won on three of his last four rides in this race. The stats also favour the favourite. While the last two market leaders failed to make the frame, five of the previous six came home in front.

Vardy (9-2) is on the upgrade. He was raised ten points for his CTS performance and a further two for last time’s handicap top weight success. In other words he is closer to the favourite than Met day running would suggest. “I think he has improved,” said Anton’s brother Basil yesterday as he fielded calls while son Adam was at the sales. “He is maturing, and also learning more about it, with each run. He has a tough competitor – in fact a couple of them – but his prep has gone very well and we are holding thumbs.”

Herodotus (8-1) is presumably the other one he had in mind. S’Manga Khumalo’s mount has only once finished out of the first four in seven starts, his trainer Glen Kotzen won this with Irish Assembly in 2005 but he was five lengths behind One World in the Concorde and is only 2kg better.

The Bass stable has won this race eight times in the last 21 runnings and Majestic Mozart (who has drifted from 8-1 to 12-1) probably has the strongest claims of Candice’s three. Rider Bernard Fayd’Herbe is bidding for his fourth Winter Guineas and, although over six lengths behind One World in the CTS, his mount was only two and a half lengths behind him in the Cape Guineas – and he is 2kg better.

Helen’s Ideal has a favourite’s chance in the Sweet Chestnut Stakes and looks a decent bet at 33-10 despite her 11 draw. “That is a concern,” acknowledged Paul Reeves yesterday. “Obviously we have to try and get her over as quickly as possible but Bernard is more than capable of getting her in the right place. As long as he can have her relatively handy I will be pleased.

“This 1 400 is not a problem although she will be even better over 1 600m. We dropped her to 1 200m last time to sharpen her up but she has natural gate speed and she can turn it on. She has come on heaps since that last run, she is in top form and I don’t think I could have got her any better.”

By Michael Clower