Donovan Dillon, who had hoped to be back in action some six weeks after his Met day injuries, now looks like facing a total of three months on the sidelines.

He said: “I went to Durban last week for a follow-up appointment with my specialist – he is good and treats many rugby players with their knees. He said that he was happy with the progress I am making but the strenuous sport I am in can be hard on the knees.  He said that I should be back riding at the end of April and I am due to see him once more before then.”

Dillon damaged knee ligaments when Double Alliance reared with him in the pens in the Tattersalls Summer Juvenile. He also damaged a cartilage and bruised his knee bone.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, back from Dubai, has seven rides at Durbanville on Saturday including Still I Rise (top weight in the Tabonline.co.za Handicap) who is one of four horses being sold by Joey Ramsden’s Goodhope Racing in a special filly and mare sale laid on by Grant Knowles’ Central Route Trading immediately after the last race.

The quartet also comprises last month’s Prix Du Cap winner Rose In Bloom (also second in the Sceptre and third in the Majorca), the useful maiden Lip Service and triple winner Lily Theresa. The only other horse in the sale is an unnamed Greys Inn two-year-old being sold by the executors of the late Chris Gerber.

By Michael Clower

Opensea Mhlamvu was the first Black person to be registered as an assistant trainer in South Africa when he worked for now Sydney-based David Payne. Veteran Mhlamvu is currently assistant to Gavin van Zyl and the horse named after him lines up in the second at Greyville today.

The colt has already had five starts, including three at Turffontein when under the care of Chesney van Zyl, but made a pleasing return to home territory when runner-up to the promising Mr Fitz at Scottsville.

On debut, Mr Fitz had finished second to Last Of The Legend who has subsequently run second in the Listed Derby Trial so Opensea has some solid credentials.

He is back to a sprint today and faces the Michael Roberts galloper Dallas who is bidding to snap a string visits to the second box. The handicappers have him rated the equal of Opensea so there is unlikely to be too much between the pair if the handicapper’s sums are correct.

The opening leg of the Pick 6 sees Podcast having his first outing for Kom Naidoo. He does have top weight but also a 2.5kg claimer aboard – if he can keep straight – and some useful form to back his claims. Podcast has had a taste of the poly and looks to be the right one in a competitive handicap.

Secret Dynasty could prove to be a threat as he seemed to do better over the shorter trip last time and jumps from the best draw. A good each-way wager could come in the form of Kingston Boy.  Doug Campbell’s runner has been dropped five pounds in the handicap and is never far back. He also goes very well on the poly. Of the balance, Techno Captain is not the easiest but did well over course and distance last time and can finish in the money again although he does appear to be at his best over a touch further.

The fourth is a treacherous lowly rated fillies handicap. Tombola has consistent form over further but has done well over this trip and tries blinkers for the first time which could see her home. Sheik’s Storm has gone close at her last two and has the best of the draw which counts for a length, maybe two, that can be vital in a handicap of this nature but not a race to go ‘light’ in.

In the sixth, Duke Of Spin showed potential before his New Year break but his two subsequent outings have been a touch disappointing. Duncan Howells has kicked for touch and Duke Of Spin races in blinkers for the first time. He cannot be written off lightly and if he does bring his A-game he will be difficult to beat. Of the balance, Capoeira has been tossed into the deep end but showed up well first run out of the maidens. He has a light weight and can feature while Blackball is 3.5kg worse off at the weights with Duke Of Spin when last they met but was a close-up second to smart stable companion Marchingontogether so cannot be written off lightly. Another with a chance is Amor Ardiente. Belinda Impey’s gelding is never far off them and has done well on the poly.

Young trainer Wayne Badenhorst, shortly to move to the Ashburton Training Centre, sends out Biker Babe in the seventh and appears to have picked her race as she is way down in class and was not far back when trying blinkers against stronger last run.

Finally in the last, Suzi Woo has made steady progress since her barrier trial and Shane Humby’s filly looks primed in a weak field, her only danger possibly On The Bright Side who landed a coup when sent over ground for the first time. The stable is in hot form and over an optimum trip, On The Bright Side must rate a threat.

By Andrew Harrison

A “blood reading” or “blood picture” is a term often used by trainers when assessing the well-being of a horse in the build up to a race.

However, there have not been many articles written in laymen’s terms which explain what this means.

Each trainer has his own methods.

Some will regard blood readings as an important part of a horse’s preparation, others place less importance in it and others don’t do them at all.

A “heart rate” is another measurement which can be taken but this is not a common practice.

The Paul Lafferty yard use blood readings extensively and some of the information below was gleaned from an interview with his assistant trainer Roy Waugh.

The information about the Heart rates is courtesy of three-times national Champion trainer Sean Tarry, who often uses this training aid. 

Athletic performance in thoroughbreds, as in humans, is interlinked with oxygen supply.

Haemoglobin, an iron-containing protein within the red blood cell, carries oxygen to the rest of the body and the more haemoglobin present the more that can be carried.

Red blood cells and haemoglobin thus go hand-in-hand. 

Red blood cells and accompanying haemoglobin are created by bone marrow and the levels are raised through exercise.

The aim of training is to stress the system, so that bone marrow makes more red blood cells/haemoglobin for the workload.

Short, sharp work is the best way to increase red blood cell/haemoglobin levels.

There are two important measurements to be taken in assessing the efficiency of oxygen transportation in a horse’s blood, the haemoglobin levels and haematocrit. The latter is also known as the Packed Cell Volume (PCV).

The amount of haemoglobin in whole blood is expressed in grams per decilitre (g/dl). The normal haemoglobin level for horses at rest is 8-19 g/dl.

The haematocrit or PCV measures the percentage of red blood cells in blood. A normal PCV reading for horses at rest is between 32-48%. Lower than 30% may indicate anaemia. When the blood sample is taken it is separated into three parts, red blood cells, plasma and buffy coat. The buffy coat is essentially the layer between blood cells and plasma that contains most of the white blood cells and platelets. An abnormally high white blood cell count indicates an infection. 

When the number of red blood cells is too large there is a traffic jam effect and blood flow is restricted.

This is termed haemo-concentrating and is chiefly associated with intact males.

Gelding is the usual solution. Long, slow work can also help.

Haemo-concentration is an unknown term in most racing countries, but is well-known in South Africa. The reason for this is likely due to South African trainers’ tendency to do short, fast work on heavy tracks, which can cause a rapid production of red blood cells/haemoglobin.

Trainers would ideally be looking for a haemoglobin level of from 13,5 to 15 for a horse at rest and a PCV reading from 40 to 43.

An important difference in the physiology of horses and humans is that a horse’s spleen holds approximately a third of its total red blood cells and these are held in reserve until mobilised through exercise, stress and excitement. This is a common physiological design in flight animals, who require a sudden burst of energy to escape from predators. It also explains why a good temperament is so vital in racehorses. Those who get worked up before the race or during the running are releasing some of their splenic blood and wasting their oxygen reserves. However, those who are able to relax until asked for an effort in the straight will still have oxygen in the tank in the final stages and this often makes the difference between victory and defeat.

The horse’s physiology is also one of the reasons a measurement of red blood cell/haemoglobin content in horses at rest can’t always be exact as even the anticipation of the needle can cause excitement and the consequent release of the splenic blood. 

Therefore, the Paul Lafferty yard take the measurement after fast work at which stage the splenic blood will still be in the system.

However, the expected levels will then change.

A good reading for haemoglobin after fast work would be from 23 to 24,5 and a good reading for PCV would be from 72 to 75.

These readings can be a valuable aid to trainers.

If the levels are too low a couple of days before a race, the horse will have no chance and might as well be scratched. However, if there is still two or three weeks to the race the levels can be raised by short, sharp work.

The levels become more important as an indicator the longer the race is.

They become an even more important indicator in races run at altitude (e.g. Johannesburg), where the air is thinner.

The Sean Tarry yard take heart rate readings after grass gallops. A profile of a horse’s heart rate and recovery rate is created over a period of time. When a race is approaching the heart rate and recovery rate readings are compared to the markers on the profile and an assessment is made.

By David Thiselton

The world-renowned Red Mills horse feeds are coming to South Africa and business development director Michael Connolly was at Durbanville at the weekend to outline the company’s plans.

The world-renowned Red Mills horse feeds are coming to South Africa and business development director Michael Connolly was at Durbanville at the weekend to outline the company’s plans.

He said: “We are the number one horse feed supplier in Europe and Asia, supplying 76 countries worldwide, and we have been looking at the South African market for the past ten years. You have world class horses and world class horsemen.”

Apparently one of the key reasons for taking so long was cost because Connolly is determined that his firm’s products are competitive with the local ones and “we have to ensure that they are affordable.”

The Irish-based company- William Connolly & Sons (Michael Connolly is a grandson of the founder) – boasted 97 Group 1 winners in 12 countries last year and supplies many of the top trainers around the world including William Haggas and Nicky Henderson in England, the Aga Khan’s trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre in France and in Ireland Melbourne Cup winner Joseph O’Brien, Cheltenham king Willie Mullins, Dermot Weld and John Oxx.

Connolly continued: “Under phase one of the South African operation we will supply the top trainers and studs direct and in phase two we will operate through a distributor.

“We are proven over time and the advantages of our products, as we see it, are that we use whole grains not extracts, steam for cooking which improves digestibility, a shelf life of ten months minimum that copies mother nature and does not use any nasty chemicals, consistency and state of the art quality control.”

Connolly was accompanied on his trip by global account manager Nicholas Gaumerais and he has recruited Peter Gibson (083-406 4881) as the company’s product adviser in South Africa.

Doubtless the likes of Equi-Feeds will hit back with offers and promotions of their own in a bid to hold on to the market and the competition can only benefit racing stables and studs in this country.

By Michael Clower

The Vaal’s original track stages an eight race meeting tomorrow in which the first three races from 1700 up to 2400m are around the turn and the other five are down the straight.

The draws will play an important part in the races down the straight and it is difficult to tell beforehand whether there will be any draw bias, although if there is it usually favours the high draws.

The meeting kicks off with a maiden over 2400m for fillies and mares and Laconia makes appeal being by the stamina influence Lateral and being trained by the outstanding conditioner of stayers, Weiho Marwing. Last time out she stayed on well over this trip at Turffontein Standside for a close second. Hennie Greyling stays aboard and she has the same good draw of two. Flying Fantasy has had three moderate runs to date but has an eyecatching pedigree for this trip being by stamina influence Irish Flame out of a Bezrin mare who won twice over this sort of trip. Nandi’s Vision should also be thereabouts jumping from pole and coming off a second over this trip.

In the first leg of the PA, a Middle Stakes event over 2400m, Mighty And Magic looked to be a strong tip to win last time but that was before he lost a lot of ground at the start. If he jumps on terms here he will be in the shake up from pole position. The best weighted horse according to official merit ratings is Parisienne Chic, but in December she was similarly well weighted in a Middle Stakes event over this trip against the boys and didn’t feature. Kurt’s Approval proved he enjoys this trip last time and although a touch out at the weights on official merit ratings he has a nice galloping weight and the yard can try a bolder strategy knowing he stays. Yamoto is interesting stepped up in trip from a good draw and can be included in the PA alongside Mighty And Magic and Kurt’s Approval. However, Condor Gulch and Horseplay are also proven over the trip and are hard to ignore.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1700m Ossetra is a potential banker from a good draw. She has topweight but it is alleviated by a 4kg claimer. She always struck as one who would progress with age and her last run shows her to now be coming into her own. However, not many will want to have a banker in a lowly fillies and mares handicap so Poormanslady and Picadilly Square can be included in the PA and Elegancia and Satin Slipper can be included alongside those three in the Pick 6.

The next race is the highest rated event on the card, an Assessment Plate over 1400m and Epic Dream is made the one to beat. He is a nice progressive sort and this trip will be right down his alley. Anneka is the best weighted three-year-old in the field according to official merit ratings and has to be included as she has form behind the like of Mighty High, Clouds Unfold and Cirillo. Captain Of Tortuga is the best weighted male horse in the race and is distance suited, so must also be included in all of the PA, Jackpot and Pick 6. Rocky Night must be included in the Jackpot and Pick 6 as he won well in his first start for this yard so can progress further. Fired Up is also hard to ignore as he won well on debut and could still be anything. Rockin’ Russsian is easily the best weighted horse in the field, so is worth including despite returning from a layoff of nearly a year.

In the fifth race over 1400m the distance suited and in form Danza and the attractively merit rated Wonderwall must be included in the PA. The latter has his second run after gelding and could bounce back to form. Greek Fire, Shogun and Captain Courteous all have ability and can be included in the Pick 6.

The last three races look more cut and dried.

In the sixth over 1000m Rebel Renegade won in commanding fashion last time and off just a two point higher mark can go close again for the flying Magner yard. Vardo is the only other one who needs including as he has speed and class and is attractively handicapped, having been dropped three points for his first run back from Cape Town, which he likely needed.

In the seventh over 1400m Elusive Butterfly did well last Thursday against a stronger field than this and is the first choice. The back up is Florida Quays who caught the eye as one who has come into her own in her last win, although it remains to be seen whether the number one draw will be a disadvantage.

In the eighth over 1400m Boutique is made the best bet of the day, despite being up against some talented sorts. The form of her maiden win has worked out exceptionally well and she is held in good regard, so will be hard to beat over an ideal trip from a nice high draw and off a lowly merit rating of just 64.                               

By David Thiselton