Marinaresco steps up to two miles on Saturday when the 2017 Vodacom Durban July winner tackles the Dubai Gold Cup and regular rider Bernard Fayd’Herbe is expecting a big run.

He said: “It’s his first time over the trip and he is obviously taking on the best but he is fit and doing really well. We are expecting him to run a game race and if we run in the money we will be very happy – but we will take the win!”

The six-year-old has, somewhat understandably, taken time to find his form after extensive travel and quarantine following his last South African run when third in the 2018 Sun Met. He has had three runs at Meydan, all in Group 2 races – finishing an always rear ninth of 13, fifth of nine when weakening in final furlong and a sixth of ten nearest at finish – but his jockey’s enthusiasm bodes well. 

Fayd’Herbe was in double form on his brief return home to ride at Durbanville on Saturday when he won the last for Mike Stewart on Dave Curran’s Icon Princess and steered four-year-old Ancestry to victory for the first time since the horse’s heady juvenile days when he came within little more than half a length of wining both the Premiers Champion and the Durban Golden Horseshoe.

A delighted Joey Ramsden said: “Ancestry is a hard horse to ride. He just drops the bit and he has been doing that ever since he came back from Durban as a two-year-old.  Running him over a mile and a half here was a last resort.”

Saturday was a red-letter day for the able Sandile Mbhele who rode his 40^th winner on Miss Plumcake (backed from 8-1 to 10-30) and reduced his claim to 1.5kg. “I think there is plenty more to come from this kid – he is a natural,” commented Stan Elley who knows talent when he sees it.

This was the second leg of a double for Marinaresco’s former trainer Candice Bass-Robinson who was also on the mark with the Aldo Domeyer-ridden Naturalist in the first and whose initial Durban contingent arrived at Summerveld on Friday. They include Santa Clara and What A Summer while Clouds Unfold is among those still to travel.

Sorry to relate, Je Ne Sais Quoi cost favourite backers dear for the fourth successive race. Morne Winnaar had her well away in the Tellytrack.com Maiden  but she got shuffled back into the rear of mid-division and, while she quickened well when the tap was turned on, the 21-10 shot couldn’t match 9-1 chance Big Suze and was beaten an expensive fifth of a length.

“It was a slow-run race and that didn’t suit her,” Winnaar reported. “She then took time to get going but, if it had been a true-run race, I would have won.”

Big Suze’s Brett Crawford-Corne Orffer combination were also on the mark with Middle Word 35 minutes earlier whereas the Justin Snaith-Richard Fourie team had to be content with just one, Spirit Festival, and that was a tense affair for the man in the irons – “As we jumped out of the gates my saddle slipped backwards. I thought ‘I’ve got to be cautious, sit tight and just look pretty.’”

MJ Byleveld attracted plenty of favourable comment for his handling of Kenny Trix in the Interbet.co.za Handicap. Intriguingly Jane Truter revealed that the Vaughan Marshall-trained five-year-old was named after her husband but he was more impressed with the way the horse had regained his form after being off for nearly 18 months through injury – “To be honest, I didn’t think he would make it back.”

By Michael Clower

The Paul Lafferty-trained Dark Moon Rising was considered once to be a staying prospect but he has turned out to be a useful miler and yesterday produced his usual strong finish to land the Listed Kings Cup over 1600m at Greyville under Keagan de Melo.

The five-year-old Ideal World gelding’s two previous best runs this season were over the same course and distance, an easy win in November and a third in the Listed Christmas Handicap,

Yesterday, he was 1,5kg better off with Christmas Handicap-winner Matador Man for a 1,6 length beating and shortened into 26/10 favourite, while Matador Man drifted out to 4/1.

Matadotor Man was dropped out to his usual last place and Dark Moon Rising, who likes to run around horses in the straight, was just ahead of him.

Royal Armour set a steady pace.

Dark Moon Rising and Matador Man rounded the field together at the top of the straight. The 16/1 shot Roy’s Riviera burst through a gap just inside of them and Platinum Prince was running on down the inside.

However, it turned into a thrilling tussle between the trio on the outside. Dark Moon Rising found the necessary extra to deny topweight Matador Man a head with Roy’s Riviera a head further back. 

It was a double for Lafferty who had earlier teamed up with Warren Kennedy to win with Romanesca.

Dark Moon Rising should also be effective over further and it will be no surprise to see him having another crack at the Vodacom Durban July.

Roy’s Riviera’s settled well for the first time since donning blinkers three runs ago. The SA Champions Season fillies mile division will be competitive but she could surprise one or two pundits as she has blossomed.

Earlier, Andre Nel’s Silver Rose won a strong Pinnacle Stakes race over 2200m under a clever ride by Gareth Wright. The slow pace did not suit the favourite Flichity by Farr, who ran a bit flat in third, but she remains a useful staying prospect for Champions Season.

Dean Kannemeyer’s The Sultan’s Bazaar won a MR84 Handicap over 1900m in fine style.

Dennis Drier and Sean Veale got the meeting rolling with the R900,000 two-year-old Master Of My Fate first-timer Master Of My Illusion. The gelding stretched out well late to just get his nose down in the 1200m Juvenile Plate event.

Tony Rivalland and Stuart Randolph then teamed up to score with the progressive Extravargant, who has now won two from three starts.

There were also wins for Alistair Gordon and Anton Marcus, Wayne Badenhorst and Jason Gates and Sean Tarry and Lyle Hewitson.

By David Thiselton

The start of Champions Season is still over a month away but the Kings Cup heralds the dawn of three months of championship racing. So too do the hoards of Western Cape raiders that have been arriving by the float-load at Summerveld this past fortnight.

Justin Snaith sends out his first local runner with Platinum Prince lining up at Greyville on Sunday, but Highveld raider Sean Tarry appears to hold the best hand as he saddles Matador Man and Captain And Master who could prove the two to beat in a competitive handicap.

Matador Man is over what is arguably his best course and distance and can follow up in his Christmas Handicap win in spite of top weight. Prior to that he ran an inexplicably bad race behind Dark Moon Rising failing to quicken went popped the question by Anton Marcus.

He does however have to give lumps of weight to his rivals, including 2kg to stable companion Captain And Master. A close-up fourth in the Hawaii Stakes, Captain And Master was sent out a short-priced favourite over the Greyville 1400m last time out, but took time to get into stride by which time the handily weighted Tristful had flown the coop.

He stays the mile comfortably but one assumes that regular stable rider Lyle Hewitson will have had the pick of the rides in spite of Marcus’s presence on Captain And Master.

Platinum Prince is no stranger to Greyville, having run here four times, and he should strip close to peak fitness after two warm-ups at Kenilworth. Richard Fourie is up for the ride and the ever competitive Snaith will like nothing better than to start his KZN winter campaign on a winning note.

Dark Moon Rising was something of a controversial runner in last season’s Vodacom Durban July but Paul Lafferty will no doubt have his charge headed for another dip in the well come Saturday, July 6 and victory here will enhance the gelding’s chances of making the final 18-horse field.

A possible exotic bet banker could come in the form of the filly Flichity By Farr. Second in the SA Oaks and the Gold Vase last season, she has come back well since a break. Her recent win came over a trip many thought would be short of her best but she took full toll of her advantage in the weights.

She is again well weighted in another Pinnacle Stakes over 2200m and can put the boys to the sword again over what should be a more suitable trip. Byron Forster does duty for Andre Nel in KZN and his two charges Silver Rose and O’Keeffe will be threats. O’Keeffe has yet to finish out of the first two since stepping out on the poly but she jumps in trip here and is back on the turf. Stable rider Gareth Wright has elected to partner top weight who stays well but does come off a three-month break.

The Gold Circle Podcast Handicap looks a tricky affair although Ollivander has been battling the handicapper for all of his career and is due another win. He makes his local debut off some smart staying form in the Cape and has his first start for a new stable. He will have a big chance on his best form. The Sultans Bazaar has been consistent over sorter but may now be looking for this trip. He also looks well weighted and along with Paths Of Glory looks the biggest threat to Brett Crawford’s runner.

By Andrew Harrison

Je Ne Sais Quoi has to be the choice for the Tellytrack.com Maiden at Durbanville tomorrow after she came back with more hard luck stories than you would find in the bankruptcy courts when starting favourite at Kenilworth last time.

Craig Zackey tried to come up the rails but, unable to secure anything like a clear run, he had to switch 300m from home only to find his path repeatedly blocked until just inside the 100m pole – and by that time it was too late. The Glen Kotzen filly wore blinkers for the first time that day but presumably they proved more of a hindrance than a help because she races without them tomorrow.

The capable Morne Winnaar takes over and his mount has been installed 5-2 favourite with World Sports Betting. On that last run she should be a good thing but beware – this filly carries a wealth warning. She also started favourite on her two previous most recent starts – she was odds-on when Anton Marcus rode her in January – and was beaten each time. True, she ran well on both occasions but she doesn’t look one to risk too much on.

She is opposed by six of those who took her on last time, most notably Silvery Heights (7-2) who finished over a length in front of her despite being almost as unlucky. Greg Cheyne’s mount lost ground at the start and she was then bumped sufficiently badly for Cheyne to briefly lose an iron. She would have been my selection had she not been drawn widest of all. Mary Moon (9-2), one of four Kotzen runners, also has strong claims.

Empire Glory (28-10) has been marginally preferred in the market for the opening 1 250m maiden by In Full Power who is blinkered for the first time but the Greg Ennion gelding was having his first run since being cut last time and he lost ground at the start. Even so he finished a neck the better of the pair and can confirm those placings.

Louisa May has some useful form over 1 400m and is preferred to fellow 3-1 joint favourite Silver Dazzle and Spirit Festival in the TAB Telebet Maiden.

The Play Soccer 6 Handicap (race three) is wide open but maybe 11-2 shot Bold Assassin can reverse January placings with Parade March.

In the next Middle Wood and Luxemburg head the market after both suffering interference last time. The former has an appalling draw – even over ten furlongs it has an impact on this course – but hopefully Corne Orffer can work out how to overcome it.

BLOB In the past month 11 of Michael Clower’s 24 selections have won, giving a profit of R112.00 to a R10 stake.

By Michael Clower

The exotics look to be the best way to play the nine race meeting at Turffontein Inside tomorrow, although there are also one or two opportunities for on the nose punters.

In the first leg of the PA Makara makes appeal from pole position as she has some pace and stays on and is receiving 3kg from the promising sorts Sarah and Mawsool. However, all three can be included as this takes away all risk and likely lands a treble up in the PA.

In the fourth race over 1000m Urban Oasis is knocking hard and has faced some decent types without being disgraced. However, she is widely drawn and this is her second run after a ten month layoff so the talented Hartleyfive and the well drawn and course and distance-suited Kindavar can also be included in the PA. For the Pick 6 Brittania Queen and Midnight Top can be included.

In the first leg of the Jackpot Pearl Of Siberia is a consistent sort and can beat the only filly in the race Desert Kitten. Icebreaker is by What A Winter out of Grade 3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery winner Rose Reserve and has a fine chance too.

In the second leg of the Jackpot Blonde Vision will relish the step up in trip to 1200m. She has fair cruising speed and a good kick and a middle draw. Topweight Regal Graduation is in fine form and goes for a hattrick, although she does have a tricky draw. Winter Watch was staying on over 1000m last time so could be a threat from a good draw with Strydom up and Three Stars and San Fermin have to be considered.

In the seventh race over 1450m Orpheus comes out strongly on formlines and is drawn well over a probably ideal trip considering he is a classy, handy to front-running sort who reportedly makes breathing noises. Rocky Night won well last time at Greyville, but was a touch disappointing on Tuesday and on a line through Epic Dream is held by Orpheus. However, due to the breathing issues of the latter he can be included and so can Polar Ice, Jubilee Line and Victor Forth, who are all capable of winning.

In the next the form of Ghaalla’s win in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile has to be questioned as second-placed I Like It was lowly merit rated and third-placed Ronnie’s Candy did not have a good trip in that race. However, whichever way it is looked at she is well weighted in this event and the 1450m trip is ideal. Her stablemate Firdoas is talented and can be included alongside second best weighted Rockin Russian. The risk averse can consider Skye Lane and Parental Control.

In the last race over 1600m Fife should relish the step up in trip and is the one to beat from a good draw, with Jungle Jane and Tuscan Light being the back up.

By David Thiselton