Beaten only once in five starts this term, Garth Puller’s runner Sea Urchin has been something of a late starter. The gelding has come into his own as a seven-year-old and five of his eight successes have come in his last seven starts.

He steps out under top weight in the opening leg of the Pick 6 on the Greyville poly today and there is not reason to doubt that he can go to the well again.

Sea Urchin has crept up the ratings and only got a three-point raise after his last win where he kept finding under apprentice Jason Gates. Gates will be aboard again this afternoon, this time only claiming 2.5kg, but he is a much improved rider in spite of his many brushes with the ‘law’.

Ronnie Rocket has been a soldier for Pat Lunn and he made all to beat the well-fancied Wayward over the Scottsville 1200m. The gelding gets on well with Keagan de Melo who will know exactly what he is up against have partnered Sea Urchin to victory on two occasions.

Buckleberry and Solid Gold are others to consider.

Brighteyebushytail has had to overcome a myriad of problems and was one of the worst affected by the virus that plague the stable last season. Duncan Howells appears to have nursed him back to form and he caught the eye when just out of the money behind the promising Last Of The Legend, giving the winner 6kg.

He has the steadier of 61kg in the saddle but has dropped in class so should be up to the task. Lyle Hewitson is riding up a storm of late so Zanzibarian must be a contender along with What A Scorcher, promising Clouds Of Witness and Haddington whose stable was in red-hot form on Sunday.

Hewitson and Louis Goosen teamed up with Jo Mambo to close off the meeting on Sunday and Duke’s Dozen looks set to make a winning debut for his new stable as he is stepped up to what looks to be a more suitable trip given his pedigree. He was touched off over a mile on the poly last time out and rates the one to beat.

The seventh is a wide open affair with any number of runners in with solid winning chances. The Private only got going when the race was all but over last time and the extra furlong could be more to his liking. But he will face serious challengers in Noble Joshua, Sovereign Soldier, Victorious Man and local debutant Gimmie A Cohiba to name but a few contenders.

Punters face a similar dilemma in the last, another extremely competitive handicap. Paul Gadsby could hold the key here with Arrow’s Mark. The gelding has his third run after a lay-off and takes a drop in trip. He also has a pedigree that suggests that the poly track may be his forte and Gadsby has declared blinkers on his charge. Grand Maestro and recent maiden winner Maa Nonu look possible threats.

By Andrew Harrison

Justin Snaith needs the field for the R4 million Premier’s Champions Challenge to be much smaller than its present 22-nominated if he is to run Made To Conquer in the Turffontein 2 000m Grade 1 on May 4. The problem is that last year’s Durban July runner-up is drawn 18.

Snaith said: “I am not going all that way to run from a wide draw. It’s hard enough going to Jo’burg even without that. I am going to run him once in Durban and then make a call.”

Made To Conquer is an 18-1 chance with World Sports Betting whose early prices are dominated by horses trained by Mike de Kock – Hawwaam hot favourite at 11-10, Barahin (7-1), Cascapedia (8-1) and Soqrat (9-1). The Sean Tarry-trained Legal Eagle (15-2) is the only non-de Kock horse priced in the top five.

Glen Kotzen has a possible tilt at the Vodacom Durban July at the back of his mind for Herodotus who showed what he is capable of when stepped up to ten furlongs for the G-Bets Cape Derby, finishing third to Atyaab.

The Woodhill trainer said: “Herodotus will stay put for now and go for the Winter Series. If he steps up further then we might go for the July with him.”

Plans have still to be decided for Elusive Trader who collected R1 million for finishing second to Cirillo in the CTS 1200.

Greg Ennion said: “At the moment the horse is in work but taking it easy and I want to give him as long a break as I can. I might then send him to Durban but the owners (Marsh Shirtliff and Bryn Ressell) and I haven’t discussed it yet.”

The Klawervlei Farm Sale Stakes proved a popular call at Durbanville on Saturday and it looks like becoming an annual event. The winner cost only R25 000 and, without wishing to sound like an advert, it’s worth noting that the Farm Sale (on June 15 this year) also boasts graduates of the calibre of Edict Of Nantes and Captain Of All.  

By Michael Clower

Paul Matchett and Master Of My Fate were the toast of Turffontein on Saturday. Matchett saddled three feature winners and Master Of My Fate was sire of two feature winners. 

The Paul Matchett-trained two-year-old Master Of MY fate filly Basadi Faith is suddenly hot property after passing her first real test with flying colours. She waltzed away with the Listed Ruffian Stakes over 1000m. She had caught the eye when flying home with long strides to win on debut over 800m and she followed up with a cosy win over 1000m at the Vaal. However, on Saturday she was allowed to go off at generous 6/1 odds as she had to give 2kg to the highly touted Mike de Kock-trained Gin Fizz and there were one or two other promising horses in the race too. 

Gin Fizz was the most disappointing horse of the weekend, but this was more a case of everybody under-estimating Basadi Faith. It was yet another lesson in jumping the gun when rating two-year-olds.

The De Kock yard had been concerned about Gin Fizz’s temperament when she made her debut three weeks earlier and said in the aftermath of her comfortable 7,40 length win, “She is a bit temperamental though and has been ready for a while. Full marks to whisperer Malan du Toit as she could easily have gone the other way – we were quite nervous but I’m pleased with the effort.”

However, on Saturday she was seen by Tellytrack viewers to play up behind the stalls. She then proved to be no match for Basadi Faith despite receiving weight and having started at odds of 1/4.

Gin Fizz jumped out well and displayed the same huge stride she had done on debut. However, instead of being able to cruise the whole way as she had done on debut Gavin Lerena had to shake her up at the halfway mark in order to catch the speedy Basadi Faith. She then showed her inexperience and became a touch unbalanced. Basadi Faith was not stopping and it suddenly became apparent that Gin Fizz was making no impression. Gin Fizz’s time was slightly slower than her debut effort over the same course and distance. She was beaten 4,5 lengths this time and it was suddenly the name Basadi Faith who was on everybody’s lips.

Matchett said Basadi Faith would likely go straight for the Grade 2 SA Fillies Nursery over 1160m at Turffontein on Champions day May 4. The Grade 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m at Scottsville on May 25 is also a possibility as he reckoned she would be just as comfortable over 1200m. Matchett won the latter race with the 30/1 shot Brave Mary in 2017. He said if taking part in the Allan Robertson this year he would be going in with more hope than he had back then.

Matchett liked Basadi Faith’s conformation and pedigree at the CTS April Yearling Sale and clinched her for what has proved to be a bargain R45,000. Her sire Master Of My Fate (Jet Master) had to be retired before fulfilling his immense potential and her Captain Al dam Coral Colour, who won twice as a two-year-old, is out of a full-sister to one of the best sprinters seen in South Africa in recent times, National Colour.

In the previous race Matchett’s two-year-old Wylie Hall colt Twilight Zone had dead-heated with another touted De Kock-trained horse, the New Zealand-bred All Too Hard colt Frosted Gold, in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m. The time for this race was 0,89 seconds slower than the Ruffian Stakes which underlines how good Basadi Faith is.

Matchett later won the Listed Bauhinia Handicap over 1000m with the Where’s That Tiger filly See You Tyger. She was only half-a-kilogram under sufferance off a mere 80 merit rating so it was not a vintage renewal but she won in good style. Her time was only 0,02 seconds faster than Basadi Faith’s, despite carrying only 52kg, as opposed to Basadi Faith’s 60kg, and being a year older. 

So Basadi Faith could be something special and she is in good hands as Matchett was a three-times Zimbabwean Champion trainer and has won a number of Grade 1 sprints in South Africa. 

Master Of My Fate’s other winner on the day was the Tyrone Zackey-trained colt Gift For The Gap and this is one to follow for the rest of the season. In his previous start he had caught the eye surging late over 2000m. In Saturday’s Listed Derby Trial over 2000m he came from the back of the field with a telling run and won by 0,50 lengths carrying 56kg off an 85 merit rating. What is particularly impressive about this horse is his scope for improvement as he is still immature. He could develop into a top bracket sort.

Another promising horse emerged in the next race in the form of the Alec Laird-trained three-year-old Mambo In Seattle filly Bize. She carried only 52kg in the Listed Oaks Trial but the impressive part of her comfortable win was that she was caught wide near the back which usually saps the energy coming up the Turffontein hill. It didn’t stop her cruising up on the outside and winning effortlessly.

The other features on the day were the Non-Black Type (NBT) Sun Chariot Handicap over 2400m and the NBT Gold Rush Sprint over 1100m for three-year-olds. The former was won comfortably by the consistent Geoff Woodruff-trained Sunshine Silk. She is coming into her own in the typical style of a four-year-old by Silvano. The latter race was won by the Announce colt Old Man Tyme, owned, trained and bred by St. John Gray.

By David Thiselton

The meeting today has switched from the Vaal straight to the Turffontein Inside track which could mean a reversal in draw fortunes for some races as high draws down the Vaal straight are usually advantageous but now around the turn they become disadvantageous..

In the first race over 1200m, a workrider’s maiden, Varquera was oroginally made the best bet of the day. She moved up well on debut over this trip and looked dangerous but then ran out of steam and finished third. She should have come on from the run and has Sam Mosia aboard from a high draw, which would have been favourable but is now unfavourable. Desert Kitten and Daring Damsel have also shown ability and are the main dangers.

In the first leg of the PA over 1200m Bold Matador was a touch outpaced on debut over 1000m before staying on well, so he will enjoy the step up in trip. However, the form is not strong and Setablaze, who is improving and has gone close in his last two over 1200m and 1400m respectively, must also be included in the PA. The only possible concern for him was the low draw, but this now becomes an advantage. These two horses should get punters through the PA. Potje is the first to consider for those who want to go wider as he has form behind some fair sorts and on the evidence of his first run with blinkers on he could enjoy this step down in trip.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Verdi ran on resolutely last time over 1600m and should relish this 1700m trip from another good draw as he has proved he can stay up to 1800m. Hit For Six will has a nice big action and after being outpaced on debut over 1400m he was staying on at the finish. He will probably need even further than this trip, being by Dynasty out of a Jallad mare who won twice over 1800m, but he should have a chance from a plum draw. Palace Green ran on well on debut over 1200m and will also relish the step up in trip. He is also well drawn but has not raced since last August so might need it. Maroon Bells is a rangy type who has his third run after a layoff and gelding and he can be included in the Pick 6. Paused has a wide draw but has shown ability and with a 2,5kg claimer aboard for an in form yard can also be included in the Pick 6.

In the first leg of the Jackpot over 1700m it all points to Evening Bell. This rangy daughter of Horse Chestnut has plenty of substance and stayed on well on debut over 1200m. She should relish the step up in trip and has a plum draw of three. However, it will be her first race around the turn so the hard knocking Sea Like Glass must be included in all the exotics. His last run can be ignored as he had to be eased at the 300m mark. Strydom is now aboard which is a plus. For the Pick 6 and Jackpot Oh So Cold, Jungle Jane and Vida Amarosa have all shown enough to be able to upset.

In the next race over 1700m D’Arrivee has always struck as one with a touch of class and he is now coming into his own. He is drawn in pole over an ideal trip, but can’t be made a banker as Verdier is well drawn and comes from a strong formline. Ragoon, who makes breathing noises and now has to overcome an eight point merit rating raise, has also turned the corner and is distance suited.

In the sixth race over 2400m Emily Hobhouse is made the value bet as she has always struck as one who would improve with age and she has now come into her own. She is ideally distance suited and has a nice low weight. Blue Sage might be 2,5kg under sufferance but on collateral form with the other runners she is right in it here. Star Halo has a big weight but has the form to be involved and Glamarous Scandal and Pilgrim’s Progress can’t be ignored either.

In the last leg of the Jackpot over 1800m Seventh Of June won a fine race over this trip in his penultimate start. Last time over 2000m he set the pace and just failed, proving he has a new lease of life and that he is up to his new merit rating. The well drawn Corrido goes well for Herrerra Gomez and if apprentice claims are included is 6kg better off with Seventh Of June for a mere 0,4 length beating. If the claim is ignored he is 2kg better off but it still puts him in with a fine chance. Hakeem has to be included too over an ideal trip.

In the last race over 1400m Believe Me was the tip but has now been scratched. Bullsade enjoyed stepping up to this sort of trip and will go close. Seattle Tango should relish the step down in trip so also has to be included.

By David Thiselton

Futura’s full brother Scribner took his first step towards emulating the 2015 Horse of the Year when leading 100m out in the Kuda Maiden at Durbanville on Saturday but his many owners are going to have to hold thumbs that he stands up to racing.

Brett Crawford explained: “He fractured his near-fore knee after his first start in September. We didn’t have to operate but we had to give him time. Now he has to find his feet while we have to keep him sound.”

Crawford had his first juvenile winner of the season – one of the last of Cape Town’s big guns to do so – when Corne Orffer initiated a double on Finding Camelot (a son of triple classic winner Camelot) in the Equi-Feeds Maiden Juvenile.

“A lot of our two-year-olds came in late and we have only run two,” the Philippi trainer explained. “But this one is an exciting horse, he has a lot of scope for improvement and he is crying out for a trip.”

However the one that got away was Boomps A Daisy and to add insult to injury it happened in the race that Crawford sponsored. This was the horse that most of the scribes (including this one) said was a racing certainty. Sadly, though, it’s such supposed good things that are God’s gift to bookmakers. The money poured on her in the few minutes before the off and she started at 5-10.

Slowly out of the gate, she was soon leaving Greg Cheyne looking anxious and it was obvious a long way from home that she was going to get beaten. Third, more than three and a half lengths off the winner, was the closest she could get.

“She never handled the turn – she couldn’t work out which leg she wanted to be on,” Cheyne reported. “We weren’t going much of a pace and she had no momentum turning into the straight. But she is better than this.”

The filly’s trainer took much the same view, adding: “It surprised me a bit that she ran so well the first time but after that I thought she had a winning chance here. But this was only her second start and we have to give her the benefit of the doubt.”

By contrast the Adam Marcus-trained newcomer Lana Belle came right away in the final furlong with Aldo Domeyer looking back to see what on earth had happened to the favourite. According to father Basil, Marcus jnr “will bring the winner along slowly and take her one step at a time.”

By the time you read this the last four of Sean Tarry’s visitors will be on the long float home to Johannesburg and the quartet includes Rock The Globe and Immeasurable, first and second in the inaugural Klawervlei Farm Sale Stakes.

Robert Khathi had a belated first winner of the year on Duchess of Bourbon for Justin Snaith who was also on the mark with the Richard Fourie-ridden Ferrari Red in the first.

Khathi explained: “I injured my left knee, they found that it was cracked and I was off for four months. The doctor said it had probably been like this for the last five years because I could feel it clicking when I was running.”

Anthony Andrews continued his winning run by making all on Singfonico for Tobie Spies in the VHM Racing Handicap while Howard Crawford was given a great reception when leading in Dynamite Jack, the third leg of Domeyer’s treble.

By Michael Clower