Greyville yesterday was meant to be all about Anthony Delpech. In the end it was all about the weather as the course was hit by a deluge just before the start of the fifth race which was run in pouring rain which continued into the sixth where Collabro and High Green slogged it out through the puddles.

Shortly after the jockeys lodged a protest complaining that an area of the pull-up, which had been compromised by a burst water main over-night, had become unsafe with the extra water.

After a lengthy delay and a track inspection by a group consisting of all interested parties, the jockeys were over ruled. By the running of the seventh, the surface water had drained and the race was run without incident and the meeting completed albeit 40 minutes later than scheduled.

Louis Goosen got his afternoon off to a cracking start with a quick double, apprentice Jason Gates leading all the way on the filly Wishful Words and then Khanya Sakayi riding a driving finish in the second on Bravo Zulu. This was a particularly good effort by the young apprentice who had to continually straighten his mount to prevent interference which could have caused mayhem with five runners closely bunched crossing the line almost as one.

Icing on the cake for Goosen came in the last with Lyle Hewitson getting the best out of Jo Mambo for a stable treble. 

The adage, breed the best to the best and hope for the best doesn’t always work out but the arrival on these shores of the first foal by super sire Frankel out of the cracking mare Val De Ra put pressure on Dennis Drier especially after the filly fluffed her lines on debut.

It’s been a long road back to the winner’s box but things appear to be back on track as she run on smartly under Keagan de Melo to score her second success in six starts.

Elusive Diva has been expensive to follow but finally got her act together under Anton Marcus who had stayed with the filly in spite of her previous four defeats when sent out favourite.

There is not better rider around at present than current champion Hewitson, as his poise, balance and ability to place his mounts is impeccable. He was not deterred by bucketing rain and a sloppy track as he steered Solsbury Hill home for Alyson Wright followed by Collabro for Dennis Bosch. Favourite High Green again finished runner-up, his fifth in succession for Lowan Denysschen with Marcus tracking Collabro all the way but not able to find a way past.

Drier completed a double as Sean Veale got Forehand to skip clear at the top of the straight to comfortable hold the grey Kilmokea.

By Andrew Harrison

Anthony Delpech was one of the country’s great riders and his forced retirement through injury was not only personal but also a blow to his legion of followers.

Saturday, April 7, 2018 was the fateful career-ending day for Delpech. As he hunted a gap on the well-fancied Majestic Mambo in the SA Classic, his mount clipped heels dislodging Delpech who landed on his feet. It was a jackhammer-like landing that caused spinal compression that would eventually force the 49-year-old rider, still at the top of his game, to call time on his riding career.

The three-time South African Champion, whose record of 334 winners in a season is unlikely ever to be challenged let along broken, will be honoured by Gold Circle at Greyville on Sunday where fans will have the opportunity to have autographs signed.

But for a jockey who partnered some of South Africa’s equine greats, it is slim pickings where the Igugu Handicap, a lowly rated MR 81, is top of the menu.

It is an open affair but Lowan Denysschen’s gelding High Green has been knocking on the door for some time now and due a change of fortune. He goes well over course and distance and has a good draw to add to his appeal.

The Duncan Howells-trained Legend was hopelessly out at the weights in a conditions race contested by a smart field of three-year-olds last time out. Prior to that he was a fast-finishing third when coming from a long way back and from a better draw he should be a big runner.

Of the balance, Collabro, touched of last run, goes well on the poly and the extra will suit while Saltoro Ridge may find this mountain too high but has shown his best current form over course and distance.

In the card opener, Cosmic Cutter is the best rated and shows some promise. He was a close-up second when tried in blinkers for the first time and should make a bold bid. Winter Twilight, demoted from second when making his poly debut, is a possible threat.

One always needs to take cognisance of Highveld raiders and Clinton Binda saddles Sugoi in the second. He has useful Highveld form over the trip and although he makes his poly debut, he should have a big chance. Bravo Zulu goes well over course and distance and has a light weight while Spring Breeze takes on males but was a beaten favourite last run. She now tries a tongue-tie and drops in trip and rating. 

The opening leg of the Pick 6 is a wide open affair but Boeing City goes well over course and distance and with a 4kg claimer up should be right there. Bonnie Dawn was running on well behind Making Waves over course and distance last time out and is now 1kg better off and can turn the tables.

Dancing Princess and Elusive Diva will be popular choices in the fourth but a lively outsider is Misty Heath who has shown some recent improvement and from a good draw can feature prominently.

Stuart Pettigrew and Diego De Gouveia have gelled into a formidable combination and they team up with Oona in the fifth. She does take on males but has improved in blinkers and was narrowly beaten on this course last time out. Daredevil Aviator and Solsbury Hill are others to consider.

In the seventh, Pettigrew and De Gouveia team up with Zulu Dawn who is way better than her last run and goes very well over this trip. Adorable Analia and Forehand look the biggest dangers.

The last is another tricky affair but Gareth van Zyl is in good form and Second To None took on stronger at her last start. She has also shown up well in two outings since her maiden win and can still improve. Jo Mambo has improved steadily since arriving in her new stable and Louis Goosen’s mare looks primed for this race.

By Andrew Harrison

There are five Listed features at Turffontein Standside tomorrow as well as two Non-Black type races and they will provide pointers to some top forthcoming events. 

One of the most talked about youngsters of the season, Gin Fizz, makes her second racecourse appearance in the Listed Ruffian Stakes over 1000m and she will be hard to beat. This Mike de Kock-trained daughter of Soft Falling Rain has plenty of natural speed and a kick to match. She won effortlessly by 7,40 lengths on debut and the form was franked on Thursday when the third horse Makara was only just touched off by a well regarded sort in Mill Queen. Gin Fizz can be bankered in all bets. Considering Makara’s good run on Thursday then Allmloving, who was second to Gin Fizz, can be tipped to finish second to her again. She has plenty of scope for improvement and gets 3kg from Gin Fizz. Basadi Faith has won both of her starts in good style but as a two-time winner has to give Gin Fizz 2kg.

De Kock also has a live wire in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m in the form of Frosted Gold. This New Zealand-bred colt by All Too Hard was green on debut but drew away to win easily. The form was then franked when the 2,20 length runner up Got The Greenlight won next time out beating a well regarded De Kock horse. Frosted Gold can be bankered in the first leg of the PA. Look To The Sky won easily on debut and could be the chief threat. The horse who Look To The Sky beat, Twlight Moon, is 3kg better off for a 1,50 length beating and could earn again.

The sixth race is the Listed Derby Trial over 2000m and Protea Paradise won comfortably over this trip last time from a wide draw. He has another wide draw but is capable of coming from off the pace. He looks to be promising and is improving in the typical fashion of a son of Dynasty. He will be ridden by Gavin Lerena, who is in top form and is made a banker. The risk averse might want to include more but beyond this horse it is wide open.

In the Listed Oaks Trial over 2000m Bize ran on well to win her debut over 1600m and on that evidence will relish the step up in trip. The wide draw should not be a concern as she can come from off the pace. However, her lack of experience is a concern so she can’t be a confident choice. African Daisy won her maiden well over 1800m under Luke Ferraris and was then not disgraced when finishing third, 5,40 lengths behind Protea Paradise, over this course and distance. She has a good draw of two and is reunited with Ferraris. The topeweight Seville Orange has to give lumps of weight away but has earned it as she has a touch of class. She should be thereabouts. However, the suggestion is to go as wide as possible in this race.

In the Listed Bauhinia Handicap over 1000m Lawdy Miss Clawdy is in fine form and can improve further with blinkers now on. Winter Watch has some class and is 1kg better off with Lawdy Mis Clawdy for a one length defeat last time so there is not much in it. Blonde Vision would have been the choice as she has obvious talent but her number one draw might be tricky.

By David Thiselton

Immeasurable can give Sean Tarry his first Cape Town two-year-old winner of the season in the R225 000 Klawervlei Farm Sale Stakes at Durbanville tomorrow.

Greg Cheyne’s mount raced green when a five and a half length-second to Captain Of Stealth on debut a fortnight ago but the winner is the best juvenile seen out so far down here this season and the third was nearly three lengths back.

Stable companion Rock The Globe (bought for only R25 000) has a good chance on his second to smart all-the-way winner Ground Control but is likely to be handicapped by his poor draw.

Path Of Choice has run two good races and should again go well but, on what he has shown so far, you would expect one or both of the Tarry runners to finish in front of him.

Immeasurable opened favourite with World Sports Betting on Wednesday at 22-10 and Rock The Globe came next at 3-1. The filly Don’t Be Blue (5-1) is bound to have come on from her promising debut while the bargain-basement buy (only R12 000) newcomer Seventh Express has been nibbled at from 10-1 to 17-2.

Candice Bass-Robinson has won the most two-year-old races in Cape Town so far this term and Sweet Karma should make it number six in the opening Streamline Agencies Maiden Juvenile. Aldo Domeyer’s mount is short at 15-20 but she went close first time and was then a decent third to ultra-smart stable companion Vandah’s Spirit in a winners’ race.

The Equi-Feeds Maiden Juvenile has a much more open appearance. Midwinter is favourite at 12-10 but gets only a tentative selection. He has been placed in all his three runs but it is significant that Vaughan Marshall is putting blinkers on 22-10 second favourite Lasata and Capkuta (33-10) could easily have come on enough.

Punters have been waiting for Boomps A Daisy ever since that eye-catching debut four weeks ago and even at odds of 13-20 many will plunge – and why not? If ever a horse looked certain to win next time it was this one. Starting second favourite she took time to understand the meaning of Anton Marcus’s urgings but, once she did, she accelerated like a good ’un, making up five lengths inside the final furlong and going under to Fluttering by only a head.

Trap Queen finished one and a half lengths back third that day and didn’t get an entirely clear run so, if there is to be a danger, it could be this 6-1 shot.

By Michael Clower

Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer in Cheltenham Festival history and should have another good week at the famous four day meeting in the Cotswolds next week.

The Festival’s biggest race, The Gold Cup, has always eluded Mullins but that could change this year. 

He has a trio of lively candidates, Kemboy, Al Bourn Photo and Bellshill, as well as an outsider in Invitation Only.

Kemboy caught the eye as a young horse and is currently one of the most progressive chasers in Britain and Ireland.

Mullins was quoted by Martyn Thomas of The Mirror, “The ground in Leopardstown at Christmas, where Kemboy put in a huge performance, was very, very good. If it comes up like that on the fourth day at Cheltenham, which it can, he must have a very good chance and the further he’ll go, the better he’ll be.”

He continued, “I think Al Boum Photo shouldn’t have any problem with the trip. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet.”

Bellshill and Invitation Only have both won on their only outings in 2019.

“Bellshill has lots of stamina, he jumps particularly well,” said Mullins. “That’s a huge plus for him. We can see him improving all the time. He’s always gone on soft or heavy and I took a chance running him on the ground the other day but I felt we had to and he’s by Kings Theatre, they love good ground and he can handle it well, even though he’s a big, heavy type of horse.

He added, “Invitation would probably have to step up a good bit.”

One of Mullins best chances of the meeting comes on day one, Tuesday, with Benie Des Dieux in the Grade 1 OBLG Mares’ Hurdle over two miles and four furlongs. Mullins’ legendary mare Quevega created a Cheltenham record by winning this race six times in succession and Benie Des Deux can begin following in her footsteps. She upset Apple Jade last year and the latter looks likely to be going the Champion Hurdle route this year which will make it easier for her. Ben Des Dieux hasn’t been seen on the track since winning at the Punchestown Festival in April last year. However, that was the way Quevaga used to do it. In the last five years of her career, Quevega only ran twice a season, at Cheltenham and Punchestown. In those ten runs she was only defeated once, in her final race at Punchestown. So it should be no problem for Benie Des Deux to be running fresh.  

On the same day Mullins has a good chance with Ballyward in the Grade 2 National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase over three miles and seven-and-a-half furlongs. Mullins must think highly of Ballyward as he is his only entry and is the current second favourite. His son Patrick is likely to take the ride. Ballyward was last seen winning a Grade 3 novice chase over three miles in decent fashion and he can go close here in a race that will all be about stamina. He is by the stamina influence Flemensfirth out of a mare who won over three miles.

On the Wednesday Uradel will have a fine chance in the Grade 3 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. Mullins sent out Bleu Berry to victory in last season’s Coral Cup, Uradel is entitled to be heading the betting at the moment. He is entered in a few handicaps over the four days, but the Coral Cup looks an ideal fit for a horse that finished second in a Cesarewitch on the Flat and warmed up for this race with a decent fifth place finish in a competitive handicap hurdle at Leopardstown over a trip on the sharp side.

On the Thursday Mullins has Min in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase over two miles and four furlongs. He might well run here in preference to taking on the top class Altior in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. A winner over 2m 4f at Punchestown this season, Min lacks the pace needed at Championship level over two miles, so the Ryanair is ideal for him and with question marks hanging over Cyrname’s participation then this classy performer can strike gold on the third day of the festival.

Also on the Thursday Mullins has Faugheen in the Grade 1 Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle over three miles. Paisley Park is the favourite after romping the Cleeve Hurdle. The latter is an exciting stayer but Faugheen is the forgotten horse in the field and could cause a minor upset. Faugheen was the star hurdler a few years ago and won the Champion Hurdle in memorable fashion. However, following a litany of injuries he has fallen down the pecking order. A faller when trying to close down Apple’s Jade at Leopardstown over Christmas, the horse once dubbed ‘The Machine’ can bounce back to form and be a major player over three miles in the Stayers’ Hurdle on March 14. His last win was in the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle over this same three mile trip at the Punchestown Festival last year. In that race he beat the Cheltenham Stayers Hurdle winner Penhill by 13 lengths, so his form over this trip is good.

Mullins will have less runners than usual at this Festival but still brings over a string of about 40. He has had 61 Festival winners, one more than his English contemporary Nicky Henderson.

By David Thiselton