The Gauteng Fillies Guineas (GFG) winner Nafaayes is favourite for the second leg of the Triple Tiara, the SA Fillies Classic to be run over 1800m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday, but the question is whether she will handle the step up in trip.

The Triple Tiara and the three races within it are sponsored by Wilgerbosdrift Stud, who have two home-breds running in Saturday’s race, Chitengo and Blossom.

Nafaayes stayed on from a handy position in the GFG, having been given a fine ride from draw three by Warren Kennedy. She should get the run of the race again from pole position and trainer Mike de Kock said he believed she would just get the 1800m but anything further would be a question mark.

Chitengo was caught a touch wide early on in the GFG and after keeping up in the straight from a handy position she was making some eyecatching late progress. She will relish the step up in trip and if Raymond Danielson can place her well from draw nine she has a chance.

Ronnie’s Candy was the unlucky horse in the GFG. She has a fine turn of foot but never saw the daylight which could have enabled her to really let herself down. She was also eased before the line so should have finished third. She has plenty of speed, having won the SA Fillies Nursery, but has learnt to settle recently and could get the trip if Karl Zechner is able to find cover from draw eight.

Last season’s Champion two-year-old filly Return Flight had always struck as one who would be ideally suited to this course and distance as a galloping type who stays on resolutely. The best of her has not yet been seen this season and she will be a threat from draw two.

Her stablemate Second Request proved her class down in Cape Town and could well be the stable elect.

Running Brave was touched off in the GFG and has another good draw so this gallant sort should be right there.

Storm Destiny was caught wide in the GFG and after moving up she faded. That was not the first time she had been undone by a bad draw, but on other occasions she has shown her class so is the dark horse from a good draw of six this time.

Skye lane is an interesting runner having finished a fine fourth at 100/1 odds in the CTS 1600, although it is never easy for a horse who has moved up from Cape Town to Jo’burg running straight away in a feature.

Dagmar was sixth in the GFG but now has a tough draw so is an unlikely winner.

I Like It and Blossom also look held from wide draws.

Perfect Tigress is drawn well and runs for an in form yard but she will need to have improved a lot from the GFG.

By David Thiselton

Procrastination, scratched (not eating up) when favourite for a maiden at Kenilworth earlier in the month, is odds-on  to gain compensation in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden on Saturday when Cape Town racing reverts to Durbanville for the entire month plus three of the first five meetings in April.

World Sports Betting opened him at 4-10 yesterday and the bookmakers also expect Andre Nel to win the next with Metropolitan who already as short as 8-10. Aldo Domeyer rides both and he could have a field day because five of his eight rides are favourites and two are second favourites.

By Michael Clower

Speak to any trainer and you will soon be told how difficult it is to encourage new owners into the sport. There have been many incentive schemes that have gone belly up for one reason or another but one that did pay dividends yesterday was Yessiricanboogie’s win in the first race at Scottsville.

Her owners, and there were a lot of them, lifted the grandstand roof as Gareth van Zyl’s filly put daylight between herself and the opposition – and she did not run loose – backed in from an ante-post call off 28-10 to deep in the red.

The pressure was not lost on Van Zyl. “Driving up, the rescue tablets couldn’t come fast enough. My stomach was a washing machine,” he confessed.

The golf course is where big business is done and first prize in the KZN Breeders’ Golf Day was a buying voucher for the KZN yearling sales.

The voucher was put to good use, resulting in the purchase of Yessiricanboogie and there were a lot of happy owners on course yesterday.

“The aim is to have a runner on July day in the KZN Million race, so hopefully it all goes according to plan,” said Van Zyl. Barring accidents, they are already halfway there.

Pearl Of Asia came out of the same barrier trial as Yessiricanboogie and the form held up in the second with Robbie and Shannon Hill’s colt getting home narrowly in a three-way fight for the line, Gareth Wright managing to squeeze a little bit extra to get home ahead of Master Jay and African Warrior. “He has a good action and I just let him roll and ask the others to come and fetch me.”

One for the notebook is Ruby Spirit. Duncan Howells is top of the KZN trainer’s log by stakes won but the yard has been going through a quiet patch of late, not helped by a disappointing trip to Cape Town for Met day.

The mood will have been lifted somewhat by Ruby Spirit’s comfortable win in the third. “We were pleasantly surprised that he showed so much on debut,” said Duncan. “If the race had been over 1200m he would probably have won. It’s early times but he’s got some scope.”

“We have had trouble with his (flat) feet but thanks to our farrier Dom Finnis, we seem to have got on top of that problem.”

Quite often there is no explanation for a disappointing run when much is expected. Roy’s Flash was quietly fancied for a big effort at Greyville last Friday but it was just one of those days according to Frank Robinson. “We expected much more. It was just one of those runs. You just had to put a line through it.”

It was a good call as Serino Moodley judged his race to perfection and Roy’s Fish did just that, flashing up late to deny long-time leader Kheelan Dynasty, favourite Farm Yard Tractor chugging along into fourth.

It was a Van Zyl one-two in the sixth with Van Zyl senior edging out Van Zyl junior and Luke Ferraris riding a cracking finish on Don’t Look Back to beat Paths Of Victory.

Shane Humby has one of the better winning strike-rates in the country but he is a trainer who does not race his horses just for the sake of it. So, when they do step out there is always a plan and you generally get a solid run for your money.

Anton Marcus rode a confident race on Fever Tree Handicap favourite Tribal Fusion, tracking the pace before firing through to land the odds. The filly Fiorella, over her disappointing trip to Cape Town, stayed on gamely for second and this was a good warm-up before she stretches to a more optimum trip.

By Andrew Harrison

“The violent attack and robbery of trainer Eric Sands at the Milnerton Training Centre is an indictment of the rampant crimewave sweeping over not just the City of Cape Town, but the entire country,” said Phumelela CEO John Stuart.

He commented following the attack on Sands last week Wednesday during which the 62-year-old trainer was assaulted and robbed by four assailants.

“I don’t think anyone can really imagine how traumatic an ordeal Eric went through. One’s workplace should be a safe haven, not a place where you are literally forced to fight for survival.

 “But, unfortunately, we live in a country where crime has seemingly become part of everyday life and we are not immune against it.

“We are all shocked at the events of last week Wednesday and I want to assure Eric that he can count on everyone at Phumelela for support during this traumatic time.”

Stuart added that Phumelela will do everything in its power to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. He also reiterated that all security protocols must be strictly adhered to at all times.

Dean Diedericks, General Manager – Racing at Kenilworth Racing, said the attack on Sands happened despite additional security guards being deployed after a meeting at the beginning of the month with various role-players relating to security at the Milnerton Training Centre.

“An additional security guard has been taken on for both day and night shift,” said Diedericks.

“There are thus five guards deployed during the day shift and six guards for the night shift. In addition, more focus will be placed on the T Blocks with two guards patrolling on the track side and a further two guards patrolling the Koeberg Road side.

“It is a difficult area to secure as each yard has an individual entrance and it is a stretch that is approximately 800m long.”

Diedericks also urged all the trainers to be vigilant and to ensure their yards are secure at all times with security gates locked.

“The incident that transpired is most regrettable. I engaged with Mr Sands and he admitted there was little that anyone could do under these circumstances,” said Diedericks.

It has since become known that Port Elizabeth-based assistant trainer Michelle Turner was also assaulted in the stables at Milnerton by a groom who was in the employ of trainer Tobie Spies. According to reports the groom was intoxicated at the time and Kenilworth Racing Security responded quickly and provided assistance to Turner throughout her stay at Milnerton. Turner managed to escape unharmed.

The groom in question has been on the run since and it has emerged that he is a wanted criminal.

RELEASED BY: Phumelela Gaming

The Vaal straight course stages a ten race meeting tomorrow and the highest rated race, a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1200m, forms the last leg of a Pick 6 which looks catchable.

Mardi Gras is 4,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse Pinnacle Peak according to official merit ratings but has class and is starting to come into his win. He won with first-time blinkers on at Scottsville last time and can continue to progress. He has the highest draw in the ten horse field and that is usually the right side to be on at this course. Pinnacle Peak is a consistent sort and is coming off a win in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1100m in which he proved he can carry this weight of 61,5kg. He has a middle draw of six. Exquisite Touch has plenty of speed and her best races have been run over shorter.

However, she was held up over 1000m last time and finished fastest of all so if this tactic is employed from a nice draw of nine she could get the 1200m trip and surprise. Carbon Atom can’t be ignored despite being 6kg under sufferance with Pinnacle Peak as he is coming into his win and has speed and a touch of class. The three-year-old filly All At Once has twice beaten Mighty High, albeit when receiving weight, and is also a contender despite it being a tough ask to beat the boys. Mardi Gras and Pinnacle Peak should be enough for the PA but all five mentioned should be included in the Pick 6.

The sixth race is a MR 94 Handicap over 1500m and this should be an intriguing race. Warrior’s Rest is breathtaking to watch as long as he finds the front as he continually cranks up the pace and then runs all the way to the line. However, if he is not in the lead and has to sit behind a slower pace he does not have the turn of foot to win. So it is most important he does get to the front and therefore the number one draw might either be a blessing or the opposite. If he breaks well and nobody takes him on it is a blessing as he gets there for free. However, if he doesn’t break well a wider drawn horse will have a chance to come around him and into the lead. Danza could be hoping for the latter scenario as he also likes to be handy or in the front. From the widest draw of all in the seven horse field he is not going to be prevented from making the effort to get to the front. Morning Catch should be included along with Warrior’s Rest in both the PA and Pick 6 and Jackpot because if it does not pan out well for the latter he has the form to pick up the pieces over an ideal trip. 

The Pick 6 banker comes in race 7 in the form of Shezahotti. She has hard knocking form and this 2000m trip is ideal for the daughter of Irish Flame. She is drawn well in three and faces an uninspiring field of maiden fillies. My Elusive showed improvement last time over 1600m and could be dangerous over the step up in trip. She does have a wide draw to overcome but has champion jockey Lyle Hewitson board. 

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a tricky maiden over 1400m. Excellent Al is a hard knocking sort who is the form choice and Colonel Caramel can be included as one capable of a resolute finish, although he would prefer further. The first-timers Hit For Six and Fired Up have to be considered.  Barista and Summer House can’t be left out either.

The second leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m should be contested by three promising sorts I Am Batman, Paddy’s Legacy and Jackpot Jewel, who are all coming off promising runs early in their careers and they should all enjoy the trip.

The eighth race over 1000m could be won by the in form Mike and Adam Azzie yard with the speedy Oravar, who is drawn ten out of eleven. Vardo will be a big danger as he looks well handicapped on his best Highveld form and wasn’t disgraced in his last start down in Cape Town. Premier Show, Brigtnumberten and Scoop all have the form to go close two and should be included in the Pick and Jackpot.

By David Thiselton