Trainers are expressing concern about security following the horrific attack on Eric Sands at Cape Town’s Milnerton Training Centre last week.

The Sun Met-winning trainer, who is 62, was in the yard of his stables around 6.00pm last Wednesday when an intruder burst in wielding an axe and charged towards Sands. The trainer, with considerable presence of mind and no little courage, ran at the man and hit him with the point of his shoulder.

The assailant lost his balance and fell. But Sands’ advantage was short-lived. Three more men appeared and they were armed with knives. In no time it was Sands who was on the ground and in mortal danger. One of the trio was intent on smashing his face in.

“He had a pellet gun. I was on my back and I couldn’t really move. I saw him lift the gun and prepare to bring it down, butt first, into my face,” Sands related. “In the last fraction of a second I managed to move my head sideways and the butt only grazed my cheek.”

It was a bit more than a graze – the scar is still clearly visible. The men tied up Sands in his office before making off with R7 500 in cash as well as some foreign currency left over from overseas trips.

There was a security man on duty but he was on the road frontage side of the stables guarding the cars. Apparently he is under orders to stay put until the last of the cars has left and, in any case, he heard nothing.  However somebody obviously knew that there was cash on the premises and tipped off the raiders. Sands has let it be known that he is prepared to pay a reward for information leading to the arrest of the men and he has so far received some feedback.

Greg Ennion, whose yard adjoins Sands’ stables, said: “It is believed that the quality of the security has deteriorated markedly over the last two years. They must improve it. We are paying for security as it is included in our rent.”

Candice Bass-Robinson’s yard is further up the road and she said: “Phumelela has to work on this. It happened to Harold Crawford a few years ago (November 2013) and we can’t have this sort of thing – otherwise it’s only a matter of time before it happens to us all.”

She pointed to the obvious dangers of a woman sitting in the office of a yard on her own but she was thinking, not of herself, but of assistant Mel Arnold who is often working there on a Saturday afternoon when the rest of the complex is either off duty or at the races.

The most famous Milnerton attack came over 20 years ago when Joey Ramsden, then assistant to Vaughan Marshall, was attacked by two men when he was paying the wages. One had a gun and the other a knife which he plunged into Ramsden’s padded jacket.

Seemingly, and dangerously, not a lot has changed.

By Michael Clower

Justin Snaith is set on making Kasimir Equus Champion Sprinter after Richard Fourie’s mount followed up his Cape Flying Championship success by taking the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes at a crowd-filled Kenilworth on Saturday.

“Sprinter of the Year is a big thing for me and Kasimir has won every main sprint race we could throw at him this season,” he said. “He won’t go for the Computaform – he will have a break – but he will go to Durban for the Mercury Sprint.”

Snaith, also on the mark the Corne Orffer-ridden Libra, was limping like the proverbial wounded soldier – apparently the result of a swollen foot developed as he tried to get himself ready to race. There were no shortage of medical experts in the crowd offering advice including one woman who had a Latin name for the affliction and a dire warning of what would happen if he does nothing about it.

Joey Ramsden was a little unlucky not to win the Diadem with 44-1 shot Speedpoint who was fast closing the gap and went down by only a short head. He had better luck with Rose In Bloom in the same Brian and Kathy Finch colours in the Vasco Prix Du Cap, thanks in no small part to a power-packed S’Manga Khumalo ride.

Ramsden, winning this for the sixth time in 15 seasons, said: “She is an absolute superstar. She got pneumonia coming back from Jo’burg and was in hospital for 12 days. Yet she promptly finished fourth in the Sceptre. She is for sale and she is piro-free.”

But it was Vaughan Marshall who stole the show with his latest Captain Al star. Captain Of Stealth,a R500 000 CTS Premier purchase, was backed from evens to 6-10 for the 1 400m Divine Jet Maiden Juvenile, led after two and a half furlongs and coasted home over five lengths clear with M.J. Byleveld waving his index finger as if he had a message to impart.

Indeed he had, saying: “This horse has a massive action and a huge cruising speed, and my only concern was that he had never been off the bit.”

Marshall, who also trains his triple wining half-sister Rocket Girl, confirmed that the colt will go the One World route (Langerman) and added: “He is a super horse. I think he is something special.”

He is 20% owned by Johannesburg-based John Habib and 80% by a thrilled Pat Freestone who also part owns Rocket Girl and related: “I said to Vaughan at the sales that I wanted to have a go at the big time but this was the first occasion I realised that he was going to be good. It was more than exciting. Indeed I’m still shaking – but boy oh boy, he didn’t want to stop. What can he do next?”

Next on the agenda for the first two legs of a Candice Bass-Robinson/Aldo Domeyer treble is Durban. Vandah’s Spirit, who made it look so easy in the Kepu Trading Juvenile, goes for the Allan Robertson at Scottsville while Aeolus OTR Kenilworth Cup winner Pacific Chestnut has the Gold Vase and the eLan Gold Cup on his bucket list.

Anthony Andrews now has some idea of how John The Baptist felt – only in his case the wilderness lasted four times as long – yet throughout the barren spell he has remained cheerful (outwardly anyway) and positive, and he rode a peach of a race to win the Selangor Jet Master on Run Red. “Anthony is an unsung hero. He rides a lot of our work at home yet he doesn’t really get the chances,” said Andre Nel, paying tribute.

William Bambiso made his experience tell on River Rhone in the Work Riders Maiden but the stipes were so appalled at the general standard of riding that they had all six of them in and warned them that their licences could be in jeopardy if their riding does not improve.

BLOB The size of the crowd, and the overall atmosphere, attracted favourable comment from a succession of Tellytrack interviewees. Events Officer Clinton Theys, who is entitled to take a bow, said: “At a thumbsuck we had between 3 500 and 4 000 here although it seemed more than last year. Certainly people stayed longer this time.”

By Michael Clower

The Turffontein Inside track stages a nine race meeting tomorrow and the exotics look to be the best way to play it on a track which can produce the odd upset.

The seventh race, a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1200m, is the highest rated race on the card and Green Plains is the one to beat. She is the best in at the weights according to official merit ratings and is unbeaten in two starts on the Turffontein Inside track. Both of them were over 1000m but she has shown good pace and the ability to kick on over 1160m so has it all in her favour here from pole position around the turn. Rock A Roll Dancer beat a useful field last time in good style and there is not much between her and Schippers on some formlines so she can do well from a fair draw.

Witch Of The West has always struck as one with class and she should have come on from her last run, which was her seasonal reappearance, so she is the dark horse from a plum draw over a suitable trip. Schippers has come into her own this season and has won three out of four starts including one over this course and distance. Last time out she won the Grade 3 Magnolia Handicap over 1160m by four lengths. However, the form has not worked out exceptionally well and she was given a nine point raise, so she is up against it, although she is joint second best in at the weights. Desert Rhythm won the Grade 2 Golden Slipper as a two-year-old but is an enigmatic sort, although her best recent run was over this trip so she is difficult to ignore.

In the first leg of the PA Glamorous Scandal went close last time over this 2600m trip and is the one to beat. Bondiblu has fallen to a competitive merit rating and Emily Hobhouse, despite being 5,5kg under sufferance, is coming into her own in the typical fashion of a daughter of Ideal World.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Aurelia Cotta enjoys running on from behind and so the draw will not be a bother and on pedigree she has a chance of staying the trip. Rail Trip has niot lived up to expectations but has to be included. Miss Sabina, by Silvano and a half-brother to the twice Summer Cup winner Master Sabina, is going the right way.

In the first leg of the Jackpot Mighty Rock went close when stepped up to this 2000m last time. Blame Game is by Captain Al and is a half-brother to Whiteline Fever who finished close up in the Vodacom Durban July once so he can improve over this trip. Humour Me should relish this step up in trip and has a chance if bouncing back after not striding out last time.

In the sixth race over 2000m Arlington’s Revenge’s last two wins over 1600m have worked out very well and he should stay the trip on pedigree. Zeal And Zest has always had ability and bounced back with a good win last time. Yamoto can improve being by Dynasty and having his third run after a layoff and gelding and he was staying on over 1600m last time. There is not much between Zeal Zest, Seventh Of June and Kings Cup.

In the eighth over 1500m Epic Dream is 1kg under sufferance with Orpheus on official merit ratings but has a touch of class and has always struck as one who would get this trip. Only To Win is on the up and is a threat and Orpheus has talent but the concern is his breathing issues.

In the ninth over 1500m Xplosive Kiss is the best in at the weights and should enjoy this step up in trip on pedigree. Irish Wonder Girl is drawn in pole and is in good form, but would prefer further and Vi Va Pi Pa is capable of producing a good performance.

By David Thiselton

Kasimir is a confident selection to follow up his Cape Flying Championship win in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes at Kenilworth’s Prawn Festival meeting tomorrow.

The Justin Snaith four-year-old won the Cape Merchants over this course and distance in November but his performance on Met day was an eye-opener. Far from being inconvenienced by the 1 000m – as most people thought he would be –  he was able to hit the front over half a furlong out and stride on strongly to beat Bold Respect by almost two lengths.

He has definitely improved this season and should be able to confirm the form with the runner-up. The latter’s stable companion Search Party should not be faraway and don’t ignore the 2017 winner Trip To Heaven. This slow starter with the brilliant finishing speed has an extra furlong to find his feet following his Cape Flying fifth.

According to the handicappers Chimichuri Run should bounce back to winning form after disappointing in the Cape Guineas and the CTS 1600. They make him best by half a kilo, even before adding in anything for having Anton Marcus on his back. Personally I find this hard to swallow.    

The race is run six weeks later this year and so past results may not be quite as relevant but four-year-olds have won half the last ten runnings and only two favourites and one joint favourite have been successful during this period.

Kasimir opened 2-1 favourite with World Sports Betting on Wednesday and was 22-10 by noon yesterday with Bold Respect on 15-4 and Chimichuri Run a 9-2 chance. Search Party had been backed from 17-2 to 11-2 but nobody seemed to want to know Trip To Heaven who had drifted from 17-2 to 10-1.

Joey Ramsden has by far the best record in the Vasco Prix Du Cap, winning five of the last 14 runnings, and he can collect again with Rose In Bloom who has a theoretical 3kg in hand and is favourite at 33-10. She was a four-length sixth in the Majorca and before that had the speed to finish fourth in the Sceptre- and the last two weeks have shown local punters just what an advantage it is to have S’Manga Khumalo in the irons.

The bookmakers have a high opinion of the Dean Kannemeyer Graduation winner Silva’s Bullet and have her favourite for the Selangor Jet Master at 33-10. But Brave Move is the one with the form in the book and, despite a rather disappointing season so far, she makes strong appeal at 9-2.

Cedar Man (5-2), although under sufferance, may be able to turn the tables on 3-1 shot Dynasty’s Blossom in the Aeolus OTR Kenilworth Cup.

By Michael Clower

Moved from Wednesday to today, racing is on the Greyville poly track this evening where the exotics may be the best way to tackle a tricky card. Check out the change in starting times.

In the opening leg of the Place Accumulator, Class Of Eight has shown signs of coming to hand and has shown up well in her last two. She is down in trip here but looks ready. Elusive Diva will probably start favourite for the umpteenth time and has been expensive to follow. She is obviously limited but could find this shorter trip more to her liking.

The first leg of the Pick 6 looks wide open. So Var has shown up well in his two starts since a break and this is his peak run. Di Mazzio carried bottom weight in the Marula Sprint but beat a strong field. He went up six points in the ratings but should still be competitive in this company. Roy Magner raids from the Highveld with Life Is Good who has come down rapidly in the ratings and showed improved form in blinkers. Another to consider is Royal Amour who goes best on the poly and found some good market support last time out. He may just have needed it and should feature prominently.

Garth Puller and Anton Marcus have an enviable strike rate and top-rated Mana Santana has all the right credentials in the fourth. However, Italian Way was not far off the promising Last Of The Legend and Wednesday’s winner Mr Fitz so could oblige at a decent price.

One always needs to take note of Highveld raiders and Brian Wiid has a knack of sending the right horse for the poly. Petite Aime is a long-time battler but has shown some recent improvement and is up against some equally limited opposition in the fifth. A head separated Ruby Slippers and Summer Day when last they met. Ruby Slippers gets a tongue-tie so could reverse the placings.

Marcus will have had a pick of a few mounts in the sixth and has opted for the lightly raced Mashari for Puller. The gelding is a late starter, and judging by the number of barrier trials, has his problems, but he is winner of two of his three starts and looks progressive. Marcus was aboard Cruz Giovanni and The Master when shedding their maidens. They are both lightly raced geldings so should have more to come while Emperor Niarchos is an old campaigner who has dropped even further in the ratings and could surprise.

The seventh is a minefield although Awayinthewoods has yet to run a bad race and has a light weight. Both of her wins have come on the poly. Adorable Analia nearly caused a major boil-over when narrowly beaten at her last start and appeared to enjoy the extra so may be one to follow. The list of possible winners is a long one so it may prove prudent to load up in this leg.

Although a little disappointing last time out, Toronto has been consistent and the switch to the poly could be in his favour. Roy’s Physco has taken tome to come to hand but has proved of late while Fashionada made some promising improvement at his second outing and can do even better over this trip. He is one to watch.

In the card opener, one can draw a line through Alfonso Spagoni’s last effort when playing up badly at the start. He had some promising form before that and the Mark Dixon stable has hit form. He takes to the poly for the first time. Mokoko and the two Highveld raiders One Of Our Own and Phoenix Sun also come into the picture.

By Andrew Harrison