The Vaal stages a nine-race meeting on the straight course and it looks to be competitive racing so the exotics might be the best way to play it.

The Egoli Mile is the headliner and Captain Of Tortuga looks the one to side with. This progressive Captain Al gelding is out of the top-class Ebony Flyer and caught the eye staying on over 1450m last time. He has plenty of scope for improvement. Lumber Jackaroo has caught the eye in both of his starts and including a win over this trip last time and can be a threat off a reasonable 77 merit rating. Indy Ice had some good maiden form and is also a threat with a low weight. Protea Paradise was beaten just a head at level weights by subsequent Cape Derby winner Atyaab over 2000m in December but this might be on the sharp side and he has to carry a big weight. The filly Mazari was not disgraced on Saturday against some good sorts and can earn.

In the first leg of the PA over 1200m the Grade 1 Allan Robertson winner Mighty High is well in at the weights on official merit ratings but might not have it all her own way. She has been touched off in her last two starts over 1160m when having to give lumps of weight away to the promising All At Once but could make amends here. She has pace, a good turn of foot and stays all the way to the line. Palace Chapel was not disgraced in fourth in the CTS 1200 when held up off the pace and running on so has a fine chance of upsetting Might High. In his penultimate start over this course and distance he beat Old Man Thyme, who then franked that form by winning a strong handicap next time out over 1100m. The imposing State Trooper has come into his own and is another who is in with a shout. Anneka is not far off Palace Chapel on Met day times if the weight she is receiving is taken into account. Witch Of The West is also a talented sort and should have benefitted from her last run, although that was over three months ago on November 1 when not far off a very promising sort. Mighty High looks to be a PA banker but there is a lot of talent in that race so going wider would not be foolish.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Flapjack looks to be the best horse in the race and it is just a question of whether he will stay the 2400m trip. His sire Await The Dawn should have given him the necessary stamina genes although he is out of a Jet Master sprinter. He has a good record over 2000m so if ridden patiently from a high draw should get the trip. Born Rich ran well last time over course and distance and being by Noble Tune should be improving. Adolpho has run on well over 1800m in his last two starts and is another in with a shout. French Leave’s best recent run has been over 2000m so he might enjoy a further step up. Smart Deal had fine earlier form over staying trip and last time was just 0,25 lengths behind Born Rich over course and distance.

In the first leg of the Jackpot over 1000m Sugoi is by the disappointing sire Noordhoek Flyer but is a chip off the old block, being a well-muscled red chestnut and he has also been blessed with the speed of his father so he can make it a third win over this course and distance off a merit rating which still looks competitive. Brigtnumberten had his third run after gelding last time and bounced back to form when beaten 1,40 lengths by Sugoi. He is now 2kg better off and he will be involved off a merit rating which has dropped to an attractive mark. Heavenly Risk should be right there as he has not been disgraced in two Assessment Plates lately and has his third run after a layoff off a competitive handicap mark.

In the sixth race over 1600m, Manitoba looks the one to beat in a competitive handicap. He has been knocking on the door from 1400m to 1600m and now gets a 4kg claimer aboard. Divine Connection won his penultimate start comfortably over this trip and although raised six points he caught the eye next time out when staying on over this trip from a wide draw, beaten just 1,4 lengths by Manitoba who was better drawn. Arlington’s Revenge goes for a distance hattrick in ordinary handicaps. His last run in the Gauteng Guineas can be ignored as he was not suited to a pace-making role. Those three should get punters through the exotics.

In the eighth over 1400m, Prince Jordan has the strongest form and relished the step up to this trip last time so is the one to beat off just a two-point higher mark. Cherokee Grey ran well from a tough draw last time and also has a chance on the weight turnaround with Prince Jordan. Street Flyer and Refuge both enjoy the course and distance and should be thereabouts. Wottahottie and Rocky Path are others to consider. The Tin Man probably has the most ability here but is hindered by breathing issues. 

In the last over 1400m, Manhattan Cocktail ran on strongly last time over this trip and if closer to the pace can get it right. Melchizedek has talent but has issues and he is interesting returning from a layoff which would likely have benefitted him. Gone With The Wind, Master Boulder and Savannah King also warrant consideration in a competitive event.     

By David Thiselton

Duncan Howells once had high hopes for Brighteyebushytail, to the extent that he may have been good enough to aim for the Vodacom Durban July. However, a string of injuries and particularly hard hit by the virus that affected the yard last year, all plans were resigned to the dustbin.

It has been slow progress but Brighteyebushytail has shown signs of being back on track at recent outings although he will need to raise his game even further if he is to triumph in the seventh at Greyville today where he is on offer at a tempting 6-1.

He was hard-pressed to beat stable companion Who Says (Mauritius-bound) two runs back and was given a break. In his most recent start, he was running at them late, when third behind Hero Quest.

Winners have been difficult to come-by for the Howells yard this season and although the tally stands at a healthy 29, more telling are the remarkable stats of 40 second places and 35 third placings.

Brighteyebushytail’s last win was over course and distance so if he doesn’t manage to win, he should at least finish second!

He does face a competitive field including recent maiden winner Last Of The Legend, 3-1 favourite in the ante-post market and a smart winner on debut. Sean Tarry has tossed him in at the deep end and although he only has 52kg to shoulder, it remains to be seen whether he can take the rise in class and distance in his stride. Should he manage it he will definitely be a horse for the notebook.

Paul Gadsby’s mare Sarabi (5-2) is at the top of the boards in the card opener but given that the balance of the field is clustered around 5-1 in the market, bookmakers expect more than a few challengers. Missibaba is always game and Louis Goosen, whose yard is in mustard form at present, sends out recent winner Yaas and the speedy Imbali, the latter down four points in the ratings.

Candice Dawson is not a regular off-season raider but saddles Captain’s Alpha (5-2) in the second and has booked Anton Marcus for good measure. If one ignores Captain Alpha’s last two, and there were excuses, he could prove difficult to beat.

Robbie Hill, as a jockey will have ridden more odds-on chances that he would care to remember, but he saddles one in the form of 8-10 favourite Hey Jude in the third. Racing in the colours of former trainer Pat Shaw, who plied his trade in Singapore for many years and trained the now Summerhill-based stallion Ato, was no doubt swayed by Hey Jude’s breeding.

The daughter of Ato is well overdue for a victory and with Marcus staying aboard, she looks the part in the third.

Marcus rides another ante-post favourite in Final Attempt (2-1) in the fourth. Glen Kotzen’s runner has been consistent since shedding his maiden and was close up when taking on much stronger last time out. He looks the part in a weak field. There looks to be little between stable companions L’Histoire and Sharpe’s Eagle. Riding arrangements would indicate that L’Histoire is the pick of the pair but Sharpe’s Eagle looks more progressive.

In the fifth, there was only a neck separating Collabro (7-2) and Red Shift (16-10) when the two last met behind Sea Urchin. This was Collabro’s third run after a break and he could be the more progressive of the two and can turn the tables. Red Shift was the beaten favourite in that race. He is in hot form of late so there should again be very little to choose between the two.

Josephine Baker (15-10) is another due a change of fortune when she lines up in the sixth, a handicap over 2000m. She has not been out of the money since shedding her maiden and was a close-up third against stronger opposition last time out. She should put in a bold showing for Dean Kannemeyer. Shane Humby was content with his two seconds at Scottsville on Sunday, “they did all that was expected of them,” he said yesterday, but a win is better than second and he pins his hopes on the mare Roman Courtesan (28-10) who has her third run since a break and is back over a more suitable trip. Also strongly in the mix is Janice’s Secret (7-2) who was touched off at long odds last time out and has an undeniable chance if she can repeat that showing. This trio look to be the principal contenders.

In the last, the aptly named for this meeting anyway, Forethelastime (22-10), showed up well first run out of the maidens when taking on stronger and is still improving. He does not face a strong field and should make a bold showing. Of the balance, Line Of Control (10-1) found some betting support at his last start and did show improvement while South Paw (10-1) is an old campaigner who has not been far back at recent outings. He tries blinkers for the first time and this equipment sometimes has a sudden rejuvenating effect on older horses.

By Andrew Harrison

Douglas Whyte waved farewell to the most successful race-riding career in Hong Kong history on Sunday evening and fellow legend Felix Coetzee reflected on his prowess.

Coetzee said, “He was an absolute professional and was always looking for a different way to stay ahead. He was very committed, very smart and very competitive and together these made for a formidable combination. He was diligent and revolutionised the standard way of securing rides. Instead of waiting for first entries Douglas would know which horses would be suited to which races and he would then find out from trainers what the programs for the horses were. This required an extreme amount of planning because it must be remembered he had more than one choice, but he was very good at picking. As a rider even before he went to Hong Kong he had an incredible ability to get an excellent position for his mount from any draw. He was a very smart guy and opportunistic and he did his homework, so he would know the horses and riders and how the race would set up. He also had the ability to get horses relaxed and travelling smoothly with a good rhythm and his timing in the finish was brilliant too. If you just look at the last ride of his career on Sunday it is testament to what Douglas is all about. It was an absolute peach of a ride and the horse only lost because it was his first run in Hong Kong and he ran out of fitness.”

Whyte eased the French-bred Uncle Steve back after jumping from the widest draw of 14 in the 1400m event and soon had him relaxed with cover fifth from last. He turned for home on the rail and about three lengths off the lead. After initially being baulked he switched outward and looked a possible winner as he moved through the gap, but the horse then unfortunately ran out of steam and finished a 1,25 length fourth.

Whyte has been granted a Hong Kong trainer’s license and Coetzee believes as one with such high standards of professionalism he will succeed in this tough field too.

Coetzee was asked whether Whyte enjoyed celebrity status around Hong Kong and felt the best way to answer it was through a story about their joint family visit to the local Disneyland. He recounted, “Douglas and I were good friends but only off the course, on course we were professionals. We once took our families on a joint visit to Disneyland in Hong Kong. As is the tradition all the characters like Micky and Minnie Mouse and Goofy etc make an appearance while you are sitting to eat so the kids can pose and get autographs. Our kids were excited and got their autographs. And then Micky Mouse came over an asked Douglas for his autograph! I think that just about sums up the esteem in which he is held!””

Hkjc.com wrote – The 13-time champion jockey’s final ride did not produce the fairy tale victory that he and the Sha Tin faithful desired, but the day delivered heart-warming displays of respect and appreciation for a sportsman whose achievements have lifted him high into the pantheon of racing’s legends.

Whyte retires with a Hong Kong career total of 1,813 wins – 894 more than current champion Zac Purton – total stakes money of HK$1,587,210,086.67, multiple Group 1 scores and, of course, his defining 13 consecutive premierships (2001-2013). His win strike rate over more than 22 years riding at Happy Valley and Sha Tin stands forever at 14.78%.

The man they call the Durban Demon was “overwhelmed” in particular at the send-off he received from his jockeys’ room colleagues, for so long his unwavering rivals.

“Behind the gates (before the last race) it was quite emotional because the starter, Tony (Speechley), said a few words and all the jocks gave me a hip-hip-hooray, so it was a really nice send-off. You get a bit of a lump in your throat but I still had a race to ride,” Whyte said.

Whyte’s blank on his final day was not for the want of trying but did owe something to a stroke of misfortune. Two seconds were his closest placings – Mr Croissant in race two and Seven Heavens in the eighth – but the near-miss came when he rallied the impeded Storm Signal close home in the seventh contest, only to take third.

“I would have won the race,” he said. “That’s the only bittersweet ending to the day. I’d have loved to have had a winner but I’m happy with the way every horse ran and the way I rode every horse.

“I’m leaving on a high but I would have won on Storm Signal. I was just gaining momentum, I was coming to win the race and when you get knocked sideways like that – then the horse on my inside turned my hindquarters and he lost momentum and still picked up.

“Of course, I’m a sportsman,” he added, “you’d love to ride a winner on your last day but the main thing is the fantastic ending, the good reception from the crowd – every horse I thought ran well today.”

Earlier, Whyte received a silver dish and a commissioned painting from the Jockey Club. That came after race four, before a parade ring full of his weighing room colleagues, trainers, media, and family, with a few thousand appreciative spectators looking on.

“That was emotional. Thank goodness they didn’t give me a mic straight away because I wouldn’t have been able to speak. I don’t often cry but possibly I would have,” he said.

Zac Purton had set the tone for the celebrations before Whyte stepped out from the Parade Ring wings. The arch rival went down on one knee and “shoe-shined” the legend’s boots, to the huge delight of watching fans.

By David Thiselton

Oh Susanna has recovered from her injuries in the Sun Met and is back on course for the KZN season but the Horse of the Year’s post-race veterinary report reads like a despatch from the Charge of the Light Brigade – a mouth injury, cuts in her right hind leg and lame as well.

Justin Snaith said: “I think it happened when Do It Again ducked in behind her. We put her on antibiotics and anti-inflammatories that night but on the Monday after the race she could hardly walk.

“However by the end of that week she was OK again and she is now in a paddock with Snowdance. She will go to Durban and we just have to choose which races.”

Glen Kotzen had to abandon Vodacom Durban July ambitions with Cape Derby winner Eyes Wide Open last season but he is determined to get there this time despite the problems that have arisen in the meantime.

The Woodhill trainer, successful in the July with Big City Life ten years ago, said: “Eyes Wide Open is haemo-concentrating. We got him right before the Met but obviously not right enough. He came with a strong run but then didn’t go through with it.

“It is a lot of work but we will do it for Durban and get him right. Maybe the change of scenery will help as he has done very well up there in the past.”

The four-year-old won the Premiers Champion two seasons ago and from a limited KZN campaign last year he finished third in the Champions Cup.

Vaughan Marshall is to aim his CTS 1600 winner One World at the Winter Guineas at Kenilworth on April 27 while there is a possibility that last season’s Cape Guineas winner Tap O’Noth could be retired to stud.

Snaith runs three in the opening maiden juvenile at Kenilworth on Saturday with Richard Fourie on Rio Querari. The R625 000 CTS Ready To Run purchase is the first horse the champion trainer has had for former British Racing Journalist of the Year Richard Edmondson and his intrepid Sky News war correspondent wife Alex Crawford. Bryn Ressell and Jill Warner are partners in the colt.

By Michael Clower

The Vaal Classic track stages a ten race meeting tomorrow and exotic dividends should be healthy as the racing is competitive.

In the first leg of the PA over 1800m Powered Beauty makes most appeal. The last time he tried this distance he only just failed and is now three points lower in the merit ratings. He does have a wide draw to overcome but in the aforementioned race came from way off the pace under the same jockey, Hennie Greyling. Ryder was not disgraced on Saturday over 1600m in a strong Assessment Plate having stayed on well to be close up in a handicap over 1450m before that. He stays this trip and is drawn in pole so should be involved. He was beaten by Storm Outgoing when they last met. The latter is also well drawn over an ideal trip. However, he does have to bounce back from a poor run last time where he was found to be coughing. Those are the three chosen to get punters through.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1800m Odd Rob used to be a talented but quirky sort who didn’t enjoy being in front and was hard to win with. However, he has become ultra-consistent and didn’t mind the step down to this trip last time, getting up after a late charge. He is only two points higher so can make another bold bid from a fair draw. The Dazzler is a well regarded and progressive sort who is ideally distance suited and he jumps from a plum draw. He does have to carry a big weight though. Yamoto has his third run after a layoff and gelding from a plum draw off a two point lowered merit rating. He should be coming into his own being by Dynasty and should enjoy this trip. Finchatton has fallen to a competitive merit rating and this is an ideal trip, so is hard to ignore. Throng can’t be ignored either as he was staying on in his penultimate start over this trip and is now 2,5kg better off with Odd Rob for a 2,7 length beating and Hewitson is up. He does have the widest draw in the eight horse field though. Come The Day is distance suited and should also be coming into his own so is another one who is tough to ignore. 

The first leg of the Jackpot is even harder being a fillies and mares handicap over 1800m. Big Myth is the choice as she has dropped to a competitive merit rating and will be dangerous from the front under Hewitson, although she does have to come from a wide draw. Mattina disappointed last time when not striding out over 2000m but is now drawn in pole over an ideal trip and has a tongue tie on, having made a respiratory noise when only just failing over this trip in her penultimate start. Ossetra is chosen for third simply because she is the most consistent horse in a race with muddling form. Pretty Border, Angelic, Angelic Appeal, Blue Sage and Santa Vittoria also have to be considered for the Jackpot and Pick 6.

In the sixth race over 2400m Mighty And Magic, as a Twice Over gelding, is likely coming into his own and he is well drawn over a trip he enjoys with the champion jockey up. Village Deep is 1kg under sufferance but is a stayer coming into his own and has only 52kg to shoulder. Highlander can be relied on to be finishing strongly and can be dropped out from a wide draw.

In the seventh over 1450m Queen Moira had some eyecatching Cape Town form and was beaten by a fair sort in her second run on the Highveld last time over 1400m so can go close from a good draw. Invincible Lady drops right down from 2600m but is versatile and well drawn. She has dropped to a competitive merit rating.

In the eight over 1000m Twelve Oaks could cause an upset being just one point higher than her last winning mark and running over a trip she has won over. See You Tyger is in fine form and could claim the hattrick and Opera should also be involved.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 the topweight Arikel has a fine chance on a formline through Ulla. Ilha Da Var has a chance off a two point lowered merit rating. Fly North improved last time and has gone well for Hewitson before. Florence was not disgraced behind Ulla last time in her first run out of the maidens. Ilha Da Var has to be considered too. Queen Of War has dropped to a competitive merit rating and also has a chance.

By David Thiselton