The Gauteng Guineas meeting follows fast on the heels of a Sun Met so punters can look forward to another day of top class racing at Turffontein Standside tomorrow.

Hawwaam is unbeaten in three starts and looks set to join his stable companion Soqrat as a Triple Crown contender. The Triple Crown has two first legs, the Grade 1 Cape Guineas or tomorrow’s Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas. Hawwaam showed his class second time out in the Dingaans over tomorrow’s course and distance when displaying a devastating turn of foot and winning by 3,40 lengths. The form has not worked out well, with second-placed Thanksgiving running disappointingly in a below par renewal of the Grade 1 Cape Derby and third-placed Green Haze finishing only fifth in the Listed Sea Cottages Stakes over 1800m.

However, Hawwaam showed his class in his next start in the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel over 1400m when the muddling pace did him no favours at all, yet he still managed to find the necessary extra to win over a trip which was too sharp.  He has class stamped all over him and is 16/10 with WSB to remain unbeaten. National Park was an easy winner of the Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m before being beaten 7,40 lengths into fourth in the Dingaans. It was the second time in two starts he had failed to reproduce his best over this trip.

There was a valid excuse the first time and the second time could have been due to the altitude. Horses hitting a flat spot after being up at altitude for roundabout three weeks has been noticed by more than one horseman and the Dingaans was run three weeks after the Graham Beck, The big Gimmethegreenlight gelding had to do the donkey work in the Dingaans too, whereas he is better coming from off the pace. He has pole position tomorrow and might be dangerous as he is also full of class and still appears to be learning.

Barahin proved himself top class in the Golden Horseshoe when beating Soqrat, who went on to win the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes, the Cape Guineas and then finish second in the Queen’s Plate. This is his first run of the season and he has a tough draw, but Anton Marcus is aboard. Against The Grain is well drawn and has struck as one with plenty of ability and he should stay the trip. Chijmes was the winner of the Sea Cottage and on paper he is not far off Hawwaam on a line through Green Haze.

He is also well drawn in two, especially considering his front-running style. Vontreo will love the step up in trip judging by his strong finish in the Tony Ruffel to be beaten just a length although he does have a tricky draw and is 2kg worse off with Hawwaam for a length beating. Owlinthetree could earn too, although he would prefer further. There is little between Marchingontogether and Chijmes, so the former is interesting with first-time blinkers on, albeit from a tough draw. They are selected in the order mentioned.

In the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas the Silvano filly Blossom will attempt to emulate her Triple Tiara-winning mother Cherry On The Top. She has class but still has a lot to prove and has landed a wide draw. Nafaayes could be the one to beat. She does not have the biggest action but it is effective and she beat a good sort in Al Danza when winning the Ipi Tombe over this course and distance last time out. Ronnie’s Candy would likely be the choice if better drawn. She showed in the Starling Stakes over 1400m she was top class when running on strongly to win easily, beating Nafaayes by 2,20 lengths.

However, she then over-raced in two further features when widely drawn over 1600m and 1400m respectively. However, last time, when running in a preparation race over 1400m down the Vaal straight she wore a tongue tie and settled beautifully so that augurs well for her tomorrow. Blossom and the promising Chitengo both have the ability to go close for sponsors Wilgerbosdrift Stud so must be included. Cordillera won the Listed Secretariat well over 1400m and is looking for this trip. The risk averse can also include Storm Destiny, Running Brave and Dagmar.

By David Thiselton

The main race at Scottsville yesterday, a MR 86 Handicap over 1200m, saw a cosy win for the promising Mark Dixon-trained Silent Crusade. .

This three-year-old Crusade filly looked capable of improving on a 78 merit rating as she is a half-sister to her useful stablemate Silver Fantasy who reached a merit rating of 92. Carrying just 52,5kg she sat just off the pace and moved through smoothly under Keagan de Melo to beat topweight Essenceoflife by 1,90 lengths.  

The meeting began with a win for the talented but problematic Duncan Howells-trained Rocket Fire in a Maiden over 1000m. This Klawervlei Stud-bred gelding is by Rock Of Gibraltar out of a placed Irish-bred mare who is a half-sister to twice Group 2 winner Bankable, who stood at stud in South Africa. His temperament has cost him as he gets worked up and then tends to over race. However, yesterday he was allowed to stride out at the head of affairs under Mark Khan and stayed on well to beat Krishnies Jet and convert 2/1 favouritism.

The second race was a Maiden over 2400m and once again the horse who was bred to win did so. The Frank Robinson-trained Cruise Cruz is by Vodacom Durban July winner Bold Silvano out of a half-sister to the SA Derby winner Seal and after sitting third in the running he stayed on well in the straight and won cosily in the end under Serino Moodley. This colt has a rangy action and could win more races over staying trips.

Moodley and Robinson then clinched a quick double with the Gimmethegreenlight filly Watchmego in a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m. The rank outsider benefitted from a tactic change as she shot out of the starting gates straight into the lead and managed to gallop all the way to the line for a one length victory over the fancied By The Way.

In the next race, a Maiden over 1400m, Last Of A Legends was settled near the back from a tricky draw of eight and Luke Ferraris then switched the Sean Tarry-trained three-year-old Horse Chestnut colt to the outside in the straight. He ran on full of running to win by 1,75 lengths from outsider Mr Fitz, who caught the eye with a strong finish on debut.

In the fifth, a Maiden for Fillies and Mares over 1400m, the Tony Rivalland-trained Oratorio filly Star Vega is a good looking sort with plenty of substance and after running on resolutely from midfield down the inside of horses she found another gear in impressive style to win by 1,60 lengths under Stuart Randolph from the rank outsider Class Of Eight with the favourite Winter Retreat third.

The sixth race was a MR 72 Handicap over 1200m and Lyle Hewitson took the Garth Puller-trained Toreador gelding Sentido straight to the front. He was full of gallop on the day and won easily by 3,25 lengths from the second favourite Tristful.  

The last race over 1000m saw the Darryl Moore-trained Querari gelding Woodstock Festival just getting up under Jarred Samuel to deny Bravo Zulu.  

By David Thiselton

Trainer Eric Sands said his Sun Met hero Rainbow Bridge had taken Saturday’s race well and he would now have a rest on the farm before heading for a campaign in KZN.

However, he did add the cautionary words “presuming he is still with us.”

Sands, asked on whether he had become confident as the race unfolded, replied, “I had been confident from Saturday morning, I’m not sure why, although I knew I had the right bloke on top. I only saw Do It Again running on down the inside when I watched the replay. I was only concerned about my own horse so only watched him and could see he was going to fetch the leader a long way out.”

The Ideal World gelding has a reputation for becoming hot in the preliminaries and also has a tendency to over race.

However Sands said, “He was better behaved but was his normal self. It didn’t matter though because the number went up in the frame.”

Rainbow Bridge did sweat up but Marcus’ confidence was buoyed when taking him down to the start faster than usual and then reining him back. He said, “He came back to me beautifully.”

Marcus’ reservations about the strapping four-year-old staying the trip were thus put to bed and he duly settled well in the running.

Sands concluded, “He had issues during the running of the Queen’s Plate but luckily we were able to get him over it.”

Rainbow Bridge missed last season’s Champions Season and instead ran in the first two legs of the Cape Winter series, both of which he won. He was then rumoured to be running in the Vodacom Durban July but this was halted due to a pending sale overseas. He failed the piroplasmosis test and the sale did not go through.

His career is following a similar route to the legendary Pocket Power’s, although the latter completed the Winter Series Triple Crown and then won both the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and the Met before heading for KZN for the first time.

An arch rivalry has developed between Rainbow Bridge and Do It Again and the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge to be run at Greyville over 1600m on June 8 is shaping up to be a clash of the titans. 

By David Thiselton

The Vaal stages a nine race workrider’s meeting at the Vaal tomorrow and it should be exciting as none of the best riders have a clear advantage in terms of the quality of their mounts.

The best bet comes in the seventh over 2000m as the hard-knocking Indy Ice should finally get it right over an ideal trip from a plum draw with the former Champion Workrider Chamu Mabaya aboard, although Flapjack will give some cheek from pole position under the astute Goodman Dadamisi.

Mabaya rides Shezahotti in the eighth race over 2000m. This Irish Flame filly went close over 1800m last time and should relish the further step up in trip. She is an honest sort and will be hard to beat from a pole position draw. However, Midnight In Paris is also a capable sort and if Charles Ndlovu rides her from off the pace over this ideal trip like she was in her penultimate start she could upset the applecart.

Mabaya has a chance with the frustrating Noble Princess in the next race over 1700m. However, this filly has become expensive to follow and is proving to be limited so although she has to be included in all exotic bets preference is for Arctic Party who can start coming into her own now being by Oratorio. Factor Fifty made a fair debut and is also a must include. One Dollar Massage and The Great Queen are also capable of earning.

The first leg of the PA should be fought by Kindavar, who has the experienced former Workrider’s Champion Francis Semela aboard, and Royal Future who represents the lethal combination of Paul Peter and Charles Ndlovu.

The latter pair will also have had a chance in the first leg of the Bipot with the first-timer Just Dance, who is by Querari out of a Whitechapel mare who is a half-sister to a Listed-winning Var filly. However, Fuyu looks the one to beat on paper and he is ridden by Marcell Pillay, who has ridden in Australia and trainer Shaylen Naidoo has put him aboard for the reason he gets along well with this horse. 

Paddy’s Legacy looks likely to improve in the fourth over 1400m having made a fair debut over 1200m despite losing a length. Tintagel is an interesting runner as he looked to have a fair chance last time over 1160m but never got in to the race and he could now be looking for this trip.

In the fifth over 1400m Colonel Caramel will be ridden by Castigo Machaelie, who has only had five rides but has a second and a fourth to his name. This rangy sort has caught the eye before and has had a succession of bad draws around the turn but should now have a fair chance down the straight. Latin Opus and Dry Your Eyes are capable of improvement and are probably more reliable selections. Prix Eclips and Gaelebale can also be included.

In the sixth race over 2400m Smart Deal has been disappointing but faces an uninspiring field. The Honey Badger needs things to go away so he will have a chance from a plum draw. Voodoo can also be involved although this race could have an upset and it would be wise to try and find more to include.

By David Thiselton

Boeing City is a speedy filly who is on the up and she can make it a hattrick in the seventh race at Scottsville today, a MR86 Handicap for fillies and mares.

Last time out this speedy Sail From Seattle filly showed good speed to overcome a wide draw on the Greyville poly over 1000m yet still found extra when required in the closing stages so she should be able to stay 1200m down the straight. She has to overcome a four point merit rated raise. However, that win was in October last year and it is no mean feat for a three-year-old that young to win off an 89 merit rating.

Although some say three-year-olds generally do not improve at the same rate as the weight for age scale suggests they should, they would need to explain why these youngsters appear to find it easier to win off higher ratings in the second half of the season than they do in the first. This filly looks capable of handling the merit rated raise. She faces Essenceoflife on 4kg worse terms for a 1,50 length beating but according to the wfa scale she should have improved by 2kg so the difference is actually only 2kg which still puts her ahead on paper. Silent Crusade could be the main danger. She has a fluent action and was a touch unlucky last time over course and distance so could make amends off the same merit rating meaning she has to carry only 52,5kg.

Lunar Rush has dropped to a competitive merit rating and is tough to ignore as she has a good record over this course and distance. Victory Trip and Cause And Effect are close on form and are also hard to ignore.

The last race of the day over 1000m looks tough at first glance but Wendyle could be the one. The Louis Goosen yard have turned full circle this month and this Twice Over gelding could be the latest one to pop up. He has a lot of speed and probably found 1200m too far last time. He has been dropped another four points in the merit ratings and with 4kg claimer Jason Gates aboard has to carry only 50,5kg. In his only run over course and distance he went close in a maiden to Solid Gold, who is not struggling off a 78 merit rating, 14 points higher than Wendyle’s.

The sixth race over 1200m is the only other handicap on the card and Coldhardcash could be the one. He won his maiden well and starts off on a reasonable 75 merit rating. Tristful also looks promising and his 78 merit rating is also a reasonable starting mark. The topweight Blackburn Roc has dropped to a competitive 81 mark and is distance suited.

The other five events are all maidens.

In the first over 1000m Krishnies Jet could win under Lyle Hewitson if repeating her penultimate run. The frustrating Rocket Fire ran on of his best races over course and distance and was a touch unlucky that day so could be involved. Solsbury Hill has fair form and Marcus is aboard but he might need it. Alfonso Spagoni is close to Krishnies Jet on form. Hondo could also earn.

In the second over 2400m the ones which make most appeal on a combination of form and pedigree are Network Jet, Cassius Colt and Cruise Cruz.

African Angel is the one to beat in the third over 1200m as she is improving.

In the fourth over 1400m Pollard was most disappointing last time but should appreciate the step up in trip and now has Marcus up.

In the fifth over 1400m Winter Retreat looks to be a promising sort and if able to overcome a tricky draw should enjoy this trip.

By David Thiselton