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

Summerveld based trainer Mark Dixon might need to use his Google Maps App on his phone to help him get to Scottsville later today as he has not had any runners for the past two months.

Dixon backed off his whole string recently and has not had any runners due to a virus going through the yard. Dixon says the virus was related to liver enzyme problems.

He has three runners at the Pietermaritzburg track today, his first runners since the set back.

“I am a bit in the dark as to how they will run,” commented Dixon, “but I suspect they might just need this run. In saying that, they all now seem well and are working very well. I am hoping they run big races. I have three nice runners and am hoping they will finish in the money.”

Quite a few yards countrywide have recently suffered from various virus infections and the horses recover at different rates depending on the severity of the infections.

Speaking to trainers, they say that it is tough to assess how horses will perform as they look good and work well but only once they race can you assess where you are with the virus.

Recently trainers Dennis Drier, Louis Goosen and Duncan Howells have been along the rough road and Dixon is hoping to see the end of it today.

By Warren Lenferna

Harold Crawford, in Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital since suffering a stroke 16 days ago, is making such a good recovery  that he is expected to be able to leave  his present ward by the weekend.

His daughter Michelle Rix said yesterday: “My father is doing well and the doctors are very happy with his progress. He will spend another couple of days in hospital and then he has to do a mandatory six weeks’ rehab before going back home.”

There were initial fears about the paralysis in his left arm and left side, and there was concern that he might need a second operation. The first was to ease the pressure on his brain following the carotid artery clot that caused the stroke.

But his daughter said: “Everything is good and all clear, and he is walking and talking once more. The movement has all come back and he now has full function of his entire body.”

She was always confident that he would pull through, pointing out that he is a strong individual, and she confirmed this yesterday, adding: “They don’t make them like they used to in his day!”

By Michael Clower