Owning, breeding and training doyen George Rowles passed away last week much to the sadness of the racing community who reminisced about his enormous contribution to and achievements in the sport.

Racing owner and Gold Circle ambassador Bill Lambert said, “George and I were lifelong friends as we had a family cottage when I was growing up at Isipingo where the Rowles family lived. We also used to race together and had successful partnerships in horses. Wave Blaster was the best of them. His father was a trainer and while at school George used to help mucking out, grooming and riding work. He was tall but thin and became a leading amateur rider at the Gymkhana meetings. Later he had stables and a training track on his farm in Waterfall and after owning a lot of horses he also began breeding. He eventually had a big breeding operation, Ivanhoe Stud, in the KZN Midlands.

He also made commercial developments on his land at Waterfall and this was hugely successful and includes the present day Watercrest Mall. He achieved all this from humble beginnings. A few years ago he led the successful campaign to save Clairwood racecourse from being sold but was supportive of the sale this decade at a much greater price. I was invited to present him with his lifelong achievement award at the KZN Breeders Awards in 2014 and that was a great honour. We have lost a real stalwart. George was a real maverick and a wonderful gentleman.”

Vodacom Durban July-winning owner Nick Jonsson, part-owner of Do It Again, also paid tribute, “My father Ben and George were great, lifelong friends and we became family friends. George was legendary and we loved him. He had a wonderful training facility in Waterfall. We had great fun at the races and also at the amateur races in which both he and my father used to ride.  He also pulled off some interesting betting coups. Dennis Durant was his trainer at Waterfall but George was very hands on and I remember on one occasion he had a runner called Ring The Changes who he fancied strongly. We were all sitting in Des Scott’s box that day and George sent us youngsters down to the bookmaker area armed with cash. We waited until we saw the planned signal from the box, George’s waving of the white handkerchief, and then all moved in and backed her simultaneously. She won easing up by three lengths and we made a fortune. George loved sport and he and my Dad played tennis every week. He was a great character and a wonderful storyteller. But he would often collapse in so much laughter he was unable to finish the story!”

George was in fact greatly sought after as a rider in the Gymkhana meetings and on more than one occasion rode six winners in a nine race meeting. He also represented Natal southern districts at both rugby and cricket.

The Rowles family had a dairy at Isipingo and after school George moved to the Transvaal to open a dairy there. However, racing was in his blood and he had soon purchased two mares. He bred one of them to Black Cap and the progeny Shanghai gave him his first winner as an owner-trainer at Newmarket ridden by Charlie Barends.

He moved to Waterfall in 1959 where he bought a tract of land in what is known today as Linkhills. He developed his training facility, complete with starting stalls and swimming pool, and also established Ivanhoe Stud in the KZN Midlands.

He was one of the first in the country to bring in imported mares of any quantity.

In 1973 he imported a successful English-bred stallion called Caerdon, who became the leading Natal-based stallion for a number of years.

He also stood probably the best horse he owned and bred, The Eileen Bestel-trained Sabre, a classic winner of 12 races who established an 1800m world record time of 106 seconds flat when winning the Grade 1 Clairwood Winter Handicap in 1974.

He later stood another successful sire in Rocky Marriage, whose reach was felt beyond racing and this stallion once had a representative in the Olympic Games eventing competition.

Ivanhoe at one stage occupied fifth spot on the national log, an incredible achievement considering the competition in those days.

From his El Dorado yard in Waterfall, George campaigned a lot of his Ivanhoe home-breds in his familiar red and grey colours.

In recent times he bred the winner of the inaugural KZN Breeders Million Mile run at Greyville in 2012, the Ormond Ferraris-trained Muhtafal gelding Knock On Wood.

He was a Natal Owners and Trainers committee member for 15 years and a steward at Clairwood Turf Club.

He was a regional representative of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association council and was instrumental in starting the Newmarket yearling sales in “the stables” near today’s Jonsson Kings Park rugby stadium. Today this sale is known as the KZN Yearling Sales and is held at Sibaya Casino.

George was always guided by the belief that the best course of action is that which will be of ultimate benefit to the game as a whole and he cared about the small man.

He is going to be sorely missed by the racing community.

His funeral will be held at Highbury school in Hillcrest on Thursday 31 January at 15h00 and family have requested no flowers and instead, in lieu thereof, have suggested a donation to the Coastal Horse Care Unit in Cato Ridge ((031)7821434 or 0735503061).

By David Thiselton

Three times in the past 15 years the winner of the Cape Derby has gone on to land the Vodacom Durban July so the obvious question now is whether Atyaab can put his name on the same page as Dynasty, Big City Life and Legislate.

Mick de Kock, who also won the Cape Derby with Ertijaal four years ago, did not answer the question with a direct yes or no after Atyaab’s success in the GBets-sponsored Grade 1 last Saturday but said: “Off a certain mark he would be competitive in a good handicap.”

Angus Gold, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s long-serving racing manager, added: “Atyaab is a tough horse and a real fighter. Hopefully he can go on.”

Most punters went for Bunker Hunt (fourth) and the Australian-bred winner was only nibbled at from 15-1 to 13-1. “It was no surprise to us,” said De Kock, adding pointedly: “We don’t come 1 800 kilometres down here just to use a bucket and spade.”

The colt may have officially only beaten Charles by a fifth of a length but he suffered serious interference from long-time leader Helen’s Ideal who hung badly right in the final 300m. He was well handled by Diego de Gouveia whose only previous experience of the Cape Town course was when fourth on Walter Smoothie in the Chairman’s Cup on Queen’s Plate day.

The 22-year-old said: “Helen’s Ideal hampered me a lot and had Atyaab been a nervous type I could have had problems. But this is a gutsy little bugger and he fought his way past.”

De Gouvier ended his apprenticeship earlier this month and this was his first Grade 1 win and his 82^nd success in all. As his name suggests, he has a cosmopolitan background despite growing up in Johannesburg. His mother comes from Italy and his father, although born in South Africa, is of Portuguese descent.

When Kasimir was beaten in a pinnacle a month ago Justin Snaith said that 1 000m was really too short for the horse “but we will make it work for the Cape Flying.” He did so to such effect that Richard Fourie was able to take it up over 100m out in the Betting World Grade 1 and win going away.

So how did Snaith manage it? “We sharpened him up by being a bit harder on him at home than before,” the champion trainer explained, adding: “Richard was a big help in advising me what to do.”

Clouds Unfold gave Candice Bass- Robinson her second Bidvest Majorca in three seasons and the Drakenstein homebred was the first Grade 1 winner for What A Winter who stands at Gaynor Rupert’s stud. Aldo Domeyer’s mount is now bound for Durban.

She emphatically reversed the Fillies Guineas form with Front And Centre and her trainer explained: “Clouds Unfold was a bit above herself in the Guineas, pulling a lot, and she galloped over a guinea fowl which didn’t help.”

Mrs Bass-Robinson has her own satellite yard adjoined Summerveld but she may not make use of it for her 16-1 Tattersalls Summer Juvenile winner Miss Honey who had her conqueror of three weeks earlier, 2-1 stable companion Vandah’s Spirit, nearly four lengths back sixth.

The trainer explained: “She is a little bit hot. She will have a break and then I will play it by ear but I might run her in the Nursery here and then decide.”

Anton Marcus had the biggest South African pay day of any jockey after preceding his Sun Met success with both the CTS R5 million races. He earned a gross R8 million plus for the owners concerned.

The CTS races certainly franked the Cape Guineas form in no uncertain manner. Fourth-placed Cirillo ran out an emphatic winner of the 1200 and One World (third) made most in the 1600.

Sean Tarry is far from convinced that Cirillo is a sprinter, saying: “He is versatile. It was a very strong field in the Guineas and we followed the wrong horse.” Vaughan Marshall said earlier this season that he would not take horses to Durban this time and he confirmed this in the winner’s circle. He still believes that One World ran below form in the Guineas and said: “We can’t explain it but it wasn’t his day. Now, though, he has bounced back to what we thought.”

By Michael Clower 

Marinaresco could have his next Dubai race as early as three weeks on Thursday after pleasing connections on his reappearance in the Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan last Thursday.

This seven furlong Group 2 was the 2017 July winner’s first race since his third in last year’s Sun Met and he was a little considered 33-1 shot. Bernard Fayd-Herbe, who won the July on him, tucked him in at the back and the horse made some progress in the straight – without being hard ridden – to finish ninth of 13 some  five and three-quarters of a length behind the winner, the Charlie Appleby-trained D’bai.

Mike de Kock said: “I thought it was a good run, only five and three-quarters of a length off the winner after a year off. He will come on by at least the amount he was beaten. He will run in the Zabeel Mile (Group 2 on Feb 21) or the Jebel Hatta (1 800m Group 1 on March 9), or in both races.”

By Michael Clower 

There are two MR84 Handicaps and one Assessment Plate in the eight race meeting on the Vaal Classic track tomorrow and these will be the key races in the exotics as they provide an opportunity to go thin.

The first of the MR84s is over 1000m and the three stand out horses are State Trooper, Copper Jay and Sugoi. State Trooper is an imposing Captain Al gelding who has plenty of substance and he enjoyed being held up last time over this trip before running on strongly to win narrowly. That was an Assessment Plate and he was raised just two points which will be manageable. Copper Jay is ultra consistent and has a win, a second and a third from three starts over this course and distance so has a chance despite carrying topweight. Sugoi is a progressive three-year-old gelding by Noordhoek Flyer. The latter has been a disappointing sire but this youngster looks just like him being a well muscled red chestnut and is getting better and better. He was raised three points for his last win but looks capable of winning off this 77 mark.

The second of the MR 84 handicaps is over 1800m and the one to beat will be Senor Lizard, who finished 3,9 lengths behind the subsequent Cape Derby winner Atyaab last time over this trip at level weights and he has another good draw. He will be a big runner in this easier race and can beat Come The Day, who is still well handicapped on a 78, considering he was considered good enough to be entered in the Summer Cup. He disappointed over 2400m last time but this trip will be right down his alley. Finchatton has a wide draw to overcome but is 4kg better off with Come The Day for a 2,10 length beating over 2000m and this trip is probably his optimum. Those three can get punters through.

The Assessment Plate over 1600m sees a banker possibility in Flying Fable, who is talented and well in at the weights according to official merit ratings and is distance suited. However, she does not come from an in-form yard and has a tricky draw of five in a seven horse field. Podcast has caught the eye before and this three-year-old’s only win was over this trip. He has his third run after gelding but does have a tricky draw. On The Double has shown ability and will relish this trip. She is only 3,5kg under sufferance with the first choice on official merit ratings and can still progress so can be included over an ideal trip and from a better draw than the other two.

Masaaqaat made a fine debut from a difficult draw over 1000m on debut and is hard to oppose in the first leg of the PA.

In the first leg of the Jackpot over 1200m Peppermint Tea has come into his own and was far from disgraced last time against the classy Prince Of Kahal. He is the one to beat and is a banker consideration. Electromagnetic is a nice type who showed some pace on debut when not far behind subsequent SA Nursery winner William The Silent so he is interesting here returning from a layoff over a drop in trip. Eurostorm made an eyecatching debut and starts off on a reasonable 79 merit rating. Those two make most appeal of the rest.

In the seventh race over 1600m there is one stand out formline and Jubilee Line, Combat Muster and To The Regiment all come from it and are hard to separate. Wildlife Safari and Ready To Strike also make appeal but are both widely drawn. O Lucky Man can’t be ignored as he is drawn in pole and is better than his last start when finishing lame.

The last race is a Maiden Plate over 1600m and should be fought out by Ideal Day, who will relish the step up in trip, and the hard-knocking Gold Lightning. Over Sharing ran well from a wide draw over 1400m in his first start after gelding and should also be included. 

The meeting starts with an interesting heat over 1000m as there are a trio of interesting first-timers. Green Laser makes most appeal on pedigree being by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Parade Leader half-sister to Capetown Noir, who had speed and an exceptional turn of foot. Power Shot is a R220,000 colt by Bold Silvano out of the four-time winning Windrush mare Rushing Elf and the Spies yard have a fine record in two-year-old events. Winter In Ireland is by champion sprinter What A Winter out of a four time-winning full sister to Irish Flame and should also make her presence felt.

By David Thiselton

Sun Met hero Rainbow Bridge was reported in good shape at Milnerton yesterday but long term plans are fluid.

Eric Sands, having achieved rather more than merely the greatest success of his 36-year training career, said: “He is obviously a little tired and he left a bit of food last night but he took the race very well.

“There was a little bit of puffiness in one joint but nothing more than you would expect after a race, and I am happy with it. I will probably now give him a working holiday (rather than sending him to the farm). He will trot in the mornings and spend the rest of the day in the paddock.”

And his next run?  “The decision on his future is out of my hands but, assuming he is still with me, we will make a decision with the owners.”

The reason for the uncertainty is that the four-year-old has been owned by Chris Gerber’s family following his untimely death from malaria three months ago. The original brief was to keep to the programme and in a poignant moment during Saturday’s post-race interview Sands looked to heaven and said: “We left a gap in the photograph as there was somebody else there with us- and if it hadn’t been for all Chris’s patience the horse might never have got to the Met.”

Sands was referring to Rainbow Bridge’s recurring lameness before he even saw a racecourse. He was sent to a farm for three months and, still lame, he was then sent back to it for a further six.

But Gerber’s tragic death is not the only human interest story behind the 2019 Met. For the trainer it marked the end of a near 14-year struggle to restore his reputation. In April 2005 Sands was on the crest of a wave, a string of Grade 1 winners to his name and three top horses going to Durban – Hundred Acre Wood and Sporting Treble for the July and Charnwood for the KZN Fillies Guineas. They were to be given a pre-travel liquid paraffin laxative to guard against colic but the wrong bottle was taken out of the cupboard and they were treated with disinfectant instead. They suffered so badly that they had to be put down.

According to press reports at the time the “medication” was administered, not by Sands or his staff, but by a vet. However the trainer, in the eyes of the NHA, is responsible for everything to do with his horses – and it was the same with owner perception. All those Group1 triumphs with horses like Flobayou, Perfect Promise, Jungle Warrior and Double D’Or counted for nothing almost overnight.

Climbing back up the ladder was a long, hard struggle that took guts and perseverance on an Everest-conquering scale and Sands, now 62, reflected: “I never doubted I would make it but the problem was that people doubted me.”

Rainbow Bridge, the second Met winner for Smart Call’s sire Ideal World and bred by Jessica Slack in conjunction with her mother Mary, was an unlikely harbinger of salvation – so nervous that he sweated buckets before every race and burned up precious energy by insisting on jig-jogging round the parade ring.

“He is a very bright horse and he immediately knows when they are any changes,” said Sands. ”At home he is a piece of cake – you could put a baby in his box – but when he gets on a float he sweats. On Saturday, though, I was confident. His weight had been a bit low but I’d got it to the right level earlier in the week and, when I went to his box that morning, his manger was empty so I fed him again. He ate that too. I fed him four times in all so I knew he was well.

“When he got to the course we hosed him down and we did it again just before we saddled him. He walked into the parade ring wet and dried as he cantered down.”

Anton Marcus, winning his third Met, takes up the story: “I took him down a bit faster than normal and he just came back to me. I had reservations about the trip going into the race but as soon as I took him down I had no doubt he would stay and in the last 100m I felt it would take something special to beat me.”

The time of 2 min 2.96 sec was good by Met standards but a fraction slower than those clocked by Whisky Baron two years ago, Martial Eagle in 2013 and of River Jetez in 2010.

Milton (last) was returned fatigued and Oh Susanna (seventh) with a mouth injury but the disappointment of the race was Do It Again despite the 15-10 favourite finishing second. He simply couldn’t go the pace early on and he had only one behind him until the straight. “He was a bit flattish and I struggled to get him where I needed him to be,” said Richard Fourie who was summoned by the stipes to explain his riding. His explanation was noted.

THE SUN MET – WHAT OTHER JOCKEYS SAID

Keagan de Melo (Head Honcho, 3^rd): “This was his first time at this level and he ran his heart out.”

Corne Orffer (Undercover Agent, 4^th): “I managed to get him into a nice position and switched off. I was forced to pull out so I might have been a little bit closer otherwise. I thought it was a phenomenal run.”

Lyle Hewitson (Legal Eagle, 5^th): “He raced smoothly and was as gutsy and honest as he can be. No excuses.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe (Oh Susanna, 7th): “She would have done better if I could have got her to settle a bit earlier. Against the colts it was a bit tough.”

M.J. Byleveld (Tap O’Noth, 10^th): “I got stuck three wide and it all played against me.”

By Michael Clower