Michael Roberts spoke yesterday of his pleasure at seeing horseracing finally being recognised as a sport at the annual Scottsville race meeting which is named in his honour.

Roberts became the first jockey inducted into the South African Hall Of Fame last week.

In the Listed Michael Roberts Handicap the Dennis Drier-trained Wealthy was 1kg under sufferance and the trip of 1750m was considered on the sharp side so he was ignored in the betting and went off at 22/1. However, he relished the decent pace and stormed home from last under Sean Veale to win going away by a comfortable three-quarters of a length from the topweight Dark Moon Rising. Affranchi handled the step up in trip well and finished third ahead of Amor Ardiente. The favourite Pietro Mascagni finished a disappointing fifth. He looked to be over racing in the early stages and did not move up as well as he did last time in the London News over 1800m at Turffontein. Wealthy has turned the corner since a wind operation and might be able to read racecards as he has made a habit of winning when the prize money is good.

Anton Marcus kept up his phenomenal strike rate with a treble. Punters were holding their breaths in the final stages of the opening race as the 1/3 favourite Agent Murphy was being challenged by the well supported Thomas Shelby and by Mr Minister. However, Marcus had left enough in reserve for the Alyson Wright-trained What A Winter colt to win by a quarter of a length.

In race five, a Maiden over 1600m, Marcus rode the first leg of a quick double for Highveld trainer Johan Janse Van Vuuren. The Oratorio filly Giglio is immature, but the penny dropped yesterday as she travelled well throughout and then pulled away from her market rival Leanna to win as she liked. Thru The Trees ran on strongly to claim second place.

In the next race over 1200m Marcus won on Mardi Gras and this classy grey sprinter showed his credentials for the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint to be run over this trip in May as he found another gear under pressure to win impressively.

Veale rode a double having won the third race over 1200m on the Drier-trained debutant Sacred Journey.

Tony Rivalland also had a debut winner in Extravargent who was brought home by Stuart Randolph.

Both of those debutant winners had run decent barrier trials.

Louis Goosen’s yard is in fine form having been through a bleak spell and outsider Shwanky never looked like losing the eighth over 1200m under Deon Sampson.

The Sean Tarry Play The Night is on the up and won the fourth over 1400m well under Luke Ferraris.

The last race saw a stampede for the finish line and Ferraris made it a double and Drier a treble when Daydream Believer got up.

By David Thiselton

The Listed Michael Roberts Handicap over 1750m is fittingly the feature event at Scottsville on Sunday as the great jockey became one of the first horseracing inductees into the South African Hall Of Fame this week.

The enigmatic Pietro Mascagni makes the trip down from Johannesburg and has pole position draw under Anton Marcus. He appeared to shirk the issue last time in the Grade 3 London News Stakes over 1800m, despite having first time blinkers on, as he had glided up to the leaders but then didn’t want to assert when asked to. He has the class to win this and Marcus might drive him past the leader when challenging this time and then keep him going. Hero Quest is an imposing Ideal World gelding who runs strongly from the front and he should enjoy this course and distance, although he is three points higher for his last win. Divine Odyssey is in good form and will enjoy this trip. Dark Moon Rising has topweight but has carried big weights before and this trip will suit him. The good draw of two might not suit him as he likes to be on the outside of horses. He should be finishing strongly.

Dawn Calling was most unlucky in the Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m at Greyville when climbing all over them but not being able to get through. She is interesting stepped up in trip from a good draw. Blackball ran a fine third in the July consolation race behind Head Honcho and the yard have him in good shape for this race. However, he does have a tough draw to overcome. Wealthy is 1,5kg under sufferance but if Hero Quest sets good fractions up front he has a chance as he can run on well when the pace is on. Affranchi might help ensure a good pace as he runs handy over shorter. He is interesting stepped up in trip being by Elusive Fort and might keep going. Amor Ardiente is in good form but does have a three point raise to contend with. However, he was staying on in an 1800m race on the poly in August and could be the dark horse. Sir Bernadini was well beaten by Amor Ardiente over 1600m last time and has a wide draw to overcome. He is consistent but has not placed in two runs at Scottsville which is a concern. Techno Captain has a hopeless task at the weights. Nicklaus’ sand rating dropped to 82 when he was in Kimberley but upon return to KZN he had to run off his turf rating and he finished downfield in the Christmas Handicap off this 94 rating. They are selected in the order mentioned.

Punters should get off to a good start the first race over 1000m with the Alyson Wright-trained Agent Murphy, who looks to be promising and will have come on from his debut where he was green.

Marcus could also win the second on the Nathan Kotzen-trained Amex who was green last time and now has blinkers on. The yard are confident of a good run. However, it is competitive and a few are in with chances.

In the first leg of the PA Cosmic Cutter was unlucky on debut and could make amends over this same course and distance.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 the unbeaten Born To Perform is on the up and after a comfortable win over 1600m last time can make it a hattrick over a 1400m trip which should suit as he has got into a handy positions easily from wide draws over 1600m and is now drawn well.    

In the fifth race over 1600m Leanna was mentioned by the Dennis Drier yard as one of their best chances on the day as she cracks a pole position draw over a suitable trip against an uninspiring field. However, Jo’burg raider Giglio has Marcus up and having run third to Blossom last time must have a shout.

In the sixth over 1200m Mardi Gras has class and could beat the honest and consistent Unbelievable Lad and the rangy speedster Captain Von Trapp.

The eighth is a competitive race over 1200m but the in form Nathan Kotzen yard have a strong coupling in Spring Breeze and Heart Of A legend who have to be included. Rocking Ruby will also be a big runner here.

In the last over 1000m Mademoiselle is a hard knocker in Jo’burg and can fight it out with Dieci.

By David Thiselton

Featured Image: Pietro Mascagni (JC Photographics)

Turffontein has a ten race meeting tomorrow and it looks to be a tricky card for exotic punters so the dividends will likely be handsome.

The first leg of the PA over 2600m is a staying maiden with not much form to go on. Born Rich lost narrowly to Flame Fella last time they met over 2400m but then ran a nice race with first time blinkers on over 2200m at Greyville, leading and then staying on to place third. Flame Fella is bred to go this trip and has run two fair races since being stepped up in distance. Smart Deal was a hard knocking sort at one stage over this trip and after a recent downturn inform gets the blinkers on. He is well dawn and is a must include in the PA.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 2600m Invincible Lady is by Captain Al out of a Jet Master mare who won over 2450m. She stayed well over 2000m last time and has the galloping action of one who should stay this trip. Pilgrim’s Progress has turned the corner since being sent over staying trip and has won twice over 2400m. She is five points higher in the ratings after the second win but won that last race comfortably so can go close again. Emerald Bay has to be included too as she went close under Warren Kennedy in her penultimate and he is back on board. She is 3.5kg better off with Pilgrim’s Progress for a mere 0,9 length beating over 2400m so should be right there. Redberry Wood was staying on over 2000m last time and struck as one who would enjoy this trip. Sunshine Silk has to be included despite carrying topweight as she is a proven stayer.

In the first leg of the Jackpot over 1800m Warrior’s Rest is a resolute galloper who will be the one to beat if he gets to the front. Silver Thursday is the best weighted horse and her last run can be ignored as she was caught wide throughout. She now has a good draw and the blinkers are on. Orpheus is effective over this trip despite making breathing noises and has to be included.

In the sixth race over 1800m Drop Kick ran a fair race last time over this trip first time out the maidens. He should have come on from the run and has a plum draw now. Top Rank was just behind Drop Kick in that race and is now drawn in pole. Hakeem went close in that race from a good draw but is now drawn wide. Gone With The Wind is distance suited and well drawn but does make breathing noises. Corrido and Kurt’s Approval also have to be included. 

In the next race over 1600m Arlington’s Revenge won well over this trip last time and can follow up from a good draw off two point higher mark. Throng is on the up and can go close, although he would prefer further. Obvious Child did well first time out the maidens and has a 4kg claimer up from pole position. Tammany Hall raced a bit strongly over 2000m last time and might enjoy coming down to this trip, although she has a tough draw. Spring Poetry should also enjoy this trip.  Whosethebossnow has ability and a good draw.

In the last leg of the Jackpot Pale Lilac could prove to be well weighted having won well last time with first time blinkers on over this sort of trip. She has another wide draw so will likely go to the front again. Dame Kelly is ideally distance suited and drawn in pole. Mar Del Seur, Gimme Hope Johanna and Regal Graduation make most appeal of the rest.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 Quebec Queen makes most appeal over a suitable trip but it is a tough race. Jailhouse Jazz should make a bold bid too as an unexposed progressive sort. 

By David Thiselton

Je Ne Sais Quoi can make it third time lucky in the Betting World Maiden at Kenilworth tomorrow. Ridden by Anton Marcus for the first time, the Glen Kotzen filly is the 16-10 favourite and has the form to win after two good runs over a furlong shorter.

She was only beaten a neck when starting favourite last time and, being by five-time Group 1 winner Duke Of Marmalade, she should appreciate the extra.  She holds Sparkeling Fire (8-1) on last time’s run and, while 9-2 shot Epic Storm looks the obvious danger, stable jockey Aldo Domeyer rides Happy Girl and so this 13-2 chance is suggested for the forecast.

Marcus’s mount Run Fox Run is 2-1 joint favourite with World Sports Betting to make a winning debut in the opener and, while riding arrangements suggest she is preferred to the other Ridgemont first-timer Natural Jade, the price does not really allow for the Australian bred’s inexperience.

Also three-year-old first-timers at this stage of the season may not necessarily be that good. If they were, why didn’t they run earlier? The same reservation applies to the 3-1 shot Procrastination. I prefer to take a chance with Makaranga Love who, possibly significantly, has already been backed from 7-2 to 2-1.  Captain’s Legacy (7-1) will hopefully run well enough to provide a much-needed tonic for Harold Crawford.

However the Ridgemont-Brett Crawford-Marcus combination should win the Hospitality Maiden with Engage And Beware. This 22-10 favourite had The Perfect Wave (17-2) two lengths behind over a furlong less a fortnight ago.

The Snaith-trained River Thames is second favourite at 5-2 but is badly drawn and over this 1 400m the draw is important. True, he ran well over it from a poor draw in November but he disappointed from a good one on his only subsequent start. Cash Call (9-2) ran well in a fair-sized field from a wide draw three weeks ago and could prove the main danger.

The bookies, invariably good judges – their livelihoods depend on getting it right, reckon that Twice To Sydney is a shoe-in for race three even though the sahorseracing computer says the Andre Nel runner won’t finish in the first six.

She gets the nod from this quarter as there was a fair bit of promise about her sixth of 12 behind Wallis Simpson on debut three weeks ago. Those who prefer to rely on proven form may care to note that Au Revoir (5-2) is 4.5kg top-rated.

By Michael Clower 

The barrier draw ceremony for the Sun Met was held yesterday and the big three, Do It Again, Oh Susanna and Rainbow Bridge, would all have been happy with their positions.

Rainbow Bridge is the type who needs cover as he can over race so the connections would have been thrilled with his draw of two.

Oh Susanna will want a fast pace or otherwise she will have to go to the front herself and draw five gives her a couple of options.

Do It Again relaxes well and can come from off the pace if necessary so his draw of seven also gives him options.

Legal Eagle shouldn’t be written off as he ran a flat race in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and he did not have good luck in running in the Met last year when finishing fourth. He has finished second twice in this race before but does now have to overcome a tough draw of eleven.

July runner up Made To Conquer drew well in four.

The likely pacemaker Milton drew six.

By David Thiselton