Scottsville has an eight race meeting tomorrow and the racing is competitive so the exotic dividends should pay well for those who do their homework.

In the first leg of the PA Allez Les Bleu is well regarded and is a nice type. He was unlucky last time when unable to get in from a wide draw over 1200m. He now has a good draw and on pedigree will enjoy the step up in trip. Song Of The Forest has earned cheques from 1000m up to 1400m and is improving. The Louis Goosen yard have bounced back to form and this Oratorio filly is now ridden by Anton Marcus for the second time in a row. She now gets blinkers on having been run out of it when a 1,1 length second over this trip last time on the poly. Her draw of eight is tricky but with Marcus up she should have every chance of finding a good position in the running. Duchess Lane will relish the step up to this trip and will also be a big runner from pole position.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 the last time Pumpkin Queen ran over this 1600m course and distance she won by three lengths and although that was off a six point lower merit rating she proved last time she is up to her current mark when just failing to get there in a slow run Pinnacle event over 1800m on the Greyville turf. She has a fair draw of four in the seven horse field and is the selection. Parabola has been facing some good sorts and with a drop in merit rating and class and jumping from pole position under Lyle Hewitson she will be a big danger. Those two will be enough for the PA but Generous Lady is distance suited and in good form and has Marcus up so has to be included in the Pick 6. Lady Li Lay also has to be considered for the Pick 6. The risk averse might also want to include Ella’s World as she won her maiden easily and a recent barrier trial would have put this promising daughter of Ideal World in good nick for this race.

The first leg of the Jackpot is an uninspiring maiden over 1950m. Silver Prancer has stayed on in her last three runs from 1400-1800m and is by Silvano so will be improving all the time. She is well drawn and should be involved in the finish. Jamaica Bay is a rangy type who did well from a handy position last time over 2000m at Greyville and the form was franked. Unilateral has been knocking on the door and is distance suited so with Marcus up and the Goosen yard having turned the corner she is a must include. Circle In The Sand was green last time over 1800m at Greyville and can improve. Belle Of Paris improved last time when stepped up to 2000m and has to be considered.

In the fifth race over 1950m Expresso Martini is a typically progressive daughter of Ideal World and having been raised only two points for her last win she now has a 2,5kg claimer up and is drawn in pole. Little Audrey has always been well regarded and she might start showing her true potential now with the Howells yard and jockey Mark Khan in good form. Mythical Magic will have a good chance if she settles because she over raced the last time she ran over this course and distance and still managed to stay on for third. She is now four points lower in the merit ratings, although she does have a high draw and is a quirky type who can’t be relied on.

In the sixth race over 1950m Josephine Baker is an improving daughter of Ideal World and she can get it right this time rom a good draw. Awesomely Tuned stayed on well when stepped up to 2000m last time and now gets a 4kg claimer up and runs for a new yard. There won’t be much between her and Red Herring on form.

In the seventh over 1400m Miss Calypso looked promising at one stage and she returns to the course of her two career wins. She will enjoy this trip but does have a tricky draw. Hashtagthemost was unlucky last time over 1200m and should enjoy the step up in trip. Awayinthewoods has to be included from a good draw first time out the maidens as Marcus has kept the ride. Silver Raisin is course and distance suited but also has a tricky draw. Biker Babe is in good form and over a suitable trip has a good draw. Ooh La La is ideally distance suited but has to overcome a tough draw.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 Mashari looks a promising sort and Marcus is up from a good draw over an ideal trip. This gelding has substance and a fine turn of foot and is made the best bet on the card. 

By David Thiselton

Do It Again looks like starting the shortest priced Met favourite since Igugu won at 15-20 seven years ago.  Richard Fourie’s mount, bidding to become the first since Pocket Power to complete the Durban July, Queen’s Plate, Met treble, eased slightly with some bookmakers yesterday but he was generally available at no more than 12-10.

Betting World has him at evens and goes 33-10 Rainbow Bridge, 7-1 Oh Susanna, 10-1 Head Honcho, 14-1 Legal Eagle, Made To Conquer, 16-1 Undercover Agent, 20-1 bar while World Sports Betting quotes 12-10 Do It Again, 33-10 Rainbow Bridge, 13-2 Oh Susanna, 12-1 Head Honcho, 14-1 Legal Eagle, 16-1 Undercover Agent, 18-1 Made To Conquer, 20-1 bar. 

Only 12 have been declared against him leaving the 2019 R5 million Sun Met celebrated with G.H. Mumm (to give the race its full title), in the new strictly weight-for-age format, with the smallest field the race has seen in 25 years – and probably a fair bit longer.

It was expected that the numbers would drop when the race conditions were changed but the historic ten furlong Grade 1 more than makes up for it in quality, and those that opted out at yesterday’s declaration stage were all long shots.

Billy Prestage decided to take a chance with Milton – cut from 100-1 to 66-1 – and has engaged Randall Simons for his first Met runner as a trainer since taking out a licence over 40 years ago. He needs to beat three home to recoup his entry and declaration fees.

Justin Snaith, successful in the Met for the first time with Oh Susanna 12 months ago, is responsible for four of the 13 runners with July runner-up Made To Conquer (S’Manga Khumalo) and Peninsula Handicap winner Doublemint (Piere Strydom) joining the big two.

Andre Nel – Head Honcho (Keagan de Melo) and Kampala Campari (Aldo Domeyer) – is the only other trainer with more than one runner. The pair are his first Met contestants.

Hat Puntano (Donovan Dillon) takes his chance even though Joey Ramsden was unable to find anything that could have accounted for his rather disappointing seventh in the Queen’s Plate. Ramsden has yet to win the Met although he came within less than half a length with Bravura in Igugu’s year.

There are 195 horses declared for the 12 races and Snaith is responsible for 32 (16%) of them. However this figure is down on recent years. The current champion trainer declared 35 last year, 40 in 2017 and 36 in 2016 when he made a clean sweep of the first six races and equalled the world record for winners at the same meeting on the one day with eight.

– BLOB Marinaresco has his first race since finishing third in last year’s Met in the 1 400m Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan on Thursday week.

“He is doing very well in Dubai and we are hoping that he will run a place,” says Marsh Shirtliff in whose colours the 2017 Durban July winner races. “But you can’t expect him to win against this sort of competition after being off for a year.”

Shirtliff will not be there to cheer him on as he will be buying at the Cape Premier Yearling Sal the previous evening.

By Michael Clower 

The fields for the two richest races in South Africa, the US$500,000 CTS 1200 and the US$500,000 CTS 1600, were announced yesterday and the good news for KZN racing fans was that the impressive winner from the weekend, Mr Greenlight, was included in the 1600 field.

Trainer Duncan Howells will now have three lively runners on Sun Met day, Fiorella in the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes over 1600m, Thanksgiving in the Grade 1 Cape Derby and Mr Greenlight, all owned by Dave McLean.

There were only 13 acceptors for the CTS 1600, but is has attracted a few Grade 1 class horses.

Mr Greenlight will have a tough task, especially as he has to jump from the widest draw of all. However, he will provide the unknown factor as he has always been held in high regard and Sunday’s race was the first time the penny had dropped. He ricocheted away from a handy position, displaying an electric turn of foot, and won as he liked. He cost R600,000 at the CTS Emperor’s Palace Select Yearling Sale and is one of the most exciting prospects in KZN racing.    

The Master Of My Fate colt Twist Of Fate has a draw of nine to contend with but wide draws did not stop him finishing second in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas or winning the Grade 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m. He gave lumps of weight away in the Politician Stakes and did not settle well in the running but still won comfortably, proving just how good he is and how strong the Cape Guineas line up was.

Twist Of Fate was bought for a mere R20,000 at the CTS March Yearling Sale of 2017 by Joey Ramsden and now races for the Mauritius-based River Palace Racing Syndicate. The horse did not reach his reserve of R20,000 in the ring. Ramsden approached breeders Favour Stud later at the sale and secured him for that reserve price.

Favour Stud is located a few kilometres inland of Still Bay, which is 85km west of Mossel Bay.

Owner Ernst Du Preez recalled Twist Of Fate had a lot of the unknown about him. He said, “He was by a freshman sire and the mare had never produced a major winner before.”

His dam Crescent Lily by Counter Action won the Listed Fairview Breeders Guineas and Jet Master sire Master Of My Fate, who oozed class as a racehorse, was the leading first crop sire by winners last season.

Twist Of Fate is certainly not an imposing individual but Ramsden showed why he is held in high esteem as horseman and trainer by seeing something in him.

Crescent Lily could not get into foal again after Twist Of Fate’s birth and has been retired, so that is unfortunately the end of her family from Favour Stud’s point of view.  

Cape Guineas third-placed One World will likely vie for favouritism. He won the Grade 2 Concorde Cup over this trip and went into the Cape Guineas unbeaten in five. This imposing Vaughan Marshall-trained Captain Al colt cost R425,000 at the Cape Premier yearling Sale and is drawn eleven.

One World’s stable companion Provocateur, a 91 merit rated Var gelding, has been knocking hard over 1400m in ordinary races but could earn some valuable place money if he gets the trip, which is not a given as he is a full-brother to the speedy Schiffer and the useful Mastermind, who won a 1400m event in Dubai.     

Marshall also runs Philanthropist gelding Sherwood Forest, who is going to battle being an exposed 73 merit rated horse.

The Concorde Stakes runner up Chimichuri Run, who cost R1,1 million at the Cape Premier Yearling Sales, is drawn in pole position. Trainer Sean Tarry would have preferred to have run him in the CTS 1200 and Cirillo in the CTS 1600 but had to reverse their plans due to the draws. Chimichuri Run has won two Grade 3s over 1200m and could only manage sixth place in the Cape Guineas, beaten 6,25 lengths.

Tarry also runs Russian Beat in the 1600. This Elusive Fort gelding won a Maiden Juvenile Plate in June in his third start but is up against it in this field.

The Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas runner up Silvano’s Pride will give the boys something to think about. This Justin Snaith-trained filly has plenty of substance and like most Silvano’s is improving all the time. She is drawn in six.

Candice Bass-Robinson has a fine record in the CTS events and runs the progressive Dynsty colt Majestic Mozart, who was not disgraced in fifth place in the Cape Guineas, having earlier run on well for third in the R2,5 million Lanzerac Rady To Run Stakes over 1400m. He is an immature sort who is improving all the time and can’t be written off.

She also runs the Silvano gelding Nao Faz Mal, who is up against it off an 82 merit rating.   

Adam Marcus runs an exciting Var gelding called Vardy. He is only rated 88 but is a rangy sort and only just failed to catch Charles in a 1600m event at the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate festival. That was no disgrace as it was only his third start and his first defeat and Charles is held in high regard. Vardy is drawn well in four and is a dark horse.

Dan Katz runs the other of the two fillies in the race, Skye Lane, who is a daughter of Pathfork. She has won twice including a race over this trip, but last time off an 81 merit rating she was well beaten off a 81 merit rating so is up against it here.

By David Thiselton

The Vaal Inside track has a ten race meeting tomorrow and a lot of homework will be needed to land a slice of the exotic dividends as the racing is generally competitive.

However, the best bet of the day is selected to be Oceania, who runs in the first leg of the PA. She stayed on well from way back when drawn wide over this 1400m trip on debut to run third. She should be closer to the action down the straight and being by Ideal World will be improving.

The Assessment Plate over 1000m is next up. Scoop has been selected to win as he looks to be going places and the form of his two comeback wins has worked out well. However, if he is not bankered it is wide open. Topmast has some decent form and in a handicap would only be receiving 1kg from Scoop but is receiving 4kg so it might be wise to include him. The only older horse in the field, State Trooper, has always been well regarded and was highly tried as a three-year-old. His only two career wins have been over sprints so he can’t be ignored trying the minimum trip for the first time. Heavenly Risk is the joint second best in at the weights together with Topmast. However, he does looks held by Scoop on collateral form so some would want to leave him out. Basilius also has to be included as he is not only the best weighted horse on official merit ratings but on the evidence of his last start will appreciate the step down to the minimum trip and he might try and run them of their feet in his second run after a layoff.

The first leg of the Jackpot could be won by Colour Of Light who has pace and an accompanying kick, meaning she is ideally suited to this 1000m trip. She has dropped to a mark six points lower than her last win and showed signs of a form return in her third run after a layoff last time, so she should be cherry ripe. Lily Theresa has been most disappointing in her last two starts. However, she was found to not be striding out both times and if bouncing back she will have many of this field beaten on the form of her first run on the Highveld, which was over 1000m on the Turffontein Inside track. Those two are chosen to get punters through the Pick 6. However, for the less risky bet, the Jackpot, more runners can be included headed by See You Tyger, who won her maiden easily. Opera, Memphis Belle, Lady Of The World, Vine Street Star and Illegal are the others to consider.

In the next race Alpine Glacier is a consistent sprinter who has been given a two point lowering by the handicapper and he also has a 2,5kg claimer up, so can get it right over his ideal 1000m trip. Brigtnumberten had some useful earlier form and has plummeted 18 points down the ratings since last May so is also a must include in his second run after a layoff over an ideal trip. Sugoi looks a lot like his father, Noordhoek Flyer, who was a well muscled and athletic red chestnut who had a lot of speed. Noordhoek Flyer has been a disappointing sire but if Sugoi produces either of his best two runs he could be in the shake up. Those three are chosen to get punters through the Pick 6 but the former Cape Town horse Tarsus made a decent Highveld debut and can be included in the Jackpot.

In the seventh race over 1400m the top class SA Fillies Nursery and Starling Stakes winner Ronnie’s Candy was caught wide in the Fillies Mile but  showed how good she is by still managing to stay on for third. Then last time in the Three Troikas over this trip she cost herself by racing too strongly from a wide draw and she not surprisingly faded out. If Karl Zechner can settle her in behind horses this time she will be hard to beat, but on the evidence of those last two starts she is not an easy ride. Blossom is by Silvano out of the Triple Tiara winner Cherry On The Top and looks promising. She does still have a lot to prove but should be improving all the time and could be the chief danger along with Greener Pastures, whose recent form has been franked.

In the last leg of the Jackpot What A Joker brings decent Cape Town form and looks to be running off a suppressed merit rating so is the selection over a suitable 1400m trip. Lazarus Tree has run seven times and has won comfortably three times. However, he has otherwise run ordinary races. He has made respiratory noises in his last two defeats, so that might explain it. He will go close if all goes well. Lock Him Up has turned the corner since the blinkers were removed and has to be included. Rocky Path, Street Flyer and Old Man Tyme also make some appeal and can be included.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is competitive. Manhattan Cocktail looks to have some class and is the selection to beat the more experienced handicappers Sovereign Rein, Manitoba, Bold Coast, Judd’s Rocket and Master Boulder, who are all in form and distance suited.

By David Thiselton

Candice Bass-Robinson will have urgent discussions with Gaynor Rupert and Kevin Sommerville this morning to decide on the Met day target for Fillies Guineas fifth Santa Clara who had no problem in landing the odds in the Tab Telebet Handicap at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The Milnerton trainer said: “We have three options – the Bidvest Majorca, the CTS 1600 and the Cape Derby. I am leaning towards the Derby. I think she will get the trip and the race doesn’t look that strong – either that or the sales race but that is very strong and she is drawn badly.”

Today is also important in Brett Crawford’s quest for the answers to what went wrong with Mushi Sterek in the Interbet.co.za Handicap. The 9-10 shot started going backwards after only 300m and she finished some 60m last. “She went exactly a furlong and then she wouldn’t raise a gallop,” said a mystified Anton Marcus.

The veterinary examination requested by the stipes found nothing but senior stipe Ernie Rodrigues said: “It was too bad a run for something not to be wrong and we have asked the trainer to report back.”

Brett Crawford, more concerned than anybody, went straight to the racecourse stables after the race. When he eventually re-emerged, seemingly completely baffled, he said: “There has to be a reason. You can’t win a race by five lengths and then run like that. I will get her scoped and also get my vet to check her out.”

Could it be something in the filly’s mental make-up? After all, she is known to be far from easy. “I don’t think so,” said the trainer. “She is very forward and all the time we are trying to slow her down.”

Another possibility is her tender mouth. When she won so impressively first time out Marcus said that he had never before ridden a horse with such a sensitive mouth. For most of that race he sat motionless with his hands on her withers and the lightest possible hold on the reins.

On Saturday she was tossing her head about as she went down to the start with a companion. Maybe, despite her rider’s best efforts, she had felt pain in her mouth on debut and she was remembering it.

The winner, almost unnoticed in all the fuss over the favourite, was the Keagan de Melo-ridden Evelina who has won three of her last four for Andre Nel. It wasn’t all puzzlement for Crawford either as he went home with a treble.

Joey Ramsden saddled two for the opening two-year-old race and won with the 13-1 outsider of the pair, the Donovan Dillon-ridden Double Alliance. Stable companion Ibra (third) was found to be making an abnormal respiratory noise. There must be a bug going round because no less than six other runners during the day were found to be suffering from the same complaint.

Piet Steyn’s problem was a wonky knee. He had it replaced last Wednesday and so missed seeing Brave Tiger justifying favouritism in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden. Satchmo Mathen, who owns the appropriately named Amazing Satchmo in partnership with Glen Kotzen, had an even more-needed tonic when Liam Tarentaal brought the colt home in front in the mile maiden. Mathen is recovering from a triple bypass operation.

Justin Snaith elected to spend the afternoon with his Met day armada and so father Chris deputised, successfully saddling Stan Becker’s Hurricane Silva for the 1 400m maiden. Snaith snr recalled winning two Mercury Sprints and the 1992 Gilbeys at Scottsville with Signor Amigo for Becker.

Greg Cheyne, successful on Brave Tiger and St Vladimir, has less pleasant memories of the star sprinter – “He went through the rails with me at Clairwood when I was an apprentice and broke my back!”

By Michael Clower