The Vaal eight race meeting looks to be a good one for the exotics with most of the races having one or two stand out horses.

The first leg of the PA is the highest rated race on the card, a MR 92 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m, and only five horses will go to post. Jet Start is a promising sort who won two starts over this trip last season easily. She needed her last start and is drawn in pole which is always an advantage in a small field. Fort Ember has proven class and the small field will suit her as she lacks early pace and always risks being caught wide.She has a 4kg claimer to help her cause but on the downside she has not had an easy campaign lately, having had a very tough race in the G-Bets Summer Cup and then travelling down to Durban to run a close up third in the

Flamboyant Stakes. Those two should be enough for the PA and Bipot, although Cold Cash is in good form, Guns And Roses is talented and had her third run after a layoff and Insignis is proving competitive off her current mark.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Flapjack has good form over this trip, including a close second to Owlinthetree, who went on to place in a Listed race over this trip on Sunday. Fort Carol is consistent and will give her something to think about over a trip she should enjoy. The Honey Badger was beaten only 1,25 lengths by Flapjack in his penultimate start over 2000m when well drawn and he is now drawn in pole over a step down in trip which he won’t mind. He does tend to get a bit hot, so if able to relax he could spring a surprise and is made the value each/way bet of the day.

In the first leg of the Jackpot over 1800m Midnight In Paris was stepped up from 1000m to 2000m second time out and ran a fine second. It usually takes a horse a run or two to get used to the turn and the step up in trip so she should come on a lot from that race. However, she does have a tough draw to overcome. Ever Fair ran well over this trip last time from a similarly wide draw. Lyle Hewitson stays aboard which is significant. Magic’s First ran a cracker when setting the pace over 2000m last time and from a good draw here should be in the mix with Strydom aboard.

In the fifth race over 2400m Wonderous Climber is chosen as the best bet on the card despite being 3,5 kg under sufferance with Sunshine Silk.He has improved continuously since being sent over staying trips and can do so again from a good draw. He won last time with a bit in hand and looks to be potentially better than his 75 merit rating. Sunshine Silk is drawn in pole and is suited to this trip, but it is never easy against the boys. Come The Day was entered for the Summer Cup so is well regarded and is a galloping sort who should enjoy this trip, so he also has a chance and can be included in the Pick 6 and Jackpot.

In the next race over 2400m Earth Sky is also a progressive stayer and can make it three wins in his last four starts. However, Highlander is also in fine form and should be running on strongly as usual from his good draw. If Earth Sky has a chance then Tapanzee has to be given a shout on the weight turnaround, especially from pole position as he is a quirky sort who needs things to go his way.

In the seventh race over 1000m Dancing Queen has own her last two starts over this distance with consummate ease and looks to be going places,However, Ilha Da Varlette also impressed last time and will give some cheek despite being 2,5kg under sufferance with the first choice. Casual Wear also has ability and with cheek pieces on could surprise so can be included in the Jackpot and Pick 6.

In the last race over 1000m Elbi has dropped to a competitive mark and is the selection to win over a suitable trip despite having to carry topweight. I Aint Trippin, will also go close here as she is an improving sort. Ilha Da Var is knocking hard and recent maiden winners Queen Rachel and Ocean City both have good pace and run off reasonable merit ratings so must all be included.

By David Thiselton

Anton Marcus will ride second favourite Rainbow Bridge in the Sun Met at Kenilworth on Saturday fortnight. This follows a conversation between the four-time champion and Eric Sands last month.

Surprisingly in a game where rumours, counter-rumours and gossip spread faster than the Betty’s Bay fire not a word of this conversation leaked out.

Sands and Bernard Fayd’Herbe had an unwritten agreement that Fayd’Herbe would ride Rainbow Bridge in all his races this season, or at least until after the Met. When Fayd’Herbe later informed Sands that he would be going to Dubai, primarily to partner Marinaresco on whom he won the 2017 Vodacom Durban July, the Milnerton trainer was not best pleased.

He felt Fayd’Herbe should be on hand to ride Rainbow Bridge in some of his work in the three weeks between the Queen’s Plate and the Met, and in effect he warned the jockey that he might have to end the agreement.

After the Green Point Sands spoke to Marcus, explained what had happened and offered him the ride. Marcus said he could not jump ship from Legal Eagle while he was still winning. He would come back to him after the Queen’s Plate.

When they spoke again Marcus told Sands that he wanted a commitment all the way through to the Durban July subject to Rainbow Bridge remaining sound and in good health. Sands and the gelding’s owners were happy to give that commitment. Although Sands made no mention of this yesterday, Fayd’Herbe was therefore freed to take the ride on Oh Susanna.

Marcus has won the Met twice – on Empress Club in 1993 and on Hill Fifty Four five years ago. In the last three seasons he has finished second twice and fourth on Legal Eagle. He is riding like a man inspired at the moment and the booking could well see Rainbow Bridge’s price shortening from its present 9-2.

Sands yesterday reported that Rainbow Bridge has taken his Queen’s Plate run well and that early concerns about heat in the horse’s off-fore have proved groundless.

Sands explained: “In the race he went on to his off-fore too soon for my liking and he stayed on it too long before changing to his near-fore. Only when he did that did he start accelerating again and by that stage the race was as good as over.

“Afterwards he had a little bit of heat in his off-fore joint and knee, nothing bad but suggesting he took a little bit of a jar. However by Monday morning it was almost 100% again and I am happy with the horse once more. After all, when you finish with two Group 1 winners in front of you and three more behind you, you know you have a pretty decent horse! “

By Michael Clower

The Greyville polytrack hosts an eight race meeting today and the Dennis Bosch-trained Born To Perform, a son of Vodacom Durban July winner Dancer’s Daughter, will provide the purists with something to savour in the ffith race over 1600m.

Bosch and his team had to put in hours of hard work to just get this problematic horse to the races.

Jockey Warren Kennedy believed he could have won his debut by even further than 4,70 lengths and rates him “above average”.

He has a merit rating of just 65 and Kennedy said the grey should “despatch this field”, although he added “It depends how he behaves on the day.”

The four-year-old gelding had been “exceptionally well behaved” both rimes he’s visited the racecourse, much to the yard’s relief.

Kennedy said this horse must just be left alone to race where he was happy. That strategy was adopted on debut from a similarly tricky draw to this one and he found a handy position comfortably before drawing away in the straight. He was certainly not stopping at the line. Don Pierro looks to be the main danger, despite a wide draw, as he is capable of running on and is off a competitive mark. Epic Sword has a good draw and will also be running on. However, Born To Perform looks to be a banker consideration.

The first leg if the PA over 1200m should be a three-corned contest between the hard-knocking Hey Jude, the improved Starlight and Little Bristol, who had some fair form before putting in a good barrier trial on New Year’s day.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m The Master is interesting with Marcus up. He just failed when leading over 1200m in his penultimate start so should be able to lead here and is more suited to this trip on pedigree. Wordbuster makes most appeal of the rest as an improving sort who should be cherry ripe and he has Hewitson aboard.

The next leg is also a Maiden but is over 1600m. Mokoko makes appeal on form but the Paul Lafferty yard have warned that there yard might have been hit by a virus. Prince Charming is the selection to win as he drops to a more suitable trip and has Hewitson up from a plum draw. Carlton Heights faced some good sorts in Cape Town and his best run was over this trip at Durbanville. If he repeats that run he should be involved. Grey Street disappointed on the turf over this trip last time but has the ability to earn here. Jurist strikes as one who is better than his form suggests and can be included in a race which could yield an upset.

In race six over 1400m Pina Colada can be forgiven a below par run last time as she was drawn widest of all over 1600m. In fact she has had a succession of poor draws and now gets draw two over a step down in trip she won’t mind, being by Kildonan. Sheik’s Storm has some decent form over this trip and was unlucky with first time blinkers on last time over 1200m so must have a shout here off a reduced merit rating. Topweight Little Miss Me is a must include having run on well over this course and distance last time. Bridal Veil’s last run can be ignored as she was squeezed against the rail. She was once quite well regarded and could make her presence felt over an ideal trip off a merit rating which has plummeted, although she does have a tough draw to overcome. Liverpool Lass went close last time when dropped to this merit rating and can be included although the trip is likely a touch sharp.

In race seven over 1200m Wendylle has been disappointing but the Louis Goosen yard is back in form and he could turn it around. He likes to be in front so might appreciate the step up to 1200m and the 4kg claimer up will help. Bedazzled Joker went close over course and distance last time and now has a better draw. Noble Duke pulled over 1400m last time so will appreciate the step down in trip. Di Me won well over course and distance last time and is only two points higher in the merit ratings. Peter Piper has a plum draw and can never be ignored over a course and distance he has won three times over. Captain Cobalt has a chance too and Reserve runner The King Of Random must be included too if getting a run.

In the last leg over 1000m with the Goosen yard back in form Di Mazzio, who has always had ability, is the one to beat. Topweight Kingsmead has dropped to a competitive merit rating and from a good draw has a chance as he has won twice over course and distance. His stablemate Charlie-Fox has been highly tried and put up a fine performance over course and distance in June last year, so he must be included with a 4kg claimer up despite returning from a layoff. Lelslie’s Pathtofame has turned the corner and goes for a hattrick off just a two point higher mark than his last win. Mutawaary also has to be included.

By David Thiselton

Following a comprehensive discussion between the NHA Handicapping panel consisting of Messrs Lennon Maharaj, Matthew Lips and Vee Moodley, DO IT AGAIN has seen his Merit Rating increased from 120 to 125, in the wake of his victory in an exceptional renewal of the Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate at Kenilworth on Saturday.  The 2018 Vodacom Durban July winner showed both his versatility and his class when collaring sole three-year-old SOQRAT in the shadows of the post to land what was widely billed as one of the highest average MR Group 1 and the Handicappers are perfectly satisfied that the four-year-old is worthy of his new status as the highest rated horse in South Africa.

The Handicappers assessed the Queen’s Plate on the basis that LEGAL EAGLE and UNDERCOVER AGENT confirmed exactly their form out of the Green Point Stakes, and that UNDERCOVER AGENT and SNOWDANCE almost exactly replicated their form out of the Rising Sun Gold Challenge which was run at Greyville last June.

There is every reason to believe that DO IT AGAIN could have improved five pounds on what he showed when beaten a short head by LEGAL EAGLE in the four-way photo finish to the Green Point Stakes.  DO IT AGAIN was making his seasonal debut on that occasion, having not raced since winning the Vodacom Durban July, whereas all three of those around him had run (and won) at least once in the current season. There seems no doubt that DO IT AGAIN stepped up on his Green Point Stakes performance to win the Queen’s Plate against arguably the best field of milers assembled for a race in South Africa in many years.

As a result of the Queen’s Plate, SOQRAT’s rating has been increased to 124.  The Cape Guineas winner came into the Queen’s Plate previously unbeaten from two starts over 1600m – both of them at Grade 1 level. The runner-up out of the Cape Guineas, TWIST OF FATE, easily won the Grade 3 BMW Politician Stakes on Queen’s Plate day to also underline the strength of the Guineas form.  SOQRAT is a progressive three-year-old who looks full value for his 124 rating after only losing the Queen’s Plate in the dying strides.

RAINBOW BRIDGE also appears to have stepped up considerably on his Green Point Stakes run and his rating has been increased to 119.  In the Queen’s Plate he met DO IT AGAIN, LEGAL EAGLE and UNDERCOVER AGENT on 2 kgs worse terms than in the Green Point, yet was able to reverse form with two of them easily.  There is every reason to believe that RAINBOW BRIDGE performed better in the Queen’s Plate than in the Green Point, where he ran to 116 despite appearing unsuited to the slow early pace and generally not having a great deal go his way.  A mark of 119 for him looks perfectly reasonable and confirms his place as a progressive and highly capable emerging force on the scene.

Other changes following from the Queen’s Plate are LEGAL EAGLE dropping from 123 to 121, HAT PUNTANO drops from 112 to 109, and INFAMOUS FOX’S rating has been cut from 103 to 101.  These drops are more indicative of the two horses’ deteriorating form in recent starts and are not directly linked to their performances in the Queen’s Plate, where HAT PUNTANO was the subject of a veterinary check after his Jockey reported that he felt something amiss with the Argentine-bred import.

Cartier Paddock Stakes (WFA) (Grade 1) – Race 6

There were fewer significant rating changes following the day’s other Grade 1 race, the Cartier Paddock Stakes for fillies and mares over 1800m.  The Handicappers feel confident that the highly consistent 3rd placed CASCAPEDIA is the correct line horse for the race and accordingly have rated the race to a level of 118.  However, the winner OH SUSANNA’S rating remains unchanged on 121.  Runner-up LADY IN BLACK’S rating has been upped from 108 to 117, while 4th placed FRESNAYE goes up from 104 to 110 and 5th placed SECOND REQUEST has seen her rating raised from 101 to 104.  SECRET REQUEST ran to a rating of 108 and was effectively given a half way increase.The rating of the runners that were reduced were HASHTAGYOLO (from 104 to 101) and ELUSIVE HEART, who drops to 100 from 103. The balance of the field remains unchanged.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe has landed the plum ride on last year’s winner Oh Susanna in the Sun Met on Saturday fortnight.

Fayd’Herbe is bidding for his fourth win in the Kenilworth highlight following success on Pocket Power in 2008 and 2009, and on Futura four years ago. As Jono Snaith pointed out yesterday, Oh Susanna was partnered by Fayd’Herbe when she won her maiden as a two-year-old by five and a half lengths in April 2017. He has not ridden her in public since.

The four-year-old has been left on an unchanged merit rating of 121 for last Saturday’s second Cartier Paddock Stakes win and most major bookmakers now have her third favourite at 7-1 .

Stable companion Do It Again, though, has been raised five points to 125 for his Queen’s Plate victory. He shortened significantly in the market yesterday and Betting World now has him at even money. Justin Snaith has already accepted with 18-1 shot Made To Conquer as well as his big two.

There are 22 left in the R5 million Kenilworth Grade 1, run this year at weight-for-age with no penalties. There were no additions at yesterday’s final supplementary stage but Mike De Kock has scratched Buffalo Bill Cody, Tony Ruffel winner Hawwaam, Paddock Stakes third Cascapedia, Takingthepeace and Like A Panther leaving him with just 40-1 shot Noble Secret.Candice Bass- Robinson has taken out Rocket Countdown and Andre Nel has scratched 200-1 outsider Love To Boogie.

The handicappers were busy yesterday with new NHA boss Vee Moodley also on the panel. They upped Queen’s Plate third Rainbow Bridge(second favourite for the Met at around 4-1) from 110 to 119 and dropped Legal Eagle (fourth) two points to 121. Legal Eagle, twice second in the Met and fourth 12 months ago, is as big as 20-1 this time. Queen’s Plate runner-up Soqrat (not entered for the Met) has been raised six points to 124.

Last Friday’s Cartier Sceptre winner Clouds Unfold is to revert to a mile in the Klawervlei Majorca despite Mrs Bass-Robinson expressing doubts about the distance after Aldo Domeyer’s mount managed only third when starting favourite for the Cape Fillies Guineas.

The Milnerton trainer explained: “I was disappointed with her run in the Fillies Guineas but she was pulling quite hard early on, she never really settled and she didn’t quite finish it off so I would like to try the mile again.”

BMW Politician winner Twist Of Fate has been installed 3-1 favourite for the Cape Derby by World Sports Betting even though he is not going to run. His target is the CTS 1600 which is worth five times as much. One of those who will be promoted up the market is 10-1 shot Bunker Hunt who left Justin Snaith feeling like a James Bond martini – shaken not stirred – in the immediate aftermath of the Politician.

Not content with ejecting Richard Fourie at the start – the horse went down on his knees as he left the pens – he treated his trainer like a battering ram after passing the post riderless.

Snaith reported: “I went to grab him but as I did so I tripped and he galloped straight into me, bowling me over.” Fortunately only his L’Ormarins-blue suit was injured.

By Michael Clower