What started as a frustrating weekend with four second places, turned into a New Year’s celebration for Louis Goosen at Greyville yesterday with a trio of winners. It has not been easy for trainers in KZN over the past few weeks. First it was blistering heat and almost drought conditions, followed by a few torrential storms, especially at Ashburton where staff spent their lives sorting out the sand tracks that were seemingly forever being washed away.

As a consequence, work patterns were interrupted, some horses affected more than others.

The Grey Crusader was one of the quartet of seconds last Friday and it is not often that local trainers back up in a race four days later.

“I could only work him 400m on the grass before that last race,” said Goosen. “You can’t get a horse fit like that. Friday night was just a gallop.”

“He cleaned his bowl, no temperatures and no coughing so we took our chances today.”

It was a chance well taken as apprentice Jason Gates took The Grey Crusader to the front and was never headed.

Gates was back in the winner’s box half an hour later as he rode a driving finish on Imperial Royal for Wayne Bardenhorst. It started as a three-way tussle in the home straight with La Duchesse and Fonteyn the initial protagonists but just as La Duchesse got the better of Fonteyn, Gates arrived late to snatch a short-head decision.

Haddington is one of the biggest horses in training and easily picked out in the early morning gallops but he has been affected by the wet weather and a change of equipment, or rather lack of it, saw him put his opposition to the sword in the third to give Goosen his second winner in spite of him dislodging rider Eric Ngwane in the parade.

Ngwane, recently out of his time, rides regular work for Goosen and knows Haddington well. “He doesn’t like horses around him and doesn’t quicken when there are horses in front of him,” explain Ngwane as to why he made an early move on the home turn. “He keeps going at the same pace so I let him roll and just played with him to keep him going.” Haddington rolled home by seven lengths.

“Marco van Rensburg (who rode him last time) said I must remove the blinkers. He was over-racing,” added Goosen. “I just let Eric ride his own race.”

Van Rensburg did the honours for Goosen in the last with Bravo Zulu just getting the better of Royal Rustler with the judges having to resort to a magnifying glass to separate the two.

Jeff Freeman has a small string and he got his New Year off to a good start as Muzi Yeni got home aboard What A Scorcher to tie the lead in the National Jockey’s Championship with Anton Marcus who had ended his year one ahead of Yeni. Marcus’s lead was short-live as Yeni went ahead again, albeit by a single winner, his second race of the afternoon on the Alyson Wright-trained Gorgeous Guest.

It was back to all-square in the championship as Marcus rode a hard-fought finish on the Garth Puller gelding Sentido in the seventh to beat off the challenge from Andre Nel’s pair of Selailai and Washington Square.
It’s still early days in the championship however, as there are still seven months of the season to run.

By Andrew Harrison

The Grade 3 Lebelo Sprint over 1000m heads the card at Turffontein tomorrow and Prince Of Kahal can continue to defy the handicapper.

This four-year-old Kahal gelding looked exceptionally well handicapped when dropping to an 87 considering he finished sixth in the Drill Hall Stakes and was unlucky not to get a place. He has won three times since then and has risen to a 98 but this might not be enough to stop him. The danger is Rebel’s Champ who has developed into a top class sprinter. This long-striding sort will be attempting to mow them down late but he does have to give Prince Of Kahal 6kg which will make it tough. However, those two should be enough to get punters through the Jackpot and Pick 6. Prince Of Kahal should be enough for the PA.

In the first race The Sands is made the value bet of the day. He over raced over 1600m last time so will appreciate the step down in trip and should be running on as he has shown a fair turn of foot before. He was well beaten in the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup when racing too handy. This is the weakest race he has been in since his debut in which he stayed on for a fair fifth over 1200m despite being green. A good draw will aid his cause.

In the second race Olofberg disappointed over course and distance on Saturday but is better than that and can be given another chance. Orapa looked to have plenty of promise early in his career and stayed on last time over course and distance to be beaten 1,95 lengths by Aurora Australis. He is now 2kg better off with the latter so there will be little in it.

In the first leg of the PA Nimcha, Flapjack and Wild Fire are the form horses and can all be included in a PA which is not going to cost a lot to play.  

Silver Thursday is 8kg better off than any other horse in the fourth and can be made a PA banker although she could still need it and Invincible Lady and Gottalottaluv can be included in the Pick 6. The latter has always struck as one who has possessed some class but would need time. She did well in first time blinkers last time and can rise above her current 70 merit rating, which puts her a whopping 12kg out with Silver Thursday here.

In the first leg of the Jackpot Throng was highly tried last season and has his third run after a rest off just a 79 merit rating over a suitable 1800m trip. Hakeem cracks a good draw for a change so will go close and Major Return is on the up and can also be included.

In the sixth race Oravar looks to have promise and the blinkers will aid him in his step back down to 1000m. He is a PA banker but Whorly Whorly could pop up one of these days and should be included and so can Brigtnumberten, who has speed and is interesting in his second run after gelding.

In the eighth race Running Brave is relatively well weighted and despite this 1160m trip being too sharp her class can pull her through. Made In Hollywood is comfortably best in at the weights so must be included despite a poor Highveld debut. On her best Cape Town form she would doddle this. Ouro is consistent and can also be included.

The last race is the toughest of the exotic legs. Mouth Keith, Cumberland and Certifiable all have high draws which are often advantageous over this 1160m trip and they should all be included in the PA. However, going as wide as possible is the advice for the Pick 6.

By David Thiselton

Vase returns from a lengthy break but comes from a very much in form stable and looks the part in the card opener on the Greyville poly tonight.

It’s a card dedicated to the lessor lights of the horse population but Vase comes off some useful Western Cape form and Andre Nel’s KZN assistant, Byron Forester, has his runners ticking over nicely at present.

Nel also has a knack of sending up horses to KZN that are well suited to the synthetic surface and Vase was not too far back to the well performed Ryker in her barrier trial.

Likely danger is Wishful Words, who was much improved with a tongue-tie last start and has come to hand nicely.

Louis Goosen has had a quiet spell of late but saddles a few with good chances this evening. Yaas could round off his year in the second where Anton Marcus gets the leg up. The filly is way better than her last two and the recent death of her owner, Max Naidoo, will make victory all that more poignant.

The Naidoo-owned Fleek could round off a Goosen double but she will have to get past Redeem The Gold who showed promising improvement at her second start. Sean Tarry’s filly showed up well in her two barrier trials and there should be more to come. Fleek is quick and way better than her last two and with a 4kg claimer aboard she could run them off their feet. Duchess Lane has a pedigree that suggest that she should prefer a lot further but she has not been far back in her first two starts and can still show more.

Brett Crawford’s filly Awayinthewoods has proved expensive to follow and was a beaten favourite at her last two but Marcus has stuck with her and she tries the poly for the first time. She may be worth another chance in the fourth. Biggest threat could come from Alistair Gordon’s runner Lewa Downs who has yet to finish out of the money. She was a beaten favourite last run but one of her best runs has been on the poly.

The fifth is an open handicap but Path To Glory is useful and lightly raced. She has had two outings since a break and did well in a strong field last time out. Miss Calypso has her third run after a break and has been up against slightly stronger while Mitra Music was a narrow winner when favourite last timeout and although taking on slightly stronger here but has a chance again. Girl In Gold has been disappointing but has not been far back at recent outings.

The sixth is a tough race with plenty in with chances. Ideal Duel made steady improvement leading to her last win and goes well on the poly while Laat Laamertjie is never far back and also goes well on the poly. Dark Chocolate and Red Al are others to consider.

The Grey Crusader is likely to set the pace in the seventh. He has a 4kg claimer up but is sure to be tracked by French Legend with Marcus up. There was very little between the two when last they met. Shine Up is a professional maiden but he took on winners last time out and his form before that was not bad and he has a chance in this line-up.

Marcus and Goosen team up in the last with Song Of The Forest and although she takes on males she is lightly raced and is in a weak field.

By Andrew Harrison

The silly punting season is upon us and those of us who have understanding partners and a few days leave will probably be ensconced in front of their television sets flipping channels between horseracing and football until after the New Year

So, break out your favourite tipple and snacks, have smart phone at hand and enjoy the ride.

It starts at Fairview today leading into Greyville tonight where Brett Crawford could possibly supply an exotic bet banker for the evening in Siberian Husky.

The gelding makes his local debut and also steps out on the poly track for the first time but he has some excellent Cape form and with only 53.5kg to shoulder he could prove too good for The Sultans Bazaar and recent poly track debutante Saltoro Ridge who have to give away loads of weight.

In the opening leg of the PA, Rocking Ruby comes from the in-form stable of Wendy Whitehead and has the best of the draw. She was also close-up in a useful field last start but will need to be at her best to get the better of Heart Of A Legend who was not far back to stronger last time out and the drop in trip should suit. Also in the mix is Runaway Girl who was right up behind Rocking Ruby when last they met. She started at long odds that day but a repeat will see her close.

The opening leg of the Pick 6 is a wide open affair. Our Moon Shadow hardly ever runs a bad race and goes well over course and distance and it may be worth banking on his consistency. Captain Von Trapp is holding form well enough and did not get a penalty for his close-up second in a Chapter Challenge race so can go one better here. Wayward returns from a lay-off but trialled well and the blinkers are back on but he may just need it.

The fourth is another tricky affair but Fair Antonia has been close-up at her last two and that form has worked out reasonably well. She rates a strong chance. Dunzie is limited but has been ultra consistent and the drop in trip could see her home this time around.

Doug Campbell’s stable has turned the corner nicely and Master Gorge can do it for them in the sixth. After a promising trial and racing green on debut, he showed up well behind Carlburg in his most recent showing. That form has held up so he can do even better over this longer trip. Northeaster and Galway should be competitive over this trip while Al Jackman is an imposing gelding. He is taking time to come to hand but showed some improvement last run and is one to watch.

In the seventh, Josephine Baker has improved in blinkers and made a smart handicap debut. She is relatively lightly raced and could only now be finding her best. Her biggest danger could be Crystal Ball who is way better than her last effort.

Finally, Playlist has a big weight but goes well on the poly and was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out by the recently improved Expresso Martini. Little Audrey finally got it right over course and distance last time out and that form has been franked while Maneater and Red Herring are others to warrant serious consideration in an open handicap.

By Andrew Harrison

The Turffontein Standside meeting sees the first two-year-old races of the season, both over 800m, and the Tobie Spies yard have a fine record in these events.

They cannot be as confident as they were with Van Halen last year when he turned his 800m debut into a procession but they said of their charges, “You never know with babies, they can do funny things and can be green, but in the first race Axios is a very nice sort. We would expect him to be in the money at least. His stable companion Baby Lets Mambo is not too bad either and we hope to find the quartet with both of them. In the second race Me Time’s dam is a half-sister to Van Halen. She is precocious and we are confident she will run well and should be in the money. But we will be happy for her to be in the money and then build on that.”

Muzi Yeni rides both Axios and Me Time and they are both tipped to win.

The Spies yard also run Van Halen down in Cape Town in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas. They are still at a loss to explain his poor run in the Cape Merchants last time as he has eaten up everything since then. He has been working well and on his homework they believe he will see out the trip.

In the third race at Turffontein Greener Pastures can be made a PA banker from pole position having stayed on for second over this trip last time. However as far as winning the race is concerned Over The Limit will be a big danger. The latter comes out slightly better on some formlines and although returning from an 82 day layoff she is by Twice Over whose progeny improve with age so she might well have benefitted from the break. She also has a good draw and Nooresh Juglall rides for the flying Tarry yard.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Potjie ran a fair third behind the exciting prospect Mythical Bolt last time out. He was beaten 4,4 lengths and there was a yawning gap back to the rest so it could be fair form. Naizak will appreciate the step down in trip and is a danger along with Tequila Man who finished strongly last time with first time blinkers. Tintagel brings some fair Cape Town form and he could be suited to the fast Turffontein straight track considering he showed good pace to lead and only faded late over the tough Kenilworth 1200m three runs ago. Knight Owl could improve from his debut.

In the fifth race over 1160m Mighty High has the class to remain unbeaten despite carrying a big weight. Ouro and Dagmar are tipped to be the dangers. San Fermin is the best weighted on official merit ratings but has continued to disappoint. I Like It finished a short-head second in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile but this will llikely be too sharp.

In the next race over 1160m Colombina is not reliable but has ability and could upset. Announcing Rain has dropped to a competitive merit rating. Frankly has some class but the low draw might be a disadvantage. Going wide is the suggestion for the Pick 6.

In the seventh Rebel’s Champ has matured into a top class sprinter and should go close. Kissable is the joint best weighted and her early pace always makes her dangerous. Clever Guy has run two big races in succession and will be a threat too.

The 8^th over 1000m is competitive and although Shifting Shadows is the tip to win after running well in two features and now back in a handicap Three Stars, River Rafting, Vivir, Winter Watch and Made In Hollywood also need to be included.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 Scoop is on the up and can claim a hattrick. Ilha Da Varlette should also be included after two fine runs and she is actually officially better weighted than Scoop. Heavenly Risk is the best weighted horse and beat Scoop by 2,25 lengths last March but he has not raced since April.

By David Thiselton