Ashburton-based Duncan Howells, currently leading the KZN trainer’s log in both number of wins and stakes, has had a string of second places behind his name this season – 30 to be exact.

He again had to resign himself to the second box when Thanksgiving found Hawwaam to hot to handle in the Gr2 Dingaans at Turffontein on Saturday.

Thanksgiving was another addition to his list of second places on the Highveld where Via Africa ran second in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint, Same Jurisdiction second in the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic and Saratoga Dancer in the Gr2 Charity Mile.

Fiorella (Candiese Marewick)

Howells raids with three runners on G-Bets Summer Cup day at Turffontein on Saturday looking for a change of fortune.

Top of the list is star filly Fiorella who put one over the fancied Snowdance in the Gr2 KZN Fillies Guineas and ran Gr1 Sun Met winner Oh Susanna to within a length in the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 last season before finishing down the field in the Vodacom Durban July.

She has had two warm-up sprints leading into Saturday’s Gr2 World Sports Betting Ipi Tombe Challenge. Fiorella was staying on nicely behind smart sprinter Wynkelder (a runner in the Merchants on Saturday) in her seasonal debut and followed up with a good second to the useful Royal Frost over the Greyville 1400m last time out.

“She has prepped well and will give a good account of herself,” said Howells yesterday adding that she will be much better suited to the ‘mile’.  One of her final workouts was with Dingaans second Thanksgiving a fortnight back so the omens are good although she does face stiff opposition in the form of Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes winner Redberry Lane, Al Danza and bottom weight Dagmar.

Other Howells runners on the day are Accidental Tourist in the Gr3 Epol Magnolia Handicap and Procal Harum in the Gr2 Goldrush Derby Run Merchants, fifth and sixth races on the card respectively.

“Procal Harum had a nice comeback run,” said Howells after his narrow defeat over the Scottsville 1000m to Golden Loom Handicap runner-up Rebel’s Champ and he will enjoy the extra 160m of this race. “He has a money chance,” said the ever-cautious Howells.

Of Accidental Tourist he said the step up in class may find her out, “but she is well and we are hoping for the best.”

By Andrew Harrison

The Vaal stages an eleven race meeting tomorrow and the last three legs of the Pick 6 consist of two Assessment Plates and a Maiden Plate so it is catchable.

In the first of the Assessment Plates over 1000m Scoop is tipped to win having returned from a layoff and gelding to slam the opposition over this trip last time. The form of that race has worked out well with the runner up American Hustle having come out and won by three lengths and the third-placed horse Mega Lee proving her 100/1 odds third place was no fluke by placing again yesterday. Scoop is the best weighted male in the line up on official merit ratings.

Summer Afternoon was accorded quite a lowly merit rating after winning comfortably on debut but this filly has a smooth action and plenty of scope so is likely to improve although the step down in trip from 1200m to 1000m might not be in her favour. Elbi has pace so will be suited to the step down in trip and she is officially the best weighted horse. Sugoi is an interesting runner. His sire Noordhoek Flyer has been a disappointment but this one looks like a chip off the old block, being a well muscled and handsome chestnut, and the form of his maiden win over this trip was franked when the runner up Queen Rachel came out and won. Royal Cavalier looks to have some ability too and if repeating his effort behind William The Silent in an Assessment Plate two runs ago he could earn.

Summer Afternoon (JC Photographics)

In the second Assessment Plate over 1800m Sweet Red will be hard to beat if she takes her place. She was scratched from her engagement on Tuesday so it remains to be seen whether she runs here. She didn’t face a strong field last time but cruised in by nine lengths and before that she had good form in strong maidens. She jumps from a fair draw over an ideal trip. Cashel Palace is a big filly with plenty of scope and she should come into her own this season. She was only 3,15 lengths back in the Yellowwood Handicap last time and from pole position should make her presence felt. She is officially the best weighted horse in the race. Elusive Butterfly has not been disgraced in her last two starts having won her first two and she should enjoy the step up in trip.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is a maiden over 2000m and Two Of Us looks to be a staying type who will enjoy the step up in trip. However, the breathing noise he made last time is a concern. Mr Cuddles ran on well last time over 1700m and now has a good draw over a step up in trip which will suit. Wild Fire made late progress over this trip last time and should continue to improve. Flame Fella has to be included as he ran on when just behind Mr Cuddles last time and on racing style and being by Irish Flame he should relish the step up in trip. Brave Detail beat Wild Fire the last time they met over this trip so must be included and Noble Emblem is on the up and can also be considered.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Folk Dance is a filly who looked to be top of the tree at one stage. She has been disappointing lately but she has consequently dropped to a 99 merit rating and has her easiest task for some time in this handicap in which the 4kg claim of apprentice Klink will alleviate the 62,5kg burden she is set to carry. The 1400m trip is ideal as she can be strong in the running over a mile. I Like It is an interesting contender a few days after coming within a whisker of pulling off a major shock in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile and she has to be included carrying just 52kg. It is competitive but the next most fancied is Dame Kelly as she has always struck as one with ability and 1400m has always been her ideal trip. Last time she showed herself to be back in form. However, the other three, Rouge Allure, Strawberry Pavlova and Vivir, are tough to ignore and a field selection has to be considered with only six runners involved.

In the second leg Lake Kinneret did not have the race pan out for her perfectly last time over this 1400m trip as she was jostled early and then ran without cover throughout. She can do better if finding cover and running on and is 2kg better off with Danza for a 2,9 length beating. Danza and Sail For Joy are ideally distance suited and must be included.

The third leg over 1400m is a tough one but Quebec Queen only just failed last week over 1600m and should be involved. Sammi Moosa has dropped to a competitive merit rating and can be involved. Silvez has scope and should come into her own this season. She is capable of running them into the ground from the front here although it is her first outing for three months. Samarra, Believe Me, Words, Kick Butt, Elegancia and Durban Bourbon are others to consider.

By David Thiselton

Kenilworth on Saturday sees the first Cape Town two-year-old race of the season and, intriguingly, Sean Tarry is among those with runners.

The meeting is being run in aid of Western Cape racing’s very own charity, the WC Equine Trust which retrains and finds new homes for retired racehorses.

Grant Knowles will auction a number of star prizes including a service to top stallion Twice Over (advertised fee R50 000 plus VAT and sire of this year’s Durban July winner Do It Again), a VIP day at next year’s Glorious Goodwood meeting including a box and cocktails with the Duke Of Richmond, a game drive and a one hour flight around the Cape Peninsula.

The jockeys have already donated the proceeds of last month’s charity chase race at Durbanville and the Equine Trust will also benefit from Saturday’s race sponsorship contributions from studs, trainers and bookmakers.

By Michael Clower

The Boston Rose makes a lot of appeal in the Supabets Handicap at Kenilworth today and she can resume her winning streak now that she is back to her own level.

This four-year-old won three off the reel before returning from a three-month lay-off to contest the Laisserfaire Stakes two and a half weeks ago. She made little impression in that 15-runner Listed race and finished with only two behind her, some eight lengths adrift of the winner.

Township Melody (Candiese Marnewick)

It is significant that Richard Fourie rides her because Justin Snaith also runs Township Melody who was fifth in the Laisserfaire, five lengths in front of The Boston Rose, and is only a kilo worse. The pair have both been around the 7-2 to 4-1 mark with World Sports Betting which opened Golden Chance at the head of the market on 5-2.

Dennis Drier’s charge romped home seven lengths clear on her Scottsville debut in early September and, judging by that performance, first time out of the maidens may not prove quite the difficulty that so many find it.

Drier and stable jockey Sean Veale can start off with a winner as Via Salaria looks the part in the opening Itsarush.co.za Welcomes Maiden. This colt was second in a barrier trial and again in the real thing when odds-on for his Kenilworth debut 17 days ago. He opened a warm 16-10 shot here.

That looked a bit short and the price (2-1 yesterday) might ease a bit further, particularly given the high regard in which Glen Kotzen holds Duc D’Orange. He started favourite for a race sponsored by his trainer at the beginning of the month and finished a promising fifth. He has been backed from 5-1 to 4-1 but the one negative is that Kotzen said before his first run that he would need further.

The TAB Telebet Handicap half an hour later is a tricky-looking affair but top weight Love Supreme has some fair form if you are prepared to ignore her last run. She started favourite and finished last with Anton Marcus reporting that she changed stride continually and so he did not persevere with her in the final furlong. The course vet found her to be not striding out in front. She is weighted to reverse previous placings with Ontenderhooks who also ran below form last time.

Elusive Victor has eased from 7-2 favourite to 9-2 for the Tabonline Maiden (race three) as punters have taken cognisance of his terrible draw and so the vote goes to the Vaughan Marshall-trained Rochester who looks reasonably priced at 5-1. The lightly raced 17-10 favourite Au Revoir makes most appeal 40 minutes later.

By Michael Clower

Summerveld trainer Frank Robinson raids Turffontein on Saturday with a few horses, including GBets Summer Cup hopeful Roy Had Enough.

He said, “His preparation has gone well as there has been nice weather and he looks amazing. During the Champions Season he had hind lameness of the stifle which affected him as it was off and on and we were continually patching him and we only got him well at the end of the season (when he won the Listed Avontuur Darley Arabian over 1600m on the poly). He came right and has been perfect since.”

Frank Robinson

Robinson has been happy with his two comeback runs since then including when moving up well for second over 1900m on the Greyville turf last time carrying 61,5kg.

Robinson wonders how he got such a high rating of 109, especially when considering Noble Secret and Like A Panther both beat him in the Grade 1 SA Classic last season but are rated four and five points lower respectively. However, he pointed out that Roy Had Enough had run to his rating in the Grade 1 Gold Challenge and added, “If he really is that good he has a chance. I am extremely happy with him and think he is a big runner.” On pedigree he should get the trip being by miler Pierro and having a second dam who was a Grade 1 VRC Oaks winner.

Robinson said Roy’s Riviera, who runs in the Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Challenge over 1600m was always going to be a filly who needed time. He said she was very well and was surprised to see her at 20/1 odds considering her close up finishes during the Champions Season behind the like of Oh Susanna, Lady In Black, Redberry Lane, Snowdance and Fiorella.

However, he made Top Classman in the Listed Racing Association Handicap over 3200m his best runner on the day. This colt finished just 3,80 lengths behind Equus Champion Stayer It’s My Turn in the Track And Ball Derby and has proved that was no fluke by winning twice since over 1900m and 2400m respectively.

Serino Moodley became the stable jockey a month or so ago and Robinson said about the youngster’s lack of big race experience, “He has done well for us so far, he’s done nothing wrong, he is a good rider who is going to get there. He is quite calm and confident and I will tell him to just go out and ride it like it was any other race and not to panic.”

His raiders all had gallops last week and will just have blow outs this week before travelling through Friday night and arriving at about 6 o’clock on Saturday morning.

He concluded by saying all of his runners were sound and well.

By David Thiselton