One World has been installed 19-10 favourite to extend his unbeaten run to five in the R400 000 Concorde Cup at Kenilworth on Saturday week. The colt is Vaughan Marshall’s main hope for a third consecutive Cape Guineas next month.

World Sports Betting makes the Sean Tarry-trained Chimichuri Run – the highest rated horse in the race by 3.5kg – second favourite at 11-2 with Twist Of Fate, Hudoo Magic and Herodotus all on 9-1.

In the Cape Merchants on the same card last year’s runner-up Dutch Philip is favourite at 11-2 with top weight Bold Respect on 15-2 and Kasimir on 8-1.

Justin Snaith has already declared five. In addition to Kasimir (Richard Fourie) he runs Sergeant Hardy (S’Manga Khumalo), Bishop’s Bounty (Brandon Lerena) Star Chestnut (Robert Khathi) and Sir Frenchie (Sean Veale).

Snaith also runs four in the R2 500 000 CTS Ready To Run Stakes with Fourie on Captainofthesea, Black Indy (Brandon Lerena), Seventh Sea (Robert Khathi) and Carlas Mambo.

By Michael Clower

Featured Image: One World (Liesl King)

Turffontein Standside stages an eight race night meeting tomorrow which is headlined by the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m.

The two females in the Victory Moon, Takingthepeace and Sabina’s Dynasty, are the best weighted on official merit ratings but preference is for Like A Panther, a long-striding, scopey sort who should come into his own this season. He has a wide draw but can be dropped out before running on. Deo Juvente should go close as he has been dropped to a competitive merit rating and caught the eye in his last run. Gambado strikes as a progressive sort and he will come on from his last start. Arctica and Takingthepeace also have to be included in exotics. Sabina’s Dynasty, Dawn Assault and Tandava make most appeal of the rest.

It is a tricky card and Redberry Lane is made the best bet in race two over her optimum trip of a mile. She won the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes in fine style and in her recent comeback she caught the eye staying on strongly to get up over 1450m. Her main rival here Cascapedia will likely be using this as a preparation for the GBets Summer Cup.

The first leg of the Pick is tough but Flying Winger is on the up and on pedigree will enjoy the step up to 1800m. However, the lightly raced and progressive Diamond Dancer from pole position will be a big threat. Kilrain should bounce back off a lowered merit rating and Secret Captain and Silver God have to be considered.

The first leg of the Jackpot is a tough MR 88 sprint handicap. Copper Jay is an up and coming sort who was scalped last time and he can make amends being 2kg better off with Donny G for a 1,3 length beating. The latter has always struck as one with ability and has begun living up to that since being partnered with Piere Strydom. They go for a hattrick together. Pillaroftheearth also looks to have come into his own and must also be included. Torre Del Oro has been disappointing lately but was coughing last time and if bouncing back to his best could be a threat. The speedy Great Shaka could be dangerous too running fresh.

The next race should be fought out by the promising youngsters Big Blue Marble and Palace Chapel and the best weighted Mawsoof.

In the Listed Gardenia Stakes Green Plains is well weighted but she does have the number one draw which can sometimes be the worst side on this straight sprint course. Therefore Covered In Snow, Kissable, Wrecking Ball, Queen Laurie and Rose In Bloom have to also be considered.

In the last race Africa Rising gets on well with Lyle Hewitson and can beat the Equus Champion Sprinter Will Pays, who is returning from a layoff. Legal Eagle ran a place in a similar race last season and Pinnacle Peak, Romi’s Boy, Captain’s Causeway and Angel’s Power are hard to ignore.

By David Thiselton

The reappearance of Horse of the Year Oh Susanna dominates today’s racing at Kenilworth and on ratings she has the proverbial stone in hand in the Supabets Pinnacle Stakes.

Richard Fourie’s mount was as short as 6-10 with World Sports Betting yesterday and the other bookmakers seem sure to follow suit but this is her first race since she only narrowly won the Woolavington at the beginning of June.

“Punters should be a little bit cautious because of the strength of the race and because this is Oh Susanna’s first run back,” Justin Snaith warned yesterday. “She has done well and I am happy with everything but she has only been on the grass once since her last race and some of the opposition are super fit.

“We are hoping for a good run but I can’t get her 100% without her having a couple of races. This is a prep and she is not racing fit – and to blow a field like this away she needs to be at her best.”

Lady In Black is second favourite at 9-2, presumably because she was only three-quarters of a length back third in the Woolavington, but she has also not raced since. Furthermore Oh Susanna ran some way below her best that day.

Brave Move could be a bigger threat as she has won her last six starts and during that period nothing has been able to get to the bottom of her. “She is going into this race fit and well but not tuned up to her peak,” said Adam Marcus. “She is so competitive and she has such a big heart that she will really try.

“But one has to be realistic about taking on a filly who oozes class. If we can finish close up behind her it will be a run full of merit.”

Today is Dean Kannemeyer’s 58^th birthday – and he probably doesn’t need reminding about it! – but Hashtagyolo can have little chance of keeping her unbeaten record after being off since New Year’s Eve. Surprisingly, though, she has been backed from 10-1 to 7-1.

Fresnaye (14-1), beaten a length and three-quarters by Brave Move in the Final Fling, has had a more recent run but it is difficult to see her turning the tables. Rider Donovan Dillon, incidentally, was 25 yesterday.

Love To Boogie looks over-priced at 18-1. She and Goodtime Gal (16-1) are close on their Diana running and have the considerable advantage of a comparatively recent race. If the favourite’s lack of fitness catches her out don’t be surprised if victory goes to one of these two.

Mastamgambit and Silva’s Fling, who dead-heated for second on their debuts at Greyville at the end of July, head the market in the opening maiden. But how strong is that poly form? Preference is for 9-2 shot Engage And Beware who can make amends for last time’s Durbanville disappointment.

Jacqueline has been backed from 5-1 to 28-10 for race two but the vote goes to Princess Penelope who made an encouraging Durbanville debut.

By Michael Clower

Dave Byrnes, a courageous and talented jockey who successfully plied his trade in the USA, passed away yesterday after an illness bravely borne. In latter years he had been a valuable workrider in the Dennis Drier yard and had currently been an assistant trainer in the Paul Lafferty yard.

Byrnes was the son of one of the country’s best ever lightweight jockeys, Joe Byrnes, and in 1974 the pair established the unique feat of riding in the Durban July together. Dave was a fifteen-year-old apprentice to David Payne at the time and rode the 33/1 outsider Sea Patrol to second place. The race was famous for the dislodging of Tom Rattley off the second favourite Jamaican Music shortly after the start and for the upstaging of the favourite Elevation by 20/1 stable companion Riboville, whose 4,5 length victory is the widest in July history.

Dave recalled in an interview a few years ago, “It was the first time we had run Sea Patrol in blinkers. He virtually ran away with me and we led all the way until overtaken by Riboville. With more experience I think I could have won the race. The loose horse, Jamaican Music, brushed us and the interference could have cost us. With more experience I would have just let him go in the straight and not waited.”

In 1978 Byrnes rode the Herman Brown-trained World News to win the Grade I SA Guineas at Greyville from draw 14 of 15.

“Dave Byrnes was a very good jockey and it was a pity for our racing that he left for America the next year,” recalled Brown a few years ago.

Byrnes also won the Lady’s Bracelet at Scottsville on a Syd Laird-trained horse called Refreshing and the Hibiscus Fillies Nursery at Greyville on Little Mo.

He left for America in 1979 and made an almost immediate impact when forming a lethal partnership with an English trainer called Roy Waugh.

Waugh trained for Summa Stables which was a partnership formed by oil billionaire and legendary owner-breeder Nelson Bunker Hunt and coin collector millionaire Bruce McNall. Barry Gordy, founder of the Motown record label, was also initially a member of the partnership.

Bunker Hunt, who won such races as the Epsom Derby and the Arc, initially sent Waugh about 14 horses that were all rejects of the sire Vaguely Noble (Arc winner) and his sons, Empery and Mississipian.

Waugh was based in San Fransisco with Byrnes as his stable jockey and in 1980 the pair raided the East Coast.

They were unknowns but had so much success and such a phenomenal strike-rate that they acquired the nicknames “London Express” (Byrnes) and “California Flash” (Waugh). Byrnes nickname related to his driving through on the inside rail, an unusual tactic in the USA.

A couple of years later Bunker Hunt’s empire collapsed when he tried to corner the world silver market and Waugh lost his job.

Byrnes continued to ride with success in the East Coast until a bad fall in 1987 put him out for some time.

The fall co-incided with him becoming “tired” and he lost the drive and ambition he had once had.

He returned to South Africa in about 1994 and among the interesting things he did besides race riding was playing a role as stuntman in a horseracing movie called “The Derby.” In one scene, taken at Clairwood, he was required to veer a horse across the track and dive over the rail, a highly dangerous stunt that fitted in with his reputation as a fearless horseman.

Byrnes retired from riding in 2003 and a subsequent attempt at a comeback in 2009 did not last too long.

He and Waugh’s paths crossed again as Waugh is also currently an assistant trainer to Lafferty.

Byrnes’ time at the South African Jockeys Academy in the 1970s had co-incided with the like of Michael Roberts, Basil Marcus, Felix Coetzee, Patrick Wynne, Steven Jupp, Dennis Bosch and the late Gary Verne, a vintage group who all left their mark.

He leaves his wife Barbara and son Daniel and will be missed by many not only for his horsemanship but his friendly demeanour and approachable nature.

By David Thiselton

A competitive nine race card awaits at Greyville this afternoon, the first race due off 12.50pm. The card opener is a MR 80 Handicap over 1800m which has surprisingly attracted a small field. Trainers Andre Nel and Dean Kannemeyer both have a pair of runners and the winner looks certain to come from one of these trainers. In saying that, the Dennis Drier trained Escape Club has solid form and she looks progressive. Stable rider Sean Veale has made the flight back from Cape Town to do duty for the yard. The Drier yard have already got off to a flying start in the Cape with Anime going from start to finish last Sunday.

The second race is a maiden event over the mile and favourite backers could be safe here with Neria from the in-form Brett Crawford outfit run here in KZN by Peter Muscutt. Neria showed early pace in her trial and faded steadily but is well suited to the mile. Her KZN debut looks set to be a winning one. Noble Approach, Lady Sharon and Elegant Eva could press the first choice all the way home and are worth including for the exacta.

The third race looks tough but the winning combination of Johan Janse Van Vuuren and Anton Marcus could continue with Chipofftheoldblock who is a son of Redoute’s Promise. Frozen Tune was the fastest finishing horse last time when fifth to Arrow’s Mark and his formlines are working out well. He might well prove to be the one they all have to peg back.

The opening leg of the Pick 6 is a weak handicap and many runners need to go into the perms. It was encouraging to see Miziara run on well last time and the formline of Barinois last run is working out well enough to give her a bright chance. Eden Gardens Glitz holds the same formline as Barinois and the cheekpieces could do the trick – a tough contest.

Wayne Badenhorst has taken over the training responsibility of Biker Babe after Craig Eudey retired and this mare nearly made a winning stable debut last time. She rates the one they all have to beat in the opening leg of the pot.

Belfry has had more than enough chances and contests the sixth race with apprentice Luke Ferraris in the irons. She should win one of these days but is not one to put the lights out! Secret Dynasty could be the one to beat here and Anton Marcus might think the same as he rode Belfry in his last three starts. Dennis Bosch’s son of Dynasty was an expensive buy at the 2017 Ready T0 Run sales.

The seventh race is competitive and has upset written all over it! The advice is to be cautious and to include as many runners in the exotics as your budget will allow.

The inform combination of Andre Nel and Gareth Wright are selected to bring the curtain down in the last race. Red Shift was ultra impressive when winning last time and could still be well treated by the handicapper. He looks to have a lot more to offer. The high draw for me, is the only concern. Edge Of The Sun has finally learnt to race and put his best foot forward and is now starting to get into the winner’s box more often. If he were to win again, it would not be a shock. Galaxy Tunes finished fourth to Perfect Peter last time and that post maiden run is impressive.

By Warren Lenferna