Justin Snaith wants to see the present whip rules made easier to understand and made more specific.

The champion trainer spoke about abuse of the whip during an interview with Andrew Bon at Durbanville early last month. The whip extract was shown on Tellytrack last week and, to put it mildly, raised a good many eyebrows.

Justin Snaith

He said: “We all know the rules about riding a horse to the finish but the stick work in South African racing has gone out of control. It is something that is becoming a bit of an issue and I think we need to get on top of it. I am making sure that it doesn’t cause too much hassle with my young horses and my jockeys are given strict instructions.”

When questioned about this at Kenilworth on Sunday, Snaith said: “I have noticed over the years that jockeys have got worse with using the whip and that the young riders coming through follow their example. In the minor centres the situation is even worse.

“When I looked at the rules I was surprised to see how vague they are. They are not strict enough for the stipes to take action and they are not sufficiently to the point.”

The relevant rule (58.10.2) states: “No rider shall misuse a crop or use a crop in an unnecessary or excessive manner, or use a crop on any part of the horse’s head.”

Snaith added: “Everyone in the racing industry wants change, including the jockeys, and the NHA is on board with this. What we change the rules to I don’t know. Equally I am not sure what we will end up with but people can’t watch a horse being hit 17 times anymore.”

It is rare, certainly in Cape Town, for senior jockeys in South Africa to be had up for excessive use of the whip. Occasionally they are accused of hitting a horse more than once in a horse’s stride, so not giving their mount a chance to respond, but otherwise the transgressors are normally over-enthusiastic apprentices.

To be fair to the jockeys, whip abuse in South Africa is far less common than it is in many other countries. You only have to watch British racing on Tellytrack to see how many riders hit a horse seven or eight times in a race while French ace Christophe Soumillon was hammered in the press for his whip use at the recent Breeders’ Cup meeting. In last week’s Melbourne Cup no less than six jockeys (including the first three) were in trouble over the whip.

The Turffontein no-whip race, according to Snaith the brainchild of Mike de Kock, continues to make waves around the world. American sports broadcaster ESPN yesterday interviewed Snaith about his views on it, and on the whip generally.

Snaith said: “Personally I think no-whip races are a bit drastic. For the moment we just need to change the rules and then possibly review them after a year or so.”

By Michael Clower

The Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m to be run at Turffontein Standside on Thursday night is a difficult race to assess as it is run under merit rated band conditions and also includes penalties and allowances and it involves exposed horses, some of whom will want to be leaving something in reserve for the Summer Cup.

Takingthepeace is the best weighted horse according to official merit ratings, although she is only 0,5kg better off with Sabina’s Dynasty, Zouaves is 1kg under sufferance with Takingthepeace, Cash Time is 1,5kg under sufferance, Bankable Teddy is 2kg under sufferance, Arctica is 2kg under sufferance but carries 0,5kg overweight, Bulleting Home and French Navy are 2,5kg under sufferance, Gambado is 3kg under sufferance, Like A Panther, Dawn Assault and Deo Juvente are all 3,5kg under sufferance and Liege, Full Mast and Tandava are all 4kg under sufferance.

Sabina’s Dynasty has the advantage of pole position and Piere Strydom, who knows her well, aboard. She is 4kg better off with Dawn Assault for a one length beating over 2000m on the Inside track so should reverse the form.

Arctica (Nkosi Hlophe)

Geoff Woodruff admitted not being quite sure whether Zouaves would stay the trip. He is by Sail From Seattle, who won up to 1400m, and although his dam is by Jallad his female line is generally quite speedy. His five wins have been from 1160m to 1450m but he was staying on strongly last time over 1475m in the Grand Heritage series race when just failing. Woodruff said he would be ridden “quietly” by Marco van Rensburg and a draw of five should allow him to find cover.

His stablemate Deo Juvente is a seven-year-old but looks four, according to Woodruff. On ability he is the one to beat considering he won the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at this course, beating the like of Legal Eagle and Nother Russia. He was rested after that race but then became “very sick” when campaigning in Cape Town and his high merit rating also made it tough for him. However, he has dropped from 116 down to 103 and in his last start he was staying on in eyecatching style over this trip on the Inside track. Woodruff confirmed Deo Juvente was on and upward trend and he will be looking to book his place in the Summer Cup. He has a tricky draw of nine but has overcome tough draws before.

Bulleting Home did not find much extra in the Charity Mile but he should be cherry ripe having his third run of the season and he might be looking for this trip these days. Anton Marcus is aboard which is an obvious bonus.

His Sean Tarry-trained stablemate Liege ran below par in this race last year, finishing only tenth, but went on to win the Summer Cup. There will be no pressure on him to qualify for the Summer Cup and this run will likely bring him to his peak, although he could still earn.

Stablemate French Navy has not won for three years and will need to improve on his recent showings, despite being well weighted on his best form and well drawn.

Like A Panther is an imposing horse with a big stride and a lot of class. He disappointed in the SA Derby but began his four-year-old campaign in fine fashion when returning from a six month layoff and cruising to victory in an Assessment Plate over 1800m, where he was admittedly well weighted. He has a tough draw of 15 out of 15 but can use his long stride to eat up leeway after likely being dropped out.

Arctica was caught wide for a bit in the Charity Mile, but still managed to stay on strongly to be beaten just 0,55 lengths carrying 53kg. He has a wide draw here but has Gavin Lerena up, albeit riding 0,5kg overweight. He will be right there if the Charity Mile, run just 12 days earlier, did not take too much out of him and he will be trying to book his Summer Cup place.

His Mike Azzie-trained stablemate Full Mast was used up to overcome a wide draw in the Charity Mile and was then sent for home early so not surprisingly faded badly. He is well regarded and now has a good draw. He is by Go Deputy out of a Western Winter miler who has produced a winner over 2000m so on pedigree he should stay the trip but there could still be a stamina doubt considering his career to date.

Dawn Assault used his big stride to run away from a challenging Sabina’s Dynasty last time and he has a good record over course and distance. He is a consistent sort who has come into his own and has a chance if able to overcome his wide draw.

Tandava is capable of strong finishes from sprints up to this distance. He did not wear his usual blinkers when running on steadily in the Jubilee but now has them on. That should waken him up and he is a dark horse as he will likely be staying on strongly after being dropped out from a wide draw.

Cash Time finished fourth in the SA Derby but will need to improve on his recent form and a wide draw won’t help.

Bankable Teddy has a good draw and enjoys this course and distance so if bouncing back to form could upset.

Gambado is a big horse who won well over course and distance last time and he should have come on from that run too so has a shout if able to overcome a tough draw.

Like A Panther is taken to win it from Deo Juvente and Gambado with Arctica and Takingthepeace next best. Sabina’s Dynasty and Dawn Assault are tough to ignore and Tandava makes most appeal of the outsiders.

By David Thiselton

Last season’s Cape Fillies Guineas and Majorca winner Snowdance will start off at Kenilworth on December 8, either in the Southern Cross over 1 000m or in a 1 400m fillies pinnacle, after pleasing in a racecourse gallop yesterday.

Justin Snaith said: “I wouldn’t mind trying her in a sprint but I will have a look at the pinnacle. She then goes for the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (Jan 5) before aiming for a second Majorca.”

Snowdance (left) – Candiese Marnewick

She was ridden by Richard Fourie in a solo spin over 1000m after being accompanied to the start by a companion who followed her home a furlong behind. The gallop didn’t reveal much other than that she is good shape.

Oh Susanna, second in the Fillies Guineas before going on to take the Paddock and Sun Met, begins her campaign in a mile fillies pinnacle at Kenilworth on Thursday when the opposition includes Brave Move, Lady In Black and the unbeaten Hashtagyolo.

Snaith also worked Durban July winner Do It Again (Fourie) with the Grade 2 Kuda Gold Bracelet winner Miyabi Gold (Athandiwe Mgudlwa) over 1 500m at a good clip. Do It Again tracked the filly but was always going the better. He drew upsides in the straight and eased past over a furlong out. He was impressive.

The champion trainer said: “Do It Again will start in the Green Point (Dec 8) and I will use the race as a prep for the Queen’s Plate. He should be 90% for the latter and 100% for the Met.”

Vaughan Marshall worked his unbeaten Cape Guineas hope One World (Anton Marcus) over 1 400m with last season’s Guineas winner Tap O’Noth. The older horse led and, although One World had to be ridden to join the leader, he appeared to be going the better once he did get upsides.

Marshall said: “I was very happy with both horses. One World runs in the Concord Cup (November 24) while Tap O’Noth starts in the Green Point before going for the Queen’s Plate and the Met.”

By Michael Clower

Rainbow Bridge paid tribute to the late Chris Gerber in the only way he could by producing his devastating trademark turn of foot to extend his unbeaten record to five in the Cape Mile at Kenilworth yesterday.

But he did it the hard way, turning the preliminaries – and indeed the whole time since he left his Milnerton stable – into nervous, sweating and energy-sapping anxiety. Eric Sands, amazingly now almost accustomed to this alarming behaviour, repeatedly threw buckets of water over him to cool him down.

But in the parade ring the favourite jig-jogged round in a manner that had the bookmakers rubbing their hands in glee. They lengthened him from 10-15 to 16-10 in a bid to get in as much money as they could.

Rainbow Bridge (Liesl King)

Bernard Fayd’Herbe deliberately took the horse much further down the course than any of the others in the parade and by the time he reached the start a lot of the nerves had dissipated into the atmosphere.

“I wasn’t too concerned,” he reported afterwards. “The most important thing for me was to get him relaxed and enjoying the race. Indeed he was travelling so well that when we turned into the straight I was looking to put on the handbrake.”

Instead he pressed the accelerator. Not even Lewis Hamilton could have got a better response. The four-year-old slipped into another gear and 150m from home he was in front. The length and three-quarter margin over second-placed Silver Maple does little justice to the ease of victory.

Eric Sands said: “The sweat was dripping off him when we got here but he is better than he was and, as he settles, he shows more and more of his ability. He runs in the Green Point next.”

But the trainer was so overcome that he was having to fight back the tears as he was interviewed by Stan Elley. “It’s Chris’s death and also Rainbow Bridge’s groom who committed suicide a month ago,” he explained.

So just how good is the Ideal World four-year-old? “As good as they get,” was Fayd’Herbe’s unhesitating reply and he has ridden more top horses than most of us have had holidays.

But that nervous sweating hangs over the bay’s future like a threatening cloud. He might get away with it in races like this but the Queen’s Plate and the Met are a different matter. No matter how good you are, you cannot afford to burn up lengths beforehand. Sands’ task is going to be as difficult as anything he has faced in his long career.

Those who can hardly wait to take him on in the Grade 1s include Glen Kotzen and Hugo Hattingh whose Eyes Wide Open gave weight all round and finished an encouraging fifth. “We were delighted,” said the Woodhill trainer. “He’d been off for months. Now it’s the Green Point, Queen’s Plate and the Met which is his real target.”

Dennis Drier and Sean Veale won last year’s Laisserfaire with Sommerlied and this time Anime – backed from 16-1 to 9-1- made much of the running to repeat the performance.

Significantly Veale said: “I am hoping to have some fun this season because we have brought down some nice horses.”

Candice Bass-Robinson ran three in the Woolavington Handicap and they took the first three places. But, sadly for punters, it was the outsider of the party who won with 31-4 shot Benjan leading over a furlong out to give Sandile Mbhele his first feature.

By Michael Clower

Athletes who struggle to breath are usually consigned to the couch in front to the television dreaming of what might have been. On the other hand, racehorses that have difficulty breathing can often be surgically corrected. The mighty Jet Master an example. He was superb up to a ‘mile’ – beyond that he ran out of oxygen.

Chantyman is not in the same league as Jet Master, incidentally, both ridden by Anton Marcus, but according to Dennis Bosch, “If he could breathe, he would be a top horse. He’s actually a seven-furlong horse.”

Marcus, in a superb display of horsemanship, got Chantyman home in the Track & Ball Gaming Handicap at Greyville on Friday night and was lavish in his praise. “This is one of the most courageous horses that I have ever ridden.”

Little Audrey (Candiese Marnewick)

“I said to Dennis that he was wasting his time with this horse. He can’t get any wind. It sounds as if there is an anaconda in his oesophagus.”

I’m not sure what an anaconda sounds like but Marcus nursed Chantyman all the way to the line. Taking the lead early in the straight, Marcus kidded to the gelding until it became obvious that Ishnana was threat. 50m out Marcus released the brake to get home with a neck to spare.

Ovation Award’s triumph in the sixth was not entirely unexpected by his connections but there were many reservations. “He galloped with Zigi Zagi Zugi and lined him,” said Gareth van Zyl. “But when he ran a dirty third, we weren’t all that confident anymore.”

“All the jockeys have been telling me that they feel something. Muzi (Yeni) rode him in the feature and although he finished far back, he still said there was something there.”

“This was his third time to the course. The first time it was washed out, then he kicked the back gate and was scratched. When he lost a shoe on the way to the start, I thought he was jinxed.”

Ovation Award quickened smartly on the straight to hold off Subtropical and Amor Ardiente, both not making any impression on Ovation Award’s lead.

“He’s still a boytjie (entire) but he has clear ability,” opined rider Warren Kennedy. “He has his days. One day he works like a rocket and the next you battle to drag him up the straight.”

Little Audrey finally went one better in the Gold Circle Podcast Maiden, breaking a string of runner-up places. Co-owner Dennis O’Connor, on course for all three of those seconds, decided that bowls would take precedent on Friday.

Duncan Howells was a little concerned the Little Audrey would prefer the turf but Craig Zackey rode a confident race to hold off the improving Sweet Preserve.

Peter Muscutt, KZN assistant to Brett Crawford, is a man of few words, preferring to let his horses do the talking and he got the Marcus ball rolling in the first as Negma smoked home. “She had some decent Cape form but she’s only a little thing, barely 400kg,” he said.

Carlburg, home bred by Verna Roberts and trained by husband Michael, caught most Pick 6 punters by surprise as he held off a late challenge from Tierra Del Fuego and Zgi Zagi Zugi. “I though Ashton (Arries) gave him a peach of a ride,” said Roberts. “I asked him to drop in, the last time a kid rode him and he bolted. I can’t say we didn’t fancy him, but I can’t say that we fancied him strong.”

“Verna bred him and it’s good for the mare. Ideal World onto a Fort Wood mare. To be honest he should go a lot further.”

By Andrew Harrison