Mushi Sterek went straight onto the Fillies Guineas shortlist of many Kenilworth punters when she burst onto the racing scene like a certain future star in Saturday’s Royal Horse Maiden. But seemingly we are all going to have wait a good 12 months before the Australian-bred gets the chance to unleash her real potential.

Brett Crawford

Brett Crawford explained: “She has a very soft mouth, it is difficult to restrain her and putting her round the turn is going to be difficult. It has taken a lot of time to get this far. Obviously she has a lot of scope but we need to plan carefully and go slowly with her. At this stage we have to look after her rather than chase the better races. I think we will get her there eventually but it will be next season rather than this one.”

Anton Marcus rode her with kid gloves. For much of the 1 200m he sat with his hands resting on the filly’s withers, and with the lightest possible hold on her mouth, as she cruised along in the lead. Approaching the furlong marker he asked her to stretch and it was if he had pressed the turbocharger. She produced the sort of acceleration that most jockeys (and trainers) usually only see in their dreams. Even the official five-length margin considerably understates her superiority.

Marcus said: “I have probably never in my life ridden a horse with such a sensitive mouth but I’d been on her back twice before so I knew she had some kind of ability. She is not the easiest to work with but she is really exciting.”

The winner looks well bought by the Kieswetters’ Ridgemont operation at A$180,000 (R1.85 million at current exchange rates) at last year’s Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale but also make a note of Vardy who made a winning debut under Aldo Domeyer 40 minutes later. The Var gelding started at a little-considered 11-1 but he was impressive.

“He had shown us a lot of ability at home –whatever I worked him with he simply cruised next to them. But he was all legs and what he showed here was just raw ability,” said Adam Marcus who, typically, intends taking it slowly via the easiest possible route.

Remarkably, and unusually, the third maiden was also won by a first-timer, the Fosters’ homebred Belgarion and the Snaith team followed up with Captainofthesea in the last.

Mike Robinson celebrated his 47^th birthday by winning with his only runner- the Donovan Dillon-ridden Hemero – while the connections of Mr Lover Boy saw their seemingly endless patience rewarded when Shadley Fortune got up 30m out in the Drillco Handicap. It was only the six-year-old’s second win in 51 starts. Little wonder that he started almost unbacked at 28-1.

By Michael Clower

Rainbow Bridge will bid to extend his unbeaten record to five in the R150 000 Cape Mile at Kenilworth on Sunday. Eric Sands confirmed the gelding a runner at the weekend and said that Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who won the Matchem on the four-year-old last month, will again have the ride.

Rainbow Bridge (Liesl King)

Victory for the Met and Queen’s Plate hope would be an appropriate tribute to owner Chris Gerber whose death from malaria, contracted on a fishing trip to Tanzania, is such a loss to South Africa’s breeding and racing industries.

Richard Fourie, who rode Rainbow Bridge in his first three wins – including the Winter Guineas and the Winter Classic, resumes his partnership with the Glen Kotzen-trained Eyes Wide Open on whom he won last season’s Cape Derby.

Justin Snaith has booked Lyle Hewitson for Silver Maple and has also declared Copper Force who was ridden by the champion when a surprise second in the Queen’s Plate. Rocket Countdown, second in the Winter Guineas and Classic, runs for Candice Bass-Robinson who has also entered Horizon. However both Brave Move and the unbeaten Hashtagyolo will wait for easier pickings in the mile fillies Pinnacle on Thursday week.

Magical Wonderland has been installed 3-1 favourite for the Laisserfaire Stakes on the same card and Mrs Bass-Robinson has confirmed her a runner “even though they disgracefully gave her 64.5kg (a hefty 10st 2lb in old money).”

World Sports Betting has Too Phat To Fly (11-2) and Elusive Heart (7-1) next in the market. Both are trained by Kotzen who will also run 20-1 shot Ostinato and 50-1 chance Princess Vicky.

Snaith will also run four with Fourie on Casual Diamond (7-1), Hewitson on Township Melody (22-1), Robert Khathi riding 12-1 chance Angel’s Trumpet and Athandiwe Mgudlwa on 35-1 long shot The Boston Rose.

Wayne Kieswetter reports that last year’s Sun Met winner Whisky Baron has gone to his farm in Ireland for a break and that his Group 1 Pretty Polly winner Urban Fox has been retired. She visits Dubawi next year.

By Michael Clower

The scratching of the filly Mighty High (coughing) from the KZN Guineas Trial robbed the race of some of it’s gloss but that will not have bothered Gavin van Zyl as Stream Ahead took full advantage under Craig Zackey.

If the betting tells a story, the grey was not the stable elect, as the recently acquired Affranchi was sent out favourite. But there was a no-show from Affranchi as Stream Ahead took the shortest way home to collar Thanksgiving with White Lightning running a cracker in third.

An outside draw over the Greyville 1600m is tantamount to a death sentence unless one has luck in running but Mark Khan was hung out to dry on Thanksgiving with nothing giving way on his inside.

Stream Ahead (Anneke Akal Kitching)

Khan was eventually forced to go for broke, racing around his field and looking to pinch a winning lead in the straight. But there was no turkey to carve.

Zackey had the run of the race on Stream Ahead who slipped up on the inside rail and ran Thanksgiving down to win by a neck, the balance of the field well beaten.

Monte Christo has always been a classy individual but one plagued with problems. But Peter Muscutt, KZN assistant to Brett Crawford appears to have him sussed. Monte Christo jumps from barrier trial to barrier trial to a race, all to good effect.

He started favourite for the Pinnacle Stakes and Anton Marcus gave him a peach of a ride.

The filly On That Boulevard set quick early fractions but folded like a wet tea towel in the straight as Monte Christo closed in like an attacking shark.

It was only when Twice As Smart loomed up dangerous on his outside that Marcus asked the question and Monte Christo gave him the right answer as Twice As Smart was not able to make up the leeway.

With the Western Cape season starting to boil, Dean Kannemeyer will be focussing on home territory but his KZN operation is also starting to warm up. Banjo On My Knee didn’t give any obvious signs that 2400m would be his ideal trip but Keagan de Melo had no qualms as he sent his mount around the field for home climbing the hill and was never in danger of being caught by the luckless Belfry who had to settle for second once again. There were some quiet tears shed in the winner’s box as Banjo On My Knee was owned by Chris Gerber who died tragically earlier in the week.

Duncan Howells has had a frustrating season so far with a string of second placings but there was some salve to the wound as Buffalo Soldier finally got his act together to run out a fluent winner of the last.

By Andrew Harrison

Tomorrow’s big race meeting at Turffontein will be exciting to watch as there are plenty of class horses turning out.

The Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile does not have a good record for favourites, but Noble Secret looks ahead of the handicapper and does not face a vintage field so is tipped to win from a good draw. The classy Coral Fever loves this course and will be staying on strongly and the classy miler Matador Man could put his relatively poor record on this course behind him having been prepared in his preferred KZN. Arctica and Romany Prince make most appeal of the rest.

Noble Secret (JC Photographics)

In the first leg of the PA, the Monaco Million Maiden Sprint over 1160m, Epic Dream is made the best bet on the card although he can’t be a confident choice such is the competitive nature of the racing on the day. He caught the eye running a cracker in the Grade 1 SA Nursery over course and distance and then appeared to not stay 1600m in his next start. He hasn’t run for 128 days but is reportedly working well. Against The Grain looks the danger. He ran a fine fourth in the KZN Yearling Million over 1300m on July day and should be fit coming from the Tarry yard despite returning from a 119 day layoff. Summer House has been the most eyecatching of the horses who have run recently as he has some substance and was staying on well over 1200m after being slowly away from a wife draw on the Inside track.

The Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m should be a two horse race between Alyaasaat and Chimichuri Run and the former is taken due to his 3kg weight advantage and good draw.

The first leg of the Jackpot is a weak renewal of the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m and Rail Trip is a stand out on form but does have a tricky draw and it’s her second run after a layoff. The Sands caught the eye on debut and could be good each way value. Checkpoint Charlie has ability and is well drawn. Patrol Officer would have been fancied as a value each way choice if was not for his very wide draw. The Sash ran a cracker in her last race and could be involved and Greatest Wish and What A Blast have scope for improvement.

The next race is a cracking renewal of the Princess Charlene Starling Stakes over 1400m and Isle De France is tipped due to the terrific turn of foot she showed on debut, although Ghaalla and Celtic Sea will be right there. Nafaayes, Ronnie’s Candy and Running Brave can’t be ignored either.

The eighth race, the Listed Golden Loom Handicap over 1000m, is a tough race and punters will have to go wide. Prince Of Kahal is officially 1kg under sufferance but has proven class and is on the way up but William The Silent, Rebel’s Champ, Rocky Valley, Bold Eagle and Wrecking Ball should also be included.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is the Yellowwood Handicap over 1800m, another competitive event. Chariot Of Gold should be cherry ripe and has proven class so is tipped as the value bet of the day from a good draw. Being Fabulous is coming into her own and Cashel Palace, a big rangy sort, should also come into her own this season and is drawn in pole. Insignis is another who has come into her own and is distance suited and Sylvan On Fire will be attempting to book her place in the Summer Cup. Jet Start and Fort Ember can’t be ignored either.

By David Thiselton

Senatla, according to the bookmakers the second string of the Brett Crawford runners in the Farriers Maiden at Kenilworth tomorrow, looks worth an interest at 4-1.

Andrew Harrison wrote in Wednesday’s paper about the Anton Marcus factor – the four-time champion’s mounts starting at a shorter price than their form warrants – but punters can use that to their advantage.

Parade’s End (Candiese Marnewick)

This race is a case in point. Marcus rides the Dynasty newcomer Vforvictory who opened favourite and was 3-1 yesterday but Senatla has the form in the book – two promising runs – and is ridden by the top class Richard Fourie. Vforvictory has presumably been showing more at home – and it is hugely significant that he is not owned by Marcus’s retainers Ridgemont – but experience counts for a lot and this factor swings the vote. Cash Call and Retro Effect, both 4-1 chances with World Sports Betting yesterday, have also shown useful recent form and it will be a surprise if the winner comes from outside this four.

Crawford’s Northern Spy, again ridden by Marcus and again not owned by Ridgemont, is only third favourite (at 5-2) for the Woodhill Racing Maiden but makes most appeal. The colt showed plenty of promise on debut here in August and is sure to have come on from that.

Duc D’Orange (18-10) is going to be the centre of much attention and 16-10 favourite Gimmetherain has run well at Durbanville on his only two starts, finishing well on the second of them, but Northern Spy may be good enough on this occasion to beat them both.

In the Baker McVeigh Maiden 40 minutes later Marcus rides Ridgemont newcomer Silver Plains for Eric Sands and the colt has already been nibbled at from 5-1 to 4-1. Although by Silvano and out of mare who only won over 1 400m, the colt may have enough speed as his dam is a half-sister to the Allan Robertson winner On Her Toes.

However Dragon Power, although no great star, can beat him on this occasion because Aldo Domeyer’s mount has been running consistently well and has learnt what is required of him. He is favourite at 22-10. Nexus is next in the market at 3-1 but, as noted previously, not that many of Justin Snaith’s win first time out.

The four handicaps are competitive affairs in which winner-finding will be extremely difficult but the Glen Kotzen-trained Strawberry Wine could be the answer to the first of them (race five).

By Michael Cower

Image: Andre Nel-trained PARADE’S END runs in the seventh at Kenilworth tomorrow. Aldo Domeyer rides.