David Thiselton

ON Friday on the Fairview turf top jockey Richard Fourie not only won the day’s feature event, the Listed Dahlia Plate over 1200m, but also made the frame in all eight races at the meeting and was very nearly in the first three in every race.

There were also two Winter Series features at Kenilworth on Saturday and both were won by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-bred horses.   

Fourie’s win in the Dahlia Plate for two-year-olds was aboard the Alan Greeff-trained Whatever Next. The What A Winter colt got up in the last stride to pip his market rival Norton Sound. Both colts were seeking hattricks. 

Fourie had a finishing position sequence of 2nd (Arctic Advance 25/1), 1st (Blingking 4/10 favourite), 1st (Rooibos 10/7 favourite), 4th (Calandra 100/33), 3rd (Rock Aloe 91/20), 2nd (Broadside (20/11), 1st (Whatever Next 4/3) and 2nd (Teofilia 17/2) in his full card. 

The last person to place in the top three in every race on the card in a KZN meeting was Anthony Delpech.

In an eight race Greyville polytrack meeting on the 25th of February 2018 his mounts finished 2nd (Falkland 21/20 favourite), 2nd (Rose Hill 61/20), 3rd (Cat’s Legacy 4/1), 1st (Savuti 27/4), 2nd (Savuti 71/20) , 3rd (Go With Flo 9/2), 1st (Gadget Man 2/1 favourite) and 2nd (Palace Mystery 41/10).

Stuart Randolph also achieved the feat in a Greyville turf meeting on 29 April 2011, riding two winners, three seconds and three thirds.

This season S’manga Khumalo made the frame in all nine races at a Vaal Classic track meeting on 16 February this year and was out of the first three only once. On that momentous day he rode six winners and two thirds in the first eight races and finished fourth in the last race.

Khumalo also had eight first three finishes on Classic Day at Turffontein Standside in 2017. In a 12 race program he had ten rides and had four winners, three seconds and a third as well as a sixth and a seventh. 

Weichong Marwing had eight first three finishes on Summer Cup day 2015. On a twelve race program he had nine mounts and rode two winners, four seconds, two thirds and a fifth.

The late Alec Forbes was in the frame ten times and had nine first three places finishes in eleven rides on Daily News 2000 day in 2010, riding two winners, three seconds, four thirds as well as a fourth and a ninth. 

Meanwhile, at Kenilworth on Saturday the Justin Snaith-trained Hoedspruit became the first Graded winner for former Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate. The Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-bred gelding won the second leg of the Winter Series, the Grade 3 WSB Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m, under Luyolo Mxothwa. Hoedspruit thus became the fourth stakes winner from Legislate’s first crop.

The second leg of the Winter Series for fillies, the Listed WSB Stormsvlei Stakes over 1800m, was won easily by the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained and Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-bred Silvano filly Marina under Keagan de Melo.   

Andrew Harrison

PUNTERS will have their work cut out at Hollywoodbets Greyville today with eight wide-open races on the poly.

In the card opener, Rizzoli meets a weak maiden field and had some useful Highveld form before a change of stables. She could be the one to beat in spite of taking on males. Patronage has patchy form but was much improved when blinkered for the first time and can do better this trip. The Saracen is lightly raced is lightly raced. He has shown some improvement of late and could now be looking for this trip.

In the second, Flying First Class has her first run for a new stable. She has patchy Highveld form but was out-classed in the SA Oaks and not far behind last time out. Winter Time has consistent form in cheek pieces and should feature prominently while Trip To Freedom was close-up at long odds last start and takes a rating drop. Short Skirt Flirt loves the poly but there were plenty in this field close-up behind her last run so this could be harder.

The opening leg of the Pick 6 is another difficult handicap. Justfortheepenny is has seldom been far back and takes a drop in class. He was close-up last run and must have a strong chance on that showing. Command Control failed narrowly first run out of the maidens and is 2.5kg better off with Straight Up who shows consistent form. The tables should be turned. 

In the fourth, Ingakara took on much stronger last outing and was staying on gamely. Her form before that was solid and she must have a decent chance. Cozy Dot Com ran a cracker over course and distance last start and from a better draw can go one better. Suntrax has desperate form on the turf but won well first up on the poly. She must have a decent chance on her maiden showing and she comes from a shrewd stable. Legend Has It has drawn wide but has a 4kg claimer up and has consistent form over further. Trip may suit.

Smart William has been costly to follow but has his third run for his new stable. He was been a beaten favourite at his first two and may be worth another chance. Montana Sky finished just ahead of Smart William last outing and they are drawn alongside each other so there should not be much between them again. Snow In Seattle is a veteran of the track and older horses often do well first up on the poly. He is a seven-time winner. White Cedar is coming along the right way and can feature in another tricky affair.

Some quick horses line up in the sixth but So Var has been doing well in stronger and also takes a two-point rating drop. Magicallee is another that has been up against stronger of late. She takes on males but is back on the poly and from a good draw can feature prominently. Duran is a course and distance specialist but has the worst of the draw. Rocket Fire and Winter Waves are others to consider.

In the seventh, Alsflamingbeauty has dropped in the ratings and has been taking on stronger of late. She gets 4kg relief from Gabriel Pieterse which could make the difference. Arctic Princess has not had the best of luck at her last two. She is better drawn here and is very capable. Irish Belle is drawn wide but is quick and should improve on her last effort when out of her depth. Flying The Star does not have the best of draws but ran a cracker first up out of the maidens and has a chance on that showing.

If you are still running in the exotics come the last, the best of luck. Rachel has been close-up in all of her recent starts and from a good draw she should be right there. Top Honours is lightly raced and still a maiden. But she appears to be coming along the right way and does not have much to beat here. Beckoning Beauty was much improved in blinkers while Sweet Spring needed her last run and has a much better draw. Not a race to go light in.

Andrew Harrison

THE Hollywoodbets Scottsville straight course will find out any horse that is short of race fitness and it is often labelled as a ‘horses for courses’ track.

Ishnana, recent winner of the (Listed) In Full Flight Stakes, a case in point.

 Top horses can get away with it through sheer class but the course, with its dip to the 500m and rise to the finish, has been the undoing of many a smart galloper.

A look at the track is always beneficial for aspirants to the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint, and the three other Gr1 features on the day, that have not raced there. Ever the professional, Justin Snaith has had Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Rio Querari stretch his legs there, but whether the gelding lines up on Saturday, June 5, is yet to be decided.

One horse with the Golden Horse on his agenda is Spydas Corner. Duncan Howells seldom runs a horse without a planned agenda but he will be looking for a big effort from his charge in the eighth on Sunday.

Spydas Corner, named by former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Brian Baloyi,  is no stranger to the course, having made three visits for a win and a second, and since being fitted with blinkers, the gelding has hardly put a foot wrong. His most recent victory came on this course where he got the better of the hard-knocker Good Rhythm.

He is down in class here so takes a corresponding rise in weight but he will need a forward showing to come into contention for a place in the Golden Horse line-up.

Blaze Of Silk is something of a course specialist, four of his five wins coming over course and distance and Corine Bestel has saddled him up at Scottsville 20 times out of his 28 starts.

He is slightly better off with Spydas Corner for when last they met but while the three-year-old has something to come, the six-year-old should have reached his peak.

An interesting runner is Hail Columbia. The Irish import has temperament issues but does give the impression that on his day, he could match it with the best. He made his debut over course and distance, going down to the highly rated Captain Fontane after a protracted duel to the line.

The form has been patchy since and the stable is quiet at present but Dennis Drier knows how to ready them up in Scottsville sprints so expect a big effort.

Dean Kannemeyer almost caused a major upset when Sir Michael pressed Do It Again to the line at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Sunday, and the stable is starting to fire.

He saddles Silver Maria in the seventh and she looks primed for this race, this being her third run after a lengthy break. She was run out of it late in her first two runs back over further, but this mile should suit down to the ground and she could prove difficult to beat.

Garth Puller’s stable is in a rich vein of form of late and Wishful Girl Linn could be the biggest threat to Silver Maria. Puller’s filly has the benefit of an inside draw and has not been far behind in useful company of late. However, her recent successes have been on the poly which may be a factor against her.

Work riders’ races in KZN are always tricky and never races to risk the house keeping on, but Captain Tatters should take some beating in the card opener. Snaith’s runner is rated a division better than the opposition and has smart form over the trip. Nathan Kotzen saddles the useful filly Stella Act who won her last race over course and distance and is smart on her day. She has bottom weight but also an inexperienced rider which could count against her.

Colinda Austin, assistant to Ashburton-based Shane Humby, is an accomplished work rider and partners Ziva La Winter for Kom Naidoo. The gelding is quick and has been up against stronger opposition than what he meets here and could be a threat to Captain Tatters.

David Thiselton

Turffontein Standside has a low key nine race meeting today in which the highest rated race is the seventh, a fillies and mares MR 92 Handicap.

The Paul Matchett-trained three-year-old Twice Over filly has always struck as promising and last time out she ran  above her rating with first-time blinkers on when finishing a two length second to the ever improving Thumbs Up. She is officially 2kg under sufferance tomorrow but if repeating that effort she can win this race from a nice high draw. The 4kg claimer Xola Jacobs keeps the ride, although he rides 1kg overweight, meaning Bella Black carries an actual weight of 49kg. All Of Me is always thereabouts and this is the easiest task she has had for a while so she should be right there from a high draw. Kayla’s Champ will enjoy stepping back down in trip on recent evidence and a 4kg claimer up alleviates some of the 61.5kg she was allotted after a six point raise for her last win. Ann Boleyn has plenty of pace but against her is the number one draw. May Queen can also win if able to bounce back to her best after two disappointing runs.

The previous race is a Graduation Plate event over 1160m which should be at the mercy of Caralluma. This filly has been disappointing considering the esteem she was held in early in her career. However, she does possess lengthy of speed and dropping to a sprint trip might be what she is looking for. The only threat looks to be Vaseem. who was not disgraced last time when it did not pan out to well over 1000m and yet he was staying on at the end for third, just 2,30 lengths behind the promising Al Sakeet. 

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m Bold Act, who is by Act Of War out of the Grade 1 Garden Province winner Bold Ellinore, ran on well on debut from a wide draw over 1200m and now has a fair draw of five over a step up in trip she will relish. Wokonda will be distance suited and should have improved after two decent third over 1160m and 1450m. Coral Dawn, a Global View half-sister to Grade 1 winner Coral Fever, can also be a threat after a good second run. Lollapalooza could improve, as she looked like she needed her debut and will enjoy the step up in trip. Tinder Dry and Northern Glow also warrant consideration.

Twice The Trip should be good enough to win the fifth race over 1160m from a nice high draw.

The three that make the most appeal in the last leg of the Pick 6 are Swingthewillow, Tuscan Winter and Power Ranger. The latter is a full-brother to Pyromaniac, who despite his stout breeding being by Silvano out of SA Oaks winner Pine Princess, is unbeaten in two starts over sprints. 

Andrew Harrison

A ‘morning glory’ is possibly one of the worst horses to have in a trainer’s yard – more frustrating than those that are just slow.
The ‘glories’ work up a storm in the mornings but let the side down when it comes to races.
There are a myriad of reasons for this, but it is the trainer’s job to work it out.
Impatient owners don’t help the issue especially if given early encouragement, but when things do eventually fall into place it is relief on both sides of the fence.
Dean Kannemeyer had ear-marker Lion’s Head as a candidate for the Classics on his work on the home gallops but he always flattered to deceive, running up close but never quite getting there.
Gelding and stretched to 1900 m at Hollywoodbets Greyville may have been the key that unlocked the potential.
It was a race run at a muddling pace and there must still be a few lingering doubts, but Lions Head roared home up the inside rail under stable rider Keagan de Melo to win as he liked.
If in deed Kannemeyer has finally found the Key to Lions Head, there must be plenty more to come.
Lezeanne Forbes was back in front of the post-race microphone after successive races with Origami and then Gavel Strike making it home.
The Anton Marcus ‘Golden Highway’ has been free of traffic since the champion jockey has been on an injury-forced sabbatical but Serino Moodley used it to good effect as he sent Gavel Strike wide off the turn into clear air and motored home ahead of Tiger Tank.
Sean Veale took the more conservative route on Origami and sent his mount through the middle of the traffic to a convincing win.
Doug Campbell’s Richmond yard has been quiet of late but Miss Missouri gave the yard a welcome boost with a smart display in the fourth.
Favourite Rain Wear was all the rage in the market but Collen Story got first run on the favourite and was never in danger of being beaten.
Visiting trainer Paul Peter got the meeting off to a fine start as Luke Ferraris steered Promise Of Hope to an end-to-end victory in the card opener.
There was plenty of market support for Perfect Appeal but she raced very green and finally roved no match for the Gauteng raider.
Grey Ocean was another comfortable winner for Warren Kennedy and Gavin van Zyl, also making most of the running in the second.
Kennedy teamed up with Peter for the opening leg of the Pick 6 where Wine Tasting was sent out favourite. However, Ashburton-based Kom Naidoo has been in good form of late and Flashy Kaitrina was given a peach of a ride by Lyle Hewitson, bursting through a gap and winning in smart fashion.