Every thoroughbred sale is a well of hope for those with the means and in some cases, those without the means, ask any trainer forced to retain shares in many of their string.

The million-rand tag for for an unknown yearling, with only its family and appearance to recommend them, has long been for the elite few. Some turn out fast, many turn out slow and quite a lot are in between, but the million figure is a watermark where expectations lap the levee banks menacingly and “I told you so” is only a short swim in either direction.

But as the cliché goes, “not trainer has ever committed suicide with an unraced yearling in his yard”. Hope springs eternal, but even for trainers who are fortunate enough to pick from the top of the tree, life is not easy and the regally bred R1 million yearling can become an albatross around their necks – owners turn sour and the ignorant public demanding results.

The price tag at least suggests that the horse has everything in the right place, but that is not a guarantee. As John Dunlop, trainer of Snaafi Dancer, a $10 million ($25 million in current dollars) yearling, lamented, “He walked very well, looked the part but was very slow.” So slow in fact that his owner, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,  thought it would be embarrassing to run him in public. Snaafi Dancer was retired to stud duty where he was discovered to have fertility problems. From two years of breeding, he sired only four foals, three of which raced with limited success.

Standing on the rails one a chilly morning it became obvious. “Those three,” said the trainer, pointing out a trio of well-grown, striking two-year-olds, “cost over a ‘bar’ each. That one over there, cost 40k and might be the best of them.”

The point here is that the price tag does not guarantee success.

But a lot can happen between sales and a race as horses mature at different rates.

The precocious two-year-old who looks a star in the making, can prove a liability at three. A recent example is Gunner, a winner of the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes at the end of his two-year-old career who took a further two years to win another race.

“He was precocious as a juvenile but you have to be careful of those horses,” cautioned trainer Paul Gadsby. “I never thought he was a Group 1 horse but he’s now down to a more competitive rating,” he commented after his last win.

Gunner has since won again.

Most horses in this country, especially those at the top of the tree, seldom race past six years old. In a personal observation, sprinters are either burned out or no longer competitive off high merit ratings while stayers are poorly catered for and a commercial liability for hard-pressed breeders who need early returns on commercially bred, precocious stock to stay in business.

By Andrew Harrison

Yutaka Take on Saturday became the first rider to reach 4,000 winners on the JRA circuit, further enhancing his position as Japan’s greatest-ever jockey.

Take, 49, brought up the record with a treble at Hanshin, where huge crowds packed in to watch him achieve the feat on Meisho Kazuhime in a 6f allowance race on turf.

The benchmark was set by Take on his 21,235th ride, and the jockey said: “I am relieved I could achieve this record. I was able to do so because I have met many good people, and ridden many good horses, for many years. The owner of this horse (Yoshio Matsumoto) has supported us since my father’s time, so I am very happy.

“This is not the end. I would like to ride more and to grow more as a jockey. As for my next target? I want to win the next race!”

Take, who last year received the Longines & IFHA International Award of Merit, has succeeded at the top level all over the world, winning races such as the July Cup (Agnes World), Prix de l’Abbaye (Agnes World, Imperial Beauty), Hong Kong Cup (A Shin Hikari) and Dubai Duty Free (Admire Moon).

However, it is in his homeland where he has been the dominant force and been associated with champions such as Deep Impact, Vodka and Kitasan Black.

One of the greatest horses to have raced in Japan, Deep Impact was a dominant force in the country in the first decade of the 2000s. He became the first horse for 21 years to win Japan’s Triple Crown and claimed Grade 1 races from ten furlongs to two miles, but failed in his bid to become the country’s first Arc winner when only third to Rail Link in 2006 (subsequently disqualified for a banned substance).

Blessed with an outstanding turn of foot, Vodka achieved a raft of notable feats during her career, including winning the Japanese Derby (Tokyo Yushun) and Japan Cup (first filly for 20 years to do so). Take was not aboard on those occasions but he did ride the filly to Grade 1 success, including in the prestigious Tenno Sho (Autumn) in 2008.

The trailblazing sprinter landed two of Europe’s biggest sprints to supplement his victories at home, both times partnered by Japan’s most famous rider. The Abbaye came first in 1999, when he scored on his first attempt at five furlongs. He returned to Europe the following year to claim the July Cup by two short heads from Lincoln Dancer and Pipalong in a super finish.

– racingpost.com

In a refreshing change to the race meeting schedule, Port Elizabeth hosts the Tuesday meeting this week. One thing that stays the same, however, is the ever-fierce competition on the Fairview Polytrack.

That means nice pay-outs are possible and close study of the card can unearth a shrewdy or two.

On the face of it, though, two trainers are likely to dominate proceedings tomorrow – Justin Snaith and Yvette Bremner. Both field several runners with bright chances and both should come away with more than a single winner.

Snaith’s strength lies in the earlier races, with the distinct possibility of a back-to-back treble in races two, three and four.

Without Limits represents the national champion trainer in the second race, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1300m. This Querari three-year-old showed middling form in Cape Town following her debut in January, but then moved up the coast for her last run and showed an aptitude for the polytrack with a fast-finishing third, just 0.55 lengths off the winner.

Without Limits goes an extra 300m this time and with a two gate and experienced Robert Khathi in the saddle she looks a good bet against moderate opposition.

Snaith sends out Rio Rhythm in the third race, a Maiden Plate over 1600m. This three-year-old son of Oratorio has been learning about racing, improving in each of his four outings. He stands out in a weak field, with Gavin Smith-trained Mocha To Go and Bremner’s unraced filly In Harmony the only possible threats.

Lightly weighted Fake News can complete Cape Town-based Snaith’s personal triple in the day’s top-rated event, a MR 78 Handicap. This gelding registered his sole victory nearly a year ago, but his form indicates a genuine trier and he looks ready to convert consistency into another win. Having a good draw and Muzi Yeni on top clinch the argument in his favour.

The Bremner yard could kick off the day in first with Rebel Wilson, a filly who has her peak run after two runner-up efforts. Stablemate Coal looks the main threat and combining these two in a swinger, and as bankers in trifectas and quartets, could help punters build a kitty for the afternoon.

Bremner should also have a big say in the last four races on the card.

Her gelding Seattle Spell will put in his usual honest run in the fifth, a MR 64 Handicap, but might find Rokatenda from the Smith yard and Sharon Kotzen’s The Goon Show a bit too quick for him.

Kingston Warren might prove to be good value for Bremner in the sixth race, but her best on the day would appear to be Mary O’Reilly in Race 7, a FM 72 Handicap over 1300m.

This one won most impressively on debut on the Fairview turf in July – under the weight of a ton of money that indicated a special talent. That 5.25-length doddle underlined the potential and this R450,000 National Yearling Sale purchase should have the beating of the opposition here – particularly with champion jockey Lyle Hewitson in the irons and keen to get some momentum into his title defence.

If Mary O’Reilly doesn’t take to the polytrack, or finds the trip too far, or needs the run after a short break, or bumps another of the myriad gremlins that lurk in racing, one of local champion trainer Allan Greeff’s trio – Damaraland, Love Dove and Hashtagselfie – could take advantage, as could Light As A Feather from Sharon Kotzen’s barn.

– TAB news

Ashley Fortune has had a somewhat fairy tale start to her training career, and has a fighting chance of a second feature race win when Rings And Things and Tsitsikamma Dance line up in the Grand Heritage at the Vaal on 13 October.

The 28 horse adventure was originally supposed to take place this past Saturday, but has been postponed due to complications with the Vaal track.

The wife of legendary jockey Andrew Fortune had paid her dues as assistant trainer to highly successful Noelene Peech in Zimbabwe, before performing the same function with Joey Ramsden for 18 months after moving to this country in 2008.

Famously Ashley’s first winner was at Grade 3 Level, when Let It Rain took the Gold Bowl under stepson Aldo Domeyer in May. The stable’s winning strike rate since opening for business has constantly remained above the 20% mark, which is quite remarkable.

“It’s gone very well so far – way better than I expected to be honest. But we’ve got some good stock, and I think we’ve placed them well in races they can win,” she said.

The stable has really done well with former Cape-based horses bought from Central Route Trading dispersal sales, with Rings And Things and Mount Keith being prime examples.

As Ashley says, “Cape Town form is the strongest, and we thought if we bought horses from there that were going close they could win a couple of races quickly up here. Thankfully we turned out to be right”.

With regard to the two stable hopes in the Grand Heritage, she had the following to say:

“Rings And Things is well and happy, and has done everything right so far. She is back to her best form, and bounces off her races. I was surprised the handicappers dropped her four points for finishing 0.5-lengths off Rose In Bloom last time, but I’m not complaining!”

Indeed the MR drop ruined the plan for Domeyer to ride, as he doesn’t get her amended weight of 54kg.

“Tsitsikamma Dance had an excellent prep run and we learnt a few things about him. He’s a big striding horse with a huge action, and the expected hot pace in this event will be right up his alley”.

As could be expected with the start she has had, she is enthusiastic about the training game.

“I love it. Every day I am learning something new, and while you have to take the ups with the downs, this is something I have always wanted, and long may it continue”.

Of course Andrew Fortune also has a large part to play, and Ashley is happy to give her husband credit with an excellent mixed metaphor.

“Andrew is the ringmaster, and conducts the orchestra. He’s been riding for as long as I’ve been alive, knows a lot about form and is excellent at placing the horses. We make a good team”.

With regard to the coming Gauteng Summer season, she has hopes for Cash Time after he was beaten under two lengths in the SA Derby in May.

“He will run in the Summer Cup, assuming everything goes to plan. We also have hopes for our two recent easy maiden winners Big Blue Marble and Dalai’s Promise. They are both eligible for the $500,000 races on Sun Met Day, and will be aimed in that direction”.

When pressed on her ambitions for the 2017/18 campaign she is cautious.

“We will take it as it comes, as we are still taking baby steps. But ideally I would like to reach the 50 winner mark for the season”.

With seven chalked up so far, this soft spoken but hugely determined lady is right on schedule.

– TAB news

Anton Marcus has been snapped up for two of Vaughan Marshall’s stable stars at Durbanville on Saturday – Cape Guineas winner Tap O’Noth in the Matchem and the unbeaten Langerman winner One World in the 1 400m Progress Plate.

The four-time champion will also renew his partnership with Goodtime Gal in the Diana Stakes. He won last year’s race on the Mike Robinson-trained mare and finished second on her in a 1 200m conditions plate at Kenilworth a month ago.

Joey Ramsden, who has won the Matchem with high class horses like Variety Club and Act Of War, has supplemented Premiers Champion third Twist Of Fate for the Grade 3 test. The three-time winner gets in with only 50kg.

Aldo ‘Usain’ Domeyer looks like running in the Jockeys Chase after all as the organisers are flying in two speedy opponents from Johannesburg. Kenilworth Racing’s promotions man Clinton Theys expects to know their identities tomorrow.

Domeyer, fresh from his Singapore triumph, said: “I was thinking of sponsoring myself (instead of running) so that the charity does not lose out but, if they are going to fly in two guys from Jo’burg, I will have to run.”

The Cape champion was a runaway winner of the jockeys chase for four years on the trot before last year’s fiasco when it was decided to turn the race into a relay, pairing Domeyer with Corne Orffer (by his own admission one of the slowest in the field). But Grant van Niekerk sabotaged the whole thing by deliberately placing his baton into the unsuspecting Domeyer’s hand. This time the event reverts to a straight race over 100m.

By Michael Clower