Marchingontogether makes his seasonal debut on the Greyville poly today and just how he fares should give some indication of where he is headed.

The signs are good for Gavin van Zyl’s colt, who since being stepped up in trip, is unbeaten and gives the impression that he could be a classic contender.

Gavin Van Zyl

His trainer concurs. “He’s a progressive horse. A nice big-striding Pathfork from a good family. His half-brother ran in the Gold Cup and won about six races for the Bass’s, they trained him so there is a bit of stamina in the family,” said van Zyl post-race.

“He won twice over a mile here and both times won impressively. We can look forward to a bit of fun with this horse.”

He takes on a field of hard-knockers in the fifth including recent winner Gunner, Q The Music and Savuti. Gunner, a Gr1 winner as a juvenile, is finally down to a more competitive rating and showed that by winning his last start. “He was precocious as a juvenile but you have to be careful of those horses,” said Paul Gadsby. “I never thought he was a Group 1 horse but he’s now down to a more competitive rating.”

He won well enough ion the Greyville poly although he did pick up a five-pound penalty for that win.

The KZN Trainer’s Association AGM takes place tomorrow and the issue of barrier trials will be put to the vote and the outcome of what amounts to a referendum will be keenly monitored.

Some trainers are fore, others vehemently against other’s feel that the system can be tweaked to please all. Whatever, it’s the battle of the barrier trials in the card opener where Wendylle and Opensea look the two most likely protagonists. Both have had two trials, both smart efforts. The grey has shown good pace in both is trial and this short-cut on the poly should be right up his alley. Opensea, named after Gavin van Zyl’s head lad who was formerly head lad for now Australia-based David Payne, has trialled well on both occasions and has had the benefit of a sprint on the poly. He also shows a lot of pace and could be a threat to the grey. Duke’s Dozen trialled well enough but Brett Crawford’s gelding is bred to stay much further. A win here will make him a prospect worth following.

In the second, Walterthepenniless, from the very much in-form Dennis Drier yard, has been close-up in both starts and goes well on the poly. He was a touch unlucky last time out and can make amends. The dangers are many however with Great Stohvanen, Ultra Magnus, One Destiny and Gordonstoun all in with a shout.

Spume has a lot in his favour in the opening leg of the Pick 6 and although it could prove risky, he has enough in his favour to suggest that punters can go light in this leg of the exotic. Zigi Zagi Zugi and Stone Tiger look pick of the balance.

Silver Prancer is long overdue a win and although a distant second last time out she could have the better of Roy’s Novice and the lightly raced Reactive Glaze who should enjoy the extra furlong.

Star Evolution and O’Keeffe appeal most in the sixth. O’Keeffe has come well on the poly but Star Evolution went down narrowly when trying to make all the running in first-time blinkers and can give Morne Winnaar his first winner since moving up from Cape Town for the Glen Kotzen satellite yard.

Kateecador has smart form over course and distance, winning her last two, but could find Shane Humby’s mare Neala too hot to handle. She was just short of a gallop when second behind Pata and has useful form on the poly.

Finally, Marshal That is back on his best surface. He was possibly just short of a run when returning from a break last time out. Of the balance, Real Vision has a light weight and was much improved in blinkers while Timeous goes well on this surface and should be a contender.

By Andrew Harrison

Aldo Domeyer shone in the PGI Jockeys Challenge sponsored by Phumelela at Kranji today, taking home the prize for top individual jockey.

Aldo Domeyer

He had produced a brilliantly timed finish to win Race 4, and briefly bring Team SA right back into things.

Fittingly with each race in the series being named after one of the teams, this was titled the PGI Jockeys Challenge South Africa, and that proved prophetic.

Joao ‘Magic’ Moreira hit the front halfway up the straight on Solaris Spectrum, and looked to have done everything right.

But Domeyer produced his mount Safeer at just the right time, and pounced late to win going away by half a length.

Earlier Team SA had got off to an encouraging start in the first leg of the challenge, with Yeni (second), Domeyer (third) and Hewitson (sixth) all finishing in the points.

The first and third proved enough for Domeyer (56  points) to pip the UK’s Rab Havlin (54) and Australia’s Kerrin McEvoy (51) to the individual prize.

Australia walked off with the team honours on 119 points, just pipping the UK with 117. Team SA ended on 102, with Asia a distant last on 76.

– TAB news

Rainbow Bridge impressed in a gallop yesterday and Eric Sands promptly confirmed that the unbeaten Queen’s Plate and Met hope will begin his campaign in the Matchem Stakes at Durbanville on Saturday week.

He added: “The horse won’t be at his peak but then we wouldn’t expect him to be until later in the season.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe has landed the plum ride on Chris Gerber’s colt. He takes over from Richard Fourie who, although officially freelance, has considerable commitments to Snaith Racing this season. Fayd’Herbe, who partnered Rainbow Bridge in the gallop, said: “He is a very nice horse but it is going to be tough this season because there are a lot of good horses around. He is going to need to prove himself.”

Eric Sands (hamishNIVENPhotography)

Fourie rode four more winners at Durbanville yesterday – including three for the Snaiths – but the one that got away was hotpot Crown Towers in the Interbet.co.za Handicap. It looked just a question of how far when the 1-3 shot hit the front two furlongs out but Fayd’Herbe on 27-4 chance Sacred Arrow promptly went a length up and, try as he might, Fourie could not peg him back.

Justin Snaith was philosophical but far from down-hearted, saying: “Don’t rule him out yet. He is going to be a very nice horse. It was just that he was caught flat-footed in a tail wind and he is still learning.”

Stable companion Juniper Spring, considered good enough to make her debut in a Listed race but a beaten favourite in her last two starts, got it right at the fourth attempt when leading from over two furlongs out in the TAB Telebet Maiden. She started at 5-10 but Fourie was pulling up before the line.

Snaith said: “She is a lovely quality filly, a full sister to Snowdance and the spitting image of her. But we had to downgrade Juniper Spring to this level to win and we were fortunate to find a race like this one. That said, she won well.”

If Fourie does win the championship this season it is going to be due as much to the sort of enterprising tactics he showed on Ben-Hur in the Potjie Competition Handicap as to the support of the Snaith powerhouse.

The first half of this 2 000m race was run at the sort of pace donkeys go on the beach. Fourie, deciding there was no point in continuing with the crawl, then dashed Ben-Hur to the front, kicked again early in the straight and was promptly gone beyond recall. Fourie is now on the 32-winner mark, just one behind log leader Muzi Yeni.

This was one of four successes for Candice Bass-Robinson who also trains Sacred Arrow and who is on a busman’s tour of Newmarket – Monday was Abington Place and yesterday Sir Mark Prescott’s stables. She will be back on Friday.

That celebrated maiden won by Pleasedtomeetyou at Kenilworth last month was given yet another boost when runner-up Trippi’s Express won the first under Corne Orffer just as easily as his 2-10 price suggested he should – and seemingly there is plenty more to come.

Brett Crawford said: “He has always shown good form at home and here he quickened up and did everything right. He has the scope to go on and, while I am not sure what trip he is going to get, I know he will keep improving.”

By Michael Clower

Gavin Lerena is the only jockey to have won the WSB Grand Heritage and could retain his crown on Saturday as he will be aboard the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained favourite Mardi Gras.

The draw can play a significant part in this 1475m race and Lerena will be hoping from draw 26 the track runs like it did in 2016, towards the outside, as opposed to last year when the inside to middle inside seemed favourable.
Mardi Gras will need to beat 27 other competitors but is a worthy 33/10 favourite with the sponsors. The Oratorio grey was in the spotlight on his debut over 1000m at the Vaal in December as he was a R3,2 million purchase. He did not disappoint when staying on strongly for third. He has always struck as one who would come into his own as a four-year-old. That observation has proven correct as he began to impress late last season and in his reappearance this term he ran a fine race over 1160m in just his sixth career start and his first as a gelding. He is the one to beat carrying 56,5kg as he will relish the step up to 1475m and considering his class he is likely ahead of the handicapper off his 91 merit rating.

Mardi Gras (JC Photographics)

Janse van Vuuren won this race with Irish Pride in 2016. This now six-year-old won the race off a 92 merit rating and has dropped to a 91, which is effectively seven points lower if the across the board six point raise given in March is taken into account. He hasn’t won for a year-and-a-half but has his third run after a layoff, so is not without hope.

Janse van Vuuren’s third entry is Divine Odyssey, a progressive sort who likes to be handy and has a good kick. He pecked at the start last time, which affected his chances following two wins, and he has a chance off a 91 merit rating.

The second favourite is Pietro Mascagni, a well regarded Mike de Kock-trained four-year-old who should come into his own this season. This trip is sharper than ideal but he will have come on from his winning reappearance over 1450m and his class could pull him through from a nice middle draw. His stablemate Hakeem looks ideally distance suited and has some class. However, he did miss a recent preparation when racing was abandoned. De Kock’s other runner is Mujallad, who ran on well last time in the Spring Spree Stakes over 1200m and he should stay this trip. Bernard Fayd’Herbe is an eyecatching booking.

Sean Tarry has four runners and a reserve. Unfortunately Bockscar was eliminated despite a fine preparation race, which was surprising as some of his other runners don’t have great recent form. London Secret has been disappointing since her good two-year-old career and would be a surprise winner, although she ran quite a nice preparation race. Purple Diamond is a similar sort as he won the Golden Horseshoe as a two-year-old but has not won since. Bold Viking is talented and won his last start but he has breathing issues and is also hard to fancy. Count Tassilo could be the best Tarry runner as he is ideally distance suited and was staying on in eyecatching fashion in the race over 1450m in which Bockscar was ahead of him.

Daffiq is an ex De Kock horse who had class but obviously problems too and he had an eyecatching preparation in the above mentioned race. He is ideally distance suited and could be in the mix for Gokhan Terzi. Chepardo also ran on in eyecatching style for third in that race and is distance suited. Danza ran well in that race too but is on the one-paced side so will find it tough to beat such a big field.

Dan The Lad was in that race and found little extra so will have to be ridden from off the pace.  Another ideally distance suited horse is Bold Coast, who is way better than his last run.

Rings And Things’ class was proven when third in the CTS Mile and she will be dangerous off a mere 85 merit rating.

African Night Sky (Candiese Marnewick)

Tsitsikamma Dance won his Highveld debut well over 1400m and Cape horses often have suppressed merit ratings due to the class of the horses in that centre so he is an interesting contender as he was raised just one point and should have come on from the run.

Lake Kinneret is 1kg better off with the latter for a 2,7 length beating but ran a cracker next time out over 1450m and is a dark horse.

Rebuked looks held by Lake Kinneret. Soldier On has ability and comes in off a fine preparation and as one who would prefer further he will be staying on. Full Of Attitude is a progressive type who won well last time but was raised five points. Kings Archer is a soldier who is distance suited and goes well for Strydom but it will be tough carrying 61kg. Zouaves is a classy distance suited horse and Geoff Woodruff knows how to peak them.  Sail For Joy is distance suited and in good form and he is 1kg better off with African Ruler for a 0,2 length beating.

African Ruler, from the yard of last year’s winning trainer Paul Peter, could be dangerous from the front as he has plenty of speed and proved he stays 1400m last time, although the extra 75m might stretch him.

Nephrite looks held by Soldier On and Divine Odyssey. Huyssteen has struck as one with promise but usually disappoints. Finchatton looks to have too much weight.

Mardi Gras could beat home Tsitsikamma Dance, Pietro Mascagni, Rings And Things, Count Tassilo and Zouaves, although these fancies could change if there proves to be a notable draw bias in the earlier races.

By David Thiselton

Eric Sands has put the unbeaten Winter Guineas and Winter Classic winner Rainbow Bridge into Saturday week’s Matchem Stakes even though he has not been able to get a race into the colt this season.

Rainbow Bridge (Liesl King)

Last year’s Cape Guineas winner Tap O’Noth has also been entered for the Durbanville Grade 3 and has to give weight all round– Vaughan Marshall’s previous winners of the race include Tales Of Bravery (2010) and Play Catch in 2004.

Our Mate Art, who scored for Candice Bass-Robinson 12 months ago, is also among the 14 entries while Justin Snaith, successful with Changingoftheguard six years ago, has already declared Fifty Cents (Richard Fourie), Copper Force (Robert Khathi) and Star Chestnut (Athandiwe Mgudlwa).

Snaith has also declared three for the Diana Stakes on the same card- Dynamic Diana (Fourie), Angel’s Trumpet (Greg Cheyne) and Miss Katalin (Khathi). The champion trainer has won three of the last nine runnings. Goodtime Gal, successful for Mike Robinson and Anton Marcus in last year’s race, is set to give weight to the other 13 entries.

Marcus, surprisingly, is as big as 20-1 with World Sports Betting for the jockeys’ championship despite being fourth in the log on 24 winners. Muzi Yeni, who heads the list on 33, is 5-2 favourite and Richard Fourie (28 winners) second favourite at 28-10 with Aldo Domeyer (14) next on 4-1. Current champion Lyle Hewitson and former champion Gavin Lerena are both 11-2 chances. Ryan Munger, third on the log with 27 winners, is a 14-1 shot.

By Michael Clower