The National Horseracing Authority’s (NHA) chairman Ken Truter has called an urgent committee meeting for next week to discuss the position of CEO after the resignation this week of Lyndon Barends.

The latter had been CEO since March 2016 but he and his wife were provisionally sequestrated recently after a high court hearing and he had taken a leave of absence before resigning.

Meanwhile, there will be an announcement made shortly about any changes in the NHA’s handicapping staff as chief handicapper Roger Smith will be departing with his wife at the end of this month to take up new respective career opportunities in Jersey.

By David Thiselton

Milnerton-based trainer Adam Marcus’ stalwart filly Brave Move gave his yard a few headlines last season and he now believes he can begin competing with the big Cape yards as he has recently received support from owners one would “dream of having”.

He consequently has a two-year-old and three-year-old string which are “a division above” what he has ever had before.

He said, “I would be surprised if we did not crack a couple who are above average, so it is very exciting times ahead. The difficulty of training in Cape Town is that there are a few yards who pretty much have everything sown up but I hope to keep my strike rate up and think we can now give them a bit of a run.”

Meanwhile, the now five-year-old mare Brave Move has been doing “exceptionally well”.

She is just in light work as she is coming off her compulsory African Horse Sickness vaccinations. However, Marcus said, “She softened up a bit during her rest, which was what we wanted to see, and is now looking great. Aldo (Domeyer) rode her in work this week and she felt as good as ever.”

Marcus plans to give her a gallop prior to her first preparation race and there are then a number of options but her main aims for the summer season will be the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m and the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes over a mile.

The Horse Chestnut mare won her maiden over 1400m in her second career start in the July of her three-year-old year and was accorded a merit rating of 72. Last season she began with three second place finishes in a row and then reeled off six wins on the trot, including comfortable victories in the Listed Highlands Stud Fillies Mile and the Grade 3 Final Fling Stakes over 1800m. She is now merit rated 107.

The Sandown Stud-bred mare was bought at the National Two-year-old sale in 2015 for what now looks a bargain R100,000.

Marcus said, “She was a stand out, we liked her from the first day we saw her. She is by Sandown Stud and we have had a lot of success with their progeny (which included the like of Priceless Jewel, Crystal Cavern and Royal Badge). James Armitage is an outstanding breeder so we always look at his draft.”

Brave Move is out of the three-time winning Qui Danzig mare Brave Bid, who is out of the Zimbabwean-bred Grade 3-winning Goldkeeper mare Bold Bidder.

Adam has been left to run the yard on his own for the last year-and-a-half by his father Basil, who is now fully retired. However, he still speaks to him everyday and Basil pops in to the yard once a fortnight.

Adam said, “It is good to always have that professional advice behind you.”

By David Thiselton

Apprentice Luke Ferraris is hot property at present. The talented youngster has been quick to the 40^th win of his career as he guided Ella’s World to an easy victory at Scottsville yesterday and in future will step out as a 1.5kg claimer.

Ferraris, son of successful Hong Kong-based trainer David and grandson on legendary Ormond Ferraris, is as thin as a reed but as tall as a weed. Although driven in his chosen career the acid test will come after he has ridden out his claim and the fight with the scale begins.

That’s all in the future and in the meantime he gave Ella’s World a polished ride for Dennis Bosch as the filly took the step up in trip in her stride and put daylight between herself and the opposition.

“I’m just worried what the handicapper will give her now,” said Bosch.

Driving home his talent, Ferraris was successful on Val-La-Ree for Doug Campbell in the sixth. The Richmond-based trainer has a stable that is hitting form and in the lightly raced daughter of Var he has a filly that can be competitive in the sophomore sprints. She showed pace throughout and kept finding under a welter burden.

By his own admission, Dennis Drier has one of the better young strings that he has had the privilege of training in his lengthy career and he stepped out another as Francisco put his field to the sword in the card opener. Sean Veale had another armchair ride and was looking for shadows a long way out as Francisco geared down to a five-length victory.

Beaten favourite at his last two, Drier removed all the suggested paraphernalia and it was back to old-school basics that saw the gelding deliver of his best.

Merlin From Berlin made a promising debut when third to the progressive Marchingontogether and although it took a further four outings to break the ice, he beat a competitive maiden field in the second. Blinkers obviously did the trick for Ivan van Wyk’s runner as he out-lasted Cloud Of Witness who came from last at the top of the straight only to go down a nostril at the line. However, rider Bill Jacobson incurred the wrath of the stipes and was lumber with a fine for his excessive use of the stick.

Mela Stregata was hot in the ante-post market for the third but she drifted like a loose badge in the current as the money poured onto Gavin van Zyl’s filly Cape Bluebell. Warren Kennedy had no hesitation taking the new favourite to the front tracked by Mela Stregata. As the betting suggested, it turned into a boat race at the top of the straight but the money was on the mark as Cape Bluebell kept on the stronger.

Mela Stregata was still green and one-pace in the finish and gives the impression that at mile and further will be more to her liking.

Mela Stregata may have disappointed for Duncan Howells but High Altar has been something of a money spinner for the yard as she notched her fourth win on the bounce in under three months in the seventh. Howells has chosen her races carefully and she came home smoothly under Muzi Yeni.

After the earlier disappointments, Duke Of Spin rounded off the meeting for Howells as the progressive son of Duke Of Marmalade scored his second victory back-to-back on his maiden win. Yeni had little more to do than keep his mount to his task under hands as he wore down Highveld raider Bosphorus and going on to win comfortably.

Wynkelder has always been held in high regard by Tony Rivalland and he made amends for his recent defeat when favourite to get the better of course and distance specialist and super consistent London Call in the Pinnacle Stakes. Rivalland generously gave long-time assistant Terry Fripp the mic after the race as he moves to Cape Town to take up a position with Justin Snaith.

Barrier trials have been a bone of contention ever since their introduction and their popularity will be put to the vote at the KZN Trainer’s Association AGM this coming Wednesday. But what ever the outcome, there are here to stay for at least the next four months.

Star filly Hashtagyolo stepped out in the second trial yesterday after missing most of her three-year-old career. She contracted a virus when sent to the Highveld for their season in January.

“She got it very badly,” said co-owner Bruce le Roux of the virus. “She had inflamed lungs and it was touch and go. At one stage she looked like an SPCA case.”

“But she’s come back strong and looks well. We just hope that the virus has not taken anything out of her.”

She certainly trialled well, ‘winning’ with the minimum of fuss.

By Andrew Harrison

Image provided by Annke Kitching

Tomorrow’s meeting has been moved from the Vaal Classic track to Turffontein Inside as the latter track is not in good condition at present.

The highest rated race is a MR 92 handicap over 1800m. Jamra is a progressive filly and will be hard to beat from the front carrying a light weight for an in-form yard. She has won with authority from the front in her last two starts over a mile and should enjoy the step up in trip being by Trippi out of a Galileo mare. The wide draw is a bit of a concern but the tight track should play into her hands if she does get to the front without using up too much energy. Saragon looks to be the chief danger. She is 2,5kg better off with Being Fabulous for a 2,1 length beating over 1450m last time, but more importantly this Ideal World filly has always been looking for this trip. Her only attempt at it was in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic where she was well beaten.

However, the fact she was entered showed she is well regarded and that was just her fifth career start too. She has subsequently been unbeaten in two starts over a mile and was doing her best work late in both. She has a plum draw of two. Being Fabulous has always had a touch of class and has become more reliable lately. She proved she stays this trip when finishing third in the East Coast Handicap over 2000m at Greyville in May. Tammany Hall has been a touch disappointing but did run well last time over 1600m. However, she was well weighted in that Assessment Plate and back in a handicap it will be tougher. Littlewood is drawn in pole and stays this trip. This is a step up in class but she is in the handicap carrying only 52,5kg so is the dark horse. Bondiblu would prefer further and Beautiful Shay has an impossible task on paper being 9kg under sufferance.

In the first leg of the PA Coyote Girl looks to be a banker. She has plenty of pace and was not disgraced last time when a four length runner up over this 1000m trip to the promising prospect Dewali. The danger could be the first-timer Light On Her Feet as this Pathfork filly is a full-sister to the decent six-time winner Secret Star and has a nice draw. Secret Star has speed and a fine kick so if her sister is anything like as good she will go close.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1450m the expensive R1,1 million Var mare La Roquette looks to be the one to side. She was beaten two lengths by Zulu Dawn last time but had a bad draw and it was her second run after a long layoff. She should now be cherry ripe and has a plum draw of two. Those two are taken to get punters through the exotics.

In race 5 over 2400m Sailor Girl, who is a daughter of the Gold Cup winner Colonial Girl, has relished the step up to staying trips and can make it a hattrick despite having been given five points for her last win. Cranberry Crush is 1kg under sufferance but carrying a light weight she can be a threat if repeating her fine run over 3200m last time. However, she is only 0,5kg better off with Sailor Girl for a four length beating in a previous race over this trip. Santa Vittoria has struck as one who will enjoy this trip, Knysna Rose must be included and so must Glamarous Scandal.

The next two races are unusual events, maiden handicaps. In the first of them Nuntius Oratorion should enjoy the step up to 2000m. He has scope and does not have much to beat plus he gets weight from three horses.

In the next race, also over 2000m, Stormbourne Thunder looks hard to beat as a hard knocker who will be getting 2kg from the other hard knocker in the field Pachanga. The latter is a touch one-paced but always tries hard and should be right there. Candela finished strongly over 1450m two runs ago and has been tried up to 2600m, so is interesting here carrying a nice galloping weight of 55kg.

In the last race over 1600m Sovereign Reign’s second place finish over this trip in his penultimate start, when beaten narrowly by Come The Day, has worked out well and he followed that up with a good performance over 1400m. He has always been well regarded but does have a tough draw to overcome. Endofmarch could come in well handicapped as horses coming from the strong centre of Cape Town often have suppressed merit ratings. He hasn’t run since his running on second in July over this trip and also has a tough draw. Seventh Of June carries topweight of 61,5kg but is in fine form and has a plum draw so should be thereabouts.

By David Thiselton

Backing first timers is not a sound punting strategy and that was borne out when Mela Stregata, 1-5 on debut, was ‘rolled’, albeit by the shortest of short heads after racing very green.

The daughter of boom sire Scat Daddy had trialled impressively and the word was out that she was something special. But a trial is no substitute for a race and she was caught out by the speedy Tuulikki who showed pace throughout and held on narrowly from a late-charging favourite.

Duncan Howells saddles the filly over a more suitable 1400m at Scottsville today and from a good draw, she is likely to start deep in the red once again; yesterday 7-10 in the ante-post market.

Howells was on the mark with a brace of winners last Sunday and the stable appears to have turned the corner. He saddles a further 10 runners today and outside of Mela Stregata he appears to have a smart card that could yield more than one winner.

The mare High Altar goes for a fourth win on the bounce and the manner of her recent wins suggests that she has a definite chance of pulling it off. She came from the clouds and a poor draw to get up late over the mile last time out and she only collected a three-pound penalty. She had been up with the pace at her previous wins and was most impressive over course and distance at her penultimate start.

Few horses win four-in-a-row so there needs to be some caution about the mare’s chances but she definitely looks capable.

Duke Of Spin, who runs in the last, made short work of the opposition when shedding his maiden at just his second outing and second-placed White Lightning paid compliment to that form by winning comfortably next time out. It’s a little early to be singing the colt’s praises but he won in the manner of a progressive galloper and this race should give some indication of where he is possibly headed.

With the Highveld spring season and the Cape summer season on the horizon, Howells saddles two of the stables established stars in the fifth. Neptune’s Rain and Fiorella line up in a Pinnacle Stakes sprint and although the two best weighted horses in the race, they are both back from a break and could be found short of a gallop or two.

They are up against course and distance specialist London Call and at the bottom of the weights with 48kg on his back is Archilles who was decidedly unlucky last time out when twice being interfered with, a certain winner with a clear passage.

Louis Goosen could hold the key in the sixth. He has a host of quick fillies in his yard including Mbali and Bonnie Dawn. Mbali finished ahead of stable companion Bonnie Dawn when last they met, however, Bonnie Dawn’s previous form is stronger and she can turn the tables.  Ashburton colleague Shane Humby saddled two winners last Sunday and after a close-up third last time out Geographe Bay should be right up there in spite of her hefty burden.

But the list of possible winners is a long one and includes Val-La-Ree, Rani, Tuulikki and Philadelphia Girl who has come in for a ton of ante-post money. Dennis Driers filly has been a tardy starter in the past but races in blinkers for the first time and has come in from an opening call of 30-1 to 12-1 so punters needs to sit up and take note.

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer’s unbeaten filly Hashtagyolo makes her seasonal debut when she steps out in a barrier trial.

Unbeaten in three starts last season with smart victories in the KZN Guineas Trial and the Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes, Hashtagyolo was sent to Gauteng for the Highveld season but was set back by a virus and never ran there.

Well rested, her last appearance was a cracking win in the Flamboyant Stakes last December.

“She is a beautiful filly and has filled out and matured into a lovely specimen. We have brought her back slowly and I will be discussing a possible Cape Summer campaign with her owners,” Kannemeyer told Sporting Post. “She is a high-class valuable filly as she stands and we need to plan her programme carefully,” he said.

By Andrew Harrison