Early in Saturday’s meeting at Turffontein the Sean Tarry-trained four-year-old Mambo In Seattle filly Desert Rhythm had her first victory since winning the Grade 2 Golden Slipper as a juvenile. She was ridden in the MR89 fillies and mares handicap over 1450m by S’Manga Khumalo, who was subsequently booked off after banging a knee in the starting stalls. This knee had previously been operated on and Khumalo went for checks but he could not be reached yesterday for further news.

Desert Rhythm ran on well to beat the progressive Gimme Hope Johanna. The promising three-year-old Vivir was third, but over raced for the second time in succession. She did win over 1400m last time but was better drawn then and found cover and settled earlier in the running that day.

By David Thiselton

The Mike de Kock-trained Pietro Mascagni sounded a warning to all GBets Summer Cup hopefuls when making a fine comeback over 1450m on Saturday on the Turffontein Inside track.

The day also featured a few eyecatching preparation runs for the Grand Heritage, to be run over 1475m at the Vaal on September 30.

Pietro Mascagni will come into his own this season being a four-year-old by Silvano who was gelded during his winter layoff. He should relish the tough Turffontein 2000m of the Summer Cup as he is out of a Western Winter mare who is a full-sister to both Ice Cube, who won from 1000-1800m including two Grade 1s as a juvenile, and Jagged Ice, who was a Grade 2 winner who finished second in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and third in the Vodacom Durban July.

Pietro Mascagni (JC Photographics)

The gelding has been at the centre of controversy before. The connections appealed against the low merit of 79 rating he was given after his impressive debut on October 31 last year. They thus gave an inkling of how highly they regard him. Clearly this was not a horse they wanted to win through the divisions with, but rather they saw him as a classic contender.

They lost the appeal but Pietro Mascagni did still run in the Dingaans but disappointed. He put that behind him by winning a handicap well next time out over 1500m. He subsequently finished a 3,7 length fourth to the top class Surcharge in the Tony Ruffel over 1400m, although he was receiving 4kg. In his final start he was beaten 7,3 lengths into sixth in the Gauteng Guineas but was only 1,8 lengths behind Surcharge.

He will have strengthened during his layoff and the best will likely be seen of him when he steps up to middle distances. The Grade 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile on November 3 would be the obvious stepping stone into the Summer Cup, which is to be run on December 1. However, having won off just a 93 merit rating on Saturday, it will be touch and go whether he gets into the Charity Mile so the yard might think of getting another run in before then to book his place. Otherwise he could go for the Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m on November 9.

On Saturday Pietro Mascagni settled nicely in midfield under Randall Simons after jumping from draw six of the twelve runners. He then used his nice stride to make up about seven lengths in the straight. He hit the front with 100m to go and held on gamely by a quarter of a length from no slouch in D’Arrivee, to whom he was giving 9kg.

It was a fine effort considering Matthew de Kock had said he would need the run and he had to carry 61kg. Pietro Mascagni landed odds of 71-10.

There were a number of Grand Heritage entries running. The Alec Laird-trained 88 merit rated Chepardo put in a fine preparation as he was caught wide for a short time from his tricky draw of eight but still managed to run on strongly for a one length third carrying 59kg. It was the first start since March 31 for this seven-year-old Trippi gelding and he is a 22/1 shot for the Grand Heritage. His 78 merit rated stablemate Danza ran a fair two length fourth in Saturday’s race and is a 40/1 chance for the Grand Heritage. Bockscar was just a short-head further back and was finishing liker a train. He was racing off just a 75 merit rating and remains a 50/1 shot for the Grand Heritage, but if he is one of the horses who gets in on the lower merit rated tier he will be an interesting contender. The 86 merit rated Daffiq put in an eyecatching preparation as he was finishing strongly for sixth and on September 30 will be having his third run after a layoff over an ideal trip so he could be fair value at 28/1. Dan The Lad was a touch disappointing and is 40/1 for the Heritage. Count Tassilo stayed on nicely and will come on from the run. He is 25/1. Pilou went too fast in front carrying 59,5kg and the run can probably be ignored. He is a 45/1 shot.

In the previous race Joey Ramsden got his Highveld campaign rolling with a good win for Rose In Bloom, who was comfortably the best weighted horse in an Assessment Plate over 1450m but was allowed to go off at 61-20 as it was her first start since June. This four-year-old Gimmethegreenlight filly ran unplaced in two starts in KZN but had shown her class during the Cape Summer, finishing a 1,8 length third to Snowdance in the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes over 1600m and a two length second to Magical Wonderland in the Grade 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes over 1200m. She followed that up by finishing runner up in both the Grade 3 Prix du Cap and Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes, both over 1400m.

On Saturday she jumped from a plum draw of two under Piere Strydom. She broke well and Strydom was able to settle her in midfield on the rail. The tall filly showed a fine turn of foot in the straight plus an extra gear in the final stages, without being put under pressure and won cosily by half-a-length from the US$500,000 CTS Mile third-placed Rings And Things. The De Kock-trained three-year-old Var filly Ghaalla probably has high expectations this season and made a fair comeback, finishing 2,5 lengths back in fifth from a wide draw.

Rings And Things, formerly trained by Candice Bass-Robinson and now trained by Ashley Fortune, is a 25/1 shot for the Grand Heritage.

By David Thiselton

After a short drought, well by his standards anyway, Anton Marcus was back on track at Scottsville yesterday with a four-timer. He doubled up for Shane Humby, winning on Socrates and then having to work harder to get Tribal Fusion home after looking to be in trouble two furlongs out.

It was also an Ashburton double for Duncan Howells and Muzi Yeni. La Villette made nearly all the running in the second and Edge Of The Sun was pushed all the way to the line by Captain Von Trapp to deny Marcus another winner.

Tribal Fusion (Anneke Kitching)

Dean Kannemeyer had his second winner of the new season as Keagan de Melo had something of an armchair ride on Pumpkin Queen.

Cat’s Legacy appears to have finally found his niche as he made short work of the opposition in the Pinnacle Stakes over 2400m. Marcus was sitting with a double handful at the top of the straight and Cat’s Legacy responded with a six-length victory over Brighteyebushytail.

Lyle Hewitson, at only his second meeting back from injury, took a heavy fall as his mount Gratuity came down in the fourth with Pathway To Glory, who was hot on her tail, also falling. Both riders escaped serious injury. Hewitson with a sore knee while Stuart Randolph has a possible concussion and will go for observation. “They both left on their own steam. They were not ambulanced out of here,” said Chief Stipendiary Steward, Shaun Parker.

By Andrew Harrison

Dean Kannemeyer took a ‘time out’ after the end of Champions Season with It’s My Turn’s eLan Gold Cup victory putting the cherry on another successful season. R&R and AHS vaccinations have been the order of the day with only a single winner since the start of the current season but that can change at Scottsville on Sunday where the stable sends out some competitive runners starting with Savea in the Dennis Drier Racing Handicap.

The lightly raced son of Var was a winner on debut at Kenilworth before taking on some fair juvenile fields, twice finishing behind Twist Of Fate.

Savea has since been gelded and made a smart seasonal debut behind Leslie Shadowliner, also finishing a length behind Socrates who runs in the following race, a MR 80 Handicap where Shane Humby’s runner has a strong winning chance.

World Mission (Candiese Marnewick)

Gelding appears to have had the desired effect although Savea does face a useful field.

Anton Marcus has stayed with Captain Von Trapp, just over a length back to the useful Sylvester The Cat last time out, but will possibly prefer this shorter trip.

Duncan Howells has a busy afternoon ahead with 13 runners and Edge Of The Sun also comes into the picture after his close-up second last time out. “Coming back to his best,” was the comment on his website.

Newly crowned national champion Lyle Hewitson is making his way back from injury with four mounts at Turffontein tomorrow and another four on Sunday although Fieldmarshal Fenix does look held on current form.

Dennis Bosch appears to have got Chantyman back to where he was early in his career when he showed loads of potential. After a lengthy break he has returned with a useful trial and a warm-up when third to Pata Pata over Sunday’s course and distance.

But he will need to be pretty close to his best in the Duncan Howells Racing Stables Handicap as he faces a number of runners in good form. The currently lethal combination of Garth Puller and Khanya Sakayi will have plenty of support teaming up with Ishnana while the mare Gratuity is quick and the lightly raced Socrates has only once been out of the money.

Only seven horses are carded for the fifth where Los Barbados and Crime Victim renew rivalry. However, Brighteyebushytail has a touch of class and looks to be over what should be a more suitable trip in his third run back from a lengthy break.

Also in the mix is Cat’s Legacy who only got going late when back to a mile last time out and he could well find this trip more to his liking.

Redeemer is unbeaten at Scottsville but Brett Crawford’s runner has not been out since April and that he is not over his optimum trip would suggest that he will be short of his best. A better option in the Nathan Kotzen Racing Stables Handicap could be Tribal Fusion. Marcus will be aboard for Shane Humby and the gelding was running on stoutly behind Monte Christo last timeout. He has yet to finish out of the money since being tried in blinkers and from a plum draw should at least be in the money again.

Kannemeyer saddles Pumpkin Queen in the seventh and the filly has shown excellent form since arriving in KZN. She has also taken to Scottsville and can turn the tables on Komeshans Flight with Grecian Laurel also a threat over what looks to be a more suitable trip.

Jet Stream has improved with every outing and could close off the meeting although the often difficult Pavarotti Passion appears to have settled down and has a chance along with Caliente.

By Andrew Harrison

Pleasedtomeetyou is taken to beat Clouded Hill in the clash of the young titans in the Sophomore Sprint at Durbanville tomorrow.

The Andre Nel runner, 12-10 favourite yesterday, was supremely impressive when winning on debut and looked a possible Guineas horse even though four of the six he beat were unraced. The third and fourth have franked the form by winning since.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe

Nel, who reported that the Querari colt was a gallop short and carrying a bit of condition on debut, sounded more cautious than confident when quizzed during the week but said: “He has been doing exceptionally well and, if he runs like he works, he should be hard to beat.”

The snag is his inexperience. At Kenilworth that wouldn’t matter so much but this is the country course with so much of the race on the turn and it is possible that Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount could become unbalanced or at least not gallop as freely as he would on a straight course. On the plus side he receives a kilo from the top three.

Clouded Hill, second favourite at 14-10, powered home as if he was something special when scoring on his second start and he was just as impressive when following up four weeks ago despite losing a front shoe.

Justin Snaith, bidding for his fifth Sophomore and his fourth in eight seasons, is in the sort of form where everything is possible but he did say last time that this horse is looking for further. “He is,” the champion trainer confirms. “But we just get the feeling that he is the most ready of my three-year-olds.” Can Richard Fourie’s mount beat the favourite? “For sure – Pleasedtomeetyou beat a bunch of unraced horses.”

Lanza has also won his last two starts and has Durbanville experience. He has not been as impressive as the big two but he could be one of those that only does just enough and Glen Kotzen, successful with Miller Time in 2007, knows exactly what is required. Ryan Munger’s mount is rated only a kilo behind Clouded Hill yet he is as big as 11-2.

Elusive Trader (13-2) is another who is on a hat-trick and Greg Ennion, who won this with Bulldozer 12 years ago, also runs the 22-1 outsider Sailor Sam. “Elusive Trader’s main mission is the Lanzerac Ready To Run but I have to make sure he gets qualified,” he says, adding: “Elusive Trader is the superior of the two but Sailor Sam is also doing well so I should be competitive.”

Top Of The Class is the only one of the six who went to Durban. He ran well in the Gold Medallion but was reported not striding out when disappointing in the Gatecrasher. “We gelded him after that,” says Vaughan Marshall whose most recent Sophomore success came with Lord Balmoral only two seasons ago. Does he give the 13-1 shot a chance? “Yes, I do.”

Whatever their fortunes with Lanza, the Kotzen-Munger combination should win the Tabonline Maiden with Herodotus who ran like a certain future winner on debut three weeks ago.

By Michael Clower