Durbanville course specialist Fifty Cents and Bernie, first and second in Saturday’s Supabets Pinnacle, will renew rivalry over 150m further in the Matchem on October 7. But Justin Snaith intends strengthening his hand in the Grade 3 test.

He said: “Fifty Cents is now four from four here but I have quite a few for the Matchem including Kasimir who was second in the CTS 1200. It will be very interesting to see which one Richard Fourie chooses.”

The champion trainer is in blistering form, particularly with all those three-year-olds kept waiting in the wings last season, and victories for Green Jacket and Carlas Mambo took his tally to 24 and his strike rate to 18.5%.

Fifty Cents (Liesl King)

He regards these early victories as important for his bid to retain the championship, reasoning: “The Cape season is going to be tough and the competition will be hot. Picking up these races now is going to count.”

Fourie won on all three and his percentage is virtually 32%. It is Muzi Yeni who is leading the national log but 21-winner Fourie, on a week-by-week basis at least, is running not far short of his ambitious 200-winner target.

Candice Bass-Robinson, who won last year’s Matchem with Our Mate Art, was pleased with the performance of all three of her Pinnacle runners, saying: “Horizon (sixth) needed this badly but he will join Bernie in the Matchem and then his programme will be something like Green Point, Queen’s Plate and Met if he stays in one piece.

“We will see how we go with Tevez (who ran on well into fourth). It was his first time at Durbanville and he never likes going round the turn which is why he doesn’t go to Durban. But he is always keen which is why I keep running him.”

Vaughan Marshall, in double form, explained that Rocket Girl didn’t handle the “sloppy” ground when disappointing at Kenilworth last time – it was the day only two races were run. Secretariat’s Girl was retired to stud after winning the Interbet.co.za Handicap and leaves for Klawervlei this morning.

No such rest for West Of Seattle who made all under Donovan Dillon at 22-1 in the first to surprise his trainer almost as much as the punters.

Paul Reeves said: “Gelding him has made a big difference but I thought he would only run a place. They were backing the favourite (third-placed Spring Burst) like there was no tomorrow.”

Ante-post favourite Trippi’s Express was odds-on prior to being scratched on Friday afternoon after showing an abnormal blood count.

Andre Nel was full of praise for Anthony Andrews’ handling of Sister Soozie in the Middle Stakes (“he rode a perfect race”) and the good-value Liam Tarentaal, 20, took his total to 23 when getting up on the line on the Eric Sands-trained 15-1 shot Cyber Law in the Betting World Handicap.

*  Kenilworth Racing’s invitation to The Barn market to set up shop multiplied the normal crowd many times over. “It wasn’t as busy as our Sunday market in Durbanville town but it was worth coming,” said one stall holder while Justin Snaith was one of many suitably impressed, saying: “It’s an easy simple idea and I am happy to see it bringing people racing.”

But there were long queues at the downstairs bar and, if these new casual racegoers are not to be put off, the caterers need to open up more outlets.

By Michael Clower

Bernard Fayd’Herbe will take over from Greg Cheyne when the highly-rated debut winner Pleasedtomeetyou steps up in class for the Fairview Wine Sophomore Sprint at Durbanville on Saturday.

The form of the colt’s August 11 win has been repeatedly franked, most recently with eight-length fourth Green Jacket scoring at Durbanville on Saturday.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe

Justin Snaith, who entered four, has declared smart dual winner Clouded Hill and Greg Ennion will run both Elusive Trader (Corne Orffer) and Sailor Sam (Donovan Dillon). Vaughan Marshall has two entries, Canukeepitsecret and Top Of The Class but is reluctant for them to take each other on (“They are two very decent horses”) unless today’s declaration is so small that the race becomes in jeopardy.

Last year’s Met winner Whisky Baron could be rested for a few weeks despite earlier concerns about his ability to handle the softer autumn ground.

Ross Kieswetter, who owns the gelding in partnership with elder brother Craig, said: “He came out of  the Goodwood race well but William Haggas says that he doesn’t want to bring him back too quick so he will give him a break for a bit.”

Whisky Baron’s second in the Celebration Mile after being off for over five months was far better than expected. “We couldn’t believe how well he ran,” said Kieswetter, “and I don’t think William could either.”

Grant van Niekerk’s good start to his Hong Kong stint continued at Sha Tin yesterday when he won the last on 131-10 shot High Five for Tony Millard.

By Michael Clower

For a kid out of the backwoods of the Eastern Cape and plucked out of a school in Cape Town, apprentice Khanya Sakayi has made the most of his opportunity at the South African Jockey Academy. He has hit a purple patch, the likes of which is the envy of all in the weighing room, including his seniors.

He scored his first three-timer at Scottsville a month back and since then has been getting them home regularly but going one better at Greyville yesterday as took his tally of wins to 28 with a winning four-timer.

Sakayi started by surviving an objection call on Sea Urchin in the Pinnacle Stakes. The protest was lodged by Mark Khan, rider of Royal Armour, who claimed interference in the latter stages.

Khanya Sakayi (Candiese Marnewick)

The protest didn’t faze seasoned rider and trainer Garth Puller who hardly blinked when put the question. “We came from behind that horse. I don’t think there was anything in it. It will be over-ruled in my opinion.”

He proved correct as Sea Urchin notched the fifth success of his career. “He’s seven-year-old but he’s brave and does his best. He fought his way through.”

The Yogas Govender-trained Lickerio was next up for Sakayi in the first of the three-race apprentice challenge races where Luke Ferraris looked to pinch a lead on Sentido. But Sakayi had plenty of horse under him and they went to the line unchallenged.

As he showed on Sea Urchin, not only is Sakayi tactically sound, but also a difficult man to master in a finish as he fought off all rivals on the favourite Itdawnedonme for owner, trainer Duncan Howells.

As if to confirm that opinion, Sakayi rounded off a superb afternoon as he out-duelled fellow apprentice Ferraris in a desperate finish to the last race on the diminutive filly Just Rap, fittingly for Puller and winning all three of the apprentice races.

Earlier, favourite for the third, Bulleting Home, was a tardy starter, unusual for a horse ridden by Anton Marcus, and from there on was never in the race.

Marcus was aboard favourite Sorceress in the previous event but his mount was under pressure early and never featured. In contrast, Sweet Mary Lou gave apprentice Ferraris a dream ride as she quickened up smartly in the straight to win as she liked. “I was a case of switching her off so that she would see out the mile, but she quickened very well,” said Ferraris.

Dennis Drier has more depth in his stable then probably all of his colleagues at Summerveld combined and he turned out another smart winner in the card opener as Holy Land put his opposition to the sword.

“I thought Dennis had lost it a bit,” quipped Nick Jonsson, tongue-in-cheek. “He kept on telling me that we have a nice horse here but he was not showing it on the racecourse.”

Gelding appears to have done the trick and Holy Land put it in all the way to the line yesterday.

“This horse was bought on sentiment,” said Jonsson. “He’s the great grandson of a smart filly that my father owned, Old Rituals. I saw the pedigree at the sales and just had to have him.”

Sometimes sentiment works in you favour. Mostly it doesn’t, but Holy Land appears to be one of the exceptions.

A smart tactical ride on Stelvio gave Drier the double as Sean Veale pinched the race at the top of the straight. Favourite O’Keeffe, bidding for a hat-trick, got going late but Stelvio stuck to her guns to narrowly hold the challenge.

Drier took the wraps off a smart filly at Scottsville on Wednesday with Golden Chance putting seven lengths over her rivals and Star In The Sky was equally impressive in the seventh. After two forward showings over shorter, the daughter of Silvano out of a Galileo mare, Star In The Sky was bred to go every metre of the 1900m maiden and she did it in style, leading the procession by six lengths from the luckless Little Audrey who in turn was three lengths clear of her nearest rival.

By Andrew Harrison

The South African Jockey Academy is the envy of world racing and on Sunday and the current crop of apprentices get to showcase their talents on the Greyville poly track.

Three races on the eight-race card, are exclusively for apprentice riders and Serino Moodley, who comes out of his time at the end of this year, could get the ball rolling aboard Garth Puller’s runner March Preview.

Puller’s yard is in mustard form of late and March Preview has shown up well in his two starts back from a lengthy break, blinkers seemingly the key to his recently improved performances. He should be at his peak come Sunday.

March Preview (Candiese Marnewick)

The biggest threat to his chances could come in the form of Lickerio. Yogas Govender’s gelding was a recent maiden winner but has shown early promise. The step up in trip should suit and apprentice Khanya Sakayi, who is riding with supreme confidence of late, takes a bonus 2.5kg off his back.

Sakayi has picked up a plum ride on Itdawnedonme for Duncan Howells in the Loving Life Stables Handicap and he could be hard to beat. Duncan Howells was confident of a big run last time out but Itdawnedonme found one to good on the day, run out of it late by Tommy Grand.

Itdawnedonme shed his maiden on the poly and given his last showing he rates a strong chance and a possible exotic bet banker.

The School of Management Excellence Handicap has a wide open look about it and it may prove prudent for punters to load up in this leg of the exotics.

O’Keeffe has taken to the poly track, winning her last two to remain unbeaten on the synthetic surface and she can go in again. But Andre Nel’s runner does give weight to the majority of the field. Lezeanne Forbes saddles the mare Tanami at the bottom of the handicap and she has shown up well in two outings since returning from a lengthy break. Mark Khan will be aboard again and Tanami must rate a big chance.

The Duncan Howells pair of Roy’s Vogue and Queen’s Plain are others to consider while Roy’s Stingray is a lightly raced import who has only been out of the money once in six outings and must also be a big runner.

Little Audrey and Star In The Sky should dominate the Investec Handicap where the form of the balance of the runners is not much to write home about. Little Audrey was a touch unlucky when going down to Purple And Gold last time out and has improved with every outing. However, Star In The Sky has given notice that she has a future after two prominent showings over shorter. She should take the step up in trip in her stride and Dennis Drier has declared blinkers.

The final event of the afternoon is another difficult handicap. Path To Glory is something of a course and distance specialist and although she ran out of luck when beaten last time out, she had previously reeled off a hat-trick of wins. Talented apprentice Ashton Arries retains the ride for Mike Miller. Girl In Gold, Breaking Barriers and Just Rap warrant serious consideration but it is a race where the advice is to load-up.

By Andrew Harrison

Olympian, so often the bridesmaid, can come up the aisle in front in the Supabets Pinnacle Stakes at Durbanville tomorrow.

The Vaughan Marshall seven-year-old has finished in the frame in all his five most recent starts, four of them Pinnacles, and he might have been bit closer last time had his rider not dropped his whip 100m out. Even so he has the beating of 11-2 stable companion Vincente on that run and he has already been backed from 15-4 to 28-10 favouritism.

Vaughan Marshall

If you ignore 33-10 shot Tevez, who has not been running up to his rating on his last two starts, there is only 3.5kg between the best in (Fifty Cents) and the worst (Cuban Emerald and Rock Of Africa). It is just possible that the country course will rejuvenate Tevez but that is not something you would want to stake much on.

Fifty Cents (33-10) ran well in a 1 000m Pinnacle in June but he is more of a 1 400m/mile horse while 17-2 chance Rock Of Africa is suited by this trip and has been running well in Durban.

Horizon, who needs further and has been off for seven months, has understandably drifted from 7-1 to 11-1 while stable companion Bernie, disappointing over a mile last time, looks too short at 5-1.

Trippi’s Express divided the highly rated Pleasedtomeetyou and last Saturday’s impressive winner Trip To The Sky in that hot Kenilworth maiden four weeks ago and looks nailed on for the opener. Unfortunately the bookies take the same view and World Sports Betting has already shortened him from 15-20 to 6-10.

Green Jacket was fourth in that Kenilworth race, only three-quarters of a length behind Trip To The Sky despite losing ground at the start. The 7-2 chance looks best in race two, or at least he would but for being drawn one from the outside.

That is normally the kiss of death over 1 400m on this course but, curiously, all the other major form fancies have also been hit with bad draws – notably All In Line, Run To Denmark and Nao Faz Mal. Just about the only one with some sort of form chance who is drawn well is 7-1 shot St Vladimir.

Nastergal stands out in the Tabonline Maiden. True, she is drawn 11 but that shouldn’t be a problem with Anton Marcus on her back. Marcus has only one other ride and it’s not a Ridgemont horse. Mike Stewart has obviously been at his most persuasive but it could pay to go for Icon King in the Betting World Handicap, particularly at 13-2.

• Michael Clower’s selections at the last 11 Cape Town meetings are showing a profit of R223.60 to a R10 level stake.

By Michael Clower