“It was a long time between drinks,” 27 years to be exact, but Anton Marcus celebrated in style as he drove favourite It’s My Turn to a superb victory in the R1.25 million Gr3 eLan Gold Cup at Greyville on Saturday.

“It was also a long wait then,” quipped Marcus post-race. “I had to wait 25 minutes because of an objection. Icona and Castillian Dancer.”

Second was last year’s winner Hermuso Mundo with outsider Wild Wicket running a cracker in third.

The race panned out perfectly for It’s My Turn who staked his claim as Equus Stayer of the year after winning the KZN Derby and the Gold Vase leading up to yesterday’s win. It was also the third win in the race for Dean Kannemeyer after Colonial Girl and In Writing.

Let It Rain and Royal Utopia set solid early fractions and Marcus was able to settle mid-field. Up the hill and heading for the home turn, Marcus pulled wide to avoid the traffic on the inside rail. It’s My Turn responded smoothly to his rider’s urgings, hitting the front crossing the subway and going on to win comfortably.

Hermuso Mundo came from last up the hill and was running on strongly to snaffle a game Wild Wicket for second.

Duncan Howells was well satisfied with Wild Wicket. “He’s finally showing us what he is capable off.

“He will only be five next year and last year’s winner ran second.”

Captain America has been a tremendous servant to Brett Crawford and his owners and the game son of Captain Al rounded off a superb career with a fitting victory in the Gr1 World Sports Betting Champions Cup, the final Gr1 of the current season.

An emotional Crawford was lavish in his praise of Captain America who was recording his 10^th victory and stake earnings of over R6 million.

It was a superb ride by stable rider Corne Orffer who has been aboard the gelding for almost his entire career. “He’s the best horse that I have ridden in my career so far. He is also a best friend.”

Captain America didn’t let him down as Orffer rode a clever tactical race.

The gelding pulled himself to the head of affairs as is his want and once clear, Orffer slowed the pace with nothing in the race willing to take him on.

Orffer kicked for home at around the 700m mark and went five or six lengths clear with no chasers.

With a good lead at the top of the straight, nothing was going to get past. Eyes Wide Open looked a possible threat a furlong out but he never got to Captain America and was swamped on the line by Undercover Agent, one of three Crawford runners in the race, and Top O’ Noth who also rattled home.

“He ran a great race,” said Marcus of second-placed Undercover Agent. “I knew the older horses would be tough to beat because he is still a big baby. He’ll be much better next year.”

Will Pays and Craig Zackey took full advantage of a break-neck early pace to snatch the Gr1 Mercury Sprint from a brace of fast-finishers, Attenborough and the notoriously slow starter Trip To Heaven.

Sunset Eyes and Back Cat Back set quick early fractions and approaching the final furlong is looked as if the two stable companions would contest the finish. However, their early exertions took their toll and they were treading water as Will Pays took the shortest way home to score the 12^th win of his career for father and son combination of Mike and Adam Azzie.

“I knew this 12 was going to be quick and if I was within five or six lengths turning for home I would win the race,” said Zackey.

“He deserved this Gr1. He’s been a great soldier,” he added.

Earlier Mike de Kock celebrated equalling the legendary Terrance Millard’s record of 117 Gr1 victories as he saddled the first two past the post in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes.

Recently appointed stable jockey Randall Simons has had a dream run for his new stable and crowned his season with an audacious ride on hot favourite Soqrat who came home clear of Alyaasaat, both racing in the internationally famous colours of Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Simons turned for home with plenty of horse under him and elected to go wide on the turn, a move that either elicits praise if you win or derision if you lose.

There were no worries for Simons as Soqrat motored home. Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who had been the architect of Soqrat’s defeat when riding Barahin in the Golden Horseshoe on July Day, had it all to do from his outside draw. He elected to drop Alyaasaat out from the jump and was last turning for home. He got a dream split up the middle of the field but the bird had flown.

Apprentice Lyle Hewitson, the first apprentice since the legendary Michael Roberts to win the National Jockey’s Championship, was honoured by Gold Circle but he would have been happier had he been aboard Gr1 Thekwini Stakes winner Return Flight instead of receiving his gold watch with his leg in a brace.

Marcus made the most of the pick-up ride for Sean Tarry as he produced Return Flight with a well-timed run to hold off the attentions of Railtrip and Can You Feel It to score the 101^st Gr1 victory of a remarkable career.

Return Flight was also the first Gr1 winner for former Vodacom Durban July winner Pomodoro who also triumphed in the colours of Chris van Niekerk. “My day is done,” said an emotional Van Niekerk who has placed enormous faith in his champion who stands at Klawervlei Stud although ironically Return Flight was a R20 000 yearling buy, having been bred by Highlands Farm stud manager Mike Sharkey.

Justin Snaith, crown his second National Trainer’s Championship with a one-two in the Gr2 Kuda Gold Bracelet as Miyabi Gold scraped home ahead of stable companion Gimme Six with Epona the meat in the sandwich, a head back in third.

By Andrew Harrison

Turffontein Standside stages an eight race meeting on Sunday and there look to be some fair opportunities for punters.

In the first race over 1600m Chitengo was doing her best work late over 1450m last time and is now drawn in pole over a step up in trip she will relish. As a maiden she will be receiving 3kg from the main danger I Like It, so should get punters off to a good start.

In the second race over 1600m Mogok gelding Master Magic has some substance and plenty of scope for improvement. He was stubborn loading and still green in the running over this trip last time but was doing his best work late. He does have a tricky draw now but has a 2,5kg claimer up and if it pans out well for him he will go close. Affranchi led last time when beaten 5,25 lengths by the top class Soqrat over 1400m. Being by Elusive Fort out of a mare who has produced an 1800m winner he should enjoy the step up in trip so can be effective from the front this time and is the main danger.

In the third race over 1160m Causeway Cruiser hasn’t been seen out since his debut on Summer Cup day but the form of his fourth place there after a slow start has worked out well and he is the one to beat, considering none of the first-timers make much appeal on pedigree. Two-year-old Chijmes made a pleasing debut over course and distance and was green so can improve. Billy The Kid found some support on debut over 1400m but over raced before fading, so he will relish the step down in trip. Arrows Of Desire faced a stronger field on debut and can improve. The Mackem Slayer by Horse Chestnut is a half-brother to Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic third-placed She’s A Dragon (Jay Peg) and can improve after being green on debut.

In the fourth race over 1160m Twelve Oaks takes a drop in class and has been given another four point drop by the handicap so she should be ready to go close again. Maple Syrup has also been given a four point drop and has blinkers on over a drop in trip, while Inyanga should be right there too over a course and distance she enjoys,

In the fifth the up and coming Rebel’s Champ will be hard to beat at the weights and returning from layoffs Tar Heel and Mawsoof are selected to be the chief threats.

In the sixth over 1400m Infamous Fox’s hattrick of victories over 1600m have good form around them and he can continue on winning ways from a good draw over a trip he should also enjoy. Purple Diamond is ideally suited to this trip and on the weight turnaround with Infamous Fox has a good chance. Shukamisa is a typically improving son of Silvano so must also be included.

In the seventh over 1600m Make Me Happy is beginning to fulfil her potential and can follow up on her recent win. Hafla beat her last time they met over this trip and they face on the same terms but the latter has a worse draw.

In the eighth over 2850m Fortune Fella is in fine form and can fight it out with Brand New Cadillac and Tapanzee.

By David Thiselton

The remarkable Brave Move can make it six in a row in the Final Fling Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow.

The four-year-old’s winning run has been one of the stories of the season – albeit one of the least highlighted – yet she has climbed in the ratings from 74 to 105, each time scoring with something in hand.

“She showed us a lot of ability from very early on and she has got just got better and better, mentally as well as physically,” Adam Marcus recalls. “Having won so many times, she goes into her races with so much confidence and she came through her win in the Ladies Mile very well. She had her head in the manger the next morning and since then she has freshened up nicely.”

But this is her toughest task yet. She has to give Fresnaye a kilo and a half and yet the Joey Ramsden charge – good enough to take third in the Fillies Guineas and the Paddock Stakes – is rated a kilo better than her.  Can she do it?

“I think she can,” says Marcus. “Fresnaye is obviously an exceptionally talented filly and the weights are not in our favour but Brave Move has matured quite a lot and she is doing exceptionally well.”

Brave Move is still favourite at 11-10 with World Sports Betting and Fresnaye is second in the market at 22-10 with the statistics more in her favour – there has only been one winning favourite in the last five years.

Ramsden, curiously, has not won this race in any of the last 17 runnings but he also fields a formidable second string in 5-1 shot Dynasty’s Blossom who ran Fresnaye to a neck in the Winter Oaks over 400m further 13 days ago. She is a kilo worse here.

Justin Snaith has won three of the last five Final Flings but it is hard to enthuse about either Konkola or Red Ginger. Both are in double figures.

Lady Of The House looks a much more potent threat even though she is as big as 10-1 and has to give away lumps of weight all round.

The Woolavington winner was due to come under the hammer at Durbanville yesterday but there was a lot to like about the way she returned from a seven-month absence to run on into third in the Ladies Mile. It maybe her second run after a rest but she is a class act.

Call To Account, beaten only by Brave Move in the Ladies Mile, has smart form over 1 200m and stands out in the Champagne Stakes.

By Michael Clower

Motor racing and horse racing may be poles apart as far as the participants are concerned but it will be a ‘Day of Thunder’ at Greyville tomorrow with probably the finest day’s thoroughbred racing on the national calendar.

Ironically the eLan Gold Cup has been steadily down-graded to it’s current status of Gr3 but that has not detracted from it’s status as the most prized staying race on the calendar and this year has attracted a high class field headed by Vodacom Durban July runner-up, Made To Conquer who heads the weights.

Made To Conquer picked up a six-point penalty for his July efforts and will carry top weight of 60kg while in contrast, Gold Vase winner It’s My Turn, possibly a little unlucky not to have cracked an invite to run in the VDJ, was given a two-point relief by the handicappers after his convincing victory and is in receipt of 0.5kg.

It’s My Turn’s Gold Vase win over 3000m is proof that he stays the trip which is a big mark in his favour. Made To Conquer on the other hand is untried over the trip although he has smart staying form up to 2500m. Made To Conquer carried Jeff Lloyd to his best ever finish in the VDJ and the seasoned rider was of the opinion that his mount was a dower stayer and that the Gold Cup would be right up his alley.

Two others that will have their supporters are last year’s winner Hermoso Mundo and Strathdon. Weiho Marwing is an astute trainer of stayers and Hermoso Mundo has only had four outings this term. After a failed crack at the Summer Cup, the gelding was rested for some six months and has put in two promising comeback runs. However, he has 3kg more to shoulder this year and arguably meets a much stronger field.

Strathdon ran an indifferent race in the July consolation behind Head Honcho but did jump from the widest draw.

Prior to that he ran Made To Conquer to a neck in the 2400m Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, giving the winner 2kg. Grant van Niekerk earned a 10-day suspension for leaning on his rival for much of the way up the straight that day but there is a 4kg turn around in the weights and Strathdon should stay the extended trip which will make him many a punter’s first choice.

Last year’s winner and runner-up in the Gr1 Champions Cup, Sail South and Captain America respectively will do battle again. Couple them with Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner, Undercover Agent, Investec Cape Derby winner Eyes Wide Open, Cape Guineas winner Tap O’ Noth, Perovskia, Crowd Pleaser and Heavenly Blue on the comeback trail, victory will be hard-earned. However, Derby winner Eyes Wide Open has had an easy build-up and caught the eye when rattling home in the Thukela Handicap on July day and looks primed for this event.

The Gr1 Mercury Sprint has been moved from a standalone meeting to the Super Saturday undercard and again an Equus award could be on the line with some top sprinters in the line-up.

Victory for Pinnacle Peak, second in both the Gr1 Computaform Sprint and the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, could well earn national honours for Dorrie Sham’s gelding

With only two Grade One races each for Juvenile males and fillies, the Premier’s Champion Juvenile Stakes and the Thekwini Stakes for fillies are of premium importance.

Soqrat fought a titanic duel against stable companion Barahin in the finish of the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe on July day, touched off in a photo finish. He has the best of the draw and a win will be of paramount importance for Mike de Kock’s colt. De Kock saddles another Australian-bred in Alyaasaat and another one-two is on the cards.

The absence of Gr2 Golden Slipper winner Celtic Sea has detracted a little from the Thekwini Stakes line-up and with Gr1 Allan Robertson winner Mighty High also a non-starter the door is open, but just who will be first home it is anyone’s guess.

By Andrew Harrison

South African Equine Health and Protocols (SAEHP), led by Adrian Todd, was charged with spearheading the equine industries efforts to implement long term sustainable export protocols in 2017. The equine industry has suffered due to onerous export requirements and SAEHP has been working hard in conjunction with the South African Dept. of Agriculture (DAFF) to improve exports for horses.  South Africa has been unable to export directly to most countries and horses currently have to embark on an arduous journey that takes a minimum of three months via Mauritius to reach Europe.

SAEHP and DAFF have made great strides towards resolving the issues and the onerous export requirements. Improvements in disease control and reporting have been made at home, and scientific advancements coupled with international lobbying and awareness campaigns are starting to show results.

“We are now in the audit process. RSA DAFF has officially communicated with the EU with an update on the implementation of recommendations from the 2013 audit. Furthermore there have been no cases of AHS within the control zone for a period of two years”, said Todd

“A new EU Commission Implementing Regulation has recently been published in the official journal of the EU. The existing protocol requires 40 days of quarantine in the free zone.  Once direct trade between South Africa and the EU resumes, direct export to the EU will require either 40 days quarantine in a vector protected quarantine station or 14 days in a vector proof (lockdown) quarantine station. This is keeping in line with the OIE recommendations and the risk assessment study and is a major achievement towards our goal. We are confident of the improvements that have been made and our efforts are ongoing”, he added.

Todd concluded by confirming that the intention is for horses to be exported directly to the EU in 2019.

By Liesl King

Featured Image: Adrian Todd (hamishNIVENPhotography)