Racing at Kenilworth on Saturday lasted no longer than shortly after the second race when the jockeys lodged what is officially known as a protest, a complete misnomer if ever there was one.

No angry scenes or waving of placards, just two riders going into the boardroom to explain why they felt they should not continue.

Grant Van Niekerk

Grant van Niekerk, who won the Liquidity Services Maiden Juvenile on the Justin Snaith-trained 8-1 shot Kawakami and was fined R1 500 for using his whip with excessive frequency, said: “The track is very heavy and coming into the straight I couldn’t see anything. My goggles were covered in mud.”

Donovan Dillon, caught close home on 17-10 favourite Sparkeling Fire after trying to make all the running, added: “The ground is becoming false and that is the real problem.”

Fifteen minutes after the race had been run the meeting was abandoned. “The trainers weren’t happy either. It was a unanimous decision,” said stipe Nick Shearer who was presumably referring to the two trainers co-opted onto the decision-making panel. Some of those on the other side of the weighing room counter would have preferred the meeting to continue.

Apparently it was the ground on the bend from the back straight into the straight that was the major cause for concern but for Quarllo in the opening 1 000m Data Simplified Maiden Plate the testing going was manna from heaven.

This Glen Puller-trained gelding was running for the 22^nd time and, despite rising six, had never once finished in front. Little wonder that none of the punters wanted to know and allowed him to drift from 8-1 to 36-1 outsider of the seven runners.

Piet Botha had him well placed throughout and gained the advantage in the final furlong to score by three-quarters of a length.

Botha said: “Quarllo has a lot of niggles and so he enjoyed this ground. It was nice and heavy and they were going in quite deep.”

Just a pity that none of the punters could do the same.

By Michael Clower

Dean Kannemeyer has won the Vodacom Durban July three times and usually has a runner in the big race, but his chances of being involved this year could depend on discussions with It’s My Turn’s owner Fred Crabbia. The latter also owns the big race’s hot favourite, the Justin Snaith-trained African Night Sky.

It’s My Turn (Candiese Marnwi)

It’s My Turn did well to win the Grade 3 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville on Saturday considering he had to go around them to get into a handy position and then raced one wide without cover the whole way. Anton Marcus was probably mindful of the way the five-year-old Dynasty gelding had over-raced in the WSB 1900 when dropped out behind horses, so his tactic was likely deliberate. It’s My Turn found plenty extra in the straight and ran away from them down the outside.

His stablemate Mr Winsome, winner of this race last year, lost his unbeaten record at Scottsville but stayed on well for a 2,25 length second in his fifth start at the Pietermaritzburg venue. Kannemeyer’s other July entry The Slade had no luck in the race as he was caught wide throughout and as a last resort was rushed around them on the final turn. He hit the front but the exertions had taken their toll and he faded, so a line can probably be drawn through that run.

However, his chances of making the July’s final field are gone. American Landing, an up and coming three-year-old Dynasty colt who is a half-brother to Master Sabina, started favourite having just come off a win in the East Cape Derby, and finished a 2,5 length third ahead of Ballymaine and Silver De Lange.

It was Marcus’s first race meeting since he fractured a wrist after falling from the fractious White River in the parade ring before the Daisy Guineas. He had a bandage around the wrist on Saturday and was in obvious pain afterwards but it did not appear to detract from his performance.

Marcus asked on whether It’s My Turn could win the July said he believed these days he was more of a staying type. It’s My Turn did finish a 2,35 length fourth in the July as a three-year-old carrying 55,5kg and a 1,4 length eighth last year, also carrying 55,5kg. Therefore, he should have a shout on paper as he has been set to carry only 55kg this year. There is a lot of competition for places in the field this year and his win on Saturday does not automatically qualify him. However, Kannemeyer said before the race he would have “to win well” in order to get in and he certainly did so, although he was very well in at the weights under the conditions of the race.

By David Thiselton

Scottsville is very much a “horses for courses” type of a course and those who adhered to this proposition would have reaped the dividends when Witchcraft romped home in the Grade 3 Track And Ball Oaks over 2400m at Scottsville on Saturday.

The big chestnut daughter of Kahal stood imperiously at the start with ears pricked and looked as if she owned the place.

Witchcraft (Candiese Marnewick)

Sean Tarry’s Summerveld assistant trainer Lorenzo Kariem said he had felt her confidence when saddling and said, “She knew what she was here for today.”

In fact Witchcraft’s last win was in a 1900m event at Greyville just a week after she had won the Track And Ball Oaks two years ago. So, she also fulfils that other belief about horses running well at a particular time of the year.

Her last two runs, on the Highveld in March and April, had been way below par so she started at generous odds of 16/1 on Saturday.

Champion Jockey elect Lyle Hewitson kept her wide from the jump until she had found the lead and moved in at the first turn. She then set a comfortable pace down the back straight. Hewitson then stepped on the gas around the final turn and they were never going to catch her. She passed the line 3,75 lengths clear of Meryl with one the Vodacom Durban July hopeful Flichity By Farr half-a length further back in third.

It was one of the rides of the season from a jockey who just gets better and better and who thoroughly deserves to be crowned National Champion as an apprentice who is in just his third year of professional race-riding.

Royal Utopia and Sunshine Silk earned the fourth and fifth place cheques.

Girl On The Run, another July entry, could only finish sixth. Her chances of making the VDJ final field are gone and Flichity By Farr also probably did not do enough.

By David Thiselton

It’s My Turn opened the door for a place in the field for next month’s Vodacom Durban July with a thoroughly professional, if workmanlike, victory in the Track & Ball Derby at Scottsville on Saturday.

“He was weighted to win this race,” surmised Dean Kannemeyer. “I would have been disappointed if he didn’t win.”

“In fact I was happy with both horses.” Mr Winsome giving Kannemeyer a one-two. Mr Winsome, last year’s Derby winner, suffered his first reverse at Scottsville but was game in defeat as he rallied from off the pace to relegate favourite American Landing into third.

Mr Winsome

This was Anton Marcus’s second ride back since breaking his wrist and although he was reluctant to admit it, he did appear to be in some discomfort after the race. “I’ll take the fifth,” he said when questioned by television presenter Deez Dayanand. “But there’s no medication like winning.”

“He stays like an annoying relative,” summed up Marcus. “He dropped the bit too early but there was more in the locker.”

It’s My Turn took over at the top of the straight and stayed on dowerly with nothing coming to threaten.

In spite of being 10.5kg out at the handicap, the money was all for EP Derby winner American Landing but he is a horse that still has to furnish and this race against older opposition probably came too early in his career.

He looked the part in the paddock but Peter Muscutt, assistant to Brett Crawford, was not overly confident. “He’ll be a real horse in six months’ time.”

“He ran a great race,” said Muscutt post-race.

It remains to be seen whether It’s My Turn did enough to impress the July selection panel, the answer to which will be known come mid-day Tuesday.

The Slade’s chances of making the VDJ field also fizzled out in the straight and Flichity By Farr will be another to fall by the VDJ wayside as she battled into second behind seasoned campaigner Witchcraft in the Track & Ball Oaks.

Champion jockey elect, Lyle Hewitson showed that he fully deserves his place at the top of the pile with a finely judged front-running race on Sean Tarry’s mare.

Without a win for close on two years, the victory was a change of fortune but Hewitson read the race like a book.

There was no pace on and he had no hesitation in taking Witchcraft to the front.

Piere Strydom was wise to Hewiston’s ploy and tried to keep Flichity By Farr in touch but she was unable to stay with her older rival.

Tarry’s KZN assistant Lorenzo Karriem summed it up. “Credit must go to Lyle, he rode the perfect race.”

The Ferraris family set something of a record last week with grandfather, father and son all having winners on the same day. They went one better yesterday as apprentice Luke Ferraris scored on Autumn Rain, a gelding owned by his father David and trained by Grandfather Ormond.

By Andrew Harrison

A competitive MR 88 handicap over 2000m heads an eight race card on the Turffontein Inside track on Sunday and The Rising Legend could still be ahead of the handicappers.

This three-year-old gelding is well regarded and is fast gaining a reputation for his sterling finishing efforts from well off the pace. His last win over 1800m at this course earned him just a two point merit rated raise and he is well regarded so can rise above his current mark of 84. Callan Murray stays aboard from a fair draw of seven. Big Parade, who is by Dynasty out of Summer Cup winner Flirtation, has been disappointing in two runs on the Highveld since a fair campaign in Cape Town, which included a close second to one of the July’s most fancied horses, Made To Conquer. He now has his third run back on the Highveld and it follows a three month layoff and gelding. Gambado won a good race over this trip in his penultimate start and followed with a fair 3,7 length eighth in the SA Derby. He is drawn in pole with Strydom up and should be involved.

Callan Murray

Top Shot has been consistent lately and having been lowered one point from his last run should be thereabouts especially considering he has won his only start over this course and distance. Kremlin Judgement, stablemate of Big Parade’s, looks to be the yard elect according to jockey bookings. He is well drawn and 1kg better off with The Rising Legend for a mere half-a-length beating over 1800m. That was his first outing with blinkers and they are on again. However, he was reported to have made a breathing noise in that race, which does not augur well for this step up in trip. Notting Hill has dropped to a competitive mark and this big front-running type will have more chance of keeping his nose in front carrying just 53,5kg. Bold Viking is talented but has breathing issues and usually starts slowly.

The best bet on the card looks to be Parental Control in the second race over 1450m. This Judpot filly ran on strongly from midfield over 1160m last time having caught the eye on debut over 1000m before that. Long Pond could be the danger. She was a bit below par last time over this 1450m course and distance when beaten 11,25 lengths into second by Return Flight, but had a shoe attended to that day. Before that she was close up to the decent Cloud Break on debut over 1200m. She has a fair draw and horses from the Houdalakis yard continually improve.

In the fifth race Hirohito should be improving being by Ideal Word. Weiho Marwing is an outstanding trainer of stayers, so he should now be cherry ripe to step up to 2600m having done well in three races over 2400m before staying on well for second over 2000m last time. Smart Deal is also by Ideal World and was beaten by a promising sort over 2400m last time so should also go close.

Exotic bets look to be the best way to approach the day.

By David Thiselton