Sean Tarry will be hoping Trip To Heaven makes it third time luck in Saturday’s Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge.

The six-year-old Trippi gelding won the race two years ago, but was demoted after an objection, and he finished second again last year.

Trip to Heaven (JC Photographics)

The top class sprint-miler has run below par in his last two starts but Tarry said, “I feel he has been as good as he’s ever been so I am a little perturbed by his last two runs. But he has shown himself to be in good order and seems to like the course and distance.”

Trip To Heaven is known for his exceptional turn of foot and it was at its best two years ago in this race. He will likely be dropped out, so his wide draw of six out of eight should not be of concern.

Sansui Summer Cup winner Liege had to be scratched from the Gold Challenge due to a local racing rule and will instead take his place in a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1400m at Turffontein on Sunday.

Tarry said the trip was too sharp and he would be pleased if he got within five or six lengths of the winner. Liege will now be prepared out of Johannesburg for the July, a change from the original plan which was to take him to Summerveld after the Gold Challenge.

Tarry runs Heaps Of Fun and Tahini in the Grade 2 Tibouchina over 1400m.

He said, “It seems an open race, I’ve seen stronger, but they are having their last couple of runs before going to stud and I’m hoping for the best. They are both in good shape, especially Heaps Of Fun.”

Barrack Street has been gelded and runs in the Durban Dash over 1100m.

Tarry said, “He had good juvenile form and hasn’t got back to that form yet but we probably made a mistake by not gelding him earlier.” This small horse is drawn well and is well weighted on his best form.

Tarry runs Storm Ruler in the KZN Winter Challenge 2000 and described him as very honest and gave him an each-way chance.

By David Thiselton

Brett Crawford has a strong hand in the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville on Saturday, with defending champion Captain America, Grade 1-winner Sail South and CTS Mile winner Undercover Agent.

The evergreen Captain America has had an interrupted program.

Sail South (Liesl King)

However, Crawford said, “He is fine. He had a little problem when arriving in Durban, which is why he has not run yet, but we have done the best we can to have him race fit. Ideally it would have been nice to have had a run but he looks well, his work has been good and he runs well fresh.”

Three-year-old Captain Al colt Undercover Agent won his SA Champions Season pipe opener in the Grade 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m at Greyville in impressive style and was then touched off as favourite against older horses in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes.

Crawford said, “He is drawn well is in great form and I expect another honest run. He beat most of the opposition here in the Drill Hall so it will be interesting to see how he goes against them over a mile.”

Sail South ran on strongly in this race last season for fourth and could well get the strong pace which suits him on Saturday.

Crawford said, “He needed his first run (fourth in the Drill Hall) and has come on a lot. He likes Greyville and likes the trip so has quite a lot in his favour. He will definitely be finishing the race well and you have got to say he has a chance.”

Crawford runs Runaway Gal in the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m and said she had been doing well and would appreciate the step up in trip.

Phelan Lucky brings some strong Cape Town form into the Cornubia/Phoenix Sun Durban Dash over 1100m and Crawford expected him to run well, although he does have a tough draw.

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith is bullish ahead of Saturday’s huge Rising Sun meeting at Greyville and will be out to land a big race treble.

In the big one, the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge, he runs Snowdance and Copper Force.

He said, “Snowdance didn’t take well to being under the lights for the first time last time, it freaked her out a bit especially in the parade ring, and Bernard knew he was in trouble when going down to the start.”

The filly tore off in the race, the Grade 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas, and was caught in the shadow of the post by Fiorella.

Snaith continued, “But she has come on lengths for the run and I wouldn’t be running her if I didn’t think she had a good chance.”

Snowdance (left) Fiorela (right) – Candiese Marnewick

He said, “Copper Force didn’t raise a gallop last time as he got a lot of kick back and hated it. But he will strip fitter and the racetrack will probably be in good nick on Saturday, so don’t surprised to see him running on very well. He needed it last time and is a bit in and out but I think I have him spot on.”

He runs Vodacom Durban July favourite African Night Sky and Platinum Prince in the Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1800m and said, “They are both doing very well. They were both unlucky last time in the 1900 and from these draws will both have to have luck in running again.”

He reckoned African Night Sky would have to be dropped out from his draw and pointed out at Greyville it was tough to make up ground rom such a draw but he expected both horses to be fighting out the finish.

His pair Star Express and Gimme Six have both proven their liking for Greyville and will go into the Grade 2 Tibouchina over 1400m fit and well. They are able to turn it on so will be big runners despite wide draws.

He was hoping for positive returns to form for Quinlan and Sir Frenchie in the Durban Dash ahead of a target race on Vodacom Durban July day, but admitted he did not fancy either of them “too strongly.”

However, he expected a big run from Dynamic Diana in the Beach Beauty Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m because with horses going for other races she had ended up reasonably well weighted.

By David Thiselton

Gunter Wrogemann , in the intensive care unit of Johannesburg’s Milpark Hospital after being kicked in the face in a fall at Turffontein on Sunday, underwent a four hour operation yesterday .

His wife Sam said afterwards: “It took much longer than anticipated. I have so far only seen the anesthesiologist who says the operation went well. I am happy that the surgery is over and the road to recovery can commence.

“Gunter will remain under heavy sedation which is a good thing to allow him to heal and remain calm for the next few days.”

Wrogemann was on the rails five lengths off the leader when his mount Ancient Code suddenly fractured a front fetlock and came down. “When Gunter was lying on the ground the horse was struggling to get up and she got him full force in the face,” said trainer and family friend Louis Goosen.

His jaw was broken in two places and his arm was crushed. However the arm now looks reasonably OK and Mrs Wrogemann said: “The blood flow has improved  so he will not need it operated on. They have also taken the arm out of suspension and icepacks.”

Wrogemann had been on the crest of a wave. He rode his 100^th winner of the season last week and, after winning the Daily News on Surcharge on Saturday, he said: “I have been blessed. It has been a phenomenal season – which goes down to all the support I get from trainers and owners – and long may it continue.”

By Michael Clower

“He’s one of the strongest jockeys around,” was Mark Dixon’s verdict on Brandon Lerena as Isingamoya got the better of bottom weight Scrabble in the Capital Security Handicap at Scottsville yesterday. “I don’t know why more people don’t use him.”

This was Isingamoya’s sixth win and Lerena’s first since his return to the saddle after “knee chip” surgery. The mare was back over her favourite course, five of her six wins coming at Scottsville, but this time with the addition of blinkers. “I think the blinkers made all the difference,” reckoned Dixon. “She was just not going through with it so I think the blinds did the trick.”

Isingamoya (CM)

“I avoided the Group 1 (SA Fillies Sprint) because I think she is just below that class and went with this race instead.”

It proved an inspired move although Lerena had to call on all his skill to get her home.

“She just needed it,” was Lyle Hewitson’s verdict to Tony Rivalland on second placed Scrabble. “Otherwise she would have gone past.”

Favourite She’s A Dream didn’t go on with her effort. “There’s something wrong with her,” confided Dixon. “She was going all right but when the boy let her down there was nothing to come.”

Hot favourite Jardin got the meeting off to a winning start as Vaughan Marshall’s runner kept his clean sheet, making it two-from-two. The luckless Good Buddy pushed him to the line but MJ Byleveld was never in any trouble and Jardin won comfortably.

“Looking in the paddock there were a couple of nice horses so I got a little bit nervous. But he brought his work to the track,” said Marshall.

Jardin’s win was a good pointer to the next as JJ’s Captain franked the form. Second to Jardin last time out, Sean Veale had Dennis Drier’s charge handy throughout and kicked away smartly. Second placed Pickawinner made a cracking debut for Duncan Howells, racing green under apprentice Luke Ferraris, and his turn will not be long in coming.

Howells had a change of luck in the opening leg of the Pick 6 where favourite Silver Raisin finally got her act together and cruised home under Muzi Yeni. Sitting just of the pace in the early exchanges, Silver Raisin extended effortlessly to win as she liked from Lowan Denysschen’s runner Such A Rush.

“Muzi rode a confident race,” commented Howells. “She is a bit tricky and has a mind of her own so I decided to put on the blinkers. But when I told the jockey she would hang right, she hung left,” he shrugged.

Scottsville is a horses-for-courses type track as shown by Trippi’s Girl who has recorded all three of her wins on this track. She cut through the field late under Craig Zackey to score in the fourth for staunch stable supporter Hugo Hattingh for Glen Kotzen.

It’s been a frustrating wait between winners for Gary Rich but Connect Me, brought back to a sprint and racing in blinkers for the first time, came out on top in a tight finish under apprentice Jason Gates. “She’s not the easiest filly but if you go back in her form she finished three lengths of Fiorella so she has ability. Jason rode a nice race on her even though she was shifting about.”

By Andrew Harrison