The Vaal has a low key eight race meeting tomorrow and an MR78 Handicap is the highest rated race.

Powered Beauty looks the one to beat. This rangy three-year-old Australian-bred gelding is by the top sire Fastnet Rock and has only had two starts to date. The penny is still dropping on the evidence of his last start from a wide draw over this course and distance. After being dropped out from a wide draw he moved up threateningly but didn’t really respond to urging until it was too late. He was doing good work late to be beaten just 1,3 lengths but potentially could have done better.

He is now drawn in pole and if the penny drops he will be hard to beat off just a 71 merit rating. Viburnum, being a gelding by Ideal World, will also be improving. He is drawn in two and can make it a hattrick in just his fourth career start. He won over 1800m last time, beating the promising Psychic, who runs in the previous race. Three-year-old Captain Al gelding Loyal Lieutenant is a good looking sort and is well regarded enough to have taken his place in the Dingaans, where he was not disgraced. He was a R400,000 purchase and could now start fulfilling his potential in his third run after gelding.

He is returning from an 87 day layoff. Jika was disappointing last time over 1400m when swamped in the final stages but that was quite a good field and he will also appreciate the step up in trip. Visigoth is an interesting runner. He is a big son of Visionaire and ran some fair races against strong opposition in Cape Town during the summer. He has been gelded after one poor comeback run on the Highveld in March and his merit rating has dropped considerably, so he should be competitive, although he does return from an 82 day layoff. Those are the ones that make most appeal although the in-form Mighty Valdie should be considered and on best form Infamous Fox has a shout.

The previous race is an interesting MR 72 Handicap over 2400m and Psychic looks the one to side with. He has been making eye-catching late progress in both of his last two starts over 1800m and 2000m respectively. He was an overdue maiden winner over 2000m before that and beat Snorting Bull that day. The latter came out and won ever so easily over 2400m in his next start and last time out over 2000m finished second, giving Psychic 2kg and a 0,8 length beating in the process. Psychic is by Visionaire and is a half-brother to his stablemate Witchcraft, who won the Grade 3 Gold Circle Oaks over 2400m, so he should enjoy this step up in trip.

Tern Unstoned is a consistent sort who stays this trip. He has a nice stride and will be dangerous from his usual handy position. Wheel Of Time should also enjoy the step up in trip looking at his running style and pedigree. He is by Tapit out of a mare by July winner Ipi Tombe. He was unlucky last time out over 2000m when losing two lengths and then unable to find a clear run in the final stages until it was too late. However, he looked to have a bit in the tank when crossing the line 3,25 lengths back.

Oratorio gelding War Legend only just failed last time over 2600m. He did rally again when challenged, although the narrow winner Fortune Fella was a six-year-old who had not won for over a year. That was only War Legend’s ninth start so he could still improve and he might well enjoy the step down to 2400m. Gentleman Only is proven over this trip so could be dangerous with the up-and-coming 4kg claimer Luke Ferraris up. Collegiate is a lightly raced five-year-old gelding by Ideal World and is 1kg under sufferance but he is an outsider to consider as he has always looked to be a stayer. He looks to be inherently better than his form suggests.

By David Thiselton

The handicappers always face one of their most daunting tasks after the running of the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 classics as the merit rating changes dished out have a big impact on the Vodacom Durban July weights.

The Stuart Pettigrew-trained Surcharge was a deserved winner of the Grade 1 Daily News 2000. Throughout the season this talented Gimmethegreenlight colt has landed terrible draws in big races, yet he still managed to finish second in all three legs of the Triple Crown. It is testament to his class and laid back temperament that those races did not take a lot out of him. He at last landed a fair draw of five in the Daily News. Gunther Wrogemann duly managed to find cover soon after the off.

Surhcarge produced his usual strong finish to beat his classy Highveld contemporary Majestic Mambo by 0,75 lengths. The latter flew from last in the running. Cape Guineas winner Tap O’ Noth proved he stays this trip by finishing a one length third. The Cape Derby runner up and Daisy Guineas winner Do It Again was a 1,25 length fourth, half-a-length ahead of White River. The rule states that the line horse shall not be further back than fifth in a Grade 1 event, so the handicapper has a choice of using 104 merit-rated Majestic Mambo, either of the 110-rated pair Tap O’ Noth or Do It Again, or the 108 rated White River.

As Do It Again earned his rating in the Cape Derby over this trip he is almost certain to be the line horse. Surcharge will thus likely go up to roundabout 112 and Majestic mambo will go up to roundabout 111. Tap O’ Noth and Do It Again will probably remain untouched on 110 and White River might be raised one point to 109.

In the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 Oh Susanna off a 121 merit rating was a half-a-length winner from 108 merit-rated Fiorella, with 111 merit-rated Lady In Black a further 0,25 lengths back. However, Oh Susanna was having her first run since the Sun Met and was clearly below her best as she over raced in the initial stages. Lady In Black earned her merit rating when second to Oh Susanna in the Paddock Stakes over 1800m so is likely to be used as the line horse. Oh Susanna is likely to be left alone, but Fiorella could well be raised to 111. However, Miyabi Gold, rated just 85, could be given a hefty raise having finished just 1,5 lengths behind Lady In Black. Fifth-placed Roy’s Riviera’s merit rating of 96 could also be raised as she finished three lengths behind Lady in Black.

The handicappers also face a tricky decision in the rating of the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, a handicap, as the 94 merit rated winner Made To Conquer was a neck clear of Strathdon and there was then a yawning 6,75 length gap back to the 100 merit rated Mr Winsome and then 2,75 lengths back to the under sufferance 80 merit rated Silver De Lange. The maximum raise for a Grade 3 winner is ten points and five is the maximum for a second-placed horse. It would be no surprise to see the front two both raised by those maximum amounts.

Oh Susanna is the highest rated three-year-old in the July at present and the highest rated older horse is 118 merit-rated Coral Fever.

By David Thiselton

Paul Barrett and Paul Reeves believe they just might have found the good horse they have been looking for all these years. Certainly Helen’s Ideal could hardly have been more impressive on debut at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Despite losing valuable ground at the start of the TAB Telebet Maiden Juvenile Fillies, she was three lengths clear two furlongs out and came away in the closing stages to win by almost five with Donovan Dillon declaring: “She went down like a winner and she came back even better.”

Reeves, who has an increased hand of 14 two-year-olds this term, added: “It’s wonderful to have a filly like this in my yard. She is pure quality and very special.”

Barrett bought a half share in the Ideal World filly from breeder Peter de Beyer in a sponsor’s marquee after having a few drinks – not always the wisest preliminary – before the enormity of his mistake suddenly hit him. “I was under the impression I was buying a yearling but I then realised she was only a little foal. I thought ‘What have I done?’”

De Beyer softened the blow by insisting on naming her after Barrett’s amazing wife Helen who has bravely and repeatedly defied both cancer and medical opinion. “I’m due a good horse – I’ve had enough bad ones,” said her husband. “Now it looks as if I’ve got a real racehorse.”

What was billed, by this scribe and others, as Aldo Domeyer’s day proved expensive. He rode six favourites and was beaten on four of them including supposed certainty More Magic in the first. The 2-7 shot was one of only three to come up the stands side – according to penetrometer readings three per cent faster than the inside – and after that the jockeys avoided this part of the course as religiously as if it was infected by a plague.

Over 100mm of rain during the week made the course much softer than usual but Domeyer said: “I don’t think it made much difference to More Magic. She probably wants further but I know the winner was fancied a bit.”

That was Mr Green Street who made all at 10-1 under Craig Zackey to give Green Street Bloodstock its 50^th success in three years.

“This one was led through the ring unsold at the Emperors Palace Select in April last year,” Justin Vermaak recalled. “Chris Snaith came to me and asked if I would like him to buy the horse for us. He cost R100 000 which is just below our average.”

Andre Nel declared six, scratched three (including Vase who broke through the pens and bolted) and won with the other three to add to winners at Fairview and Greyville and underline that his soul-destroying virus is finally history.

The final leg of the Kenilworth treble was East Lynne, ridden by the talented Sandile Mbhele who also scored on the well-backed Victorious Captain for Vaughan Marshall and now has only four winners to go before losing his 4kg claim.

BLOB Sadly Ronnie Sheehan’s wife Jackie died on Friday night. She had not been well for quite some time.

By Michael Clower

Surcharge and Majestic Mambo are the two big movers in the Vodacom Durban July market after events at Greyville on Saturday.

Betting World, South Africa’s biggest bookmakers, yesterday slashed Daily News winner Surcharge from 25-1 to 9-1 while runner-up Majestic Mambo was cut even more dramatically – from 35-1 to 6-1 joint second favourite. Do It Again (fourth) was only beaten just over a length by the winner but has been marked out from 4-1 to 6-1.

Pack Leader (sixth) has gone out from 10-1 to 20-1 and Dark Moon Rising from 22-1 to 33-1. Woolavington winner Oh Susanna remains a 12-1 chance and African Night Sky stays favourite at an unchanged 3.75-1.

World Sports Betting has clipped African Night Sky from 5-1 to 4-1 clear favourite and eased Do It Again from 5-1 to 6-1, the same price as Majestic Mambo (from 40-1) while Surcharge has been cut from 33-1 to 8-1 with Oh Susanna unchanged on 12-1.

Not yet quoted is Made To Conquer who made it six wins from his last seven starts in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup but Jonathan Snaith said yesterday that he will be supplemented today, adding: “We have offered the ride to Jeff Lloyd. We are waiting for confirmation.”

Snaith repeated his previous advice to punters not to back Oh Susanna at the moment, explaining: “The owners have not made a decision and I would say that at this stage she is more unlikely to run than likely. There are better weighted horses in the race and 56kg is a hard ask for a three-year-old filly Also, as regards the Equus Horse of the Year award, she has won three Groups 1s so I believe she will be hard to beat in that.”

African Night Sky will be ridden by Grant van Niekerk for the second time when he tackles the Cup Trial at Greyville on Saturday and is 28-10 favourite with WSB for this 1 800m test. Van Niekerk also rides 2-1 favourite Snowdance in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge on the same card.

However the unbeaten Winter Guineas and Winter Classic winner Rainbow Bridge will not now be supplemented for the July and nor will he be stepped up to a mile and a half in the Winter Derby.

Eric Sands, explaining the change of plan on Saturday, said: “It was hard for Chris Gerber to make this decision but he and I had a long talk about things.

“I felt that running the horse in the July at this stage might cook his mind. He has had a sheltered life and had three starts in seven weeks. Although he is fine once I saddle him, he comes off the float sweating and last time he also raced like an immature horse.

“I am going to give him a working holiday – maybe even take him back to the farm – and in September I will probably put him in a sprint before going for the Matchem at Durbanville the following month. Should I decide that he doesn’t have enough pace for the Matchem I will find another route but he will be aimed at the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met.”

By Michael Clower

Seasoned rider Gunter Wrogemann is riding at the peak of his abilities, cracking his century of winners for the season at Greyville on Wednesday, but even he would admit that all the cards fell his way as perennial runner-up Surcharge got it all right in the in the Daily News 2000 at Greyville yesterday.

Runner-up in all three legs of the Highveld Triple Crown when he arrived at the door just after the bell rang for ‘time gentlemen please’, many pundits suggested that the short Greyville straight would find him out. It didn’t and his odds for next month’s Vodacom Durban July will be slashed by the time you read this this morning.

Paul Peter had a plan, and it nearly payed off, but it also played into the hands of Wrogemann and Surcharge as the pair sliced through the field to win smartly.

“We had a bit of luck in running. I got a clear run up the outside,” said Wrogemann.

“He’s been a pressure horse and has not had the best of draws but I feel for Piere (Strydom who missed the ride through injury) he doesn’t help you at all.”

An emotional Stuart Pettigrew labelled him, “the best horse he has ever trained and ever will train and he will be an even better horse as a four-year-old.”

Surcharge is currently fourth place on the provisional Vodacom Durban July log.

Brandon Lerena ensured that there was no repeat of the Woolavington crawl, run earlier and will have given Hong Kong viewers a taste of South Africa racing, and set good fractions aboard Alssakhra for Majestic Mambo to chase.

“I could have been a little closer,” said Callan Murray. A bit of an understatement considering that he turned for home last. “But the pace was a good one, we just couldn’t get there.”

“Every chance,” summed up Bernard Fayde’Herbe who set favourite Do It Again alight before the field even came off the false rail.

Fourth placed Tap O’ Noth saw out the trip but will miss the July. “Champions Cup”, said Vaughan Marshall.

Do It Again loomed dangerous for a few strides but came up empty over the final furlong leading one seasoned race watcher to comment, “It was a flat run. Believe me, you have to take notice of a second run after a lay-off.”

Do It Again may have been something of a disappointment and earlier Justin Snaith and all the connections were made to sweat bullets as Oh Susanna was made to work extraordinarily hard for her victory in the Woolavington 2000, a race she was expected to doddle.

A possible lack of match practice and a clever ride from Muzi Yeni on runner-up Fiorella who turned the race into sprint for home, almost saw the favourite undone.

Yeni slowed the pace to a crawl before turning the stretch run into a sprint and although Grant van Niekerk was quick to challenge, the diminutive Fiorella refused to go away. In a neck and neck duel, Fiorella tried hard to emulate her victory in the Daisy Guineas but Oh Susanna kept finding to ward off the challenge by a half-length – not what most expected.

“She did it the hard way,” commented a relieved Snaith.

“She looked beaten 200m out and probably needed a prep run. It was a tremendous effort on her part.”

Oh Susanna’s participation in the Vodacom Durban July is still up in the air and stable spokesperson Jono Snaith again warned that it was 50/50 whether she would take her chances. “We have been careful to warn the public that she is not certain to run – we don’t want them to ‘do’ their money.

“She doesn’t have anything left to prove and a decision will be taken by Gaynor (Rupert) and Drakenstein.”

An overseas campaign is not an option. “I can’t even get her to Cape Town,” quipped Justin, referring to African Horse Sickness and quarantine.

Lady In Black was a close-up third, at one stage threatening to pass all, but could just not close the deal.

The defeat of Do It Again put a damper on what would have been a memorable day for the Snaith yard after stable companions Made To Conquer and Strathdon fought a titanic struggle in the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, the two pulling many lengths clear of the opposition. Van Niekerk on Strathdon appeared to lose his compass as he leaned on Made To Conquer all the way up the straight but Richard Fourie didn’t panic and fended him off to win well in the end.

Made To Conquer will now take his place in the July and Strathdon the Gold Cup.

“He’s done all we have asked of him,” said Jono Snaith of Made To Conquer. “He’s won his last four starts and deserves his place. Strathdon’s our Gold Cup horse.”

By Andrew Harrison