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

The Vaal Inside track stages a nine race meeting tomorrow and in the highest rated race, a MR86 Handicap over 1400m, the Candice Dawson-trained three-year-old Kahal gelding D’Arrivee could win first time out of the maidens.

Purple Diamond (right)

This strapping bay won his maiden in eye-catching style over this trip in his first run after gelding. He didn’t beat much and has duly been given a 77 merit rating, which he looks capable of winning off with expected improvement. He has been chosen as a banker for the Pick 6, but this is only due to it being a competitive card and one has to be found somewhere. Dan The Lad has shown a good turn of foot before and this is likely his ideal trip, so he can be included in the Jackpot. He has drawn low, which is usually favourable over this course and distance, and he also has a first-time tongue tie on. Huyssteen has always been well regarded and looked set to start fulfilling his potential after a good effort from a wide draw over 1500m around the turn in March.

However, he was then disappointing again last time. He can be given another chance down the straight here, as his only win in six career starts was over this trip and it remains the only time he has ever raced down the straight. Danza has always been best suited to this trip. His win last time was only his second career victory in 26 starts, so he is hard to win with. However, he has only been unplaced six times and should give another good account of himself. Purple Diamond is a Grade 2 winner over this trip and has been facing much stronger fields. He has dropped to an 89 merit rating and is an interesting contender. Tokyo Drift disappointed last time but before that had shown marked improvement over this trip with blinkers on. He finished a short-head behind Danza over this trip the last time they met but if apprentice claims are included he is 1kg worse off. Manitoba, Till Dawn and Nephrite are three others to consider in a tricky event.

The last race over 1700m is an interesting one as it sees Lady Val having her third run on the Highveld. She was well regarded by her original trainer, the now retired James Goodman, and was staying on well in first-time blinkers last time over this trip. She now has a plum draw under the same 1,5kg claimer and has been dropped two points, so has a fine chance.

In race five over 1000m the topweight Clairemorris has a fine form chance. She went close over this course and distance in her penultimate start and last time was doing good work late from a wide draw on the Turffontein Inside track. She is two points higher than her penultimate start and also has a high draw, which by trends is not the right side to be. However, she still looks the one to beat in a typically open fillies and mares sprint handicap.

By David Thiselton

The Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m is one of the highlights of the SA Champions Season and will see eight top class horses going to post on Saturday.

Dual Grade 1-winner this season over this trip, the three-year-old Snowdance, will have a fine chance. Trainer Justin Snaith was concerned about her before her Champions Season pipe opener in the Daisy Fillies Guineas. He said she had returned from a rest “almost too well” and needed the gallop she was given to “burn off” some of that pent up energy. After that gallop he had said that if she won the Daisy Fillies Guineas the boys had “better watch out” in the Gold Challenge as he knew she would not be at her peak against the fillies. She was duly only just touched off by Fiorella after going like the clappers in the front. She will have come on a lot from that race and this time will likely be more relaxed out in front meaning her renowned kick will be more telling.

Snowdance

Captain America is the defending champion and should go close. He is a big horse but has run well fresh before. From draw four he might have a bit of a problem getting into his favourite box seat. Snowdance, who is drawn three, is likely to lead and three-year-old Undercover Agent, drawn two, is thus in the ideal position to slot in behind her as he also likes to be handy. Captain America thus might have to run one wide outside of his younger stablemate. However, he has relaxed well as he has gotten older so it should not be too much of a problem. Both he and Undercover Agent can turn it on in the straight and will be big players.

The third Brett Crawford-trained horse, Sail South, is at his best when dropped out as he is capable of a blistering finish. He comes off a reasonable fourth place pipe-opening run in the Drill Hall.

Gold Standard is said to be moving better than he has the whole season but is still likely to need the run against more tuned up rivals. He showed himself top class when finishing a narrow second in the Cape Guineas as a three-year-old but he is yet to recapture that form after returning from a joint chip operation.

Roy Had Enough’s best form has been over course and distance and he is capable of running on strongly from off the pace. He has a better draw than he has been having and is a dark horse, although this is much tougher opposition than he has beaten here.

Trip To Heaven lost this race on objection two years ago when showing an exceptional turn of foot before the distance just got to him in the closing stages. However, it appears that his best days are behind him.

Copper Force showed in the Queen’s Plate what he can do when the pace is on, producing a flying finish to be narrowly beaten and he has won a Listed race over this course and distance before.

By David Thiselton