Racing switches to the winter course for the Highlands Stud Winter Classic meeting at Kenilworth on Saturday and as a result Eric Sands has been reappraising tactics for probable favourite Rainbow Bridge who is drawn nine out of ten.

The most noticeable aspect of the switch from the summer course is that the straight is reduced from three furlongs to two and Sands said: “It means he is going to have to make his move earlier than he did in the Winter Guineas. If the Classic was run the same way he wouldn’t get there in time over this course.

Eric Sands (hamishNIVENPhotography)

“In any case I don’t want to teach him to race from the back as, if you do that, you can end up with the sort of horse who you are always wondering whether he is going to get there.”

With Aldo Domeyer on Grade 1 duty at Scottsville Candice Bass-Robinson is bringing down Stuart Randolph for Durban July candidate Rocket Countdown and four other rides together with Ryan Munger whose six mounts for the stable include Pacific Chestnut.

Joey Ramsden is expecting an improved showing from Ancestry who has just under two lengths to find with the favourite and is a kilo better.

He said: “I thought he was more forward than he was in the Winter Guineas but he proved only 80% ready. I was very impressed with Eric’s horse that day but there is plenty of improvement in Ancestry while my other runner Morning Catch worked well on the course last Saturday morning.”

Fresnaye, who ran below par when taking on the colts in the Winter Guineas, is switched back to her own sex in the Stormsvlei Mile and Richard Fourie has been snapped up.

Ramsden said: “She had a mucky trach wash after that last run but she worked well when we took her to the course on Saturday.”

Justin Snaith, who entered 15 for the Overarching Maiden Juvenile, has whittled the issue down to four with Callan Murray on Kiss Me Twice.

By Michael Clower

Justin Snaith said his Vodacom Durban July contenders Elusive Silva, Platinum Prince and African Night Sky could not have pulled up better than they have after their heroics at Greyville on Saturday.

He is also looking forward to Saturday’s Festival Of Speed meeting at Scottsville.

Snaith believes his Grade 2 WSB 1900 winner Elusive Silva has a shout in the July and said about the five-year-old Silvano gelding, “He is not one of the best horses in the race but has as much chance as any of the rest. He could be put on the second tier, whereas there are some horses who have no chance. He won the Winter Derby in an absolute canter, so 2200m is probably his best distance. He is not weighted out of it and he loves Greyville. So he has more going for him than not. if I can get him to the course in good condition on the day it would be no surprise to see him run in the first four.”

Elusive Silva

Elusive Silva has been given a four point raise to a new merit rating of 111 and is rated a 15/1 shot for the July by 1900 sponsor World Sports Betting.

Platinum Prince was most unlucky. He came from last and his long stride was putting him into contention when a gap closed on him, which was not altogether surprising as there was no false rail. When he got through he stayed on strongly and was just pipped for third by the equally unlucky Matador Man. Snaith said, “He would have gone very close.”

The Silvano gelding did not appear on the first July log so will have to have another race to qualify. Snaith said he would go for the Cup Trial on June 9.

Snaith said unplaced Strathdon had suffered a rough race on Saturday, which was unfortunate as he had been hoping for a positive run. However, he said he would be fine and would be going the stayers route.

His other runner in the 1900 was Captain Splendid, who ran ninth and will also be going the stayers route.

The best July trial of all on Saturday was put up by Snaith’s African Night Sky, who sliced through the field from the back in a Pinnacle event but was hampered in the process. He has duly gone to the top of the July betting boards.

Snaith said, “It was an unbelievable prep, he should never have lost. He was hit on the hindquarters and was knocked sideways, he looked like he was one of the horses in my polo game on Sunday. But he come out 100% sound and will also run in the Cup Trial.”

Star Express won the Pinnacle event and Snaith said her July participation would be discussed with the connections. He said, “She is a very good filly. Every now and then her feet give her trouble but she has run second in the Majorca twice and is a genuine Group 1 filly.”

Snaith will have two runners in Saturday’s Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville. He said CTS 1200 runner up Kasimir was “flying” at home. He also expected a good run from Sir Frenchie, who is capable of a strong finish and whom he felt had “no chance” last time out when carrying a big weight but would now go in with a nice galloping weight.

He felt the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint was weaker than usual and believed his runners Gimme Six, Jo’s Bond and Casual Diamond would all run well.

By David Thiselton

Featured Image: Roy Had Enough (Candiese Marnewick)

Tsogo Sun raceday at Scottsville in Pietermaritzburg this coming weekend confirmed its status as the sprinting capital of South Africa when full fields of 16 runners plus reserves were carded for the four Grade 1 races over 1 200m that make the meeting unique on the country’s racing calendar.

With total feature race stakes of R3.25-million on offer for the four races, every top sprinting thoroughbred in the country is set to face the starter with the R1-million, Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint field including the first three horses past the post in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein recently.

Attenborough

Joey Ramsden’s speedsters Attenborough and Speedpoint filled first and third places in that 1 000m race with Dorrie Sham’s Pinnacle Peak sandwiched between them and they are set to renew their battle over the testing Scottsville course where they will be joined by, among others, the winner and runner-up in the In Full Flight Handicap Bold Respect and Sunset Eyes from the in-form Brett Crawford stable.

Poinsettia Stakes winner Sommerlied from the Dennis Drier stable along with the first three past the post in the recent Camelot at Turffontein, Green Plains, Myfunnyvalentine and Winter’s Forge, are among the acceptors for the R750 000, Grade 1 South African Fillies Sprint and the two Grade 1 races for juveniles, the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion and Allan Robertson Championship, have highly competitive fields featuring the leading two-year-olds from around the country.

Dennis Drier has accepted with his three entries – Crown And Country, Goliath Heron and Immortelle – in his bid to win the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion for the eighth time but will face serious opposition from William The Silent, Cirillo and Chimichuri Run that filled the first three places in the SA Nursery at Turffontein and the trifecta of runners from the Godolphin Barb – Cue The Music, Van Halen and Traces that led his colt Goliath Heron home on the day.

In the Allan Robertson Championship, the outcome of the race is another difficult to predict as the field includes the winner and runner-up in the SA Fillies Nursery at Turffontein, Ronnie’s Candy and Ghalla as well as the first three past the post in the Strelitzia Stakes, Inverroche, Canukepitsecret and Petra.

The four races form the official Jackpot at the meeting and with large exotic bet pools on the day, the competitiveness of the feature events could result in large payouts for successful punters.

By Richard McMillan.

Punters could get off to a good start at the Vaal Outside track meeting tomorrow, which has nine races in all, as the well-bred Saints Alive looks to have a fine chance in the first.

This Elusive Fort filly is a full-sister to the three-times Grade 1 runner up Safe Harbour and caught the eye staying on strongly with long strides on debut over 1200m to finish a narrow second despite having lost two lengths at the start. She should appreciate the step up to 1400m in this Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies. However, she won’t have it easy as the Trippi filly Railtrip also looks a decent sort. She is a half-sister to SA Derby winner Hero’s Honour so will also appreciate the step up to 1400m. Last time out she was drawn on the wrong side on the Vaal Inside track over 1200m and after showing good pace stayed on strongly to only just fail. Saints Alive is given the vote as she is drawn close to the outside rail, which is usually the right side to be on at this course.

Alex The Great (JC Photographics)

Punters could accumulate more in the next race through Rocky Night. He is by speed influence Seventh Rock but is out of an In The Wings mare and is also a rangy sort, so he will likely appreciate the step up to 1400m in this Maiden Juvenile Plate. Furthermore, looks to have plenty of scope too. He is drawn 16, another point in his favour. It is an interesting race as there are quite a few others who make some appeal, including Drop Kick, Electromagnetic, Forries At Five, My Boy Calois, Tequila Man and the first-timers Tarzan and Latin Opus, but Rocky Night is the selection.

The third race over 1200m won’t take a lot of winning and the first-timer Risingofthenorth is the selection being by the promising sire Pomodoro out of the twice Grade 3 runner up sprinter Mary Stuart, who is by Black Minnaloushe. King Of The Delta has attracted betting support before and having finished strongly over this trip last time he should go close again from a favourable high draw. Her looks to be the main danger.

In the fourth race over 1200m the well-named Sally Called made a decent debut and is chosen to be a Pick 6 banker, but only due to the first-timer rule. Hot Chocolate and Laduree are well-bred first-timers who could upset her. The former is by Oratorio out of the Silvano Grade 2-winning sprinter Mocachino and the latter by Var is a full-sister to 94 merit rated sprinter Vous Et Var.

The handicaps then start so it gets tougher.

In the fifth race over 1200m Alex The Great has always been well regarded but has been disappointing. However, he has now dropped to a competitive merit rating and can make his presence felt from quite a high draw of 12. Cannes is an eight-year-old but still has pace and he is down to a competitive merit rating and drawn well over a course and distance he enjoys. Ashley Fortune is doing well with her horses which have been brought up from the Cape and if Mount Keith reproduces his Cape Town form he will be right there. Silver King can’t be ignored for those wishing to go wider as he beat Cannes last time they met and Snow In Seattle has been in fine form too.

Race six over 1000m sees a clash between two promising sorts in Sirtain and Copper Jay. The former’s only defeat in three starts since blinkers were applied was when he was changing legs last time before being narrowly beaten into second. He can resume winning ways if bouncing back to his best. Copper Jay is 1kg better off with Sirtain for a 0,3 length beating in the aforementioned race and has caught the eye before as one with some potential.

In the next over 1400m Bockscar was a bit outpaced over 1200m last time but flew up to win going away and he can follow up off just a four point higher mark. He could be a banker consideration, but beyond him the race is wide open.

The chief contenders in the eighth over 1400m are Dawn Flight, Inthepurplerain and Pretty Popular. Dawn Flight looks better than her merit rating and proved effective last time over this trip, although her low draw might be tricky. Inthepurplerain has been facing stronger without being disgraced and will go close. Pretty Popular has improved since a tongue tie was applied and is drawn on the right side.

The last race over 1400m Quebec Queen has won three times in her last four starts and if maintaining form can be involved again off a four point higher mark, although not too much can be read into her beating the promising Make Me Happy last time as the latter was drawn on the wrong side. Some Song was unlucky when beginning to move up well in that same race so the bare result can be ignored and she has a big shout here. Snow Path, All I Got and Chartwell make most appeal of the rest.

By David Thiselton