It didn’t quite happen, the dream alive until the final stride, as Autumn Rain was touched off in a driving finish to the third at Scottsville yesterday. Owned by Hong Kong-based trainer David Ferraris, ridden by son Luke and trained by Grandfather Ormond, who was on course to saddle, Autumn Rain went down in the last jump to Washington Square ridden by Gareth Wright.

Autumn Rain was always travelling well under Ferraris from his outside draw and looked to have the race in the bag until Washington Square came out of the pack to challenge and give Andre Nel the first of two winners.

However, Nel was quick to give credit to his KZN satellite team of Byron Forster and Thomas Simpkins. “I didn’t train them,” he confessed modestly. While Washington Square scraped home, Silver Rose was far more convincing as the gelding sat handy under apprentice Serino Moodley and pulled away in the straight to win as he liked.

“I tried to keep him for Cape Town,” said Nel. “But I just couldn’t get him right so sent him up to KZN.”

Much was made of former Vodacom Durban July winners Legislates return to the race track in a barrier trial after a spell at stud. “He was getting one in three in foal,” said Snaith of the entire’s stud career. “That’s just not good enough for a commercial stallion but I am really glad that he is back in training.”

Legislate did little more than a solid grass gallop and finished off nicely ahead of affairs as was expected. “He’s still heavy,” comment Snaith. “I’m not sure where to from here. That was his first real piece of work since he’s been back and I don’t know whether I will have him ready in time for any of the big races.”

“The (Rising Sun) Challenge looks the right race but Snowdance will probably go that route. I’m not sure. We’ll just have to see how it goes.”

Apprentice Lyle Hewitson keeps batting them in at the top of the log and he added another victory to his growing list on Majestic Glory. Hewitson produced Paul Lafferty’s Australian-bred with a telling late run and burst clear of the chasing pack with short-heads separating the next six runners home.

“He’s good this kid. He doesn’t panic,” said Lafferty’s assistant Roy Waugh. This was Majestic Glory’s first crack at 1200m and he stayed it well in soft underfoot conditions.

Moodley was back for a second bite at the cherry as Arizona Sunset gave Kom Naidoo his first winner since moving to Ashburton earlier this money.

His Ashburton colleagues were to the fore in the second as they saddled the first four past the post. The Duncan Howells-trained favourite Beat It won well ahead of Fleek for Louis Goosen, Innocently Naughty for Naidoo and Pina Colada for Gary Rich.

Pure Bliss may have booked her place in the Gr1 Allan Robertson in a fortnight’s time after a smart victory in the card opener. “She’s a smart filly,” according to Glen Kotzen. “She may go for the Gr1 at the end of the month but it’s not set in stone.”

By Andrew Harrison

Snaith Racing plan to boost their already considerable Vodacom Durban July hand by supplementing the much improved Made To Conquer early next month.

The four-year-old has won five of his last six starts, most recently giving weight all round when beating Silva’s Bullet by three and a quarter lengths in a 1950m handicap at Scottsville at the beginning of the month.

Jono Snaith said yesterday: “We are going to take the easy route into the July with him and try to get in at or near bottom weight. He runs next in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup on June 2 and, if all goes according to plan in that, we will supplement him.”

Joey Ramsden continues to set the two-year-old pace in Cape Town and 10-3 shot Montego Bay’s success under Donovan Dillon in the first at Kenilworth yesterday was his 14th juvenile victory of the season. Candice Bass-Robinson (11) is the only other within sight. The Var colt’s win was – a relatively rare occurrence these days – gained in the famous Mayfair Speculators colours.

Ramsden said: “I have made it my policy to try to get a run into all the two-year-olds before they turn three as it gives us an idea where we stand with them for next season. We have fired with them like this for the last three years.

“We could struggle next season by not having many maidens but I am hoping that someone out there will replace them.”

Ramsden reckons there is more to come from Montego Bay, explaining: “Although he looks physically mature I think that is fooling us at the moment. When he turns those muscles into real muscles he will look like Anthony Joshua!”

By Michael Clower

The Vaal Classic meeting tomorrow starts with an interesting Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m and the Call To Combat filly White Book could beat the boys here.

In her last start over this trip she showed good pace and stayed all the way to the line. She now has pole position so can use her pace to get to the front and then use her resolve to stay in front under top jockey Marco van Rensburg. Pieces of Gold could be the main danger as he has been in the frame three times in six starts and has faced some fair sorts. He quickened well in the straight over 1000m last time on the Turffontein Inside track but his effort then petered out. Sherman Brown will likely be holding him up for as long as possible here from a wide draw.

Barahin is a R2,8 million purchase by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Silvano mare who won once and is a full-sister to a Grade 2-winning sprinter. He opened on debut at 5/4 and started 16/10 favourite but was not overly impressive, as he looked immature and was outpaced. However, he did stay on well and will be improving. The two first-timers Whitehaven and White Moon do not make huge appeal. The former is a R275,000 Var colt but his full-brother Vanuatu has not shone in three runs to date. White Moon is by Black Minnaloushe out of an Australian-bred Royal Academy one-time winner and is a half-brother to seven-time winner from 1400-1800m Stone Reeves. He will likely prefer further although he should be staying on.

The second race over 1200m could lie between Abelie and Anneka. The former showed pace over 1000m and stayed on. She is drawn well and it will be a question of whether she can keep Anneka at bay. A clue to Anneka’s chances will be in how White Book does in the first as the latter beat her last time. However, Anneka has quite a nice stride and has scope for improvement, so should be running on with expected improvement. Sweet Red is an interesting first-timer being by top Australian sire Snitzel out of a Listed winner who has won three times from 1200-1400m. Those three are the suggestions for the first leg of the Place Accumulator.

The first leg of the Pick 6 over 1450m could be fought out by the moderate sorts Mr Tinsel and Tommy The Builder, who are knocking on the door in this sort of ordinary maiden.

In the second leg, also over 1450m, Banana Republic ran a fair race in handicap company last time over 1400m and from another fair draw should stay on into the money and is the tip to win it too. The two-year-old Jailhouse Jazz was supported on debut over 1200m and ran a fair race. She is drawn well over a step up in trip she should enjoy. The first-timer Big Myth by Big Brown out is out of a one-time winning Elusive Quality daughter of SA champion three-year-old classic filly Mythical Play and wouldn’t have to be a star to feature here.

In the fifth race Pearl Of Bahrain has struck as one with some class and as she wears blinkers and is by Western Winter the step down to this mile trip should be ideal and she has a fair draw. Purdey and Glamarous Scandal are fancied to be the main dangers.

In the sixth over 1200m Fragrant Miss is chosen to be the meeting banker. She has always struck as having talent but the yard got her trip wrong, not surprisingly, a she struck as one who would need further than sprints. However, she has proved best at sprints and duly won shortly after being dropped back in trip. Off a mere 64 merit rating she can follow up first time out the maidens, although her wide draw of nine is a concern.

The seventh is a MR 96 Handicap over 1000m and Barrack Street looks to have it all in his favour over his favourite 1000m trip off a merit rating which has been lowered three points and jumping from a fair draw. However, these sprint handicaps are always wide open and the suggestion is to go as wide as possible.

The Pick 6 and PA are rounded off by another sprint handicap over 1000m, a MR 72, and Dragoon could get it right if jumping on terms as he is off a competitive mark and Callan Murray knows him well. The hard-knocking Supanova looks the main threat. The pair who are having their first runs out of the maidens and return from layoffs, Keyboogie and Sir Spencer, can’t be ignored. He’s Great warrants consideration too, although he need to bounce back to his best.

By David Thiselton

It seldom happens that a barrier trial attracts more attention than the racing its self but the presence of former Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate in today’s barrier trial at Scottsville should have pundits lining the paddock fence.

Unfortunately, former Daily News 2000 winner Rabada, who was also due to make an appearance after a nearly two-year absence, has been scratched after pulling up lame at home.

Legislate proved infertile at stud hence his reappearance on the race track and there is plenty of big racing and lucrative stakes to be had ahead this Champions Season. While a barrier trial is hardly a definitive indication of a horse’s fitness, they are still public gallops and watchers can make of them what they will.

Another first on the day, and possibly a world first, will see a horse trained by Ormond Ferraris, owned by his son David and ridden by grandson Luke line up in the third. Autumn Rain comes off some fairly useful Highveld form and, after a slow start where he took 26 rides to get off the mark, young Luke has been in good form, winning six races in the past month, his first two winners coming courtesy of grandfather Ormond.

The Scottsville turf has been hallowed ground over the past couple of months, a combination of weather and programming, leaving the surface relatively unscathed and trainers have lined their horses up in droves to take advantage with the majority of the eight races attracting maximum fields that should keep punters honest.

Autumn Rain is around 11-2 for the opening leg of the Pick 6 but he will need to get past ruling favourite Bronzed. Glen Kotzen’s colt make marked improvement at his second outing in a Juvenile Plate, coming from way back in heavy going to finish a length off the winner Immortelle.

Bronzed is on offer around 18-10 by Track And Ball and could spoil the Ferraris party.

Pau Lafferty sends out Majestic Glory in the opening leg of the Pick 6 and his Australian-bred finished out of the money for the first time when tried on the Greyville poly track last time out where he was up with the pace throughout but caught for a finish to run just over a length back to Fillipo. He steps up in trip and down in class and should have a big say.

Top weight, On That Boulevard, has his first outing for Tony Rivalland but had shown plenty of promise under Charles Laird before he retired and handed in his trainer’s licence. On That Boulevard jumped from a maiden win to winning in a tough handicap at just his third outing and with Ferraris taking 4kg off his back he could prove the biggest threat to Majestic Glory although this is a wide-open affair.

Gary Rich has done an outstanding job getting the quirky Don Pierro to the race course, let alone win as he did last time out. The form of that race has not worked out that well, but Don Pierro is lightly raced and has ability so could come up trumps at decent odds in the fifth, another difficult handicap where the dangers are many.

Top weight Cat’s Legacy has dropped five pounds in the ratings and is also down a division so in spite of lumping top weight he looks a serious threat to the selection. Grandfather and grandson team up with Querari Falcon that has been something of a disappointment after promising much in his early career. That said, although he only has two wins to his credit, he has consistent form and is never far back. He is a must inclusion in all exotic bets.

By Andrew Harrison

A massive entry of 106 sprinting thoroughbreds, including the first three past the post in the recent Grade 1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein, have been entered for the country’s biggest and most prestigious meeting for speed horses that features four Grade 1 events over 1 200m.

It will all happen at the Tsogo Sun Sprint Racemeeting at Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday, May 26, where R3,25-million in stakes will be up for grabs for the four races that form the official Jackpot at the meeting.

Headed by the R1-million Tsogo Sun Sprint, the programme includes the R750 000 South African Fillies Sprint for fillies and mares at weight-for-age and the two R750 000 juvenile events at level weights, the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion which is open to all two-year-olds and the Allan Roberston Championship which is restricted to the young fillies.

In the Tsogo Sun Sprint three fillies are among 33 entries where the Joey Ramsden-trained Western Winter gelding Attenborough will likely top the early betting after his impressive victory in the Computaform Sprint where he came on late under Richard Fourie to win by a length at an easy-to-back price of 16-1. The runner up in that race, Pinnacle Peak from the Dorrie Sham stable and Attenborough’s stable mate Speedpoint that finished third are also among the entries along with In Full Flight Handicap winner Bold Respect, the unlucky and often slow away Trip To Heaven, and others such as Sir Frenchie, Naafer, Sunset Eyes, Myfunnyvalentine, Always In Charge, Black Cat Back and Bishops Bounty.

Myfunnyvalentine has also been entered for the SA Fillies Sprint along with Sommerlied, Live Life that finished third in the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship as well as Neptune’s Rain and Made In Hollywood that filled the first two places in the Strelitzia Stakes. Green Plains won the Camelot beating Myfunnyvalentine and Magical Wonderland is one of the many three-year-olds in the entries that won the Sceptre Stakes at Kenilworth in January.

Trainer Dennis Drier, who has an outstanding record in the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion, has nominated three horses for the juvenile race – Immortelle, Crown And Country and Goliath Heron – in a bid to continue his domination of the race but faces some top-performing juveniles like SA Nursery winner William The Silent and runners-up Cirillo and Chimichuri Run. Cue The Music, Van Halen and Traces, first three past the post in the Godolphin Barb, are also among the entries.

The Allan Robertson Championship is not to be outdone in terms of a quality entry with the 22 fillies including the SA Fillies Nursery winner Ronnie’s Candy and runner-up Ghaalla along with top Strelitzia Stakes performers Inverroche, Canukeepitsecret, Petra and Star Flyer.

The Tsogo Sun Sprint meeting is the biggest held in the KwaZulu-Natal Capital and with the best sprinters in the country in thundering action it is a meeting that must not be missed.

By Richard McMillan.

SCOTTSVILLE – Saturday 26 May 2018

R 750,000    1200m    

SOUTH AFRICAN FILLIES SPRINT (Grade 1)

For Fillies and Mares at Weight-For-Age

WFA: 2yrs-9.5kgs 3yrs-1.5kgs

11 LIVE LIFE          (4F) 60.0 115   Candice Bass-Robin

12 THE SECRET IS OUT  (4F) 60.0 112 B Vaughan Marshall

15 EXQUISITE TOUCH    (4F) 60.0 109   Sean Tarry

4 SOMMERLIED         (4F) 60.0 108   Dennis Drier

2 GREEN PEPPER       (4F) 60.0 107   J A Janse van Vuur

6 JO’S BOND          (5M) 60.0 107   Justin Snaith

3 GIMME SIX          (4F) 60.0 106   Justin Snaith

14 MYFUNNYVALENTINE   (4F) 60.0  97   Sean Tarry

18 ANIME              (4F) 60.0  91   Dennis Drier

20 HOIST THE MAST     (5M) 60.0  90   Andre Nel

21 MAGICAL WONDERLAND (3F) 58.5 110   Candice Bass-Robin

7 NEPTUNE’S RAIN     (3F) 58.5 110   Duncan Howells

19 GREEN PLAINS       (3F) 58.5 108   Sean Tarry

8 ROSE IN BLOOM      (3F) 58.5 106   Joey Ramsden

5 TOO PHAT TO FLY    (3F) 58.5 105   Glen Kotzen

1 CASUAL DIAMOND     (3F) 58.5 102   Justin Snaith

16 PRINCESS PEACH     (3F) 58.5 101   Glen Kotzen

10 STATUTE            (3F) 58.5  98   Michael Roberts

17 MADE IN HOLLYWOOD  (3F) 58.5  97   Joey Ramsden

9 CALL TO ACCOUNT    (3F) 58.5  96   Joey Ramsden

13 WINTER’S FORGE     (3F) 58.5  96   Stanley Ferreira

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