Neptune’s Rain sounded a warning for the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint to be run at Scottsville next month as she turned in a smart performance in the KwaZulu-Natal Stakes (Listed) at Greyville yesterday.

The switch from turf to poly after Scottsville’s Sunday meeting was moved to Greyville will have turned some of the expected form upside down and it was the case for a few.

Writing on his website, Duncan Howells was of the opinion that Neptune’s Rain may just need the outing and that five furlongs on the poly would be way too short and sharp for her. In hindsight it may have been a wrong call as the diminutive but quick Hashtag Strat was turned loose from the jump and had the field off the bit inside the first furlong with stable companion Captain’s Girl in close attendance.

Neptune’s Rain

Lacking early speed, Anton Marcus was rousing Neptune’s Rain along in the rear-guard and was still scrubbing hard at the top of the straight. But the killer pace had taken it’s toll as the opposition fell away

At this stage Captain’s Girl had relegated Hashtag Strat to the also-ran brigade and even fooled the on-course photographers who had her in their viewfinders as the most likely winner and missed the winning shot completely.

They were not to blame as once Neptune’s Rain cleared the traffic she powered home on the outside to win going away with Captain’s Girl game on the inside.

Favourite Jo’s Bond was prominent early but failed to fire when it counted.

Billy Silver, having his second run back after a rather disappointing Cape sojourn for Dennis Bosch, started favourite for the sixth and in spite of going down in the last stride, he is one for the notebook.

Richard Fourie pressed forward from his outside draw to take the lead before the field hit the turn and looked to have the race in the bag with a furlong to run. But the Greyville poly is deceptive and horses that make an early dash are often swallowed inside the last 100m by the chasing pack.

This was not the pack but Filippo, under an inspired ride by Gunter Wrogemann and Yogas Govender declaring blinkers for the first time, snaffled Billy Silver in the last jump.

Earlier, Bosch had teamed up with Marcus to land the odds on the well-backed Laat Lammetjie

It was an afternoon for Ashburton-based trainers with Shane Humby saddling Elsa Of Arendelle to victory off a smart barrier trial in the second, denying the Howells-trained favourite Holy Flame.

Lowan Denysschen sent out outsider Piaget Prince for the third and it was the Howells/Goosen show in the KwaZulu-Natal Stakes.

Michael Roberts rounded off the meeting with a double with Viento and Pamas doing it for the yard.

By Andrew Harrison

The Vaal stages a nine race meeting on Thursday and Speedpoint looks to be the one to side with in the highest rated race, a MR 95 handicap over 1000m.

This Joey Ramsden-trained Var colt’s nemesis down in Cape Town is the outstanding sprinter Dutch Phillip and the latter would likely doddle this race. Speedpoint hasn’t run since moving up well and finding no extra in the CTS 1200, before finishing a decent fifth. That race suggested he would prefer 1000m and he can get away with it running fresh over this trip. He should outclass the field. All Night Flight loves this course and distance having finished in the frame here eight times out of 13 starts. Furthermore, he has landed a plum stand-side draw and has dropped to an attractive merit rating.

Sporting Monarch has plenty of speed and has also dropped to a competitive mark. Jockey Craig Zackey knows him well and he could present good value for a place. Greasepaint is seven years old but is has been close up to some good sorts in his last few starts so is not slowing down. Unfortunately he has a low draw which could be against him. Brigtnumberten is a much improved sort who has not been disgraced in features in his last two starts. He is drawn one but might be able to overcome it if necessary as he possesses good early pace. Marmook has shown signs of ability and can’t be ignored after a short layoff. Seven Lives beat Brigtnumberten on the same terms last time and can also place. Whorly Whorly is another who is capable of placing.

Dutch Philip (Liesl King)

In the eighth race over 1600m Topweight Trading Profit won well the last time he ran over this course and distance and the 4kg claim of Dylan Lerena nullifies the maximum eight point raise he was given so he looks the one to side with.

In the last race Keanan’s Rock could go in for the back in form Sean Tarry yard. This big gelding by Seventh Rock has been seen to stay on well from distances of 1200m up to 1500m so he should relish this 1600m trip. He has a favourable high draw and looks to be coming into his own. Bush Pilot has always struck as a decent type and he showed a glimpse of that last time when winning easily over this course and distance. He was given a five point raise but could have now turned the corner and if reproducing his best will be a big threat from a plum stand-side draw.

Nawaasi could tentatively be made a PA banker in race three, but the risk averse should consider one or two others. The Var filly was backed into 9/10 on debut and was squeezed and then scalped so had excuses for a disappointing sixth place. However, she did not create the impression of being a world beater and she has a potentially tricky low draw here. Milesend looks to have a fair formline but also has a low draw. Fire Side should improve on her promising debut being a Lucky Houdalakis-trained daughter of Ideal World.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is also tricky. Best Kept Secret has been disappointing considering she is exceptionally well bred and cost R5,25 million. However, she has not been disgraced in her last two starts in features and has an easier task back in a handicap, especially considering the handicapper has lowered her two points. She is drawn in the right side and has a chance but others must be included with Twelve Oaks and Tammany Hall being the most fancied of them.

In the next leg the topweight Colour Of Light is a banker possibility as she looks to have some class and could still be ahead of the handicapper. However, beyond her it is quite open.

In the seventh race the topweight is also the choice, Great Shaka, as he is ultra consistent and it is not an inspiring field. Smoke, a half-sister to Sporting Monarch, has caught the eye and starts off handicapping on a reasonable mark but has a tricky low draw.

By David Thiselton

Brett Crawford and the owners of Whisky Baron have abandoned rich Hong Kong ambitions for last year’s Sun Met winner and the five-year-old may now join William Haggas at Newmarket.

Crawford said yesterday: “Whisky Baron wasn’t doing well so I didn’t see much point in sending him to Hong Kong (for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup on April 29). He is now in quarantine in Dubai – he has to do three weeks there – and then he goes back to Newmarket where he may join William Haggas to race there.

“I’m obviously disappointed but it’s not easy for him travelling all the time and we want to do what is best for the horse.”

Whisky Baron (Liesl King)

Haggas, whose wife is a daughter of the legendary Lester Piggott, has become one of the most fashionable and sought-after trainers in England in recent years. He is also a regular visitor to South Africa during the Cape season.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who won the Fillies Guineas on Snowdance at Kenilworth in December but was replaced by Grant van Nierkerk when he couldn’t do the weight in the Klawervlei Majorca, will be back on her in the Daisy Fillies Guineas at Greyville on May 4.

Snaith Racing has also declared Sun Met winner Oh Susanna for the Daisy Fillies as well as for the Daisy Guineas on the same card but apparently she is far from certain to run.

Jonathan Snaith said yesterday: “If she does run that day it will be against the colts but we might not run her at all.”

The stable would like to give her an outing before the Woolavington on June 2 but there is no suitable preliminary (Jonathan: “That’s the problem”).  Callan Murray has been booked for the Clinton Binda-trained Premier Show in the Daisy Guineas and Raymond Danielson for Johan Janse van Vuuren’s Mardi Gras while Fayd’Herbe rides Cape Derby runner-up Do It Again for the Snaiths. Van Niekerk will partner stable companion Copper Force – beaten less than half a length by Legal Eagle in the Queen’s Plate – in the Independent on Saturday Drill Hall Stakes.

Brave Move will step up to feature-race company after making it four in a row with a gutsy performance in the TAB Telebet Handicap at Durbanville yesterday despite some spirited opposition. First Sandile Mbhele tried to slip the field on lightweight Philae and then Van Niekerk launched second favourite Intothelimelight with a determined final furlong bid. Brave Move’s response was simply to quicken again.

Aldo Domeyer was understandably impressed, saying: “She had every opportunity to get beat but when the other filly came at me she found more.”

Adam Marcus was even more thrilled and said: “This horse has the X factor. Giving away the weight she did to all except Epona and then being able to kick away was special. She will only have two more runs during the winter – the Ladies Mile and the Final Fling.”

Mike Stewart – “It’s not easy with a small string and I only have 35 horses” – doubled up with Silver Streamer and all-the-way scorer Count Rosberg who earned more than enough to have an apparently badly-needed wind operation.

By Michael Clower

Washed out a fortnight ago and postponed again after the first race at Scottsville on Sunday because of a patch of uneven going due to inclement weather, the KwaZulu-Natal Stakes (Listed) meeting appears jinxed.

The balance of Sunday’s nine-race card was rescheduled to Scottsville Wednesday, April 18, but after a track inspection yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, April 17, a decision was taken to move the meeting to the Greyville poly track. The Greyville meeting scheduled for Wednesday has been moved to Friday night.

Gold Circle Racing Executive, Raf Sheik, said the Scottsville track had not dried out sufficiently. “The panel decided that rather than do irreparable damage to the turf on the eve of Champions Season, it was agreed by the majority of the inspection panel that the meeting should be moved to the poly track.”

Punters should take note of the change of surface that will result in many scratchings as the poly track can only accommodate 12 runners. There are also revised starting times, the first race off at 12.50pm. The exotic bets remain as carded but because of the change of surface, all bets struck on Sunday’s Scottsville meeting will be refunded.

At the time of writing, not all trainers had been informed of the switch of surface so some runners mentioned in this article may be withdrawn.

Statute will make her poly debut if Michael Roberts lets her take her chances but the switch of surface and the 1000m my be on the sharp side for the younger sister of Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate and although Statute appears to be a sprinter at this stage of her career, both of her defeats have come around the Greyville turn .

Anyway, Michael Roberts will know exactly where he stands with the filly come evening.

Statute is up against some seriously quick opposition that includes Captain’s Girl, Jo’s Bond and Neptune’s Rain amongst others.

Louis Goosen saddles three quick fillies in Captain’s Girl, Effortless Reward and Hashtag Strat. Best of the trio could prove to be Captain’s Girl in spite of finishing behind Effortless Reward last time out. She has had one outing on the poly over the distance and was only run out if it late, so she should handle the switch of surface. In her race behind Effortless Reward, she was the stable elect but blew her chances when getting upset at the start.

She put up a smart piece of work at Ashburton on Monday so certainly looks competitive.

Neptune’s Rain is the highest rated filly in the race but this five furlongs may be on the sharp side given that she makes her poly debut as confirmed by Duncan Howells. “She is not well weighted and she would prefer 1200m.”

Stable companion Lunar Rush seldom runs a bad race but would also prefer an extra furlong or two although the poly holds no fears for her.

Last year’s winner Jo’s Bond may prove to be a better proposition. Justin Snaith’s filly has been winless since that victory but has been up against some smart opposition. She is quick and from her inside draw is a must inclusion in all bets.

Vision To Kill spiked a temperature so has been scratched but others in with winning chances are Effortless Reward, who found her best form last time out but would probably have prefered the soft ground at Scottsville, while Sommerlied is far better than her recent Cape form. The diminutive Hashtag Strat is lightning quick and although drawn wide she will be a factor on the poly.

After winning his first two in facile fashion, Billy Silver was sent to the Cape to take his chances in the CTS $500 000 but he never made the field after finishing down the field in the Cape Classic.

Both Cape starts were well below what was expected but he trialled well on the poly, beating home My Pal Al on his return, and should make a bold bid in the sixth. He was doing his best work late behind the rejuvenated Hack Green last Sunday week and that run should have brought him along. The progressive Majestic Glory could give him a go.

“He’s a smart horse and working very well at home,” said Paul Lafferty. “He’s improving all the time.”

Tottenham Hotspur got a bloody nose from Manchester City on Sunday but avid Spurs supporter Lafferty sends out Coys in the eighth. “We are a little worse off with the Kannemeyer horse (Pure Logic) because we have won since, so it will be a tough ask but he is in a good space.”

By Andrew Harrison

Majestic Mambo has come out of the nasty incident in the SA Classic on April 7 “100 percent” and is back in full work, but the Paul Peter yard are not sure yet whether he will line up in the SA Derby or the Premier’s Champions Challenge on May 5 at Turffontein.

The incident led to a horrific fall for SA Champion Jockey Anthony Delpech, who is recuperating in hospital after surgery to his neck.

Majestic Mambo would have had a good chance of winning the race, such was the manner in which he was scything between runners from last before almost being brought down when a gap closed at about the 350m mark.

However, the Peter yard were philosophical.

They said, “It wasn’t meant to be. But, he is a big strong horse and is 100 percent.”

The next step for the Mambo In Seattle colt is under discussion with the owners, the Hyperpaint Syndicate, but they are still “in two minds.”

By David Thiselton

Featured Image: Paul Peter (JC Photographics)