Frayed tempers and damning accusations were the order of the day at Scottsville yesterday after the meeting was abandoned before the running of the second race.

Trainers and jockeys expressed reservations on the state of the going before the meeting started in spite of the official rainfall reading of 9mm in the previous seven days and 3mm overnight.

These readings were in conflict with head track manager Tony Rivalland’s report of 51mm during the week, a more realistic reading given the week’s downpours.

The penetrometer reading was given at 31 with the going recorded as heavy.

After the barrier trial the jockeys confirmed reservations. “I ran into an arrester bed,” said former Champion Jockey Anton Marcus and Duncan Howells was quick to express his dissatisfaction with the state of the going to the stipendiary stewards.

However, the first race was run without incident with the favourite and second favourite finishing second and first respectively but the jockeys immediately lodged a protest stating inconsistent going. In his evidence, jockey spokesperson Warren Kennedy said that between the 500m mark and the 200m mark the going became inconsistent and unsafe.

After deliberations in the stipendiary steward’s boardroom, head stipe Shaun Parker called for a track inspection. A lengthy inspection of both the straight course and the track around the turn followed and it was decided to call the meeting off.

The official stipendiary stewards report reads: Following the running of the first race, the riders expressed concerns regarding inconsistencies in the heavy underfoot track condition and lodged a protest in terms of the rules. The panel was formed and having heard all the evidence presented by the trainer and jockey representatives and following a track inspection, it was decided in the interest of safety to abandon the remainder of the race meeting.

The KwaZulu-Natal Stakes (Listed), is an important warm-up for sprinting fillies leading into Champions Season, and yesterday was the second time it was abandoned because inclement weather.

However, in an effort to keep the meeting and run the race, Gold Circle are contemplating moving the eight races lost at Scottsville yesterday to Scottsville, Wednesday, April 18, weather permitting, and moving the Greyville poly meeting scheduled for that Wednesday to Friday night, April 20.

By Andrew Harrison

Statute may well be the younger sister of Legislate but while the former Vodacom Durban July winner was more at home over a mile and further, Statute appears to be more of a sprinter, at this stage of her career anyway.

Washed out a week ago, the re-scheduled KwaZulu-Natal Stakes (Listed) takes centre stage at Scottsville on Sunday and Michael Roberts will know exactly where he stands with the filly come evening.

The race has attracted one of the most competitive line-ups ever and will be a tremendous warm-up for the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint to be run towards the end of next month.

Statute (Candiese Marnewick)

Statute has only had four starts and is unbeaten over the Scottsville straight, winning her maiden by five lengths and putting two lengths over the useful Miss Varlicious in her other start on this track.

Given her pedigree and the ease of her debut victory, Roberts was tempted to pit her against much more seasoned opposition in the Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes on the last day of last year.

“Unfortunately, the race didn’t pan out for us,” said Roberts. “I didn’t think she could win it but was hoping for a place. But she’s got class, there’s no doubt about it.”

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

Vision to Kill is at her best over five furlongs and her last win came over course and distance when beating the equally quick Hashtag Strat, also in the field.

Callan Murry does duty for Paul Gadsby and after a spell in the doldrums on his return from Hong Kong, young Murray appears to have found his mojo again.

Louis Goosen saddles three quick fillies in Captain’s Girl, Effortless Reward and Hashtag Strat, best of them could prove to be Captain’s Girl in spite of finishing behind Effortless Reward last time out. She was the stable elect that day but she blew her chances when getting upset at the start.

Neptune’s Rain is the highest rated filly in the race but this five furlongs may be on the sharp side and last year’s winner Jo’s Bond may prove to be a better proposition. Jo’s Bond has been winless since that victory but has been up against some smart opposition and is a must inclusion in all bets.

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 beating home My Pal Al on his return. He was doing his best work late behind the rejuvenated Hack Green last Sunday and that run should have brought him along. Billy Silver can keep his unbeaten Scottsville record although 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 are involved in a big game against Manchester City tomorrow and 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

Western Angel can book her Scottsville ticket by beating stable companion Clouds Unfold and fellow previous winner Racine in the Itsarush Welcomes You Juvenile Plate at Kenilworth tomorrow.

The selection proved a length and a quarter the better when the two Candice Bass-Robinson horses met in the Tattersalls Listed race and she is the one, not Clouds Unfold, that their trainer has been talking of as an Allan Robertson possible.

Aldo Domeyer is now back in the irons after partnering Clouds Unfold on Met day but not too much significance should be attached to that as Cloud belongs to Drakenstein which retains Grant van Niekerk.

Racine was backed down to odds-on when scoring on debut and, although Vaughan Marshall said then that she would prefer an extra furlong, she is clearly useful. These three have to give away 3kg but it will take an exceptional newcomer to beat all of them.

World Sports Betting makes the two Bass-Robinson runners joint favourite at 17-10 with Racine 5-2 and the Brett Crawford first-timer Dalai’s Promise best of the rest on 15-2.

In the TAB Telebet Juvenile the form book points quite clearly to Van Niekerk’s mount Twist Of Fate (14-10) who finished in front of Lucky Dancer, Temp The Tiger and Jephthah at Durbanville last time despite being badly drawn. Savea (5-2) could be a danger as he beat subsequent winner Sailor Sam on debut and Dean Kannemeyer speaks of him as “having a lot of natural speed.”

Fire Walker (9-2) holds stable companion Western Storm (9-2) and Cortada (7-2) on his last run and so has obvious claims in the Tabonline Handicap despite that being nearly three months ago. Pen-Chan is also a 7-2 shot but it could be worth taking a chance with Royal Marine who is a huge price at 11-1.

First-time out of the maidens is normally a no-no but, as the ever-informative Stan Elley sometimes points out, horses that keep running well in maidens usually continue doing so when they move into handicaps and there are grounds for believing that this one is well treated.

After the gelding’s win at Durbanville last time Greg Ennion said: “He always shows so much pace and at home he trounces the likes of Northern Corner who is a five-time winner.”

Significantly different tactics were adopted that day and Richard Fourie reported: “I pulled my stick through, gave him a couple of slaps and it was a matter of how far.” The only real negative is that Fourie has preferred Pen-Chan but at 11-1 you can afford to back the selection each way.

The Ramsden two-year-old Yolta faces a huge task in the Betting World Maiden as she receives only 4kg and she should be getting 9.5kg on the weight-for-age scale. Anina (not striding out when disappointing last time) looks big at 9-1 and is marginally preferred to Kamaishi and Clifton Beach.

By Michael Clower

The nine races at Turffontein Inside tomorrow are named in honour of the victims of the Hennenman tragedy thirty years after the airplane carrying jockeys, trainers and officials from a meeting at Bloemfontein crashed into a mealie field.

A substantial pool of talent was lost that evening and the racing community still feel sad when recalling the devastating news which they woke up to the following morning.

Full Mast (JC Photographics)

The main race is the 30 Year Anniversary Hennenman Memorial Progress Plate over 1600m and Full Mast could be the one to side with. He will be coming into his own, being a Go Deputy in the second half of his three-year-old year who was gelded in December, and he is distance suited with Strydom up. Glider Pilot would prefer further and a more galloping track but he has class and from a good draw should be running on strongly. Ghost Town looks a class act in the making and his good action and relaxed style of racing coupled with his fine turn of foot should see him making a bold bid, although he has a tricky draw of eight to overcome. Warrior’s Rest finished a narrow third in last season’s Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes won by Eyes Wide Open. He pipped Monk’s Hood in that race so the form is strong and he is the best weighted horse here according to official merit ratings, half-a-kilogram better off than Glider Pilot. However, he is a huge horse so might need this run after a seven month layoff, especially considering he has to overcome the widest draw of all. Dan The Lad has a tough task at the weights but is drawn in pole and has a good turn of foot so could make his presence felt over a tight, quirky course which can throw upset results. Shukamisa also has a difficult task at the weights but will likely be coming into his own being a four-year-old by Silvano.

The next race is also interesting, a Pinnacle Stakes event for fillies and mares over 1000m. Wrecking Ball could be good value here. She is a classy speedster but the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes two weeks ago over 1160m once again proved she does not see out further than 1000m. She moved up well to hit the front in that race but then faded to only finish 10^th . She has a fair draw tomorrow over a course and distance where she is one from one. Exquisite Touch has speed and class too and is in fact 3,5kg better off than Wrecking Ball according to official merit ratings. In her last start when returning from a five month layoff she only just failed over 1160m and should have benefited from that run. She does have a tricky draw of six in the nine horse field. Winter Watch is tipped to follow those two topweights home. She might have been a bit close to the pace early last time and this could have blunted her powerful finishing effort. This time she can be dropped out from draw eight and run on. Frederico’s Dream has a lot of pace and if able to get to the front from a wide draw without expending too much energy, she will be right there. Queen Laurie could be dangerous from draw two if bouncing back to her best as she has a lot of speed. Singing In Seattle is drawn in pole and could threaten a place too.

The best bet could be Dressed To Impress in the last over 1450m. This strongly-built Pathfork filly has a tricky draw, but last time over 1600m she had a worse draw and after being held up she quickened well and looked the winner. However, her finishing effort did not have enough steam. Therefore, she should relish this slight step down in trip. Marco van Rensburg has won on her before and replaces recuperating Gavin Lerena.

By David Thiselton

Legal Eagle, 4-10 when he won the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes last Saturday, is 2-1 favourite for the Premier’s Champions Challenge over an extra 400m at Turffontein on May 5.

But the real surprise in World Sports Betting’s early book on the R4 million race is the price of Nother Russia who is joint second favourite at 11-2 with Abashiri.

The Mike de Kock-trained mare was only beaten a steadily-dwindling quarter of a length by Legal Eagle in the Horse Chestnut and his vulnerability over 2 000m is well-documented. He has been beaten in the last two runnings of the Met – second last year and fourth this season – and, although he won the 2016 Premier’s Champion, he was beaten slightly more than a head by Deo Juvente in last season’s race when Nother Russia was a short head away third.

Glider Pilot and Coral Fever are next in the betting at 10-1. SA Classic faller Majestic Mambo is on 12-1 with 14-1 and upwards others.

By Michael Clower