There is a strong link between racing and football all over the world and this is epitomised in KZN by passionate Kloof-based racing owner Phil Georgiou.

Georgiou is anticipating the SA Champions Season keenly as he part-owns the promising Paul Lafferty-trained four-year-old gelding Dark Moon Rising. This rangy bay is a typically progressive son of Ideal World and after two impressive recent wins over 1800m on the Greyville turf he will try and qualify for the Vodacom Durban July via the Betting World 1900.

Georgiou started his football career playing for amateur club Robertsham before turning professional and playing first for Bluebells and later for Highlands Park and Orlando Pirates. At Highlands, under legendary coach Joe Frickleton, he played with the like of Martin Cohen, Des Backos and Larry de Freitas and at Pirates, in a team which included brilliant goalkeeper Patson Banda and the like of Elias ‘Shuffle’ Mokopane, he played in atmosphere charged derby’s against a celebrated Kaizer Chiefs team which included Teenage Dladla, Computer Lamola, Johnny Magwegwe Mokoena, Ten Ten Nzimande and Ace Ntsoelengoe.

Horseracing was already in his blood as the Marist Brothers school he went to in Linmeyer was packed with racing men of today, including trainers Mike Azzie and Joe Soma, bookmakers Ricky Sin and Keith Ho and owner Gary Westwater. Soma was a classmate of Georgiou’s and was in the same lift club and after school they used to go to the Azzie and Magua training yards. On weekends the group of schoolmates would ride to Turffontein and stand on their bicycle saddles and watch racing over the wall.

Georgiou’s first racehorse, in 1979, was trained by Stanley Ferriera. It was an expensive hobby even back then and he recalled, “At Pirates we used to get paid R50 per point and R50 per goal, so I used to earn R1200 per month for my nine-to-five job as a buyer and R2500 from football.”

His racing roots grew deeper and Jeff Lloyd was best man at his wedding and vice versa and he became close friends with another jockey Christie Blom.

Georgiou was transferred to Durban in 1986 and sent horses to the like of Vaughan Marshall, Dean Kannemeyer, Duncan McKenzie, Wendy Whitehead and Arthur Miller in PE.

However, he formed a close friendship with former Durban City footballer and now trainer Paul Lafferty and eventually decided to throw his full weight behind the Lafferty Summerveld yard.

“I wanted to race with my friends and we’ve been very successful. We’ve had horses like Harry’s Son, Goat, who ran in the July and Pearl Emblem, who won seven, including six in a row, and we’ve also had a lot of fun naming horses like Goat, Donkey, Chicken, Mule and Kokkerot Sop.”

Kokkerot Sop was the favourite drink of the group of owners, vodka and lemon twist.

“What I also like about our yard is the continual humour and we’re good losers, it’s good to win, but losing well shows character.”

Racing has been good to Georgiou as it has enabled him to fly overseas to watch Harry’s Son run and also to organise group racing tours through his travel company. He has organized a tour to the Dubai World Cup for the last 18 seasons and has had tours to The Arc, The Breeders Cup, Mauritius, Singapore and Hong Kong and his own travels have taken him to Ascot, York, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

“Whenever there is a South African link, we will find a reason to go.”

Georgiou rates the camaraderie among the racing fraternity as the sport’s main attraction and also loves the competition.

He and Lafferty, analysing the bond between racing and football, said, “Without sportsman racing would die. Sportsman love competition and the thrill of victory.”

Lafferty is a frequent traveller as his family live in the UK and he is the South African ambassador to the Australian Sales company Magic Millions.

He and Georgiou have built strong friendships on their travels and for example can get hold of trainers in England of the like of Mark Johnston, Sir Michael Stoute, Mick Channon and Jim Boyle at the drop of a hat. They befriend those people, who like them, enjoy a good laugh.

Georgiou also has his pet dislikes in racing.

“I don’t like sour losers and it disappoints me that there are different bodies in South African racing who are pulling in different directions. Racing is the greatest game on earth, it is the sport of kings, and we should all be doing what’s best for the game. I don’t like grandstand jockeys and grandstand administrators, who put their egos first. I think KZN racing is in a good place at the moment, they have a board who are thinking out of the box in order to go forward. I dislike those who criticise but are not even members and don’t bother to pitch up to meetings.”

Georgiou felt the Greyville racetrack was now in good condition and pointed to Summerveld, which was recently rated by a well known racing personality as the best training centre on earth. He also feels KZN has a good number of trainers and is surprised they don’t receive greater support from the biggest owners and breeders, considering the country’s most prestigious racing festival happens here, SA Champions Season, culminating in the country’s greatest race, the July.

The July is a race Georgiou believes will never be surpassed in SA. “The full house signs are always up and in the Durban View room for three grand you are served crayfish and lobster, the same thing in Dubai costs 16 grand!”

Lafferty’s popularity and excellence as a Master Of Ceremonies has been behind the success of such innovations as the EXPRO Charity race meeting in which ex-professional footballers, sportsmen and businessmen raise funds for the underprivileged. They provide 1600 gifts for underprivileged children per year. The footballers also attend just for their sheer love of racing.

By David Thiselton

By his own admission, Dean Kannemeyer’s Champions Season string is a little thin on talent but Silva’s Bullet stamped himself as a possible Classic contender with a driving win in the Track & Ball Danma Handicap at Greyville yesterday and his filly Sugar Girl, racing in the same Khaya Stables silks, is no slouch either.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, replacing the luckless Anthony Delpech in the irons, was content to bide his time in the early exchanges on Silva’s Bullet. However, the elbows started to pump a long way before hitting the home turn. Gelded and having only his third outing, his first since August last year, Silva’s Bullet showed every sign of inexperience but Fayd’Herbe kept him hard to his task and he reeled in the opposition to win in promising fashion.

The Gr2 Daisy Guineas is an obvious target and a switch to the turf and a more galloping track should suit his lengthy stride but the Gr1 Daily News may suit even better. He is definitely a horse for the notebook.

Marcus took the ride on Sugar Girl who had outstanding Cape form and she came through her test with flying colours. Marcus had her on the rails in a flash in spite of a soggy track and in the straight tracked through up the middle to win under hands and heels.

Sugar Girl is another name that should go into the notebook.

Wayne Badenhorst has been something of a nomad, moving from Summerveld, to a private establishment next door to Doug Campbell in Richmond before that was sold, so it was back to Summerveld.

With Des Egdes handing in his trainer’s brief at the end of January, Keith Smith send Sail The Bay to Badenhorst and the gelding came good in the first, relegating Internet Kid to another runner-up berth, his third from four starts.

Jumping horses from a sprint to a mile and further is quite often a risky decision, but it paid off handsomely twice as both Irish Marsh and Hector Heathcote defied the norm.

Irish Marsh had run his best two races over 1400m but in an inspired move, Frank Robinson stepped him up to 1800m in the Track & Ball Online Maiden to good effect.

Given a patient ride by Grant van Niekerk, Irish Marsh took the shortest way home and came with a telling run from well back to comfortably get the better of long-time maiden Palace Mystery.

In some quarters, barrier trials are still regarded as an un-necessary aggravation, but Dennis Bosch used them to good effect with Hector Heathcote who showed pace throughout in his trial to ‘beat’ home the smart filly She’s A Dream.

Bosch was bold enough to step Hector Heathcote up to 1600m for his race debut proper and there was no shortage of confidence as the gelding was backed in to favourite.

Hector Heathcote displayed a hot temperament but was well handled by top Cape Town-based jockey Richard Fourie who let his mount stride clear early and was never troubled in the straight as Dot Coza finished a distant second best.

After taking the bold decision to give his horses fortnight’s break to get over a virus, Duncan Howells has slowly brought his string back to the boil with Legend winning last Sunday and Barinois coming back strongly from her break to win smartly in the Track & Ball Savera Handicap.

Anton Marcus tracked the early pace before, as is his want, switching for a clear outside run.

Barinois responded smartly and the race was over as a contest a furlong out to the satisfaction of part owners Rick and Thora Nidd who were always keen on the progeny of Ashaawes.

Garth Puller is in good form and apprentice Craig Bantam made good use of his light weight by making all the running on Cipher with stable companion Forceful Rush battling on gamely in driving rain for second to give Puller the exacta.

This week marked the maiden voyage of the Titanic and Burfi was the iceberg on which the majority of Pick 6 tickets floundered in the last leg. Kom Naidoo’s rank outsider paid R52 on the tote as apprentice Serino Moodley got her home ahead of Sheik’s Storm and Miss Millionaire.

By Andrew Harrison

The Vaal Classic track stages a low key eight race meeting tomorrow and it looks to be a card where Tote exotic bets could be the best way to go.

In the first race, a workriders maiden over 1000m, Finding Troy over raced last time over 1600m but three runs ago went close over 1200m. The blinkers have now been put on over 1000m and he should have enough speed to beat this uninspiring field. Ragnarok has been disappointing since showing a bit of promise in his first three runs but has a good opportunity to earn again. Casual Wear is a first-timer by the decent sire What A Winter and is a half-brother to a number of multiple winners including the like of Tomba La Bomba and Shatoosh.

In the second race over 1200m Certifiable ran a good race over 1160m in his penultimate start from a tricky low draw by trends when showing pace and staying on. His low draw this time is favourable and he should go close in another uninspiring field. Lord Silverio is a nice looking grey with a big action and will have a big chance here on ability. He is a R1,1 million purchase by Silvano out of a Linney Head mare who won the Grade 3 Jacaranda Handicap and he has a fair draw under S’Manga Khumalo. However, he has not run since last September when backed into 18/10 before being slow away and finishing lame nearly ten lengths back. King Of Delta has run some close up places over sprints and has a chance despite a wide draw. An interesting first-timer here is Latch, who is by Pluck and is out of a half-sister to the Grade 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Heaps Of Fun. Pluck won the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf and is a close relative of the top class Master Of My Fate, who has made a fine start to his stud career. Civil Disobedience is also an interesting first-timer being by Rebel King out of a Centenary mare who has produced five winners, as he should have some speed.

In the third race Silvez looks to be the best bet on the card. He was slow away over 1160m on Saturday but stayed on well to finish a 1,85 length fourth. Ensemble has fair form in sprints. Fragrant Miss is best at sprints on form despite having initially struck as one who would stay further. She would have just about been the form choice if it wasn’t for her high draw, which is unfavourable by trends on this track.

In the fourth race over 1200m Wild Curve went close to Premier Show in her penultimate start and the latter has since won once and been placed in two separate features, so he is the one to beat from the plum number one draw. Baahir is a model of consistency and he has now come down to a competitive merit rating. He also has a plum low draw. Shortstop has turned the corner since being associated with apprentice Denis Schwarz, who can extract a strong finish from him and they have reeled off a hattrick together. However, Schwarz recently rode his 60^th winner so has lost his claim and the horse has also been raised five points for his last win so it won’t be easy to win this one. Star Of Joburg is a talented sort who was a big disappointment in his first run out of the maidens. However, he was found later to not be striding out so likely needed the layoff he has been given. Aranjuez is quite a nice looking type but has disappointed over further since leaving the maidens so is interesting stepped down in trip. Master Boulder has a form chance but the draw is against him.

Waity Katie was one a well regarded sort in Cape Town and has found her feet in no uncertain terms since joining the astute trainer David Nieuwenhuizen. She won with authority last time and can make it four on the trot in the fifth race over 1800m from a fair draw over a trip she should enjoy. Sha-Boom Sha-Boom looks the main danger over a suitable course and distance.

In the 6^th over 2400m Ali Bon Dubai has struck as a decent stayer in the making. It is a Middle Stakes event and some are officially well weighted and others aren’t, but the result in these staying events often makes a fool of the weights and he can score two in a row having won well over 2850m last time. Cardiff Castle comes from the strong centre of Cape Town, where he had some decent staying form, so is the main danger unless the altitude factor stops him.

The last two races are typically tricky sprint handicaps. Shifting Shadows went close to a fair sort in Ouro the last time she ran on the Inside track and she found no extra that day over 1200m so she looks the one to beat in the seventh from a nice low draw over the minimum 1000m trip.

In the last race Just Africa has plenty of speed and the intelligent rider Ryan Munger could get the best out of him as his race will need to be finely judged. He went close the last time he ran over course and distance despite hanging in badly late from an unfavourable wide draw and he now has a slightly better draw and is effectively two points lower in the merit ratings. Supanova from a plum draw has a fine form chance too.

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith named some big-priced horses when quizzed about his Vodacom Durban July possibles by James Goodman on Winning Ways on Monday evening.

Snaith, bidding for his third win in South Africa’s most famous race, spoke of 20-1 shot Platinum Prince in the same breath as 6-1 favourite African Night Sky and said: “If they come in at the right weight and crack a half-decent draw they are going to take some beating. Elusive Silva (25-1) is back again. He was my favourite last year but he injured himself. He runs next weekend.

“Do It Again (16-1) galloped very well on Monday. He was second in the Cape Derby, is no slouch and might come in at the right weight. Whether he will suit Greyville with the short run-in – he likes to come from a long way back – is going to be a question mark but he could be a contender. His first race will be in the Daisy Guineas (May 6) which will be too short for him and then he will fire up in the Daily News.”

Sun Met winner Oh Susanna is a 16-1 chance and her trainer said: “I don’t want to say she won’t run in the July but if she gets a heavy weight she won’t as there is no way I’m going to take a chance with her.

“We will first see how she handles Greyville. My fillies normally don’t have a problem with the course so I am predicting that all will be good.

“We are trying to keep her and Snowdance away from each other. They are both very good and I wouldn’t like to see them up against each other. Snowdance will be pretty much aimed at the Daisy Fillies Guineas and Oh Susanna for the Woolavington on June 2.”

Among the stable’s other KZN contingent Snaith mentioned Strathdon who has been laid out for the eLan Gold Cup on July 29 – “He won four in a row in Cape Town and I think he will take a lot of beating in the staying races while Made To Conquer won four out of five He just needs to prove than he can make the step-up..”

Grant van Niekerk will ride most of them – “A top jockey, he is as good as they get.”

By Michael Clower

Anton Marcus and Bernard Fayd’Herbe look set to benefit from Anthony Delpech’s unfortunate fall at Turffontein on Saturday as they have pick up some plum rides on the Greyville poly today.

Marcus replaces Delpech on Dot Coza for Garth Puller in the opening leg of the Pick 6 and the gelding caught the eye with a strong late run behind Sand Path last time out. It appears that the penny has finally dropped and he may be the horse to beat although it may be worth backing up with the disappointing but sometimes threatening Taranaki and Lord Padmore, who although beaten by Dot Coza last time out, now sports blinkers. Of Taranaki, Dennis Drier’s assistant Stuart Ferrie said, “in this field he must have a good chance.”

Next up Marcus partners Barinois for Duncan Howells. The filly should appreciate the step up in trip after being out-paced late over 1400m. Howells said, “she is working well, is nicely drawn and has an each way chance.”

The danger looks to be Riverboat Queen who came from a long way back to win her last start over course and distance. She does not have the best of draws but blinkers appear to have sharpened her up and she is a must inclusion in all bets.

Runners from the Drier yard appear to have found form of late so Colour Your Dreams comes into the picture after a promising sprint-up last start and was deemed good enough to be taken to the Cape for the summer. “She put in a nice comeback run and we are expecting a good effort,” said Ferrie.

Fayd’Herbe replaces Delpech on the lightly raced Silva’s Bullet in the fifth for Dean Kannemeyer. The gelding made a winning debut and followed up with third in the Bloodstock SA Million where he was running around in the finish. He was then gelded and given a seven-month break before a recent barrier trial where he was asked to do little more than stretch.

He will enjoy the step up to a mile and is possibly the one to beat.

The dangers are many but Savuti is a strong front runner and was only run out of it late last time out and should be the horse to follow. Iron Wolf is a winner over course and distance but has drawn widest of all while Sean Veale has ducked the ride on stable runner Tom Collins to partner Plymouth Rock for Doug Campbell which could prove significant.

Marcus replaces Delpech on Silvan Saint for Sean Tarry in the sixth and can turn the tables on Obvious Child although only 0.5kg better off at the weights. Forceful Rush has been knocking at the door for some time now and was running on nicely over course and distance last time out in spite of being reported lame after the race.

Marcus has also picked up the plum ride on Sugar Girl for Kannemeyer in the seventh. The lightly raced daughter of Trippi was a winner on debut and followed up with a handy second. She may just need this outing but does appear to have a touch of class.

Louis Goosen’s runner Shwanky will make them all gallop as she has some useful form over course and distance and was only caught late by Miss Varlicious early last month. From a good draw she could have them all off the bit in the first furlong.

Shwanky’s presence in the field is possibly bad news for apprentice Luke Ferraris who is looking for the first win of his career. He gets a chance on the Howells-trained Accidental Tourist who boasts some good poly form but is often a tardy starter. “She keeps missing the break but if not too far out of her ground could finish in the first three,” said Howells.

Barrier Trials can prove deceiving but they do give punters a glimpse of horses that they would otherwise not see until a race proper so one takes a chance. Internet Kid has run into the money in both outings since making a smart barrier trial and is likely to start at short odds for the card opener. However, Pavarotti Passion impressed in his trial. Mark Dixon’s charge has had his problems at the gate so one needs to be doubly cautious but he made a good impression in his trial and could make a winning debut.

By Andrew Harrison