The Vaal stages an eight race meeting tomorrow and the well regarded Querari gelding Galactic Warrior can win the headliner, a MR 94 Handicap over 1200m.

This lightly raced three-year-old would have needed his last start over 1200m on the Classic track following a six month layoff so did well to finish fourth to the former Grade 1 winner Arabian Beat. He will prefer further in time and his only win has been over 1450m, but he has struck as one who can rise above his current merit rating of 82 and he has snuck into the handicap here with the minimum weight of 52kg. The outside draws were favourable last week at this course and in draw seven of 12 he is closer to the outside than the inside. Premier Show is a progressive sort who is coming off a good second in the Egoli Sprint over 1100m and he is drawn on the right side over his optimum trip.

Piere Strydom

Tammany Hall has caught the eye before as one with some class and she was finishing strongly from last over 1000m last time in the Listed Bauhinia Handicap to finish a 2,4 length fourth. She was carrying the same weight as the winner, the promising Covered In Snow. It won’t be easy here running off a 98 merit rating against the boys, but she is a strong filly by Await The Dawn so won’t be pushed around and has a favourable draw of nine. Splendid Garden is an enigmatic sort but on his day can mix it with the best, so has to be considered from draw eight. Unrehearsed has talent and is likely distance suited considering he over raced in a 1400m race in his penultimate start, which he still managed to win. He might have benefitted from a layoff since December and could be dangerous under his regular pilot Delpech. MacDuff is held in his regard and was even fancied for the July once.

He has proven effective over sprints and his seventh place in the Diadem this year would be just about good enough to win this, although against him is a tricky draw of four and having to carry 61kg on his first outing on the Highveld. Piere Strydom rode Galactic Warrior last time but has remained aboard Clever Guy following a good third behind Cathedral County. This horse has largely been kept to 1000m, but won his maiden over 1200m. His low draw might be against him. Rebuked is a talented sort who can’t be ignored although he would prefer a touch further and he has the number one draw which could be problematic. Emerald Jaguar could be anything but this is a tough handicap bow in just his second career start, although he does have a plum draw by trends.  He has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight, as has the filly For Vodka, who can earn if repeating her penultimate start behind the promising Ninjara. Captain Chips is a 1400m specialist but sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight and has a plum stand side draw with a 4kg claimer up, so he can’t be ignored either. Roquebrune is an enigmatic sort whose last five runs at Flamingo Park include three wide margin victories and a seven length and eleven length defeat, so it’s hard to know what to expect from him.

The best bet on the card is Shanghai Tang in race three over 1400m. The Tarry/Hewitson combination are in top form and this Tiger Ridge gelding was bumped around early on debut over course and distance before running on well for second. He would have come on from the run and has a plum high draw. The main danger could be his stablemate Bakkies, a R650,000 gelding by Await The Dawn who is a half-brother to the like of Grade 1-winner Rabada and the promising Glider Pilot and he has 4kg claimer Dylan Lerena up from a fair draw.

The stumbling block in the exotics could be race six, where the middle-distance to staying type Cardiff Castle has been tipped as he has fair form in the stronger centre of Cape Town and he has a plum draw. He would prefer further, although he was quick enough to be handy the last time he raced over 2000m. Players should consider going wide in this leg.

By David Thielton

Candice Bass-Robinson has decided against sending Nous Voila – perhaps the most exciting of her two-year-old winners so far this season – to Scottsville for the Allan Robertson. Instead Western Angel may take her place.

Dutch Philip (Liesl King)

Mrs Robinson said yesterday: “I am not sure that I want to take Nous Voila there as she is a big, strong heavy filly and not a Scottville type. Instead she will run in the features in Cape Town. Western Angel runs in the Juvenile Fillies Plate at Kenilworth on Saturday week and she could go.”

The stable’s Scottsville aims for CTS 1200 winner Dutch Philip are also on the point of being scrapped because he is so high in the handicap – “I may leave him in Cape Town and take him to Durban for the Mercury Sprint in July.”

However Magical Wonderland – winner of the Cartier Sceptre before finishing third in the CTS 1200 – will take her chance on May 26 in the SA Fillies Sprint – “There is nowhere for her to run here beforehand so I will gallop her. She doesn’t take a lot of work.”

Cape Flying Championship third Live Life will also be in the line-up after having a prep in the Poinsettia Stakes there on April 29.

Mrs Robinson joined Vaughan Marshall at the top of the Cape Town two-year-old log on seven winners when Go The Distance easily won the opener under Aldo Domeyer at Durbanville yesterday. The Pathfork filly is apparently held in high regard. Indeed Mike Bass, a part owner, refers to her as Winx!

By Michael Clower

Surcharge’s shocking luck with draws has continued into Saturday’s R2 million Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m but this should not stop him winning this second leg of the A Triple Crown.

The Triple Crown will not be won this year as the two winners of the joint first legs, Tap O’ Noth and Monk’s Hood, are not present.

The latter won the Grade 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas in sensational fashion and was chased home by Surcharge, who had to overcome a wide draw of 14, the same draw he has on Saturday.

Surcharge (JC Photographics)

Surcharge lacks gate speed and early pace, which makes the draw particularly problematic.

However, the Stuart Pettigrew-trained Gimmethegreenlight colt has a huge action and will relish this 200m step up in trip. He also has a perfect racing temperament, being very relaxed, so can be switched on and off easily. To cap it all he has a strong and resolute finish.

Master jockey Piere Strydom will likely be looking to place him in midfield as it is difficult to make up a lot of ground against good horses.

Therefore, he is going to require some luck in running. If he does get enough luck, he should confirm form with those he beat in the Gauteng Guineas. The dark horse of the race is the Frank Robinson-trained KZN raider Roy Had Enough.

This horse has been transformed since the blinkers were removed. They had initially been put on due his problems at the start, but had caused him to over race. He is coming off two strong-finishing wins over 1600m on the Greyville turf, including in the Listed Christmas Handicap. Like Surcharge he has a big action and will enjoy the step up in trip. The handicappers rate the pair equal on 110, but Roy Had Enough has a plum draw of five. In form Warren Kennedy rakes over from Lyle Hewitson, who rides Throng for his main supporter, Sean Tarry.

Another big runner is the Paul Peter-trained Majestic Mambo, who is unbeaten in three starts over this trip and won all of those races impressively, using a relaxed running style with an exceptional turn of foot. In the Gauteng Guineas not only was the trip too sharp for him, but he appeared to hate the fast ground, so can make amends here on what should be much more forgiving ground, As one who is dropped out, his draw of ten is of little concern.

Mike de Kock has five runners and three of them Royal Crusade, Noble Secret and Pietro Mascagni, third, fourth and sixth in the Gauteng Guineas, will relish the step up In trip. Noble Secret is a big, rangy sort who will be improving all the time and from a good draw will be dangerous, whilst the other two are classy sorts and the best has not been seen of them yet. One of his other runners Like A Panther has always looked to be a Derby type, but will enjoy this testing 1800m and the long-straight. His fifth contender Alshibaa looks held on form but has been finishing strongly over 1600m so could earn a surprise place.

Greek Fire disappointed in the Gauteng Guineas but is better than that and has won over this course and distance.

The others would be surprise earners on form.

By David Thiselton

The Robbie Sage-trained Coral Fever was left out of last year’s Vodacom Durban July but virtually booked his place for this year’s big race with a scintillating win in Saturday’s Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m at Turffontein under Muzi Yeni.

Later, the Gorkan Terzi-trained Tandava put up his hand for a place in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint with a fine win in the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m under Jarryd Penny. The eleven race meeting, which innovatively included the Dubai World Cup in its second Jackpot, was an ominously good one for reigning national champion trainer Sean Tarry, who will need to have huge success in the rest of the Highveld Autumn season in order to catch the current log leader Justin Snaith.

Last year the now five-year-old Judpot gelding Coral Fever won the traditional Highveld July pointer, the Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m, and was consequently supplemented for the July in the same week as the final field selection. However, he had won that race off only an 89 merit rating so was left out. Punters also ignored the merit of that win as he has continually flown under the radar this season.

Coral Fever (JC Photographics)

On Saturday he started at generous odds of 9/2 and was dropped out as usual from a draw of six of nine. He then produced his usual good turn of foot and resolute finish to win going away by a comfortable 1,25 lengths. How much punishment he will receive from the handicapper will as usual depend on who is selected as the line horse. He was officially 1,5kg under sufferance with the second-placed horse Fort Ember, who had beaten him narrowly in the Sansui Summer Cup, but the latter did use up a lot of energy early on Saturday when overcoming a wide draw. The third placed horse was the Tarry-trained King’s Cup winner Social Order and Coral Fever was 3,5kg well off with this horse and beat him by 1,75 lengths, while he was 2kg well off with the two-length fourth-placed Wind Chill. Coral Fever’s merit rating on Saturday was 110, although the recent six point across the board raise should be taken into account when assessing how that will determine his July weight. One thing for sure is he will be suited to the tight Greyville track as he is a type who can be easily switched off and he then has a fine turn of foot. He has duly shortened from 75/1 into 40/1 for the July. Fort Ember is also a 40/1 shot, while Social Order is at 67/1. Saturday’s fifth-placed Abashiri is a 17/1 chance for the July and this is likely on the grounds that bookmakers are scared he will recapture his three-year-old Triple Crown-winning form.

Coral Fever has been highly consistent this season, which will be a factor in his favour when the July final field panellists make their selections in late June. At 11/1 odds he lost the Grade 2 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein on the head bob in early November despite jumping from draw nine of twelve. Then at odds of 36/1 he flew from the back of the field for third in the Grade 1 Sansui Summer Cup where he jumped from draw 19 of 19. Next up was the Grade 3 London News Stakes over 1800m and he finished third at odds of 9/1. He was an optimistic entry in the Sun Met considering the weight for age conditions and wasn’t disgraced in 12^th beaten 7,2 lengths. He returned home and was well drawn in the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes in his penultimate start over 1400m. He was left flat-footed halfway down the straight over the too sharp distance but then picked them off one by one and was a strong finishing second.

Tandava looks like a sort who will do well at Scottsville, as he is a big, strong and tough handicapper who can produce a resolute finish from a long way out. He has won over 1800m before but proved he is best at sprints in February when flying home to win a 1000m handicap at the Vaal and then finishing a decent fourth in the Grade 3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap over 1000m at Turffontein. The saddle slipped in his penultimate start and he took no interest so paid a winning Tote dividend of R55.50 on Saturday. He relished the extra 160m and won full of running despite jumping from an unfavourable low draw by trends. The big five-year-old chestnut gelding by Century Stand has a big heart and was being pushed along as far out as the 600m mark. He steadily made up the leeway and burst through close to home to win by 0,25 lengths from Pure Blonde, who put up a fine display considering he jumped from draw one. Tandava carried only 52kg as his merit rating of 98 was in the lowest band. If he does get into the Tsogo Sun Sprint he will come in with a nice low weight. Pure Blonde was giving the winner 2kg so also put his hand up for a place in the Tsogo Sun.

Tarry and Lyle Hewitson won the Grade 3 Sycamore Sprint with Myfunnyvalentine, the Listed Oaks Trial with Chariots Of Fire and a MR 100 handicap with Tilbury Fort and they finished a narrow second in the Listed Derby Trial with Afewdollarsmore. The meeting also heralded the return of S’Manga Khumalo from knee surgery and in his only ride he made a fine comeback to finish a 1,05 length fourth on the Tarry-trained Wonderwall in the Senor Santa. Tarry is still over R5 million behind Snaith on the log.

By David Thiselton

Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the much loved ruler of Dubai, delighted the crowds on Saturday by dancing a jig on the winner’s podium after Godolphin had completed a memorable night by winning the US$10 million Dubai World Cup with Thunder Snow, brilliantly ridden by Christophe Soumillon.

Christophe Soumillion

Thunder Snow caused a sensation of a different kind at the Kentucky Derby last year by refusing to race. So when Christophe Soumillon, having led from the off, forged clear in the straight on Saturday still travelling smoothly he didn’t assume victory. He had in mind the colt’s quirks and hoped he wasn’t going to look up at the screen and lose concentration as he had in last year’s UAE Derby. However, this time there were no antics and Thunder Snow galloped to the line a decisive 5,75 length winner from the hot favourite West Coast, who had come into the race being touted as America’s best dirt horse. The former Mike de Kock-trained Mubtaahij, now a Bob Baffert-trained stablemate to West Coast, finished a narrow third. It was Soumillon’s ninth attempt to win this big race and he finally has a treasured golden whip to add to his trophy cabinet, which includes the majority of the world’s major races.

It was an amazing eighth World Cup win for record-holding trainer Saeed Bin Suroor.

Soumillon’s hopes had been dampened when drawing ten of ten. Bin Suroor had wanted him to stay out of the kickback and Soumillon knew being in front would be his best option. Even a little girl from the Royal family knew the same and advised him in the parade ring before the race, “The track here is small. If you go in front, normally you are going to win.”

Soumillon was surprised to reach the front easily and then to not be put under any pressure down the back straight. He was glad nobody attempted to come up his inside in the straight as the Irish-bred colt by Helmet (Aus) had changed legs perfectly and was travelling smoothly.

“I didn’t feel any pressure at any point during the race.” said the 36 year-old.

Bin Suroor also won a sixth US$6 million Dubai Turf with the Godolhpin-owned Benbatl, who won in commanding style under Oisin Murphy.

Earlier, trainer Charlie Appleby had scored a Group 1 double for Godolphin, winning the US$1 million Al Quoz Sprint with Jungle Cat under James Doyle and the US$6 million Dubai Sheema Classic with the Godolphin-owned Hawkbill ridden by William Buick.

Soumillon summed up the prestige of the meeting by saying, “When I was in the Jockeys Academy I was looking at these races and was screaming and crying when Cigar won [the first ever Dubai World Cup race in 1996]. Today I won and it is fantastic.”

By David Thiselton