Dubai World Cup night may have been a disappointment for South African horses but the owners of last year’s Durban July winner Marinaresco – now in quarantine in Mauritius – are already planning for next year’s meeting.

Marsh Shirtliff said: “I would imagine he will go into Mary Slack’s yard at Newmarket and from there Mike de Kock will probably raid the Longines International meeting in December. There is also a race for him in Singapore, possibly the 2 000m Gold Cup in November, and at the Dubai Carnival he may end up in the Sheema Classic.”

Shirtliff, who had one of his greatest moments when Jay Peg won the Dubai Duty Free ten years ago, owns Marinaresco in partnership with Mike Bass, Bryn Ressell and Fred Green but for the owners of  One World the dream is a third consecutive Vaughan Marshall-trained Cape Guineas winner.

Marshall first-timers, particularly the good ones, are as well prepared as a Mount Nelson lunch and as ready as a cowboy’s gun and this R425 000 Captain Al knew exactly what to do in the Tabonline Maiden Juvenile at Kenilworth last Saturday. He sat handy, led two furlongs out and won pulling up with those who had backed him from 41-10 to 16-10 calculating their winnings well before the end.

Admittedly it wasn’t quite as straightforward when viewed from the hot seat. MJ Byleveld, who spends a lot of time getting the stable’s horses ready, reported: “I went a bit early because I wanted to use his action and in case something came at him and I was caught flat-footed.”

But the general impression was one of class, and a future miler rather than a speedster like his ill-fated former stable companion Zinedine.

True, he looked dangerously edgy in the winner’s box – Byleveld, somewhat understandably, couldn’t get the saddle off, and himself out of harm’s way, quick enough – and Marshall confirmed this, saying: He has a bit of a streak that we are going to have to keep an eye on.

“But I didn’t think anything could beat him and I would like to follow the same route as we did with Tap O’Noth and William Longsword. He will stay in Cape Town and we will look at the Langerman later on.”

One World carries the same white, blue bib colours of Ken and Jane Truter as Zinedine but is owned in partnership with Etienne Braun and Braam van Huyssteen. Truter wasn’t present on Saturday but as he fielded calls of congratulation over the weekend he doubtless recalled what he said soon after Zinedine’s brilliant debut – “If there is one thing I have learnt from this game it is not to get ahead of myself.” Days later the horse was dead.

There were suggestions that Platinum Class could be added to Snaith Racing’s KZN team after the Drakenstein filly produced an impressive burst to go from last to first in the Supabets Progress Plate without even seeing Grant van NIekerk’s whip.

But Justin Snaith, watching the race from Durban, promptly ruled out the idea, explaining: “She didn’t like the hard ground in the summer and the bit of rain helped. Grant was moaning beforehand that he was on the wrong horse but she has improved and this was her gallop for the Sweet Chestnut Stakes on April 28.”

Top work rider Andile Ndelbe took his tally to 11 winners from 29 rides in the last six seasons when making most on the Dan Katz-trained Silent Choice in the TAB Telebet Maiden but hot favourite Cradleofgratitude finished five lengths last. The colt was found to be making an “abnormal respiratory noise” as he had been on his previous two starts – a significant negative which, I regret to say, was not pointed out either by myself or any of the other tipsters who went for him virtually en masse.

By Michael Clower

Mac De Lago is the outsider of the party in the TAB Telebet Handicap at Durbanville today and he has to concede both weight and age all round yet he may prove the best value.

You might say that he is yesterday’s man – two years ago he won the Rising Sun Gold Challenge and was third in the July – but he has come down 8kg in the ratings since the glory days and he ran a cracker in the Jet Master last time. He lost lengths at the start but finished like a train to take a length and a half third to Perovskia. He is 1.5kg better and will be suited by the extra furlong.

Admittedly a repeat of the slow break would be fatal – you can’t afford to give away weight and distance on this course – but nobody knows that better than Greg Cheyne and Dan Katz reports the gelding in good shape.

“He has to give away a lot of pudding to some up-and-coming three-year-olds so it won’t be easy for him but he is doing well, he is in a good space and I am happy with him,” says the Milnerton trainer.

The three-year-olds he is referring to are both under sufferance when you take weight-for-age into account, although only by a kilo in Spring Man’s case but by 3.5kg with Commander Bond. The former ran well above his rating when fifth in the Cape Derby but proved expensive when dropped back to a mile last time.

“That was too short for him and they didn’t go very fast,” recalls Brett Crawford. “I also think he needed it a bit. He will be better over this 1 800m and he has no weight on his back.”

Kampala Campari is a useful sort but he hung badly to the right last time whereas the in-form Perovskia is on a hat-trick. “He is well and, although he has to give 7kg to the three-year-olds, I am sure he will run another good race,” says Harold Crawford.

On the betting it could hardly be closer. Spring Man and Commander Bond are both on 28-10 with World Sports Betting while Perovskia is 3-1, Kampala Campari 33-10 and Mac De Lago 7-2.Go The Distance belies her name by stepping up in trip in the opening Maiden Juvenile Fillies and she has the form to beat Victorious Girl although Harold Crawford says that the latter has come on a bit.

Two-year-olds take on the older horses for the first time in Cape Town this season in the Tabonline Maiden but Spam Alert is taken to beat Negma assuming in the in-form Grant van Niekerk can overcome her poor draw. Ladysmith is a prohibitive at 4-10 for the Play Soccer Maiden but Richard Fourie’s mount is hard to oppose.

By Michael Clower

There are two Grade 2 events at Turffontein Standside on Saturday, a day-night meeting which includes the lucrative Dubai World Cup as race 11 on the 12 race card.

In the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes, Wind Chill is a small filly with a big heart and she is a resolute galloper who will relish this galloping 2 000m course and distance.

This SA Oaks winner should make a bold bid from a good draw.

Coral Fever always seems to come into feature races under the radar despite his highly consistent performances.

He finished third in the Summer Cup over course and distance and in this conditions race is one of the best weighted horses.

Abashiri is tailor made for Turffontein Standside with his good turn of foot and long stride. He hasn’t won for a while but is the best weighted male horse here on official merit ratings and should be running on strongly.

Fort Ember finished second in the Summer Cup and is the best weighted horse.

However, she can run a bit strongly sometimes and is best when well drawn.

She is drawn ten this time and will need some luck.  Girl On The Run and Social Order can’t be ignored.

In the Grade 2 Senor Santa the two fillies Wrecking Ball and Green Pepper are favoured by the weights. The former has always struck as a classy sort and if things go her way she could bounce back to winning ways.

Green Pepper looked headed for the top as a three-year-old and showed her well-being last time when just failing.

She has a stand side draw which is usually favourable down the straight here.

Champagne Haze finished like an express train last time over course and distance to win easily going away and this classy sort will likely be involved again.

Romi’s Boy beat Green Pepper in good style last time but the latter is now half-a-kilogram better off.

Africa Rising has both class and speed and would not be a surprise winner so must also be considered. 

By David Thiselton

KZN has two race meetings this weekend, tomorrow on the poly at Greyville and a feature meeting at Scottsville on Sunday.

On Sunday in the Listed Kwazulu-Natal Stakes over 100m Jo’s Bond can defend her crown as one with plenty of speed and the ability to kick on.

Vision To Kill can always be relied on to run well over this course and distance. Effortless Reward is a speedy sort who is able to stay on and she is only 1kg worse off with Neptune’s Rain having beaten her by 1,35 lengths here in January.

Neptune’s Rain is a class act and should be finishing strongly, although she has a big weight for a three-year-old and this is likely a preparation race for the SA Fillies Sprint.

Sommerlied is the course record holder but has to bounce back from an overall disappointing Cape Town campaign. Hashtag Strat is a speedy sort who can never be ignored. Those six make the most appeal and are selected in the order mentioned.

In the Sentinel Stakes over 1 000m Master Silva is by the exciting new sire Master Of My Fate and looks to have plenty of natural speed and acceleration.

He was unlucky on debut when slowly away, then short of room and then becoming involved in a bumping and barging match. He can make amends here.

Crown And Country is full of talent and won his second start convincingly over 1 200m on this course to be unbeaten in two starts. However, he has to give weight away all round.

Little Winter caught the eye in a barrier trial over 800m as a strapping sort with a lot of natural speed. Satara showed pace throughout on debut over course and distance to win impressively.

Across Seattle showed good cruising speed over course and distance second time out and then found extra to win cosily. Cavalry put up a good Barrier Trial over 800m at Scottsville when sitting behind Mr Bombastic and then keeping up with him when switched inward.

Van Halen won impressively on debut and has a big reputation, but he has disappointed twice since and finished lame last time.

Star Flyer found no extra over 1 000m at Turffontein last time when up with the pace so will likely have to be ridden more conservatively on this tougher track.

They are selected in the order mentioned.

Glen Kotzen has a high regard for Franking, a King Of Kings three-year-old filly who won by 6,25 lengths first time out the maidens when stepped up to 2 000m. She was unlucky last time over the same Kenilworth course and distance and jumps from pole position over 1 600m on Saturday in race five, a MR 87 fillies and mares handicap.

This rangy sort won her maiden easily over that trip, so has a shout despite having to carry topweight.

Ideal Winter is a typically progressive four-year-old daughter of

Ideal World and this hat-trick-seeker will be a big threat. She has won twice at Scottsville before, over 1 400m and 2 400m respectively, and her last win was over this trip at Greyville. Parabola came from the back to win well over course and distance last time so has a shout from a good draw off an effective four point higher mark and with the same 2,5kg claimer up.

The highlight tomorrow night is a MR 88 Handicap over 1 200m.

Ronnie Rocket is an enigmatic sort but if breaking well his good early pace can build him a lead and he is then hard to overtake.

He was unfortunately slow away last time but is now effectively three points lower in the merit ratings and drawn well again so can make amends.

However, Marshall That and La Ferrari must be included. The value bet on the night is Sail The Bay over 1 200m in race four. His form does not look too good at first sight, but he has faced some good sorts.

He caught the eye in a recent barrier trial when showing a good turn of foot and a long stride to make up ground from the back and he should be finishing well after likely being dropped out from a wide draw.

The sixth is a MR 85 Handicap over 1 600m and could be fought out by two sorts who look to have a touch of class and should start coming into their own, Kapen Pride and Volcanic Sunset.

By David Thiselton

Miss Katalin looks good to get back on the winning trail in the Supabets  Progress Plate at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The Justin Snaith filly is something of a specialist over this 1 400m trip and won both the valuable Lanzerac Ready To Run and a conditions plate before taking third to Elusive Heart in the Vasco Prix Du Cap after losing as much ground as she was beaten by dawdling out of the pens.

According to the sahorseracing computer she will win by five lengths!

Just about the only certainty is that she won’t score by anything like as much as this.

Snaith hates seeing his horses prejudicing their ratings by winning too far and, partly for this reason, they are seldom asked to make the running.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe takes over from Grant van Niekerk who switches to the other Drakenstein runner Platinum Class, on a hat-trick and a winner over the trip on Met day.

She went up six points for that but she should not be far away.

On adjusted ratings, though, the danger is most likely to come from Robert Khathi’s mount Rings And Things who is well treated by the conditions and theoretically has more than a length in hand.

She was third in the CTS 1600 after finishing ninth in the Fillies Guineas. 

Stable jockey Aldo Domeyer rides Freedom Charter who had a rough passage when only tenth in the CTS race.

As so often at this stage of the season, the most intriguing races on the card are the juvenile events and in the first Fabian looks the one they all have to beat.

The Candice Bass-Robinson runner lost ground at the start when beaten five lengths by the ill-fated Zinedine on debut and holds Tarsus and Pearly Rock on that run.

Indeed the computer predicts Fabian to win from Tarsus with the rest five lengths and more behind but it’s worth noting that Seventh Sea suffered some interference when disappointing in the Kuda Sprint while Perfect Symmetry is sure to have improved from his first run.

 In race three Frozen Tune has the sort of consistent form that often proves best in Kenilworth maidens but, while Dean Kannemeyer has snapped up Bernard Fayd’Herbe for the promising Never Fear, stable companion Seattle Kid showed better form on his only start and gets the nod.

Belinda Haytread of Pocket Power fame gets a rare chance to show her talent in the Work Riders Maiden and Cradleofgratitude is taken to win while in race four Due Volte may just get the better of Streetfighting Man who has been off for almost three months.

By Michael Clower

 –  Warren Lenferna gave five winners out of eight at Durbanville last Saturday, showing a profit of R135.50 to a R10 level stake.