The Guineas meeting is one of the highlights of the Johannesburg season as it begins sorting out the wheat from the chaff in the Highveld three-year-old division, although a KZN horse might upset the applecart in the colts and gelding version of the race at Turffontein Standside tomorrow.

Monks Hood (Candiese Marnewick)

The Alistair Gordon-trained Monks Hood is better drawn in the Grade 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas than he was when winning the Investec Dingaans over the same course and distance. He was dropped out that day from a tricky draw and was swung outward for a run at the top of the straight. He should be closer to the pace turning for home this time and should be able to afford to take cover for some of the straight. The unbeaten Majestic Mambo would prefer further, but does relax well at the back and has a devastating turn of foot, so his status as favourite is justifiable. Surcharge is top class and builds up into a powerful finish so is ideally course suited. He will also relish the step up to this trip, but his lack of gatespeed and early pace is a concern. Royal Crusade also has plenty of class, but does have 2,25 lengths to make up on Majestic Mambo.

However, that was over 1800m and he now gets blinkers on and is drawn in pole. Noble Secret is a relatively unexposed horse who looks to be full of class and on the evidence of his last start he will relish the galloping nature of this course and its long straight. Ideal Secret is ideally course and distance suited and his draw of eight should allow him to find cover. He has to be waited with for a bit and then produces a fine turn of foot, so he is capable of an upset. The six mentioned stand out. Pietro Mascagni found 1400m too sharp last time and should be running on. Greek Fire has a fine draw and has his third run after a layoff over a suitable trip. Big Bear has the class to be a contender, but he might need it after having to have a testicle removed which was troubling him. He also has a wide draw to overcome. Vacquero has a strong finish and was a close up third in the Dingaans, but that was from a plum draw, while he is now widely drawn. Wonderwall has proven class but probably prefers 1400m. Puget Sound has a good draw but has a lot to find on previous meetings with some of these. Cash Time, Silver God and Alssakhra look outgunned.

The Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas is not as strong and the two most fancied horses, Fish River and Folk Dance, stand out. However, their respective wide draws are a concern as they have both been seen to take a strong hold in past races. Fish River did respond well last time when asked to switch off in the Grade 3 Three Troikas over 1400m and this progressive sort finished that race off very well. It suggests she will get the 1600m. Folk Dance over aced for a few strides from a good draw when winning the Grade 3 Fillies Mile easily. She now has a wide draw so it will not be easy for Gavin Lerena to restrain her. However, if she does find cover she will go close. Silver Thursday could pick up the pieces if the top two fluff their lines as she will relish this galloping track with its long straight, although she would prefer a touch further. The unbeaten Radiant Splendour is the unknown quantity and could be anything as she doddled a Novice handicap over 1400m last time, albeit off only a 77 merit rating. Rockin Russian performed below par in Cape Town but the overall class of horse she faced was out of the top drawer. She should not be written off as there is little wrong with her pervious form and she has a plum draw. Aurelia Cotta is an honest sort who will be running on so. Pearl Of Bahrain is a nice looking unexposed sort, who will be improving. The same can be said of Awfaa. Takingthepeace has a long stride and will appreciate the step up in trip. The other three can’t be fancied.

By David Thiselton

Spring Man, fifth in the Investec Cape Derby at 30-1, reverts to handicap company at Kenilworth tomorrow and can show that his Met-day run was no fluke.

He had won his previous two starts, also over 2 000m, and the one concern is that the Play Soccer 6 Handicap is only a mile but the Brett Crawford runner looks a smart sort and races off the same mark as the one he was given before the Derby.

Professor Brian also went into the notebooks on Met day when fifth under top weight to all-the-way winner Quickfire who reopposes on 3kg worse terms in the Supabet Handicap. Quickfire finished more than three lengths clear of Professor Brian and that should be enough for him to confirm the form at the weights but the Joey Ramsden hope didn’t get a clear run that day and was crucially bulked for several strides approaching the furlong marker.

The selection and Quickfire are joint 33-10 favourites with World Sports Betting which makes Valbonne (fourth that day and now closely handicapped with the two principals) on 9-2.

Vase is a big price at 15-2 in the Betting World Maiden and looks worth an interest at those odds even though she has not raced since November. She showed plenty of promise first time and then started second favourite only to finish second last.

Not the virus apparently – “She lashed out in the pens and hit the back very hard. She was sore afterwards,” explained Andre Nel.

Waiting For Rain (5-2) and Friendly Tibbs (28-10) both worked well yesterday encouraging Piet Steyn to turn them out again for the TAB Telebet Handicap even though the pair ran last Saturday when the first-named ran below form.

“He was working exceptionally well and he shouldn’t have been out of the first three but maybe he needed the run a bit,” said his trainer. Friendly Tibbs ran on well from quite some way back over a furlong less last time and gets the vote but a case can be made for all five runners.

The first and third race maidens are tricky because they are modest-looking affairs but maybe the improved form shown by Robert Frost (18-10) last time will enable Corne Orffer’s mount to beat Head Of The Pack (22-10) and 9-2 chance Boy Scout in the Itsarush.co.za Maiden.

There is almost nothing in it on ratings between the top four in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden but Harvest Wind may have come on enough to add to the Crawford-Orffer tally.

By Michael Clower

A persistent virus that affected most yards in Ashburton saw Duncan Howells shut up shop for a fortnight and take stock. He saddles three runners at Greyville this evening and has a chance of getting back on track.

“The break has done the horses good and I have also tweaked a few things so hopefully we will soon be back on track,” he said yesterday.

Accidental Tourist (Candiese Marnewick)

Howells saddles two ex-Charles Laird runners in Good To Give and Buffalo Soldier, both in with chances, but his best chance of a winner could come with the filly Accidental Tourist in the sixth. She loves the poly and although shouldering top weight she has yet to miss a cheque since July last year.

Louis Goosen has also been affected by the virus but has kept firing and Shwanky could prove the biggest threat to the top weight.

Paul Gadsby has been hounding the handicappers for months as far as the rating of Miss Varlicious is concerned and his nagging has had some effect as Miss Varlicious now races off a 72 rating, 17 points lower than November last year, but she still has not made it to the winner’s box again.

She had no chance with the impressive Statute last time out but now looks to be competitive off her new rating.

Good To Give has had one outing since a break and makes her debut for Howells in the fifth. She takes on males but was finishing strongly in her last start over course and distance and with a handy galloping weight should be competitive.

Brian Burnard, had he been at Scottsville on Wednesday would have twice visited the winner’s enclosure, will be anticipating another winner when the unbeaten Sir Bernadini lines up in the seventh. Dennis Bosch’s charge made the jump from maiden win to a MR76, both wins coming on the poly and the Aussie-bred looks to be useful.

Sir Bernardini (Candiese Marnewick)

Howells saddles Buffalo Soldier and the change of scenery could bring out the best in the gelding who has threatened in smart company yet remains a two-time winner. He drops in class this evening and from a good draw rates the biggest threat to Sir Bernadini.

After a relatively quiet spell, Sean Tarry is starting to fire again and Esstoora can make a winning local debut in the card opener. The lightly raced filly has shown up well in two starts on the Vaal inside track and could prove too strong for Rosie Bubbles and So Vain.

In the second, Great Dictator gets another chance to shed his maiden after running up a hat-trick of second placings. The blinkers did not seem to have any effect in his last start over course and distance and they have been removed.

Apprentice Ashton Arries should be back in action after his three-timer last Wednesday was spoilt when parting company with Dancing With Tatum in the last race of the day.

By Andrew Harrison

Nothemba Mlonzi is a relatively unknown name in horse racing circles but her CV outside of the sport is impressive. A self-made woman, who rose from nowhere in rural Transkei to become a respected attorney, an acting High Court Judge, an academic, hotelier, philanthropist, has served on several corporate boards, and made history by establishing the first ever 100% black woman-owned oil plant in South Africa.

The magic touch appears to have also extended to horse racing with her fledgling Mwetwood Stud based in Howick in KZN.

Anthony Delpech

Nathan Kotzen went to R100k for her first yearling sold at Nationals and the daughter of Master Of My Fate scored first time out at Scottsville yesterday as Master Keys, in spite of trying to take the scenic route, took apprentice Lyle Hewitson within two winners of equalling Gavin Lerena’s record as the most winners by an apprentice.

“She’s a light framed filly but has shown us a lot,” said Nathan Kotzen of Master Keys. “I told you she could run,” added former Msinduzi Municipal Manager Rob Haswell in whose colours the filly races.

Master Keys gave Hewitson a testing ride as she race very green and then hung badly in the closing stages before picking off well-backed favourite Oratorina. Watching the ride, it is not surprising that Hewitson is where he is in the national jockey’s pecking order

Prolific owner Brian Burnard had a profitable day with a double, the first in the card opener as Across Seattle took advantage of the absence of the well fancied Mastagambit to record a comfortable win for Mark Dixon.

He was chased by the speedy Eastbrook and Anthony Delpech for much of the race but eventually proved too strong for his rival who was making his debut.

Master Keys is by the freshman stallion Master Of My Fate, a feisty customer when racing, but behaved perfectly on her race course debut. Not so sibling Mastagambit.

The smart looking dark bay, who had been well supported in the ante-post market, appears to have inherited his father’s temperament and simply refused to load. Dennis Drier, who also trained Master Of My Fate, was understandably not impressed with the going on’s at the start.

The Burnard colours were back in the winner’s enclosure in the opening leg of the PA as Minaloushe Venture finally shed his ‘professional maiden’ tag after an enterprising ride from Brandon Lerena. Lerena, a vastly under rated heavy-weight rider, took the initiative early and sent his mount to the front, not to be caught.

Eastbrook had to play second fiddle to Across Seattle in the first but Haylor made amends in the opening leg of the Pick 6 for Karen Anthony. “He’s a horse that has had a lot of problems. But we have taken it easy,” she said after he had skated clear of second-placed Iknow.

Root Beer was the toast of most punters who had banked on him in the exotics and Alyson Wright’s charge obliged with the minimum of fuss.

Popular television presenter Paul Lafferty, on duty for the day, had difficulty interviewing himself but will have been well pleased with his double, Majestic Glory and Sniper Shot, both hitting bull’s eye.

By Andrew Harrison

Featured Image: Dennis Drier (Liesl King)

The Vaal stages a nine race card tomorrow and punters will be looking to boost their bankrolls ahead of the big Guineas meeting on Saturday.

A fillies and mares MR 84 Handicap over 1000m is the headliner. Myfunnyvalentine was a bit outpaced last time over this trip in a race dominated by the speedy Frederico’s Dream, but she flew at the finish and was only 0,9 lengths back in third at the line. The Tarry yard have hit form at last lately and in this weaker field the rangy Captain Al filly can defy topweight of 61kg under regular pilot Lyle Hewitson. Movie Show was also out the back in that aforementioned race but when she began her telling late run she was cramped for room so should have finished closer. She has been in good form as a five-year-old and has won twice over this course and distance. Kissable looked to be a top sprinter in the making as a two-year-old, winning her first two starts over 800m and 1000m respectively by 6,4 and 7,5 lengths.

Lyle Hewitson

However, she then went off the boil and it was only six runs later, after dropping to a 77 merit rating that she managed her third career win. That was also the first time 1,5kg claimer Mpumi Mjoko had ridden her and he is back aboard. She is 4 points up in the merit ratings and her confidence will be up, so she could be a threat. Levi Lady has plenty of speed and is now 2,5kg better off with Kissable for a 1,4 length beating, so should be thereabouts. Daring Diva was among the best two-year-olds of her crop, but she has run well below par in her last two starts. She has dropped to an 85 merit rating from an original mark of 97 so if bouncing back can go close and is worth considering. Singing In Seattle had some good Port Elizabeth form and has not been disgraced in three starts on the Highveld, so she could earn too having been dropped three points in the merit ratings.

Punters should be given a good start with Rivonia Boulevard in the first race over 1200m. Last time out this rangy Count Du Bois colt stayed on well for an excellent third in the Kuda Sprint over 1200m at Kenilworth on Sun Met day. Good horses always contest that race and she will be hard to beat in a much weaker field and with a nice middle draw.

The second will likely see Matanuska being all the rage, but she might have been flattered by her debut where she was making late progress as the time was slow. Generoso is having her 46^th start but if things go her way she can run on quite nicely and she seemed to appreciate the step down from staying trips to 1400m last time and ran third to a promising sort. Hurricane Lass can also go close if settling better than she did last time when fresh from a layoff. Petite Aime could represent place value and Keep It Hot and Sea Like Glass could be quartet considerations.

In the third over 1200m Running Brave kept on finding extra over 1000m on debut despite long odds and a possibly unfavourable low draw, so she looks likely to enjoy this trip and is the one to beat. Riptide showed fine pace on debut over 1000m before displaying signs of inexperience and also getting tired. She was reported to have made a breathing noise which is a concern and her low draw is also a possible worry. However, she should have come on from the run and is tipped to fight out second place with Cloud Break, who stayed on over 1000m on debut.

Gavin Lerena

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Silvano filly Believe Me was not overly impressive second time out when staying on for second over 1200m but in this uninspiring field over a step up in trip she will appreciate she could be a banker. Hartleyone made a fair debut after a slow start but was found to have a hairline fracture and is coming back from a layoff.

It gets tough in leg 2 but Gold Dawn created a good impression last time when running on strongly to win her maiden and Gavin Lerena is up so she can beat Eleni and Moss Gass. Goodness Me and Jamra warrant consideration too.

In the seventh over 1600m Dressed To Impress looks a fair sort in the making and is a banker consideration.

In the eighth over 1400m Momo has dropped to a competitive mark but the low draw might be against her so going as wide as possible is the suggestion, although Shelley, Fish River Canyon, Flowing Gown, Sammi Moosa and Piccadilly Square are the one which make most appeal.

In the last the R1,1million Dynasty filly Kentucky Blue stayed on well over 1200m last time and will relish the step up to 1400m, but the number one draw might be a concern. Son Of A Legend and Hard Ball might also have to be considered. Two Guns and Timkat make most appeal of the higher drawn horses.

By David Thiselton