Nous Voila could be Allan Robertson-bound after putting up a hugely impressive performance to beat the much-vaunted and superbly bred Canukeepitsecret on debut in the TAB Telebet Maiden Juvenile at Kenilworth yesterday.

The Judpot filly, owner-bred by the Niarchos family’s Jagessar, went for home two furlongs out and she found another gear when the favourite came out of the pack to give chase. A length and a quarter was as close as she could get – and seemingly that was without the winner being asked for everything – while the third horse was another four lengths away.

Aldo Domeyer

Aldo Domeyer said: “This filly has shown us a great deal at home and to win in this fashion was impressive. I am really excited about what the future holds.”

Candice Bass-Robinson added: “I think she is a special filly and I might take her to Scottsville for the Allan Robertson. Aldo is keen for her to go for that.”

In the Itsarush.co.za Maiden Juvenile half an hour earlier it was R3.25 million buy Frank Lloyd Wright who stole the thunder even though he was beaten a head by the comparative bargain buy (R100 000) Sailor Sam.

The runner-up looked sure to score inside the final furlong but, fatally for those who backed him at 71-20, the billboards on the inside of the course caught his eye at quite the wrong time.

Justin Snaith said: “Every time he has come here he has looked at those boards. If he had challenged the winner on the other side it would have been a different result. But I was very happy with the run and, while we will have to see how he pulls up, we may earmark him for Durban.”

But back to the Greg Ennion-trained winner. He was the most experienced horse in the field but Corne Orffer said the colt would have won last time had he known him better while Braam van Huyysteen put his money on at 16-1. It must have been a fair bit because the horse was returned at less than half that at 27-40!

The well-supported Deepston put up a performance full of promise in fifth but 17-10 favourite Quick Star was a little disappointing in sixth considering his previous experience..

There was considerable speculation when it was announced shortly before the off that newcomer All Aboard had been scratched because of a “passport discrepancy.” Dean Kannemeyer promptly dismissed suggestions that this could be the wrong horse, pointing out that the correct chip number had been shown when the colt was scanned on arrival from the sales and again when he passed his stalls test.

It was senior stipe Ernie Rodrigues who ordered the scratching and he explained: “The chip scanning shows it is the right horse but the markings are very different from those in the passport and I am mystified why this wasn’t picked up by our people.”

By Michael Clower

The Summerveld dogs have been barking the name Mastagambit for some time now and he finally lines up in the first at Scottsville this afternoon.

Dennis Drier is a veteran of a sport where anything can go wrong at any time so was cautious in his comment. “Nice horse but may be a bit short”.

Mastagambit is a son of the once Drier-trained Master Of My Fate, a hugely talented colt whose feisty temperament gave his trainer many a sleepless night, but if he has imparted any of his talent to Mastagambit, it will take a good one to beat him.

Also in the first race line-up is the son of the smart race-mare Sunshine Lover, bought by one of the shrewdest horsemen around, Barry Irwin. The well-named Bronzed, a son of Oratorio, also opens his account but at the top of the Track & Ball boards yesterday was Across Seattle.

Gunner

Mark Dixon’s runner has had valuable experience over course and distance where he took on winners on debut. He finished a creditable third to the promising Val-La-Ree so Mastagambit will need to be all that he is cracked up to be as experience generally counts for a few extra lengths.

The barrier trial debate rages on relentlessly but their value to punters is not conclusive as at the time of writing they were optional. From Thursday they become compulsory in KZN for all first-timers and horses that have been off the track for 120 days so one should get a clearer picture and with all relevant information available, the form of the trials may work out. The ryder being that punters will need to watch these trials closely as there is no winner or loser, but some trial ‘form’ could prove stronger than others. The value of the trials will be tested again in the opening leg of the PA where Minaloushe Venture is rated way above anything else in what has stacked up into a fairly modest field. Dennis Bosch’s runner is overdue a maiden win and barring a ‘springer’ he should prove difficult to beat. He is the current ante-post favourite at 14-10 but Desert Thief, making his racing debut for Brett Crawford after putting up a prominent showing in a barrier trial, is not short of support at 2-1.

Without the trial, the only public guide would be the betting and the generosity of the connections when approached for first-timer comments.

Crawford’s Western Cape-based stable jockey, Corne Orffer, will be aboard Desert Thief but Anthony Delpech steps aboard the Crawford runner Game Changer in the opening leg of the Pick 6. Game Changer has had two barrier trials, first in his latest effort with steel shoes, and has been priced up 12-10 favourite in the ante post market ahead of Mark Dixon’s runner, Two Stroke, at 33-10.

Surprise package could be the rank outsider Don Pierro. The Gary Rich-trained gelding can be a nightmare getting onto the track in the mornings but once over his tantrums he puts in some decent work.

Don Pierro behaved perfectly in his race course debut and did all that was asked of him. But Rich is still on edge. “That was all new to him so he behaved himself. Now that he knows what’s going on he could start his nonsense again. He has come on from that run so we are holding thumbs.”

Des Egdes hands in his trainer’s licence tomorrow and saddles his last runner in Le Cheik in the fifth. Dessie’s face will be missed after over three decades in the sport but he will be aiming to sign off on a winning note. Le Cheik goes well over course and distance but there are no prisoners in this game and Le Cheik may have to play second fiddle to Alyson’s Wright’s Root Beer who finished three lengths ahead of Le Cheik last time out. It was a reversal of form with Le Cheik having finished ahead of Root Beer at their previous meeting. In a seven-horse field over 2400m, pace will be the crucial factor between winning and losing.

By Andrew Harrison

The Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas is the first leg of the Triple Tiara and the two chief protagonists, Fish River and Folk Dance, both look to be milers so should be going all out on Saturday.

Fish River by Canford Cliffs has stamina limitations on pedigree but Mike de Kock said after her 2,1 length victory in the Grade 3 Three Troikas Stakes over 1400m, in which she found another gear late to win easing up, “On this run she will see out a mile … I think the mile will be her limit though.” De Kock sent her to owners’ Mauritzfontein Stud’s paddocks for a while last year and she came back strengthened and improved. Her penultimate start, when beating older fillies and mares in a handicap over 1400m off an 86 merit rating, was just as impressive as her Three Troikas effort.

Mike De Kock

In her favour on Saturday is her good gatespeed, but the unknown is how well she will settle over this step up in trip from a tricky draw of nine. She did take a keen hold from draw seven in her penultimate start, but last time out responded well when asked to switch off.

Folk Dance is by Tiger Ridge, who has sired a Triple Tiara winner before in Cherry On The Top, but he imparts plenty of speed too and Folk Dance’s female line is also full of speed. Folk Dance is proven over a mile, but she clearly over raced in the early stages of the Grade 3 Fillies Mile from a fair draw of four, before settling upon finding cover and winning easily. She now has a wide draw of eleven and races fresh, so Gavin Lerena might not have an easy task settling her.

Radiant Splendour has been backed so must be highly regarded. She will easily stay this trip on pedigree. She is unbeaten in two starts and second time out when stepped up to 1400m in a handicap she came from last and doddled it. However, she was only racing off a 77 merit rating, so still has a lot to prove. Her good draw will help.

Silver Thursday has a shout from a plum draw. In the Starling Stakes over 1400m last October she came from some way back to run Folk Dance to half-a-length. She was receiving 2kg and Folk Dance was widely drawn, but that trip was too sharp. In the Cape Fillies Guineas she was caught wide throughout from a wide draw. Next time out in the Victress Stakes over 1800m she stayed on strongly from pole position for a decent fifth to some top fillies. The 1800m might be her better trip, but she will love the Turffontein galloping track with its long straight and she will be improving being by Silvano.

Cashel Palace made a bold bid from the front from a wide draw in the Fillies Mile. She hasn’t raced since but is by Fort Wood, so should have strengthened and improved, but she now has the widest draw of all to overcome.

Aurelia Cotta had the run of the race in the Fillies Mile and ran on to pip Cashel Palace for second. She was too far back last time from a wide draw in the CTS Mile but could earn here from a fair draw under Piere Strydom.

Piere Strydom

Takingthepeace and Green Top are both decent sorts who were running on in the Three Troikas for fourth and fifth respectively. Takingthepeace has a long stride and should relish the step up in trip. Green Top is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a SA Fillies Classic winner so should also love the trip, despite her half-brother by Captain Al, Doosra, appearing to prefer shorter than a mile.

Pearl Of Bahrain is an imposing daughter of Western Winter out of the decent staying mare Arabian Pearl and she won her maiden easily second time out after stepping up to 1500m. This is a big step up but she could be anything and she has a fair draw of seven.

Awfaa ran on well after a slow start to win a handicap last time over this trip off a 78 merit rating. She is a classy looking daughter of Silvano so will be improving and is a dark horse, although she has a tricky draw.

Pale Lilac is a big galloping sort who won from start to finish last time over this trip at the Vaal last time so has an ideal pole position draw if this tactic is to be repeated. However, she was running off just a 76 merit rating in that three-year-old fillies handicap so this will be a lot tougher.

Dame Kelly gave Fish River some cheek from a handy position in the Three Troikas but was a well beaten third in the end so has a bit to find.

Rockin Russian will have a point to prove having been left out of the CTS Mile despite running second in the Grade 1 Thekwini over this trip last year. The horse she finished third to in her penultimate start in a Progress Plate over 1400m, Elusive Heart, came out and won the Grade 3 Prix du Cap easily and her second last place in the Majorca was against a top class field, so she should not be written off.

By David Thiselton

Trainer Paul Peter has a strong hand in both the R1-million Gauteng Guineas and the R500,000 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas with Majestic Mambo and Folk Dance respectively. But both will have to overcome wide draws.

Paul Peter (JC Photographics)

Both Gr 2 races will be run over 1600m on the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday. The Guineas is also the first leg of the R2-million SA Triple Crown while the Fillies Guineas is the opening leg of the R1-million Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara. The other races concerned are the R2-million SA Classic and R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, both Grade 1 races over 1800m on April 7, with the final legs – the R2-million SA Derby and R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks – run over 2400m on Saturday, May 5.

There is little doubt unbeaten Majestic Mambo is a Triple Crown contender, especially as he has won all three of his races over 1800m. He has been unextended so far and has done nothing wrong. However, he could battle winning the Guineas from 11 draw. It could be on the sharp side and the field has just 200m to cover before they hit the bend.

Nevertheless, he has been priced up as the 22-10 favourite with Betting World with Surcharge, who is drawn even wider at 14, second favourite at 4-1. Both horses will have top jockeys in the irons with Gunter Wrogemann aboard Majestic Mambo, who cost just R40,000, and Piere Strydom on Surcharge who looks way above average.

Dingaans winner Monks Hood will not have too much work to do early on as he is drawn 7. Anthony Delpech, who has ridden Majestic Mambo in his last two starts, stays with Monks Hood for the Guineas as he has to honour his retainer. Alistair Gordon’s charge looked good in his comeback run at Scottsville two weeks ago and along with Surcharge are the top-rated runners. He is on offer at 6-1.

Sean Tarry has three runners but unfortunately his best performed pair of Big Bear and Wonderwall are drawn widest of all at 15 and 16 respectively. As a result they are on offer at 14-1 and 16-1.

The other two horses in single figures are the impressive Greek Fire from the Mike and Adam Azzie yard and Mike de Kock-trained Royal Crusade who is drawn 1 and has Anton Marcus up.

Monks Hood (Candiese Marnewick)

Betting World have opened Folk Dance and Fish River as joint 5-2 favourites. However, just like Majestic Mambo, Folk Dance is drawn 11. In her favour is that she is ideally distance suited. Gavin Lerena is back in the irons.

Fish River is only slightly better off at 9 but the Mike de Kock-trained filly is in good form right now and has Delpech up.

Unbeaten Radiant Splendour is the “unknown quantity” in this race as she has been impressive in her two wins and is drawn well at 5. Marcus has the ride on Gary Alexander’s charge.

Opening betting:

Gauteng Guineas: 22-10 Majestic Mambo; 4-1 Surcharge; 6-1 Monks Hood; 13-2 Greek Fire; 8-1 Royal Crusade; 14-1 Ideal Secret, Noble Secret; 14-1 Big Bear; 16-1 Wonderwall; 20-1 Vacquero, Puget Sound; 25-1 Cash Time; 40-1 Pietro Mascagni, Silver God; 50-1 State Trooper; 66-1 Alssakhra.

Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas: 5-2 Folk Dance, Fish River; 11-2 Radiant Splendour; 8-1 Silver Thursday; 10-1 Cashel Palace; 12-1 Awfaa; 14-1 Aurelia Cotta, Takingthepeace; 16-1 Dame Kelly; 20-1 Green Top, Pale Lilac; 25-1 Rockin Russian, Pearl Of Bahrain.

– TABnews

The excitement starts early at Kenilworth today when high expectations and high prices get their first real test in the first two races.

No less than 19 of the 26 runners are newcomers and, if the winners come from this group, it would fit the pattern of the Cape Town juvenile scene so far this season. There have been 13 two-year-old races and ten of them have gone to first-timers.

The highest-priced of today’s debutants is Frank Lloyd Wright who made R3.25 million at last year’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale. He was sold by Drakenstein and now races in the colours of Qatar Racing in partnership with Drakenstein. By Captain Al, he is out of a seven-time winner and opened 3-1 favourite for the Itsarush.co.za Maiden when World Sports Betting posted its prices on Saturday.

Silver Coin (Wayne Marks)

“He is the type we could see in the R5 million races next January,” says Jonathan Snaith who is wary of predicting victory as he points out that the stable has not won a two-year-old race this season. “This colt is inexperienced but he should run into the money and we will be disappointed if he doesn’t.”

But seemingly he will have to go to beat Quick Star who was backed down to 4-1 second favourite when fourth on debut in the Kuda Sprint on Met day. Admittedly he was beaten over seven lengths but seemingly the money for him had a solid foundation.

“He is a serious horse and we thought he had a big chance that day,” recalls Glen Kotzen who predicts: “He should be hard to beat.”

He has been backed from 4-1 to 22-10 joint favourite with the Vaughan Marshall-trained Var colt Deepston. Marshall has won four juvenile races this term and all four scored first time out. This one has been backed from an opening 9-2.

Candice Bass-Robinson won with a number of first-timers last season and her two juvenile winners this term were both newcomers. She runs the What A Winter colt Sacred Arrow, a R250 000 buy. “He is ready to run but I am not expecting him to win first time,” is her verdict on the 10-1 chance.

Joey Ramsden has won four juvenile races but only two were newcomers. The Var colt Carnage showed enough first time to suggest he could get into the shake-up but he has drifted from 9-1 to 14-1.

Sailor Sam (10-1) is the most experienced and was only beaten a neck last time. “”He is well and he should again run well,” says Greg Ennion.

Greg Ennion

Quick Star gets the vote and in the TAB Telebet Maiden Juvenile half an hour later the Marshall runner Canukeepitsecret looks the pick. She comes from the prolific-scoring Mystic Spring family and is a Captain Al filly out of the Sceptre and Southern Cross winner Secret Of Victoria, already the dam of All Is Secret and The Secret Is Out. “She is on the list for Durban,” says Marshall. She opened favourite at 16-10 and was 14-10 yesterday.

European Roller (4-1) has finished closest but Kotzen’s Princess Elsa (backed from 3-1 to 16-10) ran in the Listed race on Met day and, judging by the money for her, she is expected to go close.

Mrs Robinson runs four newcomers with stable jockey Aldo Domeyer on the 6-1 Judpot filly Nous Voila – “She should have run earlier but she was coughing. She is very nice and I think she will run well,” says her trainer.

Corne Orffer can bounce back from last Saturday’s sickness to win the Tabonline.co.za Maiden on 12-10 favourite Miss Smarty Pants although stable companion Capital Q is joint second favourite at 5-1 with Blue Flower.

Chatuchak has gone close in his last two and is understandably favourite at 22-10 for race four but slight preference is for Sark at 28-10.

Silver Coin, last in the Cape Derby, heads the market at 3-1 for the Play Soccer Handicap but he could be hard pressed to beat top weight Bobby Dazzler who might well have won at Durbanville last time had he got away on terms.

By Michael Clower