Andrew Harrison

VALIENTE is something of a poly specialist but faces a stiff task from the widest draw when he lines up in the seventh at Hollywoodbets Greyville on a difficult card today.

According to Peter Muscutt his charge has plenty of ability but does have his quirks. He was due to run at Hollywoodbets Scottsville at his last outing with a cheek piece on his left side to prevent him looking at the grandstand, a trait that Muscutt was at a loss to explain.

The cheek piece came off when the meeting was switched to the Greyville poly and Valiente showed just what he is capable off, making all the running and winning rather comfortably.

He copped a four-point penalty for that win but still looks good enough to have the wood on Kings Road with his trainer, Clinton Binda, having to cast around for another 4kg claimer after Gabriel Pieterse was side-lined with a bruised knee after a fall last week.

Shinnecock got the better of Spydas Corner last run and although that form has not been franked this is his third run after a break. It is best to ignore Saviour’s last run as he has good form over the trip and poly could suit.

But the list of possible winners is a long one. Di Mazzio is a seasoned veteran back over his preferred course and distance while Tonightsfightnight and Ace Of Spades cannot be written off lightly.

The card opener could be tricky. Paul Peter’s runner Greenhill has improved with each outing and looks ready although Warren Kennedy has jumped ship to partner first timer Mr Cat for his usual KZN stable so the betting should be an indicator here. Zuberi has shown some improvement back on the poly although he has had a few chances while Ownyourfate can do better than form would suggest. English Princess, fresh from her visit to the ocean last week, takes on males but has not been far back at recent outings.

In the second, Varvacious should give you a run for your money. She was not far back behind Star Act at her last start who has since franked the form that looks fairly solid. Things have been made a little easier with the scratching of My Big Vision My Big Vision but Sabrina Fairchild showed good pace when tried in blinkers for the first time and the switch to the poly could bring out her best.

The third could develop into a three-way contest. Global Appeal goes well this trip and enjoys the poly. Soller has been runner up in last three and also goes well on the poly and rates a strong chance. The visiting Amplify found some market support in a work rider’s race on the Highveld and should to come on from that. 

The fourth is a difficult handicap. The Pat Lunn-trained Matadora’s Parade has consistent form over shorter but her pedigree suggests that she can do better this trip.  Aalsmeer comes from an inform stable has shown good recent form over a touch shorter but should enjoy the extra now from a much better draw. Sekhmet has been taking on stronger of late and from a good drawn she must have a big chance.

Yet to show.

In the fifth, Rock Flight has been knocking on the door for some time now. She may prefer this shorter trip and looks the right one here. However, the Highveld raiders are always ones to watch out for and Offsides could be a big threat to a horse who always seems to find one or two too better. Bells And Whistles is another that has been knocking at the door.

In another difficult race, Lunn could be chasing a double in the sixth as Tromso has been the model of consistency and is due a change of fortune. He goes well on the poly and the extra should suit. Psycho King has come good at recent starts while Lord Of The Manor battled from a wide draw and cheekpieces last run. He has the best of the draw here and the cheekpieces are off. Hey Bill had it tough from a wide draw last run and that form has panned out very well so he must have a strong chance.

The last is another tricky puzzle with plenty of runners in with chances. However, Purple Merchant is unbeaten in two and although returning from a four-month break she shows plenty of promise. She has risen in the ratings but does look to be a little bit special. Wildly In Love won a closely contested handicap in stronger company last outing and loves this surface. The handicappers appear to have got the measure of Glitter And Gold but she is still in good form. Suzi Woo comes from an in form stable and although she will prefer further the blinkers go on. Diamonds And Dust tries for a hat-trick of wins and did beat males last time out.

David Thiselton

UNDERRATED trainer David Nieuwenhuizen has become more and more prominent despite working largely with horses purchased in a lower price bracket but he might be willing to increase his sales budget after his Oratorio filly Gifted Gal won on debut over 1160m at Turffontein on Saturday in eyecatching style under Gavin Lerena.

In the process the Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm broodmare Academia achieved the unusual feat of having a third debut winner, whilst her only other two runners to date both won early in their careers too.

Nieuwenhuizen said about Gifted Gal, “She showed a lot of promise from day one and myself and owners Stergio and Fred were confident of a big run. Gavin had ridden her work and was very happy to take the ride. I would have preferred to start her over 1000m but the only 1000m event available was going to be too close to the SA Fillies Nursery so we took the risk and ran her here.”

The connections were confident she could beat the exposed horses on Saturday but the other risk they took was running her in a field which was full of unknown first-timers, one of whom was backed into favourite.

However, Gifted Gal, who was backed from 7/1 into 5/2, proved up to the task. After breaking well from a favourable high draw of ten she was up with the early pace before hitting the front 800m out. She quickened well at the 400m mark to keep the most fancied of the exposed horses, Hollywoodbound, at bay. She then dug down in the last 100 metres to repel the challenger Freed From Desire, although she did hang inward.

Nieuwenhuizen said, “She is a very sensible filly and I think that is what won her the race, although she was a bit green in the latter stages. We don’t take everything out of them first time out and we leave a lot in reserve. She is sound and beautifully put together, her conformation is excellent, Pippa always breeds a good solid horse.”

Nieuwenhuizen in fact thanked Mickelburgh profusely in the post-race interview.

Mickelburgh had been disappointed when Gifted Gal went through the ring unsold at the National Yearling Sales last year but she was not altogether surprised as she was the second lot and the venue was still relatively empty.

However, she was later having a cup of tea with Nieuwenhuizen as he had bought an Avontuur Var filly for R80,000.

Pippa then told him that as a proven good trainer it was time he risked buying more expensive, better bred horses as he would not always be able to rely on the Cindarella-like stories of the R10,000 purchase Virgo’s Babe, who won him the Grade 2 SA Fillies Nursery.

She suggested Gifted Gal as a good starting point.

David was reluctant but his wife Heather and daughter Nicole joined forces with Pippa in persuading him.

David recalled, “Pippa thought the filly would be nice blood for the yard and it is difficult to say no when three women are pressurising you! But now I thank them for doing so!”

David forked out R250,000, the most expensive horse he has ever bought, and then set about putting ownership together.

He said. “When they are better bred it is easier to put them together.”

He approached Stergio Poriazis, who part-owns Nieuwenhuizen’s Grade 3 winner Mill Queen among others.

Stergio said, “I am a very loyal patron of David’s, I am very happy with him. He is honest and transparent and he told me he thought he had a special filly. I got a partner involved, Fred van Wyk. This mare obviously throws very forward fillies but let’s see, we hope we have fun with her.”

Pretoria-based Stergio entered horseracing as a punter roundabout 35 years ago as a 19 year-old and began owning horses five to six years ago. Mill Queen, who is by Querari and won the 2019 Grade 2 Starling Stakes, was not his first stakes winner as he also part-owned the Gavin Smith-trained Querari filly Joker, who won the 2017 Listed Dahlia Plate.

Fred van Wyk has been in ownership since 2007 but this is the first horse he has had with Nieuwenhuizen.

Academia’s first foal, the Vaughan Marshall-trained Var colt Valedictorian, won his debut over 1000m at Kenilworth by 4,25 lengths and followed up by finishing a 2,20 length fourth in a Graduation Plate over 1000m won by subsequent Equus Champion Sprinter Kasimir with Speedpoint second. Unfortunately, Valedictorian was destined to only have one more run, an unplaced effort at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

Academia’s second foal, the Var colt Top Of The Class, was also trained by Marshall and beat the top class Twist Of Fate by half-a-length on his debut over 1000m at Durbanville. He failed to win another race, although he did finish third in a Listed race, and is now retired.

The respective third and fourth foals, the Marshall-trained Var colt Tutorial and the Lezeanne Forbes-trained Captain Of All filly Mind Set, both won third time out, although the former has been retired as a one-time winner.

Mickelburgh said, “I am delighted for David and the owners and hope Gifted Gal goes on.”

Nieuwenhuizen was looking at a 1100m preparation run for Gifted Gal going into the SA Fillies Nursery on May 1 but said he was concerned because at this stage it looked like the race might not stand up.  

David Thiselton 

REIGNING national Champion Trainer Sean Tarry had a fine day at Turffontein Standside on Saturday, winning four races including both features. His first call jockey Lyle Hewitson rode both feature winners and scored a treble on the day.

The Klawervlei Stud-bred Tropic Sun cruised to victory in the Grade 3 Sycamore Sprint and this left collateral form studiers excited about some other Highveld sprinters, particularly Sweet Future and Mind Reader.  

On Saturday, Tropic Sun proved she was a lot better than the 96 merit rating she ran off in the handicap event over 1160m. She did admittedly have the probable advantage of an extreme outside draw but after pinging the gates she showed excellent natural pace and only Winter Smoke, who had the disadvantage of a low draw, could match her. Lyle Hewitson just had to give Tropic Sun a couple of backhanders late in the race to keep up her concentration. She beat the closer Rio’s Winter, from whom she received 4kg, by two lengths, and the pacey Winter Smoke, from whom she received 4,5kg, by four lengths.

Tropic Sun treated the rest of the field with as much contempt as Sweet Future had treated her last time. The latter received 2kg from Tropic Sun over 1000m on February 27 and beat her easing up by 3,85 lengths. 

On the other hand Tropic Sun likely stepped up a notch from that run and on a line through All Of Me she certainly did, as she beat All Of Me by 1,90 lengths in the 1000m event and beat her by 6,70 lengths yesterday.

Mind Reader is an interesting 1000m filly who keeps on defying the handicapper. All Of Me was placed fourth despite being 1kg under sufferance, so it was a good performance and Mind Reader beat her by 1,05 lengths last time over 1000m when receiving just 1,5kg, so she looks one to continue following.

Tropic Sun gives the former Tarry-trained Jet Master entire Skitt Skizzle his second stakes winner at stud. This is an outstanding feat for a stallion who never won a stakes race himself and who got just a handful of mares in his first few seasons. 

Tarry’s Al Adiyaat South Africa-owned and bred Seehaam, was also impressive in winning the Listed Jacaranda Handicap over 1800m by five lengths.

The Vercingetorix filly looked likely to get the trip being out of Al Mufti mare Alderry, who won the Grade 2 November Handicap over 1600m and finished a three length second in the Jacaranda with topweight and a three length third in the Grade 2 level weights Gerald Rosenberg over 2000m. Seehaam also gave the impression she would see out this trip in her previous start when staying on for a 3,75 length fifth in the Listed Acacia Handicap over 1600m, which was run in course record time on the Vaal Classic track. She was under sufferance in the latter race so was given a three point raise but it did not stop her doddling yesterday’s race off a 90 merit rating carrying 52,5kg.

Hewitson had her one wide with cover in a handy position after jumping from a plum draw of two and after letting her go at the 400m mark the good looking bay pulled clear effortlessly. Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic fourth-placed Sparkling Water stayed on for second narrowly ahead of the 81-rated Fort Anne. 

Seehaam has substance and can continue to progress. The Gerald Rosenberg on May 1 looks like her next logical step, although it is a weight for age plus Grade 1 and Grade 2 penalties race which will give her a harder task.

Earlier in the meeting there was a notable achievement by Avontuur Stud mare Academia. When the David Nieuwenhuizen-trained Oratorio filly Gifted Gal won the third race over 1160m under Gavin Lerena she became the third of Academia’s four runners to date to win on debut.

Andrew Harrison

DENNIS DRIER, back from his extended stay in Cape Town, will be keen to get the ball rolling back on home soil and can start with Princess Anastasia. Drier has set her a stiff task first up out of the maidens when she lines up in the sixth on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday but she could well prove up to the task.

Princess Anastasia boasts a blue-blood pedigree but one that suggested that she should enjoy a stretch in trip which possibly accounted for her winning at long odds at second time of asking.

She made a modest debut over the Greyville short cut in soft ground which gave little indication of her chances at her second start at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. She galloped in the pack for most of the journey before Tristan Godden released the handbrake. Her response was instant and she swept clear of the opposition to win as she liked.

Princess Anastasia takes a jump in class on Monday but also, given current evidence, should be more at home over the 1600m trip. She takes on a useful field and makes her poly debut but looks up to the task at hand.

Her biggest threat could come in the form of Quickstep Lady. Western Cape-based Andre Nel has sent her up to Byron Forster at Summerveld for what could be a tilt at some of the Champions Season features and her Cape form is not too shabby.

Although only successful in a maiden in 15 starts, she has finished runner-up on seven occasions. She makes her poly debut but also takes a drop in class.

In the first race, Johan Janse van Vuuren saddles West Coast Lover who has come on nicely at recent outings and has his third run after a break and a smart showing over the Turffontein 1400m. He should be ideally suited to this course and distance and although facing some consistent older maidens he should have enough to win this. Seventh Song is seldom far back and was narrowly beaten over course and distance last run while the lightly raced Boardmaster made a promising debut at long odds and the experience should count in his favour.

The second is an open handicap and it may prove prudent to go wide in any exotics. Alphamikefoxtrot was not far back to stronger on the turf last outing but his best recent form has been on the poly over this trip. Leslies Pathtofame made sudden improvement in a tough race last start and a repeat can see him go one better while Precious Love and Running Freely can surprise.

It is never easy winning first run out of the maidens but Moobheera, having only her second start and first run for the Paul and Beth Gadsby stable, won well enough suggest that she is good enough to follow up in this company. Mark Dixon has persisted with She’s A Dream and has been trying her over further. She is back over what may well prove to be her preferred trip and she showed improvement when back in weaker company last run. She has also tumbled down the ratings. Purple Nkanyezi has a tricky draw but showed up well when taking a drop in class last start. She got a two-point raise for that effort but has a chance in spite of a wide draw.

The fourth is another difficult filly’s handicap. Capriccio has not been out of the money since shedding her maiden over course and distance and a second win would not be out of turn. Abbey Wood is a recent maiden winner but has shown some promise and goes well over this trip while Bell Jar is not the biggest but seldom runs a poor race. She has been close-up at her last two. Fire Faerie has the widest draw but is consistent and has gone close to stronger.

The card doesn’t get any easier in the fifth but Fireonthetrack has shown up well in his last two starts on the poly. With a four-claiming apprentice up he should make a bold bid. Smart Sox has taken to the poly of late and has been close-up at his last two. He takes a small rise in class but looks good enough to feature prominently. Tiger Tank was a well-beaten fourth last run but is re-united with his regular pilot and from a plum draw can go close. Legislate’s Dance and Mambo Symphony are others to consider.

In the seventh, Mexican Catdance makes some appeal as he has been holding form since his maiden win. He has the best of the draw and the extra should suit. Tarzan has had one outing since a break and showed up well in a competitive sprint. He will prefer this trip and should be a big runner. Major Return has been up against stronger on the Highveld. New stable and is one to watch. Lightning Spirit and Parktown are others to watch.

Louise Goosen can round off the afternoon with Rubondo who made marked improvement last run with a first-time tongue-tie. Deon Sampson has been ‘imported’ to ride. Tienie Prinsloo had success last Monday with Foxy Lady and he saddles the luckless Montana Sky who seldom cracks a decent draw and has another to contend with. Jarred Samuel may well have had success with his objection against Secret Is Ours if he had finished a little closer and one better here would be just reward. Alfredo is always thereabouts and has run his best race over course and distance when allowed to bowl along while Guiseppi’s Song showed up well first run on the poly. Lightly raced he could surprise.

David Thiselton

The Adam Marcus-trained Equus Champion Miler Vardy will miss the SA Champions Season but should soon be able to start light work on the long road to getting him back to his best.

Meanwhile, his Grade 1-winning stablemate Mississippi Burning departs for a stud career in Australia today, whilst the hard-knocking Grade 1 performer Princess Calla is residing at her owner Mario Ferreira’s private KZN establishment and enjoying her work across the road at Summerveld.

Vardy was found to have a small lesion on his suspensory branch while preparing for the Cape Summer Season.

Fortunately, the yard picked it up immediately from the heat and swelling, so it not a career ending injury.

The five-year-old Var gelding has returned from injury before and it did not stop him from performing at the highest level.

After beating One World in the Grade 3 Winter Classic he had an operation to remove chips from both his near fore knee and his off fore fetlock joint. He came back to win both the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes and Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, beating big guns of the like of One World, Rainbow Bridge, Hawwaam, Do It Again, Undercover Agent and Twist Of Fate.

The suspensory lesion was scanned again two months after its discovery and the veterinarian advised he could up his exercise routine from walking to trotting. Marcus always adds two weeks before carrying out veterinary advice to up his work routine.

He said, “There is no rush so we just give him the benefit of any doubt.”

Vardy has been trotting for two months and the next scan is now due. It is hoped he will then be able to resume light work, which will gradually be increased.  

Princess Calla is being ridden work by Anton Marcus at Summerveld. 

Adam expects her comeback run to be in the Grade 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m at Scottsville on April 4. He said this was the natural stepping stone race into the Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas. He said there were many options open to a filly during the SA Champions Season so the connections could afford to take it one step at a time. He felt the 2200m of the Vodacom Durban July might stretch her at this stage. However, he added considering the light weight a three-year-old filly would carry participation was not out of the question, although he said any thoughts of this were yet to be discussed by the connections.  

Adam will raid the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint with Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem runner up Hello Winter Hello before she retires to stud. She is not the soundest so prefers the Cape Town training tracks and rings which consist of natural sand and are thus softer.