The Greyville poly track does not suit some horses and Parabola (8-1) was a case in point when she caused an upset in the GCC Fast Tracked Handicap at Scottsville yesterday.

“I think it was the switch to turf,” said Peter Muscutt, who saddled first and second in a tight finish, the more fancied Super Sparkle touched off a hairs-breadth.

“She was wheel-spinning on the poly,” added Muscutt.

Parabola was all at sea on her poly debut but apprentice Craig Bantam rode a confident race to narrowly get the better of the stable companion.

However, it was back to the drawing boards for Gauteng Guineas hopeful Fiorella who was having her prep run for the race early next month.

Dropped out to last in the early exchanges, Marco van Rensburg switched her in for a run down the home straight and Fiorella moved past the field in a canter. However, when pressed for an effort, there was nothing to come. “I moved through like she was going to win easily but when I asked her she did not give me the kick I expected,” said the jockey.

Ashburton trainers have been plagued by a low-grade virus over the past couple of months which may account for some below par performances from fancied runners.

“It’s no good pressing the issue,” said an obviously disappointed Duncan Howells. “You are just going to mess up a good horse so it will be back to basics.”

Two others not likely to make the trip to Jo’burg on March 3 are Frank Robinson’s pair of Roy’s Had Enough and Roy’s Riviera. “It’s not hundred percent at his stage but I think we will skip the Guineas and maybe go for the others (races in the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara)”.

“The Triple Crown can take it out of a horse, look at Abashiri, and none of those horses behind him in the Derby have been the same.”

“I might just go for the Derby. Alistair’s horse (Monks Hood) won so well, I don’t know if we will have a chance against him.”

It was a tough day for the starters and their assistants with the afternoon getting off to a bad beginning when Burning Love tried to duck under the gate, damaging both herself and the gate, and having to be scratched. She was followed by Volitaire who refused to load.

In the second, Captain’s Girl loaded first time but according to apprentice Eric Ngwane, his scull cap hit one of the posts and the vet, thinking that the horse had injured herself, called for the filly to be backed out and checked.

From there on the re-loading of the filly became a shambles as the starters assitants danced around like headless chickens and Captain’s Girl was eventually scratched from the race. Trainer Louis Goosen was less than complimentary about the incident – his comments mostly unprintable.

After all the drama, the race was won in fine fashion by the smart filly Vision To Kill, also a victim of the Ashburton virus. “She was really hard hit,” revealed the trainer’s wife, Beth Gadsby.

“I think she was only 70 to 80% fit,” said Paul Gadsby. “But she often comes back from her races with some heat in a her knee and you have to give her two or three weeks off.”

“You can’t keep grinding her. It’s a bit of a balancing act.”

There are no immediate plans for the filly but Gadsby has his eye on the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint in May.

Deshone Steyn, long-time assistant to Sean Tarry in KZN, has called time on his assistant trainer’s license and starts out on his own at the Vaal next month.

“I’ve had 12 years with Sean and I think that’s enough. It’s just the right time,” he said yesterday. Steyn was active at the Shongweni Sale on Tuesday. “I have 10 nice horses to start with. I am serving out my notice and will slowly move to the Vaal. All my family are up there – I’m just not looking forward to the cold weather.”

By Andrew Harrison

There is a full card of ten races on the Vaal Outside track tomorrow and there look to be one of two opportunities for punters.

In the first race over 1200m Silver Spine can boost the bankroll before the exotic bets start. This gelding is by Silvano out of the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Sparkling Gem and he looks the part. He is a rangy sort and was probably only undone  by the unfavourable high draw last time over this trip on the Vaal Inside track. He showed pace throughout and was caught by the late-charging Seventh Son. He should have come on from that run. He has another high draw and although this used to be an advantage on the Outside course, this is no longer the case. However, it does not appear to be a disadvantage. The main danger is King Of The Bay, who went close over the Vaal Inside track 1200m last time, also from an unfavourable draw. The form of that race has been franked by the runner up State Trooper, who has come out and won twice since. The first-timer Limestone Mass can’t be ignored being by Rock Of Gibralatar and a half-brother to a Listed winner.

The second race over 1200m is intriguing, as there are no standout horses. Quick Glimpse is the selection as she showed pace over this trip back in September and drops back to it after a couple of races over 1400m, including going close last time. Peppermint Tea had a wall of horses in front of her last time over 1000m, so had to switch inward and was making up some ground late. She looks a fair sort and will likely relish the step up in trip. Ticktacktoe stayed on well for second in yielding going over 1160m last time. The concern is she was already a four-year-old when making her debut and she had to pushed along for almost the entire race. However, if the latter fact was just due to inexperience, rather than a lack of pace, she should be right there.

The first leg of the PA over 1400m should be fought out by two progressive Silvano fillies, Amanika and Believe Me. However, the former is the more imposing looking of them and is tipped to win and be a banker for the PA.

In the next race it is easy to see why Kentucky Blue cost over a million rand on the looks front and he is chosen as a Pick 6 banker. He started awkwardly last time over 1200m but was stretching out well at the line for a fast-finishing 1,75 length fifth. Being by Dynasty he will be improving and will relish the step up in trip. Dreamsaremadeof, who nearly made all at Greyville last time over 1600m, and What A Story, who chased home a promising sort over 1200m last time and should enjoy this trip, are the dangers.

The handicaps start in the first leg of the Jackpot, where Emily Jay could make it four-in-a-row having lately begun fulfilling the talent she has always had. She has also proven suited to the drop down to 1400m and a mile and can defy the handicapper again with Lyle Hewitson remaining aboard. Alileo and Sylvan On Fire should also be in the shake up. Tammany Hall is an eyecatching daughter of the good sire Await the Dawn, so can’t be ignored in her comeback run. Maleficent once looked destined for big things so has to be considered in her second run after a long layoff.

The next race is open and going wide is advised, although Shelly ran well over this trip last time and now has Strydom up off a one point lowered mark.

In the seventh, Well Connected is in fine form and should be improving being by Silvano so is tipped to beat Boatswain, Pillaroftheearth, Baahir and Seven Lives.

The last leg of the Jackpot is tricky but Mademoiselle won well on debut despite playing up a bit in the preliminaries, so she can follow up off a reasonable 72 merit rating and can beat Opera, Shifting Shadows, Amajory and Moggie Brown.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is a lower division sprint and all of Thewaywemakem, Seventh Son, Supanova, Bling Ball, King Of Mani and King Of Shaka are suggested for the Pick 6, although going wider if possible would be even better.

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith looks at first sight to be running away with the National Trainers Championships, as he was unofficially R6,777,525 clear of defending champion Sean Tarry at time of going to press and more than R10 million clear of Mike de Kock.

However, a look at which stage of the season these three trainers earn their money shows that the championship is in fact still very much alive.

Sean Tarry has earned over R10 million in each of the last three Highveld Autumn seasons and Mike de Kock has earned huge amounts in two of those three Autumn seasons too. This pair could close the gap on Snaith, who has earned between R8 million and R10 million less than Tarry during this phase of the season for the last three years. However, Snaith looks the strongest of the trio for the SA Champions Season and this is outlined by the record amounts he earned during the Cape Summer, so he will still be the firm favourite.

The season can be divided into four segments. Segment 1 is from August up to and including the Sansui Summer Cup meeting (incorporates Highveld Spring Season); Segment 2 is from the beginning of December up to and including the Sun Met meeting (incorporates Cape Summer Season); The third segment runs from February up to and including the country’s richest race meeting, Champions Day at Turffontein (incorporates Highveld Autumn Season); Segment 4 is the remainder of the season (incorporates SA Champions Season).

In 2015 the Gold Cup was run on August 1, so that will be included within the 2014/2015 statistics.

In the tables below the sequential numbers represent segment 1, segment 2, segment 3 and segment 4 figures plus the season total.

Mike de Kock was champion in the 2012/2013 season and the segmental figures for that season were as follows:

De Kock: R4,562,212.50; R2,327,375; R3,734,825; R6,241,900 = R16,866,312.50

Tarry: R4,290,100; R2,018,525; R4,969,825; R5,701,062 = R16,517,350

Snaith: R3,732,585; R2,280,675; R2,229,500; R5,238,900 = R13,943,822.50

Snaith was the champion in the 2013/2014 season.

Snaith: R4,142,275; R4,217,875; R2,406,112.50; R8,724,462.50 = R19,490,725.00

Tarry: R3,363,600.00; R3,106,287.50; R4,665,125; R3,392,650 = R14,527,662.50 (3^rd)

De Kock: R3,110,687.50; R1,785,437.50; R3,654,175; R4,620,475 = R13,170,775.00 (4^th)

Tarry was the champion in the 2014/2015 season (August 1, 2015 figures included):

Tarry: R5,755,500; R3,961,925; R10,760,575; R5,526,525 = R26,004,525.00

De Kock: R5,330,162.50; R4,589,150; R6,174,075; R4,448,325 = R20,541.712.50

Snaith: R4,751,950; R3,543,712; R2,582,175; R6,174,525 = R17,052,362.50

Tarry was champion in the 2015/2016 season (August 1, 2015, figures excluded):

Tarry: R5,259,812.50; R4,954,525; R12,932,925; R4,772,725 = R27,919,987.50

Snaith: R5,764,025; R4,735,237.50; R2,081,887.50; R5,770,837.50 = R18,351,987.50 (3^rd)

De Kock: R4,527,300; R2,453,800; R2,758,175; R3,796,150 = R13,535,425.00 (4^th)

Tarry was champion in the 2016/2017 season:

Tarry: R7,741,675; R8,414,525; R10,289,075; R9,598,525 = R36,043,800

Snaith: R6,376,825; R5,513,775; R3,016,825; R6,203,425 = R21,110,850

De Kock: R3,440,775.00; R2,487,550.00; R8,677,250; R1,876,650 = R16,482,225 (5^th)

For the first two segments this season the figures read:

Snaith:R5,807,600; R12,167,200 = R17,974,800

Tarry: R5,516,650; R5,165,550 = R10,682,200 (3^rd)

De Kock: R4,296,000; R2,329,450 = R6,625,450 (5^th)

*Please note that all of these figures include restricted race stakes, which currently are officially not included in the Trainer’s Championship.

By David Thiselton

The 2016 Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner Mac De Lago will have his first start for Dan Katz in the Jet Master Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday week.

The six-year-old, who carries the colours of Hassen Adams, went to take third in the Vodacom Durban July for Weiho Marwing but rather lost his way this season and last, only making the frame once when fourth of seven behind Romany Prince in the London News Stakes 13 months ago.

Katz said yesterday: “He was a very good horse but he seemed a bit disinterested in his last couple of runs and came to me about three months ago. He has had a lot of small niggles and aches and pains that we have been working though while we try to get his mind back on racing to see if we can rejuvenate his career.

“He is enjoying himself at the moment and seems a happy horse. He should be able to show us that he still wants to do it in the Jet Master. Greg Cheyne rides.”

Joey Ramsden yesterday confirmed that his Klawervlei Majorca third Rose In Bloom will run in the Vasco Prix Du Cap on the same card.

He said: “She has improved but she has been pretty consistent all season and I thought her sixth from a wide draw in the Cape Fillies Guineas was also pretty special.”

Ramsden, bidding for his sixth Prix Du Cap in the last 14 seasons, has also nominated last season’s Fillies Guineas winner Just Sensual who won this 12 months ago but disappointed in the Majorca. No decision has yet been made on whether she runs.

By Michael Clower

Fiorella’s participation in the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas hangs in the balance after she drew 20 out of 23 when the computer spat out the draws at nominations on Monday. The first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara will be run at Turffontein on Saturday, March 3, and a lot may depend on how the daughter of Captain Al performs at Scottsville this afternoon where she is due to run in the GCC Fast Tracked Handicap over 1600m.

Fiorella carries top weight in a competitive handicap and given a good showing, Duncan Howells may well be tempted to let his filly take her chances in the Fillies Guineas in spite of the draw – after all there is only one crack at the classic.

Fiorella was a game winner when getting the better of luckless stable companion Dawn Calling at Scottsville last month and although well beaten by Hastagyolo in the Flamboyant Stakes, it was more of a warm-up after running Dean Kannemeyer’s highly rated filly to within two lengths prior to that.

Kannemeyer has not had much luck with barrier draws in feature races recently with Last Winter drawing 20 in the Sun Met and Hashtagyolo pulling one gate further out than Fiorella in the Fillies Guineas.

But Hastagyolo is a definite runner and Kannemeyer has already booked Piere Strydom.

Hashtagyolo was ridden by Anthony Delpech in all of her three wins from three starts in KZN, but due to contractual commitments, Kannemeyer was obliged to find a new rider.

“I was extremely pleased to secure the services of Piere Strydom to ride this very promising filly in Anthony’s absence,” said Kannemeyer. “She has been in Johannesburg a few weeks and has settled well. She did some pace work over 800m last week. She will be given a gallop at Turffontein over 1400m about ten days before the big race. All going well, she will be aimed at the Triple Tiara. She is a filly who is looking for ground,” he added.

A further plus in Fiorella’s favour today is that her last win came in soft ground and the forecast for Scottsville today does appear to be damp and with the Greyville poly currently undergoing a revamp, there is no chance of a venue change.

Fiorella’s obvious danger is likely to be Kannemeyer’s filly Pearl Glow, a winner of two of her last three outings and a close-up second to the useful Ideal Winter last time out. Only once out of the money in six outings, she should give Kannemeyer and Howells an inkling to where they are headed.

Sunset Eyes will be looking for a hattrick of win in the GCC Takeover Handicap but is up against some smart younger horses in the form of Varallo, Ryker and Sniper Shot.

Sunset Eyes has come well since his move to Brett Crawford’s KZN satellite yard where he arrived a one-time winner from a dozen outings. He gave notice of his improvement first time out and has since built on that showing with two smart wins.

He does face a much stiffer task this afternoon and Ryker and Varallo will be no push-overs.

Ryker disappointed behind Sunset Eyes at their last outing, finishing last of the seven runners, but it was a well below par performance judged on his earlier form. He is now 3g better off, given apprentice Denis Schwarz’s 1.5kg claim, and he should come up with a better showing this afternoon.

Varallo gives weight to the field and boast some smart form in useful company. However, he has not been out since early December and this will be his second outing for Dennis Bosch. It will also be his first start since gelding so he may be just short of a gallop.

By Andrew Harrison