The speedy Kingston Passage looks made for Durbanville and Greg Cheyne’s mount is a confident selection for the TAB Telebet Handicap when Cape Town racing briefly returns to the country course tomorrow.

This is to allow time for all the Met-day marquees to be taken down and removed from Kenilworth.   A year ago, when Durbanville was out of action, there was no racing in the Cape for a fortnight.

Kingston Boy

But back to Kingston Passage. He hasn’t raced here before but he is blisteringly fast early and he should be able to build up a decisive lead by the time he turns for home. He won three in a row last season in this sort of burn-them-off-quick style and this is his third run of the campaign after going close in the first two.

He opened 18-10 favourite with World Sports Betting on Wednesday and he could have most to fear from 15-2 shot Pillar Of Hercules. Ignore his run last Saturday – he got himself worked up in the pens – but on his previous outing he finished only three-quarters of a length behind Kingston Passage despite not getting a clear run and he is a kilo better.

Love To Boogie is second favourite at 7-2 but he has been off for six months and the stable is still battling with virus issues. Northern Corner (9-2) has been upped five points for last time’s neck win. Al Wahed (11-2) hasn’t raced for 12 weeks. Prince Alfred (5-1) was very disappointing last time and the course vet could find nothing wrong while 16-1 rank outsider Tar Heel was over six lengths behind the selection four weeks ago and is only a kilo better.

Never bet first time out of the maidens is a maxim that has benefitted punters time and time again but there was a lot of talk about Indian Song when she won very easily here on debut last month despite losing a fair bit of ground at the start. She may not have beaten much but she impressed and her 71 rating shouldn’t stop her at 5-2 in the Racing Association Handicap.

Aldo Domeyer, who rides her, has several fancied mounts and he can start off on a winning note with odds-on shot Flower Of Carmel.  But watch out for 6-1 chance Jeovana who, although a bit disappointing last time in the race won by subsequent winner Marion Belle, finished over three lengths in front of Flower Of Carmel at Kenilworth previously.

Star Burst (19-10) may just get the better of Arctic Siren and Bendy Bullet in the Tabonline Maiden (race three).

By Michael Clower

There are three features at Turffontein Standside tomorrow, including the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes and the Grade 3 Three Troikas Stakes, both over 1400m and which are always good pointers to the forthcoming classics.

In the Tony Ruffel topweight might not be enough to stop the classy Surcharge. This Gimmethegreenlight colt relaxes well in the running and has an exceptional turn of foot so has a fine chance from a fair draw under Piere Strydom despite having to carry 60kg and give the rest varying amounts of weight. Yakeen is drawn in pole and Anthony Delpech appears to have opted for him above Pietro Mascagni. Yakeen came back a more mature horse last time after a three month layoff and slammed a three-year-old handicap field by 4,5 lengths over 1600m. He should continue to progress. Pietro Mascagni caught the eye when just getting up on debut over 1160m.

Matador Man (Candiese Marnewick)

His run in the postponed Dingaans can have a line drawn through it and he duly bounced back to impress last time over 1500m in a handicap. He was running off only a 79 merit rating but is a classy looking son of Silvano, so should be improving rapidly, and he now has a plum draw. Seerite finished strongly with long strides in both the Graham Beck over 1400m and the Dingaans over 1600m and this rangy sort now has a good draw so should be right there. Wonderwall won the Grade 3 Johannesburg Spring Handicap over 1450m and last time finished fifth in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas. However, Tap O’ Noth appeared to win the latter race with a bit in hand and Wonderwall does have to give weight away to the field except for Surcharge and Purple Diamond.

Fish River looks to have plenty of scope for improvement and can win the Three Troikas from a plum draw. She is officially the best in at the weights and deservedly so after her win over this course and distance last time in which she was stretching away without being asked any serious questions. San Fermin is held in high esteem but still has to prove the hype surrounding her. On debut she produced a tremendous turn of foot over this course and distance to win by seven lengths, but subsequently disappointed in the Fillies Mile. However, last time she did well to finish a close third to a decent type over the too sharp 1160m, which augurs well for her chances here, although she does have a tough draw to overcome and will likely have to rely on her turn of foot to get close. Takingthepeace is a tall and classy sort who looks to be the biggest threat to the top two, although he does have to give both of them 2kg.

In the Listed Wolf Power over 1600m Kings Archer has a chance on recent form. He won well over this course and distance last time and although three points higher in the merit ratings has a better draw. Age does not seem to be affecting this six-year-old entire by A P Arrow and Piere Strydom stays aboard. The class act in the field is Matador Man, although his best runs have been on the easier Greyville track. Unagi has a fine record on the Turffontein Inside track over this distance but he showed he is not a one trick pony last time last time when going close over this course and distance. Romany Prince beat him in that race and is only half-a-kilogram worse off so has a chance too. Irish Pride makes most appeal of the rest as a classy sort who is distance suited and who has dropped to a competitive merit rating.

The last leg of the PIck 6 is an interesting Pinnacle event over 2400m in which the SA Derby winner Pagoda is the best weighted and squares up against Dromedaris. The latter is only merit rated 77 but is unbeaten in four attempts at staying trips and won easily over this distance last time. Horses often defy their merit ratings in staying races in South Africa.

In the second race, a Progress Plate over 1800m, the Charity Mile runner up Social Order and the galloping sort Glider Pilot should fight it out, although officially the latter is weighted to win it comfortably.

The third race is a Conditions event over 1600m and She’s A Giver only has to reproduce her Garden Province runner up finish to win. However, over this tougher course and distance there is a slight stamina doubt and Redberry Lane might need to be included as a hard knocking sort who is well drawn and who has proven effective up to 1800m.

Manhattan Cocktail in the first is the best bet on the card having caught the eye on debut and now being well drawn over a trip over which he will be effective.

By David Thiselton

When it comes to the lower division handicaps, Highveld form often works out to be a touch stronger no matter their merit ratings. A case in point could be Duzi Moon who lines up in the Shula Construction Handicap at Greyville this evening.

Duzi Moon boasts some useful Highveld form but now has his first run for Dennis Bosch who has booked Anton Marcus for the ride. Nephrite and Tommy Waterdevil are both consistent Highveld performers, both of whom would probably start favourite were they in this race.

Given that Duzi Moon is a five-year-old with some mileage on the clock, he should take to the poly surface and looks a fair bet from a plum draw.

Marshall That

The fillies Rae’s Dyna Jet and Hidden Thought take on males but come into the race off some useful enough form. Hidden Thought has converted favouritism in both recent starts while Rae’s Dyna Jet caught the eye last time out and has been consistent.

Duncan Howells was on the verge of a heart attack during the running of the Michael Roberts Handicap last Sunday. Wild Wicket, still last with just over 200m to go and Marco van Rensburg doing his impression of a statue, had all wondering if the rider had gone off his head. Van Rensburg hardly moved a muscle as Wild Wicket picked off the opposition to get up on the line. It took nerves of steel and fine judgement but Marcus is unlikely to be as inert when he partners Girl In Gold in the Child Rights Governance Handicap where she is likely to start a warm favourite. Although third last time out in a five-horse race, she had smart stable companions Fiorella and Dawn Calling ahead of her. She was also doing her best work late and the extra 200m this evening should suit.

If there is a danger is could come in the form of Super Sparkle who made a cracking local debut for Brett Crawford and should have more to offer as she races with a tongue-tie for the first time.

Marshall That has been a difficult horse to work out but on his day is more than useful. If he arrives on course in the right frame of mind, Alistair Gordon’s charge could take some beating in the Omsa-Odfjell Mazibuko Handicap.

Marshal That is not the easiest of rides but goes well for apprentice Ashton Arries who has a good pair of hands and a way with often difficult horses. Marshall That seems best over this course and distance and should be a big runner. At the opposite end of the reliability scale is Al Ciberano. Always game, he loves this course and distance and turned the tables on Marshall That when last they met so there is unlikely to be much between them again this evening.

Of the others, Lineker waltzed home in a barrier trial recently. He does seem better over further but does take a drop in class while Crusado jumps from a maiden into a tough handicap but he won well first run up from a lengthy break and is one to watch in the market.

Storm Outgoing is battling for his next win but has been trying further and could do better over the shorter trip from a good draw in the Regal Alloys Handicap. But it is an open event and Elusive Wolf has his third run after a break and caught the eye last time out. He steps up in trip and looks a serious threat while One For One has been improving with each outing and looks about ready.

In the Sponsor A Child Handicap, opening leg of the Pick 6, Viking Red has been a touch disappointing of late but has done well over further. This shorter trip could be what he’s looking for and he can get the better of Dale House and Sovereign Soldier.

By Andrew Harrison

The Rathmor Stud-based sire Noble Tune had his first winner at Scottsville yesterday when the Kumaran Naidoo-trained filly Awesomely Tuned won in fluent style over 1200m under Gunther Wrogemann.

Mike McHardy of Rathmor said, “We are over the moon with Noble Tune’s first winner, even more so that it is out of a staying family. This shows us that he adds plenty of speed to his progeny.”

This stallion looks to be a potential coup for South African racing as his pedigree keeps on improving.

Awesomely Tuned (Candiese Marnewick)

Bloodstock agent Alistair Brown began following Noble Tune as he was a fan of his third dam, Serena’s Song, the former highest earning filly in racing history.

Noble Tune did not disappoint him, winning the Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes over 1700m on turf at Belmont by 2,5 lengths in 2012. He then finished second in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf over a mile at Santa Anita.

In his three-year-old career Noble Tune had two wins in four starts, including a comfortable 1,75 length win over 1800m at Churchhill Downs in the Gr 2 America Turf Stakes.

In mid-February of 2014 he put up a fine five furlong workout in a bullet-like time of 58,5 seconds.

However, the deal that eventually saw him landing in South Africa was brokered before he could race again.

By that stage his half-brother by A.P. Indy, Honor Code, had won a Group 2 as a two-year-old and finished second in a Group 1. However this horse went on to win two Group 1s and another Group 2 and finished third in the Group 1 Breeders Cup Classic. He was named Eclipse Champion Older Male in 2015 and now stands at the famous Lane’s End Stud in Kentucky.

Since Noble Tune’’s purchase he has had weanling half-siblings selling for a record US$ 3 million, for US$ 2.6 million and for US$1.05 million respectively, which shows just how sort after this family has become.

Furthermore, Noble Tune’s sire Unbridled’s Song in 2013 became the first stallion since the great Nasrullah to have both a Champion Freshman Sire and Champion Juvenile Sire in the same year. By the year of Noble Tune’s purchase (2014), Unbridled’s Song’s sons had sired over 295 Stakes-horses and six of them had sired Group 1 winners.

Noble Tune, a handsome bay, stamps his progeny and the connections have bolstered his prospects by purchasing a number of well-bred mares.

He looks to have a bright future ahead of him.

By David Thiselton

The number of trainers affected by the caffeine-contaminated feedstuffs investigation is described by the NHA’s racing control boss Arnold Hyde as “multiple.”

But a date for the hearing has still to be agreed. However a widespread belief that the trainers concerned will be charged with a breach of the rules could yet prove to be premature.

Hyde said: “No charges have been preferred yet. I am not saying that they won’t be or that they will be. That’s for the Inquiry Board to decide. My job is to put everything before the Board.”

Last Winter

However a number of the trainers affected are taking no chances and have already engaged ace defence lawyer Robert Bloomberg to act for them.

There have been suggestions – from certain trainers, not from the NHA – that the levels of caffeine are higher than the threshold levels by quite a significant amount. One trainer is understood to have been unhappy about the feedstuffs and so privately sent samples for analysis. The tests showed traces of caffeine and so presumably he is in the clear.

The whole matter has now been dragging on for some months and Hyde said: “Hopefully we will progress soon.”

An added complication is that the positives are expected to have included winners – unless, and this seems unlikely, they all came from non-racecourse tests – and under the rules these will have to be disqualified.

Justin Snaith, fresh from all his Met day triumphs, will train both the R4 million Frankel colt that topped the CTS Premier Yearling Sale and the R3 million Captain Al who was the joint highest priced filly. Both were bought by John Freeman for Jack Mitchell and his daughter Nancy.

Andreas Jacobs’ Maine Chance Farms has gone into a 50:50 partnership with Highlands Stud for the R3 million Silvano filly bought by Amanda Skiffington. No trainer has yet been decided on.

Sun Met winner Oh Susanna has been raised seven points by the handicappers to a new mark of 115 but Majorca-winning stable companion Snowdance remains seven points below her on 108 despite proving over three lengths the better in the Cape Fillies Guineas.

Met runner-up Last Winter has gone up 12 points to 119 and third-placed Marinaresco stays on 118 but Legal Eagle (fourth) has been dropped a kilo to 121.

Sergeant Hardy has been upped five points to 117 for his Cape Flying victory but second-placed Trip To Heaven has come down four to a new mark of 114.

Anthony Delpech is now as short as 1-5 to win his fourth jockeys’ championship. He went into yesterday’s Scottsville meeting just two off his century, with a strike rate of over 25% and a 21-winner lead over his nearest pursuer, the busy Lyle Hewitson who is 6-1 second favourite.

World Sports Betting also goes 7-1 Gavin Lerna (54 winners), 14-1 Callan Murray (61), 16-1 four-time champion Anton Marcus (63), 20-1 Aldo Domeyer (67), 40-1 and upwards others.

By Michael Clower