David Thiselton

TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE hosts an intriguing nine-race meeting today that is headlined by the Grade 3 Sycamore Sprint over 1160m and the Listed Jacaranda Handicap over 1800m.

In the Sycamore Sprint Tropic Sun has plenty of pace and is drawn on the usually favourable stand side. She is potentially well handicapped as she finished 3,85 lengths behind Sweet Future last time on 1kg better terms than weight for age and the latter looks to be a star in the making. In her previous start she burst through the stalls and then got into a speed duel with Forever Mine, so finishing 2,75 lengths behind MK’S Pride was no disgrace, although she was receiving 5,5kg from the smart three-year-old. On her start before that she gave Rio’s Winter half-a-kilogram and lost to her by 0,75 lengths. She now gets 4kg from Rio’s Winter.

Winter Smoke would have been the choice if it was not for her draw of one, which is usually unfavourable. However, she has plenty of pace, which will allow her to overcome it, and she is able to kick on, so she is still a big runner despite having to carry 58.5kg.  

Rio’s Winter has a middle draw and although this is a touch on the sharp side she is capable of a strong finish and could mow them down. 

Mill Queen is 7kg better off with Winter Smoke for a 4,25 length beating in November, although the latter would have made 2,5kg improvement since then according to the weight for age scale so still holds Mill Queen. However, Mill Queen does have a high draw so has a chance.  

Spring Break has talent and carrying only 53kg will be dangerous from a nice draw of nine with Kennedy up.

Risk Taker has a terrific turn of foot so can also be considered although her four draw is on the low side.

Double “O” Eight loves this course and distance but her low draw is against her and the same can be said for the capable Che Bella.

In the Jacaranda Handicap Seehaam is the selection to win. This daughter of Vercingetorix is out of 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. Therefore, Seehaam should stay on pedigree and gave that impression 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. Seehaam has a plum draw of two and Lyle Hewitson, who scored a double on her in December and February over 1400m and 1600m respectively following a six month layoff, is back aboard. 

Seehaam’s Sean Tarry-trained long-striding Stablemate Magical Flight looks to be the chief danger. She showed in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic, where staying on for third, that she gets the trip and also showed that she does not necessarily have to lead. 

Saragon won the Grade 3 Yellowwood Handicap over this course and distance off just a one point lower mark than her current merit rating. She  can give Gary and Dean Alexander, who are soon departing for Australia, a nice going away present by making a bold bid from a good draw. 

Sparkling Water looks to have some class and although half-a-kilogram under sufferance she was not suited by the slow pace of the SA Fillies Classic and was beaten just a quarter of a length by Magical Flight.

Shivers is talented and course and distance suited but does have a tricky draw.

Topweight Jet Start can’t be ignored over a suitable trip as she has always possessed class and is in a rich vein of form.

 ANDREW HARRISON

FEEDBACK; feedback; feedback. That’s the oft repeated cry from trainers when asking their jockeys and work riders, whether it be morning work or after a race. Few trainers have the luxury of riding their own work so they rely on info from those aboard their charges.

Frustrated ex-jockeys who have out-grown their breeches can be the most demanding.

There was a mighty plunge on Euphoric in the first apprentice race at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday as Kyle Strydom rode the perfect race to land the gamble.

Any price at the start of the day, the money came in spades. In a post-race interview, trainer Alyson Wright, whose assistant and husband is former Zimbabwean champion jockey Kevin, pointed out that Stuart Randolph had advised that the blinkers should be put back on.

Strydom, nephew of Piere Strydom who is one of the best jockeys ever to grace a dock in this country and possibly the world, has plenty of experience to call on and earned dormitory boasting rights as he completed the apprentice double with State Of Mind getting home for Gavin van Zyl in the seventh.

Strydom rode perfectly to instruction and came home lonely.

Highveld trainers are arriving thick and fast of late in search of easy pickings and Candice Dawson struck with Luke Ferraris earning his keep aboard Herstel in the second, edging out Candy Galore and Freedom Seeker.

It is well documented that Shane Humby takes his time with his charges, but when he does decide that they are ready they generally run a forward race. Good Girl looked dead-and-buried at the two-furlong marker as Ryan Munger hunted a gap, but once in the clear, Good Girl responded like her name suggests to nail Uncomplicated two jumps from home.

Lyle Hewitson replaced an ill-disposed Donovan Dillon – broken hand – on the well supported Peter Muscutt-trained Mr Pigalle and it nearly all ended in tears as original favourite Sergei almost nailed him on the line.

Hewitson kicked clear a long way out and looked to have the race under control, but Mr Pigalle was one-paced over the final 100m and Anton Marcus, who never gave up, almost snaffled a win but Sergei just not able to get there in time.

Hewitson made his trip to KZN worth while as he booted home Burning Wings in a tight finish to the sixth denying arch rivals Warren Kennedy and Marcus.

David Thiselton 

THE Turffontein Inside course stages an eight race meeting today and the exotics look catchable.

The highest rated race is the seventh, a MR 96 handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m, and the talented Celestial Love can continue on her winning ways. She bet a decent field on Saturday over 1100m without being stretched. She can thus overcome a six point merit rated raise and as she has a good turn of foot she can afford to be dropped out from a high draw. Sheer Talent will appreciate dropping back to sprint trips and as she has a good turn of foot and a better draw than Celestial Love she could try and steal a march on this tight track. The latter appears to be on an upward curve though so is preferred. Thumbs Up has a win and a second in three starts over this course and distance but has a wide draw to overcome. 

In the first race over 2600m, the first leg of the Bipot, Sophia’s First is a banker. She ran on well last time over 2400m to finish a 0,40 length second with the rest of the field more than six lengths further back. She comes out well on collateral form in this uninspiring contest and looks likely to get the trip. Rockpapersciccors jumped from a wide draw over 2000m last time and it did not pan out too well for her so she did well to run on from way back for a close third and she looks the main danger now stepped up to a staying trip.

In the second race over 2600m Ideal Wolff went close in his first try at a staying trip over 2400m last time and can be ridden with more confidence this time knowing he stays. The concern is he has not raced since that run three months ago, in which he was 0,25 lengths behind So Long Spring. He is now weighted to reverse the form, being 1kg better off plus 0,5kg of weight for age improvement. Cash Time comes off two fine seconds over 2400m behind two respective decent stayers and he should be in the shake up. Gold Griffin was well beaten by Cash Time last time but enjoys this course and distance. However, it is tough to ignore any of the runners in this field, so an upset result would be no surprise. 

In the third over 2000m Senescence has come into her own and looks capable of overcoming a five point raise considering the ease of her running on win over 1600m last time. She is by Elusive Fort and is a half-sister to a horse who went close over 2000m on the Greyville poly recently so should stay the trip. She has tried this trip before and could only manage fourth in the maidens but she was not shaping over any trip at that stage and has for some reason suddenly turned the corner and been eyecatching in both of her last two starts. Last Cheer ran a fair fourth over this trip on Tuesday and a good second before that over 1800m so could be the chef danger from the same draw as Tuesday. The Brass Way has done well in two starts since stepped up to this trip and can also be involved as can others like Liverpool Legend and Chevron. However, Senescence looks to be a banker.

In the fourth over 1600m Diamonds N Dollars is the selection as she looks to have scope and also looked to have a little bit still in the tank when beating an admittedly uninspiring field in the maidens. She has a fair draw of six and this field is not inspiring either. Furthermore, she is the jointed best in at the weights in this Classified Stakes event. Perfect Angel is another of the joint best-weighted and is a full-sister to the talented but difficult Christmas Flower. Last time out she moved up well over 1450m on the Vaal Classic track but did not go through with it so is interesting over this tighter track over a trip she should get on pedigree. Golden Spoon improved with blinkers last time and starts off handicapping having to carry topweight off a 76 merit rating and the horse she beat Belle Of Belize failed to beat an uninspiring field on Tuesday. However, Golden Spoon can still improve and could earn. 

In the fifth race it looks to be a question of whether Me Time will stay the trip and she should do considering she was running on strongly from way back over 1450m last time and just failed.  Her pedigree creates some doubt as she is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a speedily bred Tiger Ridge mare but she does now have a plum draw as opposed to the high draw she had last time. In Limbo has a wide draw but as a full-sister to Hawwaam and a half-sister to both Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat she is entitld to improve. She showed last time when winning her maiden over this trip she has gears so can overcome that draw. Bella Rosa can never be ignored. Now You See Me made a fine comeback last time and has a fair draw over a suitable trip. Pin Up also has ability and should be as effective over this trip as she is over 1800m.

 In the sixth over 1600m Aflame stretched out nicely to win her maiden over 1400m in eyecatching style. She beat Diamonds N Dollars comfortably and the latter won next time out. She starts off handicapping off a reasonable 67 merit rating. Anatura will be running on again from a tricky draw and Un Deux Trois also has a form chance but has to overcome a tough draw. 

In the last race Full Velocity flew home in her comeback over 1000m and just failed. She now has a fair draw over 200m further so will be hard to beat if reproducing, although it is her second run after a six month layoff. It is wide open beyond her, but Emerald Crest looks to be the chief danger.   

ANDREW HARRISON

APPRENTICE races are often something of a lottery with inexperienced riders hunting boasting rights amongst themselves. With the SA Jockey Academy based in KZN, it is local trainers who mentor those green apprentices that have qualified to ride in races.

However, any apprentice that looks capable of making the grade is suddenly whipped off to Gauteng, ostensibly because they get more chances with bigger fields and racing three times a week. This leaves the KZN trainers lumbered with another book of greenhorns.

The Highveld hordes are in force in two races at Hollywoodbets Greyville today and Joshwin Solomons could snaffle the first.

Solomons, son of talented rider Morne Winnaar, showed early promise before being shipped to the Western Cape. But with the Covid complications and the closure of the apprentice academy in Cape Town, he was sent to Jo’Burg. Quiet and unassuming, he does not have the ‘mouth’ of an Andrew Fortune, but his riding skills have been quickly recognised and his 4kg claim has quickly reduced to 1.5kg.

He may not need his claim in the fifth where Dennis Bosch’s consistent Theravada can get out of the placings and visit the winner’s box for the third time. Best of the opposition could be Wendy Whitehead’s old campaigner Sovereign Soldier who was a close-up third last outing and has been consistent of late.

The second apprentice handicap could be trickier with a number of runners in with chances. The draw should not be a problem in this small field. The list of possible winners is a long one. State Of Mind has run her two best races over course and distance and was narrowly beaten last run. Ice Imperial took on stronger last start but was well beaten in the soft. She is never far back and goes well on the poly. So They Say made a smart handicap debut. She is distance suited and if taking to the poly should put up a good showing.

In the first leg of the PA, Candy Galore has her third run after a break. She gets a 4kg claimer up from a good draw. Blush Of Dawn loves the poly and can do much better than her last two in the soft. Candice Dawson is in town. The best of her two runners here could be Herstel who is lightly raced and has useful form over this trip.

In the third, Simply Complicated improved nicely with cheek pieces and races in blinkers. She has a strong chance on that last showing. The danger could be Good Girl who has shown a preference for the poly and was showing promising form over sprints before being sent over ground with the blinkers off. They are back on here and the extra did seem to suit. Princess Thiana has come on from each run and looks primed for this. She is a full sister to Legal Eagle.

The experiment with blinkers didn’t work for Raiseahallelujah and he is back on the poly without the blinkers and may be worth another shout especially as Warren Kennedy has left his Paul Peter ride to arch rival Anton Marcus who partners.

who appears to have come to hand with each outing and looks primed for this.

The sixth looks tricky but Herecomestherain took on stronger last start and was close-up. His two best recent efforts have been on the poly and he drops in class. Tambora has been in good form since arriving in KZN. He drops in trip but has won well on the poly. Fly The Coup won well over course and distance on debut. He could have plenty more to come. Stable companion Princekaresh was hampered out of the gate last start and never really in it. Marcus has jumped ship for Fly The Coup.

In the last, Superior Leader makes his local debut. He comes off some useful Kenilworth form and has a plum draw which could see him home Gimme A Rainbow has a difficult draw but has improved nicely of late while Don’t Touch Me has shown signs of coming to hand and faces a modest field here.

DAVID THISELTON

FORTY YEARS AGO a final field debacle in the Vodacom Durban July led to a change being made in the selection process starting from 1981 onward and today whilst there are still gripes from the connections of those who don’t get in the system does at least give all entries a chance.

Legendary three-times July-winning trainer Mike Bass remembers the newspaper billboards which pronounced the devastating news that his charge Cracker Lily, who was just about the ante-post favourite for the 1980 race, had been eliminated.

In 1980 the system was simply to select the top 20 horses in weight order and as Cracker Lily had been set to carry a low weight of around 49kg he was eliminated.

Bass was known for his expertise in bringing horses on slowly but surely to their peak and he seldom took three-year-olds to KZN in the winter.

He allowed the tall Cracker Lily plenty of time to mature in his three-year-old year and to overcome his issues. His chief issue was his “stringhalt”. This condition refers to a gait abnormality which is characterized by involuntary, exaggerated upward movement of one or both of the hindlimbs. Cracker Lily had no problem when galloping but when walking one of his hind-legs would often suddenly shoot up involuntarily, sometimes making contact with his stomach.

When the new season began the now four-year-old Cracker Lily was only a one-time winner but he was progressive and Bass targeted the July.

The colt by Palm Beach II (GB ) out of the good broodmare Lily started his campaign superbly, winning three Progress Plates in succession from 1600m to 1800m.

He then finished 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 2nd in four B Division handicaps over 1500m, 1600m, 1700m and 1700m respectively.

He followed that by winning a B Division Handicap over 1800m at Kenilworth.

Bass then entered him in the Grade 1 weight for age (wfa) Queen’s Plate over 1600m.

He finished a fine 4,25 length fourth to reigning July champion Over The Air.

In the process he beat Deep Magic by two lengths, World News by 4,25 lengths and Outswinger by 5,25 lengths.

Bass then ran him in the Grade 3 wfa South Easter Stakes over 1800m.

He waltzed in under regular pilot Paddy McGivern, winning by two-and-a-half lengths with the 1978 SA Guineas winner World News finishing third, beaten 4,75 lengths.

Cracker Lily then won the Cape Town Festival Handicap over 1900m at Kenilworth by an easy 1,75 lengths. 

It is not clear from the archives how the weights were set for his next start in the Grade 2 Republic Day Handicap over 1900m at Greyville, which is today’s equivalent of the WSB 1900.

However, it seems absurd that having thrashed World News in his two previous starts, both wfa events, he was now set to carry 3.5kg less than the World News. 

Cracker Lily was set to carry only 50kg and the Form Turf Guide and Blood Horse analyst said, “Cracker Lily looks to be the horse to beat at the weights as long as Robbie Sham can overcome a wide draw.”

As it happened he was beaten three-quarters of a length into second place by the top class Anytime Baby, who carried 56kg. Anytime Baby had shown how good he was by beating the celebrated Bold Tropic in the 1979 SA Guineas. The latter is commonly regarded as one of the best three-year-olds in South African history and he went on to win seven races in the USA including four Grade 2s.

The horse that finished third in the Republic Day, one -and-a-quarter lengths behind Cracker Lily, was six-year-old Beau Art, whose hitherto biggest claims to fame had been a runner up finish to the great Politician in the 1978 July and a third place finish to Politician in the 1979 Met.

Among the other horses Cracker Lily comfortably beat in the Republic Day were World News, Forty Winks, Outswinger and Statesman although he did receive weight from them.      

Nevertheless, the top twenty in the weights for the July all accepted. 

Cracker Lily was thus eliminated simply due to his low weight, whilst those he had easily beaten in various build up races, World News, Deep Magic, Outswinger, Forty Winks and Statesman,  were all included. 

The gentlemanly Bass recalls accepting Cracker Lily’s fate matter-of-factly. 

The subsequent July result saw the two horses Cracker Lily had split in the Republic Day, Beau Art and Anytime Baby, finishing first and second. The handicappers were given some vindication when Cracker Lily could only manage a 2,25 length second in the Sea Cottage Handicap over 1900m on July day, although he was giving 3.5kg to the winner Lagin.

However, Cracker Lily subsequently won the Grade 2 Clairwood Winter on the last Saturday of the season. He carried 49.5kg, and received 1kg from Lagin whom he beat into second by 1.5 lengths. July runner Forty Winks, carrying 56.5kg, was beaten 15,25 lengths. 

From the following year onward the final field panellists were apparently allowed to select at their own discretion. This was likely in order to prevent what was becoming a familiar scenario, i.e. has-beens having one more crack at the July and effectively preventing the inclusion of young horses who had the form to win the big race.

The July fields in the 1970s were characterised by the lack of three-year-olds, which emphasised how difficult it was for a young horse to be included in the final field. 

From 1970 to 1980 inclusive only 23 three-year-olds ran in the July and yet three of them won and two of them were runner ups, while one of them crossed the line first but was demoted after an objection.

Under today’s merit rating system Cracker Lily would likely have been among the twenty top-weighted horses among the entries on the grounds of his Queen’s Plate run alone.    

However, more importantly he would have been near the top of the July log with such form and would thus have been an automatic inclusion in the final field.