Hopes are high that the Hong Kong Jockey Club will be buying in significant numbers at this weekend’s big CTS Cape Premier Yearling sale.

It is believed that this is a consequence of Hong Kong’s fallout with Australia and that it will result in Hong Kong becoming major buyers in the South African market. Even more importantly, it could  lead to an end of the African Horse Sickness restrictions that have isolated this country’s racing and bloodstock industries from the rest of the world.

CTS boss Wehann Smith was unwilling to join in the speculation yesterday but he did say: “We are fully aware of what is going on between the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Australian authorities, and the fact that they have decided to boycott the Magic Millions sale.

“I can confirm that the Hong Kong Jockey Club are here and that it is the first time that they are attending our sale. We are obviously extremely excited given our efforts at internationalising the sale.

“However it would be presumptuous to say that they are going to be buying horses. We are, though, extremely hopeful and we are looking forward to the sale.”

The Australian government suspended the movement of horses from Hong Kong to Australia just over three months ago. As a result Hong Kong horses can no longer be sent to Australia to race (unless they serve 180 days quarantine in New Zealand) and nor can Australian horses run in Hong Kong’s big international races.

Hong Kong is the main international player in the drive to bring South African horses back onto the international scene – at present they have to quarantine in Mauritius for three months  – and last year the HKJC’s CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said: “We have a major ambition to open up South Africa to be part of a wider international scene and one of our clear targets is that within the next two years we are able to find quarantine solutions with them.”

By Michael Clower

Paul Gadsby has had his hands full with the temperamental gelding Techno Captain but earmuffs and the attentions of a horse whisperer appear to have done the trick. “He spooks at everything he sees,” said Gadsby. “But hopefully he’s settled down a little,” he added. All that plus an excellent front-running ride from apprentice Ashton Arries saw Techno Captain into the winner’s both for the fourth time in his career at Scottsville yesterday.

It was an exceptional ride by Arries but in hindsight, those that followed the form were well rewarded.

Techno Captain (Candiese Marnewick)

Four runs back yesterday’s favourite, One Man Show, had beaten Techno Captain by just under a length at level weights over course and distance. Yesterday there was a 7kg swing in favour of Techno Captain and although the winning margin was not much wider than a piece of paper, Arries was full value for his claim.

With only five runners facing the starter there was always the danger of a slow-run race but as the field dawdled the first couple of furlongs, Arries set sail.

Techno Captain was still many lengths clear turning for home but a furlong out his legs were turning to jelly as One Man Show cut the deficit and looked set for victory.

However, Arries somehow managed to extract more from his seemingly beaten mount and he came back at his challenger to get up on the line. It was an exceptional effort from both horse and rider.

There was another tight finish to the third as City Of Stars, in the colours of Rob and Michelle Pickering of Middlefield Stud, got her nose in front when it counted for Belinda Impey with Lunar Tide denied on the line.

“Don’t thank the trainer, thanks the jockey,” where Alistair Gordon’s magnanimous words after Anton Marcus got home aboard Whiteleaf Hills. Had at work even before the field turned for home, Marcus kept pumping away and was rewarded with an extra effort from his mount who got up lose home to beat the Des Egdes-trained Le Cheik.

“I thought we were beaten a long way out,” said Gordon. “Most other jockeys would have given up.”

By Andrew Harrison

Peninsula Handicap winner Eyes Wide Open, 16-1 for Saturday week’s Sun Met, will miss the race and will run in the Investec Cape Derby instead.

Glen Kotzen said: “He came out of the Peninsula well but the decision was taken because he is a 26 November foal and the Met is going to come a bit soon for him. We have plenty of time – he can go for the Met next year.”

Eyes Wide Open (Candiese Marnewick)

Kotzen, who has yet to win the Met, will be represented by Gold Standard who has gone out to 15-1 after managing only eighth (admittedly beaten only just over three lengths) in the Queen’s Plate.

The Woodhill trainer said: “Gold Standard needs a bit further than a mile – he has a very stout female line- and the race wasn’t run that fast. I know it looked as if it was but it was really only the one in front (Captain America) who was travelling fast.”

Kotzen’s comment is borne out by the 1 min 38.14 time which was slower than all but two of the last eight runnings.

Impressive Cartier Paddock Stakes winner Oh Susanna is one of 30 horses that Justin Snaith has already declared for the meeting and seemingly she will now run in the Met regardless of whatever draw she is given on Wednesday.

Snaith said: “Oh Susanna came out of the race well, her work is good and she is doing well. If she is declared she must run.”

Last Winter, promoted to 15-4 clear favourite by Betting World in the wake of the Queen’s Plate result, is now only joint favourite at 4-1 with Marinaresco and Legal Eagle. World Sports Betting has Marinaresco favourite at 4-1 and goes 9-2 Legal Eagle, 5-1 Last Winter and 10-1 bar. Legal Eagle seemingly came out of his Queen’s Plate win in fine shape with Sean Tarry declaring on Saturday: “He is good to go.”

By Michael Clower

Bishop’s Bounty sprang the biggest Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes shock this century when coming from last to first at 45-1 at Kenilworth on Saturday. But Michael Leaf’s gelding had no impact on the Cape Flying Championship market because he is one of the seven runners not entered for the Grade 1.

Several of those on the podium said the Diadem should be brought forward a week, preferably two, and Justin Snaith added: “Sergeant Hardy (third) is one of the few that the present date is right for. He is tough, he weighs 580kg and you need to keep running him to keep his wind right.”

Sergeant Hardy was cut from 10-1 to 6-1 third favourite for the Betting World-sponsored race and Tevez (second at 30-1) from 25-1 to 14-1. Trip To Heaven (fifth) is favourite at 4-1 and, perhaps significantly, he finally got away on terms. “We have been working on him and Richard Fourie has been helping us,” explained Sean Tarry.

Bishop’s Bounty (Liesl King)

Dutch Philip started favourite but never got into it and finished halfway down the field. Aldo Domeyer said that he had committed himself to stable companion Magical Wonderland in the CTS 1200 even before this performance.

Snaith and Grant van Niekerk also took the Fairview Wines Sophomore Sprint with an unfancied runner when 15-1 shot Sir Frenchie benefitted from the drop in trip to get up in the last two strides in the now famous Braam van Huyssteen colours – but only after an early morning phone call from jockey to trainer to put blinkers on.

“He had been running over 1 400m and a mile and I didn’t want him to be outpaced,” explained Van Niekerk. “It’s a pity he is not in the Cape Flying because I think he would have gone well in that.”

Sand And Sea, beaten just over three lengths into fourth, was giving the winner 4kg and will be a leading contender for the $500 000 CTS race. “It wasn’t a bad effort and I think he will be spot on for Met day,” said Dennis Drier.

Two races after winning the two features Van Niekerk walked into the parade ring to partner In The Jungle for Piet Steyn who related tongue-in-cheek: “I said to him ‘Can you ride a winner for me?’ Grant replied: ‘I will try my best but I can only ride winners for the top trainers!’”

Needless to say he won this one too but he was lucky to be riding at all. When he was given a ten-day interference suspension on 5 January he elected to begin it last week. It was only when the stipes told him he couldn’t because he already had rides booked that he found he would have to start it yesterday.

It was last night that Brett Crawford was due to return from supervising Whisky Baron in Dubai and Barry Donnelly fired off a quick treble for him on Saturday.  Anthony Delpech is retained by both Mary Slack and Mauritzfontein and he won on Luna Child and Love Dove for them.

Joey Ramsden took his two-year-old race tally to three (there have only been seven races in Cape Town so far ) with the Anton Marcus-ridden Lucky Dancer while Harold Crawford shrewdly backed his 11-1 winner Ready Steady Go (Grant Behr).

By Michael Clower