The highest rated race is a MR 72 Handicap over 1700m and the horse who makes plenty of appeal here is the Visionaire gelding Crazy Vision. He looks to be coming into his own as a four-year-old and showed a fine turn of foot to win going away over 1600m in his penultimate start on the Turffontein Inside track where he jumped from a tricky draw of six out of eight. He didn’t appear to stay the 2000m trip last time, so will appreciate the step back to this trip. He was given four points for the aforementioned win, but now jumps from a plum draw of two. A low draw can be problematic at this course but tomorrow there will be a 3,5m false rail and also a 3,5m spur at the 500m mark so his regular pilot Randall Simons can afford to be patient before using this horse’s acceleration to maximum effect. Lee’s Pick moved up well over 2000m last time but then became a bit cramped for room and then ran on again. This trip might be sharper than ideal, but this horse finished runner up to Pagoda in the Listed Derby Trial over 2000m and the latter is fancied for the Summer Cup, so his merit rating of 61 is an attractive mark. Furthermore, he won his maiden over 1600m in March and has never run over shorter than 2000m since. So, the four-year-old Philanthropist gelding has to be an interesting runner here from a plum draw under Gavin Lerena. Those two have been taken to get punters through the exotics.

Gavin Lerena

The first leg of the PA is an uninspiring maiden over 1500m. However, Flight School was still green last time over course and distance and was also a bit cramped for room and had to be eased. He was staying on at the end nicely, although a concern is he was reported to have made a breathing noise. Therefore, Double Tap, who stayed on resolutely over 1600m last time before tiring in the last 100m, can also be included from pole position.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden over 1200m, the flying Mike de Kock yard introduce a first-timer colt by the late Await The Dawn, who has been making headlines lately with the like of Big Bear. Decision Time is out of a five-time winning Russian Revival mare and jumps from pole position in an uninspiring field. The back-up is Hyper Jet from the in-form Paul Peter yard. He has done well from the front in two starts with blinkers on and the form of his last start over 11160m has worked out well. He should go close if able to overcome the draw of six in a ten horse field. National Host was one-paced on debut when held up, but last time out over this course and distance he showed a lot of pace and was not disgraced in a 5,4 length third to an expensive Mike de Kock first-timer called Dhabyaan. Alec Laird’s horses usually need their first two runs so National Host could improve further and make his presence felt, although his draw of eight will be tricky in his likely bid to go to the front again.

The second leg of the Pick 6 is a MR 66 Handicap over 1000m and Exclusively Trendy is the stand out on form. The only thing that can stop him is a draw bias on the day, but usually there is no bias at this track and his number ten barrier position should not be a concern. The others who could be considered as back-ups for the Jackpot and Pick 6 are Roman Evening and Alpine Glacier. The former has always struck as better than his form suggests and has found consistency this season off his mid-sixties merit rating. Alpine Glacier was not disgraced in his last two starts over this trip in races won by useful sorts, and he now drops in class off a merit rating which has plummeted to an attractive mark.

In the next race, a MR 66 Handicap over 1500m, Lake Kinnaret ran a cracker against some classy sorts over 1450m and is the selection. He was due to run on Tuesday over 1200m. If he doesn’t take his place then Ekuseni is the choice as all three of his maiden runs from 1400-1450m were worthy of his 81 merit rating. Devil’s Peak and Royal Crusade are well related sorts who have to be considered and Arpad is a sort who is capable of popping up when in the mood.

In the seventh race Fish River Canyon has formed a good partnership with Lyle Hewitson and is well drawn over a suitable trip. He is the choice for PA banker and best bet, but can’t be considered a confident pick for either accolade as he was raised two points for his runner up spot last time out.  Beautiful Shay and Golddust Woman make most appeal as the back-ups.

In the lucky last Holy Joe ran well against a Summer Cup contender last time over this 2000m trip, but has a wide draw. Champions Cup produced a storming run to win going away last time and if in the same nick can follow up. Walter Smoothie should relish the step up in trip. Speed Monitor has come down to an attractive merit rating. Cash Time has been far from disgraced against some good sorts recently.

By David Thiselton

They opened at 7-1 in the betting when the field was announced on Tuesday, but both drifted after the ballot, with the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Abashiri now on offer at 15-2 with Betting World and Weiho Marwing’s charge Hermoso Mundo now second favourite at 8-1. The wide draw will probably not be as crucial to Weichong Marwing and Hermoso Mundo, who likes to come from nearer the back than the front.

Abashiri

Said Weichong Marwing after the draw: “No 18 draw is not a disaster for Hermoso Mundo because he’s going to come from behind anyway. The long straight will suit him.”

Marwing has two other horses in the race, Mac de Lago, the outsider at 66-1 and drawn at No 7 (also saddle-cloth number 7), and Let It Rain (40-1), who pulled No 15 stall. Mac de Lago will be ridden by Marco van Rensburg, who said: “Seven is my lucky number – I’m very happy with the draw.”

Two other horses are at 8-1, Pagoda and Mike de Kock-trained Orchid Island, who drew at No 10, so jockey Anthony Delpech should not have too many problems positioning her in her preferred mid-field slot.

Geoff Woodruff’s best-fancied runner Pagoda will jump from No 11 stall, with Master Switch (14-1) out wide at No 16 and the trainer’s other runner Banner Hill (14-1) pulling No 13 stall – the same as his saddlecloth number.

Trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren will be happy with how his horses fared at the draw function. Crowd Pleaser (17-2) drew at No 6, in-form Girl On The Run (16-1) drew at No 5 and New Predator (25-1) drew at No 9. However Brazuca (10-1), the mount of Gavin Lerena and arguably the stable elect, drew at No 14. If he goes to the front, as he did when beating Abashiri last time, the wide draw might have little impact on his performance, though.

The trainer said: “My only problem with Crowd Pleaser is the long Turffontein straight. They have the chance to run him down. Brazuca is very well. He loves the course and will have no problem with the distance. Girl On The Run won a good race last time and will be even better over this distance.”

Hermoso Mundo

Sean Tarry-trained duo French Navy and Social Order are 12-1 chances with Betting World following the draw function. Both drew double-digit stalls, No 17 and 12 respectively, while his less-fancied runners Liege (13-1) and Tilbury Fort (22-1) drew stalls No 2 and 4.

Wind Chill, who will bounce from pole position, has come in for some support in the betting, shortening from 18-1 to 16-1, while Joe Soma’s other runner, Master Sabina – the horse  bidding for his third win in Johannesburg’s premier race – is on offer at 20-1 and will start from No 8 draw.

Gabby Soma said of Master Sabina: “We had a problem with him shortly after he arrived so we have not been able to give him a prep run. It’s not ideal but we did have a full gallop with five other horses and he did very well.”

Coral Fever, from the Robbie Sage yard, is also a 16-1 chance in the early betting. He will start from the widest stall of all.

The remaining horse is a horse who hails from the in-form stable of Paul Peter, Fort Ember. She drew at No 3 and has the form to be competitive in this type of field, so her 40-1 odds might be generous.

    –    Tabnews.co.za

Sean Tarry and Brett Crawford have won three of the last four running of the R2.5-million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes between them, so it was no surprise to see the two top trainers on the prowl and sharing a table as they watched the pre-CTS RTR Sale gallops at Durbanville on Thursday morning.

Sean Tarry

The auction got under way on Friday evening in front of a packed sales tent and what was to end up the sale-topper came up in the opening 15 minutes, as Lot 5 was knocked down for R1.1 million.

The first produce of multiple Grade 1 winner All Is Secret was always going to command plenty of attention. And so it proved, as her Dynasty colt was snapped up by Alesh Naidoo.

Bass Racing were the leading buyers, splashing out a smidgeon under R2.5-million on their five purchases. Priciest of those was a Dynasty half-brother to Sergeant Hardy, which fetched R750,000.

Justin Snaith has purchased standouts like Sergeant Hardy, Bishops Bounty and Cap Alright at this sale in past years. He said this sale was “like buying a car but first looking at the engine. It also comes a bit later, so you have a better idea how the stallions are doing.”

Most trainers agreed the sale was “strong”, reflected in an average price of R236,279 for the 129 lots sold, and an aggregate spend of R30,480,000.

Bloodstock South Africa also held a mixed sale in Johannesburg this week. A more compact affair saw just 25 lots under the hammer, with an average of just over R50,000.

The sales topper was the currently Mike de Kock-trained gelding Mutawaary, who was sold to Manie Pillay for R220,000.

    –    tabnews.co.za

Gimme Six has a favourite’s chance in the Interbet.co.za Conditions Plate at Kenilworth today and at the weights she is hard to oppose, particularly as she has had a run under her belt.

Last season’s Daisy Fillies Guineas winner was beaten two and a quarter lengths by Goodtime Gal on her reappearance in last month’s Diana Stakes and is now 4.5kg better. “The track was running very quick that day,” recalls Justin Snaith who adds: “She has been doing very well at home.”

Gimme Six

She opened at 28-10 with World Sports Betting on Monday and has since shortened to 22-10.  Snaith confirms that Grant van Niekerk’s mount is regarded as the stable’s main hope but adds: “Francia (25-1) needs further although Star Express (nibbled at from 25-1 to 18-1) could pop up in trifectas and quartets. She is a good mare and, like the other two, she is better in Cape Town than she is in Durban.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who rode Gimme Six in the Diana, has switched back to Goodtime Gal on whom he won a Pinnacle two races back. “She has her work cut out at the weights but she is spot on,” says Mike Robinson of the 6-1 chance.

Gimme Six is only third best on adjusted merit ratings and 7-1 shot Lady Of The House comes out top although she has not been seen since beating the Snaith filly a head in the Woolavingtin at the beginning of June. “She will need this run to get to her peak but she is fit enough to be competitive and she is very well in,” is the opinion of Brett Crawford who is three-handed and adds: “Louisiana (22-1) will just need it while Seattle Gold (35-1) needed her run in the Diana last time.”

Safe Harbour, only just beaten in last season’s Cape Fillies Guineas, is second best at the weights and 5-1 second favourite. She has the benefit of a recent run. “She is in good shape but it’s more of a prep for the Victress Stakes and the Paddock Stakes,” says Sean Tarry.

Lyle Hewitson’s mount is a talented filly and looks a big danger while 8-1 chance Nightingale comes out only half a kilo behind Gimme Six. However this is the Majorca winner’s first outing since her second in the Gold Bracelet nearly four months ago. Candice Bass-Robinson believes she will need it.

Anthony Delpech has already been booked to ride Nightingale in the big races and, as Aldo Domeyer has opted for 9-1 Diana third Whose That Girl, MJ Byleveld gets the call.

The Ramsden pair Epona (20-1) and Captain Gambler (33-1) have it do at the weights as their prices would suggest. So too does Silvan Star who has eased from 6-1 to 8-1. She is set to give lumps to all bar Goodtime Gal. “She doesn’t take a lot of work but she is out of the weights,” Glen Kotzen acknowledges.

Pata Pata is a prohibitive 7-10 in the first but is hard to oppose while 15-10 favourite Vase has Omega Force (28-10) to beat in race two.

By Michael Clower

Impressive Western Cape Fillies Championship winner Snowdance has been installed 15-10 favourite with the sponsors for the World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday week. Victory would be the fifth win in the classic for Justin Snaith and the second for Bernard Fayd’Herbe.

Magical Wonderland, who started favourite in last month’s Grade 2 but has over four lengths to make up, is second favourite at 11-2 with Lady In Black and the Mike de Kock-trained Silver Thursday both on 10-1.

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

Legal Eagle is 11-10 favourite to repeat last year’s win in the WSB Green Point Stakes with the Brett Crawford pair Captain America and Edict Of Nantes next on 9-2, while De Kock’s Naafer is favourite at 7-1 for the WSB Cape Merchants on the same card.

Meanwhile the Western Cape Equine Trust is switching the emphasis from raffles to auctions for its fundraising meeting at Kenilworth this Saturday.

Star prize is a trip for two to next year’s Epsom Derby. Kuda Insurance is paying for the air tickets, WCET chairman Ken Truter is footing the bill for accommodation in a London hotel and race sponsors Investec  (Bernard Kantor) provide VIP raceday hospitality as well as free admission.

The whole lot will be auctioned as one package mid-afternoon and anyone can bid, not just those at the R375 lunch. Other items to be auctioned include a game drive at the former Arc-En-Ciel stud near Wellington.

Aldo Domeyer, who rides in all eight races, has been hit with a R7 500 fine for an inexplicable loss of weight at Durbanville a month ago. After finishing fifth on Sassy Lady in the 1 000m fillies handicap he weighed in light by more than the permitted half kilo. It was a hot day and a number of jockeys came back in with sweat pouring down their faces but, other than that, Domeyer was unable to account for the loss of weight.

The stipes held a lengthy inquiry and their report, issued on Saturday evening, stated that they held Domeyer responsible. The fine was R15 000 but half is suspended for 12 months. His mount was disqualified.

By Michael Clower