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

Pietro Mascagni is a well-bred colt by Silvano and is held in high regard. He was accorded a surprisingly low merit rating of 79 after his excellent winning debut over 1160m at Turffontein. He is out of a full sister to the champion Ice Cube and Jagged Ice, who were both top class over a mile. Coupled with Silvano’s influence, he will relish the step up in trip and has a plum draw of four. Champion Jockey Anthony Delpech, who rode him in his debut win, is retained by Wilgerbosdrift Stud, who have Monks Hood in the race. Therefore, former champion jockey Gavin Lerena is a significant booking. Pietro Mascagni looked professional on debut and should handle the turn from a plum draw of four. The Mike de Kock yard are in top form and have an incredible strike rate of 22,35% this season.

Big Bear (Candiese Marnewick)

Big Bear was most impressive when spread-eagling the field in The Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup over 1400m. He is a galloping type who has a deceptive turn of foot and will also relish the step up in trip. Against him is a draw of twelve, while the Sean Tarry yard are also going through a rare dry spell. However, Tarry runs a highly professional operation and it would be no surprise to see his runners doing well this week and the yard can then go into Saturday with confidence.

The De Kock-trained Alshibaa is by the great sire Street Cry and is unbeaten in two starts. Last time out over 1600m in a three-year-old handicap on the Vaal Classic track he over raced early as the jockey reined him back from a wide draw, but he then settled nicely and stormed through to win going away off a merit rating of 82. It was not the strongest of fields, but he is drawn in pole under Bernard Fayd’Herbe and could build on that performance. He struck a one who would appreciate a strong pace.

Alwahsh is also unbeaten in two starts and won a handicap easing up over 1200m against older horses off a merit rating of 84 in his second start. He is by the four-time Gr 1-winning sprinter Sepoy, but is out of a full sister to an Australian champion filly who won from 1200-2400m, so is interesting over this trip. He also has a wide draw of eleven and has not run for 88 days.

The Robbie Sage-trained Vacquero took three runs to win his maiden, but followed up when deservedly winning on objection over 1800m last time out against the classy Elevated. He is by Silvano so should be improving all the time and his long stride is eye catching. He will relish the long Turffontein straight and has a plum draw of two.

The De Kock-trained Like A Panther won a maiden over 1600m third time out by 6,5 lengths and followed up by comfortably beating older horses in a handicap over 2000m despite running off an 89 merit rating. He is full of class but looks likely to appreciate further than a mile. He will likely be dropped out from a wide draw of 14 and will be running on strongly.

Monks Hood (Candiese Marnewick)

Ideal Secret stayed on well for second in the Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m and being by Ideal World should both be improving and appreciate the step up in trip. He has a good draw of six and is 3,5kg better off with Big Bear for a 3,2 length beating over 1450m.

Seerite ran on in eye-catching style in the Graham Beck and looks likely to relish the step up in trip. However, he has a wide draw to overcome.

Flying Free found no extra from a wide draw over 1400m in the Graham Beck Stakes, so another wide draw over a step up in trip is a concern.

KZN raider Monks Hood stayed on well for third in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m on Gold Cup day, despite jumping from a wide draw, but the form of that race has not worked out too well. He will need to step up although Delpech aboard helps his cause.

Another KZN raider Roy Had Enough appears to be a sort who needs a fast pace and he will also need some luck from a wide draw.

The De Kock-trained Puget Sound is held on paper by Big Bear.

Silver God, Darkest Hour and Missouri look held by Ideal Secret and Seerite on Graham Beck form.

Loyal Lieutenant’s form does not look strong enough on paper, but he was still very green in his maiden win and looks a nice, long-striding type who has plenty of scope.

Big Bear makes the most appeal but a lot depends on the Tarry yard form this week. Pietro Mascagni is a big runner too and Alwahsh, Alshibaa, Vacquero and Like A Panther should make their presence felt.

By David Thiselton