Argentinian Gr1 Guineas winner Hat Puntano was being written off as a lemon after fluffing his lines on his local debut but a change of bit made all the difference.

“Horse make fools of every one but today he showed his true worth,” commented an emotional Mike Azzie after the colt silenced his critics with a stunning victory in the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile at Turffontein yesterday.

Azzie gave all the credit to Bomber Nel, who specialises in making bits for horses.

Mike Azzie

“He (Hat Puntano) was always hanging and giving us a hard time,” said Azzie. There was plenty of advice from all sides but Azzie eventually called in Nel who spent two days in his yard working with the colt. “He said we were racing him in the wrong bit and training him in the wrong bit. When we changed on Bomber’s advice, the horse settled and started running straight.”

Carrying joint top weight with race favourite New Predator and ridden by Cape jockey Grant van Niekerk, the colt got his mind on the job and gave notice that he will be a contender for the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and possibly the Gr1 Sun Met.

Earlier Via Seattle put a major spanner in the exotics.

“I’m racing here with a few of my mates and we never even put her in the Pick 6,” confessed part owner Braam van Huyssteen after Port Elizabeth raider put the skids under a high-class field of fillies in the Gr3 Princess Charlene Starling Stakes. “You hope but you don’t really believe,” he said of the 66-1 outsider who was given a copybook ride by apprentice Lyle Hewitson.

Hewitson, who has replaced Anton Marcus in the South African team for the Jockey’s International Challenge, showed just why he cracked the nod.

He sat comfortably off the pace before making his move as Folk Dance and Silver Thursday battled it out for the lead. Just as Folk Dance gained the upper hand in that duel, Hewitson slipped Via Seattle up the inside fence to win going away.

Purple Diamond

Big Bear, one of a trio saddled by Sean Tarry in the Chris van Niekerk silks in the R2.5 million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup, underlined his credentials with a smart victory over the game filly Brave Mary.

It was possibly one of the strongest Ready To Run fields in the history of the race with Brave Mary a Gr1 winner and Purple Diamond a Gr2 winner on July day in the line-up.

Big Bear, prominent throughout as stable companion Wonderwall cut out the early fractions, kept finding to win impressively, his third victory from just four starts.

Bred by Summerhill Stud, whose boss Mick Goss pioneered the Ready To Run concept in South Africa, Big Bear has a stout pedigree that should stand him in good stead if Tarry decides to chase the Triple Crown.

By Andrew Harrison

Know The Ropes can make it four off the reel and give weight all round in the Supabets Handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow.

The Andre Nel four-year-old has shrugged aside problems to go from strength to strength this season and last time she led over a furlong out to win by two and a quarter lengths quite comfortably. Indeed she won in the manner of a horse that will follow up next time even though the handicapper has raised her up six points.

Andre Nel

“I thought that was a bit harsh,” says Andre Nel. “She is unsound but she ploughs through that and I think she can win again.”

She has been installed 2-1 favourite with World Sports Betting but she has some stiff opposition to contend with, notably 4-1 chance Sequined who was only beaten three and a half lengths when seventh in a good progress plate at Durbanville last time. Those who finished immediately in front of her included Magical Wonderland, Rose In Bloom, Too Phat To Fly and Oh Susanna who occupied four of the first five places in last Saturday’s Western Cape Fillies Championship.

Then there is Still I Rise (5-2) who was good enough to win first time even though she swished her tail each time her rider touched her with his whip. She subsequently refused to load in the Durbanville handicap won by Lindleys Lane (5-1) who is weighted to confirm the placings with Rings And Things (13-2) and Double Black (7-2).

Wedgwood was beaten almost four lengths by Know The Ropes last time but is 4.5kg better so the Woodruff mare could go quite close despite her 16-1 price.

Flower Of Carmel was only just over a length behind the more experienced Saltire on debut so you would expect Aldo Domeyer’s mount to reverse the placings in race one but Brett Crawford’s horses are in great form so Saltire is taken to win.

Whatever their fortunes in the opener Domeyer and Candice Bass-Robinson should win the next with What A Winner even though the three newcomers are also from top stables and therefore command respect.

Finally Emerald Gal could be worth a few rand each way in the last, particularly if she starts anywhere near her present 8-1. She flopped at Durbanville last time and was found to be coughing but she made the frame six times on the trot before that.

“A lot of horses cough at this time of year when there is a high pollen count,” says Dan Katz. “Also she didn’t like Durbanville but this is the right race for her and I think you will see the form she showed previously.”

By Michael Clower

It is one of Turffontein Standside’s big race days on Saturday and punters will be looking to capture a slice of the big exotic pools.

The Grade 2 R1 million Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile is the headliner and New Predator could retain his crown.

New Predator

Last year he finished close up in the Jo’burg Spring Challenge in his pipe-opener and has done the same going into this year’s race. He is off a six point higher merit rating this season and has to carry topweight of 61kg, as opposed to 58,5kg last year. However, this year’s field is not nearly as star studded as it was last year and he jumps from a plum draw. He wore blinkers in his penultimate start in the Grade 1 weight for age Mercury Sprint over 1200m at Greyville and this allowed him to be up with the pace from the off before staying on for an excellent 1,1 length third. However, he has never worn them before over this trip, so them being declared it is a slight concern. However, his regular pilot Gavin Lerena should be able to keep him settled. Bella Sonata is also full of class and can be switched on and off, so she should be able to overcome her wide draw. On a line through Bela-Bela there is very little between her and New Predator.

The officially worst weighted horse in the race is Social Order, who is 4,5kg under sufferance. However, he caught the eye flying home after encountering severe traffic problems in the Grand Heritage and was not suited to the tight Inside track last time over 1600m. He will relish the Standside track with its long straight and has a plum draw under national log-leading jockey Lyle Hewitson. Hermoso Mundo has class and can use his big action to pass horses in the straight running fresh over a trip short of his best. The joint topweight Hat Puntano won two Grade 1s over a mile as a two-year-old in Argentina in the first half of last year and nothing went right for him in his SA debut, so he can be given another chance. Classify sneaks into the handicap with bottom weight and looks likely to relish the course and distance. Go Direct is capable of a strong finish and will be coming into his own being by Go Deputy.

Mac De Lago

French Navy, Mac De Lago and Tilbury Fort have the class to be involved, but all are making their seasonal reappearances. Irish Pride also has some class and is now one point lower in the merit ratings than his last win. Tahini stayed on well for third in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes over course and distance and can’t be ignored. Finchatton looks a touch high in the merit ratings. The 2014 winner Bezanova has his third run after a layoff and has pole position. Forest Fox would prefer 1400m and Top Shot has a tough task at the weights.

They are selected in the order mentioned.

Big Bear is the selection for the R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup over 1400m. He impressed last time over 1450m on the Inside track and this big, galloping, progressive type will prefer this track and has a good draw. Surcharge has been most impressive in his last two starts over this trip at the Vaal, but is drawn 17 in his first start around the turn. Takingthepeace has shown a fine turn of foot in sprints and should enjoy the step up in trip. Wonderwall is best in at the weights on official merit ratings but will find it tough from a wide draw in fast going considering his front-running to handy style. Tammany Hall is a progressive galloper who should stay on resolutely from a draw of two. Purple Diamond has his seasonal reappearance but is a Grade 2 winner over this trip. Vicomte is an eye-catchingly long-strider and is the dark horse.

In the Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m Hakeem has caught the eye before and will relish the course and distance, although Flying Free, Galactic Warrior, Zen Arcade and Kahal’s Legacy also have the class to contest the finish and Missouri is a dark horse.

By David Thiselton

Winning first time out of the maidens is always difficult but given a modicum of talent at this time of the year in KZN it is a little easier as She’s A Dream showed at Greyville on Wednesday.

Mark Dixon’s filly does look a cut above the average but Oligarch does not have to be anything super special to register his second win when he lines up in the Klinger Mzansi Handicap at the same venue tonight where all the races are on the poly.

Oligarch (Candiese Marnewick)

Oligarch, a son of Kahal whose progeny take well to the poly track, had come unstuck in a few of his early starts but blinkers and the poly track appear to have brought out his true ability. After an improved effort behind Tommy Grand, he followed up with a comfortable maiden victory. The only three-year-old in the race, he takes on some seasoned opposition, but the Dean Kannemeyer stable is currently in mustard form with three winners at Greyville on Wednesday, all from tricky draws, and the extra furlong should also suit Oligarch.

Alyson Wright’s filly Green Ice has similar credentials to those of Oligarch, possibly even stronger. After showing good form in feature company as a maiden, she made short work of her opposition when back in maiden company, beating Flamenco Dancer. She too takes on older opposition but was good enough to finish just over three lengths back to subsequent Gr1 winner Lady In Black in her first start on the poly and a repeat of that effort should be good enough to see her home where the dangers are Miss Suey and Jingle Belle who makes her local debut after a much improved effort at Kenilworth last time out.

The Greta Schoeman Memorial Handicap has a wide open look about it and the list of possible winners is a long one. As mentioned earlier, the Kannemeyer yard has hit form with a vengeance and Orelia can follow up on her recent victory. The draw is not in her favour but she only picked up a two-pound penalty for her win and although she takes a jump in class, her form is nothing if not consistent.

Magic Memory is another that rises in class but was touched off in her first run back from a break by the width of an onion skin in second behind Art Attack. She shed her maiden over course and distance before following up in easy fashion. But she has drawn one gate inside of Orelia so they both start at a slight disadvantage. Rae’s Dyna Jet, Onsie and Leisure Trip are all in with chances while Mark My Card has been up against males at her last two outings and victory would not come as a major surprise.

By Andrew Harrison

The R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup is the first of the big sales races this season and it is fitting that Summerhill Stud, who brought this popular concept to South Africa, have a strong hand in Saturday’s race over 1400m on the Turffontein Standside track.

Await The Dawn’s untimely passing after siring just two crops was a big loss and this is illustrated by the Summerhill-bred R240,000 purchase Big Bear as well as the Summerhill-bred filly Tammany Hall, who are both in Saturday’s race. Big Bear has won two of three starts and had the field spread out like the washing over 1450m on the Inside track last time out in a Novice Handicap, although he was carrying bottom weight. Await The Dawn won a Group 1 over a mile-and-a-half and Big Bear is big and strong and a resolute galloper, so will not only be constantly improving, but will relish the Standside track with its long straight.

Big Bear (Candiese Marnewick)

Tammany Hall has also won two out of three and kept on gamely last time to beat older horses in a handicap over 1450m off a merit rating of 85. She has a plum draw and has a chance over a likely ideal course and distance.

First reserve runner Ekuseni is also by Await The Dawn and is also a galloping type.

The former Summerhill-based sire Visionaire has a chance with the promising filly Takingthepeace, a R280,000 Summerhill-bred purchase. Takingthepeace showed a fine turn of foot last time out to win a MR68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m by a comfortable 2,4 lengths off an 83 merit rating. Her dam finished third in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m, so Takingthepeace should comfortably get this 1400m trip. Anthony Delpech might drop her out from a draw of eleven.

Brave Tin Soldier produced a runner up in this race two years ago in Rabada and has Riding Shotgun in Saturday’s event. This horse is the favourite to be pacemaker as he has fine form from 1000-1400m when allowed to lead. However, from a wide draw of 14 it is going to be tough for this R80,000 purchase.

Grade 1 winner Brave Mary, a daughter of Brave Tin Soldier, was born at Summerhill. She is an unknown factor over this trip, although her draw of four will allow her to use her plentiful speed to her advantage.

The Summerhill-breds will likely be looking at Wonderwall, Purple Diamond and Surcharge as the horses to beat.

By David Thiselton