ANDREW HARRISON

PUNTERS face a difficult card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today and some wet weather will add another degree of difficulty. That said, get it right and you will be sitting with a bulging wallet or a healthy account balance.

There are many first timers in the card opener but Ashley Fortune has left Silver Blue in KZN and she takes her chances against males. She found one too good for her in the well-backed Good Traveller but that experience will count. Crested Eagle was a little disappointing when fading late behind Good Traveller. He seems better than that but Donovan Dillon has jumped ship to partner debutante Prince Vihaan while Lord Varys should improve on his debut effort. The betting should be you most reliable guide.

The second is a tricky maiden. Trumpet Voluntary disappointed last run after two improved showings but he may be worth another chance. Crusade’s Star has run two of his best races on the turf and goes well this trip. The two well-bred first timers, After The Rain and Mr Cat will not have to be too sharp to feature in this line-up.

In the third, Coromandel was probably just in need of his last run, his first for a new stable and back from a break. He should come on lengths from that effort and get your PA off to a good start. Mr Pigalle has improved with every outing and should be running at them late and looks a threat while The Gaul finished just ahead of Coromandel when last they met and was also returning from a break. However, the former may just have a little more to come.

The opening leg of the Pick 6 is a wide-open handicap. Al’s My Daddy was having his first run for his new stable when returning from a break. He has some fair Cape form before that and at best should make a bold bid. High Green may prefer the poly but he did not get the best of rides last start and appears to be coming to hand again. Spring Fling was much improved with the blinkers off and won well enough to suggest a big chance in spite of a five-pound rise in the handicap.

Garth Puller holds a strong hand in the fifth but best of his runners could be Twice Golden. He stays well and was runner-up in a stronger field last outing. A repeat will see him into the money. Run To Denmark has done most of his recent racing on the poly but is a victim of his own consistency with his rating barely moving. Mrs Hotline showed up well last run on this course and should stay the extra in spite of taking on males.

The sixth is another difficult handicap but Princekresh is lightly raced but has his third outing after a break. He is also down in class so should feature prominently. Valiente was disqualified after an objection by the clerk of scales last run. His form before that was solid and with a 2.5kg claimer up he must be a big runner. Alfonsa Spagoni is up in class but was narrowly beaten over course and distance last run while Kings Road has put in two smart local efforts and goes well this course and distance.

If you are looking to cut on expenses it may be in the seventh where the two obvious choices are Fever and Double Gemini. Fever has done all of his recent racing on the poly but he has come well in blinkers and meets a modest field here. Double Gemini took a long time to shed his maiden but was never far off them. The form of his maiden win has been franked and he has a big chance in this line-up.

In the eighth, Tiger Tank has done well for his new stable. He was a well-beaten fourth last outing but his best form has been on the turf and he should be concerned in the finish. A Whole New World shows plenty of scope and goes well for apprentice Kyle Strydom while H Two made steady improvement leading up to his maiden win. That form has since been franked.

In the last, She’s A Keeper is lightly raced and obviously has problems but she has put in two smart efforts to date and should enjoy the extra furlong. Gary Rich sends out to lively runners in Arctic Princess and Boogie Shoes.  Arctic Princess reverts to the turf but she has good form since being tried in blinkers and looks a lively contender while stable companion Boogie Shoes has the worst of the draw but shows promise and is one to keep an eye on.

David Thiselton

VAUGHAN MARSHALL’S long-striding gelding Linebacker became the second high performing son of the champion sprinter Captain Of All to defy his pedigree when winning Saturday’s Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby over 2000m under Grant van Niekerk.

Shango was the first, finishing second in the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m last year having earlier won the Dingaans, but Linebacker is better and might turn out to be something special.

Linebacker jumped from the widest draw of all but Grant van Niekerk was able to find cover in the back half of the field. 

The Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock had meanwhile ruined his chances by refusing to settle in front. 

Linebacker’s stablemate Rascallion was effectively dictating in second place about five lengths behind the wayward Russian Rock.

In the staight Rascallion moved up well to take the lead and was soon challenged by the much touted The Gatekeeper, a full-brother to previous Cape Derby winner Legislate. 

However, Linebacker could afford to switch in looking for a run and then switch outward again before moving past the two protagonists in front effortlessly.

Van Niekerk just had to give him a couple of backhanders to keep his mind on the task and in the final stages was able to glance over both shoulders before easing him up to win by 1,50 lengths. Rascallion was runner up, half-a-length ahead of The Gatekeeper. Hoedspruit was a length further back in fourth, 2,25 lengths ahead of fifth placed Crimson King with Russian Rock next best. 

Linebacker has now beaten Rascallion four times in succession but interestingly has started double the odds of the latter, or more, on every one of those occasions. 

The public should now be convinced who the better horse is.

It was Marshall’s second Cape Derby win, the first being ten years ago with the Al Mufti colt Top Seller. 

The Marshall yard is famously linked to Al Mufti’s legendary son Captain Al and they will be thrilled to see the influence now being passed on by another generation. Captain Of All is of course a son of Captain Al’s.    

The SA Champions Season beckons and Linebacker looks to be a Vodacom Durban July candidate with the WSB Guineas and Daily News 2000 his obvious route.

He should not be given a hefty raise from his current 112 merit rating. The highest rated horse in the race was Russian Rock, but he did not run to form. The consistent Rascallion went in with a 110 rating, while The Gatekeeper was a 109.

On paper Linebacker  should be raised one point, although he will likely be given an extra two or three for the ease and classy manner of the win.   

With Rainbow Bridge in the July Linebacker will have to be higher than a gross 124 rating to carry more than the minimum weight for a three-year-old male of 53kg. Even if he wins both the WSB Guineas and Daily News 2000 he is unlikely to rise above that mark.

Rascallion, who had finished third, one behind Linebacker, in all three of their previous meetings this season, started favourite at 47/20 on Saturday, while Linebacker started 13/2. The reasons could only have been Linebacker having yet another wide draw and his pedigree suggesting he had a stamina doubt, whereas Rascallion looked to have no stamina doubt and was once again well drawn. 

Not only was Linebacker’s sire Captain Of All a sprinter but his dam Thin Red Line, by the speed influence Redoute’s Choice, had two career wins both over 1000m, although she did race mainly over a mile and also had a third over 1800m and a second over 2000m.

The stamina question mark has been answered and Linebacker must now be favourite for the Equus Champion Three-Year-Old male Award as he has versatility on his side too.

His three previous starts this season, all for runner up finishes, had been in the Grade 3 Cape Classic over 1400m, the Grade 2 Concorde Cup over 1600m and the Grade 1 Cape Guineas. He had to overcome wide draws in the last two of those races and was particularly unlucky in the latter race as he was caught wide throughout and then when seemingly having the race won he drifted in, away from the stick, which arguably cost him victory.

Justin Snaith hinted before Saturday’s race that the still maturing The Gatekeeper would be at his best towards the end of the season so he could still be a challenger and Malmoos, winner of the Concorde Cup and WSB Gauteng Guineas, is also still in the running for champion three-year-old. 

Linebacker was bred by Klawervlei Stud and is owned by Cheryl Gabler and Ken and Jane Truter.

DAVID THISELTON

TURFFONTEIN STANDSIDE hosts a meeting today which features four stakes races and this will whet the appetite ahead of the WSB SA Classic and Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic meeting next Saturday.

The first of the four features is the Listed Ruffian Stakes over 1000m and the topweight Naarah is the one to beat despite having to give 2kg to the one-time winners and 5kg to maiden Veneta. She has showed fine pace to win both of her starts. However, the list of precocious youngsters who win their first two starts well before failing at the first feature race hurdle is a long one as two-year-olds mature at different rates and the others can suddenly catch up. Bella Chica, for example, looks to have some scope and has Piere Strydom aboard so could be a threat. She is only 2kg better off with Naarah for a four length beating but last time the apprentice jockey might well have sat for too along as Bella Chica was doing good work late. Under Your Spell won easily on debut and also looks to have some scope. Heaven’s Girl improved third time out to win from start to finish over 1200m and is 2kg better off with Naarah for a 2,75 length beating over 800m. Supreme Quest stayed on well to win last time so is also not out of it. Veneta lost her race at the start on debut over 800m but seemed to have a fair stride and receiving weight from the rest can’t be ignored.

The next race, the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m, is just as open. Social Image improved second time out and quickened well off her strong pace so is the one to beat with her 2.5kg female allowance. Captain’s Run was just half-a-length off Naarah over 800m on debut and followed with a good win. He showed good pace in the latter race and quickened well to repel the challenger Heaven’s Girl. Hope Is Power did not record a great time on debut but won easing up and looks to have scope for improvement. Arctic Skyline was a bit green when finishing second last time out so could still improve. The first-timer Sheela is by the miler to middle distance Group 1 winner The United States (Galileo) out of the Listed-placed Trippi sprinter Trip To India. 

In the Listed Bauhinia Handicap Sweet Future is the selection. This long-striding daughter of Futura has plenty of scope and has good cruising speed. From a nice high draw she can mow down the field late. Tropic Sun broke through the stalls last week before a 1200m event and so not surprisingly faded late after showing her usual good pace. She is now over a fast 1000m so her pace will make her a dangerous contender. The small four-year-old Risk Taker might get a tow from the big horse Sweet Future towards the outside and she has a blistering turn of foot so she could be a danger too. Rapid Fire is 7.5kg better off with Anna Capri for a mere 0,75 length beating so is also in it. Anna Capri can’t be ignored as she is capable of blitzing any field. Last time she was tardily away so did not lead and yet still won. If she gets a good break this time she could follow up despite it now being a handicap which makes her task a lot tougher than last time. 

In the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap the lightweight Destinys Game is progressive and if she starts on terms can mow the field down in the straight. Wisteria Walk has blossomed and has been impressive in her two prep runs over 1400m and 1500m. Rio’s Winter has plenty of class and is distance suited and competitively merit rated. Magic School is classy and capable of carrying topweight from a good draw and will want to be more handy than last time. Mount Laurel is course and distance suited and well drawn. Wylie Wench and Seehaam are both officially under sufferance but look to have the ability to go close.           

Andrew Harrison

WHAT makes horse racing the sport that it is? Gavin van Zyl and stable rider Warren Kennedy put it all in a nutshell after Stanton Street landed his long overdue maiden win at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday, running all the way to the line to deny Gauteng raider Life Goes On.

Kennedy admitted that he had all but written off the gelding as a ‘professional maiden’ and Van Zyl said he was never quite sure over what distance his charge would be most effective – yesterday’s race over 1000m. “Being out of a Zabeel mare, a solid New Zealand staying pedigree, I thought he would go ground. But it seems that I got it all wrong and I had to change things around and start again.”

Van Zyl also pointed out one of the darker sides of the sport. An owner putting his hand up at a sale and then reneging on their commitment. “In the ocean without a paddle,” as he so succinctly put it, and it is a scourge and unpleasant and costly reality that all trainers have had to deal with some time in their career.

Being a trainer in South Africa, having to deal with exponential rising operating costs in a stagnant economy, a myriad of other complications, some petty rules and keeping an equine athlete in peak condition, it is more difficult operating a training yard than anything Cyril Ramaphosa faces in running the country.

Gauteng raiders drew first blood when Southern Cape and Gin And Tonic fought out the card opener. Both were quick out of the gate and duelled all the way to the line. Marcus had Southern Cape in the lead turning for home with Ryan Munger, having his first ride back in KZN for many a year after a spell in Singapore, looking to have Marcus in his sights and dead to rights.

However, when asked the question, Gin And Tonic challenged gamely but could not get past Southern Cape who kept finding to the line.

Munger got himself on the board as Bright Eyed Girl made all the running for Weiho Marwing as she left her opposition trailing in her wake. “She showed us good work on the sand,” confirmed Marwing’s son Warwick who was doing duty for his father.

Spare a thought for Lezeanne Forbes. She was on the end of some stinging criticism when Fat Cigar finished ahead of stable companion and favourite Legislate’s Dance at Hollywoodbets Scottsville recently and was faced with a similar scenario when Panna Cotta, the less fancied of her two runners finished with a rattle to win the fifth.

She explained post-race that both of her charges had hot temperaments, favourite Koopa Troopa displaying hers before being coaxed to load.

She explained that given that the race was run at a pedestrian pace, the sprint for home was never going to suit the favourite.

“She is a very big filly with a massive action and when she ran second, she had the beautiful long Scottsville straight.

“The race was run at an absolute canter and there was no way that she would be able to out-sprint them down the short straight.”

Panna Cotta is another difficult filly, “she tends to beat herself” according to Forbes but apprentice Kyle Strydom handled her beautifully and he will not be long in shedding his claim.

The colours of the International Racing Club with Joa de Matta at the helm along Mike de Haast are familiar silks on the local circuit and Truly Wicked did them proud with a comfortable win in the sixth.

Wayne Badenhorst, with sister Barbara and brother-in-law Warren Kennedy, are always a combination to keep an eye on when they team up.