Andrew Harrison

IT could be a case of horses-for-courses in the OPEN A tabGOLD Account Handicap that heads up this afternoon’s poly card at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Duncan Howells has always rated Coldhardcash as top class but his career has been limited by breathing problems. That has not stopped him from racking up six victories and the gelding has always been game in spite of his impediment. He is back over his favourite course and distance.

Coldhardcash was never in the hunt under 62kg on the Hollywoodbets Scottsville grass last time out, possibly the toughest 1000m in the country, and prior to that the extra furlong on the poly found him out the last bit.

He has a plum draw here and although this is a handicap there is little separating the first six in the weights with only Herecomestherain recieving any significant benefit from a light weight.

Di Mazzio is another old soldier and he too is back on his preferred surface. He has been dropping in the handicap and with accomplished apprentice Kyle Strydom claiming he must have a decent chance.

Kayson is ante-post favourite at around 17-10 and deserves his place at the top of the boards. He has been rested but is smart and could well prove too good quick for his older rivals.

The card opener is a tricky juvenile affair with young horses making big improvement as they gain in experience and maturity. Danse Milord has the widest draw but is quick and looks the part on current form. Route Sixty Six is the current ante-post favourite and although a distant fourth on debut she was short in the market. Judged on the betting she is expected to have come on from that. Bingin Beach made a promising debut and on to watch on the betting.  While Miss Quince is the shortest priced of the debutants.

In the third, East Coast Star has been costly to follow but she may be worth another chance given that she’s back on the poly where she has run her two best races. Peter Muscutt has also declared cheek pieces and a tongue-tie in what could be the last throw of the dice. Umkhomazi just needed her last run and should come on lengths from that effort while My Big Vision showed some improvement with blinkers last time out and can feature again.

The fourth looks fairly open as do the balance of the races on the card. Broadway made a promising debut from a wide draw and the extra should suit. He is a smashing looker and can make the required improvement to win here. Decorated has had two starts over shorter and should much prefer this trip. Command Control comes from an in-form stable. He is lightly raced and can still improve.

The fifth is a difficult affair where Theravada and Bernie’s Dream are vying for favouritism.

Theravada goes well on the poly and is overdue a win while Bernie’s Dream has been showing steady improvement in blinkers and should be right there again.  Knights Warrior is the rank outsider in the field but he has been up against stronger at recent outings and 20-1 about his chances may be worth a small each-way wager.

Winter Waves and Fly The Coup are lightly raced and look to have some scope. Winter Waves has made steady progress to shed his maiden and that form has since been franked. Fly The Coup won well enough on debut to suggest that he can take this small step up in class. Majorca Palace and Gentleman’s Way may be worth including in larger exotic perms.

Vivid Jet takes to the poly for the first time and has drawn wide but she came from well off the pace to win first time out after a break. Mark Dixon’s filly looks to be more than useful.

The two older fillies Wizz Of Odds and Georgina Rose are never too far back but a bigger threat could be Stella Act. She was never headed when winning over the Scottsville 1200m last time out and that bodes well for a similar effort this afternoon.

The last could develop into a two-way contest between Preferential and Diamonds And Pearls. They renew rivalry with the latter 2 kg better off at the weights but does have the worst of the draw to contend with. These two look the pick but the betting suggests a difficult fillies handicap. Marsanne steps up in trip and has a smart turn of foot. If the pace suits she will be dangerous while Silva Magic, Vihaan’s Pie and weak ante-post favourite Invisible are all in the shake-up.

Andrew Harrison

TRISTAN MUSTARD, grandson of July winning jockey Leslie who scored on Lightning Shot for Dessie Rich, has taken up a job as groom come workrider for top UK jumps trainer Nicky Henderson.

Mustard has already made a name for himself as a fearless rider, partnering some of the yards more difficult inmates in work. He used to ride Mot A Mot at work but said; “I don’t ride Mot A Mot any more. He’s a quiet ride with a lovely temperament.”

 Mot A Mot made headlines after winning at Chepstow last week when jockey James Bowen produced one of the rides of the season according to the television pundits.

Moments after the start in the Pertemps MPS Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race, his rein broke. The 18-year-old looked down at the tack problem, which seemed to encourage the 9-2 shot to go faster and take the lead.

Bowen adjusted his balance aboard the grey, firstly to keep the partnership intact, but he then had to deal with the horse veering to his right on the bend.

“There seems to be some sort of issue with the leader who is hanging badly around the turn,” said the commentator.

With just one hand steering the horse, at a top speed of more than 40 kmph, he managed to guide him towards the rail.

Fortunately, the pair were able to navigate the final bend in a straighter fashion, but the drama wasn’t over.

Bowen looked behind him to see where their rivals were and nearly collided with the ‘wings’ that bordered the course.

Mustard was a pleased as punch groom in the winner’s circle.

Watch the race on youtube.

ANDREW HARRISON

THE stipendiary stewards who were officiating at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday, will have had their hands full and we could be looking to import jockeys for the next few meetings. Like cockroaches scattering in the kitchen when the lights are turned on, they were all over the course, whether it be bowling horses out of the gate or losing their compass in the straight.

The stipes would have had a hard time sorting through the culprits in the third. Lowan Denysschen looked to have had a change of fortune when the meeting was switched to the poly track with Crusade’s Star out-gunning the opposition in the second.

Two races later he was cursing his luck as High Green ended up the meat in the sandwich just as he was moving through to make his run.

Replacement rider Muzi Yeni was not entirely blameless as he allowed his mount to shift out slightly but he got hammered from both sides and would certainly have finished a lot closer than he did as he was shunted out of the race.

Anton Marcus was on the receiving end as Prince Karesh go ‘done’ out of the pens in the sixth and his mount never raising a gallop, not that he would have had any chance with winner Valiente who barrelled out of the gate and was not for the catching.

These were just a few instances that caught the eye.

A mile-and-a-half on the turf is a different race to ten furlongs on the poly but yesterday’s switch benefitted Dream Destiny, who in spite of carrying joint bottom weight and still under sufferance, took advantage of the switch in surface and a good ride from Yeni to land the fifth for Kom Naidoo.

  Favourites were in short supply yesterday and there is little to enthuse about in today’s Hollywoodbets Greyville meeting and advice to punters is to tread carefully.  The majority of runners are well exposed but are mostly limited which makes the handicap races a minefield and the maidens are similarly competitive.

But we soldier on.

In the first, Life Goes On was a well beaten second last time out but meets a modest field here and must have a strong chance and could be one of the better bets on the card.

In the fourth, Good Girl has useful form in sprints but is bred to stay this trip. She is lightly raced and if she stays the distance, she could be hard to beat but Two For Tea was deemed good enough to take to Cape Town for the season. She has had two runs back in sprints and should be much better suited to this trip and could prove a threat.

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.