Anthony Delpech breaks new ground at Durbanville tomorrow when he rides at the Cape Town course for the first time.

“I have never ridden there in my life before,” says the three-time champion who adds. “I am looking forward to it, particularly now that they have done up the track. I’m told it’s very good.”

He has five mounts for Dean Kannemeyer and also partners Tally-Ho for Mike Robinson in the last but the main purpose of his visit is to renew his association with the highly-regarded Last Winter in the Interbet Handicap.

This well bred Western Winter four-year-old has won all his three starts, all with Delpech in the irons, and would have been a Guineas contender last season but for suffering a hairline fracture in a freak accident. He has been off for almost three months but would almost certainly have a higher rating than his present 99 had he not been sidelined.

The question is whether he will need the run. “He is doing exceptionally well although he is not a horse who over-exerts himself at home,” answers Dean Kannemeyer.

“I would love to have got a grass gallop into him but unfortunately we can’t do that at the moment and I think he just might need one more run to bring him to peak racing fitness.”

That said, it is hard to go against him particularly with Delpech flying in to take the mount, and his class may just pull him through.

Kannemeyer also runs Cape Speed (who needs further) and Mambo Mime who returned here earlier in the month after being off since the Met. “He had a lot of setbacks but he has come on since his run and I think he will be right there,” says his trainer.

Last Winter opened 15-10 favourite with World Sports Betting who make Mambo Mime a 12-1 chance. Third favourite at 4-1 is Star Chestnut who has been raised three points for his hard-fought win over this course and distance last month.

Union Jack (9-2) is returning after a break and so perhaps the biggest danger to the selection is 7-2 shot Captain Courteous who was second over a furlong less here last month when the bit went through his mouth, making him difficult to steer round the turn. He now wears blinkers, which could further enhance his chance.

Kannemeyer also mentions Kapen Pride who moves into handicap company in race six after a three-and-a-half Greyville polytrack maiden success and has been installed favourite at 33-10. The Milnerton trainer is always wary of horses running out of the maidens for the first time and says: “It was a very weak maiden although he won it exceptionally well and I think he is improving.”

Zanzibarian, a little unlucky last time, can take advantage of a good draw in race two. The Brett Crawford runner is 5-2 favourite and Kannemeyer’s World Mission is next in the market at 4-1.

By Michael Clower

Abashiri has swept to the top of the Sansui Summer Cup boards after his fine comeback run on Saturday in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein and the horse he pipped for second place, Banner Hill, is rated a big runner in the Summer Cup by record-seeking trainer Geoff Woodruff.

Woodruff also revealed that last year’s Summer Cup runner up Deo Juvente is not a certainty to line up in the big race, although Mayfair Speculator’s racing manager Derek Brugman elaborated and said a final decision was “far from being made.”

Donavan Mansour aboard Summer Cup entry Brazuca took the bull by the horns in Saturday’s Pinnacle and took the Australian-bred by Teofilo to the front. He kept going in fine style and despite hanging outward in the closing stages passed the line 1,7 lengths clear. This was the second year in succession Brazuca had won his seasonal reappearance. He escaped without a merit rated increase and has shortened in to 16/1 with Betting World for the Summer Cup.

Abashiri jumped from the second widest draw in the ten horse field and was dropped out by jockey Karl Zechner. He had cover the whole way, one wide, and turning for home with just two behind him, used his big stride to run on well. He will surely benefit from the run and has shortened to 7/1 favourite for the Summer Cup.

Abashiri will be attempting to follow in the footsteps of Louis The King as a Triple Crown winner who went on to win the Summer Cup. Louis The King did it as a four-year-old in 2014.

Abashiri’s tough three-year-old season took its toll and all three of his runs as a four-year-old were below par. However, the five-year-old gelding showed on Saturday he had benefitted from a nine month layoff.

Louis The King won the Summer Cup off a 110 merit rating and carried 59kg. Abashiri’s current rating is 109 and as things stand he will carry 57kg, as the highest rated entry is the 115 merit-rated Deo Juvente.

Brugman said about Deo Juvente’s participation, “It is very much up in the air at the moment. I am not sure it is the right thing to run him in the Summer Cup with topweight and it might be better to aim it at weight for age events like the Queen’s Plate and then The Met. But, we will wait and see how his preparation run goes and then will also look at how the other horses have prepped and the quality of opposition etc. before deciding.”

The second highest merit rated horse is New Predator on 113, but he has a stamina doubt, so is also not a certain starter. Next highest is the 112 merit rated Matador Man, who on pedigree has a stamina doubt but his strong-finishing third in the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m suggests he will have a chance of staying the 2000m trip.

Abashiri and Master Sabina, who will be attempting to emulate Elevation and Java by winning the Summer Cup three times in a row, are the joint next highest rated on 109. Master Sabina, trained by Woodruff to his two Summer Cup wins, is now with trainer Joey Soma having joined Justin Snaith during the SA Champions Season.

Banner Hill was caught one wide in third place in the running on Saturday and the rangy five-year-old gelding by Tiger Hill then stayed on strongly all the way to the line.

This former Cape Town-based horse is known as a stayer, but won a handicap over 1800m at Greyville in good style in April and Woodruff said, “Those Cape staying races are often run quite slowly and I think the Turffontein Standside 2000m will be right up his alley. He is a nice horse, I like him, and I don’t think he will need another. He will go into the Summer Cup on better weight terms than he was under in Saturday’s Pinnacle and if he goes in with 52kg or 53kg I think he is a huge runner.”

Woodruff said he would likely give Banner Hill a couple of grass gallops rather than another race. The big horse has shortened into 28/1 with Betting World, while Deo Juvente is a 25/1 shot.

Woodruff also had last year’s Summer Cup third-placed Master Switch in Saturday’s race but he was never travelling well and finished last, beaten 8,75 lengths.

Woodruff said, “He was disappointing and returned a bit sore, but I might now run him in the Victory Moon.” Master Switch has drifted to 35/1.

Woodruff’s shortest priced runner in the Summer Cup at 14/1 is last year’s Grade 1 SA Derby runner up Pagoda, who will run in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 2000m on Turffontein’s Inside track on Saturday.

He said, “He hasn’t raced since July, but is well, looks very good and put up a nice gallop at home.”

Among his other Summer Cup entries, Woodruff mentioned the filly Bi Pot, who finished second in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic.

He said, “Greyville didn’t suit her at all and on Turffontein Standside she is a different proposition.”

She is a 50/1 shot with Betting World.

Woodruff’s other Summer Cup entries are Zouaves (40/1), Killua Castle (80/1), Go Direct (80/1), Starret City (100/1), Gone Baby Gone (150/1), Whosethebossnow (250/1), Starpath (330/1).

The five-times national champion trainer will be attempting to become the first trainer in South African history to win one of the three major races (July, Met, Summer Cup) five times in succession.

By David Thiselton

Whisky Baron is making a good recovery from the hind leg setback that ruled him out of last Friday’s Challenge Stakes at Newmarket but plans to send him to Hong Kong for December’s International meeting have been abandoned.

Ridgemont manager Craig Carey said yesterday: “He got a bit of swelling above the joint but the good news is that it is nothing serious. There are no fractures, tears or anything like that, and the swelling has subsided after a lot of ice and care over the last few days.  We think he must have twisted his ankle.

“He is fine in himself and he can start working again in the next few weeks but we are going to call it a day for this year and wait until next year with him.”

Brett Crawford added: “We are not now going to look at Hong Kong but we will try again next year.”

The five-year-old Australian-bred, owned by Craig and Ross Kieswetter and named after their father Wayne, won all five starts last season including the Peninsula Handicap and Sun Met. He is now based at Mary Slack’s Abington Place stables in Newmarket.

Justin Snaith will be three-handed in his bid to win the Woolavington Handicap for the third successive year at Durbanville on Saturday. Bernard Fayd’Herbe rides last season’s runner-up Francia, Richard Fourie will be on Strathdon and Grant van Niekerk has been booked for Northern Ballet.

The five-strong opposition is head by Red Peril (Wes Marwing) who romped to a five-length win in the Settlers Trophy over the same course and distance last month.

By Michael Clower

Todd recently stepped away from his role as MD of Cape Thoroughbred Sales (CTS) in order to focus solely on export protocols.

The severe quarantine restrictions pertaining to African horse sickness (AHS) which have been placed on South African horses have shackled the thoroughbred industry’s ability to progress to a new level.

Currently the most feasible option for horses to travel to countries like Dubai is via Mauritius and the whole process takes an arduous five months.

The reason this route had to be resorted to was due to European Union legislation whereby any outbreak of AHS in the South African AHS Controlled Area in the Western Cape prompts an automatic two year ban on direct horse exports to the EU.

The frustrating aspect of the EU’s policy of suspending exports for a period of two years is that it is virtually impossible for foreign investors to plan with any degree of confidence.

However, a recent vital scientific breakthrough has enabled researchers to ascertain whether an AHS outbreak originated from natural infection or from a vaccine.

Todd said researchers had thus discovered that all previous AHS outbreaks in the Controlled Area had in fact originated from vaccines.

Therefore, a new regulation has been introduced whereby vaccines administered in the AHS Controlled Area can only be done in the winter months. The culicoides midge which carries the disease is mostly inactive in cold weather and thus restricting vaccinations to the winter months will dramatically reduce the chances of a “vaccine outbreak.” The midge can feed off a horse which has become “viraemic” due to the vaccine (which is a live modified vaccine) and the midge can thus spread the disease.

Therefore, Todd is confident an EU audit done on the state of the AHS disease in South Africa in September or October next year will lead to the lifting of the suspension of direct exports to the EU by the end of next year.

The AHS Controlled Area is of particular importance because the pre-export quarantine station is currently situated within its “AHS Free Zone.”

Todd revealed that Dr. Evan Sergeant of AusVet had done a risk assessment on AHS last year. The assessment looked at the risk of AHS being exported under lockdown vector protected conditions in the AHS Free Zone together with the use of the RT PCR Test, which can ascertain whether the AHS virus exists within hours of the test being done. Todd said the assessment had returned a result of “safe” to export.

He added that the results of this assessment would be part of the strategy taken to the international horseracing community in the export protocol negotiations.

Ultimately, the export protocols are decided upon by government to government negotiations, so a good relationship between the SA thoroughbred industry and government is vital.

Todd said this relationship was currently better than it had ever been. He was full of praise for the Department Of Agriculture’s resolve to work with the thoroughbred industry in solving the export problem.

He said, “The Department Of Agriculture are doing great work, we couldn’t ask for more.”

Todd said the Department of Agriculture’s efforts had also led to a good understanding and united front existing between the central veterinary authorities and the provincial veterinary authorities in their outlook on AHS and equine exports.  

Todd said another vital cog in the process was the united front which SA horseracing has formed to tackle the export problem.

This had its incubation in a workshop held in 2015 between the rival sales companies, Bloodstock South Africa and CTS.

An export protocol task team was the outcome of that workshop and good progress has been made since.

By David Thiselton

There is an eight race card at the Vaal Inside tomorrow and once again there are good horses turning out as they need runs before their respective feature race campaigns.

The fifth is a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1000m for fillies and the topweight Wrecking Ball is weighted to win. She has to carry 61,5kg but is 3,5kg better off than any other horse on official merit ratings and has Gavin Lerena up over an ideal trip. Her high draw is unfavourable by trends but she can overcome it with her pace and class. Queen Laurie is held on form by Wrecking Ball and returns from a layoff, with her last race having been when setting the pace in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint. However, she has a plum draw of two by trends and considering her early pace could be a danger. Winter Watch didn’t beat much last time but did it comfortably and looks to have a bright future. She packs a strong finish and is the dark horse, despite officially being 4,5kg under sufferance with Wrecking Ball. Just Vogue ran a good race over course and distance in June when two lengths behind the speedy Effortless Reward and she should be staying on again from a tricky high draw. Daring Diva had good feature form as a two-year-old and can’t be ignored.  She has a high draw but could overcome it with her pace. She is 3,5kg under sufferance on official merit ratings with Wrecking Ball, but should have come on from her last outing. Those are the five which make most appeal, but on a tricky card Wrecking Ball will have to be a banker consideration with Queen Laurie the back up.

The following race is a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1000m. The Thinker is officially 5kg under sufferance with the  best weighted horse but he proved in his last race, when winning a Pinnacle event over 1000m at Turffontein from a tough draw, that he is under rated. He is a solid sort who packs a strong finish and could develop into a top sprinter this season. He beat the admirable former champion sprinter Talktothestars by 0,55 lengths last time and the latter is now 1,5kg better off so should go close. Fillies are favourably weighted in Pinnacle events and Green Pepper is duly the best in. However, she returns from a layoff, having run two slightly below par runs in April and May, and the classy Exquisite Touch, who is ideally distance suited, is chosen to be the first female home. Green Pepper is tough to ignore though as she had looked pretty special before those two below par efforts and could have benefitted from the layoff. Isphan can’t be ignored either as he is 1,5kg better off with The Thinker for a 0,3 length beating and has become consistent down the straight over this trip. Champagne Haze is also capable of popping up as one with speed and class and he did well the last time he ran over course and distance.

In the second leg of the Pick 6, a MR 80 Handicap over 1400m, Sir David Baird has been chosen as a banker, although by no means a confident one as this race is packed with promising three-year-olds and some toughened older handicappers. Sir David Baird is an impressive specimen by Dynasty and was done no favours last time by the jockey, who looked behind him a couple of times in the final stages and was possibly caught napping. The horse should have come on from the run and is likely to be using that big stride to finish strongly. He has a tough high draw by trends but Delpech is up and will help him overcome it. Surcharge quickened impressively last time over this trip when up in the vanguard throughout and did it in probably unfavourable going which made it an even more meritorious win. He now has a plum draw and Strydom is up, but on the downside he has to give Sir David Baird 2,5kg. O Lucky Man won a moderate maiden easily over this trip last time and getting 3kg from Sir David Baird could make his presence felt. Bold Coast makes most appeal of the older horses as an improving sort who is distance suited. Keanan’s Rock has class but hasn’t run since May and Blackball also has class but has a tough merit rating to contend with.

In the first leg of the PA the rangy Visigoth should be enough to get punters through, although there won’t be much between him and another rangy sort in Finding Troy.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a tricky staying event and Scotland, Samar and Sabastian make most appeal but exotic punters would be advised to go as wide as possible.

In the seventh race Takingthepeace looks to have class but it is never easy for a young horse to carry topweight in a handicap, so others should be considered. Timetoperfection and Prosperity make most appeal of the rest.

In the last race Emerald Bay has caught the eye before and is ideally suited to this 1800m trip. However, she has a tough draw so it is another tricky race. The improving Musette and the attractively handicapped Hatfield Square make most appeal of the rest.

By David Thiselton