Ireland’s all-conquering champion trainer Aidan O’Brien looks likely to hit the magical 30 Gr.1 winner mark before the end of this season and he could take another step closer at the QIPCO Champions Day fixture at Ascot on Saturday.

US Navy Flag led home an historic top four finish for O’Brien in Saturday’s Dewhurst Stakes in Newmarket – taking his trainer to 24 Gr.1 wins this season.

US Navy Flag could have his 11th start of the season in next month’s Breeders’ Cup in Del Mar after becoming the first horse in 35 years to complete the Middle Park-Dewhurst Stakes double on Saturday after leading home his stable companions, Mendelssohn, Seahenge and Threeandfourpence at Newmarket.

The Ballydoyle squad for this weekend includes the dual-Guineas winners Churchill and Winter who both hold entries in the Champion Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Caravaggio could have another crack at Harry Angel in the Champions Sprint while Seventh Heaven is among the possibles for the Fillies and Mares Stakes.

Before the four Gr.1 races at Ascot, Ireland’s champion trainer could also be in top-class action in Australia in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Johannes Vermeer only just failed to overhaul Gailo Chop in the Ladbrokes Stakes on Saturday and on the back of his impressive first start in Asutralia he has been cut to 8-1 to make a successful reappearance in the Caulfield Cup.

The mile and a half handicap was pinpointed as a likely target for the colt by Ryan Moore as early as July and Katelyn Mallyon, who rode Johannes Vermeer on Saturday, was upbeat about the Irish horse’s chance in that $3 million (€2.5 million) race too.

Along with the Melbourne Cup, the Caulfield Cup is the first of Australian racing’s three most coveted prizes. O’Brien won the third of them, the Cox Plate, with Adelaide in 2014.

The Ballydoyle trainer is unlikely to have a runner in Sunday’s Prix Royal Oak, the French St Leger, run at Saint-Cloud but one firm is already betting on the basis that the Irishman’s pursuit of Bobby Frankel’s 25 top-flight wins in 2003 is old news.

O’Brien will also have his eye on the Breeders’ Cup weekend at Del Mar, the spring carnival in Australia and the possibility of runners at the Hong Kong International meeting, as well as the Japan Cup.

– sportinglife

The first leg of this season’s Workrider series takes place tomorrow at the Vaal Inside track and the first-timers will play a part as all eight races are uninspiring maidens.

There are two interesting first-timers in the first race over 1000m. The Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Glacus is by Querari out of a Western Winter mare who won five times over 1000m so this R300,000 purchase should have plenty of speed. He looks to be the stable choice as he will be ridden by Francis Semela, who had the joint most number of workrider race winners last season on eleven. The Mike de Kock-trained Mawshoof is by Trippi out of a twice-winning Western Winter half-sister to two Grade 2 winners, including Alderry, who is the dam of SA Derby winner Al Sahem. The low draws are usually favourable by trends down the straight on this course and this will give Mawshoof, who is drawn five, an advantage over the barrier ten drawn Glacus. However, Glacus’s speed breeding gives him the nod. The best of those to have run looks to be Ragnarok, who was not disgraced on debut behind the two-year-old champion Mustaaqeem. He hasn’t run since April, but ability-wise looks superior to the rest of the raced horses. However, Tumbling Stream, an improving sort who went close over this trip last time out, should finish in the quartet, although he does have a high draw. Toby Coates has the form to earn. Sage Rock is well bred and has shown a lot of pace in both of his starts before fading. He now drops to the minimum trip and should strip fitter so is a dark horse.

In race two over 1000m, Schippers is speedily bred being by Var out of the Count Dubois sprinter Fair Rosalind. The latter had precocious speed, winning her first two starts as a two-year-old and she later won the Grade 3 Magnolia Handicap over 1160m in the December of her three-year-old year. Schippers will be ridden by Goodman Dadamasi, who had the joint most number of workrider winners last season. Glencassley could be a big threat as one with tremendous cruising speed. She will undoubtedly appreciate the step down to 1000m and her pace should enable her to choose whichever side the jockey wants to go to from a high draw. Her rider is inexperienced, but has ridden a place in his two rides this season. Ilha Da Var has also shown enough to be able to place.

In the third race over 1400m the reigning champion workrider Sam Mosia rides the selection Diva Faustina. This horse should do well over 1400m down the straight as she went a bit fast three runs ago over this trip around the turn, but still held on for third. If ridden a bit more conservatively from the front she should go close and a draw of six, which is favourable by trends, should allow Mosia to do so. The Australian-bred Yes We Do makes her debut and is most interesting, being by the brilliant ten times Grade 1 winner So You Think out of a winning half-sister to a Grade 1 placed horse. Siyabonga Mthembu, who rode three winners last season, is aboard. Queen Anne is always fancied in the betting due to her hard knocking form, but she is hard to win with as she is a handy to front-running sort who doesn’t find the necessary extra in the closing stages. Queensberry Square and Princess Tin Tin can earn on form and the first-timer Lady Adela is interesting being by Crusade out of a full sister to Grade 3 Three Troikas winner Sharp Mistress.

In the fourth race over 1400m the vote goes to Cyrus, but he’s not a confident choice. He was left out of his ground on debut over 1160m and ran on quite well, but not in the eye-catching style which inspires confidence. He is only chosen due to the weakness of the field. Soldat looks to be a better place accumulator banker as he is distance suited and consistently thereabouts. The first-timer Sucha Charmer will win easily if anything like as good as his full-brother Africa Rising, but Lucky Houdalakis does tend to bring his good horses on slowly but surely.

In the fifth over 1200m the Mike de Kock first-timer Yaamen is by Silvano out of a Grade 2 Betting World Oaks placed horse. However, despite the stoutness of the pedigree he is the choise as the pedigree also has class and that could pull him through. Chamu Mabaya is a top workrider and has six rides for De Kock on the day. The hard knocking Flying Russian should finish in the top three and No Man’s Land can be involved if starting better than he did on debut.

The sixth is over 2400m and jockeyship should be at a premium here so Mosia is chosen to bring home the proven stayer Pocahontas Girl. Just A Jet with Semela up could be a threat and Until Dawn could improve over this trip.

The seventh over 1800m is a tough race and going wide would be wise, although the Gardner Girl with Mosia up is the selection.

In the eight over 1800m Collegiate could be the best bet on the card, although a concern is rider Paulus Jevu’s low winning strike rate. This five-year-old gelding by Ideal World ran on strongly for second over 2000m on Saturday after a slow start and if the penny has dropped he will be hard to beat.

By David Thiselton

The Sansui Summer Cup picture took on a different complexion after Saturday’s meeting at Turffontein. Three horses, in particular, must have pleased their respective trainers – Brazuca, Abashiri and Banner Hill.

They finished first, second and third respectively in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m on the Turffontein Inside track and you could virtually hear the respective trainers say “and now for the Summer Cup”.

The bookmakers were also impressed by Abashiri’s performance and have priced him up 5-1 favourite for the Cup.

That spectacle takes place over 2000m on the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday 25 November and all three will be better suited to the course and distance. Donavan Mansour rode Brazuca this time and wasted no time in taking his mount to the head of affairs.

“I thought he might want to go if there was no pace and I said before the race that it was stupid to fight him and the best thing to do was let him run his own race,” said Mansour.

“He needed the run so if he faded late it was not going to be too much of a concern.”

He did exactly the opposite and kicked nicely in the straight to easily hold off the opposition and win by 1.70 lengths.

Janse van Vuuren said he would look at the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile as Brazuca’s next run but a lot will depend on where he is drawn.

It is worth noting that Mansour has ridden Brazuca four times for three wins and a second. The runner-up race was on debut and was over 1000m where he finished second to Isca. There is no doubt Mansour has a great rapport with the Australian-bred son of Teofilo.

Last week Adam Azzie said Abashiri was in desperate need of a run and they just wanted him to see a racecourse again. There were no expectations at all, a comment which the younger Azzie reiterated again on Saturday. “If he finishes within five lengths of the winner we will be over the moon,” he said.

But champions don’t like to lose and we saw that desire in Abashiri on Saturday. Left to race near the rear of the field by Karl Zechner, Abashiri got just one smack and that got him going. He started to charge up on outside but lack of fitness probably caught him out.

“It was a fantastic comeback,” said Mike Azzie. “I didn’t want him under pressure and we had no expectations but he just blew us out of the water. This run was way better than what we expected.

“He ate up well, his legs were ice cold – everything just worked out perfectly.”

Azzie senior added that the Inside track was not right for Abashiri, but they wanted him to have a run and had few other options. “It left us between a rock and a hard place so we thought, let’s put him in and let him have fun.

“He used to get all worked up on the racecourse but on Saturday he was dead calm. His ears were pricked, he was so relaxed and just looking at everything around him. When he got his saddle on he stomped around and walked around the parade ring like he dominated it.

“He knew he was on the racetrack again,” said Azzie.

His next run will be in the Victory Moon Handicap next month.

Banner Hill had his first run for Geoff Woodruff and the trainer must have been delighted with the fact his charge was just beaten 1.80 lengths over a course and distance that would not suit him.

Woodruff has won the last four Summer Cups and will feel comfortable a runner like Banner Hill is capable of making it five in a row.

– TABonline

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