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

The new Durbanville surface has stood up to use so well that the country course’s season has been extended by a week to give Kenilworth some much-needed extra time to recover.

Duty manager Teresa Esplin said: “Following an inspection of Kenilworth a decision has been made to continue racing at Durbanville for an additional two meetings (21 and 25 October). Racing will resume at Kenilworth on 28 October.”

The 21 October meeting includes the 2 400m Woolavington Handicap in which last year’s runner-up Francia will bid to go one better.

The 28 October restart features two of the most important Guineas preliminaries. The Choice Carriers, formerly Odessa and now renamed the Western Cape Fillies Championship, has been won by the subsequent Cape Fillies Guineas winner four times in the last seven seasons.

The unbeaten Magical Wonderland looks like having a reasonable draw (nine) whereas the two set to give her weight have drawn wide. The Dennis Drier-trained Thekwini winner Lady In Black is 25 out of 30 and Sean Tarry’s Golden Slipper scorer Desert Rhythm is drawn 20.

Joey Ramsden, who has won three of the last four runnings of the Cape Classic, accounts for six of the 34 entries for the 1 400m Grade 3 including Ancestry (drawn ten), a close second in both the Golden Horseshoe and the Premiers Champion. Sean Tarry has also nominated six horses but Glen Kotzen’s Premiers Champion winner Eyes Wide Open has drawn badly at 33.

Anthony Delpech makes a rare visit to Durbanville on Wednesday when the reigning champion has five rides for Dean Kannemeyer including Last Winter, the stable’s main hope for big race glory this season.

The Cape Town stipes are to make more use of the seldom-employed Rule 62.2.7 in a bid to improve the pace at which races are run, particularly those at Kenilworth.

The Rule does not mention anything about pace but states: “The rider shall ensure that he does not cause interference, bunching, intimidation and/or constitute a source of interference or danger.”

However Brandon May received a caution under it after slowing early on, riding fourth-placed Libra in a mile handicap at Durbanville on the day of the Matchem.

Senior stipe Ernie Rodrigues said: “Brandon had gone to the front but he wanted cover so he slowed the pace and that caused those behind to bunch up and lose position.

“We don’t want the Cape crawl and so the Rule will be used more in future. We do talk to jockeys about it but the Rule is difficult to prove and the video evidence has to show it.”

The false pace at which many races at Kenilworth are run makes life difficult for punters because the form does not stand up as a result, most noticeably in maidens.

On the other hand coping with the prevailing South-Easter plays an important part in deciding riding tactics. No jockey wants to be riding into the teeth of a strong wind without getting cover from other horses. As a result nobody wants to make the running – whatever the Rules say.

By Michael Clower

Given all the rain midweek that interrupted training regimes and the lowly handicaps on offer it was always going to be rough going for punters at Greyville yesterday and so it proved.

Winners were difficult to find but Parade’s End looked to be the best proposition on the card and so that proved. Second in two competitive maidens before yesterday, Parade’s End made short work of her opposition, leading all the way under stable rider Gareth Wright.

“I let her do her own thing and use her action,” he explained. “She got to the front easily and from there on it was easy.”

For the balance of the card’s favourites it was not so easy. Sharp Seattle was given a good chance by Gavin van Zyl but veteran Burra Boy (8-1) brought his A-game to the poly and won with daylight to spare at the start of the Pick 6. Blake and Cathy Richards have had a lot of fun with some relatively cheap buys and with Mark Dixon at the helm they have had good success.

This was Burra Boy’s third win from 35 outings but had finished in the money on 14 occasions – 15 after yesterday – so has more than paid his way with earnings of over R270k.

Just when it looked as if Sharp Seattle would run him out of it, Brandon Lerena changed gear and Burra Boy pulled clear to win going away.

Home-bred by Gold Circle director Babu Nunan, Burfi (19-1) has been consistent without setting the track alight but his mare put her best foot forward to land the Track & Ball Gaming handicap. She kept digging down to hold the luckless favourite Zinzara with Online staying on for the shallow end of the purse.

Kom Naidoo pulled off a quick double in the sixth as Serino Moodley kept pumping away relentlessly on Northern Storm (16-1) to eventually ware down leader Zadora who has improved since being raced in a tongue-tie.

Charles Laird has been a little quiet in recent months but the veteran is starting to step them out and was rewarded with Dance On Air (5-1) under Keagan de Melo getting the better of recent winner Mr Roy and Mumsy’s Jet after stable companion Monte Christo set a searching early pace.

Starting for home too early on the poly track very often results in an empty tank come the final 50m – not always but more often than one would expect on a quick surface and so it proved in the card opener. De Melo pinched what looked to be a winning lead at the top of the straight as he sent Green Fairy for home early, but was run down on the line by the consistent Coral Queen.

“Warren (Kennedy) said we should try her over 2000m,” surmised Gavin van Zyl. “He’s stable jockey so it helps to listen to them.”

Kennedy confirmed. “Keagan (de Melo) skipped but his horse came back at me and my horse stayed to the line.”

A percentage of the Pick 6 won and the PA paying close to R1 000 told of a difficult day for backers.

By Andrew Harrison