In spite of the torrential downpour experienced over Durban on Tuesday, the Greyville poly track was un-affected by the 122mm of rain as coastal residents mopped up and serveyed the damage under cloudless skies yesterday.

“We could have raced today,” said track manager Kurt Grunewald. “The track has drained perfectly and areas where we sometimes experienced problems (with drainage) were dry. No, everything is fine for Sunday.” No rain is forecast for the interim.

The turf track was also flooded but the next turf meeting is only scheduled for Sunday, October 22. “Provided that we don’t get any more rain like yesterday, the track should be in great shape,” added Grunewald.

By Andrew Harrison

The Vaal stages a nine-race meeting on the outside track tomorrow and the exotics will be popular bets considering the Pick 6 is made up of six competitive handicaps and dividends are likely to be healthy.

The highest rated race on the card is the seventh, a MR 80 Handicap over 1600m.

Pilou is the one to beat. He only just failed over this trip at Turffontein last time out despite spreading a shoe. He is only 0,5kg better off with Tommy Waterdevil for a narrow beating. However, by trends he is drawn on the right side in barrier seven in a nine-horse field. He won his maiden over course and distance by six lengths and is reunited with S’Manga Khumalo, who has ridden him in both of his wins. Pilou might have needed that last run slightly, it being his season’s reappearance, and the national champion yard of Sean Tarry yard should start kicking into top gear now with August being the traditional month for trainers to administer AHS vaccines.

Shogun

Well Connected started slowly over 1450m last time and showed a good turn of foot in the straight. However, he was unable to go through with his initially strong finish. His dam is by National Assembly and won once over 1200m. However, he is by Silvano and his second dam is an Oaks winner, so he could well be looking for this step up in trip. He was dropped two points to an 82 merit rating after that last run. That is still a tough merit rating for an early season three-year-old facing older horses, but being by Silvano he should be improving all the time. His draw of two might be a concern, although the draw bias has been unpredictable at the Vaal lately and the earlier races must be monitored to see if there is any bias on the day.

Tommy Waterdevil warrants consideration too as he has taken well to a mile in his last two starts, having been kept to sprints and 1400m events before that. He was running on well in that last race, but he did have the run of the race from a good draw and has to overcome a three-point merit rated raise, so this will be tougher and his draw of three might also be a concern. Shogun had to overcome a draw of nine in the aforementioned race and was only 0,85 lengths back at the line. He has remained on the same merit rating and now has Anthony Delpech up. However, he is drawn in barrier one so in his case the earlier races will also have to be monitored. If there is no draw bias he has a huge shout.

National Key is eight-years-old but is a capable sort and over a suitable course and distance is the dark horse jumping from the standside draw of nine and having been dropped to an attractive merit rating. Street Flyer is also hard to ignore with Strydom up as he went close the last time he ran in this class and he was off the identical 79 merit rating on that occasion.

Man’s Inn is an effective handy to front-running sort, who has also dropped to a competitive merit rating, so he also could pop up. The selection is Pilou to beat Well Connected with Shogun next best ahead of National Key and Tommy Waterdevil.

In the first leg of the PA over 1400m the touted Huyssteen should enjoy the step up in trip after a good debut over 1200m, where he was cut into. La Scala was unlucky last time and looks promising too. Both have low draws and the widely drawn Hyper Jet warrants consideration as he will relish the step up in trip.  The first-timer Think Of Magic is a R300,000 Philanthropist and is a half-brother to the dam of Triple Crown winner Louis The King, so the betting must be monitored. The other first-timer Savannah King is by Tiger Ridge out of an Elliodor dam who has produced three winners.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a competitive maiden over 1400m but Witch Of The West makes most appeal as a rangy sort who will come on from her running on second over 1200m on debut. She does have a low draw but Anthony Delpech is up.

In the next leg the hard-knocking Celtic Lady has a good chance over an ideal 1000m trip and Varsity Princess is interesting with fist-time blinkers on from a standside draw as she has shown ability and is well bred.

The David Niewenhuizen pair Monarch Air and Flowing Gown make most appeal in the next over 1600m from high draws. Charter Jet is none too reliable but has the ability to win too.

In the penultimate leg of the Pick 6 Captain Chips runs over his ideal 1400m trip and could beat hat-trick-seeking Darkest Hour and Sail For Joy. However, it’s a competitive race and going wide could be the way to go.

The last leg is also competitive but Cedrus Lebani makes most appeal. He is a long-striding progressive sort who might enjoy the step up in trip and he is drawn on the right side under Gavin Lerena. Neuf De Pape should also go close, while Genesis could improve further from his gutsy debut win over this trip.

By David Thiselton

The good news for Western Cape trainers is that grass racecourse training gallops should be available to them again by October 20.

The trainers have been without any racecourse gallops whatsoever since about September 20 and the situation will also have an effect on breeders, who will be wanting to prepare their horses for the CTS Ready To Run Sale “breeze ups”, which are to take place on November 16 at Durbanville.

Durbanville race track

In a normal season racecourse gallops are catered for by Durbanville and on a quota basis at Kenilworth.

However, not only has Cape Town been locked in the worst drought for over a century, but the Durbanville racecourse has only recently been reopened after being relaid.

The Durbanville surface has been described as “beautiful” by trainers and although it is presently firm it is also nice and level so the horses have been pulling up well.

However, the powers that be do not want to risk putting too much pressure on the course before the grass has fully knitted.

The Kenilworth New Course was closed for scarification in September, so there have consequently been no racecourse grass training gallops available for Western Cape trainers since September 20.

However, the situation is under review by Phumelela in unison with Kenilworth Racing’s racecourse manager Dean Diedericks.

Phumelela’s Racing Executive Clyde Basel was optimistic that the quota gallop system would be re-opened at Kenilworth on October 20.

The quota system at Kenilworth allows each trainer a certain number of gallops with a view to being able to prepare graded class horses.

Basel was also confident gallops at Durbanville could start happening again on October 22, following the last race meeting there on October 18.

Basel believed Diedericks would be able to scarify Durbanville in stages, which would allow the gallops at Durbanville to be reopened on the aforementioned date.

Grass gallops are viewed as vital by some trainers in order to bring a horse to its peak for a race.

Meanwhile, Cape Thoroughbred Sales’ new CEO Wéhann Smith is in discussions with Diedericks and Kenilworth Racing regarding preparation opportunities for breeders before the CTS Ready To Run Sale, which is presented by Lanzerac Hotel and Spa.

Smith said that, as it stands, breeders or pre-trainers would not be allowed to prepare their horses at Durbanville as they have done in past years.

However, all 146 of the lots will be allowed to do their breeze up on the Durbanville course on November 16.

By David Thiselton

The Secret Is Out looks nailed on for the Supabets Conditions Plate at Durbanville tomorrow even though she has been off for over four months.

Good enough to win the Allan Robertson at two, she returned to the scene of that triumph in May to finish only two lengths behind Carry On Alice when third in the South African Fillies Sprint. On adjusted merit ratings she has 5.5kg in hand, she has had a gallop and Vaughan Marshall confirms that she should be fit enough to do herself justice.

MJ Byleveld’s mount was opened odds-on at 17-20 by World Sports Betting yesterday and 7-2 second favourite is Gold Image who has not raced since winning at Scottsville in the last week of July. “She hasn’t galloped but she is very quick and I think she will be competitive,” says Glen Kotzen.

The Secret Is Out (Candiese Marnewick)

Clifton Sunset (9-2) is the one closest to the favourite on ratings and this is her first race of the season. “She has been doing very well and she will be fit enough to run competitively,” says Brett Crawford who adds: “Obviously she will improve from whatever she does here.”

Red Light Girl (6-1) is the filly with the fitness advantage having taken a less than three-length fifth to last Saturday’s Diana winner Goodtime Gal in a Pinnacle at Kenilworth. That form reads well now and, while theoretically she has no chance with the favourite on the book, she could well go close. Scandola (8-1) is quite useful but she should not win.

The Marshall-Byleveld combination have a good chance of taking the first three races and in the first 17-10 favourite Red Eight is given marginal preference over What A Summer whose form reads marginally better but is badly drawn.

Red Eight, second in his last three, fought it out with Johnny Black in the final furlong of a decent maiden here ten days ago and a line through the winner suggests he can account for 13-2 chance Love Of India.

Star Of London’s promising debut four weeks ago would make her most appealing in the TAB Telebet Maiden were it not for her 17 draw. That looks the kiss of death and gives her considerably less chance than her 4-1 price would suggest.

Marshall’s 5-2 favourite Believethisbeauty, on the other hand, has a midfield draw and her experience may be enough to gain a reasonable start and get the better of 15-4 shot Spam Alert.

Race four is tricky and difficult to predict. Maybe Cape Extreme (28-10) will just be good enough although it is worth noting that the Ramsden-trained Sunset Clause (5-1) wears blinkers for the first time.

Hithimagainchuck should justify 14-10 favouritism in race seven and 35 minutes later Know The Ropes (3-1) can make it three in a row for Andre Nel.

By Michael Clower

Candice Bass-Robinson started the new feature season where she left off last season with a fine win in the Grade 3 Matchem Stakes over 1400m at Durbanville on Saturday with Our Mate Art and she also looks to have a possible Grade 1 WSB Fillies Guineas prospect in Magical Wonderland.

Bass-Robinson became the first lady trainer to win the Vodacom Durban July earlier this year and did it in her first season as a licensed trainer having taken over the reins from her legendary father Mike.

The latters greatest horse was Pocket Power and Our Mate Art carries the same blue, white and pink colours of the yard’s most loyal owner Marsh Shirtliff.

Our Mate Art is a rangy Australian-bred four-year-old gelding by the twice Grade 1-winning miler-to-1800m USA-bred Artie Schiller.

The big bay looked to always be in control of the race on Saturday once he had found cover in a handy position after a good start. He duly ran on resolutely to get the better of Table Bay, a classy sort who could well be at his best over that 1400m trip.

Bass-Robinson said, “It was the perfect race for him, a good distance and not quite against the top, top horses.”

She referred to the like of Legal Eagle and Marinaresco when qualifying the last statement.

Glen Kotzen, trainer of Gold Standard, might have had something to say about that, considering his Gold Standard finished in front of Marinaresco by 1,25 lengths in the Sun Met last year, albeit on 2kg better terms than weight for age.

Kotzen believed Gold Standard, who was having his first run since the Met, would have won on Saturday had he not been cramped between Table Bay and the rail. However, he was delighted by his 1,65 length fourth, especially in light of none of the Western Cape trainers having racecourse grass gallops available to them at present. Kotzen considers grass gallops as a vital aspect of his training program and said all of his horses had gone into Saturday’s meeting short of such a gallop. However, he was pleased that his big guns like Eyes Wide Open, Pack Leader, Too Phat To Fly, Princess Peach and Final Judgement had all pulled up well after running on a surface he described as “beautiful”.

Earlier, Bass-Robinson’s What A Winter filly Magical Wonderland turned it on in eye-catching fashion to easily win a strong Progress Plate for three-year-old fillies over 1200m.

On pedigree she will have a stamina doubt as she is by champion sprinter What A Winter and is a half-sister to the like of Grade 3-winning sprinter Magico.

However, Bass Robinson pointed out she had switched off nicely on Saturday at the back and possesses “a big turn of foot”. She believed she could get away with a mile against her own age group at this stage, just as her sire had when winning the Grade 2 Selangor Cup. However, she concluded by saying her Grade 1 WSB Fillies Guineas participation would be decided upon after her next intended run in the Grade 2 Choice Carriers Championships over 1400m at Kenilworth on October 28.

Meanwhile, Bass-Robinson’s July winner Marinaresco is in full training after enjoying a holiday at Soetendal Estate and would be taking the traditional top-horse route of Green Point Stakes, L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and Sun Met.

Our Mate Art would also be considered for that route, although reading between the lines Bass-Robinson does not rate him quite as good as Marinaresco at this stage.

By David Thiselton

Photo: Candice Robinson (hamish NIVEN Photography)