The Australian-bred Hard Ball is long overdue a victory and that could change at the Vaal tomorrow when he lines up in the card opener over 1400m. Johan Janse van Vuuren’s gelding has finished runner-up at his last two and blinkers do appear to have improved his focus, having only been run out of it late in those races. Gavin Lerena has stuck with the ride he can get punters off to a winning start.

Gavin Lerena

However, after giving many of his runners a break at the end of last season, Sean Tarry is starting to roll them out again and if Hard Ball runs into a straight bat it could be in the form of the Tarry-trained Cyrus. He raced green in his debut sprint and will surely prefer this trip with Lyle Hewitson booked for the ride.

Hewitson partners the Mike and Adam Azzie runner Vanuatu in the second who will hopefully make marked improvement on his disappointing second start. He was a promising second on debut but pulled up lame when down the field behind Boatswain. The Azzie’s will fit blinkers and a tongue-tie tomorrow which will hopefully see him run an improved race. Also behind Boatswain was Sweet Trail who is definitely better than that last effort after a close-up second at his penultimate start. Lerena rides for the third time which is always a good sign.

Candice Dawson is fast making a name for herself in her own right as a trainer and saddles Western Shamrock in the opening leg of the Pick 6. The daughter of Philanthropist was well fancied on debut but was possibly just short of a run, fading late behind Sweet Juliet. She is sure to improve on that run and most of the opposition are well exposed.

Although taking a big rise in trip, Mutawaary is likely to start among the fancied runners for the Supabets Maiden. Mike de Kock kept the Aussie bred to sprints where he showed signs of getting off the mark before a well below par effort in a handicap sprint last time out. His pedigree suggests that the step up in trip will be well within his compass.

The Azzie’s send out fellow Australian-bred Sess who disappointed badly when favourite last time out after a smart showing at his previous start. It was obviously a performance well below what was expected and he does have the benefit of having been tried over ground.

The Interbet.co.za Handicap heads the card and it looks a bit of an open affair. Banner Hill, who acquitted himself well during Champions Season, has his first outing for Geoff Woodruff, no doubt in preparation for the Highveld spring season where there are some lucrative opportunities for staying horses. He has a big weight but could race fresh over this trip and Piere Strydom will get the best out of him.

Kilrain has come back well since a break and starting for his new stable, winning well over the Turffontein 1600m. With fitness on his side he could prove the better option as opposed to Banner Hill.

Stonehenge and Bankable Teddy met last time out with Bankable Teddy coming out on top. He is now 2kg worse off with the runner-up so there is not likely to be much between the two.

By Andrew Harrison

Accomplished horseman Tobie Spies has been appointed stud manager at Ernst Du Preez’s up-and-coming Favour Stud near Stilbaai, Western Cape.

Spies’s appointment follows the departure of Renate and Jannie du Plessis, who have moved to Australia. Du Preez’s 350-hectare farm has 100 stables and presently houses 35 mares and 20-something yearlings born and raised at the farm. Spies said: “Three weeks ago Corne (Spies, son), walked into my office at the Vaal and said, “Dad, how do you feel about going to Stilbaai?” I was taken aback, it was going to be a serious career move, but here I am. My wife and I have moved into the house on the Favour Stud premises and we’re still wide-eyed, but I’m up for the challenge, this is a nice opportunity for us.”

Corne Spies (Supplied)

A former leading Grade 1-winning trainer himself (Yardmaster, Fast Gun, Petros, Mysterious Hal, etc.), Tobie mainly managed Corne’s Vaal stables for the last 10 years while Spies Jr was travelling the country raiding everywhere from Kimberley to Port Elizabeth and even doing a spell in Zimbabwe.

The new arrangement has seen Corne return to his permanent base at the Vaal with former stable jockey Francois Naude joining as stable employee and assistant. There are 60 horses stabled at the Vaal yard and a further 30 in Port Elizabeth. Tobie Spies says: “I will miss racing in Gauteng and elsewhere, I’ve always enjoyed preparing and saddling our runners for races, but I also loved my time as yearling inspector for TBA, working with John Kramer. We travelled around the country several times to rate the yearlings at stud farms. I got to know most of the breeders well and I also know the beautiful areas from Franschoek to Robertson and Ceres, I will be travelling to these areas again with mares from Favour Stud to be covered by a number of stallions.

“Ironically, Kramer is due to visit Favour Stud for sales inspections on 19 October and Tobie says: “Getting the yearlings walking properly and looking the part is our first big challenge. They’re running around here, rough and tough, and we have to get them in shape for inspector Kramer. With just two weeks to go we face a task of proportions!”

Renate du Plessis recently told Sporting Post: “I think I could handle a train running into me now – that would be nothing compared to breeding season!” but Ernst du Preez believes there is nobody more qualified for the position.

“Tobie is a top class horseman. He and his family have been instrumental in our success and enjoyment of racing. Corne’s professionalism and great attitude brought us to Tobie, we are very happy to have him working for us in this important role.” Du Preez added: “It is our mission at Favour Stud to compete at the highest level. We aim to breed top racehorses and we’ve invested over the years in the best mares we could find, like Gr1 performers Limerick (dam of Noah From Goa), Zaitoon, Far De Vie and Supreme Deal. “We have shares in top new stallions including What A Winter, Querari, Quasillo, also Elusive Fort so we have fixed visits booked. We’ll be looking for more high quality mares, they’re not easy to find but we’re in the market, we’ll get them.”

— turf talk

Durbanville Wednesday Tips and Race Previews by Warren Lenferna

Race 1
Preview: GOA (7) is coming along the right way and from an okay draw looks ready to go close. OSTINATO (5) keeps running second but should be able to go one better and get it right soon. Big runner as always. DEAR MONIETTE (3) tries a touch further and should be able to get much closer now. (Warren Lenferna 7-5-3)

Race 2
Preview: SECOND NATURE (4) ran on well to win last time and is in good form. She can follow up. TIFFINDELL (5) returns from a short rest but was in good form before that. If she were to win it would be no shock at all. NORTHERN BALLET (1) might have a tough task at the weights but nevertheless, still has a bright chance. (Warren Lenferna 4-5-1)

Race 3
Preview: MAGIC SAILOR (1) was out run in the shadow of the post last time and tried all the way up the lane. He finished second behind Valbonne whom was making his debut and this afternoon Magic Sailor looks very hard to beat under M J Byleveld. SEVENTH RULE (2) is the exacta choice and LA MER (3) could help boost the quartet dividend. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-3)

Race 4
Preview: HUNDREDS (9) caught the eye on debut when running on well and now with that run under the belt looks very hard to beat here. GREENSTREETTRACTOR (3) went close to winning last time and has a huge chance. COYS (2) the KZN runner from the Paul Lafferty stable has shown ability in KZN and today with the help of blinkers should go close but they will all have to run to beat Hundreds! (Warren Lenferna 9-3-2)

Race 5
Preview: BLUE DOOR (4) ran a good race last time finishing second when putting in a late effort. He can go one better. JUDDERING ANGEL (5) is much better than his last run shows and can bounce back to best. WOODLAND’S FOREST (3) will have a chance if reproducing his penultimate run – definite quartet inclusion. (Warren Lenferna 4-5-3)

Race 6
Preview: STATE BALLET (4) normally races from the front and might hold on to win. Her form is consistent and her draw the best – she might be hard to catch this time. BIG MISTAKE (8) is very fast and won well in his penultimate start – chance. LOVE TO FLY (9) has very consistent form but returns from a short rest – it would be silly to ignore his chances. (Warren Lenferna 4-8-9)

Race 7
Preview: KAMPALA CAMPARI (2) never shaped in Gauteng in a feature last time but his form before that is very strong. He clearly has ability and despite returning from a rest might prove tough to beat. CAPTAIN COURTEOUS (3) is very reliable and should once again be there at the finish. SNIPER SHOT (9) has top KZN juvenile form and should be able to get into the action here. (Warren Lenferna 2-3-9)

Race 8
Preview: The three runners that have recorded one run for one win look set to fight it out. STILL I RISE (6) was very impressive when taking off to win and looks to be above average. She might be the right one and has been selected to win. ONTENDERHOOKS (5) and DOUBLE BLACK (7) should be right there at the finish and both also look to have ability. (Warren Lenferna 6-5-7)

The Trust, a registered Public Benefit Organisation, has been raising funds to help improve the life of equines since 2005. Its Rehoming Program focuses specifically on the safe and secure future of thoroughbred racehorses once they are retired from their racing career. Many of them are retired as young as two or three-years-old.

Ken Truter

The rehoming programme is run by volunteers and most of the horses come directly from racing, having been donated by owners, trainers and breeders who care about the future of their horses. A few have come through “rescue” situations, having been sold on and landed up in dire circumstances.

Last year, the Trust was able to raise R260,000 through a charity auction held shortly before the running of the CTS Southern Cross Stakes as well as from the sale of races and tables on the day.

Chairman Ken Truter said the Trust would love to equal or better that figure on this year’s raceday, but that they face a harder task.

He told Turf Talk: “We only have eight races this year, that’s eight races to sell to sponsors, and they exclude a feature race. But we know that racing’s benefactors always try their best to help with causes like ours, so we’ll work hard to achieve the highest figure we can.

“We will have a special lunch on the day, so we will be selling tables again and like last year we will have an auction. We’re collecting all sorts of special things to auction off, there will be a raffle and a collection of prizes to give away.”

Truter, who is presently in London, added: “I am mailing Bernard Kantor this morning to see if we can secure a few tickets to next year’s Investec Derby. I cannot make this official yet, but let’s hope Mr Kantor can help.”

– Turf Talk

Gold Standard faces nine opponents for his long-awaited reappearance in the World Sports Betting Matchem Stakes at Durbanville on Saturday.

Gold Standard (Liesl King)

The Cape Guineas runner-up has not raced since his fourth to Whisky Baron in the Sun Met with a cautious approach to fetlock problems deciding Glen Kotzen to give the Durban season a miss. Those taking him on include Table Bay who started favourite for the Guineas but was beaten into third.

Anton Marcus’s mount is a kilo better off but has more than three lengths to find. Top weight Always In Charge has to shoulder a 3kg Grade 1 penalty as a result of his Gold Medallion success at two.

Gold Standard is expected to start favourite to give Richard Fourie his second Matchem – he won on Majestic Sun 11 years ago. Favourites have won three of the last four runnings but the eight previous ones were all beaten.

Andre Nel has booked Donovan Dillon for last year’s winner Captain’s Flame in the Diana Stakes but Gimme Six looks like heading the market. Justin Snaith has won three of the last eight runnings and Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount finished a head second in the Woolavington and fourth in the Garden Province after winning the Daisy Fillies Guineas.

By Michael Clower