British three-year-old sprint sensation Harry Angel will head to Ascot next month to attempt an historic sprint treble and this will be vindication for the European Pattern Committee (EPC).

This Irish-bred colt’s success provides a current example of how important national race programming can be in the making of a horse.

The South African program lacks sprint opportunities for three-year-olds, although the Var Syndicate addressed this issue in the 2010/2011 season and the big sales races are also playing a role in filling this gap.

However, the SA programming committee could take heed of the Harry Angel success story.

The Godolphin-owned Harry Angel showed he is something special last Saturday when free-wheeling in front in the Group 1 Sprint Cup Stakes over six furlongs before kicking clear to win full of running by four lengths despite the ground officially being “heavy”.

Last month the Clive Cox-trained Dark Angel colt won the Group 1 Darley July Cup Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket on good to firm ground.

Next month he will go for the Group 1 British Champions Sprint at Ascot and attempt to become the first horse to land this particular treble.

Three years ago in August 2014, the EPC sat down to address the lack of opportunities for high-class three-year-old sprinters and to improve the overall standard of Group sprint races in Europe.

They noted, “For horses performing at every distance other than sprinting, the European Pattern provides a three-year-old only programme until mid-summer, when the Classic generation is considered ready to take on the older horses. The Committee believes it is no coincidence that when it comes to milers and middle distance horses, Europe can genuinely lay claim to having the best in the world, however, there is a definite lack of top class European three-year-old sprinters.”

The EPC firstly introduced a limited number of Pattern races restricted to three-year-olds in the first half of the European season, culminating in a new Group 1 race at Royal Ascot, and secondly, they sought to deliver a more balanced overall sprint programme, providing better opportunities and greater incentives to run high class sprinters in Europe. This included the upgrade of a number of races, including the British Champions Sprint on QIPCO British Champions Day to Group 1, and the Flying Five on Irish Champions Weekend to Group 2.

Harry Angel has thus been able to build his confidence and could well be the best three-year-old sprinter seen in the U.K. and Ireland for some time.

The brilliant colt is able to go in any ground and this season has won on both firm and heavy ground.

As a two-year-old Harry Angel showed his class by winning the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes over six furlongs at Newbury in just his second start.

He was then rested until making his reappearance on May 3 at Ascot in the Pavilion Stakes over six furlongs, where he finished second, and on May 27 he won the Sandy Lane Stakes over six furlongs at Haydock. Both of those races are limited to three-year-olds and both were identified in the European Pattern Committee meeting in 2014 as races which needed upgrading. Hence the former race acquired Group 3 status in 2015 and the latter was upgraded from Listed to Group 2 status in 2015.

Harry Angel then took part in the new three-year-old Group 1 Royal Ascot event, the Commonwealth Cup over six furlongs. The EPC introduced this in 2015 at the expense of the Buckingham Palace Stakes, a seven furlong handicap. The Commonwealth Cup is the only Group 1 limited to three-year-olds in Great Britain in which geldings are allowed to compete and is the first age restricted Group 1 open to geldings in Europe.

Harry Angel was beaten 0,75 lengths by the Aiden O’Brien-trained Caravaggio in the Commonwealth Cup, but exacted revenge next time out in the July Cup.

In South Africa the forward thinking Pippa Mickelburgh of Avontuur Stud attempted to address the lack of opportunity for three-year-old sprinters by introducing the Need For Speed Sprint Series in the 2010/2011 season, sponsored by the Var syndicate. The series included one race in each of the Western Cape, Gauteng and KZN. Mickelburgh said at the time,  “For nearly 20 years, South Africa was without a significant speed sire which slowly eroded the number of races catering for that category. We now sit with an opportunity in the racing calendar for sprint races for three-year-olds. This series hopes to fill that gap.”

Avontuur’s brilliant stallion Var is just one of a number of top class speed stallions currently standing in South Africa.

Currently the chief target for a three-year-old sprinter in South Africa is the Non-Black Type $500,000 CTS 1200 run on Sun Met day. It thus clashes with the Grade 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships and is also limited to horses sold at CTS Sales. There is only one Graded sprint limited to three-year-olds in the country, the R250,000 Grade 3 Man O’ War Sprint over 1100m, run at Turffontein in the first week of April. The three three-year-old sprints introduced by the Var Syndicate remain NBT events for R150,000 each. Besides those there is the Listed R150,000 Sophomore Sprint at Kenilworth in the second week of January, the R135,000 NBT WSB Sophomore 1000 at the Vaal in September, the R150,000 Listed Swallow Stakes for three-year-old fillies at Turffontein in January and the R120,000 NBT Ethekwini Sprint on Vodacom Durban July day.

It is plain to see there are not many confidence building opportunities for three-year-old sprinters in South Africa the like of which Harry Angel has benefitted from.

By David Thiselton

Punters have another competitive eight race meeting to look forward to at Turffontein Standside tomorrow.

They could get off to a good start with Annie The Great, who caught the eye over 1000m on the Inside track when running on powerfully. Lucky Houdalakis-trained horses improve with a run and she stands out among the raced horses in this 1160m event. Flying Falcon showed good gate speed over 1000m last time and was staying on at the finish. However, the form of that race has proved suspect. Therfore, the Sean Tarry-trained first-timer New Zealand could be the biggest threat. She is by former champion sire Trippi out of the Elliodor mare Zeigler, who has produced the Listed winner Red Disa and the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas runner up Tick Tock. Another well-bred first-timer here is the Mike de Kock-trained Rasheeka. She is by Vodacom Durban July winner Bold Silvano out of the classy Al Mufti mare Gilded Minaret, who won the Grade 1 Golden Slipper, was runner up in both the Cape Fillies Guineas and the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes and she also won the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet. However, Gilded Minaret’s only runner to date, by Kahal, did not manage a place in a few starts. Furthermore, De Kock’s normal first call rider Callan Murray will be aboard Satin Rock, who made a poor debut and now has his first run for the Brian Wiid yard.

The second race, a MR 92 three-year-old Handicap over 1400m, Sir David Baird is by Dynasty and went from last to first on debut over 1200m on the Inside track to win impressively by 2,25 lengths. He is given the vote as he will be receiving 4,5kg from Surcharge and also has a better draw. Surhcarge overcame a tricky low draw on the Vaal Outside track last time over 1400m, but drew away with big strides in the closing stages to win the Novice Handicap off a merit rating of 88. Snow Boarding’s 1400m form has worked out well and he showed his class by winning a good race over 1160m yesterday, so he has to be included too. Christofle was transformed by blinkers last time and Darkest Hour won a weak maiden effortlessly when stepped up to 1400m last time, so this pair are upset material.

The third race, the first leg of the Pick6, sees The Puma stepping up to 1400m and this long-striding son of Mogok looks hard to beat, despite it being his second run after a layoff and gelding. He had traffic problems last time over 1160m, but when seeing daylight finished like a train. The first-timer Visigoth by Visionaire is a full-brother to the Grade 1 Allan Robertson third-placed Visuality and comimg from the Sean Tarry yard, who have an incredible strike rate with first-timers, will be dangerous, although he has a tough draw of eight.

The fourth race is a MR 67 Handicap over 2000m for fillies and mares. Noceur is a good looking sort, but this is her first run out the maidens and her first try at 2000m, so could well be an exploratory run. She could still be in the first three, but the preferences to fight out the win are September Bloom and Gold Medal Girl. The former is a progressive sort who goes for middle distance hattrick and is only three points higher than her last win and the latter loved blinkers last time and won easily over this trip.

The fifth is a tricky fillies and mares handicap over 1160m. An outsider who could surprise is Elusive Strike as the form of her last attempt at a sprint, when beaten 7,55 lengths over 1000m by Effortless Reward, has worked out very well and she has dropped a whopping 16 points in the merit ratings since then. Last Girl Standing is holding form and comfortably holds Melinda’s Garden and Burundi Bush on last week’s race over course and distance. Tamany Hall won a workrider’s maiden impressively over 1200m second time out and could be anything, but an 85 merit rating and topweight is never easy for a young horse first time out the maidens. The Port Elizabeth raider Kungfoofighting goes for a hattrick and can’t be ignored.

The sixth could be won by the topweight Shivering Sea who has a fine record over course and distance. Mohalela and Twelve Oaks both have ability and can improve further. Mrs O might well enjoy the step down in trip and has a featherweight, while Outlander has ability but has had a busy campaign.

The seventh over 1000m is the highest rated race and on Grade 1 Computaform Sprint form there is little between Wrecking Ball and Talktothestars with Rivarine not far behind. However, Wrecking Ball did not campaign in KZN, unlike the other pair, and is given the vote.

The last race is a tricky fillies and mares handicap over 1400m and the ones who make most appeal are Shine Bright, Open Road, Nkolo, Ntoma and Wrap It Up.

By David Thiselton

Kingston Passage, so impressive in three straight sprinting wins earlier in the year, is now back in training.

Brett Crawford said: “He has had a long break but is now in work once more although I don’t think he will start before November.”

The Western Winter four-year-old showed so much speed that he was able to burn off the opposition until his last outing in June when, starting hot favourite, he missed the kick and came in only fifth of eight behind 14-1 shot Prince Alfred. A subsequent veterinary examination showed him to be short on his left hind.

Crawford said: “He was OK afterwards and it wasn’t the reason why we decided he should have a rest.”

By Michael Clower

NIKLAAS “Ivan” van Wyk saddled his first winner as a licensed trainer when Ashley de Klerk’s six-year-old gelding Putchini won a MR68 Handicap over 1200m at Scottsville on Sunday in the capable hands of Billy Jacobson.

More than 11 years ago Van Wyk (51), who grew up loving horses, found himself a job as a groom with veteran trainer Chris Erasmus at Turrffontein. He handled top filly Ice Lily and handicappers Bo West and Shakeitupbaby and says: “I learnt most of what I know from Mr Erasmus, who still advises me today and is only a phone call away.”

Van Wyk, who’d worked himself up to the rank of assistant trainer, moved from Johannesburg to Durban in 2011 when Erasmus was put in charge of a string owned by Koos and Lorraine de Klerk of Yellow Star Stud. With a further six years under his belt, Van Wyk was ready to take over when Erasmus departed recently. Van Wyk commented: “I am thankful and privileged to have this opportunity. I’ve had support from the De Klerk family, fellow trainers and the stipes. I am keen to have more winners and things are improving.

I’ve had a frustrating time with places, but having the first winner under the belt changes everything, it brings confidence.”

Yellow Star Stud was formerly owned by Craig Ramsey, who immigrated to New Zealand in the mid-2000s. “We have excellent tracks here, a sand track of about 1400m with an 800m run-in, and two grass tracks, one has an uphill,” Van Wyk noted. Putchini is probably the best older horse in the stable, but Van Wyk has a few two-year-olds that will run in due course. “We have three nice youngsters by Kildonan, they should come to hand soon and will race as two-year-olds,” he said.

Van Wyk only see his Cape Town family a few times a year, but they are in full support of a man who has given heart and soul to the game and is now in a position to go from strength to strength.

– Turf Talk

Bernard Fayd’Herbe can celebrate his 36^th birthday a day early by winning the first two races at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Both Henry Tudor and Bid Before Sunset have losses to recover after starting favourite and finding one too good for them earlier in the month. Indeed it’s a little surprising to see Justin Snaith turning them out again so quickly.

“Fitness,” he replies when quizzed about this. “I want them both to win a maiden and then I can rest them. They are fit and I think they will both be hard to beat.”

Henry Tudor has finished second in all his last three starts but he looked genuine enough ten days ago when the form – dividing Victorious Captain and Photocopy – looked solid. The gelding was yesterday installed 2-1 favourite by World Sports Betting which has Southern Sun the danger at 3-1 after his cracking debut in June.

Ridden by an apprentice, he started at 100-1 and beat all except White River in a big field that included (an admittedly unlucky) Cot Campbell. “He surprised me that day,” recalls Dean Kannemeyer who adds that some of his runners may need the outing after their vaccinations.

Bid Before Sunset was a little disappointing last time considering how promisingly she had run on debut and, although ridden to lead just over 50m from home, she hadn’t shown the pace that many punters expected.

But she is a warm favourite at 12-10 and the early market suggests that Capaill (6-1) is the main threat. However Kannemeyer’s Royal Frost (9-1) is expected to run well – “She ran a nice race last time and she will continue to improve,” says her trainer.

One word of warning, though. Neither of the Snaith hotpots is well drawn – Henry Tudor is eight out of ten and the filly ten out of 15. The penetrometer readings last Saturday showed that those racing on the inside (ie drawn low) had a 5% advantage over those in the middle and a 6% advantage had any jockey been foolish enough to try to come up the stands side.

Fayd’Herbe has a few other good rides and just possibly the draw may swing it for him in race three. Courtisan is favourite at 33-10 after a better first run that Spam Alert but Richard Fourie’s mount will start from pen 15 whereas Spam Alert (9-2) is drawn two.

Whatever his fortunes here, though, Fourie can win the Betting World Maiden on Counting Stars who looks value at 5-1. He was only just behind last Saturday’s easy winner Rommel in a big field last month and has a reasonable draw. Orakal is 18-10 favourite and is the obvious danger.

Our old friend Power Grid is drawn ten out of 14 in race seven but last week’s rain will help and he looks worth a few rand each way at 7-1.

By Michael Clower