Louis Goosen, now permanently resident at Ashburton, broke the ice at Scottsville on Wednesday when Haddington held off all challengers and the former Vaal-based trainer can add swiftly to that tally with Zen Arcade in the card opener at the same course on Sunday.

The son of Ideal World made his debut in the BSA Million over 1400m and only found one too good for him in the slightly more experienced Broadway Trip out of the Alec Laird yard.

Admittedly, it was not the strongest of fields but there were plenty of runners primed for the R600k first prize so this was a particularly good effort first crack out of the box.

Of some concern is the drop back to 1200m but any improvement on his debut effort should set him apart from the rest of the raced runners.

Of course, there is always the chance of a ‘springer’ amongst the first timers so it is advisable to keep an eye on the market.

Highveld visitor Gunter Wrogemann has four rides for Goosen and next best from the yard appears to be Flight Mode in the last who appears to finally be getting his act together. He had shown little for most of the year but the addition of a tongue-tie appears to have him back to something like his best when showing much improved pace before fading late over the Vaal 1000m last time out.

All True Man, Risky Rosco and Elegant General have shown enough to be major threats in what is an open affair.

Anthony Delpech has stuck with Got Your Back after two close-up finishes over course and distance in the third and Dennis Bosch’s runner is likely to start at cramped odds and is a possible Pick 6 banker in the opening leg.

Draugluin was an expensive failure when backed into 6-10 for his last start but he was simply out-paced over the last furlong, scraping into third. Dennis Drier stretches him to 1400m on Sunday and the son of Twice Over can make amends.

Opposition includes World Mission, who has the worst of the draw, and Mighty Valdie, who has shown steady improvement for Doug Campbell although his last two outings have been on the poly at Greyville.

The Soccer 6 Handicap is a typically difficult fillies and mares handicap where Drier holds a fair hand in top weight Russet Roses and Uprise. Both were ridden to victory by apprentice Diego de Gouveia at their last starts and one can reasonably assume that he would have had the choice of mounts, even at the expense if stable rider Sean Veale. Uprise was only a maiden winner but she revelled in the step up in trip and looks capable of following up.

After showing consistent form on the Greyville poly, Iced Up was disappointing when switching to the turf earlier this month. However, that was her second run after a break and can be expected to produce a better performance this time around. Russet Roses, Peggy’s Dream and Yess are others that warrant consideration.

Perfect Jay and Touch Of Magic are likely to dominate the market for the Blinkers Bar Handicap as they look to be a cut above their rivals. Draugluin did not do Perfect Jay’s form any favours when run-over next time out but Dean Kannemeyer’s runner is on the up.

Touch Of Magic takes on males but shed her maiden convincingly on debut and was not far back in a competitive handicap when returning from a break. That run should have brought her on.

There should be precious little between Great Value and Panza in the seventh, Panza finishing just under a length to the good when last they met. Both have run two cracking races since with Ivan van Wyk’s runner having his third run after a well-earned break.

One to watch is Archilles, having his second outing for Goosen and his third run after a break.

By Andrew Harrison

A MR 92 Handicap over 1900m heads a tricky nine race card on the Turffontein Inside track and Amsterdam looks the one to side with.

The six-year-old Windrush gelding finished second to French Navy in the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m as a three-year-old and was in good form between May and July this year, running four times and winning two races, both over 2000m. He has pole position and this trip looks ideal, considering he was doing his best work late over 1800m last time. He proved in that last race he is worth his 84 merit rating. Piere Strydom, whose was aboard for both those aforementioned wins, is now back aboard, another plus.

Wild Horizon could be the main danger. He is not drawn as well as he was last time when beating Stonehenge by 4,05 lengths over 2000m on the Standside track and he might prefer a more galloping track than this one. However, he did look to have a bit in hand when crossing the line that day, so can beat Stonehenge again, despite being 4kg worse off. Stonehenge is an effective handy-to front-running type who looks perfectly distance suited and Gavin Lerena is aboard. There is little between Stonehenge, Amsterdam and Wild Horizon. Bankable Teddy has a chance if repeating his runs in the Jubilee Handicap and the July consolation race.

Dawn Assault won a Graduation Plate in eyecatching fashion by 8,25 lengths over 1800m last time. Khumalo remains aboard, although they do have a tougher draw. Furthermore, he was weighted to win that race, whereas he is held by Amsterdam on previous form over 2000m, having lost to the latter by 2,2 lengths and now being 1,5kg worse off. Lee’s Pick is 2kg under sufferance according to official merit ratings, but there is not much between him and Amsterdam on their last meeting over 2000m, so he can’t be completely ignored. They are selected in the order mentioned.

Punters could get off to a good start in race one over 1000m with Hampton Court, a R300,000 Var colt who might outclass them. He is a half-brother to the useful speedster Horse Guards and made a good debut in May over this course and distance when finishing third behind two decent sorts and beating another decent sort. The concern is he made a breathing noise and hasn’t run since that debut race in May. The back up is Strikers Boy. He had bad luck in his first two starts, but last time showed what he can do when showing pace throughout over this trip at the Vaal and finishing a 1,5 length second to the hard knocking Wellspring. He is relatively unexposed and was still a touch green in that last start so can improve again.

Punters could be in the pound seats again in race two over 1450m with Ossetra. She caught the eye third time out when staying on for second behind the promising Awaafy and she did not have a lot of room at a crucial stage of that race either. She has a reasonable draw over a step up in trip she should enjoy.

Vacquero in race three over 1800m could also prove hard to beat, considering his fair debut over 1200m and his good staying on run over 1600m last time. However, Llandudo is no slouch and in his second run after gelding could be a threat from a good draw over a suitable trip.

Bandola is the choice in race four over 2600m. Firstly, she has a good form chance, secondly she is from the yard of the expert trainer of stayers, Weiho Marwing, and thirdly she is by Silvano, so will be improving and will likely relish the trip.

Race six over 1400m is a Pinnacle Stakes event and the classy Shatoosh is the one to side with. Last time she tracked She’s A Dragon over 1600m and the jockey under-estimated the kick and resolute finish the latter would produce and couldn’t catch her. That race proved she would prefer 1600m to this trip, but her class could pull her through.

Spring Indeed could also make amends for her last start in race seven over 1600m. She was continually baulked and just as the gap opened a horse flew up on the outside and she was unable to catch the latter. She was only raised one point and has another plum draw.

The eighth is tough, but Curbstone Shuffle, Cinnamon Slew and Shine Bright make most appeal.

In the last, also over 1600m, Shotgun Rider finished strongly over 1450m last time and is now drawn in pole off a two point higher merit rating. He can beat Nephrite, who goes notably well for Anthony Delpech.

By David Thiselton

Anton Marcus averaged a winner every three rides at Kenilworth last season. Tomorrow the four-time champion has six mounts on his first Cape Town visit of the campaign and at least three have winning chances.

He can start off by scoring on True Words in the first. The Ramsden grey ran well last time. In the first two throughout, he beat all except Strikitlikeamatch who put the issue to bed shortly after halfway but True Words did race on the slower part of the course.

Seventh Rule probably represents the main danger although What A Summer returned with blood in his mouth when starting favourite last time and riding arrangements suggest that Fake News is the pick of the four Snaith newcomers.

Marcus sits out race two in which Johnny Black makes most appeal and 40 minutes later he renews his acquaintanceship with Ice Queen who, quite frankly, has not shown anything on the racecourse to suggest she is good enough. But she drops in trip, wears blinkers for the first time and the opposition is weak. Those who prefer their form already in the book may wish to have a saver on Moonlight Dancer whose last run reads well.

Rommel, quite well away from an 11 draw last time when he raced second for much of the way, may just be good enough to win race four particularly as Black Belt is badly drawn.

Leadman is the form choice in the 2 000m TAB Maiden and is likely to start favourite assuming things are going Marcus’s way by this stage. But he is far from certain to confirm the placings with Greg Cheyne’s mount Silver De Lange who was only three-quarters of a length behind Leadman a fortnight ago. Indeed, judging by the way he ran on at the end, he may be sufficiently favoured by the extra furlong to turn the tables.

Eastern Front has been dropped two points in the Interbet.co.za Handicap but neither that nor Marcus may be enough to get him home in front. The race has a particularly open appearance although Chill Baby Chill would make a lot of appeal but for this being her second run after a rest.

It’s first time out of the maidens for Querari’s Secret in the last. However he did beat older horses last time when he showed considerable improvement with blinkers and Marcus can be relied upon to make light of the 13 draw.

By Michael Clower

Veteran New Zealand jockey Grant Cooksley has matched one of Lester Piggott’s achievements.

Cooksley, like the famed English rider, has been able to win a Group I race aged 57.

Cooksley became the oldest rider to win a Group I race in New Zealand when he won the Tarzino Trophy on Close Up at Hastings last weekend.

It is likely that and he and Piggott are the oldest riders to have won an internationally recognised Group I race.

Piggott, who won a Group I race at Ellerslie in 1980, recorded his final Group I win in September 1993, in the Moyglare Stakes in Ireland, when two months short of his 58th birthday. He was 58 when he won the Group II Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket in 1994, a race that now has Group I status.

Cooksley, who will turn 58 in December, was having just his third ride for the season when he won the Tarzino. It was his 66th Group I win but his first at that level since January 2006, when he won the Wellington Cup on Envoy.

Cooksley has a career tally of more than 2500 wins, including over 1000 in New Zealand, where his list of major victories also includes three wins in both the Auckland Cup and New Zealand Derby.

He has spent much of his riding career in Australia, where his wins have included two Sydney Cups, three Metropolitans and a Doncaster and he has finished second in both the Melbourne Cup and Golden Slipper (twice).

He has also ridden in Singapore, Hong Kong, England, Dubai, Malaysia, Macau and New Caledonia.

Cooksley’s first major win came when he won the 1978 Great Northern Steeplechase, on Ballycastle, as an 18-year-old.

– New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing

The recent successful appeal by Summerveld trainer James Goodman against a National Horseracing Authority (NHA) ruling revealed the high-handed demeanour of one of the NHA’s office bearers at the time of the ruling and the lack of attention to protocol by the latter.

However, the new leader of the NHA, Lyndon Barends, has already made a lot of effort to build bridges between everybody in the racing industry and rather than viewing the NHA as merely the policemen, whose role is to maintain the integrity of the sport, he views the authority as the head of the racing family.

In his “Vision 2020” strategy, Barends aims to transform the NHA over the next four years.

He has identified five objectives of the NHA in Southern Africa in its identified territories.

They are:

1. To regulate the Sport Of Horseracing
2. To govern the Sport with integrity.
3. To serve the industry through excellent, efficient and effective administration of amongst others, the Stud Book, registrations, licensing, race day services and laboratory services.
4. To promote and/or encourage the promotion of the Sport Of Horseracing, the quality of the Thoroughbred, industry training and skills development.
5. To promote and foster co-operation and goodwill with recognised authorities, Governments and local and International Stakeholders.

Goodman won a high court appeal last week relating to a horse of his, Aldric, who won on October 10, 2014. Aldric was later tested positive for caffeine, which led to a fine of R80,000. Goodman was also ordered to pay R45,000 to the NHA for costs incurred.

The judge agreed with Goodman that NHA attorney Jonathan Witts-Hewinson should have recused himself from the inquiry into the Aldric case. Witts-Hewinson had indeed been asked by Goodman’s legal representative at the time, Robert Bloomberg, to recuse himself, because at the time of chairing the Aldric inquiry he was not only a National Board Director of the NHA, but was also a panel member of both the Inquiry Review Board and Appeal Board and also sat on a legal sub-committee of the NHA. He was also a former NHA Chairman. However, Witts-Hewinson refused Bloomberg’s request.

Goodman’s legal representatives in the High Court case, Shepstone & Wylie, made a submission highlighting the principle that a man may not be a judge in his own cause or judge of the cause of somebody he is partial to. Had this principle been adhered to, Witts-Hewinson would have automatically been disqualified from the inquiry.

The judge also found the proceedings conducted by Witts-Hewinson to be “manifestly procedurally unfair” and to have “no structure whatsoever”. Furthermore, Goodman’s expert witness, Professor Tobin, “testified he was denied the opportunity of questioning the specialist chemist (Schalk De Kock) employed by the NHA”.

The judge set aside the guilty verdict and both fines and ordered the NHA to pay the costs of the application.

South Africa’s most recognised international trainer Mike de Kock wrote a blog after the case headed, “All we want is fairness.”

De Kock emphasised the ignorance of the general racing public regarding “positives” and believed this had its roots in “bad media reports that emanate from respective racing authorities who are all too eager to make themselves look good and to justify their existence at the expense of the reputation of trainers and jockeys and, ultimately, at the expense of the industry.”

Indeed, the general racing public do not have the knowledge to differentiate between therapeutic medicine and “dope” or, in the case of the former, to differentiate between irrelevant traces and levels that are having a pharmacological effect.

The public invariably believe a positive to be a deliberate attempt by the trainer to cheat by “doping” a horse.

In actual fact most regulatory bodies these days distinguish between the control of illicit substances (doping control) from the control of therapeutic substances (medication control). For doping drugs, the objective is to detect any trace of drug exposure using the most powerful analytical methods. However, this “zero tolerance rule” is not suitable for the control of therapeutic substances because the sophisticated screening methods these days would be able to find traces of a therapeutic medication long after it had been administered and long after it was having any pharmacological effect. Therefore HCL (Harmonised Screening Limits) are decided upon by the regulatory bodies for therapeutic medications. Trainers and veterinarians are advised of “detection times”, or the time it would take for the therapeutic medicine to withdraw to a level below the screening limit.

Most positives appear to emanate from a mistake being made by either the veterinarian in the dosage of a therapeutic substance administered or negligence by the trainer and/or veterinarian in adhering to the detection time. In Goodman’s case, a caffeine positive is often the result of feed contamination.

However, what has most irked De Kock in recent times was the perception by trainers that “all the NHA has to do is to prove that the accused party is the trainer of the horse in which a positive sample was found. By virtue of the fact that he or she is a licensed trainer, such trainer is guilty. Period.”

Barends’ Vision 2020 makes the following statements among others, “By our nature we will be separate from our Stakeholders, but we will seek to understand their environment and take cognisance thereof as we govern. We will serve, support and promote Horseracing and the wellbeing of the horses and the people with integrity, responsiveness, excellence and dedication. We recognise that we are part of a passionate, loyal and committed horseracing fraternity. In all our efforts we will endeavour to enlarge this family to include those who have never been exposed to the pleasures of the sport.”

Hopefully, Goodman’s determination to seek justice and succeed therein will be a watershed moment in the racing industry and will spell the end of the high-handedness Mike de Kock talks about.

By David Thiselton