Fourteen down, 12 to go. Bobby Frankel’s record of 25 Group or Grade 1 wins in a year is once again under pressure from Aidan O’Brien, who is 5-2 with Paddy Power to achieve the feat this year.

There are 17 Group 1s remaining in Britain and Ireland this season and Aidan O’Brien has won 14 of them before, the exceptions being the Haydock Sprint Cup, British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes and, surprisingly, the Champion Stakes.

There are 12 Group 1s still up for grabs in France too, while there are opportunities in Hong Kong and Australia, not to mention a glut of Grade 1 targets in North America. The races are there – it is simply a case of finding horses to win them.

Irish Champions Weekend, you sense, will be pivotal. Churchill is favourite for the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes, while globetrotting Highland Reel could provide back-up. Paddy Power quote 2-5 that O’Brien wins the race for an eighth time.

O’Brien has the option of pitching Winter in against the boys in that race, but the dual 1,000 Guineas heroine is 4-7 to win the Matron Stakes the same day, which would look a more appropriate target. She has already contributed four top-flight victories this term.

There are three Group 1s up for grabs on day two of Irish Champions Weekend. O’Brien won all three in 2015, with Minding (Moyglare), Air Force Blue (National Stakes) and Order Of St George (Irish St Leger), and it is not fanciful to think he could complete the same treble.

Unless Big Orange contests the Irish St Leger, Order Of St George should have it all his own way as he looked back to his brilliant best in a trial for the race this month.

O’Brien has a host of exciting juvenile fillies to throw at the Moyglare, most notably Clemmie, Happily, Magical and September. He would be a very skinny price to win that contest.

It is a similar story in the National Stakes, a race O’Brien has won 11 times, including for the past three years with Gleneagles, Air Force Blue and Churchill.

That could be the next port of call for the exciting Gustav Klimt, who did well to steal the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket last month having suffered traffic problems.

There are five Group 1s over the two days of Irish Champions Weekend and O’Brien is likely to have the favourite for each one. If he takes them all, Bobby Frankel’s record will be under serious threat. Four would do nicely. Three, you feel, is the minimum he would need to stay in contention for a new record.

The Sprint Cup at Haydock – the same day as the Irish Champion and Matron – looks out of O’Brien’s reach with Caravaggio not certain to line up. Even if he does, he would have it all to do to reverse July Cup form with Harry Angel.

Irish Derby winner Capri has topped the St Leger market ever since that gutsy Curragh win and looks the number one hope of providing O’Brien with a fifth success in the Doncaster Classic.

There is sure to be a decent B team from Ballydoyle too, with the likes of Venice Beach, Sir John Lavery and Yucatan looking ideal types.

Five Group 1s remain at Newmarket and O’Brien looks sure to have runners in all of them – not only runners, but genuine contenders.

The Ballydoyle maestro sent out Brave Anna to win the Cheveley Park last year and has the likes of Clemmie and Magical to aim at the fillies’ event this time around. Roly Poly won the Falmouth and could return to Newmarket for the Sun Chariot, Sioux Nation has Middle Park written all over him, and September could bid to restore her reputation in the Fillies’ Mile.

Qipco Champions Day at Ascot on October 21 is another hugely important date in the calendar. Winter and Churchill are entered for both the Champion Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, a race the trainer won last year with filly Minding.

Amedeo Modigliani looked special when galloping away from his rivals in a Galway maiden and could lead O’Brien’s assault on the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. The Pentagon is another potential runner, and an eighth O’Brien win in the race is a distinct possibility.

There is plenty to play for in France and Paddy Power make O’Brien a 7-1 shot to win a third Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, while there are six other Group 1s on Arc weekend, most of which Ballydoyle will have runners in.

Later in October comes the Criterium International, a race O’Brien has won with Mount Nelson (2006), Jan Vermeer (2009), Roderic O’Connor (2010) and Johannes Vermeer (2015), and The Pentagon could have it on his radar this time around.

Further afield, O’Brien will be hoping − and needing – to do better than he has managed in the US so far this year, with Idaho last weekend his seventh runner of 2017 to be beaten on the other side of the Atlantic. Last year the trainer bagged two Grade 1 winners stateside courtesy of Deauville and Highland Reel.

O’Brien’s previous best annual Group 1 tally is 23, set in 2001 and 2008, while he managed 22 in 2016, when at this stage of the year he had netted a dozen top-flight winners.

Given that he is ahead of that this time round and appears to have more autumn ammunition this year, 5-2 looks a decent price about Frankel’s 2003 record being broken.- racingpost.com

Tellytrack presenter Deez Dayanand was a deserved recipient of the KZN Racing Personality of the Year award at the KZN Racing Awards held on Tuesday evening at the Elangeni and he had a heart-warming story to tell about his rise from normal punter into one of South African racing’s most popular characters.

Dayanand has also established a formidable partnership with the current reigning South African Champion Jockey Anthony Delpech and together they have won three KZN Jockeys Championships and one National Jockeys Championship.

Dayanand owes his passion for the sport to his late father and his position in the industry to both his wife, Dr Soraya Naidoo, and to the well-known TV sports presenter Martin Locke.

Deez recalled his father to be a numbers player rather than a studier of form.

On one occasion a family road trip holiday was held up by an accident at Umzinto. Consequently, Deez’s father found his way to the local Tote and placed a Jackpot using the number plates of one of the cars involved in the accident.

On their way home from Port St. Johns he stopped at the same Tote to check his ticket and discovered he had won a sizeable amount.

The July was always a big day in the Dyanand family home and Deez’s father also took him regularly to meetings at Scottsville.

Deez recalled, “In those days it was the only game in town and I remember there being no parking space on New England Road.”

About seventeen years ago Soraya noticed an advert on Tellytrack asking for applicants for the position of racing presenter.

Deez by that stage was spending hours studying form and watching racing and Soraya believed this would be a fine opportunity.

Deez viewed it as a “ridiculous” quest, but agreed to give it a go.

He drove down to Greyville expecting an interview, but instead it was an audition in which he had to do a mock preview and mock interview with Martin Locke.

He left believing that would be the end of it, but instead received a phonecall to hear he had been shortlisted.

There were more auditions and he landed the position.

He recalled, “Martin Locke was Mr Sports and he saw something in me.”

Two qualities Locke must have noticed were Deez’s charisma and gregarious nature.

Deez admits he has always been comfortable around people.

He said, “Growing up in an Indian home in those days there were lots of rules and strong ethics and values were instilled in you by your elders in order to be successful in a growing community. But my parents were quite modern and allowed me more rein, especially as I was the oldest grandson, so I grew up never being afraid to approach people in a social setting.”

Established presenter Paul Lafferty went overseas the month after Deez had arrived, so Deez went live sooner than expected in December 2000.

He did his homework, so found the previews the easy part, but felt nervous and awkward as an outsider interviewing people he had previously idolised.

He added, “You do earn your stripes in racing, but it’s all about support. Racing is full of the most generous, kindest and loveliest people. If they take a liking to you the sky is the limit. There is no business in the world where people pour millions in for passion alone. I remember once, a guy had his first winner and I asked him how he had become involved in the horse and he replied, ‘This is the first time I have seen the horse’!”

Deez these days draws entertaining stories out of winning connections with a natural ease. He is also popular with punters due to the homework he puts in and his efforts in bringing transparent information.

He was approached by Delpech in 2014. Becoming a jockey’s agent was not a decision he took lightly as there was a potential conflict of interest with his Tellytrack position.

However, he was soon putting as much professionalism into both positions.

Deez has an adage for jockeys, “They are their own advert. The two most important things are simply how well they are riding and how many winners they are having.”

Deez selects his form choices from the nominations, but then discusses them with Anthony as jockeys sometimes do not gel with certain horses.

One difficult customer Delpech did gel with last season was Grade 1 SA Derby winner Al Sahem. Delpech apparently describes this horse as “A Meneer, who wants to be in charge.” He thus got to know the big horse better with each and every ride and was looking forward to riding him in the Vodacom Durban July. However, the unexpected July entry of Nightingale saw him having to honour his retainer to Mary Slack.

Deez and Anthony have a post-mortem of every meeting and Deez then passes relevant information from the top jockey to the trainers if it can help improve a horse’s performance.

“It is all about building bridges,” said Deez.

It is easier for Deez to book rides in KZN where Delpech rides work, but Deez spoke of the tremendous support Delpech was given by Highveld trainers when he made clear his intentions of chasing the championships.

Deez said about Tuesday evening’s award, “You don’t know how you are being judged by the public, which was why the award meant so much. It was the cherry on the top and I now know that I have been doing something right.”

His only regret is his father never having seen him on TV.

Deez gave up drinking completely ten years ago due to the amount of travelling he did and his views on that topic sum him up well, “Alcohol is part and parcel of racing. It alters your personality and that’s why people do it, to have a short release where they are more relaxed, but I realised I didn’t actually need it, I have always been intoxicated on life!”

By David Thiselton

The Vaal Inside track stages a low key nine race meeting tomorrow where the highest rated race is a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1700m.

It looks to be a typically wide open female handicap. Snowdonia stayed on well for third in a stronger field than this over 1600m on the Turffontein Inside track last time and Keagan de Melo keeps the ride. She now has a tough draw of 12 to contend with, but if finding a position in the running over an ideal trip she looks the one to beat. Waity Katie is a bit of an in and out sort, but should have benefitted from her last start over the too sharp 1200m, which was her first run for the David Kuit yard and her first run since April. The blinkers are off and she can run on into the money off an attractive merit rating.

Jo Mambo has a chance on the grounds of her third over 1600m on the Turffontein Standside track on May 28. She ran on strongly that day after being dropped out and is better drawn here and off just a one point higher merit rating. She can turn for home handier from this draw and should be running on again. Polar Secret was caught wide from a wide draw over 1800m on the Turffontein Standside track last time and eventually faded from a handy position. She has dropped another two points in the merit ratings and can be dangerous here with bottom weight, provided she has better luck in running from another wide draw. Leopard Lily is always dangerous as one who has a fine turn of foot on her day.

The last time Piere Strydom rode her she won going away over 1600m, so he is an eye-catching booking. On the evidence of that race she should stay the trip if it pans out well for her. On the downside she is still four points higher in the merit ratings than that last win and she has a wide daw to overcome. Return To Power makes most appeal of the rest as she was a facile winner the last time she ran over this course and distance and she has the identical draw of four. She ran below par over 2000m last time, so will likely appreciate the step back down to this trip. She does remain eight points higher in the merit ratings for that last win. The horses are selected in the order mentioned.

Strydom could win the second highest rated race on the card, the second, which is a MR 72 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, with the Tiger Ridge filly Madam Secretary. She has struck as a bit of an under achiever as she has caught the eye on occasion and might start coming into her own with blinkers now fitted. This is her third run after a layoff, but on the downside her draw of six in a nine horse field could be tricky if they are all going to be diving for the inside, which is the favourable side by trends on this course. Embrasiatic therefore must be included in the Bipot as an in form horse jumping from the number one draw over a course and distance she enjoys.

Houston Rocket, who runs in the first leg of the Pick 6, a MR 66 Handicap over 2000m, is chosen as the best bet of the day. He has always struck as a decent type and last time he looked dangerous when moving up over 2400m but then faded out so looked to not stay the trip. However, his 2000m form looks good, having thrashed Ali Bon Dubai over this trip in the maidens and then run close up to the hattrick horse Barbados Cruise. Furthermore, he has a plum draw of three and Piere Strydom remains aboard.

The first leg of the PA over 1400m could be fought out by Artax, who was run out of it late over 1600m on Saturday and now has the number one draw, and Swing Vote, who has hard knocking form and is drawn low over a suitable trip too.

In the first leg of the Jackpot, Inn A Million and Racing Socks might be enough to get punters through. The former proved he is off a competitive merit rating last time when an unlucky loser over 2400m and he was a cosy winner over this trip before that. Racing Socks went close to Barbados Cruise in his penultimate start over this course and distance and now has another plum draw.

Barbados Cruise is coming off a hattrick from 2000-2400m and appears in the eighth race over 1700m. The trip looks sharper than ideal, but the field is uninspiring and he could continue on his winning ways. Arlington has struck as an under achiever and off a much reduced merit rating could bounce back as he should be at his peak and looks to be distance suited. Jackman, St. Joseph and Tom Fool make most appeal of the others.

By David Thiselton

Duel Gr1 winning sprinter Bull Valley was last night voted Horse of the Season at the annual KZN Racing Awards. The awards ceremony was held at a glittering function at the Elangeni. The awards honour the performances of KZN based and trained horses during South Africa’s Champion Season, the exception being Horse of the Season was open to all comers.

The full list of awards were:

Best performance by a Two-Year Old Filly: Lady In Black

Best performance by a Two-Year Old Colt/Gelding: Sand And Sea

Best performance by a Three-Year Old Filly: Sail

Best performance by a Three-Year Old Colt/Gelding: Secret Captain

Best performance by an Older Horse: Ten Gun Salute

Best performance by a Sprinter: Sand And Sea

Best performance over Middle Distance: Ten Gun Salute

Best performance by a Stayer: Mr Winsome

Horse Of The Season: Bull Valley

Groom of the Season: Mandilakhe Mtwesi

KZN Champion owner by stakes: Mayfair Speculators

KZNOTA Owner of the Year (KZN-based by stakes earned): Roy Moodley

KZN Champion Jockey (Most wins in KZN): Anthony Delpech

KZN Champion Apprentice (Most wins in KZN): Eric Ngwane

KZN Campion Breeder of the Year (Most stake won in KZN): Klawervlei)

KZN Champion Trainer (Number of wins trained in KZN): Duncan Howells

Anita Akal Special Award: Doug and Di Campbell

KZN Racing Personality Of The Year: Deez Dayanand

NHRA Long Service Award: Julie Wilson

Ride of the Season

Bernard Fayd’Herbe – Marinaresco (Vodacom Durban July)

Objections in horseracing are a hoary chestnut and have been for time and memorial. But just how objections are ruled on will always be subjective no matter the rules as inevitably it is a situation that will have grey areas. Over the years these rules have been revised and changed depending on the flavour of the day but in the final analysis no hard-and-fast rules can apply and as the current rules stand, it is up to the Objection Board to make a judgement call.

Needless to say, each incident will be viewed in a different light by different people but the final say lies with the Objection Board constituted to view the incident and make a ruling.

The issue raised its head again at Scottsville on Sunday where Keagan de Melo’s (Silent Obsession) protest against Warren Kennedy (Ideal Winter) was over ruled by the Objection Board although not all were happy with the decision to over-rule.

The official Stipendiary Stewards report read as follows:

1. SILENT OBSESSION (K de Melo) was hanging in over the final 500 metres.
2. IDEAL WINTER (W Kennedy) was hanging out in the final straight, shifted out near the 150 metre mark inconveniencing SILENT OBSESSION (K de Melo). Thereafter IDEAL WINTER (W Kennedy) shifted out near the 100 metre mark brushing SILENT OBSESSION (K de Melo). IDEAL WINTER (W Kennedy) and SILENT OBSESSION (K de Melo) brushed shortly before the finish.
3. A race review was called by Mr D Howells, trainer of SILENT OBSESSION (K de Melo) which was followed by an Objection lodged by Jockey K de Melo, rider of the second placed horse SILENT OBSESSION against the winner IDEAL WINTER (W Kennedy) on the grounds of interference in the latter stages. The Objection Board after hearing all the evidence including the distance of an increasing half a length between these two horses at the finish was of the opinion that despite the incident complained of, SILENT OBSESSION (K de Melo) would not have beaten IDEAL WINTER (W Kennedy) and therefore over-ruled the Objection, refunded the deposit and allowed the Judge’s result to stand.
4. Jockey W Kennedy signed an admission of guilt for a contravention of Rule 62.2.7 in that as the rider of IDEAL WINTER he failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to SILENT OBSESSION (K de Melo) in the closing stages. A warning was imposed.

The current rules concerning to interference reads as follows; the pertinent clause highlighted in bold:

68.2.6     bumping, boring, crossing, jostling or other interference, intimidation or any other action on the part of the HORSE or its RIDER during the running of the RACE;

69.3     When an OBJECTION is lodged in terms of RULE 68.2.6. the OBJECTION shall not be upheld unless the OBJECTION BOARD is satisfied that:-

69.3.1     a placed HORSE was interfered with by another placed HORSE and/or its RIDER during a RACE and the HORSE which was interfered with would, but for the interference, have finished ahead of the HORSE which caused the interference, in which event, the OBJECTION BOARD shall place the HORSE which caused the interference behind the HORSE which was interfered with or it may disqualify the HORSE which caused the interference;

69.3.2     any HORSE in the RACE was interfered with by any other HORSE and/or its RIDER and as a result of which the chances of the HORSE interfered with were jeopardised, the OBJECTION BOARD may, if it believes that the nature of the interference warrants such action, disqualify the HORSE which caused the interference.

69.4     For the purposes of RULE 69.3, a placed HORSE shall mean any of the HORSES placed in the first five to finish the RACE by the judge.

In other words, if the Objection Board feels that no matter the severity of the interference, they feel that the offender would have won no matter the interference, the result stands. They have to make a judgement call.

By Andrew Harrison