David Thiselton

JUSTIN SNAITH has made no secret of Gatekeeper being his Vodacom Durban July horse this season and thus one of his chief concerns ahead of Saturday week’s Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby is his merit rating.

He also sent out a message on behalf of Captain’s Ransom to the Highveld saying. “I am not in the slightest bit scared of War Of Athena.”

He said about the three-year-old colt Gatekeeper, who is a full brother to his first July winner Legislate and who is owned by the Cape Derby’s new sponsor Nick Jonsson, “He is a very special horse and I would not be doing all this planning if that was not the case. We will do everything to protect his rating even if it means having to appeal. The concern is the merit rating leaps a three-year-old can take, for example if he wins the Derby he goes to 120 then if he wins the Daily News he goes to a 125.”

Snaith said he would see what Gatekeeper’s rating was after the Cape Derby before deciding which further route he would take in to the July.

The highest rated horse July-bound horse in the country at present is Rainbow Bridge on 134, so The Gatekeeper would have to be rated higher than 124 to carry more than the minimum weight of 53kg for a three-year-old male. He is unlikely to get more than 120 for winning the Derby as the highest rated horse among the entries is Kommetdieding on 117. 

Snaith said The Gatekeeper, who ran a 2,05 length fifth in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas last time out, was “very well” and added, “He is immature and if they don’t beat him in the Derby they are not going to beat him in four months time in the Daily News.”

Snaith also runs Hoedspruit in the Cape Derby.

He said, “He is doing very well at home but is losing his races because he is always too far back. He is finishing three to five lengths back and needs to up his game so I am pushing the envelope with him to see if we can close that gap. The mile to 1800m might have been too short too so we’re hoping he will be a nice horse over 2000m and run into the money.”

Snaith believes Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby day is on its way to joining the Cape Town Met and L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Racing Festival as a high status Cape Town racing event. 

He said, “It is the fastest growing race day, there are new sponsors and a lot is being poured into it and it will also be great to be able to have the owners back on course for the day. Everything I am doing at present is with that day in mind so punters must follow our yard on the day.”

One of the innovations for the day is the R160,000 Khaya Stables Workriders vs Jockeys Championship Maiden over 1200m where for the first time in South African history workriders will race against jockeys. The seven jockeys and seven workriders on the top of the respective Cape Jockeys log and Cape Workriders log will each ride as a team. The team which gathers the most points will be presented with a trophy.

Meanwhile, Snaith’s three-year-old filly Dazzling Sun, who is owned by Michael De Broglio, is on her way to race in America.

She faces an arduous journey as the equine export protocols have not changed.

If it was not for those protocols Snaith would have liked to have seen his star filly Captain’s Ransom racing in either America or France.

Instead, she will be heading for the SA Champions Season where the WSB Fillies Guineas and Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes will be her obvious aims. Snaith said miler types like her are capable of winning the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 so that might be an option in between those two events.

Captain’s Ransom is rated 126 compared to the 122 of War Of Athena but Snaith said, “She is very good and I’m not in the slightest bit scared of War Of Athena. When I said this three-year-old Cape Town crop is very, very strong this year people said ‘agh there he is blah blah overrating his horses again’ but I meant it and it has shown. Malmoos proved it over the weekend and he was lucky to win a race here as a lot of the opposition were still maturing.”

Meanwhile Do It Again, who loves KZN, has already been transported here and is resting on a farm. He will come in to Summerveld to begin training in the next couple of weeks.

Snaith said, “His rating has come down which gives him a chance in the July. He loves light tracks and we were never able to get the tracks light enough for him here during the Summer.”

Snaith faces a problem with his top sprinter Kasimir every winter because the first of the Grade 1 SA Champions Season sprints, the Golden Horse Sprint, is a handicap and he has to carry a big weight and the second one, the Mercury Sprint, is around the turn at Hollywoodbets Greyville and he invariably draws wide.

  David Thiselton

S’Manga Khumalo was in devastating form at the Vaal Classic track yesterday riding six winners. He rode the first four on the card, then finished third in both the fifth and sixth races. He then won the seventh and eighth races which gave him and opportunity to equal the South African record of seven winners in a day in the last race. He was on the favourite Pecan Pie in the last but this horse failed to kick on from a handy position and finished fourth. The SA record of seven in a day is held by Jeff Lloyd ( three times in SA, once in Australia), Piere Strydom (twice), Harold “Tiger” Wright and Garth Puller. 

David Thiselton

PUNTERS face a tricky card at the Vaal Classic track today as there are seven handicaps but the dividends should be rewarding for those who do their homework.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a MR 86 Handicap over 2400m and Don’t Look Back will be going for a hattrick. This rangy gelding has not looked back since being purchased by St. John Gray as it was the long straights of the Highveld he was looking for.  He is by stamina influence Judpot out of a Model Man mare who won twice over 2000m so he might enjoy the further step up in trip. He has been raised four points for his last win in which he arrived late on the scene over 2000m in soft going. Port Key had a tough task at the weights in a Middle Stakes race last time and back in a handicap could go close if he repeats the form of his previous win over 2600m. Brand New Cadillac has been in good staying form and his low draw will suit his front-running style so he has a shout being 2.5kg better off with Port Key for a three length beating. 

The next race is a Classified Stakes race over 2400m. She’s A Cracker did not have cover down the back straight last time over 2000m in soft going but was still staying on well at the end for a one length fourth so is interesting stepped up to 2400m from a plum draw. Her sire Where’s That Tiger has produced a SA Derby third place although there is a not a lot of stamina in her female line.  Consol Queen was ridden from the front last time over 2000m but did better the previous time when coming from midfield. She now has a wide draw over the trip of her last win so should make a bold bid if dropped out or finding cover in midfield. Kool Baikal is by Byword, whose best trip was 2000m, out of a Fort Wood mare who won over 1800m so he has a chance of staying this trip and Gavin Lerena is the only one who has won on him so he could do well from a good draw. French Leave has placed in five of his last six attempts at this course and distance and has a fair draw. Plum Field was not disgraced in a minor feature over this trip last time and is the best weighted horse but does have a tricky draw. Liverpool Legend beat She’s A Cracker last time over 2000m by 0,30 lengths and is now 1kg better off. She tries this trip for the first time and although speedily bred does give the impression she could stay it. There are others who are hard to ignore including So Long Spring, Ideal Wolff, Chevron, Zernez and Zaberjad.

In the sixth race over 2000m The Sash comes off a minor feature win over 2400m but is still merit rated only 74 so could continue with her current good form. Good draws have always appeared to be the key for her and she has her second one in succession so should make a bold bid over a trip she enjoys. Curvation is in good form too and is distance suited and well drawn. Magical Flight looks to have plenty of scope for further improvement so it all depends on whether she stays this trip. Her sire Willow Magic was a sprint-miler but her Jet Master dam won over this trip. Fort Anne has Piere Strydom back aboard after enjoying the step up to 1800m last time and the form of that race was franked in no uncertain terms when Netta came out and defied her rating by beating a good Progress Plate field. Lady Amherst and Traveling Wilbury can’t be ignored either. 

In the seventh over 1800m Pamushana’s Pride was made the best of the day last time and delivered and off a six point higher mark over the same trip and from a much better draw she is made the best again as she looks to have plenty of scope. Have A Go Jo will enjoy the step up in trip and looks to be the main danger. 

In the eighth over 1450m Putins Promise has a good finish if things go his way and they could well do from a good draw of five. He has shown a liking for this trip at Turffontein and his only win has been at the Vaal over 1200m so he should enjoy this course and distance. Oscar Wild holds him on their last meeting over 1400m but the low draw down the straight might have played a part in Putins Promise’s below par run that day. Shortstop is well drawn and can never be ignored over this trip.

In the last race over 1450m the Dorrie Sham yard have been in good form lately and the widely drawn Royal Lily could produce a strong finish from off the pace to mow down an uninspiring field. Entente is capable of winning it too. Un Deux Trois jumps from pole and this is the course and distance of her only win, so she is the other one to consider.   

Andrew Harrison

LYLE HEWITSON gave the opposition a mountain to climb in the UmThombothi Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday and it proved just too high for the favourite Share Holder who finished a game but well beaten second.

Matterhorn had not been out since October last year but Alyson Wright had him stripped for this and Hewitson gave him a ride that one would expect from a jockey who took Japan by storm.

With only 53kg to shoulder and stable companion Flichity By Farr setting some rather sedate early fractions, Hewitson set off for the lead approaching the home turn. He then careered into the straight and went for broke.

Serino Moodley had it tough as Share Holder, as is his want, pulled hard in the opening exchanges and as such the early pace will not have suited him and he never really settled.

The Aussie-bred made up plenty of ground on Matterhorn up the home stretch and although Matterhorn was looking for the line over the last 50m, he found it in the nick of time.

“He’s a 2400m horse and I should never have got beaten last time,” confessed Hewitson.

This was Matterhorn’s fourth win from just eight starts and we could well see him lining up in the staying features during South Africa’s Champion Season.

Luke Ferraris, two months out of his time, has made a superb start to his professional career with the Cape Town Met and the WSB Gauteng Guineas already safely in his locker. He is fortunate to come from a family steeped in the sport but it still takes talent to have achieved what he already has.

His judgement was to the fore again on the Yogas Govender-trained Filippo in the opening leg of the PA. Although 3.5kg worse off in the weights with hot favourite Traces given their last meeting, Filippo was never in danger of defeat. Ferraris had Traces stone cold a long way out and won as he liked with Traces a well beaten second.

Marcus took Traces over to the rail early crossing Candy Galore but Warren Kennedy’s objection was rather hopeful given some of the recent stipendiary decisions.

Corrine Bestel does not have a big string but like Ferraris she comes from a family steeped in racing. Her mother Eileen was a top trainer in her day, the record-breaking galloper Sabre possibly her best horse. Well supported by Peter and Jenny Blythe of Clifton Stud, Bestel has her fair share of winners and the Clifton-bred Flying The Star sauntered to an easy win in the second.

Suzette and Basie Viljoen have taken the racing world by storm over the past couple of years with hardly a race going by without their familiar silks in the field. It was the turn over Legislate’s Dance yesterday as Serino Moodley got him up close home to collar long-time leader Secret Is Ours. Although winning, the vet will be called in shortly and his next start is likely to be as a gelding.

Well fancied at his last start, Serino Moodley was given the third degree by many a grandstand jockey made worse by the fact that stable companion Fat Cigar had won the race. But as he explained yesterday, Legislate’s Dance was still an entire and was not the easiest ride that day getting all his wires crossed in the race.

According to Moodley, Legislate’s Dance was still looking to shirk the issue yesterday and had one ear back and the other forward over the final furlong, a sure sign that he was not giving of his best.

Jackinapot, having his first outing since October last year, landed the odds with a smart win in the fifth. A full brother to SA Derby runner-up Rocketball and a half-brother to Blackball, both useful stayers, Jackinapot won well enough to suggest that he is a horse than can pay to follow.

“He has been off for a while so we brought him back to a mile,” explained Gavin van Zyl and from a seemingly hopeless position, he raced home through the traffic to deny Sonjador and Jacob’s Ladder.

The well-bred debutante Broadway was making late progress finishing just out of the money and is one for the notebook.

David Thiselton
THE Mike de Kock-trained Malmoos and the Paul Matchett-trained War Of Athena confirmed their class yesterday in the  Grade 2 WSB Gauteng Guineas and Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas respectively under high-flying jockeys Luke Ferraris and Muzi Yeni.
War Of Athena strikes as one who could have a tilt at the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara if winning the second leg over 1800m while Malmoos has a chance of staying the Derby distance on pedigree so the WSB SA Triple Crown is still alive.   It was a fine day for Matchett, who had four winners in all, while Johan Janse van Vuuren won the last three races of the meeting, including the Grade 3 Wilgerbosdrift Tommy Hotspur Handicap with True To Life.  
Malmoos is now unbeaten in four starts at Turffontein and his only loss in six starts has been in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas. He was unlucky in the latter race and yesterday’s result puts him back in contention for Equus Champion Three-year-old. The two mid-season blips for the male sophomore crop, firstly Mount Pleasant’s flop in the WSB Dingaans and then 100/1 shot Russian Rock’s Cape Guineas win, have proven to be false alarms as the form coming out of both of those races, including in yesterday’s Guineas, has proven to be anything but weak.
Malmoos, a good looking Varsfontein Stud-bred bay, has a pedigree to match his record and could one day be in a stallion barn.
He is by Captain Al out of Fort Wood mare Justthewayyouare, who is a half-sister to prominent sire Master Of My Fate.
Justthewayyouare won the Listed Spook Express Handicap over 2600m, which gives Malmoos a shout of staying the Grade 1 WSB SA Derby distance, although he has inherited plenty of speed from his sire Captain Al.
He should enjoy the 1800m trip of the Grade 1 WSB SA Classic, but is going to face stiff opposition, particularly from yesterday’s runner up Catch Twentytwo.
Malmoos broke well from pole position and had the run of the race after the widely drawn Bingwa moved around him to take the lead.  
Catch Twentytwo, winner of the WSB Dingaans and Tony Ruffel Stakes, jumped from draw two and was initially caught outside of Malmoos before being shuffled back to fifth position. He sat behind outsider Kingsley’s Heart, who was running outside of Malmoos’ tail. Copper Mountain sat behind Malmoos on the rail. The latter’s more fancied stablemate Second Base sat in second last position in the nine horse field with Mount Pleasant outside of him.
In the straight Malmoos cruised up on the inside of Bingwa but Copper Mountain was soon challenging him further inside. These two became involved in a ding-dong battle and it was only at about the 150m mark that Malmoos was able to shake Copper Mountain off.
Meanwhile, the tall Catch Twentytwo had slowly wound up into top gear and began eating up the ground in the final two hundred metres. However, it was too late and he was a quarter-of-a-length shy at the line.
The gallant Copper Mountain was beaten 1,40 lengths into third, although he was eased up late. Second Base stayed on resolutely for a two length fourth and Bingwa repeated his WSB Dingaans finish exactly, a 2,50 length fifth.
Catch Twentytwo will relish the SA Classic trip and Second Base, winner of the Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m, should also. Copper Mountain, by Noble Tune out of a Fort Wood mare who won over 2000m,  should also enjoy the step up in trip.  
Mount Pleasant, who started odds-on for the Dingaans, flopped again and finished last, beaten 19 lengths. He is either a sprinter or is replicating  the career of his sire Vancouver, who was unbeaten at two but never got going as a three-year-old.  
War Of Athena was the star of the day and remains alongside Captain’s Ransom as the best of her crop. The R30,000 Summerhill Stud-bred daughter of Act Of War jumped well and was initially caught one wide. However, Muzi Yeni could afford to ease her back because stablemate Only The Brave was ensuring a strong pace in front. Another stablemate, Gee For Go, then moved around War Of Athena to give her a tow into the straight.
Anything Goes had meanwhile been dropped out and was in second last place on the rail, just a length off her arch rival War Of Athena.  
War Of Athena crept up under the hands in the straight. Anything Goes was unfortunately unable to find a gap to burst through and was forced to switch around War Of Athena just after the 300m mark. However, War Of Athena accelerated superbly at the same time leaving Anything Goes with too much ground to make up. It is unlikely she would have beaten War Of Athena in any event as she was two lengths shy at the line. Miss Elegance was third, beaten 6,50 lengths, and Castle Durrow and Only The Brave were next best. Caralluma failed for the third time over this trip and was sixth in the seven horse field with Fillies Mile winner Gee For Go last.
War Of Athena’s dam by Requiem has produced three middle distance to staying winners so the Triple Tiara is in her sights.
Malmoos did record the better time on the day 97,36 seconds compared to the filly’s 97.59 seconds.  
In the Wilgerbosdrift Tommy Hotspur Handicap, True To LIfe, a Northfields Stud-bred four-year-old filly by Duke Of Marmalade, produced a late rattle under Gavin Lerena to record her second Grade 3 win over this 1160m course and distance and sixth career win overall.