Aldo Domeyer will ride Horizon for the first time in public when the colt tackles the Daily News 2000 at Greyville on Saturday.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who rode him when he was seventh in the Daisy Guineas, now partners Zodiac Ruler for Justin Snaith but Candice Bass-Robinson said yesterday that it was always the plan for Domeyer to take over here.  She added: “If Horizon runs in the Vodacom Durban July Aldo will ride him in that too.”

Horizon started favourite for the Daisy Guineas but was squeezed out early on and had to come from the back. This time tactics are going to be different.

Mrs Robinson said: “He likes to be given a chance in a race with a strong pace because he can quicken off that. It all depends on the pace but ideally I would like him to be able to sit around fifth.”

Domeyer, in blistering form at the moment, added: “I always look forward to riding in the Group 1s and I am looking forward to Horizon. I am also looking forward to him coming home for the summer season as I think he will be at his very best then. But we will see what is in the tank on Saturday.”

Glen Kotzen introduced what looked an exceptional two-year-old in the first at Kenilworth yesterday. Elusive Heart, despite drifting from 20-1 to a totally unconsidered 36-1, made all the running under Karl Zechner in a field of 16 to come right away in the final furlong and win easily, putting four lengths between her and second-placed favourite Evie’s Light.

Kotzen said: “Everybody was putting me off but, although she hadn’t been showing much at home, she has a beautiful action.

“I think she will go round the turn. There is no rush but there are juvenile features coming up so I will chat to the jocks and the owners, and then we will see.”

By Michael Clower

Gimme Six has been one of the stars of the SA Champions Season so far and is one of many potential winners of Saturday’s Woolavington 2000 at Greyville, which is the most wide open Gr 1 race seen this season.

Gimme Six’s pedigree points to a mile being a trip she would be more comfortable over. However, she was not stopping at the line when wining the Gr 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas cosily and from a pole position draw her exceptional turn of foot can be used to the maximum by Anthony Delpech.

The long striding Final Judgement turned for home handy in the Daisy Fillies Guineas and stayed on resolutely. She should appreciate the step up in trip. She now has an even better draw and Richard Fourie stays aboard.

Safe Harbour is also a long strider and has finished second in all of the Cape Fillies Guineas, the Gr 1 Paddock Stakes and the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic. The latter races were both over 1800m and she was unable to find the necessary extra to secure the wins. However, she has another good draw and should have improved and strengthened, so should be involved in the finish considering Greyville is an easier track in terms of stamina than Turffontein Standside.

Orchid Island won the SA Fillies Classic full of running and will love this distance. From a good draw she should go close.

Smiling Blue Eyes, drawn five, was not herself when disappointing in the SA Fillies Classic. She also finished unplaced in the SA Oaks. Before those two runs she had impressed when winning both the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the Fillies Mile comfortably. She should stay this trip being a full brother to 2400m winner Sage Throne. However, Sage Throne was better known for never living up to his considerable potential. Nevertheless, Sean Tarry’s regular first call jockey S’Manga Khumalo is aboard Smiling Blue Eyes, while Muzi Yeni replaces him on Safe Harbour.

Bi Pot is another long striding sort, who was overtaken late by Orchid Island when finishing a 0,45 length third in the SA Fillies Classic, 0,2 lengths behind Safe Harbour. She then finished a fair 3,35 length fourth in the SA Oaks over 2450m, beating Orchid Island by 1,25 lengths. She was drawn better than both Orchid Island and Safe Harbour in the Fillies Classic and is now drawn slightly worse, but she is a scopey sort who should relish this trip.

Epona came from a long way back to win the Listed Aquanaut Handicap over this trip in early January at Kenilworth, beating Louisiana by two lengths, and the latter went on to win the Listed Scarlet Lady over 1800m at Greyville in April. Epona won her KZN debut over this trip on the poly in the Listed KRA East Coast Cup, where she also ran on strongly. Anton Marcus stays aboard her at the expense of Wind Chill and Lady Of The House.

Wind Chill was an impressive winner of the SA Oaks and before that only just failed to win the Listed Oaks Trial when dropped out from a wide draw and making up a lot of ground in the straight. She should be a big runner.

Oriental Oak is progressive and ran on strongly from the back for a 0,75 length fifth in the SA Fillies Classic before finishing a 2,5 length second in the SA Oaks.

Lady Of The House is a well-bred, talented sort who caught the eye when fifth in the Cape Fillies Guineas. She has 4,7 lengths to make up on Gimme Six from the Daisy Fillies Guineas. She stayed on well over 1800m on the poly last time and should get this trip.

Dress For Success is a rangy type who steps up in class and will find this tough.

Al Danza stayed on quite well for a 3,75 length fourth in the Daisy Fillies Guineas, but there is some stamina doubt here.

The High Life was disappointing last in the Daisy Fillies Guineas, but at her best has a good turn of foot and will relish this trip.

Party Crasher was 1,25 lengths behind Epona in the East Coast Cup but is now 4,5kg worse off and has a tough draw.

Onesie was 2,25 lengths back in the East Coast Cup and is also 4,5kg worse off with Epona and widely drawn.

By David Thiselton

Mauritzfontein and Wilgerbosdrift signing up Anthony Delpech as preferred rider was something of a master stroke as he has proved full value for the faith that the daughter and mother combination of Jessica and Mary Slack have placed in him.

Delpech will be aboard the Mauritzfontein-owned and Glen Kotzen-trained Silver Willow in the Soccer 6 FM Handicap at Greyville today on a card that will keep punters on their toes.

Silver Willow takes on some useful opposition but can add to her single victory.

Since arriving in KZN for the winter Kotzen may possibly over-matched her in a couple of outings and back in slightly weaker company Silver Willow must come in for serious consideration. She raced in a Listed feature last time out and although out of the money, she was only two lengths off the winner Louisiana. This will be her third run after a break and from a good draw has a lot going for her.

Filed Of Light was deemed good enough by Dennis Drier to make the trip to Cape Town for the summer. She showed early promise but it was not until she was stepped up to ten furlongs that she came to the party and shed her maiden. She has had one outing back, that in a strong handicap on the poly, and with that run under her girth she too looks a live contender.

Spring In Seattle and recent easy maiden winner Jay Jay’s Girl head a long list of possible winners should the top two fail.

Punters face an even bigger dilemma in the Durban View Restaurant Handicap where the majority of the field as in with a chance of success.

Restless Rouge has shown improved form since a disappointing Highveld raid and has his third run after a break. He is stepped up to 1400m here and looks to have as good a chance as any.

Mike Miller saddles recent maiden winner Valcar who led all the way over the Scottsville shortcut in his first run back after gelding. Apprentice Diego de Gouveia takes some pudding off his back and the step up in trip should hold no fears. He does look to have more scope for improvement.

Master Of Mischief was touched off over course and distance last time out and Wendy Whitehead’s gelding has been consistent since his last win. Friend Request sees Delpech team up with Mauritzfontein and Drier who was touched off at his penultimate start on the poly. A repeat showing will see him in the mix.

In the card opener, Glen Kotzen’s filly Edith’s Rose found market support on debut and then took her chances in a strong Juvenile Plate on Met day where she didn’t feature. She is up against seemingly weaker here. Tsessebe failed narrowly on debut when starting at 100-1. She has the best of the draw and is sure to have improved on her debut effort. However, they face an unraced pair in Lady Lisha and Torrey Pines and any market support for either or both should be respected.

In the colt’s version, Mark Dixon’s runner Northern Rebel has been close-up in all three starts and was feature placed in the Sentinel Stakes. Unless there is a springer amongst the first timers he rates the one to beat. Noble Duke has not been far back in two starts and the step up in trip should suit He has some poly experience which is a point in his favour. Freddie Flint makes his poly debut and seems better than his last effort when judged on his second start behind Arianos Bagofgold and finally, Epic Sword has improved with each outing and can feature.

By Andrew Harrison

North meets south in the battle for sophomore middle distance supremacy as both Al Sahem and Edict Of Nantes have stood their ground in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 to be run at Greyville on Saturday.

They are the only pair of Gr 1 winners in the field but both have tough draws and it is not a two horse race.

Al Sahem showed a good turn of foot in both the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas and the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m when running second to Janoobi and Heavenly Blue respectively. He subsequently won the Gr 1 SA Derby, so looks to have the right combination of speed, stamina and acceleration to relish the Greyville 2000m. He is by Silvano so will be improving all the time. His trainer Sean Tarry is virtually invincible at present.

Edict of Nantes’ sire Count Dubois produced the Daily News winner two years ago in French Navy. Edict Of Nantes turned it on when coming from the back in the Selangor Cup over 1600m to run a close second to the top class Gold Standard. He was nice and relaxed in the running when winning the Cape Derby and from an always handy position pulled away from them in the closing stages. It was not a vintage Derby field, but he won cosily. His trainer Brett Crawford did the Cape Derby-Daily News double with Jackson five years ago.

Zodiac Ruler set the pace in the Cape Derby and stayed on well for second. He has been gelded since and reportedly improved as a result. He has stayed on well in both of his SA Champions Season starts to date, including when third in the Daisy Guineas last time. He should be cherry ripe and will relish the trip especially from a plum draw of two.

His stablemate Copper Force also stayed on well in the Daisy Guineas to be just a head behind Zodiac Ruler and will also have benefitted from the run. This classy sort is also drawn well.

Pagoda showed a good turn of foot and signs of class when easily winning the Listed Derby Trial over this trip at Turffontein. He did the same when second to Al Sahem in the Grade 1 SA Derby, although the latter never looked in danger of defeat.

Africa Rising showed a good turn of foot in the Daisy Guineas to range up to Copper Force, but the latter then drew away from him. His pedigree is difficult to judge but if there are any stamina doubts his good draw will help.

Horizon showed an exceptional turn of foot when winning the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m. He will likely want a stronger pace than he received in either the Cape Derby and Daisy Guineas and that could bring out the best in him, although on pure form he has a bit to do.

Glider Pilot is the dark horse. He proved himself a decent sort when winning over this trip on debut and he then suddenly stayed on strongly late when the penny dropped in his second start over the same trip in a handicap. He has scope for considerable improvement and Tyrone Zackey is never a trainer to be ignored in big races.

Secret Captain is well regarded and stayed on for second in the Daisy Guineas in the manner of a horse who would see out this trip. He was then a bit flat footed at the top of the straight in a Progress Plate over 1800m on the poly, although he was staying on late. He received 9kg from Edict of Nantes that day and was beaten 2,45 lengths, which doesn’t augur well for his chances, but the blinkers have now been fitted and this might see him livening up.

Captain Gambler is the only filly in the race and stayed on well for third in the Cape Derby at 100/1 odds. The long striding filly stayed on quite well from last when unplaced in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic in her next start. She was also unplaced in the SA Oaks, but it is interesting to note trainer Joey Ramsden running her against the boys again.

Gingerbread Man is a nice rangy type, who was staying on in eye-catching style in the Daisy Guineas. He will likely relish the trip, although he was beaten 6,8 lengths in the Daisy Guineas so needs improvement.

Dark Moon Rising is an unknown quantity having easily won a handicap when stepped up to 1600m in just his third start. He did over race from a handy position that day, so will need to settle better over this trip, but as a rangy type by Ideal World he could still be anything and Piere Strydom is up.

By David Thiselton

Sean Tarry’s chances of reaching R30 million in earnings for the season became a formality on Saturday after he added the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint with Bull Valley to the earlier Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint he had won with Carry On Alice.

Meanwhile, veteran trainer Paul Matchett rolled back the years by winning the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship with outsider Brave Mary.

Tarry carefully planned Bull Valley’s attempt at the Tsogo Sun Sprint, a Gr 1 handicap, as he is not the soundest individual. He avoided running him in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint as a good run there could have added weight on to his back for the Tsogo Sun. The four-year-old Toreador gelding, carrying 58kg off a 109 merit rating, hardly ever looked in danger of defeat in a race run at a furious pace. He ran away from them in the end to win cosily by 1,5 lengths under S’Manga Khumalo. Search Party gave Brett Crawford a second runner up spot in this race within three renewals and the horse who had done it for him two years ago, Gulf Storm, finished fourth. In third place was the Dennis Drier-trained Barbosa and this gallant seven-year-old thus achieved his first place in the Tsogo Sun Sprint in his fifth attempt at it. The Gr 3 Kings Cup winner Bulleting Home enjoyed this sprint trip too and finished fifth.

Tarry and Khumalo won the first three races together on yesterday’s card at Turffontein. By then Tarry’s earnings for the season had climbed to R29,143,350.

Paul Matchett’s Brave Tin Soldier filly Brave Mary caused a 30/1 shock under Gunther Wrogemann in the Allan Robertson, where she showed a fine turn of foot to win by 1,75 lengths from the Tarry-trained Green Plains. The Duncan Howells-trained Neptune’s Rain finished third and was beaten a whopping 4,75, which shows how convincing Brave Mary’s victory was. Brave Mary was unable to run a place in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m at the Vaal three runs ago in her second career outing. However, she was unlucky there and had always showed plenty of zip. Two runs after that race she won her maiden by 6,5 lengths over the same 1000m and finished 8,2 lengths clear of a horse who had previously beaten her. The latter statistic signified how much she had improved. However, she was still ignored in the market on Saturday and caused the Pick 6 to pay R927,683.20.

Matchett, a three-time Zimbabwean Champion trainer, won the Gr 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint (Tsogo Sun Sprint) with Let’s Rock‘N Roll in 2006 and that same season he won the Gr 2 Post Merchants with Tiza. Hopefully Saturday’s result will herald the beginning of a revival for his yard’s fortunes.

By David Thiselton