The biggest talking point at Scottsville yesterday was not so much the racing but trainer Paul Gadsby’s R40k fine imposed on Tuesday by the National Horseracing Authority after one of his grooms was caught on the on-course television camera kicking his charge in the stomach in the washing bay at Greyville some months back.

Gadsby was spitting mad at the Ashburton training centre yesterday. “I wasn’t even on track at the time,” he said. “So how can I have control over a situation like that.”

The groom was subsequently disciplined and Gadsby assumed that that was the end of the matter.

There is, however, a NHA rule that states that a trainer is responsible for the behaviour of his staff, but trainers throughout the country, responding on WhatsApp, described the fine as lunacy, threatening drastic action.

Whether anything comes of their threats remains to be seen.

The meeting got off to a rough start with an objection lodged by Anton Marcus aboard the favourite Valcar against first-placed Flamboyant under apprentice Ashton Arries. The two came together at about the 200m mark with Flamboyant shifting onto Valcar then then following Valcar as the pair continued to shift in together without making contact.

Marcus was forced to object as with only three stipendiary stewards on duty, an objection by one of the stipendiary board would have left only two to deliberate the objection when the rule requires three.

After a lengthy deliberation, the objection was upheld.

Owner Rick Nidd is a great fan of the stallion Ashaawes and he was repaid handsomely when Barinois obliged in the Track & Ball Gaming Maiden at only her second start. Owned in partnership with trainer Duncan Howells, Keagan de Melo rode a copybook race and his mount came through to win smoothly.

The stable was not so lucky next up as favourite Seattle Spell failed to fire with Ian Sturgeon extricating the well supported Just Positive from a tight situation to get up late to deny Angel Landing for Des Egdes. Just Positive raced in the silks of the late Andre van Vuuren who was a staunch supporter of the yard along with Mike Clutterbuck.

The Howells-trained Roman Emperor finally got his act together in the Itsarush.co.za Middle Stakes but it was a close-run thing. The gelding is not an easy ride but De Melo pinched an early lead and kept his mount hard to his task to hold a fast-finishing favourite Cape Fling, jockey Anthony Delpech having to endure some flavourful vitriol from a few of the favourite’s supporters around the second box.

But Dean Kannemeyer and Delpech had better luck on the rest of the card with Speed Of Africa and Orelia rounding off a successful afternoon for the yard.

By Andrew Harrison

Investec Cape Derby winner Edict Of Nantes could start his build-up towards the Vodacom Durban July in the Daisy Guineas at Greyville on May 7.

Brett Crawford said: “I have nominated him for the race although it is not guaranteed that he will run. He has only had one grass gallop [in KZN] so he has a bit of work to do.”

The Mayfair Speculators colt has a terrible draw (18 out of 19) in the R600 000 Grade 2 but only Table Bay and Janoobi are rated higher.

Crawford then intends running Edict Of Nantes in the Daily News, a race he won with Jackson five years ago. He has yet to win the July but Angus was only beaten a head by Ipi Tombe in 2002 and Futura was little more than half a length-third to Legislate three years ago.

However only two Cape Derby winners have gone on to take the July this century – Dynasty in 2003 and Big City Life six years later.

By Michael Clower

The Vaal Outside Track hosts a competitive eight race meeting tomorrow. High draws by trends are favourable in all races, but some of the best form horses on the day have low draws. An example is the three-year-old Toreador gelding Refuge, who runs in the highest merit rated race of the day, an MR 88 handicap over 1200m.

Refuge has three wins, two seconds and a third in eight career starts and has acquitted himself well against some useful sorts.

Piere Strydom has won on him twice and was aboard last time on his return from a three-and-a-half month layoff. On that occasion Strydom was forced to switch him inward for a run and he still managed to do some excellent work late to get up for third. He should have benefitted from that run and can win this time, but unfortunately the low draw of two is a concern.

Refuge’s Scott Kenny-trained stablemate Hidden Agenda is a fascinating runner in this race. This five-year-old Brave Tin Soldier gelding has won over 2000m before, yet his 1200m form makes good reading and includes a victory over the classy Rafeef.

The admirable Golden Man earns a cheque virtually every time he races and is effective over this trip so should run on into the money from a fair draw under his regular pilot Ryan Munger.

Al Azraq can’t be ignored as he has talent and has dropped to a competitive merit rating. He is drawn on the right side and his penultimate start can be ignored as he missed the break. However, it has to be said he had every chance last time at Turffontein over 1160m and failed to kick on, although he was found to be coughing afterwards.

Dennis The Menace is capable of a strong finish and has a good record over this course and distance, so can’t be ignored.

Morpheus, Kapitan and Machismo are also tough to ignore in a typically competitive sprint handicap.

The previous race, the sixth, is a fillies and mares MR 84 handicap over 1200m and Silver Class makes a lot of appeal. She was campaigned in strong plate races and feature races until last time when she was finally put back in a handicap off her lowered merit rating. She proved she was better than an 82 by running a good second in the 1450m event. She was duly raised three points, but still looks well handicapped and has a fair draw over her probable optimum trip.

The best bet on the day could be Playing Games in race three, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m. She fought for her head early on over 1200m last time, but was still doing good work late to finish second. She should have benefitted from the experience and should be more settled this time. She is thus preferred to Martha’s Vineyard, a well-bred filly who made a good debut, but who is bred to Northern Hemisphere time so is six months younger than her contemporaries and she also has the tough number one draw to overcome.

By David Thiselton

Three horses stand out in this Saturday’s HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m at Turffontein – top-rated Safe Harbour, Fort Ember and Cape raider Star Express.

Ultra-classy Safe Harbour is one of five runners from the Sean Tarry stable and her trainer admits she must be the stable elect. The three-year-old was beaten only a neck by Orchid Island in the SA Fillies Classic over 1800m. She is drawn at No 7 in the 16-horse field and will carry 2.5kg less than her two main rivals.

Fort Ember is a five-time winner who finished fifth behind Legal Eagle in the recent Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m. Trainer Paul Peter believes the horse to beat in the race is Safe Harbour, but added: “Fort Ember is exceptionally well, has a great draw (No 1) and a top jockey (Anton Marcus). She’ll run an excellent race. I’m quietly confident.”

Cape-based Justin Snaith, who has a string of horses at Summerveld in KwaZulu-Natal until the end of winter, intends to bring Majorca Stakes runner-up Star Express to the Highveld on Friday to take part in the weight-for-age race, but said: “I’ll see how the week goes – I won’t bring her unless she’s got a chance. I liked the look of the race meeting and will always do my best to play a part when it counts.

“Star Express is a lovely filly who gets every bit of 1600m easily and she’s doing very well at home. I’m not happy with her wide draw – it’s a long way to come for that draw – but Anthony Delpech will give her a bit of a chance in the race so we still have a filly afterwards.”

Lightly raced Juxtapose, last year’s SA Fillies Classic and SA Oaks winner who made a promising comeback from a rest last time out, is the next highest-rated runner in the field. Her trainer Stanley Ferreira cautioned: “This is on the sharp side for her and she’s got entries in the Champions Challenge, Gerald Rosenberg and Gold Bowl – I think she’ll stay every metre of that 3200m because she’s a proper galloping lass – as well as the Vodacom Durban July.

“She’s a tiny filly but has a huge heart. She’s a little darling!”

Three horses are rated 101, Bella Sonata, Intergalactic and Trophy Wife.

Trainer Gavin van Zyl said he is “upbeat that Bella Sonata will run a good race even though she is drawn wide. Her form has turned around in her two runs since she had a wind op, she’s just got better and better, and I expect her to be in the first three.”

Tarry trains both Intergalactic and Trophy Wife.

“Intergalactic had a good prep and has been competitive in this type of company, so must have a chance. (Stablemate) Tahini did beat Intergalactic last time but was the fitter horse and there is a turnaround at the weights.”

He said he wouldn’t be surprised to see Trophy Wife in the mix. “She had a bit of a rushed prep but her comeback from a rest (when second to stable companion Carry On Alice over an inadequate 1100m recently) was very good.”

His other runner is Heaps Of Fun. “She’s had a good preparation but her form’s not been there in her last few runs. She will, however, bounce back soon and I don’t think she’s out of it.”

Polyphonic came back to best to win the Jacaranda Handicap from a wide draw recently and Alec Laird has booked jockey Piere Strydom for the filly again.

Laird was unavailable for comment, but Strydom said he was hoping for “luck from a bad draw against horses who are better weighted under the conditions”.

The Mike de Kock stable will field three horses – Nother Russia, Al Hawraa and The Centenary and assistant trainer Mathew de Kock said it would probably be close between the first two.

“The Centenary is coming off a long layoff and, although she enjoys running fresh, she’ll probably be better over 2000m. Nother Russia is consistent and always gives her best. She has a good draw, which is always a big help. Al Hawraa is best at 1600m – the 1800m of the SA Fillies Classic was a touch too far. She hit the front with 400m to go and got run out of it late. But she has got a horrible draw so will need a lot of luck.”

Johan Janse van Vuuren’s grey filly Negroamaro will always have her supporters, even though she is a chronic bleeder. He would only say, “She’s very well but is in a very strong race.”

Roy Magner, asked about Anna Pavlova, said yesterday: “She worked hard this morning and did nicely. She’s in a good place and, although she is not well drawn, I’m expecting a good run.”

Kilauea is another runner with a wide draw. She had an interrupted preparation, but David Nieuwenhuizen said: “She’s got a lot of guts and must have a chance, although it’s a strong field.”

TABNews

Justin Snaith is taking a leaf out of the Mike Bass book by raiding from Summerveld with Star Express in a bid to beat the altitude in Saturday’s HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes.

He said: “I have tried doing it every other way and they haven’t worked but I have seen it work from Summerveld. You are almost halfway there with the altitude and so she travels to Johannesburg on Friday afternoon.

“She has been doing very well and a lot of effort has gone into the day so it will be nice to be part of it.”

Summerveld is 700m above sea level and Turffontein around 1750m. Bass sent Inara from Summerveld similarly close to the race when she won last year’s Empress Club.

Last season’s Gold Medallion winner Always In Charge is involved in a race against time after being forced to miss his prep for the Tsogo Sun Sprint (May 27) at Scottsville last Sunday.

Vaughan Marshall said: “He pulled a muscle behind. We are trying to get him back as quickly as possible but we are not holding out much hope.”

By Michael Clower