Milton ticks all the boxes in the Boland Promotions Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow and Billy Prestage’s admirably consistent five-year-old should win for the first time in almost a year.

He is officially the best horse in the race, he comes out top (admittedly by the narrowest of margins) at the weights and he has shown good class form this year – he beat all except Whisky Baron in the Peninsula Handicap when was receiving only 1.5kg from the subsequent Met winner.

Candice Robinson (hamish NIVEN Photography)

The one negative is that he seems to be marginally better over a furlong further even though he frequently makes the running. “I would have preferred 1 600m,” his trainer confirms. “But he is working well, I think he has an outstanding chance and I’m debating whether to send him to Durban.”

Perhaps the most intriguing of his seven rivals is Our Mate Art who was expected to challenge for the Guineas and Derby but chipped a splint bone when bumped in the Selangor and hasn’t been seen since. Potentially he is a fair bit better than his rating.

“He was out of work for quite a while after chipping that bone but he has been gelded and is doing really well,” says Candice Bass-Robinson. “I think he will run well too but he will need it a bit.”

The Selangor was 19 weeks ago, Turbulent Air has been off for 17 weeks and Dynamic for 15. Elevated is also expected to need the outing, Catkin won over the trip two races back but finished last on his most recent start. African Night Sky, who goes particularly well for Craig du Plooy, could prove a threat but, according to the handicappers, the hat-trick seeking Icon King has the worst chance of the eight.

Live Life faces a stiff task at the weights in the Golden Bulls Allowance Plate – China Pearl comes out her equal and Miranda Frost half a kilo better than either of them – but her own stable companion Extradite looks the biggest threat of all and may well beat her.

Sihle Cele’s mount was five lengths behind Live Life at levels in the CTS Sprint and receives 6kg here, theoretically evening out their respective chances. But it is Extradite who has had the better lead-up.

“Live Life had a break after the CTS and it has been a rushed preparation. I am throwing her in here for a gallop,” says Mrs Robinson. “Extradite, who always tries hard, is a bit more ready.”

By Michael Clower

The big Turffontein meeting on Saturday gives a chance for punters to fight back after a spate of rough results recently as there look to be a few stand out horses on the card.

On the other hand if these horses fail, the dividends are likely to be handsome.

Al Sahem (JC Photographics)

The Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m looks to be a two horse race between Heavenly Blue and Al Sahem, although the courageous Janoobi can’t be ignored either. The latter beat the former pair in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas, but despite being by Silvano out of a Rakeen mare he has a stamina doubt. His second dam Scented Royal is an influential speedster and Janoobi has inherited some of this speed. He led from start to finish in the Guineas and held on bravely to beat Al Sahem by 0,2 lengths. However, it will be harder to go from pillar to post over this trip, especially from his wide draw. Furthermore, both Al Sahem and Heavenly Blue will both relish the step up in trip. Al Sahem had an interrupted preparation into the Gauteng Guineas, so will likely have come on from the run and being by Silvano is likely improving all the time. He has a good draw too and has been priced up favourite. However, Heavenly Blue has struck as one with a lot of scope and caught the eye with his powerful finish in the Gauteng Guineas. He does have quite a tough draw but has been crying out for middle distances and is selected to beat Al Sahem with Janoobi third. Tilbury Fort is an honest sort who will enjoy the step up in trip and he could earn a cheque too and so could Unagi.

Safe Harbour (Liesl King)

In the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic Smiling Blue Eyes sauntered to an impressive win in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and looks to have a chance of landing the Triple Tiara, such is her class. She is well drawn this time, as opposed to her wide draw in the Guineas. Bi Pot impressed with a facile win last time out. She should enjoy this trip and is tipped to be the main danger as she is still unexposed. Safe Harbour could also be a danger as she went close to beating the champion filly Bela-Bela in the Gr 1 Paddock Stakes over this trip. Her last start in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas can be ignored as she did not have an ideal preparation, but she is reported to be back to herself now. Al Hawraa was unlucky in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, otherwise would have got closer than 2,6 lengths and she should enjoy the trip so also has a chance from pole position. Orchid Island will enjoy the step up in trip but has a tough task reversing form with Smiling Blue Eyes especially as the reversal in draw fortunes favours Smiling Blue Eyes. Babbling Brooke and Belle Rose could also earn over this suitable course and distance.

Legal Eagle looks hard to oppose in the Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes as a horse who is unbeaten over a mile and three of those wins have been in Gr 1 weight for age events. Rafeef is full of class and is not yet fully exposed so poses the main danger, while classy four-year-old New Predator should now be ideally suited to the mile, having probably been a touch better at 1400m as a younger horse.

Green Pepper is the most exciting three-year-old female sprinter in the land and the conditions of the Gr 3 Man O’ War Sprint favour females, so she looks hard to oppose. Two other females Ektifaa and Exquisite Touch look the main dangers. Chesnut Road is much vaunted and has been ultra impressive in both his career starts down the straight. However, he won’t be quite at his peak and has topweight to carry. Pillar Of Hercules is an interesting Cape Town raider who could earn.

In the Gr 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m Silver God gets weight from the winners and caught the eye on debut, so could be a PA banker, although the speedy Barrack Street and the classy Alfolk would have to be included in the Pick 6.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is the Listed Jacaranda Handicap and Negroamara is tipped. She has dropped to a competitive merit rating and this is an ideal course and distance. The classy Patchit Up Baby will love the course and distance, so looks a big threat. The best has probably not been seen of the well regarded Redberry Lane. It is also hard to ignore Banking April, Parisienne Chic and topweight Polyphonic. Skip a Beat has a tough task as a coastal horse raiding at an altitude venue over an 1800m trip, although on pure form she has a definite chance.

By David Thiselton

Just nine horses will line up for the R2-million SA Classic at Turffontein on Saturday and quite a few experts will be keeping in mind the racing adage, the smaller the field, the bigger the upset when making their selections.

Assistant trainer Mathew de Kock, in charge of Mike’s powerful string until his dad returns from Dubai, says, “Small fields equal exciting finishes” – and he’s hoping for just that, only in his favour, on Saturday. Upset results in small fields are often due to a muddling or slow pace, but De Kock junior is taking no chances and has put Alaadel in to set “a true-run, honest pace”.

“That will help my other two horses, Heavenly Blue and Janoobi. In this small field Randall Simons will have more control pace-wise,” he said. Alaadel should have no problems carrying out his task. He’s certainly fit enough, having raced last weekend at Turffontein in the Derby Trial where he finished fourth behind Pagoda.

Janoobi and Heavenly Blue finished first and third respectively in the Betting World Gauteng Guineas a month ago. They were separated by Sean Tarry-trained Al Sahem, Betting World’s even-money favourite for the SA Classic. Heavenly Blue is second favourite at 18-10, with Janoobi next on offer at 5-1.

Said De Kock: “Heavenly Blue’s preparation has gone 100% flawlessly. He’s now very close to his best and the 1800m is probably the minimum of his best distance.”

In the Gauteng Guineas Heavenly Blue was returning from a rest following a quick trip to Cape Town in December and De Kock admitted beforehand that he was slightly shy of peak fitness.

Janoobi, he said, “Was at a peak that day and is still doing just as well”. However, Janoobi would need to learn to settle before he’d put much faith in his chances over further than 1600m. “I’m not saying he won’t stay, I just think Heavenly Blue will be more effective over the 1800m,” he confirmed.

Al Hawraa, Orchid Island and Belle Rose run for the stable in the R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1) over 1800m. Al Hawraa and Orchid Island finished second and third behind Smiling Blue Eyes in the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas with Belle Rose fifth.

“Al Hawraa was a bit in-and-out earlier in her career but she’s doing well now she’s older and stronger. She’s showing us more at home, giving us confidence.

“It’s all positive for her. She’s at a peak and has a good draw. I expect her to be right there at the finish.”

Orchid Island, the 11-2 second favourite behind Smiling Blue Eyes, has enjoyed a smooth preparation and is much fitter than in the Fillies Guineas, but De Kock said she’d have a “hard task from draw No 13. “Don’t get me wrong, she’s classy but it’s hard to give other classy fillies start.”

Belle Rose won the Oaks Trial last weekend, with De Kock confirming he’d had utmost faith in her that day. He said afterwards he would see how she took the race before making a decision on her participation in the SA Fillies Classic. At this point she is a definite runner. “She’s come out of the race sound and happy and she should have a top-five chance in the SA Fillies Classic,” he said.

The R1-million HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m is the third Grade 1 race on the programme and De Kock fields two horses – Fareeq, “who is in there as a pacemaker, to keep them honest”, and Rafeef, a classy individual whose biggest win to date came in the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m this month.

“His preparation has gone very well and I feel he’s made more improvement. Of course, it’ll be hard to beat Legal Eagle, but he’ll give it his best,” said De Kock.

Of his other runners at the meeting, he said: “I’ve got a nice card.” He rates Like A Panther in Race 1 over 1400m, while another of the stable’s two-year-olds, Alfolk, “should be right there, getting 2kg from Barrack Street” in the R200,000 Grade 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m.

De Kock is also looking for good runs from Raasmaal and Ektifaa in the Man O’ War Sprint but says Smart Mart, who runs in the R250,000 Grade 3 Caradoc Gold Cup, “has reached his mark in the handicap”.

The other horse he will saddle is Jubilee Line, who he expects to also do well in Race 12. His return to action after a slight fracture of his pelvis in September will be watched with interest, particularly given his supplementation into the Premier’s Champions Challenge in a month’s time.
– TABNews

The highly rated and still unexposed Red Chesnut Road will run in the Gr 3 Man O’ War Sprint over 1100m at Turffontein on Saturday.

However, his Summerveld-based trainer Robbie Hill said he would not be at “a hundred percent” and the race appears to be a stepping stone towards targets in the SA Champions Season.

Hill said, “He has been doing well in work, but hasn’t run for a while so will be slightly underdone, but he will give a good account of himself.”

Red Chesnut Road (Nkosi Hlophe)

Red Chesnut Road has been at Randjesfontein since mid-January, so has had plenty of time to acclimatise to the high altitude of the Highveld.

The Pathfork gelding might not have won any awards last season as a two-year-old, but his formline stood out. He destroyed the opposition in his first two starts over 1200m and 1100m respectively, both at Scottsville,  and a few winners emerged from those races, including Gr 1 winner Gunner, whom he beat by 11,75 lengths.

However, unfortunately, Red Chesnut Road had to be put away for the season after a hiccup in training.

He made his long awaited come back from an eight month layoff on January 9 on the Greyville polytrack over 1400m, but was defeated half-a-length by the resolute Winter Is Coming, to whom he was giving 4kg. He had the Listed winner Palladium 2,25 lengths behind and was also giving that one 4kg if the claim of Palladium’s apprentice jockey is included. Red Chesnut Road was green around the turn in the race and the conclusion was also that he had needed the run. Furthermore, Winter Is Coming is highly rated by his trainer Frank Robinson and was subsequently entered in the Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby (although he ended up having to be scratched).

Red Chesnut Road will likely attract a lot of market support on Saturday, despite needing it and having to carry topweight under the merit-rated band conditions of the race. His class could pull him through, although it won’t be easy against some top class sorts, including the two fillies Green Pepper and Ektifaa who are both better in at the weights than he is.

The currently 104 merit-rated Red Chesnut Road will be back at Summerveld next week.

Hill will see how he comes out of Saturday’s race before confirming his SA Champions Season targets.

He has always believed Red Chesnut Road would stay a bit of ground and mentioned the Gr 2 Daisy Guineas on May 7 as one of his possible targets. Hill concluded, “I believe he is versatile, but it will be baby steps at a time and a lot will depend on him.”

By David Thiselton

Anthony Delpech has six rides at Turffontein’s big racemeeting on Saturday and the best of them looks to be Al Sahem in the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m.

Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Sean Tarry-trained Silvano colt lost his unbeaten record in his third career start in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas when touched off 0,2 lengths by Janoobi.

Delpech said, “He had missed an intended run in the build up to the Guineas due to the rain, but still ran a great race and he will be better suited to this further distance.”

Delpech believes Saturday’s event is a two horse race between his mount and the Mike de Kock-trained Heavenly Blue, who was staying on strongly for third in the Gauteng Guineas and will relish the step up in trip.

Delpech has not been riding Al Sahem work, but the latter has likely come on from his Gauteng Guineas run and is well drawn in four.

He has been priced up as the 12/10 favourite with Heavenly Blue at 2/1.

Delpech also rides a Silvano in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, the De Kock-trained Orchid Island. She started favourite for the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, but was beaten 3,6 lengths into third by Smiling Blue Eyes.

Delpech said, “She will also enjoy the step up in trip, but I think it will be virtually impossible to reverse form because we are widely drawn  this time and Smiling Blue Eyes is now well drawn. I will have to drop her out and we can’t afford to give Smiling Blue Eyes start.”

Delpech does not know much about Desert Rhythm, whom he rides in the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m, but she must have as good a chance as any here unless Kissable bounces back after her dismal showing last time.

Al Sahem (JC Photographics)

He is aboard Raasmaal in the Gr 3 Man O’ War Sprint over 1100m.

He said, “She has good form, but is obviously not the De Kock stable choice as Callan Murray is aboard Ektifaa.”

Raasmaal is not fully exposed, but nevertheless faces a tough task at the weights against the like of Green Pepper, Ektifaa, Exquisite Touch and out-of-town horses Pillar Of Hercules and Red Chesnut Road.

Delpech said he could only hope for a place on Romany Prince in the Gr 1 weight for age HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m with the like of Legal Eagle, New Predator, Rafeef, Kangaroo Jack, Mac De Lago and French Navy in the field.

However, he believes he has a good chance on Save The Rhino in the Gr 3 Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m. This Mogok gelding has proved in his last two starts he stays well and on formlines he is the one to beat.

By David Thiselton