The newly introduced “Levelling the Playing Fields” series of races kicks off with Round 1 at Scottsville on Sunday 2 April. The KZN Breeders Club came up with the concept, which has the full support of Gold Circle, in terms of which each trainer was invited to nominate one KZN Bred horse with a rating of 78 and below to compete in Round 1 over 1200 metres, Round 2 over 1400 metres and Round 3 over 1600 metres, with four weeks between each round.

Roy’s Taxi (Nkosi Hlophe)

“The idea was for each trainer to identify a KZN-bred horse in their yard with the durability and versatility to compete in each round over varying distances with the top 14 point scorers competing in a final over 1400 metres on 25 June at the KZN Breeders’ Raceday,” says Gold Circle’s Racing Executive Raf Sheik. “Disappointingly only 23 horses have stood their ground but, with the Grand Prix type formula whereby they will each earn points depending on where they finish in rounds 1, 2 and 3, it will be interesting to follow the runners’ progress through to the final,” he added.

The 23 horses have been ballotted into two heats to be run over 1200 metres on Sunday and they will be re-ballotted for each of the ensuing two rounds. In keeping with the theme of “Levelling the Playing Fields”, jockeys have been allocated to each of the runners by ballot for Sunday’s races and they too will be re-ballotted for each of the remaining two rounds. Thus, jockeys are not associated with a particular horse for the duration of the Series. The ballot for jockeys was undertaken by KZN Stipendiary Steward Tim Nhlapo under the watchful eye of the NHA Vet, Rouaan Sutherland.

Apart from the stake money on offer for each race (R100 000) and the R200 000 final on Sunday 25 June, a prize of R50 000 each is on the table for the Owner, Trainer, Jockey and Breeder who accumulates the most points over the Series, including the final. Points will be earned as follows:- 1st – 20; 2nd 17; 3rd – 15 ; 4th – 13; 5th 11 and then reducing by one point for each following position.

-KZN Breeders

Lily Theresa is a big price at 5-1 for the opening Maiden Juvenile Fillies at Kenilworth tomorrow considering the way Joey Ramsden has been dominating the Cape Town two-year-old races.

True, she was beaten over six lengths when only sixth on debut but 12 ran that day and this R1.2 million purchase (she is by Var out of a half-sister to the Golden Horse Casino winner Contador) seems sure to have improved.

Strictly on the book Regal Ruby has her measure – she finished three and a half lengths in front of her in that January race which is still best remembered for the eclipse of the much-touted Miss Frankel – but it was her second run so she does not have the same scope for improvement.

Glen Kotzen

World Sports Betting makes Regal Ruby favourite at 3-1 and has the Justin Snaith newcomer Angel’s Trumpet sharing 5-1 second spot with the Ramsden filly while the Glen Kotzen first-timer Heart Of Legend is next on 6-1.

All but two of the 16 runners are appearing for the first time and it is worth noting, particularly in the absence of any market move of note, that all the last nine two-year-old races at Kenilworth have been won by a horse who has already had a run.

Seven of the 13 in race two are newcomers and Ramsden is responsible for two of them – Bayeto (an Oratorio half-brother to Nocturnal Affair who won the Byerley Turk and also the Portland Handicap at Doncaster in Britain) and True Words, a R2 million Byword colt whose dam was second in the SA Fillies Classic.

“They are two really nice horses but I couldn’t prefer one above the other,” says Ramsden. “Their chances depend on what else is in the race but it is hard to win over six furlongs first time at Kenilworth.”

Why Wouldn’t Yew, fourth to Al Mariachi and Kasimir on the second of his two starts, has the best form and opened joint favourite at 7-2 with Brett Crawford’s newcomer Captain Ram and Justin Snaith’s debutant Fritz Nobis. True Words is on 11-2 and Bayeto on 7-1.

However the one that makes the most appeal is Strategic Power. This 8-1 chance carries the Mayfair colours and started third favourite when ridden by Anton Marcus on debut in January. He managed only 11^th of 15 but the reason soon materialised – “he pulled up very shin-sore,” explains Vaughan Marshall.

Emerald Gal, 4-1 for the Racing Association Maiden, wears blinkers for the first time and this should enable her to finally get her head in front. Bookmaker prices suggest she should not beat Lindleys Lane (5-2) or Le Claire (28-10) who was a head in front of her last month but the Darryl Hodgson filly makes real appeal.

Race Four, the 1 400m maiden, is wide open and you can find valid reasons why each of the seven runners should not win. Strikeitlikeamatch was far from disgraced in the Sophomore and, with Aldo Domeyer on board, he gets a wholly tentative vote.

By Michael Clower

Al Sahem, so narrowly beaten in the Betting World Gauteng Guineas over 1600m at Turffontein on March 4, has been priced up 12-10 favourite for the R2-million SA Classic (Grade 1) over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday.

Al Sahem (JC Photographics)

The Sean Tarry-trained Silvano colt still showed signs of inexperience in the Gauteng Guineas in only his third career start. He ran in snatches down the straight before getting the message in the final 100m and closed fast on start-to-finish winner Janoobi to get beaten by a long head.

Al Sahem had not enjoyed an ideal preparation going into that race and will also relish this longer distance.

Heavenly Blue, who finished third in the Gauteng Guineas, is second favourite at 2-1, with assistant trainer Mathew de Kock believing he can easily turn around the 1.50 lengths with stable companion Janoobi over the 1800m.

The SA Fillies Classic betting is dominated by Tarry-trained Smiling Blue Eyes, winner of the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and an even-money shot for the second leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara.

Sean Tarry (Nkosi Hlophe)

She raced wide from a poor draw in the Fillies Guineas and still managed to win impressively with many experts still firmly believing she has the potential to become the third filly after Cherry On The Top and Igugu to win the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara.

The Triple Tiara comprises the Cape Fillies Guineas/Gauteng Fillies Guineas, the SA Fillies Classic and the SA Oaks next month, with a R1-million bonus to a horse who wins all three legs. The SA Classic is the second leg of the SA Triple Crown, which comprises the Cape Guineas/Gauteng Guineas, the SA Classic and the SA Derby with a R2-million bonus for wins in three legs.

Huge tote pools are expected at Turffontein on Saturday including a carryover Pick 6 pool that is estimated to top R5million.

– TABNews

SA Classic betting: 12-10 Al Sahem; 2-1 Heavenly Blue; 7-1 Janoobi; 10-1 Tilbury Fort; 12-1 Furiosa; 16-1 Alaadel; 20-1 Unagi, Kampala Campari; 33-1 Crowd Pleaser.

SA Fillies Classic betting: 1-1 Smiling Blue Eyes; 5-1 Orchid Island; 11-2 Safe Harbour; 7-1 Al Hawraa; 10-1 Captain Gambler; 16-1 Maleficent, Babbling Brooke, Bi Pot; 25-1 Belle Rose; 40-1 Being Fabulous, Oriental Oak; 50-1 My Friend Lee, Philae.

A “beneficial meeting conducted in good spirit” took place at Greyville on Friday between Gold Circle and KZN’s Independent Owner’s Association (IOA).

The latter organisation was recently founded by prolific and passionate KZN owner Brian “Buffalo Bill” Burnard.

The current IOA Board consists of three Directors, namely, Brian, Daryll Marescia and Mayesh Chetty, with the latter pair contributing “immensely and passionately”, from the inception of the Association.

The well-being of the industry and all involved in it was the focus of both parties at the meeting and a few important issues were raised with that in mind.

Brian Burnard (Nkosi Hlophe)

The possibility of introducing a “central billing system” was discussed. The aim of this initiative would be to eradicate the non-payment of training fees by rogue owners and to ensure that Trainers accounts would be up to date. The former occurrence has had a negative effect on a few KZN training yards and repercussions have been felt further afield.

The introduction of a “Training Contract” between Trainer and Owner that would ensure the “eradication of the current ambiguities that exist”, was also discussed.

Stakes increases and how they would be implemented was brought to the table. The IOA highlighted the fact that the percentage figure of average stakes money earned per horse compared to the cost of keeping a horse in training had been dropping.

The possible implementation of a minimum training fee was also discussed with the well-being of Trainers in mind. A few KZN yards have been feeling the pinch in the current economic climate. The IOA calculated a fee which incorporated the minimum amount required to cover all costs of keeping a horse in training as well as enabling a Trainer to make a living. The IOA are in the process of asking their members to pay at least this minimum fee.

The IOA Board reiterated that prior to any agreements being made on any matters, it would first consult with its Members for their approval, or disapproval. Upon the IOA receiving the official position of Gold Circle pertaining to any issue or issues, it would convene a Members meeting.

Both Gold Circle and the IOA said they wished to quash a rumour doing the rounds in the racing industry that the IOA were intent on a “take over” of Gold Circle.

In fact the IOA have been granted office space at Greyville from which to operate, signalling the intent from both parties to induce industry progress transparently and in harmony.

In light of the above, both parties wish to appeal to the public at large, and the Racing Fraternity in particular, to take no notice of statements made, unless officially made by the IOA or Gold Circle.

By David Thiselton

Joe Ramsden can continue his recent domination of the Cape Town two-year-old races by taking the opening Maiden Juvenile Fillies at Kenilworth today with Lily Theresa.

Donovan Dillon’s mount was beaten over six lengths when only sixth on debut but 12 ran that day and this R1.2 million purchase (she is by Var out of a half-sister to the Golden Horse Casino winner Contador) seems sure to have improved.

Just Sensual (Liesl King)

Strictly on the book Regal Ruby has her measure – she finished three and a half lengths in front of her in that January race which is still best remembered for the eclipse of the much-touted Miss Frankel – but it was her second run so she does not have the same scope for improvement.

World Sports Betting makes Regal Ruby favourite at 7-2 and has slightly shortened the Ramsden filly from 5-1 to 9-2. The Justin Snaith newcomer Angel’s Trumpet is next on 11-2 and the Glen Kotzen first-timer Heart Of Legend is on 13-2.

All but two of the 16 runners are appearing for the first time and it is worth noting that all the last nine two-year-old races at Kenilworth were won by a horse who had already had a run. That said, there has been significant market support for Candice Bass-Robinson’s Public Prosecutor (14-1 to 13-2) and the Brett Crawford-trained Delia’s Delight (16-1 to 15-2).

Seven of the 12 in race two are newcomers and Ramsden is responsible for two of them – Bayeto (an Oratorio half-brother to Nocturnal Affair who won the Byerley Turk and also the Portland Handicap at Doncaster in Britain) and True Words, a R2 million Byword colt whose dam was second in the SA Fillies Classic.

“They are two really nice horses but I couldn’t prefer one above the other,” says Ramsden. “Their chances depend on what else is in the race but it is hard to win over six furlongs first time at Kenilworth.”

Why Wouldn’t Yew, fourth to Al Mariachi and Kasimir on the second of his two starts, has the best form and opened joint favourite at 7-2 with Crawford’s newcomer Captain Ram and Snaith’s debutant Fritz Nobis. True Words is on 11-2 and Bayeto on 15-2.

The Conglomerate (Liesl King)

However the one that makes the most appeal is Strategic Power. This already supported 13-2 chance carries the Mayfair colours and started third favourite when ridden by Anton Marcus on debut in January. He managed only 11^th of 15 but the reason soon materialised – “he pulled up very shin-sore,” explains Vaughan Marshall.

Emerald Gal, backed from 4-1 to 28-10 for the Racing Association Maiden, wears blinkers for the first time and this should enable her to finally get her head in front. Early bookmaker prices suggested she should not beat Lindleys Lane or Le Claire who was a head in front of her last month but the Darryl Hodgson filly makes real appeal.

Race Four, the 1 400m maiden, is wide open and you can find valid reasons why each of the seven runners should not win. Strikeitlikeamatch was far from disgraced in the Sophomore and, with Aldo Domeyer on board, he gets a wholly tentative vote. But make a note of Richard Fourie’s mount C’Est La Vie as this lightly-raced gelding was yesterday backed from 6-1 to 9-2.

By Michael Clower