Horse Racing News | Gold Circle Horse Racing And Betting

Ready to blossom

PUBLISHED: March 24, 2017

Dynasty’s Blossom is looking to make amends at Kenilworth tomorrow and the extra furlong could be in her favour…

Dynasty’s Blossom is a confident choice for the Fillies Maiden Juvenile at Kenilworth tomorrow. This R4.5 million purchase looked a certain future winner when making a promising debut a fortnight ago and the extra furlong should be in her favour.

The Joey Ramsden filly ran on nicely after making a slow start and had the much more experienced Cosmic Dust over four lengths behind. She is drawn on the rails and is rated 2kg clear of the next best, Rings And Things.

Joey Ramsden (Kenilworth Racing)

The handicappers don’t normally release any two-year-old ratings until the handicaps start next month but on this occasion the results of their calculations slipped through the net.

The other two-year-old race is much more problematical. Pen-Chan, well beaten when over four lengths-second to the admittedly smart Valedictorian, is top-rated of those that have raced and would have to be the tip unless there is significant money for any of the newcomers.

Those that appear to be the choice of the top stables cost between R500 000 (Supreme Orator) and R100 000 (Pinwheel and the appropriately-named Endofmarch) although Querari’s Secret (R280 000) commands the most respect at this stage even though her pedigree suggests she wants further.

The sahorseracing computer goes for Pen-Chan – but it conveniently ignores all the unraced horses!

Dalibhunga, bred in the purple – by Var out of dual SA Fillies Sprint winner Joie De Grise, has a lot to make up on the top three in the finale on a strict form interpretation of his Valentine’s Day debut but there was a lot of promise about the performance. He lost several lengths at the start after playing up in the pens but he made up six lengths in the last 300m. He should be good enough.

Arctic Green started favourite when fourth to Miss Stake a month ago – probably because rider Anton Marcus was on a roll – but she did suffer some interference and she finished only half a length behind Daring Miss who re-opposes in the Racing Association Maiden. The Tab sheet has her at 10-1 and at that price you can back her each way. Weston has some decent form but has been off since early January while the Inspired Choice form has not worked out that well.

BLOB Last year’s Woolavington winner Bela-Bela leaves Cape Town for Durban tomorrow morning and will have her first race of the KZN season in the City Of Pietermartizburg Fillies Sprint at Scottsville.

By Michael Clower

Marcus, Delpech in shootout

PUBLISHED: March 24, 2017

Delpech and Marcus look set to fight out the first leg of the Greyville PA this evening…

Anton Marcus and Anthony Delpech ride many a false favourite as their mere presence in the saddle trims much of the fat off returns, be it the tote or bookmakers. Piere Strydom is outspoken in this regard and has been vilified in some quarters as being a poor sport and just making excuses.

Anton Marcus (Nkosi Hlophe)

The simple fact is that riders of the ilk of Delpech, Marcus and Strydom are at the top of the pile because of sheer ability and as a consequence can cherry-pick rides. However, they may not necessary be on the best rides, but only on the best mounts they could secure as many stables also having preferred riders. Often in their defence a horse whose form suggests that it is say a 5-1 chance can start as short as 16-10 simply because of who’s been pencilled in to ride.

That said, Delpech and Marcus look set to fight out the first leg of the Greyville PA this evening where Delpech will be aboard likely ante-post favourite Georgina for Alyson Wright with Marcus in the saddle on Saint Karli for Jeff Freeman. The two fillies met last time out with Georgina shading Saint Karli so with two top riders in action and the balance of the field nothing to write home about we should be in for a tactical battle between two of the best.

Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

Beaten favourite Modesty can get the Jackpot rolling and make amends for her disappointing last effort when starting at a short-price. She was all at sea on the soft Scottsville track and a switch to the firmer poly could bring out the best in Duncan Howells’s filly.

Dean Kannemeyer’s runner Figaro makes his local debut in the Track & Ball Gaming Plate after showing some promise in the Cape and is the likely favourite. The Silvano gelding is rated far superior to anything else in the field and although this will be his first outing since gelding, if the ratings are correct he should be difficult to beat even if not at his peak. Of the opposition, Kali’s King improved with gelding and back over a more suitable trip could pose a threat.

Mr Hallo can round off the evening’s proceedings for Gavin van Zyl and stable rider Warren Kennedy. Since being relocated from Van Zyl’s Gauteng satellite yard, the Kahal gelding has put up two smart showings on the Greyville poly track and although he has picked up three pounds for his recent placings, his rating has dropped from a career high of 84 to tonight’s 67.

By Andrew Harrison