Winning favourites were few and far between this weekend and there will have been more than just a few punters licking their wounds come yesterday evening.

The trend looked set to continue come the first race at Greyville yesterday when the well fancied Flower Blue failed to hit the boards with Touch Wood (5-1) finally getting his act together for Dennis Drier. Much had been expected of the gelding but until yesterday he had failed to deliver. “It was back to the drawing boards,” said stable rider Sean Veale after his disappointing last effort. “We took the blinkers off and this was a better effort.”

Scent Of The Tiger finally snapped the run of losing favourites as Mark Dixon’s runner prove too good for Scarrabeast and Newyorkstateofmind, and taking advantage of missing ante-post favourite Palladium who was pulled out with a hoof abscess.

Lezeanne Forbes

Night Circus was the next favourite to bite the dust. He chased in vain as Alec Forbes pushed for home early on bottom weight Warfarer for his wife Lezeanne and Night Circus was left chasing shadows.

When Anton Marcus is at the head of affairs and going a steady canter one would think the alarm bells would be ringing amongst his rivals. The bells were obvious ignored or didn’t ring at all as Marcus led the opposition a merry dance aboard Rockerfeller for Charles Laird. Marcus went to the line unchallenged with veteran outsider Discourse making the most of the funereal pace to take second.

There is not much to Pyrenees In Spain but Anthony Delpech rode the gelding as if he was aboard Sea Cottage. Storm Faerie did not set any record-breaking pace but Delpech had Dennis Bosch’s charge trailing come the top of the straight. Seemingly without much effort from Delpech, Pyrenees In Spain picked off his rivals with ease with favourite Into The Groove, who had unshipped her rider on the way to the start, battling home into second.

Roy’s Sailor was the next favourite to go walk-about, failing to hit the boards, as Forbes picked up a double aboard Nottingham Forest (4-1) for Karen and Greg Anthony. Apprentice Khanya Sakayi looked to have pinched a winning lead come the final furlong but even the 4kg claim was not enough as Sharp Seattle was swallowed up late by Nottingham Forest and outsider Beluga Berry.

Bosch was back in the winner’s enclosure in the second last but did exotic bet punters no favours, those still left in their bets that is, as Eric Ngwane drove home Founding Father (9-2) to deny Forbes his treble as Master Of Mischief cut his lead to a head at the line. They were followed home by the Bosch-trained pair of Ho’Oponopono and Elusive Wolf. Spanish Captain came out at the start leaving Flying Rock favourite but he was a spent force a long way out.

Ian Moore went one better in the last as Warren Kennedy sent Tropical Wonder to the front and kept his mount running to the line with the petrol light flashing red to hold a fast-finishing Sweet Chestnut.

Andrew Harrison

Justin Snaith talks of this being a disappointing season for his stable but he has had 112 winners and won nearly R13 million in stakes – only Sean Tarry has done better – and Captain Alfredo can add to the tally in the Racing.Its A Rush Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Captain Alfredo (Nkosi Hlophe)

Richard Fourie’s mount has to give weight all round but he ran a fine race to take second to Brutal Force three weeks ago when he had the slow-starting Line Break and Asstar behind on these terms. The fact that he had the speed to get to the front after a furlong and a half should stand him in good stead over this shorter trip.

Despite its name this race is a close to being a handicap with the weights marginally favouring those at the top end. Asstar comes out just the best and probably represents the biggest danger despite his habit of giving away ground at the off. He holds La Favourari, Line Break and Vincente on Southeaster running on Christmas Eve.

“He is sluggish coming out of the stalls so 1 000m is really too short for him,” says Glen Puller. “But we are running him here to keep him ticking over before we send him to Durban.”

Line Break started favourite when finishing third 12 months ago but is not quite the force he was – or at least he is not so inclined to run up to his form – and he looks only third best.

Kuda Sprint fourth Apollo Star has the best form in the opener but the fact that he is the only one of Joey Ramsden’s quartet not jocked up is a cause for concern. Donovan Dillon, who rode him last time, is now on the promising Rock My Soul and accordingly this one gets the vote.

King Of The Corn has won three of his last five and is probably still on the upgrade so he is taken to beat Friendly Tibbs in the Soccer 13 Handicap.

Hernando’s Promise is rated seven points clear in the Racing Association Maiden but he has proved expensive to follow and has found one too good for him in each of his last four starts. Oval Office is preferred.

Shrewdy kept on well in an admittedly weak 1 200m race last time and the Andre Nel filly has a lot more on her plate in the mile maiden but the extra distance may enable her to bring out the necessary improvement.

Greg Cheyne, who returns for eight rides at Fairview today, has seven mounts here and his best chance is probably on Make It Raine in race six.

By Michael Clower

The nine race meeting at Turffontein on Saturday will not be an easy one for punters as it is back on the Inside track which can throw an upset or two.

Samurai Blade (Nkosi Hlophe)

The main race is the Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m and Samurai Blade could exact revenge on Romany Prince. He is 2,5kg better off for a 1,75 length beating by Romany Prince over this trip, so there is not much in it on paper. However, Samurai Blade has a plum draw of three with Strydom up, while Romany Prince has to overcome a wide draw.

On the other hand Romany Prince has a better turn of foot than Samurai Blade, who produces a sustained finishing effort, and that could be telling on this tighter track, so Samurai Blade is not a confident selection. Master Switch has come into his own as a five-year-old this season and also has the class to go close here, but this will be his first outing since his third place finish in the SANSUI Sumer Cup. He beat Samurai Blade by 29 lengths in the Summer Cup, but it was obviously not the latter’s race. Samurai Blade  bounced back after the Summer Cup to win his next two races.

Top Shot also has a shout as he has turned the corner recently. He is 10,5kg better off with Samurai Blade for a mere 2,8 length beating over this trip at the Vaal in December. However, it must be taken into account how easily Samurai Blade won. Arctica is an improving sort who is course and distance suited. He likes to run from the front, so his pole position draw is ideal and he has S’Manga Khumalo up too. Stonehenge should ensure a good gallop in this race.

Earlier there is an interesting Pinnacle Stakes race which features last year’s Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic and Gr 2 SA Oaks winner Juxtapose over 1600m. She could reverse 1450m form with Intergalactic, being 4kg better off at the weights from their last meeting in September, especially as she is drawn in pole. It is likely to be a preparation outing for bigger events, but her class should pull her through.

Brazuca (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the next race, a MR 84 Handicap over 1600m, Racethegreenlight is chosen to beat Tilbury Fort, who could be using this race as a preparation for the SA Classic. Racethegreenlight finished just 0,25 lengths behind Gr 1 performer Brazuca in a Progress Plate over this trip in his penultimate start, so looks capable of rising above his 78 merit rating, He will prefer this trip to the 1400m of last time when staying on for a close third in a three-year-old handicap and he looks to have plenty of scope for improvement. Tilbury Fort has been far from disgraced in his last two starts in the CTS Mile and the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas and, as usual, he will give of his best all the way to the line. However, he does have to give 3kg to the progressive Racethegreenlight.

The first race over 1000m sees an interesting clash between Laurent Du Var and Mr Fire Eyes. The former was unlucky on debut over 800m when backed and he caught the eye too. However, he reared and injured himself in the starting stalls next time at the races and had to be scratched, so is not a straight forward horse. Mr Fire Eyes has not been disgraced in two good fields, including in a Listed race last time, so this will be easier. However, he was not as eye catching as Laurent Du Var. So Var could follow these two home, or even split them, having made a decent debut in a moderate event.

In the second race Spring Breeze appeared to idle when hitting the front last time, so should benefit from blinkers. From a good draw with Strydom up she could be one of the better bets on the card.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is one of the trickiest heats on the card, being a fillies and mares handicap over 1800m. However, Dalley looks to be the one to side with coming from the always in form Lucky Houdalakis yard and being drawn well in barrier two over a suitable trip. She is by Ideal World, so should be coming into her own and she has dropped to a competitive merit rating. She was a touch unlucky the last time she ran over this course and distance in January and she is also 2kg better off with Cool Fantasy for a 1,1 length beating from that run. Cool Fantasy has a nice turn of foot and is selected to finish second.

By David Thiselton

After a promising start to his career where he reeled off three wins from just four starts, Natal – the horse not the province, although some may argue a case for both – has been in the doldrums. But a drop in the handicap ratings and a gentle build-up to tomorrow evening’s race could herald a return to form.

Natal (Nkosi Hlophe)

If the forecast betting in Computaform is any guide (33-1), Natal has little or no chance in the Morris Vee MR 86 Handicap that heads the Greyville card, but if one delves back into the gelding’s form he is more than capable in this company should he find his best form that came at about this time last season.

Racing off a rating high of 101, garnered after three victories in his first four starts and at the top of most handicap races that he contested, Natal subsequently showed that the handicappers may have over-rated Michael Roberts’s charge as he showed good pace before folding late when stepped up into stronger company.

His rating has dropped rapidly since his unplaced effort in the Gr3 Umgeni Handicap and he now runs off a mark of 88.

Taking his early form into account, his drop in the ratings and a much improved last run, Natal could prove good value.

Georgina is likely to be a firm favourite in the card opener after three runner-up berths in just four starts and Alyson Wright has declared blinkers on her charge that suggests that the filly is still not giving her all.

But there are a couple of potential hurdles to overcome. The oddly-named Show Me Your Rosie made marked improvement in blinkers and a repeat could pose a threat as could Cats Baloo and Dream De Ra. Cats Baloo was backed at long odds in her poly debut and can surprise while Dream De Ra was friendless in the market on debut and ran accordingly. However, she has a tongue-tie here and she can show good improvement for a stable that is bang in form.

Kept Secret (Nkosi Hlophe)

If Georgina obliges in the first, Honest Prince could provide the stable with a quick double come the Cupboard King Maiden Plate. The gelding made significant improvement on his debut when close-up next time out. The opposition is mostly well exposed with the exception of Grey Ice. Sean Tarry’s runner made a modest Turffontein debut but it always pays to take note of runners from this stable making their poly debut and any market support could prove significant although he has been pencilled in again for next Wednesday.

Ashburton-based Belinda Impey can provide a possible exotic bet banker in the form of Kept Secret in the SAFA Chatsworth 66 Handicap although she too holds an entry next Wednesday.

Kept Secret ran well below her best last outing after running up a string of places. Tonight she is back in female company and rates a strong chance given her previous showings.

For the rest the card looks more than just a little tricky. The Hotel Savera Maiden Plate is just one of the stumbling blocks for those trying to cut down on their exotic bet spend. Enticer, having her third run after a break and catching the eye at her last start, will have her supporters but so too will the likes of Rae’s Dyna Jet, Roy’s Kaitrina, Lungi, Stola and Justajewel.

The DPG Logistics FM 62 Handicap is equally tricky with Roy Is Second living up to her name, finishing runner-up at her last two. However, she has a good draw and can finally go one better.

The Pavilion Hotel MR 62 Handicap is another wide open affair but Selvan’s Jet tried further last run but prior to that had fair form to stronger and Delpech has jumped ship from Heptagon to ride here.

By Andrew Harrison

Muzi Yeni was the face of South African racing at Markopoulo Racecourse in Athens on Sunday and did not let his supporters down.

The meeting in Greece was sponsored by Phumelela and it appears to have been an extremely successful day. Even early rain failed to put a dampener on an outstanding event.

The party representing Phumelela was headed up by International Executive Director John Stuart.

Since January Greek punters have already had the opportunity to bet into South African pools in the over 1,000 OPAP (who run betting in Greece) agencies that offer horseracing betting.

Yeni has become a favourite with Greek bettors and the likeable South African jockey did not let his supporters down. He was hailed as a “grand ambassador for South African racing”. There were six races on the card and Yeni rode in five of them, fittingly winning the main race of the day which was named The South African Races Cup.

The organisers at Markopoulo Racecourse are in the process of setting up a winners’ lounge adjacent to the foyer area and the framed Phumelela saddle cloth and photos will be the first “winners’ photo” to be hung up in that lounge.

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