Turffontein is the place to be on Saturday as there are no fewer than six features races in a competitive ten race meeting.

In the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m Alfolk has a classy pedigree and won effortlessly on debut over 1000m so can follow up. His stablemate Punta Cana has scope for improvement too. Tribal Force, Barrack Street and Alpine Echo all possess speed aplenty but the De Kock pair look good enough to get punters through the exotics.

Mike De Kock (Nkosi Hlophe)

In The Listed Ruffian Stakes over 1000m Kissable has tremendous cruising speed and has not been stopping at the line in her two facile wins over 800m and 1000m respectively. She looks impossible to oppose against those who have raced, although La Bella Mia is a typically progressive daughter of Gimmethegreenlight and could get closer to her this time. The first-timer Eurythmics is a full sister to the Gr 1-winning sprinter Gulf Storm and receives 5kg from Kissable, so she could perhaps be included in the Jackpot.

The Listed Bauhinia Handicap over 1000m could be won by last year’s Ruffian Stakes winner Exquisite Touch. In November she was beaten a length by Joan Ranger over 1160m, but if weight-for-age is included she is now effectively 3,5kg better off. Furthermore, she will enjoy the step down in trip. On the downside this is her first outing since returning from a disappointing run at Kenilworth over 1200m. Joan Ranger has speed and a kick and will be a tough nut to crack. The consistent Crystal Glamour beat both of these horses in the aforementioned race last November. She is 2,5kg worse off with Joan Ranger for a one length beating, so there is not much in it.

In the last leg of the Pick 6, the Gold Rush Sprint over 1100m, Clever Guy looks well handicapped on his last run. However, the main opposition there might well have had off days. Therefore, the progressive Raasmaal, who is having his third run after a layoff and going for a hattrick, should be considered for exotics.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, the Sun Chariot Handicap over 2450m, Silver Stripe can reverse form with Patchit Up Baby at the weights, although the latter will enjoy the long straight and can’t be ignored. Zafira is a big, classy stayer and is preferred for third ahead of the capable Zante and the disappointing Inaninstant.

The Egoli Mile looks wide open but Alaadel has been chosen. If he settles he should be affective over this trip and can beat Bold Viking and Copper Pot.

By David Thiselton

Nicklaus has been a frustrating horse to follow but can finally reward his supports at Greyville this evening. The Duncan Howells-trained gelding has developed an alarming habit of shifting ground under pressure which has twice cost him and his supporters in the boardroom so they will still be wary of a plunge when the gelding runs in the Michael Cocks & Associates Handicap.

Keagan De Melo (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, stable rider Keagan de Melo is now painfully aware of this trait, having been aboard when on the wrong end of the latest protest, and will no doubt have been issued specific instructions by Howells.

Nicklaus is something of a poly track specialist and has finished ‘first’ in his last two starts over the surface split by a disastrous showing in the soft at Scottsville in a race where five horses finished tailed off.

That said the gelding is in good form and can finally earn a fifth victory in the face of some useful opposition.

Charles Laird saddles three runners, best of which could be Main Submission that belied his long odds when a close-up second in a strong handicap under Lerato Mohapi. He is sure to be a lot shorter in the market tonight and will be a threat to Nicklaus.

Winter Auralius can add to Howells’s growing list of winners as he has his third run after a lengthy break when lining up in the CMH Honda Pinetown Handicap. Winter Auralius is the choice of De Melo ahead of top weighted stable companion Chicago Beat who finally got it all together to skate home by eight lengths when shedding his maiden over course and distance.

A major threat could come in the form of Roy’s Taxi. Kom Naidoo has called on the services of Anton Marcus with Anthony Delpech deserting to ride recent winner Napoli, but Roy’s Taxi has some useful recent form to stronger and from pole position will make Winter Auralius gallop to the line.

The game mare Kept Secret is long overdue and can finally get it right in the PMB Auto Sales Handicap. She is a victim of her consistency as the handicappers have been reluctant to drop her rating but two of her most obvious dangers, Sarabi and Hot Chilli, have had their four-claiming apprentices replaced by jockeys which could be to their detriment and give Kept Secret the edge.

Nicklaus (Nkosi Hlophe)

Turffontein-based Tony Nassif will be hoping that Icy Avalanche can go to the well once again when the gelding lines up in the Sealit Handicap, opening leg of the Pick 6 on the eight-race card. Icy Avalanche got a hefty nine-point shunt up the handicap for his last win but he has taken to the poly track, winning his last two races on the surface. His last run got a major boost when runner-up, Chrome Blue, got up in the dying strides to deny a strong handicap field at Scottsville on Wednesday. This being a lowly bottom division handicap, Nassif must fancy the chances of his runner.

Of the others, the ‘Roy’s’ could be in news again as Roy’s Sailor comes into the race off some consistent recent form but of concern is that Alyson Wright’s runner finished last of 12 when sent over tonight’s trip.

Charles Laird has had some recent health issues but he is firmly back in the saddle at his Summerveld yard and the results are showing. Laird sends out the lightly raced Variety Romp who steps u

p in trip and is sure to improve on his last run and could push Icy Avalanche to the wire.

But in all, punters are faced with a competitive card where exotic bet bankers are in short supply.

By Andrew Harrison

Smokey Affair stands out at Kenilworth tomorrow because she has the proverbial stone in hand in the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap.

The Mike Robinson-trained filly was a four-length sixth of 15 to Just Sensual in the Cape Fillies Guineas – and there was no fluke about it because she had previously finished a creditable fourth in the Choice Carriers – yet she is still on the same 86 handicap mark. Had she finished half a length closer she would have been fifth and the handicappers would have been free to up her rating to around 99.

Michael Robinson

Over this trip the 13 points she has in hand represent more than five lengths! Of course, it’s seldom as simple or as foolproof as this and the big negative is that she has not raced in the intervening 14 weeks.

“She had a nasty cough and a snotty nose,” recalls Robinson’s wife Louella. “We also felt that we needed to get a bit more condition on her so we gave her a break. She has come back well and her work is phenomenal.”

The next best on the card could well prove to be Sister Soozie in the Place Your Bets Maiden. The Andre Nel filly started second favourite for a mile maiden last month but had a bad draw and was among the backmarkers until well into the straight. She finished strongly but she had too much to do.

The extra two furlongs here will be much in her favour and should enable Grant van Niekerk to christen his association with Plattner Racing. Janice’s Secret is similarly lightly-raced and rates the main danger.

The opening Juvenile Fillies looks between Believethisbeauty, Rose In Bloom and Casual Diamond assuming that Joey Ramsden adopts his usual patient introduction with R4.5 million newcomer Dynasty’s Blossom. You could argue that Rose In Bloom’s form is marginally the best – and she is the choice of the sahorseracing computer – but Vaughan Marshall spoke highly of his charge last month (“talented, shows a lot of speed”) and there was plenty of money for her. She gets the vote.

The computer goes for Gadget Man 35 minutes later but he disappointed last time as did Come On Sonny whereas Risky Rambo showed significant improvement. He looks the part.

Justin Snaith, who introduces the Dynasty gelding C’Est La Vie here, may win race three with Dawn Rising who finished well to get second last time on her first run for four months and had Waterbaby a length back fourth.

By Michael Clower

Mike de Kock has decided to close his permanent operation at Summerveld.  All the runners in the stable will forthwith be based under one roof at Randjesfontein in Johannesburg like they had been for the first half of De Kock’s training career.

De Kock commented: “This is a business decision. It makes no economic sense for us to keep the Summerveld stable going all year round. We will still be raiding for three or four months in winter with a small, exclusive string during the Champions Season.

“We have been allocated 25 extra stable at Randjesfontein, the total string will be about 160 horses. We may also send a small string to Cape Town for a few months, though travelling with horses within our own country has become almost as difficult as travelling overseas.”

In his spell as a trainer officially based at Summerveld, Mike won the KZN Trainers’ Title nine times between 2002 and 2012.

De Kock also announced that his long-time assistant trainer, Nathan Kotzen, has left the stable to take out his own licence.  He said: “Nathan was with the stable in KZN for 16 years and he worked with some of the best horses in the world, let alone the country.  He’s a top horseman in his own right, he has the credentials and is well placed to make his mark. He won’t start off without support, I have left a few of my own horses with him and so has the Slack family. We wish Natie all the best in his new career.”

– Mikedekockracing.com

Muzi Yeni will be flying the South African flag in Greece on Saturday.

Phumelela are “taking South African horseracing to the world” by sponsoring a race meeting at Markopoulo Racetrack in Athens and Yeni will be the face of SA racing.

There will be six races and Yeni will ride in five of them, his first ride coming up in Race 2. It appears the racing authorities in Greece have been working hard to get good rides for the South African and he has several decent mounts.

The main race of the day has been named The South African Races Cup with all the other names at meeting having South African references.

The party representing Phumelela will be headed up by International Executive Director John Stuart and he and Yeni will have a busy day. After a morning tour of the racing facilities, they will host a press conference where they will face some 50 journalists and an equal number of agents. Yeni is sure to be the main attraction and will be asked to introduce himself and talk about his expectations for the day.

In addition, six of the races from Turffontein and three from Kenilworth will be shown at the Athens meeting.

After racing the visiting party has been invited to a dinner at which two members of the South African Embassy in Greece will also attend.

“It’s a great honour for me to be among the delegation attending this meeting,” said Yeni. “Hopefully we will be able to give them a taste of how good our racing is.”