Dean Kannemeyer is an astute trainer of horses that stay a trip and he looks to have a bright prospect for the big staying races come Champions Season as top weight Mr Winsome blew away his rivals in the Racing.Itsarush.co.za Pinnacle Stakes over 2 400m at Scottsville yesterday.

Mr Winsome (Nkosi Hlophe)

Not only did the gelding keep his clean sheet at the course where he has recorded three wins from as many starts, but he won in facile fashion, putting plenty of daylight between himself and second-placed pacemaker Serissa with the filly Forbidden Duel plugging on from the back of the field to take third.

Roy Moodley must have close on thirty horses racing named Roy’s something-or-other but they have a good track record. Roy’s Air Force and Roy’s Marciano filled the first two placings in the Blinkers Bar Middle Stakes over 1 200m and just for good measure, the Moodley-owned Royalsecuritypower, named after his business Royal Security, filled third spot.

On Friday evening Roy’s Taxi was also on the mark.

Roy’s Air Force also rounded off a red-letter day for young apprentice Ashton Arries and Summerveld-based Paul Lafferty. Arries, who has come on leaps and bounds over the past month, was aboard all three of Lafferty’s winners and was particularly good on Roy’s Air Force as he punched his mount through a tight gap to get up close home. Earlier he had triumphed on Double Clutch and kicked off his afternoon on Simply Scrumptious in the All To Come Juvenile Plate.

It was a tough day for the backers of favourites, compounded by odds-on favourite Indian Tractor only managing to plough his way into third in the final race of the afternoon as Admiral’s Guest gave Brandon Lerena a double for the day and Mark Dixon a double for the weekend with the diminutive Courageous King winning at Greyville on Friday.

By Andrew Harrison

Top horses, no matter whether they develop into sprinters or stayers, generally show ability early and the Storm Bird Stakes may have thrown up a pair of exceptional two-year-olds. Alfolk and Barrack Street were the only two in the market for the Listed Storm Bird Stakes run at Turffontein yesterday although the betting did not accurately reflect the result.

Mike De Kock (Nkosi Hlophe)

Alfolk was the marginal favourite ahead of Barrack Street but the Sean Tarry yard is almost unstoppable when it comes to feature events of late and the half-brother to champion Jay Peg put one over his Mike de Kock-trained rival to run out a comfortable winner and put a disappointing last run behind him. Alfolk, an Australian-bred son of Lonrho is also bred to get a trip and was on his own in second. This pair, if living up to their pedigrees, should be worth following. Their next meeting may come in the Gr1 SA Nursery come the end of April but the pair should also be contenders for Champions Season.

Both were in contention come the 400m mark but Barrack Street showed a better turn of foot and quickly got the upper hand. Alfolk, unable to match strides, lost his action and gave the impression that he would prefer a sustained build-up rather than a dash for home.

The Listed Ruffian Stakes looked to be at the mercy of the Paul Matchett-trained Kissable, who after two victories and on all lines of form, looked nigh unbeatable. But stranger things have happened in racing and after showing tremendous early pace the light on the petrol gauge suddenly glowed red at the 400m mark and Kissable was quickly out of the door, trailing in last.

Sean Tarry (Nkosi Hlophe)

This left the back door open for the Barend Botes-trained Daring Diva with Andrew Fortune pouncing on his opportunity to sail home on the Gerald Kalil-owned and bred King Of Kings filly.

Fortune, who has been slapped with a 10-day ban and a R25k fine for deliberately waving his whip and striking a rival horse across the face last month, was at his sublime best as he tracked the hot favourite waiting to take advantage of any chink in her armour.

So when Kissable turned her cheek he was there with puckered lips.

A Tarry-trained runner was to the fore again in the next as Exquisite Touch snapped a run of indifferent recent form to get the better of a useful field in the Listed Bauhinia Handicap.

Piere Strydom looked to have timed his finish to perfection on top weight Joan Ranger as he hit the front with 50m to go but had an incredulous look on his face as S’Managa Khumalo bulleted home on his outside to snatch victory.

By Andrew Harrison

Last season’s Champions Cup winner Marinaresco has been sent to Durban early in Candice Bass-Robinson’s bid to make amends for the gelding’s near miss in the Vodacom Durban July and gain rich compensation for his winless Cape Town campaign.

Marinaresco (Liesl King)

Mrs Robinson said: “Marinaresco had a break after the Met – not on a farm but at home – and he went to Durban last week. His possible route could be the Drill Hall (May 6), Rising Sun Gold Challenge (June 10) and the July.”

Some of the stable’s other KZN challengers have also travelled and apparently the trainer’s new private yard at Summerveld has made this possible.

She said: “In previous years sending horses to Durban was all a bit of a rush but now that we have our own place, with Robert Fayd’Herbe there, the horses can go earlier and come into the Durban season more gradually.”

Silver Mountain, runaway winner of last season’s Cape Fillies Guineas but only fifth in the Klawervlei Majorca and the Prix Du Cap, will also be making the great trek but she is to be upped in distance.

Mrs Robinson explained: “The Prix Du Cap wasn’t one of her best runs but I am not sure that she isn’t looking for more ground so we are going to try her over a bit further.”

But a different travel plan is to be adopted for the Sceptre and CTS Sprint winner Live Life – “We will get her fit in Cape Town and then raid for the Poinsettia Stakes (at Scottsville on April 30) before she runs in the City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint.”

By Michael Clower

Scottsville Sunday March 10 Tips and Race Previews by Andrew Harrison

Race 1
Preview: Both BOBBY’S EXPRESS and BRIGHT BLESSED DAY showed up well on debut. Bobby’s Express raced in soft ground and finished in good time so could prove the pick of the two. HE’S A KEEPER raced green behind Bobby’s Express and has not been fitted with a tongue-tie which could see him make major improvement. EXQUISITE EIGHT made a promising debut also in soft ground and looks certain to come on from that. The betting should prove your best guide given the number of first timers. (Andrew Harrison: 3-4-8-16)

Race 2
Preview: SWIFT DANCER took on colts and winners on debut but found the winner Autumn In Seattle too good. Although well beaten she should come on from that and rates a strong chance. SIMPLY SCRUMPTIOUS made a smart debut on the same afternoon behind the winner who is rated by the stable. GYPSY QUEEN was narrowly beaten when making her debut on the poly. If she takes to the turf she must rate a chance. DANCEALOT found some market support on debut and is likely to improve. (Andrew Harrison: 16-14-7-4).

Race 3
Preview: BURNT CHERRY has improved with every start. She just failed last start but now gets blinkers. She has a tricky draw but should go close again. RHYME OR REASON has consistent Highveld form and has been a beaten favourite on a number of occasions. She has been rested and makes her local debut but if ready will go close. KHETIWE has run two cracking races for her new stable. The rise in trip should suit and Anton Marcus will be aboard. AMADORA was much improved last run in the soft. She needs to repeat that effort. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-4-3).
Race 4
Preview: AMAZON KING shows some promise and was close-up in a handicap last start. He is better weighted here and although up in trip he should go close. RIKITIKITANA meets Amazon King on the same weight terms as their latest meeting and there should not be much between the two again. CARIBBEAN DAY was a game winner of his last start and has a chance again while the filly TRINI’S COLATERAL has a handy weight and is useful. (Andrew Harrison: 6-4-7-9).

Race 5
Preview: Stable companions SABRE CHARGE and the filly FORBIDDEN JEWEL both go well over course and distance. Forbidden Jewel is now 3kg better off for their last meeting and can turn the tables. MR WINSOME goes this trip for the first time but is on hot form. He is giving away a lot of weight but is still well in. SERISSA is a game front runner and has a canny judge of pace aboard which will make him dangerous. (Andrew Harrison: 6-1-4-2)

Race 6
Preview: MARRIOT shows promise although only shedding his maiden last run. Both runs have been over course and distance and he can follow up. GOOD TO GIVE has his third run after a break. He started favourite at his last two and can make amends. ROY’S AIR FORCE has been knocking at the door. He has a four-claiming apprentice up here and should be thereabouts again.  RESTLESS ROGUE was in need of his last start. He is better than his form suggests. (Andrew Harrison: 6-7-8-10).

Race 7
Preview: LUNAR RUSH has won her last two in good style. She is more than useful but has an inexperienced apprentice aboard looking for his first winner. HOT MAMBO probably needed her last effort on the poly. She shed her maiden over course and distance and that form has since been franked. RAINBOWINTHESKY has improved with every start and shed her maiden in good fashion and could follow up. ABOUND WEST appears to have her problems and returns from a break. Both wins have been on the poly but if near her best she can feature. SPIRITOFADVENTURE has also improved with each outing and is one to keep an eye on. (Andrew Harrison: 1-9-8-3).

Race 8
Preview: INDIAN TRACTOR has gone close at his last two and rates the one to beat. ADMIRAL’S GUEST has come on with every run of late. Will go close. LUNAR TIDE takes on males but has not been too far back. She gets a four-claimer and can finish in the money. LORD HOGAN has shown some improvement in blinkers and can place. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-9-3).

Sabre Charge can show that he is a horse for the big staying races scheduled for Champions Season when he lines up in a Pinnacle Stakes over 2400m at Scottsville tomorrow.

Duncan Howells has taken things slowly with the son of Golden Sword and Sabre Charge is lightly raced, having only his seventh outing. However, both of the gelding’s wins have come over course and distance and although not particularly well in at the weights, he is still getting a lot of pudding from top weight and likely favourite Mr Winsome whose both recent victories have come on this course.

Mr Winsome (Nkosi Hlophe)

Dean Kannemeyer’s runner has been in mustard form of late but does step out over the extra two furlongs for the first time while most of his obvious dangers are proven over the trip.

Howells is two-handed as he also saddles the filly Forbidden Jewel who ran a cracking race behind Sabre Charge over course and distance and is now better off in the weights and also only has 48.5kg on her back. Given that she stays the trip well she must come into the reckoning.

Pace, or the lack of it, is always a concern in races of this nature but Serissa is a confirmed front-runner and with Anton Marcus aboard, the opposition will need to be wide awake.

The Howells-trained Amazon King shows promise and steps up to a ‘mile’ for the first time in another Pinnacle Stakes event. Howells has high hopes for the gelding saying earlier in the week; “He steps up every time I run him. We will see if he stays a mile on Sunday and if he does he will go for the Daisy Guineas. Whatever happens he will go for the Byerley Turk.”

He will certainly be tested as Rikitikitana meets him on the same weight terms as their latest meeting where there was just a neck in it so there should not be much between the two again tomorrow. Of the balance, Caribbean Day was a game winner of his last start and has a chance again while the filly Trini’s Colateral has a handy weight and is useful.

Lunar Rush (Nkosi Hlophe)

Michael Roberts looks to have a promising runner in the form of Marriot who has shown promise in spite of only shedding his maiden last run. The form of his debut when second to Wynkelder has been franked and both of his runs have been over course and distance. Charles Laird is back in form and Good To Give has his third run after a break and looks a lively threat as he started favourite at his last two and can make amends. Also in the mix is Roy’s Air Force who has been knocking at the door and with a four-claiming apprentice up here he should be thereabouts again. If there is to be an upset it could come in the form of Restless Rogue who was in need of his last start and appears better than his form would suggest.

Apprentice Dylan Lerena is another member of the Lerena racing family and Howells has placed a lot of faith in the young rider who has still to record his first victory by giving him the ride on Lunar Rush in the seventh.

Lunar Rush is a talented filly having won her last two in good fashion and is a candidate for the big fillies sprints come Champions Season. The 4kg claim will have been in the back of Howell’s mind with stable rider Keagan de Melo aboard recent maiden winner Rainbowinthesky. Lightly raced and winning from a difficult draw, the stable companion to Lunar Rush looks to have some scope and this race could confirm that view with Respect At Bay and Hot Mambo both tried and tested.

Indian Tractor and Admiral’s Guest are the two most likely to fight out the last and can cut down on PA and Pick 6 expenses.

By Andrew Harrison