Mike de Kock’s 3000^th winner was given a traditional African welcome as Janoobi and Piere Strydom were serenaded into the winner’s enclosure by a gaggle of De Kock’s grooms after their narrow victory in Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein yesterday. Mathew de Kock, running the yard while father Mike is in Dubai, was swept off his feet with cell phone still to his ear as Janoobi’s excited groom picked him up and carried him around the enclosure.

It was somewhat fitting that the first South African jockey to pass the 5000 winners mark was aboard Janoobi (9-2), as both De Kock and Strydom are legends of the sport.

Strydom, who rides freelance and who had ridden Janoobi on two previous occasions, was not over confident of his chances pre-race. “I’d won on him before and ridden him in Cape Town and to me he was just a nice horse,” he said. “He was short and stocky and tended to over-race all the time but the jockeys have been telling me all week that they can’t believe how well this horse was working.

“I thought ‘Ja well, I’ve ridden him and I know the horse’ but when I cantered down I though he had grown and he was more relaxed than ever and that’s why he could maybe get away with it today.

“You know, he went to the front and was relaxed in front …. he had to relax otherwise he got beat. He held on by a short head.”

Sean Tarry, looking for a Guineas double after Smiling Blue Eyes won the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, was denied a short-head as Al Sahem came up just short with the De Kock-trained Heavenly Blue coming home strongly for third.

It was almost a given that either Tarry or De Kock would saddle the winner of the Fillies Guineas in light of the fact that between them they sent out three quarters of the runners in the field.

However, few pundits came up with the Tarry-trained Smiling Blue Eyes (18-1) and the grey daughter of Dynasty gave notice that the Triple Tiara is within her capabilities.

Making light of a difficult outside draw, Raymond Danielson had no hesitation in pressing for position early. Not being able to get onto the rail she raced three-wide into the straight and made a bee-line for the outside rail. Smiling Blue Eyes gradually reeled in the opposition and just when it looked as if she would have a race on her hands, the leading contenders ran out of petrol and Smiling Blue Eyes drew off to win as she liked.

De Kock runners filled the shallow end of the purse with outside El Hawraa running on for second with the well fancied Orchid Island given every chance but not up to the task. Fancied Ektifaar was prominent throughout but also came up empty while Safe Harbour was never a factor.

“This was probably a bit short for her,” said Danielson. “The further she goes the better.”

Earlier in the day, and learning from a previous mistake, Callan Murray pressed the button at exactly the right moment in the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes to get the Australian-bred colt Rafeef (3-1) home and take Mike de Kock’s career tally of winners to 2998.

Apparently something of a monster – “I’m not scared of horses but I’m scared of this one,” De Kock admitted – Rafeef certainly doesn’t lack courage as he fought a protracted stretch battle with favourite and pacemaker New Predator, getting the upper hand late and win with something in hand.

Craig Zackey often gives the impression that he’s half asleep but just two years out of his time he is up there with the best. Ice also runs through his veins as he brought Nother Russia (11-2) through from last to first in the Gr3 Acacia Handicap and set De Kock up for his 3000^th winner.

Andrew Harrison

There is little doubt that National Key is a tough customer. Five seasons and 59 races under his girth, Brian Wiid’s runner is still going strong and can put a seventh victory behind his name when he lines up in the Kas Govender Memorial Handicap that headlines the Greyville poly meeting today.

The seven-year-old is no stranger to Greyville or the surface, having already raced on it six times for a win and a string of places, and it is also a surface that appears to bring out the best in older horses with mileage on the clock. National Key fits nicely into that category.

The gelding has been up against some strong company in his Highveld home and comes into the race off a warm-up and should strip close to his peak. Muzi Yeni, who has relocated to Jo’Burg, rode him in that race and will be back aboard today.

But although National Key ticks most of the boxes he does face some smart younger opposition, mostly in the form of Alistair Gordon’s pair of My Pal Al and Marshall That, both likely candidates for the big three-year-old features during Champions Season.

My Pal Al is definitely on the way up and will be a threat to the top weight. He was deemed good enough to take his chances in Gr2 The Dingaans at Turffontein but ran way below form in the soft ground.

That may not have been his only problem as Gordon declared him in blinkers for his next start and the results were immediate as he barrelled home five lengths clear of the opposition. Anton Marcus has stayed with the ride but the only concern is that the 1200m trip may be on the sharp side which could give National Key the edge.

Marshall That gave notice of his ability with a runaway maiden win with apprentice Eric Ngwane admitting that he had been a mere passenger. The gelding is obviously not an easy ride so his recent showing when a beaten favourite is probably best ignored. Sean Veale is one of the strongest riders around so Marshall That is not likely to get away with much today.

Of the balance, Wynkelder was strongly fancied to back up on his maiden win but soft ground and the seven furlongs may have been his undoing. Given his pedigree his poly debut should not be a problem and a win here will see him rocket up the handicap.

Andrew Harrison

Silvan Star can defy top weight in the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow after her good performance on Met day.

Richard Fourie’s mount was beaten less than half a length when third to The High Life over this same 2 000m and had Jetano (now half a kilo better) three-quarters of a length behind despite Fourie reporting to the stipes that he felt something was amiss with her.

Richard Fourie (Nkosi Hlope)

The racecourse vet could find nothing physically wrong – other than that she was making a noise – although Glen Kotzen plays it down, saying: “She keeps changing legs and so she tends to roll a bit from side to side.”

Evoke Emotion looks held on that form even though she didn’t get a clear run and has been dropped a kilo but the biggest danger is probably Skip A Beat. The Andre Nel runner was fourth in the Jamaica Handicap over this distance and a line through Nima puts her close with the selection.

Another big plus with Silvan Star is that Fourie is riding so well – and with such confidence – at the moment and he and Kotzen can also take the Play The Pick Six Maiden with Quickfire. This once-raced gelding was a promising fourth to Perovskia three weeks ago with a length further back to  Pop The Question who franked the form with a convincing win here on Tuesday.

Greg Cheyne has found that he needs a bit longer to recover from last Saturday’s bruising so the plum mount on Kasimir in the first is going begging. This colt is almost impossible to oppose after going close in the Listed race on debut on Met day. “He was actually a bit unlucky in that race because he was drawn on the wrong side of the course,” says Justin Snaith who fully expected the horse to run as well as he did.

Just about the only doubt is that Snaith points out: “I have been very easy on him since.” Rikers Island, 40-1 when 11^th of 20 in the Kuda Sprint, could be the one for the forecast.

Scorpion Queen looks another for Fourie in the Racing Association Maiden, particularly as Nel says that newcomer Lady Li Lay “is a staying type and probably a month away” from being ready for her first outing. She runs because he feels he could not throw away the chance of starting in such a modest race.

BLOB Michael Clower is on a roll with seven winners from his last 13 selections and a R60 profit (to a R10 stake) over the last four Kenilworth meetings.

By Michael Clower

Johannesburg’s Autumn season begins on Saturday with the Guineas meeting and the three-year-old pecking order will be clearer afterwards.  

The Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas could see Matador Man emerging as one of the top sophomore colts in the country. This Toreador gelding relaxes beautifully in the running and has a magnificent turn of foot, so looks likely to stay the trip. He will relish a return to the Standside track on which he won the Listed Secretariat Stakes over 1400m in impressive style. Furiosa is a resolute galloping sort, who might attempt to gallop the field into the ground from his fair draw. The trip might turn out to be on the sharp side for him, so he will be favoured if the ground remains soft.

Lyle Hewitson will be aboard Matador Man

Janoobi pulled and was wide when a decent fourth in the CTS Mile, so will be a big runner if settling from a tricky draw. Piere Strydom has remained aboard. Heavenly Blue is favourite, having gone close from a wide draw in the Investec Dingaans over course and distance. On a line through Singapore Sling there iis not much between him and Janoobi, but he has the widest draw of all. The unbeaten Al Sahem must be included in all bets as he relaxes well in the running and has a superb turn of foot, although an interrupted preparation is against him. Unagi has won four of his five starts over this trip and has a plum draw of two, so cannot be ignored. Doosra has class but 1400m might be his game. Chili Con Carne has improved with blinkers, but looks held by Matador Man. Tilbury Fort usually finds extra when challenged so could be a suprise place getter if taken to the front and dictating, although Furiosa looks a more likely pacemaker.

In the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas Orchid Island was ultra impressive over 1800m last time and this grandaughter of the brilliant Ilha Da Vitoria looks to be a candidate to land the three-legged Triple Tiara. Safe Harbour has the class to threaten her, but had a busy Cape Town campaign and might just need the run. Anna Pavlova has a tremendous turn of foot” and will appreciate a good pace. Ektifaa has the ability, but there is a stamina question mark. Babbling Brooke has been brought on in fine style by Triple Tiara-winning trainer Ormond Ferraris and is a Triple Tiara candidate. Being Fabulous has always struck as a classic contender and although held narrowly by Babbling Brooke on paper there is a draw reversal in her favour. Belle Rose beat the latter pair last time but has a tough task confirming it at the weights. 

Redberry Lane sparked when blinkers were fitted last time so could be anything. Stablemate Smiling Blue Eyes won the Gr 3 Fillies Mile over course and distance, but has not raced since and is drawn very wide. Al Hawraa looks the part and is interesting over this step up in trip.  Visuality looks held by Anna Pavlova. Santiburi has the class to be a suprise place getter if settling. Pool Party looks held by Last Chirp. Last Chirp is 1kg better off with Anna Pavlova for a length beating over 1450m and could set the pace again. Her half-sister won over 1800m. Maleficent has the ability to win but is an enigmatic sort. Elusive Strike is held on 1400m form, but will relish the step up in trip. 

By David Thiselton

Those pundits with long memories will remember the days of yore when each race club had their own handicappers. Charles Laird was the handicapper at Turffontein before turning his hand to training so he knows a thing or two about placing his runners and Anton Marcus may not necessarily be on the ‘right’ one in the Coalvest Group Handicap at Greyville tonight.

Captain Of Rock (Nkosi Hlophe)

Marcus has been pencilled in to ride the relatively unexposed Yankeedoodledandy while apprentice Diego de Gouveia will be aboard stable companion Captain Of Rock who bids for his third win on the bounce – both horses in the colours of Mayfair Speculators.

The mere presence of Marcus in the saddle has bookmakers automatically slashing the odds on his mounts, regardless of form, consequently he rides many a false favourite. The flip side is his winning strike rate of 27% so one has to have some sympathy for the men of the crossbar.

Yankeedoodledandy has not seen a racetrack since June last year when finishing second to Count Von Count on his handicap debut after a narrow victory on debut. That form is nothing to write home about but in the seven months since he may well have improved.

Captain Of Rock on the other hand made a winning return after a short break under then four-claiming apprentice Serino Moodley. The handicappers saw fit to raise Captain Of Rock by four pounds and with De Gouveia claiming 2.5kg, Captain Of Rock theoretically goes into this race without a penalty.

This is all on paper of course and the reality could pan out quite differently. But given his current form and proven affinity for the poly track, Captain Of Rock looks the right one.

Obvious danger is Roy Royale who finished under a length back to Captain Of Rock at their last meeting and is slightly better off at the weights but possibly not enough to turn the tables.

Tonight’s card is littered with moderate horses so be prepared to do your homework and add in the odd long-shot in your exotics. It could make for a profitable evening.

By Andrew Harrison