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

National Champion trainer Sean Tarry has a strong hand in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas, but bookmakers have not necessarily got his four charges, Furiosa, Al Sahem, Matador Man and Tilbury Fort, in the right order.

The Toreador gelding Matador Man is only rated third of the Tarry runners by Betting World at odds of 5/1, but makes most appeal. He comes out better than Furiosa on formlines through both Misty Roller and Al Fahad. Matador Man had to come from an impossible position last time out in the Gr 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1450m, but ran on in eye-catching style to be beaten only 0,6 lengths by the classy filly Ektifaa. However, he was receiving 1,5kg from the latter. On the other hand he looks likely to relish the return to the Standside track with its long straight.

He was an impressive winner of the Listed Secretariat Stakes over 1400m on the Standside track in his penultimate start. He looks likely to stay the 1600m trip, despite his sire Toreador and dam Sahara (Mogok) both being sprinter-to-1400m types. Matador Man relaxes beautifully in the running and has a fine turn of foot. His wide draw is of little concern as he invariably loses a length or two at the start and slots in behind the field. Lyle Hewitson rides.

The most fancied of Tarry’s runners in the betting is the Australian-bred colt by Fastnet Rock, Furiosa, who is second favourite with the sponsors at 3.75/1. S’Manga Khumalo will be aboard. This rangy sort has always given the impression that he would both improve with age and be best suited to a galloping track like Turffontein Standside. He was possibly a reluctant leader last time in a MR 80 Handicap over 1800m in very soft going on the Turffontein Inside track. However, he relaxed well and being in front enabled him to use his big action. He then stayed on resolutely under a typically strong ride by Khumalo and won by two lengths from the useful

Lyle Hewitson rides Matador Man (Nkosi Hlophe)

older horse Amsterdam, from whom he was receiving only 2,5kg. So, it will no surprise to see him going to the front again from a good draw of four, especially as it is a small field, a scenario which often favours front runners.

Furiosa’s distance is not easy to predict on pedigree. On the one hand his sire Fastnet Rock was a twice Gr 1-winning sprinter, and furthermore Furiosa is a full-brother to a Listed winner over 1100m. However, Furiosa’s dam is by stamina influence Woodman and is a half-sister to a Gr 2 winner over 2040m. Visually, Furiosa strikes as one who is looking for 1800m and beyond. However, if the ground remains on the soft side on Saturday, it will favour him.

The unbeaten Tarry-trained Silvano colt Al Sahem is out of Alderry, who finished a narrow third in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas in 2010 and went on to win the Gr 2 November Handicap over 1600m. Both of Al Sahem’s eye-catching wins have been over the Gauteng Guineas course and distance. He is another who relaxes well in the running and has a superb turn of foot. On a line through Amsterdam there is not much between him and Furiosa. He will be improving being by Silvano. Anthony Delpech up and a plum draw of three are two further pluses. However, against him is he has had an interrupted preparation. He is 4/1 with Betting World.

Tilbury Fort, a colt by Horse Chestnut, has a touch of class and is a gallant sort, who keeps finding extra when challenged. He is distance suited too. In his last Highveld start he received 4kg from Guineas contender Chili Con Carne and gave him a 3,9 length beating, so his odds of 25/1 are more attractive than the latter’s 10/1. Raymond Danielson will be aboard Tilbury Fort.

Chili Con Carne has done better since the aforementioned race, but is well held by Matador Man on their last meeting. Tilbury Fort is also well held by Matador Man, having been given 3,5kg and a 1,75 length beating by him in the Secretariat. Therefore, it is interesting to note that on Cape Town 1600m form there is only 1,75 lengths between Saturday’s favourite Heavenly Blue and Tilbury Fort on a line through William Longsword.

All in all it points to Matador Man being the one to side with in Saturday’s Gauteng Guineas, which constitutes the joint first leg of the SA Triple Crown.           

David Thiselton

Doosra has been beaten by Matador Man, Chili Con Carne and Heavenly Blue in the past and has become a difficult customer before the start of his races. But he has plenty of talent and Johan Janse van Vuuren’s runner will have his supporters in the R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday.

He is an 8-1 shot with the race sponsor, Betting World, and his trainer seems to believe his price is fair because both the Gauteng Guineas and the Wigerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas “look like tough races”.

Doosra showed his ability in the Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m in November when beating top-rated weak favourite Heavenly Blue by a head.

His feisty character then started to develop and he was stubborn going into the pens when fourth behind Singapore Sling, Heavenly Blue and Bold Rex in the Dingaans, his only previous race over 1600m. He was again unruly before a Graduation Plate next time out but won anyway, beating Daffiq by 1.60 lengths with Furiosa (renews rivalry) 4.10 lengths away in fourth place. His next two starts were over shorter and yielded thirds behind Chili Con Carne and Ektifaa respectively.

Janse van Vuuren will saddle Being Fabulous in the Fillies Guineas. This two-time winner is a classy individual who likes to be in control in her races nowadays.

Her second career win came in handicap company where she beat Eloquence by five lengths, which saw her merit rating upped eight points. She then started favourite but might have hit the front a bit too soon when third behind Belle Rose and Babbling Brooke, both of who renew rivalry.

One horse Janse van Vuuren is much more keen on is New Predator in the Hawaii Stakes (Grade 2) over 1400m. “New Predator is very well,” he confirmed. This is a preparatory run for the New Approach four-year-old, who will be bidding to win the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m later this autumn. That is a race in which he finished third to Legal Eagle last year.

He has had one preparatory run already, when beating Kings Archer over 1400m at this track last month. Bulleting Home (3kg better off), Kangaroo Jack (6kg better off) and Will Pays (6kg better off) were behind him that day. He is drawn at No 1 and looks likely to start favourite.

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