There is more to come from Just Sensual than Saturday’s narrow, but heavily backed, win in the Vasco Taverna Prix Du Cap might suggest.

At least that was the impression of the man in the best position to tell. “Last time was disappointing – you can make excuses and say she shouldn’t have led,” said Anton Marcus. “But this is a good filly and I think she is better than she ran to here.”

Just Sensual (Liesl King)

The CTS Mile he was referring to was the Dynasty filly’s only defeat in her last five outings and this was Joey Ramsden’s fifth Prix Du Cap in 13 seasons. JR and Mayfair Speculators manager Derek Brugman can be expected to finalise plans when they return from this week’s big yearling sale in Melbourne but Durban and an eventual Garden Province target look odds-on.

Captain’s Flame returned to her best to hold on to second after making most of the running but her antics in the pens cost the filly her stalls certificate.

Silver Mountain ran a similar race to her performance in the Majorca, looking threatening approaching the furlong marker but then finding no more, while putting blinkers on Goodtime Gal apparently proved more of a hindrance than a help.

“It back-fired because she hesitated coming out of the pens,” said the badly-drawn Richard Fourie. “She did make up six or seven lengths in the straight but the 1 400m was too short for her.”

Marcus’s three winners from four rides made it a profitable afternoon for the former champion’s legion of supporters but it was Made In Hollywood who went into the notebook. This once-raced Querari filly came right away in the final furlong of the juvenile fillies to win, totally unextended, by more than six lengths with her rider’s only discernible movement being three glances left at the non-existent opposition.

Silver Mountain (Kenilworth Racing)

“She gave me a very smart feel,” he reported with marked understatement while part-owner Brian Finch recalled: “We bought her (for R450 000) at the CTS Select in Jo’burg when Joey was besotted with her. She has shown a lot right from the beginning and now we live in hope.”

Brutal Force gave the Milnerton stable rather different satisfaction, almost all of it emotional, when answering Marcus’s every call to peg back Captain Alfredo in the Vasco Food Trucks Pinnacle after looking a lost cause two furlongs out.

“Don’t forget what he has been through – we nearly lost him,” pointed out the rider, “and the way he won this was a testament to his courage.” Marcus was referring to the operation the gelding had to save his life last April when he suffered a severe attack of colic. He has also had an operation on his wind in the meantime.

Ramsden also struck with the Robert Khathi-ridden Professor Brian in the Castle Lager Handicap but for once Justin Snaith seemed happy to go home with only two winners.

Goodtime Gal (Liesl King)

“We had a very quiet Cape season by our standards – only three winners on Met Day and just one on the day of the Queen’s Plate – but hopefully things are now beginning to turn,” he reasoned.

His decision to promote Sipho Booi to gallop-riding paid off when the 38-year-old came away on Tweak The Wind in the final furlong of the work riders maiden to record his first success and give part-owner Eddie Powell a memorable 70^th birthday present. Snaith was also full of praise for Fourie’s handling of Platinum Prince two races later.

Rod Mattheyse, lead owner of the Shane Humby-trained Big Ed, could hardly believe the price when he went to back Fourie’s mount in the Breco Seafoods Handicap. “Professional punters were telling me that I wouldn’t get better than 7-10,” he said. “When I got to the course I found he was 15-10 so I backed him. He then went out to 2-1 so I backed him again. I’m not sure just how much I had on altogether but I can tell you it was a solid bet.”

BLOB The Prawn Festival crowd was down on last year but things might well have been different had not Gambling Board regulations barred the racecourse from advertising that the R30 entrance fee included a R20 betting voucher. However those that did attend commented favourably on the much improved and extended facilities that eliminated the long queues of previous years.

By Michael Clower

Dean Kannemeyer’s Cape Town string may be on light duty following a virus scare but his KZN yard has not been affected and his runners have chances throughout the card at Greyville tonight. Trainers with satellite yards in KZN have the best of both worlds as they can shuttle horses back and forth from their home base and horses that are battling on the turf can be shipped to the Greyville poly without having to ‘raid’ or apply for boxes.

Kannemeyer, Sean Tarry and Andre Nel are three that have exploited this opportunity to their advantage with great success. A prime example is the Kannemeyer-trained Chrome Blue who lines up in the Build It Handicap.

Dean Kannemeyer

The five-year-old appeared to have found his mark in Cape Town where he was struggling to add a fourth success after 28 runs but shipped to Durban and the Greyville poly, the transformation was instant as Chrome Blue turned in his best effort for some time, finishing with a rattle to get within a length of winner Icy Avalanche.

He does not face the strongest of fields tonight and is likely to start a warm favourite although he shouldn’t have things all his own way.

The lightly raced Warfarer has only ever raced on the poly and has put in two useful efforts over the course and distance since shedding his maiden for Lezeanne Forbes. Serino Moodley has lost his 4kg claim after his three winners over the weekend but is still good value for his 2.5kg claim and Warfarer looks a likely threat to the chances of Chrome Blue. The Nel-trained Arctic Teon is another that falls into the ‘shuttle’ category although in his case his Cape form was good albeit in the maidens. He made a winning debut on the poly track and has since followed up on the turf. He has little mileage on the clock and is capable of going in again.

Because of the numbers that stood their ground at final acceptances the MR70 Handicap was split into two races and Kannemeyer could benefit again as he saddles Night Circus in the Hibiscus Coast Security Handicap. He was the odds-on favourite and obviously the stable elect in the race won by Icy Avalanche with stable companion Chrome Blue edging him out of second spot.

Both his wins have come on the poly and from a pole position draw he can pay back his supporters.

Likely to start at attractive odds is the Paul Gadsby-trained Techno Captain. Although only recently shedding his maiden, the gelding has plenty of ability but is not the easiest of rides. However, he appears to have settled and got his mind on the job which could make things difficult for Night Circus.

The Kannemeyer-trained Irish Dynasty is another Cape Town battler making his KZN debut on the poly and off bottom weight could upstage stable companion and top weight Night Circus.

First Apostle and Live On The Moon are others to consider.

Kept Secret is back against her own sex in the Fastprint Handicap and Belinda Impey’s mare is long overdue her fourth visit to the winner’s enclosure. She has been close-up in her last three against males, last time out shouldering top weight, and although she faces some younger rivals that are still improving she should be right there.

Royal Rose and Wild Irish are two of the younger brigade and Royal Rose in particular looks a threat. Frank Robinson tried her in blinkers last time out and she only ran out of steam late in a tougher field than she meets here. The drop in class and trip should work in her favour.

By Andrew Harrison

Just Sensual can become the first three-year-old to win the Vasco Taverna Prix Du Cap since Mother Russia eight years ago at Kenilworth’s Prawn Festival meeting tomorrow.

Joey Ramsden, who also trained Mother Russia and has won four of the last 12 runnings of this Grade 3, expressed no surprise – indeed quite the opposite – when Anton Marcus’s mount won the Cape Fillies Guineas and her running in the CTS Mile last time was far better than her eventual 11^th place would suggest.

Frankie Dettori – having to contend with a wide draw – soon had her in front and, although headed by William Longsword two furlongs out, she was still right with the winner at the distance of this race.

Just Sensual (Liesl King)

Silver Mountain also has a 3kg Grade 1 penalty to contend with but she ran a fine race in the Klawervlei Majorca despite being drawn in the bush and only tired in the closing stages. She rates the biggest danger.

Goodtime Gal looked the winner of the Majorca when in front with a furlong to run and Mike Robinson’s experiments at home have convinced him that first-time blinkers will make the  filly that much sharper. “The 13 draw is the problem, particularly over 1 400m,” he points out. “But Richard Fourie has told me not to worry about that. He says he will get across.”

Interestingly the sahorseracing computer has her shooting out of the pens straight into the lead and narrowly holding on from Just Sensual and Silver Mountain.

This is a poor race for favourites – Marcus’s mount Cuvee Brut 12 months ago was the first to win since Mother Russia – so don’t let anyone deter you if you fancy one of the longer priced horses.

Captain’s Flame has run a little below her best in recent starts but there are reasons for believing that she could go close. “She wasn’t comfortable with her bit in her last few races but we have fixed this and she is very fit,” says Andre Nel. “However she seems to have lost a bit of confidence and that is a concern.”

The handicap ratings, as adjusted for penalties, put A Time To Dream second only to Just Sensual but her 102 mark owes much to a win in Port Elizabeth and her poor draw is worrying Justin Snaith – “Andrew Fortune rode a good race from behind in the Majorca but I don’t know what to do here.”

Alexis, who made the running in the Majorca before weakening two furlongs home, could be better over this distance and stable companion Beach Goddess certainly will be. Ridden to get the trip, she could be the best of the outsiders.

By Michael Clower

Mubtaahij (Christophe Soumillon) returns to racing in Thursday’s Listed Curlin Handicap over 2000m on dirt at Meydan, and he is reported to be well short of his best after a four month absence from racing.

This will be Mubtaahij’s first, and perhaps his only preparation run into the 2017 Dubai World Cup and Mike de Kock commented: “We wanted to use the Firebreak Stakes on 11 February as a first prep, but he wasn’t ready for it.

Mubtaahij and Jockey Soumillon (Liesl King)

“Mubtaahij arrived back in Dubai on 12 December after a short spell in quarantine, which was really his only period of rest after his US campaign. He ran some cracking races in the US, but he wasn’t moving too well on his return so we had to take things quite easy with him.

“He is moving well again, we’re happy with his progress but he is some way off his peak.  He’s been with two trainers in a year, he’s visited two continents and was on different feeds.  It’s hard to pick them up from exploits like these.

“Horses are not machines, they’re no switches you can flick on and off. The strength of this field tomorrow doesn’t matter. Mubtaahij will need the run, he is not at his best and if he doesn’t put in a satisfactory run we’ll race him again on Super Saturday next week. He will make good improvement going into the World Cup.”

Other Thursday runners at Meydan:

Race 7: Handicap over 1400m on turf:
Johan Strauss (Bernard Fayd’Herbe):  “He needs further, and still needs another run as he is problematic.”
Suyoof (Jim Crowley): “He is doing very well. If this was 1600m I would have been confident, he will still be competitive over 1400m, we’ve run out of time with race choices.
Tahanee (Soumillon): “Still fit and well, in good form and we’ll be looking for another competitive effort.”
Mastermind (Pat Cosgrave): “Needs to drop in ratings before he will be competitive again.”

Saturday runners at Meydan:

Race 1: Maiden over 1800m on turf:
Mazeed (Antonio Fresu): “He switches to turf and I think he will run a good race. He is a big striding, beautiful horse and should be a first three contender.”

Race 3: Handicap over 1200m on dirt:
Alareef (Crowley): “He’s in an out, only seems to run well when his rating drops. Likes the course and distance, better drawn and could make the first four.”

Race 5: Handicap over 1600m on turf:
Dream Dubai (Fernando Jara): “He’s put in two decent sprints so far this term and shows that he wants 1400m plus. I’m not convinced he is at his best yet, he may need to be gelded.  Place chance.”

– Mikedekockracing.com

Andre Nel’s lightly raced three-year-olds have been proving a boon to punters but one that flopped can recoup the losses at a decent price in the Itsarush.co.za Maiden at Kenilworth today.

Andre Nel (Supplied)

This is Riverboat Queen who was only beaten half a length in an admittedly modest-looking maiden early last month but she was ominously reluctant to load when heavily backed a fortnight later and she beat only one home.

There is plenty in the form book about her running so badly but at the time nobody could come up with a reason – and perhaps that is why World Sports Betting opened her at 9-2 and why she only shortened marginally to 4-1 yesterday. But have a look at the small print at the end of the reams of the Met day stipes’ report and you will see the answer.

Nel found her to be slightly sore on her left-fore the morning after the race and that evening she was running a temperature. The following morning she was lame on both front legs and still had a temperature. The vet recommended no exercise for ten days.

Golden Wine is the obvious form choice and is favourite at 2-1 with I Lived (13 lengths in front of Riverboat Queen) on 33-10 and Seattle Silva next on 4-1.

The Brett Crawford runner is interesting as she also ran way below her best last time although it was her first race for nearly three months and she lost ground at the start. “I think the 1 400m was too far for her,” says her trainer. “She is back to 1 200m, is working well and should run much better.”

Nanna Anna’s experience  may be just enough to win the first at 5-2 – she was unlucky not to win first time and was then fifth when Anthony Delpech rode her in the Met day Listed race. “I think she will be hard to beat,” says a back-to-form Paul Reeves.

Brett Crawford (Nkosi Hlophe)

However the money has poured on Believethisbeauty as if all she has to do is turn up and she went from 22-10 to 8-10 inside 24 hours. The R525 000 Captain Al newcomer is the first foal of the Winter Oaks winner Cause To Believe. “This 1 000m may be a bit short for her but she shows a lot of speed and she is talented,” says Vaughan Marshall.

The betting would suggest that only inexperience can stop her but don’t forget Casual Diamond even though she has drifted from 22-10 to 4-1. Her first run suggests she can make the frame.

Apollo Star opened very short at 7-10 in the other two-year-old race half an hour later but again a Marshall horse has rocked the market. Captain’s Charm, well beaten in the Met day Listed race, has been backed from 11-2 to 5-2 and as a result Joey Ramsden’s runner, fourth to Bold Respect in the R1 million Kuda Sprint, has eased to 13-10 and at that price he gets the vote.

Richard Fourie’s mount Royal Marine (niggled at and now 5-1) is a son of What A Winter and apparently could make the frame at the first time of asking. “”I brought him to Kenilworth to gallop and he worked very well,” says Greg Ennion who, however, cautions: “He might just need it.”

Ennion, incidentally, expects Meaningful Look to go well against Riverboat Queen – “she has improved a lot from her first run.” But stable companion Mangrove, as short as 15-10 for race five at one stage, has an outside draw to contend with and so Redeemer is preferred despite not being much of a price.

By Michael Clower