Ruling champion trainer Sean Tarry has yet to win the R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) over 1600m but, in Furiosa and Al Sahem, he has two of the favourites for the alternate first leg of the SA Triple Crown at Turffontein this Saturday.

Betting World has priced Furiosa up at 15-4, marginally behind 7-2 favourite Heavenly Blue, with Al Sahem on offer at 4-1. Tarry has two other runners in the race – Matador Man at 5-1 and 25-1 outsider Tilbury Fort.

Asked whether he believes any of his four runners is capable of winning the Triple Crown, which also comprises the 1800m SA Classic and the 2450m SA Derby, he replied: “I don’t think it is about a horse being good enough to win the Triple Crown, it’s more about whether they will get the Classic and Derby distances. Furiosa and Al Sahem are suited to all three distances.”

Furiosa is the choice of Tarry’s No 1 jockey S’manga Khumalo, having won an 1800m race on the Inside Track at Turffontein three weeks ago. Tarry believes his fitness influenced the rider’s decision because Al Sahem is coming off a break and has missed work because of the rainy weather.

“Furiosa has done very little wrong,” he continued. “He did appreciate the step up in distance to 1800m and is coming back to 1600m, but showed a lot of speed early on for us to think he’d win a 1200m race.

“He’s on the up and hopefully he’s improved enough to get a blow in.”

Al Sahem has won both his races to date in weaker company and Tarry said: “I’m sure everyone would agree he’s a really nice horse. I’m not too fazed about him going up in class – he’s certainly good enough. But coming here off a break is not ideal. Unfortunately it just panned out this way.

“We had to scratch him from a race and he’s missed work in a very important week in terms of race prep.

“Matador Man just didn’t get there in time in a feature on the Inside Track last time out but was beaten by a very good filly in Ektifaa. That was a good prep run after a short break.”

He’s not ideally drawn at No 9 in the 10-horse field, but Tarry is not too concerned, because “he misses the break and comes from off them”.

He will also be travelling this far for the first time, but “the way he ran on in his last start gives me every reason to believe he will get a 1600m – though I’m not sure he’ll go further.”

He described Tilbury Fort as “a nice horse, maybe not in this class as yet, but certainly on the up. He could get a blow in here.”

His pick? “It’s hard to split Furiosa, Al Sahem and Matador Man. Furiosa has got fitness and a draw, while Al Sahem is also well drawn but is coming off a break and Matador Man doesn’t have a draw.

“All three have chances, but I’m not bullish. It’s an open and competitive race and the opposition needs to be respected. It’s an exciting start to the Triple Crown.”

Tarry-trained Safe Harbour is the highest-rated runner in the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, the first leg of the Triple Tiara but is drawn “out by Wemmer Pan” in No 16 stall. Betting World have her 4-1 third favourite.

“I would imagine Safe Harbour will be in need of the run,” said Tarry. “Looking at the programme I couldn’t find a more suitable start to her autumn campaign – I would have sidestepped this race if there was an easier route to the SA Fillies Classic. But we know she’s classy and it would be nice if that got her through.”

Khumalo picked the lowest-rated of Tarry’s four runners in Redberry Lane, who frustrated her trainer until blinkers were added to her equipment. Once her concentration was honed, she started realising the potential Tarry knew she had, winning a Maiden Plate by eight lengths.

She is the best-drawn of Tarry’s four runners in No 3 stall and is also among the fittest.

Smiling Blue Eyes has won two races in a row including a 1600m feature last time out. “She’s a lovely filly and will probably run in all three legs of the Triple Tiara because she’ll improve over the 1800m of the SA Fillies Classic and maybe even more over the 2450m of the Oaks,” said Tarry. “I’d be optimistic if she had a decent draw because she can race up there with the pace, but from that wide draw, we’ll have to take our medicine and come from off them.

“But this is a starting point and if you haven’t got a ticket, you haven’t got a chance.”

He said Visuality had “lost her way badly in Cape Town where she didn’t put one decent run together”.

However, he conceded she is being stretched over 1600m and said “it’s hard to have confidence in her from a stall only one inside Smiling Blue Eyes”.

The other Grade 2 race is the Hawaii Stakes in which Tarry will saddle French Navy and Bulleting Home.

“The 1400m is now a bit sharp for French Navy, but I’m expecting a good run. Bulleting Home has a tough task at the weights, but his last run was good from a deep draw. He’s in good order and should be competitive.”

* Other news from the Tarry stable is that talented but temperamental Cloth Of Cloud has had a colic operation. “Hopefully she’s on the mend,” said Tarry. Cloth Of Cloud last raced in the CTS Sprint over 1200m on Sun Met Day but missed the break, refused to gallop and cantered home. She then got colic on her way back to Johannesburg from Cape Town.
– TABnews

Connections of Arrogate, the highest-rated Flat performer in the world, have confirmed his next target is the Dubai World Cup at Meydan on March 25.

The Bob Baffert-trained four-year-old won the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November and kicked off 2017 with a comfortable four-and-three-quarter-length victory in the inaugural Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park last month.

Following Arrogate’s victory in the US$12million contest, Baffert expressed some doubts about Arrogate travelling to Dubai but after pleasing in a mile workout at Santa Anita on Monday, connections confirmed Meydan is now the target.

Baffert said: “I just got the call and we’ve got the green light to send him to Dubai as long as he’s doing well. [The decision] came down from [owner] Prince Khalid [Abdullah].

“He looked great. I’m really happy the way he’s come out of that race [the Pegasus].

“He hasn’t regressed or anything, he looked fantastic. He’s enjoying himself, and he did it the right way. I’m really happy with the way he’s going. He’s just holding his form very well,” Baffert told www.bloodhorse.com

Meanwhile, Racingpost.com report that the Dubai World Cup meeting has lost one of its potential stars following a surprising change of heart by connections of Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther.

Last weekend the five-year-old won the very valuable Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin and it seemed a trip to Meydan for next month’s Dubai Turf was the next target.

However, it emerged on Tuesday that Werther, who was around 8-1 for the race with British bookmakers, would not be going to Dubai.

The South China Morning Post reported that trainer John Moore was informed of the change of plans via a text from owner Johnson Chen. Moore was dismayed at the news, not just for himself, but also for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, whose officials the SCMP reported had suffered a ‘loss of face’.

Hong Kong’s presence at this year’s meeting will be reduced further as sprinters Lucky Bubbles and Peniaphobia will also not be making the trip, with domestic campaigns preferred.

 

William Longsword is the toast of the Western Cape sophomore colts after victory in the Gr1 CTS Cape Guineas and the CTS 1600 while the Highveld brigade should be sorted into some sort of pecking order come Saturday with the running of the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas. As far as KZN goes, it is likely to stay up in the air for at least another month or so without any specific features for three-year-old males and no trainers seemingly willing to raid.

Gr2 Dingaans winner Singapore Sling is a notable absentee from the Gauteng Guineas field but he, and both Janoobi and Heavenly Blue, were soundly beaten by William Longsword when raiding the Cape.

It would be disappointing if Vaughan Marshall’s star does not make the trip to KZN for Champions Season as there is speculation that he may be retired to stud as an early replacement for his aging sire Captain Al although he only has a merit rating of 109, six pounds shy of top rated three-year-old Gold Standard rated 115.

Be that as it may, Mr O’Neill and Roman Emperor are way down the pecking order if their ratings are to be believed but could still be contenders come the winter features but they will need enforce that view when they run in the itsarush.co.za Middle Stakes at Scottsville today – Middle Stakes races being restricted to horses with a nett MR of 80 and below.

Mr O’Neill is much improved since being gelded and sent over ground by Dean Kannemeyer and he was far from disgraced when runner-up, beaten less than a length, by the progressive Heir Line giving the winner 3.5kg, this after winning two on the bounce.

The step up to 1950m should hold no fears and he will start as one of the fancied runners.

Duncan Howells saddles the lightly raced Roman Emperor who was just over a length back to Heir Line and Mr O’Neill when they met in early February but looks capable of a lot better. He did not handle the soft ground well and hung badly when under pressure. The going today should be perfect and although he is 2kg worse off with Mr O’Neill he strikes as a horse with plenty of scope and should be a threat.

Silver Rose is a lightly raced four-year-old who has been in good form on the Greyville poly. He stays the trip well and if he handles the switch to turf he too should be right there.

Of the balance, Captain At Sea was hammered with a hefty rating after his maiden win and on a line through Silver Rose and Lucky Luciano, looks well held – the switch to turf possibly the only point in his favour.

Air Chief Marshal carries top weight in the All To Come Handicap where he can take advantage of a drop in class. He jumped a division when fourth, beaten four lengths by Caribbean Day over the course and distance, but prior to that was a fluent winner on the Greyville turf. He has the worst of the draw but it is only a ten-horse field so should not be too disadvantaged.

Unbelievable Chad has been disappointing and is definitely better than his record of a single victory would suggest. Paul Lafferty’s charge does appear to have a few behavioural issues but was a close-up second on the poly last time out and can finally go one better.

Also in with a chance is Baltic Amber. He was caught for pace over the Greyville 1400m last time out and Duncan Howells will be more confident of his chances over the course and distance where he recorded his last win.

With bright sunshine over the past two days, Scottsville should be in prime condition after the recent rains.

By Andrew Harrison

Grant van Niekerk has been appointed first jockey to the powerful Plattner Racing team handled by Andre Nel.

Nel said on Tuesday: “Grant is a natural choice. He is very talented, he can ride all the weights and he has already done well for us. We will have first claim on him.”

Nel has 30 horses to race in Cape Town during the coming winter season and, in addition, he is sending ten of his best ones to join his Durban string. Van Niekerk will fly up to partner those that run in Group races. The stable also has 26 two-year-olds.

Van Niekerk said: “I am very happy to get the job. Andre is a gentleman to ride for and he has some good horses. I went up there to work this morning and I rode a couple of nice ones. I think we will do well together.”

Van Niekerk, 25, replaces his great friend Aldo Domeyer who took over his job as first jockey to Candice Bass-Robinson. He has been sidelined since Met day by accumulated suspensions but says he will be back in action on March 11.

Michael Clower

At least nine horses sold so far at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Australia could be coming to race in South Africa, having been sold to South African interests.

The two bought early at the sale by Markus Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators are likely to remain in Australia, having been co-signed by Victoria-based Heywood Bloodstock.

They spent Aus$280,000 on a Camelot colt and another $260,000 on a Fastnet Rock filly.

Jehan Malherbe’s Form bloodstock has secured seven horses already at the sale, which has been running since Sunday.

His most expensive purchase was a Smart Missile filly secured for $180,000. He bought a Shamus Award filly, who is related to Alboran Sea, for $90,000, a Fiorente filly for $70,000, a Choisir colt for $60,000 and a filly by Black Caviar’s four-time winning half-brother All Too Hard filly for $30,000.

Paul Guy’s Heritage Bloodstock has bought two fillies, paying $210,000 for a daughter of Snitzel and R100,000 for a filly by Camelot.

Andy Williams, manager of World Wide Bloodstock, has spent $175,000 on two yearlings, a Sebring colt ($120,000) and a Declaration Of War filly.

The sale ends on Wednesday [Mar 1].

– TABNews; Picture: Racing.com