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

The Summerhill Ready To Run sale took place on the majestic farm in Mooi River on Tuesday 21^st February. The weather never played its part but that certainly never put a dampener on the attendance and the atmosphere, with prospective buyers welcomed with hot coffee, a sherry or a glass of champagne. Summerhill owner Mick Goss whom was not at the sale last year due to illness, made a wonderful traditional South African welcome and listed a few horses that have gone on to win group races sold out of this very sales ring on the farm.

Guests whom included buyers from across the globe, Mauritius, Kenya and Zimbabwe were very active and purchased several striking lots. Nchaka Moloi, the owner of Gr2 winner Heaps Of Fun, purchased Lot 65, an outstanding colt by freshman sire Await The Dawn for R200 000.

A scrumptious lunch was served which was prepared by the staff of Hartford House whom boast being recently voted as one of the top 20 best restaurants in South Africa,

Trainers from around the country supported the sale enthusiastically. Gary Alexander and his brother Dean were very active, whilst Scott Kenny from the Highveld secured many lots and in form trainers Kevin and Alyson Wright also secured lovely horses. There is always something for everyone at these particular sales, and it was no exception for Ashburton trainers Julie Dittmer, Gary Rich and Des Egdes whom never went home empty handed.

The auction was handled by star auctioneer Graeme Hawkins and managed by Michael Holmes Bloodstock.

By Warren Lenferna

Image: A colt during the wet pre-inspection at the Summer Ready To Run Sale, Summerhill Stud. Image: Candiese Marnewick

Alec Laird is to train the unnamed Frankel filly that made R4 million at last month’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale.

This was the highest price paid for a filly at the sale. She is out of a half-sister to the Flying Childers and Molecomb Stakes winner Requinto, was sold by Klawervlei and was knocked down to American bloodstock agent Justin Casse.

Lammerskraal’s Dynasty colt Starship Legacy, who made R4.5 million to the bid of Coolmore Australia, is to go to Justin Snaith who trained the half-brother Solo Traveller to win the 2010 Cape Guineas as well as the KRA Guineas and the Cape Classic. Markus Jooste is a partner with Coolmore in this one.

Vaughan Marshall will train Flying Arrow, the Drakenstein-consigned Captain Al colt who was bought by Irish agent Mick Flanagan for the China Horse Club for R3.75 million. Flanagan recalls the colt’s dam Happy Archer winning the Garden Province, Thekwini and Gold Bracelet during the time he spent in South Africa as assistant to Mike de Kock.

By Michael Clower

Jockey Nooresh Juglall, a Mauritian who trained at the South African Jockeys’ Academy, quickly bounced back from a recent race fall injury with a win it his very first ride since the accident.

He took a heavy tumble from Rusty Brown in the penultimate race on 5 February after his mount appeared to clip heels at the 700m marker. At first there were some fears he might be out of action for a while, having hurt his tongue and cheeks.

Nooresh Juglall

A doctor’s review of his condition a few days later gave him the green light to return to race riding as early as this past weekend, meaning he missed only the previous week’s double meeting.

Booked on five rides on Friday and another seven on Sunday, Juglall did not take long to find his way to a place he had already visited nine times this year before the fall.

Partnering a horse he had steered to a creditable fourth on debut in spite of a bad draw – Southern Glory – Juglall elected for the same tactics aboard the Bruce Marsh charge in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden over 1400m, dropping back and only touching his mount for a run on straightening.

The 1100m of his debut had proven too short, but Southern Glory had 300m more to exploit this time. Favourite Redoubt (Glen Boss) looked to have the race at his mercy, but Southern Glory stormed home on the outside to deny him by a neck.

“I’m glad I was able to win on my very first ride back from injury,” said Juglall.

“You don’t want such injuries to happen, but you can’t escape them sometimes. I’d like to thank the trainer and the owner, David Goh, for putting me on such a nice horse.” – Singapore Turf Club