Budapest, the horse not the city, has always had ability but it has taken patience for him to realise his full potential after pulling off a surprise victory in the big Lanzerac Ready To Run sales race two seasons back.

Racing in pacifiers appear to have done the trick and he came from the clouds to land the Pinnacle Stakes at Scottsville yesterday.

One never knows what you get from enigmatic Sylvester The Cat, but he brought his A-game to the track yesterday and set a smart early pace under replacement rider Jarred Samuel. With the line in sight it looked as if ‘Sylvester’ would hold on for his fifth victory, but Budapest finished with a rattle to nail him on the line in a fine training feat by Gareth van Zyl for owner Brian Burnard.

Budapest (Candise Marenwick)

The two principal runners in the Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares, Lala and favourite Impala Lily, finished in that order but it was hardly a contest. The two met in the Flamboyant Stakes where Lala had the worst of the draw finishing down the field with Impala Lily second. Lala proved the form all wrong as she was given a copybook ride by Anton Marcus.

“We were under a bit of pressure,” said Doug Campbell. “I got Albert (Rapp) to come down from Jo’Burg for the race.”

Always travelling well, Marcus produced her with a trouble-free stretch run to win comfortably.

Impala Lily, on the other hand, took time to find her rhythm and Anthony Delpech was forced to switch in and out of traffic before she finally got going to edge out Spring In Seattle for second.

Objections are never without their share of controversy and it was touch-and-go in the third where Diamante and La Suerte De Matar came together in a tight finish with the stipendiary stewards calling for a race review immediately after the runners crossed the line.

Duncan Howells eventually decided to object on behalf of second-placed Las Suerte De Matar. It was pretty much a 50-50 call according to a relieved Mark Dixon with Diamante getting the benefit of any doubt.

The stable has been in mustard form of late and added a double although the blood pressure will have risen for the second time in just a couple of hours as The Poet had to thread his way through some heavy traffic.

At the top of the straight Keagan de Melo picked a clear run up the outside rail, The Poet moving with De Melo sitting with a double handful. However, most of the riders in the field had similar ideas and it was plan B for De Melo as the door was firmly shut.

Dixon, watching from his favourite table, let fly in anguish, but De Melo switching in for a second go, got The Poet to respond and get to grips with Warren Kennedy and Putchini, putting his head down when it counted. Eric Denman, acting on behalf of his United States-based brother Trevor and wife Robin, was even more relieved. “This has got to be the most unlucky horse in training. He had no luck in his last two. Thank goodness it changed today but it was close.”

The Poet has had his problems. “He’s much better than a two-time winner,” said Dixon and on the evidence of this win, a change of luck and staying sound should give substance to that opinion.

By Andrew Harrison

Mike De Kock will wait until the end of the month to give Mubtaahij a prep run before the most valuable night in racing (Dubai World Cup, March 25).

Mubtaahij was being lined up for his seasonal debut in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes on February 11, but the leading international trainer wants to give last year’s World Cup runner-up more time.

The five-year-old son of Dubawi, who was a brilliant winner of the 2015 UAE Derby, has not raced since he was fourth behind Bob Baffert’s Hoppertunity in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at Belmont Park in America in October.

Mubtaahij (Liesl King)

“He’s training well but I am not convinced that he is ready for it,” De Kock said. “The Listed Curlin Handicap is the plan.”

As the name of the February 23 contest suggests, the 2000-metre Listed handicap was won by Curlin en route to his stunning World Cup win in 2008. The race was also used last season by California Chrome as a stepping stone to his impressive victory in the $10 million race.

Mubtaahij was moved to Kiaran McLaughlin’s stables in America after chasing California Chrome home in the World Cup in March and ran there three times.

“He had a rest in America and a bit of a break here as he was on the go a lot in America — he needed it,” De Kock said.

“He only needs one run before the Dubai World Cup.”

The participation of Breeders’ Cup and Pegasus World Cup winner Arrogate at Meydan still hangs in the balance.

Arrogate returned to Santa Anita from his Gulfstream Park heroics last week on Sunday and was out training on Thursday.

When asked where the Juddmonte-owned colt might race next the trainer said: “We have no plans yet. We have a lot of options but we are going to see. We’ve got a lot of options but we are going to give him a couple of weeks to see how he’s doing before we decide.

“I haven’t really mapped out a schedule for him, although it looks like the race didn’t take a lot out of him. He looks good.”

TheNational.ae

Turffontein Inside track stages a nine race card tomorrow where the racing is generally competitive and finding winners will be rewarding.

Alec Laird

The sixth is a Conditions Plate over 1450m for fillies and mares and the progressive Alec Laird-trained Polyphonic looks the one to beat. She has always been well regarded and looks to have come into her own lately. She is the best in at the weights and has to carry a mere 52,5kg. In her last start in the Gr 2 Ipi Tombe over 1600m her jockey lost the rein late yet she still went down by just 0,4 lengths.

On the downside Polyphonic has a tricky draw and would prefer a touch further, so can’t be regarded as a banker. Bella Sonata on the other hand is perfectly course and distance suited and being by Silvano this always well regarded filly will also be coming into her own. She is capable of a strong finish, so the wide draw might not be too much of a concern and she should go close.

Crystal Glamour will be dangerous in this race over a suitable trip as she is an improving front-runner and has a plum draw. Shaama is considerably out at the weights, but can’t be ignored. She started favourite for the Gr 1 Allan Robertson two seasons ago, but disappointed and then continued to disappoint.

However, after being given nearly a year off, she came back with a fluent win over 1200m where she produced a sustained finish. She could well be better than her merit rating of 88 suggests and she is likely looking for this sort of trip.

Sensible Lover is unbeaten in two starts over this course and distance.  She disappointed last time and now has the blinkers on, which is most interesting because in her day she mixed it with some of the best of a vintage crop.

The seventh is an intriguing MR 90 Handicap for three-year-olds over 1600m and the topweight Unagi could be the one to beat.  He is unbeaten in two starts over course and distance and has shown glimpses of real class. He has had excuses for a couple of his disappointing runs and the blinkers didn’t work last time. However, he is now back to a merit rating of 90 and has a plum draw over his probable optimum trip.

S’manga Khumalo (Nkosi Hlophe)

Shukamisa should be involved in the finish too. He is by Silvano and from the yard of Ormond Ferraris, so should start stepping up to the plate now on the eve of the Johannesburg Autumn season. He has certainly shown signs of being of feature class. He does have a tricky draw of eight.

Military Award has plenty of ability and should be distance suited. He only carries 53,5kg and has a good draw, but on the downside he makes respiratory noises. However, with a first time tongue tie on last time he was running on late over 1400m, so that augurs well for his future. He has the ability to win this off his mere 77 merit rating.

Arlington disappointed last time after catching the eye in his maiden over this trip. However, that latter race was over 1800m and he over raced, so he is interesting back at this trip and cannot be ignored. Qeyaadah is another one who has to be considered as he has ability and now has his second run after gelding and second run with blinkers. Pagoda is another one who has shown signs of ability and could earn from a plum draw.

The second race will be the first leg of the Bipot and the interesting horse here is Tharoos. He is by More Than Ready out of a Danehill mare who won from 1000m to 1700m and he is a full brother to a Gr 2 winner in Australia over 1200m. He has done well in two decent fields over 1160m and does strike as more of a sprinting type, so from a good draw here he should give a good account of himself in his first start around the turn.

Racing Free and Mess look the chief dangers. The former has good form in two races over sprints and was backed in both starts. However, he finished lame in his last start and hasn’t raced for about 18 months. Mess has been thereabouts in three starts from 1160m to 1400m and should be improving coming from the yard of astute trainer Candice Dawson. S’Manga Khumalo is an eye catching booking and from pole position he should make an impact.

By David Thiselton

A five-time winner, Pure Valor lines up for Lowan Denneyschen in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap over 2000m that heads a seven-race card on the Greyville poly this evening where he looks to have an excellent chance of confirming the form with recent Michael Roberts Handicap winner Mr Winsome.

Mr Winsome (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mr Winsome was narrowly denied when last the two met but the handicappers may have caught up with him as Dean Kannemeyer’s runner meets Pure Valor on 1.5kg worse terms for a short-head over this evening’s course and distance.

Although Mr Winsome rattled home from a long way back to win the Michael Roberts Handicap at Scottsville, he has 62kg to shoulder this evening giving Pure Valor 9kg, and given luck in running Pure Valor should have his measure.

But they are not the only two in the mix. Persian Rug, unlucky last season when pecking at a crucial stage of the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes, has found it tough going since. The form of last year’s sophomore fillies crop has proven suspect but the strapping daughter of Ideal World may well take a new lease on life on the polytrack. Mike de Kock’s runner made her debut on the surface in a strong field over a distance palpably short of her best, but stepped up in trip for her next outing, she romped home ahead of New Zealand-bred Killer Woman.

She does take a steep rise in class here with a big weight to shoulder but she has the frame to cope with both and although taking on males must be in with a chance. Top weight Kitty’s Destiny ran below form last time out but in spite of a big weight he seems best on the poly and cannot be written off lightly.

Kannemeyer looks to have a lively contender in the Soccer 6 Handicap where he saddles the promising Night Circus. Much improved when tried in blinkers last time out, easily beating stable companion Tanjiro, he meets little of note here and should be good enough to follow up.

Tony Nassif makes a habit of raiding from the Highveld with horses with seemingly modest form only to put the locals to the sword. The veteran trainer did not come down with the last shower of rain – whenever that was – and Icy Avalanche could prove a threat to the likely favourite. His last win was over course and distance starting at odds of 55-1 which is more than enough evidence.

Pure Valor (Nkosi Hlophe)

Kali’s King was given a break after shedding his maiden and has improved in blinkers while For Ever is better than his last two and goes well this course and distance.

If the weather gurus are to be believed Scottsville should have some relief from the blistering recent weather over the weekend with the meeting on Sunday. With possible thunder storms predicted for tomorrow night and Sunday evening the lightning fast going could revert to normal and bathing costumes can dry out ready for next week’s predicted heatwave.

An interesting Pinnacle Stakes event heads the card with some veterans looking to pay their way and a pair of sophomores, notably Legend and Roy’s Magic, looking to make their mark.

Night Trip has shown up well in two recent sprints but goes well this trip and can defy top weight with the wily Anton Marcus aboard. Alistair Gordon has had the world of trouble with Royal Life but the gelding is useful on his day and although the form of his last run has been a little suspect he will go close on his best effort.

Legend is a smart horse and just how he fares could give some indication of whether he is Champions Season material. However, he has been rested and gelded since his last win and is likely to need this outing while stable companion Roy’s Magic is far better than his last two. He has a light weight and a plum draw and if ‘putting it in’ will also be a strong contender.

By Andrew Harrison

Four runners from Blue Stables will go to post at Thursday night’s Meydan Carnival meeting, andwww.mikedekockracing.com reports that four-year-old colt Lindo Amor (ARG) could be best of them if he can secure a good early position in Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge (Gr2) over 1900m on dirt.

Mike de Kock

Lindo Amor made an eye-catching debut on dirt when he came from midfield to take third behind Le Bernardin in the first leg of the Challenge over 1600m – only a neck kept him out of second.

Lindo Amor was doing his best work late that day and, knowing that he is Gr1 placed over 2000m in his native Argentine, Mike de Kock is confident that tonight’s trip will suit him. Christophe Soumillon retains the ride.

He said, however: “Lindo Amor is very well. He has improved after his January run, but tonight’s result depends on whether he can get into a handy position early.  Lindo Amor will face a stiff task if he’s out of his ground, runners not up with the pace on this track have a mountain to climb, as we’ve seen.”

About the others:

Race 2: Muwaary (Turf Handicap, 1600m, Jim Crowley)

“He ran a bad race last week, but has only been here for a  month and we have to race him to form. He will improve tonight, but we’re not expecting much yet.

Race 6: Sanshaawes (Soumillon) and Saltarin Dubai (Bernard Fayd’Herbe) in a Handicap on turf over 2000m:

“Sanshaawes is very well, this is his third start after a rest and he should be competitive, he has a chance. Saltarin Dubai drops in rating and comes to turf, the change of surface and a change in tactics will help.”

Selections Meydan Thursday February 2

Race 1 [4.30pm]: (4) WINSLOW (7) Ormindo (1) Grand Argentier (9) Vivernus

Race 2 [5.05pm]: (4) AMERICAN HOPE (2) Elite Excalibur (1) Dark Emerald (3) Fanciful Angel

Race 3 [5.40pm]: (4) MUARRAB (5) Cool Cowboy (2) Wild Dude (1) Movesta

Race 4 [6.15pm]: (2) RED GALILEO (4) Blue Rambler (5) Rio Tigre (6) Warrior Of Light

Race 5 [6.50pm]: (7) LINDO AMOR (3) Second Summer (9) Le Bernardin (5) Long River

Race 6 [7.25pm]: (3) SANSHAAWES (9) Belgian Bill (4) Master The World (1) Dylan Mouth

Race 7 [8.00pm]: (11) HARRY HURRICANE (6) Sir Maximilian (1) Medicean Man (5) Magnus Maximus