Glen Kotzen has taken the bold step of running his top three-year-old Gold Standard in the R5 million Sun Met, thus forgoing the chance of winning the Gr I Investec Cape Derby where the big bay would likely have been hard to beat. There is sound reasoning to his decision despite the race having not been won by a three-year-old since Mike de Kock did it twice successively with Horse Chestnut and Badger’s Coast in the years 1999 and 2000.

Kotzen has no doubt the Trippi colt will stay the 2000m trip and said, “People say Trippi’s don’t stay 2000m, but this one will stay every inch of it. We gave him a hard gallop over 2000m at Kenilworth recently and he put up an excellent performance. He has a very stout female line too. His second dam is the champion Olympic Duel, who won the Met herself (and her foals include Gr 1 Daily News 2000 winner Flying Duel as well as a number of other 2000m horses and stayers). We train his half-sister All Mine and she has won over 1600m and placed over 2000m despite being by Var.”

Gold Standard won his maiden third time out over 1600m at Durbanville by a comfortable 3,25 lengths. There was a lot of clamour about Craven’s win over the same distance on the same day and in spite of Kotzen pointing out that his horse had run a quicker time it fell on deaf ears. However, he is now able to say I told you so in no uncertain terms.

Gold Standard first travelled down to win the Listed RA Stakes over 1600m, a race which has produced two Vodacom Durban July winners, including the Kotzen-trained Big City Life. He then won the Gr 2 Selangor Cup over 1600m at Kenilworth at odds of 28/1, relegating the deemed unbeatable Table Bay to third, beaten 2,65 lengths. Then in the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas he finished a 0,5 length second to the impressive William Longsword. This pair had a dominant look about them as they drew clear,  beating the rest of the field, headed by Table Bay, by 3,25 lengths.

Kotzen said, “Had they gone a decent pace I think he would have won it. However, if he had won it he would have had to carry a 2kg Gr 1 penalty in the Met and we would then have likely gone for the Derby instead. Looking at the Met, Legal Eagle has beaten the same horses, he has never been challenged by a younger horse and I think the current three-year-old crop is quite strong.

If you look at Bold Rex, who was beaten 7,65 lengths in the Queen’s Plate, Gold Standard is actually eight lengths better than him on collateral form through Heavenly Blue. Plus we have the further 2kg pull because Legal Eagle has to carry a Gr 1 penalty. If you look back in history, Gimmethegreenlight won the Cape Guineas and without the ensuing Gr 1 penalty he guaranteed wins the Met, because he was beaten into third by just 1,15 lengths. So I am very excited about next Saturday’s race. He is really well. It would be nice to crack a good draw, but it’s not too important as he came from last to win the Selangor.”

Richard Fourie is in top form and rides him for the third time in succession.

Gold Standard will not be galloping at the Met Gallops this morning (Thursday), although he will be on course for patrons to view in the parade ring. He had the recent hard workout over 2000m and another grass gallop would not fit into his preparation program.

Kotzen has a strong team of horses on the lucrative day and his comments on the rest of his runners will appear in the Racegoer next week.

David Thiselton

Ruling champion trainer Sean Tarry will have short-priced runners in both $500,000 races on Saturday next week when the Sun Met celebrated with Mumm headlines the programme.

Sean Tarry (Nkosi Hlophe)

The big-money races, each worth R6.74 million at yesterday’s exchange rate, are restricted to graduates of Cape Thoroughbred Sales auctions with the first over 1200m and the other over 1600m.

Tarry has four horses in the CTS Sprint, including hugely talented but volatile Cloth Of Cloud. The three-year-old daughter of Captain Al has won all three of her races to date, including beating her male counterparts in the Grade 1 SA Nursery over 1160m at Turffontein on Champions Day at the end of April last year.

On all three occasions, Tarry held his breath and crossed fingers and toes that she behaved. He subsequently tried on a couple of occasions to bring her back, but “just couldn’t get her going and couldn’t force the issue”.

He finally won the battle in time for the CTS Sprint, although he does admit, “I’d prefer another couple of weeks, but we’re very close. She’d be considered the stable elect.”

S’manga Khumalo will ride Cloth Of Cloud, while French Legend will have the services of internationally acclaimed Frankie Dettori.

“We got it a bit back to front and French Legend’s the one most ready for this race and she’s doing well. But she’s the lowest rated of my four and has to travel from Johannesburg,” said Tarry, adding she would probably arrive at the Cape the day before the race.

Feature placed Myfunnyvalentine and Exquisite Touch, the mounts of Craig Zackey and Weichong Marwing respectively, are expected to “go a lot closer” than in their last runs, but “it’s a very tough race”, said Tarry. “People have been waiting the whole year to run their horses in these two $500,000 races so nobody will be hitting anything for a six.

Safe Harbour (Liesl King)

“Myfunnyvalentine’s form is very good. She needed her last run over 1000m (when tiring to fifth) and should be ready now,” he said. “Exquisite Touch ran well to Green Pepper at Turffontein in November, giving weight and needing the run. She’ll be fitter and should run a lot closer.”

Safe Harbour finished second to Just Sensual in the Cape Fillies Guineas and to Bela-Bela in the recent Paddock Stakes and is the pick of his two runners in the CTS 1600.

Tarry thinks Cape Guineas winner William Longsword and Just Sensual are the horses to beat but says: “Safe Harbour is not without chance, given she wasn’t beaten far in either the Cape Fillies Guineas or the Paddock Stakes.

“Safe Harbour has had a lot of racing in the Cape so we’ve been trying to keep her fresh. She’s doing well, though, and is probably where we want her.”

Weichong Marwing retains the mount, while Khumalo will be on Tilbury Fort, who – like French Legend – will raid from Johannesburg.

“I’m taking a bit of a chance with Tilbury Fort because although he’s fit and well and progressive, he’s out at the weights and is not quite in this class yet.”

Nicci Garner for TABNews

The Vaal Outside track stages a competitive nine race meeting tomorrow and exotic dividends should be handsome.

The fifth, a fillies and mares MR 92 Handicap over 1200m, is the highest rated race. Bella Sonata hasn’t raced since going close in October’s Jo’burg Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge over 1450m and from a plum outside draw with a 4kg claimer up she should do well over a trip she is effective over. However, the choice to beat her is Swift Sarah, whose speed should help her find a good strip of going early on. She will be fit and the champion combination of Sean Tarry and S’Manga Khumalo are in fine form. The one who could trouble these two is the progressive Captain’s Girl, who has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight.

Piere Strydom

The second race is a Novice Plate for fillies and mares and the officially best weighted horse Secret Star looks the one to beat. She has speed and the ability to find extra in the closing stages. Water Lily Lake is second best in at the weights and she can maybe bounce back to form in her third run after a layoff. However, Khumalo is aboard the three-year-old stablemate Yellow Metal, who is by Global One and is a half-sister to VDJ winner Heavy Metal. She is officially 4,5kg under sufferance but this is only her second start so she could still be anything and will have to be included in all bets. The enigmatic Winter Al is only 1kg out at the weights and often performs above her merit rating when tried in plate or conditions races and this is her best trip. Queenie is a talented horse but will still likely need this.

If Yellow Metal does win then Aimee Sweet will have a good chance in the next race over 1000m having finished a 2,8 length third to her last time over this 1000m trip. Hard-knocking Osculation will have a good chance here too. However, there are many first-timers here and the one who makes appeal is Successfilly, who is by Var and is a half-sister to the useful Frosty Friday. She has a high draw which is advantageous by trends on this track.

Gunship and Hear The Storm could fight out the next race over 1000m.

In the sixth race, Burundi Bush is better than her last start and is now off a competitive merit rating and drawn well. The Tarry-Khumalo combination must be considered with Seeking Venus, who has her third run after a layoff and is drawn well off a reduced merit rating. However, it’s an ultra competitive race and going wide might be the best option.

In the seventh, impressive debut winner Brigtnumbersix could beat Movie Award and The Smell Of Rain, although back in form Paree must be considered and so must Pool Party.

The eighth is another tough race although Outshine and Teenage Dream make most appeal.

In the last race Just A Gigolo is well drawn over an ideal trip and goes well for Piere Strydom, although he has Maximizer to beat, the latter having impressed second time out over this trip.

By David Thiselton

South Africa is all set for probably the greatest racing day in its history on January 28 at Kenilworth and the lucrative card is headed by the Gr 1 R5 million Sun Met.

A quality field of fifteen was announced for the Met and adding spice was the declaration of legendary jockey Frankie Dettori to ride the Joey Ramsden-trained Vodacom Durban July winner The Conglomerate.

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

The reigning Equus Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle is one of six horses who will be carrying a 2kg Gr 1 penalty. The five-year-old gelding is probably at his very best over a mile, but is comfortable over this 2000m trip too, so considering his good early pace, his exceptional turn of foot and ability to find another gear when challenged, he will be hard to beat.

Mac De Lago, The Conglomerate, Marinaresco, It’s My Turn and Bela-Bela are the others carrying Gr 1 penalties.

Mac De Lago was beaten 3,9 lengths by Legal Eagle in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m and is now 2kg worse off.

The Conglomerate was receiving 4kg from Mac De Lago in the July and beat him by only 2,25 lengths, so he also looks held. This is confirmed by his failure to win the Gr 1 handicap, the Sansui Summer Cup,  off a merit rating of 106.

Marinaresco disappointed in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, but comes from a yard who are renowned for peaking their charges for their target races. The Met is this horse’s right trip and he has a massive chance when considering his July run where he came from an impossible position to lose by only 0,25 lengths.

Bela-Bela finished three lengths behind Smart Call in last year’s Gr 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes over 1800m and the latter went on to beat Legal Eagle by 3,5 lengths in the Met. In her only previous run against the boys she finished a 2,65 length sixth in the July and if weight for age is taken into account is now effectively 3,5kg better off with The Conglomerate.

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

It’s My Turn was a comfortable winner of last year’s Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby over course and distance and has enjoyed a fine preparation. He should be coming into his own being a four-year-old gelding by Dynasty and with expected further improvement from his 2,4 length third in the Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap he should make his presence felt.

However, Whisky Baron could well be the main danger to Legal Eagle. He has improved continuously since gelding and his comfortable win in the Peninsula suggested that he is still unexposed. He receives 2kg from the favourite and will be a big threat.

Captain America is an honest sort who has 4,5 lengths to make up on Legal Eagle from last year’s race. However, he will be getting a 2kg pull in his favour as his only Gr 1 win happened more than 18 months ago.

The dark horse is undoubtedly Gold Standard, who is the only three-year-old in the race. He finished 0,5 lengths behind William Longsword in the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas and this big and bold pair were not 3,25 lengths clear of the rest of the field by fluke. Gold Standard should relish the 2000m trip on pedigree.

French Navy has plenty of class and, as his Gr 1 win was more than 18 months ago, he is now 2kg better off with Legal Eagle for a 2,1 length beating in the Premier’s Champions Challenge.

Brazuca was a 3,8 length fifth in the Peninsula and faces Whisky Baron on the same terms. However, he will now be having his third run after a rest and is 2kg better off with Its My Turn for a two length beating in last year’s Cape Derby.

Baritone had a curtailed SA Champions Season and the best might not yet have been seen of him.

Cape Speed, Mambo Mime and MacDuff are all decent sorts and distance suited, but they would need to step up on their form to be factors.

By David Thiselton

Kapteinspandiseile can recoup the losses he incurred for this column three weeks ago by proving too good for the opposition in the Racing Association Maiden at Kenilworth today.

Richard Fourie’s mount was cramped for galloping room (in the words of the stipes’ report) quite early on when starting 18-10 favourite and got too far back. He then took too long to get going in the straight but he fairly flew at the end and was little more than a length back at the death.

“He was well placed when another horse came in on him and turned him towards McDonald’s,” recalls Mike Robinson. “He lost three or four lengths in the process but he will like the extra 200m here.”

Richard Fourie (Nkosi Hlophe)

The obvious danger is Wildlife Safarai who was having only his second run when finishing a neck behind the Kaptein. “He belongs to the grooms at Maine Chance,” says Eric Sands. “He was very green that time but he has come on quite a bit.”

It’s worth noting that the selection had to make his move from behind Wildlife Safari and that, coupled with interference he suffered, suggests he should be able to confirm the form. He opened 12-10 favourite with World Sports Betting on Monday but the money poured on him yesterday when, sorry to relate, he was cut to 9-10. Wildlife Safari has gone from 28-10 to 33-10 with My Word My Bond next on 4-1.

There is only half an hour between each of the first five races which is good news for those on-course. Admittedly the gaps then widen  – 45 minutes and 40 minutes – but for many racegoers, particularly new ones, racing means lengthy periods when there is little happening.

Andre Nel is in blistering form. He may have some superbly bred horses to work with but the man has real talent and he should add to his 32-winner tally this term with Silk Trip in the first. She had the third over three lengths back when second on debut last month. “We thought she would run a good race and she has come on a bit,” the trainer reports.

The only snag is that her price is so short – 6-10 yesterday- but she should prove too strong for 5-1 second favourite Gin For Genius, a five-year-old maiden who has run 15 times.

Tiger Tops is 2-1 favourite for race two and the Joey Ramsden six-year-old may go in again. Two wins and a head second has seen him go up relatively little in the ratings but watch out for Big Ed whose saddle slipped in the closing stages when going close over 200m less four weeks ago. He opened at 3-1 but has since been backed to 22-10.

The Nel-trained O’Keeffe has been scratched from race four and so the vote now goes to Glen Kotzen’s twice-raced Ashafan who has come in from 3-1 on Monday to 12-10.

By Michael Clower