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.

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.

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.”

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

Jockey Aldo Domeyer’s perfect six at Kenilworth last week was not a record for number of winners ridden on a day in South Africa, although he might have been the first to ride a perfect six (six wins from six rides).

Jeff Lloyd has reportedly ridden seven winners in a day on three occasions in South Africa. He repeated this feat on November 30 last year in Australia, when having 11 rides on a 12 race card at Sunshine Coast racecourse. Lloyd at age 55 became the oldest to win the Brisbane Premiership last season. He is on his way to reclaiming this title having ridden 78 winners this season, 32 clear of second-placed Robbie Fradd. He is chasing Chris Munce’s Queensland metropolitan record of 103. Lloyd is also locked in a struggle with William Pike to be leading jockey in Australia. Both riders are currently on 98 winners in all for the season. Lloyd recovered from a mild stroke in 2013, which makes his recent achievements all the more remarkable.

South African record-breaking jockey Piere Strydom has ridden seven winners in a day twice. On one of these occasions [July 14, 1990] he famously rode the Pick 6 at Gosforth Park, the only rider to have achieved this feat. He also rode the winner of the first race that day. His Pick 6 winners were the Mike Azzie-trained 6/1 shot Boy On The Run, the Mike Azzie-trained 18/10 shot Dandy Man, the Herman Brown Snr-trained 11/10 favourite Mathematic, the Robbie Sage-trained 4/1 chance Haystack, the Spike Lerena-trained 16/10 favourite Highland Gypsy and the Spike Lerena-trained 2/1 favourite Straw Lining. His other winner on the day was the Nic Claassen-trained 6/10 favourite Golden Child. On the same day Strydom rode in a match race on the Azzie-trained Brainteaser, who was beaten by the Cliffie Otto-trained Divine Act, and also rode in two other races.

The first to achieve seven winners in a day in South Africa might well have been the legendary Harold “Tiger” Wright. In a nine race Rand Turf Club meeting held at Newmarket racecourse in Alberton on February 3 1960, Wright had eight rides and won on seven of them. Two of the winners were for George Azzie, the grandfather of current trainer Mike, two were for EJ Sparks and one each for ETC Passmore, DC Littlefield and R Ralphs.

Domeyer’s achievement does not constitute a Western Cape record either as Garth Puller rode seven winners at Kenilworth on 27 September 1980, when having a ride in all nine races. Puller, who was SA champion jockey in the 1978/1979 season and is now a trainer, rode the first five on the card and also race seven and race nine. Four of his winners were for Peter Kannemeyer and three for Bert Abercrombie.

Basil Marcus achieved seven winners in a day on 3 December 1986 at Greyville where he rode in all nine races.

His first winner that day was on a top class sort in the Herman Brown-trained Singing Boy, who won a maiden over 1200m at odds off 11/10F. The son of multiple champion sire Foveros went on to win two G1s over 1600m and 2000m respectively, both when raiding Turffontein. Marcus’ other victorious rides were on the Joe Joseph-trained Foreign Attache (2^nd race 16/10F), the Mike Miller-trained Business Liner (4^th race 14/10F), the Ormond Ferraris-trained Bold Candidate (5^th race 6/1), the Terry Ryan-trained Miss Lobkowiez (6^th race 18/10F), the Brown-trained Harry’s Champ (8^th race 13/10) and the Mike Airey-trained Hunting Queen (ninth race 6/1).

Marcus, a seven-time champion jockey in Hong Kong, also once rode six winners in a day in Cape Town while still an apprentice on 21 June 1975 where he had eight rides in an eight race card at Milnerton. Remarkably five of those winning mounts were by the great stallion Persian Wonder, who was duly crowned Champion Sire for the fourth time in succession at the end of the season. Persian Wonder won the sire’s championships two more times, but only after his great rival New South Wales had clinched the title twice.

Domeyer is currently in 15^th place on the SA national log with 41 winners achieved at a strike rate of 17,01% and he duly has seven rides at tomorrow’s Kenilworth meeting.

By David Thiselton

The Sun Met gallops at Kenilworth on Thursday will be particularly important for 15-2 fourth favourite Bela-Bela, the mount of Anthony Delpech.

Justin Snaith said: “Bela-Bela was tired after her Paddock Stakes win. It was only her second race this season, the second horse (Safe Harbour) is a very good filly and I’d skipped a gallop beforehand because of the Met gallops.

“You see you can’t gallop then race ten days later, gallop again and then race in the Met nine or ten days after that. I don’t train horses that way and so I left out the gallop before the Paddock Stakes.”

Sean Tarry reports that Legal Eagle came out of his Queen’s Plate win in good shape and he is dismissive of suggestions that the Met favourite might be better over a mile than over the 2 000m of Saturday week’s big race. These suggestions have been based on Captain America, although considered best at a mile, finishing nearly two lengths closer to Legal Eagle in last year’s Met than he had done in the Queen’s Plate three weeks earlier.

“How many times have they met [over 2 000m], two or three?” he countered. “And don’t forget Legal Eagle won the SA Derby.”

Joey Ramsden confirms that The Conglomerate came out of the Queen’s Plate fine. The Durban July winner finished only seventh of 11 and Piere Strydom asked for the vet to check the horse out at the start.

Ramsden said: “I thought he ran a good race considering the trip and that he ran out of puff.”

Talktothestars, only tenth in last Saturday’s Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes, was returned not striding out on both front legs by the course vet. Tellytrack presenter and former trainer Stan Elley said shortly before the off that the ground was riding very firm for a horse racing without shoes.

By Michael Clower

Frankie Dettori will be at Kenilworth for South Africa’s richest-ever race day on Saturday, January 28, when the legendary jockey will ride Durban July-winner The Conglomerate for trainer Joey Ramsden and owners Mayfair Speculators in the R5-million Sun Met celebrated with Mumm.

Dettori, famous for his flying dismounts, will also partner the highly regarded Table Bay for Ramsden in the Investec Cape Derby and Cape Fillies Guineas winner Just Sensual for the same trainer in the $500,000 CTS Mile as well as the Dennis Drier-trained Seventh Plain in the Betting World Cape Flying Championship.

Ramsden has gone close in the Sun Met on more than one occasion and The Conglomerate has an obvious chance although he will have to respond positively to Dettori’s brilliance if he is to topple warm favourite Legal Eagle who also carries the colours of Markus Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators.

Justin Snaith has the biggest hand with three runners – last year’s Investec Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn, Baritone and exceptionally high-class filly Bela-Bela. Other notable runners include heavily backed Whisky Baron and Marinaresco, who went so close in the Durban July.

The draws will be decided after the 15 runners gallop at Kenilworth on Thursday morning (7am Tellytrack DSTV 239).

– TABNews

Final field for the Grade 1 Sun Met Celebrated With Mumm over 2000m at Kenilworth:

1 – 0 LEGAL EAGLE (S G Tarry) A Marcus 60.0 – 123

2 – 0 MAC DE LAGO (W H Marwing) A Domeyer 60.0 – 112

3 – 0 THE CONGLOMERATE (J Ramsden) L Dettori 60.0 – 107

4 – 0 MARINARESCO (C L Bass-Robinson) G van Niekerk 59.5 – 115

5 – 0 IT’S MY TURN (S J Snaith) P Strydom 59.5 – 106

6 – 0 CAPTAIN AMERICA (B Crawford) C Orffer 58.0 – 116

7 – 0 FRENCH NAVY (S G Tarry) W Marwing 58.0 – 113

8 – 0 WHISKY BARON (B Crawford) G Cheyne 57.5 – 110

9 – 0 BRAZUCA (J A Janse van Vuuren) G Lerena 57.5 – 109

10 – 0 BARITONE (S J Snaith) A Fortune 57.5 – 105

11 – 0 CAPE SPEED (D Kannemeyer) K de Melo 57.5 – 101

12 – 0 MAMBO MIME (D Kannemeyer) G Behr 57.5 – 99

13 – 0 MACDUFF (J Ramsden) D Dillon 57.5 – 90

14 – 0 BELA-BELA (S J Snaith) A Delpech 57.0 – 109

15 – 0 GOLD STANDARD (G S Kotzen) R Fourie 52.0 – 108

Same Trainer: (1,7) (3,13) (5,10,14) (6,8) (11,12)

Final field and draws for the Grade 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship over 1000m at Kenilworth:

1 – 2 TRIP TO HEAVEN (S G Tarry) …………… 60.0 – 120

2 – 1 RED RAY (J Ramsden) A Marcus 60.0 – 117

3 – 17 TALKTOTHESTARS (F C De Beer) S Pasquier 60.0 – 116

4 – 5 BRUTAL FORCE (J Ramsden) D Dillon 60.0 – 112

5 – 11 TEVEZ (C L Bass-Robinson) A Domeyer 60.0 – 112

6 – 8 GULF STORM (B Crawford) G Cheyne 60.0 – 108

7 – 14 CAPTAIN ALFREDO (S J Snaith) W Marwing 60.0 – 107

8 – 16 GENERALISSIMO (D R Drier) A Delpech 60.0 – 107

9 – 9 SEARCH PARTY (B Crawford) C Orffer 60.0 – 106

10 – 15 ASSTAR (G R Puller) …………… 60.0 – 104

11 – 6 TAR HEEL (J Ramsden) …………… 60.0 – 104

12 – 18 SEVENTH PLAIN (D R Drier) L Dettori 60.0 – 100

13 – 10 DARING DAVE (D R Hodgson) A Fortune 60.0 – 98

14 – 7 CARRY ON ALICE (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 57.5 – 114

15 – 3 JO’S BOND (S J Snaith) R Fourie 57.5 – 102

16 – 4 RIVARINE (M G Azzie) G Lerena 56.5 – 105

Reserve Runners

17 – 13 PERCIVAL (W A Nel) Reserve 1 60.0 – 94

18 – 12 LINE BREAK (C L Bass-Robinson) Reserve 2 60.0 – 93

Same Trainer: (1,14) (2,4,11) (5,18) (6,9) (7,15) (8,12)

Final field and draws for the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m at Kenilworth:

1 – 5 REAL PRINCESS (D Kannemeyer) K de Melo 60.0 – 106

2 – 20 SILVER MOUNTAIN (C L Bass-Robinson) G van Niekerk 60.0 – 105

3 – 16 NIGHTINGALE (C L Bass-Robinson) A Delpech 60.0 – 104

4 – 19 ALEXIS (B Crawford) G Cheyne 60.0 – 103

5 – 9 OLMA (F Robinson) I Sturgeon 60.0 – 103

6 – 18 A TIME TO DREAM (S J Snaith) A Fortune 60.0 – 102

7 – 13 STAR EXPRESS (S J Snaith) P Strydom 60.0 – 102

8 – 6 CAPTAIN’S FLAME (W A Nel) A Domeyer 60.0 – 100

9 – 4 BEACH GODDESS (B Crawford) C Orffer 60.0 – 99

10 – 3 GOODTIME GAL (M J Robinson) G Lerena 60.0 – 99

11 – 10 TAHINI (S G Tarry) …………… 60.0 – 97

12 – 12 MOONLIGHT ‘N ROSES (C L Bass-Robinson) M Byleveld 60.0 – 96

13 – 17 NEALA (S W Humby) D Dillon 60.0 – 90

14 – 11 SAIL (D R Drier) S Veale 55.0 – 102

15 – 1 LADY OF THE HOUSE (B Crawford) A Marcus 55.0 – 100

16 – 2 FINAL JUDGEMENT (G S Kotzen) R Fourie 55.0 – 99

17 – 15 CHESTNUTS N PEARLS (D R Drier) Reserve 1 60.0 – 97

18 – 14 QUINE (W A Nel) Reserve 2 60.0 – 90

19 – 7 MISS MARKER (C L Bass-Robinson) Reserve 3 60.0 – 87

20 – 8 PARTY CRASHER (G S Kotzen) Reserve 4 55.0 – 83

Same Trainer: (2,3,12,19) (4,9,15) (6,7) (8,18) (14,17) (16,20)

Final field and draws for the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby over 2000m at Kenilworth:

1 – 2 TABLE BAY (J Ramsden) L Dettori 60.0 – 106

2 – 3 EDICT OF NANTES (B Crawford) A Marcus 60.0 – 99

3 – 4 ELEVATED (C/R Burger/van Reenen) G Cheyne 60.0 – 99

4 – 1 HORIZON (C L Bass-Robinson) G van Niekerk 60.0 – 98

5 – 5 ZODIAC RULER (S J Snaith) …………… 60.0 – 97

6 – 6 NEWLANDS (J Ramsden) D Dillon 60.0 – 94

7 – 9 WINTER IS COMING (F Robinson) I Sturgeon 60.0 – 90

8 – 10 OLLIVANDER (C L Bass-Robinson) A Domeyer 60.0 – 85

9 – 7 OMAHA TRIBE (V H Marshall) M Byleveld 60.0 – 80

10 – 8 CAPTAIN GAMBLER (J Ramsden) R Fourie 57.5 – 90

Same Trainer: (1,6,10) (4,8)

Final field and draws for the $500,000 CTS Mile over 1600m at Kenilworth:

1 – 12 WILLIAM LONGSWORD (V H Marshall) A Marcus 60.0 – 109

2 – 16 JANOOBI (M F De Kock) P Strydom 60.0 – 100

3 – 1 SINGAPORE SLING (G V Woodruff) C Maujean 60.0 – 98

4 – 5 AFRICAN NIGHT SKY (S J Snaith) R Fourie 60.0 – 91

5 – 6 I TRAVEL LIGHT (J Ramsden) D Dillon 60.0 – 87

6 – 2 DANCER (J Ramsden) …………… 60.0 – 86

7 – 9 A NEW DAWN (J Ramsden) …………… 60.0 – 85

8 – 17 COPPER FORCE (S J Snaith) A Delpech 60

9 – 15 TILBURY FORT (S G Tarry) …………… 60.0 – 84

10 – 11 KENNY TRIX (V H Marshall) M Byleveld 60.0 – 83

11 – 18 JUST SENSUAL (J Ramsden) L Dettori 57.5 – 109

12 – 7 SAFE HARBOUR (S G Tarry) …………… 57.5 – 108

13 – 4 SHE’S A GIVER (J A Janse van Vuuren) G Lerena 57.5 – 104

14 – 3 EPONA (J Ramsden) S Pasquier 57.5 – 98

15 – 8 WHOSE THAT GIRL (C L Bass-Robinson) G van Niekerk 57.5 – 90

16 – 14 PRIMROSE LANE (D R Hodgson) A Fortune 57.5 – 88

17 – 10 BIG BANG THEORY (B Crawford) Reserve 1 57.5 – 78

18 – 13 CANDID (C L Bass-Robinson) Reserve 2 60.0 – 82

Same Trainer: (1,10) (4,8) (5,6,7,11,14) (9,12) (15,18)

Final field and draws for the $500,000 CTS Sprint over 1200m at Kenilworth:

1 – 17 SERGEANT HARDY (S J Snaith) R Fourie 60.0 – 110

2 – 8 ALWAYS IN CHARGE (V H Marshall) A Marcus 60.0 – 108

3 – 4 ATTENBOROUGH (J Ramsden) P Strydom 60.0 – 101

4 – 16 ELUSIVE PATH (V H Marshall) M Byleveld 60.0 – 96

5 – 6 BUFFALO SOLDIER (C Laird) A Fortune 60.0 – 95

6 – 3 STARFLASH (V H Marshall) G Cheyne 60.0 – 90

7 – 18 LE HARVE (S J Snaith) A Andrews 60.0 – 86

8 – 7 LIVE LIFE (C L Bass-Robinson) G van Niekerk 57.5 – 101

9 – 11 CLOTH OF CLOUD (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 57.5 – 99

10 – 20 MYFUNNYVALENTINE (S G Tarry) …………… 57.5 – 97

11 – 15 EXQUISITE TOUCH (S G Tarry) …………… 57.5 – 96

12 – 13 BLAZE OF MYSTERY (D C Howells) K de Melo 57.5 – 92

13 – 9 A WOMENS WAY (D C Howells) I Sturgeon 57.5 – 91

14 – 10 RED LIGHT GIRL (S J Snaith) A Domeyer 57.5 – 90

15 – 19 AL DANZA (G V Woodruff) G Lerena 57.5 – 89

16 – 5 HASHTAG STRAT (L W Goosen) J Sampson 57.5 – 89

17 – 12 EXTRADITE (C L Bass-Robinson) A Delpech 57.5 – 88

18 – 14 WAKE UP MAGGIE (C L Bass-Robinson) D Dillon 57.5 – 88

19 – 1 CLIFTON SUNSET (B Crawford) C Orffer 57.5 – 84

20 – 2 FRENCH LEGEND (S G Tarry) …………… 57.5 – 83

Same Trainer: (1,7,14) (2,4,6) (8,17,18) (9,10,11,20) (12,13)

Final fields for the R1-million Kuda Sprint (Non-Black Type) over 1200m

1 – 2 BARRACK STREET (S G Tarry) …………… 60.0 – 83

2 – 8 BOLD RESPECT (B Crawford) C Orffer 60.0 – 84

3 – 10 PUGET SOUND (M F De Kock) G Lerena 60.0 – 80

4 – 18 SIR FRENCHIE (S J Snaith) P Strydom 60.0 – 79

5 – 3 APOLLO STAR (J Ramsden) D Dillon 58.0 – 75

6 – 16 BERNIE (C L Bass-Robinson) G van Niekerk 58.0 – 75

7 – 14 BIG MISTAKE (C L Bass-Robinson) A Marcus 58.0 – 77

8 – 20 CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 – 85

9 – 17 HENRY TUDOR (S J Snaith) A Domeyer 58.0 – 76

10 – 12 RIKERS ISLAND (V H Marshall) M Byleveld 58.0 – 0

11 – 11 SNOW BOARDING (A Nassif) C Zackey 58.0 – 74

12 – 1 SUNDAY FALLS (V H Marshall) …………… 58.0 – 64

13 – 13 VARSIDE (S J Snaith) A Fortune 58.0 – 75

14 – 9 VOLCANIC SUNSET (S G Tarry) …………… 58.0 – 79

15 – 15 VORTEX STAR (S G Tarry) …………… 58.0 – 74

16 – 6 WALL STREET TRADER (C L Bass-Robinson) S Veale 58.0 – 64

17 – 19 WARRIOR’S REST (S G Tarry) …………… 58.0 – 73

18 – 4 WONDERWALL (S G Tarry) …………… 58.0 – 86

19 – 7 GOLD IMAGE (G S Kotzen) R Fourie 57.5 – 84

20 – 5 LACERTA (S J Snaith) …………… 55.5 – 76

Same Trainer: (1,14,15,17,18) (3,8) (4,9,13,20) (6,7,16) (10,12)