High-flying apprentice Lyle Hewitson has made merry over the festive season and his win on the Greyville turf on New Year’s Day aboard the Paul Peter-trained Gauteng raider Fort Ember in the Flamboyant Stakes was the third Gr 3 winner in the space of a calendar week.

On Old Year’s Day Hewitson won the Gr 3 Lebelo Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein on the Mike Azzie-trained Rivarine and on “Boxing Day” he won the Gr 3 Christmas Handicap over 1600m on the Greyville turf aboard the Sean Tarry-trained Rikitikitana. Furthermore, Hewitson rode a treble at the New Year Day’s meeting.

The Flamboyant Stakes saw another Graded race success for the increasingly prominent sire Elusive Fort. The four-year-old Fort Ember was off the track for a year due to a racing rule relating to a legal wrangle. She had finished sixth in the Gr 1 Thekwini as a two-year-old in her third career start. She came back at the beginning of this season to win three on the trot between 1400m and 1600m before running a 1,7 length fourth in the Gr 2 Ipi Tombe Stakes over 1600 and a close second in a Conditions Plate over 1800m.

The connections, KG Bakos, GM Bakos, I Levitan and Peter himself, were confident of success in the Flamboyant and she shortened into 3-1 second favourite.

The robust filly has a lovely, elastic-like action and Hewitson took her up into second place from a tricky draw of nine in the 13 horse field.

In the running she sat one wide behind a slow pace set by Littleblacknumber. She was a bit green throughout the turn, but was nice and relaxed and turned for home full of running. She shot into the lead and the 18-10 favourite Heaps Of Fun, who had sat in the box seat inside of her, couldn’t go with her. It was left to Impala Lily, Dawn Calling and last year’s winner Olma to chase her home. Impala Lily got within two lengths to finish second. Dawn Calling was a further 3,3 lengths back in third, touching off Olma by a head. Olma was a bit keen early from a wide draw and her good turn of foot was also blunted by the slow pace. However, she confirmed form virtually exactly with Lala from last year’s race, the latter finishing a two length runner up last year and fifth this year, 2,25 lengths behind Olma.

The race was marred by Miss Minver breaking a leg and she had to be euthanized. Jockey Morne Winnaar stood up after the incident, but was booked off his remaining rides. Hewitson thus picked up the ride on the Dean Kanemeyer-trained three-year-old Mambo In Seattle gelding Mr O’Neill, who at last displayed some of the ability he has always been known to possess by winning a MR 70 Handicap over 1600m in good fashion.

Peter and Hewitson had earlier combined to win from a wide draw in fluent style on the Gauteng raider Blue Berry Pie in a 1400m maiden for fillies and mares on the turf.

There was an eyecatching win at the meeting for the Gareth van Zyl-trained and Brian Burnard-owned Onsie, who is a typically progressive daughter of Ideal World. In a MR 66 Handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m on the turf, she jumped from a wide draw of 15 under Muzi Yeni and had to be content to run three wide the whole way. However, this did not stop her finding plenty in the straight and she won going away by 5,5 lengths from Fashion Talk and Good Grace. She was only running off a 75 merit rating, so still has a lot to prove before the SA Champions Season, but is well regarded by the yard and is going the right way.

Yeni also scored on the Lowen Denysschen-trained Pure Valor in a MR 86 Handicap over 2000m, a race which had a thrilling finish.

On Saturday Rivarine had looked a sitter in the Lebelo Sprint, a handicap, as he had just been touched off by Green Pepper over this trip in his previous start when giving the latter 7,5kg. He was running off a 98 merit rating in Saturday’s race, while Green Pepper had meanwhile risen to a 106 rating. Rivarine, who is by Var out of the  J&B Met-winning filly River Jetez,  “ricocheted” away from the pack in the closing stages, ducking from the outside all the way to the inside, but he was so well clear it did not matter. He finished 2,25 lengths ahead of the runner up, the progressive three-year-old Great Britain filly Queen Laurie. The latter will pay to follow as she was 3kg under sufferance on official merit ratings. Her Grant Maroun-trained stablemate Wrecking Ball made it a one-two-three for three-year-olds.

By David Thiselton

Bela-Bela looks set to win the second Gr 1 of her career in the Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday, but beyond her it looks to be one of the most competitive renewals in recent times and none of her eleven opponents can be written off.

Bela-Bela showed in her seasonal reappearance in a Conditions Plate over 1400m she retains all of her considerable class. On Saturday from a good draw of six, in the supporting feature to the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, she will be hard to beat under Anton Marcus over her likely ideal trip.

Safe Harbour is the shortest priced three-year-old in the race. In the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas she was cut down late by Just Sensual. This long-striding daughter of Gr 1 SA Derby and Gr 1 Daily News 2200 winner Elusive Fort should enjoy the step up in trip on pedigree and seems to have thrived in Cape Town. She would have had enough time to recover from her first two Cape Town starts, which included victory in the R2,5million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m. Weichong Marwing keeps the ride and they have a plum draw of two.

Sail jumped from a wide draw of 13 in the Cape Fillies Guineas and was taken into a handy position. She was overtaken by two or three in the straight, but was fighting back at the line, giving the impression she would stay this trip. Her dam Cutty Sark, by Fort Wood, won over 1400m and produced the decent sprinter by Seventh Rock, Rock On Baby. However, Sail’s sire Philanthropist did win a Gr 3 over 1900m. Unfortunately, Sail has another tough draw of ten.

Final Judgement by Judpot had to be eased when squeezed out between the rail and another horse in the Cape Fillies Guineas and she then shifted outward which cost her more ground. However, she then used long strides to make up ground and under the circumstances finished a decent 4,35 length eighth. She has the same draw of seven here.

Whose That Girl by Gitano Hernando was running on well from near last in the Cape Fillies Guineas when she was completely taken out. She still managed to come back to run a 5,35 length tenth. Three weeks later she converted favouritism when well weighted in a Graduation Plate over 1600m, running on well again, so should get the trip. She is well drawn in four with in-form MJ Byleveld up, and is likely better than her 90 merit rating suggests.

Among the older horses Chevauchee, an Australian-bred by High Chaparral, has always possessed a lot of class. Her career has had one or two interruptions and she now gets a chance at last to prove how good she is. On pedigree and running style she should get this trip.

She failed to win the Listed Jet Master Stakes over 1600m last time in a small field, despite officially being 0,5kg better off with the 90 merit rated winner Fifty Cents. However, the latter was subsequently supplemented for the Queen’s Plate. Furthermore, Chevauchee was likely too handy in the Jet Master Stakes and now has her third run after a layoff. She is likely to be dropped out from a wide draw and her supporters will be hoping to see her produce a strong finish under Greg Cheyne and defy her 98 merit rating.

Tahini finished a close third in the Gr 2 Ipi Tombi Challenge in her penultimate start over 1600m at Turffontein when staying on late and earlier had a victory over Cape Fillies Guineas third-placed Querari Falcon. The form of the Ipi Tombe has been franked and being by Silvano she should be improving. In her first Cape start over the Paddock Stakes course and distance she wasn’t disgraced finishing 5,55 lengths behind the classy Whisky Baron when receiving just 0,5kg. This small filly is drawn well in five and S’Manga Khumalo is up, but she will have to step up again.

Nightingale was a touch unlucky in last season’s Woolavington 2000, but still managed a strong-finishing 1,85 length third. Bela-Bela probably won that race easier than the margin suggests, but Nightingale will be improving being by Silvano and looks to have enjoyed a good preparation. She finished well with long strides for second in the Gr 3 Victress Stakes over the 1800m Paddock Stakes course and distance last time out. She now has her third run after a layoff from a tricky draw of nine.

However, stable jockey Grant van Niekerk has opted to ride another Silvano filly Silver Mountain, who needs little introduction and has been priced up second favourite. She could be a big threat from a draw of three as she should start enjoying this trip this season.

The Victress Stakes was won by the honest Royal Air Force filly Goodtime Girl and Gavin Lerena will help her overcome a high draw of eleven.

Star Express finished 1,35 lengths behind third-placed Bela-Bela in last year’s Paddock Stakes and in her first run for ten months last time she finished just 0,4 lengths behind Bela-Bela over 1400m at level weights, a fine effort. However, she obviously hasn’t enjoyed an ideal preparation.

Icy Fire was staying on in the Victress for a 3,25 length fifth but looks held.

The prestigious race is important for stud value and will provide an intriguing curtain raiser for the Queen’s Plate.

By David Thiselton

Igugu’s half-sister Ngaga is to be nominated for the Cape Derby after comfortably extending her unbeaten run to three under Aldo Domeyer in the mile fillies handicap at Kenilworth on Saturday.

“The boss (Sabine Plattner) pays us to win the big ones,” reasons Andre Nel. “There is a lot to come from this filly so we will have to go higher and jump in at the deep end.”

Snaith has won the Met day two-year-old Listed race in each of the last five years but he could struggle to find one to beat Dutch Philip who came home alone under hands and heels on debut to get What A Winter off the mark as a sire.

Van Niekerk, initiating a second successive Kenilworth treble, said: “He showed a lot of class, he has a lovely cruising speed and he quickens up well.”

Kwando and Sihle Cele, coming home at 66-1 in the 1 200m fillies handicap, served up one of the shocks of the month. Indeed Ronnie Sheehan’s assistant Peter Wrench put it higher than that, declaring: “This was 2016 – Leicester City, Brexit, Trump and now Kwando!”

By Michael Clower

Legal Eagle has usurped Marinaresco at the head of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate market. When Word Sports Betting priced up Saturday’s Kenilworth highlight last Tuesday they took the view that Marinaresco would reverse Green Point running with the Horse of the Year.

But seemingly punters – or at least the early ones – think otherwise because most of the money so far has been for Legal Eagle and by yesterday last year’s winner had shortened from 14-10 to evens with Marinaresco drifting to 14-10.

The challengers’ connections know their horse faces a formidable task. “Unfortunately he is again not drawn well and I don’t think he is as good over a mile as he is over 2 000m,” says Candice Bass-Robinson, adding that the Sun Met is the main objective. “Legal Eagle is a hard horse to beat over a mile but we are going to give it a try.”

Her hopes, and those of Grant van Niekerk, were boosted by an impressive five furlong solo sprint-up by the Champions Cup winner over the course last Wednesday.

The Conglomerate has drifted from 10-1 to 14-1 but punters missed the July winner’s work-out over the full race distance at Kenilworth on Saturday. “It was probably the best bit of work he has ever done,” says a buoyed Joey Ramsden. “In a way this is a prep for the Met – he does need another race – but his Summer Cup run was incredible and he is not in this just to make up the numbers.”

Captain America, fourth last year and 14-1 this time, is the shortest-priced of Brett Crawford’s three (“he is in good form”)with Sail South (35-1) and 60-1 shot Midnite Zone his other two. The presence of the last-named raises the intriguing possibility that he could be used to make the pace for Legal Eagle and The Conglomerate as he also carries the Mayfair colours. But too searching a gallop could play into Marinaresco’s stamina strengths.

Bela-Bela is 12-10 favourite for the Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes but seemingly stable companion Star Express has a better chance than her 9-1 price would suggest. “Bela-Bela needed her run last month and has been doing very well since,” says Justin Snaith who has 37 declared over the two days. “But Star Express will be right there. She is a very good filly and there won’t be much between her and Bela-Bela.”

Silver Mountain (28-10) has a length and a half to find with Bela-Bela on last month’s 1 400m run. “I certainly wouldn’t say she can’t do it – depends whether she gets the trip,” says Mrs Robinson. “She has done will since that run and she is drawn well so Grant will be able to slot her into a nice position.”

Mike Robinson, bullish about 16-1 shot Goodtime Gal, points out that this is the second run after a break for the two at the head of the market. “Mine will be the fittest horse in the race,” he says. “It’s a pity Richard Fourie couldn’t stick with her (he is claimed for Final Judgement) but she is a straightforward ride so I don’t think Gavin Lerena will have any problems.”

Last year’s Investec Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn (Piere Strydom) skips the Queen’s Plate to shoulder top weight in the Glorious Goodwood Peninsula Handicap. “A mile is too short for him,” Snaith explains. “This is another prep for the Met and on January 28 he will be ready.”

By Michael Clower

David Thiselton Selections

Race 1
(4) Mujallad (5) Quinlan (8) Lolita Delago

Race 2
(2) Flying Russian (1) Timeofthevikings (3) Vars Pride

Race 3
(7) Handsome Henry (2) Al Hamd (8) Island View

Race 4
(3) Being Fabulous (2) Sharp Princess (9) Gold Shades

Race 5
(4) B Twenty One (3) Bondiblu (7) Barcelona Babe

Race 6
(1) Doosra (4) Furiosa (2) Daffiq

Race 7
(4) French Legend (2) Arissa (6) Queenie

Race 8
(6) Rebuked (3) Romi’s Boy (1) Mombela

David Thiselton Selections

PA (R216)

Leg 1: 2 x 1 x 3

Leg 2: 7 x 2 x 8 x 3 x 10 x 1

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 4 x 3

Leg 5: 1 x 4 x 2

Leg 6: 4 x 2

Leg 7: 6

PICK 6 (R2250)

Leg 1: 7 x 2 x 8 x 3 x 10 x 1

Leg 2: 3

Leg 3: 4 x 3 x 7 x 10 x 8

Leg 4: 1 x 4 x 2

Leg 5: 4 x 2 x 6 x 7 x 8

Leg 6: 6 x 3 x 1 x 7 x 2

JACKPOT (R75)

Leg 1: 3

Leg 2: 4 x 3 x 7 x 10 x 8

Leg 3: 1 x 4 x 2

Leg 4: 4 x 2 x 6 x 7 x 8

BEST BET
Race 4: 3

VALUE BET
Race 8: 6