African Night Sky and Ngaga can finish the year in style at Kenilworth tomorrow. Both are unbeaten in two starts and look the goods.

The former was described by the sidelined Craig du Plooy as “something special and he turns it on like you can’t believe” after his win in October when he came with a strong run to get up 50m and win convincingly. Justin Snaith thought him good enough to run in the Selangor only for the horse to meet with a setback.

“He had an accident at the track,” recalls the trainer who is now eyeing one of the two CTS $500 000 races in four weeks’ time. “It was nothing serious but he had to be scratched and there have been no suitable races since.”

Richard Fourie takes over in the 1 400m handicap and, despite a five-point rise for his last win, his mount should complete a hat-trick.

Ngaga, an AUS$250 000 half-sister to Met winner Igugu, has legs like your dining room table but that doesn’t stop her galloping and Andre Nel reckons that the step up to a mile in the Summer Of Champions Handicap is much in her favour.

Glen Kotzen runs three here and Fourie, who rode all of them last time, provides the key – although not in the way you might think. “He wanted to stick with Party Crasher,” says Kotzen. “But he is retained by Peter de Beyer and Hugo Hattingh so he rides White Rose.”

Mike de Kock has yet to win a Cape Town two-year-old race this term but Captain My Captain should be hard to beat in the opener after accounting for all except Gold Image early last month. He had Henry Tudor (expected to be scratched) 3.5 lengths behind with the slow-starting Why Wouldn’t Yew in fourth.

However it just might be worth taking a chance – at a much bigger price – with the topically-named State Capture who met all sorts of interference when still travelling well first time. “He was just about to hit the front when he was turned sideways,” recalls Darryl Hodgson. “Thank God he didn’t get injured.”

The horse was promptly bumped twice more. Little wonder that he only managed seventh of eight.

Nel’s newcomers have been doing well but the trainer reckons that Q Tibb “needs a lot further” than the 1 400m of race three. However Kampala Campari is expected to go well in the next. He could be worth a few rands.

By Michael Clower

Devonne Govender Selections

Race 1
(1) Captain My Captain (5) Henry Tudor (13) Varside

Race 2
(2) African Night Sky (6) Rinjani (1) Boldly Respectable

Race 3
(1) Wicked Kiss (2) Moonsaballoon (3) So Enchanting

Race 4
(12) Waitingfortonight (1) Cossack Guard (6) Baffert

Race 5
(1) Sun At Midnight (3) Pink Rock (8) Queen At War

Race 6
(7) Ngaga (5) Seattle Gold (6) Party Crasher

Race 7
(1) Gyre (4) Jabu (6) Top Of The Rock

Race 8
(12) Seattle Oak (2) Light Charger (1) Gypsy Beauty

Devonne Govender perms

PA (R128)

Leg 1: 2 x 6

Leg 2: 1 x 2

Leg 3: 12 x 1

Leg 4: 1 x 3

Leg 5: 7 x 5

Leg 6: 1 x 4

Leg 7: 12 x 2

PICK 6 (R810)

Leg 1: 1 x 2 x3

Leg 2: 12 x 1 x 6

Leg 3: 1 x 3 x 8

Leg 4: 7 x 5

Leg 5: 1 x 4 x 6 x 3 x 2

Leg 6: 12 x 2 x 1

JACKPOT (R90)

Leg 1: 12 x 1 x 6

Leg 2: 1 x 3 x 8

Leg 3: 7 x 5

Leg 4: 1 x 4 x 6 x 3 x 2

BEST BET

Race 6: 7

VALUE BET

Race 4: 12

Previews Turffontein Saturday 31 December

Race 1
Preview: GREEN PLAINS is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a half-sister to the useful Juan Pablo. SANDALWOOD by Great Britain out of Captain Al mare is a half-sister to  Var gelding Peanuts who won twice over 1000m at the Vaal early in his career.

Race 2
MODJAJI has plenty of early speed and from a probably favourable high draw and off a one point lower merit rating than last time looks the one to beat. EFFORTLESS REWARD has speed and class and with first time blinkers on should be right there. LADY ON FIRE is knocking on the door and has a fair draw too.

Race 3
Preview: SURPRISE MOVE is an Australian-bred by New Approach and doesn’t have a lot to beat here. AT SUNSET had some good form before a layoff of eight months and could run well fresh over a trip short of his best from a high draw. MOSS GAS was caught late last time over course and distance and should be involved again.

Race 4
Preview: ANNA PAVLOVA, who packs a powerful finish, looks capable of rising above this class and a wide draw on the Standside course is manageable. MAGICALITY is well regarded and is probably looking for this step up in trip after being a touch one paced last time in a sprint. MOVIE AWARD is well drawn and drops in class so could do well over a course and distance she has won over before. RETURN TO POWER was tried in a feature last time and is merit rated only 78 so can’t be ignored. MY FRIEND LEE and SAMARRA have to be considered too.

Race 5
Preview: RAFEEF is full of class and is interesting stepped up in trip after finding another gear late last time to fend off a challenger comfortably in a sprint, although he does have a tricky draw to overcome. APOCALYPSE NOW won well on debut and should also appreciate the step up in trip. IRISH PRIDE is a classy sort and the best might not have been seen of him yet so he will be a threat over an ideal trip.

Race 6
Preview: CAPTAIN CHIPS is knocking on the door and now has a good draw over this ideal trip. JUST A GIGOLO has a strong finish so is course and distance suited. ACT OF LOYALTY is a classy and progressive sort and can earn despite top weight.

Race 7
Preview: RIVARINE’s last run over this trip when touched off by Green Pepper to whom he conceded 7,5kg looks exceptionally good form and he is the best bet on the card. AFRICAN RULER has Andrew Fortune up so this classy older sprinter can’t be ignored although he has a low draw as oppsed to Rivarine’s probable favourable high draw. WRECKING BALL is going the right way and can earn again. CAPTAIN’S CAUSEWAY is also coming into his own. SEATTLE SINGER is speedy and will appreciate the step down in trip.

Race 8
Preview: SPRING STEEL was caught wide last time around the turn but still won comfortably so can overcome a five point merit rated raise from a likely favourable high draw. BARBEL RUN went close last time over course and distance and off the same mark will likely have the advantage of the Standside rail again. ANALYSE THIS showed speed over 1400m with blinkers on and is an intriguing runner over a step down in trip. JUST AS I SAID showed last time gelding has improved him and can’t be ignored despite a likely tricky draw and a five point raise. FIELDMARSHAL FENIX has a low draw too but was unlucky last time and should be involved.

Lunar Rush, the only horse in South Africa to break her maiden in a million-rand race, can score just her third victory when she runs in an 88 MR Handicap at Greyville this evening. But the handicappers are catching up and things may not be quite as easy tonight although she does look to have scope for further improvement.

Duncan Howells is cautiously optimistic of his filly’s chances. “She’s in good form and has improved on her last start. But,” he cautioned, “she is worse off at the weight’s with Kannemeyer’s filly.”

Red Moon At Night, although seldom out of the money in recent months, has been battling to register another victory and was beaten two lengths into second place by Lunar Rush on the Greyville turf last time out.

They switch to the poly this evening but both have shown that they are comfortable on the surface.

Lunar Rush was given a five-point penalty for that last success whilst second-placed Red Moon At Night escaped unscathed but with apprentice Eric Ngwane claiming his 1.5kg, Lunar Rush is only 2kg worse off. Theory has it that Red Moon At Night should finish a lot closer but if Lunar Rush has come on from that run as indicated then the result could remain the same. Incidentally, Howells, who takes few prisoners when it comes to jockeys, was full of praise for Ngwane’s ride on Amazon King at Greyville last Friday. “I thought he rode a cracker.”

However, Ngwane owes his place aboard Dawn Calling to the fact that there were no jockeys available which gives the apprentice an opportunity of a first feature victory.

Howells has a second string to his bow in Accidental Tourist but was less confident of her chances. “She will battle at the weights,” he said.

On a card that ‘boasts’ five maiden races, the Michael Roberts-trained Cabinda looks the obvious choice in the card opener but the son of Seventh Rock has the unenviable record of having played second fiddle in his last five outings which casts some doubt on that form leaving the door open for the likes of Ground Breaker and Raw Courage.

The former has improved with every outing and was doing his best work late behind Interferometer over course and distance last time out. Ground Breaker has also pulled a plum draw at two while Raw Courage has to do it from gate 14. Lezeanne Forbes’s runner took some interference when behind Interferometer and Ground Breaker after starting favourite. His best effort came over course and distance behind Newyorkstateofmind and that form has panned out well.

Arran Isles is another possible for the Kannemeyer yard where she is sure to start a short priced favourite in the second. She took a wander in the market at her last start but came on late for second. None of the opposition are likely to get their names on jam tins.

Hard working Marco van Rensburg has taken advantage of the dearth of jockeys over this holiday period and has been busy jetting around the country. From the Vaal yesterday, to Greyville tonight, Turffontein tomorrow and back to Greyville on Sunday. His two best rides tonight could come in the third where he partners Aznerak for Colin Scott and Plymouth Rock in the last for Doug Campbell.

Aznerak has come well under Van Rensburg, finishing fourth at long odds on his first ride on the filly and then a close-up second last time out. She has a lot in her favour here although she also has plenty of opposition.

With Stuart Randolph out of action after finally having a troublesome hip replaced, Van Rensburg takes over on the home-bred Plymouth Rock. The gelding has caught the eye in both starts and with cheek pieces on from an inside gate he can round off the year on a winning note for punters.

By Andrew Harrison

Previews and Tips Greyville Friday 30 December

Race 1
Preview: GROUND BREAKER has improved with each run and comes from a yard that has great success on the poly. CABINDA is long overdue and has been runner-up in his last five starts. The blinkers come off and he is due a change of fortune. RAW COURAGE does not have the best of draws but was disappointing when a beaten favourite last time out and can do better than that judged on his previous form. SPY FICTION comes from a small stable but his best effort has come on the poly and he now tries blinkers. (Andrew Harrison: 6-1-3-4)

Race 2
Preview: ARRAN ISLES rates the one to beat after her runner-up effort last time out and on that showing should have the measure of SONIC AP who has improved of late but is struggling and finished behind Arrann Isles last time they met. SARI made a promising Scottsville debut from a tricky draw and did find some solid market support. She is sure to come on from that effort. EQUESTRIS was much improved at her second start. She is lightly raced and is probably capable of further improvement. (Andrew Harrison: 1-10-7-2).

Race 3
Preview: The Duncan Howells pair of LUNAR RUSH and ACCIDENTAL TOURIST could fight this one out. Lunar Rush is smart and won as she liked last time out. She has a light weight and is possibly the pick of the pair. Accidental Tourist took on a useful field first up out of the maidens and can improve in this field. RED MOON AT NIGHT was well beaten by Lunar Rush when last they met but that was on the turf. The change of surface could count but unlikely. SHEZALEADER is always game. Her recent form has all been on the turf but she is quick and cannot be written off. (Andrew Harrison: 5-6-4-1).

Race 4
Preview: Tough race. AZNERAK has done well since returning from a lengthy break. This is her third and she should strip at her peak. CATHERINEOFARAGON is in good form and won well enough last time out but is 3kg worse off with second-placed MISS BRODY so they could swop places. TYRON’S JET has improved in blinkers and was a length off Catherinofaragon two starts back. She has a four-claimer up and is another that can reverse that form. SOUL OF SPAIN has shown her best recent form on the poly so her last is best ignored. (Andrew Harrison: 5-3-2-1).

Race 5
Preview: PRINCE MYSHKIN finally shed his maiden last outing and has a big weight. However, he does not meet a strong field and can follow up. EL BOMBERO has improved on the poly and has been close-up in all three starts on the surface. He has a handy weight and should be right there. ZINZARA was a recent maiden winner and also takes on males. But she has shown some promise and can feature in this line-up. OVER SURE has been taking on stronger at recent starts and has raced in feature company. He is one to watch here. (Andrew Harrison: 1-9-3-7).

Race 6
Preview: GUSHESHE has been in good form over course and distance and may be worth another chance although she will have to fight off SAZERAC who, although not fancied in the market at her last start, enjoyed the extra and made good improvement. ROY’S KAITRINA has been improving with each outing and her last two on the poly give her a strong chance. PRINCESS RATATTOEE makes her poly debut but did show improvement last run and could be coming to hand. (Andrew Harrison: 1-6-8-7).

Race 7
Preview: ROY’S PAST races off the same rating and his recent form has been steady. He can still improve and possibly rates the one to beat. MEDIA CIRCUS is a battler but meets a weak field and will not get a better chance to shed his maiden.  SWEET REFRAIN has made recent improvement but met a weak field last start when second. ENCHANTED DRAWING  made sudden improvement with the blinkers off. He has a smart draw and a repeat will see him competitive. (Andrew Harrison: 2-1-6-3)

Race 8
Preview: PLYMOUTH ROCK has only had two starts and has shown some promise. He meets a weak field here and should be a big contender. KINNERET found some long shot support at his second outing and can come on from that. SECRET SERVICE has had plenty of chances but his best recent form has been on the poly. In a field of this nature he will never get a better chance to shed his maiden. MASTER SHOGUN was green in a useful enough debut and would not be a surprise winner. (Andrew Harrison:  12-9-1-11)