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

Rated the 87^th best trainer on the TRC Global rankings, champion trainer Sean Tarry can move up a notch or two if Heaps Of Fun can crack the Flamboyant Stakes at Greyville on Sunday. The Grade 3 event is the traditional New Year opener and has attracted a smart field headed by the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner.

Tarry is in lethal form at present and add Anton Marcus to the mix and you have to add another length or two to the filly’s chances.

The daughter of Visionaire looks to have had the ideal preparation into this race. Given an extended break after finishing a couple of lengths back to Inara in the Gr1 Garden Province Stakes on July day, she has been given to sprints as a warm-up into this race. She bumped the ultra-promising Green Pepper in her comeback run and showed the benefit of that outing when second to the more than useful Joan Ranger over 1200m at the Vaal.

The mile will be right up her ally and she will have more than just a few supporters.

However, she does face a talented field. Dawn Calling has still only recorded a single win in her 10 starts but has been runner-up in two important features as a juvenile. With that in mind Duncan Howells built her up for a crack at the Gr1 CTS Cape Fillies Guineas last month but she ran into all sorts of trouble as Piere Strydom, battling a slipped saddle aboard Final Judgement, ripped across her bows and denied her any chance she may have had. It was a long and expensive trip spoilt by no luck in running.

Howells won this race two years back with now UK-trained Same Jurisdiction and is confident of her chances. Dawn Calling is in receipt of 5kg from her older rivals and the one gate over the Greyville turf mile is a huge plus.

Vaal-based Paul Peter saddles the consistent Fort Ember who looked a winner before being caught by Patchit Up Baby in a recent conditions race at Turffontein. Behind her that day was the luckless grey Negroamaro. Her recent Highveld form is very consistent but Howells will know what he is up against in Fort Ember as he trained Patchit Up Baby before she was moved to the Highveld.

Olma and Lala finished first and second respectively in this race last year and Frank Robinson is confident that Olma has finally turned the corner after a string of disappointing results.

“I gave her a break after her run in Johannesburg in August, so she needed the run at Scottsville. It was a preparation race for the Flamboyant and the ground was also a bit hard for her,” said Robinson earlier in the week. “She likes a bit of sting out of the ground and Greyville is in good condition at present. We have also worked on her joints since that last race and she has turned the corner. She has been working well and moving very well.”

Robinson went on to add, “If she is herself she will win this race.”

Lala comes into the race off good form, beaten a neck by the in form Little Chapel over the Scottsville mile giving the winner 5kg. Against her is a difficult draw.

By Andrew Harrison