A number of South African’s feature in the latest TRC Global Rankings and with the Western Cape season in full swing there is a chance of Ingrid and Markus Jooste moving up the leading owner table along with retained jockey Anton Marcus.

The Jooste’s, who now race under the Mayfair Speculator’s banner, are currently 11th in the world rankings.

The only other South African’s to feature in the top 100 are Drakenstein Stud owned by Gaynor and Johan Rupert who are this week ranked in 87th place, up four places from 91.

Not surprisingly Ireland-based Coolmore Partners, consisting of John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor, are way ahead on that table followed by Godolphin and Al Shaqab Racing.

Coolmore partners are spearheaded bytheir trainer, Aiden O’Brien.

The master of Ballydoyle has notched an incredible 51 Group 1 winners in the period under review.

His closest rivals as far as Group 1 success are concerned are Australia’s leading trainer, Chris Waller with 34, and Americans Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher tied on 31 each. Another American, Chad C Brown is second behind O’Brien on the trainer’s log ahead of Waller and Baffert.

The only South African trainer to feature in the world’stop 100 is champion trainer Sean Tarry who, like Drakenstein Stud, has moved up from 91st to 87th on the table.

Ryan Moore, recently officially crowned the world’s best jockey, is not surprisingly at the top of the riders table followed by Hugh Bowman of Australia and Frank Dettori, the UK-based Italian.

Anton Marcus is rated 19th on the global log, up from 23rd position last week.

The only other South African rider to feature is Piere Strydom who currently sits in 87th place on the table.

With the Jooste-owned and Marcus ridden Legal Eagle out to defend his Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate title and hopefully for his connections, go one better in the Gr1 Sun Met, there is opportunity for both owners and jockey to move up the rankings.

The TRC Global rankings work in a similar fashion to the world golf and tennis rankings where points are award according to the status of races won and the tables are updated weekly.

By Andrew Harrison

The Turffontein Standside track stages an eight race meeting tomorrow which features the Gr 3 Lebelo Sprint over 1000m and there are also some quality horses turning out in an eight race meeting at the same venue on Monday.

Rivarine went down to the top class sprinter Green Pepper last time out over this trip at the Vaal by just a head despite giving her 7,5kg, so looks hard to beat in the Lebelo Sprint, despite the presence of the older Gr 1-performing sprinter African Ruler. Swinging it in Rivarine’s favour firstly is his high draw, which tends to be favourable on this straight course. Secondly the race is run under handicap conditions. Rivarine is capable of rising above his current merit rating of 98 and this is especially in light of Green Pepper now being rated 106. Rivarine has in form Lyle Hewitson up. African Ruler can’t be written off especially as he has the magician Andrew Fortune aboard. Captain’s Causeway and Wrecking Ball could earn as the form of their last clash over 1160m has been franked. The speedy Seattle Singer will appreciate the step down to 1000m, so could be dangerous having snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight.

The value bet of the day is Anna Pavlova in the fourth race, as she has impressed in her wins and looks capable of going places, although she does have a tough draw here.

On Monday the classy Being Fabulous returns in a MR 76 Handicap over 1600m after running third in the Gr 3 Fillies Mile in just her third career start. She looks capable of rising above her merit rating of 83 and will be hard to beat from a draw of six under regular pilot Gavin Lerena.

The sixth is an intriguing Graduation Plate over 1400m. The long-striding Doosra looks likely to appreciate the step down to this trip at this stage of his career and is the one to beat under Lerena, despite a wide draw. Furiosa looks to have some class and could be a threat receiving 3kg from Doosra, while Daffiq is a classy sort who looks ideally distance suited and he should be fit enough despite returning from a six month layoff as he comes from the Mike de Kock yard.

The seventh is an intriguing Graduation Plate over 1160m for fillies and mares. French Legend is a classy sort who looks capable of going places and her best effort to date has come over this trip. Arissa has ability and Queenie was bought into the Mike Azzie yard after her impressive last run, but is back with Tony Nassiff after a dispersal sale and is returning from a nine month layoff.

By David Thiselton

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.