SA tote customers are now able to bet virtually around the clock.

Starting Tuesday December 13 TAB, in conjunction with tabGOLD and Tellytrack, will offer additional racing products accompanied by live TV coverage from 4am every morning until 12.30am the following morning.

Australian racing will kick-off proceedings around 4am followed by the normal mix of local and international racing throughout the day with races from the USA filling the late-night slots.

“Obviously the 4am to 12.30am schedule is dependent on the availability of suitable international products and inevitably there will be days when there is simply insufficient product to fill the schedule,” said Phumelela Betting Executive Vee Moodley.

The Tote is looking to expand the live racing timeframe from 4am to 2am the following day, but is still in the process of sourcing suitable international product in order to provide betting opportunities 22 hours daily.

Commingled tote pools will only operate from 10am to 10pm in order to ensure that customers are betting into pools with critical mass.

In addition to the live racing picture, Tellytrack will provide when available advice and tips from form experts in the relevant countries, as well as race predictors.

Fields and tips for all race meetings on which tabGOLD operates betting pools will be available onwww.tabonline.co.za and Gold Circle’s www.tabgold.co.zawebsites.

“It’s an exciting step forward and the aim is to try and provide customers with betting opportunities and related live TV coverage whenever they may feel like betting,” said Tellytrack CEO Rob Scott.

tabGOLD telebetting (031 314 1111) will continue to operate from 9am to 10pm (dependant on product availability). Andwww.tabgold.co.za will cover the full array of betting products presented on Tellytrack.

*Using the tabGOLD site or would like to open an account? 
Email us support@goldcircle.co.za or call us for assistance:
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Most of the country has been crying out for a drop of rain but Scottsville has had more than its fair share, especially when it comes just before a race meeting.

With most of yesterday afternoon dogged by persistent drizzle, the ninth and last race was carried over to the next Scottsville meeting after jockeys complained of poor visibility and the meeting was called off after the running of the final Gold Circle Witness KZN Summer Challenge race.

In an effort to finish the meeting the jockeys were asked to keep off the inside running rail and on the better going, which they did. But the mud continued to fly pushing the field wide into the home straight.

Many battled in the sticky going, not so Mr Winsome who revelled in the conditions. Coming from off the pace and hard up against the outside rail, Dean Kannemeyer’s runner rattled home under Alec Forbes to win as he liked from the hard-knocking Frikkie.

The meeting started off well for punters but as conditions deteriorated, so did the results with a number of hard luck stories included.

Magical Bet came out on top in the mud-fight that was the Summer Challenge 1600m final to continue Glen Kotzen’s current hot streak, the 20-1 chance edging home ahead of Run Rhino Run and a decidedly unlucky Caribbean Day. The runner-up lent hard on the eventual winner who in turn cut across the bows of Caribbean Day who was making what could have been a winning run.

The stipendiary stewards were not convinced and there was no call for a race review.

Monte Christo was pegged by Alistair Gordon as a horse with a future early in his career but has since moved to Charles Laird where he has won two of his four starts for the yard including the 1200m KZN Challenge final. Listening to Anton Marcus the gelding is obviously a bit of an under achiever. “I should probably say this quietly,” he confided, “but his work at home is Group one quality. He just doesn’t bring it to the racetrack.” Blinkers obviously helped yesterday as he got the better of a tough fight with Roy’s Marciano and Highway Explorer.

Marcus was in top form ahead of his date with Table Bay in the Gr1 Grand West Cape Guineas on Saturday, booting home four winners including Kom Naidoo’s Trini’s Var Hyt in the card opener, deputising for Anthony Delpech who took a fall at The Vaal during the week.

Most impressive winner on the day was the Duncan Howells-trained and Dave McLean-owned Wild Wicket in the third. Running first time as a gelding he stretched away from his rivals to win as he liked and looks to have some scope.

By Andrew Harrison

Saturday’s Grand Parade Cape Guineas looks like being run at a searching gallop as the Mayfair Speculators team try to tee things up for probable favourite Table Bay.

Supplementary entry A New Dawn, who made the running in the Selangor, is to do the same job only faster and Derek Brugman said: “We want a very strong pace so that he (Table Bay) can sit further back.”

Anton Marcus, whose previous winning partners include Jay Peg and Variety Club, reckoned he might have sat too close too the pace in last month’s test.

But I Travel Light, the third Ramsden runner and only first reserve at the moment, was put into the race last Wednesday because he had gone close to Selangor winner Gold Standard on the latter’s previous start at Fairview.

Glen Kotzen, though, is bullish about Gold Standard’s chance and his optimism is buoyed by both the stable’s present form – two more winners on Saturday – and that of the colt’s jockey. Richard Fourie followed up Friday’s Fairview four-timer with three more on Saturday – one for Kotzen and two for Shane Humby.

Kotzen said: “Gold Standard is doing great and absolutely flying. He has cracked at decent draw (seven) and we are very excited. Look at the time of the Selangor (less than second outside Legislate’s course record). It was a proper-run race.”

But there are some notable absentees from the Guineas – in particular Our Mate Art and Grade 1 winner Always In Charge with Vaughan Marshall reporting about the latter: “He was never going to run drawn 19 – I wasn’t going to risk him.”

Plans are “undecided” but Our Mate Art has the Investec Cape Derby as his new target. “He got a very hard knock when he was cut into in the Selangor. We had him x-rayed and found he had chipped a piece of splint bone,” said Candice Bass-Robinson who reports that Sun Met favourite Marinaresco is fine after his great Green Point run. “Our Mate Art is on antibiotics at the moment but he is in light work.”

Carry On Alice pleased Sean Tarry after failing by only half a length to peg back 22-1 all-the-way scorer Jo’s Bond in the CTS Southern Cross Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday.

“I thought she might just need it,” said the champion trainer. “There are two races for her before the Cape Flying Championship – the Diadem and the Sceptre – but I just might leave it at this. We will see.”

Real Princess, only fifth, goes for the Sceptre on January 6 when Dean Kannemeyer believes that the extra furlong will be just what she needs. Grant Behr reported: “I was right behind the winner but mine was then caught a bit flat-footed. She needs the 1 200m.”

Justin Snaith dismissed all suggestions of a Sceptre rematch with the winner, saying: “Jo’s Bond is a 1 000m horse and that is the trip she likes,” but rider Donovan Dillon came up with the quote of the day – “The Snaiths have often given me a bone but luckily there was a bit of meat on this one.”

Tarry has a string of 12 at Milnerton including two-year-olds and the first of these to run at Kenilworth was Jay Peg’s half-brother Barrack Street who readily justified 18-10 favouritism under S’Manga Khumalo in the Snaith Racing Maiden. “We can now get a line,” commented Tarry.

The Vaughan Marshall Racing Maiden Juvenile took more than four minutes to load with Jacinda, and Lacerta in particular, increasingly threatening to upset the others and afterwards Derek Brugman issued a heartfelt plea to the starter, saying: “You can’t have juveniles standing in the pens for nearly five minutes – that can ruin a horse’s whole career. It should be two tries and ‘sorry, that’s it.’”

Most owners and trainers will, I am sure, take the same view. Dennis Drier, who won the race with the heavily-backed and appropriately named Bank On It (Sean Veale), confirmed that Miss Frankel is on target to make her much-awaited debut next month.

There are three Frankel fillies and a colt in next month’s CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale. All are from Southern Hemisphere coverings and are sold by Klawervlei whose boss John Koster said: “We bought the mares in the UK, put them in foal and then brought them out here. “ Klawervlei are also selling ten Rock Of Gibraltar yearlings plus a filly by the now-dead American sire sensation Scat Daddy.

By Michael Clower

SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER SCOTTSVILLE FIRST TIMER COMMENTS

MIKE MILLER
Race 1 – ARGO MAGIC (1): A nice horse – shows plenty at home.
Race 1 – ROYAL EXPLORER (2): Is very quick but I think could be a bit green.
Race 3 – HERE COMES BOB (12): Will need the experience but does have a good draw and is showing me nice work at home.
Race 3 – MIDNIGHT MAN (13): Shows good work at home but does have a bit of a bad draw to overcome.

DOUG CAMPBELL
Race 1 – THE GREY CRUSADER (3): A nice horse – will more than likely need the experience and needs gelding. I am hoping he runs a place.

KOM NAIDOO
Race 1 – UNCLE RONNIE (4): A nice horse, if not too green, will run into the money.
Race 1 – TRINI’S VAR HYT (7): Speedy, if not too green, will run a good race.

LOWAN DENYSSCHEN
Race 2 – LITTLE MISS JET (9): A small filly but she tries very hard. I am hoping she runs a reasonable race.

YOGAS GOVENDER
Race 2 – LOVE LYRIC (10): Trainer could not be contacted for comment.

MICHAEL ROBERTS
Race 2 – PINK PALACE (12): Too short and will improve with this run under the belt.

CHRIS ERASMUS
Race 1 – EASY PEASY (5): Will be green and need the run.

LIZANNE FORBES
Race 1 – PURDEY (6): Trainer could not be contacted for comment.
Race 2 – ROY IS FIRST (13): Trainer could not be contacted for comment.

PAUL GADSBY
Race 2 – DIAMONDS FOREVER (7): A nice filly but is a bit mad! If she gets to the start she will have a chance but she is a difficult filly and not easy to ride.
Race 2 – SARABI (14): A very nice filly (a half-sister to Miss Varlicious) but she will probably need just one run!

WAYNE BADENHORST
Race 2 – FASHION DISPLAY (8): A nice filly – showing some nice work at home and if not too green and the distance too short, she could win!

WENDY WHITEHEAD
Race 2 – SPIRIT BIRD (16): Has some speed and will run well if she is not in too much need of the run.
Race 3 – DINO’S DELIGHT (10): He needs further, closer to 2000m.

CRAIG EUDEY
Race 3 – SIGHT DRAFT (4): A nice horse but I am expecting him to be a bit green.

MARK DIXON
Race 3 – PRIME SUSPECT (14): A nice horse but will need the experience.
Race 4 – RAPUNZEL (13): Will need further.

DES EGDES
Race 4 – FIRST ANTHEM (11): Will be green, looking for further but she is a classic type filly, a nice filly but will need racing experience.

Scottsville (Inside Track) Sun Dec 11 Race Previews by Andrew Harrison

Race 1

All first timers.

Race 2
Preview: Many first timers but of those that have run VARISCITE makes a comeback after a lengthy break but has improved with each outing and was a close-up second last start. She can go one better. OYSTER POND was disappointing on the poly after making a fair debut. Back on turf she can make amends. DAMALI made a promising debut but disappointed next time out in a weak field. Can do better. BEAU VAR has run her best races over course and distance and can improve on her last poly effort. Keep an eye on the market. (Andrew Harrison: 3-11-1-6).

Race 3
Preview: WILD WICKET has been gelded. He has shown some ability and can feature here. RACE MASTER has not been too far back in two sprints. He should prefer this trip. SCARRABEAST has a difficult draw but was a close-up second on the poly last time out and if carrying that form onto the turf must have a big chance. STORM OUTGOING has shown some ability with his new stable and can finish in the money. Keep a close eye on the betting. (Andrew Harrison: 6-15-5-7).

Race 4
Preview: CAPTAINS MOLL showed promise early in her career. She was a promising second last outing and has the best of the draw. PIPPIN has had no luck with her draws and is again drawn wide. But she has shown some promise on this course and Marcus rides. BURNT CHERRY found market support on her poly debut but was green. She should come on with the experience and the extra should suit.  Mark Dixon looks to have two runners with chances in the luckless DUNDRUM and DIAMANTE. The latter may prove the better of the two. (Andrew Harrison: 6-3-9-10).

Race 5
Preview: DEEP DOWN REBEL ran well below best when sent to Jo’Burg for a feature. She has excellent form over this course and distance and should go close. RESPECT AT BAY also goes well over course and distance and has Marcus aboard. She should go close. HALLOWED SPRING was an easy maiden winner last start but has been thumped by the handicappers. She could find this tough going. FLY PEG FLY is another that ran below her best form last time out but was up against a strong field with an inexperienced apprentice aboard.  (Andrew Harrison: 1-4-5-2).

Race 6
Preview: Wide open handicap. MONTE CHRISTO finally got is act together when winning last time out over further. Has still has scope for improvement and with the blinkers on he can go in again. HIGHWAY EXPLORER has improved in blinkers and has gone close over course and distance. He scored in a useful field last start and is another that can follow up. SEA URCHIN has been lightly raced but has ability. He was much improved in blinkers when winning and has a chance again.

ROY’S AIR FORCE found plenty of traffic when running on late last Sunday. He is quite badly out at the weights but that was a good last effort. AL CIBERANO hardly ever runs a bad race but tends to lack extra under pressure. (Andrew Harrison: 3-2-7-14).

Race 7
Preview: Another difficult handicap with a big field so luck in running will be crucial. Many of the more fancied runners have drawn wide to add to the puzzle. NICKLAUS lost his last race in the boardroom and seldom runs a bad race. He has a tricky draw but should be thereabouts. RUN RHINO RUN finally got his act together when a narrow winner. He is not the easiest of rides but has ability. GOLDEN FORT has been close-up at his last two and has a light weight. LAST TIGER has a coffin draw with top weight but can still feature. Not a race to go light in the exotics. (Andrew Harrison: 6-4-12-1).

Race 8
Preview: SUN ON AFRICA has had three outings this term and should be at his peak now. He last win was over course and distance. CRIME VICTIM did not have the best of luck on the Highveld and is much better than his last effort. At best he will have a strong chance. OPEN HEIR goes for his fourth win on the bounce but has crept up the handicap and his run could come to an end here. DELIRIOUS NOMAD is at the bottom of the handicap This is his third run after a break and he looks ready to show his best. (Andrew Harrison: 2-3-11-4).

Race 9
Preview: ST ELMO’S FIRE has her third run after a break. She is in good form and rates a strong chance. DRESS FOR SUCCESS won well first up out of the maidens and has done well since being stepped up in trip. She gets 4kg off her back and she could prove classy enough to go in again. MODERNISTA was a beaten favourite last run but not far behind. She has been consistent but has a difficult draw. ROY’S TWILIGHT has consistent form. She can do better over this trip. (Andrew Harrison: 6-1-5-8).