Saturday’s World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas favourite Querari Falcon arrived in Cape Town yesterday morning after taking the 1 400k journey from Johannesburg in good shape.

Mike Azzie said: “She is bright and perky, looking upbeat and seems to have travelled well. She is in a very good space at the moment and in my opinion whatever beats her will win.”

The Thekwini winner has been bought by Gaynor Rupert’s Drakenstein Stud from Adriaan van Vuuren since her last run.

Legal Eagle, second to Smart Call in last season’s Met, heads the 27 entries for the January 28 Sun International-sponsored R5 million feature. He will be opposed by fellow Met entries Abashiri, Marinaresco, Captain America, New Predator and Black Arthur in the WSB Green Point Stakes on Saturday.

Whisky Baron and It’s My Turn both took a significant step nearer the big race when finishing first and second in the Market Toyota Culemborg Allowance Plate at Kenilworth yesterday with Greg Cheyne’s mount particularly convincing, really asserting in the final 400m to score by nearly four lengths.

Brett Crawford said: “I was impressed because he didn’t run anywhere near his 96 rating when he won last time. If they leave him below 100 after this I will keep him to handicaps. If they don’t, maybe the Queen’s Plate.”

Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn looked beaten two furlongs out after disputing it with the winner much of the way but he ran on again to please Justin Snaith who said: “He had only had one 1 400m gallop coming into this so I was very happy with the run.”

Saturday week’s Southern Cross Stakes is under consideration for Our Destiny after Richard Fourie’s mount comfortably justified 12-10 favouritism in the Macsteel Graduation Plate.

Fourie reported: “My main mission was to make sure she had her head down and was relaxed as she tended to over-race at one stage. But I thought she would win easily and she did.”

The Glen Kotzen-trained four-year-old is part-owned and bred by Ralph Rixon for whom Kotzen used to be assistant. “It’s hard training for an ex-trainer,”Rixon admitted. “I taught Glen well but he doesn’t always listen and I went mad when he ran her in last year’s Fillies Guineas. I thought it was too far for her!”

By Michael Clower 

Mauritian Horse of the Year Parachute Man is one of 27 entries for the R5 million Sun Met to be run at Kenilworth on Saturday, 28 January next year. Initial entries include most of the country’s top gallopers who, if all standing their ground, will make for a fascinating race.

Parachute Man, trained by Ricky Maingard, has turned out to be one of the island’s ‘all time greats’ after winning his second Gr 1 in the Duke of York Cup.

“We haven’t decided on anything yet as we are not sure if he can go to Cape Town first in view of participating in the Met and not sure whether he would be invited either,” said Maingard.

Maingard regards the gelding as one of the best stayers he has trained and is hoping to crack an invite to the Met. Parachute Man is due back in South Africa on December 17.

Should Parachute Man make the field he will be up against two of the best in Legal Eagle and Marinaresco. They have yet to meet on the race course with Sean Tarry opting to skip Champions Season with Legal Eagle while in his absence Marinaresco proved himself a worthy opponent finishing a cracking second in the July and winning the Gr1 Champions Cup in the season finale.

Both have made pleasing starts in their warm-up for the Cape Summer of Champions and the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate will likely set their stage for the Met.

French Navy, off the track since unplaced in the Vodacom Durban July, is also an entry along with Triple Crown winner Abashiri.

Mike de Kock, who has twice won the Met with a three-year-old, has entered Bold Rex, third in the Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes, Heavenly Blue and Al Fahad while Justin Snaith has pencilled in Zodiac Ruler.

Andrew Harrison

First entries for the R5 million Gr1 Sun Met to be run over 2000 m at Kenilworth on Saturday 28 January 2017:

Horse	MR       Trainer
LEGAL EAGLE(5G)	120       Sean Tarry
ABASHIRI (4G)	117       Mike Azzie
CAPTAIN AMERICA (6G)	115       Brett Crawford
FRENCH NAVY (5G)	115       Sean Tarry
MAC DE LAGO  (5G)	114       Weiho Marwing
BRAZUCA (AUS) (4C)	111       Johan Janse van Vuuren
MARINARESCO (4G)	110 B    Candice Bass-Robinson
MASTER SABINA (7G)	110       Geoff Woodruff
NEW PREDATOR (4C)	110       Johan Janse van Vuuren
THE CONGLOMERATE (5G)	107       Joey Ramsden
BLACK ARTHUR  (4C)	106       Justin Snaith
DEO JUVENTE (5G)	106       Geoff Woodruff
BARITONE (4C)	105       Justin Snaith
IT’S MY TURN  (4G)	105       Justin Snaith
MAMBO MIME  (4C)	103       Dean Kannemeyer
BOLD REX (3G)	101       Mike de Kock
CAPE SPEED  (4G)	101       Dean Kannemeyer
ROCKETBALL  (4G)	101       Gavin van Zyl
HEAVENLY BLUE  (3C)	100       Mike de Kock
ZODIAC RULER (3C)	100       Justin Snaith
PARACHUTE MAN (5G)	99        Ricky Maingard
DYNAMIC  (7G)	98        Justin Snaith
WHISKY BARON (4G)	96        Brett Crawford
NEBULA   (4G)	95        Brett Crawford
AL FAHAD (AUS)     (3C)	94        Mike de Kock
ST TROPEZ   (5G)	94        Joey Ramsden
MACDUFF (AUS) (4C)	90        Joey Ramsden

The Vaal Outside track stages a ten race meeting tomorrow and outside draws will be favourable by trends.

There are a couple of “penalty kicks” on the card in the form of the race two contender Alaadel and the race five contender Samurai Blade, but they are likely to be at cramped odds.

The Candice Dawson-trained Jay Peg filly Jameson Girl has been chosen as the best bet on the card and she races in race four, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1000m. She has plenty of speed and Gavin Lerena stays aboard from a plum draw.

The downside is she was seen to be hanging inward last time out. However, she does not have a great deal to beat.  Gunship made a fair debut behind a couple of promising sorts and could improve, so she looks the main threat from a good draw. The exposed Blazing Berry showed pace last time over 1200m with the blinkers back on and she looks likely to enjoy returning to the minimum trip and could earn.

The highest rated handicap on the card is the sixth race, a MR 80 affair for fillies and mares over 1600m. Inaninstant is the selection despite her disappointing last start. She has always struck as having class and she now has her third run after a layoff over a suitable trip. She will have the advantage of a 4kg claimer aboard and this might help her get over to the favourable standside in the lead, as she is usually right up there.

There is not much to separate her and Angelic Appeal on form. The latter has a tricky draw to overcome, but Marco van Rensurg is aboard so she should have every chance of doing so. Sisters Of Mercy usually makes breathing noises, but can never be ignored as she is capable of a strong finish. She has plenty in her favour as she is drawn on the standside rail and is three points lower in the merit ratings than her last win. She might also appreciate the slight step down in trip from her last few runs.

Nother Russia has inherited some of the class of her outstanding multiple Gr 1-winning mother Mother Russia and is another danger. It is her first run since March and she has a tricky draw, but she is from the Mike de Kock yard, who always have them fit enough and she is off an attractive merit rating of 79. Readyforyourlove has some useful form and can’t be ignored, although this is her second run after a long layoff and she has a tough draw.

The value bet of the day could be the St. John Gray-trained Thewaywemaykem, who runs in the 9^th, a MR 68 Handicap over 1200m. The 1000m last time was a touch sharp and he couldn’t make much leeway in the closing stages when poised to strike. He now has a plum draw again and will relish the step up in trip. Furthermore, he has come another four points down the merit ratings. Tough old campaigner Flag Of France also has a good draw off a competitive merit rating over a suitable trip. However, the most interesting runner in this race is the Trippi gelding Dawnbreaker. On debut he showed a lot of pace from a plum draw and just got up. The form was franked and Gavin Lerena stays aboard off a reasonable merit rating of 74, but they now have to overcome a tough low draw.

One of the most interesting runners on the card is the Var filly La Roquette in the last over 1200m and she was almost chosen as the best bet on the card. On debut this imposing filly won effortlessly over this trip by 3,3 lengths. However, the downside is the time she recorded, which was not great and the form also looks weak. However, she won ever so easily and has plenty of scope, so it would be no surprise to see her follow up off a mark of 76 with Van Rensburg staying aboard. She will have to beat the year older and in form Shwanky, who is very well drawn.

In race eight over 1600m Aquaboy should have a good chance as a front running sort who went close from a tough draw last time and now has a plum draw.

By David Thiselton

Kenilworth Wed Nov 30 Race Previews by Warren Lenferna

Race 1
Preview: MOON PRINCESS has solid form and should be unbeatable in this race. FIGURE OF GREY returns from a rest but has the second best form but a very wide draw to overcome. MOONSABALLOON went close last time and comes into this race with strong claims but they should all battle to beat number one! (Warren Lenferna 1-2-3)

Race 2
Preview: LA REVERE makes her local debut and it can be a winning one. She returns from a rest but her form is solid and Delpech rides – a lot points to her winning. MISS MALBEC impressed when winning again straight out the maidens – watch. LIVE LIFE has a say as well – in a small but hot field. (Warren Lenferna 5-3-2)

Race 3
Preview: GREENFLASHSUNSET takes a drop in distance which I find interesting – he didn’t quicken last time when tried over 1400m so that must be the reason for going back in trip. His two runs thus far have been good and with Strydom up should be very hard to beat. ICON KING is now starting to become disappointing and costly to follow but always has a chance. (Warren Lenferna 6-2-3)

Race 4
Preview: MTOROSHANGA is improving and meets a moderate field today – hard to beat. SILVER MASTER is coming along slowly but should relish the good draw – place chance. CHINA EXPRESS has strong each way claims. (Warren Lenferna 11-4-5)

Race 5
Preview: BLARNEY BAY comes from a good and ever in form stable. He is as evergreen as the day is long and ran an absolute cracker last time. He is my firm and confident first choice. OVERSHADOW just keeps winning and is now going for four in a row. HE can do it if not in too much need of the run. DESERT FIGHTER never shone when making his local debut but he can improve big time today. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-8)

Race 6
Preview: STREAK OF SILVER (solid form), CREAM SODA GREEN (making stable debut and has ability) and TURBULENT AIR (either wins or runs unplaced) look to be the three main contenders here. (Warren Lenferna 1-3-2)

Race 7
Preview: MOGOSTAR won in the manner of a good horse last time. She is in Cape Town from KZN for a reason and must be followed. She is selected to win again. KIRUMBO is never far off the action and in a race like this can get much closer. SOWETO MOON put in a bold but late effort last time and based on that should make his presence felt again. (Warren Lenferna 3-2-6)

Race 8
Preview: WHISKY BARON is a smart sort, has more to come and should be very hard to peg back. IT’S MY TURN is rested but is well in and more than capable of winning a race such as this. KRAMBAMBULI gets 4kg’s off and could lurk into the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 7-6-3)

Race 9
Preview: ONE LIFE LIVE IT made a smart debut and can improve to go very close to winning – strong each way chance. HERNANDO’S PROMISE could enjoy the trip and might be worth including. MAKE A MEMORY is on the up and should be involved when the judge is looking at the photo. (Warren Lenferna 14-4-7)

Record-equalling trainer Geoff Woodruff remembered a Tuesday morning before the 2014 Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup when it was discovered today’s stable hero Master Sabina had pulled a tendon. The big bay’s career hung in the balance.

“Time has healed the wound for all of us,” he reflected. “It healed his injury and it healed our mental wounds, it was devastating for all of us.”

Two years later, last Saturday, the courageous son of Jet Master became the first horse for 25 years to win consecutive renewals of the Summer Cup.

There will be a lot to play for in next year’s Summer Cup. It is believed Woodruff will be attempting to become the first trainer in history to achieve five  successive wins of one of South Africa’s big three, the Durban July, the Met and the Summer Cup, while Master Sabina will be bidding to join the greats Java and Elevation in winning the Summer Cup three years in succession.

Master Sabina will be eight-years-old next year, but Woodruff is optimistic the athletic gelding will still be racing. He said, “He is such a young horse at heart, he was not even tired yesterday (Sunday). He will tell us if he wants to race next year, but at the moment he is sound and well, he loves racing and is very competitive. We will not abuse him and will race him sparingly and pick his goals carefully.”

One destination which will never be on his program again is Cape Town.

Woodruff said, “He hates it there, the slow pace doesn’t suit him and he doesn’t like a left hand turn. He’s good at right-handed Turffontein and Greyville. His worst form is at Kenilworth.” His chief target this season is likely the Premier’s Champions Challenge, to be run on 29 April next year. Woodruff said, “It is for R5 million over his favourite track and trip.”

There was a nerve jangling moment on Saturday when a gap began closing on the resolute Master Sabina due to July winner The Conglomerate hanging inward towards Master Switch. Woodruff said, “You do worry at moments like that, but I could see his little white blaze progressing all the way. He then put his body in the gap, shouldered The Conglomerate and straightened him.” The handsome horse surged through to win by a cosy 1,3 lengths under another brilliant ride by Gavin Lerena. It was Woodruff’s sixth Summer Cup and Lerena’s third.

Woodruff was also pleased with five-year-old Jet Master gelding Master Switch’s 1,6 length third. “He ran up to our hopes, he is a progressive horse with good form, he is a really nice handicapper and we will aim him at the July.” Master Switch had the disadvantage of a wide draw and also broke through the gates at the start.

Woodruff said, “He had to wait for a while and The Conglomerate then threw a tantrum which got him going. They never win after bursting through, the adrenalin gets going to early and it wastes energy. So from that draw it was a helluva good run. He is typical of the tall and leggy Jet Masters. Like Yorker, he is a late four-year-old and five-year-old. In fact he is lighter than Yorker, so has taken even longer.”

The yard could find nothing amiss with Deo Juvente after his disappointing run. Woodruff did not use the officially “very soft” ground as an explanation. He said, “It was warm and by race seven it had dried substantially. I would say the ground for the race was on the good side of yielding. Soft ground would not have suited Master Sabina.”

The yard will stick to shorter trips for their other runner, Master ‘N Commander.

Woodruff had been much confident before this year’s race than last, because the latter was only Master Sabina’s second run after the tendon injury.

He had finished second in the 2013 Summer Cup to stablemate Yorker and they had fancied him strongly two years ago in a race which was eventually won by his Triple Crown-winning stablemate Louis The King.

Horses coming back from tendon injuries often only last two or three runs before the injury reoccurs. The infliction is probably a trainer’s most dreaded nightmare.

It was thus fortunate the yard discovered the injury within an hour of it happening. They iced it and took other precautions before the veterinarian arrived. Consequently there is no core lesion and the tendon is no longer at the forefront of concerns.

The yard had earlier battled with a pectoral muscle injury to Master Sabina.

However, his 27 runs in a four year span speaks of one who has always been given sufficient time to recover from his races and hence his happiness and longevity.

Meanwhile, Woodruff has another powerful string to his bow in Saturday’s Investec Dingaans winner Singapore Sling.

He said, “He pleasantly surprised us. I was happy with his run in the Graham Beck, but he was still very green. When I saw him hitting the front on Saturday and not stopping I knew we had a top quality horse. He had been playing the fool with us. He had always felt top quality, but we had never seen it.”

The bare form shows the Philanthropist gelding improving from seventh in a MR 68 Handicap in his second career start, to winning a Gr 2 against some of best three-year-olds in the country two runs later. However, Woodruff pointed out he had been absolutely T-boned at the start of that second run and then impeded at the 300m mark.

“Gavin Lerena (who rode fourth placed Doosra) said this morning the Dingaans was a very strong field,” he revealed.

Singapore Sling, being a gelding, does not need to chase black type success. Stakes accumulation will be his aim.

Woodruff thus intends running him in the R1 million Cape Guineas on December 17 partly to see whether he will be suited to the course and distance ahead of his chief target, the $US500,000 CTS 1600 on Sun Met day.

By David Thiselton