Craven stormed into the Cape Guineas picture with a most convincing return to form in the Place Your Bets Handicap at Kenilworth yesterday despite drifting right in the closing stages.

Richard Fourie rode the 18-10 shot differently this time, saving him for a strong run in the straight to hit the front a furlong out and beat Dancer by two and a half lengths.

Fourie, although noncommittal about riding the colt in the Guineas, said: “He is still a bit green – that’s why he went right with me after we passed horses – but he is really starting to mature. He would love to go further and the Derby trip would be right up his alley.”

Brett Crawford, watching from Randjiesfontein, added: ”That was a good run and I just hope he has done enough to get into the Guineas – I think he will now go up to a 91 – because I don’t really want to run him again before then.”

Horizon, surprisingly preferred in the market, covered himself in future promise by running on to take third in a manner that shouted out that he needs more ground and could be really in his element over the Derby trip.

Candice Bass-Robinson said: “As he goes further he will improve all the time and in the meantime we have just got to be a little patient.”

Orion Quest warmed up for Saturday week’s Cape Merchants in encouraging style. He lost ground at the start in the All To Come Graduation Plate but ran on well to take a length and a half-second to the useful Attenborough. He will be one of the bottom weights in the R400 000 handicap.

Attenborough, who has run so many good races in defeat but often appeared to run out of steam close home, showed the benefit of waiting tactics with Donovan Dillon keeping him covered up until well inside the 400m mark and not hitting the front till 100m out.

Dillon said: “He is a classy animal and I rate him very highly. The aim was to give him cover – last time we found it but unfortunately it opened up quite early.”

Joey Ramsden confirmed that the colt will stick to sprinting, saying: “He is best ridden patiently.”

The Milnerton trainer added that Table Bay “is absolutely fine” after his Selangor third and said he is still convinced that the reason for the horse’s rather disappointing performance was because many in the field, him included, went too fast.

Sihle Cele, who won the first for Crawford on Stopthinkingofme, has been suspended for a week for causing interference to 15-10 favourite Always In Charge in last Saturday’s Lanzerac Ready To Run. The NHA Inquiry Board ruled that he was not sufficiently clear when shifting inwards on Purple Tractor after a furlong.

Justin Snaith has booked Piere Strydom for Canon Guineas winner Black Arthur in the Green Point Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday week. Snaith won the race with Legislate two years ago.

By Michael Clower

Geoff Woodruff has experienced enough Summer Cup success to know his twin spearhead from four stable runners – Master Sabina and Deo Juvente – can between them provide an unprecedented fourth consecutive triumph for the personable Englishman in the Sansui Summer Cup at Turffontein on Saturday.

The pair fought out a memorable finish to the R2-million race twelve months ago, when Master Sabina won by a long nose. And it is entirely feasible that history could repeat itself at 5.10pm on Saturday, as both are going into battle off what their trainer believes are ideal preparations.

That was not the case last year when Master Sabina went to post a gallop short, but still managed to fend off his younger stablemate under a classic Gavin Lerena ride.

Now the Jet Master gelding is, at seven, the joint second-oldest contender in the 20-runner field.

Woodruff, who landed two Summer Cups out of his original base at the Vaal and is looking for a sixth victory overall in the Grade 1 race, says: “Master Sabina’s preparation has gone much better than last year when we were very unsure of whether we had him fit enough.

“I leant towards Deo Juvente, who was flying, but Master Sabina beat him a short head.”

There has been no repeat of those hiccups this year. “Master Sabina has had four grass gallops and a race at the Vaal, in which he finished second to Master Switch. He’s pleased me in his work, looks very well in his coat and is much closer to his fighting weight.

“He’s what I call a Gary Player seven-year-old. He might be a year older, but Gavin gets on incredibly well with him and he can still be competitive,” said the trainer.

Woodruff has brought Deo Juvente off the injury list and is encouraged by his third placing in the Charity Mile at the beginning of the month.

Of the Trippi gelding he comments: “He sustained a nasty cut to a stifle in Cape Town that was nine inches long. It was a huge setback right before the Met. It explains his poor runs here in the winter, but the Charity Mile was a nice comeback over a trip that’s short of his best.

“We have Anton Marcus in the saddle and for me he is one of the greatest riders this country has produced.

“He said that when I ran Deo over 2000m we would see the best of him and that’s exactly what happened here a year ago.”

Yorker and Louis The King preceded Master Sabina as Cup winners for Woodruff, who confesses he loves to target his best horses at the race, more so than any of the other marquee contests on the South African calendar.

He continues: “I always try to get them into the Summer Cup. It’s such a great race day and everyone is up for it. It’s a bit like the Johannesburg Met.”

The Woodruff challenge is completed by Master Switch and Master ‘N Commander. “I’m pleased we have Delpech on Master Switch, who had to win at the Vaal to get into the Cup,” he says.

“He’s a roughie but I’m leaning towards him as the better of these two.

“He’s drawn No 18, which is the same gate as Deo had last year so it’s not impossible. Turffontein is such a fair track. There’s plenty of room and they tend to fan out.

“But when he beat Master Sabina in his prep he was much the more forward.”

Of Master ‘N Commander he observes: “2000m is the absolute ceiling for him and he has to be ridden as a non-stayer, stone cold.

“Last time over 1800m he was trapped three deep and raced much too handily. But, like the other three, he’s thrown a perfect blood count and that’s particularly important at this time of year when viruses lurk and can be contracted no matter what precautions you take.”

Courtesy of TABnews

Craven can earn his Cape Guineas ticket by bouncing back to form in the Place Your Bets Handicap at Kenilworth today.

This colt, bought to race in Hong Kong, has a huge reputation and has started favourite in all three starts but it all went pear-shaped in his first handicap run here four weeks ago. He was odds-on but managed only an expensive and disappointing fifth.

Admittedly he was twice brushed by the winner, Mega Secret. “I think it was more that the race was a bit hard on him,” says Brett Crawford, referring to it being his third run in six weeks. “He is very well and he has been working well.”

Crawford still believes that Richard Fourie’s mount is good enough to take his chance in next month’s classic but obviously he has to win this and he probably has most to fear from Horizon.

This R5.2 million record-breaker has also had his ups and downs. Most disappointing when heavily backed first time, he redeemed himself in convincing fashion over this trip next time even though the form was hardly boosted by runner-up Crompton Court managing only seventh last Saturday.

“Horizon is doing well and working well,” reports Candice Bass-Robinson. “I suppose we have Craven to beat but this will tell us where we are with Horizon.”

Dancer won a mile novice 35 minutes before Horizon scored over the same trip but his time was about half a second slower. However he has some fair form and could win if neither of the big two produce the expected step up in form.

Silver Chalice scored twice over 1 800m before disappointing in a sprint. Eric Sands believes that he will need another run, saying: “We are restricted as to gallops.”

Craven opened 12-10 favourite with World Sports Betting which put Horizon in at 18-10 and Dancer on 28-10. Silver Chalice is a 10-1 chance and Aviemore on 14-1 while the Bass-Robinson second string Rocket Master is the rank outsider of the party at 20-1.

Strictly on the book Crawford should also win the All To Come Graduation Plate with 2-1 shot Orion Quest who has 2kg in hand over Attenborough on adjusted ratings and finished a neck in front of him on these terms when they were second and third behind Always In Charge over a furlong further at the beginning of the month.

However this is Orion Quest’s second run after an injury-induced rest (he had knee surgery) so the alarm bells are ringing. “I’m basically using this as a stepping stone as he is going for the Cape Merchants on Saturday week,” says Brett Crawford.

Attenborough, second to Lanzerac Ready To Run runner-up Sergeant Hardy on his previous start, has a fair bit of speed and is taken to reverse the placings. Significantly he is already favourite at around 15-10.

La Favourari (3-1) also comes into the reckoning after starting favourite and going close against Pillar Of Hercules ( 7-2) over the trip here four weeks ago. The Andre Nel runner is 3kg better.

But don’t overlook 14-1 outsider Horse Guards. Dennis Drier’s colt has no chance on his running in that Always In Charge race but he is a lot better than that and it was his first run for nearly five months.

By Michael Clower

Kenilworth (Old Course) Wed Nov 23 Race previews by Warren Lenferna

Race 1
Preview: SEATTLE OAK caught the eye on debut and can improve to go close to winning. SECOND NATURE showed good improvement in her second start and can get even closer today – big runner. STOPTHINKINGOFME has a quartet chance – her stable companion is preferred. (Warren Lenferna 13-3-14)

Race 2
Preview: ORION QUEST has solid and good form. His last run to Always In Charge should be way too powerful for this field and he is the one they all have to beat. ATTENBOROUGH is consistent and was not far behind Orion Quest when they last met. LA FAVOURARI has a strong place chance. (Warren Lenferna 1-3-2)

Race 3
Preview: MINI LOUSHE is coming to hand quickly and looks ready to win his maiden. CHOIR OF ANGELS should improve many lengths over the 1400m trip and is one that has to be taken seriously – bad draw to deal with as does Mini Loushe. GSTAAD did well on debut but disappointed last time – must be given another chance. (Warren Lenferna 1-9-11)

Race 4
Preview: CRAVEN has a big reputation and showed his ability when winning his maiden in a common canter. He then battled to quicken in his post maiden run and disappointed many of his followers. I believe that a horse can have an off day and it is best to draw a line right through that run – he is better than that and is selected to bounce right back to best here. DANCER and SILVER CHALICE look set to fight out the minor money. (Warren Lenferna 3-2-1)

Race 5
Preview: NAVASHA has consistent form and comes into this race with strong each way claims. TENDER TRIP was slow out last time and finished just off the action. This is her peak run and she is more than capable of winning a race like this but the weight she has to shoulder is a small concern. MAKE THE MAGNET has been selected as the value bet on today’s card. (Warren Lenferna 2-1-9)

Race 6
Preview: CAPTAIN’S VERSION had to check last time at a crucial stage but still managed to run well – his chances look bright here. MR JAY might be able to get away from them at the top of the straight with a valuable 4kg’s off his back. CORTADA impressed when backed on debut and has to be better than his last run shows. If CAPTAIN COURTEOUS were to win again, it would be no shock at all! (Warren Lenferna 5-4-7)

Race 7
Preview: MIRANDA FROST caught the eye when having her comeback run 22 days ago. She won her first two starts in the manner of a good horse – I believe she is a good horse and should be very hard to beat and has been selected as the best bet on today’s card. SOMMERLIED returns from a rest and is making her local debut – she thumped the opposition on debut in KZN on the grass and clearly has ability or else would not have been travelled to the Cape for the season – exacta choice. HANABI has a place chance. (Warren Lenferna 4-7-5)

Race 8
Preview: STRIKEITLIKEAMATCH ran second last time and can go one better. SPRING GOLD is coming to hand and is worth considering for the shortlist. EDGE OF GLORY can improve a ton on his debut effort. (Warren Lenferna 5-9-12)