Wet weather and flooded tracks have put paid to many a well laid plan and Duncan Howells has been having a difficult time getting a race under the girth of his crack filly Dawn Calling. But all going well she looks the star bet on tonight’s Greyville card when she runs in the SANCO Conditions Plate.

Ideally Howells was looking to stretch the filly past 1200m with the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas in mind but his only other option was against the colts in a handicap.

Given her high merit rating Dawn Calling was set to shoulder over 60kg and giving weight to all including Gr2 Dingaans entries Palladium and My Pal Al who in previously scheduled but washed out conditions races, would have been giving the filly weight.

But Howells’s tribulations should benefit punters as Dawn Calling looks a blinder in a field that sees the return of a number of useful fillies, all of whom may be in need of the run and a touch further.

One of these is the Sean Tarry-trained In Other Words. She has excellent poly form but does seem better over further. In her favour is that she has won over the course and distance and as she has not been out since July she could race fresh.

Ashburton-based Paul Gadsby is at logger heads with the handicappers over their assessment of his filly Miss Varlicious. She has come down from a career high 103 to 97 but that counts for naught in this conditions race where she is set to give Dawn Calling 6kg. Anton Marcus, who has been aboard Dawn Calling in all of her last two starts, is aboard Miss Varlicious, so will have a good idea of what his mount is up against.

Time Marches On won over course and distance two runs back and although never a threat at her last outing over 1400m, she could prove a better proposition over tonight’s trip.

Alistair Gordon and Charles Laird have had similar problems in trying to prepare My Pal Al and Palladium for next Saturdays Gr2 Dingaans and they come up against each other in the PMB Community Chest 3-Year-Old Handicap. Along with Dawn Calling this will be their third attempt at getting a race under their belts and a week between races is not ideal. My Pal Al shed his maiden on the poly and followed up with a cracking effort in a strong field behind highly rated Roy’s Magic who incidentally also holds a place in the Dingaans field. He has a big chance from a good draw but Gordon is sure to be hoping that the race does not turn into a dogfight for the line.

So too Laird. Palladium was a short head behind My Pal Al in the race won by Roy’s Magic and on that showing there is also not likely to be much between them again.

Marshall That, stable companion to My Pa Al, was down the field in the Roy’s Magic race but he was bounced to the front in an attempt to overcome a wide draw and he faded out come the business end of the race.

Prior to that he shed his maiden, putting five lengths between himself and Newyorkstateofmind, the later still a model of consistency. Warren Kennedy replaces his apprentice rider and one can expect a better showing this time around.

The King Of Random has yet to finish out of the money and Michael Roberts’s charge has a light weight and a good draw to help his cause. He was only two lengths back in the Roy’s Magic race and was doing is best work late. He steps up to a mile here and if he does not get too far out of his ground early then he too must rate a winning chance.

The first leg of the Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge gets under way at Fairview this afternoon where the international team, led by the inimitable Frankie Dettori takes on a South African team lead by champion S’Manga Khumalo.

Race tactics could play a crucial role here with teams trying to outsmart each other so it should make for fascinating viewing.

The first of the four challenge races is off at 2.15.

The challenge extends to Turffontein on Sunday for the final four legs of the eight-race challenge.

By Andrew Harrison

 

 

 

 

 

History-making jockeys Frankie Dettori and S’Manga Khumalo will clash this weekend as respective captains of the two teams competing in the Air Mauritius International Jockeys Challenge.

Both can look back on a single pivotal day in their respective careers.

Dettori became an international sporting icon on September 28, 1996, when winning all seven races of the Champions Day meeting at Ascot. He was already adored at the time, not only for his skill in the saddle, but also for his eccentric personality and his trademark “flying dismounts”.

The final winner of the “Magnificent Seven” was Fujiyama Crest, who had been available at 12-1 in the morning. Alarm bells were ringing loudly for Off Course bookmakers after Frankie had won the first six races. However, on probably the darkest days in UK bookmaking history, the usual mechanics of the bookmaking system then suddenly broke down, as explained by writer Chris McGrath of the UK Independent newspaper. “Mug money” was pouring on to Fujiyama Crest on course. Bookmakers in the ring could not believe their luck. They could lay 2-1 against a horse whose chances in reality were closer to 12-1.

They felt it was imperative to seize the opportunity. Instead of meekly lowering the odds they continued to lay the horse at 2-1 for everything they had. The Off Course Starting Price (SP) is dictated to in the UK by the On Course market. Thus, the stand the bookmakers in the ring were taking was immeasurably raising the stakes on Fujiyama Crest off course too. One On Course bookmaker Barry Dennis laid the horse to lose £23,000. Even watching the race, he remained convinced he had done the right thing. He recalled, “Reality … Frankie’s done it. I stood on my stool, staring, not hearing a thing, in a trance.” He went home to his wife and collapsed into a chair, sobbing. The losses to the bookmaking industry were about £30million, with Hills over £8m down and Ladbrokes even more. One North London betting shop still has its clock stopped on the exact time Fujiyama Crest crossed the line.

On Course bookmaker Gary Wiltshire was the biggest individual loser. He had been on his way to a Worcester jumps meeting when a motorway pile up forced him to change his plan and head for Ascot. The decision cost him £1 million. Frankie had started the day saying, “I could have an each-way chance in the first, and I may win the third.” It was the day the mug punters finally had their revenge. One Mary Bolton’s Ladbrokes £5 accumulator on Frankie’s seven mounts netted her £500,000. Dettori later bought Fujiyama Crest as a pet and the gallant horse happily lived out his retirement on the Dettori family small holding.

Dettori was born in Milan on 15 December 1970. His father Gianfranco was a champion jockey in Italy and his mother a professional circus performer. At age 14 Frankie left home to work for trainer Luca Cumani at Newmarket. In 1989 he was made Cumani’s stable jockey after becoming Champion apprentice. In 1990 he rode 100 winners in a season, the first teenager to achieve the feat since Lester Piggot. In 1994 he joined Godolphin. He won his and Godolphin’s first English classic on Balanchine the same year in the Epsom Oaks. He was UK Champion jockey in 1994, 1995 and 2004. In 18 years with Godolphin he rode 943 winners from 3,430 rides. A phenomenal 110 of those winners were at Gr 1 level. Dettori has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races, including 16 English Classics. Dettori split with Godolphin in 2012. However, the flow of winners has not stopped. This year he rode 23 graded stakes winners, including four Gr 1s.

This will be Frankie’s third appearance in the SA Jockeys International Challenge and his first since 2009. He recently achieved his 300th winner in Britain, but is yet to ride a winner in South Africa.

S’Manga Khumalo grew up in the poverty stricken township of Kwa-Mashu. He joined the South African Jockeys Academy in 2000 and was immediately commended for his “natural seat.” He was initially scared of horses. However, he went on to ride 104 winners as an apprentice. He rode over 60 winners in each of his first three seasons out of the Academy. Trainer Joe Soma recognised him as a champion in the making and said in 2008, “He has a natural talent and a lovely affinity with horses. He is always laughing and joking but when I see him get on a horse he goes into his own world.”

Khumalo big break happened in  2011 when St. John Gray put him on the filly Dancewiththedevil in the Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. She thrashed the boys and two weeks later he rode her to another emphatic victory in the Gr 1 Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes.

Sandwiched in between those two big wins, Khumalo won the Kenya Derby on a South African-bred horse.

Alas, a terrible fall at Turffontein in June that year saw him laid off until November. In his comeback the injuries continued to plague him and in March 2012 he even considered hanging up his boots. However, he was talked out of it and later that year rode the Soma-trained Wagner to victory in the Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup. Later that season he won the Gr 1 President’s Champions Challenge on the Sean Tarry-trained Heavy Metal. Then came the pivotal day when becoming the first black jockey to win the Vodacom Durban July, partnering Heavy Metal to victory on July 6, 2013.

His confidence soared and he became a major force virtually overnight. Two weeks after the July, he rode the first five legs of the Pick 6 at Turffontein.

He won the National Jockeys Championships in the 2013/2014 season and established himself as first call rider to current national champion trainer Sean Tarry. Khumalo won the championships again last season and has developed into the consummate professional.

By David Thiselton

“A bad draw is a bad draw, what else can I say,” was Joey Ramsden’s forlorn comment after The Conglomerate was left out at 18 for last season’s Gr1 Vodacom Durban July.

However, all the cards fell his way in the race and under a superb ride from Piere Strydom that earned him ride of Champions Season, The Conglomerate finally broke prolific owners Markus and Ingrid’s Jooste’s duck in the race.

It was a case of more of the same for The Conglomerate for the Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup when the draw was done in Johannesburg yesterday.

Not quite out with the washing at 15 and with a much longer straight to negotiate, it was not all bad news for The Conglomerate who lines up with 20 other rivals in the R2 million race to be run over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday week, November 26.

The Conglomerate missed the season-ending Gr1 Champions Cup with a mind to the Summer Cup and he has improved each time in his two Highveld build-up runs. He should be spot-on come Saturday week.

Mac de Lago, third behind The Conglomerate in the July, meets his rival on the same terms and although Weiho Marwing is unhappy with his current merit rating, he will have been more than happy with gate three.

Geoff Woodruff has an outstanding record in this race, having won it for the past two years and last year’s winner Master Sabina drew well at 6 with the much-fancied Deo Juvente in at 8 with Anton Marcus aboard. However, Marcus’s choice of rides was restricted as it was obvious that Strydom would have first call on The Conglomerate while he will have had to amputate a leg and possibly more to make the weight on Master ‘N Commander and St Tropez.

Sean Tarry-trained Liege, second in last Saturday’s Gr2 Victory Moon stakes behind Bezanova, has drawn a touch wide at 12 although he is likely to have come on nicely from his warm-up run and champion trainer Tarry has his horses in mustard form.

KZN raiders are also in evidence with Duncan Howells saddling Saratoga Dancer, runner-up in the Gr2 Charity Mile, and Ten Gun Salute while Gareth van Zyl sends out his first Gr1 runner under his own name in No Worries.

Saratoga Dancer fared best of the Howells runners in the Charity Mile, runner-up to New Predator, but although he finished fifth, beaten a length in the 2200m July, the tough Turffontein 2000m remains a concern from a 12 gate.

Ten Gun Salute did not get the best of passages in the Charity Mile, but having shed his maiden over 2400m, next Saturday’s trip should hold no fears. He has a plum draw and it’s just a matter of whether he is good enough to match this field that is possibly the biggest question mark over his chances.

Veteran No Worries has done the Van Zyl yard and owner Brian Burnard proud. The chestnut never runs a bad race and he has prepped nicely for this event. He also has a handy galloping weight courtesy of Mac de Lago and there will be many a sentimental bet struck.

Turffontein  2,000,000  2000m  17:10   Gr1 SANSUI SUMMER CUP
Sc# Horse                                            Mass MR Draw   BAT       Jockey                         Trainer
1  MAC DE LAGO                              60.0  114   3           AT         W Marwing         Weiho Marwing
2  PUNTA ARENAS                          58.0  110   5            A          K de Melo           Dennis Drier
3  DEO JUVENTE                               56.0  106   8            A          A Marcus             Geoff Woodruff
4  MASTER SABINA                         56.0  106   6            AT        G Lerena              Geoff Woodruff
5  THE CONGLOMERATE               56.0  106  15           AT        P Strydom           Joey Ramsden
6  JUDICIAL                                        55.5  105   2            A          K Zechner            Tyrone Zackey
7  NO WORRIES                                55.5  105  10        BAT        W Kennedy        Gareth van Zyl
8  SARATOGA DANCER                  55.0  104  13           A          C Zackey              Duncan Howells
9  JUXTAPOSE                                   54.0  103   7            A          C Maujean          Stanley Ferreira
10  LIEGE                                              53.5  102 12            AT        S Khumalo           Sean Tarry
11  ROMANY PRINCE                      53.5  102  14           A          *L Hewitson       Ormond Ferraris
12  TEN GUN SALUTE                      53.5  102    9          AT         G van Niekerk   Duncan Howells
13  MASTER SWITCH                      53.5  101  18          AT         A Delpech           Geoff Woodruff
14  SAMURAI BLADE                      52.5  100   4           AT         M Yeni                  Sean Tarry
15  STONEHENGE                             52.5   99  16           AT         J P v’d Merwe    Sean Tarry
16  MOGOK MASTER                      52.0   99  11         BAT        M V’Rensburg   Joe Soma
17  MASTER ‘N COMMANDER     52.0   97  17           A           A Forbes              Geoff Woodruff
18  ST TROPEZ                                    52.0   97   1            AT         *C Murray           Joey Ramsden
19  IRISH PRIDE                                  52.0   95  20           A           R Simons              Johan Janse van Vuuren
20  BANKABLE TEDDY                      52.0   91  19          BA          R Danielson        Brian Wiid

As soon as the six visiting riders taking part in the Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge touched down at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday, one of their first tasks was to locate a newspaper and scour the racecard.

The reading material would no doubt have come in handy for the short flight to Port Elizabeth where the first of two legs kicks off on Friday with Fairview prepared to host what promises to be a thrilling first day of a crack team of international riders against a strong South African team.

The second leg takes place at Turffontein Racecourse on Sunday.

The visitors will be captained by Frankie Dettori, who makes a return for the first time since 2009 and features the likes of Hayley Turner, Pat Cosgrave, Rab Havlin, Fergus Sweeney and Aurelien Lemaitre.

“Good to be back. I’ve tried to bring a winning team with me and try to win this year because your boys are hard to beat in your own backyard,” Dettori told Racing. It’s A Rush shortly after arriving in South Africa.

The South African team will be led by S’manga Khumalo with Muzi Yeni, Anthony Delpech, Aldo Domeyer, Grant van Niekerk and the in-form Gavin Lerena filling the remaining slots.

The South African team has a proud history in this competition having won six of the eight renewals.

One thing that most racegoers are hoping to see at either venue is Dettori’s trademark flying dismount and he’s promised to deliver should he manage to get into the winner’s box.

“If I win a race, of course you will. Hopefully we’ll get that straightened out,” Dettori said in reference to the fact that he’s still to get off the mark in two appearances in this competition. He featured in the inaugural event in 2008 and returned the following year.

“I heard I’ve got one favourite on Friday, not sure about Sunday but there’s time to get organised, get as much information as we can and get ready for the weekend.”

This weekend is also a chance for Turner to return to race-riding and the English jockey admitted that the lure of competing in this event was enough to draw her back.

“This is my third time now. I loved it last year, it was brilliant. That was my last ride before I retired and they asked me to come back this year and I couldn’t say no,” Turner said.

“I haven’t been on a winning team either. We are determined to win it this year. Apparently I’ve got some good rides. We’ve got a bit of time to do our homework and fingers crossed,” Turner, recently awarded an OBE by the Queen said before touching on the team format and the difference it makes as opposed to the usual status quo where it’s everyone for themselves.

“You’re a lot happier when you pull up if you don’t finish anywhere but one of your team members win. We all want to win but finishing second isn’t too bad if it’s one of your team members getting up ahead of you.”

Racing.It’s A Rush!

Sail gave her Cape Fillies Guineas chances a huge boost by leading throughout the Itsarush.co.za Progress Plate at Kenilworth yesterday to beat The Secret Is Out by two most convincing lengths. But there was a devastating shock for the connections of the runner-up who ran a tremendous race considering she was giving the winner 3kg.

Vaughan Marshall reported: “It was a fantastic run but she bled and so she is now off on a two-month holiday.”

Sail was backed from 2-1 to evens and, although she had never led before, her rider was under orders not to be afraid to make it. Once into the straight Gaynor Rupert’s homebred never looking in danger. Veale glanced back as he reached the rails advertising and then leant down to pat the Philanthropist filly low on the neck.

He said: “I knew it would take a good one to beat her and she simply blew them away. The more she runs the better she will get.”

Drier added: “I ran her here because I didn’t want to be caught with my pants down having given her just one run out of the Durban season. She is basically a bit hot but in a race she is a relaxed filly and I think eventually she will go 1 800m.”

Stable companion Premier Dance finished a highly respectable fourth but Drier virtually ruled out the World Sports Betting-sponsored classic on December 3.

He said: “I will speak to (owner-breeder) Mike Rattray as I would like to go slowly with her in the Cape season and prepare her for when we have bigger fish to fry in Durban.”

By Michael Clower