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.

Sail (Nkosi Hlophe)

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

Geoff Woodruff landed plum draws for his two chief contenders in the Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup, Master Sabina and Deo Juvente, although it was the opposite for his other pair, Master Switch and Master ‘N Commander.

Master Sabina and Deo Juvente finished one-two in the big race last year. In 2014 Woodruff also saddled the first two past the post and in 2013 he saddled the first three and the fifth-placed horse.

Master Sabina (JC Photos)

Master Sabina will jump from barrier six in this year’s big race on November 26, while Deo Juvente jumps from draw 8. Last year they jumped from draws 7 and 18 respectively and were sent off at odds of 13/2 and 15/1 and off merit ratings of 105 and 102. This year they both have merit ratings of 106 and are priced up at 8/1 and 9/1 respectively with Betting World.

Master Switch and Master ‘N Commander drew 18 and 17 respectively and are both priced up at 25/1.

Master Sabina has the same jockey aboard as last year, Gavin Lerena, while Deo Juvente will be ridden by Anton Marcus. Master Switch has Anthony Delpech up and Master ‘N Commander is yet to have a jockey declared.

The 11/2 ruling favourite from the Sean Tarry yard, Samurai Blade, drew a favourable barrier position of four, while his 6/1 shot stablemate, Liege, drew 12.

Out of province trainers, Duncan Howells, Gavin van Zyl and Joey Ramsden have four runners between them. Howells’ fancied 9/1 chance Saratoga Dancer drew a tough 13, while 16/1 shot stablemate Ten Gun Salute drew nine. Van Zyl’s No Worries drew 10 and Ramsden’s St. Tropez drew pole position.

By David Thiselton

Sc# Horse                                  Mass   MR     Draw   Jockey                Trainer
1  MAC DE LAGO                      60.0   114      3         W Marwing     W Marwing
2  PUNTA ARENAS                  58.0   110       5         K de Melo         D Drier
3  DEO JUVENTE                     56.0   106       8         A Marcus           G Woodruff
4  MASTER SABINA                 56.0   106      6         G Lerena           G Woodruff
5  THE CONGLOMERATE      56.0   106       15       P Strydom          J Ramsden
6  JUDICIAL                               55.5   105       2         K Zechner          T Zackey
7  NO WORRIES                        55.5   105       10       W Kennedy        G van Zyl
8  SARATOGA DANCER         55.0   104       13       C Zackey           D Howells
9  JUXTAPOSE                          54.0   103      7         C Maujean       S Ferreira
10 LIEGE                                      53.5   102       12       S Khumalo        S Tarry
11 ROMANY PRINCE                 53.5   102       14       *L Hewitson      O Ferraris
12 TEN GUN SALUTE                53.5   102      9         G V’Niekerk       D Howells
13 MASTER SWITCH                 53.5   101       18       A Delpech          G Woodruff
14 SAMURAI BLADE                  52.5   100       4         M Yeni               S Tarry
15 STONEHENGE                        52.5   99         16       J P v’d Merwe   S Tarry
16 MOGOK MASTER                   52.0   99         11       M V’Rensburg   J Soma
17 MASTER ‘N COMMANDER   52.0   97         17       A Forbes            G Woodruff
18 ST TROPEZ                               52.0    97        1         *C Murray         J Ramsden
19 IRISH PRIDE                           52.0    95        20       R Simons           J Janse van Vuuren
20 BANKABLE TEDDY               52.0   91         19       R Danielson       B Wiid
Couplings: (3,4,13,17) (5,18) (8,12) (10,14,15)
No. of Trainers: 13

The Vaal Outside track stages a competitive nine race card tomorrow. High draws have been favourable by trends at this course.

The meeting heralds the return of the 111 merit-rated Brazuca, who runs in the second race, a Graduation Plate over 1400m. He has not been seen since running third to Legal Eagle and French Navy in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at the end of April. He deserved the rest having campaigned in Cape Town and in the Highveld classics. He should outclass this field as he has some speed and this should be an ideal trip for his return.

The best bet on the card could come in race three in the form of September Bloom. The Gitano Hernando filly is a decent looking sort and faces an uninspiring fillies and mares maiden field here over 1200m. In her last start over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track she over raced early and was then stopped in her tracks when beginning a telling run. She still picked up well after that and the form has worked out well. She should relish this 1200m trip and from a fair draw of ten might be too classy here, despite having not raced since August. The obvious danger is At A Glance, but against her is a low draw.

The seventh race is a MR 92 Handicap over 1000m. Daspoort is six points higher than his highest winning mark, but has turned the corner and proved last time he was up to his current merit rating. He had a tough draw on that occasion and was also a bit hampered in the closing stages, but still managed to stay on for a one length third to the speedy Magic. He now has a plum draw on the outside rail and Piere Strydom rides. He is given  the nod for value bet on the card. Isphan is speedy and is off a competitive merit rating. He should make a bold bid, although he might end up giving Daspoort a nice tow and then be caught late. Seattle Singer would not be a surprise winner. She is a three-year-old filly running against the boys off a 94 merit rating, but has class and speed and done well against males at GR 1 level before. However, her draw is not as favourable as Daspoort’s and might cost her.

Another contender for best bet is Fieldmarshal Fenix, who runs in the eighth race, a MR 75 Handicap over 1000m. He has a nice stride on him and used it to lengthen in the closing stages of his debut over the quick 1160m Turffontein course. He is a four-year-old so started off as a 67 merit rating and was raised to a 70 after finishing second over 1450m. The form of his maiden over 1160m, in which he beat Refuge and Ronin Warrior, has worked out exceptionally well as they have gone on to win another five races between them. He has a fair draw and does not face an inspiring field. However, the slight concern is that he would probably prefer a touch further than 1000m.

In the first race Plum British could be a fair bet. This three-year-old gelding has plenty of speed, not surprisingly being by Great Britain. He is better drawn than the pair who strike as the main dangers, Amber Flash and Flying Russian. The question is whether he will stay the extra 200m in this 1200m event and he is given the nod too as he is a robust sort who should have come on from his first two career outings.

September Bloom’s performance in race three will be of interest regarding the chances of Miss Turbo in race five over 1400m. Miss Turbo beat the former the last time they met over 1450m. September Bloom was unlucky there, but Miss Turbo has dropped to a competitive merit rating after not being disgraced against a promising sort last time and has a favourable draw with Gavin Lerena up.

David Thiselton