Sail South will take on Marinaresco in the Green Point Stakes early next month after powering home like a tornado in the NRC Charity Plate at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Richard Fourie, who is quickly building up a rewarding association with Brett Crawford’s big stable, swept his mount to the front over a furlong out and the 9-2 chance drew right away to slam Baritone by three and a half lengths.

Sail South (Liesl King)

“It’s going to be a hard season for Sail South off 110 but he now has to take his chance against the top horses,” said

Crawford. “He runs in the Green Point next and then maybe we will consider the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.”

Justin Snaith, although pleased with Baritone, blamed himself for 14-10 favourite Black Arthur managing only fifth (“He looked rusty. Good horse – bad trainer. It was shocking”). But maybe the self-flagellation was unwarranted. After all, this was the horse’s first run since the July and he is still a colt.

However it was the end of the road for third-placed Blarney Bay even though he seemed to be enjoying his customary gallop-them-into-the-ground tactics as much as ever. “He is eight and, with the summer course coming up, it’s time to call it a day but at least he went out the way I wanted,” said Mike Robinson who put himself on the map by improving the horse out of all recognition soon after taking him over.

Crawford also has a string of big race targets for the Corne Orffer-partnered Beach Goddess who really exerted her authority in the closing stages of the Laisserfaire to beat 1.5kg-conceding stable companion Chevauchee by three-parts of a length. “Laisserfaire was a brilliant filly who I trained,” he recalled. “Beach Goddess will stick to fillies sprints like the Southern Cross (Dec 10) and Sceptre (Jan 6) for now while, as I have said before, Chevauchee, now goes back round the turn.”

Beach Goddess (Liesl King)

Loading for this race proved a starter’s nightmare – it took almost six minutes with more and more of the 13 runners playing up – and the longer it went on the more upset the horses (and their trainers) became but the legendary Ralph Rixon and his wife Val have lived with this sort of thing for over 60 years and they were understandably thrilled with Our Destiny’s third place.

So too was Dean Kannemeyer with the Diadem-targeted Real Princess’s second to Search Party (yes, Crawford again!) in the last while the Milnerton trainer explained that he had reason to believe that Cape Speed’s performance when runner-up to Kilrain under top weight in the Swartz Family Handicap heralds a return to the winner’s box. “He was so fat that this will have taken 50lb off his gut,” said Kannemeyer who has his eye on the new version of the J & B Stayers.

Candice Bass-Robinson is aiming Kilrain at the Peninsula Handicap on January 7. This horse was sold for R1.4 million as a yearling but, when breeder Robin Hamilton later bought him back for R200 000, Robert Bloomberg shrewdly stepped in to take a quarter share.

Owner-breeder Paul Zeeman, who has just had an operation in Cape Town’s Panorama Hospital for heart and shoulder problems, had the sort of tonic that no doctor can match when Nutbush Citilimits got up on the line for Harold Crawford and Ossie Noach at 22-1 in the Elite Fibre Maiden.

By Michael Clower

Rabada, injured in the Charity Mile nine days ago, is to undergo further tests in an effort to discover the full extent of the problem.

Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

Brett Crawford said: “His near-fore was quite swollen after the race. We are not quite sure what it is and we are going to have to rescan the leg but he will be rested for three months.”

Last season’s Daily News winner was the original favourite for the Sansui Summer Cup but Vodacom Durban July winner The Conglomerate is still as short as 14-1 despite finishing only ninth in the Charity Mile.

Joey Ramsden, reporting him on the course for the big Turffontein race on Saturday week, said: “He was fine afterwards. It was just that he didn’t catch a draw and he was slowly away.”

Stable companion Table Bay (Anton Marcus) will start at short odds for the Selangor Cup at Kenilworth on Saturday, not least because he has 7kg in hand on official ratings. Ramsden, bidding to win the Grade 2 for the fifth time in six years, said that going straight to the Cape Guineas was never really an option – “there is such a big gap between the Cape Classic and the Guineas that you have to do something in the meantime.”

Marcus also partners the highest merit-rated in the Lanzerac Ready To Run whose winning purse is five times as much as the Selangor at R1.25 million. The Vaughan Marshall-trained Grade 1 winner Always In Charge has a theoretical 2kg in hand over the next best, Sergeant Hardy. Anthony Delpech rides this one for Justin Snaith.

By Michael Clower

Jo’s Bond and Anthony Delpech can take the Laisserfaire Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow when so many of the top weight’s 13 rivals have question marks against them.

Anthony Delpech (Liesl King)

Four of them have not raced for three months or more and another four will effectively be carrying overweight. Although this is a handicap it is also a Listed race and therefore apprentices can’t claim.

Mind you, Jo’s Bond is not proven off her new mark (up from 93 to 99) because she had the benefit of a useful 4kg claimer when she won last time and her task here is considerably stiffer. But she is provenly race fit and that is a huge plus.

Some horses – but not that many – can give of their best after a lengthy break but few Cape Town trainers really have the facilities to get the others fully racing fit first time and that could make things difficult for the likes of forecast favourite Chevauchee. Glen Kotzen may be able to do it with Our Destiny and Trip To India and Andre Nel is similarly in a position to overcome things with Hoist The Mast.

The three-year-olds have scope for improvement in them and it could well be significant that after Live Life won at Durbanville Candice Bass-Robinson said: “We are very excited about her – and she has a lot of speed.” Grant van Niekerk can get within half a kilo of the allotted 52kg.

Miranda Frost is 2.5kg wrong with most of the field but she is almost certainly better – much better –than her 88 handicap mark because she was found to be suffering a significant naval discharge after the Perfect Promise when she gave Live Life 2kg and finished two lengths behind her. But Akshay Balloo can’t claim here and nor can Brandon May on Primrose Lane who is, by my calculations, already 4kg under sufferance with most of the others.

Beach Goddess has a big chance – she didn’t feel right last time according to her rider – but she has repeatedly lost ground at the start. She is quite close with Come Fly With Me on Champagne form but that could be unreliable here as the race was run in the soft. Varumba should not be far away but her last two runs have suggested that the handicappers have her measure. Recent form puts Dixie Express quite close with her.

Sean Veale has to get down to 52 kg for Twinkle Toes who has won three of her last four but he is going to have to sit tight. This is the horse who nearly decapitated Shadley Fortune at Durbanville.

Sail South appeals in the NRC Charity Plate Pinnacle and old reliable Tevez can do it again in the Haak Fourie & Snyman Pinnacle.

By Michael Clower

The Gr 2 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday is the last big pointer to the Sansui Summer Cup, but is never an easy race to assess as some horses use it as a preparation while others need big runs to make it into the Summer Cup field.

Liege (Nkosi Hlophe)

Liege should start coming into his own a four-year-old being a son of Dynasty and he looks ideally course and distance suited. He won the Gr 3 Jubilee Handicap in June over the course and distance. He has had two starts this season, winning the last of them over 2000m. He beat Bankable Teddy by 0,75 lengths in that race and now faces him on the same terms. Furthermore, he should be cherry ripe and is drawn in pole position.

St. Tropez enjoys a galloping track like this one and will require a big run to make sure of his place in the Summer Cup field. He is another who could well come into his own this season being a five-year-old by Silvano. He moved up well in the Charity Mile before running out of steam, which suggested he needed the run. The wide draw is a concern but Anton Marcus is up. Marcus must think a little bit of him considering he chose to ride him in the Vodacom Durban July ahead of the ultimate winner The Conglomerate.

Master Switch is yet another horse who will likely reach his peak this season and he proved it with a good win over this trip at the Vaal, beating his stablemate Master Sabina. Geoff Woodruff has an unbelievable recent record in the Summer Cup, so this race will likely bring Master Switch to his peak for that race.

Coltrane (Liesl King)

Prince Of Orange is an interesting contender as one who has always been highly tried. He won from a tough draw on Grand Heritage day and should enjoy this step up in trip. He has a plum draw of two. Judicial is a perennial contender for the Summer Cup, in which he has placed in the last two renewals. Last year he won the Victory Moon but carries 6kg more weight this time around. He will still be a factor as his sustained finish suits the Standside track.

Coltrane is a staying type who has proved effective over this trip before. That will particularly be the case on this galloping track. He has a wide draw, but has Piere Strydom up, so is one of the dark horses.

Master ‘N Commander is well weighted and has a fair draw of eight. He comes from the Woodruff yard and will need a big run to get into the Summer Cup field. This is his third run after a layoff and he has proved he stays this trip before. He also showed himself to be in good heart last time when winning over 1450m.

Bankable Teddy can’t be ignored. Bold Rex is a three-year-old on the up who will love the course and distance. However, he is officially 7kg under sufferance with Judicial, so has a tough task. Easy Love caught the eye last time out when unlucky behind Master Switch and could be coming back to his best. Rocketball has a huge stride and will love this course and distance, but he has been a bit disappointing lately. Enaad is another with an outside chance and although he would prefer further he should be cherry ripe and can stay on into the money.

St Tropez (Nkosi Hlophe)

Joan Ranger is a classy sort who has won a feature over 1160m here and also finished a fine third in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint. She runs in the Listed Gardenia Stakes and has landed a high draw, which is sometimes favourable at this track. She is officially well weighted in this race and has her third run after a rest, so is the one to beat and is a potential banker.

The best bet on the card is likely in the last race, a MR 72 Handicap over 1160m. Ebony Knight cruised to a wide margin victory in a maiden last time over 1200m. The handicapping rules state a four-year-old maiden winner in a major centre cannot be merit rated above a 70 nett. This horse’s merit rating of 70 might well be capped, so he likely has a weight advantage.

The value bet is in the fourth race over 1600m in the form of Misty Roller. He caught the eye in  no uncertain terms over 1400m here when running the fastest time from 400m to finish. He can upset the hard knocking Pajama Party, who over raced in his first attempt at the trip and has drawn one outside of Misty Roller.

The Equus Champion Sprinter Talktothestars appears in a Pinnacle Stakes races over 1000m. He is officially very well weighted but does have a low draw which might make him vulnerable to the speedy Buckland. The latter is out at the weights but has excellent gatespeed and early speed and the best has unlikely been seen of him yet.

By David Thiselton

Race Previews Turffontein Saturday Nov 12 by David Thiselton…

Race 1
Preview: SECRET STAR put in a bold bid against a promising sort last time and can win as long as the number one draw does not turn out to be too disadvantageous on the day. SEEKING GOLD made a good debut over 1450m when showing pace so might enjoy this trip. SHEPHERD’S DELIGHT is by Warm White Night and is a half-sister to three multiple winners. OROBLANCO lost at odds on last time over 1400m and returns to a sprint trip. KANTARA QUEEN by Elusive Fort is a half-sister to a horse who won his first two starts in Cape Town. (David Thiselton 5-15-16)

Race 2
Preview: ENBHARR went close over this trip last time and this son of top sire Fastnet Rock is only one point higher in the merit ratings. FRONT RANK has been knocking on the door and should stay this trip. CHEPARDO is a fair sort and is drawn well over a suitable trip. (David Thiselton 4-5-6)

Race 3
Preview: BABBLING BROOKE impressed last time and is likely running off a capped merit rating after being raised the maximum eight points so could follow up over an ideal trip, although her last run was just over two months ago. NTOMA should have come on from her last run and has the ability to be a contender off a competitive merit rating. CAPE MARIGOLD is only one point higher than her last winning mark. FEATHERFOOT can do better than her last few starts. COBY would prefer further but has some class which could pull her into the places. (David Thiselton 5-7-8-3-2)

Race 4
Preview: MISTY ROLLER caught the eye running on strongly from way back on debut over 1400m from a wide draw and he is now well drawn over a step up in trip he will appreciate. PAJAMA PARTY went close over 1400m last time and returns to a trip he has done well over before. He over raced the only time he tried this trip but that was in his second run after gelding and he might have settled down by now. JUST CRUISED IN had good form in KZN as a two-year-old and makes his seasonal reappearance. (David Thiselton 10-1-8)

Race 5
Preview: TALKTOTHESTARS is the highest rated sprinter in the country and is weighted to win this comfortably. BUCKLAND is an up and coming sort with fine gate speed and early pace and he should love this fast course and distance. TRIP TO HEAVEN is full of speed and class and he should be a factor. OOMPH gave signs he was ready to return to his best last time out and should enjoy the course and distance. ABASHIRI needs no introduction and although this is on the sharp side his class could pull him into the places. (David Thiselton 1-7-11)

Race 6
Preview: JOAN RANGER has speed and class and is drawn high as she was when winning the Camelia Stakes over 1160m. CROWN OF ROSES will appreciate the step back to 1000m and this talented sort is only 2kg out at the weights with Joan Ranger. KILAUEA has her second run after a layoff but on Cemelia Stakes form should finish close to Joan Ranger. GREEN PEPPER is an up an coming sort who could rise above her current merit rating, although on official merit ratings she is 6,5kg out at the weights with Joan Ranger so it won’t be easy. EXQUISITE TOUCH has talent although on official merit ratings she is 4,5kg out at the weights with Joan Ranger. (David Thiselton 1-2-3-12-6)

Race 7
Preview: LIEGE is drawn in pole over an ideal course and distance and should be coming into his own being a four-year-old by Dynasty. ST TROPEZ appeared to need his last run and is ideally course and distance suited but he does have a tricky draw. Marcus is back aboard which is a plus. MASTER SWITCH should be coming into his own this season and proved it last time so he could follow up. PRINCE OF ORANGE won on Grand Heritage day from a tough draw and should stay this trip. JUDICIAL has a good record on this track but this is likely a preparation for the Summer Cup. COLTRANE did well over this trip last time and the blinkers stay on. MASTER N’ COMMANDER is well weighted on official merit ratings and has proved he stays the trip before so could be a big runner if producing his best in his third run after a layoff. (David Thiselton 4-7-5-10-1-8)

Race 8
Preview: ARPAD’s only win was over course and distance and he has dropped to a competitive merit rating. He has a plum draw and a jockey who knows him. His last below par run was with cheek pieces on and they have been dispensed with. GOLDEN MAN is drawn in pole with Strydom up so he could go one better than his five seconds from five starts over course and distance. SLEEPINSEATTLE stayed on over this trip last time to finish close and can earn with a repeat. THE SHREDDER was not disgraced against a top class sort last time out over course and distance. KONCEALED is a nice type of horse who likes doing it from the front. He has tired late over 1800m recently, but the question is whether he has the pace to improve over this trip. (David Thiselton 6-5-11-2-1)

Race 9
Preview: EBONY KNIGHT won his maiden in commanding style but as a four-year-old his merit rating is likely capped, so he could well have a weight advantage. A low draw on this track is sometimes a disadvantage but not always so earlier races must be monitored. DOLPHIN is a speedy sort whose high draw could well be favourable and Strydom is aboard. He disappointed last time over 1000m when favourite, but that was from a wide draw on the Inside track. RONIN WARRIOR has not had much luck at the start in his two post maiden runs and if producing his best he could be a big runner here. He appears to be the stable elect. HARRY SILVER is interesting stepped down in trip as he appears to have some talent but makes breathing noises. However, he comes from off the pace over 1200m so might be left too far out of his ground here. JUST A JAG ran an amazing race in his penultimate start in a Graduation Plate over 1200m on the Vaal Classic track, considering he was way out at the weights. A repeat from a high draw could see him earning. MASTER BOULDER beat a fair sort when winning his maiden over course and distance and a repeat could see him being a factor. (David Thiselton 6-3-2-9-14-7)