The progressive Pillar Of Hercules can make it three off the reel in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow but watch out for Lord Balmoral.

It is rare to have racing in Cape Town on a Thursday but the Joey Ramsden-trained colt is well bred enough to win whenever and wherever. By Captain Al, he is out of the Rock Of Gibraltar mare Gibraltar Blue who won both the KZN Fillies Guineas and the Tibouchina for Mike de Kock in 2010 after showing smart form in Britain and Ireland as a two-year-old.

Donovan Dillon’s mount followed up a good-style win at Durbanville by scoring first time out of the maidens at Kenilworth a fortnight ago. He has gone up 2kg for that and probably didn’t have 2kg in hand but he is almost certainly still improving.

Lord Balmoral owes punters plenty after disappointing when hot favourite in his last two runs but he looked the business in his previous two and he has been dropped 2kg for last time when there was a valid excuse. “We found he had a bit of an upper airwaves infection,” says Vaughan Marshall who thinks enough of the horse to run him again on Saturday week in the R2.5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run.

Pillar Of Hercules opened at 5-2 with World Sports Betting on Tuesday and hardened to 22-10 yesterday while Lord Balmoral is on 5-2. According to the sahorseracing computer they will finished first and second.  Fire Master looks fully exposed and is a 15-2 chance, Zud Wes (9-2) beat him a head in July and is half a kilo better but has been off ever since while Desert Fighter has not raced since just holding on in a blanket finish on the polytrack on Durban July day.

Surely not even the in-form Dennis Drier can get him to win this although the bookmakers are taking no chances and will only offer 22-10. It is difficult to find a realistic reason for supporting either Seven Wood (15-1) or Tiger Tiger (18-1) even with Richard Fourie in the irons.

Over Drive opened favourite for the first (and hardened to odds-on yesterday) despite proving expensive in his two Durbanville outings although stable expectations are not that high. “We are hoping that he will run a good race but we are not confident of winning,” says Chris Snaith.

I thought it would pay to side with 18-10 chance Maxamore instead. Darryl Hodgson has booked Grant van Niekerk for the gelding who showed promise on debut at Durbanville last month despite losing ground at the start and running green. However Gstaad, who finished half a length in front of him when third that day, let the form down here last Saturday and so Over Drive is given another chance.

Captain Gambler, who gave weight to the three who finished in front of her in last month’s Durbanville graduation, could be the answer to the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap at 7-2.

The money has already come for Pure Logic in race four and the Dean Kannemeyer colt has shortened from 9-2 to 5-2. That looks a tip worth taking.

Drier should again provide the winner of the getting out stakes and Mogostar has already been backed in the last, shortening from 15-10 to 11-10.

By Michael Clower 

Turffontein Standside stages an eight race card tomorrow night where the racing is competitive and dividends should be rewarding for those who do their homework.

It is not easy to find a best bet on the card but the one plumped for is Military Award in race four, a Maiden over 1400m. This Brave Tin Soldier gelding made his debut on Grand Heritage day over 1200m and his low draw was against him, so he didn’t do badly in finishing 14,5 lengths back. He proved that sentiment correct in his next start over the 1400m course and distance of tomorrow’s race. He was caught wide for much of the journey from a wide draw, so did exceptionally well to stay on strongly throughout the straight to finish a 0,2 length second. He should come on further for that run.

Weichong Marwing stays aboard for his brother Weiho. The one factor against him is a wide draw of 14. Weichong will need all of his considerable skill and guile to overcome it. On the plus side the horse does not over race and he has proved he loves the galloping nature of this track.

The main danger could be Hamaan. He also stayed on strongly in that last race after being dropped out from a very high draw. He was beaten 2,3 lengths by Military Award. On the other hand that was his debut. He has also cracked a better draw than Military Award tomorrow night.

Bling Swing is an interesting raider for Paul Lafferty. He ran in the KZN Series for three-year-olds over 1400m last time out and faced good horses. He finished only 0,25 lengths behind the Gr 1 winner Gunner, although he was receiving 10,5kg if the 2,5kg apprentice claim of his rider is included. However, he was only receiving 4,5kg from the winner, the fair sort Roy’s Magic and was beaten only 2,75 lengths.

The second race over 1600m sees a penalty kick in Samurai Blade as he is weighted to stroll home and is in good form too.

The first leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1400m, is one of the most difficult races on the card and punters should go wide.

Next up is the Military Award race.

In the third leg, over 2000m, Spun Out, another raider from the Lafferty yard, is the choice. In his first run after gelding, last time out, he showed considerable improvement. He was dropped out from a wide draw over 1600m at Scottsville and ran on strongly to finish second. He was not stopping at the line, so should relish the step up in trip. Some might view coming up to altitude to run over 2000m as a major negative and it would be if he was coming up from sea level.

However, Summerveld is about a third of the altitude of Johannesburg and horses have raided to win marathon trips from that training centre before. Strydom aboard is a plus. Stool Pigeon could be dangerous. He appeared to run too handy last time when stepped up to this trip and that blunted his finishing speed. He should be given another chance.

In the next leg the solid sort Hawaiian Sun should love a return to the Standside track. He carries topweight but has dropped to a competitive merit rating and this is an ideal trip. However, this is an open race where it looks wisest to go wide.

The next race is also not easy. However, Last Chirp looks to have some class and she has the advantage of a rails run on the standside over an ideal 1160m course and distance. She could represent some fair each-way value.

The last race over 1000m sees a potential banker in Fieldmarshall Fenix. He over raced a touch early on in a 1450m event last time out and still managed to finish second. Therefore, he should enjoy the step back to 1000m and is drawn on the standside rail. This is only his second career start and he should have improvement in him too.

By David Thiselton

After having done my selections for the Racecard in the usual 90 minutes before print deadline – KZN trainers seem to be allowed an awful lot of leeway when it comes to final declarations – and then comparing my selections to Computaform picks, I was left wondering if it was even the same card!

Racing in KZN has not been easy these past few weeks and today’s Greyville card looks particularly tricky. An indication of just how tricky comes in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap, a sprint over 1200m. Almost all of the runners have some claim to the winner’s cheque but at very least you will get a good price about your fancy – win or lose.

Littleblacknumber is a smart mare and Duncan Howells has been forced to race her in strong company because of her high merit rating and a lack of suitable races. She makes her poly debut this afternoon but looks well suited to the surface and could prove too good for the males. Al Ciberano is overdue another win and has a light weight and a top draw. With Anthony Delpech booked for the mount the gelding should have every chance. Top Form made a smart return to the track after a break and if he comes on from that he will be a factor. Gareth van Zyl saddles Redcarpet Captain who although he has a big weight he is unbeaten in two over course and distance since being gelded. Alistair Gordon’s pair of Beat The Retreat and Bunker Bill are also both capable on their day as is Waltzed Home.

In the card opener, the Howells-trained Elysian Fields has put in two modest efforts on the turf but his one run on the poly was excellent. A repeat of that showing should see him close. Most of Dean Kannemeyer’s runners have shown an affinity for the poly track. He sends out Gates who looks a threat to Elysian Fields. He raced green on debut when jumping from a wide draw and is sure to improve on that effort. The Reformation is another who has run his best race on the poly and failed narrowly two runs back at long odds. Roy’s Slow Motion sped up quite a bit when sent on the poly and although a distant third he can feature in the money again

In the second We’re Watching You made a promising debut on the turf at Scottsville. She is likely to handle the poly given the soft ground on debut and meets a modest field. Howells has a chance of a quick double as Night At The Proms has run her best races on the poly and was close-up in both recent outings. She has a tricky draw but should feature prominently.

It has been some time since Jeff Freeman had a winner but Promissory has been close-up in some useful company of late, much stronger than he meets here. He has a good draw and with Anton Marcus engaged the inference is obvious. Aramouse has excellent form for Weiho Marwing and was touched off by One O Won last Wednesday. He looks the biggest threat to the selection. A danger to both could be Sea Urchin. Lightly raced he has his problems but he also has ability. Garth Puller has declared him in blinkers for the first time and he should be included in all calculation.

The fifth is another minefield. Greatfiveight has had a busy few weeks since arriving in KZN. He has taken to the poly but blinkers proved to be the key to his next win. He finished a close-up fourth behind Penhaligon last Sunday so will at the very least strip fit for this race where he has a chance in in a weak field. Roy’s Rolls Royce has shown some fair form on the poly and should feature in this company along with The Gingerman who has also improved in blinkers but has a difficult draw to overcome here.

Variety Romp is a lightly raced six-year-old who made a promising comeback after a lengthy break last month. He can go close in the sixth where recent maiden winner Apres Ski made major improvement when tried in blinkers on his poly debut and can follow up while San Julian Bay has shown up well in two starts on the poly but has to lump a big weight from a wide draw.

In the seventh Beaute Noire has done well for her new stable and made a cracking handicap debut. She has a big weight but could prove too good here and is a possible exotic bet banker. Danger could be Lunar Sea who has been in good form on the turf. Of concern was her modest last effort on the poly but she has drawn well and has a handy weight.

The lucky last could go the way of Archilles who was not far back to a useful colt last time out. He meets weaker here and should have a strong chance.

By Andrew Harrison

When popular owner Michael Leaf won Saturday’s R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Stakes at Turffontein with the Lucky Houdalakis-owned Chili Con Carne it completed two amazing stories, one of lightning striking twice and the other of a dramatic turnaround in fortunes.

Saturday’s victory happened a year after Leaf’s Justin Snaith-trained colt Lineker had won the R2,015 million BSA Ready To Run Cup at the same meeting.

Linker had been successfully pin-hooked by Leaf at one stage, but a quirk of fate saw him owning the colt again, while the small, unfashionably-bred Chili Con Carne was a “buy back”.

The decision by the Houdalakis yard to fit Chili Con Carne with blinkers did the trick.

The Just As Well home-bred gelding held on to beat the favourite Africa Rising by 1,25 lengths, despite starting odds of 15/1.

It was the first leg of former champion jockey Gavin Lerena’s brilliant feature race Jackpot of victories.

Michael Leaf was much admired for the sporting manner in which he handled the bitter disappointment of losing the 2014 Vodacom Durban July through a controversially upheld decision in the boardroom.

However, fortune has turned full circle.

Chili Con Carne is out of an unraced Leaf-owned Windrush mare called Wonder Glow, who is a half-sister to twice Listed winner West Cigar.

On the suggestion of pedigree fundi Anton Procter, Leaf sent her to be covered by Springfield Stud-based A.P. Indy stallion Just As Well.

The foal, having been prepared by Balmoral Stud, was the final lot on last year’s CTS Johannesburg Ready To Run Sale. Leaf had been unable to make it to the sale and had asked Lucky Houdalakis to oversee the auction of his three horses. Chili Con Carne had shown potential in his preparation for the “breeze ups”, so Leaf put a R300,000 reserve on him. Buyers showed a lot of interest and this allowed Houdalakis to put in a bid for R300,000. Only one more bid was required to have a successful sale. However, the bid never came. Furthermore, Leaf admitted he would likely have been happy to accept the highest under bid of around R275,000 had he been there.

Houdalakis’ wife Natalie said Lucky had “loved” the horse from day one.

She added, “He liked him as an individual. He is not big, but had everything in the right place.”

Consequently, Leaf asked Houdalakis to train him.

He showed a lot in training, to the extent his above average performances on the racecourse were viewed as disappointing by connections.

Leaf spoke of how the horse would “drop himself back” and then “fly up”, but usually too late.

For example, On September 29 over 1200m at the Vaal he was tailed off at the 400m mark and made about 15 lengths to run an eye-catching fourth.

That was his first run after gelding, and Houdalakis then stepped him up to 1600m. On this occasion, he jumped well, but had soon dropped himself out to last. He moved up early enough this time and joined the leaders, but stayed on at one pace from the 200m mark to be beaten two lengths into fifth. The obvious inference was to put him over 1400m, but on October 25 over that distance it was a similar story. However, on this occasion Muzi Yeni was aboard and returned to say he had felt a lot underneath him, but the horse was just not “putting it in”. Yeni was adamant the blinkers had to be fitted.

Eleven days later Chili Con Carne, with blinkers on, at last held his handy position, after jumping from pole position. He crept up at the top of the straight and then kicked clear before staying on strongly.

Vaal-based Houdalakis could not be on course due to a recent operation to sinuses and mouth which would have made interviews tough. However, he “screamed” the horse to victory at home. It was the biggest cheque the yard had earned in South Africa, although the legendary J J The Jet Plane earned far bigger cheques for them in both Dubai and Hong Kong.

Leaf, amazed to have won two lucrative sales races, could well make it three on November 19 at Kenilworth when his Justin Snaith-trained colt Bishop’s Bounty will attempt to go one better than his full brothers Red Ray and Brutal Force in the R2,5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m.

Last year’s Leaf-owned sales race hero Lineker was bought in Australia by Paul Lafferty. Leaf forked out the Aus $50,000 required to secure him. However, he later felt a bit “iffy” about his potential after listening to the critics. Consequently, he decided to put him on a sale to see what would transpire. As it happened he was bought for R1,1 million by John Freeman. The latter then offered Leaf the opportunity to stay in the colt. Leaf agreed to take 50%. However, fate saw him owning the horse outright once more when the partner he had intended roping in bailed out.

Meanwhile, Wylie Hall, the victim of the controversial July upheld objection, has made a fine start to his stud career. The son of Redoute’s Choice covered 96 mares last season and over 90 of them have produced live foals. Leaf, whose first three runners of his breeding career have all won, expanded his broodmare band to 25 partly in order to support Wylie Hall.

Natalie Houdalakis spoke of how chuffed the yard were to have won Saturday’s race for such a committed owner and breeder.

Leaf even pours passion into the naming of his horses. “Chili Con Carne” was inspired by words from the Nat King Cole song “Let There Be Love” and the name, due to its spicy connotations, also seemed suitable due to his Durban routes and the horse being KZN-bred.

Lucky and Leaf have connotations of good fortune, but there was lot more to the story on Saturday than just a couple of names, and nobody would have begrudged this triumphant turnaround in fortune.

By David Thiselton

Using the wrong dustbin has cost Mike Stewart R10 000, a hefty legal bill and a grilling in front of the National Horseracing Authority Inquiry Board.

NHA officials made a surprise visit to the Noordhoek trainer’s stables in May and seized needles and syringes that were found to contain traces of phenylbutazone.

Stewart said: “It all happened when I wasn’t allowed to go near the stables for a fortnight because of the risk of infection after having an eye operation.

“My wife Ingrid has her own business taking people for rides on the beach and most of her horses are old and couldn’t operate without bute. She treated our daughter’s pony with it and, without thinking, threw the packaging into one of the bins near the stables rather than taking it to the house bin which she normally does. The following Tuesday the inspection people turned up and went through the bins.”

Stewart pleaded guilty at last week’s hearing but the mitigating circumstances explained by his attorney resulted in three-quarters of the R40 000 fine being suspended for three years.

The day after their visit to Noordhoek the inspection officials turned up unannounced at Paddy Kruyer’s stables in Milnerton, went through all the drawers and again discovered some used needles and syringes. Analysis revealed traces of testosterone cypionate and the trainer was fined R50 000 with half suspended for three years.

Kruyer, who was also legally represented, said: “I was able to prove, through the vet’s books, that the testosterone was supplied to me in 2012 when it’s use was still legal. However what I was guilty of was putting the needles and syringes in the drawer and forgetting about them instead of disposing of them at the time. As a trainer I am held responsible for anything found on my premises, hence the fine.”

By Michael Clower