Mark van Deventer

COMMITTED horseplayers will savour a mouth-watering menu on Saturday at Kenilworth with a stakes-laden card of Graded races. Top billing is the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas, backed up by a couple of potent Gr2’s – the historic, Green Point Stakes and Southern Cross Stakes. By throwing in additional Pinnacle and Conditions events catering for quality thoroughbreds, programmers have enticed many of the Cape’s best horses with high level aspirations into action.

These superior showdowns are staged over a variety of distances. The Southern Cross (which appears at the mercy of outstanding mare, Run Fox Run) is a 1000m dash for speedballs; the Fillies Guineas and Green Point are staged over the Classic trip of 1600m, with the Gr3 Cape Summer Stayers giving hardy local endurance runners a chance to shine over 2500m.

Trainer Justin Snaith, who has his string in fine fettle (8 of the last 30 saddled have won), holds a strong hand in the Fillies Guineas. Captain’s Ransom looks especially formidable after outrunning multiple Gr1-winning mare, Clouds Unfold in the Diana Stakes over 1400m two months ago. This daughter of Captain Al now stretches out over a slightly longer trip – should she cope with that task and be able to produce the same sizzling come-home sectionals set over extended sprints, then she may well prove best.

Stable companion Dazzling Sun (by Camelot) duffed her penultimate when physically out of sorts, then quickly redeemed herself by pulverizing subsequent winner, Pink Tourmaline over the course and distance in mid-November. She has serious upside potential.

Princess Calla is also a live threat. She was visually impressive in the Fillies Classic when cruising to a facile victory over another re-opposing Snaith entry, the pacesetting, Trickster. Jockey Craig Zackey should be able to work out a favourable trip on this Flower Alley filly from draw 2.

Zarina, was another left gurgling in Princess Calla’s wake in that same October showdown, yet it may be an error of judgement to downgrade her claims too harshly. She possesses great determination and has potent acceleration – Candice Bass-Robinson rates her as marginally the best of her three entries. Young apprentice, Joshwin Solomons has the uncanny knack of getting horses to really run for him so he deservedly gets his shot at Gr1 glory on this feisty daughter of Master Of My Fate.

Lemon Delight and Chat Ching are Bass-Robinson’s other runners. The former ran on best of all from a hopeless position clocking in five lengths off Seeking The Stars in the RTR Stakes. She is again drawn out wide which makes life awkward even with the longer 600m run-in on the Summer course, but based on steady collateral form behind Captain’s Ransom, Zarina and Princess Calla are entitled to get into the fray.

Chat Ching, a winner of two from three starts, is harder to assess. Despite a tardy start, she won fluently over the course and distance just a month ago, albeit it in a lower grade handicap. Senior pilot, Aldo Domeyer, who has won both times on her, will be looking to extend their perfect sequence – a daunting mission though, against far stronger rivals.

Master conditioner, Mike de Kock, has a tremendous record in Gr1’s. He raids from Johannesburg with Due Diligence who has run her best races pressing the pace. The Silvano filly appears slightly shy on the speed figures required to actually win this, and might be vulnerable over the final stages to superior finishers, yet it’s conceivable that she keeps on for a medal if the early fractions are soft.

David Thiselton

LUKE FERRARIS was at his South African Jockeys Academy residence two or three weeks ago when receiving a phone call out of the blue from trainer Eric Sands to ask him to ride Rainbow Bridge in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes.

It was a big moment for the twice South African champion apprentice, who will become a fully fledged jockey on January 10 next year.

Sands, the ultimate professional, plans his big horses’ chief targets from a long way out and whilst he could have kept Rainbow Bridge’s incumbent jockey Warren Kennedy aboard for the Green Point he knew the latter would likely be unavailable for the Sun Met due to his association with the Paul Peter yard and Equus Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding.

Six-year-old Rainbow Bridge has only had 18 career starts and Ferraris will become the seventh jockey to ride him.

Sands made his point about jockey changes quite clear earlier this year.

He said, “If jockeys don’t come and ride work or put in the work I will take them off and I will also take them off if they are not suited to the horse. I don’t pay their rent and they don’t pay mine.”

Young Ferraris has a chance to grab a golden opportunity with both hands because Sands has already displayed his loyalty to  jockeys who fulfill his criteria.

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic Sands had to look beyond the top echelon to find a rider for Golden Ducat and after two great rides in the Vodacom Durban July and the Grade 1 WSB Champions Cup Donavan Dillon has been kept aboard.

Ferraris has already fulfilled the first criterium by going down to Cape Town to ride Rainbow Bridge in work “a few times”.

If he passes the acid test in Saturday’s race he could find himself aboard the Ideal World gelding for two of the country’s biggest races, the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met.

Rainbow Bridge could well be the best horse in the country over 2000m and this opinion is backed up by a fascinating fact unearthed by racing statistician Jay August.

The Hollywoodbets Greyville course record for 2000m of 119.6 seconds has stood for more than 20 years, set by London News in 1996, but August measured Rainbow Bridge going through 2000m in a similar time in this year’s blisteringly fast Vodacom Durban July, and if anything it was marginally quicker. Those who believe he did not stay the 2200m trip will have to absorb that statistic and reassess his performance.

Ferraris, commenting on Rainbow Bridge’s main Green Point preparation gallop, said, “He felt good and finished the gallop well.”

Sands spoke earlier this week to Michele Wing Of Racing News Social TV and said Rainbow Bridge would be fitter than he was when winning the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge but with the Queen’s Plate and the Met his main aims he would not be at his peak. He said his career showed that his second run after a layoff tended to be flat and this would unfortunately coincide with the Queen’s Plate as he missed an intended race two weeks ago due to a skin rash. He expected Rainbow Bridge to give a good account of himself on Saturday.

Ferraris has won one Grade 1 to date, the Allan Robertson on Miss Florida, but will have more than one opportunity to add to that number this Summer as he has kept the ride on the Mike de Kock-trained star Malmoos for the Grade 1 Cape Guineas.

He said this Captain Al colt’s recent work had been good and his win last time out in the Grade 2 Avontuur Estate Concorde Cup had been particularly impressive as he “was still green”.

Ferraris is hoping to land the South African Apprentice Championship for a third time and looks likely to do so.

With a month to go before his apprenticeship ends he has ridden 49 winners and is 30 clear of the pair in joint second place, Joshwin Solomons and Kyle Strydom. The latter pair will have the opportunity to make up the leeway from January 10 next year until July 31, but both will have to increase their respective strike rates to overtake the target Ferraris will set.

Ferraris’ ultimate aim is to ride in Hong Kong but he called that a “long term goal.”

His parents David and Pam follow his career very closely from Hong Kong where David is a prominent trainer.

However, his chief critic is his legendary grandfather Ormond.

The unflappable Luke was asked to confirm that the latter’s criticism was constructive and he replied, “Sometimes”.

So, it would appear he has a good mixture of willingness to learn and self-confidence, two normal ingredients in the making of a champion.

The St John Gray home-bred Ronnies Candy was voted Horse of the Year at the KZN Breeders Awards that took place at the Nottingham Road Hotel on the evening of 4 December with 60 guests in attendance. Winners of each category in Red. 

HorseName	Sponsor
Champion 2YO Colt	The Equine Group
GARRULOUS
Champion 2YO Filly	Odds On Colours
Rapid Fire
War Of Athena
WAR OF ATHENA
Champion 3YO Filly	Far End Pretraining
Marygold
Missisippi Burning
MISSISIPPI BURNING
Champion 3YO Colt	Equifeeds
Captain Tatters
Christopher Robin
CAPTAIN TATTERS
Champion Older Female	Candiese Lenferna Photography
Camphoratus
Master Keys
Ronnie’s Candy
Running Brave
RONNIES CANDY
Champion Older Male	Epol
Angel’s Power
Paths Of Victory
Prince Of Kahal
PRINCE OF KAHAL
Champion Sprinter	Choice Carriers
Angel’s Power
Prince Of Kahal
PRINCE OF KAHAL
Champion Middle Distance Female	Hollywoodbets
Missisippi Burning
Ronnie’s Candy
Running Brave
RONNIES CANDY
Champion Middle Distance Male	Golden Sword
Chijmes
Prince Of Kahal
The Dazzler
CHIJMES
Champion Stayer	High Eagle Stud
Before Noon
Paths Of Victory
White Lightning
PATHS OF VICTORY
Stallion Prospect	Thoroughbred Breeders Association
Act Of War
Broodmare Of The Year	Almiray Vet
BENNIE ANDTHE JETS
Champion Breeders	Truck Centre Durban
Summerhill Stud
Breeding Achievement	Summerhill Equestrian
Rathmor Stud
Lifetime Achievement	Truck Centre Durban
Peter and Jenny Blyth
Anita Akal Award
Warwick Render
Horse Of The Year	Gold Circle
RONNIES CANDY

David Thiselton

PUNTERS were thrown a curve ball on Saturday when it appeared the going down the straight at the Summer Cup meeting appeared to be the opposite to what it normally is so it is tough to predict what will happen in the straight course races in tomorrow’s Standside meeting.

The high draws are usually favourable down the straight, especially when there has been rain, but on Saturday those drawn high appeared to be battling to go through with their efforts and low drawn horses if anything were at an advantage instead of their normal disadvantage.

Where the going will be today is of importance considering the last leg of the Pick 6 is over 1000m.

This is a Classified Stakes race so it is based on nett merit rated bands and females also receive a 1,5kg allowance. 

May Queen’s 74 merit rating is in the top band from 72 to 75 who are allotted 62kg, but the allowance means she carries 60.5kg. She won her maiden over this trip and followed up by winning over this course and distance by 0,20 lengths off a 70 merit rating. She is now four points higher but in that last win she beat Mind Reader by 0,80 lengths when receiving 2kg and the latter then came out and beat Touch Of Fate by 0,25 lengths when giving the latter 2.5kg. As May Queen only has to give Touch Of Fate half-a-kilogram tomorrow she should beat him on paper. She looks to be a solid progressive filly who possesses plenty of natural speed although the best scenario for her s a strong pace as she is usually not quickly away and she likes to take a sit while striding out. She should enjoy this course and distance then as it is a fast track so the leaders usually go at a strong clip.

Touch Of Fate is the second selection based on his suitability to the minimum trip and he is a progressive sprinter. In his penultimate start nothing went his way from the widest draw of all over 1000m at Turffontein Inside and the rider eventually did not persevere. The 5,50 length eighth did not tell the full story so he was allowed to go off at 12/1 odds last week over 1000m at the Vaal and he was just touched off by 0,25 lengths by Mind Reader. He has been given a two point raise for that run but as he finished second and the weights were already out he will run off his old mark so is effectively 1kg well in. The question is whether his low draw of two will be favourable as it was on Saturday, or will it revert to being unfavourable. The other negative is that the in-form Muzi Yeni, who rode him in his last start, will not be aboard but instead rides Winter’s Power. The latter finished a four length seventh in his first start out of the maidens in a 1000m handicap when well drawn on Turffontein Inside and he runs off the same mark again here. He does not have as good a chance as Touch Of Fate.

Three-year-old Gang Leader got a bad start over this course and distance last time, losing two lengths, and still finished just a length back. With Kennedy now aboard he has a shout as an improving sort whose nett merit rating of 71 falls at top of one of the bands. His connections will be going with the high draws which are favourable as he in barrier eleven out of the 15 runners. Track And Ball make him second favourite at 13-2.

Kwite A Trip, whose 75 nett merit rating puts him at the top of the topweight band, is a long-striding sort who has plenty of scope for improvement and he possesses plenty of speed so he is a worthy favourite. He finished just 1,55 lengths behind the decent Thumbs Up last time over 1100m when receiving 2.5kg plus a further 2.5kg claim and considering he made a breathing noise the drop down to 1000m should suit.

Afriel is the third favourite at 7/1 and is a most interesting runner considering he lost three lengths last time but was beaten only half-a-length. He was half-a-length ahead of Gang Leader and faces him on 1kg worse terms this time if the apprentice claims from last time are ignored, although that weight swing merely represents the weight for age difference between November and December, Afriel being a four-year-old and Gang Leader a three-year-old. 

Bridge Of Spies was also in the mix in that race and faces Afriel on the same terms, if apprentice claims are ignored, having been beaten by the slow starting latter by 0,20 lengths.

Florence will have a chance if producing her best as she is 1,5kg better off with May Queen for a neck beating over this trip, although if apprentice Syster’s claim, which has changed from 2.5kg to 1.5kg, is taken into account she is only half-a-kilogram better off. She is not the most consistent though.

Big City Girl is an interesting runner as she ran on well to score in her maiden over this trip, but this does look stronger. 

Soul Connection was disappointing last time when beaten 2,25 lengths by Gang Leader and 2,75 lengths by Afriel but he is capable and could bounce back. Ramsay won his maiden in his 8th start on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly so doesn’t make much appeal. 

Alex The Great beat Touch Of F three runs ago but was well beaten by him last time and if apprentice claims are ignored is now only 1.5kg better off for a 4,50 length beating, although he is always capable of popping up. 

Karin B is another who won her maiden on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly and it was in her 18th start, although officially she is the best weighted runner. 

Duet’s four lengths fourth to Written In Stone last time in his first stat on the Highveld under similar conditions was a fine effort although and he could earn with a repeat despite officially being 3kg under sufferance with Karin B if apprentice claims are ignored. 

Roksolana is raced wide last time so could do better and is another who can’t be ignored for a place as she finished only 1,50 lengths behind May Queen three runs ago over this trip.  

CAPE RACING has been in discussions with the NHRA regarding the possible temporary suspension of the movement of horses, locally and nationally.

Horses currently racing in the Western Cape have valid movement permits until 31 December 2020. Racing will continue as normal and discussions with SA Equine Health Protocols (SAEHP), Department of Agriculture (DALRRD) and the NHRA will be ongoing until a solution for the movement of horses is established.

Today’s meeting at Kenilworth will go ahead as planned.

Horses currently racing in the Western Cape have valid movement permits until 31 December 2020. Racing will continue as normal and discussions with SA Equine Health Protocols (SAEHP), Department of Agriculture (DALRRD) and the NHRA will be ongoing until a solution for the movement of horses is established.

Today’s meeting at Kenilworth will go ahead as planned.”