Anton Marcus is rated the 18^th most successful jockey in the world in the global rankings published last week by the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary website which also classifies trainers and owners.

Markus and Ingrid Jooste come in number nine in the owners’ category – Coolmore and their partners head the list followed by Godolphin – but otherwise South Africans have been placed a long way down the various logs.

Six times champion Piere Strydom (91^st) is the only other South African-based jockey to be rated in the top 100 and Hong Kong’s  multiple champion Dougie Whyte has been put only two places higher.

The refusal of European interests to relax the African Horse Sickness quarantine regulations probably has more to do with the lowly treatment of the South Africans than any real assessment of their ability. As our horses cannot compete on the international stage, except by sacrificing a significant part of their racing careers to overseas quarantine, few of our jockeys and trainers have much opportunity to show the rest of the world what they are capable of.

Mike de Kock is rated only 80^th in the trainers category (which is headed by Aidan O’Brien) despite his ground-breaking successes around the world with horses far cheaper and nothing like as well bred as those handled by many of those above him. One owner-breeder with close Coolmore connections and who sometimes has horses at Ballydoyle told me last year “We rate De Kock one of the best trainers in the world.”

Current champion Sean Tarry is rated 83rd, the now-retired Mike Bass is 115^th, Dennis Drier and Joey Ramsden are joint 125^th, Justin Snaith 134^th and Brett Crawford 167^th.

Frankie Dettori, who captains the visitors in the Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge at Fairview on November 18 and Turffontein two days later, is rated second only to Ryan Moore. The other members of his team are Robert Havlin (104), Pat Cosgrave (166), Aurelian Lemaitre (172), Fergus Sweeney and Hayley Turner.

The last two are not in TRC’s top 200 and nor are S’Manga Khumalo, Andrew Fortune, Muzi Yeni and Gavin Lerena. The other two South African team members are Anthony Delpech (121) and Grant van Niekerk (144). It will be interesting to see if TRC revises its estimations of the South Africans after next month’s competition which, sadly, has given Cape Town the cold shoulder for the second successive year.

Michael Clower

Summerveld-based Mark Dixon would not have been training the classy gelding London Call had it not been for a phone call from London by one of his most loyal patrons, Clint Larsson, and hence the naming of the lightly raced six-year-old Kahal gelding.

This horse started the ball rolling in a fairytale story which provides proof there are still bargains to be found in South Africa for owners with limited budgets.

At Scottsville on Sunday London Call notched up his sixth win in just his 11^th career start when holding on in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1400m under Brandon Lerena. It completed a memorable day for the connections, consisting of trainer Dixon, breeder Bruce Le Roux, and owners Clint Larsson, Gary Cumming and Rex Samuelson, as London Call’s three-parts sister Fantasy Lady had won in good style for them just two races earlier.

Retrospectively, Lerena’s decision to allow London Call to stride out freely in front, rather than fight him, probably won him the race. In June London Call had fought a rider who had attempted to rein him back in the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m and he had consequently faded tamely in the straight.

However, on Sunday, despite a welter burden of 61,5kg and the race being 200m further, London Call stayed on doggedly to win by half-a length from the evergreen 110 merit-rated eight-year-old Punta Arenas. He wasn’t stopping at the line either.

London Call was officially 2,5kg under sufferance with Punta Arena, but started 28/10 favourite as the latter prefers further. The merit of the performance can be adjudged in that the other two joint-second best weighted horses, No Worries and Sylvester The Cat, sat behind him in the running but were unable to make inroads and were beaten 2,5 lengths and 9,25 lengths respectively.

London Call (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, Dixon said there would be no big plans for London Call until next year’s SA Champions Season as he does not travel well. He is not the soundest type, but the yard have learnt how best to deal with his issues. He fortunately does not take a lot of work, so after giving him a couple of gallops, and hoping he stays sound, Dixon has always been able to arrive on course confident of victory.

The connections were furious when London Call was omitted from last season’s Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, despite having been merit rated higher than a couple who were included. However, the panel will have difficulty leaving him out next year as he has won his last two and his merit rating has increased by a few points. The Tsogo Sun Sprint is his chief target for the season.

Passionate racing man Clint Larsson had earmarked the son of Kahal in the catalogue of the 2012 National Yearling Sales. However, Dixon, with a limited amount left in his budget, felt he had zero chance of securing him and decided to fly home early from the Sale. This was not surprising considering the horse is a half-brother to Gr 1 Cape Fillies Guineas-winner Indiscreet Fantasy and to Listed-winner Silver Fantasy. However, shortly after landing in Durban, Dixon received a phonecall from Larsson, who was in London at the time. The latter had noticed on the internet the colt had gone through the ring unsold. Dixon immediately phoned vendor Bruce le Roux and made an offer. He is grateful Le Roux stood by his word as another offer was apparently made five minutes later. The colt thus received a fitting name. A portion of the R120,000 purchase price must have been recouped when he won on debut over 1200m at Scottsville, by no fewer than 5,5 lengths, at odds of 33/1.

The connections did not make the same mistake at the National Two-year-old Sales of 2014, where they secured London Call’s three parts sister Silver Fantasy for R130,000. She is also by Kahal and is out of London Call’s half-sister, the Silvano filly Silver Fantasy. She had earlier been a vendor buy back at the National Yearling Sales, which is amazing considering the close up black type she has in her pedigree.

On Sunday, Fantasy Lady, who has always been well regarded by Dixon, returned from a layoff of three-and-a-half months to win a MR 84 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m under Keagan de Melo. Interestingly, she also did it from the front after jumping from a wide draw, although she relaxed superbly in the running and was able to dictate. She quickened well and just had to be driven out to win cosily by a length. The four-year-old has won three from eight. She did it off an 80 merit rating on Sunday. Dixon believes she still has improvement in her and is hoping to clinch some black type somewhere along the line.

Dixon and connections have certainly been making hay while the sun is shining because they were able to clinch yet another three-parts sister to London Call at this year’s National Yearling Sales. This Kahal filly went for just R70,000, despite the dam Dream And Fancies being a twice-winning half-sister to London Call by the outstanding broodmare sire Fort Wood.

The connections are certainly enjoying their run with this family and long may it continue.

David Thiselton

Silvan Star may come out on top in a hot race for the Place Your Bets Graduation Plate at Durbanville today.

Greg Cheyne’s mount scored over 200m further here last month in her first race since early June and afterwards Glen Kotzen disclosed that this was the filly he had been aiming at the KZN version of the Fillies Guineas. However a series of foot abscesses caused her to miss most of the Durban season.

Captain Gambler, winner of the 1 500m Irridescence, is an obvious danger and Joey Ramsden says she has come on since her return here 16 days ago.

The four-month absent Fromafar has a theoretical 4.5kg in hand over the next best (Just Sensual) on adjusted merit ratings but Dean Kannemeyer cautions: “She may not be at full racing fitness and may just need it.”

In the circumstances Silvan Star looks fairly priced at World Sports Betting’s 3-1. Captain Gambler is on the same price with stable companion Just Sensual on 15-4, Abound West 9-2, Leisure Trip 5-1, Fromafar and Lady Of The House 7-1 and Excellent the rank outsider at 33-1.

The opening 1 400m maiden looks a straight fight between Cheyne’s mount Candid and Greenflashsunset, the first of S’Manga Khumalo’s six rides for Justin Snaith. Both horses finished strongly to take second on their debuts here nearly three weeks ago and will obviously be suited by the extra furlong.

Candid would have won in another stride but Greenflashsunset came from some way back and was last turning into the straight. “It will be close predicts,” Snaith who reports that his colt has been doing well while Candice Bass-Robinson adds: “Candid ran green that day but he has done well since.”

Candid opened favourite at 15-10 and his turn of foot would have made him the choice had the race been over 1 200m but over this trip his slightly better-priced  (22-10) opponent may just prevail.

Nightingale Lane has obvious appeal at 9-2 in the next where Snaith’s My Word My Bond is favourite at 5-2 and gets the vote. “He has been gelded since his last run and he has a chance,” says the trainer. Brett Crawford has any amount of useful three-year-old maidens but newcomer Border Control, who opened favourite at 3-1, is likely to ease following Andrew Fortune’s decision to cry off his mounts.

Andre Nel’s horses seem to be running as well as ever so it could pay to side with Jingle Belle at 5-2 in the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap.

Michael Clower

DURBANVILLE TUESDAY 18 OCTOBER 2016 COMMENTS BY WARREN LENFERNA:

1

Preview: GREENFLASHSUNSET made an eye catching debut and over the extra distance today, should be a very hard horse to beat. CANDID also made a smart debut and should improve to be right there at the finish once again. LAUREN OF ROCHELLE can improve to get much closer – his debut effort was encouraging. (Warren Lenferna 6-4-7)

2

Preview: WHITELIGHTWARRIOR comes into the race with strong each way claims – he should enjoy the 1400m trip he gets today. NIGHTINGALE LANE showed big improvement in his second run and if he improves like that again could be hard to beat – massive chance. GONDWANA can improve on his fair debut effort – a must for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 2-8-6)

3

Preview: BEAUTIFUL GIRL has been running well recently and looks ready to set herself free from the maiden ranks. PUT THE BERRIES is taking time to deliver the win but she is consistent and looks a certainty for a place here. BRINKLEY is not out of it either and should give a good account of himself and is a must for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-3)

4

Preview: NORTHERN BALLET has solid form and has been knocking very loudly at the door in her last two. She looks the right one here but ELUSIVE WAVE can give plenty of cheek all the way to the finish. Her last run was good and one can never ignore the combination of Crawford and Fortune. JINGLE BELLE gets a light weight and the best draw at Durbanville – her form is solid and if one takes all these positive factors into account, she has to be given a serious chance here. (Warren Lenferna 4-2-7)

5

Preview: STRATHDON won his maiden last time and might be able to record back to back wins – include. UNION JACK finished not far off the winner last time and that has to give him a bright chance. KILRAIN and ANNIGONI have chances as well and must not be overlooked. (Warren Lenferna 9-4-2)

6

Preview: CAPTAIN GAMBLER has solid form and rates the horse they all have to beat. ABOUND WEST should give plenty of cheek as her form is also very good having won two out of her last three starts. FROMAFAR is doing okay and coming back to best recently. It would be silly not to give her a place in the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 5-2-1)

7

Preview: DAWN RISING looks very progressive and has been selected to go one better. MOONSABALLOON ran a cracker last time and nearly got up to beat Pint Pot – she has a massive chance today but might battle to beat the Snaith runner Dawn Rising. BON BON can come on plenty from her excellent debut run and has a strong chance. (Warren Lenferna 8-1-5)

Durbanville Tuesday October 18

BRETT CRAWFORD:

Race 1 – PENTICON (8): Is scratched.

Race 2 – BORDER CONTROL (4): Will need the run.

Race 2 – DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD (5): Will need the experience.

LUCINDA WOODRUFF on behalf of GEOFF WOODRUFF:

Race 1 – PLANO (9): He is a smart colt showing nice work at home but may be a bit green.

VAUGHAN MARSHALL:

Race 3 – MUFFIN (9): Has not shown much speed at home so I am trying her over this distance.

GLEN KOTZEN:

Race 7 – ISLAND MUSIC (9): Is drawn 11/11 and from that draw it will be very hard to be competitive – she will also be green and need the run.

Disclaimer: A Gold Circle information initiative. The views and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the quoted author and stable represented. None of Gold Circle, the author, trainer or trainer representative, accept liability for any damages that may arise from any reliance placed on the views expressed therein.