Edict Of Nantes will take his chance in the Choice Carriers Cape Classic after completing a hat-trick in fast time in the Graduation Plate at Durbanville on Saturday.

The 5-2 chance led just under a furlong out and, although the margin over stable companion Nebula was only half a length, the Mayfair Speculators winner really put his stamp on the race in the last 50 metres with Corne Orffer reporting “he was just playing with them.”  The 1 min 23.75 sec time was only just over half a second outside Act Of War’s 1 400m course record.

Brett Crawford said: “This was a nice test and he came through it with flying colours. After the Cape Classic he will hopefully go on to the Selangor and then the Guineas while Nebula runs in the Betting World Algoa Cup at Fairview on Sunday week.”

However 11-10 favourite Lord Balmoral finished last after going out as if hit by load-shedding at the 400m mark. “I’m totally baffled,” admitted Vaughan Marshall following Glennie’s all-the-way win under Lucien Africa 40 minutes later.

Varsity Cup, who made all under Greg Cheyne in the first, is one of five that Crawford trains for patrons of Tony Millard in the hope that they will prove good enough to go out to Hong Kong. One who made the grade – in this country at least – was the 2013 Cape Guineas winner Elusive Gold and his full sister Seattle Gold delighted owner- breeder Ashley Parker when making most of the running in the last to complete a double for Orffer and a treble for Crawford.

Braam van Huysteen’s Felicity Flyer booked her Choice Carriers Championship ticket when running on resolutely for Aldo Domeyer to get up 50m out in the Place Your Bets Novice Plate.

Candice Bass-Robinson said: “Unfortunately she is drawn 28 but we will have to take our chance on Saturday week. She is a little thing but she has the heart of a lion and is as tough as nails. She also has a really good turn of foot.”

However Justin Snaith virtually ruled out the Choice Carriers for runner-up Gimme Six, saying: “She is drawn badly (30) and she is only rated 89. I have The Merry Widow (drawn one) rated 94 for that race.”

Domeyer, who hasn’t ruled out testing his athletic ability on the running track, is getting more of the Bass Racing mounts while stable jockey Grant van Niekerk is sitting out a ten-day Grand Heritage interference suspension and he also scored on Ollivander. He initiated a treble on the Snaith-trained odds-on shot Midtown Manhattan, deputising for the sidelined Richard Fourie who resumes at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Glen Puller reckons that Solar Night, part-owned by the lucky CTS Million Dollar winners Francis Carruthers and Ian Robinson, may yet justify at least some of the faith he had in the horse after the 7-2 chance gave weight all round under Craig Bantam in the 1 800m handicap.

“I have always liked him and I thought he would have been a bit further ahead by now,” said Puller. “But he could carry on from here.”

Michael Clower

Vaughan Marshall’s plans for his unbeaten Allan Robertson winner The Secret Is Out have been thrown into doubt by a wide draw in the Choice Carriers Championship at Kenilworth on Saturday week.

The Milnerton trainer said: “She is drawn 24 – you might get away with that on the summer course but this is the winter course. I am undecided at the moment and I will make a decision during the week.”

Thursday morning is the declaration deadline. Marshall, who had mapped out the R400 000 Grade 2 many weeks ago, last won the race in 2012 with All Is Secret (a full sister to The Secret Is Out) who had also won the Allan Robertson and went on to finish fourth to Rumya when starting favourite for the Cape Fillies Guineas.

Golden Slipper winner Final Judgement, joint top-rated with the Marshall filly in the 34 Choice Carriers entries, is a confirmed runner after pleasing Glen Kotzen when put through her paces last Thursday.

The Woodhill trainer said: “It was a nice gallop and the first one she has had since her break. She is very athletic and doesn’t take much work.”

Cape Speed, winner of five out of eight last season, has been ruled out of the Sansui Summer Cup after his trainer switched plans.

“I have changed my mind about going for the Summer Cup,” explained Dean Kannemeyer. “ I brought him back to Cape Town last week for the summer season. He is in the Woolavington at Kenilworth this Saturday but he won’t run because he is not ready for that yet.”

Michael Clower

It’s still early days for any sort of pecking order to have emerged amongst the three-year-old males but given the muddling results from last season there is still a lot of water to flow under the bridge before a pattern surfaces.

That said, Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes winner Gunner makes his seasonal debut at Scottsville tomorrow in the second of the KZN 3YO Series races, this over 1400m. Paul Gadsby is aiming him at the $500 000 CTS Mile to be run at Kenilworth in January but said, “He’s got to start somewhere and I don’t want to send him down to Cape Town a fat little butterball. I’m just hoping for a good race on Sunday.”

The race has attracted a smart field that contains a number of unknowns outside of Gunner and Palladium who are both relatively exposed. Scent Of The Tiger, Roy’s Magic, Marshall That, Great Value and Sarah’s Secret are recent maiden winners but all on the up and get a hefty 6kg from Gunner and 2kg from Palladium which should make for an interesting contest.

One hardly expects Gunner to be anywhere near his peak at this stage of the season and given that he gives plenty of pudding to rivals that have recently shown their wellbeing he could find it tough going.

The luckless Cabinda has been a victim of both Roy’s Magic and Scent Of The Tiger and Duncan Howells could hold the key to this puzzle. Scent Of The Tiger finished four lengths adrift of the Howells-trained Restless Rogue before going on to beat Cabinda.

You could write your own ticket about Scent Of The Tiger that day but Restless Rogue is a member of the Howells Highveld raiding party and caught the eye when fourth at Turffontein this Thursday passed.

Roy’s Magic shed his maiden at second time of asking and Howells says he’s a nice horse. “He does everything I ask of him at work but he only does just enough. That’s usually the sign of a decent horse but I don’t want to get ahead of myself,” he cautioned.

Marshall That showed a glimpse of what he was capable off when a close-up third at his second start. Alistair Gordon then put him away for three months and he came out firing after the break, putting five lengths over the luckless but consistent Newyorkstateofmind. Sean Tarry’s runner paid tribute to that form, winning at his next start. Marshal That has the benefit of having twice been around the Scottsville turn and proven over the trip.

Great Value shed his maiden over course and distance at second time of asking while Palladium, although twice beaten by Gunner, was a good third behind the smart colt Legend in the BSA Million Mile from a difficult draw and jumps from gate three tomorrow.

Gunner would be the obvious choice given his Gr1 win but with bigger fish to fry and having to give 6kg to his rivals, Roy’s Magic is preferred with Scent Of The Tiger and Marshall That all in the scrum.

The Garth Puller Racing Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m will have punters scratching their heads. Veteran Punta Arenas is well in at the weights but is more at home over ten furlongs rather than tomorrow’s seven and this looks to be a warm-up for a possible trip to Jo’Burg. Similarly, No Worries has shown his best recent form over further but is versatile. Fitted with blinkers he slapped up odds-on favourite Rabada in the KZN Breeders Million Mile and followed with a close-up third to budding champion Marinaresco in the Gr1 Champions Cup.

On that form and the fact that he is best in at the weights he cannot be written off even over this trip.

Sylvester The Cat missed the float to Jo’burg as Howells thought his temperament may get the better of him and he is back over his favourite course and distance. Sylvester The Cat possesses a tremendous turn of foot and even though he is not well in at these weights, if the “right” Sylvester pitches on the day he could prove difficult to peg back.

Mark Dixon has done a sterling job with London Call who is not the easiest of horses to train as his tens starts in four season’s bares testimony. But perseverance has paid off and the gelding has been successful on five of those starts. He doddled a Pinnacle Stakes sprint last time out and although he has not won further than 1200m he is at the peak of his form.

Sylvester The Cat is taken to bring his best to the track and get home ahead of London Call with No Worries a serious threat.

Andrew Harrison

Scottsville Sunday Oct 16 Race Previews by Andrew Harrison

1

Preview: Many first timers but of those that have run SIR EDMUND has yet to finished unplaced but now tries blinkers and should be thereabouts again. LIL RED ROOSTER made major improvement at his last start but has been rested since. That form has held up so he must rate a strong chance if ready. VARADISO has run his best race over course and distance and a repeat should see him in the firing line. Of the first timers ARABIAN EMPEROR and OLIVER QUEEN have strong sprinting pedigrees. (Andrew Harrison:  4-5-6-13).

2

Preview: Open. Duncan Howells has two runners with promising form. DANISH CROSS made a smart debut behind stable companion Blaze Of Mystery but has not been out since May and may need this run. RAINBOWINTHESKY caught the eye on debut and there doesn’t look to be much in this line-up. CAPTAINS MOLL has been disappointing since two excellent efforts to start with. Her best form is on this course and she will be competitive if finding her best. BUBBLY NIGHT didn’t feature first up on the turf but she has some fair poly form. (Andrew Harrison: 14-12-7-6).

3

Preview: TROPICAL BLOW came from well back to take second to favourite Accidental Tourist on debut. She should appreciate the extra ground and with a claiming apprentice up and a plum draw she should go close. MALHAMA raced green on debut and will much prefer this trip although she has a difficult draw to overcome. EXPRESSO MARTINI found inspired market support at her second outing but found one too good. She has a chance to go one better. MADAME EXPRESS has not been far back in two starts and looks set to improve. (Andrew Harrison: 15-12-9-11).

4

Preview: WELL IN FLIGHT was close-up in a strong sprint field last time out. She has been kept to sprints but should not have any trouble seeing out the extra. WAITY KATIE caught the eye when making her local debut and will much prefer this trip. She had some useful Cape form. SEEK THE SUMMIT has come consistent form on the Greyville poly. She has a light weight and a good draw.  LALA is a smart filly and goes well this trip. She has a big weight but four-claiming apprentice Dennis Schwarz will ease her burden. (Andrew Harrison: 2-5-11-1).

5

Preview: MISS TEE has been threatening for some time now. She was a close-up second when taking on stronger last time and rates a strong chance. JUDS EXPRESS has improved with each outing of late and should be at her peak here. She was running on strongly from a tough draw last time out. ROY’S TWILIGHT needed her last run. She has a tricky draw here but goes well this course and distance. B TWENTY ONE returns from a break and is lightly raced. She shows some ability and could improve after being given time to mature. (Andrew Harrison: 7-12-8-9).

6

Preview: SYLVESTER THE CAT is not particularly well weighted here but goes very well over course and distance. He can be difficult so not always reliable. LONDON CALL is top class on his day and was an easy winner last time out. He does step up in trip but if he puts it in her should be right there. NO WORRIES has shown himself to be very versatile. He is quite well weighted here and has a good draw. Even though he returns from a short break he should at least be competitive.  ASHTON PARK made a smart local debut on the poly. He had consistent Cape form and Marcus sticks with the ride. (Andrew Harrison: 5-2-3-6).

7

Preview: ROY’S MAGIC won well at second time of asking. He looks progressive and can follow up. GUNNER was a Gr1 winner last time out but returns from a break and gives weight all round. He may just need it. MARSHALL THAT impressed as a very easy maiden winner last time out and that form has been franked although he does take on much stronger here. SCENT OF THE TIGER has improved with every run. He shed his maiden in good fashion beating the luckless Cabinda who was also beaten by Roy’s Magic. (Andrew Harrison: 4-1-6-3)

8

Preview: AMAZON KING has improved with each outing. He was close-up behind the promising Roy’s Magic at his second start and looks to have more to come in a weak field. ARAMOUSE has put in two big efforts on the poly but has also done well on the turf and looks a threat. The veteran ALBERT is always dangerous and back on the turf could upstage them all. SEMONKONG has not been far back at recent outings and with a light weight rates a strong chance. (Andrew Harrison: 1-5-7-13)

9

Preview: Open. GOOD TO GIVE appeared in need of his last outing. He has shown some promise and meets a weak field. LILY GRAY takes on males but has been knocking on the door for some time now and is due a change of fortune. BECKEDORF showed his best form with the blinkers removed for his last start. He can follow up. PANGA PANGA was not far back when making his local debut. The was his first outing in three months and he rates a chance in this weak field. (Andrew Harrison: 5-6-3-1)

First Timer comments Scottsville Sunday Oct 16 by Warren Lenferna

DUNCAN HOWELLS:

Race 1 – ARABIAN EMPEROR (8): Quite a speedy horse but could be green – could run into the back end of the quartet if not too green.

MARK DIXON:

Race 1 – ASIAN STAR (9): Very quick but will need the experience.

Race 3 – DIAMANTE (8): Nice filly but will need the experience.

LLOYD LUNN FOR PAT LUNN:

Race 1 – KILDONAN GOLD (10): Is speedy but will be very green.

CORRINE BESTEL:

Race 1 – KINGS CUP (11): Is looking for much further but I need to start racing with him. He will need the experience.

GARTH PULLER:

Race 1 – SHANTYTOWN (14): A nice big horse with a big action. He will need a few runs and a bit further.

MICHAEL ROBERTS:

Race 1 – LEAGUE OF SHADOWS (12): A nice type but is bred for further.

Race 2 – HURRY HOME (13): Speedy but will benefit from this outing.

Race 2 – SUMMER FASHION (15): Speedy but will benefit from this outing.

DENNIS BOSCH:

Race 1 – OLIVER QUEEN (13): A very nice horse, I would have preferred the poly – Anton Marcus likes him but I am of the opinion that he might just need it.

PAUL GADSBY:

Race 2 – VISION TO KILL (16): Will need one run and will be better over 1200m.

IVAN MOORE:

Race 3 – DAZZLING TOKEN (7): I really think she will need the run and be green – she will need a trip hence her making her debut over 1400m. I am just hoping she runs a decent race.

WEIHO MARWING:

Race 3 – FLOWEROFEDINBURGH (10): Will need the run.

DES EGDES:

Race 3 – REMEMBERING RUTH (13): Is a nice staying type of filly but will be in need of the run and it will be very tough from the draw. She should be finishing well.