Romi’s Boy made a cracking start to his racing career just over a week ago and can get punters off to a winning start in the first race at The Vaal classic track on Tuesday. Alec Laird’s colt made his debut at the Vaal two Saturday’s back where the centre rail was removed to accommodate the 28-runner field of the Grand Heritage.

Romi’s Boy was one of only 16 runners but was up against an odds-on favourite in Doosra who had already shown promise. As expected Doosra duly bowled the field over but Romi’s Boy was doing his best work late and if he can build on that effort it will take a good one to beat him.

The orange and black silks of Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren are a familiar sight on the Highveld and more often than not in the winner’s enclosure. They can pay a further visit when Mike Azzie saddles Pajama Party in the second. The four-year-old has been a late starter, only making his first appearance on a race course this season. He has finished runner-up in two starts around the tight Turffontein inside track and looks good enough to break his duck.

Tendre made a smart debut at long odds and can prove a threat as Joey Soma has booked Anton Marcus for the ride. This is Marcus’s only ride and if he makes the trip up from KZN then the inference is obvious. Air Force Legend has been placed in all three starts over further but returns from a lay-off which could find him out when it comes to the finish.

Fingers Crossed and Crown Court could suffice in the opening leg of the Pick 6. The has improved with each outing and looks primed for this race. Piere Strydom replaces Gavin Lerena on Fingers Crossed and gets the leg up on Crown Court. Mike de Kock’s charge was a beaten favourite when a distant third at her second outing after making a smart debut and is the obvious danger to the first choice.

From here on in things get difficult.

Polar Secret is in good form going into the fourth and stays the trip. She still has a lowly rating even after four wins but has drawn an outside gate which could prove her downfall in what is a weak handicap. Sim-Alley Bank was rested after finally shedding her maiden and was in need of her latest start. She should also enjoy the rise in trip and looks the main threat to the top weight.

The fifth sees the lightly raced Cashin in good form and he was only narrowly beaten last start after winning his first two. Chepardo has his third run after a break and has not been far back in two comeback runs. He should strip at his peak. Chili Con Carne can also heat this up after making a promising seasonal debut in a useful field.

Veteran galloper Capuche has come to hand of late and is a speculative choice in a tough race. He goes well this trip and should feature if holding for. Trip To Troy was a little disappointing when a beaten favourite last run but that said he was a luke-warm 4-1. He was narrowly beaten prior to that and can make amends while Trip To Paradise is seldom far back and is course and distance suited. He goes well for Strydom.  El Bombero, a close-up third under a light weight at his penultimate start and back over a more suitable trip is another to consider.

In the seventh, Comme-Ci-Comme-Ca was rested after her win on debut but made a smart return to the track in Graduation company. She has a fair weight but could prove a cut above her opposition. 8

The last is a minefield but Flag Of France is always game and has been in good form of late. He is looking for his ninth victory and is still off a handy merit rating. Spring Steel is lightly raced but is still being persevered with which suggests that there is still life. He has not been out since March last year but he comes from a very much in form stable.

Andrew Harrison

Tony Gollan is hoping the rivalry between jockeys Robbie Fradd and Jim Byrne will help him claw his way back to the lead in the Brisbane trainers’ premiership.

Gollan has won the past three Brisbane titles but has had a frustrating start to the season. He has had 21 seconds but a treble at Doomben on Saturday helped him lop two winners off Robert Heathcote’s lead.

Fradd rode two of Gollan’s winners: “It is good to have a bit of rivalry between Robbie and Jim for rides. It means they are both being kept on their toes and want to ride at their best,” Gollan said.

Fradd rode four winners on Saturday and moved to second place on the Brisbane jockeys premiership with 19 winners – six behind leader and fellow expat South African Jeff Lloyd.

“I have been riding trackwork at Eagle Farm and I am starting to get to know the horses I am riding. It’s hard work but it is paying off,” Fradd said.

Unfortunately, for Fradd he won’t be able to capitalise on his 10 metropolitan winners in the past fortnight after being suspended for nine days at Eagle farm last Monday.

In a day jokingly referred to as “Veterans Day” eight of the nine Doomben winners were ridden by five senior jockeys with a combined age of 245.

Apprentice Matt McGillivray was delighted when he got one for the younger brigade on Pepperano in the last race. “Finally one for the next generation,” he said .
– AAP

Mubtaahij ran several lengths below his best form in Saturday’s Gr1 Gold Cup over 2000m at Belmont, finishing fourth in a six horse field to Hoppertunity.

Mubtaahij was under pressure before the stretch and he faded out from the 400m mark while Bob Baffert’s five-year-old Hoppertunity forged to the lead late to secure a half-length victory in the $1 million contest. He was beaten 7,75-lengths.

“There wasn’t a whole lot of speed in the race other than Effinex. Everybody stayed sensible,” said Baffert assistant Jimmy Barnes. “The most important thing for ‘Hopper’ is that he was standing good and broke good and he was placed more forwardly in the race, especially on a slow pace, that’s probably why he was a little closer. We always thought in our minds that he would like these big turns here, and this big, deep track where he would have a chance to come from behind.”

Mubtaahij will return to Dubai following a US campaign that yielded a third in the Gr2 Suburban Handicap, a close second in the Gr1 Woodward and Saturday’s fourth place.

Meanwhile, More Than Ready filly Ektifaa (AUS) ran out a comfortable winner of a MR76 Handicap over 1450m at Turffontein on Saturday, two lengths clear under apprentice Callan Murray.

When the three-year-old won her Maiden two weeks ago, Mathew de Kock predicted that her confidence would make a difference going forward and Mike de Kock agreed on Sunday, saying: “She’s a progressive sort and she can step up from here.”

He added: “We’ll see what happens to her merit rating after this win, if it’s still within reason we’ll look for another handicap for her, but she looks good enough to compete at a higher level so there is also the Starling Stakes to consider on 5 November.”

Ektifaa was bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, NSW, and races for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai.

Mikedekockracing.com

Trainer Joey Ramsden is a prominent figure in Classic races in the Western Cape, consistently priming talented, well-bred stock to give off their best in these coveted events.

Based on excellent performances as juveniles last term, Newlands, Attenborough and Table Bay appear to be the main hopes from Ramsden’s Classic contingent this season. Right-hand man Ricardo Sobotker explained that these horses had only returned to full training about six weeks ago, after a spell chilling out on the farm.

Newlands could potentially be the best of them all, but was a particularly difficult customer, forcing a decision to geld him. “Newlands was becoming impossible to work with prior to gelding. Long range he could turn into a Derby horse,” Sobotker said.

Attenborough is a flashy son of Western Winter who has shown serious ability over sprints: “He ran a great race first time back when just needing it. It seems like we may keep him to sprints this season,” said Sobotker.

Table Bay, on the other hand, requires a test of stamina. At two, he won the Grade 3 Langerman in soft ground over 1500m before being put away. He returned after that spell to finish third in a 1400m handicap at Durbanville last week. “He really needed it – you could see the difference in fitness just four days later,” reported Sobotker.

Jockey Donovan Dillon has worked hard since relocating to be aligned with Ramsden’s base in Cape Town and he shares some insights into his boss’ modus operandi.

“Joey likes to bring them along and aim for the Classics. There is no pressure now as he is still steadily improving their fitness levels,” said Dillon. “Among the fillies, Silver Captain and Captain Gambler are rated by the yard and it will also be interesting to see how classy juvenile Miranda Frost has developed after fluent wins earlier this year.”

A fickle filly, Miranda Frost has endured spells of ill health. Months ago, drastic action was needed with holes being drilled in her forehead to ease a lingering sinus infection. Then, on getting back into work recently, she promptly contracted another virus. Sobotker was relieved to convey the news that, “Miranda Frost is recovering – everything is good now and she will be aimed at the Fillies Guineas.”

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Captain America served notice that he will again be a force to reckon with in the top Cape races when bouncing back from a five-month plus absence to decisively give weight all round in the Matchem Stakes at Durbanville yesterday.

Corne Orffer had no problem tracking the pace-setting Blarney Bay or, for that matter, in sweeping past over 200m out and the authority with which the 22-10 favourite won was considerably understated by the 0.4 length winning margin.

Orffer said: “He was sort of stopping towards the end – he still needed it – but with his big heart he kept going and I was never in any doubt.”

Brett Crawford, winning his first Matchem, added: “He still has to tighten up but he was the class horse in the race. He’s been a champion for the yard and as a six-year-old he is just awesome. He now goes for the Green Point on December 3 followed by the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met.”

Stable companion Sail South finished an honourable fifth but he was top-rated at the weights, something that his trainer again cast doubts about – “This was his first time running off 110 and, while he ran a good race, I’m not convinced about his mark.”

Baritone finished best of all to take second and stablemate Heartland finished just behind the Crawford-trained 22-1 outsider Midnight Zone in fourth.

Justin Snaith, although undecided on plans, said: “Baritone had to come from a long way back and, while I thought I had done enough with Heartland, he still needed it.”

Captains Flame – Diana Stakes 2016 (Liesl King)

Captain’s Flame is booked for the Maine Chance Paddock Stakes and the Klawervlei Majorca after fully justifying Andre Nel’s confidence in the Diana Stakes. The Plattner four-year-old has only been beaten twice in seven outings and, while she started what proved a generous 5-1, Aldo Domeyer was able to lead over a furlong out to beat Goodtime Gal by three-quarters of a length.

Nel said: “I have always thought she was way above average. She needed this a bit and we will see how she is before deciding on where she goes before the Paddock Stakes.”

Alexis, the 5-2 favourite, was never at the races and managed only ninth of 13 leaving Crawford scratching his head in disbelief while Domeyer galloped his rivals into the ground in the Jockeys Chase for the fourth successive year. Richard Fourie and Donovan Dillon filled the minor placings. The race raised R34 000 for the Western Cape Equine Trust, according to new chairman Ken Truter.

Just Sensual, starting at 13-20 despite not having raced since her debut in February, won the opener in a manner suggesting she has a real future, coming away under Donovan Dillon with ears pricked and over three lengths clear.

Joey Ramsden said: “She hasn’t quite got her summer coat and she had a sticky draw yet she managed to do it nicely. There are a number of options for her.”

But Derek Brugman virtually ruled out including the Choice Carriers among them, saying: “It might not be the right race for her – and she may be more of a six furlong filly.”

Magic Trick, a Trippi daughter of the 2007 Empress Club winner Little Miss Magic, took a step nearer the Lanzerac Ready To Run after coming from way back to win the mile maiden for Candice Bass-Robinson, Drakenstein and Grant van Niekerk.

The handicappers, so often criticised, are entitled to take a bow after less than three-quarters of a length separated the first five in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap won by MJ Byleveld on the Vaughan Marshall-trained Mr Jay.

Michael Clower