The Alec Laird-trained J&B Met winner Smart Call will have a grass gallop on Saturday on the Newmarket Rowley Mile racecourse and Frankie Dettori will be in the irons. However, the jockey legend has not yet been able to commit to ride the Mauritzfontein Stud-owned and bred Ideal World filly in either of her next two races, the Gr 1 Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes over a mile at Newmarket on October 1 and the Breeders Cup Fillies and Mares Turf over one mile and two furlongs on November 5 at Santa Anita Park in the USA.

The Sun Chariot will be run on the Rowley Mile on October 1, so the aim of Saturday’s gallop is not only to bring her on but also to show her the track. The course is described as having minor undulations until the horses reach “The Bushes” two furlongs out, although these undulations would be a new experience for a South African horse and perhaps not so minor. From the Bushes the track goes downhill for a furlong into “The Dip” and there is then an uphill for a furlong to the finish line. The racecourse was the favourite riding ground of King Charles II, under whom horseracing flourished in the latter half of the 1600s, and is named in his honour. King Charles II, who loved horseracing and revelled in the company of his jockeys, acquired the nickname “Olde Rowley”. This was also the name of a stallion at the Royal Stud and the nickname came about as a reference to the many illegitimate children the King sired.

Smart Call has already had a couple of grass gallops on the vast Newmarket heath, which has 80km of turf gallops in total. This included a gallop on the famous Limekilns. However, most of her work has been done on the polytracks, of which there are a number of different types. The polytracks have currently been popular due to the dry conditions, which have left the turf quite firm.

Dettori has ridden Smart Call twice and Laird said he had described her as “a nice filly” but had not “over-enthused”. Laird added she had been below her peak and hoped Dettori would be more impressed by her this Saturday.

Smart Call (Met gallop) – Liesl King

Smart Call has been staying at Mary Slack’s Abington Place. Mike de Kock campaigns in the UK from this yard and his assistant Steven Jell is based there. However, Moffat Mngeni, who work-rode Smart Call in Cape Town when she was being prepared for the J&B Met, has been Smart Call’s constant companion. Laird himself has flown backwards and forwards and will be over there from Saturday until the running of the Sun Chariot. The Sun Chariot is being used as a “preparation” for the Breeders Cup and Laird said she would likely “need the run”, it being her first race since the Met eight months ago.
Smart Call will be flown to the USA together with all of the other European Breeders Cup campaigners. They will leave from Stanstead airport, which is near Newmarket, about a week before the Breeders Cup. She will attempt to follow in the footsteps of her paternal grand-dam Banks Hill, who won the Breeders Cup Fillies and Mares Turf in 2001.

Meanwhile in South Africa Laird has been preparing some of his better charges for the features ahead.

His Judpot filly Maleficent started at 8/10 for the Gr 2 Golden Slipper on Vodacom Durban July day but ran a flat race and could only manage fifth place. Laird said jockey Weichong Marwing had reported her to be hanging and she had “returned with a bit of a fetlock”. Consequently, Laird has been going slowly with her and he said it would be “50/50” whether she would make it in time for the Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas, which is to be run at Kenilworth on December 3. Otherwise, she will be aimed at the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, to be run at Turffontein on March 4 and April 1 2017 respectively. The Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 during the SA Champions Season is also a long term plan for her as Laird believes she will go over ground.

Laird had high hopes for another Judpot filly, the four-year-old Polyphonic, who finished a 3,85 length fifth to Equus Champion Three-year-old Bela-Bela in this year’s Woolavington.

He is also hoping to qualify his six-year-old Bezrin gelding Bezanova for the Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity mile, which is to be run at Turffontein on the same day as the Breeders Cup, November 5. Bezanova won this race off a 104 merit rating in 2014 and last year finished a 3,85 length fifth off a 107 merit rating. Therefore, Laird reckoned he would stand a good chance of winning it this year off his current 96 merit rating, especially considering he finished just 4,2 lengths behind the best three-year-old in the country, Marinaresco, in his last start in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m when facing the latter on weight for age terms.

David Thiselton

The Vaal has an eight race card today on the Classic track where only the first two races over 1000m will be down the straight. The high draws have been favourable down the straight on this course.

The highest rated race will be the second, an interesting Graduation Plate over 1000m. Three classy up and coming sorts look to have it to themselves and they are difficult to separate both on form and at the weights on official merit ratings. The draw might be the best way to separate them and thus the vote goes to the three-year-old Sean Tarry-trained Seventh Rock colt Red Rock. He would probably prefer 1200m but in his final start as a two-year-old in late June he flew up after a slow start to only just fail to beat Speedy Gonvarlez in a handicap over 1000m at the Vaal off a 92 merit rating. The latter has gone on to win another handicap over course and distance in easy fashion, while two unplaced horses in the Red Rock race, Just Africa and Jade Bay have also gone on to win.

Red Rock is 0,5kg better off at the weights on official merit ratings with the Mike Azzie-trained stablemates Rivarine and Roquebrune and is tipped to mow them down late. Rivarine, a three-year-old by Var, displayed his pace in the Gr 1 SA Nursery over 1160m when only just failing to lead from pillar to post. The brilliant Cloth Of Cloud was the horse which caught him in the shadow of the post. In the current fast conditions it would be no surprise to see the others failing to catch him. Roquebrune is a four-year-old gelding by Var and this long-striding sort looks to have plenty of class as well as pace. He is having his third run after a layoff of over six months and his second run as a gelding, so it would also be no surprise to see him win either, although he has to overcome the toughest draw of one by trends. Tour Of Duty, who is 3kg under sufferance with Red Rock, looks held by Roquebrune on their meeting over 1200m last time. Ronnie Rocket is in good form and is course and distance suited but is 7,5kg under sufferance with Red Rock on official merit ratings.

The best bet on the card could be Anna Pavlova in the fourth race, a maiden for fillies and mares over 1450m. She will relish the step up in trip and under Gavin Lerena from draw two this hard-knocking, progressive sort should run all the way to the line. French Legend looks to have plenty of scope for improvement too. On her debut over 1200m she moved up well and looked the winner before being caught late. It is a concern that she hasn’t run since that race on June 23, because she didn’t find extra late in that race and this is now 250m further, although she does have Pierre Strydom up from a good draw.

The value bet could be in the last race, a MR 64 handicap over 2000m. The Tarry-trained Jet Master gelding El Bombero is lightly raced for a five-year-old and has caught the eye in a number of his starts. He has a nice, long stride and was seen to run on strongly over 1450m last time out. In his only attempt at this trip he stayed on well to finish just 3,1 lengths behind Bankable Teddy back in December in the maidens and the latter went on to win the Listed Derby Trial and is now merit rated 96. El Bombero now has his third run after a rest and is drawn well in five with Gavin Lerena up. The three-year-old Dawn Assault also looks likely to relish the step up in trip and he represents the in form St. John Gray yard so looks the chief danger.

In the meeting opener, a Maiden over 1000m, a fantastically bred Mike de Kock-trained colt, Springhills, makes his debut. He is by Redoute’s Choice out of a Gr 1-winning New Zealand-bred sprinter by Volksraad, although he was passed through the ring at AUS$90,000, failing to make his reserve of AUS$100,000. However, he does not face a vintage field and has a plum draw of ten under accomplished apprentice Callan Murray. Mind Shade has been knocking on the door and will possibly be able to overcome his tough low draw with his good pace, while the same can be said of Edgbaston, who does not have much luck with draws. Two fillies who could earn are Pipkin, who is well drawn, and The Great Duchess who can produce a strong finish so will likely be dropped out from a low draw.

The hardest race on the card could be the seventh, despite it being a maiden. It is a weak 2000m event and a  number of runners will have to be included in all of the Place Accumulator, Pick 6 and jackpot. The De Kock-trained The Red List looks the obvious choice on paper. She is well bred being by Gr 1 Irish Derby runner up Golden Sword out of a Muhtafal mare who finished just a head behind the Horse Of The Year Winter Solstice in the Gr 2 weight for age Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m. She should also enjoy the step up in trip having stayed on well over 1600m last time. However, that was in a weak field and she has made breathing noises in both of her career starts to date, which is a concern. She also has a tricky draw of nine to overcome.

David Thiselton

DURBANVILLE WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 COMMENTS BY WARREN LENFERNA:

1

Preview: PRUDENCE PREVAILS has found the perfect race to escape the maiden ranks and she looks very hard to beat here. She is definitely way better than her last run suggests. HUSSAR’S NIECE has not been far off in all her races and she can improve to get a lot closer now. RUSTAR DHOW can get into the action but they will all have to run some to beat the first choice. Watch the betting on the first timers as they won’t have to be super stars to make a winning debut in this race. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-4)

2

Preview: SILVER LAUREL has good maiden form and she looks ready now – hard to beat. FORT RUBY showed good improvement in her second start and based on that will be right there at the finish. SYLVANITE was not far off on debut and can improve to get a lot closer – respect. (Warren Lenferna 1-5-9)

3

Preview: OVER DRIVE made a sparkling debut finishing second. He has been selected as the best bet on today’s card and should take a power of beating – perfect draw and all points to him winning. He is returning from a rest but his trainer knows how to get them ready to win coming back from a break – the opposition is also not the strongest around. STATE BALLET is the only one that could trouble the first choice as his form is also good but he has a bad draw to deal with. In saying that, he does still nevertheless have a bright chance. PURPLE ROCK cannot be ignored for bets like swingers and quartets. (Warren Lenferna 9-11-1)

4

Preview: OLYMPIAN won and won well last time and beat a fair sort in the form of Le Harve – based on that showing he rates the one to beat again. Stable mate CAPTAIN SAM has been selected as the exacta choice and it looks to be a good race for the Vaughan Marshall yard. AL WAHED might find the opposition tough here but he also has some ability and can place. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-7)

5

Preview: LUCKY TUESDAY impressed when winning last time and she has been selected to follow up. ANNELINE won well on debut and then followed that up with a great run behind Moonblanched – she deserves healthy respect. MEGAN JONES is coming to form again and is a must for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 3-4-7)

6

Preview: NORTHERN BALLET has won her last two and she gets the best draw today which will help her reel off the hat trick. She is the firm first choice. ME MYSELF AND I might not be the stable elect but I like her form and it is best to ignore her last run as she is way better that that reflects – I make her a runner and hopefully she will be a nice price and provide some value for the places. AMARILLO ROSE ran well last time and forms part of a strong hand from the Brett Crawford yard. She is worth a look and including in bets. (Warren Lenferna 3-4-1)

7

Preview: BLACK PARROT is improving with racing and now looks ready to score. CARDIFF CASTLE and CARBON OFFSET both ran well last time and a repeat effort will see them in the money again today. (Warren Lenferna 4-2-1)

As part of the build-up to The Grand Heritage next month, the Vaal will host two races with a field of 28-runners on Tuesday .

The much-anticipated R750,000 affair, sponsored by World Sports Betting, will be run over 1475m at the same venue on 1 October. Three further supporting features, which are also set to host big fields, will supplement the day’s programme.

The last two races on the 20 September, a FM 64 1400m Handicap and a Maiden Plate over 1400m for three-year-old fillies, will add to the build-up towards The Grand Heritage and will invoke memories of the Vaal straight course in its original configuration.

Supplementary entries for The Grand Heritage close on September 19 with the final field set to be announced on Tellytrack two days later.

As part of the initial testing phase, the Vaal’s outside track, straight course, was widened for Tuesday’s meeting (13 September) with the track widened from the 1600m to 500m mark and then further widened with a 12m false rail to allow the fields to fan out in the closing stages.

While the new track setup for that meeting was made known to trainers before the meeting and the information disseminated on a number of platforms including the Tabonline website as well as www.sahorseracing.co.za under the Track Information Report section, there were some punters who may not have had access to this information.

It is regretted that this information was not communicated to those customers and a profuse apology has been offered for not advising those patrons accordingly.

On the note of the ‘middle rail’ which separates the Inside and Outside tracks, the rail is not always fixed and therefore moveable and can be utilised to spread wear and tear and facilitate maintenance. As a result of this we will endeavour to inform patrons via various platforms of the positioning of the rails that will demarcate the racing strip on the day, and also announce the positioning of the starting stalls for the relevant meeting to make it easier for patrons when studying form.

– Phumelela

Justin Snaith, who currently heads the national trainers log with 29 winners, can add substantially to his tally with strong contenders in nearly all of the races on the Durbanville card this afternoon.

Where he will miss out is in the fourth, the card’s top-liner, as he does not have a runner and the consistent gelding Ovar can add to his winning tally. Andre Nel’s five-year-old is hardly ever out of the money and although he faces a third rematch with top weight Olympian who beat him last time out, there is a substantial turnover in weight which could swing the pendulum back in Ovar’s favour.

It’s one all between the two with Ovar beating Olympian back in July giving the second-placed Olympian 7kg.

When next that met there was only a kilo between the two with Olympian finishing the stronger to score by over three lengths. Tomorrow, Ovar is in receipt of 8kg and that should be more than enough to turn the tables.

But they are not the only two in with winning chances. Captain Bagg and Buckinghamshire both make some appeal as does Al Wahed.

Captain Bagg went walkabout in the betting at his last outing and accordingly never featured. However, he was reported to be coughing post-race. Before that he had beaten Buckinghamshire and it may be the turn of Darryl Hodgson’s runner given that he carries a postage stamp and has his fourth outing for the yard.

Al Wahed is quick but Richard Fourie puts up a kilo overweight on Mike Stewart’s runner and that could put paid to the gelding’s chances in a competitive handicap even given Fourie’s undoubted talent.

The selection is for Ovar to get home ahead of Buckinghamshire and Captain Bagg.

With only seven races carded the PA starts in the first where the Snaith-trained Konkola can improve on his modest debut effort as he should prefer this extended trip. Mike Robinson’s decision to fit Pin Pot with blinkers proved an inspired move as she made major improvement.  She also has a prime draw which adds to her appeal and she can be a threat.

Fort Ruby and Silver Laurel look the pair most likely to fight out the second. Snaith’s filly Fort Ruby improved nicely on her debut effort and is the pick of the pair.

Given that he wins the first two races Snaith can warm up for a hat-trick with the Var colt Over Drive.

Over Drive has only had a single outing and that was back in January so his fitness must be take on trust. However, he did start even money favourite on debut and only found one to beat him.

He looks a smart horse given time and he could prove a little too classy for the opposition.

Lucky Tuesday impressed when winning last time and can follow up in the fifth, a modest handicap. The biggest threat could come in the form of Anneline who won well on debut and then followed that up with a great run behind Moonblanched and deserves healthy respect.

Northern Ballet in the sixth is another Snaith runner in with a strong chance having won her last two.  She has not been unduly punished by the handicappers, possibly as a result of taking seven starts to shed her maiden and with Fourie back in the irons she again looks competitive.

In the final race of the afternoon, Black Parrot can round off a lucrative day for Snaith. The colt has improved with racing and looks ready to win as he steps up to a trip that should be more to his liking. Andrew Fortune, chasing hard for his second jockey’s title, will pin his hopes on Carbon Offset who along with Cardiff Castle make up a possible trifecta.

Andrew Harrison