Dennis Drier, KZN leading trainer by number of winners last term, has come out of the blocks like Olympic Champion Usain Bolt, and with the season little more than a month old he is already second on the National log with 16 winners, four of which came at Greyville yesterday.

Justin Snaith, with a satellite yard in Port Elizabeth, heads the National log with 26 wins for the season and Alan Greeff has saddled 19 but Drier has lined them up in KZN.

Most satisfactory of his four yesterday was probably Apres Ski in the opening leg of the Place Accumulator. Blinkers are not always a magic bullet, some horses no matter what equipment is tried, are just not capable of going any faster than their legs will carry them.

There are others that need a little more prompting and if a set of blinkers was all it took to bring out the best in Apres Ski then he could be destine for more than just a maiden win.

According to Drier and Anthony Delpech, the gelding had shown tremendous ability at home but his three stabs on the racecourse had Drier and his team scratching their heads. “I worked this horse on Thursday and couldn’t believe he was still a maiden,” said Delpech, deputising for stable rider Sean Veale.

Drier concurred. “He’s shown us so much at home but just didn’t bring it to the racecourse so we decided to try blinkers.”

They obviously worked a treat and Apres Ski came with a telling run up the middle of the track to beat the well-backed favourite Royal Regatta with rank outsider Black Samurai staying on gamely for third and paying R15 a place.

Drier got the meeting off to a difficult start for punters as See The Sea caused a 33-1 upset winning from Arabian Party and 8-10 favourite and Highveld raider Lebanese Tractor with raiding trainer Paul Peter headed home with little to show for his three-horse raid.

Taku Wind looked the right one in the fourth even though going an extra furlong for the first time and he won as expected under Kegan de Melo who had earlier booted home See The Sea.

Joy To Joy had been disappointing in her poly debut after a string of promising efforts on the turf but she found hefty market support and came home lonely in the fifth giving Delpech a double for the meeting.

Andrew Harrison

Tony Millard’s dirt specialist Super Jockey put in a dominant display to land the US$700,000 Gr1 Korea Sprint in Seoul on Sunday.

Millard’s trailblazer was the first Hong Kong runner to race on South Korean soil and was superbly steered by jockey Karis Teetan.

In the lead-up to the race there were concerns over Super Jockey’s ability to handle the tricky Seoul sand, but they proved unfounded. Teetan settled the 8-yr-old gelding in second, before pushing the button at the top of the straight and stretching clear to justify favouritism on the Hong Kong tote.

It’s another feather in the cap of South African-born trainer Tony Millard, collecting a major international sprint with Super Jockey following a strong second to American speedster Secret Circle in the 2015 Gr1 Golden Shaheen in Dubai. Super Jockey is being considered for another visit to Dubai for.

South China Morning Post

Turffontein has a nine race meeting on the Inside track and punters will have their work cut out on a competitive card.

One of the most interesting races is the second, a Graduation Plate over 1450m. Mogok Master is the best in at the weights and returns from a layoff of over a year having run 2,55 lengths behind Rabada in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m. He has been with the Joe Soma yard for three months now and has been given two hard gallops, among other work.

Soma said on what he has shown he looks to be a horse who could compete with the best, although he added tomorrow’s race would tell him more. He also said he would need further and would come on from the run. However, he was nevertheless expecting a good performance from a horse who was as fit as he could possibly be under the circumstances.

Nephrite is officially 7kg under sufferance with Mogok Master but on Premier’s Champions Stake form is 3kg better off for a mere 0,5 length beating. Furthermore, he bounced back to form in his penultimate start over 1400m when a 1,25 length second to the useful Jubilee Line in a Novice Plate. The form of that race was confirmed next time out over 1600m, although the pair were way behind two classy sorts in Unagi and Samurai Blade. Nephrite should enjoy the course and distance and has a fair draw so is the tip to win.

He could beat home Enbharr, who is also officially 7kg under sufferance with Mogok Master but looks to be on the up being by the outstanding Australian sire Fastnet Rock. He won commandingly over 1800m last time so this might be a touch sharp. However, he does make respiratory noises on occasion so the third time tongue tie might have done the trick last time and it might have been the secret behind that win rather than just the trip, considering he doddled in over 1600m in the maidens in January. Mogok Master is tipped to finish third. Africa Rising is the second best in at the weights officially and is only 3,5kg under sufferance with Mogok Master.

However, the form of his 1,3 length fourth in this year’s Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes is questionable. His stablemate Rightful King could be anything, having impressed with a facile win on debut before making a respiratory noise when well beaten behind Cloth Of Cloud in the Gr 1 SA Nursery. He hasn’t run since that race in April but on pedigree, being by Right Aproach, he should enjoy this trip. Dreamuponadream has shown ability over this trip before but he returns from a three-and-a-half month layoff having been off for about a year-and-a-half before that. Le Clos enjoys this course and distance so can’t be ignored.

The value bet of the day could also be from a newcomer to the Soma yard, Cambridge Choir, who runs in the seventh over 1600m. She has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight in this uninspiring fillies and mares event and the yard report her to be working well. Fort Ember is interesting as she won a Novice Plate returning from a year’s layoff after finishing a 2,75 length sixth in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes. However, she was officially weighted to win the Novice Plate easily and it will be tougher back in a handicap. Secondly, the form of the Thekwini has not worked out well so she still has something to prove. However, she is well regarded and it would be no surprise to see her win. She’s A Looker could also run a good race here from a good draw over a course and distance she has a good record over.

The last race is quite tough, it being a MR 72 Handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m. However, Consequentially, being by Silvano, should be coming into her own and off a merit rating of only 59 she could follow up on her maiden win over an ideal course and distance. The progressive Laurel Cherry could be the chief danger. She might have been sent for home too soon last time, but Anthony Delpech is back aboard and will know a bit more about her, although he does now have a tricky draw to overcome. Tobesuretobesure gets a good draw for a change over an ideal course and distance so could also be in the shake up, despite being seven points higher in the merit ratings since a comfortable win over 2200m on this course in her penultimate start.

David Thiselton

Extradite looks a fair bet when she lines up in the Soccer 6 Handicap at Durbanville today. With the Western Cape season a little over two months away stables will be warming up their prospective runners for the big features and Extradite can stake her claim.

Yet to finish out of the first three, Extradite makes her seasonal debut for Candice Bass-Robinson after being sent to Port Elizabeth to contest a small feature. Starting favourite, she was kicking on from behind after finding traffic and losing position early in the race. That proved more than she could handle and she was still two lengths adrift of winner O Tamara at the line.

She is back over a sprint today and with a good draw she should handle the Durbanville turn.

Turnpike has the benefit of having shed her maiden over course and distance and Lucy Woodruff, saddling for her father Geoff, will have hopes of scuppering the likely favourite.

Donovan Dillon. Former head boy of the SA Jockey’s Academy, has established himself as one of the leading riders in the Western Cape and Joey Ramsden was quick to realise his talents. Dillon partners Aviemore for Ramsden in the Place Your Bets Maiden where he should come on nicely from his first two outings and have a strong chance in what looks to be a modest line-up.

The lightly raced Quduiari has run second in his last two starts and the blinkers appear to have sharpened him up. He has also improved since being sent over ground and rates the horse they all have to beat. Soaring Past is on the up and showed tons of improvement at his second start and he could give plenty of cheek.

Figure Of Grey has let the side down on a few occasions but is seldom far off the action. She has been doing okay over the mile and should be competitive in the Racing Association Maiden Plate. Under Milkwood did not quicken last time but was reported to have been coughing. Her earlier form suggests that she is way better that that run and she is one for the shortlist.

The Itsarush.co.za Handicap looks decidedly tricky but Edict Of Nantes put in a strong finish when shedding his maiden. He has a difficult draw to overcome but looks progressive and can go in again.

Cream Soda won his maiden in his penultimate start most impressively and can be forgiven for his recent failure when he lines up in the Racing. It’s A Rush Handicap. Harold Crawford’s runner broke through the front of the stalls last time out and it clearly affected him as he finished way down field He does look better than that and is worth another chance with a handy draw and fair weight.

Andrew Harrison

Greyville (polytrack) Sunday Sep 11 Previews by Andrew Harrison

Race 1

4 LEBANESE TRACTOR   5 ARABIAN PARTY   2 POWER HORSE   1 ICHKERIA

Preview: LEBANESE TRACTOR has been a beaten favourite in her last three. She was beaten a neck last start and from a good draw should make a bold bid. ARABIAN PARTY found good market support at her second start and showed good improvement. She has a wide draw and makes her poly debut but can show further improvement. POWER HORSE showed up will first time on the poly and in blinkers and also boasts consistent form. ICHKERIA has some fair recent form over course and distance but is struggling to improve. (Andrew Harrison: 4-5-2-1).

Race 2

10 LEDIMARINCESS   8 IBTIHAJ   3 FIRES OF CALAIS   4 MANDOLIN

Preview: LEDIMAPRINCESS made a smart debut at long odds. Delpech gets the ride and they meet a weak field. IBTIHAJ found strong market support at her second start and made good improvement. She is sure to come on from that and looks the likely danger. FIRES OF CALAIS looks best on the poly and has a chance while MANDOLIN has shown some ability on the Highveld and could surprise on her poly debut. (Andrew Harrison: 10-8-3-4)

Race 3

3 ROCK HARD   9 PRINCE OF SAVOY   4 LATERAL DANCER   10 GOLD DASH

Preview: ROCK HARD has been disappointing but consistent. He could do better on the poly and tries blinkers for the first time. PRINCE OF SAVOY has some Highveld form to recommend it and should feature in this company. LATERAL DANCER made a fair poly debut and can do better over this shorter trip. GOLD DASH made sudden improvement on the poly after showing nothing on the turf. He has a chance if he can build on his last effort. (Andrew Harrison: 3-9-4-10)

Race 4

1 TAKU WIND   11 VIKING RED   3 ROY’S PAST   10 SEA-PATH

Preview: TAKU WIND goes well on the poly and is rated much higher than the balance of the field. This will be his first trip over ground but he should be hard to beat. VIKING RED improved at his second outing and will much prefer this trip from a good draw. ROY’S PAST was a close-up second over course and distance and has a good chance on a repeat showing. SEA-PATH made no show on debut but will prefer this trip and can improve. (Andrew Harrison: 1-11-3-10)

Race 5

10 FILM STAR   3 WILLOWGRANGE   7 JOY TO JOY   1 ALESNADO

Preview: FILM STAR raced green in a fair debut and from a good draw should improve. WILLOWGRANGE has consistent form over course and distance and should be thereabouts again. JOY TO JOY made a disappointing poly debut after a string of promising efforts on the turf. She may do better at her second run on the poly. ALESNADO ran below her best from a tough draw and can feature is she shows some of her previous form. (Andrew Harrison: 10-3-7-1)

Race 6

2 KOLINSKY   3 PYRENEES IN SPAIN   4 MAGICAL BET   9 SAN JULIAN BAY

Preview: KOLINSKY takes a big drop in class and he has also dropped in the ratings. He looks a big runner. PYRENEES IN SPAIN is long overdue and can have his consistency rewarded. MAGICAL BET has some fair Cape and PE form to back him up and a switch to the poly from a good draw could bring out the best in him. SAN JULIAN BAY made a smart poly debut but does not have the best of the draw. (Andrew Harrison: 2-3-4-9)

Race 7

4 SELVAN’S JET   5 SMART WORLD   6 SAMORA   3 BORN TO RULE

Preview: SELVAN’S JET went down narrowly in a competitive field last time out and has been showing fair form to stronger. SMART WORLD ran well below best on his handicap debut and would appear to be better on the poly. SAMBORA is much better than his last effort. He does look held by Smart World but there should not be much between them. BORN TO RULE was close-up to the well fancied Wealthy last timeout and a repeat can see him go close again. (Andrew Harrison: 4-5-6-3)

Race 8

3 FLYING ROCK   11 DELICIOUS DAMOWIN   5 SHAP SHAP   7 SEA URCHIN

Preview: FLYING ROCK landed the odds on debut over course and distance. He looks to have some scope and can follow up on that win. DELICIOUS DAMOWIN has been knocking at the door for some time now but goes very well over course and distance. With a light weight he should be in the shake-up again. SHAP SHAP was not far back to strong at his last start. He came off a short break and can do better here. SEA URCHIN took on stronger at his last two on the poly. He rates a good chance at best. (Andrew Harrison: 3-11-5-7)

Race 9

7 WIND SINGER   9 RESPECT AT BAY   1 TIMEOUS   10 SAVE THE DAY

Preview: WIND SINGER is possibly better over further but won very well last time out and can follow up. RESPECT AT BAY has been in good form on the turf. She is drawn well here and can feature. TIMEOUS is at home on the poly and was a close-up fifth last run. He has a good draw and a four-claiming apprentice. SAVE THE DAY has some fair Highveld form and can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 7-9-1-10)