The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) confirmed that an inquiry was held into the circumstances surrounding an objection which was lodged immediately after the running of the first race at Turffontein on Saturday, September 3.  The race was won by the favourite Querari Viking from Nordic Storm. The grounds of the objection were two-fold: firstly, an allegation of interference by the winner immediately after the start which resulted in the second horse clipping the heels of the winner; secondly, an interference which took place at the 300m mark which also resulted in the second horse clipping the heels of the winner.

The objection board consisting of T Khanyile (the race day Chairman) and G Timm and G Foxcroft viewed the various films of the race and heard comments from the respective trainers and jockeys.  The board came to a decision (by a majority of 2 to 1 with Foxcroft dissenting) that the objection be upheld.

When this decision was announced a number of angry punters gathered outside the stipes boardroom and voiced their displeasure with the decision. Khanyile was later interviewed by Tellytrack to explain the reasons for the decision.  His explanation did not satisfy the punters and further criticism was voiced.  Arnold Hyde, the Racing Control Executive, then announced that an Inquiry would be conducted into the entire incident.

At the inquiry, the various films of the race were viewed by the board.  This took place in the presence of Deanthan Moodley, the NHA’s legal counsel (who gave his reading of the race) and the three stipes who had sat on the objection board.  In the course of the discussions it transpired that there was no dispute about the decision to uphold the objection.  It was a wrong decision.  In brief, the first complaint was without merit.  The second horse had lost 2 – 3 lengths at the start (as confirmed by the starter) and no interference or clipping of heels occurred.  As for the second complaint, again, no interference or clipping of heels took place.  During this part of the inquiry Khanyile candidly admitted that, having gone through the films after the date of the incident, he conceded that he had been wrong.  He admitted that he had made a mistake.  Timm expressed similar views.  As for the inquiry board itself, it was satisfied that the objection was wholly groundless and was in fact frivolous.  The board noted that Moodley confirmed there was no evidence whatsoever to suggest that the two stipes who had upheld the decision, had in any way done so out of improper or sinister motives.

The inquiry board pointed out that it had no power to interfere with, or alter the decision.  Further, that it also had no power to conduct a disciplinary hearing into the conduct of the stipes arising out of their duties as employees of the NHA.

In the light of the above findings, the NHA has initiated internal disciplinary hearings.

Wrecking Ball can live up to her name and provide for a solid exotic bet banker when she lines up for the fifth at The Vaal tomorrow, a Graduation Plate over 1000m. Grant Maroun’s filly has plenty of scope and took an unbeaten record into the Gr2 Umkomazi Stakes against the colts on Gold Cup day only to find one better in Hack Green.

Dennis Drier’s colt franked that form and is still undefeated in three starts as he followed up his Umkomazi win with a narrow victory in the Bloodstock South Africa Million Sprint at Scottsville.

Wrecking Ball is rated three lengths better than any of her rivals, closest in the weights being Mike Azzie’s filly Spring Wonder. The year-older daughter of Querari has dropped to an 85 rating from a career high of 91 but a more likely challenger is Macadamia out of the Roy Magner yard.

The field, including Macadamia, was caught napping by Speedy Gonvarlez over course and distance last time out as the winner lived up to her name and kept rolling after setting a blistering gallop.

Significantly, Gavin Lerena has jumped ship to ride Wrecking Ball with Raymond Danielson taking over aboard Macadamia.

Isca (Nkosi Hlophe)

Another likely to start at short odds tomorrow is the grey Isca from the Gavin van Zyl yard who lines up in the sixth. After a spell in Durban where he won a top division sprint before following up with a second in the Gr3 Umgeni Handicap, he is back on the Highveld with assistant Chesney van Zyl to warm up for the spring season.

A drop in class sees him shouldering a steadier of 60,5kg but he has improved in blinkers and should put in another good showing.

Although 28 runners will be lining up for The Grand Heritage to be run at The Vaal on Saturday, October 1, the competition for places is stiff and only those with strong current form will be considered entries. Donny G, given his current run of form, is unlikely to miss out on a place in the Heritage field but Sean Tarry will be looking to his charge to cement a place. The 1000m trip under top weight could find him out and given that this is a likely warm-up sprint for the Heritage, Isca looks the better proposition.

Anthony Delpech seldom makes the trip to the Highveld unless there are feature race pickings to be had but having recently signed Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein as sponsors he is now obliged to travel.

His presence at the Vaal is more likely due to his contractual obligations as he partners Nikki in a 1400m Handicap, seventh race on the card, that races in the silks of Wilgerbosdrift where he will be teaming with his old boss, Mike de Kock. Nikki looks to have a fair chance in a competitive race where Jin-Go-Lo-Ba and Movie Award also look capable.

De Kock has taken advantage of Delpech’s presence and his name is penciled in behind the regally bred Australian import Al Fahad that makes his debut in the third. By Aussie super-sire Redoute’s Choice out of a Zabeel mare, just how he fares will be of more than just passing interest.

Tarry saddles Matador Man in the race who was well backed on debut but failed to land the gamble. He has since been rested but could rate the horse to beat as he was unlucky not to win. He was left standing at the gate and was making up ground quickly at the death. That experience could prove invaluable.

Andrew Harrison

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