The Gary Alexander-trained Querari gelding Kangaroo Jack has been awarded a 113 merit rating by the handicappers after his cosy win of the Gr 3 Spring Spree Stakes over 1200m on the Turffontein Inside track on Saturday, but despite the speed he has shown in his last two starts the yard will not be limiting his program to sprints.

The Alexander yard also have much to look forward to with their three-year-old Admire Main colt Unagi.

Alexander said he had always been of the belief a horse with as much speed as Kangaroo Jack would not stay a true mile, but he revealed stable jockey Andrew Fortune was convinced he would get a mile and he said he had to respect the opinion of such an experienced rider.

The big sprints like the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint would likely be on his program and possibly the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships too.

However, his next race is likely to be the Gr 2 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside Track on October 8.

Mile races like the Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile would be considered, although Alexander would prefer to aim him at the Gr 1 weight for age miles like the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes where he would not have to give lumps of weight away.

He said, “Most sprinters just want to jump and go but he drops the bit immediately.”

The ease with which he settles and his relaxed style of running are the chief reasons Fortune believes he will get the mile.

Alexander said Kangaroo Jack was quite small but was supple, well put together and had a nice quarter and was quite muscular, so was more of a “sprinting type” conformation-wise.

Unagi was receiving only 0,5kg from the twice Gr 1-placed Samurai Blade on Saturday in a Graduation Plate over 1600m and yet beat him by 0,2 lengths. Unagi sat in midfield on the rail under Fortune and showed an effortless turn of foot to pass Samurai Blade. He then showed fine resolve when fending off the latter’s rally. Unagi’s merit rating was 90 compared to Samurai Blade’s 104 so he was officially a whopping 15kg under sufferance. The trip was likely too sharp for Samurai Blade, but the rest of the field were 9,3 lengths back, which is another pointer to the merit of the performance.

Alexander said Unagi had never settled after jumping patches when strongly fancied in the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Greyville on Vodacom Durban July day. He had then run below par in his reappearance  over 1800m on August 18, but proved on Saturday he is a lot better than that.

The Alexander yard have a fine record in the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup, including winning it with “the people’s horse” Pierre Jourdan, a Summerhill Stud-bred who cost just R60,000.

Unagi, a Summerhill-bred who cost R80,000, will be aimed at this year’s R2,5 million renewal, which is to be run at Turffontein over the traditional 1400m trip on November 5.

He is likely to be a big runner there and will then be targeted at next February’s first leg of the SA Triple Crown, the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas.

David Thiselton

Marshall That, racing in the familiar red and white silks of Mike and Norma Rattray, gave notice that he is a colt to be reckoned with during the coming season with a smart showing in the Download The SA Racing App Maiden at Scottsville yesterday.

Alistair Gordon’s runner was all over the course when under pressure but put a fair maiden field to bed in good fashion under apprentice Eric Ngwane, coming home five lengths clear of the opposition.

The Rattray silks have long been a familiar sight on the country’s racecourses and although the pinnacle of Rattray’s racing ambitions has eluded him, namely a winner of the Vodacom Durban July, he has more than done his bit for racing, not only being a prolific owner but also a breeder of standing. Through his Lammerskraal Stud, where he gathered a formidable band of broodmares supplemented by top class stallions Western Winter and Go Deputy, he has contributed richly to the local gene pool.

Lammerskraal has been sold but there are many Rattray homebreds still racing under that banner with Marshall That being one of the last. By former champion stallion Fort Wood out of a daughter of Lammerskraal champion sire, Western Winter, Marshall That has the pedigree, and on yesterday’s evidence, the scope to be a contender in stakes races this season.

Weiho Marwing’s home yard at Ashburton has been quiet for a while with his Turffontein satellite yard more active but he was back with a bang yesterday with a smart double. Beaute Noire, having his first start for the yard for Green Street Bloodstock, landed the Blinkers Bar Maiden Plate comfortably under Marco van Rensburg. The second leg was a lot closer with The Rock prevailing by a piece of paper to edge out Kali’s King in the Itsarush.co.za Maiden Plate denying Ashburton colleague Duncan Howells a winner on his birthday.

As effective as a Mohammed Ali left-right combination to the chin, most exotic bet punters were on the canvas by the seventh. Dressed For Success, 5-1 in the official results but 10-1 with Betting World, triumphed under apprentice Dennis Schwarz for Paul Lafferty in the White Horse Function Room Handicap, the winner carrying a mere 48kg.

That was followed by favourite Humidor playing up in gate the before the Bartab No 56 @ Overport Handicap and being withdrawn by the course vet with Anthony Delpech helped off the back of the gate in severe pain.  Finally under way, the result was a stampede for the wire with the Gavin van Zyl-trained Bagger Vance (12-1) heading home a trio of outsiders.

Delpech made a quick recovery and was back in the saddle for Wild Irish in the last, the Track And Ball Gaming Handicap, but to no avail. Midanswer, the subject of some late market support, landed the knock-out blow with the Pick 6 paying upwards of R198 000.

Andrew Harrison

The Vaal has an eight race meeting on the Classic track on Thursday where races of 1200m and upward are around the turn.

The highest rated race on the card is the sixth, a MR 80 Handicap over 1600m, and the selection here is Odd Rob. This relatively lightly raced five-year-old Mambo In Seattle gelding was tried with blinkers off last time but it didn’t work as he didn’t put it in up the straight having apparently travelled comfortably up until then. The blinkers are duly back on. He has won over 2400m before but the last time he tried this trip he won from a wide draw over the Turffontein Inside track. He is nine points higher in the merit ratings now but does have a plum draw. He has been lowered two points for his last two runs and he had an excuse in his penultimate start as he was cramped for running room close to home. Top Shot represents the in-form Gary Alexander yard. He is dropped back to the trip of his last win having been a bit disappointing in three runs from 1800-2000m.

Furthermore he has been dropped to a merit rating off which he is proven effective. He lost narrowly off this mark over this distance on the Turffontein Inside track in April and he has a similarly wide draw here. Man’s Inn is a capable and consistent sort who can never be ignored over his favourite one mile trip, although he does now have to overcome a four point raise for his last win. Arpad is knocking on the door off this merit rating and a similarly wide draw over this trip on the Turffontein Inside track didn’t bother him last time, so he should be running on again after being dropped out. Raise The Red won the last time he ran over this course and distance and the form has been franked, so he could be concerned in the finish despite being four points higher.

The best bet on the card could be Lakahal, who runs in the second race, a MR 64 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m. This horse has pace coupled with a kick and Andrew Fortune remains aboard having won on her over this trip last time. She was only given a three point raise despite the cosy nature of the win and this field is as uninspiring. The danger could be Linda Honey, who will love the current fast going conditions. She has pace and showed last time she can find extra at the finish too if necessary as she produced a late effort to upset her more fancied stablemate Captain’s Girl. Angie Bee stayed on to be just a length behind Lakahal when they last met and she is now 1,5kg better off. Her last run can have a line drawn through it as she was 2,5kg under sufferance in a stronger event.

The value bet could be the Flamingo Park raider Arctic Route in the last race, a MR 64 handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m. This six-year-old Solskjaer mare was never tried beyond a mile until July this year and she duly won on the Flamingo sand over 1800m. Last time out she was tried over 2200m and ran a decent third despite being 2kg under sufferance off her 52 merit rating. She now returns to the turf off a merit rating of 60, one point lower than her last turf win, which was over 1400m at the Vaal last June. She has a fair draw of six and Randall Simons is up. Bankable’s progeny seem to improve with age and Banking April is such a horse, so she is the selection to win this race from a plum draw over a suitable trip. She is 3kg better off with the pole position drawn Shankly gates for a 2,1 length beating over this trip in July, so there won’t be much in it. Others to consider besides the aforementioned trio are Blue Sage and Indzaba. Blue Sage stayed on to finish close over 2000m last time and was lowered one point by the handicapper so should be competitive with Gavin Lerena up.  Indzaba was further back in that race but went close over this trip before that so will likely appreciate the slight step down in distance. She is off the same merit rating as that 1800m race, but on the downside has a much tougher draw.

The most interesting clash of the day is between Captain’s Girl and Levi Lady in the third, a fillies and mares maiden over 1000m. Captain’s Girl is still quite unexposed so could well make sudden improvement over an ideal distance as she has plenty of pace. However, Levi Lady now gets the draw in her favour after going close in two starts when the draw was against her. She has shown blistering speed since blinkers were applied but in both those starts from high draws she hung inward right across the course in the closing stages and this probably cost her at least one victory. She now has a low draw and the rail will help her stay straight. It will be an intriguing contest and this pair look to have the race to themselves.

The fourth race, a MR 68 Handicap over 1000m, also sees an intriguing clash. Just Africa is ultra speedy and will relish the fast going conditions. Furthermore, he has dropped to a competitive merit rating. However, Flight Zone showed good cruising speed last time and won as he liked. The form of his last two runs in the maidens over this trip has worked out well and he could well rise above his current merit rating of 78, although it is never easy for a young three-year-old first up in a handicap against older horses. Movie Show could pick up the pieces if the first two choices fluff their lines.

In the fifth race, a MR 64 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m around the turn, Miss Argentina is competitive off her current merit rating, which is nearly 20 points lower than her highest career rating and from a plum draw of two, with the same 4kg claimer aboard who went close on her last time, she could defy topweight. However, it’s a competitive event and all of Ladies Club, Riverine Forest, Beckoning and Chartwell also need to be considered.

The Northern Cape Horse Of The Year Lebeoana runs in the seventh, a MR 72 handicap over 1800m. The key to him is a galloping track, as he proved when winning on the Turffontein Standside track last time over this trip. He is unbeaten in three starts with Ryan Munger up and can follow up off just a three point higher merit rating.

David Thiselton

Due to a mismatch relating to information received from UK Tote and Press Association, Doncaster Race 7 today (7pm Thursday, September 8) will be declared null and void.

In summary, for today’s Doncaster meeting:

• PA would be 1 to 7 with field for Race 7 (as on the Tote Sheet)
• Jackpot would be 4 to 7 with field for race 7 (as on the Tote Sheet)
• Pick 3 would be 5 to 7 with field for race 7 (as on the Tote Sheet)
• No pools offered on race 7 (as on the Tote Sheet)

Race 7 is an Arabian race and PA did not supply fields therefore renumbering race 8 as race 7.  UK tote did include the race and have 8 races.  The Tellytrack feed will have 8 races as well.

Due to the possible confusion for customers, the racecard with 7 races that is in the public domain will stand.  However Race 7 will be refunded and field applies for exotics.

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that an inquiry has been opened into the circumstances surrounding the decision taken by the Objection Board, that officiated on an incident that occurred during the running of Race 1 on Saturday, 3 September at Turffontein Racecourse.

In this regard, the Chairman of the Objection Board, Mr Thulani Khanyile, has been suspended with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the inquiry, which will be held at the Head Office at Turffontein Racecourse on Monday, 12 September 2016.