The Gr 3 Spring Spree Stakes over 1200m is the headliner on the Turffontein Inside track tomorrow and it sees the reappearance of one of the most exciting sprinters in the country, the Gary Aleaxander-trained Kangaroo Jack.

This four-year-old Querari gelding won the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m at Greyville on June 17 in effortless style. The form of that race has worked out exceptionally well so the six point raise he was given now looks lenient. The draw of seven should not be a problem as he relaxes well in the running and has a devastating turn of foot. Andrew Fortune takes over the reins from Craig Zackey. Kangaroo Jack should come into his own this season and it would be no surprise to see him in the top echelon by the time the big sprint races come around. He has run well fresh over 1450m before so he should be fine running over this shorter trip tomorrow following a two-and-a-half month layoff.

Thrust could be his biggest danger. This lightly raced five-year-old has plenty of class and the best might not have been seen of him yet. His late finishing surge is impressive and from a plum draw and carrying a nice galloping weight of 54,5kg it could be seen at its maximum tomorrow.

Sean Tarry regarded Buckland as his first choice for the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint but he was unfortunately eliminated. His best form has been down the straight but he is maturing and has Strydom up from a fair draw so cannot be left out.

The third topweight is Moofeed, who might need gelding such has been his disappointing form lately. He is 5kg better off with Kangaroo Jack for a 5,7 length beating from the Post Mechants so could earn from a good draw if producing his best.

Amazing Strike was beaten nearly ten lengths in the Post Merchants and although capable of better he has a tough draw of ten to overcome tomorrow.

The consistent Mike Azzie-trained Angel’s Power is 2,5kg better off with Thrust for a two length beating over 1160m, but it won’t be easy from draw eight.

Prince Of Orange is an interesting contender having his third run for a new yard. He has not been disgraced before against the best over further. This is the first time he has run in a sprint since winning his maiden two years ago and his class could pull him through, especially as he jumps from a plum draw of three.

Lunar Approach also has some class and won over this course and distance on debut. He returns from a five month layoff but can’t be ignored running fresh over a trip sharper than ideal.

Vincente and Mod Barley both have speed. However, the trip will stretch them. Mod Barley, from a good draw, could earn.

Kostya Zu has no chance at the weights, being 9kg under sufferance. However, this is his second run after more than a year’s layoff and he has run well against some good types before, so he could still prove better than his merit rating suggests.

The selection is Kangaroo Jack to beat Thrust with Buckland, Prince Of Orange and Lunar Approach next best.

The Non-Black Type Locfire Services For The Ladies stakes over 1200m is an equally interesting race. However, Crown Of Roses has been in fine form and this classy type could defy topweight from pole position. This will be her first start on this track but from pole position with Andrew Fortune up she should handle it. Happyvalentine was within a length in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson. She looks to be the biggest threat as she also has a plum draw.

The best bet on the card could be Boy Boy in race 5. He was a touch unlucky when last trying this 2000m trip at the Vaal and has proven in the past to be suited to middle distance races at this course no matter the draw.

David Thiselton

 

Western Cape and Highveld trainers dominated the Gr 1 races last season. There were 30 Gr 1s in the season if last year’s postponed eLan Gold Cup meeting is excluded and Highveld trainers won 15 Gr 1s between them, the Western Cape won 13 and KZN won two.

There were 24 individual Gr 1 winners during the season, eleven of them were Highveld-trained, eleven were Western Cape-trained and two were KZN-trained.

Highveld trainer Sean Tarry’s Legal Eagle and Western Cape trainer Mike Bass’s Inara each won three Gr 1s apiece.

Highveld trainer Alec Laird’s Smart Call and Highveld trainer Mike Azzie’s SA Triple Crown hero Abashiri each won two Gr2s.

Tarry and Bass both won five Gr 1s during the season with three individual horses, Tarry’s trio being Legal Eagle, Carry On Alice and Cloth Of Cloud, and Bass’s being Inara, Silver Mountain and Marinaresco.

Azzie won four Gr 1s with three individual horses, Abashiri, Rabada and Querari Falcon.

The only multiple Gr 1-winning yards besides Tarry, Bass, Azzie and Laird, were Justin Snaith, Vaughan Marshall and Joey Ramsden.

Snaith’s pair It’s My Turn and Bela-Bela won one Gr 1 apiece, Marshall clinched to Gr 1s on the same day with two-year-olds The Secret Is Out and Always in Charge, and Ramsden won the big one, the Vodacom Durban July, with The Conglomerate, and the Mercury Sprint with Red Ray a couple of weeks later.

Trainers who each won one Gr 1 apiece were the Highveld’s Geoff Woodruff  (Master Sabina); Highveld’s Mike de Kock (Noah From Goa); Western Cape’s Brett Crawford (Gulf Storm); Highveld’s Stanley Ferreira (Juxtapose); Western Cape’s Dean Kannemeyer (Real Princess); Highveld’s Coenie de Beer (Talktothestars); KZN’s Weiho Marwing (Mac De Lago); and KZN’s Paul Gadsby (Gunner).

The leading Gr 1-winning jockeys in the season were Anton Marcus with six and Anthony Delpech, Piere Strydom and Grant van Niekerk with four each.

Marcus won three Gr 1s aboard Legal Eagle and one apiece on Rabada, Always in Charge and Red Ray. Delpech’s four Gr 1 wins were on Noah From Goa, Bela-Bela, Real Princess and Querari Falcon; Strydom’s were on It’s My Turn, Talktothestars, Mac De Lago and The Conglomerate; and Van Niekerk won three Gr 1s on Inara and one on Marinaresco.

Other jockeys to win multiple Gr 1s were national champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo on Carry On Alice and Cloth Of Cloud and Karl Zechner, who rode Abashiri in all of his races during the season.

Jockeys to win one Gr 1 apiece were Gavin Lerena (Master Sabina); Aldo Domeyer (Silver Mountain); Weichong Marwing (Smart Call); JP van der Merwe (Smart Call); Corne Orffer (Gulf Storm); Chase Maujean (Juxtapose); MJ Byleveld (The Secret Is Out); and Brandon Lerena (Gunner).

Perennial champion owners Markus and Ingrid Jooste owned or had shares in six horses which won eight Gr 1 races between them (officially they had nine as Rabada also won on Gold Cup day last year). The six horses were Legal Eagle, Cloth Of Cloud, Rabada, Always In Charge, The Conglomerate and Red Ray. It was the Joostes’ first victory in the July.

Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren deservedly clinched their first Gr 1 win when Abashiri won the SA Classic and they added two more courtesy of Abashiri and Querari Falcon.

Drakensten Stud won three Gr 1s as owners, all with their home-bred Inara.

Mauritzfontein won two Gr1s as owners with their home-bred Smart Call.

Top owner Chris van Niekerk has shares in both Carry On Alice and Cloth Of Cloud and Hassen Adams also had a Gr 1 double as part-owner of both Mac De Lago and Gunner.

Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm are the breeders of Equus Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle and other studs who were in the winner’s enclosure more than once as breeders were: Drakenstein Stud with Inara; Mauritzfontain Stud with Smart Call and Marinaresco; Lammeskraal Stud, who bred Abashiri and Red Ray; Klawervlei Stud with Carry On Alice, Always In Charge and Real Princess; and Highlands Farms Stud with Silver Mountain and Cloth Of Cloud, who are both out of Equus Champion broodmare Our Table Mountain;

Those who bred one Gr 1 winner each were National Champion Breeders Summerhill Stud with Rabada; Michael de Broglio owns and bred Master Sabina; Wilgerbosdrift Stud bred Noah From Goa, whom they also part-own; Willem Engelbrecht bred It’s My Turn; Ascot Stud bred Gulf Storm; Varsfontein Stud bred Juxtapose (they also own Bela-Bela); Scott Brothers bred Talktothestars; BBP Syndicate bred The Secret Is Out; Cheveley Stud bred Bela-Bela; Querari Falcon was bred by the late BH Botha, Arne J Botha and ME Botha; and Nadeson Park bred Gunner. Both Mac De Lago and The Conglomerate were bred in Australia.

The leading Gr 1-winning stallions were National Champion Sire Trippi, father of Inara and Real Princess; Captain Al , sire of Carry On Alice, Cloth Of Cloud, The Secret Is Out and Always In Charge; Greys Inn, sire of Legal Eagle; Dynasty sire of Bela-Bela and It’s My Turn; Silvano sire of Silver Mountain and Marinaresco; Ideal World, sire of Smart Call; and Go Deputy, sire of Abashiri;

Those stallions who had one Gr 1 winner each were Jet Master (Master Sabina); Tiger Ridge (Noah From Goa); Sail From Seattle (Gulf Storm); Judpot (Juxtapose); Brave Tin Soldier (Rabada); Overlord (Talktothestars); Western Winter (Red Ray); Querari (Querari Falcon); Gimmethegreelight (Gunner);  Encosta de Lago (Mac de Lago); and Lonhro (The Conglomerate).

David Thiselton

South Africa’s highest-priced racehorse – at least the highest-priced to run so far – proved expensive for punters when he started favourite and finished with only four behind him on debut at Kenilworth yesterday.

Bookmakers thought they were playing safe with the R5.2 million purchase when they opened Horizon at 4-1 but he was the one above all others of the 17 in the Racing Association Maiden that the money came for.

Half an hour before the race he was down to 18-10 and at the off you struggled to find better than 22-10 even though some of those connected to the stable were voicing fears about the strong tailwind – the complete opposite to the normal south-easter – being all against a horse bred to need a lot more than this 1 200m.

The colt certainly looked the part. A handsome bay with three white socks and beautifully turned out, he moved like a well-oiled machine and strode to the start like a future star.

All went according to plan in the early part of the race, thanks at least in part to Grant van Niekerk niggling at his mount  to keep his position, but then it all started to go pearshaped and the favourite dropped back through the field to finish over 12 lengths behind the winner.

It’s at moments like these that racehorse trainers need the diplomacy of an ambassador, the sympathy of a sister and the belief of a convert. Seemingly Piet du Toit, the top game breeder who spent all that money, is in good hands.

Candice Bass-Robinson dealt with the situation in the manner of one who has lived with the foibles of racehorses, and the uncertainties of their performance, since birth and who regularly has disappointment served up for breakfast.

“The horse is still very green and he just needs patience,” she explained. “On his pedigree – by Dynasty out of a full sister to Silvano – he is going to take time and he has only just come to hand.

“He used to be very lazy and laid back, and he has only just started showing us things. Grant said that he didn’t enjoy having other horses around him and that his mind wasn’t on the job. We will try again in a few weeks – but he is going to be a decent horse.”

The winner, 12-1 chance Para Handy, is owned by many of the people (and has the same jockey and trainer) who shared over R8 million for winning the CTS Million Dollar in January.

Just to add further irony Icon King, who lead for all except the final 30m, was bought for the equine equivalent of peanuts and on extended credit.

“There was no bid for him at the Klawervlei Farm Sale in June last year and I said to breeder Duncan Barry that I would take the horse home with me and pay him five grand the first time he ran,” reported Mike Stewart. “It was one of my better buys!”

Michael Clower

The Vaal stages an eight race meeting on the Classic Track tomorrow and there are three interesting runners who could provide value.

In the last race, a MR 72 Handicap over 1450m, King Gerard is of each way interest. This horse always gives the impression he loves to gallop and if able to get a suitable fast pace he can be effective as he has a good cruising speed. However, he tends to over race if unable to use his considerable stride, which can almost be described as a bound. Tomorrow, from a plum draw of two, he has the front-running sort Diva and the speedy Vulcan on either side of him so he could get the pace he needs and will likely be sitting right behind it without having to be used up to get there. He has dropped to an attractive merit rating and this trip is ideal..

In the third race, a maiden over 2000m, Speed Monitor makes some appeal. This is a nice looking gelding by Traffic Guard, who to date has had the unfortunate tendency to over race early when going around the turn. However, last time over 1700m he still managed to stay on for third. A step up to 2000m does not augur well for his chances of settling any better. However, one factor in his favour is the turn is a lot further from the start in a 2000m race on the classic course than it is in a 1700m race on the Inside course. Therefore, he will not need to be tucked in as quickly after the start as he was last time, which might have caused him to pull in the first place. Furthermore, he will be in the hands of the maestro Piere Strydom, although the hands of Andrew Fortune who rode him last time are probably just as good. If things do pan out well for Speed Monitor he will go close.

The next interesting runner is Just A Jag, who runs in the sixth, a MR 68 Handicap over 1200m. On Cape Town form this A P Answer gelding is well handicapped. Last June, for example, he finished just 2,25 lengths behind Victorious Jay over 1400m, although admittedly the latter was only a two-year-old at the time while Just A Jag was three. Victorious Jay went on to finish a narrow second in a Gr 2 over 1600m. Just A Jag was later sent to Kimberley and has accumulated two wins and five places in seven outings, both wins being over 1200m. He has risen to a merit rating of 75. However, tomorrow he runs off his turf rating of just 61. The race will tell whether he is a sand specialist, but his consistent Cape Town form would point to him being effective on turf. The race will also tell whether he will need the run as he hasn’t been out since March. He might get away with it on fast ground over this trip and trainer Brett Warren has been seen to bring horses back from rests to run well.

However, King Gerard is the one of these three aforementioned value bets who make most appeal and looking at his form he could be the biggest price of the trio too.

The first race on the card over 1000m is competitive, but Edgbaston makes most appeal as blinkers could well suit him. Last time he showed pace while looking a bit reluctant to let himself down and he was rallying at the finish, so the headgear might bring the best out of him. Mind Shade beat the former by over a length last time and can go close with a repeat. The obvious choice looks to be Alpine Glacier, who finished behind the former pair when making his debut. He was backed into 12/10 that day so obviously shows a lot at home and he should have benefitted from the experience. The question is whether he can make more than two lengths improvement to beat them.

Another horse who could be of interest is the Irish-bred Strut Your Stuff, who runs in the fourth race, a Maiden over 2000m. This High Chaparral filly will relish the step up to 2000m on pedigree. She was a bit hot on debut over 1600m and over raced too, so it is once again a question of whether she will settle. Anthony Delpech is in the irons and she has a plum draw of two. If she does relax she could win, but otherwise Consequentially will likely pick up the pieces. The latter jumps from a high draw but relaxes well in the running and is a long striding sort who will relish the trip.

In the second race, a MR 79 Handicap for fillies and mares, Laurel Cherry should be coming into her own as a big four-year-old daughter of Ideal World. She did her best work late when winning over this trip at Turffontein on June 12. The third horse was beaten seven lengths and yet five winners have come out of the race, so the form looks strong and she can overcome a five point raise.

In the third race, a Maiden over 2000m, the stoutly-bred Excellency should relish the step up in trip and could be a PA banker. However, as mentioned earlier, Speed Monitor must be given healthy respect and Stunned has to also be considered for the Pick 6.

In the fifth race, a MR 64 handicap over 1600m, Cape Marigold has pole position and the form of her last start has been franked with Movie Award winning yesterday. Gavin Lerena is aboard and the filly can go close as she will likely be ridden more conservatively than last time when a decision was made to go to the front from a wide draw.

In the seventh race over 1000m, Speed Gonvarelez has had a big reputation from day one and  is another who can carry topweight to victory. She has plenty of speed and although raised two points for her excellent second last time out in tough MR 92 handicap, she now has a 4kg claimer up and will likely also relish the fast going conditions.

David Thiselton

Trainers have been clamouring for the racing operators to cater for their lower rated horses and they get their wish at Greyville tonight where Gold Circle have added an extra meeting to the calendar to compensate for two wash-outs earlier in the month.

A MR66 Handicap over 1900m is the ‘highlight’ on the eight-race card where top weight In The Moment may still be ahead of the handicapper in a field littered with landmines. Champion trainer Sean Tarry has taken a well-earned break after his record breaking season and with many of his string on the easy list after having their compulsory African Horse Sickness jabs the stable has been quiet.

In The Moment took 14 runs to shed his maiden and earn a merit rating of 62. Two races later he surprised in an MR80 Handicap and was immediately bumped up the eight-point maximum. He was back in a MR66 for his latest effort where he ‘blew-up’ inside the final furlong finishing 16 lengths behind subsequent winner Wealthy in an obviously below par performance that prompted officials to call for a post-race examination that showed nothing untoward.

In The Moment has won on the poly and with apprentice Eric Ngwane giving 2,5kg relief the gelding need only repeat his penultimate performance to have a strong chance in this line-up.

Dennis Drier has been using apprentice Diego de Gouveia and his 4kg claim to good effect and they pair up with Roya Union Jet. The gelding was two lengths back to In The Moment when last they met after over-racing early. Royal Union Jet is 2kg better off this time around courtesy of De Gouveia’s claim and as the two are drawn alongside each other there should be very little between them.

Desert Sunset makes his first appearance in KZN after recently shedding his maiden on the Highveld. He is a strong front runner who should enjoy his debut on the poly and both apprentices should be wary of letting him get away.

Candice Bass-Robinson has opened a satellite yard at Summerveld, renting a yard off limits but making use of the Summerveld tracks. The yard is under the care of long-time assistant Robert Fayd’herbe and they can have their first success with Florrick in the opening leg of the Pick 6. The scratching of Disrupt has left the way clear for the top weight, the mount of apprentice Callan Murray, who comes out of his time at the end of the year.

Florrick was pulled out of her latest race after Grant van Niekerk felt something amiss with the filly, but her form prior to that was consistent and good enough to put her in with a strong winning chance.

Florrick and In The Moment can bookend an otherwise difficult Pick 6.

In the fourth, Roy Royale is back to the rating of his last win and coupled with a drop in class should be competitive while the Tarry / Delpech combination will make Super Guppy a contender along with the lightly raced Weskus Klong who makes his poly debut.

The handicapping cliché ‘when in doubt take the top weight’ could hold true in the fifth where Brave And Bold and St Elmo’s Fire could suffice in another difficult race.

Black Jaguar has been threatening for some time now but now races off his lowest rating ever from a good draw and can surprise at a good price in the sixth where fancied top weight Nuntius is a scratching.

Pyrenees In Spain will have his supporters in the seventh. He caught the eye from a tricky draw last time out and an inside gate and a further drop in class could see him home ahead of Aramouse who makes his poly debut from the worst of the draw.

Andrew Harrison