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 (Nkosi Hlophe)

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

An iron nerve is an invaluable asset to any jockey but a bad fall can crack even the most resolute resolve. “It was a blessing in disguise,” said Jarred Samuel of his fall nine months ago referring to a temporary amnesia when asked about how he feels to be back race-riding. “I don’t remember the fall so I’m keen to get back in the saddle. Nothing has changed.”

Samuel makes his return to racing at Scottsville on Sunday where he has four mounts. He has been riding work for a month but it has been a frustrating comeback waiting for his specialist to give the green light to race-ride. “The CT scans are clear so I’m looking forward to getting back on Sunday. It will be exactly nine months since my fall.”

“I have been gyming and swimming to keep my fitness but you know that riding is a different kind of fitness that you can only get by riding in races.”

Jarred Samuel

The stipendiary stewards report gives a bland account of what was a horrific fall in the fourth race at Greyville on December 4 last year.

The report reads: MUSIC WORLD (*N Gumede) hanging out in the straight, shifted out shortly before the finish resulting in FLY AWAY WITH ME (J Samuel) clipping heels, falling and dislodging the rider.  An Inquiry will be held into this incident.

In fact, Samuels was knocked unconscious. “My horse clipped heels and fell and two horses ran over me and knocked me out,” he recalls having watched video replays of the incident.

“I was in an induced coma for seven or eight days and on a ventilator and life-support for the first four or five days.”

“I don’t remember the fall and December and January are a blank. Apparently I greeted all my visitors by name but I don’t remember anything.”

“A month after the fall I was still complaining of a sore back and after x-rays it was found that I also had a fractured spine.”

“It’s taken time to heel and I still wear a back brace at home for some support, but it will be exactly nine months to the day when I ride at Scottsville on Sunday.”

Jarred currently goes to scale at 53kg.

Andrew Harrison

Sean Tarry is now a twice South African Champion trainer and smashed several records last season. His earnings of R27,999,563 beat his own record of R25,924,950 established the previous season. His 209 winners bettered Justin Snaith’s record of 198.

One hallmark many true champions possess is the natural inclination to not dwell upon success. Golf is littered with players who were never quite the same after winning a major. They were perhaps unable to take success in their stride.

Tarry does not fit into this category. Jockey legend Bartie Leisher observed Tarry already looking ahead and planning for the future during the Vodacom Dutban July 2013 post race celebrations in Greyville’s Box 2F. He said, “That’s why he will be the champion trainer.” His predictions did not take long to come true.

Tarry is a team man and one of the most important members is his older brother Mark, who has become one of the most successful buyers in the industry due to his immense knowledge of pedigrees coupled with sheer hard work.

Lyndon Barends & Sean Tarry (GC Photos)

Mark’s reply to a question put by the Sporting Post a few years ago would be inspirational to newcomers to pedigree study. He said, “The most important thing to realize is that any pedigree is made up of individuals, good and bad. It is necessary to understand these individuals, to be able to recognize the desired characteristics in their descendants. Affinities are consistent and often the same elements appear again and again in the best progeny of a particular stallion, and are consistently absent in many of the mediocre progeny of the same stallion. A good mating will succeed consistently, but at varying levels. The power in the pedigree must be consolidated and not diluted. Champions tend to have more symmetry in pedigrees than ordinary horses. It is, however, not necessary to see this in the first five generations. Planning a mating is like a game of Sudoku, you need to get all the lines to win the game.”

He said later in the same interview, “Sean has a very good eye for a horse and will generally only buy a horse that I am adamant about if he likes it physically.”

The success of the pair’s sales strategies were illustrated last season. Six of Tarry’s two-year-old fillies won on debut and together they had an unbeaten streak of seven races. This could well be a South African record. In all 16 individual Tarry-trained two-year-olds won 21 races between them and this could also be a record. The bet of them was likely the Captain Al filly Cloth Of Cloud, who was unbeaten in three races, culminating in victory against the boys in the Gr 1 SA Nursery. She is not the easiest customer, which is a further tribute to the work the yard put in. She was named Equus Champion Two-year-old filly and will likely be a big player in this season’s classics.

However, the star of the Tarry stable was undoubtedly Legal Eagle, who won three Gr 1s including two prestigious weight for age miles. He was duly named Equus Horse Of The Year. He is merit rated 120 and Tarry said during the season, “National Colour and Mythical Flight were freaks, but Legal Eagle is probably the best classic horse I have ever trained.”

Tarry won five Gr1s during the year, the other one being the Computaform Sprint, which was won in scintillating fashion by his Captain Al filly Carry On Alice. Unfortunately, nothing went right for her in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint and for the third year running she was unlucky to be empty-handed at the Equus Awards.

Tarry also won four Gr 2s, nine Gr 3s, five Listed races and six non-Black Type features.

National Champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo rode 18 of these 30 features race winners. Khumalo’s approach during the season was highly professional (with the exception of one infamous ride) and included mentoring from legendary jockey Felix Coetzee. This professionalism saw his partnership with Tarry being cemented.

Tarry’s best finish in one of the lucrative R1 million-and-more Sales Races was a third place finish with Malak Al Moolook in the KZN Breeders Million Mile. This is possibly the most amazing statistic of his season as it means his record earnings were in no way inflated. It also means his earnings potential for the current season are frightening, considering how strong his two-year-old string is.

Mark Tarry has also become passionate racehorse breeder and was instrumental in the planning of the mating which produced Sean’s first July winner Pomodoro, owned and bred by the yard’s loyal client Chris van Niekerk.

Van Niekerk is undoubtedly the proverbial “best horse in the yard”. His blue and red colours go hand in hand with Tarry’s operation and his years of loyalty since the famous fateful phonecall he made way back in 1998 has reaped dividends. However, as a high profile businessman, he would not still be with the yard if there was not mutual trust or if the results were not forthcoming.

David Thiselton