David Thiselton

PIERE STRYDOM is the winning-most Summer Cup rider to be taking part in Saturday’s big race, having been in the winner’s enclosure of Johannesburg’s flagship event four times, and he will need to cause an upset to increase his tally as he is aboard the 25-1 chance Astrix.

Strydom has never ridden the Paul Peter-trained four-year-old Vercingetorix gelding but has spoken to his regular rider Warren Kennedy. The latter confirmed there was a bit of a concern he would stay the tough 2000m trip. 

Vercingetorix is appearing to impart more speed and less stamina in his progeny than his prolific sire Silvano does. However, Astrix’s damsire Victory Moon, who won a Grade 3 and a Grade 2 over 2000m and was an unlucky fifth in the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes over 2007m, provides some hope he will stay. On the other hand Astrix’s dam Victory Dance is a half-sister to the dual Grade 1 winner Thunder Dance (Jet Master), who was essentially a miler. Furthermore, his second dam Shadow Dancing is a half-sister to the speed influence Captain Al. 

However, the point that does give hope is that both Astrix’s attempts at 1800m to date did not pan out well. He was caught wide throughout in the Grade 1 SA Classic from draw 16 so was entitled to find no extra in the straight, finishing a 4,85 length tenth. In the Victory Moon Stakes last time out he had to do some work to overcome another wide draw. Yet he stayed on well for a 2,50 length second. He now has a good draw of three so should find cover and this will give him a chance of staying.

Strydom said he would have to give Astrix a chance due to the stamina doubt. He said the detractor in this case was the big field, as he might then end up too far back.

He concluded, “I don’t know the horse but it is an open race and if he stays he must have a chance.”

Astrix is 2,5kg better off with Christopher Robin for a 2,50 length beating in the Victory Moon so on paper should finish alongside that one, although the latter has no stamina concerns. 

Strydom’s four Summer Cup wins have been with Roland’s Song in 1990, Eventuail in 2002, Tyson in 2004 and Louis The King in 2014. 

Strydom intends retiring at the end of this season.

However, this depends on two things. Firstly, he wants to reach 5500 career winners. He should pass this mark before July 31 next year as he currently has only 29 winners to go.

He will also insist upon going out with a winner. If his last ride of the season is not a winner he will be back for another meeting next season.

He said, “I hope COVID-19 is over by then because after I have ridden that last winner I am going to throw my boots into the stands!”

An ambition before bowing out is to win the Vodacom Durban July next year and thus join Anton Marcus on a record five wins of the country’s premier horseracing event.

Five Summer Cup wins and five July’s will fit nicely as he will be the ripe age of 55 upon retiring.    

Michael Clower

RAINBOW BRIDGE, winner of the 2019 Sun Met and a string of other big races including the Champions Cup and the Gold Challenge, makes his eagerly-awaited reappearance in the Tabonline.co.za Pinnacle Stakes over 1 400m at Kenilworth today when rising star Luke Ferraris  will ride him in public for the first time.

The six-year-old opened a prohibitive 3-10 when World Sports Betting opened its book (on adjusted ratings he has the proverbial stone in hand). But there will be almost as much interest in African Night Sky who runs for the first time since his controversial run in the 2018 Vodacom Durban July.

“Rainbow Bridge has been doing pretty well but he is nowhere near fit yet,” said Eric Sands this morning. Sands is already eyeing the Green Point Stakes at the Cape Town course on December 12. “My aim is the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (Jan 9) and the Met three weeks later. I want the Queen’s Plate to be his third run back and the Met his fourth of the campaign because his second run of the season can be a little bit flat even though he always runs well in it. Luke rode the horse in a spin on Saturday and did so again this morning.”

Stable companion and half-brother Golden Ducat will return at Kenilworth on December 2. “We had a little hiccup with him so he is not as fit as he might be. He will gallop this week and will come back in a progress plate, either over a mile or over 1 200m.”

African Night Sky started a warm favourite for the 2018 July but the slow gallop proved fatal. He fought for his head and for rider Grant van Niekerk the race turned into a living nightmare. In a last, despairing throw of the dice he decided to give the horse his head and let him go. Not surprisingly his mount tired before the end and finished a bitterly expensive fifth. “They went slower and slower but I thought that if I went on the horse would settle,” Van Niekerk explained afterwards.

The jockey was widely, and unfairly, criticised by the riders in the stands – his mount’s defeat was guaranteed once he started fighting his jockey – and significantly this season’s leading Cape Town rider is back on him on Wednesday.

Owner Fred Crabbia transferred the horse from Justin Snaith to Dean Kannemeyer, possibly to race in Dubai, but he damaged a tendon and couldn’t go. He was returned to Snaith last December.

“Obviously he hasn’t raced for a long time but everything has gone well and I’m looking for a nice positive run,” said Justin today.

He also runs Wild Coast on whom Richard Fourie will be hoping to celebrate Wednesday’s 35^th birthday in appropriate style. “It’s a strong field but Wild Coast has been doing well at home and we are looking for a good run to give us confidence for the future, “ said the trainer.

Vaughan Marshall is also double-handed with Silver Operator and Captain Of Stealth who looked a future star when winning his first two races last season by an aggregate of almost 12 lengths. Then disaster struck. In a freak accident he wrapped himself below the joint and just above the coronet. Many thought he would never race again but Vaughan Marshall predicted ten months off.

He has had two runs this season and Marshall said today: ”He is just about back to his best but it hasn’t been plain sailing and he has had a lot of little minor issues including bouts of urticaria.”

The trainer probably has a better chance with his other runner Silver Operator, the mount of four-time champion Anton Marcus – “He has done very well and I am very happy with him.”

The Paul Reeves-trained Photocopy completes the line-up but he is the rank outsider.

Latest betting: 3-10 Rainbow Bridge, 8-1 Wild Coast, 17-2 Silver Operator, 15-1 African Night Sky, 18-1 Captain Of Stealth, 20-1 Photocopy.

YOU will have  received our penalty of R35 000 from the NHA in regards to  Herodotus’s positive identification for O-Desmethyltramadol, reports Glen Kotzen.

I would like to inform the public that this is the first time in South African racing history this product has been picked up in a racehorse and on receiving the identification I’m beyond shocked as this is not a veterinary product used in horses but a human pain killer. 

I have taken it upon myself to investigate the contamination from water source, environmental factors and human contamination and employed some of the best forensic experts both here and abroad. With thorough investigation together with SAP’s I together with my wife, Kathi,   found three staff members with IOD injuries in and around Herodotus’s win that were taking the medication which we have since learnt is routinely given to IOD patients who have undergone surgeries. 

Since this incident every employee in our employment  has to sign a  basic conditions of employment contract which includes declaring  and advising us of any schedule medication they are taking and we have also put up signage in our yard forbidding urination in and around our stable yard together with  general hand sanitization. 

Worldwide we have learnt that most O-Desmethyltramadol cases were human or environmental contamination.   Similarly Richard Hannon in the UK received many positives over many years for the same product and he was pulling his hair out not being able to find the source  –  https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/richard-hannon-fined-de-bruyne-horse-failed-drug-test-tramadol-metabolite-epsom-639033

Whilst we respect the part the NHA takes in protecting our industry and know the value of their service it is very sad that the strict liability clause ultimately makes me a guilty party and has caused our family tremendous emotional turmoil let alone the enormous financial losses we have incurred.

 Whilst I will not be appealing this ruling  as it is based purely on wrongful interpretation of the strict liability rule in this country which automatically renders one liable as the trainer of the horse that tested positive.

Abroad if a trainer can prove that they took all reasonable precautions  to prevent a positive finding then the authorities won’t make a finding against the trainer concerned.  I will, however, request the review board to look at the finding with regards to my case.

We would like to thank the owners of Herodotus who have from the very beginning stood by us whilst we investigated the cause of the contamination.

The Algoa Cup race meeting at Fairview this Friday 27 November will be run on the Polytrack circuit following an inspection of the turf track by racing and track management and several trainers.

It had been hoped to resume racing on the turf surface this Friday after unseasonal cold weather retarded grass growth and delayed the scheduled resumption of turf racing last month following the track’s annual spring treatment.

The turf surface has come on in leaps and bounds since and is generally in excellent condition, but problem areas remain in spite of track staff’s best efforts to stimulate growth in these sections.

The inspection team unanimously agreed that because of these affected areas the track is not yet safe race for racing and it has been decided to only resume racing on the turf surface from 1 January next year.

Declarations for Friday’s big meeting will go ahead as scheduled this Monday 23 November with distances of all races remaining unchanged. – Phumelela

Andrew Harrison

IF one gets through to the last leg of the Pick 6 unscathed, it can be a little nerve wracking if one has to rely on a last leg banker.

That may be the case at Hollywoodbets Greyville tomorrow where punters face a tricky build-up to the last leg and many will be relying on the Alyson Wright-trained Predator to oblige for them to collect.

Predator looks to be the most obvious exotic bet banker after being narrowly beaten at his last two and a repeat should see him hard to beat in this line-up.

Glacier Rush, Whateverittakes and Rock With Me, three that strike as the principal dangers, have all been soundly beaten by Predator in the past. Tilmeeth has been a touch disappointing but has shown some recent improvement and was not far back over course and distance last time out and could be a threat.

One to keep an eye on is Arminius who has improved with each outing for his new stable and any market support will warrant serious consideration.

Racey Stacey could oblige in the opening leg of the Pick 6. Little was expected of her at just her second start where she was easy to back, but she made good improvement over the extra ground and looks progressive.

A pair that could spoil expectations are Flymefree and Maxine Du Monde.

Flymefree steps up to a more suitable trip and although she has a wide draw to contend with, she looks set to improve especially as Robbie Hill has booked Anton Marcus for the ride. The Mark Dixon yard has made a welcome return to form and Maxine Du Monde was much improved last run when switching to the poly. You could write your own ticket about her chances that day but she will be at much shorter odds this time around.

The first leg of the jackpot is something of a minefield with all eight runners in with a winning chance should they produce their best. Dancing Feather is always threatening and it is a little surprising that she has only won twice to date. That can change tomorrow as she showed up well in a recent sprint and should be more effective over this trip. Purple Persuasion had Dancing Feather behind her when last they met and although she was a narrow winner last start that form has since been franked with second-placed Marsanne winning her next start. Purple Persuasion is not well in at these weights but this is her third run after a break and there could be more to come. Of the balance, Electric Surge goes well on the poly and is re-united with Marcus while Rille has been consistent of late and goes well over course and distance. Mary O has been disappointing since her second in the WSB Fillies Guineas but she has been rested and is obviously capable on her day.

In the fifth, Dennis Drier’s charge Caliente is something of a poly specialist, his last two wins coming on this surface. He only got a one-point rise for his last win and can go in again. Williams Land is drawn widest but it is a small field and judged on jockey allocations he looks the pick of the Kannemeyer trio. He was finishing off nicely over 1400m last run and the extra furlong should suit. African Sunrise hardly raised a gallop when tried in blinkers with Marcus giving up on the gelding a long way out. Wendy Whitehead’s runner is way better than that effort and may be worth one more chance with the blinkers removed. Born To Perform was another that hardly raised a gallop last outing but he gets first time blinkers which could see him find his best.

The sixth is a five-furlong dash and again there are a host of possibilities. Valiente has not been the easiest to follow but has a lot in his favour here. Although up in class he has the best of the draw and only 49.5kg on his back so he should make a bold showing. Coldhardcash is back over his favourite course and distance and his last run on the turf from a wide draw is best ignored. Hopskipandjump, stable companion to Valiente, is still going up the ratings. He is way better than his last effort and his regular pilot is back on board. Veteran Di Mazzio is always game and is also back over his best course and distance and Louis Goosen has booked Marcus for the ride. Ziva La Winter is the only three-year-old in the race and was a recent easy maiden winner. However, he looks useful and although jumping in class he can finish in the money.

The seventh is another open handicap. Velvet Season is battling for his second win and he could start at generous odds. He is never far back and goes very well over course and distance. Track Attack is also course and distance suited and has been consistent. He has a handy weight and should be right there. Of the balance, Arrow’s Mark has been in good form and his last win was over course and distance while Gentleman’s Wager has put in three smart recent efforts on the poly and was a close-up second last start. He must also rate a strong chance.