Quine can add another chapter to her chequered career in the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow.

This well bred Querari filly has won two out of three but there was a nine-month gap between her first two victories and in the Champagne last time she lost ground at the start while her rider came in reporting that she showed no interest in racing. Not exactly encouraging but the facts behind it all reveal a rather different picture.

“After winning first time she got loose on the track at home, did a cartwheel on the concrete, cut herself badly and fractured her pedal bone,” explains Andre Nel who had her ready to win on her return.

“In the Champagne three weeks ago she had so much against her – it was her second run after injury and she didn’t enjoy the soft ground. Even so she probably ran up to her rating.”

Nel, who had 53 winners in a brilliant first season as private trainer to Sabine Plattner, is worried that the going could again be detrimental to Aldo Domeyer’s mount. But the ground has been drying and no further rain is forecast before Sunday. Although she has an extra furlong to travel her pedigree suggests she will probably get it.

Andre Nel

Baroness Mary, 66-1 when a close-up fourth on debut, will probably start favourite in the first and looks the one to beat. “I thought she would run a good race the first time and the price was probably just due to the riding arrangements,” says Brett Crawford. “She has come on since then and I am again expecting her to run well.”

Corne Orffer takes over but it looks quite close with Contessa Fantasia ( a head in front of the selection three weeks ago) and Elusive Touch who was little more than two lengths further back despite running green. “We are excited about this filly and she has come on quite a bit,” reports Adam Marcus.

In race two Nel has a big chance with Ovar who beat Olympian a comfortable length and a half last time. But the Vaughan Marshall runner is 2kg better and Craig Bantam claims a further 4kg. That may swing the balance. Another to note here is Le Harve despite his four month absence.

Justin Snaith, three winners here on Tuesday, should take race three with Glorious Goodwood who threw away his chance when favourite six weeks ago by dropping his head when the pens opened and losing at least two lengths. The extra furlong should be in his favour.

The lightly raced but improving Eleadora has three lengths to find with Brinkley in a modest race for the 2 000m maiden and Paddy Kruyer’s filly gets only marginal preference.

William Longsword showed plenty of promise on both his starts and may be good enough to beat Hammie’s Game in the Quinte Plus Handicap despite this being his first run for three months.

Michael Clower

The Sean Tarry-trained Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm Stud-bred Greys Inn gelding Legal Eagle won the most anticipated Equus Award, Horse Of The Year, at the glittering annual ceremony held at the Emperor’s Palace on Tuesday night.

The awards all had deserving winners, but at the same time there were a number of the usual hard luck stories.

The three horses who could be considered desperately unlucky were Smart Call, Abashiri and Mystic Spring, who in any other year would likely have had their names up in lights.

Lyndon Barends & Sean Tarry (GC Photos)

Legal Eagle received the Horse Of The Year award, as well as Champion Older Male and Champion Miler awards, due to his three Gr 1 victories. These included two weight for age Mile wins, in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, as well as a win in the Gr 1 R4 million Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m.

However, the Mauritzfontein Stud-owned and bred Ideal World filly Smart Call put up one of the best performances ever seen on the South African turf when annihilating the opposition in the Gr 1 J&B Met by 3,5 lengths. Among the vanquished were Legal Eagle, whom she faced on weight for age terms. Her Met win followed a comfortable two lengths victory over the champion filly Inara in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m, a race in which another champion filly, Bela-Bela, finished third.

Smart Call was merit rated 121 after her J&B Met win, one point above Legal Eagle.

However, if anybody ever deserved to be on the right side of a contentious award it was Tarry, as he has had to swallow a few bitter pills in the past. Tarry received the Champion Trainer award for the second time in succession. He was the first to break the 200-winner barrier in a season, sending out 209 winners, and he also smashed the record for stakes earnings. He gave a thought provoking speech with one of his points quoting President Rooseveldt in which the message was to urge people of the racing fraternity to work hard in the arena rather than criticise from the side.

The Champion three-year-old male was another category which was difficult to call. The nominees included SA Triple Crown winner Abashiri and the horse who had captured the imagination of the South African racing public in the latter part of the season, Marinaresco. The panel sided with the Mauritzfontein Stud-bred Mike Bass-trained Silvano gelding Marinaresco. Marinaresco captured two legs of the Cape Winter series, before travelling to Durban and putting up an astonishing performance in the Vodacom Durban July, coming from 17 metres off the pace to run a close second. He later flew home to win the Gr 1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup cosily, despite having had his initial run blocked. Bass, who officially retired after a glittering career at the end of last season, received a standing ovation when joining the connections on stage to receive the award.

The Champion Broodmare went to the Highlands Farms Stud-based Our Table Mountain, dam of Gr 1 winners during the season Silver Mountain and Cloth Of Cloud. She thoroughly deserved the award, but in any other year it could easily have gone to the amazing Cheveley Stud-based mare Mystic Spring, whose daughter Bela-Bela joined the like of Rabiya, Secret of Victoria, Spring Lilac, Rafiya  and Touch The Sky as stakes winners she has produced. Mystic Spring did receive a consolation Exceptional Broodmare award.

Smart Call’s consolation was to be named Equus Champion older female and Champion middle distance horse, while Abashiri received a Special Achievement award for landing the SA Triple Crown.

The Champion Two-year-old filly went to the unbeaten Sean Tarry-trained Highlands Farms Stud-bred Captain Al filly Cloth Of Cloud. Among her three wins was a victory against the boys in the Gr 1 SA Nursery.

The Champion two-year-old male looked clear cut and duly went to another horse by Captain Al, the Vaughan Marshall-trained Klawervlei Stud-bred colt Always In Charge, who won the hotly contested Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m at Scottsville by three lengths.

The Champion three-year-old filly also looked clear cut and went to the Justin Snaith-trained Cheveley Stud-bred Dynasty filly Bela-Bela, who won the Gr 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas and the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000.

Andy O’Connor & Callan Murray (GC Photos)

The Champion Sprinter went to the Coenie de Beer-trained Scott Brothers-bred Overlord gelding Talktothestars, who was merit rated 120 after winning the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint. The award completed a fairytale for small string trainer De Beer, who also owns Talktothestars.

The Champion Stayer was hard to choose as Abashiri completed the Triple Crown when winning the Gr 1 SA Derby over 2450m, while Enaad won the country’s premier staying race, the eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m, as well as the Gr 3 Gold Vase over 3000m. The Gold Cup winner is usually a shoe-in for the award and it once again swayed that way as the Mike de Kock-trained High Chaparral gelding Enaad, owned and bred by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, was awarded the trophy.

Special achievement awards also went to Ormond Ferraris, who saddled his 2500^th winner during the season; the Glen Puller-trained CTS Million Dollar winner Illuminator (the award was accepted by owner Francis Carruthers and jockey Heavelon van der Hoven); the Mike Bass-trained filly Inara for winning three Gr 1s during the season all in different centres (Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban).

The Champion Stallion award went to the Drakenstein Stud-based sire Trippi.

Summerhill Stud won the Champion Breeders award for the tenth time, regaining it from Klawervlei who had won it for the last two years. Summerhill owner Mick Goss was there to receive the award and delivered a typically rousing speech. The dam of Legal Eagle, Young Sensation, was acknowledged with an Outstanding Broodmare award.

Lammerskraal Stud received an Outstanding Breeder award as breeders of Abashiri. The Print Media award went to doyen Charles Faull chiefly for his Thoroughpedia project.

The Champion Apprentice award was received by Callan Murray. The Champion Jockey award was received for the second time by S’Manga Khumalo.

Markus and Ingrid Jooste were once again champions owner. In the season they won nine Gr 1s, including the elusive Vodacom Durban July.

David Thiselton

The Turffontein Standside course has an eight race meeting today and there are some fair sorts turning out who could help punters in their exotics.

In race 1, a maiden plate for three-year-olds over 1160m, Carol Master made a fair debut after finding a bit of betting support to shorten from 12/1 into 8/1 and with natural improvement should go close. Spanish Tune was not disgraced from a tricky draw around the turn over 1200m on debut and should improve. Jackman made a fair debut over course and distance and Gavin Lerena is an eyecatching booking. Muntu has improved with blinkers and has a shout. One Track was in season on debut and could improve. Plum British is a R225,000 purchase by Great Britain and makes most appeal of the first-timers.

In race 2, a maiden plate over 2000m, Thunder Applause pulled hard over 1800m last time but if allowed to go to the front this time could go close as he still stayed on quite well in the aforementioned event. Payne’s Grey ran a fair second last time over this trip from the identical draw and goes well for this jockey. Sergeant Pepper has improved with blinkers and should enjoy the long straight  of this course as he stays on well.

In race 3, a Graduation Plate over 1800m, Bankable Teddy is weighted to win comfortably and over this suitable trip with Lerena up she should do so as he proved last time out in a handicap over 2000m he is up to his merit rating. In The Cruise was disappointing in his last two starts but if reproducing his best over this suitable trip he could earn. Unagi was disappointing in a Gr 2 over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day but if he reproduces his previous run, when winning a handicap  over 1600m at The Vaal in facile fashion, he could be a threat from pole position. His merit rating is likely capped having been given a maximum of eight points for that easy win but he is officially 8kg under sufferance with Bankable Teddy. Blazing Winter is on the up and on the evidence of his last win over 1450m should enjoy the trip. Hypothermic and Let It Rain have a tough task at the weights with Bankable Teddy and are more exposed than the three-year-olds.

In race 4, a MR74 Handicap over 1800m, Odd Rob is drawn in pole over an ideal course and distance and is the one to beat. Boy Boy is knocking on the door over this sort of trip and has proven competitive off this merit rating. Baracah is off a merit rating close to 40 points lower than his highest mark and he proved last time he is now competitive again and he should also be suited to the course and distance as one who runs on from off the pace.

In race 5, a MR 72 Handicap over 1400m, Gasoline has dropped to a competitive merit rating and has won over the course and distance, although the wide draw is a concern as he is a handy type. Nero has the blinkers off which might be a concern over this drop in trip but he is drawn in pole and has proven competitive off this merit rating. De Lujo is limited but is an honest sort and over a suitable course and

St John Gray

distance can earn from a plum draw. San Julian Bay has improved for this new yard and is not without a chance of following up on his maiden win over a suitable trip. Beza is under sufferance but finished fast over the inside 1450m course last time so could possibly earn here.

In race 6, a MR 87 Handicap over 1160m, William Nicol from the St John Gray yard has come into his own and could make it a hattrick. Thrust has been a bit disappointing lately but has class and is due a change of luck so could go close. Angel’s Power has been consistently close off this sort of merit rating over this sort of trip. Dennis The Menace can never be written off as one capable of producing a strong finish from off the pace. Zortziko is quick and is thus suited to this course and distance, although he is still six points higher than his last win despite his merit rating having dropped a couple of points from his last run.

In race 7, a MR 69 Handicap over 1160m, Ronin Warrior came back after being headed last time to win cosily, which suggested he had a bit in hand and off a 67 merit rating he could follow up on that maiden win. Pistolero ran on well to win last time and looks to be improving so could possibly handle a seven point raise. Aramouse is interesting over a drop in trip as one who has been handy before hanging in the latter stages over 1400m.

In race 8, a MR 92 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, Speedy Gonvarlez is very quick so should enjoy the course and distance and she is better than her last run. Easy Game won her only start over course and distance and is only three points higher now in the merit ratings. Lumya proved her class over 1160m last time as well as her suitability to this course. Crown Of Roses has a big weight to lug but has earned it with her recent runs so should be thereabouts. Evening Breeze is better than her last effort when not striding out and if reproducing her penultimate run can go close. Tapaway can’t be ignored over a suitable course and distance.

David Thiselton

The Vaal has an eight race card on the outside track on Wednesday and the high draws are usually favourable on this course.

In race 1 over 1600m Stunned is the form choice having been used early last time from a wide draw over 1700m and still managing to stay on for second. The concern here is the unfavourable low draw and a decision will have to be made whether to use him up early again to try and overcome it or perhaps drop him out and attempt to find cover at the back as he looks capable of running on well. Tapenzee was well beaten in fifth on debut over 1450m but was green and was running on well after the penny had dropped. The form of that race looks quite good to date and he should improve, but he does have a tough draw. Seven Sovereigns has a plum draw and might enjoy the step up in trip having stayed on at one pace from an unfavourable draw over 1200m at the Vaal last time. He is a half-brother to an Al Mufti gelding who won twice over 1600m, but on the other hand he is by the speed influence Seventh Rock and two of his other siblings by Var and National Assembly respectively were decent sprinters, so it is not a certainty he will stay the trip. Excellency ran on in eyecatching fashion last time after a slow start over 1600m but he has a tough low draw here. Mr Tinsel also has a tricky draw but looks likely to relish the step up in trip and Gavin Lerena aboard is a further positive. Flying Fool went to the front over 1450m at Turffontein last time and stayed on for a fair fourth so could find the outside rail here with his early pace and being by Daring Bid, who won from 1600-2200m, he has a chance of staying the trip.

In race 2 over 1600m Counterstroke has a plum draw and looks likely to find the outside fence with the slow starting Excalivar outside of him. He is dropping in class and running off a reduced merit rating over an ideal trip, so could be the one to beat. Star Point’s best recent run was over this trip and on formlines a case could be made for him to beat Counterstroke. However, he is drawn one inside of him and will have a tougher task finding the rail. Royal Master has hard-knocking form off his present merit rating and is distance suited as well as having a 1,5kg claimer up so the only concern is his number one draw, although in a field of this size he could get away with being dropped out to the tail of the field.

In race 3 over 1600m Realist found little extra from near the front on debut but looks to be a nice type and stripping fitter here from a good draw she could go close in this weak field. Mike de Kock sends out an Irish-bred filly by the top class sire High Chaparral from a fair draw and she wouldn’t have to be a champion to beat this field. Tennesse Red could improve and if doing so should earn.

In race 4 over 1200m, Khetiwe over raced over 1400m last time so should appreciate the step down to 1200m and has the ability to win this uninspiring event. Nine OÇlock news is drawn on the right side and this improving sort should be running on into the money provided he starts quicker than he has been. Pippi Shortsock has the form to earn here over a suitable trip.

Race 5 over 1200m is a potential stumbling block for punters as it is wide open. Rivarine Forest has a tough low draw but can afford to be dropped out as she runs on well from off the pace. The consistent Our Miracle can overcome her low draw with her good early pace. Freely Forever was not striding out and made a breathing noise last time but if reproducing the form of her maiden win over 1000m here she will go close from a plum draw. Raring To Go won over course and distance last week and off a three point higher shouldn’t be far back from a good draw. Beautiful Shay is well drawn and over a trip on the sharp side should be running on, although she was given a five point raise for her win last time out over 1450m.

Gavin Lerena

In race 6 over 1400m Jubilee Line would prefer a lot further but is drawn on the ride side, has Gavin Lerena up and is easily the best in at the weights so is the one to beat running fresh. Nephrite was most disappointing last season after a promising two-year-old campaign but if bouncing back to form could earn here. Sky High Flyer won well second time out and although officially having a tough task at the weights with Jubilee Line (11kg under sufferance) he could rise above his current merit rating and will appreciate the step up in trip.

In race 7 over 1000m Ronin Warrior has been given a reasonable handicap mark after winning well over course and distance with a second time tongue tie. Tiger’s Legacy is four points higher for his win last time out, but that was his first attempt at this minimum trip for some time, so he has a shout from a plum draw.  Night Editor has won two from three since being stepped down to 1000m and has a chance again here despite a tough draw. Salute The Sun has the ability to win this and has a good draw. Striking Pose is a 1000m specialist and has dropped to a competitive merit rating.

In race 8 over 1000m the one to beat could be Wanted Man who made a good debut over course and distance and is well drawn. Flight Mode has a big shout too from a good draw over a suitable trip with Gavin Lerena up. Alpine Glacier, a first-timer by Var, is a full-brother to the speedy Valberg, who won easily on his debut over this course and distance, so Andrew Fortune is an interesting booking. Edgbaston could do well if reproducing the form of his penultimate start and he has every chance of doing so from a plum draw. Prince Of Savoy has speed and should be involved here. Miesque’s Rumba ran a fair race last time over this trip and if this slow starter is dropped to the back from a low draw he could earn.

David Thiselton