Work is due to start at the end of October on eliminating Durbanville’s much-criticised ridge and furrow.

Manager Dean Diedericks said: “We are going to sort out the undulations but we also want to make the turn wider and give consideration to moving the rail around the turn.

“Our aim is to have the work finished by the end of March but whether we will be back racing at that stage depends on how the track recovers.”

In recent years the country course has managed to attract horses of the calibre of Variety Club, Capetown Noir and Act Of War for the Matchem Stakes – plus Ebony Flyer and Inara for the Diana – but many trainers have been reluctant to run good horses there for risk of damaging them on the ridge and furrow, particularly when the ground is firm.

Durbanville plays an important part in the training of horses at Milnerton and Philippi as it used for gallops every week, and closing the course for a minimum of five months will cause obvious problems.

However Diedericks said: “What we do about the gallops is still being debated but we are going to do the work in two phases – the back stretch and the rest. There is also the possibility of accommodating gallops at Kenilworth, perhaps keeping the winter course open during the summer for the purpose.”

Plans to build a polytrack at Durbanville have been abandoned. Most of the trainers were against it and, at a meeting to discuss the matter, only three voted in favour.

Michael Clower

Four-time Vodacom Durban July winning jockey Anthony Delpech is joining Mary Slack as a retained jockey after a successful seven-year partnership with one of the country’s top stud farms and wine estates, Avontuur.

Delpech expressed his immense gratitude to Avontuur for their loyal support over the years and is looking forward to the next chapter in his racing career.

“I have been extremely lucky to have been sponsored by Avontuur for the last seven years and have shared some memorable moments with them during this time. It has been a great ride, mainly due to Pippa (Mickleburgh) and the Taberer family, who have been incredibly supportive over these past years and I owe them a special thanks and appreciation for the consistent kindness shown to me.  I wish them all the success in the future.

“Despite the happy partnership, I will now be moving on as I have been given an opportunity to be Mary Slack’s retained jockey and will have first call on all the Wilgerbosdrift–owned horses in addition to riding for Mauritzfontein.”

Delpech takes over from Weichong Marwing. The internationally experience Marwing has been suffering from debilitating back problems and his riding engagements have been limited. His bad back cost him the winning ride on the Mauritzfontein-owned Smart Call in this year’s J&B Met and also the ride on The Illuminator in the CTS Million Dollar.

Mike Makaab, CEO of Prosport International, the sports management company that brokered the Avontuur deal, was full of praise for the way in which Avontuur conducted their relationship with Delpech and wished both Avontuur and Delpech success in the future.

Greyville hosts a ten race meeting on the poly on Saturday with an early start of 11h30 and punters look to have a few good opportunities in what should be an enjoyable day out.

In race one over 1200m Intercept is a robust sort who was green on debut when finishing 1,75 lengths behind the promising Hungry Heart over 1400m at Scottsville. She should show natural improvement and Anton Marcus is now up, although a wide draw of nine is a concern. Mungo Cherry is by Pathfork and is a half-sister to a horse who was merit rated 95 after two facile 1000m wins at Durbanville in her first three starts, before going wrong next time out. She wouldn’t have to be special to go close here. Blue Jasmine has shown signs of ability and as one who tends to over race could earn here if going to the front from a suitable low draw. Love’s Approval is drawn well and should love the poly being by Miesque’s Approval. She is the first foal of the six-time winning Giant’s Causeway mare Lovetorn, who won from 2000-2400m, so she will likely need further. Fly Rebecca Fly showed improvement last time over 1400m to run third. She now has a 4kg claimer up but the wide draw is a concern and she would probably prefer further.

In the second over 1200m Newyorkstateofmind ran on from way back for third over course and distance last time after being slow away and impeded at the start and is well drawn here so should go close in a weak race. Ananda is by Gimmethegreenlight out of the speedy 99 merit-rated five-time winner Enrani. Figaro by Silvano is a half-brother to the thirteen-time winning PE sprinter Yoshie. Wavebreaker is a big horse who ran a fair debut over 1000m at Scottsville with blinkers on and the headgear is now off.  Constantine is by King’s Chapel out of an unplaced National Emblem mare who has produced three winners from three runners.

In the third over 1200m Isingamoya impressed in her penultimate over this trip at Scottsville and she proved in her last start when touched off over this course and distance she is up to her new eight point higher merit rating. Shezaleader loves the Scottsville straight course and the form of her penultimate over 1200m there when narrowly beaten by Elusivechantment has worked out well, although she was raised three points for that run. She has run second four times on the poly so has a chance. Bella Sonata has always been well regarded but on collateral formlines Shezaleader emerges in front. Lady Penrhyn is a well regarded sort who is down to a competitive merit rating and Delpech rides. Peach delight won easily over 1600m on the poly in February and is interesting running fresh here.

In the fourth over 1200m Great Expectations is a big slow maturing sort who should come into his own as a four-year-old this season so he can be followed until beaten as he should rise above his current 67 merit rating. Five-year-old Beckedorff finished fourth over course and distance in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion as a two-year-old and is off an attractive merit rating of only 67.  He over raced last over this course and distance so the removal of the blinkers might bring the best out of him. Black Jaguar has had little luck in his last three and is now down to a merit rating five points lower than his last win. He will be a big runner if jumping better than he has in those last three starts.

In the fifth over 1600m The Slade made a good debut when running on well from last over 1400m on the Greyville turf to the fair sort Step Up and Delpech keeps the ride over a step up in trip the horse will relish and the wide draw should not be much of a concern as he will likely be dropped out. Winter Is Coming has been much talked about and showed why last time out when running on strongly over 1200m on the poly for a close second. He is well drawn over a step up in trip he should relish. Geste stayed on well over 1400m on debut at Scottsville and will relish the step up in trip.

In the sixth over 1600m Last Tiger loves the poly and is only two points higher than his last win. What A Poet has Marcus up over a suitable course and distance. Nicklaus is only two points higher for his good win on the turf over this trip when beating the useful Royal Life. Lonelyarethebrave will do better than last time from this much better draw. Lobelia has some class and would have benefitted from her last run. Roy’s Air Force and Kolinsky will do well if settling better than they have been.

In the seventh over 1900m Tender Trip should love the poly being by Trippi and is drawn well over a suitable trip, so can go close having proved last time she enjoys the blinkers. Grey Light has been disappointing overall so is most interesting with blinkers on, having proven last time she stays further than this, and she is off a competitive merit rating too. Lady Linda went close over course and distance last time and is drawn well. Aventurine won well over course and distance in her penultimate start having run way above her rating in her previous start, also over course and distance, so she could handle a four point raise, although the wide draw makes it tougher. Mark My Card enjoyed the step up to this trip last time, but is widely drawn.

In the eighth over 1400m Argo’s Jet always runs on well from behind so his wide draw should be of little concern. Buster Brown will have a chance if settling thereby allowing him to use his fine turn of foot and Marcus is up. Fellow Traveller could continue to improve and is over a suitable course and distance from a good draw.

In the ninth over 1400m Pearl Emblem is in good form and is drawn well over an ideal trip with a 4kg claimer up. Silver Inspiration is drawn wide, but should run on well if dropped out. Fashion Secret disappointed over 1900m last time and is interesting back to this trip.

In the last over 1400m Roy’s Twilight has the form and draw to win from Roy’s Gold and Hey Georgie Girl.

David Thiselton

Champion South African mare Smart Call leads a huge international contingent among a top class entry of 36 fillies and mares for the Group 1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes run at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse on Saturday, October 1.

Unraced since thrashing many of the best South African horses (of either sex) by three and a half lengths in the Grade 1 J & B Met at Kenilworth in Cape Town back in January, Smart Call is one of 21 foreign-trained entries for this £250,000 one mile contest, which will be the sixth of seven races in the Mile category of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

This initial entry includes a remarkable ten individual Group or Grade 1 winners of no less than 23 top level races.

The QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks winner, Minding, heads a sextet of potential Irish challengers while the French, who have run this race five times in the last seven years, are responsible for 14 candidates including last year’s winner, Esoterique, and the 2015 Classic heroine, Ervedya.

The Hugo Palmer-trained German 1000 Guineas winner, Hawksmoor, and John Gosden’s unbeaten Royal Ascot winner, Persuasive, are the pick of the home team.

Alec Laird, trainer of Smart Call, said:

“Smart Call has been in Newmarket for around a month now and is doing quite well – I will find out more when I’m am over there again in a week’s time when she will be doing a couple of gallops.”

“It will be a big adventure for us but she has nothing more to prove in South Africa and if we didn’t try we would never find out just how good she is.”

“She is definitely the best filly that I have trained and after she won the Met I began to think that she might even be better than London News, who I sent over to finish third in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in 1997.

“It’s quite exciting as she will be my first true runner in Europe – London News was officially trained by Barry Hills. I couldn’t ask to travel with a nicer horse as she has a very good nature and seems to have taken all the various flights in her stride.”

“It’s extremely exciting just to be on the world stage and it’s a real thrill for her to be in Newmarket – the home of horse racing.”

“She spent three months in Mauritius to fulfil quarantine regulations so she was only at 50 per cent of her full fitness when she got to Newmarket. The Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot will be her first run in nine months so it will be really tough as the top European horses are scary good.”

“We are using it as part of her preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf [on 5th November]. It’s a bit daunting the length of time that she’s been off but, barring any hiccups, we should have just enough time to get her ready.” – Newmarket Racecourse

Ashburton-based Paul and Beth Gadsby have reason to be optimistic about the future because they have five Gimmethegreenlights in their yard and one of them, Gunner, landed the promising sire his first Gr 1 on Sunday when winning the Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville under Brandon Lerena.

Lerena has shown tremendous courage to come back from a broken vertebrae after a nasty fall in training last September and this was the fifth Gr 1 victory of his career.

Paul Gadsby said, “I have always had big faith in Gimmethegreenlight. As a racehorse he beat Variety Club fair and square twice. Any horse who can do that has to be a champion.”

Gadsby selected Gunner purely on looks at the CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale in January last year and was subsequently impressed by the pedigree too. He said, “Gunner was very neat and reminded me of Sea Warrior.”

Gadsby, a former jockey, had broken in and spelled the Vaughan Marshall-trained Gr 1 Richelieu (Cape) Guineas winner Sea Warrior back in the 1980s.

Gunner is out of the decent Captain Al mare Play Nice, who won three times between 1200m and 1300m. Gadsby said, “Two no brainers as broodmare sires are Captain Al and Fort Wood.”

He continued, “I had tried to buy a couple of Gimmethegreenlights previously but couldn’t afford them, but I managed to get Gunner for R200,000 and have bought more Gimmethegreenlights since.”

Gunner was bred by Hassen Adams’ Nadeson Park stud farm. Adams kept a quarter share in the horse and allowed him to stay on his farm while Gadsby put an ownership syndicate together. Gadsby said, “It took me a long time to put him together and I aged five years, but perhaps this is what us KZN trainers have to do, otherwise we are not in the game.”

Gadsby was thankful to prominent KZN owner Morgan Pillay for introducing him to Neshal and Anusha Lalla. Gadsby said, “Neshal and Anusha came up to see Gunner and I told them he was a very nice horse. I told them he would come early and thank goodness I was right about that.” The couple are first-time owners.

Shakthi Banwari and Keith and Melanie Carelse were others to come to the party. Gadsby had advised the latter couple, who are good supporters of his yard, to buy into a “proper” horse.

Gunner won on debut over 1000m on April 10 and was gelded after his next start. Two runs later he was stepped up to 1400m in the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m and managed to stay on strongly despite having been caught wide throughout the turn.

If only he could find cover in the Premier’s Champions Stakes, he would have to have a shout. The other questions were whether he would stay the trip and whether he would handle the testing, rain affected going.

Gadsby was also concerned by him not having eaten up to his maximum capacity in the week of the race. However, he became upbeat about an hour before the race when the Dennis Drier-trained Hack Green became Gimmethegreenlight’s first stakes winner, hacking up by three lengths in the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m.

Brandon Lerena said, “I was very grateful to be given the ride by Mr Gadsby and the owners.”

Lerena spoke of the valuable race riding lessons he had learnt from Gadsby while the latter was chief riding master at the South African Jockeys Academy and of the tremendous support Gadsby had subsequently given him upon renewing his trainer’s license.

Lerena said about Gunner, “He has the whole package, a good action and he is laid back and does what you want. If a stallion is to have a chance he has to be sent the right mares and Gimmethegreenlight looks to have had that. Gimmethegreenlight and Captain Al looks like a nice cross.”

Lerena reined Gunner back early from a tricky draw of seven. The horse responded beautifully and showed no sign of fighting. He was at the back, one wide, but, crucially, was covered up. Lerena said, “At the 450m mark he was the only horse still on the bridle.”

Lerena swung Gunner outward to the centre, but not before noticing 17/20 favourite Zodiac Ruler coming under pressure.

He patiently waited for a gap to open. Gunner then burst through and had caught the leader Africa Rising by the 150m mark. However, the big horse Zodiac Ruler had found top gear and was suddenly in front on the inside.

Gunner, despite probably being the smallest horse in the field, has an impressive stride and once again responded to the powerful and rhythmic urgings of Lerena. He found another gear and passed the favourite inside the 50m pole to win going away by half-a-length. Lerena said, “The way he quickened up was impressive.”

Gadsby was impressed by the courage Gunner had shown in going through the patchy area close to home so well. On the downside the time was 1,11 seconds slower than the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes for two-year-old fillies.

Lerena has experienced plenty of back trouble since making his comeback at the end of Novemner, two months after the fall. However, he is doing extensive excercises under the guidance of a personal trainer to strengthen the back muscles. The always talented rider is eager to be back to 100% well-being in order to chase his ambitions to full capacity.

Gunner has pulled up well and will have a holiday before likely being prepared for the CTS $US500,000 Sales race over 1600m at Turffontein next January.

David Thiselton