Tomorrow’s public holiday has an eight race card at Turffontein where punters look to have some fair opportunities.

In race one over 1800m, a workrider’s maiden, Thunder Applause ran a fair race from a handy position with first time blinkers on last time over 2600m and will be dangerous here over this drop in trip with the top workrider Ndlovu aboard. Champion workrider Sam Mosia is aboard Trippi gelding Payne’s Grey, who showed a fair turn of foot last time over 1600m before running on at one pace. His useful full brother Liquid Mercury won the Gr 3 Winter Derby over 2400m, as well as a handicap in Dubai over that distance, so on pedigree he should enjoy this step up in trip. William Grace needed his debut over 1600m and then pulled his way to the front with blinkers on last time over the same trip, so he could be surprise place getter here being by Dynasty out of a useful Jallad mare who won three-in-a-row early in her career from 1800-2000m. Uposeupay beat Payne’s Grey last time over 1600m by half-a-length when setting the pace from pole position. He now has a good draw again, while Payne’s Bay is drawn wide. Uposeupay has not been successful over more than a mile before but could do better this time as he has generally improved recently. Reminiscence ran on well from the back to finish second over 2000m last time, but the time of the race was slow.

In race two over 1450m, a maiden plate for three-year-olds, Querari Viking finished second over 1600m last time and the form has worked out well, so he should do well fresh over this likely too sharp trip. The wide draw is a concern, but his class could pull him through. Zagazig will improve on his fair debut over 1600m being by Silvano and he has a good draw. Sabre Dance stayed on well over course and distance last time for third  and has a good draw again. Sail For Joy is knocking on the door and can earn again. Dromedaris has the form to earn too.

In race three over 1450m Public Protector will relish the step up to this trip and is likely looking for even further. She was slow away on debut over 1200m down the straight, but she was making up ground with long strides in the final stages for a fair fourth and is well drawn here. She will likely need to jump quicker than she did last time as this track is tight. Rose Water is knocking on the door and should be improving being by Silvano. Pearl Valley ran a good race over course and distance last time from a similar draw and Andrew Fortune is up. Countess Jemina moved up well over 1800m last time from a handy position before fading so might be interesting here over shorter, although she didn’t feature over this trip early in her career and has a wide draw here too. Danny’s Well should be improving.

The fourth race over 1200m William Nicol caught the eye as a horse who is coming into his own when winning over 1200m at the Vaal last time and has a good draw here, although he does have a five point higher mark to contend with and hasn’t run since the end of May. Hililyhililyhilo is a progressive and consistent sprinter who is distance suited and has a fair draw. Inspector Casey wasn’t disgraced against stronger in a handicap last time over this trip at the Vaal and is well drawn. Dolphin showed a return to form last time and can go close if reproducing his best run over course and distance. Cinema Scope’s best recent run was over course and distance and he is drawn in pole off a six point lower merit rating.

The fifth over 1600m has attracted a surprisingly weak field considering it’s a Novice Plate for fillies and mares. Sao Paulo looks like an improving sort and is well drawn over a suitable trip. Babbling Brook is a Western Winter half-sister to the useful Brooks-Club. She romped home when stepped up to 1600m in her third start and the form has worked out well. She does have a high draw to overcome and is not officially well in at the weights as a young three-year-old, but on a line through Pearl Valley looks to just have the beating on paper of Sao Paulo, but the latter is better drawn. Silvery Dream is the second best weighted horse and is distance suited but has a tricky draw. The officially best weighted horse is Fort Ember, but she hasn’t run since finishing a 2,75 length sixth in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes over a year ago and the form of that race has not worked out well. Spring Dance has become disappointing but on pedigree should enjoy this trip.

In the sixth over 1600m Dealer’s Charm, with Lyle Hewitson up, will relish the step up in trip having run on strongly from well back to win over 1450m on this track on debut and although he has a wide draw he should rise above his 66 merit rating. Triple Beat is better than his last start and is well drawn over a suitable trip. Ciao-Ciao went close over 1450m last time on July 3 after a long break and is well drawn over a suitable trip. Streetwear ran well first time out the maidens and handles this trip but he does have a tricky draw. Fangia and Scotland could earn.

In the seventh over 1800m American Tiger is unbeaten over course and distance and only two points higher than his win last time from a similar draw. Rain Shadow has been unlucky but is now drawn in pole and could be the main danger along with Shot.

In the last over 2200m Tricia Dupont didn’t enjoy the poly last time and should do well from pole position being just two points higher than her last course and distance win.  Tobesuretobesure could go close if not over racing in a likely pacemaking role. A P Chanel should go well with Fortune up from a good draw.

David Thiselton

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