Anton Marcus (Liesl King)

Anton Marcus has drawn some plum rides in the popular Rider Cup Interprovincial Jockey’s Challenge at Scottsville today where three teams of four riders representing their provinces will go head-to-head.

Marcus has a plum ride on Wealthy for Dennis Drier in the seventh and although the gelding took some time to get out of the maidens he has run two crackers since and is likely to be in warm order for the KZN Falcons.

However, Wealthy could be up against it in the form of recent maiden winner Starrett City. Put over ground for the first time, Alyson Wright’s charge simply cruised home. That was on the Greyville poly and he does not have the best of draws here but there was plenty to like about that win and JP van der Merwe could be on the board for the Highveld Hawks.

With Sean Tarry hunting his 200^th win of the season, four to go before yesterday, In The Moment should not be discounted after winning over the course and distance last time out albeit at odds of 33-1.

Aldo Domeyer can get the Cape Eagles off to a winning start when he partners Gordon’s Cungee for Duncan Howells. Muzi Yeni’s ears were burning after the ride he gave the filly last month when barrelling off to the front and one can expect a more measured effort from Domeyer in the opening leg of the Challenge. Howells is expecting a win but Domeyer will no doubt be given stiff opposition from his father representing the Hawks who drew the mount on Power Horse and who looks the main threat to the likely ante-post favourite.

Marcus has the ride on the Mike de Kock-trained Very Vary in the second leg of the Challenge, fifth race on the card, whose form has been boosted by Zodiac Ruler. Very Vary was beaten four lengths by the subsequent Gr2 Golden Horseshoe winner and runner-up that day, Mr O’Neill, looks promising.

Two-year-olds could feature prominently here with both Kimberley and Founding Father showing promise and take on a field of modest older runners.

In the eighth, Black Tractor got his career off to a good start which earned him a lofty merit rating. He has since proved consistent but has never really threatened and it has been well over a year since that win. He is still high in the ratings but has dropped three pounds since his last start behind the useful Bunker Bill and with Marcus aboard again from a plum draw he should at least be competitive.

This being the final leg of the Jockey Challenge, Brett Crawford’s stable rider Corne Orffer has the mount on what looks to be Black Tractor’s most likely danger. Joey Ramsden’s charge Macduff has not been out since December last year but is hardly likely to have made the trip from Cape Town to sample the Durban air.

However, he does shoulder a welter burden and he may well be being primed for a race on Super Saturday at the end of the month.

Singh Is King is something of a dark horse. He shed his maiden at long odds and was then tossed in at the deep end by Kom Naidoo which on the face of it appears to have been a mistake. However, his comeback run delivered some promise and with Andrew Fortune in the irons Singh Is King may be worth including in all exotics.

Possibly the most interesting race on the card is the sixth and not part of the Challenge where a pair of promising three-year-olds take on older runners on handicap terms.

The Summerveld dogs are barking Saint Marco from the Garth Puller yard but although the son of Antonius Pius has a two from three record with short heads a common denominator, he has not been out since November last year.

Puller is a master horseman but Saint Marco faces some race-fit rivals and New Hampshire could prove more than a match. Drier has booked useful four-claiming apprentice Deago de Gouveia for the ride – successful on the gelding last time out but in doubt after a fall at Scottsville mid-week – and 6,5kg is a lot of pudding to give away.

On the down side for New Hampshire supporters, Anthony Delpech and Saint Marco have drawn on the inside of the apprentice so there won’t be any prisoners taken.

However, the pair face some salted opposition and if they fail to run up to expectations then the consistent Cat In Command and Mountain Master will be there to pick up the pieces.

Andrew Harrison

The talented five-year-old bay gelding – one of the best-fancied runners – cantered home with a bloody nose in last Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July. After the race Kannemeyer, owner Lady Christine Laidlaw and Jehan Malherbe, racing manager for her Khaya Stables, discussed the matter and decided to retire Solid Speed.

Said Kannemeyer: “He ruptured blood vessels in both nostrils. He was travelling exceptionally well at the 1200m but was suddenly off the bit. Jockey Stuart Randolph started pushing but finally just put his hands down.

“Lady Laidlaw is absolutely passionate about her horses and, given Solid Speed has had issues before, we all felt strongly he had done enough. He has been very good to us.

“We fancied him in the Durban July, but unfortunately these things do happen.”

Solid Speed (left) & Mambo Mime at the VDJ Gallops (Nkosi Hlophe)

Solid Speed will be staying with Kannemeyer to become schoolmaster to his babies and in the paddock. “I love all my horses, but he’s a stable favourite,” said the Cape-based trainer. “I don’t think he knows how to kick or bite – but he certainly knows how to run. He’s a magnificent, big, beautiful horse. He’s a special one.”

Solid Speed, a gelded son of Dynasty, ran only 15 times in his career for eight wins from 1600m to 2400m, including the Grade 2 Betting World 1900 in May. His four places include a third in last year’s Grade 2 Gold Vase and a fourth in the stayers’ race on Met Day.

Kannemeyer also saddled Mambo Mime in the Durban July. He is happy enough with the colt’s 3.85-length 10th behind The Conglomerate. “It was a very good run, given the grey filly rolled on to him in the final 100m. Jockey Keagan de Melo said he thought Mambo Mime was coming through to win the race. Without the interference, he would have been closer.”

Mambo Mime might have one more run this season, in the Grade 1 Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville on Saturday 30 July.

The Champions Cup is run on Gold Cup Day and Kannemeyer has two horses lined up for the country’s biggest marathon – Balance Sheet and Solar Star, who both ran in last Saturday’s 3000m Gold Vase.

Balance Sheet started favourite for the Gold Vase but finished second last, while Solar Star ran a “great race” in fifth behind the Mike de Kock-trained Quartet: Enaad, Smart Mart, Kingston Mines and Kinaan.

Kannemeyer said punters should “put a line” through Balance Sheet’s Gold Vase run. “He stopped to nothing but knocked himself and was a bit swollen the next day. He’s back to normal now.”

So, he could well recoup losses in the R1.25-million eLAN Gold Cup (Grade 2) over 3200m at Greyville at the end of the month.

TABnews (Nicci Garner)

S’manga Khumalo (Captain), Andrew Fortune, Juan Paul van der Merwe and Karl Zechner will represent the Highveld Hawks, while the Cape Eagles team comprises Grant van Niekerk (Captain), Aldo Domeyer, Teaque Gould and Corne Orffer.

The competition comprises two Maiden Plates, a MR 66 Handicap and a MR 80 Handicap.

To give all riders an equal chance of scoring points, the horses were seeded by a panel of experts into four categories, best to worst, and the riders from each team drew a horse from each of the four categories.

Points are awarded according to where the jockey finishes in the race: 1^st – 20; 2^nd – 16; 3^rd – 14; 4^th – 12 – 5^th – 10; 6^th – 8; 7^th – 6; 8^th – 5; 9^th – 4; 10^th – 3; 11^th – 2; 12^th – 1. A rider will receive seven points if he does not have a ride.

The Rider Cup kicks off in Race 4, a Maiden Plate, and those who side with the Cape Falcons should not go far wrong in this 1400m sprint.

Domeyer looks hard to beat on Gordon’s Cungee, even though Duncan Howells’ charge got pipped into fifth by Liberty Market in a race won by Gallic Fire last month. Liberty Market (Delpech) is 2.5kg worse off and should battle to confirm the form.

Gordon’s Cungee is way overdue to shed her maiden tag, having placed in six of 11 career starts. She is not that well drawn but should have enough in hand to win.

Power House (Fortune) could be second best, while Shrike (Gould) has scope for improvement in only her third career start and could also place.

Zechner could earn maximum points for the Highveld Hawks in Race 6, a 1200m Maiden Plate, in which he teams up with Escovitch. Trainer Kom Naidoo’s runner has been knocking on the door recently and could hold on this time. Very Vary (Marcus), Kimberley (Van Niekerk) and Founding Father (Van der Merwe) could fill the frame.

Team mates Marcus and De Melo could fight out the finish of race 7 over 1950m. De Melo on Andre Nel-trained Silver Rose get the tentative nod, but his mount is having his first run out the maiden ranks.

Marcus’s mount Wealthy got his first win on the board in April this year and has placed second in both starts since. He warrants utmost respect. Horses for the Quartet include In The Moment (Orffer), Starrett City (Van der Merwe) and Caprivi (Delpech).

Shogun is on the upgrade and could give Zechner and the Highveld Hawks another win in Race 8 over 1200m. The Dennis Drier-trained three-year-old won his second career start well and need only repeat that run to feature. MacDuff, Black Tractor, Albert and Panza are others worth considering.

There is a R200,000 Pick 6 carryover to this meeting and the pool could swell as high as R2 million.

Nicci Garner for TABnews

Scottsville’s racemeeting on Sunday will be full of intrigue as it features the Interprovincial Rider Cup between three teams of four jockeys, the KZN Falcons led by Anthony Delpech, the Highveld Hawks captained by S’Manga Khumalo and the Cape Eagles with Grant van Niekerk at the helm.

In race one of the day the Dennis Drier-trained Indian Tractor improved second time out and, being less exposed, can confirm the course and distance form with the main danger Baron Bellet. Exclusively Trendy is the one to watch among the first-timers.

In the second race Lady Penrhyn, thought good enough by Drier to be taken to Cape Town earlier this season, has come down to a competitive merit rating and has her third run after a layoff.

She’s A Fortress has excellent gatespeed and is capable of kicking on, so should enjoy the current fast conditions. Shezaleader is always a threat over this course and distance. Cosmic Burst should enjoy the step down in trip. Royal Kaitrina is a capable sort and always has to be considered.

The third is a weak maiden over 1600m and Mambo makes most appeal, despite a wide draw, as he moved up well over 1950m last time before losing on objection and might enjoy the step down in trip. Roy’s Dispren ran an improved race over this distance on the poly last time and is drawn well. Reserve runner Captain At Sea will be a big runner if making it into the field, while improvement might be seen from all of Dynasty gelding Filoli, who returns from a seven month layoff, Silvano gelding Viento and Bankable gelding Vested Interest.

The fourth is the first leg of the Rider Cup and in this weak maiden over 1400m Aldo Domeyer could score for the Cape Eagles aboard Gordon’s Cungee, who is improving and is over an ideal trip, although the wide draw is a concern. Liberty Market with Antony Delpech up for the KZN Falcons and Power Horse with Andrew Fortune up for the Highveld Hawks also have tricky draws to overcome too, but have both shown enough to be factors. Dundrum and Shrike are two others to consider.

Aldo Domeyer

The fifth is the second leg of the Rider Cup and Escovitch has been knocking on the door so Karl Zechner of the Highveld Hawks could score over a suitable course and distance. Very Vary was caught wide on the poly last time over 1400m and might appreciate both the step down in trip and the straight, so could score some points for Anton Marcus of the KZN Falcons. Chicago Beat was slow away on debut and never showed, but being a R1 million purchase by Silvano is entitled to improve enough to score some points for Domeyer.

The sixth is a MR 82 Handicap over 1600m and Mountain Master can do better than last time, so can score over a suitable trip off a one point lowered merit rating. New Hampshire enjoys Scottsville and is distance suited, so could make it two on the trot with the same 4kg apprentice up from a plum draw. The consistent Cat In Command is course and distance suited and drawn well so should go close despite carrying a welter burden. Saint Marco returns from a seven month layoff but is talented, drawn in pole  and Delpech is an eye-catching booking. Night Shadow was a July entry so is highly thought of and has been effective over this trip before, although the wide draw is a concern and he also has 62kg to shoulder.

The seventh is the third leg of the Rider Cup and in this MR66 Handicap over 1950m topweight Wealthy looks the one to beat as the form of his last two runs over 1800m and 2400m respectively have worked out well and he is well drawn under Marcus. Silver Rose caught the eye when winning his maiden over 1600m and he looks likely to enjoy the step up in trip and should go close from a decent draw under Keagan de Melo of the Falcons. Starrett City caught the eye too when winning his maiden on the poly over this trip and can’t be ignored despite a wide draw.

The eighth is a  the last leg of the Rider Cup, a MR 80 handicap over 1200m, and Fortune could score on the talented Singh Is King, who will relish the step down to this trip and has his third run after gelding off a six point lowered merit rating. Black Tractor has his third run after a rest and gelding and if bouncing back to his best Cape Town form should go close under Marcus. Hip Hop Dancer has won over course and distance before and has come down to an attractive merit rating.

The last is a MR 66 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m and Seventh Moment could be the one to side with as she went close over course and distance last time out with this 4kg claimer up and seems to have come into her own. Kingsview could score with a 4kg claimer up off just a two point higher mark than her win over course and distance two runs ago.  Roy’s Zaire could earn as she was still green when showing pace and staying on to win her maiden over course and distance.

David Thiselton

Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie team up for all eight races at Kenilworth tomorrow.  There is no formal agreement – as there was in the heady Legislate days – but the combination have a number of good chances.

The best is probably Glorious Goodwood in the last but they start off with two forecast favourites and Pride Rock has obvious claims in the opening Maiden Juvenile. However his outside draw is a major negative.

Pure Logic comes into it and Fire In The Belly has an even better chance when his most recent run is best ignored. “Things just didn’t work out for him that day – he is not a 1 200m horse and they went very fast,” says Mike Robinson. “I think he will enjoy this mile.”

Hernando’s Promise is going to start at a decent price – possibly an each way one – and he is suggested as the value bet. He was considered good enough to run in the Langerman and, while he lost valuable ground at the start, he had shown some useful form previously.

Snaith’s Figure Of Grey is forecast odds-on for race two but Sign Your Name has shown more and makes more appeal. Again you have to discount the horse’s last run when she lost a good two lengths after rearing in the pens. “You can put a line through it,” says Greg Ennion (pictured). “It was the day when it rained and she ran green as if she didn’t know what to do.”

Imperial Dancer stands out in race three, he is rated over 4kg clear of the rest and has gone close in his last two. He should win but don’t ignore Stormy City. The Bass horses are in good form and Grant van Niekerk is riding like a man inspired.

Stormy City divided Mega Secret and Hero Quest over this mile at the end of May but blotted his copybook last time, finishing plumb last after being bumped at the off.

“He was then chased up from a seven draw,” recalls Candice Robinson. “He will win soon but he needs things to go his way.”

Prudence Prevails is expected to start favourite to come good at the 13^th attempt in the Quinte Plus Maiden but you would expect at least one of the three two-year-olds (all are from top stables) to beat her despite their being 4kg worse than weight-for-age. Colorado Rose is selected even though she has been absent since March and has to overcome a ten draw.

Michael Clower