In a concerted effort to eliminate any possible “crowding” on the inside rail, and to ensure a fair winning opportunity for all,  Gold Circle has taken the decision to limit the fields of the four Grade 1 Sprints at the Tsogo Sun Sprint Carnival Raceday to 14 runners and to bring in the far side rail by 4 metres. The famous Jackpot of Grade 1 sprints is set to take place at Scottsville Racecourse on Saturday, 4 June and entries are due this coming Friday, 20 May 2016.

Born To Rule (Nkosi Hlophe)

“There is no doubt that moving the inside rail has resulted in much fairer racing,” said Gold Circle Racing Executive Raf Sheik. “We want to do everything we can on this day to ensure the integrity of our Grade 1 races and eliminating the perceived better going on the inside goes a long way to achieving this,” he added.

While the decision to limit the fields to fourteen runners may be met with dissatisfaction in some quarters, there is no doubt that the move will be welcomed by the majority of riders. Anthony Delpech was quoted recently as saying, “with the rail moved in by four or five metres, racing down the straight is a pleasure much fairer for all concerned. Draws are no longer a major factor and interference has been minimised.”

Justin Snaith made the four-year-old Jet Master gelding Master’s Eye the elect of his two runners in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900, to be run at Greyville this Friday night, but that sentiment was based entirely on the draw.

Justin Snaith (Nkosi Hlophe)

Master’s Eye is drawn five with Richard Fourie up, while Grant Van Niekerk has a tough task overcoming draw 15 on Dynamic.

Master’s Eye could not find cover last time from a tricky draw over 1750m at Scottsville in the Listed Sledgehammer Stakes in his SA Champions Season pipe opener. His head was then twisted sideways throughout the straight. Snaith confirmed the horse had been looking at the stands. He didn’t expect a repeat of that antic on Friday night. Master’s Eye looks to be a big runner as he is officially joint best in at the weights and from a good draw should find cover over a step up in trip he will appreciate.

Snaith said Dynamic had come on well from his Champions Season pipe opener when caught late over 1600m at Scottsville. He added, “He would be a big runner if it weren’t for the draw.”

Dynamic will officially be 0,5kg under sufferance with the best in.

By David Thiselton

Joey Ramsden has an intriguing hand in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 and how his four runners, The Conglomerate, King Of Pain, St Tropez and Disco Al, do will likely decide their routes through the remainder of the SA Champions Season.

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Conglomerate ran in the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m last time and stayed on quite well from a handy position over a trip short of his best to finish a 5,65 length sixth, which was not a bad effort considering it was his first run since January 9 and he was caught wide early from a tricky draw of nine.

Anton Marcus said, “It was a fair run.”

He should have benefitted from the run, but Marcus added, “He doesn’t give much away at work.”

This Australian-bred son of Lonhro won last season’s KRA Guineas, where he relished the strong pace. He then had no excuses when finishing a decent third in the Daily News 2000. Then in the Vodacom Durban July he had nowhere to go on the outside rail and the jockey understandably switched him inward, although in retrospect he would have got a lot closer than five lengths had he remained patient.

The Conglomerate ran unplaced in all three of his runs in the Cape summer. His merit rating has duly dropped from a high of 108 down to 101, but unfortunately his rating is near the bottom of the 100 to 104 band pertaining to the conditions of Friday’s race, so he is officially 1kg under sufferance with the best weighted horses.

He should relish the course and distance and Marcus has retained the ride, despite facing another tricky draw of 14.

Assistant trainer Alson Ndzilana is happy with The Conglomerate, but said all three of the other runners would need their runs.

However, all of them stay further so they can’t be written off.

King Of Pain (Nkosi Hlophe)

King Of Pain beat a top class field in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge two years ago, but is not an easy horse to train and his only win since was last time out in the Gr 3 CTS Chairman’s Cup over 3200m in February. That win has opened up new doors, as he could now be an eLan Property Group Gold Cup contender, especially coming from a yard who has an excellent record with stayers. However, his Gold Challenge win followed a similar layoff to the one he is coming off now so he could be a contender on Friday night off a reasonable merit rating of 106, which means he is only 0,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horses in the race. He also has a tricky draw of 12 and Brandon Lerena rides.

St Tropez is one of the joint best weighted horses in the race having to carry 56kg off his 99 merit rating and being by Silvano should now be coming into his own as a four-year-old. He hasn’t run since his disappointing effort in the Sansui Summer Cup. However, he is yet to fulfill his considerable potential and his fine turn of foot makes him suited to the tight Greyville track. He won the East Cape Derby impressively last season so the staying option is open to him too. He is a dark horse on Friday from a good draw of six and the astute Keagan de Melo should suit him perfectly as a rider who usually times it right when coming from off the pace.

Six-year-old Disco Al was beaten a length by St. Tropez in October over 1800m and faces him on identical terms if the weight for age scale is taken into account. In this class he would probably prefer further but is an honest sort and won’t be far back. He is drawn nicely in seven and stable jockey Donovan Dillon is aboard.

By David Thiselton

Marinaresco will face 11 rivals when he goes on trial for the Vodacom Durban July in the Winter Classic at Kenilworth on Saturday. It will be the biggest Winter Classic field in 15 years.

Grant Van Niekerk (Nkosi Hlophe)

Grant van Niekerk, suspended when the three-year-old won the Winter Guineas, regains the ride from Aldo Domeyer who will be on the Mike Bass second string Brilliant Crimson.

The Brett Crawford-trained Whisky Baron and Vilakazi, second and third in the Winter Guineas, will also have different riders with stable jockey Corne Orffer taking over from Bernard Fayd’Herbe on the runner-up and Sean Veale replacing MJ Byleveld on Vilakazi. Byleveld has been claimed by Vaughan Marshall for Paladin who won a mile handicap last month and was unlucky not to follow up in a similar race nine days ago.

The in-form Donovan Dillon has been snapped up by Greg Ennion for Cape Classic winner Eighth Wonder who was found to have a nasal discharge when disappointing in the Winter Guineas.

Ennion said: “The whole yard had it. I took him out of work for a week and he was fine again.”

By Michael Clower

The Gr 2 Betting World 1900 to be run at Greyville this Friday night has attracted a full field of 16 plus one reserve, but they hail from only seven stables, which is perhaps a reflection of the country’s decreasing ownership base.

However, well known Maine Chance Farms racing manager Justin Vermaak is working wonders in ensuring a healthy future for the Sport Of Kings.

Solid Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the same way the Western Province Regional Racing Association have recognised Vermaak’s  importance by making him a board member, KZN racing could perhaps include 3A Racing’s Wesley Bowman in the decision making process in recognition of his efforts to bring young blood to the sport.

Bowman and his friends have done a lot for the game already and have always been keen to extend their influence.

Vermaak’s Greenstreet Bloodstock, whose aim is to bring young owners to the game, has about 38 syndicated horses in training in the space of just two years.

His negotiation skills have already seen positive changes made to red tape which pertained to a different era, so syndicate members can now have their names on the race card as nominees without having to spend yet more money on colours.

He has also built potentially budget-breaking veterinarian bills into the training fees as a fixed amount per month.

By David Thiselton