Black Arthur and stable companion Bela-Bela had bookmakers scrambling to change their odds display for the Vodacom Durban July after Justin Snaith’s charges turned in superb performances in the Gr2 Canon Guineas and G2 Daisy Fillies Guineas, and Friday evening at Greyville could prove a defining meeting in Africa’s Champion Season. All three features provided plenty of fodder for the formbook and any intrepid punters sitting with 12-1 about Black Arthur and 45-1 about Bela-Bela, may not be in the league of those who got the 5000-1 about Leicester City, but are entitled to be smug.

After stunning displays in the two Classics, Black Arthur displaced Legal Eagle (4-1) as anti-post favourite for the July – 3-1 on some boards but 7-2 still available – while Bela-Bela is now 14-1. Of Black Arthur Delpech said, “He’s the type of horse I would like to ride in the July,” the four-time July winning jockey confirming what all had just witnessed.

Black Arthur, home-bred by Alec and Gillian Foster, was beaten favourite in the Investec Derby at the end of the Cape summer but arrived in KZN with a mighty reputation. Delpech has the pick of the Snaith rides for the Western Cape Champion trainer during his KZN campaign and it took a single gallop for Delpech to decide between Baritone, Derby winner It’s My Turn and Black Arthur.

Seemingly out-paced from the gate as Sylvester The Cat set a suicidal gallop in overcoming his wide draw, Delpech slotted him in on the rail behind a charging pack. “I thought it might be a touch short for him but they went very, very fast which was in his favour,” Delpech confirmed.

Aimed for home, Delpech threaded his mount through the traffic and once in space the son of Silvano sailed through to win as he liked in spite of the winning margin being less than a length.

Race favourite Rabada settled in behind Sylvester The Cat and looked destine to keep his clean sheet at Greyville in tact before Black Arthur mowed him down with the line in sight while third and fourth placed Mambo Mime and Ten Gun Salute also had their July odds trimmed after promising performances.

All four look destined to meet in the Daily News 2000 that at this stage is brewing into one of the races of the season.

If Delpech needed a dress rehearsal for Black Arthur he got it in on the grey Bela-Bela who turned in a similar display of galloping in the Daisy Fillies Guineas to give trainer and jockey a Classic double. Nearer last than first turning for home, Delpech also had to pick his way through traffic before accelerating away to win in commanding fashion. It was a display out of the top draw.

“I rode two very good horses tonight,” was Delpech’s parting shot.

Race favourite Silver Mountain never got going and it was left to stable companion Nightingale to carry the stable flag although Bela-Bela went past her like she was looking for parking.

Johan Janse van Vuuren commented before the race that Negroamaro was off her best form but it was not by far. “I think she’s still a bit soft. We skipped the Oaks to go for the Woolavington.” The grey was in contention half a furlong out but was run down by Bela-Bela and Nightingale.

But if Negroamara was underdone, Van Vuuren’s New Predator was “gaar” as they say in Afrikaans. The three-year-old blew away his rivals in the Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes in a display that will have sent a chilled down Sean Tarry’s spine if indeed Legal Eagle has the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge on his agenda.

Although beaten four lengths by Legal Eagle in the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, New Predator was given a puzzling ride that afternoon as he was sent for home nearly 800m out, but he did show an exceptional turn of foot albeit off a slow pace.

The Greyville ‘mile’ with its short straight is right up New Predator’s alley and the switch in course could extend Tarry’s champion a tad more.

Disappointment was race favourite Legislate but Snaith was quick with an explanation. “Legislate didn’t saddle well. He walked around the ring with his head down and I know we were in trouble. But what can you do.”

Snaith will no doubt have the puzzled solved by this morning and have Legislate back on track to defend his Gold Challenge crown.

Triptique ran a cracker in second in his first venture beyond 1200m and could now be a candidate for the Gold Challenge while Ice Machine ran his usual game race, coming from last to third.

By Andrew Harrison

Betting on the R4,25 million Vodacom Durban July to be run over 2200m at Greyville on Saturday, July 2:

7-2 Black Arthur, 4-1 Legal Eagle, 11-2 Abashiri, 14-1 French Navy, Bela-Bela, The Conglomerate, 16-1 Brazuca, New Predator, 20-1 Rabada, Nightingale, 22-1 Mac De Lago, 25-1 Samurai Blade, Marinaresco, 33-1 Silver Mountain, Master Sabina, Deo Juvente, It’s My Turn, 40-1 Negroamaro, 50-1 Baritone, 55-1 Trophy Wife, 66-1 Inara, Dynastic Power, Ten Gun Salute, Mambo Mime, Saratoga Dancer, 7-1 Paterfamilias, 80-1 Olma, Prospect Strike, Punta Arenas, Romany Prince, Cape Speed, Master Switch, 100-1 and upwards others.

PICK 6 FAIRVIEW Friday May 6 Race 4 at 13h15. Net Carryover: R200,000. Estimated Pool: R800,000.

PICK 6 C/O GREYVILLE Friday May 6 Race 3 at 18h15. Net Carryover: R500,000. Estimated Pool: R2,2MILLION

PICK 6 C/O TURFFONTEIN Saturday May 7 Race 4 at 13h50. Net Carryover: R400,000. Estimated Pool: R2,1MILLION

PICK 6 C/O BORROWDALE Saturday May 7 Race 2 at 13h00. Net Carryover: R55,784. Estimated Pool: R200,000.

PICK 6 C/O KENILWORTH Sunday May 8 Race 3 at 14h15. Net Carryover: R400,000. Estimated Pool: R1,8MILLION

QUARTET C/O KENILWORTH Sunday May 8 Race 8 at 17h10. Net Carryover: R33,809. Estimated Pool: R450,000

PICK 6 C/O FLAMINGO PARK Monday May 9

Race 4 at 13h50. Net Carryover: R90,631.

Estimated Pool: R550,000.

The SA Champions Season kicks off with three Gr 2s at Greyville tonight and Justin Snaith should go close to landing a feature race treble.

In the Canon Guineas Baritone has to overcome a tricky draw. However, he looks to be an ever improving sort and should have come on from his Byerley Turk run, where he ran on strongly and only just failed. He came from a wide draw that night and was carrying 4kg more than the winner Mambo Mime. He should appreciate the 200m step up in trip.

His stable companion Black Arthur is highly regarded and the form of his Gr 3 Cartier Politician Stakes win has worked out well. Before that he beat Mambo Mime by 0,5 lengths over 1600m and the latter is now 5kg better off with him. This puts Baritone’s Byerley Turk effort into a good light on strict formlines. Mambo Mime is learning all the time and improving so could earn a cheque.

Rabada won a Gr 1 over course and distance as a two-year-old and has come on in leaps and bounds from his recent

victorious comeback from injury. His SA Triple Crown-winning yard is on a high and he is a big runner, despite a wide draw.

Prospect Strike finished just 0,75 lengths behind Rabada in the aforementioned Gr 1 and is coming off a 1,2 length defeat by the latter over 1400m. He should now be cherry ripe and will relish the step up to this trip. The downside is the very wide draw.

Muwaary was disappointing in the Gr 1 SA Classic, but the maestro trainer Mike de Kock is likely to have got to the bottom of it and this classy sort could bounce back.

Redcarpet Captain has had excuses for his last couple of starts, including over racing, and from a good draw with the blinkers off he could use his telling turn of foot from off the pace to run a good race.

It’s My Turn won the Investec Cape Derby in good style and should be staying on after being dropped out from a wide draw.

Exit Here’s last run can be ignored, as he hated the sloppy conditions on the poly after a torrential downpour, and he will relish the step up to 1600m from the 1400m of the Million Dollar where he ran a fine fifth considering the slow pace didn’t suit him.

Sylvester The Cat and Ten Gun Salute both have plenty of class and it would be no surprise to see them involved in the finish, although the former has a tough draw.

Victorious Jay is better than his last start and could bounce back.

Malak Al Moolook could earn if repeating his Gauteng Guineas third place.

Royal Armour has to prove he is as good on turf as he is on the poly.

The selection is Baritone to beat Rabada and Black Arthur, with Mambo Mime and Redcarpet Captain next best.

The Daisy Guineas sees a much anticipated clash between Silver Mountain and Bela-Bela, who are both packed with class. Silver Mountain should be perfectly suited to Greyville with her zippiness and fine turn of foot.  Bela-Bela is much better than her Cape Fillies Guineas run, when well beaten by Silver Mountain. Her subsequent Paddock Stakes third proved how good she is and the best has probably not been seen of her yet, so a victory over Silver Mountain would not be a great surprise. Trainer Neil Bruss is bullish about the chances of Flying Ice, who will relish the step up in trip and who has been unlucky in her last two starts when finishing second in both. The Bella Sonata yard believe she is better than her form suggests and she has enjoyed a fine preparation. Shatoosh has a long stride and a fine turn of foot. She could be the dark horse. Intergalactic has a chance on her Empress Club Stakes run when a 1,4 length third to Inara. Fromafar raced wide when winning a feature here over 1400m last time, so can’t be written off.  Nightingale and Negroamara both have class but would both prefer a touch further. Alexa has a good draw for a change and is an interesting runner as one who made up a lot of ground from hopeless positions in the Gauteng Guineas and SA Fillies Classic. Our Destiny over raced with blinkers on and they are now off so she could earn if repeating her Cape Fillies Guineas runner up finish. Taffety Tart and Lala have the ability to earn but have tough draws. Killer Woman looks to have some class but will have to put her last poor run behind her.

The selection is Silver Mountain to beat Bela-Bela and Flying Ice with Shatoosh and Bella Sonata next best.

The IOS Drill Hall Stakes could be won by Ice Machine if things pan out right for him.

There does not look to be much hope of the good pace he will prefer and Legislate could in that case dictate from the front.

However,  Ice Machine is still tipped to fly up and touch off Legislate, with Night Trip, who seems to love Greyville, staying on for third. The dark horses are Saratoga Dancer, who has plenty of class and the best has not yet been of him, and Triptique, who has been doing very well but there is a question mark over the trip. New Predator also has to be given a lot of respect on his best form.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Baritone (Nkosi Hlophe)

Riaan van Reenen can put it up to the big boys with the appropriately-named Elevated in the Somerset 1200 at Kenilworth on Sunday.

Van Reenen may have struggled to get horses in recent seasons but he has a solid record of success behind him. A work-rider for Ralph Rixon and a race-rider at the Cape Hunt meetings, he spent six years as assistant to Glen Puller before starting on his own in the 2004/05 season.

He started with a bang winning the Final Fling, Winter Classic and Winter Derby with Sweet Virginia and the Settlers Trophy with Count Regal. The Cape Summer Stayers with Halo Hunter followed and in 2007 Diana’s Choice (subsequently sold to Mike de Kock to race in Dubai, Ascot and elsewhere) won both the Cape Nursery and the Fillies Nursery.

As he is one of the first to admit,finding owners can be difficult for the less fashionable trainers but Marsh Shirtliff and Bryn Ressell were among those who came to the party when he bought Elevated for R100 000 at last year’s CTS August Two-Year Old-Sale. They were rewarded with some nice bets when the horse won at 33-10 on Queen’s Plate day.

Van Reenen made no secret about his horse needing the run when he chased home Bishop’s Bounty last time but said yesterday: “He is just about right now and I think Sergeant Hardy and Attenborough look the two to beat. The Snaith horse is exposed but there is a lot of talk about Attenborough who could be anything.”

Sergeant Hardy has not raced since becoming Justin Snaith’s fifth consecutive Met-day Juvenile Listed winner but he has to give weight all round and that is obviously going to make things more difficult for him. In addition no winner of the Met-day race has gone on to win the Somerset in the past nine years.

Joey Ramsden is bidding for his fourth successive Somerset and Attenborough, who cost 20 times as much as Elevated, looked to have plenty of potential when winning at odds-on over this trip two months ago. Stable companion Dancer also has claims.

Whatever his fortunes in the Somerset Ramsden should win the Perfect Promise Sprint with Miranda Frost who has been most impressive in both her starts, moving her trainer to say “I think she is pretty special.”

Live Life looks the better of the Mike Bass pair and Chill Baby Chill should go well but the favourite probably has most to fear from her own stable companion Don’t Stop Dancing.

By Michael Clower

A race report of second best, third best and second best, does little to inspire confidence in punters when looking to have a dip. The comments conjure up an impression of a horse of modest ability or, more damning, a horse lacking in intestinal fortitude so one tends to be cautious when placing a bet.

Those comments were pencilled in behind Dawn Calling for the second at Greyville yesterday but those that took to ignore the advisories came off best. Placed in all three starts, the comments were hardly flattering but she put the record straight in a smashing victory with Muzi Yeni looking around a furlong from home for the opposition. Five-and-a-bit lengths was the official winning margin but it could well have been double that for Duncan Howells and owner David Maclean.

It was not a strong field but the manner of victory suggests that Dawn Calling may have further calling in the Allan Robertson Fillies Championship come the first Saturday of June.

Dean Kannemeyer has made spectacular use of his satellite yard in KZN mostly due to the backing of Lady Christine Laidlaw racing under the brand of Khaya Stables. Kannemeyer is in contention for Champion KZN trainer after just one season and he added two winners to his fast growing list with the Khaya Stables-owned Paperback Writer in the Greyville opener and Last Tiger in the seventh.

The dogs were barking when Paperback Writer made his debut at Scottsville but he disappointed finishing down the field. The money was on again yesterday and any losses were recouped as Anthony Delpech sent him up the inside fence to a comfortable victory over the one-eyed favourite Qeyaadah who made a beeline to the outside fence that was on his good side.

Delpech was back in the winner’s enclosure with another clinical display of riding on the Dennis Bosch-trained Dynamic Force. The race never looked more than a match between Dynamic Force and the consistent but money-draining Nuntius, both trying blinkers for the first time. Nuntius had the call coming into the straight but Dynamic Force always had his measure and got home with something to spare.

Roy’s Marciano got the better of a protracted stretch battle with Lancat in the fifth with Kom Naidoo’s runner finishing just the better. Shortly after the line Lancat broke down unshipping rider Muzi Yeni.

Brown Sugar, after showing early promise and never far back, finally snapped her run of places with a well-deserved win under Warren Kennedy for Brian Burnard in the seventh.

Delpech and Kannemeyer have formed a lethal combination since Delpech split as stable rider to the Mike de Kock yard and they were to the fore again as Last Tiger out-duelled Mike Bass’s runner Mountain Master in the seventh with Mackdesi coming from way back for a smart third.

The boot was on the other foot in the closer where Secret Waring under Anton Marcus for Charles Laird was driven home to deny favourite Tanjiro, Delpech and Kannemeyer another winner.

By Andrew Harrison