It’s something of an anomaly in the international scheme of things that this country’s big three races – or possibly four if you include the Premier’s Champion Challenge – are not run at WFA. The Vodacom Durban July, J&B Met and Sansui Summer Cup all have differing weight conditions.

Power King (Nkosi Hlophe)

Maybe it’s a colonial hangover from an era where betting was more important than the runners and the Durban July was a race for the masses rather than the well-heeled. There are racing purists who still argue that all three of these events should be run at WFA to conform to the international pattern for Group 1 status. While the purists have achieved a measure of success by getting the weight range compressed to be more acceptable internationally, it matters little in the bigger scheme of things. The word ‘handicap’ has been dropped from the official July name as it has morphed from a long handicap to where the weights are now but a token gesture. The bottom line is that every racehorse owner and trainer dreams of a runner in the July, no matter the weights.

The history of the July stretches back over a century and to some extent can be equated to The Melbourne Cup, a race that holds international fascination and dubbed ‘the race that stops a nation’ and like the July breaks every rule as far as international Group 1 status is concerned. For one it’s a long handicap and secondly it’s run over two miles. But quite honestly I don’t think the Aussies would give a damn one way or another if it lost its rating – pretty much the way most South African’s would feel about the July.

Like our July, it cocks a snoot at the world. As Les Carlyon wrote about his beloved Cup, “No elite fields here. Instead up to twenty-four runners jostling and finessing so that if weight doesn’t stop a champion, the traffic probably will.” There were enough hard luck stories in last year’s July to fill a book but all that finally counts are the finishing order posted by the judges and the people attending the spectacle.

Marquees the length of office blocks populate the Greyville infield like some garish squatter settlement that grows bigger each passing year. Entry into one of these ‘tents’ is like gold. They provide the best of both worlds, a refuge from the masses and close enough to the action to catch a breath and a light libation before venturing back into the scrum. Refuge too for those less comfortably minded; those decked out in body suits, tottering on ridiculously high heels and cursing Jimmy Choo.

Come eight o’clock and threading your way in the dark back to your car you will constantly be stepping around prone forms of racing purists, so moved by the glory of what they have just seen on the track that they passed out and the moans and giggles coming from the bushes and bunkers, indications of a busy time in the shotgun trade and maternity wards come March the following year.

South Africa’s Champion season is under way in a fortnight and the Vodacom Durban July is but two months away. Let the carnival begin.

By Andrew Harrison

Gold Circle Racing in Durban has taken the South African ladies’ para-dressage squad under its wing as it bids to qualify for the Paralympic Games in Rio later this year.

Under the sponsorship of Gold Circle, the team is competing in three international events in Europe and has already shown a high standard of competency in the first qualifying event in Deauville, France.

Tamsin Mbatsha-Bouwer

Unfortunately, one of the leading riders in the team, Wendy Moller, was unable to make the trip to Europe through illness but Shani de Beer and Tamsin Mbatsha-Bouwer who made the trip and Philippa Johnson who is based in Belgium, gave good accounts of themselves in France and will be looking to the next competition in Waregem in Belgium at the end of next week.

According to Ingeborg Sanne who runs the international portfolio for Dressage SA, Philippa Johnson did extremely well – at medal level – scoring 75.6% for freestyle and 71.27% in the individual and 71.29% in the team categories. Shani de Beer scored 66.25% in freestyle, 64.94% in individual and 63.97% in team while Tamsin Mbatsha-Bouwer got 64.82% for individual and 55.52% for team in which she was competing for the first time. She did not

Shani De Beer

qualify for the freestyle category.

The sponsorship of the para-dressage team, while not within the parameters of horseracing and thoroughbreds, is in keeping with the Gold Circle’s policy of support for worthy causes and involvement with projects aligned with the equine industry.

In addition to operating racecourses in Durban and Pietermaritzburg it also runs the world-famous Summerveld training establishment at Shongweni and a similar centre at Ashburton. It supports the Coastal Horse Care Unit in KwaZulu-Natal that cares for horses of all types that have been neglected.

The unit travels to rural areas assisting horse owners with medication and equipment and teaches them on the special care their animals require.

Pictures courtesy of www.e-questrianfocus.com and www.philippajohnson.com

Can Marinaresco become the first since Pocket Power a decade ago to win all three legs of the Winter Series?

He certainly set about it the right way at Kenilworth on Saturday, outpointing the Winter Guineas field with a spectacular turn of foot and appropriately carrying the Marsh Shirtliff colours that his predecessor made famous. Furthermore, unlike most of those who have tried and failed in the intervening nine years, he almost certainly has the stamina for the final leg.

Mind you, he could yet be diverted to Durban. “I’m tossing a coin between the Series R250 000 bonus and the R2 million of the Daily News,” said Mike Bass, his tone of voice suggesting the money made it a no-brainer. But he added, almost in the same breath: “He will probably stay here – he will be a better horse next year that way.”

This was Bass’s eighth Winter Guineas and the first for Aldo Domeyer but many of those who plunged on the favourite from 9-2 to 2-1 thought he had blown it when he decided to cross over from his midfield draw and tuck in with only three behind him. It wasn’t just the punters either (Candice Robinson: “I thought ‘Oh gosh, it’s not going to be our day.’”) while a collective groan came from the stands when the commentator announced that Marinaresco was 15 lengths behind the leader.

Marinaresco winning the Winter Guineas (Liesl King)

Domeyer, though, partnering his 75^th winner of the season, kept his cool. “I was riding by instinct – there were a million instructions and even in the pens I wasn’t sure what I was going to do – but Grant van Niekerk had told me that he has a turn of foot.

“This is a good horse. I’ve never seen one with his acceleration. It was just a matter of choosing a gap and then he quickened instantly. After that he was only loafing in front. Since they gelded him he is showing himself to be the horse the stable thought he was going to become, and he is now one for the public to follow.”

However Brett Crawford, whose Grant Thornton Handicap winner Orion Quest is clearly going places, had no hesitation in naming the Winter Classic (May 21) as the next stop for Whisky Baron and Vilakazi who finished a close second and third. There will be another day too for Eighth Wonder who dropped out as if he had been shot. “I couldn’t understand why he didn’t go on in the straight but he returned with a severe nasal discharge,” reported Greg Ennion.

Always In Charge could be Durban bound after running out a hugely impressive winner of the Shopfit National Maiden under a confident MJ Byleveld. “Vaughan Marshall wanted to take him but I said that I don’t like horses going there that haven’t won,” Derek Brugman related. “Now we will sit down and discuss it.”

The Stormsvlei Mile on May 21 is next on the agenda for Captain’s Flame who belied her 10-1 price by romping away in the final furlong of the RTT Sweet Chestnut while third-placed Anglet will take her on again in that after failing to get a completely clear run. “We will then decide about Durban. This 1 400m was a little sharp for her and it got a bit tight,” said Paddy Kruyer.

The 14-10 favourite Qing finished with only one behind her. Anthony Delpech said he felt something was not right and, while the course vet could find nothing wrong, Chris Snaith was asked to report on the filly’s condition back home.

Andre Nel reckons a virus that affected his string earlier in the month was the reason for Dark Chocolate’s expensive flop when favourite three weeks earlier. She came good in the FNB Maiden to launch a stable double and Domeyer’s treble.

Glen Kotzen is now allowed to run horses from his Woodhill stables once more and, after celebrating with all-the-way Anthony Andrews-ridden Shizam in the Old Mutual Maiden, he said: “They asked us to do the responsible thing and we did it for the industry. Let’s just hope there are no more deaths.”

Eric Sands, who used to dominate the work rider races with Bizz Njokwa following orders to the letter, may have found another in the same mould. Storm Front was Siyamdumisa Tshaka’s first ride and the 23-year-old handled him in competent style.

Richard Fourie served notice that he intends to resume normal service after making most on Saint Roch for Adam Marcus in the last, saying: “I’ve not been taking many rides but I’m now getting back into things.”

By Michael Clower

Inara will on Saturday attempt to become only the second of her sex to win the Premier’s Champions Challenge since Ilha Da Vitoria ten years ago and, for the second time in a fortnight, she will make the six-hour journey from Summerveld on the day before the race.

Candice Robinson said: “We are taking a bit of a long shot but it was either the Turffontein race or go for the Tibouchina which is a Group 2 and Drakenstein were keen to run in the Premier’s.

“She will have come on from her Empress Club win although it’s not going to be easy taking on the colts and over the 2 000m at Turffontein.”

Europa Point in 2012 was the other mare to win but the bookies have a healthy respect for Grant van Niekerk’s mount and Betting World makes her 7-1 second favourite. Legal Eagle heads the market at 6-10 while Captain America and French Navy are both 15-2 chances. Brazuca is next on 10-1.

Captain America was beaten three and a half lengths by Legal Eagle in the Horse Chestnut and was a length adrift in the J& B Met but Brett Crawford has not given up hope.

He said: “What I liked was that each time we were the only one coming back at him at the end, and he is doing very well.”

Justin Snaith, successful with Solo Traveller in 2011 and Legislate three years later, is making a determined assault on the Canon Guineas at Greyville on May 6 with Politician scorer Black Arthur (Anthony Delpech), Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn (Grant van Niekerk) and Baritone (Bernard Fayd’Herbe).

Delpech has also been booked for the stable’s Paddock Stakes third Bela-Bela in the Daisy Fillies Guineas while Vaughan Marshall has supplemented CTS Million Dollar third Victorious Jay for the Canon Guineas.

By Michael Clower

Marinaresco is 33-10 favourite to give Mike Bass his sixth Winter Guineas this century in the Tekkie Town-sponsored feature at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Aldo Domeyer

The Milnerton stable thought earlier in the season that he would prove their best three-year-old but it wasn’t until the Politician, and the Cape Derby in particular, that he proved the point. He has since been gelded but he hasn’t raced and there is also a question as to whether he is as good over a mile.

“It could be a touch on the sharp side but I don’t think this will be too much of an issue for him,” answers Candice Robinson. “He doesn’t take a huge amount of work and I think he should be pretty much ready.”

Favourites have won four of the last five runnings but two of those were longs odds-on shots. That said, Aldo Domeyer’s mount comes out best at the weights on merit ratings and he looks the one to beat.

Hard Day’s Night opened 9-2 second favourite with World Sports Betting yesterday and Joey Ramsden is bidding for his third Winter Guineas in five seasons. Racecourse gallops and the stable’s treadmill should ensure that a nine-week absence does not hinder Donovan Dillon’s mount but the snag is that the Selangor winner has to give weight all round.

Snaith Racing is optimistic that today’s forecast rain will bring Langerman winner Ready To Attack (7-1) right into the picture. “He has had two gallops and he is pretty ready,” says Jonathan Snaith.

Hard Day’s Night (Liesl King)

Cape Classic scorer Eighth Wonder would be a big price at 14-1 were it not for last time’s below par Fairview run and his wide draw. “The draw is a problem but we are going to drop him in,” reports Greg Ennion who won with 12-1 shot Modern Mission in 2003. “He is doing very well and he should have a good chance.”

Only one horse is a bigger price than Elusive Silva but apparently the colt has a far better chance than odds of 22-1 would suggest. “I know he is badly in on ratings but he is a good horse and it was a tough call as to whether to put Anthony Delpech on him or Ready To Attack,” says Jonathan Snaith.

Brett Crawford has a quarter of the field and the betting would suggest that Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount Whisky Baron (15-2) has a better chance  than the 2.5kg higher rated Vilakazi (11-1) who disappointed last time.

Anglet is the class horse in the RTT Sweet Chestnut but she has been off since the Fillies Guineas in December and Qing, who has won her last four, is preferred. However Anglet’s trainer Paddy Kruyer can win the last with Mega Secret.

By Michael Clower