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

The weekend racing in KZN provides a few opportunities for punters to increase their bankrolls before the fireworks in the South African Champions Season begin.

Dennis Drier (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the first race at tonight’s 20/20 polytrack meeting at Greyville, the Dennis Drier-trained Giveuwings will be staying on over a step up in trip to 1400m she will appreciate and could win if starting faster than last time.

In the second race the Michael Roberts-trained filly La Carmelita is a typically big and long-striding daughter of Ideal World who was staying on strongly over 1200m at Scottsville on debut, so will relish this step up to 1400m.  The danger will be Roy’s Monkey, who pulled over 1600m last time out so will likely relish the step down to 1400m.

In the third Burnburry was disappointing on Wednesday with first time blinkers over 1200m, but if she takes her place and the headgear comes off she should be staying on strongly over the minimum trip here in an uninspiring field. Her stablemate Pop Star ran on in eyecatching style in the same 1200m race on Wednesday so will be a big runner here. Minnie The Minx finished close up over course and distance in February and top rider Muzi Yeni should give her every chance.

In the fourth the Highveld raider Alaca showed pace throughout over 1000m at the Vaal last time out in his first outing as a gelding and won by a comfortable 2,8 lengths. He was still full of running at the line so could possibly follow up, although is by no means a confident selection having to jump from draw ten over a step up in trip to 1200m. Royal Roy’s improved effort last time over this trip at Scottsville looks quite good on paper and he should be running on strongly again for an in form yard despite the wide draw. Out My Way could follow up on his 1000m win despite a wide draw as he has the considerable advantage of a sort after 4kg claimer aboard.

Ginger Biscuit (Nkosi Hlophe)

The fifth race is over 1000m and there is plenty of pace in the race so this should set it up well for the closer Ginger Biscuit, despite his topweight. Kept Secret is another closer who should be closing in late. Regardstobroadway has always struck as a decent sort and has stayed on from the front before so could also be in the frame.

In the sixth over 1000m, Thunderwood was not at all disgraced over 1400m last time when out at the weights in a Progress Plate.  He was staying on and from pole position with an astute apprentice up should be right there. The consistent Do Be Snappy will love the course and distance and the topweight Spanish Captain has some class. However, it is quite an open race and an upset result wouldn’t be a great surprise.

In the seventh over 1600m, the form of Vogue idea’s last run over course and distance has worked out very well and she is the one to beat. Lady Ming ran a cracker against a useful sort the last time she ran over course and distance and has a plum draw of three. Ruby Gem won her maiden over course and distance and returns to the poly for the first time since so should be competitive having run quite well last time out from a wide draw over 1400m on the Greyville turf.

The eighth over 1800m Koncealed looks to have plenty of ability, is well drawn over a step up in trip he will enjoy and the form of his only poly start to date over 1600m has worked out well.

Do Be Snappy (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the last race over 2000m the consistent and course and distance suited Live On The Moon could follow up on his last win off just a two point higher merit rating as the form of that win has worked out well and he jumps from another good draw. Highveld raider Triple Beat has gone close twice over course and distance and is a big runner too, while Impact Zone must also be considered.

Scottsville’s first race on Sunday is of interest as first-timer Apres Ski is a well-bred son of Western Winter and Dennis Drier, who has won five of the last six renewals of the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion, hasn’t delivered a true contender for the latter race yet. Apres Ski doesn’t have much to beat, although Gio Ponti’s Legacy caught the eye staying on from well back on debut and should make the frame.

The Listed Sledgehammer over 1750m could see Justin Snaith’s good start to the SA Champions Season continuing with the classy Master’s Eye. He has to carry topweight but should be staying on as he was in the Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m last time for fifth place.

The Listed Scarlet Lady could also be fought out by Cape Town horses with Zante and Ma Choix making most appeal.

The Highland Knight Cup over 2400m is also an interesting race and the progressive Solar Star is tipped to beat home useful local stayer Qatar Springs, while Crime Victim could earn over a suitable course and distance off a two point lowered merit rating.

The best bet on the card could be Flash Fire in the second over 1400m where she looks difficult to oppose having been unlucky on debut over the same trip at Kenilworth, despite not having settled well early.

By David Thiselton

Anthony Delpech has landed the plum ride on Legislate in the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville on May 6.

The former champion will also be on the five-year-old when the 2014 Vodacom Durban July winner runs in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge on the same course five weeks later. These two races are the only chances that racegoers will have to see the horse before he is retired to stud.

Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

Jonathan Snaith said yesterday: “He is having only two runs in Durban and he won’t even be nominated for the July. His preparation for the Drill Hall has gone smoothly but it will be his first race since the J & B Met and we are not expecting fireworks. The Gold Challenge is his main mission.”

Only four jockeys have ridden Legislate in public. Girish Goomany had the mount first time and  Muzi Yeni also rode him just once before Richard Fourie took over for 14 consecutive races, winning the Cape Derby, KRA Guineas, Daily News, July, Green Point and Gold Challenge. Piere Strydom rode him in the Queen’s Plate (second) and Met (sixth).

Michael Clower

Legislate – Liesl King

If Anthony Delpech had not become a jockey he could have found employment as an assassin – figuratively that is. He may have been aboard the 7-10 favourite for the Greyville opener but his plotting the demise of the opposition was as skilled and ruthless as any professional on a roof with a silenced rifle and given yesterday’s strike rate he would have earned a ‘silver baltjie’ had he been a guest of former president PW Botha.

Miss Minver (Nkosi Hlophe)

All at sea on debut, Miss Minver had learnt little from the experience and in less capable hands would have blown the odds. But Delpech kept his mount together, trapped market rival Lil Gambler on the rail, got first run and coaxed his mount home.

“She needs more ground,” opined Dean Kannemeyer, a view shared by Delpech. “This was way, way too short. She wants a mile.”

The combination was wide of the mark in the second although it was not tactics but sheer ability on the day that saw Lee’s Star home for Dennis Drier and Sean Veale. Delpech had Rand Hedge challenging hard with a furlong to run but Lee’s Star, in the familiar Braam van Huyssteen silks and here shared by Greg Bortz, kept grinding to pull clear when it mattered.

Justin Snaith, sans the spikey hair of last season, opened his winter account with a double both courtesy of Delpech. Surprisingly Brooklyn Brawler’s name was not among nominations for the Gr2 Canon Guineas but that may change come the supplementary date. “A nice surprise … but where to now I don’t know,” smiled Snaith after the gelded son of Dynasty made things difficult for himself. He always looked to have his race won, a view confirmed by Delpech. “I was going a common half-pace with the favourite in front of me,” he confided but Brooklyn Brawler took exception to the infield TV screen and a fancy to the Greyville Braai Zone.  Fortunately he was well clear of Guineas entries Celtic Captain and Ole Gunnar.

Brooklyn Brawler (Nkosi Hlophe)

Secret Seven, this time favourite, completed the Snaith stable double in the seventh but not quite according to plan as Delpech found himself in front. “You ride a race according to pace. I didn’t want to be in front but I didn’t want to fight her. If I had fought her we would have got beat.”

None of the field were entries for the Gr2 Daisy Fillies Guineas but again Snaith may be tempted given that Secret Seven finished second to the top rated Nightingale in what Delpech had earlier described as a false run race.

For the past few winters Alyson Wright has hosted a few Cape raiders and she was quick off the mark with Abound West who romped home in the third for owners Lammerskraal.

Ashburton-based Belinda Impey is never one for the spotlight but given the opportunity and the horses and she can get them home like the best of them. It was a close run thing for You Bolt and Sean Veale in the fourth but they got up in the last stride to touch off Roy’s Folly.

Auction King (Nkosi Hlophe)

South Paw looked the safest bet on the card and after a scare at the top of the straight when the meat in a closing sandwich, Delpech punched him through to win comfortably for Chris Erasmus and Yellow Star Stud.

Apprentice Lyle Hewitson is likely to ride out his 4kg claim before month end as he rounded off the meeting for Paul Lafferty aboard Auction King. Two months as a professional and 18 winners will see him in a Mercedes sooner rather than later!

By Andrew Harrison

Dennis Drier has won six Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallions, including five of the last six runnings, and punters and pundits have become used to scrutinising his Juvenile race results at this time of the year.

However, the Summerveld-based maestro trainer is even better known for bringing the best out of older horses, with the amazing mare Beach Beauty being the best example, and his six-year-old gelding Barbosa has blossomed this season from a useful top division handicapper into a Gr 1 World Sports Betting Computaform Sprint candidate. A former Medallion winner of Drier’s, Guinness, has also been entered for the WSB Computaform Sprint but will not be ready in time, so will not be making the journey to Turffontein. The WSB Computaform Sprint will be run on Champions Day, April 30.

Drier admitted his Juvenile runners to date this year had not shown Medallion credentials.

However, he was hopeful a couple could still emerge, so his two-year-old first-timers should be watched closely in the next few weeks.

A Western Winter colt called Apres Ski he has entered in a 1200m Maiden Juvenile Plate at Scottsville this Sunday has a most interesting pedigree.

Western Winter is known for the speed he imparts and has produced Medallion winners Ice Cube (2003) and Warm White Night (2008).

Apres Ski’s dam is the Fort Wood mare Topless Towers, who won only one race over 1600m, but she is a half-sister to the Gavin van Zyl-trained Horse Chestnut filly Banbury, who won the Gr 3 Fillies Mile. Topless Towers has to date produced the useful Mike Azzie-trained filly Peep Show, a Listed-winning five-time winner from 1400-1450m. Topless Towers’ dam is Lady Helen, a twice Graded runner up, who is a daughter of the outstanding broodmare Lady Shirley Bird. Lady Helen is therefore a half-sister to dual Gr 1 winner Lord Shirldor, Gr 2 winners Dog Rose and Kestrel, and Listed winner Maximum Power. Lady Shirley Bird’s female descendants have been prolific stakes-producing broodmares. Apres Ski looks likely to have the speed to be competitive over 1200m and the stamina reserves to cope with the tough Scottsville finishing hill. On pedigree he might well be full of class. His owners Nicholas Jonsson and Dr NIcholas Labuschagne will likely be awaiting Sunday’s race eagerly.

Meanwhile, Drier is very happy with Barbosa.  The Captain Al gelding has won all of his last four attempts at the 1000m trip of the Computaform Sprint and has done it in impressive fashion.

However, KZN form has become a bit questionable of late. On the other hand, one horse who has put his hand up for the province is the Michael Roberts-trained Computaform Sprint entry Muscatt. He recently broke the Scottsville 1000m course record and followed up by beating two horses with good Cape Town form, Captain Alfredo and the Drier-trained Gr 2 Cape Merchants winner Triptique. Therefore, it is interesting to note Barbosa has defeated Muscatt no fewer than six times in his career and has been on the receiving end only twice. Barbosa has also given chunks of weight away to Muscatt in their last four clashes and beaten him every time. However, it has to be said Muscatt appears to have blossomed in the Roberts yard and the pair’s ninth career clash at Turffontein will be no foregone conclusion. Furthermore, the like of Carry On Alice and Trip Tease are going to be tough nuts to crack.

By David Thiselton