Summerveld trainer Mark Dixon will begin sizing up his South African Champions Season hopes after Friday night’s Greyville meeting (April 8), where his gelding Captain Chaos runs in the Gr 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m on the turf and his filly Isingamoya runs in the Umzimkhulu over the same course and distance.

Mark Dixon (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, Dixon’s chief SA Champions Season hopes probably lie with his sprinter London Call.

Captain Chaos is a former Cape-based horse who won the Gr 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery over 1200m at Kenilworth by 3,5 lengths in just his third career start, having won over 1100m on debut. He beat the like of Tar Heel and Eighth Wonder in the Nursery, so must possess some class.

After opening his KZN career with a sprint, the good looking bay by Captain Al stayed on well from some way back for a 5,5 length second to Beat The Retreat in a Progress Plate over 1300m on the Greyville Turf a couple of weeks ago. He was giving the winner 2kg and Dixon said, “He has come on from the race and I think he will get the mile, so might go for the Canon Guineas although I don’t know whether he is good enough.” Captain Chaos is drawn 27 of 35 entries in the Byerley Turk and as a two-time winner will carry the minimum weight.

Isingamoya by Muhtafal caught the eye when running on fluently to comfortably win her maiden over 1200m at Scottsville second time out and she has finished close up thirds in all three of her subsequent starts from 1200-1300m.

However, the last two of those runs were in Plate races against some promising sorts and Dixon said, “She is still building up and can improve.”

She has drawn well in three of 32 entries in the Umzimkhulu.

London Call (Nkosi Hlophe)

Dixon said he would make his five-year-old Kahal gelding London Call a “massive” runner in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint to be run on June 4 at Scottsville if he were able to get into the field off his current merit rating of 101. He might in fact send him straight into the race due to his soundness problems.

While he is not a horse who can be raced often, he is on the other hand one who is easy to get ready for a race.

London Call deserves to line up in the Tsogo Sun, having won four of his eight career starts and being placed second twice.

Of others in the yard, the four-year-old Kildonan gelding Blessed Release could be one to follow in the lower divisions. He was accorded only a 66 merit rating after winning his maiden in very soft going over 1400m at Scottsville by 7,5 lengths against an admittedly uninspiring field. That was his seventh career start but Dixon said the best had not yet been seen of this gelding.

By David Thiselton

In a pre-race interview for the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes Sean Tarry chose his words like a crafty politician. “Obviously the race at the end of the month is the main aim …. so I’ve left some meat on the bone,” he cautioned gloomily, pausing after each word.  Anyone listening will have been left pondering the question; was an obviously under-done Legal Eagle good enough to win the unofficial second leg of the Gr1 WFA Championship, after the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate?

Tarry’s words were ringing in the ears coming through the 700 m mark as Gavin Lerena gambled on New Predator, bulleting past the pace-making Legal Eagle and pinching four lengths on the odds-on favourite.

But commentator Alistair Cohen had it nailed. “New Predator’s gone for broke a long way out,” he called.

The early pace was desperately slow and Anton Marcus confirmed. “It was never by design. I didn’t really want to lead,” and Tarry concurred. “There were two gallopers in the race and I couldn’t understand their tactics. But I’m not going to complain in the winner’s box.”

Marcus found himself in front for nothing and played the field on the brake but briefly his plan looked to have backfired as New Predator pounced off the false rail. Caught flat-footed for a few strides, Legal Eagle responded; he changed down a gear, got the revs up, and roared past a tiring New Predator with the odds on the gelding winning the Premiers Champion Challenge slashed from evens to odds-on in a matter of strides.

Last year’s winner Captain America was in the box seat all the way round but once Legal Eagle turned it on he was always chasing and did enough to collar a game new Predator on the line to take second.

Later Abashiri proved that he is everything he is touted to be as he nailed down the second leg of the Triple Crown with a bloodless victory in the Gr1 SA Classic. An injury after his Gauteng Guineas win was a well-kept secret by a trainer who wears his heart on his sleeve and no doubt Mike Azzie will have found himself biting his tongue as the media questions were put.

“I’m not the old brash Michael Azzie,” he said but he will still have been under tremendous pressure, inside the yard and out, after an injury scare put Abashiri’s participation in the Classic and the Triple Crown in doubt.

“He had eight days of box rest,” admitted Azzie after an early morning call from his son and assistant saying, “We have a problem.” Not quite the same magnitude as Apollo 13 but for a trainer the words will have triggered a cold sweat. “But he was a fit horse before the injury,” reasoned Azzie, “and a horse does not lose its fitness in eight days.”

Karl Zechner, savouring his first Gr1 victory, was lavish in his praise for his mount. “It was an ordinary race to him and he made it look like an ordinary race.”

Injury scare or not, Abashiri was ridden with supreme confidence by Zechner, the son of Go Deputy scything through the opposition down the Turffontein straight. Midfield in the opening exchanges, shadowed by Marcus and Brazuca, Zechner hunted a clear passage up the straight and confidently punched through a yawning gap. Marcus knew quickly that he was in trouble. Zechner had a hard hold while his whip was flapping and it was just a matter of who would run second.

Given the manner of victory the SA Derby and the Triple Crown are at his mercy and owners Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren can invite a few more orange-clad guests to the party for Derby Day come the end of the month.

It was a tough day at the office for Johan Janse van Vuuren who had third, second and second in the three Gr1’s.

Stanley Ferreira is a man of few words, none in fact after Juxtapose caused a major upset in the Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, second leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara. Ferreira has eight stables booked at Ashburton for South Africa’s Champion Season and Juxtaposed booked her box and a crack at the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 with a grinding win over favourite Negroamaro with first leg winner Heaps of Fun back in the pack.

The last furlong was a lung-bursting grind to the wire as Negroamaro, Juxtapose and She’s A Dragon fought their way clear of the pack but treading treacle. The trio were dead on their feet crossing the line but Chase Maujean got his filly’s head down when it counted for his first career Gr1 success.

Tarry is in lethal form at present and kicked off the meeting winning the first three races with the promising juvenile filly Cloth Of Cloud showing solid credentials for the SA Fillies Nursery later in the month. She ground the Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes field into the turf in spite of racing green and almost sending S’Manga Khumalo over her neck and into the Turffontein landfill as she dug her toes on the line and Bull Valley making a winning debut for the stable in the Gr3 Man ‘O War Sprint.

Tarry and Khumalo signed off a red letter day with Captain’s Causeway in the last.

– Andrew Harrison
Picture: Abashiri (SportingPost)

Caballo Blanco should get Kenilworth punters off to a winning start in the opening maiden juvenile tomorrow.

His first run three weeks ago was packed with promise (Mike Bass: “He got left a little bit but he is a smart horse”) and the form of his third place was boosted when the fourth, Dancer, won last Saturday. He already holds both Starflash and Telamon.

However things are not so straightforward from this point on. Bass and Grant van Niekerk should, in theory at any rate, follow up with Cold As Ice’s half-sister Live Life who was backed from 5-1 to 18-10 favourite when second on debut. But China Pearl was only half a length away despite starting at 35-1 and costing less than an eighth of her rival’s R2.5 million. Who is to say she won’t have come on by at least that margin? Gypsy Beauty also has good first run-based claims.

Joey Ramsden throws a potential spanner in the works 35 minutes later by pitching two superbly bred juveniles against the three-year-olds in the All To Come Maiden. Red Granite is a half-sister to Guineas winner Act Of War and R900 000 purchase Arctic Green is a daughter of Allan Robertson heroine Silver Arc.

Both are bred to be much better than tomorrow’s opposition but it’s worth pointing out that they meet the three-year-olds on terms 5.5kg (more than four lengths) worse than weight-for-age and also that it is difficult for Milnerton trainers to get horses ready to win on debut.

Dark Chocolate is the form horse and is tentatively preferred despite the way she ran last time suggesting that she needs further than this 1 200m.

The Racing.It’s A Rush Allowance Plate is even more tricky. Sceptre winner Princess Royal would appear to stand out, and is the forecast favourite, but she comes out level with longshot Sapsan when you adjust for the weights and weight-for-age while Night In Tahiti is only a point behind.

It just might pay to side with Captain’s Flame even though she has 2.5kg to find. She has won two of her three starts and was described by Andre Nel as “pretty talented” when she scored over the trip three weeks ago.

Keegan de Melo, who won on Black Arthur for Justin Snaith in November, flies in for six rides for the former champion trainer. The best of them could be Prince Of Wales in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap but Snaith is cautious, saying: “He is a horse to follow but this 1 400m is a bit on the short side. Also he is coming back from gelding so he may just need it.”

The biggest danger is probably Silver Snaffles who came home 3.5 lengths clear when making all over this trip four weeks ago.

By Michael Clower
Picture: Keegan de Melo rides at Kenilworth on Saturday

Abashiri and Heaps Of Fun will have the support of many at Turffontein on Saturday where they will embark on the second legs of their Triple Crown and Triple Tiara missions respectively.

Abashiri will be hard to beat from a good draw in the Gr 1 R2 million SA Classic over 1800m. He had to be sent for home early in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas over too sharp a trip. The turn of foot he displayed surprised many as he was being rousted seconds earlier. Once he had hit the front he was always going to be difficult to catch as he has a giant stride and a big engine. He will likely be ridden more conservatively this time and should mow down those who attempt to get first run on him.

Brazuca has a nice stride on him too and will relish the course and distance and Anton Marcus will help him overcome a tricky draw of nine.

Liege is fancied for third over a suitable course and distance. Others who have to be considered for the placings are Champagne Haze, Muwaary and Suyoof.

Samurai Blade is also worth considering for a place as he has some class and should enjoy the faster pace of a Gr 1 race over an ideal course and distance. Heaps Of Fun ran with ears pricked in the front in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and held on courageously. She displayed her class and can be ridden from anywhere, so over this likely suitable trip she is going to be a tough nut to crack.
However, the Geoff Woodruff-trained Alexa is tipped to beat her as she caught the eye in the Fillies Guineas running on strongly. She had to continually switch inward as no gaps were opening and finished right on the inside rail. She was only 4,75 lengths back at the line and is now slightly better drawn in nine. She will relish the step up in trip and will be hoping for a quicker pace too.

Witchcraft, Negroamara, Frosty Friday, Princess Varunya and Christmas Carol will also enjoy the course and distance, while She’s A Dragon also has to be considered.

The other Gr 1 on the card is the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m. The KZN raider Ice Machine is a joy to watch as he has a pehenomenal turn of foot and this could finally be his day. He has a fair draw in a big race for a change and Anthony Delpech will be able to keep an eye on the only likely danger Legal Eagle. The latter showed how good he is over a mile when galloping them off their feet in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate. Captain America won this race in bottomless ground last year. This big horse proved when winning this season’s Green Point Stakes he can settle in front and can handle fast ground, so is still likely to be involved in the finish from the pole position draw. However, he is unlikely to get the soft ground which would given him his best chance.

The first race on the card is a fillies and mares handicap over 1600m. Wukkin’ Up is a courageous sort and will attempt to make it four wins in five starts, but is not going to have it easy. Bountiful Harvest and Star Of Love should make bold bids over a suitable course and distance.

The second is the GR 3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m and Cloth Of Cloud, an exciting half-sister to Silver Mountain, is going to be hard to beat considering the manner of her six length win on debut.

In the third, the Gr 3 Man O’War Sprint over 1100m, Bull Valley is another one full of speed and class and back to the sprint trip he will be hard to beat receiving 2kg from the top two, despite not having run since November. Al Azraq and Isca are well regarded and could provide place value.

In the fourth, the Gr 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m, He’s A Var created a fine impression on debut with his speed followed by a kick and looks the one to beat. However, the filly in the race, Seattle Singer, has a weight advantage being still a maiden and on form she has a big shout.

The sixth, the Gr 3 Jacaranda Handicap over 1800m is the toughest race on the card. The talented Patchit Up Baby should now be fully acclimatised to the Highveld and looks ready to bounce back to her best. Peggy Jay is in fine form over further, but is effective over this trip too. Pennington Sands will enjoy the fast conditions and the others who make most appeal are front-running sorts Cassie O’Malley, Ahlaam and Dream Galaxy, as well as Gr 1 winner Bilateral, last year’s runner up Fortitude, who is only one point higher in the merit ratings, the course and distance suited Zrinski and the well drawn and distance suited Mamasita, who has Gavin Lerena up.

The ninth is the Gr 3 Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m and the class over this testing course and distance lies at the top of the weights with Cool Chardonnay and Storm Warning and with the only female in the race Marmalady.

The last is a tricky MR 84 handicap over 1160m and Captain’s Causeway looks to be on the up. Thrust keeps on defying the handicapper and should go well fresh. Manx Park has come into his own and has to be considered.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Abashiri (Nkosi Hlophe)

There look to be some opportunities for punters to go thin in two or three legs of the big Classic meeting carryover Pick 6 at Turffontein on Saturday – estimated to reach R4million.

In the Gr 1 R2 million SA Classic the long-striding Mike Azzie trained Abashiri can afford to be given a more conservative ride than he was in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas when driven into the lead early in the straight and holding on for a comfortable 2,5 length victory. He is drawn well again. His giant stride dwarves those of his rivals and it would appear only bad luck in running can cost him victory.

Brazuca ran on resolutely from a long way back in the Guineas. He also has a nice long stride and will relish the step up in trip, so could pose the main danger. S’Manga Khumalo has jumped ship from Lunar Approach on to Liege and this looks a wise decision as this improving son of Dynasty will relish the course and distance. Champagne Haze was waited with for ages in the straight in the Guineas before running on for second. From pole position and with Gavin Lerena up he should also be thereabouts, especially as Lerena’s judgement of pace would undoubtedly have been sharpened up in Hong Kong. Muwaary has been crying out for this trip and will be fitter than he was for the Guineas. Romany Prince stayed on from last in the Guineas and then proved his liking for a tougher test when winning the Listed Drum Star handicap over this trip in very soft going. He faces stronger here but Delpech is now up from a plum draw of five. Suyoof did too much early in the Guineas so can’t be written off with a likely more conservative ride. Samurai Blade is a dark horse as a classy long-striding sort who could benefit from the faster pace of a Gr 1 race.

The Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic will see the jockeys being a lot more wary of Heaps Of Fun. She won’t be allowed to dictate as she did in the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic. However, she still has a fine chance as she can also run from off the pace if necessary and will enjoy this trip. The Geoff Woodruff-trained Alexa, whose eye catching run from the back of the field in the Fillies Guineas started towards the outside and ended up right on the inside, makes most appeal of the others. The improving Witchcraft is an Oaks type who could earn from pole position. Fillies Guineas runner up Negroamara will also enjoy the step up in trip as will Princess Vurunya, Frosty Friday, Persian Rug and Christmas Carol.

The ground on the day is likely to be fast so Legal Eagle and Ice Machine look likely to fight out the Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m. This could finally be the luckless Silvano gelding Ice Machine’s day as his good draw of five should enable his exhilarating turn of foot to be unleashed to its maximum capacity.

The last leg of the Pick 6 could be fought out by Cool Chardonay, Storm Warning and Marmalady.

The first leg looks to lie between He’s A Var and Seattle Singer.

The third leg is the Gr 3 Jacaranda Handicap, which is very open and punters will have to consider including the whole field.

By David Thiselton
Picture: Ice Machine (John Lewis)