Orion Quest will answer one of the big outstanding questions of recent weeks when he takes on older horses for the first time in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The way he won his maiden in January was staggering. Going to the front over a furlong out, he strode right away under no more than hands and heels to score by more than seven lengths. It was the sort of margin owner Diane Nagle might expect from the horses she sends to Aidan O’Brien but rare indeed in Cape Town.

“He won well but it wasn’t a strong field,” recalls Brett Crawford whose plan to bring the colt back at Durbanville four weeks ago was thwarted by coughing. The problem here is that the form has been shown to have more holes in it than a piece of Swiss cheese and is hardly worth a string of beads.

One after another of the 12 beaten horses has disappointed. One finished second and another fourth but the majority have flopped. So how good is Orion Quest and, more to the point, is he good enough to win on Saturday?

The handicappers gave him a rating of 85, high for a three-year-old maiden winner but not unjustified. After all seven-plus lengths is the equivalent of 17 points.

Corne Orffer’s mount seems sure to start favourite but there are others with at least equally strong claims including Sophomore fourth Psycho Syd, Equity Kicker (dropped two points for last time’s 1 400m run and possibly better over this trip) and the improving Fire Master. However Winter Trade, 2.5kg better with Fire Master for the length he was beaten on Met day, makes most appeal at expected odds of around 6-1.

Dancer, even though perhaps a little disappointing last time, gets the vote for Joey Ramsden in race one where Robert Khathi gets the chance on the Justin Snaith newcomer Pride Rock – Richard Fourie has preferred to go to Turffontein for Weiho Marwing – but this one’s dam only won over 1 800m.

The Vaughan Marshall-trained R2.2 million William Longsword looks a bigger threat – his dam is a half-sister to Victory Moon – while Ramsden should double up half an hour later. He has a third of the nine runners and, while Captain Gambler showed plenty of promise on debut, preference is for Sandy Bay who would have finished a lot closer to Not On My Watch last month had she got away on terms. Again look out for the Marshall newcomer – Flash Fire cost only R250 000 but her dam won four times over 1 200m.

Weskus Klong has proved a bookies benefit in his last two starts and, even though he wears blinkers for the first time in the Soccer 6 Maiden, it could pay to look elsewhere. Zud Wes may be the one.

By Michael Clower

There is a feast of racing around the country over the Easter weekend and there will be feature race action at both Turffontein on Saturday and Scottsville on Sunday.

At Turffontein French Navy should make amends for his disappointing last run by winning the Gr 2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m, where he is well weighted. He had been freshened up for his last race over 1800m in order to not peak too soon for his ultimate target, the R4 million President’s Champion Challenge. He consequently over raced behind an unexpectedly slow pace, so emptied out quickly in the straight. He will be more forward now and is well drawn so should mow them down in the long straight in his normal resolute style. Judicial and Mac De Lago will also be staying on over a galloping 2000mm they will relish and are the chief dangers.

The Gr 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m could be won by the ever improving Moofeed, who packs a powerful finish and was unlucky in the Gr 3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap over 1000m last time out. He probably found the 1400 of the Hawaii Stakes last time a touch far and this is likely his ideal trip. Trip To Heaven is second best in at the weights and is likely to have come on from his decent effort in the Hawaii, where it didn’t pan out well for him. He will be right there and so will the filly Lazer Star, who is the best in at the weights. She looked the winner of the Hawaii last time, but the photo finish showed otherwise.  In her last two runs over this course and distance saw she was a facile winner of both a Listed and Gr 3 race.

The Listed Derby Trial, a handicap over 2000m, hasn’t attracted a very good field and a pair of Mike de Kock-trained horses, Mooghamir and Jubilee Line, could fight it out. They are both returning from layoffs and have to give weight away, which makes it a tricky betting race. Mooghamir is by Ideal World so is likely to still be improving and he will enjoy the course and distance. He has a tongue tie and blinkers on having made a breathing noise when running disappointingly in the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m at Kenworth last time out. That run followed a fine win over the same course and distance. Jubilee Line has to carry topweight, but is a classy sort who should enjoy the trip, although he hasn’t run since finishing fifth in the Dingaans last November. Count Tassilo is officially 2kg under sufferance, but could be the main danger as one who will likely relish the step up to this trip.

The Listed Oaks Trial could be won by Inaninstant, who impressed last time out by beating Trophy Wife over 1800m. The latter is a leading representative of a brilliant crop, so Inaninstant could be well handicapped off just a 77 merit rating. If she does not win it is wide open and the ones which make most appeal to pick up the pieces are Intergalactic, Bondiblu, Estimation, Bajan Fantasy, AP’s Lily, Song Of Happiness, American Story and Kelly Firth.

The Gr 3 Sycamore Sprint over 1160m for fillies and mares is a wide open affair. Lumya caught the eye running on well over 1000m in the Listed Bauhinia Handicap last time. She is tipped to beat the pacey and likely improving Spring Wonder. Ha Lucy will be running on strongly over an ideal trip and is tipped for third, but Easy Game, Tiger’s Touch, Silver Star, Perfumed Lady, Silver Class also have to be considered and Drifting Dusk and Swift Sarah are hard to ignore.

The best bet on the card could come in the last race as the up and coming filly Shatoosh looks to have plenty of scope. This long-striding sort should relish the Standside 1400m, having caught the eye running on strongly over 1200m on the Inside Track in just her second career start last time out.

In the third race Count Red could represent some each-way value. He has caught the eye as a likely progressive sort. On the evidence of his last start over 1600m at the Vaal he should relish this galloping 1400m course and distance from a plum draw.

At Scottsville, the Listed Easter Handicap over 1950m could see Way Of Light running on well and only just fending off a flying Solar Star.

The Easter Dash is extra intriguing this year, having been reduced by 100m to 500m. Jade Bay has excellent gatespeed and early pace and is tipped to beat home the speedy Viva La Var. However, Trip Tease will be hard to beat if managing to ping the gates.

By David Thiselton

Both Abashiri and Heaps Of Fun have accepted to run in the R2-million SA Classic and R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic respectively over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday 2 April.

In doing so Abashiri, winner of the Betting World Gauteng Guineas, will continue in his endeavour to win the R2-million SA Triple Crown while Heaps Of Fun, the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas champion, is being aimed at the R1-million Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara for fillies.

Abashiri will come up against many of the same runners he beat with ease in the Guineas and from a No 4 barrier position many pundits will expect him to dish up much the same sort of fare to his opposition in the Classic. Karl Zechner retains the ride.

Anton Marcus has stayed with Brazuca who failed to overcome a wide draw in the Guineas and could only manage fourth. This time he is drawn at No 9 which, over 1800m, is not that much of a disaster.

Stable companion New Predator did not accept to run in the Classic but is an early declaration for the R1-million HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut on the same day where he will come up against Captain America.

Champagne Haze, who finished a 2.50-length second to Abashiri in the Guineas is well drawn at No 1 and will have champion jockey Gavin Lerena, returning from Hong Kong, in the irons.

One runner who can be expected to improve on his average run in the Guineas is Sean Tarry-trained Liege. He bounced back to form with a facile win at Turffontein last week and should run a lot closer to Abashiri on this occasion.

Heaps Of Fun was aided by a superb ride from S’manga Khumalo to win the Fillies Guineas. She beat Negroamaro by just under a length and it should again be an interesting tussle between the pair.

KwaZulu-Natal visitor Princess Varunya might have failed in the Guineas but trainer Kom Naidoo said prior to that race the Classic and Oaks were her main mission. She has stayed on the Highveld and will have fully acclimatised, so with Anthony Delpech in the irons and a No 2 draw she cannot be ignored.

Frosty Friday ran a 1.70-length third in the Guineas off a wide draw. Sadly for the connections she is drawn No 13 for this race but over this distance Muzi Yeni should be able to get her well positioned.

Lerena will be aboard She’s A Dragon who finished a 3.70-length fourth in the Fillies Guineas.

The final fields for the balance of the races on Classic Day will be announced on Tuesday.

 

Final field for the R2-million SA Classic (Grade 1) over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday 2 April.

1 – 4 ABASHIRI (M G Azzie) K Zechner 60.0 – 111

2 – 9 BRAZUCA (J A Janse van Vuuren) A Marcus 60.0 – 109

3 – 1 CHAMPAGNE HAZE (G M Alexander) G Lerena 60.0 – 106

4 – 14 ROCKETBALL (G H Van Zyl) M Yeni 60.0 – 103

5 – 12 SUYOOF (M F De Kock) S Brown 60.0 – 103

6 – 8 MUWAARY (M F De Kock) C Murray 60.0 – 102

7 – 5 ROMANY PRINCE (O A Ferraris) A Delpech 60.0 – 102

8 – 7 MALAK EL MOOLOOK (S G Tarry) …………… 60.0 – 101

9 – 2 LE CLOS (M G Azzie) C Zackey 60.0 – 97

10 – 13 TRADING PROFIT (M G Azzie) B Fayd’Herbe 60.0 – 96

11 – 11 LUNAR APPROACH (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 60.0 – 95

12 – 6 LIEGE (S G Tarry) J P v’d Merwe 60.0 – 93

13 – 10 VAL ET AL (G V Woodruff) C Maujean 60.0 – 90

14 – 3 SAMURAI BLADE (S G Tarry) …………… 60.0 – 88

Same Trainer: (1,9,10) (5,6) (8,11,12,14)

 

Final field for the R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1) over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday 2 April.

1 – 10 HEAPS OF FUN (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 60.0 – 104

2 – 3 NEGROAMARO (J A Janse van Vuuren) A Marcus 60.0 – 104

3 – 13 FROSTY FRIDAY (G H Van Zyl) M Yeni 60.0 – 101

4 – 5 SHE’S A DRAGON (C Mayhew) G Lerena 60.0 – 101

5 – 8 JUXTAPOSE (S M Ferreira) C Maujean 60.0 – 98

6 – 2 PRINCESS VARUNYA (K Naidoo) A Delpech 60.0 – 98

7 – 4 PERSIAN RUG (M F De Kock) B Lerena 60.0 – 94

8 – 7 NOOR (M F De Kock) C Zackey 60.0 – 92

9 – 1 WITCHCRAFT (S G Tarry) J P v’d Merwe 60.0 – 88

10 – 9 ALEXA (G V Woodruff) R Danielson 60.0 – 87

11 – 11 MELLIFLORA (M G Azzie) K Zechner 60.0 – 86

12 – 6 CHRISTMAS CAROL (G V Woodruff) B Fayd’Herbe 60.0 – 83

13 – 12 POLYPHONIC (A G Laird) C Murray 60.0 – 82

Same Trainer: (1,9) (7,8) (10,12)

 

JOCKEY Glyn Schofield has been fined $Aus 50,000 for his role in the sale of the unraced Equita to Hong Kong, an affair that has also seen trainer Brent Stanley disqualified for nine months.

Schofield is the first jockey to be charged under rules that state riders are not permitted to take part in the sale of horses unless the principal racing authority says otherwise.

He pleaded guilty to the charge, saying he had no idea of the rule, having taken a $Aus 20,000 commission when acting as an agent for Hong Kong trainer Danny Shum.

As part of the transaction, Schofield also handed trainer Stanley $Aus 20,000 in cash in the jockeys’ car park at Randwick racecourse in Sydney.

John Bowman, chairman of the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board, described the action as “not a good look” before handing down the fine.

Schofield now has three months to pay the fine after also been hit with a $Aus 20,000 penalty by Racing NSW stewards over the sale of another horse, Lil Caeser.

“I was going to fly back to Sydney on Qantas, but now I’m going to give Tiger a look,” Schofield joked on Twitter.

– Racing Post