Punters will have plenty of horseracing to bet on this weekend but will need their wits about them because the racing around the country will generally be of a competitive nature.

Tonight’s Greyville poly meeting is a case in point and it won’t be any easier at either Turffontein on Saturday or Scottsville on Sunday.

Tonight kicks off with an intriguing Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m, as it sees Hello Mah and Dance City Queen renewing rivalry after finishing on top of each other over the Scottsville 1200m. Hello Mah is given the vote despite her much tougher draw as she looks to have scope, while Dance City Queen wasn’t perfectly settled in the running last time and might still be green first time around the turn.

Spirit Of Dover (Nkosi Hlophe)

The second is a handicap over 1600m and is ultra competitive. Spirit Of Dover loves the course and distance and is an honest type so has been tipped to win, but not with a lot of confidence. Team Guys has begun fulfilling the high regard he has always been held in and has won his last three on the trot and all of them have been over this course and distance. He is a strongly built sort and even a maximum eight point merit rated raise for his last win, meaning he has to give the one year older Spirit Of Dover 6,5kg, might not be enough to stop him. Cat In Command will also be a big runner, having finished just a head behind Mumsy’s Jet last time over course and distance with the latter then going on to finish second in the Gr 3 King’s Cup.

In the third race over 1600m Seattle Wolf improved with cheek pieces last time over course and distance, but is quite exposed.  Stablemate Roy’s Gale jumps from a plum draw with Anthony Delpech up and has scope for improvement, having finished third over course and distance last time out in just his second career outing. He is solidly built so will inspire more confidence than his stable companion, although his time over course and distance was slower than Seattle Wolf’s. On paper it looks to be between those two but this race could throw up an upset. Leonard should be staying on and possible improvers include Cozzens Prince and Imagination.

In the fourth race over 1900m, Live On The Moon should go close, but the value might lie with Grey’s A Rockin, who was unlucky over 1600m last time and looks to be off an attractive merit rating. She jumps from pole position over a trip she will relish. The progressive Chesa could also be a contender.

The fifth over 1900m could be dominated by Dean Kannemeyer. Cape Speed was a bit disappointing overall in the Cape summer, but Delpech is aboard tonight and if this horse carries on from where he left off in Durban last year he could beat home stablemate Solid Speed. None of the runners in the seven horse field can be ignored.

Mambo Mime (Nkosi Hlophe)

The sixth should set up well for Buster Brown, who has a fine turn of foot and will love running on from behind a strong pace. He is the sort who needs to get there as late as possible and Peter Piper, who has relished the step down to this trip, is not going to be easy to catch.

The seventh over 1200m should see the speedy Brigtnumberfour making a bold bid from pole position off a rating 30 points lower than her sand rating. The race could also set up nicely for the well drawn La Gitano, who is likely to enjoy staying on from a handy position off a strong pace.

The last over 1200m is very competitive and the five who make most appeal are Moonlite Mist, Miss Brody, Royal Kaitrina, Quintella and Bee My Honey.

A strong Graduation Plate race over 1600m is the highlight of the Scottsville meeting on Sunday and could be won by the Kannemeyer-trained Mambo Mime, who has had tough tasks in Kenilworth handicaps in his last two off a merit rating in the high 90s, but is now the officially best weighted horse in this race.

At Turffontein, Trippi filly Shatoosh is an exciting prospect and could follow up on her eyecatching debut victory by winning the 7^th race over 1200m off a lenient looking merit rating of 75.

By David Thiselton

Bishop’s Bounty, a full brother to the top class Red Ray, stands out at Kenilworth tomorrow when Justin Snaith’s potential star will be a warm order in the Place Your Bets Juvenile Plate.

Considered good enough to make a winning debut in the Met day Listed race – he was a close third, he ran out a convincing winner just over a month ago. There are only two snags – he seems sure to start odds-on and his trainer says he needs more ground.

Of the opposition, Bombs Away only just won and the three newcomers surely have it all to do despite receiving 3kg (worth over two lengths). But you might want to consider Elevated as he won easily at the Queen’s Plate meeting with Weichong Marwing advising: “Keep a note of him for when he comes back.”

Weichong Marwing

“We had him ready that day, we fancied him strongly and had a bet,” recalls Riaan van Reenen. “He was gelded on the Monday after the race and he has been doing well since but he is perhaps 10% underdone. We haven’t put him back on grass and this is a prep for the Somerset and the Cape Nursery. Also I’m in the same boat as Justin because he wants further.”

Van Reenen also runs two others with Rebel’s Burst having place prospects if she runs – “She could be in with a shout with the appie claiming 4kg but she coughed on Wednesday and I will take her out if she does it again.”

The Philippi trainer’s State Ballet has some of the best form in the Michael Baigel Maiden, and is the pick on adjusted ratings. What is more she should be a decent price because she ran deplorably last time. There were valid excuses – she came back bleeding from a pastern, the result of a previous cut reopening – and she looks worth another chance.

The first of the two Easter Egg Hunts takes place after this race and is confined to small children. At Turffontein next Saturday every racegoer gets a chocolate egg with a R5 000 betting voucher secreted in one of them.

Many punters will be aiming to make it a happy Easter a week early with Sugar Frosted in the Eleste Bain Maiden but the probable favourite comes with a wealth warning.  She started 15-10 last time, caused concern at the start (the vet had to examine her), lost ground at the off and came back not striding out. Furthermore this is her second run after a rest. Navasha should start at a better price and in the circumstances is preferred.

Mike Bass sends out the two previous winners in the opener and Extradite gets the vote over Wake Up Maggie as the form of the latter’s win has not worked out well.

The stable has a third of the field in the Quinte Plus Handicap. Sheer Trouble is well drawn but there are grounds for believing that he did not quite run up to his rating when third in the Cape Mile and so Laurie’s Gold may prove best.

By Michael Clower

Highveld trainer Robbie Sage has nurtured the famous white racehorse, Gran Blanco, to a point whereby he might soon race and in other yard news his smart three-year-old filly Madame Dubois is destined for America and will fly out on the same shipment, via Mauritius, as Smart Call and Noah For Goa.

Meanwhile, the Coastal Horse Care Unit, who have played an important role in Gran Blanco’s life, deservedly won the “Organisation Of The Year Award” at the last KZN Sports awards.

Gran Blanco attracted worldwide interest in 2011 when becoming the first ever white thoroughbred foal born in South Africa.

Most laymen would be surprised to learn this, because there are many thoroughbreds who appear white. However these horses are officially grey. Greys are born with a base colour, usually bay, chestnut or black, but an inherited gene slowly removes pigment from the coat and they might eventually appear to be white.

Actual white colouring in horses is caused by areas of skin that lack pigment cells, but it is usually only found near the feet and on the nose.

The cells are known as “depigmentation phenotypes”, and most of the genetics behind it is still unknown.

The world’s first ever white thoroughbred registered was a filly born in 1963 in Kentucky called White Beauty. She was a genetic mutation. By the end of 2005, only 48 white thoroughbreds had been registered in history, but 28 of these occurred between 2001 and 2005 as a result of the American Paint Horse Association, which specifically breeds unusually coloured thoroughbreds and quarter horses.

The Rathmor Stud-bred Gran Blanco, who is by Kahal out of Rakeen mare Perakeen, was knocked down at the National Yearling Sales in 2013 for R220,000.

However, the purchasers later fell on hard times and the Coastal Horse Care Unit were granted a court order to monitor the situation. Through the help of the latter organisation, aided by a concerned Rathmor Stud, Gran Blanco eventually found himself in the good hands of Sage.

The latter has deliberately allowed Gran Blanco to remain an entire in order to strengthen him up. The process of nurturing him back to full health and then conditioning him into racing shape has required a lot of kindness and horse care skills as well as a lot of patience and understanding from the current owner.

However, Gran Blanco was recently gelded, a sign his first start could be around the corner.

Meanwhile, Madame Dubois flies out to Mauritius on March 27, where she will stay for three months on the first leg of a long quarantine-dictated journey to America.

The Count Dubois filly won three of seven starts in South Africa, including the Gr 3 HSH Princess Charlene Of Monaco Starling Stakes over 1400m and the Gr 3 Three Troikas Stakes over 1450m. She beat the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner and runner up, Heaps Of Fun and Negoroamara, in the latter event. Originally owned solely by Colin Bird, her final start in South Africa in the Three Troikas was for a partnership consisting of Bird, Team Valor International, Valor Ladies LLC and Vanashree and Anant Singh.

Meanwhile, Gill Olmesdahl of the Coastal Horse Care Unit said the prizemoney from the KZN Sports Awards is being used to build more paddocks, a valuable asset in the horse care duties they carry out tirelessly.
– David Thiselton

Alyson Wright’s two-year-old Var filly Diamond In The Sky won in impressive style on debut on the Greyville turf on Sunday and there is a heartwarming story behind this talented sort.

She was quite green in the running in Sunday’s 1000m event, which was run in slightly soft going, and threw hear head up for a stride or two around the turn.  However, she quickened superbly and then ran all the way to the line under Brandon Lerena to win by 1,5 lengths from Fortissimus.

Diamond In The Sky had drifted out from 12/10 to 5/2, while Fortissimus had been backed into 5/2 joint favourite.

Diamond In The Sky, who is a solidly built chestnut with a nice stride, was bred by Rathmor Stud and is out of Dominion Royale mare Sorority, who won one race over 1400m at Greyville in just her third start. Sorority has now produced three winners, including an A. P. Arrow filly who finished runner up in the Listed Zimbabwe Derby.

Kevin Wright liked Diamond In The Sky at the Sale and duly thought he had clinched her for R300,000. Mike McHardy of Rathmor had already presented Kevin with a gift bag, when a commotion broke out.

Unbeknown to Kevin, well-known owner Ray Koedyk had been sitting in front of him during the bidding and the horse had actually been knocked down to him.

Koedyk’s bloodstock agent thus stopped the Sale in order to sort out the confusion. A quick audit revealed Koedyk to indeed be the legitimate buyer. It was a bit of a blow for the Wrights, but they were sporting about it.

There was later to be a happy ending.

They bumped into Koedyk at last year’s Mike Holmes Bloodstock Super Sale, which is always held in the Greyville parade ring on the afternoon of the Vodacom Durban July Gallops.

Koedyk told them the Sales confusion had been weighing on his mind and he had consequently decided to send the horse to them. The horse had in the meantime been at Sue Peters’ spelling farm.

Rathmor were the only possible losers in the end, because there is no telling how long the bidding would have gone on for.

However, McHardy was delighted when informed of the wonderful gesture by Koedyk.

The Wrights have been in the game for long enough to know it is only when facing the best that the true class of a horse can be revealed, so they are keeping their feet on the ground.

However, they were impressed by Diamond In The Sky’s debut effort, especially considering how green she was.

Another asset she possesses is a wonderful temperament, which augurs well considering Var’s possible best ever daughter Val De Ra was also chestnut and was so laid back she was almost asleep.

– David Thiselton

– Picture: Nkosi Hlophe

Cold As ice is being targeted at the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in bid to fly the flag for South Africa.

Ridgemont manager Craig Carey said: “William Haggas’s favoured race for her is the Jubilee but he stresses that everything has to go right in the meantime for her to run in that. It would be great for South African racing and breeding if she were to run.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who rode her to win the Choice Carriers as well as her first two British starts including the win at Chelmsford, has stood himself down as he does not expect to be able to do the weight in her planned campaign.

Carey said: “We’ve left it in William’s care to find a suitable jockey but we want continuity, someone who can ride her at Lingfield and Ascot as well as the two or three races leading up to the Jubilee.”

Joe Fanning, who rode her last time, rides the majority of Mark Johnson’s big string and so is unlikely to be available. Cold As Ice runs next in the £150 000 (R3.3 million) Fillies & Mares Final at Lingfield on Friday week.

– Michael Clower
– Picture: Liesl King