Greyville’s night meeting tomorrow features the Gr 3 Kings Cup over 1600m and this shapes as a polytrack championship, so is going to be full of intrigue.

Exit Here (Nkosi Hlophe)

Charles Laird sent Exit Here over trips shorter than the mile due only to the big money pull of the CTS Million Dollar, because he is crying out for further and the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 will be his main target. However, he showed by running fifth in the Million Dollar, despite a slower pace than expected, the mile is well within his compass. His run of five successive wins before that included four on the poly and he is the one to beat.

Olma also loves the poly. She was weighted to win the Gr 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m on the turf last time and did it effortlessly. She could have more to come now her probable best trip has been found.

Stormy Eclipse has won four out of his five races over the course and distance and jumps from draw two. He should be cherry ripe and carries Anton Marcus’s riding weight of 55kg, so won’t have to lug any deadweight. He could be a threat.

The filly In Other Words is another danger as she is unbeaten in five starts on the poly, so it is unknown what her limit is. She looks distance suited and is drawn in pole.

It Is Written is by Dynasty, like Olma and Stormy Eclipse, and has already proven his liking for the poly. He is 1kg worse off with Stormy Eclipse for the 1,25 length beating he gave him in the GR 3 Christmas Handicap over this trip on the Greyville turf, so they should finish on top of each other on paper. However, his wide draw of eleven makes it tough.

Way Of Light (Nkosi Hlophe)

Uncle Tommy is down to a competitive merit rating and will be a big runner too.

Marchant is one to be concerned about as his form in the stronger centre of Cape Town is decent and he could be well handicapped, particularly considering he sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight.

Way Of Light has won three out of five on the poly and won his only start over this course and distance comfortably, so is another one who can’t be discounted.

No Worries has become disappointing but his merit rating has consequently dropped. He makes his poly debut but he usually needs his comeback outing.

Silver Spring has many issues but has a big heart, although things will likely need to go his way.

Mumsy’s Jet is also a courageous sort and he has snuck in with the minimum weight, so can’t be ignored.

The selection is Exit Here to beat Olma with Stormy Eclipse, In Other Words and It Is Written next best. However, Uncle Tommy and Marchant niggle as a pair who could upset the applecart, so should be considered for exotics.

By David Thiselton

Lyle Hewitson is probably the most experienced four-claiming apprentice in the history of the South African Jockey Academy. The champion workrider is in the unique position of probably having ridden in and won more races than some of the more experienced apprentices currently in the academy yet the National Horseracing Authority rules governing if, when and where an apprentice may ride still apply. Given his age and experience one would suggest that in this case the “law is an ass”.

Lyle Hewitson

While one understands why the rules are in place, Hewitson’s case is an exception and surely reason should prevail. He was given the green light to race-ride before the usual three-month probation was up but is now restricted to ride only in races down the straight. Given that he has already ridden and won races around the turn, this restriction is laughable.

Be that as it may, punters can cash in. His proven ability with a 4kg claim will make him hot property and while he had to forgo his ride at Greyville yesterday after the meeting was switch from Scottsville, the Highveld trainers have cashed in and Hewitson has a host of decent mounts at The Vaal this afternoon.

One of his better rides comes in the eight, an MR 92 Handicap, where he partners Mod Barley for Paul Peter. The gelding scored the fourth win of his career when staying on well under apprentice Divan Neethling to beat the useful Aurum Pot last time out and before that was staying on nicely behind the Mike de Kock-trained Moofeed.

Given his current form and Hewitson’s claim Mod Barley looks a live contender.

The biggest threat to his chances could come at the bottom of the weights where Clinton Binda saddles a rejuvenated Cannes. The gelding had some fair Kimberley form but back on the turf he has won two of his three starts, including his last over course and distance. He rises in class this afternoon but gets weight from all and is a must for exotic bets.

It has been a week of ups and downs for S’Manga Khumalo. After riding six winners over the weekend and chasing hard for his second jockey championship, he took a tumble at Turffontein on Tuesday and has been booked off all his rides this afternoon.

By Andrew Harrison

High-flying combination Sean Tarry and S’Manga Khumalo could have another day of multiple success at the Vaal tomorrow as they are tipped to win no fewer than five races.

They could get the ball rolling in race one as the Mambo In Seattle filly Goodytwoshoes, who has some scope, faces a weak field and even from a tough draw should be able to build on her decent debut and come home in front.

S’Manga Khumalo (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the following race, a MR 85 handicap over 1600, the Fort Wood colt Fort Meyers has his third run after a long layoff. He over raced early over 1400m last time, but is now four points lower in the merit ratings and will enjoy the step up in trip to 1600m. However, the main concern in this uninspiring ten horse field is his draw of five as he will need to try and get over towards the standside fence, which is where the jockeys tend to want to be.

In the sixth race, a fillies and mares handicap over 1400m, Kahal filly Kalanchoe gets a better draw than she’s had in her last few and if Khumalo is able to find cover in the running she could emerge in front of another uninspiring field.

In the seventh, Rebel King filly Modjadji has good gatespeed and early pace and might relish the step down to 1000m off a one point lowered merit rating. She is drawn on the right side.

In the last over 1200m, the big four-year-old Trippi colt Mombela is having only his third career outing but impressed in his maiden win last time and looks capable of rising some way above his current 69 merit rating.

Tarry has good chances in all of the other races too.

By David Thiselton

Ashburton-based trainers punch well above their weight if one considers numbers – horses and trainers – and the quality of horse stabled there. There are only ten trainers based at the picturesque training centre situated on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg and most of the horses housed there did not set the sales ring alight.

Gary Rich

The biggest and strongest yards belong to Gr1 winning trainers Duncan Howells and Weiho Marwing. Howells has been champion KZN trainer and is currently heading the local log while Marwing has quickly settled in since relocating from Turffontein and came within an objection of winning the Vodacom Durban July with Wylie Hall.

But the smaller yards are also doing their part as they battle the economy and a dearth of owner support and between them saddled five winners over this past weekend. Paul Gadsby, Des Egdes and Howells had a winner apiece along with Gary Rich and Steven Janse van Rensburg while Lowan Denysschen saddled two seconds.

Rich and Janse van Rensburg are two relatively recent additions to the Ashburton ranks. Rich is the son of July winning trainer Des Rich (Lightning Shot) who also trained at Ashburton before his death. Gary started his training career at Ashburton before turning his hand to working at the South African Jockeys Academy where he worked for seven years.

But he missed training and when the offer came from Adam Kethro in Mooi River he jumped at the opportunity. That lasted for just over four years before they parted company.

“I was at a loose end but couldn’t find a job,” surmised Rich. “My age probably counted against me so eventually I decided to start out on my own again.”

“It’s been tough going but I’m enjoying it much more this time around,” he said.

Steven Janse Van Rensburg

Rich has had five winners since his return, most recently Roy’s Twilight for prolific owner Roy Moodley introduced to Rich by good friend Warren Lenferna. Roy’s Twilight had poor form before arriving in Rich’s yard. “After I started working her I couldn’t believe that her form was that bad,” said the trainer. He was correct in his assessment and after showing marked improvement at her first two starts for Rich, the daughter of Al Miqdaam shed her maiden third time out.

She followed up at her next start at Scottsville on Sunday. “It was a surprise but not really a surprise if that makes any sense,” he laughs. “She was working well but I didn’t think she could win two in a row.”

Steven Janse van Rensburg is the most recent arrival in Ashburton after relocating from Port Elizabeth. Van Rensburg started in Gauteng, working for Leon Erasmus for four years before joining the late ‘Oom’ Nic Claassen when he moved from the Vaal to Port Elizabeth.

“I worked for Oom Nic for 16 years and have been on my own for five years now,” he said.

He moved to Ashburton at the beginning of the year. “I suppose I was looking for better opportunities,” he said when quizzed on his move. Janse van Rensburg has 18 horses at the moment and has had two winners since relocating, the favourite Dhaamer obliging at Greyville on Friday night.

By Andrew Harrison

Kenilworth Racing and Phumelela are to adopt a more flexible approach to race programming in a bid to meet trainers’ concerns about the shortfalls of the present system.

Phumelela boss Clyde Basel said: “We are going to review the programme every two months, see which races are filling, which are not and why they are not. We can then tinker with the programme and make the necessary changes.

“Cape racing is fantastic and we want to keep it that way. The trainers are keen to increase the number of runners per race and we want to put things in place to enable them to do this.”

Eric Sands, one of those at the forefront of the call for change, said: “This will help – and we certainly can’t afford to give away any more of our racemeetings to another centre – but it can’t be done without also having an up-to-date horse census each time.

“Derek Brugman has suggested to me that we should go to each trainer each month, ask him or her what horses they have to run, the type of horse and the distances they are looking for – and that is a good suggestion.”

By Michael Clower 

Picture: Eric Sands (hamish NIVEN Photography)