Cape Town racing has been shocked by the decision to axe tomorrow’s Durbanville meeting – handing over R620 000 in stakes to Port Elizabeth – but, more particularly, by the fear that this could be just the beginning.

The decision was taken after entries of 160 produced just 54 acceptors. The two 2 000m races had nine and ten runners but each of the other six had only between five and seven. A hastily arranged Fairview polytrack substitute produced 95 declarations.

“I think it’s a crisis,” said Tellytrack presenter and former trainer Stan Elley, echoing the view of many. “We’ve got to do something or Phumelela will cut more meetings. A lot of people’s livelihoods are at stake here.”

Kenilworth Aerial view

Elley, a member of what is effectively a local programmes committee for more than half his 41 years as a trainer, believes the problem lies with the big yards (he estimates that the top half dozen have 80-85% of the horses) often being reluctant to run their clients’ horses against each other for fear of upsetting owners.

He said: “Trainers have got to wake up. Owners have too as well and spread their horses around more while I think there should be a limit on the number of horses each trainer is allowed.

“You cannot do anything about the trainers that have their own yards but you can with the rest. It has been done in PE and I believe in Durban too.”

Last September Phumelela and Kenilworth Racing warned trainers that fixtures would be dropped and stakes reduced if the average field did not increase from ten to 12 (the minimum necessary to generate decent betting turnover). Yet this month only six of the 62 races produced 12 or more runners.

Dean Kannemeyer is one of the big trainers involved and he said: “They tell me that I am not having enough runners and they are putting me under pressure but I have moved 30 of my horses to Durban.

“I understand the need for runners but there is something wrong somewhere in Cape Town. I see meetings here with 150-160 entries but in Durban they can have as many as 700.

“What is needed is for somebody to sit down with me (and other trainers), ask how many horses I’ve got, where I want to run them and over what distances in a coming three-month period rather than being told you’ve got so many rated 70-80 etc.”

Eric Sands, a former member of the programmes committee, made the point that in February many Cape trainers want to give their horses a break after a busy summer season while most two-year-olds based here do not race until the rains come to avoid getting sore shins on the firm ground.

He added: “I am not saying that the trainers are blameless – they are not – but the programmes are drawn up only twice a year, one for five months and the other for seven, and they are done two to three months in advance which means that a horse can be running in a programme prepared ten months earlier. It should be done every three months and from a box-by-box census to make it relevant.”

Kenilworth Racing issued a press release last Friday saying, inter alia: “A number of trainers have not stepped up to the plate… the last resort is to reduce the number of racemeetings… recently a census was completed and the winter programme (April-August) is based on the latest facts.”

By Michael Clower 

Glen Kotzen issued a warning that he has two-year-old talent aplenty – both in Cape Town and for Durban  – after Donovan Dillon’s mount Corker lived up to her name when becoming the first of the Pathforks to win at Durbanville on Saturday.

Glen Kotzen

Kotzen said: “I’ve got a stable full of Pathforks and they are very nice. I’ve told owner Hugo Hattingh that this one won’t go to Durban because the plan is the nursery at Kenilworth but I’ve got others going to Durban who are really smart.”

Nobody could accuse Paul Reeves of not running his horses often enough and Sunshine Lady, fourth here last Wednesday, enjoyed an all-the-way romp in the 1 400m maiden while Brandon May initiated a quick double for the ex-jockey and owner Paul Barrett by making every metre on All Magic 35 minutes earlier.

However Reeves is narked about not being able to go again tomorrow, saying: “I am a small trainer with 30 horses and 19 of them are two-year-olds. My clients have paid training fees and they were expecting to race. I’m angry.”

Aldo Domeyer, who rode Sunshine Lady, was in treble form with 2013 Winter Derby winner Gifted For Glory winning for the first time since damaging a tendon during his Durban campaign of nearly two years ago, and Ovar making amends for Andre Nel’s Wednesday reverses.

Nel reported that Jingle Belle, never at the races when starting favourite for the 1300m maiden, “is a 2 000m horse and only got going at the end” while even warmer favourite Weskus Klong is apparently no better than his third place would suggest.

Corne Orffer had a nightmare afternoon – beaten on three favourites plus the fancied Rock On Geordies finishing only third behind Grant Behr on the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Doctorow – but he had compensation in the last when Chasing Dreams got up 100m out. The Adam Marcus winner has had two sinus operations and is owned by a syndicate run by Gold Circle’s communications guru Glenn Marcus.

It was only 16 days ago that Greg Ennion vowed to support Lucian Africa and his faith was rewarded with Roman Discent storming home in the Marsh Shirtliff colours in the 2 000m handicap. “Lucian is riding like a demon,” said Ennion in an emphatic I-told-you-so tone.

By Michael Clower

The Mike Azzie-trained Abashiri stamped himself close to the top of the class when running out a comfortable winner of the Gr2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein yesterday. Given a confident ride by Karl Zechner, the Go Deputy colt hit the front some two furlongs out and kept on strongly to hold a fast finishing Champagne Haze and a hard-chasing Malak El Moolook.

An emotional Azzie was all praise post-race comparing Abashiri to his past champion National Currency – high praise indeed. Abashiri has a pedigree that could carry him all the way to the Triple Crown with the SA Classic next on the agenda.

Zechner had his mount up with the pace throughout as Anthony Delpech committed early on Suyoof in an attempt to overcome his wide draw.

It proved a failed ploy as Suyoof compounded early in the straight leaving Albashiri a clear run to the wire. Malak El Moolook tried hard to stay with the winner but came up short while Champagne Haze came from well off the pace to snatch second.

A tongue-tie proved what was needed for Sean Tarry to lift consecutive Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas trophies as Heaps Of Fun kept finding under S’Manga Khumalo to out-gun favourite Negroamaro.

S’Manga Khumalo took the daughter of Visionaire to the front and slowed the pace up to suit with Anton Marcus wise to his plo, tracking him aboard Negroamaro. Both jockeys went for broke a long way from home but try as she may, Negroamaro was not able to make up the leeway as Heaps Of Fun showed brilliant courage to keep finding to the line. Frosty Friday stayed on for third ahead of She’s A Dragon.

Earlier, Bernard Fayd’Herbe rode a typically powerful finish on Captain Aldo to snatch the G2 Hawaii Stakes away from the game filly Lazer Star with favourite Ice Machine a neck back in third.

Lazer Star looked to have the race in the bag 50m out but Fayd’Herbe muscled Captain Aldo to the front one jump from the line.

Ice Machine, as is his want, came from last but the line came just too soon.

Andrew Harrison

Gold Coast Captain looks good for the Summer Of Champions Maiden at Durbanville tomorrow despite having the worst of the draw.

The Brett Crawford gelding lost at least the 3.75 lengths he was beaten when dawdling out of the pens three weeks ago but he should know more about it now – this is his third run – and the coffin box shouldn’t be too much of a hindrance with only seven runners.

He opened 12-10 favourite yesterday with World Sports Betting who had the once-raced Fort Infinity next at 22-10 – “He has come on a little bit so I think he must have a chance,” says Harold Crawford.

Sweet Surrender is a big price at 11-1 as he was forced to check last time. “He had to snatch up,” says Glen Kotzen. “He would probably have finished second otherwise so he has a big shout here.”

On the other hand Banderos, despite his strong form claims, could be too short at 28-10 as this is his first race for five months. “He had a bone injury,” reports Vaughan Marshall who believes the gelding will need the run.

Corne Orffer also has to contend with the outside draw on Rebel’s Burst, 18-10 favourite for the Juvenile Fillies Maiden, but Riaan van Reenen is optimistic that he can succeed – “This is a very speedy filly and she has the speed to overcome her draw,” he explains.

But the odds are short enough and in what looks quite an open race 7-2 chance Royal Duchess may have come on enough to win.

Mr Wise Guy has improved enormously in the last few weeks and the way he won on Met day – leading after the first furlong and staying on strongly  – suggests he may be able to cope with the extra 400m of the Play The Bipot Handicap and with the 2.5kg the handicappers raised him.

Londalozi started 3-1 favourite for her debut earlier in the month but she ran green and was beaten almost ten lengths. The Mike Bass filly again heads the market for the Racing. It’s A Rush Maiden-  she opened at 18-10 – but there is some doubt as to the source of last time’s money. “I’ve no idea why [she was backed]. It wasn’t stable money,” says assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe. “She has improved a bit but she probably needs further.”

Sunshine Lady (28-10) may be good enough but Bass’s Stormy City appeals at 5-1 for the Itsarush.co.za maiden after showing significant improvement last time. Rock On Geordies (18-10) kept changing stride in the straight here last time when Doctorow (15-4), a length and a half behind, was unable to get a clear run. King Of Babylon (9-2) will have support but this is his second run after a lengthy rest.

By Michal Clower

Turffontein’s big Guineas meeting tomorrow heralds an opportunity to reassess the three-year-old crop and history will say the picture could be dramatically altered.

Abashiri and Negroamaro are the two stars going into the meeting, but it would be no surprise if other stars are shining brighter by Monday.

Abashiri will find the trip sharper than ideal in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas. Furthermore, the outside often appears to be sort after down the straight on big days at Turffontein, so another concern could be him being caught on the inside of horses from his low draw. He won the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m by 2,5 lengths, but did have a weight advantage and had to be hard ridden. Things will need to go his way tomorrow over this too sharp trip, but is still the first choice due to his class and progressive profile.

Suyoof’s stride will be dwarfed by Abashiri’s, but he does also possess a nice turn of foot. Anthony Delpech should help him overcome his wide draw and will surely judge his run to perfection in the straight.

The classy Brazuca will also be running on and the Anton Marcus booking speaks volumes.

New Predator is on a par with Brazuca on a line through Noah From Goa and likely didn’t enjoy the Turffontein Inside track last time out.

Muwaary bled in the Cape Guineas when widely expected to romp home at odds of 12/10. This is his comeback from the obligatory three month suspension and he is the dark horse.

Champagne Haze took off from quite some way out when winning the R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run over 1400m on this track and stayed all the way to the line, so he should stay this trip and is horse whose name could potentially be up in lights on Monday.

Rocketball will finish on top of Abashiri on paper, although the latter did lose some ground at the start when they met in the Sea Cottage. Rocketball will probably appreciate the step up in trip and has a winning chance.

His stable companion Celtic Captain over raced in the Tony Ruffell, so did well to finish fifth. This is the trip of his three career wins. The blinkers remain on and if he settles he could be a contender.

Romany Prince finished second in the Sea Cottage, but is 2kg worse off with Rocketball for a 0,75 length beating and he then disappointed in the Tony Ruffell .

Ole Gunnar is unexposed but progressive and should be running on. He makes most appeal of the rest.

The selection is Abashiri to win from Suyoof,  with New Predator, Brazuca and Champagne Haze next best.

The Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas is also ultra competitive beyond the obvious favourite Negroamaro. Her facile Gr 3 Fillies Mile victory and her flying close up second in the Three Troikas over 1450m make it difficult to look beyond her.

However, this does not appear to be a strong crop, so the unexposed runners must be considered in the search for a special horse. KZN raider Princess Varunya is a candidate as her four wins on the trot were achieved with impressive fluency. She will relish this galloping course, although she would prefer further.

Christmas Carol is lowly merit rated but has won her last three and brings the Geoff Woodruff factor to the party. The five-times champion trainer’s ability to extract improvement for big Turffontein racedays is well known.

Frosty Friday impressed last time out over 1450m and is on the up.

She’s A Dragon was doing her best work late in the Three Troikas where she carried 1kg more than Negroamaro and only lost to her by two lengths.

Juxtapose finished just as quickly as Negroamaro in the Three Troikas and was beaten 0,6 lengths, although she is now 1kg worse off. She was hanging in the Fillies Mile when beaten over seven lengths and has improved since then but the memory of that antic does create a question mark.

Jungle Mist has to be considered on her last run, Persian Rug is enjoying the more forgiving recent ground and will relish the course and distance and Bella Sonata is better than her Three Troikas effort in which she pulled up with pharyngitis.

The selection is Negroamaro to beat Princess Varunya and Christmas Carol with Frosty Friday and She’s A Dragon next best.

The brilliant KZN miler Ice Machine will be a thrill to watch in the Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m if producing his best.

The Gr 3 Acacia Handicap is an open affair, but Off The Mark is progressing in the right direction and sneaks in with the minimum weight.

Arch Rival looks well weighted in the Listed Aquanaut Handicap over 2450m.

The treble for the day could be Ektifaa in the first, French Navy in the fourth and Down Under in the tenth.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Abashiri (Nkosi Hlophe)