The Grant Maroun-trained six-year-old Mullins Bay gelding Viking Hero continued his amazing transformation at Turffontein on Tuesday evening, a meeting at which national champion trainer Sean Tarry had four winners, before later admitting he would erase it if able due to one of his crack colts Zambezi River having to be euthanized.

Tarry paid tribute to the horse and also spoke about the pending aspirations of some of his other stable stars.

Viking Hero added the Gr 3 Tommy Hotspur crown to his Gr 3 Lebelo Sprint trophy, an incredible feat considering he was a 68 merit-rated battler at this time last year. He ran off a 92 merit rating on Tuesday night and was easy to back at 20/1, having disappointed over 1200m off this mark in his only start since winning the Lebelo off an 88. However, carrying 52,5kg and back to his favourite 1000m, Jarryd Penny got him home in an exciting finish from the consistent Mike Azzie-trained Splendid Garden and an ultra unlucky favourite, the Mike de Kock-trained Moofeed, who had to be eased and switched at a crucial stage. The latter will be a big runner in a race like the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, a handicap over an ideal 1200m in which he finished ninth last year from a tough draw.

A saddened Tarry spoke fondly of the Trippi gelding Zambezi River, who counted the R2,5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes among his six career victories, and said, “He had never been to the front before but broke well so S’Manga had no option. He seemed to be cruising when he snapped both sesamoidal ligaments. He was only just coming back to form and had a lot to come so we are going to miss him. Horses like him are not easy to replace. But we have to deal with it and move on.”

Tarry started the night well when the Var filly Exquisite Touch scooted home to win a Juvenile Plate over 1000m by 3,2 lengths.

Tarry has only run three juveniles fillies this season and three have won, which augurs well for the yard’s chances in the Juvenile features, especially as the winners include the exciting Captain Al filly Cloth Of Cloud, a half-sister to Silver Mountain.

Tarry won the next race over 1160m with the big and impressive Trippi colt Mombela, who was having only his second start and returning from a layoff of over a year. He said this horse has a “host of issues” but rates him so if he stays in tune he will be one to follow.

Greatfiveeight won the next and it was then the turn of Trophy Wife, who is among the leading lights of probably the best fillies crop in South African history.

Her immediate big race target is the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes over her ideal 1600m trip.

Among the best of Trophy Wife’s outstanding crop is her stablemate Siren’s Call, who went within a stride of landing last season’s Triple Tiara. However, the yard were unhappy with the way she came out of her only Cape Town run so have decided “to give her more time”.

Tarry said Legal Eagle would be unlikely to have the Vodacom Durban July among his targets, although he would join French Navy in being aimed at the R4 million President’s Champions Challenge.

He views French Navy as his current leading July hopeful, although he said there would be the usual scenario of three-year-olds emerging as contenders.

By David Thiselton

The country’s likely most sort after jockey Anton Marcus revealed he had regarded the filly Smart Call as the biggest danger to his mount Legal Eagle in the J&B Met and added her subsequent victory had been “no flash in the pan”. She has been merit rated 121 and Marcus said, “The handicappers have got it right.”

Marcus admitted he had not considered Smart Call his biggest danger upon studying her bare form. However, he had a complete about turn when riding her in her compulsory J&B Met gallop nine days before the big race. The filly had given him a very good feel in the gallop and he had then become became “wary” of her and even confided his fears to Legal Eagle’s trainer Sean Tarry. Marcus said Legal Eagle could hardly have done any better than finishing 3,5 lengths adrift of the filly in second place. He believed nobody else would have gone forward to challenge Piere Strydom on Legislate in the early stages if he had not done so.

Marcus rode another top horse in Ice Machine to victory in the Non-Black Type Marula Sprint over 1200m at Greyville recently. He revealed he had regarded this Silvano gelding as having “champion” potential a long time ago when still with the Garth Puller stable.

Puller was the brilliant miler’s first trainer and admitted he had never seen Ice Machine moving as well as he had been since his third trainer Charles Laird had taken over the reins at the beginning of last season. Puller still follows his “favourite horse” closely and will be one of many willing the luckless seven-year-old to a first Gr 1 victory this Champions Season.

By David Thiselton

 

Muzi Yeni said his aim this season would be to ride 200 winners and if the Jockeys Championship came with it, it would be a bonus.

The intriguing battle for the Championships at present sees Anthony Delpech out in front on 116 winners, Andrew Fortune two behind on 114, S’Manga Khumalo on 105, Yeni on 97 and Anton Marcus on 80. However, Fortune, Khumalo and Yeni are the three biggest travellers among the leaders, so they could yet reel Delpech in.

Meanwhile, Paul Lafferty was happy with Unbelievable Chad’s run on Sunday at Scottsville, pointing out the crawl which turned it into a canter and sprint. The Toreador colt still has the KRA Guineas as his initial big target. Lafferty has two other “decent three-year-olds” in Ole Gunnar (Second Empire) and Roy’s Air Force (King’s Apostle). All three of the aforementioned unfashionably bred horses were found for the yard by pedigree and conformation expert Linton Ryan.

Ole Gunnar is being targeted at the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas and will give two part-owners, Phil Georgiou and Doug Steyn, a double in the race if he wins as they also have shares in last year’s winner Harry’s Son. Roy’s Air Force has displayed headstrong antics at the races lately and Lafferty said a new more severe bit would be tried.

Harry’s Son, having apparently been inside the previous course record when finishing second on his Dubai debut, only lost 1kg in weight during the race, despite it being his first run for ten months and is “very well” ahead of the Gr 2 Zabeel Mile on February 25.

By David Thiselton

Last season’s champion workrider Lyle Hewitson has enjoyed his first couple of months at the South African Jockeys Academy (SAJA) and is awaiting a NHRA decision to fast forward his first professional race ride.

A South African Racing rule states no apprentice may ride in a race within a six month period of arriving at the Academy, but the Academy have made a request to the NHRA to relax the ruling in Hewitson’s case due to his prior achievements in the saddle.

The Kearsney College Old Boy is the son of former jockey Carl Hewitson and had 88 rides as a workrider for 23 winners, including a four-timer in February last year. His strike rate was over 26%

Hewitson was appreciating the advice being given to him by Academy riding masters. The latter work around a rider’s natural style and Hewiston likened it to a professional golfer having his swing tweaked by a swing analyst. He added the biggest step up would be “the thinking part” and the riding masters have consequently educated him plenty into the all important strategic side of raceriding.

Hewitson should have no problem adapting to the latter aspect of the profession as he came close to achieving an academic  clean sweep when matriculating last year, achieving five distinctions and 79% for his two other subjects.

He will further his studies through a University Correspondence course during his three year indentures at the Academy. He will have time on his hands while his younger colleagues are attending school lessons.

Hewitson has already earned the respect of the senior jockeys, whom he revealed have been very helpful. He was always going to be sort after by the trainers so has been busy at track in the mornings.

By David Thiselton

 

 

Trainer Mike Azzie will be delighted Abashiri, one of the three highest rated runners in the field, has drawn No 3 for the R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 27 February.

The Grade 2 race is the alternate first leg of the R2-million SA Triple Crown. The Grade 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas is also recognised as the first leg and that was won by Noah From Goa who is not among the Gauteng Guineas entries.

The other two legs of the Triple Crown are the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m and the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m, both races to be run in April.

Nominations for the R500,000 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas (Grade 2) also closed yesterday. This is the alternate first leg for the R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara which comprises the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m and the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks over 2450m. The Cape Fillies Guineas also counts as the first leg and that was won by Silver Mountain.

Abashiri, a son of Go Deputy, is only beginning to show his true ability following a short but notable two-year-old career. He won his Maiden on the Polytrack at Greyville and followed that up with a fast-finishing third place in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m on the Greyville turf, finishing just 0.80 lengths behind stable companion Rabada. Just a short head in front of Abashiri came Prospect Strike, a top-class colt formerly with Dominic Zaki who is currently with Sean Tarry.

Prospect Strike, with a merit rating of 109, is also one of the three highest rated Guineas entries, the other being Brazuca, trained by Johan Janse van Vuuren. Unfortunately they did not land the best of draws – Prospect Strike at No 13 and Brazuca at No 10.

Van Vuuren also has nominated New Predator who was disappointing when fourth in Saturday’s Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1450m, despite a flood of money coming for him. He is better than that run but has drawn No 11.

Champagne Haze ran well in the Tony Ruffel, finishing second behind Suyoof, and the connections will be delighted the half-brother of Pierre Jourdan has drawn at No 6.

Mike de Kock has entered Tony Ruffel winner Suyoof as well as Muwaary (pictured) but has landed up with “bookend” draws – No 1 for Muwaary and widest-of-all No 19 for Suyoof.

There are 23 entries for the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the highest rated runners are Negroamaro, Madame Dubois, She’s A Dragon and Juxtapose, the first four past the post – not in that order – in Saturday’s Grade 3 Three Troikas Stakes over 1450m.

The first three have all drawn well in the Fillies Guineas, but Juxtapose has landed up with No 18 barrier position.

Supplementary entries for both races close at 11am on Monday 15 February with final declarations by 11am on Thursday, 18 February.

Nominations for the R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) (1st Leg SA Triple Crown) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 27 February 2016 (under draw, name, weight, merit rating and trainer):

3  Abashiri                          60      109     Mike Azzie

10 Brazuca (AUS)             60      109   Johan Janse van Vuuren

13 Prospect Strike            60      109   Sean Tarry

11 New Predator (AUS)   60       107   Johan Janse van Vuuren

6  Champagne Haze         60     106    Gary Alexander

16 Rocketball                  60    103      Gavin van Zyl

19 Suyoof (AUS)          60        103      Mike de Kock

1  Muwaary (AUS)       60        102      Mike de Kock

18 Romany Prince       60        101      Ormond Ferraris

8  Le Clos                     60        99        Mike Azzie

12 Lineker (AUS)         60        99        Justin Snaith

4  Lunar Approach      60        95        Sean Tarry

2  Celtic Captain         60        94        Gavin van Zyl

9  Liege                       60        93        Sean Tarry

7  Rikitikitana              60        93        Sean Tarry

5  Malak El Moolook   60        91        Sean Tarry

15 Ole Gunnar            60        87        Paul Lafferty

17 Coral Fever            60        79        Robbie Sage

14 #Count Tassilo        60        73        Sean Tarry

Nominations for the R500,000 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas (Grade  2) (1st Leg SA Triple Tiara) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 27 February (under draw, name, weight, merit rating and trainer):

8   Negroamaro          60        104      Johan Janse van Vuuren

1   Madame Dubois    60        102      Robbie Sage

3   She’s A Dragon       60        101      Craig Mayhew

18 Juxtapose               60        98        Stanley Ferreira

14 Princess Varunya   60        98        Kumaran Naidoo

9  Heaps Of Fun          60        95        Sean Tarry

7  Persian Rug            60        94        Mike de Kock

20 Frosty Friday          60        93        Gavin van Zyl

23 Noor                       60        92        Mike de Kock

15 Kilauea                   60        91        David Nieuwenhuizen

21 Melliflora               60        90        Mike Azzie

12 Crystal Glamour     60        88        Gary Alexander

16 Alexa                      60        87        Geoff Woodruff

11 Khonza                    60        87        Weiho Marwing

17 Bella Sonata           60        84        Gavin van Zyl

4  Christmas Carol      60        83        Geoff Woodruff

13 Shivering Sea         60        83        St John Gray

6 Angelic Appeal         60        82        St John Gray

2 Penny Serenade       60        82        Mike Azzie

22 Polyphonic              60        82        Alec Laird

10 Deep Down Rebel  60        80        Kumaran Naidoo

19 Bajan Fantasy         60        79        Gary Alexander

5  Runalong                 60        74        Paul Peter