Investec Dingaans and Grand Parade Cape Guineas winner Noah From Goa will likely never race in South Africa again. One of Mike de Kock’s chief owners Sheik Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum has bought a share in him and he will be on the next shipment overseas.

Noah From Goa’s Cape Guineas win earned him a shot at winning the Triple Crown, as it forms one of two alternate first leg races. However, he will now miss this prestigious series in favour of arriving as quickly as possible for an overseas campaign.

The Wilgerbosdrift Stud-bred Tiger Ridge gelding is small but courageous and also finished an excellent second to the 120 merit-rated Legal Eagle in the Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate.

He will leave South African shores merit rated 116 and as current leader of the race to be named Equus Three-Year-Old Male of the Year.

The J&B Met winner Smart Call will be on the same shipment as Noah From Goa. She is being targeted at the Breeder’s Cup.

The two thoroughbred stars have not yet entered quarantine in Cape Town as they are still waiting for enough horses (other breeds will also be included) to make up a full shipment.

Unfortunately, at this stage it appears the arduous journey via Mauritius is the only feasible route for the shipment.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Noah From Goa (Liesl King)

The line-up included New Predator, who was beaten a wet nose by Noah From Goa in the Gr2 Dingaans (a race that everyone knows should be a Gr1 but isn’t) two smart Ready To Run Cup winners in Lineker and Champagne Haze, and Suyoof (AUS), who gave his rivals between 3,5kg and 8kg when he won the Listed Secretariat Stakes last December.

But disputes over Graded status never gets anybody anywhere and suffice it to report that the merits of Suyoof’s success in the 2016 running of the Tony Ruffel is likely to manifest itself in quick follow-up wins in handicaps and at higher levels by Sheikh Hamdan’s three-year-old gelding and several others who finished on his heels.

Anthony Delpech rode Suyoof to victory from a wide draw on the inside track, never easy, and he commented: “He jumped a bit slow but we came out near the running rail and into a better position. He ran on, I could see Andrew Fortune (on Champagne Haze), coming on my inside but Suyoof won well.”

Mike de Kock watched the race in Dubai and said: “Suyoof is a very progressive horse and he will do well over 1600m too,” comments echoed by assistant trainer John Buckler who saddled the gelding for the stable.

Suyoof, bred by Yarraman Park Stud Pty Ltd, NSW, is a son of Magic Albert from Magic Harmony, a mare by Danehill Dancer. Expect more magic from him!

Mikedekockracing.com
Picture: Suyoof (JC Photos)

The Dubai World Cup is beckoning for Al Shaqab’s Mshawish (Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez) after the six-year-old powered home for his first Grade 1 victory on dirt in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream.

Formerly trained in France, the son of Medaglia d’Oro had been campaigned on turf for much of his globe-trotting career and won the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap on the same card 12 months previously.

However, Mshawish had shown his aptitude for dirt on a couple of previous outings before scoring by two lengths over front-running Valid to claim the $500,000 Donn – the race won by the great Cigar in 1996 before he won the inaugural Dubai World Cup. Captain Steve (2001) and Invasor (2007) also won here before claiming the world’s richest race.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said the plan for the winner was Meydan on March 26, with the World Cup looking a more likely target this time than the Dubai Turf (former Duty Free), in which he finished third to Solow in 2015.

“We’ll go to Dubai and make a decision but hopefully it will be the World Cup,” said Pletcher, who was winning his fifth Donn.
Racingpost.com
Picture: Mshawish (MiamiHerald.com)

The future racing career of both Legislate and Futura hangs in the balance after they showed signs of haemo-concentrating following their below-par performances in the J & B Met nine days ago.

Justin Snaith said on Saturday: “Their bloods are a bit thick, and we need to sit down and discuss things but I think it could be a good idea to get them ready for their stud careers.

“If they go to Jo’burg or Durban they won’t look like stallions by the time they have finished racing. But this is in the hands of the owners. It’s not a decision I should play a part in. If I did, I might be biased into keeping them racing.”

Legislate (left) and Futura (John Lewis)

John Freeman, who is a part-owner of both horses and is due to manage their stallion careers, appeared to be singing from much the same hymn sheet in the newsletter he sent to clients at the end of last week.

He said: “We always knew the time would come when our two five-year-old entires would tell us that their manhood was going to get in the way of their racing form. They have nothing more to prove. They each won four Grade 1s, both earned the ultimate accolade of Horse of the Year and both have a track record to their credit.”

Snaith also referred to the hurt of the Met after Five Star Rock won the Klawervlei Stud Maiden in the Futura colours at Kenilworth on Saturday.

He said: “It was not an easy pill to swallow. These horses are champions and nothing went our way.”

Cape Fillies Guineas winner and Million Dollar runner-up Silver Mountain has recovered well from the latter race and the Mike Bass stable is already looking forward to pastures new.

Candice Robinson said: “It’s all good with her and she will go to Natal.”

Last season’s Choice Carriers and Sceptre winner Cold As Ice found the early pace too hot when starting 9-4 favourite for the Listed Unibet Cleves Stakes at Lingfield on Saturday but she ran on well for Joe Fanning in the closing stages to snatch third.

Kenilworth Racing has issued an apology for some of the music on Met day being so loud that it upset the horses, adding: “Measures to prevent a repeat will be part of the planning for all future J & B Met days.”

By Michael Clower

Solana looks good for the Bishops Handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow despite this being her first run out of the maidens.

Aldo Domeyer’s mount ran out a comfortable winner over this course and distance last month and the handicappers gave her a rating of 78 which was what the bare result justified. However they did not add anything for what she appeared to have in hand – at least a length and quite possibly twice that.

Andre Nel confirms her in good shape and, although World Sports Betting are giving nothing away at 12-10, she should be able to concede a kilo to probable danger Arabian Winter.

Justin Snaith has won five of the six Cape Town two-year-old races in which he has had a runner this season and R300 000 Var newcomer Contessa Confessa is 12-10 for the opening Maiden Juvenile. He also introduces Alpha Girl (7-1) who riding arrangements indicate should be the second string.

Snaith, speaking at Durbanville on Wednesday and stressing that yesterday’s final gallop might change things, said: “Contessa will probably need the run and Alpha Girl might finish the closer.”

Corker is the one to get excited about on pedigree. The R480 000 Pathfork filly is out of a half-sister to In The Fast Lane (Cape Fillies Guineas and Woolavington) and Met fourth Light The Lights.  She is a 6-1 chance and Glen Kotzen says: “She has only had the one gallop but she is a lovely filly who has come on by leaps and bounds. She will be competitive.”

But the vote goes to Extradite who has the advantage of experience and was quoted at evens yesterday. It was no disgrace to be beaten by the potentially high class The Secret Is Out and the Mike Bass filly should benefit from the in-form Grant van Nierkerk who won the first four at Durbanville on Wednesday.

Vaughan Marshall, who really rates The Secret Is Out, can win the Bishops Cricket Maiden with 11-10 shot Arctic Blast. The once-raced Q Behind Me (33-10) is an obvious danger. “She has come on a little bit,” reports Nel but he doubts her ability to come home in front in this.

Kado (10-1) drops back in trip after disappointing over 1 400m. “He was caught wide that day,” explains Eric Sands. “He is bred for a lot further but I thought I would give him another run up the straight. It’s not his game but he is not without a chance.”

Don’t ignore Torchman at 7-1 either. The form of his seven-length second to Orion Quest seemed to take a knock when Knight Of Glory (fifth) flopped on Wednesday but that horse was reported not striding out.

Mr Bond, 28-10 joint favourite with the hat-trick seeking Al Dangeur, gets the vote in the Snaith Racing Handicap. I Am The Law (15-4) is weighted to reverse the placings with Al Dangeur but is he is as good over 1 200m? “I’m not sure,” says Nel. “But he went to win his race over 1 400m last time and didn’t quite finish.”

Due West is 22-10 favourite for the Klawervlei Stud Maiden but the consistent Five Star Rock is rated slightly better and gets the vote at 28-10.

By Michael Clower