There are two eight race meetings in KZN this weekend, a polytrack card at Greyville tonight, and racing around the turn makes its comeback at Scottsville on Sunday.

There look to be one or two opportunities for punters on both cards and the Pick 6 (carryover pool estimated R1.1million) looks catchable tonight.

The first race tonight is a Maiden over 1900m and Jullidar is knocking on the door and is course and distance suited so is the one to beat with Anton Marcus up despite a wide draw. Roy’s Tiger stayed on at one pace over 1800m last time on the turf  and could earn. Tayaar looks likely to relish the step up in trip having stayed on over 1600m last time and he should finish in the first three, although he is yet to justify the betting support he has sometimes received.

The second is a MR 80 Handicap over 1900m and Night Shadow has really come into his own, not surprisingly being by Silvano, and looks the one to beat from a good draw because recently he has struck as one who can rise above his current merit rating of 82. Kitty’s Destiny is also a progressive sort and was unlucky last time out over 2000m on the poly when hampered at a crucial stage in the straight. Mr Winsome is another progressive sort by Silvano and will likely give plenty of cheek over this suitable course and distance.

The third is a MR69 Handicap over 1900m. The Alec Laird-trained Gauteng raider Arabian World has caught the eye before over this sort of trip and enjoys the Vaal sand so, as a possibly  still improving son of ideal World, makes appeal from a good draw. Willoughton won his maiden by six lengths over 1600m and is reunited with Anton Marcus for the first time since. He is a half-brother to an Opera King gelding who won over 2400m so should stay the trip.

Avaricious could benefit from having Muzi Yeni aboard as he is capable of winning a race like this if he settles over this sort of distance. Royal Lance is interesting as one who was tried over further early in his career and ran on well over 1600m last time, but he is worse off at the weights with Willoughton despite being beaten by him last time. Told You So could be involved off a reduced merit rating over an ideal trip as long as he doesn’t lose Too much ground at the start.

The fourth is a Maiden over 1600m and Alec Laird could claim a quick double as Seattle Prince has been knocking on the door on the Highveld and his formline looks relatively strong here. Soldier’s Code has ability and his best poly run was over this trip so he could bounce back. Le Cheik was outpaced and pushed along throughout over 1200m last time but finished well and will relish the step up in trip. King’s Wager stayed on well for third from this identical draw over course and distance last time. Dhaamer finished second over course and distance last time in a similar field but is drawn much wider now.

The fifth is a MR 66 Handicap over 1200m and Eternal Ice looks well handicapped on his best performances and proved last time out his suitability to this trip. Dreamy Forest is interesting as one who has run two decent races in his last two, including from a tough draw at Scottsville, and is now drawn well. Moonlite Mist is in good form and will enjoy the step up to 1200m.

The sixth is a MR 74 Handicap over 1400m and Buster Brown, as one who moves up effortlessly but doesn’t enjoy being in front, can go in again off just a two point higher mark than his last course and distance win. Spanish Captain has talent and is looking for this step up in trip so should be thereabouts from draw two with Delpech keeping the ride. Ferdnand The Bull should earn over an ideal course and distance from pole position.

The seventh is a MR 64 Handicap over 1400m for fillies and mares and Zaida has always struck as a sort who would improve as she got older so she should be a big runner stepped back in trip having won her maiden over 1200m. Hunger Games is an interesting runner off a competitive merit rating as she was unlucky the last time she ran on the poly over 1600m and was caught wide last time out so that run can be excused. She is now well drawn with a good rider aboard and this trip suits her as she is quite strong in the running and has a turn of foot if finding cover. Just Rap caught the eye when winning and being dropped seven points after her last run should see her in with a shout over a trip which should suit.

The eighth is a MR 64 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m and Tigeress Dance had some fair Cape Town form, including finishing just 3,45 lengths behind the top class Silver Mountain over this trip. She is the one to beat as she looked to need her first start in KZN and was affected by a bump at the start. Spiritos was not harshly treated by the handicapper after winning her debut over course and distance and the form has worked out well.  She does have a wide draw to overcome but should be thereabouts. Love Conquers All is distance suited and proved last time she is now off a potentially winning merit rating.

At Scottsville on Sunday the highlight will be the return of the classy Unbelievable Chad in a MR 87 Handicap over 1600m, his first run since being scratched at the start of the Investec Dingaans after running away with his jockey down to the start. He has to carry topweight but could still do it. However, Team Guys has always been well regarded and has come into his own so could be the one to beat receiving 6kg plus a 2,5kg apprentice claim from Unbelievable Chad. Olympic Bolt won well over course and distance last time and has a chance too from a good draw.

By David Thiselton

Picture (Nkosi Hlophe): Eternal Ice

A meeting will be held on Friday by the connections of Futura and Legislate to discuss the futures of the two Justin Snaith-trained superstars.

However, bloodstock agent and stallion manager John Freeman, who has shares in both horses, will advise retirement to stud and believes most partners will agree.

Freeman said, “They were always going to be stallions one day and they were going to tell us when the time had come. I believe the time has now come. They are both sons of a top stallion in Dynasty, both are Equus Horses Of The Year Award winners and both have won four Gr 1s, so they have nothing left to prove.”

Legislate ran on well to finish a 1,5 length second in the Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate behind the 120 merit-rated Legal Eagle, but was unable to repel the closers in Saturday’s J&B Met after surprisingly setting the pace and could only manage 6th place.

Futura did not find his usual blistering turn of foot in the Queen’s Plate when finishing fifth. The explanation he had needed it had seemed spot on when he was turned out at the Met looking magnificent. However, he once again failed to quicken and only beat three horses home.

Freeman described Saturday’s Met as a fair race and offered his congratulations to the connections of the winner Smart Call, who put up the best performance by a filly in this country since the merit rating system was introduced just before the turn of the century.

Futura and Legislate will likely stand at Darkenstein Stud, who own shares in both horses.

By David Thiselton
Picture: Legislate winning the 2015 Rising Sun Gold Challenge (Nkosi Hlophe)

Duncan Howells has already been planning the Champions Season assaults of four of his best horses, Same Jurisdiction, Cosmic Light, Ten Gun Salute and Sylvester The Cat.

Howells said there could be no excuses for Same Jurisdiction’s defeat in the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes, she was simply beaten by the better horse on the day, Inara. However, he said it had provided further proof she was more suited to Greyville and added, “If the Kenilworth straight had been shorter, she wins the race. She has a good burst but appears to have a short run in.”

He would therefore be centering her Champions Season around Greyville, the tight course with a relatively short straight where both of her career Gr 1 wins have been achieved.

Her likely route will be the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m, the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m and the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m.

Howells will not be sending any horses to campaign in Johannesburg this season, so the progressive three-year-old colt Ten Gun Salute, who was an impressive winner of Sunday’s Listed Michael Roberts Handicap over 1800m at Greyville, will be targeted at three-year-old Champions Season features. Sylvester The Cat, whose Cape Town campaign was ruined by his starting stall woes, might also be.

Howells said, “Sylvester The Cat has been gelded and re-schooled. The one race in which he did jump in Cape Town he needed and it was a strong race, so it was a good effort (1,8 length sixth in a Graduation Plate over 1200m behind the useful Ernie), especially considering he had already begun haemo-concentrating.”

Sylvester The Cat has jumped without a problem on the training tracks since being re-schooled and the gelding should solve his haemo-concentrating issues. However, Howells does not yet know what his limit is, so he still has something to prove.

Howells described the Gr 2 The Debutante winner and Gr Sceptre Stakes runner up Cosmic Light as well above average and the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint would be one of her chief targets.

By David Thiselton
Picture: Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Vaal has a nine race card on the outside track tomorrow and by trends high draws will be favoured.

The first is a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m and is tricky due to the horse that makes most appeal, Girl On The Run, having a tough number one draw. She ran on well over course and distance on debut and should go close. Russian Friend finished just 0,8 lengths behind Girl On The a Run last time but is better drawn this time, although she is more exposed. She should earn in this field. The first-timer Mamdooha is well-bred being by All American out of a Redoute’s Choice mare, but is drawn on the wrong side. Storyfields has been given a busy schedule and is having her fifth run after having made her debut less than a month ago, but from a fair draw she should earn in the line up. First-timer I’m The Fire does not make much appeal.

Anthony Delpech

The second is a Maiden over 1200m and First Officer Al could beat home stablemate Rock On, two hard knockers drawn on the right side. Red Rebel is interesting returning from a long layoff having once produced a decent effort over 1600m behind the top class Abashiri. William Nicol has produced some fair efforts but is drawn on the wrong side. Mendoza’s Melody has shown some ability and has Strydom up but also has a tough draw.

The third is a Maiden over 1600m and Count Tassilo ran well on debut over 1200m and will relish the step up in trip on pedigree. First-timer Roaming Jet is drawn on the wrong side but being a Jet Master half-brother to the classy Celtic Captain he is an interesting debutant, although he is already a four-year-old. Royal Honour ran an improved race when stepped up to this trip and from a good draw is preferred to Keep On Flying and Il Duce for a trifecta finish.

The fourth is an interesting maiden for fillies and mares over 1600m and Mythical Magic, who ran a decent race over this trip last time out, looks to have plenty of scope for improvement and is drawn on the right side, although on the downside this is her return from a three month layoff. Nother Russia by Tiger Ridge out of the multiple Gr 1-winning champion Mother Russia made a good debut over 1200m and will relish the step up in trip. Dalley is improving and can earn if finding a good spot from a tough draw, and Runalong could beat Love Tryst into a minor place.

The fifth is a MR 72 Handicap over 1600m. Mann’s Inn could follow up on his recent win over course and distance as he has always been well regarded and is only two points higher in the merit ratings. Delpech is up from a plum draw. Stablemate Cockade is perfectly course and distance suited and made a good comeback recently from a year’s layoff. Gavin Lerena is up from a fair draw. Profit Ratio looks a fair type and has a chance off an initial 77 merit rating.

The sixth is a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m and the hard knocking Escudo is well drawn over a suitable course and distance so could beat home Bondiblu and Gain Ground.

The seventh is a MR 72 Handicap over 1200m and Tokyo Drift should appreciate the step down in trip. Cannes has only been given a two point raise for an easy win so could follow up from a fair draw. Extreme Dubai has talent and stayed on over 1000m first time out the maidens.

The eighth is a MR 72 Handicap over 1200m and On The Nod is down to an attractive merit rating so could get the better of the improving Dragoon as well as Rushing Lark, who has a good draw and jockey.

The last is a MR 72 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m. Dangerous Diva is course and distance suited and has Delpech up from a good draw, so could beat home Sweet Habanero, while the talented Miracle Rising could bounce back and Wendish and Chartwell must also be considered despite tough draws.

By David Thiselton

Four winners this past weekend kept Duncan Howells on track to regaining the KZN Champion Trainer’s title relinquished to Dennis Drier last season. But with half the season still to run and a lead of only six over Drier there is still a long way to go.

Howells has saddled 38 winners in KZN this term opposed to Drier’s 32 but the chasing pack is in hot pursuit. Sean Tarry (29) and Dean Kannemeyer (28) are not far back while Charles Laird and Gavin van Zyl are bracketed on 26. The local championship is based on wins in KZN and although Mike de Kock is third on the list as far as stakes earned is concerned, he is currently sitting on 20 winners.

Cosmic Light (Nkosi Hlophe)

Howells’s two smart fillies Same Jurisdiction and Cosmic Light are safely back from the Western Cape and will be aimed at Champions Season features along with the promising Ten Gun Salute and Sylvester The Cat.

Cosmic Light, second in the Gr 2 Sceptre Stakes, has the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint on her agenda while Same Jurisdiction’s intended schedule is the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge and to hopefully defend her Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden province title.

Howells said Smart Call’s Met win reiterated once again the quality of last season’s three-year-old fillies. “In any other year three or four of those fillies would have been an undisputed champion,” mused Howells. “So just how good was Majmu. She smashed them all.”

Ten Gun Salute showed a smart turn of foot to win the Gr3 Michael Roberts Handicap last Sunday against some seasoned opposition. “He’s progressive but I don’t really know how good he is,” said Howells. “Champion’s Season will tell. We will try the Guineas and the Daily News and if he shows that he’s good enough, maybe the July.”

Sylvester The Cat was his Grand Parade Cape Guineas hope but all plans went out of the window when he refused to jump in his warm-up for the race. The vet was called in and ‘Sylvester’ has since been through the starting stalls twice without incident since his pocket was picked.

Another to be two stone lighter this week is Mac De Lago. “He just didn’t jump (in the Met),” said Weiho Marwing. “He’s never done it before so I don’t know what his problem was. He’s got tons of ability but he’s just not putting it in so the vet comes this week. After that we will see how he goes.”

By Andrew Harrison