Apprentice Eric Saziso Ngwane clinched the first treble of his riding career at Scottsville on Sunday on A P Strike, who ironically also provided him with his first ever ride back in April last year.

It is fitting A P Strike is trained by former jockey great Garth Puller as he taught both Ngwane and Jose Barnes the ropes for over a year before they had entered the South African Jockey’s Academy. Both youngsters came from Merewent, the suburb neighbouring the now defunct Clairwood racecourse, where Puller used to train.

Puller, now at Summerveld, still guides Ngwane today in tandem with the tutelage the latter gets from the Academy’s riding masters. He said, “He has a very bright future, I won’t allow his head to get too big, it is important if you are going to make it to not think you are too big for your boots. He is lacking in experience, so still has one or two faults, such as not getting out of the pens quickly enough and not securing a good position quickly enough, because obviously the apprentices can be a bit intimidated, but he makes up for it with his good hands and balance.”

Ngwane rode five winners last season at a strike rate of 6,76%. He rode A P Strike to a 1,75 length third at odds of 33/1 on his race riding debut over 1200m at Scottsville on 15 April last year. This year he has added a further 22 winners at a strike rate of 10,28%.

It had taken A P Strike more than two years to drop from a merit rating of 75 after his maiden down to a  mark of 58. However, he was backed in on Sunday from 10/1 to 4/1 and found a good finish after being handy throughout to win by 0,5 lengths from outsider Dreamy Forest. The win gave Puller a weekend double having sent out Suzie’s Arrow to win a Maiden under Anthony Delpech at Greyville on Friday night.

Ngwane made full use of his 2,5kg claim in the slightly soft conditions on Sunday and had earlier won a maiden over 1200m on the Julie Dittmer-trained Lockheed Star and a fillies and mares handicap over 1200m on the Chris Erasmus-trained Cayenne.

Academy Riding Master Laurence O’Donoghue said, “He is a very well balanced rider and should go along way if he stays level headed. He is a natural lightweight and shouldn’t pick up any more weight as he is already in his early twenties.”

By David Thiselton

Picture (Nkosi Hlophe): Eric Ngwane winning on Lockheed Star at Scottsville on Sunday

There is some good racing to look forward to on the Turffontein Inside track tomorrow as some classy sorts will be turned out in two Graduation Plate races and there is also an MR 88 handicap on the card.

The first is a Workrider’s Maiden over 1450m. Seattle Prince over-raced early last time over 1600m before settling behind a fast pace and running on well, so will likely relish this step down in trip from pole position. Profit Ratio is drawn well after going close over this trip at the Vaal. Just A Gigolo unfortunately didn’t settle last time over this course and distance from a wide draw. Having run on in eye-catching fashion from a wide draw on the Standside 1400m before that, and from this better draw will be a big runner if settling. Lokshina ran a good race over this trip in penultimate and could earn. American Gladiator has shown some promise befoe and now runs for a new yard from a good draw with a classy jockey aboard.

Piere Strydom (Nkosi Hlophe)

The second race is a fillies and mares maiden over 1450m. Span Die Seile showed a fine turn of foot over 1600m last time and only lost the race in the boardroom. She looks likely to enjoy this trip and can come from off them from a wide draw. Sapphire Girl showed promise on debut after being backed and was not given a punishing ride and should show considerable improvement with Strydom up from a good draw. Eversilver had the pace to overcome a wide draw three runs ago over course and distance and stayed on resolutely so is interesting back to this trip from a good draw. Catwalk Tease stayed on for second over1400m in her penultimate and is ridden by Fortune, who has interestingly been replaced by Strydom on Sapphire Girl. Tangerine Lady appears to love this course and distance and has run on strongly from a similar wide draw before. She’s A Flirt could earn.

The third is a Maiden over 1800m and Nawab is drawn well after doing his best work late over 1700m at the Vaal last time to finish second and now has a plum draw with Lerena up. Smartifact at his best will be a big runner here if taking his place although he is known to have his problems and ran below par last Thursday. Spring Lodge was only just behind Smartifact last Thursday over 1700m when wearing first-time blinkers and staying on well and is now drawn in pole with Marwing up. Champions Cup’s full-sister has run a fair race over this trip before. Secunde’s Victor made late headway to earn the last time he tried this course and distance. Zillionaire has the ability to earn but has pulled or made breathing noises when raced beyond a mile. Frappachino can improve being by Ideal World but has made breathing noises in his last two starts.

The fourth is a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1000m.Musical Romance returns from a three month bleeding suspension but has shown ability and this is a weak field. Gimmeabreak has ability but often ruins her chances with slow starts. However, her best run was over this course and distance when running on from a wide draw and she is now well drawn. Honeybush Tea is usually thereabouts and should earn here.

The fifth is a strong Graduation Plate over 1600m. Buckland has class and should love the step up in trip. Rainy Day Blues is a progressive sort whose formline is strong. Romany Prince was only beaten by top class Abashiri on Saturday over 1800m. Trading Profit did well against older horses over course and distance in a handicap off a merit rating of 94 and has a chance back in a plate race. The distance-suited Neuf De Pape is under sufferance on official merit ratings but is well regarded and the form of his last run in a handicap over 1400m has duly been franked. Danza is a progressive sort who should love the trip and is drawn well. Coral Fever ran a fine race last time over 1450m despite bolting before the start and Strydom is up.

The sixth is a Graduation Plate for fillies and mares over 1450m. Penny Serenade looks promising, has good formlines and is drawn in pole over a step up in trip she should relish. London goes well for this jockey and should be thereabouts. Silver Class has been doing well since dropped to sprints from a mile and further, so is interesting over this trip. Joan Ranger disappointed last time over a mile having finished strongly for a close third in a Gr 3 over this trip before that. Frosty Friday is improving and can’t be ignored despite her two wins being over further. Jungle Mist over raced last time and could earn if settling. Tahini is better than her last start.

The seventh is a MR 88 Handicap over1450m. The promising Fort Meyers has his second run after a long break over a suitable trip and is well drawn. Cumberland is course and distance suited and proved last time he is up to this merit rating. Var Bay is 2,5kg better off with Cumberland for a 1,75 length beating over course and distance. His last run can be ignored as he reared in the pens. Tabreek is 1,5kg under sufferance but is drawn in pole and faces Cumberland on the same terms for a 0,5 length beating. Mr. Mulliner has the form to earn. Cockade can’t be ignored.

The eight is a MR 68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m and Tobesuretobesute is widely drawn but usually travels well and stays on well and is distance suited. Indzaba’s maiden form has worked out well and Fortune is up from a good draw over a suitable course and distance. Ruby Ruby stayed on well over 1600m last time and is drawn well over the trip of her maiden win.

By David Thiselton

Fourteen will take on hot favourite Legal Eagle in the J & B Met at Kenilworth on Saturday week. The field size is one less than the average of the last ten years.

The race conditions permit as many as 20 – which used to be the norm just over two decades ago – but big hitters like last year’s winner Futura and his stable companion Legislate have discouraged no-hopers and there were no real surprises among those not declared earlier today.

The public gallops and draws take place on Thursday but the bookmakers were quick to react yesterday with Betting World going 12-10 about the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner who, as a four-year-old, receives a half kilo weight-for-age allowance from 3-1 second favourite Futura, 5-1 chance Legislate, Summer Cup winner Master Sabina (12-1) and Captain America (13-1) .

Smart Call, the only filly in the race and bidding to give Alec Laird his first Met victory since London News 19 years ago, is a 12-1 chance.

World Sports Betting go fractionally longer about Legal Eagle at 13-10, a point shorter about Smart Call and a point longer on Master Sabina.

Supplementary entry Act Of War was a notable omission from the 15 declared for the Betting World Cape Flying Championship in which last Saturday’s Sceptre beaten favourite Carry On Alice is highest rated.

The Mike de Kock-trained Kingston Mines and champion jockey Gavin Lerena head a field of 16 in their bid to win the J & B Jet Stayers for the second successive year.

Mike Bass’s Cape Fillies Guineas winner Silver Mountain is a short-priced favourite (evens with BW and 18-10 with WSB) for this Saturday’s CTS Million Dollar. Cape Guineas runner-up Brazuca heads the market for the Investec Cape Derby at a best-priced 5-2 and Same Jurisdiction is 16-10 for the Klawervlei Majorca.
By Michael Clower

Met prices:

Betting World: 12-10 Legal Eagle, 3-1 Futura, 5-1 Legislate, 10-1 Deo Juvente, 12-1 Master Sabina, Smart Call, 13-1 Captain America, 20-1 Paterfamilias, Mac De Lago, 50-1 Light The Lights, 60-1 Punta Arenas, Helderberg Blue, 80-1 Gold Onyx, King Of Pain, 150-1 Krambambuli.

World Sports Betting: 13-10 Legal Eagle, 3-1 Futura, 5-1 Legislate, 11-1 Deo Juvente, Smart Call, 13-1 Captain America, Master Sabina, 18-1 Paterfamilias, Mac De Lago, 45-1 Light The Lights, 55-1 Punta Arenas, Helderberg Blue, 75-1 Gold Onyx, King Of Pain, 125-1 Krambambuli.

Picture: Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

For Anthony Andrews it was his finest hour but for all those who backed Carry On Alice down to 9-10 favouritism Saturday’s Sceptre Stakes was an unmitigated – and expensive – disaster.

The talented favourite saw no need whatsoever for S’Manga Khumalo’s call for early restraint and fought for her head, burning up so much energy that she didn’t have enough in the tank when her rider said go.

This was two furlongs out when Andrews also elected to press the button but from a position several lengths in front of her. Khumalo made up all bar a length and a half but it was only enough for fifth place, worth a mere R10 000. Andrews won R250 000 for his grateful employers.

Princess Royal & jockey Anthony Andrews (Liesl King)

A visibly upset Khumalo refused to answer press questions but Sean Tarry said: “She missed the break, got crossed and her head was in the air for 200m – and it was very hard to come from so far back.”

By this stage, though, Andrews was on the winner’s podium basking in adulation. “He puts in a lot of work and he is a young kid who is on the way up,” enthused Glen Kotzen.

Not so much of a kid. Andrews is 27 but everybody thinks he is a lot younger because he started late. But he has a better pedigree than most of his rivals. His sire rode at the Cheltenham Festival and won the South African Champion Hurdle while his dam was the racing correspondent of the Cape Times. What more could you ask for!

Mind you, his Sceptre-winning partner Princess Royal is also bred in the purple – a half-sister by Captain Al to Princess Victoria – and this win vindicated both Kotzen’s belief in her and his perseverance with a filly who is apparently a bit of a madam.

Kotzen, seemingly impervious to the ire of the whole feminist movement, declared: “She is a typical lady – she can throw her toys out of the pram now and again. But I always said that she has loads of talent. It’s just a matter of getting it out of her.”

Andrews preferred to concentrate on thanking the injured man whose advice played a big part in his first Grade 2 winner, saying: “Greg Cheyne told me exactly how to ride her. He said that, if she started to find her feet, I should go with her rather than holding her up – and that’s what I did.”

Plans for Princess Royal are fluid but the Dennis Drier-trained Gathering Fame, who repeated last year’s win in the Claremart Auction Group Jamaica Handicap under a confident Aldo Domeyer, will skip the rest of the Cape season to return to Durban.

By Michael Clower 

Dual Grade 1 winner Seventh Plain is reported in great shape for Saturday’s CTS Million Dollar but he has been hammered with a nightmare draw – 19 out of 20 – and over the Kenilworth 1 400m that is a huge handicap. Four inside him will come out to leave a field of 16 but even so Anton Marcus’s legendary starting skills face meeting their Waterloo.

Dennis Drier said: “Seventh Plain might have a little stride-along on the course on Wednesday but he is spot-on and it will be his third run after a rest – although I don’t believe in that theory.

“I thought he put up a hell of a good performance in the Sophomore. It’s hard to give up-and-coming three-year-olds the weight that he did. It’s a pity about the draw but we do have the right jockey for it.”

Seventh Plain wore a tongue tie for the first time in the Sophomore and will do so again on Saturday, with Drier explaining: “I saw him with his tongue out two races back so, rather being safe than sorry, I put one on and he enjoyed it.”

Silver Mountain, on paper the one they all have to beat, galloped at Kenilworth over 1 400m before her runaway Cape Fillies Guineas win but at Kenilworth last Wednesday Mike Bass only put her over 1 000m.

Candice Robinson explained: “She doesn’t need a lot of work. Aldo Domeyer rode her and she went with Rodney (second reserve in the CTS). I think it’s going to be a rough race with everybody jostling for position. It’s up to Aldo now but we will need a bit of luck.”

With nearly R16.8 million up for grabs for the first five and the winner taking half, it’s not hard to see some of the jockeys throwing normal caution and respect for each other to the four winds.

But Seventh Plain is not the only strong contender to collect a bad draw. Gavin van Zyl’s Redcarpet Captain is drawn only one better at 18 and Cape Guineas fifth Victorious Jay just two places inside him.

Abashiri, joint highest-rated of the 18 declared for the Investec Cape Derby, was ruled out by Mike Azzie after outclassing the opposition in Saturday’s Sea Cottage Stakes – scoring by two and a half lengths even though he drifted halfway across the course in the final furlong.

Azzie said: “This is the best I have trained since National Currency but taking him to the Cape after this would be a bad move due to his poor draw (16). We will let Rabada fight for us there and keep this boy at home for the Triple Crown.”

Justin Snaith, dubious about letting Politician winner Black Arthur take his chance, is now totally positive and said: “Black Arthur came out of the race really well and he is a definite runner.”

By Michael Clower

Photo (Nkosi Hlophe): Seventh Plain