Greyville stages a nine race meeting today, the first three on the poly and the rest on turf, and punters have a fair chance of signing off the old year on a high note

The first is a MR 78 handicap over 1400m. Sovereign Reign is well regarded and the 1400m might be exactly what he is looking for, while Marcus remaining faithful speaks volumes. Beluga ran a fine race last time behind a useful sort over course and distance and is well drawn. Ferdinand The Bull was a little bit strong in the running over 1600m last time when just failing to catch the promising Team Guys so he should relish the step down in trip and Delpech stays aboard. However, He was given a four point raise for that last race so it won’t be easy.

Cold As Ice, who notched up her first British win at only the second attempt eight days ago, will have one more outing before going for the £150 000 All-Weather Championship Final at Lingfield on Good Friday (March 25).

That outing in early February is to qualify her and last season’s Choice Carriers, Sceptre and Laisserfaire winner could be ridden by an English-based jockey for the first time. Bernard Fayd’Herbe has ridden her in both her UK starts but is not expected to be able to do the weight. Greg Cheyne was to go but x-rays have revealed fractures in the foot he damaged on Monday.

Brian Finch, whose wife Kathy owns the filly in partnership with Bridget Kieswetter, said: “She will have a break after the Lingfield race and then we will see how she fares racing on turf.”

Micheal Clower

Turffontein stages an eight race meeting tomorrow night and there look to be some fair opportunities for punters.

The first is a fillies Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m and of those to have run Queenie makes most appeal, being a big filly who was doing her best work late on debut over 800m, while Might As Well, who was just ahead of her and stayed on well from the front, should also improve. The first-timer Star Burst Galaxy makes appeal being by Var and a half-sister to the promising Silvano filly Star Express, who has won three from six. Seattle Singer is a full-sister to the useful Gr 1 runner up sprinter Gulf Storm and her stablemate Timedtoperfection is a full-sister to the useful sprinter Aurum Pot.

The second is a Conditions Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m and the interesting runner is Mambonick, who returns from a year’s layoff having impressed in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m when comfortably beating the subsequent Gr 1-placed Sapsan. Miss December and Ha Lucy make most appeal of the rest.

The third is a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over1160m and Cosmo Russe stayed on well on debut over 1200m and looks to have scope for improvement. For Show Me Angel showed good pace last time when caught late over 1200m on the Inside Track, so she should enjoy this quick 1160m. Nitrogen is an interesting first-timer being by Tiger Ridge out of the Gr 1-winner and Vodacom Durban July runner up Zirconeum.

The fourth is a weak Maiden over 2000m on first sight but there are some who could turn out to be fair over this trip. The one to beat is Smartifact, who enjoyed little luck when catching the eye on debut in a strong race, and being by Lateral out of a Fort Wood mare she will love this trip. Go Fly A Kite caught the eye staying on strongly over 1700m last time out so looks likely to relish this trip and Gavin Lerena is an eyecatching booking. Frappachino is stoutly bred being by Ideal World out of a Fort Wood mare and was staying on well when finishing just ahead of Go Fly A Kite over1700m, but there is a now a reversal in draw fortunes. Gladiatore will be a runner having stayed on well from a handy position last time out with this same 4kg claimer up, although the wide draw is a concern. Superficial showed pace over 1400m but should enjoy this trip on pedigree so is an interesting runner. De Lujo is a big galloping type who stayed on well over 1600m last time, but the concern is he over raced a bit in the early stages and  would be preferred if the blinkers came off. First-timer Reminiscence is stoutly bred being by Ideal World out of a Fort Wood mare and is another interesting contender.

The fifth is a Pinnacle Stakes race over 2450m and Wild Ash is the one to beat at the weights from pole position, with Marmalady tipped next best followed by Savage Wind, Orchestrated and Henry Higgins.

The sixth is an open MR 102 Handicap over 1000m in which the whole seven-horse field could be included although Prince Jazeem looks to have benefitted from a rest and rates the one to beat returning to sprint trips in which his record reads three wins and a second and a third in eight starts.  Moofeed and Aurum Pot could follow him home.

The seventh is a MR 86 Handicap over 1160m and Just As I Said is interesting stepped back to this trip and is tipped to beat Master’s Spirit and Viking Hero, although the returning pair Fort Meyers and Seventh Heart must also be considered.

The last is a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m and Kalanchoe has the form to win so is tipped to beat La Digue, who is knocking on the door, and Redaire, One Yesterday and Wendish make most appeal of the rest.

By: David Thiselton

Lanner Falcon turned on the style at Kenilworth yesterday to give Mike Bass his third Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes in five seasons. But, if it hadn’t been for Grant van Niekerk, Gaynyor Rupert’s five-year-old would now be on the road to Port Elizabeth.

Candice Robinson explained: “We entered her in the mile Lady’s Bracelet at Fairview on New Year’s Day. We were still umming and aahing when Grant said: ‘Please leave her in Cape Town. I think she will win the Diadem.’”

Quite some way from home he knew he was going to be proved gloriously right and he related: “Last time she ran over 1 000m, they went like the clappers and she doesn’t like to be bustled. This time she was always finding and, when I looked across at Bernard Fay’d Herbe on Fly By Night, I knew I had it.”

The Bass stable is now assessing options once more but this time Port Elizabeth doesn’t figure! “Lanner Falcon’s main aim is the Klawervlei Majorca whereas Fly By Night will go for either the Sceptre (Jan 16) or the Cape Flying a fortnight later,” said Candice. “At this stage, though, she doesn’t need another win but another Grade 1.”

The Sceptre could see an entry from Victoria Lavelle who rounded off a treble for S’Manga Khumalo by making most in the Laisserfaire but seemingly she is unlikely to run.

Justin Snaith explained: “We will see what is in it but I wouldn’t like to push my luck. I would rather save her for the Durban season.”

Greg Cheyne was taken to hospital for x-rays on a suspected fracture of the metatarsal bone in his foot after being hurt when Mount Keith broke through the pens in the opening two-year-old race.

Also on the sidelines is Donovan Mansour who had a nasty fall at Milnerton on Saturday. He was forced to give up his rides and missed a winner on the Joey Ramsden-trained Free Agent.

Vodacom Durban July winner Power King looks like having a crack at the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate even though he is also in the Peninsula Handicap on Saturday week’s card.

Dean Kannemeyer said: “I am keeping everything open but he took his Summer Cup run well and there is a good possibility that he will run in the Queen’s Plate and then the Met.”

Power King is a 20-1 shot for the J & B Met. Most of the money so far has been for last season’s winner Futura who has hardened from an initial 28-10 to 16-10. Betting World has also had support for Captain America (12-1 to 10-1) but original 5-1 chances Legislate and Legal Eagle have drifted to 13-2 and 7-1 while French Navy has gone out from 7-1 to 12-1.

Selangor winner Hard Day’s Night, who weakened after making the running in the Grand Parade Cape Guineas, was reported none the worse by Ramsden and will attempt to make amends in the CTS Million Dollar.

But Flying Ice, who disappointed in the Cape Fillies Guineas, may wait until the Durban season.

Neil Bruss said: “She was totally flat the next day, her legs swelled up and she wouldn’t eat – she had a virus. There are no suitable races for her – six furlongs is too short – so we could keep her for Durban.”

There is concern among some punters about the small size of the fields in Cape Town. These averaged only eight for yesterday’s non-features. Last Tuesday it was nine and tomorrow it’s again in single figures. The operators have threatened cuts in stakes if the required 12 is not met.

One Kenilworth regular said: “I wanted to do a Bipot but it’s not worth it with the fields being so small.”

By: Michael Clower

Picture: Lanner Falcon (Liesly King)