Rabada has been withdrawn from Saturday’s Grand Parade Cape Guineas. Trainer Michael Azzie said yesterday: “Rabada did very well after his second in the CTS Ready To Run Cup and he was going along nicely but I wasn’t happy with his final gallop last Thursday.

“We would be taking on Silver Mountain who I think is something special and I don’t want to go down to Cape Town if I am not happy with the horse.”

Rabada was the highest-rated horse in the race – jointly with Silver Mountain who receives 2.5kg –  and the Ready To Run Cup at Turffontein at the end of October was his first outing since landing the Premiers Champions Stakes at Greyville three months earlier.

Azzie said: “He was in need of the run when he ran second (to Champagne Haze) that day. Things hadn’t gone his way in the build-up. They pulled up some of the tracks and he missed crucial work when I needed to give him a bit of stamina work and the track was not available. As a result he went into the race underdone.”

The scratching of Rabada has seen World Sports Betting adjust Silver Mountain into 11-10 for Saturday’s Cape Guineas, followed by Noah From Goa (3-1), Brazuca (6-1), Budapest (10-1), Hard Day’s Night (12-1), Victorious Jay (12-1), Eighth Wonder (14-1) and Nassa (16-1), with 20-1 on offer bar these.

By Michael Clower

Final field and draws for the Grand Parade Cape Guineas (Grade 1) over 1 600m at Kenilworth on Saturday:

From 1 June 2016 until the end of 2022 Phumelela has licensed ARC to supply and distribute audio-visual coverage, including data, of all South African race meetings to all Licensed Betting Offices (“LBOs”) in the UK and Ireland. The agreement will also see South African Racing continue to be distributed to online betting operators via the At The Races streaming platform Sports Media Stream.

South African Racing has become an integral part of the LBO offering to customers with some 440 race meetings per annum comprising coverage from eight racecourses: Durbanville (turf), Fairview (turf and polytrack), Flamingo Park (sand), Kenilworth (turf), Turffontein (turf), Vaal (turf), Greyville (turf and polytrack) and Scottsville (turf).

South African racing is a familiar and popular betting product with there being at least one meeting from South Africa every day of the year, except Christmas day. Due to South Africa being one to two hours ahead of the UK its racing commences at lunchtime, ahead of afternoon racing in the UK, thereby extending betting opportunities for customers.

Phumelela Chief Executive, Rian Du Plessis said: “We are delighted to have struck a deal with ARC which ensures South African racing can continue to have a UK and Irish audience and grow its popularity. Our racing complements ARC’s racing very well and the joint offering should be very well received by UK and Irish betting operators.”

ARC Chief Executive, Martin Cruddace said: “ARC is thrilled to be extending our relationship with Phumelela in order to help further promote South African racing to a British and Irish audience. This is mutually beneficial for all involved and we are pleased to be providing a transparent service for LBOs.”
– TABNews

Dennis Drier was disappointed with Punta Arenas run in the Gr 2 Premier Trophy on Saturday but his CTS Million Dollar contender Seventh Plain is doing well and will have his final preparation run in the Listed Sophomore Sprint over 1200m at Kenilworth on January 2.

Punta Arenas failed to quicken from off the pace on Saturday and finished a disappointing 3,4 length fifth in the 1800m event. However, he remains on track for the J&B Met via the Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m on January 9. A look back at his record suggests there should not be too much to be concerned about because two seasons ago, when ultimately running a fine 1,95 length third in the Met, his Cape Summer Of Champions Season form read very similarly to what it does so far this season.

In that season he started with a four length seventh in the Green Point Stakes, as opposed to a 5,3 length seventh is this season’s Green Point, and he then went on to finish a 4,3 length eighth in the Premier Trophy, as opposed to his 3,4 length fifth this season. He then went on to finish a much improved 1,75 length third in the Peninsula before his excellent Met run. The seven-year-old gelding blossomed in the Champions Season and progeny of Silvano do tend to get better with age, so his relatively advanced years are of little concern.

Drier admitted Seventh Plain had ultimately needed his run in the R2,5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes on November 21, his seasonal reappearance. He is clearly better than that effort in which he only just managed to hang on for fourth, 5,75 lengths behind the winner Budapest, for after jumping from a wide draw his usual effortless cruising speed coupled with his tremendous turn of foot were not at their sharpest. However, under Drier’s expert guidance he should be spot on for his chief target, the Million Dollar, over 1400m on January 23.

Drier’s best result so far this Cape Summer Of Champions Season was winning the Gr 2 Cape Merchants with a horse he has always rated, the four-year-old Trippi gelding Triptique, and this horse will now go for the Gr 2 weight for age (with Gr 1 and Gr 2 penalties) Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over the same course and distance on December 27. The Merchants was a handicap in which the imposing horse only carried 52kg, although he was 1,5kg under sufferance, and he will have it much tougher here, especially as he will carry a Gr 2 penalty. The handicappers raised him from 93 to 101. Triptique might possibly be aimed at the prestigious Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate, as Drier has always believed he would go further, but a decision will only  be made after the Diadem.

Unfortunate news from the yard is that Generalissimo, who was one of the chief sprinters in the stable, will be out for the season.

By David Thiselton

The Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas contender Budapest put in a pleasing gallop at Kenilworth last Wednesday under the watchful eye of trainer Gareth van Zyl and it is all systems go for the Lithianian gelding ahead of Saturday’s R1 million race.

Budapest was a 4,25 length winner of the R2,5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m last time out on November 21 from a good draw. The collateral form is interesting because the runner up Anglet then went on to finish a 5,8 length fourth to Silver Mountain in the Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas two weeks later. Silver Mountain is quoted at around 9/20 for Saturday’s race, while Budapest is around 9/1.

However, Silver Mountain has a plum draw of two while Budapest is drawn wide out in 15. Van Zyl is not too concerned by the draw due to the athletic bay’s gatespeed and handy running style.

By David Thiselton

Blarney Bay seems sure to give punters a run for their money in the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap at Kenilworth today.

This free-running galloper loves to go off in front and the 1 400m is his ideal trip. True, he has to give weight all round and his task is made even harder by being raised 2kg for his last win.

That was in a Pinnacle over the same distance when he beat subsequent Green Point winner Captain America and had a string of other big names behind including last Saturday’s Premier scorer Paterfamilas and third-placed Helderberg Blue.

Of course such results need to be taken with a pinch of salt but Brandon May’s 4kg claim will help. “Heavelon van der Hoven (who rode him last time) is going on holiday and, as Brandon is still claiming 4kg, I thought why not give him a chance,” says Mike Robinson (pictured).

Blarney Bay opened at 9-2 with World Sports Betting yesterday and the improving Sheer Trouble, winner of three of his last four, is 16-10 favourite.

Robinson can also take the opening Welcome Maiden with 7-2 chance Prize Peg who drops in distance for this. But that, apparently, is not significant – “She is so well and showing me so much pace that I thought I should let her run,” her trainer explains.

On the book there is little in it between Donavan Mansour’s mount and Princess Jane (also 7-2) who is invariably right there at the death.

Artic Teon has a clear chance in the Summer Of Champions Maiden although the opening 7-10 is giving nothing away. But here the step-up in distance is relevant. “I’ve been waiting for a stayers’ maiden for some time,” says Andre Nel whose good run was temporarily halted last Wednesday when hot favourite Keep On Chooglin flopped and was reported coughing.

“We did have a lot of coughing but it’s mostly gone,” says Nel. “Keep On Chooglin coughs every time he runs and I think it was just a flat run. I may have run him too soon after his previous race.”

Exclusive Knight (9-2), attempting to win at the 34^th attempt (he has been placed 19 times), also steps up in trip. “Competition is a bit weaker over this 2 500m. Over 1 800m you’ve got three-year-olds coming up all the time,” says Piet Steyn who has an interesting story about Money Surger with whom he won for the ninth time in 76 races on Saturday.

Nobody bid for her as a yearling and a float driver, picking up the yearlings after the sales, rang Steyn when found her on her own. Steyn told him to deliver her to him and rang breeder Dan de Wet. He wanted R5 000, they settled on R3 000 and Steyn named her Money Surger because he believes she would prove to be just that. She was won R557 000 so far.

Justin Snaith, now only three short of 2 000 winners, has a big chance with 15-10 favourite Sub Zero in race three but Mr Piscato is marginally preferred at 5-2.

By Michael Clower