The final racemeeting on the Vaal sand will take place tomorrow, as the course will then be dug up and replaced by a turf track. There will be many a sad punter after race 8 on the card, because this track invariably provides good dividends for those who spend a little bit of extra time delving into the form.

In the first race, a maiden over 1200m, Leigh Woods would likely have come on from his debut last week over 1450m when green and staying on for second and from a plum draw here could stay on resolutely from the front to win. The first-timer Champions Cup is drawn in pole and has an eye catching sand pedigree being by Miesque’s Approval out of the dam of a three-time winner from 1200-1450m Cup Of Rubies so the betting must be watched. Fidelio has faced some fair sorts without being disgraced and enjoyed the step up to this trip on turf so will be a big runner under Piere Strydom, although the draw of eight is a concern. Pera Hur ran well over course and distance on Supreme Cup day. Tobago is by Dynasty but his dam, who was a Listed winner, has not produced any winners to date despite being sent to top sires.

Across The Ice (JC Photos)

In the second, a maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m, Cash In Camilla has a perfect sand pedigree and a racing style that should be ideal for this surface so is the one to beat from pole position under Andrew Fortune. Meet Me At Manos ran a fair second over course and distance last time but the winner was having her 12^th start and had only managed two placed before that. She’s A Flirt stayed on from a wide draw for third in that race and Gavin Lerena now rides from another wide draw.

The third features some classy sorts in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1200m. Roman Carnival was an impressive winner over course and distance in his penultimate start and is the one to beat from pole position under Fortune. Amazing Strike has a touch of class and will be improving being by Ideal World so could overcome a five month break to do well here under Lerena, particularly considering he has a fine sand pedigree. Sarve is best in at the weights and has a plum draw. Across The Ice showed he was coming back to form last time when not disgraced over 1000m and he loves the course and distance so should be thereabouts from a good draw. Precursor is classy and goes well on the sand but does have a very wide draw to overcome.

The fourth is a MR 72 Handicap over 1000m. Wisaam could be the one to side with despite being a three-year-old asked to run off a merit rating of 84. He won with a ton in hand on debut and looks to be a classy sort, although the one concern besides the weight of 60,5kg is that he made a breathing noise. Magic took 12 runs to win his maiden but always bumped good types and the form of some of his races, such as his 1,4 length second to Noah From Goa over this course and distance, looks very good, so he will be a big threat. The pacey Chief Sioux will love the return to course and distance and Lerena is back aboard. The speedy Battle Of Alma is very close to Chief Sioux on the form of their last meeting, although the weight might just find him out in the closing stages. Kopi Luwak was also 1,5kg under sufferance last time out when finishing a close third over course and distance, but has a slightly tougher task here off his four point higher merit rating.

Sarve (Nkosi Hlophe)

The fifth is a MR 68 Handicap over 1000m for fillies and mares. Slick Deputy is a typically progressive daughter of Go Deputy and looks to be running off a capped merit rating because she was being eased up when winning last time by 3,5 lengths. She has become very effective with hold-up tactics. Scandal has good early pace and could be a threat with Lerena up. Patrina brings some fair form from Cape Town, which has the strongest horses in the country, so is interesting off a mere 65 merit rating and running fresh over a trip too sharp. Last Girl Standing won her maiden well over course and distance and didn’t do badly last time over 1200m considering she was squeezed out at the start. Sweet Pickings is 7kg better off for a six length beating by Slick Deputy and could place. Wintry Night is 6,5kg better off for a 3,5 length beating by Slick Deputy but might have been flattered, although she could still earn a cheque.

The sixth is a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m. Eastside is in fine heart and could claim a hattrick as the maximum eight point raise might not be enough to stop her with Piere Strydom up from a fair draw over a suitable trip. Escudo has been disappointing in her last two since an easy win over course and distance but jumps from a good draw for a change. Dover Beach was an easy winner of her last start over 1800m on the sand but the form is not outstanding, although she has a chance despite a wide draw. Fire Dancing ran a fair race from the same draw last time, but has had a tough campaign lately. Lemonade River makes her sand debut over a suitable trip from a good draw and as her grandam is by Fort Wood she might enjoy the sand.

The seventh is a MR 74 Handicap over 1600m. Facebook stayed on well over course and distance last time behind a pair of good form horses and is the one to side with from a good draw here despite making breathing noises last time. Hattrick-seeking Formal Request found extra after showing pace over 1450m last time and this scopey horse should handle the trip, although the wide draw and a six point merit rated raise makes it tough. Calico Quiver was pushed the whole way last time over 1450m after losing a length but responded well and will relish the slight step up in trip. Kidmambo has been knocking on the door over course and distance but has a wide draw. Lava Flow is interesting on sand debut as he has the pedigree and is a fair sort on his day but the wide draw is a concern. Son Of Approval is an in and out sort who could surprise on the day with Fortune up.

The eighth is a MR 65 Handicap over 1400m and Viking Castle has been knocking on the door over this distance and now has a good draw while he should have come on from his last outing too. It would be fitting if the sand stalwart St. John Gray brought the curtain on the Vaal sand and he has a chance with De La Vere who has a good sand pedigree and a good draw so should handle a two point merit rated after a good run over 1500m on turf. Disco Boy could earn if repeating his last start but the off putting factor is his quite wide barrier position.

By David Thiselton

Pictures

1. Across The Ice (JC Photos)
2. Sarve (Nkosi Hlophe)

Frankie Dettori had a spring in his step in spite of the heavens opening after he touched down at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport on Tuesday morning.

Resplendent in a bright blue riding jacket and multicoloured cap, Dettori made an unplanned visit to the Keeneland training centre to take an adoring look at his Breeders’ Cup Turf mount Golden Horn.

Joking to the drenched press corps at the Polytrack training facility, the Italian looked forward to Saturday’s mile-and-a-half race that will be a swansong for the Investec Derby, Coral-Eclipse, Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner.

He is mindful both of his gate position on the rail and the importance of fending off as much unnecessary pressure as he can, with his week in Kentucky in its infancy.

“Hey, you guys, don’t put any pressure on me I’m just off the plane,” he said while watching Golden Horn engage in a routine spin on the Polytrack.

“I came in this morning and didn’t feel jet-lagged so I couldn’t resist changing my mind and visiting the track to see Golden Horn.

“I’ll be riding him in some work. Let’s see what happens but he looks amazing and everyone is very pleased with him.”

When questioned about Golden Horn being in stall one and the inclement weather, he said: “The weather is what it is.

“There’s nothing we can do to change it. They say it will carry on raining Wednesday but then maybe it will dry out.

“I suppose I might have to use my horse from that post but it’s still early days to be talking tactics, I’m just delighted to be here and I feel great.

“In one week it will be all over and I’m going to take a holiday with my wife who hasn’t seen that much of me this year and greatly deserves to have a nice break.”

Dettori has five rides for Wesley Ward, spread over three days, and partnered one of the trainer’s horses on the Polytrack.

He said: “I ride two for Wesley on Thursday and three more at the Breeders’ Cup, including his filly (Undrafted) in the Turf Sprint, and I know he was pleased to get the wide gate with her.”

– Sportinglife.com

Picture: Golden Horn and Frankie Dettori

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah has been installed as the early 12-10 favorite and will break from the fourth post for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic in Kentucky on Saturday in his hugely anticipated racing farewell.

The Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old will be looking to cap his stellar career with a ninth win in 11 starts, having finished a shocking second in his most recent outing — in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August.

“We were 50-50 as to whether or not we were going to run in that race,” Baffert told reporters about the Travers Stakes. “Unfortunately, he didn’t really run his race and coming out of it, I could tell everything … had kind of taken its toll.

“He needed the 60 days (preparing for this week’s Classic). This horse, he runs well fresh.”

According to Baffert, American Pharoah has displayed very impressive form in recent weeks while working out at his home track in California before being shipped to Kentucky on Tuesday.

“Sometimes I get a bit excited, the way he does things so easily. He looked fantastic (in training) and I really feel good about the way he’s coming into this race,” said Baffert.

American Pharoah entered the pantheon of U.S. thoroughbred racing’s all-time greats by winning the Belmont Stakes wire-to-wire in June to become the first horse to capture the coveted ‘Triple Crown’ in nearly four decades.

In winning a seventh straight race, American Pharoah became the 12th horse and first since Affirmed in 1978 to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.

With jockey Victor Espinoza in the saddle, American Pharoah will arrive at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington as the favorite for the showpiece Classic but is expected to face a strong challenge from Beholder.

The 5-year-old mare, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2012 and the Distaff in 2013, has won all of her five starts this season, including the Pacific Classic at Del Mar against male rivals over the Classic distance.

With Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens on board, Beholder will start the Classic from the 10 hole as a 3-1 choice.

Tonalist, the 4-year-old who dashed California Chrome’s Triple Crown bid in 2014 with a thrilling victory at the Belmont Stakes, is at 6-1 for the Classic — along with exciting stretch-runner Honor Code.

British raider Golden Horn, a rare winner of the Epsom Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for trainer John Gosden, will break from the rail in a field of 10 for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf, the penultimate race on Saturday.

With his regular jockey Frankie Dettori aboard, Golden Horn is the 4-5 favorite as he aims to improve his outstanding career record to eight wins in nine starts.

The Breeders’ Cup, a 13-race meeting worth a total of more than $26 million, will be run on Friday and Saturday (DSTV 239).

– Reuters.com (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)

Picture: American Pharoah (by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Gerrit Schlechter is bracing himself for a lengthy spell on the sidelines as his back injury has proved worse than originally thought.

He said yesterday: “Other problems have crept in and it doesn’t look too good. I am waiting on the doctors but I am off for quite a while.”

Schlechter, 50, was found to have a prolapsed disc when he could hardly get off Beyond Limits after winning on him at Kenilworth at the beginning of June. When he returned three months later the injury struck again on only his second ride back. This time he struggled to even get to the start.

He is one of a select group of the current riders to have won both the Durban July (Eyeofthetiger in 2006) and the J & B Met (Past Master in 2011) and seemingly  the present near-five month absence is hard to bear– “I really miss it,” he said feelingly.

However Karl Neisius is optimistic that he will be given the all-clear to resume no later than the beginning of December.

He said: “I am signed off until November 14 but I will probably know about the 10^th and then it will take about three weeks’ riding work before I return to race-riding.”

Inflammation in his lower back has meant that Neisius has not ridden since September 12 when he won on Exploracy for Shane Humby at Durbanville.

Devin Ashby, who had two pins inserted into the ankle he broke when a horse came over on top of him riding work at Milnerton, will have to wear his surgical boot for a further month “but I hope to be back by the end of December or early in January.”

Fareed Anthony resumed last Saturday after being off for six months and he rides again at Kenilworth today.

He said: “I injured my neck and my back, and I now have to go for an evaluation of my spine. But the rest has done me a lot of good and I’m feeling much better.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Karl Neisius

Dennis Drier can get off the mark for the Cape season with Ante Omnia in the opening maiden at Kenilworth tomorrow.

This R3 million purchase made a promising debut at Scottsville last month, starting second favourite and beating all except the more experienced Apollo’s Gift. “He has done nicely since but he is looking for further,” cautions Drier.

Sean Cormack’s (pictured) mount opened 16-10 favourite with Betting World yesterday and he was also favourite, but at 22-10, with World Sports Betting which is to sponsor the Cape Fillies Guineas.

Flying Ryan (7-1 with BW but only 5-1 with WSB) has similar credentials to Ante Omnia in that he was second on his only start in a good Kenilworth maiden, albeit he went off at 50-1 and cost only R80 000. “He has come on since then but he had ten days off after his innoculations and deworming so he could be fitter,” says Glen Puller.

Whisky Baron (best priced 4-1) was only inches behind him that day so he should also not be left out of consideration while Psycho Syd (also 4-1) has gone close in his last two.

The Best Of Me, who ran way below his best at Durbanville last time, drops in trip and that looks significant. “He didn’t like the course and he didn’t see out the distance,” says Mike Robinson of the 12-1 shot.

Drier sends out Supreme Dynasty for the All To Come Handicap and Cormack’s mount has won the last three of her four starts. They were on the Greyville polytrack and the most recent was seven months ago. “She wintered badly,” says Drier, explaining the reason for her absence and adding that she is likely to need the run. Her 15-10 price doesn’t really take that into account

Hot Affair (8-1) has a lot of ability but she was most disappointing last time. “She was very sick afterwards – she had a virus,” says Robinson. “She is well now but I haven’t given her a grass gallop so she just might need it.”

In the circumstances Sunset Tripp at 6-1 is taken to beat her shorter-priced stable companion Acaciawood (4-1) while Justin Snaith has a lot of confidence in the once-raced Black Arthur in the Soccer 6 Maiden. “We think he is a very good horse and we are expecting big things from him,” says the season’s leading trainer. “Of course he has got to prove it in a race but he has come on since his first run.”

Black Arthur, who finished with only two behind him first time out, opened at 16-10 with Betting World and 33-10 with World Sports Betting.

Snaith’s Secret Seven had Arabian Winter four lengths behind at Durbanville when both were hampered. Taking into account their respective draws Arabian Winter may be able to reverse the placings in the Rugby 5 Maiden.

There is precious little to choose between Arctic Blast and Shenyang in the Soccer 10 Maiden and Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount gets only marginal preference. But he is a better price – 5-2 against the 14-10 available about Arctic Blast.
– Michael Clower