Greyville stages the second of its 20-20 meetings tomorrow night, whereby all nine races are only twenty minutes apart, and the races will be once again be ridden alternately by jockeys and apprentices.

In the first race starting at 6.15pm is a Maiden for three-year-old fillies over 1400m to be ridden by jockeys. Swiss Note has caught the eye running on well over 1200m on three occasions and looks likely to enjoy the step up in trip, although the wide draw is a bit of a concern. Chronological had excuses when going close over this course and distance in July without blinkers and the blinkers have come off after a disappointing race over 1000m last time, so she should go close with Anton Marcus up from a suitable trip. Martita Ridge ran a disappointing race last over 1600m last time after catching the eye over 1200m on debut, but she might appreciate the step down in trip so is a runner, especially if she starts on terms for a change.

In the second, an Apprentice Maiden for three-year-olds over 1400m, Kolinsky has faced good sorts in all three of his runs and hasn’t been disgraced in the last two of them over 1200m and 1400m respectively, so looks hard to oppose in this weak field from a good draw. Mighty Mississippi has also faced good sorts in three runs and should appreciate the step up in trip after running a fair third over 1200m last time out. Jabuticaba improved with first time blinkers in his second start over this course and distance in an uninspiring field and he could earn again from pole position with a 2,5kg claimer up.

In the third, a MR 94 handicap over 1400m, Translunar has performed admirably against good sorts from 1400-1600m and is a decent, consistent horse who is tipped to beat a fair field here from a good draw as he should now be cherry ripe having his third run after a two month layoff. Just Ask Me has a touch of class and is ideally course and distance suited so should do well from a good draw. Diamond King has always had plenty of class and found consistency after some of his problems had been resolved, so he should be involved from pole position with Marcus up. Buffalo Bill has been knocking on the door from 1400-1600m but this is his first run for two months. Eddie Sweat did well in his only start over course and distance and the old soldier Stolen Destiny can’t be ignored either over his favourite trip.

In the fourth, a MR 78 Apprentice Handicap over1400m, Surrey over raced early on his poly debut before fighting back in the straight to win over 1600m, so he should appreciate the step down in trip. The four point raise he was given looks unlikely to stop him with the same 4kg claimer up, although the wide draw is a little bit of a concern. Military Leader is back to his favourite course and distance and has an astute apprentice up for an in form yard. Furthermore, his merit rating has also been lowered by two points after two disappointing runs over 1600m. Ready For Take Off has not been disgraced against some good sorts recently and has a 2,5 claimer up from a good draw over a suitable course and distance.

In the fifth, a Novice Plate over 1600m, Intergalactic will be attempting to cement her place in the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup and from a good draw over the course and distance of her facile maiden win she is the one to beat. Khonza should also go close as she struck as being a decent type when finishing powerfully to win over course and distance last time out in the maidens. Way Out Front was not disgraced against good sorts in her first two starts and then beat another promising type over course and distance last time, so she should be thereabouts.

In the sixth, an Apprentice maiden for fillies and mares over 1800m, Yell has the form to succeed in this uninspiring field and should be finishing strongly from a good draw. Cherry Orchard is a consistent earner and this trip on the poly should suit. Fashion Talk showed some improvement last time when stepped up to 2000m with second time blinkers on and she could earn again.

In the seventh, a MR 70 Handicap over 1900m, Grey’s A Rockin has impressed in his last two starts with a change to hold up tactics and Marcus is up. Capel Top should be cherry ripe having his third run after a rest and will appreciate the step up in trip having had to be ridden to stay in touch over slightly shorter last time. Rocketball only just failed last time over 1600m when running on and is interesting stepped up to a trip he should enjoy.

In the eighth, a MR 64 Apprentice Handicap for fillies and mares, Quintella loves this course and distance and will go close if ridden from well off the pace before running on strongly, which is the effective tactic employed by her regular rider. Jolo jumps from pole position and has been knocking on the door over this course and distance. Lucky Packet won over 1000m on debut so is interesting stepped down in trip for the first time in ages having run well for second over 1400m here last time when handy throughout.

In the ninth, a Maiden over 1600m, Fareeq flew for a good second after losing two lengths over 1200m at Scottsville on debut and should appreciate the step up in trip, so is the one to beat in an uninspiring field. Blue Ocean has only run once in the last two years but did have some fair form and ran a fair race fresh last time out in February. Sunshine City’s debut has been a fair form race and he could earn with expected improvement.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Intergalactic (Nkosi Hlophe)

Brazilian Silvestre de Sousa will be crowned British Flat Jockey Champion on Saturday as he currently has an unassailable lead of 36 over nearest challenger William Buick.

The controversial decision to change the starting point of the championships from the Guineas meeting at Newmarket in early May, and the ending point to the Champions Day meeting at Ascot in mid-October, has not had the intended effect of bringing the elite jockeys to the forefront.

However, an injury at a crucial stage to Ryan Moore and the retirement of the pre-season favourite Richard Hughes after the Glorious Goodwood meeting also contributed to the runaway win by De Sousa.

The championship previously ran from the beginning of the turf flat season in March through to its end in November, although All Weather wins do also count during the championship period.

However, as part of the statement made when announcing the change, Great British Racing said, “The new Jockeys’ Championship will replace a title contest which, on occasions, has seen leading jockeys either publicly rule themselves out from competing due to its attritional nature or who are absent on overseas riding duties at its start and end.”

De Sousa, who counted the like of leading Northern trainer Mark Johnston as well as Mick Channon and David Elsworth as his chief supporters, had three Gr 3s and the Gr 1 Juddmonte International as his only Group winners during the championship period.

Ryan Moore, regarded by many as the best jockey in the world, had seven Gr 1 wins, seven Gr 2 wins and three Gr 3 wins in Europe during his curtailed championship period, and was in the title race until a neck injury attained when unseated in the stalls at Newmarket on July 9 put him on the sidelines for a while.

Moore is currently in 13^th place in the championship, but his strike rate of 22% is the highest on the log. However, his 61 winners are not even half those of the 132 winners to date of De Sousa, who has ridden to a strike rate of 18%.

William Buick’s chief obligations have been to Godolphin and he is currently on 96 winners ridden at a strike rate of 20%, one clear of the twice champion Paul Hanagan.

De Sousa’s previous best finish was as runner up to Hanagan in 2011 when riding 161 winners to the latter’s 165.

The championship race lost a lot of its spark when Richard Hughes, who had won the previous three titles, announced he would retire after the Glorious Goodwood meeting, which takes place at  the beginning of August. Hughes was still in the title hunt when he made the announcement in July and apologised to those who had backed him for the title before adding that he felt his first year as a trainer next year would be his most important, so he needed to devote all his time to the pending Sales.

Brazilian De Sousa joins the like of Australia’s Scobie Breasley (1957, 1961, 1962 and 1963), South Africa’s Michael Roberts (1992) and Frankie Dettori (1994, 1995 and 2004) as Non-British or Irish jockeys to have won the title.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Silvestre de Sousa (Independent.co.uk)

Turffontein stages a nine race midweek meeting on the Inside track and some fair sorts are being turned out.

The most interesting event could be the eighth, a Graduation Plate over 1600m, which has attracted some Johannesburg Spring feature season hopefuls.

Anjaal showed the benefit of a breathing operation when easily winning over 1400m last April and he then split Mac De Lago and Rampant Ice when finishing a three length fourth in the KRA Guineas. However, he is an unreliable sort and has not set the world alight in two runs since gelding. However, he could perhaps bounce back to his best in his third run since the operation as he was not disgraced last time in the Jo’burg Spring Challenge over 1400m in a strong field, despite reportedly not striding out. He will appreciate the step up in trip and also has the blinkers back on. His draw of seven is tricky but Anthony Delpech is likely to find him a good position in the running.

MLJet is a talented but disappointing sort. However, he did stay on well last time from the front without blinkers when only three lengths behind the brilliant Same Jurisdiction over 1400m at Scottsville and the headgear remains off. He also has a first-time tongue tie and a perfect draw of two over a suitable trip. He has the benefit of having had a run in both August and September and could be a threat, but he has not won since opening his account with two victories as a juvenile.

Front Rank showed his class in the KZN Breeders Million when going within 0,35 lengths of Bezanova when receiving only 4,5kg. That run proved he is capable of running above his 88 merit rating, so he can’t be written off.

Another interesting event is the seventh, a MR 80 Handicap over 1000m, as the progressive Thrust will attempt to make it four in a row. He can progress further and will be running on strongly but his wide draw might just be his undoing. Will Pays is a talented sort who has a combination of speed and gears so he is the selection from an ideal pole position draw off a merit rating of 82 which he can still rise above. Isca has a lot of class but is returning from a six month layoff and his wide draw and topweight might find him out in the closing stages. Lady Al has had genuine excuses in some of her recent runs so can place here from a good draw off a lowered merit rating with a 1,5kg claimer up. Dream Leader is 1kg better off for a 0,5 length beating by Thrust so could earn.

The meeting begins with an intriguing Workrider’s fillies and mares Maiden over 1800m. Racey J stayed on over 1400m on debut and looks likely to relish the step up in trip on both racing style and pedigree. Peg O’ My Heart could challenge if jumping on terms as she lost three lengths last time so did well to finish just 6,25 lengths back in decent maiden field over 2000m. Fortissima had to be urged along virtually all the way over 1400m last time and could be interesting if the penny drops over a step up in trip she will appreciate.

Spurwing Summer choked up over 2000m last time but has some fair form over this trip. Rose Of Castille beat Peg O’My Heart narrowly last time but is a temperamental and unreliable sort.

In the second is a Maiden over 1200m and Perepetual Silence was green when making an eyecatching debut so should take care of those to have raced from a fair draw. Atso Cool, draw in pole under Fortune, showed pace over 1000m last time but found no extra.  Red Special has run well over this trip before and could earn. There are two interesting first-timers. Lunar Approach is by Right Approach out of a four-time winning Doowaley mare from 1600-1800m and he is drawn well in two. Miracle Bureau is by Trippi out of a Listed six=time winner by National Emblem, but he does have a tough draw.

In the third, a Maiden for fillies over 1450m, Monarch Air will be attempting to qualify for the Emperor’s palace Ready To Run Cup so will need a big run and should run a big race having only just failed when charging home over 1200m last time out. Fortune has kept the ride. However, the well-bred Silvano filly Bella Sonata, who is a half-sister to the winner of two Gr 2s in Britain, looks to have more scope for improvement having finished strongly over 1200m on debut to be just 2,8 lengths behind a well regarded sort.

The fourth is a MR 84 Handicap over 1800m for three-year-olds and the easy winner last time Samurai Blade look to be the one to beat. Off To Gaul and Scheme of Things could be the dangers.

The fifth is a MR 76 handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m. Gain Ground looks a fair sort in the making and is only 0,5kg under sufferance so could win as long she doesn’t over race like she did last time over 1600m. The improving Paris Princess took well to course and distance last time and is now only four points higher in the merit ratings for the victory. Sisters Of Mercy appears to have breathing issues but is a talented sort who goes well for Gavin lerena.

The sixth is a Conditions Plate over 1000m and Drifting Dusk, who strikes as one with plenty of class, is drawn ideally so is the one to side with carrying only 52kg. Kwinta has speed and class and is drawn in pole so will be a threat. Sarve has performed well against some of the best and could earn despite having to carry 60kg. Winter Star makes most appeal of the rest.

The ninth is a Maiden over 1600m and Liege has caught the eye before so could win with a strong late run from a wide draw. Gladiatore looks set to go close from pole position over a suitable course and distance. Elusive Seven is another one who should be running on from a wide draw.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Will Pays (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Paul Lafferty-trained stalwart Unbelievable Chad will gallop over 1400m at Scottsville on Sunday half-an-hour before the first race, with a pacemaker, in preparation for the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m on October 31.

Unbelievable Chad, a highly promising Toreador colt who is part-owned by the Olympic Gold medal swimming legend Chad le Clos, will represent Lafferty in the yard’s defence of their  crown in this race as they won it last year with the Australian-bred colt Harry’s Son.

Meanwhile the apple of Lafferty’s eye Harry’s Son is still doing extremely well in Mauritius and Lafferty added, “Perhaps too well”, implying that he is itching to race.

The Haradasun colt will land in England at the beginning of November and will be staying in trainer Jim Boyle’s yard at Epsom. Boyle, a great friend of Lafferty’s, is in his thirties and is also a qualified veterinarian so Harry’s Son will be in good hands.

Furthermore, Lafferty’s house in the UK is close to the Epsom race track, which will make Harry’s Son’s base in England convenient for Lafferty’s assistant trainer Roy Waugh. Waugh will be taking care of Harry’s Son and training him on the Epsom Downs during the final leg of the horse’s journey to his destination of Dubai. Lafferty will be an official trainer at next year’s Dubai Carnival and has secured another horse to campaign with, the three-year-old USA-bred Warfront colt Royal Navy Ship.

This colt won on debut as a two-year-old for Aiden O’Brien over seven furlongs at The Curragh and followed up by finishing second over the same trip in a Gr 3 at Leopardstown. Royal Navy Ship has not won as a three-year-old yet, but has an official turf rating of 102 and all weather rating of 97, which qualifies him for Dubai. He will land in England at the same time as Harry’s Son and join him at Epsom under the care of Waugh.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Unbelievable Chad (Nkosi Hlophe)

Andrew Fortune’s appearances before the NHA’s Inquiry Board in Port Elizabeth on October 2 and 9 have proved expensive.

The former champion was charged with a contravention of Rule 72.1.8 in that he “swore at or interfered with” an official at Fairview on September 7 after the running of race three which he won on the Justin Snaith-trained Weekend Temper.

Despite pleading not guilty, Fortune was found guilty as charged and fined R1 000 although this was suspended for six months.

However he was then charged with conducting himself “in an improper, disrespectful and abusive manner” during the inquiry. For this he was fined R5 000! No suspension of the fine either.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Andrew Fortune