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

There is an eight race meeting on the Greyville poly tomorrow and there look to be some good opportunities for shrewd punters.

In the first, a Maiden over 1200m, Omega Onslaught’s two 1200m formlines look strong and he is the one to beat despite a high draw of nine. Wild Namaqua is ideally course and distance suited and bounced back to form last time so will be a contender from pole position. The in-form Doug Campbell yard could place here with the consistent The Lonsdale and others to consider are Hot Chilli, who has shown signs of ability, and the Mike de Kock-trained Quantity who wasn’t disgraced against a classy sort last time out over this trip on turf.

In the second, a fillies and mares maiden over 1200m, Glimmer Of Silver should be continually improving being by Silvano and has a chance here from a good draw of three as the form of her last 1200m race has worked out well. Euthenia is a hard-knocker and the form of her last couple of races has worked out quite well so she could earn despite a high draw. De Kock sends out the well-bred first-timer Cherry Tree Lane by Fastnet Rock and it would be no surprise to see her win, so the betting must be monitored. Classy Chic and Night Frost are others who make some appeal.

In the third, a Maiden over 1800m, Mr Winsome went close over 1400m in Cape Town last time out in July and his dam won over 1900m so being by Silvano he should relish this trip.  The Charles Laird-trained Team Guys has often found market support and has some good form behind fair types. Laird always has them fit enough on their comebacks and this trip looks likely to suit. Jullidar ran an improved race last time and if he settles he could earn from a good draw. For Ever stayed on well here over 2000m last time and should be improving being by Ideal World. Township Talk travels nicely in front in his races but never seems to find the necessary extra so he could be interesting in a slight step down in trip.

In the fourth over, a MR 66 Handicap over 1600m, Pure Valor is an improving gelding by Dynasty who has won his only previous start over  this course and distance and is now well drawn off just a four point higher merit rating. Guilty As Charged packs a strong finish and the form of his maiden win over course and distance has worked out well so he should be thereabouts off a reasonable 68 merit rating. In Your Dreams won his maiden with a sustained finish over 1400m and should relish the step up in trip. Phoebus is only three points higher in the merit ratings after running on well to win over this trip at Scottsville. Electroshock could earn having come down to an attractive merit rating.

The fifth, a MR 86 handicap over 1600m, could go the way of Baracah who had a few excuses last time over course and distance when still managing to run second. The three-year-old Exit Here is a decent sort but does not have it easy in his first handicap outing off a 94 merit rating. Pioneer Spirit will have come into his own being by Go Deputy and could be interesting stepped down in trip provided he jumps well. Gold Bank and Mambo Master make most appeal of the rest.

In the sixth, a MR 66 Handicap over 1600m, Charles My Boy is stepped down in trip as his form over 1900m has not lived up to his earlier promise and he is now down in the merit ratings too. Queen Of Credit was only 3,8 lengths back in a probably below par Gr 1 over 1400m and had excuses last time. Pearly King could represent place value as he has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight and is four points lower in the merit ratings than his last win that was over this course and distance, although his wide draw is a concern. Spritzer is back to the course and distance of his best run, so could earn despite a wide draw. Yurie’s Gold looks to be off a competitive merit rating and can be dangerous.

In the seventh, a MR 74 Handicap over 1200m, the talented but unsound H’Oponopono went close over 1000m here last time when running on and Marcus is now up. Astro is a fair sort who has come down to an attractive merit rating and has a 4kg claimer aboard over what could well be a trip he will appreciate. Budapest looks a promising sort but doesn’t have it easy first time out the maidens off an 87 merit rating. El Gallo won easily over 1000m here last time and could earn off a fairly reasonable merit rating. Lala ran third in a Gr 2 over this trip but is having her seasonal reappearance against the boys off a tough merit rating of 86.

In the eighth, a MR 66 Handicap over 1000m, Strummer won easily on debut over course and distance and looks capable of handling a 76 merit rating. Threshold could be a threat if held up for a run by the 4kg claimer off this current attractive merit rating as he appeared to do better with those tactics in his penultimate start. Thunder Run is an honest type who should be right there if reproducing the form of his last run over this distance on turf.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Strummer (Nkosi Hlophe)

Kieren Fallon has accepted an invitation to take part in next month’s international jockeys match at Turffontein and Fairview and he will captain the visitors.

Fallon, 50, was a big draw when he last rode here five years ago and he has a tremendous record behind him, having ridden as stable jockey to Henry Cecil, Michael Stoute and Aidan O’Brien. Six times champion jockey in Britain, his big race triumphs include the Epsom Derby three times and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe twice.

He is also no stranger to controversy. He has twice had lengthy bans for testing positive in France and in 2007 he went on trial at the Old Bailey in London on charges of race-fixing but the judge ruled that he had no case to answer.

He spent four months of this year riding in America because he felt that he was not riding as well as he should in Britain and said that the change would do him good.

Racing Association boss Larry Wainstein, the driving force behind the jockeys match, said yesterday: “It was great to get him to come to South Africa again and it’s going to make it all very interesting while Hayley Turner is on record is saying that her South African rides will be the last of her career.”

Pat Cosgrave, who has ridden here before, will also be in the team as will fellow Irishman Robert Havlin. It will be his first time in South Africa as it will for Panamanian Eduardo Pedroza and Frenchman Aurelien Lemaitre who replaces much better known compatriot Christophe Lemaire.

Former champions Piere Strydom and Anton Marcus are the two wild cards in the South African team, otherwise decided by the first four in last season’s national log – Gavin Lerena (captain), S’Manga Khumalo, Greg Cheyne and Anthony Delpech.

The home team leads the series five-two since its reinstatement in 2008. The Fairview leg is on November 13 and the match finishes at Turffontein the following day.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Kieren Fallon

Vodacom Durban July hero Power King is among 34 powerful entries for this year’s R1-million Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile (Grade 2) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday October 31.

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer had said a while back he could be bringing Power King to the Highveld for a shot at the R2-million SANSUI Summer Cup over 2000m at the end of November. He is one of three runners from the Kannemeyer stable nominated for the Charity Mile, the others being Afrikaburn, who is sure to love the Turffontein 1600m, and Solar Star, a five-time winner from 17 starts.

All three are currently based at Kannemeyer’s Summerveld satellite yard and, if they run, will raid from there. “I only brought the majority of my Durban Champions Season horses home to Cape Town last Thursday so I could do their African horse sickness vaccinations in the warmth – it only really starts warming up in Cape Town from late October, early November,” said Kannemeyer. “Some, like Power King, Afrikaburn, Solar Star, Master James and Hot Ticket remained behind to, perhaps, run in Johannesburg during the spring season.”

He added his plans had not yet been finalised. “They have been provisionally nominated. We still have to have a look at the conditions and handicaps and do what’s best for the horses.”

Justin Snaith, who has stables locally, has entered Dynamic and Ultimate Dollar, who finished third behind Deputy Judd in the recent Supreme Cup, sponsored by SAP, over 1450m on the Vaal sand.

He could get a second crack at Deputy Judd as Mike Azzie has entered the son of Judpot into the Charity Mile. Azzie has also nominated Prince Of Orange.

As expected there is a strong entry from the Mike de Kock yard which is headed up by Mitraad, a winner of four of his five starts. Other De Kock entries are Kingmambo’s Legacy, Anjaal, Flying The Flag and Toro Rosso.

Mitraad’s lone defeat was to Zambezi River and he is one of five entries from the Sean Tarry yard. Among the others are Equus Champion Three-Year-Old French Navy and Heavy Metal.

This year’s Charity Mile will be the biggest yet, with the 16 chosen charities receiving a share of R1 million, a dramatic increase from last year’s total of R550,000.

The barrier draw, which will be held at Emperors Palace on 21 October, will decide which of the 16 thoroughbreds will represent which charity. Sixteen celebrities will each be matched with a charity for the day.

The charity who draws the winning horse will receive R150,000, the charity represented by the runner-up will receive R100,000 with the other 14 charities getting proportionate amounts of the total donation, depending on the allocated horse’s placement.

Supplementary entries close at 11am on Friday after which the weights will be posted.

Declarations close at 10am on Tuesday 20 October and the final field will be announced at a special event on Wednesday 21 October when the draws will be made. The draw for charities and celebrities will be performed at the same function. (TABNews)

Entries for the R1-million Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile (Grade 2) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 31 October in order of merit ratings:

Picture: Power King winning the 2015 Vodacom Durban July (Nkosi Hlophe)