Dean Kannemeyer landed a treble at Greyville on Friday night, while his other two runners both finished third, and these results not only provided proof of his skills as a trainer but also of the apparently superior Cape Town form, as all five of his horses were having their first KZN outings since being transported from Kannemeyer’s Milnerton base to his Summerveld satellite yard and most of them were sent out at attractive odds.

In the first race over 1200m his runner, the five-year-old Kahal gelding Black Agate, had already had 13 runs in the maidens and had been beaten more than ten lengths in both of his last two runs. However a closer look at his Cape Town form showed that in good going he had only once been out of the first five over this trip, so considering the strength of maiden races in Cape Town compared to Durban and the fast poly surface, he looked good value at R4.40 a place and duly ran on strongly for third. The winner of this race was the well backed favourite Var Du Bois, who was the second first-timer by Var that Doug Campbell had sent out to win on successive Friday nights and both were ridden by Ian Sturgeon.

Kannemeyer’s second runner of the evening, the three-year-old Kahal colt Tanjiro, looked impossible to impose facing a weak field in a Maiden over 1600m, having gone close over 1400m in Cape Town in his previous run. He was allowed to drift out to R1.80 a win, apparently due to some negative on course rumours, but he duly won comfortably under Anton Marcus.

Kannemeyer’s next runner, the five-year-old Judpot gelding Sussex, was another one who looked likely to enjoy the relatively fast poly surface, so looked amazing value at R23.70 considering the previous time he had raced on good ground over this 1600m trip in Cape Town he finished only 2,45 lengths behind the decent Bianzino and was now not only three points lower in the merit ratings but also had a 4kg claimer up in the handicap event. Apprentice Eric Ngwane didn’t panic when the horse was headstrong early in the running, but instead allowed him to bowl along in the joint lead and he fought back after being headed in the straight to deny Rocketball by a head.

In the next race, a handicap over 1800m, the once highly regarded Kannemeyer-trained Giant’s Causeway gelding Capel Top had dropped to a 66 merit rating and ran on for third paying R1.80 a place.

His runner in the next, a handicap over 1400m, was the Lecture filly Leylani and she didn’t look to have an easy task as a three-year-old carrying 60kg off a merit rating of 82. However, she won cosily under Alec Forbes and returned R7.00 a win.

The record of the off season arrivals to Kannemeyer’s satellite yard at Summerveld from Milnerton now reads seven runs, five wins and two thirds.

Charles Laird and Anton Marcus combined for a double at the meeting. In the fourth, a maiden over 1600m, the Dynasty filly Madame Justice, a full-sister to Legislate, relished the step up in trip and powered to a 9,25 length win.It was a weak field, but she over raced early so looks most promising.

Laird’s strong three-year-old Kahal gelding Dance On Air also looks decent having won the last race, a handicap over 1400m, comfortably despite carrying 60,5kg off a merit rating of 81.

The other two winners on the night were the problematic Belinda Impey-trained seven-year-old Scripture gelding Dulce Leche, who, ridden by Sean Veale, beat an unlucky Sweet Turn in a maiden over 1600m; and the often disappointing Gavin van Zyl-trained Silvano gelding Night Shadow, who enjoyed the step up to 1800m in a handicap, and won comfortably off a lowly 63 merit rating under Warren Kennedy.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Dean Kannemeyer

Gift Funeka, who in the year 2000 became the first black jockey to ride in the Durban July, died on Friday.

Funeka was rushed to hospital with severe internal pains and died a short while after being admitted.

Funeka booked a place in the 2000 July aboard the Anil Maharaj trained New Zealand-bred His Nibs after winning the Gr 2 Greyville 1900 on the seven-year-old gelding at odds of 20/1.

The Greyville 1900 was his biggest career win.

However, he also gained a huge amount of respect for the brave and highly successful comeback he made to the saddle about two years ago, having been off for about four-and-a-half years due to a bout of meningitis which affected his balance for some time.

Trainer Dorrie Sham was instrumental in helping him renew his license and he became associated with her Fairview yard.

Sham had a long friendship with Funeka and admitted she regarded him as an “extra son.” Funeka had a winner for Sham in his second comeback meeting and finished the 2013/2014 season with 20 winners at a strike rate of 6,73%.

In the first part of the 2014/2015 he became associated with the like of the George Uren and Des McLachlan/Duncan McKenzie yards, and he also had rides here and there for the like of Alan Greeff, Glen Kotzen and Mitch Wiese.

He was clearly held in high regard and consequently landed a position with the powerful yard of Yvette Bremner, having ridden two winners for her in his early handful of chances for the yard, a 50/1 shot in Leta’s Bonnet and a 28/10 favourite in Benedict.

He finished last season with 40 winners at a strike rate of just over 9%.

He had not ridden since the second Fairview Friday meeting of this season due to illness.

Funeka joined the South African Jockey’s Academy in 1995 and rode his first winner at Scottsville in April 1997 aboard the Clodagh Shaw-trained Dale Vision, a day he described as the happiest of his life. He went on to ride 48 winners as an apprentice.

One of Funeka’s nicknames was ‘mnotho’, which means money, and was given to him by the grooms who said that whenever the money was down he would bring it home.

Funeka was born and grew up in Kwa-Mashu as one of a family of three boys and is survived by his wife Ntombi Viv, son Nkosinathi and daughter Nkanyezi.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Gift Funeka

Act Of War is as short as 4-10 in the Betting World forecast for tomorrow’s Kuda Matchem Stakes but this Durbanvile feature is a favourite’s graveyard and nine of the last ten have been beaten.

Joey Ramsden’s star has over six lengths in hand on his best form and master-starter Anton Marcus is almost guaranteed to make light of the colt’s eight draw. A gallop on the course last weekend satisfied his trainer that lack of Durbanville racing experience won’t be a handicap either.

However he has not raced for five months and, although the Cape Guineas winner was kept in work at Summerveld over the winter, his racecourse absence just might make him vulnerable.

Ramsden, who won this with the great Variety Club four years ago, does not agree and says: “He is pretty fit. I wouldn’t let him out if I didn’t feel he could do the job.”

Surprisingly there are no three-year-olds in the line-up – ten were entered – and only two other trainers are represented. Justin Snaith, successful with Changingoftheguard in 2012, runs five with Sean Cormack’s mount Alpha Pegasi marginally the best on ratings and a forecast 7-1 chance.

“Alpha Pegasi will run well but I think Heartland (6-1) will probably be our main hope,” says Snaith. “But, really, it’s a toss-up between the five and much will depend on which one handles Durbanville the best.”

Snaith, in tremendous form so far this season, is also of the opinion that the favourite could be vulnerable – “Particularly at Durbanville which is a place that tames lions. Here it’s not always the best horse that wins but the one that acts best on the course.”

Mike Bass, bidding for his third Matchem in eight years, runs four and Sail For Gold could be the one to floor the favourite.  In the Winter Guineas, when Act Of War returned from three months off, he ran the Ramsden hotpot to a fighting length and a quarter on these terms.  He is race fit after winning over 1 300m here a fortnight ago and looks value at the forecast 8-1.

Candice Robinson confirms that Grant van Niekerk’s mount has the best chance of the stable’s quartet but says the hat-trick seeking 20-1 shot Sheer Trouble “is in great form at the moment and I think he will be right there.”

Favourites have a much better record in the Diana Stakes, winning four of the last six. Dual Grade 1 winner Inara scored with incredible ease here a fortnight ago and the stable confirms that she has come on since.

She is sure to be odds-on and she should certainly go in again but punters should not take too short a price. Stable companion Come Fly With Me is 6kg better for two lengths and in the opinion of the handicappers Inara has only 2kg in hand at the weights.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Act Of War (Liesl King)

KZN has a double header this weekend with the usual eight race card on the Greyville poly tonight and an eight race meeting at Scottsville on Sunday.

In race one over 1200m, Black Agate showed some fair form over this trip early in his career in Cape Town, which generally has maiden races a lot stronger than this, so looks the one to beat despite a tough draw. War Requiem enjoys the Greyville poly and could earn again under a claimer he gets on well with. Purple Splash wore blinkers on debut over 1000 at Scottsville, which is never a good sign, but ran a fair third and could earn again.  Wild Namaqua jumps from a good draw over a suitable trip and has the ability to win this but a concern is that he choked up last time out.

In the second over 1600m Lecture D made a good poly debut over 1200m and with Anton Marcus up is the selection. Good Team is a well-bred sort by Captain Al and the step up to a mile should suit. Sweet Turn is by Miesque’s Approval, whose progeny enjoy the poly, and he could build on his improved last run. Whale Trail ran on well in his penultimate start and should enjoy the extra 200m. Dulce Leche is already a seven-year-old, but has run on well over shorter, so is interesting over this trip.

In the third over 1600m Tanjiro has some good maiden form in Cape Town and looks impossible to oppose. Winter’s Heir ran a fair race over 1400m on the poly last time and should enjoy the step up in trip. Levi Roots is open to improvement and could earn a cheque.

In the fourth over 1600m Madame Justice, a full-sister to Legislate, wasn’t overly impressive over 1200m on debut, but faces an uninspiring field and will relish the step up in trip. Zara’s Legacy has run some fair races over course and distance and could earn. Hatton Garden ran on late for third over course and distance last time and could place again.

In the fifth over 1600m Surrey hasn’t enjoyed the soft going in his last two starts, but has run one or two good races in better going, so should enjoy the poly. Cape Town horses often have suppressed merit ratings due to the class of horse down there and therefore Surrey is the tip to win, especially considering he has come down in the merit ratings since a good run over 1600m on good ground last November. Sovereign Reign should appreciate the step up in trip on pedigree and this well regarded sort has a chance from pole position under Anton Marcus. Fleetfox has run well over course and distance before and being by Silvano should be improving. Cat In Command is 5kg better off than Royal Colours for a 2,25 length beating over course and distance so could reverse form. Royal Colours loves the course and distance, but has battled to win off a merit rating this high in the past.

The sixth race over 1600 the once well regarded Capel Top is another who could be well weighted in his KZN handicap debut over a suitable trip. Spritzer was way under sufferance in a Novice last time but back in a handicap over a suitable trip could go close. Variety Romp will relish the step back to the trip of his maiden win and will likely attempt to dominate from the start.

In race seven over 1400m, the new Plattner Racing trainer Andre Nel has two runners, The Morrigan and De Sol A Sol, who haven’t run for eight months. His Summerveld assistant Byron Foster didn’t expect them to run bad races, but said they had not been wound up so they will come on from the runs and he expected them to be more effective from a mile upwards. Obrega is selected as she looks likely to appreciate the step down to 1400m, considering the 1600m appeared to blunt her finishing speed. Flash McQueen finished strongly to win over course and distance last time with a first time tongue tie and was only raised three points. Money Penny has been given a reasonable merit rating after winning her second career start over 1200m at Scottsville and could still improve over a trip that should be ideal on pedigree.

In the last race over 1400m Dance On Air is a strong three-year-old who can defy topweight, especially as he looks likely to get a tow from the probable pacemaker Teppenyaki. Roy’s Ambassador could well appreciate the step down in trip and his good finish should be effective in race that looks to have pace. Ready For Take Off is having his third run after a rest and is another who should be finishing well. Eternal Ice has to be considered after a good last run over this trip at Scottsville behind a good sort. Royal Lance could run on into the money. Teppenyaki has heart and it would not be a big surprise to see him holding on for a place.

At Scottsville the highlight will be the clash between the promising Duncan Howells-trained Saratoga Dancer and the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gr 1-winner Afrikaburn in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m. Saratoga Dancer is officially 1kg under sufferance with the latter, but looks likely to continue progressing.

The third, a Graduation Plate over 1200m, will also be a cracker. The up-and-coming Executive Power clashes with the 101 merit rated Beat The Retreat and the former is the choice having already run twice this season. Snowman makes his reappearance here too and this is a horse to follow this season as he is full of talent and could well have benefitted from a long break, although he will be at his best over a mile. Highway Explorer is another talented horse in the race. The Charles Laird’s trio Split The Breeze, Chosen Dash and Red Hot Poker can’t be ignored either.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Anton Marcus

The exciting Duncan Howells-trained four-year-old Dynasty filly Sabaha will travel up to Johannesburg on Friday night for her engagement in the Gr 2 World Sports Betting Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge over 1450m.

Howells has described her before as a difficult horse to train, chiefly because she pulls very hard in her workouts, but she is a different kettle of fish both at the races and on the way to the races, relaxing well, so Howells is not at all concerned about the float journey up to the Highveld.

Sabaha, who has won three of her six career starts, is held in high regard by Howells and needed her last start when touched off over 1400m at Scottsville in a MR 90 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m.

She has put up a very good gallop since then and Howells confirmed she was now “very fit”.

She should be cherry ripe, but Howells did admit that she was a difficult horse to judge due to her antics on the training tracks.

However, he is expecting a good run and predicted a top three finish.

She tends to start slowly and this is probably by design, because she relaxes well when slotted in behind horses. This will likely be the tactic employed from the outside draw of nine in Saturday’s nine horse field. Coming from well back doesn’t pose a problem for her as she has a fantastic turn of foot.

She came from near last when winning her penultimate start in a MR 81 handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m at Scottsville by a comfortable 2,25 lengths and a signal of her class is that the second and third horses in that race, Deputy Rider and Come Fly With Me, have both come out and won twice since and one of the former’s victories was in a Listed event.

Sabaha is merit rated 95 and runs at level weights on Saturday with two other four-year-old fillies rated over 100, the 109 merit rated Lazer Star and the 103 merit-rated Sarve.

However, both of the latter horses have a stamina doubt hanging over their heads.

The only other horse rated above 100 in the race is the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championships third-placed Madame Dubois. She lost at odds of 1/3 in her first try at this sort of trip, but she was likely below par as she was laid off for the rest of her two-year-old season. She made a good comeback in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1200m three weeks ago, when just touched off by the decent mare Shepard One.

Other interesting runners on Saturday are the progressive Mike de Kock-trained four-year-old pair, Alice Springs and Love To Sail, and the mare Featherfoot, who is lightly raced and typically of a Silvano is coming into her own at the age of five.

The only Gr 1 winner in the field is the Sean Tarry-trained For The Lads, but she is a frustrating sort who has now dropped to an 81 merit rating.

The Corné Spies-trained Fire Dancing looks to be outclassed.

Sabaha might well be the one to beat, catching Lazer Star late, and they could be followed home by Featherfoot, Madame Dubois and Alice Springs.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Sabaha (Nkosi Hlophe)