Gerrit Schlechter looks like being out of action for several weeks after his back injury flared up painfully when he returned after three months off at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The July and Met-winning jockey said: “I was fine on Aspen Fire in race two and when True Brave played up badly going down the chute for the next. But I really felt it when he began doing the same thing going to the start.

“Three months ago I had what they call a prolapsed disc – basically a torn ligament in my back. My neuro-surgeon said that the last thing he wanted to do was operate because there would be no comeback if he did. He said to rest it before it tore completely. Now I will have to go back to him again.”

When Schlechter eventually reached the start, several minutes late and still in pain, he was promptly stood down and his mount withdrawn. The race was won by Karl Neisius on Nabisco, the middle leg of Justin Snaith’s second treble in as many days, but the former champion trainer seemed just as impressed with Black Arthur even though the newcomer finished with only two behind him after being backed from 8-1 to 7-2 second favourite.

Snaith said: “He is a special horse but we had no alternative but to drop him out from his wide draw because he didn’t have the experience to go to the front. Also this was my last opportunity to run him for seven weeks.

“I’m not knocking Durbanville – the track is in great nick – but he is a heavy type of horse and the undulations wouldn’t suit him.”

Stable companion Twinkle Toes, who would have started favourite for the Pravda Maiden, has had a setback which saw her going lame on her off-fore and having to be scratched on Thursday evening.

Snaith related: “She injured herself in her first race but it didn’t come out until after her final sprint.”

There were some high trainer expectations for several newcomers in this race but victory went to 8-1 shot Sails Set, the most experienced horse in the field. Aldo Domeyer’s mount is trained by Brett Crawford whose Midnight Breeze, sixth after being backed from 20-1 to 7-1, had a genuine excuse because Robert Khathi’s saddle slipped back from the start.

Vaughan Marshall has some ambitious hopes for Olympian who romped home four lengths clear in the Michaud Agencies Handicap without even having to be shown Domeyer’s stick.

Marshall said: “This horse has got more in the tank and hopefully he is good enough to run in races like the Cape Flying Championship.”

The Mike Bass stable had a frustrating afternoon – two beaten favourites including Arabian Winter being pipped on the post by no more than the hair on the nostrils of the Glen Kotzen-trained Deep Secret – but Greg Cheyne employed much the same inspired last gasp tactics to snatch the last on Sheer Trouble and raise the roof in the Milnerton Medi-Clinic.

Candice Robinson said: “My father is now doing well. He is out of Intensive Care and in a ward. He is still weak – he needs to get himself exercising to get stronger – but he is talking and eating.”

Shock of the day was Piet Steyn’s Belcourt Castle, 28-1 outsider of the ten-runner Perpetua House Handicap. He made all under Brandon May after having the blinkers taken off for the first time in more than 20 races.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Gerrit Schlechter

The answer to the oft posed question; ‘is it possible to make a living from betting on horseracing?’ would probably be ‘yes’ – provided the occupation is treated like any normal business and with equal dedication.

However, a secondary question would be whether the returns justify the time spent? The returns would likely range from extremes of handsome winning months to demoralising losing ones.  Most mortals would not be able handle that sort of pressure. Therefore, the majority of serious punters view the game rather as a means towards supplementing their incomes. However, even this group seldom make a profit from punting and they would likely not need this article to remind them.

Horseracing is a viable betting medium due to the consistency of the thoroughbred. A horse losing by a length over a mile has performed 99,8% as well as the winner. The job of the handicapper is to ensure that they finish even closer next time. This makes it tougher for the punter, but also allows those who do their homework to have “an edge”. Handicappers can slip up and in South Africa they are also bound by certain conditions. This edge is what separates horseracing betting from games of chance.

“Value”  is the cornerstone principle of the most successful professional punters. It is possible to work out that a horse which is paying R10 a win should actually be paying R5, because detailed form analysis reveals that it is better handicapped than its more fancied rivals. The punter who only ever backs these types will make a profit according to the theory of the law of averages. Those who believe the secret is simply to pick the winner no matter the price will likely bet on more races and their strike rates will have to be higher than the value seekers’.

Tote exotics like Jackpots and Place Accumulators are very popular and here once again value plays an important role. Punters looking for a banker who calculate that a third favourite should actually be the favourite will immediately be in the pound seats if this horse converts their confidence. Successful punters would seriously consider making such a horse a banker and if they don’t they would likely only include even bigger priced horses in the betting, having already formed the opinion that their choice will beat the two most fancied horses. Conversely, lesser punters will likely include the first and second favourites for safety’s sake. Therefore their profits will be cut considerably and once again they would likely have to win the exotics more often than the value seekers in order to match the latter’s returns.

The first few races on the card are not part of the Jackpot and Pick 6 exotics, and fittingly are also the best races on which to place win and place bets. This is simply due to the fact that in plate races like Maidens the best horses will come out on top, which is not always the case in handicaps. However, Maidens require serious study and in this regard previous race replays are a valuable tool. In South Africa race replays can be watched on www.racingassociation.co.za while KZN races can be watched on Youtube by searching for “Gold Circle Racing”. Those inexperienced horses which will likely improve in their next starts can be picked out in these replays. Furthermore, collateral form analysis in formguides like Computaform or www.gallop.co.za can enable punters to ascertain the strength of relevant Maiden races. Therefore, excellent value can often be found in these races. Recently, a horse called Antagonist finished third at odds of 75/1 when suddenly dropped down to 1000m from a string of races run over distances between 1600m and 2600m. He was sent out at odds of 45/1 in his next start, also over 1000m, on the grounds that his third place finish had occurred in a weak workrider’s event. However, the replay of the latter race told a different story. Firstly, he had jumped from an unfavourable high draw on the Vaal Inside track and at the business end had been carried even further outward by a compounding horse. He then charged home to finish 1,5 lengths back. He was now jumping from a favourable high draw at Turffonten and collateral form study revealed that this field was not much stronger. The place was paying R8,50, excellent value, and he duly ran on well for a 0,5 length second.

On the other end of the spectrum a horse called Balado started favourite for a maiden at The Vaal over 1400m about a year ago on the grounds he was trained by Sean Tarry, ridden by top workrider Lyle Hewitson, owned by Chris van Niekerk and had improved in just his third start last time out to finish a close second over this trip. However, he was already a six-year-old and the replay of that last start revealed he had had the run of the race and was a decidedly one-paced sort. Collateral form evidence suggested the previous race had been just as weak as this one. He duly finished unplaced and well beaten.

The lesson learnt from the above two examples is that a properly studied race will include analysis to some degree of every horse in the race and not just of the first few in the betting, while betting on a whim must be avoided at all costs.

In this regard the respected UK-based professional punter Alan Potts advises, “Make a plan – what races will you bet on, how many bets, what stakes and so on. The basics since I stopped being a loser have been to watch a lot, listen a little, ignore ‘inside information’, be cynical about hype and rely on my own judgement.”

Most punters probably do arrive at the course with the best laid out plans, but the majority will soon abandon them and end up off the rails.

One of the biggest recognised pitfalls is the “Pot of Gold” mentality” and tied in with this is “FOMO”, which stands for “Fear Of Missing Out.” Having taken a trifecta a punter’s mind will suddenly picture a “roughie” finishing fourth, or two of the outsiders in the aforementioned trifecta finishing one-two. Quartets and exactas are then taken and maybe swingers, all-to-comes and Pick 3s too … just in case. This sort of error will likely put undue pressure on the budget.

However, the probable biggest pitfall of all is to “chase.” A punter makes a handsome profit on Friday and later spends it with abandon. He or she arrives on Saturday with the  remaining money but quickly loses it. Suddenly that spending spree is looking expensive, so he/she draws more money. However, his/her tried and tested theories now tend to go out of the window. Rather, the aim becomes to look for bets that will bring the balance back to square. Logic takes a back seat and it becomes an exercise in throwing away hard earned cash.

– David Thiselton

Justin Snaith is aiming to become the first Cape Town trainer to win the Sansui Summer Cup since Mike Stewart scored with Fire Arch 20 years ago.

He is preparing both Investec Cape Derby runner-up Dynamic and Tabgold 2200 winner Ultimate Dollar for the November 28 Turffontein R2 million showpiece. Both horses travelled to his Johannesburg satellite yard from Durban as did Lineker who is being trained for the even more valuable Ready To Run Cup at the end of next month.

Snaith said: “I now have 12 horses at the satellite yard which is going very well and growing all the time. Ashleigh Hughes is in charge and she is brilliant. She used to be with Gary Alexander and then Weiho Marwing. She worked for me in the last Durban season so she now knows how I do things.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Justin Snaith

Same Jurisdiction put up a magnificent performance in her seasonal reappearance at Scottsville yesterday when cruising to an effortless 2,75 length victory under Anton Marcus in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1400m.

The four-year-old Mambo In Seattle filly will thus head off for Cape Town on a high note and her chief targets there will be the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m and the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m.

On her last two performances, victory in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes and yesterday, she is likely the best filly in the country, despite belonging to a vintage crop, a few of whom will still be racing in South Africa this season.

Same Jurisdiction started at odds of 1/3 yesterday.

The Brett Crawford-trained De Kock built on his previous good run, which followed two below par performances, to finish second. The Gavin Van Zyl- trained pair MLJet, who set a good pace, and No Worries were third and fourth respectively followed by the Howells-trained Surefire.

Later, the Paddy Lunn yard kept up their recent good form when the six-year-old Mogok gelding Mr Whatever powered to victory in a MR 90 Handicap over 1000m under 4kg claimer Akshay Balloo having been backed in over a course and distance he loves.

Meanwhile in Mauritius the seven-year-old Argentinian-bred Vettel from the Ramapatee Gujadhur stable was a surprise winner of the island’s biggest race, the Air Mauritius Maiden Cup over 2400m, under Kevin Ghunowa.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

Durban’s curry hangouts have a tendency to shout out loud for everyone to hear. Who doesn’t know Florida Road’s House of Curries, Govender’s Original House of Curries and Britannia Hotel’s Capsicum (Red Pepper) Restaurant?

But a small pub, Bartab No 56, hidden away at The Atrium mall (formerly Overport City), might well be the city’s best-kept secret.

Not only does it serve the best curries – the venue’s samp and mutton curry special is irresistible and the briyani is up there with the best in town – but they are dirt cheap, and that applies to the drinks as well as the food.

If curry is not your thing, then the grilled hake, which comes with a generous portion of chips, is a steal at R30 a portion. A burger sells for R40.

Bartab No 56 is not your traditional restaurant. Far from it. It’s actually a sports-betting pub. But don’t let that conjure up images of a seedy, smoke-filled, dimly lit dungeon. The venue is modern, with a laid-back vibe, modern furnishings, exposed brick walls and raw-wood tables and benches. Top that with the hospitable manager and excellent service and you’ll forget you’re in the company of ageing, shabby punters.

Beers cost less than R15, and if you manage to make it in time for happy hour (between 5pm and 6pm) then expect to pay only R10.50 for a dumpie. The same costs R25 in Florida Road.

The other night I turned up for some Phuza Thursday sundowners with seven colleagues, who all agree that this is the best deal in town. A fair number of rounds and about five meals later, the bill came to a princely R560.

While Bartab might not be the kind of place to take your better half on a date, it is perfect for chilling over a few pints with friends.

NEED TO KNOW:

When to go: Around 5.30pm, after the horses have run the last race and the punters, who can be noisy, have left.

Who to take: Your cash-strapped colleagues. Loads of food and laughter, at a fraction of the amount you’d ordinarily spend.

What not to do: Pop in on your way to a dinner. Bartab’s food is irresistible.

What to drink: At those prices, as much as possible.

Whatever you do: Don’t try this spot for a romantic first date. Unless her name is Beauty.

How much do you need: R50 will get you a proper meal and a drink.

Address: Shop 56, The Atrium Mall (Overport City), Durban

– Sibusiso Ngalwa for Timeslive.co.za

*Bartab No.56 is open 7 days a week from 10am to 8pm (later on select nights).
And features include:
– a sports lounge,
– 15 HD televisions broadcasting live racing and sports,
– slot machines (5 LPM),
– full Tote facilities (11 terminals)
– with fixed odds (bookmaker) facilities coming soon (November 1)
You can contact Bartab No.56 on 031 207 5508