Dennis Drier has already won an incredible five Gr 1’s this Champions Season and could add another two on Super Saturday this weekend, so racing historians could well be sifting through the archives to see whether he has broken any records in this regard.

His best chance of Gr 1 success on Saturday could be with the Horse Chestnut filly Chestnuts N Pearls, who won the Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m on July day in the manner of a top class sort, and now has a plum draw of five in the Thekwini Stakes over 1600m. The postponement of the Super Saturday meeting to this weekend would have also aided her cause because  it would have given rider Sean Cormack an extra week to recover from his nasty fall on Mercury Sprint day.

Drier’s assistant trainer Stuart Ferrie said, “She will have no problem with the trip and if she repeats that last run she will be the horse to beat.” She is not a big filly so the yard have been able to just keep her ticking over. She has seven horses held on form from the Golden Slipper, so the dangers could be the two unbeaten fillies  Flying Filly and Persian Rug, although on a line through Lauderdale she comes out slightly ahead of both of them.

The Miesque’s Approval gelding J’s Outsider has his third run for the yard in the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m, having finished fourth in the Gr 2 Gold Vase over 3000m on July day. Ferrie said, “He is getting better and better and must have a chance. The wide draw (17) is a bit of a hassle but on his last couple of runs he is on the improve.” He will have no problem with the trip having proven he stays every inch of it when winning the Gr 2 Gold Bowl over the tough Turffontein 3200m in slightly soft going. Sean Veale rides him work every day and felt he would have been “a massive runner” if better drawn. However, Veale said he would “take his chances” from this draw, meaning he would probably drop him out. J’s Outsider is 2kg worse off with Solid Speed from the Gold Vase, despite having been beaten by him by 1,75 lengths, but he is 1kg better off with Gold Vase runner-up Wild Ash for a 1,9 length beating.

The yard run the Jet Master mare Gathering Fame, who turns five on Super Saturday, in the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m. She has a tough task at the weights but is lightly raced and could surprise from a good draw of five.  However, she is 4,5 kg worse off with Gallica Rose, despite being beaten 1,5 lengths by her in the Listed East Coast Cup over course and distance, so will have to show considerable improvement. Ferrie said, “She‘s shown enough to take her chance and this is her trip.”

They run Barbosa in the Listed Umgeni Handicap over 1000m on the polytrack and he showed his liking for course and distance last time out when finishing a two-lengths third in a MR 104 Handicap on July day. He is 2,5kg better off with the winner Tiger Territory and 2kg better off with the runner up Mod Barley who beat him by 1,75 lengths, so he has every chance. Ferrie said, “He ran well on July day and Scottsville and he is a big strong horse so he can carry big weights. He shows plenty of pace and is drawn well so will run another honest race.” Barbosa hasn’t had a lot of racing for a now six-year-old so looks to have a bit left in the tank.

They run Space Launch over 1400m on the poly in the first race, a MR 78 Handicap and Ferrie said, “It’s his first run on the poly but we rate him. In his last two races (both at Scottsville) we thought he would win both times so he has been a little bit disappointing but he definitely has the ability.” He should enjoy the poly being by Jet Master out of a Western Winter mare and should also enjoy the step up in trip. He has drawn well in six. This is his third run since a bit of a layoff after winning twice over 1200m at Kenilworth and he should be cherry-ripe, although Ferrie said he had not needed those last two runs.

The yard run the Trippi filly Trick in the second, a MR80 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m on the poly. Ferrie said, “Trick shows good work at home but has disappointed plenty at the races.” He added that she had been doing well at home but said it was difficult to know what to expect from this slightly temperamental filly.

The yard run the Var filly Black Velvet in the eleventh, a MR 78 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1100m on the poly. Ferrie said, “She ran a cracker last time. She was given a bit of a chance (from a high draw of eleven over 1000m at Scottsville) and ran on nicely. She’s usually handy so let’s hope she gets a bit of a lead.” She is drawn well in five but faces Easy Game on the same terms at Scottsville despite being beaten 1,4 lengths.

Drier has already recaptured the KZN Trainer Championship this season, being well clear of reigning champion Duncan Howells, and his perennial rival Mike de Kock will finish third.

By David Thiselton

Joey Ramdsen could end the Champions Season on a high note as his pair of Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup runners Coltrane and Disco Al appear to both have good chances.

He was bullish about both of his runners and said on his blog last week: “We maybe went a bit too hard with Coltrane early on in the season so we have freshened him up and his last two pieces of work and his gallop were quite out of the ordinary.  On his day, he is more than capable of accounting for this type of field. He appears to be a horse that is running off a reasonable mark here.

“I can say exactly the same for Disco Al. I am not entirely sure he gets the two miles but he is a horse which drops the bit in a race and needs an exceptionally strong ride when coming from off the pace. He will get that as the Master Marcus (Anton Marcus) is in the irons and the two seem to complement each other like a hand in a glove. He could be a lively runner and is also off what seems to be a reasonable mark.  Overall, the race does seem to be an exceptionally competitive affair and a high quality event and it is really good to see a strong Gold Cup.”

Disco Al (pictured) is currently a 7/1 shot with Betting World and Coltrane is an attractive 20/1 shot.

Disco Al, a gelding by Captain Al who will turn six on Gold Cup day, was only given a one point raise forwinning the Gr 2 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville last time out. That might not have been the truest paced race as the field finished on tip of each other. However, before that in May he ran on well over 2400m at Greyville to be runner up in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup over 2400m and is now 1kg better off with the winner Solid Speed for a 1,25 length beating. He is many a pundits idea of the winner, especially as Ramsden has always been known for his expertise in training stayers. Ramsden won the Gold Cup in 2004 with Major Bluff.

Coltrane, an Argentinian-bred Giant’s Causeway gelding who tuns seven on Gold Cup day, appears to have been overlooked by the bookmakers and the pundits on the grounds of two below par staying races at Greyville this Champions Season. He was 3,65 lengths behind Solid Speed in the Highland Night Cup over 2400m and was then 5,6 lengths behind the same horse in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup. However, he is 1,5kg and 2kg better off for those respective runs and Ramsden’s news that he has been freshened up will be another plus point.

Coltrane beat Disco Al by 1,7 lengths in the Gr 2 J&B Urban Honey Stayers over 2850m at Kenilworth on J&B Met day, but he is now 1kg worse off. That should put them together on paper. Coltraine did benefit from a slow pace that day as he was able to sit handy from pole position draw, while Disco Al was disadvantaged by the pace as he was dropped out from a wide draw. However, in the Gold Cup it is once again Coltrane who has the draw advantage, as he jumps from barrier three and Disco Al has to jump from draw eleven. Furthermore, Coltrane has the 5000-winner rider Piere Strydom aboard.

Marcus’s only Gold Cup win was in 1991 with Icona, while Strydom has also won the country’s premier staying race only once, on the Brett Crawford-trained Reveille Boy in 2005.

Ramsden runs Gallica Rose in the weight for age plus penalties Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m. She turns five on Gold Cup day and is typical of a Silvano in that she is blossoming with age. The 102 merit-rated horse is the third highest rated horse in the race but has escaped a penalty so is the joint second best weighted horse together with Athina and the three-year-old Zante. She won the Listed East Coast Cup in good style over this course and distance in her penultimate start and she has the horses she defeated there, Bilateral, Supercede, Gathering Fame, Counting Angels and Mohave Princess held at the weights. However, she does have a wide draw to overcome. Bernard Fayd’Herbe rides.

In the Listed Umgeni Handicap over 1000m on the polytrack, they run the useful Brutal Force and this big horse should be cherry ripe having benefitted from gelding earlier in the year. He at last gets a good draw of three and Marcus will likely make use of both his early pace and his ability to go through with it all the way to the line. He is by Western Winter whose progeny tend to love all weather surrafces.

The yard also run Grey Light in the second race and the 1400m trip on the polytrack looks ideal for this robust daughter of Tapit. She has shown a liking for the polytrack and will appreciate the step up in trip from her two Champions Season efforts on the surface over the too sharp 1200m. She jumps from draw 8 in the MR 80 fillies and mares handicap and has to shoulder 62,5kg, but Fayd’Herbe is a heavyweight riderso she won’t have to carry much dead weights and she looks to be a big runner.

David Thiselton

The fairytale story behind the Brett Crawford-trained Zubbadubbadoo continued at Kenilworth on Saturday and the gallant three-year-old Jay Peg gelding has now well and truly put Kenilworth Racing’s Ladies Day on the map.

Girl power has seen Ladies Day quickly becoming one of the most popular charity race days on the map and this year’s event at Kenilworth racecourse on Saturday August 15 is likely to attract another big crowd who will reach out for another good cause.

Zubbadubbadoo didn’t look a likely candidate for victory half way down the straight of Saturday’s MR 95 Handicap over 1200m, but this horse has deceptive cruising speed and a heart as big as the great outdoors. He turned it on and in a matter of strides had hit the front before staying on under Corne Orffer to win by 0,5 lengths. He has only had five starts, and this was his fourth victory in succession. However, it is in the winner’s enclosure where the significance of his victories become apparent.

He runs in the pink colours of the Flaming Flamingo Syndicate, which consists of 12 passionate ladies. These ladies splashed out R130,000 to buy him at the Ladies Day auction in 2013 and the proceeds went to the Reach For Recovery Breast Cancer Association. The ladies, who are often dressed in pink, never fail to promote the good cause for which the horse runs.

Every year at Ladies Day a horse is donated by a stud farm, for which a trainer donates free training fees. The horse is auctioned off and the proceeds go to the selected beneficiary.

Zubbadubbadoo was donated by Marsh Shirtliff, Lukas Theron and David Hepburn-Brown of Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud and Brett Crawford (pictured) donated the horse’s training fees for free.

Last year Mauritzfontein Stud donated a Noordhoek Flyer filly  called Blu-Tack. Dean Kannemeyer offered his training services for free and the R140 000 purchase price was given to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). Blu Tack, who is owned by Fred Crabbia, ran a fair fifth in her second start over 1200m and could still improve.

This year’s auctioned horse will be a Jay Peg filly called Spending Spree, donated by Masrh Shirtliff, Bryn Ressell and David Hepburn Brown of Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud, and  Crawford has once again come to the party to donate free training fees.

The selected beneficiary this year will be The Sunflower Funds. This charity fund’s chief objective is to create awareness and to educate potential bone marrow stem cell donors who could save the life of a child or young adult diagnosed with leukaemia or any other life threatening blood disorder. Such sufferers sometimes have as high as a 1 in 100,000 chance of finding a bone marrow stem cell donor match, so the more people that offer their services the better their prognosis will be.

Tina Botha started The Sunflower Fund after losing her son to leukaemia. Through her resolve and energy the number of donors on the registry has increased from 800 to 67,500 in the space of 14 years. Her charity will indeed be a fitting benefactor on Ladies Day.

Ladies Day at Kenilworth racecourse is one of the fastest growing race meetings in the country.

The theme for this year’s event is “Glitz and elegance of Las Vegas”, one of the bright light cities of the world. Racing regulars will be attracted by the occasion, but some of the activities on course will provide a particular drawcard for newcomers to the Sport Of Kings. Ladies will be driven to the start, where they will be able to watch the loading procedure as well as the thrill of the jump from the gates.

Betting World have donated betting vouchers and there will be many other attractions, such as fashion shows, fine fare and spot prizes.

The Master Of Ceremonies for the main function in  one of the grandstand rooms will be Jenny Morris, the Giggling Gourmet, one of SA’s most loved food personalities.

David Thiselton

KENILWORTH SATURDAY RACE 8 (Jul 25)

Due to the postponement of the Gold Cup racemeeting (from Saturday Jul 25 to Saturday Aug 1), RACE 8 on the Kenilworth card for Saturday July 25 (which was to be the eLAN Property Group Gold Cup), has effectively been abandoned and the ‘FIELD’ will apply in all exotic bets.

The race times for Saturday’s Kenilworth card have also been adjusted:  Race 1 – 12:40 / Race 2 – 13:15 / Race 3 – 13:50 / Race 4 – 14:30 / Race 5 – 15:10 / Race 6 – 15:45 / Race 7 – 16:20 / Race 9 – 17:00 / Race 10 – 17:30

Furthermore, all bets taken on Thursday, 23rd July for the Greyville meeting originally scheduled for Saturday, 25th July 2015 (eLan Property Group Gold Cup / Super Saturday) have been deemed Null & Void and customers will be entitled to a full refund.

Pre-selling will reopen again on Thursday, 30th July 2015.

The Turffontein meeting on Sunday has a few good looking opportunities for punters and the first of them appears in race one with the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Netflix, who faces a weak field in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1600m.

The Tiger Ridge gelding caught the eye when running onfrom way back over 1600m in his penultimate start. Next time out he was terribly unlucky when taken out at the top of the straight, so the bare form there can be taken with a pinch of salt as he might have even won that race instead of finishing a ten length third.

The main danger will be Champagne Haze, a Kahal colt who is a half-brother to the top class Pierre Jourdan. He stayed on well on debut after being dropped out from a wide draw over the Inside track 1200m and is likely to be favourite, because there will be natural improvement and he will relish the step up in trip. Furthermore, he is now well drawn and Andrew Fortune has been in fine form for the Gary Alexander yard.

Bajan Fantasy looks to be a good bet in race two, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1600m for fillies. This Mullins Bay filly had to be snatched up when baulked near the line after running on strongly from last over 1200m on the Inside Track on debut, having been dropped out from a wide draw. She will relish the step up in trip and on the evidence of that last race should easily reverse form with Eye The Countess, especially as she represents the Alexander/Fortune combination from a plum draw of three. Rock Of Laudium is the danger. She over raced slightly when a close second over course and distance last time out from a tough draw of nine, but she now has an even wider draw to overcome.

The third is a maiden over 1450m and the one to beat will be Jin-Go-La-Ba. He over-raced over 1600m last time out at the Vaal so will relish the step down in trip and  Piere Strydom is likely to take advantage of pole position draw.  La Digue is the danger on form but has a wide draw to overcome. The Alexander/Fortune combination are represented by an interesting first-timer, Dahlia’s Guest, who is by A P Arrow and is a half-brother to three-time winner Mr Mulliner and other multiple winners.

The frustrating Badger’s Belle is a must for the PA in race four, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1800m. However, she puts on the brakes and looks for company as soon as she hits the front so is hard to win with, although this is an ideal course and distance and she has a plum draw of three. The two-year-old Sheik’s Diamond looks to be a better one to side with for a win, having been unlucky when a narrow third last time over 1600mand now well drawn again. Secret Angel is an improving sort and Fortune is an interesting booking, while Bubba’s Doll, Suzie Wong, Global Spin and Beautiful Floutist could also be considered for the Pick 6 and Jackpot.

The fifth is the highest rated race on the card, a fillies and mares MR 91 Handicap over 1800m, and Pennington Sands might be the one to side with. She scrapes into the handicap with bottom weight and bounced back to form last time when running on well over 1600m.However, the wide draw is a bit of a concern. Erin has a touch of class and loves this course and distance, so will be right there from a fair draw with Weichong Marwing up. Dream Galaxy is an improving sort who should love this trip too and she is drawn three with Strydom up, while Educated and Tiger Flame can’t be written off either.

The sixth is a MR 64 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m. Prescient could cause a surprise if repeating her last run, especially if jumping better than she did there, as she will appreciate the step up in trip. Panchatanta and Stirling Leaves make most appeal of the others.

The seventh is a MR 80 Handicap over 1450m and Gambol is the selection. He has been a touch disappointing in his last few starts but showed signs of a return to form last time and from a good draw the course and distance should be suitable for his front-running style. Pivotal Pursuit and Platinum Jet make most appeal of the rest.

The last is a Maiden Plate over 1450m. The two-year-old Gentleman Only could be the one to beat because his best run was over this distance and he has Strydom up. Sands Of Time pulled up lame last time when failing as odds on favourite, but if back to his best he should be right there from a good draw. Bridegroom Bertie caught the eye with a strong finish on debut over shorter and has a chance over a step up in trip he should appreciate.

David Thiselton