Stick with Katak – but don’t go in too deep or take too short a price. That is the sensible course of action with Piet Steyn’s star tackling ground far more testing than he has ever encountered before in the Abe Bloomberg Legal Eagle Stakes at Kenilworth today.

The going was officially soft this morning after a further 10 mm of rain during the night, followed by another 10 mm around 6.00am, and there is more to come before the 4.10pm off-time.

When Aldo Domeyer’s unbeaten mount won what used to be the Winter Guineas 18 days ago it was officially good to soft but this is a different ball game.

Steyn expressed his reservations early in the week – “My worry is that there is a lot of rain forecast and I don’t know how he is going to handle a wet course.” The way a horse works on sand can give some indication but the omens are not good (“He is a fair worker on it, not a great one”).

On the other hand the way the colt won last time he looked a Grade 1 horse and far superior to any of today’s opposition.  None of them are proven on this sort of ground either and you would feel pretty sick if you deserted him and he outclassed his rivals once again. Odds-on is too short considering the risks (and some bookmakers were quoting 13-20 this morning) but, if you can get odds against, they would be worth taking.

Certainly the statistics favour him. Five of the last seven Winter Guineas winners went on to win the Winter Classic which is the former name of today’s Cape Town highlight. Furthermore the favourite has won four of the last six Winter Classics.

Justin Snaith has the best recent record, winning four of the last 12 runnings, and Silver Host is his main hope. However second string Bayberry is one of the few in the field who has won when it was actually soft (as opposed to good to soft) and his dam was Irish-bred, a good sign if you are looking for horses that can go in today’s ground. At 35-1 he could be worth a few rand each way. Black Knap and Arctic Drift have place prospects.

Don’t be fooled by the name and Listed status of the Cordocelli Olympic Duel Stakes – the race is a handicap. Queen Of Quiet has won her last three and gets the vote although it is worth noting that stable companion Casino Queen has won in genuinely soft ground.

In the Casey Bloomberg Ladies Mile the weights are determined by merit rating bands – not quite the same thing as a handicap – and here the selection is Duchess Of Bourbon. She won last year’s Winter Oaks on yielding ground when stable companion Heaven’s Embrace (joint favourite here) was nearly four lengths back third. Cruise Along has won in the soft but only three ran in that race.

Sing Out Loud may be able to overcome her poor draw in the Winter Solstice Stormsvlei Stakes. Last time she fly-jumped at the start, came from the back and made up ten lengths in the straight. Note also Eva Eileen who had a rough passage that day and Flame Tree who is ridden by Greg Cheyne and runs in the same colours as Sing Out Loud.

By Michael Clower

Featured Image: Katak (Liesl King)

Off-course totes and bookmaking facilities in KwaZulu-Natal have been given the green light to open as from Saturday, June 27.

In a press release, the KwaZulu-Natal Gaming and Betting Board confirmed that totalisator and bookmaking facilities will be allowed to re-open subject to certain regulations.

• Fifty percent of capacity of the number of people on site in relation to the floor space of the venue at any given time.
• Ensure that the Health, Safety and Occupational Health prescribed guidelines in respect of Covid-19 are adhered to.
• The applicable social distancing requirements.

However, race courses remain closed to the public and only people essential to the running of the race meetings are allowed to attend.

The Mike Miller-trained Walls of Dubrovnik, in an unexpected turn of events which would have been unimaginable at the beginning of this season, will be racing for the biggest cheque of any horse in South Africa this weekend when he runs in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

When the new Hemel ‘n Aarde stallion Fencing Master arrived in South Africa in 2016 stallion manager David Allan of David Allan Bloodlines announced a R1-million bonus to be potentially distributed among the three best two-year-olds conceived by this stallion in his first covering season.

UK-based Colin Bird owns Fencing Master and Allan announced that in support of the British-bred stallion the owner, trainer and breeder of his three best black type two-year-olds conceived in 2016 would receive respective bonuses of R 500,000, 300,000 and 200,000 respectively.

On first interpretation it seems the money will be split between owner, trainer and breeder.

Walls Of Dubrovnik went within 1,4 lengths of laying claim to the R500,000 cheque on June 13 when finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1100m he would have gained black type with a third place finish.

Mike Miller’s son and assistant, Sterling, said the colt had been a bit unlucky that day as a horse had played up in the stall next to him and he had consequently lost a length at the jump. He had also needed the run a bit.

Sterling added, “He will strip fitter, he loves Hollywoodbets Greyville and if he stays the 1400m he is a massive runner. He travelled a little well in his last run but he doesn’t normally do that. It looks like there will be a fair pace and we will be looking for cover. We have a lot of respect though for Anton Marcus’s mount Fast Love.”

Sterling is happy with the draw of seven out of thirteen.

Walls Of Dubrovnik will be ridden by regular pilot Eric Ngwane.

Fencing Master is by the prominent SA-based sire Oratorio.

His best performance was second in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket over seven furlongs.

His dam won a Group 1 over 2000m in France and his grandam won three Group 1s up to 2100m in France, so on pedigree Walls Of Dubrovnik should relish the 1400m trip on Sunday. 

Mike Miller found Walls Of Dubrovnik at the Sibaya Yearling Sale. Sterling described him as being “five star” on looks at this sale and he was clinched for R120,000.

Walls Of Dubrovnik was sold to new owners today (Friday) in a deal brokered by Justin Vermaak.

The Miller yard also have two other runners in the Gatectrasher, Crushing Force and Royal Exhibit.

Sterling said, “Crushing Force is a nice big horse and should be up there. Royal Exhibit is still learning and we hope he runs on nicely.”

Of their other runners on the day he said Arctic Refuge in the first would likely need the experience; in the tenth Hello Again and Power To Command were both doing “extremely well” and were difficult to separate on the weight turnaround and he would be happy if they placed.  

By David Thiselton

Sean Tarry has big teams contesting the features at both Turffontein and Hollywoodbets Greyville this weekend but he spoke of how tough racing had been post lockdown with all horses coming back from layoffs of various lengths.

Tarry has still not declared his jockeys for the latter meeting due to a well documented ruling by the NHA which will allow the like of Lyle Hewitson to ride in Wednesday’s Hollywoodbets Greyville meeting on July 1 but not in the Grade 1 meeting on Sunday June 28.   

In the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Premiers Champions Stakes Tarry runs Tierra Del Fuego and Tilbury Fort and he said, “This is a preparation run for the Vodacom Durban July for Tierra Del Fuego.  He is very well although he is a few kgs out with the top two.”

This colt by Skit Skizzle has never raced beyond 1600m but the July entry and his participation in this 2000m race answers the question on whether the trainer believes he will stay the trip.

However, Tarry did add, “It’s a small field and if the pace is too slow and he starts travelling too well he obviously won’t see it out.” He continued, “I didn’t originally nominate Tilbury Fort. He is out at the weights and his best days are probably behind him but he is fit and well.”

Tilbury Fort has the advantage of pole position and Tierra Del Fuego is drawn eight in the nine horse field. 

Tarry runs Chimichuri Run, Spring Break and Green Plains in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint.

He said, “Chimichuri Run looked outpaced in his comeback run and I was almost reluctant to run him here based on that. But I also had to consider he might have just been ring rusty so decided to go ahead. I will back him up by running him at Hollywoodbets Scottsville next weekend, depending on how he comes out of this race. It will be difficult to beat Mr Flood on Saturday but he won’t be far off.”

He continued, “I am excited to see how Spring Break does as she is lightning fast. We have had to teach her to settle and I don’t think we have seen the best of her. The fast going makes it worth taking a chance with her and she won’t be beaten for speed, it is just a matter of whether she stays at the business end.”

He added, “Green Plains started finding form before lockdown and I was happy with her comeback, so we are hoping. It will be tough but she is fit and well.”   

He runs In The Dance in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m and this half-sister to Capetown Noir should be suited to fast ground as one with a good action and a fine turn of foot.

Tarry said, “This is another interesting race and she faces a tough field. Queen Supreme will be hard to beat and Ronnie’s Candy, Vistula and Running Brave are no slouches. In The Dance was far from disgraced in the Ipi Tombe when beaten 1,75 lengths by Ronnie’s Candy at level weights in November. She has subsequently disappointed and we were a bit lost about her right distance. Last time we put blinkers on over 1200m and that run convinced me she would be more comfortable over a mile.”

Tarry runs Cavivar and Golden Belle in the Grade 2 Camellia Stakes and he said, “On July day she finished distressed and it took a long time to get her right just on that day so I gave her a long break after that. But she was right up with the best of her generation although it is not ideal running her in a feature in her first run after a rest. She is doing very well but it is a talented field and she could be right there or she could be unplaced, it is tough.”

He continued, “Golden Belle has solid form and is a nice filly. She has it all to do but I wouldn’t be surprised to see her run well.”

The yard run debut winner Florida Keys in the Grade 2 SA Nursery and he said, “She drew high and so I thought it would be worth taking a chance. Her work has been good and she is looking good and I hope she improves from her first run. But Mike de Kock has a strong coupling and both of his should also improve.”

In the Grade 2 SA Fillies Nursery Tarry runs Making A Scene, who drops from a two length fifth over 1450m on debut, down to 1160m. He said, “This is a strong race with three or four hard-knocking fillies and I want to see where she fits in. We will regroup if she doesn’t run well.”

Shenanigans runs in the Grade 3 Gold Bowl over 3200m and Tarry said, “His last run was a bit lacklustre but I was happy with his penultimate run. I go in with no real confidence but he will be aimed at the Gold Cup. I think he improves in Durban and will do so again.”

Tarry’s first-timer in the first race, Magical Flight, is by the classy Tarry-trained speedster Willow Magic out of a seven-time winning Jet Master mare from 1400m to 1800m and she is from the family of the top class Tarry-trained sprinter Mythical Flight. 

He said, “She may just need the run.” Track And Ball have her at double figure odds.

However, they have her stable mate Sanuk as the weak 7/2 favourite and Tarry said, “She made a good debut and should come on from it. She wouldn’t be out of it on form.” 

In the second race Tarry’s first-timer Shah Akbar is by Querari out of a Galileo mare who is a half-sister to the Grade 2-placed sprinter Dijla. He said, “He will need a bit further and be a bit green but he could be running on nicely.” Track And Ball have him as 9/2 third favourite.

They go 9/1 about the stablemate Genie, who ran on into fifth place over 1000m on debut, and Tarry said, “He had a good first run and with expected improvement should be thereabouts.”

Tarry runs Cirillo and Matador Man in the Grade 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Cirillo travels down from Randjesfontein and Tarry said, “He is extremely well.”

Matador Man is down at Summerveld and he said, “His target is the KZN Breeders Million Mile. There was no real race for him with this rating. He loves Greyville and I just hope to see him running on.”

His Grade 1 Daily News 2000 pair Shango and Tree Tumbo travel down from Randjes too and Tarry said, “Shango is doing very well but I think this run will bring him on for the July. He does well in Durban and once there I expect to see him make good improvement.”

He continued, “I think Tree Tumbo is this class and if this does not come too soon after his good second two weeks ago I expect to see him running on strongly.”

In the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 Tarry runs Victoria Paige and Keep Smiling.

He said, “It is well documented Victoria Paige was unlucky in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and she was then a victim of the virus when we were confident for the SA Fillies Classic. She maybe didn’t see out the Oaks trip. She will be effective at Hollywoodbets Greyville even though she would be better at Turffontein. The two top fillies here are hard to oppose. But she is fit and well.”

He continued, “Keep On Smiling on her one close second to Summer Pudding (Fillies Mile) is worth taking a chance with.”

In the Grade 2 Tibouchina over 1400m he runs Spiritofthegroove and Sidonie. 

He said, “Spiritofthegroove didn’t enjoy Hollywoodbets Scottsville last time and was never travelling well. She has a good turn of foot when running around the turn and I think this is a great course and distance for her.”

He continued, “Sidonie’s comeback run was not inspiring but the field cut up and could have been stronger. He was a bit strong over a mile last time and we can use this to see what will happen if we don’t have to go to the front and try and run them off their feet so we will learn something which will be good for her career.”

Tarry runs the easy debut winner Caralluma in the Listed Devon Air Stakes and he said, “She seems a nice filly and on her good first race she would have a chance.”

He runs Montreal Mist in the Durban Dash over 1100m and said, “She is drawn deep and it is a strong field and this is a prep for the KZN Breeders day.”

By David Thiselton

Katak has opened favourite at even money to extend his unbeaten run to four in the Abe Bloomberg Legal Eagle Stakes (Winter Classic) at Kenilworth on Saturday despite Piet Steyn’s openly expressed concerns about the expected soft ground.

Politician winner Silver Host, representing the powerful Justin Snaith-Richard Fourie combination, is second favourite at 33-10 and Super Silvano (Brett Crawford-Corne Orffer) next on 9-2. The only other runner quoted at less than 15-1 is Black Knap who has a bit to find according to the handicappers but has won over the trip and was having his first race for seven months when beating all except Nexus in a pinnacle 16 days ago. The colt is trained by Vaughan Marshall and ridden by M.J. Byleveld, a combination successful with Tales Of Bravery in this race ten years ago.

Snaith and his stable jockey stand out in the card as a whole. They have the early favourite, plus one joint favourite, in six of the nine races and two of their favourites are odds-on.

Grant van Niekerk’s best chance of a winner on his return would appear to be Cruise Along in the Casey Bloomberg Ladies Mile. The Candice Bass-Robinson filly is 5-1 joint third favourite.

Matthew The King, impressive at Durbanville first time but no match for the high class Erik The Red in the Kuda Somerset, goes again at Kenilworth on Monday in the Investing Made Easy Juvenile Plate. Byleveld, who rode the smart Greg Ennion-trained colt on debut, is back on board.

By Michael Clower