Mike Bass’s assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe was not too bullish about the chances of the yard’s Gr 2 Betting World 1900 contender Helderberg Blue, although he said his Champions Season pipe opener in Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes had brought him on a lot.

Fayd’Herbe said, “He needed that last run very badly. The handicapper punished him too much for his J&B Met third place and at the weights he’s got no chance in the 1900. He’s not really a Greyville type, he’s a grinder but he did quicken well from a handy position in the Met.”

The Jet Master gelding is a nervous sort, but his “new friend”, the recently retired Epc Tale, accompanies him to the track in the mornings to keep him calm and he was looking in fine shape yesterday (Tuesday).

Another of the yard’s Jet Master geldings, Mountain Master, is the reserve runner for the 1900. He is difficult to place and Fayd’Herbe was not sure he would stay the 3200m of the eLan Property Group Gold Cup, so races like the Campanajo 2200 on July day could be possible targets.

Fayd’Herbe was happy with dual Gr 1-winning filly Inara’s second place finish in the KRA Fillies Guineas and said, “She was always going to need it a bit and will come on from it. She will now go for the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 and then either the July or Garden Province.”

He said that their crack sprinter Fly By Night had travelled up to Johannesburg well for the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint, but had then gone down very short and had taken no interest in the race. They had trotted her out afterwards and nothing had been found wrong. The problem was unrelated to her poor run in the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships, for on that occasion she had “bumped a sesamoid” and had been a bit sore going into the race. She has been fine at Summerveld and is on track for the Scottsville Festival of Speed meeting on May 23, where she holds entries in her likely target, the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint, as well as in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint.

The yard’s classy mare Hammie’s Hooker thrives in KZN as she loves working on the lighter tracks. She has been doing just as well as she did last year, so will be a big runner in races like the Tibouchina and Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes.

Their two-year-old Visionnaire colt Jet Air has a bright future according to Fayd’Herbe, so they would avoid the tough Scottsville Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m on May 23 in favour of the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m and the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes.

He said that Ashton Park, who ran on well for third in the Drill Hall, might line up in the Tsogo Sun Sprint before running in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m on June 6.

The like of Shingwedzi, Saint Sophia and Counting Angels will likely take on staying races like the Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks on June 21.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Helderberg Blue (Liesl King)

Charles Laird has always viewed Friday night’s Betting World 1900 at Greyville as his Horse Chestnut gelding Bold Inspiration’s best chance of getting into the July and planned a long time ago to have him “spot on” for this race.

He has removed the blinkers as jockey Anton Marcus had found him difficult to restrain last time when finishing a two-length fifth in the Listed Sledgehammer over 1750m at Scottsville, although he said that part of the reason for that was that he was so sound and well at the moment that he had “just wanted to go.”

He added that his preparation had gone very well and he believed that he possessed the necessary turn of foot for the tight Greyville track, although he was hoping that a good gallop would be set.

Bold Inspiration’s disappointing Sansui Summer Cup run can be ignored as he was asked to do it from the front, which according to Laird is an impossible task for a KZN horse over that 2000m trip having traveled from near the coast to high altitude.

Bold Inspiration has the advantage of pole position on Friday night and Marcus is up.

Laird said that his first-timer by Kahal in the first race, Harvest Queen, was a strong filly who had ability. However, having flipped over in the stalls before her intended debut after waiting for an age, one of the aims of Friday night’s outing would be to just get her through the starting stall phase of the race.

His charge Queen Of Thrones ran a bit disappointingly over 1600m on the turf last time, but Laird confirmed she was better on the polytrack, so she should have a chance in the eighth over 1400m especially considering she had worked well this week.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Charles Laird

HORSE              A/S       M/R   TRAINER

FUTURA             (4C) 120   Justin Snaith

LEGISLATE          (4C) 117   Justin Snaith

*WYLIE HALL (AUS)   (5H) 116   Weiho Marwing

LOUIS THE KING     (4C) 114   Geoff Woodruff

MAJMU (AUS)        (3F) 114   Mike de Kock

ICE MACHINE        (6G) 113   Charles Laird

KING OF PAIN       (5G) 113 Joey Ramsden

HOT TICKET         (5G) 112 Dean Kannemeyer

LEGAL EAGLE        (3G) 112   Sean Tarry

NO WORRIES         (5G) 111 Gavin van Zyl

FRENCH NAVY        (3G) 110   Sean Tarry

GOLD ONYX (NZ)     (7G) 110   Sean Tarry

HELDERBERG BLUE    (4G) 110   Mike Bass

INARA              (3F) 110   Mike Bass

HALVE THE DEFICIT  (6G) 109   Sean Tarry

HEAVY METAL        (6G) 109   Sean Tarry

JET EXPLORER       (6G) 109   Justin Snaith

PINE PRINCESS      (3F) 109   Mike de Kock

SIREN’S CALL       (3F) 109   Sean Tarry

TELLINA            (5G) 109   Geoff Woodruff

AFRIKABURN         (3G) 108 Dean Kannemeyer

SAME JURISDICTION  (3F) 108   Duncan Howells

THE CONGLOMERATE (3C) 108   Joey Ramsden

  GOGETTHESHERIFF    (4G) 107   Jacques Strydom    (Scratched)

KILLUA CASTLE (AUS (5G) 107 Geoff Woodruff

WHITELINE FEVER    (6G) 107   Sean Tarry

ATHINA             (4F) 106   Joe Soma

DEPUTY JUD         (3C) 106   Mike Azzie

ERTIJAAL (AUS)     (3C) 106   Mike de Kock

POWER KING         (4G) 106 Dean Kannemeyer

PUNTA ARENAS       (6G) 106   Stan Elley

KOCHKA             (4G) 105   Alyson Wright

TAMAANEE (AUS)     (3F) 105   Sean Tarry

BOLD INSPIRATION   (4G) 104 Charles Laird

*MAC DE LAGO (AUS)  (3C) 104   Weiho Marwing

UNPARALLELED       (3G) 104   Johan Janse van Vuren

CAGIVA             (5G) 103   Sean Tarry

  SABADELL           (5G) 103   Kumaran Naidoo     (Scratched)

TROPHY WIFE        (3F) 103   Sean Tarry

LIGHT THE LIGHTS   (3C) 102   Glen Kotzen

*MLJET              (3G) 102   Gavin van Zyl

  ARION              (4C) 101   Justin Snaith      (Scratched)

  HENRY HIGGINS      (6G) 101 Paul Peter         (Scratched)

JAYYED             (3C) 101   Mike de Kock

JUDICIAL           (4G) 101 Tyrone Zackey

THE HANGMAN        (5G) 101   Sean Tarry

CANDY MOON         (5G) 100   Paul Gadsby

DYNAMIC            (5G) 100   Justin Snaith

KINGSTON MINES (GB)(4G) 100   Mike de Kock

DOUBLE CLUTCH      (4G)  99   Paul Lafferty

DE KOCK            (4G)  98   Brett Crawford

DYNASTIC POWER     (4G)  98   Stan Elley

MEISSA             (6G)  98   Gary Alexander

SOLAR STAR         (4G)  98   Dean Kannemeyer

BALANCE SHEET      (3G)  97 Dean Kannemeyer

  HEARTLAND          (3C)  97   Justin Snaith      (Scratched)

*IT IS WRITTEN      (4G)  96   Dean Kannemeyer

MOUNTAIN MASTER    (4G)  96 Mike Bass

  GREEK LEGEND       (3C)  94 Mike Azzie         (Scratched)

ULTIMATE DOLLAR    (3G)  94   Justin Snaith

RUN RHINO RUN      (3G)  92   Paul Lafferty

RUSHMORE RIVER     (4G)  91 Joe Soma

  STORMY ECLIPSE     (3G)  90   Charles Laird      (Scratched)

TRIP TO RIO        (3C)  90   Mike de Kock

AKII BUA (AUS)     (4G)  89   Mike de Kock

  SHEA DEVON (AUS)   (3G)  89   Geoff Woodruff     (Scratched)

DANTE’S LEGACY     (3G)  88   Gavin van Zyl

  RAKE’S CHESTNUT    (4G)  88 Geoff Woodruff     (Scratched)

  SCOTSNOG           (3C)  87   Mike de Kock       (Scratched)

  ALL THE BIDS       (3G)  62   Corne Spies        (Scratched)

AMSTERDAM          (3G) 108   Mike Azzie

(60)

 

IMPORTANT DATES TO DIARISE
Monday, 1 June 2015	–	Second Declaration
Monday, 8 June 2015	–	Final Supplementary Entries
Tuesday, 9 June 2015	–	Weights Published
Monday, 22 June 2015	–	Final Declaration
Tuesday, 23 June 2015	–	Announcement of Final Field and Barrier Draw
Thursday, 25 June 2015	–	Vodacom Durban July Gallops at Greyville Racecourse

 

Brett Crawford has made a fine start to his Champions Season campaign and has more chance of success with former Selangor Cup winner De Kock in the Betting World 1900 on Friday night at Greyville.

Crawford’s assistant Barry Donnelly is taking care of the string at Summerveld and the horses have been delivered for their early Champions Season targets in fine condition.

Donnelly said, “As was the case with two of our other recent winners (Alexis and Maybe Yes), De Kock was short of match practice for his first KZN race and has come on plenty for the run.”

The 98-merit rated Dynasty gelding was a little bit keen early over 1600m at Scottsville last week, before settling into rhythm and staying on well for a 1,75 length fourth, despite carrying topweight in the competitive MR 98 Handicap.

He showed his class as a three-year-old last season when beating the subsequent Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate by 0,4 lengths in the Selangor Cup over 1600m. He displayed a tremendous turn of foot in that race and that asset is an essential weapon at Greyville.

However, he subsequently fractured his near fore knee in the Grand Parade Cape Guineas.

He made a successful comeback from the injury last September by winning easily over 1000m. However, some felt that there was cause for alarm when he ran below par in three subsequent sprints, which included two Gr 2 events.

However, Donnelly explained, “Most top horses can win over sprint trips when coming back fresh. He won so well in that first sprint that we decided to try him again but his next two runs simply proved that he wants at least a mile. So we gelded him and brought him back (the third of the below par sprint runs in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes happened subsequently to the gelding).”

Donnelly confirmed that De Kock was over the injury and was sound.

He could not see the bay four-year-old gelding having a problem with the 1900m trip on Friday night and rated him as having a winning chance. On pedigree his female line is full of speed but the influence of his Vodacom Durban July-winning sire Dynasty will help him see out the trip.

He is drawn fairly well in seven in the 16 horse field and will have his final breeze up tomorrow morning (Wednesday).

By David Thiselton

Picture: De Kock (Liesl King)

One of the season’s most disappointing three-year-olds MLJet has joined the Summerveld yard of Gavin van Zyl, and will continue to run in the colours of owner Michael Leaf.

MLJet is not a Vodacom Durban July entry, but Van Zyl hinted that the big race could still be a consideration when saying that he would “see how it goes with him”.

Van Zyl also spoke about his July log top 20 incumbent No Worries and added that in his belief the country’s premier race would benefit from the added pressure for places now that the field had been reduced from the 20 strong of a couple of years ago.

MLJet was due to run at Greyville on Friday night in an Allowance Plate, but unfortunately the race has been scrapped due to only five horses accepting.

The Varsfontein Stud-bred Jet Master gelding put up a good gallop on the Summerveld grass with first-time blinkers yesterday (Monday) and will run in the headgear in his next race, which is likely to be the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 on May 30.

He looked set for big things after two impressive wins in Juvenile Plates at Clairwood last year were followed by an unlucky 0,25 length third to Equus Champion colt Harry’s Son in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville.

He has not lived up to expectations, although some of his runs, such as his 0,5 second to The Conglomerate in the Gr 3 Julius Baer Politician Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth when giving the latter 3kg, now look good on paper.

He joined Van Zyl’s yard after a disappointing run in the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein on March 28, although the very soft ground did probably go against him in that race.

Van Zyl’s five-year-old Kahal gelding No Worries is in position 16 on the July log. No Worries can still be considered a borderline case, despite the size of the field being increased from 16 last year to 18.

He was not concerned about “unqualifying” him by running him in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge and said, “There are three ways of getting into the July, through the front door (the top qualifiers like Futura, Legislate and Majmu), the side door (the mid-log incumbents who are relatively safe) and through the back door (the last minute feature race winners and placed horses who stake a late claim) and if you don’t make it you don’t deserve to be there.”

Van Zyl believed the current qualifying system would lead to the July developing into a truly great race packed with deserving participants. He added that the days of “moderates” qualifying could be over.

No Worries finished third in the Gr 1 President’s Champions Challenge over 2000m in his last start and Van Zyl said the strapping chestnut would be “ready” for both the Gold Challenge and the July.

He will continue to race in blinkers and Keagan de Melo will keep the ride for both races.

No Worries has become known as a handy to front-running type, oddly, because his two best runs, a short-head second to the top class Vercingetorix in the Daily News 2000 and a fourth place finish in the July, both came when producing flying finishes from way back in the running. He subsequently developed a bit of a headstrong habit down in his Cape Town campaign last season. However, he has settled nicely in the running since De Melo took over the reins and Van Zyl hoped that in his next two races the draw and factors like the pace would allow the versatile horse to employ the hold up tactics which brought his best results.

Van Zyl was pleased with his Horse Chestnut filly Banbury’s runner up finish over 1400m at Greyville on Sunday, which heralded a return to form, and said her next start would likely be in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000.

By David Thiselton