The Mike de Kock-trained and Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum-owned Mubtaahij became the first South African-trained horse to run in one of the world’s most famous races, the Kentucky Derby, on Saturday.

He could not live with the relentless gallop of the American horses and finished a far from disgraced 9,25 length eighth in the 18 horse field. Mike de Kock said on his website: “Those were some bloody good horses ahead of him.”

From a draw of 6 Mubtaahij hugged the rail under Christophe Soumillon and was within striking distance down the back straight. However, the leaders turned up the heat rounding the turn and never let their foots off the pedal. Mubtaahij could only chase in vain.

The favourite American Pharoah won to give trainer Bob Baffert his fourth win in the big race and jockey Victor Espanoza his third.  The race was run in front of a record crowd of 170,513.

By David Thiselton

Picture: AP

Watch the race: https://vid.me/2dbV

Brett Crawford has made a cracking start to his KZN season, winning two of the three races his horses have contested so far. Gulf Storm won the In Full Flight Stakes at Scottsville last Sunday and Alexis gave Crawford his second consecutive Gr 2 KRA Fillies Guineas – Maybe Yes last year – when she powered away from the favourite Inara, jockey Corne Orffer punching the air in triumph.

Orffer has his mount settled midfield as Ataab pulled herself to the front ahead of Cathy Specific at a reasonable gallop. “I thought she might not see out the ‘mile’ but she switched off nicely,” said Orffer. “When I asked her she gave a very good kick.”

Inara, whose coat looked a little wintery in the paddock, took off together with Alexis as the field crossed the subway, but the latter showed a superior turn of foot and went on to win by two lengths. Inara ran on to snatch second ahead of Ataab who had stayed on resolutely.

In contrast to his jockey, Crawford was never in doubt about the filly’s stamina. “I was never worried about her seeing out the trip. Her debut run in Natal was very good and she had come on well from it.”

Where to now? “I’ll tell you tomorrow! I think ten furlongs may be a bit far (The Woolavington 2000). She’s only this big,” he said, indicating waist-high.

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: Alexis winning the Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Conglomerate threw his hat into the ring for the Daily News 2000 and the Vodacom Durban July with a smashing win in the Gr 2 KRA Guineas. Possibly taken in by the often moderate pace in which many races are run in the Cape, Joey Ramsden was surprised as the lesser fancied of his two runners landed the Guineas from Mac De Lago and Light The Lights.

“I must be honest I thought it was too short. I didn’t think he could win an eight furlong race, but they went like hell.” Anton Marcus echoed Ramsden’s sentiments. “I thought it was patently too short but he was aided by the good tempo up front.”

Marcus was at his sublime best as he tracked the pace set by Riff Raff and Amazing Strike with Ramsden’s more fancied runner Kingvoldt tucked in behind.

Marcus went early on The Conglomerate and pinched what turned out to be a winning lead. “I was cursing Anton. I thought he had gone too early,” laughed Ramsden.

Mac De Lago run on steadily up the inside rail to take second with Light The Lights just ahead of a wall of horses.

Disappointment was Kingvoldt who found nothing in the straight.

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: The Conglomerate winning the Gr 2 KRA Guineas (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ice Machine, a gelding with tons of ability but plagued throughout his career by soundness problems, earned a well deserved victory in The Gr 2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville today.

“It was a tremendous training feat by Charles (Laird) keeping him sound. He was floating today,” said his pilot Anton Marcus. “He’s a very special horse and at WFA over eight furlongs he can go with the best of them.”

Ice Machine certainly proved it yesterday as he showed a tremendous turn of foot to outgun Bouclette Top and Ashton Park although his cause was helped by the late scratching of favourite Legislate.

The long awaited return to the track of last season’s Equus Champion was put on further hold after getting a hind leg caught up in the back gate as he lashed out after being loaded. Course vet Roehann Sutherland said Legislate has suffered a few minor abrasions but appeared a “little ginger” on the leg so was taking no chances. “Fortunately he was quite sensible and did not struggle in the gate.  It was possibly just a bit of a ‘lamey’ but only tomorrow will tell.”

Ice Machine has been through a number of yards but after last season owners Roy and Gladys Meaker decided on complete rest.  “He had an absolute break,” said Laird and please God he pulls up sound tomorrow. The Gold Challenge is a possibility but we will take it one race at a time.”

A feature of the day’s racing on the turf track were the solid early fractions and Chekilli barreled out of gate 12 to set a strong pace leaving Ice Machine and Ashton Park towards the back of the field along with the fancied King Of Pain.

Bouclette Top was the first to challenge his stable companion and looked a likely winner but Ice Machine unwound a sustained finish up the outside of the field to win going away. Ashton Park was also doing his best work late to run into the money.

King Of Pain failed to quicken and never troubled the commentator.

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: The Conglomerate wins the 2015 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes (Nkosi Hlophe)

He hasn’t raced since being beaten at 1-3 in the Investec Cape Derby 13 weeks ago, he has to give 3kg to the rest of the field as well as a start – he is drawn on the wide outside – yet such is his superiority that TAB sheet forecast has him starting at 1-8!

The bookmakers are unlikely to be quite that stingy but on merit ratings he has a minimum of seven lengths in hand. It’s easy to forget just how good the colt looked when he won the Selangor and again when he repeated the performance in the Cape Guineas. At that stage it was a question of when, not whether, he would display his talents on the world stage.

Act Of War (Liesl King)

His below par Derby display was explained by a slight throat infection – he was in trouble too far out for lack of stamina to be the root cause – and two searching racecourse gallops have convinced Joey Ramsden that he has him fit enough.

“Like Variety Club, he is not fully wound up,” says the Milnerton trainer. “But I would not be running him if I didn’t think he was fit enough to do the job.”

Three years ago Variety Club also came into this after winning the Guineas and finishing second in the Derby. He started at 1-5 and was nursed home by an eye-to-the-future Anton Marcus. Expect more of the same on Sunday.

Most of the statistics back Act Of War’s cause. Favourites have won three of the last four runnings and Marcus himself is bidding to win this race for the third time in four years.

From a punting aspect the all-important question is who is going to finish second.  Alpha Pegasi is the choice on ratings after being raised 2.5kg for his narrow defeat on Monday but Tomba La Bomba makes marginally more appeal.

The Mike Bass-trained gelding is on a hat-trick, his trainer has won five of the last 15 Winter Guineas and Karl Neisius has been successful three times in the last five years.

Brutal Force, who galloped with Act Of War at Kenilworth last week, seems likely to start favourite for the First National Bank Pinnacle Stakes and could be worth an interest even though he has a bit to find on ratings. He looked all over the winner a furlong out in Tomba La Bomba’s last race but seemed to run out of steam in the closing stages. Both his wins have been in sprints and this race could suit him.