Glen Kotzen holds at least two of the aces in the valuable Klawervlei Farm Sale Graduate Race at Kenilworth’s Youth Day holiday fixture and Aldo Domeyer can win the race for the second successive year.

He scored a convincing success on the Sean Tarry-trained favourite Rock The Globe last season and this time he is also on the market leader, Tanzanite Queen. His mount has, at least arguably, the best form and she came in for significant support in the early betting (33-20 to 11-10).

She raced prominently when a little-considered 14-1 on debut and, despite losing a front shoe, she only went under by a neck to the much more experienced Fiftyshadesdarker who had some good form.

“I‘ve no idea where in the race she lost the shoe so I can’t say whether it made a difference but she was a little unlucky because she was green,” says the Woodhill trainer. “She was hanging in to the stick and, if the jockey had changed it to his other hand, she just might have put her head down and won.

“But it was a brilliant prep for this. I’m just hoping, though, that it is not too close to her first run.”

However there is a doubt about her ability to handle the changed going. It was good to soft on Monday morning after 14mm of rain the previous day and a total of 86mm in the last week. “She is a big filly but very light on her feet so maybe she won’t go in deep,” says Kotzen. “But I don’t really know.”

Second favourite, after being backed from 7-1 to 4-1, is stable companion Musical Glitch who ran well in the Fillies Nursery. “She has had three months since then to strengthen up and she is a big runner.”

While Kotzen admits that Tanzanite Queen is his first choice of the quartet he points out that Morne Winnaar believes Musical Glitch is better and she was his choice.

Greg Cheyne rides 8-1 shot Magical Midlands (at R200 000 the second highest-priced horse in the field) who had to be withdrawn on debut when Anthony Andrews was injured in the pens. “The horse was fine – I galloped him the next day. It would have been nice if he’d had the experience of a race but he is a proper horse and he will be doing his best work at the finish.”

Ruby Rhythm (25-1) is the outsider of the Kotzen quartet. “She has shown huge improvement from her first two outings and she needed the run last time.”

Brett Crawford’s first-timer Maison Merci is perhaps the most likely of the newcomers, but there was no early money for him and  he has been eased from 9-2 to 15-2.

If it is still good to soft punters will be going into the maidens like an explorer without a compass because few of the runners have raced on this sort of surface and their ability to handle it – or otherwise – is largely a matter of guesswork.

Soft Day is marginally favourite for the www.proboost.co.za Maiden Juvenile (race three) and, in a field mainly made up of newcomers, the Glen Puller filly may just be good enough.

Her performance will be a pointer to the chance of Flower Of Saigon in the next, the Coup De Grace/Snaith Racing Maiden Juvenile, as Winnaar’s mount was just over a length and a half further back on debut despite racing green. She has already been nibbled at and could be good enough.

There is precious little to choose between the top four in the Soetendal Estate Maiden – Soetendal is where Rainbow Bridge goes for his holidays – but Fort Agopian ran well on Cape Derby day, has been backed from 7-1 to 4-1 and gets the vote.

Lastly, particularly if you are winning at this point, you might like to consider having a few rand each way on Ikebana in the last. The Brett Crawford five-year-old has raced six times when the going has been softer than good, winning on three occasions and being placed on two of the other three.

SELECTIONS:

Race 3: Soft Day
Race 4: Flower Of Saigon
Race 5: Fort Agopian
Race 7: Tanzanite Queen
Race 8: Ikebana (ew)

Not many 60 year old jockeys are still giving it a full go in the saddle but Port Elizabeth based Shannon Devoy isn’t thinking of retirement just yet.

He said he is still enjoying riding in races and doesn’t shy away from early morning work riding.

Devoy is very much involved with the stable of Fairview trainer Jacques Strydom.

“I have been with Jacques’s stable for a number of years now. We have a good understanding which helps to manage my workload.

“I don’t ride a full card of races at a meeting, about four races is fine for me. That way I still enjoy my racing and I know the horses that I am riding,” he explained.

“When the lock down due to Covid-19 started I sat out with the work riding for a while. My fitness suffered, so I resumed work riding again.”

Devoy says a good system is in place at Fairview to continue with racing behind closed doors according to the Covid-19 regulations.

“It is different and a learning curve for all of us. We will progress as we continue.”

One of the East Cape’s feature races that fell away this season when racing was suspended for a while due to Covid-19, is the Glenair Trophy stayers race, denying Devoy a chance on the 6yo mare Onesie.

“I am now looking forward to riding her in the PE Gold Cup (on 17th July). I lost some rides last season when I had a hip operation.

“Onesie was one of the horses I missed out on. I would love to win the PE Gold Cup for my brother David (that owns the horse in partnership with the trainer) who is a successful businessman in Perth, Australia.

“Jacques has a knack with stayers. He is a stayers specialist and gets the best out of the horses,” Devoy said.

Devoy won the PE Gold Cup in 2012 with the Corne Spies trained Campo De Santana.

“I am disappointed that the distance of the race has been cut back from 3600m to 3200m. It was a tradition that this was the longest race in the country.”

When asked what has been the highlight of his career, Devoy declares Fighting Beat (East Cape horse of the year 1997) as the best PE horse he has ridden.

“I was Hekkie Strydom’s stable jockey in those years and rode many winners for Hekkie. The highlight was winning three in a row with Fighting Beat.”

To still be going strong at 60 years of age the injuries must have stayed away and Devoy agrees that he has been blessed in this regard.

“I have always had trouble with my lower back and had a successful shoulder operation, but yes, blessed with not many injuries.”

So no retirement plans as yet?

“No, as long as I ride the right horses and still enjoy it I will continue.

“It is wonderful to still be involved and be part of the strong bond and camaraderie that exists in the jockey room.”

By Henk Steenkamp

Rising star Katak is only third highest-rated in the Legal Eagle Stakes – the new name for the Winter Classic – at Kenilworth on Saturday week.

The handicappers raised the unbeaten Piet Steyn-trained colt 7.5kg for his impressive performance in last week’s Kuda Variety Club Mile (formerly the Winter Guineas) but that still puts him 1.5kg behind Silver Host and Super Silvano who were beaten nearly six lengths and nine lengths in the Kuda.

The Justin Snaith-trained Politician winner Silver Host has already been declared for the Legal Eagle and will again be ridden by Richard Fourie while Robert Khathi will be on stable companion Bayberry.  Snaith has won four of the last 12 runnings of the Winter Classic while Fourie will be bidding for his fourth win in the race following Alvaro in 2008, Why Worry (2012) and Rainbow Bridge two years ago.

Snaith has also declared four for the Ladies Mile on the same card – Esteemal (Fourie), Duchess Of Bourbon (Khathi), Dynamic Diana and Fortune Flies – as well as three for the Stormsvlei Stakes, the second leg of the fillies winter series – Flatware (Fourie), Honey Pie (Khathi) and Double Reward – and three for the Olympic Duel: Queen Of Quiet (Fourie), Casino Queen (Khathi) and Fleeced.

By Michael Clower

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

Mike de Kock looks set to have a fine day at Turffontein and has been tipped to win the first four races and finish second in the eighth.

De Kock kicks off with the first-timer Regent in a 1450m maiden. He is a full-brother to Grade 1 winner Eyes Wide Open and would not have to be a superstar to win this race. The hard-knocking Dark Tide and the progressive Dogliotti, who both went close in their first runs after lockdown over 1200m and 1450m respectively, look to be the chief dangers.

In the second race over 1450m De Kock’s charge Integrity has a tricky draw but will relish the step up in trip being by Flower Alley and having finished strongly for a close second over 1200m. 

In the third over 1450m Peaceontherocks has four seconds and one third in her last five starts and should finally get it right here in this uninspiring field, although the improving Nu Bell will make a bold bid to keep her in the second box. 

In the fourth race over 2000m Barak is drawn in pole and on pedigree this promising sort should relish the step up in trip being by Master Of My Fate out of a Captain Al mare who won over this trip. 

De Kock should also go close in the eighth with Flaming Duchess who is by Duke Of Marmalade so should be improving all the time. She is going for a hattrick in 1600m event.  

By David Thiselton

Eden Roc, in contention for Champion Two-year-old last season, had been winless this term but that all changed today (Saturday) when Stuart Randolph produced him with a telling late effort to land the Grade 2 Post Merchants. It was a triumphant return to Hollywoodbets Scottsville, the scene of his Grade 1 Gold Medallion victory.

With Sean Tarry’s first-choice riders, Lyle Hewitson, successful on Eden Roc last year, and Luke Ferraris still holed up in Gauteng, locally based Randolph picked up the mount and delivered a copybook ride.

Sitting mid-field for the early exchanges he asked Eden Roc to start picking it up with about 400 m to run. At this stage Invidia appeared to be travelling best of all and a likely winner 200m out, but the red light was flashing empty when Eden Roc swept past to score comfortably with Cartel Captain third and Warrior’s Rest making it a memorable afternoon for winning owner Chris van Niekerk.

The Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint on July 4 is an obvious next target.

Vernichey, who zipped home in a 900m scurry on debut, took a steep rise in class in her stride when she out-gunned the more fancied pair of Slalom Queen and hot favourite Delta Queen in the Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes.

Showing signs of ring-rust after a nearly six-month break since her debut win, Warren Kenney had the devil’s own task of keeping his mount straight and hard to her task when he asked for an effort. Fortunately, he managed to clear the runners on his inside before allowing his mount to shift in towards Slalom Queen and Delta Queen who were battling it out on the inside rail. Slalom Queen kept Delta Queen at bay all the way to the line but was not able to hold off the late effort from Vernichey.

Trained by Gareth van Zyl for Kestorm Investments with Kenneth Pillay as nominee, Vernichey is now two-from-two and primed for a crack at the Grade 1 Allan Robertson to be run at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday, July 4.

Dennis Drier is a master at preparing his two-year-olds for the Grade 1 Gold Medallion, a race that he has won eight times, and he served notice that his runners will again be a force to be reckoned with on the fourth of July, saddling the first two past the post in the Grade 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes. Tempting Fate came in for some strong market support and it proved to be money on the button as Sean Veale put in a typically powerful ride to get Tempting Fate home ahead of stable companion Pray For Rain who gave the starter a few grey hairs as he played up in the gate before being re-loaded and jumping on terms.

Ante-post favourite Joseph Barry, proved friendless in the market which proved prophetic. Although handy for much of the race, he was just not able to go on with his effort when it counted. Obviously a little short of peak fitness, he is likely to come on lengths from this race.

Pretty Young thing gave her older rivals a galloping lesson in the Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes and was the easiest feature race winner on the afternoon. Anton Marcus had Brett Crawford’s filly on the bridle for much of the race and when given her head, the daughter of Jackson accelerated away from her rivals, leaving them like corks bobbing in her wake with Master Keys, mostly ignored up the inside fence rattling him for second and edge out pacemaker Captain’s Girl. Owned by Ridgemont, nominee Wayne Kieswetter and bred at the Kieswetter-owner Highlands Farm Stud, Pretty Young Thing was recording her fifth win from ten outings and could well have the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint on her agenda.

By Andrew Harrison