The Alyson Wright-trained four-year-old star won the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes on the last weekend of the 2012/2013 season, a feat which earned him Equus champion two-year-old colt, and yesterday’s Graduation Plate over 1200m on the turf was only his second start since.

He had showed his class in his comeback on February 18 when staying on late for a 2,25 length second over 1200m at Scottsville in a Graduation Plate, despite needing the run badly.

Kochka winning at Greyville yesterday (Nkosi Hlophe)

Yesterday, he showed all the hallmarks that have made him a champion, despite the trip being short of his best.

He was held up behind horses in the seven horse field and switched off beautifully. He had the fortitude to edge through a tight gap and then displayed his exceptional turn of foot, which he needed in order to catch the fair sort Nineteen Fourteen, who had stolen a march. At one stage it looked unlikely that he would catch the latter, but he dug down deep and won going away by 0,5 lengths.

He returned odds of 8/10.

Mgudlwa has been doing all of the work on him at Summerveld and commented on how quickly he was able to turn it on, despite being such a big horse.

Kochka would have come on further for the run and will be peaking by the Champions Season.

Earlier, the Paddy Lunn-trained Stronghold filly Supercede flew home full of running under Ian Sturgeon to win the Non-Black Type Umsinzi Handicap over 1800m on the turf, beating home the Duncan Howells-trained Roc ‘N Rose by two lengths with the Mark Dixon-trained San Trip next best. The 17/20 favourite Captain’s Daughter will probably revert to front-running tactics next time out as she failed to quickened from a handy position and only managed fifth.

Ire De Fiesta (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the first race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m on the turf, the promising new sire Visionaire had more success when the Doug Campbell-trained Lala scooted in by 4,25 lengths under Donovan Dillon, having been backed in from 25/1 to 33/10.

The 11/10 favourite, the Dennis Bosch-trained Seek The Summit, could only manage third, but Bosch was in the winner’s enclosure two races later, a Graduation Plate over 1200m on the turf, when his Western Winter filly Winter Glory ran on gallantly under Anton Marcus, despite odds of 15/2 and a merit rating of only 73.

Later, Karen and Greg Anthony had their second Greyville polytrack winner of the weekend when Var filly Ire De Fiesta easily won a fillies and mares Maiden Plate over 1400m under Stuart Randolph.

The sixth, a MR 72 Apprentice handicap over1400m, saw an exciting finish as Kilroy and Gulliver’s Travel collared the likely looking winner Aware on the line. The photo showed that the Garth Puller-trained Ravishing gelding Kilroy, who was ridden by Akshay Balloo, had just prevailed.

The seventh, a MR 70 Handicap over 1000m, was won the by the Robbie Hill-trained Tiger Ridge gelding Bengal Boy, allowing Marcus to complete a double on the day and Hill a weekend polytrack double.

The last, a maiden over 1600m, was won by the Var gelding Avaricious, which gave the Dennis Drier and Sean Cormack combination a polytrack treble for the weekend.

He explained:” Fat Bottom Girl reared up with me at Kenilworth and I hit my back against an upright. I had some good rides that day so I just carried on.

“I’ve had physio but I can’t get myself into the positions I want to and I have to have six weeks of treatment. I will be off for three or four of those weeks. I was meant to start the treatment on Saturday but I wanted to ride Forte De Ouro and Big Cat.”

Aldo Domeyer

He won on both but then gave up his remaining rides. Piet Steyn was relieved to see him take the mount on Forte De Ouro because he has been having a lean spell and the 7-2 chance got the best of a three way photo to give the trainer his first success of the year.

Big Cat held off Zingzilla by no more than the thickness of his rider’s medical prescription and Stan Elley has Vodacom Durban July day ambitions.

He said: “Last year we did everything we could to get him into the July consolation (TabGOLD 2200) but he went lame on the Friday. Hopefully we will have more luck this year.”

Andrew Fortune has been finding winners hard to come by on his latest return and his bad luck seemed to continue on Saturday when favourite Eternal Love was withdrawn at the start on veterinary instructions and Surruptitious, ante-post favourite for Big Cat’s race, was stung on the nose by a bee and scratched.

But Henry Of York came to the former champion’s rescue in the mile handicap. To be fair, Fortune’s genius came to the horse’s rescue after he looked beaten inside the final furlong although Darryl Hodgson reckons his own pep talk pla

yed as big a part – “I whispered in the horse’s ear that his brother had just won the Gauteng Guineas and it was now up to him to win too!”

Fortune has three rides at Durbanville on Wednesday and will also be in action at Kenilworth on Saturday but he then starts a week’s suspension for an interference offence on Balletome last Wednesday.

David and Diane Nagle delayed their return to Ireland to see Provenance (Richard Fourie) readily follow up her Kenilworth win in the 1 300m handicap. They have bred some of best horses in the world including Generous, Imagine, Yeats and Oratorio. They own this one in partnership with Maine Chance, Coolmore Stud owner John Magnier and Goffs Sales executive ‘Legs’ Lawlor.

Justin Snaith, chalking up winner number 111 of the season, was impressed and said: “I am proud to be associated with people like this.”

He didn’t believe that the exacting Derby trip would do any good for his Australian-bred champion colt’s racing career and added, “He is already a stallion and the Derby just dilutes everything, so we will leave it to the stayers. He is a very good horse and has never lost to a horse that has previously beaten him.”

Harry’s Son lost to Harry Lime in the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m in his third career start in April last year, but beat him when finishing an unlucky third in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Medallion over 1200m.He then beat the Medallion winner Guinness when once again an unlucky third in the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m. Harry’s Son then won the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m, a victory that earned him Equus Champion two-year-old colt, and Golden Horseshoe winner Afrikaburn was among the horses he defeated in that race. His first defeat this season was when beaten by Unparalleled in the Gr 2 Investec Dingaans over 1600m on the Turffontein Standside course and he exacted revenge on the latter on Saturday. In the light of his penchant for revenge, it will be interesting to see whether Act Of War, who beat him in the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas, will travel up to Johannesburg for the SA Classic.

Harry’s Son (JC Photo)

Harry’s Son has travelled from Summerveld to outside provinces on four occasions this season. The laid back colt won the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on November 1 in his seasonal reappearance and  was runner up in the Dingaans at the same venue on November 29. His journey to Cape Town by air for the Cape Guineas didn’t go smoothly as he was left stranded on the King Shaka airport tarmac for three hours due to a “hiccup” and, furthermore, it was a two-legged journey via Port Elizabeth. Not surprisingly he was not really himself in the Cape Guineas and over-raced early, so it was a measure of his class that he still finished second. His journey to Turffontein for Saturday’s Gauteng Guineas went smoothly and he was back to his best.

Jockey Piere Strydom was quick to praise Lafferty and his team for the amazing training feat on Saturday, but Lafferty deflected the accolades and said, “The horse makes it easy for us, he is such a wonderful traveller.”

Harry’s Son ate up well yesterday morning (Sunday) before travelling by float back to Summerveld.

He will likely take his next journey to Johannesburg at the end of March in his stride and the main question might turn out to be whether the altitude will have more of an impact over 1800m than it does over 1600m. There are many theories on the effects of altitude on horses, but no scientific study has ever been done as South Africa is the only major racing country in the world affected by it. Lafferty won the SA Classic two years ago with Love Struck, but that horse was prepared for the event out of a Johannesburg yard.

Harry’s Son will be facing the unbeaten Mike de Kock-trained Investec Cape Derby winner Ertijaal in the SA Classic, which will make it a highly intriguing race even if Act Of War does not make the journey. Act Of War is merit rated 117, Harry’s Son won on Saturday off a 114 and Ertijaal is currently merit rated only 107, despite his comfortable Cape Derby victory.

Harry’s Son is by Haradasun, who won two Gr 1s over 1500m and 1600m respectively in Australia, before being bought into top Irish trainer Aiden O’Brien’s yard and winning the Gr 1 Queen Ann Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot in 2008.

Harry’s Son runs in the colours of Durban-based businessman Roy Moodley, who is enjoying a halcyon season, and the other owners are the KZN Highway area group of friends Phil Georgiou, Doug and Sheila Steyn and Martha and Angelica Bilro.

Aldo Domeyer’s mount ran a fine race to beat all except Captain America in a most competitive handicap on Met day and he looks the one they all have to beat, particularly as he has been raised only half a kilo for that last run.

“He has won at Durbanville before and he is in good form,” says Stan Elley. “He has been working very nicely and he is fit and well.”

Big Cat (Liesl King)

Big Cat opened at an attractive 4-1 yesterday with Betting World who made top weight Surruptitious favourite at 33-10 even though he has been raised a kilo for last time’s good run.

“He is a big horse,” says Mike Stewart, reasoning that the gelding is well able to carry weight. “I think he will suit Andrew Fortune who rides him for the first time and I expect him to go very close.”

Titus (5-1) beat Surruptitious just over a length over this course and distance in September and is only a kilo worse so he also comes into the equation, especially as Mike Bass is on a roll with seven winners at the last two Kenilworth meetings. Stable companion Evening Storm (11-2) steps up from a mile but has Grant van Niekerk who is also in cracking form.

Juddering Angel has been raised 2.5kg for last time’s win over this distance and, while that may not necessarily stop him, it is certainly going to make life a lot harder for the 7-2 chance.

Jo’s Bond, fifth in the Listed race on Met Day, looks better than Noisette in the first and Justin Snaith has few fears about the course. “She is not the type to run green,” he says.

Cosmic Code, who finished just in front of Wednesday’s winner Zubbadubbadoo last month, wears blinkers for the first time in the Moulin Rouge Student Maiden and that should enable him to beat In Full Regalia. One who could run into a place here is 14-1 shot Illinois who showed improved form last time and seemingly there was no fluke involved. “I gave him a break, sent him to a farm and it seemed to work,” says Harold Crawford.

Fortune and Eternal Love look a winning combination in the Grand Prize Maiden as War Declaration and Come Along are both drawn wide.

Arezzo dispenses with blinkers in race four as he is being stepped up from a mile to 2 400m. “It might be jumping the gun but I thought it could be a weak race,” says Snaith. Three Balloons (9-2) gets only marginal preference.

The KZN raider Harry’s Son could win the ultra-competitive Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas as he over-raced last time out in the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas. He also spent three hours on the tarmac at King Shaka airport, but still managed a gallant second. He wasn’t suited to the sticky conditions when beaten 4,25 lengths by Unparalleled in the Investec Dingaans over tomorrow’s course and distance so his team will be hoping for lighter conditions.

Harry’s Son (JC Photo)

Mutamakkin could offer each-way value as the best has likely not yet been seen of the progressive colt and he could develop into a genuine Triple Crown contender. He found the 1450m of the Tony Ruffel on the inside track too sharp last time and was outpaced late by the closers having stolen a march for home. His draw of nine is a bit tricky, but Anthony Delpech always rides the standside course well.

The classy and ever improving Unparalleled is 3,5kg better off with Mutumakkin for a mere 0,2 length beating in the Tony Ruffel in which he was dropped out before running on strongly. He was presented in tip top condition for The Dingaans in which the ground was affected by a deluge just before the start.

Zambezi River was a bit quiet in the week of the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas and the yard believed he ran a flat race. This magnificent specimen could make amends as his finishing effort in the R2 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes suggested he should get 1600m.

MLJet has been gelded and this could bring out the best in a horse who has been disappointing this season after promising much as a two-year-old. He should relish the standside course.

The Captain’s Tune represents the Geoff Woodruff yard who won this race easily last year with the hitherto unheralded Louis The King. This horse is improving with experience and might be taken to the front as he tried to duck in behind runners in the Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes, but then won easily when leading from start to finish in a 1600m handicap over tomorrow’s course and distance.

Anjaal is a fine specimen and was only 0,25 lengths behind Harry’s Son in the Gr 1 Premiers’ Champion Stakes over this trip at Greyville as a two-year-old. However, this run could come a touch too soon after his seasonal reappearance just two weeks ago.

Imperial Gold is a player if repeating his fourth place in the Cape Guineas, but he does have 5,45 lengths to find on Harry’s Son.

French Navy is improving all the time and could earn if repeating his Dingaans third.

Amsterdam is the only unbeaten horse in the race, but faces a big step up in class and is widely drawn.

Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

The three-year-old male crop is not a vintage one this year, so it could be wise to go wide in this race, although the horses are selected in the order mentioned.

In the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas the stand out is the KZN raider Same Jurisdiction, who is unbeaten in four starts since her debut, including the Gr 1 Thekwini over this trip. She won the latter event despite having been found to have bled and was very impressive last time out when cantering home in the Gr 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m against older fillies and mares.

Siren’s Call is classy and will relish the step up in trip from her 1400m R2,5 million CTS Book 2 Graduates race win. Kileigh will also be finishing strongly and could offer place value as the Gr 3 Fillies Mile didn’t pan out in her favour and she is better than that. Smart Call will be a big runner and Gr 1 winner Bilateral’s last run can be ignored. Tamanee has 3,25 lengths to find on Smart Call from the Fillies Mile but did beat Bilateral, Kileigh and Olma in that race.  Olma could offer place value as she was hurt in the float when travelling up for the Fillies Mile and is a lot better than that. Pine Princess has class but would prefer further. The improving Trophy Wife could earn but Same Jurisdiction is a banker suggestion.

The Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes could be won by the blossoming Ashton Park. Sabadell, Readytogorightnow, Lockheed Jetstar and Whiteline Fever could follow him home.

The Gr 3 Acacia Handicap is highly competitive and could be won by any of the horses, but the order of fancy is Amber Orchid, who has a lot in her favour, followed by Enchanted Silk, Maria Theresa, Will I Do, Be Mine Tonight, Euphoria and Whatalady.

The Listed Aquanaut Handicap is tough but the fancies in order are Orchestrated, Baracah, Savage Wind, Gold Bank, Qatar Springs, Aki Bua and Henry Higgins.