TROIS TROIS QUATRE, with Sean Veale up, wins the Gallop Tv Class 3 for trainers Mike and Mathew de Kock at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday. Picture: Race Coast/Candiese Lenferna

Andrew Harrison

Records are made to be broken but former champion jockey Anthony Delpech would have thought that his record of 334 winners in a season was fairly safe. Richard Fourie put paid to that last season but the aptly named Trois Trois Quatre will have been in the forefront of his mind at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday.

French for 334, Sean Veale rode a confident race on the son of Rafeef, coming from off the pace to motor past the filly Plum Pudding in the Gallop TV Class 3 that headlined the meeting.

Often a tardy starter, Veale had his mount out in a flash and although at the back of the field for most of the race, the gelding quickened up smartly up the inside under minimum effort from Veale. “If I haven’t pulled my stick at the 200 you know that I have plenty of horse under me,” quipped the rider, always good for a quote or three.

It was Hollywood Racing’s 693^rd winner since registering their colours.

It is seldom that we have two objections in a day but the first came in the first when Chad Little, runner-up on Lucinda Woodruff’s filly Ebisu, protested against Nathan Kotzen’s charge Fascination and apprentice Dezahn Louw on the grounds of interference in the latter stages. It was a case of six-of-one and six-of-the-other and the result remained unchanged not to anyone’s surprise.

It is seldom these days to have the stipendiary stewards lodging an objection and when that sirens goes off the result is almost always a foregone conclusion. While Trois Trois Quatre and Plum Pudding were fighting it out for top honours, Royal Invitation and Arverni King were having a ding-dong over third place, with Arverni King the one missing out.

Apprentice Damyan Pillay continues to impress and in spite of a lengthy break from riding through injury he has come back without fear. He got the well-backed Jet Legacy home for Alyson Wright in the second although his Academy colleague Mxolisi Mbuto came in for plenty of criticism for his handling of second-placed Major Tommie as he allowed his mount to shift right across the hindquarters of the winner to only get beaten a neck.

Every trainer dreads the positive tests for  NCO2 whether they are guilty of not and it was visibly upset Lucinda Woodruff who dragged her saddle back from the saddling enclosure after favourite Sohot Sowhat failed the test and was withdrawn from the first leg of the Pick 6 leaving five runners to contest the race.

Captain’s Christie looked to have the race in the bag before Russian Doll arrived late. Out of racing for nearly a year, Michael Roberts had his filly in good order and Siphesihle Hlengwa got the best out of her.

Duncan Howells has his stable in good order of late and Promise Of Fire made the required improvement to land the fourth and shed her maiden. Always handy under Kabelo Matsunyane, the daughter of Fire Away kept rolling to hold off Dee Day with Harpa a distant third.

Tristan Godden set a pedestrian pace on Lucky Dollar in the fifth and was not for the catching as he kept rolling to comfortably keep French Trip at bay.

Lucky Dollar is co-owned by Bruce Campbell who enjoyed his finest hour as a breeder along with Jane and Rodney Trotter and Rob Alexander with the Master Of My Fate colt Jan van Goyen winning the Gr1 World Pool Moment of the Day Champion Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday, a win that could well earn Mike and Mathew de Kock’s colt an Equus Award.

David Thiselton

Piere “Striker Strydom has his last ever professional ride at the Vaal Classic track’s nine race meeting today and he could well go out with a bang as he will be aboard the hard-knocking favourite, the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained What A Winter filly Summer Winter.

The MR 72 Handicap race for fillies and mares over 1000m will be contested by nine horses and three-year-old Summer Winter has to carry topweight of 61kg off a 79 merit rating and also possibly against her will be a draw of four over a course and distance in which high draws are often favoured. A positive is that  as Piere is a heavyweight rider she will not be carrying much deadweight. Summer Winter won her maiden in her penultimate start over 1000m at Turffontein Standside by 6,50 lengths and in the three races over that same trip on the day hers was the fastest. Her first run out of the maidens was on Hollywoodbets Durban July day over 1000m on the poly, a day in which the fields are always strong, and she ran a cracking 1,40 length third. The form has worked out well with a winner and a second having come out of the race. The main danger could be the British-bred Deal Maker, who finished a 5,20 length second on debut and the form has not worked out badly. She should improve and she has a nice high draw too. Gaelic Dancer is in good form and should be thereabouts. Time For Charity is capable of popping up into the places. Predatrice could also be in the shake up if repeating her last start.

The highest rated race of the day is the 6th, a MR 97 handicap for fillies and mares over 1450m. Hong Kong has always been highly regarded and improved last time when stepped up to 1600m. She should also enjoy 1450m from draw two. Exceedingly Glam might have a slight stamina doubt, but she has gone close over this course and distance before and from a fair draw in the fast winter conditions she could make an impact. In The Beginning showed a lot of early promise and should be cherry ripe, so could bounce back over a suitable trip off  a reduced merit rating. Andi’s Girl has plenty of ability and could bounce back to form under Lerena, although she has a tricky draw of six. Destiny Of Fire has some class and might enjoy the step down in trip as he did have some decent form over this distance category last year.

In he first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m Radio Star has been knocking on the door and finished 2,70 lengths behind Jan van Goyen last time and the latter franked the form by winning a two-year-old Gr 1 with ease on Sunday. Luwak made a fair debut and the form has been franked by the second-placed horse winning next time out, but Luwak was beaten five lengths by that horse so will need to improve. Matroosberg improved last time and could earn again with a repeat. Sergeant Soqrat has shown some ability and could earn here. Balerion is by Wings Of Desire and is a half-brother to the like of Herodotus (Trippi), who was a Gr 2 runner up over 1800m.

In the fifth race over 1600m Asiah’s Tiara has a good opportunity to get off the mark from a middle draw and just needs to repeat her penultimate start over 1500m. Nkwenkwezi is knocking hard and should be right there under Strydom, who will have to overcome a wide draw. Bella Boop Boop is capable of being involved in the finish here. Witching Hour has a good draw with Lerena up and should be in the shake up too. Mattiazo should be in the shake up from a good draw.

In the seventh over 1450m Way To Burn was right there last time and would have gone close had the apprentice jockey kept the whip in the correct hand under the circumstances  instead of the wrong hand which caused the horse to hang out. Off a one point lower mark she should make a bold bid. Too Late My Mate was close to a couple of fair sorts last time, Busstopinhounslow and Guy Gibson, and is also a big runner here. Messaline can earn if repeating her last start. Whirlybird is never far off and can earn again. Sunshine Day is capable of earning here if able to overcome a wide draw.

In the eighth race over 1450m Palace Prince has run two good races out the maidens and is the one to beat under Gavin Lerena, although a wide draw will make it tough. After Hours goes well for Striker and from pole position he should be charging late. Crescendo is a lot better than his last run and this is a suitable trip, so he could bounce back from a fair draw.

In the first leg of the Bipot over 1200m Blushing Bloom finished a 2,10 length second to the promising Romilly last time over this trip and he is drawn in pole under Lerena so can go close with a repeat.

In the first leg of the PA Xenophon is knocking on the door and gives Strydom a good chance although the draw is tricky. Power Of Pearls debut form has worked out well and if close to her peak after a six month layoff she should be right there. Silver Longword showed some improvement last time out and has a plum draw. Gavius Maximus looks capable of improvement on his moderate debut and has Lerena up, albeit from a tough draw. Parabellum has his third run after a rest and has the ability to earn.

In the first race over 1600m The Last Duke won easily second time out over 1160m and should prefer this trip but does have a tricky draw and Singleton Sam will be a big threat.

RACE 1

4 THE LAST DUKE 6 REDLIGHTGREENLIGHT 3 SINGLETON SAM 2 RED PENNY

Preview: 4 THE LAST DUKE won well second time out and the form of his debut, when finishing an eight length fifth, has worked out well and being by Duke Of Marmalade he might enjoy the trip. 6 REDLIGHTGREENLIGHT beat Singleton Sam by 2,45 lengths over 1500m and is now 3kg better off. 3 SINGLETON SAM won well second time out and 2 RED PENNY could go close if producing his best. (David Thiselton 4-6-3-2)

RACE 2

4 BLUSHING BLOOM 1 ICONIC WINTER 2 EMPRESS WU 10 TWELFTH OF NEVER

Preview: 4 BLUSHING BLOOM was a 2,10 length second to a promising sort last time and is drawn in pole. 1 ICONIC WINTER has run two good races and has a plum draw. 2 EMPRESS WU is knocking on the door and should be in the shake up again. 10 TWELFTH OF NEVER is by Canford Cliffs and is out of a Dynasty Gr 2 winner over 2000m. (David Thiselton 4-1-2-10)

RACE 3

1 XENOPHON 11 POWER OF PEARLS 2 SILVER LONGSWORD 9 GAVIUS MAXIMUS

Preview: 1 XENOPHON is knocking on the door and Strydom rides on the last day of his legendary career. 11 POWER OF PEARLS’ debut form has worked out well and if close to her peak after a six month layoff she should be right there. 2 SILVER LONGSWORD showed some improvement last time out and has a plum draw. 9 GAVIUS MAXIMUS looks capable of improvement on his moderate debut an Lerena is up. (David Thiselton 1-11-2-9)

RACE 4

8 RADIO STAR 6 LUWAK 7 MATROOSBERG  9 SERGEANT SOQRAT

Preview: 8 RADIO STAR has been knocking on the door and was close to a potential star horse last time and Lerena is up over a suitable trip albeit from a tough draw. 6 LUWAK made a fair debut and the form has been franked 7 MATROOSBERG  improved last time and could earn again. 9 SERGEANT SOQRAT has shown some ability and could earn. (David Thiselton 8-6-7-9)

RACE 5

1 ASIAH’S TIARA 2 NKWENKWEZI 4 BELLA BOOP BOOP 10 WITCHING HOUR

Preview: 1 ASIAH’S TIARA is in good form and could show further improvement. 2 NKWENKWEZI is knocking hard and should be right there. 4 BELLA BOOP BOOP is capable of being involved in the finish. 10 WITCHING HOUR has a good draw with Lerena up and should be in the shake up. (David Thiselton 1-2-4-10)

RACE 6

Preview: 9 HONG KONG improved last time when stepped up to 1600m and should enjoy 1450m from draw two. 10 EXCEEDINGLY GLAM has gone close over this trip before and has a fair draw. 4 IN THE BEGINNING showed a lot of early promise and should be cherry ripe. 2 ANDI’S GIRL has plenty of ability and could bounce back under Lerena. (David Thiselton 9-10-4-2)

RACE 7

3 WAY TO BURN 1 TOO LATE MY MATE 9 MESSALINA 5 WHIRLYBIRD

Preview: 3 WAY TO BURN was right there last time and off a one point lower mark should make a bold bid. 1 TOO LATE MY MATE was close to a fair sort last time and is a big runner. 9 MESSALINA can be involved if repeating last start. 5 WHIRLYBIRD is never far off and can earn again. (David Thiselton 3-1-9-5)

RACE 8

5 PALACE PRINCE 3 AFTER HOURS 2 CRESCENDO

Preview: 5 PALACE PRINCE has run two good races out the maidens and is the one to beat. 3 AFTER HOURS is a reliable old warrior and Striker is up. 2 CRESCENDO is a lot better than his last run and this is a suitable trip. (David Thiselton 5-3-2)

RACE 9

1 SUMMER WINTER 5 DEAL MAKER 7 GAELIC DANCER 10 TIME FOR CHARITY

Preview: 1 SUMMER WINTER could give Striker a winner with the last ride of what has been an incredible star-studded career. 5 DEAL MAKER made a good debut and should improve. 7 GAELIC DANCER is in good form and should be thereabouts. 10 TIME FOR CHARITY is capable of popping up. (David Thiselton 1-5-7-10)

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