Mambo Mime’s Cape Guineas prospects took a serious knock when he was beaten into fourth behind Big Cat in the Wynberg Cricket Club Handicap at Kenilworth on Saturday.

There were legitimate excuses for the 2-1 favourite – he appeared to be striding short going to the start and Grant Behr reported afterwards: “There was something not right behind and he felt uncomfortable” – but time is not on the colt’s side with the Grand Parade-sponsored classic only 19 days away.

The Vasco Premier Trophy is on Saturday week but Dennis Drier is having doubts about asking Big Cat to run even though the six-year-old answered Sean Veale’s every call to shade Henry Of York.

Drier said: “This was a very courageous win in a tough field. The horse is as honest as the day is long and always gives of his best but, while I have nominated him, I don’t think the Premier is the right race. I will discuss it with the chaps but I think it’s too strong for him.”

The chaps include James Drew and Mike Fullard who also won the Haak Fourie & Snyman Handicap with another ex-Stan Elley horse, My World. Elley recalled the gelding’s R110 000 purchase as if it was yesterday.

He said: “I bought him at the Natal sale when nobody knew much about the sire Ideal World but I thought I had to have the yearling as he is out of Sadler’s Wells mare. When they brought him out of the box I was most disappointed because he was a real ugly duckling.

“The only reason I didn’t tell the groom to put him straight back was because I didn’t want to offend the breeder (Maine Chance). Then I saw him walk and I had to have him once more.”

This was the middle leg of a treble for Mike Bass and Grant van Niekerk but the latter made it clear that he will be glad to see the return of the summer course on Saturday. He said: “The winter track is very unfair at the moment. With the going on top the horses in front are not stopping and those behind are not making up the leeway.”

Punters were left flabbergasted when Gull Rock came home at 50-1 under Corne Orffer in the Iron Lady Maiden but Brett Crawford deflected any credit to Malan du Toit, saying: “He has put a lot of time and work into this horse. The last time Gull Rock came out of the pens he left the jockey (S’Manga Khumalo) behind.”

But some inspired punters more than made up for this when stable companion Speedy Chestnut was backed from 16-1 to 15-4 to land the Lady Natasia Handicap.

Not many horses win three times inside a month but Dixie Express completed this particular treble in the Rockets Classic Handicap to delight Brandon May and surprise the stable – “She has astounded us,” declared Chris Snaith.

By Michael Clower
Picture (Liesl King): My World (right) fends off A Time To Kill