Gr1 Mercury Sprint (16/07/05)
Disappear sprung one of the upsets of the KZN winter season when he beat Nhlavini on 9.5 kgs worse terms than in a handicap in the WFA Mercury Sprint over 1200m at Clairwood.Disappear had been chased up from a wide draw and then faded to nothing when he finished second last in the Gr 2 Post Merchants handicap (a race he won in 2004) at Greyville in June. That effort could be excused, but it was difficult to make a case for him on these weight terms and the scant regard which punters had for his chances was reflected in a starting price of 50/1. WFA contests are the last place where you should get this kind of a quote about the winner, but to quote yet another of the sport's endless stream of cliches, races are not run on paper. Nhlavini is well known for not being at his best in the winter and is indeed usually cooling his heels on a farm at this time of year, but he seems to be handling the chills better than usual in 2005 and indeed looked at least as well as any of his rivals in the preliminaries, and better than most. The 7yo stalwart looked to have his chances of landing the Mercury Sprint greatly improved when last year's winner Honour The Guest left the starting machine about 100 metres after everyone else. Forecast was unsurprisingly the early leader and set a brisk pace into a mild headwind, showing the way from Sevillano and Royal Mariner, with Mighty Doll also very prominent. Something Else was not far off the leaders as Nhlavini adopted his never-changing tactics of waiting some way back. Something Else was the first to make his move when the frontrunners faded, but coming to the last 200m Nhlavini was turned loose by Anton Marcus and stormed into the lead. Backers of Charles Laird's veteran must have been starting to lick their chops when Nhlavini went more than a length ahead, but then along came Disappear. Waited with well off the pace on this occasion, the four-year-old switched right around horses just inside the last furlong and accelerated like a horse possessed, collaring Nhlavini close home to win by half-a-length. Trained by Cyril Naidoo, Disappear was a chance ride for jockey MJ Byleveld who stood in for the indisposed Kevin Derere. Nhlavini ran a cracker in second, even though at the weights he should have beaten the eventual winner by a wide margin, and the clue to Disappear's considerable improvement may well lie in the fact that he was held up off the pace instead of racing from or near the front, as has usually been the case. The turn of foot he displayed inside the last 100m or so is only possessed by good horses, and Nhlavini did finish comfortably clear of a staying-on Royal IQ in third. Something Else finished fourth to indicate again that he is getting at least somewhere close to his best. He is still only a three-year-old, and may have a few decent wins in him. To entirely honest, the runner-up may not quite be one hundred percent the horse he was, which is no disgrace for one so close to his 8th birthday, for as well as he performed he ran nowhere near a 115 rating. Maybe, in the warmer seasons, it will yet be a different story for a horse who has always preferred hot to colt hands down. The race was a triumph for champion breeders-elect Summerhill Stud, who bred both the winner and runner-up and gave the battered locals at least something to hold their heads high about on a day when not one single KZN-trained horse won on a 10 race card. This singularly embarrassing "achievement" has been threatening to occur for a while now, and the only good thing about it is that it is practically impossible for things to get any worse. Mind you, there is still the 12 race marathon on Canon Gold Cup day to be negotiated! Disappear is a son of Muhtafal, who is at least still alive and kicking at Summerhill and probably the province's most accomplished stallion since the departure for the Western Cape of Nhlavini's sire National Emblem. Disappear is the second foal and second winner of Coastal mare Vanish, who won three races over 2000m, but he has clearly inherited the speed of his sire. Bought for R160 000 at the 2002 Breeze-Up Sale, Disappear has won seven of 34 starts and earned R683 875.
Disappear at 50/1 caused the upset in the Mercury Sprint (SAf-G1) over 1200m at Clairwood, coming with a late dash to catch race favourite Nhlavini short of the post. Following a disappointing last run, different tactics were tried on Disappear, who usually races up with the pace and then fades. This time he was held up for a run, responding magnificently to cover the 1200m straight course in 1m10.6s. Ridden by "MJ" Byleveld for trainer Cyril Naidoo, Disappear raced in the colours Mr S Appanna. Both the winner and runner-up were bred at Summerhill. With less than a month of the current season to go, Summerhill looks assured of the SA breeders championship. Disappear is the second foal of his 3-time winning dam Vanish (Coastal) and her only Graded stakes winner to date. Disappear had previously won the Gr2 Merchants Sprint. Vanish is a daughter of unraced Lyphard mare Cahard. Disappear was sired by Afleet's full brother Muhtafal, who won his 1st 2 starts over 6 furlongs before sustaining a career ending injury in the Gr3 Derby Trial. Muhtafal started his stud career in the US in 1997, shipping to SA in 2001. He has sired stakes winners on both sides of the Atlantic. Muhtafal stands at Summerhill in Natal, one of a band of 7 stallions at the stud.Gr1 Mercury Sprint, Clairwood, SA (16/07/05)
R400.000, 1200m, turf, good, 1.10.58 (CR 1.07.67).
DISAPPEAR (SAf), 58.0, ch g 4, Muhtafal - Vanish (SAf) by Coastal. Owner Mr S Appanna; breeder Summerhill Stud (SAf); trainer Cyril Naidoo; jockey MJ Byleveld (250,000)
Nhlavini (SAf), 58.0, b g 7, National Emblem (SAf) - Valley Mist (SAf) by Mount Hagen. Owner I Jooste, M J Jooste, P G Greyling & R Pretto; breeder Summerhill; trainer Laird C; jockey Marcus A (80,000)
Royal Iq (SAf), 58.0, b g 5, Dominion Royale (GB) - Wise Dame (SAf) by Argosy. Owner E J Junius, M A Govender & P Govender; breeder Avontuur Farm; trainer Humby S W; jockey Puller G (40,000)
Margins: 1/2, 1, 1
Also ran: Something Else (SAf) 57.5 (20,000), Black Skimmer (SAf) 58.0 (10,000), Play Catch (SAf) 57.5, O Caesour (SAf) 58.0, Laredo Gold (SAf) 58.0, Forecast (SAf) 55.0, Sevillano (SAf) 58.0, Royal Mariner (SAf) 58.0, Tornado King (SAf) 58.0, Mighty Doll (SAf) 55.5, Honour The Guest (ZIM) 58.0
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The 2005 Vodacom Durban July was dogged by controversy of more than one kind. From Gold Circle's not-universally-popular fiddling with the conditions of the race, to the identity of the final field, to the jocking off of the favourite Rabiya's regular partner Gerrit Schlechter, this contest was seldom far away from the headlines. On the subject of the final field, there were a few pundits who queried whether Dunford had done enough to earn his place. His biggest career success was a short head win in a Gr3 handicap at Kenilworth in January, which was so lightly regarded that in his next start Dunford started at 66/1 for the J&B Met and finished 7th. The fact that he was weighted to finish a motherless last in the Met and that the July';s weight conditions suited him much better was overlooked in some quarters, but now we all know better, doubters and believers alike. As would have been feared, especially after the withdrawal on Friday of known frontrunner Arabian Glow, the early July pace was very sedate indeed. Night Watch soon worked his way to the front and led from Grey Arrow and Silverpoint, with Alastor and Irridescence not far away. Rabiya, slow into stride, was racing well towards the rear when tragedy struck at around the 1600m. The race favourite broke his offside hind leg, pulled up immediately, and subsequently had to be euthanased. It was a sad and premature end to the life of a 3yo who was probably the best of his generation. While there may have been considerable ill-feeling towards Rabiya in the wake of the infamous jocking off affair, nobody, least of all Gerrit Schlechter, wanted it to end like this. After all, none of it was of the horse's doing, and one must sympathise with Rabiya's owner/trainer/jockey combination,who experienced the ultimate high when Dynasty won in 2003 and the ultimate low two years later. Second favourite Duns-inane would also "go wrong" well before the 2200m journey around Greyville was completed. Geoff Woodruff's improving KZN Guineas winner suffered a severe injury to a suspensory ligament and will in all probability never race again.

By the time it was over, the July resembled more a war of attrition than a horse race. The finish, at least, was a rousing affair. Dunford was about three-quarters of the way down the field as Night Watch led into the straight, but he was visibly moving well and he was taking the short way round at the fence. Night Watch began to cry enough coming to the last 200m and was gobbled up on all sides. That was when Dunford, hardly the biggest horse in the race, came forward to claim his moment of glory. Delivered with a perfectly judged challenge by Anton Marcus, Dunford unleashed his well known burst of acceleration to rapidly skate past one rival after the other, forcing his way to the front about 100m from home and then finding just enough to repel a renewed challenge from Silverpoint with about a neck to spare. Eventuail came from a long way off the pace to finish an excellent 3rd under 58kg top weight, more than justifying his connections decision to let him take his chance after months of conflicting reports about whether he would or would not run. Reveille Boy also stayed on well to finish fourth ahead of a game Irridescence. Night Watch may not have stayed the trip, or else way too much was read by his many supporters into his very good effort in the slow-run Gold Challenge at Clairwood. Gold Challenge winner Winter Solstice found very little when it mattered most and is doubtless at his best over less than 2200m, Tyson was suited by neither the slow pace nor the short Greyville straight and ran accordingly, and Gang Related, whose invitation to take part was not greeted with unanimous acclaim, never showed. Joshua's Princess was never able to beat the outside draw, raced wide for most of the way, and trailed in last of those that completed the course. Dunford was a second July winner for trainer Mike Bass, after the 2001 success of Trademark, and the 3rd for jockey Anton Marcus, who won also aboard Dancing Duel in 1993 and El Picha in 2000. He is owned by a 4 man partnership which includes the ebullient Robert Bloomberg, whose shoot-from-the-hip and damn-the-torpedoes attitude to racing and the people in racing has almost everybody in the industry wondering if they are next in line for the Ringer's meat grinder.

Many a computer is switched on with trepidation each Wednesday morning, when his latest weekly column goes online! For all that, our Robert is an astute student of racing, for few others would have had the you-know-whats to cough up R220 000 for Dunford when the horse was a 3yo winner of a Greyville maiden plate. Stranded a while longer in KZN when the equine 'flu broke out, Dunford had two further unsuccessful outings in his old province before joining Bass as the winner of one from 10. Gelded almost immediately upon his arrival at the Cape, he has never looked back. Dunford was trained initially by Colin Lee for owner/breeder C.A.Mentz, and then in almost a caretaker capacity by Tony Rivalland, until travel restrictions brought about by the 'flu were lifted. The July hero is a son of deceased Thatching stallion Shalford. He is the first foal of Piaffer mare Pelican Brief, who won five races and was essentially a miler. The 4yo has now won 7 of 25 in total, earning R1.496.170. The inevitable penalties he will incur for winning the July will make it extremely difficult for Dunford to ever quite rise to the same heights again, but it doesn't really matter, does it? Nor does it help to ponder on how the top two in the market would have fared had they completed the race unscathed, even though the proximity of their fellow (and arguably inferior) 3yo Silverpoint in second makes one think they might have been very real players indeed.

There was high drama in the Vodacom Durban July (SAf-G1) (R2 million), when favourite Rabiya broke a hindleg in the running and had to be put down, while second favourite Dunsinane pulled up lame. The 2200m race was won convincingly by Dunford, ridden by Anton Marcus for trainer Mike Bass. He was bred by CA Mentz and raced in the colours of Robert Bloomberg and partners. The race was run at a very slow pace early on, which put paid to the chances of runners coming from behind. Dunford covered the 2200m in a time of 2m15.2, some two seconds slower than the July-consolation race run 2 hours earlier over the same distance, contested by runners who hadn't made the final field for the July proper. Dunford is the first foal and first Graded stakes winner for his dam Pelican Brief, who won five races, her best effort a fourth place in a Listed race. Dunford was sired by the now deceased English Gr3-winning sprinter Shalford (Thatching), who started his stud career as a shuttle stallion between Ireland and Aust, before finding a home in SA 4 years later. He sired two other SA G1-winners, 2yo filly Dare To Dream and African Lion. The latter raced in the same ownership as Dunford. Shalford's best English stakes winner was Muchea.

Gr1 Vodacom Durban July, Greyville, SA
R2.000.000, 2200m, turf, good, 2.15.28 (CR 2.11.76).
DUNFORD (SAf), 52.0, b g 4, Shalford (IRE) - Pelican Brief (SAf) by Piaffer. Owner R J Bloomberg, R W Champion, P G Georgas & G J Wilson; breeder C A Mentz (SAf); trainer Mike Bass; jockey Anton Marcus (1,250,000)
Silverpoint (AUS), 51.0, ch g 3, Woodman - Early Song (GB) by Precocious (GB). Owner M A Bergmann & D W Bird & E Batalides, O A Ferraris, S H Izikowitz, C A; breeder Windemere Stud; trainer Ferraris O A; jockey Delpech A (400,000)
Eventuail (ARG), 58.0, b g 6, Candy Stripes - Evidenciable (ARG) by Equalize. Owner Mr and Mrs L Jaffee; breeder Abolengo; trainer Woodruff G V; jockey Fayd'Herbe B (200,000)
Margins: 1/2, 1/2, sh hd
Also ran: Reveille Boy (SAf) 51.0 (100,000), Irridescence (SAf) 52.0 (50,000), Zebra Crossing (SAf) 51.0, Alastor (SAf) 56.0, Night Watch (SAf) 51.0, Winter Solstice (SAf) 56.0, Ilha Da Vitoria (BRZ) 53.5, Tyson (SAf) 54.5, The Decagon (SAf) 52.0, Grey Arrow (SAf) 54.0, Western Prospect (SAf) 53.5, Gang Related (SAf) 52.5, Dunsinane (SAf) 53.0, Joshua's Princess (SAf) 50.0, Rabiya (SAf) 53.0
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The main 2yo race on July-day, the Golden Horseshoe (SAf-G1) (R500.000), was won in a desperate finish by Ndabeni, a nostril in front of runner-up Chardin. The draw played an important part in the 1400m race on the tight Greyville track, with the 1st 3 finishers drawn 5 and lower. Ndabeni was ridden by Anton Marcus, who less than hour later won the main event of the day, the R2m Durban July (SAf-G1). The winner is trained by Charles Laird for the partnership of F Lewis and M Jooste, and was bred by Graham Beck's Highlands in the Cape. The winner covered the 1400m in a time of 1m23.6s in a good track. Ndabeni is the eleventh foal and eleventh winner for his dam A Song Is Born, and her fifth stakes performer. A Song Is Born's daughter Whistling Dixie, a champion sprint filly in South Africa in 1997, is the dam of G1-winner Grand Emporium, who currently races in Europe in the blue Godolphin colours. Grand Emporium was sired by N. Assembly (danzig), who also is the sire of Ndabeni. Based at Graham beck's Highlands Stud in the Cape, N. Assembly has sired 3 SA champions incl. sprinter National Currency who raced with distinction in Hong Kong & Dubai. National Assembly has a successful son at stud in SA, National Emblem, sire of G1-winners.

Gr1 Golden Horseshoe, Greyville, SA
R500.000, 1400m, turf, good, 1.23.60 (CR 1.21.58).
NDABENI (SAf), 57.0, b g 2, National Assembly (CAN) - A Song Is Born (SAf) by Jamaico (FRA). Owner Messrs FEJ Lewis and MJ Jooste; breeder Highlands Farms (SAf); trainer Charles Laird; jockey Anton Marcus (312,500)
Chardin (SAf), 57.0, ch c 2, Dominion Royale (GB) - Floreva (SAf) by Foveros (GB). Owner Messrs A C Hammond and R W Spicer; breeder Avontuur Farm; trainer Lee C R C; jockey Shearer N (100,000)
First Flag (SAf), 57.0, b c 2, Classic Flag (SAf) - Elementary (SAf) by Elliodor (FRA). Owner Mr and Mrs A D Webber; breeder B.H., A.J. & M.E.Bot; trainer Joubert N L; jockey Delpech A (50,000)
Margins: nose, 1 1/4, sh hd
Also ran: Tiza (SAf) 57.0 (25,000), Pegasus Emblem (SAf) 57.0 (12,500), Ski Pass (SAf) 57.0, Monsieur Dominique (SAf) 57.0, El Matador (SAf) 57.0, Wolfpack (SAf) 57.0, Captain In Command (SAf) 57.0, What A Jet (SAf) 57.0, Captain Corageous (SAf) 57.0, Gold Eagle (SAf) 57.0, Glimmering Gold (SAf) 57.0, Fire Practice (SAf) 57.0, Look Skyward (SAf) 57.0
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All the support was for fellow Cape visitor Sailing To Rio, who supplanted original favourite Overarching at the top of bookmakers' boards, but on a day when strong market support for any horse in race after race amounted to the kiss of death Sailing To Rio made no show and finished unplaced. So much for the accuracy of market moves, but that's a fairytale for another day. Perennial frontrunner Jamaica was drawn very wide and had no choice but to come across quickly and ensure a decent pace, showing the way from Fair Maiden (who had drawn even worse), Star Finder, and Angelina. Fine Farthing was next in line, with Sailing To Rio in midfield and Overarching - who was yet another victim of a bum draw - towards the rear. Jamaica's one of the gamest horses in memory and continued to fire away in the straight, but those early efforts may have taken their toll. Dianne Stenger's wonderful mare managed to see off all challenges bar one, for she had nothing left to offer when Lyrical Linda was produced with a storming run along her inside over the final 100m. A four-year-old trained by Justin Snaith and piloted here by Bernard Fayd'Herbe, Lyrical Linda sailed on past Jamaica close home to win comfortably and show yet again what a pity it is that her jockey has to continuously fight an uphill battle against his weight. Bernard has talent in abundance, but probably the tallest jockey in the business has a few unwanted kilograms to go with it. It would be sad indeed if it all spelt a premature end to his career, but hopefully before that happens the relevant authorities will wake up to the scientific fact that the human race is getting bigger and raise the weight scale. Was that the sound of flapping pigs' wings that I heard? Lyrical Linda may very well have ensured a 3rd career sires' ch'ship for Jallad, who has been fighting out a close-run race with Western Winter for the 2004/05 title. She is the 10th foal, 7th winner and second Graded Stakes winner of Royal Prerogative mare Luciennes, who won 4 up to 1600m. Bought for R70.000 at the 2002 National Two Year Old Sale, Lyrical Linda has reverted to racing in the name of her breeders, Maine Chance Farms, and is destined to join that stud's broodmare band in the near future. She has won 8 of 23, for R581.850.

Lyrical Linda came with a late dash to overhaul front runner Jamaica in the Garden Province Stakes (SAf-G1) over a mile at Greyville. Race favourite Overarching came from well off the pace to finish third. Lyrical Linda races in the colours of her breeder Andreas Jacobs of Maine Chance Farms in the Cape. She is trained by Justin Snaith and was ridden by Bernard Fayd'herbe. The winner completed the mile in 1m36.2 on a good track. Lyrical Linda, previously a Gr3-pl stakes winner, is the 10th foal and 2nd Graded stakes winner for her dam Luciennes, a G3-pl winner of 4. Lyrical Linda is the 4th individual G1-winner this season for her sire Jallad (Blushing Groom), who is headed for the SA champion sire title, his 2nd in 3 years. Jallad stands at Graham Beck's Highlands in the Cape.

Gr1 Garden Province S, Greyville, SA, July 2,
R350.000, 1600m, turf, good, 1.36.23 (CR 1.34.00). LYRICAL LINDA (SAf), 58.0, b f 4, Jallad - Luciennes (SAf) by Royal Prerogative (GB). Owner & breeder Maine Chance Farms (SAf); trainer Justin Snaith; jockey Bernard Fayd'Herbe (218,750)
Jamaica (SAf), 58.0, ch m 5, Sportsworld - Bridge Of Stars (SAf) by Averof (GB). Owner Mr D R and Mrs K M L Makins; breeder Breedon Stud; trainer Stenger D N; jockey Jago J (70,000)
Overarching, 58.0, b m 5, Arch - Lonely Fact by Known Fact. Owner Mr G J and Mrs R D Beck; breeder Don M Robinson; trainer Ferraris O A; jockey Delpech A (35,000)
Margins: 1/4, 3/4, 1/4
Also ran: Sabina Park (SAf) 58.0 (17,500), Real Red (SAf) 58.0 (8,750), Sailing To Rio (AUS) 58.0, Angelina (SAf) 58.0, Fair Maiden (SAf) 57.0, Punters Dream (SAf) 58.0, Fine Farthing (SAf) 58.0, Badger's Gift (SAf) 58.0, Jalberry (SAf) 58.0, Shadow Dancing (SAf) 57.0, Miss Mischief (SAf) 57.0, Star Finder (SAf) 58.0, Sarabande (SAf) 58.0
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The Merchants had lost some of its attraction with the scratching of top weighted Nhlavini, who was footsore. As a result, punters plunged on the unbeaten Safe Structure to make it six wins in a row, the four-year-old son of National Assembly starting in the red at odds of 8/10. Sadly, Safe Structure, who is temperamental at the best of times, did his chances no good when bursting through the stalls just as the field was ready to jump. Re-loaded with some difficulty, Safe Structure settled somewhat off the scorching pace set by Magic Filly and Trance. He moved into contention just after halfway, but never really looked like a winner. Vega, coming from midfield, exploded into the lead with a furlong to go and won unchallenged. Alarm Call, from further back, finished well to catch Safe Structure on the line for second. Although Vega won convincingly, the question remains how close Safe Structure could have come. He certainly wasn't disgraced following his antics at the start. Vega, a R190.000 National Select Sale yearling in 2003, is the 4th foal and third winner for Argosy mare Venetian Lily. Both Vega and his dam were bred at Maine Chance in Robertson. The mare, who won three times over 1000m, is a half sister to Gr2 winner and sire Royal Messenger, to the dam of Red Badge, and to the grandam of top sprint filly Geordoba who was also trained by Buddy Maroun. Vega is the 3rd Gr1 winner this racing season for sire Jalled, following the Gr1 Gold Bowl success of Major Bluff, and Rabiya's Cape classic Guineas/Derby double. Jallad, a son of Blushing Groom, stands at Highlands in the Cape.Vega's career earnings now stand at R523.000 from 5 wins and 5 places in 13 starts.
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A tilt at the SA Derby later this month followed by a visit to Greyville for the Vodacom Durban July looks a viable route for Jam Alley, even though only time will tell whether they are quite as lucrative as they were for his predecessor twelve months ago, and the Australian-bred colt's globetrotting days are quite possibly far from over. National Spirit clearly had the best exposed form, having beaten several of these (incl Jam Alley) quite comfortably when winning the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas four weeks earlier, and was sent off 12/10 favourite to snaffle the lion's share of the million rand stake. Gauteng Guineas runner-up Silverpoint looked one lively threat, but it was Jam Alley - only fourth in that earlier race - who made the improvement needed to beat them both. National Spirit's stable companion Shipper One ensured they went a decent enough pace on the soft going, but the favourite did pull hard for his head in the early stages before Piere Strydom managed to tuck him directly behind his fellow Dominic Zaki-trained runner. It was several lengths further back to Oracle West racing in third, with Jam Alley waited with in fourth as Banker's Gold trailed the ten runner field. Shipper One soon began to back-pedal in the straight, his job done, and National Spirit went for home more than 400m out. However, he was clearly labouring over 200m out, and favourite backers knew their fate was sealed. Oracle West was also not finding much more and at the furlong pole it was Jam Alley who led, with Silverpoint running on behind horses but needing to find gaps in the traffic. The clear run which Jeff Lloyd had found for Jam Alley wider out made all the difference as St John Gray's colt was able to get first run on Silverpoint. The latter ran on well all the way home, but was never going to reel in his fellow Australian and Jam Alley won with almost a length to spare. Pavlovich looked briefly very dangerous around 200m out, but then couldn't match the finishing speed of the first two and had to settle for a very honourable 3rd. Jam Alley had looked very useful indeed when winning his first two career starts ahead of the Gauteng Guineas, and here landed a Gr1 in only his fourth appearance. He plainly has plenty of scope, and there should still be improvement to come. As a son of "Arc" winner Peintre Celebre he probably will stay considerably further than 1800m, and he certainly wasn't stopping here, so he has every chance of at least emulating Greys Inn with a Derby success on April 30th. The Vodacom Durban July is another matter, as Gold Circle's seemingly endless fiddling with the conditions of the race will ensure that (as things presently stand) Jam Alley will have to carry a minimum of 1 kg more than the 50 kgs with which Greys Inn won in 2004. Out of the Lyphard mare Lyphard Street, Jam Alley has already collected stakes of R706 875 for his owner/trainer/breeder St John Gray, a man who rarely minces words and who will quite likely have something to say about the present Vodacom Durban July conditions - especially now that he can boast one of the leading contenders! Watch this space...

Australian bred Jam Alley, in only his 4th life-time start, won the SA Classic (SAf-G1) (R1m) over 1800m at Turffontein in convincing fashion. He came to the lead with a furlong to go, running on well to win from another Aus, Silverpoint. The runner-up had found himself behind a wall of horses when Jam Alley hit the front and was running on strongly, but without ever threatening the winner. The race time was 1.51.53 on a rain-softened track. Jam Alley is owned and trained by St John Gray, and was ridden by Jeff Lloyd. He was bred in Aus from the non-winning mare Lyphard Street (Lyphard), who contested stakes races in England as a 3yo before being sold to Aus. The mare herself is a half sister to 2 stakes pl winners, their dam a half sister to sire Royal And Regal. Jam Alley is the 5th foal and first winner for Lyphard Street, who is also the dam of French G3-pl filly Lias Creek. The SA Classic win brought Jam Alley's earnings to R706.875, from 3 wins and 1e place in 4 starts. His next mission will be the R500.000 SA Derby (SAf-G2) at the end of April.

Gr1 SA Classic, Turffontein, (2/4/05)
R1m, 1800m, turf, soft, 1.51.53 (CR 1.48.92).
JAM ALLEY (AUS), 57.0, ch c 3, Peintre Celebre - Lyphard Street by Lyphard. Owner St John D Gray; breeder Attunga Stud (AUS); trainer St John D Gray; jockey J Lloyd (625,000)
Silverpoint (AUS), 57.0, ch g 3, Woodman - Early Song(GB) by Precocious (GB). Owner Mesdames MA Bergmann and DW Bird & E Batalides, OA Ferraris, SH Izikowiz, M Hurvitz and CA Hyams; breeder Windemere Stud; trainer OA Ferraris; jockey G Hatt (200,000)
Pavlovich (SNL), 57.0, b g 3, Soviet Star - Alexandra Bi (IRE) by Darshaan (IRE). Owner Mr Y Khan; breeder Varsfontein Stud; trainer GV Woodruff; jockey B Smith (100,000)
Margins: 3/4, 2 1/4, 1, sh hd
Also ran: National Spirit () 57.0 (50,000), National Manner (SAF) 57.0 (25,000), Oracle West () 57.0, Block And Chisel (SAF) 57.0, Cruising The Blues (SAF) 57.0, Banker's Gold (SAF) 57.0, Shipper One (NZ) 57.0
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Irridescence dug deep to overhaul long-time leader Royal Aproval in the final stages of the second leg of the SA fillies Triple Crown, the SA Fillies Classic (SAf-G1) (R500.000), run over 1800m at Turffontein. Short priced race favourite Royal Aproval had beaten Irridescence comfortably last time out in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas (SAf-G2), first leg of the 3yo fillies Triple Crown. With no one willing to set the early pace, Royal Aproval found herself in front right from the start, and attempted to make all the running. Following a sedate first half, the race was turned into an extended sprint at the top of the 4 furlong home stretch. Royal Aproval was challenged by Irridescence two furlongs out, the pair pulling well clear of the rest. Irridescence and jockey Weichong Mawing got the better of the leader in the final furlong, winning in a time of 1.51.01 on rain-softened ground. The winner's trainer Mike de Kock is a part-owner in the 3yo filly, together with Tony Moodley and RJ Claven. She was bred by Mr & Mrs H Winterbach in the Cape. Irridescence is the fourth winner and 2nd G1-winner for her dam Meretricious, a one-time winning daughter of Dancing Champ. The filly's full sister Perfect Promise, winner of the Cape Fillies Guineas (SAf-G1) two years ago, was exported to Aus where she won the Gr2 Emancipation S in Sydney last week. The winner is the third G1-winner for her sire Caesour (Nureyev), who raced in the UK and USA for 6 wins. He set new track records in both the Gr2 Bay Meadows Hcp & Turf Paradise Budweiser Breeders Cup Hcp as a 5yo. Caesour stands at Varsfontein in the Cape. With the win, Irridescence brought her career earnings to R468.700 from 4 wins and 2 pl in 8 starts.

Gr1 SA Fillies Classic, Turffontein, April 2,
R500.000, 1800m, turf, soft, 1.51.01 (CR 1.48.92).
IRRIDESCENCE (SAf), 57.0, b f 3, Caesour - Meretricious (SAf) by Dancing Champ. Owner Messrs Tony Moodley, R J Claven and M F de Kock; breeder Mr & Mrs H Winterbach (SAf); trainer MF de Kock; jockey W Mawing (312,500)
Royal Aproval (SAf), 57.0, b f 3, Al Mufti - Davidia (SAf) by Fort Wood. Owner Messrs A C Peter and T M Millard; breeder Ascot Stud; trainer Woodruff G V; jockey Khan M (100,000)
Firstnightbliss (SAf), 57.0, ch f 3, Jallad - Waltzing Wallaby (AUS) by Kenmare (FR). Owner Messrs L Davis, D Kassel, I G McCrae and M Oppert; breeder Fours Trading; trainer Ferraris O A; jockey Hatt G (50,000)
Margins: 2 1/4, 7 1/2, 3 1/2
Also ran: Spirit Ofthe Dance (SAf) 57.0 (25,000), Song Of Joy (SAf) 57.0 (12,500), Far De Vie (SAf) 57.0, September Charm (SAf) 57.0, Cunning Plan (SAf) 57.0, Aspen Secret (SAf) 57.0
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Much has been said and written about the frequently tightfisted way in which bookmakers (in Gauteng especially) price up the ante-post market these days and the opening call of 7/10 about Cataloochee was about as enticing as a skinny dip in toxic waste, but Geoff Woodruff's colt eased to eventually start at a considerably more reasonable 12/10. Even so, the young 3yo had it all to do against such hard knocking campaigners as Nhlavini and Sevillano, although the latter's new trainer Mike Azzie went on record as saying that the race had possible "come ten days too soon" for his ex-Cape Town performer. Even after the scratching of Forecast there was no shortage of pace in the Computaform field and they went like the clappers from the start, with National Flame showing up just ahead of Trance, Cataloochee and Mighty Doll. Nhlavini was predictably beaten for early toe and trailed Cataloochee by some three lengths over towards the grandstand side. National Flame and Trance were both running on fumes around 200m from home and Mark Khan quickly went for broke on Cataloochee. Nhlavini began to throw down his challenge as well and range right up to the favourite over the final 100m, briefly looking as though he would reel in his four-year younger rival, but despite a tendency to wander off a straight course Cataloochee dug in and found the necessary extra to hold Nhlavini at bay with about three-quarters of a length to spare. Alarm Call looked briefly ominous before finishing a highly respectable third. A rather modest performer early in his career who won only twice from his first 20 starts, Alarm Call has blossomed into a very good sprinter under the care of Buddy Maroun and has already won a Gr 3 race this season. His trainer's reputation as a wizard with sprinters remains intact, especially as stable companion Magic Filly stayed on to finish fourth in the Computaform Sprint. KZN raider Nossob showed some speed, but was unable to get into the fray where it mattered most and finished just out of the places. He came into the race rated six pounds inferior to fellow 3yo Cataloochee, and that is probably just about right. That said, Cataloochee faced Nhlavini on 4.5kg worse terms than in a handicap, and beat him fair and square. It was a mighty fine display by the winner, even though Nhlavini is arguably at his very best over 1200m despite having won the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship over the shorter distance in his latest start. Alarm Call, rated 15 pounds below Nhlavini by the handicapper, was not far away in third and it is clear that the runner-up performed some way below his very best ability even allowing for the fact that a thoroughly decent horse beat him. Cataloochee is a son of Al Mufti, a sire who is having one heck of a 2005 so far after the earlier big race triumphs of Alastor and Royal Aproval. There are 32 of Al Mufti's progeny catalogued for the forthcoming Caesars National Yearling Sale, and he has already set one auction ring alight this year after the full sister to Victory Moon changed hands for R1.6 million at the recent Vintage Yearling Sale. Cataloochee is the third foal and first winner of Lexington Love, a daughter of the rather obscure Old Testament who nevertheless won five races up to 1400m and finished 3rd in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Ch'ship. Bred (like Alastor) by Dr Marianne Thomson at her Ambiance Stud, Cataloochee was acquired for R160.000 at the 2003 Vintage Yearling Sale. He has won 4 of 6 and earned R552.561 for owner Robert Muir, a resident of the USA who was at Newmarket to see his colt win.
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Indeed, it must have seemed like one of those surreal moments in life, all too infrequent, were absolutely everything goes your way. Five of the 13 carded runners were scratched, every one of the 4 3yos amongst them, and what was left of this 1600m WFA contest for fillies and mares became a case of Stenger first and second, the rest nowhere.
Dianne sent out two of the surviving eight competitors. Jamaica, home from a smashing sojourn at the Cape where she won one Gr1 and was beaten a short head in another, disputed favouritsm with Ormond Ferraris-trained Overarching. Stenger also saddled Fine Farthing, winner of a Gr3 handicap last time out but now facing what looked to be a somewhat tougher test, despite the depleted field. Jamaica is a known frontrunner, but jockey Jason Jago wisely declined to get involved in an early shooting match with Shee and was content to wait in second place as the latter scorched a trail some four lengths ahead. Fine Farthing and Overarching were next in line, as Hurricane Queen trailed. Shee waved the white flag not very long after turning for home and Jamaica found herself in front some 500m out. She immediately set sail for home, and with Overarching failing to really quicken when asked for an effort it was left to Fine Farthing to present Jamaica with her only danger. Fine Farthing drew virtually alongside her stable companion inside the final 200m, and those who don't know the sheer tenacity of Jamaica might have felt that Fine Farthing was going the better of the two. She got about as far as starting Jamaica right in the eye, but catching up was one thing, getting past quite another.
Just where Jamaica fits most of her vital organs heaven only knows, because she has a heart that must fill her entire body. She would not be passed, and in a driving finish held off the desperate efforts of her stablemate by a short head. Overarching was comfortably beaten into third without ever troubling the Stenger duo, while Jalberry stayed on to finish fourth. Both the winner and runner-up seem to be better mares at the age of five than they ever were when still classified as fillies, and both were racing here off a rating equal to or higher than their previous career best. They could well be both slated to enter stud later in 2005, and their trainer will assuredly be sad to seem them go, but there are more nice races for their gender to be contested before then.
Jamaica is a daughter of recently deceased Sportsworld, a stallion who generally made his reputation as a better sire of females than males. She is out of the Averof mare Bridge Of Stars, and doubtless her owner/breeder David Makins will be the envy of studmasters everywhere when Jamaica's time to go and make babies arrives. She has now won eight of her 20 starts, earning R848 300, and it would be an unwise punter who backs against her breaking through the million barrier before she's finished.
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Garth Puller was riding Met winners before one or two of his rival jockeys were probably even born, and before the now not-so-new course was first used for the race in 1978. If memory serves, he won the 1976 race on Gatecrasher. Most recently he was successful in 1994, aboard Pas De Quoi. If you thought that would probably be the end of the line, forget it. After all, Cape Town breeds resilient jockeys. Stanley Amos kept riding until he was in his late 60's, so the end for G.B.Puller is not necessarily in sight. He is fighting an ever more difficult battle with the scales, an utterly unavoidable side-effect of the aging process, but the possibility that there may yet be more Alastors to come must act as a pretty good incentive. Sean Tarry, on the other hand, is now breaking through into the upper echelon of trainers and stands on the threshold of a splendid career. He is assuredly no stranger to winning decent races, but this was his finest moment to date by far.
Between him and Summer Cup winning conditioner Stuart Pettigrew, they have sent a signal to the bigger yards that winning major races is not just the preserve of a select few. Given a chance, others can play the game - and that can only be healthy for the sport. Tyson was a narrow choice of favourite over Winter Solstice, between them the only two horses in the field to have ever won a Gr1 race, but both of the girls, Icy Air and Ilha Da Vitoria, had considerable backing too. So of course did Hundred Acre Wood, with some nibbles at longer odds on Superwood, but Alastor was widely overlooked.
The lack of any obvious strong frontrunner always made it likely that this would a Met contested at no great pace, and so it proved. Winter Solstice was taken to the front by Glen Hatt, and did little more than amble along ahead of Rusedski, Tyson, Badger's Delight, and Alastor. With a rather unseasonal (if mild) tailwind in the home straight, that was no sign of madness. For a long way it looked as if it might produce the desired result for the Queen's Plate winner. Tyson didn't really quicken once asked for an effort, Rusedski plugged on gamely until around 200m out but then began to weaken, and not much came from off the pace. The one exception was Icy Air, who made a beeline for the inside fence and loomed up so well coming to the last furlong that she looked as if she might well win.
Meantime, Alastor was also storming home between horses, while Winter Solstice found another gear and gave the impression well inside the final 200m that he would come right back and land the spoils. In the final analysis, though, Joey Ramsden's charge couldn't quite match the finishing speed of Alastor and Icy Air. The last 75m or so belonged to this pair, but by now the upper hand was clearly with Alastor. Driven out by Puller all the way home, the Gauteng visitor outran his gallant female opponent to win by a neck, with Winter Solstice comfortably third and Tyson 4th.
Ilha Da Vitoria and Dunford (who ran an absolute cracker at the weights) did their best work late and were next best, but Hundred Acre Wood never showed. With the exception of Icy Air, none of the first four to finish were further back than fifth at any stage of a race which assuredly wasn't run to suit backrunners.
It was the ideal scenario for Alastor, who has always looked to be at his best over less than 2000m, but who didn't have his potentially fragile reserves of stamina tested fully. His jockey perfectly read the danger of being caught too far behind in what had to become a sprint up the straight, and made sure he didn't get out of his ground. So did Piere Strydom on Tyson. This is not the style in which the son of Silvino is usually ridden, and it is certainly not the way he won the Gommagomma Summer Cup, but to have dropped him into the bottom half of the field early could well have proven suicidal. It has to be remembered, when all is said and done, that Tyson had a pretty stiff task under 58kg top weight, and needed to run above his 107 merit rating to have any hope of winning. It may have been pretty much a form run for a horse who is clearly very very good, but on the evidence to date is no Yard-Arm or Dynasty.
Hundred Acre Wood, on merit ratings, was weighted to dead-heat with Tyson, and as such also had it to do. Both horses were only half-a-kilo worse off with Alastor than would have applied in a handicap, which isn't much, but then neither Tyson nor Hundred Acre Wood started at 50/1. There was an imbalance in the market, which has nothing to do with 20/20 hindsight but plenty to do with basic arithmetic. Take out Winter Solstice (who ended up doing the legwork) and this was always potentially going to be one of the most open Mets in recent history. Neither of Alastor's two owners, Stephen Michael and Ramon Rahme, was on course, which to them will doubtless be the only downside to the whole experience, but an emotional Sean Tarry most certainly was. "He travelled badly coming here for the Queen's Plate, but still finished 4th behind Winter Solstice" the successful trainer remarked afterwards, adding that he believed his horse had a realistic chance despite his lowly position in the market. Needless to say, he also heaped praise on Garth Puller, and deservedly so. The elder statesmen of SA jockeys read the race like a book, and did everything exactly right.
Alastor seems to love racing at the coast. His Gauteng form is pretty decent, but he first emerged as something more than a somewhat run-of-the-mill handicapper when he won the Gr3 Cup Trial and finished second in the Gr1 Champions Cup at Clairwood last winter. As a horse who was on the fringes of something special, he did in a way fit the profile of so many previous Met winners. The weights of this conditions race tend to favour horses with one big win in them, who haven't achieved it yet, and finishing second in a Gr1 like the Champions Cup kind of put Alastor in that bracket. Now, that is 20/20 hindsight at its glorious best!
The Met winner is a son of Roberto stallion Al Mufti, who many moons ago ditched the reputation he acquired at the outset of his stud career of being a much better sire of fillies. The likes of The Sheik, Al Nitak, Captain Al and one Victory Moon soon had that preconceived notion stood on its head! Alastor is the eighth foal and fifth winner of Mecca Road mare Damascus Road, who won eight races up to 1400m including the Listed (now Gr3) Tibouchina Stakes. Bred at Dr Marianne Thomson's very successful Ambiance Stud and bought for R80.000 at the 2000 National Yearling Sale, Alastor has won nine of his 49 races and earned R1.609.840.

33/1 outsider Alastor caused a major upset in the J&B Met (SAf-G1) (R1.5 million) over 2000m at Kenilworth. Without a willing pace setter, it was left to fancied Winter Solstice to make his own pace, which he did at a leisurely gallop, with favourite Tyson close on his heels. The race developed in an extended sprint down the 600m home stretch, which gave the horses racing from off the pace little chance. Alastor and the filly Icy Air fought out a desperate finish, half a length separating the pair. Winter Solstice hung on for third, but Tyson couldn't quicken and finished a disappointing 5th, a further three lengths back. Alastor was ridden by veteran jockey Garth Puller for trainer Sean Tarry, racing in the colours of SPM Michael and RA Rahme. The winner completed the 2000m on a rain soaked turf track in 2.05.97, and brought his career earnings to R1.6m from 9 wins and 26 places in 49 starts. Bred by Dr M Thomson, Alastor is the only stakes performer from six winners for his G2/G3 placed stakes winning dam Damascus Road (Mecca Road), who won eight races from 5 to 7 furlongs. Alastor was sired by former South African champion sire Al Mufti (Roberto), who has two G1 winning sons at stud in South Africa and stands at Rose and Ashley Parker's Ascot Stud in the Eastern Cape. He also is the sire of 2004 Dubai World Cup third Victory Moon, a multiple G1 winner who takes up stud duties in SA later this year.

Gr1 J&B Met Kenilworth, SA, January 29,
R1.5 million, 2000m, turf, soft, 2.05.97 (CR 2.01.00).
ALASTOR (SAf), 55.0, b g 6, Al Mufti - Damascus Road (SAf) by Mecca Road. Owner S Michael and R Rahme; breeder Dr M Thomson (SAf); trainer SG Tarry; jockey G Puller (937,500)
Icy Air (SAf), 53.0, b m 5, Jallad - Nordic Air (SAf) by Northern Guest. Owner Lammerskraal; breeder Summerhill; trainer Kannemeyer D; jockey Odendaal M (300,000)
Winter Solstice (SAf), 54.5, b g 4, Western Winter - French Muse (SAf) by Melun (FR). Owner Mrs L E Ramsden; breeder Normandy Stud; trainer Ramsden J; jockey Hatt G (150,000)
Margins: 1/2, 1/2, 2 1/4, 3/4
Also ran: Tyson (SAf) 58.0 (75,000), Ilha Da Vitoria (BRZ) 54.5 (37,500), Rusedski (ZIM) 54.5, Dunford (SAf) 54.5, Sports Warrior (SAf) 54.5, Badger's Delight (SAf) 54.5, Invincible (SAf) 54.5, Hundred Acre Wood (SAf) 56.0, Superwood (SAf) 55.0, Tamarino Bay (SAf) 55.0, His Lordship (SAf) 56.0, Set To Music (SAf) 54.5, All Three A King (SAf) 55.0
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A really good field lined up for the Majorca, with 5 previous Gr1 winners (comp-ared to just two in the J&B Met), but punters seemed to treat it as something of a one horse race as Overarching went off the very heavily supported 16/10 favourite.
The American-bred import proved a little too impatient to get going and burst through the pens before the starter said go, but she was pulled up within 150m and reloaded. Whether this had any effect on her performance is impossible to know, but Overarching proceeded to run no kind of a race and never looked threatening as she finished well down the field. Even so, the first three places would be filled by past Gr1 winners.
Jamaica had won the Gr1 Paddock S with her customary frontrunning tactics four weeks earlier and attempted a repeat performance here, showing the way at a decent enough gallop from Golden Splendour and Skin Tight. Angelina and Joshua's Princess were next in line, followed by Costa Marfil as last year's Majorca heroine Sarabande settled in midfield. Shadow Dancing was some three-quarters of the way downfield. For sheer heart, Jamaica is hard to top. Notoriously difficult to pass once she gets the lead, Dianne Stenger's mare turned back one challenge after the other in the straight and so very nearly pulled off the win.
The biggest challenge of all came from 2004 Paddock Stakes winner Angelina, who looked as if she would burst past Jamaica for much of the last 150m, but never did. Shadow Dancing, though, proved just too much for Jamaica. Finding a clear run up the inside rail, Ramsden's three-year-old sprouted wings in the final stages and flashed up in virtually the last stride to deny Jamaica by a short head, with Angelina the same distance back in third.
Lyrical Linda ran on from a long way back to finish an excellent fourth. It was almost as if Shadow Dancing ambushed Jamaica, who was racing quite wide out on the course and who just didn't have the time left to try and come again. She was in fact still running on, but Shadow Dancing had come from nowhere to lead on the line and that, rather than a long sustained challenge like the one thrown down by Angelina, seems the way to catch Jamaica off guard. Shadow Dancing is only a small slip of a filly, but she packs a mighty punch. In the words of her trainer, "she is getting stronger but unfortunately not getting any bigger."
If this is what she can do, and right now she has to be considered the leading 3yo filly in South Africa, then why does she need a bigger body to carry around? She is likely to be targeted next at the SA Fillies Guineas at Greyville in May, as Ramsden announced that he would not be considering the Gauteng Feature season for her.
A daughter of leading sire Fort Wood (Sadler's Wells) out of the Complete Warrior mare Off To War, Shadow Dancing is the half sister to Gr1 Cape Guineas winner and now promising freshman sire Captain Al. Co-owned by Ian Longmore and her breeder John Koster, Shadow Dancing has won four of her eight starts and earned R583.750. It was only in October that she won her maiden, so she has come a long way very quickly.

Diminutive 3yo filly Shadow Dancing came with her now customary late dash to catch long-time leader Jamaica right on the post in the Majorca Stakes (SAf-G1) (R350.000) at Kenilworth. On a rain softened turf track the filly completed the 1600m weight-for-age event for fillies and mares in 1.40.65 with Glen Hatt in the saddle. It was the second Gr1 win in less than two months for the combination, following a victory in the Cape Fillies Guineas (SAf-G1) last December. The winner raced in the colours of Ian Longmore and John Koster. The latter also bred the filly, who brought her career earnings to R580.000 from 4 wins in eight starts. Shadow Dancing is the 10th foal and 3rd Graded stakes winner for her dam Off To War (Complete Warrior). A winner of 3 races, the mare earlier bred Cape Guineas (SAf-G1) winner Captain Al (Al Mufti), who has sired several winners from his first crop, currently racing in SA as 2yos. Shadow Dancing is a daughter of former SA champion sire Fort Wood (Sadler's Wells), who stands at the Oppenheimer's Mauritzfontein in Kimberley. Fort Wood is also the sire of Kentucky based SA champion Horse Chestnut. Shadow Dancing is Fort Wood's 8th SA individual Gr1 winner.

Gr1 Majorca S Kenilworth, SA, January 29,
R350.000, 1600m, turf, soft, 1.40.65 (CR 1.35.80).
SHADOW DANCING (SAf), 53.0, b f 3, Fort Wood - Off To War (SAf) by Complete Warrior. Owner I W Longmore & J Koster; breeder Koster Bros (SAf); trnr J Ramsden; jcky G Hatt (218,750)
Jamaica (SAf), 58.0, ch m 5, Sportsworld - Bridge Of Stars (SAf) by Averof (GB). Owner Mr D R and K Makins; breeder Breedon Stud C.C.; trainer Stenger D N; jockey Jago J (70,000)
Angelina (SAf), 58.0, ch f 4, Rakeen - Fox Of Gold (SAf) by Golden Thatch (IRE). Owner Mr B Kantor; breeder Koster Bros; trainer De Kock M F; jockey Mawing W (35,000)
Margins: sh hd, sh hd, 1 1/4, sh hd
Also ran: Lyrical Linda (SAf) 58.0 (17,500), Royal Aproval (SAf) 53.0 (8,750), Joshua's Princess (SAf) 53.0, Sarabande (SAf) 58.0, Fort Belvedere (SAf) 53.0, Overarching 58.0, Holly Oak (SAf) 53.0, Badger's Gift (SAf) 58.0, Skin Tight (SAf) 58.0, Golden Splendour (SAf) 58.0, Punters Dream (SAf) 58.0, Costa Marfil (ARG) 58.0, Jalberry (SAf) 58.0
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Kenilworth has long been a happy hunting ground for Nhlavini. Twice a winner of the Gr2 Diadem S and runner-up in that race last month, he returned to the Mother City's premier track on Saturday to capture the Graham Beck Wines Cape Flying Ch'ship. This is a WFA affair and Nhlavini was best in on official merit ratings, but possible worries that 1000m would be on the sharp side for him allowed Charles Laird's much travelled veteran to start at 9/2 in a field where only a handful could realistically win. The favourite's role went to Aus-bred mare Nothing But Silk, who came here with a record of 5 wins and one 2nd from 6 starts. She had destroyed rivals of her own gender in 2 successive Gr2 events earlier this Cape season, but the step to Gr1 company against the guys proved beyond her.

Sevillano and O Caesour were the most popular choices to topple Nothing But Silk, even though in O Caesour's case he was facing Nhlavini on 4 kgs worse terms than in a handicap. Symphony Of Joy was the early leader and set a brisk pace clear of Nothing But Silk and Sevillano, with Nhlavini tracking them and not looking so terribly beaten for pace after all. That he didn't get left behind by the early leaders was in itself an ominous sign for his rivals. Nothing But Silk kicked clear of the inside group as the field split into 2 groups, but Nhlavini had her in his sights as Sevillano blazed a trail on the stands' side.

The favourite was a spent force coming to the last 200m, which left Nhlavini and Sevillano as the main protagonists. The advantage was clearly with Nhlavini 100m from home, however, and he ran on well under Anton Marcus to deny Sevillano of a home town win with about 3-parts of a length to spare. Ball Sider was never too far off the action on the outside and just managed to hold O Caesour out of 3rd place, but nothing had much of a chance with the first two inside the last furlong. Suitable races may be relatively rare for Nhlavini, but he was able to win a Gr3 hcp the last time he raced on those terms, at Newmarket in November, so under any circumstances you ignore him at your peril. He's a son of National Emblem, a multiple Gr1 winner who won up to 2000m, out of the Mount Hagen mare Valley Mist, who won twice and also was successful over 2000m. Anybody could be excused for thinking that this pedigree screams "middle distances" in big, bold letters. So for that matter did Al Nitak's parentage, and he was a champion 1200m horse as well. Like most things in racing, pedigrees are not an exact science, but if Nhlavini is some kind of quasi-freak he has certainly profited well from it. Bred at Summerhill and bought for R115.000 at the '99 National Yearling Sale, he has won 13 of 46 and earned R2.104.188.
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Tyson's resounding success in Africa's richest race ended the five year domination of the 2000m hcp by trainers Mike de Kock and Geoff Woodruff, who cumulatively had won every running since the Summer Cup was re-introduced in 1999. It was in marked contrast to the incredible eyeball-to-eyeball finish fought out 12 months earlier by Wolf Whistle and Yard-Arm, and it was one of those defining moments in the sport which gives hope to every owner, breeder and trainer who doesn't have either the money or the arsenal to repeatedly take on the big guns. In that sense, Tyson is indeed the "peoples' horse."

It would equally have been a career high for another unsung hero in the form of Rene Bonham, had Tyson's regular jockey not broken his leg in a fall three weeks earlier. In one of those twists of fate that makes you wonder (should you be so inclined) if indeed God doesn't sometimes work in mysterious ways, Piere Strydom became available for the ride after being "fired" from the mount on his former Gr 1 winning partner James Jaguar. Nobody, least of all Strydom, neglected to publicly acknowledge Bonham's role in getting Tyson to his moment in the sun but it must have been a bitter blow for the winner's original intended partner. It wasn't quite the fairytale that it might otherwise have been, but this is real life. If it is any consolation to Rene, the legendary Seabiscuit's regular jockey suffered a similar fate and lay in a hospital bed with a broken leg while one of the leading riders of the day guided "his" horse to some of his most memorable wins. He got the ride back once fit again, and so we are sure will Bonham. A full field of 20 racing for two million smackers is going to lead to the very real danger of a rough race, and the Summer Cup was no different. Strydom was wide awake to what was happening as several of those drawn wide jostled hard for a decent early position, and kept Tyson in midfield off the fence. Angelina was the first to show, Bushra then led briefly, and then Saddlewood worked his way to the front to lead well before exiting the back straight. Tamarino Bay tracked them in fourth, with His Lordship right behind him. Gang Related was another to race in around mid-pack, with topweight James Jaguar amongst the backmarkers.

His Lordship was first to make a bid for glory in the straight. Taking the shortest route throughout, he hit the front not long after turning in. Tamarino Bay stuck to him like a pitbull with its teeth fully engaged as the leaders faded. Gang Related was starting a move, and, more ominously, so was Tyson. Brought to the middle of the track for a troublefree run, Tyson was clearly getting himself lined up for a mighty assault on the prize more than 300m from home. Once again delivering that turn of foot that has thrilled his fans time and time again, the heavily supported 18/10 favourite left layers in no doubt that their day of reckoning had arrived as he sailed past His Lordship a furlong out and simply streaked away to win by a good three lengths, with only mild urging from the saddle. Gang Related ran on strongly all the way home to finish 2nd, Ilha Da Vitoria did her best work late to finish an excellent 3rd, and 100/1 chance Tamarino Bay more than justified his place in the field with a sterling fourth.

Mike de Kock maintained some sort of dominance on a race he has won three times by sending out both the second and third this time, but the 2004 Summer Cup was a major disappointment for champion trainer Geoff Woodruff. His Lordship fared best of his six entries, finishing 5th, while visiting Cape trainer Joey Ramsden had a fruitless raid as neither of his runners ever showed and one of them, Set To Music, trailed in last. Never mind, guys, the J&B Met is just around the corner! Trainer Stuart Pettigrew never wavered in his belief that Tyson would win the Summer Cup, and the ex-Zim jockey was vindicated in no uncertain terms. Given this all-too-rare opportunity to mix it at the highest level, Pettigrew did exactly what the likes of De Kock and Woodruff are so adept at doing and got his horse into a big race with something left in the tank. Tyson ran way above his 97 merit rating here, saving the best for when it really mattered, and destroying any illusions that he might not have as much improvement to come on the day as some of those horses who hadn';t done so much racing these last few months. Tyson is also living proof of what gelding can do for a horse. Unable to even win a maiden while still attached to his family jewels, he has won every one of the 7 races that he has finished since being cut. Famously, of course, the only blip in his formline was that Vaal race in July where he was pulled up after Mark Khan suffered so serious an injury that he didn't ride competitively again until November.

Letters may flow to this newspaper arguing the dictionary definition of certain words, but whichever way you slice it Tyson does not boast the kind of pedigree that would have had the big buyers falling over themselves rushing to his door had he ever appeared at a yearling sale. "Blue collar" would be one reasonable description of the 4yo's lineage. He is a son of Silvino, who before the Summer Cup found himself in 50th spot on the national sires' log for the current season. His dam Telle Belle, a daughter of Sledgehammer, did win five races but was just a decent fillies' hcp performer and hasn't previously caused more than a ripple at stud. With Tyson she has caused a tidal wave. Bred by his co-owner Peter Naidoo, Tyson was born and raised at Chris Botha's Mallorca in the KZN midlands, where Silvino now stands after commencing his career at Ascot Stud in PE. This is not the sort of thing you read about in any of the literature put out by sales houses, but 2004 has been a year of major races dominated by owner-bred horses. Yard-Arm (Lammerskraal), Grey's Inn (Mrs Bridget Oppenheimer) and now Tyson have beautifully illustrated the joys of the do-it-yourself approach to owning racehorses. More significantly, Tyson has shown that you don't always need blue-blooded stock in big numbers to achieve it. Needless to say, his Summer Cup triumph instantly propelled Tyson to millionaire status in career earnings, but his trainer refused to be drawn as to where he would head for next ("home to his stable and a nice supper") and rival connections can only hold their collective breath and see whether the J&B Met is on the agenda. If it isn't, the Kenilworth showpiece on January 29th promises to be the most wide open in ages. If it is, Tyson may very well be one of the hottest favourites in years to become the first horse to complete the Summer Cup/Met double.

Gr1 Summer Cup, Turffontein, SA, November 27, R2.000.000, 2000m, turf, good, 2.02.11 (CR 2.00.13).
TYSON (SAf), 54.0, b g 4, Silvino - Telle Belle (SAf) by Sledgehammer (NZ). Owner Messrs M K Naidoo and R Pancham; breeder MK Naidoo (SAf); trainer ST Pettigrew; jockey P Strydom (1,250,000)
Gang Related (SAf), 54.0, gr g 5, Jallad - Roman Law (SAf) by Quick Turnover. Owner Mrs B A Livanos and Mr J P Meintjies; breeder Highlands Farms; trainer De Kock M F; jockey Shea K (400,000)
Ilha Da Vitoria (BRZ), 57.5, gr f 4, Candy Stripes - De Memoria (ARG) by Equalize (ARG). Owner Mrs M Slack; breeder Haras Old Friends; trainer De Kock M F; jockey Mawing W (200,000)
Margins: 4 1/4, 1 3/4, sh hd
Also ran: Tamarino Bay (SAf) 57.0 (100,000), His Lordship (SAf) 55.0 (50,000), Alastor (SAf) 57.0, Cup Of Grace (SAf) 53.5, The Badger (SAf) 57.0, Night Diva (SAf) 54.5, Angelina (SAf) 55.0, Red Badge (SAf) 56.0, Icy Air (SAf) 56.5, African Lion (SAf) 54.0, James Jaguar (SAf) 58.0, Off Guard (SAf) 53.0, Saddlewood (SAf) 54.5, Sabina Park (SAf) 55.5, Bushra (SAf) 56.0, Promisefrommyheart (SAf) 58.0, Set To Music (SAf) 55.0
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The grand finale to the KZN winter season may have been shorter than usual on numbers (just 13 took part) and, some would say, on quality as well, but in this age of chasing greener pastures abroad it is something we will increasingly have to get used to. Incidentally, our Dubai-bound equine contingent arrived in Mauritius the day before the Gold Cup on the first leg of their circuitous journey around the world, an exercise which is both very costly and time-consuming yet clearly still considered to be worthwhile. On top of that, quality stayers don't exactly grow on trees so the 2004 Gold Cup field was about as respectable as might have been expected in the circumstances.

In-form Double Reef and recent Vodacom Durban July second Superwood were widely considered to be the principal protagonists in the Gold Cup, but bookmakers could hardly be accused of generosity when they respectively chalked them up at 2/1 and 5/2 in the ante-post. The Gold Cup is a hcp, after all, and it was no surprise when the market took on a somewhat more open look by race time. Major Bluff had some takers at 10/1 and saw his eventual starting price trimmed to eight's, but Theatre Of Dreams and Waterloo Sunset (one of three raiders from PE) also had their odds shortened.

In a change from the norm that was as refreshing as a cold shower on a steaming summer's day in Durban, the pace in the Gold Cup was on from the jump. Vance immediately went off to make the running and made pretty certain that whoever ended up winning would be required to properly stay two miles. He led from King's Beach, with the eventual winner's stable companion Blazing Bouquet third as 2001 winner Cereus raced in fourth. Greenwood was next in line with Modern Quest and Golden Moment, as Major Bluff, Superwood, Double Reef and Waterloo Sunset all found themselves a dozen and more lengths off the action. There was no obvious let-up in the pace at any point and Vance was on his last legs turning for home. King's Beach quickly shot a couple of lengths clear and momentarily threatened to add to the proud record of Eastern Cape-trained horses in the Gold Cup, but his bid to join the likes of Stateway and Cereus on the honour roll came to naught. He ran out of steam coming to the last 150m, where Major Bluff stormed through to pick up on the inside as Double Reef delivered a powerful bid down the centre. In the words of Major Bluff's jockey Glen Hatt, "I think Double Reef headed me," but Ramsden's newly turned 5yo managed to regain the advantage and beat Double Reef (ironically trained by Joey's good friend Mike de Kock) by a nose.

Superwood stayed on well down the outside to finish third, but couldn’t get to grips with the first two. That was no real disgrace seeing as he conceded 6.5kg to the winner and 4kg to the runner-up, which amounts to a whole lot of metal over 3200m. Waterloo Sunset, last turning for home, ran on stoutly to earn fourth prize, but Theatre Of Dreams was never sighted and Monet at no stage threatened to credit jockey Felix Coetzee with a record-breaking eighth Gold Cup success.

Major Bluff has had a somewhat checkered career. In only his previous start he finished more than 14 lengths behind Double Reef in the Gold Vase over 3000m at Greyville on Vodacom July day and a 2.5kg swing in the weights cannot explain this huge reversal of form. He was ridden closer to the pace than usual in the Gold Vase, though, and weakened in the straight after his rider dropped the whip. Major Bluff is almost certainly much more effective when held up well off the pace, and the strong gallop in the Gold Cup would have suited him perfectly. He is a son of former champion sire Jallad - who will be represented by 13 lots on this weekend's National Two Year Old Sale - and is the third foal (and second winner) of his dam, Bluffit. A daughter of Dancing Champ (who was 2nd leading sire of broodmares behind Northern Guest for the season just ended), Bluffit won four times up to 3000m and comes from the strong Argentinian female line of (amongst many others) 1983 Rothmans July winner Tecla Bluff.

Major Bluff was bred by the late Shirley Pfeiffer at her Arc-En-Ciel Stud and was originally purchased for what now seems a rock bottom R35.000 at the 2001 Cape Vintage Yearling Sale. For a sale which generally features around 200 entries, that auction really does produce a phenomenal number of Gr1 winners. Sold privately to current connections early at 3, Major Bluff has now won 7 from 28 and earned R635.335.

Gr1 Gold Cup (SAf-G1) (8/7) Greyville, SA, August 7, R500.000, 3200m, turf, good, 3.21.96 (CR 3.18.00).
MAJOR BLUFF (SAf), 51.5, b g 5, Jallad - Bluffit (SAf) by Dancing Champ. Owner Messrs M J T Wickens, K Von Garnier, B D Walbrugh, Mrs L E Ramsden, Mr P J Carr; breeder Arc-En-Ciel Stud (SAf); trainer Ramsden J; jockey Hatt G (312,500)
Double Reef (NZ), 54.0, br g 8, Last Tycoon (IRE) - Giladah (IRE) by Mill Reef. Owner Messrs M C Berzack, B Joffe, G P Sadie and I Vlasic; breeder Yarrowonga Racing; trainer De Kock M F; jockey Shea K (100,000)
Superwood (SAf), 58.0, ch h 5, Fort Wood - So Happy (SAf) by Peacetime. Ownr R Hutton, R Jameson, J Duess and Gary Player Stud Far; brdr Gary Player Stud; trainer Woodruff G V; jockey Strydom P (50,000)
Margins: nose, 1 1/2, 1 1/4
Also ran: Waterloo Sunset (SAf) 51.0 (25,000), King's Beach (SAf) 52.5 (12,500), Cereus (SAf) 53.0, Modern Quest (SAf) 50.0, Theatre Of Dreams (NZ) 51.0, Monet (SAf) 54.5, Vance (AUS) 50.0, Golden Moment (SAf) 50.0, Greenwood (SAf) 52.5, Blazing Bouquet (SAf) 50.5
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