Gr2 Natal Derby (SAf-G2) (7/26)

One would normally look for scathing remarks to make about a Derby which can be won by a horse with a merit rating of just 79, but when the winner is trained Mike de Kock it is doubtless wiser to just shut up. Winter Weather is obviously a great deal better than his handicap mark, and will be in for a big jump in the merit ratings after he ran out a narrow winner of the Gold Circle Derby over 2400m at Clairwood on Saturday.
The scratching of Cape Derby Gr 1 runner-up and top rated Tan Can obviously removed much of the Derby’s gloss, but what remained provided for a very lively betting market. Thundering Jet and Smart Banker disputed the role of favourite, with plenty of money at long odds for Winter Weather and Speed For Gold as well. Gr 1 SA Derby second Classic Oasis was the only remaining candidate with a three-digit merit rating, but was allowed to ease to 6/1 in the face of the support for the others.
The early pace was distinctly unrushed, with Dog Star showing the way to Cashel and Classic Oasis as Just Like Al – the only previous Graded race winner in the field of 16 – following them in turn. Bernard Fayd’Herbe committed Classic Oasis a good 800m from home, going past Dog Star to accelerate the pace and lead them into the straight. The challengers began to emerge thick and fast as Classic Oasis clung to a narrow advantage through most of the dash for home. Speed For Gold went to the inside fence for his effort as Winter Weather began to quickly make up ground down the centre of the course. Classic Oasis was ultra-game once joined on the lead by Winter Weather and went down fighting, but Winter Weather had taken a narrow lead inside the last furlong and refused to surrender it, shifting briefly to his right but still getting home a long head in front of Speed For Gold, who in turn shaded Classic Oasis by a whisker for second prize. Senor Versace ran on stoutly to be beaten a total of around one length into fourth, with stable companion Smart Banker just behind him in turn.
“I thought he was worth a bet,” commented De Kock afterwards, pointing out that Winter Weather was meeting Classic Oasis (“the horse I thought we had to beat”) on 4 kgs better terms for a 3.25 lengths beating over 2400m at the Vaal back in January. He also met Speed For Gold 2.5 kgs better off for a beating of a neck over 2400m at Greyville in early July. In that light, Winter Weather didn’t deserve to be a lowly 79 vis-à-vis Classic Oasis’ 101 merit rating and a new mark of somewhere in the 90s could be on the cards for the Derby winner.
A colt by former champion sire Western Winter, Winter Weather is out of the Dancing Champ mare Birthday Belle, who won four times up to 2000m. Autumn Frost, a year-older full brother to Winter Weather, is due to contest this weekend’s Gr 1 Canon Gold Cup. Owned and bred by Luke Bailes, Winter Weather has won twice from eight starts and earned R290 175.

Clairwood, SA, July 26, R300k, 2400m, turf, good, 2.32.47 (CR 2.27.30).
WINTER WEATHER (SAF), 57.0, b c 3, Western Winter - Birthday Belle (SAF) by Dancing Champ. Ownr & brdr TL Bailes (SAF); trnr MF de Kock; jockey K Shea (187.500)
Speed For Gold (SAF), 57.0, ch c 3, Goldkeeper - Speed Along (SAF) by Pochard (ARG)
Classic Oasis (SAF), 57.0, b c 3, Classic Flag (SAF) - Oasis (SAF) by Centenary
Margins: sh hd, nose, 3/4
Also ran: Senor Versace (SAF) 57.0, Smart Banker (SAF) 57.0, Huckleberry (SAF) 57.0, Wood Be Magic (SAF) 57.0, Full Power (ARG) 57.0, Just Like Al (SAF) 57.0, Thundering Jet (SAF) 57.0, Al Pasha (SAF) 57.0, Importantisimo (ARG) 57.0, Dog Star (ARG) 57.0, Western King (SAF) 57.0, Cashel (SAF) 57.0, Geneva (SAF) 57.0

Gr2 Natal Oaks (SAf-G2) (7/26)

Front House looked like the day’s banker bet in the Oaks and went postward as the odds-on favourite to beat the dozen rivals which remained after Afreet was scratched for refusing to enter the starting stalls. The field could only boast two Listed race victories between them, but Front House had finished first in the Gr 2 SA Oaks only to be relegated to second after an objection, and she thereafter finished third from a wide draw in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000. She was comfortably the best weighted runner here on merit ratings, and fully deserved to be a red-hot market leader.
Shea had the favourite well poised in fourth place as Streams Of Song set an ordinary pace from Annawood and Harbour Light and soon sent her about her business in the straight. Front House picked it up racing to the last 300m, and while she was pursued all the way home by a hugely determined Annawood, De Kock’s filly always appeared to hold the upper hand. It may have not quite been a romp that her backers were anticipating, but Front House ran on well all the way to the line to beat Annawood by a length, with Saltwater Girl staying on to finish a further 2.25 lengths away in third. Harbour Light was only a head adrift of Saltwater Girl in fourth, but well supported Flight Queen was never seen with a chance and the first time use of blinkers on this reportedly talented but lazy filly did not produce the desired effect.
Neither of the two previous Stakes winners in the race – Moon Storm and Sangria Girl – was never in with a chance, but in truth the race was probably not run to suit those who waited well off the early pace. Be that as it may, connections of Front House will be mightily relieved to get this first black type win into their royally-bred daughter of Sadler’s Wells. Front House is co-owned by Mary Slack and Coolmore’s John Magnier and an international career (both as a racehorse and as a broodmare) is hardly out of the question.
Irish-bred Front House was a late foal even by northern hemisphere standards, with a May 2nd birth date, and is entitled to a good deal more improvement as she matures. “It’s a phenomenal feat to do what she is doing,” said De Kock, adding that, “she’s on the shortlist for Dubai. She will be competitive internationally.”
Front House is out of the Darshaan mare Adjalisa, who has bred a Gr 1 winner in Turkey, and has now won four times from six starts for R426 250 in stakes.

Clairwood, SA, July 26, R250k, 2400m, turf, good, 2.31.92 (CR 2.27.30).
FRONT HOUSE (IRE), 57.0, b f 3, Sadler's Wells - Adjalisa (IRE) by Darshaan (IRE). Owner John Magnier & Wilgerboschdrift; brdr Sonarc Bloodstock (IRE); trnr MF de Kock; jockey K Shea (156.250)
Annawood (SAF), 57.0, b f 3, Fort Wood (USA) - Clair Anne (SAF) by Gallic League (IRE)
Saltwater Girl (SAF), 57.0, b f 3, Modern Day - Surfers Eye (SAF) by Elliodor (FR)
Margins: 1, 2 ¼, sh hd
Also ran: Harbour Light (AUS) 57.0, Moon Storm (SAF) 57.0, Sphalaphala (saf) 57.0, Starzene 57.0, Leading Light (AUS) 57.0, Sangria Girl (SAF) 57.0, Journal (SAF) 57.0, Flight Queen (AUS) 57.0, Wood Hyacinth (SAF) 57.0, Streams Of Song (SAF) 57.0

Gr3 Champion Juvenile S (SAf-G3) (7/18)

It happens, once in a while, one of those days when everything just keeps going right. Apprentice Kendall Minnie enjoyed one such “wake me up in case I’m dreaming” afternoon at Fairview last Friday, where he completed a genuine 3756/1 hat-trick by steering Thunderflash to victory in the Champion Juvenile Cup over 1400m, writes Matthew Lips.
The young rider had won the two immediately preceding races on big outsiders, one of which won a handicap from 4kgs under sufferance. When it goes your way, it goes your way.

Between them, leading PE trainers Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith sent out eight of the twelve starters for their home province’s richest (and sole Graded) two-year-old race. Greeff-trained Scripture could boast a 2.25 lengths second behind subsequent Gr 1 winner Geepee S in a Listed race earlier in the season and went off as the favourite despite being drawn widest of the dozen runners, but stable companion Thunderflash had his supporters and started as the 9/2 second favourite. Lizard’s Desire, the 20/1 winner of his only previous race, attracted some support at long odds.
Robinelli was the early leader and set a reasonable pace from Scripture and Lizard’s Desire, with In Extreme, Triumphant Surge and Sports Kid next in line. As always, Thunderflash was given a patient ride and waited towards the rear. Scripture was quickly sent off in pursuit of Robinelli once in the straight, with Lizard’s Desire also making an early move as Triumphant Surge (who had beaten Thunderflash on 1.5 kgs better terms than these at Arlington three weeks earlier) still in contention along the far side.
Scripture was not finding much more than 200m out and Lizard’s Desire became the biggest threat to a thoroughly gallant Robinelli. The former managed to get the frontrunner’s measure close home, but neither had any answer to the finishing kick of Thunderflash. Delivered at just the perfect moment by his regular pilot, Thunderflash stormed home wider out to get the better of Lizard’s Desire in the final stages and win by half-a-length, with Robinelli a similar distance further back in third. Nite Tiger was running on to finish fourth, 2.5 lengths adrift of the winner, and was the first of the Smith-trained quartet to arrive. Scripture could only manage fifth, having been done no favours by her draw, but it may also be that the Requiem filly prefers 1200m at this stage of her life. Triumphant Surge, a Listed winner over 1200m in May, also didn’t find much when it mattered most and ran below Arlington form with Thunderflash, but the longer run-in at Fairview no doubt favoured the latter.
Thunderflash is a rather quirky sort by all accounts, and is not the most straight forward of horses to ride, which makes Kendall Minnie’s efforts all the more laudable. Thunderflash may well be “two stone lighter” before much longer, but for all his naughty traits he obviously can run and is evidently still improving. The lack of a single out-of-town raider for this race was a little disappointing, given its healthy R175k prize money, and it probably wasn’t the hottest Graded race in history, but there was a fair amount to like about the way in which the winner did the business and a bright three-year-old career could beckon for Greeff’s youngster.
Thunderflash is from the first crop of Danzig stallion Bezrin, who became the first freshman sire this term to produce a Graded Stakes winner. The colt is the third foal and second winner of his dam Leah Love, who finished unplaced in her only start but who is a daughter of established broodmare sire Al Mufti. Thunderflash’s grandam recorded both her wins over 2400m, so there is plenty of stamina there, but Bezrin never won beyond 1400m and it remains to be seen whether Thunderflash will stay much beyond a mile next season. Bred at Golden Acres (home of Bezrin), Thunderflash was a R75 000 purchase from the 2007 Sibaya Yearling Sale and has won three of his eight starts for R183 500 in stakes.

Fairview, SA, July 18, R175.000, 1400m, turf, good, 1.27.68 (CR 1.21.36).
THUNDERFLASH (SAF), 57.0, ch c 2, Bezrin - Leah Love (SAF) by Al Mufti. Owner JD Goldhill, F McGrath, D Scheckter & LF Greeff; breeder Golden Acres (SAF); trainer AC Greeff; jockey K Minnie (109.375)
Lizard's Desire (SAF), 57.0, b c 2, Lizard Island (AUS) - Annsfield (SAF) by Northfields
Robinelli (SAF), 57.0, ch c 2, Martinelli - Sweet Robyn (SAF) by Shalford (IRE)
Margins: ½, ½, 1½
Also ran: Nite Tiger (SAF) 57.0, Scripture (SAF) 54.5, Sports Kid (SAF) 57.0, Triumphant Surge (SAF) 57.0, Knight Of Darkness (SAF) 57.0, In Extreme (SAF) 57.0, Sir Halley (SAF) 57.0, Octagonal (SAF) 57.0, Kalajana (SAF) 54.5

Gold Vase (SAf-G2) (7/5)

Equal Image, a Gr 1 winner over 1800m two winters ago, has reinvented himself as a marathon runner on the eve of his seventh birthday. Recently successful in a minor event over 2800m, the Argentine-bred veteran looked to all the world like a lively Gr 1 Canon Gold Cup prospect when he won the Schweppes Gold Vase over 3000m at Greyville on Saturday, writes MATTHEW LIPS.

Winners of the Gold Vase don’t have a pretty record in the 200m longer Gold Cup at the same course four weeks later, but will due respect to most of his recent predecessors Equal Image is a better horse than most of them ever dreamed of being and only his tendency to steer an erratic course in a race could be the one serious obstacle standing between him and victory in South Africa’s premier stamina test on August 2nd.
Equal Image and the luckless Likeithot disputed the favourite’s role for the Gold Vase, but there was plenty of money around at bigger prices for several of the others in a field of 16 and many punters viewed this as a tricky contest. Theres The Light ensured a decent gallop by opening up a lead which must have been at least eight lengths at one point, with Hot Lava and Membrado racing prominently. Omaha Beach and Meteor Shower were also handy in the pack early on. Equal Image had raced well back initially, but even approaching the end of the back straight he was getting ever closer to the action. With 800m left to cover Equal Image was travelling like a dream in third place as Theres The Light had her lead whittled down to a fraction of what it had been a kilometre earlier.
All of which left Equal Image in the perfect spot to strike when they turned for home. Kevin Shea quickly sent him on his way and the gelding responded instantly, even if he did start to veer left and cause considerable interference to several horses on his outside. Omaha Beach appeared to be one of the principal sufferers in what had suddenly become a messy race, with Equal Image still inclined to wander about even as Shea had changed whip hands, but for all that he was still the best horse in the race. He shrugged off top weight of 58 kgs and saw it through right to the end, winning by 1.5 lengths from Membrado, who had been handy throughout. Omaha Beach finished a neck further back in third, with Meteor Shower – himself done no favours by the winner’s erratic steering – beaten a total of 2.25 lengths into fourth. Likeithot was never seen with a chance.
It’s just as well for Equal Image that the rules regarding objections were changed some years ago. The previous system whereby a horse only needed to have been cost a finishing position to win an objection was amended to the current situation where it must be established that a hampered animal would have beaten the horse who caused the interference. It would have been difficult to say the least to infer the latter scenario given the comfort with which Equal Image ultimately won, but it’s enough to give potential backers of Equal Image in the Gold Cup some cause for concern. The grey didn’t exactly steer the truest of courses when winning at Scottsville in June, either.
Equal Image is trained by Mike de Kock, who informed viewers that the gelding had undergone an operation to correct a breathing problem and that this had brought Equal Image back to his best. “He was always travelling in the race,” said De Kock, who in a self-deprecating moment went on to chastise himself for needing “three July days” to work out that the gelding is a stayer. The trainer's selling himself short, to say the least. As already noted, Equal Image is a past Gr1 winner over a much shorter distance and went into the Gold Vase with more than R1.1 million in earnings, not quite the record of a horse who has been incorrectly placed by his connections. The truth is that Equal Image may have lost the speed of his younger days, but he’s parted with practically none of his talent. He just needs a stiffer test in order to show it nowadays.
Equal Image would be potentially well handicapped even under top weight in the Canon Gold Cup and that must be the obvious next target for the son of Equalize. Out of the Candy Stripes mare Important Girl, he has won ten times from 48 starts and earned R1 519 763 for owner Tony Moodley. De Kock commended Moodley for sticking with Equal Image through thick and thin, resisting the “urge to sell him to Mauritius” during a lean spell which saw the gelding finished unplaced nine times in succession after winning the 2200m “consolation” handicap on Vodacom Durban July day 2007. Sorry for our friends on the island, but the next Maiden Cup at Champ De Mars will have to carry on without Equal Image.

Greyville, SA, July 5, R300k, 3000m, turf, good, 3.06.47 (CR 3.05.32).
EQUAL IMAGE (ARG), 58.0, gr g 6, Equalize - Important Girl (ARG) by Candy Stripes. Owner T Moodley; bred in Argentina; trainer MF de Kock; jockey K Shea (187.500)
Membrado (ARG), 54.0, ch g 4, Roy - Melody Girl by Solford
Omaha Beach (SAF), 56.5, b g 6, Allied Flag - Joy Of Spring (SAF) by Sharp Romance Margins: 1½, nk, ½
Also ran: Meteor Shower (IRE) 52.5, Earlswood () 51.0, Likeithot (SAF) 57.5, Tailormade (SAF) 50.0, Pacific Warrior (SAF) 54.0, Western Walk (SAF) 52.0, Theres The Light (SAF) 50.0, Long Dollar (SAF) 54.5, Hot Lava (SAF) 51.5, Ser De Carrera (ARG) 54.5, Generous Colt (AUS) 50.0, Prince Asad (SAF) 57.5, Accord (SAF) 51.0         

Gr2 Post Merchants H (SAf-G2) (6/20)

A sudden downpour that came seemingly from nowhere couldn’t stop Mentor from making just about all the running to easily win the Post Merchants (handicap) over 1200m at an already sodden Greyville on Friday night. This was the last meeting at the course until Vodacom Durban July day and one can only hope that the bizarre weather which has recently plagued the city has played itself out for at least a fortnight.

The unseasonable thunder and rain which descended just minutes before the start of the Merchants may have contributed to favourite Gliding High becoming upset in the stalls and getting himself awkwardly jammed inside (and underneath) the machine. Whatever the reason, Brian Wiid’s three-year-old was clearly unable to take part, although his connections would have at least been relieved to see their horse get back on his feet behind the stalls. Considering that the rest of the field had already been installed, and the rain which was lashing down, it would have been crazy to even contemplate delaying the race to accommodate the favourite’s late withdrawal and the starter sent them on their way with no further ado. This may not have pleased many punters, nor Gold Circle for that matter, but it was the only sensible thing to do, and while this particular incident may have been absolutely nobody’s fault one should rather question why assorted cock-ups at the start are so common in KZN.
Mentor, meantime, took it all in his stride. Quickly away from his favourable 3 draw, Dominic Zaki’s gelding showed the way from Pegasus Emblem, Nimley, and Wide Country, with Thunder Key further back. Mentor was still going great guns turning for home. Pegasus Emblem briefly looked set to mount a bid before weakening, which left it to filly Nimley to present the frontrunner with his most immediate danger 200m out, but she also failed to sustain her effort in the closing stages, Escobar ran on strongly against the far rail to eventually finish second, but he was never going to trouble Mentor, who won comfortably under a typical Piere Strydom on a night when several races were won by a frontrunner. Nimley took third place ahead of a running-on Oracle News.
Mentor had been beaten 2.25 lengths by Gliding High over 1400m at the Vaal earlier in June and would have been only 0.5 kgs better off with that rival this time, leaving Gliding High’s many supporters to ponder on what could have been, but 1400m on quick ground up the Vaal straight is a very different thing to 1200m in very soft going under lights at Greyville and we will just never know. Mentor certainly beat his remaining opposition in fine style in conditions which obviously suited him perfectly, in the process recording his second Gr 2 win of 2008 after landing the Hawaii Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein in March. He did it under 59.5 kgs in testing conditions, and it may rank as a career-best effort from the four-year-old.
The winner and runner-up were both bred at Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm. Mentor is a son of major speed influence National Assembly and is the fifth foal and third winner of Argosy mare Wise Dame, who won four races over 1200m including a Listed event. That makes Mentor the half brother to Royal IQ, who interestingly won the corresponding race on a similarly soft track three years ago. Bought for R400k on the select session of the 2005 National Yearling Sale, Mentor has won six races from 26 starts and earned R706 000.

Greyville, SA, June 20, R300k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.10.91 (CR 1.09.10).
MENTOR (SAF), 59.5, b g 4, National Assembly (CAN) - Wise Dame (SAF) by Argosy. Owner A Naidoo and V Haripersad; breeder Avontuur Farm (SAF); trainer D Zaki; jockey P Strydom (R187.500)
Escobar (SAF), 58.5, ch g 6, Dominion Royale (GB) - Hot Grass (SAF) by Harry Hotspur (SAF)
Nimley (SAF), 52.0, b f 3, Jet Master (SAF) - Nimiety (SAF) by Al Mufti  
Margins: 3, sh hd, ½
Also ran: Oracle News (SAF) 56.5, Pegasus Emblem (SAF) 55.0, Light Spectrum (SAF) 53.5, Intellectual (SAF) 52.0, Something Else (SAF) 60.0, Wide Country (SAF) 54.0, Hail The Duke (SAF) 53.0, Thunder Key (SAF) 56.5, Arabesque Dancer (AUS) 54.5, Northern Frontier (SAF) 57.5, Relinyane (SAF) 58.5

Jubilee Hcp (SAf-G3) (6/15)

Whether Turffontein’s Jubilee Handicap has much bearing on the Vodacom Durban July in most years is debatable at best, but the most recent edition of the 1800m race looks an exception. Half of the eight starters in this traditional off-season feature on the standside course were first acceptors for the July, amongst them Gr1 GommaGomma Challenge winner Eddington. She’s On Fire and Bound By Honour, respectively second and fourth behind the Dominic Zaki inmate in Africa’s richest race six weeks earlier, also turned out for the Jubilee.

Eddington proved most disappointing, even if he never did have a particularly straightforward task under 60.5 kgs in the first place. He was well placed in around third spot as Falstaff set a decent pace from She’s On Fire, with Bound To Travel also prominent, but the GommaGomma winner was looking far from comfortable on the firm winter ground early in the straight and was soon beaten. Conditions at Greyville on July day shouldn’t be anywhere near as firm as this, but nor are they likely to be anything like as soggy as on GommaGomma day. It is worth noting that three of Eddington’s five career wins have come on soft ground, and while proper “good” going probably suits him fine he would certainly benefit from any unseasonable rains ahead of the July.
She’s On Fire is also known to enjoy softer ground, but she coped perfectly fine with the conditions here. Picking it up comfortably once Falstaff faded, she opened up a solid lead 200m out and kept going well under Weichong Marwing to shake off a late challenge from Captain Corageous with room to spare. The runner-up had won the corresponding race twelve months earlier, when it was staged on the Turffontein inner course, but wasn’t in particularly good form coming into Sunday’s renewal. Bound To Travel finished third, lacking extra late after looking a possible threat at one point, with Singing Sword fourth, but Bound By Honour made no show and also disappointed.
She’s On Fire is a 5yo mare trained by Ormond Ferraris, who is still looking to finally earn compensation for his colt Distinctly’s unlucky July defeat back in 1975. Distinctly was promoted from third place to second after being severely impeded by original winner Gatecrasher, but the honours had to be awarded to a very fortuitous Principal Boy, who had crossed the line second. That may seem like ancient history to most, but not to She’s On Fire’s trainer. Whether the daughter of Jet Master has any realistic chance of finally laying the spectre of Distinctly to rest is a moot point, but she has turned into a seriously good performer over the past few months and will be in great form going forward to the July. She’s On Fire is out of the Concertino mare Cream Of The Crop and was bought for R90k at the 2004 National Yearling Sale. Bred by the Scott Bros, she has won 6 of 13 starts and earned R1 311 700 for her owners, Team Valor.

Turffontein, SA, June 15, R200k, 1800m, turf, good, 1.50.43 (CR 1.48.92).
SHE'S ON FIRE (SAF), 59.5, b m 5, Jet Master (SAF) - Cream Of The Crop (SAF) by Concertino (FR). Owner Team Valor Int.; breeder Scott Bros (SAF); trainer OA Ferraris; jockey W Marwing (125.000)
Captain Corageous (SAF), 57.5, b h 5, Captain Al (SAF) - Royal Jubilee (SAF) by Royal Prerogative (GB)
Singing Sword (SAF), 58.5, ch h 5, Prince Of War (SAF) - Razmataz (SAF) by Argosy
Margins: 1¼, ½, sh hd
Also ran: Bound To Travel (SAF) 54.5, Bound By Honour (SAF) 60.0, Tap Tap (SAF) 53.0, Eddington (SAF)60.5, Falstaff (SAF) 56.5

Langerman Hcp (SAf-G3) (6/15)

One who did not seem to relish the soggy ground one little bit was hitherto unbeaten Rudi Rocks, who started favourite to make it three-from-three in the Betting World Langerman (handicap) for 2yos over 1500m. He was never seen with a chance, producing absolutely nothing like the impressive turn of foot which had seen him win twice in good going, and this cannot have been his form even allowing for the unique conditions of SA’s only handicap for juveniles. The handicapper is forced to allocate merit ratings to the Langerman field, and these ratings are often based on tentative assessments and scanty evidence, but we’ll need to see Rudi Rocks again on less testing ground before we form any real conclusions about his likely future.
The honours went the way of Jamaican Dream, who had made an impressive winning debut over 1400m in May before finding himself racing in the less favourable centre of the straight course when unplaced in the Gr3 Cape Nursery over 1200m. The Brett Crawford-trained colt took this in his stride. Nicely placed in 4th early on as Mister See made the running from Imperial Fox and Irish Coffee, Jamaican Dream took full advantage of his 1 draw and took the shortest route around the turns. He began to make up ground easily once into the short old course run-in, picking it up around 200m out under Karl Neisius and then drawing away in the closing stages to slam Imperial Fox by 4.5 lengths, while conceding 1 kg to the runner-up. It was a further 3.5 lengths back to 3rd placed Chief Blackfoot, who stayed on doggedly from off the pace, with Irish Coffee tiring into 4th. Rudi Rocks finished 5th, almost 11 lengths behind the winner.
Jamaican Dream is a son of Lizard Island out of the Flaming Rock mare Ember Dream and was bred by his owner Sabine Plattner at her La Plaisance Stud. He would be a very interesting future prospect if he can show anything like this level of ability on less swampy ground. The going was good when he won his debut by more than 3 lengths, which is encouraging. The colt has won 2 from 3 starts, earning R114 375.
Kenilworth, SA, June 15, R125k, 1500m, turf, soft, 1.42.76 (CR 1.30.50).
JAMAICAN DREAM (SAF), 55.0, b c 2, Lizard Island (AUS) - Ember Dream (SAF) by Flaming Rock (GB). Owner Mrs S Plattner; breeder La Plaisance Stud (SAF); trainer BJ Crawford; jockey K Neisius (R78.125)
Imperial Fox (SAF), 54.0, gr c 2, National Emblem (SAF) - Foxy Spy (SAF) by Russian Fox
Chief Blackfoot (SAF), 59.5, b g 2, Labeeb (GB) - Rank (SAF) by Pole Position (GB)
Margins: 4½, 3½, ¾
Also ran: Irish Coffee (SAF) 54.0, Rudi Rocks (SAF) 57.5, Dock Of The Bay (SAF) 52.5, Bush Pirate (SAF) 59.5, Mister See (SAF) 52.5, Empress Crown (SAF) 57.5, Burberry (SAF) 60.0

Winter Derby (SAf-G3) (6/15)

Casey’s Son looked to have every possible circumstance conspire against him ahead of Sunday’s Winter Derby over 2400m at Kenilworth. He was drawn widest of 16 in a race which starts in the middle of a turn and had to come from last in very heavy going, on the old course with its short straight, and with a tailwind in the straight to boot. He conquered all, producing a terrific late run through the mud to snatch victory in the final stride.
Casey’s Son is a known wet weather addict who has always given the impression that 2400m would suit him perfectly, but his very deep draw would have been one of the reasons why he started as a 14/1 outsider here. Favourite was Alvaro, winner of the Gr 3 Winter Classic over 1800m in his latest start. As a son of Galileo he was widely expected to get the 2400m which he was trying for the first time, but in the end he almost certainly did not. He made a promising move at the top of the straight, being taken to the inside and hitting the front, but he was starting to weaken inside the final furlong and had run his race more than 100m before the finish. Judged Excellent took the lead as Alvaro weakened, shaking off the challenge of Al Pasha quickly enough, but he was collared right on the line by Casey’s Son, who came with a rattle wider out under Port Elizabeth-domiciled jockey Wayne Agrella.
Al Pasha finished 1.25 lengths further back in third, with a further 2.5 lengths away to the spent Alvaro in fourth place. It gives some idea of how sapping conditions were that the winner recorded a time around 17.5 seconds outside the course record, and perhaps Alvaro will yet prove he gets 2400m when facing much kinder going. Another who didn’t see it out was Air Combat, runner-up in the 600m shorter Winter Classic, who raced handy for much of the way but fell away quickly in the straight.
Casey’s Son was prepared for the Winter Derby by Paul Lightheart, son of the gelding’s original trainer James Lightheart, who passed away suddenly in May. The plan is that Paul will eventually take over the official role of trainer. Casey’s Son, as the name suggests, is by Casey Tibbs and is out of the Kamakura mare Kura Valley, who won one race over 1800m. She is also the dam of Kura Star, who was twice Gr 3 placed, but despite that she was sold for a mere R2000 (while in foal with Casey’s Son) at the 2004 Cape Broodmare Sale. Casey’s Son has won three times from 14 starts, earning stakes of R217 200.

Kenilworth, SA, June 15, R150k, 2400m, turf, soft, 2.44.03 (CR 2.20.60).
CASEY'S SON SAF), 57.0, b g 3, Casey Tibbs (IRE) - Kura Valley (SAF) by Kamakura. Owner & breeder Dr J.N.L. Redelinghuys (SAF); trainer JG Lightheart; jockey W Agrella
Judged Excellent (SAF), 57.0, b g 3, Jallad - Gushing (SAF) by Secret Prospector
Al Pasha (SAF), 57.0, b c 3, Al Mufti - Fov's Flower (SAF) by Foveros (GB)
Margins: nose, 1¼, 2½
Also ran: Alvaro (AUS) 57.0, Our Call (SAF) 57.0, War Of Attrition (SAF) 57.0, Dongola (SAF) 57.0, Sun City (SAF) 57.0, Captain's Knock (SAF) 57.0, Red Treasure (SAF) 57.0, Clever Flight (SAF) 57.0, Vladivostok (SAF) 57.0, Gallo De Oro (SAF) 57.0, Air Combat (SAF) 57.0, Imperial Cossack (SAF) 57.0, Smartine (SAF) 57.0

Tibouchina S. (SAf-G2) (6/14)

The Tibouchina S over 1450m at Clairwood on Saturday produced a messy and slightly controversial finish, with heavily backed 18/10 favourite Bold Ellinore crossing the line first only to have the race whisked away in the boardroom soon afterwards. Bold Ellinore looked very well treated on merit ratings in this WFA event for females, a race she had won in 2007, and came here on the back of an excellent second from a wide draw behind Imbongi in the Gr2 Drill Hall S at Greyville. Smart 3yo Nania was a popular second favourite on a course where she was a Gr1 winner as a juvenile.

Alpine Club ensured that there was no loafing from the start and set a good pace clear of Phenomina and Nania, with Valdovino and Bold Ellinore next in line. Eventual winner Ethereal Lady was waited with in midfield, with Zooming Zellie towards the rear after seeming to clip heels and stumble shortly after the break. Nania was quick to take it up once Alpine Club faded not long after the turn in, with Bold Ellinore and Ethereal Lady chasing hard and Zooming Zellie starting to unwind a challenge towards the inside. Nania had just about cried enough coming to the last 200m, and soon it was left to Bold Ellinore and Ethereal Lady to dominate the finish.
Bold Ellinore had started to hang in markedly halfway down the straight, and continued her inwards movement until she was all over Ethereal Lady like a wet t-shirt. The two went to the line together, with Bold Ellinore just getting the decision in a photo, but the stipendiary stewards wasted very little time in lodging an objection on Ethereal Lady’s behalf. Bold Ellinore had bumped her rival about 200m from home, before continuing to force Ethereal Lady inwards in the closing stages and making it impossible for Andrew Fortune to use his whip in the right hand, and given the very small margin which separated the two at the line it was no surprise at all when the result was soon amended in Ethereal Lady’s favour. This didn’t sit very well with all racegoers, most of whom were doubtless talking from suddenly impoverished pockets anyway, but a cool head would find it hard to argue with the eventual outcome.
Zooming Zellie ran on well to finish third, a smart effort considering she didn’t have the smoothest of races and was respectively meeting Bold Ellinore and Ethereal Lady on 5.5 kgs and 4 kgs worse terms than in a handicap. Lady Bequick, a stable companion to Ethereal Lady, stayed on to finish 4th as Nania folded out of the places.
Bold Ellinore will no doubt attempt to gain compensation in the Gr1 Garden Province S at Greyville on Vodacom July Day, a race she won easily last season. Ethereal Lady could head that way herself, but while she has won once over 1600m in lesser company she has yet to convince that she truly gets that far against better opposition. The Sean Tarry-trained 4yo has at least come right back to her best after a few disappointing efforts early in 2008, and the former Gr1 winning sprinter is obviously very good indeed when she’s at her best. She is more than good enough to conceivably win again in the highest grade, even if one can’t shake the feeling that Bold Ellinore would have won the Tibouchina fair-and-square if she’d stuck to a straight course.
Ethereal Lady is a daughter of deceased Model Man. She is the 12th foal and 7th winner of Argosy mare Amber Gem, who won one race over 900m, and is the full sister to 2000m Gr1 winner Amberpondo. She has clearly inherited more of the dam’s speed and less of the sire’s stamina than Amberpondo, but Ethereal Lady may prove that she just about gets 1600m well enough to be a factor in the Garden Province Stakes. Bred at The Alchemy and bought for R300k from the 2005 Equimark Vintage Yearling Sale, Ethereal Lady has won 6 of 17 and earned R846 325 in stakes for owner Chris van Niekerk.

Clairwood, SA, June 14, R200k, 1450m, turf, good,85.41(CR 84.47).
ETHEREAL LADY (SAF), 58.0, b f 4, Model Man (SAF) - Amber Gem (SAF) by Argosy. Owner CJH van Niekerk; breeder The Alchemy (SAF); trainer SG Tarry; jockey A Fortune (R125.000)
*Bold Ellinore (SAF), 58.0, b f 5, Kahal (GB) - Ellinore (SAF) by Northern Guest
Zooming Zellie, 58.0, b f 5, King of Kings (IRE) - Bezelle (GB) by Dominion (GB)
* Bold Ellinore finished first, but was placed second on objection
Margins: nose, 2¼, neck
Also ran: Lady Bequick (SAF) 56.5, Winter Ade (SAF) 58.0, Miss Turbulence (SAF) 56.5, Run Angel Run (SAF) 58.0, Rei Rei (SAF) 56.5, Nania (SAF) 56.5, Blue Swift (AUS) 56.5, Valdovino (SAF) 58.0, Prize Flower (SAF) 56.5, Alpine Club (SAF) 56.5, Phenomina (SAF) 56.5

Cup Trial (SAf-G3) (6/14)

Desert Links sure loves Durban. The Cape-trained raider won three times from four starts during the 2007 winter season and finished a rather unlucky second in the Gr2 Gold Circle Derby on the other occasion. He’s now back in town, and reminded all and sundry of the fact when winning the Cup Trial (handicap) over 1800m at Clairwood on Saturday at odds of 25/1, in his first KZN appearance this year.

Desert Links was hampered early and never recovered before finishing a lonely last in the soggy going of the Gr1 GommaGomma Challenge at Turffontein six weeks earlier, but obviously suffered no lasting ill-effects from that fiasco. Still, most punters were obviously sceptical about his chances in the Cup Trial, a race which had an extremely open look about it and in which no clear favourite emerged. Naughty Prince did attract plenty of support at long odds in the ante-post market, with considerable interest also for Tropical Empire as race time drew nearer, but this was one of those races were trying to isolate the winner was always going to be mighty difficult.
Angel Flight set a brisk pace from the start, opening up a lead of about three lengths from Surfin’ USA and Braggadacio, with big market drifter Likeithot and Bucked Off also prominent ahead of Crimson Blossom and Equal Image. Desert Links, as per normal, was given a patient ride from well down the 17 runner field. Angel Flight is certainly game and she continued to lead deep into the straight. One of only two females in the line-up, she still led narrowly 200m out, but was coming under pressure from all sides as Likeithot, Surfin’ USA, and Tropical Empire all tried to get on terms with her. Tropical Empire did the best job of it out of that bunch and briefly looked a possible winner 100m from home, but Desert Links was now storming between horses with a terrific late run and got the better of Tropical Empire in the closing stages to win by the best part of a length. Angel Flight eventually finished third, with Likeithot putting up yet another solid effort in defeat to finish fourth, but Naughty Prince was never seen with any kind of a chance and this was simply going to be a day to forget for the Mike Bass team.
It is more-or-less universally accepted that the winner of the Cup Trial will receive an invitation to the Vodacom Durban July, even if it is not officially part of the July’s conditions. Whether Desert Links is anywhere near good enough for the much stronger field which would await him at Greyville is another matter, and he would surely remain one of the July outsiders, but he would at least go into the race boasting a perfect three-from-three win ratio at the course.
Winning trainer Basil Marcus obviously has plenty of faith in his 4yo.
“I don’t know if anybody noticed,” he said, “but Desert Links was the first horse to accept for the July at the first acceptance stage.” Marcus went on to add that Desert Links “is a very good horse, and although he’s rising five now he is an immature rising five.” There could accordingly still be bigger things to come from Desert Links, but a Vodacom Durban July success frankly won’t be too many punters’ idea of one of them. The gelding was ridden in the Cup Trial by Cape Town-based Greg Cheyne, who made the trip to Clairwood for just the one mount, and will no doubt have his air ticket ready and waiting for a return to visit to Durban early next month.
The Cup Trial represented the last-chance-saloon for many horses looking to find a spot in the final July line-up, but for most of them nothing less than a win would do. The field somehow needs to be whittled down from its present 32 to a final group of 20, and those who failed to win the Cup Trial look like a pretty obvious starting point to discard the excess dozen.
Desert Links is a gelded son of Kahal, who is well established as one of KZN’s predominant resident sires and who was “robbed” of a same-day Graded Stakes double when Bold Ellinore earlier had the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes taken away on an objection. The Cup Trial winner is the sixth foal and second winner of Home Guard mare Selborne Park, who won five races up to 1800m including the Listed (now Gr3) Final Fling Stakes and who finished 3rd in the Gr2 (now Gr1) Majorca S. Bred at Summerhill on behalf of Sheik Hamdan al Maktoum’s Gainsborough Stud Management, Desert Links was bought for R110k at the 2005 Ready To Run Sale. He has won 6 from 17 starts, earning R442 250.

Clairwood, SA, June 14, R200k, 1800m, turf, good, 1.47.27 (CR 1.45.89).
DESERT LINKS (SAF), 58.0, b g 4, Kahal (GB) - Selborne Park (SAF) by Home Guard. Owner EA Braun, EG Bouer, PS Loomes & SP Marcus; breeder Gainsborough Stud (SAF); trainer B Marcus; jockey G Cheyne (R125.000)
Tropical Empire (AUS), 55.0, b h 5, Second Empire (IRE) - Tropical Touch (AUS) by Pago Pago (AUS)
Angel Flight (SAF), 56.0, b f 4, Fahal - Flying Mary (SAF) by Aeropasser
Margins: ½, short head, ¾
Also ran: Likeithot (SAF) 58.5, Surfin' Usa (SAF) 59.5, Omaha Beach (SAF) 57.0, Equal Image (ARG) 59.0, Silver Mist (SAF) 60.0, Hilgrove (SAF) 58.5, Braggadacio (SAF) 59.0, Appelate Court (SAF) 58.5, Naughty Prince (SAF) 56.5, Jagged Ice (SAF) 58.5, Fork Lightening (SAF) 56.5, Crimson Blossom (IRE) 57.0, West Coast Gold (SAF) 53.5, Bucked Off (SAF) 55.5

Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (SAf-G3) (6/7)

Mike Bass must be looking at the possibility of winning the Gr1 Canon Gold Cup with a son of Saumarez for the second time in three years after Bill Of Rights came from nowhere to beat 17 rivals in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (handicap) over 2400m at Greyville on Saturday. Bass won the Gold Cup in 2006 with Saumarez gelding Diamond Quest.

Bill Of Rights came into the Lonsdale unbeaten from three starts over 2400m, amongst them last season's Gr3 Winter Derby at Kenilworth, but his 16 draw was a contributing factor to him starting as an easy-to-back 10/1 chance in what looked a wide open handicap. Autumn Frost hadn't fared much better with the barrier draw, but nevertheless went off as the well supported favourite after appearing not to quite stay 3200m in soft ground last time out in the Gr2 Gold Bowl at Turffontein.
Weichong Marwing elected to drop Bill Of Rights out from his poor draw and waited at the rear of the bumper-sized field as Bayete set a very moderate pace from stable companion Membrado and Earlswood, with Santa and Solar Symbol next in line. The pace continued to be distinctly unhurried on the final bend, and at the top of the straight the Lonsdale really did resemble the proverbial cavalry charge as the big field fanned out all over the course. It was still virtually impossible to confidently pick the likely winner coming to the last 200m, but Bill Of Rights had unleashed a strong challenge up against the outside rail, with the stable companions Ser De Carrera and Winona in hot pursuit as the early leaders faded. Bill Of Rights took a narrow lead, and had enough in hand to repulse the challenge of Ser De Carrera by a neck while conceding 3.5 kgs to the runner-up.
Winona ran on to be half-a-length further away in third, more than confirming her good current run of form and underlining her claims for the forthcoming Listed Queen Palm Handicap over 2400m against her own sex on Vodacom Durban July day - a race she won 2 years ago, when it was run over 2600m at Scottsville. Gold Bowl winner Pacific Warrior ran on stoutly to be beaten around two lengths into 4th place and could be a genuine contender himself for the Gold Cup in early August, a race in which he placed 3rd last year. Autumn Frost made steady headway to finish on top of the placed runners in 5th.
Bill Of Rights had, by the trainer's own admission, proved disappointing when he finished last of six on his KZN debut at Clairwood three weeks earlier. However, he was right back on song here, confirming the good work he had shown at home in the run-up to the Lonsdale, and the turn of foot he showed to come from behind in a race not obviously run to suit a horse racing from the back could well be what makes all the difference come the Gold Cup. Whether he stays 3200m remains to be seen, but there is every possibility that he will, and that he may be even better over it than he is over 2400m. The acceleration which carried him so quickly to the head of the Lonsdale field is not a trait found in most long-distance specialists, suggesting that the 4yo may carry just the right blend of speed and stamina to make him a serious contender for the country's premier marathon. Before that, Bill Of Rights is expected to turn out again at Greyville on July day, but Bass didn't specify if he would contest the Gr2 Gold Bowl over 3000m or the Listed July Consolation handicap over 2200m, a race Diamond Quest won before his successful Gold Cup bid in 2006.
Bill Of Rights was originally acquired for just R22k at the 2005 Equimark Vintage Sale, but that later fell through and he is currently raced on lease terms by his trio of owners. The original purchaser would have every right to feel slightly ill at this point, for the gelding has won five times from 15 starts and earned R387k. Bill Of Rights is the fifth foal and third winner of Fine Edge mare Fine Series, who won three races between 1600/1800m. He was bred by Lionel Cohen at Odessa.

Greyville, SA, June 7, R200k, 2400m, turf, good, 2.26.21 (CR 2. 25.01).
BILL OF RIGHTS (SAF), 56.0, b g4, Saumarez (GB) - Fine Series (SAF) by Fine Edge (GB). Owner TF Smith, DC Baron & JRC Harris; breeder D Cohen & Sons (SAF); trainer MW Bass; jockey W Marwing (125.000)
Ser De Carrera (ARG), 52.5, ch g 4, Roy - Slew Briosa (ARG) by Slewsville
Winona (SAF), 54.0, b f 5, Rakeen - Miss Ryder (SAF) by Red Ryder
Margins: neck, ½, 1¼
Also ran: Pacific Warrior (SAF) 53.0, Autumn Frost (SAF) 52.0, Magical Ballad (SAF) 52.5, Apple-A-Day (SAF) 55.0, Richmond Park (SAF) 51.5, Bayete (SAF) 53.0, Silverpoint (AUS) 55.5, Strategic News (AUS) 58.0, Western Walk (SAF) 51.0, Moon Storm (SAF) 51.0, Membrado (ARG) 54.0, Prince Asad (SAF) 58.0, Solar Symbol (SAF) 53.0, Earlswood () 50.0, Santa (SAF) 54.0

Debutante S. (SAf-G2) (6/7)

Mike Azzie has a lovely string of 2yo fillies this term. One week after sending On Her Toes out to share the honours in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship, the ebullient Gauteng trainer struck again when Winterinthewoods led throughout to win the Debutante over 1400m at Greyville on Saturday, writes MATTHEW LIPS.

Winterinthewoods was the only maiden in a field of 12, but she had looked decidedly green when going close as the heavily supported 11/20 favourite in her only previous start over 1160m at Turffontein and was certainly not without her backers in a Debutante where favourite Consensual was giving away 6 kgs to every other horse in the line-up.
Much travelled Francois Herholdt has recently signed up as Azzie's stable jockey and certainly got the new association off to a grand start. Winterinthewoods went straight to the head of affairs, and stayed there. She showed the way early from Supa Glow, Badger's Cove, Consensual, and Sweet Theresa, with strongly supported second favourite Lady Windermere held up towards the back of the field. Winterinthewoods was given a slight breather before turning in, kicking away again at the top of the straight, and maintaining her momentum all the way home. Badger's Cove was the only one who seriously looked like making a race of it at any stage, but in the end she was no match for the winner and had to settle for second prize. It was nevertheless a very promising KZN debut effort from the Joey Ramsden-trained runner-up, who was drawn widest of all and who had to be made considerable use of early to get handy from that 12 gate.
Consensual never really quickened before finishing 3rd, which was a shade disappointing even allowing for the 58 kgs she carried versus the 52 kgs shouldered by the other 11 runners, but she remains one to take very seriously if she cracks a decent draw for the Gr1 Golden Slipper over the same course-and-distance on Vodacom Durban July day. Unlike the Debutante, that is a level weights contest and Mike Bass' filly won't be made to suffer for having already won 4 races.
Lady Windermere eventually made late headway to finish 4th and seemed to cope okay with this longer distance, but she met Consensual on 6kgs better terms for a 2.5 lengths beating in the Gr 3 Cape Fillies Nursery over 1200m in March and still only managed to narrow that deficit to 1.25 lengths.
Winterinthewoods is herself likely to be aimed at the Golden Slipper. Her trainer said afterwards that he would try to keep her and On Her Toes away from each other, at least for the rest of their 2yo careers, and it may depend on the draw which of the two turns up at Greyville on July day, but Azzie did intimate that he considers Winterinthewoods to be potentially the better filly. A daughter of Western Winter, she is the second foal and first winner of Fort Wood mare Niteinthewoods, who failed to win from only 2 starts but who is a daughter of splendid broodmare Thousand Nights. That makes Winterinthewoods a three-parts sister to unbeaten 2yo colt Warm White Night and a Gr1 win for Azzie's charge before the end of term could see the 2 close relatives both picking up an Equus Award come August.
Winterinthewoods was bred at Gary Player Stud and was a R1m purchase from the select session of the 2007 National Yearling Sale. Her career earnings stand at R139k.

Greyville, SA, June 7, R200k, 1400m, turf, good, 1.22.93 (CR 1.21.58).
WINTERINTHEWOODS (SAF), 52.0, b f 2, Western Winter - Niteinthewoods (SAF) by Fort Wood. Owner A Christoforu, JB McIntosh, SM Nathan, GJ Westwater, M&S Azzie, S Padayachee & Gary Player Stud; breeder Gary Player Stud (SAF); trainer MG Azzie; jockey F Herholdt (125.000)
Badger's Cove (SAF), 52.0, b f 2, Joshua Dancer - Princess Tobin (SAF) by Badger Land
Consensual (SAF), 58.0, b f 2, Camden Park - Isadora Duncan (SAF) by Dancing Champ
Margins: 2½, ½, ¾
Also ran: Lady Windermere (SAF) 52.0, Supa Glow (SAF) 52.0, Gypsy's Warning (SAF) 52.0, Kiribati (SAF) 52.0, Sweet Theresa (SAF) 52.0, Smangaliso (SAF) 52.0, Secret Park (SAF) 52.0, Prima Tiara (SAF) 52.0, Nightstalker (SAF) 52.0

Umkhomazi S. (SAf-G2) (6/7)

Forest Path has always carried a huge reputation and looks to be a juvenile colt of considerable potential after narrowly winning the Umkhomazi S over 1400m at Greyville on Saturday. Forest Path had finished second as the 1/3 favourite in a Gr3 over 1200m at Scottsville second time out, but that was on soft ground and the firmer going here, plus the additional 200m, could have helped to make the difference.

Forest Path was the ante-post favourite in a field of 10, but was allowed to drift to 5/1 as support came for several of his rivals, amongst them eventual favourite Mount Hood, top weight Commissionerstreet, recent course maiden winner Predestination, and the latter's fellow Cape Town raider, Kings Cross. Anthony Delpech had Forest Path right up there in second spot as Seek A Secret set a brisk pace, with Qui Harbour and Kings Cross next in line. Mount Hood was waited with some way off the action as Seek A Secret continued to lead until into the straight.
Forest Path wasted no time in making his move once they had straightened for home, taking a narrow lead from a fairly packed field and holding on grimly under a strong Delpech to ride to repel the late challenge of Mount Hood by a short head. That said, Mount Hood looked distinctly unfortunate not to reward those backers who had punted him into a 2/1 market leader. He shifted off a straight course in the last 100m, hampering the eventual fifth Predestination in the process, and giving Marthinus Mienie a tough ride as he struggled to get the Paul Matchett-trained gelding back on an even keel. There can be no doubt that Mount Hood cost himself rather more by doing all this than the short head by which he was beaten at the wire, and he is a better horse than his current record of one win from six starts would imply.
Kings Cross finished a further 1.5 lengths away in third, after appearing to have every chance, with Commissionerstreet another three-parts of a length behind him in fourth, carrying 2 kgs more than the rest of the field. Predestination may have finished third but for being hampered in the closing stages, but it is debatable whether he could have genuinely troubled the first two.
Forest Path is trained by Mike de Kock, who said afterwards that he believes the son of Fort Wood has what it takes to make the transition to Gr1 level. The colt is a full brother to very useful stayer Reef Road, and as such may well thrive as a 3yo when campaigned over more ground. He is out of the Northern Guest mare Northern Trail and is owned by his breeder Mrs Bridget Oppenheimer, who was on hand to see him win. With two wins from three starts to his name, Forest Path has earned R195 625 in stakes.

Greyville, SA, June 7, R200k, 1400m, turf, good, 1.23.75 (CR 1.21.58).
FOREST PATH (SAF), 55.0, ch c 2, Fort Wood - Money Trail (SAF) by Northern Guest. Owner Mrs BD Oppenheimer ; breeder Mauritzfontein Stud (SAF); trainer MF de Kock; jockey A Delpech (125.000)
Mount Hood (SAF), 55.0, ch g 2, Manshood (GB) - Break North (SAF) by Northern Guest
Kings Cross (SAF), 55.0, b g 2, Silvano (GER) - Opposition (SAF) by Al Mufti
Margins: nose, 1½, ¾
Also ran: Commissionerstreet (AUS) 57.0, Predestination (AUS) 55.0, Royal Union (SAF) 55.0, Qui Harbour (SAF) 55.0, King's Shilling (SAF) 55.0, Seek A Secret (SAF) 55.0, Keyman (SAF) 55.0

Greyville 1900 (SAf-G2) (5/23)

River Jetez is set to cross swords with her older brother Pocket Power for the first time in the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July after she booked her passage to Africa's most prestigious race by winning the Astrapak 1900 at Greyville on Friday night. Whether full siblings from the same stable have ever squared up to each other in the July's long history is not known for certain, but it surely hasn't happened for a very long time if it has happened at all and this scenario will add some spice to the 2008 edition.

In truth, winners of the Astrapak have a dismal recent record in the July, with no horse having achieved the double since Occult in 1986 - ages before the introduction of merit ratings - and River Jetez will be hard pressed to reverse that trend. She arguably may have a better chance than many recent Astrapak winners of somehow pulling it off, but that isn't necessarily saying much and there are many shrewd punters who habitually cross the Astrapak winner off their list of July possibilities before the dust has even settled. The days when the July weights were finalised before this traditional lead-up race are long gone and the penalty which goes with winning the Astrapak reduces - not improves - the successful horse's chance of landing the July. Occult himself may very well have failed to complete the double all those years ago if he had carried a penalty into the July. At least one rival trainer described this season's Astrapak as the strongest in years, and he may well have been right, but it still wasn't a mini-July by any stretch of the imagination.
That all said, River Jetez did win in eye-catching style and her trainer Mike Bass' record in domestic Feature races is second to none. He no doubt has left himself a bit to work with in the month or so leading up to the big showdown, and River Jetez has continued to get better with age. The impressive winner of a minor fillies' event over 1500m at Clairwood on her winter season debut, River Jetez was a strongly supported favourite to beat 15 rivals in the Astrapak, a race in which only three of the field had won their most recent start.
Weichong Marwing had River Jetez racing towards the rear as Wonder Lawn set a fairly ordinary pace from Silverpoint and Floatyourboat, with Jagged Ice also prominent ahead of Equal Image and Apple-A-Day. Sole 3YO and ante-post favourite Rudra was also well back early on, with 2007 Vodacom Durban July hero Hunting Tower as always held up off the pace as well. Wonder Lawn had done a good job of controlling the pace to suit his own needs and tried to kick away at the top of the straight, where those who had raced nearest to him immediately struggled to make any impression. South Africa's most expensive ever yearling still led inside the last 200m, and it briefly seemed as if Wonder Lawn might have stolen the race, but River Jetez was now thundering home towards the inside while Catmandu unleashed a strong finish wider out. The two mastered Wonder Lawn inside the last 100m, with River Jetez taking a narrow lead close home and just lasting to beat the luckless Catmandu by a nostril. The latter has now reached the frame in five consecutive Feature events, including two at Gr 1 level, and is well due a win in something of substance.
Wonder Lawn eventually finished third, with the talented but enigmatic Silver Mist running on strongly to finish fourth. Rudra, twice placed behind Kings Gambit in Gr 1 races during the Gauteng Feature season, was never seen with a chance and might give some pundits cause for concern as far as the strength of the 3yo crop vis-à-vis the older horses, but the likes of Eddington and Imbongi have more than carried the flag for the 2004 generation in important all-aged races this year and one imagines that Rudra simply ran some way below his Johannesburg form here.
Bass admitted that the paucity of races for older fillies in the KZN winter season calendar has virtually forced him to throw River Jetez in against the boys, but she did receive 4.5 kgs from the runner-up and that obviously made all the difference. She hardly seems to be in the same class as Ipi Tombe, the last female winner of the July, and one imagines that if a filly is to win the race this year then Dancer's Daughter remains the one most likely to do so. After all, Justin Snaith's charge beat River Jetez by 4.5 lengths in the Gr 1 Paddock Stakes in January. The flip side of the coin is that Dancer's Daughter will probably head for the July without ever having raced at Greyville, and River Jetez did unleash a turn of finishing speed to win the Astrapak that would have made her illustrious brother proud.
One thing is for sure. Those breeders who kept disposing of Pocket Power and River Jetez's dam in the sales ring, for small money at that, must be kicking themselves every shade of purple. The Prince Florimund mare Stormsvlei was sold at auction for R15 000 and R10 000 at various stages of her life, including one occasion when she was in foal with River Jetez, and she is now the strong frontrunner for the broodmare-of-the-year title. A July triumph by either of her representatives would be a large cherry on a very big cake.
River Jetez is a four-year-old daughter of rampant champion sire Jet Master. She is the eighth foal and sixth winner of her dam, who won three races up to 1400m and whose dam in turn was the Gr 1 winner Distant Echoes, herself the dam of Gr 2 winning sprinter Harry's Echoe. River Jetez was bred by Out Of Africa Stud and was bought for R230 000 at the 2005 National Two Year Old Sale. She is now the winner of five races from 15 starts, for R664 675 in stakes.

Greyville, SA, May 23, R300k, 1900m, turf, good, 1.56.40 (CR 1.53.31).
RIVER JETEZ (SAF), 53.5, b f 4, Jet Master (SAF) - Stormsvlei (SAF) by Prince Florimund (SAF). Owner Mr & Mrs C Amm and Mr NM Shirtliff; breeder Out Of Africa Stud (SAF); trainer MW Bass; jockey W Marwing (187.500)
Catmandu (SAF), 58.0, b g 4, Makaarem - Gypsey Spirit (SAF) by Coastal
Wonder Lawn (SAF), 55.5, b g 4, Fort Wood - Velvet Green (BRZ) by Roy
Margins: nose, neck, 1¼
Also ran: Silver Mist (SAF) 57.5, Apple-A-Day (SAF) 53.5, Floatyourboat (SAF) 60.0, Hunting Tower (SAF) 60.0, Rudra (SAF) 52.5, Silverpoint (AUS) 54.5, Hilgrove (SAF) 56.5, Outcome (SAF) 55.5, Olympic Gold (SAF) 53.5, Equal Image (ARG) 58.0, Appelate Court (SAF) 57.5, Jagged Ice (SAF) 58.0, Run Angel Run (SAF) 52.5

Winter Classic (SAf-G3) (5/24)

Alvaro, disappointing when a well beaten third in the Gr3 Winter Guineas four weeks earlier, set the record straight with a fluent win in the Winter Classic over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Winter Guineas winner Gaultier was back for another visit and had between five and twenty four pounds in hand over his ten rivals on merit ratings, but there was some doubt as to whether he would see out the extra 200m. Alvaro and Captain's Knock had been well beaten into third and fourth respectively in the Winter Guineas, but still shaped up as the biggest dangers to Gaultier.
The early pace was a bit muddling perhaps, with Alvaro briefly showing the way before War Of Attrition went on to show the way, with Al Pasha passing horses to race in second as Alvaro eventually settled into third. Casey's Son and Gaultier were next in line with Judged Excellent. War Of Attrition still led turning into the short 400m straight on the old course, but Alvaro soon grabbed the initiative and was sent to the front by Richard Fourie. Once on the lead again, Alvaro was never headed. Gaultier set off in pursuit, with a gallant War Of Attrition still very prominent as Al Pasha weakened, but it was clear racing through the 200m mark that Alvaro was not for catching. Air Combat produced a strong run from well off the pace, but it was always going to be too late to reel in Alvaro, who won by a length from Air Combat, with Gaultier a neck away in third and 1.25 lengths in front of War Of Attrition. Captain's Knock had been drawn wide when fourth in the Winter Guineas but appeared to have no excuses here, making no show at any stage and finishing in the pack.
This return to form after some very disappointing efforts by Air Combat would have pleased connections, for the son of Jet Master looked a bright prospect when winning two of the first three starts of his career. This step up in distance evidently suited him, but the soft going may also have brought out the best in a horse who came here rated seven pound inferior to the eventual winner. Gaultier's effort was gallant enough, but he lacked a killer punch when it was needed and 1800m on soft ground may have been a bridge too far. Conversely, Alvaro loved every inch of a longer distance which he was also attempting for the first time, which is hardly a big surprise given that he is a son of 2400m champion and English Derby winner Galileo. It remains to be seen whether Alvaro's connections will stretch him to 2400m for the Gr 3 Winter Derby which concludes the Winter Challenge series for 3yos, for he does have plenty of speed in the dam's side of his pedigree, but it may well be on the agenda for the Justin Snaith-trained gelding.
Some terrific horses have won this race in years gone by, amongst them Pocket Power, Winter Solstice, and Trademark. Alvaro has a long way to go to be anything like that good, but he did have the excuse of a wide draw when he finished nearer last than first in the Cape Guineas in his only try at Gr1 level to date. He is no doubt better than that, but the considerable changes to the weights structure of the J&B Met introduced from this year will make it much harder for a horse like Alvaro if and when the time comes for him to try and even remotely emulate the feats of Pocket Power. Be that as it may, Alvaro remains a promising late season 3yo who could be even better at four, especially as he was a late foal with a 19th November birth date.
Australian-bred Alvaro is the 12th foal and seventh known winner of Thatching mare Gun Lady, who won one race in her native Britain and who was produced one known Listed race winner and two individual Listed race runners-up in Australia. Alvaro was bought for Aus$80 000 (about R600K in today's terms) at the '06 Magic Million National Yearling Sale and has won five times from 10 starts for earnings of R285 075.

Kenilworth, SA, May 24, R150k, 1800m, turf, soft, 1.53.28 (CR 1.48.98).
ALVARO (AUS), 57.0, b c 3, Galileo (IRE) - Gun Lady (GB) by Thatching (IRE). Owner D Nagle & Adam Guerney, JP de Chatelain & AC Peter; breeder Staldone Corporation (AUS); trainer J Snaith; jockey R Fourie (R93.750)
Air Combat (SAF), 57.0, b c 3, Jet Master (SAF) - Shoot The Booze (SAF) by All Fired Up
Gaultier (SAF), 57.0, b c 3, Jallad - Elegantly by Danzig
Margins: 1, neck, 1¼
Also ran: War Of Attrition (SAF) 57.0, Casey's Son (SAF) 57.0, Al Pasha (SAF) 57.0, Judged Excellent (SAF) 57.0, Captain's Knock (SAF) 57.0, Sun City (SAF) 57.0, World Trip (AUS) 57.0, Broken Hill (SAF) 57.0

Cape Nursery (SAf-G3) (5/24)

Empress Crown - sole female in a field of 11 - gave the boys something to think about when she won the Betting World Cape Nursery over 1200m at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Fillies have had a fine year in mixed-sex juvenile Feature races this term, with Sparkling Gem (in the Listed 2yo race on J&B Met day), Scripture (East Cape Nursery) and She's A Winner (Godolphin Barb Stakes) all preceding Empress Crown. Interestingly, two fillies (Leela and Thekkady) will contest this weekend's Gr1 Gold Medallion against the colts in preference to the Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Ch'ship on the same card.
Empress Crown had run well below her best when sixth in the Gr3 Fillies Nursery at Kenilworth 4 weeks earlier, but there was plenty of support for her at big prices on Saturday. The Cape Nursery had an open look to it, with several of her rivals having met before and shown there to be little to choose between them. The first five finishers from the Listed Somerset 1200 in April were all back in action again, having been covered by no more than two lengths in the earlier race, while impressive 1400m debut winner Jamaican Dream and dual Durbanville 1000m winner South Country were newcomers to racing at Stakes level. It promised to be a close-run affair, and so it was.
Chief Blackfoot wasted little time in heading to the front of affairs and set a strong pace on the soft ground, with Mister See and Jodee's Prospect closest to him as Somerset 1200 winner Burberry tracked the leading bunch. Empress Crown had not made the liveliest of starts and was racing well off the pace. Chief Blackfoot was still well clear coming to the final 200m, but races on the testing Kenilworth straight course can change dramatically in the blinking of an eye. The frontrunner was suddenly in trouble 100m out as the fuel gauge began to run dry, and the pack were quickly all over him like hungry lions.
Summer Exposure, Bush Pirate and Burberry were all looming up strongly, but none of them was arriving on the scene with quite the same momentum as their female rival. Flashing up against the outside rail, Empress Crown came from virtually nowhere under Tyron Langdon to grab the advantage close home and win going away by half-a-length from the gallant Chief Blackfoot, who managed to grab second prize in a battle of short heads for the minor placings. Bush Pirate and Summer Exposure were right on top of him in third and fourth respectively, but South Country was clearly not travelling well a long way from home and was not persevered with by his jockey.
Empress Crown is trained by that man Mike Bass, who has a fine string of 2yos in his care this season and who doubtless still has plenty more waiting in the wings who have yet to race. The Nursery winner is a daughter of Caesour and is the 4th foal and third winner of her dam, Fire Tread. A daughter of All Fired Up, Fire Tread won 3 races up to 1400m incl. the Gr3 Diana Stakes and Listed Sophomore Sprint, and is the dam also of Gr2 runner-up Mighty Atom. Bred at Gary Player Stud, Empress Crown was bought for R27k from the 2007 National Yearling Sale. The winner of Cape Town's first 2yo race of the season, she has now scored twice from four starts and earned R110 933. Both on her pedigree and style of racing, it seems entirely possible that Empress Crown will stay at least another 200m.

Kenilworth, SA, May 24, R125k, 1200m, turf, soft, 1.14.20 (CR 1.09.90).
EMPRESS CROWN (SAF), 54.5, b f 2, Caesour - Fire Tread (SAF) by All Fired Up. Owner D Nel, NM Shirtliff, LAG Theron & TJ Kerkmann; breeder Gary Player Stud (SAF); trainer MW Bass; jockey T Langdon (R78.125)
Chief Blackfoot (SAF), 57.0, b g 2, Labeeb (GB) - Rank (SAF) by Pole Position (GB)
Bush Pirate (SAF), 57.0, b c 2, Russian Revival - Secret Position (SAF) by Pole Position (GB)
Margins: ½, nose, nose
Also ran: Summer Exposure (SAF) 57.0, Noble Act (SAF) 57.0, Jamaican Dream (SAF) 57.0, Kenny Tee (SAF) 57.0, Mister See (SAF) 57.0, Burberry (SAF) 57.0, Jodee's Prospect (SAF) 57.0, South Country (SAF) 57.0

Gr3 Poinsettia S. (SAf-G3) (5/11)

Scottsville, SA, May 11, R150k, 1200m, turf, good, 68.11 (CR 67.00).
HOT RECEPTION (SAF), 58.0, b f 4, Muhtafal - Triple Tempo (SAF) by Northern Guest. Ownr R Plersch, R Thorpe, RB Zeeman & Summerhill Stud Synd.; brdr Summerhill (SAF); trnr HJ Brown; jockey B Lerena (93.750)
Oracle News (SAF), 58.0, ch f 4, London News (SAF) - Full Spectrum (SAF) by N. Emblem (SAF)
Soft Landing (SAF), 58.0, b m 5, Jet Master (SAF) - Safety Net (SAF) by Golden Thatch (IRE)
Margins: ¾, nose, ¾
Also ran: Ethereal Lady (SAF) 58.0, Maelstrom (SAF) 58.0, Rat Burana (BRZ) 56.5, Zooming Zellie 58.0, Symbol Of Light (SAF) 58.0, Garden Princess (AUS) 58.0, Royal Vision (SAF) 58.0, Dash Of Dynamite (SAF) 56.5

Gr3 E-Cape Derby (SAf-G3) (5/11)

Arlington, SA, May 11, R300k, 2400m, turf, good, 2.38.55  (CR 2.27.50).
JUST LIKE AL (SAF), 57.0, b c 3, Al Mufti - Just Like Flo (SAF) by Elliodor (FR). Owner Mrs S Plattner; breeder la Plaisance Stud (SAF); trainer BJ Crawford; jockey K Neisius (R187.500)
Paris Perfect (SAF), 57.0, ch c 3, Muhtafal - Candle Princess (NZ) by Honor Grades.
October Club (SAF), 57.0, b g 3, Doowaley (IRE) - Fair Times (SAF) by Fair Season (GB)
Margins:  ½, 2, ¾  
Also ran: Moscow Circus (SAF) 57.0, Cameron'skingmaker (AUS) 57.0, Huckleberry (SAF) 57.0, Jet Force (SAF) 57.0, Spring Flood (SAF) 57.0, Chou Choo Wooga (SAF) 57.0, Scorpion King (SAF) 57.0, Quicksand (SAF) 57.0

Gr2 Drill Hall S. (SAf-G2) (5/9)
Greyville, South Africa, May 9, R300.000, 1400m, turf, good, 1.24.25 (CR 1.21.58).
IMBONGI (saf), 56.0, ch g 3, Russian Revival - Garden Verse (SAF) by Foveros (GB). Owner MD Fleischer, OV leibrandt, RS &; BA napier &; Summerhill Stud Synd.; brdr Summerhill (SAF); trainer MF de Kock; jockey A Delpech (187.500)
Bold Ellinore (SAF), 55.5, b f 5, Kahal (GB) - Ellinore (SAF) by Northern Guest
Red Flyer (SAF), 58.0, b g 4, Martinelli - Red Apple (SAF) by Shoe Danzig
Margins: 1¼, 1½ , ¾
Also ran: Pocket Power (SAF) 58.0, Tropical Empire (AUS) 58.0, Floatyourboat (SAF) 58.0, Hilgrove (SAF) 58.0, Rebel King (SAF) 58.0, Appelate Court (SAF) 58.0, Lord Of The Sea (SAF) 58.0, Light Spectrum (SAF) 58.0, Silver Mist (SAF) 58.0, Outcome (SAF) 55.5, Thunder Key (SAF) 58.0, Something Else (SAF) 58.0, Equal Image (ARG) 58.0

Gr2 SA Oaks (SAf-G2) (5/3)

The Oaks over 2450m produced a dramatic finish and was ultimately decided in the boardroom after market rivals Front Of House and Happy Spirit had fought out a dodgems-style battle to the wire. Front Of House came into this as the unbeaten winner of her two previous races and was chalked up as the 15/10 favourite despite having literally only celebrated her third birthday the day before. Happy Spirit however attracted sustained support and by race time the two were sharing top spot on bookmakers' boards. Albizia, Front Of House's stable companion Moon Storm, and Blue Swift had their friends in the market as well.
The pace was decent on the steadily softening ground and it was Snow Charm who showed the way in the rain and the gloom, with Front Of House right in her slipstream followed by Logontonews and Moon Storm. Front Of House was taken to the front turning for home, with Logontonews right on her tail as the pacemaker quickly back-pedalled. Front Of House had seen off the challenge of Logontonews coming inside the last 400m, but Happy Spirit was now unwinding a big run from off the pace and this pair soon had the Oaks to themselves. Happy Spirit looked to be travelling well enough to go on and win her race, but Front Of House proved a tough filly to get past. Unfortunately, though, the lightly raced Irish import showed her inexperience and began to shift out sharply from more than 200m out, joining Happy Spirit and giving the latter a fair bump in the process. Front Of House stuck to her guns and was a neck up on Happy Spirit at the line, but it took no time at all for a stipendiary steward to lodge an objection against the winner. It didn't require more than a passing knowledge of how these things work to figure out what the outcome would be, and Happy Spirit was eventually promoted to first place.
For the record, Moon Storm was outpaced late after looking as if she might make more of a race of it and was beaten a total of 3.75 lengths into third, with Albizia staying on to be another neck away in 4th, but from roughly halfway down the straight only one of two fillies was ever likely to win.
Front Of House is a splendidly-bred daughter of Sadler's Wells and this must have been a bitter pill to swallow, but connections of the Mike de Kock-trained filly can take heart from the fact that she ran a superb race against rivals many months older than she, and sooner or later she is bound to regain the bold Black Type which was briefly hers on Saturday.
Happy Spirit is from the first SA crop of multiple international Gr1 winner Silvano, whose son Kings Gambit would win the SA Derby some 35 minutes after the Oaks. She is the third foal and second winner of Badger Land mare Happy Land, who won nine races including two Listed events between 1200m/1800m. Trained by Weiho Marwing for owner Kenny Geemooi and ridden here by the trainer's brother Weichong, Happy Spirit was bought for R400k at the inaugural GrandWest yearling sale in 2006. Bred by Maine Chance Farms, she has won 4 from 10 for R435 938 in stakes and fully deserved to land the Oaks off the joint highest merit rating in a 14 runner line-up.

Turffontein, SA, May 3, R400k, 2450m, turf, soft, 2.37.77 (CR 2.31.59).
HAPPY SPIRIT (SAF), 57.0, ch f 3, Silvano (GER) - Happy Land (SAF) by Badger Land. Owner A Gemooi; breeder Maine Chance (SAF); trainer WH Marwing; jockey W Marwing (R250.000)
*Front Of House (IRE), 57.0, b f 3, Sadler's Wells - Adjalisa (IRE) by Darshaan (IRE)
Moon Storm (SAF), 57.0, b f 3, Strike Smartly (CAN) - The Moonstone (SAF) by Fort Wood
*Front Of House finished first, but was placed second on objection
Margins: nk, 3½, ½
Also ran: Albizia (SAF) 57.0, Blue Swift (AUS) 57.0, Logontonews (SAF) 57.0, Raven (SAF) 57.0, Cuir De Russie (SAF) 57.0, Moneycantbuymelove (SAF) 57.0, Super Jean (saf) 57.0, Snow Charm (SAF) 57.0, Ami Amor (aus) 57.0, Grandalea (SAF) 57.0, Lincoln Echo (SAF) 57.0

Gr2 SA Nursery (SAf-G2) (5/3)

Warm White Night had left a big impression when easily winning a Gr3 race on debut in early April and was an extremely short priced favourite to follow up in the PG Bison SA Nursery over 1160m. He achieved it with little fuss, and few would argue against him being the best of his generation we have seen so far. Warm White Night was handy from the start as Big Commotion set a fast pace from the favourite's stable companion Hurricane Force. Most of the nine starters were soon off the bridle in a strongly run race, but Warm White Night always looked to be moving well within himself.
Big Commotion was starting to weaken some 300m out and the favourite very quickly took the race by the scruff of its neck, striding clear under Anton Marcus to win by 2.5 lengths from Cerise Cherry, who was always chasing shadows but who nevertheless stayed on gamely. It was 1.25 lengths further back to Cerise Cherry's stable companion Secret Life in third, which gives the Nursery result a distinctly solid look as the same trio of juveniles had finished in the identical order in the Protea Stakes over 1100m four weeks earlier. Cerise Cherry managed to reduce the winner's margin from 4.75 lengths in the earlier race to little more than half that distance in the Nursery, with Secret Life also three lengths closer to Warm White Night this time around, but the favourite had the race sewn up more than 200m out and wasn't exactly all out to win.
An expensive R1.8 million purchase on select night at the 2007 National Yearling Sale, Warm White Night has bags of scope and in the words of his trainer, "he's looking for a mile tomorrow." The big two-year-old races over 1400m and 1600m during the KZN winter season look to be obvious targets for the Western Winter colt. Warm White Night is the 4th Stakes winner bred from the outstanding Foveros mare Thousand Nights, who won eight races incl. a Listed event up to 1700m and who is dam also of dual Gold Cup hero Highland Night and of last season's Gold Circle Derby winner Prince Asad. Bred by Highlands Farms Stud, Warm White Night races in the familiar emerald green-yellow-and black silks of Irene and Markus Jooste, and has earned R437 500 to date. There is plenty more to come, for sure.

Turffontein, SA, May 3, R500k, 1160m, turf, soft, 1.08.06 (CR 1.05.12).
WARM WHITE NIGHT (SAF), 57.0, b c 2, Western Winter - Thousand Nights (SAF) by Foveros (GB). Owner Mrs I Jooste & Mr MJ Jooste; breeder Highlands (SAF); trainer CS Laird; jockey A Marcus (R312.500)
Cerise Cherry (SAF), 57.0, ch c 2, Goldkeeper - Cherry Girl (SAF) by Pochard (ARG)
Secret Life (SAF), 57.0, ch c 2, Kitalpha - Indecent Proposal (SAF) by Raise A Man
Margins: 2½, 1¼, 2¾
Also ran: Mpumelelo (SAF) 57.0, Big Commotion (SAF) 57.0, Soul Patrol (SAF) 57.0, Hurricane Force (SAF) 57.0, Mdansi (AUS) 57.0, War Of Conquest (SAF) 57.0

Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery (SAf-G2) (5/3)

Merlene De Lago was always handy as Crimson Lady led early, but Anton Marcus had the hot favourite in front by halfway and she soon settled the issue. Merlene De Lago did show a tendency to hang in quite badly once clear of her field, but this was probably due more to her inexperience rather than anything more sinister, even if her jockey remarked afterwards that she is a highly-strung filly who regularly proves a handful at the start. Be that as it may, her slightly erratic steering made no difference to the outcome here as Merlene De Lago kept going strongly all the way home to win by 2 lengths from On Her Toes. The latter stayed on well to be comfortably 2nd best and probably improved a fair bit from her debut win at Scottsville two months earlier. Kesha was 1.25 lengths further behind and has now finished 3rd behind Merlene De Lago in all of the winner's races. Her Excellency, a stable companion to the successful favourite, finished 4th. Kiribati was never seen with a chance and was well beaten into sixth of the nine starters.
Aus-bred Merlene De Lago is a daughter -as her name would suggest - of very successful sire Encosta De Lago and is out of former Aus champion 2yo Merlene (by Danehill). She may well stay a bit further than 1200m, but her trainer would not be drawn into announcing any firm immediate plans for his filly. Her 3 wins from as many starts have earned R437 500 for owners Markus and Ingrid Jooste.

Turffontein, SA, May 3, R400k, 1160m, turf, soft, 1.07.78 (CR 1.05.12).
MERLENE DE LAGO (AUS), 57.0, br f 2, Encosta de Lago (AUS) - Merlene(AUS) by Danehill. Owner Mrs I Jooste & Mr MJ Jooste; bred in Australia; trainer CS Laird; jockey A Marcus (R250.000)
On Her Toes (SAF), 57.0, ch f 2, Western Winter - Savannah Breeze (SAF) by Badger Land
Kesha (SAF), 57.0, b f 2, Braashee (GB) - Baby Battle (SAF) by Camp Arthur (SAF)
Margins: 2, 1¼, nose
Also ran: Her Excellency (AUS) 57.0, Fakazi (SAF) 57.0, Kiribati () 57.0, Crimson Lady (SAF) 57.0, Akilah (SAF) 57.0, Resounding Spirit () 57.0

Gr2 Gold Bowl (SAf-G2) (5/3)

Some relatively young trainers and/or fairly recent additions to the training ranks were seen to good effect on Saturday, which is obviously healthy for racing's future, and John Vos joined the likes of Lance Wiid and Lucky Houdalakis in the big race winner's circle when Pacific Warrior sprung a 33/1 surprise in the Emperors Palace Gold Bowl over 3200m. Pacific Warrior was having his first start for the Vos yard and bounced right back to the form which saw him beaten no more than a head by Long Dollar in the corresponding race twelve months ago. The gelding then went on to finish 3rd of 20 in the Gold Cup at Greyville, but some disappointing subsequent efforts explain the almost complete disdain which punters had for his chances here.
The early pace was a crawl and it was hold-up horse Western Walk who unexpectedly found himself shuffling along in front of heavily supported Spitzbergen early on, with Membrado and Autumn Frost next in line as topweight Likeithot was held up near the back of a nine horse field. The Gold Bowl inevitably became a bit of a sprint in the straight, and 400m out any one of 5 or 6 could have won. Likeithot began a forward move against the outside fence and for a long way seemed to be travelling better than anything else, but in the end he was unable to concede 6 kgs to Pacific Warrior. The latter was driven to the front inside the final furlong by Marco van Rensburg and essentially outstayed his rivals in the closing stages to beat Likeithot by 1.25 lengths, with Long Dollar a neck away in third after a valiant attempt at winning the Gold Bowl for a second time. Western Walk, a better fancied stablemate to the winner who was plainly not suited by the way the race mapped out, still managed to finish 4th as the fancied pair of Spitzbergen and Membrado both weakened to finish unplaced.
Pacific Warrior is a 6yo son of deceased Dominion Royale out of the Australian-bred Twig Moss mare Pacific Sunrise. "Pacific Sunrise must be the best dam of stayers in the country," enthused Pacific Warrior's owner/breeder Gunther Reimer, adding that the mare has now produced four winners incl. 3 Stakes winners from 4 runners. Pacific Warrior was recording his 6th win from 45 starts and lifted his earnings to R787 200.

Turffontein, SA, May 3, R500k, 3200m, turf, soft, 3.35.78 (CR 3.20.71).
PACIFIC WARRIOR (SAF), 54.0, b c 6, Dominion Royale (GB) - Pacific Sunrise (AUS) by Twig Moss (FR). Owner & breeder GW Reimer (SAF); trainer J Vos; jockey M van Rensburg (R312.500)
Likeithot (SAF), 60.0, b c 5, Rakeen - Hot Weather (SAF) by Fair Season (GB)
Long Dollar (SAF), 56.0, b c 6, Rakeen - Travel In front (AUS) by Citidancer (IRE)
Margins: 1¼, nk, 1
Also ran: Western Walk (SAF) 54.0, Autumn Frost (SAF) 54.5, Membrado (ARG) 56.5, Accord (SAF) 53.5, Paris To Peking (SAF) 54.5, Spitzbergen (SAF) 57.0

Gr2 Camellia S. (SAf-G2) (5/3)

Piere Strydom completed a genuine hat-trick of Graded race wins when he steered Surabi to an easy triumph in the Camellia Stakes over 1160m. This also made it a quick double for Dominic Zaki after the multi-million rand triumph of Eddington 45 minutes earlier and one imagines that the trainer's easy smile would have been wide enough to accommodate a coat hanger lengthwise for at least the rest of the night.
A conditions race for fillies and mares, the Camellia had a very competitive look about it, but Surabi was weighted equal to Evening Attire and better than every other horse in a field of 16 if judged on merit ratings and was a well supported favourite to successfully bring down the curtain on Champions day. Lady Bequick lived up to her name and led for much of the way from a bunched field, with Seat Of Power, Emblem Of Liberty, Evening Attire and Manzanilla not far away, but Surabi went through the gears in no uncertain style and burst clear inside the last 200m, eventually running way from her toiling rivals to win by 2.25 lengths from original favourite Lady Perez. The latter stayed on well all the way after never being too far off the action, but she had no answer to a winner whom she was facing on 1.5 kgs worse terms than would have been the case were the race a handicap.
Lady Bequick managed to hold on to finish a gallant third, half-a-length further behind Lady Perez, with 1.75 lengths further back to Manzanilla in 4th. The latter only ran out of steam late after being right in the mix coming to the final furlong. At least I think she was. It was so dark and gloomy by the time they ran the Camellia that a luminous pink unicorn or two frolicking amongst the runners might have been easy to miss, but never mind. Turffontein is finally getting the old Newmarket lights sometime this year... isn't it?
Mention must be made of a thoroughly honourable and way-above-expectations effort from Kimberley visitor Chippi. Always thereabouts, she was beaten less than five lengths into fifth despite being all of 19 kgs worse off with Surabi than in a handicap and just how to explain this performance I have absolutely no idea. Soft grass must agree with her, one imagines.
Surabi is a 4yo daughter of Nureyev horse Wolfhound and was recording the first Stakes win of her career. She had been tried up to 1600m in her last 3 starts, but sprinting is arguably her forte and all of her career wins have come around 1200m. She is the 4th foal and 3rd winner of Royal Chalice mare Gypsey Queen, who was beaten a cosy 38.25 lengths in her solitary visit to a racecourse but who is the full sister to a pair of SA Oaks winners in Noble Destiny and Royal Prophecy. Bred by Rathmor Stud, Surabi was acquired for R140k at the 2005 National Yearling Sale and has won 5 from 16 for R499 950 in stakes. The Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint at Scottsville on May 31st seems an obvious enough next target.

Turffontein, SA, May 3, R220k, 1160m, turf, soft, 1.09.95 (CR 1.05.12).
SURABI (SAF), 57.5, ch f 4, Wolfhound - Gypsy Queen (SAF) by Royal Chalice (SAF). Owner G Starvino, GL O'Brien, W Oakley, D Durant & GJ Westwater; breeder Rathmor Stud (SAF); trainer D Zaki; jockey P Strydom (R137.500)
Lady Perez (SAF), 57.5, b f 4, West Man - Rosie Perez (SAF) by Cordoba
Lady Bequick (SAF), 56.0, ch f 3, National Assembly (CAN) - Outstanding Star (AUS) by Bletchingly (AUS)
Margins: 2¼, ½ , 1¾
Also ran: Manzanilla (SAF) 57.5, Chippi (SAF) 57.5, Lady Bonzer (AUS) 56.0, Emblem Of Liberty (SAF) 57.0, Super Sarah (SAF) 56.0, Nimley (SAF) 56.0, Prove It (SAF) 57.5, Evening Attire (SAF) 58.0, Seat Of Power (SAF) 56.0, Carry On Katie (SAF) 57.5, Alejate (SAF) 57.5, Nossa Joia (ARG) 57.5

Gr3 Godolphin Barb S. (SAf-G3) (4/30)

Scottsville, South Africa, April 30, R150.000, 1200m, turf, soft, 1.11.29  (CR 1.07.00).
SHE'S A WINNER (SAF), 54.5, b f 2, Joshua Dancer - Pleasant Surprise (SAF) by Jallad. Owner H Witz, PF Adelson, EW Buhr & JM Paterson; breeder Highlands (SAF); trainer CM Bestel; jockey A Forbes (R93.750)
Forest Path (SAF), 57.0, ch c 2, Fort Wood - Money Trail (SAF) by Northern Guest
Broadway Dude (SAF), 57.0, b c 2, Western Winter - Star Of Broadway (SAF) by Freedom Land
Margins:  2¼, 4¾, nk
Also ran: Royal Union (SAF) 57.0, Niyana Express (SAF) 57.0, Jerusalem (SAF) 57.0

Gr3 Strelitzia S. (SAf-G3) (4/30)

Scottsville, SA, April 30, R150k, 1200m, turf, soft, 1.12.28 (CR 1.07.00).
THEKKADY (SAF), 57.0, ch f 2, National Emblem (SAF) - Verve Cliquot (SAF) by Northern Guest. Owner Ms L Gordon; breeder Summerhill Stud (SAF); trainer MG Azzie; jockey C Orffer (R93.750)
Zirconeum (SAF), 57.0, b f 2, Jallad - Sweet Sheila (AUS) by Kenmare (FR)
Gypsy's Warning (SAF), 57.0, b f 2, Mogok - Gypsy Queen (SAF) by Royal Chalice (SAF)
Margins: ½, hd, hd, nose
Also ran: Goat (SAF) 57.0, Noble Heir (SAF) 57.0, Nightstalker (SAF) 57.0, Halfmoonrising (SAF) 57.0, Raindrops On Roses (SAF) 57.0, Ascending Lark (SAF) 55.0, Prima Tiara (SAF) 57.0, Celebutante (SAF) 57.0

Gr2 KZN Guineas (SAf-G2) (4/26)

Imbongi On The Double
Imbongi recorded his 2nd Classic success in the space of less than two months when he shrugged off considerable trouble in running to win the KZN Guineas over 1600m at Greyville on Saturday. The gelding had previously won the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas on March 1st, before appearing not to quite stay 1800m in the Gr1 SA Classic. He went off as the 2nd favourite at Greyville, with Cape Town's champion 3yo the predictable first choice of punters despite returning from a 3 month rest and no previous race experience around right-handed turns.

he race was run at a strong tempo from the start, with Umngazi flying out of the machine and leading briefly before Hamlool - a stable companion to the eventual winner - went off to blaze a trail in front. Modern Monet and Russian Sage were well position behind the two trailblazers, with Imbongi held up in the bunch. The two early leaders always looked to be doing too much, and both soon started to weaken in the straight. Modern Monet came forward to take a narrow advantage, with Russian Sage right in contention wider out. Imbongi started to make up ground in good style, but found himself cramped for galloping room when Modern Monet began to shift out under pressure some 200m from home. Despite being carried off a straight course, Imbongi recovered his momentum under a determined ride from Anthony Delpech and ran on powerfully to eventually deny Russian Sage by three-quarters of a length. Modern Monet was a neck back in third, with Kilcoy Castle running on wide out to be fourth across the line.
However, Kilcoy Castle's rider Brett Smith weighed in at 0.7 kgs lighter than he had weighed out, and after an objection from the Clerk of Scales Kilcoy Castle was disqualified and big outsider Perfect Season awarded fourth prize in his place.
Imbongi should have won more easily than he did and is clearly a much improved horse since being gelded last December. He proved here that his Gauteng Guineas win off what was nearly the lowest merit rating (87) in the 16 runner field was no fluke, and won this off a 101 rating. He was more than a match for the 106-rated Russian Sage, although Imbongi did have the advantage of recent racing on his side and Russian Sage is bound to come on from this run with the Gr 1 Vodacom Durban July his major target this winter. The proximity of 94-rated Modern Monet in third does cast a bit of doubt over the strength of the Guineas form, but it would be unkind to take too much away from the winner. It is highly debatable still whether the best horse - rather the fittest - actually won, but Imbongi is obviously a smart performer and one who may be at his best up to 1600m. Russian Sage won the Gr 1 Cape Derby over 2000m, and may now prefer it a bit beyond the Guineas distance. When all is said and done, the runner-up was beaten fair and square on the day, though.
Imbongi is trained by Mike de Kock and was saddled by assistant Natie Kotzen in the absence of the boss, who was in Hong Kong preparing Archipenko for his victorious assault on the following day's QE II Cup. A son of the Nureyev stallion Russian Revival (who now stands in Kenya), Imbongi is the 9th foal and 7th winner of unraced Foveros mare Garden Verse, dam also of this season's Gr3 winner Spring Garland. Imbongi failed to reach his R120 000 reserve at the 2006 Ready To Run Sale in Gauteng and was sold privately thereafter. A share in Imbongi was retained by his breeders, Summerhill. Four wins from 10 later and Imbongi has banked R650 425.
An ebullient Summerhill supremo Mickey Goss couldn't resist a swipe at members of the media who have more than once criticised the Summerhill policy of giving many of its horses Zulu names, and more than a few buyers have promptly changed those names as soon as the ink has dried on the change of ownership form, but Imbongi is one of the easy ones for even the most die-hard Anglophile of South Africans to pronounce. Just don't ask me what it means.

Greyville, SA, April 26, R300k, 1600m, turf, good, 1.36.01 (CR 1.34.00).
IMBONGI (SAF), 57.0, ch g 3, Russian Revival (- Garden Verse (SAF) by Foveros (GB). Owner MD Fleischer, OV Leibrandt, BS Clements, RS & BA Napier and Summerhill Stud synd.; brdr Summerhill (SAF); trnr M de Kock; jockey A Delpech (187.500)
Russian Sage (SAF), 57.0, b c 3, Jallad - Sage Blue (SAF) by Badger Land
Modern Monet (SAF), 57.0, b g 3, Modern Day - Complimentary (SAF) by Claude Monet
Margins: ¾, nk, ¾
Also ran: Perfect Season (SAF) 57.0, Art Of War (SAF) 57.0, Thandolwami (SAF) 57.0, Hamlool (AUS) 57.0, Profit Report (AUS) 57.0, Galaxy (BRZ) 57.0, The Law (SAF) 57.0, First Honour (SAF) 57.0, Horatio (SAF) 57.0, Ballito Boy (SAF) 57.0, Umngazi (SAF) 57.0, Kilcoy Castle (SAF) 57.0 (4th; disq)

KZN Fillies Guineas (SAf-G2) (4/26)

Bargain Time
Rei Rei warmed the hearts of bargain hunters everywhere when she floored 15 rivals to easily win the KZN Fillies Guineas over 1600m at Greyville on Saturday. Her modest R30k purchase price as a yearling made Stan Elley's charge easily the least expensive horse in the field, but Rei Rei more than justified the virtual last minute decision to make the trek up from Cape Town for the race and, all in all, her impressive display amounts to something of a Cinderella story.

The barrier draw always looked set to play a major role in the outcome of the first Gr 2 of the KZN season. The talented stable companions Rat Burana and Gilded Minaret both had to start from very wide gates, while what would have been the deepest draw of all resulted in classy Gr 1 winner Nania not even contesting the race at all. Rat Burana was still installed as favourite after a rather luckless third behind Urabamba in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic at Turffontein three weeks earlier, with Sahara and Ice Belle both attracting considerable support as Rei Rei - 2nd behind Gaultier in a competitive progress plate over 1200m at Kenilworth just eleven days earlier - went off as a 12/1 chance.
Alpine Club flew out of the gates and led briefly, but soon it was Mia Joshua who went on to set a good pace from Phenomina and Alpine Club, with Rei Rei perfectly positioned in fourth followed by Milk And Honey. Rat Burana was forced to race ride but was not very far off the leaders, with Ice Belle and Sahara both in midfield. Alpine Club came through early in the straight to briefly regain the lead, with Rat Burana trying to chase her wider out, but Rei Rei didn't waste much time in stamping her authority on proceedings. She quickened well under Karl Neisius to lead approaching the last 200m, and unleashed a turn of foot that none of her rivals could come close to matching as she bolted home 2.75 lengths clear of Sahara, who in turn had only a short head to spare over third placed Ice Belle. Gilded Minaret stayed on steadily to be fourth, with the stable companions Alpine Club and Rat Burana next to finish.
Just how much of an effect the draw had on the Fillies Guineas is obviously a matter of opinion, but it was considerable and Rat Burana should have been a good deal closer than she was, but whether she would ever have won is another debate completely. Rei Rei raced considerably closer to the action early on than has been the case in most of her Cape Town appearances and no doubt enjoyed the solid pace at which the Fillies Guineas was run. According to co-owner Mike Fullard, a tilt at this race was not on the cards until Rei Rei's excellent last sprint in mid-April, which persuaded the filly's trainer to make the long haul to Durban. Rei Rei has threatened to win a decent race throughout her career, but has herself been frustrated by unfavourable draws. "Who knows, with better draws she might have been a multiple Graded winner by now," remarked Stan Elley afterwards. The ease with which Rei Rei landed the first major success of her career may have surprised even her connections, though. It wasn't much less than a rout.
Elley didn't rule out the possibility of Rei Rei staying 2000m, but admitted that he wasn't entirely sure just what his filly's best distance really is. She has the speed to be effective over 1200m (albeit on the very stiff Kenilworth course), but her ability to relax in a race and produce a burst of finishing speed when asked for it could make her more versatile than most. She was always travelling very strongly here, and her rider said afterwards that even 1000m from home he thought she would win, but for all that there is no guarantee at all that Rei Rei will be equally effective much beyond the mile. She is from the first crop of Sadler's Wells stallion Doowaley, who won seven races up to 2100m in a career which saw victorious in the UK, Italy, and the USA, but Rei Rei's dam (the Fine Edge mare Late Night Live) recorded her only win over 1000m. Rei Rei is the ninth foal and seventh winner of Late Night Live, who is a half sister to Gr 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Star Award. Bred by Lionel Cohen at Odessa Stud, Rei Rei was cleverly bought from the 2006 Equimark Premier Yearling Sale and has now won 3 of 12 for R306 300 in stakes.

Greyville, SA, April 26, R250.000, 1600m, turf, good, 1.36.39 (CR 1.34.00).
REI REI (SAF), 57.0, ch f 3, Doowaley (IRE) - Late Night Live (SAF) by Fine Edge (GB). Owner MI Fullard, JH Drew and D Watson-Smith; breeder D Cohen & Sons (SAF); trainer S Elley; jockey K Neisius (R156.250)
Sahara (SAF), 57.0, b f 3, Mogok - Too Much Sun (SAF) by Foveros (GB)
Ice Belle (SAF), 57.0, ch f 3, Western Winter - Trojan Belle (SAF) by Centenary
Margins: 2¾, nose, 1¾
Also ran: Gilded Minaret (SAF) 57.0, Alpine Club (SAF) 57.0, Rat Burana (BRZ) 57.0, Miss Turbulence (SAF) 57.0, Garota De Ipanema (BRZ) 57.0, Milk And Honey 57.0, Journal (SAF) 57.0, Mochachino (SAF) 57.0, Laser Fan (SAF) 57.0, Joshua's Mistress (SAF) 57.0, Annawood (SAF) 57.0, Mia Joshua (SAF) 57.0, Phenomina (SAF) 57.0

Gr3 Winter Guineas (SAf-G3) (4/27)

The Bass juggernaut rolled on in the Fieldspring Racing Winter Guineas over 1600m little more than half-an-hour after the Fillies Nursery, when Gaultier gunned down stable companion Blue Tiger in the closing stages to make it another one-two for the stable.
Alvaro had beaten Blue Tiger on 2.5 kgs worse terms over 1400m three weeks earlier and was the well supported favourite in a field of fourteen. Gaultier had beaten subsequent Gr2 KZN Fillies Guineas winner Rei Rei in a 1200m sprint twelve days earlier, but was quite easy to back at around 5/1 along with Blue Tiger as Casey's Son found considerable support at bigger odds. Blue Tiger pulled hard early and found himself a somewhat reluctant leader, with Diana's Choice and Gaultier prominent followed by Scorpion King. Alvaro raced in midfield, some 6 or 7 lengths adrift of the leader.
Blue Tiger was a good deal more settled on the lead by the time he brought them into the straight, where Gaultier went to the inside for his run and Diana's Choice set off in pursuit wider out. The latter didn't have all that much left in the proverbial tank 200m out and eventually finished fifth over a distance which seems a bit beyond her best, but Gaultier coped very well with his first attempt at a mile and wore Blue Tiger down over the last 100m to get the upper hand close home and win quite tidily by half-a-length under Bernard Fayd'Herbe. Alvaro stayed on to finish 3rd, but was never a threat to first two and finished 3.75 lengths further behind Blue Tiger. Captain's Knock was another neck away in fourth.
Opinions were sharply divided before the race as to whether Gaultier would stay 1600m. "(Co-owner) Ken Truter thought he would stay, I hoped he would stay, and Bernard (Fayd'Herbe) thought he wouldn't stay," quipped the winning trainer, adding that the winning rider had complained about "being on the wrong one." Oddly enough, it was Blue Tiger rather than Gaultier who was very unsettled early on and the grey son of Counter Action may have just cost himself the race by fighting Karl Neisius through the early stages, whereas Gaultier always travelled well and reaped the reward by finishing the race off more strongly.
Gaultier has always been held in high regard and Bass evidently considered him to be his best 2YO last season, but his career was temporarily derailed by a few problems. The Winter Guineas is the first leg of the three-pronged Cape Winter Challenge Series for 3YOs, a series in which Gaultier's trainer has built up a fantastic record down the years - not least with Pocket Power winning all three races in 2006 - but Bass intimated that the 1800m of the forthcoming Winter Challenge would probably be a bit beyond both Gaultier and Blue Tiger. There seems no prospect at all of either coping with the 2400m of the Winter Derby and it was Judged Excellent - unplaced in Sunday's race - who was named by Bass as his only candidate for the balance of the series.
Gaultier is a son of Jallad. He is the 11th foal and eighth winner of USA-bred Danzig mare Elegantly, who won only once during her racing career in the States but who is also the dam of Gr 1 SA Classic winner Glamour Boy. Gaultier races in the same Ken Truter silks as Glamour Boy, who earned a tick under R2m in his career with trainer David Ferraris. Bred by the Alchemy and a R350K buy from the 2006 Equimark Vintage Yearling Sale, Gaultier has won 4 from a dozen starts for R246 600.

Kenilworth, SA, April 27, R150.000, 1600m, turf, good, 1.38.31 (CR 1.35.80).
GAULTIER (SAF), 57.0, b g 3, Jallad - Elegantly by Danzig. Owner KP Truter & NM Shirtliff; breeder The Alchemy (SAF); trainer MW Bass; jockey B Fayd'herbe (R93.750)
Blue Tiger (SAF), 57.0, gr c 3, Counter Action (SAF) - Manuka (SAF) by Rainbow Dream (FR)
Alvaro (AUS), 57.0, b g 3, Galileo (IRE) - Gun Lady (GB) by Thatching (IRE)
Margins: ½, 3¾, nk
Also ran: Captain's Knock (SAF) 57.0, Diana's Choice (SAF) 54.5, Casey's Son (SAF) 57.0, Fastnetrock (SAF) 57.0, Power Control (SAF) 57.0, War Of Attrition (SAF) 57.0, Judged Excellent (SAF) 57.0, Red Treasure (SAF) 57.0, One Shot (SAF) 57.0, Sun City (SAF) 57.0, Scorpion King (SAF) 57.0

Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery (SAf-G3) (4/27)

Bass was extremely well represented in the John Platter South African Wines Guide Kenilworth Fillies Nursery over 1200m, saddling precisely half of the ten runner field incl. favourite Rose Reserve, unbeaten winner of two races including the highly restricted but valuable Equimark Fillies S over the same course-and-distance in March. However, Rose Reserve had to play 2nd fiddle behind one of her stable companions when Consensual ran out a fluent winner. A winner of two of her three previous races over 1000m, Consensual relished the 200m longer distance here and looks a very decent prospect. Lady Windermere set the pace with Sunsational and Mother Russia handy as Consensual and Rose Reserve raced just off the pace, but the frontrunner was under heavy attack coming to the last 200m. Consensual quickened well under Tyron Langdon to easily sweep into the lead, and while Rose Reserve chased her home for all she was worth the favourite was 1.25 lengths adrift at the line.
Lady Windermere finished a further 1.25 lengths away in third, with three-parts of a length back to Mother Russia, whose performance suggests that her 66/1 debut success over the Kenilworth 1200m twelve days earlier was no fluke. Consensual races in the colours of Jean and the late Laurie Jaffee, who bred the filly and bought her back for R250K at the 2007 National Yearling Sale. Bass admitted afterwards that he was smitten with Consensual at the sales and pestered her breeder into sending him the filly. Bass added that, of all the fillies he saddled in the Nursery, Consensual is the only one slated to visit KZN this winter. "She's the only one strong enough for it," he said, adding that he thought she would stay further than sprints, leaving such races as the Gr1 Golden Slipper over 1400m and the Gr1 Thekwini Fillies S over 1600m as possible targets.
Consensual is a daughter of deceased A P Indy horse Camden Park, who will forever be remembered as the sire of Jay Peg no matter what else may still follow. She is the 9th foal and 8th winner of Dancing Champ mare Isadora Duncan, who won three races up to 1600m. Isadora Duncan's first foal, Silver Stream, finished third in the equivalent race nine years ago. Consensual is a late foal with a November 12th birth date, so she is fully entitled to improve considerably on what she has already achieved, and something even bigger than a Gr3 win may well be on the cards. Her 3 wins from 4 starts have earned stakes of R150 681.

Kenilworth, SA, April 27, R125k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.14.58 (CR 1.09.90).
CONSENSUAL (SAF), 57.0, b f 2, Camden Park - Isadora Duncan (SAF) by Dancing Champ. Owner & breeder The late Mr L & Mrs JD Jaffee; trainer MW Bass; jockey T Langdon (R78.15)
Rose Reserve (SAF), 57.0, b f 2, Lake Coniston (IRE) - Grand Reserve (SAF) by Elliodor (FR)
Lady Windermere (SAF), 57.0, b f 2, Western Winter - Ballad Of Reading (SAF) by Averof (GB)
Margins: 1¼, 1¼, ¾
Also ran: Mother Russia (SAF) 57.0, Smartease (SAF) 57.0, Empress Crown (SAF) 57.0, Sunsational (SAF) 57.0, Temair (SAF) 57.0, Flash Along (SAF) 57.0, Satin And Silk (SAF) 57.0

Gr3 Jacaranda Hcp (SAf-G3) (4/27)

Angel Wings
Run Angel Run is nothing if not versatile. The easy winner of a Gr3 sprint over 1160m last December, the 4yo added another success at the same level to her haul when defying joint top weight of 60 kgs in the Jacaranda Handicap over 1800m on the inner track at Turffontein on Sunday. Run Angel Run had finished fourth behind runaway winner She's On Fire in a Gr2 over 2000m the previous month and was the weak 7/2 favourite in a field of 10 for this fillies' and mares' contest.

rett Smith had Run Angel Run towards the rear as Admiral's Daughter set the pace from Rock's Broad and Calumet, with Island Swing and Ithala further back as Spring Garland brought up the rear. Calumet briefly came through to take up a narrow lead in the straight as the frontrunners weakened, but 200m out the race resembled the proverbial cavalry charge. Ithala was unwinding a challenge wider out, with Island Swing still right in the mix, while Run Angel Run made rapid progress down the inside rail. It was the latter who led inside the final furlong, but she had to be driven flat out to the line to deny a running-on Ithala by a nose, with Aces Wild running on stoutly to finish close up in third ahead of Calumet.
It was heart-stopping stuff for connections and favourite backers alike, but Run Angel Run was all heart, although leaving the impression that 1800m is perhaps as far as she wants to go. Trainer Sean Tarry announced afterwards that his filly would now head to KZN for the winter season, despite there "not being a lot of races for her." In truth, there aren't. She won this off a 92 rating, in theory running not one ounce above that mark, and as such has some way to go to be a serious threat on WFA terms in a race like the Gr1 Garden Province S, but at least she will be spared the misery of a Gauteng winter and its concrete tracks.
Run Angel Run is a daughter of Danzig stallion Makaarem, who began his career at Summerhill before departing for a spell of stud duty in Kenya. He died last year, not long after returning to KZN to stand at Middlefield Stud. Bred by Mallorca Stud Farm, Run Angel Run is out of the Russian Fox mare Foxy Angel and has won five times from 12 starts for earnings of R396 550.

Turffontein, SA, April 27, R165k, 1800m, turf, good, 1.49.98 (CR 1.48.76).
RUN ANGEL RUN (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, Makaarem - Foxy Angel (SAF) by Russian Fox. Owner S Deftereos; breeder Mallorca Stud (SAF); trainer SG Tarry; jockey B Smith (103.125)
Ithala (SAF), 54.5, b f 4, Albarahin - Siren Song (SAF) by Coastal
Aces Wild (SAF), 54.5, b f 4, Alami - Catch Me (SAF) by Argosy
Margins: nose, ¾, nose
Also ran: Calumet (SAF) 52.0, Spring Garland (SAF) 60.0, Island Swing (SAF) 59.5, Rock's Broad (AUS) 53.5, Admiral's Daughter (SAF) 56.0, Valdovino (SAF) 57.0, Tiawana (SAF) 58.0

EC Guineas (L) (18/4)

Paris Perfect could reasonably have been named 6 months ago as the most likely winner of the East Cape Guineas and fulfilled that destiny when leading throughout to land the spoils over 1600m at Fairview on Friday. Almost invincible in his home province at present, Paris Perfect had between 5 and 15 kgs in hand over his six rivals on merit ratings and was sent off as the 4/10 favourite.

There was precious little pace on early and Paris Perfect soon found himself in front, setting a fairly leisurely tempo from Tomcat and Danzig's Diamond, with second favourite Huckleberry held up in fourth spot. Once in the straight only Danzig's Diamond ever threatened to make a real race of it with the hot favourite, but Paris Perfect had plenty in reserve - as he should, given that he had not exactly over-exerted himself up front. He found a little more every time Danzig's Diamond threatened to get too close, and in the end beat that Cape Town visitor by a pretty comfortable 0.75 lengths. Danzig's Diamond's stable companion Master Landing stayed on to be a similar distance further back in third, but Huckleberry never really fired and finished a well beaten 4th.
Paris Perfect didn't have to run anywhere near his merit rating to win this, and indeed on paper he performed well below the handicapper's assessment as he was rated 15 pounds superior to the runner-up and 19 pounds better than the third horse. It wasn't much more than a well-paid and not-very-taxing public gallop for the Des McLachlan-trained winner, though, who was ridden by regular partner Morne Winnaar for owner and breeder Mrs Gail Fabricius. Paris Perfect is nominated for the Gr3 East Cape Derby over 2400m at Arlington on May 11th, but there is no guarantee at all that he will stay that far. Barring any high-powered supplementary entries, though, he will again be the highest rated horse in the race by some distance. A son of predominantly speed sire Muhtafal, he is out of the New Zealand-bred Honor Grades mare Candle Princess, who won twice over 1900/2000m. Paris Perfect, who looked the obvious Guineas forerunner when winning a Listed race under top weight over the same course-and-distance last October, has now posted 9 wins from 16 starts for R451 050 in stakes.

EC Fillies Nursery (L) (18/4)

Geepee S, disappointing in her last appearance but an impressive winner of her first two career outings, returned to form when leading virtually throughout to win the East Cape Fillies Nursery over 1200m at Fairview on Friday, writes MATTHEW LIPS.

Favourite in a field of 12 was Scripture, undefeated from two starts and successful against males in the Listed East Cape Nursery over the same course-and-distance four weeks earlier. She went off as the 15/10 market leader, with Geepee S easy to back at 7/1, largely because of some question marks over how she would cope with this step up to 1200m.
She coped very well. In front early, but not skating along at full tilt as she had when only 4th over the Arlington 1000m last time out, Geepee S led the way with Blue Bird Express also showing good toe as Scripture was perfectly positioned just a couple of lengths off the action. Geepee S was always travelling very strongly under visiting apprentice Aldo Domeyer, and there was nothing that Scripture or any of the others could do about it. Still full of running as they approached the final 200m, it was now pretty clear that Geepee S had more than enough left in the proverbial tank to see out a 6th furlong and was never under any real pressure as she won by 2.25 lengths from Scripture, who simply wasn't good enough. The favourite nevertheless came out easily second best, for it was 3.25 lengths further away to maiden Star Dreamer in 3rd, with recent Arlington debut winner Cat O'Nine Tails beaten a total of 6.25 lengths into 4th.
Whether trainer Nic Claassen has any ambitious plans to travel elsewhere with Geepee S at present is now known, but the daughter of Goldkeeper is obviously well above average and has won three times by a combined margin of almost a dozen lengths from as many visits to Fairview. She proved her one Arlington effort to have been all wrong, and could be of some interest if she does turn up for a tilt at Graded level somewhere. She is the 2nd foal of Complete Warrior mare Complete Journey, who won twice over 1400m. Bred by Daytona and bought for R85k at the '07 GrandWest Yearling Sale, Geepee S has earned R131K. A half brother by Qui Danzig to Geepee S goes through the ring at Equimark's KZN Yearling Sale, to be held at Clairwood racecourse this Sunday, April 27th.

Somerset 1200 (L) (19/4)

French jockey Gaetan Faucon wasted no time in making his presence felt locally. Riding at his first SA meeting at Kenilworth on Saturday, Faucon steered Burberry to victory in the Betting World Somerset 1200.

Faucon is here as the retained jockey for Burberry's owner, the Mauritius-based trainer Kiki Henry, who has several horses in training with James Lightheart in Cape Town.
The scratching of dual Durbanville winner South Country left ten to contest this conditions race for two-year-olds and it was Bush Pirate who went off as the well-supported favourite. Recent easy maiden winner Manenberg had his supporters as well, with Burberry easy-to-back at around 8/1 after having needed four attempts to get out of maiden class.
Manenberg was the first to show and led from Chief Blackfoot and Summer Exposure, with Bush Pirate some three lengths back. Burberry was also a few lengths off the early action, but things began to change quickly more than 200m out. Manenberg faded to nothing and eventually finished last, and with Bush Pirate not really quickening under pressure the race looked wide open. Burberry, though, was certainly starting to answer his jockey's call and quickened nicely between horses to get the better of Chief Blackfoot close home and beat that rival by 0.75 lengths. It was a well judged ride from Faucon, especially given his lack of experience over the testing and potentially tricky Kenilworth 1200m, and in the end Burberry may have won a touch more easily than the margin suggests. Noble Act had every chance in finishing a neck further away in 3rd, with Bush Pirate fourth as Summer Exposure fading late to finish fifth after looking to have a real winning chance 100m from home.
Burberry is a gelded son of the Fort Wood stallion Whistling Wood. He's out of the Australian-bred Barathea mare Calico Sky, who failed to place in six career starts but whose five foals of racing age are all winners. Calico Sky deserved her chance at stud despite her poor race record, for her dam in turn was a dual Gr1 winner in Aus. Burberry was bred by Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm and was bought for R85k at the '07 GrandWest Yearling Sale. His 2 wins from 5 have brought him R118 050 in stakes. He seems almost inevitably destined to continue his career in Mauritius one day, but before then he will almost certainly turn out for the Gr3 Cape Nursery over the Somerset course-and-distance later this term.

Nijinsky Derby Trial (L) (4/12)

The Derby Trial went the way of the sole Charles Laird representative, Senor Versace, who made light of being 0.5 kgs under sufferance to win quite handily. Quicksand set a decent pace from Burke's Luck and Russian Rhythm, with Herod The Great (conqueror of subsequent Gr1 winner King's Gambit in his latest start) just behind them. Those that had raced handy were all back-pedalling at least halfway down the straight, where Senor Versace came through to lead wider out as Sayadaw launched a challenge towards the inside. Senor Versace is nothing if not a strong galloper, though, and he kept on going strongly under Brian Nyawo to win by 1.25 lengths from Master Khan, who ran on steadily to finish second. Royal Captive also made steady progress late and was half-a-length further back in third, with Sayadaw fourth. Herod The Great was widely considered lucky to have beaten Kings Gambit on the Turffontein inner course in March, and his rather lifeless performance here would seem to underline that view.
Senor Versace was racing beyond 1600m for the first time and obviously appreciated it. He shapes as if he might be suited by the 2450m of the forthcoming Derby, but he will need to do a great deal more than this to have any chance at level weights against some of the more accomplished members of his generation. For a start, he was beaten 3.5 lengths by stable companion Smart Banker at maiden level and Smart Banker himself came unstuck when unplaced at Gr1 level in the SA Classic. Senor Versace is from the 1st crop of Kingmambo's son Parade Leader and is the 4th foal (and second winner) of dual Gr1 winning Fine Edge mare Donatella. Bred at Lammerskraal, Senor Versace was a R500k purchase from the select session of the 2006 National Yearling Sale and has won 2 from 5 for R187 825.

Jasmine Oaks Trial (L) (4/12)

Moon Storm, successfully only once from 7 previous starts, at least collected some valuable Black Type when running out an easy winner of the Jasmine Oaks Trial. The 3 highest weighted trio of Happy Spirit, Aquitaine and Cuir De Russie dominated the market, although there was considerable support at big prices for Fairy Gold, and Moon Storm was allowed to start as an easy-to-back 10/1 chance after finishing a well beaten 2nd at MR75 level last time out.
Nesting Call ensured a proper pace and opened up a big lead from Sugarpiehoneybunch and Moon Storm, with Logontonews next in line ahead of Cuir De Russie and Happy Spirit. Not very surprisingly, Nesting Call began to weaken early in the straight, with Sugarpiehoneybunch suddenly compounding in the manner of a horse that may have been feeling something. Moon Storm, Logontonews and Cuir De Russie were all right in the mix 300m from home, but the first named soon began to leave the others in her wake. Obviously relishing what had been a decent test of stamina, Moon Storm galloped her opposition into the ground over the final furlong to win by 4 lengths under Randall Simons.
Happy Spirit briefly threatened to make a race of it, but the task of conceding 7 kgs to the winner proved too much and she was comfortably beaten into second place. Fairy Gold made steady progress from off the pace to finish a further half-a-length away in third, with 0.75 lengths back to Cuir De Russie in 4th, but easy last-start winner Aquitaine was never seen with a chance under joint top weight of 60 kgs.
Moon Storm is quite likely to stay the 2450m of the Oaks proper and connections of the Mike de Kock-trained filly might as well have a go, but she would be facing Happy Spirit on 7 kgs better terms and if the Oaks winner was indeed running on Saturday then this Weiho Marwing-trained daughter of Silvano is surely the one. That said, the Oaks will be a much stronger race than its nominal trial and Happy Spirit could only finish 11th in the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas the one time she was tested against some of the best of her generation.
Saturday's "trials" at least offered two first crop sires an opportunity to showcase their talents. The Derby trial went to a son of Parade Leader and the Oaks to a daughter of fellow stallion newcomer Strike Smartly, who is a son of Mr Prospector and a full bro to champion Curlin's sire Smart Strike. Moon Storm is the 1st foal of Fort Wood mare The Moonstone, who won 2 between 1600m and 2400m. Bred by Mr and Mrs Anton Procter, Moon Storm was bought for R100k at the '06 National Yearling Sales. Her 2 wins from 8 have earned R144 500.

Gr2 Colorado King S. (SAf-G2) (4/12)

Saturday's Colorado King S over 2000m on the Turffontein standside course went the way of what seemed to be very much the lesser of trainer Sean Tarry's 2 runners when Bound By Honour took advantage of a most disappointing effort from stable companion Buy And Sell to secure the first Graded race win of his career.

uy And Sell, winner of a minor race over 1400m at the Vaal in his first start since returning from Cape Town, was supported to win this conditions event as if the result was a formality and started as the 7/10 favourite after being chalked up at 2/1 in the ante-post market. This looked reasonable enough given that Buy And Sell was best weighted on merit ratings and had finished little more than two lengths behind Pocket Power in the Gr1 J&B Met in his last try at 2000m, but he ran nowhere near his best form here and those who banked him in the pick six had every reason to thank whoever invented the concept of same-trainer couplings.
Known frontrunner Hurricane Silver again set off to make the running and set a decent enough from Buy And Sell and Bound To Travel, with Captain Corageous next in line. Likeithot and Bound By Honour were further back as Prince Asad and Paris To Peking raced towards the rear of a ten horse field. Hurricane Silver still led turning for home, where Buy And Sell looked to be moving very comfortably just behind him. Bound To Travel was also still right in the mix, but Hurricane Silver soon began to weaken. Buy And Sell led briefly and looked to be doing everything right 400m out, but he suddenly began to lose ground and offered no response to the increasingly vigorous urgings of his rider.
Bound By Honour and Likeithot were starting to make good progress by that stage, and from a good 300m out they had the race virtually to themselves as Bound To Travel was steadily left behind. Bound By Honour held a narrow lead over Likeithot 200m from the line and was kept up to the task under a vigorous Weichong Mrawing ride to beat that rival by a neck, leaving Likeithot to wait yet another day for that elusive 1st career Stakes victory. Spitzbergen stayed on steadily to finish 3rd, but was all of 7.75 lengths behind Likeithot at the line, with Prince Asad a never-dangerous 4th under top weight of 60 kgs.
The fact that all of those that raced handy folded to finish a long way back may suggest that the early pace was a little more testing than it had looked to the naked eye, but whichever way you slice it Buy And Sell was most disappointing in being beaten almost 10 lengths into sixth place. Last year's Gr1 Daily News 2200 winner and Gr1 Vodacom Durban July runner-up may have his problems, and ran a similarly poor race in the Gr1 Queen's Plt before bouncing back to put up a much better display in the Met four weeks later. It would thus be unwise to completely write off his chances in the Gr 1 Gommagomma Challenge on May 3rd, but this effort has to give one serious reason to reconsider Buy And Sell's prospects.
Bound By Honour met Likeithot on 2.5 kgs worse terms than would have been the case in a handicap and may well be improving. This four-year-old is one of several entries from the Sean Tarry yard in the R3.5 million Gommagomma and surely deserves now to take his chance in Africa's richest race. That would represent a much tougher test for him, but he would at least be going there on an upward curve, having readily made the transition from Listed to Gr2 level in the Colorado King. A son of deceased Rambo Dancer, Bound By Honour is the tenth foal, 6th winner, and 3rd Stakes winner bred from the unraced Only A Pound mare Child Of Grace, who also produced Gr2 winner Your Eminence and Listed winner Child Model. Bred at the late Richard Sahd's Waterford, Bound By Honour was a R100 000 buy from the 2005 National Yearling Sale and has won 6 of his 21 for R573 425.

Turffontein, SA, April 12, R300K, 2000m, turf, good, 2.02.31 (CR 2.00.13).
BOUND BY HONOUR (SAF), 57.5, b g 4, Rambo Dancer - Child Of Grace (SAF) by Only A Pound (GB). Owner T Moodley and GL Blank; breeder Waterford Stud (SAF); trainer SG Tarry; jockey W Marwing (R187.500)
Likeithot (SAF), 57.0, b g 5, Rakeen - Hot Weather (SAF) by Fair Season (GB).
Spitzbergen (SAF), 57.5, b g 5, Western Winter - Night Attire (SAF) by Take Your Place
Margins: nk, 7¾, ¾
Also ran: Prince Asad (SAF) 60.0, Bound To Travel (SAF) 57.5, Buy And Sell (SAF) 59.5, Silverpoint (AUS) 57.5, Captain Corageous (SAF) 58.0, Hurricane Silver (AUS) 57.0, Paris To Peking (SAF) 58.0

Gr3 Man O'War S. (SAf-G3) (4/12)

Having failed through lack of stamina to emerge as a classic contender,
J J The Jet Plane continues to reinvent himself as a sprinter of real class and made mincemeat of six other 3yo's to win the Man O'War S over 1100m at Turffontein on Saturday.

JJ was being asked to concede weight all round, but was predictably sent out as a 5/10 favourite after his demolition of some top notch older sprinters in the Gr2 Senor Santa Handicap at the Vaal on Easter Monday.
There was no lack of early speed in the Man O'War and Piere Strydom was content to let J J The Jet Plane bowl along two or three lengths back as Renegade showed the way from Port Of York and Gathering Stars, with Captain Hercules just behind the leaders. Gathering Stars led briefly inside the last 400m, but JJ was always moving well within himself wider out. The hot favourite soon put his rivals to the sword, picking it up around 200m out and needing virtually no visible encouragement from the saddle to coast clear and win by 2.75 lengths from Gathering Stars. Kimberley raider Port Of York did well to finish 1.5 lengths further away in third, just in front of Barthez, who also found no extra late, but well backed second favourite Riot Commander was probably the first horse beaten and trailed in last.
Gathering Stars actually faced the winner on 1 kg better terms in this conditions event than would have been the case in a handicap, but JJ The Jet Plane was simply in a different class. The manner of his victory may be slightly deceptive in that he scooted away from a bunch of tired horses who had perhaps all done a bit too much early on, and JJ might not have quickened with quite the almost insulting ease that it seemed, but either way he killed his rivals off within a matter of strides and it was hard not to be taken with the way in which he won. Whether connections intend crossing swords with JJ's fellow top class 3yo Seventh Rock (himself a very easy winner of a pinnacle plate on Saturday) in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m early next month remains to be seen.
The Gr1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville is possibly a more attractive target for the Lucky Houdalakis-trained gelding. JJ The Jet Plane was rated ten pounds below Seventh Rock before Saturday's races, and while there will doubtless be adjustments made in the wake of last weekend JJ would surely be better off tackling Seventh Rock in a handicap like the Golden Horse than in a WFA affair such as the Computaform. Either way, a Gr1 success for JJ The Jet Plane could be imminent. A son of all conquering Jet Master out of the Northern Guest mare Majestic Guest, J J The Jet Plane had won four times from seven starts and earned stakes of R518 250. Bred by Mrs Pat Devine, JJ was acquired for R70 000 at the 2006 National 2yo Sale.

Turffontein, SA, April 12, R200k, 1100m, turf, good, 1.03.03 (CR 1.01.65).
JJ THE JET PLANE (SAF), 60.0, b g 3, Jet Master (SAF) - Majestic Guest (SAF) by Northern Guest. Owner HSN du Preez, CF Strydom, L Houdelakis & CD Boyens; breeder PJ Devine (SAF); trainer M Houdelakis; jockey P Strydom (125.000)
Gathering Stars (SAF), 58.5, ch g 3, National Assembly (Can) - Stars Sister (SAF) by Golden Thatch (IRE).
Port Of York (SAF), 52.5, ch c 3, Portrush - Rose Of York (SAF) by Goldkeeper
Margins: 2¾, 1½, nk  
Also ran: Barthez (SAF) 57.0, Captain Hercules (SAF) 55.5, Renegade (SAF) 57.0, Riot Commander (SAF) 58.5

Gr3 Protea S. (5/04/08)

Global Warming

Most of us will be dreading the cold winter nights that can confidently be expected during the forthcoming months. In the colt Warm Winter Nights though, Charles Laird certainly has a lot to look forward to. "A top horse" were his words when interviewed shortly before the juvenile made his debut in the Gr3 Protea S and judging by the way he hacked up, that could well prove to be the case.

When the betting opened the bookmakers were calling 3/1 the field which suggested that it was going to be a very open affair. However in the ring punters were only interested in two horses, the unbeaten War Of Conquest and Warm Winter Nights. War Of Conquest was posted favourite, whilst 7/2 could be obtained about Warm Winter Nights. A flood of money came for both in the lead up to the race and they were eventually sent off joint favourites at 18/10.
Warm Winter Nights was drawn in gate eight and stayed surprisingly calm when Danvida in gate nine reared just before the off. Dal Piero got away best and along with Secret Life, set a brisk pace. Warm Winter Nights was slightly slow into stride, but despite that was soon up handy. The friendless Cerise Cherry was also handy whilst the well supported War Of Conquest sat a length away in fifth. On reaching the 500m marker the early effort began to take its toll on Dal Piero and as that one began to exit the back door, it was Secret Life, one of three runners from the Paul Matchett stable, who put his head in front. Anton Marcus had not moved a muscle on Warm Winter Nights at this stage and clearly full of running smoothly moved into second. Also moving up the gears at this point were Matchett's other runners Mount Hood and Cerise Cherry, whilst War Of Conquest surprisingly could find no extra. Warm Winter Nights hit the front passing the 400m marker and still coasting quickly began to assert his authority. Secret Life kept on strongly under a determined ride from Randal Simons, but despite his efforts he could only watch as Warm Winter Nights strode clear. Mount Hood couldn't go with them over the final 300m, whilst the running on Cerise Cherry did get up late to take 2nd. Secret Life and Mount Hood stayed on to take third and fourth respectively and make it a very satisfying two, three, four for Paul Matchett. Clearly a cut above his eight rivals though, Warm Winter Nights only had to be pushed out at the business end of the race and with some in hand cruised in by five. A R1,8M purchase from the national sale, Warm Winter Nights is a son Western Winter out of the Foveros mare Thousand Nights. He couldn't have made a more impressive debut and is clearly a very exciting prospect for the future.

Gr3 Pretty Polly S. (5/04/08)

Merlene De Lago reared while in the starting stalls. That was the sole anxiousmoment for those who backed her in to a prohibitive 1/6, and the imported Aus filly duly scored the first Graded win of what promises to be a rather illustrious career.

Impressive when winning the listed Ruffian Stakes on debut, she had trounced half of the meagre six rivals who turned up here, and following the scratching of stable companion Dragon Lily, recent impressive maiden winner Sweet Theresa looked the only possible danger on paper. The daughter of Strike Smartly did draw some betting support, as she was trimmed to 11/2 from 7's.
The red-hot favourite was the first to show as the gates opened, and took up the running more or less by default, as the early gallop was positively funereal. Sweet Theresa, Asian Lecture and Resounding Spirit all raced at her girth in a tightly bunched field, while Kesha and Thekkady were well within striking distance. Only Flamingo Park maiden winner Big Smile had lost touch as they approached the final two furlongs.
Given rein at that point, Merlene De Lago quickened like a smart sort, and quickly ensured that those who confidently predicted a "Pick 5" at Turffontein on Saturday were proven correct. She crossed the line unextended just over three lengths clear, as nothing behind here managed to find much of a finish. Resounding Spirit won the battle for second, closely followed by a staying on Kesha and Sweet Theresa.
This race was run a full second slower than the colts' version which followed half an hour later, and we didn't really learn anything more about Merlene De Lago than was apparent following her debut performance. The connections can certainly look forward to the Gr2 Fillies' Nursery in a month's time with confidence however, and she was described by Charles Laird as "a great filly" in the post race interviews. Anton Marcus was equally fulsome in his praise, but did allude to a "warm" temperament, which could be a hindrance when sustained challenges present themselves, as they surely will.
By last season's champion Australian sire Encosta De Lago, and out of multiple Gr1 winning champion 2yo Merlene(by Danehill), Markus Jooste unsurprisingly had to dig deep to secure this one at last year's Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast. She was ultimately secured for A$775K, and has won both starts for earnings of R187,500.

Gr3 Umzimkhulu S. (6/04/08)

It all fell into place for Alpine Club. Drawn in pole position, she raced handy in a slow run affair, hit the front at just the right time, and just held on from fast finishing favourite Sahara, who surely would have won going away given a few more jumps. In a nutshell that was the story of the Gr3 Umzimkhulu S.

Twelve fillies went to post, and a wide-open affair it looked. The market concurred, with Sahara topping the boards at a rather uneasy 33/10. Mia Joshua and impressive recent winner Lady Pizzazz both had their supporters, while Alpine Club was shrewdly claimed in the ante post market from 8/1 into 5's, despite the Delpech ridden Cleome appearing the De Kock stable elect on paper.
Mark Dixon had opined last week that Magic Treasure would run a big race here "if she settles". Well that wasn't the case - she was as keen as ever on her first journey beyond sprints, and set off to set what was ultimately a rather relaxed gallop. Long shot Triplicate shaded Alpine Club for second, while Mia Joshua, Finger In The Pie, Lady Pizzazz and Annawood all raced in a handy position.
The two class fillies present (Sahara and Ice Belle) were both 7 or 8 lengths adrift turning for home, while the rather enigmatic Cleome was also left with plenty to do. Mia Joshua put in an immediate challenge once in the stretch, and put her nose in front briefly.
Alpine Club was always poised to strike however, and moved up to take charge passing the 300m marker. Once in the lead she started to run around somewhat under pressure, which did her cause no favours when challenges emerged inside the final furlong.
Sahara was beginning to unwind nicely between runners, while both Ice Belle and Cleome were threatening to get into the shake up as well. Things became a little fraught for the eventual winner late on as Sahara really found top gear and was closing hand over fist late, but the line came just in time. Mia Joshua kept plugging away to retain third, while both Ice Belle and Cleome stayed on well enough on their KZN seasonal debuts.
Alpine Club will surely have a go at the KZN Fillies Guineas after this win. She was in receipt of 4kg from Sahara here though, and that will be a significantly more daunting task, even if we momentarily forget about the likes of Nania, Rat Burana, Gilded Minaret, Glenrossal and Urabamba.
Sahara is undoubtedly the most likely source of hometown glory in that particular race, although she has yet to appear at Greyville. The daughter of Mogok has a most respectable turn of foot, and with no apparent superstars amongst our current 3yo fillies, she should have as good a chance as any on the big day.
By deceased stalwart sire Model Man and out of the one time winning mare Apres-Ski, Alpine Club was knocked down for R300k at the National Sale of 2006. Yet to miss a place, she has now won two of her seven outings for stakes of R191,200.

Gr3 Byerley Turk (6/04/08)

Umngazi put a poor latest firmly behind him with a convincing win in this Gr3 event, which is an established pipe opener for the KZN 3yo season. Trainer Mark Dixon had predicted a big performance in this very publication last weekend, and Umngazi did attract some shrewd outside betting support, shortening in from to 7/1 from an opening call of 12's.

First Honour seemed well treated by the weights of this Conditions event, and found steady support into 14/10 favourite. He came under pressure early in the straight however after racing handy, and eventually trailed in a well beaten 4th. Certainly not the seasonal kick off Dean Kannemeyer and Fieldspring Racing would have been looking for.
The rested Uncle Jack hopped out smartly from the widest stall gate, and set what was a fair gallop. Sporting blinkers for the first time, Umngazi raced handy as per usual, with First Honour abreast in joint 2nd. Duntroon, Haddaway and Russian Kite were all within striking distance as they turned for home.
Uncle Jack cried enough soon afterwards, and with none of the handily placed runners finding any extra, Umngazi was presented with a healthy two-length advantage coming through the 400m mark. He never looked like losing after that, and stayed on strongly on the run to the line, although both Modern Monet and Ballito Boy kicked on stoutly after turning for home filling the last 2 positions.
The relative quality of this year's KZN 3yo generation still seems open to question. Both First Honour and Cape Derby 4th Golden Riviera performed way below best, although in the latter case an alarming drift in the market from 5/2 to 10/1 made sure that was hardly a surprise. Modern Monet did finish best of all, and after conceding 2kg to the winner here, will be confident of turning the tables in the forthcoming KZN Guineas.
This was a second feature success for Umngazi, as he annexed the inaugural Emperors Palace Ready to Run Cup at Turffontein last November, beating subsequent Gauteng Guineas winner Imbongi in the process. He will now move on to the Guineas, which will be a far tougher proposition, although he for one won't be complaining about the fact that it takes place at the veritable frontrunners paradise they call Greyville!
By Muhtafal and out of the Coastal mare Bahama Palms, Umngazi was purchased by Mark Dixon at the Ready To Run Sale of 2006 for R180k. He has now won 3 of 7 starts for R497,500.

Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg S. (SAf-G2) (3/29)

Barry Irwin and his merry team of investors collectively known as Team Valor will be keener than ever to acquire some well-bred fillies at this weekend's National Yearling Sale after She's On Fire carried their silks to a runaway success in the Gerald Rosenberg S over 2000m at Turffontein (standside) on Saturday. A resident of Kentucky, Irwin was on hand to witness this performance and has given himself plenty of time to do his homework ahead of the sales, which kick off with the Select session on Friday evening

She's On Fire had run on from virtually last to finish 4th behind another Team Valor colour-bearer, Stratos, in the Gr1 Empress Club S over 1600m 4 weeks earlier and was a heavily backed favourite to win the Rosenberg. The 5yo was the joint highest rated horse in the field of nine which contested this WFA event for fillies and mares, and with almost bottomless stamina in the dam's side of her pedigree it was always likely that She's On Fire would enjoy stepping up to 2000m for the first time. Spring Garland, Run Angel Run and Carry On Katie (who was rated equal to the favourite by the handicapper) were expected to provide She's On Fire with her stiffest opposition, but in the end they were all swept aside in almost imperious fashion.
Rhizome was first to show, but it was sole 3yo Imperialist who soon set off to make the running at a reasonable tempo, with Rhizome and Spring Garland pretty much sharing 2nd spot ahead of She's On Fire and Run Angel Run as Carry On Katie was held up towards the rear. Rhizome regained the advantage not long after turning for home, with Spring Garland right on her heels, but She's On Fire was travelling very strongly just in behind the leaders. The market leader didn't waste much more time in making her move, and could be called the winner at least 300m from home. Once turned loose by Weichong Marwing, She's On Fire scooted past the leaders in a matter of strides and proceeded to run right away from her rivals, eventually winning by 8.75 lengths from Zaitoon, who stayed on steadily to at least show some of the spark which won her the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic 2 years ago.
Run Angel Run was 3rd ahead of Carry On Katie, who moved up quite well from off the pace but then didn't appear to finish her effort off in the closing stages. Spring Garland always looked to have plenty to do at the weights and faded right out to finish with only Imperialist behind her.
This 1st Stakes success has been a long time coming for She's On Fire, but as Barry Irwin explained afterwards the Ormond Ferraris-trained mare had to have chips removed from both knees after finishing 4th behind Team Valor's Little Miss Magic in the Gr1 Empress Club S of 2007 and didn't race for almost a year thereafter. Ferraris would not be drawn into revealing future plans for She's On Fire -"let's see how she pulls up" - but her owner is steadily building up a quality broodmare band in SA and the Gerald Rosenberg winner seems likely to join them for the 2008 breeding season.
She's On Fire is from the first crop of Jet Master, whose 2nd successive sires' championship is already starting to look like a formality. She's the 9th foal and sixth winner of Concertino mare Cream Of The Crop, who won 5 up to 3200m incl. the Gr3 Chairman's H. Cream Of The Crop is in turn a daughter of champion racemare Devon Air, who won the Gold Cup over two miles as well as the then Rothmans July of 1984. No surprises, then, that She's On Fire enjoyed every inch of 2000m, and shaped as if she would easily cope with further still. Bred by the Scott Bros, She's On Fire was originally a R90k acquisition from the 2004 National Yearling Sale and has won 5 from 11 for R486 700.

Turffontein, SA, March 29, R320K, 2000m, turf, soft, 2.06.26 (CR 2.00.13).
SHE'S ON FIRE (SAF), 60.0, b f 5, Jet Master (SAF) - Cream Of The Crop (SAF) by Concertino (FR). Owner Team Valor Int; brdr Scott Bros (SAf); trnr OA Ferraris; jockey W Marwing (R200k)
Zaitoon (SAF), 60.0, b f 5, Count Dubois (GB) - Dolces Suenios (AUS) by Caerleon.
Carry On Katie (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, Western Winter - Katie Firth (SAF) by Best By Test Margins: 8¾, ½, nose
Also ran: Run Angel Run (SAF) 60.0, Rhizome (SAF) 60.0, Winter Ade (SAF) 60.0, Young Sensation (SAF) 60.0, Imperialist (SAF) 55.5, Spring Garland (SAF) 60.0

Gr3 Sycamore Sprint (SAf-G3) (3/29)

Emblem Of Liberty appeared not to stay a mile when tried in the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas 4 weeks earlier and appreciated a drop back in distance when she won the Gr3 Sycamore Sprint over 1160m at Turffontein (standside) on Saturday. Emblem Of Liberty had won a Listed race over the same course-and-distance at her penultimate start and was a well supported favourite to beat seven rivals in this handicap for fillies and mares.

Eastern Flame was quickly away, but soon it was Lady Perez who was showing up well with School Assembly in touch as the stable companions Start Me Up and Emblem Of Liberty in touch just behind the speed. Lady Bequick was also right in the mix from halfway and disputed the lead with Lady Perez for much of the last 300m or so. Emblem Of Liberty was never far away, though. Given a well-judged ride by Mark Khan, she joined in the fun over the final furlong, and although the race could have gone to any one of three runners throughout the last 200m it was Emblem Of Victory who found that little bit extra to deny Lady Bequick close home and win by a neck. Lady Perez was only a neck further back in third while conceding 5.5 kgs to the winner and 7 kgs to the runner-up, while Nimley lacked extra late after briefly looking as if she would get closer and was well held in fourth.
The trio of 3yods which contested the Sycamore virtually dominated in the end, finishing 1st, 2nd, and 4th. Emblem Of Liberty is trained by Geoff Woodruff, who maintained his belief that his filly will ultimately stay 1600m but who intends to restrict her to the shorter trips for now. The Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint at Scottsville was named as a possible target, but that WFA event will obviously represent a much tougher test. In the interim, there is still the Gr2 Camelia S over the Turffontein 1160m which suits Emblem Of Liberty so well to consider.
Emblem Of Liberty is co-owned by her breeder Lionel Cohen and Claire Cheyne, wife of jockey Greg Cheyne. She races in the same colours as Sun Classique, who later on Saturday would carry the Cohen silks to a rather more lucrative win at Nad al Sheba. Like Sun Classique twelve months earlier, Emblem Of Liberty failed to find a buyer when offered at the 2006 Equimark Vintage Yearling Sale, and while a foreign Gr1 success is a long way away for the Sycamore Sprint heroine her breeder is doubtless only too pleased to have retained her.
A daughter of National Emblem, Emblem Of Liberty is the 7th foal and fourth winner of Aus-bred Kendor mare Dafka, who won 3 up to 1600m when trained in SA. Cohen paid R42 000 for Dafka when the mare was carrying Emblem Of Liberty at the 2004 KZN Broodmare sale. After this latest success, Emblem Of Liberty has won 3 from only 5 appearances and earned R231 375.

Turffontein, SA, March 29, R165k, 1160m, turf, soft, 67.32 (CR 65.12).
EMBLEM OF LIBERTY (SAF), 53.5, b f 3, N. Emblem (SAF) - Dafka (AUS) by Kendor (AUS). Ownr LI Cohen & Mrs CL Cheyne; brdr D Cohen & Sons (SAf); trnr GV Woodruff; jockey M Khan (R103.125)
Lady Bequick (SAF), 52.0, ch f 3, National Assembly (Can) - Outstanding Star (AUS) by Bletchingly (AUS).
Lady Perez (SAF), 59.0, b f 4, West Man - Rosie Perez (SAF) by Cordoba.
Margins: nk, nk, 1¼
Also ran: Nimley (SAF) 52.0, School Assembly (SAF) 60.0, Start Me Up (SAF) 57.5, Eastern Flame (SAF) 52.0, Tess Mcgill (SAF) 52.0

Gr3 Caradoc Gold Cup (SAf-G3) (3/29)

Easter may have just come and gone, but it was Christmas revisited at Turffontein on Saturday when Santa recorded a 1st career Stakes success in the Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m on the standside course. Many of the usual suspects lined up for this annual precursor to the Gr2 Gold Bowl over 3200m in May and the market had a wide open look to it, but bookmakers are unlikely to have been chanting "ho ho ho" after the race as Santa attracted plenty of support at long prices and eventually went off as a well-backed 6/1 chance. Long Dollar, Paris To Peking and Membrado all had plentiful supporters as well.

Happy Talk was one of three entries from the Mike de Kock team and immediately went off to ensure a decent gallop, opening up a lead of several lengths from Accord and Santa, with Membrado next in line in a strung-out field as Long Dollar initially brought up the rear. Long Dollar began to make rapid headway as the pace slowed a little down the back straight and was up in fourth by the halfway stage of the journey, with Wise Son next in line as Alpe D'Heuz and Western Walk raced at the rear.
Happy Talk was still in front turning for home, but he was a spent force not long thereafter and eventually compounded to finish a lonely last. Long Dollar was duelling Santa and Membrado for the lead racing past the 400m mark, with Paris To Peking starting to join in the battle as well, but Long Dollar soon fell away tamely. Paris To Peking also found no extra insider the last 200m and a race that resembled a war of attrition was seemingly left to Santa and Membrado to dominate.
Santa always just seemed to have the better of Membrado, but it was Western Walk who nearly spoiled the party for backers of Santa. He stormed up from a mile back with a terrific run against the inside fence, and was gaining rapidly in the closing stages, but the line came in time for Santa to hold off the big outsider by a neck. Membrado was another neck away in third, with Paris To Peking eventually well beaten into 4th.
Santa had run out a very easy winner over 2450m at Turffontein in October and clearly enjoys a test of stamina. He didn't look to be stopping here, and may prove a contender if stepped up to 3200m in the Gold Bowl. His victory here marked the 1st leg of a same-day Stakes double for veteran trainer Ormond Ferraris, who later sent She's On Fire out to win the Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg. It also marked a second Feature race win on the day for the progeny of National Emblem, whose daughter Emblem Of Liberty had earlier captured the Gr3 Sycamore Sprint. Santa is the 5th foal and fifth winner of Rocky Marriage mare Say I Do, who won three races up to 1400m and also produced Gr3 winner Sugar Daddy. The source of Santa's obvious stamina is hard to detect in his pedigree, but he obviously relishes a trip and had to dig down deep in thoroughly game fashion to win this.
Bred by George Rowles, 4yo Santa was bought for R260k at the '05 National Yearling Sale and has won 5 from 17 starts for R354 350 in purses.

Turffontein, SA, March 29, R200k, 2850m, turf, soft, 3.06.43 (CR 3.01.34).
SANTA (SAF), 57.5, ch g 4, N. Emblem (SAF) - Say I Do (SAF) by Rocky Marriage. Owner PT Dimakogiannis; breeder GH Rowles (SAF); trainer OA Ferraris; jockey M Mienie
Western Walk (SAF), 55.5, b g 6, Model Man (SAF) - Cool Of Heart (SAF) by Proclaim
Membrado (ARG), 59.0, ch g 4, Roy (USA) - Melody Girl (USA) by Solford
Margins: nk, 4¾, ¾
Also ran: Paris To Peking (SAF) 57.5, Accord (SAF) 56.5, Pacific Charm (SAF) 58.0, Pacific Warrior (SAF) 58.5, Long Dollar (SAF) 59.5, Alpe D'heuz (SAF) 59.5, Wise Son (NZ) 60.0, Happy Talk (SAF) 56.5, Mato Grosso (BRZ) 58.5

Gr3 Bloodstock SA 2000 (ZIM-G3) (3/28)
Borrowdale Park, Zimbabwe, March 28, 2000m, turf, 2.07.57
KILLARIDGE (ZIM), 58.0, b g 3, Kitalpha - Ridgewood Fern (SAF) by Coolstar (SAF); breeder Rumbavu Park Stud (ZIM); trainer M Ball; jockey R Peters
Syracuse (ZIM), 58.0, ch g 3, Kitalpha - Prickle Lily (SAF) by Full Colour (SAF)
None Better (ZIM), 58.0, b g 3, Rabah (GB) - Bohemian Star (ZIM) by Bohemian Grove
Margins: ½, 4¼, 2¾
Also ran: Frogwatch (ZIM) 58.0, Alerted (ZIM) 58.0, Taibu (ZIM) 58.0, Rockford (ZIM) 58.0, Senor Arnoldo (ZIM) 58.0, Sea Chest (ZIM) 58.0

Gr3 King's Cup (SAf-G3) (3/29)

Consistent Olympic Gold was rewarded with the most valuable success of his career when he comfortably landed the King's Cup (handicap) over 1600m at Greyville on Saturday night. The 5yo may well have been targeted specifically at this race and was starting for only the second time after a 29 week absence, whereas several of his 11 rivals have repeatedly been at each others' throats all season. Olympic Gold was the ante-post favourite, but continuous support for improving 3yo Art Of War saw the latter start as the market leader.

Moscow Rising, winner of the equivalent race in 2007 and a stable companion to Olympic Gold, set a brisk pace from the start and showed the way from Honour Score, Light Spectrum, and Wide Country. West Coast Gold was next in line as Olympic Gold was waited with towards the rear, with Apple-A-Day last of the dozen runners. St Raphael was the first to emerge from the pack against the stands' rail as the leaders faded in the straight, with West Coast Gold right in contention as well, but Olympic Gold was starting to unwind a big challenge with Outcome also running on. Olympic Gold picked it up inside the last 200m and soon had the race won under Raymond Danielson, easily getting the better of sole filly Outcome with 1.25 lengths to spare.
St Raphael eventually had no answer to the turn of foot of the 1st two and was a further 2.5 lengths back in third. Northern Tribe made late headway to finish 4th, but Art Of War was never in the hunt. He failed to quicken when asked for an effort and never looked like rewarding his backers. He was jumping in class after winning at merit rated 78 level last time out, and probably found this much stronger level of opposition beyond him, at least at this stage of his emerging career.
Olympic Gold has always looked potentially capable of winning a race of this nature, and given his lack of recent competition he was nicely handicapped in relation to many of those who had been racing - and winning - while he was nowhere to be seen. The lack of a decent mile handicap during the KZN winter season will make it hard for Olympic Gold to top this performance any time soon, if ever, and just why valuable 1600m handicaps are so hard to come by in a country where a mile is considered a 'premier' distance is difficult to fathom. Beyond the Gr 2 November H there really is not an awful lot, and it is hardly a surprise that so many horses of the type that would thrive in such contests wind up in Mauritius. Those that don't have their brains turned to pulp banging their heads against much classier rivals in WFA events and surely to goodness a gap can be found for more November Handicap-type races in the national schedule.
Olympic Gold is bred on the successful Sportsworld x Elliodor mare cross. The late Sportsworld was largely considered to be a superior sire of fillies, but he could get his sons to run as well and Olympic Gold is further proof of it. The 5yo is the 1st foal of Nations Best, who won five races up to 1600m and finished second in a Gr 3. A member of the Glen Kotzen stable's KZN satellite yard at Summerveld, which is so ably run by Frikkie Greyling, Olympic Gold has won 6 of 19 and earned R451 825. Bred at Daytona, he was bought for R82k at the 2004 KZN Yearling Sale.

Greyville, SA, March 29, R200k, 1600m, turf, good, 1.34.97 (CR 1.34.00 ).
OLYMPIC GOLD (SAF), 56.0, b c 5, Sportsworld - Nations Best (SAF) by Elliodor (FR). Owner E Coetzer & N Sarif; breeder Daytona (SAf); trnr GS Kotzen; jockey R Danielson (R125.000)
Outcome (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, Muhtafal - Culminate (SAF) by Elliodor (FR)
St Raphael (SAF), 57.5, b g 6, Up And At 'Em (GB) - South Of France (SAF) by Elliodor (FR)
Margins: 1¼, 2, 1¾
Also ran: Northern Tribe (SAF) 58.5, Art Of War (SAF) 52.0, Lord Of The Sea (SAF) 58.0, West Coast Gold (SAF) 57.0, Apple-A-Day (SAF) 60.0, Wide Country (SAF) 56.5, Light Spectrum (SAF) 56.5, Honour Score (SAF) 55.5, Moscow Rising (SAF) 55.0

Gr2 Senor Santa Hcp (SAf-G2) (3/24)

The evidence now seems clear. J J The Jet Plane is a sprinter. Reverting to 1200m after three successive disappointments over a mile and beyond, J J made hacks of some top class rivals to easily win the Senor Santa H over 1200m on the Vaal turf on Monday.

Previous Gr1 winners Ethereal Lady and Let's Rock 'n Roll were among the 13 that lined up for this valuable prize, with top weight Rebel King a strongly backed 3/1 favourite supplanting original market leader Lightning Lecture at the top of the betting. J J The Jet Plane had his supporters and started as a well-backed 11/2 chance despite being - with only five previous outings - the least experienced runner in the line-up. The eventual winner showed plenty of toe from the start and raced handy throughout as Barthez set the early tempo, with Arabesque Dancer and Ethereal Lady also very prominent ahead of Jaroslaw. Flintlock and Rebel King were a few lengths away. Arabesque Dancer led briefly as Barthez faded, with Ethereal Lady also right in the firing line some 400m from home, but JJ The Jet Plane was about to make his mark on proceedings.
Quickening easily when given the green light by Piere Strydom, JJ The Jet Plane led some 300m out and it was soon obvious that the race was his. He easily built up a comfortable lead and the rest were always only chasing place money only thereafter. The 3yo gelded son of champion sire Jet Master ran out a thoroughly impressive 2.25 lengths winner, with Flintlock staying on steadily to take second place ahead of Rebel King and Jaroslaw. The second and third were respectively conceding 7.5 and 6.5 kgs to the obviously talented winner and were hardly disgraced. The race was a handicap after all, and JJ will not escape lightly for this success, but he remains unbeaten from three starts up to 1400m and could easily defy whatever penalty the handicapper sees fit to lump him with.
The Gr1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville during the KZN winter campaign could be a very attractive target for JJ The Jet Plane, now that any attempts at turning him into a Classic contender have been ditched by trainer and co-owner Lucky Houdalakis.
It's not hard to see why it was thought JJ would get the Guineas mile. He did come from a long way back when an impressive winner of the Gr3 Graham Beck S over 1400m in only the second start of his career, and his pedigree would appear to have miler stamped over it big and bold. Jet Master was of course a champion at 1600m, while JJ's dam, the Northern Guest mare Majestic Guest, recorded all 4 career victories between 1400m/1600m and was a Listed winner at the longer distance. Their son, though, seems to have pace to burn. "I sprinted up him up on Thursday," said the winning jockey afterwards, "and he showed terrific pace. I told Lucky he could win a race like this." He sure could.
It's not secret that JJ The Jet Plane has a pair of forelegs that are not exactly out of the textbook of correct conformation and therein lies the reason why connections were able to buy a Jet Master for just R70 000 at the 2006 National 2yo Sale. These days, even the ones with limbs like corkscrews will probably go for more than that. JJ is the 6th foal and 4th winner of his dam, who previously produced two Listed-placed performers. Bred by Patricia Devine, J J The Jet Plane has won three times from six starts and earned R393 250.

Vaal, SA, March 24, R375k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.09.85 (CR 1.07.18).
JJ THE JET PLANE (SAf), 52.5, b g 3, Jet Master (SAf) - Majestic Guest (SAf) by Northern Guest. Owner HSN du Preez, CF Strydom, L Houdelakis & CD Boyens; brdr PJ Devine (SAf); trainer M Houdelakis; jockey P Strydom (R234.375)
Flintlock (SAf), 59.0, b g 4, Dominion Royale (GB) - National Joy (SAf) by N. Assembly
Rebel King (SAf), 60.0, ch c 4, National Emblem (SAf) - Cousin Linda (SAf) by Badger Land
Margins: 2¼, nk, nk
Also ran: Jaroslaw (SAf) 56.0, Ethereal Lady (SAf) 58.5, Profit Report (AUS) 52.5, Count West (SAf) 52.0, Lightning Lecture (SAf) 59.0, Arabesque Dancer (AUS) 55.0, Good Thing (SAf) 52.0, Fair Brutus (SAf) 58.0, Let's Rock'n Roll (ZIM) 58.0, Barthez (SAf) 52.0

Sun Classique Fillies H (L) Kenilworth, 8 March

Via Della made it two Stakes wins in 24 hours for horses bred by Mary Slack at Wilgerbosdrift when she captured the Sun Classique Fillies H over 2400m at Kenilworth on Saturday. Unlike Snow Angel the previous afternoon, Via Della races in her breeder's colours.
Dynasty's full sister Clandestine was a narrow favourite in a field of 11, with Via Della having her supporters at 11/2 after a fluent win over 2000m at Durbanville in February. Sound The Flute - a stable companion to the eventual winner - set a very sedate pace from Clandestine and Winona, with Via Della and Polzeath further back as Jenna's Spirit brought up the rear. Sound The Flute still led 400m out, but Via Della was starting to stake a claim towards the inside. Picking it up inside the last 300m, Via Della was all heart under a driving ride from Glen Hatt to narrowly shake off a strong late challenge from Crimson Blossom. The latter made up ground in impressive style when popped the question over the last 200m, but while she easily ranged up to within a neck of Via Della, she could not quite reel the latter in. Still, it was a terrific effort from Crimson Blossom, who conceded the winner 9.5 kgs.
Distance Done stayed on steadily to finish 3rd without really producing a strong kick, while Sound The Flute managed to finish fourth despite being all of 6 kgs out at the weights, but Clandestine petered out disappointingly from halfway down the straight.
Appropriately enough, 3yo Via Della is conditioned by Sun Classique's former trainer, Mike Bass. A daughter of National Assembly, Via Della is out of the Elliodor mare Doradella and is the half sister to multiple Gr1 winner Donatella (whose own daughter Diorella finished unplaced in Saturday's event). Via Della has won three times from nine tries and earned R183 880.

Ruffian S (L) Turffontein, 8 March

Charles Laird sent out a pair of previously unraced youngsters to fill the first 2 places in the Ruffian S for fillies over 1000m at Turffontein. Three of the 11 starters were previous winners, but only Thekkady attracted any significant market interest and disputed favouritism with newcomer Merlene De Lago, an Aus import who was the choice of Charles Laird's stable jockey Anton Marcus.
Virgin Blue was the early leader, but Merlene De Lago showed plenty of pace from the start as Thekkady also showed up prominently. Merlene De Lago had seen off both Virgin Blue and Thekkady at least 400m from home and never looked in danger of defeat. She showed signs of inexperience, but nevertheless galloped her opposition into the ground to win in impressive fashion. There will surely be plenty more to come from the winner, who will probably be aimed for the Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery over 1160m later in the autumn.
Merlene De Lago's stable companion Dragon Lily stayed on well to come out easily second best after looking rather green early on, and it surely won't take her long to open her account. Kesha was a never-dangerous 3rd ahead of Fakazi in a strung-out finish.
The winner - as her name implies - is a daughter of very successful Aus sire Encosta De Lago. She is the 7th foal and 4th known winner of Danehill mare Merlene, who was Aus's top rated 2yo of 1995/96. Merele won five races as a juvenile, incl. the Gr1 Golden Slipper and Gr1 Sires' Produce S. Merlene De Lago was acquired for A$775k (somewhere around R5m) at the 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast. She earned R84 375 for her debut effort, and is sure to build on that.

Storm Bird S (L) Turff, 8 March
Rested since winning Gauteng's first juvenile event of the season 3 months earlier, Master Of All retained his spotless record when he returned to win the Storm Bird S over 1000m at Turffontein (standside) on Saturday. Master Of All had run out a very easy winner of his debut and it didn't escape the attention of either punters or bookmakers that numerous subsequent winners had come out of that race. Master Of All disputed favouritism for the Storm Bird with Commissionerstreet, making his first appearance on the Highveld after three good efforts (which included a Listed race second) during the Cape Feature season.
Master Of All was never far away in a field of eight as Golden Web, Commissionerstreet and Sealed With A Kiss also raced prominently, but he looked to be going the best of them all from some way out. Commissionerstreet faded disappointingly inside the last 300m, but Master Of All had pretty much wrapped the race up by then. He was clear inside the last 200m, and although Sealed With A Kiss chased him gamely all the way to the line, Master Of All clearly had the race in safe keeping under Johnny Geroudis. Mount Hood finished third, with Golden Web fourth after showing considerable pace throughout.
Trained by Alec Laird, Master Of All is obviously a smart youngster and may have a role to play in bigger two-year-old races coming up, but it would be no big surprise if Saturday's runner-up Sealed With A Kiss improved past him before very long. Still, the winner has done nothing wrong. A son of Qui Danzig, he is the 14th foal and 11th winner of Gr 1 winning Jungle Cove mare Young Lady, who also produced Gr 2 and Gr 3 winner Young Victor (born as long ago as 1989). Bred at Highflyer, Master Of All was a R90 000 buy from the 2007 National Yearling Sale and has earned R125k in stakes.

Bauhinia H (L) Turff, 8 March

Animated justified her position as a very short priced favourite in a field of six when she carried her owner/breeder Bridget Oppenheimer's colours to victory in the Bauhinia Handicap over 1000m at Turffontein (standside) on Saturday. Animated was on a hat-trick after two impressive wins in a row on the Vaal turf track and was always an odds-on shot to beat a field much watered down by the scratchings of Rosinante and Start Me Up.
Good Samaritan set a strong pace from the start, with Seat Of Power and Lady Red next in line followed by Darwin and Animated. The favourite has won making all in the past, but either couldn't or (wisely) wouldn't try and match strides with the low-flying Good Samaritan this time. However, Animated began to make progress coming to the last 200m and wore Good Samaritan down to lead inside the final 100m and beat the gallant pacesetter going away. Lady Red stayed on again to finish 3rd after briefly dropping out to last at one stage, with Dream Fantasy a never-threatening 4th.
Animated was ridden by stable jockey Anton Marcus for trainer Charles Laird. She is clearly a useful sprinter, and one who is probably still on the upgrade. Her record in five tries over 1000m now stands at four wins and one close 2nd (on debut), but chances are she does get an extra furlong. The 3yo is a member of globetrotting German champion Silvano's 1st SA crop and is out of the Harry Hotspur mare Swanilda, which doubtless is the source of her sprinting prowess. She has 4 from 7 overall, earning R243 875.

The Lady's Pendant (L) Fairview 7/03/08

The Lady's Pendant over 1200m went the way of Snow Angel, racing in the colours of Graham and Rhona Beck.
Snow Angel had recorded a win and a place from only two starts since relocating to Port Elizabeth, but she looked to have an uphill task on WFA terms and was a 16/1 outsider in a maximum field of 16. Cape Town raider Girl In Every Port, on the other hand, looked extremely well treated on merit ratings and went off as the 7/10 favourite.
Snow Angel was always prominent as Arabian Bloom set a quick pace from Pure Class, with Levitate also handy as Girl In Every Port was held up some five lengths off the pace. Snow Angel was always travelling really well under Nadine Rapson, though. Picking it up around 200m out, the Alan Greeff-trained four-year-old was always in command thereafter and easily held off a late run from Girl In Every Port with a length to spare. Beyond Reproach stayed on to finish 1.5 lengths further back in third, with Tess McGill 4th.
Snow Angel met Girl In Every Port on 10kgs worse terms than would have applied in a handicap, but her trainer rejected any ideas that her success had come as a surprise. "She worked extremely well during the week," said Greeff, adding that Snow Angel would retire to stud at the end of the season and that implying that the Black Type earned was well worth whatever hike in the merit ratings she may now receive. A daughter of Western Winter out of the Northfields mare Northanger Abbey, Snow Angel was bred at Wilgerbosdrift and was a R400k buy from the '05 National Yearling Sale. She has won 4 of 17, earning R225 100.

Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas (SAf-G2) (3/1)
Turffontein, SA, March 1, R275k, 1600m, turf, good, 1.38.26 (CR 1.35.44).
GLENROSSAL (SAF), 57.0, b f 3, Anytime (IRE) - Sparkling Twist (SAF) by All Fired Up. Owner PE White; breeder Clifton Stud (SAf); trainer DN Stenger; jockey F Naude (R171.875)
Urabamba (SAF), 57.0, ch f 3, Fort Wood - Princess Ampato (SAF) by Our Casey's Boy.
Paint The Town (SAF), 57.0, b f 3, London News (SAF) - Jukao (SAF) by Shoe Danzig.
Margins: nk, ¾, ¾
Also ran: Miss Turbulence (SAF) 57.0, Blue Swift (AUS) 57.0, Pushing The Edge (SAF) 57.0, Emblem Of Liberty (SAF) 57.0, Acoustical (AUS) 57.0, Albizia (SAF) 57.0, Phenomina (SAF) 57.0, Happy Spirit (SAF) 57.0, Cape Tango (SAF) 57.0, State Factor (SAF) 57.0, Supper Club (SAF) 57.0, Arabian Jazz (IRE) 57.0

Gr2 Gauteng Guineas (SAf-G2) (3/1)
Turffontein, SA, March 1, R, 1600m, turf, good, 1.37.83 (CR 1.35.44).
IMBONGI (SAF), 57.0, ch c 3, Russian Revival - Garden Verse (SAF) by Foveros (GB). Owner MD Fleischer, OV Leibrandt, BS Clements, Rs & BA Napier & Summerhill Stud; breeder Summerhill Stud (SAF); trainer MF de Kock; jockey A Delpech (R234.375)
Kilcoy Castle (SAF), 57.0, b c 3, Kabool (GB) - She's All That (SAF) by Western Winter.
Horatio (SAF), 57.0, gr c 3, Announce (SAF) - Sweet Suffragette (SAF) by Averof (GB)
Margins: ½, ¾, nose
Also ran: Rudra (SAF) 57.0, Kings Gambit (SAF) 57.0, Lubricator (saf) 57.0, Eddington (SAF) 57.0, Carbon Leader (SAF) 57.0, Aluminium (arg) 57.0, J J The Jet Plane (SAF) 57.0, Close As Oak (SAF) 57.0, Ray Sauce (SAF) 57.0, Hamlool (AUS) 57.0, Kingdom Come (ARG) 57.0, Gymnast (SAF) 57.0, Juanfra (ARG) 57.0

Anthony Delpech has returned home to take up a position with the Mike de Kock yard after several very successful seasons in Hong Kong, and the former champion jockey wasted no time in making his presence felt when he piloted Imbongi to a wholly unexpected success in the Gauteng Guineas over 1600m at Turffontein (standside) on Saturday.

Together with Gymnast and Kings Gambit (who at least had the excuse of only having raced twice before, winning both times) Imbongi was the lowest merit rated runner in a field of 16 and went off as a 50/1 shot in a race where punters seemed to only have eyes for Eddington. Best in at the weights and an impressive winner of a Listed race in admittedly muddy conditions last time out, Eddington went off as a strongly backed 14/10 favourite. The market leader wasted no time in trying to take the Guineas by the scruff of its neck and set a strong early pace from Rudra and Juanfra, with Carbon Leader and Hamlool prominent just behind them. Kilcoy Castle was amongst the backmarkers after jumping from the widest gate.
Eddington was still going great guns turning for home, but he began to feel the pinch racing into the last 400m. The stable companions Rudra and Imbongi were the first to reel in the frontrunner, with Imbongi being fully committed for home 200m out and running on gamely all the way to the finish to beat a fast finishing Kilcoy Castle by half-a-length. The latter put up a terrific effort from where he was turning for home and is right back to his best after a woefully disappointing previous effort in a Gr 3 race won by Horatio. That had been Kilcoy Castle's first run back from a raid to the Cape Guineas, and he perhaps needed time to re-acclimatise to highveld conditions, but he is back on song now and can win a decent race this season.
Horatio (a stable companion to Kilcoy Castle) proved that Gr 3 success to have been no fluke when he came from a long way back to finish third on Saturday, beaten 1.25 lengths by the winner and finishing a short head in front of fourth placed Rudra. Hamlool faded in his first start since November and can only improve with the run, but neither Lubricator nor J J The Jet Plane (the 'talking' horses of just a few months ago) was ever seen with a real chance of winning.
Just how literally one can take the form of a Guineas which was won by a horse rated 87 is hard to say. There was no semblance of a fluke about Imbongi's success in a true-run race, but there was nothing in his previous history to suggest he was capable of it. Granted, this was only his third outing since he was gelded and he may have taken some time to get over the operation, but he had finished last of nine in the Gr3 won by Horatio and this is frankly a head-scratching result even if we know full well that nothing is impossible with a De Kock-trained horse.
Imbongi is a son of the unfashionable Nureyev stallion Russian Revival, whose offspring can usually be best described as being of the bread-and-butter variety but as a Gr2 winner in the UK with a Timeform rating of 125. Imbongi is the 9th foal and seventh winner of Foveros mare Garden Verse, who never raced but who also produced recent Gauteng Gr3 winner Spring Garland. Garden Verse is furthermore the second dam of this season's Cape Gr2 winner Oracle News, so the family is very much alive. Imbongi failed to reach his R120 000 reserve at the 2006 Emperors Palace Ready To Run sale and is still part-owned by his breeders, the Summerhill. He has won 3 from 8 for R432 925

Gr2 Hawaii S. (SAf-G2) (3/1)
Turffontein, SA, March 1, R300k, 1400m, turf, good, 1.25.75 (CR 1.21.41).
MENTOR (SAF), 54.5, b c 4, N. Assembly (CAN) - Wise Dame (SAF) by Argosy. Owner A Naidoo and V Haripersad; breeder Avontuur Farm (SAF); trainer D Zaki; jockey P Strydom (R187.500)
Jaroslaw (SAF), 54.5, b c 4, Jallad - Dacha (SAF) by Russian Fox.
Emperor Napoleon (SAF), 54.5, b c 4, Kahal (GB) - Ellinore (SAF) by Northern Guest
Margins: ¾, ½, ½
Also ran: Rebel King (SAF) 56.0, Succesful Bidder (SAF) 60.0, Likeithot (SAF) 54.5, Flaming Jet (SAF) 54.5, Chariots Of Fire (SAF) 54.5, Dynamite Mike (SAF) 56.5, Kiwinsky (NZ) 54.5, Singing Sword (SAF) 54.5, Pacific Warrior (SAF) 54.5, Northern Wolf (SAF) 55.0, Pure Hokum (SAF) 55.0

Mentor looked to have a tough task on his hands when he lined up for the Hawaii Stakes over 1400m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday, but proceeded to make all the running to register a 14/1 success.
This was the 1st career Stakes win for the 4yo gelding, who had broken the Vaal 1400m course record in early January but who was beaten in 2 minor events after that.

Succesful Bidder was the proven class of the 14 horse field which lined up for this conditions race and went off as a strongly supported despite racing for the first time since his return from Cape Town. He looked very well weighted on merit ratings, even with 60 kgs, and for example was meeting the eventual winner on 2.5 kgs better terms than would have applied in a handicap. Rebel King was largely expected to give Succesful Bidder most to do.
Mentor took it up from virtually from the start under Piere Strydom and set a sound pace from Kiwinsky and Dynamite Mike, with Singing Sword and Flaming Jet next in line as Succesful Bidder raced in the bunch and Rebel King was held up towards the rear. Big outsider Jaroslaw was the first to set off after Mentor in the straight, and for a while looked to have every chance of reeling in the frontrunner as Singing Sword failed to quicken and Kiwinsky weakened. Succesful Bidder was staying on steadily from behind, with Rebel King making rapid headway wider out, but it was obvious some way out that neither of this pair was going to get into a seriously threatening position.
Try as he might, Jaroslaw could not bridge the gap with Mentor. The latter had been given a typical frontrunning ride by Piere Strydom, keeping enough in reserve to shake off the challenge of his pursuer and win by 0.75 lengths from the gallant Jaroslaw, who nevertheless ran the race of his life in 2nd. Emperor Napoleon put up a very encouraging display, running on very strongly from nearly last on the turn to be beaten a total of 1.25 lengths into third. It was the 4yo's 1st start since he was gelded, and he can only improve with this run. He is no doubt being aimed at the Gr1 GommaGomma Challenge over 2000m during the autumn, a race in which he finished 2nd behind Pick Six last year.
Succesful Bidder and Rebel King (who was going this distance for the first time) were both below-par, but as already noted they were racing for the first time since returning home from the Cape season and can also do better in their coming races. Mentor was a fully deserving winner for all that, having done the donkeywork from the start on ground softened slightly by an earlier rain shower, but 1400m is probably his optimum distance and trainer Dominic Zaki may need to look at the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville over that distance in a couple of months time as a better target than anything that the balance of the Gauteng Feature season has to offer. That said, the Drill Hall is run at WFA and would present Mentor with a much tougher task than the Hawaii, especially as Cape trainers often use it to launch the winter campaign of their very best horses. In other words, it will be very hard indeed to find a race where Mentor can reproduce Saturday's performance and it is just as well for him that he won because 1400m 'specialists' (if that is what he is) live in a twilight zone with precious few valuable races to aim at.
Mentor is a gelded son of N. Assembly. He is the 5th foal and 3rd winner of Argosy mare Wise Dame, who won four races over 1200m including a Listed event and who is also dam of Gr2 winning sprinter Royal IQ. Bred by Avontuur, Mentor was bought for R400k on the select session of the 2005 National Yearling Sale and has won 5 from 22 for R471 250.

Gr3 Zimbabwe Guineas (SAf-G3) (3/1)
Borrowdale Park, Zimbabwe, March 1, 1600m, turf, good, 1.36.46 (CR 1.35.70).
SYRACUSE (ZIM), 58.0, ch c 3, Kitalpha - Prickle Lily (SAF) by Full Colour (SAF). Breeder Rumbavu Park Stud (ZIM); trainer AI Harris; jockey R Zieve.
Sea Chest (ZIM), 58.0, ch c 3, Kitalpha - Sound Of The Sea (SAF) by Esplendor (ARG)
Killaridge (ZIM), 58.0, b c 3, Kitalpha - Ridgewood Fern (SAF) by Coolstar (SAF)
Margins: nk, ¾, 1¾
Also ran: Frogwatch (ZIM) 58.0, Regale (ZIM) 55.0, None Better (ZIM) 58.0, Taibu (ZIM) 58.0, Alerted (ZIM) 58.0, Prince Gabriel (ZIM) 58.0

Chairman's Cup (L)
Veteran Major Bluff has come close to being retired in the past, but the decision to keep the 8yo going was vindicated when he won the Chairman's Cup over 3200m at Kenilworth on Saturday. This marked the former Gr1 Gold Cup winner's 1st success since the Chairman's Cup of 2 years ago.

esert Links looked well weighted to win this conditions race and was sent out favourite in a field of 11. The Basil Marcus-trained gelding has often shown the frustrating tendency to run on from too far back once the race is over and was fitted with blinkers for the first time to try and overcome this. Major Bluff was the 2nd choice of punters, many of whom doubtless took heart in the fact that the old boy's trainer Joey Ramsden is in such hot form at present that he could probably win with the proverbial stable cat.
Sun Dial refused to budge when the gates opened, but Show A Profit was well away and led briefly before Omega Code went on by to set a fairly ordinary pace. Omega Code had won the equivalent race with frontrunning tactics 12 months earlier and here showed the way from Show A Profit and The Traveller, with sole filly Myst next in line as the stable companions Desert Links and Master Of Note kept each other company at the rear. Omega Code continued on his merry way up front all the way around Kenilworth's new course and well into the straight. He was still in front halfway down the stretch, where Desert Links was starting to make smooth headway after going for the short way home down the inside fence. Major Bluff, as always, had been ridden from near the back of the pack for most of the way and opted to deliver his challenge wider out, clear of any possible traffic jams.
Desert Links found a smooth enough run down the inside and had every chance of success when he tackled Omega Code around 200m from home, but any ideas that the favourite would win were short-lived. Major Bluff was storming home like a horse half his age and breezed on by in the last 100m under Glen Hatt to win going away by 1.25 lengths from Desert Links. No excuses can be made for the runner-up this time, except the obvious one that the winner was too good for him. Omega Code was a further 1.5 lengths away in third, his 1st earning effort from eight starts since his Chairman's win last March, with Mokaro a well beaten and never-dangerous fourth.
Major Bluff is quite effective over distances around 2400m, but the further they go the better he likes it. There are very few races around for a two-mile specialist, and it won't be easy to win again with the ageing son of Jallad unless he can be kept on the boil for another try at the Chairman's at the age of nine, but he has been a terrific servant for his connections. It has not been a smooth ride and a serious injury nearly ended his career years ago, but he has always bounced back for more. The journey must soon come to an end, and a happy retirement awaits. A son of Jallad out of the Dancing Champ mare Bluffit, Major Bluff was bred at Arc-En-Ciel and has won 11 from 57 for R1 062 935. He was a R35k purchase from the 2001 Vintage Yearling Sale and was initially trained by Andries Steyn before being sold privately to current connections as a late 2yo.

Gr3 Tommy Hotspur H (SAf-G3) (2/23)
Turffontein , SA, February 23, R200k, 1000m, turf, good, 56.22 (CR 54.96).
SEVENTH ROCK (AUS), 57.0, br c 3, Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) - Ruby Clipper (NZ) by Rubiton (AUS). Owner Mrs I Jooste and Mr MJ Jooste; brdr Strawberry Hill (AUS); trainer CS Laird; jockey A Marcus (R125k)
Rosinante (SAF), 53.0, gr f 3, Divine Act (SAF) - Hasta Aqui (SAF) by Model Man (SAF)
Archipeligo (SAF), 59.5, b c 5, Restructure (IRE) - Island Squaw (SAF) by Al Mufti
Margins: 3½, 1, nk
Also ran: Good Thing (SAF) 52.0, Flintlock (SAF) 59.5, Lightning Lecture (SAF) 59.5, Gathering Stars (SAF) 55.0, Darwin (SAF) 53.5, Cedar (SAF) 60.0, National Victor (SAF) 52.0, Dante's Inferno (SAF) 52.0

Tommy Hotspur should have been proud of the field which lined up to contest the handicap named after him at Turffontein on Saturday.
Tommy himself made a guest appearance at the course, looking sprightly enough at the age of 16 to require two handlers hanging onto him - just in case, one imagines, the former ace sprinter developed any bright ideas about breaking loose and stretching his old legs. There have been few faster horses over the minimum distance in the last dozen years or so than Tommy Hotspur, and it was a nice touch by Phumelela to air a brief package of his greatest triumphs. The fact that Phumelela long ago disposed of the scene of most of those triumphs - Gosforth Park - is something we won't dwell on except to say that those famous words 'the good old days' came immediately to mind.

Flying machine Mythical Flight (who surely will one day also have a sprint named after him) was an absentee, but the 11-runner line-up included a slew of talented sprinters. Only three of the runners were aged older than four, so there seems to be no lack of up-and-coming sprinting prowess in Gauteng at least. Three-year-old Seventh Rock and year older Flintlock headed the market for this 1000m dash on the standside course, with KZN visitor Archipeligo and speedy sophomore Gathering Stars also having their supporters.
A brief shower earlier in the day removed whatever possibility there might have been of an assault on Mythical Flight's course record, but the ground was still plenty quick enough and they went like the clappers from the jump. Gathering Stars was out in a flash and set a fast pace from Darwin and Seventh Rock, with Rosinante next in line as Flintlock raced about three or four lengths off the speed. Gathering Stars still led inside the last 400m, but Seventh Rock was clearly in the prime position to strike. The Australian-bred colt took command of the race some 300m from home and strode away in impressive fashion under Anton Marcus to eventually win by 3.5 lengths in a highly respectable 56.22 seconds. The track record is 55 seconds flat, by the way, and might just about last forever.
Rosinante gamely chased Seventh Rock home. Paul Matchett's filly is very much a 1000m specialist and proved here that she is not overshadowed in male company, but she proved no match for the winner. She did at least make it an exacta of 3yos, though, and she did her homeland of Zimbabwe proud in the process. Arhcipeligo stayed on to finish another length away in third, a position he occupied behind Mythical Flight in last season's Gr1 Computaform Sprint. Dennis Drier's gelding seems destined for another attempt on SA's premier 1000m race later in the autumn. Good Thing ran a terrific race to be beaten a total of 4.75 lengths into fourth, considering he was 5.5 kgs under sufferance. He is obviously still improving, but the handicapper will make him pay for this effort.
Flintlock failed to quicken and finished 5th, while stable companion Lightning Lecture was completely run off his feet early but stayed on to finish 6th. It was a disappointing race for their trainer Gary Alexander in a contest named after one of his former inmates. Earlier this season Byblos won the race which honours his former stable companion (and near relation) Golden Loom, a fact made more poignant by the subsequent passing of their trainer Buddy Maroun, but while the Tommy Hotspur Handicap didn't go the way of an Alexander-trained entry there was nevertheless a distinct Alexander flavour to the outcome.
It was Gary Alexander who trained Seventh Rock's mother Ruby Clipper to win ten races up to 1200m including the Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship in course record time. A NZ-bred daughter of Rubiton who started her racing career in Zim, Ruby Clipper was SA's champion 2yo filly of the 1997/98 season and joint champion older sprinter 2 years later. She finished 2nd in the Computaform Sprint, a race for which her highly talented son is now doubtless being aimed. That will clearly be a much harder race to win than the Tommy Hotspur, at least if Mythical Flight turns out and is right back to his best, but all was clearly not well with Sean Tarry's ace when he was surprisingly beaten in the Gr1 Cape Flying Ch'ship in January and Seventh Rock would be one of the most likely to succeed in the Computaform should Mythical Flight either not run or again disappoint.
Seventh Rock is a son of outstanding seven times Gr1 winner and very successful sire Rock Of Gibraltar and is the 2nd foal of the flying Ruby Clipper. Rock Of Gibraltar was a world class miler, but Seventh Rock seems to have inherited the speed of his mother and Charles Laird's colt looks every inch a sprinter. Owner Markus Jooste had to fork out more than one million Australian dollars (then close to R6m) to acquire Seventh Rock from the 2006 Magic Millions yearling sale on the Gold Coast, and to date the colt has won 5 of only 7 for R699 125. Seventh Rock should continue to thrive, and further success at the highest level looks very likely.

Gr3 Prix du Cap (SAf-G3) (2/16)

Kenilworth, SA, Feb 16, R125K, 1400m, turf, good, 1.26.69 (CR 1.24.00).
NANIA (SAF), 54.5, ch f 3, Western Winter - Nacarat (SAF) by Pas De Quoi (SAF). Owner Klawervlei Stud; breeder Lammerskraal Stud (SAf); trainer J Ramsden; jockey G Hatt (R78.125)
Vermilion (SAF), 55.5, b f 4, Western Winter - Nacarat (SAF) by Pas De Quoi (SAF).
Rei Rei (SAF), 50.5, ch f 3, Doowaley (IRE) - Late Night Live (SAF) by Fine Edge (GB).
Margins: 1 ¼, neck, 1/2
Also ran: Ice Belle (SAF) 51.5, Our Table Mountain (USA) 57.5, Zooming Zellie (USA) 58.0, Jabulani Jive (SAF) 55.5, Triplicate (SAF) 51.5, Fashion File (SAF) 55.5, Galaxy Gal (AUS) 51.0, Canadian Sunset (SAF) 55.0, Sea Of Calm (USA) 54.0, Escapology (SAF) 58.0

Sister Act

Talk about sibling rivalry. It's not every day that full brothers or sisters finish first and second in the same race, let alone in a Graded event, but that is the story of last Saturday's Riverworld Stud Prix du Cap.

Three-year-old Nania gave her year older full sister Vermilion something to think about with a 1.25 lengths victory in this conditions event for fillies and mares over 1400m at Kenilworth, a race where furthermore the first, second and fourth were all daughters of Western Winter bred by Lammerskraal.

Nania was sent out 12/10 favourite to beat a dozen rivals in what unofficially amounted to the last Graded Feature of the Cape summer season, having finished a very good 2 lengths third behind Dancer's Daughter in the Gr1 Majorca S 3 weeks earlier. Fellow 3yo Rei Rei was the second choice of the market, having finished 2.75 lengths further back in the Majorca but now meeting Nania on 4 kgs better terms. There was plenty of support at bigger prices for Jabulani Jive and Ice Belle, but Vermilion was an easy-to-back 12/1 chance despite having won her last start over the course-and-distance.
Vermilion was quick away but was soon passed by Jabulani Jive, who went on to set a decent enough pace as Vermilion settled into second, with Ice Belle and Canadian Sunset next in line. Galaxy Gal tracked the leaders as Nania raced a few lengths off the pace. Jabulani Jive still led from Vermilion and Ice Belle as they turned for home, and all three were very much in the hunt halfway down the straight. Vermilion had taken the shortest way around and was throwing down her challenge on the far side, but wider out her younger sister was starting to make rapid progress. Nania picked it up racing into the last 200m and soon had the race pretty much in safe keeping. She ran on well under Glen Hatt to beat Vermilion, with Rei Rei running on steadily from off the pace to finish a neck behind the runner-up in third, and half-a-length in front of Ice Belle in fourth. Zooming Zellie, winner of the race twelve months earlier, made late progress from the rear to be beaten less than four lengths into sixth place, but she was never in the hunt.
Ice Belle deserves a quick mention. Drawn widest of 13, she had to be rushed up early to get a handy position before the first turn and in the circumstances she did well to be beaten only two lengths at the line. At the best of times there is little enough to choose between her and stable companion Nania, but it is the latter who always seem to get the prize. Nania and Ice Belle did of course finish first and second in the Gr1 Thekwini Fillies Stakes at Clairwood last July, but Ice Belle has yet to win so much as a Listed race.
Vermilion was very game in defeat, but she is not in the same league as her younger sister. Nania did have the benefit of the 2 draw, whereas Vermilion started from gate 10 and also had to be made use of early to race so prominently, but the Joey Ramsden-trained winner won fair and square in the end and will presumably now be put away for the KZN season, with the Gr2 Fillies Guineas at Greyville as an obvious target race. With Gr 1 Cape Fillies Guineas Captain's Lover en route to France, Nania has as much claim as most to be considered the best 3yo filly over a mile in training and is certainly better than her seventh place finish in the Cape Fillies Guineas might imply.
Nania and Vermilion are respectively the fourth and 3rd foals (and winners) of the Pas De Quoi mare Nacarat, who won four races and who is a half sister to multiple Gr1 winner Set Afire. The latter is himself by Western Winter and therefore is a three-parts brother to Saturday's winner and runner-up. This is the female line also of multiple Gr1 winner and champion Royal Chalice and it is not surprising that it took a healthy R340 000 to acquire Nania at the 2006 GrandWest Yearling Sale. Vermillion has never been put up for auction and at least Mike Rattray's Lammerskraal team can look forward to one of this duo eventually joining their superb broodmare band. Nania has won four times from 10 starts and earned R500 625 for her owners the Klawervlei Stud, who themselves must be licking their chops at the thought of one day breeding with the Prix du Cap heroine.

Wolf Power H (L) (SAf-G3) (2/2)

Former KZN-trained Buscador remains unbeaten from two starts since he relocated to Gauteng after he unleashed a truly eye-catching turn of acceleration to win the Wolf Power Handicap over 1600m at Turffontein (inner course) on Saturday. Previously in the care of Neil Bruss, Buscador joined Geoff Woodruff when Bruss emigrated to the UK and won his Highveld debut race over 1200m on the Vaal sand in January.

Gr3 Three Troikas S (SAf-G3) (2/2)

Leading owner Markus Jooste's recent buying sprees at Aus yearling sales produced another happy outcome when Acoustical, racing for only the 3rd time, secured some precious black type by winning the Three Troikas S for 3yo fillies over 1450m on the Turffontein inner course on Saturday.

A five lengths debut winner over 1200m before running on to finish fourth over that distance in her next start, Acoustical was one of the leading fancies in an eight runner field. It was a lively betting market, though, with unbeaten KZN visitor Sahara disputing favouritism with the eventual winner and support also for Arabian Jazz (who had won the race in which Acoustical finished fourth) and well-weighted Aquitaine, whose supporters were prepared to forgive Dianne Stenger's filly a most disappointing latest effort.
Paint The Town elected to try and make all the running in familiar Piere Strdyom fashion and showed the way at a reasonable tempo from Alpine Club, Acoustical, and Sahara. Arabian Jazz was further back as the stable companions Glenrossal and Aquitaine both raced towards the rear. Paint The Town had a mighty fine go at winning this from the front and was holding off challenges from Alpine Club and Acoustical well inside the final 200m. It was only around 100m from home that she finally surrendered her lead. It briefly looked as if Alpine Club would come through along the inside to win, but Anton Marcus had other others and threw everything at Acoustical to eventually get her home a narrow winner. Backers of the winner owe Marcus a big thank-you, one imagines.
Alpine Club ran a terrific race meeting Acoustical on 3 kgs worse terms than would have applied in a handicap and would appear to have improved considerably from this first-time use of blinkers. Paint The Town eventually finished third ahead of Sahara, who had every chance but who simply couldn't quicken well enough under pressure to mount a serious bid on first prize. Aquitaine again proved very disappointing, while Arabian Jazz and Glenrossal never got into the fray either.
Acoustical will probably prove better yet when she goes over more ground, a sentiment which was echoed by the winning rider, and trainer Charles Laird will no doubt now prepare her for the Gr 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic. Acoustical is a daughter of successful Roberto horse Red Ransom, sire amongst many others of ill-fated Dubai World Cup winner Electrocutionist. She is the first foal of unraced mare Blagdon, a daughter of Gone West and a three-parts sister to champion 2yo colt Zafonic. This is a very smart European black type family and it is no surprise that Jooste had to pay Aus $310 000 (then around R1.7m) to acquire Acoustical at the 2006 Sydney Yearling Sale. Her 2 wins from 3 have earned R157 500 in stakes.

Gr3 Tony Ruffel S (SAf-G3) (2/2)

The Tony Ruffel Stakes was a race which must have brought out distinctly mixed emotions in trainer Sean Tarry. He sent out the very well-weighted Kilcoy Castle in this conditions race for 3yos over 1450m on the inner course at Turffontein last Saturday, who not surprisingly started favourite, but Kilcoy Castle put up a most disappointing display to finish unplaced. Instead it was 25/1 stable companion Horatio, making his debut for the Tarry yard, who emerged as the winner in a nail-biting finish.

Kilcoy Castle was given every chance by rider Brett Smith and was poised in fourth spot early on as Strike Paradise opened up a big lead from Juanfra and Carbon Leader. Strike Paradise raced much too freely for his own good in what was his 1st attempt beyond 1200m and must have been a good eight lengths clear turning for home. There was never much hope that he would be able to sustain this rate of knots, and he was swamped inside the final 300m. With the favourite going absolutely nowhere under pressure it looked as though 2nd favourite Juanfra had the race all sewn up when he led past the 200m pole. He was clearly holding a persistent Carbon Leader at bay, and also had the measure of Gliding High as the latter tried to deliver a challenge along the inside rail.
Juanfra had been well supported to win what was his first race since being gelded and his backers must have been licking their chops inside the last 100m. Horatio was starting to unleash a storming run wide out, but for all the world it never looked as if he would actually reel in Juanfra, at least not until the very death. Horatio lunged at Juanfra in the final stride, but even so to the naked eye it appeared as if the latter had just held on. The camera revealed otherwise, though, and the honours went to Horatio and jockey Gavin Lerena by a whisker. Carbon Leader and Gliding High respectively finished third and fourth, and were hardly disgraced.
The disappointing Kilcoy Castle aside, Horatio was by no means badly weighted in the Tony Ruffel and in fact met Juanfra on 1 kg better terms than would have been the case in a handicap. Respectable efforts in two successive Stakes races including the Gr3 Graham Beck in his last 2 starts for previous trainer Paul Matchett hinted at the possibility that Horatio was not without hope of winning a decent race one day, but of course he was seemingly overshadowed - along with every other horse in the race - by Kilcoy Castle. His recent round trip to Cape Town for the Guineas may have taken more out of the disappointing favourite than anyone expected, for he ran as flat as the proverbial pancake in a race where he met his eight rivals on between 4 kgs and 7 kgs better terms than in a handicap. Furthermore, he had Horatio stone cold on the form of the Graham Beck Stakes and one can only hope that Kilcoy Castle will re-acclimatise to Highveld conditions in time to be competitive in a race like the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas.
Tarry couldn't hide his disappointment at Kilcoy Castle's performance, and freely admitted that he though the horse was very well in himself, before adding that Horatio is a horse "that shows absolutely nothing at home." He certainly can gallop, though, and the turn of foot which he unleashed to grab an improbable victory was impressive to say the least. He will face a considerably more difficult task if he lines up for a race like the Gauteng Guineas, but the step up to a mile will be in his favour. Just how good he really is remains to be seen, and as far as the handicapper is concerned he should actually have beaten Juanfra by further than he did, but that doesn't do justice to the actual manner in which Horatio won.
Horatio is the 2nd Stakes winner sired by National Assembly stallion Announce, whose progeny seem to have developed a liking for the Tony Ruffel. The stallion's only previous Feature race success came courtesy of Announce Speed in the same race a year ago. Horatio is the is the 5th foal and third winner of Averof mare Sweet Suffragette, a half sister to Gr2 winner Deliberation and Gr1 Summer Cup runner-up Gang Related who won three races between 1400/1600m. Bred by Bruce and Anne Nicholas of Hallmark Th'breds, Horatio was bought for R110k at the 2006 National 2yo sale and has won twice from seven starts, earning R197 750.

Turff, SA, February 2, R200.000, 1450m, turf, good, 1.26.96 (ncr) 
HORATIO (SAf), 56.0, gr g 3, Announce (SAf) - Sweet Suffragette (SAf) by Averof (GB). Owner SA Hanna, TT Naidoo, V McMullen & JF Bezuidenhout & JM Ross; breeder Hallmark Thoroughbreds (SAf); trainer SG Tarry; jockey G Lerena (R125.000).
Juanfra (ARG), 56.0, br g 3, Incurable Optimist - My Malice (ARG) by Mountdrago (ARG).
Carbon Leader (SAf), 56.0, ch g 3, Kahal (GB) - Enriched (SAf) by Crystal De Roche (FR).
Margins: nose, ¾, 1¼
Also ran: Gymnast (SAf), Gliding High (SAF) 56.0, Strike Paradise (SAf), Red Ammo (SAf), Kilcoy Castle (SAf), Imbongi (SAf),

Gr3 Acacia H (SAf-G3) (2/2)

Saturday's Acacia H over 1600m on the inner course at Turffontein was a race to savour for champion breeders Summerhill. The race produced a grandstand finish between 2 horses bred at the farm, with the daughter of a Summerhill resident stallion (Muhtafal, who also sired the runner-up) finishing fourth for good measure.

The Acacia is a handicap for fillies and mares and in a field of 10 it was She's On Fire who went off as favourite after she had returned from almost a year's absence a fortnight earlier to finish less than one length second behind promising Albizia in a minor event at the Vaal. Surabi, Spring Garland, Roman Eagle and KZN-trained visitor Valdovino all had their supporters in what looked to be a competitive affair.
Valdovino proved to be something of a handful at the start and needed considerable persuasion from the stalls handlers to take up her place, but once the gates opened she was off and running. She set a modest pace from Roman Eagle and Surabi, with Alejate and Spring Garland further back as She's On Fire was waited with some lengths off the lead. Slow-starter A Place In Space brought up the rear.
The race developed into something of a sprint for home from 600m out, with Valdovino still in front turning for home. Roman Eagle was the first to try and tackle the leader, with Surabi snapping at their heels. Valdovino was weakening 300m out, and with Roman Eagle also fading away it was Alejate who picked it up inside the last furlong. Spring Garland, though, was now right in the mix. Gary Alexander's 4yo had made good progress past rivals when Mark Khan asked for her effort and Spring Garland eventually got the better of Alejate in the closing stages to record a narrow success. This was Alejate's second consecutive near-miss at Gr3 level, the Greg Anthony-trained mare having been gunned down close home in the Flamboyant S at Greyville on New Year's Day.
Surabi finished a respectable third over a distance which arguably is a little beyond her ideal, while KZN visitor and topweight Outcome made late progress to finish fourth. She's On Fire battled to quicken in the dash up the straight and could have used a more testing pace, but 1600m on this sharp course doesn't look like a sufficient test of stamina in any case for this granddaughter of Gold Cup and July winner Devon Air.
Consistent Spring Garland was recording the first Stakes win of her career. Lightly raced for a 4yo, she was having only her tenth start and she could prove competitive in other major fillies' events of the Gauteng season, but whether she's much above Gr3 class remains to be seen. A daughter of deceased Rambo Dancer, Spring Garland is the eight foal, 6th winner, and 1st Stakes winner of unraced Foveros mare Garden Verse. Two of Garden Verse's previous foals were Stakes-pl and one of them, the National Emblem mare Full Spectrum, is the dam of this season's Gr2 winner Oracle News. This is the family of Dubai horse-of-the-year Victory Moon and J&B Met winner Imperious Sue.
Spring Garland was bought for R180K at the 2005 National Yearling Sale. Her 4 wins from 10 have earned stakes of R320 250.

Turff, SA, February 2, R165k, 1600m, turf, good, 1.38.09 (CR1.34.38).
SPRING GARLAND (SAf), 54.5, b f 4, Rambo Dancer - Garden Verse (SAf) by Foveros (GB). Owner F Wilensky, MC Berzack, BS Clements, GP Sadie & Summerhill Stud syndicate; breeder Summerhill Stud (SAf); trainer GM Alexander; jockey M Khan (R103.125)
Alejate (SAf), 54.0, b f 5, Muhtafal - Tristram's Frolic (SAf) by Northern Guest.
Surabi (SAf), 59.5, ch f 4, Wolfhound - Gypsy Queen (SAf) by Royal Chalice (SAf).
Margins: nose, ¾, 1¼
Also ran: Outcome (SAF) 60.0, She's On Fire (SAF) 55.5, Miss Jet Set (SAF) 52.0, Roman Eagle (SAF) 57.0, La Belle Otero (SAF) 52.0, Valdovino (SAF) 53.5, A Place In Space (SAF) 52.0

Gr2 J&B Met Reserve Stayers (SAf-G2)

The J&B Reserve Stayers over 2800m brings down the curtain both on J&B Met day and the Cape summer season generally. Formerly run as a handicap but converted this year to a conditions race, it produced a fine display of long-distance running from Gauteng visitor Prince Asad. One of only two raiders (Pacific Charm was the other) in a field of 16, Geoff Woodruff's gelding simply demolished his opposition and it looks like it will be a case of the-further-the-better for the 4yo.

Desert Links looked well treated by the new conditions of the race and was heavily supported all the way into the red, starting as the 9/10 favourite despite his well established knack of getting too far back early in races and running on when it's all too late. Considered an unlucky loser when beaten one length by Prince Asad in the Gr2 Gold Circle Derby at Clairwood last July, he now met that rival on 1 kg better terms. Prince Asad was available at around 10/1.
The lead changed handy several times as the field navigated one full lap of the Kenilworth new course. Trade Specialist and Mokaro briefly took turns at spearheading the field before Maillot Jaune rushed around horses to lead entering the back straight. Master Of Note made up ground to race in second, with Winona also very prominent in third place followed by Trade Specialist and Prince Asad. Omega Code then answered the call to pacesetting duty and looped horses to lead the cavalry out of the back straight as Maillot Jaune began to weaken dramatically. Omega Code brought the field for home, but soon started to tread water as well.
Omaha Beach had won this race two years in succession and made a bold bid for the hat-trick when leading 300m out, but it was soon obvious that Prince Asad was going much better than any of his rivals. Ridden by Raymond Danielson in place of the indisposed Mark Khan, Prince Asad had the race won 200m from home as he stretched away to eventually win by 4.25 lengths without being extended to the line. River Jetez, a full sister to Pocket Power, tried her hardest to make it a remarkable day for her family, but could only come out a well beaten second best. Rank outsider Winona stayed on well for third ahead of Desert Links, who ran on well wider out but who was never going to give his supporters the remotest whiff of victory. Omaha Beach eventually finished fifth as Trade Specialist stopped to a crawl for a second time in succession and finished with only the thoroughly tired Maillot Jaune behind him.
The Gr2 Gold Bowl over 3200m at Turffontein in the autumn was picked out by Woodruff as the obvious target race for Prince Asad ahead of a KZN campaign which should culminate in an assault on the Gr1 Gold Cup. There's every reason to believe that Prince Asad will stay 2 miles better than most, and lest we forget his half brother Highland Night did win the Gold Cup - twice. A son of Al Mufti out of the Foveros mare Thousand Nights, Prince Asad was bred by Highlands and was sold (under the name Honest Henry) for R1m on the select session of the 2005 National Yearling Sale. Owned by Henry and Pat Devine, Prince Asad has won 5 of 14 and earned R474 625.

Michael Roberts (L) (SAf-G2)

It's not everyone who gets a race named after them, especially in their own lifetime.
Even fewer are the folk who actually win the race which bears their name. Michael Roberts did exactly that at Scottsville on Sunday.

The former nine times SA and once UK champion jockey saddled 2 runners in the Michael Roberts Handicap over 1800m on the standside course and was almost in tears after his five-year-old gelding West Coast Gold led throughout to land the spoils. Cinderella fairytales are a rarity indeed in this game, but they occasionally happen. Any suggestion (and some fool is sadly bound to raise it) that the race was "gifted" to Roberts doesn't even deserve discussion. Racing is a singularly unsentimental sport - ask Lloyd and Schofield about their last SA ride - and that is all that need to be said about that.
The race had a wide open look about it and no clear favourite emerged from amongst the 14 contestants. The likes of St Raphael, Surveyor and Long Dollar took turns at heading the market, with West Coast Gold amongst the more fancied runners at 6/1 after an encouraging return to some kind of form over 1300m at Greyville on New Year's Day.
The early pace was not very strong for a Listed event and West Coast Gold had little trouble in coming across from the widest draw to lead, showing up in front of Day Of The Piper and Surveyor. Long Dollar raced further back with Tamarino Bay as Silver Empire sat last of all. Surveyor's challenge was clearly over with a good 300m left to cover, and Day Of The Piper was also weakening as West Coast Gold continued on his merry way up front. Tamarino Bay emerged as one real threat to the frontrunner coming to the last 200m as he unwound a sustained challenge against the inside rail. The 8yo won this race as long ago as 2004 and tried his hardest to win it again, but he could never get to West Coast Gold. Royal Day got going late and ran on really strongly late, but he was always going to be too late to catch the pacesetter and was beaten half-a-length into 2nd by West Coast Gold.
Tamarino Bay was third, while the winner's stable companion Silver Empire added some icing to their trainer's cake by running on very strongly to finish fourth. St Raphael was never sighted and failed to repeat his rather luckless short head second in the Gr3 Christmas H, while Surveyor faded tamely and last year's Michael Roberts winner Dragon Lord never got into the hunt at all.
West Coast Gold is owned by Fieldspring Racing, who predominantly race in the Cape but will hopefully be persuaded to send more horses KZN's way, because we desperately need major owners to support the province with well-bred young stock. A son of deceased Rich Man's Gold, West Coast Gold is the second foal and second winner of US-bred Gone West mare West Coast Mama, who won two races up to 1200m in SA. Bred at Maine Chance, West Coast Gold was bought for R425K at the 2004 National Yearling Sale and has won 5 from 14 for R262 500.

Gr2 Sceptre S (SAf-G2) (1/12)

This has been a remarkable season for horses that are owned and/or were bred by Willem Engelbrecht Jnr. The Feature race winners produced from a relatively small band of mares have been flowing regularly and Joshlin recorded the 2nd big win of her 3yo campaign when she carried her owner/breeder's colours to a 40/1 victory in the Sceptre S over 1200m at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Joshlin had earlier won the Gr3 Diana S over 1400m in September, beating subsequent Gr1 Fillies Guineas winner Captain's Lover in the process. Captain's Lover herself was bred by Engelbrecht, which pretty much underlines our opening statement.
Joshlin had been well beaten in two starts since her Diana success, most recently when finishing more than a dozen lengths adrift in the Fillies Guineas, and she was allowed to start as an unconsidered outsider in a WFA event for females of all ages. The race marked the seasonal debut of last season's unbeaten Gr 1 winning juvenile Rat Burana, who disputed favouritism with Oracle News, impressive winner of the Gr2 Southern Cross S at Kenilworth in November. Nania, herself a Gr 1 winning 2yo of the previous season, was an easy-to-back 7/1 third choice in what the market suggested was a two cornered contest.
Viva set a blistering pace early and opened up a lead of some three lengths from Nania and Los Kop Doll, with Joshlin nicely tucked in just behind them as Rat Burana and Oracle News were both content to wait well back in the 14 runner field. Viva is arguably a better filly over 1000m and she was starting to feel the heat more than a furlong out as the pack closed her down. Joshua's Mistress and Joshlin were both in the perfect position to strike once the leader faded, with Rat Burana starting her run towards the inside. Nania was still very much in contention and was the first to strike when Viva did a disappearing act, but she was collared inside the last 100m by both Joshlin and Joshua's Mistress.
In the end it was left to the two 3yo daughters of Joshua Dancer to dominate the finish, with Joshlin leading close home and running on well under Piet Botha to beat Joshua's Mistress by half-a-length. Rat Burana stayed on well to finish 3rd in her first start since May and can only come on with the run. She looked a little above herself in the preliminaries, and presumably has the Gr1 Fancourt Majorca S over 1600m on January 26th as her target race of the Cape season. Nania made it a clean sweep for the 3yos by finishing 4th, but Oracle News was visibly going nowhere a long way from home and never remotely looked like producing the finishing kick which carried her to an easy win in the Southern Cross S.
It has also been a very good season for Joshua Dancer, who sired Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Pointing North the previous weekend. Joshlin's merit rating rocketed by 14 pounds after her Diana S win and Piet Botha said it all after the Sceptre S when he remarked that "like a lot of other people I thought the Diana S was a flash in the pan." He did also say, however, that he was pleasantly surprised by Joshlin when he worked her a few days before the Sceptre S and she is obviously a very good filly indeed when she's on song. So is runner-up Joshua's Mistress, whose 3rd place finish at 100/1 odds in the Fillies Guineas might have been widely considered to be a fluke. She was penalised 17 pounds for that effort and didn't quite run to her new merit rating here, being rated three pounds above Joshlin, but considering the Sceptre S is 400m shorter she did more than enough to suggest that her Fillies Guineas performance should be taken pretty much at face value. Joshua's Mistress is still a two time winner, so what price her chances if she lines up next in a graduation plate?
Joshlin is the 9th foal and 5th winner of now-deceased Russian Fox mare Maid Of Siberia, who won one race over 1200m. Bought back for R30K when offered at the '06 GrandWest Yearling Sale, Joshlin has been saddled by veteran trainer Alan Higgins to win 4 from 9 and earn R252 025.

Kenilworth, SA, January 12, R175K, 1200m, turf, good, 1.12.42 (CR 1.09.90).
JOSHLIN (SAF), 54.5, b f 3, Joshua Dancer - Maid Of Siberia (SAF) by Russian Fox. Owner WJ Engelbrecht (Jnr); breeder WJ Engelbrecht (SAf); trainer AB Higgins; jockey P Botha (R109.375)
Joshua's Mistress (SAF), 54.5, b f 3, Joshua Dancer - Modelia (SAF) by Model Man (SAF).
Rat Burana (BRZ), 54.5, b f 3, Dodge - Carmina Burana (ARG) by Southern Halo.
Margins: ½, 1 ¾, hd
Also ran: Nania (SAF) 54.5, Viva (SAF) 58.0, Girl In Every Port (SAF) 58.0, Rei Rei (SAF) 54.5, Los Kop Doll (SAF) 58.0, Oracle News (SAF) 58.0, Miss Gold Digger (SAF) 54.5, Chant De Nuit (SAF) 58.0, Maggie (SAF) 58.0, I Do (SAF) 58.0, Our Table Mountain 58.0

Gr3 Flamboyant S. (SAf-G3) (1/1)
Greyville, South Africa, January 1, R150.000, 1600m, turf, good, 1.37.38 (CR 1.34.00).
LASER FAN (SAF), 50.0, b f 3, Fanatic Dane (NZ) - Sandton City (SAF) by Al Mufti. Owner AD Mellor and EA Budlender; breeder High Season Stud (SAF); trainer G v Zyl; jockey M Yeni (R93.750)
Alejate (SAF), 58.0, b f 5, Muhtafal - Tristram's Frolic (SAF) by Northern Guest
Spontaneity (SAF), 50.0, b f 3, Winter Romance (GB) - Western Style (SAF) by Shoe Danzig
Margins: ½, ½, ½
Also ran: Annawood (SAF) 52.0, Silver Empire (AUS) 58.0, Lady Supreme (SAF) 58.0, Island Groove (SAF) 56.0, Paint The Town (SAF) 50.0, Set For Summer (SAF) 58.0, Look Alike (SAF) 58.0, Empress Award (SAF) 58.0

Former jockey Gavin van Zyl was presented with the first Feature race success of his fledgling career as a trainer when Laser Fan captured the Flamboyant Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m at Greyville on New Year's Day. The race was promoted to Gr3 status for the first time this season.

Laser Fan had contested a host of Graded races up to the highest level during the winter, often from woeful draws, finishing third of 16 in a Gr3 won by Supper Club over 1400m at Greyville. She was well treated by the set weights conditions of the Flamboyant, but once again had a double-digit draw to contend with. Even so she was one of the leading fancies in a field reduced to 11 by three withdrawals.
Silver Empire had credited nine times SA and once UK champion jockey Michael Roberts with his first Stakes success as a trainer when she won this race two seasons ago and looked to have a good chance of following up here in what frankly was not the strongest Flamboyant field of all time. However, the Australian-bred mare has developed the habit of losing lengths at the start and that was again the case here. She found herself well off the pace as Paint The Town set a decent gallop from Set For Summer, Empress Award and Spontaneity, with Laser Fan in midfield.
Paint The Town began to weaken more than 200m from home and it was Alejate - a mare with a particular liking for Greyville - who took her stab at glory inside the final furlong. She led until late in the day, but Laser Fan had started to unwind a strong challenge wider out and collared Alejate close home to win by half-a-length under a very well judged ride from Muzi Yeni. Spontaneity had looked a possible winner when she led briefly coming to the last 100m or so, but she couldn't finish the job off and eventually finished third. Annawood ran on steadily to finish 4th and is almost certainly best over further. Silver Empire never threatened to record a 2nd Flamboyant success, while Set For Summer faded out of contention and is much more effective around 1400m.
Three-year-old Laser Fan is from the 2nd crop of Danehill stallion Fanatic Dane, who won three times from a short career at the Cape. She is the 4th foal and second winner of unplaced Al Mufti mare Sandton City. Laser Fan was purchased for R80k at the 2007 Equimark Ready To Run Sale at Durbanville and gave that sale a timely boost as the 2008 edition is set to take place on Thursday 24th January. She has now won twice from seven starts and earned R200 625.

Gr3 Peninsula H (SAf-G3) (1/1)
Kenilworth, SA, Jan 1, R150k, 1800m, turf, good, 1.54.72 (CR 1.48.98).
WONDER LAWN (SAF), 54.0, b g 4, Fort Wood - Velvet Green (BRZ) by Roy. Ownr Filedspring Racing; brdr Wilgerbosdrift (SAF); trnr D Kannemeyer; jockey M Byleveld (R93.750)
Bill Of Rights (SAF), 54.5, b g 4, Saumarez (GB) - Fine Series (SAF) by Fine Edge (GB)
Mighty Atom (SAF), 52.0, ch g 5, Model Man (SAF) - Fire Tread (SAF) by All Fired Up
Margins: ¾, 1, ¾
Also ran: Farolito (SAF) 54.0, Sky Blaster (SAF) 53.0, Likeithot (SAF) 58.5, Rosestone (SAF) 52.0, Saltarello (SAF) 54.5

Gr3 London News S. (SAf-G3) (12/30)

Biarritz is having something of an eventful season.
He needed an objection lodged on his behalf to be upheld (which it was) when he won a Listed race in November, and he required an objection lodged against him to be overruled after he crossed the line first in Sunday's London News S over 1800m at Turffontein. Once again the decision went in his favour, and he was allowed to retain the win. If his connections didn't already have grey hairs a few months ago, they surely do now.

Biarritz was very well weighted in this conditions race, but there are many who have long held the view that 1600m is the 4yo's best trip and that may be part of the reason why he was replaced as favourite by Lion Tamer, despite the latter having disappointed in both of his last two outings. Biarritz went off as the second choice of punters in a 13 horse field, with Bound To Travel attracting some interest but last season's Gr 1 SA Derby winner Ravishing evidently ignored by the market in his first start for almost six months.
Biarritz was once again dropped in towards the rear as Zimbabwe-trained Earl Of Surrey set a brisk pace from Bound To Travel and Captain Corageous, with E-Fuel nicely positioned at the fence just behind them. Lion Tamer was next in line, with Ravishing at the tail. Bound To Travel quickly made a move in the straight and went on by Earl Of Surrey a long way from home, with Lion Tamer moving up nicely. Singing Sword unleashed a strong run wide out as well, with Biarritz still nowhere to be seen less than 300m from home. Bound To Travel may have made his move too soon and was a spent force more than 200m out, and with Lion Tamer not really quickening it was Singing Sword who took a narrow lead inside the last furlong. Biarritz, though, was now slicing through the pack with his customary turn of foot, ranging up close home and being driven all out by Gavin Lerena to head Singing Sword in the dying strides for a narrow success.
Drumbold ran on from almost last at the top of the straight to finish third ahead of Lion Tamer, and the fact that the first three finishers all came from a long way back would suggest that the early pace was rather too strong to be sustainable. Ravishing was never in with a chance and no doubt will come on with racing under his belt.
Biarritz and Singing Sword did have a coming together racing past the 100m mark, and the Tyrone Zackey, trainer of the runner-up, lodged an objection as a consequence. However, the head-on camera strongly suggested that it was pretty much a case of six of one and half-a-dozen of the other as the two horses veered into each other. Furthermore, the fact that Biarritz gave Singing Sword a few lengths start in the straight and still managed to get to the line first would have been a further consideration in allowing the original order of finish to stand, and most impartial observers should have little trouble in accepting that the decision was the correct one.
Singing Sword nevertheless ran a huge race in defeat, for he met his conqueror on 4.5 kgs worse terms than would have been the case in a handicap. The reverse can be argued, that Biarritz ran nowhere near his rating despite winning, but with his style of racing he is not the kind of horse that is ever likely to win by a wide margin. He is a last-gasp specialist of the highest order, but there is no doubting his talent and he did go some way here towards quashing his stamina doubts. He could be an interesting candidate for the Gr1 J&B Met, should connections choose to go that route now, for on pre-Queen's Plate and pre-London News S merit ratings he would actually be the best weighted horse in the race. On these - perhaps now redundant - ratings, Biarritz would face Pocket Power on 1kg better terms than in a handicap. It is hard to get away from Pocket Power as the likely winner of the Met, but Biarritz on best form is one horse that could drum up some genuine opposition to the Cape champion.
Biarritz is co-owned by his breeder Karel Miedema and trainer St John Gray. A son of Count Dubois, he is the fifth foal and fourth winner of Aus-bred Polish Patriot mare Corlia's Bid, who won three races up to 1600m. Corlia's Bid is the dam also of Gr3 winner Countess Corlia and Gr3 runner-up Corlia's Venture, and on top of all this she is a half sister to the dam of top class Kapil, but none of this had happened when the editor of this newspaper managed to buy Corlia's Bid (in foal with Biarritz) for a paltry R2000 at auction almost five years ago. Talk about a smart purchase, because Biarritz has now won 6 of 18 and earned R1 061 250 in stakes.

Turffontein, SA, December 30, R150K, 1800m, turf, good, 1.49.09 (CR 1.48.92).
BIARRITZ (SAF), 58.5, b c 4, Count DuBois (GB) - Corlia's Bid (AUS) by Polish Patriot. Ownr K Miedema and St John D Gray; brder Racing Record (SAf); trnr St John D Gray; jockey G Lerena (R93.750)
Singing Sword (SAF), 58.0, ch g 5, Prince Of War (SAF) - Razmataz (SAF) by Argosy
Drumbold (SAF), 57.0, ch g 5, Fahal - Tight Drums (SAF) by Hard Up (ARG)
Margins: nose, 2½, ½
Also ran: Lion Tamer (SAF) 57.0, Bound To Travel (SAF) 57.0, Fork Lightening (SAF) 57.0, Surveyor (SAF) 57.0, Silverpoint (AUS) 57.0, Captain Corageous (SAF) 58.0, E-Fuel (SAF) 58.0, Ravishing (SAF) 59.0, Earl Of Surrey (ZIM) 56.5, Island Swing (SAF) 54.0

Lebelo H (SAf-G3) (12/22)
Turff, SA, Dec 22, R150k, 1000m, turf, good, 55.08 (CR 54.96).
MYTHICAL FLIGHT (SAF), 62.0, ch c 4, Jet Master (SAF) - Mythical Bird (SAF) by Harry Hotspur (SAF). Ownr CJH van Niekerk and MJ Jooste; breeder The Alchemy (SAF); trnr SG Tarry; jockey B Smith (R93.750)
Flintlock (SAF), 56.0, b c 4, Dominion Royale (GB) - National Joy (SAF) by N. Assembly
Lightning Lecture (SAF), 54.5, b c 4, Lecture - Welsh Pagan (SAF) by Al Mufti
Margins: 1 ¾, ½, nk
Also ran: Byblos (SAF) 52.0, Time Goes By (SAF) 52.0, Escobar (SAF) 53.5, Swordsmith (SAF) 52.0, Scarlet Letter (GB) 52.0, Greek Warrior (SAF) 53.5, Triple-Isle (SAF) 52.0

Cape Summer Stayers H (SAf-G3) (12/23)
Kenilworth, SA, December 23, R150k, 2500m, turf, good, 3.27.15 (CR 3.24.60).
MASTER OF NOTE (SAF), 52.5, b c 4, Jet Master (SAF) - Dance For Joy (SAF) by Comic Blush. Owner EA Braun; breeder SM Fuhri (SAF); trainer B Marcus; jockey G Cheyne (R93.750)
Desert Links (SAF), 57.0, b c 4, Kahal (GB) - Selborne Park (SAF) by Home Guard.
Major Bluff (SAF), 58.5, b c 8, Jallad - Bluffit (SAF) by Dancing Champ
Margins: nose, 3 ½, nose
Also ran: Mokaro (SAF) 56.0, Supreme Gold (SAF) 54.5, Hincapie (SAF) 52.5, Key Castle (SAF) 55.0, Omega Code (SAF) 55.5, Meteor Shower (IRE) 52.0, Omaha Beach (SAF) 60.0, Clandestine (SAF) 54.5, Pacific Charm (SAF) 56.5, Dunford (SAF) 59.0, Kipketer (SAF) 55.0, Sensation (SAF) 53.5, Trade Specialist (SAF) 56.0

Christmas Hcp (SAf-G3) (12/26)

Adherents of the "second-run-after-a-rest" theory must be finding it harder than members of the Flat Earth Society to find new converts to their point of view. Of all of racing's dumb clichés that one must just about take the biscuit (if not the entire bakery), and Charlies Island gave it another solid whack on the head with a sledgehammer when he won the Christmas Handicap over 1600m at Clairwood last Wednesday. The 4yo had returned from a 32 week absence earlier in December to make mincemeat of five rivals over 1200m at the same course.

Gauteng visitor Rapid Pace was sent off favourite in a field reduced to 15 by the withdrawal at the start of Press King, but this always looked to be a wide open contest in true handicap style and the eventual result will have had the handicapper enjoying his Festive season even more. Charlies Island had never raced beyond 1450m before and doesn't have the pedigree to make it obvious that a mile would be within his reach, but young Brandon Lerena nevertheless wasted no time in taking him to the front. He set a fairly ordinary pace from topweight Surfin' USA, with Rapid Pace, Jalami and Modern Monet next in line as the perennially slow-starting Count West brought up the rear.
The stable companions Surfin' USA and Jalami, together with Rapid Pace, were all over Charlies Island like the proverbial cheap suit for much of the last 300m, with Light Spectrum trying to get competitive wider out as well, but nothing could ever get past the frontrunner. St Raphael nearly did in the end. He had to shop around for a clear run between horses and when he found one he arrived on the scene going a whole lot faster than those around him - but it was one stride too late. Jalami was also going stride-for-stride with Charlies Island all the way home and the three horses hit the line virtually as one, with Rapid Pace right on top of them in fourth place ahead of Surfin' USA, but the camera eventually revealed that Charlies Island had just held on to beat St Raphael by a short head. He could perhaps be classified as a lucky winner, for St Raphael would surely have nailed him with just a touch more luck in running, but it would be hard to find a better display of sheer grit and determination than we saw from Charlies Island.
Jalami was beaten another short head into third and clearly also saw out the distance well in his first try at 1600m. Rapid Pace was hardly disgraced in fourth, having stayed on well throughout without quite producing the necessary turn of foot, and he is perhaps at his very best over a little more ground. The twin effects of 60 kgs and a deep draw probably told in the end on Surfin' USA, but he gave it his all and was not beaten far at the line.
Charlies Island is arguably the best horse sired to date by the Lure stallion Lizard Island, who won twice from only 3 starts before injury brought a premature end to his racing career. Charlies Island is the second foal and second winner of Jallad mare Lady Camilla, who won 2 over 1200m and who previously produced the ill-fated, Listed-placed filly Jet Mistress. Trained by Herman Brown, Charlies Island has won 5 from a mere 7 for R288 750 and is now unbeaten from 4 appearances since being gelded. A mile's perhaps as far as he goes, but he does have considerable speed and a long term foal for him could be the Gr1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint (hcp) over 1200m at Scottsville in the winter.

Clair, SA, Dec 26, R200k, 1600m, turf, good, 1.34.80 (CR 1.33.16).
CHARLIES ISLAND (SAF), 52.0, b g 4, Lizard Island (AUS) - Lady Camilla (SAF) by Jallad. Ownr PA Rhodes & KL Thomas; breeder KL Thomas (SAf); trnr HJ Brown; jockey B Lerena (R125.000)
St Raphael (SAF), 52.0, b g 6, Up And At 'Em (GB) - South Of France (SAF) by Elliodor (FR)
Jalami (SAF), 52.0, b g 5, Alami - Jutland Lady (SAF) by Print (GB)
Margins: nose, nose, 1/2
Also ran: Rapid Pace (SAF) 52.0, Surfin' Usa (SAF) 60.0, Light Spectrum (SAF) 54.0, Jet Man (SAF) 52.5, Monsieur Dominique (SAF) 53.5, Louie's Pride (SAF) 52.0, River Plate (SAF) 58.5, Tamarino Bay (SAF) 52.0, Laurels (SAF) 52.0, Modern Monet (SAF) 52.0, Count West (SAF) 52.0

Secretariat S (L) Turff 15/12/07

Pointing North is now unbeaten from three starts and looks a really bright prospect after demolishing seven other 3yos in the Racing Assoc. Secretariat S over 1450m at Turffontein (inner course) on Saturday. The Robbie Sage-gelding was backed to win this as if the result was known and went off as a prohibitive odds-on favourite. He had landed his first 2 career starts - both on the inner track - in fine style and it didn't escape the notice of punters that the form of his latest success was well franked when runner-up Chariots Of Fire won a competitive handicap 35 minutes before the Secretariat.

Piere Strydom took Pointing North to an almost immediate lead and set a reasonable pace from Gymnast, Sharp Texan, and Regal Runner. Recent debut winner Ray Sauce raced in behind them as Judge Jupiter brought up the rear. Gymnast was soon under pressure to try and close the gap on Pointing North once straightened for home, with Ray Sauce coming through to throw down his challenge as well. They never stood a chance. Pointing North clearly has an impressive cruising speed and was able to kick again from the front, opening up a healthy lead with seemingly little effort and then being eased down well before the line to win most impressively from Ray Sauce and Gymnast. Springing Lite was a never-dangerous 4th.
This hardly represented the cream of the Gauteng 3yo crop and Gymnast had finished two from last in the Gr2 Dingaans three weeks earlier, but he did receive 2.5 kgs from Pointing North and was comprehensively walloped into third place. The winner could not have landed this prize with any greater ease of authority, and has the potential to be something special. He has not in fact been even nearly extended in any of his three races, and there is no telling how much more he could find if he were put under pressure in a finish. The gelding may be more than a match for the best of them, and his exploits in stronger company later in the season are something to look forward to.
How much further than 1400m Pointing North will stay also remains to be seen. He clearly has plenty of speed, and he does have what could be considered to be a potential sprinter's pedigree, but the way he races must give him a decent chance of being effective over 1600m. That would open up plenty of lucrative avenues of possibility. Pointing North is a son of Joshua Dancer and is the 1st foal of Model Man mare Compass Point, who won four races over 1000/1200m. Compass Point is a 3-parts sister to Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Rodoille, and a half sister to this season's smart Cape 3yo Blue Tiger. There are some middle distances influences here, for Pointing North's grandam Manuka won her three races between 1600/1800m, but that didn't stop her from throwing a sprinter like Compass Point to a middle distance stallion like Model Man. It is a family that has produced rather a mixed bag of horses as far as distance requirements go, but at least we do know that Pointing North is not an all-out speed horse like his mother.
Pointing North was bred by Northwood. His 3 wins to date have earned him stakes of R162 500.

Gr2 Premier's Trophy (SAf-G2) (12/16)

Pick Six, winner last season of the richest race in Africa, is right back on song and recorded his first success since the Gr 1 GommaGomma Challenge in May when he won the Midmar Premier Trophy over 1800m at Kenilworth on Sunday. His next goal, presumably, will be to try and reverse the poor recent record that winners of this race have in the Gr1 J&B Met.

Pick Six had had only one start over an entirely inadequate 1160m at Turffontein so far this season, but that exercise obviously brought him on plenty. He was very well weighted in the Premier Trophy, at least if assessed solely on merit ratings, but was allowed to start as a fairly easy-to-back 33/10 chance in this conditions race. UK-bred filly Dancer's Daughter represented the rampant Snaith stable and was a heavily supported 28/10 favourite to land the 1st Stakes win of her career, with Wonder Lawn and Hilgrove - winner of this race in 2006 - also finding some support.
The early pace was reasonable and it was Saltarello who showed the way to a very prominently ridden Pick Six, with Floatyourboat and Wonder Lawn next in line followed by Naughty Prince. Majestic Sun was just in behind that as Hilgrove adopted his usual waiting tactics and sat last of the dozen runners. Saltarello skipped clear turning into the 600m straight on the new course and just for a moment it looked as if this rank outsider had stolen the race from under the noses of his rivals, but it was not to be. Pick Six was all over the pacemaker coming towards the 200m mark and soon went on by, with Floatyourboat in hot pursuit.
Floatyourboat was inching into Pick Six's lead close home, but the Gauteng visitor had opened up enough of an advantage that he was able to just hold his locally-trained opponent at bay with a head to spare, under a typically powerful Anton Marcus ride. Saltarello eventually finished third in what was easily a career-best performance, given that he respectively met Pick Six and Floatyourtboat on 7 kgs and 5 kgs worse terms than would have been the case were the race a handicap. Dancer's Daughter made steady headway wider out to finish fourth, but never looked like winning. Wonder Lawn weakened after having every chance and SA's all-time highest priced yearling is going to find it difficult to win much above Listed level (at best) if this is really as good as he is.
The return to form of Floatyourboat was one of the highlights of the race. The former Gr1 Cape Derby winner had shown nothing like his old sparkle in 3 starts since he returned from a long injury-enforced rest, but he proved here that he is back on song and he was running his heart out in defeat. One wouldn't die of shock if he were to reverse this form with Pick Six in the J&B Met, but whether either horse can deny Pocket Power a double in the Cape's premier race is another matter.
Pick Six may himself not been entirely wound up for this race and his Met preparation is clearly going well, but the Gr1 winner's penalty he received for his GommaGomma Challenge could leave him with a little too much to do at the weights in the Kenilworth showpiece later in the summer. He would certainly have to be a great deal better than his Vodacom Durban July effort to have any hope of winning the Met, that is for sure, but given the way Cape Town races are frequently run the ability to sit near the front (or even in front) throughout is one possible plus for Charles Laird's 4yo.
Pick Six is a son of deceased Rambo Dancer. He is the 2nd foal and second winner of unraced Rami mare Choice Fields, who in turn is a half sister to Gr2 winner Bridal Paths from an otherwise undistinguished immediate female line. He was acquired for R320k at the 2005 National Yearling Sale and has now won 6 of 12 for R2 545 350. Pick Six was bred at Summerhill and made it a quick Cape Feature double for his breeder/trainer/jockey combination after Rebel King's Gr2 Diadem S win the previous weekend.

Kenlworth, SA, Dec 16, R250.000, 1800m, turf, good, 1.53.93 (CR 1.48.98).
PICK SIX (SAF), 58.0, b g 4, Rambo Dancer - Choice Field (SAF) by Rami. Owner JC von Solms, MJ Jooste & N Laird; breeder Summerhill Stud (SAF); trainer CS Laird; jockey A Marcus (R156.250)
Floatyourboat (SAF), 57.5, b g 5, Jet Master (SAF) - Foverington (SAF) by Foveros (GB)
Saltarello (SAF), 55.5, ch g 4, N. Assembly (Can) - Girl From Grenada (SAF) by Badger Land
Margins:  sh hd, 2, 1
Also ran: Dancer's Daughter (GB) 53.0, Wonder Lawn (SAF) 55.5, Hilgrove (SAF) 57.5, Farolito (SAF) 56.0, Cymbeline (SAF) 53.0, Silver Mist (SAF) 56.5, Naughty Prince (SAF) 56.5, Rosestone (SAF) 56.0, Majestic Sun (SAF) 57.

Gr2 Selangor Cup (SAf-G2) (12/8)

Everything (well, almost) that Snaith Racing touches turns to gold these days and the hottest stable in Cape Town was back in the thick of things when Russian Sage won the Selangor Cup over 1600m at Kenilworth (new course) on Saturday. Not forgetting stable jockey Richard Fourie, of course. Between him and Justin Snaith, they seem to be doing a post-race interview every five minutes. Chalk this one up to the youngsters.

Highly regarded Field Event had won his Cape debut in pleas-ing style 3 weeks earlier and was a heavily backed favourite to win this conditions race for 3yos. Russian Sage and Thundering Jets - both easy winners of their last two starts - were considered his biggest threats along with First Honour, who was drawn wide but who on merit ratings was easily the best weighted horse in a field of 14.
Rather unexpectedly perhaps, Field Event elected to try and win the Selangor from the front and was taken to an immediate lead, setting a solid enough pace from Russian Sage, Lostintranslation, Northern Frontier, and Road To Reason. Thundering Jet tracked them, with First Honour well back. Anchor Ice, often ridden from the front, adopted very different tactics here and was held up with only a couple behind him.
Field Event tried to kick clear turning for home and still led them into the final 300m, but he was now being hounded by challengers from all sides. Russian Sage had looked to be under heavy pressure for a while in the straight, but he found another gear to be right in the mix 200m from home. He was driven to the front inside the final furlong, and although both First Honour and Thundering Jet ran on strongly behind him, Snaith's colt kept rolling gamely to win by a length from First Honour. This made it an exacta for horses sporting the colours of Fieldspring Racing, but the runner-up is trained by Dean Kannemeyer.
"He changed legs and took off again," explained Richard Fourie afterwards, admitting that for a moment he thought that Russian Sage was under severe pressure. "He's a small horse with a big heart," added the young rider, a jockey who looks destined for stardom very soon if not sooner.
Thundering Jet put up arguably his career-best effort to finish third, especially as he was drawn even deeper than runner-up First Honour. He is out of a Hobnob mare, so he may well enjoy the 2000m of the Gr1 Cape Derby later in the summer. Lostintranslation looked to have as much chance of winning as any around 200m out, but was outpaced in the final stages and finished a respectable 4th. Field Event weakened out of the frame in his first try at 1600m, but with hindsight this probably is not the way to ride him and he almost certainly will get a mile all right with different tactics.
Russian Sage is now unbeaten from three starts since the Cape going dried out to good and will doubtless be aimed now at the Gr1 Cape Guineas in January. The last two winners of the Selangor, Express Way and Jay Peg, both completed the double in the Guineas. Much will obviously depend on how many of Gauteng's top class 3yos make the trip for the Guineas - none were in the Selangor field - and there's a pretty obvious reason why the later race is a Gr1 and the Selangor is not. That said, the "double" is obviously achievable and Russian Sage's ability to race from or near the front on a course with which he is completely familiar could count for something. Traffic problems in big races are not exactly unheard of, and Russian Sage should be able to avoid any that might crop up, while he would have the early speed to beat a wide draw should luck go against him in that department.
It isn't impossible that First Honour would be able to reverse this form should he crack a good draw in the Guineas, but Russian Sage won the Selangor fair and square. A son of Jallad, he is the first foal of Badger Land mare Sage Blue, who won five races from 1600m to 2000m. Sage Blue is a half sister to Gr 1 SA Derby winner Silver Sliver from the immediate family of champion fillies Grey Sun and Cerulean Blue. It has been a great spell for Badger Land as broodmare sire. The previous weekend's Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas Captain's Lover is out of a daughter of the deceased former dual champion sire as well.
Russian Sage was bought for R450k at the 2006 National Yearling Sales and has won four times from nine starts for R309 775 in stakes. He was bred by Highlands.

Kenilworth, SA, Dec 8, R250k, 1600m, turf, good, 1.41.94 (CR 1.35.80).
RUSSIAN SAGE (SAF), 55.5, b c 3, Jallad - Sage Blue (SAF) by Badger Land. Ownr Fieldspring Racing; brdr Highlands (SAF); trainer J Snaith; jockey R Fourie (156.250)
First Honour (SAF), 55.5, ch c 3, Fort Wood - Secret Honour (SAF) by Secret Prospector
Thundering Jet (SAF), 56.5, b c 3, Jet Master (SAF) - Bar The Shouting (SAF) by Hobnob (FR)
Margins: ¾, neck, short head
Also ran: Lostintranslation (SAF) 57.0, Field Event (SAF) 57.5, Casey's Son (57.5), Road To Reason (SAF) 56.5, Northern Frontier (SAF) 57.5, Galaxy (BRZ) 55.5, Anchor Ice (SAF) 55.5, Golden Riviera (SAF) 56.5, Bucked Off (SAF) 55.5, Joshua's Dream (SAF) 58.0, Master's Edge (SAF) 55.5

Gr2 Diadem S. (SAf-G2) (12/8)

Charles Laird loves the WPOTA Diadem S. He won it 3 times with Nhlavini, who may well have been robbed of a 4th win by the equine 'flu of 2003. Now it's the turn of Rebel King to pick up the mantle of his erstwhile stable companion. Making his first appearance in Cape Town, Rebel King justified his position as favourite to land the 2007 running of this WFA sprint over 1200m at Kenilworth on Saturday. Whether he will win it once (let alone twice) more, only time will tell.

Many pundits viewed the Diadem as something of a match between Rebel King and Something Else, the easy last-start winner of the Gr2 Merchants over the same course-and-distance, but there was some interest shown also in lightly raced Bulldozer and sole 3yo Blue Tiger, who interestingly was aimed at this race rather than the Selangor Cup against his own age.
Anton Marcus has Rebel King a few lengths off the early action as Ice Wine showed plenty of pace against the outside rail and Something Else raced up front towards the middle-to-inside of the course. Bulldozer and the eventual winner's stable companion Arabesque Dancer were also prominent, with Blue Tiger and Casey Cool further back. Rank outsider Ice Wine was still going great guns as Something Else began to feel the heat racing into the final 200m, but Rebel King had now started his forward move and soon out the matter to rest. The Gauteng visitor was clearly going to win from some way out and ran on strongly to win handily from Blue Tiger, who challenged stoutly but who simply couldn't match his older rival's turn of foot in the last 100m. It was nevertheless a fine effort from Blue Tiger, who probably stays a mile and who remains on track for a possible crack at the Gr1 Cape Guineas next month.
Ice Wine is a talented but problematic sort who ran a fine race to eventually finish third, which in a race like this certainly counts as another feather in the cap of Snaith Racing. Something Else ran below the form of his Merchants win (the second and third both won Gr2 races next time out) to finish fourth and remains a bit unpredictable for all his very considerable talent. He did perhaps race a little too freely and with no cover in the early stages, though.
Rebel King is (like good old Nhlavini) a son of National Emblem bred at Summerhill Stud. He was placed in three consecutive Gr1's between May and July of this year, so is clearly capable of winning at the higher level. He may get his next opportunity to do that in next month's Cape Flying Championship over 1000m, a race in which our friend Nhlavini broke his Gr1 "hoodoo" a couple of seasons ago. Many thought the drop to 1000m would stop him in his tracks, and it didn't, so let's not be too hasty in reaching the same conclusion about Rebel King.
The 4yo is the 2nd foal and second winner of Badger Land mare Cousin Linda, which made it a hat-trick in the Cape's 3 most recent Graded races for maternal "grandchildren" of Badger Land after the victories of Captain's Lover in the Gr1 Fillies Guineas and Russian Sage in the Gr 2 Selangor Cup. Cousin Linda won only one race, over 1300m, but she is the half sister to a pair of Stakes winning and Gr1 placed performers in Lucy's Lad and Cousin John. Rebel King was acquired for R210 000 at the 2005 National Yearling Sale and has now posted 5 wins from 11 starts for R868 500 in stakes.

Kenilworth, SA, December 8, R250k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.11.90 (CR 1.09.90).
REBEL KING (SAF), 58.0, ch c 4, N. Emblem (SAF) - Cousin Linda (SAF) by Badger Land. Owner AP de Villiers, MJ Jooste, MJ Herr, J Hoffman & JF Mouton; brdr Summerhill (SAF); trnr CS Laird; jockey A Marcus (R156.250)
Blue Tiger (SAF), 54.0, gr c 3, Counter Action (SAF) - Manuka (SAF) by Rainbow Dream (FR)
Ice Wine (SAF), 58.0, ch c 6, Western Winter - Nordic Vine (SAF) by Northern Guest
Margins: 1¼, 1, neck
Also ran: Something Else (SAF) 58.0, Bulldozer (SAF) 58.0, O Caesour (SAF) 58.0, Lucky Boy (SAF) 58.0, Global One (AUS) 58.0, Majestic Sun (SAF) 58.0, Arabesque Dancer (AUS) 58.0, Casey Cool (SAF) 58.0

Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge (SAf-G2) (12/1)

This newspaper's move to publish an interview with Barry Irwin in last weekend's issue proved timely to say the least. Saturday was a day to savour for the Kentucky resident and owner of Team Valor, who scored a cross-country Graded Stakes double with Captain's Lover in the Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth and Stratos in the Ipi Tombe Challenge over 1600m on the Turffontein inner course.

The Ipi Tombe is of course named after the Zimbabwean-bred champion who carried the Southern African banner high a few seasons ago, when part-owned by none other than Team Valor, so there was something appropriate in Stratos' triumph. This Mike Azzie-trained five-year-old was well treated by the weights of the Ipi Tombe, a conditions race for fillies and mares, but it was Soft Landing who went off as the popular favourite after her impressive return to form in a very strong Listed race over 1400m in October. Stratos, Carry On Katie, and the strongly supported KZN visitor Silver Empire were the market's idea of her only serious challengers.
Roman Eagle is a known frontrunner and soon worked her way to the lead, setting a good pace from Soft Landing and Bold Ellinore, with Stratos nicely positioned in 4th alongside Island Swing. Silver Empire, often a slow starter, was again tardy into stride and raced at the rear of an 11 horse line-up. Roman Eagle continued to lead for a long way down the long Turffontein straight, with Soft Landing under pressure to quicken, but the pacemaker began to tire from 300m out and for a while there were several fillies fanned across the course and in with a sporting chance.
Stratos, though, was travelling really well wider out. She ran on strongly under Glyn Schofield to put the race to bed inside the last 200m, eventually winning with two lengths to spare from Carry On Katie, who ran on stoutly but never looked like posing Stratos with a serious threat. Island Swing ran a cracker to finish third , a further half-a-length behind, a rather remarkable effort as she faced Stratos on 6.5 kgs worse terms and Carry On Katie on 5.5 kgs worse terms than would have been the case were the Ipi Tombe a handicap. Soft Landing was beaten a total of 3.25 lengths into fourth, having been unable to get to the front and dominate the race as she did when winning her previous start. Silver Empire was never in with a chance.
Stratos had won a Gr3 handicap over 1800m when making her seasonal debut
In November and seems as good, if not better, than ever. She could well head for the Cape in the near future for a tilt at one or both of the Gr1 middle distance races for her sex, the Paddock Stakes and Majorca Stakes. There are other Gr1 races for females in Gauteng and KZN later in the season, so a win at the highest level before she enters stud is not out of the question for the daughter of champion sire Jet Master. Stratos is out of the Golden Thatch mare Gilded Star and was originally bought for R32k at the 2004 Cape Vintage Yearling Sale, before being sold in training to Team Valor. Bred by Lionel Cohen at his Odessa, Stratos has won six times from 17 starts and earned R600 250.

Ipi Tombe Challenge (SAf-G2) (12/1)

Turffontein, SA, December 1, R250k, 1600m, turf, good, 97.96 (CR 95.44).
STRATOS (SAF), 55.5, b f 5, Jet Master (SAF) - Gilded Star (SAF) by Golden Thatch (IRE). Owner Team Valor; breeder D Cohen & Sons (SAF); trainer MG Azzie; jockey G Schofield (R156.250)
Carry On Katie (SAF), 55.0, b f 4, Western Winter - Katie Firth (SAF) by Best By Test
Island Swing (SAF), 53.5, b f 4, Counter Action (SAF) - Floating Island (SAF) by National Assembly
Margins: 2, ½, 3/4
Also ran: Soft Landing (SAF) 58.5, Cleome (SAF) 50.0, Roman Eagle (SAF) 54.0, Silver Empire (AUS) 54.5, Mat Gold (SAF) 50.0, Alejate (SAF) 54.0, Bold Ellinore (SAF) 60.0, Competitor (SAF) 54.0

Gr3 Magnolia Hcp (SAf-G3) (12/1)

Run Angel Run, having only her 2nd start after a 40 week lay-off and change of stables, made light work of beating seven rivals in the Magnolia Hcp for fillies and mares over 1160m at Turffontein on Saturday. The race lost much of its glamour when unbeaten Gr1 winner Rat Burana was scratched, but it would have been a serious test of the Brazilian-bred import's class to give 7.5 kgs to Run Angel Run, the way things turned out.

Run Angel Run went off as the well supported favourite under joint bottom weight of 52 kgs, having run on well to finish 3rd in a set weights race at Greyville on her return to action in October. Rosinante set a blistering pace in the early stages and opened up a healthy lead from Lady Red and Run Angel Run, with well backed KZN visitor Garden Princess further back as Mzwilili - a stable companion to Rosinante - was run off her feet and raced at the back. It always seemed more than likely that the frontrunner was going too fast and more than 200m out Rosinante was fading fast. Run Angel Run easily inherited the lead, kicking clear under Brett Smith and eventually coming home 2.75 lengths ahead of Garden Princess. The latter was staying on gamely, but she was no match for the winner. Lady Perez moved up nicely wider out and briefly looked a threat, but eventually finished a neck further back in third and fully seven lengths clear of fourth placed Mzwilili.
Now trained by Sean Tarry after starting her career with Barend Botes, Run Angel Run could boast a 2.75 lengths second behind subsequent Gr 1 winner Ethereal Lady in a set weights race over 1200m at Newmarket in January and may well be good enough to pick up another decent handicap even under a considerable penalty. She is still quite lightly raced, and could have a bright future in sprints. Run Angel Run is a daughter of the well-travelled Danzig horse Makaarem, who began his stud career at Summerhill Stud before being exported to stand in Kenya. He is now back in KZN and resides at Rob and Michelle Pickering's Middlefield near Mooi River. A half brother to three times European Gr 1 winner Aljabr, he has the pedigree to make a sire even though injury restricted his own racing career in the UK to just two starts, one of which he won.
Run Angel Run is the 4th foal and 3rd winner of Russian Fox mare Foxy Angel, who won 4 up to 1600m and who hails from the immediate family of champion stayer Aquanaut, but sprinting seems likely to remain Run Angel Run's forte. Bred at Mallorca, Run Angel Run has won 3 from 7 and earned R202 550.

Magnolia H (SAf-G3) (12/1)
Turff, SA, Dec 1, R150k, 1160m, turf, good, 1.06.69 (CR 1.05.12).
RUN ANGEL RUN (SAF), 52.0, b f 4, Makaarem - Foxy Angel (SAF) by Russian Fox. Ownr S Dettereos; breeder Mallorca (SAF); trainer SG Tarry; jockey B Smith (93.750)
Garden Princess (AUS), 53.5, b f 4, Bletchley Park (AUS) - English Garden (AUS) by Twig Moss (AUS)
Lady Perez (SAF), 60.0, b f 4, West Man (SAF) - Rosie Perez (SAF) by Cordoba
Margins: 2 ¾, nk, 7
Also ran: Mzwilili (SAF) 53.0, Red Carnation (SAF) 52.0, Copper Jet (SAF) 56.5, Lady Red (SAF) 56.0, Rosinante (SAF) 57.0