Scottsville 23/5/15

Alboran Sea

Zambezi River?

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith believes that a newcomer to his yard, Kingvoldt, could cause a big surprise in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville Racecourse on Saturday.

He said that the Western Winter colt had arrived at his Summerveld barn in very good condition and that his previous trainer Joey Ramsden already had him aimed at the Tsogo Sun Sprint.

He added that he had done very well in a workout on Friday morning at Summerveld under his regular pilot Bernard Fayd’Herbe.

Kingvoldt’s three career wins have all been over 1200m.

Another point that gives him a big form shout is that he finished a head behind Gulf Storm the last time he tried this distance, at Kenilworth in February, and is now 5kg better off.

Snaith’s five-year-old Var mare Varikate has been kept ticking over since finishing a four length second to Jet Belle in the Gr 3 Poinsettia Stakes on April 26. The latter race is over the same 1200m course and distance as Saturday’s Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint and Snaith is hoping she could repeat her fourth place finish in the latter race.

By David Thiselton

The Paul Lafferty-trained Garibondy has landed a plum low draw for the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint over 1200m on Saturday and is “very, very well” at present.

The speedy four-year-old Var filly raced without cover for much of the way in her last start in the Listed In Full Flight Stakes over 1100m, so did well as the only female in the field to finish 4,1 lengths back in fourth.

She much prefers to be tucked in before using the kick, that daughters of Var are known for, to its maximum effect in the latter stages.

She had her final grass gallop at Summerveld on Friday on her own and Lafferty said she had put up very good work.

All six of her wins have been over 1000m, but five of them have been at Scottsville, and considering her turn of foot she should get Saturday’s 1200m trip.

Alboran Sea and Carry On Alice look to be the two best sprinters in the land and the rest of the field might be chasing their shadows.

By David Thiselton

Masterful Summerveld trainer Dennis Drier has a fine chance of adding to his phenomenal record at Scottsville's Festival Of Speed meeting this Saturday as he sends out five contestants in Gr 1 1200m events and most of them will be in with definite chances.

Drier has won four of the last five runnings of the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion, including the last three in succession, and he also won the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint, now known as the City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint, in 2011.

Drier has a fine chance of landing his fifth Medallion in six years with the ultra-classy Seventh Rock colt Seventh Plain and this rangy bay has landed a plum low draw.

Anton Marcus rode him in his final grass gallop last Tuesday and Drier was happy with what he saw.

He added, "Anton didn't say much so I hope he was happy, if he was happy I'm happy."

Seventh Plain overcame a high draw of eight in the Gr 3 Godolphin Barb over 1100m at Scottsville on April 26 and won effortlessly. He will appreciate the extra 100m on Saturday and further. His only defeat in three starts was when giving the speedy sprinting type Buckinghampshire 3kg in the Listed 1000m race on J&B Met day and only losing by 1,25 lengths.

Drier's former Medallion winner Captain Of All has the ability to join the like of J J The Jet Plane and Earl Of Surrey as horses that have carried top-weight to victory in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m. He was very impressive indeed in his penultimate start over 1000m at Scottsville, so clearly enjoys this track, and in his last start in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein he was by no means disgraced when third, four lengths behind Alboran Sea and Carry On Alice. The latter pair of fillies put in fantastic performances that day and Captain Of All was well clear of four other Gr 1 winners in the field.

Captain Of All worked on his own in his final grass gallop under Sean Cormack at Summerveld on Friday last week and Drier was very happy.

He said, "When they are fit they don't need to work with other horses, the art is not to overcook them."

Drier "couldn't be happier" with Generalissimo, who had his final grass gallop at Summerveld last Tuesday under Keagan de Melo. De Melo was unable to commit to the ride and Warren Kennedy now takes the ride. This classy sort will attempt to make it three years in succession that the Tsogo Sun Sprint has been won by three-year-old sons of the amazing stallion Var. Generalissimo broke the Kenilworth course record over 1200m last November before failing to stay the 1600m of the Selangor Cup. He then finished lame after taking a slight sideways knock over 1200m. Drier, with the support of owners Nick and Ben Jonsson, exercised caution by not running him again in Cape Town, and it paid dividends as he bounced back with an impressive win over 1200m on the Greyville poly last month.

Barbosa is another from the yard that could get into the final field after an excellent 2,25 length defeat of the useful Muscatt over the Scottsville course and distance in April, despite giving the latter 5kg. He broke the class record that day despite carrying 60kg. The five-year-old Captain Al gelding was raised to a 104 merit rating and Drier said, “The way he won they can’t leave him out, especially as Muscatt won next time out in a canter. He has had a few niggles and problems but has been a real old soldier.”

Drier’s two-year-old Horse Chestnut filly Chestnuts N Pearls has landed an unfavourable draw of 14 in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m. She has just been kept ticking over since her maiden over the course and distance. The runner up in that race Durban Blues finished second on the poly on Friday night, so the form was not greatly franked, but Drier pointed out that Chestnut N Pearls “could not have won easier.”

Drier is also hoping that Jet Aglow can repeat her third place finish of last year in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint over 1200m. She also worked on the grass last Tuesday and Cormack was very happy, although this is largely being seen as a preparation outing for races like the Tibouchina Stakes and Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes, which are over more suitable distances.

By David Thiselton

Highveld trainers Mike Azzie and Paul Peter both have a couple of Grade 1 contenders at Saturday's Festival of Speed racemeeting at Scottsville Racecourse and all of them are being prepared out of Gold Circle’s Summerveld Training Centre.

Azzie said he had withdrawn one of his best juveniles Frosted Honey as he didn't want to risk her from a bad draw ahead of her chief target, the Gr 1 Golden Slipper over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day, although he admitted he now ran the risk of her being drawn badly in the latter race too.

His Allan Robertson contenders Mella Maria and La Strada have both "worked nicely" in the build-up, but he revealed that the former was the better of the pair and had improved a lot from her 4,9 length fifth in the SA Fillies Nursery over 1160m. She was drawn on the wrong side that day and also in her previous start when getting within 0,5 lengths of subsequent Fillies Nursery winner Entisaar in the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m. The Australian-bred filly is by Star Witness, whose Justin Snaith-trained son Lineker was one of the most impressive two-year-old debut winners seen out this season, running on strongly to win over 1200m at Scottsville.

Mella Maria will run in first time blinkers but she has unfortunately drawn unfavourably high in barrier 15. The underrated Ian Sturgeon rides. La Strada got off the mark at the third time of asking in a Workriders Maiden Juvenile Plate, so will need a lot of improvement but she is at least drawn on the right side in barrier one and has champion jockey S'Manga Khumalo aboard.

Paul Peter is hoping for a place with Miracle Rising in the Allan Robertson. This Judpot filly was a touch unlucky last time out in the Gr 3 Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m at Scottsville as she was slow away by about two lengths and was then boxed in on the rail so had to be switched to the centre. The jockey then dropped the whip five strides from home and she only went down by 0,75 lengths. However, she will now be 4kg worse off with the winner Royal Pleasure. She beat Royal Princess by 1,75 lengths that day, but the latter was unable to find a clear run and was the unluckiest horse of the race. Miracle Rising will also be 4kg worse off with Royal Princess. Miracle Rising is drawn on the right side in barrier two and Muzi Yeni will be aboard. Peter admitted she would be up against a very strong field and rated the Mike de Kock-trained Entisaar as a top horse.

Peter was also hoping for a place at best with his Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion contender, Just Africa. This Just As Well colt finished four lengths behind subsequent Gr 1 SA Nursery winner Arabian Beat on debut over 1000m and then won his maiden next time out by four lengths also over 1000m. Peter said, "He has a lot of gate speed but it is his first time beyond 1000m." His sire was a middle distance horse and his dam-sire Stratum won Australia's most prestigious two-year-old race, the Gr 1 Golden Slipper over 1200m, so there might be a mixture of stamina and precocious speed. Just Africa is drawn eight in the ten horse field with Keagan de Melo aboard. Peter said both horses had been doing well.

By David Thiselton

Alyson Wright, Brett Crawford and Alistair Gordon each have one chance of Gr 1 glory at Scottsville’s Festival Of Speed racemeeting on Saturday and were all quietly confident of good runs from their respective charges. Wright and Crawford also spoke about some of their other Champions Season hopefuls.

Wright runs the promising Western Winter colt Mr Roy in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m and he looks to have a tough task on paper as he will have to make up 3,5 lengths on the classy colt Seventh Plain from their meeting in the Gr 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1100m, which was also run at Scottsville. However, Wright said the well regarded colt had not had a good preparation into the latter race due to a skin allergy and had consequently run “a flat race.” He was backed on debut and after disappointing was found to be full of mucous. He then came out and won well over 1000m a couple of month later on April 15. The yard are now confident that he will do better than he did third time out in the Godolphin Barb. He put in some very good work yesterday (Tuesday) and Wright said, “I am very pleased with him. He will be at his best and I think he will run a big race.” He jumps from draw 6 in the nine horse field and Johnny Geroudis rides.

Wright felt that the yard’s Vodacom Durban July entry Kochka had put in “an amazing run” on Sunday at Greyville, where he was beaten just 1,75 lengths by July favourite Futura over 1600m at level weights. The big Black Minnaloushe gelding was off with a virus for a while and only started normal work again two weeks ago, which emphasises just how fine an effort he put in on Sunday. He will be a big runner when stripping fitter next month in either the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m or the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m.

Crawford runs Gulf Storm in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m on Saturday. This four-year-old Sail From Seattle gelding earned bold black type for the first time in his nineteenth career outing last time out when winning the Listed In Full Flight Stakes over 1100m at Scottsville, so Crawford appears justified in being stunned by the handicapper’s decision to raise him nine merit rated points. That is the equivalent of 4,5kg, meaning he will now have to carry second top-weight and give two Gr 1 winners 2,5kg each. He hoped that he would be proven wrong on Saturday. Gulf Storm appeared to relish the tough Scottsville track in that last run and Crawford said, “He is doing very well, is fresh and fit and he has a nice draw.”

Crawford’s Dynasty gelding De Kock “pulled up alright” after his disappointing tailed off last finish in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 and the yard are “running bloods to try and find anything wrong, as it wasn’t his run.” However, he added that it could have just been a case of him not staying the trip. Meanwhile, KRA Fillies Guineas winner Alexis is on track for the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 on Saturday week and impressive recent winner Maybe Yes is doing well ahead of the Tibouchina on her way to the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes.

Alistair Gordon runs the two-year-old colt Beat The Retreat in the Gold Medallion. He is by the disappointing sire Argonaut but Gordon pointed out that he was a sound horse and came from “a serious family,” which includes the like of Gr 1 winners Rabiya and All Is Secret. Gordon said, “He is doing very well and his prep has been good. He had a good gallop on Saturday on the grass and it went very well, I’m very happy.” Beat The Retreat won by 3,5 lengths on debut over 1000m and finished just 1,5 lengths behind Seventh Plain in the Godolphin Barb at level weights in his second career outing. Gordon is not concerned by his very outside draw as it is only a small field of nine and he will likely get a clear run as opposed to being boxed in on the inside by horses moving over to seek the better going.

Tipster your caffeine levels must be incredibly high to be able to work long enough hours to do this amount of Journslism , I for one really appreciate all the effort you put into the big race days

Glen Kotzen has a strong hand in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m at Scottsville Racecourse on Saturday and he might well have the dark horse in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint over the same trip.

Kotzen's Captain Al filly Princess Royal is a half-sister to a previous Allan Robertson winner Princess Victoria and is held in high regard. Kotzen took her to Scottsville to show her the course for her Champions Season pipe opener in the Gr 3 Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m and she put up a decent effort without having any kind of luck.

She played up in the preliminaries and was a bit unsettled very early in the race. She then became hopelessly boxed in near the rail when looking to have plenty of running in her and finished two lengths behind her stable companion Royal Pleasure at level weights. Her only previous defeat was against the boys in the Listed The Sun International Juvenile Stakes over 1000m, where she was far from disgraced when finishing 4,25 lengths back in fourth to the speedy Buckinghampshire, whom she had to give 0,5kg. Her two victories include the Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery over 1200m. Stable jockey Greg Cheyne has always ridden her and believes she is top class. Kotzen said she hadn't put a foot wrong in her work. She jumps from a tricky draw of nine, considering the low draws are usually favourable.

The Visionaire filly Royal Pleasure was purchased for just R30,000 and has realised a dream for her part-owners, the popular 3A Racing Syndicate, who have done a lot to promote racing to KZN's youth. She is full of precocious speed and Kotzen described her as a beautifully balanced and strong filly. She tends to put it in when working, so the yard have just kept her ticking over since the Strelitzia by working her alone. She has landed a plum draw of four and Anton Marcus has retained the ride. She will likely be the filly they are all going to be chasing late in the race. Her second dam Taineberry won over 2400m and produced Jalberry, a stakes-winning sprinter who finished third in the Gr 1 Golden Slipper over 1400m, so Royal Pleasure should see out the trip.

The yard have kept their Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint contender Jet Belle fresh since her four length romp in the Gr 3 Poinsettia Stakes over the course and distance, her second successive victory in this race. This versatile five-year-old Jet Master mare has also won a Gr 2 over 2000m, which emphasises her class. In November last year she beat Saturday's likely favourite Alboran Sea by 2,75 lengths over 1160m at Turffontein. However, she was facing the three-year-old on 3,5kg better terms than weight for age that day and Alboran Sea subsequently performed to a much higher level in three sprints over 1000m, which included wins in the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championships and Gr 1 Computaform Sprint. Jet Belle has landed a plum draw of two and her regular pilot Cheyne is aboard.

By David Thiselton

Charles Laird will be attempting to win the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint (formerly known as the Golden Horse Casino Sprint) over 1200m at Scottsville on Saturday for the fourth year in succession and the fifth time overall when he sends out the defending champion Normanz.

Laird said, “His preparation has been very good and he is very well. The only small concern is the draw but it is something we will have to deal with. He is well weighted, between 52kg and 55kg is where you want to be for this race.”

Normanz will be attempting to make it three years in succession that sons of Var have won this big race and with 54kg he carries just 1kg more than he did as a three-year-old last year. Laird’s previous two winners of this race, four-year-old Delago Deluxe and three-year-old Contador, carried 54kg and 53,5kg respectively and his 2002 winner Hinterland carried only 50kg. However, his last three Golden Horse Casino Sprint winners have jumped from barrier positions three, five and five, while Normanz will have to overcome barrier 14 this year on a course where the low draws tend to have an advantage these days, partly because the jockeys usually track over towards the inside rail.

Normanz, who is only three merit rated points higher than he was last year, has plenty of speed and led from start to finish last year under Athandiwe Mgudlwa. This year he will have four-times South African champion jockey Anton Marcus aboard. Even Marcus’s mastery was unable to overcome a draw of 15 on last year’s favourite Red Ray, who finished a 1,5 length second. However, he and Laird are sure to have a game plan up their sleeves.

Normanz works on his own due to his speed and had a good grass gallop at Summerveld last Thursday. He did his final serious work today (Wednesday).

By David Thiselton

Sean Tarry said today (Wednesday) that he was happy with all of his charges for Saturday’s big Festival Of Speed racemeeting at Scottsville Racecourse and they were shortly due to travel down to KZN.

His Gr 1 Allan Robertson contender Swift Sarah started at even money on debut and, although she didn’t beat much, the race was against older fillies and the manner of her six length victory suggests she has a bright future. The Dynasty filly showed good gate speed as well as cruising speed and produced a telling kick at the business end to draw away and win easing up. She jumps from draw 11 and Raymond Danielson keeps the ride.

Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion contender Donny G, a colt by the previous winner of this race Seventh Rock, showed excellent gate speed on debut over 1200m at the Vaal and then stayed on well to beat a weak field comfortably after being prominent throughout. His time was slightly slower on the same day than the Gr 1 Allan Robertson contender Pacifica and more than a second slower than the Gold Medallion contender Muwaary. However, he does look to have plenty of scope and on Saturday he jumps from a plum draw of two and Piere Strydom has the ride.

Tarry will have an excellent chance of Gr 1 glory in the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint over 1200m with his top class Captain Al filly Carry On Alice. She faces her nemesis Alboran Sea, who beat her in the Allan Robertson last year as well as in the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championships over 1000 and the Gr 1 Computafor Sprint this year. However, she is drawn three compared to Alboran Sea’s nine so this should play in her favour, especially as she has excellent gate speed and early pace. Regular pilot S’Manga Khumalo is aboard.


His former Gr 1 SA Nursery and Gr 2 Dingaans winner Willow Magic will also have an outstanding chance of success in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m. He was a runner up as a two-year-old in the Gold Medallion, beaten a length by Captain Of All. He was beaten 2,65 lengths by Captain Of All last time out in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein, but will now be receiving 6kg from the latter. He has a good draw of four with Piere Strydom up, although considering that the field tends to track over to that side these days he will need to jump quicker than he did in his last two starts. He has jumped well on occasion, but does prefer to be loaded late.

Tarry’s two other Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint contenders, Zambezi River and Bichette, will also have plenty of supporters. Zambezi River, a good looking colt by Trippi, has a touch of class and his best form has been from 1000m to 1400m. The tough Scottsville track should be ideal and the draw of ten is not too bad. He is officially 1kg under sufferance but has only had seven career outings to date and has given the impression that the best has not yet been seen of him.

Tarry has wisely avoided the City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint with Bichette, as Carry On Alice and Alboran Sea look difficult to oppose. This three-year-old Western Winter filly was, by the trends on the day, drawn on the wrong side last time out in the Gr 2 Camellia Stakes over 1160m at Turffontein, but that didn’t stop her winning by six lengths. She only carried 54,5kg on that occasion but was given a massive 16 point raise and now has to lug the same weight in Gr 1 company, despite being the only filly in the field.

As a horse with a lot of pace, her draw of three is ideal, and she should be right up there. She has won over 1400m before so should stay all the way to the line, although her high merit rating of 108 makes it tough for her in this handicap event against the boys.
By David Thiselton

The Tsogo Sun Sprint is a merit rated handicap but Isphan (MR 104) and Belong to Me (MR 102) which are both 3yos dont get a run but Zambezi River a 3yo as well (MR 101) does. The mind boggles. I guess the handicapper and Gold Circle has the final say. That said Isphan is off form, Belong to Me, does have a 3rd to Carry on Alice giving it 2.5kgs 2 runs back though.

Tipster has been working extremely hard behind the scenes getting as much info as possible. Well done on giving the punters so much feed back before the biggest sprint day for the year in the South African racing calendar.