Picture: Rain In Holland (JC Photos).

Rain In Holland And Princess Calla On Track

The Sean Tarry yard’s four-timer at the Vaal Classic on Tuesday was remarkable considering a dispersal sale of Sean’s own horses recently lowered their numbers considerably.

Tarry’s last non-Covid effected championship winning season was in 2018/2019 and he had 372 runners in the first four months of that season compared to 197 runners this season.

Tarry scratched Rain In Holland from the Ipi Tombe Stakes as a precaution because she was not feeling 100% well and he will run her in a Pinnacle event in December as a final preparation for the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes.

He has Pinnacle options in Johannesburg and Cape Town available, but was swinging towards the Jo’burg one as he will prefer preparing her at home.

The Wiilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara heroine finished a disappointing seven length last of six in her reappearance.

However, it was over the too sharp 1400m and she also started her three-year-old season relatively slowly compared to her later performances.

The general prognosis for “return to performance” after the procedure to sort out an entrapped epiglottis, which saw her sidelined for the last two months of last season, is excellent.

She should have come on from that last run and hopefully the pinnacle event will put her spot on.

She will face her toughest test to date in the Paddock Stakes with the like of narrow runner up from last season, Chansonette, and third-placed Marina likely to be in the line up, while last season’s winner Captain’s Ransom will also be there unless she runs in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

Meanwhile, Tarry runs last season’s Paddock Stakes fourth-placed Princess Calla on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in the Grade 2 Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m.

Tarry is her fourth trainer and this is the Flower Alley mare’s first run since winning the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes over 1600m last April.

He said recently he was not sure Princess Calla would be ready in time for the Paddock Stakes and the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes is likely to be her chief target for the Cape Summer Festival of Racing.

Another probable Cape Summer Festival Of Racing campaigner is Nebraas, who was too far back in the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup from a tricky draw, but finished strongly.

He said there was a good chance of this stalwart former Gold Cup winner lining up in the Grade 2 Western Cape Stayers over 2850m on WSB Met day.

Black Thorn looks to be headed for that race too. He was pulled up last time out but hopefully this classy stayer will bounce back on Saturday in the Grade 3 Drakenstein Stud Cape Summer Stayers Handicap over 2500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Another Tarry runner on Met day could be Asiye Phambili (What A Winter), who won well under Piere Strydom on Tuesday at Vaal Classic over 1500m.

She is eligible for the R7,5 million WSB Gold Rush over 1600m.

Her owners Hollywood Syndicate have a ticket for the lucrative race too and off a merit rating of 88 she could currently be their leading contender.

Strydom got the best out of her, so the connections would likely want to stick with him, but the great jockey has already been associated with the Gold Rush contender Typeset, who is merit rated 94.

Tarry said it would be a brave man to enter a horse in this year’s Grade 1 R2 million Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, considering the strength of the crop.

He is consequently not sending down his Grade 1 winner Thunderstruck for the big race on December 17.

He said Thunderstruck had not had things go his way in his last two starts.

From a wide draw in the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m he finished a 9,50 length 12th.

Then in the Jonsson Workwear Dingaans he finished fifth.

Tarry said about his Dingaans run, “He acquitted himself well, beaten just four lengths, and with more luck in running could have got closer.”

However, he is still not convinced he stays a mile.

He thus has the difficult decision to make of opting for a campaign suited to a specialist sprinter or whether to give him another chance at a mile from a better draw … he is not going to try a mile from another tough draw while he still has the doubt.

Picture: Make It Snappy (Wayne Marks).

Dynasty Could Leave His Mark On This Year’s CFG

Brett Crawford’s ten season sequence of winning at least one Grade 1 came to an end last season, but his yard have bounced back in no uncertain terms and are currently third on the national log.

He has a chance of winning Saturday’s Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas with either of two Dynasty fillies, Make It Snappy or Happy Chance.

The Justin Snaith-trained runner Tipsy Tarragon is also by Dynasty.

Dynasty’s son Jackson, who was trained to three Grade 1 wins by Crawford, also has a representative in the Justin Snaith-trained Bonika.

Dynasty is also damsire of the race’s favourite, the Snaith-trained Ciao Bella.

Crawford has won the Cape Fillies Guineas with a Dynasty filly before, doing it with Front And Centre in 2018.

That was Dynasty’s second success in this race as he was also sire of the Joey Ramsden-trained Just Sensual, who won it in 2016.

Make It Snappy displayed her promise by downing Marina and Chansonette in the Non-Black Type Summer Bowl over 1600m on 19 November.

Her jockey that day Kabelo Matsunyane was riding 1kg overweight, so she was effectively receiving 11kg from both of the aforementioned pair, who are merit rated 117 and 123 respectively.

She was only 4kg better off than weight for age in the Summer Bowl and yet won by three lengths, a fine performance.

Her time was 0,95 seconds slower than Cousin Casey’s Grade 2 Cape Punters Cup winning time, which is a fair time considering there were only seven runners in her race and she had them spread out like the washing.

Furthermore, that was only her third career start, so there should be considerable scope for improvement.

Luyolo Mxothwa, who lost the ride last time due to suspension, is back aboard.

However, on the downside, the Dynasty filly has a wide draw of eleven to contend with.

Nevertheless, it says something that Mxothwa has chosen her above Happy Chance.

The latter scooted in by 6,25 lengths in her last race, which was in a handicap over the Guineas trip.

She was only running off an 80, but carried 57kg to a time that was considerably quicker than either of the other two 1600m events that day.

She has landed a fair draw of six and Matsunyane rides.

Tipsy Tarragon is out of unraced Gimmethegreenlight mare Chartreuse, who is an own-sister to Grade 1 SA Classic third-placed Youcanthurrylove and a half-sister to stakes-placed Var sprinter Garibondy.

The twice-winner over 1400m should relish the step up in trip, but does have 6,45 lengths to make up on Ciao Bella from the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship.

She is drawn five and Muzi Yeni rides.

Bonika is a very interesting candidate.

She defied topweight last time in a handicap to win over 1200m off a 94 merit rating.

However, being by Cape Derby and Daily News 2000 winner Jackson out of a Captain Al mare who won three times from 1000m to 1400m, she should be effective over this trip.

She has in fact already proved it by winning the Listed Irridescence Stakes over 1500m in soft going in her final start as a juvenile.

She now has pole position.

Last year Grant van Niekerk won this race from pole position with Chansonette and he is now aboard Bonika.

Ciao Bella is the daughter of the three-times Grade 1-winning champion Dynasty filly Bela-Bela.

Snaith-trained Bela-Bela as well as Ciao Bella’s sire, Gimmethegreenlight.

Ciao Bella is living up to her pedigree and has to date won three out of five starts, including the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship, in which she beat eight of her rivals in Saturday’s big race.

She has landed a plum draw of three and Richard Fourie retains the ride.

Picture: Kommetdieding (Wayne Marks)

Jet Dark Scratched From Green Point, Kommetdieding New Favourite

Dual L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Jet Dark is an unfortunate scratching srom Saturday’s WSB Green Point Stakes over 1600m.

Snaith Racing said, “Jet Dark will not take his place in the 2022 Gr2 WSB Green Point Stakes. He stumbled in work this morning with Richard Fourie – very minor but Justin being precautious with the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate in mind.”

Justin explained the situation further in this facebook video: CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO

Crawford Rix Racing Stables said about the new even money favourite, “Kommetdieding all set after his final workout ahead of the WSB Green Point Stakes.

We are extremely happy with his prep thus far and looking forward to a competitive run from him this Saturday.”

They posted this video on facebook: CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Picture: Prophet (JC Photos).

Final Field For WSB Grand Heritage Revealed

A full field of 28 runners will go to post at the Vaal on Saturday 10 December for the R500,000 World Sports Betting Grand Heritage.

The Non-Black Type race is unique in a number of ways. It is the only race in South Africa to field more than 20 horses and secondly, it is run over the odd distance of 1475 up the Vaal straight.

It is also the only event that limits the top-end of the merit rating to 106.

WORLD SPORTS BETTING GRAND HERITAGE (Non-Black Type)) R500,000 1475m

1 – 26 CASTLETOWN (S T Pettigrew) J Penny 60.0 – 106

2 – 1 OUTOFTHEDARKNESS (J J van Vuuren) G van Niekerk 60.0 – 106

3 – 7 TEAM GOLD (R R Magner) R Danielson 59.0 – 103

4 – 21 IRISH TRACTOR (B Crawford) K Matsunyane 58.5 – 103

5 – 14 KAYLA’S CHAMP (F Bronkhorst) K A Brewer 58.5 – 103

6 – 4 MARDI GRAS (F P Habib) M Khan 58.5 – 103

7 – 17 DYCE (M N Houdalakis) M Yeni 57.5 – 101

8 – 29 WILLOW EXPRESS (S G Tarry) …………… 57.5 – 101

9 – 8 PROPHET (C Spies) M V’Rensburg 57.0 – 110

10 – 2 SAFARI BLUE (G D Smith) S Khumalo 57.0 – 99

11 – 15 INDLAMU (S G Tarry) R A Venniker 56.5 – 99

12 – 28 SOUND OF SUMMER (J J van Vuuren) B Nyawo 56.5 – 99

13 – 6 EXPRESSFROMTHEUS (T Zackey) L Mxothwa 56.0 – 98

14 – 22 PAISLEY PARK (S G Tarry) …………… 56.0 – 98

15 – 12 LUCY IN THE SKY (B Webber) N Klink 54.5 – 95

16 – 27 WHAFEEF (S T Pettigrew) P Mxoli 54.5 – 95

17 – 24 ULULATE (S J Gray) …………… 54.5 – 94

18 – 20 BARD OF AVON (A B Fortune) R Munger 54.0 – 94

19 – 25 CABINET SHUFFLE (R Klaasen) …………… 54.0 – 94

20 – 19 DOCKOFTHEBAY (S G Tarry) …………… 54.0 – 94

21 – 30 DUKE OF SUSSEX (M N Houdalakis) J P v’d Merwe 54.0 – 94

22 – 13 MIDNIGHT GEM (P P Labuschagne) …………… 54.0 – 94

23 – 3 SIR MICHAEL (C Dawson) D De Gouveia 53.5 – 93

24 – 23 SEA MASTER (C Hewitson) T Godden 53.5 – 92

25 – 5 GALLIC TRIBE (B Crawford) R Simons 53.0 – 92

26 – 9 TUSCAN WINTER (J J van Vuuren) G Pieterse 53.0 – 92

27 – 11 CHYAVANA (J J van Vuuren) C Maujean 52.5 – 91

28 – 10 SHARE HOLDER (C Spies) S Sosibo 52.5 – 91

Reserve Runners

29 – 18 REUNION (J J van Vuuren) Reserve 1 57.5 – 101

30 – 16 CAPTAIN HINDSIGHT (A B Fortune) Reserve 2 52.0 – 88

Same Trainer: (1,16) (2,12,26,27,29) (4,25) (7,21) (8,11,14,20) (9,28) (18,30)

Picture: Iphiko (JC Photos).

Raiders Flock To Cape Town For Second Summer Festival Of Racing Meeting

Cape Racing

The influx of visiting trainers for the Cape Summer Season has boosted field sizes and enhanced competitiveness, whilst also giving an edge to punters that diligently follow the national scene over parochial locals who blindly back hometown heroes.

Mike de Kock saddles swift Trippi filly, Iphiko in the G2 Southern Cross Stakes. She is stepping up in class yet has won five of tens starts and specialises in 1000m scuttles. De Kock has built an exemplary record over the years in Graded races around SA.

Ebullient, Andrew Fortune saddles six-time winner, Bella Chica in the same race. She bested Big Burn (& Iphiko) in the Gardenia Stakes so she must come into the reckoning.

Highveld-based Sean Tarry has excellent stats over the years when invading the Cape with primed and astutely placed stock. He will try reviving Black Thorn for the Drakenstein Stud Summer Stayers (G3) over 2500m. The son of Pomodoro won the Gold Vase in July but has regressed since then.

After a stable switch, Tarry now also takes charge of G1 winning mare, Princess Calla, a 1400/1600m performer renowned for her tussles with Captain’s Ransom. She gets her Cape campaign going in the Southern Cross dash after a 224-day break.

PE kingpin Gavin Smith has proven marathon runner Find me Unafraid in the Summer Stayers and will be hopeful based on a good penultimate effort when defeating G1 Summer Cup 4th placed, Divine Odyssey.

Eastern Cape colleague Sharon Kotzen tries with Phedra (transformed by blinkers into a smart sprinting type) in the Southern Cross, and unbeaten Peach Daiquiri in the WSB G1 Cape Fillies Guineas. Both fillies are sired by Vercingetorix and will try boost their bloodstock value with bold showings.

The van Zyl’s (father and son), Dennis Drier and Peter Muscutt also have runners on the undercard. Drier is getting underway for the season but admits he lacks the stock of yesteryear when cleaning up with champs like Master of My Fate, Val de Ra and Beach Beauty.

Van Zyl and Muscutt are savvy horsemen that have recently saddled well-backed winners, so a market watch is advised about their entries.

Peter Thomas Favourite To Take HWPA Writing Award

Peter Thomas (Racing Post) submitted three entertaining reads for the HWPA Racing Writer Of The Year Award, which will be decided on December 5, and is a nominee alongside Adam Houghton (Sporting Life/Timeform), Lydia Hislop (freelance) and Daragh O Conchuir (freelance).

Peter Thomas (pictured above) must be favourite for the British-based award, such is the readability of his pieces.

It will be the first time he has won the award.

CLICK HERE TO READ ALL SUBMISSIONS

Ryan Munger Treble, Clinton Binda Double

Ryan Munger rode a treble on the Vaal Classic track today, two of them for Clinton Binda.

Munger goes to 48 wins for the season at a strike rate of 12.24%.

Binda is on seven wins for the season at 7.78%.

Today’s Question

Owner Raymond Guest, an old-fashioned, feudal American, born and reared in the southern state of Virginia, was a dyed-in-the-wool anglophile with two ambitions … to win The Derby and the Grand National.

Were those two ambitions realised?

Picture: The 1962 Derby gives a clue to the answer (facebook).

Fairview Poly Fields, Friday

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Fairview Fields, Friday

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