Gavin Lerena won twice on Princess Calla in Cape Town and rides her in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint tomorrow (Saturday April 29) (Picture: Wayne Marks).

Lerena Has Good Mounts At Big Turffontein Meeting

Both Princess Calla and Billy Bowlegs have strong winning chances

David Mollett (Business Day)

Keagan De Melo has hogged the jockey headlines this season, but Gavin Lerena has a chance of landing a grade 1 double at Turffontein’s big meeting on Saturday. Both Princess Calla (Jonnson Workwear Computaform Sprint) and Billy Bowlegs (WSB Premier’s Champion Challenge) have strong winning chances.

It is the WSB Championships finale at the city track, with seven graded races expected to lure a bumper crowd.

When it comes to the Computaform Sprint, there is no better person to ask about the possible outcome than Lerena. The 37-year-old has ridden the two leading fancies — Master Archie and Princess Calla — a number of times in the past 12 months.

Lerena partnered Master Archie when the colt ran sixth behind Captain’s Ransom in the Mercury Sprint in July and Princess Calla three times during the recent Cape season.

Importantly, one of those three wins came over 1,000m at Kenilworth in December — the distance of the Computaform Sprint.

Following his impressive recent win, Master Archie is the 18-10 favourite on Saturday but the suspicion is the market may have got it the wrong way round.

Princess Calla finished four lengths in front of Master Archie in the Cape Flying Championship at Kenilworth in January though it must be noted the latter started at 16-1 in that race.

This time the draw could have been kinder to Master Archie and Sean Tarry will be happy owner Mario Ferreira’s mare has drawn one slot from the outside.

Interestingly, Ferreira did not seem interested in Princess Calla’s half-brother at last week’s National Yearling Sales with the Vercingetorix colt bought by Bjorn Nielsen for R1.25m.

Both Sheela (S’manga Khumalo) and Isivunguvungu (Richard Fourie) will be out to spoil the party for the two fancied contenders and the first-named will have been tuned to the minute by the Azzie stable.

The booking of Fourie is a plus factor for Peter Muscutt’s runner, Isivunguvungu, but it’s probable the four-year-old may have to settle for a minor placing.

Rain In Holland heads the market in the WSB Premier’s Champions Challenge with Tarry’s filly back to form in her last start after a spell in the wilderness.

Nevertheless, Lerena’s mount, Billy Bowlegs, looks great each-way value at 13-2 and Alec Laird’s three-year-old has to be on the shortlist of every pundit after his second in the SA Derby.

A son of The United States bred at Wicklow Stud, Billy Bowlegs cost R300,000 as a yearling and it is looking money well spent. He earned exactly his purchase price when runner-up in the Derby.

Rain In Holland did not trouble the judge in the Paddock Stakes or Cape Met and beat only three home in the Acacia Handicap at Turffontein in February. She did win her latest start but seems unlikely to shorten much from her current price.

It’s been a memorable campaign for Johan Janse van Vuuren who is in fifth place in the national trainers log. Victory for Puerto Manzo (4-1) would be no surprise for this course suits him as he proved in the Summer Cup in November.

De Melo will know this and — as the Argentinian-bred gelding did not shape in last year’s Durban July finishing 16th — will surely be shopping around for a better mount in this year’s Greyville race.

The clash between unbeaten Lucky Lad and filly Amber Rock, could produce a thrilling finish in the SA Nursery and the boxed exacta is the safest bet. Three kilograms better off, this column is siding with Tarry’s colt.

In the Camelia Stakes, it might pay to take on the favourite, Kiss Me Captain, with Brett Crawford’s runner, Stiptelik. A check of the form book reveals the daughter of Snitzel has twice finished less than a length behind Princess Calla this term so Louis Mxothwa’s mount gets the vote.

SELECTIONS

1st Race: (9) Vivacious Vicky (11) Phantom Express (10) Cala Muretta (3) Copper John

2nd Race: (2) Battle Of Kursk (1) Max The Magician (8) Dakota Kat (3) Holocene

3rd Race: (2) Free Movement (1) Mo The Man (4) Kambulu (7) Royal Guide

4th Race: (2) Cullinan Blue (1) American Graffiti (11) So Seductive (4) Leaving Las Vegas

5th Race: (5) Lucky Lad (7) Amber Rock (6) Pure Predator (2) Guy Gibson

6th Race: (9) Princess Calla (1) Master Archie (10) Sheela (4) Isivunguvungu

7th Race: (12) Billy Bowlegs (11) Rain In Holland (1) Puerto Manzano (5) Aragosta

8th Race: (3) Stiptelik (8) Kiss Me Captain (5) Cold Fact (4) Sweet Pepper

9th Race: (5) Terra Time (8) Bless My Stars (6) Bureau Des Legende (3) Gilded Butterfly

10th Race: (4) Future Pearl (1) Shanganil (7) Apache Fighter (2) Arumugam

Outlaw King (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Outlaw King To Warm Up For Gold

Andrew Harrison (Gold Circle)

The three-month finale of the South African racing season is on the horizon and many trainers are warming up the engines.

There are three features at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and it should benefit punters to pay attention.

In the Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes, Outlaw King is unbeaten in two very easy wins for Dean Kannemeyer and he could again be difficult to beat. He looks progressive and Kannemeyer will surely have the Gr1 Gold Medallion in mind.

Warrior Of Royalty blew the start on debut and followed up with a comfortable win next time out for Nathan Kotzen. He was beaten by Yogas Govender’s Cliff Hanger on debut but I fancy that the tables will be turned this time around.

Horses up from the Cape have been having a field day in their first starts in KZN and Brett Crawford saddles The Abdicator, his first runner in KZN this season, who has been contesting feature events and should have a bright chance.

The Gr3 Strelitza Stakes in not an easy race although Candice Bass-Robinson holds a strong hand with Winter Cloud and The Charleston, both winning their last two starts. Grant van Niekerk was aboard both at their last outing but stable rider Aldo Domeyer would be hard-pressed to make the 58kg of
The Charleston. The betting could be your best guide here.

African Folklore could be the pick of the Mike Miller contingent although Epic View won well second time out at long odds and could be anything.

The In Full Flight Handicap is a wide open sprint but Tony Rivalland has a high regard for Coin Spinner and he should come on lengths from his last effort, his first since August last year. The blinkers go on and he has a handy weight.

Gladatorian is smart although he proved no match for a strong feature field in Cape Town last time out. This is his first run for Stuart Ferrie. Johan Janse van Vuuren saddles Sheldon who has consistent Highveld form over shorter but the extra 100m should not trouble him.

Beechamwood Boy has won his last three in commanding fashion but takes on much stronger here. However, he has a light weight and can continue his run for Wendy Whitehead.

The Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes has been named in honour of one of the doyens of South African racing, Dennis Drier, but this could go the way of the Peter Muscutt-trained Bevies Delight. She was running on smartly under a soft ride last time out and was well thought-off early in her career. She will face strong opposition from Ameena who showed up well first run back after a lengthy break. She won this race last year for Glen Kotzen and form often goes in yearly cycles.

Alula’s Star has useful Highveld form for rare KZN visitor Stuart Pettigrew and can finish in the money.

Miss Cool and Maharanee both have warm-ups for the Gr2 WSB Fillies Guineas in a fortnights time but both are good enough to finish in the money.

In the card opener, Sean Tarry sends out The Africa House who won on debut but found his last run in a feature too short. This should be an ideal trip.

Mystery Cache looks to be the best of Glen Kotzen’s runners. He was touched off on debut and from a good draw can make the required improvement.

Ermelo won well at second time of asking for Doug Campbell.

He has drawn well and should enjoy the extra while King Of Seville has drawn widest for Kotzen but was not far back in the
soft on debut.

Approachable Lass could prove to be one of the better bets on the card in the second. She has her first run for Louis Goosen and did not have the best of passages when tried over a mile last start and some of her best recent form has been over this trip.

Paul Gadsby has two lively runners in Pretty Analia and Sea Of Tears. Both show steady form but have had many chances. The former could prove the pick of the pair. La Prestissimo was a distant second at second time of asking but can improve for
Michael Roberts in a fairly modest line-up.

Stuart Pettigrew is a rare visitor to KZN and saddles Quiet Rebellion in the third. Her last run in a feature may have been out of her compass and she is back over a more suitable trip in a tricky handicap.

Maria Corolina has won her last two over shorter for Alyson Wright but stays this trip well. The mare is a tough competitor and can follow up.

Grande Orecchie shed her maiden first time back from the Cape for Gareth van Zyl where she had shown some fair form while Sleek As Silk was four lengths behind Maria Corolina last time out but will be a better proposition over this longer trip for
Paul Lafferty.

Noble City was an impressive winner when taking on strong company at only his third start and Peter Muscutt has entered him for the Hollywoodbets Durban July. But first he will need to show his worth here if he is to even make the line-up but Muscutt’s intentions are clear.

Kannemeyer saddles Ponte Pietra who shed his maiden at second time of asking and was not far back next time out. This trip should suit and he could give Noble City a hard race.

MJ Odendaal is having a good run of late and sends out Addabar who takes on a tough field but was most impressive
when stepped up to a mile. He has a light weight and could run them all out of it.

In the last, Bronze Sword found his last start too far and should prove more effective over this trip.

Space Cowboy has been consistent of late and goes well on this course.

Shoefella tried hard from a wide draw last start in his first run back from the Cape. He should do better here.

Mister Lincoln is the dark horse as he showed some improvement in blinkers last start and the booking of Keagan de Melo by Garth Puller could prove telling.

Siphesihle Hlengwa (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Heversham To Sponsor Siphesihle Hlengwa

Heversham Park Stud of South Gauteng have announced their sponsorship of fourth-year apprentice Siphesihle Hlengwa. The stud’s support of the 19-year-old Durbanite will commence on 1 May 2023 and run concurrently with their sponsorship of Gauteng-based Siyanda Sosibo.

Fresh-faced Siphesihle, a natural light weight who pulls the scale at 50,5kg, has ridden 43 career winners and his immediate objective is to get to the 50-winner mark so he can lose his claim. He said: “I am keen to get that out of the way, the sooner the better. As apprentices it becomes harder to get rides when you lose your claim but I firmly believe I will remain competitive. I will work harder and make it happen.”

Siphesihle rides work at Summerveld for as many trainers as possible, and his day starts at 430 am. “Mr Mike Miller string is first out and I start with him before moving on to other trainers.” He rides most often for Paul Lafferty, Michael Roberts, Alyson Wright and Garth Puller and said that he had learnt, and keeps learning, from all of them.

Siphesihle has not styled himself on any of the senior riders, but has plenty of respect for all his colleagues, especially S’Manga Khumalo and Calvin Habib. “I was Calvin’s kit boy before he left for Singapore. He is a wonderful person and a gentleman. Al the senior riders try to help us and have concern for us each other which is something I appreciate.”

He gets to sit on some top horses in work, and mentioned Garth Puller’s Captain Fontane as the best he has ridden. “In a race, I think Mr Lafferty’s filly Bella Sicome is the most talented horse I’ve ridden in a race, one to watch for the rest of the season.”

Siphesihle said about his sponsorship: “I am privileged and thankful for the opportunity and I hope to be a good ambassador for Heversham Park.”

Kat Riley of Heversham Park commented: “Siphesihle’s sponsorship is a part of our commitment to empowerment and nurturing talent. Our farm manager, Japhta Kghaphola, came to us as a student from Equine College three years ago and has made notable progress.”

*Heversham Park is situated off RandVaal Road in South Gauteng. The stud is the home to stallions Jackson (SAF), Moofeed (AUS) and soon Capetown Noir (SAF). Go to www.hevershampark.co.za

Picture: Day 27 winner Candiese Lenferna with Marcel Peter in Johannesburg last week

Racing Stars: First Lady Winner

Photographer Candiese Lenferna became the first member of the fairer sex to grab top honours on Day 27 of the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge Racing Stars.

She banked the R500 cash prize on the Turffontein card on the Freedom Day public holiday.

A visit to Gauteng last week to photograph the National Yearling Sales action ended up paying handsome dividends.

She found time to sit down and study the Turffontein form.

She told The Sporting Post she had chatted to a few local trainers and saw a horse or two at Turffontein that caught her fancy.

“I saw Ghost Ship at Tony Peter’s yard. She is a lovely grey and I liked her. She won her maiden today. Then I always go with Vanderbilt, even though Tony wasn’t convinced about the trip today. Then I felt Napoleon would be thereabouts. So it worked out well!” said the thrilled professional photographer, who had settled down to work while she watched the new Netflix season of ‘Working Moms’ today – that is until the Turffontein action had her transfixed, as the drama atop the Racing Stars leaderboard developed.

Candiese beat Neil Andrews and Craig Peters, who ran second and third respectively, with her husband Warren completing a family double roving banker in the quartet in fourth.

Three-time winner Charl Pretorius heads the weekly log with just three days to run. But as Nico Kritsiotis quipped on the busy Racing Stars whatsapp group, ‘anybody can still win it’.

The new fun competition hosted within the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge platform for South Africa’s racing presenters, personalities, commentators and journalists pits the faces and voices of racing against each other, competing on every South African race meeting, covering KZN, Western Cape, Gauteng, and Eastern Cape.

Click here to view the top 10 finishers on the daily and weekly logs.

For regular players the Racing Stars are also in position on the daily leaderboard – so it’s a chance for every punter countrywide to pit their individual skills against the professionals!

For the 30 days of April, there is R27 000 up for grabs, with a R500 daily Racing Stars winner takes-it-all prize for each race meeting.

Recently extended to include all local racemeetings, as well as Hong Kong and Singapore, the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge has created a host of big winners.

The game is simple and FREE to play. So take up the challenge and take on the stars today!

All you need to do is login to the Hollywoodbets Punters Challenge website with your Hollywoodbets account.

The show moves to Fairview on Friday – the off time of the first is 12h40.

Caption: Futura wins the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate under Bernard Fayd’Herbe in Jack Mitchell’s colours (Picture Credit: Sporting Post)

The Swap That Produced A Horse Of The Year

A mare who made an inauspicious debut this month 15 years ago has turned out to be a notable name in the South African stud book today.

Scribblin’ The Cat might have begun believing she was a nomad mare after being moved around the country a number of times in her first couple of breeding seasons.

Owner and part-time breeder Mike Jolly was a member of the syndicate who raced this Brett Warren-trained one-time winning filly by Badger’s Drift.

On debut at the Vaal on April 17 2008 she ran 8th, beaten 7,5 lengths.

Such are the vagaries of thoroughbred breeding, the winner Golden Tiffany went on to produce no winners at stud, while the horse who finished 0,25 lengths in front of Scribblin’ The Cat in 7th place, Neapolitana, went on to produce Grade 1 winner Captain’s Gal (Captain Al), while Scribblin’ The Cat went on to produce an Equus Horse Of The Year.

Scribblin’ The Cat only raced four times and won the last of those races, a Maiden over 2000m at Turffontein, despite starting odds of 33-1.

Jolly was keen to breed with Scribblin’ The Cat, but the other syndicate members didn’t share his enthusiasm.

Jolly is a great friend of Gary Player’s and consequently approached his stud manager at the time, Guy Murdoch.

Murdoch agreed to a swap. He would take over the breeding share of Scribblin’ The Cat and in turn give Jolly’s partners a gelding he had in training.

This gelding was transferred to Warren’s yard and went on to win a couple of races.

Meanwhile, Scribblin’ The Cat was transported to The Gary Player Stud farm.

Jolly and Murdoch sent her to Dynasty, who was standing for just R10,000, a far cry from the massive fee he was soon to command as one of the most sort after stallions in the country.

Murdoch then took up a new position as manager of Yellow Star Stud in Mooi River. Scribblin’ The Cat went with him and gave birth to a colt on that farm.

Then came an offer Murdoch could hardly refuse… to manage Bridget Oppenheimer’s Mauritzfontein Stud.

Scribblin’ The Cat accompanied him again, this time with a foal at foot.

The colt was thus conceived in Colesberg, born in Mooi River and raised in Kimberley.

After being nurtured at one of the country’s premier stud farms, he fetched R500,000 at the National Yearling Sales and was now the property of high profile owners Jack Mitchell, Ian Longmore and John Freeman.

The colt was called Venia, a name that none of the connections liked.

Mitchell’s daughter Nancy cleverly arrived at a new name, Futura, a font type designed in 1927 which was known at the time as “the typeface of today and tomorrow”. The name not only related well to “Scribblin’” but also to “Dynasty” due to its “past and future” connotations.

The rest is history as Futura went on to become an Equus Horse Of The Year.

Nancy recalled Futura’s most memorable trait, his devastating turn of foot.

She said, “My Dad always used to say ‘Watch Futura’ as he would always be behind so it was difficult to keep track of him and he would then just explode out of the pack, You could hardly believe a horse was capable of such acceleration!”

Futura was brought on steadily by trainer Brett Crawford and after avoiding the classics and finishing third in the Vodacom Durban July he ended his three-year-old season by winning the Grade 1 Champions Cup.

He peaked the following season and did the prestigious L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Met double.

Jack Mitchell, one of South Africa’s most respected owners, always favoured the weight for age events, or those that were close to it, and that Cape Town double meant an enormous amount to him.

Nancy described the surreal feeling of winning such races.

Futura was moved mid-season to Justin Snaith after Drakenstein Stud bought a share and he later retained his Champions Cup crown after a commendable fourth in the July with top weight.

Futura now stands at Drakenstein and is as relaxed today as he was as a racehorse.

He has become more and more prominent as a sire as he tends to produce scopey horses who continually improve.

He has already produced 13 stakes winners from 4 crops to race and can add to that number this weekend as Future Pearl will be out to win the Grade 3 WSB Gold Bowl. Two of his existing stakes winners, Pink Tourmaline and Light Of The Moon, both Listed winners, will be out to become Graded winners in the Grade 2 WSB Gerald Rosenberg Stakes.

Furthermore, the Grade 2 SA Nursery winner Miss Cool, who is by What A Winter out of Scribblin’s The Cat’s Miesque’s Approval daughter French Rose, races in the Grade 3 Dennis Drier Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

Brett Warren is not surprised Scribblin’ The Cat produced such a good horse as he held her in high regard.

Warren in fact purchased her sire Badger’s Drift at the National Yearling Sales for R500,000, the second highest priced horse of that year. He is the most expensive horse he has ever bought and was owned by the brothers Doctors Albert and Jan Steyn.

However, the Steyns later moved him to Geoff Woodruff for whom he won three Grade 1s in succession, the SA Classic, the SA Derby and the Daily News 2000.

Warren set out to look for one of Badger’s Drift’s progeny at the Sales and came across Scribblin’ The Cat.

He said any horse he bought had to be exceptional and had to move very athletically. She passed that criteria and had a good pedigree too, being out of a Western Winter mare who was a half-sister to the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes winner Angelina. So, when she went through the ring unsold he approached breeder Wilfred Koster and landed her for R60,000.

He recalled, “You always have to take notice of a horse who keeps on improving. I fancied her to win the Oaks.”

Warren had her entered in a lead up race and she put up a tremendous final gallop.

However, just after he had said, “She won’t get beaten” she returned limping. She had sustained a knee injury and despite an operation was destined to never race again.

Warren continues to look out for Scribblin’ The Cat’s family.

One of his best current campaigners is the four-time winning Futura gelding Supreme Dance, who has been as high as 96 in the merit ratings.

Golden Sixty makes it two Champion Miles in succession (hkjc.com)

Hong Kong Champions Day Sunday: Golden Sixty Eyes History

Two-time Horse of the Year chases three straight Champions Mile wins, but a quick glance at the record books shows just how difficult a task he faces on Sunday

Japan back for more and the unlikely Voyage Bubble double

by Sam Agars on Thursday, April 27, 2023 6:51 PM )South China Morning Post)

History is there for the taking for Golden Sixty and Wellington at Sha Tin on Sunday, but a quick glance back through the record books shows just how difficult the task is they’re trying to achieve.

Golden Sixty has won more races and prize money than any other Hong Kong-trained horse, but he’s never won the same Group One race three times.

He’s a hot favourite to tick that box with a record third straight win in the Group One Champions Mile this weekend, while Wellington is looking to join Quicken Away as a winner of the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) on three consecutive occasions.

Trained by Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s father Peter, Quicken Away is one of just four horses to string together a hat-trick of wins in any of Hong Kong’s 12 current Group One contests. In a nice piece of symmetry, rookie handler Pierre is among those trying to prevent Wellington from equalling Quicken Away’s record with his inherited speedster Duke Wai.

While Wellington might not have the class to defeat Lucky Sweynesse, Golden Sixty is in the box seat to achieve what he couldn’t when defeated by California Spangle while shooting for a third straight Hong Kong Mile crown in December.

Since the start of Quicken Away’s hat-trick, which ran from 1989 to 1991, 38 gallopers have failed to convert back-to-back feature successes into three on the bounce.

In that time, River Verdon (Gold Cup – 1992, 1993 and 1994; Champions & Chater Cup – 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994), Good Ba Ba (Hong Kong Mile – 2007, 2008 and 2009), and most recently, Beauty Generation (Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup – 2018, 2019 and 2020) are the only other gallopers able to stretch their dominance of a feature beyond two consecutive years.

It’s certainly an exclusive group, but despite what history suggests, you’d be game to bet against it welcoming a fifth member come Sunday afternoon.

Japanese juggernaut rolls back into town

Japanese gallopers have already tasted success in mega-rich contests like the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup in 2023 and not since 2018 has the Land of the Rising Sun had a presence at one of Hong Kong’s international meetings and walked away empty-handed.

Japan’s raiding party consists of four gallopers this year and it’s a continuation of its love-affair with the QE II Cup that looks the most likely occurrence.

While Aguri lines up in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize and is trained by Takayuki Yasuda – the man who prepared the legendary Lord Kanaloa (twice) and Danon Smash to win the Hong Kong Sprint – the four-year-old colt doesn’t look to have the tools to bring down Lucky Sweynesse and become only the second international winner of the race after Australia’s Chautauqua in 2016.

The QE II Cup has proven a very happy hunting ground for Japanese horses, however, and the three-pronged attack of Danon The Kid, Geraldina and Prognosis look poised to pack a punch despite coming in behind Romantic Warrior and Dubai Honour in overseas fixed-odds markets.

Voyage Bubble flies Derby flag

Last month’s Hong Kong Derby champion Voyage Bubble is the only horse from the Classic Series to make it to Champions Day and it won’t only be the might of Golden Sixty he has to overcome to win the Champions Mile.

Not since 2011 has a four-year-old won the Champions Mile, and never has one done the Derby-Champions Mile double.

Xtension’s 2011 victory as a four-year-old came after a second in the Derby, Able One snared the 2007 Champions Mile two starts after a Derby fourth and Figures was victorious in 2004 six days after finishing 11th in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize.

Jeune King Prawn went from a Derby 13th to a Champions Mile win in 2002 and Red Pepper won the very first edition of the race in 2001 after finishing fourth in the Derby four starts prior.

Twelve months ago, Romantic Warrior parlayed Derby success into a QE II Cup victory on Champions Day. On Sunday, something extraordinary would have to happen for Voyage Warrior to follow suit with a Champions Day win of his own.

Hollie Doyle (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Hollie Doyle Discusses Her Seven Rides At Ripon On Saturday

Plus a promising three-year-old at Windsor on Monday

Sky Sports

EMPIRE CAN CONQUER RIPON FEATURE

Ripon is renowned for it’s competitive sprint handicaps and Saturday’s Class 2 Silver Sprint Trophy Handicap (4.10) is no exception.

I’m looking forward to riding local trainer David O’Meara’s NOMADIC EMPIRE in the 5f dash and expect him to run a big race on a track he’s gone well on in the past.

He’s nicely drawn in stall seven and proved at Doncaster and Haydock Park last autumn that he’s comfortable on the forecast easy ground.

Since then Al Mohamediya Racing’s five-year-old has won the valuable Al Manama Cup in Bahrain and looks fairly treated on a mark of 94.

PIRATE READY TO PLUNDER NOVICE STAKES TREASURE

My boss Archie Watson’s two-year-old DREADPIRATEROBERTS pleased us on debut at Brighton and can go one better in the Black-A-Moor Inn Half A Mile Away EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (2.25).

He’s a lovely honest son of Archie’s Royal Ascot winner Soldier’s Call who bumped into a nice prospect on the south coast – Eve Johnson Houghton’s Revenue – but will be better for the experience.

He handled Brighton’s idiosyncrasies well enough to suggest he’ll cope with the infamous ridges at the Garden Racecourse so can take a step forward even though he makes a quick re-appearance.

Dreadpirateroberts renews rivalry with Richard Hannon’s Quandil, who was just behind him at Brighton, so hopefully we’ll have the upper hand once again.

HOPING TO RIDE MY FIRST WINNER FOR MALTON TRAINER

I’ve only ridden for Adrian Keatley six times but must have a good chance of getting into the winner’s enclosure for the first time for the Malton trainer in the Ripon Races Ladies Day 22nd June Handicap (5.50).

I’m on last-time-out winner ANOTHER BAAR who got off the mark at the fourth attempt on his handicap debut over course and distance at the opening fixture last week.

He’s been raised 6lb for that success but gets into this better race off a light weight and is well enough drawn to put up another big performance. He’s also by Mayson so should appreciate any cut in the ground.

WATSON’S NEW RECRUIT HAS CLAIMS OFF LAST WINNING MARK

Saturday will be the first time I’ve sat on Archie Watson’s new recruit AADDEEY , who makes his stable debut in the M. C. H. Hutchinson Memorial Trophy Handicap (4.40).

This 1m4f handicap will be a learning curve but Archie’s been pleased with him following wind surgery and if he can run up to his best form he must have a serious chance in an open race.

He won off his latest mark at Doncaster in October 2021 for previous trainers Simon and Ed Crisford, beating one of Saturday’s key rivals Dark Jedi in similar underfoot conditions.

LAST LAUGH IN STAYERS’ HANDICAP?

OH HERBERTS REIGN won’t want for fitness in the Watch Sky Sports Racing in HD Handicap (5.15). He’d been running well on the All-Weather without winning before posting a respectable effort at Windsor.

I had a near miss on Richard Hannon’s reliable four-year-old at Haydock last May, when we went down by just a nose off a higher rating. It’s would be nice to settle that score at Ripon!

The Hugh Martin Memorial EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (3.00) looks a warm enough race with Yorkshireman William Haggas out to enhance his great record at the track with the improving Bleak.

I ride Archie Watson’s colt NATZOR , who made a pleasing start over 1m at Newcastle but then put in a below par performance at Yarmouth last time when he may have just got stuck in the soft ground. We’re hoping for a step back in the right direction before he graduates into handicaps.

Later, I link up with the Jennie Candlish team who run IT’S GOOD TO LAUGH in the Visit attheraces.com Handicap (3.35). He stays well so should enjoy the stamina test over this 2m and won’t be lacking fitness either after running over hurdles recently.

MERLIN OUT TO WORK SOME MAGIC AT WINDSOR

I’ll be heading to Windsor on Monday to ride Imad Alsagar’s home bred three-year-old MERLIN THE WIZARD in the Gabby Fullbrook Memorial Novice Stakes (2.44).

I called in at Harry and Roger Charlton’s Beckhampton base in midweek to ride the son of Camelot, who is still a big baby but showed definite potential on his only previous start.

He was second in a Kempton Park novice last December when I was riding in Japan so I’m hopeful he can continue his education with another nice performance.

Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.

Pure Predator has been selected by the At The Races tipster to win the Grade 2 WSB SA Nursery (JC Photos).

Turffontein Standside Saturday April 29 Formguides And Selections

www.attheraces.com

1 11H50 – World Sports Betting Welcomes You To Champions Day Maiden Juvenile Plate

Seven of the 12 runners carded are first-timers – watch the betting moves. They will all have to beat PHANTOM EXPRESS. This filly found no support in the betting and gave Nursery entrant Ripple Effect a fright. CALA MURETTA must be considered a lively threat after both good efforts. COPPER JOHN could be looking for further but must be considered for money.

Top Tip: CALA MURETTA (10)

Watch out for: PHANTOM EXPRESS (11)

2 12H20 – Citizen Juvenile Plate

Only winner in the race MAX THE MAGICIAN enjoyed the longer distance and should make a bold bid to follow up. HOLOCENE enjoyed the extra and finished off strongly. She should hold BATTLE OF KURSK who is improving with racing and found problems last time. Only filly in the race DAKOTA CAT has her blinkers removed – watch for a big run.

Top Tip: MAX THE MAGICIAN (1)

Watch out for: HOLOCENE (3)

3 12H55 – World Sports Betting Grooms Initiative Maiden Plate

MO THE MAN comes from franked form and if he keeps up the gallop could hold off FREE MOVEMENT who should challenge strongly. FAST DUTY ran below form last time. KAMBULU must have a chance if behaves at the start. With the blinkers on TIME TO MEDITATE could do better over the shorter distance. FULLY LOADED and ROYAL GUIDE are looking for Trifecta money.

Top Tip: FREE MOVEMENT (2)

Watch out for: MO THE MAN (1)

4 13H30 – World Sports Betting SA Fillies Nursery (Grade 2)

Five runners have yet to taste defeat in the WSB SA Fillies Nursery (Grade 2) over 1160m of which three are on hat-tricks and the other two come off impressive debut wins. Stable companions, AMERICAN GRAFFITI and MRS GERIATRIX as well as LEAVING LAS VEGAS have won both their starts while CULLINAN BLUE and RANI OF KITTUR won on their first attempts. HEIRLOOM, RED HOT ROSE and SO SEDUCTIVE cannot be ignored for money – great race.

Top Tip: AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1)

Watch out for: LEAVING LAS VEGAS (4)

5 14H10 – World Sports Betting SA Nursery (Grade 2)

Two fillies, AMBER ROCK (narrowly beaten on debut) and RIPPLE EFFECT (solid form), take on the six males in the WSB SA Nursery (Grade 2) over 1160m and cannot be ignored with 2.5kg less to shoulder. LUCKY LAD won both starts in workmanlike fashion but shows heart. PURE PREDATOR and FIRE ‘N FLAMES renew rivalry and either could get into the action. GUY GIBSON was backed when winning on debut beating JERUSALEMA RAIN (won subsequently) – both are no slouches.

Top Tip: PURE PREDATOR (6)

Watch out for: LUCKY LAD (5)

6 14H45 – Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint (Grade 1)

The Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint (Grade 1) over 1000m could prove a straight fight between the sexes – four-year-old colt MASTER ARCHIE and five-year-old mare PRINCESS CALLA. The battle for minor money is tricky but SHEELA gets the nod, closely followed by KZN raider ISIVUNGUVUNGU, ROLLWITHTHEPUNCHES, BIG BURN and GOBSMACKED.

Top Tip: MASTER ARCHIE (1)

Watch out for: PRINCESS CALLA (9)

7 15H20 – World Sports Betting Premier’s Champions Challenge (Grade 1)

The WSB Premier’s Champions Challenge (Grade 1) over 2000m finds RAIN IN HOLLAND back to best form and favourite to take honours. Three-year-old BILLY BOWLEGS should challenge strongly and rates the danger. PUERTO MANZANO could get into the reckoning if finds best form. NEBRAAS will do better if there is a strong early pace. ARAGOSTA could feature if in the mood while stablemate GOLDEN DUCAT is capable of a lot better. Others could place.

Top Tip: RAIN IN HOLLAND (11)

Watch out for: ARAGOSTA (5)

8 15H55 – World Sports Betting Camellia Stakes (Fillies’ And Mares’ Grade 2)

The WSB Camelia Stakes (Grade 2) for Fillies and Mares over 1160m has a good field but what beats sparingly raced KISS ME CAPTAIN should win. BON VIVANT never got into it last time but could resume winning ways at this venue. COLD FACT is running well and should make a race of it. Stable companions STIPTELIK and WHOA WHOA WHOA are in new surrounds but have good form against Princess Calla.

Top Tip: KISS ME CAPTAIN (8)

Watch out for: COLD FACT (5)

9 16H30 – World Sports Betting Gerald Rosenberg Stakes (Fillies’ And Mares’ Grade 2)

Three-year-olds could dominate the World Sports Betting Gerald Rosenberg Stakes (Grade 2) for fillies and mares over 2000m – BLESS MY STARS wasn’t at best in the Oaks and could redeem herself whereas EMIRATE GINA never produced in the Classic and is a lot better than that. Of the older runners, TERRA TIME could turn it around with BUREAU DES LEGENDE while LIGHT OF THE MOON is looking for Trifecta money.

Top Tip: BLESS MY STARS (8)

Watch out for: EMIRATE GINA (10)

10 17H05 – World Sports Betting Gold Bowl (Grade 3)

Only eight runners do battle in the WSB Gold Bowl (Grade 3) over 3200m and SHANGANI stands out. He is a top stayer but gives away 10kg to 12kg to the remaining runners which is a lot over this marathon distance. Biggest threats should come from ARUMUGAM and APACHE FIGHTER but TABEBUIA, FUTURE PEARL, TOP SAIL and FLYING FIRST CLASS could get into the mix.

Top Tip: APACHE FIGHTER (7)

Watch out for: SHANGANI (1)