Vaughan Marshall with his promising One World colt One Stripe (Picture: Wayne Marks)

It is over a decade since Vaugan Marshall won the Cape Derby with the 22/1 outsider Top Seller on Met day in 2011.

He also won the Cape Derby in 2021 with the top class Linebacker, although by that stage the big race had its own slot on the last Saturday of February.

He will come into this year’s Derby with a horse who, like Top Seller, also snuck under the radar on Met day and came close to causing a major shock.

Coastal Commader got in to the lucrative R7.5 million Gold Rush as a reserve runner and at odds of 100/1 jumping from draw 16 of 16 he was caught in the final stages and lost by a neck under a fine ride by Bernard Fayd’Herbe.

He will now be out to prove that effort was no fluke in the Gr 1 SplashOut Cape Derby at the SplashOut Cape Town Seafood & Jazz Racing Festival at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on February 24.

On the same day Marshall’s expensively purchased juvenile One Stripe will be out to earn black type before being put away in anticipation of big things as a three-year-old.

Vaughan was not surprised by Coastal Commander’s performance in the Gold Rush and described him as a very progressive type.

He said, “I thought he would run very well. The Derby has such a small nomination we will take our chances. We’ve just got to hope he goes the distance, I am sure he will.”

The one similarity he has with Top Seller is that he comes from a Northern Guest female line.

His dam Open My Eyes by Kahal won twice over 1600m and has produced four winners from five runners, including a stablemate by Pathfork called Look For Hounds, whose six wins have been from 1200m to 1400m, although he did place second in a Listed race over 1600m.

However, Coastal Command’s third dam Magnetic Field (Northfields) produced the Gold Cup winner Cereus, so there is some stamina in the female line.

Lancaster Bomber brings more stamina as a horse who won a Gr 1 over 2100m.

Coastal Commader’s run in the Gold Rush nearly turned in to the fairytale story of the season.

Durbanite Kenneth Pillay of Kestorm Investments bought a slot from one of the holders who did not have a suitable horse, because his promising Storm Brasco looked to have a chance.

Alas, the day before the horse was set to travel from Randjesfontein there was a confirmed case of African Horse Sickness in the vicinity and he was not allowed to travel.

This left Kenneth with no option but to make a deal with the owners of one of the three reserves.

Coastal Commander was the first reserve. Kenneth and Jane Truter were never going to consider buying the slot because the horse was going to inherit draw 16 out of 16 and he was also officially the lowest rated horse in the field.

However, an agreement was reached on a cut of the stakes that was fair to both parties.

In the race Coastal Commander was wide in the running but settled well and ran on well down the outside in the straight and hit the front 200m out. However, Rapidash caught him 100m out and stayed on strongly to consign the Marshall yard to second place in the lucrative race for the second year running.

It was a fine day for Marshall and Fayd’Herbe, because they also went close to landing a shock win in the Met with Rascallion.

Vaughan said Rascallion would not be traveling to KZN to have another crack at the July.

“We’ve had two cracks and that’s enough,” he said.

He will instead run him in the Cape Racing winter series, which is open to all horses these days.

Vaughan’s eye for a horse had been proven time and time again, but it is unusual to see him involved in the purchase of a seven figure horse at the sales.

He landed the sales topper at the Cape Racing Sales Ready To Run and Unbroken 2YO Sale last October, going to R1.4 million to buy a colt called One Stripe, who is by the horse he trained to Met glory, One World.

He said about the purchase at the time, “He’s a very nice mover and a very nice specimen. He certainly did the best work I’ve ever seen at a Ready To Run.”

His intuition looks likely to be correct again because One Stripe, after a satisfying debut over 1000m, won by six lengths second time out over 1200m.

He is now going for the Gr 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery over 1200m at the SplashOut Cape Town Seafood & Jazz Racing Festival.

The exciting thing about One Stripe is he has plenty of speed despite there being a lot of stamina in his pedigree.

His dam Silver Stripe is by stamina influence Silvano. Her three wins were from 2200m to 2450m, including the Listed Spook Express Handicap.

Furthermore, Silver Stripe is a full-sister to Gifted For Glory, who won the Gr 3 Winter Derby over 2400m, beating the classy subsequent Gr 1 Gold Challenge winner King Of Pain who also later won the Gr 3 Chairman’s Cup over 3200m.

Gifted For Glory also won over 2800m.

So the pedigree looks stout at first sight.

However, there is also plenty of speed in the female line of One Stripe. His second dam is Badger’s Gift (Badger’s Drift), who won the Gr 1 Paddock Stakes but was also precocious and quick enough to win over 1200m as a juvenile and again over that trip as a young three-year-old and she won three times in her career over 1400m.

There is also the like of Matrchem Stakes winner Emcee in the pedigree and also Superior Service, who won the Listed Somerset Plate over 1200m as a juvenile and later finished second to Flight Alert in the Cape Guineas.

Furthermore, One World might have won the Met, but he was by the great Marshall-trained speed influence Captain Al. One World was in fact ultra effective over 1400m and won three races as a juvenile, including the Listed Langerman over 1500m.

It is exciting times for the Vaughan Marshall yard and for the owner of the Drakenstein Stud-bred One Stripe, Rikesh Sewgoolam.

Back in October 2022 Donovan had a winner in his first meeting in Australia (via Meta)

Donovan Dillon, who has been residing in Australia since mid-2022 where he has worked for the famous Arrowfield Stud, has been sidelined for a while after a horse kicked him in the thigh and tore the muscle off the bone.

However, in a couple of months time he and his wife Tayla will be able to apply for residency visas and once that happens he intends becoming a seven-day a week jockey with big ambitions.

Donovan said, “It has been a crazy ride since we’ve been here. I’m not racing as much as I used to, small yard but massive name that we are behind (Arrowfield Stud). We have a couple of months left before we can apply for permanent residency and once that happens I think things open up a lot more and we will have a lot more freedom. I will obviously still work for Arrowfield in the mornings, but I will be looking to ride in races seven times a week. I’m trying to get my weight right down to a natural 54 to 55kg so I can freelance and race all day everyday. I have put it in my sights that I want to go for the title in 2024/2025. I do think I can accomplish that with the racing I’ve had here already.”

In his first season over there in 2022/2023 Donovan had 9 wins at a strike rate of 33.3% and he had a place strike rate of 70.4%. No wonder he has high ambitions!

He continued, “I do feel that as a South African professional jockey I’ve got the upper hand.”

Donovan explained the high professionalism of SA jockeys coming out of the famous SA Jockeys Academy and their accompanying ability to read races.

He continued, “I also feel I want it that much more. I am grateful for these last two years because it has made me a lot more hungrier in my career.”

He said about the injury, “It was pretty uncomfortable for a while, but my rehabilitation has been smooth sailing so far.

He has been working for the famous Arrowfield Stud since he arrived in New South Wales in Australia.

Arrowfield is one of the world’s leading stud farms, famous as the launch-pad for breed-shaper Danehill, the home of Champion Sires Redoute’s Choice, Flying Spur, Not A Single Doubt & Snitzel, the source of 81 Group 1 winners and the vendor of 77 million-dollars worth of yearlings since 2001.

Donovan has been race-riding for the small yard of Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich.

Paul is the son of John Messara, the founder of Arrowfield.

Donovan’s wife Tayla works for a neighboring stud farm called Ridgmont, which is not related in anyway to the South African Ridgemont. She is part of the broodmare team there.

Picture: An old image of the Kenilworth Racecourse 

– Written by Mark van Deventer (Cape Racing)

The SplashOut Cape Derby for three-year-old thoroughbreds has been around in various iterations for nearly a century. The race has a proud history dating back to 1925 when DESERT BORN, a filly, won the Western Province Derby over 2400m.

There was a spell when it was run at Milnerton as the Cape of Good Hope Derby before moving back permanently to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in 1949. Apart from a few missing years due to Equine Flu, it’s been a perennial fixture on Cape Racing’s Grade 1 Summer roster. And in the mid-70s, the distance was reduced from 12 furlongs (2,414m) to ten (2,000m).

The SplashOut Cape Derby for three-year-olds is a major pointer to other prestigious races on the SA calendar, including the World Sports Betting Cape Town MET and Hollywoodbets Durban July. Close to twenty Cape Derby winners have gone on to win either or both iconic contests. Many a Derby winner has subsequently attained Equus Horse of the Year status, and some go even beyond that by becoming big success stories at Stud.

It’s a hard race to win; many champions have been toppled, with luminaries such as LONDON NEWS, PRINCE FLORIMOND, ILLUSTRADOR, OVER THE AIR and YATAGHAN unexpectedly biting the dust.

(Colorado King is floundering in third place in the 1963 Cape Derby as Majorca has the field cold at the 400m pole. He would produce the acceleration that only good horses are capable of to pass her close to the line.)

Old time racegoers will recall the exploits of great COLORADO KING, who triumphed in the Cape Derby in 1963 when beating the filly MAJORCA, before being exported to race with distinction in America.

POLITICIAN, JAMAICAN MUSIC, MAZARIN and SWORD DANCER are other “blasts from the past” that feature on the Cape Derby roll of honour. More recently, DYNASTY and JAY PEG are legends of the turf who showed their early worth by winning this important middle distance test for emerging youngsters.

The last five victors were SEE IT AGAIN, POMP AND POWER, LINEBACKER, GOLDEN DUCAT and ATYAAB.

Eleven entries have been received for this year’s showdown, slated for next Saturday, 24 February 2024.

(Image of HLUHLUWE by Chase Liebenberg)	(Image of GREEN WITH ENVY by Chase Liebenberg)

Six of them sport triple digit merit ratings: BEACH BOMB 117, HLULHUWE 111, GREEN WITH ENVY 110, RAPIDASH 103, with COASTAL COMMANDER and HARAJUKU pegged on 101.

Allocated draws, pace, track conditions on the day and race readiness all play a key role in the outcome. A sneak peek suggests that there is not much separating GREEN WITH ENVY on Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, Cape Punters Cup, and Schweppes Politician Stakes form from HLUHLUWE, whose L’Ormarins King’s Plate Gr1 effort against the best older milers in the country was better than it may appear at first glance.

(Image of BEACH BOMB by Chase Liebenberg)

Dual Gr1 heroine BEACH BOMB is going to be a tough adversary if she puts her Majorca Stakes duff try behind her and again unleashes her zippy turn of foot. And Justin Snaith’s companions, HARAJUKU, (who ran well despite a torrid trip last time) and RAPIDASH, with just a few lengths’ improvement over this longer route, could be propelled right into the fray too.

Main Defender appears over 1200m on Thursday at the Vaal (JC Photos)

Jack Milner (Tab4Racing)

There is little doubt Main Defender is one of the best three-year-old colts in the country. He has raced seven times for six wins and his lone defeat coming in the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes for two-year-olds over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville where he went down 2.40 lengths to Sandringham Summit.

No disgrace in that, especially as Sandringham Summit could lay claims to being the best of his sex and age group in the land.

Main Defender did manage to take his revenge over the David Nieuwenhuizen-trained runner in one of the best races seen in South Africa for quite some time.

It seems that trainer Tony Peter is quite happy to leave his charge to race in races up to 1400m right now because the Parthfork gelding does have exceptional speed.

So, he lines up on Thursday in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m at Turffontein on the Inside track where he will be looking to uphold his clean sheet as a three-year-old.

While he has been at his best in his races around 1400m, he did win on debut over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

He has had one run at this course which was his first run of the new season and that was in the Grade 2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m. On that occasion he thrashed Thunderstruck by 6.50-lengths.

One might argue that Main Defender only had 50.5kg on his back that day while he will carry 58kg on this occasion, but he could not have been more impressive. He also had the race won a long way from home so this drop in trip should not be an issue.

His last run was in the Grade 3 Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m on the Standside track where he beat Barbaresco comfortably.

The runner-up franked that for last Saturday when he won a MR 96 Handicap over 1600m without raising a sweat.

Ironically, he is not the best weighted runner in this event, with the top three positions going to the three fillies in the race as usual owing to their 2.5kg weight allowance.

Probably a bigger concern is his draw this time as Main Defender will jump from barrier No

11 of the 12 runners. However, he does have the gate speed to overcome that obstacle and should prove too good for his rivals.

Jockey Calvin Habib was aboard the Pathfork-gelding when he beat Barbaresco last time out and will reprise that role again on this occasion.

Melech could provide the biggest opposition but he may be better over a little further.

An interesting runner is Mike de Kock-trained Mujbar, who has been racing in the UK and France. He has not raced since September 2022 but he does have decent sprinting form in Europe so it would be wise to keep an eye on the betting.

Craig Zackey rides but puts up 1.5kg overweight.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 3 Jumping Analia, 2 Out The Mist, 6 Eve’s Apple, 4 Together Again

Race 2: 9 Kissing Machine, 3 Higgledy Piggledy, 2 Play With Fire, 8 A Month Of Sundays

Race 3: 2 Rossore Finale, 3 Officer In Command, 1 No Place Like Home, 5 Master Tik Tok

Race 4: 5 Kadizora, 4 Agamemnon, 3 Karoo Gold, 1 Taxhaven

Race 5: 2 Viva Brazil, 3 Player, 1 Global Impact, 5 King’s Express

Race 6: 3 Alabama Anna, 1 Duenna, 6 Little Miz Swagger, 5 Just Be Nice

Race 7: 2 Main Defender, 3 Melech, 10 Swing Upon A Star, 8 Mujbar

Race 8: 4 Linkin Navigator, 5 Var Park, 3 Dontshootthebarman, 2 Dr Faustus

BEST BET

Race 7 No 2 Main Defender

VALUE BET

Race 3 No 2 Rossore Finale

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 3×9

BIPOT

R243

Leg 1: 2, 3, 6

Leg 2: 9

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3

Leg 4: 3, 4, 5

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3

Leg 6: 1, 3, 6

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R108

Leg 1: 9

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3

Leg 3: 3, 4, 5

Leg 4: 2, 3

Leg 5: 1, 3

Leg 6: 2

Leg 7: 3, 4, 5

PICK 6

R1600

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 6

Leg 5: 2

Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 5

JACKPOT 1

R80

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 6

Leg 4: 2

JACKPOT 2

R80

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

Leg 2: 1, 3, 5, 6

Leg 3: 2

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5

Charles Fortune after winning the 1985 Met under Grant Kotzen

The winner of the Cape Derby 40 years ago was a horse called Charles Fortune and what an amazing story this horse had behind him.

The publicity shy owners from Nottingham Road told the story a number of years ago.

A stud farm lived next door to a family who rode horses and one day asked if they would like the runt of their latest crop, a filly by the Irish-bred sire Masham, as a riding pony for their young daughter.

The family snapped up the offer.

A few years later the daughter, now married, no longer had the time to ride anymore.

They wondered what would be the best for her beloved pony, who was called Treasure Path and was by now about nine years old.

Her husband knew a bit about racing and took a look at the pony’s pedigree and was quite impressed.

Treaure Path was from the family of Deep Magic, who that year had run an unlucky fourth in the July, having won the Gr 2 Germiston November Handicap the previous season.

So they decided to send her to a sire called Commentary.

Bruce le Roux of today’s Bluesky Thoroughbreds was working for Rondebosch Stud in the KZN Midlands and remembers Treasure Path giving birth to the Commentary foal on that farm.

The owners gave the resulting foal an apt name, Charles Fortune, named after South Africa’s legendary cricket commentator of the time.

The rest is history as this colt trained by Summerveld’s Michael Airey not only won the Cape Derby 40 years ago in 1984, but he went on to win the Met the following year ridden by Grant Kotzen, the late brother of current trainers Glen and Nathan.

In winning the Met he beat top horses like Spanish Pool, Bodrum, subsequent July winner Gondolier, the good filly Novenna as well as previous J&B Met winner Arctic Cove and subsequent Administrators (Summer Cup) winner The Rutland Arms.

His owners and breeders had a film of the 1985 Met and it became a family tradition to watch this film on the anniversary of the big win, with the victory apparently being greeted with just as much surprise and cheeering as the day he defied 20/1 odds.

Treasure Path had a few more foals and the breeders must have believed history was going to repeat itself when the Northern Guest half-sister tio Charles Fortune called Golden Seal won on debut by 3,40 lengths over 1600m at the Vaal. However, she was destined to only have a few more unplaced runs before being retired to stud, where she produced seven runners and five winners.

An unraced half-sister to Charles Fortune by Home Guard called Golden Triangle produced the Listed and Gr 3-placed four-time winning son of Nothern Guest called Master Gold.

Treasure Path also produced the six-time winner Yellow Brick Road, a gelding by Secret Prospector.

Picture: Happy Valley

Tim Carroll (At The Races)

Race 1: Class 5 Hung To Handicap (1040am) (6 furlongs)

9 GREAT DAYS is an eleven start maiden on a quick turn around, but he’s shown a bit of improvement recently, running a career best when runner-up on the weekend at Sha Tin over this trip. He was kept safe in the betting that day, thus a decent performance was expected, and he has a similar low draw here, which should see him with all the favours in behind the leaders.

Dangers:

10 Happily Friends didn’t have the rub of the green last time but has been placed three times this campaign and looks well placed now that he has a 10lb claimer taking over for the first time this season.

2 Wind Speeder finds it hard to win, but his effort two back when runner-up over course & trip would put him right in the mix here, Purton takes over, and he’s well drawn.

5 August Moon last win was nearly two years ago, but it was from a 14lb higher mark and he does have a 5lb claimer aboard here, but he will have to overcome a tough draw.

Race 2: Class 4 Wai Yip Handicap (1110am) (1 mile)

2 CHARITY BINGO will be a bit of a swing given he’s yet to place in nine local starts, but he was a thrice winner (known as Tyrone’s Poppy) as a 2yo for Tim Easterby, attaining a 109 OR, thus we know the ability is there. The selection was having his first spin in this grade last time, and was running a decent race when he copped the back wash of trouble in front in a contest over seven furlongs at Sha Tin, a run easily forgiven, and he lands in what is a moderate affair.

Dangers:

8 Atomic Beauty picked up the bronze over course & trip last time in one of the better form line races for this, and he did win over course & trip here in December from the same high draw, albeit from a 6lb lower mark.

3 Red Majesty hasn’t won for well over a year, but he’s a course & trip specialist that ran well enough in defeat when dropping down to this level last time, and Karis Teetan now takes over.

11 Club Soda is a six-start maiden from a leading yard that is yet to place, but he has shown signs of improvement recently, and from toward the foot of the handicap is worth considering for any exotics.

Race 3: Class 4 Wai Yip Handicap (1140am) (1 mile)

1 CAPITAL LEGEND hasn’t won since his local debut in December 2022, however he drops down to this level for the very first time and he has plenty in his favour. The selection draws perfectly in 2, and with the 10lb claim for Ellis Wong, he now effectively runs from 20lb below his winning mark, and 18lb below his mark when placing over course trip earlier this season.  Although no leader, his win did come over six-furlongs, thus he should be able to sit handy with a smooth run in transit.

Dangers:

4 Fearless Fire is finding is difficult to get back into the winners circle, but he’s ran with merit his last four starts, all over course & trip, and he  once again has a favourable draw.

3 Fight Time defied market expectations when picking up the bronze over seven-furlongs on debut at Sha Tin last month, and has plenty of scope, but he does have a tricky draw on his first visit to Happy Valley.

11 Cordyceps One ran well enough in defeat when unplaced at Sha Tin last time, but he did win over course & trip the start prior and although up in grade now, with the 5lb claim, he effectively runs from a 19lb lower mark.

Race 4: Class 4 Tsun Yip Handicap (1210pm) (6 furlongs)

4 FLYING PHANTOM is a low mileage 3yo that was having just his third start when runner-up over course & trip last time. He was a length behind the winner, but was conceding his rival 9lbs, and was well clear of the third, who he was conceding 10lbs. The selection is from a yard notorious for taking their time, thus it’s highly likely he’ll take another step forward, and champion jockey, Zac Purton, now takes over.

Dangers:

11 Super Eagle is proving tough to win with but he’s been placed his last six starts from similar marks, and the race does map favourably from the low draw.

1 Golden Long was an easy winner over course & trip on debut in December, but was tad disappointing despite a far from ideal trip last time when a beaten favourite, but he could bounce back here.

5 Talent Supremo, can be forgiven an unplaced effort last time when held up and casting a plate, however, he won over course & trip in November from just a 4lb lower mark, & hasn’t been beaten far a few times since from tough draws.

Race 5: Class 3 Volunteers Challenge Cup (Handicap) (1240pm) (6 furlongs)

4 COLOURFUL EMPEROR, who won a maiden at Naas (known as Keepupwithmyempire) for Jessica Harrington, is yet to breakthrough in seven local starts but has run with promise several times this season, suggesting he should be winning soon. The selection was placed behind an odd-on favourite over this trip at Sha Tin last time when he went from the front, and theres not much of a gallop on offer here, thus from the low draw, they may look to do the same.

Dangers:

6 Happy Trio arrives with a 6lb penalty having won over course & trip last time, and whilst he will need a career best from his new mark, he won easily enough last time.

3 A Americ Te Specso represents a formidable combination and he does tend to finish off his races strongly, however, there’s no more than a moderate gallop on offer, so he’ll will need some luck.

8 Denfield has been out of sorts recently, but he did make all over course & trip earlier in the season, and they may revert back to those tactics here from the low draw and with a 5lb claim.

Race 6: Class 4 Hoi Yuen Handicap (110pm) (5 furlongs)

3 HARMONY FIRE hasn’t won for an age, but he has plummeted the handicap during that time and has gone close a couple of times since dropping down to this level recently. The selection was only beaten a lip over course & trip last time after working across from a high draw to lead. However, the task will be a tad more straightforward now that he draws low, and with Ellis Wong claiming 10lbs, he is now effectively 9lb better off, needless to say, he’ll be tough to hold out.

Dangers:

1 Fortune Warrior is a speedy type that won over course & trip earlier in the season, and whilst he goes from the top of the handicap, this is a lessor race than the one he was beaten just over two-lengths in last time.

7 Mollys Witness is a debutant that has won a couple of trials, and from the inside draw with Zac Purton booked, a market watched is strongly advised.

2 Fun Elite was an impressive winner down the straight course & Sha Tin on debut, but was disappointing last time despite a poor start when an unplaced favourite, but should be kept on the safe side his first try around a bend.

Race 7: Class 4 Tsun Yip Handicap (145pm) (6 furlongs)

3 ERNEST FEELING keeps running good races despite mostly being unwanted by punters. The selection has now won five times in the last twelve months, only once going off shorter than 9.30 on the tote, and he arrives with figures this season that read 1-2-1-2. The selection was given plenty to do from a high draw last time when coming from last to grab the silver, but he made all the start prior, needless to say he’s versatile, and from the same mark and a kinder draw, he once again should be in the thick of things.

Dangers:

8 Crystal Powerful is starting to live up to the promise he showed as a younger horse in Australia, he arrives here on a three-timer, and given the recent improvement, a 7lb penalty might not be enough to halt his progress

5 Lyrical Motion was a twice winner over course & trip before a luckless run last time when planted wide the entire trip from a high draw, but he should have a far cheaper run in transit this time from the low draw.

7 Country Dancer is a low mileage maiden that ran a career best last time when beaten a lip in third having been given a more positive ride than his previous three starts, and he should have more to offer.

Race 8: Class 3 Mut Wah Handicap (215pm) (6 furlongs)

8 RIGHTEOUS ARION is yet to win in three starts at this level, but he was successful over course & trip in November, and he has had a couple of tough draws to overcome recently. The selection was placed from an outside draw over course & trip last time in a much better Class 3 than this , which is confirmed by the fact he carries 6lb more here despite dropping 1lb in the ratings, and from the low draw with the 5lb claim, he looks worth a play in an open contest.

Dangers:

2 Nicconi County won over course & trip last time when he ran through the line strongly, and although he goes up 5lb in the handicap, he has won from a higher mark in the past.

4 Act Of Faith is only 4lb above his winning mark over course & trip from November, and they should be able to ride him a bit more positively here, similar to when he won, than what they have done at his last couple of starts.

5 Prince Of Porty is a low mileage 5yo that has run well enough in defeat all four starts after a lengthy break and he should enjoy stepping back up to six-furlongs, but he does have a tricky draw.

Race 9: Class 3 Yue Man Handicap (250pm) (9 furlongs)

12 NOBLE PURSUIT is a low mileage 4yo that has won two of his five starts, including last time out when winning over the mile on his first spin at Happy Valley. The selection moves up in grade under a 7lb penalty, and he does dive into deeper waters, however, he carries 14lb less at this level, and although he’s never been over this trip, on pedigree (sire has produced five winners at 9F+ in Hong Kong) and performance, he should relish stepping up to nine-furlongs for the first time.

Dangers:

11 Flaming Trillion has been placed his last two over the mile and although this will be his first try at this trip, he’s likely to sit in the first two in a race not offering an overly strong gallop.

9 Nicholson Returns dotted up over ten-furlongs at Sha Tin last time, but he’s equally adept at this trip, however he does go up in grade under a 10lb penalty, and all four career wins have been at Sha Tin.

2 Prime Minister ran over the top of them when winning over course & trip last time, and he is effectively 3lb better off here with connections booking a 10lb claimer, but ideally he’d wants a stronger gallop than he’s likely to see here.

It could not have been scripted better on Valentines Day as Red Roses Too beats Love Bomb home! The wins clinched a double for Sean Veale and Stuart Ferrie and the horse was fitting owned by the pair’s long time guv’nor Dennis Drier in partnership with his wife Gill and Peter De Marigny (Candiese Lenferna Photography) 

Sean Veale rode a double for his guv’nor Stuart Ferrie today on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly.

Calvin Habib rode an individual double.

Veale goes to 32 wins at 13.73%.

Habib is on 83 wins at 12.33%.

Ferrie is on 11 wins at 9.91%.