Fourie Barometer 358 (updated on 22/04/2024)

All Horses To Be TCO2 Tested Before Every Race

Picture credit: Candiese Lenferna Photography

There have so far been two or three horses scratched for elevated levels of TCO2 since the NHA began testing for this transgression over the last few weeks.

NHA CEO Vee Moodley said in response to a Turf Talk query today that the eventual aim would be for every horse to be tested for TC02 before every race.

This will be the ideal scenario for owners, trainers and punters, who can then be assured that no horses have slipped through the net and gained an unfair advantage.

The ideal scenario for punters and owners would be for races to be decided on the ability of the horse coupled with the skill of the trainer and jockey.

It is hoped that all trainers would want this too i.e. the creation of a scenario where there is no temptation to compromise integrity in order to compete on a level playing field.

The integrity of racing results is reportedly being compromised around the world by the practice of “milkshaking”.

The NHA should be applauded for tackling this scourge.

However, there can not be full confidence in fair results being achieved until every horse is tested before every race.

Moodley said, “We need manpower, but it is in process and the plan is to eventually get there.”

At present trainers are notified at least 90 minutes before the race that their horse has been selected for TC02 testing.

On Champions Day a total of 55 horses were tested and there was only one scratching.

Should a Trainer refuse to allow a blood specimen to be taken, the horse in question will be scratched, as per Rule 75.3.2.

To pass the test the horse’s blood TCO2 level must be below the accepted published threshold of 36.0 mmol/L.

The blood specimen will be collected 50 minutes prior to the start of the race the horse is carded to run in, and it will be analysed immediately.

Should the analysis of the specimen show that the horse has a TCO2 concentration of more than 35.0 mmol/L, a second blood specimen will be collected, between 10 and 15 minutes later.

If the TCO2 concentration of the second blood specimen is more than 36.0 mmol/L, the Stewards will scratch the horse from the race it is carded to run in and detain that horse for additional specimen collection.

Under these circumstances, a third blood specimen will be collected 30 minutes later. If the TCO2 concentration of that third specimen is less than, or equal to, the international threshold of 36.0 mmol/L, no penalty shall be imposed on the Trainer.

The horse in question may also have further specimens taken for the full analytical testing of all Prohibited Substances.

The pre-race administration of alkalinising agents before a race is of concern to racing authorities across the world, because the resulting alkalosis of the horse’s system may enhance performance and could interfere with the detection of any Prohibited Substances in post-race urine samples.

The pre-race administration of sodium bicarbonate to a horse running in a race is a practice widely known as “milkshaking”.

It is thought by some that giving this treatment, either by oral route or via a naso-gastric tube between 3 to 5 hours prior to a horse running in a race, that the horse’s performance may be enhanced, due to increasing the blood buffering capacity and enhancing the clearance of lactate from the muscles, delaying the onset of fatigue in a horse during strenuous activity.

The ingestion of sodium bicarbonate in the hours immediately prior to strenuous activity or vigorous exercise maintains blood pH, by acting as a buffer, thus preventing metabolic acidosis.

For this reason, the administration of sodium bicarbonate in the hours prior to racing, is generally viewed as performance enhancing.

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) has determined that the threshold limit for pre-race blood TCO2 levels is 36.0 mmol/L and anything above that, regardless of cause, will be a violation of both IFHA and NHA Rules.

Drakenstein Champagne Win Takes The Stud Farm Close To New Record

Winter Cloud wins the Gr 3 Champagne Stakes as easily as she won her last start and in similar manner, both times ridden by Anthony Andrews (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Drakenstein Stud went to 17 individual stakes winners for the season when The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained What A Winter three-year-old Winter Cloud stormed to victory under Anthony Andrews in the Gr 3 Champagne Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

Bass Robinson claimed the exacta as the Trippi three-year-old filly October Morn finished a 1,25 length second. She was giving the winner 2kg and gave an immediate boost to BSA National Yearling Sale lot 245, a Avontuur Thoroughbred Farms and David Abery-bred Vercingetorix half-brother to October Morn called October Storm, who was purchased for R2.8 million by Brett Crawford at Friday’s day two session.

The Champagne Stakes winner is a Drakenstein homebred and the runner up was bred by Avontuur Thoroughbred Farms and David Abery and is owned by David Abery.

Drakenstein have broken the record for inidvidual stakes winners in a season for the last two years running.

They had 18 individual winners of 25 stakes races in the 2021/2022 season and had 20 individual winners of 35 stakes races last season.

Winter Cloud’s victory took them to 17 individual winners of 23 stakes races this season, so they are in with a fine chance of breaking the record again.

Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein are their nearest challengers this season with 12 individual winners of 17 stakes races.

Graeme Hawkins of Gold Circle wrote a report on Saturday’s meeting (read below):

Graeme Hawkins

Candice Bass-Robinson was the toast of Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday as her two 3yo fillies, Winter Cloud and October Morn, dominated the outcome of the R250 000 Champagne Stakes (Gr 3) over 1200m.

Winter Cloud (13/2) and October Morn (5/2) were at the rear of the field as Captain Fontane cut out the early pace followed closely by Jerusalema Rain and Countdown. The race changed complexion approaching the final 300m as the leaders came under pressure and Winter Cloud swept through towards the inside rail under Anthony Andrews to win in dominant fashion. This victory boosted Winter Cloud’s earnings to well over the R1-million mark and the daughter of What A Winter is now likely to be aimed at the South African Fillies Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on 1 June.

October Morn delivered her run down the middle of the racetrack, making good late headway to snatch second spot a nose in front of Questioning (20/1) with Dance Variety comfortably beaten into fourth position. Rio Querari threatened briefly with 200m to race but he flattened out quickly and finished fifth a further half-a-length behind Dance Variety.

Punters got off to a flying start with favourites winning the first three races on the programme. Kaiboy was heavily backed from 13/10 to 5/10 to win the opener, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m, and the son of the sensational One World duly delivered for Aldo Domeyer and Bass-Robinson. Bagatelle Flash ran on powerfully to finish a good second ahead of Worldly and the son of Gold Standard should be worth following.

Talk To The Master was all the rage for the second race, a Juvenile Plate over 1200m, but he had to dig deep to get the better of a persistent challenge from the filly Miss World. Billy Cool made the early running and stayed on well to finish a creditable third and is another for the notebook.

Richard Fourie got on the board when scoring aboard the short-priced favourite Conner in the third race, a Maiden Plate over 1000m, but here again the favourite had to call on all his reserves to thwart the determined finish of Maneki Neko. These two had the finish to themselves with Approach Shot beaten some way into third position.

The inevitable Pick 6 upset came in the very first leg, an Open Maiden (F&M) over 1200m, as the Lunga Gila-trained A Thousand Kisses (25/1), a chance ride for Josh Solomons, made all the running and had enough in hand to hold off the favourite Charlene (5/2) by a diminishing half-a-length. The consistent Charlene is overdue a maiden victory but found the task of conceding 8kgs to A Thousand Kisses a little beyond her.

Stars in Heaven (6/1) and King Viserys (7/1) disputed the finish of the fifth race, an Open Maiden over 1200m, with the former just getting home by a neck. Trained by Gareth Van Zyl and ridden by JP van der Merwe sporting the Hollywood silks, Stars in Heaven kept finding extra in the closing stages when challenged by King Viserys, with the balance of the field trailing in a long way behind.

Craig Zackey rode his 100^th winner of the Season when steering the Eric Sands-trained Green Isle (28/10) to a hard-fought victory over Sansa Stark (2/1) in the sixth race, an Open Maiden (F&M) over 1600m. Green Isle hit the front a long way from home and despite hanging towards the outside, the daughter of Gimmethegreenlight stuck to her task well and fought off the attentions of Sansa Stark.

The eighth race, a competitive Middle Stakes over 1000m, was won in superb fashion by the upwardly mobile Nordic Chief (5/1) who has been tried over a variety of distances but may well be at his best over the minimum trip. Last time out he was a close fourth behind Tough Terrain and The Abdicator, but he turned that form around in no uncertain terms and drew clear to win comfortably. Icy Blast edged out the favourite The Abdicator for the runner-up berth with only two lengths covering the first six past the post.

The ninth race produced a nail-biting finish between All About Ronnie (10/1) and Big Unit (13/2) with the former snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Big Unit looked all over the winner when bursting out the pack at the 200m marker, but never-say-die Richard Fourie had other ideas and riding a powerful finish got the Des MacLachlan-trained All About Ronnie home by a whisker, thereby ensuring yet another Kenilworth Pick 6 carryover.

Fourie was on the wrong side of an extremely close photo finish in the tenth race as Zackey and Sands secured a double for the day when the well supported 4yo gelding Kebonalesedi put his nose down on the line to hold out the faster finishing Hang Out The Stars in a blanket finish. Lady Loxton took third spot ahead of the 2yo World Of Pleasure, who was not disgraced carrying 60kgs in open company.

Fourie Can Even Afford A 3-Week Suspension

It was believed before the season that Richard Fourie’s biggest obstacles to breaking Anthony Delpech’s iconic 334 wins in a season would be suspensions as well as illness and injury.

However, a measure of his mental and physical skills in the saddle is he hardly ever gets caught in a tight situation and suspension seemes to be an ever more unlikely threat to his drive for the record and that Hollywoodbets R1 million bonus.

However, he is now so far ahead of the projected goal of 335 that he can afford a two week suspension and still be on track.

His projected number of wins for the season at present based on his rides per calendar day rate and his strike rate for the season is 358.

If he did not ride for the next two weeks his projected figure would only fall to 340 and if he did not ride for the next three weeks the figure would fall to 332.

And that is even if including those weeks missed to calculate his rides per calendar day calculation.

If he missed two weeks, but then resumed riding at his current rides per calendar day rate, a two week suspension would see his projected number of wins only drop to 344 and a three week suspension would see it drop to 337.

So, injury looks to be his chief concern.

He was vocal in his criticism of Fairview on Friday where Trent Mayhew became the latest jockey to fall in the pull up area, although care for his fellow weighing room colleagues appeared to be uppermost in his mind when speaking out during a post-win interview.

(Mayhew was discharged from hospital with a dislocated shoulder and will be out for a few weeks.)

Fourie said just before Christmas, at which stage he was slightly behind his goal of just reaching 300 wins for the season, that he believed his “purple patches” had not yet happened and he was aiming to ride “50 winners” in a month before the end of the season.

He believed the SA record for a month to be 47 and he believed it was held by Gavin Lerena.

It is a measure of his good sense that he took a break to go fishing for three days towards the end of March, missing a meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, a meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and a possible meeting at the Vaal.

That break could have cost him the record for a month considering he had 44 wins in March.

On the other hand he ended the month with a double at Fairview, a treble at Turffontein and a double at Hollywoodbets Greyville, which could have been helped by the racharged batteries.

This month he has had 24 wins with eight days remaining so the record for a month does not look to be under threat.

Did Eric Sands Land The Bargain Of The Sale?

Banff comes from off the pace to cruise to victory under Sean Veale in his only start to date over 1000m at Hollwyoodbets Kenilworth (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The Eric Sands-trained The United States colt Banff won so impressively on debut at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth over 1000m in January that Barry Irwin, a globally renowned expert in analysing horses-in-training, swooped and bought him on behalf of Team Valor International and Mrs Vanashree and Mr Anant Singh.

However, Sands did not have to wait long to replace Banff, presuming he will now head overseas, as he purchased the full-sister called Tanacross for what could be a bargain R300,000 at the BSA National yearling Sale last week.

Banff came from off the pace in that debut and showed a fine turn of foot to storm home an easy 1,75 length winner, without being hard ridden by Sean Veale.

His runner up World Of Pleasure (One World) and the fourth-placed finished Impact Investor (Gimmethegreenlight) have since had easy wins.

Banff’s Argentinian-bred dam She’s So Cold (Orpen) has produced seven runners and seven winners, including the Listed runner up Stone Cold (Soft Falling Rain).

She’s So Cold is a half-sister to the Dual Argentinian-bred Gr 1 winner King Of Sale.

Moutonshoek are the breeders of Banff and Tanacross.

Hewitson And De Melo Both On The Board At Sha Tin

Keagan de Melo cruises to victory aboard Sunny Da Best (Pictures: HKJC)

Three races in succession were won by South African Jockey Academy graduates at Sha Tin on Saturday with Keagen de Melo winning the second race, Karis Teetan the third and Lyle Hewitson the fourth. Teetan went on to score a double and another SAJA graduate, Douglas Whyte, had a winner as a trainer.

De Melo was aboard the Chris So-trained Sunny Da Best, a New Zealand-bred three-year-old gelding by Proisir, in the second race, a class 4 handicap over 1400m. The gelding was having only his third career start. However, he had been third on debut and a close up seventh next time out, so started at Tote odds of 6.30 for a win. Jumping from draw six he showed good gatespeed to hit the front. He showed fine natural pace because De Melo kept him beautifully relaxed at a tempo that was stretching the field. In the straight De Melo sat for a while, but still maintained a lead and when he let him go he draw clear impressively to win by three lengths.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE REPLAY

De Melo is now on 20 wins and is in joint 13th place on the log.

Hewitson was aboard the Ricky Yiu-trained Multisuper, an Australian-bred four-year-old gelding by Vancouver in the fourth race, a class 4 event over 1000m. He paid 7.70 on the Tote and jumped from draw eleven in the straight course event. He was handy throughout after jumping well from his favourable high draw. Hewitson drove him into the lead at the 200m mark and he fended off a challenger to win by a cosy 0,75 lengths.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE REPLAY

Hewitson is now on 31 wins for the season and is in seventh place on the log.

Teetan is on 64 wins and is in second place on the log.

Meanwhile, Luke Ferraris has had 21 wins and is in 12th position on the log.

Top Class Entries For Champions Season's Opening Meeting

Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby winner Green With Envy could clash with Highveld stars Main Defender, Sandringham Summit, Lucky Lad Mid Winter Wind and Barbaresco and with his Cape contemporaries Snow Pilot and Hluhluwe in the Gr 2 WSB Guineas (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Gold Circle

The Independent on Saturday race day at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, 4 May will get South Africa’s Champion Season off to a cracking start judged by the quality of entries for the three feature races.

The R500 000 Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes is one of the first warm-up races for the R5 Million Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and is supported by the R500 000 Gr2 World Sports Betting Guineas and the R500 000 Gr2 World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas.

SplashOut Cape Derby winner Green With Envy and Highveld star, Sandringham Summit are both entered in the IOS Drill Halls Stakes but the pair have drawn wide which could see rather run in the Gr2 WSB Guineas where both have drawn better gates but will be up against recent Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Main Defender. Should all three stand their ground in the Guineas it will make for a mouthwatering contest, a race not to be missed.

Also nominated in the Drill Hall is former Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and L’Ormarins Queens Plate winner Al Muthana. At My Command along with former Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes winner Cousin Casey are possible July contenders. Cousin Casey lost his way a little but is now showing signs of a return to his best form.

Standout in the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas is recent Gr3 Umzimkulu Stakes and Gr3 Prix Du Cap winner Double Grand Slam who put up a cracking display in both races which will have the opposition pondering their chances should Justin Snaith’s filly stand her ground. But she faces course and distance winner Mrs Geriatrix who is showing signs of returning to her best form after finishing third in the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes behind the unbeaten Gimme A Nother. Rascova was third in the Umzimkulu Stakes and second to the star mare Princess Calla in the Gr1 Majorca Stakes, when beating Double Grand Slam. She should also improve on her KZN debut.

R 500,000 INDEPENDENT ON SATURDAY DRILL HALL STAKES (Grade 2)-1400m

Horses at Weight-For-Age + Penalties

WFA: 2yrs-11.0kgs 3yrs-2.0kgs

5 COSMIC HIGHWAY (5G) 58.5 121 Dean Kannemeyer

9 GLADATORIAN (4G) 58.5 120 Stuart Ferrie

4 MAIN DEFENDER (3G) 58.0 131 Tony Peter

17 SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT (3C) 58.0 123 David Nieuwenhuizen

18 GREEN WITH ENVY (3C) 58.0 119 Dean Kannemeyer

15 AL MUTHANA (AUS) (6G) 57.0 125 Ricky Maingard

2 ROYAL AUSSIE (4G) 57.0 124 Justin Snaith

3 COUSIN CASEY (4C) 57.0 123 Sean Tarry

10 AT MY COMMAND (4G) 57.0 119 Brett Crawford

19 WATERBERRY LANE (5G) 57.0 112 Ricky Maingard

6 UNZEN (4G) 57.0 109 Robbie Sage

8 ITSRAININGWILLIAM (4G) 57.0 108 Justin Snaith

7 TEXAS RED (4G) 57.0 104 Robyn Klaasen

11 HUMDINGER (5M) 56.0 116 Mike de Kock

14 MID WINTER WIND (3G) 55.0 114 Sean Tarry

12 GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE (3G) 55.0 111 Mike de Kock

13 ZINOVI (3C) 55.0 108 Mike de Kock

1 TEFLON MAN (3C) 55.0 99 Dean Kannemeyer

16 WHITE PEARL (3F) 52.5 112 Mike de Kock

(19)

R 500,000 WORLD SPORTS BETTING FILLIES GUINEAS (Grade 2)- 1600m

For 3 year-old Fillies

5 DOUBLE GRAND SLAM (3F) 60.0 118 Justin Snaith

8 MRS GERIATRIX (3F) 60.0 115 H Sean Tarry

4 RASCOVA (3F) 60.0 115 Glen Kotzen

1 LET’S GO NOW (3F) 60.0 114 B Sean Tarry

2 WHITE PEARL (3F) 60.0 112 Mike de Kock

6 MINOGUE (3F) 60.0 102 Wendy Whitehead

9 SOLDIER’S EYE (3F) 60.0 98 Weiho Marwing

7 SOVEREIGN GRANT (3F) 60.0 98 Michael Miller

3 BOMBER GIRL (3F) 60.0 97 Michael Miller

12 CELTIC BEAUTY (3F) 60.0 94 Tony Rivalland

11 CEUTA (3F) 60.0 81 David Nieuwenhuizen

10 MISS PLATINA (3F) 60.0 75 Tienie Prinsloo

(12)

R500 000 WORLD SPORTS BETTING GUINEAS (Grade 2)- 1600m

For 3 year-olds

5 MAIN DEFENDER (3G) 60.0 131 Tony Peter

6 SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT (3C) 60.0 123 David Nieuwenhuizen

10 SNOW PILOT (3C) 60.0 120 Justin Snaith

8 GREEN WITH ENVY (3C) 60.0 119 Dean Kannemeyer

13 LUCKY LAD (3C) 60.0 119 Sean Tarry

11 MID WINTER WIND (3G) 60.0 114 Sean Tarry

1 ORIENTAL CHARM (3C) 60.0 113 Brett Crawford

4 GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE (3G) 60.0 111 Mike de Kock

2 HLUHLUWE (3G) 60.0 111 Justin Snaith

9 BARBARESCO (3G) 60.0 109 J A Janse van Vuur

3 ZINOVI (3C) 60.0 108 Mike de Kock

12 NAVAJO NATION (3G) 60.0 103 Robbie Hill

7 ANCIENT WORLD (3G) 60.0 92 Michael Miller

(13)

96 Merit-Rated Taxhaven Is No Certainty In 2000m Maiden

Taxhaven (white blinkers on in 5th place) is back in maiden company after a fine fifth in the Gr 1 TAB SA Derby (Picture: via Racing Today youtube)

The Vaal Classic track has an intriguing eight race meeting on Tuesday and there look to be opportunities for on the nose and exotic punters.

The Paul Matchett-trained Erupt colt Taxhaven is likely to be a popular choice in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 2000m.

Taxhaven is merit rated 96, having finished a three length fifth in the Gr 1 SA Derby. However, that was a slow run race, so it might have flattered him and he is not a certainty in this second leg of the Pick 6 event. In fact he was only a short-head ahead of Dark Silver when they met over this trip. Taxhaven is the choice as there is a reversal in draw fortunes with Dark Silver that are in his favour. Karoo Gold is hard-knocking and not out of it from a fair draw. Callaburn is widely drawn but on form could earn. Douglas Dragon and Teo Torriate could earn cheques if producing their best.

In the first race over 1000m the Fanie Bronkhorst-trained Var filly Valieva has some good form against decent opposition and from a high draw, which can often be favourable over this course and distance, looks to be the one to beat. Far Reaching is not big and imposing but showed she has ability when producing a strong late run on debut over 1000m on the Turffontein Inside track to be beaten just 0,60 lengths. Two winners have come out of that race and she could improve, so is not surprisingly the early favourite in the betting. Kindred Heart is knocking on the door but on collateral formlines Far Reaching emerges ahead. Take Your Place is well held on collateral formlines but has some ability and can earn. Stroopsoet is by Pomodoro and is a half-sister to the like of Encryption (Elusive Fort), who won on debut over 1200m.

In the second race over 1000m Ready Set Fire has a high draw and will be hard to beat considering that in his last two starts, both over this course and distance, he has finished second to Pistol Pete and third to Gr 2 SA Nursery winner Fire Attack. Beynac is an interesting first-timer being a full-brother to Invincabelle, who won his first two starts comfortably beating Hoedspruit and Jet Dark, before finishing a close second to Kometdieding and then running a close seventh in the Cape Guineas and never running again. He is also a full-brother to Immortelle who won on debut at Scottsville, but ended up campaining in Kimberley, and a half-brother to No Time Taken, who won debut at Turffontein, but he is also a full-brother to Champonelle, who is still a maiden. Piere Strydom is an interesting booking on Beynac. French Bolt is a first-timer by Var, who is a half-sister to Gr 2 SA Nursery winner Miss Cool. Chocolate Soldier was well beaten on debut but was considered good enough to run in the Gr 2 SA Nursery, where he was beaten 10,50 lengths by Fire Attack. Zafar is by Captain Of All out of a twice-winning Await The Dawn mare from 1200m to 1600m.

In the third over 1000m Enchanting Lady has been knocking hard and is improving so looks the one to beat despite draw number one, which can be unfavourable. What A Lucy has not run since last August, but might get away with it over this trip and has a chance on form. Magic Secret has early pace and although beaten comfortably by Enchanting Lady last time there is a potential reversal in draw fortunes, which could allow her to get closer than 2,25 lengths. Just The Two Of Us can improve on her debut when four lengths behind Enchanting Lady and she has a nice high draw. The first-timer Rise And Shine is by Canford Cliffs and is a half-sister to Red Chesnut Road who won his debut by over seven lengths and won his second start in a Gr 3 by over six lengths.

In the fifth over 2000m Donna Mo is consistent and will appreciate the step up to this trip. Quiet Rebellion has a plum draw and is 2,5kg better off with Donna Mo for a 4,15 length beating over 1600m last month, although the latter would have improved since then being a three-year-old. However, Quiet Rebellion will relish the step up in trip and should have come on from that last run. I Am Regal beat Donna Mo by 1,90 lengths last time but is 2kg worse off and has a tougher draw. However, she sat at the back that day and won going away so it would be no surprise if she beat her again.

In the sixth over 2000m Crimson Forest is drawn in pole and if repeating either of her last two starts, i.e. 3,10 lengths behind Frances Ethel in the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial and then a four length fourth to Rosy Leemon over 1800m, then she will be the one to beat. Ideal Future is a long-striding sort who is capable of a resolute finish and this 4kg claimer did well on her over 2600m last time. She should be as effective over this trip and can be dropped out from a wide draw. Gilda Gray has run well over this trip before and is competitively merit rated but does have a tricky draw. Pretty N’ Pearls shouldn’t be far off on formlines. Kakiebos was not disgraced when stepped up to 1800m last time and the form has been franked so she can improve again over this trip.

In the seventh over 1600m Fostinovo has dropped down from an 89 to an 84 and this trip might be what she has been looking for so she can do well from draw two in just her second attempt at it. Golden Pavilion should be distance suited to and if able to overcome a wide draw can be in the mix. Romeo’s Magic has dropped to a competitive mark and in form Raymond Danielson is up from a fair draw.

Viva De Janiero was expected to win last time in a workriders race, but it did not pan out too well and he was overtaken late. The form has been franked and a chance is taken on bankering him despite a tricky draw of seven. Hakas Krakas likes to lead and if doing so can stay on. JP Two Thousand is running off a competitive mark and has a plum draw. Kashkaval has a tough draw but is in fair form and Piere Strydom is up. Thambi won well on Saturday over 1800m and from a plum draw here has to be considered.

Mullins All Out To Score Double Championship

El Fabiolo and Willie Mullins, who is attempting to win the British Trainers championship as well as the one he has already wrapped up in Ireland (Pictures: Racing Post)

James Stevens (Racing Post)

El Fabiolo and Gaelic Warrior feature among 25 entries for Willie Mullins at Sandown on Saturday, with the trainer looking to wrap up a first British trainers’ championship on the season finale card.

Mullins has a narrow lead at present over Dan Skelton and reigning champion Paul Nicholls.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CURRENT STANDINGS

Mullins – who is 1-20 to become the first Irish-based trainer to win a British jumps championship since Vincent O’Brien – could be represented in the bet365 Gold Cup, with Minella Cocooner, Nick Rockett, Aime Desjy and We’llhavewan put forward at Monday’s confirmation stage. Ante-post second favourite Desertmore House was the most notable name to be scratched from the prestigious handicap worth £170,000.

The trainer put five in the bet365 Celebration Chase – the only Grade 1 on the card – with the heavyweight pair of El Fabiolo and Gaelic Warrior joined by Appreciate It, Dysart Dynamo and Saint Sam. Saturday’s race would be a first start for El Fabiolo since disappointing at the Cheltenham Festival, while Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior has yet to be tested in open top-level company.

Their opposition could include defending champion Jonbon, who bounced back to form in the Melling Chase at Aintree this month, and Champion Chase winner Captain Guinness.

Appreciate It, Asterion Forlonge, Bachasson, Easy Game and James Du Berlais make up his challenge in the bet365 Oaksey Chase with Paul Nicholls set to take him on with Hitman and Dan Skelton with Flegmatik, Sail Away and Harper’s Brook, who has joined the yard from Ben Pauling.

Impaire Et Passe heads the Mullins raiders in the bet365 Select Hurdle. The Skelton-trained Kateira already has stable jockey Harry Skelton booked, while Langer Dan, My Drogo and West Balboa are also entered. Nicholls could send Blueking D’Oroux.

There were five Mullins-trained entries in the final jumps race of the season, the 2m4f handicap hurdle, including Sa Majeste who disappointed having been sent off 5-1 in the Coral Cup.

The 2m novice championship final, a race which runners need to qualify for, is the only which does not feature a Mullins runner. Fire Flyer and Goonhilly appear to be the main hopes for Nicholls and Skelton respectively.

Today’s Question

The picture above gives a clue to the answer

Zeus (Soft Falling Rain) is currently the best stayer in the country, but is one of six South African-breds to have had that name. What is the claim to fame of some of the others who had that name?

Midweek FIELDS

Vaal Classic, Tuesday

Today’s Question Answer

The 1908-born Zeus (Quickmarch) finished third in the July and fourth in the Met.

The 1962-born Zeus (Filipepi) started favourite when the legendary Sea Cottage (picture above as a juvenile) made his debut. He finished a 1,5 length second to the great horse in the 1000m contest at Milnerton. It was the only time in his career Sea Cottage did not start favourite.

Zeus later finished second in the WP colts Nursery 1,5 lengths behind Siaram.

Both of those horses then met Sea Cottage in the Cape Of Good Hope Nusery and Siaram finished second beaten five lengths and Zeus fifth beaten 10,5 lengths.

Zeus went on to finish second in a raec which is today one of the best classic pointers, the JWS Langerman, beaten half-a-length by Sure.

However, neither horse amounted to much with Sure being beaten 8 lengths in the Cape Guineas, where Sea Cottage suffered a shock first defeat and only finished fourth to Savonarola, and Sure was later beaten 15,75 lengths by Sea Cottage in the Cape Derby.