With the R2-million Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Gr 1) just three weeks away , the Vaughan Marshall-trained Questioning and the Sean Tarry inmate Tail Of The Comet will be looking to cement their claims for future Grade 1 glory. Questioning was an impressive winner of the Cape Classic (Gr 3) over 1400m at Durbanville a month ago and the son of Querari comes into the Cape Punters Cup as the highest-rated runner in the 10-strong field.

Questioning has reeled off a hattrick of wins since finishing second on his 1200m debut back in May and looks to be the real deal. Bernard Fayd’herbe has ridden him to all three victories and retains the ride from a handy draw. On the evidence of his victory in the Cape Classic, Questioning appears to have many in this quality field safely held. Snow Pilot finished second in that race beaten nearly two lengths, while all of Green With Envy (3^rd), Greeting My Master (5^th), Just Var (7^th) and My Golly Molly (10^th) were further back, although the latter’s run is best ignored as his saddle slipped badly during the running.

The obvious danger to Questioning is Tail Of The Comet. Tarry has always held the Gimmethegreenlight colt in very high regard and like Questioning, Tail of The Comet has won three of his four starts to date. He was beaten in the Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m at Greyville in his second start back in July but that run came just a week after his impressive debut victory. He was given time off after that defeat and re-appeared in September to score a facile win in a Graduation Plate over 1450m on the inside track at Turffontein.

Tail Of The Comet was then shipped to Cape Town for a crack at the richly endowed Cape Sales Ready-to-Run Stakes over 1400m at Durbanville last month (his fourth different racetrack in as many starts) and he came through with flying colours to put four lengths between himself and runner-up Just Be Lekker. On Sunday he tackles yet another “new” racecourse but Tail Of The Comet clearly adapts very easily to different environments and he may well prove equal to the challenge that lies ahead on Sunday.

While Questioning and Tail Of The Comet appear the two main protagonists, one must respect the fact that Grant Van Niekerk has chosen to ride Hluhluwe in preference to Snow Pilot. As alluded to previously Snow Pilot was beaten nearly two lengths by Questioning in the Cape Classic and should be held on paper, but if Hluhluwe is superior to Snow Pilot, as the riding arrangements would suggest, then the son of Trippi could make his presence felt in a big way. Hlhuluwe has won three races from 1200 to 1400m but given his pedigree and style of racing, he should be very much at home over 1600m and perhaps even further.

Zoomie raided the Eastern Cape last month to win the Racing Association Stakes over 1600m at Fairview and is clearly well above average but on the strength of his penultimate run when beaten narrowly by Hluhluwe, he should again be held by Snaith’s runner whom he meets on 3kgs worse terms.

The 2023 renewal of the Punters Cup is shaping up to be a fascinating contest. Given that these 3yo’s are still maturing at different rates, their current official ratings remain work in progress and will vary going forward, but I am going to row in with Questioning to come ahead of Tail Of The Comet and Hluhluwe. Snow Pilot, Zoomie, Green With Envy and My Golly Molly appear the pick of the balance but whatever the outcome we should be in for a terrific race and the Guineas picture should become a little clearer.

The R225 000 City Of Cape Town Sophomore Sprint (Listed) for 3yo’s over 1200m is one of three supporting features on the card and a keenly contested finish is on the cards. Outlaw King, Jerusalema Rain and Ready To Charge jump out the page as being a viable short list, with the top selection being Jerusalema Rain.

His debut effort for Candice Bass-Robinson at the beginning of last month was a horror show, but I choose to completely ignore that effort and rather judge Jerusalema Rain on the strength of his juvenile form last season when trained on the Highveld by Ashley Fortune. His performances against the likes of Lucky Lad, Sandringham Summit and Main Defender were out of the top drawer and while there is a chance he may not have trained on, I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt on Sunday.

Top weight Outlaw King was voted Champion Two-Year-Old colt in both KZN and the Western Cape and makes his first appearance since winning the Umkhomazi Stakes at the end of July. Chatting to Dean Kannemeyer, he confirms that Outlaw King has had a grass gallop, but he feels the son of Rafeef may be one run short of peak fitness. Ready To Charge forms part of the Azzie raiding party and was a close second behind Outlaw King in the Umkhomazi Stakes. He is a classy sort and is now 3kgs better off with Outlaw King. Having had two runs this season Ready To Charge could well strip a fitter horse than Outlaw King and is expected to turn the tables on Kannemeyer’s runner.

The R200 000 Bantry Bay Stakes over 1100m has attracted a high quality 14-horse field and is somewhat more tricky than the Sophomore Sprint. The key question which will only be answered on Sunday when we head back to Kenilworth is, will there be a significant track bias on the sprint course? Rio Querari has his peak run and should prove very competitive in this type of race but there are many with chances, including Tarry’s top-notch sprinter Thunderstruck.

Thunderstruck is drawn towards the inside of the straight course whereas Rio Querari is drawn towards to he stands side. Surjay could be a factor in his first start of the Season and the same comment applies to Bereave. Mr Cobbs is always a threat while hattrick seeking Dance Variety could surprise off bottom weight. Not an easy race but Rio Querari and Thunderstruck are the class acts and should be involved in the finish.

Golden Hostess should prove a tough nut to crack in the R180 000 Schweppes Summer Bowl over 1600m, but she will need to be at her best to hold out the fast improving and still maturing Irish filly Enemy Territory. The latter is bred to Northern Hemisphere time, but she is progressing nicely and ought to make her presence felt in receipt of 9,5 kgs from Golden Hostess.

Piere “Striker” Strydom’s 5500th career winner happened exactly a year ago on this day November 24 at the Vaal Classic track aboard the Barend Botes and Yolandi Vosloo-trained Admiralty Arch (JC Photos) 

Turf Talk 

Exactly a year ago today Piere Strydom rode his 5,500th winner and it had more significance at the time than just being a milestone achievement.

Piere ended a stint of close to 15 months on the sidelines by coming back on June 26 last year.

The eye condition that had kept him away had settled enough to allow him to ride, but there were still some concerns and he said his intention was to just ride eleven more winners to reach the career figure of 5,500 winners before hanging up his riding boots for good.

In typical style the legend’s first ride back was a winner as he got the Justin Snaith-trained six-year-old Nexus gelding up by 0,75 lengths to win the KZN Breeders Mile on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf.

Thereafter it proved tough to get suitable rides.

The first double of his comeback was only in mid-October.

He finally reached the magical 5500 mark exactly a year ago at the Vaal Classic track on the Barend Botes and Yolandi Vosloo-trained Admiralty Arch (Admiral Kitten) in a 1200m handicap, converting 2/1 favouritism by a length.

However, at the time he had become associated with the Gareth van Zyl-trained Money Heist (Gimmethegreenlight).

He had partnered this promising three-year-old to a close second in a Graduation Plate over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville and they followed that with a decent a 4.05 length fifth to Cousin Casey in the Gr 2 Cape Punters Cup over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Piere had to stay on to complete the agreement that he would partner this horse in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas in mid-December.

He duly partnered him to a 6,90 length sixth in a vintage renewal of the prestigious race, which was won by 4,25 lengths by the superstar Charles Dickens.

Piere’s new retirement date was now going to be WSB Met day, as he was to ride the Ricky Maingard-trained Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner Al Muthana as well as the Justin Snaith-trained Itsrainingwilliam in the R7 million Gold Rush.

In the meantime an old friend of his Joe Soma phoned him and said, “Come and ride this filly (Lady Of Power) and some others before retiring and if it goes well you can carry on for a bit longer.”

Soma said at the time, “I am a small yard and top jockeys are usually affiliated to big yards, so sometimes I have been fired by them, although sometimes I fire jockeys. With Piere it is now about chapter 34! I think this is the final chapter and I hope it is a happy one.”

It was a happy one. Piere won on Master Of My Fate filly Lady Of Power on the week of the Met.

Met day was now no longer retirement day.

In the Met Al Muthana was unable to find a clear run in a messy race and finishing unplaced. Itsrainingwilliam had earlier finished a fine third in the Gold Rush.

A week later up on the Highveld Piere produced won of the all time masterful rides at Turffontein Standside to win the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas on Lady Of Power.

One man who noticed the brilliance of that ride was the prolific Durban-based owner Nick Jonsson.

After discussions with trainer Michael Roberts, Piere was invited to partner the Twice Over colt See It Again in the Gr 1 Splash Out Cape Derby. The latter had run in the Gold Rush and had been adjudged by most to have run a creditable 3,20 length seventh.

Piere did not have any rides in the three weeks between the Gauteng Fillies Guineas win and Cape Derby day. Was this going to be the new retirement date?

See It Again was sent out at 50/1 odds in the Cape Derby but after being patiently waited with at the top of the straight he powered home to down Charles Dickens by a comfortable two lengths. Another master class from the sadddle.

A new superstar was born and any thought of retirement now went out the window.

Piere is of course still associated with the now twice Gr 1-winner See It Again and will be at least until this season’s WSB Met.

He has never embarked on any retirement tours, so will not feel obliged to stop at anytime and will likely do so when he feels the time is right.

Eight-year-old Oratorio gelding Euphoric scored his ninth career win today (Friday) and it was the first leg of a double at the Fairview poly meeting for Jacques Strydom and Robert Khathi (Picture: Pauline Herman)

Turf Talk

Gavin Smith scored a treble on the Fairview poly today.

Robert Khathi rode a double for Jacques Strydom and Muzi Yeni also scored a double.

Smith goes to 35 wins for the season at a strike rate of 9.8% and he is now three behind Alan Greeff.

Jacques Strydom is on 11 wins at 11.96%.

Muzi Yeni is on 75 wins at 14.12% and is 19 behind the national jockeys log leader Richard Fourie.

Khathi is on 14 wins at 9.52%.

Turf Talk

Gavin Lerena has won the Summer Cup three times before (Dancewiththedevil (2011), Master Sabina 2015,2016) and will try and add another with the fancied Puerto Manzano.

S’Manga Khumalo won it in 2012 on Wagner and will try and make it a second win on Billy Bowlegs.

Raymond Danielson won it in 2017 on Liege and rides Anfields Rocket in the big race this year.

Dennis Schwarz won it on Zillzaal in 2019 and can make it a second win on Zeus.

Calvin Habib won it on Flying Carpet in 2021 and has a chance to make it two wins on Atticus Finch.