William Iron Arm is currently quoted at 25/1 by the sponsor for the Hollywoodbets Durban July and after rig surgery makes his comeback on Thursday. (JC Photos)

The long-striding William Longsword colt William Iron Arm has his first run this week since having rig surgery.

The racing manager of his owners Playgate SA, Rob Champion, said only the ascended testicle had to be removed in the surgical procedure, so the Klawervlei Stud-bred Tony Peter-trained horse remains a colt.

Rob added, “He appears to be more within himself now. He was hanging a lot in his races and they put that down to the probable effect of that squeezed up testicle. He has been loving his work, Calvin has been very happy with him, so we are just holding thumbs he come through the Progress Plate on Thursday okay. It is his first run from a break, so is like a prep run. He will run in the Jubilee. Hopefully he can win that and squeeze into the July on the back of his Gauteng Guineas and SA Classic third places and a Jubilee win.”

William Iron Arm is currently merit rated 117.

His weight in the Hollywoodbets Durban July as things stand would be 53kg and he would be 3kg under sufferance, presuming See It Again runs off his 132 merit rating.

On Thursday William Iron Arm runs in a Progress Plate over 1800m at Turffontein Inside carrying 58kg off a 117 merit rating.

On paper he should doddle it as he is 7kg better off than any other runner according to official merit ratings.

Calvin Habib rides from the middle draw of four out of seven.

This will be the first time he has run on a tight course and will be a good learning vurve considering the venue for the big one, the Hollywoodbets Durban July, is at the tight Hollywoodbets Greyville track.

The Duncan Howells-trained What A Winter filly Asiye Phambili was an impressive winner of the Gr 3 Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday under Rachel Venniker and is a genuine contender for the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint (Candiese Lenferna Photography) 

Andrew Harrison (Gold Circle)

The last weekend in April is always important as far as pointers go to Hollywoodbets Scottsville’s big meeting – this year on Saturday, June 1 – as trainers look forward to the four Gr1 races in the Festival of Speed.

Yesterday, the four features gave up pointers to the form of those races, none more so than Asiye Phambili who made short work of the opposition in the Gr3 Dennis Drier Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m, the distance of the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint.

Duncan Howells has always held the filly in high regard after arriving in his stable from another yard and a close-up second first time out followed with three straight wins.

Rather than making the trip to Cape Town for the season with one horse, he handed over the reins to Cape Town-based and Hollywoodbets-sponsored Gareth van Zyl. Asiye Phambili stared at long odds in all three of her starts for Van Zyl, her best being a runner-up berth in the Gr2 Sceptre Stakes.

It has been telling that locally-based horses returning from trips to Cape Town for the summer have come back in fine fettle and it appears the Asiye Phambili is continuing that trend.

Rachel Venniker, having her first winner for Howells, was never in any difficulty allowing Asiye Phambili to use her big action from an outside draw. When the chips were down she strode away to win as she liked.

The balance of the field, that included the well-performed Kwinta’s Light, were hardly in the race and probably using it as a warm-up for the SA Fillies Sprint, but they have been given early warning.

King Of The Gauls also put his hand up for a crack at the Festival of Speed. The gelding has always been highly rated by his trainer, Tony Rivalland, and his faith in the son of Vercingetorix is starting to vindicate his view as he scored a most comfortable victory in the Listed In Full Flight Handicap.

Gelded after his third start, King Of The Gauls made a winning appearance first up at Kenilworth but was then stepped up in trip, a plan that did not work out as expected. Back to a sprint, he left Cape Town with a close-up third.

He made a winning return on home soil over the Hollywoodbets Scottsville short-cut and followed up with an impressive victory yesterday which must surely have booked him a place in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint on June 1.

Sean Veale, deputising for regular rider Richard Fourie who was unable to make the 52.5kg, had King Of The Gauls in a good rhythm from the jump and it was clear a long way out that it would take a good horse to beat him. Travelling sweetly, he quickened up smartly under the hands and Veale was posing for the judges a long way out.

Quasiforesure is no slouch and chased hard for second but was never a threat although he was giving the winner 11kg and Peter Muscutt will have been well pleased with the run.

Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery winner Little Ballerina must rate as one of the best juvenile fillies racing at present and her form lines are riddled with subsequent winners. One of these was SA Fillies Nursery second Just Reckless who was surprisingly, given Little Ballerina’s form, priced up at 5-1 in the ante-post market for the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes. That price did not last long as she went through the gate deep in the red to land a ‘touch’ for those who queued up to take the generous odds.

It was money on the mark as Mike Miller’s charge was never seriously threatened. Going through the 400 m mark, Fourie pulled the trigger on Dark Winter followed by Grey Fantasy, but Kabelo Matsunyane, who kept the ride after their Nursery second, still had plenty in hand. Punched out hands-and-heels, Just Reckless quicky had their measure and strode clear to win as she liked with the minimum amount of encouragement. The Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship must surely be on her radar.

Prolific owner Lawrence Wernars had a great week with four feature race winners leading into yesterday’s Godolphin Barb Stakes and Cymric rounded it all off with a smart win in the Gr3 sprint and surely a pipe-opener for the Gr1 Gold Medallion. Johan Janse van Vuuren’s smart looker gave leading sire Vercengeterix a feature double after King Of The Gauls, showing pace throughout and finding plenty under Gavin Lerena to keep Cats Pajamas and Chinaberry at bay.

Runner-up at his first two starts, Van Vuuren finally listened to the pleading from his jockeys that the horse needed gelding as he was getting far too heavy for his under carriage. “I’m not scared to ‘cut’ them,” said Van Vuuren, “but I liked this horse and was a little pig-headed about it. I finally listened.”

First up after gelding, Cymric hacked up in a maiden and continued his improvement with a solid win yesterday. A look at the course is always a bonus as the experience, and on occasion, can prove to be the difference between winning and losing in a tight finish.

Not happy on the day was Fine One who gave Tristan Gooden a difficult ride and was never going well.

Sharp Frankel – exciting prospect (Pic – Supplied)

Sharp Frank, a magnificent looking son of Frankel, with an equally brilliant pedigree being the half-brother of SA Horse of The Year, Oh Susanna, will stand at Drakenstein Stud in the forthcoming breeding season, writes The Sporting Post.

Picture: Tyrion Lannister goes for a hattrick (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)

The Cape Turf Club Syndicates Class 3 Handicap over 1400m heads the 9-race programme at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday 30 March and the much-improved Tyrion Lannister will be seeking to round off a hat-trick of victories for trainer Piet Botha and the Dare to Dream Racing Syndicate.

In his penultimate start over the track and trip Tyrion Lannister beat Fibonacci by nearly a length and now meets Vaughan Marshall’s runner on 5,5kgs worse terms which should be more than enough for Fibonacci to turn the tables on Tyrion Lannister. But in the their most recent encounter Tyrion Lannister finished comfortably clear of Fibonacci, suggesting that Tyrion Lannister is a very much on an upward curve. But that most recent race was over 1600m and Fibonacci may be more effective over today’s 1400m and it would be unwise to completely ignore his chances.

Cheeky Laddie, Aspect, Magic Verse and Hat’s Pride are worthy of respect. Cheeky Laddie is gradually dropping to a mark off which he could be competitive while Aspect has been in terrific form and has won his last three starts over this course and distance. From pole position and with just 54kgs to shoulder, Aspect can be expected to make another bold bid for top honours. Hat’s Pride has run against some of the best around but may find it tough to concede weight all round.

In summary, Tyrion Lannister appears to have a touch of class and is given the benefit of the doubt to land his fifth career victory in a competitive heat but he is unlikely to have matters all his own way. JP van der Merwe has ridden Tyrion Lannister in his last three starts, but he is contractually obliged to ride Magic Verse and Grant Van Niekerk rides the 3yo son of Royal Mo for the very first time.

The first race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1200m, is due off at 12:05 and the well-bred Artiste is expected to show good improvement on her promising debut. Interestingly though, Louis Mxothwa, who usually has the choice of rides for the Brett Crawford yard, is aboard the stable companion Sweetsummerlove on debut and any market support for the daughter of Querari must be respected.

The Bipot gets under away in the second race, a Maiden Plate over 1200m, and Eight On Eighteen will be the popular choice. He finished second on debut four weeks ago and on the evidence of that form the Justin Snaith-trained son of Lancaster Bomber should have the measure of the Greg Ennion-trained Surge Of Power who was more than two lengths adrift of Eight On Eighteen. Ennion also saddles Late December who caught the eye when third on debut behind O’Tenikwa.

Charlotte Bronte, half-sister to the Champion Charles Dickens, is gradually finding her feet and she should give a good account of herself in the third race, an Open Maiden over 1400m. Tom’s Diner, Congressman and Tsunami Waring are the immediate dangers while Golden Grey should be considered for Trifecta and Quartet permutations.

Enchanting Choice was a convincing winner of her last start when allowed to dictate the gallop and could follow up in Race 5, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1600m. She has more to do at the weights this time but could again hold Philosophise and Hampstead Heath if similar tactics are employed, as I feel she won rather more easily than the official margin suggests. Enchanting Choice was only raised 3 rating points for that victory and must hold a strong chance of going back-to-back. Among The Clouds has improved in her last two starts and is another for the short-list.

The sixth race is a very competitive Cape C Stakes over 2200m and nothing in particular stands out. Marshall Field has been priced up favourite in the ante-post market and he should give his supporters a good run for their money but there are many in the 10-strong field with winning claims, including recent maiden winner Heliotrope.

Radicchio has been in fine form of late and could register his third consecutive success in the seventh race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1400m. Richard Fourie takes the ride and will no doubt give him every chance but keep an eye on Steadfast and War Chariot. Steadfast, who beat the talented Coastal Commander when shedding his maiden ticket, is dropping rapidly in the ratings and could prove to be the “lurker” in the pack. Slurricane and Sooty are not without winning chances in another competitive handicap.

The eighth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1100m, could be fought out by the two Khaya Stables’ runners, Explosive Speed and Speed Racer, the former trained by Dean Kannemeyer and the latter by Brett Crawford. Speed Racer is slightly preferred while others to consider are recent course and distance winner, Mighty Mac, along with Kaapse Klopse, The Tinkerman and Dragonfly. On best form Bluff On Bluff and Benjamin could surprise but they would both likely benefit from a little give in the ground and no rain is forecast.

Girl Like Us and Great Cat make most appeal in the final race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1200m, but the booking of Fourie for Ticket To Vegas is significant and perhaps Ricky Maingard’s filly must be added to the short-list of potential winners. Mia’s Harper has been very disappointing of late but she could show sudden improvement and make her presence felt – perhaps she also needs kinder going to be most effective.

Snazzytavi winning the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Warren Kennedy scored a four-timer on Saturday at Te Rapa including winning a Gr 3 on the Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall-trained Tavistock filly Snazzytavi.

It was Kennedy’s 17th stakes win of the season.

It has enabled him to forge well clear in the New Zeland premiership.

He has a quiet start to April that saw his lead to about five.

However, he is now 17 wins clear of Michael McNab, who is bidding to win a third successive premiership.

Kennedy has had 108 wins in the season and has done it at a strike rate of 17%.

On May 4, 1985, Spend a Buck won the Kentucky Derby by 5-3/4 lengths over Stephan’s Odyssey under jockey Angel Cordero Jr. His 2:00 1/5 time is the fourth fastest as of 2023. He paid $10.20, $5.40, and $3.40. It was his trainer Cam Gambolati’s first attempt to win the Derby, a feat not matched again until 2003 when Barclay Tagg saddled Funny Cide for his win.

Earlier in the season, Spend a Buck had won two races at the newly reopened Garden State Park Racetrack in Cherry Hill, New Jersey: the Cherry Hill Mile Stakes on April 6 and the Garden State Stakes on April 20. Before the season began, Garden State Park owner Robert Brennan had put up a $2-million bonus to the horse that won the two April preparatory races, the Kentucky Derby, and the May 27 Jersey Derby, Garden State’s signature race.

Spend a Buck’s owner, Dennis Diaz, opted to skip the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes and thus trade Spend a Buck’s chance to win the Triple Crown for a shot at the bonus. Cordero, Spend a Buck’s regular jockey, was committed to another race that day, so Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. rode Spend a Buck at Garden State. Spend a Buck won the Jersey Derby by a neck over eventual Belmont winner Creme Fraiche, capturing a $2.6-million prize, the then largest single purse in American racing history. That record stood for 19 years, until Smarty Jones won the 2004 Kentucky Derby.

Because Spend a Buck skipped the last two legs of the Triple Crown, the Triple Crown races put up a bonus of their own to encourage participation in the series.

Spend a Buck set a track record of 146.80 for a mile and an eighth in winning the 1985 Monmouth Handicap (now known as the Philip H. Iselin Stakes), which stood for 37 years until broken in 2022.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY OF SPEND A BUCK