Dillon in crucial talks
DONOVAN Dillon, pictured, one of those under consideration for the Plattner Racing stable jockey position, has an important meeting with Andre Nel and Sabine Plattner tomorrow.
Dillon, 23, reckons he has benefited from his recent two-month stint in Mauritius where he rode six winners from 51 mounts, saying: “I gained plenty of experience and I learned a lot.”
Some press reports have indicated that trainer Gilbert Rousset cut short his contract but, in fact, it was the other way round.
Dillon explained: “They wanted me to stay a bit longer but the Cape season is getting going now and I needed to be back. Also things aren’t looking good for jockeys in Mauritius at the moment and I have too much going for me in South Africa to risk something stupid.”
He was referring to the recent headline-making incidents in which Muzi Yeni, Brandon Lerena and Raymond Danielson were accused of associating with people the Mauritius Jockey Club did not believe they should.
All three were exonerated of any wrongdoing but decided to return home.
Whisky Baron
Sun Met winner Whisky Baron is reported to have come out of Friday’s encouraging run in the Shadwell Joel Stakes in good shape.
He finished sixth of eight behind runaway winner Beat The Bank but was going as well as anything before his eight-month absence began to take its toll just inside the final furlong.
Ridgemont manager Craig Carey said: “Whisky Baron pulled up well although he lost 10kg in the race which showed how much he needed it. Brett (Crawford) is talking of the possibility of another Group 2 in a fortnight’s time. If not, the horse will go straight for the Hong Kong race, assuming he gets invited.”
Captain America
Crawford, who won last year’s Matchem Stakes with Captain America, has both Nebula and Black Cat Back in Saturday’s WSB Durbanville feature.
Assistant trainer Barry Donnelly said: “At this stage Black Cat Back is the only definite runner as he had a 1 000m prep for the race last Wednesday.”
Glen Puller, who has won four of the last 15 runnings, has declared Silicone Valley (Piet Botha) while Justin Snaith has booked Grant van Niekerk for Copper Force.
Gold Standard remains favourite with the sponsors but Glen Kotzen warns that he has not been able to get as much work into the Met fourth as he would have liked because of the limited amount of racecourse gallops.
Avontuur stallion Oratorio has developed laminitis and his bookings for the rest of the season have been cancelled with some of the mares being diverted to the stud’s other sire Var.
General manager Pippa Mickleburgh said: “It is a horrible experience for all of us at the farm to see him in pain, especially as his progeny are starting to show their class on a regular basis in South Africa with another wonderful win for him with Orakal at Durbanville last Wednesday.
“We hope to have him back to full strength by next year at the latest and, as he is reacting so well to the medical regime at the moment, we could even hope for an earlier recovery with a bit of luck. He is a really relaxed horse with a laid back personality so he is an easy patient.”
Laminitis is a particularly painful complaint in which the tissues that bond the hoof wall to the pedal bone become inflamed. It can cripple horses and prove fatal.