Kenilworth no go for international jockeys

HAYLEY Turner, Frenchman Christophe Lemaire and Panamian Eduardo Pedroza are among the stars who will take part in the international jockeys match against the South Africans in November.

But the big surprise this time is that Kenilworth has been dropped from the list of venues which are now restricted to Turffontein and Fairview.

The organisers have had trouble attracting enough runners in Cape Town in the past but Racing Association chairman Larry Wainstein said on Monday: “We wanted to give the series a different spin this time and so Port Elizabeth has been given the opportunity.

“The idea is also to have some races on polytrack."

Durban was dropped previously, at the request of Gold Circle, but the latest change will be a disappointment to Cape Town racegoers who enjoyed seeing the big names in action. Wainstein, the driving force behind the event, hopes to have the remaining three international riders firmed up shortly but he confirmed that there will be no-one from Turkey.

That country's representative last year, Yasin Pilavcilar, attracted a lot of criticism and was described by Joey Ramsden as “bsolutely appalling.’’

Wainstein added: "We will ensure that we have a decent team this year."

The Fairview fixture is on Friday November 13 (hopefully not an inauspicious choice!) and the Turffontein one the following day.

Turner, who rode here in 2010, has been the most successful female Flat jockey in Britain and she retires at the end of the year. Lemaire's major triumphs include the 2011 Melbourne Cup and Pedroza has been four times champion in Germany.

Gavin Lerena will captain the home team which is also expected to comprise S'Manga Khumalo, Greg Cheyne and Anthony Delpech plus two still-to-be-selected wild cards.

Act of War

ACT Of War dominates the declarations for the Kuda Matchem Stakes at Durbanville on Saturday and there is a good chance that he will run despite being drawn eight out of ten.

Racing manager Derek Brugman said yesterday: “At this stage it looks likely but he only arrived back from Durban last Friday so we will see how he is and make a final decision later in the week."

Last season's Cape Guineas winner has not raced since winning the Winter Guineas at Kenilworth in May but he was kept ticking over during the Durban season. His trainer Joey Ramsden won the Matchem with the brilliant Variety Club four years ago and Anton Marcus will fly down for the ride.

The other nine declared come from the big battalions of Justin Snaith and Mike Bass. The latter has four including Winter Guineas runner-up Sail For Gold and Snaith runs five with stable jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe on Heartland and Sean Cormack flying from Durban to partner Alpha Pegasi .

The Bass-trained Paddock and Majorca winner Inara (Grant van Niekerk) will attempt to give weight all round in the Diana Stakes.