Snaith’s yard in form and firing
“FOLLOW us in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town this week - we are in form, the yard is firing and we are bringing out really nice horses.” That was the message from Justin Snaith at Kenilworth on Saturday when he added to Friday’s Fairview treble by flooring two hot favourites.
His entries include iron horse Jet Explorer in the Founders Trophy at Fairview on Friday and classic hope Bishop’s Bounty in Kenilworth’s Allowance Plate the following day.
“I haven’t yet decided what I am going to run but Le Harve could do so,” Snaith added.
“I think, though, that Bishop’s Bounty will probably run in a graduation at Durbanville instead.”
Captain Splendid is to be aimed at the Betting World Algoa Cup on October 30 after giving weight all round in the 2 400m handicap when 11-10 favourite Banner Hill could manage only fourth after suffering early interference.
The three-month absent Lord Balmoral was given rave reviews by the Tellytrack presenters in the build-up to the Racing.
It’s A Rush Handicap but the evens favourite could only manage sixth after appearing to run out of steam with a furlong to run as if he needed the race.
“He must have done - I don’t think this was his run,” said Vaughan Marshall who had much better luck with the Lungisani Geledu-ridden The Great Victory earlier.
Power Grid
Second favourite Power Grid fared even worse and also seemed to be empty by the time the race was on in earnest.
“I went for a gap and it closed on me,” said Grant van Niekerk who reported to the stipes that the colt was not striding out freely.
Craig Bantam, who won the race for the Snaiths on 25-1 shock Cuban Emerald, was in all sorts of hot water when he found himself unable to do the weight on Irish Dynasty in Captain Splendid’s race.
He was caught trying to weigh out with different boots to the ones he was going to ride in and was fined R1 000. In case you thought he was lucky to get off so lightly he was then given a 14day ban for failing to comply with officials when passing the scales.
No doubt riding master Terrance Welch also had something to say to him!
Mohammed Allie’s fortunes have been transformed in recent weeks and he now has a string of 30 at Philippi.
“I first got my licence in 1986 and I had four horses at the most before,” he said after 9-1 chance Little Mo came from well back under Brandon May to get up 30m out in the Quinte Plus Handicap.
Looking on in a wheelchair was the five-year-old’s former trainer Carl Burger who was making his first visit to the racecourse since having a quadruple heart bypass operation and losing part of his left leg.
He was looking remarkably well and the only thing he seemed to be regretting was the loss of his cigarettes. “They told me it would be goodnight nurse if I didn’t stop.” Burger, who of course continues as a trainer under a joint licence with Riaan van Reenen, was concerned to hear that Mike Bass had another operation last Wednesday.
This was to clear a blocked artery in his right thigh. Fortunately, though, it was a comparatively minor affair and he was in hospital for only one night.
Primrose Lane
Hassen Adams revealed why Primrose Lane’s price tumbled from 40-1 to 10-1 on debut after the Darryl Hodgson-trained filly got up in the last two strides under Van Niekerk to justify favouritism in the Place Your Bets Handicap.
“I had R500 on at 40-1 that day but this time I did I didn’t touch her because I thought the handicapper had been a bit harsh,” he said.
Aldo Domeyer was out of luck on his return to the fray and he reported that Sassy Sal, a long way last when 3-1 favourite for the mile handicap, felt as though there was something amiss and so he did not persevere with her.
The race was won convincingly by Heavelon van der Hoven on Belle Of Croom for Mike Robinson and wife Louella who followed up in the last with King Of The Corn, the fifth winner in two days for Richard Fourie.
It could pay to note Brett Crawford's comments about Lady Of The House after Corne Orffer led just over 50m out on the lightly-raced filly in the 1 400m maiden.
“This is a horse who is wanting further and she only got into the race in the last bit,” said the Philippi trainer.
Gaynor Rupert has abandoned thoughts of sending Inara to Ireland to be covered by Galileo.
Instead the five-time Grade 1 winner will stay at Drakenstein to visit Duke Of Marmalade, a Danehill horse who won five Group 1s for Aidan O’Brien and sired four European classic winners last year alone.