Greyville Saturday

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Celtic Captain raring to go

Celtic Captain is expected to run to his ability this Saturday’s Rising Sun Gold Challenge…

Gareth van Zyl said his Gr 3 Cup Trial contestant Celtic Captain had recovered nicely from his 7,25 length ninth in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein, which was run on May 6, and he expected him to run to his ability on Saturday at Greyville. He believed the four-year-old Captain Al gelding would probably prefer this 1800m trip and hoped he could run a place.

He predicted Celtic Captain would get the decent pace he required with the front-running Crowd Pleaser in the field. Celtic Captain has always struck as one who is full of ability. He does sometimes take a keen hold, but in his last two turf starts, in the Umthombothi Stakes over 2000m at Greyville and in the Champions Challenge, he has settled well after finding cover.

He won the Unthombothi, but was being caught in the closing stages and his good turn of foot will likely be more effective over this slightly shorter trip. He was lowered two points for his Champions Challenge run to 103 and jumps from a tricky draw of six in the nine horse field.

Van Zyl scratched Celtic Captain from the Vodacom Durban July at first declarations and said he believed he was not quite good enough.

Van Zyl mentioned Trojan Harbour as one of his best runners on the day. This impressive Australian-bred specimen is a bay colt by Harbour Watch out of the Encosta De Lago mare Salma. Harbour Watch was unbeaten in three starts in England, including winning the Gr 2 Richmond Stakes for two-year-old males over six furlongs at Goodwood. No horse got within 2,25 lengths of him. Salma is a half-sister to Big Time (Danewin), who won four times from 1600m to 1900m including a Listed event.

Therefore, on pedigree Trojan Harbour should stay the 1400m of Saturday’s Listed Gatecrasher Stakes. Third time out he ran on well to win over 1000m at Greyville by two lengths going away and displayed a long elastic-like action. Van Zyl cited one of KZN’s most talked about horses, the Alistair Gordon-trained Monks Hood, as being “hard to beat”. However, an interesting collateral formline emerged on Wednesday.

Monks Hood’s 7,5 length runner up Tom Collins was beaten 9,7 lengths by Concealed Secret over 1200m and the latter was the two length runner up to Trojan Harbour. That puts Trojan harbour ahead of Querari colt Monks Hood, but that is purely on paper as the latter was very impressive in his 1200m win at Scottsville and relish the step up in trip on pedigree. The Gatecrasher is a conditions event where there is effectively a 2kg penalty per win and Trojan Harbour gets 2kg from the two-time winners and has to give the maidens 2kg. He jumps from a plum draw of three.

Stable jockey Warren Kennedy rides both Celtic Captain and Trojan Harbour.

By David Thiselton

‘Predator’ on the hunt for Gold

New Predator has been backed from 9/1 – 6/1 for the Rising Sun Gold Challenge this Saturday at Greyville…

Captain America, the highest-rated horse on the Vodacom Durban July log, has been a significant mover in the market for Saturday’s Rising Sun Gold Challenge.


The Brett Crawford six-year-old was a 7-1 chance when World Sports Betting posted its prices on Monday evening but within 24 hours he shortened to 11-2 joint second favourite with Bela-Bela.

New Predator has also been backed for Saturday’s Greyville Grade 1, from 9-1 to 6-1, but Marinaresco remains firm at 5-2 favourite despite being rated half a kilo below Captain America and despite only two horses justifying favouritism in this race in the last ten years – Pocket Power in 2009 and Variety Club in 2012 and 2013.

Joey Ramsden’s Cape Fillies Guineas winner Just Sensual was yesterday installed 18-10 favourite for the Tibouchina Stakes with stable companions Nightingale and Silver Mountain next on 6-1. Black Arthur heads the Cup Trial market at 2-1 with Elusive Silva second favourite at 28-10.

By Michael Clower

It’s Bela-Bela for Snaith

Trainer Justin Snaith runs Bela-Bela against the boys this Saturday at Greyville the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge…

Justin Snaith believes the Equus champion filly Bela-Bela will have “her best chance” of beating the boys at weight for age Grade 1 level in Saturday’s Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m at Greyville.

The brilliant twice Gr 1-winning grey has taken on the boys before in last year’s Vodacom Durban July and this year’s Sun Met and was not at all disgraced, but Snaith is of the firm belief that a mile is her optimum trip. He said she had needed her last run in the Gr 1 SA fillies Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville, where “she found a little bit of trouble”.


He added, “She is very well, she is spot on, she has a definite shout.”

Bela-Bela is well drawn in barrier four and will be ridden by Anthony Delpech, who partnered her to a Gr 2 Daisy Fillies Guineas/Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 double last season.

Snaith concluded, “It is a rough race and I just hope she gets a clear run.”

Snaith also has Master Sabina in the race and this will be the dual Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup winner’s first run for the yard. He said he was doing well, but it was on the short side and a pole position draw would not help as he did not have the necessary early pace to hold his position over this trip. Maser Sabina is likely to be running on, but Snaith concluded by saying it would be a valuable preparation outing for the July.

The Snaith yard have an important date in the Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1800m as both Black Arthur and Elusive Silver will need big runs to earn their July berths.

Snaith believed Black Arthur was back to his best having suffered haemoconcentration problems before gelding. He was running on in the Drill Hall over 1400m in his first run as a gelding over too short a trip. Snaith said he was doing very well at home and everything had gone according to plan.

Snaith explained Elusive Silver’s disappointing run in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 was not at all his race and was due to the rain which caused him to miss important work.

“He could only canter for eight days,” he said.

To heighten the problem the race had then been run in testing going.

“He got a double whammy,” he said.


Elusive Silver had previously been impressive when winning the Listed Sledgehammer over the Cup Trial course and distance. He showed a tremendous turn of foot in that race, which was his first outing since winning the Winter Derby ten months earlier. Snaith said he was in a better place now than he was going into the Sledgehammer.

He added, “He is a very nice horse. He will be good competition for Black Arthur at the weights and it will take a very good horse to beat our two.”

Richard Fourie has already been booked to ride Elusive Silva in the July, while Anthony Delpech “has always been a big fan of Black Arthur’s.” Delpech partnered Black Arthur to win last season’s Gr 2 Canon Guineas and they jump from a good draw of four in the nine horse field on Saturday. Elusive Silva has to jump from the extreme outside draw of nine.

Snaith runs Star Express in the Grade 2 Tibouchina over 1400 metres and said it would be a bit on the short side for her. He said she had pulled up “foot sore” in Johannesburg. However, her feet have now been sorted it out. He expected her to run well and finish in the money, despite it partly being a preparation outing for the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes. Bernard Fayd’Herbe rides from a good draw of five.

Snaith mentioned Qing as a runner to look out for on the day. She runs in the Beach Beauty Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m. He had been confident of a good run from her in her SA Champions Season pipe opener, but said she had been hit by a clod and could not see for a few days.

He was also bullish about Sergeant Hardy in the Conubia/Phoenix Sun Durban Dash over 1100m, although did mention his eleven barrier position as being “a bit of a wide draw.” Snaith said the big Captain Al gelding had not liked Scottsville last time in the Tsogo Sun Sprint and also had a difficult task as a three-year-old off a 110 merit rating. He is now comfortably the best in at the weights in this three-year-old event and if he runs well will be aimed at the weight for age Gr 1 Mercury Sprint. Delpech rides him for the third time.

By David Thiselton

Race 2 – Monks Hood 15/10

Super impressive debut win. All the comments after the race seemed they rate him at home. Always wary about big margin winners on soft ground but this horse seems above average. Should have no issues with the step up in trip and jumps from a fair draw of 8. Let’s see how he goes – Should go close.


Race 5 – Just Sensual 2/1

Brilliant filly who should love Greyville. She has so much of speed, what a lovely run for her prep behind Alice at Scottsville. Draw 7 isn’t bad. 1400m is ideal for her. Should go very close if at her best.


Race 6 – Black Arthur 22/10


It’s win or bust for Black Arthur on Saturday. I’ve always rated this guy. The Snaiths have always rated him. When he’s at his best he is a real super horse. The Politician and the Guineas was him at his best. Likes to be ridden off them because he has an amazing finish. Never seems to find much when ridden handy so this small field should be good as he’ll be given a chance by AD. They’ve been singing his praises for a while now on his work back home – now it’s time for him to show it on the track. If, and it’s an if with his horse, he brings his A game, then he’ll win.

Don’t write off Elusive Silva. That last run wasn’t him. He missed a lot of work leading up to that and he wasn’t as ready as he should’ve been. Then he didn’t get the best of breaks and was hampered coming into the straight. If BA flops, then he can pick up the pieces. Will be throwing a saver on him – should drift near race time.


Race 7 – Marinaresco 28/10, Captain America 7/1


Marinaresco had a great pipe opener. Considering his best distance is 1800-2200, the Drill Hall win was fantastic. But then again, he’s atleast a few lengths better at Greyville – the short straight really suits his turn of foot. Bernard was making the point of riding him much more handier than GvN did and it’s a good point. I feel they were asking too much of him to make up insane amounts of ground at Group 1 level and knowing how slow they go in the Cape – what chance did he have?
But this is still a prep for the big one but he still should run well.

The big Captain is back at Greyville – a track that never seemed to suit him. Opposite of Marinaresco, this fella loves a more galloping course. But he’s matured now and it was a fair effort LTO considering he jumped slow. This should be his main aim and at his best distance, should be a big runner.

MasterOfMyFate wrote: Race 2 – Monks Hood 15/10

Super impressive debut win. All the comments after the race seemed they rate him at home. Always wary about big margin winners on soft ground but this horse seems above average. Should have no issues with the step up in trip and jumps from a fair draw of 8. Let’s see how he goes – Should go close.


Race 5 – Just Sensual 2/1

Brilliant filly who should love Greyville. She has so much of speed, what a lovely run for her prep behind Alice at Scottsville. Draw 7 isn’t bad. 1400m is ideal for her. Should go very close if at her best.


Race 6 – Black Arthur 22/10


It’s win or bust for Black Arthur on Saturday. I’ve always rated this guy. The Snaiths have always rated him. When he’s at his best he is a real super horse. The Politician and the Guineas was him at his best. Likes to be ridden off them because he has an amazing finish. Never seems to find much when ridden handy so this small field should be good as he’ll be given a chance by AD. They’ve been singing his praises for a while now on his work back home – now it’s time for him to show it on the track. If, and it’s an if with his horse, he brings his A game, then he’ll win.

Don’t write off Elusive Silva. That last run wasn’t him. He missed a lot of work leading up to that and he wasn’t as ready as he should’ve been. Then he didn’t get the best of breaks and was hampered coming into the straight. If BA flops, then he can pick up the pieces. Will be throwing a saver on him – should drift near race time.


Race 7 – Marinaresco 28/10, Captain America 7/1


Marinaresco had a great pipe opener. Considering his best distance is 1800-2200, the Drill Hall win was fantastic. But then again, he’s atleast a few lengths better at Greyville – the short straight really suits his turn of foot. Bernard was making the point of riding him much more handier than GvN did and it’s a good point. I feel they were asking too much of him to make up insane amounts of ground at Group 1 level and knowing how slow they go in the Cape – what chance did he have?
But this is still a prep for the big one but he still should run well.

The big Captain is back at Greyville – a track that never seemed to suit him. Opposite of Marinaresco, this fella loves a more galloping course. But he’s matured now and it was a fair effort LTO considering he jumped slow. This should be his main aim and at his best distance, should be a big runner.

MOMF

Thank you

On the button with your assessment

thanks Deeno. All we can do is watch horses and hope they run to form.

MasterOfMyFate wrote: thanks Deeno. All we can do is watch horses and hope they run to form.

Pleasure..... Bela Bela intrigues me as well. I am thinking a double with BA

Deeno, you could be right. I also make Bela Bela a big runner.

AD treble in the features anyone?

Both Rocin Russian and Fort Ember are very well hoping for big runs

Green ice and Roman emperor... :whistle: