Greyville 1st August

The Mike de Kock-trained Wild One put in pleasing work at Summerveld on Tuesday under big race rider Anthony Delpech and remains the favourite for the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m to be run on Super Saturday at Greyville over the weekend.

Delpech said Wild One was never one to show much at home, but both he and De Kock were very pleased with his well-being.

De Kock also emphasised that this horse was at present very sound.

The yard were bullish about his chances.

Owner Sean Phillips bought Wild One back for R200 000 at a January dispersal sale, which speaks volumes for the regard in which he is held, considering he will turn six on Gold Cup day. The decision could well pay dividends.

The Mogok gelding jumps from a plum draw of five and is coming off two excellent second places in the Gr 2 Cup Trial over 1800m and the KZN Breeders Million Mile respectively, which were both run at Greyville. On those two runs he looks to have improved, so looks capable of handling the overall six point merit rated raise he has been given since finishing a 0,5 length second in last year’s the Gold Cup. He has clearly benefitted from the long layoff he was given after his gallant effort in that big race.

De Kock and Delpech had an early morning start on Tuesday when leaving the Wild Coast at 4:30am in order to gallop Wild One at Summerveld, before returning to the coastal resort to play in the second round of the popular Gold Circle Racing Masters golf tournament.

De Kock is no slouch at the game and finished second overall off his single figure handicap.

The coveted “Green Jacket” was won by Odyar Nelson, who fought back doggedly after starting the second day with three “black outs”. He overtook overnight leader Yogesh Chetty late on the final nine and was able to hold his nerve to deny the consistent De Kock.

The Lady’s “White Jacket” was won by Sandi Burger.

The best gross score was achieved by Dean Waterston, who plays off a handicap of two.

The tournament above all emphasises the togetherness of the racing fraternity and always provides an excellent freshener before the new season, although it does usually occur after the Gold Cup, which has been postponed this year due to the inclement weather last weekend.

Mike Bass has not enjoyed the best of Champions Seasons by his high standards but still has a chance of going home to Cape Town with a Gr 1 trophy as he contests a couple of big races at Greyville’s Super Saturday meeting this weekend.



He runs Helderberg Blue and Ashton Park in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m.



He said perhaps a bit too much use had been made of Helderberg Blue early in the Vodacom Durban July, but the Jet Master gelding has come out of the race well and is now well drawn. However, he does face a tough task at the weights with the like of Futura, Legislate, Ice Machine and Punta Arenas in the race, at least according to official merit ratings. Donovan Dillon rides.



The Champions Cup often sees the relatively fresh horses who have not run in the July doing well and Ashton Park fits into this category. He has not been seen out since the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m on June 6. Bass admitted there was a question mark about him staying this 1800m trip, but he could be an interesting contender if finding cover behind a slow pace, because he has a fine turn of foot and is suited to the tight Greyville circuit. His draw of seven will make it tricky to find the cover he needs. However, veteran jockey Karl Neisius rides and as a good reader of a race will give him every chance of doing so.



Bass runs the Visionaire colt Jet Air in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m. The yard rate him although Bass admitted Rabada looked hard to beat. Jet Air was stepped up to 1600m for the first time at Scottsville last time out and won well, beating the well regarded Mike de Kock-trained first-timer Mooghamir by 2,5 lengths. The colt unfortunately has a tough draw of eleven to overcome. Nevertheless, he looks to be an interesting contender with Bernard Fayd’Herbe up.

The yard run the Count Dubois mare Counting Angels in the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m. She has a tough task on paper in this weight for age race plus penalties as she is only off a merit rating of 87. Furthermore, she is drawn wide in 14. However, she did over race a bit last time out in the Listed Queen Palm Stakes over 2400m and still managed to finish second, so she should love this trip. Furthermore, she should be cherry ripe. Donovan Dillon rides.



Bass’ classy Trippi gelding Night Trip defends his crown in the Listed Darley Arabian over 1600m and has a plum draw of three with Anton Marcus up. Marcus was booked off his last three rides at Scottsville yesterday (Wednesday) when not feeling well, but is likely to be rearing to go again for Saturday’s big meeting. Night Trip, like most Trippi’s, loves the poly. He is off a 106 merit rating in this handicap event compared to a 95 last year, but has recently shown his class against the best over a mile so looks to have improved. He finished 0,2 lengths behind Futura over 1600m at Greyville when receiving only 1,5kg and then finished just 1,4 lengths behind Legislate in the weight for age Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m, a race in which Futura beat him by just a-quarter-of-a-length. Bass added Night Trip had been doing well and he expected him to run well.



He also runs the Jet Master gelding Mountain Master in the Darley Arabian and sounded quite bullish about his chances. Since his Champions Season pipe opener in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m the yard have tried him over trips from 1900m to 2400m. He is interesting coming back to this trip off a lowered merit rating, considering he won a good race on the Greyville turf over 1400m in May last year. Jet Master’s progeny seem to love the poly too. He could be in with a shout here with just 53kg on his back from a good draw with Richard Fourie up.

Rain just stopped now, been bucketing down from around 430am. I'm about 5 mins from the course.

I see Johnny G is carded to ride KINGSTON MINES at 54.5 tomorrow, was this not the same weight that TELLINA carried in the July & he was 2kg over???Stand to be corrected but if so, we need to know that it is not going to happen again without the public knowing!!!!

R1 Heavenly Express - Delicious Damowin has supported the form
R2 Love To Sail - will prove to be the best here
R3 Team Guys - should be right there
R4 New Fort no confidence but could eventually be my only winner
R5 Big Sugar could join her siblings to win a graded race
R6 Rabada
R7 Hot Ticket Karl to win the Gold Cup
R8 Willow Magic my fancy to upset the Snaith pair

Race 5 PERSIAN RUG, Big-big runner!

Gents...through the grape wine. Cape Speed by 3 lengths, horse had trained on and Kannemeyer best bet if tge day. With the scratching of number 1 will trade 5-10 at kick off

HI everyone

WELCOME to this big weekend cant wait for the action to kick off if you did follow my selections this week you should have some nice money to punt so lets begin HIT THEM HARD :evil: here is the tips/comments/trainers/jockeys



Race 1=SPACE LAUNCH [Sean:will love the extra ground big chance on current form] will be the one to beat and found betting support danger AFRICAN FISH EAGLE


Race 2=IN OTHER WORDS great draw will love the track and unbeaten at this course and jockey is confident danger MICHELLE MY BELLE


Race 3=CAPE SPEED huge betting support will love the going on this will be in the top 3 DANGER TEAM GUYS


Race 4=CHILLINGHAM great value horse only win in this track and distance big value chance don't leave out the pick6 DANGERS BATTLE HAMMER & GOLDEN HIGH


Race 5= MELLA MARIA was fancied last time out disappointing run looks to make a bold effort this time out also some nice value for grabs DANGERS 1,2,3,4


RACE 6=Rabada looks amazing well also not the best field BEST BET DANGER 1,7


Race 7=HOT TICKET all aboard karl like this horse today great jockey aboard after some good runs at Fairview karl gives me confidence danger GOLD ONYX & JHONNY G


Race 8=FUTURA my pick here go with your own pick big value bet for me HALVE THE DEFICIT place


Race 9=JET BELLE great draw KOTZEN expects great run danger BILATERAL


Race 10=FOREST FOX keeps on letting me down lost a lot on this horse this time out I think it will be spot on danger fav


Race 11=ROCKET LADY another value bet FORBES:like this horse maybe a small E/W danger 1,3,5,7


Race 12=VIVA LA VAR horrible jump last time and lost 4 lengths at start and still run on if this horse is fit and ready will blow the field away


BEST BET=Rabada

VALUE BETS=MICHELLE MY BELLE & CHILLINGHAM & MELLA MARIA & HOT TICKET & GOLD ONYX & HALVE THE DEFICIT & BILATERAL & FOREST FOX & ROCKET LADY

HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY AND THANKS FOR MY 1ST [100 THANKS YOUs YOU ALL ARE AWESOME]


HAVE A GREAT DAY HIT THEM HARD!!!!

My selections for the day
R1 space launch
R2 in other words ***
R3 cape speed***
R4 golden high new fort
R5 chestnuts n pearls***
R6 rabada***
R7 solid speed//Js outsider
R8 legislate
R9 jet belle
R10 night trip***
R11 easy game
R12 brutal force

**** Anton will b da MAN to follow

Timothy your interest and hard work is preparing you to be a top tipster. Put up your top four for the main race like Richard McMillan, Andrew Harrison, David Thiselton and Warren Lenferna.

In Other Words you on a Hot Ticket .... Viva Lar Var

I don't want to be seen as moaning again but im sure tiger shark will be doing his nut but why oh why after we have asked so many times isn't the track conditions for the turf rainfall etc and the false rail up on the sa horseracing .co.za website ..phew its pure laziness as the other regions have it up 24 hours before race day and update it on race day.....

So who's tipping the winning P6 cheaply for tomoro or will we know saturday afternoon